This study investigates the expression and effect of hsa_circ_0004099 in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We conducted a case-controlled study that included 40 patients with AIS within 24 hours and 40 healthy subjects during the same period as a control group. Differentially expressed circular RNAs (circRNAs) were obtained using GEO2R, and the expression of hsa_circ_0004099 was verified using RT-PCR. Correlation analysis of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) disease severity score and ischemic time with hsa_circ_0004099 expression levels was also performed. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of hsa_circ_0004099 was constructed, and bioinformatic analysis of hsa_circ_0004099 was performed. NIHSS scores negatively correlated with hsa_circ_0004099 levels (P<0.001, r = -0.7053), whereas infarct time was negatively correlated with hsa_circ_0004099 levels (P<0.001, r = -0.5130); hsa_circ_0004099 could benefit clinical diagnosis (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.923 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.8680–0.9904]). Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that hsa_circ_0004099 was enriched in several cancer pathways, which were collectively enriched in four genes namely TCF7L2, NRAS, CTNNB1, and KRAS. Eight core proteins were screened using a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network namely SMAD4, HIF1A, CTNNB1, CDKN1B, CDK6, FOXO3, KRAS, and NRAS. hsa_circ_0004099 is a potential clinical diagnostic marker. In addition, the possible role of hsa_circ_0004099 in the pathogenesis of AIS was analyzed using bioinformatics, which provided a new potential molecular target for AIS treatment.

The presence of abnormal muscle retraction and contraction during the rehabilitation training poses significant challenges for patients with lower limb dysfunction caused by stroke, as it hinders their ability to regain lower limb function. Therefore, it is vital to detect spasm force during the training to adjust the force generated by rehabilitation robots. This paper presents the design and development of a capacitive force/torque sensor for lower limb rehabilitation to detect muscle spasm. The double differential measurement method and a decoupling structure with built-in crossed roller bearing were adopted achieve high sensitivity and high accuracy. Calibration tests were conducted with a commercial torque and rotational speed sensor to verify the design and accuracy of capacitive force/torque sensor. Results show that the proposed sensor exhibits a linearity of 1.04%, a resolution of 0.05N·m and a maximum measurement error of approximately 2.07%. Lastly, experiments were conducted to assess spasm detection capabilities in a lower limb rehabilitation robot which has capacitive force/torque sensors installed on knee and hip joints.

Although previous studies have shown that galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) and proprioceptive stimulation (PS) can improve balance function in patients with post-stroke balance disorders, the exact central mechanisms remain unclear. This study used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to investigate differences and changes in cortical activation during PS, GVS, and their combination in healthy individuals and patients with post-stroke balance disorders. Sixteen patients with post-stroke balance disorders and twenty healthy controls were enrolled as the patient and healthy groups, respectively. Participants stood on the vibrating platform and underwent three tasks: only GVS (Task 1), only PS (Task 2), and GVS and PS (Task 3). Cortical activation of Somatosensory cortex (S1), Motor cortex (MC), Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and Broca's area (Broca) was collected using fNIRS. Task 1 did not activate any region of interest (ROI) in either group. Task 2 activated right S1, bilateral MC, DLPFC, and Broca in the healthy group. In the patient group, Task 2 activated right S1 and left MC. In contrast, Task 3 elicited activation of all ROIs in both groups. Cortical activation between the two groups during the three tasks did not show any significant differences. Compared to GVS or PS alone, combining GVS with PS better improved cortical hemodynamic conditions in patients with post-stroke balance disorders. These findings highlight the clinical potential of GVS and PS in the rehabilitation of patients with post-stroke balance disorders, warranting further exploration.

Background: Ischemic stroke (IS) is a leading cause of adult disability worldwide. The inflammatory processes involved are complex, making it challenging to fully understand the pathological mechanisms of IS. Phagocytosis plays an important role in eliminating neurotoxic or damaged neurons resulting from inflammatory responses. This study employed bioinformatics methods to analyze single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data to investigate the cell types and molecular biological processes involved in IS.Methods: scRNA-seq data for IS were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Following sample screening and reprocessing, 5,582 single cells were identified from healthy controls and patients with IS. Uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP) was utilized to further explore the cellular composition in IS. Functional enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes was conducted to identify transcriptional regulators, whereas cell developmental trajectories were predicted to uncover potential cell fate decisions. iTALK was employed to identify potential ligand-receptor axes within the cell-type immune microenvironment of IS.Results: Based on scRNA-seq data analysis, we identified four cell types and their associated subclusters, along with genes exhibiting significant differential expression within these subclusters. Phagocytosis was significantly enriched in cell types linked to IS, while the differentiation trajectories of subpopulations in IS was different. Additionally, multiple receptor-ligand axes were identified, indicating diverse interactions within the immune microenvironment of IS.Conclusion: This study demonstrated that phagocytosis in IS cell types critically influences disease progression. It also predicted the trajectories of infarct cells. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying IS and highlight potential pathways for therapeutic intervention.

Introduction: Previous research demonstrates that individuals with chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP) exhibit changes of gait patterns. However, the neural mechanisms responsible for these adverse events remain unelucidated. In this study, we used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to investigate cortical activities during cognitive and walking tasks to provide evidence of the central mechanisms responsible for changes of gait patterns in individuals with CNSLBP. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated 18 individuals with CNSLBP (the CNSLBP group) and 18 healthy controls (the HC group) under three specific conditions: Task 1 (a single walking task), Task 2 (a single cognitive task) and Task 3 (a cognitive-walking dual task). Cortical activities were measured using fNIRS, including the bilateral premotor cortex and supplementary motor area (PMC/SMA), primary motor cortex (M1), somatosensory association cortex (SAC), and primary somatosensory cortex (S1). Gait parameters, including step duration, step length, stride length, velocity, cadence, swing power, and cycle, were measured using a three-dimensional gait analysis system. Results: In Task 1, the CNSLBP group exhibited a significantly lower velocity ( p = 0.029) and higher activation in the left SAC ( p = 0.001) and right S1 ( p = 0.018) than that of the HC group. In Task 2, the CNSLBP group exhibited higher activation in the left SAC ( p = 0.028), right SAC ( p = 0.033), and left S1 ( p = 0.032). In Task 3, the CNSLBP group exhibited significantly lower step length ( p = 0.031), stride length ( p = 0.041), velocity ( p = 0.016), and swing power ( p = 0.047). Correlation analysis in Task 1 revealed stronger associations between parameters in the CNSLBP group. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that individuals with CNSLBP exhibit distinct patterns of cortical activities and gait performance. The SAC and S1 were involved in walking, and central sensitization was observed in individuals with CNSLBP in daily cognitive and walking tasks. These findings could contribute to the recovery and rehabilitation of CNSLBP.

Chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP) imposes a substantial economic burden. Acupuncture, a key modality in Chinese medicine, is widely used for CNSLBP. However, the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture may be underestimated due to inadequate induction and evaluation of deqi sensation, a critical component in traditional acupuncture theory. This trial will evaluated the efficacy of 4-week standardized deqi acupuncture in individuals with CNSLBP, with primary and secondary outcomes including Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), and shear wave elastography (SWE) measurements of erector spinae (ES) and multifidus (MF). This study is a prospective, two-arm, participant-, assessor-, and statistician-blinded randomized controlled trial. Overall, 100 participants with CNSLBP will be randomly assigned to receive either standardized deqi acupuncture or sham acupuncture over a 4-week intervention period. Follow-up assessments will be conducted at week 8. The primary outcome is the change in VAS scores from baseline. Secondary outcomes include changes in RMDQ, SF-12, PCS, and SWE measurements of ES and MF muscles. All analyses will be conducted based on the intention-to-treat principle. Repeated-measures linear mixed models and ANCOVA will be employed for statistical analysis. This study is expected to provide robust evidence on the efficacy and safety of standardized Chinese medicine deqi acupuncture for CNSLBP. The findings may offer valuable guidance for clinical practice and inform future research in acupuncture-based pain management. International Traditional Medicine Clinical Trial Registry: ITMCTR2025000766. Registered on April 17, 2025.