1.Effect of Acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) on Improving Autism by Promoting Myelination Through The METTL14/m⁶A/PTEN Axis Based on “Xuanfu-Suiqiao” Theory
Wei-Li DANG ; Lü-Yuan LIANG ; Yu-Xin LI ; Zhi-Yao LI ; Sai-Dan LIU ; Jia-Lei CAO ; Rong-Ze MA ; Yun-Kai WANG ; Xiao-Qing YANG ; Bing-Qi WEI ; Bing-Xiang MA
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1165-1177
ObjectiveTo clarify whether METTL14 mediates the core role of acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) in promoting myelination and improving behavior in young autistic rats through gene intervention technology. MethodsThe ASD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of valproic acid (VPA) in pregnant rats. Male offspring were intracerebroventricularly injected with adenovirus-packaged METTL14 shRNA (sh-METTL14) or its control (sh-NC) on postnatal day 1, with a model group set as well. Subsequently, the juvenile rats were divided into model group, acupuncture group, acupuncture+sh-NC group, and acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group. The acupuncture group received acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) from postnatal day 7, once daily for 21 consecutive days. Neurobehavioral changes were evaluated by behavioral tests; METTL14 knockdown efficiency and the expression of METTL14, METTL3, and PTEN were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot (WB); PTEN m6A levels were measured by RNA immunoprecipitation-qPCR (RIP-qPCR); myelin ultrastructure, expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) and neurofascin 155 (NF155), and dendritic spine density were observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and primary neuron culture. ResultsBehaviorally, knockdown of METTL14 significantly counteracted the beneficial effects of acupuncture in improving self-grooming, open field exploration, three-chamber social interaction, and Morris water maze learning and memory (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the acupuncture+sh-NC group, the acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group showed significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression of hippocampal METTL14 (P<0.01), and the upregulating effects of acupuncture on METTL3 and PTEN expression were reversed (P<0.01). Meanwhile, knockdown of METTL14 significantly inhibited the acupuncture-induced increase in PTEN m6A levels (P<0.01). Morphologically, knockdown of METTL14 attenuated the improvement of myelin structure by acupuncture, reversed the downregulation of MBP and upregulation of NF155 induced by acupuncture, and blocked the increase in dendritic spine density (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionMETTL14 is a key molecule mediating the therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Neiguan. Acupuncture at Neiguan upregulates METTL14, thereby enhancing m6A methylation modification of PTEN mRNA to stabilize its expression, ultimately promoting myelin development and improving behavioral symptoms in ASD juvenile rats. This preliminarily reveals the modern biological connotation of “opening Xuanfu and dredging myelin”.
2.Effect of Acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) on Improving Autism by Promoting Myelination Through The METTL14/m⁶A/PTEN Axis Based on “Xuanfu-Suiqiao” Theory
Wei-Li DANG ; Lü-Yuan LIANG ; Yu-Xin LI ; Zhi-Yao LI ; Sai-Dan LIU ; Jia-Lei CAO ; Rong-Ze MA ; Yun-Kai WANG ; Xiao-Qing YANG ; Bing-Qi WEI ; Bing-Xiang MA
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1165-1177
ObjectiveTo clarify whether METTL14 mediates the core role of acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) in promoting myelination and improving behavior in young autistic rats through gene intervention technology. MethodsThe ASD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of valproic acid (VPA) in pregnant rats. Male offspring were intracerebroventricularly injected with adenovirus-packaged METTL14 shRNA (sh-METTL14) or its control (sh-NC) on postnatal day 1, with a model group set as well. Subsequently, the juvenile rats were divided into model group, acupuncture group, acupuncture+sh-NC group, and acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group. The acupuncture group received acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) from postnatal day 7, once daily for 21 consecutive days. Neurobehavioral changes were evaluated by behavioral tests; METTL14 knockdown efficiency and the expression of METTL14, METTL3, and PTEN were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot (WB); PTEN m6A levels were measured by RNA immunoprecipitation-qPCR (RIP-qPCR); myelin ultrastructure, expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) and neurofascin 155 (NF155), and dendritic spine density were observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and primary neuron culture. ResultsBehaviorally, knockdown of METTL14 significantly counteracted the beneficial effects of acupuncture in improving self-grooming, open field exploration, three-chamber social interaction, and Morris water maze learning and memory (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the acupuncture+sh-NC group, the acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group showed significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression of hippocampal METTL14 (P<0.01), and the upregulating effects of acupuncture on METTL3 and PTEN expression were reversed (P<0.01). Meanwhile, knockdown of METTL14 significantly inhibited the acupuncture-induced increase in PTEN m6A levels (P<0.01). Morphologically, knockdown of METTL14 attenuated the improvement of myelin structure by acupuncture, reversed the downregulation of MBP and upregulation of NF155 induced by acupuncture, and blocked the increase in dendritic spine density (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionMETTL14 is a key molecule mediating the therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Neiguan. Acupuncture at Neiguan upregulates METTL14, thereby enhancing m6A methylation modification of PTEN mRNA to stabilize its expression, ultimately promoting myelin development and improving behavioral symptoms in ASD juvenile rats. This preliminarily reveals the modern biological connotation of “opening Xuanfu and dredging myelin”.
3.Research progress on the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway to intervene in endometriosis
Kaikai LEI ; Jinnan GUO ; Rong XIANG ; Xiaolong LI ; Xiaoling FENG ; Fang XU ; Hongying KUANG ; Xin MAO ; Miao SUN
Chinese Journal of Comparative Medicine 2025;35(10):112-123
Endometriosis is a common estrogen-dependent disease in women of childbearing age,often leading to chronic pelvic pain,infertility,ovarian cancer,and other serious complications,and jeopardizing the health of women.The pathogenesis of endometriosis is complex and involves the alteration of multiple signaling pathways mediated by hormones,immunity,genetics,and the environment,and their interactions.Wnt/β-catenin signaling is involved in the regulation of embryonic development and tissue homeostasis,and it has recently been implicated in the pathogenesis of endometriosis via multiple pathways.This review considers the biological characteristics of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and summarizes the main mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis,as well as the curr-ent research status of the regulation of this signaling pathway by traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of endometriosis.We aim to clarify how the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway affects the development of endometriosis,and suggest that future studies should focus on exploring its potential role as an indicator for the clinical prediction and early diagnosis of endometriosis,thus providing theoretical support for the early diagnosis of this condition and the development of targeted drugs.
4.Discussing the Theoretical Basis of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Tumors by Combining the Concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Modern Medicine
Yi YUAN ; Hui HE ; Rong CHEN ; Lei LI ; Licheng RAN ; Mingliang GUO ; Yajun WANG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(6):1642-1648
Acupuncture and moxibustion have their unique advantages in treating tumors,but the theoretical framework of acupuncture and moxibustion intervention in tumors needs to be improved,and the academic system still needs to be sorted out.In this paper,we try to describe the commonalities between Chinese medical theories and modern medical technologies in order to consolidate the theoretical foundation of acupuncture intervention in tumor.Specifically:① Acupuncture regulates immune function and energy metabolism,which is a specific form of tonifying the spleen and stomach to support positive qi.② Tumors belong to the broad definition of"sores and ulcers"in traditional Chinese medicine,which is a special kind of chronic inflammation,and acupuncture intervenes in tumors by intervening in inflammatory reactions from ulcers.③ Tumor is a"dynamic pseudo-organ"with yin and yang attributes and"life attributes".Acupuncture and moxibustion can regulate various cells and factors in the tumor environment in a multi-targeted way,so as to make it tend to the state of yin and yang equilibrium.④ Acupuncture and moxibustion have unique advantages in the reduction of toxicity,enhancement of efficacy,tonicity,rejuvenation,treatment of complications,etc.,which complement the allopathic therapies of modern medicine,and can help to realize survival with tumors.
5.Mechanism of hedysarum polybotrys polysaccharide in improving diabetic gastroparesis based on network pharmacology and molecular docking
Qian GUO ; Rong-ke LI ; Lei ZHANG ; Zhao-hui WEI ; Sheng-fang WAN ; Jing SHAO
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(6):1158-1166
Aim To investigate the key targets and mechanisms of diabetic gastroparesis(DGP)by in-tegrating network pharmacology and molecular docking technology with animal experiments,and to specifically focus on exploring the effects of hedysarum polybotrys polysaccharide(HPS)on DGP through animal experi-mentation to validate its potential as a treatment for di-abetic gastroparesis.Methods The chemical constit-uents of HPS were analyzed,and the active chemical components of Radix Astragali were identified using the TCMSP database.The Swisstarget database was utilized to screen for HPS active ingredient targets,while DGP-related targets were identified from disease databases such as TTD,GeneCards,Drugbank,and DisGeNET.The STRING database was used to construct the PPI network,and Cytoscape 3.10.1 software was employed for network topology analysis and selection of key tar-gets.Subsequently,a compound-target-pathway net-work diagram was constructed.Key targets underwent GO function(biological function,molecular function,and cellular function)and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis using the Metascape database.Molecular doc-king was performed using Pymol 2.5 and AutoDock software.DGP rat model was established to observe the histopathological changes in small intestine after eight weeks of HPS intervention through HE staining.Addi-tionally,Western blot was conducted to detect the ex-pression of AGEs,RAGE,and NF-κB in eggs.The re-sults revealed a total of 302 key targets.Results A total of 302 key targets which were further analyzed for gene GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment.CUL3,YWHAZ,and NTRK1 were predicted as the key targets with critical pathways including the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications,viral carci-nogenesis,hepatitis B,and alcoholism signaling path-way among others.Furthermore,in vivo experiments confirmed that HPS could improve small intestine histo-pathology in DGP rats,resulting in significant protective effects on this organ.It also reduced the expression of AGEs,RAGE,and NF-κB protein,hence achieving its purpose of treating DGP.Conclusion HPS has the characteristics of multi-component,multi-target and multi-pathway action,which may affect the regulatory role of AGE-RAGE signaling pathway on DGP,and provide new ideas for the subsequent clinical improve-ment of DGP.
6.Role of joint function screening and correction in preventing training injuries for new recruits:a randomized controlled trial
Enyu LEI ; Zhen CHEN ; Bing LI ; Ling ZHANG ; Honghui RONG ; Lu LU ; Chuanfen ZHENG ; Tao MENG ; Ji'an CHEN
Journal of Army Medical University 2025;47(9):1003-1009
Objective To investigate the effects of joint function screening and correction on intervention efficacy of prevention and assessment score of training injuries in new recruits.Methods A randomized controlled study was conducted on 265 new recruits subjected from two organizational units of an army unit with cluster sampling.Based on entire organizational unit,the participants were randomly divided into a control group(n=132)and an experimental group(n=133).The experimental group received joint function screening and corrective movement training,which was subsequently applied in the new recruit training,while the control group underwent training according to conventional methods.Joint function were collected before and after training.The demographic data,assessment score of training,and incidence of training injuries were collected through the participant's own organizational unit.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was plotted to evaluate the efficacy of joint function screening in predicting training injuries,and binary logistic regression and general linear regression analyses were applied to verify the correlation of joint function screening score with training injuries and assessment score of training.Results After new training,the score of joint function screening was significantly higher in the experimental group than the control group(16.62±1.87 vs 14.92±2.58,P<0.001).And the score was obviously increased in the experimental group(16.62±1.87 vs 12.82±1.98,P<0.001)and the control group(14.92±2.58 vs 12.95±1.81,P<0.001)when compared with the corresponding score before training.The area under the ROC curve(AUC)of joint function screening in predicting training injuries was 0.762(95%CI:0.694~0.830),indicating good predictive efficacy.During the new training process,the incidence of training injuries in the experimental group(13.53%)was significantly lower than that in the control group(24.24%,Chi-square=4.963,P=0.026).Binary logistic regression analysis showed that the pre-training assessment score of joint function screening was an important influencing factor for training injuries in new recruits(OR=0.552,95%CI:0.413~0.660,P<0.001).The experimental group obtained notably higher mean assessment score than the control group[733.00(716.00,752.75)vs 728.79(710.46,744.28),P=0.027].Linear regression analysis revealed a correlation between post-training score of joint function screening and the assessment score of newly trained personnel(P<0.001).Conclusion Joint function screening and correction for newly trained personnel can effectively prevent training-related injuries during the new training period,and correcting joint function through training can effectively improve the assessment score of newly trained personnel.
7.Multimodal ultrasound of the testis in differentiating subtypes of spermatogenic dysfunction:a preliminary study
Tingting LEI ; Gaoxiang FAN ; Penglin ZOU ; Chao JIA ; Hongmei LIANG ; Jun LIN ; Rong WU ; Lianfang DU ; Zheng LI ; Qiusheng SHI
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2025;34(8):678-685
Objective:To analyze the imaging features of testicular conventional ultrasonography(US),shear wave elastography(SWE),and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(CEUS)in subtypes of spermatogenic dysfunction(focal,arrest,and exhausted),and to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of testicular multimodal ultrasound.Methods:A prospective study enrolled 310 spermatogenic dysfunction patients(focal type group: n=77,arrest type group: n=20,exhaustive type group: n=213)and 30 healthy volunteers(control group)at Shanghai General Hospital between October 2023 and December 2024. All patients underwent preoperative testicular US,SWE,and CEUS examinations,followed by microdissection testicular sperm extraction. Ultrasound parameters were compared among groups,and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were plotted to assess the diagnostic efficacy of multimodal ultrasound for different subtypes. Results:①Testicular volume:The arrest group exhibited significantly greater volume compared to the focal group and the exhausted group(all P<0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed between the arrest group and the normal group( P>0.05). ②Mean Young's modulus(Emean):The arrest group exhibited significantly lower Emean compared with both the focal and exhausted groups(all P<0.05),but showed no significant difference versus the normal group( P>0.05). ③CEUS quantitative parameters:The arrival time(AT)and time to peak(TTP)in the exhausted group were higher than those in the normal group,while the peak intensity(PI)and area under the time-intensity curve(AUC)were lower(all P<0.05). No significant differences were found in AT,TTP,or AUC among the three spermatogenic dysfunction subgroups(all P>0.05). ④CEUS perfusion patterns:The focal group predominantly exhibited a mottled pattern(70.13%,54/77). Both the arrest group(90.00%,18/20)and the normal group(93.33%,28/30)predominantly exhibited an rich pattern. The exhausted group predominantly exhibited a sparse pattern(56.34%,120/213). ⑤ROC curve analysis showed that for differentiating the arrest group from the focal type group and the exhaustive type group,the combination of Emean,testicular volume,and CEUS perfusion pattern yielded an AUC of 0.931,with a sensitivity of 95.00% and specificity of 85.86%. For differentiating the focal type group from the exhaustive type group,the combination of testicular echogenicity,CEUS perfusion pattern,and Emean yielded an AUC of 0.833,with a sensitivity of 81.82% and specificity of 75.12%. Conclusions:Multimodal ultrasonography can comprehensively characterize the imaging features of different subtypes of spermatogenic dysfunction,holding promise as a noninvasive predictive tool.
8.Practice of medical insurance management for ambulatory surgery from the perspective of DRG/DIP
Lei ZHANG ; Huiming LI ; Jie RONG
Modern Hospital 2025;25(7):1056-1060
Objective With the comprehensive implementation of Diagnosis-Related Groups(DRG)and Diagnosis-In-tervention Packet(DIP)payment reforms,ambulatory surgery has been widely adopted in clinical practice due to its efficiency and cost-effectiveness.However,medical insurance compliance issues have become increasingly prominent during management processes.Standardizing ambulatory surgery management and ensuring the security of medical insurance funds have grown in im-portance.Methods Based on the current status of ambulatory surgery medical insurance policies in Tianjin,this study analyzes common compliance issues under DRG/DIP payment systems,explores their causes,and proposes targeted management strate-gies.Results Tianjin currently has 786 ambulatory surgery procedures,with orthopedics being the most common specialty,fol-lowed by ophthalmology,urology,and general surgery.From 2020 to 2024,the sample hospital completed 12,705 ambulatory surgery cases,with a significant increase in 2024.In 2020,the most frequent procedure was circumcision,while in 2024,it was colonoscopic polypectomy.Under DRG/DIP payment systems,common medical insurance compliance issues include upeoding,split hospitalization,excessive treatment,cost shifting,and undertreatment.Conclusion Healthcare and medical insurance sys-tems should collaborate to implement targeted management strategies.These include strengthening hospital medical record and coding management,improving medical quality control,refining medical insurance supervision mechanisms and payment stand-ards,and establishing a multi-stakeholder collaborative oversight system.These measures aim to standardize ambulatory surgery management,safeguard medical insurance funds,and promote the healthy development of the healthcare industry.
9.Prognostic value of prolymphocyte percentage in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Zhaoliang ZHANG ; Jiahao ZHOU ; Lingxiao XING ; Yan WANG ; Tonglu QIU ; Rong WANG ; Hui WANG ; Lei FAN ; Huayuan ZHU ; Yi MIAO ; Jianyong LI
Chinese Journal of Hematology 2025;46(2):140-146
Objective:To investigate the impact of peripheral blood prolymphocyte percentage on the prognosis of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) .Methods:This study included 300 patients diagnosed with CLL at the Department of Hematology of Jiangsu Provincial People’s Hospital from October 2011 to December 2020. The association between prolymphocyte percentage and other parameters was analyzed, and the optimal cutoff prolymphocyte percentage was determined by X-tile analysis. Further survival analysis and prognostic model construction were used to validate the predictive value of prolymphocyte percentage.Results:Of the 300 eligible patients with CLL who were enrolled, 50 received Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKi) as first-line treatment. The group with higher prolymphocyte percentage comprised more patients in the advanced stages ( P=0.010) and had higher β 2-microglobulin ( P<0.001), unmutated immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable region gene ( P<0.001), and TP53 aberration ( P=0.004). The optimal cutoff percentage of prolymphocytes was 1%. Patients with a prolymphocyte percentage >1% had significantly shorter treatment-free survival (TFS) ( P<0.001) and overall survival time ( P=0.007) than patients with a prolymphocyte percentage ≤1%. On multivariate analysis, prolymphocyte percentage >1% tended to have an independent prognostic value for TFS [ HR=1.405 (95% CI 0.971~2.032), P=0.071]. Compared with the nomogram of CLL international prognostic index (CLL-IPI) alone, the nomogram of CLL-IPI combined with prolymphocyte percentage showed better discrimination (area under the curve: 0.778 vs. 0.637; P=0.006). In addition, patients with a prolymphocyte percentage >1% were more likely to progress after BTKi treatment ( P=0.038) . Conclusion:Peripheral blood prolymphocyte percentage was associated with various clinical and biological parameters and prognosis among patients with treatment-naive CLL.
10.Establishment of animal model of blood stasis syndrome in diabetic kidney disease and metabonomic analysis
Qian GUO ; Sheng-fang WAN ; Rong-ke LI ; Lei ZHANG ; Zhao-hui WEI ; Zi-hui ZHONG ; Jing SHAO
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(3):592-599
Aim To establish an animal model of diabetic kidney disease(DKD)integrating blood stasis syndrome and syndrome evaluation indicators.Methods Twenty-five SD rats were ran-domly divided according to body weight into a control group(8 rats)and a modeling group(17 rats).The modeling group was fed a high-sugar and high-fat diet for four weeks and induced to form diabetic rats by intraperitoneal injection of 30 mg·kg-1 streptozocin.The modeling rats were randomly divided into the DKD group and blood stasis syndrome combination group accord-ing to 24-hour urinary protein(24-hUP).The blood stasis syn-drome combination group was induced to replicate the DKD blood stasis syndrome model by injecting 10%high molecular weight D-glucoside three times at a dose of 0.05 mg·kg-1 via tail vein.The model was evaluated based on random blood glu-cose level,24-hUP level,syndrome assessment,pathological staining etc,and differential metabolites were selected using metabolomics.Results The comprehensive evaluation of syn-drome manifestations and pathological staining in the combined model of blood stasis syndrome in rats demonstrated successful replication.Utilizing the technique of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry,22 differential metabolites were identified,with associated pathways showing a certain relevance to blood stasis syndrome in DKD.Conclusions The successful replica-tion of an animal model combining the syndrome of blood stasis in DKD has been achieved in this study.Evaluation of indicators and results from metabolomics studies consistently demonstrate a correlation with the syndrome of blood stasis in DKD.

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