Fast instruments and tissues segmentation of micro-neurosurgical scene using high correlative non-local network.

Surgical scene segmentation provides critical information for guidance in micro-neurosurgery. Segmentation of instruments and critical tissues contributes further to robot assisted surgery and surgical evaluation. However, due to the lack of relevant scene segmentation dataset, scale variation and local similarity, micro-neurosurgical segmentation faces many challenges.

Effects of Chinese medicine for COVID-19 rehabilitation: a multicenter observational study.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Chinese Medicine (CM) on the health condition of the post-COVID-19 patients, particularly with the CM Syndrome diagnosis and Body Constitutions (BC), as well as related clinical characteristics.

Methods: 150 participants who had COVID-19 and discharged from Hong Kong public hospitals were recruited. They were provided with three to six months of CM treatments, during which assessments were made per month and at follow-up on their CM syndromes, BC, lung functions, and other medical conditions.

Inhibition of attenuates renal injury and inflammation by alleviating m6A modifications via IGF2BP2-dependent mechanisms.

The role of -methyladenosine (m6A) modifications in renal diseases is largely unknown. Here, we characterized the role of -adenosine-methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3), whose expression is elevated in renal tubules in different acute kidney injury (AKI) models as well as in human biopsies and cultured tubular epithelial cells (TECs). silencing alleviated renal inflammation and programmed cell death in TECs in response to stimulation by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), cisplatin, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), whereas overexpression had the opposite effects.

Guideline Acupuncture for low back pain: a clinical practice guideline from the Hong Kong taskforce of standardized acupuncture practice.

Objective: To develop a clinical practice guideline to guide the treatment of low back pain by acupuncture.

Methods: An integrative approach of systematic review of literature, clinical evidence classification, expert opinion surveying, and consensus establishing via a Delphi program was utilized during the developing process. Both evidence-based practice standards and the personalized features of acupuncture were taken into considerations.

Epigenetics and Inflammation in Diabetic Nephropathy.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) leads to high morbidity and disability. Inflammation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of DN, which involves renal cells and immune cells, the microenvironment, as well as extrinsic factors, such as hyperglycemia, chemokines, cytokines, and growth factors. Epigenetic modifications usually regulate gene expression via DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNAs without altering the DNA sequence.

Edible and Herbal Plants for the Prevention and Management of COVID-19.

The outbreak of the pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has now become a global pandemic spreading throughout the world. Unfortunately, due to the high infectiousness of the novel -coronavirus, it is very likely to become an ordinary epidemic. The development of dietary supplements and functional foods might provide a strategy for the prevention and management of COVID-19.

Effect of Herbs on Postoperative Intestinal Obstruction: A Case Report.

Postoperative intestinal obstruction is one of the most common and challenging complications after patients receive pelvic or abdominal surgery. The effectiveness of conventional therapies is varied and they are associated with a high recurrence rate. Traditional Chinese Medicine can be beneficial in the treatment of intestinal obstruction.

DNA methylation of FTO promotes renal inflammation by enhancing mA of PPAR-α in alcohol-induced kidney injury.

Alcohol consumption is one of the risk factors for kidney injury. The underlying mechanism of alcohol-induced kidney injury remains largely unknown. We previously found that the kidney in a mouse model of alcoholic kidney injury had severe inflammation.

7-Hydroxycoumarin protects against cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury by inhibiting necroptosis and promoting Sox9-mediated tubular epithelial cell proliferation.

Background: 7-Hydroxycoumarin (7-HC), also known as umbelliferon, is commonly found in Chinese herbs (e.g. Eucommiae Cortex, Prunellae Spica, Radix Angelicae Biseratae).

Smad3 promotes AKI sensitivity in diabetic mice via interaction with p53 and induction of NOX4-dependent ROS production.

The incidence and severity of acute kidney injury (AKI) is increased yearly in diabetic patients. Although the mechanisms for this remain unclear, the prevention of AKI in diabetic nephropathy is feasible and of value. As we detected highly activation of TGF-β/Smad3 signaling in both human biopsy and mouse model of diabetic nephropathy, we hypothesized that Smad3 activation in diabetic kidneys may increase AKI sensitivity.

Alcohol promotes renal fibrosis by activating Nox2/4-mediated DNA methylation of Smad7.

Alcohol consumption causes renal injury and compromises kidney function. The underlying mechanism of the alcoholic kidney disease remains largely unknown. In the present study, an alcoholic renal fibrosis animal model was first employed which mice received liquid diet containing alcohol for 4 to 12 weeks.

Self-administered acupressure for knee osteoarthritis in middle-aged and older adults: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To test the acceptability and feasibility of self-administered acupressure as an intervention for knee pain among middle-aged and older adults with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

Methods: In this pilot randomized controlled trial, 35 participants with KOA were randomized to receive self-administered acupressure (n = 17, two self-administered acupressure training sessions followed by self-practice for 6 weeks) or knee health education (n = 18, two health education sessions about KOA management followed by self-care for 6 weeks). Current pain intensity (primary outcome) was measured using a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) at baseline and weeks 1, 2, 4 and 6 (post-intervention).

Acupuncture for overactive bladder in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Overactive bladder is prevalent in adults over 40 years of age and its prevalence increases with age. The use of acupuncture in adults with overactive bladder is increasing globally. However, its effectiveness/efficacy and safety have not yet been confirmed.

Petchiether A attenuates obstructive nephropathy by suppressing TGF-β/Smad3 and NF-κB signalling.

Obstructive nephropathy is the end result of a variety of diseases that block drainage from the kidney(s). Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/Smad3-driven renal fibrosis is the common pathogenesis of obstructive nephropathy. In this study, we identified petchiether A (petA), a novel small-molecule meroterpenoid from Ganoderma, as a potential inhibitor of TGF-β1-induced Smad3 phosphorylation.

Dendrobine targeting JNK stress signaling to sensitize chemotoxicity of cisplatin against non-small cell lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Background: Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is the standard treatment for lung cancer, but chemoresistance and adverse effects especially cardiotoxicity limit its efficacy.

Purpose: The efficacy of combination treatment of dendrobine, a plant alkaloid isolated from Dendrobium nobile, with cisplatin was examined as a possible anti-non-small cell lung cancer strategy.

Analgesic Effect of Sinew Acupuncture for Patients with Soft-Tissue Injuries: A Pilot Trial.

Objective: To investigate the immediate analgesic effect of sinew acupuncture for patients with soft-tissue injuries (STIs).

Methods: Two hundreds eligible adult patients suffering from STIs were recruited and received sinew acupuncture with flexible treatment schedules. The number of treatment sessions was pragmatically decided by each patient on the basis of their pain relief.

Galectin-1 gene silencing inhibits the activation and proliferation but induces the apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells from mice with liver fibrosis.

Liver fibrosis is a serious threat to human health, and there is currently no effective clinical drug for treatment of the disease. Although Galectin‑1 is effective, its role in liver function, inflammation, matrix metalloproteinases and the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) remains to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the effect of Galectin‑1 on the activation, proliferation and apoptosis of HSCs in a mouse model of liver fibrosis.

Downregulation of Aquaporin 9 Exacerbates Beta-amyloid-induced Neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's Disease Models In vitro and In vivo.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly, characterized by progressive cognitive dysfunction. Aquaporin 9 (AQP9) is an aquaglyceroporin membrane channel shown biophysically to conduct water, glycerol, and other small solutes. In our study, we reported for the first time an age-associated decrease in AQP9 mRNA and protein expressions in both hippocampus and cerebral cortex of APPswe/PS1dE9 (Tg) AD mice at 3, 6 and 10 months of age.

Silencing of microRNA-375 affects immune function in mice with liver failure by upregulating astrocyte elevated gene-1 through reducing apoptosis of Kupffer cells.

This study aims to investigate how microRNA-375 (miR-375) improves immune function by regulating liver macrophages (Kupffer cells) in mice with liver failure. Forty mice were divided into ConA-1h, ConA-3h, ConA-6h, and control groups, with 10 mice in each group. Mice models of liver failure were established by injecting concanavalin A (ConA) solution via the tail veins of mice, and then primary Kupffer cells were isolated and cultured.

Clinical efficacy of acupoint embedment in weight control: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Acupoint embedment, a modified acupuncture technique, is gaining its popularity in weight control in adult obesity or overweight nowadays. The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy of acupoint embedment in weight control of adult obesity or overweight by systematically assess available randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and analyze the integrated findings. A total of 529 literatures were initially searched from the databases.

Galectin-1 Restores Immune Tolerance to Liver Transplantation Through Activation of Hepatic Stellate Cells.

Background/aims: Immune tolerance is considered the only way to manage liver transplantation (LT). The current study hypothesized that galectin-1 via the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is capable of inducing immune tolerance in LT.

Methods: Lentiviral-mediated gene knockdown and overexpression of galectin-1 were conducted in HSC-T6 cells.

Effect of Essential Oil on Patients with Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of essential oil treatment for type III chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted from December 2014 to October 2015. Seventy type III CP/CPPS patients were assigned to the essential oil group (35 cases) or almond placebo oil control group (35 cases) by a random number table.

LINC01121 Inhibits Cell Apoptosis While Facilitating Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion Though Negative Regulation of the Camp/PKA Signaling Pathway via GLP1R.

Background/aims: Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive malignancy as a result of highly metastatic potential. The current study was carried out to alter the expression of LINC01121 in pancreatic cancer, with the aim of elucidating its effects on the biological processes of cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. We hypothesized that both the GLP1R gene and cAMP/PKA signaling pathway participate in the aforementioned process.