Procedimiento de evaluación de la fase inicial del tiro libre del baloncesto

El procedimiento que se presenta se elaboró con el objetivo de determinar indicadores para la evaluación de la fase inicial del tiro libre del baloncesto, en la categoría 9-10 años. En la confección del mismo, se tuvieron en cuenta los bajos porcientos de efectividad tanto en intentados y anotados, como las deficiencias en la ejecución obtenidas en el estudio preliminar, realizado a 120 niños de la zona occidental, con un dominio de solo el 25 % de los aspectos biomecánicos a alcanzar, en el proceso de enseñanza; ello constituyó una de las principales motivaciones para la confección del procedimiento evaluativo. El análisis documental, la observación a través de guías estructuradas y las técnicas de videografía, así como la entrevista, permitieron detectar las insuficiencias en la evaluación de la ejecución del tiro libre en la iniciación deportiva. En el trabajo, se realizó la valoración, mediante criterio de especialistas y criterio de usuarios, y deja abierto un espacio para ampliar acciones de orden metodológico y de carácter científico, técnico, fisiológico, teórico y psicológico que sirvan al desarrollo de los profesores y entrenadores de base.

O procedimento apresentado foi elaborado com o objetivo de determinar indicadores para a avaliação da fase inicial do lance livre no basquetebol, na categoria de 9 a 10 anos de idade. Em sua elaboração, foram levados em conta os baixos percentuais de eficácia tanto nos arremessos tentados como nos arremessos marcados, bem como as deficiências na execução obtidas no estudo preliminar, realizado em 120 crianças da zona oeste, com um domínio de apenas 25% dos aspectos biomecânicos a serem alcançados no processo de ensino; isso constituiu uma das principais motivações para a elaboração do procedimento de avaliação. A análise documental, a observação por meio de guias estruturados e técnicas de videografia, bem como a entrevista, permitiram detectar as insuficiências na avaliação da execução do lance livre na iniciação esportiva. No trabalho, a avaliação foi realizada por meio de critérios de especialistas e critérios de usuários, e deixa um espaço aberto para ampliar ações de ordem metodológica e de natureza científica, técnica, fisiológica, teórica e psicológica que sirvam ao desenvolvimento de professores e treinadores de base.

The procedure presented was developed with the objective of determining indicators for the evaluation of the initial phase of the basketball free throw, in the 9-10-year-old category. In its preparation, the low percentages of effectiveness in both attempted and scored were taken into account, as well as the deficiencies in execution obtained in the preliminary study, carried out on 120 children from the western zone, with a mastery of only 25% of the biomechanical aspects to be achieved in the teaching process; this constituted one of the main motivations for the preparation of the evaluation procedure. The documentary analysis, observation through structured guides and videography techniques, as well as the interview, made it possible to detect insufficiencies in the evaluation of the execution of the free throw in sports initiation. In the work, the assessment was carried out, through the criteria of specialists and the criteria of users, and leaves open a space to expand actions of a methodological order and of a scientific, technical, physiological, theoretical and psychological nature that serve the development of teachers and coaches. base.

Priapismo y leucemia mieloide crónica en adolescente. Debut poco frecuente. Reporte de caso / Priapism and chronic myeloid leukemia in an adolescent. Rare debut presentation. A case report

El priapismo es una erección dolorosa y persistente acompañada o no de estímulo sexual. Una causa poco frecuente de esta anormalidad es la leucemia mieloide crónica. Se han reportado pocos casos de priapismo como manifestación inicial de una leucemia de este tipo en pacientes adolescentes. A continuación, se informa el caso de un paciente de 16 años de edad que presentó priapismo como manifestación inicial de una leucemia mieloide crónica. Durante su evolución, no se realizó aspiración de los cuerpos cavernosos. Se inició tratamiento hematológico específico y, ante la persistencia del priapismo, fue necesario realizar un shunt de cuerpos cavernosos en dos ocasiones, tratamiento a pesar del cual existen altas probabilidades de secuelas.

Priapism is a painful and persistent erection, with or without sexual stimulation. A rare cause of such abnormality is chronic myeloid leukemia. Few cases of priapism as an initial manifestation of this type of leukemia have been reported in adolescent patients. Here we describe the case of a 16-year-old patient who presented with priapism as the initial manifestation of chronic myeloid leukemia. No cavernosal aspiration was performed. A specific hematological treatment was started and, given the persistence of priapism, the patient required 2 corpora cavernosa shunt procedures; despite this treatment, there is a high probability of sequelae.

Development and verification of a reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography method for purity determination of recombinant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Ag85b protein stock solution / 中国生物制品学杂志

@#Objective To develop and verify a reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography method for the determination of the purity of recombinant Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb)Ag85b protein stock solution.Methods Fourfactor,three-level orthogonal test was designed,with the area,trailing factor,peak area and peak area RSD as the evaluation indexes to explore the optimal detection conditions. The methodology verification of specificity,linear range,precision and durability was conducted in accordance with the general principles of Chinese Pharmacopoeia(Volume Ⅳ,2020 edition)9101.Results The results of all the evaluation indexes were good when the elution ratio of organic phase was30% ～ 95%,the detection temperature was 35 ℃,the sample volume was 3 μg,and the elution time of 95% organic phase was 15 min. The method had the linear correlation coefficient(R2)of 0. 998 5,the linear range of 1. 8 ～ 4. 2 μg,the reproducibility RSD of 0. 01%,and the intermediate precision RSD of 0. 16%,with good durability under slight changes of column temperature and flow rate.Conclusion The reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography method for the purity determination of recombinant Mtb Ag85b protein stock solution was developed,which has good specificity,precision and durability,and can be used for the quality control of recombinant Mtb Ag85b protein stock solution.

Challenges in the study of self-assembled aggregates in decoction of traditional Chinese medicine: A preliminary review / 药学学报

Decoction is the most commonly used dosage form in the clinical treatment of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). During boiling, the violent movement of various active ingredients in TCM creates molecular forces such as hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking, hydrophobic interactions and electrostatic interactions, which results in the formation of self-assembled aggregates in decoction (SADs), including particles, gels, fibers, etc. It was found that SADs widely existed in decoction with biological activities superior to both effective monomers and their physical mixtures, providing a new idea to reveal the pharmacodynamic material basis of Chinese herbal medicine from the perspective of component interactions-phase structure. Recently, SADs have become a novel focus of research in TCM. This paper reviewed their relevant studies in recent years and found some issues to be concerned in the research, such as the polydispersity of decoction system, instability of active ingredient interactions during boiling, uncertainty of the aggregates self-assembly rules, and stability, purity, yield of the products. In this regard, some solutions and new ideas were presented for the integrated development and clinical application of SADs.

Effects of long-term noise exposure during sleep on cognitive function and biological clock-related mechanisms in mice / 环境与职业医学

Background Environmental noise pollution is serious, and there are few studies on the effects of long-term noise exposure during sleep on cognitive function and possible biological clock mechanism. Objective To explore the cognitive impairment induced by noise exposure during sleep in mice and possible biological clock mechanism, and to provide a theoretical basis for the protection against noise exposure. Methods Twenty male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a control group and a noise-exposed group, 10 mice in each group. The noise-exposed group was exposed to sleep-period noise using a noise generator for 12 h (08:00–20:00) per day for a total of 30 d. The calibrated noise intensity was set at 90 dB. No intervention was imposed on the control group. At the end of the noise exposure, cognitive function of mice was examined using the new object recognition experiment and the open field test, and the hippocampal tissue damage of mice were evaluated by Nissl staining, ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) immunofluorescence staining, and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR for inflammatory factors and biological clock genes. Oxidative stress indicators in the hippocampus of mice were also detected by assay kit. Results After noise exposure during sleep period, the results of new object recognition experiment showed that the discrimination index of mice in the noise-exposed group was 0.06±0.04, which was significantly lower than that of the control group (0.65±0.13) (P<0.05). The results of open field test showed that the central activity distance of the noise-exposed group was (242.20±176.10) mm, which was significantly lower than that of the control group, (1548.00±790.30) mm (P < 0.05), and the central activity time of the noise-exposed group was (0.87±0.64) s, which was significantly lower than that of the control group, (6.00±2.86) s (P < 0.05). The Nissl staining results showed that compared with the control group, neurons in the hippocampus of the noise-exposed mice were shrunken, deeply stained, disorganized, and loosely connected. The immunofluorescence results showed that microglia in the hippocampus of the noise-exposed mice were activated and the expression of Iba1 was significantly increased compared with those of the control group (P<0.05). The real-time PCR results of showed that the mRNA levels of the biological clock genes Clock, Per2, and Rev-erbα were significantly increased compared with those of the control group (P<0.05), and the mRNA level of Per1 was significantly decreased compared with that of the control group (P<0.05); and the mRNA levels of IL-18, IL-6, iNOS, and NLRP3 in the hippocampal tissues of mice were significantly increased compared with those of the control group (P<0.05). The results of oxidative stress evaluation showed that compared with the control group, reduced glutathione content was significantly reduced in the noise-exposed group (P<0.001). Conclusion Noise exposure during sleep period can lead to the destabilization of biological clock genes in hippocampal tissues and trigger hippocampal neuroinflammation, which can lead to the activation of microglia and cause cognitive impairment in mice.

Age Discrimination Based on Volatile Components of Arisaema Cum Bile / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo discriminate the age of Arisaema Cum Bile， the combination of headspace solid-phase microextraction （HS-SPME） with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （GC-MS） was applied to explore the differences of volatile components of unfermented， 1-year fermented， 2-year fermented， and 3-year fermented Arisaema Cum Bile. MethodSamples with different fermentation durations were collected and HS-SPME-GC-MS technology was employed to detect the volatile components of each sample. The relative contents of detected volatile components were processed and analyzed by chemometrics methods such as principal component analysis （PCA）， hierarchical cluster analysis （HCA）， and partial least squares discriminant analysis （PLS-DA）. ResultThe results showed that 145 volatile components were identified. Among these volatile components， the relative contents of heterocyclic， alcohols， aldehydes and aromatics were high. PCA， HCA， and PLS-DA can effectively separate Arisaema Cum Bile with four different ages. Based on variable importance in projection （VIP） value > 1， 73 markers of differential volatile components were identified. The content of 2，6，11-trimethyldodecane and m-xylene in unfermented samples was the highest， and the content difference between them and those in fermented samples was significant （P<0.05）. 2，3-butanediol was detected only in 1-year samples， octane was detected only in 2-year samples， and ethyl heptanoate was detected only in 3-year samples. These components can be used as odor markers for Arisaema Cum Bile with different fermentation years. ConclusionThe identification method of volatile components of Arisaema Cum Bile was established by HS-SPME-GC-MS technology， which can realize the rapid identification of unfermented， 1-year fermented， 2-year fermented， and 3-year fermented samples， and provide a scientific basis for the standardization of processing technology and quality standards of Arisaema Cum Bile.

Theta Oscillations Support Prefrontal-hippocampal Interactions in Sequential Working Memory / 神经科学通报·英文版

The prefrontal cortex and hippocampus may support sequential working memory beyond episodic memory and spatial navigation. This stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) study investigated how the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) interacts with the hippocampus in the online processing of sequential information. Twenty patients with epilepsy (eight women, age 27.6 ± 8.2 years) completed a line ordering task with SEEG recordings over the DLPFC and the hippocampus. Participants showed longer thinking times and more recall errors when asked to arrange random lines clockwise (random trials) than to maintain ordered lines (ordered trials) before recalling the orientation of a particular line. First, the ordering-related increase in thinking time and recall error was associated with a transient theta power increase in the hippocampus and a sustained theta power increase in the DLPFC (3-10 Hz). In particular, the hippocampal theta power increase correlated with the memory precision of line orientation. Second, theta phase coherences between the DLPFC and hippocampus were enhanced for ordering, especially for more precisely memorized lines. Third, the theta band DLPFC → hippocampus influence was selectively enhanced for ordering, especially for more precisely memorized lines. This study suggests that theta oscillations may support DLPFC-hippocampal interactions in the online processing of sequential information.

Ângulo de fase como preditor de massa muscular em pacientes com doença inflamatória intestinal / Phase angle as a predictor of muscle mass in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

ABSTRACT Malnutrition/sarcopenia is frequent in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), and results in muscle catabolism, impacting treatment response, postoperative complications, and quality of life. Objective: This study aims to assess whether the phase angle (PhA) is a parameter for predicting reduced muscle mass in patients with IBD. Methods: Adult patients with IBD were included in this cross-sectional study. For the estimation of muscle mass and the calculation of the PhA, we used bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) activity scores were defined using the Harvey-Bradshaw index and partial Mayo score, respectively. The area under the ROC curve was calculated to identify the PhA cut-off point for reduced muscle mass. Results: The sample consisted of 145 patients, with 39 (26.9%) with IBD in the active phase. There was a correlation of the PhA with skeletal muscle mass (SMM) (rs 0.35, P<0.001) and with the skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) (rs 0.427, P<0.001), and the associations remained in the most active form (moderate or severe) of IBD. The ROC curve analysis indicated that the cut-offs points of the PhA ≤5.042 for female and PhA ≤6.079 for male can be used to predict muscle mass reduction. Conclusion: The PhA can be considered a predictor of muscle mass reduction in IBD patients, and we can use it for screening and monitoring the evolution of malnutrition.

RESUMO A desnutrição/sarcopenia é frequente em pacientes com doenças inflamatórias intestinais (DII), resultando em catabolismo muscular, com impacto nas respostas aos tratamentos, complicações cirúrgicas e na qualidade de vida. Objetivo: Este estudo tem como objetivo, avaliar se o ângulo de fase (AF) é um parâmetro para a predição de redução de massa muscular em pacientes com DII. Métodos: Pacientes adultos com DII foram incluídos neste estudo transversal. A estimativa da massa muscular e o cálculo do AF foram realizados a partir do exame de bioimpedância elétrica (BIA). As atividades da doença de Crohn e retocolite ulcerativa foram definidas pelo índice Harvey-Bradshaw e escore parcial de Mayo, respectivamente. A área de curva ROC foi calculada para identificar o ponto de corte do AF para a massa muscular reduzida. Resultados: A amostra foi composta por 145 pacientes, sendo 39 (26.9%) com DII em fase ativa. Houve correlação do AF com massa muscular esquelética (MME) (rs 0.35, P<0.001) e com o índice de massa muscular esquelética (IMME) (rs 0.427, P<0.001), mantendo-se as associações na forma mais ativa (moderada ou grave) da DII. A análise da curva ROC indicou que os pontos de corte de AF ≤5.042 para mulheres e ≤6.079 para homens podem ser usados para prever a redução da massa muscular. Conclusão: O AF pode ser considerado um preditor de redução de massa muscular nos pacientes com DII e ser utilizado para triagem e acompanhamento da evolução da desnutrição.

Consideraciones bioéticas sobre los incentivos a participantes voluntarios sanos en investigaciones Fase I

Los ensayos clínicos en Fase I se realzan con la participación de voluntarios sanos de prueban la seguridad y tolerabilidad de los productos farmacéuticos en investigación. En ellos, los participantes están expuestos a riesgos de medicamentos del estudio sin la posibilidad de un beneficio médico directo y, por lo general, deben pasar días o semanas en un centro de investigación. Los incentivos, como pagos monetarios se utilizan para incentivar la inscripción y compensar a los participantes por su tiempo. Estas características de los ensayos voluntarios sanos de fase I crean un contexto de investigación que difiere notablemente de la mayoría de las otras investigaciones clínicas, pues la mayoría de ellos son personas vulnerables económicamente. Este artículo presenta el objetivo de analizar factores bioéticos que inciden en el otorgamiento de incentivos a participantes voluntarios sanos en investigaciones Fase I.

Phase I Clinical Trials are conducted with the participation of healthy volunteers to test the safety and tolerability of pharmaceutical products. In them, participants are exposed to study drug risks without the possibility of direct medical benefit and usually must spend days or weeks at a research site. Incentives such as monetary payments are used to encourage enrollment and compensate participants for their time. These characteristics of Phase I healthy volunteer trials create a research context that differs markedly from most other clinical research, as most of them are financially vulnerable individuals. This paper aims to analyze bioethical factors that influence the granting of incentives to healthy volunteer participants in Phase I research.

Associação entre força de preensão manual e ângulo de fase em idosos da Estratégia Saúde da Família: um estudo transversal / Association between handgrip strength and phase angle in older adults from the Family Health Strategy: a cross-sectional study

Introdução: a Força de Preensão Manual (FPM) é um indicador de saúde e funcionalidade do idoso, que diminui com o passar do tempo, impactada por aspectos como mudanças na composição corporal. Objetivo: investigar a associação entre o Ângulo de Fase Padronizado (AFP) e FPM em idosos comunitários da Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS). Metodologia: estudo transversal, com pessoas de 60 anos ou mais, atendidos na APS. A variável dependente foi a FPM medida com dinamômetro e a independente principal foi o AFP com base no sexo e faixa etária, calculado a partir do ângulo de fase obtido pela bioimpedância. Foi realizada a regressão logística com entrada por bloco, sendo incluídas no modelo as variáveis que apresentaram associação com nível crítico menor do que 10%. Resultados: dos 296 indivíduos avaliados, 28,0% exibiram baixa FPM e 15,9% apresentaram AFP < ­ 1,65°. As variáveis inseridas no modelo final de regressão logística, juntamente com o AFP, foram sexo, faixa etária, Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) e Circunferência da Panturrilha (CP). A análise mostrou que o AFP < ­ 1,65° aumenta a chance do idoso apresentar baixa FPM, tanto na análise sem ajuste (OR = 2,71; IC 95% 1,43-5,15), quanto no modelo final (OR = 2,35; IC 95% 1,14-4,87). Conclusão: o AFP mostrou-se associado à FPM, independentemente da interação com sexo, faixa etária, IMC e CP. A sua utilização pode contribuir na avaliação de idosos, especialmente quando a aferição da FPM não for possível.

Introduction: Handgrip Strength (HGS) is an indicator of health and functionality of the older adults, which decreases over time, impacted by aspects including changes in body composition. Objective: to investigate the association between the Standardized Phase Angle (SPA ) and HGS in community-dwelling older adults in Primary Health Care (PHC). Methodology: cross-sectional study, with people aged 60 or over, assisted in the PHC. The dependent variable was the HGS measured using a dynamometer. The main independent variable was the SPA based on gender and age range, calculated from the phase angle obtained by bioimpedance. Block-by-block logistic regression was performed, including variables that were associated with a critical level lower than 10% in the model. Results: of the 296 individuals assessed, 28.0% had low HGS and 15.9% had SPA < ­ 1.65°. The variables inserted in the final logistic regression model, together with the SPA , were gender, age group, Body Mass Index (BMI) and Calf Circumference (CC). The analysis showed that SPA < ­ 1.65° increases the chance of the older adults having low HGS, both in the unadjusted analysis (OR = 2.71; 95% CI 1.43-5.15) and in the final model (OR = 2.35; 95%CI 1.14-4.87). Conclusion: the SPA was associated with HGS, regardless of the interaction with sex, age group, BMI and CC. Its use can contribute to the evaluation of the older adults, especially when HGS measurement is not possible.

Prevalence of hypertensive phase and outcomes in patients with Ahmed valve implantation at one year of follow-up and evaluation of associated risk factors

Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of hypertensive phase (HP) and failure in patients who underwent Ahmed Glaucoma Valve (AGV) implantation and identify the possible risk factors for both HP and failure. Methods: A cross?sectional, observational study was conducted. Medical records of patients who underwent AGV implantation and had at least 1 year of follow?up were reviewed. HP was defined as an intraocular pressure (IOP) greater than 21 mmHg between the first week and the third postoperative month not attributable to other causes. Success was defined as an IOP between 6 and 21 mmHg, with preservation of light perception and no additional glaucoma surgeries. Statistical analysis was conducted to identify possible risk factors. Results: A total of 193 eyes of 177 patients were included. HP was present in 58%; a higher preoperative IOP and younger age were associated with HP. Pseudophakic or aphakic eyes had a lower HP rate. Failure was present in 29%; neovascular glaucoma, worse basal best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), higher baseline IOP, and postoperative complications were linked to a higher likelihood of failure. No difference in the HP rate between the failure and success groups was found. Conclusion: A higher baseline IOP and younger age are associated with HP development; pseudophakia and aphakia might be protective factors. Factors for AGV failure are a worse BCVA, neovascular glaucoma, postoperative complications, and a higher baseline IOP. At 1 year, a higher number of medications were needed to achieve IOP control in the HP group

Osteometabolic profile and bone mass in the transition phase: ethnic differences in Brazilians treated with somatropin during childhood

Abstract Objective: The main growth hormone action is to promote linear growth increasing protein synthesis stimulation and osteoblastic activity. Peak bone mass extends from adolescence to 30 years of age. Several factors may influence this acquisition and prevent fracture risk in adulthood, such as genetic potential, GH, ethnicity, and lifestyle factors. This study aims to compare bone mass and osteometabolic profile of white and Afro-descendant Brazilian adolescents in the transition phase, who were treated with human recombinant growth hormone in childhood. Methods: The authors selected 38 adolescents from the Transition Outpatient Clinic of the University of São Paulo. Lumbar spine and total body bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC), serum calcium, 25-OH-vitamin D and bone markers were analyzed at the rhGH withdrawal. Results: The mean age was 16.8 ± 1.6 years. There were 21 Afro-descendant and 17 whites. Thirty-four percent of the sample presented vitamin D insufficiency, 66% inadequate calcium intake and 44.7% physical inactivity. The Afro-descendants showed a lower lumbar spine and total body Z scores than those of the whites (p = 0.04 and p = 0.03, respectively), as well as their mean body weight (p = 0.03). There were no differences in the remaining osteometabolic parameters. Conclusion: As most adolescents had vitamin D insufficiency, low calcium intake, and physical inactivity, calcium, and cholecalciferol supplementation and lifestyle changes should be encouraged. The Brazilian Afro-descendant may be a vulnerable group for low bone mass, requiring

Succession of the sessile benthic community at a coral reef restoration site

Introduction: Ecosystem restoration facilitates ecological succession. When a coral reef experiences a disturbance, the community of sessile benthic organisms can follow a successional trajectory that favors the dominance of coral or a change of state to an ecosystem dominated by algae. Objective: To better understand the impact of coral transplants on succession of the sessile benthic community. Methods: To measure and monitor the coral cover (cm2) of Pocillopora spp., and the composition of the associated benthic community, experimental and control coral reef patches were established at the coral restoration site in Golfo Dulce, South Pacific Costa Rica. Thirty Pocillopora spp. colonies were attached to nails on the substrate in an experimental patch. The control coral patch contained nails with non-transplanted colonies. Both treatments were photographed monthly during a period of eight months. Changes in the coverage of coral and other sessile benthic organisms were measured from the images and compared over time between the experimental and control patches. Results: The coral transplants experienced bleaching events in August through September 2019 and January through February 2020. The first bleaching event possibly due to sedimentation, and the second to high temperatures. By the end of the experiment, 83 % of the colonies had survived. The live colonies grew significantly following transplantation; > 67 % of their initial coverage area after eight months. In the experimental patch, the areas of Pocillopora spp., coralline crustose algae (CCA), and cyanobacteria increased while the area of algal turf decreased. The increase in coral coverage and CCA, and decrease in algal turf in the experimental patch could be due to herbivores attracted to transplants. The increase in cyanobacteria in the experimental patch could be the result of higher temperatures and may have been a factor in the death of colonies. Conclusions: The transplantation of Pocillopora spp. colonies in Golfo Dulce changed the early successional trajectory of the sessile benthic community to favor the dominance of coral dominance in the experimental patch. These results may be useful in informing expectations for future restoration efforts.

Introducción: La restauración de ecosistemas facilita la sucesión ecológica. Cuando un arrecife de coral experimenta una perturbación, la comunidad de organismos sésiles bentónicos puede seguir una trayectoria de sucesión que favorezca la dominancia del coral o un cambio de estado a un ecosistema dominado por algas. Objetivo: Comprender mejor el impacto de los trasplantes de coral en la sucesión de la comunidad bentónica sésil. Métodos: Para medir y monitorear la cobertura de coral (cm2) de Pocillopora spp. y la composición de la comunidad bentónica asociada se establecieron parches de arrecifes de coral experimentales y de control en el sitio de restauración de coral en Golfo Dulce, Pacífico Sur de Costa Rica. Treinta colonias de Pocillopora spp., se trasplantaron a los clavos en el sustrato en el parche experimental. El parche de coral de control contenía clavos sin colonias trasplantadas. Ambos tratamientos fueron fotografiados mensualmente durante un periodo de ocho meses. Los cambios en la cobertura de coral y otros organismos bentónicos sésiles se midieron a partir de las imágenes y se compararon a lo largo del tiempo entre los parches experimentales y de control. Resultados: Los trasplantes de coral experimentaron eventos de blanqueamiento de agosto a septiembre de 2019 y de enero a febrero de 2020. El primer evento de blanqueamiento puede haber sido el resultado de la sedimentación y el segundo puede deberse a las altas temperaturas. Al final del experimento, el 83 % de las colonias habían sobrevivido. Las colonias vivas crecieron significativamente después del trasplante; > 67 % de su área de cobertura inicial después de ocho meses. En el parche experimental, las áreas de Pocillopora spp., algas coralinas costrosas (ACC) y cianobacterias aumentaron mientras que el tapete de algas disminuyó. El aumento en la cobertura de coral y ACC, y la disminución en tapetes de algas en el parche experimental podría deberse a los herbívoros atraídos por los trasplantes. El aumento de cianobacterias en el parche experimental podría ser el resultado de temperaturas más altas y puede haber sido un factor en la muerte de las colonias. Conclusiones: El trasplante de las colonias de Pocillopora spp. en Golfo Dulce cambiaron la trayectoria de sucesión temprana de la comunidad bentónica sésil para favorecer la dominancia del coral en el parche experimental. Estos resultados pueden ser útiles para informar las expectativas de futuros esfuerzos de restauración.

Development and implementation of a self-directed learning module on antimicrobial resistance for Phase 2 MBBS students

Background: The first objective of the Global Action Plan proposed by the WHO in preventing and controlling Antimicrobial resistance is to improve awareness and understanding of antimicrobial resistance through effective communication, education and training. Self-directed learning is a student oriented teaching learning method ideal for imparting lasting knowledge on topics of national and global importance such as antimicrobial resistance among medical students, which will help them develop an in-depth understanding of the topic and hence the aim of this study was to develop and implement a Self Directed Learning Module on Antimicrobial Resistance. Material and Methods: The study was conducted in the department of Microbiology with the Phase 2 medical students. Four self-directed learning sessions were developed and disseminated which included case scenarios, class assignments, obtaining antibiotic history from admitted patients, brain storming sessions, final assessment and feedback from students and faculty. Results: 62 out of 80 students gave their consent for the study. 72.6% students attended all the SDL sessions. 55 students gave their final assessments and feedback and all students scored above 50% marks. More than 70% of students said that the SDL aroused curiosity about the topic, while making it interesting, interactive and enjoyable. Conclusions: The self-directed learning module on antimicrobial resistance evoked interest and enthusiastic participation among the medical students. The discussions, assignments and the brainstorming sessions helped to deepen their knowledge on this emerging threat at the local, national and global levels.

Treatment and management for children with urea cycle disorder in chronic stage / 浙江大学学报·医学版

Urea cycle disorder (UCD) is a group of inherited metabolic diseases with high disability or fatality rate, which need long-term drug treatment and diet management. Except those with Citrin deficiency or liver transplantation, all pediatric patients require lifelong low protein diet with safe levels of protein intake and adequate energy and lipids supply for their corresponding age; supplementing essential amino acids and protein-free milk are also needed if necessary. The drugs for long-term use include nitrogen scavengers (sodium benzoate, sodium phenylbutyrate, glycerol phenylbutyrate), urea cycle activation/substrate supplementation agents (N-carbamylglutamate, arginine, citrulline), etc. Liver transplantation is recommended for pediatric patients not responding to standard diet and drug treatment, and those with severe progressive liver disease and/or recurrent metabolic decompensations. Gene therapy, stem cell therapy, enzyme therapy and other novel technologies may offer options for treatment in UCD patients. The regular biochemical assessments like blood ammonia, liver function and plasma amino acid profile are needed, and physical growth, intellectual development, nutritional intake should be also evaluated for adjusting treatment in time.

Study on effects of 40 Hz light flicker stimulation on spatial working memory in rats and its neural mechanism / 生物医学工程学杂志

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by cognitive impairment, with the predominant clinical diagnosis of spatial working memory (SWM) deficiency, which seriously affects the physical and mental health of patients. However, the current pharmacological therapies have unsatisfactory cure rates and other problems, so non-pharmacological physical therapies have gradually received widespread attention. Recently, a novel treatment using 40 Hz light flicker stimulation (40 Hz-LFS) to rescue the cognitive function of model animals with AD has made initial progress, but the neurophysiological mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, this paper will explore the potential neural mechanisms underlying the modulation of SWM by 40 Hz-LFS based on cross-frequency coupling (CFC). Ten adult Wistar rats were first subjected to acute LFS at frequencies of 20, 40, and 60 Hz. The entrainment effect of LFS with different frequency on neural oscillations in the hippocampus (HPC) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) was analyzed. The results showed that acute 40 Hz-LFS was able to develop strong entrainment and significantly modulate the oscillation power of the low-frequency gamma (lγ) rhythms. The rats were then randomly divided into experimental and control groups of 5 rats each for a long-term 40 Hz-LFS (7 d). Their SWM function was assessed by a T-maze task, and the CFC changes in the HPC-mPFC circuit were analyzed by phase-amplitude coupling (PAC). The results showed that the behavioral performance of the experimental group was improved and the PAC of θ-lγ rhythm was enhanced, and the difference was statistically significant. The results of this paper suggested that the long-term 40 Hz-LFS effectively improved SWM function in rats, which may be attributed to its enhanced communication of different rhythmic oscillations in the relevant neural circuits. It is expected that the study in this paper will build a foundation for further research on the mechanism of 40 Hz-LFS to improve cognitive function and promote its clinical application in the future.

Effects of 50 Hz electromagnetic field on rat working memory and investigation of neural mechanisms / 生物医学工程学杂志

With the widespread use of electrical equipment, cognitive functions such as working memory (WM) could be severely affected when people are exposed to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields (EMF) for long term. However, the effects of EMF exposure on WM and its neural mechanism remain unclear. In the present paper, 15 rats were randomly assigned to three groups, and exposed to an EMF environment at 50 Hz and 2 mT for a different duration: 0 days (control group), 24 days (experimental group I), and 48 days (experimental group II). Then, their WM function was assessed by the T-maze task. Besides, their local field potential (LFP) in the media prefrontal cortex (mPFC) was recorded by the in vivo multichannel electrophysiological recording system to study the power spectral density (PSD) of θ and γ oscillations and the phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) intensity of θ-γ oscillations during the T-maze task. The results showed that the PSD of θ and γ oscillations decreased in experimental groups I and II, and the PAC intensity between θ and high-frequency γ (hγ) decreased significantly compared to the control group. The number of days needed to meet the task criterion was more in experimental groups I and II than that of control group. The results indicate that long-term exposure to EMF could impair WM function. The possible reason may be the impaired communication between different rhythmic oscillations caused by a decrease in θ-hγ PAC intensity. This paper demonstrates the negative effects of EMF on WM and reveals the potential neural mechanisms from the changes of PAC intensity, which provides important support for further investigation of the biological effects of EMF and its mechanisms.

A study on the application of cross-frequency coupling characteristics of neural oscillation in the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment / 生物医学工程学杂志

In order to fully explore the neural oscillatory coupling characteristics of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), this paper analyzed and compared the strength of the coupling characteristics for 28 MCI patients and 21 normal subjects under six different-frequency combinations. The results showed that the difference in the global phase synchronization index of cross-frequency coupling under δ-θ rhythm combination was statistically significant in the MCI group compared with the normal control group ( P = 0.025, d = 0.398). To further validate this coupling feature, this paper proposed an optimized convolutional neural network model that incorporated a time-frequency data enhancement module and batch normalization layers to prevent overfitting while enhancing the robustness of the model. Based on this optimized model, with the phase locking value matrix of δ-θ rhythm combination as the single input feature, the diagnostic accuracy of MCI patients was (95.49 ± 4.15)%, sensitivity and specificity were (93.71 ± 7.21)% and (97.50 ± 5.34)%, respectively. The results showed that the characteristics of the phase locking value matrix under the combination of δ-θ rhythms can adequately reflect the cognitive status of MCI patients, which is helpful to assist the diagnosis of MCI.

Alterations of β-γ coupling of scalp electroencephalography during epilepsy / 生物医学工程学杂志

Uncovering the alterations of neural interactions within the brain during epilepsy is important for the clinical diagnosis and treatment. Previous studies have shown that the phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) can be used as a potential biomarker for locating epileptic zones and characterizing the transition of epileptic phases. However, in contrast to the θ-γ coupling widely investigated in epilepsy, few studies have paid attention to the β-γ coupling, as well as its potential applications. In the current study, we use the modulation index (MI) to calculate the scalp electroencephalography (EEG)-based β-γ coupling and investigate the corresponding changes during different epileptic phases. The results show that the β-γ coupling of each brain region changes with the evolution of epilepsy, and in several brain regions, the β-γ coupling decreases during the ictal period but increases in the post-ictal period, where the differences are statistically significant. Moreover, the alterations of β-γ coupling between different brain regions can also be observed, and the strength of β-γ coupling increases in the post-ictal period, where the differences are also significant. Taken together, these findings not only contribute to understanding neural interactions within the brain during the evolution of epilepsy, but also provide a new insight into the clinical treatment.

Preparation and quality evaluation of total flavonoids microemulsion of "Pueraria lobata-Hovenia dulcis" / 中国中药杂志

The effective components of flavonoids in the "Pueraria lobata-Hovenia dulcis" drug pair have low bioavailability in vivo due to their unstable characteristics. This study used microemulsions with amphoteric carrier properties to solve this problem. The study drew pseudo-ternary phase diagrams through titration compatibility experiments of the oil phase with emulsifiers and co-emulsifiers and screened the prescription composition of blank microemulsions. The study used average particle size and PDI as evaluation indicators, and the central composite design-response surface method(CCD-RSM) was used to optimize the prescription; high-dosage drug-loaded microemulsions were obtained, and their physicochemical properties, appearance, and stability were evaluated. The results showed that when ethyl butyrate was used as the oil phase, polysorbate 80(tween 80) as the surfactant, and anhydrous ethanol as the cosurfactant, the maximum microemulsion area was obtained. When the difference in results was small, K_(m )of 1∶4 was chosen to ensure the safety of the prescription. The prescription composition optimized by the CCD-RSM was ethyl butyrate(16.28%), tween 80(9.59%), and anhydrous ethanol(38.34%). When the dosage reached 3% of the system mass, the total flavonoid microemulsion prepared had a clear and transparent appearance, with average particle size, PDI, and potential of(74.25±1.58)nm, 0.277±0.043, and(-0.08±0.07) mV, respectively. The microemulsion was spherical and evenly distributed under transmission electron microscopy. The centrifugal stability and temperature stability were good, and there was no layering or demulsification phenomenon, which significantly improved the in vitro dissolution of total flavonoids.