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Objective To evaluate the use of online self-learning application(APP) for precision teaching in joint diagnostic ultrasound. Methods Twelve sonographers were divided into three groups(4 in each) based on their experience in ultrasound diagnosis. At first, all of them were approached to the training courses in self-learning APP to study “the joint diagnostic ultrasound scoring system”. After that, they were admitted to “the ultrasound images assessment platform” in-APP to perform the ultrasound score on 140 small joints with inflammatory rheumatic diseases. The overall agreement rate(%) and intraclass correlation coefficients(ICC) values were calculated to analyze the assessment results among the three groups(%/ICC). A questionnaire survey was also administered at the end of the study via the APP to determine the ease of use of self-learning APP. Results A good interobserver agreement was reached among the three groups(65.2%～67.7%/0.49～0.97). In detail, the best interobserver results were found for the detection of Power Doppler Ultrasound(PDUS) synovitis(74.40%～81.70%/0.91～0.94) and tenosynovitis/paratenonitis in all joints(87.50%～93.80%/0.97～0.98). Good ICC values was found for the detection of Grayscale Ultrasound(GSUS) synovitis, but the agreement rate in this region was poor(45.10%～47.80%/0.58～0.74). For the presence or absence of erosions, moderate agreement rate was calculated, however, the ICC values among the three groups were poor(66.70%～77.80%/0.44～0.58). Regarding agreements in the finger joint regions, lower agreement results were found in both of MCP3(61.1%～71.3%) and PIP2/3 joints(57.4%～63.9%), and a variable agreement rates were found for wrist joints (64%～80%). The majority of survey respondents indicated favorable receptivity to the online self-learning APP(75%) including finding it helpful to improve the learning efficiency and interests (91.7%). Furthermore, a more accurate definition about the joint ultrasound score, standardization of image acquisition and adequate dynamic ultrasonography were advised to further improve interobserver agreements. Conclusions The online self-learning APP can be used as an effective tool in joint ultrasound training. A detailed analysis of the assessment results based on the feedback information from the trainees can help to further optimize and improve the teaching process to realize the precision teaching in joint diagnostic ultrasound.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic syndrome characterized by chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and islet cell damage. The prevention of T2DM and its associated complications is an urgent public health issue that affects hundreds of millions of people globally. Numerous studies suggest that disturbances in gut metabolites are important driving forces for the pathogenesis of diabetes. However, the functions and mechanisms of action of most commensal bacteria in T2DM remain largely unknown. Methods: The quantification of bile acids (BAs) in fecal samples was performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS/MS). The anti-diabetic effects of Bacteroides uniformis (B. uniformis) and its metabolites cholic acid (CA) and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) were assessed in T2DM mice induced by streptozocin (STZ) plus high-fat diet (HFD). Results: We found that the abundance of B. uniformis in the feces and the contents of CA and CDCA were significantly downregulated in T2DM mice. B. uniformis was diminished in diabetic individuals and this bacterium was sufficient to promote the production of BAs. Colonization of B. uniformis and intragastric gavage of CA and CDCA effectively improved the disorder of glucose and lipid metabolism in T2DM mice by inhibiting gluconeogenesis and lipolysis in the liver. CA and CDCA improved hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism by acting on the Takeda G protein-coupled receptor 5 (TGR5)/adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway since knockdown of TGR5 minimized the benefit of CA and CDCA. Furthermore, we screened a natural product—vaccarin (VAC)—that exhibited anti-diabetic effects by promoting the growth of B. uniformis in vitro and in vivo. Gut microbiota pre-depletion abolished the favorable effects of VAC in diabetic mice. Conclusions: These data suggest that supplementation of B. uniformis may be a promising avenue to ameliorate T2DM by linking the gut and liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transverse static load, resultant from self-weight, significantly impacts both the response and the nonlinear dynamic behavior of a flexible inclined cantilever with a large lumping tip mass under harmonic base motion. However, the transverse static load was not taken into account and the mode shape of a pure cantilever beam was directly adopted during Galerkin’s procedure in the formulations of a cantilever carrying a large lumping tip mass in many previous studies. In this paper, (1) the static load effect caused by the self-weight in an inclined cantilever is considered by using a coordinate transformation, (2) the efficacy of adopting a pure cantilever beam mode shape to analyze a cantilever beam carrying a large lumping mass is studied and (3) a recently proposed semi-analytical method named parameter-splitting multiple-scales method is extended to analyze the cantilever studied to examine its effectiveness. First, the extended Hamilton’s principle is utilized to formulate the equation of motion of the cantilever studied. After that, the mode shape of a pure cantilever and the exact mode shape of a cantilever carrying a lumping mass are separately adopted in Galerkin’s method to transform the partial differential equation into ordinary differential equations. The frequency-response curves of the discretized nonlinear differential equations obtained by the numerical continuation method and the parameter-splitting multiple-scales method are compared to address ① the transverse static load effect on the frequency-response and nonlinear dynamical behavior of the beam, ② the discrepancies between the resultant frequency-response curves obtained by using two different mode shapes and ③ the efficacy of the parameter-splitting multiple-scales method on solving strongly nonlinear practical problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tanshinone IIA (TanIIA) has neuroprotective effects against cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury (CIRI), but its clinical application is limited due to poor water solubility and robust first pass elimination property. In this study, we developed microemulsion loaded with TanIIA (TanIIA ME) to break through these limitations, and explored the neuroprotective effect of TanIIA ME against CIRI and the epigenetic regulation mechanism of this neuroprotection. In vivo, middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) models were treated with TanIIA ME and TanIIA solution or sodium valproate as a control. The effect of TanIIA ME on HDAC activity was determined by ELISA assay. In addition, we used primary hippocampal neurons to establish oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R) models. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay were performed to investigate the neuroprotective efficacy of TanIIA ME. Subsequently, the expression of H3K18ac, H4K8ac, NMDAR1, caspase-3, and MAP-2 were investigated in MCAO or OGD/R models treated with TanIIA ME, TanIIA solution or sodium valproate. In vivo experimental results indicated that TanIIA ME significantly reduced neurological scores, infarction volume, and HDAC activity compared with TanIIA solution and MCAO group, accompanied by upregulation of H3K18ac, H4K8ac, and MAP-2 expression and downregulation of NMDAR1 and caspase-3 expression. Additionally, in OGD/R models, the results demonstrated that TanIIA ME treatment had a better neuroprotective effect along with increased H3K18ac, H4K8ac, and MAP-2 expression and decreased NMDAR1 and caspase-3 expression, compared with the other treatments except sodium valproate. Overall, TanIIA ME treatment exhibited superior efficacy in protecting against CIRI through mechanisms that might involve the inhibition of NMDAR1 and caspase-3 expression and the enhancement of MAP-2 expression by regulating histone H3K18 and H4K8 acetylation. Thus, TanIIA ME could be potentially used to develop a promising drug for the treatment of ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribosylation factor-like tumour suppressor gene 1(ARLTS1) might be associated with an increased risk of several types of familial cancers. However, previous studies have shown that cancer susceptibility is not completely consistent with ARLTS1 polymorphisms, and the precise mechanism remains unknown. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis of case-control studies by searching the PubMed, Embase, OVID, Science Direct and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases. In total, 12 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this meta-analysis. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA 11.0 software. Overall, the Cys148Arg T > C variant significantly increased cancer risk (CC vs. TT: OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.15-1.41, P < 0.05). The stratification indicated that the Cys148Arg variant is significantly associated with sporadic cancer (CC vs. TT: OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.18-1.55) and familial cancer (CC vs. TT: OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.12-1.43). Trp149Stop, Pro131Leu, Ser99Ser and Leu132Leu were not correlated with cancer susceptibility. Based on these results, we demonstrated that the ARLTS1 Cys148Arg polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of sporadic cancer and familial cancer, and there were no associations between the other four SNPs (i.e., Trp149Stop, Pro131Leu, Ser99Ser and Leu132Leu) and cancer risk. Keywords: ARLTS1, Gene polymorphism, Cancer risk, Familial cancer, Meta-analysis, Author(s): Yan Jiang[sup.1] , Chen-Yang Zhao[sup.1] , Li-Chun Cheng[sup.1] , Bing Xu[sup.1] and Hui-Yi Lv[sup.1] Background Adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribosylation factor-like tumour suppressor gene 1 (ARLTS1 ), which is also known [...]

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of the 6‐transmembrane epithelial antigen of the prostate‐1 (STEAP‐1)–targeted microbubbles for enhancing ultrasound imaging of prostate tumors in the nude mouse xenograft models. Methods: Contrast agents were established by conjugating biotinylated STEAP‐1 monoclonal antibodies with streptavidin coated SonoVue microbubbles. Then, ordinary SonoVue (Bracco, Milan, Italy) microbubble and STEAP‐1–targeted SonoVue microbubble were used, respectively, for contrast‐enhanced sonography to detect prostate tumors in the nude mouse xenograft models. The characteristics, including peak intensity, time to peak, area under the curve, and mean transit time, were measured. Results: The biological characteristics of STEAP‐1–targeted SonoVue microbubbles were stable. STEAP‐1–targeted SonoVue microbubbles can successfully conjugate to prostate cancer cell lines in vitro. Enhancement of ultrasound signal intensity was determined after injection of STEAP‐1–targeted SonoVue microbubble, compared with ordinary SonoVue microbubble. Higher intensities of ultrasound signals in xenograft tumor of prostate cancer were associated with increased levels of STEAP‐1 expression. Conclusion: Our results suggest that SonoVue microbubble carrying STEAP‐1 monoclonal antibody could improve the ultrasound visualization of prostate cancer and identify the tumor more effectively in vivo. A prospective study is required to validate our finding in patients with prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several methods of mixed programming with Lab VIEW and Matlab are introduced. Taking explosin test as application background, the design method and implementation process using MathScript node and COM technology are mainly discussed. Based on this, the advantages of Lab VIEW's interface development and Matlab's rich data operation functions are combined to achieve the fitting of explosion pressure field and dynamic compensation of temperature measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]