Moderate-Intensity Treadmill Exercise Regulates GSK3α/β Activity in the Cortex and Hippocampus of APP/PS1 Transgenic Mice.

Background: Physical exercise has been shown to be beneficial for individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD), although the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood.

Methods: Six-month-old Amyloid precursor protein/Presenilin 1 (APP/PS1) transgenic (Tg) mice and wild-type (Wt) mice were randomly assigned to either a sedentary group (Tg-Sed, Wt-Sed) or an exercise group (Tg-Ex, Wt-Ex) undertaking a 12-week, moderate-intensity treadmill running program. Consequently, all mice were tested for memory function and amyloid β (Aβ) levels and phosphorylation of tau and protein kinase B (Akt)/glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) were examined in tissues of both the cortex and hippocampus.

Inverted Internal Limiting Membrane Flap versus Internal Limiting Membrane Insertion Technique for Large Macular Holes: A Meta-Analysis.

Purposes: This meta-analysis aimed to compare and evaluate the morphological and functional outcomes between the inverted internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap and ILM insertion techniques in the treatment of large macular holes (MHs).

Methods: The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for relevant studies comparing the two techniques for the treatment of large MHs. The primary outcome measures included the MH closure rate, preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), MH closure patterns, and external limiting membrane (ELM) and ellipsoid zone (EZ) recovery.

Targeted Lipidomics and Inflammation Response to Six Weeks of Sprint Interval Training in Male Adolescents.

Lipids play an important role in coordinating and regulating metabolic and inflammatory processes. Sprint interval training (SIT) is widely used to improve sports performance and health outcomes, but the current understanding of SIT-induced lipid metabolism and the corresponding systemic inflammatory status modification remains controversial and limited, especially in male adolescents. To answer these questions, twelve untrained male adolescents were recruited and underwent 6 weeks of SIT.

Phacoemulsification with Goniosynechialysis versus Phacoemulsification Alone in Angle-Closure Glaucoma: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Purpose: This meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of phacoemulsification with goniosynechialysis (Phaco-GSL) with those of phacoemulsification alone (Phaco-alone) in patients with angle-closure glaucoma and cataract.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were selected through a search of electronic databases. Trial eligibility and risk of bias were assessed using Cochrane review methods.

Inverted Internal Limiting Membrane Flap Technique versus Internal Limiting Membrane Peeling for Large Macular Holes: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: Vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling is an effective surgical procedure for the treatment of macular holes (MHs). However, there is a possibility of poor postoperative anatomical closure with conventional ILM peeling for MHs larger than 400 μm. Therefore, a novel inverted ILM flap technique was developed for such cases.

Induction of Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells for Retinal Regeneration by Using Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor in Diabetic Rats.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common cause of blindness all over the world. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have been considered as a promising strategy for retinal regeneration in the treatment of DR. However, the poor viability and low levels of BMSCs engraftment limit the therapeutic potential of BMSCs.

Adaptive NN-Based Consensus for a Class of Nonlinear Multiagent Systems With Actuator Faults and Faulty Networks.

This article addresses the problem of fault-tolerant consensus control of a general nonlinear multiagent system subject to actuator faults and disturbed and faulty networks. By using neural network (NN) and adaptive control techniques, estimations of unknown state-dependent boundaries of nonlinear dynamics and actuator faults, which can reflect the worst impacts on the system, are first developed. A novel NN-based adaptive observer is designed for the observation of faulty transformation signals in networks.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Gene D/I Polymorphism in Relation to Endothelial Function and Endothelial-Released Factors in Chinese Women.

Many studies have investigated the relationship between angiotensin-converting enzyme () D/I polymorphism and cardiovascular disease or endothelial dysfunction; however, hardly any of these studies has taken aging or menopause into consideration. Furthermore, despite that many studies have examined the regulatory effects of endothelial-released factors (ERFs) on endothelial function, no study has evaluated the relationship between ERFs and endothelial function with respect to D/I polymorphism and menopause status. To answer these questions, 391 healthy Chinese women over a wide range of ages (22-75 years) were enrolled and divided into pre-menopause group and post-menopause group.

Potential effects of long-term abuse of anabolic androgen steroids on human skeletal muscle.

Background: We have previously evaluated muscle functions and morphology in power athletes of long term (5 to15 years) abuse of anabolic androgen steroids (AAS; Doped) and in clean power athletes (Clean), and observed significant improvements in both muscle morphology and muscle functions in Doped. To our knowledge, the effects of long term AAS abuse on human muscle protein profile have never been studied.

Methods: The study examined further the muscle biopsies using a two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D DIGE) for proteomic screening and protein expression.

Macular hole surgery recovery with and without face-down posturing: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: After pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling and gas tamponade, patients are often required to remain in a face-down position (FDP) to allow the gas bubble to push against the macular hole (MH) to promote hole closure. However, this position may be uncomfortable and inconvenient for the elderly and those with medical comorbidities; it may also lead to certain postoperative complications. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate and compare the effect of postoperative FDP and non-face-down position (nFDP) on the closure rate of MHs following MH surgery.

Adaptive fault-tolerant consensus for a class of leader-following systems using neural network learning strategy.

In this paper, the leader-following consensus problem of a class of nonlinearly multi-dimensional multi-agent systems with actuator faults is addressed by developing a novel neural network learning strategy. In order to achieve the desirable consensus results, a neural network learning algorithm composed of adaptive technique is proposed to on-line approximate the unknown nonlinear functions and estimate the unknown bounds of actuator faults. Then, on the basis of the approximations and estimations, a robust adaptive distributed fault-tolerant consensus control scheme is investigated so that the bounded results of all signals of the resulting closed-loop leader-following system can be achieved by using Lyapunov stability theorem.

Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness changes in Schizophrenia: A meta-analysis of case-control studies.

Studies using optical coherence tomography (OCT) to compare retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in subjects with schizophrenia and healthy controls have yielded inconsistent results. We aimed to compare changes in retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in schizophrenia and healthy controls via a meta-analysis. Relevant studies were selected via an electronic search of the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, Pubmed, and Embase.

Association between genetic variation of complement C3 and the susceptibility to advanced age-related macular degeneration: a meta-analysis.

Background: The purpose of this study is to discuss whether genetic variants (rs2230199, rs1047286, rs2230205, and rs2250656) in the C3 gene account for a significant risk of advanced AMD.

Methods: We performed a meta-analysis using electronic databases to search relevant articles. A total of 40 case-control studies from 38 available articles (20,673 cases and 20,025 controls) were included in our study.

Inference Attacks and Controls on Genotypes and Phenotypes for Individual Genomic Data.

The rapid growth of DNA-sequencing technologies motivates more personalized and predictive genetic-oriented services, which further attract individuals to increasingly release their genome information to learn about personalized medicines, disease predispositions, genetic compatibilities, etc. Individual genome information is notoriously privacy-sensitive and highly associated with relatives. In this paper, we present an inference attack algorithm to predict target genotypes and phenotypes based on belief propagation in factor graphs.

Preoperative photocoagulation reduces corneal endothelial cell damage after vitrectomy in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is a severe complication of diabetes and is a leading cause of visual decline and irreversible blindness. So we designed this study to investigate retrospectively the effect of preoperative photocoagulation on corneal endothelial cells after vitrectomy in patients with PDR.The study included 52 eyes of 46 patients with PDR complicated with vitreous hemorrhage, who underwent vitrectomy.

Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Changes in the Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis of Case-Control Studies.

Purpose: To evaluate and compare changes in retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in patients with the pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PXS) and healthy controls.

Methods: Case-control studies were selected through an electronic search of the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, PubMed, and Embase. Results were reviewed to ensure that the included studies met prespecified inclusion/exclusion criteria, and the quality of each study was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

Evaluation of biometry and corneal astigmatism in cataract surgery patients from Central China.

Background: To evaluate the distribution of biometric parameters and corneal astigmatism using the IOLMaster device before phacoemulsification in cataract patients in Central China.

Methods: Consecutive cataract patients were recruited at the Central Hospital of Wuhan between January 2015 and June 2016. Ocular axial length (AL), keratometry values, anterior chamber depth (ACD) and horizontal corneal diameter (white to white [WTW]) of each cataract-affected eye were measured with the IOLMaster device.

Could the negative effects of static stretching in warm-up be balanced out by sport-specific exercise?

Background: Static stretching (SS) is widely used in warm-up as it is generally believed to increase mobility and reduce the risk of injury; however, SS has been shown to induce transient negative effects on subsequent muscle performance. Interestingly, recent studies have shown that sport-specific exercise could restore SS-induced negative effects on certain sports, especially of explosive muscular performance. Whether sport-specific exercise could restore SS-induced negative effects on isokinetic muscle performance remains unclear.

PCA Based on Graph Laplacian Regularization and P-Norm for Gene Selection and Clustering.

In modern molecular biology, the hotspots and difficulties of this field are identifying characteristic genes from gene expression data. Traditional reconstruction-error-minimization model principal component analysis (PCA) as a matrix decomposition method uses quadratic error function, which is known sensitive to outliers and noise. Hence, it is necessary to learn a good PCA method when outliers and noise exist.

Regularized Non-Negative Matrix Factorization for Identifying Differentially Expressed Genes and Clustering Samples: A Survey.

Non-negative Matrix Factorization (NMF), a classical method for dimensionality reduction, has been applied in many fields. It is based on the idea that negative numbers are physically meaningless in various data-processing tasks. Apart from its contribution to conventional data analysis, the recent overwhelming interest in NMF is due to its newly discovered ability to solve challenging data mining and machine learning problems, especially in relation to gene expression data.

Vitamin D in relation to bone health and muscle function in young female soccer players.

The present work investigated serum vitamin D (25(OH)D) status in relation to bone and muscle qualities and functions in 19 female soccer players (13-16 years) resident at northern latitude with very low sun exposure (∼32-36 h/month) during winter season (late January to early March). Serum 25(OH)D, parathyroid hormone and bone turnover markers osteocalcin (OC) and beta carboxy-terminal collagen cross-links (β-Ctx), as well as body composition and muscle performance were examined. Hormones were tested using routine laboratory methods.