1.Exploring the mechanism of myofascial trigger points deactivation by Tuina via the TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway
Liya TANG ; Xiaowei LIU ; Jiadong ZANG ; Yuqiao ZHANG ; Xiang FENG ; Wu LI ; Jiangshan LI
Digital Chinese Medicine 2026;9(1):103-113
Objective:
To investigate whether Tuina alleviates fibrotic symptoms in myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) by regulating transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway, thereby deactivating these points.
Methods:
This study comprised two experimental phases. In phase 1, 27 specific pathogen-free (SPF) grade female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomized into three groups: control 1, model 1, and Tuina 1 groups. Model 1 and Tuina 1 groups underwent an 8-week MTrPs modeling protocol involving blunt impact and eccentric exercise. After successful modeling, rats in Tuina 1 group received manual pressing on nodules or cord-like taut bands on the medial aspect of the left hindlimb. Pain sensitivity and tissue stiffness were evaluated via pressure pain threshold (PPT) and soft tissue tension (STT). Muscle histopathology and fibrosis were observed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson staining. Inflammatory factors in muscle were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while immunofluorescence (IF) and Western blot (WB) were used to detect the expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen Ⅲ, and TGF-β1. In phase 2, 45 SPF female SD rats were randomized into five groups: control 2, model 2, Tuina 2, TGF-β1 inhibitor (TI), and Tuina + TGF-β1 agonist (Tuina + TA) groups. All groups except control 2 underwent standardized MTrPs modeling. Rats in Tuina 2 group received consistent pressing manipulation. TI group received intraperitoneal injections of oxymatrine, while Tuina + TA group received intraperitoneal injections of SRI-011381 hydrochloride followed by the same pressing protocol as Tuina 2 group. WB was used to detect the expression of collagen I, collagen III, TGF-β1, and phosphorylated-Smad3 (p-Smad3)/Smad3.
Results:
In phase 1, Tuina significantly improved PPT and STT in MTrPs of rats (P < 0.01), reversed pathological damages including disorganized muscle fiber arrangement, abnormal myocyte morphology, and exacerbated fibrosis. In addition, in MTrPs of rats in model 1 group, expression levels of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and fibrosis markers (α-SMA, collagen I, and collagen III) were upregulated, and all exhibited a significant downward trend after Tuina intervention (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). This indicates that the therapeutic effects of Tuina are directly associated with reduced local inflammation and fibrosis in MTrPs. In phase 2, compared with model 2 group, rats in TI and Tuina 2 groups had decreased expression levels of TGF-β1 and p-Smad3/Smad3 in MTrPs, alongside reduced levels of inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, NF-κB, and TNF-α) and fibrosis markers (α-SMA, collagen I, and collagen III) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). When co-administered with TGF-β1 agonist, the therapeutic effects of Tuina were significantly attenuated, with rebounded TGF-β1 expression and p-Smad3/Smad3 in local MTrPs, and fibrosis and inflammatory responses were re-exacerbated (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).
Conclusion
Tuina can effectively reduce inflammatory responses and fibrosis in MTrPs tissue, and its mechanism is closely related to the inhibition of the TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway, which plays a critical role in Tuina-mediated regulation of MTrPs fibrosis.
2.Epidemiological characteristics and trends of other infectious diarrhea among children during 2014-2020
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(7):922-925
Objective:
To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and trends of other infectious diarrhea among children under 18 years old in Guangzhou City from 2014 to 2020, and to explore the correlation between climatic factors and the incidence of the disease, so as to provide reference for the early prevention of infectious diseases.
Methods:
The data of cases of other infectious diarrhea and meteorological data of children under 18 years old in Guangzhou City from 2014 to 2020 were collected through the Chinese Infectious Disease Reporting System and the Guangzhou Meteorological Bureau. The correlation between meteorological factors and the incidence of other infectious diarrhea was analyzed using negative binomial regression.
Results:
A total of 104 566 cases of other infectious diarrhea among children under 18 years old were reported in Guangzhou City from 2014 to 2020, with a male to female ratio of 1.48∶1. The incidence rate was the highest in 2017 (980.83 per 100 000) and the lowest in 2020 (388.22 per 100 000). The peak of incidence occurred from October to March of the following year. Children under 5 years old accounted for 87.95% of all cases. The number of cases of other infectious diarrhea was negatively correlated with the temperature of the previous 6 days ( IRR = -0.07 ), and positively correlated with the temperature difference on the day of onset ( IRR =0.02) (both P <0.05). It was also positively correlated with the wind speed of the previous 7 days ( IRR=0.07, P <0.05), but there was no statistically significant correlation with the relative humidity on the day of onset ( IRR=-0.00, P >0.05).
Conclusions
Low temperature, large temperature difference, and high wind speed can increase the risk of other infectious diarrhea. It is necessary to strengthen the prediction and early warning in conjunction with meteorological changes, and warn kindergartens and schools to enhance preventive measures against the clustering of other infectious diarrhea cases.
3.Assessment of genetic associations between antidepressant drug targets and various stroke subtypes: A Mendelian randomization approach.
Luyang ZHANG ; Yunhui CHU ; Man CHEN ; Yue TANG ; Xiaowei PANG ; Luoqi ZHOU ; Sheng YANG ; Minghao DONG ; Jun XIAO ; Ke SHANG ; Gang DENG ; Wei WANG ; Chuan QIN ; Daishi TIAN
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(4):487-489
4.Tiaozhou Ziyin recipe for treatment of premature ovarian insufficiency: efficacy, safety and mechanism.
Peipei TANG ; Yong TAN ; Yanyun YIN ; Xiaowei NIE ; Jingyu HUANG ; Wenting ZUO ; Yuling LI
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(5):929-941
OBJECTIVES:
To assess the efficacy and safety of Tiaozhou Ziyin (TZZY) recipe for treatment of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and explore the possible mechanisms.
METHODS:
We used bioinformatics analyses and network pharmacology to identify the main active ingredients in TZZY recipe and their core targets, which were verified by Western blotting. We tested the efficacy and safety of the recipe in 60 POI patients, who were randomized into control group (n=30) with Femoston treatment and TZZY group (n=30) with additional TZZY recipe treatment for 3 menstrual cycles.
RESULTS:
The core active ingredients of TZZY recipe included kaempferol, β-sitosterol, luteolin, and quercetin. The core targets included SRC, TP53, STAT3, PIK3CA, and MAPK3, which were involved in positive regulation of cell movement and protein phosphorylation, the cancer pathways and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Molecular docking showed that the core active ingredients had good binding ability with the core targets. In female rat models of POI, TZZY recipe treatment significantly up-regulated ovarian expressions of p-PI3K and p-Akt proteins. In the clinical trial, treatment with Femoston and Femoston plus TZZY recipe both significantly increased E2 levels and reduced FSH and LH levels and Kupperman scores of the patients, and the combined treatment produced significantly stronger effects. Both treatments increased the number of antral follicles of the patients, but the combined treatment also significantly increased the levels of AMH.
CONCLUSIONS
The therapeutic mechanism of TZZY recipe for POI involves multiple active ingredients, multiple therapeutic targets and multiple pathways, and activating the PI3K /Akt pathway is one of its main mechanisms of action, to improve ovarian reserve function, alleviate clinical symptoms, and enhance clinical efficacy in POI patients.
Female
;
Primary Ovarian Insufficiency/drug therapy*
;
Humans
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
;
Animals
;
Rats
;
Molecular Docking Simulation
;
Signal Transduction
;
Sitosterols/therapeutic use*
;
Kaempferols/therapeutic use*
5.The cultivation of empathy in clinical teaching of oral medicine
Zhen LI ; Haitao DONG ; Wen CAI ; Chunlan LI ; Youjia TANG ; Xiaowei ZHANG ; Wendong YANG
Basic & Clinical Medicine 2025;45(6):834-837
Empathy is a cornerstone in cultivating medical ethics.This article delves into the profound significance of empathy and underscores the importance of promoting it among medical students and practitioners.It also details methods for strengthening empathy and capacity building concerned in students through oral medicine instruction,with the goal of nurturing oral healthcare professionals who provide compassionate care.
6.Drug prophylaxis evidence-based regimens for venous thromboembolism after joint replacement
Xiaowei FENG ; Na GUO ; Baozhen WANG ; Jie CHENG ; Yuchen TANG ; Jun QI ; Zhiqiang DONG
China Pharmacy 2024;35(22):2799-2807
OBJECTIVE To sort out drug prophylaxis regimens for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in adult patients after artificial joint replacement, and provide a basis for clinic. METHODS Databases and related official websites were searched according to the “6S” model, including the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), the Guidelines International Network (GIN), the National Guidelines Clearinghouse (NGC), PubMed, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang database and SinoMed, to search for guidelines, expert consensuses, systematic evaluations, randomized controlled trials, and cohort studies about preventing VTE in adult patients after artificial joint replacement from the inception until December 2023. Literature that met the inclusion criteria were selected, and the quality evaluation of the literature was completed by 2 researchers independently; the evidence rating was performed by using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) evidence pre-classification and evidence rank system (2014 edition). RESULTS A total of 36 articles were included in the study, which were categorized into 9 areas of risk assessment, post-assessment prophylaxis, medication selection, medication method, duration of medication prophylaxis, medication prophylaxis observation points, contraindications to drug prophylaxis, response to bleeding, and health education, which were summarized to form 37 pieces of evidence on the pharmacological prophylaxis for postoperative VTE in patients who underwent artificial joint replacement. CONCLUSIONS The evidence of drug prophylaxis for postoperative VTE in patients who underwent artificial joint replacement summarized in this study is comprehensive, with certain scientific reference and practicality, which can provide clinical pharmacists with a scientific evidence-based basis for perioperative VTE prophylaxis management.
7.Effect and mechanism of LncRNA PICSAR knockdown on proliferation,migration and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells
Xuejun TANG ; Xiaowei DOU ; Xiaoyan YING
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2024;59(9):1509-1516
Objective To investigate the expression of long non-coding RNA(LncRNA)PICSAR in ovarian canc-er,and explore the effects of LncRNA PICSAR on the proliferation,migration,invasion and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells as well as its possible mechanism of action.Methods The expression levels of LncRNA PICSAR in o-varian cancer tissue and cell line A2780,OVCAR-3,HO-8910 and normal ovarian tissue and cell line IOSE386 were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR.Ovarian cancer cell lines with the highest expression of LncRNA PICSAR were divided into control group and experimental group,and transfected with negative control small inter-fering RNA(siRNA-NC)or PICSAR knockout small interfering RNA(siRNA-PICSAR)by liposome transfection technique,respectively.The effects of LncRNA PICSAR knockdown on the invasion,migration,proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells were analyzed by cell counting assay(CCK-8),clonogenic assay,scratch assay,transwell assay and flow cytometry and so on.The expression levels of autophagy related proteins and apoptosis-re-lated proteins in each group were determined by Western blot.Ovarian cancer cells were treated with rapamycin and hydroxychloroquine as autophagy activator and inhibitor,and Western blot assay was used to detect apoptosis.Results The expression level of LncRNA PICSAR in ovarian cancer tissues was higher than that in normal ovarian tissues.Compared with IOSE386 cell line,LncRNA PICSAR expression levels in ovarian cancer cell lines HO-8910,OVCAR-3 and A2780 increased.Compared with the si-NC group,the proliferation,invasion and migration ability of ovarian cancer cells in si-PICSAR group decreased,and the apoptosis rate increased.The autophagy level of ovarian cancer cells in si-PICSAR group was lower than that in si-NC group.After transfection with siRNA-PIC-SAR,rapamycin activated autophagy to reduce apoptosis,while hydroxychloroquine inhibited autophagy to promote apoptosis.Conclusion LncRNA PICSAR is highly expressed in ovarian cancer tissues and cell lines,and the ma-lignant biological behavior of ovarian cancer cells can be inhibited by knockout of LncRNA PICSAR.The knock-down of LncRNA PICSAR may promote the apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells by regulating autophagy.
8.Clinical guidelines for indications, techniques, and complications of autogenous bone grafting.
Jianzheng ZHANG ; Shaoguang LI ; Hongying HE ; Li HAN ; Simeng ZHANG ; Lin YANG ; Wenxing HAN ; Xiaowei WANG ; Jie GAO ; Jianwen ZHAO ; Weidong SHI ; Zhuo WU ; Hao WANG ; Zhicheng ZHANG ; Licheng ZHANG ; Wei CHEN ; Qingtang ZHU ; Tiansheng SUN ; Peifu TANG ; Yingze ZHANG
Chinese Medical Journal 2024;137(1):5-7
9.Research on the Path of Optimizing the "Ideological and Creative Integration" in Traditional Chinese Medicine Universities under the Perspective of the Great Anti-epidemic Spirit
Chinese Medical Ethics 2024;35(4):470-474
The great anti-epidemic spirit is the brightest spiritual symbol of the anti-epidemic struggle and the inheritance and development of the spirit of patriotism, collectivism and socialism. Under the context of normalized epidemic prevention and control, it is necessary to give full play to the leading role of the great anti-epidemic spirit and explore the new mode of innovation and entrepreneurship education of "ideological and creative integration" in Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) universities. Summarized the educational value of anti-epidemic spirit, boost TCM universities to realize cultural education and promote TCM cultural inheritance and innovation; analyzed the difficulties existing in the process of "ideological and creative integration" in TCM universities, and provide accurate direction for optimizing the path of "ideological and creative integration" in TCM universities. To explore the multiple paths of "ideological and creative integration" in TCM universities requires multi-party cooperation, joint management, accelerating the optimization of "ideological and creative integration", and establishing a hierarchical "ideological and creative integration" system, so as to provide new ideas for us to implement the educational goal of "establishing moral integrity in cultivation" under the background of normalized epidemic prevention and control.
10.Research on regulatory countermeasures for local human genetic resources in China
Shuo GU ; Tao XUE ; Yue TANG ; Jinping ZHAO ; Xiaowei ZHANG ; Jun FENG
Chinese Medical Ethics 2024;37(4):441-447
Human genetic resources are an indispensable part of national natural science and technology resources,as well as an important strategic resource for safeguarding national security,public health,and social public interests.To promote the effective protection and rational utilization of human genetic resources,as well as improve and optimize the local human genetic resources management system in China,this paper summarized the current situation of administrative approval and supervision of national human genetic resources from 2004 to 2021 by sorting out the national human genetic resources management policies and regulations.Furthermore,the current situation and progress of local human genetic resources management in China were understood from three aspects,including development planning and programs of human genetic resources,administrative licensing and penalties,and the construction of management expert committees.The main problems of local human genetic resources management in China were discussed and analyzed,such as unclear supervision,difficulty in supervision and inspection,and capacity for services.Based on the causes of the problems and the local management work,specific countermeasures and suggestions were put forward from the perspective of clarifying the regulatory policies and procedures for human genetic resources,improving the supervision and inspection mechanisms,and improving the management and service capabilities.


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