BACKGROUND:With the continuous improvement of artificial biological materials and surgical techniques,total knee arthroplasty has become the preferred way to improve the quality of life of patients with knee osteoarthritis. However,patients with knee osteoarthritis have severe pain after knee arthroplasty,and there is no good treatment at present. Electroacupuncture therapy is a low-cost option for pain relief and has wide application prospects in combination with preemptive analgesia.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of opposing needling acupuncture with preemptive analgesia on postoperative analgesia after initial unilateral total knee arthroplasty in patients with knee osteoarthritis.METHODS:Using a randomized controlled design,120 participants were selected from Shanghai Guanghua Hospital of Integrative Medicine. All of them received the initial unilateral total knee arthroplasty. The patients were divided into three groups by using the statistical software SPSS 25:pre-electroacupuncture group,post-electroacupuncture group,and sham group,with 40 patients in each group. In pre-electroacupuncture group,opposing needling acupuncture was performed 1 day before operation,30 minutes before anesthesia induction,and 1-3 days after operation. In post-electroacupuncture group,opposing needling acupuncture was performed with the same acupoints and parameters 1-3 days after operation,thus the sham electroacupuncture was performed 1 day before operation and 30 minutes before anesthesia induction. The sham group was treated with the same acupuncture point parameters with five times of sham electroacupuncture. The improvement of numerical rating scale after operation,the consumption of remifentanil and propofol used during operation,the time when patient first used the patient-controlled analgesia,the number of postoperative nausea and vomiting,the increase rate of thigh circumference,and the success rate of blind method were compared among the three groups.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Compared with the pre-electroacupuncture group,the improvement of numerical rating scale at rest between post-electroacupuncture group and sham group on day 4 after operation was significantly reduced;the improvement of numerical rating scale at rest in sham group on day 7 after operation was significantly reduced (P<0.05). (2) Compared with the pre-electroacupuncture group,the improvement of numerical rating scale score between post-electroacupuncture group and sham group on day 4 after operation was significantly reduced (P<0.05),and the improvement of numerical rating scale with movement on day 7 after operation was not significant among the three groups (P>0.05). (3) Compared with the pre-electroacupuncture group,the remifentanil consumption was significantly increased in post-electroacupuncture group and sham group (P<0.05). (4) Compared with the pre-electroacupuncture group,the first time used the patient-controlled analgesia pump was significantly shortened in post-electroacupuncture group and sham group (P<0.05). (5) Compared with the pre-electroacupuncture group,the number of postoperative nausea was increased in post-electroacupuncture group and sham group (P<0.05). (6) Compared with the pre-electroacupuncture group,the increase rate of thigh circumference in post-electroacupuncture group and sham group was significantly increased on day 3 and day 7 after operation (P<0.05). Compared with the post-electroacupuncture group,the increase rate of thigh circumference in sham group was significantly increased on day 3 and day 7 after operation (P<0.05). (7) There was no significant difference in the success rate of blind method among the three groups (P>0.05). (8) The artificial knee prosthesis has good biocompatibility. To conclude,opposing needling acupuncture with preemptive analgesia can relieve acute pain after total knee arthroplasty,reduce the consumption of intraoperative anesthesia,prolong the time of postoperative analgesia,alleviate postoperative adverse reactions,and reduce the increase rate of thigh circumference.

BACKGROUND:Although researchers have noted that fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 shows great potential in rheumatoid arthritis bone destruction,there is a lack of reviews related to the potential mechanisms of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 in rheumatoid arthritis bone destruction. OBJECTIVE:To comprehensively analyze the mechanism of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 in bone destruction in rheumatoid arthritis by reviewing the relevant literature at both home and abroad. METHODS:We searched the CNKI database using the Chinese search terms"fibroblast growth factor receptor 1,rheumatoid arthritis,bone destruction,bone cells,osteoblasts,osteoclasts,chondrocytes,macrophages,synovial fibroblasts,T cells,vascular endothelial cells."PubMed database was searched using the English search terms"fibroblast growth factor receptor 1,rheumatoid arthritis,bone destruction,osteocytes,osteoblasts,osteoclasts,chondrocytes,macrophages,synovial fibroblasts,T cells,endothelial cells."The search period focused on April 1992 to January 2024.After screening the literature by reading titles,abstracts,and full texts,a total of 82 articles were finally included for review according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 was found to be widely expressed in bone tissue-associated cells,including osteoblasts,osteoclasts,and osteoclasts.Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 affects bone remodeling and homeostasis by regulating the function of these cells,as well as promoting the onset and progression of bone destruction in rheumatoid arthritis.Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 is involved in the inflammatory response of synovial fibroblasts and macrophages and regulates angiogenesis of endothelial cells in synovial tissues.Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 promotes bone destruction in several ways.Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 may be a potential causative agent of bone destruction in rheumatoid arthritis and provides a reference for further research on its therapeutic targets.

BACKGROUND:Preliminary research by our group suggests that targeting fibroblast growth factor receptor 1(FGFR1)may be an effective strategy for treating RA. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of an FGFR1 inhibitor(PD173074)on bone destruction in rats with collagen-induced arthritis. METHODS:Twenty-five female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups:normal control group,model group,methotrexate group,low-dose PD173074 group,and high-dose PD173074 group.Except for the normal control group,rat models of type Ⅱ collagen-induced arthritis were made in each group.After successful modeling,rats were injected intraperitoneally with sterile PBS in the normal and model groups,1.04 mg/kg methotrexate in the methotrexate group,and 5 and 20 mg/kg in the low-dose group and high-dose PD173074 groups,once a week.After 4 weeks of drug administration,clinical symptoms and joint swelling in rats were observed.Micro-CT was used for three-dimensional reconstruction and analysis of the ankle joints.Pathological changes in the ankle joints were observed.Periarticular angiogenesis and the expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-Κb ligand were detected.The expression levels of p-FGFR1,vascular endothelial growth factor A,and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase in the synovial membrane were measured.Pathological changes in the liver,spleen,and kidney were observed and liver,spleen,and kidney indices were calculated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:PD173074 could alleviate clinical symptoms and joint swelling,delay bone loss,improve bone structure,reduce synovial invasion and cartilage bone erosion,reduce the number of periarticular osteoclasts,inhibit angiogenesis in synovial tissues,reduce the expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-Κb ligand,and inhibit the expression of FGFR1 phosphorylated protein,tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase and vascular endothelial growth factor A.Pathologic observation of the liver,spleen and kidney in rats showed no obvious toxic side effects after PD173074 treatment.To conclude,the FGFR1 inhibitor can delay the progression of joint inflammation and bone destruction and inhibit angiogenesis in the rat model of type Ⅱ collagen-induced arthritis.The therapeutic effect of PD173074 has been preliminarily validated in the type Ⅱ collagen-induced arthritis model and may act by inhibiting FGFR1 phosphorylation,which provides a direction for the search of new therapeutic targets for rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND:With the continuous improvement of artificial biological materials and surgical techniques,total knee arthroplasty has become the preferred way to improve the quality of life of patients with knee osteoarthritis. However,patients with knee osteoarthritis have severe pain after knee arthroplasty,and there is no good treatment at present. Electroacupuncture therapy is a low-cost option for pain relief and has wide application prospects in combination with preemptive analgesia.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of opposing needling acupuncture with preemptive analgesia on postoperative analgesia after initial unilateral total knee arthroplasty in patients with knee osteoarthritis.METHODS:Using a randomized controlled design,120 participants were selected from Shanghai Guanghua Hospital of Integrative Medicine. All of them received the initial unilateral total knee arthroplasty. The patients were divided into three groups by using the statistical software SPSS 25:pre-electroacupuncture group,post-electroacupuncture group,and sham group,with 40 patients in each group. In pre-electroacupuncture group,opposing needling acupuncture was performed 1 day before operation,30 minutes before anesthesia induction,and 1-3 days after operation. In post-electroacupuncture group,opposing needling acupuncture was performed with the same acupoints and parameters 1-3 days after operation,thus the sham electroacupuncture was performed 1 day before operation and 30 minutes before anesthesia induction. The sham group was treated with the same acupuncture point parameters with five times of sham electroacupuncture. The improvement of numerical rating scale after operation,the consumption of remifentanil and propofol used during operation,the time when patient first used the patient-controlled analgesia,the number of postoperative nausea and vomiting,the increase rate of thigh circumference,and the success rate of blind method were compared among the three groups.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Compared with the pre-electroacupuncture group,the improvement of numerical rating scale at rest between post-electroacupuncture group and sham group on day 4 after operation was significantly reduced;the improvement of numerical rating scale at rest in sham group on day 7 after operation was significantly reduced (P<0.05). (2) Compared with the pre-electroacupuncture group,the improvement of numerical rating scale score between post-electroacupuncture group and sham group on day 4 after operation was significantly reduced (P<0.05),and the improvement of numerical rating scale with movement on day 7 after operation was not significant among the three groups (P>0.05). (3) Compared with the pre-electroacupuncture group,the remifentanil consumption was significantly increased in post-electroacupuncture group and sham group (P<0.05). (4) Compared with the pre-electroacupuncture group,the first time used the patient-controlled analgesia pump was significantly shortened in post-electroacupuncture group and sham group (P<0.05). (5) Compared with the pre-electroacupuncture group,the number of postoperative nausea was increased in post-electroacupuncture group and sham group (P<0.05). (6) Compared with the pre-electroacupuncture group,the increase rate of thigh circumference in post-electroacupuncture group and sham group was significantly increased on day 3 and day 7 after operation (P<0.05). Compared with the post-electroacupuncture group,the increase rate of thigh circumference in sham group was significantly increased on day 3 and day 7 after operation (P<0.05). (7) There was no significant difference in the success rate of blind method among the three groups (P>0.05). (8) The artificial knee prosthesis has good biocompatibility. To conclude,opposing needling acupuncture with preemptive analgesia can relieve acute pain after total knee arthroplasty,reduce the consumption of intraoperative anesthesia,prolong the time of postoperative analgesia,alleviate postoperative adverse reactions,and reduce the increase rate of thigh circumference.

Pain is an uncomfortable and emotional experience associated with,or similar to,real or po-tential tissue damage.However,far from being a purely physiological sensation,pain involves complex emo-tional and neuromodulatory mechanisms.The pain neural circuit is a complex biological system,covering the multi-level structure of the central nervous system from peripheral neurons to the cerebral cortex,thalamus,a-mygdala and dorsal horn of the spinal cord,participating in the perception,conduction,and regulation of pain signals,involves multiple molecular and cellular interactions to build a comprehensive pain perception process.In recent years,the field of pain neural circuit research has used a variety of scientific and technological tools to provide the theoretical and technical support for the in-depth understanding and treatment of pain.This article aims to provide a comprehensive research status quo for the scholars in related fields and new ideas for clinical pain research and treatment by combing the application of different technologies in the study of pain neural circuits.

BACKGROUND:In clinical practice,Cibotium barometz and Epimedium have shown significant efficacy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis,but the complex active ingredients contained in the two have an unclear mechanism of action at the molecular level for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. OBJECTIVE:Based on network pharmacology and molecular docking technology,to establish a collagen-induced arthritis model and to verify the potential targets and pathways of Cibotium barometz and Epimedium in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis,providing reliable experimental evidence for the use of clinical formulas with Cibotium barometz and Epimedium as the main components. METHODS:Utilizing traditional Chinese medicine research platforms,traditional Chinese medicine encyclopedias,and databases of traditional Chinese medicine and chemical components from the Shanghai Institute of Organic,effective ingredients were retrieved and identified.3D molecular formulas were obtained from the PubChem platform and target predictions were made using PharmMapper and SwissTargetPrediction.Disease targets for rheumatoid arthritis were obtained from gene databases such as DrugBank,GeneCards,and OMIM.The intersections of targets and Cibotium barometz and Epimedium were plotted using VENNY 2.1 after calibration with the Uniport database.A protein-protein interaction network graph was constructed using the STRING platform.Gene Ontology function analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis were performed using the Metascape platform for data visualization.A four-layered network model of traditional Chinese medicine,ingredients,targets,diseases,and pathways was constructed using Cytoscape 3.9.0.The main effective ingredients were docked with core targets using AutoDock-Vina software to explore the best binding targets.A type II collagen+adjuvant-induced arthritis rat model was established,and the effects of Cibotium barometz and Epimedium on relevant pathway targets and inflammatory cell factors were observed after 21 days of intervention. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A total of 28 active ingredients from Cibotium barometz and Epimedium were selected,yielding 288 intersection targets for rheumatoid arthritis.The main ingredients included isobavachalcone,cibotium,and epimedium.The main targets included protein kinase 1 for serine/threonine(AKT1),tumor necrosis factor,and vascular endothelial growth factor A.Gene ontology analysis yielded 2 232 biological processes,mainly related to serine protein phosphorylation,positive regulation of serine/threonine protein kinase,and reactive oxygen metabolism.Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis yielded 202 pathways,mainly involving the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway,which may exert therapeutic effects by regulating synovial cell apoptosis and proliferation and suppressing inflammatory factors.Molecular docking results showed the strongest binding activity and stable structure of Cibotium barometz and Epimedium with AKT1 and estrogen receptor transcription factor 1,which was closely related to apoptosis and proliferation and inflammatory signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT.Cibotium barometz and Epimedium reduced the expression of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α in the serum of collagen-induced arthritis rat models.Cibotium barometz and Epimedium reduced the expression of p-PI3K,p-AKT,and p-FOXO1 in the synovium of collagen-induced arthritis rat models.The results indicate that the combination of Cibotium barometz and Epimedium may exert therapeutic effects by inhibiting the proliferation of synovial cells and suppressing the expression of inflammatory factors via the PI3K/AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway.This may be closely related to the occurrence of inflammation and bone destruction in rheumatoid arthritis,and provides a reference for the rational use and development of new drugs in clinical practice.

Objective To study the proliferation and inflammatory phenotypes of human fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) induced by tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α). Methods The rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-FLS were cultured in vitro, then treated with different concentrations of diallyl trisulfide (DATS). The proliferation activity was detected by CCK-8 method. Then TNF-α was used to stimulate the RA-FLS, mRNA and protein expression of interleukin (IL)-6, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were detected by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Differences among groups were determined by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), LSD-t test was used for comparison between 2 groups. Results RA-FLS was successfully is-olated and cultured in vitro. The positive rate of CD90 and CD29 in the RA-FLS was more than 90％. The proli-feration activity of RA-FLS treated with 100 μmoL/L, 200 μmol/L and 300 μmol/L DATS was (98.92 ± 0.40)％, (95.91±0.32)％, (94.05±0.24)％, respectively. As Compared with the normal control group, the pro-liferation activity of RA-FLS was lower, and the statistically significant difference is between normal control group 200 μmol/L and 300 μmol/L DATS (t=-4.46, P<0.05; t=-7.98, P<0.05). After TNF-α stimulation, the expression of IL-6's mRNA in experiment group (100μmol/L DATS) is higher compared with the model control group (t=5.74, P<0.05), but the change of IL-6's protein is no significant difference (t=-0.49, P=0.627). The differences of mRNA and protein expression levels of MMP-1 and VEGF between the experiment group (100μmol/L DATS) and the model control group were not statistically significant. The relative mRNA level [(0.42 ± 0.06), t=-23.47, P<0.05;(0.14±0.039), t=-36.59, P<0.05;(0.36±0.09), t=-13.1, P<0.05)] and the protein levels [(108.0±4.7) ng/L, t=-63.79, P<0.05, (26.0±1.0) ng/L, t=-9.68, P<0.05;(57.9±0.7), t=-34.59, P<0.05] of IL-6, MMP-1, VEGF in experiment group (200μmol/L DATS) were significantly decreased. And the relative mRNA level [(0.041 ±0.027), t=-38.48, P<0.05; (0.027 ±0.027), t=-41.22, P<0.05; (0.131 ±0.047), t=-17.74, P<0.05] and the protein levels [(24.2 ±2.3) ng/L , t=-88.69, P<0.05; (22.7 ±1.0) ng/L , t=-14.13, P<0.05; (34.5 ±1.7), t=-48.45, P<0.05] of IL-6, MMP-1, VEGF in the experiment group (300 μmol/L DATS) were also significantly decreased. The difference between the two groups was significant (t=-24.89, P<0.05; t=-4.45, P<0.05; t=-13.87, P<0.05). Conclusion DATS can inhibit the proliferation and the effect of TNF-αinduced secretion of IL-6, MMP-1 and VEGF in RA-FLS. The effect is dose-dependent.

Objective To explore the effects of ring finger protein 43 (RNF43) on fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods Synovial tissues from patients with RA treated by knee arthroplasty were used to isolate FLSs by type 2 collagenase.RNF43 lentivirus overexpressing plasmid was constructed and transfected in to RA-FLS.After successful transfection,RNA and super natant of RA-FLS were extracted.QRT-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1,MMP-3 and MMP-13.Data were analyzed with Student's t test.Results Transfection efficiency could meet the test requirements when the multiplicity of infection was 40 and was in conjunction with appropriate concentration of polybrene.The mRNA of RNF43 increased for 26158-fold than the control group.In vitro,compared with the control group,RNF43 could significantly inhibit the mRNA of MMP-1,MMP-3 and MMP-13 and MMP-13 [(0.19±0.06),t=28.314,P＜0.05;(0.28±0.07),t=23.413,P＜0.05;(0.21±0.09),t=18.365,P＜0.05]and the protein of MMP-1,MMP-3 and MMP-13 and MMP-13 [(31.0±9.4) pg/ml,(17.1±2.1) pg/ml,t=3.198,P=0.029],MMP-3 [(38.7±8.1) pg/ml,(24.9±3.5) pg/ml,t=3.514,P=0.015],MMP-13 [(35.9±5.4) pg/ml,(20.6±2.9) pg/ml,t=5.632,P=0.001].Conclusion The results of study suggest that RNF43 could inhibit the secretion of MMPs in RA-FLS by suppressing the activity of Wnt signal pathway.

Fructus psoralea is a tonic traditional Chinese herb commonly used in clinic.The chemical constituents of Fructus psoralea are complicated,mainly containing coumarins,flavonoids and monoterpene phenols with various pharmacological effects.Since the increasing number of reports on the toxicity of Fructus psoralea in clinic,the side effects including toxicity on the liver and kidney,as well as skin allergies have gradually attracted attention.The toxicity of Fructus psoralea is produced from ADME (absorption,distribution,metabolism and excretion) in vivo.In this paper,we collected and clarified the studies of ADME of Fructus psoralea in vivo,and summarized recent adverse clinical events and research over its toxicity.We propose to make a thorough study on the toxic material basis of Fructus psoralea and the toxicological mechanism of its extraction,fractions and compounds.The review provided a possible reference and the direction of research for the safe clinical use of Fructus psoralea.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture plus oral administration ofZeling Guanjie Xiaozhong Heji in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) due to liver-kidney yin deficiency.Method Totally 126 patients with active RA due to liver-kidney yin deficiency were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 63 cases in each group. The control group was prescribed with orally taking Methotrexate tablets and Leflunomide tablets, while the treatment group was intervened by electroacupuncture plus oral administration ofZeling Guanjie Xiaozhong Heji in addition to the medications given to the control group. The Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28) was evaluated before and after intervention, and the therapeutic efficacies were compared based on the criteria of the American College of Rheumatoid (ACR) and syndrome of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).Result The ACR total effective rate was 87.3% in the treatment group versus 65.1% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). The total effective rate based on TCM syndrome was 87.3% in the treatment group versus 73.0% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in comparing the DAS28 score between the two groups after intervention (P<0.01).Conclusion Electroacupuncture plus oral administration of Chinese medication and western medication is an effective approach in treating RA due to liver-kidney yin deficiency, and it can significantly enhance the therapeutic efficacy based on ACR20 and TCM syndrome.