Design and analysis of radio frequency window for the China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor ion cyclotron range of frequency heating system

The Ion Cyclotron Range of Frequency (ICRF) heating system of the China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR) is intended to provide plasma heating with a minimum power output of 20 MW, which demands the Radio Frequency (RF) window to possess a higher performance requirement. This paper presents the design of an RF window for the CFETR ICRF heating system and focuses primarily on the design and confirmation of its electromagnetic performance. The RF window can be effectively matched in the operating frequency range and has an S11 of under -59 dB. The geometry of the cone type ceramics was optimized to reduce the surface tangential electric field distribution. An analysis of the electric field distribution of the RF window at 50 kV indicates that the pressure side was below 2.3 kV/mm and the vacuum side was below 1.3 kV/mm. Furthermore, a transmission line test bench with an open-terminated setup was constructed to conduct withstand voltage tests on the mockup, and the results showed that the mockup could withstand 62 kV for 2 s and 47 kV for 120 s.

[Clinical significance of No.11p posterior lymph nodes dissection in gastric cancer surgery]

Objective: To analyze the association of No.11p posterior lymph node metastasis with clinicopathological features and its prognostic significance in gastric cancer. Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted. Clinicopathological data of patients with primary gastric cancers undergoing No.11p posterior lymph node dissection from January 2016 to December 2020 were retrieved from the Database of Gastric Cancer, West China Hospital, Sichuan University. Case inclusion criteria: (1) gastric cancer proved by pathology; (2) radical resection with intraoperative No.11p posterior lymph node dissection; (3) operations performed by the same surgical team; (4) no previous history of other malignant tumors and no concurrent malignant tumors. Those with stump gastric cancer, history of gastrectomy, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, incomplete clinicopathological data and lost to follow-up were excluded. During the operation, the upper edge of the pancreas was retracted forward to expose the area between the upper edge of the pancreas and the splenic vessels. The proximal segment of the splenic artery was skeletonized to remove lymphatic tissue anterior and superior to the splenic artery for No.11p lymph node dissection. For patients with lymphadenopathy in the area between the splenic artery and the splenic vein, dissection was performed. The enlarged lymph nodes were labeled with titanium clips and named as No.11p posterior lymph node. Pathological examination was performed separately after the specimen was isolated. Statistical analysis was performed using R software. Results: A total of 127 gastric cancer patients, who underwent No.11p posterior lymph nodes dissection were included in this study, of which 120 patients without No.11p posterior lymph nodes metastasis (No.11p posterior lymph nodes negative) and 7 patients with No.11p posterior lymph nodes metastasis (No.11p posterior lymph nodes positive). A total of 8 metastatic No.11p posterior lymph nodes were detected in 7 patients, metastasis rate and with a ratio of 5.5% (7/127) and 6.8% (8/127), respectively. In the subgroup analysis of T3-4 stage patients, the metastasis rate and ratio of No.11p posterior lymph nodes were 9.0% (7/78) and 10.7% (8/75), respectively. Compared to negative cases, patients with No.11p posterior lymph nodes metastasis had larger tumor (P=0.002), higher proportion of Borrmann type Ⅲ and Ⅳ tumors (P=0.005), more metastatic lymph nodes (P<0.001), more advanced T stage (P=0.043), N stage (P=0.004) and TNM stage (P=0.015). In survival analysis, patients with No.11p posterior lymph node metastasis had a significantly worse prognosis than those without metastasis after adjusting for TNM stage (hazard ratio=3.009, 95% confidence interval: 1.824-4.964, P<0.001). Conclusions: The No.11p posterior lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer is associated with worse prognosis. For patients of T3-4 stage gastric cancer, No.11p posterior lymph node dissection should be emphasized during radical operation.

Impedance matching system using triple liquid stub tuners for high-power ion cyclotron resonance heating in EAST tokamak

Ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH), one of the main auxiliary methods, for high-power and long-pulse plasma heating had been developed in Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST). An impedance matching system, one important part of ICRH, had been developed for high-power injection and transmitter protection by reducing the reflected power from the antenna. The input impedance in the outlet of the stub tuner can be measured by voltage-current probes installed on the coaxial transmission line between the antenna and triple liquid stub tuners, and the optimum liquid levels in the stub tuners can be calculated based on the input impedance. The calculation and adjustment process of the optimum liquid levels are described comprehensively in this article. Finally, impedance matching had been achieved between two shots during EAST experiments. In the near future, a real-time impedance matching system will be developed to prevent large variations of the ICRH antenna impedance and achieve steady-state and long-pulse operation with the ICRH system.

Mycoplasma genitalium incidence, treatment failure, and resistance: a retrospective survey of men of infertile couples from a hospital in China

BACKGROUND

Mycoplasma genitalium infection is significantly associated with an increased risk of male infertility. To date, few large M. genitalium studies have been conducted in China.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to estimate the M. genitalium incidence and treatment failure and to provide information regarding the resistance of M. genitalium to macrolide and tetracycline antibiotics among men of infertile couples in China.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was performed as a retrospective survey of seminal and meatus urinarius secreta specimens of 30,094 men of infertile couples collected and used for microbiological tests for the evaluation of genital tract infections (Mycoplasma genitalium, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae) between October 2016 and December 2017. Mycoplasma genitalium RNA was detected using novel simultaneous amplification testing. Macrolide and tetracycline resistance screening was introduced using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Sanger sequencing.

RESULTS

The incidence of M. genitalium was 2.49% (749 of 30,094; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.31-2.66%). After antibiotic treatment, the mean values of semen parameters increased from those measured before treatment. The overall incidence of treatment failure was 17.56% (82/467; 95% CI, 14.10%-21.02%) (112-26-4 = 82), irrespective of the drug used. Resistance to macrolide and tetracycline antibiotics was detected in 58 samples (58/60, 96.67%; 95% CI, 91.99-101.34%) and 27 samples (27/60, 45.00%; 95% CI, 32.04-57.96%), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the M. genitalium incidence was relatively low, the detection of macrolide antibiotic resistance in >96.67% of the treatment failure samples most likely explained the high azithromycin treatment failure rate (73/195, 37.44%) in our study. These findings indicate the need to provide resistance testing and to reappraise the recommended antimicrobial options in China.

Association of AR rs6152G/A gene polymorphism with susceptibility to polycystic ovary syndrome in Chinese women

Hyperandrogenism is a central feature of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Androgens act via the androgen receptor (AR). The rs6152G/A AR gene polymorphism has been reported to be associated with male pattern baldness (MPB), which is a common characteristic of males in PCOS families. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between the rs6152G/A polymorphism and PCOS in Han Chinese women. The rs6152G/A AR gene polymorphism was screened by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in 224 PCOS women and 223 control subjects from the Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-XIANGYA in China. There was a significantly higher prevalence of genotypes containing the A allele in PCOS patients compared with controls (P < 0.05). Patients carrying the rs6152A allele had a 1.608-fold greater risk of developing polycystic ovary syndrome compared with rs6152GG homozygotes (OR = 1.608, CI = 1.008-2.597, P < 0.05). In conclusion, the individuals carrying the rs6152A allele had significantly higher susceptibility to polycystic ovary syndrome than those that were GG homozygotes.

[Clinical and experimental study of shuangcao tuihuang granule-1 in treating severe jaundice of acute icterohepatitis]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effect of Shuangcao Tuihuang Granule-1 (SCTH-1) in treating severe jaundice of acute icterohepatitis and to study its mechanism.

METHODS

Thirty-four patients with severe jaundice of acute icterohepatitis were treated with SCTH-1, their therapeutic effects were analyzed. In the experimental studies, the influences of SCTH-1 on acute liver injury, liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) and serum ALT and AST were monitored.

RESULTS

The markedly effective rate and effective rate of the treated group were 73.5% and 23.5% respectively. The markedly effective rate of the treated group was obviously higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Experimental study revealed that SCTH-1 could reduce the level of serum transaminase and inflammation of liver tissue in mice with acute liver damage. In addition, SCTH-1 could raise the activity of liver SOD (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

SCTH-1 could accelerate the jaundice subsidence, improve the liver function and ameliorate the liver injury, its mechanism was possibly correlated with raising SOD activity, scavenging the oxygen free radicals.

[Preparation of diclofenac sodium controlled release pellets and multiple-dose evaluation in healthy volunteers]

The yield of pellets obtained in preparing diclofenac sodium (DC-Na) controlled release pellets was affected by the lactose/starch ratio of the feed granules, viscosity of the binding solution and residence time in the rolling pot. The pellet shape was found to be correlated with surface tension of the binding solution. The concentration and composition of the coating solution and pellet size distribution were responsible for the agglutination in coating. The controlled release pellets (CRP) and commercial tablets (CT) of DC-Na were administrated orally to healthy volunteers by multiple-dose. The steady-state condition, based on trough plasma concentration on day 3-5, was achieved on day 3. A great difference in plasma drug concentration fluctuation index (FI) between CRP (0.476 +/- 0.0484) and CT (0.935 +/- 0.092) was observed (P < 0.05) during steady-state. The area under the plasma drug concentration-time curve for a 0-12 h interval (AUC) on day 5 of CRP (6.493 +/- 0.4169 micrograms.h.ml-1) and CT (7.551 +/- 0.4745 micrograms.h.ml-1) was shown to be not significantly different (P > 0.05). The relative bioavailability in the human was about 86%.