Continuous monitoring of deep-tissue haemodynamics with stretchable ultrasonic phased arrays.

Stretchable wearable devices for the continuous monitoring of physiological signals from deep tissues are constrained by the depth of signal penetration and by difficulties in resolving signals from specific tissues. Here, we report the development and testing of a prototype skin-conformal ultrasonic phased array for the monitoring of haemodynamic signals from tissues up to 14 cm beneath the skin. The device allows for active focusing and steering of ultrasound beams over a range of incident angles so as to target regions of interest.

The effect of photobiomodulation therapy on antioxidants and oxidative stress profiles of adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells in diabetic rats.

We studied the effects of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) on adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) which were extracted from streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Adipose tissue was extracted from the hypodermis of diabetic rats, and diabetic ADSCs were extracted, characterized, and cultured. There were two in vitro groups: control-diabetic ADSCs, and PBMT-diabeticADSCs.

The interplay between matrix deformation and the coordination of turning events governs directed neutrophil migration in 3D matrices.

Neutrophils migrating through extravascular spaces must negotiate narrow matrix pores without losing directional movement. We investigated how chemotaxing neutrophils probe matrices and adjust their migration to collagen concentration ([col]) changes by tracking 20,000 cell trajectories and quantifying cell-generated 3D matrix deformations. In low-[col] matrices, neutrophils exerted large deformations and followed straight trajectories.

Development of U-Net Breast Density Segmentation Method for Fat-Sat MR Images Using Transfer Learning Based on Non-Fat-Sat Model.

To develop a U-net deep learning method for breast tissue segmentation on fat-sat T1-weighted (T1W) MRI using transfer learning (TL) from a model developed for non-fat-sat images. The training dataset (N = 126) was imaged on a 1.5 T MR scanner, and the independent testing dataset (N = 40) was imaged on a 3 T scanner, both using fat-sat T1W pulse sequence.

Shockwave Treatment Enhanced Extracellular Matrix Production in Articular Chondrocytes Through Activation of the ROS/MAPK/Nrf2 Signaling Pathway.

Objective: Shockwave application is a potential treatment for osteoarthritis (OA), but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Oxidative stress and a counterbalancing antioxidant system might be the key to understanding this mechanism. We hypothesized that reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2),which is an important regulator of cellular redox homeostasis, are plausible elements.

Enhanced Skin Incisional Wound Healing With Intracellular ATP Delivery Macrophage Proliferation and Direct Collagen Production.

This study sought to use a newly developed intracellular ATP delivery to enhance incisional wound healing to reduce surgical wound dehiscence and to explore possible mechanism for this effect. Thirty-five adult New Zealand white rabbits were used. Skin incisions were made on the back and closed.

Use of an interactive multimedia e-book to improve nursing students'' sexual harassment prevention knowledge, prevention strategies, coping behavior, and learning motivation: A randomized controlled study.

Background: Nursing essentially involves working closely with patients both physically and psychologically. Nurses, particularly inexperienced nursing students, are often at great risk of sexual harassment.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of a clinical-based sexual harassment prevention e-book on nursing students' knowledge, prevention strategies, coping behaviors, and learning motivation.

Aerobic Exercise-Assisted Cardiac Regeneration by Inhibiting Tryptase Release in Mast Cells after Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) contributes critically to the mortality, morbidity, and economic problem of illness globally. Exercise is a share of everyone's life. Some evidence-based studies have frequently shown a progressive correlation between physical activity and good health.

Electroacupuncture prevents cocaine-induced conditioned place preference reinstatement and attenuates ΔFosB and GluR2 expression.

Acupuncture has been used for treating drug addiction since the 1970s, but little is known about the mechanisms by which acupuncture affects drug cue-induced relapse. The transcription factor delta-FosB (ΔFosB) plays a critical role in behavior and pathology after chronic use of cocaine. ΔFosB regulates glutamate receptor signaling and dendritic spine morphology in animal models.

The Effect of Heat Treatment toward Glycerol-Based, Photocurable Polymeric Scaffold: Mechanical, Degradation and Biocompatibility.

Photocurable polymers have become increasingly important for their quick prototyping and high accuracy when used in three dimensional (3D) printing. However, some of the common photocurable polymers are known to be brittle, cytotoxic and present low impact resistance, all of which limit their applications in medicine. In this study, thermal treatment was studied for its effect and potential applications on the mechanical properties, degradability and biocompatibility of glycerol-based photocurable polymers, poly(glycerol sebacate) acrylate (PGSA).

The Combined Effect of Photobiomodulation and Curcumin on Acute Skin Wound Healing in Rats.

Abnormal wound repair is a cause for considerable expense, as well as patient morbidity and mortality. Here, we investigated the combined impact of photobiomodulation (PBM) and curcumin on a rat experimental model of an acute skin wound. A round full-thickness wound was created on the back of each rat.

Associations of obesity and malnutrition with cardiac remodeling and cardiovascular outcomes in Asian adults: A cohort study.

Background: Obesity, a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease and heart failure (HF), is associated with adverse cardiac remodeling in the general population. Little is known about how nutritional status modifies the relationship between obesity and outcomes. We aimed to investigate the association of obesity and nutritional status with clinical characteristics, echocardiographic changes, and clinical outcomes in the general community.

Control of the Organocatalytic Enantioselective α-Alkylation of Vinylogous Carbonyl Enolates for the Synthesis of Tetrahydropyran Derivatives and Beyond.

The organocatalytic α-alkylation of vinylogous carbonyl compounds to hydroxynitroolefins for the synthesis of hemiacetals was realized with excellent enantioselectivities and in high yields. High diastereoselectivity (up to >20:1) has been accomplished with the addition of EtN. The α- and γ-alkylation of vinylogous ketone against nitroolefins displayed high but opposite facial selectivities.

Roles of KLF4 and AMPK in the inhibition of glycolysis by pulsatile shear stress in endothelial cells.

Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) sense and respond to hemodynamic forces such as pulsatile shear stress (PS) and oscillatory shear stress (OS). Among the metabolic pathways, glycolysis is differentially regulated by atheroprone OS and atheroprotective PS. Studying the molecular mechanisms by which PS suppresses glycolytic flux at the epigenetic, transcriptomic, and kinomic levels, we have demonstrated that glucokinase regulatory protein (GCKR) was markedly induced by PS in vitro and in vivo, although PS down-regulates other glycolysis enzymes such as hexokinase (HK1).

Learning From Clinical Consensus Diagnosis in India to Facilitate Automatic Classification of Dementia: Machine Learning Study.

Background: The Harmonized Diagnostic Assessment of Dementia for the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI-DAD) is the first and only nationally representative study on late-life cognition and dementia in India (n=4096). LASI-DAD obtained clinical consensus diagnosis of dementia for a subsample of 2528 respondents.

Objective: This study develops a machine learning model that uses data from the clinical consensus diagnosis in LASI-DAD to support the classification of dementia status.

Mechanoresponsive Smad5 Enhances MiR-487a Processing to Promote Vascular Endothelial Proliferation in Response to Disturbed Flow.

MicroRNAs (miRs) and bone morphogenetic protein receptor-specific Smads are mechano-responsive molecules that play vital roles in modulating endothelial cell (EC) functions in response to blood flow. However, the roles of interplay between these molecules in modulating EC functions under flows remain unclear. We elucidated the regulatory roles of the interplay between miR-487a and Smad5 in EC proliferation in response to different flow patterns.

A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of intravenous thiamine for prevention of delirium following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Objective: To determine if high dose intravenous (IV) thiamine can prevent delirium during hospitalization following allogeneic HSCT. Secondarily, we evaluated the effects of high dose IV thiamine on thiamine levels and explored risk factors for delirium.

Methods: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients undergoing allogeneic HSCT at a U.

Application of Artificial Intelligence in COVID-19 Pandemic: Bibliometric Analysis.

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) to health has increased, including to COVID-19. This study aimed to provide a clear overview of COVID-19-related AI publication trends using longitudinal bibliometric analysis. A systematic literature search was conducted on the Web of Science for English language peer-reviewed articles related to AI application to COVID-19.

Maintenance of HDACs and H3K9me3 Prevents Arterial Flow-Induced Venous Endothelial Damage.

The transition of flow microenvironments from veins to arteries in vein graft surgery induces "peel-off" of venous endothelial cells (vECs) and results in restenosis. Recently, arterial laminar shear stress (ALS) and oscillatory shear stress (OS) have been shown to affect the cell cycle and inflammation through epigenetic controls such as histone deacetylation by histone deacetylases (HDACs) and trimethylation on lysine 9 of histone 3 (H3K9me3) in arterial ECs. However, the roles of H3K9me3 and HDAC in vEC damage under ALS are not known.

Elucidating the Biomechanics of Leukocyte Transendothelial Migration by Quantitative Imaging.

Leukocyte transendothelial migration is crucial for innate immunity and inflammation. Upon tissue damage or infection, leukocytes exit blood vessels by adhering to and probing vascular endothelial cells (VECs), breaching endothelial cell-cell junctions, and transmigrating across the endothelium. Transendothelial migration is a critical rate-limiting step in this process.

Photobiomodulation therapy was more effective than photobiomodulation plus arginine on accelerating wound healing in an animal model of delayed healing wound.

The combined and individual influences of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) and arginine on wound strength, stereological parameters, and gene expressions of some related growth factors in ischemic and delayed healing wounds in rats were analyzed. We divided 108 rats into six groups: control, lower energy density (LOW)-PBMT, 2% arginine ointment (Arg 2%), LOW-PBMT + Arg 2%, high energy density (HIGH)-PBMT, and HIGH-PBMT + Arg 2%. First, we generated an ischemic and delayed healing wound model in each rat.

A new bioinformatics approach identifies overexpression of GRB2 as a poor prognostic biomarker for prostate cancer.

A subset of prostate cancer displays a poor clinical outcome. Therefore, identifying this poor prognostic subset within clinically aggressive groups (defined as a Gleason score (GS) ≧8) and developing effective treatments are essential if we are to improve prostate cancer survival. Here, we performed a bioinformatics analysis of a TCGA dataset (GS ≧8) to identify pathways upregulated in a prostate cancer cohort with short survival.

8-Hydroxybriaranes from Octocoral (Briareidae) (Kükenthal, 1908).

Chemical investigation of the octocoral , collected in the Ie Island, Okinawa, Japan, resulted in the isolation of a new briarane-type diterpenoid, briastecholide A (), as well as the previously reported metabolites, solenolide C () and briarenolide S (). The structures of briaranes - were characterized through spectroscopic analysis, and the absolute configuration of was corroborated by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Briarane exhibited bioactivity against the protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS).