The maximal force a muscle can exert depends on its length,which has been explained by the sliding filament theory on the sarcomere level.1 A longer muscle can act over a greater range of motion and has more sarcomere...The maximal force a muscle can exert depends on its length,which has been explained by the sliding filament theory on the sarcomere level.1 A longer muscle can act over a greater range of motion and has more sarcomeres in series,which increases its capacity to produce force at a specific muscle contraction velocity because each sarcomere contracts at a lower velocity.展开更多
BACKGROUND Achieving optimal glycemic control is a cornerstone of cardiovascular risk reduction in type 2 diabetes(T2D).However,the extent to which multifactorial interventions influence this relationship remains unce...BACKGROUND Achieving optimal glycemic control is a cornerstone of cardiovascular risk reduction in type 2 diabetes(T2D).However,the extent to which multifactorial interventions influence this relationship remains uncertain.AIM To evaluate the association between glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c)target achievement and long-term cardiovascular outcomes in patients receiving standard of care(SoC)or multifactorial intensive therapy(MT).METHODS This post-hoc analysis of the nephropathy in diabetes type 2 cluster-randomized trial included 323 patients with T2D,albuminuria,and retinopathy(SoC:n=139;MT:n=184),who underwent a 4-year intervention phase.Outcomes were major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)and all-cause mortality.Associations with HbA1c target achievement(≤7%vs>7%)were assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves and shared frailty Cox regression models.RESULTS During a median follow-up of 12.1 years,190 MACEs and 139 deaths occurred.Achievement of the HbA1c target was not associated with reduced mortality in either group.However,a significant reduction in MACEs was observed only among SoC patients achieving HbA1c≤7%(P=0.031),whereas no benefit was seen in the MT group(P=0.645).In multivariable Cox regression models adjusted for cluster effect,in the MT group age[hazard ratio(HR)=1.07,P<0.001]and female sex(HR=0.38,P<0.001)were independent predictors of MACE,while in the SoC group only age(HR=1.04,P=0.009).For all-cause mortality,age(HR=1.11,P<0.001)and blood pressure control(HR=0.55,P=0.041)were significant predictors in the MT group,whereas age(HR=1.06,P=0.002)was independently associated with increased mortality in the SoC group.CONCLUSION In high-risk patients with T2D receiving standard care,achieving an HbA1c≤7%was associated with fewer cardiovascular events only under standard care,but not with reduced mortality.This association was not observed in patients managed with a multifactorial strategy.These findings suggest that the prognostic value of glycemic control depends on the broader treatment context and highlight the central role of comprehensive risk factor management in microvascularcomplicated T2D.展开更多
Introduction:Consumer wearables increasingly provide users with Composite Health Scores(CHS)–integrated biometric indices that claim to quantify readiness,recovery,stress,or overall well-being.Despite their growing a...Introduction:Consumer wearables increasingly provide users with Composite Health Scores(CHS)–integrated biometric indices that claim to quantify readiness,recovery,stress,or overall well-being.Despite their growing adoption,the validity,transparency,and physiological relevance of these scores remain unclear.This study systematically evaluates CHS fromleading wearablemanufacturers to assess their underlying methodologies,contributors,and scientific basis.Content:Information was synthesised from publicly available company documentation,including technical white papers,user manuals,app interfaces,and research literature where available.We identified 14 CHS across 10 major wearable manufacturers,including Fitbit(Daily Readiness),Garmin(Body Battery^(TM)and Training Readiness),Oura(Readiness and Resilience),WHOOP(Strain,Recovery,and Stress Monitor),Polar(Nightly Recharge^(TM)),Samsung(Energy Score),Suunto(Body Resources),Ultrahuman(Dynamic Recovery),Coros(Daily Stress),and Withings(Health Improvement Score).The most frequently incorporated biometric contributors in this catalogue of CHS were heart rate variability(86%),resting heart rate(79%),physical activity(71%),and sleep duration(71%).However,significant discrepancies were identified in data collection timeframes,metric weighting,and proprietary scoring methodologies.None of the manufacturers disclosed their exact algorithmic formulas,and few provided empirical validation or peer-reviewed evidence supporting the accuracy or clinical relevance of their scores.Summary and outlook:While the concept of CHS represent a promising innovation in digital health,their scientific validity,transparency,and clinical applicability remain uncertain.Future research should focus on establishing standardized sensor fusion frameworks,improving algorithmic transparency,and evaluating CHS across diverse populations.Greater collaboration between industry,researchers,and clinicians is essential to ensure these indices serve as meaningful health metrics rather than opaque consumer tools.展开更多
Background:Due to its high relevance in sports and rehabilitation,the exploration of interventions to further optimize flexibility becomes paramount.While stretching might be the most common way to enhance range of mo...Background:Due to its high relevance in sports and rehabilitation,the exploration of interventions to further optimize flexibility becomes paramount.While stretching might be the most common way to enhance range of motion,these increases could be optimized by imposing an additional activation of the muscle,such as mechanical vibratory stimulation.While several original articles provide promising findings,contradictory results on flexibility and underlying mechanisms(e.g.,stiffness),reasonable effect size(ES)pooling remains scarce.With this work we systematically reviewed the available literature to explore the possibility of potentiating flexibility,stiffness,and passive torque adaptations by superimposing mechanical vibration stimulation.Methods:A systematic search of 4 databases(Web of Science,MEDLINE,Scopus,and Cochrane Public Library)was conducted until December2023 to identify studies comparing mechanical vibratory interventions with passive controls or the same intervention without vibration(sham)on range of motion and passive muscle stiffness in acute(immediate effects after single session)and chronic conditions(multiple sessions over a period of time).ES pooling was conducted using robust variance estimation via R to account for multiple study outcomes.Potential moderators of effects were analyzed using meta regression.Results:Overall,65 studies(acute:1162 participants,chronic:788 participants)were included.There was moderate certainty of evidence for acute flexibility(ES=0.71,p<0.001)and stiffness(ES=-0.89,p=0.006)effects of mechanical vibration treatments vs.passive controls without meaningful results against the sham condition(flexibility:ES=0.20,p<0.001;stiffness:ES=-0.19,p=0.076).Similarly,moderate certainty of evidence was found for chronic vibration effects on flexibility(control:ES=0.64,p=0.043;sham:ES=0.65,p<0.001).Lack of studies and large outcome heterogeneity prevented ES pooling for underlying mechanisms.Conclusion:Vibration improved flexibility in acute and chronic interventions compared to the stand-alone intervention,which can possibly be attributed to an accumulated mechanical stimulus through vibration.However,studies on biological mechanisms are needed to explain flexibility and stiffness effects in response to specific vibration modalities and timing.展开更多
Background:Stretching has wide appeal,but there seems to exist some mismatch between its purported applications and what the evidence shows.There is compelling evidence for some stretching applications,but for others,...Background:Stretching has wide appeal,but there seems to exist some mismatch between its purported applications and what the evidence shows.There is compelling evidence for some stretching applications,but for others,the evidence seems heterogeneous or unsupportive.The discrepancies even affect some systematic reviews,possibly due to heterogeneous eligibility criteria and search strategies.This consensus paper seeks to unify the divergent findings on stretching and its implications for both athletic performance and clinical practices by delivering evidence-based recommendations.Methods:A panel of 20 experts with a blend of practical experience and scholarly knowledge was assembled.The panel meticulously reviewed existing systematic reviews,defined key terminologies(e.g.,consensus definitions for different stretching modes),and crafted guidelines using a Delphi consensus approach(minimum required agreement:80%).The analysis focused on 8 topics,including stretching's acute and chronic(long-term)effects on range of motion,strength performance,muscle hypertrophy,stiffness,injury prevention,muscle recovery,posture correction,and cardiovascular health.Results:There was consensus that chronic and acute stretching(a)improves range of motion(although alternatives exist)and(b)reduces muscle stiffness(which may not always be desirable);the panel also agreed that chronic stretching(c)may promote vascular health,but more research is warranted.In contrast,consensus was found that stretch training does not(a)contribute substantively to muscle growth,(b)serve as an allencompassing injury prevention strategy,(c)improve posture,or(d)acutely enhance post-exercise recovery.Conclusion:These recommendations provide guidance for athletes and practitioners,highlighting research gaps that should be addressed to more comprehensively understand the full scope of stretching effects.展开更多
Kleiber’s Law or E = M3/4 is a mathematical expression known since 1932 that outlines the relationship between mass (biomass) and the use of energy. It is compelling because it supports a long standing observation th...Kleiber’s Law or E = M3/4 is a mathematical expression known since 1932 that outlines the relationship between mass (biomass) and the use of energy. It is compelling because it supports a long standing observation that larger animals appear to use energy more efficiently than smaller ones. For example, an elephant’s weight is 200,000 times of a mouse, but uses only about 10,000 fold energy;thus a cat, having a mass of about 100 times of a mouse, only spends roughly 33 fold energy. In other words, the bigger you are, the less energy per gram of tissue you actually need to stay alive. Many facts pertaining to animal size call for a rational explanation. This paper takes into account that the fascinating relationship between mass and energy use for any living thing is governed strictly by a mathematical universal formula across all living species, operating in the tiniest of bacteria to the biggest of whales and sequoia tress. For the first time, we report a capacity for the mammal eukaryotic cell to split, break or dissociate water molecules through melanin. Even though E = M3/4 was discovered eight decades ago, no proper satisfactory explanation exists. Nevertheless, our multiyear detailed study on the “Human Photosynthesis” or first found in the human retina and later in all eukaryotic cells, may finally unravel this mystery, namely, the bigger you are the more surface area you have to absorb electromagnetic radiation and the more potential exists to use that electromagnetic radiation spectra to perform work. We propose a future application of this theory in the context of human diseases, especially age-related disorders, such as retinopathy, cerebrovascular and Alzheimer disease and these implications may not only foster a better understanding of the pathobiology of these devastating diseases but also develop much more effective therapies in the foreseeable future.展开更多
Human salivary histatin 1(Hst1)exhibits a series of cell-activating properties,such as promoting cell spreading,migration,and metabolic activity.We recently have shown that fluorescently labeled Hst1(F-Hst1)targets an...Human salivary histatin 1(Hst1)exhibits a series of cell-activating properties,such as promoting cell spreading,migration,and metabolic activity.We recently have shown that fluorescently labeled Hst1(F-Hst1)targets and activates mitochondria,presenting an important molecular mechanism.However,its regulating signaling pathways remain to be elucidated.We investigated the influence of specific inhibitors of G protein-coupled receptors(GPCR),endocytosis pathways,extracellular signal-regulated kinases1/2(ERK1/2)signaling,p38 signaling,mitochondrial respiration and Na+/K+-ATPase activity on the uptake,mitochondria-targeting and-activating properties of F-Hst1.We performed a si RNA knockdown(KD)to assess the effect of Sigma-2 receptor(S2R)/Transmembrane Protein 97(TMEM97)—a recently identified target protein of Hst1.We also adopted live cell imaging to monitor the whole intracellular trafficking process of F-Hst1.Our results showed that the inhibition of cellular respiration hindered the internalization of F-Hst1.The inhibitors of GPCR,ERK1/2,phagocytosis,and clathrin-mediated endocytosis(CME)as well as siRNA KD of S2R/TMEM97 significantly reduced the uptake,which was accompanied by the nullification of the promoting effect of F-Hst1 on cell metabolic activity.Only the inhibitor of CME and KD of S2R/TMEM97 significantly compromised the mitochondria-targeting of Hst1.We further showed the intracellular trafficking and targeting process of F-Hst1,in which early endosome plays an important role.Overall,phagocytosis,CME,GPCR,ERK signaling,and S2R/TMEM97 are involved in the internalization of Hst1,while only CME and S2R/TMEM97 are critical for its subcellular targeting.The inhibition of either internalization or mitochondria-targeting of Hst1 could significantly compromise its mitochondria-activating property.展开更多
Background: The use of social media platforms for health and nutrition information has become popular among college students. Although social media made information readily accessible in different formats, nutritional...Background: The use of social media platforms for health and nutrition information has become popular among college students. Although social media made information readily accessible in different formats, nutritional misinformation promoted by influencers and non-experts caused negative impact on diet behavior and perception of body image. Previous research indicated that extensive use of social media was positively linked to disordered eating behaviors. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram that allow users to follow celebrities intensified exposure to influencers’ messages and images and resulted in negative moods and body dissatisfaction. Objective: This paper aims to explore the impact of social media on college students’ dietary behaviors and body image. Participants: 18 undergraduate students from a public university in the Southern United States were recruited through a mass email. Methods: A cross-sectional qualitative study of three focus groups was conducted. The focus groups were based on guiding open-ended questions. Atlas.ti was used to code and analyze the data using inductive and deductive codes. Results: Three main themes were identified. The conditions theme included elements that explain why and how social media influences the participants’ actions. The actions theme included eating behavior, physical activity, and dietary supplement intake. The consequences theme describes anticipated or actual outcomes of actions such as body image and ideal weight. Conclusions: Social media has had a negative influence on diet behaviors and a positive influence on physical activity. Evidence-based nutrition and weight management information is needed to thwart potential misinformation.展开更多
Early onset of hypertension (HTN) raises the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death in the U.S. For university students who do not follow healthy diets or lifestyles, high blood pressure (BP)...Early onset of hypertension (HTN) raises the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death in the U.S. For university students who do not follow healthy diets or lifestyles, high blood pressure (BP) may be markedly prevalent. Researchers utilized a cross-sectional design to assess HTN prevalence and its risk factors among college students (N = 123). Self-administered surveys comprising four validated questionnaires: the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Rapid Eating Assessment for Participants-Shortened (REAPS), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Quality (DASH-Q), and the U.S. Adult Food Security Survey (FSS) were employed. Additionally, physical measurements were conducted, including height, weight, waist circumference (WC), and BP. Results indicated that 71.6% of students had elevated BP, with 24.4% classified as Stage 1 HTN and 23.6% as Stage 2 HTN. Notably, 60% of students reported low adherence to the DASH diet and a mean REAPS score of 26.3 out of 39. Students experiencing marginal food security had higher systolic blood pressure (SBP) 131.7 ± 16.8 mm Hg compared to those with high food security 123.03 ± 11.7 mm Hg (p = 0.028). Furthermore, REAPS scores showed a negative correlation with diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (β = −0.201, p = 0.03). Significant predictors for SBP included WC (β = 0.40, p β = −0.33, p β = 0.16, p = 0.046). The findings highlight the need for BP screenings and nutrition education programs to improve dietary habits among college students, which may help reduce HTN and its associated long-term risks for CVD.展开更多
Musculoskeletal Symptoms(MSS)often arise from prolonged maintenance of bent postures in the neck and trunk during surgical procedures.To prevent MSS,a passive exoskeleton utilizing carbon fiber beams to offer support ...Musculoskeletal Symptoms(MSS)often arise from prolonged maintenance of bent postures in the neck and trunk during surgical procedures.To prevent MSS,a passive exoskeleton utilizing carbon fiber beams to offer support to the neck and trunk was proposed.The application of support force is intended to reduce muscle forces and joint compression forces.A nonlinear mathematical model for the neck and trunk support beam is presented to estimate the support force.A validation test is subsequently conducted to assess the accuracy of the mathematical model.Finally,a preliminary functional evaluation test is performed to evaluate movement capabilities and support provided by the exoskeleton.The mathematical model demonstrates an accuracy for beam support force within a range of 0.8–1.2 N Root Mean Square Error(RMSE).The exoskeleton was shown to allow sufficient Range of Motion(ROM)for neck and trunk during open surgery training.While the exoskeleton showed potential in reducing musculoskeletal load and task difficulty during simulated surgery tasks,the observed reduction in perceived task difficulty was deemed non-significant.This prompts the recommendation for further optimization in personalized adjustments of beams to facilitate improvements in task difficulty and enhance comfort.展开更多
Background: The activities carried out by soldiers in the army involve great physical demands and require intense trainings to perform combat-specific tasks. Musculoskeletal injury is a potential threat to the health ...Background: The activities carried out by soldiers in the army involve great physical demands and require intense trainings to perform combat-specific tasks. Musculoskeletal injury is a potential threat to the health and physical integrity of the soldier. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of lower limb musculoskeletal injuries among soldiers and to propose a training protocol to prevent the most frequent injuries.Methods: This observational(cross-sectional) study recruited a sample of 103 soldiers who required medical attention,from a total 202 new battalion soldiers. The medical records(paper and online) had a form of running text. All data collected were recorded by the registered physicians of the battalion medical post. The records were analyzed by the following variables: medical diagnosis, injury site, mechanism, type of treatment, time loss, existence of previous injury,and recurring injury.Results: A total of 112 musculoskeletal injuries were diagnosed in 71 soldiers, and other types of diseases/injuries were diagnosed in the other soldiers. Joint pain accounted for 55.4% of the diagnoses. The knee was the most affected site, while trauma and overload were the most common mechanisms of injury. Drug treatment was used most frequently, accounting for 58% of the cases. The majority of the sample obtained a temporary leave of absence for1 to 6 days or not at all. Previous injuries and recurrence were not presented as risk factors for injury. With the data received, a protocol for the prevention of injuries to the lower limbs was proposed.Conclusions: This study indicated that the most frequent site of injury is the knee, and joint pain is the most common diagnosis. These results may support the necessity to develop a neuromuscular training protocol to prevent lower limb injuries, which we suggest to be applied in future studies.展开更多
AIM To investigate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of Cortex Dictamni aqueous extract(CDAE) in carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)-induced liver damage in rats.METHODS The in vitro antioxidant effect of CDAE was i...AIM To investigate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of Cortex Dictamni aqueous extract(CDAE) in carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)-induced liver damage in rats.METHODS The in vitro antioxidant effect of CDAE was investigated using α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS), β-carotene bleaching, reducing power, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance assays. A linoleic acid system, including ferric thiocyanate(FTC) and thiobarbituric acid(TBA) assays, was used to evaluate the inhibition of lipid peroxidation. The in vivo hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of CDAEagainst CCl4-induced liver damage were evaluated in Sprague-Dawley rats. Silymarin was used as a positive control. Liver damage was assessed by determining hepatic histopathology and liver marker enzymes in serum. Enzyme and non-enzyme antioxidant levels and lipid peroxide content were measured in the liver. Cytochrome P450 2E1(CYP2E1) protein expression was measured via immunohistochemical staining. Nuclear factor E2-related factor(Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1(HO-1), NAD(P)H quinine oxidoreductase 1(NQO1), and γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase catalytic subunit(γ-GCSc) protein expression was measured by Western blot.RESULTS Our results showed that CDAE exhibited a strong antioxidant activity in vitro. CDAE scavenged DPPH and ABTS radicals in a dose-dependent manner. CDAE inhibited lipid peroxidation with a lipid peroxide inhibition rate of 40.6% ± 5.2%. In the FTC and TBA assays, CDAE significantly inhibited lipid peroxidation(P < 0.01). In vivo histopathological studies indicated that CCl4-induced liver injury was alleviated following CDAE treatment in rats of both sexes. CDAE(160 and 320 mg/kg) significantly prevented CCl4-induced elevations of alkaline phosphatase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin levels in rats of both sexes(P < 0.05, 0.01, or 0.001). Moreover, CDAE restored the decreased activities of hepatic antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, as well as non-enzyme antioxidant glutathione, which were induced by CCl4 treatment. CDAE significantly suppressed the up-regulation of CYP2E1 and promoted Nrf2, HO-1, NQO1, and γ-GCSc protein expression.CONCLUSION CDAE exhibits good antioxidant performance in vitro, with marked radical-scavenging and anti-lipid peroxidation activities. CDAE is effective in preventing CCl4-induced hepatic damage in rats of both sexes. The hepatoprotective activity of CDAE may be attributable to its antioxidant activity, which may involve Keap1-Nrf2-mediated antioxidant regulation.展开更多
BACKGROUND Stroke refers to a group of cerebrovascular diseases associated with organic braininjury. It is characterized by the sudden and rapid onset of focal or diffusedysfunction. In recent years, in addition to ro...BACKGROUND Stroke refers to a group of cerebrovascular diseases associated with organic braininjury. It is characterized by the sudden and rapid onset of focal or diffusedysfunction. In recent years, in addition to routine treatment, Chinese medicineacupuncture has been administered to patients with hemiplegia, and it can beconsidered a new treatment for rehabilitation.AIM To investigate the effects of eye acupuncture needle retention and bodyacupuncture combined with routine rehabilitation on gait performance andplantar pressure in patients recovering from stroke.METHODS Thirty-two stroke patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly dividedinto an experimental group and a control group, with 16 patients in each group.Both groups underwent routine rehabilitation. The experimental group wastreated by eye acupuncture needle retention, and the control group was treated bybody acupuncture. Before and after 4 wk of treatment, both groups underwentkinematic and plantar pressure synchronous tests to assess gait performance.RESULTS The step length, gait speed, step frequency, joint angles of the lower limbs, andground reaction force impulse in the anterior region of the affected foot in bothgroups significantly increased from before to after treatment (P < 0.05);the center of mass displacement, peak pressure values, and impulse in the anterior region ofthe healthy foot and posterior regions of both the affected and healthy feetsignificantly decreased from before to after treatment (P < 0.05). The patients inthe experimental group showed greater improvement in the following parametersthan the control group: Step length, gait speed, step frequency, lower extremityjoint angles, center of gravity displacement, and peak pressure values andimpulse in the anterior and posterior regions of both the affected and healthy feet(P < 0.05).CONCLUSION Eye acupuncture needle retention and body acupuncture combined with routinerehabilitation can effectively improve the gait performance of patients recoveringfrom stroke. Between these two treatments, eye acupuncture needle retentioncombined with routine treatment is better than body acupuncture, and it can beconsidered a practical and effective clinical treatment.展开更多
An experiment was carried out in the key laboratory for Technique Diagnosis and Function Assessment of Winter Sports of China to investigate the differences in gait characteristics between healthy children and childre...An experiment was carried out in the key laboratory for Technique Diagnosis and Function Assessment of Winter Sports of China to investigate the differences in gait characteristics between healthy children and children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy. With permission of their parents, 200 healthy children aged 3 to 6 years in the kindergarten of Northeastern University were enrolled in this experiment. Twenty children aged 3 to 6 years with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy from Shengjing Hospital, China were also enrolled in this experiment. Standard data were collected by simultaneously recording gait information from two digital cameras. DVracker was used to analyze the standard data. The children with hemiplegic cerebra palsy had a longer gait cycle, slower walking speed, and longer support phase than did the healthy children. The support phase was longer than the swing phase in the children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. There were significant differences in the angles of the hip, knee, and ankle joint between children with cerebral palsy and healthy children at the moment of touching the ground and buffering, and during pedal extension. Children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy had poor motor coordination during walking, which basically resulted in a short stride, high stride frequency to maintain speed, more obvious swing, and poor stability.展开更多
Immune-driven inflammation plays an important part inatherogenesis and is therefore believed to be key to thedevelopment of cardiovascular disease(CVD), whichis currently the leading cause of death in the Westernworld...Immune-driven inflammation plays an important part inatherogenesis and is therefore believed to be key to thedevelopment of cardiovascular disease(CVD), whichis currently the leading cause of death in the Westernworld. By fulfilling some of the Koch postulates, athero-genesis has even been proposed to be considered as anautoimmune disease, raising the hope that CVD couldbe prevented by immunomodulation. Nevertheless,the role of the immune system and autoimmune reac-tions in atherosclerosis appear to be a double edged-sword, with both pro-atherogenic and anti-atherogenicattributes. Hence, if immunomodulation is to becomea therapeutic option for atherosclerosis and CVD, it willbe crucial to correctly identify patients who might ben-efit from targeted suppression of deleterious autoim-mune responses. This could be achieved, for example, by the detection of disease-associated autoantibodies. In this work, we will review the currently available clini-cal, in vitro, and animal studies dedicated to autoan-tibodies against apolipoprotein A-1(anti-apoA-1 IgG), the major proteic fraction of high density lipoprotein. Current clinical studies indicate that high levels of anti-apoA-1 IgG are associated with a worse cardiovascular prognosis. In addition, in vitro and animal studies indi-cate a pro-inflammatory and pro-atherogenic role, sup-porting the hypothesis that these autoantibodies may play a direct causal role in CVD, and furthermore that they could potentially represent a therapeutic target for CVD in the future.展开更多
In this mini-review several commonly used animal models of atherosclerosis have been discussed.Among them,emphasis has been made on mice,rabbits,pigs and non-human primates.Although these animal models have played a s...In this mini-review several commonly used animal models of atherosclerosis have been discussed.Among them,emphasis has been made on mice,rabbits,pigs and non-human primates.Although these animal models have played a significant role in our understanding of induction of atherosclerotic lesions,we still lack a reliable animal model for regression of the disease.Researchers have reported several genetically modified and transgenic animal models that replicate human atherosclerosis,however each of current animal models have some limitations.Among these animal models,the apolipoprotein(apo) E-knockout(KO)mice have been used extensively because they develop spontaneous atherosclerosis.Furthermore,atherosclerotic lesions developed in this model depending on experimental design may resemble humans' stable and unstable atherosclerotic lesions.This mouse model of hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis has been also used to investigate the impact of oxidative stress and inflammation on atherogenesis.Low density lipoprotein(LDL)-r-KO mice are a model of human familial hypercholesterolemia.However,unlike apo E-KO mice,the LDL-r-KO mice do not develop spontaneous atherosclerosis.Both apo E-KO and LDL-r-KO mice have been employed to generate other relevant mouse models of cardiovascular disease through breeding strategies.In addition to mice,rabbits have been used extensively particularly to understand the mechanisms of cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis.The present review paper details the characteristics of animal models that are used in atherosclerosis research.展开更多
Sustainable sanitation is an approach for more ecological and sustainable water resources management. In this paper, we proposed one of the new integrated waste treatment systems： an ＂sustainable sanitation system＂...Sustainable sanitation is an approach for more ecological and sustainable water resources management. In this paper, we proposed one of the new integrated waste treatment systems： an ＂sustainable sanitation system＂ that includes separation of the black water from water system by a non-flushing toilet （bio-toilet）, and a gray water treatment based on a biological and ecological concept. Sustainable sanitation system also converts the domestic waste to soil conditioners and fertilizers, for farmland use. As one of the case studies, Environmentally Symbiotic Housing in which people actually live using the bio-toilet for the black water treatment and the household wastewater treatment facility for the gray water was introduced. The availability of this system was investigated by analyzing the sawdust used in the bio-toilet and the quality of the effluent in the household wastewater treatment facility. As the result, the water content of the sawdust did not exceed 60% in any of the sampling points and the BOD and COD of the effluent of the household wastewater treatment facility were below 10 and 20 mg/L respectively, due to the low loading. Compared to the pollution load on the water environment created by the conventional system, it was found that the effluent of the house has a lower load than the tertiary treatment and the volume of the water consumption is 75% of the conventional system.展开更多
A composting toilet using sawdust as a matrix has the potential to trap pathogens that might occasionally be contained in human feces. Therefore, care should be taken when handling the sawdust. It should also be noted...A composting toilet using sawdust as a matrix has the potential to trap pathogens that might occasionally be contained in human feces. Therefore, care should be taken when handling the sawdust. It should also be noted that pathogenic viruses tend to have stronger tolerance than pathogenic bacteria. The fates of several species of coliphages, T4, λ, Qβ and MS2, in sawdust were investigated as a viral model. The fates of coliphages were significantly different among them, and they changed in response to temperature and the water content of the sawdust. As the results, T4 coliphage had the strongest tolerance and Qβ had the weakest one in sawdust. It was estimated the days required to decrease virus to a safe level based on a risk assessment. According to the rates of Qβ and T4, 15 days and 167 days were required respectively for a safe level of infection risk based on actually operated composting toilet condition. Thus, it was significantly different depending on the species and sawdust conditions.展开更多
The concept of reserve appears in the neurological literature in the 1940s arising from the observation that there is no linear relationship between neurological damage and severity of the clinical symptoms.Basically,...The concept of reserve appears in the neurological literature in the 1940s arising from the observation that there is no linear relationship between neurological damage and severity of the clinical symptoms.Basically,this concept sustains that the experiences pursued during life-span enrich the brain by making it more resilient to neuronal damage.However,in the last three decades the reserve concept has become very popular in the scientific field,mainly associated with the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the Alzheimer’s Disease(AD)(Serra et al.,2018;Stern et al.,2018).展开更多
Nowadays, creativity is the main need for continuing the life in the various aspects of society, especially education. Parenting attitude of youth fostering as an important factor can be effect on creativity, because ...Nowadays, creativity is the main need for continuing the life in the various aspects of society, especially education. Parenting attitude of youth fostering as an important factor can be effect on creativity, because youth are dependent to parents and they are as power recourse for youth. Youth are in interaction with parents and parents can be ready appropriate filed in home and family to efflorescence their youth’s creativity. The present study undertakes to provide a descriptive and correlative analysis on the relationship between youth fostering and student creativity. Parenting attitudes (including domination, high dependency, and negligence) and creativity (including fluency, originality, flexibility and elaboration) are taken as independent and dependent variables, respectively. To test the hypotheses, information collected from three questionnaires was analyzed: 1) multiple choice paper and pencil test for measuring Torrance creativity (1973), 2) parent attitude survey (PAS) of Drews and Teahen (1957), and 3) evaluation of students’ creativity by masters. Statistical population of the study includes all students of Urmia Medical Sciences University (209 males and 218 females) and their parents. Data analysis was performed by SPSS software using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Results indicate no significant relationship between student creativity and parents attitude on youth fostering (r = 0.20) and parents put more emphasis on educational success than creativity. Also, female students had better performance than males in terms of creativity.展开更多
文摘The maximal force a muscle can exert depends on its length,which has been explained by the sliding filament theory on the sarcomere level.1 A longer muscle can act over a greater range of motion and has more sarcomeres in series,which increases its capacity to produce force at a specific muscle contraction velocity because each sarcomere contracts at a lower velocity.
基金Supported by the Ministero dell’Universitàe della Ricerca(Italian Ministry of University and Research),No.2007PSYLRX.
文摘BACKGROUND Achieving optimal glycemic control is a cornerstone of cardiovascular risk reduction in type 2 diabetes(T2D).However,the extent to which multifactorial interventions influence this relationship remains uncertain.AIM To evaluate the association between glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c)target achievement and long-term cardiovascular outcomes in patients receiving standard of care(SoC)or multifactorial intensive therapy(MT).METHODS This post-hoc analysis of the nephropathy in diabetes type 2 cluster-randomized trial included 323 patients with T2D,albuminuria,and retinopathy(SoC:n=139;MT:n=184),who underwent a 4-year intervention phase.Outcomes were major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)and all-cause mortality.Associations with HbA1c target achievement(≤7%vs>7%)were assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves and shared frailty Cox regression models.RESULTS During a median follow-up of 12.1 years,190 MACEs and 139 deaths occurred.Achievement of the HbA1c target was not associated with reduced mortality in either group.However,a significant reduction in MACEs was observed only among SoC patients achieving HbA1c≤7%(P=0.031),whereas no benefit was seen in the MT group(P=0.645).In multivariable Cox regression models adjusted for cluster effect,in the MT group age[hazard ratio(HR)=1.07,P<0.001]and female sex(HR=0.38,P<0.001)were independent predictors of MACE,while in the SoC group only age(HR=1.04,P=0.009).For all-cause mortality,age(HR=1.11,P<0.001)and blood pressure control(HR=0.55,P=0.041)were significant predictors in the MT group,whereas age(HR=1.06,P=0.002)was independently associated with increased mortality in the SoC group.CONCLUSION In high-risk patients with T2D receiving standard care,achieving an HbA1c≤7%was associated with fewer cardiovascular events only under standard care,but not with reduced mortality.This association was not observed in patients managed with a multifactorial strategy.These findings suggest that the prognostic value of glycemic control depends on the broader treatment context and highlight the central role of comprehensive risk factor management in microvascularcomplicated T2D.
基金funded by the Health Research Board in Ireland(Grant ID:HRB ILP-PHR-2024-005)Research Ireland(Grant ID:12/RC/2289_P2).
文摘Introduction:Consumer wearables increasingly provide users with Composite Health Scores(CHS)–integrated biometric indices that claim to quantify readiness,recovery,stress,or overall well-being.Despite their growing adoption,the validity,transparency,and physiological relevance of these scores remain unclear.This study systematically evaluates CHS fromleading wearablemanufacturers to assess their underlying methodologies,contributors,and scientific basis.Content:Information was synthesised from publicly available company documentation,including technical white papers,user manuals,app interfaces,and research literature where available.We identified 14 CHS across 10 major wearable manufacturers,including Fitbit(Daily Readiness),Garmin(Body Battery^(TM)and Training Readiness),Oura(Readiness and Resilience),WHOOP(Strain,Recovery,and Stress Monitor),Polar(Nightly Recharge^(TM)),Samsung(Energy Score),Suunto(Body Resources),Ultrahuman(Dynamic Recovery),Coros(Daily Stress),and Withings(Health Improvement Score).The most frequently incorporated biometric contributors in this catalogue of CHS were heart rate variability(86%),resting heart rate(79%),physical activity(71%),and sleep duration(71%).However,significant discrepancies were identified in data collection timeframes,metric weighting,and proprietary scoring methodologies.None of the manufacturers disclosed their exact algorithmic formulas,and few provided empirical validation or peer-reviewed evidence supporting the accuracy or clinical relevance of their scores.Summary and outlook:While the concept of CHS represent a promising innovation in digital health,their scientific validity,transparency,and clinical applicability remain uncertain.Future research should focus on establishing standardized sensor fusion frameworks,improving algorithmic transparency,and evaluating CHS across diverse populations.Greater collaboration between industry,researchers,and clinicians is essential to ensure these indices serve as meaningful health metrics rather than opaque consumer tools.
文摘Background:Due to its high relevance in sports and rehabilitation,the exploration of interventions to further optimize flexibility becomes paramount.While stretching might be the most common way to enhance range of motion,these increases could be optimized by imposing an additional activation of the muscle,such as mechanical vibratory stimulation.While several original articles provide promising findings,contradictory results on flexibility and underlying mechanisms(e.g.,stiffness),reasonable effect size(ES)pooling remains scarce.With this work we systematically reviewed the available literature to explore the possibility of potentiating flexibility,stiffness,and passive torque adaptations by superimposing mechanical vibration stimulation.Methods:A systematic search of 4 databases(Web of Science,MEDLINE,Scopus,and Cochrane Public Library)was conducted until December2023 to identify studies comparing mechanical vibratory interventions with passive controls or the same intervention without vibration(sham)on range of motion and passive muscle stiffness in acute(immediate effects after single session)and chronic conditions(multiple sessions over a period of time).ES pooling was conducted using robust variance estimation via R to account for multiple study outcomes.Potential moderators of effects were analyzed using meta regression.Results:Overall,65 studies(acute:1162 participants,chronic:788 participants)were included.There was moderate certainty of evidence for acute flexibility(ES=0.71,p<0.001)and stiffness(ES=-0.89,p=0.006)effects of mechanical vibration treatments vs.passive controls without meaningful results against the sham condition(flexibility:ES=0.20,p<0.001;stiffness:ES=-0.19,p=0.076).Similarly,moderate certainty of evidence was found for chronic vibration effects on flexibility(control:ES=0.64,p=0.043;sham:ES=0.65,p<0.001).Lack of studies and large outcome heterogeneity prevented ES pooling for underlying mechanisms.Conclusion:Vibration improved flexibility in acute and chronic interventions compared to the stand-alone intervention,which can possibly be attributed to an accumulated mechanical stimulus through vibration.However,studies on biological mechanisms are needed to explain flexibility and stiffness effects in response to specific vibration modalities and timing.
文摘Background:Stretching has wide appeal,but there seems to exist some mismatch between its purported applications and what the evidence shows.There is compelling evidence for some stretching applications,but for others,the evidence seems heterogeneous or unsupportive.The discrepancies even affect some systematic reviews,possibly due to heterogeneous eligibility criteria and search strategies.This consensus paper seeks to unify the divergent findings on stretching and its implications for both athletic performance and clinical practices by delivering evidence-based recommendations.Methods:A panel of 20 experts with a blend of practical experience and scholarly knowledge was assembled.The panel meticulously reviewed existing systematic reviews,defined key terminologies(e.g.,consensus definitions for different stretching modes),and crafted guidelines using a Delphi consensus approach(minimum required agreement:80%).The analysis focused on 8 topics,including stretching's acute and chronic(long-term)effects on range of motion,strength performance,muscle hypertrophy,stiffness,injury prevention,muscle recovery,posture correction,and cardiovascular health.Results:There was consensus that chronic and acute stretching(a)improves range of motion(although alternatives exist)and(b)reduces muscle stiffness(which may not always be desirable);the panel also agreed that chronic stretching(c)may promote vascular health,but more research is warranted.In contrast,consensus was found that stretch training does not(a)contribute substantively to muscle growth,(b)serve as an allencompassing injury prevention strategy,(c)improve posture,or(d)acutely enhance post-exercise recovery.Conclusion:These recommendations provide guidance for athletes and practitioners,highlighting research gaps that should be addressed to more comprehensively understand the full scope of stretching effects.
文摘Kleiber’s Law or E = M3/4 is a mathematical expression known since 1932 that outlines the relationship between mass (biomass) and the use of energy. It is compelling because it supports a long standing observation that larger animals appear to use energy more efficiently than smaller ones. For example, an elephant’s weight is 200,000 times of a mouse, but uses only about 10,000 fold energy;thus a cat, having a mass of about 100 times of a mouse, only spends roughly 33 fold energy. In other words, the bigger you are, the less energy per gram of tissue you actually need to stay alive. Many facts pertaining to animal size call for a rational explanation. This paper takes into account that the fascinating relationship between mass and energy use for any living thing is governed strictly by a mathematical universal formula across all living species, operating in the tiniest of bacteria to the biggest of whales and sequoia tress. For the first time, we report a capacity for the mammal eukaryotic cell to split, break or dissociate water molecules through melanin. Even though E = M3/4 was discovered eight decades ago, no proper satisfactory explanation exists. Nevertheless, our multiyear detailed study on the “Human Photosynthesis” or first found in the human retina and later in all eukaryotic cells, may finally unravel this mystery, namely, the bigger you are the more surface area you have to absorb electromagnetic radiation and the more potential exists to use that electromagnetic radiation spectra to perform work. We propose a future application of this theory in the context of human diseases, especially age-related disorders, such as retinopathy, cerebrovascular and Alzheimer disease and these implications may not only foster a better understanding of the pathobiology of these devastating diseases but also develop much more effective therapies in the foreseeable future.
基金funded by Eurostars project,grant number E!12764。
文摘Human salivary histatin 1(Hst1)exhibits a series of cell-activating properties,such as promoting cell spreading,migration,and metabolic activity.We recently have shown that fluorescently labeled Hst1(F-Hst1)targets and activates mitochondria,presenting an important molecular mechanism.However,its regulating signaling pathways remain to be elucidated.We investigated the influence of specific inhibitors of G protein-coupled receptors(GPCR),endocytosis pathways,extracellular signal-regulated kinases1/2(ERK1/2)signaling,p38 signaling,mitochondrial respiration and Na+/K+-ATPase activity on the uptake,mitochondria-targeting and-activating properties of F-Hst1.We performed a si RNA knockdown(KD)to assess the effect of Sigma-2 receptor(S2R)/Transmembrane Protein 97(TMEM97)—a recently identified target protein of Hst1.We also adopted live cell imaging to monitor the whole intracellular trafficking process of F-Hst1.Our results showed that the inhibition of cellular respiration hindered the internalization of F-Hst1.The inhibitors of GPCR,ERK1/2,phagocytosis,and clathrin-mediated endocytosis(CME)as well as siRNA KD of S2R/TMEM97 significantly reduced the uptake,which was accompanied by the nullification of the promoting effect of F-Hst1 on cell metabolic activity.Only the inhibitor of CME and KD of S2R/TMEM97 significantly compromised the mitochondria-targeting of Hst1.We further showed the intracellular trafficking and targeting process of F-Hst1,in which early endosome plays an important role.Overall,phagocytosis,CME,GPCR,ERK signaling,and S2R/TMEM97 are involved in the internalization of Hst1,while only CME and S2R/TMEM97 are critical for its subcellular targeting.The inhibition of either internalization or mitochondria-targeting of Hst1 could significantly compromise its mitochondria-activating property.
文摘Background: The use of social media platforms for health and nutrition information has become popular among college students. Although social media made information readily accessible in different formats, nutritional misinformation promoted by influencers and non-experts caused negative impact on diet behavior and perception of body image. Previous research indicated that extensive use of social media was positively linked to disordered eating behaviors. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram that allow users to follow celebrities intensified exposure to influencers’ messages and images and resulted in negative moods and body dissatisfaction. Objective: This paper aims to explore the impact of social media on college students’ dietary behaviors and body image. Participants: 18 undergraduate students from a public university in the Southern United States were recruited through a mass email. Methods: A cross-sectional qualitative study of three focus groups was conducted. The focus groups were based on guiding open-ended questions. Atlas.ti was used to code and analyze the data using inductive and deductive codes. Results: Three main themes were identified. The conditions theme included elements that explain why and how social media influences the participants’ actions. The actions theme included eating behavior, physical activity, and dietary supplement intake. The consequences theme describes anticipated or actual outcomes of actions such as body image and ideal weight. Conclusions: Social media has had a negative influence on diet behaviors and a positive influence on physical activity. Evidence-based nutrition and weight management information is needed to thwart potential misinformation.
文摘Early onset of hypertension (HTN) raises the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death in the U.S. For university students who do not follow healthy diets or lifestyles, high blood pressure (BP) may be markedly prevalent. Researchers utilized a cross-sectional design to assess HTN prevalence and its risk factors among college students (N = 123). Self-administered surveys comprising four validated questionnaires: the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Rapid Eating Assessment for Participants-Shortened (REAPS), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Quality (DASH-Q), and the U.S. Adult Food Security Survey (FSS) were employed. Additionally, physical measurements were conducted, including height, weight, waist circumference (WC), and BP. Results indicated that 71.6% of students had elevated BP, with 24.4% classified as Stage 1 HTN and 23.6% as Stage 2 HTN. Notably, 60% of students reported low adherence to the DASH diet and a mean REAPS score of 26.3 out of 39. Students experiencing marginal food security had higher systolic blood pressure (SBP) 131.7 ± 16.8 mm Hg compared to those with high food security 123.03 ± 11.7 mm Hg (p = 0.028). Furthermore, REAPS scores showed a negative correlation with diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (β = −0.201, p = 0.03). Significant predictors for SBP included WC (β = 0.40, p β = −0.33, p β = 0.16, p = 0.046). The findings highlight the need for BP screenings and nutrition education programs to improve dietary habits among college students, which may help reduce HTN and its associated long-term risks for CVD.
基金funded by China Scholarship Council,Grant Number 201906840121department of rehabilitation medicine,University Medical Center Groningen,University of Groningen,grant number:O/085350.
文摘Musculoskeletal Symptoms(MSS)often arise from prolonged maintenance of bent postures in the neck and trunk during surgical procedures.To prevent MSS,a passive exoskeleton utilizing carbon fiber beams to offer support to the neck and trunk was proposed.The application of support force is intended to reduce muscle forces and joint compression forces.A nonlinear mathematical model for the neck and trunk support beam is presented to estimate the support force.A validation test is subsequently conducted to assess the accuracy of the mathematical model.Finally,a preliminary functional evaluation test is performed to evaluate movement capabilities and support provided by the exoskeleton.The mathematical model demonstrates an accuracy for beam support force within a range of 0.8–1.2 N Root Mean Square Error(RMSE).The exoskeleton was shown to allow sufficient Range of Motion(ROM)for neck and trunk during open surgery training.While the exoskeleton showed potential in reducing musculoskeletal load and task difficulty during simulated surgery tasks,the observed reduction in perceived task difficulty was deemed non-significant.This prompts the recommendation for further optimization in personalized adjustments of beams to facilitate improvements in task difficulty and enhance comfort.
基金funded by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Level(CAPES)scholarship
文摘Background: The activities carried out by soldiers in the army involve great physical demands and require intense trainings to perform combat-specific tasks. Musculoskeletal injury is a potential threat to the health and physical integrity of the soldier. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of lower limb musculoskeletal injuries among soldiers and to propose a training protocol to prevent the most frequent injuries.Methods: This observational(cross-sectional) study recruited a sample of 103 soldiers who required medical attention,from a total 202 new battalion soldiers. The medical records(paper and online) had a form of running text. All data collected were recorded by the registered physicians of the battalion medical post. The records were analyzed by the following variables: medical diagnosis, injury site, mechanism, type of treatment, time loss, existence of previous injury,and recurring injury.Results: A total of 112 musculoskeletal injuries were diagnosed in 71 soldiers, and other types of diseases/injuries were diagnosed in the other soldiers. Joint pain accounted for 55.4% of the diagnoses. The knee was the most affected site, while trauma and overload were the most common mechanisms of injury. Drug treatment was used most frequently, accounting for 58% of the cases. The majority of the sample obtained a temporary leave of absence for1 to 6 days or not at all. Previous injuries and recurrence were not presented as risk factors for injury. With the data received, a protocol for the prevention of injuries to the lower limbs was proposed.Conclusions: This study indicated that the most frequent site of injury is the knee, and joint pain is the most common diagnosis. These results may support the necessity to develop a neuromuscular training protocol to prevent lower limb injuries, which we suggest to be applied in future studies.
基金Supported by National Science and Technology Major New Drugs Project of China,No.2012ZX09103201-012
文摘AIM To investigate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of Cortex Dictamni aqueous extract(CDAE) in carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)-induced liver damage in rats.METHODS The in vitro antioxidant effect of CDAE was investigated using α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS), β-carotene bleaching, reducing power, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance assays. A linoleic acid system, including ferric thiocyanate(FTC) and thiobarbituric acid(TBA) assays, was used to evaluate the inhibition of lipid peroxidation. The in vivo hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of CDAEagainst CCl4-induced liver damage were evaluated in Sprague-Dawley rats. Silymarin was used as a positive control. Liver damage was assessed by determining hepatic histopathology and liver marker enzymes in serum. Enzyme and non-enzyme antioxidant levels and lipid peroxide content were measured in the liver. Cytochrome P450 2E1(CYP2E1) protein expression was measured via immunohistochemical staining. Nuclear factor E2-related factor(Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1(HO-1), NAD(P)H quinine oxidoreductase 1(NQO1), and γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase catalytic subunit(γ-GCSc) protein expression was measured by Western blot.RESULTS Our results showed that CDAE exhibited a strong antioxidant activity in vitro. CDAE scavenged DPPH and ABTS radicals in a dose-dependent manner. CDAE inhibited lipid peroxidation with a lipid peroxide inhibition rate of 40.6% ± 5.2%. In the FTC and TBA assays, CDAE significantly inhibited lipid peroxidation(P < 0.01). In vivo histopathological studies indicated that CCl4-induced liver injury was alleviated following CDAE treatment in rats of both sexes. CDAE(160 and 320 mg/kg) significantly prevented CCl4-induced elevations of alkaline phosphatase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin levels in rats of both sexes(P < 0.05, 0.01, or 0.001). Moreover, CDAE restored the decreased activities of hepatic antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, as well as non-enzyme antioxidant glutathione, which were induced by CCl4 treatment. CDAE significantly suppressed the up-regulation of CYP2E1 and promoted Nrf2, HO-1, NQO1, and γ-GCSc protein expression.CONCLUSION CDAE exhibits good antioxidant performance in vitro, with marked radical-scavenging and anti-lipid peroxidation activities. CDAE is effective in preventing CCl4-induced hepatic damage in rats of both sexes. The hepatoprotective activity of CDAE may be attributable to its antioxidant activity, which may involve Keap1-Nrf2-mediated antioxidant regulation.
基金Supported by Research Scholarshipof the Educational Department ofLiaoning Province, No.LJC2019ST04.
文摘BACKGROUND Stroke refers to a group of cerebrovascular diseases associated with organic braininjury. It is characterized by the sudden and rapid onset of focal or diffusedysfunction. In recent years, in addition to routine treatment, Chinese medicineacupuncture has been administered to patients with hemiplegia, and it can beconsidered a new treatment for rehabilitation.AIM To investigate the effects of eye acupuncture needle retention and bodyacupuncture combined with routine rehabilitation on gait performance andplantar pressure in patients recovering from stroke.METHODS Thirty-two stroke patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly dividedinto an experimental group and a control group, with 16 patients in each group.Both groups underwent routine rehabilitation. The experimental group wastreated by eye acupuncture needle retention, and the control group was treated bybody acupuncture. Before and after 4 wk of treatment, both groups underwentkinematic and plantar pressure synchronous tests to assess gait performance.RESULTS The step length, gait speed, step frequency, joint angles of the lower limbs, andground reaction force impulse in the anterior region of the affected foot in bothgroups significantly increased from before to after treatment (P < 0.05);the center of mass displacement, peak pressure values, and impulse in the anterior region ofthe healthy foot and posterior regions of both the affected and healthy feetsignificantly decreased from before to after treatment (P < 0.05). The patients inthe experimental group showed greater improvement in the following parametersthan the control group: Step length, gait speed, step frequency, lower extremityjoint angles, center of gravity displacement, and peak pressure values andimpulse in the anterior and posterior regions of both the affected and healthy feet(P < 0.05).CONCLUSION Eye acupuncture needle retention and body acupuncture combined with routinerehabilitation can effectively improve the gait performance of patients recoveringfrom stroke. Between these two treatments, eye acupuncture needle retentioncombined with routine treatment is better than body acupuncture, and it can beconsidered a practical and effective clinical treatment.
基金provided by the Educational Bureau of Liaoning Province,No. 2009A671
文摘An experiment was carried out in the key laboratory for Technique Diagnosis and Function Assessment of Winter Sports of China to investigate the differences in gait characteristics between healthy children and children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy. With permission of their parents, 200 healthy children aged 3 to 6 years in the kindergarten of Northeastern University were enrolled in this experiment. Twenty children aged 3 to 6 years with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy from Shengjing Hospital, China were also enrolled in this experiment. Standard data were collected by simultaneously recording gait information from two digital cameras. DVracker was used to analyze the standard data. The children with hemiplegic cerebra palsy had a longer gait cycle, slower walking speed, and longer support phase than did the healthy children. The support phase was longer than the swing phase in the children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. There were significant differences in the angles of the hip, knee, and ankle joint between children with cerebral palsy and healthy children at the moment of touching the ground and buffering, and during pedal extension. Children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy had poor motor coordination during walking, which basically resulted in a short stride, high stride frequency to maintain speed, more obvious swing, and poor stability.
基金Supported by Swiss National Science Foundation Grants to Dr.Vuilleumier N No.310030_140736and to Dr.Montecucco F No.32003B_134963/1a grant from the Foundation"Gustave and Simone Prévot"to Dr.Montecucco F
文摘Immune-driven inflammation plays an important part inatherogenesis and is therefore believed to be key to thedevelopment of cardiovascular disease(CVD), whichis currently the leading cause of death in the Westernworld. By fulfilling some of the Koch postulates, athero-genesis has even been proposed to be considered as anautoimmune disease, raising the hope that CVD couldbe prevented by immunomodulation. Nevertheless,the role of the immune system and autoimmune reac-tions in atherosclerosis appear to be a double edged-sword, with both pro-atherogenic and anti-atherogenicattributes. Hence, if immunomodulation is to becomea therapeutic option for atherosclerosis and CVD, it willbe crucial to correctly identify patients who might ben-efit from targeted suppression of deleterious autoim-mune responses. This could be achieved, for example, by the detection of disease-associated autoantibodies. In this work, we will review the currently available clini-cal, in vitro, and animal studies dedicated to autoan-tibodies against apolipoprotein A-1(anti-apoA-1 IgG), the major proteic fraction of high density lipoprotein. Current clinical studies indicate that high levels of anti-apoA-1 IgG are associated with a worse cardiovascular prognosis. In addition, in vitro and animal studies indi-cate a pro-inflammatory and pro-atherogenic role, sup-porting the hypothesis that these autoantibodies may play a direct causal role in CVD, and furthermore that they could potentially represent a therapeutic target for CVD in the future.
基金supported by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
文摘In this mini-review several commonly used animal models of atherosclerosis have been discussed.Among them,emphasis has been made on mice,rabbits,pigs and non-human primates.Although these animal models have played a significant role in our understanding of induction of atherosclerotic lesions,we still lack a reliable animal model for regression of the disease.Researchers have reported several genetically modified and transgenic animal models that replicate human atherosclerosis,however each of current animal models have some limitations.Among these animal models,the apolipoprotein(apo) E-knockout(KO)mice have been used extensively because they develop spontaneous atherosclerosis.Furthermore,atherosclerotic lesions developed in this model depending on experimental design may resemble humans' stable and unstable atherosclerotic lesions.This mouse model of hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis has been also used to investigate the impact of oxidative stress and inflammation on atherogenesis.Low density lipoprotein(LDL)-r-KO mice are a model of human familial hypercholesterolemia.However,unlike apo E-KO mice,the LDL-r-KO mice do not develop spontaneous atherosclerosis.Both apo E-KO and LDL-r-KO mice have been employed to generate other relevant mouse models of cardiovascular disease through breeding strategies.In addition to mice,rabbits have been used extensively particularly to understand the mechanisms of cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis.The present review paper details the characteristics of animal models that are used in atherosclerosis research.
文摘Sustainable sanitation is an approach for more ecological and sustainable water resources management. In this paper, we proposed one of the new integrated waste treatment systems： an ＂sustainable sanitation system＂ that includes separation of the black water from water system by a non-flushing toilet （bio-toilet）, and a gray water treatment based on a biological and ecological concept. Sustainable sanitation system also converts the domestic waste to soil conditioners and fertilizers, for farmland use. As one of the case studies, Environmentally Symbiotic Housing in which people actually live using the bio-toilet for the black water treatment and the household wastewater treatment facility for the gray water was introduced. The availability of this system was investigated by analyzing the sawdust used in the bio-toilet and the quality of the effluent in the household wastewater treatment facility. As the result, the water content of the sawdust did not exceed 60% in any of the sampling points and the BOD and COD of the effluent of the household wastewater treatment facility were below 10 and 20 mg/L respectively, due to the low loading. Compared to the pollution load on the water environment created by the conventional system, it was found that the effluent of the house has a lower load than the tertiary treatment and the volume of the water consumption is 75% of the conventional system.
基金supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (S) project of JSPS (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science)
文摘A composting toilet using sawdust as a matrix has the potential to trap pathogens that might occasionally be contained in human feces. Therefore, care should be taken when handling the sawdust. It should also be noted that pathogenic viruses tend to have stronger tolerance than pathogenic bacteria. The fates of several species of coliphages, T4, λ, Qβ and MS2, in sawdust were investigated as a viral model. The fates of coliphages were significantly different among them, and they changed in response to temperature and the water content of the sawdust. As the results, T4 coliphage had the strongest tolerance and Qβ had the weakest one in sawdust. It was estimated the days required to decrease virus to a safe level based on a risk assessment. According to the rates of Qβ and T4, 15 days and 167 days were required respectively for a safe level of infection risk based on actually operated composting toilet condition. Thus, it was significantly different depending on the species and sawdust conditions.
文摘The concept of reserve appears in the neurological literature in the 1940s arising from the observation that there is no linear relationship between neurological damage and severity of the clinical symptoms.Basically,this concept sustains that the experiences pursued during life-span enrich the brain by making it more resilient to neuronal damage.However,in the last three decades the reserve concept has become very popular in the scientific field,mainly associated with the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the Alzheimer’s Disease(AD)(Serra et al.,2018;Stern et al.,2018).
文摘Nowadays, creativity is the main need for continuing the life in the various aspects of society, especially education. Parenting attitude of youth fostering as an important factor can be effect on creativity, because youth are dependent to parents and they are as power recourse for youth. Youth are in interaction with parents and parents can be ready appropriate filed in home and family to efflorescence their youth’s creativity. The present study undertakes to provide a descriptive and correlative analysis on the relationship between youth fostering and student creativity. Parenting attitudes (including domination, high dependency, and negligence) and creativity (including fluency, originality, flexibility and elaboration) are taken as independent and dependent variables, respectively. To test the hypotheses, information collected from three questionnaires was analyzed: 1) multiple choice paper and pencil test for measuring Torrance creativity (1973), 2) parent attitude survey (PAS) of Drews and Teahen (1957), and 3) evaluation of students’ creativity by masters. Statistical population of the study includes all students of Urmia Medical Sciences University (209 males and 218 females) and their parents. Data analysis was performed by SPSS software using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Results indicate no significant relationship between student creativity and parents attitude on youth fostering (r = 0.20) and parents put more emphasis on educational success than creativity. Also, female students had better performance than males in terms of creativity.
