Analysis of multisite surface electromyography characteristics of pelvic floor muscles in postpartum patients with diastasis recti abdominis.

AIM: To explore the electrophysiological characteristics of the independent muscles in the pelvic floor muscle (PFM) group of postpartum women with diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) and analyze the correlation between the rectus abdominis interval and PFM function. METHODS: A total of 133 women who underwent postpartum re-examination from August 2021 to July 2022 were collected. The participants were divided into DRA and control groups based on the occurrence of DRA on ultrasonography. General data of the participants were collected, and the multisite surface electromyography (sEMG) assessment of the PFMs was performed using a intravaginal novel airbag-type stretchable electrode array device developed by the team. The sEMG characteristics of the different PFMs in the two groups were compared, and the correlation between the maximum rectus abdominis interval and the sEMG parameters of different PFMs was analyzed. RESULTS: There were no differences in the baseline demographics and incidence of pelvic floor dysfunction between the two groups (p > 0.05). The mean amplitude of vaginal sphincter endurance contraction in the DRA group was significantly lower than that in the control group (28.44 ± 15.59 vs. 22.03 [12.22, 28.00], p < 0.05). Spearman's rank correlation analysis showed a weak negative correlation between the maximum rectus abdominis interval and the endurance contraction mean amplitude of the urethral and external anal sphincters (r = -0.173, -0.217, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with DRA had weakened PFM endurance, and there was a weak negative correlation between the maximum rectus abdominis interval and the endurance contraction mean amplitude of the PFM.

Path Tracking Control of Field Information-Collecting Robot Based on Improved Convolutional Neural Network Algorithm.

Due to the narrow row spacing of corn, the lack of light in the field caused by the blocking of branches, leaves and weeds in the middle and late stages of corn growth, it is generally difficult for machinery to move between rows and also impossible to observe the corn growth in real time. To solve the problem, a robot for corn interlines information collection thus is designed. First, the mathematical model of the robot is established using the designed control system. Second, an improved convolutional neural network model is proposed for training and learning, and the driving path is fitted by detecting and identifying corn rhizomes. Next, a multi-body dynamics simulation software, RecurDyn/track, is used to establish a dynamic model of the robot movement in soft soil conditions, and a control system is developed in MATLAB/SIMULINK for joint simulation experiments. Simulation results show that the method for controlling a sliding-mode variable structure can achieve better control results. Finally, experiments on the ground and in a simulated field environment show that the robot for field information collection based on the method developed runs stably and shows little deviation. The robot can be well applied for field plant protection, the control of corn diseases and insect pests, and the realization of human-machine separation.

Increased frequencies of CD4+ CD25+ FOXP3+ regulatory T cells in human nasal inverted papilloma.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of CD4(+) CD25(+) FOXP3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells both in peripheral blood and local tumors in patients with nasal inverted papilloma (NIP). METHODS: By using flow cytometry, the frequencies of CD4(+) CD25(+) FOXP3(+) Treg cells in both peripheral blood and tissues from 18 patients with NIP and 8 control subjects were determined. CCL22 and CCL17 proteins in NIP tumors were analyzed by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The suppressive capacity of Treg cells was estimated by WST-8 and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; interferon-gamma [IFN-γ] and interleukin-4 [IL-4]) analysis. RESULTS: Patients with NIP showed increased CD4(+) CD25(+) FOXP3(+) Treg cell frequencies in tumor tissues and CD4(+) T cell fraction rather than in peripheral blood. CCL22 increased in NIP tumors. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced proliferation and cytokine production of CD4(+) CD25(-) T cells were suppressed equally well by CD4(+) CD25(high) cells from both patients with NIP and controls. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated the increased frequencies of CD4(+) CD25(+) FOXP3(+) Treg cells in NIP tumors, which might be influenced by CCL22.

Allergen-specific IL-10-secreting type I T regulatory cells, but not CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T cells, are decreased in peripheral blood of patients with persistent allergic rhinitis.

We investigate the frequencies of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T cells and allergen-specific IL-10(+)IL-4(-), IFN-gamma(+)IL-4(-), IL-4(+)IFN-gamma(-)CD4(+) T cells (which display characteristics of nTreg, Tr1-, Th1- and Th2- cells, respectively) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with AR and of healthy individuals. In addition, we estimated the suppressive effect of CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg cells and allergen-specific, IL-10-secreting cells from both two groups. The frequency of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T cells is similar in 43 AR patients compared with 38 healthy subjects. CD4(+)CD25(high) cells retain suppressive activity on allergen-stimulated cell proliferation and cytokine production of Th1 but not Th2 cells in both groups. However, the frequency of allergen-specific IL-10(+)IL-4(-)CD4(+) T cells is reduced in AR patients, and correlates inversely to clinical symptom scores. Allergen-specific, IL-10-secreting cells potently suppressed D. pteronyssinus major allergen 1-stimulated cell proliferation and cytokine production (IFN-gamma and IL-4) in healthy individuals. Altogether our data indicate that the number and function of CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg cells from allergic patients are not impaired. However, the deficiency of allergen-specific Tr1 cells may play a role in the development of AR.