Christian Ethics Regarding Cryptocurrency Investment

Cryptocurrency is a digital currency that utilizes blockchain technology to do investments. This study aims to provide answers for Christians on how to respond to Cryptocurrency investments from the perspective of Christian ethics. The research method used is through the library research approach. This study indicates that cryptocurrency itself as a new technology is an agnostic technology; rather, it is the attitude and motivation of a person that determines the suitability of cryptocurrency in a particular situation. Thus, pastors and believers can invest in cryptocurrency, depending on their motivations

Axonal Supercharging with Reverse End-to-Side Nerve Transfer in Delayed Peripheral Nerve Repair: Its Impact in SV2B mRNA Expression in Rat Sciatic Nerve Injury Model

To investigate the role of reverse end-to-side nerve transfer in delayed repair of peripheral nerve injury, a rat sciatic nerve injury model was used. The dynamic of SV2B mRNA expression was investigated. Sixteen Wistar rats were divided into four groups (four rats in each group). In Group I, the right tibial nerve was ligated 1 cm proximal to sciatic trifurcation, and the peroneal nerve was ligated distally at its entrance to peroneal tunnel. Two weeks later, the resulting neuroma was excised and the tibial nerve was repaired in end-to-end (ETE) fashion. The peroneal nerve was transferred to the distal stump of the tibial nerve in a reverse end-to-side fashion (RETS / axonal supercharging). In Group II, similar procedure to create the sciatic nerve injury was performed. Two weeks later, the tibial nerve was repaired in ETE fashion.No axonal supercharging procedure was added. In Group II, the sciatic nerve was exposed, and the wound was closed again (sham surgery / positive control). In Group IV, the sciatic nerve was injured in similar fashion, and never repaired (negative control). SV2B mRNA was measured from venous blood, taken at baseline, prior to nerve repair, and at the end of study (ten weeks after repair). Results from the test showed that the expression of SV2B mRNA, which represents the formation of neuromuscular junction, indicated that recovery of the denervated muscles was promoted by axonal supercharging (RETS transfer), and the result was better than conventional repair alone. In conclusion, axonal supercharging (RETS transfer) may be useful in delayed peripheral nerve repair for nerve injuries-in-continuity

The Impact of Motor Axon Misdirection and Attrition on Behavioral Deficit Following Experimental Nerve Injuries

<div><p>Peripheral nerve transection and neuroma-in-continuity injuries are associated with permanent functional deficits, often despite successful end-organ reinnervation. Axonal misdirection with non-specific reinnervation, frustrated regeneration and axonal attrition are believed to be among the anatomical substrates that underlie the poor functional recovery associated with these devastating injuries. Yet, functional deficits associated with axonal misdirection in experimental neuroma-in-continuity injuries have not yet been studied. We hypothesized that experimental neuroma-in-continuity injuries would result in motor axon misdirection and attrition with proportional persistent functional deficits. The femoral nerve misdirection model was exploited to assess major motor pathway misdirection and axonal attrition over a spectrum of experimental nerve injuries, with neuroma-in-continuity injuries simulated by the combination of compression and traction forces in 42 male rats. Sciatic nerve injuries were employed in an additional 42 rats, to evaluate the contribution of axonal misdirection to locomotor deficits by a ladder rung task up to 12 weeks. Retrograde motor neuron labeling techniques were utilized to determine the degree of axonal misdirection and attrition. Characteristic histological neuroma-in-continuity features were demonstrated in the neuroma-in-continuity groups and poor functional recovery was seen despite successful nerve regeneration and muscle reinnervation. Good positive and negative correlations were observed respectively between axonal misdirection (p<.0001, r²=.67), motor neuron counts (attrition) (p<.0001, r²=.69) and final functional deficits. We demonstrate prominent motor axon misdirection and attrition in neuroma-in-continuity and transection injuries of mixed motor nerves that contribute to the long-term functional deficits. Although widely accepted in theory, to our knowledge, this is the first experimental evidence to convincingly demonstrate these correlations with data inclusive of the neuroma-in-continuity spectrum. This work emphasizes the need to focus on strategies that promote both robust and accurate nerve regeneration to optimize functional recovery. It also demonstrates that clinically relevant neuroma-in-continuity injuries can now also be subjected to experimental investigation.</p> </div

Femoral nerve motor division histomorphometry.

<p>Representative semi-thin transverse sections of the motor division of each femoral nerve group stained with toluidine blue. A) Fiber diameters in two NIC groups were not significantly different from <i>Crush</i>_{<b><i>f</i></b>} (n=6), unlike the (MN+50g)<b><i>x2</i></b>_{<b><i>f</i></b>} (n=5), <i>Transection</i>_{<b><i>f</i></b>} (n=5) and <i>Transection+Repair</i>_{<b><i>f</i></b>} (n=6) groups (*), although all were different from <i>Sham</i>_{<b><i>f</i></b>} (**). B) Percentage neural tissue in the (MN+50g)<b><i>x2</i></b>_{<b><i>f</i></b>} group showed statistically significant differences compared to the <i>Sham</i>_{<b><i>f</i></b>} (n=6) and <i>Crush</i>_{<b><i>f</i></b>} groups, similar to the <i>Transection</i>_{<b><i>f</i></b>} and <i>Transection+Repair</i>_{<b><i>f</i></b>} groups. <i>MN</i>_<i>f</i> (n=3); <i>MN</i>+50<i>g</i>_<i>f</i> (n=4); 20µm scale bar (* and ** p<0.05).</p

Sciatic experiment muscle weight and motor neuron labeling results.

<p>Tibialis anterior muscle weights demonstrated no significant differences between the NIC groups or from <i>Crush</i>_{<b><i>s</i></b>} and <i>Sham</i>_{<b><i>s</i></b>} groups. <i>Transection</i>_{<b><i>s</i></b>} and <i>Negative </i><i>Control</i>_{<b><i>s</i></b>} groups showed statistically significant differences from other groups (A) (n=6 per group). Statistically significant attrition of motor neurons with axons that regenerated into the MG nerve was demonstrated in the <i>Transection</i>_{<b><i>s</i></b>} group, compared to <i>Sham</i>_{<b><i>s</i></b>} and <i>Crush</i>_{<b><i>s</i></b>} groups (B) (n=6 per group). Relative percentage of axonal misdirection to the MG and sural nerves were calculated by dividing the counted cells “out”-side the reference boundaries by the “total” counts (e.g. %misdirection to sural = Di-I-out/Di-I-total x100). <i>Transection</i>_{<b><i>s</i></b>} (n=5) injuries demonstrated the most misdirection and the same trend was found among the NIC injury groups with MG and sural nerve assessments. Average of MG and sural results shown (C) (n=6 per other groups). (*p<0.05,**p<0.001).</p

Femoral nerve motor neuron labeling results.

<p>Results of motor neuron labeling by FB (A) and Di-I (B) application to femoral nerve motor and cutaneous divisions, respectively. Double-labeled motor neurons (C) are illustrated by the arrows (merge A+B). The total MN counts (FB + Di-I minus double label) represent the overall degree of attrition of motor neurons that regenerated axons beyond the injury zone. The total <i>Crush</i>_{<b><i>f</i></b>} (n=6) group counts dominated over (MN+50g)<b><i>x2</i></b>_{<b><i>f</i></b>} (n=4) and <i>Transection+Repair</i>_{<b><i>f</i></b>} (n=5) groups with statistical significance (D). FB cell counts of the <i>Sham</i>_{<b><i>f</i></b>} (n=5) and <i>Crush</i>_{<b><i>f</i></b>} groups showed statistically significant differences compared to the (MN+50g)<b><i>x2</i></b>_{<b><i>f</i></b>}, <i>Transection</i>_{<b><i>f</i></b>} (n=5) and <i>Transection+Repair</i>_{<b><i>f</i></b>} groups, indicating significant motor pathway attrition in the latter groups (E). Percentage motor axons misdirected to the cutaneous division (= Di-I labeled/ Total count x100) was the highest in the <i>Transection</i>_{<b><i>f</i></b>} group and together with the (MN+50g)<b><i>x2</i></b>_{<b><i>f</i></b>} group, had statistically significant differences from the Sham_{<b><i>f</i></b>}, Crush_{<b><i>f</i></b>}, <i>MN</i>_<i>f</i> (n=6) and <i>MN</i>+50<i>g</i>_<i>f</i> (n=6) groups. The <i>Transection</i>_{<b><i>f</i></b>} group had also significantly more misdirection compared to the <i>Transection+Repair</i>_{<b><i>f</i></b>} group (F); 100µm scale bar (*p<0.05;**p<0.01).</p

Selective sciatic motor neuron labeling for assessment of relative axonal misdirection.

<p>For demonstration purposes, representative coronal cut hemi-cord examples (stacks of all spinal cord sections of a single animal from each group) show the disorganization of labeled neurons after more severe nerve injuries, compared to <i>Sham</i>_{<b><i>s</i></b>} (stack of all 6 sham cords used to define the reference boundaries). FB (blue) or Di-I (yellow) labeled cells outside the reference bounds have axons misdirected respectively to the MG or sural nerves. Caudal sciatic pool boundaries were aligned to overlay the <i>Sham</i>_{<b><i>s</i></b>} group pool reference grid for the determination of motor neurons with misdirected axons (500µm scale bar).</p

The applied force to severity of nerve injury relationship demonstrating the NIC spectrum and NIC window.

<p>Based on the data presented, we propose that the degree of functional deficit that follows traumatic peripheral nerve injuries is dependent on the disruption of the internal nerve architecture of a particular nerve. Sunderland grade 3 and 4 injuries are replaced by the NIC spectrum. Minor variations of force on the hypothetical steep slope within the NIC window may have a dramatic effect on the injury severity and resultant functional recovery.</p

Neuroma formation in femoral nerve NIC groups.

<p>Representative longitudinal femoral nerve sections of the experimental NIC groups, with magnified areas demonstrating extrafascicular regeneration on the right. <i>MN</i>_<i>f</i> injury zones showed the least, and (MN+50g)<b><i>x2</i></b>_{<b><i>f</i></b>} (proximal injury) the most prominent NIC features. Proximal ends to the left, NF 200 in green, Rhodamine Phalloidin (f-actin) in red (250µm scale bar).</p

Experimental groups.

<p>Representative pictures of injury zones (arrows) are shown for each of the femoral and sciatic nerve experimental groups, proximal ends to the left. SHAM – nerve exposure and suture marking only; CRUSH – simple 30-second jeweler’s forceps crush; MN – single 3-second compression using sub-transection force; MN+50g – single MN compression combined with 50g traction force; (MN+50g)x2 – two MN+50g injuries made in tandem; TRANSECTION – sharp transection without repair; TRANSECTION+REPAIR – intra-tubular repair of the transected femoral nerves; NEGATIVE CONTROL – transection, capping and back-reflection of sciatic nerve ends as negative control.</p