BACKGROUND:Previous studies have demonstrated that acupuncture at the governor meridian has precise efficacy in the treatment of ischemic stroke and can improve cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by attenuating pyroptosis,but the upstream regulatory mechanisms are not yet fully clarified.OBJECTIVE:To observe the neuroprotective effect of electroacupuncture in model rats of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.METHODS:Twenty-seven Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham surgery,model,and electroacupuncture groups,with nine rats in each group.Modified suture method was used to establish cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model rats in the model and electroacupuncture groups.The electroacupuncture group was subjected to electroacupuncture at"Baihui,""Fengfu,"and"Dazhui"acupoints,20 minutes each,once a day,for 7 consecutive days.After treatment,neurological deficit scoring and pole test were performed to assess behavioral changes.Tri-phenyl tetrazolium chloride staining was used to assess cerebral infarction size in rats.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to observe morphological changes in cerebral cortex tissue on the infarcted side of rats.Immunofluorescence analysis was used to determine Iba-1 and reactive oxygen species levels in cerebral cortex tissue on the infarcted side of rats,ELISA method was used for measuring interleukin-1β,interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor α levels in cerebral cortex tissue on the infarcted side of rats.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and western blot were used to detect mRNA and protein expression levels of thioredoxin interaction protein,nod-like receptor associated protein 3(NLRP3),Caspase-1 and interleukin-1β in cerebral cortex tissue on the infarcted side of rats respectively,and the interaction between thioredoxin interaction protein and NLRP3 was analyzed by immunoprecipitation.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the sham surgery group,rats in the model group showed an increase in neurological deficit score,pole test score,cerebral infarction volume(P<0.05),the immunofluorescence expression of Iba-1 and reactive oxygen species(P<0.05),the levels of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor α(P<0.05),and the mRNA and protein expression of thioredoxin interaction protein,NLRP3,Caspase-1 and interleukin-1β in cerebral cortex tissue(P<0.05).Hematoxylin-eosin staining in the model group showed neuronal degeneration and necrosis,with fragmented and dissolved nuclei and cellular vacuoles.(2)Compared with the model group,rats in the electroacupuncture group showed a reduction in neurological deficit score,pole climbing test score,cerebral infarction volume(P<0.05),the immunofluorescence expression of Iba-1 and reactive oxygen species(P<0.05),the levels of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor α(P<0.05),and the mRNA and protein expression of thioredoxin interaction protein,NLRP3,Caspase-1 and interleukin-1β in cerebral cortex tissue(P<0.05).Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that the pathological damage of neurons in cerebral cortex tissue on the infarcted side of rats in the electroacupuncture group was significantly attenuated,with significantly reduced cell necrosis and vacuolation.(3)Immunoprecipitation assay showed an interaction between thioredoxin interaction proteins and NLRP3 in the cerebral cortical tissues on the infarcted side of rats in the model group.To conclude,electroacupuncture has a significant therapeutic effect against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury,possibly by inhibiting the reactive oxygen species/thioredoxin interaction protein/NLRP3 cell pyroptosis signaling pathway and activation of microglia to reduce the release of inflammatory factors.

BACKGROUND:Previous studies have demonstrated that acupuncture at the governor meridian has precise efficacy in the treatment of ischemic stroke and can improve cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by attenuating pyroptosis,but the upstream regulatory mechanisms are not yet fully clarified.OBJECTIVE:To observe the neuroprotective effect of electroacupuncture in model rats of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.METHODS:Twenty-seven Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham surgery,model,and electroacupuncture groups,with nine rats in each group.Modified suture method was used to establish cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model rats in the model and electroacupuncture groups.The electroacupuncture group was subjected to electroacupuncture at"Baihui,""Fengfu,"and"Dazhui"acupoints,20 minutes each,once a day,for 7 consecutive days.After treatment,neurological deficit scoring and pole test were performed to assess behavioral changes.Tri-phenyl tetrazolium chloride staining was used to assess cerebral infarction size in rats.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to observe morphological changes in cerebral cortex tissue on the infarcted side of rats.Immunofluorescence analysis was used to determine Iba-1 and reactive oxygen species levels in cerebral cortex tissue on the infarcted side of rats,ELISA method was used for measuring interleukin-1β,interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor α levels in cerebral cortex tissue on the infarcted side of rats.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and western blot were used to detect mRNA and protein expression levels of thioredoxin interaction protein,nod-like receptor associated protein 3(NLRP3),Caspase-1 and interleukin-1β in cerebral cortex tissue on the infarcted side of rats respectively,and the interaction between thioredoxin interaction protein and NLRP3 was analyzed by immunoprecipitation.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the sham surgery group,rats in the model group showed an increase in neurological deficit score,pole test score,cerebral infarction volume(P<0.05),the immunofluorescence expression of Iba-1 and reactive oxygen species(P<0.05),the levels of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor α(P<0.05),and the mRNA and protein expression of thioredoxin interaction protein,NLRP3,Caspase-1 and interleukin-1β in cerebral cortex tissue(P<0.05).Hematoxylin-eosin staining in the model group showed neuronal degeneration and necrosis,with fragmented and dissolved nuclei and cellular vacuoles.(2)Compared with the model group,rats in the electroacupuncture group showed a reduction in neurological deficit score,pole climbing test score,cerebral infarction volume(P<0.05),the immunofluorescence expression of Iba-1 and reactive oxygen species(P<0.05),the levels of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor α(P<0.05),and the mRNA and protein expression of thioredoxin interaction protein,NLRP3,Caspase-1 and interleukin-1β in cerebral cortex tissue(P<0.05).Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that the pathological damage of neurons in cerebral cortex tissue on the infarcted side of rats in the electroacupuncture group was significantly attenuated,with significantly reduced cell necrosis and vacuolation.(3)Immunoprecipitation assay showed an interaction between thioredoxin interaction proteins and NLRP3 in the cerebral cortical tissues on the infarcted side of rats in the model group.To conclude,electroacupuncture has a significant therapeutic effect against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury,possibly by inhibiting the reactive oxygen species/thioredoxin interaction protein/NLRP3 cell pyroptosis signaling pathway and activation of microglia to reduce the release of inflammatory factors.

Aim To investigate the anti-acute lung injury(ALI)effect of Sterculiae Lychnophorae Semen(SLS)and its mechanism.Methods The main ac-tive components of SLS and their core targets and path-ways of action against ALI were obtained by network pharmacology methods.Subsequently,molecular doc-king technology and in vitro cellular experiments were applied for validation.Results A total of 19 core tar-gets were obtained,including HSP90AA1,CASP3,TNF,MAPK8 and MAPK14.The mechanisms may in-volve signaling pathways such as cancer,PI3K/Akt and MAPK.Molecular docking confirmed that the key targets of SLS formed a better binding activity with the relevant active ingredients.The in vitro results showed that SLS was able to protect the PM2.5-contaminated BEAS-2B cells,inhibit their NO,IL-1β and TNF-αlevels,and reduce the expression of p-p38 MAPK and p-JNK proteins.Conclusions The study successfully predicts the active ingredients,targets and signaling pathways of SLS against ALI,and in vitro experiments demonstrate that SLS might protect BEAS-2B cells from PM2.5 stimulus-induced inflammation and apoptosis by inhibiting the over-activation of p38 MAPK and JNK signaling pathways.

Objective:This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of surgical intervention for patients with stage Ⅳ esophageal cancer who demonstrated tumor regression following first-line treatment.Methods:This was a descriptive case series. The inclusion criteria for surgery were as follows: (1) an initial diagnosis of stage Ⅳ esophageal cancer, i.e. cT4b or cM1; (2) the presence of residual tumor following first-line therapy deemed potentially resectable upon reassessment; and (3) sufficient organ function to tolerate surgical procedures. Clinical data were retrospectively collected for 63 patients with stage Ⅳ esophageal cancer who underwent surgery following first-line therapy at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between January 2014 and December 2023. Of these patients, 12 were initially staged as IVA, and 51 as IVB. Post-treatment restaging revealed that 9 patients achieved a clinical complete response, while 3 were downstaged to stage Ⅰ, 14 to stage Ⅱ, 24 to stage Ⅲ, and 13 to stage ⅣB (with regression of distant metastatic lesions enabling curative resection). Surgical approaches included right thoracic esophagectomy ( n=55), left thoracic esophagectomy ( n=4), and transmediastinal esophagectomy ( n=4). Additionally, 7 patients required extended organ resection. Two-field lymph node dissection was performed in 49 patients, while 14 underwent three-field lymph node dissection. Postoperative management varied: 31 patients received no adjuvant therapy, 11 underwent immunochemotherapy, 8 received immunotherapy alone, 8 underwent chemotherapy, 4 received chemoradiotherapy, and 1 received combined radiotherapy and immunotherapy. The primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), with secondary endpoints including surgical outcomes and postoperative complications. Results:All 63 patients successfully underwent surgery without intraoperative mortality. R0 resection was achieved in 58 cases (92.1%), while R1 and R2 resections were performed in 1 case (1.6%) and 4 cases (6.3%), respectively. The mean operative time was 357±135 minutes. Postoperative complications were observed in 27 cases (42.9%), with 9 cases (14.3%) classified as Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅲ or Ⅴ. One patient (1.6%) died perioperatively. The median follow-up duration was 21 months (range: 4–107 months). The median OS was 64.8 months (95% CI: 50.9–78.6 months), and the median PFS was 68.0 months (95% CI: 53.9–82.3 months). Among 24 patients with supraclavicular lymph node metastases, 6 experienced recurrence and 8 died. Of 25 patients with abdominal metastases, 3 had recurrence and subsequently died. All 4 patients with lung metastases and both patients with bone metastases experienced recurrence and death.Conclusions:Surgical intervention is a feasible and safe treatment option for selected patients with stage Ⅳ esophageal cancer who demonstrate the potential for curative resection following first-line therapy.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of cervical cerclage at different gestational weeks in twin pregnancy with cervical length (CL)≤15 mm.Methods:This was a retrospective cohort study. Eighty-three twin pregnant women with CL≤15 mm detected by transvaginal ultrasound at 16-27 +6 weeks of gestation in Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital from January 2017 to December 2023 were enrolled. According to different treatment methods, they were divided into cervical cerclage group (47 cases) and conservative treatment group (36 cases), and stratified according to the gestational age of CL≤15 mm diagnosis (<26 weeks, ≥26 weeks). The differences in pregnancy outcomes between the two groups were compared. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the effect of cervical cerclage on preterm birth in twin pregnant women with different CL≤15 mm diagnosis weeks. Results:(1) The gestational age at delivery and prolonged gestational age in the cervical cerclage group were longer than those in the conservative treatment group (median gestational age at delivery: 35.3 vs 33.0 weeks; median prolonged gestational age: 10.4 vs 7.2 weeks), and preterm birth rates before 34, 32 and 28 weeks were lower than those in the conservative treatment group [34 weeks: 23% (11/47) vs 53% (19/36); 32 weeks: 15% (7/47) vs 39% (14/36); 28 weeks: 4% (2/47) vs 25% (9/36)], the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the rates of preterm birth before 37 weeks of gestation and preterm premature rupture of membranes between the two groups (all P>0.05). (2) When gestational age at CL≤15 mm diagnosis was <26 weeks, pregnancy outcomes in the cervical cerclage group were better than those in the conservative treatment group, including gestational age at delivery (median: 35.4 vs 31.3 weeks) and prolonged gestational age (median: 11.1 vs 5.6 weeks), neonatal birth weight [(2 246±519) vs (1 594±691) g], incidence of adverse neonatal outcomes [19% (13/68) vs 56% (19/34)], and proportion of live births [100% (68/68) vs 82% (28/34)], respectively; the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). When the gestational age of CL≤15 mm diagnosis was ≥26 weeks, there were no statistically significant difference in pregnancy outcomes between the two groups (all P>0.05). (3) Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that when the gestational age of CL≤15 mm diagnosis was <26 weeks, cervical cerclage reduced the risk of preterm birth before 34 weeks (a OR=0.10, 95% CI: 0.02-0.51; P<0.05), 32 weeks (a OR=0.11, 95% CI: 0.02-0.58; P<0.05) and 28 weeks (a OR=0.04, 95% CI: 0.01-0.65; P<0.05). When the gestational age of CL≤15 mm diagnosis was ≥26 weeks, cervical cerclage did not reduce the risk of preterm birth before 34, 32 and 28 weeks of gestation (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Cervical cerclage might reduce the risk of preterm birth and improve neonatal outcomes in twin pregnancies with CL≤15 mm before 26 weeks. However, cerclage showed no advantage over conservative treatment in twin pregnancies with CL≤15 mm over 26 weeks.

Aim To investigate the anti-acute lung injury(ALI)effect of Sterculiae Lychnophorae Semen(SLS)and its mechanism.Methods The main ac-tive components of SLS and their core targets and path-ways of action against ALI were obtained by network pharmacology methods.Subsequently,molecular doc-king technology and in vitro cellular experiments were applied for validation.Results A total of 19 core tar-gets were obtained,including HSP90AA1,CASP3,TNF,MAPK8 and MAPK14.The mechanisms may in-volve signaling pathways such as cancer,PI3K/Akt and MAPK.Molecular docking confirmed that the key targets of SLS formed a better binding activity with the relevant active ingredients.The in vitro results showed that SLS was able to protect the PM2.5-contaminated BEAS-2B cells,inhibit their NO,IL-1β and TNF-αlevels,and reduce the expression of p-p38 MAPK and p-JNK proteins.Conclusions The study successfully predicts the active ingredients,targets and signaling pathways of SLS against ALI,and in vitro experiments demonstrate that SLS might protect BEAS-2B cells from PM2.5 stimulus-induced inflammation and apoptosis by inhibiting the over-activation of p38 MAPK and JNK signaling pathways.

Objective:This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of surgical intervention for patients with stage Ⅳ esophageal cancer who demonstrated tumor regression following first-line treatment.Methods:This was a descriptive case series. The inclusion criteria for surgery were as follows: (1) an initial diagnosis of stage Ⅳ esophageal cancer, i.e. cT4b or cM1; (2) the presence of residual tumor following first-line therapy deemed potentially resectable upon reassessment; and (3) sufficient organ function to tolerate surgical procedures. Clinical data were retrospectively collected for 63 patients with stage Ⅳ esophageal cancer who underwent surgery following first-line therapy at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between January 2014 and December 2023. Of these patients, 12 were initially staged as IVA, and 51 as IVB. Post-treatment restaging revealed that 9 patients achieved a clinical complete response, while 3 were downstaged to stage Ⅰ, 14 to stage Ⅱ, 24 to stage Ⅲ, and 13 to stage ⅣB (with regression of distant metastatic lesions enabling curative resection). Surgical approaches included right thoracic esophagectomy ( n=55), left thoracic esophagectomy ( n=4), and transmediastinal esophagectomy ( n=4). Additionally, 7 patients required extended organ resection. Two-field lymph node dissection was performed in 49 patients, while 14 underwent three-field lymph node dissection. Postoperative management varied: 31 patients received no adjuvant therapy, 11 underwent immunochemotherapy, 8 received immunotherapy alone, 8 underwent chemotherapy, 4 received chemoradiotherapy, and 1 received combined radiotherapy and immunotherapy. The primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), with secondary endpoints including surgical outcomes and postoperative complications. Results:All 63 patients successfully underwent surgery without intraoperative mortality. R0 resection was achieved in 58 cases (92.1%), while R1 and R2 resections were performed in 1 case (1.6%) and 4 cases (6.3%), respectively. The mean operative time was 357±135 minutes. Postoperative complications were observed in 27 cases (42.9%), with 9 cases (14.3%) classified as Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅲ or Ⅴ. One patient (1.6%) died perioperatively. The median follow-up duration was 21 months (range: 4–107 months). The median OS was 64.8 months (95% CI: 50.9–78.6 months), and the median PFS was 68.0 months (95% CI: 53.9–82.3 months). Among 24 patients with supraclavicular lymph node metastases, 6 experienced recurrence and 8 died. Of 25 patients with abdominal metastases, 3 had recurrence and subsequently died. All 4 patients with lung metastases and both patients with bone metastases experienced recurrence and death.Conclusions:Surgical intervention is a feasible and safe treatment option for selected patients with stage Ⅳ esophageal cancer who demonstrate the potential for curative resection following first-line therapy.

Objective:To investigate the interventional and protective effect of low-dose L-carnitine(LC)against reproductive system damage in male Wistar rats during acute exposure to simulated high-altitude environment.Methods:A total of 24 specific pathogen-free male Wistar rats,aged 12 weeks,were randomly divided into control group,high-altitude model group,and LC intervention group[intraperitoneal injection of LC at a dose of 50 mg/(kg·d)],with 8 rats in each group.The rats in the control group were fed under normal conditions(at an altitude of approximately 1 500 m),those in the high-altitude model group,and those in the LC intervention group were fed in a hypobaric oxygen chamber(at a simulated alti-tude of 6 000 m).The rats were sacrificed after 3 days.The testis was collected to calculate testicular index;the semen was collected from the epididymis,and the Weili sperm quality analysis system was used to assess sperm quality;blood samples were collected from the abdominal aorta,and ELISA kits were used to measure the serum levels of testosterone(T),luteinizing hormone(LH),and follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH);testicular tissue samples were collected,and biochemical kits were used to measure the activity of reactive oxygen species(ROS),malondialdehyde(MDA),and superoxide dismutase(SOD);testicular tissue was collected to prepare HE and electron microscopy sections,and a light microscope and a transmission electron microscope were used for observation.Results:Com-pared with the blank control group,the high-altitude model group had significant increases in the levels of T,LH,and FSH(P<0.01),testicular tissue damage under the light microscope,and changes in the morphology of spermatogenic cells,including mitochondrial al-terations,membrane edema,loss of cristae,swelling of the matrix,and local dissolution,as well as significant increases in the levels of ROS and MDA(P<0.01)and a significant reduction in SOD activity(P<0.01).Compared with the high-altitude model group,the LC intervention group had a significant increase in the level of T(P<0.01),significant reductions in the levels of FSH and LH(P<0.01),and significant improvements in the pathological changes of testicular tissue,with no marked mitochondrial injury,and there were sig-nificant reductions in the levels of ROS and MDA(P<0.01)and a significant increase in SOD activity(P<0.01).There was no signifi-cant difference in testicular index between groups(P>0.05).The high-altitude model group had a significantly lower sperm count than the blank control group(P<0.05),while there was no significant difference in sperm count between the LC intervention group and the blank control group(P>0.05);there was no significant difference in sperm motility between groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:Low-dose LC can improve reproductive system damage in rats during acute exposure to simulated high-altitude environment,possibly by alleviat-ing oxidative stress response.

By employing the analytic hierarchy process(AHP), the CRITIC method(a weight determination method based on indicator correlations), and the AHP-CRITIC hybrid weighting method, the weight coefficients of evaluation indicators were determined, followed by a comprehensive score comparison. The grey correlation analysis was then performed to analyze the results calculated using the hybrid weighting method. Subsequently, a backpropagation-artificial neural network(BP-ANN) model was constructed to predict the extraction process parameters and optimize the extraction process for Shenxiong Huanglian Jiedu Granules(SHJG). In the extraction process, an L_9(3~4) orthogonal experiment was designed to optimize three factors at three levels, including extraction frequency, water addition amount, and extraction time. The evaluation indicators included geniposide, berberine, ginsenoside Rg_1 + Re, ginsenoside Rb_1, ferulic acid, and extract yield. Finally, the optimal extraction results obtained by the orthogonal experiment, grey correlation analysis, and BP-ANN method were compared, and validation experiments were conducted. The results showed that the optimal extraction process involved two rounds of aqueous extraction, each lasting one hour; the first extraction used ten times the amount of added water, while the second extraction used eight times the amount. In the validation experiments, the average content of each indicator component was higher than the average content obtained in the orthogonal experiment, with a higher comprehensive score. The optimized extraction process parameters were reliable and stable, making them suitable for subsequent preparation process research.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/analysis* ; Neural Networks, Computer

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of cervical cerclage at different gestational weeks in twin pregnancy with cervical length (CL)≤15 mm.Methods:This was a retrospective cohort study. Eighty-three twin pregnant women with CL≤15 mm detected by transvaginal ultrasound at 16-27 +6 weeks of gestation in Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital from January 2017 to December 2023 were enrolled. According to different treatment methods, they were divided into cervical cerclage group (47 cases) and conservative treatment group (36 cases), and stratified according to the gestational age of CL≤15 mm diagnosis (<26 weeks, ≥26 weeks). The differences in pregnancy outcomes between the two groups were compared. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the effect of cervical cerclage on preterm birth in twin pregnant women with different CL≤15 mm diagnosis weeks. Results:(1) The gestational age at delivery and prolonged gestational age in the cervical cerclage group were longer than those in the conservative treatment group (median gestational age at delivery: 35.3 vs 33.0 weeks; median prolonged gestational age: 10.4 vs 7.2 weeks), and preterm birth rates before 34, 32 and 28 weeks were lower than those in the conservative treatment group [34 weeks: 23% (11/47) vs 53% (19/36); 32 weeks: 15% (7/47) vs 39% (14/36); 28 weeks: 4% (2/47) vs 25% (9/36)], the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the rates of preterm birth before 37 weeks of gestation and preterm premature rupture of membranes between the two groups (all P>0.05). (2) When gestational age at CL≤15 mm diagnosis was <26 weeks, pregnancy outcomes in the cervical cerclage group were better than those in the conservative treatment group, including gestational age at delivery (median: 35.4 vs 31.3 weeks) and prolonged gestational age (median: 11.1 vs 5.6 weeks), neonatal birth weight [(2 246±519) vs (1 594±691) g], incidence of adverse neonatal outcomes [19% (13/68) vs 56% (19/34)], and proportion of live births [100% (68/68) vs 82% (28/34)], respectively; the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). When the gestational age of CL≤15 mm diagnosis was ≥26 weeks, there were no statistically significant difference in pregnancy outcomes between the two groups (all P>0.05). (3) Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that when the gestational age of CL≤15 mm diagnosis was <26 weeks, cervical cerclage reduced the risk of preterm birth before 34 weeks (a OR=0.10, 95% CI: 0.02-0.51; P<0.05), 32 weeks (a OR=0.11, 95% CI: 0.02-0.58; P<0.05) and 28 weeks (a OR=0.04, 95% CI: 0.01-0.65; P<0.05). When the gestational age of CL≤15 mm diagnosis was ≥26 weeks, cervical cerclage did not reduce the risk of preterm birth before 34, 32 and 28 weeks of gestation (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Cervical cerclage might reduce the risk of preterm birth and improve neonatal outcomes in twin pregnancies with CL≤15 mm before 26 weeks. However, cerclage showed no advantage over conservative treatment in twin pregnancies with CL≤15 mm over 26 weeks.