BACKGROUND: Hemorrhagic stroke (HS) is associated with significant disability and mortality. However, the relationship between meteorological factors and hemorrhagic stroke, as well as the potential moderating role of these factors, remains unclear. METHODS: Daily data on HS, air pollution, and meteorological conditions were collected from January 2015 to December 2021 in Ganzhou to analyze the relationship between meteorological factors and HS admissions. This analysis employed a time-stratified case-crossover design in conjunction with a distributional lag nonlinear model. Additionally, a bivariate response surface modelling was utilized to further investigate the interaction between meteorological factors and particulate matter. The study also stratified the analyses by gender and age. To investigate the potential impact of extreme weather conditions on HS, this study defined the 97.5th percentile as representing extremely high weather conditions, while the 2.5th percentile was classified as extremely low. RESULTS: In single-day lags, the risk of admissions for HS was significantly associated with extremely low temperature (lag 1-2 and lag 13-14), extremely low humidity (lag 1 and lag 9-12), and extremely high precipitation (lag 2-7). Females exhibited greater susceptibility to extremely low temperature than males within the single-day lag pattern in the subcomponent layer, with a maximum relative risk (RR) that was 7% higher. In the cumulative lag analysis, the risk of HS admissions was significantly associated with extremely high temperature (lag 0-8∼lag 0-14), extremely low humidity (lag 0-2∼lag 0-14), and extremely high precipitation (lag 0-4∼lag 0-14). Within the cumulative lag day structure of the subcomponent layer, both extremely low and extremely high temperature had a more pronounced effect on females and aged ≥65 years. The risk of HS admissions was positively associated with extremely high barometric pressure in the female subgroups (lag 0-1 and lag 0-2). The highest number of HS admissions occurred when high PM_2.5 concentrations coexisted with low precipitation. CONCLUSIONS Meteorological factors were significantly associated with the risk of hospital admissions for HS. Individuals who were female and aged ≥65 years were found to be more susceptible to these meteorological influences. Additionally, an interaction was observed between airborne particulate matter and meteorological factors. These findings contributed new evidence to the association between meteorological factors and HS.
China/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Female ; Male ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Cross-Over Studies ; Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data* ; Adult ; Hemorrhagic Stroke/etiology* ; Meteorological Concepts ; Weather ; Particulate Matter/analysis* ; Air Pollution/adverse effects* ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects* ; Aged, 80 and over ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Tongmai Hypoglycemic Capsule (THC) on myocardium injury in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) rats. METHODS: A total of 24 Sprague Dawley rats were fed for 4 weeks with high-fat and high-sugar food and then injected with streptozotocin intraperitoneally for the establishment of the DCM model. In addition, 6 rats with normal diets were used as the control group. After modeling, 24 DCM rats were randomly divided into the model, L-THC, M-THC, and H-THC groups by computer generated random numbers, and 0, 0.16, 0.32, 0.64 g/kg of THC were adopted respectively by gavage, with 6 rats in each group. After 12 weeks of THC administration, echocardiography, histopathological staining, biochemical analysis, and Western blot were used to detect the changes in myocardial structure, oxidative stress (OS), biochemical indexes, protein expressions of myocardial fibrosis, and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related faactor 2 (Nrf2) element, respectively. RESULTS: Treatment with THC significantly decreased cardiac markers such as creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase-MB, etc., (P<0.01); enhanced cardiac function indicators including heart rate, ejection fraction, cardiac output, interventricular septal thickness at diastole, and others (P<0.05 or P<0.01); decreased levels of biochemical indicators such as fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, aspartate transaminase, (P<0.05 or P<0.01); and decreased the levels of myocardial fibrosis markers α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and collagen I (Col-1) protein (P<0.01), improved myocardial morphology and the status of myocardial interstitial fibrosis. THC significantly reduced malondialdehyde levels in model rats (P<0.01), increased levels of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione (P<0.01), and significantly increased the expression of Nrf2, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1, heme oxygenase-1, and superoxide dismutase 2 proteins in the left ventricle of rats (P<0.01). CONCLUSION THC activates the Nrf2 signaling pathway and plays a protective role in reducing OS injury and cardiac fibrosis in DCM rats.
Animals ; Diabetic Cardiomyopathies/physiopathology* ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Myocardium/metabolism* ; Fibrosis ; Male ; Capsules ; Hypoglycemic Agents/therapeutic use* ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism* ; Rats ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/drug therapy*

OBJECTIVE: Comorbid pain and depression are common but remain difficult to treat. Electroacupuncture (EA) can effectively improve symptoms of depression and relieve pain, but its neural mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to detect cerebral changes after initiating a mouse pain model via constriction of the infraorbital nerve (CION) and then treating these animals with EA. METHODS: Forty male C57BL/6J mice were divided into 4 groups: control, CION model, EA, and sham acupuncture (without needle insertion). EA was performed on the acupoints Baihui (GV20) and Zusanli (ST36) for 20 min, once a day for 10 consecutive days. The mechanical withdrawal threshold was tested 3 days after the surgery and every 3 days after the intervention. The depressive behavior was evaluated with the tail suspension test, open-field test, elevated plus maze (EPM), sucrose preference test, and marble burying test. The rs-fMRI was used to detect the cerebral changes of the functional connectivity (FC) in the mice following EA treatment. RESULTS: Compared with the CION group, the mechanical withdrawal threshold increased in the EA group at the end of the intervention (P < 0.05); the immobility time in tail suspension test decreased (P < 0.05); and the times of the open arm entry and the open arm time in the EPM increased (both P < 0.001). There was no difference in the sucrose preference or marble burying tests (both P > 0.05). The fMRI results showed that EA treatment downregulated the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations and regional homogeneity values, while these indicators were elevated in brain regions including the amygdala, hippocampus and cerebral cortex in the CION model for comorbid pain and depression. Selecting the amygdala as the seed region, we found that the FC was higher in the CION group than in the control group. Meanwhile, EA treatment was able to decrease the FC between the amygdala and other brain regions including the caudate putamen, thalamus, and parts of the cerebral cortex. CONCLUSION EA can downregulate the abnormal activation of neurons in the amygdala and improve its FC with other brain regions, thus exerting analgesic and antidepressant effects. Please cite this article as: Yin X, Zeng XL, Lin JJ, Xu WQ, Cui KY, Guo XT, Li W, Xu SF. Brain functional changes following electroacupuncture in a mouse model of comorbid pain and depression: a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(2): 159-168.
Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Male ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Depression/diagnostic imaging* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Brain/diagnostic imaging* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice ; Pain/diagnostic imaging* ; Acupuncture Points

Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) have been widely used in regenerative medicine, but there is limited research on the stability of UC-MSCs formulation during production. This study aims to assess the stability of the cell stock solution and intermediate product throughout the production process, as well as the final product following reconstitution, in order to offer guidance for the manufacturing process and serve as a reference for formulation reconstitution methods. Three batches of cell formulation were produced and stored under low temperature (2-8 ℃) and room temperature (20-26 ℃) during cell stock solution and intermediate product stages. The storage time intervals for cell stock solution were 0, 2, 4, and 6 h, while for intermediate products, the intervals were 0, 1, 2, and 3 h. The evaluation items included visual inspection, viable cell concentration, cell viability, cell surface markers, lymphocyte proliferation inhibition rate, and sterility. Additionally, dilution and culture stability studies were performed after reconstitution of the cell product. The reconstitution diluents included 0.9% sodium chloride injection, 0.9% sodium chloride injection + 1% human serum albumin, and 0.9% sodium chloride injection + 2% human serum albumin, with dilution ratios of 10-fold and 40-fold. The storage time intervals after dilution were 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 h. The reconstitution culture media included DMEM medium, DMEM + 2% platelet lysate, 0.9% sodium chloride injection, and 0.9% sodium chloride injection + 1% human serum albumin, and the culture duration was 24 h. The evaluation items were viable cell concentration and cell viability. The results showed that the cell stock solution remained stable for up to 6 h under both low temperature (2-8 ℃) and room temperature (20-26 ℃) conditions, while the intermediate product remained stable for up to 3 h under the same conditions. After formulation reconstitution, using sodium chloride injection diluted with 1% or 2% human serum albumin maintained a viability of over 80% within 4 h. It was observed that different dilution factors had an impact on cell viability. After formulation reconstitution, cultivation in medium with 2% platelet lysate resulted in a cell viability of over 80% after 24 h. In conclusion, the stability of cell stock solution within 6 h and intermediate product within 3 h meets the requirements. The addition of 1% or 2% human serum albumin in the reconstitution diluent can better protect the post-reconstitution cell viability.

As the state vigorously promotes the high-quality development of hospitals and improves people's medical ex-perience,the patient-centered hospital should make full use of technological resources such as the Internet,5 G and artificial in-telligence,vigorously develop mobile medical services and artificial intelligence services,transform and optimize the diagnosis and treatment process,and streamline all links before,during and after diagnosis so as to provide better data services to the pa-tient to ensure that they can get things done with greater ease.The patients'medical experience and hospital management effi-ciency can be greatly improved.In this study,specific measures to create a new diagnosis and treatment model through the con-struction of smart hospital platform were expounded in order to provide references for related research and policy formulation of other Chinese medical institutions.

Objective To explore the value of energy spectrum CT based material imaging for quantitatively and qualitatively evaluating lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration.Methods Lumbar energy spectrum CT and MRI were collected from 82 patients with back and leg pain,and 74 keV CT,water(chondroitin sulfate[CS])and CS(water)material images were obtained.Intervertebral discs Pfirrmann grading(PG)was performed based on MRI.CT values,water(CS)and CS(water)concentration of nucleus pulposus(NP)and annulus fibrosus(AF)in lumbar intervertebral disc with different PG grades were compared,and the relations with PG grades were analyzed.Visual classification of lumbar intervertebral disc was performed based on water(CS)and CS(water)falsecolor map,while PG distribution of different visual classification were compared,and the relations with PG grades were observed.Results Totally 250 lumbar intervertebral discs were enrolled,including 22 of PG Ⅰ,49 of PG Ⅱ,83 of PG Ⅲ and 96 of PG Ⅳ.CT values,water(CS)and CS(water)concentration of anterior AF,NP and posterior AF of intervertebral disc with different PG grades were significantly different(all P＜0.001),and CT values were negatively correlated with PG grades(rs=-0.504,-0.399,-0.258,all P＜0.001),while water(CS)concentration was positively correlated(rs=0.476,0.753,0.324,all P＜0.001)but CS(water)concentration was negatively correlated with PG grades(rs=-0.486,-0.760,-0.329,all P＜0.001).Significant differences of PG grades were found among different water(CS)and CS(water)falsecolor images visual classification(all P＜0.001),while water(CS)and CS(water)falsecolor images visual classification were all positively correlated with PG grades(all rs≥0.700,all P＜0.001).Conclusion Energy spectrum CT based material imaging could be used for quantitatively and qualitatively evaluating lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration.

Objective:To explore the effect of psychological nursing on the prognosis of male patients with urethral riding inju-ry treated by ureteroscopic urethral catheter implantation(UCI).Methods:This study included 63 male patients with urethral strad-dle injury treated in the General Hospital of Southern Theater Command from February 2020 to March 2023.We divided the patients into a control(n=29)and an experimental group(n=34)according to the odd-or even-numbered days of admission and treated them by ureteroscopic UCI.Meanwhile those of the former group received routine nursing care and the latter underwent psychological nursing intervention in addition.We obtained the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS)and Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS)scores of the patients,recorded their postoperative pain scores,catheter-removal time,hospitalization days,postoperative complications and o-verall recovery status,and compared the data collected between the two groups.Results:At 3 days after surgery,both the SAS and SDS scores were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control(SAS:45.2±2.9 vs 50.4±3.6,P<0.05;SDS:41.9±2.5 vs 48.3±4.0,P<0.05),and so were the pain scores at24 hours(6.2±0.6 vs 6.8±0.9,P<0.05),48 hours(4.9±0.7 vs 6.1±0.8,P<0.05)and 72 hours after surgery(2.5±0.6 vs 3.9±0.9,P<0.05).The hospitalization time was remarkably shorter in the experimental than in the control group([14.1±2.9]vs[16.1±3.4]d,P<0.05),but there was no statistically significant difference in the time of postoperative catheterization between the two groups of patients([19.3±3.7]vs[19.6±4.4]d,P>0.05).A30-day postoperative follow-up found2 cases of difficult urination in the control group but no com-plications in the experimental group.Conclusion:Ureteroscopic UCI is a safe,effective and minimally invasive treatment method for male urethral riding injury,and psychological nursing helps not only shorten the time of catheterization and hospitalization but also a-void postoperative complications.

AIM To study the chemical constituents from the stems of Gnetum parvifolium(Warb.)C.Y.Cheng ex Chun and their xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities.METHODS The 95%ethanol extract from the stems of G.parvifolium was isolated and purified by silica gel,MCI and preparative HPLC,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.The inhibitory activities on xanthine oxidase was determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry.RESULTS Seventeen compounds were isolated and identified as isorhapontigenin(1),resveratrol(2),4-hydroxybenzaldehyde(3),cycloeucalenol(4),(E)-1-(3',5'-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethene(5),stigmast-4-en-3-one(6),medioresinol(7),chrysin(8),aurantiamide acetate(9),(-)-pinoresinol(10),methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate(11),2-methoxybenzene-1,4-diol(12),gnetumontain C(13),syringaresinol(14),homoeriodictyol(15),vanillin(16),β-sitosterol(17).The IC50 values of compounds 1-3,15-16 were(11.4±0.54),(14.1±1.06),(320.4±0.75),(360.6±0.78),(386.3±0.71)μmol/L,respectively.CONCLUSION Compounds 3-4 are isolated from this plant for the first time.Compounds 5-13 are first isolated from genus Gnetum.Compounds 1-3,15-16 have xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities.

Objective:To explore the pathogenesis of flunarizine-induced parkinsonism from gut-brain axis perspective.Methods:Thirty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group and flunarizine group ( n=15). Mice in the control group were given 0.1 mL 50% polyethylene glycol 400+50% saline by gavage once/d for 2 weeks, while mice in the flunarizine group were given 6 mg/mL flunarizine+50% polyethylene glycol 400+50% saline by gavage at a daily dose of 30 mg/kg for 2 weeks. Body mass was recorded 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 d after drug administration, and motor function was assessed by rotarod test 14 d after drug administration; 16s RNA sequencing was performed in the feces to observe the intestinal flora; intestinal transit function was detected by Evans blue by gavage; and then, the mice were sacrificed and homogenate or frozen sections (brain and intestinal tissues) were prepared; dopamine-ergic neuron expression was detected by Western blotting; RT-qPCR was applied to detect the expressions of inflammatory factors in the substantia nigra, and immunofluorescent staining was used to detect the expressions of ZO-1 and Claudin-5 in the intestinal epithelial tissues. Results:Compared with the control group, the flunarizine group had lower body mass ratio 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 d after drug administration (ratio to body mass before drug administration). Compared with the control group, the flunarizine group had significantly shortened residence time in rod rotating and lower rotational speed when falling ( P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the flunarizine group had decreased tyrosine hydroxylase protein in the substantia nigra without significant difference ( P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the flunarizine group had significantly increased interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in the substantia nigra (1.00±0.00 vs. 2.79±0.83; 1.00±0.00 vs. 3.39±1.37), significantly lower intestinal Evans blue propulsion rate (80.67%±4.51% vs. 50.67%±6.03%), and statistically decreased ZO-1 and Claudin-5 expressions in the colonic epithelial tissues (27.01±1.41 vs. 16.32±2.83; 37.00±2.80 vs. 24.52±2.12, P<0.05). Totally, 576 microorganisms were noted in both control group and flunarizine group, 744 in the control group alone, and 634 in the flunarizine group alone. The intestinal flora β diversity indices in the 2 groups were significantly different based on weighted Unifrac-principle coordinates analysis (PCoA, PCoA1: 39.88%; PCoA2: 30.69%). Compared with the control group, the microbial colony structure of mice in flunarizine group was dominated by phylum thick-walled bacteria and phylum warty microbacteria, and by families Muribaculaceae, Lachnospiraceae and Akkermansiaceae. Compared with the control group, the flunarizine group had significantly decreased relative abundance of Ackermannia spp. and Lactobacillus spp. in the intestinal flora ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Flunarizine may contribute to the pathogenesis of DIP by causing structural disturbances in the intestinal flora and inducing neuroinflammation based on the gut-brain axis.

Objective To monitor the antifungal resistance of clinical isolates of Candida spp.in the East China region.Methods MALDI-TOF MS or molecular methods were used to re-identify the strains collected from January 2018 to December 2022.Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed using the broth microdilution method.The susceptibility test results were interpreted according to the breakpoints of 2022 Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)documents M27 M44s-Ed3 and M57s-Ed4.Results A total of 3 026 strains of Candida were collected,65.33％of which were isolated from sterile body sites,mainly from blood(38.86％)and pleural effusion/ascites(10.21％).The predominant species of Candida were Candida albicans(44.51％),followed by Candida parapsilosis complex(19.46％),Candida tropicalis(13.98％),Candida glabrata(10.34％),and other Candida species(0.79％).Candida albicans showed overall high susceptibility rates to the 10 antifungal drugs tested(the lowest rate being 93.62％).Only 2.97％of the strains showed dose-dependent susceptibility(SDD)to fluconazole.Candida parapsilosis complex had a SDD rate of 2.61％and a resistance rate of 9.42％to fluconazole,and susceptibility rates above 90％to other drugs.Candida glabrata had a SDD rate of 92.01％and a resistance rate of 7.99％to fluconazole,resistance rates of 32.27％and 48.24％to posaconazole and voriconazole non-wild-type strains(NWT),respectively,and susceptibility rates above 90％to other drugs.Candida tropicalis had resistance rates of 29.55％and 26.24％to fluconazole and voriconazole,respectively,resistance rates of 76.60％and 21.99％to posaconazole and echinocandins non-wild-type strains(NWT),and a resistance rate of 2.36％to echinocandins.Conclusions The prevalence and species distribution of Candida spp.in the East China region are consistent with previous domestic and international reports.Candida glabrata exhibits certain degree of resistance to fluconazole,while Candida tropicalis demonstrates higher resistance to triazole drugs.Additionally,echinocandins resistance has emerged in Candida albicans,Candida glabrata,Candida tropicalis,and Candida parapsilosis.