Melatonin restores endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis to protect injured neurons in a rat model of chronic cervical cord compression.

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) refers to a chronic injury of the cervical cord caused by cervical intervertebral disc degeneration. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis is essential to counteract neuronal apoptosis. ER stress, an integral part of ER homeostasis, was observed in a rat model of chronic cervical cord compression in our previous study. However, the correlation between ER homeostasis and CSM remains unknown. The antioxidant melatonin is known to exert therapeutic effects in acute spinal cord injury, but the specific effects and their potential mechanisms in the pathological processes of CSM require further exploration. The present study hypothesized that ER homeostasis is essential for neuronal apoptosis in the CSM and that melatonin maintains this homeostasis. The results showed that ER stress led to neuronal apoptosis in rats with chronic cervical cord compression. Conversely, melatonin attenuates protein kinase R-like ER kinase-eukaryotic initiation factor 2α-C/EBP-homologous protein, inositol-requiring enzyme 1, and transcription factor 6 signaling pathways to release ER stress and prevents Bax translocation to the mitochondrion, thereby promoting motor recovery and protecting neurons in vivo. It also rescued primary rat cortical neurons from ER stress-induced glutamate toxicity in vitro. Moreover, melatonin remodels the ER morphology and restores homeostasis via ER-phagy in injured neurons. FAM134B, CCPG1, RTN3, and Sec. 62 are four known ER-phagy receptors. In this study, Sec. 62 was identified as a key melatonin factor in promoting ER-phagy and restoring ER homeostasis in damaged neurons in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, melatonin suppresses neuronal apoptosis by reducing ER stress and promoting ER-phagy to restore ER morphology and homeostasis. The current results suggested that melatonin is a promising treatment for CSM owing to its restorative effect on ER homeostasis; however, well-designed randomized controlled trials must be carried out to further investigate its clinical effects.

Shikonin inhibits neuronal apoptosis via regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress in the rat model of double-level chronic cervical cord compression.

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a clinically symptomatic entity arising from the spinal cord compression by degenerative diseases. Although endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been commonly observed in several neurodegenerative diseases, the relationship between ER stress and CSM remains unknown. Shikonin is known to protect PC12 by inhibiting apoptosis in vitro. This study hypothesised that ER stress was vital in neuronal apoptosis in CSM. Shikonin might inhibit such responses by regulating ER stress through the protein kinase-like ER kinase-eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 α-subunit-C/EBP homologous protein (PERK-eIF2α-CHOP) signalling pathway. Thus, the aim of this study was evaluating the neuroprotective effect of shikonin in rats with double-level chronic cervical cord compression, as well as primary rat cortical neurons with glutamate-induced neurotoxicity. The result showed that ER stress-related upregulation of PERK-eIF2α-CHOP resulted in rat neuronal apoptosis after chronic cervical cord compression; then, shikonin promoted motor recovery and inhibited neuronal apoptosis by attenuating PERK-eIF2α-CHOP and prevented Bax translocation from cytoplasm to mitochondrion induced by CHOP of neurons in rats with chronic compression. Also, it was found that shikonin could protect rat primary cortical neuron against glutamate toxicity by regulating ER stress through the PERK-eIF2α-CHOP pathway in vitro. In conclusion, shikonin might inhibit neuronal apoptosis by regulating ER stress through attenuating the activation of PERK-eIF2α-CHOP.

A comprehensive and systematic review of the potential neuroprotective effect of quercetin in rat models of spinal cord injury.

CONTEXT: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a potentially fatal neurological disease with severe complications and a high disability rate. An increasing number of animal experimental studies support the therapeutic effect of quercetin, which is a natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant bioflavonoid. OBJECTIVE: This paper reviewed the therapeutic effect of quercetin on a rat SCI model and summarized the relevant mechanistic research. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Science Direct, WanFang Data, SinoMed databases, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and the Vip Journal Integration Platform were searched from their inception to April 2023 for animal experiments applying quercetin to treat SCI. STUDY SELECTION: Based on the PICOS criteria, a total of 18 eligible studies were included, of which 14 were high quality. RESULTS: In this study, there was a gradual increase in effect based on the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) score after three days (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, gender differences also appeared in the efficacy of quercetin; males performed better than females (p = 0.008). Quercetin was also associated with improved inclined plane test score (p = 0.008). In terms of biochemical indicators, meta-analysis showed that MDA (p < 0.0001) and MPO (p = 0.0002) were significantly reduced after quercetin administration compared with the control group, and SOD levels were increased (p = 0.004). Mechanistically, quercetin facilitates the inhibition of oxidative stress, inflammation, autophagy and apoptosis that occur after SCI. CONCLUSIONS: Generally, this systematic review suggests that quercetin has a neuroprotective effect on SCI.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of chondroitinase ABC promotes functional recovery in rat models of spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND: To comprehensively assess the neurologic recovery potential of chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) in rats after spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS: The PubMed, Embase, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were searched for animal experiments that evaluated the use of ChABC in the treatment of SCI up to November 2022. Studies reporting neurological function using the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) scale, as well as assessments of cavity area, lesion area, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) levels, were included in the analysis. RESULTS: A total of 46 studies were ultimately selected for inclusion. The results of the study showed that rats with SCI that received ChABC therapy exhibited a significant improvement in locomotor function after 7 days compared with controls (32 studies, weighted mean difference (WMD) = 0.58, [0.33, 0.83], p < 0.00001). Furthermore, the benefits of ChABC therapy were maintained for up to 28 days according to BBB scale. The lesion area was reduced by ChABC (5 studies, WMD = -20.94, [-28.42, -13.46], p < 0.00001). Meanwhile, GFAP levels were reduced in the ChABC treatment group (8 studies, WMD = -29.15, [-41.57, -16.72], p < 0.00001). Cavity area is not statistically significant. The subgroup analysis recommended that a single injection of 10 µL (8 studies, WMD = 2.82, [1.99, 3.65], p < 0.00001) or 20 U/mL (4 studies, WMD = 2.21, [0.73, 3.70], p = 0.003) had a better effect on improving the function. The funnel plot of the BBB scale was found to be essentially symmetrical, indicating a low risk of publication bias. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review and meta-analysis has indicated that ChABC could improve functional recovery in rats after SCI.

Cross-cultural adaptation of The Japanese Orthopaedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire: A methodological systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The Japanese Orthopaedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ) is a reliable and sensitive measure of disability to determine functional status and evaluate curative effects in low back pain, it has now been cross-cultural translated into many other languages and adapted for use in different countries. We aim to evaluate the translation procedures and measurement properties of cross-cultural adaptations of the JOABPEQ. METHODS: Studies related to cross-cultural adaptation of the JOABPEQ in a specific language/culture were searched in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, SciELO, PsycINFO, SinoMed, and Web of Science from their inception to March 2022. The Guidelines for the Process of Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Self-Report Measures and the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Status Measurement Instruments guideline were used for evaluation. RESULTS: Nine different versions of cross-cultural JOABPEQ adaptations in 8 different languages/cultures were included. The adaptation process was not strictly performed, such as standard forward translation and expert committee review were rarely reported. Content validity (8/9), floor and ceiling effects (3/9), reliability (4/9), and interpretability (6/9) were assessed in most of the adaptations, while agreement (2/9), responsiveness (2/9), and the internal consistency (2/9) were not. JOABPEQ can replace functional and quality of life score to reduce the burden of scientific research. CONCLUSION: We recommend Persian-Iranian, simplified Chinese-Chinese Mandarin, Thai and Gunaydin G's Turkish adaptations for application. The numerical pain rating scale/visual analogue scale in low back pain and lower extremities, as well as numbness in lower extremities could not be neglected in JOABPEQ adaptations.

Current status and influencing factors of fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A cross-sectional study in China.

AIM: This study aimed to explore the level and influencing factors of fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 243 patients with rheumatoid arthritis from April 2016 to March 2017. The Bristol Rheumatoid Arthritis Fatigue Multi-Dimensional Questionnaire, Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale-8, Visual Analogue Scale for pain, physical function subscale of Short Form 36-Item Health Survey, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Perceived Social Support Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and a self-designed demographic and disease-related information questionnaire were used to collect the data. Stepwise linear multiple regression was used to clarify the impact of statistically significant variables (P < 0.05) in the independent sample t test, one-way ANOVA and correlation analysis on the level of fatigue. RESULTS: Stepwise linear multiple regression analyses showed that disease activity, self-efficacy, physical function, pain, depression, duration of morning stiffness and anxiety were major factors influencing fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, which explained 59.5% of the total variance. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated a moderate level of fatigue in Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In clinical practice, nurses should explore individualized intervention programmes based on related predictors of fatigue to help patients relieve fatigue.

Muscone suppresses inflammatory responses and neuronal damage in a rat model of cervical spondylotic myelopathy by regulating Drp1-dependent mitochondrial fission.

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a common cause of disability with few treatments. Aberrant mitochondrial dynamics play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, regulation of mitochondrial dynamics may offer therapeutic benefit for the treatment of CSM. Muscone, the active ingredient of an odoriferous animal product, exhibits anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects for which the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. We hypothesized that muscone might ameliorate inflammatory responses and neuronal damage by regulating mitochondrial dynamics. To this end, the effects of muscone on a rat model of chronic cervical cord compression, as well as activated BV2 cells and injured neurons, were assessed. The results showed that muscone intervention improved motor function compared with vehicle-treated rats. Indeed, muscone attenuated pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, neuronal-apoptosis indicators in the lesion area, and activation of the nod-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 inflammasome, nuclear transcription factor-κB, and dynamin-related protein 1 in Iba1- and ßIII-tubulin-labeled cells. Compared with vehicle-treated rats, compression sites of muscone-treated animals exhibited elongated mitochondrial morphologies in individual cell types and reduced reactive oxygen species. In vitro results indicated that muscone suppressed microglial activation and neuronal damage by regulating related-inflammatory or apoptotic molecules. Moreover, muscone inhibited dynamin-related protein 1 activation in activated BV2 cells and injured neurons, whereby it rescued mitochondrial fragmentation and reactive oxygen species production, which regulate a wide range of inflammatory and apoptotic molecules. Our findings reveal that muscone attenuates neuroinflammation and neuronal damage in rats with chronic cervical cord compression by regulating mitochondrial fission events, suggesting its promise for CSM therapy.

Urban-Rural Differences in Bone Mineral Density and its Association with Reproductive and Menstrual Factors Among Older Women.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the bone mineral density (BMD) of older women living in rural and urban areas, and evaluate the potential factors affecting the risk of osteoporosis. METHODS: We recruited 574 women aged 65 years or older from rural areas and 496 from urban areas in Shanghai, China. The BMD values of the lumbar vertebrae and total left hip were measured by a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry densitometer. We also recorded information about education level, family income, medications, reproductive and menstrual history, diet, smoking, and alcohol consumption. RESULTS: Women in urban areas had significantly higher BMD in their lumbar spine, and there was a dramatic increase in the proportion of women with osteoporosis in rural areas. The age at menarche was significantly higher among women living in rural areas, and there were more years from menarche to menopause among urban women. Rural women had significantly higher numbers of both pregnancies and parity, and a significantly lower age at first parity. In multiple linear regression analyses, years from menarche to menopause was independently related to high lumbar spine BMD, while age at menarche and parity was independently related to low lumbar spine BMD. CONCLUSION: More older women in rural areas had osteoporosis. Later menarche, less years from menarche to menopause and higher parity might partially contribute to decreased BMD among women in rural areas. More attention should be paid to women in rural areas to prevent bone loss and further bone and health impairment.

A comparison between the low back pain scales for patients with lumbar disc herniation: validity, reliability, and responsiveness.

BACKGROUND: Although the Japanese Orthopedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ), Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), and Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) has shown a preferable psychometric properties in patients with low back pain (LBP), but no study has yet determined these in conservative treatment of patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Thus the current study aimed to compare those scales in LDH patients receiving conservative treatment to select the better option to assess the severity of disease. METHODS: LDH patients were invited to complete the JOABPEQ, NPRS, ODI, RMDQ, and SF-36 twice. The internal consistency was evaluated by the Cronbach's α. Test-retest reliability was tested by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The relationships of these scales were evaluated by the Pearson correlation coefficients (r). The responsiveness was operationalised using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, as well as the comparison of smallest detectable change (SDC), minimum important change (MIC). RESULTS: A total of 353 LDH patients were enrolled. Four subscales of the Chinese JOABPEQ were over 0.70, then the ICCs for the test-retest reliability were over 0.75. For functional status, remarked negative correlations could be seen between JOABPEQ Q2-Q4 and ODI, as well as RMDQ (r = - 0.634 to - 0.752). For general health status, remarkable positive correlations could also be seen between Q5 Mental health and SF-36 PCS (r = 0.724) as well as SF-36 MCS (r = 0.736). Besides, the area under of the curves (AUC) of the JOABPEQ ranged from 0.743 to 0.827, indicating acceptale responsiveness, as well as the NPRS, ODI, and RMDQ. CONCLUSION: NPRS, and ODI or RMDQ is recommended in studies related to LDH patients, while if the quality of life also is needed to observe, the NPRS, and JOABPEQ would be more appropriate rather than SF-36.

Antifungal activity of water-soluble products obtained following the liquefaction of cornstalk with sub-critical water.

Cornstalks are the leftover leaves and stems in a field after corn harvest. They are a potential biomass resource but are underutilized in agricultural production systems. To examine the chemical components in cornstalks and their corresponding functions, blocky cornstalks were treated in water at temperatures of 190, 210, 230, 250, and 270 °C in a high-pressure reactor. Water-soluble products (WSPs) were extracted from these treatments, and their chemical compositions were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and their antifungal activities were determined using a bioassay. It was found that WSPs contained 28.7-40.1% phenols, 27.9-36.6% ketones, 0-2.6% alcohols, 4.9-10.1% esters, 5.4-7.8% organic acids, 1.3-12% aldehydes, and 5.5-18.4% of other organic compounds such as nitrogen- and sulfur-containing compounds, furan compounds, and benzene compounds. The inhibition the growth of the plant pathogen Fusarium oxysporum by WSPs was affected by temperature. WSP-270 (obtained at 270 °C) exhibited the best growth-inhibition efficacy. Under a biomicroscope, WSP-270-treated F. oxysporum showed a deformed and swollen hypha, and an increased number of bifurcations, as well as an expansion of growing apexes of new bifurcations. Therefore, the antifungal activity of WSPs could be used to manage soilborne plant pathogens.

Riluzole promotes neurological function recovery and inhibits damage extension in rats following spinal cord injury: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition that has few treatment options. Riluzole, a sodium channel blocker used to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, has been initially trialed in human SCI. We performed a systematic review to critically assess the efficacy of riluzole in locomotor recovery and damage extension in SCI rat models, and the potential for clinical translation. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Chinese databases were searched from their inception date to March 2018. Two reviewers independently selected animal studies that evaluated neurological recovery and lesion area following riluzole treatment in SCI rat models, extracted data and assessed methodological quality. Pairwise meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, and network meta-analysis were performed to assess the effects of riluzole on SCI. Ten eligible studies were included. Two studies had high methodological quality. Overall, the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan scores were increased in riluzole-treated animals versus controls, and effect sizes showed a gradual increase from the 1st (five studies, n = 104, mean difference = 1.24, 95% CI = 0.11 to 2.37, p = 0.03) to 6th week after treatment (five studies, n = 120, mean difference = 2.34, 95% CI = 1.26 to 3.42, p < 0.0001). Riluzole was associated with improved outcomes in the inclined plane test and the tissue preservation area. Subgroup analyses suggested an association of locomotor recovery with riluzole dose. Network meta-analysis showed that 5 mg/kg riluzole exhibited greater protection than 2.5 and 8 mg/kg riluzole. Collectively, this review suggests that riluzole has a protective effect on SCI, with good safety and a clear mechanism of action and may be suitable for future clinical trials or applications. However, animal results should be interpreted with caution given the known limitations in animal experimental design and methodological quality.

A facile signal-on electrochemical DNA sensing platform for ultrasensitive detection of pathogenic bacteria based on Exo III-assisted autonomous multiple-cycle amplification.

A facile signal-on electrochemical DNA biosensor has been developed for ultrasensitive detection of pathogenic bacteria using an Exo III-assisted autonomous multiple-cycle amplification strategy. The strategy relies on pathogens and aptamer binding-initiated release of a trigger, which combines with the 3'-protruding terminus of the hairpin probe 1, leading to the formation of double-stranded DNA with a blunt 3' terminus which starts the Exo III-assisted multiple signal amplification reaction. In addition, hairpin probe 2 labeled with an electroactive reporter at the middle of the loop region is ingeniously designed to contain a short hairpin-embedded segment, which can fold into a hairpin structure via an Exo III-assisted cleavage reaction, thus bringing the redox molecule in proximity to the electrode surface for "signal-on" sensing. Under optimal conditions, this biosensor exhibits a very low detection limit as low as 8 cfu mL-1 and a wide linear range from 1.0 × 101 to 1.0 × 107 cfu mL-1 of target pathogenic bacteria. As far as we know, this is the first time that the Exo III-assisted autonomous multiple-cycle amplification strategy has been used for signal-on electrochemical sensing of pathogenic bacteria. In addition, the proposed sensor can also be used for highly sensitive detection of other targets by changing the aptamer sequence, such as nucleic acids, proteins and small molecules. Therefore, the proposed signal-on electrochemical sensing strategy might provide a simple and practical new platform for detection of pathogenic bacteria and related biological analysis, food safety inspection and environmental monitoring.

Circular exponential amplification of photoinduced electron transfer using hairpin probes, G-quadruplex DNAzyme and silver nanocluster-labeled DNA for ultrasensitive fluorometric determination of pathogenic bacteria.

The authors describe a fluorometric strategy for the detection of pathogenic bacteria with ultrasensitivity and high specificity. This strategy relies on the combination of target-modulated photoinduced electron transfer (PET) between G-quadruplex DNAzyme and DNA (labeled with silver nanoclusters) along with hairpin probe-based circular exponential amplification. The reaction system involves three hairpin probes (H1, H2 and H3). Probe H1 contains an aptamer against S. Typhimurium and the recognition sequence for nicking endonuclease. It is used to recognize S. Typhimurium and participates in polymerase-catalyzed target recycle amplification and secondary-target recycle amplification. Probe H2 contains an aptamer against hemin and is used to form the G-quadruplex DNAzyme in the presence of hemin and potassium ion. It acts as the electron acceptor and quenches the fluorescence of the labeled DNA. Fluorescence is best measured at excitation/emission wavelengths of 567/650 nm. Probe H3 contains the template sequence for the synthesis of AgNCs and the H2-annealing sequence. Both H2 and H3 are utilized to perform a strand displacement reaction and to achieve PET between G-quadruplex DNAzyme and DNA/AgNCs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of a PET between G-quadruplex DNAzyme and DNA/AgNCs coupled with circular exponential amplification. The assay has an ultra-low detection limit 8 cfu·mL-1 of S. Typhimurium. The assay is rapid, accurate, inexpensive and simple. Hence, the strategy may represent a useful platform for ultrasensitive and highly specific detection of pathogenic bacteria as encountered in food analysis and clinical diagnosis. Graphical abstract The reaction system includes three hairpin probes (H1, H2 and H3), primer probe (P), Phi 29 DNA ploymerase (Phi 29) and nicking endonuclease Nt.AlwI (Nt.AlwI). Phi 29 and Nt.AlwI -assisted signal amplification leads to the recycling of target and produces numerous single stranded-DNAs (S). Strand displacement amplification leads to photoinduced electron transfer (PET) between G-quadruplex DNAzyme and DNA/AgNCs. HAP-based circular exponential amplification of PET results in an ultrasensitive fluorometric assay.

Chinese version of the Constant-Murley questionnaire for shoulder pain and disability: a reliability and validation study.

BACKGROUND: Shoulder pain is a common musculoskeletal disorder in Chinese population, which affects more than 1,3 billion individuals. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no available Chinese-language version of measurements of shoulder pain and disability so far. Moreover, the Constant-Murley score (CMS) questionnaire is a universally recognized patient-reported questionnaire for clinical practice and research. The present study was designed to evaluate a Chinese translational version of CMS and subsequently assess its reliability and validity. METHODS: The Chinese translational version of CMS was formulated by means of forward-backward translation. Meanwhile, a final review was carried out by an expert committee, followed by conducting a test of the pre-final version. Therefore, the reliability and validity of the Chinese translational version of CMS could be assessed using the internal consistency, construct validity, factor analysis, reliability and floor and ceiling effects. Specifically, the reliability was assessed by testing the internal consistency (Cronbach's α) and test-retest reliability (intraclass coefficient correlation [ICC]), while the construct validity was evaluated via comparison between the Chinese translational version of CMS with visual analog scale (VAS) score and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36, Spearman correlation). RESULTS: The questionnaire was verified to be acceptable after distribution among 120 subjects with unilateral shoulder pain. Factor analysis had revealed a two-factor and 10-item solution. Moreover, the assessment results indicated that the Chinese translational version of CMS questionnaire harbored good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.739) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.827). In addition, the Chinese translational version of CMS was moderately correlated with VAS score (r = 0.497) and SF-36 (r = 0.135). No obvious floor and ceiling effects were observed in the Chinese translational version of CMS questionnaire. CONCLUSION: Chinese translational version of CMS exhibited good reliability, which is relatively acceptable and is likely to be widely used in this population.

Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale-8 (ASES-8) in a rheumatoid arthritis population.

The Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale-8 (ASES-8) is a valid tool to measure patients' arthritis-specific self-efficacy. However, evidence about reliability and validity of the ASES-8 in Chinese arthritis patients is lacking. This study aimed to culturally adapt and test the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the ASES-8. Chinese ASES-8 was translated from original English version using translation and back-translation procedures. Validation survey was then conducted in a university-affiliated hospital by a set of questionnaires comprised Chinese ASES-8, pain-VAS, The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy Fatigue (FACIT-F), and Short Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36) physical functioning subscale. A convenience sample of 134 patients with rheumatoid arthritis was recruited from the department of rheumatology. Validity was assessed by Pearson's correlation analysis and exploratory factor analysis. Reliability was assessed using the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach's alpha. Exploratory factor analysis extracted one dimension that explained of the 71.35% variation. Significant negative correlations were found between the ASES-8 and pain-VAS, HADS-D, HADS-A scores (r -0.487 to -0.656, p < 0.01), while positive correlations were found between the ASES-8 and SF-36 PH (r = 0.561, p < 0.01), FACIT-F (r = 0.660, p < 0.01). Excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.98) and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.942) were demonstrated. The Chinese version of the ASES-8 had statistically acceptable levels of reliability and validity for assessing self-efficacy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This disease-specific scale is particularly valuable for use among patients with rheumatoid arthritis from the Chinese population.

Preparation of magnetic and pH-responsive chitosan microcapsules via sonochemical method.

Magnetic and pH-responsive chitosan microcapsules (MPRCMCs) were prepared by a simple sonochemical method. Superparamagnetic oleic acid modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles (OA-Fe3O4 NPs) and hydrophobic drugs could be directly loaded into MPRCMCs during sonication. The obtained microcapsules had a well-defined spherical morphology with the average size of 2 µm. The microcapsules showed an excellent magnetic property. In addition, the pH-responsive controlled release of coumarin 6 (C6) from MPRCMCs indicated that the developed microcapsules could be a promising candidate for drugs carriers.

Fabrication of redox-responsive magnetic protein microcapsules from hen egg white by the sonochemical method.

Redox-responsive magnetic protein microcapsules with Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) encapsulated inside have been obtained using a facile, cost-effective and fast sonochemical method from hen egg white proteins. Such prepared redox-responsive magnetic hen egg white protein microcapsules (MHEWPMCs) could be easily manipulated to do magnetic-guided targeting delivery. The synchronous loading of the hydrophobic dye Coumarin 6 as a model of drug into MHEWPMCs was readily achieved during the fabrication of MHEWPMCs by dissolving them into the oil phase before ultrasonication. TEM images indicated that Fe3O4 MNPs were encapsulated in MHEWPMCs. Confocal laser scanning microscopic images indicated that the dye was distributed evenly in the MHEWPMCs and no leakage of dye from the MHEWPMCs was observed due to the protection of protein shells. The MHEWPMCs are potential candidates as attractive carriers for drug targeting delivery and stimuli-responsive release due to their magnetic and redox responsiveness of the disulfide in the microcapsule shells.

Is extracorporeal shock wave therapy clinical efficacy for relief of chronic, recalcitrant plantar fasciitis? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo or active-treatment controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) and provide clinicians with an evidence base for their clinical decision making. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews. STUDY SELECTION: All randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials of ESWT for chronic recalcitrant plantar fasciitis were searched. Searching identified 108 potentially relevant articles; of these, 7 studies with 550 participants met inclusion criteria. DATA EXTRACTION: Number of patients, population, body mass index, duration of symptoms, adverse effects, blinding method, and details of shockwave therapy were extracted. DATA SYNTHESIS: For intervention success rate, ESWT of low intensity was more effective than control treatment of low intensity. For pain relief, the pooled data showed a significant difference between the ESWT and control groups. For function, only low-intensity ESWT was significantly superior over the control treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of low-intensity ESWT is worthy of recognition. The short-term pain relief and functional outcomes of this treatment are satisfactory. However, owing to the lack of a long-term follow-up, its long-term efficacy remains unknown.

Fe3+-induced coordination cross-linking gallic acid-carboxymethyl cellulose self-healing hydrogel.

Self-healing hydrogel is a promising soft material for applications in wound dressings, drug delivery, tissue engineering, biomimetic electronic skin, and wearable electronic devices. However, it is a challenge to fabricate the self-healing hydrogels without external stimuli. Inspired by mussel, the metal-catechol complexes were introduced into the hydrogel systems to prepare the mussel-inspired hydrogels by regulating the gelation kinetics of Fe3+ crosslinkers with gallic acid (GA) in this research. The amine-functionalized carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was grafted with GA and then chelated with Fe3+ to form a multi-response system. The crosslinking of carboxymethyl cellulose-ethylenediamine-gallic acid (CEG) hydrogel was controlled by adjusting the pH to affect the iron coordination chemistry, which could enhance the self-healing properties and mechanical strength of hydrogels. In addition, the CEG hydrogel exhibited great antibacterial and antioxidant properties. And the CEG hydrogel could strongly adhere to the skin tissue. The adhesion strength of CEG hydrogel on pigskin was 11.44 kPa, which is higher than that of commercial wound dressings (∼5 kPa). Moreover, the thixotropy of the CEG hydrogel was confirmed with rheological test. In summary, it has great potential in the application field of wound dressing.