Kinetostatic Modeling and Workspace Analysis of Redundant Actuated -4R Compliant Parallel Pointing Mechanism.

The workspace of the compliant parallel mechanism (CPM) is generally limited due to the small deformation range of flexible hinges, which are usually at the micro/nano scale. This paper takes the 2-DOFs -4R compliant parallel pointing mechanism (-4R CPPM) as the object and optimizes the workspace performance of the mechanism through redundant actuation, aiming to maximize the workspace. First, the kinetostatic model and the flexible hinge displacement model of the redundant actuated -4R CPPM are established, successively.

Ofatumumab for multiple sclerosis with disability accumulation.

Background: The ASCLEPIOS/APLIOS/APOLITOS/ALITHIOS trials highlighted the benefits of ofatumumab in reducing relapse rates and disability progression in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, its effects on patients with severe disability status remains uncertain. This study aimed to clarify the outcomes of ofatumumab in MS patients with high Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores and prolonged disease durations.

Traditional Chinese medicine for cardiovascular disease: efficacy and safety.

In China and other Asian nations, traditional medicine has long been utilized in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). While Chinese authorities have incorporated traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment experiences as a supplementary guide for CVD, its international recognition remains limited due to a scarcity of high-quality and reliable randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evidence. The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical outcomes with TCM for CVD after the recent publication of large trials adding >20,000 individuals to the published data.

Role of myeloid cells in mediating the effects of lipids on ulcerative colitis.

Objective: To evaluate the causal relationship between lipids and ulcerative colitis (UC) through Mendelian Randomization (MR), and to further investigate the involvement of immune cells in mediating this process.

Methods: Utilizing summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of individuals with European ancestry, we analyzed the causal link between 179 lipid types and UC (2,569 UC cases and 453,779 controls) through Two-sample Mendelian randomization (2SMR) and Bayesian-weighted MR (BWMR). Based on this, a mediation screening of 731 immune cell phenotypes was conducted to identify exposure and mediator factors.

High frequency of circulating non-classical monocytes is associated with stable remission in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

'No evidence of disease activity (NEDA)', judged by clinical and radiological findings, is a therapeutic goal in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). It is, however, unclear if distinct biological mechanisms contribute to the maintenance of NEDA. To clarify the immunological background of long-term disease stability defined by NEDA, circulating immune cell subsets in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) were analyzed using flow cytometry.

CD11c B Cell Expansion Is Associated With Severity and Brain Atrophy in Neuromyelitis Optica.

Background And Objectives: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an autoimmune astrocytopathy mediated by anti-AQP4 antibody-producing B cells. Recently, a B-cell subset highly expressing CD11c and T-bet, originally identified as age-associated B cells, has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between the frequency of CD11c B cells per CD19 B cells in the peripheral blood of patients with NMO and the clinical profiles including the brain volume.

Efficacy and Safety of the Natural Killer T Cell-Stimulatory Glycolipid OCH-NCNP1 for Patients With Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis: Protocol for a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that causes myelin sheath damage and axonal degeneration. The glycolipid (2S, 3S, 4R)-1-O-(α-d-galactosyl)-2-tetracosanoylamino-1,3,4-nonaetriol (OCH-NCNP1 or OCH) exerts an immunoregulatory action that suppresses T helper (Th)1 cell-mediated immune responses through natural killer T cell activation, selective interleukin-4 production, and Th2 bias induction in human CD4-positive natural killer T cells.

Objective: This trial aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of the immunomodulator OCH in patients with relapsing MS through 24-week repeated administration.

Exploring the Potential of the Corpus Callosum Area as a Predictive Marker for Impaired Information Processing in Multiple Sclerosis.

Early cognitive impairment (CI) detection is crucial in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, it can progress silently regardless of relapse activity and reach an advanced stage. We aimed to determine whether the corpus callosum area (CCA) is a sensitive and feasible marker for CI in MS compared to other neuroimaging markers.

Resident Memory-like CD8 T Cells Are Involved in Chronic Inflammatory and Neurodegenerative Diseases in the CNS.

Background And Objectives: Resident memory T (Trm) cells are a unique population that can survive and function in a compartmentalized tissue with inflammatory potential. We aim to investigate the alteration of Trm population in acute/chronic inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases in the CNS.

Methods: The frequencies of CD4 and CD8 T cells expressing both CD69 and CD103, the markers for Trm cells, were quantified in the peripheral blood and CSF (n = 80 and 44, respectively) in a cross-sectional manner.

First-in-human clinical trial of the NKT cell-stimulatory glycolipid OCH in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that causes the damage to the myelin sheath as well as axonal degeneration. Individuals with MS appear to have changes in the numbers and functions of T-cell subsets, leading to an immunological imbalance accompanied by enhanced autoreactivity. In previous preclinical studies, (2 S,3 S,4R)-1-O-(α-D-Galactopyranosyl)-N-tetracosanoyl-2-amino-1,3,4-nonanetriol (OCH), a synthetic analog of α-galactosylceramide stimulatory for invariant NKT (iNKT) cells, has shown therapeutic or disease-preventive immunoregulatory effects in autoimmune disease models such as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).

Ratio of lymphocyte to monocyte area under the curve as a novel predictive factor for severe infection in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) are vulnerable to all types of infection, because MS itself involves immunodeficiency, in addition to involving treatment with immunosuppressants. Simple predictive variables for infection that are easily assessed in daily examinations are warranted. Lymphocyte area under the curve (L_AUC), defined as the sum of serial absolute lymphocyte counts under the lymphocyte count-time curve, has been established as a predictive factor for several infections after allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Real-world application of plasmapheresis for neurological disease: Results from the Japan-Plasmapheresis Outcome and Practice Patterns Study.

Introduction: Plasmapheresis is a well-recognized treatment for autoimmune neurological diseases in Japan. However, the practice varies depending on the facility, and the actual treatment conditions are unclear.

Methods: To clarify real-world conditions, a prospective observational study was conducted on patients with neurological diseases who were scheduled to receive plasmapheresis.

The impacts of surgical mask in young healthy subjects on cardiopulmonary function and muscle performance: a randomized crossover trial.

Objective: To explore the impacts of surgical mask in normal subjects on cardiopulmonary function and muscle performance under different motor load and gender differences.

Design: Randomized crossover trial.

Setting: The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, June 16th to December 30th, 2020.

Improved hydrogen production from pharmaceutical intermediate wastewater in an anaerobic maifanite-immobilized sludge reactor.

A novel anaerobic maifanite-immobilized sludge reactor (AMSR) was employed to investigate the feasibility and performance of continuous hydrogen production for the treatment of pharmaceutical intermediate wastewater (PIW) at different organic loading rates (OLR) (from 12 to 96 g COD L d) according to changes in the hydraulic retention time (HRT). A reactor without maifanite was also employed as a control. The results indicate that maifanite accelerates granular sludge formation and the AMSR presents more efficient and stable performance than the control in terms of the hydrogen production rate.

Th1 - CD11c B Cell Axis Associated with Response to Plasmapheresis in Multiple Sclerosis.

Objective: Although plasmapheresis is a treatment option for patients with autoimmune neurological diseases, treatment response varies greatly among patients. The main objective of this study was to find out if biological/immune traits correlate with a beneficial response.

Methods: We thoroughly analyzed immune phenotypes in paired blood samples from a cohort of 31 patients with multiple sclerosis before and after plasmapheresis, in parallel with clinical evaluation of treatment response.

Simultaneous Improvement of Efficiency and Stability of Organic Photovoltaic Cells by using a Cross-Linkable Fullerene Derivative.

Improving power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) and stability are two main tasks for organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells. In the past few years, although the PCE of the OPV cells has been considerably improved, the research on device stability is limited. Herein, a cross-linkable material, cross-linked [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric styryl dendron ester (c-PCBSD), is applied as an interfacial modification layer on the surface of zinc oxide and as the third component into the PBDB-TF:Y6-based OPV cells to enhance photovoltaic performance and long-term stability.

Gut microbiota-dependent CCR9+CD4+ T cells are altered in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.

The mechanism underlying the progression of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), characterized by accumulating fixed disability, is yet to be fully understood. Although alterations in the gut microbiota have recently been highlighted in multiple sclerosis pathogenesis, the mechanism linking the altered gut environment with the remote CNS pathology remains unclear. Here, we analyse human CD4+ memory T cells expressing the gut-homing chemokine receptor CCR9 and found a reduced frequency of CCR9+ memory T cells in the peripheral blood of patients with SPMS relative to healthy controls.