Rejected

Homing peptides to the spinal cord were identified and isolated using phage display technology. biopanning was performed by intravenous systemic injection of a phage library to screen specific peptides targeting the spinal cord of mice. Analyses of the sequences of targeted phages yielded two candidate peptides targeting the spinal cord: SP1 (C-LHQSPHI-C) and SP2 (C-PTNNPRS-C). These peptides were synthesized and intravenously injected into mice to evaluate their tissue specificity and potential as gene delivery carriers. The complexes between SP1 or SP2 peptides and the plasmid vector expressing the reporter gene could induce gene transduction in the spinal cord through systemic injection without gene expression in the brain, liver, and kidney. In addition, intravenous injection of the complex between SP1 and the vectors induced interleukin-4 expression in the spinal cord, resulting in effective suppression of lipopolysaccharide-induced hyperalgesia. Therefore, intravenously administered spinal cord homing peptides complexed with a plasmid vector provided tissue-specific treatment featuring gene delivery to the CNS through systemic circulation. This novel method of gene delivery is feasible and has great potential for clinical application.

To identify a synovial fluid (SF) biomarker profile characteristic of individuals with an inflammatory osteoarthritis (OA) endotype.

Scabies occurs worldwide with a prevalence between 0.3 and 46.0%. In Ghana, even though a 5.1% proportion of scabies was reported in a retrospective review of skin diseases at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, the nationwide prevalence of scabies is unknown. Overall, its burden is higher in tropical regions. Scabies outbreaks mostly occur among children, the elderly in nursing homes, and prison inmates. Even though primary scabies hardly results in mortalities, the pain, itch, and systemic complications from secondary bacterial infections account for about 1.5 million years lived with disabilities. We investigated a scabies outbreak among school children in Ghana to determine its magnitude, stop the outbreak, and institute preventive measures to minimize risks of future outbreaks.

Anemia is associated with impaired quality of life (QoL). We examined the relationship between anemia and QoL in the Korean population using the EuroQol five-dimensional (EQ-5D) questionnaire.

To determine the potential differences in both scapular positioning and scapular movement between the symptomatic and asymptomatic contralateral shoulder, in patients with unilateral subacromial pain syndrome (SAPS), and when compared with participants free of shoulder pain.

To explore the specificity of the relevant points along the governor vessel in chronic gastritis through the synchronous observation of the tenderness reaction and tenderness threshold on the back along the governor vessel in the volunteers with chronic gastritis and make the comparison with healthy volunteers.

To explore the clinical efficacy and action mechanism of auricular point pressing combined with electroacupuncture (EA) on postoperative pain in children with hernia.

Chronic stress, including chronic neuropathic pain, cannot only induce depressive disorders but also enhance sensitization to addictive drugs. Ample evidence support the implication of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) system in the enhanced sensitization to cocaine. However, mechanisms underpinning such an enhancement are still unclear. By using a neuropathic pain model and a combination of behavioral, neurochemical, and western blotting techniques, this study reveals that the mice experienced with chronic neuropathic pain express both depression-like disorders and significant conditioned place preference to cocaine. The conditioned place preference to cocaine and was abolished by administration of the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist into the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). The expression of DRN 5-HT1A receptor was upregulated in mice experienced with chronic neuropathic pain. Moreover, such an upregulation was restored by repeated exposure to cocaine. The results reveal that DRN 5-HT1A receptor mediate the sensitization to cocaine in mice experienced with chronic pain and may be used as a new molecular target for therapeutic interventions to drug addiction influenced by chronic stress.

It has been suggested that environmental and lifestyle factors might contribute to the severity and progression of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. An intervention generating high interest due to its supposed anti-inflammatory properties is the Mediterranean diet.

Chronic pain may be treated by medical cannabis. Yet, there is scarce evidence to support the role of medical cannabis in the treatment of fibromyalgia. The aim of the study was to investigate the characteristics, safety, and effectiveness of medical cannabis therapy for fibromyalgia.