ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanisms by which Renshentang treats atherosclerosis （AS） in mice， focusing on the regulation of endothelial inflammatory responses mediated by transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 （TRPV1）. MethodsAn AS model was established in apolipoprotein E knockout （ApoE^-/-） mice fed a high-fat diet. The mice were randomly divided into a simvastatin group （0.02 g·kg^-1·d^-1） and low-， medium-， and high-dose Renshentang groups （1.77， 3.54， 7.08 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， with 12 mice in each group. ApoE^-/- mice were fed a high-fat diet and treated simultaneously. C57BL/6J mice fed a normal diet served as the normal group （n=9）. After continuous administration for 12 weeks， mice were anesthetized and the aortas were collected. Oil Red O staining was used to observe lipid plaque formation in the aorta. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was performed to examine pathological changes in the aortic root. Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the levels of pro-inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， as well as the expression of TRPV1， phosphorylated phosphoinositide 3-kinase （p-PI3K）， and phosphorylated protein kinase B （p-Akt） in the aortic root. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect endothelial nitric oxide synthase （eNOS） mRNA expression in the aorta， and Western blot was used to detect TRPV1 protein expression. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showed a significant increase in aortic plaque formation （P<0.01） and significantly elevated levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in the aortic root （P<0.01）. The expression levels of TRPV1， p-PI3K， and p-Akt were decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and eNOS mRNA expression was reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， all Renshentang groups significantly reduced aortic plaque formation （P<0.01）， significantly decreased TNF-α and IL-1β levels （P<0.01）， and markedly increased the expression levels of TRPV1， p-PI3K， p-Akt， and eNOS mRNA （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionRenshentang may inhibit endothelial inflammation and suppress the formation of AS by increasing TRPV1 protein expression and up-regulating the PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway， which may be one of the molecular mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effect against AS.

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of Renshentang on atherosclerosis （AS） in mice based on the role of transient receptor potential vanilloid1 （TRPV1） in regulating cholesterol metabolism in foam cells. MethodsNine SPF-grade 8-week-old C57BL/6J mice were set as a normal group， and 60 ApoE^-/- mice were randomized into model， positive drug （simvastatin， 0.02 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose （1.77， 3.54， 7.08 g·kg^-1·d^-1， respectively） Renshentang groups （n=12） according to body weight. The normal group was fed with a normal diet， and the other groups were fed with a high-fat diet and given corresponding drugs by oral gavage for the modeling of AS. The mice were administrated with corresponding drugs once a day for 12 weeks. After the last administration and fasting for 12 h， the aorta was collected. Plaque conditions， pathological changes， levels of total cholesterol （TC）， triglcerides （TG）， low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol （LDL-C）， and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol （HDL-C）， and the expression of TRPV1， liver X receptor （LXR）， inducible degrader of the low-density lipoprotein receptor （IDOL）， and low-density lipoprotein receptor （LDLR） in the aortic tissue were observed and detected by gross oil red O staining， HE staining， Western blot， immunohistochemistry， and real-time PCR. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group presented obvious plaque deposition in the aorta， raised levels of TC， TG， and LDL-C in the serum （P<0.01）， up-regulated expression level of LDLR in the aorta （P<0.01）， lowered level of HDL-C in the serum， and down-regulated expression levels of TRPV1， LXR， and IDOL in the aorta （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the positive drug and Renshentang at different doses alleviated AS， elevated the levels of HDL-C， TRPV1， LXR， and IDOL （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while lowering the levels of TC， TG， LDL-C， and LDLR （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionRenshentang has a lipid-lowering effect on AS mice. It can effectively reduce lipid deposition， lipid levels， and plaque area of AS mice by activating TRPV1 expression and regulating the LXR/IDOL/LDLR pathway.

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of Renshentang on atherosclerosis （AS） in mice based on the role of transient receptor potential vanilloid1 （TRPV1） in regulating cholesterol metabolism in foam cells. MethodsNine SPF-grade 8-week-old C57BL/6J mice were set as a normal group， and 60 ApoE^-/- mice were randomized into model， positive drug （simvastatin， 0.02 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose （1.77， 3.54， 7.08 g·kg^-1·d^-1， respectively） Renshentang groups （n=12） according to body weight. The normal group was fed with a normal diet， and the other groups were fed with a high-fat diet and given corresponding drugs by oral gavage for the modeling of AS. The mice were administrated with corresponding drugs once a day for 12 weeks. After the last administration and fasting for 12 h， the aorta was collected. Plaque conditions， pathological changes， levels of total cholesterol （TC）， triglcerides （TG）， low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol （LDL-C）， and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol （HDL-C）， and the expression of TRPV1， liver X receptor （LXR）， inducible degrader of the low-density lipoprotein receptor （IDOL）， and low-density lipoprotein receptor （LDLR） in the aortic tissue were observed and detected by gross oil red O staining， HE staining， Western blot， immunohistochemistry， and real-time PCR. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group presented obvious plaque deposition in the aorta， raised levels of TC， TG， and LDL-C in the serum （P<0.01）， up-regulated expression level of LDLR in the aorta （P<0.01）， lowered level of HDL-C in the serum， and down-regulated expression levels of TRPV1， LXR， and IDOL in the aorta （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the positive drug and Renshentang at different doses alleviated AS， elevated the levels of HDL-C， TRPV1， LXR， and IDOL （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while lowering the levels of TC， TG， LDL-C， and LDLR （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionRenshentang has a lipid-lowering effect on AS mice. It can effectively reduce lipid deposition， lipid levels， and plaque area of AS mice by activating TRPV1 expression and regulating the LXR/IDOL/LDLR pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy and safety of Tiaowei Jiannao acupuncture (acupuncture for regulating defensive qi and nourishing brain) for post-ischemic stroke insomnia (PISI). METHODS: A total of 96 patients with PISI were randomized into an acupuncture group (32 cases, 1 case was excluded), a medication group (32 cases, 1 case dropped out, 1 case was excluded) and a sham-acupuncture group (32 cases, 1 case dropped out, 1 case was excluded). In the acupuncture group, Tiaowei Jiannao acupuncture was applied at bilateral Shenmai (BL62), Zhaohai (KI6), Hegu (LI4), Taichong (LR3), and Baihui (GV20), Sishencong (EX-HN1), Yintang (GV24⁺), Shenting (GV24), once a day, 1-day interval was taken after 6-day treatment, for 3 weeks totally. In the medication group, eszopiclone tablet was given orally, 1-3 mg a time, once a day for 3 weeks. In the sham-acupuncture group, non-invasive sham acupuncture was applied, the acupoint selection, frequency and course of treatment were the same as the acupuncture group. Before treatment, after 2,3 weeks of treatment, the scores of Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), self-rating sleep scale (SRSS), National Institutes of Health Stroke scale (NIHSS), Hamilton depression scale-17 (HAMD-17) were observed; before and after treatment, the sleep parameters were recorded using polysomnography (PSG); and the efficacy and safety were evaluated after treatment in the 3 groups. RESULTS: After 2,3 weeks of treatment, the scores of PSQI, HAMD-17 and SRSS in the acupuncture group and the medication group, as well as the SRSS scores in the sham-acupuncture group were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05); after 2 weeks of treatment, the NIHSS score in the acupuncture group was decreased compared with that before treatment (P<0.05); after 3 weeks of treatment, the NIHSS scores in the acupuncture group, the medication group and the sham-acupuncture group were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05). After 3 weeks of treatment, the scores of PSQI, SRSS, HAMD-17 and NIHSS in the acupuncture group and the medication group, as well as the NIHSS score in the sham-acupuncture group were decreased compared with those after 2 weeks of treatment (P<0.05). After 2,3 weeks of treatment, the scores of PSQI, SRSS and HAMD-17 in the acupuncture group and the medication group were lower than those in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05), the NIHSS scores in the acupuncture group were lower than those in the medication group and the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05); after 3 weeks of treatment, HAMD-17 score in the acupuncture group was lower than that in the medication group (P<0.05), the NIHSS score in the medication group was lower than that in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05). Compared before treatment, after treatment, the total sleep time was prolonged (P<0.05), the wake after sleep onset, sleep latency, and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep latency were shortened (P<0.05), the sleep efficiency was improved (P<0.05), the number of awakenings was reduced (P<0.05), the percentage of rapid eye movement (REM%) and the percentage of NREM stage 1 (N1%) were decreased (P<0.05), the percentage of NREM stage 2 (N2%) and the percentage of NREM stage 3 (N3%) were increased (P<0.05) in the acupuncture group and the medication group; the sleep latency was shortened in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05). After treatment, the PSG indexes in the acupuncture group and the medication group were superior to those in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05); in the acupuncture group, the number of awakenings was less than that in the medication group (P<0.05), the REM% and N1% were lower than those in the medication group (P<0.05), the N2% and N3% were higher than those in the medication group (P<0.05). The total effective rate were 93.5% (29/31) and 90.0% (27/30) in the acupuncture group and the medication group respectively, which were higher than 10.0% (3/30) in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05). There was no serious adverse events in any of the 3 groups. CONCLUSION Tiaowei Jiannao acupuncture improves the insomnia symptoms in patients with ischemic stroke, improves the quality of sleep, increases the deep sleep, promotes the recovery of neurological function, and relieves the depression. It is effective and safe for the treatment of PISI.
Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Male ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/physiopathology* ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Acupuncture Points ; Treatment Outcome ; Adult ; Ischemic Stroke/complications* ; Stroke/complications* ; Sleep

For middle-aged and elderly patients with conditions such as spinal fractures and degenerative spinal diseases, spinal internal fixation is a core surgical procedure for reconstructing spinal stability, heavily relying on the biomechanical stability provided by pedicle screw systems. Whereas, these patients are often complicated by osteoporosis that can significantly compromise the stability of the bone-pedicle screw interface, leading to a marked increase in pedicle screw loosening and surgical failure rates. The bone cement-augmented pedicle screw technique, which involves injecting bone cement into the vertebral body or screw trajectory to optimize the mechanical properties of the bone-pedicle screw composite, has been proven to significantly enhance fixation strength and effectively prevent screw-related failures, thereby reducing the incidence of internal fixation failure in high-risk populations undergoing spinal fusion. However, the widespread clinical application of this technique has faced challenges such as inaccurate clinical decision-making (indication and contraindication selection), non-standardized operative practices, and insufficient awareness of complication prevention, resulting in considerable variability in clinical outcomes and even severe complications. To address this, Prof. Luo Fei from First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University initiated the project and the Chinese Association Orthopaedic Surgeons organized relevant experts to develop the Evidence-based clinical practice guideline for bone cement-augmented pedicle screw technique ( version 2025), based on current evidence. The guidelines put forward 8 recommendations regarding the clinical value, scope of application, and operational standards of the technique, aiming to provide evidence-based medical support and technical standardization for clinical decision-making.

Objective:To understand the prevalence of peer-recommended self-HIV testing in men who have sex with men (MSM), and provide clue for identifying key individuals who can promote self-HIV testing.Methods:Data were derived from the self-HIV testing kits application system operated by Shijiazhuang Tongxing Non-Governmental Organization from July 1, 2022 to May 31, 2024. Statistical analysis was conducted by using software SPSS 29.0, and χ2 test was used to analyze differences between groups. Visual analysis of recommendation networks was performed by using software yEd Graph Editor 3.24. Results:A total of 1 574 MSM applied for HIV self-testing kits. The majority of the MSM were unmarried (74.7%), with education level of college or abvoe (65.5%), and employed (53.2%). Among them, 54.8% (862/1 574) reported consistent condom use at each sex in the past three months, while 37.2% (585/1 574) uploaded their HIV test results. Additionally, 53 MSM (3.4%) recommended self-HIV testing to other MSM. Notably, MSM aged ≥30 years and MSM who had occasional condoms use at each sex in the past three months were more likely to recommend self-HIV testing to other MSM. The 53 MSM collectively recommended self-HIV testing to another 740 MSM, the average was 13.9 MSM recommended by 1 MSM. Among MSM who accepted recommendation, 3 HIV-positive cases were identified, indicating that 1 HIV infection was detected by 17.7 recommendations. In the four-round recommendation, 10 MSM participated in more than one round recommendation, all of them were HIV prevention volunteers. Others only participating in one round were common MSM. Eleven MSM recommended self-HIV testing to two or more MSM.Conclusions:Peer-recommendation has high efficiency in the promotion of self-HIV testing, with HIV prevention volunteers serving as the primary force and the common MSM acting as a supportive force. Future efforts should be made to fully use key individuals to promote self-HIV testing.

Objective:To understand the prevalence of peer-recommended self-HIV testing in men who have sex with men (MSM), and provide clue for identifying key individuals who can promote self-HIV testing.Methods:Data were derived from the self-HIV testing kits application system operated by Shijiazhuang Tongxing Non-Governmental Organization from July 1, 2022 to May 31, 2024. Statistical analysis was conducted by using software SPSS 29.0, and χ2 test was used to analyze differences between groups. Visual analysis of recommendation networks was performed by using software yEd Graph Editor 3.24. Results:A total of 1 574 MSM applied for HIV self-testing kits. The majority of the MSM were unmarried (74.7%), with education level of college or abvoe (65.5%), and employed (53.2%). Among them, 54.8% (862/1 574) reported consistent condom use at each sex in the past three months, while 37.2% (585/1 574) uploaded their HIV test results. Additionally, 53 MSM (3.4%) recommended self-HIV testing to other MSM. Notably, MSM aged ≥30 years and MSM who had occasional condoms use at each sex in the past three months were more likely to recommend self-HIV testing to other MSM. The 53 MSM collectively recommended self-HIV testing to another 740 MSM, the average was 13.9 MSM recommended by 1 MSM. Among MSM who accepted recommendation, 3 HIV-positive cases were identified, indicating that 1 HIV infection was detected by 17.7 recommendations. In the four-round recommendation, 10 MSM participated in more than one round recommendation, all of them were HIV prevention volunteers. Others only participating in one round were common MSM. Eleven MSM recommended self-HIV testing to two or more MSM.Conclusions:Peer-recommendation has high efficiency in the promotion of self-HIV testing, with HIV prevention volunteers serving as the primary force and the common MSM acting as a supportive force. Future efforts should be made to fully use key individuals to promote self-HIV testing.

For middle-aged and elderly patients with conditions such as spinal fractures and degenerative spinal diseases, spinal internal fixation is a core surgical procedure for reconstructing spinal stability, heavily relying on the biomechanical stability provided by pedicle screw systems. Whereas, these patients are often complicated by osteoporosis that can significantly compromise the stability of the bone-pedicle screw interface, leading to a marked increase in pedicle screw loosening and surgical failure rates. The bone cement-augmented pedicle screw technique, which involves injecting bone cement into the vertebral body or screw trajectory to optimize the mechanical properties of the bone-pedicle screw composite, has been proven to significantly enhance fixation strength and effectively prevent screw-related failures, thereby reducing the incidence of internal fixation failure in high-risk populations undergoing spinal fusion. However, the widespread clinical application of this technique has faced challenges such as inaccurate clinical decision-making (indication and contraindication selection), non-standardized operative practices, and insufficient awareness of complication prevention, resulting in considerable variability in clinical outcomes and even severe complications. To address this, Prof. Luo Fei from First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University initiated the project and the Chinese Association Orthopaedic Surgeons organized relevant experts to develop the Evidence-based clinical practice guideline for bone cement-augmented pedicle screw technique ( version 2025), based on current evidence. The guidelines put forward 8 recommendations regarding the clinical value, scope of application, and operational standards of the technique, aiming to provide evidence-based medical support and technical standardization for clinical decision-making.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect and mechanism of Zhishi Xiebai Guizhitang on the progression of atherosclerosis （AS） mice based on the regulation of cholesterol metabolism in foam cells by transient receptor potential channel ankyrin 1 （TRPA1）. MethodThe AS model was established on apolipoprotein E knockout （ApoE^-/-） mice with a high-fat diet. The mice were randomly divided into low-dose， middle-dose， and high-dose groups of Zhishi Xiebai Guizhitang （2.97， 5.94， 11.88 g·kg^-1） and simvastatin group （0.002 g·kg^-1）， and the drug was administered along with a high-fat diet. C57BL/6J mice were fed an ordinary diet as a normal group. After the above process， the aorta and serum of mice were taken. The pathological changes of the aortic root were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. The lipid plaques in the aorta were observed by gross oil redness. Serum levels of total cholesterol （TC）， triglyceride （TG）， low density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， and high density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C） were detected， and the levels of interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and interleukin-18 （IL-18） were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Western blot and immunohistochemical method were used to analyze the expression of TRPA1， ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 （ABCA1）， ATP-binding cassette transporter G1 （ABCG1）， and mannose receptor （CD206）. ResultFrom the perspective of drug efficacy， compared with the normal group， pathological changes such as plaque， a large number of foam cells， and cholesterol crystals appeared in the aorta of the model group， and the serum levels of TC， LDL-C， IL-1β， and IL-18 were significantly increased （P<0.01）. The HDL-C level was significantly decreased （P<0.01）， and the CD206 level in aortic tissue was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the lipid deposition in the aorta was alleviated in all drug administration groups. In addition， except for the high-dose group of Zhishi Xiebai Guizhitang， all drug administration groups could significantly decrease the levels of TC and LDL-C （P<0.01）. In terms of inflammation， except for the middle-dose group of Zhishi Xiebai Guizhitang， the levels of IL-1β and IL-18 were significantly decreased in all drug administration groups （P<0.05）. Moreover， Zhishi Xiebai Guizhitang could also up-regulate the levels of CD206， and the difference was significant in the middle-dose and high-dose groups （P<0.05）. From the perspective of mechanism， the expression levels of TRPA1， ABCA1， and ABCG1 in the aorta in the model group were lower than those in the normal group （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， all drug administration groups significantly increased the expression of TRPA1 in the aorta （P<0.05）， and the expressions of ABCA1 and ABCG1 were increased. The differences in the middle-dose and high-dose groups and the simvastatin group were significant （P<0.05）， which was basically consistent with the trend of immunohistochemical results. ConclusionZhishi Xiebai Guizhitang can effectively reduce blood lipid and inflammation levels and inhibit the formation of aortic plaque. The mechanism may be explained as follows： the expressions of ABCA1 and ABCG1 downstream are increased through TRPA1， which promotes cholesterol outflow in foam cells， thereby regulating cholesterol metabolism， intervening in inflammation level to a certain extent， and finally treating AS.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism and effect of Qingfei Paidu decoction on transient receptor potential vanilloid-1/Transient receptor potential ankyrin1 （TRPV1/TRPA1） based on heat-sensitive channel and inflammatory response. MethodAccording to body weight， 80 8-week-old C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the normal group， model group， dexamethasone group （5 mg·kg^-1）， and low-dose， medium-dose， and high-dose groups of Qingfei Paidu decoction （14.865， 29.73， 59.46 g·kg^-1）， with 12 mice in each group. In addition to the normal group， the other groups were administered 20 μL （1×10^-3 g·kg^-1） to each mouse by airway infusion to establish the acute lung injury （ALI） model. In the administration group， the drug was given 1 h after modeling and again after an interval of 24 h. The lung tissue was taken 36 h after modeling. Double lung wet/dry weight ratio（W/D）， hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， and Western blot were used to observe and detect the pathological changes of lung tissue， expression levels of inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and expressions of TRPV1 and TRPA1 proteins in heat-sensitive channel， nuclear factor kappa-B （NF-κB）， inhibitor of NF-κB （IκBα） in inflammatory pathway， and phosphorylated proteins. The phosphorylated protein/total protein ratio was calculated. ResultCompared with that in the normal group， the lung tissue of mice in the model group was seriously damaged， and pulmonary capillary permeability increased. Alveolar capillary congestion and dilation destroyed the complete structure of the alveolar， and the alveolar wall thickened. A large number of inflammatory cells and red blood cells were infiltrated， and pulmonary edema was significantly aggravated. The expressions of TNF-α， IL-6， TRPV1， TRPA1， phosphorylated NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65， and phosphorylated IκBα/IκBα were significantly increased （P<0.01）， and the whole lung W/D was significantly increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the dexamethasone group and low-dose， medium-dose， and high-dose groups of Qingfei Paidu decoction could significantly improve pulmonary edema. TNF-α， IL-6， TRPV1， TRPA1， lung tissue NF-κB p65， and IκBα phosphorylated protein/total protein ratio decreased significantly （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The whole lung W/D also decreased significantly （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionQingfei Paidu decoction has anti-inflammatory and protective effects on LPS-ALI mice， which can effectively reduce inflammation， induce diuresis， and alleviate edema. Its mechanism may be related to the regulation of the expression of TRPA1 and TRPV1 and the inhibition of the activation of the NF-κB pathway.