ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of quercetin on acute gouty arthritis （GA） in rats by inhibiting the reactive oxygen species （ROS）/NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）/interleukin-1β （IL-1β） signaling pathway. MethodsSixty SPF-grade male SD rats were randomized into normal， model， colchicine （0.3 mg·kg^-1）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose （25， 50， 100 mg·kg^-1， respectively） quercetin groups （n=10）. The rats in the dosing groups were administrated with the corresponding drugs （10 mL·kg^-1） by gavage once a day for one week. An equal volume of normal saline was given by gavage to rats in normal and model groups. One hour after drug administration on day 5， an acute GA model was established in other groups except the control group via intra-articular injection of monosodium urate （MSU） suspension into the right posterior ankle joint cavity. The joint swelling and gait were scored at the time points of 6， 12， 24， 48 h after modeling. Histopathological alterations in the ankle joint tissue from each group were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Malondialdehyde （MDA）， xanthine oxidase （XOD）， and total superoxide dismutase （T-SOD） assay kits were used to assess the levels of MDA， XOD， and T-SOD in the serum. The levels of tumor interleukin-6 （IL-6）， necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， and IL-1β in the rat serum， as well as ROS in the ankle joint tissue， were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Western blot was performed to determine the protein levels of NLRP3， thioredoxin-interacting protein （TXNIP）， apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD domain （ASC）， precursor cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-1 （pro-Caspase-1）， cleaved Caspase-1 （Caspase-1 p20）， and IL-1β in the ankle joint tissue. Real-time PCR was employed to assess the mRNA levels of TXNIP， NLRP3， ASC， IL-1β， and TNF-α in the ankle joint tissue. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group exhibited decreased spontaneous activity， mental fatigue， increased ankle joint swelling and gait scores （P<0.01）， aggravated synovial tissue edema and inflammatory cell infiltration （P<0.01）， elevated levels of XOD， MDA， TNF-α， IL-1β， and IL-6 in the serum and ROS in the joint tissue （P<0.01）， a declined level of T-SOD （P<0.01）， up-regulated protein levels of NLRP3， TXNIP， ASC， pro-Caspase-1， Caspase-1 p20， and IL-1β in the ankle joint tissue （P<0.01）， and up-regulated mRNA levels of NLRP3， TXNIP， ASC， IL-1β， and TNF-α in the ankle joint tissue （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the medium- and high-dose quercetin groups showed improved general conditions， decreased gait scores （P<0.05， P<0.01）， reduced joint swelling （P<0.01）， alleviated synovial tissue edema and inflammatory cell infiltration （P<0.05， P<0.01）， lowered levels of XOD， MDA， TNF-α， IL-1β， and IL-6 in the serum and ROS in the joint tissue （P<0.01）， increased levels of T-SOD （P<0.01）， down-regulated protein levels of TXNIP， NLRP3， ASC， pro-Caspase-1， Caspase-1 p20， and IL-1β in the ankle joint tissue （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and down-regulated mRNA levels of TXNIP， NLRP3， ASC， IL-1β， and TNF-α in the ankle joint tissue （P<0.01）. Low-dose quercetin also ameliorated some of the above parameters （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionQuercetin exerts anti-GA effects by blocking the ROS/NLRP3/IL-1β signaling pathway， downregulating NLRP3 inflammasome activation， and inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α， IL-1β， and IL-6.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture based on "status-target coherence" theory combined with Kegel exercises for vaginal laxity syndrome (VLS). METHODS: Sixty-six patients with VLS were randomized into an observation group (33 cases, 2 cases dropped out, 1 case was discontinued) and a control group (33 cases, 5 cases dropped out). The observation group was treated with acupuncture combined with Kegel exercises, acupuncture was applied to bilateral Ciliao (BL32), Zhongliao (BL33), Sanyinjiao (SP6), etc. The control group was treated with Kegel exercises. Both acupuncture and Kegel exercises were performed once every other day, three times a week for 12 weeks. Before and after treatment, the vaginal laxity questionnaire (VLQ) score, pelvic floor muscle strength (vaginal resting pressure, vaginal systolic pressure, vaginal contraction duration), degree of vaginal laxity and sexual satisfaction questionnaire (SSQ) grade were observed in both groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the VLQ score, vaginal resting pressure, vaginal systolic pressure, vaginal contraction duration in the observation group were elevated compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and SSQ grade was improved (P<0.05); and the above indexes in the observation group were better than those in the control group (P<0.05). There were no significant difference before and after treatment in the degree of vaginal laxity in the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Acupuncture based on "status-target coherence" theory combined with Kegel exercises can effectively enhance the strength of pelvic floor muscles, improve the symptoms of vaginal laxity, and improve the satisfaction of sexual life, and its therapeutic effect is better than Kegel exercises alone.
Humans ; Female ; Adult ; Vagina/physiopathology* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Exercise Therapy ; Young Adult ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Acupuncture Points ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Vaginal Diseases/therapy*

Oxidative stress due to aberrant metabolism is considered as a crucial contributor to diabetes and its complications. Hyperglycemia and hyperlipemia boost excessive reactive oxygen species generation by elevated mitochondrial respiration, increased nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity, and enhanced pro-oxidative processes, including protein kinase C pathways, hexosamine, polyol, and advanced glycation endproducts, which exacerbate oxidative stress. Oxidative stress plays a significant role in the onset of diabetes and its associated complications by impairing insulin production, increasing insulin resistance, maintaining hyperglycemic memory, and inducing systemic inflammation. A more profound comprehension of the molecular processes that link oxidative stress to diabetes is crucial to new preventive and therapeutic strategies. Therefore, this review discusses the mechanisms underlying how oxidative stress contributes to diabetes mellitus and its complications. We also summarize the current approaches for prevention and treatment by targeting the oxidative stress pathways in diabetes.
Oxidative Stress/physiology* ; Humans ; Diabetes Mellitus/physiopathology* ; Diabetes Complications/metabolism* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Glycation End Products, Advanced/metabolism* ; Animals

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated that short-term exposure to ambient particulate matter elevates the risk of ischemic stroke in major urban areas of various countries. However, there is a notable gap in research focusing on remote areas inhabited by ethnic minorities and the cumulative effects of air pollutants. Our study conducted in the area aims to explore the potential association between ischemic stroke and air pollutants and contribute to improving health outcomes among the community. METHODS: This retrospective observational study was conducted at the Xing'an League People's Hospital in Inner Mongolia. The medical records of 4,288 patients admitted for IS between November 1, 2019, and October 31, 2020, were reviewed. Data on demographics (age and sex), air pollutants (PM₁₀, PM_2.5, NO₂, NO, CO, and O₃), and meteorological factors (daily average temperature, daily average wind speed, and daily average atmosphere pressure) were collected and analyzed. The statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, Poisson distribution analysis to evaluate the adverse effects of atmospheric pollutants on daily hospitalizations, and subgroup analysis to determine whether gender and age could modify the impact on hospitalizations. RESULTS: A substantial correlation was revealed in single-day lags model. The peak delayed effects of PM₁₀, PM_2.5, SO₂, and NO₂ were observed at lag8 (PM₁₀ (OR = 1.016, 95%CI 1.002, 1.030), PM_2.5 (OR = 1.027, 95%CI 1.007, 1.048), SO₂ (OR = 1.153, 95%CI 1.040, 279) and NO₂ (OR = 1.054, 95%CI 1.005, 1.105)) while males exhibited a consistent trend from lag0 to lag8 (PM₁₀ (OR = 1.035, 95%CI 1.018, 1.053), PM_2.5 (OR = 1.056, 95%CI 1.030, 1.082), SO₂ (OR = 1.220, 95%CI 1.072, 1.389), NO₂ (OR = 1.126, 95%CI 1.061, 1.120), CO (OR = 10.059, 95%CI 1.697, 59.638) and O₃ (OR = 0.972, 95%CI 0.946, 0.999)). When gender and age were considered, a positive impact was also observed after three days cumulative effect in males. CONCLUSIONS There is a significant cumulative effect of exposure to air pollution on IS hospital admissions, especially the males and patients under the age of 65. Our results also suggested that a notable association between CO and NO₂ in two-pollutant models.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Air Pollution/analysis* ; China/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Aged ; Particulate Matter/analysis* ; Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data* ; Adult ; Ischemic Stroke/chemically induced* ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects* ; Aged, 80 and over

Angiogenesis within atherosclerotic plaques is a critical determinant of plaque stability.The biome-chanical microenvironment,consisting of fluid shear force,plaque structural stress,and matrix stiffness,serves as signifi-cant factors in mediating plaque angiogenesis.Endothelial cells respond to mechanical signals and participate in plaques neovascularization through force chemical signal transduction mechanisms.This review provides an overview of the mecha-nisms by which mechanical factors regulate angiogenesis within plaques and offers a novel therapeutic approach for the pre-vention and treatment of atherosclerosis.

Objective:To explore the relationship between medical students'family function and anxiety/depression,and the mediating role of loneliness in this relationship.Methods:A total of 577 medical students were surveyed using stratified cluster sampling.Questionnaires assessed family function,loneliness,anxiety,and depression.Spearman correlation analysis was used to examine the relationships among family function,loneliness,anxiety,and depression.The mediating effects were tested using SPSS 26.0 PROCESS program model 4.Results:Medical students'family function,loneliness,anxiety,and depression scores were 8.00(5.00,10.00),16.00(12.00,19.00),3.00(2.00,4.00),and 3.00(2.00,4.00),respectively.Spearman correlation analysis showed that family function was negatively correlated with loneliness(r=-0.337),anxiety(r=-0.237),and depression(r=-0.257)(all P＜0.01).Loneliness was positively correlated with anxiety(r=0.394)and depression(r=0.392)(both P＜0.01).Anxiety was positively correlated with depression(r=0.746,P＜0.01).Family function negatively predicted anxiety(β=-0.118,P＜0.01),depression(β=-0.105,P＜0.01),and loneliness(β=-0.322,P＜0.01).Loneliness positively predicted anxiety(β=0.348,P＜0.01)and depression(β=0.346,P＜0.01).Loneliness played a partial mediating role in the relationship of family function with anxiety and depression among medical students,with mediating effects of 49.0%and 43.2%,respectively.Conclusions:Family function not only directly affects medical students'anxiety and depression but also indirectly affects them by influencing loneliness.Therefore,improving medical students'family function can effectively reduce their loneliness,thereby helping to alleviate anxiety and depression.

Objective:To investigate the intervention effect of five elements music of traditional Chinese medicine and western classical music on the sleep quality of stroke patients, and to compare the difference between the two, to provide a reference for the clinical care measures to improve the sleep quality of stroke patients.Methods:By adopting a randomized controlled trial, 75 stroke patients who were hospitalized in the rehabilitation hospital of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from July 2022 to July 2023 were selected by convenience sampling method as the study subjects, and the patients were randomly divided the conventional treatment group, the five-element music group, and the classical music group according to the method of randomized numerical table with 25 cases in each group. On the basis of general treatment, the conventional treatment group took sleep health education, the five elements music group were given five-element music intervention based on conventional treatment, and the classical music group were given classical music intervention based on conventional treatment. The changes of Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and polysomnography (PSG) examination parameters in the 3 groups were compared.Results:There were 2 cases of shedding in the conventional treatment group, and 23 cases were finally included, 15 males and 8 females, aged (54.02 ± 7.80) years; there were no cases of shedding in the five-element music group, and 25 cases were finally included, 12 males and 13 females, aged (53.69 ± 6.02) years; and there was 1 case of shedding in the classical music group, and 24 cases were finally included, 10 males and 14 females, aged (52.34 ± 7.08) years. Comparison of AIS, PSQI and PSG scores among the 3 groups of patients before intervention showed no statistically significant differences (all P>0.05). After the intervention, the AIS scores and PSQI scores of the 3 groups were (9.48 ± 1.53) and (12.22 ± 2.94), (6.76 ± 1.36) and (7.64 ± 2.08), (7.46 ± 1.38) and (10.33 ± 2.82), respectively, and the differences were statistically significant ( F=23.21, 18.44, both P<0.05). PSG sleep structure parameters showed that the total sleep time, REM latency time and sleep efficiency of the patients in the five-element music group after the intervention were (399.89 ± 51.76) min, (136.26 ± 25.36) min, (78.87 ± 8.21)%, higher than (368.45 ± 47.88) min, (124.46 ± 26.25) min, (73.36 ± 7.86)% in the classical music group and (345.48 ± 38.69) min, (111.37 ± 23.23) min, (69.44 ± 7.88)% in the conventional treatment group, and the differences between three groups were statistically significant ( F=8.27, 5.93, and 8.49, all P<0.05); the sleep latency time, awakening time, and number of awakenings in the five-element music group were (28.86 ± 17.68) min, (54.37 ± 25.15) min, and (2.72 ± 1.19) times, respectively, which were lower than those in the classical music group (35.67 ± 16.99) min, (64.28 ± 29.34) min, and (3.67 ± 1.12) times and (42.38 ± 18.96) min, (78.38 ± 37.26) min, (4.87 ± 1.46) times in the conventional treatment group, and the differences between three groups were statistically significant ( F=3.51, 3.66, and 17.56, all P<0.05). The results of the PSG sleep progression showed that the duration of the N1 stage of sleep in the five-element music group after the intervention was (95.71 ± 15.23) min, which was higher than (83.20 ± 18.34) min in the classical music group and (80.93 ± 16.47) min in the conventional treatment group, and the difference between three groups was statistically significant ( F=5.53, P<0.01); the N3 stage sleep time and the sleep percentage of the five-element music group after the intervention were respectively (84.23 ± 20.98) min and (23.98 ± 5.89)%, which were higher than (65.33 ± 18.82) min and (18.34 ± 3.78)% in the classical music group and (45.87 ± 18.65) min and (15.03 ± 5.56)% in the conventional treatment group, and the differences between three groups were statistically significant ( F=23.08, 18.50, both P<0.05). Conclusions:Both five elements music and classical music can improve the sleep quality of stroke patients, and the effect of five elements music to improve sleep is more significant.

Angiogenesis within atherosclerotic plaques is a critical determinant of plaque stability.The biome-chanical microenvironment,consisting of fluid shear force,plaque structural stress,and matrix stiffness,serves as signifi-cant factors in mediating plaque angiogenesis.Endothelial cells respond to mechanical signals and participate in plaques neovascularization through force chemical signal transduction mechanisms.This review provides an overview of the mecha-nisms by which mechanical factors regulate angiogenesis within plaques and offers a novel therapeutic approach for the pre-vention and treatment of atherosclerosis.

Objective:To explore the relationship between medical students'family function and anxiety/depression,and the mediating role of loneliness in this relationship.Methods:A total of 577 medical students were surveyed using stratified cluster sampling.Questionnaires assessed family function,loneliness,anxiety,and depression.Spearman correlation analysis was used to examine the relationships among family function,loneliness,anxiety,and depression.The mediating effects were tested using SPSS 26.0 PROCESS program model 4.Results:Medical students'family function,loneliness,anxiety,and depression scores were 8.00(5.00,10.00),16.00(12.00,19.00),3.00(2.00,4.00),and 3.00(2.00,4.00),respectively.Spearman correlation analysis showed that family function was negatively correlated with loneliness(r=-0.337),anxiety(r=-0.237),and depression(r=-0.257)(all P＜0.01).Loneliness was positively correlated with anxiety(r=0.394)and depression(r=0.392)(both P＜0.01).Anxiety was positively correlated with depression(r=0.746,P＜0.01).Family function negatively predicted anxiety(β=-0.118,P＜0.01),depression(β=-0.105,P＜0.01),and loneliness(β=-0.322,P＜0.01).Loneliness positively predicted anxiety(β=0.348,P＜0.01)and depression(β=0.346,P＜0.01).Loneliness played a partial mediating role in the relationship of family function with anxiety and depression among medical students,with mediating effects of 49.0%and 43.2%,respectively.Conclusions:Family function not only directly affects medical students'anxiety and depression but also indirectly affects them by influencing loneliness.Therefore,improving medical students'family function can effectively reduce their loneliness,thereby helping to alleviate anxiety and depression.

Objective:To investigate the intervention effect of five elements music of traditional Chinese medicine and western classical music on the sleep quality of stroke patients, and to compare the difference between the two, to provide a reference for the clinical care measures to improve the sleep quality of stroke patients.Methods:By adopting a randomized controlled trial, 75 stroke patients who were hospitalized in the rehabilitation hospital of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from July 2022 to July 2023 were selected by convenience sampling method as the study subjects, and the patients were randomly divided the conventional treatment group, the five-element music group, and the classical music group according to the method of randomized numerical table with 25 cases in each group. On the basis of general treatment, the conventional treatment group took sleep health education, the five elements music group were given five-element music intervention based on conventional treatment, and the classical music group were given classical music intervention based on conventional treatment. The changes of Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and polysomnography (PSG) examination parameters in the 3 groups were compared.Results:There were 2 cases of shedding in the conventional treatment group, and 23 cases were finally included, 15 males and 8 females, aged (54.02 ± 7.80) years; there were no cases of shedding in the five-element music group, and 25 cases were finally included, 12 males and 13 females, aged (53.69 ± 6.02) years; and there was 1 case of shedding in the classical music group, and 24 cases were finally included, 10 males and 14 females, aged (52.34 ± 7.08) years. Comparison of AIS, PSQI and PSG scores among the 3 groups of patients before intervention showed no statistically significant differences (all P>0.05). After the intervention, the AIS scores and PSQI scores of the 3 groups were (9.48 ± 1.53) and (12.22 ± 2.94), (6.76 ± 1.36) and (7.64 ± 2.08), (7.46 ± 1.38) and (10.33 ± 2.82), respectively, and the differences were statistically significant ( F=23.21, 18.44, both P<0.05). PSG sleep structure parameters showed that the total sleep time, REM latency time and sleep efficiency of the patients in the five-element music group after the intervention were (399.89 ± 51.76) min, (136.26 ± 25.36) min, (78.87 ± 8.21)%, higher than (368.45 ± 47.88) min, (124.46 ± 26.25) min, (73.36 ± 7.86)% in the classical music group and (345.48 ± 38.69) min, (111.37 ± 23.23) min, (69.44 ± 7.88)% in the conventional treatment group, and the differences between three groups were statistically significant ( F=8.27, 5.93, and 8.49, all P<0.05); the sleep latency time, awakening time, and number of awakenings in the five-element music group were (28.86 ± 17.68) min, (54.37 ± 25.15) min, and (2.72 ± 1.19) times, respectively, which were lower than those in the classical music group (35.67 ± 16.99) min, (64.28 ± 29.34) min, and (3.67 ± 1.12) times and (42.38 ± 18.96) min, (78.38 ± 37.26) min, (4.87 ± 1.46) times in the conventional treatment group, and the differences between three groups were statistically significant ( F=3.51, 3.66, and 17.56, all P<0.05). The results of the PSG sleep progression showed that the duration of the N1 stage of sleep in the five-element music group after the intervention was (95.71 ± 15.23) min, which was higher than (83.20 ± 18.34) min in the classical music group and (80.93 ± 16.47) min in the conventional treatment group, and the difference between three groups was statistically significant ( F=5.53, P<0.01); the N3 stage sleep time and the sleep percentage of the five-element music group after the intervention were respectively (84.23 ± 20.98) min and (23.98 ± 5.89)%, which were higher than (65.33 ± 18.82) min and (18.34 ± 3.78)% in the classical music group and (45.87 ± 18.65) min and (15.03 ± 5.56)% in the conventional treatment group, and the differences between three groups were statistically significant ( F=23.08, 18.50, both P<0.05). Conclusions:Both five elements music and classical music can improve the sleep quality of stroke patients, and the effect of five elements music to improve sleep is more significant.