This study aims to explore the effects and mechanisms of 4'-O-methylbavachalcone(MeBavaC), an active compound from Psoraleae Fructus, in regulating white matter neuroinflammation to improve vascular cognitive impairment. Male Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham group, model group, high-dose MeBavaC group(14 mg·kg~(-1)), and low-dose MeBavaC group(7 mg·kg~(-1)). The rat model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion(CCH) was established using bilateral common carotid artery occlusion. The Morris water maze test was performed to evaluate the learning and memory abilities of the rats. Luxol fast blue staining, Nissl staining, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy were utilized to observe the morphology and ultrastructure of the white matter myelin sheaths, axon integrity, the morphology and number of hippocampal neurons, and the loss and activation of glial cells in the white matter. Transcriptome analysis was performed to explore the potential mechanisms of white matter injury induced by CCH. Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR) assays were conducted to measure the expression levels of NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3), absent in melanoma 2(AIM2), gasdermin D(GSDMD), cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-1(caspase-1), interleukin-18(IL-18), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), erythropoietin(EPO), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2), and heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) in the white matter of rats. The results showed that compared with the model group, MeBavaC significantly improved the learning and memory abilities of rats with CCH, improved the damage of white matter myelin sheath, maintained axonal integrity, reduced the loss of hippocampal neurons and oligodendrocytes in the white matter, inhibited the activation of microglia and the proliferation of astrocytes in the white matter, and suppressed the NLRP3/AIM2/caspase-1/GSDMD pathway. The expression levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 were significantly reduced, while EPO expression and the expression of Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant pathway were notably elevated. In conclusion, MeBavaC can alleviate cognitive impairment in rats with CCH and suppress neuroinflammation in cerebral white matter. The mechanism of action may involve activation of EPO activity, promotion of endogenous antioxidant pathways, and inhibition of neuroinflammation in the white matter. This study suggests that MeBavaC exhibits antioxidant and anti-neuroinflammatory effects, showing potential application in improving cognitive dysfunction.
Animals ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/immunology* ; Rats ; Chalcones/administration & dosage* ; Cognitive Dysfunction/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Neuroinflammatory Diseases/drug therapy* ; Heme Oxygenase-1/metabolism* ; Humans ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing)/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: Comorbid pain and depression are common but remain difficult to treat. Electroacupuncture (EA) can effectively improve symptoms of depression and relieve pain, but its neural mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to detect cerebral changes after initiating a mouse pain model via constriction of the infraorbital nerve (CION) and then treating these animals with EA. METHODS: Forty male C57BL/6J mice were divided into 4 groups: control, CION model, EA, and sham acupuncture (without needle insertion). EA was performed on the acupoints Baihui (GV20) and Zusanli (ST36) for 20 min, once a day for 10 consecutive days. The mechanical withdrawal threshold was tested 3 days after the surgery and every 3 days after the intervention. The depressive behavior was evaluated with the tail suspension test, open-field test, elevated plus maze (EPM), sucrose preference test, and marble burying test. The rs-fMRI was used to detect the cerebral changes of the functional connectivity (FC) in the mice following EA treatment. RESULTS: Compared with the CION group, the mechanical withdrawal threshold increased in the EA group at the end of the intervention (P < 0.05); the immobility time in tail suspension test decreased (P < 0.05); and the times of the open arm entry and the open arm time in the EPM increased (both P < 0.001). There was no difference in the sucrose preference or marble burying tests (both P > 0.05). The fMRI results showed that EA treatment downregulated the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations and regional homogeneity values, while these indicators were elevated in brain regions including the amygdala, hippocampus and cerebral cortex in the CION model for comorbid pain and depression. Selecting the amygdala as the seed region, we found that the FC was higher in the CION group than in the control group. Meanwhile, EA treatment was able to decrease the FC between the amygdala and other brain regions including the caudate putamen, thalamus, and parts of the cerebral cortex. CONCLUSION EA can downregulate the abnormal activation of neurons in the amygdala and improve its FC with other brain regions, thus exerting analgesic and antidepressant effects. Please cite this article as: Yin X, Zeng XL, Lin JJ, Xu WQ, Cui KY, Guo XT, Li W, Xu SF. Brain functional changes following electroacupuncture in a mouse model of comorbid pain and depression: a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(2): 159-168.
Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Male ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Depression/diagnostic imaging* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Brain/diagnostic imaging* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice ; Pain/diagnostic imaging* ; Acupuncture Points

OBJECTIVE: To explore and quantify the association of hot night exposure during the sperm development period (0-90 lag days) with semen quality. METHODS: A total of 6,640 male sperm donors from 6 human sperm banks in China during 2014-2020 were recruited in this multicenter study. Two indices (i.e., hot night excess [HNE] and hot night duration [HND]) were used to estimate the heat intensity and duration during nighttime. Linear mixed models were used to examine the association between hot nights and semen quality parameters. RESULTS: The exposure-response relationship revealed that HNE and HND during 0-90 days before semen collection had a significantly inverse association with sperm motility. Specifically, a 1 °C increase in HNE was associated with decreased sperm progressive motility of 0.0090 (95% confidence interval [ CI]: -0.0147, -0.0033) and decreased total motility of 0.0094 (95% CI: -0.0160, -0.0029). HND was significantly associated with reduced sperm progressive motility and total motility of 0.0021 (95% CI: -0.0040, -0.0003) and 0.0023 (95% CI: -0.0043, -0.0002), respectively. Consistent results were observed at different temperature thresholds on hot nights. CONCLUSION Our findings highlight the need to mitigate nocturnal heat exposure during spermatogenesis to maintain optimal semen quality.
Humans ; Male ; Semen Analysis ; Adult ; Sperm Motility ; Hot Temperature/adverse effects* ; China ; Middle Aged ; Spermatozoa/physiology* ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Emergency resuscitative thoracotomy (ERT) is a final salvage procedure for critically injured trauma patients. Given its low success rate and ambiguous indications, its use in blunt trauma scenarios remains highly debated. Consequently, our study seeks to ascertain the overall survival rate of ERT in blunt trauma patients and determine which patients would benefit most from this procedure. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was conducted for this research. Blunt trauma patients who underwent ERT between January 2020 and December 2023 in our trauma center were selected for analysis, with the endpoint outcome being in-hospital survival, divided into survival and non-survival groups. Inter-group comparisons were conducted using Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests, the Kruskal-Wallis test, Student's t-test, or the Mann-Whitney U test. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess potential predictors of survival. Then, the efficacy of the predictors was assessed through sensitivity and specificity analysis. RESULTS: A total of 33 patients were included in the study, with 4 survivors (12.12%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated a significant association between cardiac tamponade and survival, with an adjusted odds ratio of 33.4 (95% CI: 1.31 - 850.00, p = 0.034). Additionally, an analysis of sensitivity and specificity, targeting cardiac tamponade as an indicator for survivor identification, showed a sensitivity rate of 75.0% and a specificity rate of 96.6%. CONCLUSION The survival rate among blunt trauma patients undergoing ERT exceeds traditional expectations, suggesting that select individuals with blunt trauma can significantly benefit from the procedure. Notably, those presenting with cardiac tamponade are identified as the subgroup most likely to derive substantial benefits from ERT.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Logistic Models ; Resuscitation/mortality* ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Thoracotomy/methods* ; Trauma Centers/statistics & numerical data* ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating/surgery*

With the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence(GAI)technologies,their widespread application in academic research and writing is continuously expanding the boundaries of sci-entific inquiry.However,this trend has also raised a series of ethical and regulatory challenges,inclu-ding issues related to authorship,content authenticity,citation accuracy,and accountability.In light of the growing involvement of AI in generating academic content,establishing an open,controllable,and trustworthy ethical governance framework has become a key task for safeguarding research integrity and maintaining trust within the academic community.This expert consensus outlines ethical requirements across key stages of AI-assisted academic writing-including topic selection,data management,citation practices,and authorship attribution.It aims to clarify the boundaries and ethical obligations surrounding AI use in academic writing,ensuring that technological tools enhance efficiency without compromising in-tegrity.The goal is to provide guidance and institutional support for building a responsible and sustainable research ecosystem.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of children with anti-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (anti-HMGCR) antibody-mediated necrotizing myopathy, and to explore early identification and management strategies to provide reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data and treatment outcomes of 10 pediatric patients with anti-HMGCR antibody-mediated necrotizing myopathy admitted to the Department of Rheumatology, Children′s Hospital of Fudan University from December 2020 to December 2024. Statistical description was performed using SPSS 22.0.Results:Among the 10 patients, the male-to-female ratio was 1:4, the age of onset was (7.2±4.0) years, and the disease duration at diagnosis was (22.2±19.6) months. None had a history of statin exposure. Six patients presented with muscle weakness, and4 were diagnosed due to asymptomatic elevation of creatine kinase (CK); 4 had dermatomyositis-like rashes. All patients showed significantly elevated CK levels [median 3 291(1 969, 8 776)U/L] and underwent muscle biopsy. Histopathological findings revealed myofiber degeneration, necrosis, and regeneration in all cases, with inflammatory infiltration in 9 cases, MHC-Ⅰ positivity in all, and C5b-9 positivity in 9 cases. The median follow-up duration was (15.7±6.3) months. At the last follow-up, muscle strength was normal or nearly normal, and the CK median value had decreased to 977.5 (211.0, 3 536.0) U/L.Conclusion:For patients with suspected idiopathic inflammatory myopathy and significantly elevated CK, muscle-specific antibody testing-including anti-HMGCR-and muscle biopsy should be performed promptly regardless of the presence of skin rash, to ensure accurate diagnosis and guide treatment, thereby avoiding misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of children with anti-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (anti-HMGCR) antibody-mediated necrotizing myopathy, and to explore early identification and management strategies to provide reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data and treatment outcomes of 10 pediatric patients with anti-HMGCR antibody-mediated necrotizing myopathy admitted to the Department of Rheumatology, Children′s Hospital of Fudan University from December 2020 to December 2024. Statistical description was performed using SPSS 22.0.Results:Among the 10 patients, the male-to-female ratio was 1:4, the age of onset was (7.2±4.0) years, and the disease duration at diagnosis was (22.2±19.6) months. None had a history of statin exposure. Six patients presented with muscle weakness, and4 were diagnosed due to asymptomatic elevation of creatine kinase (CK); 4 had dermatomyositis-like rashes. All patients showed significantly elevated CK levels [median 3 291(1 969, 8 776)U/L] and underwent muscle biopsy. Histopathological findings revealed myofiber degeneration, necrosis, and regeneration in all cases, with inflammatory infiltration in 9 cases, MHC-Ⅰ positivity in all, and C5b-9 positivity in 9 cases. The median follow-up duration was (15.7±6.3) months. At the last follow-up, muscle strength was normal or nearly normal, and the CK median value had decreased to 977.5 (211.0, 3 536.0) U/L.Conclusion:For patients with suspected idiopathic inflammatory myopathy and significantly elevated CK, muscle-specific antibody testing-including anti-HMGCR-and muscle biopsy should be performed promptly regardless of the presence of skin rash, to ensure accurate diagnosis and guide treatment, thereby avoiding misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis.

With the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence(GAI)technologies,their widespread application in academic research and writing is continuously expanding the boundaries of sci-entific inquiry.However,this trend has also raised a series of ethical and regulatory challenges,inclu-ding issues related to authorship,content authenticity,citation accuracy,and accountability.In light of the growing involvement of AI in generating academic content,establishing an open,controllable,and trustworthy ethical governance framework has become a key task for safeguarding research integrity and maintaining trust within the academic community.This expert consensus outlines ethical requirements across key stages of AI-assisted academic writing-including topic selection,data management,citation practices,and authorship attribution.It aims to clarify the boundaries and ethical obligations surrounding AI use in academic writing,ensuring that technological tools enhance efficiency without compromising in-tegrity.The goal is to provide guidance and institutional support for building a responsible and sustainable research ecosystem.

Objective:To investigate the incidence of shoulder work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among occupational population in China, and to explore their intrinsic association with personal and work-related factors.Methods:In April 2024, 73497 valid questionnaires of the Chinese version of the Musculoskeletal Disorders Electronic Questionnaire were retrospectively analyzed from June 2018 to December 2023 in 22 provinces and 29 key industries in China, and the general information, occurrence of WMSDs and related risk factors of key occupational populations in different regions in China were collected. By using Chi-square test and confirmatory factor analysis, the relationship between shoulder fatigue and pain in key occupational groups and individual factors, work type, work posture and work organization was discussed, and the internal relationship was analyzed based on structural equation model.Results:Higher incidence of shoulder fatigue and pain were associated with female, lack of physical exercise, uncomfortable working posture and neck leaning forward ( P<0.05). Structural equation model analysis showed that work type, work posture and work organization were strongly correlated ( r=0.58, 0.55). Work organization and work type were strongly correlated with shoulder fatigue ( r=0.65) and moderately correlated with shoulder fatigue ( r=0.21). Shoulder fatigue was moderately associated with shoulder pain ( r=0.40). Individual factors, work type, work posture and shoulder fatigue could directly affect shoulder pain ( OR=0.07, -0.09, 0.17 and 0.40), and work type and work posture could also indirectly affect shoulder pain through shoulder fatigue ( OR=0.08, 0.03). Work organization only indirectly affected shoulder pain through shoulder fatigue ( OR=0.26) . Conclusion:The main influencing factor of shoulder pain is shoulder fatigue, followed by work posture and individual factors. Structural equation model can better reflect the complex relationship between work type, work posture and work organization and shoulder WMSDs. Improving work posture and work organization may be an effective way to control the influence of shoulder fatigue on shoulder pain.

Objective:To explore the structural equation model to explore the levels of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and various risk factors in the feet and ankle of China's occupational population, providing scientific basis for for preventing WMSDs in feet and ankles.Methods:Data of 73497 national occupational epidemiological cases were selected from June 2018 to December 2023 used the Chinese version of the Electronic Questionnaire on Musculoskeletal Disorders. The adverse ergonomic factors and their source classification standard and confirmatory factor analysis were used to investigate foot and ankle WMSDs and their related risk factors (including individual factors, work organization, work posture, work type, fatigue, etc.) in key occupational groups in China, and structural equation model hypothesis, fitting, verification, and path and intermediary effect analysis were carried out. The model fit evaluation indexes included Chi-square specific degrees of freedom ( χ2/ df), gauge fit index (NFI), Tucker Lewis index (TLI), goodness of Fit index (GFI), adjusted Goodness of Fit index (AGFI) and approximate root mean square error (RMSEA) . Results:A total of 73497 occupational workers were surveyed, with local muscle fatigue and WMSDs incidence rates in the feet and ankles being 17.17% and 12.06%, respectively. The fitting index of the adjusted structural equation model basically meets the standard (GFI=1, AGFI=1, RMESA=0.042, NFI=0.716, TLI=0.663). The top three factors affecting feet and ankle WMSDs are feet and ankle muscle fatigue, work type, and work organization, with standardized path coefficients of 0.221, 0.105, and 0.095, respectively. The top two factors affecting feet and ankle muscle fatigue are work organization and work type, with standardized path coefficients of 0.548 and 0.383, respectively. Feet and ankle muscle fatigue, work type, work organization, and work posture have a direct effect on feet and ankle WMSDs, with effect values of 0.221, 0.105, 0.095, and 0.077, respectively. The organization and type of work can also have indirect effects through feet and ankle muscle fatigue, with effect values of 0.121 and 0.084, respectively.Conclusion:Feet and ankle muscle fatigue has a direct impact on WMSDs, and plays a mediating role between ankle and ankle WMSDs caused by work organization and work type. Feet and ankle muscle fatigue is an important pathway leading to feet and ankle WMSDs. It is recommended that employers and managers detect job fatigue early and take corresponding prevention and intervention measures, which can play a key role in preventing feet and ankle WMSDs.