Effectiveness of acupoint stimulation combined with neurogenic bowel training on constipation in stroke patients: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effectiveness of acupoint stimulation combined with neurogenic bowel training on constipation in stroke patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 89 stroke patients with constipation admitted to our hospital from July 2022 to January 2024. All patients met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The control group (n = 42) received neurogenic bowel training intervention, while the experimental group (n = 47) received finger acupoint stimulation combined with neurogenic bowel training intervention. Four outcome measures including intervention effects, bowel movements, Constipation Scoring System (CSS), and Scores on the Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL) were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The total intervention effective rate in the experimental group (91.49%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (73.81%) (p < 0.05). Two weeks after intervention, the experimental group had significantly better first bowel movement time, average bowel movement time, and bowel movement interval time compared to the control group (p < 0.05). One and 2 weeks after intervention, the CSS and PAC-QOL scores in the experimental group were significantly better than those in the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupoint stimulation combined with neurogenic bowel training significantly improves constipation in stroke patients. Compared to neurogenic bowel training alone, the combined application of acupoint stimulation further improves bowel movements, reduces constipation severity, and enhances the quality of life in patients. Therefore, it is worthy of clinical promotion.

Preparation and pH Detection Performance of Rosin-Based Fluorescent Polyurethane Microspheres.

Rosin-based fluorescent polyurethane emulsion (FPU) was prepared using isophorone diisocyanate, ester of acrylic rosin and glycidyl methacrylate, 1,5-dihydroxy naphthalene (1,5-DN), and 1,4-butanediol as the raw materials. Then, rosin-based fluorescent polyurethane microspheres (FPUMs) were successfully prepared by suspension polymerization method using FPU as the main material, azodiisobutyronitrile as the initiator, and gelatin as the dispersant. FPUMs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra, thermogravimetric analysis, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence spectra, and the response performance of FPUMs to pH was studied. The results showed that FPUMs were successfully prepared. With the increase of the level of 1,5-DN, the particle size of FPUMs increased gradually, and the fluorescence intensity increased first and then decreased. When the level of 1,5-DN was 3 wt.%, the average particle size was 49.3 µm, the particle distribution index (PDI) was 1.05, and the fluorescence intensity was the largest (3662 a.u.). The fluorescence intensity of FPUMs increased linearly with the decrease of pH, which can be used for pH detection in solution. Furthermore, the FPUMs exhibited good thermal stability, anti-interference and recoverability.

A neoteric dual-channel spectral sensor for wide-range pH detection based on variables in UV-vis peak and intensity.

A water-soluble 2',4',6'-trihydroxy phenylazo luminol dye (THPL) with a D-π-A conjugated structure was developed for the first time for the dual-channel spectral sensing of a wide-range of pH values in aqueous solutions, using phloroglucinol as the electron-donating group, heterocycle amide luminol as the electron-accepting one and -NN- as the π-conjugated bridge. Its UV-vis absorption spectrum, especially its spectral response to pH, was investigated in detail. The results confirmed that the proposed THPL exhibited superior UV-vis spectral properties, a strong molar absorption coefficient (εmax = 3.35 × 104 L mol-1 cm-1) and a small half-band width of ca. 126 nm. In particular, either the absorption intensity (Abs) or peak (λmax) changed linearly with pH values from 3.0 to 10.0 under the optimized conditions. Notably, THPL expressed an exclusive dual-channel spectral response to pH, i.e., Abs (a.u.) = 0.1316 + 0.0278 pH (R2 = 0.9921), λmax = 441.5 - 6.64 pH (R2 = 0.9968, pH = 3.0-6.0) and λmax = 359.6 + 7.38 pH (R2 = 0.9879, pH = 6.0-10.0). Under the optimized conditions, THPL was applied to detect pH values in some aqueous and fruit juice samples with satisfactory results. The reversible recognition mechanism was deduced by UV-vis titration, 1H NMR titration and theoretical calculation.

Preparation and Properties of Hydrophilic Rosin-Based Aromatic Polyurethane Microspheres.

Hydrophilic aromatic polyurethane (HAPU) microspheres were prepared through dispersion polymerization of a rosin-based polyurethane dispersion with C=C and styrene (St). The effects of the monomer ratio (i.e., waterborne rosin-based aromatic polyurethane (WRPU) to St), dispersant level, and reaction temperature on the properties of the microspheres were investigated; the effects of pH and adsorption temperature on the adsorption capacity of Orange II were also studied. The microspheres were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive spectrometry, thermogravimetric analysis, laser particle size analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that HAPU microspheres have been successfully synthesized and the produced microspheres exhibited good thermal stability and monodispersion. The optimum reaction conditions for the preparation of the microspheres were determined as a monomer ratio (m WRPU/m St) of 6:4 with 8 wt % poly(vinyl pyrrolidine) (on the basis of the mixed monomer) at 80 °C for 8 h. Under these conditions, the average particle size of the synthetic microspheres was 120 nm and the particle size distribution index was 0.442. The microspheres' adsorption capacity for Orange II reached 17.53 mg·g-1 when the solid-liquid ratio was 1 g·L-1, with an initial concentration of 100 mg·L-1 at pH 5, and the adsorption was conducted at 313 K for 3 h.

Enhanced mechanical, thermal, and UV-shielding properties of poly(vinyl alcohol)/metal-organic framework nanocomposites.

Metal-organic framework (HKUST-1) nanoparticles were successfully synthesized, and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/HKUST-1 nanocomposite films were fabricated by a simple solution casting method. Our results showed that the addition of HKUST-1 caused a remarkable enhancement in both thermal stability and mechanical properties of the PVA nanocomposites, due to the homogeneous distribution of HKUST-1 and the strong interfacial interactions between PVA and HKUST-1. With incorporation of 2 wt% HKUST-1, the degradation temperature of the nanocomposites was about 33 °C higher than that of pure PVA. At the same time, the Young's modulus and tensile strength of the nanocomposites was approximately 137% and 32% higher than those of pure PVA, respectively. Moreover, the PVA/HKUST-1 nanocomposites also showed strikingly enhanced UV-shielding ability as well as satisfactory visible light transmittance, which revealed that HKUST-1 nanoparticles could act as a good UV absorber in nanocomposites. This work provides a novel and simple method for producing UV-shielding materials with simultaneously enhanced thermal and mechanical properties, which have potential applications in UV protection areas.

[Relationship between the chronic periodontitis and the depression anxiety psychological factor].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between the chronic periodontitis (CP) and the depression-anxiety psychological factors. METHODS: Thirty-one patients and 29 age, gender-matched volunteers were enrolled for this study. In order to assess the depression-anxiety psychological index, the subjects filled the questionnaire regarding the demographic and socioeconomic information, the oral hygiene habit, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Self Rating Anxiety Scale(ASA). Calculus index (CI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), furcation involvement (FI) and tooth mobility were assessed at 6 sites per tooth of all erupted teeth by a manual periodontal probe. The data were analyzed by the analysis of variance, χ(2) test, and multivariable logistic step wise analysis via the software of SPSS 15.0. RESULTS: The mean CAL of the control group was 0.46 ± 0.16,the mean CAL of the moderate, high, and severe CP group was 2.84 ± 0.12, 3.51 ± 0.34, and 4.71 ± 0.51, respectively, which is significant difference between each other (P<0.01). The depression index of the volunteers, the moderate CP, the high CP, and the severe CP was 30.52 ± 3.73, 35.83 ± 7.76, 37.25 ± 6.16, 37.82 ± 5.94, respectively. The anxiety index among the 4 groups was 26.69 ± 3.55, 37.67 ± 6.31, 32.87 ± 5.54, and 35.94 ± 6.30, respectively. The depression and anxiety indexes of the periodontitis groups were higher than those of the control (P<0.01) while there was no significant difference among the 3 CP groups (P>0.05). The multivariate logistic analysis of the relationship between CP and the depression-anxiety psychological factors showed that the depression psychological factor was B=2.301,OR=9.988 while the optimistic coping style was B=-5.174,OR=0.006 in the equation of the regression. CONCLUSION: The depression psychological factor was related to the progression of CP. In addition, the optimistic coping style could prevent the progression of the CP.