Prefrontal cortical hemodynamics and functional network organization during Tai Chi standing meditation: an fNIRS study.

Introduction: Tai Chi standing meditation (Zhan Zhuang, also called pile standing) is characterized by meditation, deep breathing, and mental focus based on theories of traditional Chinese medicine. The purpose of the present study was to explore prefrontal cortical hemodynamics and the functional network organization associated with Tai Chi standing meditation by using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).

Methods: Twenty-four channel fNIRS signals were recorded from 24 male Tai Chi Quan practitioners (54.

Positive effects of brisk walking and Tai Chi on cognitive function in older adults: An fNIRS study.

Exercise has shown to have beneficial effects on cognition in older adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cortical hemodynamic responses during the word-color Stroop test (WCST) prior and after acute walking and Tai Chi exercise by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Twenty participants (9 males, mean age 62.

Exchange-biased hybrid γ-FeO/NiO core-shell nanostructures: three-step synthesis, microstructure, and magnetic properties.

A two-step solvothermal method combining a calcination process was conducted to synthesize γ-Fe2O3/NiO core-shell nanostructures with controlled microstructure. The formation mechanism of this binary system has been discussed, and the influence of microstructures on magnetic properties has been analyzed in detail. Microstructural characterizations reveal that the NiO shells consisted of many irregular nanosheets with disordered orientations and monocrystalline structures, packed on the surface of the γ-Fe2O3 microspheres.

Mastl overexpression is associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition and predicts a poor clinical outcome in gastric cancer.

Microtubule-associated serine/threonine kinase like (Mastl) is deregulated in a number of types of human malignancy and may be a kinase target for cancer treatment. The aim of the present study was to determine the Mastl expression in gastric cancer and to clarify its clinical and prognostic significance. Immunohistochemistry was performed on a cohort of 126 postoperative gastric cancer samples to detect the expression of Mastl and two epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, epithelial-cadherin and Vimentin.

[Xuefu zhuyu decoction containing serum in vitro induced expressions of desmin and alpha-actin: an experimental research].

Objective: To observe whether Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XZD) could induce the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into cardiac myoid cells, thus seeking for safe and effective inducers.

Methods: The serum pharmacological method was used to induce. XZD containing serum was prepared.

Selenoprotein S expression in the rat brain following focal cerebral ischemia.

Recent studies on cerebral ischemic stroke have demonstrated the importance of the inflammatory response. Ongoing inflammatory insults have been implicated as a secondary mechanism underlying neuronal injury induced by ischemia, and anti-inflammatory strategies have gained considerable interest. Selenoprotein S (SelS), which is an endoplasmic reticulum resident protein, is known to promote cell survival by regulating inflammation.

Activity of heme oxygenase-1 affects expression levels of hypoxia inducible factor-1 gene in vitro.

Background: One effect of solid tumors is severe hypoxia of local tissues. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is highly expressed in a variety of human tumor tissues; its induction and activity are closely related to growth of solid tumors. Hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a transcription factor that regulates hypoxia signal transduction and plays a central role in tumor hypoxia regulation.

[Analysis of light scatter changes and relevant factors after laser refractive surgery].

Objective: To investigate the changes and relevant factors of forward scatter after Epipolis laser in situ keratomileusis (Epi-LASIK)and laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).

Methods: It was a prospective clinical comparative study. 45 patients (45 eyes) were scheduled for Epi-LASIK and 42 patients (42 eyes) for LASIK.

Increased expression of annexin A7 in temporal lobe tissue of patients with refractory epilepsy.

Annexin A7 is a member of the family of annexins, which are thought to function in the regulation of calcium homeostasis and the fusion of vesicles. Refractory epilepsy may be related to the imbalance of calcium homeostasis. Our aims are to investigate the expression of Annexin A7 in epileptic brains in comparison with human controls and to explore Annexin A7's possible role in refractory epilepsy.

Expression and localization of annexin A7 in the rat lithium-pilocarpine model of acquired epilepsy.

Background: Annexin A7 (synexin, ANXA7) is a member of annexins, which plays an essential role in the regulation of calcium homeostasis. Considerable evidence shows that the pathogenetic mechanism of acquired epilepsy (AE) has been related to the imbalance of calcium homeostasis. The aim of this study was to investigate ANXA7 expression and cellular localization in the cortex and hippocampus in the rat lithium-pilocarpine model of AE.

Effect of chilling on porcine germinal vesicle stage oocytes at the subcellular level.

The potential subcellular consequence of chilling on porcine germinal vesicle (GV) stage oocytes was examined. Prior to in vitro maturation (IVM), Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) freshly collected from antral follicles (3-6mm in diameter) were evenly divided into four groups and immediately incubated in PVA-TL-HEPES medium at the temperature of 39 degrees C (control group), 23 degrees C (room temperature), 15 degrees C and 10 degrees C for 10min, respectively. Following 42h of IVM at 39 degrees C, the survival rates were examined.

[Studies on in vitro capacitation of goat spermatozoa by heparin treatment].

Systematical studies are lacking on the influencing factors and mechanisms of the heparin enhanced sperm capacitation, although many studies have shown that heparin enhanced sperm capacitation. The effect of heparin concentration and exposure time, incubation temperature and co-culture with oviductal epithelial cells or cumulus cells on goat sperm capacitation were investigated in this study. The motility, membrane and acrosome integrity and capacitated percentage of goat spermatozoa were assessed after different heparin treatments, and rates of fertilization and embryo cleavage were compared after in vitro insemination of oocytes with spermatozoa capacitated by different heparin treatments.

[Effects of sperm and oocyte quality control on intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in goats].

ABSTRACT Effects of sperm and oocyte quality control on the efficiency of ICSI of in vitro matured goat oocytes were studied in this paper. The results showed that when injected intracytoplasmically, spermatozoa from caput, corpus and cauda epididymidis resulted in similar rates of fertilization, cleavage and morulae/blastocysts, but when injected subzonally, spermatozoa from caput and corpus gave rise to significantly lower rates of fertilization and embryo development than spermatozoa from the cauda epididymidis and ejaculates. When dead spermatozoa collected from semen that had been preserved in different ways were used for ICSI, those dead from liquid storage at 20 degrees C for 24 h gave rise to the best, but those dead from liquid storage at 5 degrees C for 15 days produced the poorest fertilization and embryo development.