This study was aimed at investigating the effects of demethylase fat mass and obesity-associated protein(FTO)and methyltransferase methyltransferase like protein 3(METTL3),key molecules in N6-methyladenosine(m6A)modification,on the replication and proliferation of Japanese encephalitis virus(JEV).Recombinant lentiviruses were generated by packaging the FTO and green fluorescent protein into lentiviral vectors.Neuro2a cells,a mouse neuroblastoma cell line,were infected with the lentivirus,and stable FTO-expressing cell lines were obtained through puromycin selection.Successful overexpression of FTO was confirmed through fluorescence microscopy,real-time quantitative PCR,and western blot analysis.When Neuro2a cells overexpressing FTO were infected with JEV,the overexpression of FTO decreased JEV replication in the cells,and increased the expression of interferon(IFN)and related molecules.Additionally,treatment of JEV-infected Neuro2a cells with the METTL3-specific inhibitor STM2457 resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in JEV replication and viral protein expression.These findings suggested that lowering m6A methylation levels inhibits JEV replication,thus shedding light on the regulatory role of methylation modification in JEV replication.

AIM To establish a UPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneouscontent determination of notoginsenosides R1,Fc,Fe,ginsenosides Re,Rg1,Rf,F3,Rg2,Ra2,Rb1,Ro,Rc,F1,Ra1,Rb2,Rb3,Rd,F2,Rg5,chikusetsusaponin Ⅳ a,20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 and 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 in Dengzhan Shengmai Capsules.METHODS The analysis was performed on a 35 ℃ thermostatic Accucore Phenyl Hexyl column(2.1 mm×100 mm,2.6 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of 0.1％formic acid-acetonitrile flowing at 0.4 mL/min in a gradient elution manner,and heated electrospray ionization source was adopted in negative ion scanning with parallel reaction monitoring mode.Subsequently,cluster analysis,principal component analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis were adopted.RESULTS Twenty-two saponins showed good linear relationships within their own ranges(r ≥ 0.996 4),whose average recoveries were 98.5％-101.6％with the RSDs of 1.3％-5.2％.Ten batches of samples were clustered into four types,three principal components demonstrated the accumulative variance contribution rate of 90.265％,ginsenosides Rb1,Rg2,Rb2,Rd,Rg1,Ro,Rf,Re,Rg5,Rc were taken as potential quality markers.CONCLUSION This simple,efficient,accurate and sensitive method can be used for the quality control of Dengzhan Shengmai Capsules.

BACKGROUND: There is a gap in understanding the effects of different acupoints and treatment methods (acupuncture and moxibustion) on microcirculatory changes in the lumbar region. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the thermal effects of acupuncture at Weizhong (BL40), with acupuncture at Chize (LU5) and moxibustion at both acupoints as control interventions. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: In this randomized controlled trial, 140 healthy participants were equally divided into four groups: acupuncture at BL40 (Acu-BL40), acupuncture at LU5 (Acu-LU5), moxibustion at BL40 (Mox-BL40) and moxibustion at LU5 (Mox-LU5). Participants underwent a 30-minute session of their assigned treatment. Infrared thermal imaging was used to collect temperature data on the areas of interest for analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary measure was the change in average temperature of the observed area after the intervention. The secondary measures included periodic temperature changes every 5 min and the temperature changes of the Governor Vessel and Bladder Meridian in the observed area after the intervention. RESULTS: Significant interactions were observed between treatments and acupoints affecting temperature (P < 0.001). The Acu-BL40 group showed a notably higher increase in mean temperature after 30 min compared to the Acu-LU5 and Mox-BL40 groups, with increases of 0.29 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.17 to 0.41) and 0.24 (95% CI = 0.08 to 0.41) °C, respectively. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at BL40 acupoint can significantly increase the mean temperature in the observed area, highlighting the specific thermal effect of acupuncture compared to moxibustion in the lumbar area. This suggests a potential therapeutic benefit of acupuncture at BL40 for managing lumbar conditions. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05665426). Please cite this article as: Zheng SY, Wang XY, Lin LN, Liu S, Huang XX, Liu YY, Yu XS, Pan W, Fang JQ, Liang Y. Lumbar temperature change after acupuncture or moxibustion at Weizhong (BL40) or Chize (LU5) in healthy adults: A randomized controlled trial. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(2): 145-151.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Young Adult ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Body Temperature ; Healthy Volunteers ; Lumbosacral Region/physiology* ; Moxibustion ; Adolescent

This study was aimed at investigating the effects of demethylase fat mass and obesity-associated protein(FTO)and methyltransferase methyltransferase like protein 3(METTL3),key molecules in N6-methyladenosine(m6A)modification,on the replication and proliferation of Japanese encephalitis virus(JEV).Recombinant lentiviruses were generated by packaging the FTO and green fluorescent protein into lentiviral vectors.Neuro2a cells,a mouse neuroblastoma cell line,were infected with the lentivirus,and stable FTO-expressing cell lines were obtained through puromycin selection.Successful overexpression of FTO was confirmed through fluorescence microscopy,real-time quantitative PCR,and western blot analysis.When Neuro2a cells overexpressing FTO were infected with JEV,the overexpression of FTO decreased JEV replication in the cells,and increased the expression of interferon(IFN)and related molecules.Additionally,treatment of JEV-infected Neuro2a cells with the METTL3-specific inhibitor STM2457 resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in JEV replication and viral protein expression.These findings suggested that lowering m6A methylation levels inhibits JEV replication,thus shedding light on the regulatory role of methylation modification in JEV replication.

AIM To establish a UPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneouscontent determination of notoginsenosides R1,Fc,Fe,ginsenosides Re,Rg1,Rf,F3,Rg2,Ra2,Rb1,Ro,Rc,F1,Ra1,Rb2,Rb3,Rd,F2,Rg5,chikusetsusaponin Ⅳ a,20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 and 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 in Dengzhan Shengmai Capsules.METHODS The analysis was performed on a 35 ℃ thermostatic Accucore Phenyl Hexyl column(2.1 mm×100 mm,2.6 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of 0.1％formic acid-acetonitrile flowing at 0.4 mL/min in a gradient elution manner,and heated electrospray ionization source was adopted in negative ion scanning with parallel reaction monitoring mode.Subsequently,cluster analysis,principal component analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis were adopted.RESULTS Twenty-two saponins showed good linear relationships within their own ranges(r ≥ 0.996 4),whose average recoveries were 98.5％-101.6％with the RSDs of 1.3％-5.2％.Ten batches of samples were clustered into four types,three principal components demonstrated the accumulative variance contribution rate of 90.265％,ginsenosides Rb1,Rg2,Rb2,Rd,Rg1,Ro,Rf,Re,Rg5,Rc were taken as potential quality markers.CONCLUSION This simple,efficient,accurate and sensitive method can be used for the quality control of Dengzhan Shengmai Capsules.

Spinal surgical site infection (SSI), especially deep SSI after internal fixation is difficult in treatment, with long course of disease and poor prognosis. At present, there are many controversies in the diagnosis and treatment of spinal SSI, with unsatisfactory overall efficacy of its diagnosis and treatment. Besides, no diagnosis and treatment guideline based on evidence-based medicine has been in existence. To this end, the Spinal Infection Group of the Orthopedic Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association and the Spinal Infection Group of the Spinal Surgery Branch of the Chinese Rehabilitation Medicine Association jointly organized relevant experts to formulate Evidence-based clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of surgical site infection in spinal trauma ( version 2024) based on an evidence-based approach. A total of 10 recommendations were proposed on the diagnosis and treatment of spinal SSI, so as to provide a clinical reference for the diagnosis and treatment of spinal SSI.

Aim To explore how Danzhi Jiangtang cap-sules(DJC)safeguard the mitochondrial activity of vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs)by controlling the LncRNA TUG1/β-catenin signaling pathway to de-crease vascular calcification(VC).Methods Vascu-lar smooth muscle cell calcification models were in-duced with β-glycerin and diabetic vascular calcifica-tion rat models were induced with vitamin D3+high-fat diet.Von Kossa staining was applied to detect cal-cification of cells and vascular tissue.Colorimetric method of phthalein complex was used to determine calcium content.P-nitrobenzene phosphate colorimetry was employed to assess alkaline phosphatase(ALP)activity.RT-qPCR was used to analyze the expression of VSMCs'osteoblast transformation related genes bone morphogenetic protein2(BMP2),smooth muscle actin alpha(α-SMA),taurine up-regulated1,LncRNA Tug1(Lnc-RNA TUG1),and β-catenin.Western blotting was utilized to detect the protein expression of BMP2,α-SMA and β-catenin.The mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by JC-1 fluorescence probe.Mitochondrial structure was observed by trans-mission electron microscope.Results DJC reduced LncRNA TUG1 expression,down-regulated β-catenin expression,decreased ALP activity and calcium depo-sition,protected mitochondrial function,restored mem-brane potential,and decreased osteoblastic transforma-tion of VSMCs induced by glycerin phosphate.Impor-tantly,DJC attenuated diabetic lower limb VC by down-regulating the expression of LncRNA TUG1,β-catenin,and elevating the expression of α-SMA.Con-clusions DJC capsules significantly improved VSMCs by protecting mitochondrial function by LncRNA TUG1/β-catenin signaling to reduce VSMCs'osteo-blast transformation.

Objective Analyze the temporal trend of ischemic stroke(IS)mortality among the residents of Tengzhou City of Shandong Province during the period of hypertension control from 2013 to 2021.Methods On January 1,2013,Tengzhou City,Shandong Province,began its hypertension control program.The IS mortality rate was calculated using the mortality data from January 1,2013 to December 31,2021,and analyzed for its time trend among residents with different characteristics.The registered population was derived from the Public Security Bureau of Tengzhou City,Shandong Province,and the age and sex standardized mortality rate was calculated using the data of China's 7th population census in 2020.The Chi-square test was used to compare the differences in mortality rate,and Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to compare the time trend and age trend of mortality rate.Results The overall crude and standardized mortality rates of IS in Tengzhou showed a temporal trend from 2013 to 2021(Z values were 12.647,7.305,respectively;all P＜0.001),and decreased by 23.77％and 30.99％(Z values were-7.393,-9.975,respectively;all P＜0.001)respectively in 2021 compared with 2019.The crude mortality rate of IS in male increased by 13.27％in 2019 compared with 2017,while the crude and standardized mortality rate in female decreased by 16.39％and 19.49％in 2018 compared with 2017,respectively,with statistical significance(x2 values were 7.160,9.789,and 15.109,respectively;all P＜0.05).Except the crude mortality rates in 2013 and 2015,the crude mortality rates and standardized mortality rates for males in other years were all higher than those for females,with statistically significant differences(x2 values:25.816-124.040,all P＜0.001).The crude mortality rate for IS increased with age in all years(Z values:42.604-61.025,all P＜0.001).The proportion of IS deaths among those aged≥65 was 85.85％.The overall crude mortality rates of the age group of male 45-54 years old showed a temporal trend from 2013 to 2021(Z=3.035,P＜0.01),while females in the same age group did not show a temporal trend(P＞0.05).The IS mortality rate in urban areas decreased from 62.61 per 100 000 in 2013 to 54.00 per 100 000 in 2021(Z=-2.097,P＜0.05).The rural areas increased by 213.15％in 2019 compared with 2013 and decreased by 22.75％in 2021 compared with 2019(Z values were 19.074,-6.390,respectively;all P＜0.001).Conclusions The IS mortality rate in Tengzhou City showed a decreasing trend in urban areas from 2013 to 2021,and a decreasing trend in rural areas after 2019.Compared to females,there is a trend of younger mortality among males in the age range of 45-54.Males and rural IS patients should be given special attention.

The adulteration and counterfeiting of herbal ingredients in medicinal and food homology (MFH) have a serious impact on the quality of herbal materials, thereby endangering human health. Compared to pharmaceutical drugs, health products derived from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are more easily accessible and closely integrated into consumers' daily life. However, the authentication of the authenticity of TCM ingredients in MFH has not received sufficient attention. The lack of clear standards emphasizes the necessity of conducting systematic research in this area. This study utilized DNA barcoding technology, combining ITS2, psbA-trnH, matK as universal barcode sequences, and DX, HH, JYH as specific barcode sequences, to identify the authenticity of commercial medicinal and food homology scented herbal teas. The aim was to investigate the authenticity of scented herbal tea products circulating in the market. The research results revealed that among 180 scented herbal tea samples, DNA barcodes were successfully obtained from 164 samples, while the remaining samples either lacked the target components or suffered severe DNA degradation, resulting in failed amplification. Combined with morphological identification studies, it was found that out of the 180 samples, 141 were authentic, accounting for 78.33% of the total samples, while 31 samples showed adulteration and 8 samples lacked the target components, accounting for 21.67% of the total samples. Additionally, water testing revealed that 5 samples of Carthamus tinctorius herbal tea exhibited the phenomenon of weight adulteration. This study exposed the presence of adulteration and weight adulteration in scented herbal tea products, highlighting the need for regulatory authorities to expedite the establishment of quality standards in scented herbal tea industry. These findings provide valuable insights for the rapid development of the scented herbal tea industry.