Search Results (99)

Background: The pronator teres (PT) muscle, although traditionally described as a constant two-headed forearm flexor, demonstrates considerable morphological variability. These variants play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of pronator syndrome, a rare but clinically significant entrapment of the median nerve in the proximal forearm. Despite growing interest, there is no widely adopted classification integrating anatomy, imaging, and surgical relevance. This review summarises and contextualises current classifications of the pronator teres in relation to median nerve entrapment, with emphasis on their anatomical, imaging, and surgical relevance. Methods: We performed a narrative review of the literature using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (1960–2025). Studies were included if they reported cadaveric findings, imaging features, or clinical management of PT-related median nerve entrapment. Representative anatomical and clinical sources were analysed to synthesise a morphology-based framework. Results: We identified three morphological types of the PT: Type I (median nerve between humeral and ulnar heads, 74%), Type II (beneath both heads, 12%), and Type III (beneath the humeral head only, 14%). Each type demonstrates distinct entrapment mechanisms and imaging features. Dynamic ultrasound and advanced MRI sequences, particularly MR neurography, have been reported to improve diagnostic confidence but remain underutilised. Published reports describe differing management approaches by type, with variable outcomes. Tables and summary boxes compile previously published findings on entrapment potential, imaging pitfalls, and surgical approaches by type. Conclusions: This review summarises existing classifications linking PT variability to median nerve entrapment. Such integration may have potential clinical relevance but requires further empirical validation. Future studies should standardise imaging protocols, validate electrodiagnostic correlations, and explore functional classifications incorporating clinical, radiological, and anatomical data. Full article

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a major fodder crop whose productivity is often reduced by phytopathogens, especially during early growth. Understanding how soil fertility management and microbial communities influence disease outcomes is critical for developing sustainable strategies that reduce fungicide dependence and enhance crop resilience. This study evaluated the resistance of the winter barley cultivar “Zemela” to powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei), brown rust (Puccinia hordei), and net blotch (Pyrenophora teres f. maculata). The crop was cultivated under two soil management systems—green manure and conventional—and five fertilisation regimes: mineral, vermicompost, combined, biochar, and control. Phytopathological assessment was integrated with functional predictions of soil microbial communities. Field trials showed high resistance to powdery mildew (RI = 95%) and brown rust (RI = 82.5%), and moderate resistance to net blotch (RI = 60%). While ANOVA indicated no significant treatment effects (p > 0.05), PCA explained 82.3% of the variance, revealing clear clustering of microbial community functions by soil management system and highlighting the strong influence of fertilisation practices on disease-related microbial dynamics. FAPROTAX analysis suggested that organic amendments enhanced antifungal functions, whereas conventional systems were dominated by nitrogen cycling. FUNGuild identified higher saprotrophic and mycorrhizal activity under organic and combined treatments, contrasting with greater pathogen abundance in conventional plots. Overall, results demonstrate that soil fertilisation practices, together with microbial functional diversity, play a central role in disease suppression and crop resilience, supporting sustainable barley production with reduced reliance on chemical inputs. Full article

Background: Pronator teres syndrome is a rare proximal median neuropathy caused by compression of the median nerve at various points. It is a rare condition, and many times it is mistaken for carpal tunnel syndrome. Methods: There are many authors who refer to the pronator syndrome as a compression of the median nerve at several potential sites of en-trapment in the region of the antecubital fossa, more proximal compression at the Liga-ment of Strutters, and more distally, including lacerus fibrosus within the pronator teres muscle and the anterior interosseous nerve. Results: The diagnostic difficulties in a patient with severe right forearm pain during elbow flexion and pronation are presented. Routine test results, including MRI of the right elbow joint, nerve conduction study of the brachial plexus and ulnar nerve, and electromyographic study of the muscles of the right upper ex-tremity, were normal. Ultrasonography showed an enlarged pronator teres muscle. Conclusions: The patient underwent surgical removal of the lacertus fibrosus. All symptoms resolved. Full article

This study aimed to examine the proximal effects of blood flow restriction (BFR) training on shoulder muscle function and subjective discomfort during low-intensity external rotation exercise. Twenty-four healthy adults were randomly assigned to a BFR group or a control group and performed shoulder stabilization exercises with or without BFR. Outcome measures included shoulder external rotation range of motion, maximal isometric strength, muscle endurance, electromyographic activity of the rotator cuff muscles, and perceived discomfort. Both groups demonstrated significant within-group improvements in all outcomes except posterior deltoid and supraspinatus activity (p < 0.05). Between-group comparisons showed significantly greater gains in maximal strength and infraspinatus and teres minor activation in the BFR group than in the control group (p < 0.05), while discomfort and fatigue scores were also higher in the BFR group (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that BFR applied at the proximal upper arm can enhance the strength and activation of key rotator cuff muscles even when cuff placement near the shoulder is limited by anatomy. Proximal BFR may serve as an effective intervention for improving shoulder function when high-intensity exercise is contraindicated, although strategies to minimize discomfort are needed to improve clinical feasibility. Full article

Ultraviolet-B (UV-B, 280–315 nm) radiation is an increasingly relevant abiotic stressor under climate-change scenarios, yet crop-specific tolerance mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. We compared maize (Zea mays L.) and grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) seedlings exposed to eight UV-B durations (1–12 h), applied every second day over 14 days of juvenile growth. Highly sensitive, non-invasive biophoton emission imaging (NightShade^® LB 985), chlorophyll content measurements (SPAD-502), and morphophysiological traits (shoot/root lengths, biomass, root collar diameter) were assessed. Biophoton emission kinetics measured immediately and 24 h after exposure suggested differing temporal defense dynamics: maize showed an early modest increase, a mid-exposure reduction, and a later pronounced peak around 6 h. Sorghum tended to reach a dominant peak earlier (≈3 h) and maintain relatively steady emissions thereafter, potentially reflecting more uniform antioxidant activation. SPAD patterns aligned with these trends: maize retained higher chlorophyll at lower exposures (0–6 h; p < 0.05), whereas sorghum surpassed maize at extreme exposures (10–12 h; p = 0.036). Morphophysiological traits showed no significant treatment effects, though minor low-dose peaks suggested possible ROS-mediated stimulation. These results indicate species-specific UV-B acclimation patterns and demonstrate the utility of biophoton imaging as a rapid screening tool for assessing crop resilience. Full article

Phytopathogenic fungi represent a significant biotic stress affecting global agriculture, often causing severe diseases and, in some cases, leading to plant death. They have been isolated from economically important crops, including cereals, legumes, and fruits. Among the compounds produced by fungi, phytotoxins play a key role in disease development by interfering with host physiological processes. In this study, organic extracts from Cercospora kikuchii, Cercospora nicotianae, Cercospora sojina, Diaporthe longicolla, Septoria glycines, Pyrenophora teres, and Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, isolated from three major Argentine crops, were first screened for the in vitro production of phytotoxic metabolites. Subsequently, selected metabolites were dereplicated using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The phytotoxins identified varied according to the fungal species and extraction conditions. Cercosporin, putaminoxin, scytalone, and isosclerone were identified. These findings underscore the need for further chemical investigation to comprehensively characterize the metabolome of these phytopathogens and clarify their roles in plant–pathogen interactions. Full article

Background: The management of irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears with an isolated loss of external rotation presents significant challenges. Latissimus dorsi tendon transfer in conjunction with medialized reverse total shoulder arthroplasty has been employed to rectify external rotation deficits; however, lateralized RTSA designs may yield similar outcomes with a reduced incidence of complications. The objective of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of lateralized reverse total shoulder arthroplasty without latissimus dorsi tendon transfer against medialized RTSA with LDT in patients with ILER and a positive external rotation lag sign. Methods: This retrospective cohort study involved 34 patients diagnosed with CTA and severe external rotation deficiency, characterized by a positive ER lag sign and 0° active ER. The patients were treated with either lateralized reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (n = 21) or medialized RTSA with LDT (n = 13). Outcomes evaluated preoperatively and at the 24-month follow-up comprised range of motion, ER lag sign, Constant–Murley Score, SPADI, and radiographic offset parameters. Statistical analyses were adjusted for age, sex, and baseline values. Results: At follow-up, 70% of patients undergoing lateralized RTSA exhibited resolution of ER lag, compared to 23% in the LDT group (p < 0.05). Active external rotation improvement was more significant in the LDT group (34.6° compared to 18.5°, p < 0.05). However, both groups exhibited comparable final external rotation and functional scores (CMS: 63 ± 9 vs. 63 ± 16; SPADI: 73 ± 20 vs. 74 ± 22). Lateralized RTSA demonstrated superior preservation of internal rotation, as evidenced by a higher percentage of patients achieving a negative Apley scratch test (67% compared to 23%, p < 0.05). A greater glenoidal offset correlated with improved postoperative external rotation and resolution of external rotation lag. The influence of teres minor integrity was more significant in the LDT group. Conclusions: Lateralized reverse total shoulder arthroplasty without latissimus dorsi tendon transfer provides similar functional restoration of external rotation in irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tear patients, accompanied by reduced complications, shorter surgical durations, and improved preservation of internal rotation. LDT has the potential to provide enhanced ER gains from a low baseline; however, it is characterized by increased invasiveness and technical complexity. Prosthetic lateralization is a biomechanically effective method for restoring external rotation in patients with rotator cuff arthropathy and external rotation deficits. Full article

Given a triangular mesh in ${\mathbb{R}}^3$ with a family of points associated with its vertices along with vectors associated with its edges, we propose a novel technique for the construction of locally generated fitting parametrized G1-spline interpolation surfaces. The method consists of a G1 correction over the mesh edges of the mesh triangles, produced using reduced side derivatives (RSDs) introduced earlier by the author in terms of the barycentric weight functions. In the case of polynomial RSD shape functions, we establish polynomial edge corrections via an algorithm with an independent interest in determining the optimal GCD cofactors with the lowest degree for arbitrary families of polynomials. Full article

The development of agriculture with special characteristics has become a global trend, especially in highland areas with unique local advantages. Plateau-characteristic agriculture plays an important role in ensuring food security, maintaining ecological balance, and promoting sustainable development in plateau areas. However, because many plateau areas are ecologically fragile and have limited environmental recovery capacity, failure to manage them properly can lead to irreversible environmental degradation and affect socioeconomic stability. Therefore, ensuring plateau-characteristic agroecological security (PCAES) is particularly important and warrants in-depth investigation. However, existing research has yet to systematically identify the key factors affecting PCAES. To fill this gap, this study analyzes 41 factors affecting PCAES at the macro, meso, and micro levels. Then, a DTP (driver–pressure–state–impact–response–management (DPSIRM), technology–environment–resources–economy (TERE), and production–operation–service (POS), collectively referred to as DTP) hierarchy is established to analyze the factors from different perspectives. On this basis, we use a hierarchical decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method to identify nine key factors that influence PCAES, including biodiversity indices, intensity of investment in pollution control, a comprehensive mechanization rate of major crops, and intensity of agricultural R&D investment, among others. Finally, based on the interrelationships among these key factors, we put forward recommendations for PCAES management, taking into account domestic and international experience and the actual situation of the plateau region. Clarifying the factors affecting PCAES will help local governments undertake targeted risk management and scientific decision-making and promote the sustainable development of local economies. Full article

Papilionanthe Schltr. (Vandeae, Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae) is distinguished by its terete leaves and showy flowers, with significant horticultural and medicinal values. However, its systematic position in Aeridinae has been controversial and not been paid attention to or clarified. This study is focused on the complete chloroplast (cp) genomic data of P. biswasiana and P. teres in order to provide some genomic data for its phylogenetic relationship. The cp genomes of two Papilionanthe were 148,183 bp (P. biswasiana) and 148,145 bp (P. teres) in length, with similar GC content (36.5–36.6%). Comparative cp genomes of two Papilionanthe species and the other eight related taxa revealed differences in sequence analysis and statistics. A phylogenetic analysis based on CDS from complete cp genomes supported the notion that Papilionanthe is a monophyletic clade and closer to Luisia than to Paraphalaenopsis. It was obvious that there are four well-supported clades in Aeridinae, which could hold a significant implication for the phylogenetic relationship between Papilionanthe and other alliances in Aeridinae. Furthermore, the taxonomic positions of V. flabellata and H. himalacia were also reconfirmed herein by phylogenetic analysis of the cp genomes. Full article

Upper limb assistive exoskeletons help stroke patients by assisting arm movement in impaired individuals. However, effective control of these systems to help stroke survivors is a complex task. In this paper, a novel approach is proposed to enhance the control of upper limb assistive exoskeletons by using torque estimation and prediction in a proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controller loop to more optimally integrate the torque of the exoskeleton robot, which aims to eliminate system uncertainties. First, a model for torque estimation from Electromyography (EMG) signals and a predictive torque model for the upper limb exoskeleton robot for the elbow are trained. The trained data consisted of two-dimensional high-density surface EMG (HD-sEMG) signals to record myoelectric activity from five upper limb muscles (biceps brachii, triceps brachii, anconeus, brachioradialis, and pronator teres) during voluntary isometric contractions for twelve healthy subjects performing four different isometric tasks (supination/pronation and elbow flexion/extension) for one minute each, which were trained on long short-term memory (LSTM), bidirectional LSTM (BLSTM), and gated recurrent units (GRU) deep neural network models. These models estimate and predict torque requirements. Finally, the estimated and predicted torque from the trained network is used online as input to a PID control loop and robot dynamic, which aims to control the robot optimally. The results showed that using the proposed method creates a strong and innovative approach to greater independence and rehabilitation improvement. Full article

Ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) injections play a critical role in the management of upper limb spasticity. This is the second part of ‘The Elias University Hospital Approach: A Visual Guide to Ultrasound-Guided Botulinum Toxin Injection in Spasticity’ and it focuses on the proximal upper limb muscles, complementing the first part, which addressed the distal upper limb muscles. This guide provides a detailed analysis of ultrasound anatomy, clinical relevance, and injection strategies for the latissimus dorsi, teres major, subscapularis, pectoralis major, pectoralis minor, deltoid, triceps brachii, biceps brachii, brachialis, and brachioradialis. Using the Elias University Hospital (EUH) model, it presents a structured approach to BoNT-A administration, ensuring precision, safety, and optimal outcomes in spasticity management. To enhance clinical application, this guide incorporates a wide array of high-quality ultrasound images and dynamic videos, offering a comprehensive and practical understanding of scanning techniques, anatomical structures, and injection procedures. This second part of the series serves as an essential reference for clinicians, aligning with the first installment to provide a complete and systematic approach to ultrasound-guided BoNT-A therapy for upper limb spasticity. Full article

Introduction: Elbow flexor spasticity is a common and debilitating consequence of stroke, significantly impacting patients’ quality of life. Botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injections have emerged as an effective treatment, but the optimal muscle selection strategy remains unclear. This study investigates the impact of different BoNT-A injection strategies targeting specific elbow flexor muscles in post-stroke patients. Materials and Methods: A non-randomized observational study was conducted on 52 participants with upper limb spasticity (pattern IV) following a stroke. Participants were divided into three groups based on the elbow flexor muscles injected with BoNT-A: biceps brachii (n = 15), brachialis (n = 9), and brachialis plus brachioradialis (n = 28). Assessments included spasticity angle, paresis angle, and active supination range of motion (ROM) measured using the Tardieu Scale and goniometry at baseline and at 4-week follow-up. Non-parametric statistical analyses were employed to compare outcomes between groups. Results: While all groups showed a general trend of decreased spasticity and improved motor control, analysis revealed statistically significant differences across the groups at baseline. The brachialis plus brachioradialis group demonstrated the most substantial improvement in paresis angle and active supination ROM. Notably, this group also exhibited greater capacity for the improvement of the paresis angle. The biceps brachii group showed comparable improvements in the paresis angle and the greatest effect on improving passive extension at slow velocity with increasing stroke onset but required higher pronator teres BoNT-A doses overall. Discussion: These findings suggest that individualized muscle selection strategies are crucial in BoNT-A treatment for elbow flexor spasticity. The superior outcomes observed in the brachialis plus brachioradialis group may be attributed to the synergistic action of these muscles in elbow flexion and forearm positioning. The higher pronator teres BoNT-A doses required in the biceps brachii group may reflect compensatory mechanisms or differences in muscle fiber recruitment patterns. Conclusions: Combining brachialis and brachioradialis muscles in BoNT-A injections appears to offer superior benefits for supination and motor control in post-stroke patients with elbow flexor spasticity, particularly those with significant elbow flexion and pronation. Full article

The optical ammonia-sensing properties of water-dispersible polyaniline (PANI) complexes chemically synthesized in the presence of polysulfonic acids of different structure and chain flexibility were compared for the first time. Flexible-chain poly(styrene-4-sulfonic acid) and poly-(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid), as well as semi-rigid-chain poly-4,4′-(2,2′-disulfonic acid)diphenylene-iso-phthalamide and rigid-chain poly-4,4′-(2,2′-disulfonic acid)diphenylene-tere-phthalamide (t-PASA) were used. The sensor films were prepared by a convenient and scalable method—spray coating of aqueous solutions on glass substrates. The optical response time and amplitude of the sensor films in the range of ammonia concentrations from 5 to 200 ppm were investigated. To overcome the influence of humidity and presence of over-stoichiometric protons of the polyacid on the accuracy of ammonia determination treatments of the films in aqueous solutions of NaCl, CaCl₂ and BaCl₂ were tested. The treatment in 1 M CaCl₂ solution for all of the PANI complexes results in a significant improvement in the response time, amplitude and reproducibility. The films of PANI complexes with the flexible-chain polyacids have the highest response amplitude in the range of ammonia concentrations 5–25 ppm. PANI-t-PASA film demonstrated the best sensory properties at ammonia concentrations more than 50 ppm. FTIR spectroscopy showed that CaCl₂ treatment results in cross-linking of sulfoacid groups from adjacent polyacid chains by Ca²⁺ ions. Thus, such a treatment results both in the neutralization of excessive protons and a significant reduction in the films’ swelling at high humidity. Full article

Background: Colubridae, known to be one of the most species-rich snake families, remains relatively understudied in termshe context of complete mitochondrial genome research. This study provide the first systematic characterization of the mitochondrial genomes of six colubrid species: Lycodon subcinctus, Lycodon rosozonatus, Lycodon fasciatus, Lycodon gongshan, Lycodon futsingensis, and Lycodon aulicus. Method: In this study, mitochondrial genomes were sequenced using Sanger sequencing. The raw data were subjected to quality- filtered withing using Fastp and subsequently assembled into complete mitochondrial genomes via SPAdes. Gene annotation was performed by Tblastn, Genewise (for CDS coding sequences), MiTFi (for transfer RNAs), and Rfam (for ribosomal RNAs). Sequence analyses were conducted with various tools, including MEGA, tRNAscan-SE, DnaSP, MISA, and REPuter. Finally, phylogenetic trees were reconstructed based on 13 protein-coding genes from 14 species. Results:The mitogenomes of these six species ranged from 17,143 to 17,298 bp in length and con-sisted of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and 2 control regions. The nucleotide composition of the Colu-bridae mitogenomes was comparable with an A + T composition ranging from 52.1% to 58.8% except for the trnS1 and trnC. All the tRNAs could fold into a stable secondary structure. The Pi and Ka/Ks values suggested that atp8 was the fastest-evolving gene, while cox1 was the most conserved gene. Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses yielded consistent results, with the six sequenced species clus-tering together with their congeneric species. These findings will provide valuable references for further research on the phylogeny of Colubridae. Full article