Attention is the cornerstone of effective functioning in a complex and information-rich world. While the neural activity of attention has been extensively studied in the cortex, the brain-wide neural activity patterns are largely unknown. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of neural activity across the mouse brain during attentional processing using EEG and c-Fos staining, utilizing hierarchical clustering and c-Fos-based functional network analysis to evaluate the c-Fos activation patterns. Our findings reveal that a wide range of brain regions are activated, notably in the high-order cortex, thalamus, and brain stem regions involved in advanced cognition and arousal regulation, with the central lateral nucleus of the thalamus as a strong hub, suggesting the crucial role of the thalamus in attention control. These results provide valuable insights into the neural network mechanisms underlying attention, offering a foundation for formulating functional hypotheses and conducting circuit-level testing.
Animals ; Attention/physiology* ; Mice ; Brain/physiology* ; Male ; Electroencephalography ; Reaction Time/physiology* ; Brain Mapping ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Choice Behavior/physiology* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos/metabolism*

Opioid-induced constipation(OIC)is a typical complication in the treatment of cancer pain.Based on the origin of"removing the excess with lightness"and the principle of"removing the excess with lightness",this article proposed that qi blockade and heat toxicity are the core pathogenesis of OIC.It explored the effectiveness of the"removing the excess with lightness"method in treating OIC,seeking the unique characteristics of TCM inherent in the theory,aiming to offer new insights and approaches for the clinical treatment of this disease.

Cancer cachexia is a complex syndrome caused by multiple factors,which seriously affects the quality of life and prognosis of patients.Its overall pathogenesis is related to the deficiency of spleen qi,insufficiency of kidney essence,internal generation of turbid toxins,and the obstruction of the production of qi,blood and essential qi,which cannot nourish the muscles and bones.Under the guidance of the dynamic diagnosis and treatment system of"spleen and kidney exhaustion as the root cause and internal accumulation of turbid toxins as the manifestation",the overall regulation is carried out from four dimensions:opening and closing the spleen and stomach,nourishing the kidney and promoting transportation,transforming turbid toxins and detoxification,and tonifying qi and nourishing yin.It has shown unique value in the intervention of cancer cachexia and can provide ideas and references for the clinical practice of TCM in treating cancer cachexia.

Radiation enteritis(RE)is an inflammatory reaction caused by radiation exposure,commonly observed following radiotherapy for malignancies in the abdominal,pelvic and retroperitoneal regions.The authors believe that the pathogenesis of RE is complex,involving factors such as deficiency and excess,cold and heat,as well as qi and blood.The general pathogenesis can be summarized as"instability of the Zhongzhou,depletion of essence and blood,dysregulation of ascending and descending,and accumulation of heat-toxins".And"the instability of the Zhongzhou and subsequent malnutrition of the intestines"are the key drivers of disease progression.Based on theoretical exploration and clinical observations,this article proposed a comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic approach centered on"stabilizing the Zhongzhou,replenishing essence and blood,regulating ascending and descending functions,and clearing heat-toxins".These four methods are often applied simultaneously,with"stabilizing the Zhongzhou and regulating the intestines"serving as the core of treatment.The approach is tailored according to the individual patient's condition of blood,qi and body fluids.A medical case was attached as evidence for verification.

Objective To explore the role and mechanism of mechanically sensitive ion channel Piezo2 in mechanical allodynia of rats with low back pain induced by simulating the low-frequency vibration of a helicopter.Methods Low-frequency vibration(LFV)model with 3-dimensional 6 degrees of freedom was used to induce low back pain in awake rats in a sitting position.Twenty-four male SD rats(8 weeks old)were randomly divided into control(Ctrl)group and LFV group.HE staining was used to evaluate the injury of the multifidus muscle.Von Frey test was carried out to detect pain sensitivity.Open field test was employed to assess the spontaneous activity and anxiety.ELISA,Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining were performed to detect the expression of NGF,TrkA and downstream molecule Piezo2.Dorsal root ganglia(DRG)neurons was isolated from SD rats and primarily cultured.After identified with immunofluorescence staining,the neurons were divided into the Ctrl group,the LFV group,and the LFV+D-GsMTx4(D-G4,an Piezo2 channel antagonist)group.Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of Piezo2,and a calcium ion fluorescent probe was utilized to detect the intracellular Ca2+.The DRG neurons were pretreated with 50 ng/mL NGF for 1 h.Calcium ion fluorescent probe was used to observe the changes in intracellular Ca2+in the LFV group,the LFV+NGF group,and the LFV+NGF+D-G4 group.Results The rats of the LFV group showed abnormal morphology in multifidus muscles,accompanied with inflammatory cell infiltration,decreased paw withdrawal reflex threshold(P<0.05),and shortened total active time and active time in the centre,and decreased distance traveled in the centre(P<0.05),while prolonged total stationary time,stationary time in the periphery,and increased distance traveled in the periphery(P<0.05),and moreover,enhanced expression of Piezo2,NGF and TrkA in the DRG tissues(P<0.05).Cell experiments showed that compared with the Ctrl group,the expression of Piezo2 in the neurons was increased(P<0.05),and the intracellular Ca2+level was significantly elevated in the LFV group(P<0.05).Compared with the LFV group,the Ca2+level was higher in the LFV+NGF group(P<0.05),and the sensitization effect of NGF on Piezo2 was reversed after D-G4 treatment(P<0.05).Conclusion Sustained low-frequency vibration induces low back pain and mechanical allodynia in rats through the NGF-TrkA/Piezo2 pathway.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is the cellular milieu in which tumor cells thrive, comprising interacting cells and associated factors that form a complex network of interactions, directly or indirectly influencing the initiation, progression, and metastasis of lung cancer. Through TCM pattern identification, it has been observed thatphlegm-pathogen is closely associated with disorder in the inflammatory-metabolic-immune microenvironments of lung cancer. This involves three key pathological mechanisms: "phlegm-stasis complicated by toxin, qi deficiency with exuberant phlegm, and phlegm-pathogen impairing healthy qi". Molecular mechanism studies have revealed that phlegm-resolving agents can extensively modulate multiple targets or pathways, thereby remodeling the inflammatory-metabolic-immune microenvironments of lung cancer. Consequently, a comprehensive therapeutic strategy integrating "resolving phlegm, dispelling stasis, and detoxifying; supplementing qi, warming yang, and resolving phlegm; and reinforcing healthy qi, tonifying the lung, and eliminating phlegm" is essential to reshape the lung cancer TME and enhance antitumor efficacy.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between transabdominal bowel ultrasongraphy (TBUS) parameters and disease activity of ulcerative colitis (UC).Methods:The results of TBUS, endoscopy and laboratory tests of 68 UC patients (108 examinations) who visited the Department of Gastroenterology of the Second Hospital (Eastern Campus) of Hebei Medical University From January 2022 to February 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. According to Mayo endoscopic score (MES), there were 10 cases of remission (MES=0) and 98 cases of active phase (MES>0); patients in active phase further classified into 16 cases of mild (MES=1), 19 cases of moderate (MES=2), and 63 cases of severe (MES=3). The TAUS parameters were compared between patients in remission and active phases. Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the TBUS parameters including bowel wall thickness (BWT), Limberg score, wall layer stratification, fat wrapping and endoscopic activity score, laboratory inflammatory indicators. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was applied to evaluate the predictive efficacy of the TBUS parameters and laboratory inflammatory indicators in identifying remission under endoscopy. Independent sample t-test and Fisher′s exact probability method were used to compare the two groups. Results:The BWT of patients in remission was significantly thinner than that of patients in active phase ((2.99±0.41) mm vs. (5.66±1.57) mm, t=-5.34, P<0.001). The proportions of patients in remisson with Limberg score ≤2, normal wall layer stratification, and absence of fat wrapping were significantly higher than those of patients in active phase (10/10 vs. 34/98, 10/10 vs. 48/98, 10/10 vs. 41/98, Fisher′s exact test, P<0.001, =0.002, =0.001). BWT, Limberg score, wall layer stratification, and fat wrapping were positively correlated with MES ( r=0.676, 0.677, 0.441, and 0.493, all P<0.001). BWT and Limberg score were moderate positively correlated with C-hypersensitive reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and fecal calprotectin (BWT: r=0.561, 0.420 and 0.458, all P<0.001; Limberg score: r=0.576, 0.469 and 0.403, all P<0.001), and were negatively correlated with serum albumin and hemoglobin (BWT: r=-0.604 and -0.453, both P<0.001; Limberg score: r=-0.573 and -0.532, both P<0.001). The results of ROC analysis showed that BWT achieved the best predictive efficacy in identifying endoscopic remission, and the best cut-off value was 3.45 mm (area under the curve was 0.972, 95% confidence interval: 0.944 to 1.000, P<0.001), with a sensitivity of 93.9% and specificity of 100.0%. Conclusions:TBUS parameters can accurately reflect disease activity in UC. It is a powerful tool for UC monitoring. The BWT<3.45 mm is the best cut-off value in prediction of endoscopic remission.

Radiation enteritis(RE)is an inflammatory reaction caused by radiation exposure,commonly observed following radiotherapy for malignancies in the abdominal,pelvic and retroperitoneal regions.The authors believe that the pathogenesis of RE is complex,involving factors such as deficiency and excess,cold and heat,as well as qi and blood.The general pathogenesis can be summarized as"instability of the Zhongzhou,depletion of essence and blood,dysregulation of ascending and descending,and accumulation of heat-toxins".And"the instability of the Zhongzhou and subsequent malnutrition of the intestines"are the key drivers of disease progression.Based on theoretical exploration and clinical observations,this article proposed a comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic approach centered on"stabilizing the Zhongzhou,replenishing essence and blood,regulating ascending and descending functions,and clearing heat-toxins".These four methods are often applied simultaneously,with"stabilizing the Zhongzhou and regulating the intestines"serving as the core of treatment.The approach is tailored according to the individual patient's condition of blood,qi and body fluids.A medical case was attached as evidence for verification.

Tumor-related insomnia is one of the common complications of tumor patients,which is secondary to tumor disease and related to tumor disease itself or tumor treatment.Combined with the unique pathogenesis of"heat-toxicity internal stagnation"of tumor-related insomnia,the important treatment methods are to clear away heat,attack toxicity,regulate qi and supplement healthy qi.This article explained the research status,etiology and pathogenesis,treatment principles of the disease,in order to provide new ideas and methods for the differentiation and treatment of tumor-related insomnia in TCM.

Tumor-related insomnia is one of the common complications of tumor patients,which is secondary to tumor disease and related to tumor disease itself or tumor treatment.Combined with the unique pathogenesis of"heat-toxicity internal stagnation"of tumor-related insomnia,the important treatment methods are to clear away heat,attack toxicity,regulate qi and supplement healthy qi.This article explained the research status,etiology and pathogenesis,treatment principles of the disease,in order to provide new ideas and methods for the differentiation and treatment of tumor-related insomnia in TCM.