Alternative muscle synergy patterns of upper limb amputees.

Myoelectric hand prostheses are effective tools for upper limb amputees to regain hand functions. Much progress has been made with pattern recognition algorithms to recognize surface electromyography (sEMG) patterns, but few attentions was placed on the amputees' motor learning process. Many potential myoelectric prostheses users could not fully master the control or had declined performance over time. It is possible that learning to produce distinct and consistent muscle activation patterns with the residual limb could help amputees better control the myoelectric prosthesis. In this study, we observed longitudinal effect of motor skill learning with 2 amputees who have developed alternative muscle activation patterns in response to the same set of target prosthetic actions. During a 10-week program, amputee participants were trained to produce distinct and constant muscle activations with visual feedback of live sEMG and without interaction with prosthesis. At the end, their sEMG patterns were different from each other and from non-amputee control groups. For certain intended hand motion, gradually reducing root mean square (RMS) variance was observed. The learning effect was also assessed with a CNN-LSTM mixture classifier designed for mobile sEMG pattern recognition. The classification accuracy had a rising trend over time, implicating potential performance improvement of myoelectric prosthesis control. A follow-up session took place 6 months after the program and showed lasting effect of the motor skill learning in terms of sEMG pattern classification accuracy. The results indicated that with proper feedback training, amputees could learn unique muscle activation patterns that allow them to trigger intended prosthesis functions, and the original motor control scheme is updated. The effect of such motor skill learning could help to improve myoelectric prosthetic control performance.

The apple Ca2+/H+ exchanger MdCAX2L-2 functions positively in modulation of Ba2+ tolerance.

Calcium is an essential element for plant growth and development, and it plays an important role in the responses of plants to abiotic stress. High concentrations of heavy metal ions in soil significantly affect the yield and quality of crops and pose human health threats when these ions accumulate in edible organs. The Ca2+/H+ exchanger (CAX) family is a class of transporters that mediate the transmembrane transport of both Ca2+ and metal ions, and they are widely involved in regulating plant growth and development and stress responses. Here, we cloned an AtCAX2 ortholog, MdCAX2L-2, from apple. It is constitutively expressed in various apple tissues and significantly induced by Ca2+ and Ba2+ treatments. The MdCAX2L-2 protein is located in the vacuolar membrane in both plant and yeast cells. Overexpression of MdCAX2L-2 enhanced the tolerance of the yeast mutant K667 to high concentrations of Ca2+ and Ba2+. In addition, the role of MdCAX2L-2 in modulating Ba2+ tolerance was identified using MdCAX2L-2-overexpressing transgenic Arabidopsis plants and apple calli. Comparison of growth phenotypes and stress-related physiological indexes under BaCl2 treatment indicated that MdCAX2L-2 could enhance the Ba2+ tolerance of plants by promoting Ba2+ compartmentalization into the vacuoles and eliminating excess ROS. Our results provide insights that will aid future studies examining the function of CAX proteins in regulating stress tolerance in fruit crops, as well as their underlying mechanisms.

Central Sensitization in Patients with Chronic Pain Secondary to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Determinants.

Purpose: Central sensitization (CS) is commonly seen in chronic pain disorders, including neuropathic pain. However, there exist inconsistencies concerning the presence of CS in chronic pain secondary to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). CS and neuropathic pain manifestations in CTS remain not well established. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the CS and pain profiles in patients with CTS and to explore the potential determinants associated with CS. Patients and Methods: Patients with suspected CTS symptoms lasting 3 months or above and healthy controls were enrolled. History, physical examinations, and nerve conduction studies were employed to confirm the diagnosis and severity of median nerve dysfunction. The central sensitization inventory (CSI) was used to screen CS. Other outcomes included neuropathic pain, CTS-specific symptom severity and functions, emotion, and health-related quality of life. Between-group comparisons were conducted in terms of the CS presence. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify determinants associated with CS. Results: Over 60% of participants with CTS were found with clinical CS, significantly higher than that in the control group. More than 70% of the CTS participants were identified to have possible or very likely neuropathic pain components. In addition, one-fourth of CTS cases had depression or anxiety. Anxiety was associated with an increased risk of developing CS in CTS (adjusted OR=1.31, 95% CI 1.08-1.59), whereas higher self-perceived general health rating was negatively associated with the presence of CS (adjusted OR=0.92, 95% CI 0.88-0.97) in the multivariate adjusted regression model. Conclusion: CS is prevalent in patients with CTS. Predominant neuropathic pain characteristics were uncovered in CTS patients as well as comorbid psychological distress. Significant association was found between anxiety and CS presence. Self-perceived general health was inversely related to CS. Further research is warranted to explore the mechanisms of anxiety and central pain processing in painful entrapment neuropathy.

Construction of an electrochemical-fluorescent dual-mode sensor with a dual-mode signal AgNC probe synthesized from cytosine-rich DNA for OTA detection.

Herein, we have used DNA-silver nanocluster (DNA-AgNC) signal probes with both electrochemical and fluorescent signals for the first time to construct an electrochemical-fluorescent dual-mode sensor. The sensor has an easy-to-prepare dual-signal property combined with the magnetic separation technique for dual-mode detection of ochratoxin A (OTA). In the absence of OTA, the DNA strand used to synthesize AgNCs was not available in the system after magnetic separation. DNA-AgNCs probes could not be synthesized in the system, resulting in low fluorescence and electrochemical signals. In the presence of OTA, it led to the shedding of sulfhydryl-modified and cytosine-rich DNA (C-DNA). DNA-AgNCs probes with high fluorescence and electrochemical signals were formed by adding AgNO3 and NaBH4 to the supernatant after magnetic separation. Dual-mode detection of OTA was achieved by the signal response of fluorescence and electrochemistry. The detection ranges were 2.5 × 10-4-50 ng mL-1 and 2.5 × 10-4-25 ng mL-1 in the fluorescence mode and electrochemical mode with detection limits of 0.11 pg mL-1 and 0.025 pg mL-1, respectively. Meanwhile, the dual-mode sensor displayed better specificity, repeatability and reproducibility than conventional electrochemical and fluorescent single-mode sensors. The results of the spiked peanut and wheat flour detection showed that the fluorescence and electrochemical modes of the sensor exhibited satisfactory average recoveries.

MdNAC104 positively regulates apple cold tolerance via CBF-dependent and CBF-independent pathways.

Low temperature is the main environmental factor affecting the yield, quality and geographical distribution of crops, which significantly restricts development of the fruit industry. The NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2 and CUC2) transcription factor (TF) family is involved in regulating plant cold tolerance, but the mechanisms underlying these regulatory processes remain unclear. Here, the NAC TF MdNAC104 played a positive role in modulating apple cold tolerance. Under cold stress, MdNAC104-overexpressing transgenic plants exhibited less ion leakage and lower ROS (reactive oxygen species) accumulation, but higher contents of osmoregulatory substances and activities of antioxidant enzymes. Transcriptional regulation analysis showed that MdNAC104 directly bound to the MdCBF1 and MdCBF3 promoters to promote expression. In addition, based on combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, as well as promoter binding and transcriptional regulation analyses, we found that MdNAC104 stimulated the accumulation of anthocyanin under cold conditions by upregulating the expression of anthocyanin synthesis-related genes, including MdCHS-b, MdCHI-a, MdF3H-a and MdANS-b, and increased the activities of the antioxidant enzymes by promoting the expression of the antioxidant enzyme-encoding genes MdFSD2 and MdPRXR1.1. In conclusion, this study revealed the MdNAC104 regulatory mechanism of cold tolerance in apple via CBF-dependent and CBF-independent pathways.

PpIBH1-1 limits internode elongation of peach shoot in a dose-dependent manner.

Peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] annual shoots grow up quickly, which limits the lighting and ventilation of an orchard. Atypical bHLH proteins IBH1(INCREASED LEAF INCLINATION1 BINDING bHLH1) play substantial roles in regulating cell elongation and plant stature. In this study, three PpIBH1s (PpIBH1-1/-2/-3) were identified in peach genome and contain a conserved AS domain and a characteristic HLH domain. The transcript levels of three PpIBH1s positively correlated with internode length, which gradually increased from apex to base along the peach shoots. This positive correlation was further confirmed in apple and poplar shoots. And the PpIBH1s gene were highly expressed in the shoot tips collected from twelve dwarf peach cultivars (gid1c mutants). In tissue-specific expression analysis, PpIBH1-1 are more highly expressed in tissues at the growth-arrested stage than cell-elongating. Transgenic Arabidopsis lines showed that different plant heights depending on the dose of PpIBH1-1 transcripts. And the dwarfing PpIBH1-1 transgenic lines were caused by the shorted cell length. PpIBH1-1 interacted with two bHLH factors (PpACE2 and PpLP1). These results suggested that PpIBH1-1 probably prevents internode elongation of peach shoots in a dose-dependent manner. Our work provided a foundation for properly controlling the growth of annual peach branches.

Genome-wide signatures of the geographic expansion and breeding of soybean.

Soybean is a leguminous crop that provides oil and protein. Exploring the genomic signatures of soybean evolution is crucial for breeding varieties with improved adaptability to environmental extremes. We analyzed the genome sequences of 2,214 soybeans and proposed a soybean evolutionary route, i.e., the expansion of annual wild soybean (Glycine soja Sieb. & Zucc.) from southern China and its domestication in central China, followed by the expansion and local breeding selection of its landraces (G. max (L.) Merr.). We observed that the genetic introgression in soybean landraces was mostly derived from sympatric rather than allopatric wild populations during the geographic expansion. Soybean expansion and breeding were accompanied by the positive selection of flowering time genes, including GmSPA3c. Our study sheds light on the evolutionary history of soybean and provides valuable genetic resources for its future breeding.

Identification of QTLs and joint QTL segments of leaflet traits at different canopy layers in an interspecific RIL population of soybean.

KEY MESSAGE: A leaflet trait on different canopy layers may have different QTLs; leaflet trait QTLs may cluster to form joint QTL segments; all canopy layer QTLs form a complete QTL system for a leaflet trait. As the main part of the plant canopy structure, leaf/leaflet size and shape affect the plant architecture and yield. To explore the leaflet trait QTL system, a population composed of 199 recombinant inbred lines derived from Changling (annual wild, narrow leaflet) and Yiqianli (landrace, broad leaflet) with their parents was tested for leaflet length (LL), width (LW) and length to width (LLW). The population was genotyped with specific-locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) and applied for linkage mapping of the leaflet traits. The results showed that the leaflet traits varied greatly even within a plant, which supported a stratified leaflet sampling strategy to evaluate these traits at top, middle and bottom canopy layers. Altogether, 13 LL, 10 LW and 9 LLW in a total of 32 plus 3 duplicated QTLs were identified, in which, 17 QTLs were new ones, and 48.6%, 28.6% and 22.8% of QTLs were from the top, middle and bottom layers, respectively, indicating the genetic importance of the top layer leaves. Since a leaflet trait may have layer-specific QTLs, all layer QTLs form a complete QTL system. Five QTL clusters each with their QTL supporting intervals overlapped were designated as joint QTL segments (JQSs). In JQS-16, with its linkage map further validated using PCR markers, two QTLs, qLW-16-1 and qLLW-16-1 of the top layer leaflet, were identified six QTL·times. Six candidate genes were predicted, with Glyma.16G127900 as the most potential one for LW and LLW. Three PCR markers, Gm16PAV0653, BARCSOYSSR_16_0796 and YC-16-3, were suggested for marker-assisted selection for LW and LLW in JQS-16.

Cross-sectional study of gender differences in physical activity-related injuries amongst Chinese college students majoring in rehabilitation.

The main objective of the paper was to explore the potential risk factors for physical activity-related injuries (PARI) amongst college students majoring in rehabilitation and to analyse gender differences. A random whole group sampling method was used to recruit freshmen to seniors aged 15-25 years from over 90 universities in China that offer rehabilitation. The total number of people included was 6,032, of which 1,989 were male and 4,043 were female. The underlying risk factors for PARI of different genders were assessed using a structured self-management questionnaire including sociodemographic characteristics, physical activity levels, risk-taking and protective behaviors, and PARI. Totally 6,032 questionnaires were obtained for final analysis, with 792 total number of injured persons (415 males, 377 females), the sum of the cumulative frequency of injuries to injured persons is 1,607 (881 males, 726 females) and a PARI risk of 0.27 (males: 0.44, females: 0.18; p < 0.001; sum of the cumulative frequency of injuries/total number of people surveyed/year). For male and female students, participation in sports teams, having a high level of PA as well as with antisocial behavior were risk factors for developing PARI. Regarding female students, regional differences was associated with elevated odds to suffer from PARI. The prevalence rates of PARI vary between male and female students. The research subjects were university students in rehabilitation. Compared to general college students, rehabilitation students have a certain knowledge base related to injuries, which defines the specificity and research value of this subjects. This study provides guidance for reducing PARI in students in rehabilitation and may provide a basis for developing future injury prevention mechanisms for university students in general.

A ratiometric fluorescent aptamer homogeneous biosensor based on hairpin structure aptamer for AFB1 detection.

On the basis of aptamer (Apt) with hairpin structure and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), a ratio fluorescent aptamer homogeneous sensor was prepared for the determination of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Initially, the Apt labeled simultaneously with Cy5, BHQ2, and cDNA labeled with Cy3 were formed a double-stranded DNA through complementary base pairing. The fluorescence signal of Cy3 and Cy5 were restored and quenched respectively. Thus, the ratio change of FCy3 to FCy5 was used to realized the detection of AFB1 with wider detection range and lower limit of detection (LOD). The response of the optimized protocol for AFB1 detection was wider linear range from 0.05 ng/mL to 100 ng/mL and the LOD was 12.6 pg/mL. The sensor designed in this strategy has the advantages of simple preparation and fast signal response. It has been used for the detection of AFB1 in labeled corn and wine, and has good potential for application in real samples.

Cultural Validation of the Chinese Central Sensitization Inventory in Patients with Chronic Pain and its Predictive Ability of Comorbid Central Sensitivity Syndromes.

BACKGROUND: Central sensitization (CS) is frequently reported in chronic pain, and the central sensitization inventory (CSI) is popularly used to assess CS. However, a validated Chinese CSI is lacking and its predictive ability for the comorbidity of central sensitivity syndromes (CSSs) remains unclear. Hence, this study aimed to generate the Chinese CSI (CSI-C) with cultural adaptation and examine its psychometric properties. METHODS: The CSI-C was formulated through forward and backward translation, panel review and piloting and then validated among patients with chronic pain (n = 235). Its internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and concurrent validity were measured. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed for the construct validity. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was employed to determine the discriminative ability in the presence of comorbidity of CSSs. RESULTS: About 70% of the participants in the study experienced at least mild CS symptoms. CSI-C demonstrates a high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.896) and excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.932). CSI-C scoring was significantly correlated with pain intensity (r = 0.188), EQ-5D index (r = -0.375), anxiety (r=0.525), and depression (r = 0.467). The EFA generated a 5-factor model, including physical symptoms, emotional distress, hypersensitivity syndromes and so on. An CSI cutoff of 42 had a sensitivity of 71.4% and a specificity of 70% for identifying chronic pain patients with ≥2 CSSs. CONCLUSION: The CS manifestations are prevalent in those with persistent pain. CSI-C is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring CS. A CSI score ≥42 may predict the comorbidity of 2 or above CSSs in patients with chronic pain.

The effect of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation on pain processing in a healthy population: A single-blinded crossover controlled study.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is increasingly used in pain treatment. tDCS targeting both primary motor cortex (M1) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) may modulate the descending pain inhibitory system, however, it remains controversial regarding the optimal stimulation region for pain modulation. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effects of high-definition anodic stimulation of M1 and DLPFC on conditioned pain modulation (CPM) and pain thresholds and establish a preferred stimulation setting. Twenty-six healthy adults were randomly assigned to M1-tDCS, DLPFC-tDCS, or sham-tDCS groups. During the three sessions, each participant received an active or sham stimulation of 2 mA for 20 min, with at least 3 days' interval between sessions. Quantitative sensory tests were performed to obtain pressure pain threshold (PPT), cold pain threshold (CPT), and CPM before and after the tDCS intervention. Only M1-tDCS significantly increased CPM in healthy individuals compared with sham control (P = 0.004). No statistically significant difference was found in PPT and CPT between tDCS vs. sham control (P > 0.05). Our findings further support the important role of M1 as a target in pain regulation. Further large-scale, multicenter studies in chronic pain populations are needed to validate the alterations of distinct target brain regions related to pain and thus for an optimal target stimulation strategy in pain management.

Are mindfulness treatments effective for pain in cancer patients? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been recently applied in pain management and cancer care. However, inconsistencies exist concerning the effectiveness of MBIs on pain control among cancer patients. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the efficacy of MBIs on pain in cancer patients via a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: Databases (MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and ClinicalTrials.gov) were searched using key terms related to pain, cancer and mindfulness. The primary outcome was pain intensity. Standardized mean difference (SMD) of each outcome with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was calculated. The quality of evidence was assessed by GRADE assessment. RESULTS: Ten RCTs with 843 participants were included. Significant pooled effects of MBIs on pain intensity were found at both short-term (SMD = -0.19, 95% CI [-0.33 to -0.04]) and long-term (SMD = -0.20, 95% CI [-0.35 to -0.05]) follow-up, whereas no significance was observed for pain interference. In subgroup analyses, significant intervention effects were only seen in clinic-based MBIs compared to remote MBIs, and pooled effects of MBIs in attenuating pain were discovered relative to passive rather than active comparators. GRADE ratings showed moderate certainty of evidence in MBIs for pain intensity but low for pain interference. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of MBIs in reducing pain intensity among cancer patients was revealed in this meta-analysis, albeit with a small effect size. Future research is warranted to optimize mindfulness treatment for pain control in cancer patients with high methodological quality and a large sample size. SIGNIFICANCE: The effect of MBIs on pain in cancer patients was demonstrated in our analysis, albeit with small effect sizes. High-quality RCTs are needed to verify the efficacy of MBIs on cancer patients or survivors with pain complaints. Future trials should take into account the specific pain outcome measures (pain intensity or pain interference), the approach of intervention provision (clinic-based or remote MBI, group or individual practice), the duration and frequency of interventions and the comparators (passive or active control arms).

Efficacy of kinesiology taping on the management of shin splints: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Shin splint is one of the most common sports injuries after strenuous exercise. Kinesiology taping (KT) is a popular noninvasive remedy used in sports-related disorders, with the potential effects of relieving pain, facilitating proprioception, modulating muscle activation and correcting abnormal movement patterns. However, the exact efficacy of KT on shin splints is still unknown, and previous findings are inconsistent. Hence, this study aimed to conduct a systematic review to evaluate the current status of relevant evidence on its efficacy. METHODS: The review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines, and a systematic search of the literature was conducted in December 2020. Electronic databases, Embase, Scopus, Medline, Web of Science, PubMed and Biomed Central were searched for the identification of pertinent studies with pre-defined key terms on shin splints and KT. RESULTS: Four studies with a total sample size of 141 participants were included and analyzed. Two studies had within-subject designs, whereas the other two were randomized clinical trials. Although the positive results of KT were reported by the studies, methodological quality varied from poor to moderate according to the Physiotherapy Evidence Database Scale or Non-Randomized Studies-of Interventions. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this review revealed that the efficacy of KT on shin splints remains not clear. Evidence that supports its effectiveness in individuals with shin splints is currently limited. Further studies with good methodological quality and study design are warranted.

Role of formaldehyde in promoting aromatic selectivity during methanol conversion over gallium-modified zeolites.

Gallium-modified HZSM-5 zeolites are known to increase aromatic selectivity in methanol conversion. However, there are still disputes about the exact active sites and the aromatic formation mechanisms over Ga-modified zeolites. In this work, in situ synchrotron radiation photoionization mass spectrometry (SR-PIMS) experiments were carried out to study the behaviors of intermediates and products during methanol conversion over Ga-modified HZSM-5. The increased formaldehyde (HCHO) yield over Ga-modified HZSM-5 was found to play a key role in the increase in aromatic yields. More HCHO was deemed to be generated from the direct dehydrogenation of methanol, and Ga2O3 in Ga-modified HZSM-5 was found to be the active phase. The larger increase in aromatic production over Ga-modified HZSM-5 after reduction‒oxidation treatment was found to be the result of redispersed Ga2O3 with smaller size generating a larger amount of HCHO. This study provides some new insights into the internal driving force for promoting the production of aromatics over Ga-modified HZSM-5.

Is Acupuncture an Ideal Adjunctive Treatment for Cancer-Related Fatigue? Comment on Choi et al. Acupuncture for Managing Cancer-Related Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cancers 2022, 14, 4419.

We read with great interest the results of the systematic review and meta-analysis conducted by Choi et al. showing the beneficial effects of acupuncture (AT) on cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in patients with breast cancer that was published in your esteemed journal (Volume 14, Issue 18) and congratulate the authors [...].

Effect of High-definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Conditioned Pain Modulation in Healthy Adults: A Crossover Randomized Controlled Trial.

The disorder of the conditioned pain modulation (CPM) system is one of the main causes of pain perception in individuals. High-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) targeting specific brain areas was indicated to have an analgesic effect possibly by activating the endogenous pain inhibition pathway evident in CPM. However, discrepancies were found in previous limited studies of varied homogeneity and quality. Therefore, the present study applied 2 mA HD-tDCS (20 min) in the left primary motor cortex (M1) among 35 healthy adults with a blinded crossover study design, to investigate its effectiveness on optimizing the analgesic effect in healthy individuals through assessing changes of the CPM. The univariate and multivariate general linear models were used to evaluate the intervention effect between-group on the Δ-value (after-intervention minus before-intervention) during CPM (primary outcome), pressure pain threshold (PPT), and cold pressure threshold (CPT) (secondary outcome), respectively. A significant between-group difference in Δ-CPM was found for active stimulation. HD-tDCS significantly improved the analgesic efficiency of Δ-CPM, compared with the sham control, after adjusting the confounding factors including age, gender, psychological status, as well as the sequence effect. The changes of CPM were positively correlated with the total physical activity volume. In conclusion, our findings provide evidence support to the effectiveness of HD-tDCS on endogenous pain modulation among healthy adults. Further studies are required to explore the analgesic effect of tDCS among patients with chronic pain, thereby facilitating optimal chronic pain management.

Bibliometric Analysis of Research Articles on Pain in the Elderly Published from 2000 to 2019.

BACKGROUND: Given the rapid growth of the global aging population, pain has become an unneglectable concern amongst the elderly. The quantity of scientific research outputs on pain in the elderly has increased over time, but only a small number of studies have used bibliometric methods to analyze scientific research in this field. This paper aimed to analyze scientific research on pain in the elderly published from 2000 to 2019 in a systematic manner using bibliometric methods. METHODS: Articles on pain in the elderly published from 2000 to 2019 were retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS). Abstracts were coded on the basis of predetermined items (eg, type of article, topic, type of subjects, pain characteristics), and relevant information on the first author, citation scores, and article keywords were collected. RESULTS: A total of 2105 articles were included in this study. Statistical analysis revealed that the publication of articles on pain in the elderly increased in frequency over time (P<0.001). Most of the publications were original articles. Amongst the countries identified, the United States published the largest number of papers on this topic. Pain characteristics (50.21%), pain intervention (35.68%), and pain assessment (9.69%) were the main topics of research on geriatric pain. Back pain (12.30%) appeared to be the most popular pain type described in the included papers. CONCLUSION: This work provides researchers with an in-depth understanding of pain in the elderly by evaluating relevant publications in the past two decades. Researchers in this field are warranted to explore future directions on geriatric pain such as the transition from acute pain to chronic pain and the underlying mechanisms of pain in the elderly.

Catalytic combustion of methyl butanoate over HZSM-5 zeolites.

Catalytic combustion technology is an exciting prospect for the removal of pollutants, especially in the field of transportation. Applying zeolites in fuel combustion has gained increasing importance in heterogeneous catalysis arising from their properties such as economical practicability and high activity. However, compared with the extensively investigated homogeneous combustion, few studies have been reported to explore the catalytic combustion of large-molecule fuels, especially for the catalytic combustion of biodiesel surrogate fuels. The purpose of this feature article is to describe the catalytic combustion of methyl butanoate (one of the biodiesel surrogate fuels) over unmodified HZSM-5 zeolites with a particular focus on the catalytic reaction mechanism. Experiments and theoretical calculations were considered here to help explain the proposed catalytic mechanism. This paper can provide new insights into the catalytic mechanism of biodiesel fuels that will guide the improvement of combustion efficiency in internal combustion engines and in the control of pollutant emissions.

Prevalence and risk factors of self-reported wrist and hand symptoms and clinically confirmed carpal tunnel syndrome among office workers in China: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common cause of pain, numbness and tingling in the wrist and hand region and is associated with repetitive wrist and hand use in office workers. However, scarce knowledge exists about the epidemiology of clinically confirmed CTS among Chinese office workers. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of wrist/hand symptoms and CTS in office workers in China and to identify associated risk factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in a metropolitan city in China involving 969 respondents (aged 17-49 years) from 30 workplaces. A questionnaire was distributed to each participant to collect their demographic, work-related physical and psychosocial factors, and wrist and hand symptoms. The wrist and hand pain/numbness symptoms were marked on a body chart and the nature and intensity of symptoms, nocturnal symptoms, as well as aggravating activities were also recorded. Clinically confirmed CTS cases were screened based on the history, Phalen's test, Tinel Sign and skin sensation testing among symptomatic respondents. Logistic regression was employed to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for the occurrence of self-reported wrist and hand symptoms and clinically confirmed CTS. RESULTS: The clinically confirmed CTS prevalence was 9.6%. The prevalence of wrist and hand symptoms were 22 and 15%, respectively. Frequently working in pain was associated with higher odds of CTS. Multivariate modelling adjusted for age and gender showed that prolonged computer use time and working without breaks were associated with presence of wrist/hand symptoms (adjusted ORs: 1.11 (95% CI 1.02-1.22) and 1.88 (95% CI 1.12-3.14)). Educational level was inversely associated with CTS and smoking was associated with wrist/hand complaints (adjusted OR: 2.20 (95% CI 1.19-4.07)). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of work-related clinically confirmed CTS symptoms among young office workers in China is high. Frequently working in pain is closely associated with clinically confirmed CTS. Intense computer use and no breaks at work are associated with wrist and hand symptoms.