a-closed-loop-ta-vns-system-synchronized-with-bci-based-motor

A Closed-Loop ta-VNS System Synchronized with BCI-Based Motor Training for Post-Stroke Upper Limb Rehabilitation

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (ta-VNS) involves applying electrical stimulation via electrodes to the auricular concha. This activates ...

The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University

No recommended guidelines currently exist for the therapeutic concentration or dose of botulinum toxin type A (BTXA) injected into the muscle to treat limb spasticity. Therefore, in this randomized controlled trial, we explored the safety and efficacy of two concentrations and two doses of BTXA in the treatment of spastic foot after stroke to optimize this treatment in these patients. Eligible patients ( = 104) were randomized into four groups. The triceps surae and tibialis posterior on the affected side were injected with BTXA at one of two doses (200 U or 400 U) and two concentrations (50 U/mL or 100 U/mL). The following assessments were conducted before as well as 4 days and 1, 2, 4, and 12 weeks after treatment: spasticity, assessed using the modified Ashworth scale; basic functional mobility, assessed using a timed up and go test; pace, assessed using a 10-meter timed walking test; and the ability to walk, assessed using Holden's graded scale and a visual analog scale. The reported results are based on the 89 patients that completed the study. We found significant differences for the two doses and concentrations of BTXA to improve the ability of patients to walk independently, with the high-dose/low-concentration combination providing the best effect. Onset and duration of the ameliorating effects of BTXA were 4-7 days and 12 weeks, respectively. Thus, BTXA effectively treated foot spasms after stroke at an optimal dose of 400 U and concentration of 50 U/mL.

Therapeutic efficacy and safety of various botulinum toxin A doses and concentrations in spastic foot after stroke: a randomized controlled trial.

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves outcomes after myocardial infarction (MI), but it is underused in China. The purpose of this study was to develop a set of quality indicators (QIs) to improve clinical practices and to confirm the measurability and performance of the developed QIs for CR in Chinese patients after MI.

Quality indicators for cardiac rehabilitation after myocardial infarction in China: a consensus panel and practice test.

To analyze the post-COVID-19 construction and management of fever clinics targeted to prevention and control of healthcare-associated respiratory viral infections in medical institutions at all levels in China, and to provide a basis for promoting their standardized construction, we conducted this survey on the construction of fever clinics in 429 medical institutions of Jiangsu Province from July to December 2020. Contents of the questionnaire included the general situation of medical institutions, the construction status and future construction plans of fever clinics. We find the construction rate of fever clinic in medical institutions of Jiangsu province was 75.3%. All construction indicators, quality management systems and processes fail to fully meet the requirements of documents and standards. Jiangsu province actively promotes the construction of fever clinic layout, but there is still a gap with the construction standard. As a result, it is necessary to further promote standardized construction of fever clinic, and necessary financial input should be increased to expand all constructions of fever clinic in primary medical institutions.

Fever clinic construction and management targeted to prevention and control of healthcare-associated respiratory viral infections in Jiangsu, China: A cross-sectional observational study.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection attacks the respiratory and nervous systems. Among patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, cases with simultaneous central and peripheral nervous system damage are rare, and those with intractable hypophosphatemia and hypokalemia complicating the former have not been reported yet.

A Case of Intractable Hypophosphatemia in a Patient with Guillain-Barré Syndrome and Encephalitis after SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Hospital-acquired urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common complications in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN), leading to increased mortality and increased medical resource utilisation. This study investigated hospital-acquired UTIs in patients with DN, focusing on prevalent pathogens and drug resistance to inform clinical management.

Pathogenic Bacteria and Antimicrobial Resistance in Hospital-Acquired Urinary Tract Infections among Patients with Diabetic Nephropathy.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling is a new method for collecting cervical isolated cells, but research been carried out in multi-ethnic and multi-regional areas of China is scarce.

HPV self-sampling for cervical cancer screening in China: A multi-center study.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most severe kidney complications and the primary contributor to end-stage renal disease on a global scale. It exacerbates the morbidity, mortality, and financial burden for individuals with diabetes. Isoquercitrin, a natural compound found in various plants, has demonstrated potential as an antidiabetic agent. However, it remains uncertain whether isoquercitrin exerts a protective effect on DN. Therefore, the objective of this study was to explore whether isoquercitrin confers a protective effect on DN and its potential mechanism. In vivo, a mouse model of DN induced by streptozotocin was established in the study. The hypoglycemic effect of isoquercitrin was assessed by measuring fasting blood glucose levels, insulin tolerance tests, and glucose tolerance test in animals. Urinary albumin creatinine ratio, serum lipid levels, and pathological changes in renal tissues were measured to evaluate the protective effect of isoquercitrin against DN. The expression of Sodium glucose co-transporter-2(SGLT2) was analyzed using real-time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry. The studies suggest that isoquercitrin significantly reduces fasting blood glucose levels, enhances the body's capacity to regulate blood glucose and insulin resistance, and facilitates renal pathology and renal function. Simultaneously, it can lower blood lipids (total cholesterol and triglyceride) and improve the risk factors of DN. Meanwhile, isoquercitrin suppressed the expression of SGLT2 in renal tissues of DN mouse models. In vitro, real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of SGLT2 in the human renal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells. The effects of isoquercitrin on the survival rate and glucose uptake capacity of HK-2 cells were determined by Cell-Counting-Kit-8 and glucose uptake methods. The results demonstrate that isoquercitrin suppressed the up-regulation of SGLT2 mRNA and protein in high-glucose-induced HK-2 cells. Additionally, isoquercitrin inhibited glucose uptake in HK-2 cells and mitigated high-sugar-induced damage. Thus, this study has concluded that isoquercitrin exhibits hypoglycemic and renal protective effects by inhibiting the SGLT2 pathway, indicating its potential as a promising anti-DN drug deserving further clinical investigation.

Isoquercitrin improves diabetes nephropathy by inhibiting the sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 pathway.

Studies have shown that neuroinflammation plays an important role in Parkinson's disease (PD). Current clinical studies provide evidence that physical exercise may enhance pharmacological treatment and alleviate motor impairments in PD patients. However, current understanding of the anti-inflammatory effects of physical exercise in PD is limited. This article reviewed the current state of knowledge concerning the anti-inflammatory properties of physical exercise as an effective therapy for PD.

Physical exercise and inflammation in Parkinson's disease: a review.

Effect of botulinum toxin injection on cricopharyngeal dysphagia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of visually induced motor imagery (MI)-based brain-computer interface (BCI) training on the neurological recovery of patients with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI), and to preliminarily explore the underlying neural mechanisms.

Effects of visually induced motor imagery-based brain-computer interface training on motor function in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury: a small-sample exploratory trial.

Circadian rhythm misalignment is strongly linked to mood and cognitive impairments, but the related molecular pathways are not fully elucidated. This research examined how long-term variable photoperiod (L-VP) influences emotional and cognitive functions, along with changes in serotonin (5-HT) signaling in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus of Wistar rats. Behavioral assessments revealed that L-VP induced anxiety-like behaviors, depressive phenotypes, and cognitive impairments, particularly during the subjective active phase (ZT12). Additionally, L-VP altered 5-HT metabolism, reducing 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels and the 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio, indicating impaired serotonergic transmission. Expression of 5-HT receptors (5-HTR1A and 5-HTR2A) also exhibited circadian dysregulation, with reduced 5-HTR2A levels in the PFC. These findings suggest that chronic circadian misalignment disrupts 5-HT signaling in emotion- and cognition-related brain regions, contributing to mood and cognitive deficits. This study highlights the PFC and hippocampus as critical hubs for integrating circadian and emotional functions and explores potential therapeutic targets for circadian-related neuropsychiatric disorders.

Article	Year
Therapeutic efficacy and safety of various botulinum toxin A doses and concentrations in spastic foot after stroke: a randomized controlled trial. Neural regeneration research\| PubMed ID: 29089990	2017
Quality indicators for cardiac rehabilitation after myocardial infarction in China: a consensus panel and practice test. BMJ open\| PubMed ID: 33380480	2020
Fever clinic construction and management targeted to prevention and control of healthcare-associated respiratory viral infections in Jiangsu, China: A cross-sectional observational study. PloS one\| PubMed ID: 38300979	2024
A Case of Intractable Hypophosphatemia in a Patient with Guillain-Barré Syndrome and Encephalitis after SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Endocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets\| PubMed ID: 38314683	2024
Pathogenic Bacteria and Antimicrobial Resistance in Hospital-Acquired Urinary Tract Infections among Patients with Diabetic Nephropathy. Archivos espanoles de urologia\| PubMed ID: 39238303	2024
HPV self-sampling for cervical cancer screening in China: A multi-center study. Heliyon\| PubMed ID: 39583834	2024
Isoquercitrin improves diabetes nephropathy by inhibiting the sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 pathway. Biochemical and biophysical research communications\| PubMed ID: 39708395	2025
Physical exercise and inflammation in Parkinson's disease: a review. Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology\| PubMed ID: 41085917	2025
Effect of botulinum toxin injection on cricopharyngeal dysphagia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology\| PubMed ID: 41483342	2026
Effects of visually induced motor imagery-based brain-computer interface training on motor function in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury: a small-sample exploratory trial. Frontiers in neurology\| PubMed ID: 41709919	2026
Long-term variable photoperiod disrupts serotonin signaling in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, contributing to mood and cognitive deficits. Brain research bulletin\| PubMed ID: 41819473	2026

Yongxiang Zhang

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