Design of a mixed material moderator in a beam-shaping assembly for proton accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy.

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy is being promoted with the development of accelerator neutron sources, and many new accelerator-based BNCT facilities are being built. In Particle Accelerator Facility project of Sun Yat-sen University, we plan to build a terminal for BNCT research based on an 8 MeV, CW 3 mA proton accelerator. In this paper, we present a beam-shaping assembly for this proton accelerator with such low 24 kW beam power, using composite moderator materials composed of five elements: Mg, Al, F, O, and Li. The calculation result of FLUKA with ENDF/B and JENDL libraries shows that the epithermal neutron beam flux is 1.57×109n/cm2/s with the CW 3 mA proton beam. The fast neutron component and the gamma ray component under free-air condition are 1.49×10-13Gy∙cm2 and 8.12×10-14Gy∙cm2 respectively, in line with IAEA-TECDOC-1223 design recommendations. The thermal analysis shows that the maximum temperature of beryllium target is 706.5 K, and the structure materials of BSA do not melt.

Decay and Termite Resistance of Wood Modified by High-Temperature Vapour-Phase Acetylation (HTVPA), a Simultaneous Acetylation and Heat Treatment Modification Process.

High-temperature vapour-phase acetylation (HTVPA) is a simultaneous acetylation and heat treatment process for wood modification. This study was the first investigation into the impact of HTVPA treatment on the resistance of wood to biological degradation. In the termite resistance test, untreated wood exhibited a mass loss (MLt) of 20.3%, while HTVPA-modified wood showed a reduced MLt of 6.6-3.2%, which decreased with an increase in weight percent gain (WPG), and the termite mortality reached 95-100%. Furthermore, after a 12-week decay resistance test against brown-rot fungi (Laetiporus sulfureus and Fomitopsis pinicola), untreated wood exhibited mass loss (MLd) values of 39.6% and 54.5%, respectively, while HTVPA-modified wood exhibited MLd values of 0.2-0.9% and -0.2-0.3%, respectively, with no significant influence from WPG. Similar results were observed in decay resistance tests against white-rot fungi (Lenzites betulina and Trametes versicolor). The results of this study demonstrated that HTVPA treatment not only effectively enhanced the decay resistance of wood but also offered superior enhancement relative to separate heat treatment or acetylation processes. In addition, all the HTVPA-modified wood specimens prepared in this study met the requirements of the CNS 6717 wood preservative standard, with an MLd of less than 3% for decay-resistant materials.

Efficient optimization of an accelerator neutron source for neutron capture therapy using genetic algorithms.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, genetic algorithms have been applied in the field of nuclear technology design, producing superior optimization results compared to traditional methods. They can be employed in the design and optimization of beam shaping assemblies (BSA) BSA to obtain the desired neutron beams. But it should be noted that the direct combination of Monte Carlo methods with genetic algorithms requires a significant amount of computational resources and time. PURPOSE: Design and optimize BSA more efficiently to achieve neutron beams that meet specified recommendations. METHODS: We propose an approach of NSGA II with crucial variables which are identified by multivariate statistical techniques. This approach significantly reduces the problem sizes, thus reducing the time required for optimization. We illustrate this methodology using the example of BSA design for AB-BNCT. RESULTS: The computational efficiency has tripled with crucial variables. By using NSGA II, we obtained optimized models conforming to both the new and old version IAEA BNCT guidelines through a single optimization process and subjected them to phantom analysis. The results demonstrate that models obtained through this method can meet the IAEA recommendations with deep advantage depth (AD) and high absorbed ratio (AR). CONCLUSION: The genetic algorithm with crucial variables displays tremendous potential in addressing BSA optimization challenges.

Associations between genetic mutations in different SARS-CoV-2 strains and negative conversion time of viral RNA among imported cases in Hangzhou: A cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: Previous studies on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have focused on factors that influence the achievement of negative conversion of viral RNA. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the genetic mutations in different SARS-CoV-2 strains on the negative conversion time (NCT) among imported cases in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, in order to provide valuable insights for developing targeted epidemic prevention guidelines. METHODS: This retrospective study involved 146 imported SARS-CoV-2 cases in Hangzhou from 8 April 2021 to 11 June 2022. We compared the SARS-CoV-2-specific indicators, clinical indexes, and NCT among the wild-type (WT), Delta, and Omicron groups. Spearman correlation analysis was used to identify the correlations of NCT with mutation types/frequencies. RESULTS: The mean age of the imported cases was 35.3 (SD: 12.3) years, with 71.92 % males and 28.08 % females. The mean cycle threshold (Ct) values of open reading frame 1ab (ORF1ab) and nucleocapsid (N) RNA were 25.17 (SD: 6.44) and 23.4 (SD: 6.76), respectively. The mutations of SARS-CoV-2 strains were mainly located in N, membrane (M), spike (S), ORF1a, ORF1b, ORF3a, ORF6, and ORF9b genes among the WT, Delta, and Omicron groups. NCT was significantly prolonged in the WT and Delta groups compared to the Omicron group. T lymphocyte, white blood cell, eosinophil, and basophil counts were dramatically higher in the WT group than the Delta group. White blood cell, red blood cell, and basophil counts were significantly lower in the Delta group than the Omicron group. Spearman correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation between the NCT of viral RNA and mutation types of viral genes of WT and Omicron strains. Additionally, NCT was markedly negatively correlated with the frequencies of five mutations in Omicron strains (ORF1b:P1223L, ORF1b:R1315C, ORF1b:T2163I, ORF3a:T223I, and ORF6:D61L). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that five mutations in Omicron strains (ORF1b:P1223L/R1315C/T2163I, ORF3a:T223I and ORF6:D61L) shortened NCT in imported SARS-CoV-2 cases.

Morphological and Molecular Changes during Limb Regeneration of the Exopalaemon carinicauda.

With the increase in breeding density of Exopalaemon carinicauda, appendage breakage may occur, which seriously affects survival and economic benefits. To study the limb regeneration process of E. carinicauda, we induced autotomy of the pereopods. After a period of time, wound swelling disappeared, the pigment gradually accumulated, and a tawny film subsequently formed in the wound. The healing period of the wound occurred 24 h after autotomy, and the blastema formation stage occurred 48 h after autotomy. After 4 days of cutting, the limb buds began to differentiate, grow, and expand rapidly, and this process lasted approximately 15 days. Microscopic observations revealed significant changes in the type and number of associated cells including outer epithelial cells, granulocytes, embryonic cells, columnar epidermal cells, elongated cells, and blastoma cells, during the process from limb fracture to regeneration. A comparative transcriptome analysis identified 1415 genes differentially expressed between the J0h (0 h post autotomy) and J18h (18 h post autotomy), and 3952 and 4366 differentially expressed genes for J0 and J14d (14 days post autotomy) and J18h and J14d, respectively. Some of these genes may be related to muscle growth or molting, as indicated by the presence of troponin C, chitinase, actin, innexin, and cathepsin L. As a functional gene involved in epidermal formation, the mRNA expression level of the innexin inx2 in the pereopod of E. carinicauda changed significantly in the experimental groups (p < 0.05). The results of this study contribute to existing knowledge of regeneration mechanisms in crustaceans.

Interaction-selective molecular sieving adsorbent for direct separation of ethylene from senary C2-C4 olefin/paraffin mixture.

Olefin/paraffin separations are among the most energy-intensive processes in the petrochemical industry, with ethylene being the most widely consumed chemical feedstock. Adsorptive separation utilizing molecular sieving adsorbents can optimize energy efficiency, whereas the size-exclusive mechanism alone cannot achieve multiple olefin/paraffin sieving in a single adsorbent. Herein, an unprecedented sieving adsorbent, BFFOUR-Cu-dpds (BFFOUR = BF4-, dpds = 4,4'-bipyridinedisulfide), is reported for simultaneous sieving of C2-C4 olefins from their corresponding paraffins. The interlayer spaces can be selectively opened through stronger guest-host interactions induced by unsaturated C = C bonds in olefins, as opposed to saturated paraffins. In equimolar six-component breakthrough experiments (C2H4/C2H6/C3H6/C3H8/n-C4H8/n-C4H10), BFFOUR-Cu-dpds can simultaneously divide olefins from paraffins in the first column, while high-purity ethylene ( > 99.99%) can be directly obtained through the subsequent column using granular porous carbons. Moreover, gas-loaded single-crystal analysis, in-situ infrared spectroscopy measurements, and computational simulations demonstrate the accommodation patterns, interaction bonds, and energy pathways for olefin/paraffin separations.

Effects of microsurgical varicocelectomy on testicular function and sexual function in patients with varicocele / 局解手术学杂志

Objective To investigate the effects of microsurgical varicocelectomy on testicular function and sexual function in patients with varicocele.Methods The clinical data of 90 patients with varicocele admitted to our hospital were retrospectively analyzed,and the patients were divided into the laparoscopic group(received laparoscopic varicocelectomy)and the microscopic group(received microsurgical varicocelectomy)according to different surgical methods,with 45 cases in each group.The testicular function and sexual function related indexes including sperm density,normal sperm ratio,rate of sperm motility(grades a+b),forward motility sperm rate,international index of erectile function-5(IIEF-5)score,and the levels of testosterone,follicle-stimulating hormone,luteinizing hormone,and androgen levels before and 6 months after surgery in the two groups were compared.The incidence of complications and recurrence 6 months after surgery in the two groups were counted.Results Compared with those before surgery,the sperm density,forward motility sperm rate,rate of sperm motility(grades a+b),normal sperm ratio,IIEF-5 score,testosterone level,and androgen level 6 months after surgery of patients in the two groups were significantly increased(P<0.05),and the levels of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone were decreased(P<0.05).Compared with the laparoscopic group,the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone,and incidence of complications 6 months after surgery of patients in the microscopic group were decreased(P<0.05),and the levels of testosterone and androgens,and IIEF-5 score 6 months after surgery were increased(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the recurrence rate between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion Microsurgical varicocelectomy can improve the testicular function and sexual function of patients with varicocele,with a low incidence of complications.

A single center retrospective study: Comparison between centrifugal separation plasma exchange with ACD-A and membrane separation plasma exchange with heparin on acute liver failure and acute on chronic liver failure.

The purpose of this retrospective study is to compare the efficacy and safety of the centrifugal separation therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) using citrate anticoagulant (cTPEc) with membrane separation TPE using heparin anticoagulant (mTPEh) in liver failure patients. The patients treated by cTPEc were defined as cTPEc group and those treated by mTPEh were defined as mTPEh group, respectively. Clinical characteristics were compared between the two groups. Survival analyses of two groups and subgroups classified by the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score were performed by Kaplan-Meier method and were compared by the log-rank test. In this study, there were 51 patients in cTPEc group and 18 patients in mTPEh group, respectively. The overall 28-day survival rate was 76% (39/51) in cTPEc group and 61% (11/18) in mTPEh group (P > .05). The 90-day survival rate was 69% (35/51) in cTPEc group and 50% (9/18) in mTPEh group (P > .05). MELD score = 30 was the best cut-off value to predict the prognosis of patients with liver failure treated with TPE, in mTPEh group as well as cTPEc group. The median of total calcium/ionized calcium ratio (2.84, range from 2.20 to 3.71) after cTPEc was significantly higher than the ratio (1.97, range from 1.73 to 3.19) before cTPEc (P < .001). However, there was no significant difference between the mean concentrations of total calcium before cTPEc and at 48 h after cTPEc. Our study concludes that there was no statistically significant difference in survival rate and complications between cTPEc and mTPEh groups. The liver failure patients tolerated cTPEc treatment via peripheral vascular access with the prognosis similar to mTPEh. The prognosis in patients with MELD score < 30 was better than in patients with MELD score ≥ 30 in both groups. In this study, the patients with acute liver failure (ALF) and acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF) treated with cTPEc tolerated the TPE frequency of every other day without significant clinical adverse event of hypocalcemia with similar outcomes to the mTPEh treatment. For liver failure patients treated with cTPEc, close clinical observation and monitoring ionized calcium are necessary to ensure the patients' safety.

Early detection of stroke at the sudden sensorineural hearing loss stage.

Background and purpose: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) can be a prodromal symptom of ischemic stroke, especially posterior circulation strokes in the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) area. Early diagnosis and optimal treatment for vascular SSNHL provide an opportunity to prevent more extensive area infarction. The objective of our research was to find clues that suggest stroke at the stage of isolated sudden hearing loss. Methods: We retrospectively investigated the medical records of patients who received an initial diagnosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss upon admission from January 2017 to December 2022 at Capital Medical University Affiliated Beijing Tiantan Hospital. Among these patients, 30 individuals who developed acute ischemic stroke during their hospital stay were enrolled as the case group. To create a control group, we matched individuals from the nonstroke idiopathic SSNHL patients to the case group in terms of age (±3 years old) at a ratio of 1:4. We collected the clinical characteristics, pure tone hearing threshold test results, and imaging information for all patients included in the study. Results: Three models were constructed to simulate different clinical situations and to identify vascular sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). The results revealed that patients with SSNHL who had three or more stroke risk factors, bilateral hearing loss, moderately severe to total hearing loss, and any intracranial large artery stenosis and occlusion (≥50%) were at a higher risk of developing ischemic stroke during hospitalization. Consistent with previous studies, the presence of vertigo at onset also played a significant role in the early detection of upcoming stroke. Conclusion: Clinicians should be alert to SSNHL patients with bilateral hearing loss, moderately severe to total hearing loss and other aforementioned features. Early pure tone audiometric hearing assessment and vascular assessment are necessary for high-risk patients with SSNHL.

Chronobiology discrepancies between patients with acute type a aortic dissection complicated with and without sleep apnea syndrome: a single-center seven-year retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to investigate the differences in chronobiology and prevention between patients with acute type-A aortic dissection (ATAAD) complicated with sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) and without sleep apnea syndrome (non-SAS). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical information of ATAAD patients using hospital medical records and regional meteorological and chronological information between January 2013 and December 2019. RESULTS: An early mortality rate of 16.9% (196 out of 1160 cases) was observed, comprising 95 cases of aortic rupture before surgery and 101 surgery-related deaths. Eighty-one of the 964 survivors were screened for SAS using complete morphological characteristics. Of these patients, 291 (33.0%) suffered from SAS, while 590 (67.0%) had no SAS. Based on a Circular Von Mises distribution analysis, the non-SAS patients experienced a significant morning peak in the occurrence of ATAAD at 10:04 (r1 = 0.148, p < 0.01). In contrast, the SAS patients experienced a significantly different (non-SAS vs. SAS, U2 = 0.947, p < 0.001) nighttime peak at 23:48 (r2 = 0.489, p < 0.01). Moreover, both non-SAS (Z = 39.770, P < 0.001) and SAS (Z = 55.663, P < 0.001) patients showed a comparable peak during January (non-SAS vs. SAS, U2 = 0.173, p > 0.05). Furthermore, SAS patients experienced a peak on Fridays (χ2 = 36.419, p < 0.001), whereas there was no significant difference in the weekly distribution in non-SAS patients (χ2 = 11.315, p = 0.079). CONCLUSIONS: The analyses showed that both SAS and non-SAS patients showed distinct rhythmicity in ATAAD onset. These findings highlight the chronobiological triggers within different ATAAD subpopulations and may contribute to the prevention of this potentially fatal occurrence.

Statins may Decrease Aneurysm wall Enhancement of Unruptured Fusiform Intracranial Aneurysms: A high-resolution 3T MRI Study.

Inflammation plays an integral role in the formation, growth, and progression to rupture of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Aneurysm wall enhancement (AWE) in high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) has emerged as a surrogate biomarker of vessel wall inflammation and unruptured intracranial aneurysm instability. We investigated the correlation between anti-inflammatory drug use and three-dimensional AWE of fusiform intracranial aneurysms (FIAs). We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients with FIAs in our database who underwent 3T HR-MRI at three Chinese centers. FIAs were classified as fusiform-type, dolichoectatic-type, or transitional-type. AWE was objectively defined using the aneurysm-to-pituitary stalk contrast ratio in three-dimensional space by determining the contrast ratio of the average signal intensity in the aneurysmal wall and pituitary stalk on post-contrast T1-weighted images. Data on aneurysm size, morphology, and location, as well as patient demographics and comorbidities, were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine factors independently associated with AWE of FIAs on HR-MRI. In total, 127 FIAs were included. In multivariate analysis, statin use (ß = -0.236, P = 0.007) was the only independent factor significantly associated with decreased AWE. In the analysis of three FIA subtypes, the fusiform and transitional types were significantly associated with statin use (rs = -0.230, P = 0.035; and rs = -0.551, P = 0.010; respectively). It establishes an incidental correlation between the use of statins daily for ≥ 6 months and decreased AWE of FIAs. The findings also indicate that the pathophysiology may differ among the three FIA subtypes.

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of total laparoscopic hysterectomy without and with uterine manipulator combined with pelvic lymphadenectomy for early cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Some studies have reported that the prognosis of total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) for early-stage cervical cancer (CC) is worse than that of open surgery. And this was associated with the use of uterine manipulator or not. Therefore, this study retrospectively analyzes the efficacy and safety of TLH without uterine manipulator combined with pelvic lymphadenectomy for early-stage CC. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients with CC (stage IB1-IIA1) who received radical hysterectomy from September 2019 to January 2020 were divided into no uterine manipulator (n = 26) and uterine manipulator group (n = 32). Then, clinical characteristics were collected and intraoperative/postoperative related indicators were compared. RESULTS: Patients in the no uterine manipulator group had significantly higher operation time and blood loss than in the uterine manipulator group. Notably, there was no significant difference in hemoglobin change, blood transfusion rate, number of pelvic nodules, anal exhaust time, complications and recurrence rate between the two groups. Additionally, patients in the uterine manipulator group were prone to urinary retention (15.6%) and lymphocyst (12.5%), while the no uterine manipulator group exhibited high probability of bladder dysfunction (23.1%) and urinary retention (15.4%). Furthermore, the 1-year disease-free survival rate and the 1-year overall survival rate were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in the efficacy and safety of TLH with or without uterine manipulator combined with pelvic lymphadenectomy in the treatment of patients with early-stage CC. However, the latter requires consideration of the negative effects of high operation time and blood loss.

Photocatalytic Alkynylation of Hydrosilanes via Hydrogen Atom Transfer.

Alkynylsilanes are significant structural units frequently used in synthetic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, functional materials, and life sciences. Herein, we report a method for using a hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) strategy in combination with visible-light-driven photocatalysis to achieve a direct coupling reaction between benzene sulfonyl acetylene and tertiary silanes, and a diverse alkynylation of hydrosilanes in the presence of reactive groups was achieved with this strategy. It is important to note that dihydroalkyl/aryl silanes are also suitable for the protocol of HAT photocatalytic of 4CzIPN and quinuclidine.

Endovascular repair of aortic pathologies involving the aortic arch using castor stent-graft combined with in-vitro fenestration technology.

BACKGROUND: Aortic arch pathologies are concerning clinical conditions with poor prognoses. The use of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has been investigated to treat aortic arch pathologies. Nonetheless, cerebral blood flow regulation during endovascular aortic arch repair therapy remains challenging. Castor, a unique single-branched stent graft, has been proven effective for retaining the left subclavian artery (LSA). This study aimed to determine whether endovascular therapy for pathologies involving the aortic arch using Castor in combination with the in-vitro fenestration technique is promising, effective, and safe. METHODS: Eligible patients were enrolled between June 2018 and December 2021. All patients underwent TEVAR with an evaluated proximal landing zone for "Castor" located in Ishimaru zones 0-1. Moreover, the supra-aortic branches (SABs) were reconstructed using the Castor in combination with the in-vitro fenestration technique. RESULTS: Herein, 57 patients with aortic arch lesions were treated with Castor in combination with the in-vitro fenestration technique. Innominate artery and the left carotid artery (LCA) were reconstructed in 5 patients, LCA and left subclavian artery (LSA) were reconstructed in 22 patients, and the total SABs were effectively reconstructed in 30 patients (including a hybrid arch repair case). Among them (excluding a hybrid arch repair case) were in-vitro fenestration methodologies for LCA in 32 of 34 cases (2 switched to in-situ fenestration) and LSA in 51 of 56 cases (3 switched to in-situ fenestration and 2 converted to spring coil caulking); furthermore, LCA and LSA in-vitro fenestration were simultaneously successfully performed in 27 of 34 cases. There were no surgical-related neurological complications, and early mortality was estimated at 5.26%. At a mean follow-up of 3.75 months, computed tomography (CTA) images confirmed that each branch stent remained patent. There were no signs of endoleaks, migrative manifestations, or the need for secondary endovascular intervention or conversion to open surgical procedures. CONCLUSION: Castor, in combination with in-vitro fenestration, reflects a feasible, efficient procedure for re-developing SABs.

Deep Spatio-Temporal Graph Network with Self-Optimization for Air Quality Prediction.

The environment and development are major issues of general concern. After much suffering from the harm of environmental pollution, human beings began to pay attention to environmental protection and started to carry out pollutant prediction research. A large number of air pollutant predictions have tried to predict pollutants by revealing their evolution patterns, emphasizing the fitting analysis of time series but ignoring the spatial transmission effect of adjacent areas, leading to low prediction accuracy. To solve this problem, we propose a time series prediction network with the self-optimization ability of a spatio-temporal graph neural network (BGGRU) to mine the changing pattern of the time series and the spatial propagation effect. The proposed network includes spatial and temporal modules. The spatial module uses a graph sampling and aggregation network (GraphSAGE) in order to extract the spatial information of the data. The temporal module uses a Bayesian graph gated recurrent unit (BGraphGRU), which applies a graph network to the gated recurrent unit (GRU) so as to fit the data's temporal information. In addition, this study used Bayesian optimization to solve the problem of the model's inaccuracy caused by inappropriate hyperparameters of the model. The high accuracy of the proposed method was verified by the actual PM2.5 data of Beijing, China, which provided an effective method for predicting the PM2.5 concentration.

Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of Nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton immunotherapy for cervical high-risk HPV persistent infection / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton (Nr-CWS) in the treatment of persistent cervical high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection. Methods: A randomized, double blind, multi-center trial was conducted. A total of 688 patients with clinically and pathologically confirmed HR-HPV infection of the cervix diagnosed in 13 hispital nationwide were recruited and divided into: (1) patients with simple HR-HPV infection lasting for 12 months or more; (2) patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) Ⅰ and HR-HPV infection lasting for 12 months or more; (3) patients with the same HR-HPV subtype with no CINⅡ and more lesions after treatment with CINⅡ or CIN Ⅲ (CINⅡ/CIN Ⅲ). All participants were randomly divided into the test group and the control group at a ratio of 2∶1. The test group was locally treated with Nr-CWS freeze-dried powder and the control group was treated with freeze-dried powder without Nr-CWS. The efficacy and negative conversion rate of various subtypes of HR-HPV were evaluated at 1, 4, 8, and 12 months after treatment. The safety indicators of initial diagnosis and treatment were observed. Results: (1) This study included 555 patients with HR-HPV infection in the cervix (included 368 in the test group and 187 in the control group), with an age of (44.1±10.0) years. The baseline characteristics of the two groups of subjects, including age, proportion of Han people, weight, composition of HR-HPV subtypes, and proportion of each subgroup, were compared with no statistically significant differences (all P>0.05). (2) After 12 months of treatment, the effective rates of the test group and the control group were 91.0% (335/368) and 44.9% (84/187), respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (χ2=142.520, P<0.001). After 12 months of treatment, the negative conversion rates of HPV 16, 18, 52, and 58 infection in the test group were 79.2% (84/106), 73.3% (22/30), 83.1% (54/65), and 77.4% (48/62), respectively. The control group were 21.6% (11/51), 1/9, 35.1% (13/37), and 20.0% (8/40), respectively. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (all P<0.001). (3) There were no statistically significant differences in vital signs (body weight, body temperature, respiration, pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, etc.) and laboratory routine indicators (blood cell analysis, urine routine examination) between the test group and the control group before treatment and at 1, 4, 8, and 12 months after treatment (all P>0.05); there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions related to the investigational drug between the two groups of subjects [8.7% (32/368) vs 8.0% (15/187), respectively; χ2=0.073, P=0.787]. Conclusion: External use of Nr-CWS has good efficacy and safety in the treatment of high-risk HPV persistent infection in the cervix.

Factors influencing clinical pregnancy outcome of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection in older women.

Objective: To analyse the factors influencing clinical pregnancy outcome of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) in older women, and to establish a risk prediction model. Methods: A total of 425 patients receiving IVF/ICSI from March 2018 to March 2020 were divided into pregnancy group (n=194) and non-pregnancy group (n=231). The factors affecting the outcomes of IVF/ICSI were explored by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. A nomogram prediction model was constructed. Results: The two groups had significantly different age, body mass index, dysmenorrhea, parity, times of full-term births, history of cesarean section, basal follicle stimulating hormone, basal antral follicle count (AFC), number of high-quality embryos, and basal estradiol, luteinizing hormone and endometrial thickness on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) administration (P<0.05). Age ≥40 years old, dysmenorrhea, history of cesarean section, basal AFC<9, number of high-quality embryos <4, and endometrial thickness on the day of HCG administration <11 mm led to IVF/ICSI failure. The established model exhibited high calibration and discrimination degrees in predicting the outcome of IVF/ICSI. Conclusion: The risk prediction model for the pregnancy outcome of IVF/ICSI in older women helps evaluate the fertility probability and risk, providing references for formulating reasonable assisted reproduction plans.

Ocean Wind Observation Based on the Mean Square Slope Using a Self-Developed Miniature Wave Buoy.

Real-time, continuous, and long-term marine monitoring data benefits ocean research. This study developed a low-cost, multi-parameter, miniature wave buoy. High spatial and temporal resolution of sea surface parameters, including wind, waves, and current, can be obtained at low cost through the deployment of numerous buoys, thus forming an observation array. Tested in the laboratory water tank, the relative error of water surface slope measurement of the buoy was approximately 5.6% when the slope angle was less than 15°. For frequencies between 0.1 and 1.0 Hz, the measurement of slope spectrum was almost identical to that of the wave gauge. The buoy underestimated the slope spectrum between 1.0−1.56 Hz. A good relationship (r2 = 0.75) was obtained between wind speed at 10 m above sea surface (U10) and the low-pass-filtered mean square slope (LPMSS). After incorporating the wave age into the U10 inversion process, the root mean square error (RMSE) and BIAS were reduced to 1.15 m/s and 0.02 m/s, respectively. The 2D distribution of buoy-measured slope components was used to detect the wind direction, with an RMSE of 23.7°. The spectral tail slope steepened with increasing wind speed at low wind speeds (<7 m/s). A technical flow chart of the miniature wave buoy is proposed to observe the sea surface parameters. This miniature buoy will play an essential complementary role in the growing demand for sea state monitoring, especially in nearshore oceans.

An Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Dimerization Inhibitor Prevents the Progression of Osteoarthritis.

Objective: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease. Excessive nitric oxide (NO) mediates the chondrocyte inflammatory response, apoptosis, and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation during the occurrence and development of OA. NO in chondrocytes is mainly produced by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The aim of this study was to design and synthesize an iNOS dimerization inhibitor and evaluate its effects on chondrocyte inflammation and articular cartilage injury in OA via in vitro and in vivo experiments. Design: The title compound 22o was designed, synthesized, and screened based on a previous study. The effects of different concentrations (5, 10, and 20 µM) of compound 22o on chondrocyte inflammatory response and ECM anabolism or catabolism were evaluated by Western blot and real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using the rat chondrocyte model of IL-1ß-induced OA. Furthermore, different doses (40 and 80 mg/kg) of compound 22o were administered by gavage to a rat OA model induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT), and their protective effects on the articular cartilage were evaluated by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Results: Compound 22o showed effective iNOS inhibitory activity by inhibiting the dimerization of iNOS. It inhibited the IL-1ß-induced expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3) in the chondrocytes, decreased NO production, and significantly increased the expression levels of the ECM anabolic markers, aggrecan (ACAN), and collagen type II (COL2A1). Gavage with compound 22o was found to be effective in the rat OA model induced by ACLT, wherein it regulated the anabolism and catabolism and exerted a protective effect on the articular cartilage. Conclusions: Compound 22o inhibited the inflammatory response and catabolism of the chondrocytes and reduced articular cartilage injury in the rat OA model, indicating its potential as a disease-modifying OA drug.

Association between the rs4784227-CASC16 polymorphism and the risk of breast cancer: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Although several studies have identified an association between the rs4784227-cancer susceptibility candidate gene 16 (CASC16) polymorphism and breast cancer, the results remain inconclusive. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to assess the relationship between the rs4784227-CASC16 polymorphism and breast cancer risk. METHODS: Studies were searched in the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Google Scholar, and Cochran Library databases until June 10, 2021, to identify all potential literature on rs4784227-CASC16 polymorphism and breast cancer risk association. Fixed-effect or random-effect models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Subgroup analyses, publication bias, and sensitivity analyses were also conducted. RESULTS: Seventeen eligible studies involving 34,719 subjects (18,445 cases and 16,274 healthy controls) from 7 articles were included in the current meta-analysis. The pooled ORs regarding the association between the rs4784227-CASC16 polymorphism and breast cancer risk were statistically significant [T vs C: OR = 1.244, 95% CI = 1.202-1.287; TT vs CT + CC: OR = 1.407, 95% CI = 1.296-1.528; CC vs CT + TT: OR = 0.777, 95% CI = 0.745-0.811; TT vs CC: OR = 1.544, 95% CI = 1.419-1.681; CT vs CC: OR = 1.244, 95% CI = 1.189-1.301]. On subgroup analysis, the rs4784227-CASC16 T/C gene has a certain correlation with breast cancer susceptibility in Asian and North American populations, but no significant risk in the Australian population. CONCLUSION: Our pooled analysis showed a significant association between the rs4784227- (T) allele and breast cancer susceptibility in Asian and North American populations, and intervention with this mutation might be a new therapeutic strategy for breast cancer. However, large-scale and well-designed studies are needed in different populations to further evaluate the role of the rs4784227-CASC16 polymorphism in breast cancer.