1.Analysis of Blood-absorbed Components and Their Metabolic Differences of Xiebaisan in Normal and Chronic Bronchitis Mice Based on UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS
Peng PENG ; Jiaxin LI ; Xinyue YANG ; Fangle LIU ; Chenchen ZHU ; Chaozhan LIN ; Yufeng YAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(1):219-227
ObjectiveThis study aims to systematically analyze the blood-absorbed components and metabolic profiles of Xiebaisan(XBS) in normal and chronic bronchitis (CB) mice using ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic field orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS), while comparing differences between the two states. MethodsThirty female BABL/c mice were randomly divided into the normal group, the normal drug administration group, the CB group, the CB drug administration group and the dexamethasone group, with 6 mice in each group. The CB mouse model was established by inducing with ovalbumin (OVA). The mice in the normal drug administration group and the CB drug administration group started to be gavaged with XBS(13.2 g·kg-1) from the 21st day, and the dexamethasone group mice were simultaneously gavaged with dexamethasone (0.5 mg·kg-1) until the end of the 35th day of the experiment. Subsequently, serum samples were collected and evaluated for their efficacy, based on the pharmacological evaluation indicators, to determine the efficacy of XBS in treating CB. Then the UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS was employed to identify and analyze the chemical constituents, blood-absorbed components, and metabolites of XBS. Chemometric analysis was conducted to reveal metabolic profile differences under "dual states". Concurrently, Real-time PCR technology was utilized to detect the expression levels of key liver metabolic enzymes CYP2E1, CYP3A1, UGT1A1, and UGT1A6. ResultsA total of 28 prototype components and 158 metabolites (including 48 phase Ⅰ metabolites and 110 phase Ⅱ metabolites) of XBS were unambiguously identified in the serum of normal mice. Additionally, a comprehensive characterization was performed on a total of 32 prototype components and 178 metabolites (including 50 phase Ⅰ metabolites and 128 phase Ⅱ metabolites) of XBS in the serum of CB mice. Among them, 27 prototype components were detected in both states, including 12 flavonoids, 2 alkaloids, 3 triterpenes, 4 organic acids, 3 amides, 1 stilbene and 2 other compounds. The chemometrics analysis revealed no significant difference in the prototype components and metabolites of XBS between normal and CB mice; however, there was a significant increase in the in-vivo exposure of XBS in CB mice. Compared to normal mice, the levels of phase Ⅰ metabolites such as oxidation, reduction and methylation of blood components of XBS as well as phase Ⅱ metabolites of glucuronidation showed significant changes in CB mice. Real-time PCR further confirmed that these alterations were attributed to the upregulation of CYP2E1 (P<0.05), CYP3A1 (P>0.05), UGT1A1 (P<0.01) and UGT1A6 (P<0.01) enzymes expression in the liver of CB mice. ConclusionThis study elucidated the disparities in the levels of the blood-absorbed components and metabolic profiles of XBS in normal and CB mice, especially in oxidation, reduction, methylation in phase Ⅰ metabolism and glucoaldehyde acidification in phase Ⅱ metabolism. And there are related to the differences in the expression levels of phase Ⅰ and phase Ⅱ metabolic enzymes CYP2E1, CYP3A1, UGT1A1 and UGT1A6 in the liver.
2.Evaluation of the effectiveness of school-family-community comprehensive intervention on sugar sweetened beverage consumption among primary and secondary school students
FAN Xiaomi, LI Jingling, XU Hao, ZHANG Yi, WANG Chenchen
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(3):337-341
Objective:
To evaluate the effectiveness of school-family-community comprehensive intervention aimed at reducing sugar sweetened beverage(SSB) consumption among primary and secondary school students, so as to provide scientific basis for relevant departments to formulate campus sugar reduction measures for primary and secondary school students.
Methods:
In October 2023, a multi stage random cluster sampling method was used to select four primary schools (grade 4) and four junior high schools (grade 7) in Nanjing City, and they were randomly divided into the intervention group ( n =1 601) and the control group ( n = 1 433 ) (primary and secondary schools). The intervention group received a one year comprehensive intervention activity with the theme of “drinking less SSBs and enjoying a healthy life” for one consecutive year. The measures included the school conducting health education courses (once a month, 15 minutes each time), environmental support (posting promotional posters, changing them once a month), class bulletin board and interest projects (once a semester); interventions for families included conducting parent lectures (once per semester 30 min each time), new media (once a month) and hand in hand activities (once per semester); community carried out square promotion and create a supportive environment (post promotional posters and replace them once a month). The control group did not receive any intervention measures except regular health education classes. Self administered questionnaires were used to collect knowledge, attitudes, and intake of SSB at the baseline and after the intervention among primary and secondary school students.
Results:
After the intervention, the proportion of students in the intervention group with an SSB related knowledge awareness rate of 60% or above was 91.4%, which was higher than that of the control group (81.9%) ( χ 2=60.35, P < 0.01 ). The reporting rate of the behavior of choosing to drink beverages when thirsty in the intervention group was 25.4%, which was lower than that of the control group (33.3%); the reporting rates of informing parents about the hazards of sugar sweetened beverages and paying attention to nutrition labels were 62.0% and 78.0% respectively, both of which were higher than those of the control group (52.3%, 65.9%); the reporting rate of having sugar sweetened beverages at home frequently was 43.7% in the intervention group, which was lower than that of the control group (62.3%); the reporting rate of parents restricting the consumption of sugar sweetened beverages was 84.1%, which was higher than that of the control group (78.4%) ( χ 2= 22.66, 29.05, 54.40, 104.84, 16.24, all P <0.05). The reporting rate of students in the intervention group who consumed sugar sweetened beverages more than 4 times per week was 21.5%, which was lower than that of the control group (28.6%), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ 2=20.36, P <0.01).
Conclusion
The comprehensive intervention of school-family-community can effectively improve primary and secondary school students knowledge and attitudes regarding SSBs and reduce their consumption of these beverages.
3.Factors influencing mental health of medical students based on an ecological systems theory perspective
XU Chenchen, WU Ruoxiu, WANG Lizhu, LI Moxuan, ZHANG Zhihao
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(3):402-405
Objective:
To analyze factors impacting mental health status of medical students based on ecological systems theory, so as to provide reference for the mental health promotion system for medical students.
Methods:
In June 2024, 1 760 medical school students randomly selected from 19 different kinds of medical colleges in eastern China by stratified cluster were surveyed using questionnaires and expert interviews. Descriptive statistics, cross analysis, hierarchical linear regression analysis, structural equation models were used for data analysis.
Results:
Medical school students had higher satisfaction with the school (65.85%) and a great sense of perceived social support (57.16%). Furthermore, 91.14% of the students had normal interpersonal relationships. However, 44.89% reported that their mental health was impacted by high level of depression. The hierarchical linear regression analysis showed that the mental health outcomes of the medical students were positively predicted by higher perceived social support scores ( β =-11.40), institutional satisfaction ( β =-4.85 ), and lower help seeking stigma scores ( β =9.31) ( P <0.05). The structural equation modeling showed that the status of both perceived social support and self help seeking stigma had significant impacts on depression severity ( β =-0.32, -0.53) and interpersonal relationship sensitivity ( β =-0.31, 0.58) among medical students ( P <0.01).Through expert interviews, collaborations between the school and the tripartite organization (families, universities and society) was of growing importance.
Conclusions
Perceived social support and self stigma have a significant impact on the mental health status of medical students. The problem of self stigma of medical students should be paid attention to. Therefore, families, universities and society should work together to improve the mental health of medical students.
4.Effects of Tripterygium wilfordii multiglycoside on renal injury in rats with diabetic nephropathy
Chong ZHANG ; Chundong SONG ; Mo WANG ; Shuang LIANG ; Xiaoxiao GUO ; Hanhan ZHANG ; Peijia LI ; Ke SONG ; Chenchen CHEN
China Pharmacy 2025;36(7):815-819
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of Tripterygium wilfordii multiglycoside (TWM) on renal injury in diabetic nephropathy (DN) rats through tumor protein p53/microRNA-214 (miR-214)/UNC-51-like kinase 1 (ULK1) axis. METHODS Male SD rats were randomly divided into normal group (n=6) and modeling group (n=28); the modeling group was fed with high fat and high glucose plus intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin to establish DN model. The modeled rats were randomly divided into model group, valsartan group [8.33 mg/(kg·d)] and TWM group[6.25 mg/(kg·d)], with 8 rats in each group. Rats in each group were gavaged with the corresponding medication or normal saline, once a day, for 6 consecutive weeks. After the last medication, liver and renal function indexes [24 h urinary total protein (24 h-UTP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCr), albumin (ALB), alanine transaminase (ALT)], blood lipid indexes (triglycerides, total cholesterol) and blood glucose index (fasting blood glucose) in urine/blood sample of rats were detected in each group. Renal pathologic change was observed, protein and mRNA expressions of p53, ULK1, Beclin-1 and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), and expression of miR-214 in renal tissue were also determined. RESULTS Compared with the normal group, the renal tubular epithelium of rats in the model group showed obvious edema, cell swelling, accompanied by lymphocyte infiltration; the levels of 24h-UTP, BUN, SCr, ALT and glycolipid indexes, the expressions of p53 protein and mRNA, as well as the expression of miR-214 in rats in the model group and administration groups were significantly increased or up-regulated, while ALB level, LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ, the expressions of LC3 mRNA, the expressions of ULK1, Beclin-1 protein and mRNA were significantly decreased or down-regulated (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the histopathological damage of the kidney in rats was improved in administration groups; the levels of 24 h-UTP, BUN, SCr, ALT and glycolipid indexes, the expressions of p53 protein and mRNA, as well as the expression of miR-214 were all significantly decreased or down-regulated, while ALB level, LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ, the expressions of LC3 mRNA, the expressions of ULK1 and Beclin-1 protein and mRNA were significantly increased or up-regulated (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS TG can alleviate renal damage in DN rats, and improve their liver and renal function, as well as glucose and lipid levels. These effects may be related to the regulation of the p53/miR-214/ULK1 axis and the restoration of cellular autophagy.
5.Study on the 90-day Feeding Experimental Background Data of SD Rats for Drug Safety Evaluation
Chao QIN ; Shuangxing LI ; Tingting ZHAO ; Chenchen JIANG ; Jing ZHAO ; Yanwei YANG ; Zhi LIN ; Sanlong WANG ; Hairuo WEN
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2025;45(4):439-448
ObjectiveTo establish background data for a 90-day feeding trial of SD rats to ensure the reliability of research data. MethodsBackground data from six independent 90-day feeding trials of SD rats conducted by the National Center for Safety Evaluation of Drugs from 2020 to 2023 were summarized. These studies involved a blank control group of 120 SPF-grade 4-week-old SD rats, with an equal number of males and females, which were only given standard full-nutrient pelleted rat feed. After the quarantine period, the animals were observed for an additional 90 days, followed by intraperitoneal injection of Zoletil (50 mg/mL) for anesthesia, blood sampling, euthanasia, and necropsy. By analyzing the data from the blank control group, a relevant background database for SD rats was established. ResultsBoth male and female rats exhibited steady weight gain, with a more pronounced increase in male rats. Within 90 days, the average body weight of male and female rats increased to over 500 g and 300 g, respectively. Three weeks later, the average daily food intake of male rats stabilized at approximately 25~28 g per rat, while that of female rats remained stable at approximately 16~19 g per rat. The food utilization rate of all animals gradually decreased from the first week of the experiment. In the white blood cell (WBC) differential count results, significant differences were observed in the counts of WBCs, neutrophils (Neut), lymphocytes (Lymph), and monocytes (Mono) between males and females (P<0.001). However, there were no significant differences in the percentages of neutrophil (%Neut), lymphocyte (%Lymph), and monocyte (%Mono) between the sexes (P>0.05). The average red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin concentration (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), platelet count (PLT), prothrombin time (PT), and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) were higher in male animals than in female animals (P<0.05). The average values of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatine phosphokinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glucose (GLU), and triglyceride (TG) in male rats were higher than those in female rats (P<0.05). The urinary pH range for male animals was 5.0 to 8.5, while for female animals it was 6.5 to 9.0. The majority of male animals had a urinary specific gravity lower than 1.020, and the majority of female animals had a urinary specific gravity lower than 1.015. The weights of various organs (excluding the adrenal glands and reproductive organs) in male animals were heavier than those in female animals (P<0.001), while the organ/body weight ratios (excluding the kidneys and reproductive organs) of female animals were higher than those of male animals (P<0.001). ConclusionThis study summarizes the background reference ranges for body weight, food intake, hematology, and serum biochemistry indicators in SPF-grade SD rats in the untreated control group from six 90-day feeding trials conducted by the National Center for Safety Evaluation of Drugs. It provides important reference data for related research. By summarizing the background and spontaneous histopathological changes in rats, this study aids in the standardization and normalization of subsequent research, as well as in the evaluation and analysis of abnormal results.
6.A deep learning model for the diagnosis of first-episode schizophrenia and grading of EEG abnormalities using EEG signals
Lili SHUI ; Chenchen LIU ; Yumin LI
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(4):308-314
BackgroundSchizophrenia is a highly heterogeneous disease with different clinical subtypes. Artificial intelligence technology represented by deep learning models has provided considerable benefits for the electroencephalogram (EEG)-based schizophrenia diagnosis, treatment and research, however, to date little research has been conducted regarding any of these benefits among Chinese schizophrenic patients. ObjectiveTo investigate the application of deep learning techniques utilizing EEG parameters for the diagnosis of first-episode schizophrenia and grading of EEG abnormalities in patients, with the aim of contributing to improved clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies for the disorder. MethodsFrom January 2020 to January 2023, a total of 130 patients with first-episode schizophrenia who met the diagnostic criteria of International Classification of Diseases, tenth edition (ICD-10), and attended at the Third People's Hospital of Fuyang, along with 150 health checkup examinees, were enrolled. All of them underwent EEG examination. An optimized long short-term memory (LSTM) deep learning model was developed utilizing EEG signals. Ten-fold cross-validation method was employed to evaluate the model's performance. The dataset was then split into two components: a training set (90%) for LSTM model development and a test set (10%) for validation. The accuracy, recall rate, precision, F1-score, schizophrenia diagnosis and EEG abnormality grading were used as evaluation indicators, and the results of the proposed model were compared to the assessments made by experienced psychiatrists. ResultsFor schizophrenia diagnosis, the modeling group achieved the following performance metrics: precision (94.40±3.03)%, recall rate (94.30±3.23)%, accuracy (94.60±2.22)%, and F1-score (94.20±2.20)%. In the validation group, the corresponding metrics were precision (90.90±2.85)%, recall rate (92.20±1.14)%, accuracy (92.20±1.69)%, and F1-score (91.50±1.78)%. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between the LSTM diagnostic model and the experienced psychiatrists in terms of precision, recall rate, accuracy, and F1-score for schizophrenia diagnosis (χ2=1.500, 0.750, 2.722, 1.056, P>0.05). The modeling group demonstrated an accuracy rate of (91.71±1.73)% in grading EEG abnormalities. For Grade 1 abnormalities, the modeling group reported a precision of (96.40±2.39)%, a recall rate of (94.77±1.40)%, and an F1-score of (95.55±1.14)%. In the case of Grade 2 abnormalities, the precision was (85.89±2.04)%, the recall rate was (88.10±6.18)%, and the F1-score was (87.06±3.12)%. For the more severe Grade 3 abnormalities, the modeling group's precision was (79.61±7.33)%, the recall rate was (81.79±9.87)%, and the F1-score was (80.41±6.79)%. Additionally, the validation group exhibited an accuracy rate of (85.61±6.16)%. The precision, recall rate, and F1-score for Grade 1 abnormalities were (91.43±6.25)%, (92.64±9.65)% and (91.56±4.83)%, respectively. For Grade 2 abnormalities, these metrics were (71.17±19.02)%, (77.64±17.24)% and (71.88±11.33)%. In the case of Grade 3 abnormalities, the precision was (90.00±21.08)%, the recall rate was (80.00±25.82)%, and the F1-score was (81.67±19.95)%. There was no significant difference in the accuracy, recall, accuracy and F1 value between LSTM model and senior doctors in evaluating the abnormal degree of EEG in schizophrenia (χ2=0.098, 0.036, 0.020, 0.336, P>0.05). The LSTM model takes less time to diagnose schizophrenia and EEG abnormalities than senior doctors, and the differences were statistically significant (t=57.147, 43.104, P<0.01). ConclusionThe study utilizes an EEG-based LSTM deep learning model for diagnosing first-episode schizophrenia and grading EEG abnormalities, and the model not only matches the performance of experienced psychiatrists but also significantly reduces the time required for diagnosis.
7.Prognostic value of serum Mrp 8/14 in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome induced by pulmonary sepsis and extrapulmonary sepsis
Caizhi SUN ; Yongpeng XIE ; Chenchen ZHU ; Haidong QIN ; Xiaomin LI
Chinese Journal of Emergency Medicine 2025;34(1):78-83
Objective:To investigate the differences and prognostic value of serum myeloid-related proteins 8 and 14 (Mrp 8/14) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) induced by pulmonary and extrapulmonary sepsis.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to collect the general clinical data of septic ARDS patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Nanjing Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from August 2021 to February 2024. The serum levels of Mrp 8/14 were detected within 24 hours after admission. According to whether the patients died during ICU stay, the patients with pulmonary ARDS and extrapulmonary ARDS induced by sepsis were divided into survival and death groups, respectively. The differences of Mrp 8/14 and other clinical data between the two groups were compared. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the prognostic factors of septic patients with pulmonary ARDS and extrapulmonary ARDS. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to evaluate the predictive value of serum Mrp 8/14 for the prognosis of patients with pulmonary ARDS and extrapulmonary ARDS.Results:A total of 138 patients with sepsis-induced ARDS were enrolled in this study, including 79 patients with pulmonary ARDS and 59 patients with extrapulmonary ARDS. Compared to the death group, the level of serum Mrp 8/14 was significantly lower [Mrp 8/14: 22.90 (17.91, 30.88) μg/mL vs. 10.73 (7.15, 17.20) μg/mL, P<0.05]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the serum Mrp 8/14 level was an independent risk factor for the prognosis of pulmonary ARDS patients only during the ICU stay ( OR=1.253, 95% CI: 1.110-1.414, P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of serum Mrp 8/14 for the prediction of death in ARDS patients with pulmonary sepsis during ICU stay was 0.855 (95% CI: 0.773-0.938, P<0.05), the cut-off value was 19.230 μg/mL, the sensitivity was 0.718, the specificity was 0.925, and the Yonden index was 0.405. Conclusion:Serum Mrp 8/14 is an effective prognostic indicator for the mortality of ARDS patients with pulmonary sepsis during ICU hospitalization.
8.Extraction of the ear canal centerline and rapid measurement of its length and curvature based on 3D reconstruction
Dashan CAO ; Yan YAN ; Miao ZHANG ; Yan SHI ; Jing MA ; Chenchen WANG ; Riyuan LIU ; Zibo LI ; Qiaohui LU ; Hui ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;60(11):1431-1438
Objective:To measure the length and curvature of the external auditory canal (EAC) centerline using a three-dimensional (3D) measurement method based on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on HRCT images of healthy EAC from 49 patients (64 ears) examined at the Sixth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital from June to October 2024. The cohort included 25 males (28 ears) and 24 females (36 ears), aged 22-78 years (mean age 47.3 years), categorized into age groups: 18-30 years (20 ears), 31-60 years (22 ears), and 61-80 years (22 ears). The EAC comprised 29 left and 35 right ears. 3D reconstruction of the EAC was performed using medical software (3D Slicer), and the central curve of the EAC was extracted using an improved measurement method to determine its length and curvature. Statistical analysis was performed using Origin Pro 2023 software to compare differences across genders, sides, and age groups.Results:The measurements of EAC length and curvature revealed that the EAC was significantly longer in males than in females (27.46 mm vs. 25.44 mm, P=0.014) and longer on the right side than on the left (27.99 mm vs. 25.87 mm, P=0.031). No statistically significant difference in EAC length was observed among the different age groups ( P>0.05). Furthermore, no statistically significant differences in EAC curvature were found regarding gender, side, or age group (all P>0.05). Conclusion:The HRCT-based 3D reconstruction technique enables the establishment of a rapid and effective automated workflow for extracting the central curve of the EAC and systematically measuring its length and curvature. The data obtained provide a reference and methodological support for further research on anatomical variations of the human EAC and its potential clinical applications, such as the design of otological instruments or surgical planning.
9.Guideline for diagnosis and treatment of infection after internal fixation of closed lower limb fractures in adults (version 2025)
Bobin MI ; Faqi CAO ; Weixian HU ; Wu ZHOU ; Chenchen YAN ; Hui LI ; Yun SUN ; Yuan XIONG ; Jinmi ZHAO ; Qikai HUA ; Xinbao WU ; Xieyuan JIANG ; Dianying ZHANG ; Zhongguo FU ; Dankai WU ; Guangyao LIU ; Guodong LIU ; Tengbo YU ; Jinhai TAN ; Xi CHEN ; Fengfei LIN ; Zhangyuan LIN ; Dongfa LIAO ; Aiguo WANG ; Shiwu DONG ; Gaoxing LUO ; Zhao XIE ; Dong SUN ; Dehao FU ; Yunfeng CHEN ; Changqing ZHANG ; Kun LIU ; Deye SONG ; Yongjun RUI ; Fei WU ; Ximing LIU ; Junwen WANG ; Meng ZHAO ; Biao CHE ; Bing HU ; Chengjian HE ; Guanglin WANG ; Xiao CHEN ; Guandong DAI ; Shiyuan FANG ; Wenchao SONG ; Ming CHEN ; Guanghua GUO ; Yongqing XU ; Lei YANG ; Wenqian ZHANG ; Kun ZHANG ; Xin TANG ; Hua CHEN ; Weiguo XU ; Shuquan GUO ; Yong LIU ; Xiaodong GUO ; Zhewei YE ; Liming XIONG ; Tian XIA ; Hongbin WU ; Qisheng ZHOU ; Mengfei LIU ; Yiqiang HU ; Yanjiu HAN ; Hang XUE ; Kangkang ZHA ; Wei CHEN ; Zhiyong HOU ; Bin YU ; Jiacan SU ; Peifu TANG ; Baoguo JIANG ; Guohui LIU
Chinese Journal of Trauma 2025;41(5):421-432
Postoperative infection of internal fixation of closed fractures the lower limbs in adults represents a devastating complication, characterized by diagnostic challenges, prolonged treatment duration and high disability rates. Current management of these infections faces multiple challenges, such as difficulties in early accurate diagnosis, and various controversies about the treatment plan, leading to poor overall diagnosis and treatment results. To address these issues, based on evidence-based medicine and principles with emphasis on scientific rigor, clinical applicability and innovation, the Trauma Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, Orthopedic Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, Orthopedics Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, and Trauma Orthopedics and Polytrauma Group of the Resuscitation and Emergency Committee of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association have collaboratively organized a panel of relevant experts to develop the Guideline for diagnosis and treatment of infection after internal fixation of closed lower limb fractures in adults ( version 2025). The guideline proposed 10 recommendations, aiming to provide a foundation for standardized diagnosis and treatment of postoperative infection in adults with closed lower limb fractures.
10.Head electroacupuncture alleviates central hyperalgesia in rats with knee osteoarthritis
Bohan HAI ; Hui LI ; Wenjie LIU ; Han WANG ; Chenchen WU ; Cuiping GUO ; Xinju DING ; Wenbiao WANG
Chinese Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2025;47(7):585-594
Objective:To explore the effect of scalp electroacupuncture (EA) on central pain sensitization in rats with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).Methods:Thirty-two 8-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a blank control group, a model group, an electroacupuncture (EA) group and a sham EA group, each of 8. All of the rats except those in the control group had KOA induced through intra-articular monosodium iodoacetate injections in the right knee. Two weeks later the EA group rats began receiving daily head EA sessions 6 days/week for 2 weeks. The sham EA group received identical but non-therapeutic stimulation. The blank control and model groups received no EA intervention. Before the modelling and 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days later, all of the rats completed bipedal balance pain tests and mechanical allodynia evaluations. After the testing on day 28, all of the rats were euthanized for molecular analyses. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were performed to examine protein expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), and cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) in both the periaqueductal gray (PAG) matter and spinal dorsal horns (SDHs). Serum levels of substance P (SP) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were also quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.Results:Three days after successful modeling, the average weight-bearing capacity of the right hind limb in the model, sham EA and EA groups was significantly lower than that of the blank controls. It reached its lowest level on the 14th day after modeling. Concurrently, the pain responses in those three groups were significantly higher than among the controls, also peaking on the 14th day after modeling. After two weeks of electroacupuncture, the electroacupuncture group showed significant improvement in both right hind limb weight-bearing capacity and pain response compared to the model group. Meanwhile, the levels of BDNF and TrkB protein in the periaqueductal gray matter were significantly higher in the model group than among the blank controls, while the electroacupuncture group exhibited significantly reduced expression of BDNF and TrkB proteins compared to the model group, along with significantly increased CB1R protein expression. The model group showed significantly elevated expression of both BDNF and TrkB proteins in the spinal dorsal horn compared to the blank control group, while there were significant differences between the EA and model groups in the expression of BDNF, TrkB and CB1R proteins. Immunohistochemical analysis on day 28 revealed that the EA group had significantly fewer BDNF- and TrkB-positive cells in the PAG compared to the model group, with significantly more CB1R-positive cells. In the SDH, the model group exhibited significantly increased numbers of BDNF- and TrkB-positive cells compared to the blank control group, whereas significant differences were found between the EA and blank control groups in the numbers of BDNF-, TrkB- and CB1R-positive cells. Serum analysis on day 28 demonstrated that substance P and 5-hydroxytryptamine levels in the model, sham EA and EA groups were significantly higher than in the blank control group, on average. However, no significant differences were observed in serum SP and 5-HT levels between the EA and model groups.Conclusions:Scalp EA significantly alleviates central pain sensitization in KOA, at least in rats, potentially by suppressing BDNF and TrkB expression while upregulating CB1R expression in the PAG matter and the SDH.


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