Performance improvement of magneto-acousto-electrical tomography for biological tissues with sinusoid-Barker coded excitation

By combining magnetics, acoustics and electrics, the magneto-acoustic-electrical tomography（MAET） proves to possess the capability of differentiating electrical impedance variation and thus improving the spatial resolution. However,the signal-to-noise ratio（SNR） of the collected MAET signal is still unsatisfactory for biological tissues with low-level electrical conductivity. In this study, the formula of MAET measurement with sinusoid-Barker coded excitation is derived and simplified for a planar piston transducer. Numerical simulations are conducted for a four-layered gel phantom with the 13-bit sinusoid-Barker coded excitation, and the performances of wave packet recovery with side-lobe suppression are improved by using the mismatched compression filter, which is also demonstrated by experimentally measuring a three-layered gel phantom. It is demonstrated that comparing with the single-cycle sinusoidal excitation, the amplitude of the driving signal can be reduced greatly with an SNR enhancement of 10 dB using the 13-bit sinusoid-Barker coded excitation. The amplitude and polarity of the wave packet filtered from the collected MAET signal can be used to achieve the conductivity derivative at the tissue boundary. In this study, we apply the sinusoid-Barker coded modulation method and the mismatched suppression scheme to MAET measurement to ensure the safety for biological tissues with improved SNR and spatial resolution, and suggest the potential applications in biomedical imaging.

Selection of internal fixation method for femoral intertrochanteric fractures using a finite element method

BACKGROUND Failure to fix unstable intertrochanteric fractures impairs return to daily activities.AIM To simulate five different internal fixation methods for unstable proximal femoral fractures.METHODS A three-dimensional model of the femur was established from sectional computed tomography images,and an internal fixation model was established.Finite element analysis of the femur model was established,and three intertrochanteric fracture models,medial defect,lateral defect,and medial-lateral defects,were simulated.Displacement and stress distribution after fixation with a proximal femoral anti-rotation intramedullary nail(PFNA),integrated dual-screw fixation(ITN),PFNA+wire,PFNA+plate,and PFNA+wire+plate were compared during daily activities.RESULTS The maximum displacement and stress of PFNA and ITN were 3.51 mm/473 MPa and 2.80 mm/588 MPa for medial defects;2.55 mm/288 MPa and 2.10 mm/307 MPa for lateral defects;and 3.84 mm/653 MPa and 3.44 mm/641 MPa for mediallateral defects,respectively.For medial-lateral defects,reconstructing the medial side alone changed the maximum displacement and stress to 2.79 mm/515 MPa;reconstructing the lateral side changed them to 3.72 mm/608 MPa,when both sides were reconstructed,they changed to 2.42 mm/309 MPa.CONCLUSION For medial defects,intramedullary fixation would allow early low-intensity rehabilitation exercise,and ITN rather than PFNA reduces the risk of varus and cut-out;for lateral wall defects or weakness,intram-edullary fixation allows higher-intensity rehabilitation exercise,and ITN reduces the risk of varus.For both medial and lateral defects,intramedullary fixation alone will not allow early functional exercise,but locating lateral or medial reconstruction will.For defects in both the inner and outer sides,if reconstruction cannot be completed,ITN is more stable.

Novel insights into the effect of Xiaoyao san on corticosterone-induced hepatic steatosis:inhibition of glucocorticoid receptor/perilipin-2 signaling pathway

Objective:Xiaoyao san(XYS)is a classic traditional Chinese medicinal formula.It has been clinically administered to regulate liver function.However,its mechanisms in glucocorticoid-induced hepatic steatosis are unknown.This study aimed to investigate whether XYS protects against corticosterone(CORT)-induced hepatic steatosis,and to explore its mechanism.Methods:High-fat diet mice induced with hepatic steatosis by 2mg/kg CORT were administered 2.56 g/kg or 5.12 g/kg XYS daily for 7 weeks.The effects of XYS on hepatic steatosis in mice were evaluated by H&E and Oil Red O staining and by measuring their plasma lipids(triglyceride,total cholesterol,and free fatty acids).The mechanism of XYS against hepatic steatosis was investigated by network pharmacology,immunohistochemistry,western blotting,and gain-of-function/loss-offunction experiments.Results:XYS alleviated CORT-induced steatosis,decreased plasma lipids,and inhibited glucocorticoid receptor(GR)activation in the liver.Network pharmacology data indicated that XYS may have mitigated hepatic steatosis via GR which mediated adipose differentiation-related protein(ADFP).Gain-of-function/loss-of-function experiments in vitro confirmed that GR positively regulated ADFP expression.Conclusions:XYS ameliorated CORT-induced hepatic steatosis by downregulating the GR/ADFP axis and inhibiting lipid metabolism.Our studies implicate that XYS is promising as a therapy for CORT-induced hepatic steatosis,and lay the foundation for designing novel prophylactic and therapeutic strategies on CORT-induced hepatic steatosis.

Can acupuncture enhance therapeutic effectiveness of antidepressants and reduce adverse drug reactions in patients with depression? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Some depressed patients receive acupuncture as an adjunct to their conventional medications.Objective: This review aims to provide evidence on whether acupuncture can enhance the therapeutic effectiveness of antidepressants for treating depression, and explore whether acupuncture can reduce the adverse reactions associated with antidepressants.Search strategy: English and Chinese databases were searched for randomized controlled trials(RCTs)published until December 1, 2021.Inclusion criteria: RCTs with a modified Jadad scale score ≥ 4 were included if they compared a group of participants with depression that received acupuncture combined with antidepressants with a control group that received antidepressants alone.Data extraction and analysis: Meta-analysis was performed, and statistical heterogeneity was assessed based on Cochran’s Q statistic and its related P-value. Primary outcomes were the reduction in the severity of depression and adverse reactions associated with antidepressants, while secondary outcomes included remission rate, treatment response, social functioning, and change in antidepressant dose.The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation(GRADE) framework was used to evaluate the overall quality of evidence in the included studies.Results: This review included 16 studies(with a total of 1958 participants). Most studies were at high risk of performance bias and at low or unclear risk of selection bias, detection bias, attrition bias, reporting bias, and other bias. Analysis of the 16 RCTs showed that, compared with antidepressants alone, acupuncture along with antidepressants reduced the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17(HAMD-17) scores(standard mean difference [SMD]-0.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]-0.55 to-0.33, P < 0.01;I^(2)= 14%), Self-rating Depression Scale(SDS) scores(SMD-0.53, 95% CI-0.84 to-0.23, P < 0.01;I^(2)= 79%), and the Side Effect Rating Scale(SERS) scores(SMD-1.11, 95% CI-1.56 to-0.66, P < 0.01;I^(2)= 89%). Compared with antidepressants alone, acupuncture along with antidepressants improved World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF scores(SMD 0.31, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.44, P < 0.01;I^(2)= 15%), decreased the number of participants who increased their antidepressant dosages(relative risk[RR] 0.32, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.48, P < 0.01;I^(2)= 0%), and resulted in significantly higher remission rates(RR1.52, 95% CI 1.26 to 1.83, P < 0.01;I^(2)= 0%) and treatment responses(RR 1.35, 95% CI 1.24 to 1.47, P < 0.01;I^(2)= 19%) in terms of HAMD-17 scores. The HAMD-17, SDS and SERS scores were assessed as low quality by GRADE and the other indices as being of moderate quality.Conclusion: Acupuncture as an adjunct to antidepressants may enhance the therapeutic effectiveness and reduce the adverse drug reactions in patients receiving antidepressants. These findings must be interpreted with caution, as the evidence was of low or moderate quality and there was a lack of comparative data with a placebo control.Systematic review registration: INPLASY202150008.

Xiaoyao San,a Chinese herbal formula,ameliorates depression-like behavior in mice through the AdipoR1/AMPK/ACC pathway in hypothalamus

Objective Depression and metabolic disorders have overlapping psychosocial and pathophysiological causes.Current research is focused on the possible role of adiponectin in regulating common biological mechanisms.Xiaoyao San(XYS),a classic Chinese medicine compound,has been widely used in the treatment of depression and can alleviate metabolic disorders such as lipid or glucose metabolism disorders.However,the ability of XYS to ameliorate depression-like behavior as well as metabolic dysfunction in mice and the underlying mechanisms are unclear.Methods An in vivo animal model of depression was established by chronic social defeat stress(CSDS).XYS and fluoxetine were administered by gavage to the drug intervention group.Depression-like behaviors were analyzed by the social interaction test,open field test,forced swim test,and elevated plus maze test.Glucose levels were measured using the oral glucose tolerance test.The involvement of certain molecules was validated by immunofluorescence,histopathology,and Western blotting.In vitro,hypothalamic primary neurons were exposed to high glucose to induce neuronal damage,and the neuroprotective effect of XYS was evaluated by cell counting kit-8 assay.Immunofluorescence and Western blotting were used to evaluate the influences of XYS on adiponectin receptor 1(AdipoR1),adenosine 5’-monophosphate-activated protein kinase(AMPK),acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase(ACC)and other related proteins.Results XYS ameliorated CSDS-induced depression-like behaviors and glucose tolerance impairment in mice and increased the level of serum adiponectin.XYS also restored Nissl bodies in hypothalamic neurons in mice that exhibited depression-like behaviors and decreased the degree of neuronal morphological damage.In vivo and in vitro studies indicated that XYS increased the expression of AdipoR1 in hypothalamic neurons.Conclusion Adiponectin may be a key regulator linking depression and metabolic disorders;regulation of the hypothalamic AdipoR1/AMPK/ACC pathway plays an important role in treatment of depression by XYS.