Common Condition Research Articles

Calibration-free and ready-to-use wearable electroanalytical reporting system (r-WEAR) for long-term remote monitoring of electrolytes markers

A major bottleneck in the development of wearable ion-selective sensors is the inherent conditioning and calibration procedures at the user's end due to the signal's instability and non-uniformity. To address this challenge, we developed a strategy that integrates three interdependent materials and device engineering approaches to realize a Ready-to-use Wearable ElectroAnalytical Reporting system (r-WEAR) for reliable electrolytes monitoring. The strategy collectively utilized (1) finely-configured diffusion-limiting polymers to stabilize the electromotive force in the electrodes, (2) a uniform electrical induction in electrochemical cells to normalize the open-circuit potential (OCP), and (3) an electrical shunt to maintain the OCP across the entire sensor in the r-WEAR. The approaches jointly enable fabrication of homogeneously stable and uniform ion-selective sensors, eliminating common conditioning and calibration practices. As a result, the r-WEAR demonstrated a signal's variation down to ±1.99 mV with a signal drift of 0.5 % per hour (0.12 mV h−1) during a 12-h continuous measurement of 10 sensors and a signal drift as low as 13.3 μV h−1 during storage. On-body evaluations of the r-WEAR for four days without conditioning and re-/calibration further validated the sensor's performance in realistic settings, indicating its remarkable potential for practical usage in a user operation-free manner in wearable healthcare applications.

"Ethnic disparities in the prevalence of Molar-Incisor-Hypomineralisation (MIH) and caries among 6-12-year-old children in Catalonia, Spain".

To study the prevalence of MIH and caries in 6- and 12-year-old schoolchildren and their association with ethnic disparities and other relevant factors. In recent years, there has been uneven improvement in school children's oral health, highlighting inequalities in access to dental care and health outcomes, particularly among ethnic minorities. The most prevalent oral disease in childhood, caries, is preventable, as its risk factors are well known. However, MIH, a common condition affecting the enamel of permanent incisors and/or molars, has no established aetiology or preventive measures. A cross-sectional study among schoolchildren was conducted in 725 children from Masnou (Barcelona, 2013) and in 577 children from Sant Andreu de Llavaneres (Barcelona, 2018-2020). Data collection was carried out by means of clinical examination and a selfreferenced questionnaire. Oral health outcomes included: presence of dental caries, presence of MIH, hypomineralised second primary molars (HSPM). All variables were analysed according to ethnic disparities and other variables such as socioeconomics, diet, hygiene habits, plaque and access to dental services. We performed multivariate Poisson regression models with robust variance to examine ethnic disparities in MIH and caries. This cross-sectional study based in Catalonia, Spain showed that there are ethnic disparities in caries as observed with other child's diseases; however, they do not seem to follow the same pattern for MIH. More studies are needed (i) to explore how MIH behaves among populations in terms of inequality; (ii) to study the aetiological factors of MIH; and (iii) to identify potential factors associated with MIH and caries that have not been studied and that may contribute to the observed ethnic disparities.

Therapeutic Potential of Indian Medicinal Herbs and Current Therapeutic Approach used to Mitigate the Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Review

Abstract: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complex condition marked by severe exhaustion that lasts at least 6 months. The global prevalence of CFS ranging between 0.4% and 2.5% is growing. Women are affected by CFS more often than men. It is considered a common condition in developed countries. There is no approved treatment for CFS but symptoms can be managed and controlled persistent exhaustion causes significant impairment in daily routine activities. Lowered ATP synthesis, mitochondrial impairment, decreased oxidative phosphorylation, disruption of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, and an imbalance of brain neurotransmitters play a major role in the pathophysiology of CFS. The purpose of the present study is to figure out the several plants that are used as a source of medication in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and its current therapeutic approach. The Indian medicinal herbs described in this article are very efficacious in the management of chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms due to the presence of phytochemicals. This review article also covers the current therapeutic approach for chronic fatigue syndrome in a concise form that comprises CBT (Cognitive based therapy), GET (Graded exercise therapy), usage of immunoglobins, psychodynamic counseling, and yoga therapy that includes isometric yoga and yoga nidra are very beneficial in alleviating the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. Antidepressants, immunomodulatory agents, and corticosteroids come under conventional medication for CFS. This article explores different Indian medicinal herbs, their pharmacological properties, and their potential role and current treatments for reducing the severity of symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.

CRITICAL REVIEW OF PASHANBHINNA RASA ON ASHMARI WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO UROLITHIASIS

Ayurveda, an ancient system of medicine, addresses numerous disorders related to the Mutravaha Srotas (uri-nary system), such as Mutrakricchra (dysuria), Mutraghata (obstructive uropathy), and Mutrashmari (urinary calculi). Among these, Mutrashmari, corresponding to urolithiasis in modern medicine, is one of the most com-mon and distressing conditions, characterised by the formation of stones within the urinary tract. Sushruta iden-tifies two primary mechanisms of stone formation: urine stagnation and supersaturation and crystallisation of urinary crystalloids. Urolithiasis affects approximately 12% of the global population, with a high recurrence rate, especially in males. This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of Pashanbhinna Rasa, a herbo-mineral formulation from the Bhaishajya Ratnavali, Ashmari Prakaran, assessing its efficacy in treating Ash-mari (urolithiasis)—the study endeavours to bridge the knowledge gap in contemporary literature regarding this formulation. A thorough literature review focused on references to Pashanbhinna Rasa in classical Ayurvedic texts and modern scientific studies. The review highlights Pashanbhinna Rasa's multifaceted approach to man-aging urolithiasis. The herbo-mineral components of Pashanbhinna Rasa are believed to exert a synergistic ef-fect, potentially dissolving stones, preventing their formation, and providing symptomatic relief. This critical review elucidates the potential of Pashanbhinna Rasa as an effective treatment for urolithiasis. While traditional Ayurvedic formulations offer promising therapeutic benefits, further clinical studies are necessary to validate their efficacy scientifically. Establishing Pashanbhinna Rasa as a standardised treatment could integrate Ayur-vedic wisdom with modern medical practice, offering a holistic approach to managing urolithiasis.

Prevalence of urogenital disease in male adolescent outpatient visits. A descriptive, cross-sectional study.

Introduction. The male genital exam is a simple and quick assessment to look for urogenital disease. Data on the prevalence of urogenital disease in male adolescents are limited. Our objective was to describe the prevalence of urogenital disease in male adolescents. Population and methods. Descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted at the Department of Adolescence of a public hospital in the City of Buenos Aires. The medical records of male patients aged 9 to 20 years seen between 2008 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed; all those with a genital exam were included. Data on age, pubertal stage, orchidometry, and urogenital disease before adolescence and at the time of consultation were recorded. The prevalence was described as percentage and 95% confidence interval (CI). As per estimations, 1167 medical records had to be included to establish the population sample. Results. A total of 2129 medical records were assessed and 1429 were included. No genital exam had been conducted in 686 cases. The median age of the population was 12 years (interquartile range: 11-14 years). Urogenital disease before adolescence was detected in 72 boys (5.7%; 95% CI: 4.5- 7.2). Urogenital disease was found in 272 adolescents (14.8%; 95% CI: 13.1-16.7); the most common conditions were balanopreputial adhesions in 5.3% (95% CI: 4.2-6.6), varicocele in 2.7% (95% CI: 2-3.7), and phimosis in 1.8% (95% CI: 1.2-2.6). Conclusions. A genital exam allowed to detect that 14.8% of adolescent boys had a urogenital disease. The most common conditions were balanopreputial adhesions, varicocele, and phimosis.

Single Incision Broström-Gould Surgery With Peroneal Debridement and Calcaneal Osteotomy

Objective: Chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI) with hindfoot varus is a common condition that can be treated with various surgical approaches. The Broström-Gould procedure is the gold-standard surgery for CLAI, and a sliding lateralizing calcaneal osteotomy (SLCO) is a common procedure for CLAI with hindfoot varus. The purpose of this paper is to describe a single-incision approach for the Broström-Gould repair with concomitant peroneal tendon debridement and an SLCO. Patients and Methods: The study retrospectively reviewed 189 cases of lateral ankle ligamentous repair with peroneal tendon debridement and an SLCO between 2011 and 2020. Of these, 53 patients had a single-incision approach, meeting the major inclusion criteria. The remaining patients had 2 incisions. Inclusion criteria for this study required patients to be at least 18 years of age, have a preoperative diagnosis of CLAI with hindfoot varus, and receive an isolated one-incision approach for a Broström-Gould procedure with concomitant peroneal tendon debridement and an SLCO. Results: The single-incision technique has shown to be equally effective with potential for decreased wound and neurovascular complications in comparison to a traditional multi-incisional approach. Conclusions: The single-incision technique for the Broström-Gould repair with concomitant peroneal tendon debridement and an SLCO is a safe and effective approach for treating CLAI with hindfoot varus. This technique offers adequate visualization of the lateral ankle ligaments, peroneal tendons, and lateral calcaneus while still achieving excellent postoperative cosmesis.

Review of cellular therapies provides new insights into the potential treatment of diverse neurologic diseases in horses and dogs.

Neurological diseases and injuries in veterinary patients (horses, dogs, and cats) are complex, and effective treatment options are limited. Neuronal loss, damage to nerve conduction pathways, and inflammation and scarring associated with spinal cord injury pose major challenges in managing many neurological diseases. Furthermore, most of these neuropathologies lack definitive pharmacological treatments, driving interest and research into novel interventions. Our objective is to provide a narrative review of the current literature surrounding cellular therapies including neuronal and glial stem cells, neurotrophic factors, mesenchymal stem or stromal cells, and cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells for the treatment of diverse neurological pathologies. Cellular therapies have the potential for cellular replacement, immune modulation, and paracrine signaling and the flexibility of being used alone or alongside surgical intervention. Mesenchymal stem or stromal cells are arguably the most researched cellular therapy and have been administered intrathecally, IV, intra-arterially, intranasally, and intraspinally with few adverse reactions. Limited clinical and experimental studies have suggested efficacy in diseases including acute spinal cord injury and intervertebral disc disease. Little is currently known about the safety and efficacy of neural stem cells, precursor cell administration, and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived treatments. Further research is necessary to determine the efficacy and long-term safety of cellular therapies. Future aims should include larger controlled clinical trials in companion animals for common neurologic conditions including acute spinal cord injury, intervertebral disc disease, peripheral nerve injury, degenerative neuropathies, and age-associated cognitive decline.

Assessment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in adult patients with hematopoietic stem-cell transplant at a tertiary care hospital.

e24098 Background: Chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is prevalent and potentially treatment-limiting side effects in cancer patients.1 Nausea and vomiting are frequent and significantly affect cancer patients' daily functioning and health-related quality of life (HRQL). A patient who experienced nausea and vomiting showed to be affected by worse physical, cognitive, social functioning, and global quality of life in comparison to patients who don’t have nausea and vomiting. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort observational study to assess the complete response (CR) and risk factor associated with nausea and vomiting among HSCT patients at King Fahad Medical City (KFMC). All adult patient underwent Bone Morrow Transplant (BMT) were included in the study. Data was collected prospectively during admission to the hospital and receive the conditioning regimen. Patients was interviewed by clinical pharmacist and assessed using MASCC Antiemesis Tool© (MAT) to assess the effectiveness of our regimen used to prevent nausea and vomiting during active chemotherapy days and delayed phase. Results: A total of 30 patients were enrolled in the study during a one year follow up from April 2021 to April 2022. Data analysis was done and revealed as follows; out of 30 patients enrolled 18 (60%) patients were female while 12 (40%) were male. Lymphomas including (Non-Hodgkin, and Hodgkin lymphomas) were the most common diagnosis included among patients 17 (56.6%). BEAM protocol was the most common conditioning regimen protocol used 13 (43.3%). Complete response (CR) was achieved in 13 (43.3%) patients during acute nausea and vomiting, while 17 (56.7%) patients weren’t being able to achieve CR. Furthermore, out of the 30 patients observed, 6 (20.0%) experienced delayed vomiting, while 19 (63.3%) experienced delayed nausea. Similarly, Complete response (CR) was achieved in 11 (36.7%) patients during delayed nausea and vomiting, while 19 (63.3%) patients weren’t being able to achieve Complete response (CR) respectively. Breakthrough medication for nausea and vomiting was needed in all patients who didn’t have to achieve CR 19 (63.3%) patients. There was no association between age, gender, conditioning regimen, and type of transplant and achieved CR among patients (P- value; > 0.05). However, more breakthrough medication is needed when CR is not achieved (P- value; < 0.05). Conclusions: At our institution, among hematopoietic transplant recipients receiving appropriate antiemetics, approximately half (50%) achieved complete response (CR) in preventing chemotherapy-induced vomiting (CINV). Age, gender, and transplant type were not significantly associated with increased CR failure, while the specific conditioning regimen did not show a statistically significant impact.

‘Morphing between the margins’: how youth make a living across multiple spaces in South Africa and beyond

ABSTRACT Young South Africans regularly generate livelihoods on the move, as they morph across a mainstream economic field and two translocal sub-fields. While a field implies sets of relations operating under common conditions, translocal sub-fields are local spaces of exchange and practice, where resources are utilised, in a relationship with other linked spaces. In South Africa, the mainstream economic field largely consists of an urban labour market with some good jobs and unskilled labour. Alongside it a rural sub-field consists of farm and off-farm activities, reciprocal exchange and state grants. Finally, on the outskirts of urban areas a township sub-field consists of young people hustling resources in the informal sector. After describing how mobile young South Africans make a living across these spaces, I show how this case is both similar and different to other post-colonial contexts with substantial informal economic sectors like India and Brazil. In these places, youth strive to make a living by accumulating resources as they move across spaces that include, but transcend, the labour market. A particular form of mobile, global South youth livelihood generation occurs across the mainstream capitalist economy and informal urban and rural contexts, where economic relations remain largely embedded in social life.

Magnetic Resonance Images Segmentation of Multifidus based on Dense-unet and Superpixel.

Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a common clinical condition causing lower back and leg pain. Accurate segmentation of the lumbar discs is crucial for assessing and diagnosing LDH. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can reveal the condition of articular cartilage. However, manual segmentation of MRI images is burdensome for physicians and needs to be more efficient. In this study, we propose a method that combines UNet and superpixel segmentation to address the problem of loss of detailed information in the feature extraction phase, leading to poor segmentation results at object edges. The aim is to provide a reproducible solution for diagnosing patients with lumbar disc herniation. We suggest using the network structure of UNet. Firstly, dense blocks are inserted into the UNet network, and training is performed using the Swish activation function. The Dense-UNet model extracts semantic features from the images and obtains rough semantic segmentation results. Then, an adaptive-scale superpixel segmentation algorithm is applied to segment the input images into superpixel images. Finally, high-level abstract semantic features are fused with the detailed information of the superpixels to obtain edge-optimized semantic segmentation results. Evaluation of a private dataset of multifidus muscles in magnetic resonance images demonstrates that compared to other segmentation algorithms, this algorithm exhibits better semantic segmentation performance in detailed areas such as object edges. Compared to UNet, it achieves a 9.5% improvement in the Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) and an 11.3% improvement in the Jaccard Index (JAC). The experimental results indicate that this algorithm improves segmentation performance while reducing computational complexity.

Muscle Steatosis and Fibrosis in Older Adults, From the AJR Special Series on Imaging of Fibrosis.

The purpose of this article is to review steatosis and fibrosis of skeletal muscle, focusing on older adults. Although CT, MRI, and ultrasound are commonly used to image skeletal muscle and provide diagnoses for a variety of medical conditions, quantitative assessment of muscle steatosis and fibrosis is uncommon. This review provides radiologists with a broad perspective on muscle steatosis and fibrosis in older adults by considering the public health impact, biologic mechanisms, and evaluation with CT, MRI, and ultrasound. Promising directions in clinical research that entail artificial intelligence algorithms and the imaging assessment of biologic age are also reviewed. The imaging methods presented hold promise for improving the evaluation of common conditions affecting older adults, including sarcopenia, frailty, and cachexia.

Effects of indoor environment on EEG and thermal comfort under the ceiling-fan-integrated air conditioning system

This study investigated the correlations between the relative EEG power at different frequency bands under ceiling-fan-integrated air conditioning (CFIAC) systems. Twenty subjects participated in the experiments with the combinations of five air temperature levels (24, 25, 26, 27, and 28 °C) and six ceiling fan gears (Levels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and closed). The EEG signals and indoor environmental parameters (relative humidity, air velocity, and temperature) were recorded synchronously, and the thermal comfort online survey for each subject was obtained as well. The most comfortable combination was found when the air temperature was 27 °C and the fan speed was 0.3 m/s. When the air temperature was 25 °C, the relative EEG power in the different bands was least distinguishable, but when the temperature rose to 27 °C, it occurred an obvious change in different lobes. The δ, θ, β, and γ-bands significantly correlated with indoor setting temperature for the whole brain, but only the θ-band located at the occipital lobe significantly correlated with ceiling fan speed. The significance for the α-band with setting temperature and the β-band signal with air velocity varies with the subjects. Compared to the common air conditioning (CAC) system, CFIAC had a different effect on the relationship between relative EEG power and exposure environment. The airflow due to the ceiling fan may reverse this relationship between α-band, β-band, and IAT from positive (CFIAC system) to negative (CAC system). This study can contribute to developing wearable sensing data-driven thermal comfort evaluation models.

Acne treatment using tea tree oil, aloe vera, lavender, and calendula: The perception of pharmacy students

Skin acne is a common skin condition that occurs when hair follicles become clogged with oil and dead skin cells. In this paper, the use tea tree oil, aloe vera, lavender, and calendula for skin acne is reviewed along with a survey of the views of first-year pharmacy students on these products. The survey included 5 knowledge-based and 5 opinion-based questions, focusing on skin acne remedies. The survey enrolled 10 male and 29 female participants. The response rate for the demographic questions was 100%. In the knowledge-based and opinion survey questions, 34 participated for a response rate of about 87%. For the knowledge-based questions, the correct average response rate was 75.9%, with one question scoring 14.7% correct rate. The highest correct response rate was 97.1%. Opinion-based questions revealed a positive attitude towards herbal skin acne remedies with approximately 37.4% expressing strong agreement. On average, over 93% of the respondents agreed with the positive aspects of the products. Nearly 53% strongly believed that lavender has therapeutic properties such as promoting relaxation and reducing stress. This survey provided valuable pharmacy students’ insights into the potential of herbal remedies for skin acne properties.

The social determinants of migrant domestic worker (MDW) health and well-being in the Western Pacific Region: A Scoping Review.

The health and well-being of transnational migrant domestic workers (MDWs) is a pressing but largely neglected public health concern. The Asia Pacific region is home to over 20% of the global MDW population. Living and working conditions, social contexts, political environments, and migration regimes are recognized as consequential to the health of this population, but currently no synthesis of available literature to prioritize research or policy agenda setting for MDW has yet been conducted. This scoping review screened 6,006 peer-reviewed articles and 1,217 gray literature sources, identifying 173 articles and 276 gray literature sources that reported key MDW health outcomes, social determinants of health, and related interventions. The majority of identified studies were observational and focused on the prevalence of common mental disorders and chronic physical conditions, with most studies lacking population representativeness. Identified social determinants of health were primarily concerned with personal social and financial resources, and health knowledge and behaviors, poor living and working conditions, community resources, experienced stigma and discrimination, poor healthcare access, exploitation within the MDW employment industry, and weak governance. Six interventional studies were identified that targeted individual-level health determinants such as financial and health knowledge with mixed effectiveness. Future population representative epidemiological and respondent driven sampling studies are needed to estimate population health burdens. In addition, randomized control trials and public health intervention studies are needed to improve women's health outcomes and address proximal health determinants to reduce health inequalities. Leveraging social networks and community facing non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are promising directions to overcome access to care for this population.

Research Advances in Stem Cell Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common clinical condition that mainly affects men aged over 40 years. Various causes contribute to the progression of ED, including pelvic nerve injury, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, age, Peyronie's disease, smoking, and psychological disorders. Current treatments for ED are limited to symptom relief and do not address the root cause. Stem cells, with their powerful ability to proliferate and differentiate, are a promising approach for the treatment of male ED and are gradually gaining widespread attention. Current uses for treating ED have been studied primarily in experimental animals, with most studies observing improvements in erectile quality as well as improvements in erectile tissue. However, research on stem cell therapy for human ED is still limited. This article summarizes the recent literature on basic stem cell research on ED, including cavernous nerve injury, aging, diabetes, and sclerosing penile disease, and describes mechanisms of action and therapeutic effects of various stem cell therapies in experimental animals. Stem cells are also believed to interact with host tissue in a paracrine manner, and improved function can be supported through both implantation and paracrine factors. To date, stem cells have shown some preliminary promising results in animal and human models of ED.

Abstract 5413: In vitro modeling of the migration ability of lung adenocarcinoma cell lines under hypoxic conditions

Abstract Hypoxia is a common condition in the tumor microenvironment that contributes to tumor cell migration, invasion, and metastasis, partly through inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). One of the key proteins in this process is hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), which regulates the expression of various genes as transcription factor and is vital for the cellular response in tissue hypoxia. Several studies have investigated the causation between hypoxic conditions and increased in vitro tumor cell motility and the role of potential regulatory signaling pathways. Understanding the precise molecular mechanisms underlying hypoxia-induced responses is crucial for better targeting tumor progression. However, establishing sound and predictive models is urgently needed to achieve this.In this study, we investigated the migration ability of four non-small cell lung cancer cell lines carrying different mutations of the growth factor pathway (H1975: EGFR T790M, PF901: BRAF V600E, PF139: KRAS G12C mutant, and H838: triple WT) under normoxic, hypoxic, and hypoxia-mimicking CoCl2-treated conditions. The motility of the cells was investigated by 48 h video microscopy (single cell random migration) and 72 h scratch assay. We analyzed the expression of crucial genes and proteins, including HIF-1α, as well as molecules associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (vimentin, n-cadherin, and e-cadherin), proliferation (PCNA), and apoptosis (PARP), using Western blot and qPCR techniques. Our work showed no change in cellular motility between any of the cell lines following treatment with CoCl2 compared to normoxic conditions. However, PF139 and PF901 cell lines showed a significant decrease in single-cell motility upon hypoxia. Interestingly, immunoblot analysis revealed stabilization of HIF-1α in response to both CoCl2 and hypoxia in the meantime. Additionally, we observed cell line-dependent changes in EMT marker expression upon CoCl2 treatment and hypoxia. Our work complements previous results published by our group and others on the tumor-promoting role of hypoxia, demonstrating that short-term exposure to hypoxia may act as an acute stressor for tumor cell lines. Our work suggests that the tumor progression-promoting effects are tissue-specific and should be investigated using long-term hypoxia models. Acknowledgments: This work was supported by the Hungarian Thematic Excellence Program (TKP2021-EGA-44) and the National Laboratories Program - National Laboratory for Tumor Biology (NLP-17). Sára Eszter Surguta is a grantee of the ITM-NKFIA funded Cooperative Doctoral Program (1018567). Citation Format: Sára Eszter Surguta, Marcell Baranyi, Laura Svajda, Ivan Ranđelović, Mihály Cserepes, József Tóvári. In vitro modeling of the migration ability of lung adenocarcinoma cell lines under hypoxic conditions [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 5413.

Review of the Evidence for Pulmonary Rehabilitation in COPD: Clinical Benefits and Cost-Effectiveness.

COPD is a common and lethal chronic condition, recognized as a leading cause of death worldwide. COPD is associated with significant morbidity and disability, particularly among older adults. The disease course is marked by periods of stability and disease exacerbations defined by worsening respiratory status resulting in a high burden of health care utilization and an increased risk of mortality. Treatment is focused on pharmacologic therapies, but these are not completely effective. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) represents a key medical intervention for patients with chronic respiratory diseases, including COPD. PR provides individualized and progressive exercise training, education, and self-management strategies through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary program. PR has been associated with improvement in exercise capacity, health-related quality of life, and dyspnea in patients living with COPD. Moreover, PR has been associated with improvements in hospital readmission and 1-y survival. In addition to the clinical benefits, PR is estimated to be a cost-effective medical intervention. Despite these benefits, participation in PR remains low. We will review the evidence for PR in each of these benefit domains among patients with stable COPD and in those recovering from a COPD exacerbation.

Guidelines for clinical application of micronutrients in Chinese adult patients (2024 edition)

Micronutrients, including trace elements and vitamins, are essential nutrients in human metabolism. The majority of patients who need nutritional therapy have different levels of micronutrient deficiency for various reasons, which can lead to disease progression and affect clinical outcomes. In order to further standardize the application of micronutrients in medical nutrition therapy, nearly 100 experts in related fields were organized by the Chinese Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (CSPEN) to elaborate on the role and dosage of micronutrients based on the existing evidence-based medical evidence in common clinical conditions such as severe illness, surgery, burns, inflammatory bowel disease, short bowel disease, malignant tumors, chronic liver and kidney disease, elderly comorbidity, weight loss and chronic infection. Finally, 13 questions and 30 recommendations were put forward to provide reference for clinical standard application of parenteral and enteral nutrition in adult patients.

Glaucocalyxin A delays the progression of OA by inhibiting NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways

BackgroundOsteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint condition marked by inflammation and cartilage breakdown. Currently, there is a dearth of treatment medications that can clearly slow the course of OA. Glaucocalyxin A (GLA) is a diterpene chemical identified and extracted from Rabdosia japonica with antithrombotic, anticoagulant, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and other pharmacological properties. Previous research has linked inflammation to abnormalities in the homeostasis of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Although GLA has been shown to have anti-inflammatory qualities, its effects on the progression of OA are unknown. As a result, the goal of this study was to see if GLA could slow the course of OA.MethodsATDC5 cells were stimulated by IL-1β to create an inflammatory chondrocyte damage model. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western Blot, high-density culture, and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression levels of associated gene phenotypes. We also created a mouse model of OA induced by destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) instability, and GLA was administered intraperitoneally once every two days for eight weeks. Mice knee specimens were stained with hematoxylin–eosin, Safranin O/fast green, and immunohistochemical, and the Osteoarthritis Research Society International grade system and Mankin’s score were used to assess the protective effect of GLA on cartilage.ResultsIn vitro and in vivo, we explored the effects and molecular processes of GLA as a therapy for OA. The findings demonstrated that GLA might reduce the expression of associated inflammatory mediators and protect the ECM by inhibiting the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. Animal research revealed that GLA could protect against the DMM-induced OA model mice by stabilizing ECM.ConclusionTaken together, our findings show that GLA has a protective impact on cartilage throughout OA progression, implying that GLA could be employed as a possible therapeutic agent for OA, thus giving a new therapeutic method for the treatment of OA.

Hand Function and Hand-Eye Coordination in Cervical Conditions – A Cross Sectional Study

Background of the study: Cervical Conditions are most common orthopaedic condition that may affect a large number of people. It compresses the nerve roots and may cause muscle weakness, numbness and loss of fine movements of the upper limbs. Hand Functions are movements of the hand and Hand eye coordination is the coordination of motor and visual inputs to produce a movement. This study helps to find out whether the hand function and hand eye coordination are affected in Cervical Conditions. Aim: Aim of this study is to find whether the hand function and hand eye coordination are affected in Cervical Conditions. Method: A total number of 212 subjects with cervical pain were screened for the study inclusion criteria and 132 subjects were selected for the study. The assessment of hand function, hand-eye coordination skills and shoulder disability were carried out for all the Subjects. NDI scale was used to evaluate the subject’s severity of pain and the associated disability among the samples. Hand function we evaluated using Purdue pegboard. Ball Tossing Task and Wall Ball Bounce Task were done to assess the Hand eye coordination. Results: On assessing the correlation between NDI and PURDUE, the results obtained on analysis is -0.108, which shows a negative relationship between the variables. The non-parametric correlation analysis using the spearman’s rho between the Neck disability index (NDI) with the PURDUE is -0.053, which shows a negative relationship between the variables. On assessing the correlation between NDI and Hand-Eye Task-1, the results obtained on analysis is -0.0081, which shows a negative relationship between the variables and the non-parametric correlation analysis is -0.162, which shows a negative relationship between the variables. On assessing the correlation between NDI and Hand-Eye Task-2, the results obtained on analysis is -0.023, which shows a negative relationship between the variables and the non-parametric correlation analysis is -0.092, which shows a negative relationship between the variables. Discussion: The purpose of the study is to find whether the hand function and hand eye coordination are affected in Cervical Conditions. Conclusion: This study concludes that the hand function and hand eye coordination are not affected in Cervical Conditions.