Objective To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture at"Zusanli"(ST36)on type 3 innate lymphoid cells(ILC3s)secreting interleukin(IL)-22 and intestinal cholinergic neurons in the colon of mice with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD),and to explore the mechanisms underlying electroacupuncture-mediated amelioration of IBD.Methods Twenty-four male C57BL/6J mice were divided into a normal group(n=8)and a modeling group(n=16)using the random number table method.The modeling group received 4％dextran sulfate sodium solution ad libitum for 7 days to establish the IBD model.On the fourth day after modeling,the modeling group was divided into a model group and an electroacupuncture group using the random number table method,with eight mice per group.Electroacupuncture intervention was applied bilaterally at"Zusanli"(ST36)in mice of the electroacupuncture group,once daily for 20 min each time,for seven consecutive days.After intervention,stool characteristics and occult blood were assessed.The disease activity index(DAI)of mice in each group was scored,and colon length was measured.The morphology of the colon tissue in mice was observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining,and the histopathological score was determined.A cytometric bead array was used to detect the contents of IL-1β,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),and IL-6 in colon tissue.Flow cytometry was used to determine the IL-22+ILC3s proportion in lamina propria lymphocytes of colon tissue.The content of IL-22 in colon tissue was detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Immunofluorescence was used to detect the number of choline acetyltransferase(ChAT)+/cellular Fos(c-Fos)+co-labeled neurons in colon tissue.Results Compared with the normal group,mice in the model group exhibited different degrees of loose stools,strongly positive fecal occult blood test,elevated DAI scores,shortened colon length,increased colon histopathological score;increased contents of IL-1β,TNF-α,and IL-6 in colon tissue;and a decreased IL-22+ILC3s proportion in lamina propria lymphocytes of colon tissue(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,mice in the electroacupuncture group exhibited improved fecal traits,weakly positive fecal occult blood test,decreased DAI score,increased colon length,reduced colon histopathological score;decreased contents of IL-1β,TNF-α,and IL-6 in colon tissues;an increased IL-22+ILC3s proportion in lamina propria lymphocytes of colon tissue;increased IL-22 content in colon tissue;and increased ChAT+/c-Fos+co-labeled neurons in colon tissue(P＜0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture at"Zusanli"(ST36)can significantly ameliorate colonic damage and reduce inflammatory responses in IBD mice,and its mechanism may be related to the activation of intestinal cholinergic neurons and the enhancement of colonic ILC3s function.

Objective To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture at"Zusanli"(ST36)on type 3 innate lymphoid cells(ILC3s)secreting interleukin(IL)-22 and intestinal cholinergic neurons in the colon of mice with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD),and to explore the mechanisms underlying electroacupuncture-mediated amelioration of IBD.Methods Twenty-four male C57BL/6J mice were divided into a normal group(n=8)and a modeling group(n=16)using the random number table method.The modeling group received 4％dextran sulfate sodium solution ad libitum for 7 days to establish the IBD model.On the fourth day after modeling,the modeling group was divided into a model group and an electroacupuncture group using the random number table method,with eight mice per group.Electroacupuncture intervention was applied bilaterally at"Zusanli"(ST36)in mice of the electroacupuncture group,once daily for 20 min each time,for seven consecutive days.After intervention,stool characteristics and occult blood were assessed.The disease activity index(DAI)of mice in each group was scored,and colon length was measured.The morphology of the colon tissue in mice was observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining,and the histopathological score was determined.A cytometric bead array was used to detect the contents of IL-1β,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),and IL-6 in colon tissue.Flow cytometry was used to determine the IL-22+ILC3s proportion in lamina propria lymphocytes of colon tissue.The content of IL-22 in colon tissue was detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Immunofluorescence was used to detect the number of choline acetyltransferase(ChAT)+/cellular Fos(c-Fos)+co-labeled neurons in colon tissue.Results Compared with the normal group,mice in the model group exhibited different degrees of loose stools,strongly positive fecal occult blood test,elevated DAI scores,shortened colon length,increased colon histopathological score;increased contents of IL-1β,TNF-α,and IL-6 in colon tissue;and a decreased IL-22+ILC3s proportion in lamina propria lymphocytes of colon tissue(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,mice in the electroacupuncture group exhibited improved fecal traits,weakly positive fecal occult blood test,decreased DAI score,increased colon length,reduced colon histopathological score;decreased contents of IL-1β,TNF-α,and IL-6 in colon tissues;an increased IL-22+ILC3s proportion in lamina propria lymphocytes of colon tissue;increased IL-22 content in colon tissue;and increased ChAT+/c-Fos+co-labeled neurons in colon tissue(P＜0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture at"Zusanli"(ST36)can significantly ameliorate colonic damage and reduce inflammatory responses in IBD mice,and its mechanism may be related to the activation of intestinal cholinergic neurons and the enhancement of colonic ILC3s function.

Objective:To investigate the current status of the nurturing care ability of primary intergenerational caregivers for infants and young children aged 0-3 years old, and explore its influencing factors, providing reference for further constructing strategies to enhance the nurturing care ability of primary intergenerational caregivers.Methods:From November 2022 to February 2023, cluster sampling was used to select 673 primary intergenerational caregivers of infants and young children aged 0-3 from three communities in Zunyi City as participants. The survey was conducted using the General Self-Efficacy Scale and the self-made Primary Intergenerational Caregiver Nurturing Care Ability Questionnaire for 0-3 Year Old Infants and Young Children. The nurturing care ability of primary intergenerational caregivers was evaluated from five dimensions of health care, nutrition care, safety care, responsive care, and early learning opportunities. Single factor analysis and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the factors influencing the nurturing care ability of primary intergenerational caregivers.Results:Among 673 primary intergenerational caregivers, the total score for the nurturing care ability was (88.15±13.19), and the mean of each item was (2.38±0.36). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that marital status, educational level, occupational status, and general self-efficacy were the influencing factors on the nurturing care ability of primary intergenerational caregivers for infants and young children aged 0-3 years old ( P<0.05), which explained 21.4% of the total variation. Conclusions:The nurturing care ability of the primary intergenerational caregivers for infants and young children aged 0-3 in Zunyi City are at upper middle level. Healthcare professionals should attach importance to evaluating the nurturing care ability of primary intergenerational caregivers, and provide targeted and effective interventions and support to improve their nurturing care abilities, comprehensively ensuring the healthy growth of infants and young children aged 0-3.

Objective:To investigate the current status of the nurturing care ability of primary intergenerational caregivers for infants and young children aged 0-3 years old, and explore its influencing factors, providing reference for further constructing strategies to enhance the nurturing care ability of primary intergenerational caregivers.Methods:From November 2022 to February 2023, cluster sampling was used to select 673 primary intergenerational caregivers of infants and young children aged 0-3 from three communities in Zunyi City as participants. The survey was conducted using the General Self-Efficacy Scale and the self-made Primary Intergenerational Caregiver Nurturing Care Ability Questionnaire for 0-3 Year Old Infants and Young Children. The nurturing care ability of primary intergenerational caregivers was evaluated from five dimensions of health care, nutrition care, safety care, responsive care, and early learning opportunities. Single factor analysis and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the factors influencing the nurturing care ability of primary intergenerational caregivers.Results:Among 673 primary intergenerational caregivers, the total score for the nurturing care ability was (88.15±13.19), and the mean of each item was (2.38±0.36). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that marital status, educational level, occupational status, and general self-efficacy were the influencing factors on the nurturing care ability of primary intergenerational caregivers for infants and young children aged 0-3 years old ( P<0.05), which explained 21.4% of the total variation. Conclusions:The nurturing care ability of the primary intergenerational caregivers for infants and young children aged 0-3 in Zunyi City are at upper middle level. Healthcare professionals should attach importance to evaluating the nurturing care ability of primary intergenerational caregivers, and provide targeted and effective interventions and support to improve their nurturing care abilities, comprehensively ensuring the healthy growth of infants and young children aged 0-3.

The three-dimensional (3D) conformation of chromatin is integral to the precise regulation of gene expression. The 3D genome and genomic variations in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are largely unknown, despite their key roles in cellular function and physiological processes. High-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C), Nanopore sequencing, and RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) assays were performed on the liver of normal and NAFLD mice. A high-resolution 3D chromatin interaction map was generated to examine different 3D genome hierarchies including A/B compartments, topologically associated domains (TADs), and chromatin loops by Hi-C, and whole genome sequencing identifying structural variations (SVs) and copy number variations (CNVs) by Nanopore sequencing. We identified variations in thousands of regions across the genome with respect to 3D chromatin organization and genomic rearrangements, between normal and NAFLD mice, and revealed gene dysregulation frequently accompanied by these variations. Candidate target genes were identified in NAFLD, impacted by genetic rearrangements and spatial organization disruption. Our data provide a high-resolution 3D genome interaction resource for NAFLD investigations, revealed the relationship among genetic rearrangements, spatial organization disruption, and gene regulation, and identified candidate genes associated with these variations implicated in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. The newly findings offer insights into novel mechanisms of NAFLD pathogenesis and can provide a new conceptual framework for NAFLD therapy.

OBJECTIVETo observe the impacts of electroacupuncture (EA) on microgliacytes and astrocytes of cervical spinal cord in rats with thyroid incisional pain and explore the mechanism of acupuncture anesthesia in thyroid surgery.

METHODSSixty Wistar male rats were randomized into a normal group, a model group, a Futu (LI 18) group, a Hegu (LI 4)-Neiguan (PC 6) group and a Zusanli (ST 36)-Yanglingquan (GB 34) group, 12 rats in each one. Except the normal group, a longitudinal incision, about 1.5 cm in length was done along the neck midline in the rats of the rest groups to prepare the model of thyroid incisional pain. In the Futu (LI 18) group, the Hegu (LI 4)-Neiguan (PC 6) group and the Zusanli (ST 36)-Yanglingquan (GB 34) group, after modeling for 4 h, 24 h and 48 h, EA was applied to bilateral "Futu" (LI 18), "Hegu" (LI 4) "Neiguan" (PC 6) and"Zusanli" (ST 36) "Yanglingquan" (GB 34) separately, once a day, continuously for 3 days. In the normal group and the model group, no any intervention was applied. The thermal radiant apparatus was used to detect the thermal pain threshold (PT). The fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR and the Western blotting (WB) were used to determine the expressions of protein and gene of microglia activation markers Iba1 and CD11b and the astrocyte specific protein marker, glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) in cervical spinal cord (Cto C) after intervention in the rats of each group.

RESULTSAfter intervention, as compared with the normal group, in the model group, the neck PT was reduced apparently (<0.05), the expressions of Iba1 and CD11b and GFAP mRNA as well as the protein expressions in the spinal cord of Cto Cwere up-regulated apparently (<0.05,<0.01). As compared with the model group, in the Futu (LI 18) and the Hegu (LI 4)-Neiguan (PC 6) group, PT was increased significantly (both<0.05) and that did not change apparently in the Zusanli (ST 36)-Yanglingquan (GB 34) group (>0.05). In the Futu (LI 18) group, the protein and gene expressions of Iba1, CD11b and GFAP were lower than those in the model group (all<0.05). In the Hegu (LI 4)-Neiguan (PC 6) group, the expressions of Iba1 mRNA, CD11b protein, GFAP mRNA and protein were all lower apparently than those in the model group (all<0.05). In the Zusanli (ST 36)-Yanglingquan (GB 34) group, the expressions of Iba1, CD11b and GFAP proteins were not different significantly as compared with the model group (all>0.05). In the Zusanli (ST 36)-Yanglingquan (GB 34) group, the expressions of Iba1 mRNA and CD11b mRNA and protein expressions in the spinal cord of Cto Cwere higher apparently than those in the Futu (LI 18) group (<0.01,<0.05); the expressions of Iba1 mRNA and CD11b protein expressions were higher than those in the Hegu (LI 4)-Neiguan (PC 6) group (all<0.05); GFAP mRNA and protein expressions were higher apparently than those in the Futu (LI 18) group and the Hegu (LI 4)-Neiguan (PC 6) group (all<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEA at "Futu" (LI 18) or "Hegu" (LI 4), "Neiguan" (PC 6) relieves the acute neck incisional pain in the rats and its effect may be closely relevant with the down-regulation of the activities of microgliacytes and astrocytes in the spinal cords.