Influence of Local Vibration Therapy on the Mental State, Neurological Function, and Quality of Life of Convalescing Patients With Spinal Cord Injury.

Context: The clinical postoperative recovery of patients with a spinal cord injury (SCI) is relatively long. Good self-efficacy can help patients actively cooperate with treatment and rehabilitation and improve their functional recovery and QoL. Local vibration stimulation has emerged as a potential nondrug therapy for SCI patients. However, the use of local vibration therapy for SCI patients is still rare, and its efficacy isn't clear yet. Objective: The study intended to analyze the combined effects of local vibration therapy and self-efficacy training on the psychological state and neurological function of SCI patients during rehabilitation as well as the therapy's correlation with quality of life (QoL). Design: The research team conducted a retrospective study. Setting: The study took place at Zhejiang Hospital in Hangzhou, China. Participants: Participants were 82 SCI patients who received surgery and postoperative interventions in the rehabilitation department at the hospital between March and September 2021 for surgery and postoperative intervention. Interventions: Based on the use of different interventions, the research team divided participants into two groups, with 41 participants in each group: (1) the local vibration group and (2) a control group. Patients in both groups received spinal cord reduction and internal fixation surgery and self-efficacy training after surgery. The local vibration group also received local vibration therapy. Outcome Measures: At baseline and postintervention, the research team measured: (1) neurological function, using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS); (2) daily living ability, using the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale; (3) psychological state, using the self-rating anxiety (SAS) and self-rating depression (SDS) scales; and (4) QoL, using the Generic Quality of Life Inventory-74 (GQOLI-74) questionnaire. The team used the Pearson correlation coefficient to analyze the relationship between patients' neurological function, psychological state, and QoL. Results: Between baseline and postintervention, the local vibration group's: (1) mean NIHSS score decreased significantly (P < .001), (2) mean ADL score increased significantly(P < .001), (3) mean SAS (P < .001) and SDS (P < .001) scores decreased significantly; and (4) mean total GQOLI-74 score (P < .001) and scores for the dimensions physical function (P < .001), social function (P < .001), psychological function (P < .001), and material function (P < .001) increased significantly. Between baseline and postintervention, the control group's: (1) mean NIHSS score decreased significantly (P < .001), (2) mean ADL score increased significantly (P < .001), (3) mean SAS (P < .001) and SDS (P < .001) scores decreased significantly; and (4) mean total GQOLI-74 score (P < .001) and scores for the dimensions physical function (P < .001), social function (P < .001), psychological function (P < .001), and material function (P < .001) increased significantly. Compared to the control group postintervention, the local vibration group's: (1) mean NIHSS score was significantly lower (P < .001), (2) mean ADL score was significantly higher (P < .001), (3) mean SAS (P < .001) and SDS scores (P < .001) were significantly lower, and (4) mean total GQOLI-74 score (P < .001) and scores for the dimensions physical function (P < .001), social function (P < .001), psychological function (P < .001), and material function (P < .001) were significantly higher. The Pearson correlation coefficient analysis showed that the NIHSS, SAS, and SDS scores were significantly negatively correlated with the GQOLI-74 score (all P < .05). Conclusion: Local vibration therapy combined with self-efficacy training positively influenced the rapid recovery of neurological function and daily-living ability postoperatively for SCI patients. It also effectively improved patients' psychological states and overall QoL. These findings suggest the potential for further clinical use. Additionally, the close relationship between neurological function, psychological state, and QoL underscores the importance of incorporating interventions that target these areas in clinical nursing management for SCI patients.

An Integrated Extraction-Purification Process for Raspberry Leaf Polyphenols and Their In Vitro Activities.

To improve the utilization value of raspberry leaves, the extraction and purification conditions of phenolic compounds from raspberry leaves were optimized, and the contents of phenolic compounds and the biological activities of extracts were studied. After steam explosion pretreatment at 115 °C for 15 min, raspberry leaf extract with a total phenolic content (TPC) of 136.30~140.51 mg GAE/g was obtained via homogenization and ultrasound-assisted extraction. In addition, the adsorption relationship between raspberry leaf polyphenols and middle polar XDA-6 macroporous resin was best described by the Langmuir model, and tended to be monolayer adsorption. Its adsorption kinetics best resembled the pseudo second-order kinetic model, and it was speculated that this was influenced by multiple factors. According to the optimal integrated extraction-purification process, the TPC of the extracts increased to 738.98 mg GAE/g after one application of purification and 905.27 mg GAE/g after two applications of purification. Moreover, the latter case showed the highest antioxidant activity and α-glucosidase inhibition activity, and the content of the most typical compound, quercetin-3-glucuronide, reached 199.69 mg/g. SE has a double-edged effect, and is more conducive to the release of active substances as a pre-treatment method. This study provides a theoretical basis for the efficient use of raspberry leaves, further improving their medicinal and economic value.

Auditory acuity and musical ability in young adults with high schizotypal traits.

BACKGROUND: Despite auditory cognition dysfunction being consistently found in people with schizophrenia, the evidence from non-clinical individuals with schizotypy is rare and inconsistent. No studies thus far have comprehensively assessed the association among auditory perception, musical cognition, and schizotypy in non-clinical samples. AIM: We aimed to explore abnormalities in auditory skills, from basic perception to musical ability, among individuals with schizotypal traits. METHOD: An extreme-group design was adopted. Sixty-six participants from the schizotypy and control groups were screened from 1093 young adults using the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ). Auditory acuity was assessed using four auditory discrimination threshold tests, and musical ability was evaluated through the Montreal Battery of Evaluation of Amusia (MBEA). Basic demographic information and musical backgrounds were assessed and matched, and depression, anxiety, and digit-span index were evaluated and controlled. RESULTS: Elevated sensitivity in auditory perception and improved musical talent were found in young adults with high schizotypal traits. Auditory acuity and musical ability were positively correlated with schizotypy and its factors among participants across groups. A regression analysis in the control group showed that cognitive perceptual scores of SPQ positively predicted auditory temporal sensitivity. The mediation analysis revealed an indirect effect of pure tone duration discrimination between musical rhythmic ability and positive factor of schizotypy. DISCUSSION: Elevated sensitivity in auditory temporal perception and improved musical talent in young adults with high schizotypy may contribute to explaining the variation of auditory process in the development of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. It can also help elucidate the association between psychopathology and creativity in auditory modality.

Enhanced removal of ibuprofen by heterogeneous photo-Fenton-like process over sludge-based Fe3O4-MnO2 catalysts.

Heterogeneous photo-Fenton-like catalysts with low cost, little hazard, high effectiveness and facile separation from aqueous solution were highly desirable. In this study, sludge-based catalysts combining nano Fe3O4-MnO2 and sludge activated carbon were successfully synthesized by high-temperature calcination method and then characterized. These synthetic materials were applied to remove ibuprofen in the heterogeneous photo-Fenton process. The preparation conditions of sludge-based catalysts optimized by orthogonal experiments were 2.0 M of ZnCl2, a temperature of 500 °C, a pyrolysis time of 60 min, and a sludge ratio: Fe3O4-MnO2 of 25:2. In batch experiments, the optimal experimental conditions were determined as catalyst dosage of 0.4 g·L-1, hydrogen peroxide concentration of 3.0 mL·L-1, pH value of 3.3, and contact time of 2.5 h. The degradation rate sludge/Fe3O4-MnO2 catalyst to ibuprofen is up to 95%. The removal process of ibuprofen fitted the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and the photocatalytic degradation process was the main factor controlling the reaction rate. The catalytic mechanism was proposed according to the Fourier transform infrared analysis and mass spectrometry product analysis; it was mainly attributed to the interaction between hydroxyl groups and benzene rings.

Overlap Spectrum Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor Based on Light Power Demodulation.

Demodulation is a bottleneck for applications involving fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs). An overlap spectrum FBG sensor based on a light power demodulation method is presented in this paper. The demodulation method uses two chirp FBGs (cFBGs) of which the reflection spectra partially overlap each other. The light power variation of the overlap spectrum can be linked to changes in the measurand, and the sensor function can be realized via this relationship. A temperature experiment showed that the relationship between the overlap power spectrum of the FBG sensor and temperature had good linearity and agreed with the theoretical analysis.

Perceptual contrast reduces the judgments of learning of small-font words and increases the judgments of learning of large-font words compared with the no-contrast conditions.

The font-size effect on judgments of learning (JOLs) refers to large-font words being rated as more memorable than small ones when required to predict memory performance during the study phase. This study examines perceptual contrast as the prerequisite for this font-size effect on JOLs and explores how perceptual contrast leads to this effect. In Experiment 1, perceptual contrast was achieved by inserting words with one font (e.g., 18 pt) into a series of words with another font (e.g., 70 pt) at a particular proportion (1:4). In Experiment 2, perceptual contrast was manipulated by presenting two different font words up and down in a pair. The results of both experiments showed that: (1) participants rated higher JOLs for large than small fonts under the contrast conditions, but the JOL difference between the two fonts was not significant under the no-contrast conditions; (2) the JOLs of small-font words under the contrast conditions was reduced compared with the no-contrast conditions, but the JOLs of large-font words under the contrast conditions was increased compared with the no-contrast conditions. These results indicated that perceptual contrast was the prerequisite for the font-size effect on JOLs. The reason for this effect is that, compared to no-contrast conditions, perceptual contrast reduces the JOLs of small-font words while increasing the JOLs of large-font words. This study may deepen researchers' understanding of the mechanism of the font-size effect on JOLs and help educators effectively guide students to learn.

How Chinese children's filial piety beliefs affect their parents' life satisfaction and loneliness.

Filial piety (or xiao) is a unique Chinese culture that affects older adults' life satisfaction and loneliness. Guided by the dual filial piety model and socioemotional selectivity theory, this study explores how adult children's filial piety beliefs affect their parent's life satisfaction and loneliness. A total of 350 pairs of parent-child data were collected through a parent-child pair design. Results show that emotional support provided by adult children and emotional support perceived by parents (i.e., the transmission of emotional support) fully mediated the relationship between children's reciprocal filial piety belief and parents' life satisfaction and loneliness, and partially mediated the relationship between children's authoritarian filial piety belief and parents' life satisfaction and loneliness. However, instrumental support provided by adult children and instrumental support perceived by parents (i.e., the transmission of instrumental support) had no such mediating roles in the relationship between adult children's filial piety beliefs and parents' life satisfaction and loneliness. This finding suggests that to improve parental well-being, adult Chinese children should cultivate their filial piety and pay close attention to their parents' emotional needs.

Disparity of Gut Microbiota Composition Among Elite Athletes and Young Adults With Different Physical Activity Independent of Dietary Status: A Matching Study.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the disparity of gut microbiota among elite athletes and young adults with different physical activity independent of dietary status. Methods: In Hangzhou, China, an age and sex matching study was conducted between April and May 2021. A total of 66 Chinese young adults were recruited in this study and divided into an elite athlete group, physically active group, and physically inactive group. Fecal samples were collected to assess gut microbiota composition. Dietary status was measured using a food-frequency questionnaire. Comparisons in gut microbiota and blood biomarkers among three groups were analyzed by using the analysis of covariance. Results: The findings depicted a tendency to form clusters for beta diversity among three groups, while no significant difference was observed in both alpha and beta diversity. In the multiple analysis model, by adjusting dietary status, a significantly higher abundance of Clostridiaceae (p = 0.029) and Megamonas_rupellensis (p = 0.087) was observed in elite athletes compared to that in general young adults. Furthermore, inflammation-related bacteria such as Bilophila (p = 0.011) and Faecalicoccus (p = 0.050) were enriched in physically inactive young adults compared to two other groups. Pearson's correlation analysis showed a positive association between Bilophila and circulating white body cell count (r = 0.332, p = 0.006) and its subtypes including neutrophils (r = 0.273, p = 0.027), and lymphocytes (r = 0.327, p = 0.007). Megamonas_rupellensis has been shown associated positively with serum lymphocytes levels (r = 0.268, p = 0.03). Although no significant differences were observed, the elite athletes tended to have lower levels of blood biomarkers of immunity within a normal range, which may reflect a better immune function. Conclusion: This matching study indicated that physically inactive young adults are more likely to have a lower immune function and a higher abundance of pro-inflammatory gut bacteria than elite athletes and physically active young adults. Dietary status should be considered as an important factor that may affect the association of physical activity with immune function and gut microbiota.

Gut Microbiota-Dependent Metabolite Trimethylamine N-Oxide Contributes to Cardiac Dysfunction in Western Diet-Induced Obese Mice.

Excessive consumption of diets high in sugars and saturated fat, frequently known as western diet (WD), may lead to obesity and metabolic syndrome. Recent evidence shows that WD-induced obesity impairs cardiac function, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a gut microbiota-dependent metabolite of specific dietary nutrients, has emerged as a key contributor to cardiovascular disease pathogenesis. We tested the hypothesis that elevated circulating TMAO levels contribute to cardiac dysfunction in WD-induced obesity. CD1 mice were fed a normal diet (ND) or a WD, without or with 1.0% 3,3-Dimethyl-1-butanol (DMB, an inhibitor of trimethylamine formation) in drinking water for 8 weeks. Compared with mice fed a ND, mice fed a WD showed a significant increase in body weight and dyslipidemia, and had markedly higher plasma TMAO levels at the end of the feeding protocol. Echocardiography revealed that cardiac systolic and diastolic function was impaired in mice fed a WD. DMB treatment had no effects on body weight and dyslipidemia, but significantly reduced plasma TMAO levels and prevented cardiac dysfunction in mice fed a WD. In addition, mice fed a WD had elevated expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin IL-1ß, decreased expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, and increased interstitial fibrosis in the hearts, all of which were prevented by DMB treatment. Notably, DMB treatment also reduced plasma TMAO levels in mice fed a ND but did not alter other parameters. These results suggest that consumption of a WD increases circulating TMAO levels, which lead to cardiac inflammation and fibrosis, contributing to cardiac dysfunction. Interventions that reduce circulating TMAO levels may be a novel therapeutic strategy for prevention and treatment of WD-induced cardiac dysfunction.

Effect of tetracycline on the growth and nutrient removal capacity of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in simulated effluent from wastewater treatment plants.

The aim of this work was to study the effect of tetracycline, which is on the growth, physiological characteristics, and contaminants removal by Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The results showed that the biomass and photosynthetic pigment concentration of C. reinhardtii exposed to tetracycline were lower than those of the control, while the superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) activities, and the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, were higher than those of the control. Additionally, when the tetracycline concentration reached 0.25mg/L, the removal of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) decreased from 80.8 to 55.0%, 100 to 92.5%, and 36.5 to 11.5%, respectively. Thus, tetracycline concentrations of 0-0.25mg/L are expected to have a significant effect on the growth and nutrient removal of C. reinhardtii in recycled water from wastewater treatment plants.

"I just couldn't step out of the circle. I was trapped": Patterns of endurance and distress in Chinese-Canadian women with a history of suicidal behaviour.

RATIONALE: Recent studies have highlighted higher rates of suicidal ideation and behaviour and associated themes of gender role stress in Chinese women residing in North America. However, qualitative studies, which privilege their voices in the discourse of suicide prevention and provide insight into their experiences, are lacking. OBJECTIVE: To gain an understanding of the life histories, patterns of distress and constructions of suicide of Chinese-Canadian women with a history of suicidal behaviour. METHODS: Ten women were recruited from four mental health programs in Toronto, Canada and participated in qualitative interviewing and analysis informed by constructivist grounded theory. RESULTS: Chinese-Canadian women describe experiencing "stress" or "pressure" leading to the exacerbation of depressive symptoms. Stress and pressure are managed through a coping strategy of endurance, informed by the cultural conception of "ren". Cultural influences contribute to the manifestation of stress and pressure as somatic symptoms and sleeplessness. Finally, the women describe feeling unable to endure through worsening distress, reaching a "breaking point"; suicidal behaviour is constructed as a strategy to disrupt this cycle. CONCLUSION: This study challenges the binary notion that suicidal behaviour is either a consequence of mental illness or a reaction to interpersonal stress. Rather, the women describe an ingrained pattern of enduring through psychosocial problems without acknowledging worsening anxiety, depressive and physical symptoms. The pattern of endurance also prevents early treatment of these difficulties, resulting in the intensification of symptoms until a breaking point is reached. Knowledge of these patterns and coping strategies can allow for earlier identification and intervention for women at risk to prevent the worsening of distress leading to suicidal thoughts and behaviour.