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ObjectivesTo evaluate the embryonic developments and clinical outcomes of different sperm sources with cycles of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and in vitro maturation (IVM).MethodsThis retrospective study was approved by the hospital ethics committee and conducted in the hospital in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinic. From January 2005 to December 2018, 239 infertile couples underwent IVM–ICSI cycles and were divided into three groups according to different sperm sources. Group 1 comprised patients with percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA; n = 62, 62 cycles), group 2 comprised patients with testicular sperm aspiration (TESA; n = 51, 51 cycles), and group 3 comprised patients with ejaculated sperm (n = 126, 126 cycles). We calculated the following outcomes: 1) outcomes per IVM–ICSI cycle: fertilization rate, cleavage rate, and embryo quality; 2) outcomes per embryo transfer cycle: endometrial thickness, implantation rate, biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and live birth rate.ResultsThere was no difference in basic characteristics among the three groups, such as the female partner’s age, basal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), basal luteinizing hormone (LH), and antral follicle count (p > 0.1). There were no statistically significant differences according to the IVM–ICSI cycle among the three groups in fertilization rate, cleavage rate, and rate of good-quality embryos (p > 0.05). The results were similar among cycles regarding the number of transfer embryos and endometrial thickness per embryo transfer cycle among the three groups (p > 0.05). There were also similar clinical outcomes per embryo transfer cycle among the three groups, such as the biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and live birth rate (p > 0.05).ConclusionsDifferent sperm sources, percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration, testicular sperm aspiration, and ejaculated sperm, do not affect the embryo and clinical outcomes after IVM–ICSI cycles.

Objective. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of manual therapy (MT) on cancer pain, so as to provide clinical evidence for application. Methods. Five English and Chinese databases were searched until February 29, 2020, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of MT for cancer pain. Articles published in the English or Chinese language were included. Two authors independently reviewed all articles and extracted the data, and any disagreements in the above process were discussed with other reviewers until the authors reached consensus. Review Manager 5.3 was used to calculate the effect size and 95% confidence intervals. This review was registered in PROSPERO, number CRD42020172053. Results. The intensity of cancer pain is our primary outcome measure, and compared with standard care, MT can significantly relieve the pain of patients with cancer (SMD, 0.63; 95% CI [0.18, 1.08]; P = 0.006 < 0.01 ); the effects of MT plus active activity were significantly different from AT alone (SMD, 0.79; 95% CI [0.28, 1.30]; P = 0.002 < 0.01 ); there was no statistical difference in the efficacy of MT and AT alone (SMD, -0.24; 95% CI [-1.09, 0.62]; P = 0.53 > 0.05 ). In other related symptoms, the above evidence cannot support that MT had a good effect on fatigue (SMD, 0.77; 95% CI [-0.09, 1.63]; P = 0.08 > 0.05 ), nausea (SMD, 0.24; 95% CI [-0.00, 0.48]; P = 0.05 ), anxiety (SMD, 0.76; 95 % CI [-0.32, 1.84]; P = 0.17 > 0.05 ), and depression (SMD, 0.67; 95 % CI [-0.28, 1.62]; P = 0.17 > 0.05 ); however, MT intervention can improve physical function (n = 271; SMD, 0.35; 95 % CI [-0.04, 0.74]; P = 0.04 < 0.05 ) and global well-being (SMD, 0.50; 95 % CI [0.02, 0.98]; P = 0.04 < 0.05 ). In addition, MT had a significant effect on pain relief (SMD, 0.52; 95% CI [0.03, 1.01]; P = 0.04 < 0.05 ) and improvement of physical function (SMD, 0.28; 95% CI [0.02, 0.53]; P = 0.03 < 0.05 ) even after a period of time after treatment. Conclusion. MT was an effective intervention, which may have immediate effect on cancer pain and may improve physical function and global well-being. In the view of follow-up effects, MT had good effects for the reduction of pain and the recovery of physical function. However, because of limitations, the seemingly promising results should be interpreted with caution.

Additional file 3. Quality inspection results of the samples.

Additional file 2. The sequences of miRNA mimics, miRNA inhibitor, scrambled miRNA, Map4k4 wild-type and mutant.

Additional file 5. The the number of predicted target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs (MT-CCD).

Aiming at the multi-motor coordinated control of intelligent robots, cross-coupling ring control based on fuzzy theory (CRCF) is proposed. Each motor is cross-coupled with two adjacent motors to form a multi-motor ring network structure that eliminates lag in speed tracking between motors and enhances synchronization between motors. Applying fuzzy control to the cross-coupling control of the proposed control strategy, the speed error and change in speed error of two adjacent motors are used as the input of the fuzzy controller, and its output is used as the input of the second of the two adjacent motors. The fuzzy controller achieves real-time tracking adjustment of the speed error between motors. The controllability and observability of the proposed control strategy are verified by the theorem of the Kalman matrix rank criterion. The external stability and internal stability are verified using an impulse response matrix. The theoretical analysis of the lag is verified by establishing a physical and mathematical model. Finally, a four-motor coordination control system model is built. By comparison with the non-ring network proportional cross-coupling control method, the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy is experimentally verified by the MATLAB/Simulink and the RT-LAB real-time simulation platform.

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common disabling musculoskeletal disorder. Previous studies showed that Tuina manipulation and health care education were effective treatments for patients with KOA. However, there is no evidence to support the use of one intervention over the other. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Tuina manipulation and health care education for the management of pain and dysfunction in patients with KOA.Methods/Design: This study is a single-centre, two-arm, open-label randomized controlled trial (RCT). A total of 170 eligible KOA patients will be randomly assigned to the Tuina manipulation group or the health education group in a 1:1 ratio. Patients in the Tuina manipulation group will receive a 30-minute 2-step treatment plan, including pain point assessment and manual therapy, which will be performed 12 times in 4 weeks. The health education group will receive 45 minutes of lecture and discussion three times a week for four weeks. The primary outcome is the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Secondary outcomes include the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) and 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). The results of this study will help clarify the value of Tuina manipulation and health education as treatments for KOA and will highlight any differences in treatment outcomes.Discussion: The design and methodology of the trial is rigorous and allows the collection of valuable data to assess the efficacy of a specific Tuina regimen for the treatment of KOA. Therefore, the trial will provide a solid foundation for future clinical research on KOA and Tuina therapy.Trial registration: This trial was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry on 24 February 2020 (ChiCTR2000030154), http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx

Background The epidemic of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pneumonia has become a focused public health event in world. The authorities have taken prompt medical action in China, which contained strict isolation measures and potential symptomatic supportive care. Dao Yin, a traditional Chinese exercise, combines limb movements and breathing exercises. Previous researches showed that it can activate the immune system and improve the lung function and the mental state of patients. Therefore, there may be a potential effect of Dao Yin on the physical and mental health of patients with 2019-nCoV. The aim of this trail is to verify whether conventional therapy plus Dao Yin could show better effects for 2019-nCoV than conventional therapy alone.Methods/design The study is a multicenter randomized controlled trial with parallel-group design including two intervention groups: a conventional therapy group and a conventional therapy plus Dao Yin group. A total of 186 eligible participants will be randomly assigned to the groups in a 1:1 ratio. The routine treatment of the two groups is performed daily according to guideline, and Dao Yin is performed once a day until the patient is out of the hospital. The primary outcome is the Length of Hospital Stay (LHS). Secondary outcomes include the vital signs, respiratory symptoms, questionnaire of mental health and the quantity of immune cells. The outcomes will be assessed at five points including the baseline, 3th, 6th, 9th day during hospitalization and the discharge day. The significance level is 5%. This study will focus on the value of a conventional therapy plus Dao Yin as the treatment for 2019-nCoV and will explore any potential connection among the outcomes.Discussion This study may evaluate the efficacy of conventional therapy plus Dao Yin for 2019-nCoV, which can contribute to provide a solid evidence of Dao Yin therapy for the nationwide emergence.Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2000029978 Registered on 18 February 2020.

Previous clinical trials have suggested that the Chinese Tuina massage may exert transient analgesic effects. However, further investigation regarding the underlying mechanism has been hindered by the lack of a suitable animal model of pain. The present study established a rat model of hind leg pain by injecting 5.8% hypertonic saline solution (HSS) into the left gastrocnemius muscle. The effects of various Tuina massages on the pain thresholds of the rats were then measured. In addition, the effects of ipsilateral and contralateral Tuina massages on C-fiber-evoked field potentials following electrical stimulation of the left sciatic nerve were determined. Alterations in the gastrocnemius muscle tissues following various Tuina applications were investigated using hematoxylin and eosin, and desmin staining, as well as malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase assays. Heavy hand pressure transiently reduced the pain sensitivity of both posterior limbs, despite HSS only being injected into the left hind leg. Tuina massage treatments that lasted for 15 min were associated with the best results and an absence of local tissue changes. The results of electrical sciatic nerve stimulation demonstrated that ipsilateral and contralateral Tuina massage may decrease the level of peripheral nociceptive C-fiber activity. In the present study, the Chinese Tuina massage exerted analgesic effects in a rat model of pain, which did not involve tissue damage, following a 15 min massage. Therefore, the rat model of pain used in the present study may provide a novel approach for investigating the molecular and physiological mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of Tuina massage.