Radix bupleuri Extract Inhibits Hyperplasia of Mammary Gland in Rats

Purpose: To investigate the effect of Radix bupleuri extract (RBE) on hyperplasia of mammary gland (HMG) in rats.Methods: Forty virgin female Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, HMG model, positive control (Rupisanjie capsule, RPSJC), and low-, middle-, and high-dose RBE groups. Estrogen and progestogen were intramuscularly injected into the rats to induce HMG. RPSJC and RBE were administered by intragastric administration. Changes in nipple height were measured; serum estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), prolactin (PRL), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were evaluated; and uterus and ovary indices were calculated. Morphological changes in mammary glands were observed by light microscopy.Results: Compared with HMG model rats, those treated with RBE had significantly decreased nipple height and uterus index (both p < 0.01), and the numbers of mammary gland lobules and secretion were reduced by RBE. The treatment also significantly decreased serum E2, PRL, and FSH levels (all p < 0.01), while serum P and LH levels (p < 0.01) were significantly increased in RBE-treated HMG rats. Histopathologic observation confirmed that high dose of RBE attenuated HMG.Conclusion: The findings suggest that RBE has significant effect of anti hyperplasia of mammary gland.Keywords: Radix Bupleuri, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-hyperplasia, Mammary gland, Nipple height, Uterus inde

The Effectiveness Of On-Site Detention For Water Quantity Control In Taman Ilmu Using Stormwater Management Model (SWMM)

Rapid urbanisation causes the risk of flood to increase due to large impervious surface area. On-site detention is introduced as a flood mitigation in this study. The objectives of the study are to model Taman Ilmu drainage system using Stormwater Management Model and to evaluate the effectiveness of on-site detention. On-site detention is one of stormwater management device which detained the runoff to reduce the peak discharges and delay the flood. Stormwater Management Model is a widely used program for planning, analysis and design related to drainage systems of runoff quantity and quality in urban areas. Taman Ilmu is chosen as a study area because it is located beside the Kerian River which has the risk of flood occurring due to monsoon rain incorporate with rising tide. Over this study, 1 hour storm duration is used for design rainfall intensity and 79.03 mm/hr for 10 year ARI is calculated. After installation of OSD in each sub-catchment, the range of flow attenuation is from 22.5% to 89.2% due to different impervious area and volume of OSD. The results show that 48% attenuation of peak discharge from 2.189 m3/s to 1.137 m3/s at outlet of Taman Ilmu. The location and number are factors that can affect the effectiveness of OSD. Location of OSD at upstream area more effective than downstream. The number of OSD increase, the flow attenuation increase but the cost of installation and maintenance increase as well

Multi-scale input-output analysis of consumption-based water resources: Method and application

This work develops a method of multi-scale input-output analysis for the embodied water accounting of an economy. This method can distinguish between the different virtual water contents of imported and local products and is therefore capable of accurately estimating the virtual water that is embodied in trade. As a simplified model rather than a multi-regional input-output analysis, this method substantially minimizes the data requirements. With the support of averaged Eora global embodied water intensity databases for the world and Chinese economies, a three-scale embodied water input-output analysis of the Beijing economy in 2007 has been conducted. Dozens of virtual water flows that relate to the Beijing economy have been identified and analyzed. Only 15% of the total water resources embodied in Beijing's local final demand were from local water withdrawal; 85% were from domestically and internationally imported products. The virtual water import is revealed to play a more important role than physical water transfer in easing Beijing's water shortage. Since the average water use efficiency of the Beijing economy is much higher than that of the Chinese economy but somewhat lower that of the rest of the world, Beijing is suggested to shifting its imports to foreign countries to optimize global water use. The method developed can be useful for water saving strategies for multiple responsible entities holding different opinions, and it can be easily applied to the embodied water accounting of a sub-national or even smaller economic community

Effects of ovarian stimulation protocols on outcomes of assisted reproductive technology in adenomyosis women: a retrospective cohort study

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of different ovarian stimulation protocols on in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) outcomes in infertile women with adenomyosis.MethodsWe carried out a retrospective cohort study among infertile women with adenomyosis receiving IVF/ICSI treatment, including 257 fresh embryo transfer (ET) cycles and 305 frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles. In fresh ET cycles, ultra-long, long, short, and antagonist protocols were adopted. In FET cycles, patients received long-acting GnRH agonist (GnRHa) pretreatment or not. The primary outcome was clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), and the secondary outcomes included implantation rate (IR), miscarriage rate (MR), and live birth rate (LBR).ResultsIn fresh ET cycles, compared with ultra-long and long protocols, IR (49.7%, 52.1% versus 28.2%, P=0.001) and CPR (64.3%, 57.4% versus 35.6%, P=0.004) significantly decreased in the short protocol. Similarly, compared with ultra-long and long protocols, a decreased inclination of IR (49.7%, 52.1% versus 33.3%) and CPR (57.4%, 64.3% versus 38.2%) existed in the antagonist protocol, although no statistical significance was detected because of strict P adjustment of Bonferroni method (Padj=0.008). Compared with long protocol, LBR in short protocol decreased obviously (48.2% versus 20.3%, P<0.001). In FET cycles, no matter which origin of embryos, there were no statistical differences in IR, CPR, and LBR. For women ≥35 years receiving fresh ET, CPR was higher in ultra-long and long protocols (52.1%, 50.0% versus 20.0%, 27.5%, P=0.031) compared to antagonist and short protocols. For women ≥35 years receiving FET, compared with ultra-long and antagonist protocols, cycles with embryos originating from long and short protocols had higher proportions of long-acting GnRHa pretreatment (30.4%,30.00 versus 63.9%, 51.4%, P=0.009). IR (61.1%, 48.6% versus 32.6%, 25.0%, P=0.020) and CPR (58.3%, 48.6% versus 30.4%, 25.0%, P=0.024) in long and short protocols were higher than rates of ultra-long and antagonist protocols, but no statistical differences were supported because of strict Bonferroni method (Padj=0.008).ConclusionIn infertile women with adenomyosis, if a fresh embryo was planned for transfer, an ultra-long or long protocol might be beneficial. If antagonist and short protocols were used, whole embryos frozen followed by FET was recommended. In FET cycles, embryos derived from different protocols had no impact on pregnancy outcomes