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Background An increasing number of objective measurements are used to explore the dose-effect relationship of Tuina, but infrared thermal imaging has been rarely used. Objective To compare the temperature, muscle tone and pain threshold in the lesion area yielded by different times (3, 5 and 7) of Tuina with cross-palm pressing manipulation using infrared thermal imaging, providing a basis for the use of infrared thermal imaging to study the dose-effect of Tuina. Methods Eighteen patients with thoracic facet joint disorder (T3-T4) who visited Tuina Department, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine (Dade Road Main Hospital) from 17th June, 2021 to 24th December, 2021 were recruited and randomized into three groups by the number of Tuina with cross-palm pressing manipulation: 7-time group (n=6), 5-time group (n=6) and 3-time group (n=6). The infrared thermal imager was utilized to obtain a full body infrared thermogram, and extract the average temperature in the lesion area. The muscle tone of the erector spinae muscle adjacent to the affected thoracic vertebrae was measured by the tissue tension test. The pain pressure threshold of the site adjacent to paraspinal process of the affected thoracic vertebra was measured by the pain-threshold analyzer. Results After intervention, the temperature on the site 0.5 inch to the right spinous process of T3 (T3 R) or T4 (T4 R) in 3-time group decreased significantly (P

Background: Left ventricular global function index (LVGFI) integrates LV volumetric and functional parameters. In patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD), cardiac injury manifests as LV hypertrophy and dysfunction. However, the prognostic value of LVGFI in this population remains unclear. Purpose: To investigate the association of LVGFI with major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients with ESRD. Study Type: Prospective. Population: One hundred fifty‐eight ESRD patients (mean age: 54.1 ± 14.4 years; 105 male) on maintenance dialysis. Filed Strength/Sequence: 3.0 T, balanced steady‐state free precession (bSSFP) cine and modified Look‐Locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) sequences. Assessment: LV volumetric and functional parameters were determined from bSSFP images. LVGFI was calculated as the ratio of stroke volume to global volume and native T1 was determined from MOLLI T1 maps. MACE was recorded on follow up. Models were developed to predict MACE from conventional risk factors combined with LVGFI, GLS, native T1, and LV mass index (LVMI), respectively. Subgroup analyses were further performed in participants with LVEF above median. Statistical Tests: Cox proportional hazard regression and log‐rank test were used to investigate the association between LVGFI and MACE. The predictive models were evaluated and compared using Harrell's C‐statistics and DeLong tests. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Thirty‐four MACE occurred during the median follow‐up period of 26 months. The hazard of MACE increased by 114% for each 10% decrease in LVGFI in univariable analysis. The predictive model consisting of LVGFI (C‐statistic: 0.724) had significantly better predictive performance than the others (all P < 0.001). These results were consistent in patients (N = 79) with LVEF > median (63.54%). Data Conclusion: LVGFI is a novel marker for MACE risk stratification in patients with ESRD and was better able to predict MACE than native T1 mapping and GLS. Evidence Level: 2 Technical Efficacy: Stage 3 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the literature about processing of relative clauses (RCs), subject relatives (SRs) are reported to be easier than object relatives (ORs) in a number of languages, but the status of prenominal ORs in languages where the object follows the verb (SVO) is still partly controversial. This study explores the production of RCs in Cantonese in two elicited production experiments and two corpus studies. In the first elicited experiment, an overwhelming preference for SRs was observed. In two corpus studies where the context and the feature of arguments were uncontrolled, the reverse pattern was observed. In order to reconcile the two datasets, we speculate that what counts in object dependencies is the featural endowment of the subject, as in the intervention hypothesis implemented in Friedmann et al. 2009. A second elicited experiment was run to test this hypothesis. The results suggest that production of RCs in Cantonese displays a subject preference in general and that object dispreference is modulated by featural mismatch.

Background: Vertical run‐length nonuniformity (VRLN) is a texture feature representing heterogeneity within native T1 images and reflects the extent of cardiac fibrosis. In uremic cardiomyopathy, interstitial fibrosis was the major histological alteration. The prognostic value of VRLN in patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) remains unclear. Purpose: To evaluate the prognostic value of VRLN MRI in patients with ESRD. Study Type: Prospective. Population: A total of 127 ESRD patients (30 participants in the major adverse cardiac events, MACE group). Field Strength/Sequence: 3.0 T/steady‐state free precession sequence, modified Look‐Locker imaging. Assessment: MRI image qualities were assessed by three independent radiologists. VRLN values were measured in the myocardium on the mid‐ventricular short‐axis slice of T1 mapping. Left ventricular (LV) mass, LV end‐diastolic and end‐systolic volume, as well as LV global strain cardiac parameters were measured. Statistical Tests: The primary endpoint was the incident of MACE from enrollment time to January 2023. MACE is a composite endpoint consisting of all‐cause mortality, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure hospitalization, and life‐threatening arrhythmia. Cox proportional‐hazards regression was performed to test whether VRLN independently correlated with MACE. The intraclass correlation coefficients of VRLN were calculated to evaluate intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility. The C‐index was computed to examine the prognostic value of VRLN. P‐value <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Participants were followed for a median of 26 months. VRLN, age, LV end‐systolic volume index, and global longitudinal strain remained significantly associated with MACE in the multivariable model. Adding VRLN to a baseline model containing clinical and conventional cardiac MRI parameters significantly improved the accuracy of the predictive model (C‐index of the baseline model: 0.781 vs. the model added VRLN: 0.814). Data Conclusion: VRLN is a novel marker for risk stratification toward MACE in patients with ESRD, superior to native T1 mapping and LV ejection fraction. Evidence Level: 2 Technical Efficacy Stage: 2 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]