Objective. To investigate the effectiveness of four-channel FES based on a normal gait pattern on improving functional ability in subjects early after ischemic stroke. Methods. Forty-five subjects were randomly assigned into a four-channel FES group (n = 16), a placebo group (n = 15), or a dual-channel group (n = 14). Stimulation lasted for 30 min in each session with 1 session/day, 5 days a week for 3 weeks. All subjects were assessed at baseline, at 3 weeks of treatment, and at 3 months after the treatment had finished. The assessments included Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), the Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients (PASS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Functional Ambulation Category (FAC), and the Modified Barthel Index (MBI). Results. All 3 groups demonstrated significant improvements in all outcome measurements from pre- to posttreatment and further gains at followup. The score of FMA and MBI improved significantly in the four-channel group at the end of the 3 weeks of training. And the scores of PASS, BBS, MBI, and FAC in the four-channel group were significantly higher than those of the placebo group. Conclusions. This study indicated that four-channel FES can improve motor function, balance, walking ability, and performance of activities of daily living in subjects with early ischemic stroke.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative disease of the joints. It is primarily caused by age, obesity, mechanical damage, genetics, and other factors, leading to cartilage degradation, synovial inflammation, and subchondral sclerosis with osteophyte formation. Many recent studies have reported that glycolysis disorders are related lead to OA. There is a close relationship between glycolysis and OA. Because of their hypoxic environment, chondrocytes are highly dependent on glycolysis, their primary energy source for chondrocytes. Glycolysis plays a vital role in OA development. In this paper, we comprehensively summarized the abnormal expression of related glycolytic enzymes in OA, including Hexokinase 2 (HK2), Pyruvate kinase 2 (PKM2), Phosphofructokinase-2/fructose-2, 6-Bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), and discussed the potential application of glycolysis in treating OA. Finally, the natural products that can regulate the glycolytic pathway were summarized. Targeting glucose transporters and rate-limiting enzymes to glycolysis may play an essential role in treating OA.

Objective: Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. (PMT) is a widely used traditional Chinese herbal medicine with a variety of pharmacological effects. This study investigates the chemical composition of a water extract of PMT and its potential as a therapy for osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: The components of the aqueous extract of PMT were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses of a gene expression dataset downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were performed using Limma in R language. Differential chondrocyte metabolites were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) before and after treatment. Results: The water extract of PMT showed good ability in improving OA, and the content of the active ingredient emodin increased significantly after processing. Analysis of the GEO database further demonstrated a strong association between OA and metabolic pathways. Emodin promotes chondrocyte proliferation and significantly reduces the number of inflammatory factors. The metabolomic results showed that emodin affected five metabolic pathways related mainly to primary bile acid biosynthesis, steroid biosynthesis, and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids. Conclusions: This study revealed the pharmacological effects of PMT and emodin as the main active components, thereby providing a scientific basis for the treatment of OA. Graphical abstract: http://links.lww.com/AHM/A51

During the rotation, aero-engine impeller blades are subjected to the alternating load of high frequency, low stress and small strain, so it is effortless for the impeller blades to enter the stage of very-high-cycle fatigue (VHCF). The research on the VHCF performance of 2A60 aluminum alloy is of great engineering significance to verify the reliability of the impeller in service. In this paper, the VHCF performance of 2A60 aluminum alloy is studied by fatigue life curve and fracture morphology. The results show that the fatigue properties of 2A60 aluminum alloy under different cooling conditions are different, and the VHCF properties under ethanol cooling conditions are better than those under water cooling conditions. However, under either water-cooled or ethanol-cooled conditions, the fatigue fracture mode of 2A60 aluminum alloy is single, showing a surface crack initiation mode, and the S-N curve shows a continuous downward trend without the intermediate platform. The VHCF crack originated from the stress concentration on the sample surface and the cleavage fracture occurred in the grains near the crack source in the early stage of crack initiation. The VHCF process of the sample is also the relaxation process of its residual stress.

No abstract