Background: Obesity and chronic pain are related in both directions, according to earlier observational research.This research aimed to analyze the causal association between obesity and chronic pain at the genetic level, as well as to assess whether common factors mediate this relationship. Methods: This study used bidirectional two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) technique to analyze the association between obesity and chronic pain. Obesity's summary genome-wide association data were obtained from European ancestry groups, as measured by body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC), genome-wide association study data for chronic pain also came from the UK population, including chronic pain at three different sites (back, hip, and headache), chronic widespread pain (CWP), and multisite chronic pain (MCP). Secondly, a two-step MR and multivariate MR investigation was performed to evaluate the mediating effects of several proposed confounders. Results: The authors discovered a link between chronic pain and obesity. More specifically, a sensitivity analysis was done to confirm the associations between greater BMI, WC, and HC with an increased risk of CWP and MCP.Importantly, the intermediate MR results suggest that education levels and smoking initiation may mediate the causal relationship between BMI on CWP, with a mediation effect of 23.08% and 15.38%, respectively. Conclusions The authors’ findings demonstrate that the importance of education and smoking in understanding chronic pain’s pathogenesis, which is important for the primary prevention and prognosis of chronic pain.

Background: Obesity and chronic pain are related in both directions, according to earlier observational research.This research aimed to analyze the causal association between obesity and chronic pain at the genetic level, as well as to assess whether common factors mediate this relationship. Methods: This study used bidirectional two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) technique to analyze the association between obesity and chronic pain. Obesity's summary genome-wide association data were obtained from European ancestry groups, as measured by body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC), genome-wide association study data for chronic pain also came from the UK population, including chronic pain at three different sites (back, hip, and headache), chronic widespread pain (CWP), and multisite chronic pain (MCP). Secondly, a two-step MR and multivariate MR investigation was performed to evaluate the mediating effects of several proposed confounders. Results: The authors discovered a link between chronic pain and obesity. More specifically, a sensitivity analysis was done to confirm the associations between greater BMI, WC, and HC with an increased risk of CWP and MCP.Importantly, the intermediate MR results suggest that education levels and smoking initiation may mediate the causal relationship between BMI on CWP, with a mediation effect of 23.08% and 15.38%, respectively. Conclusions The authors’ findings demonstrate that the importance of education and smoking in understanding chronic pain’s pathogenesis, which is important for the primary prevention and prognosis of chronic pain.

Background: Obesity and chronic pain are related in both directions, according to earlier observational research.This research aimed to analyze the causal association between obesity and chronic pain at the genetic level, as well as to assess whether common factors mediate this relationship. Methods: This study used bidirectional two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) technique to analyze the association between obesity and chronic pain. Obesity's summary genome-wide association data were obtained from European ancestry groups, as measured by body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC), genome-wide association study data for chronic pain also came from the UK population, including chronic pain at three different sites (back, hip, and headache), chronic widespread pain (CWP), and multisite chronic pain (MCP). Secondly, a two-step MR and multivariate MR investigation was performed to evaluate the mediating effects of several proposed confounders. Results: The authors discovered a link between chronic pain and obesity. More specifically, a sensitivity analysis was done to confirm the associations between greater BMI, WC, and HC with an increased risk of CWP and MCP.Importantly, the intermediate MR results suggest that education levels and smoking initiation may mediate the causal relationship between BMI on CWP, with a mediation effect of 23.08% and 15.38%, respectively. Conclusions The authors’ findings demonstrate that the importance of education and smoking in understanding chronic pain’s pathogenesis, which is important for the primary prevention and prognosis of chronic pain.

Background: Obesity and chronic pain are related in both directions, according to earlier observational research.This research aimed to analyze the causal association between obesity and chronic pain at the genetic level, as well as to assess whether common factors mediate this relationship. Methods: This study used bidirectional two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) technique to analyze the association between obesity and chronic pain. Obesity's summary genome-wide association data were obtained from European ancestry groups, as measured by body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC), genome-wide association study data for chronic pain also came from the UK population, including chronic pain at three different sites (back, hip, and headache), chronic widespread pain (CWP), and multisite chronic pain (MCP). Secondly, a two-step MR and multivariate MR investigation was performed to evaluate the mediating effects of several proposed confounders. Results: The authors discovered a link between chronic pain and obesity. More specifically, a sensitivity analysis was done to confirm the associations between greater BMI, WC, and HC with an increased risk of CWP and MCP.Importantly, the intermediate MR results suggest that education levels and smoking initiation may mediate the causal relationship between BMI on CWP, with a mediation effect of 23.08% and 15.38%, respectively. Conclusions The authors’ findings demonstrate that the importance of education and smoking in understanding chronic pain’s pathogenesis, which is important for the primary prevention and prognosis of chronic pain.

Background: Obesity and chronic pain are related in both directions, according to earlier observational research.This research aimed to analyze the causal association between obesity and chronic pain at the genetic level, as well as to assess whether common factors mediate this relationship. Methods: This study used bidirectional two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) technique to analyze the association between obesity and chronic pain. Obesity's summary genome-wide association data were obtained from European ancestry groups, as measured by body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC), genome-wide association study data for chronic pain also came from the UK population, including chronic pain at three different sites (back, hip, and headache), chronic widespread pain (CWP), and multisite chronic pain (MCP). Secondly, a two-step MR and multivariate MR investigation was performed to evaluate the mediating effects of several proposed confounders. Results: The authors discovered a link between chronic pain and obesity. More specifically, a sensitivity analysis was done to confirm the associations between greater BMI, WC, and HC with an increased risk of CWP and MCP.Importantly, the intermediate MR results suggest that education levels and smoking initiation may mediate the causal relationship between BMI on CWP, with a mediation effect of 23.08% and 15.38%, respectively. Conclusions The authors’ findings demonstrate that the importance of education and smoking in understanding chronic pain’s pathogenesis, which is important for the primary prevention and prognosis of chronic pain.

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of the Huoxue Tongluo recipe iontophoresis(HTRI)combined with butylphthalide sequential therapy(BST)in patients with cerebral ischemic stroke(CIS)hemiplegia.Methods 87 patients with CIS hemiplegia treated in Chuzhou Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital affiliated to Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from January 2020 to January 2023 were retrospectively selected as study subjects,and were divided into the BST group(BST treatment)and the combination group(BST in combination with HTRI treatment)according to the treatment regimens.The main observation indicators were total treatment response rate and incidence of adverse reactions after 4 weeks of treatment;the secondary observation indicators were cerebral artery flow velocity[anterior cerebral artery(ACA),middle cerebral artery(MCA)and posterior cerebral artery(PCA)],neurological function[National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)score,Chinese Stroke Scale(CSS)score]and limb function[Fugl-Meyer Motor Function Scale(FMA)score,Barthel index(BI)score].Results A total of 87 patients were included,including 43 patients in the BST group and 44 patients in the combination group.The total response rate in the combination group was significantly higher than that in the BST group(P<0.05),and no adverse reactions were observed in both groups.Before treatment,there were no significant differences in cerebral artery blood flow velocity,nerve function and limb function between the two groups(P>0.05).After treatment,the flow velocity of ACA,PCA and MCA,and the scores of FMA and BI were significantly higher than those before treatment(P<0.05),while the scores of NIHSS and CSS decreased significantly(P<0.05).Conclusion Compared with BST therapy,HTRI combined with BST has a more significant effect in CIS patients with hemiplegia,with no increase in the incidence of adverse reactions,and has higher safety.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of Setaria italica extract on improving insomnia model mice and to explore its potential mechanisms. METHODS The mice were randomly assigned into blank group， model group， positive control group （diazepam， 2.6 mg/kg）， and S. italica extract low-dose， medium-dose and high-dose groups （1.2， 2.4， 4.8 g/kg）， with 10 mice in each group. Except for the blank group， all other groups received intraperitoneal injection of para-chlorophenylalanine （PCPA） to establish the insomnia model. After modeling， the blank group and model group were given a constant volume of normal saline intragastrically， and administration groups were given relevant medicine intragastrically， with a volume of 0.01 mL/g， once a day， for 7 consecutive days. After the administration， the open-field test was conducted to observe the praxiological changes of mice， and to determine the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT） and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid （5-HTAA） in the hippocampal tissue， as well as the contents of 5-HT， brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF）， interleukin-2 （IL-2）， IL-6， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl- 2）， and Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax） in the serum. The expression of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/nuclear factor- κB （PI3K/Akt/NF-κB） signaling pathway related protein was determined in the hippocampus of mice. RESULTS Compared with the model group， the total exercise time of mice in S. italica extract high-dose group was significantly prolonged， but the total rest time was significantly shortened （P＜0.01）； the number of standing times and modification times were significantly reduced （P＜ 0.01）. The contents of 5-HT， BDNF， and Bcl-2 in serum， and Bcl-2/Bax were significantly increased， while the contents of IL-2， IL-6， and Bax were significantly reduced （P＜0.05 or P＜ 0.01）. The content of 5-HTAA in the hippocampal tissue and 202104010910029）；the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt proteins were increased significantly， while the phosphorylation level of NF-κB p65 protein was decreased significantly （P＜0.05）.CONCLUSIONS High-dose of S. italica extract demonstrates significant therapeutic effects on insomnia in mice， and the mechanism of which may be associated with the regulation of PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective:To investigate the effectiveness and safety of early combined with tirofiban in the treatment of elderly patients with acute ischemic stroke after intravenous thrombolysis with alteplase.Methods:Elderly (60-75 years old) patients with acute ischemic stroke received intravenous alteplase thrombolysis in the Department of Neurology, Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Huangdao District, Qingdao from January 2018 to May 2020 were enrolled prospectively. According to whether tirofiban is combined or not, they were divided into tirofiban group and non-tirofiban group. Tirofiban was pumped intravenously 2 h after intravenous thrombolysis, first 0.4 μg/(kg·min) for 30 min, then 0.1 μg/(kg·min) for 24 h. The efficacy endpoints included National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at 7 d after treatment and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 90 d after onset. 0-2 was defined as good outcome, and >2 was defined as poor outcome. The safety endpoints included the incidence of hemorrhagic transformation, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and mortality within 90 days after onset.Results:A total of 124 patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled. The median age was 68 years (range, 60-75 years). There were 73 males (58.9%) and 51 females (41.1%). There were 62 patients (50%) in the tirofiban group and 62 (50%) in the non-tirofiban group. The median baseline NIHSS score was 14. Hemorrhagic transformation occurred in 7 patients (5.6%), of which 2 were sICH (1.6%). The follow-up at 90 d after onset showed that 68 patients (54.8%) had a good outcome, 56 (45.2%) had a poor outcome, of which 4 (3.2%) died. The NIHSS score at 7 d after treatment (5.52±4.79 vs. 7.35±3.80; t=2.357, P=0.020) and the rate of good outcome at 90 d after onset (64.5% vs. 45.2%; χ2=4.689, P=0.030) in the tirofiban group were significantly better than those of the non-tirofiban group, and there were no significant differences among the incidence of hemorrhagic transformation (4.8% vs. 6.5%; P=1.000), sICH (1.6% vs. 1.6%; P=1.000), and 90 d mortality (3.2% vs. 3.2%; P=1.000). Conclusion:After intravenous thrombolysis with alteplase, the early combined treatment with tirofiban in elderly patients with acute ischemic stroke can significantly improve the efficacy and outcome, and will not increase the risk of hemorrhagic transformation, sICH and death.