OBJECTIVE To explore a synergistic medication strategy integrating stage-specific modifications of Bushen huoxue decoction with hormone replacement therapy （HRT） for premature ovarian insufficiency （POI）. METHODS The connotation of Academician Tong Xiaolin’s “state-target differentiation and treatment” theory and the disease stage characteristics of POI were summarized. The latent stage， subclinical stage， clinical stage and exhaustion stage of POI were classified into corresponding core pathogenesis “states” and key objective indicator “targets”. Taking Bushen huoxue decoction as the basic prescription， its staged modification scheme and its sequential combination with HRT were analyzed. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS The four stages of POI correspond to four pathogenic states respectively： kidney yin deficiency， kidney deficiency and blood stasis， heart-kidney disharmony， and deficiency of both yin and yang. Follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）， anti-Müllerian hormone （AMH）， antral follicle count （AFC） and Kupperman score were taken as the evaluation targets of staging. Combined with the “state-target” characteristics of each stage， a medication principle based on Bushen huoxue decoction with syndrome differentiation modification and stage-adjusted administration was established： traditional Chinese medicine dominates in the latent stage， a sequential collaborative regimen is adopted in the subclinical stage， HRT is dominant supplemented by traditional Chinese medicine in the clinical stage， and integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine is applied to consolidate the root cause in the exhaustion stage.

This research investigated the contamination level,distribution of drug-resistant strains,and molecular epidemiologi-cal characteristics of Campylobacter,and further explored transmission pathways and prevention strategies.Cecum,chicken carcass,chicken product,and environmental samples,as well as swabs from workers'hands,were collected from a slaughterhouse in a large broiler group in the Jiaodong area between August 2023 and July 2024.Quantitative contamination assessment of Campylobacter in chicken carcasses and chicken products was performed.After microbial mass spectrometry identification,the representative strains of different links were selected for drug resistance testing and whole genome sequencing(WGS).On the basis of the sequencing results,the resistance genes,virulence genes,multilocus sequence typing(MLST),and phylogenetic characteristics of representative strains were analyzed.Homology comparisons were performed between isolates and strains from patients with diarrhea in the NCBI database.A total of 297 Campylobacter strains were isolated from 806 samples,and the overall detection rate was 36.85%.The detection rate of Campylobacter was highest in the evisceration process(47.33%),followed by the cutting process(35.64%).Overall,the Campylo-bacter detection rate first increased,then decreased,and subsequently increased.Drug sensitivity testing revealed that 90 isolates were resistant to nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin,and 94.97%of isolates were resistant to tetracycline.WGS showed that both Campylo-bacter jejuni(C.jejuni)and Campylobacter coli(C.coli)carried many drug resistance and virulence genes.ST-14176 of C.jejuni was isolated for the first time herein.The predominant ST-8261 strain of C.jejuni and ST-860,ST-829,and ST-1586 strains of C.coli are known to cause human diarrhea.LOS expression genes associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome(GBS)were detected in both C.jejuni isolates from the slaughter chain and patients with GBS.Some strains exhibited close genetic relatedness to human-derived Campylo-bacter strains from the NCBI database.The detection rate of Campylobacter in the slaughterhouse first increased,then decreased,and subsequently increased,and the quantitative contamination level of each link was similar to the detection rate.Quantitative analysis of chicken carcasses/products revealed that the average bacterial load was highest in eviscerated carcasses(102.80 cfu/g),and the high-est amount of Campylobacter in chicken products reached 451.80 cfu/g.Abundant drug resistance genes and virulence genes were iden-tified,and the drug resistance genes were highly correlated with the drug resistance rate.Therefore,surveillance intensity and control measures for Campylobacter in slaughter processes should be strengthened.

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

OBJECTIVE: Poxviruses are zoonotic pathogens that infect humans, mammals, vertebrates, and arthropods. However, the specific role of ticks in transmission and evolution of these viruses remains unclear. METHODS: Transcriptomic and metatranscriptomic raw data from 329 sampling pools of seven tick species across five continents were mined to assess the diversity and abundance of poxviruses. Chordopoxviral sequences were assembled and subjected to phylogenetic analysis to trace the origins of the unblasted fragments within these sequences. RESULTS: Fifty-eight poxvirus species, representing two subfamilies and 20 genera, were identified, with 212 poxviral sequences assembled. A substantial proportion of AT-rich fragments were detected in the assembled poxviral genomes. These genomic sequences contained fragments originating from rodents, archaea, and arthropods. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that ticks play a significant role in the transmission and evolution of poxviruses. These viruses demonstrate the capacity to modulate virulence and adaptability through horizontal gene transfer, gene recombination, and gene mutations, thereby promoting co-existence and co-evolution with their hosts. This study advances understanding of the ecological dynamics of poxvirus transmission and evolution and highlights the potential role of ticks as vectors and vessels in these processes.
Animals ; Poxviridae/physiology* ; Ticks/virology* ; Phylogeny ; Transcriptome ; Evolution, Molecular ; Poxviridae Infections/virology* ; Genome, Viral

Background: s/Aims: Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare histological subtype of HCC characterized by extremely poor prognosis; however, its molecular characterization has not been elucidated. Methods: In this study, we conducted an integrated multiomics study of whole-exome sequencing, RNA-seq, spatial transcriptome, and immunohistochemical analyses of 28 paired sarcomatoid tumor components and conventional HCC components from 10 patients with sarcomatoid HCC, in order to identify frequently altered genes, infer the tumor subclonal architectures, track the genomic evolution, and delineate the transcriptional characteristics of sarcomatoid HCCs. Results: Our results showed that the sarcomatoid HCCs had poor prognosis. The sarcomatoid tumor components and the conventional HCC components were derived from common ancestors, mostly accessing similar mutational processes. Clonal phylogenies demonstrated branched tumor evolution during sarcomatoid HCC development and progression. TP53 mutation commonly occurred at tumor initiation, whereas ARID2 mutation often occurred later. Transcriptome analyses revealed the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and hypoxic phenotype in sarcomatoid tumor components, which were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, we identified ARID2 mutations in 70% (7/10) of patients with sarcomatoid HCC but only 1–5% of patients with non-sarcomatoid HCC. Biofunctional investigations revealed that inactivating mutation of ARID2 contributes to HCC growth and metastasis and induces EMT in a hypoxic microenvironment. Conclusions We offer a comprehensive description of the molecular basis for sarcomatoid HCC, and identify genomic alteration (ARID2 mutation) together with the tumor microenvironment (hypoxic microenvironment), that may contribute to the formation of the sarcomatoid tumor component through EMT, leading to sarcomatoid HCC development and progression.

Objective To develop and validate a transgenic mouse model enabling specific and inducible optogenetic activation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells(OPCs).Methods A conditional allele for the photosensitive opsin chicken opsin 5(cOpn5)(Rosa26-LSL-cOpn5)was generated using CRISPR/Cas9 technology.These mice were subsequently crossed with NG2-CreERT transgenic mice to produce NG2-CreERT;cOpn5 animals.In this model,tamoxifen administration induces Cre-mediated recombination,leading to specific expression of cOpn5 in NG2-positive OPCs.The specificity and efficiency of cOpn5 expression in OPCs were confirmed by immunofluorescent staining.Functional validation of light-induced OPC activation was performed by using calcium imaging in acute brain slices after stimulation with 470 nm blue light.Results Immunofluorescence analysis confirmed robust and specific expression of cOpn5 within NG2-positive OPCs in the brains of tamoxifen-treated NG2-CreERT;cOpn5 mice.Crucially,calcium imaging of acute brain slices from these mice demonstrated a significant increase in intracellular calcium levels in cOpn5-expressing OPCs upon stimulation with 470 nm blue light,indicating successful optogenetic activation.Conclusion We have successfully generated and validated a novel transgenic mouse model(NG2-CreERT;cOpn5)that permits specific and inducible optogenetic activation of OPCs.This model provides a novel tool for subsequent in vivo studies of the role and regulating mechanisms of OPCs in the central nervous system.

Objective:To summarize and analyze the clinical features of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) accompanied by axial spondyloarthritis (ax-SpA) .Methods:A descriptive case series study was conducted. Consecutive IBD patients with ax-SpA admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2012 to December 2023 were enrolled, and the clinical data were collected and analyzed descriptively.Results:A total of 21 IBD patients with ax-SpA were enrolled, including 14 males (66.7%) and 7 females (33.3%). The median age at IBD diagnosis was 29 (24, 42) years. Among them, 10 had ulcerative colitis (UC) and 11 had Crohn's disease (CD). In 11 patients (52.4%), ax-SpA was diagnosed before IBD, while in 7 patients (33.3%), IBD was diagnosed before ax-SpA; the remaining 3 patients (14.3%) were diagnosed simultaneously. Thirteen patients (61.9%) had other extraintestinal manifestations, with 12 involving mucocutaneous manifestations. Nineteen patients including 9 UC and 10 CD were followed up for a median duration of 34 (12, 57) months. Among UC patients, 5 (55.6%) were escalated from conventional therapy to biologics or small-molecule drugs, and 6 (66.7%) developed opportunistic infections. Among CD patients, 3 (30.0%) were escalated to biologic therapy, and 2 (20.0%) developed opportunistic infections. Three patients (15.8%) underwent intestinal resection surgery.Conclusions:IBD patients with ax-SpA are predominantly male, with a similar proportion of UC and CD. There is no clear sequential pattern in the diagnosis timing of IBD and ax-SpA. These patients often present with other extraintestinal manifestations of IBD, primarily mucocutaneous manifestations.

Objective To explore the abnormal expression of the MT-ND family in pan-cancers and its prognostic value.Methods Transcriptome expression and clinical data of 33 cancers were downloaded from the TCGA database,thereby analyzing the expression differences of the MT-ND family in tissuesof different types of cancers and normal tissues.The prognostic role of the MT-ND family in pan-cancers was explored by univariate Cox regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.Results The expression of the MT-ND family was upregulated in the kidney chromophobe,acute myeloid leukemia and thymoma,and downregulated in the remaining tumors.The expression of the MT-ND family was associated with the overall survival rate of different types of cancers.In addition,the MT-ND family were significantly correlated with the immune invasion subtypes,and were correlated with stromal cell invasion and tumor cell stemness to varying degrees.The expression of MT-ND4 was downregulated in brain lower grade glioma,which was a protective factor for prognosis;while the expression of MT-ND4 in thymoma was upregulated,which was a risk factor for prognosis.Conclusion Pan-cancer analysis has confirmed that the MT-ND family can predict the tumor prognosis,which provides new ideas and strategies for the precision treatment and prognostic management of cancer.

Objective To study the damage effect of high-voltage electric shock on skin based on metabolomics,analyze its metabolic differences,and explore its injury mechanism.Methods A total of 16 SPF C57BL/6J male mice were divided into the electric shock group(head skin received electric shock treatment)and control group(head skin received electric shock acoustic-optical stimulation),and the skin appearance after treatment of mice in the two groups was observed.The histopathological changes caused by electric shock were analyzed by HE staining,EVG staining and Masson staining.GC-MS and LC-MS metabonomics were used to analyze the changes of skin metabolism spectrum and tissue metabolites after electric shock exposure,and the differential metabolites were analyzed.The obtained differential metabolites were combined and KEGG enrichment analysis was conducted.Results After high-voltage electric shock,the skin of mice could be damaged to the dermis,and the epidermis was partially thickened,lifted and separated.The structure of skin appendages in the dermis was destroyed,with a large number of inflammatory cells infiltrating and obvious swelling,accompanied by congestion,which led to severe skin inflammatory reaction and impaired skin barrier function.Metabonomics analysis suggested that the metabolites changed after electric shock exposure.KEGG enrichment analysis showed that electric shock significantly affected the central carbon metabolism pathway of cancer,pentose phosphate pathway,purine metabolism,glycine,serine and threonine metabolism processes,amino acid tRNA biosynthesis mechanism,glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway,pyrimidine metabolism pattern,glycolysis/gluconeogenesis,alanine metabolism process,glucagon signal pathway and so on.Conclusion High voltage electric shock can cause deep skin damage,disturb its energy metabolism and amino acid metabolism,and seriously interfere with its antioxidant and DNA repair system functions.

Objective To screen genes associated with poor prognosis of colorectal cancer(CRC)through bioinformatics analysis.Methods The gene expression profiles of GSE74602,GSE110223,GSE113513 and GSE141174 were obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database,including samples from 65 CRC tissues and 65 normal tissues.Differentially expressed genes(DEGs)between CRC tissues and normal tissues were screened out by GEO2R tool and Venn software,and the consistent genes were extracted from DEGs by Venn software.A protein-protein interaction(PPI)network was constructed by the STRING database to identify key genes,which were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier Plotter and GEPIA.Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analysis was conducted on the 13 selected genes.Results There were 171 DEGs obtained from the four datasets,including 148 up-regulated genes and 23 down-regulated genes.Up-regulated DEGs were enriched in the redox processes,bicarbonate transport,digestion,ion trans-membrane transport,and one-carbon metabolism;and down-regulated DEGs were enriched in the positive regulation of cell proliferation.The survival curve analysis showed that 30 of the 87 genes were significantly associated with poor survival prognosis.GEPIA showed that 13 of the 30 genes were highly expressed in CRC tissues compared to normal tissues,among which MYC and FGFR3 markedly enriched in the CRC pathway.Conclusion This study identifies that MYC and FGFR3 are significantly up-regulated in CRC and closely associated with poor prognosis,suggesting that they may serve as potential prognostic markers and therapeutic targets for CRC patients.