Background/Aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a significant risk factor for gallstone formation, but mechanisms underlying MASH-related gallstone formation remain unclear. Golgi membrane protein 1 (GOLM1) participates in hepatic cholesterol metabolism and is upregulated in MASH. Here, we aimed to explore the role of GOLM1 in MASH-related gallstone formation. Methods: The UK Biobank cohort was used for etiological analysis. GOLM1 knockout (GOLM1-/-) and wild-type (WT) mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). Livers were excised for histology and immunohistochemistry analysis. Gallbladders were collected to calculate incidence of cholesterol gallstones (CGSs). Biles were collected for biliary lipid analysis. HepG2 cells were used to explore underlying mechanisms. Human liver samples were used for clinical validation. Results: MASH patients had a greater risk of cholelithiasis. All HFD-fed mice developed MASH, and the incidence of gallstones was 16.7% and 75.0% in GOLM1-/- and WT mice, respectively. GOLM1-/- decreased biliary cholesterol concentration and output. In vivo and in vitro assays confirmed that GOLM1 facilitated cholesterol efflux through upregulating ATP binding cassette transporter subfamily G member 5 (ABCG5). Mechanistically, GOLM1 translocated into nucleus to promote osteopontin (OPN) transcription, thus stimulating ABCG5-mediated cholesterol efflux. Moreover, GOLM1 was upregulated by interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, we confirmed that IL-1β, GOLM1, OPN, and ABCG5 were enhanced in livers of MASH patients with CGSs. Conclusions In MASH livers, upregulation of GOLM1 by IL-1β increases ABCG5-mediated cholesterol efflux in an OPN-dependent manner, promoting CGS formation. GOLM1 has the potential to be a molecular hub interconnecting MASH and CGSs.

OBJECTIVE: Varied acupoint selections represent a potential cause of the uncertainty surrounding the efficacy of acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Skin temperature, a guiding factor for acupoint selection, may help to address this issue. This study explored thermal sensitization of acupoints used for the treatment of knee OA. METHODS: This cross-sectional case-control study enrolled cases aged 45-75 years with symptomatic knee OA and age- and gender-matched non-knee OA controls in a 1:1 ratio. All participants underwent infrared thermographic imaging. The primary outcome was the relative skin temperature of acupoint (STA), and the secondary outcome was the absolute STA of 11 acupoints. The Z test was used to compare the relative and absolute STAs between the groups. Principal component analysis was used to extract the common factors (CFs, acupoint cluster) in the STAs. A general linear model was used to identify factors affecting the STA in the knee OA cases. For the group comparisons of relative STA, P < 0.0045 (adjusted for 11 acupoints through Bonferroni correction) was considered to indicate statistical significance. For other analyses, P < 0.05 was used as the threshold for statistical significance. RESULTS: The analysis included 308 participants, consisting of 151 cases (mean age: [64.58 ± 6.67] years; male: 25.83%; mean body mass index: [25.70 ± 3.16] kg/m²) and 157 controls (mean age: [63.37 ± 5.96] years; male: 26.11%; mean body mass index: [24.47 ± 2.84] kg/m²). The relative STAs of ST34 (P = 0.0001), EX-LE2 (P < 0.0001), EX-LE5 (P = 0.0006), SP10 (P < 0.0001), BL40 (P = 0.0012) and GB39 (P = 0.0037) were higher in the knee OA group. No difference was found in the STAs of ST35, ST36, SP9, GB33 and GB34. Four CFs were identified for relative STA in both groups. The acupoints within each CF were consistent between the groups. The mean values of the relative STAs across each CF were higher in the knee OA group. In the knee OA cases, no factors were observed to affect the relative STA, while age and gender were found to affect the absolute STA. CONCLUSION Among patients with knee OA, thermal sensitization occurs in the acupoints of the lower extremity, exhibiting localized and regional thermal consistencies. The thermally sensitized acupoints that we identified in this study, ST34, SP10, EX-LE2, EX-LE5, GB39 and BL40, may be good choices for the acupuncture treatment of knee OA. Please cite this article as: Tu JF, Wang XZ, Yan SY, Wang YR, Yang JW, Shi GX, Zhang WZ, Jing LN, Yang LS, Liu DH, Wang LQ, Mi BH. Thermal sensitization of acupoints in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A cross-sectional case-control study. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(3): 289-296.
Humans ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/physiopathology* ; Male ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Acupuncture Points ; Case-Control Studies ; Aged ; Skin Temperature ; Acupuncture Therapy

Background/Aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a significant risk factor for gallstone formation, but mechanisms underlying MASH-related gallstone formation remain unclear. Golgi membrane protein 1 (GOLM1) participates in hepatic cholesterol metabolism and is upregulated in MASH. Here, we aimed to explore the role of GOLM1 in MASH-related gallstone formation. Methods: The UK Biobank cohort was used for etiological analysis. GOLM1 knockout (GOLM1-/-) and wild-type (WT) mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). Livers were excised for histology and immunohistochemistry analysis. Gallbladders were collected to calculate incidence of cholesterol gallstones (CGSs). Biles were collected for biliary lipid analysis. HepG2 cells were used to explore underlying mechanisms. Human liver samples were used for clinical validation. Results: MASH patients had a greater risk of cholelithiasis. All HFD-fed mice developed MASH, and the incidence of gallstones was 16.7% and 75.0% in GOLM1-/- and WT mice, respectively. GOLM1-/- decreased biliary cholesterol concentration and output. In vivo and in vitro assays confirmed that GOLM1 facilitated cholesterol efflux through upregulating ATP binding cassette transporter subfamily G member 5 (ABCG5). Mechanistically, GOLM1 translocated into nucleus to promote osteopontin (OPN) transcription, thus stimulating ABCG5-mediated cholesterol efflux. Moreover, GOLM1 was upregulated by interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, we confirmed that IL-1β, GOLM1, OPN, and ABCG5 were enhanced in livers of MASH patients with CGSs. Conclusions In MASH livers, upregulation of GOLM1 by IL-1β increases ABCG5-mediated cholesterol efflux in an OPN-dependent manner, promoting CGS formation. GOLM1 has the potential to be a molecular hub interconnecting MASH and CGSs.

Objective:To investigate the impacts of preoperative regional arterial infusion chemotherapy(PRAC)combined with laparoscopic surgery on the efficacy,safety,immune function,and serum levels of matrix metallopro-teinase-7(MMP-7)and human cartilage glycoprotein(YKL-40)in patients with colorectal cancer.Methods:This study retrospectively selected 164 patients with colorectal cancer(January 2014 to December 2016)as the research subjects.Patients who underwent conventional treatment and laparoscopic surgery were included into control group(81 cases);patients undergoing PRAC+laparoscopic surgery were included into observation group(83 cases).The clinical efficacy,stress response indicators,immune function related indicators,changes in serum MMP-7 and YKL-40 levels,and occurrence of adverse reactions in two groups were observed before treatment(T0)and after 4 cycles of chemotherapy(T1).Results:At T1,the total effective rate of observation group(85.54%)was greatly higher than that of control group(67.90%)(P<0.05).The levels of cortisol(Cor),neutrophile granulocyte(NE),white blood cell count(WBC),and interleukin(IL)-6 were prominently increased in both groups(P<0.05),but the levels of these indicators in observation group were greatly lower than those in control group(P<0.05).The levels of IgM and IgA in both groups were greatly reduced(P<0.05),but the levels of IgM and IgA in observation group were prominently higher than those in control group(P<0.05).The levels of MMP-7 and YKL-40 decreased in both groups(P<0.05),and the level in observation group was prominently lower than that in control group(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the overall incidence of adverse reactions and 5-year survival rate between control group and observation group(P>0.05).Conclusion:The combination of PRAC and laparoscopic surgery has prominent healing effects and certain safety in patients with colorectal cancer.It can effectively improve immune function,reduce serum MMP-7 and YKL-40 levels.

Objective To investigate the effect of high,middle and low dose dexmedetomidine combined with sufentanil on perioperative analgesia and sleep quality in patients with oral cancer.Methods A total of 158 patients undergoing oral cancer surgery in the hospital from January 2023 to June 2024 were selected and divided into group A[n=53,0.6 μg/(kg h)dexmedetomidine+2 μg/kg sufentanil]and group B[n=53,0.4 μg/(kg h)dexmedetomidine+2 μg/kg sufentanil],Group C[n=52,0.2μg/(kg·h)dexmedetomidine+2 μg/kg sufentanil]by random number table method.Stress response indexes[brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF),cortisol(Cor),interleukin-6(IL-6)],bifrequency index and analgcsia nociccption index(BIS,ANI),pain level,T lym-phocyte subsets CD3+,CD4+,CD8+levels,Richards Campbell Sleep Scale(RCSQ)score and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.Results Compared with 12 h before surgery,serum levels of BDNF,Cor and IL-6 in 3 groups were decreased 48 h after surgery,group A was lower than group B,group C,group B was lower than group C(P＜0.05).Compared with T0,BIS at T1～T3 were significantly different between the 3 groups(P＜0.05),BIS at T1～T3 were lower than those at T0(P＜0.05),and there was no significant difference in BIS at the same time between the 3 groups(P＞0.05),from T,to T3,ANI was higher than that at T0,and ANI in group A was higher than that in group B and group C(P＜0.05).Compared with the preoperative results,the pain scores of the 3 groups were decreased at 1 h,6 h,24 h and 48 h after operation,and the pain scores of group A were lower than those of group B and C,and the pain scores of group B were lower than those of group C(P＜0.05).After operation,CD3+and CD4+were decreased in all 3 groups,group A was lower than group B and group C,group B was lower than group C(P＜0.05),and CD8+was increased in all 3 groups,group A was higher than group B and group C,group B was higher than group C(P＜0.05).Compared with 1 day before the operation,the sleep quality scores of the three groups on the night after the operation and the second night after the operation were all decreased,group A was lower than group B and group C,and group B was lower than group C(P＜0.05).The incidence of hypotension and sinus bradycardia in group A was higher than that in group B and group C(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of hypotension and sinus bradycardia between group B and group C(P＞0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of nausea,vomiting and dizziness among the three groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion The analgesic effect of 0.6 μg/(kg·h)dose dexmedetomidine com-bined with sufentanil can effectively reduce the body's stress response and immune suppression,improve sleep quality,but with a greater incidence of intraoperative hypotension and bradycardia.

Objective To investigate the status of hearing impaired children's hearing device independence skills,and to explore the ways to improve their self-use of hearing equipment.Methods This study surveyed 64 re-habilitation teachers and 411 parents of children with hearing impairment aged 0-12 years.Through face-to-face or remote telephone interview,3 good habits(A asking parents for advice before removing the HA,B putting the de-vice into a moisture-proof box after removing it,C bringing batteries to school and knowing where are them)and 3 key abilities[D wearing the device independently,E replacing the battery independently,and F independently handle foreign bodies in the ear mold(Fa)and water vapor(Fb)]was investigated.The age when mastering skills or de-veloping habits difference of hearing impaired children in different groups were compared.Results ① The ratio of ability D in the bilateral CI group and the bilateral HA group of preschool children was 30.97％and 18.57％respec-tively.Among elementary school children,85.29％and 90.70％had this ability respectively.② The ratio of ability E in the bilateral CI group,the bilateral HA group and the bimodel group were 11.50％,15.71％and 16.49％,re-spectively.Among elementary school children,64.71％,53.49％and 68.52％had this ability,respectively.③Among preschool children,there was no statistical difference in age when different equipment groups developed the three good habits and acquired ability D and E(P＞0.05).④ Among primary school children,there was a statisti-cal difference in the age when different equipment groups formed habit A(P＜0.05),and the age when double CI group had this ability was slightly earlier than the double HA group.There was no significant difference in other abilities among age groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion The age at which hearing impaired children develop the three good habits precedes the age at which they master the key skills,which accords with the law of skill acquisition and development of ordinary children.Corresponding teaching process should be based on the age and ability of hearing-impaired children without considering the type of equipment.

Objective To study the efficacy and safety of less invasive surfactant administration(LISA)combined with budesonide and supported by nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation(NIPPV)in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome(RDS).Methods Premature infants with RDS at the gestational age of 26-32 weeks in the neonatal ward of Xuzhou Central Hospital from Feb-ruary 2022 to March 2024 were divided into the observation group and the control group in this prospective randomized controlled trial.The control group suspended nasal continuous positive airway pressure(NCPAP),they were intubated and infused with PS into the lung through endotracheal tube and extubated(INSURE),then continued to receive NCPAP.In the observation group,a LISA tube was insert-ed through the vocal cords under direct vision with direct laryngoscope,then infused pulmonary surfactant(PS)and budesonide into the lung when NIPPV ventilation was applied.The results of blood gas analysis at 1h and 6h after intratracheal instillation of PS,medication administration,clinical efficacy,related complications of budesonide,bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD)were compared between the two groups.Results A total of 126 preterm infants with RDS were enrolled in the study,including 65 in the observation group and 61 in the control group.The incidence of regurgitation in the observation group were lower than those in the control group[(10.8％(7/65)vs 24.6％(15/61)],and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).The PaO2/FiO2(P/F)in the observation group at 1h and 6h were higher than those in the control group,while PaCO2were lower than those in the control group,and the differences were statis-tically significant(all P＜0.05).The duration of non-invasive respiratory support(11.4±4.6 days vs 15.9±5.6 days),total oxygen inhaling(14.9±6.9 days vs 21.2±8.5 days),failure rate of machine withdrawal[(10.8％(7/65)vs 24.6％(15/61)],the rate of tracheal intubation within 72h[9.2％(6/65)vs 23.0％(14/61)],and re-administration of PS[18.5％(12/65)vs 34.4％(21/61)],the times of apnea[9.0(3.0-25.0)times vs 17.0(5.0-29.0)times]in the observation group were lower than those in the control group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).The occurrence of BPD in the observational group were lower than those in the control group[15.4％(10/65)vs 34.4％(21/61)](P＜0.05).There were no significant differences between two groups in the related complications of budesonide(all P＞0.05).Conclusion LISA combined with budesonide and supported by NIPPV can effectively improve oxygenation,shorten the duration of non-invasive respiratory support,reduce the mechanical ventilation rate,and reduce the incidence of BPD in the treatment of premature infants with RDS at the gestational age of 26-32 weeks.

[Objective]To explore and analyze the development of acupuncture and moxibustion based on the evolution of acupuncture needle materials.[Methods]By reviewing ancient literature,combining archaeological facts,and referring to the exploration process of modern and contemporary new needles,the evolution of needle materials and their clinical application history were systematically reviewed according to material classification.[Results]With the development of metal smelting technology and the gradual deepening of people's understanding of diseases,needles have evolved from needle stones and early non-metallic needles to metal needles such as bronze needles,gold and silver needles,iron needles,and steel needles,and then to modern stainless steel needles and various new types of needles such as electric needles,laser needles,magnetic needles,ultrasonic needles,nano needles,etc.Needles have undergone changes in shape,material and usage.The continuous improvement of acupuncture equipment has expanded the therapeutic scope of acupuncture and moxibustion and is more suitable for clinical.Under the background of modern medicine,the combination of medicine and industry has promoted the scientization,standardization and internationalization of acupuncture and moxibustion.[Conclusion]The development of needle materials has centered on improving clinical efficacy,enriching the variety of acupuncture techniques and expanding the scope of acupuncture applications;grounded in progressively sophisticated metallurgical technologies and increasingly refined theoretical system of acupuncture,which drives the advancement of the acupuncture discipline.

Objective Neurological disorders,constitute the majority of acupuncture-treated ailments.By critically examining a comprehensive selection of high-quality clinical randomized controlled trials(RCTs)from both domestic and international sources,we aimed to uncover the prevailing hot research topic and potential future directions in acupuncture therapy for these conditions.Methods Four databases,including PubMed,Web of science,Cochrane Library and EMBASE were searched.The search period is set from the establishment of each database to November 30,2023.And the search content was RCTs of acupuncture for neurological diseases classified as Ⅰ and Ⅱ by the Chinese Academy of Sciences were extracted.Key aspects extracted included annual publication volume,journals,disease types,outcomes,conclusions,acupuncture methods and control groups.Results A total of 81 high-quality RCTs were identified,revealing a consistent annual publication trend of acupuncture for neurological disorders.Key journals contributing to this research were Cephalalgia,Clinical Rehabilitation and Clinical Journal Of Pain,etc.The studies predominantly focused on migraine and sequela of apoplexy with migraine days/frequency and Ashworth scale and its modifications as commonly used primary outcome indicators,respectively.Overall,there were 73 RCTs that concluded that acupuncture for neurologic disorders were effective,8 were ineffective.The acupuncture methods were diverse,encompassing acupuncture,individualized acupuncture and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation,etc.The control measures were also varied,featuring sham acupuncture,sham-acupoint and micro-needle,etc.Conclusion With the development of acupuncture RCTs,their international influence has expanded.Research has shifted from validation of effectiveness to exploration of mechanisms,and despite the expansion of the disease spectrum of acupuncture,acupuncture trials have yet to be regulated and standardized,and the assessment of acupuncture efficacy remains controversial and challenging for the discipline.It is recommended to promote multi-center cooperation and strengthen the training of trialists etc.to provide more high-quality clinical evidence.