scholarly journals The Impacts of Along-Channel Acupuncture on the Protein Expressions of the Chloride Channel of the Rats with Myocardial Ischemia

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ze-Dong Cheng ◽  
Chun-Ri Li ◽  
Xiao-Jiao Shao ◽  
Pei-Jing Rong ◽  
Xiao-Qing Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Myocardial Ischemia ◽  
Cardiac Tissue ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Transmembrane Conductance Regulator ◽  
Transmembrane Conductance ◽  
Blank Control Group ◽  
Group Modeling ◽  
Protein Expressions ◽  
The Impact

Recent evidence suggests that chloride (CL−) channels are involved in myocardial ischemia. In this study, the impact of acupuncture on the protein expressions of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) and CLC-2CL−channel of the rats with myocardial ischemia were tested and its mechanism was explored. The rats for experiment were distributed randomly into 5 groups: blank control group, modeling control group, Neiguan (PC-6) treatment group, Lieque (LU-7) control group, and Non-acupoint control group. The rats of all groups, except the blank control group, had myocardial ischemia via multiple subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (ISO). Electroacupuncture treatment was given to Neiguan (PC-6) treatment group, Lieque (LU-7) control group, and Non-acupoints control group, respectively, once a day for 7 days. The results show that acupuncture can alleviate the myocardial ischemia of cardiac tissue, decrease significantly the activities of serum SOD and MDA, and thereby influence the protein expressions of CFTR and CLC-2 inCL−channels. The results of the study implies that acupuncture suppresses the pathological changes of cardiac tissue of rats with myocardial ischemia and regulates the protein expression of CFTR and CLC-2CL−channels, which may serve as one possible mechanism to reduce myocardial ischemia.

A Newspaper’s Effect on the Strength of Automatic Associations in Memory

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Arendt
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Term Effect ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Implicit Measure ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Short Term Treatment ◽  
Short Term Effect ◽  
Automatic Associations ◽  
Foreign Nationality ◽  
The Impact

A test was done to see if reading a newspaper which consistently overrepresents foreigners as criminals strengthens the automatic association between foreign country and criminal in memory (i.e., implicit cultivation). Further, an investigation was done to find out if reading articles from the same newspaper produces a short-term effect on the same measure and if (1) emotionalization of the newspaper texts, (2) emotional reactions of the reader (indicated by arousal), and (3) attributed text credibility moderate the short-term treatment effect. Eighty-five participants were assigned to one of three experimental conditions. Participants in the control group received short factual crime texts, where the nationality of the offender was not mentioned. Participants in the factual treatment group received the same texts, but the foreign nationality was mentioned. Participants in the emotionalized treatment group received emotionalized articles (i.e., texts which are high in vividness and frequency) covering the same crimes, with the foreign nationality mentioned. Supporting empirical evidence for implicit cultivation and a short-term effect was found. However, only emotionalized articles produced a short-term effect on the strength of the automatic association, indicating that newspaper texts must have a minimum of stimulus intensity to overcome an effect threshold. There were no moderating effects of arousal or credibility pertaining to the impact on the implicit measure. However, credibility moderated the short-term effect on a first-order judgment (i.e., estimated frequency of foreigners of all criminals). This indicates that a newspaper’s effect on the strength of automatic associations is relatively independent from processes of propositional reasoning.

Regression of cardiac amyloid deposits with novel therapeutics: reaching new frontiers in cardiac ATTR amyloidosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Chacko ◽  
A Martinez-Naharro ◽  
T Kotecha ◽  
R Martone ◽  
D Hutt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Cardiac Amyloidosis ◽  
T1 Mapping ◽  
Group Versus ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cardiac Amyloid ◽  
Attr Amyloidosis ◽  
Amyloid Load ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Cardiac involvement is the main driver of outcome in ATTR amyloidosis. Advances in therapeutics hold potential in transforming the course of the disease but the impact on cardiac amyloid load is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of patisiran, a new double stranded RNA based gene silencing therapy and a stabilizer, diflunisal, on cardiac amyloid load as measured by CMR and T1 mapping, in patients with ATTR amyloidosis. Methods and results Thirty-two patients with hereditary cardiac amyloidosis were studied. Sixteen patients received treatment with patisiran, and sixteen control subjects did not receive any disease modifying treatment. Patients were assessed with echocardiogram, CMR, NT-proBNP and six-minute walk time measurements at baseline and at 1 year (Mean interval 11.45±3.08 months in treatment group, mean interval 12.82±5.06 months in the control group). CMR analysis comprised LV volumes, T1 mapping to measure the extracellular volume (ECV) occupied by amyloid, T2 mapping and late gadolinium enhancement imaging. At 1-year follow-up, there was a substantial reduction in cardiac amyloid burden, in keeping with cardiac amyloid regression in 45% of patients on treatment. Overall the treatment group showed a reduction in ECV at 1 year follow up compared to an increase in ECV at 1 year in the control group (−1.37%, 95% CI: −3.43 to 0.68% versus 5.02%, 95% CI: 2.86% to 7.18% respectively, p<0.001). The treatment group also showed an improvement in change in 6MWT at 1 year follow up compared to 6MWT at 1 year in the control group (−8.12 meters, 95% CI: −50.8 to 34.6 meters in the treatment group versus −132.27 meters, 95% CI: −216 to −48.6 meters in the control group, p=0.002). The treatment group showed a reduction in BNP at 1 year follow up compared to an increase in the control group (−567.87, 95% CI: −1288.90 to 153.15 in the treatment group versus 2004, 95% CI: 12.82 to 3995.45 in the control group, p<0.001). There was no significant difference from baseline and 1-year data between the control and treatment groups for the difference in echocardiographic parameters, native T1, T2. There was a significant reduction in the percentage of injected dose by 99Tc-DPD scintigraphy in treated patients at 1 year compared to baseline. Conclusions These findings provide the first compelling evidence of substantial cardiac amyloid regression in ATTR amyloidosis, as well as the potential for CMR to be used to track response in treated patients with ATTR cardiac amyloidosis. Combination therapy with transthyretin knock down and stabilizing agents may well be synergistic given enhanced stoichiometry of stabilizers in the face of much reduced plasma transthyretin concentration. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

scholarly journals Impact and cost-effectiveness evaluation of a community-based rehabilitation intervention on quality of life among Chinese adults with hearing loss: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Ye ◽  
Dawei Zhu ◽  
Siyuan Chen ◽  
Xuefeng Shi ◽  
Rui Gong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Treatment Group ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Chinese Adults ◽  
Community Based ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Hearing loss is quite prevalent and can be related to people’s quality of life. To our knowledge, there are limited studies assessing the efficacy of hearing interventions on quality of life in adults. Therefore, we aim to conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to determine the impact and cost-effectiveness of community-based hearing rehabilitation on quality of life among Chinese adults with hearing loss. Methods/design In this two-arm feasibility study, participants aged 16 and above with some degree of hearing loss (n = 464) will be recruited from Linyi City, Shandong Province. They are randomly assigned to the treatment group or the control group. Those in the treatment group are prescribed with hearing aids, while those in the control group receive no intervention. Reinstruction in use of devices is provided for the treatment group during booster visits held 12 months post-randomization or unscheduled interim visits when necessary. Data are collected at baseline and the follow-up 20 months later. The primary outcome is changes in quality of life over a 20-month study period. Secondary outcomes include sub-dimensions in quality of life, physical functioning, chronic diseases, cognitive function, depression, social support, hospitalizations, falls, and healthcare costs. Finally, we will evaluate whether hearing aids intervention is cost-effective to apply in a large scale. Discussion The trial is designed to evaluate the impact and cost-effectiveness of a community-based rehabilitation intervention on quality of life among Chinese adults with hearing loss. We hope that it would help improve the well-being for Chinese adults and provide references in policy and practice for China and other countries. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1900024739. Registered on 26 July 2019.

Synergistic Effects of Quercetin-modified Silicone Gel Sheet in Scar Treatment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Jin ◽  
Tao Tang ◽  
Hao Zhou ◽  
Xu-Dong Hong ◽  
Hao Fan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Combination Treatment ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Type I ◽  
Blank Control Group ◽  
Combination Treatment Group ◽  
Silicone Gel ◽  
Scar Treatment ◽  
Silicone Gel Sheet ◽  
Dressing Change

Abstract Both silicone gel and quercetin are effective in scar treatment but have different action mechanisms. Quercetin is mainly applied in the gel form and can lead to poor adhesion of silicone gel sheet; therefore, they cannot be combined in clinical use. In this study, a silicone gel sheet that releases quercetin in a sustained manner for 48 hours was successfully developed. Four round scars (Ø: 1 cm) were made in the ears of New-Zealand albino rabbits (n=10). After scar healing, the rabbits were divided into four groups: blank control group with no treatment, silicone gel sheet group with dressing change every 2 days, quercetin group with dressing change 3 times daily, and combination treatment group with dressing change every 2 days. Scar assessment was performed 3 months later. Transepidermal water loss showed no difference between the combination treatment group and the silicone gel sheet group, but was lower than that in the quercetin group and the blank control group. Immunohistochemistry of CD 31 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen showed the following results: combination treatment group < silicone gel sheet group = quercetin group < blank control group. Polymerase chain reaction results showed that the expression of type-I and type-III collagen in the combination treatment group and the quercetin group was significantly lower than that in the other two groups. Thus, quercetin-modified silicone gel sheet combines the advantages of the two treatments and is more effective at inhibiting cell proliferation in scar tissue than either of the two treatments alone.

scholarly journals Standardising intraoperative irrigation with 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate in caesarean delivery to reduce surgical site infections: A single institution experience

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 24-33
Author(s):  
Theresa Mangold ◽  
Erin Kinzel Hamilton ◽  
Helen Boehm Johnson ◽  
Rene Perez
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Surgical Site Infection ◽  
Infection Rate ◽  
Caesarean Delivery ◽  
Chlorhexidine Gluconate ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Antibiotic Administration ◽  
Site Infection ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
The Impact

Background Surgical site infection is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality following caesarean delivery. Objective To determine whether standardising intraoperative irrigation with 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate during caesarean delivery could decrease infection rates. Methods This was a process improvement project involving 742 women, 343 of whom received low-pressured 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate irrigation during caesarean delivery over a one-year period. Infection rates were compared with a standard-of-care control group (399 women) undergoing caesarean delivery the preceding year. Results The treatment group infection rate met the study goal by achieving a lower infection rate than the control group, though this was not statistically significant. A significant interaction effect between irrigation with 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate and antibiotic administration time existed, such that infection occurrence in the treatment group was not dependent on antibiotic timing, as opposed to the control group infection occurrence, which was dependent on antibiotic timing. Conclusion Intraoperative irrigation with 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate during caesarean delivery did not statistically significantly reduce the rate of infections. It did render the impact of antibiotic administration timing irrelevant in prevention of surgical site infection. This suggests a role for 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate irrigation in mitigating infection risk whether antibiotic prophylaxis timing is suboptimal or ideal.

scholarly journals Fasudil ameliorated liposaccharide-induced acute kidney injury in mice by inhibiting NLRP3

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 2055-2062
Author(s):  
Xueqian Li ◽  
Chengzhi Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Acute Kidney Injury ◽  
Treatment Group ◽  
Cell Growth ◽  
Mesangial Cells ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Inflammatory Factors ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Model Group ◽  
Blank Control Group ◽  
Tissue Homogenates

Purpose: To determine the influence of fasudil on LPS-mediated acute kidney injury (AKI) in mice.Methods: Healthy C57 mice (n = 140) of largely similar weight were used in this study. They were assigned to a treatment group (n = 40), a model group (n = 50), and a blank control group (n = 50). Mice in treatment and model groups were injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In the treatment group, each mouse was injected intravenously with fasudil daily before the establishment of the mouse model of AKI. All mice were sacrificed 6 h after establishing the AKI model. Portions of the kidney from mice were used for preparation of tissue homogenates, while the remaining portions were subjected to primary culture. Transformed C3H Mouse Kidney-1 (TCMK1) and mesangial cells from mouse glomeruli (SV40-MES-13) cells were used for assays of cell growth and apoptosis. Blood samples were alsocollected from the mice. Thereafter, the levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) in kidney homogenates of the three groups were determined. Moreover, levels of NLRP3, nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β in the homogenates and blood were assayed. Cell growth and apoptosis were also measured.Results: The treatment group and model group showed higher levels of BUN and Cr than the control group, with a higher level observed in model mice than in the treatment mice. There were significantly higher relative levels of NF-κB, NLRP3 and TLR4 in treatment and model groups than in controls, with a higher level observed in model mice than in treatment mice. There were significantly higher concentrations of inflammatory factors in treatment and model mice groups than in control mice, with higher levels observed in model mice than in treatment mice. The TCMK1 and SV40-MES-13 cells in the two groups showed slower cell growth and stronger apoptosis than those in control group (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Fasudil relieved LPS-mediated AKI in mice by suppressing TLR4/NF-κB signal pathway and lowering NLRP3. Thus, fasudil has potential as a new adjunctive agent for the treatment of AKI.

Did the PCAOB's Restrictions on Auditors' Tax Services Improve Audit Quality?

2015 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 1493-1512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clive S. Lennox
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Auditor Independence ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Difference In Differences ◽  
Significant Drop ◽  
Going Concern ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT In 2005–2006, the PCAOB imposed restrictions on auditors' tax services in order to strengthen auditor independence and improve audit quality. The restrictions resulted in a significant drop in auditor-provided tax services (APTS). To test the impact on audit quality, I partition the sample into a treatment group (companies whose APTS purchases dropped significantly when the restrictions were introduced) and a control group (companies whose APTS purchases were relatively unaffected) and I measure audit quality using the incidence of accounting misstatements, tax-related misstatements, and auditors' going-concern opinions. Using a difference-in-differences design, I find no change in audit quality for the treatment group relative to the control group after the restrictions are imposed.

scholarly journals Spatial Orientation Skill Performance with a Workshop Based on Green Infrastructure in Cities

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Carbonell-Carrera ◽  
Jose Luis Saorin ◽  
Dámari Melián-Díaz ◽  
Stephany Hess-Medler
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Spatial Orientation ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
City Planning ◽  
Teaching Strategy ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Spatial Skills ◽  
Skill Performance ◽  
Specific Teaching ◽  
The Impact

Better training of spatial skills of green infrastructure managers will contribute to better planning practices in this field. The professionals using geo-spatial technologies in sustainable city planning require, in their curriculum, specific training focused towards the acquisition of spatial skills. Using maps and geo-spatial technologies, spatial orientation skill is needed. In this research, a workshop based on a green infrastructure has been carried out. A specific teaching strategy for the improvement of spatial orientation skill has been performed. In the workshop, 3D technologies of graphic representation of an urban environment were used such as Cad Mapper, Sketch Up Make 2017 and Google Street View. Thirty-two students (22 treatment group, 10 control group) of agronomic engineering participated. The impact on spatial orientation skill was measured with the Perspective Taking-Spatial Orientation test, through pre- and post-tests. No gender differences were found. The Treatment Group obtained a significant increase of 19.27% in their spatial orientation skill. Participants of the Control group did not significantly increase their spatial orientation skill (3.21%). Specific teaching strategies such as those performed in this research can be effective for the training and development of spatial orientation skill, needed for geospatial planning in the field of Green Infrastructures.

The Impact of an Educational Program on Improving Diabetes Knowledge and Changing Behaviors of Nurses in Long-Term Care Facilities

1995 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 541-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Turner Parker ◽  
Nancy Leggett-Frazier ◽  
Pauline A. Vincent ◽  
Melvin S. Swanson
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Diabetes Care ◽  
Educational Program ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Group A ◽  
The Impact

Nursing staffs from two long-term care facilities attended a multisession educational program about the care of residents with diabetes (treatment group). A control group consisted of the nursing staffs from two other similar facilities who did not participate in the educational program. Both groups were given a knowledge pretest and posttest. A chart review also was conducted following the educational intervention to determine any changes in the diabetes care provided by the treatment group. Following the educational program, the treatment group had a significant increase in their mean score on the knowledge test compared with the control group. However, a. review of the residents' charts revealed no significant increases in specific behaviors related to diabetes care. The findings suggest that, in addition to educational programs, more focused training concerning diabetes care is needed to improve the care of residents with diabetes in long-term care facilities. Implications for diabetes educators are discussed.

scholarly journals Dimeric cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator exists in the plasma membrane

2003 ◽  
Vol 374 (3) ◽  
pp. 793-797 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohabir RAMJEESINGH ◽  
Jackie F. KIDD ◽  
Ling Jun HUAN ◽  
Yanchun WANG ◽  
Christine E. BEAR
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Plasma Membranes ◽  
Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells ◽  
Apical Surface ◽  
Transmembrane Conductance Regulator ◽  
Transmembrane Conductance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane

CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) mediates chloride conduction across the apical membrane of epithelia, and mutations in CFTR lead to defective epithelial fluid transport. Recently, there has been considerable interest in determining the quaternary structure of CFTR at the cell surface, as such information is a key to understand the molecular basis for pathogenesis in patients harbouring disease-causing mutations. In our previous work [Ramjeesingh, Li, Kogan, Wang, Huan and Bear (2001) Biochemistry 40, 10700–10706], we showed that monomeric CFTR is the minimal functional form of the protein, yet when expressed in Sf 9 cells using the baculovirus system, it also exists as dimers. The purpose of the present study was to determine if dimeric CFTR exists at the surface of mammalian cells, and particularly in epithelial cells. CFTR solubilized from membranes prepared from Chinese-hamster ovary cells stably expressing CFTR and from T84 epithelial cells migrates as predicted for monomeric, dimeric and larger complexes when subjected to sizing by gel filtration and analysis by non-dissociative electrophoresis. Purification of plasma membranes led to the enrichment of CFTR dimers and this structure exists as the complex glycosylated form of the protein, supporting the concept that dimeric CFTR is physiologically relevant. Consistent with its localization in plasma membranes, dimeric CFTR was labelled by surface biotinylation. Furthermore, dimeric CFTR was captured at the apical surface of intact epithelial cells by application of a membrane-impermeable chemical cross-linker. Therefore it follows from the present study that CFTR dimers exist at the surface of epithelial cells. Further studies are necessary to understand the impact of dimerization on the cell biology of wild-type and mutant CFTR proteins.

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