Objective: The present study evaluated the effects of deep acupuncture at Weizhong acupoint (BL40) on bladder function and brain activity in a rat model of overactive bladder (OAB), and investigated the possible mechanisms around the acupuncture area that initiate the effects of acupuncture.
Methods: Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups, comprising a control group, model group, group treated with deep acupuncture at BL40, group treated with shallow acupuncture at BL40, group treated with acupuncture at non-acupoint next to BL40, and group treated with acupuncture at Xuanzhong (GB39). Urodynamic evaluation was used to observe the urination, and functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to observe the brain activation.
Defective clearance and accumulation of α-synuclein (α-Syn) is the key pathogenic factor in Parkinson's disease (PD). Recent studies emphasize the importance of E3 ligases in regulating the degradation of α-Syn. However, the molecular mechanisms by which deubiquitinases regulate α-Syn degradation are scarcely studied.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Synthesized evidence regarding the effectiveness of non-invasive neuromodulation treatment for adolescents remains scarce. This study aimed to perform the first meta-analysis of the impact of neuromodulation treatment on depressive symptoms in adolescents.
Methods: According to the PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive review covering databases in English and Chinese from their inception to November 30, 2023, was conducted.
Doublecortin (DCX) is a microtubule-associated protein known to be a key regulator of neuronal migration and differentiation during brain development. However, the role of DCX, particularly in regulating the survival and growth of glioma cells, remains unclear. In this study, we utilized CRISPR/Cas9 technology to knock down DCX in the human glioma cell line (U251).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Cholelithiasis areis a common digestive system disorder, with cholesterol gallstones being the most prevalent type. Gallstones lead to many severe complications, posing a significant burden on global healthcare systems. Many studies have shown associations between biliary microbiota, gallbladder immune microenvironment, and gallstone formation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Physical activity has protective effects on cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs), but the role of metabolism related to physical activity in this process is unclear.
Methods: In the prospective cohort study from UK Biobank between 2006 and 2022, participants free of CMDs at baseline were included (n = 73,990). We identified physical activity-related metabolites and constructed metabolic signature using linear regression and elastic net regression.
Rho family GTPases are a part of the Ras superfamily and are signaling hubs for many cellular processes. While the detailed understanding of Ras structure and function has led to tremendous progress in oncogenic Ras-targeted drug discovery, studies of the related Rho GTPases are also catching up as the recurrent cancer-related Rho GTPase mutations have only been discovered in the last decade. Like that of Ras, an in-depth understanding of the structural basis of how Rho GTPases and their mutants behave as key oncogenic drivers benefits the development of clinically effective therapies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlant Biotechnol J
December 2024
Celery (Apium graveolens L.) is an important vegetable crop in the Apiaceae family. It comprises three botanical varieties: common celery with solid and succulent petioles, celeriac or root celery with enlarged and fleshy hypocotyls and smallage or leaf celery with slender, leafy and usually hollow petioles.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdult mammals are unable to regenerate bulky bone tissues, making large bone defects clinically challenging. Deer antler represents an exception to this rule, exhibiting the fastest bony growth in mammals, offering a unique opportunity to explore novel strategies for rapid bone regeneration. Here, a bone graft exploiting the biochemical, biophysical, and structural characteristics of antlers is constructed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAcute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains a leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide, with its high mortality and recurrence rates significantly impacting patients' quality of life and prognosis. Cardiac rehabilitation, as a comprehensive intervention strategy, plays a crucial role in improving outcomes for AMI patients. The aims to comprehensively analyze and evaluate the theoretical foundations and practical models of cardiac rehabilitation following AMI, providing healthcare professionals with up-to-date research advances and practical guidance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBacterial contamination is an inevitable issue during the processing of semen preservation in pigs. As a prototypical endotoxin from Gram-negative bacteria in semen, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) undermines sperm function during liquid preservation. Spermine and spermidine could protect cells against LPS-induced injury, and the content of spermine and spermidine in seminal plasma is positively correlated with sperm quality.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnteral nutrition represents the primary modality of nutritional support for critically ill patients. However, challenges such as gastroesophageal reflux, diarrhea, and abdominal distension often manifest during its administration. Enteral nutrition semi-solidified feeding has emerged as a promising alternative, demonstrating notable efficacy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Pharmacies can increase access to vaccines. This study aimed to describe trends in the proportion of adolescent and adult vaccinations administered in pharmacies in the United States from 2018 to 2024.
Research Design And Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of medical and pharmacy claims from commercial health insurance enrollees.
Soil chromium (Cr) stress has a well-recognized negative impact on plant growth, and intercropping is a commonly used method to mitigate heavy metal toxicity to main plants. However, the responses of root exudates-microbial and their interactions among soil zones to soil Cr stress are always in need of clarification in intercropping system. In this study, three intercropping patterns (CT, Malus only; TM, Malus × Mentha and TA, Malus × Ageratum) with different soil Cr addition levels (NCR, LCR, HCR) were applied, and the rhizosphere ecological traits in the main plant (FRS) and intercrop (ARS) were investigated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn order to elucidate the dynamic changes of quality characteristics in Xanthoceras sorbifolium leaf tea (XLT), this work investigated the chemical components, volatile profile, and antioxidant properties at key stages of fixation, shaping, and drying. The process of fixation and drying emerged as critical stages that affected the chemical components and taste of XLT. Total polyphenols, reducing sugars and chlorophyll were the differential compounds, which decreased by 29.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Objectives: The efficacy and safety of modified-release methylphenidate (MPH-MR) in the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been shown in both pediatric and adult Caucasian patients. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of MPH-MR in Chinese children and adolescents with ADHD.
Methods: MICCA was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted at 19 sites in China from September 2018 to July 2021.
Photothermal therapy is a novel and promising method for cancer treatment due to its controllable property, noninvasive nature, and high selectivity. Nevertheless, tumor recurrence of inflammatory response and tumor tolerance of heat shock protein over-expression remain serious challenges in current photothermal therapy. Additionally, the high dosage requirement of nanomaterial for optimal imaging and therapeutic effect would result in various side effects, organ excretion burdens, and long-term accumulation in the body.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Objectives: Recent research suggests that atrial fibrillation (AF) may influence the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD). However, existing studies have provided inconsistent results, with some showing a significant association between AF and the risk of AD and VaD, while others do not. The objective of this study is to conduct a meta-analysis to investigate the association between AF and the risk of AD and VaD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCongenital ocular malformations originate from defective morphogenesis during early eye development and cause 25% of childhood blindness. Formation of the eye is a multi-step, dynamic process; it involves evagination of the optic vesicle, followed by distal and ventral invagination, leading to the formation of a two-layered optic cup with a transient optic fissure. These tissue folding events require extensive changes in cell shape and tissue growth mediated by cytoskeleton mechanics and intercellular adhesion.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPorcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) is endemic in swine worldwide and causes reproductive disorders, dermatitis and nephrotic syndrome, and multi-organ inflammation. PCV3 capsid protein (Cap) can self-assemble into virus-like particles (VLPs), and is an ideal candidate for vaccines and diagnostic reagents.In this study, the recombinant PCV3 Cap protein was successfully expressed in E.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNanophotonics
March 2024
Biotrickling filter (BTF) technology is inefficient in the treatment of Cl-containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as chlorobenzene (CB). This study adopted non-thermal plasma (NTP) as a pretreatment and conducted in-depth analyses, especially in microorganisms, to investigate strengthening mechanism of a NTP to a BTF in the process. The introduction of NTP enhance efficiency of CB removal from 65 % to 90 %, and CO generation from 60 % to 85 %.
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