Evolution of foraging behaviour induces variable complexity-stability relationships in mutualist-exploiter-predator communities.

Early ecological theory predicts that complex ecological networks are unstable and are unlikely to persist, despite many empirical studies of such complexity in nature. This inconsistency has fascinated ecologists for decades. To resolve the complexity-stability debate, coupling population dynamics and trait dynamics is considered to be an important way to understand the long-term stability of ecological community assemblages.

Association between self-reported sleep apnea and albuminuria among middle age and elderly population: Results from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

The prevalence of both obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and albuminuria increase with advanced age. The data on the association between OSA and albuminuria in subjects with advanced age were limited. Hence, the present study aimed to assess the association between sleep apnea (SA) and albuminuria in middle age and elderly population.

Effect of continuous positive airway pressure on albuminuria in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a meta-analysis.

Purpose: A relationship between albuminuria and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been documented in previous studies. Nevertheless, the impact of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on albuminuria in subjects with OSA is debated. This meta-analysis was carried out to investigate whether or not CPAP treatment affected urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) in subjects with OSA.

Validation of fatty liver index and hepatic steatosis index for screening of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in adults with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a contributing factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Non-invasive algorithms including fatty liver index (FLI) and hepatic steatosis index (HSI) have been used as a screening test for NAFLD in epidemiologic studies. The aim of this study is to compare the diagnostic accuracy of FLI and HSI for NAFLD detection in adults with OSAHS.

Supercritical Fluid-Assisted Decoration of Nanoparticles on Porous Microcontainers for Codelivery of Therapeutics and Inhalation Therapy of Diabetes.

The impact of nanotechnology and its advancements have allowed us to explore new therapeutic modalities. To this end, we designed nanoparticles-inlaid porous microparticles (NIPMs) coloaded with small interfering RNA (siRNA) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) using the supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO) technology as an inhalation delivery system for diabetes therapy. siRNA-encapsulating chitosan (CS) nanoparticles were first synthesized by an ionic gelation method, which resulted in particles with small sizes (100-150 nm), high encapsulation efficiency (∼94.

Supercritical Fluid-Assisted Porous Microspheres for Efficient Delivery of Insulin and Inhalation Therapy of Diabetes.

Pulmonary delivery of drugs has attracted increasing attention in healthcare, as the lungs are an easily accessible site for noninvasive systemic delivery of drugs. Although pulmonary inhalation of porous microparticles has been shown to sustain drug delivery, there are limited reports on efficient delivery of insulin and inhalation therapy of diabetes based on supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO ) technology. Herein, this study reports the fabrication of insulin-loaded poly-l-lactide porous microspheres (INS-PLLA PMs) by using the SC-CO technology, and their use as an inhalation delivery system potentially for diabetes therapy.

Silencing of Livin inhibits tumorigenesis and metastasis via VEGF and MMPs pathway in lung cancer.

Livin, an inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP), is overexpressed in various cancers and decreases tumor sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, the effect of Livin on lung adenocarcinoma metastasis and the specific mechanism involved remain unclear. RNAi technology was used to stably silence Livin in A549 cells in the present study.

Biological evaluation of Fe₃O₄-poly(L-lactide)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(L-lactide) magnetic microspheres prepared in supercritical CO₂.

The biocompatibility of Fe₃O₄-poly(L-lactide)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(L-lactide) magnetic microspheres (Fe₃O₄-PLLA-PEG-PLLA MMPs) prepared in a process of suspension-enhanced dispersion by supercritical CO₂ (SpEDS) was evaluated at various levels: cellular, molecular, and integrated. At the cellular level, the investigations of cytotoxicity and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation indicate that the polymer-coated MMPs (2.0 mg/mL) had a higher toxicity than uncoated Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, which led to about 20% loss of cell viability and an increase (0.

[Clinical trials of antiphlogistic agent series in treating chronic nonbacterial prostatitis].

Objective: To investigate the curative effect of antiphlogistic agent series on treating chronic nonbacterial prostatitis (CNP).

Methods: One hundred and sixty patients were randomized into 4 groups for an 8-week clinical observation: group A (oral antiphlogistic medicinal granules only), group B (oral antiphlogistic medicinal granules + retention enema), group C (oral antiphlogistic medicinal granules + rectal), and group D (antiphlogistic medicinal granules + rectally + hip bath). Single blind trials were employed.