Parametric analysis of craniocerebral injury mechanism in pedestrian traffic accidents based on finite element methods.

Purpose: The toughest challenge in pedestrian traffic accident identification lies in ascertaining injury manners. This study aimed to systematically simulate and parameterize 3 types of craniocerebral injury including impact injury, fall injury, and run-over injury, to compare the injury response outcomes of different injury manners.

Methods: Based on the total human model for safety (THUMS) and its enhanced human model THUMS-hollow structures, a total of 84 simulations with 3 injury manners, different loading directions, and loading velocities were conducted.

Asymmetric gradient orbital interaction of hetero-diatomic active sites for promoting C - C coupling.

Diatomic-site catalysts (DACs) garner tremendous attention for selective CO photoreduction, especially in the thermodynamical and kinetical mechanism of CO to C products. Herein, we first engineer a novel Zn-porphyrin/RuCu-pincer complex DAC (ZnPor-RuCuDAC). The heteronuclear ZnPor-RuCuDAC exhibits the best acetate selectivity (95.

SrCl·6HO: An Alkaline-Earth-Metal Chloride Hexahydrate as Deep-Ultraviolet Nonlinear-Optical Crystal with the {[Sr(HO)]} Cationic Framework.

Exploring deep-ultraviolet (DUV) nonlinear-optical (NLO) materials is significant for the conversion of high-frequency laser. Herein, two alkali-earth-metal halide hexahydrates, SrX·6HO (X = Cl, Br), were obtained, and the centimeter-sized single crystals of SrCl·6HO were grown by a slow evaporation method. Both of them crystallize in the trigonal space group 321, and their crystal structures show {[Sr(HO)]} cationic chains, with isolated Cl or Br anions interspersed between the chains.

ASPP2 reduction attenuates HBV induced chronic liver damage: A hybrid mouse model study.

Background & Aim: P53 Apoptosis Stimulating Protein 2 (ASPP2) is confirmed to participate in cellular activities including apoptosis, proliferation, autophagy, injury and so on. However, the role of ASPP2 in Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has not been reported in detail. The study explored the role of ASPP2 in HBV induced chronic liver damage.

Assessment of probiotic adhesion and inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli and Salmonella adhesion.

In this study, we screened bacterial strains to identify specific probiotics to treat pig diarrhea caused by Escherichia coli or Salmonella. The potential probiotics were assayed for their survival in gastrointestinal solution, their antimicrobial activity, cell-surface properties, adhesion to Caco-2 cells, and inhibition of pathogen adhesion. Nine out of the 20 strains tested showed high tolerance of a simulated gastrointestinal environment and six strains exerted antagonistic effects against enterohemorrhagic E.

Determination of urinary carnitine levels as a potential indicator of uterine fibroids caused by nonylphenol exposure.

Our previous studies have shown that uterine fibroids are associated with nonylphenol (NP) exposure, and the changes of carnitines in critical reproductive tissues and body fluids could be used to indicate the female reproductive toxicity caused by NP exposure. In this work, on the basis of further clarifying the correlation between NP exposure level and uterine fibroids, the possibility of the urinary carnitine levels as a potential indicator of uterine fibroids caused by NP exposure was discussed. The urine samples were collected from 84 female volunteers: the control group of 34 healthy women without gynecological disease and 50 uterine fibroids patients, respectively.

Sleep quality and health service utilization in Chinese general population: a cross-sectional study in Dongguan, China.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to explore the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and health service utilization in Chinese general population, to investigate the association between PSQI and health service utilization and to identify the independent contributions of social demographic variables, health related factors and PSQI to health service utilization.

Methods: In a cross-sectional community-based health survey using a multi-instrument questionnaire, 4067 subjects (≥15 years old) were studied. The Chinese version of the PSQI was used to assess sleep quality.

[Study on cut-off value of IHA method for schistosomiasis diagnosis in different endemic areas].

Objective: To explore the cut-off value of the indirect haemagglutination test (IHA) method for schistosomiasis japonica diagnosis in different endemic areas.

Methods: Totally 55 nature villages of the lake-type endemic counties, Yugan and Xinzi, in Poyang Lake Region of Jiangxi Province were chosen as the study fields, and all the villagers over 5 years old were parallelly examined by Kato-Katz method + miracidial hatching test and IHA method. The detection data were analyzed by the correlation analysis, and the threshold values of the IHA method in different endemic areas were decided by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

[FTIR spectra study on the swellbility and controlled-release mechanism of polyurethane coated urea].

The nutrient release experiment of polyurethane coated urea (PCU) was carried out in pure water at 25 degrees C. With the release of urea, the structural variation of polyurethane coating was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), then a series of curves were collated and compared so as to better reflect the relation between diffusion rate of urea and coating structure. It was found that when the nutrient was released by 50% wt, new absorption peaks at 3 435, 3 342, 1 671, 1 621, 1 448 and 1 159 cm(-1) appear in the FTIR spectra of polyurethane coating, moreover, the height of these absorption peaks was increased gradually when the nutrient was released by 70% wt, more importantly, these new absorption peaks are consistent with the characteristic absorption peaks of urea fertilizer, the spectra of urea were mainly characterized by bands at 3 440, 3 346, 1 672, 1 621 and 1 461 cm(-1).

[Surveillance of schistosomiasis in Zhuxi Village, Xingzi County, 2005-2010].

Objective: To understand the effect of schistosomiasis control in Zhuxi Village, Xingzi County, Jiangxi Province.

Methods: According to the national scheme of schistosomiasis surveillance, we investigated the schistosomiasis epidemic in Zhuxi Village from 2005-2010. The epidemic data of schistosomiasis on the humans, farm cattle, and Oncomelania snails were collected, respectively and analyzed by using the method of Cochran-Armitage test.

[Evaluation on application of common diagnosis methods for schistosomiasis japonica in endemic areas of China. III. Analysis and evaluation of underestimation of prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum infection by routine Kato-Katz technique].

Objective: To understand the rates of underestimation of Schistosoma japonicum infection by Kato-Katz technique with different stool samples and different smears in field site.

Methods: With 27 Kato-Katz thick smears (3 stool samples with 9 thick smears each) for 3 consecutive years as a "gold standard", the rates of underestimation of schistosome infection by Kato-Katz technique with different stool samples and different smears were evaluated in a schistosomiasis endemic village.

Results: The examined rates of schistosome infection increased and the rates of underestimation decreased gradually with the increase of the number of Kato-Katz thick smears examined.

[FTIR spectra study on the film of polyurethane coated urea controlled-release fertilizer].

The polyurethane films were prepared to wrap the urea in order to achieve a desirable release rate by mixing isocyanate, polyols and wax. The effect of wax, urea and isocyanate on the structure and properties of the films was investigated by FTIR. The structural changes were monitored as the polyurethane films together with the wrapped urea were immersed into ammonia water for 28 days, which is used to model soil conditions.

[Mutation analysis of the eda-A1 gene for hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia and construction of recombined eukaryotic expression vector].

Objective: The purpose of this study was to clone and analyze mutation in the eda-A1 gene for hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED), and to construct a new recombined eukaryotic expression vector (mutant M, wild W) as a basis for further study on the genetic function.

Methods: After total mRNA was extracted from peripheral blood lymphocytes from the HED affect patient and control, eda-A1 gene was amplified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with a pair of specific primers containing the constriction enzyme sites of BamH I and Hind III. When the vector pcDNA3.

Controlled immobilization of chondroitin sulfate in polyacrylic acid networks.

Novel semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs) of chondroitin sulfate (ChS) and acrylic acid (AA) were prepared with the aim of obtaining a hydrogel for use as a colon-specific drug carrier. By controlling the concentrations of cross-linking agent, diethylene glycol dimethacrylate (DEGDA), as well as the reaction solvent, high swelling percentages were obtained (approx. 1600%).

Effects of serum containing Xinlikang on angiotensin ii induced hypertrophy in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of Xinlikang (XLK) on angiotensin II (Ang II) induced hypertrophic cultured neonatal rat's cardiomyocyte (CMC).

Methods: Primary cultured neonatal rat's CMCs with the purity certified by immunohistochemical technique, were divided into three groups. Rats in the normal control group were untreated; those in the model group were established into hypertrophic models but underwent no treatment; and those in the XLK group were established to hypertrophic models and treated with XLK containing serum obtained from rats with aorta coarctation after 8 days of feeding with XLK.

Diverse effects of long-term treatment with imidapril and irbesartan on cell growth signal, apoptosis and collagen type I expression in the left ventricle of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

To compare diverse effects of angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonists (irbesartan) and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (imidapril) on left ventricular remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Thirty male SHR were randomly divided into three groups: SHR-IR (treated with irbesartan, 50 mg/kg), SHR-IM (imidapril, 3 mg/kg), SHR-C (placebo). Ten male Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) treated with placebo acted as the control.

Mesenteric artery remodeling and effects of imidapril and irbesartan on it in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Aim: To investigate the remodeling of mesenteric artery and the expression of TGF-beta1, c-Jun in mesenteric artery and effects of imidapril and irbesartan on the remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

Methods: Thirty SHR (male/female, 21/9), aged 13 wk, were randomly divided into 3 groups (7 male rats and 3 female rats each group): SHR group, imidapril group (imidapril 3 mg/kg.d was given in drinking water for 14 wk), and irbesartan group (irbesartan 50 mg/kg.

Effect of angiotensin II receptor 1 antisense oligodoexynucleotides on physiological and pathophysiological growth of cardiomyocytes.

Aim: To evaluate the role of angiotensin II receptor 1 antisense oligodexynucleotides (AT1R-AS-ODNs) on physiological and pathophysiological growth of cardiomyocytes from normotensive rats.

Methods: Cardiomyocytes were transfected with AT1R-AS-ODNs (200 nmol/L) followed by treatment with or without angiotensin II (1 micromol/L). In situ hybridization and Western blot were used for AT1R mRNA and protein detection, respectively.

In vivo protective effect of protocatechuic acid on tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced rat hepatotoxicity.

Increasing evidence regarding free-radical generating agents and the inflammatory process suggests that accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can involve hepatotoxicity. Previously, we found that protocatechuic acid (PCA), a polyphenolic compound from Hibiscus sabdariffa L. possessing free radical-scavenging capacity, protected against oxidative damage induced by tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-BHP) in rat primary hepatocytes.