OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of Tiaoshen Guben holistic therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion (holistic treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion by adjusting the mind and consolidating the root) on comorbidity of depression and insomnia. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with comorbidity of depression and insomnia were included and treated with Tiaoshen Guben holistic therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion. Acupuncture was applied to Baihui (GV20), Guanyuan (CV4), bilateral Neiguan (PC6), etc. The refined moxibustion therapy was delivered at Zhongwan (CV12), Qihai (CV6), bilateral Yongquan (KI1), etc. Subcutaneous embedding therapy with thumb-tack needle was adopted at bilateral Xinshu (BL15), bilateral Pishu (BL20), etc. The intervention was operated once every other day, 3 treatments a week, and for 6 consecutive weeks. Before and after treatment completion, and in 1 month after treatment, Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and Hamilton's depression scale (HAMD-17) were adopted to assess sleep quality and depression symptoms in the patients, respectively. Before and after treatment completion, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the functional connectivity (FC) of locus coeruleus (LC) in brain regions was evaluated; and the levels of serum norepinephrine (NE), cortisol (CORT), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) were detected. RESULTS: Compared with the scores before treatment, PSQI and HAMD-17 scores after treatment completion and in 1 month after treatment were reduced (P<0.01); and strengthened FC was revealed between the right LC and the pars opercularis of the left inferior frontal gyrus, as well as the lateral occipital lobe region. After treatment completion, serum NE was elevated (P<0.01), the levels of CORT, ACTH and CRH were reduced (P<0.01). Before and after treatment completion, the difference in FC between the right LC and the pars opercularis of the left inferior frontal gyrus was negatively correlated with the differences in PSQI score (r = -0.484, P = 0.016) and HAMD-17 score (r = -0.233, P = 0.027). CONCLUSION Tiaoshen Guben holistic therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion can effectively alleviate depression symptoms and improve sleep quality in the patients with comorbidity of depression and insomnia, which is obtained probably through reducing the levels of serum CORT, ACTH and CRH, increasing serum NE, strengthening the FC of the right LC with the pars opercularis of the left inferior frontal gyrus and the lateral occipital lobe region.
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/therapy* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Depression/complications* ; Aged ; Young Adult ; Acupuncture Points ; Comorbidity

As activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs) play a central role in fibrogenesis, they have become key target cells for anti-fibrotic treatment. Nevertheless, the therapeutic efficiency is constrained by the exosomes they secrete, which are linked to energy metabolism and continuously stimulate the activation of neighboring quiescent hepatic stellate cells (qHSCs). Herein, an intercellular communication interference strategy is designed utilizing paeoniflorin (PF) loaded and hyaluronic acid (HA) coated copper-doped ZIF-8 (PF@HA-Cu/ZIF-8, PF@HCZ) to reduce energy-related exosome secretion from aHSCs, thus preserving neighboring qHSCs in a quiescent state. Simultaneously, the released copper and zinc ions disrupt key enzymes involved in glycolysis to reduce bioenergy synthesis in aHSCs, thereby promoting the reversion of aHSCs to a quiescent state and further decreasing exosome secretion. Therefore, PF@HCZ can effectively sustain both aHSCs and qHSCs in a metabolically dormant state to ultimately alleviate liver fibrosis. The study provides an enlightening strategy for interrupting exosome-mediated intercellular communication and remodeling the energy metabolic status of HSCs with boosted antifibrogenic activity.

Early correction of childhood malocclusion is timely managing morphological, structural, and functional abnormalities at different dentomaxillofacial developmental stages. The selection of appropriate imaging examination and comprehensive radiological diagnosis and analysis play an important role in early correction of childhood malocclusion. This expert consensus is a collaborative effort by multidisciplinary experts in dentistry across the nation based on the current clinical evidence, aiming to provide general guidance on appropriate imaging examination selection, comprehensive and accurate imaging assessment for early orthodontic treatment patients.
Humans ; Malocclusion/diagnostic imaging* ; Child ; Consensus

OBJECTIVE: To characterize a glycosyltransferase (RpUGT1) from Rheum palmatum and investigate its specificity toward flavonoid compounds. METHODS: The RpUGT1 was expressed in Escherichia coli and screened for catalytic activity against a range of flavonoid substrates using a high-throughput HPLC assay method. Mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) were used to determine the structure of the product. Homology modeling, molecular docking analyses and site-directed mutagenesis studies were conducted to identify key residues responsible for its function. RESULTS: The recombinant RpUGT1 protein exhibited catalytic activity towards various flavonoids. Notably, RpUGT1 catalyzed the glycosylation of isorhamnetin to form 3-O-glucoside and kaempferol to form 7-O-glucoside, utilizing uridine diphosphate (UDP) glucose as the sugar donor. The homology modeling and molecular docking analyses identified key residues responsible for its activity. Subsequent site-directed mutagenesis studies highlighted the crucial role of K307 in catalysis. CONCLUSION These discoveries offer valuable perspectives on the role of the UGT family and establish a groundwork for forthcoming research on the synthesis of flavonoids in plants.

Objective This article aims to investigate the association between hypertension and the risk of GSD by conducting a national multicenter study,a systematic review,and a meta-analysis.Methods The study was conducted in three stages.In the first stage,subjects were recruited for health examination in four hospitals in Chengdu,Tianjin,Beijing,and Chongqing,China,from 2015 to 2020,and the multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between hypertension and the risk of GSD in each center.In the second stage,Embase,PubMed,Wanfang Data,VIP,and CNKI databases were searched for related studies published up to May 2021,and a meta-analysis was conducted to further verify such association.In the third stage,the random effects model was used for pooled analysis of the results of the multicenter cross-sectional study and the findings of previous literature.Results A total of 633 948 participants were enrolled in the cross-sectional study,and the prevalence rate of GSD was 7.844%.The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that hypertension was positively associated with the risk of GSD(P＜0.05).Subgroup analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the association between hypertension and GSD between individuals with different sexes,ages,and subtypes of GSD.A total of 80 articles were included in the systematic review and the meta-analysis,and the results showed that the risk of GSD was increased by 1.022 times for every 10 mmHg increase in diastolic pressure and 1.014 times for every 10 mmHg increase in systolic pressure.Conclusion Hypertension significantly increases the risk of GSD,and the findings of this study will provide a basis for the etiology of GSD and the identification of high-risk groups.

Objective This study analyzes the risk points in the quality control of bioink and the main processes of bioprinting,clarifies and explores the quality control and supervision model for bioprinting medical devices,and provides theoretical and practical guidance to ensure the safety and effectiveness of bioprinting medical devices.Methods The quality control risk points throughout the bioprinting process were comprehensively analyzed,with a particular focus on bioprinting materials and key processes.The regulatory model and methods for bioprinting medical devices were examined.This research concentrated on critical technologies such as extrusion,laser-assisted,and in situ bioprinting,assessing their potential for clinical applications and regulatory challenges.Results Bioink from different sources should meet regulatory requirements.It is essential to ensure aseptic handling of raw materials and to validate sterilization under"worst-case"conditions.Conclusion As bioprinting technology advances rapidly,corresponding research into materials,processes,and quality risk control should be conducted to ensure the concurrent development of the regulatory system.This will continuously contribute to the orderly progression of the entire industry and human health.

BACKGROUND:Berberine has the potential to induce osteogenic differentiation of various mesenchymal stem cells under normal conditions and special conditions such as high glucose,infection and inflammation.It is a natural small molecule drug that can induce bone formation in seed cells instead of growth factors,and has great application prospect in bone tissue engineering. OBJECTIVE:To review and summarize the research progress in the osteogenic mechanism and efficacy of berberine,especially its osteogenic potential under high glucose,infection and inflammation conditions,and its biological safety,so as to provide theoretical basis for its development and application in bone tissue engineering. METHODS:PubMed,WanFang,and CNKI were searched for relevant literature using the keywords of"berberine,bone defects,bone repair,bone regeneration,osteoinductive,osteoporosis,osteoblast,osteoclast,bone tissue engineering,bone,high glucose,diabetes,inflam*,infect*"in English and Chinese,respectively.A total of 105 literatures were selected for review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Berberine can be used to treat multiple diseases including bone diseases,and it has the ability to promote bone regeneration.This article systematically reviews the mechanism of berberine on bone regeneration and in vivo and in vitro studies.Studies have shown that it can play a role in bone repair by promoting osteogenesis,inhibiting osteoclast formation and activity,and preventing osteoporosis.It shows excellent osteogenic differentiation potential mainly via Wnt/β-catenin,PI3K/AKT,EGFR/MEK/p38MAPK,cAMP/PKA/CREB,ERK and other signaling pathways.Berberine can also relieve the inhibition of osteogenic differentiation caused by high glucose,infection and inflammation,which provides more possibilities for the treatment of bone defects in patients with diabetes or infection and inflammation in the bone defect site.Berberine also has the advantages of low toxicity,low price,easy access(currently it can be synthesized),which is a relatively ideal bone induction potential drug.In recent years,the application of berberine in the treatment of bone defect tends to be localized,mainly through the combination with bone tissue engineering technology to improve bioavailability,and has shown good bone repair effect and excellent biological safety in animal experiments.In addition,preclinical experiments have shown splendid bone regeneration potential in the conditions of diabetes,local infection and inflammation.In the future,more studies are needed to fully reveal the osteogenic mechanism and biological safety of berberine,and seek the most suitable controlled release loading system to make artificial bone replacement materials with good mechanical strength,efficacy and biological safety.

Islelet transplantation (IT) is an ideal treatment for type 1 diabetes. However, a large number of transplanted islet cells become lost due to immune responses and other reasons, resulting in a poor long-term efficacy of IT. Islet encapsulation is wrapping islet cells with semi-permeable materials for protecting insulin secretion function by islet cells, reducing islet cell apoptosis and minimizing immune responses. Nanotechnology enables a nanoscale control of encapsulated materials. A better "isolation" of islet cells and external environment is essential for prolonging the survival time of islet cells. This review summarized the advantages and disadvantages of different nanotechnologies in encapsulating IT for the goals of prolonging the survival of islet cells, improving insulin secretion and boosting the efficacy of IT.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigate the clinical and imaging features of Ewing sarcoma (ES) of the jaw. METHODS: Eight cases of pathologically diagnosed ES of the jaw from January 2010 to June 2022 were included in the study. Clinical and radiological features were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Among the eight cases, the mean age at onset was 29.4 years, and the male to female ratio was 7∶1. The predilecting site was the posterior part of mandible, accounting for 75% of the cases. The lesions often exhibited early numbness of the lower lip and lymphadenopathy. The main radiographic manifestation of mandibular lesions was ill-defined radiolucency, mixed with fibrous or brush-like tumor matrix, and soft tissue mass. The maxillary ES lesions mainly presented as lytic bone destruction accompanied by adjacent soft tissue mass. Periosteal ossification was rarely seen. CONCLUSIONS The clinical and imaging characteristics of ES in the jaw are helpful for its diagnosis.
Male ; Humans ; Female ; Sarcoma, Ewing/pathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Radiography ; Mandible/pathology* ; Lip ; Bone Neoplasms

【Objective】 To clarify the role and molecular mechanism of Tanshinone ⅡA (TanⅡA) in the pathological integration of granule cells in the dentate gyrus (DG) by using the mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). 【Methods】 Status epilepticus (SE) was induced in the mice with pilocarpine and treated with TanⅡA 5 mg/kg. After two months, Morris water maze was used to examine the spatial learning and memory ability and video surveillance was used to monitor spontaneous seizures. The DG was removed for staining of Timm, Prox-1, DCX and SynⅠ. PTEN, p-AKT, and p-S6 expressions were observed by Western blotting. 【Results】 TanⅡA decreased Timm score, SynⅠ, PSD-95 and pS6 levels, and increased the level of PTEN in the DG, and attenuated the formation of mossy fiber sproutings and basal dendrites of the granule cells. Video surveillance showed that TanⅡA reduced the frequency of Racine’ grade 5 seizures. 【Conclusion】 TanⅡA can effectively attenuate the abnormal integration of the granule cells in the DG by regulating PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway and thus plays an anti-epileptic role.