Effect of Botulinum Toxin Injection and Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Nerve Regeneration in Rats with Experimentally Induced Sciatic Nerve Injury

This study was designed to compare the roles of botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in promoting the functional recovery and regeneration of injured peripheral nerves. A total of 45 six-week-old rats with sciatic nerve injury were randomly divided into two experimental groups and one control group. The experimental groups received a single session of intranerve BoNT/A or ESWT immediately after a nerve-crushing injury. The control group was not exposed to any treatment. Differentiation of Schwann cells and axonal sprouting were observed through immunofluorescence staining, ELISA, real-time PCR, and Western blot at 3, 6, and 10 weeks post-nerve injury. For clinical assessment, serial sciatic functional index analysis and electrophysiological studies were performed. A higher expression of GFAP and S100β was detected in injured nerves treated with BoNT/A or ESWT. The levels of GAP43, ATF3, and NF200 associated with axonal regeneration in the experimental groups were also significantly higher than in the control group. The motor functional improvement occurred after 7 weeks of clinical observation following BoNT/A and ESWT. Compared with the control group, the amplitude of the compound muscle action potential in the experimental groups was significantly higher from 6 to 10 weeks. Collectively, these findings indicate that BoNT/A and ESWT similarly induced the activation of Schwann cells with the axonal regeneration of and functional improvement in the injured nerve.     

In vitro antitumour activity of flavonoids from Sophora flavescens

The cytotoxicity-guided fractionation of the roots of Sophora flavescens (Leguminosae) extracts led to the isolation of 15 active principles 1–15, responsible for cytotoxicity against five kinds of cultured human tumour cell lines, i.e. A549 (non small cell lung), SK-OV-3 (ovary), SK-MEL-2 (skin), XF498 (central nerve system) and HCT-15 (colon), evaluated by SRB method in vitro. Compounds 2–14 were classified as unusual flavonoids occurring exclusively in this species and the proliferation of each of the examined tumour cells were significantly inhibited during continuous exposure to compounds 1–15 for 48 h, respectively. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sb nanosheet modified separator for Li–S batteries with excellent electrochemical performance

An air-stable antimony (Sb) nanosheet modified separator (SbNs/separator) has been prepared by coating exfoliated Sb nanosheets (SbNs) successfully onto a pristine separator through a vacuum infiltration method. The as-prepared Li–S batteries using SbNs/separators exhibit much improved electrochemical performance compared to the ones using commercial separators. The coulombic efficiency (CE) of the Li–S battery using the SbNs/separator after the initial cycle is close to 100% at a current density of 0.1 A g⁻¹, and 660 mA h g⁻¹ capacity retained after 100 cycles. The rate capability of Li–S battery using SbNs/separator delivers a reversible capacity of 425 mA h g⁻¹ when the current density increases to 1 A g⁻¹. The improved electrochemical performance is mainly attributed to the following reasons. Firstly, the combination of physical adsorption and chemical bonding between SbNs and lithium polysulfides (LiPSs), which efficiently inhibits the shuttle phenomena of LiPSs. Secondly, the good electronic conductivity of SbNs improves the utilization of the adsorbed LiPSs, which benefits the capacity release of active materials. Lastly, the fast conversion kinetics of intermediate LiPSs caused by the catalytic effect from SbNs further suppresses the shuttle effect of LiPSs. The SbNs/separators exhibit a great potential for the future high-performance Li–S batteries.

Antimony nanosheet modified separator is prepared for high performance Li–S batteries for the first time.     

Psychiatric Disorder in Two Siblings with Hallervorden-Spatz Disease

Hallervorden-Spatz disease (HSD) is a rare autosomal-recessive hereditary disorder characterized by the early onset of progressive movement alterations, including dystonia, rigidity, choreoathetosis, and mental deterioration. HSD is also associated with a variety of psychiatric symptoms, primarily depression and mental deterioration. However, psychosis has rarely been reported as a major symptom of HSD. We report two siblings who presented psychiatric symptoms as major clinical presentations, accompanied by ataxic and spastic gait, dysarthria, and typical neuroimaging findings of HSD. A 14-year-old girl presented complex motor tics, stereotypic behavior and anxiety symptoms. Her older brother, a 16-year-old boy, presented prominent auditory hallucinations, persecutory delusions and social withdrawal symptoms. Psychiatric symptoms were improved after atypical antipsychotic treatment. HSD is a rare disease but should be carefully considered in the diagnosis of patients with both motor disorder and various psychiatric symptoms.     

The Association between Diet Quality and Health Status in Mobile Food Pantry Users in Northeastern Connecticut

Low-income Americans tend to have poor diet quality and disease prevalence overall. Mobile food pantries aim to improve these outcomes, and have rarely been studied. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the association between diet quality and health status in mobile food pantry users. Data were collected from two mobile food pantry sites in Northeastern Connecticut (n = 83). Sociodemographic food security and diet quality data were collected. Overall, diet quality was low among all participants with intakes of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains of concern. Participant adherence to the 2020–2025 US Dietary Guidelines were low, with no participants meeting recommendations for whole grains. Obesity, diabetes, and hypertension prevalence in this population exceeded national averages. After adjusting for covariates, hypertension was associated with higher dairy and added sugar intake, as well as a greater intake of added sugar from sugar-sweetened beverages (p < 0.05). Although results were not statistically significant, participants with obesity, diabetes, and hypertension showed a trend of having lower adherence to the guidelines than those without these chronic diseases. Questions assessing participant interest in changing their diets were also posed, indicating overall high interest in learning about current diet quality and weight improvement.     

Persistent human papillomavirus DNA is associated with local recurrence after radiotherapy of uterine cervical cancer

Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA is considered as a hallmark of cervical cancer. We investigated whether persistent HPV DNA at the cervix is associated with local recurrence after radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. A total of 156 patients with HPV-positive cervical cancer (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IB-IVB) treated with radiotherapy between July 2003 and December 2006 were analyzed. HPV DNA was measured prior to radiotherapy and after completion of radiotherapy. The results of HPV DNA test at postradiotherapy 1, 3, 6 and 12 months were analyzed individually for association with local recurrence-free survival (LRFS). In addition, the result of any last follow-up HPV test within 24 months postradiotherapy was defined as the overall status of HPV at 24 months and was also analyzed for association with LRFS. HPV DNA was cleared in 127 patients (81.4%) and persistent in 29 patients (18.6%) by 24 months. In 18 patients with local recurrences, 14 patients (78%) showed positive HPV tests at 1-3 months. Among the various time points analyzed, a positive HPV test at 3 months was the most accurate predictor of local recurrence. Multivariate analysis indicated that overall status of HPV at 24 months, low HPV viral load and histologic grade as being significantly related to poor LRFS. In HPV-positive cervical carcinoma treated primarily with radiotherapy, persistent HPV DNA within 24 months after treatment indicates a high risk of local recurrence. Diagnostic accuracy of HPV test was highest at 3 months.     

Hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombosis: Improved treatment outcomes with external beam radiation therapy

The treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) is very challenging because of HCC's grave prognosis. Despite many efforts to improve the treatment results, patient survival has been limited to several months. In this situation, radiotherapy has been considered as an alternative treatment modality because of the growth of knowledge about the radiotolerance of normal tissue and the advances of radiotherapy techniques such as three dimensional conformal radiotherapy, intensity modulated radiotherapy, stereotactic body radiotherapy and proton therapy. More restoration of the liver function and longer survival of the patients can be achieved by the better response after radiotherapy. However, considering the high risk of intrahepatic advanced tumor or extrahepatic dissemination by PVTT at disease presentation, a combination of radiation therapy and systemic agents will be desirable. Therefore, performing prospective randomized clinical trials is important to assess the benefits of radiotherapy and to develop combination treatment strategies.     

Expression and roles of Wilms' tumor 1‐associating protein in glioblastoma

Glioblastoma is a diffusely growing malignant brain tumor and among the most aggressive of all tumors. Wilms' tumor 1‐associating protein (WTAP) is a nuclear protein that has been associated with regulation of proliferation and apoptosis. Although its dynamic expression and physiological functions in vascular cells have been reported, those in other cells are largely unknown. Here, we show for the first time that WTAP is overexpressed in glioblastoma. Moreover we found that WTAP regulates migration and invasion of glioblatoma cells. Specific knockdown by siRNA or overexpression by cDNA regulated migration and invasion of cancer cells. In xenograft study, WTAP overexpression made cancer cells more tumorigenic. In the investigation for its underlying mechanism, we found that the activity of epidermal growth factor receptor can be regulated by WTAP. These results reveal a novel function of WTAP and suggest its clinical application.     

Tea is the major source of flavan-3-ol and flavonol in the U.S. diet

Flavonoid intake is inversely associated with the incidence of chronic diseases, but the sources of flavonoid intake in free-living U.S. adults have not yet been reported. We tested hypotheses that tea is the major dietary source of flavonoids in U.S. adults; tea consumers differ from those of tea nonconsumers in sociodemographics, health-related behaviors, and dietary and beverage sources of flavonoid intake. We matched the flavonoid contents of the USDA Flavonoid Databases with dietary intake data of adults (n = 8809) included in NHANES of 1999-2002. Only 21.3% of U.S. adults reported drinking tea daily. Daily total flavonoid intake of tea consumers was over 20 times that of tea nonconsumers (697.9 vs. 32.6 mg/d); per capita flavonoid intake from tea was 157 mg/d. Tea consumers are more likely to be older, female, white, and to have higher income than tea nonconsumers (P < 0.001); to have lower nonleisure-time physical activity level (P < 0.01); and to take dietary supplements (P < 0.001) than tea nonconsumers. Intake of flavonols and flavan-3-ols, the major tea flavonoids, differed between the 2 groups (P < 0.01). Other dietary flavonoid sources after tea were citrus juice, wine, and citrus fruits for both tea consumer and nonconsumer groups. For tea nonconsumers, flavonoid intake from wine, fruitades, and fruit drinks was higher than that in tea consumers. Flavonoid intake differs among subgroups, mainly because of the percentage of tea consumers and the prevalence of tea consumption within each subgroup.