Despite that sleep disturbance and poor neurocognitive performance are common complaints among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors, few studies have focused on the effect of post-COVID-19 sleep disturbance (PCSD) on cognitive function. This study aimed to identify the impact of PCSD on neurocognitive function and explore the associated risk factors for the worsening of this condition. This cross-sectional study was conducted via the web-based assessment in Chinese mainland. Neurocognitive function was evaluated by the modified online Integrated Cognitive Assessment (ICA) and the Number Ordering Test (NOT). Propensity score matching (PSM) was utilized to match the confounding factors between individuals with and without PCSD. Univariate analyses were performed to evaluate the effect of PCSD on neurocognitive function. The risk factors associated with worsened neurocognitive performance in PCSD individuals were explored using binary logistic regression. A total of 8692 individuals with COVID-19 diagnosis were selected for this study. Nearly half (48.80%) of the COVID-19 survivors reported sleep disturbance. After matching by PSM, a total of 3977 pairs (7954 individuals in total) were obtained. Univariate analyses revealed that PCSD was related to worse ICA and NOT performance (P<0.05). Underlying disease, upper respiratory infection, loss of smell or taste, severe pneumonia, and self-reported cognitive complaints were associated with worsened neurocognitive performance among PCSD individuals (P<0.05). Furthermore, aging, ethnicity (minority), and lower education level were found to be independent risk factors for worsened neurocognitive performance in PCSD individuals (P<0.05). PCSD was related to impaired neurocognitive performance. Therefore, appropriate prevention and intervention measures should be taken to minimize or prevent PCSD and eliminate its potential adverse effect on neurocognitive function.
Humans ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Sleep Wake Disorders/epidemiology* ; Propensity Score ; Middle Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Adult ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Aged ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology* ; Cognition ; Cognitive Dysfunction/etiology* ; Neuropsychological Tests

BACKGROUND: There is a gap in understanding the effects of different acupoints and treatment methods (acupuncture and moxibustion) on microcirculatory changes in the lumbar region. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the thermal effects of acupuncture at Weizhong (BL40), with acupuncture at Chize (LU5) and moxibustion at both acupoints as control interventions. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: In this randomized controlled trial, 140 healthy participants were equally divided into four groups: acupuncture at BL40 (Acu-BL40), acupuncture at LU5 (Acu-LU5), moxibustion at BL40 (Mox-BL40) and moxibustion at LU5 (Mox-LU5). Participants underwent a 30-minute session of their assigned treatment. Infrared thermal imaging was used to collect temperature data on the areas of interest for analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary measure was the change in average temperature of the observed area after the intervention. The secondary measures included periodic temperature changes every 5 min and the temperature changes of the Governor Vessel and Bladder Meridian in the observed area after the intervention. RESULTS: Significant interactions were observed between treatments and acupoints affecting temperature (P < 0.001). The Acu-BL40 group showed a notably higher increase in mean temperature after 30 min compared to the Acu-LU5 and Mox-BL40 groups, with increases of 0.29 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.17 to 0.41) and 0.24 (95% CI = 0.08 to 0.41) °C, respectively. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at BL40 acupoint can significantly increase the mean temperature in the observed area, highlighting the specific thermal effect of acupuncture compared to moxibustion in the lumbar area. This suggests a potential therapeutic benefit of acupuncture at BL40 for managing lumbar conditions. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05665426). Please cite this article as: Zheng SY, Wang XY, Lin LN, Liu S, Huang XX, Liu YY, Yu XS, Pan W, Fang JQ, Liang Y. Lumbar temperature change after acupuncture or moxibustion at Weizhong (BL40) or Chize (LU5) in healthy adults: A randomized controlled trial. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(2): 145-151.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Young Adult ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Body Temperature ; Healthy Volunteers ; Lumbosacral Region/physiology* ; Moxibustion ; Adolescent

Objective To analyze the composition characteristics and biological functions of tumor cell subpopulations in glioblastoma(GBM)through multi-transcriptomics sequencing technology,and explore the hypoxia characteristics and spatial localization features of the mesenchymal-like(MES-like)tumor cell subpopulation in GBM and the influence on malignant biological behaviors.Methods Multi-transcriptomics sequencing data,including single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)data(18 patients),bulk RNA sequencing(bulk RNA-seq)and spatial transcriptomics(ST)data of GBM,were employed to define cell subpopulations in GBM,and Gene Ontology(GO)and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis(GSEA)were utilized to analyze their functions.The proportions and locations of cell subpopulations in bulk RNA-seq data were evaluated with BayesPrism deconvolution.Immunofluorescence assay was conducted for verification on 12 paraffin samples of GBM from patients who visited the neurosurgical department of our hospital from 2015 to 2023 and met the pathological diagnostic criteria for GBM(10 males and 2 females,at an average age of 53.50 years and a median age of 54.50 years).pySCENIC was applied to predict specific transcription factors of tumor cell subpopulations.Results Tumor cells in GBM were highly heterogeneous,and could be mainly divided into 4 subpopulations:astrocyte-like(AC-like),neural progenitor-like(NPC-like),oligodendrocyte progenitor-like(OPC-like)and MES-like.Differential gene analysis found that the MES-like tumor cells highly expressed vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGFA),adrenomedullin(ADM),N-myc downstream regulated 1(NDRG1),insulin like growth factor binding protein 5(IGFBP5),and A-kinase anchoring protein 12(AKAP12)(P<0.001).pySCENIC transcription factor prediction found that the high-active transcription factors of the MES-like tumor cells were AT-rich interaction domain 3A(ARID3A),FOS like 2,AP-1 transcription factor subunit(FOSL2),endothelial PAS domain protein 1(EPAS1),CCAAT enhancer binding protein delta(CEBPD),and CCAAT enhancer binding protein beta(CEBPB)(P<0.05).GO and GSEA enrichment analyses found that the MES-like tumor cells were enriched in hypoxia-related pathways,especially the pathway of cell responses to hypoxia levels(NES=2.437,P<0.001).BayesPrism deconvolution showed that the MES-like tumor cells mainly existed in PAN(Pseudopalisading cells around necrosis)and perinecrotic zone.Immunofluorescence assay confirmed CD44+(CD44 antigen)MES-like tumor cells were mainly located in hypoxia areas with highly expression of hypoxia inducible factor 1 subunit alpha(HIF1α)(P<0.01).Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that the MES-like tumor cells were significantly correlated with the adverse prognosis of GBM patients(HR=1.71,95%CI:1.38～2.11,P<0.001).Conclusion Tumor cells in GBM are of highly heterogeneity.They could be mainly divided into 4 subpopulations:AC-like,NPC-like,OPC-like and MES-like.MES-like tumor cells,mainly locating in PAN and perinecrotic zone,are characterized by hypoxia,which can promote the malignant progression of GBM.

Under the background of forensic medicine becoming a first-level discipline,the opportuni-ties and challenges of discipline development coexist.Starting from the actual situation and characteris-tics of local medical colleges and universities,this paper discusses the problems and solutions for the development of forensic medicine discipline from the perspective of building a regional high-level medical university.Combined with the experiences of carrying out forensic medicine education in our college,this paper supplies our thoughts and practices on improving the discipline system,enhancing the ability to serve society,perfecting the talent cultivation model and promoting forensic culture,to provide reference and inspiration for the development of forensic medicine in other universities,jointly promote the advancement of forensic medicine in China to a new stage,and contribute the wisdom and strength of forensic medical experts to the construction of a law-based China,a safe China and a healthy China.

Objective To investigate the effects of vitamin D mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase(MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)pathway on myocardial injury in rats with gestational diabetes mellitus.Methods Fifty SD rats were divided into control group,model group,experimental-L group,experimental-M group and experimental-H group,and the gestational diabetes rat model was established.After successful modeling,experimental-L,experimental-M,experimental-H groups were given intragastric administration of 0.05,0.10 and 0.15 μg·kg-1 concentration of vitamin D,while control group and model group were given intragastric administration of 0.9％NaCl at the same dose once a day for 2 weeks.Fasting blood glucose concentration and insulin level were detected before intervention,1 week and 2 weeks after intervention.Echocardiography was used to detect cardiac function[left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),maximum rate of rise(+dp/dtmax)and maximum rate of decline(-dp/dtmax)of left ventricular pressure].Myocardial enzyme indexes[troponin Ⅰ(cTn Ⅰ)kit,creatine kinase isoenzyme(CK-MB)]and inflammatory factors[tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),C-reactive protein(CRP)]in serum and myocardial tissue of rats were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),and MEK/ERK pathway protein expression was detected by western blot.Results The levels of cTn Ⅰ in cardiac tissue of control group,model group,experimental-L group,experimental-M group,experimental-H group were(10.50±1.08),(42.26±4.30),(31.85±2.44),(23.31±2.15)and(14.85±1.19)ng·mL-1;serum cTn Ⅰ levels were(23.79±3.46),(63.59±5.52),(51.02±4.27),(42.75±3.19)and(29.20±2.11)ng·mL-1;myocardial tissue levels of CK-MB were(8.52±0.90),(17.65±1.75),(15.62±1.27),(13.11±1.24)and(9.85±0.87)ng·mL-1;serum levels of CK-MB were(11.32±0.98),(21.24±1.45),(18.75±1.32),(15.11±1.02)and(12.27±1.11)ng·mL-1;phosphorylated-MEK protein expression were 0.24±0.03,0.85±0.09,0.72±0.06,0.57±0.07 and 0.35±0.04;phosphorylated-ERK1/2 protein expression were 0.18±0.02,0.66±0.07,0.52±0.06,0.40±0.07 and 0.24±0.05,respectively.There were statistically significant differences of above indexes between control group and model group(all P＜0.05);the difference between model group and experimental-L,experimental-M,experimental-H groups were all statistically significant(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Vitamin D may reduce myocardial injury in rats with gestational diabetes by inhibiting the activation of MEK/ERK pathway.

The uniqueness of the location of large general hospitals in urban areas determines that the contradiction between space constraints and medical expansion has become a problem of management bottleneck.The situation that expert visits are too concentrated on a certain working day morning has been significantly improved by carrying out peak load shifting in the visiting arrangements and visiting units of large general hospitals through the Total Quality Management theory and continuous improvement of work mode,greatly alleviating public transportation congestion around the hospital.Through the internal construction of the quality of outpatient clinics,it can effectively improve the patients'sense of access to health care.

The uniqueness of the location of large general hospitals in urban areas determines that the contradiction between space constraints and medical expansion has become a problem of management bottleneck.The situation that expert visits are too concentrated on a certain working day morning has been significantly improved by carrying out peak load shifting in the visiting arrangements and visiting units of large general hospitals through the Total Quality Management theory and continuous improvement of work mode,greatly alleviating public transportation congestion around the hospital.Through the internal construction of the quality of outpatient clinics,it can effectively improve the patients'sense of access to health care.

The uniqueness of the location of large general hospitals in urban areas determines that the contradiction between space constraints and medical expansion has become a problem of management bottleneck.The situation that expert visits are too concentrated on a certain working day morning has been significantly improved by carrying out peak load shifting in the visiting arrangements and visiting units of large general hospitals through the Total Quality Management theory and continuous improvement of work mode,greatly alleviating public transportation congestion around the hospital.Through the internal construction of the quality of outpatient clinics,it can effectively improve the patients'sense of access to health care.

The uniqueness of the location of large general hospitals in urban areas determines that the contradiction between space constraints and medical expansion has become a problem of management bottleneck.The situation that expert visits are too concentrated on a certain working day morning has been significantly improved by carrying out peak load shifting in the visiting arrangements and visiting units of large general hospitals through the Total Quality Management theory and continuous improvement of work mode,greatly alleviating public transportation congestion around the hospital.Through the internal construction of the quality of outpatient clinics,it can effectively improve the patients'sense of access to health care.