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The goal of stroke rehabilitation is to establish a robust protocol for patients to live independently in community. Firstly, we examined the impact of 3 hybridized transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)-mirror therapy interventions on activities of daily life (ADL) in stroke patients. Secondly, we explored the underlying therapeutic mechanisms with theory-driven electroencephalography (EEG) indexes in the alpha band. This was achieved by identifying the unique contributions of alpha power in motor production to ADL in relation to the premotor cortex (PMC), primary cortex (M1), and Sham tDCS with mirror therapy. The results showed that, although post-intervention ADL improvement was comparable among the three tDCS groups, one of the EEG indexes differentiated the interventions. Neural-behavioral correlation analyses revealed that different types of ADL improvements consistently corresponded with alpha power in the temporal lobe exclusively in the PMC tDCS group (all rs > 0.39). By contrast, alterations in alpha power in the central-frontal region were found to vary, with ADL primarily in the M1 tDCS group (r = −0.6 or 0.7), with the benefit depending on the complexity of the ADL. In conclusion, this research suggested two potential therapeutic mechanisms and demonstrated the additive benefits of introducing theory-driven neural indexes in explaining ADL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lidocaine is the most frequently applied local infiltration anesthetic agent for treating tendinopathies. However, studies have discovered lidocaine to negatively affect tendon healing. In the current study, the molecular mechanisms and effects of lidocaine on tenocyte migration were evaluated. We treated tenocytes intrinsic to the Achilles tendons of Sprague–Dawley rats with lidocaine. The migration ability of cells was analyzed using electric cell‐substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) and scratch wound assay. We then used a microscope to evaluate the cell spread. We assessed filamentous actin (F‐actin) cytoskeleton formation through immunofluorescence staining. In addition, we used Western blot analysis to analyze the expression of phospho‐focal adhesion kinase (FAK), FAK, phospho‐paxillin, paxillin, and F‐actin. We discovered that lidocaine had an inhibitory effect on the migration of tenocytes in the scratch wound assay and on the ECIS chip. Lidocaine treatment suppressed cell spreading and changed the cell morphology and F‐actin distribution. Lidocaine reduced F‐actin formation in the tenocyte during cell spreading; furthermore, it inhibited phospho‐FAK, F‐actin, and phospho‐paxillin expression in the tenocytes. Our study revealed that lidocaine inhibits the spread and migration of tenocytes. The molecular mechanism potentially underlying this effect is downregulation of F‐actin, phospho‐FAK, and phospho‐paxillin expression when cells are treated with lidocaine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muscle injuries are common among athletes and often treated with platelet‐rich plasma (PRP). However, whether the leukocyte concentration affects the efficacy of PRP in treating muscle injuries remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of leukocyte‐poor platelet‐rich plasma (LP‐PRP) and leukocyte‐rich platelet‐rich plasma (LR‐PRP) on myoblast proliferation and the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects. Myoblasts were treated with 0.5% LP‐PRP, 0.5% LR‐PRP, 1% LP‐PRP, or 1% LR‐PRP for 24 h. The gene expression of the LP‐PRP‐ and LR‐PRP–treated myoblasts was determined using RNA sequencing analysis. Cell proliferation was evaluated using an bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) assay, and cell cycle progression was assessed through flow cytometry. The expression of cyclin A, cyclin‐dependent kinase 1 (cdk1), and cdk2 was examined using Western blotting. The expression of myoblast determination protein 1 (MyoD1) was examined through Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. The LP‐PRP and LR‐PRP both promoted the proliferation of myoblasts and increased differential gene expression of myoblasts. Moreover, the LP‐PRP and LR‐PRP substantially upregulated the expression of cyclin A, cdk1, and cdk2. MyoD1 expression was induced in the LP‐PRP and LR‐PRP–treated myoblasts. Our results corroborate the finding that LP‐PRP and LR‐PRP have similar positive effects on myoblast proliferation and MyoD1 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the pain and electromyographic (EMG) amplitude ratio of the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) to the vastus lateralis (VL) after botulinum toxin type A (BTA) was injected in the bilateral osteoarthritic knee of patients with patellar malalignment for analysis. Material and methods: A total of fifteen patients were recruited; the more symptomatic knee of each patient received a BTA injection (BTA side). The other set of patients were left untreated. In all, fifteen healthy participants comprised the control group. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and numeric rating scale (NRS) for pain were assessed. The EMG amplitude of VL and VMO activity was recorded using an isokinetic dynamometer and synchronized using the BIOPAC MP100. The data were collected before and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks post–BTA injection. Results: The EMG ratios of the patient group were lower than those of the control group at all testing velocities (p < 0.05). The VMO/VL ratio improved significantly on the BTA side only. The VMO/VL ratios on the BTA side were higher than those on the untreated side (p < 0.05). Knee pain decreased significantly after the BTA injection. The EMG ratios were negatively correlated with the NRS and WOMAC scores. Conclusion: BTA injection effectively reduces knee pain and restores the EMG ratio between the VMO and VL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonwoven fabrics have merits, and for example, they can be simply and quickly processed with a variety of materials and an easily changeable manufacturing process. This study aims to examine the influences of the addition of sodium alginate (SA) and the concentration of calcium chloride (CaCl2) on the properties of the composite nonwoven fabrics. Chitosan (CS) micro-particles and SA solution are cross-linked with CaCl2 with various concentrations, combined with farir heat preservative staples (FT)/cotton (C) nonwoven fabrics, and then freeze-dried to form CS/SA/FT/C composite nonwoven fabrics. Afterwards, physical property tests are performed on the resulting composite nonwoven fabrics to determine their properties as related to various concentrations of CaCl2. The addition of SA decreases the water vapor permeability of FT/C nonwoven fabrics by 15 %, but the concentrations of CaCl2 do not influence the water vapor permeability. Compared to FT/C nonwoven fabrics, CS/SA/FT/C composite nonwoven fabrics have significantly lower water absorbency and water vapor permeability, but a greater stiffness.