Simplified Post-stroke Functioning Assessment Based on ICF Dichotomous Mokken Scale Analysis and Rasch Modeling.

Purpose: This study aims to accomplish two tasks for (ICF) application among persons with stroke: (1) to make an ICF tool for measuring personal abilities with simplified assessment operations; (2) to quantitatively evaluate ICF categories for being functioning rather than being disabled.

Methods: A total of 130 inpatients with stroke convenience sampling were evaluated by the extended comprehensive ICF core set for stroke, modified Rankin scale, and modified Barthel index (MBI). This study investigated the responses to 118 stroke-related ICF items (59 items in b and d domains individually) using Mokken scale analysis followed with Rasch modeling.

Stimulating mechanism of corn oil on biomass and polysaccharide production of Pleurotus tuber-regium mycelium.

Hyperbranched polysaccharides (HBPSs) are the main components in cell wall and exopolysaccharide (EPS) of Pleurotus tuber-regium. To enhance the yield of these macromolecules, corn oil at 4% addition exhibited the best effect for production of mycelial biomass at 20.49 g/L and EPS at 0.

BMSC-derived exosomes ameliorate sulfur mustard-induced acute lung injury by regulating the GPRC5A-YAP axis.

Sulfur mustard (SM) is a highly toxic chemical warfare agent that causes acute lung injury (ALI) and/or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). There are no effective therapeutic treatments or antidotes available currently to counteract its toxic effects. Our previous study shows that bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) could exert therapeutic effects against SM-induced lung injury.

Information-Sharing Behavior on WeChat Moments: The Role of Anonymity, Familiarity, and Intrinsic Motivation.

Information-sharing behavior is affected by identity recognition perception. The current study aims to delve into the impact of familiarity and anonymity on information-sharing behavior, and the mediating role of intrinsic motivations on WeChat Moments. We hypothesized a mediator role of intrinsic motivations in the relationship between an individual's perceptions and information sharing.

Indole alkaloids from Gelsemium elegans.

Five previously undescribed monoterpenoid indole alkaloids were isolated from the roots of Gelsemium elegans. Their structures with absolute configurations were elucidated by HRESIMS, X-ray diffraction, ECD spectra, and molecular modeling. 19,20-Epoxyhumantenine is a humantenine-type alkaloid with an epoxypropyl group at the C-20 position, (4R)-19-oxo-gelsevirine N-oxide is a gelsemine-related alkaloid, and gelsedethenine is a gelsedine-type alkaloid with a butenyl group at the C-20 position.

A metal-free direct C (sp)-H cyanation reaction with cyanobenziodoxolones.

A metal-free protocol of direct C(sp)-H cyanation with cyanobenziodoxolones functioning as both cyanating reagents and oxidants was developed. Unactivated substrates, such as alkanes, ethers and tertiary amines, were thereby transformed to the corresponding nitriles in moderate to high yields. Mechanistic studies indicated that the cyanation proceeded with two potential pathways, which is highly dependent on the substrates: (1) a free radical case for alkanes and ethers and (2) an oxidative case for tertiary amines.

Polydatin protects learning and memory impairments in a rat model of vascular dementia.

Polydatin is one of the most common encountered stilbenes of nature and a key component of the Chinese herb Polygonum cuspidatum. This study is to investigate the effects of polydatin on learning and memory impairments induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion in rats, as well as the potential mechanism. Both common carotid arteries and both vertebral arteries occlusion (four-vessel occlusion, 4-VO) induced severe cognitive deficits tested by water maze task, along with oxidative stress in hippocampus.

Anti-HIV activities of the compounds isolated from Polygonum cuspidatum and Polygonum multiflorum.

The 70 % EtOH extract of Polygonum cuspidatum showed inhibitory action against HIV-1-induced syncytium formation at non-cytotoxic concentrations in vitro with a 50 % effective concentration (EC(50)) of 13.94 +/- 3.41 microg/mL.

5,7-Dimethoxy-isobenzofuran-1(3H)-one.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C(10)H(10)O(4), which has been isolated from rhizoma Polygonum Cuspidatum, a Chinese folk medicine, contains two crystallographically independent mol-ecules. The mol-ecules are essentially planar, with a maximum deviation of 0.061 (2) Å from the best planes.

[Preliminary studies on histological changes after repairing the facial nerve defect with acellular facial nerve].

Objective: To investigate the morphological changes after chemically extracted acellular nerve allografts transplant.

Methods: Seventy-two rabbits were divided into four groups. Acellular allografts of facial nerve were used in experimental group, and facial nerve autografts, acellular peroneal nerve allografts and peroneal nerve autografts respectively used in three control groups.

[Biological characterization of rabbit's articular chondrocytes by confluent culture in vitro].

Objective: To obtain large amount of differentiated chondrocytes in vitro, examine and compare the biological characterization of rabbits' articular chondrocyte cultured in different density in vitvo.

Methods: From November 2001 to June 2004, articulate tissues were obtained from the joints of the adult rabbits. Chondrocytes were isolated from the cartilage tissue with type II collagenase digestion and cultured in DMEM/F-12 supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS).

[Joint resurfacing using allograft chondrocytes embedded in alginate gel].

Objective: To explore the feasibility of repairing the articular cartilage with allo-articular chondrocytes embedded in alginate gel.

Methods: Allo-articular chondrocytes were isolated from three adult New zealand rabbits. The cells were cultured in DMEM/F-12 supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS).

[Influences of decellularization processes on immunogenicity of chemically acellular nerve allografts].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between immunogenicity and decellularization processes of chemically acellular nerve allografts.

Methods: Adult Sprague Dawley rats were used as nerve donors and adult male Wistar rats used as nerve recipient hosts. 25 mm nerve segments were excised from SD rats' sciatic nerves.

[The preparation, structure evaluation and preliminary application of biomimetic biphasic calcium phosphate scaffold].

Objective: To fabricate biomimetic biphasic calcium phosphate BCP ceramic scaffolds using three-dimensional (3D) gel-lamination technology and evaluated their structure with 3D parameters and related method.

Methods: Series two-dimensional images of femoral head's specimen of dogs were obtained by micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT). According to these images, porous biomimetic biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) ceramic scaffolds with oriented trabecular structure were fabricated by three-dimensional (3D) gel-lamination technology.

[An experimental study of demineralized bone matrix to repair bone defects as a scaffold of tissue engineering].

Objective: To evaluate application of the sponge of demineralized bone matrix (SDBM) in tissue engineering of bone.

Methods: SDBM was prepared from long bone of rabbits. Bone marrow cells were flushed from the bone shaft of femurs of a two-month-old New Zealand white rabbit.