OBJECTIVE: The occurrence and development of atrial fibrillation (AF) are influenced by the autonomic nervous system and inflammation. Acupuncture is an effective treatment for AF. This study explored the protective effects of acupuncture in a rat model of paroxysmal AF and investigated its mechanisms. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 130) were randomly divided into blank control (Con), sham operation (Sham), AF, and acupuncture treatment (Acu) groups. A paroxysmal AF model was established by rapid atrial pacing through the jugular vein. Rats in the Acu group were immobilized to receive acupuncture treatment at Neiguan acupoint (PC6) for 20 min daily for seven days. The other groups were immobilized for the same duration over the treatment period but did not receive acupuncture. The AF induction rate, AF duration, cardiac electrophysiological parameters, and heart rate variability were evaluated by monitoring surface electrocardiogram and vagus nerve discharge signals. After the intervention, the rats were euthanized, and atrial morphology was assessed using haematoxylin and eosin staining. The expression of macrophage F4/80 antigen (F4/80) and cluster of differentiation (CD) 86 in atrial myocardial tissue was detected using immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. The expression levels or contents of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR), phosphorylated Janus kinase 2 (p-JAK2), and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3) in atrial myocardial tissue were detected using Western blotting, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The role of α7nAChR in acupuncture treatment was verified by intraperitoneal injection of the α7nAChR antagonist methyllycaconitine (MLA). RESULTS: Compared with the AF group, acupuncture significantly reduced AF duration and induction rate, improved cardiac electrophysiology by enhancing vagus nerve activity and regulating autonomic balance. It also decreased the pro-inflammatory M1 macrophage proportion, alleviating myocardial injury and infiltration. MLA weakened acupuncture's electrophysiological improvement and anti-inflammatory effect. Results suggest that acupuncture triggers the α7nAChR-JAK2/STAT3 pathway and exerts cardioprotection via neuroimmune regulation. CONCLUSION Acupuncture significantly reduced the AF induction rate, shortened AF duration, improved cardiac electrophysiological parameters, enhanced vagus nerve activity, and decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages and inflammatory factors in rats with paroxysmal AF. Its positive effects are related to the activation of the α7nAChR-mediated JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathway, indicating that the interaction between cardiac vagus nerve and macrophages may be a potential target for acupuncture in the prevention and treatment of AF. Please cite this article as: Li ZH, Yang WM, Huang Q, Shi GX, Liu CZ, Zhang YQ. Acupuncture activates vagus nerve-macrophage axis and improves cardiac electrophysiology and inflammatory response in rats with atrial fibrillation via α7nAChR-JAK2/STAT3 pathway. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(4): 398-414.
Animals ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism* ; alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor/metabolism* ; Janus Kinase 2/metabolism* ; Atrial Fibrillation/metabolism* ; Vagus Nerve/physiopathology* ; Rats ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Signal Transduction ; Macrophages/metabolism* ; Inflammation/therapy*

Aim To observe the effects of Wenfei Jiangzhuo formula(WFJZF)on rats with vascular de-mentia and investigate its possible mechanism of ac-tion.Methods Thirty-six healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into the sham group,model group,donepezil group,and low-dose,medium-dose and high-dose groups of Wenfei Jiangzhuo formula,with six rats per group.Except for the sham group,the other groups were prepared as VaD models,and each group was gavaged with the corresponding drugs after suc-cessful modeling,and tests were performed after three weeks of treatment.Behavioral,hippocampal CA1 area morphology,neural dendrites and mitochondrial chan-ges were observed in all groups of rats,and phospho-glycerate mutase 5(PGAM5),dynamics-related pro-teins1(Drp1),opticatrophyprotein-1(OPA1),and other proteins were detected in each group.Results Compared with the sham group,rats in the model group and each intervention group had prolonged es-cape latency(P＜0.05),a shorter number of travers-als across the platforms(P＜0.05),a sparse morphol-ogy of hippocampal neurons,a reduction in the number of secondary dendritic spines,and a rupture of the out-er membrane of the mitochondria;the expression of the PGAM5 and Drp1 proteins in hippocampal tissues was elevated(P＜0.05),and the expression of the OPA1 and Mfn1/2 protein expression decreased(P＜0.05);compared with the model group,donepezil group and Wenfei Jiangzhuo formula high-dose group of rats had shorter evasion latency(P＜0.05),increased number of times to traverse the platform(P＜0.05),increased number of hippocampal neurons,tightly packed,more secondary dendritic structures,and reduced mitochon-drial damage;the expression of PGAM5 and Drp1 pro-teins was reduced(P＜0.05),and the expression of OPA1 and Mfn1/2 proteins was elevated(P＜0.05).Conclusions Wenfei Jiangzhuo formula can regulate the PGAM5-Drp1 signaling axis to improve the balance of mitochondrial homeostasis,thus improving the cog-nitive condition of the brain and exerting cerebroprotec-tive effects.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the diagnostic value of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT in bone marrow infiltration (BMI) of newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), compared with the results of bone marrow biopsy (BMB) and investigate whether the BMI diagnosed by ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT and other factors have independent prognostic values. METHODS: Ninety-four newly diagnosed DLBCL patients who underwent PET/CT in Clinical Medical College of Shanghai General Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were included. BMB was performed within 2 weeks before or after PET/CT, and standardized treatment was performed after PET/CT. The manifestations of bone marrow (BM) FDG uptake were recorded. The diagnostic criteria of BMI were BMB positive or focal BM FDG uptake confirmed by imaging follow-up. The relationship between clinical features and BM FDG uptake and the values of PET/CT and BMB in the diagnosis of BMI was analyzed. The progression-free survival (PFS) was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier survival curves, log-rank test was used to compare PFS rate, and Cox regression model was used to analyze the independent risk factors affecting PFS. RESULTS: Among 94 DLBCL patients, 34 patients showed focal BM uptake (fPET), 7 patients showed super BM uptake (sBMU), 11 patients showed diffuse homogenous uptake higher than liver (dPET), and the other 42 patients had normal BM uptake (nPET) (lower than liver). BMB positive was found in all sBMU patients, in 20.6%(7/34) of fPET patients, and in 27.3% (3/11) of dPET patients. All nPET patients had negative BMB results. dPET patients were associated with lower hemoglobin level and leukocyte count compared with nPET group (P < 0.001, P =0.026). Compared with fPET patients, sBMU patients were more likely to have B symptoms and elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). A total of 44 patients were diagnosed BMI, including 17 cases with BMB⁺. The sensitivity and specificity of BMB in the diagnosis of BMI was 38.6% (17/44) and 100% (50/50), respectively. Using fPET and sBMU as criteria of PET BMI, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of PET/CT was 93.2% (41/44) and 100% (50/50), respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that there was no significant difference in 2-year PFS rate between nPET and dPET patients (P >0.05), while sBMU patients had lower 2-year PFS rate compared with fPET patients (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that higher Ann Arbor stage (HR=9.010, P =0.04) and sBMU (HR=3.964, P =0.002) were independent risk factors affecting PFS. CONCLUSIONS Increased BM FDG uptake of DLBCL can be manifested as dPET, fPET and sBMU. fPET and sBMU can replace BMB to diagnose BMI. Although dPET cannot completely exclude the possibility of BMI, it does not affect the prognosis, so it can be diagnosed as PET BMI negative. sBMU is an independent prognostic risk factor.
Humans ; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography/methods* ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Prognosis ; Bone Marrow/pathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; China ; Positron-Emission Tomography/methods* ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/pathology* ; Biopsy

Aim To explore the protective effects of ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLPS) on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS) and the underlying mechanism. Methods Thirty C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group, EAE model group and GLPS group (5 mg • kg

Objective - To establish a new non exposed intratracheal instillation method for establishing a rat silicosis model. Methods ， The specific pathogen free SD rats were randomly divided into control group and experimental group with ten rats in ， each group. Rats in the control group were given 1.0 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride solution and rats in the experimental group - were given 1.0 mL of silica suspension with a mass concentration of 50 g/L adopting to the one time intratracheal instillation ， - ， method and then followed by ventilator assisted ventilation immediately. When the tidal volume stabilized at 2.0 mL the ventilator was removed and the tracheal intubation was pulled out. Five rats in each group were sacrificed after two and four ， - Results weeks after modeling and hematoxylin eosin staining and Masson staining of lung tissue were performed. There was ， ， no death in the two groups of rats during the experiment. After two and four weeks the control group had normal lung structure ， ， ， normal alveolar cavity size no inflammatory cell infiltration thin alveolar wall only a small amount of collagen distribution ， around the lung interstitium and bronchus. At the second week of modeling the alveolar wall of the rats in the experimental ， ， ， group was slightly thickened interstitial lymphocytes and macrophages were infiltrated slight hyperplasia was found and a ， small amount of fibroblasts were visible. At the 4th week of modeling the alveolar wall of the rats in the experimental group was ， ， ， ， significantly thickened fibrous nodules were formed and fibroblasts fibrocytes collagen fibers were significantly increased. Conclusion - The combination of ventilator and non exposed intratracheal instillation method can be used to successfully ， ， . establish a rat silicosis model which is simple safe and effective

Objective: To understand the incidence of pneumoconiosis in the non-coal mining industry in Jiangsu Province, and provide reference for the prevention and control of pneumoconiosis in the non-coal mining industry. Methods: The data of 7019 newly diagnosed pneumoconiosis patients in non-coal mining industry in Jiangsu Province from January 1956 to December 2019 were collected through the Jiangsu Province Pneumoconiosis Follow-up Network Report System, including the gender of the pneumoconiosis patients, the name of the employer and the location, the industry classification of the employer, the duration of dust exposure in dust exposure, the name of occupational pneumoconiosis disease, the date of diagnosis of pneumoconiosis, etc. The collected case data of patients with pneumoconiosis were entered into the statistical software, and the characteristics of the patients' diagnosis time, region and industry were analyzed. Results: The number of confirmed pneumoconiosis patients in the non-coal mining industry in Jiangsu Province was mostly in 2007 (395 cases) , concentrated in Wuxi City (40.96%, 2875/7019) and Suzhou City (27.72%, 1946/7019) . The industries to which the patients belonged were mainly non-metallic mining and dressing (60.95%, 4278/7019) , and the most common type of pneumoconiosis was silicosis (96.40%, 6766/7019) . The patients were mainly stageⅠpneumoconiosis (61.33%, 4305/7019) . There were statistically significant differences in the mean age of diagnosis and the average duration of dust exposure among patients with different pneumoconiosis stages (P<0.01) . The differences in the average diagnosis age and the average duration of dust exposure of patients with different types of pneumoconiosis were statistically significant (P<0.05) , the mean age of diagnosis and the average duration of dust exposure of electric welders were the smallest, which were (44.92±7.74) years old and (17.38±10.15) years, respectively. Conclusion: The regional and industry distribution characteristics of new pneumoconiosis patients in the non-coal mining industry in Jiangsu Province are obvious, and attention should be paid to the treatment of pneumoconiosis patients with young diagnosed age and short duration of dust exposure, as well as the personal protection and health protection of front-line workers such as electric welders who are exposed to productive dust in a short period of time.
Adult ; Coal Mining ; Dust ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases/epidemiology* ; Occupational Exposure/adverse effects* ; Pneumoconiosis/epidemiology* ; Silicosis/epidemiology*

Objective: Autologous peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) derived from bone marrow can promote liver regeneration and improve the liver function of patients, but there are few studies on its effect on the long-term outcomes in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Based on previous work, this study observed the clinical outcomes of PBSC treatment in patients with decompensated cirrhosis for 10 years, in order to provide more data support for the safety and efficacy of stem cells in clinical applications. Methods: Data of patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis who completed PBSC treatment in the Department of Gastroenterology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University from August 2005 to February 2012 were included. The follow-up endpoint was death or liver transplantation, and patients who did not reach the follow-up endpoint were followed-up for at least 10 years. The patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis who met the conditions for PBSC treatment but did not receive PBSC treatment in our hospital during the same period were used as controls. Results: A total of 287 cases with decompensated liver cirrhosis had completed PBSC treatment, and 90 cases were lost to follow-up within 10 years after surgery. A total of 151 cases with complete survival follow-up data were included in the control group. There were no statistically significant differences in baseline information such as gender, age, etiological composition and liver function score between the two groups. The 10-year survival rate was higher in PBSC than control group (37.56% vs. 26.49%, P<0.05). Cholinesterase, albumin, international normalized ratio, Child-Turcotte-Pugh score, model for end-stage liver disease score, and other indicators were gradually recovered within 3 months to 1 year after PBSC treatment, and stabilized at a more desirable level in the long-term after follow-up for up to 10 years. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of liver cancer between the two groups (25.22% vs.31.85%, P=0.267). The age of onset of hepatocellular carcinoma was later in PBSC than control group [(56.66±7.21) years vs. (52.69±8.42) years, P<0.05]. Conclusions: This long-term observational follow-up study of more than ten years confirms that PBSC treatment can bring long-term benefits to patients with decompensated cirrhosis, with good long-term safety, thus providing more data support on the safety and efficacy of stem cells for clinical applications.
End Stage Liver Disease ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/drug therapy* ; Middle Aged ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cells ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome

A fast and sensitive UPLC-MS/MS method was established for the direct quantification of insulin aspart in human plasma. The plasma samples were extracted by solid phase extraction (SPE), an ESI ion source was used and operated in the positive ion mode with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Bovine insulin was chosen as internal standard and the chromatographic separation of insulin aspart was performed on Waters ACQUITY UPLC CSH C18 column (50 mm×2.1 mm, 1.7 μm). A mixture of acetic acid aqueous solution and acetonitrile with acetic acid at a flow rate of 0.6 mL·min^-1 in gradient elution mode was employed as mobile phase. We found that the method was validated over the range of 0.200-10.0 ng·mL^-1 for insulin aspart and showed excellent linearity. The intra-and inter-assay accuracy and precision were below 14.5% and the recovery was 36.7%-41.7% over the three concentration levels evaluated. The UPLC-MS/MS method was selective, accurate, sensitive and robust, and the method was successfully applied in supporting the pharmacokinetic research of two insulin aspart injections (Test Product and NovoRapid^®) in heathy male subjects. This clinical trial was approved according to the Ethics Committee of West China Hospital, Sichuan University (2017 Clinical Trial (Western Medicine) Approval (148)).

The complement C1q/TNF related protein (CTRP) family is rapidly growing and currently comprises 15 members. Although CTRP proteins share a common structure composed of four distinct domains: a signal peptide at the N terminus, a short variable region, a collagenous domain, and a C-terminal globular domain, which is homologous to adiponectin, each CTRP has a unique tissue expression profile and varied function. In this review we focus on the biochemistry and pleiotropic functions of CTRPs as new molecular mediators regulating cardiovascular metabolic disorders and its related risk factors diseases.

Objective: To explore the relationship between plasma Jagged1 protein level and coronary collateral circulation (CCC) formation in patients with coronary artery disease(CAD). Methods: According to coronary angiography (CAG) examination, our research was categorized in 2 groups: CAD group, n=89 patients with at least one of left anterior descending (LAD), left circumflex(LCX) or right coronary artery(RCA) stenosis ≥ 95％ and Control group, n=30 subjects without abnormal findings by CAG. Based on Rentrop grading system, CAD group was further divided into 2 subgroups: Good CCC subgroup, n=42 patients with Rentrop grade ≥ 2 and Poor CCC subgroup, n=47 patients with Rentrop grade≤1. Plasma levels of Jagged1 protein,vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured by ELISA and the relevant correlation study was conducted by multivariate regression analysis. Results: Compared with Control group, CAD group had increased plasma levels of Jagged1 protein (38.74±10.60)ng/L vs (23.04±8.97)ng/L and elevated VEGF (113.98±30.80)pg/L vs (72.73±14.55)pg/L. Compared with Poor CCC subgroup, Good CCC subgroup presented increased Jagged1 protein (46.77±8.49)ng/L vs (31.56±6.26)ng/L and elevated VEGF (128.10±20.24) pg/L vs (92.43±21.09)pg/L. Correlation study showed that Jagged1 protein was positively related to VEGF in CAD patients (r=0.730, P<0.01); multivariate regression analysis indicated that Jagged1 protein (OR=1.318, P=0.000) and VEGF (OR=1.043, P=0.043) were the independent predictors for CCC processing.Conclusion: CAD patients with good CCC had the higher plasma Jagged1 protein level than the patients with poor CCC which implied that Jagged1 protein played important role in CCC processing, such finding may provide a new direction for treating CAD patients in clinical practice.