Acupuncture sensation during ultrasound guided acupuncture needling

Although acupuncture sensation (also known as de qi) is a cornerstone of traditional acupuncture therapy, most research has accepted the traditional method of defining acupuncture sensation only through subjective patient reports rather than on any quantifiable physiological basis

Combinatorial dapoxyl dye library and its application to site selective probe for human serum albumin

The combinatorial fluorescent dapoxyl dye library was prepared by both solution- and solid-phase synthesis, generating 80 unique dapoxyl derivatives. A fluorescence-based screening toward human serum albumin (HSA) found one highly sensitive HSA binder (A41-S) with over 55-fold intensity,change. Displacement assay showed the selective binding of A41-S to the site I of HSA, addressing its potential to be 4 highly selective and sensitive HSA probe.1145sciescopu

Effects of Long-Distance Running on Cardiac Markers and Biomarkers in Exercise-Induced Hypertension Runners: An Observational Study

Objective To investigate changes of cardiac and muscle damage markers in exercise-induced hypertension (EIH) runners before running (pre-race), immediately after completing a 100-km ultramarathon race, and during the recovery period (24, 72, and 120 hours post-race). Methods In this observational study, volunteers were divided into EIH group (n=11) whose maximum systolic blood pressure was ≥210 mmHg in graded exercise testing and normal exercise blood pressure response (NEBPR) group (n=11). Their blood samples were collected at pre-race, immediately after race, and at 24, 72, and 120 hours post-race. Results Creatine kinase (CK) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels were significantly higher in EIH group than those in the NEBPR group immediately after race and at 24 hours post-race (all p<0.05). However, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase-myocardial band (CKMB), or CKMB/CK levels did not show any significant differences between the two groups in each period. N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels were significantly higher in EIH group than those in NEBPR group immediately after race and at 24 and 72 hours post-race (all p<0.05). A high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level was significantly higher in EIH group than that in NEBPR group at 24 hours post-race (p<0.05). Conclusion The phenomenon of higher inflammatory and cardiac marker levels in EIH group may exaggerate cardiac volume pressure and blood flow restrictions which in turn can result in cardiac muscle damage. Further prospective studies are needed to investigate the chronic effect of such phenomenon on the cardiovascular system in EIH runners

Styryl-based compounds as potential in vivo imaging agents for beta-amyloid plaques

A group of styryl-based neutral compounds has been synthesized in this study for potential use as in vivo imaging agents for beta-amyloid plaques. Of 56 candidates, 14 compounds were found to label beta-amyloid plaques well on Alzheimer&apos;s disease (AD) human brain sections in vitro. The binding affinity to beta-amyloid fibrils was then determined by measuring the change in fluorescence intensity. Interestingly, we found that a class of quinaldine-styryl scaffold compounds displays specific binding to beta-amyloid fibrils. A representative compound, STB-8, was used in ex vivo and in vivo imaging experiments on an AD transgenic mouse model and demonstrated excellent blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and specific staining of the AD beta-amyloid plaques.1150sciescopu

Waterproof perovskites: high fluorescence quantum yield and stability from a methylammonium lead bromide/formate mixture in water

We&apos;ve observed intense fluorescence from the surface of lead formate crystals when they are precipitated from a CH3NH3PbBr3 (MAPbBr(3)) perovskite precursor solution. The crystals exhibit emission in the range of 500-550 nm with a photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of up to 70%. The fluorescence is stable in water and at elevated temperature without significant decrease in PLQY for months, conditions which instantly decompose MAPbBr(3). Fluorescence occurred with the highest quantum efficiency of 70% at an optimal 1 : 0.3 molar ratio of methylammonium formate and lead bromide and decreased rapidly for other ratios. Fluorescence was quenched using other halides (Cl or I) or other cations (Cs, ethylammonium, propylammonium, etc.). Single crystal analysis indicates that the material possesses the lead formate structure with lattice parameters which are identical to pristine lead formate, however, analysis of the particles by EDX, XPS and fluorescence microscopy confirms the presence of Br and fluorescence emission on the particle surfaces. The observed material characteristics indicate that the emissive species consists of a mixed-valence surface layer of Pb coordinated to both Br and formate ligands

Extraordinary Off-Stoichiometric Bismuth Telluride for Enhanced n‑Type Thermoelectric Power Factor

Thermoelectrics directly converts waste heat into electricity and is considered a promising means of sustainable energy generation. While most of the recent advances in the enhancement of the thermoelectric figure of merit (<i>ZT</i>) resulted from a decrease in lattice thermal conductivity by nanostructuring, there have been very few attempts to enhance electrical transport properties, i.e., the power factor. Here we use nanochemistry to stabilize bulk bismuth telluride (Bi₂Te₃) that violates phase equilibrium, namely, phase-pure n-type K_0.06Bi₂Te_3.18. Incorporated potassium and tellurium in Bi₂Te₃ far exceed their solubility limit, inducing simultaneous increase in the electrical conductivity and the Seebeck coefficient along with decrease in the thermal conductivity. Consequently, a high power factor of ∼43 μW cm^–1 K^–2 and a high <i>ZT</i> > 1.1 at 323 K are achieved. Our current synthetic method can be used to produce a new family of materials with novel physical and chemical characteristics for various applications