Abstract Background: Studies have shown that the overall incidence rate of herpeszoster (HZ) in China is 6.64 cases per 1000 people, despite such harms brought by postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the mechanism of the disease remains unclear in China. Currently, effective biomarkers to predict PHN remain unavailable, which makes it difficult to prevent and successfully treat PHN. Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the serum interleukin-6 level in PHN. Methods: The serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) were measured by multi-antibody sandwich ELISA. The likert scale was used to represent the degree of neuralgia in the patients. Patients with PHN were divided into a mild PHN group and a severe PHN group according to the Likert scale. ROC curve was performed for evaluating the diagnostic efficiency of IL6 for PHN. The correlation between the IL6 level and the Likert scale before and after treatment with gabapentin and mecobalamin was analyzed. Results: IL6 levels in PHN patients resulted higher compared to volunteers. Patients in the severe PHN group had a higher serum IL6 level than in the mild PHN group. The Likert scale score was related to the serum IL6 levels and the frequency of IL6 levels above the cutoff value (4.95pg/mL) in PNH groups before and after treatment (p<0.05). Study limitations: Pain is subjective. Some mental states, such as anxiety and depression, greatly influence an individual’s perception of pain, and pain tolerance can vary between people. Therefore, pain scores can be affected by different individual factors. Conclusions: The serum IL6 levels may be used as a biochemical indicator of the severity of PNH.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Pilates prioritizes the control of central muscle groups, which have a strong predilection value for volleyball training. Objective: To investigate the repercussions of Pilates training on motor coordination and stability in volleyball players. Methods: 20 athletes from a female volleyball team were randomly divided between the experimental and the control groups. Pilates intervention was performed in the experimental group. The control group followed the traditional training format, finally comparing the training results after eight weeks. Results: In the flexibility index of the experimental group, the weights increased from 23,11±5,08 times to 28,02±6,42 times; the left and right axes increased from 7,74±10,13 seconds to 8,83±8,13 seconds. In terms of the stability index, the number of intervals repeated in 20 seconds increased from 35.44±0.75 to 46.45±0.91; the lateral throw of the medicine ball was increased from 59.61±16.16 meters to 78.38±16.22 meters. The range of variation of each index is more evident than that of the control group. Conclusion: Pilates training becomes superior to usual training for the improvement of coordination and stability of volleyball players. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.

RESUMEN Introducción: Pilates prioriza el control de los grupos musculares centrales, que tienen un fuerte valor de predilección para el entrenamiento del voleibol. Objetivo: Investigar la repercusión del entrenamiento de Pilates sobre la coordinación motora y la estabilidad de jugadoras de voleibol. Métodos: 20 atletas de un equipo femenino de voleibol se dividieron aleatoriamente entre el grupo experimental y el grupo de control. La intervención de Pilates se realizó en el grupo experimental. El grupo de control siguió el formato de entrenamiento tradicional, comparando finalmente los resultados del entrenamiento después de 8 semanas. Resultados: En el índice de flexibilidad del grupo experimental, los pesos aumentaron de 23,11±5,08 veces a 28,02±6,42 veces; los ejes izquierdo y derecho aumentaron de 7,74±10,13 segundos a 8,83±8,13 segundos. En cuanto al índice de estabilidad, el número de intervalos repetidos en 20 segundos aumentó de 35,44±0,75 a 46,45±0,91; el lanzamiento lateral del balón medicinal aumentó de 59,61±16,16 metros a 78,38±16,22 metros. El rango de variación de cada índice es más evidente que el del grupo de control. Conclusión: El entrenamiento con Pilates llega a ser superior al entrenamiento habitual para la mejora de la coordinación y estabilidad de los jugadores de voleibol. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos - investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.

RESUMO Introdução: O Pilates prioriza o controle de grupos musculares centrais, que possuem um forte valor prediletivo para o treinamento do vôlei. Objetivo: Investigar as repercussões do treino Pilates na coordenação motora e na estabilidade das jogadoras de voleibol. Métodos: 20 atletas de uma equipe feminina de voleibol foram divididas aleatoriamente entre o grupo experimental e o grupo controle. A intervenção do Pilates foi realizada no grupo experimental. O grupo de controle obedeceu ao formato tradicional de treinamento, comparando-se finalmente os resultados do treinamento após 8 semanas. Resultados: No índice de flexibilidade do grupo experimental, os pesos elevaram-se de 23.112 ± 5.088 vezes para 28.020 ± 6.427 vezes; os eixos esquerdo e direito cresceram de 7.745 ± 10.138 segundos para 8.831 ± 8.133 segundos. Em termos de índice de estabilidade, o número de intervalos repetidos em 20 segundos aumentou de 35.444 ± 0.753 para 46.453 ± 0.919; o arremesso lateral da bola medicinal foi elevado de 59.617 ± 16.160 metros para 78.386 ± 16.221 metros. O intervalo de variação de cada índice é mais evidente do que o do grupo de controle. Conclusão: O treinamento de Pilates se torna superior ao treinamento habitual para a melhora da coordenação e estabilidade das jogadoras de vôlei. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos - investigação dos resultados do tratamento.

ABSTRACT Camellia oleifera oil is easily absorbed by the human body and has a high development prospect in the research and development of new drugs. However, the labor intensity involved in picking has limited the development of the camellia oil industry. Vibratory mechanized harvesting is considered to be an effective way to solve harvesting difficulties. In this study, the whole process of accelerating the mechanical vibration picking is analyzed theoretically, according to different vibration positions (height), and a vibration picking experiment is carried out. The ratio of the optimal excitation location to the years of growth of Camellia oleifera was found to be between 16 and 20. It was observed that with the increase of camellia growing years, this ratio gradually decreased, and its optimal vibration position showed an increasing trend. Further, when the excitation time was greater than 8 s, the fruit removal rate did not continue to increase, but the buds and leaves falling continued to decrease. This study can effectively improve the efficiency of camellia oil fruit picking and reduce the drop-off of camellia buds and leaves.

Abstract Sheep bone collagen peptide (SBCP) has attracted attention due to its potential effects on bone health. This study aims to explore the bone protective effect of SBCP in the presence of estrogen deficiency. Ovariectomized (OVX) female rats were given different dose rates (0, 0.68, 2.05, 3.40 g/kg BW) of SBCP for 8 consecutive weeks. At the end of the treatment, the serological indexes and tibial mineral content were measured. The microstructure and morphological changes of femur bones were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) staining. Femur bones were harvested for determination of expression level of RANK, RANKL, OPG by molecular biological techniques. 3.40 g/kg BW SBCP treatment decreased the PINP and β-CTx levels but increased the tibial calcium and phosphorus contents significantly in estrogen deficient rats. Expression of RANK and RANKL decreased however expression of OPG increased in the bone of estrogen deficient rats which received 3.40 g/kg BW SBCP with greater effects than SBCP-M and SBCP-L treatments. SBCP helps to overcome the adverse effect of estrogen deficiency the bone and thus this nutriment could potentially be used for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

Herein, SnO2- and ZnO2-doped (1.5 wt.%) composite Cu powder was prepared by mechanical alloying (MA) respectively, and both the contact materials of oxide-doped Cu alloys were subsequently obtained by canned hot-pressing powder sintering with hot extrusion combined. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and self-designed electrical breakdown device were used for investigating the microstructure and properties including electric conductivity and hardness, especially for electrical contact performance of the Cu-SnO2 alloy and in compared with the Cu-ZnO2 alloy. The experimental results show that the hardness of Cu-SnO2 and Cu-ZnO2 contact materials are 103.5±1 HV and 192.7±1 HV, respectively, which meet the hardness standard of national standard electrical contact materials. Meanwhile, the relative conductivity %IACS are 7.24% and 6.20%, respectively, which are higher than the traditional Cu-based contact materials. This electrical life simulation test system was designed independently, and the results indicate that the switching times of Cu-SnO2 contact materials are much more than that of Cu-ZnO2. The addition of SnO2 can effectively improve the arc extinguishing characteristics and the anti-welding performance of the contact materials is enhanced. In summary, SnO2-doped Cu-based contact materials possess excellent comprehensive properties, which can provide reference for potential applications in contact materials.

Abstract: A 37-year-old man complained of a refractory posterior malleolar ulceration on his left ankle. He was diagnosed with Werner syndrome according to the progeroid clinical features and genetic testing. To approach the ulceration, a free flow-through right anterolateral thigh perforator flap with anterolateral thigh cutaneous nerve was harvested. One year later, he was readmitted due to a new ulceration on his right ankle. We harvested the left anterolateral thigh perforator flap with anterolateral thigh cutaneous nerve to reconstruct the defect. After one more year of follow-up, there was no recurrence of ulcers, and the sensation of the flap recovered partially after 6 months. We conclude that free flow-through anterolateral thigh perforator flap is a feasible choice for the repair of foot ulcers in Werner syndrome.

The polystyrene sulfonic acid resin catalysts were fabricated, containing elements of Cl and Mg through oxidization and impregnation, and they were characterized by EDS, FT-IR spectra, Py-IR spectra, UV spectra, XPS and TGA to investigate their physiochemical properties. The catalytic performances of these catalysts were examined in the esterification reaction of succinic acid with n-butanol, and the catalytic results showed that modified resins exhibited the highest catalytic activity and achieved a high yield of dibutyl succinate (91.6%) in addition, the modified resin generated new Lewis acid sites and showed significantly higher thermal stability. The experimental results demonstrated that the Mg2+ coordinated with a sulfonic acid group to form stable active sites, which effectively decreased the deactivation caused by the thermal degradation of sulfonic acid. Moreover, the monomer structures of polystyrene sulfonic acid resin and modified polystyrene sulfonic acid resin have been modelled using B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) approximation.

A hydrated kaolinite-methanol intercalation compound (Kaol-MeOH (hydrated)) was synthesized by utilizing kaolinite/dimethyl sulfoxide intercalation compound (Kaol-DMSO) as an intermediary, and further displacement intercalation with butyl trimethylammonium chloride (BTAC) was also carried out. The obtained samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results showed that the d001 value of the Kaol-MeOH (hydrated) could be arbitrary values between 0.86 and 1.08 nm, which could be caused by the hydrogen-bonded MeOH or water molecules between the interlayer spaces of methoxy-modified Kaol. Furthermore, this part of interlayer molecules could be removed by heating and have no obvious effect on the subsequent intercalation reaction. In addition, the time required for Kaol-MeOH (hydrated) preparation was drastically shortened to 3 days, which greatly reduces the time-consuming for the preparation of subsequent compounds.

ABSTRACT Objectives: To evaluate the prognosis of non-metastatic T3a renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with partial nephrectomy (PN). Patients and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 125 patients with non-metastatic T3a RCC. Patients undergoing PN and radical nephrectomy (RN) were strictly matched by clinic-pathologic characteristics. Log-rank test and Cox regression model were used for univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: 18 pair patients were matched and the median follow-up was 35.5 (10-86) months. PN patients had a higher postoperative eGFR than RN patients (P=0.034). Cancer-specific survival (CSS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) did not differ between two groups (P=0.305 and P=0.524). On multivariate analysis, CSS decreased with positive surgical margin and anemia (both P <0.01) and RFS decreased with Furhman grade, positive surgical margin, and anemia (all P<0.01). Conclusions: For patients with non-metastatic pT3a RCC, PN may be a possible option for similar oncology outcomes and better renal function.

ABSTRACT Purpose: To determine risk factors of postoperative urethral stricture (US) and vesical neck contracture (BNC) after transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) from perioperative parameters. Materials and Methods: 373 patients underwent TURP in a Chinese center for lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic obstruction (LUTS/BPO), with their perioperative and follow-up clinical data being collected. Univariate analyses were used to determine variables which had correlation with the incidence of US and BNC before logistic regression being applied to find out independent risk factors. Results: The median follow-up was 29.3 months with the incidence of US and BNC being 7.8% and 5.4% respectively. Resection speed, reduction in hemoglobin (ΔHb) and hematocrit (ΔHCT) levels, incidence of urethral mucosa rupture, re-catheterization and continuous infection had significant correlation with US, while PSA level, storage score, total prostate volume (TPV), transitional zone volume (TZV), transitional zone index (TZI), resection time and resected gland weight had significant correlation with BNC. Lower resection speed (OR=0.48), urethral mucosa rupture (OR=2.44) and continuous infection (OR=1.49) as well as higher storage score (OR=2.51) and lower TPV (OR=0.15) were found to be the independent risk factors of US and BNC respectively. Conclusions: Lower resection speed, intraoperative urethral mucosa rupture and postoperative continuous infection were associated with a higher risk of US while severer storage phase symptom and smaller prostate size were associated with a higher risk of BNC after TURP.

Abstract: From two volume-limited main galaxy samples of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 10 (SDSS DR10), we extracted paired galaxies and isolated galaxies, and performed comparative studies between them to explore the influence of galaxy interactions on age, stellar velocity dispersion and K-band luminosity. Paired galaxies have preferentially larger stellar velocity dispersions and are preferentially older than isolated galaxies. We also noted apparent differences in the K-band luminosity distribution between paired galaxies and isolated galaxies in the luminous volume-limited main galaxy sample: paired galaxies are preferentially more luminous than isolated galaxies, whereas this difference in the faint volume-limited main galaxy sample is very small.

Resumen: A partir de dos muestras de galaxias principales limitadas por volumen y obtenidas del SDSS DR10 extrajimos pares de galaxias y galaxias aisladas, y realizamos estudios comparativos de ambas muestras para explorar la influencia de las interacciones galácticas sobre la edad, la dispersión de velocidades estelares y la luminosidad en la banda K. Los pares de galaxias tienden a tener dispersiones de velocidades estelares mayores, y a ser más viejos que las galaxias aisladas. En la muestra limitada por volumen de galaxias brillantes también notamos diferencias en la luminosidad en la banda K entre las pares de galaxias y las galaxias aisladas: los pares de galaxias tienden a ser más luminosos que las galaxias aisladas. Sin embargo, en la muestra de galaxias débiles también limitadas por volumen, esta diferencia es pequeña.

During extrusion-shear (ES) process, the surface cracks would be formed in the processed rod for AZ31 magnesium caused by nonhomogeneous metal flow and stress. To reduce the cracks defects, three-dimensional (3D) finite element method (FEM) of ES on a wrought AZ31 magnesium alloy have been performed. ES process experiments have been also conducted to verify the simulation results under the identical conditions. It can be found that the tendency to generate the dead zone is decreased by employing the ES die with the extrusion ratio of 28 comparing to the one with the extrusion ratio of 11.6. With the extrusion ratio 28, the surface stresses of the rod at the die exit are decreased greatly so that the surface cracks are avoided. The ES die with the extrusion ratio of 28 would increase temperature on the rod surface and subsequently result in the sacrifice of the tensile strength of the AZ31 rod. Damage model has been chosen and Cockcroft–Latham damage factor has been set and incorporated into DEFORM software. The simulation results show that the larger extrusion ratio would have the smaller crack propagation. Experimental validation shows that the results of experiments are in accordance with those from computer simulation. The study indicates that FEM can be used confidently for designing ES dies and process parameters in CAE environment for DEFORM software to improve the product quality and productivity by avoiding trail runs.

OBJECTIVES: Limited information is available concerning the post-treatment neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in critical limb ischemia patients who receive conservative therapy. Accordingly, this study was designed to evaluate the predictive value of the post-treatment neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in critical limb ischemia patients without surgery. METHOD: From January 2009 to January 2011, critical limb ischemia patients were admitted to a vascular center. The demographic data, patient histories, comorbidities and risk factors were documented, and the differential cell count was determined at admission and seven days later after conservative therapy. The cutoff value of the post-treatment neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio was determined by an ROC curve. Patients were divided into groups A and B according to the cutoff value. Amputation-free survival was compared between groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify independent risk factors. RESULT: A total of 172 patients were identified with a mean age 71.98±10.09 years; among them, 122 were male. A value of 3.8 was identified as the cutoff value of the post-treatment neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio. Groups A (post-treatment neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio ≥3.8) and B (post-treatment neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio <3.8) showed a significant difference in amputation-free survival (P<0.001). The 1-year, 2-year and 3-year amputation-free survival rates were 79.6%, 55.6% and 46.3%, respectively, in group A; however, in group B, these values were 89.7%, 79.3% and 75.9%, respectively. The post-treatment neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio was identified as an independent predictive factor for amputation in critical limb ischemia patients (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The post-treatment neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio is an independent predictive factor for amputation in critical limb ischemia patients. Patients with a post-treatment neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio ≥3.8 are likely to suffer from amputation; amputation-free survival usually occurs in patients with a post-treatment neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio <3.8.

Background Rabies is very common in People’s Republic of China. Henan province, in the central portion of China, is one of the most densely populated provinces in the entire country. With the new rabies epidemic trend noted in northern and western China, it is necessary to investigate the characteristics of human rabies in this area and control the disease.Methods We chose patients in hospital isolation in 18 municipalities in Henan province as the investigation subjects. Data were collected through systematic reporting from these hospitals, whereas a questionnaire was applied to the relatives of patients.Results A total of 1022 rabies cases were reported. The incidence of human rabies in Henan has increased rapidly since 2005, having peaked in 2007, and maintained a high level in the remaining years. The cases were found mainly in rural areas in the south and east of the province. Rabies was often noted in summer and with the highest number in August. Most cases were noted in males and often in farmers. The patients aged between 40 and 60 years accounted for 36.8 % of all the cases. The wound treatment rate (12.2 %) and vaccination rate (2.6 %) of rabies cases after exposure were relatively low, while the rabies immunoglobulin utilization rate was only 2.8 %.Conclusions Rabies epidemic cases at the county level overall were increasing in Henan province during the period of 2005–2013; the epidemic has spread quickly. The data in this study imply that the disease could be better managed by more integrated surveillance across human health and veterinary sectors, improved education and better government policies.