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The role of periphyton in the transformation of heavy metal pollutants has attracted extensive attention.This paper reviews the research progress of periphyton in heavy metal transformation, including its species and characteristics, transformation mechanism, influencing factors, practical application, existing problems and future development direction.The results showed that heavy metals were effectively transformed by periphyton through adsorption, biotransformation and biodegradation.The main factors affecting heavy metal biotransformation include species and quantity of organisms, species and concentration of heavy metals and environmental conditions.In recent years, some achievements have been made in the application of periphyton in sewage treatment, soil remediation and water purification, but there are still some challenges and problems in the practical application process.Future research should further explore the transformation mechanism of periphyton, optimize its application methods, and promote its industrialization and commercialization, in order to provide more feasible solutions for heavy metal pollution control.

AbstractPurposeMaterials and methodsResultsConclusions\nIMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONTo investigate the effect of electroacupuncture on the rehabilitation of patients after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).Eighty patients with knee osteoarthritis who underwent total knee arthroplasty randomly divided into two groups, with 40 patients in each group. The control group was treated with traditional rehabilitation methods. In addition to traditional rehabilitation treatment, patients in the experimental group received electroacupuncture after operation, while patients in the control group received fake electroacupuncture. Both groups started electroacupuncture treatment and fake electroacupuncture treatment on the third day after operation for 10 consecutive days Data of patients in both groups were collected before surgery, three days after surgery, two weeks after surgery and one month after surgery, including the visual analogue scale(VAS), Knee Society Score (KSS) and range of motion (ROM)Compared with before treatment, after the treatment cycle, the VAS, KSS and ROM of both groups were significantly improved (p = 0.001, p = 0.001). Compared with the control group, the ROM and KSS of the experimental group were significantly improved at two weeks after surgery and one month after surgery, and the VAS was significantly decreased, with statistical significance (p < 0.05).Electroacupuncture therapy has a positive effect on the recovery of patients after total knee arthroplasty, which can alleviate the pain after total knee arthroplasty, promote the recovery of knee function, which is worthy of clinical promotion.Electroacupuncture therapy combined with routine rehabilitation therapy can better promote the recovery of the knee after total knee replacement; significantly reduce the pain of the knee joint.Electroacupuncture therapy combined with routine rehabilitation therapy can effectively improve the function of the knee joint and promote the improvement of the joint motion of the knee joint.Electroacupuncture has short treatment time, quick effect, and high patient compliance and is worth applying to support recovery after total knee replacement.Electroacupuncture therapy combined with routine rehabilitation therapy can better promote the recovery of the knee after total knee replacement; significantly reduce the pain of the knee joint.Electroacupuncture therapy combined with routine rehabilitation therapy can effectively improve the function of the knee joint and promote the improvement of the joint motion of the knee joint.Electroacupuncture has short treatment time, quick effect, and high patient compliance and is worth applying to support recovery after total knee replacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA) often experience muscle loss due to pain and limited mobility. Nutritional supplementation and rehabilitation may positively affect the decline in muscle function. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether whey protein intervention, in addition to conventional rehabilitation training, is beneficial in improving muscle function and quality of life in patients after TKA. METHODS: 72 patients who met the criteria were selected for this randomized controlled study. For the experimental group, whey protein was used as a daily supplement for 12 weeks, while the control group was given a placebo, during which both groups received conventional rehabilitation training. Muscle strength and each of the secondary observables needed to be measured and statistically analyzed preoperatively and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-intervention. RESULTS: In total, 62 subjects completed the study: 32 in the experimental group and 30 in the control group. Both groups showed significant improvement in muscle strength, VAS, ROM, AKS and leg circumference after 12 weeks of treatment. Compared to the control group, patients in the experimental group showed significant improvement in muscle strength, VAS, ROM, AKS and leg circumference (p = 0.001, p = 0.002, p = 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.001, respectively) after 12 weeks of treatment. CONCLUSION: The 12-week intervention of whey protein nutritional supplement showed significant improvement in muscle mass and function among post-TKA patients besides aiding with conventional rehabilitation exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the ability of optical modulators to achieve rapid modulation of optical signals, meeting the demands of high-speed data transmission, modulators based on different novel nanomaterials have become one of the research hotspots over the past dacade. Recently, TiN/Ti3C2 heterojunction exhibits highly efficient thermo-optic performance and extremely strong stability. Therefore, we have demonstrated an all-optical modulator based on the principle of Michelson interference and the thermo-optic effect in this paper. The modulator employs a TiN/Ti3C2 heterojunction-coated microfiber (THM) and further demonstrates its ability to generate phase shifts through an ASE light source. The modulator, with a phase shift slope of 0.025π/mW, can also convert the phase shifts of signal light into amplitude modulation through Michelson interference. The fixed signal light wavelength is 1552.09 nm, and the modulation depth is stable at about 26.4 dB within a wavelength detuning range of −10 to 6 nm; The waveforms of signal light at modulation rates of 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, and 3000 Hz were tested, and a 3 dB modulation bandwidth of 2 kHz was measured. The all-optical modulator based on THM has the advantages of high efficiency and stability and has broad application prospects in the fields of all-optical signal processing and high-speed optical communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of low‐intensity, high‐frequency shock waves in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders. Methods: Twenty‐six patients with temporomandibular joint disorder admitted to the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from August 2022 to December 2022 were selected as study subjects and randomly divided into two groups, A and B, with 13 patients each. In Group A, there were 5 males and 8 females with an average age of 38.85 ± 11.03 years. In Group B, there were 4 males and 9 females with an average age of 39.15 ± 11.16 years. Group A was the control group, which received routine treatment (manual massage + transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation + ultrashort wave therapy) plus sham shock wave therapy; Group B was the experimental group, which received routine treatment (manual massage + transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation + ultrashort wave therapy) plus shock wave therapy. The routine treatment was administered once/day, five times per week for a total of 2 weeks of treatment. In addition, shock wave therapy was administered once every 5 days, and the treatment was administered three times. The treatment period was 2 weeks, and the two groups were compared before treatment, at the end of the treatment period, and 4 weeks after treatment. The pain level of the two groups was assessed by the visual analogue scale (VAS) before and after treatment, and the temporomandibular opening index (TOI) before and after treatment was compared between the two groups. VAS and TOI scores were evaluated using the Mann–Whitney U‐test, the Kruskal–Wallis H‐test and two‐way ANOVA. Results: There was no significant difference in the VAS score and temporomandibular opening index between the two groups before treatment (p =.829 and.75, respectively). After 2 weeks of treatment, the VAS score and temporomandibular joint opening index of both groups were significantly improved compared to those before therapy. In addition, the VAS score and temporomandibular joint opening index in the experimental group were significantly better than those in the control group (p <.001 and <.001, respectively). There was a small increase in scores 4 weeks after the treatment compared to just after the treatment period, but the difference was not significant. Conclusion: This is a preliminary small sample study that demonstrates the positive effect of using low‐intensity, high‐frequency shock waves on the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders and is worthy of clinical promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The limitations of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in diagnosing prostate cancer (PCa) necessitate the exploration of novel biomarkers. Recent studies suggest a potential link between coagulation markers, particularly fibrinogen and D-dimer, and PCa. Methods: A retrospective single-center analysis on 466 biopsy-undergone patients was conducted, categorized into PCa and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) groups. Baseline and coagulation parameter levels were analyzed. Utilizing a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach, we investigated the causative relationship between D-dimer and PCa risk. Results: Individuals with PCa, compared with those with BPH, exhibited significantly higher D-dimer levels (P <.001), total PSA (P <.001), and PSA density (P <.001). Fibrinogen levels did not exhibit significant differences (P =.505). The MR analysis suggested a probable causal link between elevated D-dimer levels and an increased risk of PCa (odds ratio: 1.81, 95% confidence interval: 1.48-2.21, P = 7.4 × 10−9). Conclusions: This research highlights D-dimer as a potential biomarker for diagnosing PCa, supported by clinical and MR analyses. The study paves the way for future large-scale, multi-center research to corroborate these findings and further explore the relationship between coagulation markers and PCa mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The largemouth bronze gudgeon has experienced a sharp drop in its natural population and has been listed as a protected species in China. The frequent occurrence of ovarian development obstruction from stage III to IV has restricted artificial propagation. Due to lipids being a crucial factor for ovarian development, this study aimed to characterize the ovarian lipid profile at different development stages in largemouth bronze gudgeons. Using UPLC-MS/MS, 1353 lipids belonging to 46 subclasses were identified in ovaries from largemouth bronze gudgeons. The results showed that glycerolipids and glycerophospholipids were the dominant lipids during ovarian development. Lysophosphatidyl choline (LPC), phosphatidyl choline (PC), and phosphatidylserine (PS), as the crucial phospholipids for ovarian development, were significantly reduced from stage III to IV. This may be the main cause of ovarian development obstruction for largemouth bronze gudgeons. Meanwhile, the enrichment analysis revealed that lipid metabolites are present at different ovarian development stages. Glycerophospholipid, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid metabolism were significantly enriched at stage IV. This study shows the complete picture of the ovarian lipid composition profile, and also discovers that phospholipids may be the limiting factor for ovarian development; these findings offer a theoretical basis for the artificial propagation and release of the largemouth bronze gudgeon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the effects of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) in patients with anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) reconstruction(ACLR). Methods: We conducted a randomized, controlled trial involving 72 eligible patients with ACL reconstruction in which we compared two strategies: the experimental group was standard rehabilitation plus rESWT and the control group was standard rehabilitation plus sham rESWT. The outcome was the change from baseline to 24 weeks in the average score on Lysholm knee joint score (LKS), range of motion (ROM), visual analogue scale (VAS) and International Knee Literature Committee (IKDC). Results: Of 36 subjects assigned to rehabilitation plus rESWT, 4 lost to follow up. Of 36 assigned to rehabilitation plus sham rESWT, 5 lost to follow up. The LKS, ROM and IKDC scores of the experimental group were markedly increased at 3 and 6 weeks after treatment (P < 0.001), and the VAS was notably decreased (P < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences in the LKS, ROM, IKDC and VAS between the groups at 24 weeks after treatment (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The strategy of rehabilitation plus rESWT had better functional outcomes after ACL reconstruction. As such, our study demonstrates that rESWT is essential for patients with ACL reconstruction. Early use of rESWT can improve joint function, pain relief and ability of daily living. rESWT has a positive effect on the overall rehabilitation of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores the application of PAM4 modulation to optical signals in the 2-μm wavelength band for indoor optical communication. Experiments conducted in a simulated atmospheric turbulence environment demonstrated a BER of 10 -5 for the 2-μm laser carrier with PAM4, surpassing the forward error correction threshold. Power loss comparisons to a back-to-back setup showed minimal degradation under various turbulence levels, with losses of 1.80 dB, 1.91 dB, 2.09 dB, and 2.55 dB for non-turbulent, weak-turbulent, moderate-turbulent, and strong-turbulent conditions, respectively. The system's sensitivity was measured at -7.69 dBm, emphasizing its effectiveness in detecting low-power signals. OptiSystem simulations indicated that PAM4 necessitates a higher optical OSNR than NRZ, suggesting the necessity for sophisticated signal processing techniques for systems operating in the 2-μm band. The study's results contribute to the body of knowledge on high-bandwidth optical communication and suggest future research avenues aimed at enhancing system performance while maintaining cost-effectiveness.

Prostate cancer (PCa), especially castration-resistant PCa, is a common and fatal disease. Anillin (ANLN) is an actin-binding protein that is involved in various malignancies, including PCa. However, the regulatory mechanism of ANLN in PCa remains unclear. Exploring the role of ANLN in PCa development and discovering novel therapeutic targets are crucial for PCa therapy. In the current work, we discovered that ANLN expression was considerably elevated in PCa tissues and cell lines when compared to nearby noncancerous prostate tissues and normal prostate epithelial cells. ANLN was associated with more advanced T stage, N stage, higher Gleason score, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. In addition, we discovered that overexpression of ANLN promoted PCa cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and in vivo . Mechanistically, we performed RNA-seq to identify the regulatory influence of ANLN on the MAPK signal pathway. Furthermore, a favorable association between ANLN expression and IGF2BP1 expression was identified. The tumor-suppressive impact of ANLN downregulation on PCa cell growth was partially reversed by overexpressing IGF2BP1. Meanwhile, we discovered that ANLN can stabilize the proto-oncogene c-Myc and activate the MAPK signaling pathway through IGF2BP1. These findings indicate that ANLN could be a potential therapeutic target in PCa., Competing Interests: None., (AJCR Copyright © 2024.)

Objectives: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a severe chronic neuropathic pain that mainly affects the distribution area of the trigeminal nerve with limited treating efficacy. There are numerous treatments for TN, but currently the main clinical approach is to suppress pain by carbamazepine (CBZ). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is closely related to chronic pain. This study aims to determine the effects of CBZ treatment on BDNF expression in both the trigeminal ganglion (TG) and serum of TN via a chronic constriction injury of the infraorbital nerve (ION-CCI) rat model., Methods: The ION-CCI models were established in male Sprague-Dawley rats and were randomly divided into a sham group, a TN group, a TN+low-dose CBZ treatment group (TN+20 mg/kg CBZ group), a TN+medium-dose CBZ treatment group (TN+40 mg/kg CBZ group), and a TN+high-dose CBZ treatment group (TN+80 mg/kg CBZ group). The mechanical pain threshold in each group of rats was measured regularly before and after surgery. The expressions of BDNF and tyrosine kinase receptor B ( TrkB ) mRNA in TGs of rats in different groups were determined by real-time PCR, and the expression of BDNF protein on neurons in TGs was observed by immunofluorescence. Western Blotting was used to detect the protein expression of BDNF, TrkB, extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK), and phospho-extracellular regulated protein kinases (p-ERK) in TGs of rats in different groups. The expression of BDNF in the serum of rats in different groups was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)., Results: The results of mechanical pain sensitivity showed that there was no significant difference in the mechanical pain threshold in the right facial sensory area of the experimental rats in each group before surgery (all P >0.05). From the 3rd day after operation, the mechanical pain threshold of rats in the TN group was significantly lower than that in the sham group (all P <0.01), and the mechanical pain threshold of rats in the TN+80 mg/kg CBZ group, the TN+40 mg/kg CBZ group, and the TN+20 CBZ mg/kg group was higher than that in the TN group (all P <0.05). The BDNF and TrkB mRNA and protein expressions in TGs of rats in the TN group were higher than those in the sham group (all P <0.05), and those in the TN+80 mg/kg CBZ group, the TN+40 mg/kg CBZ group, and the TN+20 mg/kg CBZ group were lower than the TN group (all P <0.05). The p-ERK levels in TG of rats in the TN+80 mg/kg CBZ group, the TN+40 mg/kg CBZ group, and the TN+20 mg/kg CBZ group were significantly decreased compared with the TN group (all P <0.05). The BDNF and neuron-specific nuclear protein (NeuN) were mainly co-expressed in neuron of TGs in the TN group and they were significantly higher than those in the sham group (all P <0.05). The co-labeled expressions of BDNF and NeuN in TGs of the TN+ 80 mg/kg CBZ group, the TN+40 mg/kg CBZ group, and the TN+20 mg/kg CBZ group were lower than those in the TN group (all P <0.05). The results of ELISA showed that the level of BDNF in the serum of the TN group was significantly higher than that in the sham group ( P <0.05). The levels of BDNF in the TN+80 mg/kg CBZ group, the TN+40 mg/kg CBZ group, and the TN+20 mg/kg CBZ group were lower than those in the TN group (all P <0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that the BDNF level in serum was negatively correlated with mechanical pain threshold ( r =-0.650, P <0.01)., Conclusions: CBZ treatment can inhibit the expression of BDNF and TrkB in the TGs of TN rats, reduce the level of BDNF in serum of TN rats and the phosphorylation of ERK signaling pathway, so as to inhibit TN. The serum level of BDNF can be considered as an indicator for the diagnosis and prognosis of TN.