Percent free prostate-specific antigen for prostate cancer diagnosis in Chinese men with a PSA of 4.0-10.0 ng/mL:Results from the Chinese Prostate Cancer Consortium

Objective:To test the diagnostic performance of percent free prostate-specific antigen(%fPSA)in predicting any prostate cancer(PCa)and high-grade prostate cancer(HGPCa)in a retrospective multi-center biopsy cohort with a PSA level of 4.0e10.0 ng/mL in China.Methods:Consecutive patients with a PSA of 4.0-10.0 ng/mL who underwent transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy were enrolled at 16 Chinese medical centers from January 1st,2010 to December 31st,2013.Total and free serum PSA determinations were performed using three types of electro-chemiluminescence immunoassays recalibrated to the World Health Organization(WHO)standard.The diagnostic accuracy of PSA,%fPSA,and %fPSA in combination with PSA(%fPSA t PSA)was determined using the area under the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve(AUC).Results:A total of 2310 consecutive men with PSA levels between 4.0 and 10.0 ng/mL were included,and the detection rate of PCa was 25.1%.The AUC of%fPSA and %fPSA t PSA in predicting any PCa was superior to PSA alone in men aged≥60 years(0.623 vs.0.534,p<0.0001)but not in men aged 40e59 years(0.517 vs.0.518,p=0.939).Similar result was yield in predicting HGPCa.Conclusion:In a clinical setting of Chinese men with 4.0e10.0 ng/mL PSA undergoing initial prostate biopsy,adding %fPSA to PSA can moderately improve the diagnostic accuracy for any PCa and HGPCa compared with PSA alone in patients≥60 but not in patients aged 40-59 years.

Relative performance of novel blast wave mitigation system to conventional system based on mitigation percent criteria

Recent researches focused on developing robust blast load mitigation systems due to the threats of terrorist attacks.One of the main embraced strategies is the structural systems that use mitigation techniques.They are developed from a combination of structural elements and described herein as conventional systems.Among the promising techniques is that redirect the waves propagation through hollow tubes.The blast wave propagation through tubes provides an efficient system since it combines many blast wave phenomena,such as reflection,diffraction,and interaction.In this research,a novel blast load mitigation system,employed as a protection fence,is developed using a technique similar to the technique of the bent tube in manipulating the shock-wave.The relative performance of the novel system to the conventional system is evaluated based on mitigation percent criteria.Performances of both systems are calculated through numerical simulation.The proposed novel system proved to satisfy high performance in mitigating the generated blast waves from charges weight up to 500 kg TNT at relatively small standoff distances(5 m and 8 m).It mitigates at least 94%of the blast waves,which means that only 6%of that blast impulse is considered as the applied load on the targeted structure.

Analysis of Percent Elongation for Ductile Metal in Uniaxial Tension

Percent elongation of ductile metal in uniaxial tension due to non-homogeneity was analyzed based on gradient-dependent plasticity. Three assumptions are used to get the analytical solution of percent elongation: one is static equilibrium condition in axial direction; another is that plastic volumetric strain is zero in necking zone; the other is that the diameter in unloading zone remains constant after strain localization is initiated. The strain gradient term was introduced into the yield function of classical plastic mechanics to obtain the analytical solution of distributed plastic strain. Integrating the plastic strain and considering the influence of necking on plastic elongation, a one-dimensional analytical solution of percent elongation was proposed. The analytical solution shows that the percent elongation is inversely proportional to the gauge length, and the solution is formally similar to earlier empirical formula proposed by Barba. Comparisons of existing experimental results and present analytical solutions for relation between load and total elongation and for relation between percent elongation and gauge length were carried out and the new mechanical model for percent elongation was verified. Moreover, higher ductility, toughness and heterogeneity can cause much larger percentage elongation, which coincides with usual viewpoints.

THE CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF PERCENT FREE PSA IN DIFFERENTIATING PROSTATE CANCER AND BENIGN PROSTATE HYPERPLASIA

Objective To evaluate using prostate specific antigen (PSA) and percent free PSA(fPSA) for the diagnosis of prostate cancer(Pca) and benign prostate hyperplasia(BPH). Methods 315 men with BPH and 55 men with Pca were randomly chosen, serum fPSA and total PSA were determined by ELISA and then we compared the sensitivity and specificity of PSA and percent fPSA for the diagnosis of Pca. Results While using PSA and percent fPSA for the diagnosis of prostate cancer, the sensitivity was similar (89.8% vs. 94.5%, P> 0.05), but the specificity was significanty different (52.7% vs. 89.8%, P< 0.005). Conclusions Using percent fPSA might decrease false-positive and avoid 37.1% negative biopsies as compared with PSA, it is very valuable for the diagnosis of Pca.

Prediction of maximal heart rate percent during constant intensity efforts on trained subjects

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between %HRmax and %vVO2max at constant efforts made at different intensities. In randomized order, males healthy subjects (Age: 25 ± 7 years, Weight: 70 ± 11 kg, VO2max: 55 ± 8 ml·kg–1·min–1) were divided into two groups, a trained one with more than 3 training sessions per week (n = 10) a moderately trained one with 3 drives or less per week (n = 15). The difference between the two groups corresponds to a time to exhaustion above and below 40 min at 80% vVO2max. All subjects performed 5 tests with a gradual increase in speed of 1 km·h–1 every 2 min and 4 constant speed tests at 60%, 70%, 80% and 90% VO2max. All test were performed at the same time of day (i.e., 18:00 h). The results of this study showed that eighteen collective regressions including different independent variables were developed to predict %HRmax. The individual equations developed, have r values between 0.974 and 0.993 and Syx, between 1.2 and 1.9 ml·kg–1·min–1, they are more accurate than the collective equations (one equation for all subjects) with r values between 0.81 to 0.89 and Syx, between 4.1 and 5.3 ml·kg–1·min–1. In conclusion, this study has demonstrated that the model of predictions of %HRmax from %vVO2max in triangular tests were not appropriate for rectangular efforts. From the equations developed, we find that the time to exhaustion at 90% vVO2max is the best predictor of level of endurance then the time limit to 80% vVO2max.

China's CPI Eases to 4 Percent in October

China’s consumer price index (CPI), the main gauge of inflation, rose 4 percent in October from a year earlier, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Tuesday. The figure, compared with 4.6 percent in September, 4.9 percent in August,

China's Textile and Apparel Exports to US Increases 1.53 percent in 2009

2009 was a disappointing year to export sector. In January to November of 2009, China’s textile and garment exports fell by 11.02percent year on year to US $154.12 billion,

Percent free prostate-specific antigen is effective to predict prostate biopsy outcome in Chinese men with prostate-specific antigen between 10.1 and 20.0 ng ml^-1

Percent free prostatic-specific antigen （%fPSA） has been introduced as a tool to avoid unnecessary biopsies in patients with a serum PSA level of 4.0-10.0 ng ml^-1, however, it remains controversial whether %fPSA is effective in PSA range of 10.1-20.0 ng ml^-1 in both Chinese and Western population. In this study, the diagnostic performance of %fPSA and serum PSA in predicting prostate cancer （PCa） and high-grade PCa （HGPCa） was analyzed in a multi-center biopsy cohort of 5915 consecutive Chinese patients who underwent prostate biopsy in 22 hospitals across China from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2013. The indication for biopsy was PSA〉4.0 ng ml^-1 or/and suspicious digital rectal examination. Total and free serum PSA determinations were performed by three types of electrochemiluminescence immunoassays with recalibration to the World Health Organization standards. The diagnostics accuracy of PSA, %fPSA and %fPSA in combination with PSA （%fPSA ＋ PSA） was determined by the area under the receivers operating characteristic curve （AUC）. %fPSA was more effective than PSA in men aged ≥60 years old. The AUC was 0.584 and 0.635 in men aged ≥60 years old with a PSA of 4.0-10.0 ng ml^-1 and 10.1-20.0 ng ml^-1, respectively. The AUC of %fPSA was superior to that of PSA in predicting HGPCa in patients ≥60 years old in these two PSA range. Our results indicated that %fPSA is both statistically effective and clinical applicable to predict prostate biopsy outcome in Chinese patients aged ≥60 years old with a PSA of 4.0-10.0 ng ml^-1 and 10.1-20.0 ng ml^-1.

Percent body fat,but not body mass index,is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in children and adolescents

Background:The epidemic of overweight and obesity has become a worldwide public health problem.Cardiometabolic diseases may originate in childhood.We investigated the association between percent body fat(PBF)measured by the bioelectrical impedance assay and cardiometabolic risk(CMR)in pediatrics.Methods:This cross-sectional study involved 3819 subjects(6-17 years old)in Shanghai.We assessed the association between PBF and body mass index(BMI)with multiple CMR factors.We examined the risk for cardiometabolic abnormalities attributable to overweight and obesity based on age-and sexspecific PBF Z-scores and BMI Z-scores,respectively.Results:PBF,but not BMI,was positively associated with multiple CMR factors in males and females except for total cholesterol in females(all p<0.05).Compared with the non-overweight group based on PBF,overweight and obese subjects had increasingly higher odds ratio of dyslipidemia(2.90(1.99-4.23),4.59(2.88-7.32)for males and 1.82(1.20-2.75),2.46(1.47-4.11)for females)and elevated blood pressure(BP)(3.26(2.35-4.51),4.55(2.92-7.09)for males and 1.59(1.07-2.34),3.98(2.27-6.17)for females).Obesity females showed a higher likelihood for hyperglycemia(2.19(1.24-3.84))than non-overweight females.In both sexes,the predictive effect of PBF on dyslipidemia and elevated BP in adolescents was better than that in children.For hyperglycemia,the predictive effect of PBF was better in male adolescents and female children.There was no risk difference for cardiometabolic abnormalities attributable to BMI-based obesity categories.Conclusions:PBF but not BMI was associated with CMR.Overweight and obesity categories based on PBF had an increased risk for cardiometabolic abnormalities in children and adolescents.

Evolution of Microalloyed Linepipe Steels With Particular Emphasis on the “Near Stoichiometry” Low Carbon,0.10 Percent Niobium “HTP” Concept

Microalloyed linepipe steels were first introduced in 1959 at strength levels around 52-60 ksi [1] [2].The steels were generally strengthened by niobium or vanadium used singly.As strengths levels increased to X-70 in the early 1970’s niobium and vanadium were used in combination and controlled rolling was introduced on a broad basis.Higher strengths decrease tolerance for impurities and non-metallic inclusions which required improved steelmaking practices.Sulfur,carbon,and nitrogen were reduced and continuous casting was increasingly applied which required improved ladle refining and deoxidation practices.Niobium-molybdenum steels were introduced by IPSCO in 1972 [3] and by Italsider in 1974 [4].Steels with higher niobium contents were also introduced in the early 1970’s but available steelmaking technologies limited the use of optimum niobium to carbon ratios,i.e.those approaching stoichiometry.Nevertheless the steels benefited from the effect of niobium in retarding austenite recrystallization at relatively high rolling temperatures and they developed attractive combinations of strength and toughness in old manufacturing facilities using simple (relaxed) rolling schedules.Fluctuations in the price of molybdenum and vanadium in the past decade and expanded application of API Grade X-80 linepipe,have led to more widespread use of niobium contents up to 0.11 percent,in combination with 0.02-0.03 percent carbon (near stoichiometry) thus maximizing the effects of solute niobium during rolling,in lowering transformation temperature,and thereby reducing reliance on other alloying,often expensive,elements.The history of these developments will be presented and applications of the concept will be summarized.

8-PERCENT GROWTH AT HAND

When the Chinese Government announced the massive 4-trillion-yuan($586 billion)stimulus package,it meant not only to spur economic increase,but also to modify economic growth patterns and upgrade the national economic structure,in an effort to ensure the healthier,faster and better growth of the economy. To date,those measures have taken effect as reflected in restored investor confidence and active investment and consumption.However,a higher growth rate is not enough. Beijing Review publishes a series of articles in this issue to analyse the current problems and present an outlook on the economy.

After-Tax Profit of Kenya Airways for 2010-11 Financial Year Increases 73 Percent

Kenya Airways is the pride of the whole African continent.Recently,Kenya Airways announced its after-tax profits for the 2010-11 fiscal yearincreased 73 percent.The airline’s CEO and General Manager Titus Naikuni attributes the greatest part of

Breast Feeding Cuts Infant Death 20 Percent

[提示]母乳喂养,英语叫breast-fed。母乳喂养婴儿,好处可谓多矣!首先在诞生一年之內,婴儿的死亡率就比非母乳喂养者降低了20％。别的好处也很多,比如:Other studies have shown breast-fed babies are less likely to be overweight,have fewer behavioral problems and may show differences in intelligence.They also may grow up to have lower blood pressure(血压).调查还证明,当今美国母乳喂养的婴儿占婴儿总数之70％!笔者甚至怀疑,我国是否达到了这个标准,尤其是都市年轻母亲。

China's GDP up 10.4 percent in first half year

China’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew 10.4 percent to 13.06 trillion yuan (1.9 trillion U.S. dollars) in the first half over the same period last year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on July 17th.

China's CPI rises 7.9 percent in first half of 2008

China’s consumer price index (CPI),the main gauge of inflation, rose 7.9 percent in the first half over the same period last year, 0.2 percentage points lower than the first five months, the National Bureau of Statistics said on July 17th.

3种类型烟草种质资源烟叶生物碱等化学成分差异性分析

为筛选能为科研、生产和育种利用的优异烟草种质资源。对来源于国内外的141份烤烟、18份白肋烟和6份雪茄烟的烟叶常规化学成分和主要生物碱进行检测、比较和聚类分析。结果表明:总糖和还原糖含量以烤烟最高,总氮、烟碱和氧化钾以白肋烟种质最高。总植物碱和烟碱含量以烤烟种质自来黄2243最高,雪茄烟种质Dutch(Ohio)最低;降烟碱和烟碱转化率以烤烟种质平板柳叶最高,以烤烟种质二性子和白肋烟种质Burley11B最低。聚类分析将165份种质分成4类,烤烟种质主要集中在第1和第4类,其主要特征是总糖和还原糖含量较高,烟碱转化率较低;第2类的总糖和还原糖含量低,总氮、总植物碱和氧化钾含量高;第3类的烟碱和总植物碱含量低,降烟碱含量高,烟碱转化率高。不同类型种质资源的化学成分和生物碱差异明显,筛选出的不同梯度烟碱的种质可为烟碱的进一步研究提供材料支撑。