Source Area of the Immigrant Population of Beet Webworm (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Northern Xinjiang, China.

The beet webworm, Loxostege sticticalis (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is a destructive pest inhabiting the northern temperate zone. In Xinjiang, China, this species has only occasionally infested certain areas, but has been causing severe damage since 2005. Early studies showed that most of the outbreak populations in northern Xinjiang are immigrant populations.

The salt secretion of leaves promotes the competitiveness of Reaumuria soongarica in a desert grassland.

Background: For better understanding the mechanism of Reaumuria soongarica community formation in a salt stressed grassland ecosystem, we designed a field experiment to test how leaves salt secretion changes the competitive relationship between species in this plant communities.

Results: Among the three species (R. soongarica, Stipa glareosa and Allium polyrhizum) of the salt stressed grassland ecosystem, the conductivity of R.

Apelin-13 inhibits apoptosis and excessive autophagy in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Apelin-13 is a novel endogenous ligand for an angiotensin-like orphan G-protein coupled receptor, and it may be neuroprotective against cerebral ischemia injury. However, the precise mechanisms of the effects of apelin-13 remain to be elucidated. To investigate the effects of apelin-13 on apoptosis and autophagy in models of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, a rat model was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion.

Targeting an Autocrine Regulatory Loop in Cancer Stem-like Cells Impairs the Progression and Chemotherapy Resistance of Bladder Cancer.

Purpose: Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) contribute to bladder cancer chemotherapy resistance and progression, but the associated mechanisms have not been elucidated. This study determined whether blocking an autocrine signaling loop in CSCs improves the therapeutic effects of -platinum on bladder cancer.

Experimental Design: The expression of the epithelial marker OV6 and other markers in human bladder cancer specimens was examined by IHC.

Multitarget Therapeutic Effect of Fasudil in APP/PS1transgenic Mice.

Introduction: Therapeutic strategies targeting Alzheimer's disease-related molecule β- amyloid (Aβ), Tau protein and β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme (BACE) have been recently explored. However, the treatment effect for single target is not ideal. Based on multiaspect roles of Rho kinase inhibitor Fasudil on neuroprotection, neurorepair and immunomodulation, we observed therapeutic potential of Fasudil and explored possible mechanisms in amyloid precursor protein/ presenilin-1 transgenic (APP/PS1 Tg) mice, an animal model of Alzheimer's disease.

The comparison of clinical and biological characteristics between IDH1 and IDH2 mutations in gliomas.

Background: Mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) and isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) are frequent in low-grade gliomas and secondary glioblastomas (sGBM). Because they yield the same oncometabolite, D-2-hydroxyglutarate, they are often treated as equivalent and pooled. The objective of this study was to provide insight into the differences between IDH1 and IDH2 mutant gliomas.

Application of a laser-guided docking system in robot-assisted urologic surgery.

Background: This work explores the clinical significance of a laser-guided docking system for robot-assisted urologic surgery.

Materials And Methods: Between July 2013 and June 2014, 40 patients underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP), and 32 patients underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (RAPN) performed by a single surgeon. In the RALP and RAPN groups, the robot was docked in the traditional way in 20 and 16 cases, respectively.

Cryo-ablation improves anti-tumor immunity through recovering tumor educated dendritic cells in tumor-draining lymph nodes.

Background: In addition to minimally invasive destruction of tumors, cryo-ablation of tumors to some extent modulated anti-tumor immunity. Cryo-ablated tumors in glioma mice models induced anti-tumor cellular immunologic response which increases the percentage of CD3(+) and CD4(+)T cells in blood as well as natural killer cells. As a crucial role in triggering anti-tumor immunity, dendritic cells (DCs) were educated by tumors to adopt a tolerance phenotype which helps the tumor escape from immune monitoring.

A novel urinary long non-coding RNA transcript improves diagnostic accuracy in patients undergoing prostate biopsy.

Background: Long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) PCA3 has been a well-established urine biomarker for the detection of prostate cancer (PCa). Our previous study showed a novel LncRNA FR0348383 is up-regulated in over 70% of PCa compared with matched benign tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of urinary FR0348383 for men undergoing prostate biopsy due to elevated PSA (PSA > 4.

An integrated approach for detection and characterization of the trace impurities in levofloxacin using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Rationale: Impurity analysis plays an important role to guarantee the quality and safety of pharmaceuticals. However, identification of impurities remains challenging, especially for those unknown or at trace levels. We present an integrated approach to detect and characterize the trace impurities in drugs.

A new tetrahydrofuran-type lignan with anti-inflammatory activity from Asarum heterotropoides Fr. Schmidt var. mandshuricum.

A new tetrahydrofuran-type lignan, episesaminone (1), was isolated from Asarum heterotropoides Fr. Schmidt var. mandshuricum (Maxim.

Are the Aging Male's Symptoms (AMS) scale and the Androgen Deficiency in the Aging Male (ADAM) questionnaire suitable for the screening of late-onset hypogonadism in aging Chinese men?

The Aging Male's Symptoms (AMS) scale and the Androgen Deficiency in the Aging Male (ADAM) questionnaire have been widely used for screening men suspected of late-onset hypogonadism (LOH). We evaluated the consistency of the two questionnaires with sex hormone levels. A total of 985 men completed the two questionnaires, as well as an analysis of the serum levels of total testosterone (TT), bioavailable testosterone (BT), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), prolactin (PRL) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG).

[Feasibility of the aging males' symptoms scale for the male population of Shanghai].

Objective: To assess the reliability and validity of the Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) scale in the male population of Shanghai.

Methods: We enrolled 973 males aged 40 years and over in a community of Shanghai, China. Using the AMS scale, we calculated the split-half reliability coefficient and Cronbach's alpha coefficient, assessed the validity through confirmatory factor analysis and correlation analysis, and obtained the domain scores of different people by analysis of variance and independent sample test.

[Lower urinary tract symptoms and prostatic growth pattern among old and middle-aged males in Shanghai community].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and the age-related growth pattern of the prostate among 40 -70 year-old males in Shanghai community.

Methods: Using cluster and stratified random sampling and IPSS, we investigated the prevalence of LUTS among 1000 males aged 40 -70 years in the general population of Shanghai from November 2009 to June 2010. We measured the transverse, anteroposterior and vertical diameters of the prostate and its transition zone in each volunteer by transrectal ultrasonography and established the equation for the age-related growth pattern of the prostate.

Relationship between age and prostate size.

In a community-based study, the relationship between age and human prostate size was investigated in a population of men between the ages of 40 and 70 years to determine the normal prostate increase curve equation. One thousand male volunteers were randomly recruited from the Shanghai community, and the length, width, height, volume of the transition zone (TZ) and the whole prostates were measured by transrectal ultrasound (TRUS). Each volunteer was evaluated by the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS).

A novel set of surgical instruments facilitate the procedure of laparoscopic pyeloplasty.

Background: Open pyeloplasty has been historically described as the gold standard for the surgical treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO), even if new techniques have recently gained a prominent role in this field. Laparoscopic pyeloplasty (LP) is not widely prevelant because of the technically challenging nature and it represents the gold standard for UPJO only in expert hands. To overcome some difficulties and technical challenges encountered during pure laparoscopic pyeloplasty, we designed a set of new instruments and assessed them using porcine model.

[Risk factors of heart and lung failure in children with severe hand, foot and mouth disease and treatment experience].

Objective: To study risk factors for severe hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) complicated by heart and lung failure and treatment experience.

Methods: A total of 198 children with severe HFMD between March and August in 2011 were enrolled. Univariate analysis and logistic regression model were used to analyze the risk factors severe HFMD complicated by heart and lung failure.

Relationship between serum sex hormones levels and degree of benign prostate hyperplasia in Chinese aging men.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common medical conditions in middle aged and older men. This study investigated the relationship between serum levels of sex hormones and measures of BPH in the aging male population of China. Prostate symptoms were assessed as part of a free health screening program for men ≥ 40 years of age.

[Expression of iNOS protein and gliacyte apoptosis in neonatal rats with white matter damage].

Objective: Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is a main rate-limiting enzyme resulting in over-production of nitric oxide following hypoxia-ischemia (HI). The aim of this study was to observe the expression of iNOS protein and gliacyte apoptosis in the brains of premature rats after HI, in order to explore possible relationships of iNOS with white matter damage (WMD).

Methods: One hundred and twelve 2-day-old premature rats were randomly subjected to right carotid ligation followed by 4 hrs hypoxic stress (WMD group) or sham operation (control group).

Differential phosphoprotein levels and pathway analysis identify the transition mechanism of LNCaP cells into androgen-independent cells.

Background: Androgen withdrawal can prolong life in men with advanced prostate cancer, but these remissions are temporary because the surviving cells progress as hormone-refractory cancer. The mechanisms that are involved in the transition of androgen-dependent prostate cancer into androgen-independent prostate cancer (AIPC) are not fully understood.

Objective: To identify globally differentially expressed phosphoproteins in the androgen-independent prostate, to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that underlie the formation of AIPC and to identify new molecular targets that can be used to develop treatments for the disease.

[Expression of GRP78 and caspase-12 in neonatal rats with experimental hypoxic-ischemic white matter damage].

Objective: GRP78 is a sensitive marker of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Caspase-12 is involved in apoptosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress. This study was designed to explore the changes of GRP78 and caspase-12 mRNA in neonatal rats with experimental hypoxic-ischemic white matter damage (WMD) and investigate the roles of endoplasmic reticulum stress in the WMD.

[Experimental studies of kidney biopsy by natural orifices: transgastric and transvesical combined approach].

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of kidney biopsy by transgastric and transvesical combined approach in the porcine model.

Methods: Five female pigs (20 to 30 kg) were included in this study. All procedures were performed with pigs under general anesthesia.