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Introduction: The moth species Athetis lepigone (Möschler) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), which has recently been identified as a pest of summer maize (Zea mays L.) in China, has demonstrated a rapid proliferation with in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain region since its initial discovery in Hebei Province in 2005. It has become a prevalent pest of corn crops, and its ability to adapt quickly to its surroundings is currently being investigated. One of the key characteristics of its siphoning mouthparts is not only the feeding apparatus itself but also the chemosensory organs that enable the detection of chemical signals from the surrounding environment. However, there is a lack of comprehensive research on the genes responsible for chemosensory and metabolic mechanisms in the proboscises of male and female A. lepigone adults.Methods: In this study, we utilized transcriptome analysis to identify a total of fifty chemosensory genes from six distinct families, including 19 odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), 22 chemosensory proteins (CSPs), one co-receptor (Orco), six odorant receptors (ORs), four ionotropic receptors (IRs), and two sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs) in the proboscis. Notably, seven OBPs, two CSPs, and one OR were discovered for the first time. Additionally, fourteen genes related to metabolism, including cytochrome P450 (CYPs) and carboxylesterases (CXEs), were also identified. Furthermore, a qualitative analysis was conducted on the relative transcript levels of eight related genes. The expression of 21 annotated chemosensory and metabolic genes was compared between A. lepigone adults and larvae using qRT-PCR, revealing tissue specificity. The majority of genes exhibited predominant expression in the antennae and proboscis during the adult stage, while showing slight expression in the combination of sixth-instar larval head oral appendages (maxilla, labium, and antenna) and pheromone gland-ovipositors of female adults.Results/discussion: Our study points to a new pest control strategies that these newly discovered genes have the potential to serve as targets for enhancing future pest control, including mating disruption and the use of food attractants. And it would be advantageous to ascertain the distribution of chemosensory gene expression and gain insights into the functionalities of these genes, thereby establishing a novel theoretical framework for the advancement of eco-friendly pesticides and efficient pest management strategies in the future.

Objective To examine the postoperative progression of multilevel thoracic posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) at circumferential decompression (CD) levels and evaluate the long‐term results after CD via the posterior approach. Methods Clinical data from 16 patients with thoracic myelopathy secondary to OPLL who underwent CD at a single center were evaluated retrospectively from 2007 to 2014 and were followed up for more than 60 months. Patients of all sexes and ages were included in the study. Thin‐slice computed tomography scans obtained at the time of surgery and the most recent follow‐up were analyzed. The ossified area was measured on the axial reconstructed scan of the most obvious protrusion of ossification at the CD level. The neurological outcomes were evaluated using modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores and Hirabayashi recovery rates (HRRs). Continuous variables were presented as the mean ± standard deviation and were analyzed using the Student's t‐test, while categorical variables were tested using Fisher's exact test. Results Among all patients, the most predominant type was the mixed type (9/16, 56.3%), while the circumscribed type was only found in two patients (12.5%), and the continuous type was found in five patients (31.2%). Six cases were associated with ossification of the ligamentum flavum, and two cases were combined with cervical OPLL. The OPLL area at the CD level increased in all patients. The mean follow‐up period was 5.5 ± 0.92 years (range 5–8 years). The mean area of ossification increased from 35.63 ± 39.23 mm2 at the time of surgery to 99.94 ± 65.39 mm2 at the last follow‐up visit (P

Abstract. Background:. Finding an optimal treatment strategy for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients remains challenging because of its intrinsic complexity. For mild to moderate scoliosis patients with lower skeletal growth potential (Risser 3–5), most clinicians agree with observation treatment; however, the curve progression that occurs during puberty, the adolescent period, and even in adulthood, remains a challenging issue for clinicians. The aim of the study is to investigate the efficacy of Schroth exercise in AIS patients with lower skeletal growth potential (Risser 3–5) and moderate scoliosis (Cobb angle 20°–40°). Methods:. From 2015 to 2017, data of 64 patients diagnosed with AIS in Peking University Third Hospital were reviewed. Forty-three patients underwent Schroth exercise were classified as Schroth group, and 21 patients underwent observation were classified as observation group. Outcomes were measured by health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and radiographic parameters. HRQOL was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) scores for back, Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) patient questionnaire. Radiographic spinopelvic parameters were obtained from anteroposterior and lateral X-rays. The pre-treatment and post-treatment HRQOL and radiographic parameters were tested to validate Schroth exercise efficacy. The inter-rater reliability of the radiographic parameters was tested using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The paired t test was used to examine HRQOL and radiographic parameters. Clinical relevance between C2-C7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA) and thoracic kyphosis was analyzed using Spearman correlation. Results:. In Schroth group, VAS back score, SRS-22 pain, and SRS-22 self-image domain were significantly improved from pre-treatment 3.0 ± 0.8, 3.6 ± 0.5, and 3.5 ± 0.7 to post-treatment 1.6 ± 0.6 (t = 5.578, P = 0.013), 4.0 ± 0.3 (t = −3.918, P = 0.001), and 3.7 ± 0.4 (t = −6.468, P

To (i) introduce the technical notes of a novel full‐endoscopic foraminotomy with a large endoscopic trephine for the treatment of severe degenerative lumbar foraminal stenosis at L5S1 level; (ii) assess the primary clinical outcomes of this technique; (iii) compare the effectiveness of this full‐endoscopic foraminotomy technique and other previous techniques for lumbar foraminal stenosis. From January 2019 to August 2019, a retrospective study of L5S1 severe degenerative lumbar foraminal stenosis was performed in our center. All patients who were diagnosed with severe foraminal stenosis at L5S1 level and failed conservative treatment for at least 6 weeks were identified. Patients with segmental instability or other coexisting contraindications were excluded. A total of 21 patients were enrolled in the study. All patients were treated by full‐endoscopic foraminotomy using large endoscopic trephine. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were evaluated preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6 months, and 1 year after the surgery, and the modified MacNab criteria were used to evaluate clinical outcomes at the last follow‐up. There were 10 males and 11 females with a mean age of 66.38 ± 9.51 years. Five patients had a history of lumbar surgery. The mean operative time was 63.57 ± 25.74 min. The mean follow‐up time was 13.29 ± 1.38 months. The mean postoperative hospital stay time was 1.29 ± 0.56 days. The mean preoperative VAS score significantly decreased from 7.38 ± 1.02 to 2.76 ± 1.09 (t = 19.759, P

Abstract Purpose To review and summarize the clinical features, diagnosis, treatment strategies, and prognosis of spinal Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD). Methods RDD is also termed as sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy. We searched the databases of PubMed, Elsevier ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and OVID. The keywords were Rosai-Dorfman disease and spine/central nervous system. Research articles and case reports with accessibility to full texts regarding spinal RDD were eligible for the inclusion. A total of 62 articles were included, and they contained 69 cases. We extracted the information of interest and analyzed them using SPSS statistics package. Results The average age was 33.1 ± 18.3 years. The ratio of males to females was 1.9/1. Overall, 63 cases presented with spine-related symptoms. A total of 27 cases (39.1%) had multi-organ lesions, and 12 cases had records of massive lymphadenopathy. Among 47 cases who first manifested spine-related symptoms, 93.6% were preoperatively misdiagnosed. The disease had a predilection for cervical spine (38.8%) and thoracic spine (40.3%). 62.9% of lesions were dura-based. Surgery remained the mainstream treatment option (78.8%), with or without adjuvant therapies. Total lesion resection was achieved in 34.8% of cases. The rate of lesion recurrence/progression was 19.5%, which was marginally lower for total resection than for non-total resection. Conclusion Spinal RDD has no pathognomonic clinical and imaging features. Most cases first present with spine-relevant symptoms. Massive lymphadenopathy is not common, but a tendency for multi-organ involvement should be considered. Spinal RDD has a high recurrence rate; thus, total resection is the treatment of choice. Adjuvant therapies are indicated for multi-organ lesions and residual lesions. A wait and watch strategy is recommended for asymptomatic patients. Herein, a workflow of diagnosis and treatment of the spinal RDD is established.

Abstract Previous studies have shown that forkhead box P4 antisense RNA 1 (FOXP4‐AS1) is dysregulated in tumor tissues and can serve as a prognostic indicator for multiple cancers. However, the clinical significance of FOXP4‐AS1 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains unclear. The goal of this study is to recognize the possible clinical significance of long noncoding RNA FOXP4‐AS1 in patients with early stage PDAC. A total of 112 patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) PDAC cohort, receiving RNA sequencing, were involved in the study. Survival analysis, functional mechanism, and potential small molecule drugs of target therapy of FOXP4‐AS1 were performed in this study. Survival analysis in TCGA PDAC cohort suggested that patients with high FOXP4‐AS1 expression had significantly augmented possibility of death than in PDAC patients with lower FOXP4‐AS1 expression (adjusted P = .008; adjusted HR = 2.143, 95% CI = 1.221‐3.760). In this study, a genome‐wide RNA sequencing dataset was used to identify 927 genes co‐expressing with FOXP4‐AS1 in PDAC tumor tissues. A total of 676 differentially expressed genes were identified between different FOXP4‐AS1 expression groups. Functional enrichment analysis of these genes and gene set enrichment analysis for PDAC genome‐wide RNA sequencing dataset was done. We have found that FOXP4‐AS1 may function in PDAC by participating in biological processes and pathways including oxidative phosphorylation, tricarboxylic acid cycle, classical tumor‐related pathways such as NF‐kappaB as well as Janus kinase/signal transducers in addition to activators of transcription, cell proliferation, and adhesion. In addition, we also screened two potential targeted therapeutic small molecule drugs (dimenhydrinate and metanephrine) for FOXP4‐AS1 in PDAC. In conclusion, our present study demonstrated that higher expression of FOXP4‐AS1 in PDAC tumor tissues were related with an inferior medical outcome. Through multiple genome‐wide approaches, we identified the potential molecular mechanisms of FOXP4‐AS1 in PDAC and two targeted therapeutic drugs for it.

Abstract Introduction Predicting the postoperative neurological function of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) patients is generally based on conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) patterns, but this approach is not completely satisfactory. This study utilized radiomics, which produced advanced objective and quantitative indicators, and machine learning to develop, validate, test, and compare models for predicting the postoperative prognosis of CSM. Materials and methods In total, 151 CSM patients undergoing surgical treatment and preoperative MRI was retrospectively collected and divided into good/poor outcome groups based on postoperative modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) scores. The datasets obtained from several scanners (an independent scanner) for the training (testing) cohort were used for cross‐validation (CV). Radiological models based on the intramedullary hyperintensity and compression ratio were constructed with 14 binary classifiers. Radiomic models based on 237 robust radiomic features were constructed with the same 14 binary classifiers in combination with 7 feature reduction methods, resulting in 98 models. The main outcome measures were the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) and accuracy. Results Forty‐one (11) radiomic models were superior to random guessing during CV (testing), with significant increased AUROC and/or accuracy (PAUROC

In order to reduce the effect of delayed fracture of high-strength bolts on train operation and structural safety, a non-destructive testing method for axial force of high-strength bolts in railway steel bridges is studied to identify and replace over-twisted bolts in time, so as to reduce the probability of delayed fracture caused by external factors. Based on the acoustic-elastic effect theory, considering the uneven internal stress distribution of bolts in service, in this paper, the bolt force area is differentiated into three regions: the nut, the screw and the thread; the author calculates the ultrasonic flight-time in different bolt stress areas and revises the impact of bolt elastic deformation and temperature by external force on sound speed and puts forward a more precise measurement method of axial force of bolt in service. According to the results of the test, the relative error between the ultrasonic measurement result and the displayed value of pressure sensor is less than 10%.

During the pandemic era, quarantines might potentially have negative effects and disproportionately exacerbate health condition problems. We conducted this cross-sectional, national study to ascertain the prevalence of constant pain symptoms and how quarantines impacted the pain symptoms and identify the factors associated with constant pain to further guide reducing the prevalence of chronic pain for vulnerable people under the pandemic. The sociodemographic data, quarantine conditions, mental health situations and pain symptoms of the general population were collected. After adjusting for potential confounders, long-term quarantine (≥15 days) exposures were associated with an increased risk of constant pain complaints compared to those not under a quarantine (Odds Ratio (OR): 1.26; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.03, 1.54; p = 0.026). Risk factors including unemployment (OR: 1.55), chronic disease history (OR: 2.38) and infection with COVID-19 (OR: 2.15), and any of mental health symptoms including depression, anxiety, insomnia and PTSD (OR: 5.44) were identified by a multivariable logistic regression. Additionally, mediation analysis revealed that the effects of the quarantine duration on pain symptoms were mediated by mental health symptoms (indirect effects: 0.075, p < 0.001). These results advocated that long-term quarantine measures were associated with an increased risk of experiencing pain, especially for vulnerable groups with COVID-19 infection and with mental health symptoms. The findings also suggest that reducing mental distress during the pandemic might contribute to reducing the burden of pain symptoms and prioritizing interventions for those experiencing a long-term quarantine.

Abstract Background Previously, the sagittal spinal balance in both asymptomatic and scoliotic Caucasian people has been characterized and compared. Very recently, the sagittal spino-pelvic parameters among asymptomatic Chinese adults have been studied, and the results were compared with Caucasian adults, indicating that a difference did exist. Unfortunately, the distribution of sagittal standing posture patterns among the Chinese population has not been characterized in either asymptomatic or scoliotic groups. Methods We conducted a radiographic comparison study to define the deviation of sagittal balance in scoliotic patients from that of an asymptomatic population. A total of 126 asymptomatic and 117 idiopathic scoliotic (IS) young adults were recruited. Radiographic data from each subject were reviewed, and sagittal spinopelvic parameters were measured. The Roussouly type was then determined, as well as the relative position of the C7 plumbline with respect to the sacrum and hip axis. Comparison analyses were undertaken between the two different groups. Results The IS group had a larger pelvic incidence, pelvic tilt and sacral slope, but a smaller spinal tilt than the asymptomatic group (P

Background/Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor with a high rate of recurrence. Immunohistochemical analysis of the marker of proliferation Ki-67 (MKI67) is used to assess proliferation activity of HCC The regulation of MKI67 expression remains unclear in HCC This study aims to explore the association between MKI67 expression and gene variants. Methods: A total of 195 hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC patients were genotyped using Illumina HumanExome BeadChip-12-1_A (242,901 markers). An independent cohort (97 subjects) validated the association of polymorphism determinants and candidate genes with MKI67 expression. The relationships between MKI67 with p53 and variants of candidate genes in the clinical outcomes of HCC patients were analyzed. Results: We found that MKI67 combined with p53 was associated with a 3-year recurrence-free survival and five variants near TTN and CCDC8 were associated with MKI67 expression. TTN harboring rs2288563-TT and rs2562832-AA+CA indicated a favorable outcome for HCC patients. Conclusion: Variants near TTN and CCDC8 were associated with MKI67 expression, and rs2288563 and rs2562832 in TTN are potential biomarkers for the prediction of clinical outcomes in HBV-related HCC patients.

Abstract Background Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is widely used in the treatment of cervical degenerative disease; however, the variation of cervical sagittal alignment changes after ACDF has been rarely explored. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between changes of cervical sagittal alignment after ACDF and spino-pelvic sagittal alignment under Roussouly classification. Methods A cohort of 133 Chinese cervical spondylotic patients who received ACDF from 2011 to 2012 was recruited. All patients were categorized with Roussouly Classification. Lateral X-ray images of global spine were obtained, and preoperative and postoperative parameters were measured and analyzed, including C2–C7 angles (C2–C7), C0–C7 angles (C0–C7), external auditory meatus (EAM) tilt, sacral slope (SS), thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbar lordosis (LL), spinal sacral angles (SSA), Superior adjacent inter-vertebral angle (SAIV), inferior adjacent inter-vertebral angle (IAIV) and et al. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for intragroup comparisons preoperatively and at postoperative 48 months. Results Among the parameters, C2–C7 and C0–C7 showed significant increase, while EAM TK, and IAIV decreased significantly. In type I, EAM and TK decreased significantly, however SS showed a significant increase; in type II, TK showed a significant decrease, but SSA showed a significant increase; in type III, a significant increase of C0–C7 was observed with a significant decrease in EAM, nevertheless, LL, SS and SSA showed significant decreases; and in type IV, C2–C7 showed a significant increase and EAM decreased significantly. The percentage of lordotic alignment in cervical spine increased, which was presenting in type I, III and IV. Nevertheless, the amount of patients with straight cervical alignment increased in type II. Conclusion The backward movement of head occurs is the compensatory mechanism in cervical sagittal alignment modifications after ACDF. The compensatory alteration of spino-pelvic sagittal alignment varied in different Roussouly type.

Background: Giant cell tumors (GCTs) are benign, locally aggressive tumors. We examined the rate of local recurrence of spinal GCTs and sought to identify recurrence factors in patients who underwent surgery. Methods: Between 1995 and 2014, 94 mobile spine GCT patients were treated at our hospital, comprising 43 male and 51 female patients with an average age of 33.4 years. Piecemeal intralesional spondylectomy and total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) were performed. Radiotherapy was suggested for recurrent or residual GCT cases. Since denosumab was not available before 2014 in our country, only interferon and/or zoledronic acid was suggested. Results: Of the 94 patients, four underwent conservative treatment and 90 underwent operations. Seventy-five patients (79.8%) were followed up for a minimum of 24 months or until death. The median follow-up duration was 75.3 months. The overall recurrence rate was 37.3%. Ten patients (13.3%) died before the last follow-up (median: 18.5 months). Two patients (2.6%) developed osteogenic sarcoma. The local recurrence rate was 80.0% (24/30) in patients who underwent intralesional curettage, 8.8% (3/34) in patients who underwent extracapsular piecemeal spondylectomy, and 0 (0/9) in patients who underwent TES. The risk factors for local recurrence were lesions located in the cervical spine (P = 0.049), intralesional curettage (P < 0.001), repeated surgeries (P = 0.014), and malignancy (P < 0.001). Malignant transformation was a significant risk factor for death (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Cervical spinal tumors, curettage, and nonintact tumors were risk factors for local recurrence. Intralesional curettage and malignancy were the most important significant factors for local recurrence and death, respectively.

Objective: The objective of this study is to review cerebrospinal fluid leakage (CSFL) after thoracic decompression and describe its regular and special features. Data Sources: Literature cited in this review was retrieved from PubMed and Medline and was primarily published during the last 10 years. “Cerebrospinal fluid”, “leakage”, “dural tears”, and “thoracic decompression” were the indexed terms. Relevant citations in the retrieved articles were also screened to include more data. Study Selection: All retrieved literature was scrutinized, and four categories were recorded: incidence and risk factors, complications, treatment modalities, and prognosis. Results: CSFL is much more frequent after thoracic decompression than after cervical and lumbar spinal surgeries. Its occurrence is related to many clinical factors, especially the presence of ossified ligaments and the adhesion of the dural sac. While its impact on the late neurological recovery is currently controversial, CSFL increases the risk of other perioperative complications, such as low intracranial pressure symptoms, infection, and vascular events. The combined use of primary repairs during the operation and conservative treatment postoperatively is generally effective for most CSFL cases, whereas lumbar drains and reoperations should be implemented as rescue options for refractory cases only. Conclusions: CSFL after thoracic decompression has not been specifically investigated, so the present study provides a systematic and comprehensive review of the issue. CSFL is a multi-factor-related complication, and pathological factors play a decisive role. The importance of CSFL is in its impact on the increased risk of other complications during the postoperative period. Methods to prevent these complications are in need. In addition, though the required treatment resources are not special for CSFL after thoracic decompression, most CSFL cases are conservatively curable, and surgeons should be aware of it.

Treatment for optic nerve injury by brain-derived neurotrophic factor or the transplantation of human umbilical cord blood stem cells has gained progress, but analysis by biomechanical indicators is rare. Rabbit models of optic nerve injury were established by a clamp. At 7 days after injury, the vitreous body received a one-time injection of 50 μg brain-derived neurotrophic factor or 1 × 10 6 human umbilical cord blood stem cells. After 30 days, the maximum load, maximum stress, maximum strain, elastic limit load, elastic limit stress, and elastic limit strain had clearly improved in rabbit models of optical nerve injury after treatment with brain-derived neurotrophic factor or human umbilical cord blood stem cells. The damage to the ultrastructure of the optic nerve had also been reduced. These findings suggest that human umbilical cord blood stem cells and brain-derived neurotrophic factor effectively repair the injured optical nerve, improve biomechanical properties, and contribute to the recovery after injury.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent and life-threatening malignancies worldwide. There are few diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and druggable targets for HCC. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) is a marker of stem cells in a variety of cancers, but the mRNA levels and prognostic value of ALDH1 isoforms in HCC patients remain unknown. In the present study, gene ontology annotation of the ALDH1 family was performed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID), and the gene pathway analsis was performed using GeneMANIA software. The initial prognostic value of ALDH1 expression in 360 HCC patients was assessed using the OncoLnc database. The expression levels of ALDH1 isoforms in normal liver tissues and clinical specimens of cancer vs. normal control datasets were determined using the GTEx and Oncomine databases, respectively. We then analyzed the prognostic value of ALDH1 expression in 212 hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC patients using the GEO database. We found that the ALDH1 isoform showed high aldehyde dehydrogenase activity. The ALDH1A1, ALDH1B1, and ALDH1L1 genes encoded for the ALDH1 enzyme. High ALDH1B1 expression had protective qualities in HCC patients. Moreover, HBV-related HCC patients who showed high ALDH1L1 gene expression had a better clinical outcomes. In addition, high ALDH1A1 expression was associated with a 57-month recurrence-free survival in HBV-related HCC patients. High ALDH1B1 expression was protective for HCCs with multiple nodules and high serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level. Furthermore, high serum AFP levels contributed to lower ALDH1L1. ALDH1A1, ALDH1B1, and ALDH1L1, all of which were considered promising diagnostic and prognostic markers as well as potential drug targets.

The study aims to investigate if low-level laser therapy (LLLT) combined with eccentric exercises could more effectively treat patellar tendinopathy than LLLT alone and eccentric exercises alone. Twenty-one patients with patellar tendinopathy were randomized to three groups: laser alone, exercise alone, or laser plus exercise, with seven in each group. Laser irradiations were administered at the inferior pole of the patella and the two acupoints of Extra 36 (Xiyan) with the intensity of 1592 mW/cm2. Eccentric training program consisted of three sets of 15 repetitions of unilateral squat on level ground. All patients received six treatments per week for four weeks. Knee pain and function and quadriceps muscle strength and endurance were evaluated at baseline and the end of treatment. After the 4-week intervention, all groups showed significant improvements in all the outcomes (P

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacies of laser acupunctures with different laser irradiation doses for body weight loss and body fat reduction in obese persons. Twentyeight subjects with simple obesity were divided into four groups receiving laser acupunctures at 0, 358, 478, and 597 J/cm2, respectively, which were applied to the acupoints of Cv 8, St 25, and Sp 15, six times per week for four weeks. Body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), body fat mass (BFM), body fat percent, waist girth, hip girth, and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were measured before and after treatment. The laser groups receiving 358 and 597 J/cm2 showed significant reductions in BW, BMI, BFM, waist girth, hip girth, and WHR after treatment compared with the placebo group. The percent reductions of BFM in the laser groups receiving 358 and 597 J/cm2 were 4.29% and 3.94%, respectively, and the corresponding values of BW were 1.99% and 1.63%, respectively. In conclusion, laser acupuncture could reduce body fat mass and lower body weight in a dose-dependent manner in obese persons. Among the doses of 358, 478, and 597 J/cm2, both the 358 and 597 J/cm2 doses were effective in the 4-week trial.

Introduction: The moth species Athetis lepigone (Moschler) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), which has recently been identified as a pest of summer maize (Zea mays L.) in China, has demonstrated a rapid proliferation with in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain region since its initial discovery in Hebei Province in 2005. It has become a prevalent pest of corn crops, and its ability to adapt quickly to its surroundings is currently being investigated. One of the key characteristics of its siphoning mouthparts is not only the feeding apparatus itself but also the chemosensory organs that enable the detection of chemical signals from the surrounding environment. However, there is a lack of comprehensive research on the genes responsible for chemosensory and metabolic mechanisms in the proboscises of male and female A. lepigone adults. Methods: In this study, we utilized transcriptome analysis to identify a total of fifty chemosensory genes from six distinct families, including 19 odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), 22 chemosensory proteins (CSPs), one co-receptor (Orco), six odorant receptors (ORs), four ionotropic receptors (IRs), and two sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs) in the proboscis. Notably, seven OBPs, two CSPs, and one OR were discovered for the first time. Additionally, fourteen genes related to metabolism, including cytochrome P450 (CYPs) and carboxylesterases (CXEs), were also identified. Furthermore, a qualitative analysis was conducted on the relative transcript levels of eight related genes. The expression of 21 annotated chemosensory and metabolic genes was compared between A. lepigone adults and larvae using qRT-PCR, revealing tissue specificity. The majority of genes exhibited predominant expression in the antennae and proboscis during the adult stage, while showing slight expression in the combination of sixth-instar larval head oral appendages (maxilla, labium, and antenna) and pheromone gland-ovipositors of female adults. Results/discussion: Our study points to a new pest control strategies that these newly discovered genes have the potential to serve as targets for enhancing future pest control, including mating disruption and the use of food attractants. And it would be advantageous to ascertain the distribution of chemosensory gene expression and gain insights into the functionalities of these genes, thereby establishing a novel theoretical framework for the advancement of eco-friendly pesticides and efficient pest management strategies in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) can quantify the microstructural changes in the spinal cord. It might be a substitute for T2 increased signal intensity (ISI) for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) evaluation and prognosis. Purpose: The purpose of the study is to investigate the relationship between DWI metrics and neurologic function of patients with CSM. Study Type: Retrospective. Population: Forty-eight patients with CSM (18.8% females) and 36 healthy controls (HCs, 25.0% females). Field Strength/Sequence: 3 T; spin-echo echo-planar imaging-DWI; turbo spin-echo T1/T2; multi-echo gradient echo T2*. Assessment: For patients, conventional MRI indicators (presence and grades of T2 ISI), DWI indicators (neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging [NODDI]-derived isotropic volume fraction [ISOVF], intracellular volume fraction, and orientation dispersion index [ODI], diffusion tensor imaging [DTI]-derived fractional anisotropy [FA] and mean diffusivity [MD], and diffusion kurtosis imaging [DKI]-derived FA, MD, and mean kurtosis), clinical conditions, and modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) were recorded before the surgery. Neurologic function improvement was measured by the 3-month follow-up recovery rate (RR). For HCs, DWI, and mJOA were measured as baseline comparison. Statistical Tests: Continuous (categorical) variables were compared between patients and HCs using Student's t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests (chi-square or Fisher exact tests). The relationships between DWI metrics/conventional MRI findings, and the pre-operative mJOA/RR were assessed using correlation and multivariate analysis. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among patients, grades of T2 ISI were not correlated with pre-surgical mJOA/RR (P = 0.717 and 0.175, respectively). NODDI ODI correlated with pre-operative mJOA (r = -0.31). DTI FA, DKI FA, and NODDI ISOVF were correlated with the recovery rate (r = 0.31, 0.41, and -0.34, respectively). In multivariate analysis, NODDI ODI (DTI FA, DKI FA, NODDI ISOVF) significantly contributed to the pre-operative mJOA (RR) after adjusting for age. Data Conclusion: DTI FA, DKI FA, and NODDI ISOVF are predictors for prognosis in patients with CSM. NODDI ODI can be used to evaluate CSM severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]