Tongue Muscle Training App for Middle-Aged and Older Adults Incorporating Flow-Based Gameplay: Design and Feasibility Pilot Study.

Background: Complications due to dysphagia are increasingly prevalent among older adults; however, the tediousness and complexity of conventional tongue rehabilitation treatments affect their willingness to rehabilitate. It is unclear whether integrating gameplay into a tongue training app is a feasible approach to rehabilitation.

Objective: Tongue training has been proven helpful for dysphagia treatment.

Beyond the Surface: Tracing the Evolution of Inflammatory Mechanism in Depression through Bibliometric Analysis.

Background: Depression is a common mental illness that has become a major economic burden worldwide. Recently, increasing evidence has highlighted the inflammatory mechanism of depression. In order to understand the research status of this field, this study used the bibliometric analysis method to overview the research content and progress, as well as analyze the development trend and limitations.

An Anticancer Bioactive Peptide Combined with Oxaliplatin Inhibited Gastric Cancer Cells and .

Background: Gastric cancer has become one of the major diseases threatening human health. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of an anticancer bioactive peptide (ACBP) combined with oxaliplatin (OXA) on MKN-45, SGC7901, and NCI-N87 differentiated human gastric cancer cells and GES-1 immortalized human gastric mucosal epithelial cells. The therapeutic effect and action mechanism of short-term intermittent ACBP combined with OXA on nude mice with human gastric cancer were also investigated.

CAS-OPCABG vs OPCABG-alone in patients with asymptomatic carotid Stenosis: Multi-center experience.

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the relationship between carotid stenting and off-pump coronary artery grafting (CAS-OPCABG) and OPCABG only in patients with asymptomatic severe carotid stenosis.

Methods: This study retrospectively included 669 patients with asymptomatic severe carotid artery stenosis who underwent OPCABG at multiple centers. After propensity score matching for baseline characteristics, the study compared two groups of patients with clinical data, early and midterm death, stroke, and myocardial infarction (MI).

LHPP-P38 MAPK/ERK-ETS1 Axis Negative Feedback Signaling Restrains Progression in Breast Cancer.

Invasion and metastasis are major causes of mortality in breast cancer (BRCA) patients. LHPP, known for its tumor-suppressive effects, has an undefined role in BRCA. We found reduced LHPP protein in BRCA tissues, with lower levels correlating with poor patient outcomes.

Gender Different Impacts of Muscle Mass and Adipose Tissue on Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Surgical Resection.

Background & Aims: Body composition is an objective assessment reflecting nutritional status and is highly gender different. Surgical resection, the standard treatment for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is an energy-consuming major operation that would affect body composition. However, the impacts of body composition on the post-operative prognosis of HCC are still uncertain.

Carboxymethyl-β-1,3-D-glucan (CMG)-gemcitabine conjugate improves the anticancer efficacy and alleviate the toxicity of gemcitabine (GEM).

Gemcitabine (GEM) is an antitumor drug approved by the US FDA in 1996. It is used to treat cancer and solid tumours, but its effectiveness is limited by toxicity. Carboxymethyl-β-1,3-D-glucan (CMG) is a derivative of β-glucan with improved solubility.

Non-Additive Gene Expression in Carbon and Nitrogen Metabolism Drives Growth Heterosis in Populus deltoides.

Growth heterosis is crucial for Populus deltoides breeding, a key industrial-timber and ecological-construction tree species in temperate regions. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying carbon (C)-nitrogen (N) metabolism coordination in regulating growth heterosis remain unclear. Herein high-hybrids of P.

sly-miR408b Targets a Plastocyanin-Like Protein to Regulate Mycorrhizal Symbiosis in Tomato.

Symbiosis between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plants plays a crucial role in nutrient acquisition and stress resistance for terrestrial plants. microRNAs have been reported to participate in the regulation of mycorrhizal symbiosis by controlling the expression of their target genes. Herein, we found that sly-miR408b was significantly downregulated in response to mycorrhizal colonisation.

Changes to muscle and fascia tissue after eighteen days of ankle immobilization post-ankle sprain injury: an MRI case study.

Background: Ankle sprains often result in muscle atrophy and reduced range of motion, which can cause long-term ankle instabilities. Understanding the changes to muscle-such as atrophy-and concomitant changes to deep fascia-which may thicken alongside muscle loss-after ankle sprain injury is important to understanding structural changes about the joint and how they might contribute to longer-term impairments. Here, we employ advanced MRI to investigate skeletal muscle and fascial structural changes during the recovery period of one patient undergoing immobilization after ankle sprains.

Efficacy and safety of topical versus intravenous tranexamic acid in spinal surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The relative efficacies of topical and intravenous tranexamic acid (TXA) in spinal surgery remain controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of topical versus intravenous TXA in spinal surgery, with a particular focus on the impacts on intraoperative blood loss (IBL) and associated outcomes.

Methods: We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, and Cochrane Library databases to identify all literature related to topical and intravenous TXA in spinal surgery.

Intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas with deep venous drainage: a single-center retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) with deep venous drainage (DVD) (DAVFs-DVD) are characteristically associated with non-hemorrhagic neurological deficits, most notably cognitive impairment. Large studies have yet to thoroughly characterize these DAVFs. We conducted an analysis of the largest cohort of DAVFs-DVD to provide a comprehensive characterization of this specific subset.

Interpretable identification of cancer genes across biological networks via transformer-powered graph representation learning.

Graph representation learning has been leveraged to identify cancer genes from biological networks. However, its applicability is limited by insufficient interpretability and generalizability under integrative network analysis. Here we report the development of an interpretable and generalizable transformer-based model that accurately predicts cancer genes by leveraging graph representation learning and the integration of multi-omics data with the topologies of homogeneous and heterogeneous networks of biological interactions.

Frequency locked whispering evanescent resonator (FLOWER) for biochemical sensing applications.

Sensitive, rapid and label-free biochemical sensors are needed for many applications. In this protocol, we describe biochemical detection using FLOWER (frequency locked optical whispering evanescent resonator)-a technique that we have used to detect single protein molecules in aqueous solution as well as exosomes, ribosomes and low part-per-trillion concentrations of volatile organic compounds. Whispering gallery mode microtoroid resonators confine light for extended time periods (hundreds of nanoseconds).

Identification of a distal enhancer of Ucp1 essential for thermogenesis and mitochondrial function in brown fat.

Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) is a crucial protein located in the mitochondrial inner membrane that mediates nonshivering thermogenesis. However, the molecular mechanisms by which enhancer-promoter chromatin interactions control Ucp1 transcriptional regulation in brown adipose tissue (BAT) are unclear. Here, we employed circularized chromosome conformation capture coupled with next-generation sequencing (4C-seq) to generate high-resolution chromatin interaction profiles of Ucp1 in interscapular brown adipose tissue (iBAT) and epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) and revealed marked changes in Ucp1 chromatin interaction between iBAT and eWAT.

Advancing treatment strategies against MRSA: unveiling the potency of tubuloside A in targeting sortase A and mitigating pathogenicity.

In addressing the formidable challenge posed by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), this investigation elucidates a novel therapeutic paradigm by specifically targeting the virulence factor sortase A (SrtA) utilizing Tubuloside A (TnA). SrtA plays a critical role in the pathogenicity of MRSA, primarily by anchoring surface proteins to the bacterial cell wall, which is crucial for the bacterium's ability to colonize and infect host tissues. By inhibiting SrtA, TnA offers a novel and distinct strategy compared to traditional antibiotics.

Development of deep-underground engineering structures via 2D and 3D RQD prediction using non-invasive CSAMT.

The stability criterion based on the characterization of rock masses can be used to advance deep underground engineering projects. A key geomechanical criterion in geotechnical engineering is rock quality designation (RQD), which assesses risk for engineering design success criteria. Time, cost, and credibility constraints make it difficult to accurately estimate RQD.

Effects of continuous cropping and application of bio-organic fertilizer on photosynthetic performance, dry matter accumulation and distribution of sugar beet.

One of the major problem in the cultivation of sugar beets is continuous cropping obstacle in China. In order to evaluate the effects of continuous cropping year on the photosynthetic performance, dry matter accumulation, and distribution of sugar beet, this study was conducted in the 2020-2021 crop season at the Agriculture and Forestry Sciences of Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia. A split plot system arrangement with three replications was set up to carry out the field testing.

Microfluidic platforms for monitoring cardiomyocyte electromechanical activity.

Cardiovascular diseases account for ~40% of global deaths annually. This situation has revealed the urgent need for the investigation and development of corresponding drugs for pathogenesis due to the complexity of research methods and detection techniques. An in vitro cardiomyocyte model is commonly used for cardiac drug screening and disease modeling since it can respond to microphysiological environmental variations through mechanoelectric feedback.

Interfacial Oxygen Vacancy-Copper Pair Sites on Inverse CeO2/Cu Catalyst Enable Efficient CO2 Electroreduction to Ethanol in Acid.

Renewable electricity-driven electrochemical reduction of CO2 offers a promising route for production of high-value ethanol. However, the current state of this technology is hindered by low selectivity and productivity, primarily due to limited understanding of the atomic-level active sites involved in ethanol formation. Herein, we identify that the interfacial oxygen vacancy-neighboring Cu (Ov-Cu) pair sites are the active sites for CO2 electroreduction to ethanol.

Spread of local anaesthetic after erector spinae plane block: a randomised, three-dimensional reconstruction, imaging study.

Background: Spread of local anaesthetic solution in the paravertebral space after erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is variable. We evaluated whether paravertebral spread of local anaesthetic is affected by patient position after ESPB.

Methods: We randomised 84 patients to receive ESPB at T with a mixture of 0.

Analysis of influencing factors of narrative medicine competence in the clinical nursing population in Hunan province, China: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: To explore the current status of clinical nurses' narrative medicine (NM) ability and its related influencing factors, so as to provide a theoretical basis for nursing managers to develop targeted nurse training programmes.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Setting: A total of 1792 clinical nurses from eight medical institutions in Hunan province were selected as participants using convenience sampling.

Gaps in knowledge and management of iron deficiency in heart failure: a nationwide survey of cardiologists in China.

Background: Heart failure (HF) guidelines recommend routine testing for iron deficiency (ID) and, for those with ID, intravenous iron if the left ventricular ejection fraction is <50%. Guideline adherence to these recommendations by cardiologists in China is unknown.

Methods And Results: An independent academic web-based survey was designed and distributed via social networks to cardiologists across China.

4D-printed programmable sample-/eluent-actuated solid-phase extraction device for trace metal analysis.

Background: To integrate valves, manifolds, and solid-phase extraction (SPE) columns into a compact device is technically difficult. Four-dimensional printing (4DP) technologies, employing stimuli-responsive materials in three-dimensional printing (3DP), are revolutionizing the fabrication, functionality, and applicability of stimuli-responsive analytical devices that can show time-dependent shape programming to enable more complex geometric designs and functions. However, 4D-printed stimuli-responsive actuators and valves utilized to control flowing streams in SPE applications remain rare.

Intramolecular distance-regulated G4 DNA enzymatic activity-based chromophotometric system for visual monitoring of diquat.

Background: As global food production continues to surge, the widespread use of herbicides has also increased concurrently, posing challenges like health risks and environmental pollution. Traditional detection methods for pesticide residues, such as diquat (DQ), were hampered by limitations like high expenses, lengthy detection times and complex operations, restricting their practical application in rapid clinical diagnosis.

Results: In light of the pressing necessity for the identification of minute pesticide residues and the intrinsic constraints of small molecule analysis, a novel chromophotometric biosensor targeting small molecules was developed based on bi-epitopes on single antibody to immobilize two DQ-PAL, inhibiting the hybridization of DQ-PAL.