Objective: To observe the effect of acupoint massage plus Vitalstim electrical stimulation on deglutition function and surface electromyography (SEMG) of deglutition muscle groups. Methods: A total of 60 patients with deglutition disorder after stroke were selected and divided into an electrical stimulation group, a massage group and an integrated group according to the random number table method, with 20 cases in each group. Patients in these three groups were given the same routine rehabilitation training for deglutition. In addition, patients in the electrical stimulation group were given extra Vitalstim electrical stimulation, patients in the massage group were given extra acupoint massage on the head, face and neck, and patients in the integrated group were given extra acupoint massage plus Vitalstim electrical stimulation. Fujishima Ichiro food intake level scale (FILS) was scored before and after treatment. The swallowing duration and maximal amplitude of masseter muscle in SEMG were evaluated before and after treatment. Results: After treatment, the FILS score and the maximal amplitude of recruitment potential generated by muscular contraction of masseter muscle group in the three groups were higher than those before treatment (all P<0.05), and the swallowing duration of masseter muscle group was shortened compared with that in the same group before treatment (all P<0.05). After treatment, the FILS score in the integrated group was higher than that in the electrical stimulation group and the massage group (both P<0.05). The swallowing duration of masseter muscle group measured by SEMG was lower than that in the electrical stimulation group and the massage group (both P<0.05), while the maximal amplitude was higher than that of the electrical stimulation group and the massage group (P<0.05). After treatment, there were no significant differences in the FILS score, swallowing duration and maximal amplitude of masseter muscle group between the electrical stimulation group and the massage group (all P>0.05). Conclusion: Both acupoint massage and electrical stimulation can improve the deglutition function in patients with deglutition disorder after stroke, and improve the coordination and flexibility of masseter muscle. The integration of the two is more effective.

BACKGROUNDThe properties of subchondral bone influence the integrity of articular cartilage in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). However, the characteristics of subchondral bone alterations remain unresolved. The present study aimed to observe the dynamic alterations in the microarchitecture, mineralization, and mechanical properties of subchondral bone during the progression of OA.

METHODSA medial meniscal tear (MMT) operation was performed in 128 adult Sprague Dawley rats to induce OA. At 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks following the MMT operation, cartilage degeneration was evaluated using toluidine blue O staining, whereas changes in the microarchitecture indices and tissue mineral density (TMD), mineral-to-collagen ratio, and intrinsic mechanical properties of subchondral bone plates (BPs) and trabecular bones (Tbs) were measured using micro-computed tomography scanning, confocal Raman microspectroscopy and nanoindentation testing, respectively.

RESULTSCartilage degeneration occurred and worsened progressively from 2 to 12 weeks after OA induction. Microarchitecture analysis revealed that the subchondral bone shifted from bone resorption early (reduced trabecular BV/TV, trabecular number, connectivity density and trabecular thickness [Tb.Th], and increased trabecular spacing (Tb.Sp) at 2 and 4 weeks) to bone accretion late (increased BV/TV, Tb.Th and thickness of subchondral bone plate, and reduced Tb.Sp at 8 and 12 weeks). The TMD of both the BP and Tb displayed no significant changes at 2 and 4 weeks but decreased at 8 and 12 weeks. The mineral-to-collagen ratio showed a significant decrease from 4 weeks for the Tb and from 8 weeks for the BP after OA induction. Both the elastic modulus and hardness of the Tb showed a significant decrease from 4 weeks after OA induction. The BP showed a significant decrease in its elastic modulus from 8 weeks and its hardness from 4 weeks.

CONCLUSIONThe microarchitecture, mineralization and mechanical properties of subchondral bone changed in a time-dependent manner as OA progressed.

Animals ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Male ; Osteoarthritis ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; X-Ray Microtomography

OBJECTIVETo demonstrate the effect of early strategies and revascularization patterns on in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (ACS) at intermediate or high risk.

METHODS910 Patients with non-ST-segment elevation ACS at intermediate or high risk were divided into either early invasive (n = 237) or initially conservative (n = 673) group according to whether or when coronary angiography (CAG) was performed after admission ( 48 h) in order to demonstrate the impact of early strategies and revascularization patterns on in-hospital MACE events (death, new-onset myocardial infarction or repeat revascularization).

RESULTSCompared with those of the initially conservative group, patients in the early invasive group had a shorter hospital stay and increased rate of MACE (6.3% vs 2.5%, OR 0.384, 95% CI 0.188 - 0.781, P = 0.006) or new-onset myocardial infarction (4.6% vs 0.9%, OR 0.185, 95% CI 0.068 - 0.505, P = 0.001), which was partly due to increased procedures of revascularization (86.9% vs 67.5%, P < 0.001). No differences were found among in-hospital mortality or rate of repeat revascularization between the two groups. During subgroup analysis, patients receiving PCI in the early invasive or initially conservative group had comparable rates of new-onset myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization or MACE events, whereas patients receiving CABG in the early invasive group had a higher rate of new-onset myocardial infarctions than those in the initially conservative group (7.5% vs 1.8%, P = 0.027).

CONCLUSIONSAn early invasive strategy in patients with non-ST-segment elevation ACS had comparable in-hospital mortality and higher rate of in-hospital myocardial infarction compared with an initially conservative strategy, an early invasive strategy with PCI seems safe and feasible without increased risk of adverse clinical events. The impact of early CABG on in-hospital adverse events warrants further investigation.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Myocardial Revascularization

It was widely known that retinoic acid inducible gene I (RIG-I) functions as a cytosolic pattern recognition receptor that initiates innate antiviral immunity by detecting exogenous viral RNAs. However, recent studies showed that RIG-I participates in other various cellular activities by sensing endogenous RNAs under different circumstances. For example, RIG-I facilitates the therapy resistance and expansion of breast cancer cells and promotes T cell-independent B cell activation through interferon signaling activation by recognizing non-coding RNAs and endogenous retroviruses in certain situations. While in hepatocellular carcinoma and acute myeloid leukemia, RIG-I acts as a tumor suppressor through either augmenting STAT1 activation by competitively binding STAT1 against its negative regulator SHP1 or inhibiting AKT-mTOR signaling pathway by directly interacting with Src respectively. These new findings suggest that RIG-I plays more diverse roles in various cellular life activities, such as cell proliferation and differentiation, than previously known. Taken together, the function of RIG-I exceeds far beyond that of a pattern recognition receptor.
Animals ; DEAD Box Protein 58 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; metabolism ; STAT1 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; genetics ; physiology