A double-blind randomized controlled trial for the effects of dry needling on upper limb dysfunction in patients with stroke

Spasticity is one of the main complications of a stroke. This double-blind, randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the result of three sessions of dry needling (DN) versus sham DN on the affected upper limbs in post-stroke survivors. We recruited 24 patients (age 57.0 ± 9.6 years; male 71%). Patients were randomly allocated to two groups: a DN group and a sham DN group. The primary outcome measures were the Modified Modified Ashworth Scale (MMAS) and the Box and Block Test (BBT). Secondary outcome measures included active and passive wrist range of motion (AROM and PROM). All assessments were measured at baseline, immediately after the last session of the intervention, and one month later. Patients in the DN group had improved upper limb spasticity and passive wrist range of motion compared to control group (P0.05). Dry needling is a useful method for improving muscle spasticity in the upper limbs of patients with stroke

The Effect of Dry Needling on Lower Limb Dysfunction in Poststroke Survivors

Background: Spasticity is one of the main complications in poststroke survivors leading to difficulties in walking and standing resulting in high levels of disability. Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of deep dry needling on lower limb dysfunction in poststroke spastic patients. Methods: A randomized clinical trial conducted in poststroke survivors who were assigned to one of 2 groups: Deep dry needling (intervention group) and sham dry needling (control group). The primary outcome measures were Modified Modified Ashworth Scale (MMAS) and functional tests (timed up and go test, 10-meter walk test). Secondary outcome measures were active ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (AROM), passive ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (PROM), single leg stance test, and Barthel index. All measurements were assessed at baseline (T0), immediately after the third session 1 week later (T1), and 1 month after the end of the intervention (T2). Results: We recruited 24 patients (71% male; mean age 57 ± 10 years; 26.4 ± 1.8 kg•m−2; time since event: 25.2 ± 12.5 months). There were significant improvements in MMAS, timed up and go test, 10-meter walk test, Barthel scale, and PROM (P . 05). Conclusions: Deep dry needling decreases muscle spasticity and improves lower limb function and gait speed in poststroke survivors

Effect of intensive neuromuscular electrical stimulation on chronic neck pain: A case report

© Nova Science Publishers, Inc. Chronic neck pain is a relatively common problem that can interfere with daily activities, and it is often experienced following musculoskeletal injuries. To identify the impact of intensive neuromuscular electrical stimulation (INES) for reducing chronic neck pain in a 21-year-old female athlete, following a traumatic sports injury, which occurred two years earlier. A treatment package including three separate sessions of intensive neuromuscular electrical stimulation and exercise therapy were prescribed. Outcomes measurements were short form McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ), visual analogue scale (VAS), and the neck disability index (NDI). Measurements were performed at baseline, following the intervention, and three months later. Following our intervention; VAS score decreased from 6/10 to 3/10, and 1/10 after three months; and NDI decreased from 54/100 to 18/100, and 10/100 after three months. A combination of INES and resistance training significantly reduced neck pain after three months in a female gymnast. Further research is required to determine the effectiveness of this combination of treatments in larger cohorts with more diffuse musculoskeletal conditions

Autophagy modulators : mechanistic aspects and drug delivery systems

Funding: this work was supported by a grant from NMRC-CIRG to CTY. APK was supported by grants from National Medical Research Council of Singapore, NCIS Yong Siew Yoon Research Grant through donations from the Yong Loo Lin Trust and by the National Research Foundation Singapore and the Singapore Ministry of Education under its Research Centers of Excellence initiative to Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore. R.M. acknowledges financial supports of Kerman University of Medical Sciences.Autophagy modulation is considered to be a promising programmed cell death mechanism to prevent and cure a great number of disorders and diseases. The crucial step in designing an effective therapeutic approach is to understand the correct and accurate causes of diseases and to understand whether autophagy plays a cytoprotective or cytotoxic/cytostatic role in the progression and prevention of disease. This knowledge will help scientists find approaches to manipulate tumor and pathologic cells in order to enhance cellular sensitivity to therapeutics and treat them. Although some conventional therapeutics suffer from poor solubility, bioavailability and controlled release mechanisms, it appears that novel nanoplatforms overcome these obstacles and have led to the design of a theranostic-controlled drug release system with high solubility and active targeting and stimuli-responsive potentials. In this review, we discuss autophagy modulators-related signaling pathways and some of the drug delivery strategies that have been applied to the field of therapeutic application of autophagy modulators. Moreover, we describe how therapeutics will target various steps of the autophagic machinery. Furthermore, nano drug delivery platforms for autophagy targeting and co-delivery of autophagy modulators with chemotherapeutics/siRNA, are also discusse

The Twofold Role of Osteogenic Small Molecules in Parkinson’s Disease Therapeutics: Crosstalk of Osteogenesis and Neurogenesis

Deemed one of the most problematic neurodegenerative diseases in the elderly population, Parkinson’s disease remains incurable to date. Ongoing diagnostic studies, however, have revealed that a large number of small molecule drugs that trigger the BMP2-Smad signaling pathway with an osteogenic nature may be effective in Parkinson’s disease treatment. Although BMP2 and Smad1, 3, and 5 biomolecules promote neurite outgrowth and neuroprotection in dopaminergic cells as well, small molecules are quicker at crossing the BBB and reaching the damaged dopaminergic neurons located in the substantia nigra due to a molecular weight less than 500 Da. It is worth noting that osteogenic small molecules that inhibit Smurf1 phosphorylation do not offer therapeutic opportunities for Parkinson’s disease; whereas, osteogenic small molecules that trigger Smad1, 3, and 5 phosphorylation may have strong therapeutic implications in Parkinson’s disease by increasing the survival rate of dopaminergic cells and neuritogenesis. Notably, from a different perspective, it might be said that osteogenic small molecules can possibly put forth therapeutic options for Parkinson’s disease by improving neuritogenesis and cell survival

Dual role of quercetin in enhancing the efficacy of cisplatin in chemotherapy and protection against its side effects: a review

Chemotherapy has opened a new window in cancer therapy. However, the resistance of cancer cells has dramatically reduced the efficacy of chemotherapy. Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutic agent and its potential in cancer therapy has been restricted by resistance of cancer cells. As a consequence, the scientists have attempted to find new strategies in elevating chemotherapy efficacy. Due to great anti-tumour activity, naturally occurring compounds are of interest in polychemotherapy. Quercetin is a flavonoid with high anti-tumour activity against different cancers that can be used with cisplatin to enhance its efficacy and also are seen to sensitise cancer cells into chemotherapy. Furthermore, cisplatin has side effects such as nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity. Administration of quercetin is advantageous in reducing the adverse effects of cisplatin without compromising its anti-tumour activity. In this review, we investigate the dual role of quercetin in enhancing anti-tumour activity of cisplatin and simultaneous reduction in its adverse effects

Evaluation of the effects of hyaluronic acid on poly (3-hydroxybutyrate)/chitosan/carbon nanotubes electrospun scaffold: structure and mechanical properties

In this study, a combination of poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), chitosan (Cs), multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), and different concentrations of Hyaluronic Acid (HA) were electrospun. The results showed that the produced nanofibers are uniform. Incorporation of HA, Cs and MWNTs reduced the water contact angle and made the scaffolds more hydrophilic. The porosity of the scaffolds was in the range of 80-88%. The presence of MWNTs increased the tensile strength of scaffolds and different concentrations of HA had no much diverse effects. In conclusion, the PHB-Cs-MWNTs-HA 10% electrospun scaffold could be a good candidate for cartilage tissue engineering applications

Paving the road toward exploiting the therapeutic effects of ginsenosides: an emphasis on autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum stress

Programmed cell death processes such as apoptosis and autophagy strongly contribute to the onset and progression of cancer. Along with these lines, modulation of cell death mechanisms to combat cancer cells and elimination of resistance to apoptosis is of great interest. It appears that modulation of autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress with specific agents would be beneficial in the treatment of several disorders. Interestingly, it has been suggested that herbal natural products may be suitable candidates for the modulation of these processes due to few side effects and significant therapeutic potential. Ginsenosides are derivatives of ginseng and exert modulatory effects on the molecular mechanisms associated with autophagy and ER stress. Ginsenosides act as smart phytochemicals that confer their effects by up-regulating ATG proteins and converting LC3-I to -II, which results in maturation of autophagosomes. Not only do ginsenosides promote autophagy but they also possess protective and therapeutic properties due to their capacity to modulate ER stress and up- and down-regulate and/or dephosphorylate UPR transducers such as IRE1, PERK, and ATF6. Thus, it would appear that ginsenosides are promising agents to potentially restore tissue malfunction and possibly eliminate cancer