Clinical evaluation of closed tray impression and intraoral scanning techniques in single posterior tissue-level implant-supported crowns: A self-controlled case study.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Different techniques have been used to record the locations of dental implants, yet research examining the clinical outcomes of posterior implant-supported prostheses generated by different techniques, particularly concerning their fit, is lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this self-controlled study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of closed tray impression making and intraoral scanning for single posterior implant-supported restorations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighty-two participants with a single missing posterior tooth were included. The restorations were delivered a minimum of 3 months after tissue-level implant placement. Each participant was provided with 2 screw-retained monolithic zirconia crowns, produced using 3-dimensional (3D) gel deposition from both closed tray impression making (control group) and intraoral scanning using an iTero scanner (experimental group). The recording operating time, the patient comfort assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS), and the fit of the crowns were recorded during clinical evaluation. The paired t test and Mann-Whitney U test were conducted to statistically analyze the differences between the 2 techniques (α=.05). RESULTS: Seventy-six participants completed the study with a dropout rate of 7.3%. The mean ±standard deviation recording operating time of the control and experimental groups was 683 ±164 and 777 ±407 s, respectively (P<.05). The mean ±standard deviation VAS score of the control and experimental groups was 2.6 ±1.6 and 1.3 ±1.0, respectively (P<.05). The crowns in both groups showed excellent marginal fit (P>.05), but the occlusal contacts of crowns in the experimental group were significantly better (P<.05), while the interproximal contacts were significantly worse (P<.05) compared with those in the control group. In the control group, 1 crown was rated as Delta for occlusal contact and deemed clinically unacceptable. CONCLUSIONS: In single posterior tissue-level implant-supported restorations, the clinical outcomes of most of the screw-retained monolithic zirconia crowns generated from closed tray impression making and intraoral scanning with the iTero system and fabricated by 3D gel deposition were acceptable. Compared with the closed tray impression technique, intraoral scanning resulted in better patient comfort and occlusal contacts but worse interproximal contacts. Efficiency was lower with intraoral scanning.

Highly Efficient Separation of BTEX via Amide Naphthotube Cavity-Confined Tandem C/N-H···π Interactions.

The separation of BTEX [benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene (EB), and xylene isomers] poses a huge challenge in the industry, attributed to their similar structures and physical properties. Supramolecular compounds show great promise for hydrocarbon separation. Herein, we designed two pairs of endo-functionalized amide naphthotubes with methyl and benzyl side chains, which were first employed as chromatographic separation materials and exhibited high shape-selectivity for BTEX. In particular, the amide naphthotubes with methyl side chains provided complete separation toward BTEX and anti-3a showed high selectivity for the p-xylene over other isomers with αPX/OX = 9.34, αPX/MX = 5.50, and αPX/EB = 4.30. The mechanism of BTEX separation originates from the synergistic effect of specially confined tandem N-H···π and C-H···π interactions toward aromatic compounds. The findings of this research show promise for practical applications in efficiently separating crucial aromatic isomers.

Neuroprotection of the P2X7 receptor antagonist A740003 on retinal ganglion cells in experimental glaucoma.

The aim of this study was to explore the neuroprotective effects of the P2X7 receptor antagonist A740003 on retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in chronic intraocular hypertension (COH) experimental glaucoma mouse model. Bioinformatics was used to analyze the glaucoma-related genes. Western blot, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, and immunofluorescence staining techniques were employed to explore the mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of A740003 on RGCs in COH retinas. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and cell apoptosis were highly related to the pathogenesis of glaucoma. In COH retinas, intraocular pressure elevation significantly increased the levels of translocator protein, a marker of microglial activation, which could be reversed by intravitreal preinjection of A740003. A740003 also suppressed the increased mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL) 1ß and tumor necrosis factor α in COH retinas. In addition, although the mRNA levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-4 and IL-10 were kept unchanged in COH retinas, administration of A740003 could increase their levels. The mRNA and protein levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 were increased in COH retinas, which could be partially reversed by A740003, while the levels of Bcl-2 kept unchanged in COH retinas with or without the injections of A740003. Furthermore, A740003 partially attenuated the reduction in the numbers of Brn-3a-positive RGCs in COH mice. A740003 could provide neuroprotective roles on RGCs by inhibiting the microglia activation, attenuating the retinal inflammatory response, reducing the apoptosis of RGCs, and enhancing the survival of RGCs in COH experimental glaucoma.

Control of Hybrid Exciton Lifetime in MoSe2/WS2 Moiré Heterostructures.

Hybrid excitons, characterized by their strong oscillation strength and long lifetimes, hold great potential as information carriers in semiconductors. They offer promising applications in exciton-based devices and circuits. MoSe2/WS2 heterostructures represent an ideal platform for studying hybrid excitons, but how to regulate the exciton lifetime has not yet been explored. In this study, layer hybridization is modulated by applying electric fields parallel or antiparallel to the dipole moment, enabling us to regulate the exciton lifetime from 1.36 to 4.60 ns. Furthermore, the time-resolved photoluminescence decay traces are measured at different excitation power. A hybrid exciton annihilation rate of 8.9 × 10-4 cm2 s-1 is obtained by fitting. This work reveals the effects of electric fields and excitation power on the lifetime of hybrid excitons in MoSe2/WS2 1.5° moiré heterostructures, which play important roles in high photoluminescence quantum yield optoelectronic devices based on transition-metal dichalcogenides heterostructures.

Prognostic value of oxidative phosphorylation-related genes in hepatocellular carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent malignancies worldwide. Recently, oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) has received extensive concern as an emerging target in antitumor therapy. However, the OXPHOS-involved underlying genes and clinical utilization in HCC remain worth exploring. The present research aimed to create an OXPHOS-relevant signature in HCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, the prognostic signature genes linked with OXPHOS were identified, and prognostic models were built using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) cox regression analysis. Furthermore, the combination study of immune microenvironment and signature genes looked into the involvement of immune cells in signature-based genes in HCC. Following that, chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity and immunotherapy analysis was implemented to predict clinical efficacy in HCC patients. Finally, clinical samples were collected to measure the expression of OXPHOS-related signature genes. RESULTS: Following a series of screens, six prognostic signature genes related with OXPHOS were identified: MRPS23, MPV17, MAPK3, IGF2BP2, CDK5, and IDH2, on which a risk model was built. The findings revealed a significant drop in the survival rate of HCC patients as their risk score increased. Meanwhile, independent prognostic study demonstrated that the risk score could accurately identify HCC patients. Immuno-microenvironmental correlation research suggested that the prognostic characteristics could serve as a reference index for both immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Finally, RT-qPCR exhibited a trend in signature gene expression that was consistent with the results. CONCLUSION: In this study, a total of six prognostic genes associated with OXPHOS were selected and a prognostic model was constructed, providing an essential reference for the study of OXPHOS in HCC.

Evaluation of protective immunity induced by a DNA vaccine encoding SAG2 and SRS2 against Toxoplasma gondii infection in mice.

Toxoplasma gondii is an important protozoan pathogen, which can cause severe diseases in the newborns and immunocompromised individuals. Developing an effective vaccine against Toxoplasma infection is a critically important global health priority. Immunofluorescence staining analysis revealed that TgSAG2 and TgSRS2 are membrane associated and displayed on the surface of the parasite. Immunizations with pBud-SAG2, pBud-SRS2 and pBud-SAG2-SRS2 DNA vaccines significantly increased the production of specific IgG antibodies. Immunization with pBud-SAG2-SRS2 elicited cellular immune response with higher concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-4 compared to the control group. Antigen-specific lymphocyte proliferations in the pBud-SRS2 and pBud-SAG2-SRS2 groups were significantly higher compared to that in the control group. Furthermore, 30 % of mice immunized with pBud-SAG2-SRS2 survived after the challenge infection with virulent T. gondii RH tachyzoites. This study revealed that immunization with pBud-SAG2-SRS2 induced potent immune responses, and has the potential as a promising vaccine candidate for the control of T. gondii infection.

A Functional Switch Between Asperfumene and Fusicoccadiene Synthase and Entrance to Asperfumene Biosynthesis through a Vicinal Deprotonation-Reprotonation Process.

The diterpene synthase AfAS was identified from Aspergillus fumigatiaffinis. Its amino acid sequence and - according to a structural model - active site architecture are highly similar to those of the fusicocca-2,10(14)-diene synthase PaFS, but AfAS produces a structurally much more complex diterpene with a novel 6-5-5-5 tetracyclic skeleton called asperfumene. The cyclisation mechanism of AfAS was elucidated through isotopic labelling experiments and DFT calculations. The reaction cascade proceeds in its initial steps through similar intermediates as for the PaFS cascade, but then diverges through an unusual vicinal deprotonation-reprotonation process that triggers a skeletal rearrangement at the entrance to the steps leading to the unique asperfumene skeleton. The structural model revealed only one major difference between the active sites: The PaFS residue F65 is substituted by I65 in AfAS. Intriguingly, site-directed mutagenesis experiments with both diterpene synthases revealed that position 65 serves as a bidirectional functional switch for the biosynthesis of tetracyclic asperfumene versus structurally less complex diterpenes.

Permutation conditional mutual information to quantify TMS-evoked cortical connectivity in disorders of consciousness.

OBJECTIVE: To improve the understanding and diagnostic accuracy of disorders of consciousness (DOC) by quantifying transcranial magnetic stimulation evoked electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) connectivity using Permutation Conditional Mutual Information (PCMI). Approach: PCMI can characterize the functional connectivity between different brain regions. This study employed PCMI to analyze TMS-evoked cortical connectivity (TEC) in 154 DOC patients and 16 normal controls, focusing on optimizing parameter selection for PCMI (Data length, Order length, Time delay). We compared short-range and long-range PCMI values across different consciousness states-unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS), minimally conscious state (MCS), and normal (NOR)-and assessed various feature selection and classification techniques to distinguish these states. Main Results: 1) PCMI can quantify TEC. We found optimal parameters to be Data length: 500ms; Order: 3; Time delay: 6ms. 2) TMS evoked potentials (TEP) for NOR showed a rich response, while MCS patients showed only a few components, and UWS patients had almost no significant components. The values of PCMI connectivity metrics demonstrated its usefulness for measuring cortical connectivity evoked by TMS. From NOR to MCS to UWS, the number and strength of TEC decreased. Quantitative analysis revealed significant differences in the strength and number of TEC in the entire brain, local regions and inter-regions among different consciousness states. 3) A decision tree with feature selection by mutual information performed the best (balanced accuracy: 87.0% and accuracy: 83.5%). This model could accurately identify NOR (100.0%), but had lower identification accuracy for UWS (86.5%) and MCS (74.1%). Significance: The application of PCMI in measuring TMS-evoked connectivity provides a robust metric that enhances our ability to differentiate between various states of consciousness in DOC patients. This approach not only aids in clinical diagnosis but also contributes to the broader understanding of cortical connectivity and consciousness. .

Non-classical Deactivation Mechanism in a Supported Intermetallic Catalyst for Propane Dehydrogenation.

Platinum-based supported intermetallic alloys (IMAs) demonstrate exceptional performance in catalytic propane dehydrogenation (PDH) primarily because of their remarkable resistance to coke formation. However, these IMAs still encounter a significant hurdle in the form of catalyst deactivation. Understanding the complex deactivation mechanism of supported IMAs, which goes beyond conventional coke deposition, requires meticulous microscopic structural elucidation. In this study, we unravel a nonclassical deactivation mechanism over a PtZn/γ-Al2O3 PDH catalyst, dictated by the PtZn to Pt3Zn nanophase transformation accompanied with dezincification. The physical origin lies in the metal support interaction (MSI) that enables strong chemical bonding between hydroxyl groups on the support and Zn sites on the PtZn phase to selectively remove Zn species followed by the reconstruction towards Pt3Zn phase. Building on these insights, we have devised a solution to circumvent the deactivation by passivating the MSI through surface modification of γ-Al2O3 support. By exchanging protons of hydroxyl groups with potassium ions (K) on the γ-Al2O3 support, such a strategy significantly minimizes the dezincification of PtZn IMA via diminished metal-support bonding, which dramatically reduces the deactivation rate from 0.2044 to 0.0587 h-1.

SiO 2 Induces Iron Overload and Ferroptosis in Cardiomyocytes in a Silicosis Mouse Model.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the role and mechanism of ferroptosis in SiO 2-induced cardiac injury using a mouse model. Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice were intratracheally instilled with SiO 2 to create a silicosis model. Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) and deferoxamine (DFO) were used to suppress ferroptosis. Serum biomarkers, oxidative stress markers, histopathology, iron content, and the expression of ferroptosis-related proteins were assessed. Results: SiO 2 altered serum cardiac injury biomarkers, oxidative stress, iron accumulation, and ferroptosis markers in myocardial tissue. Fer-1 and DFO reduced lipid peroxidation and iron overload, and alleviated SiO 2-induced mitochondrial damage and myocardial injury. SiO 2 inhibited Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its downstream antioxidant genes, while Fer-1 more potently reactivated Nrf2 compared to DFO. Conclusion: Iron overload-induced ferroptosis contributes to SiO 2-induced cardiac injury. Targeting ferroptosis by reducing iron accumulation or inhibiting lipid peroxidation protects against SiO 2 cardiotoxicity, potentially via modulation of the Nrf2 pathway.

How does ferrocene correlate with ferroptosis? Multiple approaches to explore ferrocene-appended GPX4 inhibitors as anticancer agents.

Ferroptosis has emerged as a form of programmed cell death and exhibits remarkable promise for anticancer therapy. However, it is challenging to discover ferroptosis inducers with new chemotypes and high ferroptosis-inducing potency. Herein, we report a new series of ferrocenyl-appended GPX4 inhibitors rationally designed in a "one stone kills two birds" strategy. Ferroptosis selectivity assays, GPX4 inhibitory activity and CETSA experiments validated the inhibition of novel compounds on GPX4. In particular, the ROS-related bioactivity assays highlighted the ROS-inducing ability of 17 at the molecular level and their ferroptosis enhancement at the cellular level. These data confirmed the dual role of ferrocene as both the bioisostere motif maintaining the inhibition capacity of certain molecules with GPX4 and also as the ROS producer to enhance the vulnerability to ferroptosis of cancer cells, thereby attenuating tumor growth in vivo. This proof-of-concept study of ferrocenyl-appended ferroptosis inducers via rational design may not only advance the development of ferroptosis-based anticancer treatment, but also illuminate the multiple roles of the ferrocenyl component, thus opening the way to novel bioorganometallics for potential disease therapies.

Assembly and activation of EBV latent membrane protein 1.

Latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) is the primary oncoprotein of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and plays versatile roles in the EBV life cycle and pathogenesis. Despite decades of extensive research, the molecular basis for LMP1 folding, assembly, and activation remains unclear. Here, we report cryo-electron microscopy structures of LMP1 in two unexpected assemblies: a symmetric homodimer and a higher-order filamentous oligomer. LMP1 adopts a non-canonical and unpredicted fold that supports the formation of a stable homodimer through tight and antiparallel intermolecular packing. LMP1 dimers further assemble side-by-side into higher-order filamentous oligomers, thereby allowing the accumulation and specific organization of the flexible cytoplasmic tails for efficient recruitment of downstream factors. Super-resolution microscopy and cellular functional assays demonstrate that mutations at both dimeric and oligomeric interfaces disrupt LMP1 higher-order assembly and block multiple LMP1-mediated signaling pathways. Our research provides a framework for understanding the mechanism of LMP1 and for developing potential therapies targeting EBV-associated diseases.

The association between cardiac T2*BOLD and quantitative flow ratio (QFR) in the diagnosis of stenotic coronary arteries in patients with multi-vessel coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: T2*BOLD is based on myocardial deoxyhemoglobin content to reflect the state of myocardial oxygenation. Quantitative flow ratio is a tool for assessing coronary blood flow based on invasive coronary angiography. PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between T2*BOLD and QFR in the diagnosis of stenotic coronary arteries in patients with multi-vessel coronary artery disease. METHODS: Fifty patients with MVCAD with at least 1 significant coronary artery stenosis (diameter stenosis > 50%) and 21 healthy control subjects underwent coronary angiography combined with QFR measurements and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). QFR ≤ 0.80 was considered to indicate the presence of hemodynamic obstruction. RESULTS: Totally 60 (54%) obstructive vessels had hemodynamic change. Between stenotic coronary arteries (QFR ≤ 0.8) and normal vessels, T2*BOLD showed AUCs of 0.97, 0.69, and 0.91 for left anterior descending (LAD), left circumflex (LCX) and right coronary (RCA) arteries and PI displayed AUCs of 0.89, 0.77 and 0.90 (all p > 0.05, except for LAD). The AUCs of T2*BOLD between stenotic coronary arteries (QFR > 0.8) and normal vessels were 0.86, 0.72, and 0.85 for LAD, LCX and RCA; while, PI showed AUCs of 0.93, 0.86, and 0.88, respectively (p > 0.05). Moreover, T2*BOLD displayed AUCs of 0.96, 0.74, and 0.91 for coronary arteries as before between coronary arteries with stenosis (QFR ≤ 0.8 and > 0.8), but the mean PI of LAD, LCX and RCA showed no significant differences between them. CONCLUSION: T2* BOLD and QFR have good correlation in diagnosing stenotic coronary arteries with hemodynamic changes in patients with stable multi-vessel CAD. T2* BOLD is superior to semi-quantitative perfusion imaging in analyzing myocardial ischemia without stress.

Metformin prevents the onset and progression of intervertebral disc degeneration: New insights and potential mechanisms (Review).

Metformin has been the go­to medical treatment for addressing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as a frontline oral antidiabetic. Obesity, cancer and bone deterioration are linked to T2DM, which is considered a metabolic illness. Numerous diseases associated with T2DM, such as tumours, cardiovascular disease and bone deterioration, may be treated with metformin. Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is distinguished by degeneration of the spinal disc, accompanied by the gradual depletion of proteoglycans and water in the nucleus pulposus (NP) of the IVD, resulting in lower back pain. The therapeutic effect of metformin on IVDD has also attracted much attention. By stimulating AMP­activated kinase, metformin could enhance autophagy and suppress cell senescence, apoptosis and inflammation, thus effectively delaying IVDD. The present review aimed to systematically explain the development of IVDD and mechanism of metformin in the treatment and prevention of IVDD to provide a reference for the clinical application of metformin as adjuvant therapy in the treatment of IVDD.

Causal association between major depressive disorder and venous thromboembolism: a bidirectional mendelian randomization study.

Purpose: Major depressive disorder (MDD) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) may be linked in observational studies. However, the causal association remains ambiguous. Therefore, this study investigates the causal associations between them. Methods: We performed a two-sample univariable and multivariable bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to evaluate the associations between MDD and VTE. The summary genetic associations of MDD statistics were obtained from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium and UK Biobank. Information on VTE, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and pulmonary embolism (PE) were obtained from the FinnGen Biobank. Inverse-variance weighting was used as the main analysis method. Other methods include weighted median, MR-Egger, Simple mode, and Weighted mode. Results: Univariable MR analysis revealed no significant associations between MDD and VTE risk (odds ratio (OR): 0.936, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.736-1.190, p = 0.590); however, after adjusting the potential relevant polymorphisms of body mass index and education, the multivariable MR analysis showed suggestive evidence of association between them (OR: 1.163, 95% CI: 1.004-1.346, p = 0.044). Univariable MR analysis also revealed significant associations between MDD and PE risk (OR: 1.310, 95% CI: 1.073-1.598, p = 0.008), but the association between them was no longer significant in MVMR analysis (p = 0.072). We found no significant causal effects between MDD and DVT risk in univariable or multivariable MR analyses. There was also no clear evidence showing the causal effects between VTE, PE, or DVT and MDD risk. Conclusion: We provide suggestive genetic evidence to support the causal association between MDD and VTE risk. No causal associations were observed between VTE, PE, or DVT and MDD risk. Further validation of these associations and investigations of potential mechanisms are required.

A N-doped carbon substrate makes the Ru-Co alloy an efficient electrocatalyst for pH-universal seawater splitting.

Designing electrocatalysts for seawater splitting remains challenging. A Ru-Co alloy supported by an N-doped carbon substrate catalyst has been designed using etching and a low-temperature treatment method. Studies show that the superior performance of this catalyst is related to the hollow-structured N-doped carbon frame and surface reconstruction of the Ru-Co alloy.

Case report: A patient with brachio-cervical inflammatory myopathy was misdiagnosed as flail arm syndrome.

Brachio-cervical inflammatory myopathy (BCIM) is a rare inflammatory myopathy characterized by dysphagia, bilateral upper limb atrophy, limb-girdle muscle weakness, and myositis-specific antibody (MSA) negativity. BCIM has a low incidence and is commonly associated with autoimmune diseases. We present a case report of a 55-year-old man with progressive upper limb weakness and atrophy, diagnosed with flail arm syndrome (FAS). The initial electromyography revealed extensive spontaneous muscle activity and increased duration of motor unit potentials (MUPs). During follow-up, evidence of myogenic damage was observed, as indicated by a decreased duration of MUPs in the right biceps muscle. Laboratory and genetic testing ruled out hereditary or acquired diseases. Negative serological antibodies for myasthenia gravis. Hereditary or acquired diseases were ruled out through laboratory and genetic testing. Whole-body muscle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed extensive edema and fat replacement in the bilateral upper limbs, scapular, and central axis muscles, while the lower extremities were relatively mildly affected. Muscle biopsy revealed numerous foci of inflammatory cells distributed throughout the muscle bundle, with predominant CD20, CD138, and CD68 expression, accompanied by a light infiltration of CD3 and CD4 expression. The muscle weakness improved with the combination of oral prednisone (initially 60 mg/day, tapered) and methotrexate (5 mg/week) treatment.

Analysis of rice characteristic volatiles and their influence on rice aroma.

Rice aroma, one of the most important qualities of rice, was the comprehensive result of volatiles in rice and human sense. In this study, the main volatile compounds in rice were analyzed by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-olfactometry, and their correlations with sensory score were investigated. A total of eighty-five volatiles were found in rice samples. By combining odor activity value and correlation analysis, nine volatiles were considered as potential characteristic volatiles in rice aroma, namely hexanal, 2-pentylfuran, octanal, 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2-AP), 1-octen-3-ol, trans-2-octenal, decanal, trans-2-nonenal and trans, trans-2,4-decadienal. It was found that the volatiles negatively correlated with sensory scores were positively correlated with hexanal. It indicated that hexanal might be a representative of the negative volatiles of rice aroma. The effects of the nine potential characteristic volatiles on rice aroma were investigated by using sensory analysis. The results showed that the odor intensity and preference level of 2-AP, hexanal, and 1-octen-3-ol were significantly affected by the content. Furthermore, the aroma of cooked rice was significantly different after adding 2-AP, hexanal or trans, trans-2,4-decadienal. Rice aroma was increased by adding 2-AP and deteriorated by adding hexanal or trans, trans-2,4-decadienal, indicating that 2-AP contributed positively to rice aroma while hexanal and trans, trans-2,4-decadienal contributed negatively to rice aroma. Hexanal, 2-AP, and trans, trans-2,4-decadienal were suggested to be the key characteristic volatiles for future aroma evaluation.

The positive role of transforming growth factor-ß1 in ischemic stroke.

Ischemic stroke is one of the most disabling and fatal diseases around the world. The damaged brain tissues will undergo excessive autophagy, vascular endothelial cells injury, blood-brain barrier (BBB) impairment and neuroinflammation after ischemic stroke. However, there is no unified viewpoint on the underlying mechanism of brain damage. Transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1), as a multi-functional cytokine, plays a crucial role in the intricate pathological processes and helps maintain the physiological homeostasis of brain tissues through various signaling pathways after ischemic stroke. In this review, we summarize the protective role of TGF-ß1 in autophagic flux, BBB, vascular remodeling, neuroinflammation and other aspects after ischemic stroke. Based on the review, we believe that TGF-ß1 could serve as a key target for treating ischemic stroke.

Effect of ginger-partitioned moxibustion combined with ringheaded thumb-tack needle stimulation on gastrointestinal reactions of malignant tumor patients undergoing chemotherapy. / éš”å§œç¸è”åˆæ¿é’ˆå¯¹æ¶æ€§è‚¿ç˜¤åŒ–ç–—æ‚£è€ èƒƒè‚ é“ååº”çš„å½±å“.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the efficacy and safety of ginger-partitioned moxibustion combined with ringheaded thumb-tack needle stimulation in the prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients with malignant tumors. METHODS: Patients with malignant tumors and suffering from chemotherapy were randomly divided into control group (35 cases, 4 cases dropped off) and observation group (35 cases, 2 cases dropped off). The patients of the control group were treated by orally taking ondansetron hydrochloride tablets 8 mg/time, 3 times a day for 3 d, and those of the observation group treated by ginger-partitioned moxibustion combined with ringheaded thumb-tack needle stimulation of Zusanli(ST36), Neiguan(PC6), Tianshu(ST25), Zhongwan(CV12) and Guanyuan(CV4) once a day for a total of 3 d, based on the treatment of the control group. The patients' gastrointestinal reaction degree after the 1st , 2nd and the 3rd day of treatment were recorded. The Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score (0-100 points) was used for assessing the patients' quality of life. The TCM syndrome score (4 grades：no, mild, medium and severe, i.e. 0, 2, 4 and 6 points) was given according to the patients' severity of symptoms of spleen (stomach) qi deficiency (nausea and vomiting, abdominal distension after eating, belching, loss of appetite, weakness and laziness to speak, fatigue, and loose stool). The safety of the treatment was assessed by examining the patients' blood routine, liver function and kidney function, and the adverse reactions including blisters, allergies, burns and fainting during acupuncture treatment. RESULTS: After the 2nd and 3rd day of treatment, the patients conditions of vomiting and nausea in the observation group were significantly better than those of the control group (P<0.05). The TCM syndrome score and KPS score were significantly decreased in comparison with those of pre-treatment in both groups (P<0.05), and the TCM syndrome score was obviously lower in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05). No significant differences were found between the two groups in the KPS score after the treatment , and in the levels of white blood cells (WBC), hemoglobin (HGB), platelets (PLT), absolute neutrophil count (ANC), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine(Cr), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). CONCLUSIONS: The use of ginger-partitioned moxibustion combined with ringheaded thumb-tack needle stimulation is safe for CINV patients, and can effectively relieve nausea and vomiting and alleviate digestive symptoms.