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This study was conducted to investigate the effects of anti-gravity treadmill (AGT) training, which provides visual feedback and Biorescue training on proprioception, muscle strength, balance, and gait, in stroke patients. A total of 45 people diagnosed with post-stroke were included as study subjects; they were randomized to an AGT training group provided with visual feedback (Group A), a Biorescue training group provided with visual feedback (Group B), and an AGT/Biorescue group that subsequently received AGT training and Biorescue training (Group C). A muscle strength-measuring device was used to evaluate muscle strength. Timed Up and Go and Bug Balance Scale assessment sheets were used to evaluate balance ability. Dartfish software was used to evaluate gait ability. The results of the study showed that Groups A and C had a significant increase in muscle strength compared with Group B; in terms of balance and gait abilities, Group C showed a significant increase in balance ability and gait speed and a significant change in knee joint angle compared with Groups A and B. In conclusion, this study suggests that including a method that applies multiple therapeutic interventions is desirable in the rehabilitation of stroke patients to improve their independence.

Despite rapid evolution in the area of microbial natural products chemistry, there is currently no open access database containing all microbially produced natural product structures. Lack of availability of these data is preventing the implementation of new technologies in natural products science. Specifically, development of new computational strategies for compound characterization and identification are being hampered by the lack of a comprehensive database of known compounds against which to compare experimental data. The creation of an open access, community-maintained database of microbial natural product structures would enable the development of new technologies in natural products discovery and improve the interoperability of existing natural products data resources. However, these data are spread unevenly throughout the historical scientific literature, including both journal articles and international patents. These documents have no standard format, are often not digitized as machine readable text, and are not publicly available. Further, none of these documents have associated structure files (e.g., MOL, InChI, or SMILES), instead containing images of structures. This makes extraction and formatting of relevant natural products data a formidable challenge. Using a combination of manual curation and automated data mining approaches we have created a database of microbial natural products (The Natural Products Atlas, www.npatlas.org) that includes 24 594 compounds and contains referenced data for structure, compound names, source organisms, isolation references, total syntheses, and instances of structural reassignment. This database is accompanied by an interactive web portal that permits searching by structure, substructure, and physical properties. The Web site also provides mechanisms for visualizing natural products chemical space and dashboards for displaying author and discovery timeline data. These interactive tools offer a powerful knowledge base for natural products discovery with a central interface for structure and property-based searching and presents new viewpoints on structural diversity in natural products. The Natural Products Atlas has been developed under FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) and is integrated with other emerging natural product databases, including the Minimum Information About a Biosynthetic Gene Cluster (MIBiG) repository, and the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) platform. It is designed as a community-supported resource to provide a central repository for known natural product structures from microorganisms and is the first comprehensive, open access resource of this type. It is expected that the Natural Products Atlas will enable the development of new natural products discovery modalities and accelerate the process of structural characterization for complex natural products libraries.

In spite of the recent advances in the development of high performing piezoelectric materials, their applications are typically limited to the direct conversion of mechanical impact energy to electrical energy, potentially risking mechanical failures. In this study, we developed piezoelectric poly(vinylidenefluoride-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) nanofibers integrated with SiO2-shelled Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles, to utilize magnetic energy to reliably drive the piezoelectric effect. Specifically, we show that the shape of the magnetic nanoparticles exerts a significant effect on the efficiency of the magneto-mechano-electrical energy conversion as magnetic nanorods exhibit approximately 70% enhancement in electric field generation under cyclic magnetic fields as compared to nanospheres. Under an alternating magnetic field of 200 mT, the magnetic nanorod-piezoelectric nanofiber composite generated a peak-to-peak voltage of approximately 30 mVp-p with a superior durability without any performance degradation after over 1 million cycles. This study demonstrates the potential of magnetic-field responsive, piezoelectric-based materials in energy harvesting applications from non-mechanical energy sources.

Background Methods Results Conclusion Poly‐L‐lactic acid (PLLA) is one of the representative polymeric materials serving as bioresorbable stents (BRS) for cardiovascular disease due to its proper biodegradation, high biocompatibility, and adequate mechanical properties among polymer candidates for BRS. However, PLLA BRS as cardiovascular stents also have limitations because their mechanical properties including low radial strength and high elastic recoil are inferior to those of metallic‐based BRS stents.In the study, we developed and manufactured distinct and novel types of stent geometries for investigating mechanical properties of thin‐walled PLLA BRS (110 μm) for cardiovascular applications. Five key mechanical tests, including radial strength, crimping profile, flexibility, elastic recoil, and foreshortening were performed through a comprehensive analysis. In addition, we applied the finite element method for further validation and insight of mechanical behaviors of the PLLA BRS.Results revealed that Model 2 had advantages in high flexibility as well as radial strengths, which would be a proper option for complex and acutely curved lesions. Model 3 would be an optimum selection for stent placement in mild target site due to its strength in minimum elastic recoil. Even though Model 4 showed the highest radial strength, finite element simulation showed that the geometry caused higher maximum stress than that of Model 2 and Model 3 during the crimping process. Model 1 showed the most vulnerable geometry among the tested models in both in vitro and finite element analysis.Such data may suggest potential guidance in regard to understanding the mechanical behaviors of PLLA BRS as not only applicable cardiovascular but also peripheral and intracranial stents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Trials and real‐life studies demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements of disease activity in the majority of patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD) treated with the anti‐IL‐4RA‐antibody dupilumab. However, misdiagnosis or confounding skin diseases in particular cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL) may lead to inadequate response. Objective: To investigate the clinical and pathological features of patients with AD who showed insufficient response to dupilumab. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 371 patients treated with dupilumab for severe AD. Insufficient response was defined as failure to achieve an improvement of the eczema area severity index (EASI) of at least 50% (EASI‐50) at Week 16 and of 75% (EASI‐75) at Week 52. Among 46 patients with insufficient response, 35 patients consented to a re‐evaluation including a full physical exam, biopsies and laboratory assessments including immunohistochemistry and T‐cell receptor gene rearrangement analysis to differentiate CTCL. Results: Of the 371 patients treated with dupilumab, 46 (12.3%) patients showed insufficient response to dupilumab. Of these, 35 underwent further evaluation, and 19 (54.2% of inadequate responders) were finally diagnosed with mycosis fungoides (MF). In these patients, transition to or addition of conventional MF treatment led to clinical improvements. Conclusions: Insufficient response to dupilumab treatment may help uncover early MF on an existing AD background. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a study that used spatial transcriptomics to gain insights into the pathogenesis and therapy of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and bullous pemphigoid (BP), which are autoimmune bullous skin diseases. The study compared the gene expression profiles of intact and blistered epidermis, as well as dermal immune cells, in PV and BP patients. The findings revealed distinct pathways and gene expression patterns associated with blister formation in each disease. The study provides a foundation for identifying potential therapeutic targets to regulate intracellular pathways involved in blister formation. [Extracted from the article]

This study delves into the multifaceted approaches to treating Parkinson's disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting motor function but also manifesting in a variety of symptoms that vary greatly among individuals. The complexity of PD symptoms necessitates a comprehensive treatment strategy that integrates surgical interventions, pharmacotherapy, and physical therapy to tailor to the unique needs of each patient. Surgical options, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS), have been pivotal for patients not responding adequately to medication, offering significant symptom relief. Pharmacotherapy remains a cornerstone of PD management, utilizing drugs like levodopa, dopamine agonists, and others to manage symptoms and, in some cases, slow down disease progression. However, these treatments often lead to complications over time, such as motor fluctuations and dyskinesias, highlighting the need for precise dosage adjustments and sometimes combination therapies to optimize patient outcomes. Physical therapy plays a critical role in addressing the motor symptoms of PD, including bradykinesia, muscle rigidity, tremors, postural instability, and akinesia. PT techniques are tailored to improve mobility, balance, strength, and overall quality of life. Strategies such as gait and balance training, strengthening exercises, stretching, and functional training are employed to mitigate symptoms and enhance functional independence. Specialized approaches like proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), the Bobath concept, and the use of assistive devices are also integral to the rehabilitation process, aimed at improving patients' ability to perform daily activities and reducing the risk of falls. Innovations in technology have introduced robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT) and other assistive devices, offering new possibilities for patient care. These tools provide targeted support and feedback, allowing for more intensive and personalized rehabilitation sessions. Despite these advancements, high costs and accessibility issues remain challenges that need addressing. The inclusion of exercise and activity beyond structured PT sessions is encouraged, with evidence suggesting that regular physical activity can have neuroprotective effects, potentially slowing disease progression. Activities such as treadmill walking, cycling, and aquatic exercises not only improve physical symptoms but also contribute to emotional well-being and social interactions. In conclusion, treating PD requires a holistic approach that combines medical, surgical, and therapeutic strategies. While there is no cure, the goal is to maximize patients' functional abilities and quality of life through personalized treatment plans. This integrated approach, along with ongoing research and development of new therapies, offers hope for improving the management of PD and the lives of those affected by this challenging disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]