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Background There were 28.76 million stroke patients in China, with 3.94 million new strokes annually. Around 70% of survivors live with varying degrees of permanent disability, placing a heavy burden on families and society. Stroke patients have a complex and high need for continuing care services after discharge from the hospital. The study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the continuing care program on the activity of daily life, the degree of disability, stroke recurrence and readmission in patients with stroke, based on the long-term care insurance policy. Methods Eighty-eight stroke patients were recruited from February 2021 to January 2022. They were allocated to either intervention group (N = 44) or control group (N = 44) based on whether the long-term care insurance application was successful. The intervention consisted of discharge education, 3-month in-home care and remote counseling. The activity of daily life, disability, recurrence and readmission of patients were evaluated between the groups before the intervention, at 1, 2, 3 and 6 months after discharge. Results There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in clinical characteristics at baseline. We detected significant interaction effects between time and group (p χ2 = 6.040, p = 0.014; χ2 = 7.216, p = 0.007) at 1 and 2 months after discharge, but no significant difference was found at 3 and 6 months after discharge. At follow-up, there was no significant difference between groups regarding stroke recurrence rates (p > 0.05). Conclusions This study demonstrates the positive effects of a continuing care program based on the long-term care insurance policy on activity of daily life and disability in people with stroke. The effectiveness and feasibility of this intervention program suggest that its application should be promoted to promote the care and rehabilitation of stroke patients. Trail registration: The trail was not registered as a quasi-experimental trail.

Aims Pre-hospital delay refers to the time span from the onset of symptoms to arrival at a hospital ≥ 3 h and is the main limitation of stroke reperfusion therapies. Family factors and stroke-related stigma may influence pre-hospital delay. However, few studies have confirmed the influence of stigma on pre-hospital delay or explored the relationships between family function, stigma, and pre-hospital delay among patients with recurrent stroke. This study aimed to explore the relationship between family function and pre-hospital delay among patients with recurrent stroke and examine the mediation role of stigma in this relationship. Methods and results A cross-sectional study was performed at the neurology departments of two hospitals in Guangzhou, China between July 2021 and April 2022. A total of 115 patients with recurrent stroke completed questionnaires and were included in the analysis. Data were collected using the Short Form Family Assessment Device, the Stroke Stigma Scale, and the Stroke Knowledge Questionnaire. Spearman’s correlation and a structural equation model were used for data analysis. Family function directly influenced pre-hospital delay [β=0.27, P = 0.033, 95%CI = (0.02–0.51)] and indirectly influenced pre-hospital delay [β=0.17, P = 0.038, 95%CI = (0.02–0.34)] through stigma. Moreover, stigma partially mediated the effect of family function on pre-hospital delay. Conclusion Family function and stigma directly and indirectly influenced pre-hospital delay among patients with recurrent stroke. Future health education and interventions need to focus on strengthening and improving emotional support from family members to improve family function and reduce stigma, thereby reducing pre-hospital delay among patients with recurrent stroke.

ObjectivesOur study aimed to investigate the relationship between the severity of frailty and the long-term care (LTC) needs of older adults from Chinese communities.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingThree Chinese community health centres. All data were collected by trained researchers through face-to-face collection.ParticipantsWe surveyed a total of 540 older residents who aged 60 or older from community in Guangzhou, China.MeasuresThe Chinese version of the Tilburg frailty indicator was used to assess the frailty status of participants. LTC needs was evaluated by Integrated Home Care Services Questionnaire. Using non-adjusted and multivariate adjusted logistic regression analysis to evaluate frailty and LTC needs, then smoothed plots, threshold effect analysis and P for trend were used to further investigate the relationship between them.ResultsThe prevalence of frailty was 45.2% among the 540 older adults enrolled (aged 70.4±8.3 years; 65.7% females). 27% had higher LTC needs, which increased to 65.1% for individuals with frailty. Logistic regression analysis showed that frailty was strongly associated with LTC needs (OR 3.06, 95% CI 2.06 to 4.55, pConclusionThere is a linear relationship between frailty and LTC needs. With the increasing degree of frailty, the LTC needs of older adults dramatically increases.

To test prospective pathways of a Comprehensive Reminder System based on the Health Belief Model (CRS-HBM), stroke knowledge, health belief in health behaviour, blood pressure (BP) control, and disability in hypertensive ischaemic stroke patients at 6-month postdischarge.A nested cohort study design.Data were derived from a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effects of the intervention (N = 174, performed during February 2015 - March 2016). Data were collected by questionnaires and analysed in structural equation modelling in Mplus software.The proposed model provided a good fit to the data. This model accounted for 51.5% of the variance in health behaviour, 34.1% in BP control, and 5.7% in modified Rankin Scale score at 6-month postdischarge. The CRS-HBM had: (a) direct positive effect (β = .391, p .001) and indirect positive effects (β = .186, p = .002) on health behaviour; (b) direct positive effect (β = .356, p .001) and indirect positive effects (β = .183, p = .009) on BP control; and (c) indirect negative effect (β = -.146, p = .008) on disability. Being female was linked to better health behaviour. Higher education predicted higher level of stroke knowledge and health belief.The CRS-HBM can not only directly but also indirectly improve patients' health behaviours by improving their health knowledge or health belief. Better health behaviour can improve patients' BP control and reduce disability. Therefore, nurses need to pay more attention to not only patients' health knowledge but also their health belief when providing education.The CRS-HBM intervention accounted for 51.5% of variance in health behaviour, 34.1% in BP control, and 5.7% in modified Rankin Scale score at 6-month postdischarge. This research can help nurses improve health education strategies in postdischarge and community contexts to achieve better health results.目的: 检验高血压缺血性脑卒中患者出院后6个月的基于健康信念模式的综合提醒系统(CRS-HBM)、脑卒中知识、健康行为方面健康信念、血压(BP)控制和残疾的前瞻性路径。 设计: 采用巢式队列研究设计。 方法: 数据来源于一项评估干预效果的随机对照试验(N=174,于2015年2月至2016年3月开展)。通过问卷调查收集数据,并在Mplus软件中进行结构方程建模分析。 结果: 所建模型与数据拟合良好。出院后6个月,该模型占健康行为变化的51.5%,血压控制的34.1%,改良的Rankin量表评分的5.7%。基于健康信念模式的综合提醒系统:对健康行为有(a)直接积极影响(β= .391,p.001)和间接积极影响(β= .186,p = .002);对血压控制有(b)直接积极影响(β= .356,p.001)和间接积极影响(β= .183,p = .009);对残疾有(c)间接负面影响(β= −.146,p = .008)。女性性别与更好的健康行为有关。高等教育对脑卒中知识和健康信念的预测水平较高。 结论: 基于健康信念模式的综合提醒系统可通过提高患者的健康知识或健康信念,直接或间接地改善患者的健康行为。良好的健康行为有助于改善患者的血压控制,降低残疾发生率。因此,护士在进行健康教育时,不仅要多多关注患者的健康知识,更要重视病人的健康信念。 影响: 出院后6个月,基于健康信念模式的综合提醒系统干预占健康行为变化的51.5%,血压控制的34.1%,改良的Rankin量表得分的5.7%。本项研究可帮助护士在患者出院后及社区环境中改进健康教育策略,以取得更好的健康结果。.

Purpose Antiangiogenic drugs usually have short-acting efficacy and poor treatment compliance. The purpose of this study was to determine whether mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) could be utilized as a nanodrug delivery system for improving antiangiogenic therapy. Materials and methods MSN-encapsulated bevacizumab nanoparticles were prepared by the nanocasting strategy and characterized by Fourier transform infrared, transmission electron microscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method. Encapsulation efficiency and drug loading efficiency of MSN-encapsulated bevacizumab nanoparticles were calculated. The pharmacokinetics, cytotoxicity, and tissue toxicity were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The antiangiogenic effects of MSN-bevacizumab nanoparticles were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Results MSN encapsulation could prolong the residency of bevacizumab in vitreous/aqueous humor and maintain the long-lasting drug concentration. MSN-encapsulated bevacizumab nanoparticles did not show any obvious cytotoxicity and tissue toxicity. MSN-encapsulated bevacizumab nanoparticles were more effective than bevacizumab in suppressing vascular endothelial growth factor-induced endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation in vitro. MSN-encapsulated bevacizumab nanoparticles showed sustained inhibitory effects on corneal neovascularization and retinal neovascularization in vivo. Conclusion This study provides a novel strategy of encapsulating bevacizumab to protect and deliver it, which could increase the time between administration and formulation shelf-life. MSN-encapsulated bevacizumab is a promising drug delivery alternative of antiangiogenic therapy.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has shown that men and women have different levels of stroke knowledge and differing health behaviors, which are important factors affecting blood pressure, as hypertension is a key risk factor for stroke occurrence. There has been little research on the effects of sex on the association between these 2 variables before the onset of stroke among Chinese hypertensive patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study and a convenience sampling method were used. 272 male and 118 female hypertensive stroke patients were recruited. Each patient completed the Stroke Knowledge Questionnaire and the Health Behavior Scale for stroke patients. RESULTS: Compared with female patients, male patients had greater stroke knowledge and worse prestroke health behavior. The Pearson correlation coefficient between stroke knowledge and prestroke health behavior was 0.149 and 0.223 in male and female participants, respectively, P < .05. The results of a multiple regression analysis showed that Chinese hypertensive stroke patients' prestroke health behavior was significantly influenced by sex and stroke knowledge. CONCLUSION: Chinese male and female hypertensive stroke patients had disparities in stroke knowledge and prestroke health behavior; moreover, the correlation between these 2 variables before experiencing a hypertensive stroke was different between men and women. Men with hypertension should be considered at a higher risk for an initial or recurrent stroke. Developing sex-specific intervention for primary or secondary stroke prevention in China is essential.

Background Dysphagia is common after stroke. Patients with dysphagia have a higher risk of stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) and poor outcomes. Early detection of dysphagia is necessary to identify and manage patients at high risk of aspiration. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of the systematic administration of the volume-viscosity swallow test (V-VST) in patients with acute ischaemic stroke. Methods This was a retrospective observational study that enrolled patients with acute ischaemic stroke in two consecutive time periods: pre-V-VST, when the 30-mL water-swallowing test (WST) was systematically administered, and V-VST, when all patients underwent the WST and the V-VST test was systematically administered if the patient failed the WST. Results Two hundred and 42 patients were enrolled. The mean age of the participants was 68.8 ± 10.88 years, 61.2% were male, and the median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 3 (IQR, 1–6). A total of 147 patients were enrolled during the pre-V-VST period and 95 were enrolled during the V-VST period. There was a significant difference in the occurrence of SAP (21.8% vs. 10.5%, p = 0.024) and the rate of nasogastric tube feeding (25.9% vs. 14.7%, p = 0.040) between the two groups, and no differences were found in the length of hospital stay (p = 0.277) or the total cost of hospitalization (p = 0.846). Conclusions The V-VST was a better clinical screening tool, and it can also provide detailed suggestions regarding dietary modifications to prevent aspiration and SAP.

The evidence for the effect of remote ischemic postconditioning(RIpostC) on autonomic function in patients with acute ischemic stroke(AIS) is lacking and the neural mechanism underlying the protection of RIpostC remains speculative. This trial was aimed to evaluated the efficiency of RIpostC on autonomic function in AIS patients.One hundred and six AIS patients were included in this prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Patients in intervention group (n = 57) received 4 cycles of alternating inflation (cuff inflation to 200 mmHg) and deflation for 5 min on healthy upper arm once a day for 30 days. The control group underwent a sham inflation and deflation cycles. Autonomic function was evaluated by heart rate variability (HRV).All HRV parameters except for the ratio of low frequency to high frequency (P = 0.101) increased significantly with time (P0.001) in the two groups. The value of standard deviation of all normal R-R intervals(SDNN) and high frequency at day7 and day30 and the value of the percent of difference between adjacent normal R-R intervals (pNN50) at day 30 in RIpostC group was significantly higher than that of the sham-RIpostC group(P0.05). A significant time-by-group interaction was observed in SDNN、pNN50、and high frequency over time between two groups (P0.05).30-day RIpostC could improve autonomic function in AIS patients through the enhancement of the total autonomic nerve activity and vagus nerve activity. The mechanism of RIpostC mediating autonomic function needs to be further investigated.

Antibody-based therapy is an effective strategy for treating ocular angiogenesis. However, short-acting efficacy and poor treatment compliance usually occurs in clinical practices. Thus, it is required to develop a drug delivery system to improve the bioavailability and decrease the toxicity of anti-angiogenic antibody. Bevacizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In this study, bevacizumab was encapsulated into poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles. PLGA encapsulation could prolong the residency of bevacizumab in the vitreous and aqueous humor and produce long-lasting drug concentrations. Bevacizumab-encapsulated PLGA had no significant cytotoxicity and tissue toxicity effect in vitro and in vivo. In vitro studies showed that bevacizumab-encapsulated PLGA was more effective than bevacizumab in inhibiting VEGF-mediated endothelial cell proliferation, migration and tube formation. In vivo studies showed that bevacizumab-encapsulated PLGA enhanced the anti-angiogenic efficiency of bevacizumab for treating corneal neovascularization and retinal neovascularization. Thus, bevacizumab-encapsulated PLGA could increase the bioavailability and decrease the toxicity of bevacizumab during ocular angiogenesis therapy.

VEGF binding to VEGFR2 leads to VEGFR2 endocytosis and downstream signaling activation to promote angiogenesis. Methods: Using genetic strategies, we tested the requirement of α subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins (Gαi1/3) in the process. Results: Gαi1/3 are located in the VEGFR2 endocytosis complex (VEGFR2-Ephrin-B2-Dab2-PAR-3), where they are required for VEGFR2 endocytosis and downstream signaling transduction. Gαi1/3 knockdown, knockout or dominant negative mutation inhibited VEGF-induced VEGFR2 endocytosis, and downstream Akt-mTOR and Erk-MAPK activation. Functional studies show that Gαi1/3 shRNA inhibited VEGF-induced proliferation, invasion, migration and vessel-like tube formation of HUVECs. In vivo, Gαi1/3 shRNA lentivirus inhibited alkali burn-induced neovascularization in mouse cornea. Further, oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR)-induced retinal neovascularization was inhibited by intravitreal injection of Gαi1/3 shRNA lentivirus. Moreover, in vivo angiogenesis by alkali burn and OIR was significantly attenuated in Gαi1/3 double knockout mice. Significantly, Gαi1/3 proteins are upregulated in proliferative retinal tissues of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) patients. Conclusion: These results provide mechanistic insights into the critical role played by Gαi1/3 proteins in VEGF-induced VEGFR2 endocytosis, signaling and angiogenesis.

Background: Remote ischemic postconditioning (RIPostC) appears to protect distant organs from ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). However, cerebral protection results have remained inconclusive. In the present study, a meta-analysis was performed to compare stroke patients with and without RIPostC. Methods: CNKI, WanFang, VIP, CBM, PubMed, and Cochrane Library databases were searched up to July 2016. Data were analyzed using both fixed-effects and random-effects models by Review Manager. For each outcome, risk ratio (RR) and mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. Results: A total of 13 randomized controlled trials that enrolled a total of 794 study participants who suffered from or are at risk for brain IRI were selected. Compared with controls, RIPostC significantly reduced the recurrence of stroke or transient ischemic attacks (RR = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.26–0.55; P < 0.00001). Moreover, it can reduce the levels of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (MD: 1.96; 95% CI: 2.18–1.75; P < 0.00001), modified Rankin Scale score (MD: 0.73; 95% CI: 1.20–0.25; P = 0.00300), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (MD: 4.17; 95% CI: 4.71–3.62; P < 0.00001) between the two groups. There was no side effect of RIPostC using tourniquet cuff around the limb on ischemic stroke treating based on different intervention duration. Conclusion: The present meta-analysis suggests that RIPostC might offer cerebral protection for stroke patients suffering from or are at risk of brain IRI.

Background: Renal function is associated with mortality and functional disabilities in stroke patients, and impaired autonomic function is common in stroke, but little is known regarding its effects on stroke patients with renal dysfunction. This study sought to evaluate the association between autonomic function and stroke in patients with renal dysfunction. Methods: This study comprised 232 patients with acute ischemic stroke consecutively enrolled from February 2013 to November 2014 at Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine in China. All patients recruited underwent laboratory evaluation and 24 h Holter electrocardiography (ECG). Autonomic function was measured based on the heart rate variability (HRV) using 24 h Holter ECG. Renal damage was assessed through the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and stroke severity was rated according to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). The Barthel index and modified Rankin score were also determined following admission. All the clinical covariates that could potentially affect autonomic outcome variables were adjusted with linear regression. Results: In the patients with a mild or moderate decreased eGFR, the values for the standard deviation of the averaged normal-to-normal RR interval (SDANN) index (P = 0.022), very low frequency (VLF) (P = 0.043), low frequency (LF) (P = 0.023), and ratio of low-to-high frequency power (LF/HF) (P = 0.001) were significantly lower than those in the patients with a normal eGFR. A multinomial linear regression indicated that eGFR (t = 2.47, P = 0.014), gender (t = −3.60, P < 0.001), and a history of hypertension (t = −2.65, P = 0.008) were the risk factors of LF/HF; the NIHSS score (SDANN index: t = −3.83, P < 0.001; VLF: t = −3.07, P = 0.002; LF: t = −2.79, P = 0.006) and a history of diabetes (SDANN index: t = −3.58, P < 0.001; VLF: t = −2.54, P = 0.012; LF: t = −2.87, P = 0.004) were independent factors for the SDANN index, VLF, and LF; the Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project (t= −2.38, P = 0.018) was related to the SDANN index. Conclusions: Autonomic dysfunction is aggravated with the progression of eGFR stage in patients with acute ischemic stroke; the eGFR is an independent factor of LF/HF in the adjusted models. Stroke severity and a history of diabetes are more significantly associated with HRV in patients with acute ischemic stroke at different stages of renal dysfunction. Key words: Autonomic Function; Heart Rate Variability; Renal Dysfunction; Stroke

Purpose Antiangiogenic drugs usually have short-acting efficacy and poor treatment compliance. The purpose of this study was to determine whether mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) could be utilized as a nanodrug delivery system for improving antiangiogenic therapy. Materials and methods MSN-encapsulated bevacizumab nanoparticles were prepared by the nanocasting strategy and characterized by Fourier transform infrared, transmission electron microscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method. Encapsulation efficiency and drug loading efficiency of MSN-encapsulated bevacizumab nanoparticles were calculated. The pharmacokinetics, cytotoxicity, and tissue toxicity were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The antiangiogenic effects of MSN-bevacizumab nanoparticles were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Results MSN encapsulation could prolong the residency of bevacizumab in vitreous/aqueous humor and maintain the long-lasting drug concentration. MSN-encapsulated bevacizumab nanoparticles did not show any obvious cytotoxicity and tissue toxicity. MSN-encapsulated bevacizumab nanoparticles were more effective than bevacizumab in suppressing vascular endothelial growth factor-induced endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation in vitro. MSN-encapsulated bevacizumab nanoparticles showed sustained inhibitory effects on corneal neovascularization and retinal neovascularization in vivo. Conclusion This study provides a novel strategy of encapsulating bevacizumab to protect and deliver it, which could increase the time between administration and formulation shelf-life. MSN-encapsulated bevacizumab is a promising drug delivery alternative of antiangiogenic therapy.

Aim To determine whether the Comprehensive Reminder System based on the Health Belief Model improves health belief, health behaviors, medication adherence and blood pressure control as a means of decreasing the rate of stroke recurrence among hypertensive ischemic stroke. Background Hypertensive patients having experienced recent ischemic strokes are at high risk for stroke recurrence. Several trials attempted to improve secondary stroke prevention via patient education, however, patient outcomes remained poor. Long-term follow-up studies regarding secondary stroke prevention are limited. Design A multi-center, 12-month, assessor-blinded, parallel-group, randomized controlled longitudinal trial. Methods Hypertensive patients having experienced an ischemic stroke are the target population. The intervention consists of health belief education, a calendar handbook, a weekly automated short-message service and four telephone follow-up interviews. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and at 3, 6 and 12 months following discharge. The primary outcome is blood pressure control. The secondary outcomes include health belief, health behaviors and medication adherence. The clinical endpoint is the rate of stroke recurrence. Discussion Although many efforts to improve secondary stroke prevention have been undertaken, research indicates that improvements remain possible and warranted. This research protocol based on the Health Belief Model will improve our understanding of stroke education and transitional care needed in China and with the world-wide target population. Trial registration Chinese clinical trials registry: ChiCTR-IPR-15005946. Ethical approval received in December 2014. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Background Adopting healthy behaviors is critical for secondary stroke prevention, but many patients fail to follow national guidelines regarding diet, exercise, and abstinence from risk factors. Compliance often decreases with time after hospital discharge, yet few studies have examined programs promoting long-term adherence to health behaviors. Goal setting and telephone follow-up have been proven to be effective in other areas of medicine, so this study evaluated the effectiveness of a guideline-based, goal-setting telephone follow-up program for patients with ischemic stroke. Methods This was a multicenter, assessor-blinded, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial. Ninety-one stroke patients were randomized to either a control group or an intervention group. Intervention consisted of predischarge education and 3 goal-setting follow-up sessions conducted by phone. Data were collected at baseline and during the third and sixth months after hospital discharge. Results Six months after discharge, patients in the intervention group exhibited significantly higher medication adherence than patients in the control group. There were no statistically significant differences in physical activity, nutrition, low-salt diet adherence, blood pressure monitoring, smoking abstinence, unhealthy use of alcohol, and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores between the 2 groups. Conclusions Goal-setting telephone follow-up intervention for ischemic stroke patients is feasible and leads to improved medication adherence. However, the lack of group differences in other health behavior subcategories and in themRS score indicates a need for more effective intervention strategies to help patients reach guideline-recommended targets.

Background and objective The health behaviors of hypertensive stroke patients in China are not satisfactory. In this study, we tested the effect of a Health Belief Model Comprehensive Reminder System on health behaviors and blood pressure control in hypertensive ischemic stroke patients after occurrence and hospital discharge. Methods A randomized, parallel-group, assessor-blinded experimental design yielded participation of 174 hospitalized hypertensive ischemic stroke patients. The intervention consisted of face-to-face and telephone health belief education, a patient calendar handbook, and weekly automated short-message services. Data were collected at baseline and 3 months after discharge. Results Three months after discharge, the intervention group showed statistically, significantly better health behaviors for physical activity, nutrition, low-salt diet, and medication adherence. The intervention group also had statistically, significantly decreased systolic blood pressure and increased blood pressure control rate. Smoking and alcohol use behaviors were not affected. Conclusion At 3 months, use of the Comprehensive Reminder System based on the Health Belief Model, yielded improvement in most health behaviors and blood pressure control in hypertensive ischemic stroke patients. Continued implementation of this intervention protocol is warranted to determine the long-term effect. Smoking and alcohol use behaviors need to be targeted with a different intervention.

VEGF-induced neovascularization plays a pivotal role in corneal neovascularization (CoNV). The current study investigated the potential effect of ginsenoside Rh2 (GRh2) on neovascularization. In HUVECs, pretreatment with GRh2 largely attenuated VEGF-induced cell proliferation, migration, and vessel-like tube formation in vitro. At the molecular level, GRh2 disrupted VEGF-induced VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2)-Grb-2-associated binder 1 (Gab1) association in HUVECs, causing inactivation of downstream AKT and ERK signaling. Gab1 knockdown (by targeted short hairpin RNA) similarly inhibited HUVEC proliferation and migration. Notably, GRh2 was ineffective against VEGF in Gab1-silenced HUVECs. In a mouse cornea alkali burn model, GRh2 eyedrops inhibited alkali-induced neovascularization and inflammatory cell infiltrations in the cornea. Furthermore, alkali-induced corneal expression of mRNAs/long noncoding RNAs in cornea were largely attenuated by GRh2. Overall, GRh2 inhibits VEGF-induced angiogenic effect via inhibiting VEGFR2-Gab1 signaling in vitro. It also alleviates angiogenic and inflammatory responses in alkali burn-treated mouse corneas.-Zhang, X.-P., Li, K.-R., Yu, Q., Yao, M.-D., Ge, H.-M., Li, X.-M., Jiang, Q., Yao, J., Cao, C. Ginsenoside Rh2 inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor-induced corneal neovascularization.

The spreading use of concealed miniature photoelectric devices threatens the information security of interior activities. Information leaking from interior environments like meeting room, drama theatre, technical lab and private space may cause serious social problems or commercial losses. To solve the critical problem, this study proposed a practical system based on the “cat-eye effect” to detect the interior optical targets in real time. The proposed method reduces false positives based on strength of the echo signals and shape of the laser cross section. A morphological criterion is presented to determine the true target. Laboratory experiments have been performed repeatedly with different kinds of interference and background of different complexity to validate the proposed method. The results indicated that the true target was recognized accurately and rapidly. Moreover, the recognition results were demonstrated not influenced by external light illumination conditions. The average runtime was 67ms which is superior to the recent methods in the literature.

Geothermal resource is a kind of clean energy source. There is rich fracture structure in Jilin city of Jilin province and it has a good geothermal geological conditions. Using CSAMT method and selecting the appropriate technical parameters, we can survey controlled thermal structure in the measured area. The collected data is processed and combined with the known geological and hydrological condition. Interpreting the data, base fluctuations and spatial distribution of buried faults can be got. Then, deep groundwater-rich region and the depth of reservoir burial are inferred.

A novel and highly efficient photocatalyst, Eosin Y-sensitized Pt-intercalated nanotube Pt/HLa Nb2O7, was found to be very active for hydrogen generation within triethanolamine (TEOA) solution as the electron donor under visible-light irradiation (λ420 nm). The photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), scan electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The results showed that the significant enhancement of photocatalytic activity was achieved via Pt intercalating and subsequent dye sensitization of Pt/HLaNb2O7. The highest rate for hydrogen evolution was 4.45 mmol·g-1·h-1under irradiation with a wavelength longer than 420 nm, and the probable mechanism of photosensitized hydrogen evolution have also been discussed.

Temperature control has direct effect on mouth feel of fruit and vegetable processing products. This paper, by analyzing the control requirements of cucumber slices processing water temperature, proposes to control the water temperature for cucumber slice processing production line by using fuzzy immune PID. With the features of time-varying, nonlinear and hysteretic nature for temperature control, this paper designs fuzzy immune PID controller by borrowing the regulating action of immune system and linking the advantages of immune PID controller.

High-Alumina clay ore is the protective exploitation of mineral stipulated by the Ministry of Land and Resources. Due to its physicochemical properties and ore characteristics are quite different from current ore types --refractory clay mineral. It is usually taken as a general refractory clay mine of high-Alumina clay in practical applications, which leads to massive misuse and great waste of high-Alumina clay ore. This paper will redefine the attribuation of high-Alumina clay ore by analysing its differences and similarities with refractory clay minerals and bauxite mines in mineralogy, rock chemistry as well as physical structure, and present some advice on its comprehensive usage aiming at the existed problems in comprehensive development and utilization.

Recently, silver nanoparticles(NPs)-based photocatalysts have attracted more attention due to their enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity. In this work, a new Ag@Ag3PO4photocatalyst have been prepared by precipitation replacement and reduction methods. The products were characterized by XRD and SEM. The photocatalytic activities was evaluated using 2-naphthol and methyl orange degradations under visible light irradiation (λ > 400 nm). The degradation rates of 2-naphthol and methyl orange with initial concentration of 15 mg•L-1reached 80% and 99% respectively by using 0.6 g•L-1Ag@Ag3PO4. The photocatalytic mechanism was discussed.

The instability of permafrost directly results of the differential settlement of railway subgrade, which brought a great threat to the security operation of railway. In order to obtain the top-limit (zero-temperature interface) data of permafrost, according to the testing environment and the requirements for and use of different dielectric constant, using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) detection. The experimental results show that the method is accurate and effective, and we can get better material data on the zero-temperature interface.

We propose a combined migration velocity analysis and imaging method based on Kirchhoff integral migration and reverse time migration, using the residual curvature analysis and layer stripping strategy to build the velocity model. This method improves the image resolution of Kirchhoff integral migration and reduces the computations of the reverse time migration. It combines the advantages of efficiency and accuracy of the two migration methods. Its application in tunnel seismic prediction shows good results. Numerical experiments show that the imaging results of reverse time migration are better than the imaging results of Kirchhoff integral migration in many aspects of tunnel prediction. Field data show that this method has efficient computations and can establish a reasonable velocity model and a high quality imaging section. Combination with geological information can make an accurate prediction of the front of the tunnel geological structure.

Aiming at the delayed sowing of winter wheat induced by the drought and water logging often occurred in Huanghuai Plains of China, six sowing dates (15 October, normal sowing; 30 October, moderate delay; 15 November, delay; 30 November, seriously delay; 15 February, early spring sowing; and 1 March, spring sowing) were designed to investigate the effects of different sowing dates on the shoot type morphology and growth characteristics of winter wheat. With the delay of sowing date, the winter wheat grew and developed faster, and the growing period of the wheat sown in early spring and spring was 115-130 days shorter than that with normal sowing. As compared with those of the wheat with normal sowing, the shoot height, spike number per unit area, and productive spikelets per unit ear of the wheat sown delayed had a decrease, leaf position and canopy moved down, and leaf area reduced. When the sowing was delayed from the date 15 October (normal sowing) to 1 March (spring sowing), the harvest index increased from 0.46 to 0.53. Delaying sowing date also resulted in the significant reduction of grain yield, with the maximum decrement as high as 43. 6%. The spring-sown winter wheat not going through vernalization could still form yield.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Individuals with hypertension are at risk of stroke, and patients with stroke histories are at risk of experiencing another stroke. At this time, however, only a few studies have reported on stroke prevention knowledge and health behaviors among hypertensive patients who have had an initial stroke. The purpose of this study was to determine stroke prevention knowledge and health behaviors and to analyze the association between these 2 variables among hypertensive stroke patients who have had an initial stroke. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: With the use of a descriptive correlational design, a sample of 112 hypertensive stroke patients was recruited from the departments of neurology of 3 hospitals in Guangzhou, China. Each patient completed 2 reliable, validated questionnaires, the Stroke Prevention Knowledge Questionnaire and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II. Data were collected during patients' hospital admission for stroke, within 2 days of stroke onset, and before they received stroke education. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to examine the correlations between the study variables. Multiple stepwise regression analysis was used to predict both the level of knowledge relating to stroke prevention and health behaviors. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The participants showed a relatively low level of stroke prevention knowledge and a moderate level of engagement in healthy behaviors. Pearson correlation coefficient between these 2 variables was 0.423 (P < .001). The results of multiple regression analysis showed that stroke prevention knowledge was positively influenced by education level; health behaviors were positively influenced by both gender and stroke prevention knowledge. Findings suggest that male hypertensive patients and those with a lower education level need targeted stroke education. Because knowledge was unrelated to behavior with respect to smoking, alcohol use, and low-salt diet, behavioral interventions should be explored to address these important risk factors among patients at risk for stroke.