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Background In recent years, the incidence of non-specific low back pain has been increasing. The duration of conventional treatment is short, and the symptoms tend to rebound, which has a great impact on the body and mind of patients. Objective To investigate the effectiveness of backward walking based on anti-gravity treadmill training system combined with conventional low back core training on patients with non-specific low back pain. Methods A total of 40 patients with non-specific low back pain admitted to the Rehabilitation Department of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University from July to December 2022 were divided into the experimental group (20 cases) and control group (20 cases) according to the random number table method. The control group received conventional low back core training, and the experimental group received backward walking based on anti-gravity treadmill training system on the basis of the control group. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Back Pain Classification Scale (BPS) of the 2 groups were evaluated before and 4 weeks after treatment, respectively. Results There was no significant difference in ODI, VAS and BPS scores between the two groups before treatment (P>0.05) ; after 4 weeks of treatment, ODI, VAS and BPS scores of the 2 groups were decreased, and ODI, VAS and BPS scores of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P

Receiver function (RF) analysis is an indispensable method that is widely utilized to image the deep structure of the crust and upper mantle. Although the P -wave receiver function (PRF) has the advantages of a higher signal-to-noise ratio and higher resolution than S -wave receiver function, the information about P -to- S converted (Ps) phases from velocity discontinuities of the crust and upper mantle is usually obstructed by multiples from shallower crustal interfaces. Sometimes it is difficult to identify useful information about lithospheric discontinuities. In this paper, we propose a method for suppressing multiples and isolating the Ps phases of RFs. This task is accomplished by exploiting the differences in arrival times resulting from the slowness between the conversion and the multiples that occur at the same interface in the PRFs and by separating them in the Radon domain, which enables removal of crustal and sedimentary multiples. This method can effectively remove multiples and isolate the useful signals of Ps phases contained in the PRFs. We test the method on synthetic PRFs and demonstrate that crustal multiples can be effectively eliminated or suppressed and that the Ps phase of lithospheric discontinuities can be coherently traced. Next, we apply the method to real PRF data collected from the seismic station of the China Array seismic experiment (Phase II and Phase III) in the Ordos block and its adjacent area, and successfully obtain an improved common conversion point stacking image of lithospheric discontinuity structures in the depth domain, particularly for detecting the lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of chromatin biology and epigenetics in disease progression is gaining increasing recognition. Genes that escape X chromosome inactivation (XCI) can impact neuroinflammation through epigenetic mechanisms. Our prior research has suggested that the X escapee genes Kdm6a and Kdm5c are involved in microglial activation after stroke in aged mice. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesized that Kdm6a/5c demethylate H3K27Me3/H3K4Me3 in microglia respectively, and mediate the transcription of interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) and IRF4, leading to microglial pro-inflammatory responses and exacerbated stroke injury. Aged (17-20 months) Kdm6a/5c microglial conditional knockout (CKO) female mice (one allele of the gene) were subjected to a 60-min middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Gene floxed females (two alleles) and males (one allele) were included as controls. Infarct volume and behavioral deficits were quantified 3 days after stroke. Immune responses including microglial activation and infiltration of peripheral leukocytes in the ischemic brain were assessed by flow cytometry. Epigenetic modification of IRF5/4 by Kdm6a/5c were analyzed by CUT&RUN assay. The demethylation of H3K27Me3 by kdm6a increased IRF5 transcription; meanwhile Kdm5c demethylated H3K4Me3 to repress IRF5 . Both Kdm6a fl/fl and Kdm5c fl/fl mice had worse stroke outcomes compared to fl/y and CKO mice. Gene floxed females showed more robust expression of CD68 in microglia, elevated brain and plasma levels of IL-1β or TNF-α, after stroke. We concluded that IRF5 signaling plays a critical role in mediating the deleterious effect of Kdm6a ; whereas Kdm5c's effect is independent of IRF5., Competing Interests: Competing interests. The authors declare no competing interests.

Microglial activation plays a central role in poststroke inflammation and causes secondary neuronal damage; however, it also contributes in debris clearance and chronic recovery. Microglial pro- and antiinflammatory responses (or so-called M1-M2 phenotypes) coexist and antagonize each other throughout the disease progress. As a result of this balance, poststroke immune responses alter stroke outcomes. Our previous study found microglial expression of interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) and IRF4 was related to pro- and antiinflammatory responses, respectively. In the present study, we genetically modified the IRF5 and IRF4 signaling to explore their roles in stroke. Both in vitro and in vivo assays were utilized; IRF5 or IRF4 small interfering RNA (siRNA), lentivirus, and conditional knockout (CKO) techniques were employed to modulate IRF5 or IRF4 expression in microglia. We used a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion model to induce stroke and examined both acute and chronic stroke outcomes. Poststroke inflammation was evaluated with flow cytometry, RT-PCR, MultiPlex, and immunofluorescence staining. An oscillating pattern of the IRF5-IRF4 regulatory axis function was revealed. Down-regulation of IRF5 signaling by siRNA or CKO resulted in increased IRF4 expression, enhanced M2 activation, quenched proinflammatory responses, and improved stroke outcomes, whereas down-regulation of IRF4 led to increased IRF5 expression, enhanced M1 activation, exacerbated proinflammatory responses, and worse functional recovery. Up-regulation of IRF4 or IRF5 by lentivirus induced similar results. We conclude that the IRF5-IRF4 regulatory axis is a key determinant in microglial activation. The IRF5-IRF4 regulatory axis is a potential therapeutic target for neuroinflammation and ischemic stroke., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interest.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of magnitopuncture stimuli for reducing driver mental stress and fatigue using power spectral analysis of the heart rate variability (HRV) and subjective evaluation. The experiments were divided into A-group and B-group. In both groups the subjects performed the simulator for 90 minutes under a vibration conditions with an erect sitting posture in a silent environment, and magnitopuncture was put on the acupoints when performing the task for one hour in A-group. In this study HRV exhibited a significant difference between the two groups after the simulating task (P < 0.05). A conclusion that magnitopuncture stimuli can reduce the driver mental stress and fatigue effectively was drawn.