α-naphthaleneacetic acid positively regulates soybean seed germination and seedling establishment by increasing antioxidant capacity, triacylglycerol mobilization and sucrose transport under drought stress.

Drought stress is an important constraint for the germination of soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) seeds and seedling establishment. A pot experiment was conducted to determine the effects of priming soybean seeds with 5 µM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and the mechanism responsible for the induced tolerance of drought stress (soil relative water content of 55%). NAA priming inhibited drought-induced oxidative damage in seeds, and further analysis indicated that it induced an early spike in hydrogen peroxide content by the upregulation of abscisic acid-dependent GmRbohC2, resulting in an enhancement of antioxidant capacity. Moreover, NAA priming also improved the hydrolysis of triacylglycerol (TAG) to sucrose in stressed cotyledons by causing a 2- to 5-fold increase in the transcript levels of GmSDP1, GmACX2, GmMFP2, GmICL, GmMLS, GmGLI1, GmPCK1, GmFBPase1, GmSPS1 and GmSPS2. Consistently, it upregulated the expression levels of GmSUT1, GmCWINV1 and GmMST2 under drought stress, thus enhancing the transport of sucrose from cotyledons to embryonic axes, providing carbon skeletons and energy for axis growth. The seed germination percentage increased by 208.1% at 21 h after sowing, and seedling establishment percentage increased by 47.8% at 14 days after sowing. Collectively, the positive effects of NAA priming on seed germination and seedling establishment can be attributed to enhanced antioxidant ability in seeds, TAG mobilization in cotyledons and sucrose transport from cotyledons to embryonic axes under drought stress.

[Effect of nape cluster acupuncture on swallowing function and respiratory function in patients with post-stroke dysphagia].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of nape cluster acupuncture on swallowing function and respiratory function in patients with post-stroke dysphagia, and to explore its relationship to cerebral arterial flow and neurotrophic factors. METHODS: A total of 120 patients with post-stroke dysphagia were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 60 patients in each one. The conventional swallowing rehabilitation therapy and respiratory function training were adopted in the control group. On the basis of treatment in the control group, nape cluster acupuncture was applied at Fengchi (GB 20), Tianzhu (BL 10), Wangu (GB 12), Lianquan (CV 23), Panglianquan (Extra), once a day; pricking blood was applied at Jinjin (EX-HN 12) and Yuye (EX-HN 13), once every 2 days. Both groups were treated for 2 weeks. The therapeutic efficacy was compared between the two groups, and the swallowing function (scores of Kubota water swallowing test, standardized swallowing assessment [SSA] and video fluoroscopic swallowing study [VFSS]), the respiratory function indexes (forced vital capacity [FVC], maximal voluntary ventilation [MVV] and maximal expiratory time), the bilateral cerebral arterial hemodynamics parameters (systolic peak velocity [Vs], mean flow velocity [Vm] and vascular resistance index [RI]) and the serology indexes (brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF], nerve growth factor [NGF] and insulin-like growth factors-1 [IGF-1]) before and after treatment were observed in the both groups. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 80.0% (48/60) in the observation group, which was superior to 60.0% (36/60) in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the scores of Kubota water swallowing test and SSA in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05), the VFSS score, FVC, MVV and maximal expiratory time were higher than the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the Vs and Vm of bilateral cerebral artery and serum levels of BDNF, NGF and IGF-1 in the observation group were higher than the control group (P<0.05), the RI of bilateral cerebral artery was lower than the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: On the basis of the conventional rehabilitation training, nape cluster acupuncture can effectively improve the swallowing function and respiratory function in patients with post-stroke dysphagia, its mechanism may be related to the improvement of cerebral hemodynamics and the regulation of neurotrophic factors.

Two Co(II) coordination polymers: magnetic properties and application values against chronic subdural hematoma.

In this current experiment, by applying the mixed-ligand synthesis method, two coordination polymers (CPs) containing Co(II) were created triumphantly with reaction between 1,3-bis(1-imidazoly)benzene (mbib) and Co(II) salts with the aid of diverse carboxylic ligands, and their chemical formulae are [Co3(opda)3(mbib)4(H2O)4]·2H2O (1, H2opda is 1,2-phenylenediacetic acid) and [Co(mpda)(mbib)]·H2O (2, H2mpda is 1,3-phenylenediacetic acid). The two compounds' magnetic performances suggest that between the adjacent metal ions, there present the antiferromagnetic coupling. The evaluation of their treatment activity against chronic subdural hematoma was carried out and the relevant mechanism was studied simultaneously. Firstly, before the treatment of compound, the chronic subdural hematoma was generated. Furthermore, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay detection kit was implemented and in hematoma capsule, the anti-inflammatory cytokines level and pro-inflammatory cytokines level was detected. Additionally, the cytotoxicity of compounds 1 and 2 on the normal human cells was determined with Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Above all, we proved compound 1 decreased the pro-inflammatory cytokines content and increased the anti-inflammatory cytokines content in the hematoma capsule, which is much stronger than that of compound 2. Both compounds 1 and 2 showed no cytotoxicity on the normal human cells.

Optimization of Surface Electromyography-Based Neurofeedback Rehabilitation Intervention System.

In this paper, we study the effects of the neurofeedback method of surface EMG on electrophysiology and evaluate its effects on postural control, balance, and motor function using relevant scales. We optimize the neurofeedback rehabilitation intervention system based on surface EMG, study the objective assessment of neurofeedback rehabilitation intervention of surface EMG, and initially try to apply mirror therapy to the treatment of surface EMG. According to the different treatment methods, they were divided into the drug-only group, drug combined with electroacupuncture group, drug combined with facial muscle function training group, and drug combined with electroacupuncture combined with facial muscle function training group. Starting from the 10th day of the disease course, a course of 15 days contains three courses of treatment with a 3-day break for each course. Patients were tested on day 10, day 25, and day 40 of the disease course and the results of each test were recorded and analyzed. The results of each test were recorded and analyzed. The efficacy of four different methods for simple neurofeedback rehabilitation was compared according to the mean ratio of the root mean square of the patient's affected and healthy sides. The close relationship between surface EMG neurofeedback rehabilitation intervention and rehabilitation efficacy was also investigated, and the effect of different feedback modes on neurofeedback rehabilitation intervention was explored for the neurofeedback protocol and whether the use of the optimized neurorehabilitation protocol could achieve improved efficacy and have a sustained effect. The study showed that neurofeedback training interventions based on optimized surface EMG can achieve good long-term results, as demonstrated by improved postural control, balance, and motor function of patients; optimized neurofeedback rehabilitation intervention systems; and guiding physicians or nurses to work more effective clinically.

Endocytic pathway inhibition attenuates extracellular vesicle-induced reduction of chemosensitivity to bortezomib in multiple myeloma cells.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes and microvesicles, derived from bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) have been demonstrated as key factors in the progression and drug resistance of multiple myeloma (MM). EV uptake involves a variety of mechanisms which largely depend on the vesicle origin and recipient cell type. The aim of the present study was to identify the mechanisms involved in the uptake of BMSC-derived small EVs (sEVs) by MM cells, and to evaluate the anti-MM effect of targeting this process. Methods: Human BMSC-derived sEVs were identified by transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and western blot. The effects of chemical inhibitors and shRNA-mediated knockdown of endocytosis-associated genes on sEV uptake and cell apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. The anti-MM effect of blocking sEV uptake was evaluated in vitro and in a xenograft MM mouse model. Results: sEVs derived from BMSC were taken up by MM cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and subsequently promoted MM cell cycling and reduced their chemosensitivity to bortezomib. Chemical endocytosis inhibitors targeting heparin sulphate proteoglycans, actin, tyrosine kinase, dynamin-2, sodium/proton exchangers, or phosphoinositide 3-kinases significantly reduced MM cell internalization of BMSC-derived sEVs. Moreover, shRNA-mediated knockdown of endocytosis-associated proteins, including caveolin-1, flotillin-1, clathrin heavy chain, and dynamin-2 in MM cells suppressed sEV uptake. Furthermore, an endocytosis inhibitor targeting dynamin-2 preferentially suppressed the uptake of sEV by primary MM cells ex vivo and enhanced the anti-MM effects of bortezomib in vitro and in a mouse model. Conclusion: Clathrin- and caveolin-dependent endocytosis and macropinocytosis are the predominant routes of sEV-mediated communication between BMSCs and MM cells, and inhibiting endocytosis attenuates sEV-induced reduction of chemosensitivity to bortezomib, and thus enhances its anti-MM properties.

A panel of two miRNAs correlated to systolic blood pressure is a good diagnostic indicator for stroke.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to develop a diagnostic indicator of stroke based on serum miRNAs correlated to systolic blood pressure. METHODS: Using miRNA expression profiles in GSE117604 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), we utilized the WGCNA to identify hub miRNAs correlated to systolic blood pressure (SBP). Differential analysis was applied to highlight hub differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs), whereby we built a miRNA-based diagnostic indicator for stroke using bootstrap ranking Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression with 10-fold cross-validation. The classification value of the indicator was validated with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis in both the training set and test set, as well as quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) for the feature miRNAs. Further, target genes of hub miRNAs and hub DE-miRNAs were retrieved for functional enrichment. RESULTS: A total of 447 hub miRNAs in the blue modules were significantly correlated with systolic blood pressure (r = 0.32, false discovery rate = 10-6). Target genes predicted with the hub miRNAs were mostly implicated in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) terms including mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, senescence, and TGF-ß signaling pathway. The diagnostic indicator with miR-4420 and miR-6793-5p showed remarkable performance in the training set (area under curve [AUC]= 0.953), as well as in the test set (AUC = 0.894). Results of qRT-PCR validated the diagnostic value of the two miRNAs embedded in the proposed indicator. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a panel of two miRNAs, which is a good diagnostic indicator for stroke. These results require further investigation.

Design and development of novel thiazolidin-4-one-1,3,5-triazine derivatives as neuro-protective agent against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice via attenuation of NF-ĸB.

The present study enumerates the discovery and development of novel thiazolidin-4-one-1,3,5-triazine as neuro-protective agent against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice. These compounds showed significant inhibition of NF-ĸB transcriptional activity in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, displaying compound 8k as most potent inhibitor among the tested derivative. The compound 8k was further studied in in vivo middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mice model for neuro-protective action. Results suggest that compound 8k causes attenuation of inflammation (TNF-α, IL-ß, and IL-6), oxidative stress (SOD, GSH, and MDA), and apoptosis (Bcl-2, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3) in MCAO mice in concentration-dependent manner. Collectively, our results documented that compound 8k pre-treatment protects cerebral I/R. This novel lead scaffold may be helpful for investigation of new neuro-protective agent by inactivation of NF-ĸB.

Compressive Behavior of Composite Concrete Columns with Encased FRP Confined Concrete Cores.

A composite concrete column with encased fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) confined concrete cores (EFCCC) is proposed in this paper. The cross-sectional form of the EFCCC column is composed of several orderly arranged FRP confined concrete cores (FCCCs) surrounding a filled core concrete. This novel composite column has several advantages, such as higher compressive capacity, stronger FRP confinement, and ductile response. The compressive experiment is employed to investigate the compressive behavior of the EFCCC column with deferent parameters, such as outside concrete and stirrups. Test results show that the main failure mode of the EFCCC column with and without an outside concrete or stirrups is tensile fracture of the glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) tubes. Compared to a reinforced concrete (RC) column, the strength and ductility of the EFCCC column was obviously improved by 20% and 500%, respectively. A finite element model (FEM) based on the Drucker-Prager (D-P) was developed that can accurately predict the axial compression behavior of the composite column with FRP confined concrete core. The predicted results obtained by using this FEM have excellent agreement with the experimental results.

Axial Compression Behaviours of Pultruded GFRP⁻Wood Composite Columns.

An innovative pultruded fiber reinforced polymer (FRP)⁻wood composite (PFWC) column with a lightweight southern pine wood core confined by outer FRP sheets was manufactured using an improved pultrusion process. Axial compression tests with both ends pinned as boundary conditions were employed to investigate the mechanical performance of such PFWC columns under concentric load. Through experimental investigations, the effects of the slenderness ratio on the failure modes and the axial load bearing capacities of the PFWC columns were evaluated. The failure modes showed that the specimens with a slenderness ratio less than 43.2 failed through compressive failure at junctions on FRP sheets, while those with slenderness ratios larger than 57.6 showed global buckling. Strain responses on specimens with different slenderness ratios are consistent with the observed failure modes. Finite element analysis was carried out to validate the experimental results, and satisfactory agreement was found between the failure modes and load⁻displacement curves. An empirical equation was developed with a new factor taking 0.65 into account to predict the load bearing capacities of the PFWC columns, and good agreement was found.

Experimental Study of the Bending Properties and Deformation Analysis of Web-Reinforced Composite Sandwich Floor Slabs with Four Simply Supported Edges.

Web-reinforced composite sandwich panels exhibit good mechanical properties in one-way bending, but few studies have investigated their flexural behavior and deformation calculation methods under conditions of four simply supported edges. This paper studies the bending performance of and deformation calculation methods for two-way web-reinforced composite sandwich panels with different web spacing and heights. Polyurethane foam, two-way orthogonal glass-fiber woven cloth and unsaturated resin were used as raw materials in this study. Vacuum infusion molding was used to prepare an ordinary composite sandwich panel and 5 web-reinforced composite sandwich panels with different spacing and web heights. The panels were subjected to two-way panel bending tests with simple support for all four edges. The mechanical properties of these sandwich panels during the elastic stage were determined by applying uniformly distributed loads. The non-linear mechanical characteristics and failure modes were obtained under centrally concentrated loading. Finally, simulations of the sandwich panels, which used the mechanical model established herein, were used to deduce the formulae for the deflection deformation for this type of sandwich panel. The experimental results show that webs can significantly improve the limit bearing capacity and flexural rigidity of sandwich panels, with smaller web spacing producing a stronger effect. When the web spacing is 75 mm, the limit bearing capacity is 4.63 times that of an ordinary sandwich panel. The deduced deflection calculation formulae provide values that agree well with the measurements (maximum error <15%). The results that are obtained herein can provide a foundation for the structural design of this type of panel.

[Acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training for foot drop after stroke].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy difference between acupuncture combined with rehabilitation and simple rehabilitation for foot drop after stroke. METHODS: Ninety-eight patients were randomly divided into a combination group and a rehabilitation group, 49 cases in each one. Acupuncture and rehabilitation were used in the combination group. The acupoints were Yanglingquan (GB 34), Zusanli (ST 36), Guangming (GB 37), Xuanzhong (GB 39), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), etc., while rehabilitation included training for musculi hippicus strength and musculi triceps surae. Only the same rehabilitation was applied in the rehabilitation group. The treatment was given six times a week for continuous six weeks. Musculi hippicus force, shank triceps spasticity, toe flexion improvement and the maximum integral EMG (iEMG) of the musculi tibialis anterior and caput laterale musculi gastrocnemii were compared between the two groups,and the effects were evaluated. RESULTS: After treatment, the musculi hippicus force, iEMG of musculi tibialis anterior and caput laterale musculi gastrocnemii, the function scores of the lower limbs by Fugl-Meyer of the two groups were better than those before treatment (all P<0.05), with the better effect in the combination group (all P<0.05). And the scores of shank triceps tension were decreased in the two groups (both P<0.05), more apparently for the combination therapy (P<0.05). The improvement rate of toe flexion of the combination group was 87.76% (43/49), which was obviously higher than 69.39% (34/49) of the rehabilitation group (P<0.05). The cured rate of the combination group was 48.98%(24/49), and it was better than 28.57% (14/49) of the rehabilitation group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture combined with rehabilitation achieves better effect than simple rehabilitation for foot drop after stroke.

Experimental Study of the Flexural and Compression Performance of an Innovative Pultruded Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer-Wood Composite Profile.

The plate of a pultruded fiber-reinforced polymer or fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) profile produced via a pultrusion process is likely to undergo local buckling and cracking along the fiber direction under an external load. In this study, we constructed a pultruded glass-fiber-reinforced polymer-light wood composite (PGWC) profile to explore its mechanical performance. A rectangular cross-sectional PGWC profile was fabricated with a paulownia wood core, alkali-free glass fiber filaments, and unsaturated phthalate resin. Three-point bending and short column axial compression tests were conducted. Then, the stress calculation for the PGWC profile in the bending and axial compression tests was performed using the Timoshenko beam theory and the composite component analysis method to derive the flexural and axial compression rigidity of the profile during the elastic stress stage. The flexural capacity for this type of PGWC profile is 3.3-fold the sum of the flexural capacities of the wood core and the glass-fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) shell. The equivalent flexural rigidity is 1.5-fold the summed flexural rigidity of the wood core and GFRP shell. The maximum axial compressive bearing capacity for this type of PGWC profile can reach 1.79-fold the sum of those of the wood core and GFRP shell, and its elastic flexural rigidity is 1.2-fold the sum of their rigidities. These results indicate that in PGWC profiles, GFRP and wood materials have a positive combined effect. This study produced a pultruded composite material product with excellent mechanical performance for application in structures that require a large bearing capacity.

Feasibility study of high-temperature thermoseed inductive hyperthermia in melanoma treatment.

Current treatment modalities for melanoma do not offer satisfactory efficacy. We have developed a new, minimally invasive hyperthermia technology based on radio-frequency hyperthermia. Herein, we investigated the feasibility of using a nickel-copper thermoseed for inductive hyperthermia at a relatively high temperature (46-55 ˚C). In vitro, the thermoseed showed good thermal effects and effective killing of B16/F10 melanoma cells. Temperatures of 53.1 ± 0.5 ˚C were achieved for a single thermoseed and 56.5 ± 0.5 ˚C for two in parallel (spacing 5 mm). No B16/F10 melanoma cells survived with heating time longer than 20 min in the parallel thermoseed group. Magnetic fields or thermoseeds alone did not affect the survival rate of B16/F10 cells (P>0.05). In vivo, B16/F10 melanoma cells were subcutaneously injected into the right axilla of C57BL/6 mice. After the tumors grew to ~11-13 mm, two thermoseeds (spacing 5 mm) were implanted into the tumors and the mice were subjected to an alternating magnetic field (100-250 kHz, 15 kA/m) to induce hyperthermia. The temperature at the center of the tumor reached 46 ˚C at 5 min and plateaued at 50 ˚C. Thermoseed treatment produced large necrotic areas, inhibited tumor growth in 60% (6 of 10) of animals and prolonged survival time (P<0.05). Thus, with further optimization and testing, high-temperature thermoseed inductive hyperthermia may have therapeutic potential for melanoma.