Effect of low intensity pulsed ultrasound on repairing the periodontal bone of Beagle canines

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the repairing effect of low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on the Beagle canines periodontal bone defect.MethodsA total of 12 Beagle dogs with periodontal bone defect model were randomly divided into control group, LIPUS group, guided tissue regeneration (GTR) group and LIPUS+GTR group, with three in each. After completion of the models, no other proceeding was performed in control group; LIPUS group adopt direct exposure to radiation line LIPUS processing 1 week after modeling; GTR group adopted treatment with GTR, following the CTR standard operation reference; LIPUS+GTR group was treated with LIPUS joint GTR. Temperature change before treatment and histopathological change of periodontal tissue after repair was observed.ResultsThere was no significant difference in temperature changes of periodontal tissue between groups (P>0.05). The amount and maturity of LIPUS+GTR group were superior to other groups; new cementum, dental periodontal bones of GTR group were superior to the control group but less than LIPUS group; new collagen and maturity of the control group is not high relatively.ConclusionsLIPUS can accelerate the calcium salt deposition and new bone maturation, thus it can serve as promoting periodontal tissue repair, and shortening the periodontal tissue repair time

Ultrasound-Triggered Regulation of Blood Glucose Levels Using Injectable Nano-Network

The integration of an injectable insulin-encapsulated nano-network with a focused ultrasound system (FUS) can remotely regulate insulin release both in vitro and in vivo. A single subcutaneous injection of the nano-network with intermittent FUS administration facilitates reduction of the blood glucose levels in type 1 diabetic mice for up to 10 d

Exploiting Deep Reinforcement Learning for Multi-AUV Assisted VoI-Maximum Data Collection in UWSNs

Reliable and timely data collection is an important and challenging problem for underwater wireless sensor networks (UWSNs), partly due to the very slow underwater communication and the difficulty in recharging the sensors. In this paper, we exploit the use of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for UWSN data collection task. Specifically, we investigate how to maximize the value of information (VoI) for data collection through joint optimization of cluster head (CH) selection and multi-AUV path planning. We formulate the joint optimization problem for the task, taking into account the energy constraints of sensor nodes. To solve the problem, we propose a deep reinforcement learning algorithm based on an encoder-decoder architecture. The entire UWSN system is fed into the encoder network, followed by a composite decoder consisting of an AUV selection decoder and a cluster access sequence decoder to obtain the cluster access sequence for each AUV. Based on the determined sequences, we further utilize the dynamic programming algorithm to achieve optimal CH selection. Finally, we obtain the sequence of AUVs accessing the selected CHs. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed learning-based approach converges and achieves a higher VoI than the existing benchmark algorithms

Two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis of 91 circulating inflammatory protein levels and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

IntroductionAmyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease with poorly understood pathophysiology. Recent studies have highlighted systemic inflammation, especially the role of circulating inflammatory proteins, in ALS.MethodsThis study investigates the potential causal link between these proteins and ALS. We employed a two-sample Mendelian Randomization(MR) approach, analyzing data from large-scale genome-wide association studies to explore the relationship between 91 circulating inflammatory proteins and ALS. This included various MR methods like MR Egger, weighted median, and inverse-variance weighted, complemented by sensitivity analyses for robust results.ResultsSignificant associations were observed between levels of inflammatory proteins, including Adenosine Deaminase, Interleukin-17C, Oncostatin-M, Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor, and Osteoprotegerin, and ALS risk. Consistencies were noted across different P-value thresholds. Bidirectional MR suggested that ALS risk might influence levels of certain inflammatory proteins.DiscussionOur findings, via MR analysis, indicate a potential causal relationship between circulating inflammatory proteins and ALS. This sheds new light on ALS pathophysiology and suggests possible therapeutic targets. Further research is required to confirm these results and understand the specific roles of these proteins in ALS

Incorporating productivity loss in health economic evaluations : a review of guidelines and practices worldwide for research agenda in China

Introduction: Productivity loss may contribute to a large proportion of costs of health conditions in an economic evaluation from a societal perspective, but there is currently a lack of methodological consensus on how productivity loss should be measured and valued. Despite the research progress surrounding this issue in other countries, it has been rarely discussed in China. Methods: We reviewed the official guidelines on economic evaluations in different countries and regions and screened the literature to summarise the extent to which productivity loss was incorporated in economic evaluations and the underlying methodological challenges. Results: A total of 48 guidelines from 46 countries/regions were included. Although 32 (67%) guidelines recommend excluding productivity loss in the base case analysis, 23 (48%) guidelines recommend including productivity loss in the base case or additional analyses. Through a review of systematic reviews and the economic evaluation studies included in these reviews, we found that the average probability of incorporating productivity loss in an economic evaluation was 10.2%. Among the economic evaluations (n=478) that explicitly considered productivity loss, most (n=455) considered losses from paid work, while only a few studies (n=23) considered unpaid work losses. Recognising the existing methodological challenges and the specific context of China, we proposed a practical research agenda and a disease list for progress on this topic, including the development of the disease list comprehensively consisting of health conditions where the productivity loss should be incorporated into economic evaluations. Conclusion: An increasing number of guidelines recommend the inclusion of productivity loss in the base case or additional analyses of economic evaluation. We optimistically expect that more Chinese researchers notice the importance of incorporating productivity loss in economic evaluations and anticipate guidelines that may be suitable for Chinese practitioners and decision-makers that facilitate the advancement of research on productivity loss measurement and valuation

Expression and clinical significance of interleukin-6 pathway in cholangiocarcinoma

BackgroundCholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a typical inflammation-induced malignancy, and elevated serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels have been reported to be linked to the onset and progression of CCA. We aim to investigate the potential prognostic value of the IL-6 pathway for CCA.MethodsWe detected the expressions of IL-6, IL-6R, glycoprotein (gp130), C-reactive protein (CRP), Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in CCA tissue microarray using multiplex immunofluorescence. Furthermore, the clinical associations and prognostic values were assessed. Finally, single-cell transcriptome analysis was performed to evaluate the expression level of IL-6 pathway genes in CCA.ResultsThe results revealed that the expression of IL-6 was lower, while the expression of STAT3 was higher in tumor tissues compared to normal tissues. Especially in tumor microenvironment, the expression of IL-6 pathway genes was generally downregulated. Importantly, gp130 was strongly correlated with JAK2 in tumor tissues, while it was moderately correlated with JAK2 in normal tissue. Although none of the gene expressions were directly associated with overall survival and disease-free survival, our study found that IL-6, IL-6R, CRP, gp130, and JAK2 were inversely correlated with vascular invasion, which is a risk factor for poor prognosis in patients with CCA.ConclusionThe findings from this study suggest that the IL-6 signaling pathway may have a potential prognostic value for CCA. Further investigation is needed to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of the IL-6 pathway in CCA

A system-level mechanistic investigation of traditional Chinese medicine, Yinlai Decoction, for related diseases

Purpose: To systemically explore the pharmacological mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine, Yinlai Decoction (YD), used in the clinical management of pediatric diseases such as pneumonia and recurrent respiratory tract infections.Methods: An ingredient-target-disease database of YD was constructed using Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP). First, the molecular targets related to lung and stomach diseases were searched and screened to avoid duplication. Second, the associations between these molecular targets were evaluated via Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING) and Gene Ontology (GO) and Pathway enrichment analysis in STRING.Results: A total of 627 chemical ingredients and 654 protein targets in YD were obtained. After further screening, 38 molecular targets linked to respiratory diseases, inflammatory responses and various infections were identified. Finally, 576 GO terms and 75 KEGG pathway terms were obtained by analyzing gene functional annotation clusters and abundance value of these targets. Most of these terms were closely related to the inflammatory response.Conclusion: Based on these in silico findings, the use of YD for treating respiratory diseases, inflammation and various infections, most probably via the suppression of inflammation, has been established. The approach adopted in this study can serve as a model methodology to develop an innovative TCM candidate drug at a network pharmacology level.Keywords: Yinlai Decoction, Network (System) pharmacology, Inflammation, Interacting genes/proteins, Gene ocntology, Pathway enrichment analysi

Experimental and numerical simulation studies of the squeezing dynamics of the UBVT system with a hole-plug device

In this paper, a method is proposed to secure an autonomous underwater blasting vibration test (UBVT) system with plugs to deep-water rock, and its specific configuration concept and plugging principle are illustrated. Using the principle of statics, a mathematical model is established for the squeezing force in the process of pressing the hole-plug device (HPD) into holes in rocks. The tension-compression test is conducted on the plugs in round granite holes to obtain the axial pressure-displacement curves of the pressing process with the HPD spring parameter K, friction coefficient μ between the HPD and the rock-wall, and the dynamic contact friction attributes between the metallic HPD and the rock-wall of hole in granite. The axial pressure with such parameters as K, μ, and the squeezing velocity v, among others, and the four steps of the pressing process are numerically simulated. The relations of the characteristic squeezing force with K, μ, and v, as well as the mechanisms of these parameters that influence HPD usage and the sensitivity coefficient, are revealed. The findings of the present study provide references for setting the HPD configuration parameters and for formulating plug-specific construction methods