ObjectiveTo investigate the suppressive effect of 23-hydroxybetulinic acid （23-HBA）， a key constituent of Pulsatillae Radix， on the pulmonary inflammation-related carcinogenesis induced by the combined exposure of 4-（methylnitrosamino）-1-（3-pyridyl）-1-butanone （NNK） and lipopolysaccharide （LPS） in mice， alongside exploring its influence on immune cells and delving into the underlying mechanisms. MethodsA murine model of pulmonary inflammation-related carcinogenesis induced by NNK combined with LPS was established. Mice were randomly assigned into blank control， model， aspirin （10 mg·kg^-1）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose （3.75， 7.5， 15 mg·kg^-1， respectively） 23-HBA groups. The treatment lasted for 26 weeks， after which the spleen， lung， and peripheral blood samples were collected. Lung and spleen indices were calculated. Histopathological changes in the lung tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Immunohistochemistry was employed to assess the expression levels of thyroid transcription factor-1 （TTF-1）， neuron-specific enolase （NSE）， and proliferating cell nuclear antigen （Ki-67） in the lung tissue. High-throughput protein microarray was employed to measure the levels of interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in the mouse serum. Flow cytometry was employed to evaluate the expression of macrophages， myeloid-derived suppressor cells （MDSCs）， and exhausted T lymphocytes in the lung and spleen tissue. Molecular docking was performed to predict the binding affinity of 23-HBA to Janus kinase 2 （JAK2）， Src homology 2 domain-containing phosphatase 2 （SHP2）， and suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 （SOCS3）. Western blot was performed to assess the protein levels of phosphorylated-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （p-STAT3）， p53， and SHP2 in the M1-activated macrophages and A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells treated with 23-HBA. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the lung and spleen indexes of the model group were increased to varying degrees （P<0.05， P<0.01）， the expression of TTF-1， NSE and Ki-67 protein was significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the serum levels of TNF-α， IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly increased （P<0.01）. The number of macrophages in the model group was significantly decreased （P<0.01）， and the number of exhausted T cells and MDSCs was significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the spleen and thymus index of mice in each dose group of 23-HBA decreased significantly （P<0.05）， and the lung index of mice in the middle dose group of 23-HBA decreased significantly （P<0.05）. The high and middle dose groups of 23-HBA could improve the occurrence of inflammatory infiltration and malignant lesions in the lungs of mice induced by NNK combined with LPS in the model group. The expression of TTF-1 in the middle and high dose groups of 23-HBA was significantly lower than that in the model group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The expression of NSE and Ki-67 protein in each dose group of 23-HBA was significantly lower than that in the model group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The contents of IL-1β in the low and high dose groups of 23-HBA were significantly decreased （P<0.05）， and the contents of IL-6 and TNF-α in each dose of 23-HBA were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The number of macrophages in the lung of the middle dose group of 23-HBA was significantly increased （P<0.05）， and the number of exhausted T cells and MDSCs expressing PD-1 in the lung was significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In addition， 23-HBA had strong molecular docking ability to SHP2， SOCS3 and JAK2 （≥7 kcal·mol^-1）， and significantly down-regulated the protein levels of p-STAT3， SHP2 and p53 in M1 macrophages and A549 lung adenocarcinoma （P<0.01）. Conclusion23-HBA holds promise as a potential therapeutic agent for mitigating pulmonary inflammation and inhibiting malignant transformation induced by the combination of LPS and NNK. It may exert effects by regulating immune cell responses， improving the tumor immune microenvironment， and regulating key signaling pathways.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Huayu Tongluo (transforming stasis and unblocking collaterals) moxibustion on learning-memory ability and hippocampal mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 (Mst1)/nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) p65 pathway related to inflammatory response in rats with vascular dementia (VD). METHODS: A total of 60 male Wistar rats of SPF grade were randomly divided into a sham operation group (12 rats) and a modeling group (48 rats). VD model was established by the method of modified bilateral common carotid artery permanent ligation in the modeling group. Thirty-six rats with successful modeling were randomly divided into a model group, a moxibustion group and a western medication group, with 12 rats in each group. Huayu Tongluo moxibustion was applied at "Dazhui" (GV14), "Baihui" (GV20) and "Shenting" (GV24) in the moxibustion group, 20 min each time, once a day, 7 day-intervention was as one course, and 1 day-interval was taken between two courses, for a total of 3 courses. In the western medication group, piracetam was given 0.72 mg/kg by intragastric administration, twice a day, the course of intervention was same as that of the moxibustion group. The learning-memory ability was detected by Morris water maze test; the morphology of hippocampal CA1 region was observed by HE staining; the mRNA expression of Mst1, M1 microglia markers CD86, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was detected by real-time PCR; the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in hippocampus were detected by ELISA; and the protein expression of Mst1 and NF-κB p65 in hippocampus was detected by Western blot in rats of each group. RESULTS: Compared with the sham operation group, the escape latency was prolonged in the model group (P<0.05); compared with the model group, the escape latency was shortened in the moxibustion group and the western medication group (P<0.05). The cells in the CA1 region of hippocampus were disordered, cell collapse and irregular nuclei could be observed in the model group; compared with the model group, the cell arrangement in the CA1 region of hippocampus was more regular, and the damage was improved in the moxibustion group and the western medication group. Compared with the sham operation group, the mRNA expression of Mst1, CD86, IL-6 and TNF-α, as well as the protein expression of Mst1, NF-κB p65 in hippocampus were increased in the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the mRNA expression of Mst1, CD86, IL-6 and TNF-α, as well as the protein expression of Mst1, NF-κB p65 in hippocampus were decreased in the moxibustion group and the western medication group (P<0.05). Compared with the sham operation group, the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in hippocampus were increased in the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in hippocampus were decreased in the moxibustion group and the western medication group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Huayu Tongluo moxibustion can improve the learning-memory ability of VD rats, the mechanism may be related to regulating the activation of microglia through Mst1/NF-κB p65 pathway, reducing the release of pro-inflammatory factors i.e. IL-6 and TNF-α, so as to alleviating the damage of inflammatory factors in the hippocampus of VD rats.
Animals ; Male ; Rats ; Moxibustion ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Rats, Wistar ; Dementia, Vascular/genetics* ; Memory/drug effects* ; Humans ; Transcription Factor RelA/genetics* ; Learning ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics* ; Acupuncture Points ; Interleukin-6/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal

OBJECTIVE: To observe the skin surface temperature at the related back-shu points in the patients with the different levels of pulmonary ventilation function in chronic persistent asthma, and to explore the correlation between the skin temperature at the back-shu points and pulmonary ventilation function indexes based on "lung governing the skin and hair". METHODS: Sixty-one patients with chronic persistent asthma, based on the level of pulmonary ventilation function, were assigned into a reduced pulmonary ventilation function group (reduced function group, 32 cases) and a normal pulmonary ventilation function group (normal function group, 29 cases). In the two groups, the skin surface temperature was measured in the sites of bilateral Feishu (BL13), Geshu (BL17), Pishu (BL20) and Shenshu (BL23); and the pulmonary ventilation function indexes (the percentage of predicted value of forced vital capacity [FVC%pred], the percentage of predicted value of forced expiratory volume in the first second [FEV1%pred], the percentage of predicted value of FEV1/FVC [FEV1/FVC%pred] and the percentage of predicted value of the peak expiratory flow [PEF%pred]) were recorded. The correlation between the skin surface temperature of acupoints and pulmonary ventilation function was analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with the normal function group, the surface skin temperature at the bilateral Feishu (BL13), Geshu (BL17), Pishu (BL20) and Shenshu (BL23) was higher in the reduced function group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the normal function group, FEV1%pred, FEV1/FVC%pred and PEF%pred were decreased in the reduced function group (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in FVC%pred between the two groups (P>0.05). The skin surface temperature at the bilateral Feishu (BL13), Geshu (BL17), Pishu (BL20) and Shenshu (BL23) was negatively correlated with FVC%pred, FEV1%pred, FEV1/FVC%pred and PEF%pred in 61 patients with chronic persistent asthma (P<0.001, P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION The skin surface temperature at back-shu points is elevated in line with the the decline of pulmonary ventilation function in the patients with chronic persistent asthma, presenting a negative correlation with pulmonary ventilation function indexes. It is preliminarily verified that back-shu point is characterized by reflecting the visceral disorders.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Asthma/therapy* ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Skin Temperature ; Lung/physiopathology* ; Acupuncture Points ; Pulmonary Ventilation ; Aged ; Chronic Disease/therapy* ; Young Adult ; Hair

Objective To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating chronic cough and analyze its acupoint selection patterns.Methods Randomized controlled trials(RCTs)on acupuncture for chronic cough were retrieved from databases including CNKI,VIP,Wan Fang Data,CBM,PubMed,and Web of Science,Cochrane Library and Embase from their inception to April 2025.Original data from the included studies were extracted.Meta-analysis was performed to compare the acupuncture treatment group with the western medicine control group[using leukotriene receptor antagonists(LTRAs)and/or glucocorticoids]on outcomes including cough symptom scores,serum tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)levels,pulmonary function indicators[forced vital capacity(FVC)and forced expiratory volume in the first second(FEV1)],overall clinical effectiveness,and incidence of adverse reactions.Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots,and descriptive analysis of the acupoint prescriptions from the included studies was conducted using Rstudio software to summarize the patterns of acupoint selection for chronic cough.Results A total of 10 studies involving 806 patients were included.Meta-analysis results showed that acupuncture was superior to the western medicine control group in improving cough symptom scores,reducing serum TNF-α levels,enhancing pulmonary function(FVC and FEV1),increasing overall clinical effectiveness,and reducing adverse reactions,with statistically significant differences.Further analysis of the 10 included studies revealed that the most frequently used acupoints were Feishu(BL13)(n=9 times),Zusanli(ST36)(n=7 times),Lieque(LU7)(n=6 times),and Pishu(BL20)(n=5 times).The most frequently utilized meridians were the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang(BL)(n=10 times),the Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming(ST)(n=7 times),and the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin(LU)(n=7 times).Acupoints were primarily located on the lower back(36.92%),upper limbs(26.15%),and lower limbs(21.53%).Conclusion Acupuncture is effective in treating chronic cough.The acupoint prescriptions for chronic cough should follow the principles of symptomatic point selection and anterior-posterior point pairing,emphasizing the back-shu and front-mu point pairing method,as well as the upper-lower point pairing method.Points are predominantly selected from the Bladder meridian(BL),lung meridian(LU),and stomach meridian(ST).

Objective:To explore applications of adjusting timing of nebulization and analgesic usage in patients after lung cancer surgery, to provide reference for postoperative rehabilitation of lung cancer.Methods:Adopting a prospective randomized controlled study design, a total of 84 patients with lung cancer who underwent surgery in affiliated hospital of Jining Medical University from September 2020 to June 2023 were enrolled by a convenience sampling method, they were randomly divided into experimental group and control group according to random number table method. Two groups was given routine perioperative care, on this basis, the control group received lip and abdomen contraction breathing training according to the conventional process, and the experimental group adjusted timing of nebulization and analgesic usage and received respiratory function training when nebulization and analgesics were at the peak of blood drug concentration. Pain level and exercise self-efficacy of two groups were compared.Results:There were 27 males and 15 females in the control group, aged (54.52 ± 14.06) years; and 24 males and 18 females in the experimental group, aged (53.33 ± 12.02) years. At one day, two days and three days after operation, the scores of Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) were (5.07 ± 0.84), (3.40 ± 0.49), (2.93 ± 0.87) in the experimental group, lower than (5.86 ± 1.05), (4.09 ± 0.88), (3.33 ± 0.65) in the control group, the differences were statistically significant ( t=3.79, 4.44.2.42, all P<0.05), and for both groups, the differences in the time effect, between-group effect, and the interaction effect were all statistically significant ( F=582.92, 44.65, 3.82, all P<0.05). Three days after operation, the dimensions of efficacy expectation, outcome expectation and total self-efficacy scores were (28.62 ± 6.75), (33.71 ± 7.04) and (62.33 ± 9.07) in the experimental group, and (25.52 ± 6.66), (30.43 ± 6.80) and (55.95 ± 9.34) in the control group, the differences were statically significant ( t=2.12, 2.18, 3.18, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Adjusting timing of nebulization and analgesic usage and giving respiratory function training for lung cancer surgery when nebulization and analgesics at the peak of blood drug concentration can effectively alleviate the pain caused by respiratory exercise and improve training self-efficacy of patients after lung cancer surgery.

Objective To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating chronic cough and analyze its acupoint selection patterns.Methods Randomized controlled trials(RCTs)on acupuncture for chronic cough were retrieved from databases including CNKI,VIP,Wan Fang Data,CBM,PubMed,and Web of Science,Cochrane Library and Embase from their inception to April 2025.Original data from the included studies were extracted.Meta-analysis was performed to compare the acupuncture treatment group with the western medicine control group[using leukotriene receptor antagonists(LTRAs)and/or glucocorticoids]on outcomes including cough symptom scores,serum tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)levels,pulmonary function indicators[forced vital capacity(FVC)and forced expiratory volume in the first second(FEV1)],overall clinical effectiveness,and incidence of adverse reactions.Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots,and descriptive analysis of the acupoint prescriptions from the included studies was conducted using Rstudio software to summarize the patterns of acupoint selection for chronic cough.Results A total of 10 studies involving 806 patients were included.Meta-analysis results showed that acupuncture was superior to the western medicine control group in improving cough symptom scores,reducing serum TNF-α levels,enhancing pulmonary function(FVC and FEV1),increasing overall clinical effectiveness,and reducing adverse reactions,with statistically significant differences.Further analysis of the 10 included studies revealed that the most frequently used acupoints were Feishu(BL13)(n=9 times),Zusanli(ST36)(n=7 times),Lieque(LU7)(n=6 times),and Pishu(BL20)(n=5 times).The most frequently utilized meridians were the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang(BL)(n=10 times),the Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming(ST)(n=7 times),and the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin(LU)(n=7 times).Acupoints were primarily located on the lower back(36.92%),upper limbs(26.15%),and lower limbs(21.53%).Conclusion Acupuncture is effective in treating chronic cough.The acupoint prescriptions for chronic cough should follow the principles of symptomatic point selection and anterior-posterior point pairing,emphasizing the back-shu and front-mu point pairing method,as well as the upper-lower point pairing method.Points are predominantly selected from the Bladder meridian(BL),lung meridian(LU),and stomach meridian(ST).

Objective:To explore applications of adjusting timing of nebulization and analgesic usage in patients after lung cancer surgery, to provide reference for postoperative rehabilitation of lung cancer.Methods:Adopting a prospective randomized controlled study design, a total of 84 patients with lung cancer who underwent surgery in affiliated hospital of Jining Medical University from September 2020 to June 2023 were enrolled by a convenience sampling method, they were randomly divided into experimental group and control group according to random number table method. Two groups was given routine perioperative care, on this basis, the control group received lip and abdomen contraction breathing training according to the conventional process, and the experimental group adjusted timing of nebulization and analgesic usage and received respiratory function training when nebulization and analgesics were at the peak of blood drug concentration. Pain level and exercise self-efficacy of two groups were compared.Results:There were 27 males and 15 females in the control group, aged (54.52 ± 14.06) years; and 24 males and 18 females in the experimental group, aged (53.33 ± 12.02) years. At one day, two days and three days after operation, the scores of Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) were (5.07 ± 0.84), (3.40 ± 0.49), (2.93 ± 0.87) in the experimental group, lower than (5.86 ± 1.05), (4.09 ± 0.88), (3.33 ± 0.65) in the control group, the differences were statistically significant ( t=3.79, 4.44.2.42, all P<0.05), and for both groups, the differences in the time effect, between-group effect, and the interaction effect were all statistically significant ( F=582.92, 44.65, 3.82, all P<0.05). Three days after operation, the dimensions of efficacy expectation, outcome expectation and total self-efficacy scores were (28.62 ± 6.75), (33.71 ± 7.04) and (62.33 ± 9.07) in the experimental group, and (25.52 ± 6.66), (30.43 ± 6.80) and (55.95 ± 9.34) in the control group, the differences were statically significant ( t=2.12, 2.18, 3.18, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Adjusting timing of nebulization and analgesic usage and giving respiratory function training for lung cancer surgery when nebulization and analgesics at the peak of blood drug concentration can effectively alleviate the pain caused by respiratory exercise and improve training self-efficacy of patients after lung cancer surgery.

Objective To study the distribution and significance of CD1a and CD83 positive dendritic cells(DCs)in lung tissue of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)mice.Methods Twenty C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the air control group and the smoked COPD group(n=10 for each group).COPD mouse model was established using cigarette smoking method.Mice were executed within 24 h after the last cigarette smoking,and right lower lung was collected.Body mass changes and lung histopathological changes of mice were observed in two groups.Mean linear intercept(MLI)was measured,and expression levels of CD1a+and CD83+DCs in lung tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results The body mass of mice at 7,14,21 and 28 d after modeling was lower in the smoked COPD group than that in the air control group(P＜0.05).HE staining showed that the normal alveolar structure of lung tissue of mice in the smoked group was disrupted,with multiple alveoli fused with each other to form a larger alveolar lumen,a large number of inflammatory cells infiltrated in alveolar intervals,and walls of the alveoli were thickened.COPD modeling was successful.Compared with the air control group,MLI values(μm)increased in the smoked COPD group(28.30±3.47 vs.50.40±3.60),and the number of CD1a+DCs(per field of view)in lung tissue increased(9.58±2.18 vs.17.08±3.67),while the number of CD83+DCs(per field of view)decreased(19.78±4.95 vs.8.02±3.30)(all P＜0.05).Conclusion The number of CD1a+DCs in lung tissue is increased and the number of CD83+DCs in lung tissue is decreased in the smoked COPD group of mice,and cigarette smoking may have impaired DC maturation.

Objective To explore the effect of jogging on the patients with depression disorder of liver-stagnation and spleen-deficiency.Methods 100 patients with liver-stagnation and spleen-deficiency depression disorder were randomly selected from Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province from March to September 2022.They were divided into observation group and control group(50 cases each)by random number table method.The control group received conventional antidepressant drug treatment,and the observation group was given jogging exercise regimen on the basis of the control group:exercise at least 4 times a week,30-60 min each time,and the heart rate was maintained at 110-120 times/min for 4 weeks.The depressive disorder of the patients was assessed by Zung's Self-rating Depression Scale(SDS)and 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD-17).Results After jogging exercise intervention,the total effective rate of the observation group was 94%,which was significantly higher than that of the control group 80%(P<0.05).HAMD-17 score was significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group after intervention(F=12.575,P<0.05).The scores of cognitive impairment,block and sleep disturbance in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group after intervention(F=12.575,P<0.05).The body weight factor scores of the observation group and the control group were significantly higher after intervention than before intervention(P>0.05).Conclusions Jogging exercise intervention therapy can significantly improve the depression of patients with liver-qi and spleen-deficiency depression disorder,and jogging can be an effective method to prevent and treat depression disorder.

The integration of Chinese and Western Medicine(ICWM)in the diagnosis and treatment of depression has been a long-standing issue in the field of mental health.In order to maximize the benefits of this combined approach,the"2023 Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Depression with Integrative Chinese and Western Medicine"(GDTD-ICWM)has been developed based on organizing evidence-based and standardized workflows for ICWM.This article aims to discuss the background,highlights,summary and outlook of the"Guidelines",as well as offer operational suggestions to guide clinical practices in order to strengthen the implementation,practice and promotion of the"Guidelines".