[摘 要] 目的：探索外周免疫功能状态与肺癌转移的关联，筛选可用于肺癌转移“正虚”评估的外周血免疫标志物。方法：回顾性分析2023年3月至2025年4月期间上海中医药大学附属市中医医院收治的肺癌患者治疗前的外周血免疫标志物，根据是否存在远处转移，将患者分为无转移组与转移组，比较两组间免疫细胞和细胞因子的表达差异。将单因素分析P < 0.05的外周血免疫指标纳入多因素二元Logistic回归模型，以识别肺癌转移的独立预测因素。结果：共纳入193例肺癌患者（无转移组101例，转移组92例），两组在性别、年龄、吸烟史、饮酒史、病理类型间的差异均无统计学意义（均P > 0.05）。单因素分析显示，无转移组与转移组间有多项免疫指标存在显著差异（均P < 0.05），包括：淋巴细胞计数，CD3+、CD4+、CD8+ T、CD19+ B细胞及CD3-CD16+56+ NK细胞绝对计数，Treg细胞、CD8+CD28+ Treg细胞、G-MDSC和CD3-CD16+CD56+dim NK细胞百分率，以及细胞因子IL-1β、IL-6和IL-10水平。将差异性指标行二元Logistic回归分析，提示外周血中Treg细胞和CD8+CD28+ Treg细胞百分率是肺癌发生远处转移的独立预测因素[OR = 1.193, 95% CI（1.047, 1.36）, P < 0.01; OR = 0.978, 95% CI（0.957, 0.999）, P < 0.05]。结论：外周血免疫功能紊乱是肺癌转移“正虚”的生物学基础，本研究以量化指标证实外周免疫功能状态与肺癌转移的相关性，为“正虚伏毒”和“肿瘤转移态”理论提供了实证。

BACKGROUND: The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) has been shown to be positively correlated with cardiovascular disease in previous studies. However, it is unclear whether elderly people with long-term high AIP levels are more likely to develop coronary heart disease (CHD). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between AIP trajectory and CHD incidence in elderly people. METHODS: 19,194 participants aged ≥ 60 years who had three AIP measurements between 2018 and 2020 were included in this study. AIP was defined as log₁₀ (triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol). The group-based trajectory model was used to identify different trajectory patterns of AIP from 2018 to 2020. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) with 95% CI of CHD events between different trajectory groups from 2020 to 2023. RESULTS: Three different trajectory patterns were identified through group-based trajectory model: the low-level group (n = 7410, mean AIP: -0.25 to -0.17), the medium-level group (n = 9981, mean AIP: 0.02-0.08), and the high-level group (n = 1803, mean AIP: 0.38-0.42). During a mean follow-up of 2.65 years, a total of 1391 participants developed CHD. After adjusting for potential confounders, compared with the participants in the low-level group, the HR with 95% CI of the medium-level group and the high-level group were estimated to be 1.24 (1.10-1.40) and 1.43 (1.19-1.73), respectively. These findings remained consistent in subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS There was a significant correlation between persistent high AIP level and increased CHD risk in the elderly. This suggests that monitoring the long-term changes in AIP is helpful to identify individuals at high CHD risk in elderly people.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the expression profile of circular RNAs (circRNAs) and their potential roles in prognosis and progression of Wilms' tumor (WT). METHODS: Four pairs of WT and adjacent tissues were collected for high-throughput circRNA sequencing to identify the differentially expressed circular RNAs. RT-qPCR was used to verify the expression levels of the top 6 candidate circRNAs in the clinical samples. hsa_circ_0001900 was selected for analysis of its correlation with clinicopathological features and prognosis in 34 patients with WT. Sanger sequencing and RNase R digestion experiments were used to verify the cycling site and structural stability of hsa_circ_0001900 molecule. RESULTS: A total of 23 978 circular RNA molecules were identified in WT tissues by high-throughput circular RNA sequencing, and among them 614 were differentially expressed in WT. hsa_circ_0001900 showed the highest expression level among the differentially expressed circRNAs, which was consistent with the findings in clinical tumor samples and the sequencing results. Correlation analysis showed that hsa_circ_0001900 expression level was positively correlated with WT volume, and the children with high hsa_circ_0001900 expression had a lowered recurrence-free survival rate. The results of Sanger sequencing verified the circular splice site sequence of the molecule, and Rnase R digestion assay confirmed its stable covalent structure. CONCLUSIONS This study presents a comprehensive expression profile of circular RNAs in WT, and the expression level of hsa_circ_0001900 is related to the size of WT and the patients' prognosis, suggesting its possible role as a key driving gene in WT progression.
Humans ; RNA, Circular ; Wilms Tumor/pathology* ; Prognosis ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Kidney Neoplasms/genetics* ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Male ; Female

OBJECTIVE: Comorbid pain and depression are common but remain difficult to treat. Electroacupuncture (EA) can effectively improve symptoms of depression and relieve pain, but its neural mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to detect cerebral changes after initiating a mouse pain model via constriction of the infraorbital nerve (CION) and then treating these animals with EA. METHODS: Forty male C57BL/6J mice were divided into 4 groups: control, CION model, EA, and sham acupuncture (without needle insertion). EA was performed on the acupoints Baihui (GV20) and Zusanli (ST36) for 20 min, once a day for 10 consecutive days. The mechanical withdrawal threshold was tested 3 days after the surgery and every 3 days after the intervention. The depressive behavior was evaluated with the tail suspension test, open-field test, elevated plus maze (EPM), sucrose preference test, and marble burying test. The rs-fMRI was used to detect the cerebral changes of the functional connectivity (FC) in the mice following EA treatment. RESULTS: Compared with the CION group, the mechanical withdrawal threshold increased in the EA group at the end of the intervention (P < 0.05); the immobility time in tail suspension test decreased (P < 0.05); and the times of the open arm entry and the open arm time in the EPM increased (both P < 0.001). There was no difference in the sucrose preference or marble burying tests (both P > 0.05). The fMRI results showed that EA treatment downregulated the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations and regional homogeneity values, while these indicators were elevated in brain regions including the amygdala, hippocampus and cerebral cortex in the CION model for comorbid pain and depression. Selecting the amygdala as the seed region, we found that the FC was higher in the CION group than in the control group. Meanwhile, EA treatment was able to decrease the FC between the amygdala and other brain regions including the caudate putamen, thalamus, and parts of the cerebral cortex. CONCLUSION EA can downregulate the abnormal activation of neurons in the amygdala and improve its FC with other brain regions, thus exerting analgesic and antidepressant effects. Please cite this article as: Yin X, Zeng XL, Lin JJ, Xu WQ, Cui KY, Guo XT, Li W, Xu SF. Brain functional changes following electroacupuncture in a mouse model of comorbid pain and depression: a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(2): 159-168.
Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Male ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Depression/diagnostic imaging* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Brain/diagnostic imaging* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice ; Pain/diagnostic imaging* ; Acupuncture Points

BACKGROUND: The effects of acupuncture have varied in different randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and there are many factors that influence treatment effect of acupuncture in different outcomes, with conflicting results. OBJECTIVE: To identify factors and their impact on the treatment effect of acupuncture in different outcomes. METHODS: Acupuncture RCTs were searched from 7 databases including Medline (PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, VIP Database, and China Biology Medicine disc between January 1st, 2015 and December 31st, 2019. Eligible studies must compare acupuncture to no acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or waiting lists, and report at least 1 patient-important outcome. A multi-level meta-regression was conducted using a 3-level robust mixed model and univariate analyses were performed for all independent variables, even those excluded from the multivariable model due to collinearities. We used thresholds of 0.2 and 0.4 for the difference of standardized mean differences (SMDs), categorising them as small (<0.2), moderate (0.2-0.4), or large (>0.4) effects. RESULTS: The pain construct analysis involved 211 effect estimates from 153 studies and 14 independent variables. High-frequency acupuncture treatment sessions produced larger effects compared to low-frequency sessions [large magnitude, the difference of adjusted SMDs 0.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07 to 0.84; P=0.02]. The non-pain symptoms construct analysis comprised 323 effect estimates from 231 studies and 15 independent variables. Penetrating acupuncture showed moderately larger effects when compared to non-penetrating acupuncture (0.30, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.53; P=0.01). The function construct analysis included 495 effect estimates from 274 studies and 14 independent variables. Penetrating acupuncture and the flexible acupuncture regimen showed moderately larger effects, compared to non-penetrating acupuncture and fixed regimen, respectively (0.40, 95% CI 0 to 0.80; P=0.05; 0.29, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.53; P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS High-frequency acupuncture sessions appear to be a more effective approach to managing painful symptoms. Penetrating acupuncture demonstrated greater effect in relieving non-painful symptoms. Both penetrating acupuncture type and flexible acupuncture regimen were linked to significant treatment effects in function outcomes. Future studies should consider the factors that are significantly associated with the effects of acupuncture in patient-important outcomes.
Humans ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Pain ; Pain Management ; China

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of Xiaoyao San (XYS), a herbal medicine formula, on exercise capacity and liver mitochondrial metabolomics in a rat model of depression induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). METHODS: A total of 24 male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: control group (C), CUMS control group (M), Venlafaxine positive treatment group (V), and XYS treatment group (X). Depressive behaviour and exercise capacity of rats were assessed by body weight, sugar-water preference test, open field test, pole test, and rotarod test. The liver mitochondria metabolomics were analyzed by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method. TCMSP database and GeneCards database were used to screen XYS for potential targets for depression, and GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed. RESULTS: Compared with C group, rats in M group showed significantly lower body weight, sugar water preference rate, number of crossing and rearing in the open field test, climbing down time in the pole test, and retention time on the rotarod test (P < 0.01). The above behaviors and exercise capacity indices were significantly modulated in rats in V and X groups compared with M group (P < 0.05, 0.01). Compared with C group, a total of 18 different metabolites were changed in the liver mitochondria of rats in M group. Nine different metabolites and six metabolic pathways were regulated in the liver mitochondria of rats in X group compared with M group. The results of network pharmacology showed that 88 intersecting targets for depression and XYS were obtained, among which 15 key targets such as IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF were predicted to be the main differential targets for the treatment of depression. Additionally, a total of 1 553 GO signaling pathways and 181 KEGG signaling pathways were identified, and the main biological pathways were AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, and calcium signaling pathway. CONCLUSION XYS treatment could improve depressive symptoms, enhance exercise capacity, positively regulate the changes of mitochondrial metabolites and improve energy metabolism in the liver of depressed rats. These findings suggest that XYS exerts antidepressant effects through multi-target and multi-pathway.

Objective:To investigate the comorbidity status of hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia (the"three diseases") among residents aged≥40 in Liaoning Province, and to explore the correlation between the comorbidity and cardiovascular disease mortality.Methods:This investigation was a prospective cohort study. From February 2017 to March 2019, a multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling method was used to carry out a baseline survey of 18 758 permanent residents aged≥40 years in Liaoning Province. Demographic information and history of hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia were collected and followed up every year. Death was mainly identified by linkage to the Population Death Information Registration Management System. Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to analyze the association between the comorbidity of the "three diseases" and cardiovascular disease mortality risk.Results:A total of 18 758 residents aged≥40 in Liaoning Province were included, with an age of (60.3±9.9) years and 7 325 males (39.1%). The comorbidity rate of hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia was 6.7% (1 256/18 758), and the standardized prevalence rate was 5.4%. The comorbidity rate increased with age (P<0.001), which was higher in women than in men, and more significant in urban areas than in rural areas (all P<0.001). The comorbidity of "three diseases" accounted for 39.3% (1 256/3 198), 18.7% (1 256/6 710), and 11.8% (1 256/10 653) in patients with diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, respectively. With a follow-up of (4.3±0.6) years, 463 people died of cardiovascular disease. The mortality rate of cardiovascular disease in the comorbidity of hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia was 8.74/1 000 person-years. After adjusting potential confounders, Cox proportional hazard regression model analysis showed that compared with normal individuals, the hazard ratio of cardiovascular disease mortality in patients with the "three diseases" was 2.55 (95% CI: 1.63-3.99). Conclusion:The prevalence of comorbidity of hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia among residents aged≥40 in Liaoning Province was relatively high, and the risk of cardiovascular disease mortality in patients with the "three diseases" was increased.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of otoendoscopic stapes surgery.METHODS From December 2020 to May 2023,a retrospective analysis was performed on 29 patients who underwent otoendoscopic stapes fenestration and artificial stapes implantation were diagnosed with otosclerosis during the operation.The medical history data of the patients were collected and analyzed.RESULTS In the period examined,44 stapes surgical procedures were performed and out of these 29 met the inclusion criteria.All patients were performed under otoendoscopy.There was no significant change in bone conduction threshold(P>0.05),but the average air conduction threshold improved from the preoperative(59.91±10.25)dB HL to(38.92±11.37)dB HL with air-bone gap reduced from the preoperative(37.37±7.65)dB HL to(18.71±8.38)dB HL(P<0.05).There were no serious complications such as sensorineural hearing loss and facial paralysis,but 22 patients were accompanied by varying degrees of vertigo,which were relieved after symptomatic treatment.CONCLUSION Endoscopic stapes surgery is a safe procedure with a low risk of peri-or postoperative complications,and can improve the air conduction hearing of otosclerosis patients.

The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)inflammasome is an inflammatory protein complex, and can participate into the inflammatory response. Upon activation, these inflammasomes can lead to Caspase-1 activation, thereby inducing a cascade of inflammatory factor activation and further cell pyroptosis. Excessive activation of inflammasomes will induce the overexpression of inflammatory factors, persistently triggering immune dysregulation and inflammatory chain reactions, even causing severe damage. The recent studies have confirmed a close association between retinal diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy(DR), retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury(RIRI), and proliferative vitreoretinopathy(PVR)with immune dysregulation and inflammatory responses, which is serving as crucial factors in the progression of retinal diseases. This article reviews the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway and its role in the occurrence and development of retinal diseases, in order to provide new ideas for the pathogenesis and prevention of retinal diseases.

Objective To investigate the effect of varying ureteral wall thickness(UWT)at the site of ureteral stones on the clinical efficacy of ureteroscopic lithotripsy(URL).Methods The clinical data of 164 patients with ureteral stones in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed.According to different UWT,the patients were divided into the mild thickening group(84 cases,UWT<3.16 mm),the moderate thickening group(31 cases,UWT 3.16 to 3.49 mm),and the severe thickening group(49 cases,UWT>3.49 mm),and the differences of clinical related indicators among the three groups were compared.Results The incidence of postoperative renal colic and leukocyte disorder in the mild thickening group and the moderate thickening group were lower than those in the severe thickening group,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).The postoperative catheterization time in the mild thickening group and the moderate thickening group were shorter than that in the severe thickening group,and the incidences of secondary lithotripsy,residual stones and stone return to kidney in the mild thickening group and the moderate thickening group were lower than those in the severe thickening group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).The length of hospital stay and hospitalization cost in the mild thickening group and the moderate thickening group were shorter/less than those in the severe thickening group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Conclusion With the increase of UWT(especially when UWT>3.49 mm),the incidence of postoperative complications and hospitalization cost of URL increase to varying degrees,and the surgical efficacy decreases.In clinical work,UWT measurement holds potential value in predicting the surgical efficacy and complications of URL.