ObjectiveTo explore the regulatory effects and mechanisms of Astragali Radix polysaccharide （APS） on inhibitor of differentiation1 （ID1） and protein kinase B （Akt） in gastric cancer. MethodsImmunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of ID1 and Akt in 61 gastric cancer tissue samples and 20 adjacent normal gastric tissue samples. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the localization of ID1 and Akt. The effects of APS at the concentrations of 0.625， 1.25， 2.5， 5， 10， 20 mg·L^-1 on the proliferation of gastric cancer MGC-803 cells were examined by the cell counting kit-8（CCK-8） method and the colony formation assay. The target information of APS was retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology and Analysis Platform and Swiss Target Prediction. Keywords such as gastric cancer， gastric tumor， and stomach cancer were searched against GeneCards， UniProt， DisGeNET， and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man （OMIM） for the screening of gastric cancer-related targets. The online tool jvenn was used to create the Venn diagram to identify the common targets， and STRING and Cytoscape were used to construct the protein-protein interaction network. Gene Ontology （GO） and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway enrichment analyses were conducted via R 4.2.2 to predict the potential roles of APS in the development of gastric cancer. The cell scratch assay was employed to assess the effect of APS on the migration of MGC-803 cells. The protein and mRNA levels of ID1 and Akt in the cells treated with APS were determined by Western blot and Real-time PCR， respectively. ResultsCompared with the adjacent normal gastric tissue， the gastric adenocarcinoma tissue showed increased positive expression of ID1 （χ² =81.00， P<0.01）. Immunofluorescence detection showed that ID1 and Akt were mainly located in the cytoplasm of gastric adenocarcinoma cells. Bioinformatics analysis identified 14 common genes shared between APS and gastric cancer. The average degree of protein-protein interaction network nodes was 14.29. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment results showed that ID1 and Akt were significantly enriched in the Rap1 and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase （PI3K） /Akt signaling pathways. Cell experiments demonstrated that 5-fluorouracil （0.1 mg·L^-1） and APS （10， 20 mg·L^-1） groups showed decreased cell proliferation， migration， and colony formation. Compared with the control group， 10， 20 mg·L^-1 APS inhibited the proliferation of MGC-803 cells （P<0.01）， with 10 mg·L^-1 APS demonstrating stronger inhibitory effect. In addition， APS at 10， 20 mg·L^-1 inhibited the migration （P<0.01） and colony formation （P<0.05， P<0.01） of MGC-803 cells. Compared with the control group， APS at 10， 20 mg·L^-1 down-regulated the protein levels of ID1 （P<0.01） and Akt （P<0.05） and the mRNA levels of ID1 （P<0.05， P<0.01） and Akt （P<0.05， P<0.01） in MGC-803 cells. ConclusionID1 and Akt are highly expressed in the gastric adenocarcinoma tissue， which may be related to the development of gastric cancer. APS can down-regulate the protein and mRNA levels of ID1 and Akt to exert anti-tumor effects， which is expected to provide new therapeutic targets for gastric cancer treatment.

AIM:To investigate the therapeutic effects of botulinum toxin A(BTXA)injection versus strabismus surgery in the treatment of acute acquired comitant esotropia(AACE).METHODS:Patient records of AACE cases treated at First People's Hospital of Nantong from January 2019 to September 2023 were retrospectively analyzed in this study. Patients were categorized into either strabismus surgery or BTXA injection groups based on treatment modality. Further stratification was performed according to preoperative deviation angles [>35 prism diopters(PD)vs ≤35 PD] and age(≥18 years adult group vs <18 years adolescent group). The baseline patient characteristics were collected, deviation angles at multiple timepoints before and after treatment were measured, and stereopsis test results were documented. Through comparative analysis of therapeutic outcomes across subgroups, we systematically evaluated the efficacy of different treatment approaches.RESULTS:A total of 43 AACE patients were included. At the final follow-up, both the surgery and BTXA injection groups showed a statistically significant decrease in deviation angle compared to pretreatment measurements(P<0.001). Significant differences were noted between the two groups in terms of the cure rate of strabismus and the recovery rate of stereopsis(P<0.05). For patients with deviations >35 PD, surgery yielded significantly better outcomes than injection therapy in postoperative angle, success rate, and stereopsis recovery(P<0.05). Similarly, in patients aged ≥18 years, surgical treatment was superior to injections in reducing strabismus angle, improving success rates, and restoring stereopsis(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Both BTXA injection and strabismus surgery demonstrate therapeutic efficacy in AACE. Surgical treatment demonstrated superior efficacy compared to BTXA injection therapy, particularly in patients with deviations >35 PD and those aged ≥18 years. For patients with angles ≤35 PD or under 18 years, BTXA injection remains a viable treatment option.

This paper reviews the published articles of recent years on the application of deep learning methods in automatic localization of acupoint, and summarizes it from 3 key links, i.e. the dataset construction, the neural network model design, and the accuracy evaluation of acupoint localization. The significant progress has been obtained in the field of deep learning for acupoint localization, but the scale of acupoint detection needs to be expanded and the precision, the generalization ability, and the real-time performance of the model be advanced. The future research should focus on the support of standardized datasets, and the integration of 3D modeling and multimodal data fusion, so as to increase the accuracy and strengthen the personalization of acupoint localization.
Deep Learning ; Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Neural Networks, Computer

OBJECTIVE: An intelligent moxibustion instrument based on electromyography was designed to evaluate the real-time therapeutic effect of moxibustion. METHODS: Taking Shenshu (BL23) as the subject, surface electromyography (sEMG) at the center and equidistant points of Shenshu (BL23) were collected. The characteristic parameters, integrated electromyography (iEMG) and root mean square (RMS) were calculated before and after moxibustion. After analyzing the effect of moxibustion, a function algorithm for the end-of-moxibustion was obtained. Using this algorithm and combined with STM32 technology, the control system of moxibustion instrument and the upper computer software were designed to achieve the precise control during moxibustion delivery. Finally, the function, stability and safety of the moxibustion instrument were verified through clinical trials to ensure its effectiveness in practical application. RESULTS: During one cycle of moxibustion at the center of Shenshu (BL23), the iEMG of sEMG decreased over time, meaning the decrease in muscle fatigue degree, and after one cycle of moxibustion, it elevated over time, showing the increase in muscle fatigue degree. RMS increased by 1.90% before and after moxibustion at the equidistant points of Shenshu (BL23), and the system indicated the end of moxibustion when RMS increased by 0.15%, and decreased by 0.13% at the center of Shenshu (BL23). The intelligent moxibustion instrument designed based on this algorithm can realize the function of mild moxibustion, and the effect of moxibustion can be evaluated by the real-time monitoring of RMS changes through the upper computer. During the operation of moxibustion instrument, moxa stick was fixed stably, remained a safe distance of 3 cm to 4 cm away from the skin surface. When the length of moxa stick was less than 5 cm left after ignited and the skin temperature exceeded the preset safety threshold of 48 ℃, the system was alarmed automatically. CONCLUSION The intelligent moxibustion instrument designed in the research can effectively evaluate the effect of moxibustion, and ensure the safety and stability during moxibustion delivery.
Humans ; Moxibustion/methods* ; Electromyography/instrumentation* ; Adult ; Male ; Female ; Young Adult ; Acupuncture Points ; Algorithms ; Middle Aged

Objective To observe the expression levels of base excision repair(BER)pathway-related proteins in small cell lung cancer(SCLC)tissues,and analyze their relationship with the prognosis and tumor immune microenvironment.Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 74 patients with limited-stage SCLC undergoing surgical treatment in our medical center from December 2018 to June 2023.Immunohistochemical staining was performed to analyze the protein expression of BER pathway components,apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1(APE1),8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase 1(OGG1),DNA polymerase β(POLβ),X-ray repair cross-complementing protein 1(XRCC1),ATP-dependent DNA ligase I(LIGⅠ),and immune cell infiltration markers of CD3? T cells,CD8? T cells,CD68? macrophages in SCLC tissues.Chi-square test was applied to analyze the relationship of BER protein expression and clinicopathological features;Kaplan-Meier survival curve was plotted to evaluate the impacts of BER protein expression and immune cells on disease-free survival(DFS)and overall survival(OS),multivariate Cox regression analysis was utilized to identify DFS prognostic factors,and Spearman correlation analysis was performed to analyze the correlation of BER-immune cell infiltration.In in vitro experiments,transient transfection was applied in H196 cells to overexpress APE1/POLβ/LIGⅠ,respectively.Thus,the cells were divided into negative control(NC,empty vector)and overexpression(OE,target plasmids)groups.CCK-8 and TUNEL assays were employed to determine the effects of OEAPE1,OEPOLβ and OELIGⅠon cell sensitivity to cisplatin.In in vivo experiments,nude mice bearing xenograft tumors were grouped into WT,E3330(APE1 inhibitor),cisplatin,and cisplatin+E3330 groups to determine the effects of the combination therapy on tumor growth.Results There were no significant correlations of the expression levels of key BER pathway proteins with clinicopathological characteristics,including gender,age,smoking history,tumor location,Ki67 index,or TNM stage(all P>0.05).The patients with low expression of APE1,POLβ,and LIGⅠ had obviously higher DFS rates than those with high expression(P<0.05),and the patients with larger proportion of CD3+T cells also had higher DFS rates than those with smaller proportion(P=0.043).Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that tumor TNM stage(HR=2.465)and APE1 expression(HR=2.730)were independent risk factors for the prognosis of SCLC patients(P<0.05).Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between APE1 and CD8+T cell proportion in the SCLC patients(r=0.27,P<0.05).In vitro experiments showed that the overexpression(OE)cells(OEAPE1 and OELIGⅠ)exhibited reduced sensitivity to cisplatin than the NC group(P<0.05).Animal experiments indicated that cisplatin+E3330 significant inhibited xenograft tumor growth,indicating enhanced therapeutic efficacy(P<0.01).Conclusion High expression of APE1,POLβ,and LIGⅠ in the BER pathway indicates poor prognosis and low DFS rate in SCLC patients.High expression of APE1 is positively correlated with CD8+T cells,and can be used as an auxiliary marker for SCLC immunotherapy.

Objective To investigate the effects of simulated-microgravity on the osteogenic differentiation,primary cilia status,cytoskeleton structure,and the YAP(Yes-associated protein)expression in primary osteoblasts.Methods Primary osteoblasts were isolated from the skull bones of neonatal Wistar rats and cultured in random positioning machine system to simulate the cellular effects of microgravity.The calcified nodules were stained with Arlizarin to assess the cellular mineralization ability,the primary cilia and cytoskeleton were detected by immunofluorescence staining of Arl13b/γ-Tubulin and α-Tubulin,respectively,and the expression of YAP was measured by western blot.Results The cellular osteogenic differentiation were markedly suppressed after treated with simulated microgravity for 24 h,and the ciliated cells decreased from(58.44±3.65)%to(15.76±1.84)%in parallel with a decline of average cilium length from(3.19±0.51)μm to(1.59±0.46)μm.In addition,simulated microgravity induced disassembly of microtubules.Notably,simulated microgravity interfered YAP expression and the inhibition of YAP into nucleus.Furthermore,knockdown of YAP expression in osteoblasts notably reduced primary cilia expression and inhibited osteogenic differentiation.Conclusion Primary cilia is a key organelle of osteoblasts in sensing microgravity and regulating osteogenic differentiation.Interference with YAP expression and inhibition of nuclear YAP entry may play an important role in the deaggregation of primary cilia induced by microgravity.

Addressing the enduring challenge of evaluating traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), the integrated evidence chain-based effectiveness evaluation of TCMs (Eff-iEC) has emerged. This paper explored its capacity through a demonstration study that evaluated the effectiveness evidence of six commonly used anti-hepatic fibrosis Chinese patent medicines (CPMs), including Biejiajian Pill (BP), Dahuang Zhechong Pill (DZP), Biejia Ruangan Compound (BRC), Fuzheng Huayu Capsule (FHC), Anluo Huaxian Pill (AHP), and Heluo Shugan Capsule (HSC), using both Eff-iEC and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. The recognition of these CPMs within the TCM academic community was also assessed through their inclusion in relevant medical documents. Results showed that the evidence of BRC and FHC received higher assessments in both Eff-iEC and GRADE system, while the assessments for others varied. Analysis of community recognition revealed that Eff-iEC more accurately reflects the clinical value of these CPMs, exhibiting superior evaluative capabilities. By breaking through the conventional pattern of TCMs effectiveness evaluation, Eff-iEC offers a novel epistemology that better aligns with the clinical realities and reasoning of TCMs, providing a coherent methodology for clinical decision-making, new drug evaluations, and health policy formulation.

Working memory is an executive memory process that includes encoding, maintenance, and retrieval. These processes can be modulated by transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) with sinusoidal waves. However, little is known about the impact of the rate of current change on working memory. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of two types of tACS with different rates of current change on working memory performance and brain activity. We applied a randomized, single-blind design and divided 81 young participants who received triangular wave tACS, sinusoidal wave tACS, or sham stimulation into three groups. Participants performed n-back tasks, and electroencephalograms were recorded before, during, and after active or sham stimulation. Compared to the baseline, working memory performance (accuracy and response time) improved after stimulation under all stimulation conditions. According to drift-diffusion model analysis, triangular wave tACS significantly increased the efficiency of non-target information processing. In addition, compared with sham conditions, triangular wave tACS reduced alpha power oscillations in the occipital lobe throughout the encoding period, while sinusoidal wave tACS increased theta power in the central frontal region only during the later encoding period. The brain network connectivity results showed that triangular wave tACS improved the clustering coefficient, local efficiency, and node degree intensity in the early encoding stage, and these parameters were positively correlated with the non-target drift rate and decision starting point. Our findings on how tACS modulates working memory indicate that triangular wave tACS significantly enhances brain network connectivity during the early encoding stage, demonstrating an improvement in the efficiency of working memory processing. In contrast, sinusoidal wave tACS increased the theta power during the later encoding stage, suggesting its potential critical role in late-stage information processing. These findings provide valuable insights into the potential mechanisms by which tACS modulates working memory.
Humans ; Memory, Short-Term/physiology* ; Male ; Female ; Young Adult ; Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation/methods* ; Brain/physiology* ; Adult ; Electroencephalography ; Single-Blind Method