Brain-Computer Interface-Robot Training Enhances Upper Extremity Performance and Changes the Cortical Activation in Stroke Patients: A Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study.

Introduction: We evaluated the efficacy of brain-computer interface (BCI) training to explore the hypothesized beneficial effects of physiotherapy alone in chronic stroke patients with moderate or severe paresis. We also focused on the neuroplastic changes in the primary motor cortex (M1) after BCI training. Methods: In this study, 18 hospitalized chronic stroke patients with moderate or severe motor deficits participated. Patients were operated on for 20 sessions and followed up after 1 month. Functional assessments were performed at five points, namely, pre1-, pre2-, mid-, post-training, and 1-month follow-up. Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) was used as the primary outcome measure, while Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), its wrist and hand (FMA-WH) sub-score and its shoulder and elbow (FMA-SE) sub-score served as secondary outcome measures. Neuroplastic changes were measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) at baseline and after 20 sessions of BCI training. Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate functional connectivity (FC) across time points. Results: Compared to the baseline, better functional outcome was observed after BCI training and 1-month follow-up, including a significantly higher probability of achieving a clinically relevant increase in the WMFT full score (ΔWMFT score = 12.39 points, F = 30.28, and P < 0.001), WMFT completion time (ΔWMFT time = 248.39 s, F = 16.83, and P < 0.001), and FMA full score (ΔFMA-UE = 12.72 points, F = 106.07, and P < 0.001), FMA-WH sub-score (ΔFMA-WH = 5.6 points, F = 35.53, and P < 0.001), and FMA-SE sub-score (ΔFMA-SE = 8.06 points, F = 22.38, and P < 0.001). Compared to the baseline, after BCI training the FC between the ipsilateral M1 and the contralateral M1 was increased (P < 0.05), which was the same as the FC between the ipsilateral M1 and the ipsilateral frontal lobe, and the FC between the contralateral M1 and the contralateral frontal lobe was also increased (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that BCI-based rehabilitation could be an effective intervention for the motor performance of patients after stroke with moderate or severe upper limb paresis and represents a potential strategy in stroke neurorehabilitation. Our results suggest that FC between ipsilesional M1 and frontal cortex might be enhanced after BCI training. Clinical Trial Registration: www.chictr.org.cn, identifier: ChiCTR2100046301.

Molecular characterization of AwSox2 from bivalve Anodonta woodiana: Elucidating its player in the immune response.

Sox2 is an embryonal stem cell Ag essential for early embryonic development, tissue homeostasis and immune regulation. In the current study, one complete Sox2 cDNA sequence was cloned from freshwater bivalve Anodonta woodiana and named AwSox2. Histological changes of testis derived from Bisphenol A (BPA) treatment were analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Expressions of AwSox2 derived from BPA, LPS and polyinosinic:polycytidylic (Poly I:C) challenge were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. The full-length cDNA of AwSox2 contained an open reading frame of 927 nucleotides bearing the typical structural features of Sox2 family. Obvious degeneration, irregular arrangement of spermatids, and clotted dead and intertwined spermatids were observed in BPA-treated groups. Administration of BPA could result in a dose-dependent up-regulation of AwSox2 expression in the male gonadal tissue of A. woodiana. In addition, expression of AwSox2 was significantly induced by LPS and Poly I:C treatment in the hepatopancreas, gill and hemocytes, compared with that of control group. These results indicated that up-regulations of AwSOx2 are closely related to apoptosis of spermatogonial stem cells derived from BPA treatment as well as enhancement of immune defense against LPS and Poly I:C challenge in A. woodiana.

Molecular cloning and characterization of two genes encoding peroxiredoxins from freshwater bivalve Anodonta woodiana: Antioxidative effect and immune defense.

Members of Prx family function as an important players in host defense against oxidative stress, and modulate immune responses. In the current study, two complete Prx sequences were isolated from bivalve Anodonta woodiana and respectively named AwPrx4a and AwPrx4b. Regulative characterizations of AwPrx4a and AwPrx4b derived from perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluoroocanoic acid (PFOA), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and polyinosinic:polycytidylic (Poly I:C) challenge in hepatopancreas, gill and hemocytes were measured by quantitative real-time PCR, respectively. The full-length cDNA of AwPrx4a had an open reading frame ORF of 588 bp encoding 196 amino acids. Two highly conserved Prxs signature motifs were observed in deduced amino acid sequence, one was FYPLDFTFACPTEI, and the other was GEVCPA. Complete cDNA sequence of AwPrx4b was comprised of a 5' untranslated region (UTR) of 120 nucleotides, a 426 bp ORF which was encoded 142 amino acids, and a long 3'-UTR of 412 nucleotides. Expressions of AwPrx4a and AwPrx4b showed a significant up-regulation pattern in groups at lower concentration treatment of PFOS and PFOA, a biphasic profile in groups with a higher concentration treatment. Compared with that of control group, expressions of AwPrx4a and AwPrx4b were significantly induced by LPS and Poly I:C treatment in the hepatopancreas, gill and hemocytes. These results indicate up-regulations of AwPrx4a and AwPrx4b expression are associated with eliminating oxidative stress derived from PFOS and PFOA administration as well as enhancing immune defense against LPS and Poly I:C challenge.