OBJECTIVE: To explore the rules of acupoint selection and compatibility of acupuncture and moxibustion in treatment of chronic cough using data mining. METHODS: The ancient and modern medical record cloud platform, and the databases, i.e. CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, EMbase, Web of Science and PubMed, were searched to screen the ancient and modern literature on acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of chronic cough. The prescription database was established for acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of chronic cough, and the analysis conducted on the frequency and use percentage in the aspects of intervention measures, acupoint selection, acupoint distribution, meridian tropism, special points and acupoint combination, as well as the association rules and clustering rules of acupoint selection. The subgroup analysis was performed in accordance with the etiology of chronic cough and intervention measures. RESULTS: A total of 106 articles were included and 158 prescriptions were extracted. The intervention measures were acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal medication and the combination of several measures. The high-frequency acupoints included Feishu (BL13), Zusanli (ST36), Dazhui (GV14), Pishu (BL20), Danzhong (CV17), Shenshu (BL23), Lieque (LU7), Dingchuan (EX-B1), Tiantu (CV22), and Fenglong (ST40). These acupoints are mainly distributed on the back, lumbar region, chest and abdomen. The involved meridians were bladder meridian of foot-taiyang, conception vessel, and lung meridian of hand-taiyin. The special points covered back-shu points, crossing points and five-shu point. Regarding the compatibility of acupoints, the combination of upper and lower points, and the combination of front and back points were predominant in treatment. The analysis of association rules found that the support of Feishu (BL13)→Zusanli (ST36) was the highest; the cluster analysis obtained 8 clusters of acupoints. The acupoint compatibility and overall rules were similar when cough variant asthma (CVA) or the mixed reasons were involved, and the local treatment approach was adopted if the etiology of disease was related to upper airway cough syndrome (UACS) and gastroesophageal reflux cough (GERC). The acupoint selection was similar among different intervention measures. When two kinds of measures were combined in treatment, Feishu (BL13), Pishu (BL20) and Zusanli (ST36) were the most common. CONCLUSION In treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion for chronic cough, the acupoints are selected on the affected local area, depending on syndrome differentiation, and focusing on back-shu points. The main acupoints are Feishu (BL13), Zusanli (ST36), Dazhui (GV14), Pishu (BL20), Danzhong (CV17) and Shenshu (BL23). The combined therapy is dominant with acupuncture, moxibustion and herbal medicine involved.
Acupuncture Points ; Moxibustion/history* ; Humans ; Cough/history* ; Acupuncture Therapy/history* ; Chronic Disease/therapy* ; Data Mining ; History, Ancient ; Meridians ; Chronic Cough

With the increasing utilization of cancer therapy, the incidence of lung injury associated with these treatments continues to rise. The recognition of pulmonary toxicity related to cancer therapy has become increasingly critical, for which interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common cause of mortality. Cancer therapy-related ILD (CT-ILD) can result from a variety of treatments including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, antibody-drug conjugates, and radiotherapy. CT-ILD may progress rapidly and even be life-threatening; therefore, prompt diagnosis and timely treatment are crucial for effective management. This review aims to provide valuable information on the risk factors associated with CT-ILD; elucidate its underlying mechanisms; discuss its clinical features, imaging, and histological manifestations; and emphasize the clinical-related views of its diagnosis. In addition, this review provides an overview of grading, typing, and staging treatment strategies used for the management of CT-ILD.
Humans ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial/diagnosis* ; Neoplasms/therapy* ; Risk Factors ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/adverse effects* ; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use*

Metastasis serves as an indicator of malignancy and is a biological characteristic of carcinomas. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a key role in the promotion of tumor invasion and metastasis and in the enhancement of tumor cell aggressiveness. Prostaglandin E synthase 3 (p23) is a cochaperone for heat shock protein 90 (HSP90). Our previous study showed that p23 is an HSP90-independent transcription factor in cancer-associated inflammation. The effect and mechanism of action of p23 on lung cancer metastasis are tested in this study. By utilizing cell models in vitro and mouse tail vein metastasis models in vivo, the results provide solid evidence that p23 is critical for promoting lung cancer metastases by regulating downstream CXCL1 expression. Rather than acting independently, p23 forms a complex with RNA-binding motif protein 14 (RBM14) to facilitate EMT progression in lung cancer. Therefore, our study provides evidence for the potential role of the RBM14-p23-CXCL1-EMT axis in the metastasis of lung cancer.

BACKGROUND:Indolepropionic acid has been shown to reduce diabetes-induced central nervous system inflammation.However,there is a lack of research on whether to inhibit microglia M1 polarization for the treatment of spinal cord injury. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the mechanism of indolepropionic acid inhibition of microglial cell M1 polarization for the treatment of spinal cord injury through cell and animal experiments. METHODS:(1)In vitro experiments:BV2 cell viability was assessed using the CCK-8 assay to determine optimal concentrations of indolepropionic acid.Subsequently,BV2 cells were categorized into control group,administration group(50 μmol/L indolepropionic acid),lipopolysaccharide group(100 ng/mL lipopolysaccharide),and treatment group(100 ng/mL lipopolysaccharide + 50 μmol/L indolepropionic acid).Nitric oxide content was quantified using the Griess method.Real-time quantitative PCR and western blot assay were employed to measure mRNA and protein levels of pro-inflammatory factors.Cell immunofluorescence staining was conducted to assess inducible nitric oxide synthase expression.The Seahorse assay was employed to assess glycolytic stress levels in BV2 cells.(2)In vivo experiments:30 SD rats were randomly divided into three groups:sham surgery group,spinal cord injury group,and indolepropionic acid group.Motor function recovery in rats after spinal cord injury was assessed using BBB scoring and the inclined plane test.Immunofluorescence staining of spinal cord tissue was conducted to evaluate the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in microglial cells.ELISA was employed to measure protein expression levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α in spinal cord tissue. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)In vitro experiments:Indolepropionic acid exhibited significant suppression of BV2 cell viability when its concentration exceeded 50 μmol/L.Indolepropionic acid achieved this by inhibiting the activation of the nuclear factor κB signaling pathway,thereby suppressing the mRNA and protein expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines(interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α),as well as the M1 polarization marker,inducible nitric oxide synthase,in BV2 cells.Additionally,indolepropionic acid notably reduced the glycolytic level in BV2 cells induced by lipopolysaccharides.(2)In vivo experiments:Following indolepropionic acid intervention in spinal cord injury rats,there was a noticeable increase in BBB scores and the inclined plane test angle.There was also a significant decrease in the number of M1-polarized microglial cells in spinal cord tissue,accompanied by a marked reduction in the protein expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines(interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α).(3)These results conclude that indolepropionic acid promotes functional recovery after spinal cord injury by improving the inflammatory microenvironment through inhibition of microglia M1 polarization.

The biomolecular mechanisms that regulate tooth root development and odontoblast differentiation are poorly understood. We found that Atp6i deficient mice (Atp6i^-/-) arrested tooth root formation, indicated by truncated Hertwig's epithelial root sheath (HERS) progression. Furthermore, Atp6i deficiency significantly reduced the proliferation and differentiation of radicular odontogenic cells responsible for root formation. Atp6i^-/- mice had largely decreased expression of odontoblast differentiation marker gene expression profiles (Col1a1, Nfic, Dspp, and Osx) in the alveolar bone. Atp6i^-/- mice sample RNA-seq analysis results showed decreased expression levels of odontoblast markers. Additionally, there was a significant reduction in Smad2/3 activation, inhibiting transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling in Atp6i^-/- odontoblasts. Through treating pulp precursor cells with Atp6i^-/- or wild-type OC bone resorption-conditioned medium, we found the latter medium to promote odontoblast differentiation, as shown by increased odontoblast differentiation marker genes expression (Nfic, Dspp, Osx, and Runx2). This increased expression was significantly blocked by anti-TGF-β1 antibody neutralization, whereas odontoblast differentiation and Smad2/3 activation were significantly attenuated by Atp6i^-/- OC conditioned medium. Importantly, ectopic TGF-β1 partially rescued root development and root dentin deposition of Atp6i^-/- mice tooth germs were transplanted under mouse kidney capsules. Collectively, our novel data shows that the prevention of TGF-β1 release from the alveolar bone matrix due to OC dysfunction may lead to osteopetrosis-associated root formation via impaired radicular odontoblast differentiation. As such, this study uncovers TGF-β1 /Smad2/3 as a key signaling pathway regulating odontoblast differentiation and tooth root formation and may contribute to future therapeutic approaches to tooth root regeneration.
Female ; Animals ; Mice ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Odontoblasts ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Cell Differentiation ; Signal Transduction ; Disease Models, Animal ; Tooth Root

Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors and PD-1 inhibitors plus chemotherapy combination regimens have been widely used in the first-line treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC), but patients with low PD-L1 expression have limited objective response and survival benefits. Existing treatment regimens are still difficult to fully meet the clinical needs of patients in the real world. Therefore, researchers are still exploring novel superactive treatment options to further improve the efficacy and survival prognosis of different sub-groups in NSCLC. Dual immunotherapy [such as the combination of PD-1 and cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors] has shown considerable long-term survival benefits in a variety of tumors and has also shown broad clinical prospects in NSCLC. In addition to exploring different emerging combination options, how to accurately identify the optimal-benefit groups through predictive biomarkers and how to effectively manage the safety of combination immunotherapy through multidisciplinary collaboration are also the focus of dual immunotherapy. This article reviews the mechanism of action, research progress, predictive biomarkers and future exploration directions of dual immunotherapy.
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B7-H1 Antigen/metabolism* ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Prognosis

Objective To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and independent risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) differentiation.  Methods A total of 108 HCC patients who underwent operation and treatment were reviewed and classified into low differentiation group (n= 29, 26.85%), medium differentiation group (n=53, 49.07%) and high differentiation group (n=26, 24.07%) according to pathological diagnosis. The clinicopathological characteristics and the expression levels of Ki67 and P53 in each group were compared and analyzed. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk factors for low differentiation of HCC.  Results The proportion of cirrhosis, the positive rate of P53 and Ki67 expression level in different degrees of HCC differentiation were statistically significant (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in age, sex, tumor diameter, and hepatitis virus infection or tumor involvement of liver capsule between groups (P>0.05). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that cirrhosis (OR=3.408), high expression of Ki67 (OR=11.113) and positive P53 (OR=9.711) were the main risk factors for poorly differentiated HCC.  Conclusion There are differences in clinical characteristics and expressions of Ki67 and P53 in HCC patients with different degrees of differentiation. Logistic regression analysis can identify clinicopathological risk factors affecting the degree of differentiation of HCC, which can provide criterion support for accurate diagnosis and prognostic treatment.

Objective To monitor the dynamic change of soluble myeloid cells trigger receptor 1 (sTREM-1)and the clearance rate of sTREM-1 (sTREM-1 c) in patients with sepsis shock and to explore its value in assessing the prognosis.Methods A total of 54 patients from January to December 2016 were divided into improved group and death group,sTREM-1 and sTREM-1c level at 1,5,7 and 9 d were monitored and the receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis was used to judge its value in prognosis.Results Comparison of baseline of APACHE Ⅱ score,PCT and age in 2 groups was statistically significant.After treatment,the sTREM-1 level declined,especially in improved group.Similarly,sTREM-1c in improved group at 5,7 and 9 d dropped more significantly than that in death group (P ＜ 0.05).At different time points,sTREM-1 7 topped the predictive value of AUC on the prognosis,followed by APACHE Ⅱ and sTREM-1 5,PCT,sTREM-1 9,sTREM-1c 9 and sTREM-1 1,and sTREM-1c 5 and sTREM-1c 7 were the minimum.Conclusion Effect of dynamic monitoring of sTREM-1 and sTREM-1c analysis in clinic is better than that of simply monitoring of sTREM-1.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common cause of blindness among people over 65 in developed countries.With the rapidity of population aging process,the prevalence of AMD will be further increased.The application of anti-vascular endothelial factor growth medicine in ophthalmology has made great progress in the therapeutic effect and prognosis of wet AMD.In this context,many countries and regions have successively formulated guidelines for the AMD clinical diagnosis and treatment,especially the United States,Europe and Australia.Through the analysis of AMD clinical guidelines of American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) in 2015,and by comparing it with AMD analysis and treatment guidelines of European Society of Retina Specialists (EURETINA) in 2014,this paper provides an accurate,effective and comprehensive diagnosis strategy and lays a foundation for providing AMD patients with quality diagnosis and treatment plans.

Objective PCT and sTREM-1 combined with APACHE Ⅱ score for assessing diagnosis of sepsis and prognostic value.Methods The clinical data for related patients who had hospitalized between January and October 2015 were collected by prospective study methods.According to China guidelines for treatment of severe sepsis/septic shock (2014).The patients were divided into SIRS group,sepsis group,severe sepsis group,septic shock group,and control group.Results Levels of CRP and sTREM-1 were significantly higher in total sepsis group and subgroups than in SIRS group and control group,with a statistical difference (P ＜ 0.05);but there were no significant differences among he subgroups.Lactic acid level differed statistically between both total sepsis group and its subgroups and both control group and SIRS group,so did level of lactic acid between the other groups and septic shock group (P ＜ 0.05).PCT was significantly higher in total sepsis group and its subgroups than in the control group and SIRS group,so did it in septic shock and severe sepsis group than in sepsis group.PCT level was significantly higher in septic shock than in severe sepsis (P ＜ 0.05).APACHE Ⅱ scores were markedly in total sepsis group and its subgroups than in SIRS group and the control group;and it differed statistically between septic shock group and sepsis group (P ＜ 0.05).According to the ROC curve analysis,the area under the curve was 0.935,0.877,0.816,and 0.856 for PCT,sTREM-1,APACHE Ⅱ,CRP,and lactic acid,respectively.Conclusions Detection of serum PCT and sTREM-1 combined with APACHE Ⅱ score can be used to assess diagnosis of sepsis and prognostic value,which has more benefit to the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis.