Effects of quarter heel raising exercise on balance and ankle strength in functional ankle instability subjects.

Background: Functional ankle instability (FAI) is defined as the subjective sensation of instability or "giving way" after an ankle sprain and occurs in approximately 40% of patients with lateral ankle instability. As an ankle joint rehabilitation intervention, heel raising exercises, toe jumping exercises, ankle joint proprioceptive exercises, as well as orthosis and taping are commonly applied to prevent the recurrence of an ankle joint injury. So this study was evaluated effect of quarter heel raising exercise (QHR) on balance and peroneus longus muscle strength in FAI subjects.

Effects of acupuncture stimulation on brain activation induced by cue-elicited alcohol craving.

Acupuncture has been shown to be effective on alcohol use disorder. However, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. To investigate the effects of Shenmen (HT7) acupoint on brain activation induced by cue-elicited alcohol craving, 30 right-handed healthy light to moderate alcohol drinkers were recruited from the community.

Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia Enhances Pathological Tau Seeding, Propagation, and Accumulation and Exacerbates Alzheimer-like Memory and Synaptic Plasticity Deficits and Molecular Signatures.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea, characterized by sleep fragmentation and chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH), is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression. Recent epidemiological studies point to CIH as the best predictor of developing cognitive decline and AD in older adults with obstructive sleep apnea. However, the precise underlying mechanisms remain unknown.

Pannexin-1 Channels as Mediators of Neuroinflammation.

Neuroinflammation is a major component of central nervous system (CNS) injuries and neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, neuropathic pain, and brain trauma. The activation of innate immune cells at the damage site causes the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which alter the functionality of nearby tissues and might mediate the recruitment of leukocytes to the injury site. If this process persists or is exacerbated, it prevents the adequate resolution of the inflammation, and ultimately enhances secondary damage.

Neuronal Network Excitability in Alzheimer's Disease: The Puzzle of Similar versus Divergent Roles of Amyloid β and Tau.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most frequent neurodegenerative disorder that commonly causes dementia in the elderly. Recent evidence indicates that network abnormalities, including hypersynchrony, altered oscillatory rhythmic activity, interneuron dysfunction, and synaptic depression, may be key mediators of cognitive decline in AD. In this review, we discuss characteristics of neuronal network excitability in AD, and the role of Aβ and tau in the induction of network hyperexcitability.

Myeloid Pannexin-1 mediates acute leukocyte infiltration and leads to worse outcomes after brain trauma.

Background: Neuroinflammation is a major component of secondary damage after traumatic brain injury (TBI). We recently reported that pharmacological inhibition of Pannexin-1 (Panx1) channels markedly reduced the inflammatory response after TBI. Panx1 channels have been shown to be important conduits for adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) release and are associated with leukocyte infiltration and pyroptosis.

Perinatal IL-1β-induced inflammation suppresses Tbr2 intermediate progenitor cell proliferation in the developing hippocampus accompanied by long-term behavioral deficits.

Meta-analyses have revealed associations between the incidence of maternal infections during pregnancy, premature birth, smaller brain volumes, and subsequent cognitive, motor and behavioral deficits as these children mature. Inflammation during pregnancy in rodents produces cognitive and behavioral deficits in the offspring that are similar to those reported in human studies. These deficits are accompanied by decreased neurogenesis and proliferation in the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus.

Mice deficient in GM1 manifest both motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease; successful treatment with synthetic GM1 ganglioside.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a major neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a variety of non-motor symptoms in addition to the well-recognized motor dysfunctions that have commanded primary interest. We previously described a new PD mouse model based on heterozygous disruption of the B4galnt1 gene leading to partial deficiency of the GM1 family of gangliosides that manifested several nigrostriatal neuropathological features of PD as well as movement impairment. We now show this mouse also suffers three non-motor symptoms characteristic of PD involving the gastrointestinal, sympathetic cardiac, and cerebral cognitive systems.

Effect of CaSO Incorporation on Pore Structure and Drying Shrinkage of Alkali-Activated Binders.

This present study investigates the effects of CaSO incorporation on the pore structure and drying shrinkage of alkali-activated slag and fly ash. The slag and fly ash were activated at a 5:5 ratio by weighing with a sodium silicate. Thereafter, 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% of CaSO were incorporated to investigate the changes in phase formation and internal pore structure.

Calcined Oyster Shell Powder as an Expansive Additive in Cement Mortar.

The present study prepared calcined oyster shell powder having chemical composition and crystal structure of calcium oxide and lime, respectively, and investigated the fresh and hardened properties of cement mortar incorporating calcined oyster shell powder as an additive. The test results indicated that the hydration of calcined oyster shell powder promoted the additional formation of Ca(OH) at the initial reaction stage, thereby increasing the heat of hydration. In particular, the volumetric increase of calcined oyster shell powder during hydration compensated the autogenous shrinkage of mortar at early ages, ultimately leading to a clear difference in the shrinkage values at final readings.

CO₂ Uptake of Carbonation-Cured Cement Blended with Ground Volcanic Ash.

Accelerated carbonation curing (ACC) as well as partial replacement of cement with natural minerals are examples of many previous approaches, which aimed to produce cementitious products with better properties and environmental amicabilities. In this regard, the present study investigates CO₂ uptake of carbonation-cured cement blended with ground Saudi Arabian volcanic ash (VA). Paste samples with cement replacement of 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% by mass were prepared and carbonation-cured after initial curing of 24 h.

Trovafloxacin attenuates neuroinflammation and improves outcome after traumatic brain injury in mice.

Background: Trovafloxacin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, recently identified as an inhibitor of pannexin-1 (Panx1) channels. Panx1 channels are important conduits for the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release from live and dying cells that enhances the inflammatory response of immune cells. Elevated extracellular levels ATP released upon injury activate purinergic pathways in inflammatory cells that promote migration, proliferation, phagocytosis, and apoptotic signals.

Dopamine D3 Receptor Mediates Preadolescent Stress-Induced Adult Psychiatric Disorders.

Several studies have shown that repeated stressful experiences during childhood increases the likelihood of developing depression- and anxiety-related disorders in adulthood; however, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. We subjected drd3-EGFP and drd3-null mice to daily, two hour restraint stress episodes over a five day period during preadolescence (postnatal day 35 to 39), followed by social isolation. When these mice reached adulthood (post-natal day > 90), we assessed locomotor behavior in a novel environment, and assessed depression-related behavior in the Porsolt Forced Swim test.

The 7-year outcome of the tension-free vaginal tape procedure for treating female stress urinary incontinence.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term results and predictive risk factors for efficacy after the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure for treating female stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Patients And Methods: Inall, 306 women (mean age 50.7 years, sd 8.