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Endoscopy Dec 2024
Topics: Humans; Esophageal Achalasia; Myotomy; Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery; Mediastinum; Male; Female; Esophagoscopy; Middle Aged
PubMed: 38759961
DOI: 10.1055/a-2308-2823 -
PloS One 2024Paddlefish has high economic and ecological value. In this study, microbial diversity and community structure in intestine, stomach, and mouth of paddlefish were...
Paddlefish has high economic and ecological value. In this study, microbial diversity and community structure in intestine, stomach, and mouth of paddlefish were detected using high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that the diversity and richness indices decreased along the digestive tract, and significantly lower proportion of those were observed in intestine. Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria were the dominant phyla. In top 10 phyla, there was no significant difference in mouth and stomach. But compared with intestine, there were significant differences in 8 of the 10 phyla, and Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes increased significantly, while Proteobacteria decreased significantly. There was no dominant genus in mouth and stomach, but Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 and uncultured_bacterium_o_Bacteroidales was predominant in intestine. In conclusion, the species and abundance of microbiota in the mouth and stomach of paddlefish were mostly the same, but significantly different from those in intestine. Moreover, there was enrichment of the dominant bacteria in intestine.
Topics: Animals; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Fishes; Gastrointestinal Tract; Bacteria; Mouth; Stomach; Proteobacteria; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Intestines; Bacteroidetes; Firmicutes; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Biodiversity
PubMed: 38758940
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302522 -
PloS One 2024The global number of people with diabetes is estimated to reach 643 million by 2030 of whom 19-34% will present with diabetic foot ulceration. Insoles which offload...
The effect of calcaneus and metatarsal head offloading insoles on healthy subjects' gait kinematics, kinetics, asymmetry, and the implications for plantar pressure management: A pilot study.
BACKGROUND
The global number of people with diabetes is estimated to reach 643 million by 2030 of whom 19-34% will present with diabetic foot ulceration. Insoles which offload high-risk ulcerative regions on the foot, by removing insole material, are the main contemporary conservative treatment to maintain mobility and reduce the likelihood of ulceration. However, their effect on the rest of the foot and relationship with key gait propulsive and balance kinematics and kinetics has not been well researched.
PURPOSE
The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of offloading insoles on gait kinematics, kinetics, and plantar pressure throughout the gait cycle.
METHODS
10 healthy subjects were recruited for this experiment to walk in 6 different insole conditions. Subjects walked at three speeds on a treadmill for 10 minutes while both plantar pressure and gait kinematics, kinetics were measured using an in-shoe pressure measurement insole and motion capture system/force plates. Average peak plantar pressure, pressure time integrals, gait kinematics and centre of force were analysed.
RESULTS
The average peak plantar pressure and pressure time integrals changed by -30% (-68% to 3%) and -36% (-75% to -1%) at the region of interest when applying offloading insoles, whereas the heel strike and toe-off velocity changed by 15% (-6% to 32%) and 12% (-2% to 19%) whilst walking at three speeds.
CONCLUSION
The study found that offloading insoles reduced plantar pressure in the region of interest with loading transferred to surrounding regions increasing the risk of higher pressure time integrals in these locations. Heel strike and toe-off velocities were increased under certain configurations of offloading insoles which may explain the higher plantar pressures and supporting the potential of integrating kinematic gait variables within a more optimal therapeutic approach. However, there was inter-individual variability in responses for all variables measured supporting individualised prescription.
Topics: Humans; Gait; Biomechanical Phenomena; Pilot Projects; Male; Pressure; Female; Adult; Foot Orthoses; Calcaneus; Healthy Volunteers; Shoes; Kinetics; Walking; Metatarsus; Foot
PubMed: 38758937
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303826 -
PloS One 2024Walking on sloped surfaces is challenging for many lower limb prosthesis users, in part due to the limited ankle range of motion provided by typical prosthetic...
Walking on sloped surfaces is challenging for many lower limb prosthesis users, in part due to the limited ankle range of motion provided by typical prosthetic ankle-foot devices. Adding a toe joint could potentially benefit users by providing an additional degree of flexibility to adapt to sloped surfaces, but this remains untested. The objective of this study was to characterize the effect of a prosthesis with an articulating toe joint on the preferences and gait biomechanics of individuals with unilateral below-knee limb loss walking on slopes. Nine active prosthesis users walked on an instrumented treadmill at a +5° incline and -5° decline while wearing an experimental foot prosthesis in two configurations: a Flexible toe joint and a Locked-out toe joint. Three participants preferred the Flexible toe joint over the Locked-out toe joint for incline and decline walking. Eight of nine participants went on to participate in a biomechanical data collection. The Flexible toe joint decreased prosthesis Push-off work by 2 Joules during both incline (p = 0.008; g = -0.63) and decline (p = 0.008; g = -0.65) walking. During incline walking, prosthetic limb knee flexion at toe-off was 3° greater in the Flexible configuration compared to the Locked (p = 0.008; g = 0.42). Overall, these results indicate that adding a toe joint to a passive foot prosthesis has relatively small effects on joint kinematics and kinetics during sloped walking. This study is part of a larger body of work that also assessed the impact of a prosthetic toe joint for level and uneven terrain walking and stair ascent/descent. Collectively, toe joints do not appear to substantially or consistently alter lower limb mechanics for active unilateral below-knee prosthesis users. Our findings also demonstrate that user preference for passive prosthetic technology may be both subject-specific and task-specific. Future work could investigate the inter-individual preferences and potential benefits of a prosthetic toe joint for lower-mobility individuals.
Topics: Humans; Biomechanical Phenomena; Walking; Male; Artificial Limbs; Female; Middle Aged; Gait; Adult; Range of Motion, Articular; Toe Joint; Prosthesis Design; Foot; Aged
PubMed: 38758923
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295465 -
Medicine May 2024Microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, coexist in the human body, forming a symbiotic microbiota that plays a vital role in human health and disease.... (Review)
Review
Microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, coexist in the human body, forming a symbiotic microbiota that plays a vital role in human health and disease. Intratumoral microbial components have been discovered in various tumor tissues and are closely linked to the occurrence, progression, and treatment results of cancer. The intratumoral microbiota can enhance antitumor immunity through mechanisms such as activating the stimulator of interferon genes signaling pathway, stimulating T and NK cells, promoting the formation of TLS, and facilitating antigen presentation. Conversely, the intratumoral microbiota might suppress antitumor immune responses by increasing reactive oxygen species levels, creating an anti-inflammatory environment, inducing T cell inactivation, and enhancing immune suppression, thereby promoting cancer progression. The impact of intratumoral microbiota on antitumor immunity varies based on microbial composition, interactions with cancer cells, and the cancer's current state. A deep understanding of the complex interactions between intratumoral microbiota and antitumor immunity holds the potential to bring new therapeutic strategies and targets to cancer immunotherapy.
Topics: Humans; Neoplasms; Immunotherapy; Microbiota; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 38758914
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000038078 -
Medicine May 2024Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection continues to pose significant global health challenges, necessitating advancements in diagnostic and prognostic approaches... (Review)
Review
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection continues to pose significant global health challenges, necessitating advancements in diagnostic and prognostic approaches to optimize disease management. While primarily recognized for their roles in allergic responses, mast cells have emerged as potential markers with diagnostic and prognostic significance in the context of HIV/AIDS. This paper aims to synthesize current insights and delineate future directions regarding the utility of mast cell markers in diagnosing HIV infection, predicting disease progression, and guiding therapeutic strategies. Mast cells, equipped with distinct markers such as tryptase, chymase, carboxypeptidase A3, and c-kit/CD117 receptors, exhibit tissue-specific expression patterns that offer potential as diagnostic indicators for HIV infection. Understanding the dynamics of these markers in different tissues and body fluids holds promise for accurate HIV diagnosis, disease staging, and monitoring treatment responses. Moreover, the prognostic significance of mast cell markers in HIV/AIDS lies in their potential to predict disease progression, immune dysregulation, and clinical outcomes. The integration of mast cell markers into clinical applications offers promising avenues for refining diagnostic assays, patient monitoring protocols, and therapeutic strategies in HIV/AIDS. Future research directions involve the development of novel diagnostic tools and targeted therapies based on mast cell-specific markers, potentially revolutionizing clinical practice and enhancing patient care in the management of HIV/AIDS. Continued investigations into mast cell markers' diagnostic and prognostic implications hold immense potential to advance our understanding and improve outcomes in HIV/AIDS management.
Topics: Humans; Mast Cells; Biomarkers; Prognosis; HIV Infections; Tryptases; Disease Progression; Carboxypeptidases A; Chymases; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
PubMed: 38758896
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000038117 -
Medicine May 2024The recovery of upper limb function is of great significance for stroke patients to regain their self-care ability, yet it is still a difficult point in clinical... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
The recovery of upper limb function is of great significance for stroke patients to regain their self-care ability, yet it is still a difficult point in clinical practice of neurological rehabilitation. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Maitland joint mobilization technique on the recovery of upper extremity function in patients with spasticity after stroke.
METHODS
From August to December 2023, 71 patients with upper extremity flexor spasm after stroke were recruited and randomly divided into experimental group (n = 35) and control group (n = 36). The control group was given conventional rehabilitation treatment, while the experimental group was treated with Maitland mobilization technique treatment of upper extremity joints on the basis of the control group. The experiment lasted for 8 weeks. Participants of the 2 groups were observed for Fugl-Meyer motor assessment-upper extremity (FMA-UE), box and block test (BBT) and Brunnstrom stage, modified Ashworth scale (MAS), and functional independence measure (FIM) at pre- and post-8 weeks study.
RESULTS
There was no significant difference in gender distribution, hemiplegic side, diagnosis, past history, age, duration, body mass index, and mini-mental state examination between the 2 groups (P > .05). After 8 weeks of intervention, both groups showed significant improvement in FMA-UE, Brunnstrom stage, BBT, FIM, and MAS of the shoulder (P < .05); however, there was no significant change in MAS of the elbow, wrist, and finger joints (P > .05). The posttreatment values showed a significant improvement in FMA-UE, BBT, and FIM in the experimental group compared to the control group. Comparing the changes in pretreatment and posttreatment, FMA-UE, BBT, and FIM in the experimental group were significantly improved compared with those in the control group (P < .05).
CONCLUSION
Maitland joint mobilization can improve the motor function of upper extremity and the spasticity of shoulder joint complex in patients with stroke.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle Spasticity; Upper Extremity; Stroke Rehabilitation; Stroke; Recovery of Function; Aged; Treatment Outcome; Adult
PubMed: 38758885
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000038184 -
Medicine May 2024This study aimed to investigate changes in hand sensation (finger tactile threshold and two-point discrimination) and function in patients with malignant lymphoma,... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
This study aimed to investigate changes in hand sensation (finger tactile threshold and two-point discrimination) and function in patients with malignant lymphoma, particularly during the early stages of chemotherapy with vincristine. Eighteen patients with malignant lymphoma were enrolled in this study. Data on the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events Version 4.0, the visual analog scale for hand numbness, the Semmes Weinstein monofilament test, static and moving two-point discrimination (2PD), grip strength, pinch strength, and the Purdue Pegboard test were collected at 3 time points: before the start of chemotherapy (T0), after the first cycle of chemotherapy (T1), and after the second cycle of chemotherapy (T2). No significant changes were observed in Semmes Weinstein monofilament test at T0, T1, or T2 in either hand. However, the static 2PD was significantly worse for the right ring, little, and left middle fingers, whereas the moving 2PD was significantly worse for the right ring, left index, middle, and ring fingers. Furthermore, the visual analog scale scores for hand numbness and left-hand grip strength worsened significantly. Right-hand grip strength, pinch strength of both hands, and Purdue Pegboard test showed no significant deterioration. Chemotherapy with vincristine may affect hand sensation and function in patients with malignant lymphoma by exacerbating finger 2PD and hand numbness. Additionally, during the early stages of vincristine chemotherapy, it is important to monitor for a decrease in grip strength specifically in the left hand.
Topics: Humans; Vincristine; Male; Female; Hand Strength; Middle Aged; Lymphoma; Hand; Aged; Adult; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Hypesthesia
PubMed: 38758870
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000038207 -
PloS One 2024The workload of breast cancer pathological diagnosis is very heavy. The purpose of this study is to establish a nomogram model based on pathological images to predict...
BACKGROUND
The workload of breast cancer pathological diagnosis is very heavy. The purpose of this study is to establish a nomogram model based on pathological images to predict the benign and malignant nature of breast diseases and to validate its predictive performance.
METHODS
In retrospect, a total of 2,723 H&E-stained pathological images were collected from 1,474 patients at Qingdao Central Hospital between 2019 and 2022. The dataset consisted of 509 benign tumor images (adenosis and fibroadenoma) and 2,214 malignant tumor images (infiltrating ductal carcinoma). The images were divided into a training set (1,907) and a validation set (816). Python3.7 was used to extract the values of the R channel, G channel, B channel, and one-dimensional information entropy from all images. Multivariable logistic regression was used to select variables and establish the breast tissue pathological image prediction model.
RESULTS
The R channel value, B channel value, and one-dimensional information entropy of the images were identified as independent predictive factors for the classification of benign and malignant pathological images (P < 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of the nomogram model in the training set was 0.889 (95% CI: 0.869, 0.909), and the AUC in the validation set was 0.838 (95% CI: 0.7980.877). The calibration curve results showed that the calibration curve of this nomogram model was close to the ideal curve. The decision curve results indicated that the predictive model curve had a high value for auxiliary diagnosis.
CONCLUSION
The nomogram model for the prediction of benign and malignant breast diseases based on pathological images demonstrates good predictive performance. This model can assist in the diagnosis of breast tissue pathological images.
Topics: Humans; Female; Breast Neoplasms; Middle Aged; Adult; Nomograms; Fibroadenoma; Retrospective Studies; Breast; Aged
PubMed: 38758814
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294923 -
PloS One 2024The diagnosis of breast cancer through MicroWave Imaging (MWI) technology has been extensively researched over the past few decades. However, continuous improvements to...
The diagnosis of breast cancer through MicroWave Imaging (MWI) technology has been extensively researched over the past few decades. However, continuous improvements to systems are needed to achieve clinical viability. To this end, the numerical models employed in simulation studies need to be diversified, anatomically accurate, and also representative of the cases in clinical settings. Hence, we have created the first open-access repository of 3D anatomically accurate numerical models of the breast, derived from 3.0T Magnetic Resonance Images (MRI) of benign breast disease and breast cancer patients. The models include normal breast tissues (fat, fibroglandular, skin, and muscle tissues), and benign and cancerous breast tumors. The repository contains easily reconfigurable models which can be tumor-free or contain single or multiple tumors, allowing complex and realistic test scenarios needed for feasibility and performance assessment of MWI devices prior to experimental and clinical testing. It also includes an executable file which enables researchers to generate models incorporating the dielectric properties of breast tissues at a chosen frequency ranging from 3 to 10 GHz, thereby ensuring compatibility with a wide spectrum of research requirements and stages of development for any breast MWI prototype system. Currently, our dataset comprises MRI scans of 55 patients, but new exams will be continuously added.
Topics: Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Breast Neoplasms; Female; Breast; Microwave Imaging; Microwaves
PubMed: 38758760
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302974