Naftopidil for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms compatible with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition in ageing men that may cause lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Treatment aims are to relieve symptoms and prevent disease-related complications. Naftopidil is an alpha-blocker (AB) that has a high affinity for the A1d receptor that may have advantages in treating LUTS in this setting.

Gold Nanoparticles Biosynthesized and Functionalized Using a Hydroxylated Tetraterpenoid Trigger Gene Expression Changes and Apoptosis in Cancer Cells.

Understanding the synthetic mechanisms and cell-nanoparticle interactions of biosynthesized and functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using natural products is of great importance for developing their applications in nanomedicine. In this study, we detailed the biotransformation mechanism of Au(III) into AuNPs using a hydroxylated tetraterpenoid deinoxanthin (DX) from the extremophile Deinococcus radiodurans. During the process, Au(III) was rapidly reduced to Au(I) and subsequently reduced to Au(0) by deprotonation of the hydroxyl head groups of the tetraterpenoid.

Synthesis and Luminescence Properties of Bi-Activated KMgGeO: A Promising High-Brightness Orange-Emitting Phosphor for WLEDs Conversion.

In this article we synthesized a series of phosphors KMgGeO:Bi with high brightness for white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs) conversion and investigated their crystal structures and luminescence properties using powder X-ray diffraction, diffuse reflectance spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectra, and absolute quantum efficiency. KMgGeO:Bi phosphor exhibits intense absorption in near-UV area and presents a broad asymmetric emission band with the main peak located at 614 nm, which was ascribed to the P → S transition of Bi. The absolute quantum efficiency of the KMgGeO:0.

Mechanisms for therapeutic effect of bulleyaconitine A on chronic pain.

Bulleyaconitine A, a diterpenoid alkaloid isolated from Aconitum bulleyanum plants, has been used for the treatment of chronic pain in China since 1985. Clinical studies show that the oral administration of bulleyaconitine A is effective for treating different kinds of chronic pain, including back pain, joint pain, and neuropathic pain with minimal side effect in human patients. The experimental studies have revealed that bulleyaconitine A at therapeutic doses potently inhibits the peripheral sensitization and central sensitization that underlie chronic pain and has no effect on acute pain.

Midwifery policy in contemporary and modern China: From the past to the future.

Objective: This study aims to outline the progress of midwifery-related policies in contemporary and modern China as well as the obstacles in this process, and to provide recommendations for policy makers in the establishment of Chinese midwifery policies, ultimately promoting the development of midwifery in China.

Background And Introduction: Policy plays an increasingly important role in midwifery development, particularly needed in modern China. A review of policies of midwifery could help policy makers develop effective strategies to address current problems in China, including the insufficient numbers of midwives, the shrinking of responsibility and the degradation of midwives' competency.

DR1440 is a potential iron efflux protein involved in maintenance of iron homeostasis and resistance of Deinococcus radiodurans to oxidative stress.

Iron acquisition by bacteria is well studied, but iron export from bacteria is less understood. Herein, we identified dr1440 with a P-type ATPase motif as a potential exporter of iron from Deinococcus radiodurans, a bacterium known for its extreme resistance to radiation and oxidants. The DR1440 was located in cell membrane as demonstrated by fluorescence labelling analysis.

Illuminating nanostructured gold electrode: surface plasmons or electron ejection?

Recently, the photoelectric effect in metals in electrolyte environments has aroused the interest of researchers. However, direct evidence for surface plasmons-enhanced electrochemical reactions involving classic outer-sphere reactions of reversible redox couples is seldom reported. We used a surface plasmons-active gold-mushroom-array as a working electrode and observed enhanced faradaic current from ferrocenemethanol following illumination with a xenon lamp.

Developing near-infrared long-lasting phosphorescence of Yb through a medium: insights into energy transfer in the novel material ZnLiPO:Yb.

Near-infrared (NIR) long-lasting phosphorescence (LLP) phosphors have potential applications in biological and military fields. However, the properties of these phosphors are insufficient to satisfy the demands. Herein, we report a series of novel LLP phosphors Zn1.

[Concentrations and Health Risk Assessments of Heavy Metal Contents in Soil and Rice of Mine Contaminated Areas].

Nandan County is famous for its mining of nonferrous metals. In order to investigate the effects of mining activities on the soil and rice and to evaluate the health risk of the exposure of typical local inhabitants to heavy metals via consumption of rice, a consecutive 3-day household diet survey in four villages in Nandan was conducted. Liuzhai is an uncontaminated contrast area, and Chehe, Dachang, and Zhanglao are contaminated areas.

[Spatial Distribution Study and Pollution Assessment of Pb in Soils in the Xijiang River Drainage of Guangxi].

To obtain data for the accumulation of Pb and its risk in soils in the Xijiang River drainage of Guangxi, 2594 samples were collected from nonferrous metal mining soils, farmland soils (paddy soils and dryland soils), and the background soils in the drainage area. Geostatistical analysis combined with GIS was used to study the soil spatial distribution characteristics and pollution distribution of the soil Pb content. The results showed that the Pb background value of the soil was 51.

[Spatial Variability and Contamination of Arsenic in Soils of Xijiang River Basin].

In this study, 2585 soil samples were collected in the Xijiang River Basin in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and the spatial variability and contamination of Arsenic in soils were evaluated using geostatistical and GIS tools. The results showed that the concentrations of As in surface soils (23.82 mg·kg) were higher than the background values of the Guangxi and Xijiang Rivers in natural soils; the upstream values (Diaojiang River and Huanjiang River) (30.

Gender Differences in Negative Affect During Acute Tobacco Abstinence Differ Between African American and White Adult Cigarette Smokers.

Introduction: Prior studies have found heightened negative affect following tobacco abstinence in women compared to men. However, experimental work addressing whether these findings generalize across racial groups is scarce. This study investigated whether race (non-Hispanic White vs.

[The expression of PIK3CA in nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

Analysis of phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase catalytic subunit of alpha(PIK3CA) expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and prognosis.On normal nasopharyngeal mucosa and tissue adjacent to carcinoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues serine/threonine protein kinase (pAkt) and the expression of PIK3CA status detection,immunohistochemical method,in-depth analysis is made to the relationship between the development of tumor; The expression of tumour stage,prognosis and IK3CA comprehensive analysis of the relationship between.Tissue adjacent to carcinoma,pAkt in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissue,the expression of PIK3CA increased significantly(<0.

Suppression of Slit3 induces tumor proliferation and chemoresistance in hepatocellular carcinoma through activation of GSK3β/β-catenin pathway.

Background: It is essential to understand the mechanisms responsible for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression and chemoresistance in order to identify prognostic biomarkers as well as potential therapeutic avenues. Recent findings have shown that SLIT3 appears to function as a novel tumor suppressor gene in various types of cancers, yet its clinical correlation and role in HCC has not been understood clearly.

Methods: We determined the transcript levels of Slit3 in tumor and adjacent normal tissues within two cohorts (N = 40 and 25) of HCC patients, and correlated the gene expression with the clinicopathological data.

Bulleyaconitine A attenuates hyperexcitability of dorsal root ganglion neurons induced by spared nerve injury: The role of preferably blocking Nav1.7 and Nav1.3 channels.

Background Oral administration of Bulleyaconitine A, an extracted diterpenoid alkaloid from Aconitum bulleyanum plants, is effective for treating chronic pain in rats and in human patients, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Results As the hyperexcitability of dorsal root ganglion neurons resulting from the upregulation of voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channels has been proved critical for development of chronic pain, we tested the effects of Bulleyaconitine A on Nav channels in rat spared nerve injury model of neuropathic pain. We found that Bulleyaconitine A at 5 nM increased the threshold of action potentials and reduced the firing rate of dorsal root ganglion neurons in spared nerve injury rats but not in sham rats.

Upregulation of N-type calcium channels in the soma of uninjured dorsal root ganglion neurons contributes to neuropathic pain by increasing neuronal excitability following peripheral nerve injury.

N-type voltage-gated calcium (Cav2.2) channels are expressed in the central terminals of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, and are critical for neurotransmitter release. Cav2.

Fullerene/layered antiferromagnetic reconstructed spinterface: Subsurface layer dominates molecular orbitals' spin-split and large induced magnetic moment.

The interfaces between organic molecules and magnetic metals have gained increasing interest for both fundamental reasons and applications. Among them, the C/layered antiferromagnetic (AFM) interfaces have been studied only for C bonded to the outermost ferromagnetic layer [S. L.

Biosynthesis of Au, Ag and Au-Ag bimetallic nanoparticles using protein extracts of and evaluation of their cytotoxicity.

Background: Biosynthesis of noble metallic nanoparticles (NPs) has attracted significant interest due to their environmental friendly and biocompatible properties.

Methods: In this study, we investigated syntheses of Au, Ag and Au-Ag bimetallic NPs using protein extracts of , which demonstrated powerful metal-reducing ability. The obtained NPs were characterized and analyzed by various spectroscopy techniques.

Altered Regional Homogeneity in Chronic Insomnia Disorder with or without Cognitive Impairment.

Background And Purpose: Many studies have shown that insomnia is an independent factor in cognitive impairment, but the involved neurobiological mechanisms remain unclear. We used regional homogeneity to explore the specific neurobiologic indicators of chronic insomnia disorder with mild cognitive impairment.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-nine patients with insomnia were divided into a group with and without cognitive impairment; we also included a control group ( = 28).

History dependence in insect flight decisions during odor tracking.

Natural decision-making often involves extended decision sequences in response to variable stimuli with complex structure. As an example, many animals follow odor plumes to locate food sources or mates, but turbulence breaks up the advected odor signal into intermittent filaments and puffs. This scenario provides an opportunity to ask how animals use sparse, instantaneous, and stochastic signal encounters to generate goal-oriented behavioral sequences.

The INTERGROWTH-21 fetal growth standards: toward the global integration of pregnancy and pediatric care.

The purpose of the INTERGROWTH-21 project was to develop international, prescriptive standards for fetal growth assessed by ultrasound and fundal height, preterm postnatal growth, newborn size and body composition, maternal weight gain, and infant development at the age of 2 years. Hence, we have produced, based on World Health Organization recommendations, the first comprehensive set of international standards of optimal fetal and newborn growth that perfectly match the existing World Health Organization child growth standards. Uniquely, the same population was followed up longitudinally from 9 weeks of fetal life to 2 years of age, with growth, health, and nutritional status assessment at 2 years supporting the appropriateness of the population for construction of growth standards.

The satisfactory growth and development at 2 years of age of the INTERGROWTH-21 Fetal Growth Standards cohort support its appropriateness for constructing international standards.

Background: The World Health Organization recommends that human growth should be monitored with the use of international standards. However, in obstetric practice, we continue to monitor fetal growth using numerous local charts or equations that are based on different populations for each body structure. Consistent with World Health Organization recommendations, the INTERGROWTH-21 Project has produced the first set of international standards to date pregnancies; to monitor fetal growth, estimated fetal weight, Doppler measures, and brain structures; to measure uterine growth, maternal nutrition, newborn infant size, and body composition; and to assess the postnatal growth of preterm babies.

Acupuncture for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a common condition affecting men of all ages. Acupuncture may be an effective treatment option for CP/CPPS, but evidence is limited. We propose to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture in a rigorously conducted trial.