OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of Dendrobium officinale (Tiepi Shihu) extract (DOE) on insomnia. METHODS: Forty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=7 per group): normal control, model control, melatonin (MT, 40 mg/kg), and 3-dose DOE (0.25, 0.50, and 1.00 g/kg) groups. Rats were raised in a strong-light (10,000 LUX) and -noise (>80 db) environment (12 h/d) for 16 weeks to induce insomnia, and from week 10 to week 16, MT and DOE were correspondingly administered to rats. The behavior tests including sodium pentobarbital-induced sleep experiment, sucrose preference test, and autonomous activity test were used to evaluate changes in sleep and emotions of rats. The metabolic-related indicators such as blood pressure, blood viscosity, blood glucose, and uric acid in rats were measured. The pathological changes in the cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) region of rat brain were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin staining and Nissl staining. Additionally, the sleep-related factors gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate (GA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Finally, we screened potential sleep-improving receptors of DOE using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array and validated the results with quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: DOE significantly improved rats' sleep and mood, increased the sodium pentobarbital-induced sleep time and sucrose preference index, and reduced autonomic activity times (P<0.05 or P<0.01). DOE also had a good effect on metabolic abnormalities, significantly reducing triglyceride, blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood viscosity indicators (P<0.05 or P<0.01). DOE significantly increased the GABA content in hippocampus and reduced the GA/GABA ratio and IL-6 level (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In addition, DOE improved the pathological changes such as the disorder of cell arrangement in the hippocampus and the decrease of Nissel bodies. Seven differential genes were screened by PCR array, and the GABA_A receptors (Gabra5, Gabra6, Gabrq) were selected for verification. The results showed that DOE could up-regulate their expressions (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION DOE demonstrated remarkable potential for improving insomnia, which may be through regulating GABA_A receptors expressions and GA/GABA ratio.
Animals ; Dendrobium/chemistry* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Male ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/blood* ; Plant Extracts/therapeutic use* ; Receptors, GABA-A/metabolism* ; Noise/adverse effects* ; Light/adverse effects* ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/metabolism* ; Sleep/drug effects* ; Rats ; Receptors, GABA/metabolism*

Objective:To investigate the curative effect and mechanism of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mice.Methods:Twenty-one 8-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups: control group (normal diet), model group (high-fat and high-cholesterol diet), and hyperbaric oxygen group (high-fat and high-cholesterol diet + hyperbaric oxygen therapy), with seven mice in each group. The changes in body weight, serum liver enzymes, and blood lipids were compared after treatment between the three groups. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, Oil Red O staining, Sirius red staining, and F4/80 immunohistochemical staining were used to observe the pathological changes in liver tissues. RT-qPCR and Western blot methods were used to detect the expression levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory factors. One-way analysis of variance was used for comparison among the groups.Results:Mice in the hyperbaric oxygen group had significantly improved liver histopathology. The serological levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and cholesterol were (77.50±13.59) U/L, (156.06±23.68) U/L, and (4.80±0.53) mmol/L, which were significantly lower than those in the model group [(109.43±16.88) U/L, (216.62±18.79) U/L, and (5.86±0.53) mmol/L, P<0.05], and accompanied by lower levels of lipid deposition, macrophage infiltration, and fibrosis. In addition, compared with the model group, the expression of antioxidant stress protein nuclear transcription factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 [(0.30±0.06) and (2.16±1.21), P<0.05] and heme oxygenase-1 [(0.48±0.19) and (1.01±0.18), P<0.05] in liver tissue showed an upward trend following hyperbaric oxygen treatment, which was also validated at the transcriptional level ( P<0.05). Simultaneously, compared with the model group, the mRNA expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α [(2.60±0.71) and (0.66±0.15), P<0.05], interleukin-1β [(2.41±1.01) and (0.78±0.23), P<0.05], and interleukin-6 [(3.61±2.17) and (0.94±0.25), P<0.05] in the liver tissue of mice in the hyperbaric oxygen group were decreased. The tumor necrosis factor-α protein level [(7.50±4.73) and (1.05±0.58), P<0.05] and interleukin-1β [(1.65±0.35) and (1.02±0.02), P<0.05] was reduced following hyperbaric oxygen treatment compared with those in the model group. Conclusion:Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can slow down the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by regulating the levels of oxidative stress and inflammation in the mice.

Aim To evaluate the ameliorative effects of different ratios of Renshen-Huangjing(RH) on SPS-induced PTSD-like behaviors in mice,and to investi-gate the action mechanism using bioinformatics analysis and experimental studies.Methods The aqueous ex-tract was extracted in four ratios of RH in a total weight of 60 g,i.e.1∶0(RH1),2∶1(RH2),1∶2(RH3),and 0∶1(RH4).The extraction rates of Rg1,Rb1,and polysaccharides from different ratios of RH were then detected using UPLC-UV method.The SPS model was established,and RH1,RH2,RH3 and RH4(400 mg·kg-1)were administered by intragas-tric gavage for 14 day,followed by behavioral tests to e-valuate the PTSD-like behaviors.The serum CORT,IL-1β and IL-10 were determined by ELISA.The possible targets of action were analyzed using bioinformatics.The expression levels of Calpain-1,PSD95,BDNF and GluN2B in the hippocampus were detected by Western blot.Results The SPS model induced PTSD-like be-haviors in mice.Serum levels of CORT and IL-1β in-creased and level of IL-10 decreased in SPS model.After treatment with different ratios of RHs,RH2 showed the best therapeutic effect,which was manifes-ted in the suppression of PTSD-like behaviors,the re-duction of CORT and IL-1β levels,and the promotion of IL-10 levels;160 overlapping targets might explain the therapeutic effects of RH on PTSD,and these tar-gets were enriched in inhibiting synaptic damage,exer-ting antioxidant properties and suppressing neuroin-flammation,respectively.RH2 prevented the SPS-in-duced decrease in the expression of Calpain-1,PSD95,BDNF and the elevation of GluN2B.Molecular docking showed strong binding of Rg1 and Rb1 to Calpain-1,PSD95,and BDNF,respectively.Conclusions The a-queous extract of RH in a 2∶1 ratio can more effec-tively prevent SPS-induced PTSD-like behaviors,and its effect may be related to targets such as Calpain-1,PSD95,BDNF and GluN2B.

Objective To develop a novel protective ventilator circuit component and to verify its performance by water seal and anti-splash experiments.Methods A novel protective ventilator circuit component had a design scheme with the multifunctional joint,and consisted of a tee connection tube,an isolation sleeve and a stop sleeve,of which,the tee connection tube was made of polyethylene polymer material and the others were made of silicone material.The tee connection tube had a T-shaped structure with two standard connection ports,which was composed of an adapter,a sealing cap,a plug and a sealing ring;the isolation sleeve was in the shape of a cylinder with a raised bottom,which was inserted into the adapter;the stop sleeve was located in the isolation sleeve,with an inverted frustum of a cone at the bottom and a rounded hole in the middle of the inverted frustum.An open ventilator circuit tube was involved in the performance verification of the circuit component developed.In the water seal experiment,sputum aspiration was simulated and the heights of the liquid level drop in the L-shaped tubes were compared after sputum aspiration.In the anti-splash experiment,the infection rates on the surfaces of the sterile hole towels and gloves were calculated.Results Water seal experiment showed after sputum aspiration the open ventilator circuit tube had the liquid level at the L-shaped tube higher significantly than that of the circuit component;the anti-splash experiment indicated sputum aspiration resulted in the occurance of the splashing out of the secretion and 77.5%infection rate by the open ventilator circuit tube,while no splashing out and 0%infection rate by the circuit component developed.Conclusion The novel protective ventilator circuit component behaves well in sealing and anti-splashing,and thus is worthy of clinical application for sputum aspiration.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(4):113-117]

Objective To develop a novel protective ventilator circuit component and to verify its performance by water seal and anti-splash experiments.Methods A novel protective ventilator circuit component had a design scheme with the multifunctional joint,and consisted of a tee connection tube,an isolation sleeve and a stop sleeve,of which,the tee connection tube was made of polyethylene polymer material and the others were made of silicone material.The tee connection tube had a T-shaped structure with two standard connection ports,which was composed of an adapter,a sealing cap,a plug and a sealing ring;the isolation sleeve was in the shape of a cylinder with a raised bottom,which was inserted into the adapter;the stop sleeve was located in the isolation sleeve,with an inverted frustum of a cone at the bottom and a rounded hole in the middle of the inverted frustum.An open ventilator circuit tube was involved in the performance verification of the circuit component developed.In the water seal experiment,sputum aspiration was simulated and the heights of the liquid level drop in the L-shaped tubes were compared after sputum aspiration.In the anti-splash experiment,the infection rates on the surfaces of the sterile hole towels and gloves were calculated.Results Water seal experiment showed after sputum aspiration the open ventilator circuit tube had the liquid level at the L-shaped tube higher significantly than that of the circuit component;the anti-splash experiment indicated sputum aspiration resulted in the occurance of the splashing out of the secretion and 77.5%infection rate by the open ventilator circuit tube,while no splashing out and 0%infection rate by the circuit component developed.Conclusion The novel protective ventilator circuit component behaves well in sealing and anti-splashing,and thus is worthy of clinical application for sputum aspiration.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(4):113-117]

Aim To evaluate the ameliorative effects of different ratios of Renshen-Huangjing(RH) on SPS-induced PTSD-like behaviors in mice,and to investi-gate the action mechanism using bioinformatics analysis and experimental studies.Methods The aqueous ex-tract was extracted in four ratios of RH in a total weight of 60 g,i.e.1∶0(RH1),2∶1(RH2),1∶2(RH3),and 0∶1(RH4).The extraction rates of Rg1,Rb1,and polysaccharides from different ratios of RH were then detected using UPLC-UV method.The SPS model was established,and RH1,RH2,RH3 and RH4(400 mg·kg-1)were administered by intragas-tric gavage for 14 day,followed by behavioral tests to e-valuate the PTSD-like behaviors.The serum CORT,IL-1β and IL-10 were determined by ELISA.The possible targets of action were analyzed using bioinformatics.The expression levels of Calpain-1,PSD95,BDNF and GluN2B in the hippocampus were detected by Western blot.Results The SPS model induced PTSD-like be-haviors in mice.Serum levels of CORT and IL-1β in-creased and level of IL-10 decreased in SPS model.After treatment with different ratios of RHs,RH2 showed the best therapeutic effect,which was manifes-ted in the suppression of PTSD-like behaviors,the re-duction of CORT and IL-1β levels,and the promotion of IL-10 levels;160 overlapping targets might explain the therapeutic effects of RH on PTSD,and these tar-gets were enriched in inhibiting synaptic damage,exer-ting antioxidant properties and suppressing neuroin-flammation,respectively.RH2 prevented the SPS-in-duced decrease in the expression of Calpain-1,PSD95,BDNF and the elevation of GluN2B.Molecular docking showed strong binding of Rg1 and Rb1 to Calpain-1,PSD95,and BDNF,respectively.Conclusions The a-queous extract of RH in a 2∶1 ratio can more effec-tively prevent SPS-induced PTSD-like behaviors,and its effect may be related to targets such as Calpain-1,PSD95,BDNF and GluN2B.

Objective:To investigate the curative effect and mechanism of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mice.Methods:Twenty-one 8-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups: control group (normal diet), model group (high-fat and high-cholesterol diet), and hyperbaric oxygen group (high-fat and high-cholesterol diet + hyperbaric oxygen therapy), with seven mice in each group. The changes in body weight, serum liver enzymes, and blood lipids were compared after treatment between the three groups. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, Oil Red O staining, Sirius red staining, and F4/80 immunohistochemical staining were used to observe the pathological changes in liver tissues. RT-qPCR and Western blot methods were used to detect the expression levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory factors. One-way analysis of variance was used for comparison among the groups.Results:Mice in the hyperbaric oxygen group had significantly improved liver histopathology. The serological levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and cholesterol were (77.50±13.59) U/L, (156.06±23.68) U/L, and (4.80±0.53) mmol/L, which were significantly lower than those in the model group [(109.43±16.88) U/L, (216.62±18.79) U/L, and (5.86±0.53) mmol/L, P<0.05], and accompanied by lower levels of lipid deposition, macrophage infiltration, and fibrosis. In addition, compared with the model group, the expression of antioxidant stress protein nuclear transcription factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 [(0.30±0.06) and (2.16±1.21), P<0.05] and heme oxygenase-1 [(0.48±0.19) and (1.01±0.18), P<0.05] in liver tissue showed an upward trend following hyperbaric oxygen treatment, which was also validated at the transcriptional level ( P<0.05). Simultaneously, compared with the model group, the mRNA expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α [(2.60±0.71) and (0.66±0.15), P<0.05], interleukin-1β [(2.41±1.01) and (0.78±0.23), P<0.05], and interleukin-6 [(3.61±2.17) and (0.94±0.25), P<0.05] in the liver tissue of mice in the hyperbaric oxygen group were decreased. The tumor necrosis factor-α protein level [(7.50±4.73) and (1.05±0.58), P<0.05] and interleukin-1β [(1.65±0.35) and (1.02±0.02), P<0.05] was reduced following hyperbaric oxygen treatment compared with those in the model group. Conclusion:Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can slow down the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by regulating the levels of oxidative stress and inflammation in the mice.

Objective:To investigate the trajectories of intrinsic capacity in older adults and explore the impact of leisure activities on the decline of intrinsic capacity.Methods:This study is a prospective cohort study conducted in a community in Beijing, China.A convenience sampling method was used to select 284 cases of older adults from November to December 2020.The purpose of the study was to gather information on the general conditions, intrinsic abilities(including cognitive, vitality, motor, psychological, and sensory dimensions), and participation in leisure activities of older adults.A 2.5-year follow-up of the respondents was conducted.Results:A total of 243(85.6%, 243/284)respondents completed the 2.5-year follow-up.The follow-up intrinsic capacity score decreased from a baseline level of 4(3, 4)to 3(3, 4)( Z=-4.667, P<0.001).Among the respondents, 113(46.5%, 113/243)older adults showed a decrease in intrinsic capacity, with more significant decreases observed in the locomotor and psychometric dimensions( χ2=16.953, 23.510, both P<0.001).The number of declines in intrinsic ability was higher in the low group of leisure activities compared to the high group[62.2%(56/90) vs.37.3%(57/153), χ2=14.199, P<0.001].There was a positive correlation between leisure activity scores and the follow-up intrinsic capacity score( r=0.200, P=0.002), as well as with the value of change in the score of intrinsic capacity( r=0.146, P=0.023).The results of Logistic regression analysis indicated that leisure activities( OR=0.644, 95% CI: 0.507 to 0.818, P<0.001), physical leisure activities( OR=0.565, 95% CI: 0.395 to 0.809, P=0.002), and intellectual leisure activities( OR=0.742, 95% CI: 0.555 to 0.992, P=0.044)independently influenced the decline of intrinsic ability in the elderly, even after accounting for demographic information, number of diseases, and type of medicine taken. Conclusions:The decline in intrinsic abilities is a common occurrence among the elderly population.Engaging in leisure activities has been found to be effective in reducing this decline.It is important to emphasize the impact of leisure activities on the overall health of older individuals.

Objective:To investigate age-related characteristics of gait parameters in the elderly.Methods:From February 2023 to August 2023, a convenient sampling method was used to investigate the elderly over 60 years old in communities in Beijing.General characteristics and anthropometric data were collected.Gait parameters of the subjects during normal speed walking were measured using a wearable gait analyzer.Comparisons were made of the basic characteristics, physical status and gait parameters in different age groups.Linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the changes of physical status and gait parameters with age, with the 60-69-year-old group as the baseline standard.Results:A total of 670 elderly people were included, including 324(48.4%)aged 60-69 years, 285(42.5%)aged 70-79 years, and 61(9.1%)aged ≥80 years.Linear regression analysis showed that after adjusting for confounding factors, with increasing age, skeletal muscle mass index(SMI)( β=-0.018, 95% CI: -0.029--0.007), calf circumference( β=-0.096, 95% CI: -0.142--0.051), upper limb flexibility( β=-0.200, 95%, 95% CI: -0.355--0.046), lower limb flexibility( β=-0.244, 95% CI: -0.377--0.111), grip strength( β=-0.397, 95% CI: -0.491--0.303), the Short Physical Performance Battery(SPPB)( β=-0.080, 95% CI: -0.100--0.060)decreased( P<0.05), and the gait parameter such as speed( β=-0.010, 95% CI: -0.014--0.007), cadence( β=-0.398, 95% CI: -0.634--0.162), step length/height( β=-0.002, 95% CI: -0.003--0.002), stride length( β=-0.009, 95% CI: -0.011--0.007), swing power( β=-0.009, 95% CI: -0.012--0.006), ground impact( β=-0.020, 95% CI: -0.026--0.014), foot fall( β=-0.050, 95% CI: -0.064--0.036), pre-swing angle( β=-0.545, 95% CI: -0.714--0.377)all decreased( P<0.05), while stride time( β=0.005, 95% CI: 0.001-0.009), single limb support time( β=1.566, 95% CI: 0.499-2.633), terminal double limb support time( β=0.609, 95% CI: 0.084-1.134), swing duration( β=1.288, 95% CI: 0.024-2.552), single step time( β=2.417, 95% CI: 0.462-4.372)and support phase time( β=1.935, 95% CI: 0.421-3.449)all increased( P<0.05). Conclusions:The walking ability tends to decline with age in older people in the community who walk at a normal walking speed.

Objective To establish a normal three-dimensional model of the hip bone in adolescents aged 10-19 years old,analyze the morphology and positional parameters of the posterior superior iliac spine of the hip bone among different genders,sides,and ages,which can supplement the study of the anatomical morphology of the hip bone and to provide a reference for the diagnosis of the clinically relevant diseases and for the therapeutic manipulation and localization of the hip bone.Methods Forty adolescent patients aged 10-19 years without previous spinal pelvic diseases were selected,and the pelvic CT image data were collected and imported into Mimics 21.0 software to establish the model.The relative position parameters of the posterior superior iliac spine and the surrounding anatomical landmarks included the length from the posterior superior iliac spine to the anterior superior iliac spine(ab),the length from the tip of the posterior superior iliac spine to the sciatica(ac),the length from the tip of the posterior superior iliac spine to the pubic tubercle(ae),the length from the tip of the posterior superior iliac spine to the midpoint of the posterior margin of the auricular joint surfaces(af),the length from the tip of the posterior superior iliac spine to the iliac spine turn(ag),and the length from the sciatica tubercle to the highest point of the iliac spine(cd).The local parameters of the posterior superior iliac spine included the width(W0)and the thickness(H0)at point A.The maximum width of the posterior iliac spine(WMAX),its distance from point a(D0),and the width of the iliac spine were measured at 0.5,1,and 1.5 cm from point a,and were recorded sequentially as W1,W2,and W3.The width of the iliac spine at the turn of the iliac spine(point g)was measured(W4).The relative positions and parameters of the posterior superior iliac spine to the surrounding anatomical landmarks and the localized parameters of the posterior superior iliac spine were compared sequentially for different genders,sides,and age groups.Results In the measurement result of the parameters of the posterior superior iliac spine and the surrounding anatomical landmarks,the differences in the comparisons between different genders of the ac,ae,and af indexes were statistically significant(P＜0.05),and the differences in the comparisons between different genders of the ab,ag,and cd indexes were not statistically significant(P＞0.05).The differences in the comparisons between the right and left sides of the ab,ac,ae,af,ag,and cd indexes were not statistically significant(P＞0.05).The difference in comparison between different age groups of ab,ac,ae,af,ag,and cd indicators was statistically significant(P＜0.05).In the measurement result of the local parameters of the posterior superior iliac spine,the difference in the comparison between the sexes of the W0,W1,W2,WMAX,and H0 indexes was statistically significant(P＜0.05),and the difference in the comparison between the sexes of the W3,W4,and D0 indexes was not statistically significant(P＞0.05);And the difference in the comparison between the left and right sides of the W0,W1,W2,and the right and left sides of the W3,W4,WMAX,D0,and H0 indexes was not statistically significant(P＞0.05);The difference between W0,W1,W2,W3,W4,WMAX,D0,H0 indicators compared between different age groups was not statistically significant(P＞0.05).Conclusion Adolescent females have overall greater pelvic parameters than males,with wider and thicker tips of the posterior superior iliac spine in females and narrower and thinner tips of the posterior superior iliac spine in males;Pelvic parameters show a tendency to increase with age,while the width and thickness of the posterior superior iliac spine,as well as the width of the cephalic end to the iliac spine remain essentially unchanged.