1.Effects of high-fructose diet on hippocampal neurometabolites and anxiety and depression-like behaviors in mice
Shan-Shan ZHANG ; Ying LIU ; Yu-Wen ZHANG ; He WANG ; Wen-Sheng LI ; Qiong LIU
Acta Anatomica Sinica 2025;56(4):381-388
Objective To investigate the effects of short-term and long-term high-fructose diets on hippocampal neurometabolites and anxiety and depression-like behaviors in mice,revealing the potential mechanisms of high-fructose diets in mood disorders and providing a experimental basis for the prevention and treatment of related diseases.Methods C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into two groups,control group(standard diet,n=10)and experimental group(high-fructose diet,n=10).Four weeks(short-term)and eight weeks(long-term)later,each group of mice was examined for body weight and fasting blood glucose,and neurometabolites levels in the hippocampus were detected by hydrogen proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy(1H-MRS),followed by the open-field test,the forced-swimming test,and the tail-suspension test to evaluate anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors.Results High fructose diet for 4 weeks elevated glutamate levels and reduced glutathione and myo-inositol levels in mice,accompanied by shortened immobility time in the forced swim test.High fructose diet for 8 weeks not only led to abnormalities in body weight and glucose metabolism but also caused a reversal decrease in hippocampal glutamate levels and induced significant anxiety-like behaviors,and the decrease in hippocampal glutamate levels showed a significant negative correlation with the enhancement of anxiety-like behaviors.Conclusion Altered hippocampal glutamate levels may be a key contributing factor to the anxiety-like behaviors induced by long-term high-fructose diet.
2.Effect of accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation on post-stroke depression
Lei SHAN ; Ying LIU ; Xin ZHANG ; Qianqian CHI ; Xiaomin ZHU
Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice 2025;31(7):822-829
Objective To explore the effect of accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation(aiTBS)on post-stroke depression(PSD).Methods From July,2021 to July,2023,48 PSD patients in Beijing Bo'ai Hospital were randomly assigned to control group(n=16),high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation(HF-rTMS)group(n=16)and aiTBS group(n=16).aiTBS group received left-sided aiTBS treatment at dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(DLPFC),HF-rTMS group received left-sided 10 Hz rTMS treatment at DLPFC,and the control group received left-sided sham stimulation treatment,for three weeks.They were evaluated with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HAMD),Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale(HAMA)and Beck Depression Inventory(BDI)before and after treat-ment,and one month of follow-up.Results One case dropped down in each group.The inter-group effect,intra-group effect and interaction effect of HAMD,HAMA and BDI scores were all significant(F>3.235,P<0.05).The post-hoc test results showed that the scores of HAMD,HMMA and BDI were lower in HF-rTMS group and aiTBS group than in the control group(P<0.05),and no significant difference was found between HF-rTMS group and aiTBS group(P>0.05).There was significant difference in the effective rate of depression improvement among three groups(χ2=7.834,P=0.019),the effective rate was higher in aiTBS group than in the control group(P<0.017),and no significant dif-ference was found between HF-rTMS group and aiTBS group(P>0.017).Conclusion aiTBS can improve the depression and anxiety symptoms of patients with PSD,with shorter treatment time,compared with HF-rTMS.
3.Short-term outcome study on cervical deep lymph node-venous anastomosis technique in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
Cheng GAN ; Zhengdong KONG ; Xiaoye RAN ; Shudong QIAO ; Yixin ZHANG ; Lu YUE ; Yingjie WANG ; Hui BI ; Dong YANG ; Hongtong MA ; Yuan CHEN ; Hongli CHAI ; Ying JIA ; Chenhao MA ; Zixiang CHEN ; Ke LI ; Miao WANG ; Liguo XUE ; Siwen ZHAO ; Ke WEN ; Lin YIN ; Bo DING ; Shan ZHU ; Yuanbo LIU ; Mengqing ZANG
Chinese Journal of Plastic Surgery 2025;41(2):130-143
Objective:To explore the short-term clinical effects of deep cervical lymph node-venous anastomosis in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).Methods:A prospective exploratory study was conducted on the treatment of AD patients using the cervical deep lymph node-venous anastomosis technique in Scar and Wound Treatment Department, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, from September to October 2024. The patients underwent high-frequency ultrasound to locate deep cervical lymph nodes and the external jugular vein. Under general anesthesia, bilateral deep cervical lymph node-venous anastomoses were performed. Indocyanine green (ICG) lymphography was conducted via subcutaneous injection behind the ear to visualize lymph nodes in levels Ⅱ and Ⅲ. After making a skin incision along the posterior margin of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, the external jugular vein, internal jugular veins, and associated lymph nodes were exposed. Adjacent veins were selected for anastomosis of lymph node. Using microsurgical techniques, end-to-side or end-to-end anastomosis was completed for lymph nodes in levels Ⅱ and Ⅲ. Preoperative assessments included the mini-mental state examination (MMSE, a higher score indicates better cognitive function), Alzheimer’s disease assessment scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog, a higher score indicates greater impairment of cognitive function), Alzheimer’s disease cooperative study scale for activities of daily living (ADCS-ADL, a higher score indicates better ability to perform daily activity), and neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI, a higher score indicates more severe behavioral and emotional symptom). Postoperative follow-up included the same scales to observe changes in cognitive function, activities of daily living, and emotional communication.Results:Four patients (1 male, 3 females, aged 58-79 years) with AD were included. All were diagnosed based on cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers. All patients successfully underwent bilateral deep cervical lymph node-venous anastomoses. On average, 4.3 (2-7 per person) anastomoses were performed per patient. Surgical procedures lasted an average of 6.5 h (5.5-8.5 h) with minimal blood loss (less than 50 ml). Patients resumed normal activity within 6 hours postoperatively and were discharged after an average of 4.1 d (3.5-5.0 d). Postoperative complications included one case each of aspiration pneumonia, lower limb venous thrombosis, and transient delirium, all of whom resolved without long-term effects. Clinical symptoms, including memory decline, mood swings, and anxiety, showed varying degrees of improvement. Patients reported enhanced quality of life, emotional stability, and social engagement, confirming the procedure’s safety and potential cognitive benefits. At one month postoperatively, the MMSE scores of the four patients increased by an average of 0.8 points compared to preoperative levels. Additionally, the two patients who completed the ADAS-Cog assessments showed a decrease in their scores (reduced by 1.0 points and 11.3 points, respectively, compared to preoperative scores), indicating a certain degree of improvement in cognitive function during this period. The ADCS-ADL and NPI scores of four patients varied significantly, without showing any clear pattern.Conclusion:Lymphovenous anastomosis of the deep cervical lymph node-venous anastomosis may provide a new surgical intervention approach for AD, but further large-scale studies and long-term follow-up are needed to validate its safety and effectiveness.
4.Efficacy of a cetyl alcohol-containing moisturizing cream in improving symptoms and preventing relapse during the remission phase of mild to moderate infantile atopic dermatitis
Shan WANG ; Mutong ZHAO ; Chunping SHEN ; Ying LIU ; Ying GU ; Lei JIAO ; Jing TIAN ; Jing SUN ; Yang WANG ; Qiong WU ; Yuan LIANG ; Lin MA
Chinese Journal of General Practitioners 2025;24(7):834-839
Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of a cetyl alcohol-containing moisturizing cream (referred to as the emollient) in improving clinical symptoms and preventing disease relapse during the remission phase of mild to moderate infantile atopic dermatitis (AD).Methods:A single-center, investigator-blinded, randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted from February 2022 to October 2023. Sixty participants aged >28 days to ≤2 years with mild to moderate AD (Investigator′s Global Assessment (IGA) score 2 or 3) and controlled disease (IGA 0 or 1) were enrolled. Participants were randomized 1∶1 to either the experimental group (topical emollient applied twice daily combined with a moisturizing cleanser for daily bathing) or the control group (moisturizing cleanser alone). Assessments at weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12 included AD relapse rates, clinical severity scores (IGA and Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI)), and adverse events.Results:Fifty-six participants were included in the full analysis set. The median time to relapse was 12.0 (6.0-72.0) days in the experimental group versus 8.5 (3.0-19.0) days in the control group (log-rank test: χ2=3.079, P=0.213). Relapse rates were 80.77% (21/26) in the experimental group and 95.83% (23/24) in the control group ( χ2=2.682, P=0.101). The experimental group showed significantly lower IGA scores at weeks 2 and 12 ( P<0.05) and lower EASI scores at weeks 4 and 12 ( P<0.05). Adverse event rates were 8.0% (2/25) and 7.7% (2/26) in the experimental and control groups, respectively ( χ2=0.002, P>0.05) Conclusion:The combination of the cetyl alcohol- containing moisturizing cream and moisturizing cleanser during AD remission may improve clinical symptoms and modestly delay relapse, with a low incidence of adverse events.
5.Development and validation of a patient-specific quality assurance tool based on fast Monte Carlo and treatment log file in proton therapy
Hong-ying FENG ; Tian-yu PENG ; Jie SHAN ; Yong-hong ZHANG ; Bin-hang ZHANG ; Xian-bao YUAN ; Wei LIU
Fudan University Journal of Medical Sciences 2025;52(4):550-559
Objective To develop and validate a fast Monte Carlo(MC)-based patient-specific quality assurance(PSQA)tool using the treatment log files that is suitable to be used in the online adaptive radiotherapy for pencil beam scanning proton therapy(PBSPT-ART).Methods The proposed tool first used the delivery log file of a PBSPT plan to reversely reconstruct the PBSPT(rPBSPT)plan,and then used an in-house developed graphic processing unit(GPU)-accelerated virtual particle MC(VPMC)dose engine to calculate the dose distribution of the rPBSPT plan.The rPBSPT dose calculated by VPMC was then compared to the rPBSPT dose calculated by another independent MC dose engine(MCsquare),using 3D gamma analysis to verify the accuracy of VPMC calculation.As a demonstration of the feasibility of developed log file-based PSQA,the VPMC calculated dose of the rPBSPT plan was compared to the pre-delivery second check dose of the corresponding PBSPT plan calculated by MCsquare,using 3D gamma analysis.3D gamma analysis employes a criterion of 2 mm/2%/10%.Twenty patients with different disease sites were representatively selected to validate the efficiency and accuracy of the tool.Results The average calculation time of a rPBSPT plan by VPMC was(5.88±4.00)s in the accuracy verification.Compared to MCsquare,the passing rate of the 3D gamma analysis was 99.47%±0.72%.In the proposed PSQA tool demonstration,the passing rate of comparing the VPMC calculated rPBSPT dose to MCsquare calculated second check dose of the corresponding PBSPT plan was 98.91%±0.92%.Conclusion The accuracy and efficiency of the tool can meet the requirements of PSQA in the online PBSPT-ART workflow.
6.Expert Consensus on the Ethical Requirements for Generative AI-Assisted Academic Writing
You-Quan BU ; Yong-Fu CAO ; Zeng-Yi CHANG ; Hong-Yu CHEN ; Xiao-Wei CHEN ; Yuan-Yuan CHEN ; Zhu-Cheng CHEN ; Rui DENG ; Jie DING ; Zhong-Kai FAN ; Guo-Quan GAO ; Xu GAO ; Lan HU ; Xiao-Qing HU ; Hong-Ti JIA ; Ying KONG ; En-Min LI ; Ling LI ; Yu-Hua LI ; Jun-Rong LIU ; Zhi-Qiang LIU ; Ya-Ping LUO ; Xue-Mei LV ; Yan-Xi PEI ; Xiao-Zhong PENG ; Qi-Qun TANG ; You WAN ; Yong WANG ; Ming-Xu WANG ; Xian WANG ; Guang-Kuan XIE ; Jun XIE ; Xiao-Hua YAN ; Mei YIN ; Zhong-Shan YU ; Chun-Yan ZHOU ; Rui-Fang ZHU
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(6):826-832
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.
7.Changing prevalence and antibiotic resistance profiles of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales in hospitals across China:data from CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program,2015-2021
Wenxiang JI ; Tong JIANG ; Jilu SHEN ; Yang YANG ; Fupin HU ; Demei ZHU ; Yuanhong XU ; Ying HUANG ; Fengbo ZHANG ; Ping JI ; Yi XIE ; Mei KANG ; Chuanqing WANG ; Pan FU ; Yingchun XU ; Xiaojiang ZHANG ; Ziyong SUN ; Zhongju CHEN ; Yuxing NI ; Jingyong SUN ; Yunzhuo CHU ; Sufei TIAN ; Zhidong HU ; Jin LI ; Yunsong YU ; Jie LIN ; Bin SHAN ; Yan DU ; Sufang GUO ; Lianhua WEI ; Fengmei ZOU ; Yunjian HU ; Xiaoman AI ; Chao ZHUO ; Danhong SU ; Dawen GUO ; Jinying ZHAO ; Hua YU ; Xiangning HUANG ; Wen'en LIU ; Yanming LI ; Yan JIN ; Chunhong SHAO ; Xuesong XU ; Chao YAN ; Shanmei WANG ; Yafei CHU ; Lixia ZHANG ; Juan MA ; Shuping ZHOU ; Yan ZHOU ; Lei ZHU ; Jinhua MENG ; Fang DONG ; Zhiyong LÜ ; Fangfang HU ; Han SHEN ; Wanqing ZHOU ; Wei JIA ; Gang LI ; Jinsong WU ; Yuemei LU ; Jihong LI ; Jinju DUAN ; Jianbang KANG ; Xiaobo MA ; Yanping ZHENG ; Ruyi GUO ; Yan ZHU ; Yunsheng CHEN ; Qing MENG ; Shifu WANG ; Xuefei HU ; Hong ZHANG ; Chun WANG ; Wenhui HUANG ; Ruizhong WANG ; Hua FANG ; Bixia YU ; Yong ZHAO ; Ping GONG ; Kaizhen WENG ; Yirong ZHANG ; Jiangshan LIU ; Longfeng LIAO ; Hongqin GU ; Lin JIANG ; Wen HE ; Shunhong XUE ; Jiao FENG ; Chunlei YUE
Chinese Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy 2025;25(4):445-454
Objective To summarize the changing prevalence of carbapenem resistance in Enterobacterales based on the data of CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program from 2015 to 2021 for improving antimicrobial treatment in clinical practice.Methods Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using a commercial automated susceptibility testing system according to the unified CHINET protocol.The results were interpreted according to the breakpoints of the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)M100 31st ed in 2021.Results Over the seven-year period(2015-2021),the overall prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales(CRE)was 9.43%(62 342/661 235).The prevalence of CRE strains in Klebsiella pneumoniae,Citrobacter freundii,and Enterobacter cloacae was 22.38%,9.73%,and 8.47%,respectively.The prevalence of CRE strains in Escherichia coli was 1.99%.A few CRE strains were also identified in Salmonella and Shigella.The CRE strains were mainly isolated from respiratory specimens(44.23±2.80)%,followed by blood(20.88±3.40)%and urine(18.40±3.45)%.Intensive care units(ICUs)were the major source of the CRE strains(27.43±5.20)%.CRE strains were resistant to all the β-lactam antibiotics tested and most non-β-lactam antimicrobial agents.The CRE strains were relatively susceptible to tigecycline and polymyxins with low resistance rates.Conclusions The prevalence of CRE strains was increasing from 2015 to 2021.CRE strains were highly resistant to most of the antibacterial drugs used in clinical practice.Clinicians should prescribe antimicrobial agents rationally.Hospitals should strengthen antibiotic stewardship in key clinical settings such as ICUs,and take effective infection control measures to curb CRE outbreak and epidemic in hospitals.
8.Changing distribution and antibiotic resistance profiles of the respiratory bacterial isolates in hospitals across China:data from CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program,2015-2021
Ying FU ; Yunsong YU ; Jie LIN ; Yang YANG ; Fupin HU ; Demei ZHU ; Yingchun XU ; Xiaojiang ZHANG ; Fengbo ZHANG ; Ping JI ; Yi XIE ; Mei KANG ; Chuanqing WANG ; Pan FU ; Yuanhong XU ; Ying HUANG ; Ziyong SUN ; Zhongju CHEN ; Yuxing NI ; Jingyong SUN ; Yunzhuo CHU ; Sufei TIAN ; Zhidong HU ; Jin LI ; Bin SHAN ; Yan DU ; Sufang GUO ; Lianhua WEI ; Fengmei ZOU ; Hong ZHANG ; Chun WANG ; Yunjian HU ; Xiaoman AI ; Chao ZHUO ; Danhong SU ; Dawen GUO ; Jinying ZHAO ; Hua YU ; Xiangning HUANG ; Wen'en LIU ; Yanming LI ; Yan JIN ; Chunhong SHAO ; Xuesong XU ; Chao YAN ; Shanmei WANG ; Yafei CHU ; Lixia ZHANG ; Juan MA ; Shuping ZHOU ; Yan ZHOU ; Lei ZHU ; Jinhua MENG ; Fang DONG ; Zhiyong LÜ ; Fangfang HU ; Han SHEN ; Wanqing ZHOU ; Wei JIA ; Gang LI ; Jinsong WU ; Yuemei LU ; Jihong LI ; Jinju DUAN ; Jianbang KANG ; Xiaobo MA ; Yanping ZHENG ; Ruyi GUO ; Yan ZHU ; Yunsheng CHEN ; Qing MENG ; Shifu WANG ; Xuefei HU ; Jilu SHEN ; Ruizhong WANG ; Hua FANG ; Bixia YU ; Yong ZHAO ; Ping GONG ; Kaizhen WENG ; Yirong ZHANG ; Jiangshan LIU ; Longfeng LIAO ; Hongqin GU ; Lin JIANG ; Wen HE ; Shunhong XUE ; Jiao FENG ; Chunlei YUE ; Wenhui HUANG
Chinese Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy 2025;25(4):431-444
Objective To characterize the changing species distribution and antibiotic resistance profiles of respiratory isolates in hospitals participating in the CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program from 2015 to 2021.Methods Commercial automated antimicrobial susceptibility testing systems and disk diffusion method were used to test the susceptibility of respiratory bacterial isolates to antimicrobial agents following the standardized technical protocol established by the CHINET program.Results A total of 589 746 respiratory isolates were collected from 2015 to 2021.Overall,82.6%of the isolates were Gram-negative bacteria and 17.4%were Gram-positive bacteria.The bacterial isolates from outpatients and inpatients accounted for(6.0±0.9)%and(94.0±0.1)%,respectively.The top microorganisms were Klebsiella spp.,Acinetobacter spp.,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Staphylococcus aureus,Haemophilus spp.,Stenotrophomonas maltophilia,Escherichia coli,and Streptococcus pneumoniae.Each microorganism was isolated from significantly more males than from females(P<0.05).The overall prevalence of methicillin-resistant S.aureus(MRSA)was 39.9%.The prevalence of penicillin-resistant S.pneumoniae was 1.4%.The prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase(ESBL)-producing E.coli and K.pneumoniae was 67.8%and 41.3%,respectively.The overall prevalence of carbapenem-resistant E.coli,K.pneumoniae,Enterobacter cloacae,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,and Acinetobacter baumannii was 3.7%,20.8%,9.4%,29.8%,and 73.3%,respectively.The prevalence of β-lactamase was 96.1%in Moraxella catarrhalis and 60.0%in Haemophilus influenzae.The H.influenzae isolates from children(<18 years)showed significantly higher resistance rates to β-lactam antibiotics than the isolates from adults(P<0.05).Conclusions Gram-negative bacteria are still predominant in respiratory isolates associated with serious antibiotic resistance.Antimicrobial resistance surveillance should be strengthened in clinical practice to support accurate etiological diagnosis and appropriate antimicrobial therapy based on antimicrobial susceptibility testing results.
9.HFA-ICOS score in predicting cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction among breast cancer and lymphoma patients
Chang SHAN ; Mingyue JU ; Mei YANG ; Yanli ZHANG ; Xinxin ZHANG ; Xuefu CHEN ; Jia LI ; Fengqi FANG ; Xiuli SUN ; Yunlong XIA ; Ying LIU
Chinese Journal of Cardiology 2025;53(8):882-890
Objective:To explore the predictive efficacy of the HFA-ICOS score for cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) in Chinese patients with breast cancer and lymphoma.Methods:This study was a single-center retrospective cohort study which included patients with breast cancer and lymphoma who were treated with anthracyclines from February 2018 to February 2025 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University. Patients were evaluated at baseline with cardiac biomarkers and echocardiography, including left ventricular ejection fraction and global longitudinal strain of the left ventricle. After anthracycline therapy, they were followed up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Data involved biomarkers and echocardiography were collected to determine whether CTRCD had occurred. The patients were categorized into low-risk, intermediate-risk, high-risk, and very-high-risk groups using the HFA-ICOS scoring model. The cumulative probability of CTRCD under different HFA-ICOS risk stratification was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves. The effect of HFA-ICOS risk stratification on CTRCD was assessed using an univariate Cox proportional hazards regression model. The predictive efficacy of the HFA-ICOS model and its utility in clinical decision-making were assessed with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision curves at each time point.Results:A total of 286 patients, aged 55 (44, 61) years, were enrolled, of whom 33 (11.5%) cases were male. And 113 (39.5%) patients developed CTRCD during a median follow-up time of 111 (70, 210) days. HFA-ICOS risk stratification showed that 228 (79.7%) were low-risk, 49 (17.1%) were intermediate-risk, and a total of 9 (3.1%) were high-risk and very high-risk. The difference in the occurrence of CTRCD over time between patients with different HFA-ICOS risk stratification was statistically significant ( Plog-rank<0.001). Cox proportional regression hazards analysis showed an increased risk of CTRCD development in intermediate-risk ( HR=1.95, 95% CI 1.22-3.00, P=0.006) and high-risk and very high-risk patients ( HR=4.12, 95% CI 1.66-8.54, P=0.004) compared with low-risk patients. The ROC curves showed that the area under the curve of the HFA-ICOS model predicting CTRCD was 0.532, 0.597, 0.600 and 0.577 at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively. The calibration curves indicated Brier scores of 0.041 (95% CI 0.013-0.067), 0.144 (95% CI 0.115-0.173), 0.232 (95% CI 0.215-0.249) and 0.236 (95% CI 0.220-0.251) at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, correspondingly. The clinical decision curve suggested that clinical intervention may have a net benefit when the risk threshold is between 0.15 and 0.18 at 1 month, between 0.10 and 0.50 at 3 months, and between 0.30 and 0.70 at 6 and 12 months. Conclusion:The HFA-ICOS score could predict the occurrence of CTRCD in patients with breast cancer and lymphoma treated with anthracycline drugs, although its predictive efficacy is limited, and the prediction model requires further validation in a larger population.
10.Acupuncture at Weizhong (BL40) attenuates acetic acid-induced overactive bladder in rats by regulating brain neural activity through the modulation of mast cells and tibial nerves.
Xin LIU ; Chao-Yue ZHANG ; Xiu-Yu DU ; Shan-Shan LI ; Yu-Qing WANG ; Yi ZHENG ; Han-Zhi DENG ; Xiao-Qin FANG ; Jia-Ying LI ; Zu-Qing WANG ; Shi-Fen XU ; Yi-Qun MI
Journal of Integrative Medicine 2025;23(1):46-55
OBJECTIVE:
The present study evaluated the effects of deep acupuncture at Weizhong acupoint (BL40) on bladder function and brain activity in a rat model of overactive bladder (OAB), and investigated the possible mechanisms around the acupuncture area that initiate the effects of acupuncture.
METHODS:
Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups, comprising a control group, model group, group treated with deep acupuncture at BL40, group treated with shallow acupuncture at BL40, group treated with acupuncture at non-acupoint next to BL40, and group treated with acupuncture at Xuanzhong (GB39). Urodynamic evaluation was used to observe the urination, and functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to observe the brain activation. The mechanism of acupuncture at BL40 in regulating bladder function was explored by toluidine blue staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the mechanism was verified by stabilizing mast cells (MCs) or blocking tibial nerve.
RESULTS:
Deep acupuncture at BL40 significantly increased the intercontraction interval in OAB rats and enhanced the mean amplitude of low frequency fluctuation of primary motor cortex (M1), periaquaductal gray matter (PAG), and pontine micturition center (PMC). It also increased the zero-lag functional connectivity between M1 and PAG and between PAG and PMC. Shallow acupuncture at BL40 and acupuncture at non-acupoint or GB39 had no effect on these indexes. Further studies suggested that deep acupuncture at BL40 increased the number and degranulation rate of MCs as well as the contents of 5-hydroxytryptamine, substance P, and histamine in the tissues around BL40. Blocking the tibial nerve by lidocaine injection or inhibiting MC degranulation by sodium cromoglycate injection obstructed the effects of acupuncture on restoring urinary function and modulating brain activation in OAB rats.
CONCLUSION
Deep acupuncture at BL40 may be more effective for inhibiting OAB by promoting degranulation of MCs around the acupoint and stimulating tibial nerve, thereby regulating the activation of the brain area that controls the lower urinary tract. Please cite this article as: Liu X, Zhang CY, Du XY, Li SS, Wang YQ, Zheng Y, Deng HZ, Fang XQ, Li JY, Wang ZQ, Xu SF, Mi YQ. Acupuncture at Weizhong (BL40) attenuates acetic acid-induced overactive bladder in rats by regulating brain neural activity through the modulation of mast cells and tibial nerves. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(1): 46-55.
Animals
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Urinary Bladder, Overactive/physiopathology*
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Mast Cells/physiology*
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Female
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Acupuncture Therapy
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Acupuncture Points
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Rats
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Brain/physiopathology*
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Tibial Nerve/physiopathology*
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Acetic Acid
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Urinary Bladder/physiopathology*

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