Three-dimensional kinematic analysis can improve the efficacy of acupoint selection for post-stroke patients with upper limb spastic paresis: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: China is seeing a growing demand for rehabilitation treatments for post-stroke upper limb spastic paresis (PSSP-UL). Although acupuncture is known to be effective for PSSP-UL, there is room to enhance its efficacy.

Objective: This study explored a semi-personalized acupuncture approach for PSSP-UL that used three-dimensional kinematic analysis (3DKA) results to select additional acupoints, and investigated the feasibility, efficacy and safety of this approach.

Effects of Liver Fibrosis on Islet Function in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Complicated with Impaired Fasting Glucose.

Background: Patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and cirrhosis often have impaired fasting glucose (IFG). This study sought to investigate the impact of liver fibrosis on islet function in individuals diagnosed with CHB and IFG.

Material And Methods: Patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) were selected for this study.

Capsaicin functions as a selective degrader of STAT3 to enhance host resistance to viral infection.

Although STAT3 has been reported as a negative regulator of type I interferon (IFN) signaling, the effects of pharmacologically inhibiting STAT3 on innate antiviral immunity are not well known. Capsaicin, approved for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia and diabetic peripheral nerve pain, is an agonist of transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1), with additional recognized potencies in anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic diseases. We investigated the effects of capsaicin on viral replication and innate antiviral immune response and discovered that capsaicin dose-dependently inhibited the replication of VSV, EMCV, and H1N1.

Role of OAS gene family in COVID-19 induced heart failure.

Background: COVID-19, the current global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, can damage the heart and lead to heart failure (HF) and even cardiac death. The 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS) gene family encode interferon (IFN)-induced antiviral proteins which is associated with the antiviral immune responses of COVID-19. While the potential association of OAS gene family with cardiac injury and failure in COVID-19 has not been determined.

Orexin-A aggravates cognitive deficits in 3xTg-AD mice by exacerbating synaptic plasticity impairment and affecting amyloid β metabolism.

Dementia is the main clinical feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Orexin has recently been linked to AD pathogenesis, and exogenous orexin-A (OXA) aggravates spatial memory impairment in APP/PS1 mice. However, the effects of OXA on other types of cognitive deficits, especially in 3xTg-AD mice exhibiting both plaque and tangle pathologies, have not been reported.

Scoparone suppresses mitophagy-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation in inflammatory diseases.

Recent evidence shows that targeting NLRP3 inflammasome activation is an important means to treat inflammasome-driven diseases. Scoparone, a natural compound isolated from the Chinese herb Artemisia capillaris Thunb, has anti-inflammatory activity. In this study we investigated the effect of scoparone on NLRP3 inflammasome activation in inflammatory diseases.

Preparation of Pd Nanoparticles Stabilized by Modified Montmorillonite for Efficient Hydrodeoxygenation of Lignin-Derived Phenolic Compounds in Water.

Developing a new and efficient catalytic route for the production of alkanes by upgrading the aqueous phenolic biofuels still remains a challenge. Here, we designed and synthesized a bifunctional catalyst that uses natural montmorillonite (MMT) as support and combines metal active sites and Brӧnsted acid sites in the MMT ion exchange and reduction roasting process. The catalytic activity of the as-synthesized Pd-MMT (H) was evaluated by the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of a series of lignin-derived phenolic compounds in water.

Using the Apriori Algorithm to Explore Caregivers' Depression by the Combination of the Patients with Dementia and Their Caregivers.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the caring scenarios that result in severe depression in caregivers caring for dementia patients.

Patients And Methods: A cross-sectional study with 1111 dementia patients and their caregivers in Taiwan from October 2015 to January 2020 was conducted. Gender, age, type of dementia, clinical dementia rating, walking ability, mood symptoms, behavioral symptoms, and psychological symptoms were the variables from the dementia patients.

Suvorexant ameliorates cognitive impairments and pathology in APP/PS1 transgenic mice.

Cognitive impairments and circadian rhythm disorders are the main clinical manifestations of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Orexin has been reported as abnormally elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid of AD patients, accompanied with cognitive impairments. Our recent research revealed that suvorexant, a dual orexin receptor antagonist, could improve behavioral circadian rhythm disorders in 9-month-old APP/PS1 mice.

[A case report of multiple dentigerous cyst of mandible and review of literature].

Dentigerous cyst belongs to one kind of odontogenic cysts, and is also known as follicular cyst. After the formation of the crown or root of the tooth, liquid exudates between the residual enamel epithelium and the crown surface to form odontogenic cysts. Multiple odontogenic cysts are rare in the oral and maxillofacial regions, especially in different areas of the jaw.

Dacomitinib, a new pan-EGFR inhibitor, is effective in attenuating pulmonary vascular remodeling and pulmonary hypertension.

Accumulating evidence suggests that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays a role in the progression of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Clinically-approved epidermal growth factor inhibitors such as gefitinib, erlotinib, and lapatinib have been explored for PAH. However, None of them were able to attenuate PAH.

Prenatal diagnosis of coarctation of the aorta with ventricular septal defect: A case report.

Objective: To present an accurate prenatal diagnosis of coarctation of the aorta with ventricular septal defect and to illustrate how early diagnosis in prenatal period with proper referral and counseling can optimize management.

Case Report: A case with coarctation of the aorta with ventricle septal defect was found to have an abnormal three vessel view at 12 weeks, and with close follow-ups, coarctation of the aorta with ventricle septal defect was diagnosed at 24 weeks. Following the support from a multidisciplinary team that provided counseling, diagnosis, and follow-ups, the pregnant woman decided to continue with the pregnancy and had a vaginal delivery at a medical center.

Prenatal Diagnosis of Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava is Associated with Coarctation of the Aorta - A Case Report.

A singleton pregnant woman was found to have persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) of the fetus at 22 weeks by ultrasound. Follow-up scans revealed PLSVC, dilated coronary sinus, dominant right heart, some pericardial effusion, and hypertrophy of the right ventricular wall. The woman had an abdominal delivery at 34 weeks due to rupture of membranes.

Dandy-Walker syndrome with duplex kidney abnormalities in trisomy 18 - A rare case report.

Objective: Trisomy 18 is one of the major numerical chromosomal disorders. The incidence of trisomy 18 is approximately one in 6000 live births. Dandy-Walker malformation (DWM) is the most common congenital malformation of the cerebellum, with an incidence of about one in 5000 live births.

ZnFe2 O4 Leaves Grown on TiO2 Trees Enhance Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting.

TiO2 has excellent electrochemical properties but limited solar photocatalytic performance in light of its large bandgap. One important class of visible-wavelength sensitizers of TiO2 is based on ZnFe2 O4 , which has shown fully a doubling in performance relative to pure TiO2 . Prior efforts on this important front have relied on presynthesized nanoparticles of ZnFe2 O4 adsorbed on a TiO2 support; however, these have not yet achieved the full potential of this system since they do not provide a consistently maximized area of the charge-separating heterointerface per volume of sensitizing absorber.

Psychometric evaluation of the Simplified Chinese Version of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory for assessing breast cancer survivors.

Purpose: Due to the rapid increase in the number of breast cancer survivors in China, it is important to have a valid instrument to assess their posttraumatic growth. We carried out a study to validate the psychometric testing of the Simplified Chinese Version of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI-SC) in breast cancer survivors.

Methods And Sample: A convenience sampling method was used to collect data from 1227 breast cancer survivors at eight tertiary hospitals and some anticancer groups in Beijing between April 2010 and April 2012.

Posttraumatic growth and associated socio-demographic and clinical factors in Chinese breast cancer survivors.

Purpose: The factors that affect posttraumatic growth (PTG) in breast cancer survivors have been discussed for many years, but it remains unclear which are most influential. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of PTG and identify associated socio-demographic and clinical factors in Chinese breast cancer survivors.

Methods And Sample: A descriptive research design with a convenience sampling method was employed to collect data using the simplified Chinese version of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI-SC).

[Role of stress in depression insomnia and sleep characteristics of commonly used animal stress models].

Depression and insomnia are intimately related. Depressed patients usually manifest sleep discontinuity and early awakening, reduced or no slow wave sleep (SWS) and shortened latency of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. These sleep abnormalities are very similar to those caused by over activated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis with stress.