AIM:To evaluate the effects of periocular injection of triamcinolone acetonide combined with dexamethasone on ocular surface function and tear dynamics in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy(TAO).METHODS: In this single-center retrospective study, 26 TAO patients(52 eyes)treated between September 2020 and September 2023 received periocular injections of triamcinolone acetonide(20 mg)and dexamethasone(2.5 mg). Clinical parameters, including clinical activity score(CAS), ocular surface disease index(OSDI), Schirmer I test(SⅠt), tear film breakup time(BUT), tear meniscus height(TMH), corneal fluorescein staining(FL), meibomian gland loss, and lipid secretion score, were assessed at baseline, 1 wk, and 1 mo post-injection.RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in CAS, OSDI, SⅠt, BUT, TMH, FL score, and meibomian gland secretion score before and after injection in the included patients(all P<0.05). At 1 wk after injection, there were differences in CAS, OSDI, SⅠt, BUT, TMH, FL score, and meibomian gland secretion score compared with those before injection(all P<0.0167). At 1 mo after injection, there were differences in CAS, OSDI, SⅠt, BUT, TMH, FL score, and meibomian gland secretion score compared with those at 1 wk after injection(all P<0.0167). At 1 mo after injection, there were no differences in CAS, OSDI, SⅠt, BUT, TMH, FL score, and meibomian gland secretion score compared with those before injection(all P>0.05). There was a difference in meibomian gland dropout score before and after injection in the included patients(P<0.05), but pairwise comparisons showed no differences(P=0.900, 0.306). During the treatment period, 1 patient experienced transient elevation of intraocular pressure(25 mmHg), which was alleviated after control with intraocular pressure-lowering medication, and no cases of secondary glaucoma occurred.CONCLUSION: Periocular injection of triamcinolone acetonide combined with dexamethasone provides short-term improvement in ocular surface symptoms, tear film stability and secretion in TAO patients. However, efficacy diminishes over time and does not reverse structural damage. Long-term maintenance therapy is recommended.

The connotation of "treat heat with cold" and "disperse fire constraint" differs， and under the guidance of these two principles， there are variations in the selection of acupoints， choice of needles， and manipulation techniques in clinical acupuncture. "Treat heat with cold" is used to clear and drain heat pathogens， while "disperse fire constraint" focuses on diffusing and dissipating fire from constraint. When both fire constraint and internal heat coexist， treatment should combine both "dispersing the fire" and "cooling the heat". In clinical acupuncture， for clearing heat and draining heat pathogens， acupoints on Governor vessel （督脉） and Yangming （阳明经） channel are commonly selected， with Jing-well points， Ying-spring points and He-sea points. To diffuse and dissipate fire constraint， acupoints on the Taiyang （太阳） and Shaoyang （少阳） channels are usually chosen， with Jing-river points and Ashi points as the primary options. In terms of needle choice， for heat syndrome， filiform needles， three-edged needles， and cupping are often used for clearing heat and resolving toxins； for fire constraint syndrome， moxibustion and fire needles are employed to expel fire from the body. Regarding manipulation techniques， draining method can be used in both conditions， with heat syndrome requiring shallow needling and quick removal， while fire constraint syndrome requiring deeper and longer retention of needles， having an emphasis on hand pressure coordination and smooth qi flow. In clinical practice， it is essential to distinguish the presence of "constraint" and the depth of the disease location to appropriately combine "dispersing fire" and "cooling heat".

Objective To explore the risk factors for mineral and bone disorder in maintenance hemodialysis patients, and to construct and validate a nomogram prediction model. Methods A total of 306 patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis at Shanghai Eighth People’s Hospital from January 2021 to May 2025 were selected as study subjects and randomly divided into a training set (n＝214) and a validation set (n＝92) in a 7∶3 ratio. In the training set, patients were divided into a normal bone mineral metabolism group and an abnormal bone mineral metabolism group, and related factors were compared between the two groups. The multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the influencing factors of mineral and bone disorder in maintenance hemodialysis patients in the training set, and a nomogram prediction model was constructed. ROC curves were drawn to evaluate the ability of the nomogram model for predicting mineral and bone disorder in these patients. Calibration curves and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test were used to analyze the consistency of the predictive probability of nomogram model and actual probability of mineral and bone disorder in these patients. The decision curve was used to assess the clinical benefit using nomogram prediction model. Results Among the 306 hemodialysis patients, 254 patients had mineral and bone disorder, accounting for 83.01%. Among the 214 patients in the training set, 177 had mineral and bone disorder, accounting for 82.71%. In the training set, age, gender, body mass index (BMI), hypertension rate, dialysis age, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), hemoglobin (Hb), albumin (ALB), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum creatinine (SCr), uric acid (UA), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and rate of taking phosphate binders were statistically significant different between the two groups (P＜0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed higher age, female, hypertension, longer dialysis duration, decreased eGFR, and not taking phosphate binders were identified as risk factors for mineral and bone disorder in maintenance hemodialysis patients (P＜0.01). The nomogram prediction model was constructed. The area under the ROC curve of the model for mineral and bone disorder in the training set and validation set was 0.895 (95%CI 0.850-0.941) and 0.881 (95%CI 0.830-0.932), respectively, with maximum Youden indice of 0.650 and 0.600, sensitivity of 0.856 and 0.849, and specificity of 0.794 and 0.751. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed the nomogram prediction model had good consistency in predictive probabilities with actual probabilities in training set and validation set. The decision curve showed the nomogram model could bring clinical net benefits when the threshold probabilities in the training set and validation set were less than 0.96 and 0.91. Conclusions The nomogram prediction model constructed based on six independent risk factors including age, gender, hypertension, dialysis duration, eGFR, and using phosphate binders or not, shows good discrimination and calibration, with good clinical predictive ability, which could provide guidance for the management of maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome （IBS-D） exhibits typical characteristics of psychosomatic comorbidity. Its core pathogenesis is considered to involve simultaneous disorders of both the body and the spirit， for which the former is attributed to liver constraint and spleen deficiency， and dysfunction of large intestine conduction， whereas the latter is induced by spirit restlessness of zang （脏） organs， and gate insecurity of the corporeal soul. Based on this understanding， the therapeutic principle of "simultaneous regulation of body and spirit" is established. For regulating the body， the methods include soothing the liver， fortifying the spleen， consolidating the intestines， and stopping diarrhea， with emphasis on the front-mu （募） points of the related zang-fu （脏腑） organs and acupoints of the foot yangming （阳明） stomach channel and foot taiyin （太阴） spleen channel. For regulating the spirit， the methods include calming the brain spirit， tranquilizing the zang organs spirit， and securing the corporeal soul gate， mainly selecting acupoints of Governer Vessel （督脉） and the back-shu （背俞） points of the corresponding zang-fu organs. Needle manipulation techniques for supplementation and drainage are flexibly applied according to the deficiency or excess nature of the syndrome. In addition， comprehensive application of moxibustion， electroacupuncture， and auricular therapy is emphasized， with the aim of providing clinical insights for diagnosis and treatment.

Objective To investigate the expansion margins of the planning target volume (PTV) and the planning organ at risk volume (PRV) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients immobilized with Styrofoam and head-neck-shoulder mask. Methods A convenient sample of 33 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients who received radiotherapy at Huanggang Central Hospital from January to October 2024 were selected as the research subjects. All patients underwent cone beam CT scans during the first three treatments and weekly thereafter. After registration and calibration, the setup errors in the X (LAT), Y (LNG), and Z (VRT) directions were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed on the setup errors in each direction to determine differences, and the expansion margins for PTV and PRV were calculated using empirical formulas. Results A total of 229 cone beam CT images were collected. Statistical analysis found that the setup errors (systematic error ± random error) of the patients in the X, Y, and Z directions were 1.05 ± 0.72, 1.30 ± 0.80, and 1.29 ± 0.82 mm, respectively. The expansion margins for PTV in the left-right, superior-inferior, and anterior-posterior directions were 1.40, 1.76, and 1.8 mm, respectively. The expansion margins for PRV in these directions were 0.83, 1.02, and 1.05 mm, respectively. Conclusion For patients immobilized using Styrofoam and head-neck-shoulder mask, it is recommended that the expansion margins for PTV and PRV be set at 2 mm and 1 mm, respectively, in the left-right, superior-inferior, and anterior-posterior directions, and the PRV margin for the spinal cord be set at 3 mm in all directions.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of acupuncture with Neiguan (PC6)-to-Waiguan (TE5) and esmolol on hemodynamics during anesthesia induction and postoperative nausea and vomiting. METHODS: A total of 100 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic hernia repair or gynecological surgery under general anesthesia were randomly divided into an acupuncture group (50 cases, 3 cases were eliminated) and an esmolol group (50 cases, 2 cases were eliminated). In the acupuncture group, before anesthesia induction, patients were applied to acupuncture with Neiguan (PC6)-to-Waiguan (TE5), and the needles were retained for 15 min on the right side and 30 min on the left side. Patients in the esmolol group were intravenously injected with 20 mg esmolol hydrochloride injection 5 min before anesthesia induction. The systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) of the two groups were recorded at 5 min after entering the operating room (T₀), before anesthesia induction (T₁), after anesthesia induction (T₂), before tracheal intubation (T₃) and 1 min after tracheal intubation (T₄). The visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of pain and the incidence of nausea and vomiting in the two groups were observed at the time of entering postanesthesia care unit (PACU) (T₅), leaving PACU (T₆), 6 h after operation (T₇) and 24 h after operation (T₈). The dosage of anesthesia-related drugs in the two groups was counted. RESULTS: The SBP and HR of the two groups at T₂, T₃ and T₄ were lower than those at T₁ (P<0.05). SBP and HR at T₃ in the acupuncture group were higher than those in the esmolol group (P<0.05). Compared with the esmolol group, in the acupuncture group, the VAS scores of pain at T₆ and T₇ were decreased (P<0.05), the incidence of nausea and vomiting at T₇ and T₈ and the nausea and vomiting visual analogue scale (NVAS) scores were decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the esmolol group, the dosage of propofol in the acupuncture group was decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Acupuncture with Neiguan (PC6)-to-Waiguan (TE5) can relieve hemodynamic fluctuations during anesthesia induction, reduce postoperative pain and nausea and vomiting, and reduce the dosage of propofol. The curative effect is better than that of esmolol.
Humans ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Acupuncture Points ; Male ; Hemodynamics ; Propanolamines/administration & dosage* ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting/drug therapy* ; Young Adult ; Heart Rate ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Acupuncture Therapy

This paper summarizes Professor ZHAO Jiping's acupuncture diagnostic and therapeutic approach for tic disorders (TD). Focusing on the pathological characteristics of tic disorder (TD), this study analyzes TD's multilayered disease localization. Based on disease-based differentiation, it is proposed that the fundamental pathological location lie in the liver and brain, while the manifestation is in the sinew meridians. The core pathogenesis is characterized as "internal stirring of wind due to liver hyperactivity, upward disturbance of the mind in the brain, and external disharmony of the sinews", based on which the fundamental therapeutic principles are established as calming the liver and extinguishing wind, tranquilizing the mind and awakening the brain, and dredging and regulating the sinews. In clinical practice, attention is paid to meridian and acupoint examination, integrating the four diagnostic methods to assess the deficiency or excess of the liver, the state of the mind, and the condition of the sinews. Acupoint selection emphasizes three regulatory strategies: (1) liver regulation: Taichong (LR3), Hegu (LI4) are selected to soothe the liver and regulate qi; (2) brain regulation: Baihui (GV20), Shenting (GV24), Yintang (GV24⁺), Fengchi (GB20) are selected to calm the mind and stabilize the spirit; (3) sinew regulation: Yanglingquan (GB34), Zusanli (ST36), Quchi (LI11) are selected to regulate qi and blood and relax the sinews. Manipulation techniques, as well as various acupuncture and moxibustion methods, are also emphasized. A differential treatment framework of "layered disease localization-corresponding pathogenesis-precise acupoint selection and technique" has been established to provide a clinical guide for the diagnosis and treatment of TD.
Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy/history* ; Tic Disorders/diagnosis* ; Acupuncture Points ; Meridians ; Diagnosis, Differential ; China

Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt. is a characteristic oil crop rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly α-linolenic acid, which has important development and utilization value. The Dof transcription factor is one of the plant-specific transcription factor families, which is widely involved in important biological processes such as plant growth, development, and metabolic regulation. In order to explore the key Dof transcription factors involved in the oil biosynthesis and systematically analyze their regulatory mechanisms of P. frutescens seeds, a total of 56 PfDof gene family members were identified from the genome and transcriptome data of P. frutescens and classified into four subfamilies according to sequence characteristics. All PfDofs contained highly conserved C₂-C₂ zinc finger domains, with gene duplication being the primary mechanism driving their evolution and expansion. Genes within the same subgroup exhibited similar gene structures and conserved motifs. The 56 PfDofs were predicted as unstable hydrophilic proteins, with α-helixes and random coils as their predominant structural components. The RNA-seq results revealed that 11 PfDofs exhibited differential expression during different developmental stages of P. frutescens seeds. RT-qPCR was performed to further validate the expression patterns of these 11 members across various tissue samples (root, stem, leaf, and flower) of P. frutescens and at different developmental stages of its seeds. The results showed that PfDof29 exhibited the highest expression level in seeds, which was consistent with the transcriptome data. Subcellular localization studies demonstrated that PfDof29 was localized to the nucleus and had a transcriptional activation activity. Overexpression of PfDof29 in Nicotiana tabacum resulted in a significant increase in total oil content of tobacco leaves, accompanied by reductions in starch and soluble sugar content, while the protein content remained unchanged. Additionally, the metabolic balance between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in the transgenic tobacco leaves was altered, with a significant increase in α-linolenic acid content. The expression levels of the fatty acid desaturase genes NtFAD2, NtFAD3, and NtFAD8 were significantly upregulated. A yeast one-hybrid assay revealed that PfDof29 could directly bind to the promoter region of PfFAD8, thereby regulating its expression. This study provides an initial understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of PfDof transcription factors in the synthesis and accumulation of oil in P. frutescens. These findings offer new insights into the enhancement of oil content and quality of P. frutescens seeds.
Transcription Factors/physiology* ; Perilla frutescens/metabolism* ; Plant Proteins/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; alpha-Linolenic Acid/biosynthesis* ; Lipids/biosynthesis* ; Seeds/genetics*

Objective:To identify the main components of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction(HLJDD)using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS),and to explore the potential mechanism of action of HLJDD in the treatment of gouty arthritis(GA)using network pharmacology and molecular docking methods.Methods:We identi-fied the chemical components of HLJDD by combining UPLC-Q-TOF-MS data acquired in both positive and negative ion modes with reference standards,relevant literature,and database searches.We analyzed the potential therapeutic mechanism of HLJDD for GA by using network pharmacology to determine the intersection targets between the active ingredients of HLJDD and GA for further enrich-ment analysis and visual network mapping.The binding affinity of the active ingredients with the intersection targets was validated through molecular docking.Results:A total of 47 components were identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS;54 key components of HLJDD for GA treatment and 37 intersection targets were determined by net-work pharmacology;and the top 10 key targets by Degree value were obtained by protein-protein interaction analysis.The Gene On-tology functional enrichment analysis revealed 20 biological pro-cesses,7 cellular components,and 8 molecular functions.The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis demonstrated 96 GA-related intervention pathways,in which inflammatory signaling pathways such as interleukin-17(IL-17)and tu-mor necrosis factor(TNF)were involved.Molecular docking verified that the key components of HLJDD had high binding affinity with the core targets.Conclusion:The identified key components in HLJDD,such as phellodendrine,coptisine,wogonin,and β-sitosterol,may alleviate GA by regulating multiple core targets in the IL-17 and TNF pathways,such as PTSG2,which provides a theoretical ba-sis for future investigation into the mechanism of action of HLJDD.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the bioactive components in Jiawei Xiaoyao Pills (JWXYP) and their mechanisms for alleviating depression-like behaviors. METHODS: The active compounds, key targets, and pathways of JWXYP were identified using TCMSP and TCMIP databases. Thirty-six SD rats were randomized equally into 6 groups including a control group and 5 chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depression groups. After modeling, the 5 model groups were treated with daily gavage of normal saline, 1.8 mg/kg fluoxetine hydrochloride (positive control drug), or JWXYP at 1.44, 2.88, and 4.32 g/kg. The depression-like behaviors of the rats were evaluated using behavioral tests, and pathological changes in the liver and hippocampus were examined with HE staining. The biochemical indicators in the serum and brain tissues were detected using ELISA. Serum metabolomics analysis was performed to identify the differential metabolites using OPLS-DA, and gut microbiota changes were analyzed using 16S rDNA sequencing. RESULTS: Network pharmacology revealed that menthone and paeonol in JWXYP were capable of penetrating the blood-brain barrier to regulate inflammatory pathways and protect the nervous system. In the rat models subjected to CUMS, treatment with JWXYP significantly improved body weight loss, sucrose preference and open field activities, reduced liver inflammation, alleviated structural changes in the hippocampal neurons, decreased serum levels of TNF‑α, IL-1β, IL-6 and LBP, and increased 5-HT and VIP concentrations in the serum and brain tissue, and these effects were the most pronounced in the high-dose group. Metabolomics analysis showed changes in such metabolites as indole-3-acetamide and acetyl-L-carnitine in JWXYP-treated rats, involving the pathways for bile acid biosynthesis and amino acid metabolism. 16S rDNA analysis demonstrated increased gut microbiota diversity and increased abundance of Lactobacillus species in JWXYP-treated rats. CONCLUSIONS JWXYP alleviates depression-like symptoms in rats by regulating the neurotransmitters, inhibiting inflammation and oxidation, and modulating gut microbiota.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Depression/drug therapy* ; Neurotransmitter Agents/metabolism* ; Rats ; Inflammation ; Male ; Hippocampus ; Behavior, Animal/drug effects*