Evaluating the clinical application and effect of acupuncture therapy in anal function rehabilitation after low-tension rectal cancer surgery

BACKGROUND According to the indexes of serum and anal function,acupuncture therapy was applied to patients with low rectal cancer in order to avoid the occurrence of anal incontinence and reduce complications.AIM To explore the clinical application and evaluate the effect of acupuncture therapy for anal function rehabilitation after low-tension rectal cancer surgery.METHODS From the anorectal surgery cases,we selected 120 patients who underwent colorectal cancer surgery between January 2020 and December 2022 and randomly divided them into a control group(n=60),observation group(n=60),and control group after surgery for lifestyle intervention(including smoking cessation and exercise),dietary factor adjustment,anal movement,and oral loperamide treatment.The serum levels of motilin,5-hydroxytryptamine,and vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP),Wexner score for anal incontinence,and incidence of complications were compared between groups.RESULTS After treatment,the VIP and 5-hydroxytryptamine levels in the observation group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).The motilin level was higher than that in the control group(P<0.05).Postoperative anal incontinence was better in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05).The incidence of complications in the observation group was 6.67%,which was significantly lower than that in the control group(21.67%;P<0.05).CONCLUSION Acupuncture therapy has a positive effect on the rehabilitation of anal function after low-tension rectal cancer surgery;it can effectively help to improve the serum indices of patients,avoid the occurrence of anal incontinence,and reduce the incidence of complications.Popularizing and applying it will be valuable.

A comparative study of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation gymnastics on postoperative anal function of lower rectal cancer

BACKGROUND From the anal function,inflammatory response and other indicators,acupuncture combined with rehabilitation gymnastics was applied to patients with cancer undergoing low resection,aiming to improve the prognosis of patients.AIM To explore the effects of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation gymnastics on anal function after lower rectal cancer surgery.METHODS From January 2020 to December 2022,128 patients who underwent rectal cancer surgery in the Department of Oncology of Hebei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital were selected and divided into two groups using the random number table method,with 64 patients in each group.Patients in the control group were not treated with acupuncture or rehabilitation gymnastics and served as blank controls.Patients in the study group were treated with acupuncture and rehabilitation gymnastics from the 7th postoperative day.The anal incontinence scores,changes in serum interleukin-4,interleukin-6,and interleukin-10 Levels,and serum motilin,5-hydroxytryptamine,and vasoactive intestinal peptide levels were compared.RESULTS There were no significant differences in serum interleukin-4,interleukin-6,and interleukin-10 Levels between the groups before treatment(P>0.05).After treatment,these levels were better than those of the control group(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the anal incontinence scores between the groups before and 7 d after surgery(P>0.05).Anal incontinence scores in the study group were lower than those in the control group at 14 d,21 d,and 28 d postoperatively(P<0.05).There were no significant differences in serum motilin,5-hydroxytryptamine,or vasoactive intestinal peptide levels between the groups before treatment(P>0.05).After treatment,these levels were higher in the study group than in the control group,and vasoactive intestinal peptide level was lower in the study group than in the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Acupuncture combined with rehabilitation gymnastics can promote the recovery of anal function and reduce the inflammatory response in patients with lower rectal cancer after surgery.

Four-function model analysis of nonsuicidal self-injury-related posts on Sina Weibo

To the editor:Non-suicidal self-injury(NSSI)is defined as direct,repetitive self-injury to bodily tissues without suicidal intent. The estimated prevalence of NsSI among adolescents is 17.2%worldwide with a comparable rate observed in China. As a behavioural addiction, NSSI poses a significant suicide risk,and is emerging as a major mental health problem among adolescents.To unravel this puzzle,the four-function model(FFM)distinguishes between interpersonal and intrapersonal functions,as well as positive and negative reinforcement functions,proving relatively comprehensive among various theoretical models.

THE(p,q)-ANALOG OF MULTIVALENT BAZILEVIC FUNCTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH A LIMACON

This paper studies the problem of functional inequalities for analytic functions in classical geometric function theory.Using the di erential subordination principle and(p,q)-derivative operator,it introduces(p,q)-analog of a class of multivalently Bazilevic functions as-sociated with a limacon function,and obtains the corresponding coefficient estimates and the Fekete-Szego inequality,which extend and improve the related results for starlike functions,even q-starlike functions.

VARIATIONAL ANALYSIS FOR THE MAXIMAL TIME FUNCTION IN NORMED SPACES

For a general normed vector space,a special optimal value function called a maximal time function is considered.This covers the farthest distance function as a special case,and has a close relationship with the smallest enclosing ball problem.Some properties of the maximal time function are proven,including the convexity,the lower semicontinuity,and the exact characterizations of its subdifferential formulas.

A General Analytic Approximation Technique for the Modified Bessel Functions with Fractional Order Iv (x), Applied to I1/6(x) and I1/7(x)

A general technique to obtain simple analytic approximations for the first kind of modified Bessel functions. The general procedure is shown, and the parameter determination is explained through the applications to this particular case I1/6(x)and I1/7(x). In this way, it shows how to apply the technique to any particular orderν, in order to obtain an approximation valid for any positive value of the variable x. In the present method power series and asymptotic expansion are simultaneously used. The technique is an extension of the multipoint quasirational approximation method, MPQA. The main idea is to look for a bridge function between the power and asymptotic expansion of the I1/6(x), and similar procedure for I1/7(x). To perform this, rational functions are combined with hyperbolic ones and fractional powers. The number of parameters to be determined for each case is four. The maximum relative errors are 0.0049 for ν=1/6, and 0.0047 for ν=7. However, these relative errors decrease outside of the small region of the variables, wherein the maximum relative errors are reached. There is a clear advantage of this procedure compared with any other ones.

Outcomes of the effect of exercise on cognitive function in patients with depression:A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder is a common mental disorder,characterized by a high rate of suicide and recurrence,which is frequently accompanied by cognitive impairments,particularly in executive function,memory,attention,and infor-mation processing speed.As such,improving the cognitive function in patients with depression and enhancing their quality of life are urgent issues.AIM To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of exercise on cognitive function in patients with depression.METHODS The PubMed,Web of Science,Cochrane Library,Embase,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,Wanfang Medical,VIP,and Biomedical Databases for randomized controlled trials(RCTs)databases were searched(from inception to October 19,2023)for studies investigating improvements in cognitive function in patients with depression through exercise.Tools recommended by the Cochrane Handbook for RCT evaluation,and GRADEpro and Stata17 software,were employed for risk of bias assessment,evidence grading,forest plot construction,subgroup and sensitivity analyses,and assessment of publication bias.RESULTS Seventeen RCTs(1173 patients with depression)were included.Exercise had a small but significant positive effect on attention,with an effect size of 0.21,95%CI:0.07-0.34,P<0.01.Specifically,aerobic exercise regimens of 30-60 minute/session,thrice a week,at moderate intensity,and sustained over 3-12 weeks,were associated with the most pronounced benefits(P<0.05),with effect sizes for executive function,memory,and information processing speed of 0.11,95%CI:-0.11-0.32,P=0.34;0.08,95%CI:0.00-0.16,P=0.05;and 0.14,95%CI:0.04-0.25,P=0.01,respectively.The evidence levels for attention,information processing speed,and memory were rated as'low,’whereas that for executive function was rated as'very low’.CONCLUSION Exercise could improve attention and information-processing speed in patients with depression,although improvements in executive function and memory are not significant.

Numerical Analysis of Permeability of Functionally Graded Scaffolds

In this work,we numerically study the hydrodynamic permeability of new-generation artificial porous materials used as scaffolds for cell growth in a perfusion bioreactor.We consider two popular solid matrix designs based on triply periodic minimal surfaces,the Schwarz P(primitive)and D(diamond)surfaces,which enable the creation of materials with controlled porosity gradients.The latter property is crucial for regulating the shear stress field in the pores of the scaffold,which makes it possible to control the intensity of cell growth.The permeability of functionally graded materials is studied within the framework of both a microscopic approach based on the Navier-Stokes equation and an averaged description of the liquid filtration through a porous medium based on the equations of the Darcy or Forchheimer models.We calculate the permeability coefficients for both types of solid matrices formed by Schwarz surfaces,study their properties concerning forward and reverse fluid flows,and determine the ranges of Reynolds number for which the description within the Darcy or Forchheimer model is applicable.Finally,we obtain a shear stress field that varies along the sample,demonstrating the ability to tune spatially the rate of tissue growth.

Game Theory Based Model for Predictive Analytics Using Distributed Position Function

This paper presents a game theory-based method for predicting the outcomes of negotiation and group decision-making problems. We propose an extension to the BDM model to address problems where actors’ positions are distributed over a position spectrum. We generalize the concept of position in the model to incorporate continuous positions for the actors, enabling them to have more flexibility in defining their targets. We explore different possible functions to study the role of the position function and discuss appropriate distance measures for computing the distance between the positions of actors. To validate the proposed extension, we demonstrate the trustworthiness of our model’s performance and interpretation by replicating the results based on data used in earlier studies.

Transcriptomic analysis of Andrias davidianus meat and experimental validation for exploring its bioactive components as functional foods

Andrias davidianus(Chinese giant salamander,CGS)is the largest and oldest extant amphibian species in the world and is a source of prospective functional food in China.However,the progress of functional peptides mining was slow due to lack of reference genome and protein sequence data.In this study,we illustrated full-length transcriptome sequencing to interpret the proteome of CGS meat and obtain 10703 coding DNA sequences.By functional annotation and amino acid composition analysis,we have discovered various genes related to signal transduction,and 16 genes related to longevity.We have also found vast variety of functional peptides through protein coding sequence(CDS)analysis by comparing the data obtained with the functional peptide database.Val-Pro-Ile predicted by the CDS analysis was released from the CGS meat through enzymatic hydrolysis,suggesting that our approach is reliable.This study suggested that transcriptomic analysis can be used as a reference to guide polypeptide mining in CGS meat,thereby providing a powerful mining strategy for the bioresources with unknown genomic and proteomic sequences.

Meta-analysis of electrical stimulation promoting recovery of gastrointestinal function after gynecological abdominal surgery

BACKGROUND The effects of electrical stimulation on gastrointestinal function recovery after gynecological abdominal surgery was not clear.AIM To systematically evaluate the effects of electrical stimulation on gastrointestinal function recovery after gynecological abdominal surgery.METHODS The Cochrane Library,Web of Science,PubMed,ProQuest,and the Chinese bio-medical literature databases Wanfang,Weipu,and CNKI were used to search for relevant studies on controlled trials of electrical stimulation in gynecological abdominal surgery patients from self-established databases to May 2024.The RevMan software(version 5.3)was used to analyze the included literature and explore the heterogeneity of each study.RESULTS Seven controlled trials,involving 520 patients,were included.The results of meta-analysis showed that electrical stimulation could shorten the recovery time of intestinal sound after gynecological abdominal surgery[odds ratio(OR):-5.11,95%CI:-5.84 to-4.38,P<0.00001]and improve the time of first anal exhaust(OR:-1.19,95%CI:-1.38 to-0.99,P<0.00001),improved the time of first anal defecation(OR:-0.98,95%CI:-1.19 to-0.78,P<0.00001),The difference is significant.According to the funnel plot,if the scatter is symmetrical,it indicates that the funnel plot is unbiased.CONCLUSION Electrical stimulation can shorten this reduces the length of time it takes for the patient to recover from bowel sounds and also affects the time to first anal voiding and defecation to some extent,thereby promoting gas-trointestinal function recovery after gynecological abdominal surgery.The quality of the studies included in this review was poor,which may have affected the final results.It is necessary to conduct a randomized controlled study with higher quality and more samples to further confirm the promoting effect of electrical stimulation on gastrointestinal function recovery to guide clinical treatment.

Structural failure analysis with CMS-based ground motion selection using innovative cost function and weight factors

The selection and scaling of ground motion records is considered a primary and essential task in performing structural analysis and design.Conventional methods involve using ground motion models and a conditional spectrum to select ground motion records based on the target spectrum.This research demonstrates the influence of adopting different weighted factors for various period ranges during matching selected ground motions with the target hazard spectrum.The event data from the Next Generation Attenuation West 2(NGA-West 2)database is used as the basis for ground motion selection,and hazard de-aggregation is conducted to estimate the event parameters of interest,which are then used to construct the target intensity measure(IM).The target IMs are then used to select ground motion records with different weighted vector-valued objective functions.The weights are altered to account for the relative importance of IM in accordance with the structural analysis application of steel moment resisting frame(SMRF)buildings.Instead of an ordinary objective function for the matching spectrum,a novel model is introduced and compared with the conventional cost function.The results indicate that when applying the new cost function for ground motion selection,it places higher demands on structures compared to the conventional cost function.Moreover,submitting more weights to the first-mode period of structures increases engineering demand parameters.Findings demonstrate that weight factors allocated to different period ranges can successfully account for period elongation and higher mode effects.

Comparison of brain functions between healthy participants and methamphetamine users with various addiction histories:Data analysis based on EEG and fNIRS

The electroencephalogram(EEG)rhythm and functional near-infrared spectroscopy(fNIRS)activation levels have not been compared between a healthy control group(HCG)and methamphetamine user group(MUG)with different addiction histories.This study used 64-electrode EEG and fNIRS to conduct an experiment that analyzed the resting and craving states.The EEG and fNIRS data of 56 participants were collected,including 14 healthy participants,14 methamphetamine users with an addiction history of 0.5–5 years,14 users with an addiction history of 5–10 years,and 14 users with an addiction history of 10–15 years.Isolated effective coherence(iCoh)within the brain network was used to process the EEG data.Statistical analysis was performed to compare differences in iCoh among the delta,theta,alpha,beta,and gamma bands and explore oxyhemoglobin activation levels in the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex,dorsolateral prefrontal cortex,orbitofrontal cortex,and frontopolar prefrontal cortex(FPC)of the control group.Finally,the Kmeans,Gaussian mixed model(GMM),linear discriminant analysis(LDA),support vector machine(SVM),Bayes,and convolutional neural networks(CNN)algorithms were used to classify methamphetamine users based on drug and neutral images.A 3-class accuracy was achieved.Changes in EEG and fNIRS activation levels of HCG and MUG with varied addiction histories were demonstrated.

Effects of Repetitive TranscranialMagnetic Stimulation on Upper Extremity Function in Acute Stroke:A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review

[Objectives]To conduct a comprehensive examination of the evidence-based impact of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation(rTMS)on upper extremity functionality in patients with acute stroke.[Methods]A rigorous and systematic electronic search was conducted across the Medline,PubMed,and Web of Science databases,encompassing literature up to July 1,2024.To ensure the reliability of the in-cluded studies,an assessment of their risk of bias was conducted using RevMan 5.4 software,in accordance with the rigorous standards out-lined in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Revieus.Subsequently,we employed either the random-effects model or the fixed-effects model,depending on the heterogeneity of the data,to estimate the standardized mean difference(SMD)in outcomes,utilizing Stata 18.0 software for statistical analysis.[Results]Our review encompassed a total of five studies,involving 252 patients with acute stroke.The pooled analysis of these studies revealed a statistically significant improvement in Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the Upper Extremity(FMA-UE)scores among pa-tients who received rTMS therapy(SMD=2.71,95%CI:0.85 to 4.56;P<0.0001),albeit with considerable heterogeneity(I^(2)=97.65%)across the trials.[Conclusions]The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis underscore the promising potential of rTMS in enhancing upper extremity function in patients who have experienced an acute stroke.These findings provide compelling evidence for the therapeutic benefits of rTMS in this patient population.

Early screening for post-stroke depression and its effect on functional outcomes, quality of life, and mortality: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Post-stroke depression(PSD)is a common and debilitating condition affecting stroke survivors,significantly impacting their recovery and overall quality of life.AIM To assess the effects of early PSD screening on functional outcomes,quality of life,and mortality.METHODS From an initial pool of 1065 articles,6 studies met the inclusion criteria and were selected for analysis.Functional outcomes were measured using the functional independence measure(FIM).RESULTS The analysis revealed a significant improvement in FIM scores for a PSD scree-ning group compared to controls[standardized mean difference(SMD)=8.90,95%confidence interval(CI):4.65-13.15,P<0.01].Quality of life was assessed using the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale,with the screening group showing significantly higher scores(SMD=20.83,95%CI:15.27-26.38,P<0.01).Mortality analysis indicated a reduction in five-year mortality rates for the PSD screening group.CONCLUSION Early PSD screening enhances functional recovery,improves quality of life,and reduces mortality rates in stroke survivors.Thus,integrating PSD screening into routine stroke care improves long-term outcomes for patients.

Virtual Reality-Based Mirror Therapy for Upper Extremity Function among Stroke Patients:A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review

[Objectives]To investigate the evidence-based effect of virtual reality-based mirror therapy system(VR-MT)on upper extremity function among stroke patients.[Methods]A systematic electronic searching of the Medline,PubMed,Web of Science and CNKI was initially performed up to June 10,2024.The risk of bias of the included studies was evaluated using RevMan 5.4 software based on the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews.The random-effects model or fixed-effects models was employed to estimate the standardized mean difference(SMD).The subgroup analyses were conducted exploring theVR-MT type(immersive or non-immersive)and comparing with MT or control group.[Results]In total 8 studies with a total of 273 stroke patients were included in this review.The pooled analysis of these trials showed a statistically significant enhancement inFMA-UE scores(6 studies,SMD=0.72,[95%CI 0.37 to 1.06];P<0.0001,I^(2)=31%)and Box and Block Test(BBT)(3 studies,SMD=0.49,[95%C/0.05 to 0.93];P=0.03,I^(2)=0%),rather than Manual Function Test(MFT)scores(3 studies,SMD=0.38,[95%CI-0.09 to 0.84];P=0.11,I^(2)=0%)following the application of reality-based mirror therapy.Additionally,the subgroup analysis results indicated that immersive VR-MT can significantly improve FMA-UE(5studies,SMD=0.73,[95%CI 0.24 to 1.23];P=0.004,I^(2)=43%).In contrast,the overall effect of non-immersive VR-MT was non-significant(2 studies,SMD=0.33,[95%CI-0.69 to 1.34];P=0.53,I^(2)=72%).[Conclusions]In this systematic review and meta-analysis,our findings indicate that immersiveVR-MT has the potential to improve upper extremity function among stroke patients.

Analysis of the Effect of Psychological Nursing Combined with Breathing Exercises in Improving Lung Function in Patients with Pneumoconiosis

Objective: To analyze the effect of psychological nursing combined with breathing exercises on lung function of patients with pneumoconiosis, and to analyze the methods. A total of 64 cases of pneumoconiosis admitted from January 2020 to December 2022 were divided into the reference group and the experimental group by random numerical table. On the basis of symptomatic treatment, the control group was combined with conventional nursing measures and breathing exercises, while the experimental group was treated with psychological nursing on the basis of the control group, and the pulmonary function indexes and adverse mood of the two groups before and after nursing were compared. Results: There was no difference in SAS score, SDS score and pulmonary function indexes between the two groups before intervention (P > 0.05), and the SAS score in the experimental group was the SDS score was lower than that of the control group, and FEV1, FEV1% and FEV1/FVC were higher than those of the control group, and the P < 0.05 was lower.

Vulnerable brain regions in adolescent major depressive disorder:A resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Adolescent major depressive disorder(MDD)is a significant mental health concern that often leads to recurrent depression in adulthood.Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI)offers unique insights into the neural mechanisms underlying this condition.However,despite previous research,the specific vulnerable brain regions affected in adolescent MDD patients have not been fully elucidated.AIM To identify consistent vulnerable brain regions in adolescent MDD patients using rs-fMRI and activation likelihood estimation(ALE)meta-analysis.METHODS We performed a comprehensive literature search through July 12,2023,for studies investigating brain functional changes in adolescent MDD patients.We utilized regional homogeneity(ReHo),amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations(ALFF)and fractional ALFF(fALFF)analyses.We compared the regions of aberrant spontaneous neural activity in adolescents with MDD vs healthy controls(HCs)using ALE.RESULTS Ten studies(369 adolescent MDD patients and 313 HCs)were included.Combining the ReHo and ALFF/fALFF data,the results revealed that the activity in the right cuneus and left precuneus was lower in the adolescent MDD patients than in the HCs(voxel size:648 mm3,P<0.05),and no brain region exhibited increased activity.Based on the ALFF data,we found decreased activity in the right cuneus and left precuneus in adolescent MDD patients(voxel size:736 mm3,P<0.05),with no regions exhibiting increased activity.CONCLUSION Through ALE meta-analysis,we consistently identified the right cuneus and left precuneus as vulnerable brain regions in adolescent MDD patients,increasing our understanding of the neuropathology of affected adolescents.

Trajectory of Walking Function in Late-Stage Older Individuals Managed with a Regular Exercise Program: A 5-Year Longitudinal Tracking with an IoT Gait Analysis System Using Accelerometers

Purpose: This study focused on maintaining and improving the walking function of late-stage older individuals while longitudinally tracking the effects of regular exercise programs in a day-care service specialized for preventive care over 5 years, using detailed gait function measurements with an accelerometer-based system. Methods: Seventy individuals (17 male and 53 female) of a daycare service in Tokyo participated in a weekly exercise program, meeting 1 - 2 times. The average age of the participants at the start of the program was 81.4 years. Gait function, including gait speed, stride length, root mean square (RMS) of acceleration, gait cycle time and its standard deviation, and left-right difference in stance time, was evaluated every 6 months. Results: Gait speed and stride length improved considerably within six months of starting the exercise program, confirming an initial improvement in gait function. This suggests that regular exercise programs can maintain or improve gait function even age groups that predictably have a gradual decline in gait ability due to enhanced age. In the long term, many indicators tended to approach baseline values. However, the exercise program seemingly counteracts age-related changes in gait function and maintains a certain level of function. Conclusions: While a decline in gait ability with aging is inevitable, establishing appropriate exercise habits in late-stage older individuals may contribute to long-term maintenance of gait function.

Sound Transmission Loss Analysis of a Double Plate-Acoustic Cavity Coupling System with In-Plane Functionally Graded Materials

In this paper, the isogeometric analysis (IGA) is employed to develop an acoustic radiation model for a double plate-acoustic cavity coupling system, with a focus on analyzing the sound transmission loss (STL). The functionally graded (FG) plate exhibits a different material properties in-plane, and the power-law rule is adopted as the governing principle for material mixing. To validate the harmonic response and demonstrate the accuracy and convergence of the isogeometric modeling, ANASYS is utilized to compare with numerical examples. A plane wave serves as the acoustic excitation, and the Rayleigh integral is applied to discretize the radiated plate. The STL results are compared with the literature, confirming the reliability of the coupling system. Finally, the investigation is conducted to study impact of cavity depth and power-law parameter on the STL.