A Study of Urodynamic Parameters at Different Bladder Filling Stages for Predicting Upper Urinary Tract Dilatation

Lei Lyu,Ya Xiong Yao,Er Peng Liu,Yan Ping Zhang,Hui Jie Hu,Feng Ping Ji,Qing Song Pu,Xing Huan Yang,Qing Wei Wang,Yan Wang,Jian Guo Wen 대한배뇨장애요실금학회 2022 International Neurourology Journal Vol.26 No.1

Purpose: To identify more accurate predictors of upper urinary tract dilatation (UUTD) in neurogenic bladder (NB) children, we studied the relationship among urodynamic parameters at different bladder filling stages, detrusor leak point pressure (DLPP) and UUTD. Methods: A total of 158 children (3–16 years) with NB were included and then divided into 2 groups according to whether their NB diagnosis was complicated with UUTD: the UUTD group (39 patients) and those without UUTD group (control group, 119 patients). The bladder filling phase was divided into 3 equal parts: the early, middle, and end filling stages. The bladder compliance (BC) and detrusor pressure (△Pdet) at each phase and DLPP at the end filling stage were recorded. Results: A BC<8 mL/cm H2O both in the middle and end stages is more specific than a BC<9 mL/cm H2O in the end stage (72%, 73%, vs. 66%), and △Pdet >8 cm H2O in the early stage, 20 cm H2O in the middle stage and 25 cm H2O in the end stage are more sensitive than △Pdet >40 cm H2O in the end stage (82%, 85%, 85%, vs. 49%). A DLPP cutoff value of 20 cm H2O showed higher sensitivity for predicting UUTD than 40 cm H2O. Conclusions: Low BC and a high △Pdet in the middle and end filling stages are more accurate factors than classic indicators for predicting UUTD. In addition, a DLPP value of >20 cm H2O in the end bladder filling stage shows high sensitivity.

A Novel Kinetic Analysis of Crystallization of Polypropylene (PP) in Dynamically-vulcanized PP/Ethylene-propylene-diene Rubber (EPDM) Blends Using an In-situ Measurement Technique

Lei Hu,Bin Yang,Yan-Li Deng,Fei-Xue Lu,Ru Xia,Zheng-Zhi Zheng,Ji-Bin Miao,Jia-Sheng Qian,Chuan-Ru Zhang,Peng Chen,Yu-Chuan Zhang 한국고분자학회 2017 폴리머 Vol.41 No.4

The effects of cooling medium temperatures and plastic/rubber ratios on solidification and crystallization kinetics of dynamically-vulcanized polypropylene/ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (PP/EPDM) blends were investigated with the aid of an in-situ measurement technique. The cooling medium temperature heavily influenced the solidification kinetics primarily due to a combination of latent heat liberated from the molten polymer and the heat transferred away via the metallic wall during the cooling period. Interestingly, the parameter C in three-parameter model was not only affected by the material properties, but also by the cooling condition, different from the previous literature. The crystallization kinetics analysis indicated that the effect of EPDM in the blends consisted of both nucleation-promoting effect (low EPDM loading) and steric effect (higher EPDM loading). The present kinetic analysis may be helpful to further studies on improving the product performances for industrial applications.

Melatonin Attenuates Noise Stress-induced Gastrointestinal Motility Disorder and Gastric Stress Ulcer: Role of Gastrointestinal Hormones and Oxidative Stress in Rats

( Lei Zhang ),( Ji T Gong ),( Hu Q Zhang ),( Quan H Song ),( Guang H Xu ),( Lei Cai ),( Xiao D Tang ),( Hai F Zhang ),( Fang E Liu ),( Zhan S Jia ),( Hong W Zhang ) 대한소화기기능성질환·운동학회 2015 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.21 No.2

Background/Aims There are increasing evidences for gastrointestinal motility disorder (GIMD) and gastric stress ulcer induced by noise stress. The present study was to investigate the reversed effect of melatonin on GIMD and gastric stress ulcer induced by noise stress and potential mechanism. Methods Noise stress was induced on rats, and melatonin (15 mg/kg) was administered to rats by intraperitoneal injection. Differences were assessed in gastric residual rate (GRR), small intestine propulsion rate (SPR), Guth injury score, cortisol, gastrointestinal hormones (calcitonin-gene-related peptide and motilin) and oxidative stress markers (superoxide dismutase and malondialde hyde) in blood plasma as well as gastric mucosa homogenate with or without melatonin. The pathological examination of gastric mucosa was also performed. Results The GRR and SPR were improved by noise stress compared with control (P < 0.05). The pathological examination and Guth injury score revealed gastric stress ulcer. Moreover, the levels of cortisol, motilin and malondialdehyde in blood plasma and malondialdehyde in gastric mucosa homogenate were increased by noise stress (P < 0.05). CGRP and superoxide dismutase activity in both of blood plasma and gastric mucosa homogenate were significantly decreased (P< 0.05). Furthermore, melatonin reversed changes in GRR, SPR, pathological examination, Guth injury score, cortisol, motilin, CGRP, superoxide dismutase activity and malondialdehyde (P < 0.05). Conclusions Melatonin is effective in reversing the GIMD and gastric stress ulcer induced by noise stress. The underlying mechanism may be involved in oxidative stress and gastrointestinal hormones. (J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2015;21:189-199)

Effects of SSRI Antidepressants on Attentional Bias toward Emotional Scenes in First-Episode Depressive Patients: Evidence from an Eye-Tracking Study

Lei Zhang,Fengqiong Yu,Qian Hu,Yuxi Qiao,Rongrong Xuan,Gongjun Ji,Chunyan Zhu,Chunlan Cai,Kai Wang 대한신경정신의학회 2020 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.17 No.9

Objective Attentional biases toward emotional scenes may represent vulnerability and maintenance factors in depression. Antidepressant therapy may improve cognitive function and reduce depression, and is considered as the mechanism of action of antidepressants. Therefore, we conducted an eye-tracking test to examine whether selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants can reduce negative attentional biases and elicit clinical responses in depression. Methods Twenty first-episode depressive patients freely viewed three types of pictures that depicted different emotional scenes (i.e., positive-control, neutral-control, and negative-control) for 4,000 ms while their eye movements were monitored. The attentional bias to different emotional scenes was assessed before and after eight weeks of SSRI treatment using the eye-tracking method. The control group included a group of healthy individuals. Results The results revealed that first-episode depressive patients oriented their gaze more frequently to negative images and less to happy images, compared to controls. Importantly, the attentional bias in depressive patients was regulated after eight weeks of SSRI treatment. Patients showed an increased tendency to fixate on positive images and a decreased tendency to focus on negative images. Conclusion This suggests that SSRI antidepressants decrease vulnerability to negative images, while having an effect on attention in respect to positive images.

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Cytoprotective Activities of Lotus Receptacle

Weicheng Hu,Gongcheng Wang,Ting Shen,Yuning Wang,Boran Hu,Xinfeng Wang,Lei Wu,Pengxia Li,Lilian Ji 한국원예학회 2015 Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology Vol.56 No.5

The nutritional composition (ash, protein, fat, crude fiber, and carbohydrate) and antioxidant activity of lotus receptacles (LRs) were studied. The LRs contained 88.25% carbohydrates, 22.90% crude fiber, 5.79% crude ash, 0.77% crude protein content, and 5.19% crude lipid on a dry weight basis. The ethanolic extract of lotus receptacle (ELR) exerted strong scavenging effects on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical, hydroxyl radical (•OH), superoxide anion (O2-), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), as well as high reducing power. ELR pretreatment effectively elevated cell viability and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in H2O2-treated RAW 264.7 cells. Additionally, ELR had high phenolic and flavonoid contents with values of 318.15 mg gallic acid equivalent/g and 239.06 mg rutin equivalent/g, respectively. Moreover, the bioactivity-guided study of ELR resulted in the isolation and identification of quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (QOG), a dietary flavonoid. QOG exhibited strong DPPH free radical scavenging activity, with an IC50 value of 24.26 μM; docking studies revealed that QOC formed one hydrogen bond with LYS263 in the active site, suggesting it is, in part, responsible for the free activity of LR.

Prognosis and Management for Gallbladder Cancer with Hepatic Invasion: Long-term Results of 139 Patients from a Single Center in China

Qu, Kai,Chang, Hu-Lin,Liu, Si-Nan,Liu, Chang,Xu, Xin-Sen,Wang, Rui-Tao,Zhou, Lei,Tian, Feng,Wei, Ji-Chao,Tai, Ming-Hui,Meng, Fan-Di Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.3

Objective: To improve the diagnosis of primary gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) with/without hepatic metastases by analyzing our experience of different GBC treatment in our patients. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out to analyze the clinical data of the 139 patients with GBC who underwent hepatic resection in our unit from January 2003 to December 2007. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they demonstrated hepatic invasion. Tumor presentation, surgical modes, and prognosis of each patient were retrospectively reviewed. Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests were employed to compare the survival rates of those patients undergoing different surgical procedures. Results: Of the 139 patients, 46 were men and 93 were women with the male to female ratio of 1:2.0. Their ages were ranged from 35 to 86 years with a mean age of $62.8{\pm}10.4$ years. There were 73 patients complicated with hepatic invasion (group A), and no hepatic invasion occurred in the other 66 patients (group B). Compared with the group B, the patients with hepatic invasion suffered lower differentiation of tumor (p=0.000), more advanced Nevin staging (p=0.008) and poorer prognosis (p=0.013). Radical resection were more frequently performed in group B (75.76%) than in group A (45.20%) with better outcomes (p=0.000). Conclusion: GBC patients complicated with hepatic invasion had poorer prognosis than those without invasion in long-term follow-ups. Radical resection might result in a satisfied prognosis in patients without hepatic invasion, but appears less favorable than palliative resection in those who were complicated with hepatic invasion.

Identifying Significant Influence Factors of Seismic Soil Liquefaction and Analyzing Their Structural Relationship

Xiao-Wei Tang,Ji-Lei Hu,Jiang-Nan Qiu 대한토목학회 2016 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.20 No.7

Soil liquefaction causes extensive damages to buildings and infrastructures during earthquakes. It is very important to identify the significant parameters controlling seismic liquefaction which will enhance the predictability of evaluation models. In order to identify the significant factors, 203 literatures about soil liquefaction are analyzed by bibliometrics, 12 significant factors, such as: magnitude, epicentral distance, duration of earthquake, fines content, particle size, grain composition, relative density, drainage condition, degree of consolidation, thickness of sand layer, depth of sand layer, groundwater table, are identified among 22 influence factors. And then the interrelationship among the 12 main factors was analyzed, and a multilevel structure hierarchy is developed by interpretive structural modeling, which would help understand more clearly about the relationships among these factors. The results show that: magnitude, epicentral distance, duration of earthquake and drainage condition have a direct impact on soil liquefaction, and fines content plays a key role in all factors. The results can provide guidelines for election of factors and the establishment of model in the risk evaluation of soil liquefaction.

Protection of chickens against infectious bronchitis virus with a multivalent DNA vaccine and boosting with an inactivated vaccine

Fang Yan,Zhong Li,Yongting Hu,Jianyang Qiu,Wenxin Lei,Wenhui Ji,Xuying Li,Qian Wu,Xiumin shi,Yujun Zhao 대한수의학회 2013 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.14 No.1

The protective efficacy of DNA plasmids encoding avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) S1, N, or M protein was investigated in chickens. Chickens were inoculated monovalently (with plasmid pVAX1-16S1, pVAX1-16M, or pVAX1-16N alone) or multivalently (combination of the three different plasmids, pVAX1-16S1/M/N). A prime-boost immunization protocol against IBV was developed. Chickens were immunized with the multivalent DNA vaccine twice and then boosted with an inactivated vaccine once. Antibody titers of the chickens immunized with pVAX1-16S1/M/N were much higher than those of the monovalent groups (p < 0.01). A protective rate up to 90% was observed in the pVAX1-16S1/M/N group. The serum antibody titers in the prime-boost birds were significantly higher than those of the multivalent DNA vaccine group (p < 0.01) but not significantly different compared to the inactivated vaccine group at 49 days of age. Additionally, the prime-boost group also showed the highest level of IBV-specific cellular proliferation compared to the monovalent groups (p < 0.01)but no significant difference was found compared to the multivalent DNA vaccine group, and the prime-boost group completely protected from followed viral challenge.

Distinctions Between Clinicopathological Factors and Prognosis of Alpha-fetoprotein Negative and Positive Hepatocelluar Carcinoma Patients

Xu, Jia,Liu, Chang,Zhou, Lei,Tian, Feng,Tai, Ming-Hui,Wei, Ji-Chao,Qu, Kai,Meng, Fan-Di,Zhang, Ling-Qiang,Wang, Zhi-Xin,Zhang, Jing-Yao,Chang, Hu-Lin,Liu, Si-Nan,Xu, Xin-Shen,Song, Yan-Zhou,Liu, Jun,Z Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.2

Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a significant marker for clinical diagnosis and prognosis evaluation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. However, some proportion of liver cancer patients are AFP-negative (AFP ${\leq}$20ng/ml). In order to study the differences between clinicopathological factors and prognosis of alpha-fetoprotein negative and positive patients, a total of 114 cases (41 AFP-negative and 73 AFP-positive) were selected for our research. By systematically statistical analysis, the results demonstrated that compared with AFP-negative patients, AFP-positive examples were more likely to feature cirrhosis nodules, non-complete neoplasm capsules, and a poor Edmondson-steiner grade. Furthermore, AFP-negative patients demonstrated a favorable long-term prognosis. By univariate analysis and multivariate analysis with Cox's proportional hazards model, multiple tumors were found to be independent risk factors for worse survival of AFP negative patients; however, less tumor-free margins, multiple tumors and Edmondson-steiner grades III/IV, proved to be independent risk factors leading to a poor prognosis of AFP positive cases. Finally, we can infer that high levels of AFP signify a highly malignant tumor and unfavorable prognosis.

Gallbladder Cancer: a Subtype of Biliary Tract Cancer Which is a Current Challenge in China

Qu, Kai,Liu, Si-Nan,Chang, Hu-Lin,Liu, Chang,Xu, Xin-Sen,Wang, Rui-Tao,Zhou, Lei,Tian, Feng,Wei, Ji-Chao,Tai, Ming-Hui,Meng, Fan-Di Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.4

Biliary tract cancers, broadly described as malignancies that arise from the biliary tract epithelia, are usually divided into two major clinical phenotypes: cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer, differing in etiopathogenesis, risk factors, and perhaps molecular and genetic signatures. Atypical symptoms and lack of tumor biomarkers make it difficult to diagnose in early stages. At the time of presentation, few patients are candidates for potentially curative surgical resection. We here assessed and compared features of a total of 150 cases divided into extra- and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas and gallbladder cancers (GBC). Althought there were no significant differences in serum tumour marker levels, GBC patients had the poorest prognosis. Furthermore, gallbladder cancer respond poorly to chemotherapy or radiation therapy and approximately half of untreated patients died within 10 months. Therefore, treatment for patients with gallbladder cancer is still in challenge. Outcomes and survival of these patients had improved little over the past three decades - a period in which new successful treatments have greatly contributed to the prolonged patient survival for many other cancers.