Differential diagnostic value of magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient for renal clear cell carcinoma and non-clear cell carcinoma.

Accurate identification of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) subtypes before surgery is important to determine appropriate surgical methods and clinical prognosis. The objective of the present study was to investigate the differential diagnostic value of magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging (MRI-DWI) and the measured apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in clear cell (cc) RCC and non-ccRCC. Imaging data (DWI and ADC) from 100 patients with pathologically confirmed RCC from March 2018 to March 2021 in Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, (Lanzhou, China) were retrospectively analyzed, including 32 cases of non-ccRCC (21 cases of chromophobe and 11 cases of papillary cell carcinoma) and 68 cases of ccRCC.

Marginal Bone Level Evaluation of Fixed Partial Dental Prostheses Using Preformed Stock versus CAD/CAM Customized Abutments.

Background: The maintenance of marginal bone levels around dental implants is an important criterion for evaluating the success of implants. Although computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) customized abutments (CAs) provide more flexible solutions, compared with the original preformed stock abutments (PAs), there are dimensional tolerances and underlying drawbacks in the production of CAD/CAM CAs, which may change the tightness and seamless connection between fixtures and abutments set by the manufacturer and then affect the long-term stability of the abutments. This study aimed to examine the change in both mesial and distal bone levels using digital periapical radiographs to evaluate the difference between CAD/CAM CAs and original PAs.

Benefits of applying virtual reality in pelvic movement training through a Wii Fit: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Pelvic movement training has become compulsory for part of medical students. An increasing amount of research has focused on the influence of virtual reality (VR) on learning effectiveness. However, its application to pelvic floor muscles or pelvic movement training is still in its infancy.

Aqueous Mulberry Leaf Extract Ameliorates Alcoholic Liver Injury Associating with Upregulation of Ethanol Metabolism and Suppression of Hepatic Lipogenesis.

Excessive alcohol intake is a major cause of chronic liver damage and is highly associated with the development of a spectrum of hepatic disorders, including steatohepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Thus, we aimed to explore the hepatoprotective effects of an aqueous mulberry leaf extract (AME) on alcoholic fatty liver disorder (AFLD) by using a mouse model fed with excessive ethanol. Compared with the normal diet, the ethanol diet significantly increased the body weight of the mice, while the AME supplement reduced the weight gain caused by the ethanol diet.

Role of Remote Monitoring in Detection of Atrial Arrhythmia, Stroke Reduction, and Use of Anticoagulation Therapy - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The effect of remote monitoring (RM) in atrial arrhythmia detection, stroke reduction, and anticoagulation therapy remains unknown, particularly for patients with implantable or wearable cardiac devices.

Methods and results: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the role of RM in atrial arrhythmia detection, stroke reduction and anticoagulation therapeutic intervention. Online databases were queried to include randomized controlled trials comparing detection of atrial arrhythmia and stroke risk between patients undergoing RM and those receiving in-office (IO) follow-up.

A Scoping Review of The Efficacy of Virtual Reality and Exergaming on Patients of Musculoskeletal System Disorder.

To assess the effects of virtual reality on patients with musculoskeletal disorders by means of a scoping review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The databases included PubMed, IEEE, and the MEDLINE database. Articles involving RCTs with higher than five points on the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale were reviewed for suitability and inclusion.

Muscle Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Various Clinical Subtypes of -Related Muscular Dystrophy.

Background: LMNA-related muscular dystrophy can manifest in a wide variety of disorders, including Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD), limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD), and LMNA-associated congenital muscular dystrophy (L-CMD). Muscle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become a useful tool in the diagnostic workup of patients with muscle dystrophies. This study aimed to investigate whether there is a consistent pattern of MRI changes in patients with LMNA mutations in various muscle subtypes.

The nutraceutical benefits of subfractions of Abelmoschus esculentus in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Abelmoschus esculentus (AE), a commonly consumed vegetable, is well-known for its anti-hyperglycemic effects. However, few scientific reports have identified its targets because mucilage increases the difficulty of manipulation. We recently reported extraction steps to obtain subfractions of AE, which were found to attenuate the adverse effects of high glucose and fatty acid in vitro.

The Combination of Computational and Biosensing Technologies for Selecting Aptamer against Prostate Specific Antigen.

Herein, we report a method of combining bioinformatics and biosensing technologies to select aptamers against prostate specific antigen (PSA). The main objective of this study is to select DNA aptamers with higher binding affinity for PSA by using the proposed method. Based on the five known sequences of PSA-binding aptamers, we adopted the functions of reproduction and crossover in the genetic algorithm to produce next-generation sequences for the computational and experimental analysis.

Effects of pilates on patients with chronic non-specific low back pain: a systematic review.

[Purpose] To evaluate the effects of Pilates on patients with chronic low back pain through a systematic review of high-quality articles on randomized controlled trials. [Subjects and Methods] Keywords and synonyms for "Pilates" and "Chronic low back pain" were used in database searches. The databases included PubMed, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Medline, and the Cochrane Library.

Influenza A(H6N1) Virus in Dogs, Taiwan.

We determined the prevalence of influenza A virus in dogs in Taiwan and isolated A/canine/Taiwan/E01/2014. Molecular analysis indicated that this isolate was closely related to influenza A(H6N1) viruses circulating in Taiwan and harbored the E627K substitution in the polymerase basic 2 protein, which indicated its ability to replicate in mammalian species.

Natural A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza virus infection case in a pet ferret in Taiwan.

Ferrets have demonstrated high susceptibility to the influenza virus. This study discusses a natural 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) (A(H1N1)pdm09) virus infection in a pet ferret (Mustela putorius furo) identified in Taiwan in 2013. The ferret was in close contact with family members who had recently experienced an influenza-like illness (ILI).

An interchangeable scanning Hall probe/scanning SQUID microscope.

We have constructed a scanning probe microscope for magnetic imaging, which can function as a scanning Hall probe microscope (SHPM) and as a scanning SQUID microscope (SSM). The scanning scheme, applicable to SHPM and SSM, consists of a mechanical positioning (sub) micron-XY stage and a flexible direct contact to the sample without a feedback control system for the Z-axis. With the interchangeable capability of operating two distinct scanning modes, our microscope can incorporate the advantageous functionalities of the SHPM and SSM with large scan range up to millimeter, high spatial resolution (⩽4 μm), and high field sensitivity in a wide range of temperature (4.

Tomatidine inhibits invasion of human lung adenocarcinoma cell A549 by reducing matrix metalloproteinases expression.

Tomatidine is an aglycone of glycoalkaloid tomatine in tomato. Tomatidine is found to possess anti-inflammatory properties and may serve as a chemosensitizer in multidrug-resistant tumor cells. However, the effect of tomatidine on cancer cell metastasis remains unclear.

Differential regulation of the human CYP11A1 promoter in mouse brain and adrenals.

CYP11A1 encodes the first enzyme of steroid biosynthesis, cytochrome P450scc. The expression of CYP11A1 in the nervous system allows neurosteroids to be synthesized de novo. In the classic steroidogenic tissues, adrenals and gonads, the key regulator controlling CYP11A1 expression is steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1), but the transcriptional regulation of CYP11A1 in the brain is unclear.

Comparison of EMG activity between maximal manual muscle testing and cybex maximal isometric testing of the quadriceps femoris.

Two methods have been used to produce a maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of the superficial quadriceps femoris muscles for normalization of electromyographic (EMG) data. The purposes of this study were to compare the myoelectic activity of MVIC of manual muscle testing (MMT) versus Cybex maximal isometric testing. Eighteen normal subjects were recruited.

Reliability of stiffness measured in glenohumeral joint and its application to assess the effect of end-range mobilization in subjects with adhesive capsulitis.

End-range mobilization techniques are recommended for the treatment of patients with hypomobile joints. The purposes of this study were (1) to assess the reliability of a glenohumeral (GH) stiffness measurement technique and (2) apply the measurement technique on subjects with adhesive capsulitis to compare the GH end-range stiffness and rotational range of motions (ROMs) before and immediately after the application of end-range translational mobilization techniques. Fifteen normal subjects were recruited for assessment of test-retest reliability.

Determining the resting position of the glenohumeral joint in subjects who are healthy.

Background And Purpose: The resting position is frequently used by clinicians in the examination and early treatment of patients with joint impairments. However, there is a lack of research on the kinematic characteristics of the resting position of the glenohumeral (GH) joint. The aim of this study was to define the resting position of the GH joint by quantifying the humeral head translation and axial rotational range of motion (ROM).

Human CYP11A1 promoter drives Cre recombinase expression in the brain in addition to adrenals and gonads.

The first step of steroid biosynthesis is catalyzed by cytochrome P450scc, encoded by CYP11A1. To achieve steroidogenic tissue-specific inactivation of genes in vivo by the Cre-loxP approach, we used the 4.4-kb regulatory region of the human CYP11A1 gene to drive Cre recombinase expression in the tissues that produce steroids.

Differences of lumbosacral kinematics between degenerative and induced spondylolisthetic spine.

Objective: To investigate the differences of lumbosacral kinematics between degenerative and induced spondylolisthetic subjects.

Design: Translations and angulations of spondylolisthetic spine from L1-L2 to L5-S1 were documented by taking X-ray films at flexion, standing and extension positions.

Background: The unstable mechanism of spondylolisthesis leads to lower back pain.