Aim: To investigate whether activation and translocation of extracellular signalregulated kinase (ERK) is involved in the induction and maintenance of neuropathic pain, and effects of activation and translocation of ERK on expression of pCREB and Fos in the chronic neuropathic pain. Methods: Lumbar intrathecal catheters were chronically implanted in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The left sciatic nerve was loosely ligated proximal to the sciatica's trifurcation at approximately 1.0 mm intervals with 4-0 silk sutures. The mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor U0126 or phosphorothioate-modified antisense oligonucleotides (ODN) were intrathecally administered every 12 h, 1 d pre-chronic constriction injury (CCI) and 3 d post-CCI. Thermal and mechanical nociceptive thresholds were assessed with the paw withdrawal latency (PWL) to radiant heat and von Frey filaments. The expression of pERK, pCREB, and Fos were assessed by both Western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis. Results: Intrathecal injection of U0126 or ERK antisense ODN significantly attenuated CCI-induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. CCI significantly increased the expression of p-ERK-IR neurons in the ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn to injury, not in the contralateral spinal dorsal horn. The time courses of pERK expression showed that the levels of both cytosol and nuclear pERK, but not total ERK, were increased at all points after CCI and reached a peak level on postoperative d 5. CCI also significantly increased the expression of pCREB and Fos. Phospho-CREBpositive neurons were distributed in all laminae of the bilateral spinal cord and Fos was expressed in laminae I and II of the ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn. Intrathecal injection of U0126 or ERK antisense ODN markedly suppressed the increase of CCI-induced pERK, pCREB and c-Fos expression in the spinal cord. Conclusion: The activation of ERK pathways contributes to neuropathic pain in CCI rats, and the function of pERK may partly be accomplished via the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB)-dependent gene expression.

Aims The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to quantify the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on glycemic control and cardiorespiratory fitness compared with moderate-intensity training (MICT) and no training at all in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods Relevant articles were sourced from PubMed, Embase, the Web of Science, EBSCO, and the Cochrane Library. Randomized-controlled trials were included based upon the following criteria: participants were clinically diagnosed with T2D, outcomes that included glycemic control (e.g., hemoglobin A1c); body composition (e.g., body weight); cardiorespiratory fitness (e.g., VO 2peak ) are measured at baseline and post-intervention and compared with either a MICT or control group. Results Thirteen trials involving 345 patients were finally identified. HIIT elicited a significant reduction in BMI, body fat, HbA1c, fasting insulin, and VO 2peak in patients with type 2 diabetes. Regarding changes in the body composition of patients, HIIT showed a great improvement in body weight (mean difference: − 1.22 kg, 95% confidence interval [CI] − 2.23 to − 0.18, P = 0.02) and body mass index (mean difference: − 0.40 kg/m 2 , 95% CI − 0.78 to − 0.02, P = 0.04) than MICT did. Similar results were also found with respect to HbA1c (mean difference: − 0.37, 95% CI − 0.55 to − 0.19, P < 0.0001); relative VO 2peak (mean difference: 3.37 ml/kg/min, 95% CI 1.88 to 4.87, P < 0.0001); absolute VO 2peak (mean difference: 0.37 L/min, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.45, P < 0.00001). Conclusions HIIT may induce more positive effects in cardiopulmonary fitness than MICT in T2D patients.

Surface electromyography (sEMG) studies have indicated that chronic low back pain (cLBP) involves altered electromyographic activity and morphological structure of the lumbar multifidus (LM) beyond pain perception; however, most studies have evaluated the superficial lumbar multifidus. It is difficult to record electromyography (EMG) signals from the deep multifidus (DM) to determine the neuromuscular activation patterns, making it difficult to determine the relationship between functional and structural changes in cLBP. We developed a novel method to record intramuscular EMG signals in the DM based on the sEMG system and fine-wire electrodes. We measured EMG signals of the DM in 24 cLBP patients and 26 pain-free healthy controls to identify changes in neuromuscular activation. We also used ultrasound to measure DM muscle thickness, cross-sectional area, and contraction activity to identify potential relationships between EMG activity and structural damage. cLBP patients had decreased average EMG and root mean square, but increased median frequency and mean power frequency. Average EMG was positively correlated with contractile activity, but not statistically correlated with noncontractile anatomical abnormalities. Our results suggest that cLBP alters the neuromuscular activation patterns and morphological structure of the contractile activity of the DM, providing insights into the mechanisms underlying pain perception.

IVIM-DWI-derived parameters in patients with rectal cancer, especially the pseudodiffusion coefficient, are associated with tumor grade and tumor stage and show statistically significant differences between subjects with EMVI and those without EMVI. IVIM-DWI-derived parameters would be helpful in predicting tumor aggressiveness and prognosis.

A hydro-mechanic model was put forward to study the fundamental nature of acupuncture meridians. The basic state of low hydraulic resistance was tested on humans and mini pigs using three methods. The first, a modified Guyton's method, proved that there was lower hydraulic resistance on meridians compared with nonmeridians. The second scanning method involved a single pressure transducer that can find the lowest resistance point in tissue, and the third method used two transducers and provided a more stable measurement. Using the latter method, low hydraulic resistance points were found very close to low impedance points along meridians. The transmission of artificial interstitial fluid pressure waves was measured to examine their connection to the low resistance points, with the result that a good connection between the points was confirmed. This means the points form channels along the meridians that we refer to as low hydraulic resistance channels. The channel was imaged through isotopic tracing and a migration of isotope (99m)Te could be found along the channel. The layer of the channel was detected by injecting Alcian blue and the track was found beneath the skin. All of the above experiments suggest the existence of a new type of channel in living tissues that has not yet been described in modern science, but coincides quite well with the Qi channel theory of traditional Chinese medicine.

The limited evidence suggests that wheelchair skills training program is beneficial in the short term, but its long-term effects remain unclear.

2 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017.

• Rectal cancers with different KRAS mutation statuses demonstrated distinctive diffusion/perfusion characteristics. • Max-ADC, Mean-ADC and D values were lower in the KRAS mutant group. • A higher D* value was demonstrated in the KRAS mutant group. • IVIM-DW MRI may potentially help preoperative KRAS mutant status prediction.