This study aimed to investigate the correlation between changes in intestinal toxicity and compositional alterations of Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix(commonly known as Langdu) before and after milk processing, and to explore the detoxification mechanism of milk processing. Mice were intragastrically administered the 95% ethanol extract of raw Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix, milk-decocted(milk-processed), and water-decocted(water-processed) Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix. Fecal morphology, fecal water content, and the release levels of inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-1β(IL-1β) in different intestinal segments were used as indicators to evaluate the effects of different processing methods on the cathartic effect and intestinal inflammatory toxicity of Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix. LC-MS/MS was employed to analyze the small-molecule components in the raw product, the 95% ethanol extract of the milk-processed product, and the milky waste(precipitate) formed during milk processing, to assess the impact of milk processing on the chemical composition of Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix. The results showed that compared with the blank group, both the raw and water-processed Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix significantly increased the fecal morphology score, fecal water content, and the release levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in various intestinal segments(P<0.05). Compared with the raw group, all indicators in the milk-processed group significantly decreased(P<0.05), while no significant differences were observed in the water-processed group, indicating that milk, as an adjuvant in processing, plays a key role in reducing the intestinal toxicity of Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix. Mass spectrometry results revealed that 29 components were identified in the raw product, including 28 terpenoids and 1 acetophenone. The content of these components decreased to varying extents after milk processing. A total of 28 components derived from Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix were identified in the milky precipitate, of which 27 were terpenoids, suggesting that milk processing promotes the transfer of toxic components from Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix into milk. To further investigate the effect of milk adjuvant processing on the toxic terpenoid components of Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix, transmission electron microscopy(TEM) was used to observe the morphology of self-assembled casein micelles(the main protein in milk) in the milky precipitate. The micelles formed in casein-terpenoid solutions were characterized using particle size analysis, fluorescence spectroscopy, ultraviolet spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared(FTIR) spectroscopy. TEM observations confirmed the presence of casein micelles in the milky precipitate. Characterization results showed that with increasing concentrations of toxic terpenoids, the average particle size of casein micelles increased, fluorescence intensity of the solution decreased, the maximum absorption wavelength in the UV spectrum shifted, and significant changes occurred in the infrared spectrum, indicating that interactions occurred between casein micelles and toxic terpenoid components. These findings indicate that the cathartic effect of Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix becomes milder and its intestinal inflammatory toxicity is reduced after milk processing. The detoxification mechanism is that terpenoid components in Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix reassemble with casein in milk to form micelles, promoting the transfer of some terpenoids into the milky precipitate.
Animals ; Mice ; Milk/chemistry* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Male ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/immunology* ; Intestines/drug effects* ; Interleukin-1beta/immunology* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Female

BACKGROUND: Hyperthermia (HT), while a cancer treatment approach, isn't always effective alone. Therefore, identifying hyperthermia enhancers is crucial. We demonstrated that Mito-TEMPO ([2-[(1-Hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl) amino]-2-oxoethyl]-triphenylphosphanium, MT) acts as a potent thermosensitizer, promoting cell death in human cervical cancer (HeLa) cells. METHODS: Cells were pretreated with 0.4 mM MT for 5 minutes, followed by exposure to hyperthermia (42 °C for 60 minutes). The impacts of MT/HT on cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, apoptosis-related proteins and autophagy, autophagy-related proteins expression were measured. The relationships between autophagy and apoptosis were further investigated using the specific autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) and the autophagy inducer rapamycin (Rapa). RESULTS: The combined treatment reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and increased ROS production. It also upregulated the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and downregulated anti-apoptotic proteins such as Bcl-2 and MCL-1. As a result, Caspase-3 was activated. Additionally, the combined treatment upregulated the expression of p-PERK/PERK, ATF-4, CHOP proteins. Moreover, the combined treatment also increased the expression of LC3 II and p62, decreased expression of LAMP 1 and Cathepsin D and increased lysosomal pH, indicating coordinated changes in autophagy regulation. Notably, intensification of apoptosis induced by the combined treatment was observed with CQ, whereas attenuation was seen with Rapa. CONCLUSIONS MT effectively enhanced HT-induced apoptosis in HeLa cells. Elevated ER stress and interruption of autophagy flux are the possible underlying molecular mechanisms for this phenomenon. These findings suggested MT can act as a potential thermosensitizer, highlighting its versatility in cancer treatment strategies.
Humans ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Autophagy/drug effects* ; HeLa Cells ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/therapy* ; Female ; Hyperthermia, Induced ; Spin Labels ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress/drug effects* ; Cyclic N-Oxides/pharmacology* ; Cell Survival/drug effects*

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the specific mechanisms by which electroacupuncture (EA) alleviates anxiety and fear behaviors associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), focusing on the role of lipocalin-2 (Lcn2). METHODS: The PTSD mouse model was subjected to single prolonged stress and shock (SPS&S), and the animals received 15 min sessions of EA at Shenmen acupoint (HT7). Behavioral tests were used to investigate the effects of EA at HT7 on anxiety and fear. Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to quantify Lcn2 and inflammatory cytokine levels in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Additionally, the activity of PFC neurons was evaluated by immunofluorescence and in vivo electrophysiology. RESULTS: Mice subjected to SPS&S presented increased anxiety- and fear-like behaviors. Lcn2 expression in the PFC was significantly upregulated following SPS&S, leading to increased expression of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 and suppression of PFC neuronal activity. However, EA at HT7 inhibited Lcn2 release, reducing neuroinflammation and hypoexcitability in the PFC. Lcn2 overexpression mitigated the effects of EA at HT7, resulting in anxiety- and fear-like behaviors. CONCLUSION EA at HT7 can ameliorate PTSD-associated anxiety and fear, and its mechanism of action appears to involve the inhibition of Lcn2-mediated neural activity and inflammation in the PFC. Please cite this article as: Yang YD, Zhong W, Chen M, Tang QC, Li Y, Yao LL, et al. Electroacupuncture alleviates behaviors associated with posttraumatic stress disorder by modulating lipocalin-2-mediated neuroinflammation and neuronal activity in the prefrontal cortex. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(5):537-547.
Electroacupuncture ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/metabolism* ; Animals ; Lipocalin-2/metabolism* ; Prefrontal Cortex/physiopathology* ; Male ; Mice ; Neurons/physiology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fear ; Behavior, Animal ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neuroinflammatory Diseases/metabolism* ; Anxiety/therapy* ; Acupuncture Points

Aim To observe the behavioral effects of exogenous allopregnanolone(ALLO)and its inhibitor finasteride on the receptive period(R)and non-recep-tive period(NR)of PMDD liver-qi inversion model rats and the expression of GABAARα4,GABAARδ mR-NA and protein effects to explore its pathogenesis.Methods The PMDD liver-qi reverse syndrome rat model was prepared.The rats were divided into the normal group R and NR(control-R,control-NR),model group R and NR(Model-R,Model-NR),nor-mal group R+ALLO and NR+ALLO(Control+A-R,Control+A-NR),and model group R+ALLO and NR+ALLO(Model+A-R,Model+A-NR),model group R+finasteride and NR+finasteride(Model+F-R,Model+F-NR).The elevated cross labyrinth ex-periment and social interaction experiment were used to detect the behaviors of rats;fluorescence quantitative PCR and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression of GABAARα4 and 8 mRNA and protein in rat amygdala and hippocampus.Results In the be-havioral evaluation,in the NR period,in the elevated cross maze test and in the social interaction test,the rats in the model group had anxiety behavior and de-creased social communication ability(P＜0.05),while the rats in the Model+A group could effectively relieve anxiety symptoms and improve their social com-munication ability(P＜0.05),and the rats in the Model+F group had increased anxiety behavior and social disorder(P＜0.05).In fluorescence quantita-tive PCR and immunofluorescence experiments,the ex-pression of GABAARα4 subunit in the model group was up-regulated in the hippocampus(P＜0.01),and the expression of δ subunit was down-regulated(P＜0.01);the expression of GABAARα4 subunit in the a-mygdala and hippocampus of the Model+A group de-creased(P＜0.01),and the expression of δ subunit increased in the hippocampus(P＜0.01).Conclu-sions The abnormal expression of GABAARα4 and 8 subunits mediated by ALLO improves the anxiety symptoms and social interaction ability of PMDD,which is the pathogenesis of PMDD liver-qi reverse syndrome,and provides basis and support for subse-quent exploration of the pathogenesis of PMDD liver-qi reverse syndrome.

Objective:To investigate the value of fibrinogen to albumin ratio (FAR), creatinine to albumin ratio (CAR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in predicting the poor prognosis of hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis (HLAP).Methods:Clinical data of HLAP patients admitted to the hospital from January 2021 to January and December 2023 were retrospectively collected. According to the prognosis, the patients were divided into two groups: good prognosis group and poor prognosis group.The independent risk factors of HLAP in different prognostic groups were obtained by multivariate Logistic regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to evaluate the prognostic value of FAR, CAR and PLR alone and in combination.Results:A total of 118 patients with HLAP were included, including 69 patients with good prognosis and 49 patients with poor prognosis.The difference of heart rate, lymphocyte, triglyceride, albumin, creatinine, urea nitrogen, blood calcium, blood glucose, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, fibrinogen, FAR, CAR, PLR, Bedside indicator of acute pancreatitis Severity score, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health status score, hospitalization time assessment between the two groups was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that FAR (odds ratio ( OR) = 25.949, 95% confidence interval (95% CI):3.190 ~ 211.080, P = 0.002), CAR ( OR = 1.453, 95% CI:1.095 ~ 1.928, P = 0.010) and PLR ( OR = 1.005, 95% CI: 1.001 ~ 1.009, P = 0.020) were independent risk factors for poor prognosis in HLAP patients. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of FAR, CAR and PLR to predict poor prognosis of HLAP patients were 0.823, 0.781 and 0.652, respectively.The AUC of FAR combined with CAR, FAR combined with PLR and CAR combined with PLR were 0.840, 0.845 and 0.849, respectively.The combined ability of FAR, CAR and PLR to predict poor prognosis in HLAP patients was (AUC=0.875,95% CI:0.814 ~ 0.937). When the cut-off value was 0.387, the sensitivity was 83.7%, and the specificity was 79.7%. Conclusions:The prognostic value of FAR, CAR and PLR in HLAP patients is better than that of single or pairwise combination.

Objective·To construct and verify the mouse model that can mimic the vitamin A deficiency(VAD)-like craniofacial skeletal deformity and do not cause embryonic death.Methods·Based on the Cre-LoxP system,the OsxCre;Rosa26dn/dn mice expressing osteoblast-specific dominant-negative retinoid acid receptor α(dnRARα)mutation were obtained by hybridization through OsxCre and Rosa26dnRARa/ddnRARa mice,to achieve the conditional inhibition of retinoic acid signaling to simulate VAD disease.Femur bone mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)and parietal bone cells of OsxCre;Rosa26dn/dn mice and their control littermates were isolated and underwent osteogenic induction,to assess the expression of retinoid acid receptor α(RARα)protein through Western blotting.Osteoblasts induced from parietal bone cells of OsxCre;Rosa26dn/dn mice and their control littermates were isolated and the effect of retinoic acid signaling inhibition was verified through dual luciferase gene reporter assay.Meanwhile,Ad-eGFP or Ad-Cre adenovirus-infected femur BMSCs and parietal bone cells of Rosa26dn/dnmice underwent osteogenic induction to assess the expression of dominant-negative mutant protein and the inhibition of the retinoic acid signaling pathway in vitro by Western blotting and dual luciferase gene reporter assay.Moreover,the skulls of 6-week-old OsxCre;Rosa26dn/dn mice were collected,and Micro-CT scanning and three-dimensional(3D)reconstruction were performed to verify the craniofacial skeletal deformities of the mouse model.Results·Western blotting results demonstrated that the level of RARα protein increased in the femur and parietal osteoblasts of OsxCre;Rosa26dn/dn mice compared to that of their control littermates,and also increased in the Ad-Cre-infected femur and parietal osteoblasts of Rosa26dn/dn mice compared to that in the Ad-eGFP-infected group(P＜0.05).Dualluciferase gene reporter assay results indicated that the activity of retinoid acid response element(RARE)was inhibited in the osteoblasts of OsxCre;Rosa26dn/dn mice compared to their control littermates,and was also inhibited in the Ad-Cre-infected group compared to the Ad-eGFP-infected group(P＜0.05).Micro-CT and 3D reconstruction suggested that the skull of 6-week-old OsxCre;Rosa26dn/dn mice exhibited VAD-like craniofacial skeletal deformities,including smaller size of the skull and osteogenesis imperfecta compared to their control littermates.Conclusion·An osteoblast-specific dnRARα expressing mouse model that can mimic VAD-like craniofacial skeletal deformity is successfully constructed,therefore providing a new model for exploring the pathogenesis and therapeutic targets of VAD-like craniofacial skeletal deformity in the future.

Purpose::Vibrio vulnificus ( V. Vulnificus) infection is characterized by rapid onset, aggressive progression, and challenging treatment. Bacterial resistance poses a significant challenge for clinical anti-infection treatment and is thus the subject of research. Enhancing host infection tolerance represents a novel infection prevention strategy to improve patient survival. Our team initially identified cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) as an important target owing to its negative modulation of the body's infection tolerance. This study explored the superior effects of the CYP1A1 inhibitor bergamottin compared to antibiotic combination therapy on the survival of mice infected with multidrug-resistant V. Vulnificus and the protection of their vital organs. Methods::An increasing concentration gradient method was used to induce multidrug-resistant V. Vulnificus development. We established a lethal infection model in C57BL/6J male mice and evaluated the effect of bergamottin on mouse survival. A mild infection model was established in C57BL/6J male mice, and the serum levels of creatinine, urea nitrogen, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to evaluate the effect of bergamottin on liver and kidney function. The morphological changes induced in the presence of bergamottin in mouse organs were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining of liver and kidney tissues. The bacterial growth curve and organ load determination were used to evaluate whether bergamottin has a direct antibacterial effect on multidrug-resistant V. Vulnificus. Quantification of inflammatory factors in serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the expression levels of inflammatory factors in liver and kidney tissues by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction were performed to evaluate the effect of bergamottin on inflammatory factor levels. Western blot analysis of IκBα, phosphorylated IκBα, p65, and phosphorylated p65 protein expression in liver and kidney tissues and in human hepatocellular carcinomas-2 and human kidney-2 cell lines was used to evaluate the effect of bergamottin on the nuclear factor kappa-B signaling pathway. One-way ANOVA and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results::In mice infected with multidrug-resistant V. Vulnificus, bergamottin prolonged survival ( p = 0.014), reduced the serum creatinine ( p = 0.002), urea nitrogen ( p = 0.030), aspartate aminotransferase ( p = 0.029), and alanine aminotransferase ( p = 0.003) levels, and protected the cellular morphology of liver and kidney tissues. Bergamottin inhibited interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α expression in serum (IL-1β: p = 0.010, IL-6: p = 0.029, TNF-α: p = 0.025) and inhibited the protein expression of the inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α in liver (IL-1β: p = 0.010, IL-6: p = 0.011, TNF-α: p = 0.037) and kidney (IL-1β: p = 0.016, IL-6: p = 0.011, TNF-α: p = 0.008) tissues. Bergamottin did not affect the proliferation of multidrug-resistant V. Vulnificus or the bacterial load in the mouse peritoneal lavage fluid ( p = 0.225), liver ( p = 0.186), or kidney ( p = 0.637). Conclusion::Bergamottin enhances the tolerance of mice to multidrug-resistant V. Vulnificus infection. This study can serve as a reference and guide the development of novel clinical treatment strategies for V. Vulnificus.

Objective To develop a GIS-based 3D playback system for the flight human-plane data to realize the fusion of pilots'airborne flight data and physiological data.Methods The 3D playback system was developed with the Browser/Server(B/S)architecture,micro-server model,Java language and Spring Cloud technology framework,which was composed of three functional modules for flight process reproduction,physiological situational awareness and critical event calibration analysis.Results The system developed achieved time synchronization and data fusion of airborne flight data and physiological data with a time synchronization frequency of 1 Hz and a refresh rate of not less than 120 frames/s.Conclusion The system developed with high safety,stability,reliability and accuracy facilitates pilot in-flight physiological monitoring and fusion and simultaneous display of airborne flight data and physiological data,which can be used as an important platform for decision-making support in flight training.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(10):14-19]

Objective To investigate the differences in clinical characteristics among children on prolonged mechanical ventilation(PMV)due to different primary diseases.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 59 pediatric patients requiring PMV from July 2017 to September 2022.According to the primary disease,they were divided into respiratory disease(RD)group,central nervous system(CNS)group,neuromuscular disease(NMD)group,and other disease group.The four groups were compared in terms of general information,treatment,and outcome.Results There were significant differences among the four groups in age,body weight,Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction-2(PELOD-2)score,Pediatric Risk of Mortality Ⅲ(PRISM Ⅲ)score,analgesic and sedative treatment,nutrition supply,rehabilitation treatment,tracheotomy,successful ventilator weaning,and outcomes(P＜0.05).Compared with the RD group,the CNS group and the other disease group had a significantly higher age and a significantly higher proportion of children receiving rehabilitation treatment,and the CNS group had a significantly higher proportion of children receiving tracheotomy(P＜0.008).Compared with the other disease group,the CNS group and the NMD group had significantly lower PELOD-2 and PRISM Ⅲ scores,and the CNS group had a significantly higher proportion of children with successful ventilator weaning and a significantly higher proportion of children who were improved and discharged(P＜0.008).Conclusions There are differences in clinical characteristics among children receiving PMV due to different etiologies.Most children in the RD group have a younger age,and children in the CNS group have a relatively good prognosis.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD)in twin preterm infants with a gestational age of<34 weeks,and to provide a basis for early identification of BPD in twin preterm infants in clinical practice.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the twin preterm infants with a gestational age of<34 weeks who were admitted to 22 hospitals nationwide from January 2018 to December 2020.According to their conditions,they were divided into group A(both twins had BPD),group B(only one twin had BPD),and group C(neither twin had BPD).The risk factors for BPD in twin preterm infants were analyzed.Further analysis was conducted on group B to investigate the postnatal risk factors for BPD within twins.Results A total of 904 pairs of twins with a gestational age of<34 weeks were included in this study.The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared with group C,birth weight discordance of>25%between the twins was an independent risk factor for BPD in one of the twins(OR=3.370,95%CI:1.500-7.568,P<0.05),and high gestational age at birth was a protective factor against BPD(P<0.05).The conditional logistic regression analysis of group B showed that small-for-gestational-age(SGA)birth was an independent risk factor for BPD in individual twins(OR=5.017,95%CI:1.040-24.190,P<0.05).Conclusions The development of BPD in twin preterm infants is associated with gestational age,birth weight discordance between the twins,and SGA birth.