RAAS in diabetic retinopathy: mechanisms and therapies.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a complication of diabetes with a complex pathophysiology and multiple factors involved. Recently, it has been found that the upregulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) leads to overexpression of angiotensin II (Ang II), which induces oxidative stress, inflammation, and angiogenesis in the retina. Therefore, RAAS may be a promising therapeutic target in DR. Notably, RAAS inhibitors are often used in the treatment of hypertension. Still, the potential role and mechanism of DR must be further studied. In this review, we discuss and summarize the pathology and potential therapeutic goals of RAAS in DR.

Heterozygosity analysis of spontaneous 2n female gametes and centromere mapping of the diploid Hevea brasiliensis based on full-sib triploid populations.

KEY MESSAGE: Unreduced megagametophytes via second-division restitution were confirmed through heterozygosity analysis, and four candidate physical centromeres of rubber were located for the first time. The evaluation of maternal heterozygosity restitution (MHR) is vital in identifying the mechanism of 2n gametogenesis and assessing the utilization value of 2n gametes. In this study, three full-sib triploid populations were employed to evaluate the MHR of 2n female gametes of rubber tree clone GT1 and to confirm their genetic derivation. The 2n female gametes of GT1 were derived from second-division restitution (SDR) and transmitted more than half of the parental heterozygosity. In addition, low recombination frequency markers were developed, and four candidate physical centromeres of rubber tree were located for the first time. The confirmation that 2n female gametes of rubber tree clone GT1 are derived from SDR provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of 2n gametogenesis. In addition, the identified centromere location will aid in the development of centromeric markers for the rapid identification of the 2n gametogenesis mechanism.

RAAS in diabetic retinopathy: mechanisms and therapies

ABSTRACT Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a complication of diabetes with a complex pathophysiology and multiple factors involved. Recently, it has been found that the upregulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) leads to overexpression of angiotensin II (Ang II), which induces oxidative stress, inflammation, and angiogenesis in the retina. Therefore, RAAS may be a promising therapeutic target in DR. Notably, RAAS inhibitors are often used in the treatment of hypertension. Still, the potential role and mechanism of DR must be further studied. In this review, we discuss and summarize the pathology and potential therapeutic goals of RAAS in DR.

The incidence of brain trauma caused by road injuries: Results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

BACKGROUND: Road collisions are a significant source of traumatic brain injury (TBI). We aimed to determine the pattern of road injury related TBI (RI-TBI) incidence, as well as its temporal trends. METHODS: We collected detailed information on RI-TBI between 1990 and 2019, derived from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) of RI-TBI age standardized incidence rate (ASIR), by sex, region, and cause of road injuries, were assessed to quantify the temporal trends of RI-TBI burden. RESULTS: Globally, incident cases of RI-TBI increased 68.1% from 6,900,000 in 1990 to 11,600,000 in 2019. The overall ASIR increased by an average of 0.43% (95% CI 0.30%-0.56%) per year during this period. The ASIR of RI-TBI due to cyclist, motorcyclist and other road injuries increased between 1990 and 2019; the corresponding EAPCs were 0.56 (95% CI 0.37-0.75), 1.60 (95% CI 1.35-1.86), and 0.75 (95% CI 0.59-0.91), respectively. In contrast, the ASIR of RI-TBI due to motor vehicle and pedestrian decreased with an EAPC of -0.12 and -0.14 respectively. The changing pattern for RI-TBI was heterogeneous across countries and regions. The most pronounced increases were observed in Mexico (EAPC = 3.74), followed by China (EAPC = 2.45) and Lesotho (EAPC = 1.91). CONCLUSIONS: RI-TBI remains a major public health concern worldwide, although road safety legislations have contributed to the decreasing incidence in some countries. We found an unfavorable trend in several countries with a relatively low socio-demographic index, suggesting that much more targeted and specific approaches should be adopted in these areas to forestall the increase in RI-TBI.

Clinical research on lumbar oblique-pulling manipulation in combination with sling exercise therapy for patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate clinical curative effects of lumbar oblique-pulling manipulation in combination with sling-exercise-therapy training on chronic nonspecific lower back pain. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with chronic nonspecific lower back pain in the Outpatient Department were included in this study. These patients were randomly divided into two groups: the observation group and the control group. The control group adopted a single sling-exercise-therapy training three times a week, while the observation group adopted lumbar oblique-pulling manipulation in combination with manipulation treatment once a week. The course of treatment lasted for four weeks. RESULTS: (1) Before and after treatment, the ODI score was compared within the group. A remarkable statistical significance was observed from the third day (P<0.05). At the third month of follow-up, the difference in ODI scores between these two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). (2) Before and after treatment, it was observed that differences in VAS scores from the third day were statistically significant (P<0.05). (3) The difference in muscle strength between these two groups had remarkable statistical significance in the third month of follow-up (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The effective rehabilitation function of lumbar oblique-pulling manipulation in combination with sling-exercise-therapy training in patients with CNLBP is superior to that of sling-exercise-therapy training alone.

Clinical research on lumbar oblique-pulling manipulation in combination with sling exercise therapy for patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: To investigate clinical curative effects of lumbar oblique-pulling manipulation in combination with sling-exercise-therapy training on chronic nonspecific lower back pain. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with chronic nonspecific lower back pain in the Outpatient Department were included in this study. These patients were randomly divided into two groups: the observation group and the control group. The control group adopted a single sling-exercise-therapy training three times a week, while the observation group adopted lumbar oblique-pulling manipulation in combination with manipulation treatment once a week. The course of treatment lasted for four weeks. RESULTS: (1) Before and after treatment, the ODI score was compared within the group. A remarkable statistical significance was observed from the third day (P<0.05). At the third month of follow-up, the difference in ODI scores between these two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). (2) Before and after treatment, it was observed that differences in VAS scores from the third day were statistically significant (P<0.05). (3) The difference in muscle strength between these two groups had remarkable statistical significance in the third month of follow-up (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The effective rehabilitation function of lumbar oblique-pulling manipulation in combination with sling-exercise-therapy training in patients with CNLBP is superior to that of sling-exercise-therapy training alone.

RESUMO OBJETIVO: Investigar os efeitos curativos da manipulação lombar com o movimento de puxar oblíquo combinado a terapia por exercícios de sling-training para dor lombar baixa crônica não específica. METODOLOGIA: Um total de 60 pacientes com dor lombar baixa crônica não específica no ambulatório foram incluídos neste estudo. Esses pacientes foram divididos aleatoriamente em dois grupos: o grupo de observação e o grupo de controle. O grupo de controle aderiu apenas à terapia por exercícios de sling-training três vezes por semana, enquanto o grupo de observação aderiu à manipulação lombar com o movimento de puxar oblíquo combinado à terapia por exercícios de sling-training uma vez por semana. O tratamento durou quatro semanas. RESULTADOS: (1) Antes e após o tratamento, o escore de ODI foi comparado no grupo. Uma significância estatística notável foi observada a partir do terceiro dia (P<0,05). No terceiro mês de acompanhamento, a diferença nos escores de ODI entre os dois grupos foi estatisticamente significante (P<0,05). (2) Antes e após o tratamento, observou-se que diferenças nos escores de VAS a partir do terceiro dia foram estatisticamente significantes (P< 0,05). (3) A diferença de força muscular entre os dois grupos apresentou significância estatística notável no terceiro mês de acompanhamento (p<0,05). CONCLUSÃO: A função de reabilitação efetiva da manipulação lombar com o movimento de puxar oblíquo combinada à terapia por exercícios de sling-training em pacientes com dor lombar baixa crônica não específica é superior à da terapia por exercícios de sling-training sozinha.