Vortex solitons in rotating quasi-phase-matched photonic crystals.

We present an approach to generate stable vortex solitons (VSs) in rotating quasi-phase-matched photonic crystals with quadratic nonlinearity. The photonic crystal is introduced with a checkerboard structure, which can be realized using available technology. The VSs are constructed as four-peak vortex modes of two types: rhombuses and squares.

Clinical efficacy of DSA-based features in predicting outcomes of acupuncture intervention on upper limb dysfunction following ischemic stroke.

Background And Objectives: This study aimed to employ machine learning techniques to predict the clinical efficacy of acupuncture as an intervention for patients with upper limb motor dysfunction following ischemic stroke, as well as to assess its potential utility in clinical practice.

Methods: Medical records and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) imaging data were collected from 735 ischemic stroke patients with upper limb motor dysfunction who were treated with standardized acupuncture at two hospitals. Following the initial screening, 314 patient datasets that met the inclusion criteria were selected.

A novel DNA damage detection method based on a distinct DNA damage response system.

DNA damage occurs when cells encounter exogenous and endogenous stresses such as long periods of desiccation, ionizing radiation and genotoxic chemicals. Efforts have been made to detect DNA damage in vivo and in vitro to characterize or quantify the damage level. It is well accepted that single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) is one of the important byproducts of DNA damage to trigger the downstream regulation.

Optimal acupuncture methods for lower limb motor dysfunction after stroke: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: The lower limb motor dysfunction caused by stroke is one of the main sequelae affecting patients' ability to live normally in the later period. Acupuncture treatment of limb movement dysfunction after stroke has been recommended by authoritative guidelines for reducing limb spasticity, enhancing limb strength and so on. However, the efficacy of different acupuncture methods in treating lower limb motor dysfunction after stroke remains controversial.

Efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation with different application parameters for post-stroke cognitive impairment: a systematic review.

Background: Cognitive impairment is a prevalent consequence of stroke, seriously affecting recovery and quality of life while imposing substantial burdens on both patients' families and society. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has emerged as an effective intervention for post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). However, the a lack of standardized and explicit guidelines regarding rTMS application parameters.

Effect of acupuncture therapy for postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction in gastric and colorectal cancers: an umbrella review.

Background: Gastrointestinal dysfunction is a prevalent postoperative complication in patients undergoing surgery for gastric cancer and colorectal cancer. Acupuncture holds promise as a great potential therapeutic intervention. The efficacy of acupuncture therapy for postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction has been assessed in some studies, however, the variability in results and study quality influences practical clinical application.

Modulatory effects of acupuncture on raphe nucleus-related brain circuits in patients with chronic neck pain: A randomized neuroimaging trial.

Objective: Acupuncture has shown promise in treating neck pain. Clinical trials have shown mixed results, possibly due to heterogeneous methodologies and the lack of knowledge regarding underlying brain circuit mechanism of action. In this study, we investigated the specific contribution of the serotonergic system in treating neck pain, and the specific brain circuits involved.

Effects of transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation on post-stroke dysphagia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Dysphagia is one of the common complications after stroke. It is closely related to lung infection and malnutrition. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is widely used in the treatment of post-stroke dysphagia, but the evidence-based medical evidence of NMES is limited.

Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation for immunologic function after surgery in patients with gastrointestinal tumor: a meta-analysis.

There is no consensus on whether transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation can be used to improve the immune function of postoperative patients with gastrointestinal tumors. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on postoperative immune function of patients with gastrointestinal tumor and provide evidence-based basis for clinical evaluation. The method used in this study is to systematically searched English databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library (CENTRAL), Excerpta Medica Database (EMbase), Web of Science and Chinese databases including Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, VIP database and China Biomedical Literature Database (SinoMed).

Acupuncture and moxibustion in patients with cancer-related insomnia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Objectives: Cancer-related insomnia (CRI) is one of the most common and serious symptoms in patients with cancer. Acupuncture and moxibustion have been widely applied in the treatment of CRI. Nevertheless, the comparative efficacy and safety of different acupuncture and moxibustion techniques remain unclear.

Abnormal Dynamics of Functional Connectivity Density Associated With Chronic Neck Pain.

: Chronic neck pain (CNP) is highly prevalent and complicated, associated with limited movement, and accompanied by shoulder pain and other clinical manifestations such as dizziness, anxiety, and insomnia. Brain structural and functional abnormalities often occur in patients with CNP. However, knowledge of the brain's functional organization and temporal dynamics in CNP patients is limited.

The Comparative Efficacy of Multiple Acupuncture for Alzheimer's Disease: A Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. Numerous cases have illustrated that the acupuncture method could improve AD patients' cognitive function and daily living ability. However, the optimal acupuncture treatments remain controversial.

Optimal Method of Electrical Stimulation for the Treatment of Upper Limb Dysfunction After Stroke: A Systematic Review and Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: The obstacle of limb motor caused by stroke, especially the decline of motor function of upper limbs, can directly affect the activities of daily living of stroke patients with hemiplegia. Based on long-term clinical practice, the treatment effect of electrical stimulation methods for stroke limb dysfunction has been widely recognized and supported by authoritative guidelines and systematic reviews. However, which electrical stimulation method is the optimum in the treatment of stroke limb dysfunction is still a controversial issue.

Dynamic alterations of amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations in patients with chronic neck pain.

Background: The pathogenesis of neck pain in the brain, which is the fourth most common cause of disability, remains unclear. Furthermore, little is known about the characteristics of dynamic local functional brain activity in cervical pain.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the changes of local brain activity caused by chronic neck pain and the factors leading to neck pain.

Optimal Acupuncture Methods for Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: Nonspecific low back pain (NLBP) is a common disabling disease that cannot be attributed to a specific, recognizable pathology. The use of acupuncture for NLBP is supported by several guidelines and systematic reviews. However, the efficacy of different acupuncture methods for NLBP management is still debated.

Mindfulness and Cyberbullying Among Chinese Adolescents: The Mediating Roles of Perceived Social Support and Empathy.

Introduction: Previous studies have shown that mindfulness is associated with fewer cyberbullying behaviors in adolescents. The present study investigated the ways in which mindfulness is related to cyberbullying in Chinese adolescents by considering the role of empathy and perceived social support.

Methods: A total of 1,390 Chinese high school students were recruited for this study.

[Normativity of overview report of the systematic review of acupuncture and moxibustion at home and abroad based on PRIO-harms scale].

Objective: To evaluate and compare the normativity of overview report of systematic review (Overviews) of acupuncture and moxibustion at home and abroad so as to further improve the report quality of Overviews of acupuncture and moxibustion in China and provide reliable evidences.

Methods: The articles relevant with Overviews of acupuncture and moxibustion at home and abroad were retrieved by computer from the databases of CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, China BioMedical Literature database (SinoMed), PubMed, Embase and Conchrane Library, dated from the time of establishment to February 12, 2019. The preferred reporting items for Overviews (PRIO-harms) was adopted to evaluate their normativity and make the comparison of the articles between China and foreign countries.

Acupuncture for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: An Overview of Systematic Reviews.

Objective: To evaluate the quality of the existing studies and summarize evidence of important outcomes of meta-analyses/systematic reviews (MAs/SRs) of CFS.

Methods: Potentially eligible studies were searched in the following electronic databases from inception to 1 September, 2019: Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang Database (WF), Web of Science, Embase, PubMed and Cochrane Library. Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to evaluate the quality of evidence.

Nrf2 Activation Enhances Muscular MCT1 Expression and Hypoxic Exercise Capacity.

Introduction: Skeletal muscle is the major producing and metabolizing site of lactic acid. A family of monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) proteins, especially MCT1 and MCT4, are involved in the lactate-pyruvate exchange and metabolism. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a pivotal coordinator of antioxidant response and energy metabolism, and has been reported to associate with the physiological functions of the skeletal muscle.

Hypoxia preconditioning promotes endurance exercise capacity of mice by activating skeletal muscle Nrf2.

Elite endurance athletes are used to train under hypoxic/high-altitude conditions, which can elicit certain stress responses in skeletal muscle and helps to improve their physical performance. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) regulates cellular redox homeostasis and metabolism in skeletal muscle, playing important roles in adaptation to various stresses. In this study, Nrf2 knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice were preconditioned to 48 h of hypoxia exposure (11.

[Literature quality analysis of RCTs regarding acupuncture for chronic neck pain].

The internationally-accepted Consolidated Standards for Reporting of Trials (CONSORT) and Standards for Reporting Interventions in Controlled Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA) were applied to evaluate the literature quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding acupuncture for chronic neck pain in past 10 years. The literature of RCTs regarding acupuncture for chronic neck pain was searched by computer; the English literature was searched in PubMed and EMbase, while the Chinese literature was searched in CNKI, Wanfang database, VIP database and China Biomedical Literature Database. The literature published from January 2008 to January 2018 was searched.

Effects of acute hypoxia exposure with different durations on activation of Nrf2-ARE pathway in mouse skeletal muscle.

Background: Hypoxia training enhances the endurance capacity of athletes. This response may in part be attributed to the hypoxia-induced increase in antioxidant capacity in skeletal muscles. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a key transcription factor which regulates the expression of genes via binding to the antioxidant-response element (ARE) of these genes, plays a crucial role in stimulating the body's defense system and potentially responds to hypoxia.