1.Effect of auricular therapy on sleep improvement and the GABAergic system pathway in an insomnia rat model
Hao CHEN ; Xifen ZHANG ; Xuesong WANG ; Yuanbo GAO ; Xuxin LI ; Xihui ZHENG ; Yu WANG ; Xiaojun ZHENG ; Haiping LI ; Yanfen SHE
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(1):138-148
Objective:
To investigate the effect of auricular therapy on sleep improvement and the GABAergic system pathway in a rat model of insomnia and to explore its possible mechanism.
Methods:
According to the random number table, 60 male SD rats were randomly divided into blank control, model, auricular point sticking, auricular bloodletting, and auricular bloodletting combined with sticking groups, with 12 rats per group. Insomnia was induced by intraperitoneal injection of p-chlorophenylalanine. After establishing the insomnia model, 36 rats were treated once a day with auricular point sticking or bloodletting for 5 consecutive days. After the intervention, the general condition and body weight of rats were observed; the righting reflex test was used to detect the sleep latency and duration; HE staining was used to observe the morphology of hypothalamic neuron cells; and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the GABA and glutamate content in rat serum. Immunohistochemistry(IHC) and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR were used to detect GABA ARα1 and GABA ARγ2 protein and mRNA expression in the hypothalamus of rats, and Western blotting(WB) was used to detect GABA ARα1, GABA ARγ2, GAD65/67, GAT-1, and GABA-T protein expression in the hypothalamus of rats.
Results:
Compared with the blank control group, the model group had a lower body weight, a significantly shorter sleep duration (P<0.05), severe damage to the morphological structure of hypothalamic neurons with disordered cell arrangement, larger intercellular gaps, enlarged cell bodies, and a vacuolated appearance. All the intervention groups had significantly higher body weight and longer sleep duration than the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the other intervention groups, the auricular point sticking group had a longer sleep duration (P<0.05), and the hypothalamic neuron cells in all intervention groups improved, with the auricular point sticking group showing more apparent improvement. The model group had a lower GABA and higher glutamate contents, and GABA ARα1, GABA ARγ2, and GAD65/67 protein expression in the hypothalamus were lower than in the blank control group. In contrast, GAT-1 and GABA-T protein expression was higher, and GABA ARα1 and GABA ARγ2 mRNA expression was lower (P<0.05). The serum GABA content in the auricular point sticking and auricular bloodletting groups was higher, and the serum glutamate content in the auricular point sticking and auricular bloodletting combined sticking groups was lower than in the model group. GABA ARα1 mRNA expression in the hypothalamus of each intervention group was significantly increased, and GABA ARγ2 mRNA expression in the hypothalamus of the auricular point sticking and auricular bloodletting combined sticking groups increased. GABA ARα1(IHC, WB), GABA ARγ2(WB), and GAD65/67 protein expression in the hypothalamus of the auricular point sticking group increased, whereas GAT-1 and GABA-T protein expression decreased. GABA ARα1 and GABA ARγ2 protein expression(IHC, WB) in the hypothalamus of the auricular bloodletting group increased, whereas GABA-T protein expression decreased. GABA ARγ1(IHC) and GABA ARγ2(WB) protein expression in the hypothalamus of the auricular bloodletting combined sticking group increased, whereas GAT-1 and GABA-T protein expression decreased (P<0.05). Compared with in the inventation groups, the serum GABA content in the auricular point sticking group increased, the serum glutamate content decreased, GABA ARα1 and GABA ARγ2 mRNA expression in the hypothalamus increased, and GABA ARα1(IHC), GAD65/67 protein expression increased. In contrast, GABA-T protein expression decreased (P<0.05), and GABA ARγ2 protein expression(IHC) in the hypothalamus of the auricular bloodletting group increased (P<0.05).
Conclusion
Auricular therapy, particularly auricular point sticking, may have modulated the GABAergic system pathway by upregulating hypothalamic GABA ARα1, GABA ARγ2, and GAD65/67 protein expression while downregulating GAT-1 and GABA-T protein expression to alleviate symptoms in an insomnia rat model.
2.Study on surface microcirculation sensitization of acupuncture points related to cold coagulation and stasis syndrome in primary dysmenorrhea
Xuxin LI ; Xuesong WANG ; Miao LIN ; Mingjian ZHANG ; Yuanbo GAO ; Xifen ZHANG ; Hao CHEN ; Haiping LI ; Xiaojun ZHENG ; Xisheng FAN ; Jun LIU ; Juncha ZHANG ; Yanfen SHE
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(2):253-269
Objective:
To assess the dynamic changes of microcirculation at acupoints in patients with primary dysmenorrhea and cold congelation and blood stasis syndrome using laser speckle blood flow imaging.
Methods:
Patients with primary dysmenorrhea and cold coagulation and blood stasis syndrome (primary dysmenorrhea group, n=53) and healthy female college students(control group, n=57) who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria from October 2020 to July 2022 were enrolled at Hebei University of Chinese Medicine. On the premenstrual and first day of menstruation, a laser speckle blood flow imaging system was used to measure the microcirculation blood flow perfusion on the surface of acupoints related to the conception, thoroughfare, and governor vessels, and stomach, spleen, and bladder meridians in the abdomen and lumbosacral regions. The dynamic changes in microcirculation were calculated based on the difference in average blood flow perfusion at each acupoint before and after menstruation. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis was used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of dynamic changes in microcirculation on the surface of each acupoint. The microcirculation sensitization rate of acupoints was calculated.
Results:
Compared with the control group, the dynamic changes in microcirculation at the following acupoints in the primary dysmenorrhea group were increased (P<0.05): conception vessel (Yinjiao[CV7], Qihai[CV6], Shimen[CV5], Guanyuan[CV4]); left thoroughfare vessel (left Huangshu[KI16], left Zhongzhu[KI15], left Siman[KI14], left Qixue[KI13], left Dahe[KI12], left Henggu[KI11]); left stomach meridian (left Tianshu[ST25], left Wailing[ST26], left Qichong[ST30]); left spleen meridian (left Daheng[SP15], left Fujie[SP14]); right thoroughfare vessel (right Huangshu[KI16], right Zhongzhu[KI15], right Siman[KI14], right Qixue[KI13], right Dahe[KI12], right Henggu[KI11]); right stomach meridian (right Wailing[ST26], right Daju[ST27], right Shuidao[ST28], right Guilai[ST29], right Qichong[ST30]); and right spleen meridian (right Fujie[SP14]). The area under the ROC curve of conception vessel (Yinjiao[CV7], Qihai[CV6], Shimen[CV5], Guanyuan[CV4]), thoroughfare vessel (right Siman[KI14], left Huangshu[KI16], right Qixue[KI13], right Zhongzhu[KI15], right Dahe[KI12], left Zhongzhu[KI15], left Siman[KI14], right Huangshu[KI16], left Qixue[KI13], right Henggu[KI11], left Henggu[KI11], left Dahe[KI12]); stomach meridian (left Tianshu[ST25], right Guilai[ST29], left Wailing[ST26], right Shuidao[ST28], right Daju[ST27], right Wailing[ST26], right Qichong[ST30], left Qichong[ST30]), and spleen meridian (left Daheng[SP15], left Fujie[SP14], right Fujie[SP14]) was 0.610-0.682 (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the sensitization rate of some acupoints in the primary dysmenorrhea group increased (P<0.05).
Conclusion
With the onset of menstruation, the blood flow perfusion of some acupoints in the abdomen (thoroughfare, and conception vessels, and stomach and spleen meridians) of patients with primary dysmenorrhea and cold blood coagulation and blood stasis syndrome increased, and the status of acupoints changed from a resting state to an active state. These acupoints are sensitive in patients with primary dysmenorrhea and cold blood coagulation and blood stasis syndrome and have a certain diagnostic efficacy, providing a basis for further analyzing the efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion to treat primary dysmenorrhea with cold blood coagulation and blood stasis syndrome.
3.Inhibition of WAC alleviates the chondrocyte proinflammatory secretory phenotype and cartilage degradation via H2BK120ub1 and H3K27me3 coregulation.
Peitao XU ; Guiwen YE ; Xiaojun XU ; Zhidong LIU ; Wenhui YU ; Guan ZHENG ; Zepeng SU ; Jiajie LIN ; Yunshu CHE ; Yipeng ZENG ; Zhikun LI ; Pei FENG ; Qian CAO ; Zhongyu XIE ; Yanfeng WU ; Huiyong SHEN ; Jinteng LI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(8):4064-4077
Several types of arthritis share the common feature that the generation of inflammatory mediators leads to joint cartilage degradation. However, the shared mechanism is largely unknown. H2BK120ub1 was reportedly involved in various inflammatory diseases but its role in the shared mechanism in inflammatory joint conditions remains elusive. The present study demonstrated that levels of cartilage degradation, H2BK120ub1, and its regulator WW domain-containing adapter protein with coiled-coil (WAC) were increased in cartilage in human rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) patients as well as in experimental RA and OA mice. By regulating H2BK120ub1 and H3K27me3, WAC regulated the secretion of inflammatory and cartilage-degrading factors. WAC influenced the level of H3K27me3 by regulating nuclear entry of the H3K27 demethylase KDM6B, and acted as a key factor of the crosstalk between H2BK120ub1 and H3K27me3. The cartilage-specific knockout of WAC demonstrated the ability to alleviate cartilage degradation in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and collagenase-induced osteoarthritis (CIOA) mice. Through molecular docking and dynamic simulation, doxercalciferol was found to inhibit WAC and the development of cartilage degradation in the CIA and CIOA models. Our study demonstrated that WAC is a key factor of cartilage degradation in arthritis, and targeting WAC by doxercalciferol could be a viable therapeutic strategy for treating cartilage destruction in several types of arthritis.
4.3D visualization-based classification of left intrahepatic vessels and its application in precision hepatectomy.
Jun ZHENG ; Zhihua WANG ; Xiaojun HU ; Xiang HE ; Yingfang FAN
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(5):1047-1055
OBJECTIVES:
To establish a three-dimensional (3D) visualization-based classification of the left hepatic portal vein (LHPV) and left hepatic vein (LHV) systems using 3D reconstruction technology to facilitate precise segmental/subsegmental resection of left liver lesions.
METHODS:
Thin-slice contrast-enhanced CT datasets from 244 patients were reconstructed using MI-3DV Works software. The spatial anatomy (origins, branching patterns, and spatial relationships) of the LHPV and LHV branches was analyzed to determine their 3D classifications and segmental liver divisions for guiding surgical planning for anatomical left liver resections.
RESULTS:
The 3D models of the third- and fourth-order branches of the LHPV and LHV were successfully reconstructed for all the 244 patients. Two types of the LHPV system were identified, where the LHPV either had independent origins [242 cases (99.1%)] or had right anterior portal branches arising from the LHPV trunk [2 cases (0.9%)]. 3D classifications identified two types of the Segment II of the LHPV (based on branch number), 3 types of the Segment III (by spatial distribution of the branches), compact vs dispersed types of the left lateral lobe (determined by Segment II/III branches proximity), 3 types of the Segment IV (by branch number and origin), and 3 types the fourth hilar vessels (transverse branches of the left portal vein) for their supplied segments. The LHV system had two drainage types into the inferior vena cava, and the umbilical fissure veins were classified into 3 types by drainage patterns and distance to the venous roots. These classifications combined with liver segmentations allowed individualized surgical planning for segment-specific resections.
CONCLUSIONS
The 3D classification of the LHPV and LHV provides valuable clinical guidance for precise anatomical resections of left liver lesions using liver segments or subsegments as anatomical units to enhance surgical accuracy and improve the outcomes of hepatobiliary surgery.
Humans
;
Hepatectomy/methods*
;
Imaging, Three-Dimensional
;
Hepatic Veins/anatomy & histology*
;
Portal Vein/anatomy & histology*
;
Liver/surgery*
;
Liver Neoplasms/blood supply*
;
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
;
Female
5.Journey and Significance of Quality Control in Medical Safety for China's Plastic Surgery and Aesthetic Medicine Professions
Jiaojie ZHENG ; Mingzi ZHANG ; Loubin SI ; Jie CHEN ; Xiaojun WANG ; Xiao LONG ; Wei XIONG
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2024;15(6):1233-1237
Medical quality and safety are essential safeguards for the harmonious society in China, directly affecting people's sense of security and happiness. Continuously improving medical quality and ensuring medical safety are fundamental and essential to implementing the strategies of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, and promoting the construction of a healthy China. In recent years, with the rapid development of China's economy and the people's increasing emphasis on their own health and safety, China's plastic surgery industry has achieved significant progress and yielded outstanding results. However, along with the rapid growth of the industry, medical quality issues and safety accidents have occurred frequently, attracting widespread attention from all sectors of society. This article briefly outlines the history of quality management and quality control for medical quality and safety in China's plastic surgery specialty. It explores the development of quality management from its origin to medical quality management, as well as the responsibilities and contributions of the National Plastic Surgery Quality Control Center in improving industry standards and ensuring patient safety. It aims to provide support for the standardized management of the plastic surgery industry in the future, so as to promote its healthy and sustainable development.
6.Construction of Medical Quality Control Indicators System for Chinese Plastic and Aesthetic Major
Mingzi ZHANG ; Loubin SI ; Jiuzuo HUANG ; Nanze YU ; Jiaojie ZHENG ; Jie CHEN ; Xiaojun WANG ; Xiao LONG ; Wei XIONG
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2024;15(6):1318-1324
To construct a quality control indicators system for Chinese plastic and aesthetic major and lay foundation for medical quality control. National Quality Control Center of Plastic and Aesthetic Major established a working group in February 2023. Guided by the "structure-process-outcome" theory, the working group formulated medical quality control indicators for Plastic and Aesthetic major by learning from relevant indicators of other majors, reviewing literature, discussing in meetings, and combining opinions from quality control experts. The quality control indicators system was finally established by Delphi expert consultation. Delphi survey was 100% of 2 rounds. The authorities of 2 rounds of expert consultation were 0.854 and 0.857. The harmonious coefficients were 0.387 of primary indicators and 0.425 of secondary indicators( The quality control indicators system established in this study for Plastic and Aesthetic major in China has a certain degree of scientificity and rationality, which offers reference for medical quality control of Plastic and Aesthetic major in China. However, this system should be improved and ameliorated in practical application.
7.Data Development Trend of Public/Private Medical Institutions in Chinese Plastic and Aesthetic Major
Mingzi ZHANG ; Loubin SI ; Jiaojie ZHENG ; Jie CHEN ; Xiaojun WANG ; Xiao LONG ; Wei XIONG
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2024;15(6):1325-1333
To compare and understand the trends in quality control data changes in public and private medical institutions specializing in plastic and aesthetic major in China over the past three years. The national quality control center of plastic and aesthetic major formulated quality control indicators, collected indicator data through the National Clinical Improvement System, conducted feedback verification on the data, organized and summarized the final data, and convened expert committees to analyze the data change trends. In the past three years, the number of both public and private medical institutions specializing in plastic and aesthetic major has shown an upward trend. The number of doctors increased significantly in 2022, with over 90% of doctors in public institutions (about 70% in private institutions) receiving higher education. In recent years, the proportion of doctors from other specialties engaging in plastic and aesthetic activities has increased. The proportion of inpatients seeking aesthetic treatments has also increased. Among outpatient patients, the proportion of injection procedures was relatively low. About one-third of private medical institutions have not yet adopted an electronic medical record system. Data feedback is the cornerstone of medical quality control in Chinese plastic and aesthetic major. Existing data indicates that the related industry is developing steadily, but there is still room for improvement in terms of some indicator data. However, due to the limited data from private medical institutions, it is still necessary to encourage them to improve their reporting enthusiasm in order to conduct a more comprehensive assessment in the future.
8.Focusing on the Benefits of Patient, Promoting the Sustainable Development of Medical Consortium
Wenting ZHENG ; Yuyu ZHOU ; Qiming JIN ; Yi YUAN ; Yanbin LIU ; Xiaojun MA ; Jiong ZHOU
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2024;15(5):1006-1010
As a practical carrier for promoting the tiered diagnosis and treatment model, the medical consor-tium is of great significance for balancing medical resources and boosting medical service efficiency. The construction of medical consortiums not only improves the accessibility of high-quality medical resources for patients, but also enhances the diagnostic and treatment level of member units. Meanwhile, it provides space for the leading hospital to adjust the structure of diseases and improve the level of discipline construction. As the core of medical insurance payment reform, DRG, through indicators such as the case mix index(CMI) and the number of diagnosis related group (DRG), provides objective and quantified data support for case management and disease structure optimization, thus effectively guiding the rational allocation of medical resources and the adjustmentof diseases and surgical types within the medical consortium. Comprehensive use of DRG evaluation indicators can construct a multidimensional medical consortium construction evaluation system, provides a clear direction for medical consortium cooperation, thereby promoting the overall healthy and sustainable development of medical consortiums and achieving a win-win situation for all parties involved. This paper, based on the "1+5+1" medical consortium cooperation model centered around Peking Union Medical College Hospital, utilizes DRG indicators to analyze the benefits for patients, member hospitals, and the leading hospital during the medical consortium construction process, with the hope of providing reference for the construction of a medical consortium evaluation system.
9.An Empirical Study on the Use of Diagnosis Related Group Tools for Grouping Adjustments in Large Public Hospitals
Guojie ZHANG ; Xutong TAN ; Zhiling CAI ; Qiang XU ; Weifeng XU ; Yihang CHEN ; Yating WANG ; Jinhan LIU ; Zheng CHEN ; Jiong ZHOU ; Xiaojun MA
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2024;15(5):1052-1058
To analyze the disease group structure and its trends in key departments of large public hospitals using diagnosis related group (DRG) data, explore the key points of intervention and optimization of disease groups in departments, and further promote the rational allocation of department resources. We retrospectively collected DRG data from two surgical departments in a large public hospital in Beijing from 2017 to 2023. When the case mix index (CMI) of the two surgical departments declined, interventions such as performance appraisal, department education, and hospital publicity were promptly adopted. The changesin CMI values were observed and the trends in disease group weights, time consumption index, cost consumption index, and mortality rate in low-risk groups were analyzed. After the interventions, in surgical department Ⅰ, the proportion of patients with lower-weight diseases, such as major thyroid surgery (KD1), significantly decreased, while that of patients with higher-weight diseases, such as colorectal malignancy surgery (GB2) and pancreatic malignancy surgery (HB1), significantly increased. In surgical department Ⅱ, the proportion of patients with lower-weight diseases, such as chemotherapy (RE1), decreased markedly, while that of patients with higher-weight diseases, including major surgery for malignancy of kidney, ureter, and bladder (LA1), adrenal gland surgery (KC1), surgery for kidney/ureter/bladder except for major malignancy surgery (LB1), and male genital organ malignancy surgery (MA1), increased significantly. Both surgical departments achieved the goal of increasing their CMI values. In terms of efficiency, cost, and quality indicators, the time consumption index and cost consumption index of the two surgical departments were significantly lower than 1, and the mortality rate in low-risk groups was 0. Based on actual conditions and development goals, large public hospitals can achieve improvements in CMI values and optimization of disease group structures through reasonable interventions, thereby enhancing medical efficiency and rational utilization of resources.
10.Journey and Significance of Quality Control in Medical Safety for China's Plastic Surgery and Aesthetic Medicine Professions
Jiaojie ZHENG ; Mingzi ZHANG ; Loubin SI ; Jie CHEN ; Xiaojun WANG ; Xiao LONG ; Wei XIONG
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2024;15(6):1233-1237
Medical quality and safety are essential safeguards for the harmonious society in China, directly affecting people's sense of security and happiness. Continuously improving medical quality and ensuring medical safety are fundamental and essential to implementing the strategies of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, and promoting the construction of a healthy China. In recent years, with the rapid development of China's economy and the people's increasing emphasis on their own health and safety, China's plastic surgery industry has achieved significant progress and yielded outstanding results. However, along with the rapid growth of the industry, medical quality issues and safety accidents have occurred frequently, attracting widespread attention from all sectors of society. This article briefly outlines the history of quality management and quality control for medical quality and safety in China's plastic surgery specialty. It explores the development of quality management from its origin to medical quality management, as well as the responsibilities and contributions of the National Plastic Surgery Quality Control Center in improving industry standards and ensuring patient safety. It aims to provide support for the standardized management of the plastic surgery industry in the future, so as to promote its healthy and sustainable development.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail