Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of gentle moxibustion at different temperatures in treating people with diarrhea-predominant bowel syndrome(IBS-D)due to spleen deficiency.Methods:A total of 108 IBS-D patients were divided into two groups using the random number table method,with 54 participants in each group.Moxibustion group 1 received gentle moxibustion at(43±1)℃at bilateral Tianshu(ST25)and Zusanli(ST36),lasting 30 min each session;moxibustion group 2 received gentle moxibustion at(37±1)℃at the same points.Both groups received the intervention 3 times weekly for a total of 18 sessions.Abdominal pain intensity,stool form,pattern-based efficacy,quality of life,and mental health assessments were performed at weeks 0,3,6,and 8.Results:The total effective rate for abdominal pain intensity was 87.8%in moxibustion group 1 versus 51.1%in moxibustion group 2,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).When the treatment finished,abdominal pain intensity,the Bristol score,IBS-symptom severity scale(IBS-SSS)score,self-rating anxiety scale(SAS)score,and self-rating depression scale(SDS)score dropped significantly in both groups(P<0.05),and the IBS-quality of life(IBS-QOL)score increased markedly(P<0.05).Between-group comparisons demonstrated that abdominal pain intensity,the Bristol general score,IBS-SSS score,traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)pattern score,and SDS score were significantly lower in moxibustion group 1 than in moxibustion group 2 at treatment week 6(P<0.05),and the IBS-QOL score was notably higher in moxibustion group 1(P<0.05).Conclusion:Whether at 43℃or 37℃,gentle moxibustion at Tianshu(ST25)and Zusanli(ST36)can improve abdominal pain,stool form,and quality of life,reduce disease severity,and mitigate TCM pattern in IBS-D patients;43℃gentle moxibustion performs better than 37℃gentle moxibustion in improving abdominal pain,stool form,disease severity,TCM pattern,quality of life,anxiety,and depression in IBS-D.

Objective To examine the effects of SMAD4 on the proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells in rats with poly-cystic ovary syndrome(PCOS).Methods A PCOS rat model was established using DHEA,and ovarian granulosa cells were extracted and cultured in vitro.The expression of SMAD4 in ovarian granulosa cells was detected by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot-ting.SMAD4-siRNA was transfected into ovarian granulosa cells from PCOS rats.The expression of SMAD4 mRNA after transfection was determined by quantitative real-time PCR.Western blotting was performed to detect the expression levels of PCNA,BAX,and BCL-2 proteins after transfection.A CCK-8 assay was performed to evaluate cell growth after siRNA interference.Results The HE staining results revealed that the number of ovarian follicular vacuoles increased and that the number of granulosa cell layers and corpus luteum decreased,thus indicating the establishment of a PCOS model.The FSHR positivity rate exceeded 95％.SMAD4 expression in ovarian granulosa cells was higher in the PCOS group than in the control group(P＜0.05).Furthermore,siRNA effectively reduced SMAD4 expression in ovarian granulosa cells of PCOS rats(P＜0.01),promoted proliferation,and inhibited the apoptosis of granulosa cells.Con-clusion The hindered growth of ovarian granulosa cells in PCOS rats may be linked to the overexpression of SMAD4 mRNA,which sug-gests that targeting SMAD4 could be a promising approach for treating ovulatory abnormalities in patients with PCOS.

Objective To explore the functional connectivity(FC)changes of hippocampus and amygdala in type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)patients with erectile dysfunction(DMED),and the central pathological neural mechanisms underlying DMED.Methods 61 T2DM patients who visited Department of Endocrinology,Nanjing First Hospital,Nanjing Medical University from January 2020 to December 2021 were selected and divided into a simple T2DM group(n=30)and a combined DMED group(n=31).Another 47 healthy individuals were selected as control group(NC).The international erectile function scale(IIEF-5)was used to evaluate the erectile function.Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI)data were acquired from all participants.MRI data were preprocessed by the DPABI software package.Bilateral hippocampus and amygdala were selected as regions of interest(ROI)and the whole brain FC values were calculated.The FC values of brain regions between groups were tested by two-sample t-test with REST software package.Results Left hippocampus as ROI:compared with the NC group,FC values of the left superior temporal gyrus increased in the T2DM group,FC values of the left superior frontal gyrus,left inferior temporal gyrus,left posterior central gyrus and rectus gyrus decreased in the DMED group.Compared with the T2DM group,FC values of the left inferior parietal gyrus,left supramarginal gyrus,left middle occipital gyrus and right posterior central gyrus decreased in the DMED group.Right hippocampus as ROI:compared with the NC group,FC values of the right middle temporal gyrus and right rolandic operculum increased while FC values of the right calcarine fissure decreased in the T2DM group;FC values of bilateral anterior cingulate gyrus,right middle temporal gyrus and left rectus gyrus decreased in the DMED group.Compared with the T2DM group,FC values of the left middle frontal gyrus,left inferior parietal gyrus and right inferior temporal gyrus decreased in the DMED group.Left amygdala as ROI:compared with the NC group,FC values in the left parahippocampal gyrus,left fusiform gyrus and right insula increased in the T2DM group;FC value of the left middle temporal gyrus decreased in the DMED group.Compared with the T2DM group,FC values of the left middle frontal gyrus and left supramarginal gyrus decreased in the DMED group.Right amygdala as ROI:compared with the NC group,FC values of the left insula,right parahippocampal gyrus,right superior temporal gyrus and right supramarginal gyrus increased while FC values in the right caudate decreased in the T2DM group;FC values of the right middle frontal gyrus,left rectus gyrus and left middle occipital gyrus decreased in the DMED group.Compared with the T2DM group,FC values of the left middle frontal gyrus and left inferior parietal gyrus decreased in the DMED group.Conclusions DMED patients have abnormalities in the hippocampus,amygdala and other brain regions,especially the frontal lobe functional cortex,which may be related to changes in their brain function.

Objective To explore the functional connectivity(FC)changes of hippocampus and amygdala in type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)patients with erectile dysfunction(DMED),and the central pathological neural mechanisms underlying DMED.Methods 61 T2DM patients who visited Department of Endocrinology,Nanjing First Hospital,Nanjing Medical University from January 2020 to December 2021 were selected and divided into a simple T2DM group(n=30)and a combined DMED group(n=31).Another 47 healthy individuals were selected as control group(NC).The international erectile function scale(IIEF-5)was used to evaluate the erectile function.Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI)data were acquired from all participants.MRI data were preprocessed by the DPABI software package.Bilateral hippocampus and amygdala were selected as regions of interest(ROI)and the whole brain FC values were calculated.The FC values of brain regions between groups were tested by two-sample t-test with REST software package.Results Left hippocampus as ROI:compared with the NC group,FC values of the left superior temporal gyrus increased in the T2DM group,FC values of the left superior frontal gyrus,left inferior temporal gyrus,left posterior central gyrus and rectus gyrus decreased in the DMED group.Compared with the T2DM group,FC values of the left inferior parietal gyrus,left supramarginal gyrus,left middle occipital gyrus and right posterior central gyrus decreased in the DMED group.Right hippocampus as ROI:compared with the NC group,FC values of the right middle temporal gyrus and right rolandic operculum increased while FC values of the right calcarine fissure decreased in the T2DM group;FC values of bilateral anterior cingulate gyrus,right middle temporal gyrus and left rectus gyrus decreased in the DMED group.Compared with the T2DM group,FC values of the left middle frontal gyrus,left inferior parietal gyrus and right inferior temporal gyrus decreased in the DMED group.Left amygdala as ROI:compared with the NC group,FC values in the left parahippocampal gyrus,left fusiform gyrus and right insula increased in the T2DM group;FC value of the left middle temporal gyrus decreased in the DMED group.Compared with the T2DM group,FC values of the left middle frontal gyrus and left supramarginal gyrus decreased in the DMED group.Right amygdala as ROI:compared with the NC group,FC values of the left insula,right parahippocampal gyrus,right superior temporal gyrus and right supramarginal gyrus increased while FC values in the right caudate decreased in the T2DM group;FC values of the right middle frontal gyrus,left rectus gyrus and left middle occipital gyrus decreased in the DMED group.Compared with the T2DM group,FC values of the left middle frontal gyrus and left inferior parietal gyrus decreased in the DMED group.Conclusions DMED patients have abnormalities in the hippocampus,amygdala and other brain regions,especially the frontal lobe functional cortex,which may be related to changes in their brain function.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of gentle moxibustion at different temperatures in treating people with diarrhea-predominant bowel syndrome(IBS-D)due to spleen deficiency.Methods:A total of 108 IBS-D patients were divided into two groups using the random number table method,with 54 participants in each group.Moxibustion group 1 received gentle moxibustion at(43±1)℃at bilateral Tianshu(ST25)and Zusanli(ST36),lasting 30 min each session;moxibustion group 2 received gentle moxibustion at(37±1)℃at the same points.Both groups received the intervention 3 times weekly for a total of 18 sessions.Abdominal pain intensity,stool form,pattern-based efficacy,quality of life,and mental health assessments were performed at weeks 0,3,6,and 8.Results:The total effective rate for abdominal pain intensity was 87.8%in moxibustion group 1 versus 51.1%in moxibustion group 2,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).When the treatment finished,abdominal pain intensity,the Bristol score,IBS-symptom severity scale(IBS-SSS)score,self-rating anxiety scale(SAS)score,and self-rating depression scale(SDS)score dropped significantly in both groups(P<0.05),and the IBS-quality of life(IBS-QOL)score increased markedly(P<0.05).Between-group comparisons demonstrated that abdominal pain intensity,the Bristol general score,IBS-SSS score,traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)pattern score,and SDS score were significantly lower in moxibustion group 1 than in moxibustion group 2 at treatment week 6(P<0.05),and the IBS-QOL score was notably higher in moxibustion group 1(P<0.05).Conclusion:Whether at 43℃or 37℃,gentle moxibustion at Tianshu(ST25)and Zusanli(ST36)can improve abdominal pain,stool form,and quality of life,reduce disease severity,and mitigate TCM pattern in IBS-D patients;43℃gentle moxibustion performs better than 37℃gentle moxibustion in improving abdominal pain,stool form,disease severity,TCM pattern,quality of life,anxiety,and depression in IBS-D.

Objective To examine the effects of SMAD4 on the proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells in rats with poly-cystic ovary syndrome(PCOS).Methods A PCOS rat model was established using DHEA,and ovarian granulosa cells were extracted and cultured in vitro.The expression of SMAD4 in ovarian granulosa cells was detected by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot-ting.SMAD4-siRNA was transfected into ovarian granulosa cells from PCOS rats.The expression of SMAD4 mRNA after transfection was determined by quantitative real-time PCR.Western blotting was performed to detect the expression levels of PCNA,BAX,and BCL-2 proteins after transfection.A CCK-8 assay was performed to evaluate cell growth after siRNA interference.Results The HE staining results revealed that the number of ovarian follicular vacuoles increased and that the number of granulosa cell layers and corpus luteum decreased,thus indicating the establishment of a PCOS model.The FSHR positivity rate exceeded 95％.SMAD4 expression in ovarian granulosa cells was higher in the PCOS group than in the control group(P＜0.05).Furthermore,siRNA effectively reduced SMAD4 expression in ovarian granulosa cells of PCOS rats(P＜0.01),promoted proliferation,and inhibited the apoptosis of granulosa cells.Con-clusion The hindered growth of ovarian granulosa cells in PCOS rats may be linked to the overexpression of SMAD4 mRNA,which sug-gests that targeting SMAD4 could be a promising approach for treating ovulatory abnormalities in patients with PCOS.

Objective:To investigate the role of serotonin reuptake transporter(SERT)and P2X3 receptor of dorsal root ganglion(DRG)in regulating visceral hypersensitivity of rats with irritable bowel syndrome(IBS)by electroacupuncture(EA). Methods:Male Sprague-Dawley and SERT-/-rats were subjected to preparing IBS visceral hypersensitivity models with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid(TNBS)enema.Three weeks post-modeling,interventions including EA,intrathecal injection,and EA plus intrathecal injection were applied,respectively.Hematoxylin-eosin staining and abdominal withdrawal reflex(AWR)score were used to confirm the successful establishment of the IBS model.AWR score,whole-cell patch clamp technique,and Western blotting assay were used to evaluate the changes in visceral pain sensitivity,electrophysiological properties of DRG neurons,and the expression of DRG P2X3 receptor and SERT in IBS rats. Results:Compared to the model group,the AWR score in the EA group decreased significantly(P<0.05),the resting membrane potential(P<0.05)and the number of action potentials(P<0.05)of DRG neurons reduced,and the baseline intensity increased(P<0.05);additionally,the expression of P2X3 receptor in DRG decreased(P<0.01),and the SERT expression increased(P<0.05).Compared to the P2X3 receptor agonist group,the SERT protein expression in DRG was higher in the EA group.In SERT-/-rats,the P2X3 receptor expression in DRG increased in the EA group compared to the model group(P<0.01). Conclusion:EA modulates the electrophysiological characteristics of intestinal primary sensory neurons by regulating the expression of SERT and P2X3 receptor in DRG of IBS rats.This modulation may contribute to the mechanism by which EA alleviates peripheral sensitization of visceral pain in IBS rats.

Objective:To explore the role and effect of problem-based learning (PBL)-based scenario simulation teaching in the standardized residency training in the department of critical care medicine.Methods:A total of 48 residents who received standardized residency training in the Department of Critical Care Medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from March 2019 to December 2019 were randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group, with 24 ones in each group. The experimental group used PBL-based scenario simulation teaching, while the control group adopted the traditional teaching. After the end of the teaching, the exam scores of the two groups were observed and compared. Then the questionnaire was used to analyze the differences of the results. SPSS 17.0 was used for t-test. Results:The scores of theoretical assessment (85.50±5.15) and skill assessment (82.38±5.64) in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group[(77.04±8.69) and (70.92±5.65)], and the differences were statistically significant ( P < 0.05). The experimental group was higher than the control group in improving learning interest and efficiency, improving clinical work ability, strengthening clinical thinking ability, improving teamwork ability, and improving doctor-patient communication ability, and the difference was statistically significant ( P < 0.05). Conclusion:The PBL-based scenario simulation teaching has more advantages over the traditional teaching and is worthy of promotion.

Objective:To investigate the influencing factors of the survival in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) and to develop a prediction model for CDH.Methods:Clinical data of 252 infants with a prenatal diagnosis of CDH in Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from January 2010 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Adverse outcomes were defined as neonatal death on discharge. Chi-square and t test were used for univariate analysis of 16 perinatal and five postnatal risk factors. Regression analysis was used to determine the independent predictors of survival. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves of the risk factors for predicting the survival of CDH were drawn. A prediction model based on the combination of risk factors for predicting adverse outcomes of CDH was established using the cut-off value. ROC curves of the model were drawn and the area under curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity were calculated. Results:Out of the 252 patients, 173(68.7%) survived on discharge. Univariate analysis showed that lung-to-head ratio (LHR), polyhydramnios, right diaphragmatic hernia, liver herniation, intrathoracic stomach, premature birth, low birth weight, 5 min Apgar score <7, and amniotic fluid index (AFI) were significantly associated with the survival of CDH. Regression analysis showed that polyhydramnios ( OR=11.19,95% CI:2.83-45.33), liver herniation ( OR=2.81,95% CI:1.32-11.92), intrathoracic stomach ( OR=5.02, 95% CI:1.29-17.13), low birth weight ( OR=8.58,95% CI:1.59-45.01) and AFI ( OR=3.68, 95% CI:1.37-14.72) were independent risk factors for survival at discharge in children with CDH, while LHR ( OR=0.36, 95% CI:0.01-0.69) were protective factors. The predictive cut-off values of LHR, polyhydramnios, liver herniation, intrathoracic stomach, low birth weight, and AFI were 1.6, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, and 232.5 mm, respectively. The model based on the combination of the above indicators for predicting CDH adverse outcomes was shown with an AUC value of 0.904, predictive sensitivity of 0.747, and specificity of 0.896. Conclusions:In this study, LHR, liver herniation, intrathoracic stomach, polyhydramnios, low birth weight, and AFI are independent risk factors for CDH survival. The combination of prenatal and postnatal indicators is noted for a higher accuracy for predicting CDH survival.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained some mistakes.