The ventral anterior (VA) nucleus of the thalamus is a major target of the basal ganglia and is closely associated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Notably, the VA receives direct innervation from the hypothalamic histaminergic system. However, its role in PD remains unknown. Here, we assessed the contribution of histamine to VA neuronal activity and PD motor deficits. Functional magnetic resonance imaging showed reduced VA activity in PD patients. Optogenetic activation of VA neurons or histaminergic afferents significantly alleviated motor deficits in 6-OHDA-induced PD rats. Furthermore, histamine excited VA neurons via H1 and H2 receptors and their coupled hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels, inward-rectifier K⁺ channels, or Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels. These results demonstrate that histaminergic afferents actively compensate for Parkinsonian motor deficits by biasing VA activity. These findings suggest that targeting VA histamine receptors and downstream ion channels may be a potential therapeutic strategy for PD motor dysfunction.
Animals ; Histamine/metabolism* ; Male ; Oxidopamine/toxicity* ; Rats ; Ventral Thalamic Nuclei/physiopathology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Disease Models, Animal ; Parkinson Disease/metabolism* ; Neurons/physiology* ; Humans ; Optogenetics

Objective To investigate the risk factors for bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD)in twin preterm infants with a gestational age of<34 weeks,and to provide a basis for early identification of BPD in twin preterm infants in clinical practice.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the twin preterm infants with a gestational age of<34 weeks who were admitted to 22 hospitals nationwide from January 2018 to December 2020.According to their conditions,they were divided into group A(both twins had BPD),group B(only one twin had BPD),and group C(neither twin had BPD).The risk factors for BPD in twin preterm infants were analyzed.Further analysis was conducted on group B to investigate the postnatal risk factors for BPD within twins.Results A total of 904 pairs of twins with a gestational age of<34 weeks were included in this study.The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared with group C,birth weight discordance of>25%between the twins was an independent risk factor for BPD in one of the twins(OR=3.370,95%CI:1.500-7.568,P<0.05),and high gestational age at birth was a protective factor against BPD(P<0.05).The conditional logistic regression analysis of group B showed that small-for-gestational-age(SGA)birth was an independent risk factor for BPD in individual twins(OR=5.017,95%CI:1.040-24.190,P<0.05).Conclusions The development of BPD in twin preterm infants is associated with gestational age,birth weight discordance between the twins,and SGA birth.

Background Intraseasonal variation in acute health effects of extreme heat remains insufficiently investigated. Emergency ambulance calls (EACs) may offer timely insights into the population's health during such extreme heat events. Objective To analyze intraseasonal variation in the association between extreme heat and hourly EACs during summer in Dezhou City, Shandong Province, China. Methods We collected data on all-cause hourly EACs in Dezhou City from 2021 to 2022 and assigned hourly temperature and humidity data (with a spatial resolution of 0.0625° × 0.0625°) to call addresses. Summer in this study was defined as from June to September each year, with June to July considered as early summer and August to September as late summer. Extreme heat was defined as the 99th percentile of the temperature range during the summer. We employed a time-stratified case-crossover design using conditional logistic regression integrating distributed-lag nonlinear models to compare the association between extreme heat and the risk of hourly EACs in both early and late summer periods. Results A total of 80389 EACs were recorded in Dezhou City during the study period. The analysis revealed a U-shaped association between hourly ambient temperature and EACs during summer, with the most significant effect observed at lag 0-30 h. Using the optimal temperature of 20.0°C as a reference, the cumulative odds ratio (OR) (lag 0-120 h) for extreme heat was 1.55 (95%CI: 1.40, 1.71) throughout summer. The cumulative effect of extreme heat was higher in late summer (OR=2.38, 95%CI: 1.91, 2.97) than in early summer (OR=1.37, 95%CI: 1.22, 1.54) (P<0.0001). Additionally, individuals aged 60 years and above had a higher risk throughout summer (OR=1.98, 95%CI: 1.70, 2.30) compared to those under 60 years (OR=1.23, 95%CI: 1.06, 1.42) (P<0.0001). Conclusion Intraseasonal variation is observed in the strength of association between extreme heat and hourly EACs during summer in Dezhou City. The higher risk observed in late summer than in early summer indicates that repeated exposures to heat may escalate health risks, and older adults are more vulnerable.

Aim To observe the behavioral effects of exogenous allopregnanolone(ALLO)and its inhibitor finasteride on the receptive period(R)and non-recep-tive period(NR)of PMDD liver-qi inversion model rats and the expression of GABAARα4,GABAARδ mR-NA and protein effects to explore its pathogenesis.Methods The PMDD liver-qi reverse syndrome rat model was prepared.The rats were divided into the normal group R and NR(control-R,control-NR),model group R and NR(Model-R,Model-NR),nor-mal group R+ALLO and NR+ALLO(Control+A-R,Control+A-NR),and model group R+ALLO and NR+ALLO(Model+A-R,Model+A-NR),model group R+finasteride and NR+finasteride(Model+F-R,Model+F-NR).The elevated cross labyrinth ex-periment and social interaction experiment were used to detect the behaviors of rats;fluorescence quantitative PCR and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression of GABAARα4 and 8 mRNA and protein in rat amygdala and hippocampus.Results In the be-havioral evaluation,in the NR period,in the elevated cross maze test and in the social interaction test,the rats in the model group had anxiety behavior and de-creased social communication ability(P＜0.05),while the rats in the Model+A group could effectively relieve anxiety symptoms and improve their social com-munication ability(P＜0.05),and the rats in the Model+F group had increased anxiety behavior and social disorder(P＜0.05).In fluorescence quantita-tive PCR and immunofluorescence experiments,the ex-pression of GABAARα4 subunit in the model group was up-regulated in the hippocampus(P＜0.01),and the expression of δ subunit was down-regulated(P＜0.01);the expression of GABAARα4 subunit in the a-mygdala and hippocampus of the Model+A group de-creased(P＜0.01),and the expression of δ subunit increased in the hippocampus(P＜0.01).Conclu-sions The abnormal expression of GABAARα4 and 8 subunits mediated by ALLO improves the anxiety symptoms and social interaction ability of PMDD,which is the pathogenesis of PMDD liver-qi reverse syndrome,and provides basis and support for subse-quent exploration of the pathogenesis of PMDD liver-qi reverse syndrome.

A moxibustion device with the functions of auricular fumigation moxibustion and heat-sensitive moxibustion is designed. The smoke of the ignited moxa stick is used for the fumigation moxibustion at the external auditory canal, while the heat generated works on Dazhui (GV 14) for heat-sensitive moxibustion. The device consists of five parts, i.e. combustion chamber, smoke pipe, smoke processing chamber, power module and connector. It solves the limitations such as unpleasant experience in treatment, unfavorable temperature control, easy scalding and excessive manual dependence induced by usual fumigation moxibustion and during heat-sensitive moxibustion. This moxibustion device may improve the safety and convenience when delivering the treatment with fumigation moxibustion and heat-sensitive moxibustion, as well as the work efficiency of medical staff.
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Hot Temperature ; Fumigation ; Smoke ; Temperature

To enhance the clinical applicability of guidelines and provide more effective guidance for clinical practice, a clinical value assessment was conducted during the development of the World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS) Clinical Practice Guideline of Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Migraine, which involved the evaluation of 59 acupuncture and moxibustion treatment protocols from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). This article introduced the methodology, content and results of the clinical value assessment of RCT-based acupuncture and moxibustion treatment protocols, which involved the integration of historical and contemporary medical evidence and expert consensus. It served as a methodological reference for the future development of acupuncture and moxibustion clinical practice guidelines.
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Acupuncture ; Clinical Protocols ; Migraine Disorders/therapy*

Aim To investigate the therapeutic effect of lanthanum hydroxide on renal injury and vascular calcification in rats caused by chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the underlying mechanism. Methods A CKD model was constructed by adenine, and the rats were randomly divided into model group, lanthanum hydroxide low, medium and high dose groups, lanthanum carbonate group and calcium carbonate group. After eight weeks, serum phosphorus ( Pi ), calcium (Ca), serum creatinine ( Scr), blood urea nitrogen ( BUN ), parathyroid hormone ( PTH ), fibroblast growth factor 23 ( FGF23 ) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b ( TARP-5b) levels were measured. Histopathological staining was used to assess the degree of calcification of blood vessels, and the expressions of smooth muscle protein 22α ( SM22α), Runt-related transcription factor 2 ( RUNX2 ), hypoxia inducible factor 1 ( HIF-1) pathway mRNA and protein expression in blood vessels were detected. Results Lanthanum hydroxide can significantly reduce the levels of Pi, Scr, BUN, PTH, FGF23 and TARP-5b in the serum of CKD rats, significantly reduce the calcium deposition of the thoracic aorta of CKD rats, the expression of BMP-2, VEGF in the cytoplasm, the expression of RUNX2, HIF-1α in the nucleus, and increase the mRNA and protein expression of SM22. Conclusion Lanthanum hydroxide can markedly improve hyperphosphatemia in CKD rats, and can improve vascular calcification in CKD rats by blocking HIF-1α signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Astragalin （AST） on apoptosis of cerebral cortex neurons in APP/PS1 transgenic mice. MethodsEighteen six-month-old male APP/PS1 transgenic mice were randomly divided into APP/PS1 group， APP/PS1+ 40 mg/kg AST group and APP/PS1+ 20 mg/kg Donepezil （DNP） group， with six mice in each group. At the same time， six male C57BL/6 mice were selected as the normal control group. After intraperitoneal injection of AST once a day and continuous administration for one month， we used Tunel staining to detect the apoptosis of neurons in the cerebral cortex of APP/PS1 mice； immunofluorescent staining to examine the expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bax， Bcl-2， Caspase9 and Cleaved-Caspase3 in the cerebral cortex neurons of APP/PS1 mice； Western blot method to evaluate the changes of the expression of Bax， Bcl-2， Caspase9 and Caspase3. ResultsTunel staining showed that 40 mg/kg AST and 20 mg/kg DNP both reduced the apoptosis of neurons in the cerebral cortex of APP/PS1 mice， AST with more significant inhibition effect. Immunofluorescent staining revealed that 40 mg/kg AST and 20 mg/kg DNP both inhibited the expression of Bax， Caspase9， and Cleaved-Caspase3， and icreased the expression of Bcl-2 in the cerebral cortex neurons of APP/PS1 mice. Western blot results further confirmed that 40 mg/kg AST and 20 mg/kg DNP both down-regulated the expression of Bax （P < 0.05， P < 0.05）， Caspase9 （P < 0.005， P < 0.05） and Caspase3 （P < 0.0001， P < 0.0001） ， and up-regulated the expresstion of Bcl-2 （P < 0.05， P < 0.05） in the cerebral cortex neurons of APP/PS1 mice. ConclusionsAST can inhibit the apoptosis of cerebral cortex neurons in APP/PS1 mice.

An automatic ash-removal heat-sensitive moxibustion device was developed, which could keep relatively constant temperature of heat-sensitive moxibustion, and realize the automatic ignition and automatic ash removal of moxa sticks during heat-sensitive moxibustion. The automatic ash-removal heat-sensitive moxibustion device comprises a bracket and a moxibustion box fixed on the top of the bracket; the bracket is composed of a base and a movable telescopic arm. This device can solve the problems of temperature instability, moxa ash blocking heat transfer and moxa ash falling during heat-sensitive moxibustion, avoiding the scalding caused by moxa ash falling, and reduce the workload of medical staff.
Humans ; Hot Temperature ; Moxibustion ; Temperature

Objective: To analyze the clinicopathological characteristics of 11 cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with t (14;19) (q32;q13) . Methods: The case data of 11 patients with CLL with t (14;19) (q32;q13) in the chromosome karyotype analysis results of the Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 1, 2018, to July 30, 2022, were retrospectively analyzed. Results: In all 11 patients, t (14;19) (q32;q13) involved IGH::BCL3 gene rearrangement, and most of them were accompanied by +12 or complex karyotype. An immunophenotypic score of 4-5 was found in 7 patients and 3 in 4 cases. We demonstrated that CLLs with t (14;19) (q32;q13) had a mutational pattern with recurrent mutations in NOTCH1 (3/7), FBXW7 (3/7), and KMT2D (2/7). The very-high-risk, high-risk, intermediate-risk, and low-risk groups consisted of 1, 1, 6, and 3 cases, respectively. Two patients died, 8 survived, and 2 were lost in follow-up. Four patients had disease progression or relapse during treatment. The median time to the first therapy was 1 month. Conclusion: t (14;19) (q32;q13), involving IGH::BCL3 gene rearrangement, is a rare recurrent cytogenetic abnormality in CLL, which is associated with a poor prognosis.
Humans ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/genetics* ; Retrospective Studies ; Translocation, Genetic ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Karyotyping