Effects of Suspended Moxibustion on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness: A Randomized Controlled Double-Blind Pilot Study.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of suspended moxibustion upon tender point on delayed onset muscle soreness. The study was a randomized double-blind controlled trial with 50 subjects in each group. Subjects in moxibustion group received suspended moxibustion upon tender point (by palpation) twice. The controls received no treatment. Each subject received treatments twice, 24 hr and 48 hr after the delayed onset muscle soreness induction. The measurements of Pain Visual Analog Scale, maximum isometric muscle strength and circumference were made immediately after delayed onset muscle soreness induction, before and after every treatment session and 72 hr after delayed onset muscle soreness induction. There were no significantly statistical differences between two groups at all measurement time points on maximum isometric muscle strength and circumference. However, the Pain Visual Analog Scale scores after first treatment session and 72 hr after delayed onset muscle soreness induction in moxibustion group was less than the control group, with significant difference (p < 0.05). The suspended moxibustion failed to show the effect on delayed onset muscle soreness. However, results need to be cautiously interpreted because of the pilot character of this study. The suspended moxibustion has a potential effect of pain relief on DOMS from the analysis of the data of this study. A large sample size trial is needed to confirm the effect of the suspended moxibustion on DOMS in the future.

Changing trends in gastric and colorectal cancer among surgical patients over 85 years old: A multicenter retrospective study, 2001-2021.

BACKGROUND: Whether patients over 85 years old with gastrointestinal cancer should undergo surgery remains controversial. We aimed to describe the changing trends of characteristics to provide more information to decision makers, and strive to find appropriate surgical plan. AIM: To describe the changing trends of characteristics to provide more information to decision makers, and strive to find appropriate surgical plan. METHODS: A total of 218 gastric cancer (GC) patients and 563 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients who underwent surgery between 2001 and 2021 were enrolled in this retrospective analysis. Changes in clinicopathological features, surgical treatments, and survival status were analyzed longitudinally at 5-year intervals. RESULTS: Only 14 GC patients underwent laparoscopic surgery where 219 CRC patients had this procedure. Cardia and esophagogastric junction cancer increased in GC patients, and the proportion of sigmoid colon cancer decreased in CRC patients. Pulmonary infection gradually became the most common postoperative complication, its incidence in period 4 reached 48.79%. However, the incidence of anastomotic leakage decreased from 26.79% to 9.38% (P < 0.01). Additionally, 30-d mortality significantly decreased from 32.14% to 9.01%. Increases were observed in 5-year overall survival (OS) in GC patients from period 1 to period 4 (18.18% vs 33.32%, respectively) and CRC patients (0 vs 36.32%, respectively). Disease-free survival (DFS) also increased in GC and CRC patients (7.14% vs 27.74% and 0 to 36.03%, respectively). The average survival time of GC patients following radial lymphadenectomy was higher than in patients that underwent limited lymphadenectomy (26 vs 22 mo, respectively), the same was seen in CRC patients (44 vs 33 mo, respectively). This advantage was particularly evident in patients with TNM I, but not in patients with TNM II/III period cancer. CONCLUSION: The safety as well as effectiveness of surgery in ultra-elderly patients is increasing. Radical lymphadenectomy has advantages in patients with TNM I gastrointestinal cancer, but not TNM II/III.

Corrigendum: Exercise and/or Cold Exposure Alters the Gene Expression Profile in the Fat Body and Changes the Heart Function in Drosophila.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.790414.].

Exercise and/or Cold Exposure Alters the Gene Expression Profile in the Fat Body and Changes the Heart Function in Drosophila.

The major reason of human morbidity and mortality is obesity and related diseases. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is associated with low total adipose tissue content and a lower risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Studies have shown that exercise and cold expose may induce browning. In this study, we verified (1) whether exercise and/or cold exposure can improve the expression level of ucp4c, serca, ampkα, camkII, sirt1, octß3r, and hamlet; (2) if these interventions can save cardiac dysfunction induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) in Drosophila. w1118 (wild-type) virgin female flies collected within 8 h after eclosion were divided into eight groups: the normal feed control group (NFD-C), the normal feed exercise group (NFD-E), the normal feed cold exposure group (NFD-CA), the normal feed exercise/cold exposure group (NFD-EC), the HFD control group (HFD-C), the HFD exercise group (HFD-E), the HFD cold exposure group (HFD-CA), and the HFD exercise/cold exposure group (HFD-EC). After exercise and/or cold exposure for 7 days, the mRNA expression levels of ucp4c, serca, ampkα, camk II, sirt1, octß3r, and hamlet were tested by qRT-PCR, and m-mode was used to assess cardiac function. In addition, we assessed the triacylglycerol (TAG) levels, motor ability, fat mass (by Oil Red O [ORO] staining), and morphological features. The results of TAG, ORO staining, and morphological features all indicate that after interventions, body size of Drosophila was smaller compared with the control group, irrespective of the feeding patterns. The mRNA expression levels of ucp4c, serca, octß3r, hamlet, ampkα, camkII, and sirt1 were changed to varying degrees under different intervention states (exercise and/or cold exposure). Cold exposure and exercise/cold exposure partly improved cardiac function and the normal fruit flies' cardiac function and exercise ability. However, after exercise intervention, exercise ability and heart function were improved in both HFD and normal-fat diet (NFD) fruit flies. In conclusion, different intervention states (exercise and/or cold exposure) can change the mRNA expression levels of ucp4c, serca, octß3r, hamlet, ampkα, camkII, and sirt1. Exercise is the most effective way to restore HFD-induced cardiac dysfunction.

The Effects of Qigong on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Qigong on type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) using the systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: All prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trials published in English or Chinese and involving the use of Qigong by patients with DM were searched in 7 electronic databases from their respective inception to June 2016. The meta-analysis was conducted using the Revman 5.2. The quality of the included trials was assessed using the Jadad rating scale. Two researchers independently completed the inclusion, data extraction, and quality assessment. RESULTS: Twenty-one trials with 1326 patients met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. The meta-analysis demonstrated that, compared with no exercise, the Qigong had significant effects on fasting blood glucose (MD = -0.99, 95% CI (-1.23, 0.75), P < 0.0001), HbA1c (MD = -0.84, 95% CI (-1.02, -0.65), P < 0.0001), and postprandial blood glucose (MD = -1.55, 95% CI (-2.19, -0.91), P < 0.00001). CONCLUSION: The Qigong training can improve the blood glucose status of the type 2 DM patients and has positive effects on the management of type 2 DM. However, future research with better quality still needs to be conducted to address the effects of Qigong on type 2 DM.

The effects of combined exercise intervention based on Internet and social media software for postoperative patients with breast cancer: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Many randomized controlled trials have investigated the effects of exercise on the rehabilitation of patients with breast cancer. However, the exercise forms used in most previous studies were monotonous. Therefore, we designed a protocol to estimate the effects of combined exercise intervention using Internet and social media software on the rehabilitation of postoperative patients with BC. METHODS/DESIGN: This study protocol is a randomized control trial with an intervention time of 12 weeks. After completing baseline questionnaire and physical fitness tests, the participants are randomized to the study group or the control group. Procedure contents of exercise intervention in the study group include: via phone step-recording app, ask the individuals to complete the target number of steps within a specified period of exercise, four times per week; face-to-face remote video guidance of individuals on muscle training, three times per week; common knowledge of physical exercise BC rehabilitation will be pushed regularly by social media apps every day. The control group will receive normal treatment and rehabilitation according to daily specifications of the hospital. The primary outcome will be the quality of life. The secondary outcomes are physical fitness and social cognitive indicators. DISCUSSION: This study is a clinical trial to estimate the effects of combined exercise intervention based on the Internet and social media software for postoperative patients with breast cancer (BC). If expected results are achieved in this study, measures and methods of BC rehabilitation will be enriched. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Register, ChiCTR-IPR-17012368 . Registered on 14 August 2017.

[An 18-year follow-up study on the risk factors of deaths regarding chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Xi'an, China].

OBJECTIVE: To examine risk factors of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) deaths in Chinese military elderly men. METHODS: A cohort analytic study was carried out in Xi'an, China. A total of 1268 retired military males aged 55 or older were examined in 1987 and followed for 18 years. Main outcome measures were all causes and COPD deaths. RESULTS: The total person-years of follow-up from 1987 until June 2005 was 18 766.28. The mean follow-up time was 14.35 years; A total of 491 had died, with 748 alive and 29 lost of follow-up. COPD was the second cause of death in all deaths (16.90%). Results Univariate analysis of Cox model showed that age, number of smoking cigarettes per day, duration of smoking, negative affairs and existing COPD were risk factors of COPD deaths and the relative risks [95% confidence intervals (CI)] were 1.13 (1.09-1.17), 1.04 (1.02-1.06), 1.03 (1.01-1.04), 1.81 (2.85-6.77) and 4.39 (2.85-6.77) respectively. Data from Multivariate analysis of Cox model showed that age, number of smoking cigarettes per day and existing COPD were risk factors of COPD death with relative risks [95% confidence intervals (CI)] as 1.10 (1.06-1.15), 1.03 (1.01-1.06) and 3.07 (1.90-4.98) respectively. The risks for deaths increased significantly with increasing amount and duration of smoking resulting from all causes and COPD. Compared with current smokers, former smokers had lower risks of total mortality(excess risk reduction of 66.67%). CONCLUSION: COPD was the second cause among all deaths in this cohort. Age, number of smoking cigarettes per day and existing COPD were the risk factors of COPD deaths which called for further survey to examine the relationship between quitting smoking and COPD deaths in this cohort.