Objective:To observe the effect of reward alteration following acupuncture for morphine withdrawal rats on the behavior and neuronal discharges in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Methods:The Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly allocated into a model group, a confinement group, an electroacupuncture (EA) group, and a control group. Rats with morphine addiction were made by intraperitoneal injection of naloxone (same dose injection of saline for rats in the control group), followed by a 2-week morphine withdrawal. Acupuncture and confinement were completed during the morphine withdrawal period. Upon withdrawal, the rats received conditioned place preference (CPP) training and open field test. The multi-channel neural signal processor was used in the electrophysiological experiment to measure the neuronal discharges in different subareas of prefrontal cortex in CPP box and aversion box. Results:Rats in the model group and the confinement group spent longer period of time in CPP box than those in the EA group and the control group (allP<0.01); there was no statistically significant difference between the EA group and the control group. The total distances of movement by rats in the model group and the confinement group were longer than those in the EA group and the control group (allP<0.01). The mPFC neuronal discharge frequencies were compared between morphine preference box and aversion box. The mPFC neuronal discharge frequencies in the model group and the confinement group were higher than those in the EA group and the control group (allP<0.05); there was no statistically significant difference between the EA group and the control group. Conclusion:Acupuncture can effectively interfere with the reward alteration following morphine withdrawal, possibly because of its involvement with the mPFC neuronal discharges.

Objective To explore the effect and mechanism of berberine combined with curcumin on ath-erosclerosis(AS)by mediating M1 macrophages polarization.Methods M1-type macrophages were obtained from mouse mononuclear macrophages(RAW264.7)induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS,100 ng/mL)and interferon(IFN)-γ(20 ng/mL).A cell model was established.The cells were divided into a control group,model group,berberine group,curcumin group and berberine plus curcumin group.Concentrations of berberine and curcumin were detected by CCK-8 assay.The expression levels of M1-type macrophage markers iNOS,TNF-α,CXCL9 and p-STAT6/STAT6 in macrophage supernatant were detected by ELISA.Levels of iNOS,TNF-α and CXCL9 mRNA were detected by RT-PCR.Levels of iNOS,STAT6 and p-STAT6 proteins in each group were detected by Western blot.After down-regulation of STAT6 level by siRNA technology,expression of p-STAT6 protein was detected by Western blot.Expression levels of iNOS,TNF-α,CXCL9 and p-STAT6 were detected by ELISA.Results In the polarization of M1 macrophages induced by LPS and IFN-γ,berberine(25 μmol/L)and curcumin(20 μmol/L)were the best concentrations as compared with other drug concentration groups,and neither alone nor combined use could significantly inhibit the viability of RAW264.7 cells(P<0.05).As compared with the normal group,iNOS,TNF-α and CXCL9 mRNA and protein levels were increased in the model group,while P-STAT6/STAT6 levels were decreased,with statistical differences(P<0.05).As compared with the model group,iNOS,TNF-α and CXCL9 mRNA and protein levels in the berberine group,curcumin group,and berberine plus curcumin group were decreased,while P-STAT6/STAT6 levels were increased,and the changes were more obvious in berberine plus curcumin group,with statistical difference(P<0.05).After transfection of STAT6 siRNA in M1 macrophages in the berberine plus curcumin group,P-STAT6 levels were down-regulated,while expressions of iNOS,TNF-α and CXCL9 were up-regulated,with statistical differences(P<0.05).Conclusions Both berberine and curcumin can inhibit the activity of M1-type macrophages and reduce inflammatory response.The action of berberine combined with curcumin is more advantageous than that of either drug alone,which may be the main mechanism of action through activation of STAT6.

ObjectiveTo compare the difference in adverse reactions after oxaliplatin-containing chemotherapy between colorectal cancer patients with or without spleen-kidney yang deficiency syndrome. MethodsA retrospective study was conducted using the electronic medical records of Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine， Capital Medical University. A total of 483 colorectal cancer patients from January 1， 2009 to December 31， 2022 were selected. Patients were divided into two groups based on their syndrome types， that was spleen-kidney yang deficiency syndrome （SKYDS） group （130 cases） and non-SKYDS group （353 cases）. The incidence of adverse reactions including gastrointestinal reactions， liver damage， bone marrow suppression， and peripheral neurotoxicity after completing 2， 4， 6， and more than 6 cycles of chemotherapy was compared between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the associations of age， gender， alcohol history， primary tumor location， tumor differentiation， tumor staging， chemotherapy courses， and syndrome types with the occurrence of gastrointestinal adverse reactions， liver function damage， bone marrow suppression and peripheral neurotoxicity in colorectal cancer patients who have completed 2， 4， 6 and more than 6 cycles of oxaliplatin-containing chemotherapy. ResultsThere were significant differences in the occurrence of gastrointestinal reactions after completing 2， 4， 6 and more than 6 cycles of chemotherapy between the two groups （P＜0.01）， with much more severe conditions in SKYDS group than non-SKYDS group （P＜0.01）. There was no significant difference in liver function damage and bone marrow suppression between groups （P＞0.05）. There were statistically significant differences in the occurrence of peripheral neurotoxicity after completion of 2 cycles （P=0.044）， 4 cycles （P=0.002） and more than 6 cycles （P＜0.001） of chemothe-rapy， with higher rate in SKYDS group than the non-SKYDS group （P＜0.05）. Univariate analysis showed that female， patients with stage Ⅲ tumors and patients having completed ≥ 6 cycles of chemotherapy had a higher incidence of bone marrow suppression （P＜0.05）， and patients with SKYDS had a higher incidence of gastrointestinal reactions （P＜0.001）. Patients with a history of drinking， stage Ⅳ cancer， and ≥6 cycles of chemotherapy had a higher incidence of liver function injury （P＜0.05）. Patients with stage Ⅲ cancer， ≥6 cycles of chemotherapy， and SKYDS had a higher incidence of peripheral neurotoxicity （P＜0.05）. Multivariate analysis showed that the risk factor for bone marrow suppression was chemotherapy ≥6 cycles （P=0.001）， and SKYDS was the risk factor for gastrointestinal reaction （P＜0.001）. The risk factor for liver function damage was tumor stage Ⅳ （P=0.001） and SKYDS （P=0.039）. All variables had no significant correlation with the occurrence of peripheral neurotoxicity. ConclusionFor colorectal cancer patients， being diagnosed with SKYDS is a risk factor for developing gastrointestinal adverse reactions and peripheral neurotoxicity following chemotherapy with an oxaliplatin-based regimen.