Objective To comprehensively analyze the current epidemic characteristics and disease burden of brucellosis in Tongliao City, and to provide a basis for the prevention and control strategy of brucellosis in Tongliao City. Methods The report data of brucellosis in Tongliao City from 2018 to 2023 were collected. Descriptive methods were used for data analysis, and the disability-adjusted life years and indirect economic losses were calculated. Results From 2018 to 2023, a total of 22 034 cases were reported in Tongliao City, with an average annual incidence of 136.17/100 000. The incidence was statistically different between men and women ( χ²=12.23, P=0.032). The majority of cases were farmers (94.25%), followed by herdsmen (1.67%). The age group was concentrated between 30-60 years old (79.30%), among which the majority of cases were in the 40-50 years group (6 883/22 034). The onset time had seasonal characteristics, and the peak period was from March to August (the seasonal index was between 115.40%-151.29%). In terms of regional distribution, cases were reported in all counties (banners). The average annual incidence was highest in Kulun Banner (233.85/100 000) and Zalut Banner (210.13/100 000), and lowest in Keerqin District (42.28/100 000) and Holingol City (31.87/100 000). The analysis of disease burden showed that a total of 677.55 person-years (YLD) were lost from 2018 to 2023, with an average annual loss of 112.92 person-years. The total indirect economic loss was 59.3576 million yuan, with an average annual loss of 9.892 9 million yuan, and the people over 60 years old had the lowest annual loss. Conclusion The overall brucellosis epidemic in Tongliao City has shown a fluctuating downward trend. The epidemic prevention and control should be strengthened in farmers, people aged 40-50 years old, and areas such as Zalut Banner and Kulun Banner to further control the epidemic of brucellosis.

Rheumatoid arthritis belongs to arthralgia syndrome in the theory of traditional Chinese medicine， and cold-dampness obstruction syndrome and dampness-heat obstruction syndrome are core syndromes and main syndrome differentiation types of this disease. Fine therapeutic effects have been obtained in the long-term clinical practice of many famous traditional Chinese medicine practitioners following the syndrome differentiation and treatment based on the guiding principles of cold and heat. To adapt to the clinical diagnosis practice of combining disease differentiation and syndrome differentiation， and to better carry out basic research on integrated Chinese and Western medicine and preclinical study on new traditional Chinese medicines， Guidelines for Establishing Animal Models of Rheumatoid Arthritis with Cold-Dampness Obstruction Syndrome and Dampness-Heat Obstruction Syndrome （hereinafter referred to as the Guidelines） were compiled by our research group， in cooperation with the renowned experts in research fields including traditional Chinese medicine， clinical medicine， zoology and evidence-based medicine， which provide a meaningful reference for scientific research， teaching and clinical applications. The compilation process of the Guidelines was guided by the theory of disease and syndrome integration and the principles of "evidence takes the main place， consensus plays an auxiliary role， and experience serves as the reference". Based on the comprehensive evaluation of pathogenesis homology， behavioral phenotypic consistency， and drug treatment predictability compared between animal models and human diseases， by the nominal group method， "recommendations" were formed for recommendations supported by evidence， and "consensus recommendations" were formed for recommendations not supported by evidence. Guidelines were formed involving content such as animal types， arthritis modeling methods， external stimulation conditions， and modeling assessment indicators during the establishment of the animal models of rheumatoid arthritis with cold-dampness obstruction syndrome and dampness-heat obstruction syndrome. The Guidelines are applicable for the disease and syndrome research on rheumatoid arthritis， investigation of therapeutic mechanisms， and development of new traditional Chinese medicine. The Guidelines also provide a reference for the establishment of guidelines on other types of diseases and syndromes combined with animal models to further promote the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine research and its integration with international academic development.

The Guidelines for Establishing Animal Models of Rheumatoid Arthritis with Cold-dampness Obstruction Syndrome and Dampness-heat Obstruction Syndrome （hereinafter referred to as the Guidelines） （No. T/CACM1567-2024） was published by Chinese Association of Chinese Medicine on January 11， 2024. To assist researchers and medical workers in understanding and applying the Guidelines more accurately， and also to provide reference and assistance for the establishment of guidelines on other types of diseases and syndromes combined with animal models， this paper made a declaration of the workflow， technological links， development references， promotion of its application and after-effect evaluation of the Guidelines that has been made according to the requirements of "Draft Group Standard of the Standardization Office of the Chinese Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine".

OBJECTIVE: Varied acupoint selections represent a potential cause of the uncertainty surrounding the efficacy of acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Skin temperature, a guiding factor for acupoint selection, may help to address this issue. This study explored thermal sensitization of acupoints used for the treatment of knee OA. METHODS: This cross-sectional case-control study enrolled cases aged 45-75 years with symptomatic knee OA and age- and gender-matched non-knee OA controls in a 1:1 ratio. All participants underwent infrared thermographic imaging. The primary outcome was the relative skin temperature of acupoint (STA), and the secondary outcome was the absolute STA of 11 acupoints. The Z test was used to compare the relative and absolute STAs between the groups. Principal component analysis was used to extract the common factors (CFs, acupoint cluster) in the STAs. A general linear model was used to identify factors affecting the STA in the knee OA cases. For the group comparisons of relative STA, P < 0.0045 (adjusted for 11 acupoints through Bonferroni correction) was considered to indicate statistical significance. For other analyses, P < 0.05 was used as the threshold for statistical significance. RESULTS: The analysis included 308 participants, consisting of 151 cases (mean age: [64.58 ± 6.67] years; male: 25.83%; mean body mass index: [25.70 ± 3.16] kg/m²) and 157 controls (mean age: [63.37 ± 5.96] years; male: 26.11%; mean body mass index: [24.47 ± 2.84] kg/m²). The relative STAs of ST34 (P = 0.0001), EX-LE2 (P < 0.0001), EX-LE5 (P = 0.0006), SP10 (P < 0.0001), BL40 (P = 0.0012) and GB39 (P = 0.0037) were higher in the knee OA group. No difference was found in the STAs of ST35, ST36, SP9, GB33 and GB34. Four CFs were identified for relative STA in both groups. The acupoints within each CF were consistent between the groups. The mean values of the relative STAs across each CF were higher in the knee OA group. In the knee OA cases, no factors were observed to affect the relative STA, while age and gender were found to affect the absolute STA. CONCLUSION Among patients with knee OA, thermal sensitization occurs in the acupoints of the lower extremity, exhibiting localized and regional thermal consistencies. The thermally sensitized acupoints that we identified in this study, ST34, SP10, EX-LE2, EX-LE5, GB39 and BL40, may be good choices for the acupuncture treatment of knee OA. Please cite this article as: Tu JF, Wang XZ, Yan SY, Wang YR, Yang JW, Shi GX, Zhang WZ, Jing LN, Yang LS, Liu DH, Wang LQ, Mi BH. Thermal sensitization of acupoints in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A cross-sectional case-control study. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(3): 289-296.
Humans ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/physiopathology* ; Male ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Acupuncture Points ; Case-Control Studies ; Aged ; Skin Temperature ; Acupuncture Therapy

Objective:To explore the changes of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) expression in rat astrocytes (RA) and rat model of radiation-induced brain injury (RIBI) after X-ray radiation, as well as its impact on cell functions.Methods:Logarithmic-phase RA were divided into four groups: Sham group (no treatment), AQP4 siRNA group (transfected with AQP4 lentivirus), IR group (single 20 Gy X-ray irradiation), and IR+AQP4 siRNA group (transfected with AQP4 lentivirus followed by single 20 Gy X-ray irradiation). The cell proliferation viability after radiation was detected using the CCK-8 assay. The relative expression of AQP4 mRNA in each group was measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and the optimal AQP4 siRNA lentiviral sequence was selected for further studies. Western blot was used to detect the relative expression levels of AQP4, phosphorylated histone H2A family member X (γH2AX), autophagy-related proteins, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), proteins in the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) / protein kinase B (AKT) / mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, and apoptosis-related proteins in cells from each group. Immunofluorescence (co-expression) staining was used to detect the expression of AQP4, γH2AX, GFAP, LC3, phosphatase and tensin homolog-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) in cells from each group, as well as the expression of AQP4 and LC3 in brain tissues from the rat RIBI model. Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis rate of cells in each group. The differences between two groups were compared using the t-test, while the differences among multiple groups were evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's multiple comparison test. Results:The proliferation viability of RA decreased to its lowest level at 24 h after irradiation. At the 24 h post-irradiation time point, the expression levels of γH2AX and AQP4 were significantly increased in the IR group compared with the Sham group. The fluorescence intensity of AQP4 in the AQP4 siRNA group was lower than that in the Sham group. The cells in the IR group showed significant enlargement and irregular morphology, with a significant increase in AQP4 fluorescence intensity, while the IR+AQP4 siRNA group showed mild cell enlargement and lower AQP4 fluorescence intensity compared with the IR group. Compared with the Sham group, the expression of microtubule-associated protein1 light chain 3 (LC3) and PINK1 proteins were decreased in the IR group, while the IR+AQP4 siRNA group showed higher expression levels compared with the IR group. Compared with the Sham group, the IR group showed increased expression of AQP4, GFAP, and sequestosome 1 (P62) proteins, decreased expression of Beclin-1 (BECN1) and LC3 proteins, and a reduced LC3-II/LC3-I ratio, while the IR+AQP4 siRNA group exhibited a restored LC3-II/LC3-I ratio. The apoptosis rate in the AQP4 siRNA group was similar to that in the Sham group, while the IR group showed a significantly increased apoptosis rate, and the IR+AQP4 siRNA group had a lower apoptosis rate than the IR group. The expression of caspase-3 (Caspase3) decreased in the IR group, while the expression of PI3K, AKT, mTOR, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, and cleaved Caspase3 protein increased; these changes were partially reversed in the IR+AQP4 siRNA group. In the rat RIBI model, the expression area and intensity of AQP4 were higher in the IR group compared with the Sham group, while LC3 expression showed the opposite pattern.Conclusions:The possible molecular mechanism of RA apoptosis caused by X-ray irradiation is that irradiation promotes the expression of AQP4, causes cell swelling, inhibits autophagy, and prevents cells from clearing damaged organelles in a timely manner, thereby promoting cell apoptosis.

Objective To investigate the impact of new-onset atrial fibrillation(AF)on all-cause mortality in elderly patients with hypertension having no previous history of AF.Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 1352 elderly hypertensive inpatients who had no history of AF and received long-term follow-up in Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2014 to June 2017.According to having newly developed AF or not,they were divided into a new-set AF group(191 cases)and a control group(1161 cases).Kaplan-Meier survival curve was plotted for survival analysis and multivariate Cox survival analysis was performed to identify risk factors for all-cause mortality.Results Compared with the control group,the new-onset AF group exhibited significantly advanced age,higher urea level,lower diabetes ratio,and decreased hemoglobin level(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the cumulative mortality of the new-onset AF group was significantly higher than that of the control group(P＜0.01).Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that age＞75 years(HR=4.562,95％CI:3.104-6.705,P＜0.01),anemia(HR=2.543,95％CI:1.939-3.334,P＜0.01),new-onset AF(HR=1.494,95％CI:1.185-1.884,P＜0.01),eGFR＜60 mL/(min·1.73 m2)(HR=1.729,95％CI:1.389-2.151,P＜0.01),and heart failure(HR=1.539,95％CI:1.173-2.019,P＜0.01)were risk factors for all-cause mortality in elderly hypertensive patients without a history of AF.Conclusions New-onset AF is closely associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality in elderly hypertensive patients without a previous history of AF.

There is controversy over the specific and non-specific components in the efficacy evaluation of acupuncture therapy.The placebo effect,as a key non-specific factor,needs to be clarified in terms of its mechanism and clinical value.This article reviewed the research progress in the placebo effect of acupuncture from three aspects:cognitive process,influencing factors,and mechanism.It focused on the regulatory effects of patient expectations,doctor-patient interaction,and individual differences on the effect,summarized key mechanisms such as endogenous opioid system,dopamine reward pathway,and neural projection of rostral anterior cingulate cortex to pontine nucleus,and pointed out the methodological limitations of current comfort acupuncture designs,in order to provide theoretical basis for the optimization of acupuncture clinical research models and the deepening of the effect mechanism.

Objective To investigate the impact of new-onset atrial fibrillation(AF)on all-cause mortality in elderly patients with hypertension having no previous history of AF.Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 1352 elderly hypertensive inpatients who had no history of AF and received long-term follow-up in Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2014 to June 2017.According to having newly developed AF or not,they were divided into a new-set AF group(191 cases)and a control group(1161 cases).Kaplan-Meier survival curve was plotted for survival analysis and multivariate Cox survival analysis was performed to identify risk factors for all-cause mortality.Results Compared with the control group,the new-onset AF group exhibited significantly advanced age,higher urea level,lower diabetes ratio,and decreased hemoglobin level(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the cumulative mortality of the new-onset AF group was significantly higher than that of the control group(P＜0.01).Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that age＞75 years(HR=4.562,95％CI:3.104-6.705,P＜0.01),anemia(HR=2.543,95％CI:1.939-3.334,P＜0.01),new-onset AF(HR=1.494,95％CI:1.185-1.884,P＜0.01),eGFR＜60 mL/(min·1.73 m2)(HR=1.729,95％CI:1.389-2.151,P＜0.01),and heart failure(HR=1.539,95％CI:1.173-2.019,P＜0.01)were risk factors for all-cause mortality in elderly hypertensive patients without a history of AF.Conclusions New-onset AF is closely associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality in elderly hypertensive patients without a previous history of AF.

There is controversy over the specific and non-specific components in the efficacy evaluation of acupuncture therapy.The placebo effect,as a key non-specific factor,needs to be clarified in terms of its mechanism and clinical value.This article reviewed the research progress in the placebo effect of acupuncture from three aspects:cognitive process,influencing factors,and mechanism.It focused on the regulatory effects of patient expectations,doctor-patient interaction,and individual differences on the effect,summarized key mechanisms such as endogenous opioid system,dopamine reward pathway,and neural projection of rostral anterior cingulate cortex to pontine nucleus,and pointed out the methodological limitations of current comfort acupuncture designs,in order to provide theoretical basis for the optimization of acupuncture clinical research models and the deepening of the effect mechanism.

Objective:To explore the changes of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) expression in rat astrocytes (RA) and rat model of radiation-induced brain injury (RIBI) after X-ray radiation, as well as its impact on cell functions.Methods:Logarithmic-phase RA were divided into four groups: Sham group (no treatment), AQP4 siRNA group (transfected with AQP4 lentivirus), IR group (single 20 Gy X-ray irradiation), and IR+AQP4 siRNA group (transfected with AQP4 lentivirus followed by single 20 Gy X-ray irradiation). The cell proliferation viability after radiation was detected using the CCK-8 assay. The relative expression of AQP4 mRNA in each group was measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and the optimal AQP4 siRNA lentiviral sequence was selected for further studies. Western blot was used to detect the relative expression levels of AQP4, phosphorylated histone H2A family member X (γH2AX), autophagy-related proteins, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), proteins in the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) / protein kinase B (AKT) / mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, and apoptosis-related proteins in cells from each group. Immunofluorescence (co-expression) staining was used to detect the expression of AQP4, γH2AX, GFAP, LC3, phosphatase and tensin homolog-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) in cells from each group, as well as the expression of AQP4 and LC3 in brain tissues from the rat RIBI model. Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis rate of cells in each group. The differences between two groups were compared using the t-test, while the differences among multiple groups were evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's multiple comparison test. Results:The proliferation viability of RA decreased to its lowest level at 24 h after irradiation. At the 24 h post-irradiation time point, the expression levels of γH2AX and AQP4 were significantly increased in the IR group compared with the Sham group. The fluorescence intensity of AQP4 in the AQP4 siRNA group was lower than that in the Sham group. The cells in the IR group showed significant enlargement and irregular morphology, with a significant increase in AQP4 fluorescence intensity, while the IR+AQP4 siRNA group showed mild cell enlargement and lower AQP4 fluorescence intensity compared with the IR group. Compared with the Sham group, the expression of microtubule-associated protein1 light chain 3 (LC3) and PINK1 proteins were decreased in the IR group, while the IR+AQP4 siRNA group showed higher expression levels compared with the IR group. Compared with the Sham group, the IR group showed increased expression of AQP4, GFAP, and sequestosome 1 (P62) proteins, decreased expression of Beclin-1 (BECN1) and LC3 proteins, and a reduced LC3-II/LC3-I ratio, while the IR+AQP4 siRNA group exhibited a restored LC3-II/LC3-I ratio. The apoptosis rate in the AQP4 siRNA group was similar to that in the Sham group, while the IR group showed a significantly increased apoptosis rate, and the IR+AQP4 siRNA group had a lower apoptosis rate than the IR group. The expression of caspase-3 (Caspase3) decreased in the IR group, while the expression of PI3K, AKT, mTOR, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, and cleaved Caspase3 protein increased; these changes were partially reversed in the IR+AQP4 siRNA group. In the rat RIBI model, the expression area and intensity of AQP4 were higher in the IR group compared with the Sham group, while LC3 expression showed the opposite pattern.Conclusions:The possible molecular mechanism of RA apoptosis caused by X-ray irradiation is that irradiation promotes the expression of AQP4, causes cell swelling, inhibits autophagy, and prevents cells from clearing damaged organelles in a timely manner, thereby promoting cell apoptosis.