OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of "Zhibian" (BL54)-toward-"Shuidao" (ST28) needling technique on the relative protein expression of the signaling pathway of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 1 (NOD1)/ receptor-interacting protein 2 (RIP2)/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in the rats with primary dysmenorrhea (PD), so as to explore the underlying mechanism of this acupuncture technique for pain alleviation in PD. METHODS: Thirty female SD rats of SPF grade with normal estrous cycle were randomized into a blank group, a model group and an acupuncture group, 10 rats in each one. Using the intraperitoneal injection with estradiol benzoate combined with oxytocin, PD model was prepared in the model group and the acupuncture group. In the acupuncture group, during model preparation, the intervention with "Zhibian" (BL54)-toward-"Shuidao" (ST28) needling technique was delivered simultaneously, 20 min each time, once daily for consecutive 10 days. On day 11, within 30 min after the intraperitoneal injection with oxytocin, the writhing reaction (latency, frequency and score) was recorded; the morphology of uterine tissue was observed with HE staining, the contents of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in the serum were detected using ELISA method; the relative protein expression of NOD1, RIP2, NF-κB p65, phosphorylation-NF-κB p65 (p-NF-κB p65) was detected in the uterine tissue using Western blot method; and the mRNA expression of NOD1, RIP2 and NF-κB p65 was detected with the quantitative real-time PCR employed. RESULTS: Compared with the blank group, in the model group, the writhing latency was prolonged (P<0.01), the writhing frequency and score increased (P<0.01) in the rats; the endometrial epithelial cells showed massive degeneration and necrosis, with severe endometrial edema and widespread shedding, combined with neutrophil infiltration; the serum PGE₂ content was dropped (P<0.01), while those of PGF_2α, IL-1β, IL-18, COX-2, and TNF-α elevated (P<0.01); the protein expression of NOD1, RIP2, NF-κB p65 and p-NF-κB p65, and the mRNA expression of NOD1, RIP2 and NF-κB p65 in uterine tissue increased (P<0.01). In comparison with the model group, in the acupuncture group, the writhing latency was prolonged (P<0.01), the writhing frequency and score were reduced (P<0.01) in the rats; there was less degeneration and necrosis of endometrial epithelial cells, with mild endometrial edema and very little neutrophil infiltration; the serum PGE₂ content increased (P<0.01), while those of PGF_2α, IL-1β, IL-18, COX-2, and TNF-α decreased (P<0.01); the protein expression of NOD1, RIP2, NF-κB p65 and p-NF-κB p65 and the mRNA expression of NOD1, RIP2 and NF-κB p65 in uterine tissue were dropped (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION "Zhibian" (BL54)-toward-"Shuidao" (ST28) needling technique can alleviate the pain symptom of PD rats, and its action mechanism may be related to inhibiting the active expression of NOD1/RIP2/NF-κB signaling pathway in the uterine tissue, thereby reducing the inflammatory response.
Animals ; Female ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; Dysmenorrhea/metabolism* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Acupuncture Analgesia ; Nod1 Signaling Adaptor Protein/metabolism* ; Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinase 2/metabolism* ; Acupuncture Therapy

OBJECTIVE: To explore the possible mechanism by which the "Zhibian" (BL54) toward "Shuidao" (ST28) acupuncture improves ovarian function in mice with poor ovarian response (POR) by observing its effect on gut microbiota. METHODS: A total of 35 SPF-grade C57BL/6 female mice were screened for normal estrous cycles using vaginal smears, and 30 mice were selected. Ten mice were assigned to the blank group, while the remaining mice were used to establish the POR model by intragastric administration of tripterygium wilfordii suspension. The successfully modeled mice were randomly divided into a model group and an acupuncture group, with 10 mice in each group. After modeling, the acupuncture group received the "Zhibian" (BL54) toward "Shuidao" (ST28) acupuncture method once daily for 20 minutes per session. Ovulation induction began the day after the intervention, and samples were collected after ovulation induction. Vaginal cytology was used to observe estrous cycle changes, and the number of oocytes obtained, ovarian wet weight, and ovarian index were recorded. Serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) were detected using ELISA. HE staining was used to observe ovarian histology. Gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology. Western blot was used to detect the relative protein expression levels of Occludin and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in colonic tissue. Correlation analysis was conducted among serum hormone indexes, the number of oocytes obtained, ovarian index and gut microbiota. RESULTS: Compared with the blank group, the model group showed a higher estrous cycle disorder rate (P<0.01), increased serum FSH and LH levels, and a higher LH/FSH ratio (P<0.01), while the number of oocytes obtained, ovarian wet weight, ovarian index, and serum E2 and AMH levels were significantly reduced (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the acupuncture group showed a lower estrous cycle disorder rate (P<0.01), decreased serum FSH and LH levels, and a lower LH/FSH ratio (P<0.01), along with an increased number of oocytes obtained, higher ovarian wet weight, ovarian index, and elevated serum AMH and E2 levels (P<0.01, P<0.05). The blank group had a large number of well-developed primordial follicles, with abundant and closely arranged follicles at various stages. In the model group, there was a significant increase in the number of atretic follicles, a reduction in the number of follicles at various stages, and loosely arranged ovarian tissue. Compared with the blank group, the model group showed a significant decrease in the number of normal follicles (P<0.01) and an increase in the number of atretic follicles (P<0.01). The acupuncture group showed a reduction in atretic follicles and an increase in the number of follicles at various stages compared with the model group, with a significant increase in normal follicles (P<0.01) and a decrease in atretic follicles (P<0.01). Compared with the blank group, the model group exhibited reduced gut microbiota diversity and richness, with significantly lower Chao1 and Shannon indices (P<0.01), and a greater clustering distance from the blank group. The model group also showed an increase in the relative abundance of Firmicutes_D, Verrucomicrobiota, Paramuribaculum, Dubosiella, and Muribaculum (P<0.01, P<0.05), while the relative abundance of Firmicutes_A and the relative protein expression of Occludin and ZO-1 in colonic tissue were decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the acupuncture group showed improved gut microbiota diversity and richness, with increased Chao1 and Shannon indices (P<0.05), and a clustering distance closer to the blank group. The acupuncture group exhibited reduced relative abundance of Firmicutes_D, Verrucomicrobiota, and Muribaculum (P<0.05, P<0.01), while the relative abundance of Firmicutes_A and the relative protein expression of Occludin and ZO-1 were significantly increased (P<0.01, P<0.05). Correlation analysis indicated a relationship between gut microbiota and serum hormone indicators, as well as the ovarian index. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis showed that the metabolic pathways of the intersecting species were related to amino acid biosynthesis and nucleotide metabolism. CONCLUSION The "Zhibian" (BL54) toward "Shuidao" (ST28) acupuncture method improves ovarian function in POR mice, and its mechanism may be related to regulating gut microbiota structure and maintaining intestinal barrier homeostasis.
Animals ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Mice ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Humans ; Ovary/physiopathology* ; Acupuncture Points ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone/metabolism* ; Luteinizing Hormone/metabolism* ; Estrous Cycle ; Anti-Mullerian Hormone/blood*

Objective To evaluate the potential clinical value of T2 mapping and mDixon Quant in the diagnosis of early interver-tebral disc degeneration.Methods A total of 79 volunteers who underwent lumbar MRI examination were enrolled.All subjects were examined for 3.0T MR with T2WI,T2 mapping,and mDixon Quant while recording the condition of low back pain.The differ-ences between T2 mapping(map)value and fat fraction(FF)values of the vertebral(V)and nucleus pulposus(NP)within the Pfir-rmann Ⅰ and Pfirrmann Ⅱ intervertebral disc(grade Ⅰ 76,grade Ⅱ 87)were statistically analyzed.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analyses were performed for meaningful parameters.Results V-FF showed a mild positive correlation with degenera-tive intervertebral disc lesions,and NP-FF and NP-map values showed a mild negative correlation with lesions.There were statistically significant differences between the two groups in V-FF(P＜0.001),NP-FF(P=0.005),and NP-map(P＜0.001).Some measure-ments had statistically significant differences when different intervertebral disc segments were compared.Conclusion V-FF,NP-FF,and NP-map are associated with intervertebral disc degeneration.T2 mapping and mDixon Quant are potentially valuable as diagnostic tools to quantitatively assess early intervertebral disc degeneration and help diagnose.

Objective To noninvasively predict isocitrate dehydrogenase(IDH)status of glioma via combining imaging and clini-cal features before surgery,so as to provide basis for individualized clinical treatment decision.Methods A total of 47 patients with glioma confirmed by pathological and molecular genetic tests were included,including 20 with IDH mutant type and 27 with IDH wild type.After diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)scanning,fractional anisotropy(FA)and mean diffusivity(MD)values of tumor paren-chyma were calculated.Combining DTI parameters with MRI morphological features of tumor,blood neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio(NLR)and patient's age,binary logistic regression model was established to effectively predict IDH status of glioma patients before surgery.Results There were significant differences in FAmean/FANAWM,MDmin,NLR,tumor location and age between IDH mutant type and IDH wild type groups(P<0.05).The binary logistic regression model concluding,FAmean/FANAWM,MDmin,cystic degeneration,NLR and age,predicted IDH status of glioma with area under the curve(AUC)of 0.961 and 95%confidence interval(CI)of 0.914-1.00.Conclusion The regression model established via combining DTI,MRI morphological features and blood NLR has great performance in classifying IDH status of glioma,and can help predict IDH status noninvasively before surgery,so as to assist clinical individualized treatment.

Objective:To explore the impact of social support, self-efficacy, and neurological function on disease acceptance in stroke patients.Methods:From September 2022 to February 2023, convenience sampling was used to select 322 stroke patients from Shanghai Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine as participants. The survey was conducted using the General Information Questionnaire, Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), Stroke Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (SSEQ), Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) .Results:The AIS, PSSS, SSEQ, and NIHSS scores of stroke patients were (21.88±10.66), (52.64±13.80), (73.92±28.91), and (5.37±3.64), respectively. Social support of patients had a positive impact on disease acceptance ( P<0.01). Self-efficacy partially mediated the relationship between social support and disease acceptance, with indirect effects accounting for 48.84% of the total effect. The second half of the mediating effect of "social support→self-efficacy→disease acceptance" (self-efficacy→disease acceptance) was regulated by neurological function ( β=-0.020, P<0.01) . Conclusions:Medical and nursing staff can increase patients' social support, enhance their self-efficacy, and strengthen targeted interventions for patients with high levels of neurological deficits, thereby improving their disease acceptance.

Objective : To analyze the overall survival( OS) of sequential osimertinib treatment in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) exon 20 T790M mutant advanced non⁃small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) and risk factors of the efficacy of sequential osimertinib treatment. Methods : The data of 138 advanced NSCLC patients with acquired EGFR exon 20 T790M mutation who took sequential osimertinib as second⁃line treatment. KaplanMeier variable was used for survival analysis. The Log⁃rank method was used for univariate analysis. The COX risk regression model was used for multivariate analysis. The survival status and influencing factors of patients treated with sequential osimertinib were analyzed. Results : At the last follow⁃up , 99 of the 138 patients died. Median progression free survival (PFS1)of first⁃line of first⁃ or second⁃generation epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors(EGFR⁃TKIs) was 11 months (95% CI: 10. 1 - 11. 9) ; median PFS2 of osimertinib was 10 months (95% CI: 8. 5 - 11. 5) ; The median PFS with sequential osimertinib treatment was 24 months(95% CI: 21. 7 -26. 3) , the median OS was 32 months(95% CI: 28. 9 - 35. 1) . In univariate and multivariate analysis , PFS1 was an independent prognostic factor for PFS and OS(P < 0. 001) . Conclusion Sequential osimertinib treatment for advanced NSCLC patients with acquired EGFR exon 20 T790M mutation achieved good PFS(24 months) and OS (32 months) .

Objective To compare the correlation and consistency of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS)and electrochemiluminescence immunoassay(ECLIA)in the determination of se-rum 25-hydroxyvitamin D[25(OH)D],in order to guide the clinical selection of appropriate detection meth-ods.Methods A total of clinical serum samples were collected from the laboratory,and 25(OH)D levels were detected by LC-MS/MS and ECLIA,respectively.Passing-Boblok regression was used to analyze the correla-tion between the two methods,and Bland-Altman and Mountain plot were used to evaluate the agreement be-tween the two methods.Serum 25(OH)D<20.0 ng/mL was defined as vitamin D deficiency,and serum 25(OH)D as 20.0-<30.0 ng/mL was defined as vitamin D insufficiency.Kappa analysis was used to determine the coincidence rate of the two methods in the diagnosis of vitamin D nutritional status.Results The 25(OH)D levels detected by LC-MS/MS and ECLIA were(26.67±4.79)ng/mL and(39.33±4.09)ng/mL,respec-tively.The regression equation of the two methods was YECLIA=-4.558 1+1.719 8XLC-MS/MS,the slope was 1.719 8(95%CI 1.586 3-1.828 4),excluded 1,and the intercept was 4.558 1(95%CI-7.692 2--2.122 1),excluded 0,prompt system difference or ratio differences of the two methods.There were system-atic or proportional differences between the two methods.The Bland-Altman figure showed two methods aver-ages was 12.7,and the difference of out points(ratio)was 3.19%.The peak value of the mountain plot was-9.17 ng/mL,with more deviations from 0,indicating poor agreement between the results measured by the two methods.The Kappa coefficient of the two methods for judging vitamin D deficiency was 0.875,and the diagnostic coincidence rate was 94.68%.The Kappa coefficient of the two methods for judging vitamin D in-sufficiency was 0.538,and the diagnostic coincidence rate was 75.53%.Conclusion The agreement between ECLIA and LC-MS/MS is poor,but the agreement between ECLIA and LC-MS/MS in the diagnosis of vita-min D deficiency and insufficiency based on nutritional status is high.

Objective:To establish a method for quantitative analysis of the active ingredients including salidroside, rosarin and rosavin and content determination in Rhodiola rosea at different harvest months. Methods:HPLC was used on an X selectHSS T3 (250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm) column with mobile phase consisting of methol-acetonitrile-phosphoric acid (0.05%) aqueous solution for gradient elution at a flow rate of 1 ml/min. The wavelength was detected at 275 nm (salidroside) and 254 nm (rosarin, rosavin). The column temperature was set at 30 ℃ and the injection volume was 5 μl.Results:The peak areas of Salidroside, rosarin and rosavin showed good linear relationships ( r > 0.999) with the content in the ranges of 44-1 420, 10-307 and 18-573 μg, respectively. The method was precise, stable, repeatable and the sample recovery test all well satisfied the requirements of quantitative analysis. The highest accumulation of the active ingredients was observed in Rhodiola rosea in September and the content of salidroside, rosarin and rosavin were 0.66, 0.07 and 0.53 mg/g, respectively. Conclusion:This method is simple and rapid to evaluate the content of active ingredients in Rhodiola rosea.

Objective To investigate epidemic characteristics of overweight, obesity and obesity-related diabetes in adults in Shenyang, and to explore the influence of overweight and obesity on diabetes. Methods Questionnaire survey combined with physical examination and laboratory examination was adopted to finally collect valid data of 5,239 people underwent physical examination in the hospital from January 2018 to December 2019. Height, weight and blood glucose levels were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The overweight and obesity status of adults with different characteristics, gender and age were compared, and the prevalence of diabetes among people with different BMI in Shenyang was recorded.Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of overweight and obesity in adults. Logistic regression with complex sample data was used to analyze the risk of diabetes among overweight and obesity adults in different BMI subgroups, and the odds ratio (OR) value was calculated.Results The overall overweight and obesity rates in Shenyang were 42.05% and 21.80% respectively. Gender, region, occupation, smoking, alcohol consumption, eating habits and daily sleep time were associated with overweight (χ²= 437.299, χ²=399.536, χ²=447.144, χ²=77.529, χ²=38.984, χ²=297.900, χ²=1188.323, P<0.001) and obesity (χ²=225.169, χ²=47.296, χ²=241.920, χ²=129.770, χ²=23.197, χ²=98.14, χ²=146.05, P<0.001), the differences were statistically significant.The overweight and obesity rates among adults of different ages and gender had significant difference (P<0.05). Gender, age, region, marital status, smoking, alcohol consumption, eating habits and daily sleep time were the influencing factors of overweight and obesity in adults (P<0.05). With the increase of BMI, the prevalence of diabetes gradually increased (P<0.05). After adjusting for the confounding factors such as age, region and family per capita annual income, the risk of diabetes mellitus in adults with BMI of 24.0~27.9 kg/m², or ≥28.0 kg/m² were higher than those with BMI of 18.5~23.9 kg/m², (Male: OR=2.034, OR=2.365, P<0.05；Female: OR=1.658, OR=1.763, P<0.05；Overall: OR=1.763, OR=1.811, P<0.05). Conclusion The overweight and obesity rates of adults in Shenyang are relatively high, and the risk of diabetes increases with the increase of BMI, so the related health education and intervention are of vital importance in weight-control and diabetes prevention.

Objective:To investigate the effect of vincristine on the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells by regulating RASSF2A demethylation.Methods:SKOV3 cells were infected with control (LV-NC) and RASSF2A lentivirus (LV-RASSF2A) and treated with or without vincristine. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to detect the activity of ovarian cancer cells (SKOV3) treated with different doses of vincristine. Colony formation assay was used to detect the proliferation of SKOV3 cells. Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis of SKOV3 cells. Real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to examine the mRNA expression of RASSF2A in IOSE-29 and SKOV3 cells. Western blot was used to examine the protein expression of RASSF2A in IOSE-29 and SKOV3 cells. Methylation-specific PCR was used to detect methylation and demethylation levels of RASSF2A gene in IOSE-29 and SKOV3 cells.Results:The cell viabilities of SKOV3 cell treated with 6.25 nmol/L, 12.5 nmol/L, 25 nmol/L, 50 nmol/L and 100 nmol/L vincristine were (87.19±4.49)%, (73.67±8.62)%, (66.35±6.04)%, (50.32±6.00)% and (34.92±6.11)%, respectively, lower than (100.46±4.69)% of control group ( P<0.05). The half maximal inhibitory concentration of vincristine at 48 hours was 50.02 nmol/L. The proliferation abilities of SKOV3 cells in vincristine 12.5 nmol/L group, 25 nmol/L group and 50 nmol/L group were (41.70±2.21)%, (32.15±1.80)% and (23.00±2.01)%, respectively, significantly lower than (100.78±5.66)% in the control group (all P<0.05). The apoptotic rates of SKOV3 cells in vincristine 12.5 nmol/L group, 25 nmol/L group and 50 nmol/L group were (3.65±0.27)%, (5.21±0.76)% and (10.46±1.00)%, respectively, significantly higher than (2.12±0.23)% in the control group (all P<0.05). Compared with the IOSE-29 group (1.00±0.07 and 0.68±0.04), the mRNA expression (0.32±0.04) and protein expression (0.24±0.02) of RASSF2A were down-regulated in SKOV3 cells ( P<0.05). Compared with the LV-NC group [(101.60±4.39)%, (100.73±3.29)%, (4.06±0.30)%], over-expression of RASSF2A down-requlated cell viability (68.92±3.94)%, inhibited proliferation (16.38±2.16)%, and promoted apoptosis (8.65±0.56)%, ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Vincristine can increase RASSF2A expression and inhibit ovarian cancer cell proliferation by promoting the demethylation of RASSF2A promoter.