1.Mendelian randomization study on the relationship between thyroid dysfunction and insomnia
Xuelian ZHAO ; Shaoqing WANG ; Tao YANG ; Xuesong ZHAO
China Modern Doctor 2025;63(19):70-75
Objective Two-sample Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis was used to explore the causal relationship between hyperthyroidism/hypothyroidism and insomnia.Methods A two-sample MR method was adopted.The exposure factors were hyperthyroidism/hypothyroidism,and the outcome was insomnia.The instrumental variables were screened.Inverse variance weighting(IVW)was mainly used to analyze the causal relationship between hyperthyroidism/hypothyroidism and insomnia.Meanwhile,MR-Egger,weighted mode,weighted median,and simple mode were used to supplement the IVW analysis results.Cochran's Q test was used to determine the statistical heterogeneity among single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP),and the intercept term of MR-Egger was used to evaluate whether SNP had horizontal pleomorphism.The influence of a single SNP on the IVW analysis results was evaluated by the retention of one method.To avoid reverse causality,insomnia was taken as the exposure factor and hyperthyroidism/hypothyroidism as the outcome event for reverse MR analysis.Results A total of 11 SNP strongly related to hyperthyroidism were screened out.After eliminating the palindromic sequences,9 SNP strongly related to hyperthyroidism were finally included.The IVW analysis results showed that hyperthyroidism increased the risk of insomnia(OR=1.01,95%CI:1.00-1.01,P=0.012).A total of 68 SNP strongly related to hypothyroidism were screened out.After removing the palindromic sequences,61 SNP highly related to hypothyroidism were finally included.The IVW analysis results showed that hypothyroidism increased the risk of insomnia(OR=1.01,95%CI:1.00-1.01,P=0.021).The results of Cochran's Q test showed that there was no heterogeneity in the instrumental variable hyperthyroidism(P=0.60).The MR-Egger intercept analysis indicated that studies with hyperthyroidism/hypothyroidism as exposure and insomnia as the outcome did not have horizontal pleiotropy(P>0.05).Reverse MR analysis revealed that exposure factors such as insomnia had no causal relationship with hyperthyroidism(OR=1.57,95%CI:0.55-4.50,P=0.40)or hypothyroidism(OR=1.09,95%CI:0.74-1.61,P=0.66).Conclusion Hyperthyroidism/hypothyroidism can increase the risk of insomnia.
2.BTVT ameliorates offspring blood-brain barrier damage induced by prenatal and lactational neodymium oxide exposure via the gut-brain axis.
Xiaoyan DU ; Xiaocheng GAO ; Jing CAO ; Xin ZHAO ; Zhi HUO ; Shaoqing ZHAO ; Qingqing LIANG ; Lei GAO ; Yang DENG
Journal of Central South University(Medical Sciences) 2025;50(4):615-624
OBJECTIVES:
Exposure to rare earth elements (REEs) has been linked to various systemic diseases, but their impact on the offspring blood-brain barrier (BBB) via the gut-brain axis remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the effects of maternal exposure to neodymium oxide (Nd2O3) on the BBB integrity of offspring rats, and to evaluate the potential protective role of bifidobacterium tetrad viable tablets (BTVT) against Nd2O3-induced intestinal and BBB damage.
METHODS:
Healthy adult SD rats were mated at a 1:1 male-to-female ratio, with the day of vaginal plug detection marked as gestational day 0. A total of 60 pregnant rats were randomly assigned to the following groups: Control, 50 mg/(kg·d) Nd2O3, 100 mg/(kg·d) Nd2O3, 200 mg/(kg·d) Nd2O3, and 200 mg/(kg·d) Nd2O3 + BTVT group. Treatments were administered by daily oral gavage throughout pregnancy and lactation. On postnatal day 21 (weaning), offspring feces, brain, and colon tissues were collected. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used to assess structural changes in brain and intestinal tissues. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in feces were quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Evans Blue (EB) dye extravasation assessed BBB permeability. Gene and protein expression levels of tight junction proteins occludin and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) were measured by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and Western blotting (WB), respectively. Neodymium levels in brain tissue were determined via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
RESULTS:
HE staining revealed that maternal Nd2O3 exposure caused mucosal edema, increased submucosal spacing, and lymphocyte infiltration in offspring colon, as well as neuronal degeneration and vacuolization in brain tissue. BTVT intervention alleviated these changes. GC-MS analysis showed that levels of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and isobutyric acid significantly decreased, while valeric acid and isovaleric acid increased in offspring of Nd2O3-exposed mothers (P<0.05). BTVT significantly restored levels of acetic, propionic, and isobutyric acids and reduced valeric acid content (P<0.05). EB permeability was significantly elevated in Nd2O3-exposed offspring brains (P<0.05), but reduced with BTVT treatment (P<0.05). RT-PCR and WB showed downregulation of occludin and ZO-1 expression following Nd2O3 exposure (P<0.05), which was reversed by BTVT (P<0.05). ICP-MS results indicated significantly increased brain neodymium levels in offspring from all Nd2O3-exposed groups (P<0.05), while BTVT significantly reduced neodymium accumulation compared to the 200 mg/(kg·d) Nd2O3 group (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Maternal exposure to Nd2O3 during pregnancy and lactation disrupts intestinal health and BBB integrity in offspring, elevates brain neodymium accumulation, and induces neuronal degeneration. BTVT effectively mitigates Nd2O3-induced intestinal and BBB damage in offspring, potentially through modulation of the gut-brain axis.
Animals
;
Female
;
Blood-Brain Barrier/pathology*
;
Pregnancy
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Rats
;
Male
;
Neodymium/toxicity*
;
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects/prevention & control*
;
Lactation
;
Maternal Exposure/adverse effects*
;
Brain
3.Expert consensus on the application of nasal cavity filling substances in nasal surgery patients(2025, Shanghai).
Keqing ZHAO ; Shaoqing YU ; Hongquan WEI ; Chenjie YU ; Guangke WANG ; Shijie QIU ; Yanjun WANG ; Hongtao ZHEN ; Yucheng YANG ; Yurong GU ; Tao GUO ; Feng LIU ; Meiping LU ; Bin SUN ; Yanli YANG ; Yuzhu WAN ; Cuida MENG ; Yanan SUN ; Yi ZHAO ; Qun LI ; An LI ; Luo BA ; Linli TIAN ; Guodong YU ; Xin FENG ; Wen LIU ; Yongtuan LI ; Jian WU ; De HUAI ; Dongsheng GU ; Hanqiang LU ; Xinyi SHI ; Huiping YE ; Yan JIANG ; Weitian ZHANG ; Yu XU ; Zhenxiao HUANG ; Huabin LI
Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;39(4):285-291
This consensus will introduce the characteristics of fillers used in the surgical cavities of domestic nasal surgery patients based on relevant literature and expert opinions. It will also provide recommendations for the selection of cavity fillers for different nasal diseases, with chronic sinusitis as a representative example.
Humans
;
Nasal Cavity/surgery*
;
Nasal Surgical Procedures
;
China
;
Consensus
;
Sinusitis/surgery*
;
Dermal Fillers
4.Analysis of medical cases and medication patterns for multiple system atrophy-orthostatic hypotension
Xuelian ZHAO ; Shaoqing WANG ; Tao YANG ; Xuesong ZHAO
China Modern Doctor 2025;63(18):59-63
Objective Using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Assistance Platform V2.5 software,to analyze medical cases and prescription medication patterns of multiple system atrophy-orthostatic hypotension,and provide reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment of multiple system atrophy.Methods Relevant literature on the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine in treating multiple system atrophy-orthostatic hypotension was collected from China National Knowledge Infrastructure,Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform,VIP,Chinese Medical Journal Full Text Database,and China Biomedical Literature Database.A database of medical cases and prescriptions was established on the Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Assistance Platform.The software used mathematical algorithms based on association rules and entropy clustering to analyze the symptom ranking,symptom patterns,symptom clustering,and network display of medical cases,as well as the properties,taste,meridian tropism,frequency of application,and drug pair combinations of drugs in prescriptions.The core drugs were identified and the rules of diagnosis and treatment were explored.Results Through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Assistance Platform V2.5 software,47 medical cases of multiple system atrophy were analyzed,including 73 symptoms.Among them,there were 8 symptoms with a frequency of ≥5,among which the most frequent symptom was pulse sinking,which appeared 8 times.And included 11 syndromes,the most frequent symptom was insufficient Qi syndrome,which appeared 12 times.The drug symptom network diagram,drug symptom network diagram,and drug symptom network diagram of multiple system atrophy-orthostatic hypotension medical cases were also drawn,which is the first time in the study.There are a total of 47 prescriptions for multiple system atrophy,including 106 types of drugs.Through analysis,the drugs used are mainly warm,cold,and flat,with less use of hot and cool drugs.The flavors are mainly sweet,spicy,and bitter,and the meridian tropism is mainly focused on the spleen,lungs,liver,heart,kidneys,and stomach.The top 10 drugs with the highest frequency of occurrence are Huangqi,Danggui,Shengma,Baizhu,Dangshen,Chenpi,Renshen,Chaihu,Fuzi,and Zhigancao.Among them,Huangqi has the highest frequency of occurrence,appearing 31 times,and has evolved into 66 core combinations of drugs and 3 new formulas.Conclusion The objective display of the medical case characteristics and medication features of multiple system atrophy-orthostatic hypotension through data mining has certain guiding significance for the research and clinical medication of this disease.
5.Mechanism of acupuncture for chronic blunt injury of lumbar muscle based on IGF-1/PI3K/AKT pathway.
Qun CHEN ; Dongmei WANG ; Zhengyu YANG ; Xiulian ZHENG ; Jianping LIN ; Shaoqing CHEN
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion 2025;45(12):1759-1769
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the effect and mechanism of acupuncture at "Weizhong" (BL40) on microcirculation of paravertebral skeletal muscle in rats with chronic blunt injury of lumbar muscle based on the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway.
METHODS:
Forty-eight SPF-grade SD rats were randomized into a blank group (8 rats) and a modeling group (40 rats). Chronic blunt injury model was established by weight impact method in the modeling group. Forty rats were successfully modeled, and were randomly divided into a model group, an acupuncture at Weizhong group (Weizhong group), an acupuncture at non-acupoint group (non-acupoint group), an inhibitor group, and an inhibitor+acupuncture at Weizhong group (inhibitor+Weizhong group), 8 rats in each group. In the Weizhong group and the inhibitor+Weizhong group, acupuncture was applied at bilateral "Weizhong" (BL40). In the non-acupoint group, acupuncture was applied at non-acupoints, i.e. points 0.5 cm inward from bilateral "Weizhong" (BL40). The acupuncture intervention was delivered 20 min each time, once a day for continuous 2 weeks. In the inhibitor group and the inhibitor+Weizhong group, intraperitoneal injection of IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) inhibitor was given once a day, at a dosage of 2 mg/100 g, for continuous 2 weeks. Before modeling and on the 1st, 7th and 14th days of intervention, the body mass was measured. Before and after modeling, and after intervention, the limb grip strength and paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) were measured. After intervention, the morphology of psoas muscle was observed by HE staining; the ultrastructure of psoas muscle capillaries was observed by electron microscopy; the levels of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) were detected by ELISA; and the protein and mRNA expression of IGF-1, IGF-1R, PI3K, AKT of psoas muscle was detected by Western blot and real-time PCR.
RESULTS:
Compared with the blank group, in the model group, the body mass on the 7th and 14th days of intervention, the limb grip strength, and the PWT of left and right hind feet were decreased (P<0.001, P<0.01); the skeletal muscle cells showed enlarged intercellular space, loosely arranged and irregularly shaped, the capillaries in the psoas muscle tissues were edematous, and the lumen of the blood vessels was obviously atrophied; the levels of serum VEGF and eNOS were decreased (P<0.001); in psoas muscle, the protein expression of IGF-1 and IGF-1R, as well as the p-PI3K/PI3K, p-AKT/AKT values were decreased (P<0.001), the mRNA expression of IGF-1, IGF-1R, PI3K and AKT was decreased (P<0.001, P<0.05). Compared with the model group, in the Weizhong group, the body weight was increased on the 7th and 14th days of intervention (P<0.001), the limb grip strength and the PWT of the left and right hind feet were increased (P<0.001, P<0.01); the arrangement of the skeletal muscle cells was relatively tight and the intercellular space was reduced, the blood vessels tended to be regular and the structure of the basement membrane was continuous, while the lumens of blood vessels were collapsed locally; the levels of serum VEGF and eNOS were increased (P<0.001); in psoas muscle, the protein expression of IGF-1 and IGF-1R, as well as the p-PI3K/PI3K, p-AKT/AKT values were increased (P<0.001), the mRNA expression of IGF-1, IGF-1R, PI3K and AKT was increased (P<0.001, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, in the inhibitor group, the body mass was decreased on the 7th and 14th days of intervention (P<0.05, P<0.01); the limb grip strength and the PWT of the left hind foot were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.001); the intercellular space of skeletal muscle cells was larger, the nuclei of the cells and erythrocytes were scattered in the intercellular space, the damage of the capillaries in the muscular tissues was serious, the collagen fibers were sparsely distributed and disorganized; the levels of serum VEGF and eNOS were decreased (P<0.001, P<0.01); in psoas muscle, the protein expression of IGF-1 and IGF-1R, as well as the p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT values were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05, P<0.001), the mRNA expression of IGF-1, IGF-1R, PI3K, and AKT was decreased (P<0.01, P<0.001, P<0.05). Compared with the Weizhong group, in the non-acupoint group and the inhibitor+Weizhong group, the body mass was decreased on the 7th and 14th days of intervention (P<0.001, P<0.01), the limb grip strength was decreased (P<0.001); the morphology of muscle cell was relatively poor, with generally irregular, there was mild collapse and atrophy in the vascular lumen, and mild edema in the endothelial cells; the levels of serum VEGF and eNOS were decreased (P<0.001); in psoas muscle, the protein expression of IGF-1 and IGF-1R, as well as the p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT values were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.001), the mRNA expression of IGF-1, IGF-1R, PI3K, and AKT was decreased (P<0.001, P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the Weizhong group, the PWT of the left hind foot was decreased in the non-acupoint group (P<0.001), and PWT of the left and right hind feet was decreased in the inhibitor+Weizhong group (P<0.001).
CONCLUSION
Acupuncture at "Weizhong" (BL40) promotes lumbar muscle repair in chronic low back pain, its mechanism may be related to the activation of the IGF-1/PI3K/AKT pathway, thereby improving the microcirculation.
Animals
;
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/genetics*
;
Acupuncture Therapy
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Rats
;
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics*
;
Male
;
Humans
;
Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism*
;
Signal Transduction
;
Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics*
;
Wounds, Nonpenetrating/metabolism*
;
Acupuncture Points
6.Effects of Acupuncture at"Jiaji"Modulation of AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α Signaling Pathway on Angiogenesis of Lumbar Muscle Tissue in Rats with Lumbar Muscle Aging
Qun CHEN ; Zhengyu YANG ; Dongmei WANG ; Bairui CHEN ; Jing JIN ; Shaoqing CHEN
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(10):113-119
Objective To observe the effects of acupuncture at"Jiaji"on angiogenesis in rats with lumbar muscle aging based on AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway;To explore its possible mechanism of improving lumbar muscle aging atrophy.Methods Totally 30 SPF male SD rats were randomly divided into model group,acupuncture group and non-acupoint group,with 10 rats in each group.Subcutaneous injection of D-galactose(300 mg/kg)into the neck and back of rats was used to prepare a subacute lumbar muscle aging rat model.Another 10 rats were selected as the blank group,and an equal amount of normal saline was subcutaneously injected into the neck and back.Intervention began in the 9th week of modeling.The acupuncture group received acupuncture at bilateral L3-L5"Jiaji",while the non-acupoint group received bilateral non-meridian and non-acupoint acupuncture,each time for 30 minutes,once a day,6 times a week,for 4 consecutive weeks.β-galactosidase staining was used to observe the morphology of rat lumbar muscle tissue;TUNEL staining was used to detect apoptosis of lumbar muscle tissue cells;ELISA was used to detect the contents of nitric oxide(NO)and endothelin-1(ET-1)in lumbar muscle tissue;immunofluorescence staining was used to detect CD31 expression and microvascular density in lumbar muscle tissue;Western blot was used to detect protein expressions of p-AMP activated protein kinase(AMPK),silencing information regulatory factor 1(SIRT1)and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma co activator factor 1α(PGC-1α)in lumbar muscle tissue.Results Compared with the blank group,the positive cells of β-galactosidase staining in lumbar muscle tissue of the model group increased significantly,the apoptosis rate significantly increased(P<0.001),the NO content in lumbar muscle tissue significantly decreased(P<0.001),the ET-1 content significantly increased(P<0.001),the expression of CD31 and microvascular density significantly decreased(P<0.001),and the protein expressions of p-AMPK,SIRT1 and PGC-1α significantly decreased(P<0.01,P<0.001).Compared with the model group,the positive cells of β-galactosidase staining in lumbar muscle tissue of rats in the acupuncture group was significantly reduced,the apoptosis rate was significantly decreased(P<0.001),NO content significantly increased(P<0.001),ET-1 content was significantly reduced(P<0.01),CD31 expression and microvascular density significantly increased(P<0.01,P<0.001),and the protein expressions of p-AMPK,SIRT1,PGC-1α significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Acupuncture at"Jiaji"can promote angiogenesis in lumbar skeletal muscle,and then improve the aging atrophy of lumbar muscle,and its mechanism may be related to the activation of AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway.
7.Analysis of medical cases and medication patterns for multiple system atrophy-orthostatic hypotension
Xuelian ZHAO ; Shaoqing WANG ; Tao YANG ; Xuesong ZHAO
China Modern Doctor 2025;63(18):59-63
Objective Using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Assistance Platform V2.5 software,to analyze medical cases and prescription medication patterns of multiple system atrophy-orthostatic hypotension,and provide reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment of multiple system atrophy.Methods Relevant literature on the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine in treating multiple system atrophy-orthostatic hypotension was collected from China National Knowledge Infrastructure,Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform,VIP,Chinese Medical Journal Full Text Database,and China Biomedical Literature Database.A database of medical cases and prescriptions was established on the Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Assistance Platform.The software used mathematical algorithms based on association rules and entropy clustering to analyze the symptom ranking,symptom patterns,symptom clustering,and network display of medical cases,as well as the properties,taste,meridian tropism,frequency of application,and drug pair combinations of drugs in prescriptions.The core drugs were identified and the rules of diagnosis and treatment were explored.Results Through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Assistance Platform V2.5 software,47 medical cases of multiple system atrophy were analyzed,including 73 symptoms.Among them,there were 8 symptoms with a frequency of ≥5,among which the most frequent symptom was pulse sinking,which appeared 8 times.And included 11 syndromes,the most frequent symptom was insufficient Qi syndrome,which appeared 12 times.The drug symptom network diagram,drug symptom network diagram,and drug symptom network diagram of multiple system atrophy-orthostatic hypotension medical cases were also drawn,which is the first time in the study.There are a total of 47 prescriptions for multiple system atrophy,including 106 types of drugs.Through analysis,the drugs used are mainly warm,cold,and flat,with less use of hot and cool drugs.The flavors are mainly sweet,spicy,and bitter,and the meridian tropism is mainly focused on the spleen,lungs,liver,heart,kidneys,and stomach.The top 10 drugs with the highest frequency of occurrence are Huangqi,Danggui,Shengma,Baizhu,Dangshen,Chenpi,Renshen,Chaihu,Fuzi,and Zhigancao.Among them,Huangqi has the highest frequency of occurrence,appearing 31 times,and has evolved into 66 core combinations of drugs and 3 new formulas.Conclusion The objective display of the medical case characteristics and medication features of multiple system atrophy-orthostatic hypotension through data mining has certain guiding significance for the research and clinical medication of this disease.
8.Mendelian randomization study on the relationship between thyroid dysfunction and insomnia
Xuelian ZHAO ; Shaoqing WANG ; Tao YANG ; Xuesong ZHAO
China Modern Doctor 2025;63(19):70-75
Objective Two-sample Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis was used to explore the causal relationship between hyperthyroidism/hypothyroidism and insomnia.Methods A two-sample MR method was adopted.The exposure factors were hyperthyroidism/hypothyroidism,and the outcome was insomnia.The instrumental variables were screened.Inverse variance weighting(IVW)was mainly used to analyze the causal relationship between hyperthyroidism/hypothyroidism and insomnia.Meanwhile,MR-Egger,weighted mode,weighted median,and simple mode were used to supplement the IVW analysis results.Cochran's Q test was used to determine the statistical heterogeneity among single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP),and the intercept term of MR-Egger was used to evaluate whether SNP had horizontal pleomorphism.The influence of a single SNP on the IVW analysis results was evaluated by the retention of one method.To avoid reverse causality,insomnia was taken as the exposure factor and hyperthyroidism/hypothyroidism as the outcome event for reverse MR analysis.Results A total of 11 SNP strongly related to hyperthyroidism were screened out.After eliminating the palindromic sequences,9 SNP strongly related to hyperthyroidism were finally included.The IVW analysis results showed that hyperthyroidism increased the risk of insomnia(OR=1.01,95%CI:1.00-1.01,P=0.012).A total of 68 SNP strongly related to hypothyroidism were screened out.After removing the palindromic sequences,61 SNP highly related to hypothyroidism were finally included.The IVW analysis results showed that hypothyroidism increased the risk of insomnia(OR=1.01,95%CI:1.00-1.01,P=0.021).The results of Cochran's Q test showed that there was no heterogeneity in the instrumental variable hyperthyroidism(P=0.60).The MR-Egger intercept analysis indicated that studies with hyperthyroidism/hypothyroidism as exposure and insomnia as the outcome did not have horizontal pleiotropy(P>0.05).Reverse MR analysis revealed that exposure factors such as insomnia had no causal relationship with hyperthyroidism(OR=1.57,95%CI:0.55-4.50,P=0.40)or hypothyroidism(OR=1.09,95%CI:0.74-1.61,P=0.66).Conclusion Hyperthyroidism/hypothyroidism can increase the risk of insomnia.
9.Effects of Acupuncture at"Jiaji"Modulation of AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α Signaling Pathway on Angiogenesis of Lumbar Muscle Tissue in Rats with Lumbar Muscle Aging
Qun CHEN ; Zhengyu YANG ; Dongmei WANG ; Bairui CHEN ; Jing JIN ; Shaoqing CHEN
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(10):113-119
Objective To observe the effects of acupuncture at"Jiaji"on angiogenesis in rats with lumbar muscle aging based on AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway;To explore its possible mechanism of improving lumbar muscle aging atrophy.Methods Totally 30 SPF male SD rats were randomly divided into model group,acupuncture group and non-acupoint group,with 10 rats in each group.Subcutaneous injection of D-galactose(300 mg/kg)into the neck and back of rats was used to prepare a subacute lumbar muscle aging rat model.Another 10 rats were selected as the blank group,and an equal amount of normal saline was subcutaneously injected into the neck and back.Intervention began in the 9th week of modeling.The acupuncture group received acupuncture at bilateral L3-L5"Jiaji",while the non-acupoint group received bilateral non-meridian and non-acupoint acupuncture,each time for 30 minutes,once a day,6 times a week,for 4 consecutive weeks.β-galactosidase staining was used to observe the morphology of rat lumbar muscle tissue;TUNEL staining was used to detect apoptosis of lumbar muscle tissue cells;ELISA was used to detect the contents of nitric oxide(NO)and endothelin-1(ET-1)in lumbar muscle tissue;immunofluorescence staining was used to detect CD31 expression and microvascular density in lumbar muscle tissue;Western blot was used to detect protein expressions of p-AMP activated protein kinase(AMPK),silencing information regulatory factor 1(SIRT1)and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma co activator factor 1α(PGC-1α)in lumbar muscle tissue.Results Compared with the blank group,the positive cells of β-galactosidase staining in lumbar muscle tissue of the model group increased significantly,the apoptosis rate significantly increased(P<0.001),the NO content in lumbar muscle tissue significantly decreased(P<0.001),the ET-1 content significantly increased(P<0.001),the expression of CD31 and microvascular density significantly decreased(P<0.001),and the protein expressions of p-AMPK,SIRT1 and PGC-1α significantly decreased(P<0.01,P<0.001).Compared with the model group,the positive cells of β-galactosidase staining in lumbar muscle tissue of rats in the acupuncture group was significantly reduced,the apoptosis rate was significantly decreased(P<0.001),NO content significantly increased(P<0.001),ET-1 content was significantly reduced(P<0.01),CD31 expression and microvascular density significantly increased(P<0.01,P<0.001),and the protein expressions of p-AMPK,SIRT1,PGC-1α significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Acupuncture at"Jiaji"can promote angiogenesis in lumbar skeletal muscle,and then improve the aging atrophy of lumbar muscle,and its mechanism may be related to the activation of AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway.
10.Correlation between the progression of diabetic retinopathy and cytokines in aqueous humor
Fangfang REN ; Fei CHEN ; Qun FU ; Xiangdong ZHANG ; Gaiping WU ; Shaoqing YANG ; Yinghui SONG ; Yang LI ; Jingjing LAI ; Han YU
Recent Advances in Ophthalmology 2024;44(6):464-469
Objective To investigate the relationship between the therapeutic effect of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and cytokines in aqueous humor in patients with diabetic retinopathy(DR).Methods From July 2023 to December 2023,50 DR patients(56 eyes)who were treated with anti-VEGF drugs in the Department of Ophthal-mology,the Third Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University were included in this study.The patients were divided into the diabetic macular edema(DME)group(30 patients,36 eyes)and the proliferative DR(PDR)group(20 patients,20 eyes).Patients in the DME group received an intravitreal injection of aflibercept once a month for three consecutive times,with aqueous humor extracted before each injection.Patients in the PDR group received an intravitreal injection of aflibercept one week before vitrectomy,with aqueous humor extracted before injection and during vitrectomy,respective-ly.The concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGF-A),placental growth factor(PLGF),interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-23,IL-17A,and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in the aqueous humor were detected using the Luminex as-say.Before injection therapy,all patients underwent best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)and central macular thickness(CMT)examinations,and their correlations with cytokine concentrations in DR patients before injection therapy were ana-lyzed.Results Compared to before injection therapy,the concentrations of VEGF-A,PLGF,and IL-23 in the aqueous humor of patients in the DME group decreased significantly after treatment(all P<0.05);additionally,the CMT de-creased,and the BCVA increased(both P<0.05).After injection therapy,the concentrations of VEGF,PLGF,IL-1β,IL-23,IL-17A,and TNF-α in the aqueous humor of patients in the PDR group significantly decreased compared to before injec-tion therapy(all P<0.05).Before injection therapy,the levels of VEGF-A,PLGF,and IL-23 in the aqueous humor of pa-tients in the DME group were higher than those in the PDR group,and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05).The correlation analysis results showed that before injection therapy,VEGF was negatively correlated with BCVA(r=-0.767,P=0.004)and was positively correlated with CMT(r=0.662,P=0.019)and IL-23(r=0.765,P=0.004)in the DME group.There was no correlation between the cytokines in the aqueous humor of patients in the PDR group be-fore injection therapy(all P>0.05).Conclusion Changes in the concentration of VEGF-A,PLGF,and IL-23 are closely related to the occurrence and development of DR.Anti-VEGF treatment can improve BCVA and decrease CMT in DME pa-tients.The expression level of IL-23 in aqueous humor can serve as a predictive factor for the anti-VEGF efficacy in DR pa-tients,providing new targets for early diagnosis and treatment of DR.

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