Objective:To observe the effect of electroacupuncture on depression in chronic pain mice; To explore its mechanism.Methods:36 C57BL/6J mice were divided into a blank control group, a sham-operation group, a model group, and an electroacupuncture group using a random number table method, with 9 mice in each group. The chronic compression injury model of sciatic nerve was established in the model group and electroacupuncture group. Mechanical pain threshold (MWT) and latent heat wave leg reflex (TWL) were measured on preoperative day 1 and postoperative days 4, 7, 14, 21, and 35. Electroacupuncture treatment was performed on the 14th day after modeling, and on the 35th day after modeling, open field experiments, elevated cross maze experiments, forced swimming experiments, and tail suspension experiments were conducted to evaluate depressive like behavior in mice. Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of glutamate receptor 1 (GluA1), glutamate receptor 2 (GluA2), human glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3), and calmodulin dependent protein kinase Ⅱ (CaMKⅡ) in the hippocampus of each group of mice; GluA1 positive cells in the hippocampus of mice was observed using immunofluorescence technology.Results:Compared with the blank group, the MWT and TWL value of the model group decreased ( P<0.05) on postoperative days 4, 7, 14, and 21. Compared with the model group, the electroacupuncture group had a longer stay time in the central area of the open field ( P<0.01), an increased percentage of stay time and activity frequency in the elevated arm opening ( P<0.01), a shorter static time for forced swimming ( P<0.01), and a shorter immobility time for the suspended tail ( P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the expressions of GluA1, GLUT3, GluA2, and CaMKⅡ proteins in the hippocampus of mice in the electroacupuncture group increased ( P<0.05), and the number of GluA1 positive cells increased ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Electroacupuncture can affect synaptic plasticity by regulating the AMPA receptor in the hippocampal region, thereby improving depressive mood caused by chronic pain.

Consecutively hospitalized patients with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China were retrospectively enrolled from January 2020 to March 2020 to investigate the association between the use of renin-angiotensin system inhibitor (RAS-I) and the outcome of this disease. Associations between the use of RAS-I (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)), ACEI, and ARB and in-hospital mortality were analyzed using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models in overall and subgroup of hypertension status. A total of 2771 patients with COVID-19 were included, with moderate and severe cases accounting for 45.0% and 36.5%, respectively. A total of 195 (7.0%) patients died. RAS-I (hazard ratio (HR)= 0.499, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.325-0.767) and ARB (HR = 0.410, 95% CI 0.240-0.700) use was associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality among patients with COVID-19. For patients with hypertension, RAS-I and ARB applications were also associated with a reduced risk of mortality with HR of 0.352 (95% CI 0.162-0.764) and 0.279 (95% CI 0.115-0.677), respectively. RAS-I exhibited protective effects on the survival outcome of COVID-19. ARB use was associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality among patients with COVID-19.
Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists/therapeutic use* ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; COVID-19 ; Humans ; Hypertension/drug therapy* ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; Retrospective Studies