Objective To assess the risk of human Spirometra mansoni infections and investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) towards sparganosis mansoni among residents in Henan Province, so as to provide insights into formulation of the sparganosis mansoni control measures. Methods Qinling Village in Fugou County of Zhoukou City, Bali Village in Yancheng District of Luohe City, Duzhai Village in Puyang County of Puyang City and Doushan Village in Luoshan County of Xinyang City were sampled as survey sites in Henan Province from July to August 2023, and more than 40 frogs were sampled from ponds or streams in each survey site for detection of Sparganum mansoni infections. At least 150 residents were sampled using a cluster sampling method from each survey site, and the sero-prevalence of anti-S. mansoni IgG antibody was estimated. In addition, a questionnaire survey was conducted on the KAP towards sparganosis mansoni among participants, and the proportion of eligible KAP, rate of correct KAP and KAP scores were calculated. Results A total 229 frogs were collected from 4 survey sites in 2023, and the overall prevalence of S. mansoni infection was 4.37% (10/229) in frogs, with 7.75% (10/129) prevalence in wild frogs and 0 in farm-bred frogs. A questionnaire survey was performed among 649 residents sampled from 4 survey sites, and 649 serum samples were collected. The seroprevalence of anti-S.mansoni IgG antibody was 0.15% (1/649) and the overall proportion of eligible KAP was 23.73% (154/649) among participants. There were age- (χ² = 30.905, P = 0.000), educational level- (χ² = 41.011, P = 0.000), and occupation-specific proportions of eligible KAP among participants (χ² = 10.721, P = 0.005), and the proportion of eligible KAP decreased with age (χ² _trend = 22.717, P = 0.000) and increased with education levels (χ² _trend = 40.025, P = 0.000). The rates of correct KAP towards sparganosis mansoni were 40.81% (2 119/5 192), 96.66% (1 882/1 947) and 63.81% (3 727/5 841) (χ² = 1 913.731, P = 0.000) among residents, respectively. The rates of correct KAP towards sparganosis mansoni varied significantly among survey sites (χ² = 136.872, 42.347 and 255.157; all P values= 0.000, with the highest rate of correct knowledge (51.94%, 748/1 440) and practices (75.86%, 1 229/1 620) in Yancheng District of Luohe City and the highest rate of correct attitudes in Puyang County of Puyang City (99.11%, 446/450) (all P values< 0.05). Conclusions There is still a high transmission risk of sparganosis mansoni in Henan Province, and the KAP towards sparganosis mansoni is required to be improved among residents.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of chicken-claw needling with blade needle for postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). METHODS: A total of 30 patients with PHN were treated with chicken-claw needling with blade needle, the most painful area, costal angle on the same side with the affected intercostal nerve and the midpoint of the line connecting the first two points along the intercostal nerve were selected as treatment points, without needle retained, once a week, a total of 2 times were required. Before and after treatment, the scores of pain visual analogue scale (VAS) and dermatology life quality index (DLQI) were observed, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated after treatment. The recurrence rate of neuralgia was evaluated on the 60th day after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, the scores of VAS and DLQI were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05). Of 30 patients, 4 cases were cured, 20 cases showed markedly efficacy, 4 cases were improved, 2 cases were ineffective, the total effective rate was 93.3% (28/30). The recurrence rate of neuralgia was 6.7% (2/30). CONCLUSION Chicken-claw needling with blade needle could effectively relieve the pain in patients with PHN, improve the quality of life and reduce the recurrence rate of neuralgia.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic/therapy* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Acupuncture Points ; Treatment Outcome ; Needles ; Adult

Lumbar disc (LD) herniation and aging are prevalent conditions that can result in substantial morbidity. This study aimed to clarify the mechanisms connecting the LD aging and herniation, particularly focusing on cellular senescence and molecular alterations in the nucleus pulposus (NP). We performed a detailed analysis of NP samples from a diverse cohort, including individuals of varying ages and those with diagnosed LD herniation. Our methodology combined histological assessments with single-nucleus RNA sequencing to identify phenotypic and molecular changes related to NP aging and herniation. We discovered that cellular senescence and a decrease in nucleus pulposus progenitor cells (NPPCs) are central to both processes. Additionally, we found an age-related increase in NFAT1 expression that promotes NPPC senescence and contributes to both aging and herniation of LD. This research offers fresh insights into LD aging and its associated pathologies, potentially guiding the development of new therapeutic strategies to target the root causes of LD herniation and aging.
Intervertebral Disc Displacement/metabolism* ; Humans ; Aging/pathology* ; Nucleus Pulposus/pathology* ; Male ; Female ; Transcriptome ; Middle Aged ; Lumbar Vertebrae/pathology* ; Adult ; Cellular Senescence ; Stem Cells/pathology* ; Aged ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/metabolism*

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α), a core transcription factor responding to changes in cellular oxygen levels, is closely associated with a wide range of physiological and pathological conditions. However, its differential impacts on vascular cell types and molecular programs modulating human vascular homeostasis and regeneration remain largely elusive. Here, we applied CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing of human embryonic stem cells and directed differentiation to generate HIF-1α-deficient human vascular cells including vascular endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as a platform for discovering cell type-specific hypoxia-induced response mechanisms. Through comparative molecular profiling across cell types under normoxic and hypoxic conditions, we provide insight into the indispensable role of HIF-1α in the promotion of ischemic vascular regeneration. We found human MSCs to be the vascular cell type most susceptible to HIF-1α deficiency, and that transcriptional inactivation of ANKZF1, an effector of HIF-1α, impaired pro-angiogenic processes. Altogether, our findings deepen the understanding of HIF-1α in human angiogenesis and support further explorations of novel therapeutic strategies of vascular regeneration against ischemic damage.
Humans ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism* ; Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Transcription Factors/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Hypoxia/metabolism* ; Cell Hypoxia/physiology*

ObjectiveTo compare the effects of Taxillus chinensis from different hosts with different meridian affinity on bone microstructure and bone metabolism in ovariectomized osteoporotic rats， and investigate its mechanism of action. MethodEighty-eight specific-pathogen-free （SPF）-grade female Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were selected and randomly divided into 11 groups： sham-operated group， model group， low-， medium- and high-dose groups of T. chinensis from Morus alba （2.5， 5， and 10 g·kg^-1）， low-， medium- and high-dose groups of T. chinensis from Cinnamomum cassia （2.5， 5， and 10 g·kg^-1）， and low-， medium- and high-dose groups of T. chinensis from C. burmannii （2.5， 5， and 10 g·kg^-1）. After 12 weeks of drug intervention， the rats were examined for proximal femur bone density and bone microstructure using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry （DXA） and micro-computed tomography （Micro-CT）. Histopathological changes in rat femur were observed by the hematoxylin-eosin staining （HE）. Contents of serum estradiol （E₂）， bone Gla protein （BGP）， bone alkaline phosphatase （BALP）， tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b （TRACP-5b） and pre-collagen type Ⅰ amino-terminal protopeptide （PINP） were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was employed to detect the messenger ribonucleic acid （mRNA） expressions of bone morphogenetic protein-2 （BMP-2）， Smad1， Smad9 and recombinant runt-related transcription factor 2 （Runx2） in rat humerus. Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of BMP-2， p-Smad1/5/9 and Runx2 in rat humerus. ResultCompared with that in the sham-operated group， the femur microstructure of rats in the model group was significantly disrupted， with significant decreases in bone mineral density （BMD） value， bone volume fraction （BV/TV）， trabecular number （Tb.N）， and trabecular thickness （Tb.Th） （P<0.01）， and significant increases in trabecular separation （Tb.Sp） and structure model index （SMI） （P<0.01）. The serum levels of BGP， BALP， TRACP-5b and PINP were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and E₂ levels were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. The mRNA expressions of BMP-2， Smad1， Smad9， and Runx2 were significantly decreased in rat humerus （P<0.01）， and the protein expressions of BMP-2， p-Smad1/5/9， and Runx2 were significantly reduced （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the administration groups of T. chinensis from different hosts all elevated the BMD， BV/TV， Tb.N， Tb.Th， Tb.Sp， and SMI levels in the femur， improved bone microstructure， increased serum E₂ levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）， lowered the levels of serum BGP， BALP， TRACP-5b， and PINP， upregulated the mRNA expression of BMP-2， Smad1， and Runx2 and upregulated the mRNA expression levels of Smad9 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and upregulated the protein expressions levels of BMP-2， p-Smad1/5/9， and Runx2 （P<0.01）. The best effect was observed in the group of T. chinensis from C. cassia. ConclusionT. chinensis from different hosts improved osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats， with the group of T. chinensis from C. cassia being the most potent among the administered groups， and its treatment of osteoporosis may regulate the balance of bone conversion by regulating BMP/Smad signaling pathway.

In order to promote the development of hair transplantation, particularly the establishment of standards, the Hair Transplantation Expert Group of Plastic and Aesthetic National Medical Quality Control Center invited experts in the field of hair transplantation across China and formed a draft of the Expert Consensus on Standard Terminology for Hair Transplantation based on the collation of relevant literature and monographs. By combining Delphi methodology and consensus meetings, the expert group conducted several rounds of consultations on issues such as follicular unit anatomy, harvesting, dissection, and implantation, ultimately presenting 54 terminologies. This consensus considers the original Chinese and English meanings as well as the professional characteristics of terms used in hair transplantation, highlights the unique features and advantages of hair transplantation, and preserves its essence while promoting innovation, with the hope of providing valuable reference for clinical researchers engaged in hair transplantation both domestically and internationally, and better facilitating the standardization and advancement of the field.

In order to promote the development of hair transplantation, particularly the establishment of standards, the Hair Transplantation Expert Group of Plastic and Aesthetic National Medical Quality Control Center invited experts in the field of hair transplantation across China and formed a draft of the Expert Consensus on Standard Terminology for Hair Transplantation based on the collation of relevant literature and monographs. By combining Delphi methodology and consensus meetings, the expert group conducted several rounds of consultations on issues such as follicular unit anatomy, harvesting, dissection, and implantation, ultimately presenting 54 terminologies. This consensus considers the original Chinese and English meanings as well as the professional characteristics of terms used in hair transplantation, highlights the unique features and advantages of hair transplantation, and preserves its essence while promoting innovation, with the hope of providing valuable reference for clinical researchers engaged in hair transplantation both domestically and internationally, and better facilitating the standardization and advancement of the field.

Small molecule drug screening technology is continuously evolving and expanding along with drug discovery,and the innovation in drug screening technology can improve the research and development efficiency and success rate,shorten the cycle time,and reduce the cost.From traditional screening technologies based on known active compounds and high-throughput screening(HTS)to new technologies such as structure-based drug discovery(SBDD),fragment-based drug discovery(FBDD),DNA encoded compound library(DEL)and proteolysis targeting chimeras(PROTAC),small molecule drug screening technologies are continuously broadening the market potential for small molecule drugs.This article will provide an overview of the current status of small molecule drug screening technology,systematically review each technique along with their advantages and disadvantages,and offer essential insights for the development of new small molecule drug screening technologies.