Environmental toxicants have been linked to aging and age-related diseases. The emerging evidence has shown that the enhancement of detoxification gene expression is a common transcriptome marker of long-lived mice, Drosophila melanogaster, and Caenorhabditis elegans. Meanwhile, the resistance to toxicants was increased in long-lived animals. Here, we show that farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist obeticholic acid (OCA), a marketed drug for the treatment of cholestasis, may extend the lifespan and healthspan both in C. elegans and chemical-induced early senescent mice. Furthermore, OCA increased the resistance of worms to toxicants and activated the expression of detoxification genes in both mice and C. elegans. The longevity effects of OCA were attenuated in Fxr ^-/- mice and Fxr homologous nhr-8 and daf-12 mutant C. elegans. In addition, metabolome analysis revealed that OCA increased the endogenous agonist levels of the pregnane X receptor (PXR), a major nuclear receptor for detoxification regulation, in the liver of mice. Together, our findings suggest that OCA has the potential to lengthen lifespan and healthspan by activating nuclear receptor-mediated detoxification functions, thus, targeting FXR may offer to promote longevity.

OBJECTIVE: The analgesic effect of acupuncture has been widely accepted. Nevertheless, the mechanism behind its analgesic effect remains elusive, thus impeding the progress of research geared toward enhancing the analgesic effect of acupuncture. This paper investigated the role of acupuncture needle surface textures on acupuncture's analgesic effect by creating four experimental acupuncture needles with different patterns of surface augmentation. METHODS: Four types of acupuncture needles with different surface textures (the lined needle, circle needle, sandpaper needle, and threaded needle) were designed. Additionally, the force/torque measurement system used a robot arm and mechanical sensor to measure the force on the needle during insertion and manipulation. To perform acupuncture analgesia experiments, four experimental acupuncture needles and a normal needle were inserted into the Zusanli (ST36) acupoint of rats with inflammatory pain. By comparing the force and torque and the analgesic efficacy of the different acupuncture needles, these experiments tested the role of acupuncture needle body texture on acupuncture analgesia. RESULTS: The analgesic effects of different acupuncture needle body textures varied. Specifically, the force required to penetrate the skin with the lined needle was not greater than that for the normal needle; however, the needle with inscribed circles and the sandpaper-roughened needle both required greater force for insertion. Additionally, the torque of the lined needle reached 2 × 10^-4 N·m under twisting manipulation, which was four times greater the torque of a normal needle (5 × 10^-5 N·m). Furthermore, the lined needle improved pain threshold and mast cell degranulation rate compared to the normal needle. CONCLUSION Optimizing the texture of acupuncture needles can enhance acupuncture analgesia. The texture of our experimental acupuncture needles had a significant impact on the force needed to penetrate the skin and the torque needed to manipulate the needle; it was also linked to variable analgesic effects. This study provides a theoretical basis for enhancing the analgesic efficacy of acupuncture through the modification of needles and promoting the development of acupuncture therapy. Please cite this article as: Sun MZ, Wang X, Li YC, Liu YH, Yu Y, Ren LJ, Gu W, Yao W. Effects of acupuncture needle modification on acupuncture analgesia. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(1): 66-78.
Needles ; Acupuncture Analgesia/methods* ; Animals ; Rats ; Male ; Acupuncture Points ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective:To investigate the value of transanal multipoint full-layer puncture biopsy (TMFP) in predicting pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy (nCRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) and to establish a predictive model for providing clinical guidance regarding the treatment of LARC.Methods:In this multicenter, prospective, cohort study, we collected data on 110 LARC patients from four hospitals between April 2020 and March 2023: Beijing Chaoyang Hospital of Capital Medical University (50 patients), Beijing Friendship Hospital of Capital Medical University (41 patients), Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (16 patients), and Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University (three patients). The patients had all received TMFP after completing standard nCRT. The variables studied included (1) clinicopathological characteristics; (2) clinical complete remission (cCR) and efficacy of TMFP in determining pCR after NCRT in LARC patients; and (3) hospital attended, sex, age, clinical T- and N-stages, distance between the lower margin of the tumor and the anal verge, baseline and post-radiotherapy serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA)19-9 concentrations, chemotherapy regimen, use of immunosuppressants with or without radiotherapy, radiation therapy dosage, interval between surgery and radiotherapy, surgical procedure, clinical T/N stage after radiotherapy, cCR, pathological results of TMFP, puncture method (endoscopic or percutaneous), and number and timing of punctures. Single-factor and multifactorial logistic regression analysis were used to determine the factors affecting pCR after NCRT in LARC patients. A prediction model was constructed based on the results of multivariat analysis and the performance of this model evaluated by analyzing subject work characteristics (ROC), calibration, and clinical decision-making (DCA) curves. pCR was defined as complete absence of tumor cells on microscopic examination of the surgical specimens of rectal cancer (including lymph node dissection) after NCRT, that is, ypT0+N0. cCR was defined according to the Chinese Neoadjuvant Rectal Cancer Waiting Watch Database Study Collaborative Group criteria after treatment, which specify an absence of ulceration and nodules on endoscopy; negative rectal palpation; no tumor signals on rectal MRI T2 and DWI sequences; normal serum CEA concentrations, and no evidence of recurrence on pelvic computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging.Results:Of the 110 patients, 45 (40.9%) achieved pCR after nCRT, which was combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors in 34 (30.9%). cCR was diagnosed before puncture in 38 (34.5%) patients, 43 (39.1%) of the punctures being endoscopic. There were no complications of puncture such as enterocutaneous fistulae, vaginal injury, prostatic injury, or presacral bleeding . Only one (2.3%) patient had a small amount of blood in the stools, which was relieved by anal pressure. cCR had a sensitivity of 57.8% (26/45) for determining pCR, specificity of 81.5% (53/65), accuracy of 71.8% (79/110), positive predictive value 68.4% (26/38), and negative predictive value of 73.6% (53/72). In contrast, the sensitivity of TMFP pathology in determining pCR was 100% (45/45), specificity 66.2% (43/65), accuracy 80.0% (88/110), positive predictive value 67.2% (45/67), and negative predictive value 100.0% (43/43). In this study, the sensitivity of TMFP for pCR (100.0% vs. 57.8%, χ 2=24.09, P<0.001) was significantly higher than that for cCR. However, the accuracy of pCR did not differ significantly (80.0% vs. 71.8%, χ 2=2.01, P=0.156). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that a ≥4 cm distance between the lower edge of the tumor and the anal verge (OR=7.84, 95%CI: 1.48-41.45, P=0.015), non-cCR (OR=4.81, 95%CI: 1.39-16.69, P=0.013), and pathological diagnosis by TMFP (OR=114.29, the 95%CI: 11.07-1180.28, P<0.001) were risk factors for pCR after NCRT in LARC patients. Additionally, endoscopic puncture (OR=0.02, 95%CI: 0.05-0.77, P=0.020) was a protective factor for pCR after NCRT in LARC patients. The area under the ROC curve of the established prediction model was 0.934 (95%CI: 0.892-0.977), suggesting that the model has good discrimination. The calibration curve was relatively close to the ideal 45° reference line, indicating that the predicted values of the model were in good agreement with the actual values. A decision-making curve showed that the model had a good net clinical benefit. Conclusion:Our predictive model, which incorporates TMFP, has considerable accuracy in predicting pCR after nCRT in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. This may provide a basis for more precisely selecting individualized therapy.

Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of lycium barbarum polysaccharide(LBP)on hepatocyte injury induced by homocysteine(Hcy).Methods Normal C3H/An mouse hepatocytes(NCTC 1469)were cultured in vitro and treated with different concentrations of Hcy(0,50,100,200,500 μmol/L).The optimal concentrations of Hcy-treated NCTC 1469 cells were detected by MTT assay.When the cells reached the logarithmic growth stage,the conditions were set up as follows:(1)control group(cultured with DMEM medium supplemented with 10%horse serum)and Hcy group(treated with 100 μmol/L Hcy solution for 48 h),and the cells were collected.Cell viability staining was used to detect apoptosis,aspartate aminotransferase(AST)/alanine aminotransferase(ALT)activity detection kit was used to detect AST and ALT activities,RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression levels of YAP1,DNMT1,DNMT3a and DNMT3b mRAN,and Western blotting was used to detect the expression of YAP1 protein,nested methylation specific PCR(nMS-PCR)was used to detect DNA methylation rates in the YAP1 promoter region.(2)Control group,LBP group,Hcy group and Hcy+LBP group.LBP group was treated with 4 mg/ml LBP solution for 2 h,Hcy group and Hcy+LBP group were treated with 100 μmol/L Hcy solution for 48 h,and Hcy+LBP group was treated with 4 mg/ml LBP solution at 46 h,and the cells were collected.The expression levels of YAP1,DNMT1,DNMT3a and DNMT3b mRAN were detected by RT-qPCR;the expression of YAP1,Bax and Bcl-2 proteins was detected by Western blotting;AST/ALT activity detection kit was used to detect AST and ALT activities.Prediction of DNA methylation CpG islands in YAP1 promoter region by bioinformatics.Results NCTC 1469 cells were treated with 100 μmol/L Hcy according to the results of MTT assay.Compared with control group,the apoptosis rate of Hcy group increased(P<0.01),the activities of ALT and AST increased(P<0.001),the mRAN and protein expression levels of YAP1 decreased(P<0.001),and the methylation rate of YAP1 promoter region increased(P<0.01),the mRNA expression levels of DNMT1,DNMT3a and DNMT3b increased(P<0.01 or P<0.001).Compared with Hcy group,the mRNA expression levels of DNMT1,DNMT3a and DNMT3b in the Hcy+LBP group decreased(P<0.001),the mRAN and protein expression levels of YAP1 significantly increased(P<0.01 or P<0.001).In addition,in the Hcy+LBP group,cells showed significantly elevated of Bcl-2 protein(P<0.001),but decreased Bax protein(P<0.001),and decreased activities of ALT and AST(P<0.001).Conclusions The decrease of YAP1 expression may be the key process of Hcy induced injury of NCTC 1469 cells,and the methylation of the YAP1 promoter region may be the molecular mechanism of Hcy induced YAP1 expression change.LBP may improve NCTC 1469 cell damage induced by Hcy by positively regulating YAP1 expression.

Thrombocytopenia is one of the common complications of cirrhotic patients, which can induce an increasing bleeding risk and closely correlate with bleeding following invasive procedures. Consequently, how to respond to thrombocytopenia is crucial for improving the prognosis of patients with cirrhosis. This article reviews the main mechanisms of cirrhosis concurrent with thrombocytopenia, as well as the corresponding clinical management strategies.

Objective:To explore the relationship between stress perception and sleep quality among college students, as well as the chain mediating role of expression inhibition and anxiety emotions.Methods:From October to December 2022, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 785 college students using the perceived stress scale (PSS-14), emotion regulation questionnaire (ERQ), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI). SPSS 26.0 software was used for common method bias testing, Pearson correlation analysis, and stratified regression analysis.PROCESS 3.5 macro program was used for mediating effect test.Results:(1) The correlation analysis results indicated that there were significant positive correlations between stress perception (39.22±7.63), expression inhibition (15.95±4.28), anxiety (45.85±11.70) and sleep quality (5.87±3.28)( r=0.120-0.596, all P<0.05). (2) The results of path analysis showed that stress perception could directly predict sleep quality, with a effect size of 0.243 (95% CI=0.172-0.313). Stress perception could indirectly affect sleep quality through anxiety emotion, with a effect size of 0.229 (95% CI=0.178-0.283). Stress perception could affect sleep quality through the chain mediation of expression inhibition and anxiety emotion, and the effect size was 0.010 (95% CI=0.002-0.019). Conclusion:Stress perception can directly predict sleep quality, and can also indirectly predict sleep quality through partial mediating effects of anxiety and chain mediating effects of expression inhibition and anxiety.

Through the systematic analysis of the current research results on the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） in the prevention and treatment of diabetes and its promotion dilemma， it is believed that cohort study， as an observational research method， is particularly suitable for evaluating complex and individualized interventions such as traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of diabetes. Considering the design features and relevant practices of prospective cohort studies， it is specifically proposed to carry out prospective cohort studies using a modern TCM diagnostic and treatment system for diabetes， centered on "state-targeted differentiation and treatment"， and framed by "classification-staging-syndrome differentiation". Focused on personalized prevention and treatment， long-term multidimensional assessment of therapeutic effectiveness and syndrome changes， this paper gives in-depth exploration of the advantages and value of applying prospective cohort studies in the effectiveness evaluation of TCM in prevention and treatment of diabetes， aiming to provide insights for clinical researches on TCM for diabetes.

This study investigates whether compounds in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge can bind to the Toll like receptor 4/myeloid differentiation protein 2 (TLR4/MD2) protein complex and exhibit anti-inflammatory activity. Virtual screening of reported chemical components of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge against TLR4/MD2 was conducted in this study. The selected compound, neoprzewaquinone A (Neo A), was tested for its impact on the binding of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to receptors on the cell membrane, its affinity for the protein, its influence on the dimerization of TLR4 and MD2 in LPS-induced cells, and its effects on the phosphorylation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 protein and the secretion of inflammatory cytokines in cells. Results indicate that Neo A in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge exhibited the highest virtual binding affinity with TLR4/MD2, with a value of -12.8 kcal·mol^-1. Neo A significantly inhibited the binding of LPS to receptors on the cell membrane (P < 0.01). Moreover, Neo A demonstrated affinity for rhTLR4/MD2, rhTLR4, and rhMD2, with K_D values of 267, 534, and 228 nmol·L^-1, respectively. Amino acid residues like TYR131 and PHE121 in TLR4/MD2 might play a role in the alkyl and π-alkyl hydrophobic interactions with Neo A. Neo A also significantly inhibited the dimerization of TLR4 and MD2 in LPS-mediated cells (P < 0.01) and markedly suppressed the phosphorylation of NF-κBp65 protein (P < 0.05). Furthermore, Neo A significantly or markedly inhibited the secretion of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in LPS-induced cells (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). In conclusion, Neo A exerts its anti-inflammatory effects by binding TLR4/MD2 then disrupting the binding of LPS to TLR4/MD2. It may serve as a TLR4/MD2 inhibitor with the potential to treat inflammation-related diseases targeting TLR4/MD2.

Objective:To explore the impact of different six-character qigong training modes on respiratory muscle function early after a stroke.Methods:Sixty-six stroke survivors in the early stage of recovery were randomly divided into a control group, a modified training group, and an ancient training group, each of 22. In addition to routine rehabilitation training, the control group received conventional respiratory training. The modified training and ancient training groups were trained in modified six-character qigong or ancient six-character qigong, respectively, for two weeks. Before the treatment, after the two weeks and one month later, maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), forced expiratory volume in one second, forced vital capacity, peak expiratory flow, maximum mid-expiratory flow, and peak inspiratory flow were measured. Diaphragm mobility during quiet inspiration and maximum inspiration were also quantified.Results:After 2 weeks of treatment and at 1 and 3 months after the end of the treatment, all three groups showed significant improvement in MIP, MEP and the pulmonary ventilation indicators, but the average improvement in the modified training group was significantly greater than in the other two groups. Their average diaphragm mobility was also significantly greater.Conclusion:Modified six-character qigong respiratory training is more effective than its ancient counterpart in improving respiratory muscle function, pulmonary ventilation, and diaphragm mobility early after a stroke, with effects which persist for at least one month.

Objective:To investigate the value of transanal multipoint full-layer puncture biopsy (TMFP) in predicting pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy (nCRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) and to establish a predictive model for providing clinical guidance regarding the treatment of LARC.Methods:In this multicenter, prospective, cohort study, we collected data on 110 LARC patients from four hospitals between April 2020 and March 2023: Beijing Chaoyang Hospital of Capital Medical University (50 patients), Beijing Friendship Hospital of Capital Medical University (41 patients), Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (16 patients), and Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University (three patients). The patients had all received TMFP after completing standard nCRT. The variables studied included (1) clinicopathological characteristics; (2) clinical complete remission (cCR) and efficacy of TMFP in determining pCR after NCRT in LARC patients; and (3) hospital attended, sex, age, clinical T- and N-stages, distance between the lower margin of the tumor and the anal verge, baseline and post-radiotherapy serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA)19-9 concentrations, chemotherapy regimen, use of immunosuppressants with or without radiotherapy, radiation therapy dosage, interval between surgery and radiotherapy, surgical procedure, clinical T/N stage after radiotherapy, cCR, pathological results of TMFP, puncture method (endoscopic or percutaneous), and number and timing of punctures. Single-factor and multifactorial logistic regression analysis were used to determine the factors affecting pCR after NCRT in LARC patients. A prediction model was constructed based on the results of multivariat analysis and the performance of this model evaluated by analyzing subject work characteristics (ROC), calibration, and clinical decision-making (DCA) curves. pCR was defined as complete absence of tumor cells on microscopic examination of the surgical specimens of rectal cancer (including lymph node dissection) after NCRT, that is, ypT0+N0. cCR was defined according to the Chinese Neoadjuvant Rectal Cancer Waiting Watch Database Study Collaborative Group criteria after treatment, which specify an absence of ulceration and nodules on endoscopy; negative rectal palpation; no tumor signals on rectal MRI T2 and DWI sequences; normal serum CEA concentrations, and no evidence of recurrence on pelvic computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging.Results:Of the 110 patients, 45 (40.9%) achieved pCR after nCRT, which was combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors in 34 (30.9%). cCR was diagnosed before puncture in 38 (34.5%) patients, 43 (39.1%) of the punctures being endoscopic. There were no complications of puncture such as enterocutaneous fistulae, vaginal injury, prostatic injury, or presacral bleeding . Only one (2.3%) patient had a small amount of blood in the stools, which was relieved by anal pressure. cCR had a sensitivity of 57.8% (26/45) for determining pCR, specificity of 81.5% (53/65), accuracy of 71.8% (79/110), positive predictive value 68.4% (26/38), and negative predictive value of 73.6% (53/72). In contrast, the sensitivity of TMFP pathology in determining pCR was 100% (45/45), specificity 66.2% (43/65), accuracy 80.0% (88/110), positive predictive value 67.2% (45/67), and negative predictive value 100.0% (43/43). In this study, the sensitivity of TMFP for pCR (100.0% vs. 57.8%, χ 2=24.09, P<0.001) was significantly higher than that for cCR. However, the accuracy of pCR did not differ significantly (80.0% vs. 71.8%, χ 2=2.01, P=0.156). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that a ≥4 cm distance between the lower edge of the tumor and the anal verge (OR=7.84, 95%CI: 1.48-41.45, P=0.015), non-cCR (OR=4.81, 95%CI: 1.39-16.69, P=0.013), and pathological diagnosis by TMFP (OR=114.29, the 95%CI: 11.07-1180.28, P<0.001) were risk factors for pCR after NCRT in LARC patients. Additionally, endoscopic puncture (OR=0.02, 95%CI: 0.05-0.77, P=0.020) was a protective factor for pCR after NCRT in LARC patients. The area under the ROC curve of the established prediction model was 0.934 (95%CI: 0.892-0.977), suggesting that the model has good discrimination. The calibration curve was relatively close to the ideal 45° reference line, indicating that the predicted values of the model were in good agreement with the actual values. A decision-making curve showed that the model had a good net clinical benefit. Conclusion:Our predictive model, which incorporates TMFP, has considerable accuracy in predicting pCR after nCRT in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. This may provide a basis for more precisely selecting individualized therapy.