Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic interstitial lung disease, is characterized by aberrant wound healing, excessive scarring and the formation of myofibroblastic foci. Although the role of alternative splicing (AS) in the pathogenesis of organ fibrosis has garnered increasing attention, its specific contribution to pulmonary fibrosis remains incompletely understood. In this study, we identified an up-regulation of serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 7 (SRSF7) in lung fibroblasts derived from IPF patients and a bleomycin (BLM)-induced mouse model, and further characterized its functional role in both human fetal lung fibroblasts and mice. We demonstrated that enhanced expression of Srsf7 in mice spontaneously induced alveolar collagen accumulation. Mechanistically, we investigated alternative splicing events and revealed that SRSF7 modulates the alternative splicing of pyruvate kinase (PKM), leading to metabolic dysregulation and fibroblast activation. In vivo studies showed that fibroblast-specific knockout of Srsf7 in conditional knockout mice conferred resistance to bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Importantly, through drug screening, we identified lomitapide as a novel modulator of SRSF7, which effectively mitigated experimental pulmonary fibrosis. Collectively, our findings elucidate a molecular pathway by which SRSF7 drives fibroblast metabolic dysregulation and propose a potential therapeutic strategy for pulmonary fibrosis.

Objective To observe the expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)and protein kinase B(Akt)signal transducer in liver tissue of rats with bilateral ovarian castration(OVX)by electroacupuncture at Guanyuan(CV4)point,and explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture in up regulating PI3K/Akt signal pathway,regulating lipid metabolism,and reducing weight was investigated.Methods Thirty-two female SD rats were randomly divided into blank,sham operation,model and electroacupuncture group,with 8 rats in each group.Perimenopausal obesity(PMO)model was prepared by OVX in the model and the electroacupuncture group.After the model was successfully prepared,the electroacupuncture group was subjected to electroacupuncture at CV4(continuous wave,2 Hz,1 mA),once day,20 min once time,and for 14 consecutive days.The body mass of each group of rats was recorded during the whole experiment,and Lee's index was calculated during sampling.The pathological changes of liver were observed by HE staining.Serum levels of HDL,LDL and TG were detected by ELISA.Western blot analysis of PI3K,Akt,p-Akt protein expression and p-Akt/Akt in liver tissues.Results Compared with blank group and sham operation group,the body mass of rats in model group was significantly increased(P＜0.05),Lee's index was increased(P＜0.05),fat vacuoles appeared in liver,serum HDL level was decreased(P＜0.001),LDL and TG levels were increased(P＜0.01).PI3K,Akt,p-Akt,p-Akt/Akt were decreased in liver(P＜0.05).Compared with model group,body mass and Lee's index of rats in electroacupuncture group were decreased(P＜0.05),fat vacuoles in liver were decreased,HDL level was increased(P＜0.01),LDL and TG levels were decreased(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),PI3K,Akt and P-Akt were decreased(P＜0.05),and p-akt/Akt decreased(P＜0.01).Conclusion Electroacupuncture at CV4 can significantly up-regulate PI3K/Akt signaling pathway,improve lipid metabolism disorder and accumulation,and reduce body mass in OVX rats.

Objective Validate the correlation between tongue features and age and gender by utilizing real-world tongue image data from healthy individuals.Methods Establishing,training,and validating a model using artificial intelligence image acquisition techniques and machine learning tools.Results ①Artificial intelligence has achieved the digitization and standardization of Traditional Chinese Medicine tongue diagnosis data,establishing a database of Traditional Chinese Medicine tongue diagnosis(n=56573).②A highly accurate random forest model has demonstrated the correlation between tongue features and gender and age.③Further selection of key factors that show differences in tongue features between different age groups and genders.④Machine learning artificial neural network models were trained,tested,and validated(training set R2=0.8772,validation set R2=0.8715,test set R2=0.8707,AUC=89.5％),demonstrating excellent accuracy.Conclusion Machine learning validation using real-world data has confirmed that tongue features change with age.Additionally,analysis of large-scale real-world data has revealed that there are different tongue features associated with gender differences.

Objective This study aim to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of ultrasound-guided acupuncture,specifically targeting the Tiaokou(ST38)acupoint through Chengshan(BL57)to elicit the Deqi sensation,in the context of acute scapulohumeral periarthritis.Methods Utilizing a randomized controlled trial design,a total of 60 subjects diagnosed with acute scapulohumeral periarthritis underwent random allocation into either the observation or control group,with 30 subjects in each.Under ultrasound guidance,acupuncture was administered unilaterally at the specific acupoint ST38 through BL57.The observation group received needling traversing the calf interosseous membrane,reaching the deep fascia of the tibialis posterior muscle,employing lifting and inserting twisting techniques to induce Deqi.In contrast,the control group received acupuncture targeting the sub-superficial fascia without needle manipulation or the requirement for Deqi.Both groups underwent a singular acupuncture session,with a standardized 20-minute needle retention period.Results Post-acupuncture intervention,the observation group exhibited a statistically significant total effective rate of 76.66％,greater than that in the control group at 30％(P＜0.01).Comparative analysis revealed substantial enhancements in the observation group,including improvements in VAS score,Constant shoulder joint function score,the highest △T of red external thermal imaging around the shoulder,and patients'subjective acupuncture sensation scores(P＜0.05).Additionally,within the observation group,post-treatment reductions were observed in VAS score and △ T of red external thermal imaging,coupled with an elevation in Constant shoulder joint function score(P＜0.01).Importantly,neither group manifested discernible adverse reactions.Conclusion Ultrasound-guided acupuncture,facilitating Deqi at Tiaokou(ST38),emerges as a clinically significant and secure intervention for acute scapulohumeral periarthritis.These findings substantiate its potential as a viable therapeutic modality,promoting broader clinical adoption.

Insomnia disorder is a common disease in acupuncture clinics.There is a tendency for the theory to solidify and lag behind the clinic.In this paper,we examined insomnia disorder from the perspective of acupuncture and moxibustion theory.Based on the general law of acupuncture and moxibustion to recognize the disease,we concerned that the basic understanding of the disease has commonality between ancient and modern medical practitioners,and the theory can be deconstructed as follows:the theory of"yin and yang"is the starting point and the root of the theory,the theory of"spirit regulars the sleep"is the directly related theory,the theory of internal organs is the basis of the disease mechanism,the theory of meridians and acupoints is the key to diagnosis and treatment,and the theory of acupuncture and moxibustion is the key to treatment.The improvement and development of the theory of acupuncture for insomnia disorder can be carried out on this basis.

Objective To observe the expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)and protein kinase B(Akt)signal transducer in liver tissue of rats with bilateral ovarian castration(OVX)by electroacupuncture at Guanyuan(CV4)point,and explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture in up regulating PI3K/Akt signal pathway,regulating lipid metabolism,and reducing weight was investigated.Methods Thirty-two female SD rats were randomly divided into blank,sham operation,model and electroacupuncture group,with 8 rats in each group.Perimenopausal obesity(PMO)model was prepared by OVX in the model and the electroacupuncture group.After the model was successfully prepared,the electroacupuncture group was subjected to electroacupuncture at CV4(continuous wave,2 Hz,1 mA),once day,20 min once time,and for 14 consecutive days.The body mass of each group of rats was recorded during the whole experiment,and Lee's index was calculated during sampling.The pathological changes of liver were observed by HE staining.Serum levels of HDL,LDL and TG were detected by ELISA.Western blot analysis of PI3K,Akt,p-Akt protein expression and p-Akt/Akt in liver tissues.Results Compared with blank group and sham operation group,the body mass of rats in model group was significantly increased(P＜0.05),Lee's index was increased(P＜0.05),fat vacuoles appeared in liver,serum HDL level was decreased(P＜0.001),LDL and TG levels were increased(P＜0.01).PI3K,Akt,p-Akt,p-Akt/Akt were decreased in liver(P＜0.05).Compared with model group,body mass and Lee's index of rats in electroacupuncture group were decreased(P＜0.05),fat vacuoles in liver were decreased,HDL level was increased(P＜0.01),LDL and TG levels were decreased(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),PI3K,Akt and P-Akt were decreased(P＜0.05),and p-akt/Akt decreased(P＜0.01).Conclusion Electroacupuncture at CV4 can significantly up-regulate PI3K/Akt signaling pathway,improve lipid metabolism disorder and accumulation,and reduce body mass in OVX rats.

Objective Validate the correlation between tongue features and age and gender by utilizing real-world tongue image data from healthy individuals.Methods Establishing,training,and validating a model using artificial intelligence image acquisition techniques and machine learning tools.Results ①Artificial intelligence has achieved the digitization and standardization of Traditional Chinese Medicine tongue diagnosis data,establishing a database of Traditional Chinese Medicine tongue diagnosis(n=56573).②A highly accurate random forest model has demonstrated the correlation between tongue features and gender and age.③Further selection of key factors that show differences in tongue features between different age groups and genders.④Machine learning artificial neural network models were trained,tested,and validated(training set R2=0.8772,validation set R2=0.8715,test set R2=0.8707,AUC=89.5％),demonstrating excellent accuracy.Conclusion Machine learning validation using real-world data has confirmed that tongue features change with age.Additionally,analysis of large-scale real-world data has revealed that there are different tongue features associated with gender differences.

Objective This study aim to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of ultrasound-guided acupuncture,specifically targeting the Tiaokou(ST38)acupoint through Chengshan(BL57)to elicit the Deqi sensation,in the context of acute scapulohumeral periarthritis.Methods Utilizing a randomized controlled trial design,a total of 60 subjects diagnosed with acute scapulohumeral periarthritis underwent random allocation into either the observation or control group,with 30 subjects in each.Under ultrasound guidance,acupuncture was administered unilaterally at the specific acupoint ST38 through BL57.The observation group received needling traversing the calf interosseous membrane,reaching the deep fascia of the tibialis posterior muscle,employing lifting and inserting twisting techniques to induce Deqi.In contrast,the control group received acupuncture targeting the sub-superficial fascia without needle manipulation or the requirement for Deqi.Both groups underwent a singular acupuncture session,with a standardized 20-minute needle retention period.Results Post-acupuncture intervention,the observation group exhibited a statistically significant total effective rate of 76.66％,greater than that in the control group at 30％(P＜0.01).Comparative analysis revealed substantial enhancements in the observation group,including improvements in VAS score,Constant shoulder joint function score,the highest △T of red external thermal imaging around the shoulder,and patients'subjective acupuncture sensation scores(P＜0.05).Additionally,within the observation group,post-treatment reductions were observed in VAS score and △ T of red external thermal imaging,coupled with an elevation in Constant shoulder joint function score(P＜0.01).Importantly,neither group manifested discernible adverse reactions.Conclusion Ultrasound-guided acupuncture,facilitating Deqi at Tiaokou(ST38),emerges as a clinically significant and secure intervention for acute scapulohumeral periarthritis.These findings substantiate its potential as a viable therapeutic modality,promoting broader clinical adoption.

Insomnia disorder is a common disease in acupuncture clinics.There is a tendency for the theory to solidify and lag behind the clinic.In this paper,we examined insomnia disorder from the perspective of acupuncture and moxibustion theory.Based on the general law of acupuncture and moxibustion to recognize the disease,we concerned that the basic understanding of the disease has commonality between ancient and modern medical practitioners,and the theory can be deconstructed as follows:the theory of"yin and yang"is the starting point and the root of the theory,the theory of"spirit regulars the sleep"is the directly related theory,the theory of internal organs is the basis of the disease mechanism,the theory of meridians and acupoints is the key to diagnosis and treatment,and the theory of acupuncture and moxibustion is the key to treatment.The improvement and development of the theory of acupuncture for insomnia disorder can be carried out on this basis.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a group of immature and heterogeneous cells that can inhibit T cell function. In pathological conditions such as tumors, infections, and chronic inflammation, the large expansion of MDSCs is involved in processes of immune escape, immune tolerance and inflammatory reactions. MDSCs are also crucial in the pathophysiology of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, however, their activation, differentiation, and function during HBV infection are still unclear. This article reviews the general characteristics and roles of MDSCs in HBV infection, as well as related drug therapies, in order to provide information for further research on the related mechanism and potential targeted treatment.