This study organizes and classifies acupuncture-related standards, and analyzes the current status and existing problems. At present, there are 63 international standards, 40 national standards, 6 industry standards, 43 local standards, and 194 group standards related to acupuncture. The current situation is characterized by an irrational standard structure and incomplete coverage of relevant fields; insufficient coordination mechanisms, with overlapping and redundant standards; slow updating of standards, lacking timeliness. It is suggested that the development of acupuncture-related standards should be promoted through the following measures: improving the structure of the standard system and establishing a sound collaborative management mechanism; implementing full-cycle management of standards in line with technological advancements; and building an acupuncture standards information platform to provide one-stop services.
Acupuncture Therapy/standards* ; Humans ; Acupuncture/standards*

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common diseases in elderly men, the incidence of which gradually increases with age and leads to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) are widely used for the treatment of BPH in China and some other countries. To explore the molecular mechanisms of CHMs for BPH, we conducted a review based on peer-reviewed English-language publications in PubMed and Web of Science databases from inception to December 31, 2023. This article primarily reviewed 32 papers on the use of CHMs and its active compounds in the treatment of BPH, covering animal and cell experiments, and identified relevant mechanisms of action. The results suggest that the mechanisms of action of CHMs in treating BPH may involve the regulation of sex hormones, downregulation of cell growth factors, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects, inhibition of cell proliferation, and promotion of apoptosis. CHMs also exhibit α-blocker-like effects, with the potential to relax urethral smooth muscle and alleviate LUTS. Additionally, we also reviewed 4 clinical trials and meta-analyses of CHMs for the treatment of BPH patients, which provided initial evidence of the safety and effectiveness of CHMs treatment. CHMs treatment for BPH shows advantages as a multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway therapy, which can mitigate the severity of the disease, improve LUTS, and may become a reliable treatment option in the future.
Prostatic Hyperplasia/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Male ; Animals

Successful cloning through somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) faces significant challenges due to epigenetic obstacles. Recent studies have highlighted the roles of H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 as potential contributors to these obstacles. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. In this study, we generated genome-wide maps of H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 in mouse pre-implantation NT embryos. Our analysis revealed that aberrantly over-represented broad H3K4me3 domain and H3K27me3 signal lead to increased bivalent marks at gene promoters in NT embryos compared with naturally fertilized (NF) embryos at the 2-cell stage, which may link to relatively low levels of H3K36me3 in NT 2-cell embryos. Notably, the overexpression of Setd2, a H3K36me3 methyltransferase, successfully restored multiple epigenetic marks, including H3K36me3, H3K4me3, and H3K27me3. In addition, it reinstated the expression levels of ZGA-related genes by reestablishing H3K36me3 at gene body regions, which excluded H3K27me3 from bivalent promoters, ultimately improving cloning efficiency. These findings highlight the excessive bivalent state at gene promoters as a potent barrier and emphasize the removal of these barriers as a promising approach for achieving higher cloning efficiency.
Animals ; Mice ; Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase/biosynthesis* ; Histones/genetics* ; Nuclear Transfer Techniques ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Embryo, Mammalian/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To assess the independent and combined effects of air pollutants, meteorological factors, and greenspace exposure on new tuberculosis (TB) cases. METHODS: TB case data from Shanghai (2013-2018) were obtained from the Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Environmental data on air pollutants, meteorological variables, and greenspace exposure were obtained from the National Tibetan Plateau Data Center. We employed a distributed-lag nonlinear model to assess the effects of these environmental factors on TB cases. RESULTS: Increased TB risk was linked to PM _2.5, PM ₁₀, and rainfall, whereas NO ₂, SO ₂, and air pressure were associated with a reduced risk. Specifically, the strongest cumulative effects occurred at various lags: PM _2.5 ( RR = 1.166, 95% CI: 1.026-1.325) at 0-19 weeks; PM ₁₀ ( RR = 1.167, 95% CI: 1.028-1.324) at 0-18 weeks; NO ₂ ( RR = 0.968, 95% CI: 0.938-0.999) at 0-1 weeks; SO ₂ ( RR = 0.945, 95% CI: 0.894-0.999) at 0-2 weeks; air pressure ( RR = 0.604, 95% CI: 0.447-0.816) at 0-8 weeks; and rainfall ( RR = 1.404, 95% CI: 1.076-1.833) at 0-22 weeks. Green space exposure did not significantly impact TB cases. Additionally, low temperatures amplified the effect of PM _2.5 on TB. CONCLUSION Exposure to PM _2.5, PM ₁₀, and rainfall increased the risk of TB, highlighting the need to address air pollutants for the prevention of TB in Shanghai.
China/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Tuberculosis/epidemiology* ; Incidence ; Meteorological Concepts ; Particulate Matter/adverse effects* ; Environmental Exposure ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Air Pollution ; Middle Aged

【Objective】 To analyze the position of the feeding artery entering the renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with 3D Slicer software, so as to explore the distribution pattern of the tumor artery and to provide an anatomical basis for the accurate surgical resection. 【Methods】 The clinical data of RCC patients who underwent partial nephrectomy in the Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University during Jan.2021 and Jun.2022 were collected.The preoperative renal artery CT angiography data were imported into 3D Slicer software in DICOM format to construct the relative positions of tumor-feeding artery from horizontal, sagittal and coronary planes.The number and distribution of tumor feeding arteries in each plane were analyzed. 【Results】 A total of 112 patients (59 male and 53 female) with single tumor were involved.RENAL score was 4-10.The tumor stages were T1a in 58 cases, T1b in 48 cases, and T2a in 6 cases.Among them, 38 cases (33.93%) had 1 tumor artery, 53 cases (47.32%) had 2 tumor arteries, and 21 cases (18.75%) had 3 tumor arteries.Of these 207 tumor arteries, 22 (10.63%) entered the tumor through the superficial part of the tumor bed, and 185 (89.37%) through the deep part. 【Conclusion】 In localized RCC, nearly 90% of the feeding arteries enter the tumor from deep part of the tumor bed, which provides an anatomical basis for accurate tumor resection and wound suture in partial nephrectomy.

In this study, we have firstly investigated the feasibility of rhamnolipids as targeting ligands to develop drug delivery systems for active targeting of pancreatic cancer. Rhamnolipid-modified liposomes (RhaL-Lip) were prepared by a thin film hydration method, and were evaluated preliminarily for RhaL-Lip physicochemical properties, in vitro release characteristics, ex/in vivo targeting, and in vitro pharmacodynamics. RhaL-Lip exhibited excellent targeting ability of human pancreatic cancer (BxPC-3) cells and enhanced anti-tumor effects. On this basis, the natural structural analogue of rhamnolipid, Polyphyllin VII (PPVII), as the targeting material and active ingredient, we explored the targeting and anti-tumor activity of Polyphyllin VII modified liposomes (PPVII-Lip). The results showed that PPVII-Lip has a homogeneous particle size and has a more robust targeting ability for solid tumor in vivo, which can achieve more enrichment at the tumor site. Compared with gemcitabine, the first-line chemotherapy drug for pancreatic cancer, PPVII-Lip showed a stronger inhibitory effect. In conclusion, this targeted drug delivery strategy is expected to provide beneficial ideas for drug delivery studies in targeted therapy for pancreatic cancer. Animal experiments were conducted with approval from the Animal Ethics Committee of southwest university (approval number: IACUC-20210130-2).

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of shikosin （SHI） on psoriasis （PSO） and explore the underlying mechanism via the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase （cGAS）/stimulator of interferon genes （STING） signaling pathway. MethodHaCaT cells were classified into normal culture（Control）， a mixture of five proinflammatory cytokines（M5）， low-， medium-， and high-dose SHI （L-SHI， M-SHI， and H-SHI， respectively）， and SHI+ADU-S100 groups. The cells in the M5 group were stimulated with 10 μg·L^-1 interleukin （IL）-1α， IL-17， IL-22， tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α， and oncostatin M （OSM） for 48 h. The cells in the L-SHI， M-SHI， and H-SHI groups were treated with 0.1， 1， 10 μmol·L^-1 SHI， respectively， on the basis of the treatment in the M5 group. The cells in the SHI+ADU-S100 group were treated with 10 μmol·L^-1 STING activator ADU-S100 on the basis of the treatment in the H-SHI group. The methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium （MTT） assay and colony formation assay were employed to examine the effect of SHI on the proliferation of HaCaT cells. The wound healing assay was employed to examine the effect of SHI on the migration of HaCaT cells. Flow cytometry was employed to detect the effect of SHI on the apoptosis of HaCaT cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the levels of IL-1β， IL-6， IL-15， IL-23， and interferon-γ （IFN-γ） in HaCaT cells. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of cGAS and STING in HaCaT cells. ResultCompared with Control group， the M5 group showed decreased survival rate， colony formation， and would healing rate of HaCaT cells， increased apoptosis rate， elevated levels of IL-1β， IL-6， IL-15， IL-23， and IFN-γ， and up-regulated protein levels of cGAS and STING （P<0.01）. Compared with the M5 group， the L-SHI， M-SHI， and H-SHI groups showed increased survival rate， cell colony formation， and wound healing rate， decreased apoptosis rate， lowered levels of IL-1β， IL-6， IL-15， IL-23， and IFN-γ， and down-regulated protein levels of cGAS and STING （P<0.01）. Compared with the H-SHI group， the SHI+ADU-S100 group showed decreased survival rate， cell colony formation， and wound healing rate， increased apoptosis rate， risen levels of IL-1β， IL-6， IL-15， IL-23， and IFN-γ， and up-regulated protein levels of cGAS and STING （P<0.01）. ConclusionSHI can inhibit the inflammation in the cell model of PSO by inhibiting the cGAS/STING signaling pathway.

Objective:To investigate the value of implantable cardiac monitor (ICM) in the diagnosis and treatment of patients over 60 years old with unexplained syncope.Methods:This was a multi-center, prospective cohort study. Between June 2018 and April 2021, patients over the age of 60 with unexplained syncope at Beijing Hospital, Fuwai Hospital, Beijing Anzhen Hospital and Puren Hospital were enrolled. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on their decision to receive ICM implantation (implantation group and conventional follow-up group). The endpoint was the recurrence of syncope and cardiogenic syncope as determined by positive cardiac arrhythmia events recorded at the ICM or diagnosed during routine follow-up. Kaplan‐Meier survival analysis was used to compare the differences of cumulative diagnostic rate between the 2 groups. A multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to determine independent predictors of diagnosis of cardiogenic syncope in patients with unexplained syncope.Results:A total of 198 patients with unexplained syncope, aged (72.9±8.25) years, were followed for 558.0 (296.0,877.0) d, including 98 males (49.5%). There were 100 (50.5%) patients in the implantation group and 98 (49.5%) in the conventional follow-up group. Compared with conventional follow-up group, patients in the implantation group were older, more likely to have comorbidities, had a higher proportion of first degree atrioventricular block indicated by baseline electrocardiogram, and had a lower body mass index (all P<0.05). During the follow-up period, positive cardiac arrhythmia events were recorded in 58 (58.0%) patients in the ICM group. The diagnosis rate (42.0% (42/100) vs. 4.1% (4/98), P<0.001) and the intervention rate (37.0% (37/100) vs. 2.0% (2/98), P<0.001) of cardiogenic syncope in the implantation group were higher than those in the conventional follow-up group (all P<0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the cumulative diagnostic rate of cardiogenic syncope was significantly higher in the implantation group than in the traditional follow-up group ( HR=11.66, 95% CI 6.49-20.98, log-rank P<0.001). Multivariate analysis indicated that ICM implantation, previous atrial fibrillation, diabetes mellitus or first degree atrioventricular block in baseline electrocardiogram were independent predictors for cardiogenic syncope (all P<0.05). Conclusions:ICM implantation improves the diagnosis and intervention rates in patients with unexplained syncope, and increases diagnostic efficiency in patients with unexplained syncope.