1.Effects of Electro-Acupuncture Based on the Midnight-Noon Ebb-Low Method with Hour-Prescription on BMAL1 Protein and NETs Markers in Lung Tissue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Model Rats with Lung-Qi Deficiency Syndrome
Changtian JIAO-LI ; Nise Pantaleo SHIO ; Lianqing CAI ; Qingyao JIANG ; Siyu TANG ; Qianqian WAN ; Mengchen WAN ; Yuqi YE ; Jie ZHU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(13):1422-1430
ObjectiveTo explore the potential mechanism underlying electroacupuncture therapy with the midnight-noon ebb-low method with hour-prescription for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with lung-qi deficiency syndrome from the perspective of brain and muscle basic helix-loop-helix ARNT-like 1 (BMAL1) as well as neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). MethodsThe experiment was conducted in two phases. For the therapeutic effectiveness observation, 24 rats were randomly allocated into control group 1, model group 1, midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group 1 and conventional electro-acupuncture group, with 6 rats per group. Rat models of COPD with lung-qi deficiency syndrome were established via cigarette smoke exposure combined with intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After successful modelling, rats in midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group 1 received electro-acupuncture at acupoints "Taiyuan (LU 9)", "Feishu (BL 13)" and "Zusanli (ST 36)" during 05:00—07:00, 30 minutes per treatment once every other day for 14 consecutive days (7 sessions in total). Rats in the conventional electro-acupuncture group received identical electroacupuncture manipulation at random daytime hours (08:00—18:00). Pulmonary function parameters including forced expiratory volume in 0.3 second (FEV0.3), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV0.3/FVC ratio were detected. Pulmonary histopathological changes were observed via hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Plasma levels of pro-inflammatory factors interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), as well as pulmonary reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, BMAL1 protein expression and the levels of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) biomarkers such as myeloperoxidase (MPO), neutrophil elastase (NE), and citrullinated histone H3 (CitH3) in lung tissue were determined. For the mechanistic verification phase, 36 rats were divided into control group 2, model group 2, midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group 2, overexpression empty group, overexpression BMAL1 group and overexpression with midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group, with 6 rats in each group. At the 5th week of model construction, rats in the overexpression BMAL1 group and overexpression with midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group received intratracheal instillation of 100 μl adenoviral suspension carrying overexpressed Bmal1 gene. Rats in the overexpression empty group were injected with an equal titer and equal volume of blank adenovirus without the Bmal1 coding sequence into the lung at the identical time point. Midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group 2 and overexpression with midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group were consistent with the aforementioned protocol. Finally, pulmonary levels of MPO, NE and CitH3 were measured in all groups. ResultsCompared with the control group 1, the model group 1 exhibited decreased FEV0.3, FVC and FEV0.3/FVC ratio, elevated plasma IL-1β, TNF-α and pulmonary ROS levels, downregulated lung BMAL1 protein expression, and increased contents of MPO, NE and CitH3 (all P<0.05); typical NETs-like structures with sparse granular substances attached to fibrous networks were observed under scanning electron microscopy; HE staining revealed damaged alveolar architecture accompanied by inflammatory cell infiltration. Compared with model group 1, both the midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group 1 and conventional electro-acupuncture group achieved obvious improvements in all above indicators, with superior therapeutic effects in midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group 1 (P<0.05). Consistently, midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group 1 showed more prominent alleviation of NETs-like structure formation and lung pathological injury compared to the conventional electro-acupuncture group. Mechanistic validation results demonstrated that compared with model group 2, the average optical density of MPO as well as the protein levels of MPO, NE and CitH3 were markedly reduced in midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group 2, overexpression BMAL1 group and overexpression with midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group (P<0.05); furthermore, these parameters were significantly lower in the overexpression with midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group than in midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group 2 (P<0.05). ConclusionElectro-acupuncture based on the midnight-noon ebb-low method with hour-prescription may alleviate pulmonary inflammation in COPD by upregulating the expression of clock protein BMAL1 and inhibiting excessive accumulation of NETs in lung tissue.
2.Causal association of obesity and chronic pain mediated by educational attainment and smoking: a mediation Mendelian randomization study
Yunshu LYU ; Qingxing LU ; Yane LIU ; Mengtong XIE ; Lintong JIANG ; Junnan LI ; Ning WANG ; Xianglong DAI ; Yuqi YANG ; Peiming JIANG ; Qiong YU
The Korean Journal of Pain 2025;38(2):177-186
Background:
Obesity and chronic pain are related in both directions, according to earlier observational research.This research aimed to analyze the causal association between obesity and chronic pain at the genetic level, as well as to assess whether common factors mediate this relationship.
Methods:
This study used bidirectional two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) technique to analyze the association between obesity and chronic pain. Obesity's summary genome-wide association data were obtained from European ancestry groups, as measured by body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC), genome-wide association study data for chronic pain also came from the UK population, including chronic pain at three different sites (back, hip, and headache), chronic widespread pain (CWP), and multisite chronic pain (MCP). Secondly, a two-step MR and multivariate MR investigation was performed to evaluate the mediating effects of several proposed confounders.
Results:
The authors discovered a link between chronic pain and obesity. More specifically, a sensitivity analysis was done to confirm the associations between greater BMI, WC, and HC with an increased risk of CWP and MCP.Importantly, the intermediate MR results suggest that education levels and smoking initiation may mediate the causal relationship between BMI on CWP, with a mediation effect of 23.08% and 15.38%, respectively.
Conclusions
The authors’ findings demonstrate that the importance of education and smoking in understanding chronic pain’s pathogenesis, which is important for the primary prevention and prognosis of chronic pain.
3.Causal association of obesity and chronic pain mediated by educational attainment and smoking: a mediation Mendelian randomization study
Yunshu LYU ; Qingxing LU ; Yane LIU ; Mengtong XIE ; Lintong JIANG ; Junnan LI ; Ning WANG ; Xianglong DAI ; Yuqi YANG ; Peiming JIANG ; Qiong YU
The Korean Journal of Pain 2025;38(2):177-186
Background:
Obesity and chronic pain are related in both directions, according to earlier observational research.This research aimed to analyze the causal association between obesity and chronic pain at the genetic level, as well as to assess whether common factors mediate this relationship.
Methods:
This study used bidirectional two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) technique to analyze the association between obesity and chronic pain. Obesity's summary genome-wide association data were obtained from European ancestry groups, as measured by body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC), genome-wide association study data for chronic pain also came from the UK population, including chronic pain at three different sites (back, hip, and headache), chronic widespread pain (CWP), and multisite chronic pain (MCP). Secondly, a two-step MR and multivariate MR investigation was performed to evaluate the mediating effects of several proposed confounders.
Results:
The authors discovered a link between chronic pain and obesity. More specifically, a sensitivity analysis was done to confirm the associations between greater BMI, WC, and HC with an increased risk of CWP and MCP.Importantly, the intermediate MR results suggest that education levels and smoking initiation may mediate the causal relationship between BMI on CWP, with a mediation effect of 23.08% and 15.38%, respectively.
Conclusions
The authors’ findings demonstrate that the importance of education and smoking in understanding chronic pain’s pathogenesis, which is important for the primary prevention and prognosis of chronic pain.
4.Causal association of obesity and chronic pain mediated by educational attainment and smoking: a mediation Mendelian randomization study
Yunshu LYU ; Qingxing LU ; Yane LIU ; Mengtong XIE ; Lintong JIANG ; Junnan LI ; Ning WANG ; Xianglong DAI ; Yuqi YANG ; Peiming JIANG ; Qiong YU
The Korean Journal of Pain 2025;38(2):177-186
Background:
Obesity and chronic pain are related in both directions, according to earlier observational research.This research aimed to analyze the causal association between obesity and chronic pain at the genetic level, as well as to assess whether common factors mediate this relationship.
Methods:
This study used bidirectional two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) technique to analyze the association between obesity and chronic pain. Obesity's summary genome-wide association data were obtained from European ancestry groups, as measured by body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC), genome-wide association study data for chronic pain also came from the UK population, including chronic pain at three different sites (back, hip, and headache), chronic widespread pain (CWP), and multisite chronic pain (MCP). Secondly, a two-step MR and multivariate MR investigation was performed to evaluate the mediating effects of several proposed confounders.
Results:
The authors discovered a link between chronic pain and obesity. More specifically, a sensitivity analysis was done to confirm the associations between greater BMI, WC, and HC with an increased risk of CWP and MCP.Importantly, the intermediate MR results suggest that education levels and smoking initiation may mediate the causal relationship between BMI on CWP, with a mediation effect of 23.08% and 15.38%, respectively.
Conclusions
The authors’ findings demonstrate that the importance of education and smoking in understanding chronic pain’s pathogenesis, which is important for the primary prevention and prognosis of chronic pain.
5.Causal association of obesity and chronic pain mediated by educational attainment and smoking: a mediation Mendelian randomization study
Yunshu LYU ; Qingxing LU ; Yane LIU ; Mengtong XIE ; Lintong JIANG ; Junnan LI ; Ning WANG ; Xianglong DAI ; Yuqi YANG ; Peiming JIANG ; Qiong YU
The Korean Journal of Pain 2025;38(2):177-186
Background:
Obesity and chronic pain are related in both directions, according to earlier observational research.This research aimed to analyze the causal association between obesity and chronic pain at the genetic level, as well as to assess whether common factors mediate this relationship.
Methods:
This study used bidirectional two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) technique to analyze the association between obesity and chronic pain. Obesity's summary genome-wide association data were obtained from European ancestry groups, as measured by body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC), genome-wide association study data for chronic pain also came from the UK population, including chronic pain at three different sites (back, hip, and headache), chronic widespread pain (CWP), and multisite chronic pain (MCP). Secondly, a two-step MR and multivariate MR investigation was performed to evaluate the mediating effects of several proposed confounders.
Results:
The authors discovered a link between chronic pain and obesity. More specifically, a sensitivity analysis was done to confirm the associations between greater BMI, WC, and HC with an increased risk of CWP and MCP.Importantly, the intermediate MR results suggest that education levels and smoking initiation may mediate the causal relationship between BMI on CWP, with a mediation effect of 23.08% and 15.38%, respectively.
Conclusions
The authors’ findings demonstrate that the importance of education and smoking in understanding chronic pain’s pathogenesis, which is important for the primary prevention and prognosis of chronic pain.
6.Causal association of obesity and chronic pain mediated by educational attainment and smoking: a mediation Mendelian randomization study
Yunshu LYU ; Qingxing LU ; Yane LIU ; Mengtong XIE ; Lintong JIANG ; Junnan LI ; Ning WANG ; Xianglong DAI ; Yuqi YANG ; Peiming JIANG ; Qiong YU
The Korean Journal of Pain 2025;38(2):177-186
Background:
Obesity and chronic pain are related in both directions, according to earlier observational research.This research aimed to analyze the causal association between obesity and chronic pain at the genetic level, as well as to assess whether common factors mediate this relationship.
Methods:
This study used bidirectional two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) technique to analyze the association between obesity and chronic pain. Obesity's summary genome-wide association data were obtained from European ancestry groups, as measured by body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC), genome-wide association study data for chronic pain also came from the UK population, including chronic pain at three different sites (back, hip, and headache), chronic widespread pain (CWP), and multisite chronic pain (MCP). Secondly, a two-step MR and multivariate MR investigation was performed to evaluate the mediating effects of several proposed confounders.
Results:
The authors discovered a link between chronic pain and obesity. More specifically, a sensitivity analysis was done to confirm the associations between greater BMI, WC, and HC with an increased risk of CWP and MCP.Importantly, the intermediate MR results suggest that education levels and smoking initiation may mediate the causal relationship between BMI on CWP, with a mediation effect of 23.08% and 15.38%, respectively.
Conclusions
The authors’ findings demonstrate that the importance of education and smoking in understanding chronic pain’s pathogenesis, which is important for the primary prevention and prognosis of chronic pain.
7.RXRα modulates hepatic stellate cell activation and liver fibrosis by targeting CaMKKβ-AMPKα axis.
Lijun CAI ; Meimei YIN ; Shuangzhou PENG ; Fen LIN ; Liangliang LAI ; Xindao ZHANG ; Lei XIE ; Chuanying WANG ; Huiying ZHOU ; Yunfeng ZHAN ; Gulimiran ALITONGBIEKE ; Baohuan LIAN ; Zhibin SU ; Tenghui LIU ; Yuqi ZHOU ; Zongxi LI ; Xiaohui CHEN ; Qi ZHAO ; Ting DENG ; Lulu CHEN ; Jingwei SU ; Luoyan SHENG ; Ying SU ; Ling-Juan ZHANG ; Fu-Quan JIANG ; Xiao-Kun ZHANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(7):3611-3631
Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the primary fibrogenic cells in the liver, and their activation plays a crucial role in the development and progression of hepatic fibrosis. Here, we report that retinoid X receptor-alpha (RXRα), a unique member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is a key modulator of HSC activation and liver fibrosis. RXRα exerts its effects by modulating calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase β (CaMKKβ)-mediated activation of AMP-activated protein kinase-alpha (AMPKα). In addition, we demonstrate that K-80003, which binds RXRα by a unique mechanism, effectively suppresses HSC activation, proliferation, and migration, thereby inhibiting liver fibrosis in the CCl4 and amylin liver NASH (AMLN) diet animal models. The effect is mediated by AMPKα activation, promoting mitophagy in HSCs. Mechanistically, K-80003 activates AMPKα by inducing RXRα to form condensates with CaMKKβ and AMPKα via a two-phase process. The formation of RXRα condensates is driven by its N-terminal intrinsic disorder region and requires phosphorylation by CaMKKβ. Our results reveal a crucial role of RXRα in liver fibrosis regulation through modulating mitochondrial activities in HSCs. Furthermore, they suggest that K-80003 and related RXRα modulators hold promise as therapeutic agents for fibrosis-related diseases.
8.Implementation of a "hospital-community general practitioner co-management" model for multimorbidity via a mobile-based digital platform
Meng GUO ; Huicui ZHAO ; Huiqi YANG ; Fuqun GUO ; Yuqi ZHANG ; Qiujun WANG ; Lihong JIANG ; Jia MENG
Chinese Journal of General Practitioners 2025;24(7):883-887
Multimorbidity has emerged as a critical global public health challenge, necessitating effective management strategies. In Heilongjiang Province, a cold north region in China with a high prevalence of multimorbidity, healthcare disparities, uneven resource distribution, and inadequate chronic disease control remain pressing issues. Driven by national policies on family physician contracting and regional demands for chronic disease management, this study established a "hospital-community general practitioner co-management" model utilizing a mobile-based digital platform. This model integrates hospital-based general practitioners into primary care teams to optimize resource allocation and enhance multimorbidity management. The initiative aims to explore pathways for improving healthcare system reform and strengthening the chronic disease prevention framework in the region.
9.Epidemiological characteristics and prediction model of bacillary dysentery in Qinghai Province,2014-2023
Yuqi JIANG ; Jinhua ZHAO ; Jiang LONG ; Yang ZHANG ; Ping DENG ; Sheng-lin QIN ; Huayi ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Infection Control 2025;24(10):1389-1394
Objective To compare five time series models and predict the monthly incidence of bacillary dysentery in Qinghai Province in 2024,and provide reference for the prevention and control.Methods The epidemic charac-teristics of bacterial dysentery in Qinghai Province from 2014 to 2023 were analyzed.R4.3.1 software was used for establishing seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average(SARIMA)model,Holt-Winters triple exponential smoothing(Holt Winters)model,exponential smoothing(ETS)model,neural network autoregression(NNAR)model,and trigonometric seasonality,Box-Cox transformation,ARMA errors,trend and seasonal components(TBATS)model.Fitting effect of the models was analyzed and accuracy was compared.Results From 2014 to 2023,a total of 5 833 cases of bacterial dysentery were reported in Qinghai Province,without deaths,male to fe-male ratio being 1.23∶1.The highest incidence was reported in 2016(15.45 per 100 000 people),and the lowest in-cidence was reported in 2023(3.68 per 100 000 people).Incidence increased from 2014 to 2016,then decreased,showing an obvious overall downward trend.Case number in<5 years age group was the highest,accounting for 29.76%of the total cases(n=1 736).Regarding population distribution,the top three were children in childcare institutions and scattered children(35.56%),farmers(24.65%),and students(12.62%).Except the additive Holt-Winters model,the predicted trends of the other four models were consistent with actuality.The ETS model had the best fitting effect,with a relatively balanced overall performance(training set:MAE=0.13,RMSE=0.21,MAPE=19.55%;testing set:MAE=0.11,RMSE=0.16,MAPE=28.66%).It is recommended to pre-dict the incidence of bacillary dysentery in Qinghai Province based on ETS model.Conclusion From 2014 to 2023,bacterial dysentery in Qinghai Province showed a downward trend,with the peak of the epidemic from June to Au-gust.Preschool and scattered children were high-risk groups.Among the five prediction models,ETS model has the best fitting effect,and can be used to predict the incidence of bacillary dysentery.
10.Self-management experiences in breast cancer-related lymphedema patients: a Meta-synthesis
Yiyan LIU ; Shanshan LIANG ; Yuqi LIANG ; Liping JIANG
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2025;31(5):567-576
Objective:To systematically integrate the real experiences of self-management in breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) patients and provide evidence for optimizing home self-management support strategies.Methods:A computer-based search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane Library, China Biology Medicine disc, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, and VIP Database for qualitative studies on self-management experiences in BCRL patients, with the search period extending from the inception of each database to November 30, 2023. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research, and the results were synthesized using an integrative approach.Results:A total of 20 articles were included, with 87 research findings extracted and summarized into 11 new categories, which were integrated into 4 main outcomes: the psychological, family function, and social adaptation associated with lymphedema symptoms; the multiple factors affecting patients' self-management of lymphedema; varied levels of self-management participation and coping behaviors; diverse self-management support needs.Conclusions:Healthcare professionals need to address the barriers and needs of patients performing self-management of lymphedema at home. By integrating coping resources and enhancing self-regulation and self-management capabilities, healthcare providers can help patients adapt to and cope with lymphedema more effectively.

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