OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy and safety of Tiaowei Jiannao acupuncture (acupuncture for regulating defensive qi and nourishing brain) for post-ischemic stroke insomnia (PISI). METHODS: A total of 96 patients with PISI were randomized into an acupuncture group (32 cases, 1 case was excluded), a medication group (32 cases, 1 case dropped out, 1 case was excluded) and a sham-acupuncture group (32 cases, 1 case dropped out, 1 case was excluded). In the acupuncture group, Tiaowei Jiannao acupuncture was applied at bilateral Shenmai (BL62), Zhaohai (KI6), Hegu (LI4), Taichong (LR3), and Baihui (GV20), Sishencong (EX-HN1), Yintang (GV24⁺), Shenting (GV24), once a day, 1-day interval was taken after 6-day treatment, for 3 weeks totally. In the medication group, eszopiclone tablet was given orally, 1-3 mg a time, once a day for 3 weeks. In the sham-acupuncture group, non-invasive sham acupuncture was applied, the acupoint selection, frequency and course of treatment were the same as the acupuncture group. Before treatment, after 2,3 weeks of treatment, the scores of Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), self-rating sleep scale (SRSS), National Institutes of Health Stroke scale (NIHSS), Hamilton depression scale-17 (HAMD-17) were observed; before and after treatment, the sleep parameters were recorded using polysomnography (PSG); and the efficacy and safety were evaluated after treatment in the 3 groups. RESULTS: After 2,3 weeks of treatment, the scores of PSQI, HAMD-17 and SRSS in the acupuncture group and the medication group, as well as the SRSS scores in the sham-acupuncture group were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05); after 2 weeks of treatment, the NIHSS score in the acupuncture group was decreased compared with that before treatment (P<0.05); after 3 weeks of treatment, the NIHSS scores in the acupuncture group, the medication group and the sham-acupuncture group were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05). After 3 weeks of treatment, the scores of PSQI, SRSS, HAMD-17 and NIHSS in the acupuncture group and the medication group, as well as the NIHSS score in the sham-acupuncture group were decreased compared with those after 2 weeks of treatment (P<0.05). After 2,3 weeks of treatment, the scores of PSQI, SRSS and HAMD-17 in the acupuncture group and the medication group were lower than those in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05), the NIHSS scores in the acupuncture group were lower than those in the medication group and the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05); after 3 weeks of treatment, HAMD-17 score in the acupuncture group was lower than that in the medication group (P<0.05), the NIHSS score in the medication group was lower than that in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05). Compared before treatment, after treatment, the total sleep time was prolonged (P<0.05), the wake after sleep onset, sleep latency, and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep latency were shortened (P<0.05), the sleep efficiency was improved (P<0.05), the number of awakenings was reduced (P<0.05), the percentage of rapid eye movement (REM%) and the percentage of NREM stage 1 (N1%) were decreased (P<0.05), the percentage of NREM stage 2 (N2%) and the percentage of NREM stage 3 (N3%) were increased (P<0.05) in the acupuncture group and the medication group; the sleep latency was shortened in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05). After treatment, the PSG indexes in the acupuncture group and the medication group were superior to those in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05); in the acupuncture group, the number of awakenings was less than that in the medication group (P<0.05), the REM% and N1% were lower than those in the medication group (P<0.05), the N2% and N3% were higher than those in the medication group (P<0.05). The total effective rate were 93.5% (29/31) and 90.0% (27/30) in the acupuncture group and the medication group respectively, which were higher than 10.0% (3/30) in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05). There was no serious adverse events in any of the 3 groups. CONCLUSION Tiaowei Jiannao acupuncture improves the insomnia symptoms in patients with ischemic stroke, improves the quality of sleep, increases the deep sleep, promotes the recovery of neurological function, and relieves the depression. It is effective and safe for the treatment of PISI.
Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Male ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/physiopathology* ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Acupuncture Points ; Treatment Outcome ; Adult ; Ischemic Stroke/complications* ; Stroke/complications* ; Sleep

BACKGROUND: The available evidence regarding the benefits of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on patients receiving dialysis with coronary artery disease (CAD) is limited and inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PCI and clinical outcomes as compared with medical therapy alone in patients undergoing dialysis with CAD in China. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective study was conducted in 30 tertiary medical centers across 12 provinces in China from January 2015 to June 2021 to include patients on dialysis with CAD. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke. Secondary outcomes included all-cause death, the individual components of MACE, and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium criteria types 2, 3, or 5 bleeding. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between PCI and outcomes. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and propensity score matching (PSM) were performed to account for potential between-group differences. RESULTS: Of the 1146 patients on dialysis with significant CAD, 821 (71.6%) underwent PCI. After a median follow-up of 23.0 months, PCI was associated with a 43.0% significantly lower risk for MACE (33.9% [ n  = 278] vs . 43.7% [ n  = 142]; adjusted hazards ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.45-0.71), along with a slightly increased risk for bleeding outcomes that did not reach statistical significance (11.1% vs . 8.3%; adjusted hazards ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval, 0.82-2.11). Furthermore, PCI was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities. Subgroup analysis did not modify the association of PCI with patient outcomes. These primary findings were consistent across IPTW, PSM, and competing risk analyses. CONCLUSION This study indicated that PCI in patients on dialysis with CAD was significantly associated with lower MACE and mortality when comparing with those with medical therapy alone, albeit with a slightly increased risk for bleeding events that did not reach statistical significance.
Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Coronary Artery Disease/drug therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Renal Dialysis/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; China ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Treatment Outcome

ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy and safety of Uyghur medicine Yangxin Dawayimixike Honey Paste （养心达瓦依米西克蜜膏， YDMHP） in the treatment of stable angina pectoris （SAP） of qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome. MethodsA randomized ， double-blind， positive-controlled，multi-center clinical trial was conducted， in which 370 patients with SAP of qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome were randomly divided into treatment group（279 cases）and control group（91cases）at a ratio of 3∶1. The treatment group was orally administered with YDMHP， 3 g each time， and placebo of Xuefu Zhuyu Capsule （血府逐瘀胶囊）， 2.4 g each time， while the control group was treated with Xuefu Zhuyu Capsule， 2.4 g each time， and placebo of YDMHP， 3 g each time， both twice a day for a course of 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the effect of angina pectoris symptom. The secondary outcomes include single angina symptom scores such as number of attacks， duration of attacks， pain intensity and usae of nitroglycerin scores， the total angina symptom score before and after the treatment， the usage of nitroglycerin， the exercise duration in treadmill exercise test （TET） and the Duck treadmill score among patients，the scores of Seattle Angina Questionnaire （SAQ） on five dimensions including physical limitations， anginal stability， anginal frequency， treatment satisfaction， and disease perception， and efficacy of TCM syndrome and of each single TCM symptom after treatment. The safety were evaluated by examine blood routine， urine routine， liver and kidney function， fasting blood sugar， electrocardiogram， adverse events. ResultsThe total effective rate of angina symptom in the treatment group was 71.69% （200/279）， significantly higher than 51.64% （47/91） in the control group （P＜0.01）. The curative and markedly effective rate of TCM syndrome in the treatment group was 53.05% （148/279）， which was significantly higher than 25.27% （23/91） in the control group （P＜0.01）. After treatment， scores of the number as well as duration of angina attacks and pain severity， the total score of angina symptoms， and the usage of nitroglycerin significantly decreased in both groups， and more changes were seen in the treatment group than in the control group； the scores of physical limitations， anginal stability， anginal frequency， treatment satisfaction， and disease perception in both groups significantly increased， and more improvement were shown in the experimental group regarding the anginal stability， anginal frequency and treatment satisfaction （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. The effects of chest pain， chest tightness， palpitation， shortness of breath and fatigue in experimental group were significantly higher than those in control group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. There was no significant difference in the exercise duration of treadmill test and Duke score among patients between the two groups either before or after treatment （P＞0.05）. Adverse events occurred in 66 cases （23.66%） of the experimental group and 16 cases （17.58%） of the control group， with no statistical significance between the two groups （P＞0.05）. ConclusionThe Uyghur medicine YDMHP can effectively improve symptoms of angina pectoris， reduce the number， duration， and intensity of attacks， decrease the dosage of nitrogly-cerin and improve the individual TCM symptoms and has good safety in the treatment of SAP patients of qi stagnation and blood stasis.

Objective To explore the impact of paricalcitol(Pal)on the oxidative stress-induced tight junction dam-age of mouse hepatocytes and its mechanism.Methods A model of cholestatic liver injury was created by routine bile duct ligation.The mice were randomly divided into control group(control),model group(BDL)and treatment group(BDL+Pal).HE staining microscopy was used to observe the morphological changes of liver tissues.The human hepa-toma cell line HepG2 was cultured and divided into blank group,model group(400 μmol/L H2O2)and treatment group(400 μmol/L H2O2+20 nmol/L Pal).Western blot was used to examine the level of tight junction protein 1(ZO-1),occludin,phosphorylated p65(p-p65),phosphorylated ERK(p-ERK)and phosphorylated myosin II regulated light chain(p-MLC)protein were checked in each group.Results Compared with the control group,the level of p-p65,p-ERK and p-MLC in the model group was significantly increased(P＜0.000 1 or P＜0.01 or P＜0.001).The protein expression of ZO-1 and occludin was significantly decreased(P＜0.01).HE staining mi-croscopy showed an increased hepatocyte necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration.In contrast,the above levels in the treatment group showed an opposite trend relative to the model group.Conclusions Pal is able to alleviate the damage of hepatocyte tight junctions by inhibiting oxidative stress in cholestatic mice and HepG2 cells.Its mecha-nism is potentially related to the inhibition of reactive oxygen species and NF-κB/p65 and ERK signaling pathways.

Objective To explore the mechanism of Wumei pill on ulcerative colitis(UC)in mice based on the anti oxidative stress pathway of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/antioxidant response element(ARE).Methods Seventy SPF male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the control group,the UC group,the mesalazine group(MES group,0.82 g/kg MES),the low dose Wumei pill group(WMW-L group,5 g/kg crude drug),the middle dose Wumei pill group(WMW-M group,10 g/kg crude drug),the high dose Wumei pill group(WMW-H group,20 g/kg crude drug)and the high dose Wumei pills+Nrf2 inhibitor ML-385 group(WMW-H+ML-385 group,Wumei pills crude drug 20 g/kg+20 mg/kg ML-385),with 10 rats in each group.The disease activity index(DAI)score and colonic mucosa injury score were performed in mice after the last administration.Pathological changes of colonic mucosa in mice were observed by HE staining.The levels of interleukin(IL)-1β,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and IL-6 in serum and colon tissue of mice were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The content of malondialdehyde(MDA)in serum and colon tissue of mice was determined by thiobarbituric acid colorimetry(TBA).The activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD)in serum and colon tissue of mice was measured by xanthine oxidase method.The activity of glutathione peroxidase(GSH-px)in serum and colon tissue of mice was determined by direct method with dithiodinitrobenzoic acid(DTNB).The positive expression of Nrf2 in colon tissue of mice was observed by immunohistochemistry.The expression of heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase-1(NQO1)proteins in colon tissue of mice were detected by Western blot assay.Results Compared with the control group,the DAI score,colonic mucosa injury score,colonic histopathology score,levels of IL-1β,TNF-α,IL-6 and MDA in serum and colonic tissue,and expression levels of Nrf2,HO-1 and NQO1 protein in colonic tissue of mice were increased in the UC group,levels of SOD and GSH-px in serum and colon tissue decreased(P＜0.05),the colon mucosa of mice was seriously damaged.Compared with the UC group,changes of corresponding indexes were contrary to the above in the MES group,the WMW-M group and the WMW-H group.However,the expression levels of Nrf2,HO-1 and NQO1 proteins in colon tissue were increased(P＜0.05),and the damage of colon mucosa in mice was alleviated.Changes of the above indexes were dose-dependent in the WMW-L group,the WMW-M group and the WMW-H group.There were no significant differences in the above indexes between the WMW-H group and the MES group.ML-385 attenuated the improvement effect of high dose Wumei pill on colon mucosa injury.Conclusion Wumei pill may alleviate the colon mucosal damage of UC mice by activating Nrf2/ARE antioxidant stress pathway.

Objective:To investigate the clinical phenotype and genetic variation of Basel-Vanagaite-Smirin-Yosef syndrome (BVSYS), and to enhance clinicians′ knowledge of the disease.Methods:The clinical data of a child with BVSYS admitted to the Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, Qingdao Women and Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University in February 2023 were collected. Whole genome sequencing was used to analyze the pathogenic genes of the child, and Sanger sequencing was used to verify the suspected mutation sites of the family members. The clinical phenotype and genetic variation characteristics were analyzed, and the clinical characteristics of BVSYS were summarized in combination with relevant literature.Results:The patient, a female aged 3 years and 1 month, presented with global developmental delay, speech disorder, distinctive facial features, esotropia, epilepsy, hypotonia and atrial septal defect. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed bilateral ventriculomegaly with abnormal signal intensity in the posterior bodies of both lateral ventricles and thinning of the corpus callosum. The whole genome sequencing revealed a homozygous missense mutation c.518 (exon5) T>C (p.IIe173Thr) in the MED25 gene of the child, and Sanger sequencing confirmed that her parents and elder brother carried the aforementioned heterozygous mutation, which was classified as a likely pathogenic mutation according to the guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics. A total of 22 cases from 6 literature sources were retrieved, with no reported cases in China so far. Conclusions:BVSYS is clinically rare. For patients presenting with unexplained global developmental delay or intellectual disability combined with craniofacial, neurological, cardiac, and eye abnormalities, targeted genetic testing can facilitate a definite diagnosis.