ObjectiveTo explore the potential mechanism of acupuncture with the method of soothing the liver and regulating the mind in improving depressive disorder. MethodsEighteen C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into blank group， model group， and acupuncture group， with 6 mice in each group. The model group and the acupuncture group were subjected to depression induction by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide （LPS）， while the blank group received an equal volume of normal saline once daily for seven consecutive days. Concurrently， the acupuncture group received "soothing the liver and regulating the mind" acupuncture intervention starting from the first day of modeling， once daily for 14 days； whereas the blank group and the model group were only restrained without acupuncture. The sucrose preference test was used to assess sucrose preference rate， the open-field test to measure center stay time and total travel distance， and the forced swim test to evaluate immobility time. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was performed to observe hippocampal morphological changes. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect levels of interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in hippocampal tissue. Western blot analysis was conducted to examine the protein expression levels of Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4） and nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） in the hippocampus. ResultsCompared to the blank group， the model group showed a significant reduction in sucrose preference rate， center stay time， and total travel distance， along with a significant increase in immobility time in the forced swim test， hippocampal IL-1β， IL-6， and TNF-α levels， as well as TLR4 and NF-κB protein expression （P＜0.01）， and the histological examination revealed blurred hippocampal neuronal boundaries， loose arrangement， and some neurons exhibiting nuclear pyknosis and deep staining. Compared to the model group， the acupuncture group demonstrated a significant increase in sucrose preference rate， center stay time， and total travel distance， along with a significant reduction in immobility time in the forced swim test， hippocampal IL-1β， IL-6， and TNF-α levels， and TLR4 and NF-κB protein expression （P＜0.01）， and the histological analysis showed that hippocampal neurons in the acupuncture group were more tightly arranged， with reduced nuclear pyknosis and deep staining. ConclusionAcupuncture with the "soothing the liver and regulating the mind" method can significantly improve depression-like behavior， potentially by inhibiting the hippocampal TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and alleviating inflammatory responses.

Objective: To investigate the effects of "liver-smoothing and spirit-regulating" acupuncture on the intestinal flora, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the hippocampal toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/ transcription factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway in depressive disorder mouse model, and to explore its underlying mechanisms. Methods: Eighteen male SPF-grade C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to the control, model, and acupuncture groups using a random number method, with six mice in each group. The depression disorder model was induced in mice from both the acupuncture and model groups using CUMS. The mice in the acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture at the acupoints of "Baihui" (DU20), "Yintang" (DU29), "Hegu" (LI4), and "Taichong" (LR3) on the 15th day of modeling, with a duration of 20 min per session, once per day, for 2 consecutive weeks. Behavioral differences were assessed using the sucrose preference test, open field test, and forced swim test. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe pathological changes in the hippocampus and colon. The levels of the inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and LPS in the hippocampus and colon were measured using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of TLR4 and NF-κB protein in the hippocampus. Changes in gut microbiota structure and abundance were analyzed by 16 S rDNA sequencing. Results: Compared to the control group, the model group showed reduced sucrose preference rate, time in the center area, and total distance, with an increase in immobility time (P<0.01). Inflammatory pathological changes were observed in the hippocampal CA1 region and colon. The contents of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and LPS in the hippocampus and colon increased (P<0.01). The protein expression levels of hippocampal TLR4 and NF-κB were increased (P<0.01). The Chao1 index was increased (P<0.01). The relative abundances of Pseudomonadales, Acinetobacter, Moraxellaceae, Solibacillus, Escherichia_shigella, Enterobacteriaceae, Enterobacterales, Dubosiella, and Erysipelottichales were decreased, while the relative abundances of Alloprevotella and gram_negative_bacteriurh_cTPY_13 were increased (P<0.05). The pathways of lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis and pathogenic Escherichia coli infection were upregulated, and the pathway of terpenoid backbone biosynthesis was downregulated (P<0.01). Compared to the model group, the acupuncture group showed increased sucrose preference, time in the center area, and total distance, with a decrease in immobility time (P<0.01). The inflammatory pathological changes in the hippocampal CA1 region and colon were alleviated. The contents of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and LPS in the hippocampus and colon were reduced(P<0.01). The protein expression levels of hippocampal TLR4 and NF-κB were reduced (P<0.01). The Chao1 index was decreased (P<0.05), and the relative abundances of Dubosiella and Erysipelotrichaceae were increased, while the relative abundance of Rikenellaceae, Alloprevotella, and gram_negative_bacteriuch_cTPY_13 were decreased(P<0.05). The pathways of lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis and pathogenic Escherichia coli infection were significantly downregulated, and the pathway of terpenoid backbone biosynthesis was upregulated (P<0.01). Conclusion " Liver-smoothing and spirit-regulating" acupuncture can improve depressive symptoms in depressive disorder mice, potentially through regulating the LPS and TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway mediated by intestinal flora, reducing the inflammatory response of the hippocampus, and improving the pathological injury of the hippocampus.

The paper reviews systematically Professor FU Wenbin's academic thinking and clinical experience of integrative acupuncture-moxibustion therapy for cranial tinnitus. Professor FU believes that cranial tinnitus refers to psychosomatic comorbidity. This disease is associated mainly with the brain and liver in terms of the disease location. In pathogenesis, the dysfunction of qi movement, disharmony of internal organs and unhealthy conditions of body and mind are involved. In treatment, based on psychosomatic medicine, from the perspective of the integration of body and mind, and in line with the mode of the integrative acupuncture-moxibustion therapy, holistic regimens are used, including acupuncture, moxibustion, auricular acupuncture, etc. to consolidate the therapeutic effect of "tranquilizing the mind and relieving tinnitus".
Humans ; Tinnitus/psychology* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Moxibustion ; Psychosomatic Medicine

Coronavirus-related diseases pose a significant challenge to the global health system. Given the diversity of coronaviruses and the unpredictable nature of disease outbreaks, the traditional "one bug, one drug" paradigm struggles to address the growing number of emerging crises. Therefore, there is an urgent need for therapeutic agents with broad-spectrum anti-coronavirus activity. Here, we provide evidence that ATV006, an anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleoside analog targeting RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), has broad antiviral activity against human and animal coronaviruses. Using mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) and human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63) as a model, we show that ATV006 has potent prophylactic and therapeutic activity against murine coronavirus infection in vivo. Remarkably, ATV006 successfully inhibits viral replication in mice even when administered 96 h after infection. Due to its oral bioavailability and potency against multiple coronaviruses, ATV006 has the potential to become a useful antiviral agent against SARS-CoV-2 and other circulating and emerging coronaviruses in humans and animals.

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Objective:To investigate the correlation between non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection by using the method of two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.Methods:Genetic variation data for NHL came from the Finnish database (FinnGen) Consortium 2021 public genome-wide association study (GWAS) dataset including 1 088 patients with NHL and 299 952 control subjects. The GWAS dataset for chronic HBV infection was derived from GWAS analysis published in 2021, including 145 NHL patients and 351 740 control subjects. NHL was used as an exposure factor, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) significantly associated with NHL was used as an instrumental variable (IV), chronic HBV infection was used as an outcome variable. The two-sample MR analysis was performed by using inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method. Chronic HBV infection was taken as an exposure factor, SNP significantly associated with chronic HBV infection was taken as IV, and NHL was taken as outcome variable, and then reverse two-sample MR analysis was performed. The IVW method used the inverse variance of each IV as the weight to fit, and the ratio method was used to measure SNP one by one and make weighted regression analysis, so as to obtain the overall estimate. MR-Egger regression and the weighted median (WME) method were also used to supplement the IVW method. In sensitivity analysis, leave-one-out sensitivity analysis was used to evaluate the impact of a single SNP. Cochran Q test was used to analyze the heterogeneity of the selected IV. MR-Egger regression was used to measure the average horizontal pleiotropy of IV, and the P-value of directivity was calculated. The MR-pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) Global Test was used to exclude possible horizontal pleiotropic outliers and reduce bias. Results:In the leave-one-out sensitivity analysis, SNP with significant effects on causal associations was excluded. In forward MR analysis, IVs were 10 SNPs associated with NHL; the IVW method indicated that there was no causal association between NHL and chronic HBV infection ( OR = 0.979, 95% CI: 0.925-1.036, P = 0.465). MR-Egger regression ( OR = 0.992, 95% CI: 0.926-1.062, P = 0.825) and WME method ( OR = 0.992, 95% CI: 0.934-1.055, P = 0.805) were used as supplementary methods to obtain the consistent results. In sensitivity analysis, Cochran Q test showed no heterogeneity among IVs (IVW method: P = 0.271, MR-Egger regression: P = 0.239). Horizontal pleiotropy was not found in the MR-Egger regression (intercept was -0.01, P = 0.778) and the MR-PRESSO Global Test ( P > 0.05), suggesting robust results. In the reverse MR analysis, IVs were 8 SNPs associated with NHL; the IVW method ( OR = 1.117, 95% CI: 0.942-1.324, P = 0.202) also found no significant causal relationship between chronic HBV infection and NHL; MR-Egger regression ( OR = 0.777, 95% CI: 0.450-1.343, P = 0.401) and WME method ( OR = 1.120, 95% CI: 0.887-1.415, P = 0.351) also showed similar risk estimates. Sensitivity analysis also suggested the consistency and reliability of the results. Cochran Q test showed no heterogeneity among IVs (IVW method: P = 0.775, MR-Egger regression: P = 0.903). Horizontal pleiotropy was not found by MR-Egger regression (intercept was 0.102, P = 0.548) and MR-PRESSO Global Test ( P > 0.05). Conclusions:MR analysis suggests no causal relationship between NHL and chronic HBV infection.

Objective To explore the application value of a novel portable endoscope to perform upper gastrointestinal tract examinations in primary medical units.Methods A total of 532 subjects receiving portable endoscope examination were enrolled for analysis.The primary outcome was the success rate of operation.The secondary outcomes were the operation time,examination results,polyp removal and biopsy pathology results,and the subjective evaluation.Results In 532 cases,2 were withdrawn midway after the endoscope was inserted into the esophagus due to the patients'inability to tolerate the examination.Additionally,6 cases did not undergo examination of the descending part of the duodenum because of serious reactions during the procedure.Ultimately,524 cases successfully completed the upper gastrointestinal examination,and the success rate was 98.5％.The average examination time was(4.7±1.8)min,and the average time for disposal sheath wearing and removing was(4.2±1.4)min.The most common lesions were chronic non-atrophic gastritis(85.1％,451/530),reflux esophagitis(14.7％,78/530)and bile reflux(14.0％,74/530).A total of 10 cases of polyp removal were completed,and the polyp removal rate was 71.4％(10/14).Biopsy pathological diagnosis was completed in 44 cases,and the biopsy rate was 8.3％(44/530).The main discomfort symptoms during the examination were nausea(53.6％,285/532),vomiting(51.1％,272/532),and sore throat(38.5％,205/532),the main discomfort symptoms after the examination were sore throat(27.8％,148/532),nausea(19.5％,104/532),and vomiting(14.7％,78/532).No serious adverse events such as gastrointestinal bleeding,perforation,cardiac or pulmonary complications occurred.Conclusion The novel portable endoscope can safely and effectively complete the diagnosis and treatment of upper gastrointestinal diseases in primary medical units,while saving the decontamination process.However,the incidence of discomfort is high during examinations.Further optimization of the operation methods is needed.

Objective To explore the efficacy of a compound nutrition preparation on wound healing after acute trauma and investigate the underlying mechanism primarily.Methods After skin wound model was successfully constructed on totally 60 male SD rats surgically,they were randomly divided into control group(CON group),whey protein group(WP group)and low-and high-dose nutritional formula groups(LDF and HDF groups),with 15 animals in per group.From the next day after surgery,the rats in each group were given corresponding nutritional interventions for 2 weeks.During the intervention,the wound conditions were observed and recorded,and the wound area was measured.The samples were collected on the 3rd,7th and 14th days after surgery,respectively.Serum albumin(ALB),prealbumin(PA),total protein(TP),inflammatory factors(TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6 and IL-10),immunoglobulins(IgA,IgG and IgM)and hydroxyproline(Hyp)were detected by the corresponding reagent kits.The histopathologic changes of wound were observed with HE staining.Masson staining was used to observe the collagen fiber deposition in wound tissue.The angiogenesis of wound tissue was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining.Results Compared with the CON group,the wound healing speed,collagen synthesis and angiogenesis speed were significantly accelerated in the WP group,LDF group and HDF group(P＜0.05),and the effects were the most obvious in the HDF group.On the 3rd day after surgery,in the WP,LDF and HDF groups,the serum ALB,PA and TP levels were significantly increased(P＜0.05),serum TNF-α and IL-1β levels were obviously decreased(P＜0.05),and serum IL-10 level was notably increased(except WP group)when compared with the CON group.The serum IgG and IgM levels were significantly increased in the LDF group and HDF group(P＜0.05)and significant increment of IgA was only observed in the HDF group(P＜0.05).On the 7th day after modeling,the levels of ALB,PA and TP were significantly increased(P＜0.05),the levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 were obviously decreased(P＜0.05),and the levels of IL-10 were remarkably increased(P＜0.05)in the HDF group than the CON group;The LDF group and HDF group had significantly elevated serum IgG and IgM levels(P＜0.05),but only the former group had statistically increased serum IgA level(P＜0.05).On the 14th day after modeling,the HDF group had significantly increased levels of ALB and TP(P＜0.05),decreased levels of IL-1β(P＜0.05),and raised levels of IgG and IgM when compared with the CON group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Our compound nutrition preparation promotes wound healing in rat model of acute trauma,which might be related to its improving the nutritional status,promoting collagen synthesis,and thus alleviating inflammatory response and enhancing immune function.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between hearing loss and microvascular complications in diabetes.Methods:This cross-sectional study conducted the data from 572 patients with diabetes hospitalized in the Endocrinology Department of the General Hospital of Southern Theater Command from September 2022 to July 2023. All participants underwent electrical audiometry and acoustic immittance in the ENY department. Based on the audiometric results, participants were categorized into normal hearing group and hearing loss group. Additionally, 572 non-diabetic patients from the outpatient department were enrolled as the non-diabetic group. The general information and laboratory results were collected and compared using t test, rank sum test or χ2 test. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association of diabetic hearing loss with diabetic kidney disease(DKD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Results:Among 572 patients with diabetes, 429 suffered from hearing loss and 143 were normal. χ2 test showed significant differences in combined DKD and DPN between two groups, but not in DR. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis identified DKD and DPN as risk factors for hearing loss, but no correlation was found with DR. Conclusion:Diabetic patients with DKD or DPN should be monitored for potential hearing loss. Early screening and treatment are crucial to prevent severe hearing impairment.