Aim
Acupuncture has benefits in the rehabilitation of neuropsychiatric sequelae of stroke. This study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of dense cranial electroacupuncture stimulation plus body ...acupuncture (DCEAS+BA) in treating poststroke depression (PSD), functional disability, and cognitive deterioration.
Methods
In this assessor‐ and participant‐blinded, randomized controlled trial, 91 stroke patients who initially had PSD were randomly assigned to either DCEAS+BA (n = 45) or minimum acupuncture stimulation as controls (n = 46) for three sessions per week over 8 consecutive weeks. The primary outcome was baseline‐to‐end‐point change in score of the 17‐item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Secondary outcomes included the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale for depressive symptoms, the Barthel Index for functional disability, and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment for cognitive function.
Results
DCEAS+BA‐treated patients showed strikingly greater end‐point reduction than MAS‐treated patients in scores of the three symptom domains. The clinical response rate, defined as an at least 50% baseline‐to‐end‐point reduction in 17‐item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score, was markedly higher in the DCEAS+BA‐treated group than that of controls (40.0% vs 17.4%, P = 0.031). Incidence of adverse events was not different in the two groups. Subgroup analysis revealed that DCEAS+BA with electrical stimulation on forehead acupoints was more apparent in reducing Barthel‐Index‐measured disability than that without electrical stimulation.
Conclusion
DCEAS+BA, particularly with electrical stimulation on forehead acupoints, reduces PSD, functional disability, and cognitive deterioration of stroke patients. It can serve as an effective rehabilitation therapy for neuropsychiatric sequelae of stroke.
In this study, we report a simple and efficient two-step method consisting of water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion technique and subsequent annealing process for synthesizing the hollow reduced graphene oxide ...microspheres embedded with Ni nanoparticles (Air@rGO€Ni). The microspheres showed good electromagnetic properties because of the coexistence of magnetic loss and dielectric loss to microwaves. The minimum reflection loss (RL
min
) value of Air@rGO€Ni microsphere reaches up to − 59.7 dB at 11.6 GHz with a thickness of 2.7 mm and an absorption bandwidth (lower than − 10 dB) is 4.8 GHz (9.4–14.2 GHz). Their resistance to chemical corrosion is amazingly, after treatment in hydrochloric acid for 5 days, the saturation magnetization (Ms) values of Air@rGO€Ni microsphere has fallen only six percentage points. More interestingly, we can easily controll the microwave absorbing properties of the microspheres by changing the ratio of the two components in the composites. The unique 3D structure and excellent electromagnetic match at the corresponding resonance peaks for dielectric and magnetic loss play an important role in improving microwave absorption property. Our study provides a good potential method for preparation of lightweight microwave absorbing materials.
In this study, we report a simple and efficient two-step method consisting of water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion technique and subsequent annealing process for synthesizing the hollow reduced graphene oxide ...microspheres embedded with Co nanoparticles (Air@rGO€Co). The microspheres showed good electromagnetic properties because of the coexistence of magnetic loss and dielectric loss to microwaves. The minimum reflection loss (RL
) value of S
reaches -68.1 dB at 13.8 GHz with a thickness of 2.2 mm, and the absorption bandwidth (lower than -10 dB) is 7.1 GHz covering from 10.9 GHz to 18.0 GHz. More interestingly, we can easily controll the microwave absorbing properties of the microspheres by changing the ratio of the two components in the composites. The excellent electromagnetic match at the corresponding resonance peaks for dielectric and magnetic loss play an important role in improving microwave absorption property. Our study provides a good potential method for preparation of lightweight microwave absorbing materials.
microRNA-19a-3p (miR-19a-3p) has been reported to regulate cell proliferation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but its role in HCC metastasis remains unknown. In this study, miR-19a-3p was noted to ...be upregulated in HCC specimens and cell lines. Aberrant expression of miR-19a-3p stimulated HCC cell metastasis, and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) was shown to be a direct target of miR-19a-3p. miR-19a-3p-mediated HCC metastasis was reversed by restoration of PTEN or could be imitated by silencing of PTEN. Modulation of miR-19a-3p also altered expression of phosphorylated Akt, a downstream mediator of PTEN. Moreover, aberrant expression of miR-19a-3p induced sorafenib resistance by regulating the PTEN/Akt pathway. In conclusion, ectopic expression of miR-19a-3p contributes to HCC metastasis and chemoresistance by modulating PTEN expression and the PTEN-dependent pathways.
Matrimony vine-like α-Fe2O3/reduced graphene oxide have been prepared by a facile method, followed by transformation into Fe3O4/reduced graphene oxide through annealing at 500 °C with the particle ...size and morphology significantly unchanged. By changing the mass ratio of iron oxide, the hybrids display optimal electromagnetic wave absorption performance. The maximum reflection loss value of α-Fe2O3/reduced graphene oxide is −46.6 dB at 5.6 GHz with a thickness of 4.0 mm and the highest effective absorption bandwidth reaches 4.9 GHz at the thickness of 1.8 mm. Interestingly, after annealing treatment, the hybrids in which α-Fe2O3 were converted into Fe3O4 exhibit an effective absorption bandwidth of 4.6 GHz and the maximum reflection loss value reaches −42.8 dB at 13.3 GHz with the thickness of only 1.8 mm, indicating Fe3O4/reduced graphene oxide can be used as an efficient electromagnetic wave absorbing material in high temperature and moisture environment, where Fe3O4 will be oxidized into α-Fe2O3. Results show the enhancement of electromagnetic wave absorption performance originates from synergistic effects of dielectric loss and magnetic loss. Our study provides a potential method for preparing environmental resistance electromagnetic wave absorbing materials.
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•Matrimony vine-like α-Fe2O3/reduced graphene oxide was prepared by facile and scalable method.•By annealing treatment, α-Fe2O3/reduced graphene oxide was converted into Fe3O4/reduced graphene oxide.•The obtained products both show enhanced electromagnetic wave absorption properties.•Fe3O4/reduced graphene oxide absorber can be used in harsh environment.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease, mainly characterized by the loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra. Several non-motor symptoms, including ...those associated with gastrointestinal dysfunction, precede the classical motor symptoms in PD. However, the mechanisms underlying gastrointestinal dysfunction in the prodromal phase of PD remain elusive. Here, we investigated the contribution of the central DA system to cell proliferation in the colonic epithelium. Degeneration of nigrostriatal DA pathway induced by striatal 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) injection resulted in a marked reduction in cell proliferation in the colonic epithelium as assessed by Ki-67 and bromodeoxyuridine labeling assays. RNA-sequencing analysis confirmed the suppression of cell cycle-related gene expression in the colonic epithelium of 6-OHDA-lesioned mice. Mesencephalic DA neuron degeneration also caused the gut microbiota dysbiosis. Moreover, 6-OHDA-lesioned mice showed profoundly increased vulnerability to dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. Together, our study uncovers a crucial role for the integrity of nigral DA neurons in the maintenance of colonic epithelial cell homeostasis. Our data also provide a new strategy for protecting intestinal homeostasis in PD.
•The integrity of nigral DA neurons is required for coordinated homeostasis of the intestinal epithelium.•The Wnt/βcatenin pathway is involved in the regulation for 6-OHDA-induced decrease of colonic epithelial proliferation.•Dysbiosis of gut microbiome may be involved in loss-of-nigral DA neuron-induced deficits in the proliferation of ISCs.
Aiming at the technical problems of frequent dynamic pressure disturbance of regenerated roof and roadway stability control in the process of forming large-section support return channel under the ...delamination mining, taking 1200-2 fully mechanized caving face of Baiyinhua No. 4 Mine as the engineering background, numerical simulation and theoretical analysis were adopted. The overburden structure of the lower stratified caving face and the loading characteristics of the roof after the expansion are analyzed, and the breaking forms and the limiting conditions of the roof are given.The combined support scheme of anchor rod + metal mesh + steel ladder belt + I-beam insertion + suspension beam + anchor cable + single pillar is studied to form a set of safe and efficient construction support technology system. Practice shows that this scheme can effectively reduce the roof subsidence, narrow the scope of plastic failure zone, and ensure the stability of roadway surrounding rock during the support withdrawal period. Successfully complete the efficient withdrawal of hydraulic support. The research results can provide a good reference for the roof management and the smooth output of coal resources under similar conditions.
Herein we report solvothermal synthesis of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) decorated magnetic molybdenum disulfide nanosheets (MMoS
2
/PAA) for highly efficient adsorption of three cationic dyes of basic ...fuchsin (BF), methylene blue (MB), and crystal violet (CV) from aqueous solutions. The synthesized MMoS
2
/PAA was characterized by several techniques including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Due to the strong electrostatic interaction between cationic dyes and the anionic nanosheet surface, the obtained MMoS
2
/PAA showed ultrafast adsorption of BF, MB and CV within 2 min with high adsorption capacities of 886.1, 709.0, and 633.6 mg g
−1
, respectively, much higher than those materials reported recently. PAA molecules bound on the nanosheets played a crucial role in significantly enhancing the dye adsorption. The adsorption kinetics and isotherms of three dyes onto the MMoS
2
/PAA were well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic and the Langmuir models. Moreover, the MMoS
2
/PAA also exhibited high removal efficiencies for various mixed-dye solutions. Besides, such a functional nanomaterial could be effectively recovered from dye solutions under an external magnetic field and reused for dye adsorption without compromising on its performance indicating it can serve as an excellent adsorbent for effective removal of a variety of cationic organic pollutants from industrial effluents.
Poly(acrylic acid) decorated magnetic MoS
2
nanosheets with high adsorption capacities for three cationic dyes have been successfully synthesized by a simple one-step solvothermal method.
Real-time online detection of trace threat analytes is critical for global sustainability, whereas the key challenge is how to efficiently convert and amplify analyte signals into simple readouts. ...Here we report an ultrasensitive microfluidic platform incorporated with smart microgel for real-time online detection of trace threat analytes. The microgel can swell responding to specific stimulus in flowing solution, resulting in efficient conversion of the stimulus signal into significantly amplified signal of flow-rate change; thus highly sensitive, fast, and selective detection can be achieved. We demonstrate this by incorporating ion-recognizable microgel for detecting trace Pb2+, and connecting our platform with pipelines of tap water and wastewater for real-time online Pb2+ detection to achieve timely pollution warning and terminating. This work provides a generalizable platform for incorporating myriad stimuli-responsive microgels to achieve ever-better performance for real-time online detection of various trace threat molecules, and may expand the scope of applications of detection techniques.
Cumulative evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) promote gene expression in cancers. However, the pathophysiologic relevance of miRNA-mediated RNA activation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ...remains to be established. Our previous miRNA expression profiling in seven-paired HCC specimens revealed miR-93-5p as an HCC-related miRNA. In this study, miR-93-5p expression was assessed in HCC tissues and cell lines by quantitative real-time PCR and fluorescence in situ hybridization. The correlation of miR-93-5p expression with survival and clinicopathological features of HCC was determined by statistical analysis. The function and potential mechanism of miR-93-5p in HCC were further investigated by a series of gain- or loss-of-function experiments in vitro and in vivo. We identified that miR-93-5p, overexpressed in HCC specimens and cell lines, leads to poor outcomes in HCC cases and promotes proliferation, migration, and invasion in HCC cell lines. Mechanistically, rather than decreasing target mRNA levels as expected, miR-93-5p binds to the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 2 (MAP3K2) to directly upregulate its expression and downstream p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway, thereby leading to cell cycle progression in HCC. Notably, we also demonstrated that c-Jun, a downstream effector of the JNK pathway, enhances miR-93-5p transcription by targeting its promoter region. Besides, downregulation of miR-93-5p significantly retarded tumor growth, while overexpression of miR-93-5p accelerated tumor growth in the HCC xenograft mouse model. Altogether, we revealed a miR-93-5p/MAP3K2/c-Jun positive feedback loop to promote HCC progression in vivo and in vitro, representing an RNA-activating role of miR-93-5p in HCC development.
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