Magic-themed motor training for daily bimanual task performance in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of magic-themed interventions in improving daily bimanual task performance in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP) to and elucidate the variability in outcomes. METHOD: This systematic literature review searched databases including Embase, MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Central, and CINAHL. Outcome measures selected for the meta-analysis included the Children's Hand-use Experience Questionnaire, its three subscales, and the Besta subscale C. The overall efficacy of magic-themed interventions was analysed using Hedges' g as the summary measure for these outcomes. Subgroup analysis compared the efficacy of different modes of training, and a meta-regression investigated the impact of training duration. RESULTS: Analyses of four studies involving 78 children showed magic-themed training significantly improved bimanual task performance (Hedges' g = 0.327, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.107-0.547, p = 0.004), especially in group settings (Hedges' g = 0.435, 95% CI = 0.176-0.693, p = 0.001), compared with non-significant gains from video interventions (Hedges' g = 0.041, 95% CI = -0.380 to 0.462, p = 0.850). Additionally, training duration positively correlated with performance gains (coefficient = 0.0076 per hour, p = 0.001). INTERPRETATION: Magic-themed training, especially through group sessions and extended durations, enhances bimanual skills in children with unilateral spastic CP.

Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy: Current Understanding, Challenges, and Opportunities.

While surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has experienced substantial advancements since its discovery in the 1970s, it is an opportunity to celebrate achievements, consider ongoing endeavors, and anticipate the future trajectory of SERS. In this perspective, we encapsulate the latest breakthroughs in comprehending the electromagnetic enhancement mechanisms of SERS, and revisit CT mechanisms of semiconductors. We then summarize the strategies to improve sensitivity, selectivity, and reliability. After addressing experimental advancements, we comprehensively survey the progress on spectrum-structure correlation of SERS showcasing their important role in promoting SERS development. Finally, we anticipate forthcoming directions and opportunities, especially in deepening our insights into chemical or biological processes and establishing a clear spectrum-structure correlation.

Signal2signal: Pushing the Spatiotemporal Resolution to the Limit by Single Chemical Hyperspectral Imaging.

There is growing interest in developing a high-performance self-supervised denoising algorithm for real-time chemical hyperspectral imaging. With a good understanding of the working function of the zero-shot Noise2Noise-based denoising algorithm, we developed a self-supervised Signal2Signal (S2S) algorithm for real-time denoising with a single chemical hyperspectral image. Owing to the accurate distinction and capture of the weak signal from the random fluctuating noise, S2S displays excellent denoising performance, even for the hyperspectral image with a spectral signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) as low as 1.12. Under this condition, both the image clarity and the spatial resolution could be significantly improved and present an almost identical pattern with a spectral SNR of 7.87. The feasibility of real-time denoising during imaging was well demonstrated, and S2S was applied to monitor the photoinduced exfoliation of transition metal dichalcogenide, which is hard to accomplish by confocal Raman spectroscopy. In general, the real-time denoising capability of S2S offers an easy way toward in situ/in vivo/operando research with much improved spatial and temporal resolution. S2S is open-source at https://github.com/3331822w/Signal2signal and will be accessible online at https://ramancloud.xmu.edu.cn/tutorial.

On practicing magicine, from wonder to care: A systematic review of studies that apply magic in healthcare.

RATIONALE: Magic, traditionally perceived as entertainment, has been increasingly employed in healthcare to enhance health and well-being. Despite its potential benefits across various dimensions of health, including biological, psychological, and social, a comprehensive review highlighting its broad applications in healthcare remains unexplored. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the diverse uses of magic within healthcare, progressing from entertainment to integral medical care, termed "magicine." METHODS: This systematic review adopted a narrative synthesis approach, and an extensive database search was conducted including Embase Classic & Embase, MEDLINE (Ovid), Scopus, the Cochrane Collaboration Central Register of Controlled Clinical Trials, Cochrane Systematic Reviews, and CINAHL (EBSCOhost), from the earliest records to 22 June 2023. Potential applications of magic in healthcare were explored with an unrestricted search strategy. A quality assessment was conducted using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. (Registration: PROSPERO number CRD42023417122.) RESULTS: This review identified 82 journal articles, including 11 randomized controlled trials, four quasi-experimental designs, 10 pre-experimental designs, five qualitative studies, three mixed methods studies, two observational studies, five review articles, and 42 commentaries. The review resulted in the conception of "magicine ennead" - nine diverse areas where magic can be applied in healthcare including physical rehabilitation, cognitive training, psychotherapy, humor therapy, distraction therapy, social skills, health education, doctor-patient relationships, and surgical techniques. These applications demonstrate the potential of magic to enhance health outcomes for the general population and improve the clinical practice of healthcare professionals. CONCLUSIONS: Magic in healthcare shows potential for varied applications, and a deeper understanding of these applications could lead to optimized and cost-efficient intervention programs. Given the heterogeneity and varied methodological quality of the current research, future studies necessitate the adoption of rigorous designs with active controls.

Identification of KU-55933 as an anti-atherosclerosis compound by using a hemodynamic-based high-throughput drug screening platform.

Several compounds have been used for atherosclerosis treatment, including clinical trials; however, no anti-atherosclerotic drugs based on hemodynamic force-mediated atherogenesis have been discovered. Our previous studies demonstrated that "small mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 1/5" (Smad1/5) is a convergent signaling molecule for chemical [e.g., bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs)] and mechanical (e.g., disturbed flow) stimulations and hence may serve as a promising hemodynamic-based target for anti-atherosclerosis drug development. The goal of this study was to develop a high-throughput screening (HTS) platform to identify potential compounds that can inhibit disturbed flow- and BMP-induced Smad1/5 activation and atherosclerosis. Through HTS using a Smad1/5 downstream target inhibitor of DNA binding 1 (Id-1) as a luciferase reporter, we demonstrated that KU-55933 and Apicidin suppressed Id-1 expression in AD-293 cells. KU-55933 (10 µM), Apicidin (10 µM), and the combination of half doses of each [1/2(K + A)] inhibited disturbed flow- and BMP4-induced Smad1/5 activation in human vascular endothelial cells (ECs). KU-55933, Apicidin, and 1/2(K + A) treatments caused 50.6%, 47.4%, and 73.3% inhibitions of EC proliferation induced by disturbed flow, respectively, whereas EC inflammation was only suppressed by KU-55933 and 1/2(K + A), but not Apicidin alone. Administrations of KU-55933 and 1/2(K + A) to apolipoprotein E-deficient mice inhibited Smad1/5 activation in ECs in athero-susceptible regions, thereby suppressing endothelial proliferation and inflammation, with the attenuation of atherosclerotic lesions in these mice. A unique drug screening platform has been developed to demonstrate that KU-55933 and its combination with Apicidin are promising therapeutic compounds for atherosclerosis based on hemodynamic considerations.

Effectiveness of online and offline health education myopia intervention on primary school students / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To assess the effectiveness of online and offline myopia prevention and control health education interventions using wearable behavior monitoring tools for non myopic elementary school students,so as to provide evidence based medical support for public health practices.@*Methods@#From May to June in 2021, two schools were selected within the same county in Jiangsu Province. School 1 conducted online and offline parental health education ( n =111), while school 2 exclusively conducted offline health education activities, representing the traditional intervention group ( n =122). Students from both schools underwent monitoring through wearable behavior tracking tools, with feedback reports provided (eye distance, eye duration, ambient light, and outdoor exposure time). Both schools relied on activities to carry out health education interventions, and organized the distribution of promotional materials and display boards. The intervention group also established WeChat groups to conduct online "Healthy Parents Action" (answering and providing feedback on health knowledge related to myopia prevention and control, myopia prevention and control, science popularization, etc. raised by parents). Evaluation criteria included myopia rates, post dilation refractive error, and axial length, with a tracking period of two years (from 2021 to 2023). Additionally, the study collected refractive parameters from non myopic students who did not participate in wearable tool monitoring in the 12 classes across the two schools.@*Results@#The baseline results indicated that there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of refractive parameters and wearable tool monitoring results (including screen time, viewing distance, outdoor exposure time, and homework light exposure)( t/Z/χ 2=1.94,1.17,0.58,0.40,0.80,0.69,0.32, P >0.05). After a two-year follow up, in the first and second year, the myopia rate of the online Healthy Parents Action group (11.4%, 29.7%) were lower than that of the traditional group (26.2%, 50.9%), and the degree of refractive change in the intervention group [0.63(0.38,1.19)D] was lower than that of the traditional group [0.91(0.40,1.50)D], and all the differences were statistically significant( χ 2/ Z =4.93，10.37，2.29， P <0.05). However, there were no significant differences ( P >0.05) in axial length changes between the two groups over the twoyear intervention period. Nevertheless, in the second year, the axial length change in the traditional group [0.35(0.20,0.65)mm] was lower than that in the natural observation group [0.55(0.30,0.75)mm], and this difference was statistically significant ( Z =1.92, P <0.05).@*Conclusions@#Online and offline myopia prevention and control health education can effectively reduce myopia rates. The intervention mode combining wearable behavior monitoring tools with online health education may have better effects, but further large sample and multi center studies are needed to provide additional evidence and confirmation.

A baseline survey on the establishment of myopia follow up cohort among students in Peixian, Xuzhou City / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#This study aimed to find out the myopia rate and related ocular biological parameters of grade 1-3 students in Peixian, Xuzhou City, and to establish a cohort observation population, so as to provide baseline reference for control strategies for myopia and reduce the myopia rate.@*Methods@#A total of 1 952 students from two nine year schools in Peixian were selected by stratified cluster sampling in June 2020. Visual examination was administered by trained personnel using uniformly equipped instruments, including uncorrected visual acuity, diopter, intraocular pressure, axial length.@*Results@#The overall myopia rate of students from grade one to grade three in two schools in Peixian was 21.77%, and the myopia rate of girls (23.81%) was significantly higher than that of boys (20.16%). With the growth of age and grade, the myopia rate increased continuously, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ 2=134.10, 144.30, P <0.05). The myopia rate of 6-year-old group was 8.87 %. The axial length of the left and right eyes of the myopic group was significantly higher than that of the non myopic group ( t = 411.95, 366.85, P <0.01), the intraocular pressure and mean corneal curvature of the left eye of the myopic group were higher than those of the nonmyopic group ( t =5.91, 10.22 , P <0.05).@*Conclusion@#The baseline survey results show that the myopia rate of grade 1-3 in Peixian of Xuzhou City is low, but myopia has occurred in the 6-year-old group. With the growth of age and grade, the myopia rate continues to rise. So it is urgent to explore effective and feasible myopia prevention and control measures.

Relationship between pesticide exposure and adverse pregnancy outcomes among famers: a meta-analysis / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the relationship between pesticide exposure and adverse pregnancy outcomes in famers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A search was conducted to collect the articles about the relationship between pesticide exposure and adverse pregnancy outcomes published worldwide from 1990 to February 2012. Meta-analysis was performed on the collected articles using RevMan 4.2 software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twelve articles were collected. Compared with the controls, the pesticide-exposed famers showed a combined odds ratio (OR) for spontaneous abortion of 1.52 (95%CI: 1.04 ∼ 2.21; P = 0.03), a combined OR for premature birth of 1.33 (95%CI: 1.09 ∼ 1.61; P = 0.005), a combined OR for dead fetus of 1.22 (95%CI: 1.16 ∼ 1.29; P < 0.01), a combined OR for stillbirth of 1.90 (95%CI: 0.58 ∼ 6.28; P = 0.29), a combined OR for birth defect of 2.02 (95%CI: 0.84 - 4.69; P = 0.12), a combined OR for low birth weight of 1.62 (95%CI: 0.60 ∼ 4.39; P = 0.34), a combined OR for neonatal death of 2.18 (95%CI: 0.54 ∼ 8.88; P = 0.28), and a combined OR for delayed conception of 1.43 (95%CI: 0.93 ∼ 2.18; P = 0.1). Pesticide exposure increased the risks for spontaneous abortion, premature birth, and dead fetus, but was not significantly associated with stillbirth, birth defect, low birth weight, neonatal death, and delayed conception.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Pesticide exposure can cause adverse pregnancy outcomes in farmers, increasing the risks of spontaneous abortion, premature birth, and dead fetus.</p>