PurposeTo analyze the role of the axial positions of the uterus and vagina in providing pelvic floor support, encourage evaluations of pelvic floor function, and improve the understanding of the pathogenesis of pelvic organ prolapse.MethodsThe lengths and angles of the upper, middle, and lower axes of the vagina, uterine body, and cervix of 81 women with prolapse (prolapse group) and 57 women without prolapse (non-prolapse group) were measured and compared using magnetic resonance images. The pelvic inclination correction system (PICS) line was also compared between the groups. The coordinate parameters of the anatomical points of the uterus and vagina were measured, and their positions were analyzed.ResultsIn the prolapse group, the uterine body-cervical angle, cervical-upper vaginal angle, uterine body-PICS line angle, cervical-PICS line angle, and lower vaginal-PICS line angle were smaller (p < 0.05) and the middle-lower vaginal angle, upper vaginal-PICS line angle, and middle vaginal-PICS line angles were larger (p < 0.05) than those in the non-prolapse group. The cervical length was longer (p < 0.05) and the middle and lower vaginal lengths were shorter (p < 0.05) in the prolapse group. The coordinate system revealed that the uterine and vaginal axes were shifted backward and downward in the prolapse group.ConclusionPatients in the prolapse group were more likely to have retroversion and retroflexion of the uterus than those in the non-prolapse group. The vagina was shortened, turned forward, and straightened, and the uterus and vagina were shifted backward and downward in the prolapse group. Changes in the axial position of the uterus and vagina are important mechanisms of pelvic floor organ prolapse.

Globally, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common irreversible ophthalmopathy. Oxidative stress of retinal pigment epithelial cells is involved in AMD occurrence and development. Klotho is an anti-aging protein with antioxidant properties. We investigated the protective properties of Klotho on hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 )-induced injury of retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19 cells) and its associated pathomechanisms. We found that Klotho pretreatment for 24 h could up-regulate Bcl-2 levels, decrease the cleaved-caspase-3 and Bax levels, inhibit H 2 O 2 -induced ARPE-19 cell apoptosis, and promote cell proliferation. Klotho pretreatment inhibited the H 2 O 2 -mediated elevations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in ARPE-19 cells. It enhanced antioxidant activities of the cells and restored the glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD2), catalase (CAT), as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) levels to close to the normal level. N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a reactive oxygen scavenger, could reverse the harmful effects of H 2 O 2 on proliferation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress of ARPE-19 cells. Further, Klotho pretreatment enhanced Akt phosphorylation and expression as well as nuclear translocation of Nrf2 in H 2 O 2 -treated ARPE-19 cells. This indicates that Klotho protects cells from oxidative stress by activating phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)-nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) signaling pathway. Klotho is, therefore, a potential preventive or treatment option for AMD.

The blast furnace hearth refractories are exposed to complex chemical attack and thermal stress erosion, which will lead to the gradual failure of refractories. The campaign life of a blast furnace depends on its remaining hearth refractory lining, so it is very important to understand the remaining thickness of hearth refractory for prolonging the service life of blast furnace. In order to understand the damage of hearth refractory more accurately, a multi-information fusion method for measuring the refractory lining thickness of blast furnace hearth was proposed, which was based on the application advantages of impact echo technology, thermocouple and cooling stave heat flux intensity in blast furnace hearth. The influence of temperature change in different material layers of hearth on wave velocity was considered. In addition, the thickness of refractory lining of blast furnace hearth was detected by the method of multi-information fusion. It is found that the multi-information fusion thickness detection method improves the accuracy of thickness measurement compared with the impact echo thickness detection method. INDEX TERMSBlast furnace hearth, cooling stave heat flux intensity, multi-information fusion, simulation, thermocouple, thickness detection JIAOCHEN MA was born in Shanxi, China, in 1979. He received the B.Eng. and M.Eng. degrees in mechanical engineering and the Ph.D. degree in detection technology and automation device from

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