CircFak promotes mechanical force-induced osteogenesis via FAK/AKT phosphorylation.

Objectives: Orthodontic treatment is widely applied for addressing orofacial skeletal deformities, with the remodeling of the alveolar bone under mechanical force being the key factor. FAK is essential for cellular response to mechanical force. However, the function of circFak has never been reported.

Quality Enhancement Techniques for Cow Meat: Current Approaches and Future Directions.

The quality grade of cow meat is often lower than that of steer meat, resulting in economic losses and reduced consumer satisfaction. This review explores various strategies for improving the quality of cow meat, with a focus on slaughter and post-slaughter practices. Certain slaughter methods, including electrical stimulation and suspension techniques, have been shown to improve meat tenderness by alleviating rigor mortis and inducing an increase in sarcomere length.

Acceptability of self-administered acupressure for knee osteoarthritis in middle-aged and older adults: A mixed-method secondary analysis.

Objectives: To evaluate the acceptability of self-administered acupressure for Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) among middle-aged and older adults.

Methods: This is a mixed-method acceptability evaluation was embedded in a randomized controlled trial on self-administered acupressure for KOA. Participants received two 2-h training sessions on self-administered acupressure and were instructed to practice twice daily for 12 weeks.

An integrative nomogram based on MRI radiomics and clinical characteristics for prognosis prediction in cervical spinal cord Injury.

Objective: To construct a nomogram model based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radiomics combined with clinical characteristics and evaluate its role and value in predicting the prognosis of patients with cervical spinal cord injury (cSCI).

Methods: In this study, we assessed the prognosis of 168 cSCI patients using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scale. The study involved extracting radiomics features using both manually defined metrics and features derived through deep learning via transfer learning methods from MRI sequences, specifically T1-weighted and T2-weighted images (T1WI & T2WI).

Establishment of an MRI-based radiomics model for distinguishing between intramedullary spinal cord tumor and tumefactive demyelinating lesion.

Objective: Differentiating intramedullary spinal cord tumor (IMSCT) from spinal cord tumefactive demyelinating lesion (scTDL) remains challenging with standard diagnostic approaches. This study aims to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based radiomics model for distinguishing scTDL from IMSCT before treatment initiation.

Methods: A total of 75 patients were analyzed in this retrospective study, comprising 55 with IMSCT and 20 with scTDL.

MiR-10b-5p attenuates spinal cord injury and alleviates LPS-induced PC12 cells injury by inhibiting TGF-β1 decay and activating TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway through PTBP1.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating condition characterized by significant sensory, motor, and autonomic dysfunctions, leading to severe physical, psychological, and financial burdens. The current therapeutic approaches for SCI show limited effectiveness, highlighting the urgent need for innovative treatments. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) like miR-10b-5p are known to play pivotal roles in gene expression regulation and have been implicated in various neurodegenerative diseases, including SCI.

Injection Techniques to Reduce Adverse Effects of Subcutaneous Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin Among Patients With Cardiovascular Diseases: A Scoping Review.

Aim(s): To systematically review the existing literature and address the following research question: What are the most effective techniques used to minimise adverse effects resulting from subcutaneous injections of low-molecular-weight heparin among patients with cardiovascular diseases?

Design: A scoping review.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases, including CINAHL, PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library, from 1 February 2014 to 31 January 2024. Participants were aged 18 years or older, diagnosed with venous thromboembolism or arterial thromboembolism and had prescribed subcutaneous injections of low-molecular-weight heparin.

Comparison of Muscle Fiber and Meat Quality Characteristics of Beef Strip Loin, Tenderloin, and Round Cuts among Jeju Black Cattle, Hanwoo, and Their Crossbreeds.

This study assessed and compared meat quality and fiber characteristics of (LL), (PM), and muscles among Hanwoo (HW), Jeju black (BL), and their crossbred (BH) cattle. Twelve carcasses from each breed (36 in total) were used in this study. BL and BH had higher moisture and crude ash contents and lower crude fat and protein contents than HW, regardless of the muscle type.

Longitudinal and transversal intramuscular variation of muscle fiber and meat quality characteristics in bovine M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum.

This study evaluates longitudinal and transversal intramuscular variations in muscle fiber and meat quality characteristics in bovine M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL). The LTL muscles (n = 5) from the left side of the beef carcass were cut at intervertebral segment intervals (between 1st thoracic vertebra (TV) and 6th lumbar vertebra (LV)).

Assessing Individual Muscle Characteristics to Enhance Frozen-Thawed Meat Quality.

This study assessed previous research aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of freeze-thawing on meat quality. Specifically, it focuses on assessing the physicochemical alterations in meat resulting from freezing, freeze-thawing, or technologies to minimize these alterations. Recent studies have focused on conventional freeze-thaw technology applicable across various livestock species and muscle types.

Death education interventions for people with advanced diseases and/or their family caregivers: A scoping review.

Background: People with life-threatening diseases and their family caregivers confront psychosocial and spiritual issues caused by the persons' impending death. Reviews of death education interventions in the context of life-threatening diseases are scarce and limited to certain intervention types.

Aims: This study aims to ascertain existing evidence on death education interventions for the population of adults with advanced diseases and/or their family caregivers and identify gaps for future research.

Incidence of Adjacent Segment Degeneration and Its Associated Risk Factors Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the incidence of adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) and its associated risk factors in adults after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery.

Methods: An exhaustive search across multiple databases was conducted, including Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science, to identify pertinent studies. We collected such patient data as demographic variables (including age, gender, body mass index), cervical spondylosis type (such as radiculopathy and myelopathy), diabetes status, smoking and drinking history, and radiological risk factors (such as preoperative ASD status, developmental spinal stenosis, T1 slope, and postoperative less cervical lordosis).

Identification of age-specific biomarkers of spinal cord injury: A bioinformatics analysis of young and aged mice models.

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating event that often results in long-term physical damage, disability, and a significant impact on a patient's quality of life. Past research has noted an age-dependent decline in regeneration post-SCI. This study seeks to identify potential biomarkers and enriched pathways in young and aged SCI mouse models.

The Experiences of Female Partners of Patients With Erectile Dysfunction Due to Prostate Cancer Treatment in China: A Qualitative Exploration.

Background: Because of sociocultural factors, Chinese female partners of patients with prostate cancer (PC) may have perspectives and needs that differ from the more published reports of female partners living in Western cultures.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of female partners of patients with PC experiencing erectile dysfunction in China.

Interventions/methods: In this interpretive descriptive design, qualitative data were collected from semistructured telephone interviews with purposively sampled participants from the urology outpatient unit in a hospital in South China.

Relationship between peptides and the change in quality characteristics of beef strip loin (M. longissimus lumborum) and tenderloin (M. psoas major).

Peptides in fresh and aged beef strip loin (M. longissimus lumborum) and tenderloin (M. psoas major) were quantified to investigate the relationship between proteolysis-induced peptides and beef quality characteristics.

Mind-body therapies for sleep disturbance among patients with cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: To assess whether mind-body therapies (MBTs) are effective for relieving sleep disturbance among patients with cancer.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods: Seven English electronic databases were searched from the date of inception to September 2022.

Psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of the Herth Hope Index (HHI) in Chinese children with cancer.

Hope plays an extremely important role in protecting childhood cancer patients from psychological distress caused by cancer. The availability of a valid and reliable instrument that can accurately assess hope is crucial for the development of interventions to enhance hope among childhood cancer patients. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Herth Hope Index (HHI).

Self-Acupressure for Symptom Management in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review.

Context: Acupressure is a popular nonpharmacological intervention that is increasingly proven to effectively alleviate symptoms in patients with cancer. However, the effects of self-acupressure on cancer symptom management are less clear.

Objectives: This systematic review is the first to summarize the current experimental evidence on self-acupressure for symptom management in cancer patients.

Effects of somatic acupoint stimulation on anxiety and depression in cancer patients: An updated systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Objectives: To explore the effectiveness of somatic acupoint stimulation (SAS) for cancer patients with anxiety and depression.

Methods: Thirteen electronic databases were searched systematically until August 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating SAS for anxiety and/or depression in cancer patients were retrieved.