OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of Dendrobium officinale (Tiepi Shihu) extract (DOE) on insomnia. METHODS: Forty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=7 per group): normal control, model control, melatonin (MT, 40 mg/kg), and 3-dose DOE (0.25, 0.50, and 1.00 g/kg) groups. Rats were raised in a strong-light (10,000 LUX) and -noise (>80 db) environment (12 h/d) for 16 weeks to induce insomnia, and from week 10 to week 16, MT and DOE were correspondingly administered to rats. The behavior tests including sodium pentobarbital-induced sleep experiment, sucrose preference test, and autonomous activity test were used to evaluate changes in sleep and emotions of rats. The metabolic-related indicators such as blood pressure, blood viscosity, blood glucose, and uric acid in rats were measured. The pathological changes in the cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) region of rat brain were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin staining and Nissl staining. Additionally, the sleep-related factors gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate (GA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Finally, we screened potential sleep-improving receptors of DOE using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array and validated the results with quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: DOE significantly improved rats' sleep and mood, increased the sodium pentobarbital-induced sleep time and sucrose preference index, and reduced autonomic activity times (P<0.05 or P<0.01). DOE also had a good effect on metabolic abnormalities, significantly reducing triglyceride, blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood viscosity indicators (P<0.05 or P<0.01). DOE significantly increased the GABA content in hippocampus and reduced the GA/GABA ratio and IL-6 level (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In addition, DOE improved the pathological changes such as the disorder of cell arrangement in the hippocampus and the decrease of Nissel bodies. Seven differential genes were screened by PCR array, and the GABA_A receptors (Gabra5, Gabra6, Gabrq) were selected for verification. The results showed that DOE could up-regulate their expressions (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION DOE demonstrated remarkable potential for improving insomnia, which may be through regulating GABA_A receptors expressions and GA/GABA ratio.
Animals ; Dendrobium/chemistry* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Male ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/blood* ; Plant Extracts/therapeutic use* ; Receptors, GABA-A/metabolism* ; Noise/adverse effects* ; Light/adverse effects* ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/metabolism* ; Sleep/drug effects* ; Rats ; Receptors, GABA/metabolism*

Sophorae Flavescentis Radix is one of the commonly used traditional Chinese medicine in China, and a large amount of pharmaceutical residue generated during its processing and production is discarded as waste, which not only wastes resources but also pollutes the environment. Therefore, elucidating the chemical composition of the residue of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix and the differences between the residue and Sophorae Flavescentis Radix itself is of great significance for the comprehensive utilization of the residue. This study, based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) technology combined with multivariate statistical methods, provides a thorough characterization, identification, and differential analysis of the overall components of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix and its residue. Firstly, 61 compounds in Sophorae Flavescentis Radix were rapidly identified based on their precise molecular weight, fragment ions, and compound abundance, using a self-constructed compound database. Among them, 41 compounds were found in the residue, mainly alkaloids and flavonoids. Secondly, through principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA), 15 key compounds differentiating Sophorae Flavescentis Radix from its residue were identified. These included highly polar alkaloids, such as oxymatrine and oxysophocarpine, which showed significantly reduced content in the residue, and less polar flavonoids, such as kurarinone and kuraridin, which were more abundant in the residue. In summary, this paper clarifies the overall composition, structure, and content differences between Sophorae Flavescentis Radix and its residue, suggesting that the residue of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix can be used as a raw material for the extraction of its high-activity components, with promising potential for development and application in cosmetics and daily care. This research provides a scientific basis for the future comprehensive utilization of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix and its residue.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Sophora/chemistry* ; Flavonoids/chemistry* ; Alkaloids/chemistry*

Objective: To investigate whether armillariella tabescens polysaccharides (ATPS) alleviates inflamma- tory responses and tissue damage in 5-fluorouracil ( 5-FU ) -induced chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis ( CIM) by inhibiting the TLR4 /MyD88 /NF-κB signaling pathway． Methods: Thirty 8-weeks-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into five groups ( n = 6 per group) : control group，model group ，and ATPS-treated groups (low，medium，high dose : 100，200，400 mg / kg) ．Body weight changes were recorded ; Disease activity in- dex (DAI) scores were evaluated ; small intestinal length and histopathology were measured ; HE staining and his- topathological scoring were performed ; immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of tight junction pro- teins (ZO-1，Occludin) in the small intestine ; serum levels of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 ( IL-6 ) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit ; Western blot was employed to quantify ZO-1，Occludin，and TLR4 /MyD88 /NF-κB pathway-related protein TLR4，MyD88，NF-κB p65，IκBα , p-NF-κB p65，p-IκBα protein expression． Results : Compared with the control group，mice in the model group exhibited significant reductions in body weight ，elevated DAI scores ，shortened small intestinal length，increased histopathological scores，marked downregulation of ZO-1 and Occludin expression，and elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6．Additionally，protein expression levels of TLR4，MyD88，p-NF- κB p65，and p-IκBα were significantly upregulated ( all P ＜0. 01 ) ． In contrast ，mice in ATPS-treated groups showed dose-dependent improvements，attenuated weight loss，reduced DAI scores，restored intestinal length，de- creased histopathological scores，upregulated ZO-1 and Occludin expression，reduced TNF-α and IL-6 levels，and downregulated TLR4，MyD88，p-NF-κB p65，and p-IκBα protein expression (all P＜0. 01) ． Conclusion ATPS alleviates 5-FU-induced CIM by inhibiting the TLR4 /MyD88 /NF-κB signaling pathway．

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

Nipah virus (NiV) and related viruses form a distinct henipavirus genus within the Paramyxoviridae family. NiV continues to spillover into the humans causing deadly outbreaks with increasing human-bat interaction. NiV encodes the large protein (L) and phosphoprotein (P) to form the viral RNA polymerase machinery. Their sequences show limited homologies to those of non-henipavirus paramyxoviruses. We report two cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of the Nipah virus (NiV) polymerase L-P complex, expressed and purified in either its full-length or truncated form. The structures resolve the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and polyribonucleotidyl transferase (PRNTase) domains of the L protein, as well as a tetrameric P protein bundle bound to the L-RdRp domain. L-protein C-terminal regions are unresolved, indicating flexibility. Two PRNTase domain zinc-binding sites, conserved in most Mononegavirales, are confirmed essential for NiV polymerase activity. The structures further reveal anchoring of the P protein bundle and P protein X domain (XD) linkers on L, via an interaction pattern distinct among Paramyxoviridae. These interactions facilitate binding of a P protein XD linker in the nucleotide entry channel and distinct positioning of other XD linkers. We show that the disruption of the L-P interactions reduces NiV polymerase activity. The reported structures should facilitate rational antiviral-drug discovery and provide a guide for the functional study of NiV polymerase.
Nipah Virus/chemistry* ; Cryoelectron Microscopy ; Viral Proteins/genetics* ; RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase/genetics* ; Phosphoproteins/genetics* ; Humans ; Models, Molecular ; Protein Binding

Objective:To study the influencing factors of postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)in pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy based on propensity score matching(PSM).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of 220 pregnant women in the third trimester who visited our hospital from October 2022 to October 2024,they were divided into PTSD group(n=52)and non-PTSD group(n=168)based on whether PTSD occurred.PSM was adopted to match the age,body mass index(BMI),educational level,average monthly income per capita,natural conception,premature birth,pregnancy complications,first delivery,insomnia,the progress of labor,parenting methods,infant health status and postpartum depression of the two groups at a 1∶1 ratio.After matching,Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of postpartum PTSD in pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy.Result:When comparing the educational level,natural conception,premature birth,pregnancy complications,progress of labor and postpartum depression of the two groups before matching,the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).When comparing the comparisons of educational level,natural conception,premature birth,pregnancy complications,progress of labor and postpartum depression of the two groups after matching,the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that junior high school education level or below,non-natural conception,premature birth,pregnancy complications,abnormal labor process and postpartum depression were risk factors for PTSD(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Based on PCM,it was found that low educational level,non-natural conception,premature birth,pregnancy complications,abnormal labor process and postpartum depression are risk factors for postpartum PTSD in pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy,and reasonable preventive interventions could be taken as early as possible in pregnant women with high risk of PTSD.

Objective:To study the influencing factors of postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)in pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy based on propensity score matching(PSM).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of 220 pregnant women in the third trimester who visited our hospital from October 2022 to October 2024,they were divided into PTSD group(n=52)and non-PTSD group(n=168)based on whether PTSD occurred.PSM was adopted to match the age,body mass index(BMI),educational level,average monthly income per capita,natural conception,premature birth,pregnancy complications,first delivery,insomnia,the progress of labor,parenting methods,infant health status and postpartum depression of the two groups at a 1∶1 ratio.After matching,Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of postpartum PTSD in pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy.Result:When comparing the educational level,natural conception,premature birth,pregnancy complications,progress of labor and postpartum depression of the two groups before matching,the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).When comparing the comparisons of educational level,natural conception,premature birth,pregnancy complications,progress of labor and postpartum depression of the two groups after matching,the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that junior high school education level or below,non-natural conception,premature birth,pregnancy complications,abnormal labor process and postpartum depression were risk factors for PTSD(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Based on PCM,it was found that low educational level,non-natural conception,premature birth,pregnancy complications,abnormal labor process and postpartum depression are risk factors for postpartum PTSD in pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy,and reasonable preventive interventions could be taken as early as possible in pregnant women with high risk of PTSD.

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.

Objective To design a medical alliance nursing collaborative management system based on block chain to provide technical support for nursing collaborative management.Methods A medical alliance system was designed based on the five-layer technical architecture of consortium blockchain,which used Linux system for establishing a Fabric development environment and network configuration,smart contract and Java language software development kit for realizing user interface operation,Bootstrap and Jquery technologies for constructing the front-end Web interface,Spring Boot for constructing the back-end interface.There were five functional modules for consortium blockchain member management,business management,data storage and sharing,patient medical record management and platform supervision involved in the system,which were developed with the technologies of encryption algorithm,hash operation,smart contract,consensus mechanism and etc.Results The system developed contributed to improving the mechanism for quality nursing resource sinking and continuous nursing care,reconfiguring the point incentive mechanism,promoting the collaborative development of nursing symbiotic network and enabling multi-node interactions to form a synergistic synergy.Conclusion The system developed conforms to the development trend of integrated care service of medical alliance,enhances the core competitiveness of nursing care and provides references for formulating blockchain solutions applicable to medical alliance scenarios.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(3):47-55]

Perimenopause is a vulnerable stage for emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression,which is the result of a combination of bio-psycho-social factors,and it seriously affect the quality of life of perimenopausal women.Therefore,finding safe and effective treatments is one of the urgent problems in modern medicine.This paper summarises the etiology and treatment of emotional disorder in perimenopause in Chinese and western medicine,and on this basis,this paper discusses the clinical diagnostic and treatment strategies and research ideas of acupuncture in treating emotional disorder in perimenopause,thus providing a new idea for the prevention and treatment of emotional disorder in perimenopause.