Objective:To explore the role of the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor β/δ(PPARβ/δ)in the anti-inflammatory mechanism of acupuncture(AC)against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury(CIRI)in rat hippocampal tissue.Methods:A total of 60 SD rats were randomly divided into Sham group,CIRI group,CIRI+AC group and CIRI+AC+PPARβ/δsiRNA group.The CIRI rat model was prepared by the method of middle cerebral artery occlusion,and acupuncture treatment was used for intervention.The neurological function of rats was assessed by the modified neurological severity score(mNSS)method after 72 hours of intervention.The brain in-farction volume ratio was observed by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC)staining method.The pathological morphological changes of brain tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.The expression levels of PPARβ/δ,IL-1β,and IL-10 mRNA in the hippocampal region were detected by RT-qPCR.Results:Compared with the Sham group,the mNSS scores and the brain infarction volume ratio in all modeling groups were significantly in-creased.Compared with the CIRI group,the mNSS scores and the brain infarction volume ratio in the CIRI+AC group were significantly reduced.The expression levels of PPARβ/δ and IL-10 in the hippocampus were significantly upregu-lated,while the expression level of IL-1β was significantly downregulated(P<0.01),with scattered inflammatory cell infiltration observed.Compared with the CIRI+AC group,there was no significant difference in the mNSS scores and the brain infarction volume ratio in the CIRI+AC+PPARβ/δsiRNA group.The expression level of PPARβ/δ in the hippocampus was significantly downregulated(P<0.01),while no significant difference was found in the expression level of IL-10 and IL-1β mRNA,with a small amount of inflammatory cell infiltration observed.Conclusion:Acupunc-ture ameliorates the recovery of neurological function and the ratio of cerebral infarction volume in rats with CIRI,and its mechanism may be associated with the upregulation of PPARβ/δ expression,thereby reducing inflammatory respon-ses and exerting neuroprotective effects.

Objective:To investigate the effects of acupuncture intervention on the expression of circRNA_017109 and miR-138-5p in the hippocampal region of rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury(CIRI),and to explore the potential mechanism of acupuncture in treating CIRI.Methods:Forty-five Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were divided into sham group,middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion(MCAO/R)group,and acupuncture(MCAO/R+AC)group.The MCAO/R and MCAO/R+AC groups were subjected to the modified Longa suture method to establish the MCAO/R model.The MCAO/R+AC group received acupuncture at the"Dazhui","Renzhong",and"Baihui"acu-points.Neurological impairment was assessed via the modified neurological severity score(mNSS).while cerebral infarct volume was assessed through TTC staining.Histological alterations in brain tissue were examined via HE stai-ning,and the expression of circRNA_017109 and miR-138-5p in the hippocampal area were determined using RT-qPCR.Results:The mNSS scores and cerebral infarct volume ratios in the model groups were markedly higher than those in the sham group(P<0.01),but these were significantly reduced in MCAO/R+AC group compared to the MCAO/R group(P<0.01).HE staining showed severe necrosis and inflammation in the MCAO/R group's hippocam-pus,while the MCAO/R+AC group had minimal necrosis and scattered inflammation.RT-qPCR results indicated that the expression of circRNA_017109 and miR-138-5p was downregulated in the MCAO/R group,while MCAO/R+AC group upregulated the expression of circRNA_017109 and miR-138-5p(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion:Acupunc-ture can improve neurological deficits,reduce cerebral infarction volume,and alleviate inflammatory cell infiltration in CIRI rats by upregulating the expression of circRNA_017109 and miR-138-5p,thereby exerting neuroprotective effects.

Objective:To explore the role of the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor β/δ(PPARβ/δ)in the anti-inflammatory mechanism of acupuncture(AC)against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury(CIRI)in rat hippocampal tissue.Methods:A total of 60 SD rats were randomly divided into Sham group,CIRI group,CIRI+AC group and CIRI+AC+PPARβ/δsiRNA group.The CIRI rat model was prepared by the method of middle cerebral artery occlusion,and acupuncture treatment was used for intervention.The neurological function of rats was assessed by the modified neurological severity score(mNSS)method after 72 hours of intervention.The brain in-farction volume ratio was observed by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC)staining method.The pathological morphological changes of brain tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.The expression levels of PPARβ/δ,IL-1β,and IL-10 mRNA in the hippocampal region were detected by RT-qPCR.Results:Compared with the Sham group,the mNSS scores and the brain infarction volume ratio in all modeling groups were significantly in-creased.Compared with the CIRI group,the mNSS scores and the brain infarction volume ratio in the CIRI+AC group were significantly reduced.The expression levels of PPARβ/δ and IL-10 in the hippocampus were significantly upregu-lated,while the expression level of IL-1β was significantly downregulated(P<0.01),with scattered inflammatory cell infiltration observed.Compared with the CIRI+AC group,there was no significant difference in the mNSS scores and the brain infarction volume ratio in the CIRI+AC+PPARβ/δsiRNA group.The expression level of PPARβ/δ in the hippocampus was significantly downregulated(P<0.01),while no significant difference was found in the expression level of IL-10 and IL-1β mRNA,with a small amount of inflammatory cell infiltration observed.Conclusion:Acupunc-ture ameliorates the recovery of neurological function and the ratio of cerebral infarction volume in rats with CIRI,and its mechanism may be associated with the upregulation of PPARβ/δ expression,thereby reducing inflammatory respon-ses and exerting neuroprotective effects.

Objective:To investigate the effects of acupuncture intervention on the expression of circRNA_017109 and miR-138-5p in the hippocampal region of rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury(CIRI),and to explore the potential mechanism of acupuncture in treating CIRI.Methods:Forty-five Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were divided into sham group,middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion(MCAO/R)group,and acupuncture(MCAO/R+AC)group.The MCAO/R and MCAO/R+AC groups were subjected to the modified Longa suture method to establish the MCAO/R model.The MCAO/R+AC group received acupuncture at the"Dazhui","Renzhong",and"Baihui"acu-points.Neurological impairment was assessed via the modified neurological severity score(mNSS).while cerebral infarct volume was assessed through TTC staining.Histological alterations in brain tissue were examined via HE stai-ning,and the expression of circRNA_017109 and miR-138-5p in the hippocampal area were determined using RT-qPCR.Results:The mNSS scores and cerebral infarct volume ratios in the model groups were markedly higher than those in the sham group(P<0.01),but these were significantly reduced in MCAO/R+AC group compared to the MCAO/R group(P<0.01).HE staining showed severe necrosis and inflammation in the MCAO/R group's hippocam-pus,while the MCAO/R+AC group had minimal necrosis and scattered inflammation.RT-qPCR results indicated that the expression of circRNA_017109 and miR-138-5p was downregulated in the MCAO/R group,while MCAO/R+AC group upregulated the expression of circRNA_017109 and miR-138-5p(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion:Acupunc-ture can improve neurological deficits,reduce cerebral infarction volume,and alleviate inflammatory cell infiltration in CIRI rats by upregulating the expression of circRNA_017109 and miR-138-5p,thereby exerting neuroprotective effects.

[Abasract]Objective:To study the effect of acupuncture on miR-301a-5p expression in the hippocampal tissue of the ischemic side of rats by preparing a rat cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury(CIRI)rat model.Methods:The mid-dle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion(MCAO/R)rat model was established using the thread embolism method and treated with acupuncture as an intervention.The modified Garcia score was used to access neurologic function in rats,and TTC staining was used to measure cerebral infarct volume ratio.RT-qPCR was utilized to detect the expression of miR-301a-5p in the hippocampal region on the ischemic side.The target genes of miR-301a-5p were predicted using online databases such as TargetScan8.0,mi-RDB,and miRWalk.Gene Ontology(GO)analysis of the target genes was conducted via the DAVID database.Additionally,pathological changes in cells were observed using HE staining.Results:Compared with MCAO/R group,Garcia score of rats in MCAO/R+AC group was increased(P＜0.05),and the infarct volume decreased(P＜0.01).The expression of miR-301 a-5p in the ischemic hippocampus was significant-ly increased(P＜0.01).Online database identified 101 intersecting target genes of miR-301a-5p.GO analysis in Biological Processes(BP)revealed that miR-301a-5p target genes were enriched in inflammatory factors,including interleukin-6(IL-6)regulation and glucocorticoid response.In the MCAO/R group,cell necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed,while scattered inflammatory cell infiltration was noted in the MCAO/R+AC group.Conclusion:Acupuncture alleviates neurological deficit symptoms and decreases cerebral infarction volume in CIRI rats,and the mechanism may be related to the activation of miR-301a-5p expression to suppress cellular inflammation.

[Abasract]Objective:To study the effect of acupuncture on miR-301a-5p expression in the hippocampal tissue of the ischemic side of rats by preparing a rat cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury(CIRI)rat model.Methods:The mid-dle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion(MCAO/R)rat model was established using the thread embolism method and treated with acupuncture as an intervention.The modified Garcia score was used to access neurologic function in rats,and TTC staining was used to measure cerebral infarct volume ratio.RT-qPCR was utilized to detect the expression of miR-301a-5p in the hippocampal region on the ischemic side.The target genes of miR-301a-5p were predicted using online databases such as TargetScan8.0,mi-RDB,and miRWalk.Gene Ontology(GO)analysis of the target genes was conducted via the DAVID database.Additionally,pathological changes in cells were observed using HE staining.Results:Compared with MCAO/R group,Garcia score of rats in MCAO/R+AC group was increased(P＜0.05),and the infarct volume decreased(P＜0.01).The expression of miR-301 a-5p in the ischemic hippocampus was significant-ly increased(P＜0.01).Online database identified 101 intersecting target genes of miR-301a-5p.GO analysis in Biological Processes(BP)revealed that miR-301a-5p target genes were enriched in inflammatory factors,including interleukin-6(IL-6)regulation and glucocorticoid response.In the MCAO/R group,cell necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed,while scattered inflammatory cell infiltration was noted in the MCAO/R+AC group.Conclusion:Acupuncture alleviates neurological deficit symptoms and decreases cerebral infarction volume in CIRI rats,and the mechanism may be related to the activation of miR-301a-5p expression to suppress cellular inflammation.

Objective:To investigate the effects of abdominal Tuina(Chinese therapeutic massage)on behavioral function,5-hydroxytryptamine 1A receptor(5-HT1AR),and synapsin-1(Syn1)in neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain injuries(HIBI). Methods:Forty healthy neonatal rats,born of 5 specific pathogen-free healthy pregnant rats,were randomly divided into a group for modeling(n=28)and a sham operation group(n=12)on the 7th day of birth.In the group for modeling,24 neonatal rats with HIBI successfully established by the Rice method were randomly divided into a model group(n=12)and an abdominal Tuina group(n=12).The abdominal Tuina group was given abdominal Tuina for 28 d from 24 h after modeling,and the other groups were put under the same conditions but without any treatments.Rats in each group were subjected to suspension tests on the 7th,14th,21st,and 28th days of intervention.After the intervention,the rat hippocampal tissue was collected and stained with hematoxylin-eosin to observe the pathological changes in the rat hippocampal CA1 region.The 5-HT1AR expression in rat hippocampal CA1 region was detected by immune-histochemistry.The Syn1 expression in rat hippocampus was measured by Western blotting method. Results:The cells were disordered,and edema and necrosis appeared in the hippocampal CA1 region of the model group.Cell arrangement was clear,and edema was improved obviously in the hippocampal CA1 region of the abdominal Tuina group.Compared with the sham operation group,the suspension test scores,the number of 5-HT1AR positive cells,and Syn1 protein expression in the hippocampus decreased significantly in the model group after 21 d and 28 d of interventions(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the suspension test scores,the number of 5-HT1AR positive cells,and Syn1 protein expression increased significantly in the abdominal Tuina group after 21 d and 28 d of interventions(P<0.05). Conclusion:Abdominal Tuina improves the behavioral function of upper limbs and up-regulates the expression levels of 5-HT1AR and Syn1 in the hippocampus of neonatal HIBI rats.

Objective:To observe the effects of acupuncture on the expression of circRNA_011989 and circRNA_009775 in the hippocampal tissue of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury(CIRI)rats.Methods:CIRI model rats were prepared by the thread bolus method and treated by means of acupuncture(AC).The Garcia score was used to assess the neurological function.TTC staining was used to detect the volume ratio of cerebral infarction.The target prediction website was used to predict the miRNAs and corresponding mRNAs bound by circRNA_011989 and circRNA_009775,and Cytoscape was used to construct the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA co-expression network.The expression of circRNA_011989,circRNA_009775,miR-466b-5p,miR-3065-3p,Rims1,and Slc30a3 in the hippocampal region of the ische-mic side was detected by real time RT-PCR.Results:Compared with CIRI group,Garcia score of rats in CIRI+AC group was significantly increased(P＜0.01),and the infarct volume decreased.The expressions of circRNA_011989,circRNA_009775,Rims1,and Slc30a3 in right hippocampus were up-regulated(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),but the miR-466b-5p and miR-3065-3p were down-regulated(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Acupuncture may significantly ameliorate the neurological deficit symptoms in CIRI rats by upregulating the expression of circRNA_011989 and circRNA_009775,and the specific mechanism may be related to the activation of circRNA_011989/miR-466b-5p/Rim.s1 and circRNA_009775/miR-3065-3p/Slc30a3 axis related.

Objective:To investigate the prevalence of hypertension and its associated factors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.Methods:Consecutive Chinese patients with RA were recruited from August 2015 to September 2019 at Department of Rheumatology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital. Demo-graphic data and clinical data were collected including indicators of disease activity, functional assessment and radiographic assessment, comorbidities and previous medications. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the related factors of hypertension in RA patients.Results:There were 674 RA patients recruited with 82.3%(555/674) female and mean age (50±13) years. The prevalence rate of hypertension was 32.9% (222/674), followed by dyslipidemia (9.9%, n=67), type 2 diabetes (8.8%, n=59), hyperuricemia (8.5%, n=43), fatty liver disease (8.0%, n=54), cardiovascular disease (6.2%, n=42) and chronic kidney disease (3.3%, n=22). Compared with those without hypertension, RA patients with hypertension had advanced age with longstanding disease duration, higher disease activity indicators, worse joint destruction, and higher proportions of comorbidities. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that comorbidities including hyperuricemia [ OR=1.977, 95% CI(1.002, 3.900)], dyslipidemia [ OR=1.903, 95% CI(1.102, 3.288)] and fatty liver disease [ OR=2.335, 95% CI(1.278, 4.265)] were risk factors of hypertension after adjustment for age and gender. Conclusion:Hyperten-sion is the most common comorbidity in RA patients which is associated with comor-bidities including hyperuricemia, dyslipidemia and fatty liver disease. Detection and management of hyperten-sion and other cardiovascular disease related comorbidities in RA patients should be emphasized.

Objective:To explore the effect of abdominal massage on the behavior of rats with neonatal hypoxia-ischemia and its mechanism.Methods:7-day-old SD rats were made as the HIBD model by the classical method of RICE and then the HIBD model rats were divided into the abdominal massage group and model group according to the random number table method, with 12 rats in each group, and 12 rats were selected as the normal group. The abdominal massage group was given abdominal massage 24 hours after the modeling, and the intervention continued for 28 days. Rats in each group underwent a balance beam test on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th day of the intervention. After the intervention, HE staining was applied to observe the morphological structure of the hippocampal CA1 region of the rats; Quantitative Real-time PCR method was used to measure the serotonin receptor (5-HTR1A) in the hippocampus. The expression of cAMP, PKA and CREB in the hippocampus were measured by immunohistochemistry, and the expression of SYP protein was measured by Western blotting.Results:After the intervention, the cells in the hippocampal CA1 area of the model group were diffusely distributed, the number of neurons reduced, and the condition of inflammatory edema appeared; the cells in hippocampal CA1 area of the abdominal massage group were arranged clearly, and the condition of inflammatory edema has significantly improved; on the 21st and 28th day of the intervention, the balance beam test scores in the abdominal massage group significantly decreased ( P<0.05), and the relative expression of 5-HTR1A mRNA (1.18±0.08 vs. 0.77±0.04) in the abdominal massage group significantly increased ( P<0.05). The expression of cAMP (0.32±0.02 vs. 0.31±0.01), PKA (0.32±0.02 vs. 0.29±0.01),CREB (0.31±0.02 vs. 0.28±0.01) and SYP in the abdominal massage group significantly increased ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Abdominal massage could improve the behavior of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic rats, which may play a role on nerve repair by regulating 5-HTR1A/cAMP/PKA signaling pathway.