An Optimized Protocol for Multiple Immunohistochemical Staining of Fragile Tissue Samples.

Owing to the high occurrence of tissue detachment during the sample preparation process, the application of multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) technology is limited in the field of fragile tissue samples, such as tendons, ligaments, and bones. To optimize a method for preparing sections for mIHC on fragile tissue samples, taking the human anterior cruciate ligament as an example, paraffin-embedded continuous sections with a thickness of 4 μm were divided into two groups: baking groups underwent routine section processing, and after being mounted on glass slides, they were baked at 65°C for 4 h, 8 h, or 24 h; ultraviolet (UV) photosensitive cross-linking groups used adhesive-coated slides for mounting and were directly subjected to UV light-induced cross-linking, with the cross-linking time set at 0 s, 20 s, 40 s, 1 min, 2 min, 3 min, 4 min, and 5 min, respectively. After deparaffinization and rehydration, we simulated the microwave step, which was most likely to cause tissue detachment during the mIHC experimental procedure, and then, the sections were stained with eosin.

Effects of cerebellar transcranial alternating current stimulation in cerebellar ataxia: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Cerebellar ataxia (CA) is a movement disorder that can affect balance and gait, limb movement, oculomotor control, and cognition. Multiple system atrophy-cerebellar type (MSA-C) and spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) are the most common forms of CA, for which no effective treatment is currently available. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a non-invasive method of brain stimulation supposed to alter cortical excitability and brain electrical activity, modulating functional connectivity within the brain.

Efficacy and safety of Tuina and intermediate frequency electrotherapy for frozen shoulder: MRI-based observation evidence.

Background: Tuina and Intermediate Frequency (IF) electrotherapy are commonly used treatments for frozen shoulder (FS). This study aimed to compare the clinical efficacy of Tuina and IF electrotherapy in the treatment of stage II frozen shoulder and to provide evidence-based treatment for FS.

Methods: The FS patients were randomized into two groups, the observation group, which received Tuina, and the control group, which received IF electrotherapy.

Core Decompression Prevents Progression of Asymptomatic Type C Osteonecrosis of Femoral Head According to the Japanese Investigation Committee Classification: A Retrospective Study.

Objective: To evaluate whether core decompression could prevent progression of asymptomatic type C osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) according to the Japanese Investigation Committee (JIC) classification.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 124 hips (117 patients) with asymptomatic type C ONFH. Seventy-one hips (67 patients) received core decompression (core decompression group) and 53 hips (50 patients) received no surgical treatment (control group).

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study of Electroacupuncture Stimulating Uterine Acupoints.

Objective: Based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI), to observe the changes of brain function of bilateral uterine points stimulated by electroacupuncture, so as to provide imaging basis for acupuncture in the treatment of gynecological and reproductive diseases.

Methods: 20 healthy female subjects were selected to stimulate bilateral uterine points (EX-CA1) by electroacupuncture. FMRI data before and after acupuncture were collected.

Association of Stress Hyperglycemia Ratio With Acute Ischemic Stroke Outcomes Post-thrombolysis.

The association between stress hyperglycemia and clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is uncertain. We sought to analyze the association between the stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) using different definitions and clinical outcomes in acute patients with ischemic stroke undergoing IVT. A total of 341 patients with ischemic stroke receiving IVT were prospectively enrolled in this study.

Alantolactone ameliorates cancer cachexia-associated muscle atrophy mainly by inhibiting the STAT3 signaling pathway.

Background: Cancer cachexia is a serious metabolic disorder syndrome that is responsible for the deaths of approximately 30% of patients with cancer, but effective drugs for cancer cachexia are still lacking. Inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α or IL-6 are involved in the induction of skeletal muscle atrophy and fat depletion in patients with cancer cachexia.

Purpose: In this study, we assessed the therapeutic effects of the natural compound alantolactone (AL) on cancer cachexia and tried to clarify the mechanisms by which it ameliorates muscle atrophy.

Efficacy and safety of weekly paclitaxel with or without ramucirumab as second-line therapy for the treatment of advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (RAINBOW-Asia): a randomised, multicentre, double-blind, phase 3 trial.

Background: In the global phase 3 RAINBOW study, ramucirumab plus paclitaxel significantly improved overall survival compared with placebo plus paclitaxel in patients with advanced gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma. RAINBOW-Asia, a bridging study with similar design to RAINBOW, aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ramucirumab plus paclitaxel for advanced gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma in Asian, predominantly Chinese, patients.

Methods: RAINBOW-Asia was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial done at 32 centres in China, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand.

All optical metropolitan quantum key distribution network with post-quantum cryptography authentication.

Quantum key distribution (QKD) provides information theoretically secure key exchange requiring authentication of the classic data processing channel via pre-sharing of symmetric private keys to kick-start the process. In previous studies, the lattice-based post-quantum digital signature algorithm Aigis-Sig, combined with public-key infrastructure (PKI), was used to achieve high-efficiency quantum security authentication of QKD, and we have demonstrated its advantages in simplifying the MAN network structure and new user entry. This experiment further integrates the PQC algorithm into the commercial QKD system, the Jinan field metropolitan QKD network comprised of 14 user nodes and 5 optical switching nodes, and verifies the feasibility, effectiveness and stability of the post-quantum cryptography (PQC) algorithm and advantages of replacing trusted relays with optical switching brought by PQC authentication large-scale metropolitan area QKD network.

Clinical Characteristics of Patients With Progressive and Non-progressive Coronavirus Disease 2019: Evidence From 365 Hospitalised Patients in Honghu and Nanchang, China.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has swept around the globe and led to a worldwide catastrophe. Studies examining the disease progression of patients with non-severe disease on admission are scarce but of profound importance in the early identification of patients at a high risk of deterioration. To elucidate the differences in clinical characteristics between patients with progressive and non-progressive COVID-19 and to determine the risk factors for disease progression.

Mean Platelet Volume-To-Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts Poor Functional Outcomes Among Ischemic Stroke Patients Treated With Intravenous Thrombolysis.

According to previous studies, the mean platelet volume-to-lymphocyte ratio (MPVLR) represents a novel marker of a poor short-term prognosis in patients with a myocardial infarction who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention. We aimed to evaluate the association between MPVLR and clinical outcomes of patients with acute ischemic stroke who were treated with intravenous thrombolysis. Two hundred forty-one patients with ischemic stroke receiving intravenous thrombolysis were prospectively enrolled in this study.

A Randomized Phase 2 Study of Gefitinib With or Without Pemetrexed as First-line Treatment in Nonsquamous NSCLC With EGFR Mutation: Final Overall Survival and Biomarker Analysis.

Introduction: Clinical studies have shown that a combination of a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) and pemetrexed overcame acquired resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) TKI in NSCLC. Previously, pemetrexed+gefintib (P+G) had improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared with gefitinib. We present OS, updated PFS, biomarker analysis, and safety of P+G versus gefitinib.

Establishment of a mouse model of cancer cachexia with spleen deficiency syndrome and the effects of atractylenolide I.

Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial metabolic syndrome that affects ∼50%-80% of cancer patients, and no effective therapy for cancer cachexia is presently available. In traditional Chinese medicine, a large portion of patients with cancer cachexia was diagnosed as spleen deficiency syndrome and treated with tonifying TCMs that produce clinic benefits. In this study we established a new animal model of spleen deficiency and cancer cachexia in mice and evaluated the therapeutic effects of atractylenolide I, an active component of tonifying TCM BaiZhu, in the mouse model.

SiBaoChongCao exhibited anti-fatigue activities and ameliorated cancer cachexia in mice.

SiBaoChongCao (SBCC) is a functional food product containing fermentation of belonging to the genus. SBCC at 1 and 2 g kg for 20 days exhibited anti-fatigue activities such as increasing exhaustive swimming and running time of mice and increasing the strength of muscle. The increased muscle endurance in SBCC-treated mice might be related to enhancement of muscle cell growth and differentiation and improvement of muscle response to exercise training, as shown by an increase in muscle cross-sectional area and elevation of MHC, MyoD, MyoG and PGC-1α levels.

miRNA‑15a‑5p facilitates the bone marrow stem cell apoptosis of femoral head necrosis through the Wnt/β‑catenin/PPARγ signaling pathway.

Bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) are a group cells that function as an underlying cell source for bone tissue regeneration. However, the molecular mechanisms of how BMSCs are induced into apoptosis remains unclear. In the present study, it was demonstrated that the molecular mechanisms of BMSCs were exerted via microRNA‑15a‑5p (miR‑15a‑5p) in femoral head necrosis (FHN).

Maternal high fat diet programs hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function in adult rat offspring.

Maternal environmental factors such as diet have profound effects on offspring development and later health. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is an important stress neuroendocrine system that is subject to programming by early life challenges. The present study was further to investigate whether maternal high fat diet (HFD) exposure during rat pregnancy and lactation can alter the HPA axis activity in adult male offspring.

The Bulbocavernosus Reflex in the Differential Diagnosis of Multiple System Atrophy with Predominant Parkinsonism and Parkinson's Disease.

Multiple system atrophy with predominant parkinsonism (MSA-P) is a degenerative disorder that presents with autonomic dysfunction, atypical parkinsonism, and ataxia. Parkinson's disease (PD) is an age-related neurological disorder of the central nervous system. Differentiation between MSA-P and PD is important because treatments, complications, and prognoses differ.

Maternal high-fat diet programs cerebrovascular remodeling in adult rat offspring.

Maternal environmental factors such as diet have consequences on later health of the offspring. We found that maternal high-fat diet (HFD) exposure renders adult offspring brain more susceptible to ischemic injury. The present study was further to investigate whether HFD consumption during rat pregnancy and lactation influences the cerebral vasculature in adult male offspring.

The efficacy and safety of coenzyme Q10 in Parkinson's disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

The objective of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients in order to arrive at qualitative and quantitative conclusions about the efficacy of CoQ10. Databases searched included PubMed, Google scholar, CNKI, Wan-Fang, and the Cochrane Library from inception to March 2016. We only included sham-controlled, randomized clinical trials of CoQ10 intervention for motor dysfunction in patients with PD.

Determination of rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban in rat plasma by UPLC-MS/MS method.

To establish a rapid and sensitive ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for the determination of rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban in rat plasma. The analytes and the internal standard (diazepam) were separated on an Acquity UPLC BEH C18 chromatography column (2.1 mm × 50 mm, 1.

The Diagnostic Performance of Stool DNA Testing for Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This meta-analysis was designed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of stool DNA testing for colorectal cancer (CRC) and compare the performance between single-gene and multiple-gene tests.MEDLINE, Cochrane, EMBASE databases were searched using keywords colorectal cancers, stool/fecal, sensitivity, specificity, DNA, and screening. Sensitivity analysis, quality assessments, and performance bias were performed for the included studies.

Characteristics of the Energetic Igniters Through Integrating Al/NiO Nanolaminates on Cr Film Bridge.

The energetic igniters through integrating Al/NiO nanolaminates on Cr film bridges have been investigated in this study. The microstructures demonstrate well-defined geometry and sharp interfaces. The depth profiles of the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of Al/NiO nanolaminates annealed at 550 °C with a bilayer thickness of 250 nm show that the interdiffusion between the Al layer and NiO layer has happened and the annealing temperature cannot provide enough energy to make the diffusion process much more complete.

Observation of tunable electrical bandgap in large-area twisted bilayer graphene synthesized by chemical vapor deposition.

Although there are already many efforts to investigate the electronic structures of twisted bilayer graphene, a definitive conclusion has not yet been reached. In particular, it is still a controversial issue whether a tunable electrical (or transport) bandgap exists in twisted bilayer graphene film until now. Herein, for the first time, it has been demonstrated that a tunable electrical bandgap can be opened in the twisted bilayer graphene by the combination effect of twist and vertical electrical fields.