BMAL1 sex-specific effects in the neonatal mouse airway exposed to moderate hyperoxia.

Supplemental O (hyperoxia) is a critical intervention for premature infants (<34 weeks) but consequently is associated with development of bronchial airway hyperreactivity (AHR) and asthma. Clinical practice shifted toward the use of moderate hyperoxia (<60% O), but risk for subsequent airway disease remains. In mouse models of moderate hyperoxia, neonatal mice have increased AHR with effects on airway smooth muscle (ASM), a cell type involved in airway tone, bronchodilation, and remodeling.

Predictive performance of the STarT Back tool for poor outcomes in patients with low back pain: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Subgroups for Targeted Treatment Back Tool (SBT) is a brief multiple-construct risk prediction tool for patients with low back pain (LBP). Thus far, the predictive ability of this tool has been inconsistent. Therefore, we aim to conduct a literature review on the predictive ability of the SBT to determine the outcomes of patients with LBP.

Cortical Hemodynamic Response Associated with Spatial Coding: A Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study.

Allocentric and egocentric are two types of spatial coding. Previous studies reported the dorsal attention network's involvement in both types. To eliminate possible paradigm-specific confounds in the results, this study employed fine-grained cue-to-target paradigm to dissociate allocentric (aSC) and egocentric (eSC) spatial coding.

A Novel Synthetic Strategy for Preparing Polyamide 6 (PA6)-Based Polymer with Transesterification.

In the polymerization of caprolactam, the stoichiometry of carboxyl groups and amine groups in the process of melt polycondensation needs to be balanced, which greatly limits the copolymerization modification of polyamide 6. In this paper, by combining the characteristics of the polyester polymerization process, a simple and flexible synthetic route is proposed. A polyamide 6-based polymer can be prepared by combining caprolactam hydrolysis polymerization with transesterification.

Caveolin-1 scaffolding domain peptide prevents hyperoxia-induced airway remodeling in a neonatal mouse model.

Reactive airway diseases are significant sources of pulmonary morbidity in neonatal and pediatric patients. Supplemental oxygen exposure in premature infants contributes to airway diseases such as asthma and promotes development of airway remodeling, characterized by increased airway smooth muscle (ASM) mass and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. Decreased plasma membrane caveolin-1 (CAV1) expression has been implicated in airway disease and may contribute to airway remodeling and hyperreactivity.

Smooth muscle brain-derived neurotrophic factor contributes to airway hyperreactivity in a mouse model of allergic asthma.

Recent studies have demonstrated an effect of neurotrophins, particularly brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), on airway contractility [ via increased airway smooth muscle (ASM) intracellular calcium [Ca]] and remodeling (ASM proliferation and extracellular matrix formation) in the context of airway disease. In the present study, we examined the role of BDNF in allergen-induced airway inflammation using 2 transgenic models: 1) tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) conditional knockin (TrkBKI) mice allowing for inducible, reversible disruption of BDNF receptor kinase activity by administration of 1NMPP1, a PP1 derivative, and 2) smooth muscle-specific BDNF knockout (BDNF/SMMHC11) mice. Adult mice were intranasally challenged with PBS or mixed allergen ( Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus fumigatus, house dust mite, and ovalbumin) for 4 wk.

Patient and Family Member Factors Influencing Outcomes of Poststroke Inpatient Rehabilitation.

Objective: To investigate how family members' attitudes toward functional regain, and patients' knowledge and intention of independence influence poststroke rehabilitation.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Three rehabilitation inpatient settings.

Rater experience influences reliability and validity of the Brief International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health Core Set for Stroke.

Objective: To investigate how clinical experience and access to patient information regarding functional capability influence inter-rater reliability and validity of the Brief International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health Core Set for Stroke (ICF) assessment.

Methods: Study 1 involved expert (clinical experience > 5 years) and novice (clinical experience < 2 years) rater-pairs, each evaluating the same post-stroke patients using the ICF assessment (n = 149). Study 2 involved novice raters separately evaluating a different cohort of post-stroke patients with the ICF assessment (n = 78).

The effect of a therapeutic regimen of Traditional Chinese Medicine rehabilitation for post-stroke cognitive impairment: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) lessens quality of life, restricts the rehabilitation of stroke, and increases the social and economic burden stroke imposes on patients and their families. Therefore effective treatment is of paramount importance. However, the treatment of PSCI is very limited.

Evaluation of Tai Chi Yunshou exercises on community-based stroke patients with balance dysfunction: a study protocol of a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background: Balance dysfunction after stroke limits patients' general function and participation in daily life. Previous researches have suggested that Tai Chi exercise could offer a positive improvement in older individuals' balance function and reduce the risk of falls. But convincing evidence for the effectiveness of enhancing balance function after stroke with Tai Chi exercise is still inadequate.

Community-applied research of a traditional Chinese medicine rehabilitation scheme on Broca's aphasia after stroke: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Aphasia is a common and severely disabling complication in stroke patients. It usually brings about lower rates of functional recovery, longer rehabilitation length of stay (LOS), and significantly poorer LOS efficiency (LOS-Eff), resulting in higher rehabilitation costs compared to patients without aphasia. It also decreases the quality of life and increases the mortality of stroke patients.

Structure-activity relationships in rodent diaphragm muscle fibers vs. neuromuscular junctions.

The diaphragm muscle (DIAm) is a highly active muscle of mixed fiber type composition. We hypothesized that consistent with greater activation history and proportion of fatigue-resistant fibers, neuromuscular transmission failure is lower in the mouse compared to the rat DIAm, and that neuromuscular junction (NMJ) morphology will match their different functional demands. Minute ventilation and duty cycle were higher in the mouse than in the rat.

Changes in actomyosin ATP consumption rate in rat diaphragm muscle fibers during postnatal development.

Early postnatal development of rat diaphragm muscle (Dia(m)) is marked by dramatic transitions in myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform expression. We hypothesized that the transition from the neonatal isoform of MHC (MHC(Neo)) to adult fast MHC isoform expression in Dia(m) fibers is accompanied by an increase in both the maximum velocity of the actomyosin ATPase reaction (V(max) ATPase) and the ATP consumption rate during maximum isometric activation (ATP(iso)). Rat Dia(m) fibers were evaluated at postnatal days 0, 14, and 28 and in adults (day 84).