The study explores the traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） diagnostic and treatment approach to coronary microvascular disease （CMVD） from the perspective of "disharmony of blood collaterals and dysfunction of qi transformation". It is proposed that the core pathogenesis of CMVD lies in these two mechanisms. From an integrative medicine perspective， different CMVD types are analyzed based on their specific pathogenesis. Through clinical practice， four targeted treatment methods， i.e. warming， unblocking， tonifying， and activating， are formulated. CMVD caused by atherosclerosis is primarily associated with myocardial ischemia， myocardial infarction， and coronary revascularization， with corresponding pathological mechanisms of latent pathogenic obstruction， toxic accumulation in the collaterals， and deficiency with collateral stasis. The disease progression exhibits characteristics of correlation， staging， and transformation. Accordingly， treatment principles include warming to assist qi transformation， unblocking obstruction and dispelling turbidity， activating to disperse toxic stasis and invigorate collaterals， and tonifying to eliminate stasis and nourish collaterals. For CMVD unrelated to atherosclerosis， attention should be paid to the underlying disease， analyzing the main syndromes of blood and collateral disharmony. An approach combining disease-syndrome differentiation with blood and collateral regulation is emphasized for precise treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the rules of temporal and spatial variations in distal skin potential at Hegu (LI4) under different stimulation modes by extracting nonlinear characteristic parameters from array multichannel data and adopting multivariate statistical analysis. METHODS: Seven healthy subjects were selected and the surface potential at the left Quchi (LI11) was collected using 14×9 array multichannel electrodes. Using Hegu (LI4) on the left as the stimulation point, four stimulation modes were applied, i.e. being quiescent, point pressing, moxibustion, and manual needling manipulation. Electrical signals were collected for 30 s in each mode, with a 5-min interval between operations, and a sampling frequency of 16 384 Hz. The data was denoised using ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD), and sample entropy (SaEn) features were extracted. Statistical analysis was conducted on these data using factor analysis and multivariate analysis of variance. RESULTS: The SaEn values of most electrode channels were higher under point pressing, moxibustion and manual needling manipulation compared with those under quiescent condition. Under manual needling manipulation, the SaEn value of the electrode channel reached the peak in the first time interval (1-5 s) and it was declining thereafter. Factor analysis showed that the specificity of activation channels was concentrated at the left Quchi (LI11) (loading capacity ≥0.90). Analysis of variance indicated that the significant differences were presented in average sample entropy (SaEn()) values of activation channels among different stimulation modes at Hegu (LI4) (P<0.001), but there was no statistically significant interaction effect between groups and time intervals (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Through nonlinear characteristic parameter extraction and multivariate statistical analysis, we have uncovered the complex temporal and spatial dynamical rules of distal skin potential at Hegu (LI4) under various stimulation modes and successfully identified the specific activation characteristics at Quchi (LI11).
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Acupuncture Points ; Male ; Adult ; Female ; Young Adult ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the pain-location interaction between pressure-sensitive points on the body surface and traditional acupoints in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP) under different disease courses, using Euclidean distance and multivariate statistical analysis. METHODS: A pressure-sensitive point detection was performed on 30 CNLBP patients with varying disease courses. A constant pressure was applied using an FDK20 algometer within a designated lumbar area, a total of 50 points were tested, and the tested points were numbered; the visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score was recorded simultaneously. MatlabR2022a9.12. software was used to extract the positions of pressure-sensitive points, and preprocessing and normalization of point location and VAS scores data were conducted. Under constraint conditions (VAS≥8.0 ∩ Euclidean distance to acupoint≤0.5), the proportion of pressure-sensitive points within the Euclidean distance threshold to each acupoint (PVD_acupoint) was calculated, followed by multivariate statistical analysis. RESULTS: ①Constrained analysis of PVD_acupoint showed that PVD_{Qihaishu (BL24)} and PVD_{Dachangshu (BL25)} were positively correlated with disease course (r=0.55, P<0.01). ②Factor analysis and silhouette analysis revealed that PVD_{Shenshu (BL23)} and PVD_{Dachangshu (BL25)} exhibited trends consistent with disease course progression (P>0.05), with different degree (P<0.01). CONCLUSION The PVD_acupoint value based on Euclidean distance can characterize the pressure sensitivity features of traditional acupoints associated with disease. Multivariate statistical analysis of PVD_acupoint confirms that selecting the acupoint combination of Shenshu (BL23) and Dachangshu (BL25) for CNLBP is associated with the distribution of surrounding pressure-sensitive points and the pathological characteristics of the condition.
Humans ; Acupuncture Points ; Low Back Pain/physiopathology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Aged ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Young Adult ; Pressure

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of ecliptasaponin A (ESA) for alleviating dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in mice and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Twenty-four male C57BL/6 mice (8-10 weeks old) were equally randomized into control group, DSS-induced IBD model group, and DSS+ESA (50 mg/kg) treatment group. Disease activity index (DAI), colon length and spleen index of the mice were measured, and intestinal pathology was examined with HE staining. The expressions of inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-6, and iNOS) in the colon mucosa were detected using ELISA and RT-qPCR, and intestinal barrier integrity was assessed using AB-PAS staining and by detecting ZO-1 and claudin-1 expressions using immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting. In cultured RAW264.7 macrophages, the effects of treatment with 50 μmol/L ESA, alone or in combination with 20 μmol/L RO8191 (a JAK2/STAT3 pathway activator), on M1 polarization of the cells induced by LPS and IFN-γ stimulation and expressions of JAK2/STAT3 pathway proteins were analyzed using flow cytometry and Western blotting. RESULTS: In the mouse models of DSS-induced IBD, ESA treatment significantly alleviated body weight loss and colon shortening, reduced DAI, spleen index and histological scores, and ameliorated inflammatory cell infiltration in the colon tissue. ESA treatment also suppressed TNF‑α, IL-6 and iNOS expressions, protected the goblet cells and the integrity of the mucus and mechanical barriers, and upregulated the expressions of ZO-1 and claudin-1. ESA treatment obviously decreased CD86⁺ M1 polarization in the mesenteric lymph nodes of IBD mice and in LPS and IFN-γ-induced RAW264.7 cells, and significantly reduced p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 expressions in both the mouse models and RAW264.7 cells. Treatment with RO8191 caused reactivation of JAK2/STAT3 and strongly attenuated the inhibitory effect of ESA on CD86⁺ polarization in RAW264.7 cells. CONCLUSIONS ESA alleviates DSS-induced colitis in mice by suppressing JAK2/STAT3-mediated M1 macrophage polarization and mitigating inflammation-driven intestinal barrier damage.
Animals ; Mice ; Janus Kinase 2/metabolism* ; STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Male ; Dextran Sulfate ; Macrophages/cytology* ; Colitis/metabolism* ; Saponins/pharmacology* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Triterpenes/pharmacology* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the mechanism through which pinostrobin (PSB) alleviates dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were randomized into control group, DSS model group, and PSB intervention (30, 60, and 120 mg/kg) groups. Colitis severity of the mice was assessed by examining body weight changes, disease activity index (DAI), colon length, and histopathology. The expressions of tight junction proteins ZO-1 and claudin-1 in the colon tissues were examined using immunofluorescence staining, and macrophage infiltration and polarization were analyzed with flow cytometry. ELISA and RT-qPCR were used for detecting the expressions of inflammatory factors (TNF‑α and IL-6) and chemokines (CCL₂, CXCL₁₀, and CX₃CL₁) in the colon tissues, and PI3K/AKT phosphorylation levels were analyzed with Western blotting. In cultured Caco-2 and RAW264.7 cells, the effect of PSB on CCL₂-mediated macrophage migration was assessed using Transwell assay. Network pharmacology analysis was performed to predict the key pathways that mediate the therapeutic effect of PSB. RESULTS: In DSS-induced mouse models, PSB at 60 mg/kg optimally alleviated colitis, shown by reduced weight loss and DAI scores and increased colon length. PSB treatment significantly upregulated ZO-1 and claudin-1 expressions in the colon tissues, inhibited colonic macrophage infiltration, and promoted the shift of macrophage polarization from M1 to M2 type. In cultured intestinal epithelial cells, PSB significantly inhibited PI3K/AKT phosphorylation and suppressed chemokine CCL₂ expression. PSB treatment obviously blocked CCL₂-mediated macrophage migration of RAW264.7 cells, which could be reversed by exogenous CCL₂. Network pharmacology analysis and rescue experiments confirmed PI3K/AKT and CCL₂ signaling as the core targets of PSB. CONCLUSIONS PSB alleviates DSS-induced colitis in mice by targeting intestinal epithelial PI3K/AKT signaling, reducing CCL₂ secretion, and blocking macrophage chemotaxis and migration, highlighting the potential of PSB as a novel natural compound for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.
Animals ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Colitis/drug therapy* ; Dextran Sulfate ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Macrophages ; Chemokine CCL2/metabolism* ; Humans ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Caco-2 Cells ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Epithelial Cells/drug effects* ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism*

Objective:To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of HEMO-FISS-QoL(HF-QoL) questionnaire (HF-QoL-C) in the Chinese population with hemorrhoids.Methods:From November 2021 to November 2022, a self-constructed general information questionnaire, HF-QoL-C, and the 36-item short form health survey (SF-36), Goligher classification, and Giordano severity of hemorrhoid symptom questionnaire (GSQ) were used to conduct a questionnaire survey on 760 hemorrhoid patients in the anorectal department of six hospitals. The data was analyzed for reliability and validity using SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 26.0 software.Results:The Cronbach's α coefficient of HF-QoL-C and its dimension ranged from 0.831 to 0.960, and the split coefficient was 0.832-0.915. Four common factors were extracted through principal component exploratory factor analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated acceptable structural validity( χ2/ df=8.152, RSMEA=0.097, CFI=0.881, IFI=0.881, NFI=0.867). HF-QoL-C was correlated with SF36 and GSQ( r=-0.694, 0.501, both P<0.01). There were differences in the total score and dimensional scores of HF-QoL-C between surgical and drug treated patients, different grades of Goligher classification for hemorrhoidal disease, and different ranges of hemorrhoid prolapse (all P<0.001). No ceiling effect was found in the total score and the scores of each dimension(0.3%-2.0%). There was a floor effect in both psychological function and sexual activity dimensions (16.7%, 35.1%). Conclusion:HF-QoL-C has good reliability and validity, which can be used to measure the quality of life of Chinese hemorrhoid patients.

Objective:To preliminarily examine the feasibility and outcome of single-port laparoscopic radical prostatectomy with full-length urethral preservation (FLUP-SPRP).Method:This study was a prospective case series study. A total of 25 patients with prostate cancer who met the enrollment criteria and agreed to this surgical procedure from March 2022 to December 2022 were collected at the Department of Urology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. The age of the patients was (67.2±7.6) years (range: 61 to 76 years). This novel procedure was performed by an experienced surgeon who performed single hole radical prostatectomy skillfully. Patient urinary control, tumor control, and related surgical complications after surgery were regularly monitored. Postoperative urinary control was evaluated using the daily amount of urine pad, 0 to 1 piece of urine pad was to restore urinary control, and 0 to 1 piece of pad within 24 hours after catheter removal was immediate urinary control.Result:All prodecures were successfully completed without transit to open surgery. The surgical time was (128.4±22.4) minutes (range: 100 to 145 minutes), the intraoperative blood loss was (68.2±13.7) ml (range: 50 to 120 ml). The urethral injury occurred in 4 cases during surgery and was repaired by sutures. The urinary control recovery rates within 24 hours, 1 week, 4 weeks, and 7 weeks after surgery were 80.0%, 84.0%, 92.0% and 100%, respectively. Postoperative large section pathology revealed 1 case with a positive basal margin of the prostate and negative margins of all prostate glands around the urethra. Postoperative complications included urinary tract infection in 3 cases, urodynia in 2 cases, and acute urinary retention in 1 case. MRI follow-up 3 months after surgery showed normal anatomy of the bladder and urethra. The follow-up values of prostate specific antigen at 3 and 6 months after surgery were less than 0.1 μg/L.Conclusions:The preliminary results of this study indicate that the FLUP-SPRP procedure is safe and feasible. The early results of postoperative urinary control and oncology are as expected.

The study focused on individuals with influenza-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, and other respiratory symptoms) in three kindergartens in Tongzhou District, Beijing City, in April 2023. Nasopharyngeal swab specimens were collected, and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to detect common respiratory pathogens in the collected specimens. Positive specimens were subjected to sequencing analysis of the highly variable region of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) G protein, homology analysis and phylogenetic tree analysis. A total of 25 fever cases were collected from 3 kindergartens, aged 3-8 years old, with an age M ( Q1, Q3) of 4 (3.5, 5) years old. Ten confirmed cases of HRSV positive were screened and detected using the fluorescent quantitative PCR method, with a total detection rate of 40% (10/25). Typing identification and sequencing analysis confirmed that the main epidemic type was HRSV subtype B, which was highly homologous and closely related to previous epidemic strains in the region. Through pathogen investigation and analysis, it was preliminarily determined that this epidemic was dominated by HRSV subtype B.

The study focused on individuals with influenza-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, and other respiratory symptoms) in three kindergartens in Tongzhou District, Beijing City, in April 2023. Nasopharyngeal swab specimens were collected, and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to detect common respiratory pathogens in the collected specimens. Positive specimens were subjected to sequencing analysis of the highly variable region of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) G protein, homology analysis and phylogenetic tree analysis. A total of 25 fever cases were collected from 3 kindergartens, aged 3-8 years old, with an age M ( Q1, Q3) of 4 (3.5, 5) years old. Ten confirmed cases of HRSV positive were screened and detected using the fluorescent quantitative PCR method, with a total detection rate of 40% (10/25). Typing identification and sequencing analysis confirmed that the main epidemic type was HRSV subtype B, which was highly homologous and closely related to previous epidemic strains in the region. Through pathogen investigation and analysis, it was preliminarily determined that this epidemic was dominated by HRSV subtype B.

Based on the clinical thinking of combining diseases and patterns， we combined disease identification， pattern differentiation， and constitution identification， and put forward the theory of identifying and treating critical hypertension， which is "examining the symptoms first， identifying the constitutions as reference， and combining the diseases and patterns". Firstly， the starting point of identifying the disease is to examine the symptoms， and those with precise diagnosis and strong specificity will be diagnosed with the disease， while those with relatively broad diagnosis and fuzzy characteristics will be emphasised on identifying constitutions and differentiating patterns. Focusing on the impact of constitution identification on disease identification and pattern differentiation， constitution identification could be the basis when no symptoms to identify， and based on the theory of "constitution-disease correlation" and "constitution-pattern correlation" to improve the understanding of borderline hypertension from the group and individual level， which helps to identify and predict the development of the diseases and patterns； if the symptoms are complicated and difficult to identify， it is necessary to take syndrome as the outline， use the syndrome to unify the disease， and then refer to the constitution to legislate and prescribe medications. This paper summarizes the traditional Chinese medicine clinical differentiation and treatment strategy of borderline hypertension clear and easy to grasp， with a view to provide a feasible and efficient reference for prevention and treatment of borderline hypertension with traditional Chinese medicine.