Identification of late-onset hypogonadism in middle-aged and elderly men from a community of China

In this study, we investigated the essential criteria for late-onset hypogonadism （LOH） syndrome based on the presence of symptoms associated with low testosterone levels in Han Chinese men. Blood tests for total testosterone （TT） and sex hormone-binding globulin （SHBG） were performed, and the aging male symptoms （AMS） questionnaire was conducted in a randomly selected cohort composed of 944 Chinese men aged 40 to 79 years from nine urban communities. Three sexual symptoms （decreased ability/frequency of sexual activity, decreased number of morning erections, and decreased libido） were confirmed to be related to the total and free testosterone levels. The thresholds for TT were approximately 12.55 nmol l^-1 for a decreased ability/frequency to perform sex, 12.55 nmol l^-1 for decreased frequency of morning erections, and 14.35 nmol l^-1 for decreased sexual desire. The calculated free testosterone （CFT） thresholds for these three sexual symptoms were 281.14, 264.90, and 287.21 pmol l^-1, respectively. TT 〈13.21 nmol l^-1 （OR =1.4, 95%Ch 1.0-1.9, P= 0.037） or CFT 〈268.89 pmol l^-1 （OR - 1.5, 95%Ch 1.1-20, P=0.020） was associated with an increase in the aforementioned three sexual symptoms. The prevalence of LOH was 9.1% under the criteria, including all three sexual symptoms with TT levels 〈13.21 nmol l^-1 and CFT levels 〈268.89 pmol l^-1. Our results may improve the diagnostic accuracy of LOH in older men.

Investigation of reheat cracking susceptibility in CGHAZ of modified T23 steel

T23 steel(2.25Cr–1Mo–1.6W–0.24V–0.05Nb,in wt.%)has been widely used as water walls in ultra-supercritical(USC)power plants.However,high reheat cracking susceptibility of T23 steel hazarded the safety of USC power plants.It is aimed to improve the reheat cracking susceptibility of T23 steel from the perspective of modifying chemical composition.Gleeble-3800 thermal simulator was used to simulate the coarse-grained heat-affected zone(CGHAZ)in T23 and modified T23 steels via thermal simulation of welding,and then evaluate the reheat cracking susceptibility in CGHAZ of T23 and modified T23 steels by the isothermal slow strain rate tensile test.The microstructure was systematically investigated by optical microscopy,scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.The results show that the reheat cracking susceptibility of modified T23 steel is extremely improved.Compared with T23 steel,there are fewer M23C6 particles at the grain boundaries in modified T23 steel,and the degree of intergranular weakening is smaller.At the same time,not only MX in the grain interiors but also the solid-solutioned C and W in the matrix decrease in modified T23 steel,leading to the decline of intragranular strengthening.In addition,small grain size is beneficial to the improvement of the reheat cracking susceptibility of modified T23 steel.The decreased number of M23C6 at grain boundaries helps to retard the formation and propagation of reheat cracks because of decreased denuded zones.

Combined treatment with dihydrotestosterone and lipopolysaccharide modulates prostate homeostasis by upregulating TNF-α from M1 macrophages and promotes proliferation of prostate stromal cells

Androgens and chronic inflammation,which play essential roles in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH),are considered to be important factors in disorders of prostate homeostasis.These two factors may lead to pathological hyperplasia in the prostate transition zone of patients with BPH.However,few studies have examined the mechanism of how dihydrotestosterone(DHT)affects chronic inflammation in prostate tissue during the progression of BPH.This study examined the performance of DHT in lipopolysaccharide-treated M1 macrophages and the subsequent effects on the proliferation of prostate stromal and epithelial cells.We found that DHT increased secretion of the pro-inflammatory factor tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-αfrom M1 macrophages differentiated from THP-1 cells.The supernatant of M1 macrophages promoted the proliferation of WPMY-1 prostate stromal cells by upregulating B-cell lymphoma-extra large(Bcl-xL)and cellular Myc(c-Myc)levels by activating TNF-α-mediated nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB)and mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)pathways.Moreover,this supernatant increased the expression of androgen receptor in WPMY-1 cells,which was TNF-α-independent.Additionally,TNF-αprotein expression was significantly higher in patients with BPH and a large prostate volume than that in those with a small prostate volume.Further analysis showed that higher serum testosterone combined with prostate-specific androgen concentrations was related to TNF-αexpression.This study suggests that DHT modulates the inflammatory environment of BPH by increasing TNF-αexpression from lipopolysaccharide-treated M1 macrophages and promotes the proliferation of prostate stromal cells.Targeting TNF-α,but not DHT,may be a promising strategy for patients with BPH.