Education is a crucial element in the development of acupuncture as a discipline, providing essential talent support for its future advancement. A structured interview was conducted with renowned acupuncture expert Professor ZHAO Jiping, focusing on key topics such as the core of acupuncture education, the connotation and development of acupuncture textbooks, and acupuncture teaching models. Through in-depth discussion, the current problems in acupuncture education were analyzed, and possible solutions were explored, aiming to offer ideas for the innovative development of acupuncture education.
Acupuncture/trends* ; Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy ; China

OBJECTIVE: To identify protein markers that may be associated with ulcerative colitis (UC) by analyzing differential proteins in the salivary exosomes from newly diagnosed patients with active UC and healthy controls (HC), and to investigate the function of salivary exosome-specific high-expression proteins in UC patients and their potential role in the pathogenesis of UC. METHODS: All patients and healthy controls were recruited from Peking University People' s Hospital. Whole saliva was obtained from 37 patients with newly diagnosed active ulcerative colitis (n=37) and apparently healthy controls (n=10). Salivary exosomes were extracted from samples, and the proteins within the exosomes were identified by liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS). The differentially expressed protein genes underwent gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis using the DAVID tool. In vitro, macrophages were co-cultured with salivary exosomes from UC group and those from HC group, respectively, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to detect levels of CD80⁺ and CD86⁺. Additionally, ELISA was performed to measure secretion levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the cell supernatant. RESULTS: A total of 259 proteins were co-expressed in saliva exosomes from UC group and HC group, among which 11 proteins were highly expressed in the UC group, including PDIA4, A2M, EEF2, C3, PSMA2, PSMB6, PSMA1, IGHG1, IGHG3, IGHG4 and SERPING1, while 4 proteins were lowly expressed in UC group, including TCN1, SLPI and SERPING. Functional analysis of these 15 proteins, along with 129 specific proteins found only in the UC patients and 69 specific proteins found only in HC patients, respectively, was conducted using GO/KEGG. The results revealed that in the UC group, proteasome-related proteins such as PSMA1, PSMA2 and PSMB6 expressions were increased in salivary exosomes while many key molecules involved in complement cascade pathways, such as C3 were up-regu-lated. In vitro co-culture experiments demonstrated that compared with healthy controls, the salivary exosomes of the UC patients in active stage could play a pro-inflammatory role by promoting the transformation of macrophages into M1 type cells that secrete inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α. CONCLUSION Salivary exosomes in the UC patients may have the function of promoting inflammation. Analysis of protein levels in the saliva of the UC patients and healthy controls revealed significant differences in the expression levels of 15 co-expressed proteins between the two groups. Among them, C3, PSMA2, PSMB6 and PSMA1 were found to be mainly related to immune and inflammatory reactions in the UC group. These findings suggest that proteins with high specific expression in salivary exosomes of the UC patients have the potential to be used as a disease marker for UC diagnosis and may contribute to the pathogenesis of UC.
Humans ; Colitis, Ulcerative/metabolism* ; Exosomes/metabolism* ; Saliva/metabolism* ; Biomarkers/analysis* ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Middle Aged

Pristimerin, which is one of the compounds present in Celastraceae and Hippocrateaceae, has antitumor effects. However, its mechanism of action in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the efficacy and mechanism of pristimerin on ESCC in vitro and in vivo. The inhibitory effect of pristimerin on cell growth was assessed using trypan blue exclusion and colony formation assays. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry. Gene and protein expressions were analyzed through quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was employed to identify significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Cell transfection and RNA interference assays were utilized to examine the role of key proteins in pristimerin?s effect. Xenograft models were established to evaluate the antitumor efficiency of pristimerin in vivo. Pristimerin inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis in ESCC cells. Upregulation of Noxa was crucial for pristimerin-induced apoptosis. Pristimerin activated the Forkhead box O3a (FoxO3a) signaling pathway and triggered FoxO3a recruitment to the Noxa promoter, leading to Noxa transcription. Blocking FoxO3a reversed pristimerin-induced Noxa upregulation and cell apoptosis. Pristimerin treatment suppressed xenograft tumors in nude mice, but these effects were largely negated in Noxa-KO tumors. Furthermore, the chemosensitization effects of pristimerin in vitro and in vivo were mediated by Noxa. This study demonstrates that pristimerin exerts an antitumor effect on ESCC by inducing AKT/FoxO3a-mediated Noxa upregulation. These findings suggest that pristimerin may serve as a potent anticancer agent for ESCC treatment.
Forkhead Box Protein O3/genetics* ; Humans ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma/physiopathology* ; Esophageal Neoplasms/physiopathology* ; Pentacyclic Triterpenes ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics* ; Mice ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Mice, Nude ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Triterpenes/pharmacology* ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Male ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects*

This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism of action of metformin (MET) in inhibiting the malignant progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by regulating the degradation of aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3 (AKR1C3). The correlation between the sensitivity of different hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines to MET and their basal expression levels of AKR1C3 was firstly evaluated. MET was found to significantly reduce the level and accelerate the degradation rate of AKR1C3 protein by Western blot. The interaction between MET and AKR1C3 protein was confirmed by cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA). Proteasome inhibitor MG132 and the lysosomal inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) were used to screen the degradation pathway, and confirm, in combination with the HBSS starvation-induced autophagy model, that MET mediated the degradation of AKR1C3 through the autophagy lysosome pathway. Ubiquitylation assay showed that MET specifically enhanced the K63-linked polyubiquitylation modification of AKR1C3. Sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1/p62) knockdown, immunoprecipitation, and immunofluorescence co-localization analyses confirmed that the autophagy receptor p62 plays a key role in mediating MET-induced degradation of AKR1C3. The adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor compound C was used to demonstrate that the regulatory effect of MET on AKR1C3 is independent of the classical AMPK signaling pathway. The experimental results showed that metformin promoted the ubiquitination modification of AKR1C3 by targeting AKR1C3, enhanced the binding of AKR1C3 to autophagy receptor p62, then degraded the AKR1C3 protein through selective autophagy-like pathway, and ultimately inhibited the malignant phenotypes of hepatocellular carcinoma cells, which is a regulatory mechanism free of the classical AMPK activation pathway of metformin.

The esophagus is referred to as the conduit for food and drink.It can be categorized into three distinct phases:an era characterized by written descriptions,a phase marked by anatomical illustrations,and a period of integration between Chinese and Western medical practices.In the initial phase of written descriptions,seminal texts such as The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic and The Classic of Difficult Issues documented aspects regarding both length and function of the esophagus;however,these accounts were relatively succinct.The subsequent phase saw advancements in anatomical illustrations that refined our comprehension of esophageal structure and functionality.During the period of the integration of Chinese and Western medicine,insights from Western anatomy prompted a reevaluation within Chinese medicine concerning both anatomy and physiology related to the esophagus;concurrently,clini-cal cases involving esophageal disorders emerged prominently.Consequently,Chinese medicine's grasp on esophageal physiology,pa-thology,anatomy,and function became increasingly comprehensive over time.Choosing the esophagus as the starting point for observ-ing the theory of viscera in Chinese medicine is intended to illustrate that Chinese medicine's understanding of life,health and disease is based on the observation and continuous improvement of the anatomical functions of the viscera,integrating the physiological func-tions to form a highly integrated system with functional states,so as to facilitate the use of natural medicines for regulation and treatment.This is a distinctive feature different from Western medicine,and it can keep pace with the times and absorb modern re-search results,and continuously improve the theory and treatment system,so as to obtain strong vitality and benefit mankind.

Objective To explore the differences in scapular motion and shoulder function between patients suffering from rotator cuff tears(RCT)with and without type Ⅲ scapular dyskinesis(SD).Meth-ods Between September 2021 and March 2023,sixteen patients suffering from rotator cuff tears with SD(SD group)and 17 counterparts without SD(non-SD group)were recruited from the Sports Hospital of the General Administration of Sport of China.Their scapular motion was assessed by measuring three parameters in the X-rays,including scapular spine line(LSS),scapular upward rotation angle(SU-RA),and coracoid upward shift distance(CUSD).Moreover,their shoulder range of motion in flexion,abduction and external rotation were recorded,and further evaluated using the Pain Visual Analog Scale(VAS)and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Score(ASES).Results No significant differenc-es were found between the two groups in the average score of SURA,CUSD and LSS at 0°～30° shoul-der abduction,or in that of CUSD and LSS at 60°～90°shoulder abduction.However,the average SU-RA score of the SD group at 60°～90°shoulder abduction was significantly greater than the other group(P<0.05).The shoulder ranges of motion during active flexion,abduction and external rotation were significantly smaller in the SD group than in the non-SD group(P<0.05).Moreover,the average VAS score in the SD group was significantly higher than the non-SD group(P<0.05),while the average ASES score was significantly lower than the latter group(P<0.05).Conclusions RCT patients type III SD exhibits greater scapular upward rotation during shoulder abduction compared to those without SD.Moreover,the former patients suffer from more severe pain and have worse shoulder range of motion and functional performance than the latter.

Background::Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common cause of respiratory failure in many critically ill patients. Although inflammasome activation plays an important role in the induction of acute lung injury (ALI) and ARDS, the regulatory mechanism of this process is still unclear. When cells are stimulated by inflammation, the integrity and physiological function of mitochondria play a crucial part in pyroptosis. However, the underlying mechanisms and function of mitochondrial proteins in the process of pyroptosis are largely not yet known. Here, we identified the 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO), a mitochondrial outer membrane protein, as an important mediator regulating nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeat, and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation in macrophages during ALI.Methods::TSPO gene knockout (KO) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI/ARDS mouse models were employed to investigate the biological role of TSPO in the pathogenesis of ARDS. Murine macrophages were used to further characterize the effect of TSPO on the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Activation of NLRP3 inflammasome was preformed through LPS + adenosine triphosphate (ATP) co-stimulation, followed by detection of mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and cell death to evaluate the potential biological function of TSPO. Comparisons between two groups were performed with a two-sided unpaired t-test. Results::TSPO-KO mice exhibited more severe pulmonary inflammation in response to LPS-induced ALI. TSPO deficiency resulted in enhanced activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, promoting more proinflammatory cytokine production of macrophages in LPS-injured lung tissue, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2. Mitochondria in TSPO-KO macrophages tended to depolarize in response to cellular stress. The increased production of mitochondrial damage-associated molecular pattern led to enhanced mitochondrial membrane depolarization and pyroptosis in TSPO-KO cells. Conclusion::TSPO may be the key regulator of cellular pyroptosis, and it plays a vital protective role in ARDS occurrence and development.

Objective:To explore the application of 3D visualisation technology combined with perforator flap transfer in reconstruction of soft tissue defects in traumatic hand and foot injury and explore the clinical outcomes.Methods:Between January 2021 and February 2023, a retrospective analysis was conducted in the Department of Emergency of the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University and the Department of Sports Medical of Wuxi No. 9 People's Hospital, on the data of 12 patients (13 flaps) who received surgery of 3D visualisation technology combined with perforator flap transfer for soft tissue defects left by traumatic hand and foot injuries. The patients were 7 males and 5 females aged 45 [36.5, 55.8] years old. Nine patients had the defects in hand and 3 in foot, with 3 in the left and 9 in the right. The sizes of defects ranged from 8.0 cm×6.0 cm to 18.0 cm×17.0 cm. The time from injury to surgery was 13.5 [8.3, 20.8] days. Preoperative CTA scans of donor and recipient sites were performed, and the imaging data were processed for 3D image reconstruction and visualisation. A total of 13 flaps were designed and harvested, including 10 free anterolateral thigh perforator flaps (ALTPFs) and 3 pedicled perforator flaps of fibular artery containing fibular nerve nutrient vessel chains. The flap sizes ranged from 9.0 cm×6.0 cm to 20.0 cm×15.0 cm. Five of the donor sites were directly closed by suture and 8 by skin grafting. Monthly outpatient follow-ups were conducted for the first 3 months after surgery, and then the follow-up reviews were conducted through visits of outpatient clinic or reviewed via WeChat interviews. Information about the outcomes of the transferred flaps, complications and function recovery were recorded on all patients.Results:All 13 flaps were successfully harvested and transferred with the assistance of 3D visualisation technology. Preoperative location of perforator vessels was accurate and flap design was reasonable. The 3D visualisation provided an effective guidance for surgical manipulation. Twelve flaps survived completely after surgery. One flap that had partial necrosis healed after skin grafting. All patients were included in more than 6 months of postoperative follow-up, with a mean follow-up duration of 8.1 months±1.7 months. All flaps had good colour and texture. Four flaps that had swollen appearance received secondary thinning surgery with satisfactory outcomes. The recovery of 9 patients with hand injury was evaluated according to the Blood Circulation Elauation of Severed Finger Replantation Evaluation Standard of Upper Limb Functional of Hand Surgery of Chinese Medical Association. At the final follow-up, the blood supply of flaps was excellent in 11 flaps and good in 2 flaps. Hand function was excellent in 2 hands, good in 4 hands and poor in 3 hands. Scores of American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Societ(AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot was used for foot function evaluation and all 3 patients were in excellent. Of the postoperative complications, due to a haematoma beneath the flap, a local infection and a delayed fracture healing were occurred in 3 patients separately.Conclusion:The 3D visualisation technology assisted perforator flap transfer can achieve high-quality reconstruction of defects in hand and foot through precise preoperative flap design and simulated surgical incision, therefore it provides a better treatment outcomes for patients.

Objective:To analyze the changes in the management methods of large medical equipment in China, evaluate the equity of large medical equipment allocation planning from the 13th Five-Year Plan to the 14th Five-Year Plan.Methods:The literature research was used to sort out the characteristics and changes of the management of large medical equipment in China. The database was established to quantitatively analyze the existing number of large medical equipment at the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan and the planned number of large medical equipment at the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan, and then the fairness evaluation was carried out based on the Lorenz curve and Gini coefficient.Results:Since the 1980s, the management measures of large-scale medical equipment in China have been introduced and updated iteratively to meet the needs of social development and medical services. In addition to conventional radiotherapy equipment, the number of large medical equipment per million population in China at the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan at least doubled compared with the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan, among which the heavy ion radiotherapy system and the laparoscopic surgery system increased by more than two times. Lorenz curve analysis showed that the fairness of large medical equipment based on population distribution at the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan was better than that at the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan, especially for heavy ion proton radiotherapy system, high-end radiotherapy equipment and PET/MR. The Gini coefficient of large medical equipment planning based on population distribution during the 14th Five-Year Plan was generally smaller than that of the 13th Five-Year Plan. Except for the heavy ion proton radiotherapy system and PET/MR in North China, the Gini coefficient of the planned number of all kinds of equipment in the six regions of the country during the 14th Five-Year Plan was less than 0.4 based on population distribution, which was in a relatively fair state.Conclusions:The management of large medical equipment in China keeps pace with the times and constantly adapts to the new development stage of health care. The fairness of large medical equipment allocation planning based on population distribution in six regions of China has been steadily improved, and it is suggested that the fairness based on population distribution and the clinical application of existing equipment should be taken into account in the allocation planning.