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BACKGROUND: Osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) is a common consequence of osteoporosis and can significantly impact the quality of life for affected individuals. Despite treatment options such as vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, many patients continue to experience residual back pain (RBP) even after the fracture has healed. The incidence of RBP after OVCF treatment varies among studies, and there is a need for further research to understand the risk factors associated with RBP. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. Electronic databases were searched, and relevant studies were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by two authors. Statistical analysis included single-proportion meta-analyses and pooling of odds ratios (OR) using the inverse-variance method, to calculate the overall incidences of RBP and cement leakage and identify risk factors associated with RBP. RESULTS: A total of 19 studies were included in the analysis. The overall incidences of RBP and cement leakage were found to be 16% and 18%, respectively. Several risk factors were identified, including gender, bone mineral density, depression, baseline visual analog scale (VAS) score, intravertebral vacuum cleft, number of fractured segments, cement distribution, history of vertebral fracture, thoracolumbar fascial injury, and fracture non-union. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides potential value within the scope of the incidence and risk factors of RBP following treatment of OVCFs. The identified risk factors can help clinicians identify high-risk patients and tailor appropriate interventions. Future research should focus on standardizing the definition of RBP and patient selection criteria to improve the accuracy of estimates and facilitate better management strategies for OVCF patients.
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Timely and accurate detection of viruses is crucial for infection diagnosis and treatment. However, it remains a challenge to develop a portable device that meets the requirement of being portable, powerless, user-friendly, reusable, and low-cost. This work reports a compact ∅30 × 48 mm portable powerless isothermal amplification detection device (material cost â¼$1 USD) relying on LAMP (Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification). We have proposed chromatographic-strip-based microporous permeation technology which can precisely control the water flow rate to regulate the exothermic reaction. This powerless heating combined with phase-change materials can maintain a constant temperature between 50 and 70 °C for a duration of up to 49.8 min. Compared with the conventional methods, it avoids the use of an additional insulation layer for heat preservation, greatly reducing the size and cost. We have also deployed a color card and a corresponding algorithm to facilitate color recognition, data analysis, and storage using a mobile phone. The experimental results demonstrate that our device exhibits the same limit of detection (LOD) as the ProFlex PCR for SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus samples, with that for both being 103 copies/µL, verifying its effectiveness and reliability. This work offers a timely, low-cost, and easy way for respiratory infectious disease detection, which could provide support in curbing virus transmission and protecting the health of humans and animals, especially in remote mountainous areas without access to electricity or trained professionals.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques , SARS-CoV-2 , Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques/instrumentation , Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques/methods , SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purification , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , Humans , COVID-19/diagnosis , COVID-19/virology , Molecular Diagnostic Techniques/instrumentation , Molecular Diagnostic Techniques/methods , Molecular Diagnostic Techniques/economics , Limit of DetectionABSTRACT
This review aims to comprehensively summarize the application of electrophysiological methods, specifically repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) and single fiber electromyography (SFEMG), in the diagnosis of neuromuscular junction (NMJ) disorders, including myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton syndrome, and sarcopenia in the elderly. Both RNS and SFEMG have demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in detecting NMJ abnormalities. RNS aids in distinguishing presynaptic from postsynaptic lesions, while SFEMG provides direct evidence of NMJ function by assessing single motor unit action potentials. Key parameters in SFEMG, such as fiber density, jitter, and pulse blocking, are crucial for evaluating NMJ function. Increased fiber density and jitter value, along with pulse blocking, are often observed in patients with NMJ disorders. However, despite the extensive application of these techniques in various NMJ-related diseases, their role in aging, particularly in sarcopenic patients, remains underexplored, highlighting the need for future research.
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Normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) models for radiation pneumonitis (RP) in lung cancer patients with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), which based on dosimetric data from treatment planning, are limited to patients who have already received radiation therapy (RT). This study aims to identify a novel predictive factor for lung dose distribution and RP probability before devising actionable SBRT plans for lung cancer patients. A comprehensive correlation analysis was performed on the clinical and dose parameters of lung cancer patients who underwent SBRT. Linear regression models were utilized to analyze the dosimetric data of lungs. The performance of the regression models was evaluated using mean squared error (MSE) and the coefficient of determination (R2). Correlational analysis revealed that most clinical data exhibited weak correlations with dosimetric data. However, nearly all dosimetric variables showed "strong" or "very strong" correlations with each other, particularly concerning the mean dose of the ipsilateral lung (MI) and the other dosimetric parameters. Further study verified that the lung tumor ratio (LTR) was a significant predictor for MI, which could predict the incidence of RP. As a result, LTR can predict the probability of RP without the need to design an elaborate treatment plan. This study, as the first to offer a comprehensive correlation analysis of dose parameters, explored the specific relationships among them. Significantly, it identified LTR as a novel predictor for both dose parameters and the incidence of RP, without the need to design an elaborate treatment plan.
Subject(s)
Lung Neoplasms , Radiation Pneumonitis , Radiometry , Radiosurgery , Humans , Radiation Pneumonitis/epidemiology , Radiation Pneumonitis/etiology , Lung Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Radiosurgery/adverse effects , Radiosurgery/methods , Male , Female , Aged , Middle Aged , Incidence , Lung/radiation effects , Radiotherapy Dosage , Aged, 80 and over , Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-AssistedABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Chondrosarcoma (CHS), a bone malignancy, poses a significant challenge due to its heterogeneous nature and resistance to conventional treatments. There is a clear need for advanced prognostic instruments that can integrate multiple prognostic factors to deliver personalized survival predictions for individual patients. This study aimed to develop a novel prediction tool based on recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) to improve the estimation of overall survival for patients with CHS. METHODS: Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were analyzed, including demographic, clinical, and treatment details of patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2018. Using C5.0 algorithm, decision trees were created to predict survival probabilities at 12, 24, 60, and 120 months. The performance of the models was assessed through confusion scatter plot, accuracy rate, receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve, and area under ROC curve (AUC). RESULTS: The study identified tumor histology, surgery, age, visceral (brain/liver/lung) metastasis, chemotherapy, tumor grade, and sex as critical predictors. Decision trees revealed distinct patterns for survival prediction at each time point. The models showed high accuracy (82.40%-89.09% in training group, and 82.16%-88.74% in test group) and discriminatory power (AUC: 0.806-0.894 in training group, and 0.808-0.882 in test group) in both training and testing datasets. An interactive web-based shiny APP (URL: https://yangxg1209.shinyapps.io/chondrosarcoma_survival_prediction/) was developed, simplifying the survival prediction process for clinicians. CONCLUSIONS: This study successfully employed RPA to develop a user-friendly tool for personalized survival predictions in CHS. The decision tree models demonstrated robust predictive capabilities, with the interactive application facilitating clinical decision-making. Future prospective studies are recommended to validate these findings and further refine the predictive model.
Subject(s)
Bone Neoplasms , Chondrosarcoma , Machine Learning , Humans , Chondrosarcoma/mortality , Chondrosarcoma/pathology , Chondrosarcoma/therapy , Male , Female , Bone Neoplasms/mortality , Bone Neoplasms/therapy , Bone Neoplasms/pathology , Middle Aged , Prognosis , Aged , SEER Program , Decision Trees , Adult , ROC Curve , Young AdultABSTRACT
This article provides an overview of the development history and advantages and disadvantages of measurement methods for soft tissue properties of the plantar foot. The measurement of soft tissue properties is essential for understanding the biomechanical characteristics and function of the foot, as well as for designing and evaluating orthotic devices and footwear. Various methods have been developed to measure the properties of plantar soft tissues, including ultrasound imaging, indentation testing, magnetic resonance elastography, and shear wave elastography. Each method has its own strengths and limitations, and choosing the most appropriate method depends on the specific research or clinical objectives. This review aims to assist researchers and clinicians in selecting the most suitable measurement method for their specific needs.
Subject(s)
Diabetic Foot , Elasticity Imaging Techniques , Foot , Humans , Biomechanical Phenomena , Diabetic Foot/physiopathology , Diabetic Foot/diagnostic imaging , Foot/diagnostic imaging , Foot/physiopathology , Elasticity Imaging Techniques/methods , Ultrasonography/methodsABSTRACT
The exploration of deep space significantly increases the probability of spacecraft failures due to surface electrostatic discharge, which imposes higher vacuum insulation protection requirements on polyimide (PI), the external insulation material of spacecrafts. To address this challenge, this study proposes using silane coupling agent KH550 for organic grafting treatment of Cr2O3nanoparticles, which are then used to dope and modify PI to enhance the vacuum surface insulation of PI films. The KH550 grafting improves the interface strength between the fillers and the matrix, allowing the fillers to be uniformly dispersed in the matrix. Compared to pure PI films, the prepared PI-Cr2O3@KH550 composite films exhibit significantly enhanced vacuum surface flashover voltage, improved surface/volume resistivity, and dielectric properties. The results demonstrate that PI composite films with 0.8% by mass of Cr2O3@KH550 show the most notable performance improvement, with the DC flashover voltage and impulse flashover voltage in vacuum increasing by 20.7% and 27.8%, respectively. The doping of chromium oxide nanoparticles introduces more deep traps into the PI films and reduce the surface resistivity. The higher deep trap density inhibits charge migration, thereby alleviating secondary electron emission and surface electric field distortion. Simultaneously, the lower surface resistivity facilitates dissipating surface charges and improves the surface insulation. These findings are of significant reference value for promoting the enhancement of aerospace insulation performance.
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BACKGROUND: The incidence of pneumothorax is higher in patients with emphysema who undergo percutaneous lung biopsy. Needle embolization has been shown to reduce the incidence of pneumothorax in patients with emphysema. Existing studies have reported small sample sizes of patients with emphysema, or the degree of emphysema has not been graded. Therefore, the efficacy of biopsy embolization in the prevention of pneumothorax induced by percutaneous pulmonary biopsy in patients with emphysema remains to be determined. METHODS: In this retrospective, controlled study, patients with emphysema who underwent CT-guided PTLB were divided into two groups: group A (n = 523), without tract embolization, and Group B (n = 504), with tract embolization. Clinical and imaging features were collected from electronic medical records and Picture Archiving and Communication Systems. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors for pneumothorax and chest tube placement. RESULTS: The two groups did not differ significantly in terms of demographic characteristics and complications other than pneumothorax. The incidence of pneumothorax and chest tube placement in group B was significantly lower than in group A (20.36% vs. 46.12%, p < 0.001; 3.95% vs. 9.18%, p < 0.001, respectively). In logistic regression analyses, variables affecting the incidence of pneumothorax and chest tube placement were the length of puncture of the lung parenchyma (odds ratio [OR] = 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-1.30, p = 0.001; OR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.30-1.85, p < 0.001, respectively), tract embolization (OR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.24-0.41, p < 0.001; OR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.22-0.69, p = 0.001, respectively), and grade of emphysema. CONCLUSIONS: Tract embolization with gelatin sponge particles after CT-guided PTLB significantly reduced the incidence of pneumothorax and chest tube placement in patients with emphysema. Tract embolization, length of puncture of the lung parenchyma, and grade of emphysema were independent risk factors for pneumothorax and chest tube placement. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospectively registered.
Subject(s)
Embolization, Therapeutic , Image-Guided Biopsy , Lung , Pneumothorax , Pulmonary Emphysema , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Humans , Pneumothorax/etiology , Pneumothorax/prevention & control , Pneumothorax/epidemiology , Female , Male , Retrospective Studies , Aged , Middle Aged , Image-Guided Biopsy/adverse effects , Image-Guided Biopsy/methods , Embolization, Therapeutic/methods , Lung/pathology , Lung/diagnostic imaging , Risk Factors , Logistic Models , Chest Tubes , Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable/administration & dosage , Incidence , Multivariate Analysis , Aged, 80 and over , Radiography, Interventional/methodsABSTRACT
This article considers the robust dynamic event-driven tracking control problem of nonlinear systems having mismatched disturbances and asymmetric input constraints. Initially, to tackle the asymmetric constraints, a novel nonquadratic value function is constructed for the original system. This makes the asymmetrically constrained tracking control problem transformed into an unconstrained optimal regulation problem. Then, a dynamic event-driven mechanism is proposed. Meanwhile, the event-driven Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation (ED-HJBE) is developed for the optimal regulation problem in order to acquire the optimal control with distinctly decreased computational burden. To solve the ED-HJBE, a single critic neural network (CNN) is designed in the adaptive dynamic programming framework. Meanwhile, the gradient descent method is employed to update the CNN's weights. After that, both the weight estimation error and the tracking error are proved to be uniformly ultimately bounded via Lyapunov's direct method. Finally, simulations of the spring-mass-damper system and the pendulum plant are separately utilized to validate the established theoretical claims.
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Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and incurable lung disease characterized by unknown etiology. This study employs robust ranking aggregation to identify consistent differential genes across multiple datasets, aiming to enhance prognostic evaluation and facilitate the development of more effective immunotherapy strategies for IPF. Using the GSE10667, GSE110147, and GSE24206 datasets, the analysis identifies 92 robust differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including SPP1, IGF1, ASPN, and KLHL13, highlighted as potential biomarkers through machine learning and experimental validation. Additionally, significant differences in immune cell types between IPF samples and controls, such as Plasma cells, Macrophages M0, Mast cells resting, T cells CD8, and NK cells resting, inform the construction of diagnostic and survival prediction models, demonstrating good applicability. These findings provide insights into IPF pathophysiology and suggest potential therapeutic targets.
Subject(s)
Biomarkers , Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis , Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis/genetics , Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis/immunology , Humans , Animals , Machine Learning , Mice , Gene Expression Profiling , Prognosis , Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/metabolism , Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/genetics , Osteopontin/genetics , Osteopontin/metabolism , Lung/pathology , Lung/immunology , Disease Models, AnimalABSTRACT
Energetic Metal-Organic Framework (EMOF) compounds have gained significant attention in recent years as a hot research topic in the fields of explosives and propellants. This article provides an overview of the latest research progress of EMOFs in various areas, including heat-resistant explosives, burning rate catalysts and initiating explosives. It discusses the recent development trends of high-energy EMOFs, such as high-dimensional and solvent-free structural design, simplified and scalable synthesis conditions, environmentally friendly manufacturing processes with tunable structures, high-energy, low-sensitivity and multifunctional target products. The challenges and issues faced by EMOFs in heat-resistant explosives, burning rate catalysts and initiating explosives are presented. Furthermore, the key research directions for future applications of EMOFs in the fields of explosives and propellants are discussed, including solvent-free high-dimensional EMOFs design and synthesis, precise modulation of EMOFs molecular composition and pore structure, improvement of accurate prediction methods for physicochemical properties of high-energy EMOFs, low-cost large-scale production and development of multifunctional composite EMOFs as energetic materials, exploration of influencing factors, and comprehensive study on the application of novel and high-performance multifunctional EMOFs.
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Activated persulfate and hydrothermal treatment (HTT) are often employed to treat waste activated sludge, which can improve the efficiency of subsequent sludge treatment and change the distribution of pollutants in the sludge. However, the impact of sludge solid content and temperature on the occurrence and aging of microplastics (MPs) during HTT remains poorly understood. This study investigated the effects of persulfate-HTT (SPS-HTT) co-treatment on the migration, occurrence, and aging of MPs in sludge with different solid contents (2% and 5% solid content). The results indicated that SPS-HTT co-treatment triggers both the disruption of sludge flocs and the melting deformation of MPs at high temperatures, leading to variations in the increasing trend of MP concentration in the solid-liquid phase at different solid contents. 5% solid content sludge showed a weak release of MPs from the solid phase. The proportion of fiber MPs first increased and then decreased with increasing temperature, while no significant changes were observed in the color and type of MPs. Higher temperature and solid content induced the melting deformation of MPs, exacerbated the aging of polypropylene MPs, and resulted in rough surfaces, higher carbonyl index, and variations in crystallinity. Moreover, the correlation between the carbonyl index and aging indicators increased with increasing solid content. The MP-derived dissolved organic matter under HTT primarily comprised soluble microbial by-products and humic acid-like substances. These findings underscore the significance of sludge solid content in affecting the migration and aging of MPs during HTT, and offer novel insights into the application of HTT to MP management in sludge treatment.
Subject(s)
Microplastics , Sewage , Waste Disposal, Fluid , Water Pollutants, Chemical , Sewage/chemistry , Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods , Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis , Temperature , Sulfates/chemistryABSTRACT
Quercus aliena, a native Chinese tree species, is significant in industry and landscaping. However, it is traditionally propagated by seeds with many limitations, such as pest infestations, seed yield and quality. Thus, this study firstly introduces a somatic embryogenesis (SE) system for Q. aliena, enhancing its cultivation prospects. Thereinto, the development stage of zygotic embryo had a significant effect on SE, only immature embryos in 10-11 weeks after full bloom (WAF), rich in endogenous abscisic acid (ABA), could induce SE. Exogenous application ABA had positive roles in the early development process of both primary and secondary SE, while its antagonist had opposite roles. Transcriptome analysis showed that transcription regulation occupied the major position. Mfuzz cluster and WGCNA co-expression analysis showed that 24 candidate genes were involved in the SE process. The expression of the 24 genes were also affected by exogenous ABA signals, among which QaLEC2, QaCALS11 and QaSSRP1 occupied the important roles. Additionally, the callose content were also affected by exogenous ABA signals, which had significantly positive correlations with the expression of QaLEC2 and QaCALS11. This study not only established an efficient reproduction system for Q. aliena, but also revealed the difference in embryogenic ability of zygotic embryos from the aspects of transcriptome and endogenous hormone content, and lay a foundation for clarifying the molecular mechanism of SE, and provided a reference for exploring the vital roles of ABA in SE.
Subject(s)
Abscisic Acid , Gene Expression Regulation, Plant , Plant Somatic Embryogenesis Techniques , Quercus , Quercus/genetics , Quercus/metabolism , Quercus/embryology , Abscisic Acid/metabolism , Abscisic Acid/pharmacology , Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects , Seeds/genetics , Seeds/drug effects , Seeds/metabolism , Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism , Plant Proteins/metabolism , Plant Proteins/genetics , Gene Expression Profiling , TranscriptomeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The combination of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has shown broad prospects in prolonging the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). TACE and TKIs can affect the immune microenvironment in patients with HCC. AIM: To determine the overall effects and differences between TACE and different TKIs combinations on the immune microenvironment. METHODS: Data and immune cell profile test results from 213 HCC patients treated with TACE combined with apatinib, lenvatinib, sorafenib, or donafenib before and after 3 wk of treatment were collected. Monocytes were co-cultured with LM3 liver cancer cells, and their ability to inhibit cancer cell growth was analyzed using the MTT method and a nude mouse subcutaneous tumorigenesis experiment. Simulated combined therapy was done using an in situ liver cancer C57BL/6 male mouse model, and the immune response of tumor tissues was analyzed using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared to before combination therapy, the proportion of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)+ mononuclear cells and the number of CD4+ T cells decreased in the TACE + apatinib group, while the number of absolute count of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells increased in the TACE + lenvatinib group. Furthermore, the number of regulatory cells decreased in the TACE + donafenib group, whereas the number of CD8+ T and natural killer cells increased. Additionally, monocytes in the TACE combined with donafenib or lenvatinib groups had a stronger ability to inhibit cancer cell growth than those in the other groups. Combining TACE with donafenib or lenvatinib increased CD8+ T cell infiltration into the tumor tissue. In addition, the proportion of PD-1+ in CD8+ cells, absolute CD8+ T lymphocyte count, and regulatory T cells proportion were independent prognostic factors affecting the survival time of patients with HCC. CONCLUSION: TACE, in combination with different TKIs, produces different immune responses. Specifically, TACE combined with donafenib or lenvatinib may induce strong anti-tumor immune responses.
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BACKGROUND: While the accurate prediction of the overall survival (OS) in patients with submandibular gland cancer (SGC) is paramount for informed therapeutic planning, the development of reliable survival prediction models has been hindered by the rarity of SGC cases. The purpose of this study is to identify key prognostic factors for OS in SGC patients using a large database and construct decision tree models to aid the prediction of survival probabilities in 12, 24, 60 and 120 months. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Result (SEER) program. Demographic and peri-operative predictor variables were identified. The outcome variables overall survival at 12-, 24-, 60, and 120 months. The C5.0 algorithm was utilized to establish the dichotomous decision tree models, with the depth of tree limited within 4 layers. To evaluate the performances of the novel models, the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were generated, and the metrics such as accuracy rate, and area under ROC curve (AUC) were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 1,705, 1,666, 1,543, and 1,413 SGC patients with a follow up of 12, 24, 60 and 120 months and exact survival status were identified from the SEER database. Predictor variables of age, sex, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, tumor histology, summary stage, metastasis to distant lymph node, and marital status exerted substantial influence on overall survival. Decision tree models were then developed, incorporating these vital prognostic indicators. Favorable consistency was presented between the predicted and actual survival statuses. For the training dataset, the accuracy rates for the 12-, 24-, 60- and 120-month survival models were 0.866, 0.767, 0.737 and 0.797. Correspondingly, the AUC values were 0.841, 0.756, 0.725, and 0.774 for the same time points. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the most important predictor variables identified using the large, SEER database, decision tree models were established that predict OS of SGC patients. The models offer a more exhaustive evaluation of mortality risk and may lead to more personalized treatment strategies.
Subject(s)
Decision Trees , SEER Program , Submandibular Gland Neoplasms , Humans , Male , Female , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Submandibular Gland Neoplasms/pathology , Submandibular Gland Neoplasms/therapy , Aged , Prognosis , Adult , Survival Rate , Neoplasm Staging , Algorithms , Survival AnalysisABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a severe complication with high mortality. High plantar pressure and poor microcirculation are considered main causes of DFU. The specific aims were to provide a novel technique for real-time measurement of plantar skin blood flow (SBF) under walking-like pressure stimulus and delineate the first plantar metatarsal head dynamic microcirculation characteristics because of life-like loading conditions in healthy individuals. METHODS: Twenty young healthy participants (14 male and 6 female) were recruited. The baseline (i.e., unloaded) SBF of soft tissue under the first metatarsal head were measured using laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF). A custom-made machine was utilized to replicate daily walking pressure exertion for 5 min. The exerted plantar force was adjusted from 10 N (127.3 kPa) to 40 N (509.3 kPa) at an increase of 5 N (63.7 kPa). Real-time SBF was acquired using the LDF. After each pressure exertion, postload SBF was measured for comparative purposes. Statistical analysis was performed using the R software. RESULTS: All levels of immediate-load and postload SBF increased significantly compared with baseline values. As the exerted load increased, the postload and immediate-load SBF tended to increase until the exerted load reached 35 N (445.6 kPa). However, in immediate-load data, the increasing trend tended to level off as the exerted pressure increased from 15 N (191.0 kPa) to 25 N (318.3 kPa). For postload and immediate-load SBF, they both peaked at 35 N (445.6 kPa). However, when the exerted force exceeds 35 N (445.6 kPa), both the immediate-load and postload SBF values started to decrease. CONCLUSIONS: Our study offered a novel real-time plantar soft tissue microcirculation measurement technique under dynamic conditions. For the first metatarsal head of healthy people, 20 N (254.6 kPa)-plantar pressure has a fair microcirculation stimulus compared with higher pressure. There might be a pressure threshold at 35 N (445.6 kPa) for the first metatarsal head, and soft tissue microcirculation may decrease when local pressure exceeds it.
Subject(s)
Foot , Microcirculation , Skin , Humans , Male , Female , Microcirculation/physiology , Adult , Skin/blood supply , Skin/physiopathology , Foot/blood supply , Pressure , Metatarsal Bones/blood supply , Metatarsal Bones/physiopathology , Laser-Doppler Flowmetry/methods , Young Adult , Walking/physiology , Diabetic Foot/physiopathologyABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Diabetic retinopathy is a prominent cause of blindness in adults, with early retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss contributing to visual dysfunction or blindness. In the brain, defects in y-aminobutyric acid (GABA) synaptic transmission are associated with pathophysiological and neurodegenerative disorders, whereas glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has demonstrated neuroprotective effects. However, it is not yet clear whether diabetes causes alterations in inhibitory input to RGCs and whether and how GLP-1 protects against neurodegeneration in the diabetic retina through regulating inhibitory synaptic transmission to RGCs. In the present study, we used the patch-clamp technique to record GABA subtype A receptor-mediated miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) in RGCs from streptozotocin-induced diabetes model rats. We found that early diabetes (4 weeks of hyperglycemia) decreased the frequency of GABAergic mIPSCs in RGCs without altering their amplitude, suggesting a reduction in the spontaneous release of GABA to RGCs. Topical administration of GLP-1 eyedrops over a period of 2 weeks effectively countered the hyperglycemia-induced downregulation of GABAergic mIPSC frequency, subsequently enhancing the survival of RGCs. Concurrently, the protective effects of GLP-1 on RGCs in diabetic rats were eliminated by topical administration of exendin-9-39, a specific GLP-1 receptor antagonist, or SR95531, a specific antagonist of the GABA subtype A receptor. Furthermore, extracellular perfusion of GLP-1 was found to elevate the frequencies of GABAergic mIPSCs in both ON- and OFF-type RGCs. This elevation was shown to be mediated by activation of the phosphatidylinositol-phospholipase C/inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor/Ca2+/protein kinase C signaling pathway downstream of GLP-1 receptor activation. Moreover, multielectrode array recordings revealed that GLP-1 functionally augmented the photoresponses of ON-type RGCs. Optomotor response tests demonstrated that diabetic rats exhibited reductions in visual acuity and contrast sensitivity that were significantly ameliorated by topical administration of GLP-1. These results suggest that GLP-1 facilitates the release of GABA onto RGCs through the activation of GLP-1 receptor, leading to the de-excitation of RGC circuits and the inhibition of excitotoxic processes associated with diabetic retinopathy. Collectively, our findings indicate that the GABA system has potential as a therapeutic target for mitigating early-stage diabetic retinopathy. Furthermore, the topical administration of GLP-1 eyedrops represents a non-invasive and effective treatment approach for managing early-stage diabetic retinopathy.
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Microswimmers are considered promising candidates for active cargo delivery to benefit a wide spectrum of biomedical applications. Yet, big challenges still remain in designing the microswimmers with effective propelling, desirable loading and adaptive releasing abilities all in one. Inspired by the morphology and biofunction of spermatozoa, we report a one-step formation strategy of polymorphous sperm-like magnetic microswimmers (PSMs) by developing a vortex turbulence-assisted microfluidics (VTAM) platform. The fabricated PSM is biodegradable with a core-shell head and flexible tail, and their morphology can be adjusted by vortex flow rotation speed and calcium chloride solution concentration. Benefiting from the sperm-like design, our PSM exhibits both effective motion ability under remote mag/netic actuation and protective encapsulation ability for material loading. Further, it can also realize the stable sustain release after alginate-chitosan-alginate (ACA) layer coating modification. This research proposes and verifies a new strategy for the sperm-like microswimmer construction, offering an alternative solution for the target delivery of diverse drugs and biologics for future biomedical treatment. Moreover, the proposed VTAM could also be a general method for other sophisticated polymorphous structures fabrication that isn't achievable by conventional laminar flow.
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Transcription factors often contain several different functional regions, including DNA-binding domains, and play an important regulatory role in plant growth, development, and the response to external stimuli. YABYY transcription factors are plant-specific and contain two special domains (N-terminal C2C2 zinc-finger and C-terminal helix-loop-helix domains) that are indispensable. Specifically, YABBY transcription factors play key roles in maintaining the polarity of the adaxial-abaxial axis of leaves, as well as in regulating: vegetative and reproductive growth, hormone response, stress resistance, and secondary metabolite synthesis in plants. Recently, the identification and functional verification of YABBY transcription factors in different plants has increased. On this basis, we summarize recent advances in the: identification, classification, expression patterns, and functions of the YABBY transcription factor family. The normal expression and function of YABBY transcription factors rely on a regulatory network that is established through the interaction of YABBY family members with other genes. We discuss the interaction network of YABBY transcription factors during leaf polarity establishment and floral organ development. This article provides a reference for research on YABBY function, plant genetic improvement, and molecular breeding.