Impact of task-oriented training based on acupuncture rehabilitation on upper extremity function and quality of life of patients with early stroke

BACKGROUND Eighty percent of stroke patients develop upper limb dysfunction,especially hand dysfunction,which has a very slow recovery,resulting in economic burden to families and society.AIM To investigate the impact of task-oriented training based on acupuncture therapy on upper extremity function in patients with early stroke.METHODS Patients with early stroke hemiplegia who visited our hospital between January 2021 and October 2022 were divided into a control group and an observation group,each with 50 cases.The control group underwent head acupuncture plus routine upper limb rehabilitation training(acupuncture therapy).In addition to acupuncture and rehabilitation,the observation group underwent upper limb task-oriented training(30 min).Each group underwent treatment 5 d/wk for 4 wk.Upper extremity function was assessed in both groups using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity(FMA-UE),Wolf Motor Function Rating Scale(WMFT),modified Barthel Index(MBI),and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure(COPM).Quality of life was evaluated using the Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey(SF-36).Clinical efficacy of the interventions was also evaluated.RESULTS Before intervention,no significant differences were observed in the FMA-UE,MBI,and WMFT scores between the two groups(P>0.05).After intervention,the FMA-UE,WMFT,MBI,COPM-Functional Mobility and Satisfaction,and SF-36 scores increased in both groups(P<0.05),with even higher scores in the observation group(P<0.05).The observation group also obtained a higher total effective rate than the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Task-oriented training based on acupuncture rehabilitation significantly enhanced upper extremity mobility,quality of life,and clinical efficacy in patients with early stroke.

STAT3-mediated activation of mitochondrial pathway contributes to antitumor effect of dihydrotanshinone I in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells

BACKGROUND Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)is one of the most common malignancies with a poor prognosis,and its treatment remains a great challenge.Dihydrotanshinone I(DHTS)has been reported to exert antitumor effect in many cancers.However,the role of DHTS in ESCC remains unclear.AIM To investigate the antitumor effect of DHTS in ESCC and the underlying mechanisms.METHODS CCK-8 assay and cell cycle analysis were used to detect proliferation and cell cycle in ESCC cells.Annexin V-PE/7-AAD double staining assay and Hoechst 33258 staining were used to detect apoptosis in ESCC cells.Western blot was used to detect the expression of proteins associated with the mitochondrial pathway.Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of phosphorylated STAT3(pSTAT3)in DHTS-treated ESCC cells.ESCC cells with STAT3 knockdown and overexpression were constructed to verify the role of STAT3 in DHTS induced apoptosis.A xenograft tumor model in nude mice was used to evaluate the antitumor effect of DHTS in vivo.RESULTS After treatment with DHTS,the proliferation of ESCC cells was inhibited in a dose-and time-dependent manner.Moreover,DHTS induced cell cycle arrest in the G0/1 phase.Annexin V-PE/7-AAD double staining assay and Hoechst 33258 staining revealed that DHTS induced obvious apoptosis in KYSE30 and Eca109 cells.At the molecular level,DHTS treatment reduced the expression of pSTAT3 and anti-apoptotic proteins,while increasing the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins in ESCC cells.STAT3 knockdown in ESCC cells markedly promoted the activation of the mitochondrial pathway while STAT3 overexpression blocked the activation of the mitochondrial pathway.Additionally,DHTS inhibited tumor cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in a xenograft tumor mouse model.CONCLUSION DHTS exerts antitumor effect in ESCC via STAT3-mediated activation of the mitochondrial pathway.DHTS may be a novel therapeutic agent for ESCC.