Application Effect of Acupoint Massage on Zusanli on Premature Infants with Feeding Intolerance and Their Clinical Symptoms

FI is mainly caused by functional disturbance in premature infants, which greatly poses a threat to their growth and development, so a large number of studies on the clinical features of FI should be conducted to provide theoretical support for treatment. The purpose of the study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of acupoint massage on Zusanli on premature infants with feeding intolerance (FI) and their clinical symptoms. A total of 60 premature infants with FI admitted to our hospital over the past two years were selected as the FI group, and another 60 premature infants without FI were selected as the control group. The birthweight and gestational age of the premature infants in the FI group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P < 0.001 ), whereas there were no significant differences in general information of the premature infants between the two groups ( P > 0.05 ). Vomiting, abdominal distension, and gastric retention are the main clinical symptoms of premature infants with FI, and acupoint massage on Zusanli combined with routine treatment can effectively improve digestive function, relieve clinical symptoms, and shorten treatment time of premature infants with FI, which is worthy of application and promotion in clinical practice.

The Toxic Effects of Ppz1 Overexpression Involve Nha1-Mediated Deregulation of K+ and H+ Homeostasis

The alteration of the fine-tuned balance of phospho/dephosphorylation reactions in the cell often results in functional disturbance. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the overexpression of Ser/Thr phosphatase Ppz1 drastically blocks cell proliferation, with a profound change in the transcriptomic and phosphoproteomic profiles. While the deleterious effect on growth likely derives from the alteration of multiple targets, the precise mechanisms are still obscure. Ppz1 is a negative effector of potassium influx. However, we show that the toxic effect of Ppz1 overexpression is unrelated to the Trk1/2 high-affinity potassium importers. Cells overexpressing Ppz1 exhibit decreased K+ content, increased cytosolic acidification, and fail to properly acidify the medium. These effects, as well as the growth defect, are counteracted by the deletion of NHA1 gene, which encodes a plasma membrane Na+, K+/H+ antiporter. The beneficial effect of a lack of Nha1 on the growth vanishes as the pH of the medium approaches neutrality, is not eliminated by the expression of two non-functional Nha1 variants (D145N or D177N), and is exacerbated by a hyperactive Nha1 version (S481A). All our results show that high levels of Ppz1 overactivate Nha1, leading to an excessive entry of H+ and efflux of K+, which is detrimental for growth.

Shared Patterns of Brain Functional Connectivity for the Comorbidity between Migraine and Insomnia

Migraine is commonly comorbid with insomnia; both disorders are linked to functional disturbance of the default mode network (DMN). Evidence suggests that DMN could be segregated into multiple subnetworks with specific roles that underline different cognitive processes. However, the relative contributions of DMN subnetworks in the comorbidity of migraine and insomnia remain largely unknown. This study sought to identify altered functional connectivity (FC) profiles of DMN subnetworks in the comorbidity of migraine and insomnia. Direct group comparisons with healthy controls, followed by conjunction analyses, were used to identify shared FC alterations of DMN subnetworks. The shared FC changes of the DMN subnetworks in the migraine and insomnia groups were identified in the dorsomedial prefrontal and posteromedial cortex subnetworks. These shared FC changes were primarily associated with motor and somatosensory systems, and consistently found in patients with comorbid migraine and insomnia. Additionally, the magnitude of FC between the posteromedial cortex and postcentral gyrus correlated with insomnia duration in patients with comorbid migraine and insomnia. Our findings point to specific FC alterations of the DMN subnetwork in migraine and insomnia. The shared patterns of FC disturbance may be associated with the underlying mechanisms of the comorbidity of the two disorders.

The Effect of Capacity Assessment Combined with Staged Target Nursing Intervention on Swallowing Functional Disturbance and Pulmonary Infection in Elderly Stroke Patients

To investigate the effect of capacity assessment combined with staged target nursing intervention on swallowing functional disturbance (SFD) and pulmonary infection in elderly stroke patients. 82 elderly stroke patients treated in the neurological department of our hospital (June 2019-February 2021) were chosen as the study subjects and randomly split into study group (n=41) and control group (n=41). Both groups received basic treatment for cerebrovascular diseases. After that, control group received routine clinical nursing, while study group underwent capacity assessment combined with staged target nursing intervention. The scores of the Burke Lateropulsion scale in both groups after 3-month nursing intervention were obviously lower (P < 0.001), and after 3-month nursing intervention the scores of the Burke Lateropulsion scale in study group were obviously lower compared with control group (P < 0.001). The NIHSS scores in both groups after 3-month nursing intervention were obviously lower (P < 0.001), and the NIHSS scores in study group after 3-month nursing intervention were obviously lower compared with control group (P < 0.001). The total clinical efficacy rate in study group was obviously higher compared with control group (P < 0.05). The SWAL-QOL scores in both groups after 3-month nursing intervention were obviously higher (P < 0.001), and the SWAL-QOL scores in study group after 3-month nursing intervention were obviously higher compared with control group (P < 0.001). The levels of FVC, FEV1 and PEF in both groups after 3-month nursing intervention were obviously higher (P < 0.001), and those after 3-month nursing intervention in study group were obviously higher compared with control group (P < 0.001). Plus, the total incidence of complications in study group was obviously lower compared with control group (P < 0.05). The capacity assessment combined with staged target nursing intervention can effectively improve patients’ swallowing function, neurological function, pulmonary function and life quality, with obvious therapeutic effect, deserving promotion and popularization.

Speech Fluency Improvement in Developmental Stuttering Using Non-invasive Brain Stimulation: Insights From Available Evidence

Developmental stuttering (DS) is a disturbance of the normal rhythm of speech that may be interpreted as very debilitating in the most affected cases. Interventions for DS are historically based on the behavioral modifications of speech patterns (e.g., through speech therapy), which are useful to regain a better speech fluency. However, a great variability in intervention outcomes is normally observed, and no definitive evidence is currently available to resolve stuttering, especially in the case of its persistence in adulthood. In the last few decades, DS has been increasingly considered as a functional disturbance, affecting the correct programming of complex motor sequences such as speech. Compatibly, understanding of the neurophysiological bases of DS has dramatically improved, thanks to neuroimaging, and techniques able to interact with neural tissue functioning [e.g., non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS)]. In this context, the dysfunctional activity of the cortico-basal-thalamo-cortical networks, as well as the defective patterns of connectivity, seems to play a key role, especially in sensorimotor networks. As a consequence, a direct action on the functionality of “defective” or “impaired” brain circuits may help people who stutter to manage dysfluencies in a better way. This may also “potentiate” available interventions, thus favoring more stable outcomes of speech fluency. Attempts aiming at modulating (and improving) brain functioning of people who stutter, realized by using NIBS, are quickly increasing. Here, we will review these recent advancements being applied to the treatment of DS. Insights will be useful not only to assess whether the speech fluency of people who stutter may be ameliorated by acting directly on brain functioning but also will provide further suggestions about the complex and dynamic pathophysiology of DS, where causal effects and “adaptive''/‘‘maladaptive” compensation mechanisms may be strongly overlapped. In conclusion, this review focuses future research toward more specific, targeted, and effective interventions for DS, based on neuromodulation of brain functioning.

Fructose Metabolism and Cardiac Metabolic Stress

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of mortality in diabetes. High fructose consumption has been linked with the development of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Serum and cardiac tissue fructose levels are elevated in diabetic patients, and cardiac production of fructose via the intracellular polyol pathway is upregulated. The question of whether direct myocardial fructose exposure and upregulated fructose metabolism have potential to induce cardiac fructose toxicity in metabolic stress settings arises. Unlike tightly-regulated glucose metabolism, fructose bypasses the rate-limiting glycolytic enzyme, phosphofructokinase, and proceeds through glycolysis in an unregulated manner. In vivo rodent studies have shown that high dietary fructose induces cardiac metabolic stress and functional disturbance. In vitro, studies have demonstrated that cardiomyocytes cultured in high fructose exhibit lipid accumulation, inflammation, hypertrophy and low viability. Intracellular fructose mediates post-translational modification of proteins, and this activity provides an important mechanistic pathway for fructose-related cardiomyocyte signaling and functional effect. Additionally, fructose has been shown to provide a fuel source for the stressed myocardium. Elucidating the mechanisms of fructose toxicity in the heart may have important implications for understanding cardiac pathology in metabolic stress settings.

The Role of Multifactorial Contribution in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Occurrence

As one of the common peripheral neuropathies, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is accountable for the majority of typical hand pain and functional disturbance in median nerve innervation. The median nerve compression may cause some uncomfortable sensations including pain, numbness, tingling, and strength loss which also depends on the severity of the condition. Many factors could contribute to CTS occurrence. Several risk factors are thought to be in charge in CTS progressions, such as body mass index (BMI), gender, pregnancy, and biomechanical exposures combination is significantly explained as the major component in suffering CTS. Clinicians need to know the contributing risk factor to benefit the information within the implication for the treatment and reducing symptoms severity. Keywords: carpal tunnel syndrome, risk factor, multifactor.

Meta-Analysis of the Disease Spectrum of Hospitalized Crew-Members

Background: The disease spectrum of hospitalized crew-members could give good service to the support of health management. However, the disease spectrum of Chinese crew-members is still obscure. Methods: Four different database were searched with keywords. Papers were included and excluded using given rules. Data such as publishing year, investigation period, subject resources, total number of subjects, name of diagnosis, proportion of diseases were extracted for investigation. Then the investigation year(before 2010 or after 2011) was applied for sub-analysis in further research. Results: 24 results of disease spectrum of crew-members from numbers of hospitals were meta-analyzed. The first common disease was cervical and lumbar spine disorder which occupied 10% of diseases for hospitalization. And the other diseases followed it were hyperlipidemia(8%), cervical spine disease(7%), neurasthenia(6%), hypertension(6%), gastritis and duodenitis(6%), headache(6%), vegetative nerve functional disturbance(6%), upper respiratory infection(6%), fatty liver(5%), gastric and duodenal ulcers(4%), arrhythmia(4%), ground syncope(3%), urinary calculus(3%) and poor acceleration tolerance(2%), respectively. The spectrum of diseases was sub-analyzed by investigation year for further exploration. The proportion of cervical and lumbar spine disorder increased dramatically in the group of after 2011. Conclusion: Our work gave evidenced-based support for disease spectrum of crew-members, pointed research directions for treatment and prevention of crew-members’ common diseases, supported health strategy constitution of crew-members and guided well allocation of medical resources.

Novel treatments in Epilepsy guided by Genetic Diagnosis

Identifying the optimal treatment based on specific aetiology of each patient is the main promise of precision medicine. In order to realize this promise researches and physicians must first identify the underlying cause; over the last 10 years, advances in genetics have made this possible for several monogenic epilepsies. At present through next generation techniques we can reach the precise genetic aetiology in 30 to 50% of genetic epilepsies beginning in the paediatric age. While committed in such gene hunting, progresses in the study of experimental models of epilepsy have also provided a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the condition. Such impressive advances is already being translated into improving care, management and treatment of some patients. Identification of a precise genetic etiology can already direct physicians to prescribe treatments correcting specific metabolic defects avoid antiseizure medicines that can aggravate the pathogenic defect or select the drug that counteract the functional disturbance caused by the gene mutation. Personalized, tailored treatments should not just focus on how to stop seizures but possibly preventing their onset and cure the disorder often consisting of epilepsy and its comorbidities including cognitive, motor and behavior deficiencies. This review discusses the therapeutic implications following a specific genetic diagnosis and the correlation between genetic findings, pathophysiological mechanism and tailored seizure treatment emphasizing the impact on current clinical practice.

Values of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computed Tomography in the Diagnosis of Patients with Syndromes of Subacromial Impingement

Subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS) is defined as pressurization and impingement between the acromion, the bursa under the acromion, and the rotator cuff during the abduction and elevation of the shoulder joint, resulting in pain and a functional disturbance of elevation. It is the most common disorder of the shoulder, accounting for 44-65% of all complaints of shoulder pain during a physician’s office visit. The study was performed with the aim of valuing the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) in diagnosing patients with SIS. A total of 68 patients with SIS were selected as study subjects and subjected to MRI and CT examinations. The diagnostic accuracy and sensitivity of MRI and CT were, respectively, 97.06 and 70.59% ( P < 0.05 ); the detection rates of SIS grade I, grade II, and grade III by MRI were 91.67%, 96.77%, and 100%, respectively, which were significantly higher than 50%, 80.65%, and 68% by CT, respectively ( P < 0.05 ). MRI and CT detection indicated that there was no significant difference in extensive rotator cuff tear, acromion stenosis, and normal acromion detected by MRI and CT ( P > 0.05 ). In conclusion, the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and detection rate of acromion of MRI were higher compared with those of CT examination, and MRI is more suitable in the clinical diagnosis of SIS.