BACKGROUND:Spinal cord injury is a neurological disorder caused by traumatic or non-traumatic events,often leading to severe functional impairment below the injured segment.In recent years,neural stem cell transplantation has been considered to have significant therapeutic potential in regulating the inflammatory response after spinal cord injury,inhibiting excessive proliferation of glial scars,and promoting nerve regeneration. OBJECTIVE:To review and discuss the potential mechanism of action of acupuncture and neural stem cell transplantation therapy in inhibiting spinal cord injury-induced secondary injury,and to delve into the scientific basis for its treatment of spinal cord injury. METHODS:PubMed,Elsevier,WanFang,and CNKI databases were searched using"spinal cord injury,acupuncture,neural stem cells,SDF-1α/CXCR4 axis"as Chinese and English search terms.Totally 96 articles were finally included.The research findings of acupuncture combined with neural stem cells in the treatment of spinal cord injury were summarized and analyzed,and the mechanism of this combination therapy in the treatment of secondary injury after spinal cord injury was summarized. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The stromal-derived factor 1α(SDF-1α)/chemokine receptor 4(CXCR4)axis plays a crucial role in neural stem cell transplantation for spinal cord injury.This signaling mechanism not only affects neural stem cell migration,proliferation,and differentiation,but is also a key factor in determining the efficiency of stem cell homing to the injury site.Therefore,the regulation of targeting this axis is of great significance in enhancing the therapeutic effect of spinal cord injury.(2)Acupuncture,as a traditional Chinese medicine therapy,shows unique advantages in the regulation of secondary injury in spinal cord injury.It can effectively reduce secondary injury after spinal cord injury by regulating inflammatory response,inhibiting apoptosis,improving microcirculation,reducing glial scar formation,and counteracting oxidative stress.(3)Acupuncture was also able to influence the expression and function of the SDF-1α/CXCR4 axis,thereby enhancing the homing and survival ability of neural stem cells and promoting nerve regeneration and functional recovery.(4)The therapy combining acupuncture and stem cell transplantation is an innovative treatment strategy for spinal cord injury and suitable for repairing neural circuits.It combines the wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine with the advantages of modern biotechnology,providing a new treatment option for spinal cord injury patients.However,this combination therapy is still in the research and exploration stage,and its long-term efficacy and safety need to be further verified.(5)Taken together,acupuncture and neural stem cell transplantation for the treatment of spinal cord injury has great potential for clinical application,but in-depth research and optimization of treatment options are still needed.In the future,we look forward to further revealing the efficacy mechanism and optimal indications of this therapy through more clinical trials and mechanism studies,so as to bring better hope of recovery and more efficient therapeutic effects to spinal cord injury patients.

Neuronal reprogramming is an innovative technique for converting non-neuronal somatic cells into neurons that can be used to replace lost or damaged neurons, providing a potential effective therapeutic strategy for central nervous system (CNS) injuries or diseases. Transcription factors have been used to induce neuronal reprogramming, while their reprogramming efficiency is relatively low, and the introduction of exogenous genes may result in host gene instability or induce gene mutation. Therefore, their future clinical application may be hindered by these safety concerns. Compared with transcription factors, small-molecule compounds have unique advantages in the field of neuronal reprogramming, which can overcome many limitations of traditional transcription factor-induced neuronal reprogramming. Here, we review the recent progress in the research of small-molecule compound-mediated neuronal reprogramming and its application in CNS regeneration and repair.
Humans ; Cellular Reprogramming/drug effects* ; Neurons/cytology* ; Animals ; Transcription Factors ; Small Molecule Libraries/pharmacology* ; Nerve Regeneration

Ginsenoside Rg_2(GRg2) is a triterpenoid compound found in Panax notoginseng. This study explored its effects and mechanisms on diabetic retinopathy and angiogenesis. The study employed endothelial cell models induced by glucose or vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), the chorioallantoic membrane(CAM) model, the oxygen-induced retinopathy(OIR) mouse model, and the db/db mouse model to evaluate the therapeutic effects of GRg2 on diabetic retinopathy and angiogenesis. Transwell assays and endothelial tube formation experiments were conducted to assess cell migration and tube formation, while vascular area measurements were applied to detect angiogenesis. The impact of GRg2 on the retinal structure and function of db/db mice was evaluated through retinal thickness and electroretinogram(ERG) analyses. The study investigated the mechanisms of GRg2 by analyzing the activation of Yes-associated protein(YAP) and Toll-like receptors(TLRs) pathways. The results indicated that GRg2 significantly reduced cell migration numbers and tube formation lengths in vitro. In the CAM model, GRg2 exhibited a dose-dependent decrease in the vascular area ratio. In the OIR model, GRg2 notably decreased the avascular and neovascular areas, ameliorating retinal structural disarray. In the db/db mouse model, GRg2 increased the total retinal thickness and enhanced the amplitudes of the a-wave, b-wave, and oscillatory potentials(OPs) in the ERG, improving retinal structural disarray. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the TLR signaling pathway was significantly down-regulated following YAP knockdown, with PCR results consistent with the transcriptome sequencing findings. Concurrently, GRg2 downregulated the expression of Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4), TNF receptor-associated factor 6(TRAF6), and nuclear factor-kappaB(NF-κB) proteins in high-glucose-induced endothelial cells. Collectively, GRg2 inhibits cell migration and tube formation and significantly reduces angiogenesis in CAM and OIR models, improving retinal structure and function in db/db mice, with its pharmacological mechanism likely involving the down-regulation of YAP expression.
Animals ; Ginsenosides/pharmacology* ; Diabetic Retinopathy/physiopathology* ; Mice ; YAP-Signaling Proteins ; Humans ; Male ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Cell Movement/drug effects* ; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Panax notoginseng/chemistry* ; Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Angiogenesis

Although enteric glial cell (EGC) abnormal activation is reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD), and inhibition of EGC gliosis alleviated gut and dopaminergic neuronal dysfunction was verified in our previous study, the potential role of gut microbiota on EGC function in PD still need to be addressed. In the present study, fecal microbiota transplantation revealed that EGC function was regulated by gut microbiota. By employing 16S rRNA and metabolomic analysis, we identified that 3-indolepropionic acid (IPA) was the most affected differential microbial metabolite that regulated EGC gliosis. The protective effects of IPA on PD were validated in rotenone-stimulated EGCs and rotenone (30 mg/kg i.g. for 4 weeks)-induced PD mice, as indicated by decreased inflammation, improved intestinal and brain barrier as well as dopaminergic neuronal function. Mechanistic study showed that IPA targeted pregnane X receptor (PXR) in EGCs, and inhibition of IL-13Rα1 involved cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway, leading to inactivation of downstream JAK1-STAT6 pathway. Our data not only provided evidence that EGC gliosis was critical in spreading intestinal damage to brain, but also highlighted the potential role of microbial metabolite IPA in alleviating PD pathological damages through gut-brain axis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2025.02.029.].

Dental treatments for children and adolescents have unique clinical characteristics that differ from dental care for adults in terms of children's physiology, psychology, and behavior. These differences impose specific requirements on the application of local anesthesia in pediatric dental procedures. This article presents expert consensus on the principles of local anesthesia techniques in pediatric dental therapies, including the use of common anesthetic drugs and dosage control, safety and efficacy evaluation, and prevention and management of complications. The aim is to improve the safety and quality of pediatric dental treatments and offer guidance for clinical application by dentists.
Humans ; Child ; Anesthesia, Local/methods* ; Consensus ; Anesthesia, Dental/methods* ; Adolescent ; Anesthetics, Local/administration & dosage* ; Dental Care for Children

Objective To observe the effect of sacubitril valsartan combined with dapagliflozin on cardiac function and blood glucose fluctuation in elderly patients with chronic heart failure(CHF)and type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods The elderly patients with CHF and T2DM were divided into treatment group and control group.Patients in the control group were given irbesartan tablets,150 mg each time,metoprolol sustained-release tablets,qd,with an initial dose of 23.75 mg,and the dose was increased to 47.5 mg after 2 weeks,and dapagliflozin tablets was taken in the morning,qd,5 mg each time.If the patient was well tolerated,the dose was increased to 10 mg each time.The treatment group was given dapagliflozin tablets,qd,5 mg each time,and the dose was increased to 10 mg each time if the patient was well tolerated.At the same time,sacubitril valsartan sodium tablets was given,bid,50 mg each time.If the patient was well tolerated,the dose should be doubled every 2-4 weeks,not exceeding 200 mg each time.The two groups were treated for 6 months.The cardiac function,blood glucose fluctuation,drug safety and prognosis were compared between the two groups.Results Forty-seven cases and forty-nine cases were included in the treatment and control group,respectively.After treatment,the total effective rates in the treatment and control group were 93.62％(44 cases/47 cases)and 79.59％(39 cases/49 cases),and there were significant differences(P＜0.05).After treatment,left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)in the treatment group group and the control group were(55.34±8.22)and(46.59±6.80)％;cardiac indexes(CI)were(2.54±0.41)and(2.37±0.39)L·min-1·m-2;postprandial glucose excursions(PGE)were(1.45±0.31)and(1.86±0.46)mmol·L-1;the largest amplitudes of glycemic excursions(LAGE)were(3.42±1.05)and(4.47±1.39)mmol·L-1;the incidence rates of major cardiovascular adverse events(MACE)were 4.26％(2 cases/47 cases)and 2.13％(1 cases/47 cases);readmission rates were 18.37％(9 cases/49 cases)and 14.29％(7 cases/49 cases).There were statistically significant differences in the above indexes between the treatment group and the control group.(all P＜0.05).The adverse drug reactions in the treatment group were urinary tract infection and hypotension,and the adverse drug reactions in the control group were urinary tract infection and angioedema,and the total adverse drug reaction rate of the two groups was 6.38％(3 cases/47 cases)and 4.08％(2 cases/49 cases),and there was no statistical significance(P＞0.05).Conclusion The combined treatment of sacubitril valsartan sodium tablets and dapagliflozin tablets can improve cardiac function,reduce blood glucose fluctuation,increase the total effective rate,and improve the prognosis of elderly patients with CHF and T2DM,with good drug safety.

Objective To investigate the effects of linoleic acid(LA)on the diversity and structure of intestinal flora in mice.Methods Twelve SPF grade male C57BL/6J mice at 7 weeks were randomly divided into control group(CTRL group)and linoleic acid group(LA group).One day before the linoleic acid diet was supplemented,the normal food was removed from the LA group and the mice in the LA group were fasted for one night,so that the LA diet was more acceptable to the mice in the LA group,and LA was given on the day of the experiment recording,and the feed was updated at any time to ensure that the mice could eat freely until the end of modeling.After 12 weeks of modeling,mouse feces were collected,and mixed samples were collected for every two mice feces,and then 16sRNA high-throughput sequencing was performed to analyze intestinal flora structure,Alpha and Beta diversity.Results 16sRNA high-throughput sequencing showed that LA intervention damaged the richness and diversity of intestinal flora.The results of principal component analysis showed that the composition of flora in CTRL group was different from that in LA group.At gate level,the relative abundance of Actinobacteria in LA group increased(P＜0.01).At the genus level,the relative abundance of L.Duchennei in the LA group decreased(P＜0.05),but the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium,Faecalibaculum and Erysipelotrichaceae in the LA group increased(all P＜0.01).Conclusion LA intervention could reduce the richness and diversity of intestinal flora in mice,and adjust the structure of intestinal flora.There were significant differences between beneficial bacteria and pathogenic bacte-ria in intestinal flora after LA intervention,which provided certain basis for the treatment of bioactive compounds of linoleic acid and the therapeutic adjustment of intestinal microorganisms as targets.

BACKGROUND:Cell death and neuroinflammation are two important targets in the treatment of spinal cord injury.Pyroptosis is a programmed cell death closely related to neuroinflammation and targeted inhibition of pyroptosis after spinal cord injury is a promising therapeutic strategy. OBJECTIVE:To summarize the molecular mechanism,positive and negative regulatory factors and therapeutic strategies of pyroptosis in spinal cord injury. METHODS:The search terms were"spinal cord injury,pyroptosis,nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3),Caspase,Gasdermin D(GSDMD),IL-1β,IL-18"and 93 English literatures included in PubMed and Web of Science were finally selected for review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:As a newly discovered programmed cell death,pyroptosis has been shown to play an important role in the secondary injury stage after spinal cord injury.Among the regulatory factors of pyroptosis after spinal cord injury,CD73,NRF2,GDF-11,dopamine,FANCC and miR-423-5P could inhibit pyroptosis,while TLR4 and Aopps could promote pyroptosis.In terms of treatment,the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine(paeonol,tripterine,betulinic acid,piperine,kaempferol,and camptothecin),exosomes of various cell origins,and some drugs(metformin,topotecan,lithium,zinc,and carbon monoxide-releasing molecule 3)can effectively inhibit pyroptosis and reduce secondary spinal cord injury,but the toxicity and specific dose of these drugs need to be further studied.The specific molecular mechanism by which pyroptosis aggravates spinal cord injury is still poorly understood.The role of non-classical pathways and other inflammasomes is worth further exploration.At present,the research on pyroptosis after spinal cord injury only stays at the animal experiment stage.There are no related clinical studies and no approved targeted therapeutic drugs.(6)The application of pyroptosis after spinal cord injury has great potential,and its specific regulatory mechanism should be further studied in the future to provide a new target for the treatment of spinal cord injury.