Objective To analyze the applicability of Berg Balance Scale(BBS)in the balance assessment of Parkinson's disease(PD)patients with balancing instrument test as the standard,so as to formulate targeted intervention programs accordingly.Methods A total of 186 patients with PD admitted to Department of Neurology and Department of Rehabilitation Medicine,Huashan Hospital,Fudan University from Jan 2020 to Sep 2022 were selected as the research objects.The static balance function of the patients was evaluated by balancing instrument.The balance function parameters were analyzed according to BBS and levodopa equivalent dose.Results The drug dose did not affect the score of balance instrument.There was a good correlation between BBS and balance instrument.The higher the scale score,the lower the balance instrument score(r=-0.333,P<0.001).There was a positive correlation between levodopa equivalent dose and item 11 of BBS in subjects with BBS total score of 21-40(r=0.715,P=0.046).There was a significant negative correlation between levodopa equivalent dose and item 6 of BBS in subjects with BBS total score of 51-56(r=-0.300,P=0.001).The number of people who lost the most points in BBS from large to small was item 14 of standing on one leg(134 cases),item 13 of standing without support with one foot in front(122 cases),item 11 of turning 360 degrees(75 cases),item 8 of reaching forward with outstretched arms(70 cases),and item 12 of placing one feet alternately on a step or a stool(56 cases).Conclusion In the absence of balancing instrument,BBS has good clinical applicability in the evaluation of PD patients,and some items can be focused on according to the lost points.

Objective To analyze the applicability of Berg Balance Scale(BBS)in the balance assessment of Parkinson's disease(PD)patients with balancing instrument test as the standard,so as to formulate targeted intervention programs accordingly.Methods A total of 186 patients with PD admitted to Department of Neurology and Department of Rehabilitation Medicine,Huashan Hospital,Fudan University from Jan 2020 to Sep 2022 were selected as the research objects.The static balance function of the patients was evaluated by balancing instrument.The balance function parameters were analyzed according to BBS and levodopa equivalent dose.Results The drug dose did not affect the score of balance instrument.There was a good correlation between BBS and balance instrument.The higher the scale score,the lower the balance instrument score(r=-0.333,P<0.001).There was a positive correlation between levodopa equivalent dose and item 11 of BBS in subjects with BBS total score of 21-40(r=0.715,P=0.046).There was a significant negative correlation between levodopa equivalent dose and item 6 of BBS in subjects with BBS total score of 51-56(r=-0.300,P=0.001).The number of people who lost the most points in BBS from large to small was item 14 of standing on one leg(134 cases),item 13 of standing without support with one foot in front(122 cases),item 11 of turning 360 degrees(75 cases),item 8 of reaching forward with outstretched arms(70 cases),and item 12 of placing one feet alternately on a step or a stool(56 cases).Conclusion In the absence of balancing instrument,BBS has good clinical applicability in the evaluation of PD patients,and some items can be focused on according to the lost points.

The expression level of NOD-like receptors(NLRP3)inflammasome is significantly elevated in breast cancer tissues,and a high level of NLRP3 inflammasomes is closely associated with breast cancer metastasis.Activation of NLRP3 inflammasome can induce the release of inflammatory factors into the tumor microenvironment(TME).These inflammatory factors,by signaling to cancer cells,reshape the TME to promote tumor growth and invasion,ultimately facilitating the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition.This equips cancer cells with the ability to establish distant metastases and increase the formation of metastatic lesions.This review addresses the current research status and prospects of NLRP3 inflammasomes in the breast cancer TME and their role in breast cancer metastasis.The goal is to provide new insights for the study of breast cancer metastasis mechanisms and treatment strategies.

Objective:To investigate the effects of Ziyin Liangxue formula combined with prednisone on immune function and the ST2/IL-33 pathway in mice with immune thrombocytopenia.Methods:In 40 BALB/c mice,32 were constructed as immune thrombocytopenia mouse models by antiplatelet serum injection.After successful modeling,the mice were randomly divided into model group,Ziyin Liangxue formula group(0.2 ml/10 g),prednisone group(0.2 ml/10 g),and Ziyin Liangxue formula+prednisone group(0.2 ml/10 g),8 mice in each group,and the other 8 mice were set as control group.The drugs were administered by gavage at the dose,and the model group and control group were given equal amounts of saline by gavage once a day for 2 weeks of continuous intervention.Blood samples and spleen tissues were collected,the peripheral platelet count was measured by automatic hematology analyzer,the pathological changes in spleen tissue was observed by HE staining,the levels of serum transforming growth factor(TGF)-β,interleukin(IL)-17,and peripheral blood thrombopoietin(TPO)were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),the expression of IL-33,sST2,and ST2 in spleen tissue was detected by Western blot,and the cell counts of peripheral blood Th17 and Treg were detected by flow cytometry.Results:Compared with the control group,the number of platelets,the level of TPO,TGF-β,and Treg cells were significantly decreased(P＜().05),while the level of IL-17,Thl7 cells,and the expression of IL-33,sST2,and ST2 protein were significantly increased in the model group(P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the number of platelets,the level of TPO,TGF-β,and Treg cells were significantly increased(P＜0.05),while the level of IL-17,Th17 cells,and the expression of IL-33,sST2,and ST2 protein were significantly decreased in the Ziyin Liangxue formula+prednisone group(P＜0.01).Conclusion:Ziyin Liangxue formula+prednisone can effectively regulate Th17/Treg balance,thus effectively improve immune thrombocytopenia,and the mechanism may be related to the regulation of ST2/IL-33 signaling pathway.

Objective:To study the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) on improving insulin resistance and in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) pregnancy outcome in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients with phlegm-damp syndrome based on DNA methylation and insulin metabolism signaling pathway. Methods:In this prospective randomized controlled study, 100 PCOS patients with phlegm-damp syndrome who underwent IVF-ET in Department of Reproduction and Genetics in Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2020 to December 2022 were enrolled and divided into a treatment group (EA therapy) and control group (placebo needling) by random number table, 50 patients in each group. Fixed antagonist regimen was used to promote ovulation in the two groups. Patients received EA therapy and placebo needling respectively twice a week from the menstrual cycle before oocyte retrieval till human chorionic gonadotrophin injection day. The granulosa cells were collected. The improvement of phlegm and dampness syndrome, homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), dosage and number of days of gonadotropins (Gn) used, number of oocytes retrieved and high-quality embryos, fertilization rate, clinical pregnancy rate, early miscarriage rate and live birth rate of patients in the two groups were compared. Bisulfite amplicon sequencing was used to evaluate the methylation levels of the INSR gene promoter region in ovarian granulosa cells of patients in the two groups. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting technology were used to detect the expression of INSR, PI3K and GLUT4. Results:The phlegm-dampness score (15.23±1.57) and HOMA-IR (2.82±0.39) of the experimental group after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment (21.65±3.61 and 3.34±0.56), and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.001, P=0.014). The differences of the phlegm-dampness score (-5.76±2.86) and HOMA-IR (-2.67±0.06) before and after treatment in the experimental group were significantly greater than those in control group (-1.64±0.84, -0.11±0.04), and the differences were all statistically significant ( P<0.001, P=0.021). In the experimental group, the dosage of Gn used by patients [(2 119.53±338.28) U] and the duration of Gn used [(10.16±1.25) d] were significantly reduced compared with control group [(2 405.65±434.20) U, P=0.005; (10.94±1.46) d, P=0.026], and the number of high-quality embryos (3.54±1.04) was significantly increased compared with control group (2.66±1.87, P=0.014). Fertilization rate [66.91% (552/825)], clinical pregnancy rate [63.27% (31/49)] and live birth rate [51.02% (25/49)] were significantly higher in the experimental group than in control group [60.20% (475/789), 41.67% (20/48), 31.25% (15/48)], and the differences were all statistically significant ( P=0.005, P=0.033, P=0.048). There were no significant differences in the number of oocytes retrieved and early abortion rate between the two groups (all P>0.05). The methylation levels of INSR gene promoter sites 38, 47, 56, 59, 94 and 143 in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in control group (all P<0.05), but there were no significant differences in methylation levels of sites 71, 74, 154, 156 and 162 between the two groups (all P>0.05). Compared with control group, the mRNA and protein expression of INSR, PI3K and GLUT4 was up-regulated in the experimental group (all P<0.05). Conclusion:EA may improve IR by down-regulating INSR methylation levels and up-regulating INSR, PI3K and GLUT4 expression, thereby enhancing the quality of embryos and improving the pregnancy outcome in PCOS patients.

Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) refers to the decrease in the number of follicles and the quality of oocytes that appear prematurely before menopause. The pathogenesis of DOR is not yet fully understood, and clinical treatment lacks efficient methods, making it an urgent problem to be solved in the field of reproductive medicine. Acupuncture and moxibustion has been gradually popularized in the world for the treatment of gynecological diseases due to its advantages such as convenient operation, good curative effect and quick effect. With the rapid development of omics technology, molecular targets related to DOR pathogenesis (proteins, nucleic acids, receptors, etc.) are gradually recognized. In this review, we plan to make a summary from the perspective of the target of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of DOR, in order to provide a reliable basis for the clinical treatment of DOR.

Macrophages are the most abundant immune cells in the ovary. They participate in the innate immune response and play an important role in ovarian physiological processes such as follicle formation, ovulation, luteal formation and regression, as well as in maintaining ovarian homeostasis. Macrophages can be polarized into M1/M2 type, which can respond to senescence specific signals in the ovarian aging microenvironment, participate in the ovarian aging process, and play different roles in ovarian aging. This article reviews the polarization regulation pathway of macrophages, the physiological role of macrophages in normal ovarian function, and the impact of macrophage polarization on ovarian aging.

Objective:To study the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) on improving insulin resistance and in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) pregnancy outcome in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients with phlegm-damp syndrome based on DNA methylation and insulin metabolism signaling pathway. Methods:In this prospective randomized controlled study, 100 PCOS patients with phlegm-damp syndrome who underwent IVF-ET in Department of Reproduction and Genetics in Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2020 to December 2022 were enrolled and divided into a treatment group (EA therapy) and control group (placebo needling) by random number table, 50 patients in each group. Fixed antagonist regimen was used to promote ovulation in the two groups. Patients received EA therapy and placebo needling respectively twice a week from the menstrual cycle before oocyte retrieval till human chorionic gonadotrophin injection day. The granulosa cells were collected. The improvement of phlegm and dampness syndrome, homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), dosage and number of days of gonadotropins (Gn) used, number of oocytes retrieved and high-quality embryos, fertilization rate, clinical pregnancy rate, early miscarriage rate and live birth rate of patients in the two groups were compared. Bisulfite amplicon sequencing was used to evaluate the methylation levels of the INSR gene promoter region in ovarian granulosa cells of patients in the two groups. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting technology were used to detect the expression of INSR, PI3K and GLUT4. Results:The phlegm-dampness score (15.23±1.57) and HOMA-IR (2.82±0.39) of the experimental group after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment (21.65±3.61 and 3.34±0.56), and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.001, P=0.014). The differences of the phlegm-dampness score (-5.76±2.86) and HOMA-IR (-2.67±0.06) before and after treatment in the experimental group were significantly greater than those in control group (-1.64±0.84, -0.11±0.04), and the differences were all statistically significant ( P<0.001, P=0.021). In the experimental group, the dosage of Gn used by patients [(2 119.53±338.28) U] and the duration of Gn used [(10.16±1.25) d] were significantly reduced compared with control group [(2 405.65±434.20) U, P=0.005; (10.94±1.46) d, P=0.026], and the number of high-quality embryos (3.54±1.04) was significantly increased compared with control group (2.66±1.87, P=0.014). Fertilization rate [66.91% (552/825)], clinical pregnancy rate [63.27% (31/49)] and live birth rate [51.02% (25/49)] were significantly higher in the experimental group than in control group [60.20% (475/789), 41.67% (20/48), 31.25% (15/48)], and the differences were all statistically significant ( P=0.005, P=0.033, P=0.048). There were no significant differences in the number of oocytes retrieved and early abortion rate between the two groups (all P>0.05). The methylation levels of INSR gene promoter sites 38, 47, 56, 59, 94 and 143 in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in control group (all P<0.05), but there were no significant differences in methylation levels of sites 71, 74, 154, 156 and 162 between the two groups (all P>0.05). Compared with control group, the mRNA and protein expression of INSR, PI3K and GLUT4 was up-regulated in the experimental group (all P<0.05). Conclusion:EA may improve IR by down-regulating INSR methylation levels and up-regulating INSR, PI3K and GLUT4 expression, thereby enhancing the quality of embryos and improving the pregnancy outcome in PCOS patients.

Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) refers to the decrease in the number of follicles and the quality of oocytes that appear prematurely before menopause. The pathogenesis of DOR is not yet fully understood, and clinical treatment lacks efficient methods, making it an urgent problem to be solved in the field of reproductive medicine. Acupuncture and moxibustion has been gradually popularized in the world for the treatment of gynecological diseases due to its advantages such as convenient operation, good curative effect and quick effect. With the rapid development of omics technology, molecular targets related to DOR pathogenesis (proteins, nucleic acids, receptors, etc.) are gradually recognized. In this review, we plan to make a summary from the perspective of the target of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of DOR, in order to provide a reliable basis for the clinical treatment of DOR.

Macrophages are the most abundant immune cells in the ovary. They participate in the innate immune response and play an important role in ovarian physiological processes such as follicle formation, ovulation, luteal formation and regression, as well as in maintaining ovarian homeostasis. Macrophages can be polarized into M1/M2 type, which can respond to senescence specific signals in the ovarian aging microenvironment, participate in the ovarian aging process, and play different roles in ovarian aging. This article reviews the polarization regulation pathway of macrophages, the physiological role of macrophages in normal ovarian function, and the impact of macrophage polarization on ovarian aging.