The effects of respiratory muscle training on respiratory function and functional capacity in patients with early stroke: a meta-analysis.

Background: Respiratory muscle training is a continuous and standardized training of respiratory muscles, but the evidence of the effects on early stroke patients is not clear. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of respiratory muscle training on respiratory function and functional capacity in patients with early stroke.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, PEDro, ScienceDirect, AMED, CINAHL, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were searched from inception to December 8, 2023 for articles about studies that 1) stroke patients with age ≥ 18 years old.

Dynamic expression of Epac and Rap1 in mouse oocytes and preimplantation embryos.

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is an important secondary messenger that has long been recognized to control the initiation of meiosis through the activation of protein kinase A (PKA) in mammalian oocytes. However, PKA is not the only target for cAMP. Recent studies on cAMP-dependent and PKA-independent pathways suggest that Ras-related protein-1 (Rap1) is activated through its cAMP-responsive guanine exchange factors (cAMP-GEFs), which comprises the involvement of exchange proteins directly activated by cAMP (Epac) in various cellular processes.

Concave-lens-like long-period fiber grating bidirectional high-sensitivity bending sensor.

A novel bidirectional high-sensitivity fiber-optic bending sensor based on the concave-lens-like long-period fiber grating (CLL-LPFG) is designed and demonstrated. The CLL-LPFG is composed by an array of arc-shaped grating planes, and accordingly, its refractive index modulation serves as a concave lens. As a result, the eigencladding mode of the device gets closer to the device surface than the conventional counterpart.

Realizing torsion detection using berry phase in an angle-chirped long-period fiber grating.

We demonstrate the fabrication of an angle-chirped long-period fiber grating (ACLPFG) in a single-mode fiber via CO laser pulses. Because of the Berry phase introduced by the ACLPFG, the interference acquires an extra phase difference determined by the torsion of the device. By using that unique characteristic of the proposed device, a high sensitivity sine function torsion response is achieved.

miR-205 mediates the inhibition of cervical cancer cell proliferation using olmesartan.

Objective: The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system has become known as a prerequisite for tumor angiogenesis that is now recognized as a crucial step in the development of tumors, including cervical cancer. The Ang II-AT1R pathway is known to play an important role in tumor angiogenesis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, regulating RNAs that participate in tumor genesis, differentiation and proliferation.

Discs large homologue 1 (Dlg1) coordinates mouse oocyte polarisation during maturation.

Mouse oocyte meiotic division requires the establishment of asymmetries in the oocyte before division, indicating the presence of polarity-establishing molecules. During mouse oocyte maturation proper orientation and positioning of the meiotic spindle at the oocyte cortex, as well as polarity in the oocyte cytoplasm and its oolemma, are necessary for the formation of functional haploid oocytes. Discs large homologue 1 (Dlg1) protein is a conserved protein that regulates cell polarity.

Resting Myocardial Contrast Echocardiography for the Evaluation of Coronary Microcirculation Dysfunction in Patients With Early Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: Coronary microcirculation dysfunction can occur in patients with chest pain suggestive of coronary artery disease (CAD). The present study aimed to determine the diagnostic value of resting myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) for early CAD with myocardial microcirculation dysfunction by evaluating the continuous imaging time, peak time, and peak intensity.

Hypothesis: Resting MCE is an effective and noninvasive method for evaluation of coronary microcirculation dysfunction in patients with early coronary artery disease.

Characterization of embryonic stem cell model of polycystic ovary syndrome.

The aims of this study are to establish an embryonic stem (ES) cell model of polycystic ovary syndrome and to characterize this ES cell line. ES cells were isolated and cultured from 322 wasted fertilized embryos from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients in vitro. They were also characterized by development and differential markers.

Critical role of Emx2 in the pluripotency - differentiation transition in male gonocytes via regulation of FGF9/NODAL pathway.

Emx2 deletion impairs the growth and maintenance of the genital ridge. However, its role in subsequent germ cell differentiation during embryonic stages is unknown. Using a tamoxifen-inducible Cre-loxP mouse model (Emx2(flox/flox), Cre-ER(TM), hereafter called as Emx2 knockdown), we showed that germ cell differentiation was impaired in Emx2-knockdown testes.

[Influence of the reference values for semen analysis proposed in the 5th edition of WHO laboratory manual on the indication spectrum for intrauterine insemination].

Objective: To study the influence of the reference values for semen analysis proposed in the 5th edition of the WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination and Processing of Human Semen on the indication spectrum for intrauterine insemination (IUI).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 111 cycles of IUI by the reference values for semen analysis in the 4th edition of the WHO Laboratory Manual (group A) and 84 cycles by the 5th edition (group B). We recorded and compared the percentages of various indications for IUI between the two groups.

[Evaluation for the clinical application of all embryos cryopreservation: a multi-centre study in northern area of China].

Objective: To investigate the clinical outcome of patients who underwent cryopreservation of all embryos.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was made in the clinical data of patients with cryopreservation of all embryos between April 2011 and September 2011 in four hospitals of North China. The patients were divided into five groups according to the reasons of cryopreservation of all embryos: ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) group, serum progesterone elevation group, endometrial group, hydrosalpinx group and others.

[Applications and prospect of multiple displacement amplification in preimplantation genetic diagnosis].

Multiple displacement amplification (MDA) is a new technology for whole genome amplification (WGA), which can generate large amount of high-quality DNA and features high amplification efficiency and fidelity. MDA combined with conventional PCR techniques has been successfully applied for preimplantation genetic diagnosis, which has broaden latter's clinical applications.

Development of retinal pigment epithelium from human parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells and microRNA signature.

Purpose: We investigated the potential of human parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells (hPESCs) to differentiate into RPE cells, and identified development-regulating microRNAs (miRNAs).

Methods: RPE cells were derived from hPESCs. The expression of markers and miRNA expression profiles during differentiation were studied by immunocytochemistry, real-time RT-PCR, and miRNA expression array at three time points.

Derivation, culture and retinal pigment epithelial differentiation of human embryonic stem cells using human fibroblast feeder cells.

Purpose: Retinal pigment epithelium cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) could be useful for restoring retinal function in age-related macular degeneration. However the use of non-human feeder cells to support the growth of ESCs for clinical applications raises the concern of possible contamination because of direct contact between animal and human cells.

Methods: In this study, we produced human ESCs using human fibroblast feeder layers isolated from foreskin and abdominal tissues.

SNAI1 overexpression induces stemness and promotes ovarian cancer cell invasion and metastasis.

Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer among women worldwide. Detection of metastasis of ovarian cancer is crucial for diagnosis and prolongs the life of patients. This study focused on whether SNAI1 overexpression relates to invasion of ovarian cancer in vitro and in vivo.