Pre- and postpartum fear of childbirth and its predictors among rural women in China.

Background: Fear of childbirth (FOC) can influence both maternal and child health. Research on FOC in China is scarce, especially on rural women. This study aimed to assess pre- and postpartum FOC and its predictors among Chinese rural women.

[Research progress and thinking of acupuncture in anti-inflammation by regulating autonomic nerve system].

The nervous system is the necessary condition for inducing the curative effect of acupuncture. Both the sympathetic and vagal nerve systems are widely distributed throughout the body and organically connect various systems and organs of the human body. In maintaining the coordination and unity of human physiological activities, it is in line with the holistic view and bidirectional regulation of acupuncture, and fits in with the meridian theory of "internally belonging to the Zang-fu organs and externally connecting with the limbs and joints".

[Research progress of acupuncture for peripheral inflammatory response].

Acupuncture can regulate peripheral inflammatory response mainly through somatosensory-vagal/sympathetic nerve-splenic/adrenal/local reflex pathway. Besides, acupuncture may also play an anti-inflammatory role through gut microbiota and neuro-endocrine pathway. The effects of acupuncture have acupoint specificity and time window effect, and are influenced by voltage, current and frequency of electroacupuncture.

Effects of Electroacupuncture at Different Acupoints on Functional Dyspepsia Rats.

Although, acupoint specificity is regarded as the core of scientific issues in electroacupuncture (EA), the difference of EA on treating functional dyspepsia (FD) at different acupoints is unclear. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the different therapeutic effects of EA at lower extremity or abdominal acupoints on the mucosal integrity and lower-inflammatory response in FD. The intragastric administration of iodoacetamide (IA) was performed in 48 rats to establish the FD model.

[Research progress on mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion in treatment of irritable bowel syndrome].

The current clinical evidence and underlying mechanisms of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) were summarized, so as to better optimize clinical treatment. The relevant articles of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of IBS in recent years were retrieved and summarized. We found that the clinical efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of IBS was relatively reliable.

Potential Mechanisms of Acupuncture for Functional Dyspepsia Based on Pathophysiology.

Functional dyspepsia (FD), a common disorder of gastrointestinal function, originated from the gastroduodenum. Although the therapeutic effect of acupuncture has been investigated by various high-quality randomized controlled trials, the potential mechanisms showed obvious heterogeneity. This review summarized the potential mechanisms of acupuncture on FD in order to guide for future laboratory and clinical studies.

The Influence of Psychological Status on Acupuncture for Postprandial Distress Syndrome: A Subgroup Analysis of a Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) is accompanied by a high incidence of mood disorder. Acupuncture is an effective method in relieving dyspepsia symptoms; however, the impact of psychological status on acupuncture for PDS remains mysterious.

Methods: This secondary analysis of a multicenter, randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the influence of anxiety and depression on acupuncture for PDS.

C1q/TNF-related protein 4 restores leptin sensitivity by downregulating NF-κB signaling and microglial activation.

Objective: C1qTNF-related protein 4 (CTRP4) acts in the hypothalamus to modulate food intake in diet-induced obese mice and has been shown to exert an anti-inflammatory effect on macrophages. Since high-fat diet-induced microglial activation and hypothalamic inflammation impair leptin signaling and increase food intake, we aimed to explore the potential connection between the anorexigenic effect of CTRP4 and the suppression of hypothalamic inflammation in mice with DIO.

Methods: Using an adenovirus-mediated hypothalamic CTRP4 overexpression model, we investigated the impact of CTRP4 on food intake and the hypothalamic leptin signaling pathway in diet-induced obese mice.

Synthetic Polymeric Antibacterial Hydrogel for Methicillin-Resistant Infected Wound Healing: Nanoantimicrobial Self-Assembly, Drug- and Cytokine-Free Strategy.

Antibacterial hydrogels are attracting extensive attention in soft tissue repair and regeneration, including bacteria-infected-wound healing. The abuse of antibiotics leads to drug resistance. Recent developments have demonstrated that the delivery of inorganic bactericidal agents in hydrogels can drive the wound healing process; however, this approach is complicated by external light stimuli, cytotoxicity, nondegradability, and sophisticated fabrication.

C1q/TNF-related Protein 4 Induces Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 Pathway and Modulates Food Intake.

C1q/TNF-related protein 4 (CTRP4) has been reported to decrease food intake and regulate energy homeostasis. However, its underlying mechanism and signaling pathway remain unknown. Using an adenovirus-mediated hypothalamic CTRP4 overexpression model, we investigated the impact of CTRP4 on food intake and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway in normal chow-fed mice.

Combining HPV DNA load with p16/Ki-67 staining to detect cervical precancerous lesions and predict the progression of CIN1-2 lesions.

Background: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) DNA tests are highly sensitive and can triage women with mild lesions, improving the prognosis and diagnosis of cervical lesions. However, additional efficient strategies should be developed to improve the specificity of these tests.

Methods: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical value of HPV DNA load in improving the diagnosis and prognosis of cervical lesions by p16/Ki-67 testing.

Optical coherence tomography angiography for noninvasive evaluation of angiogenesis in a limb ischemia mouse model.

We developed an optical coherence tomography angiography technique by improving the speckle contrast algorithm and the imaging process. This technique, which can achieve angiogenesis imaging in vivo without increasing trauma, was used to evaluate the microvasculature in limb ischemia mice. Sixteen left hindlimb ischemia mice were randomly allocated into CuSO and saline groups.

Vasculogenic Mimicry Formation Is Associated with Erythropoietin Expression but Not with Erythropoietin Receptor Expression in Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: Vasculogenic mimicry (VM), as an endothelium-independent cancer microcirculation, has been observed in many malignancies including cervical cancer. Erythropoietin (EPO) and erythropoietin receptor (EPO-R) could produce an angiogenic effect to promote cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) progression. However, the association between VM formation and EPO/EPO-R expression in CSCC is poorly explored.

Effects of kinesiotape on pain and disability in individuals with chronic low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective:: To explore the effects of kinesiotape on pain and disability in individuals with chronic low back pain.

Data Sources:: PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for English language publications from inception to 13 February 2018.

Review Methods:: This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42018089831).

Improved speckle contrast optical coherence tomography angiography.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is becoming a clinically useful and important imaging technique due to its ability to provide high-resolution structural imaging . Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) can visualize vasculature imaging of biological tissues. With the advent of Fourier-domain OCT, numerous OCTA techniques have been developed to detect the microvasculature in vivo.

[Study of Motion Artifacts Correction Algorithm in Optical Coherence Tomography Images Based on C-Scan of Optic Disc].

Optical Coherence Tomography(OCT) system may cause dislocations and distortions of the collected image volumetric?data when proceeding dynamic 3D imaging because of the involuntary movements of eyebal, which wil result in misdiagnoses during clinical diagnosis. The optic disk region of human eye has much more complex structure and further more blood vessels compared with macular region, which means the conventional image correction method aiming at macular region can not apply to optic disk region. In this paper, we propose a X direction artifact correcting method based on pixel row correlation matching algorithm of C-Scan, specifi c to the structural features of human eye optic disk region OCT images.

[Study of motion artifacts correction algorithm in optical coherence tomography images].

Objective: Optical coherence tomography images may be distorted by motion artifacts in dynamic imaging, so it may lead to misdiagnosis in clinical diagnosis. Motion artifacts correction has become an urgent issue in optical coherence tomography imaging.

Methods: Firstly, using the improved complex nonlinear diffusion preprocessing filtering reduced the noise of the sequence images, then using the image mass center aligned the distortion data in the Y direction, finally, using the method of deviation average corrected motion artifacts along the Y direction.

[Automated segmentation of retina layer structures on optical coherence tomography].

Objective: Using the algorithm on the layered structure of the retina and quantitative analysis of the automatic segmentation technique is the key to the early diagnosis of glaucoma and other retinopathy on optical coherence tomography. Existing methods require high quality image and have low reliability. This paper used the improved complex nonlinear diffuse filtering and other methods to solve this problem.

The effect of thick fibers and large pores of electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) vascular grafts on macrophage polarization and arterial regeneration.

The vascular grafts prepared by electrospinning often have relatively small pores, which limit cell infiltration into the grafts and hinder the regeneration and remodeling of the grafts into neoarteries. To overcome this problem, macroporous electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds with thicker fibers (5-6 μm) and larger pores (∼30 μm) were fabricated in the present study. In vitro cell culture indicated that macrophages cultured on thicker-fiber scaffolds tended to polarize into the immunomodulatory and tissue remodeling (M2) phenotype, while those cultured on thinner-fiber scaffolds expressed proinflammatory (M1) phenotype.

[The research of skin imaging technology with high frequency ultrasound].

Objective: Developing a high-frequency ultrasonic skin imaging system to obtain the high resolution ultrasonic image of the skin. And further analyzing the ultrasonic images of skin to explore the imaging characteristics of skin structure and then explore the value of high-frequency imaging in the application of skin diagnosis.

Methods: 50 MHz single element ultrasonic transducer, mechanic linear scanning method is used in the imaging system.

Effect of sustained heparin release from PCL/chitosan hybrid small-diameter vascular grafts on anti-thrombogenic property and endothelialization.

Thrombus formation and subsequent occlusion are the main reasons for the failure of small-diameter vascular grafts. In this study, a hybrid small-diameter vascular graft was developed from synthetic polymer poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and natural polymer chitosan (CS) by the co-electrospinning technique. Heparin was immobilized on the grafts through ionic bonding between heparin and CS fibers.

Comparative pharmacokinetics of active alkaloids after oral administration of Rhizoma Coptidis extract and Wuji Wan formulas in rat using a UPLC-MS/MS method.

Wuji Wan (WJW), containing Rhizoma Coptidis (Huanglian in Chinese, HL), Frutus Evodiae Rutaecarpae (Wuzhuyu, WZY) and Radix Paeoniae Alba (Baishao, BS), is a classical traditional Chinese medical formula employed in treating intestinal disorders. Berberine (BBR) and palmatine (PMT) are the major active alkaloids in HL and have analgesic and anti-microbial effects. A sensitive, specific and validated ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method was developed to investigate the pharmacokinetic profiles of BBR and PMT in rat plasma and in situ intestinal perfusion solution.

[Applying graphics processing unit in real-time signal processing and visualization of ophthalmic Fourier-domain OCT system].

This investigation introduces GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)- based CUDA (Compute Unified Device Architecture) technology into signal processing of ophthalmic FD-OCT (Fourier-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography) imaging system, can realize parallel data processing, using CUDA to optimize relevant operations and algorithms, in order to solve the technical bottlenecks that currently affect ophthalmic real-time imaging in OCT system. Laboratory results showed that with GPU as a general parallel computing processor, the speed of imaging data processing using GPU+CPU mode is more than dozens times faster than traditional CPU platform based serial computing and imaging mode when executing the same data processing, which reaches the clinical requirements for two dimensional real-time imaging.