Background/Aims: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common disease with severe inflammatory processes associated with numerous gastrointestinal diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Therefore, we investigated the relationship between NAFLD and IBD and the possible risk factors associated with the diagnosis of IBD. Methods: This longitudinal nationwide cohort study investigated the risk of IBD in patients with NAFLD alone. General characteristics, comorbidities, and incidence of IBD were also compared. Results: Patients diagnosed with NAFLD had a significant risk of developing IBD compared to control individuals, who were associated with a 2.245-fold risk of the diagnosis of IBD and a 2.260- and 2.231-fold of increased diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, respectively (P< 0.001). The cumulative risk of IBD increased annually during the follow-up of patients with NAFLD (P< 0.001). Conclusions Our results emphasize that NAFLD significantly impacts its incidence in patients with NAFLD. If patients with NAFLD present with risk factors, such as diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia, these conditions should be properly treated with regular follow-ups. Furthermore, we believe that these causes may be associated with the second peak of IBD.

OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluated the effects of deep acupuncture at Weizhong acupoint (BL40) on bladder function and brain activity in a rat model of overactive bladder (OAB), and investigated the possible mechanisms around the acupuncture area that initiate the effects of acupuncture. METHODS: Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups, comprising a control group, model group, group treated with deep acupuncture at BL40, group treated with shallow acupuncture at BL40, group treated with acupuncture at non-acupoint next to BL40, and group treated with acupuncture at Xuanzhong (GB39). Urodynamic evaluation was used to observe the urination, and functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to observe the brain activation. The mechanism of acupuncture at BL40 in regulating bladder function was explored by toluidine blue staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the mechanism was verified by stabilizing mast cells (MCs) or blocking tibial nerve. RESULTS: Deep acupuncture at BL40 significantly increased the intercontraction interval in OAB rats and enhanced the mean amplitude of low frequency fluctuation of primary motor cortex (M1), periaquaductal gray matter (PAG), and pontine micturition center (PMC). It also increased the zero-lag functional connectivity between M1 and PAG and between PAG and PMC. Shallow acupuncture at BL40 and acupuncture at non-acupoint or GB39 had no effect on these indexes. Further studies suggested that deep acupuncture at BL40 increased the number and degranulation rate of MCs as well as the contents of 5-hydroxytryptamine, substance P, and histamine in the tissues around BL40. Blocking the tibial nerve by lidocaine injection or inhibiting MC degranulation by sodium cromoglycate injection obstructed the effects of acupuncture on restoring urinary function and modulating brain activation in OAB rats. CONCLUSION Deep acupuncture at BL40 may be more effective for inhibiting OAB by promoting degranulation of MCs around the acupoint and stimulating tibial nerve, thereby regulating the activation of the brain area that controls the lower urinary tract. Please cite this article as: Liu X, Zhang CY, Du XY, Li SS, Wang YQ, Zheng Y, Deng HZ, Fang XQ, Li JY, Wang ZQ, Xu SF, Mi YQ. Acupuncture at Weizhong (BL40) attenuates acetic acid-induced overactive bladder in rats by regulating brain neural activity through the modulation of mast cells and tibial nerves. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(1): 46-55.
Animals ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive/physiopathology* ; Mast Cells/physiology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Female ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture Points ; Rats ; Brain/physiopathology* ; Tibial Nerve/physiopathology* ; Acetic Acid ; Urinary Bladder/physiopathology*

Background/Aims: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common disease with severe inflammatory processes associated with numerous gastrointestinal diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Therefore, we investigated the relationship between NAFLD and IBD and the possible risk factors associated with the diagnosis of IBD. Methods: This longitudinal nationwide cohort study investigated the risk of IBD in patients with NAFLD alone. General characteristics, comorbidities, and incidence of IBD were also compared. Results: Patients diagnosed with NAFLD had a significant risk of developing IBD compared to control individuals, who were associated with a 2.245-fold risk of the diagnosis of IBD and a 2.260- and 2.231-fold of increased diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, respectively (P< 0.001). The cumulative risk of IBD increased annually during the follow-up of patients with NAFLD (P< 0.001). Conclusions Our results emphasize that NAFLD significantly impacts its incidence in patients with NAFLD. If patients with NAFLD present with risk factors, such as diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia, these conditions should be properly treated with regular follow-ups. Furthermore, we believe that these causes may be associated with the second peak of IBD.

Background/Aims: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common disease with severe inflammatory processes associated with numerous gastrointestinal diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Therefore, we investigated the relationship between NAFLD and IBD and the possible risk factors associated with the diagnosis of IBD. Methods: This longitudinal nationwide cohort study investigated the risk of IBD in patients with NAFLD alone. General characteristics, comorbidities, and incidence of IBD were also compared. Results: Patients diagnosed with NAFLD had a significant risk of developing IBD compared to control individuals, who were associated with a 2.245-fold risk of the diagnosis of IBD and a 2.260- and 2.231-fold of increased diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, respectively (P< 0.001). The cumulative risk of IBD increased annually during the follow-up of patients with NAFLD (P< 0.001). Conclusions Our results emphasize that NAFLD significantly impacts its incidence in patients with NAFLD. If patients with NAFLD present with risk factors, such as diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia, these conditions should be properly treated with regular follow-ups. Furthermore, we believe that these causes may be associated with the second peak of IBD.

Aim To explore the effects of D-limonene on the steatosis of primary mouse hepatocytes and its potential mechanism of action.Methods Oleic acid-induced steatosis in primary mouse hepatocytes was used as a model to observe the effects of D-limonene on cell viability,cellular lipid content,and intracellular expression of proteins such as AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK),acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase 1(ACC1),and carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1A(CPT1A).Results It was found that a low dose of D-limonene could effectively enhance the viability of primary mouse hepatocytes.When oleic acid at a con-centration of 300 μmol·L-1 successfully induced steatosis in primary mouse hepatocytes,D-limonene re-duced the lipid content of the cells,and D-limonene up-regulated the cellular AMPK expression level,down-regulated the cellular ACC1 and fatty acid synthetase(FAS)expression levels,which in turn promoted the overexpression of CPT1A.Conclusions D-limonene has the effect of reducing lipid deposition in primary mouse hepatocytes,and the mechanisms may be related to the activation of AMPK,the inhibitions of ACC1 and FAS,and the up-regulation of CPT1A protein expres-sion level.

Objective To elucidate the pharmacokinetic characteristics and primary metabolic pathways of anthocyanins in vivo,as well as the endogenous metabolites exhibiting sensitive responses to bilberry extract intervention in rats by LC-MS/MS technology,following oral administration of bilberry extract.Methods Multi-component pharmacokinetic technology was employed to study the systemic exposure characteristics of anthocyanins in blood,the metabolic product profile,and the dynamic concentration changes of anthocyanins and their metabolites in plasma after oral administration of bilberry extract to rats.Metabolomics technology was used to analyze changes in endogenous metabolites at the time point when most anthocyanins reached their peak plasma concentration.Results After administration of European cranberry extract,a total of 18 anthocyanin parent compounds and 14 metabolites were detected in rat plasma.Glucuronidation was identified as the primary metabolic pathway.The time to reach peak concentration(Tmax)for most parent compounds ranged from 15 to 60 minutes.Moreover,30 minutes after oral dosing with the cranberry extract,the levels of various endogenous acyl-carnitines,fatty acids,and lysophosphatidylcholines in the blood decreased.The plasma exposure of most anthocyanin components and their metabolites showed a highly linear correlation with the administered dose(R2>0.9).Conclusion This study clarified the main pharmacokinetic characteristics and metabolic pathways of anthocyanins from bilberry extract in rats,as well as the potential impact on various endogenous metabolites.It provides data support for effectively exploring the pharmacodynamic material basis and mechanism of action of bilberry extract.

Coronary chronic total occlusion(CTO)remains a significant challenge in the field of interventional therapy for coronary artery disease.With advancements in interventional techniques,particularly retrograde approaches,the success rate of CTO interventions has improved.The key steps of retrograde intervention include traversing collateral channels with the retrograde guidewire,wiring the occlusion segment,and establishing antegrade access.In this case,the patient had a heavily calcified occlusion at the left circumflex artery(LCX)ostium jailed by the prior stent implanted in the left main and anterior descending arteries,making it difficult to establish antegrade access using conventional methods after retrograde guidewire crossing.The procedure was successfully completed by employing a domestically developed intravascular snare system combined with a pre-assembled extension catheter technique to capture the retrograde guidewire and establish antegrade access,followed by stent implantation at the LCX ostium.This innovative approach provides a new strategy for complex CTO retrograde interventions,particularly in cases where retrograde guidewire entry into the antegrade guiding catheter is challenging.

Aim To explore the effect of astragalosideⅣ(AS-Ⅳ)on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced po-larization and migration of RAW 264.7 macrophages and the underlying mechanism.Methods 1 mg·L-1 LPS was used to construct cell migration model.Scratch assay was utilized to determine cell migration rate.Immunofluorescence staining was utilized to de-tect the expression and location of F4/80,iNOS and Arg-1.CCK-8 assay was used to determine the viabili-ty of RAW 264.7 cells.Griess assay was used to measure NO content.Molecular docking was used to analyze the interaction between AS-Ⅳ and the core tar-gets such as cGAS and STING protein.Western blot was employed to detect the expression of iNOS,Arg-1,cGAS,STING,NF-κB p65 and p-NF-κB p65 protein.Results AS-Ⅳ significantly inhibited the migration and M1 polarization of RAW 264.7 cells induced by LPS.Moreover,AS-Ⅳ could interact with cGAS and STING protein,especially cGAS.Further Western blot assay showed that AS-Ⅳ significantly downregulated the expression of iNOS,cGAS,STING and p-NF-κB p65 protein.Conclusions AS-Ⅳ could promote mac-rophage M1 to M2 polarization,thereby inhibited mac-rophage migration through restraining the cGAS/STING/NF-κB signaling pathway,which provides a new therapeutic target for AS-Ⅳ to improve the early inflammatory response of AS.

To establish a method for detecting Toxoplasma gondii based on recombinant polymerase amplification(RPA)technology and apply it to clinical sample validation of pet cats.Using the 529 repeat sequence of the Toxoplasma gondii gene as the target gene sequence,primers and probes were designed,and the Rep-529 recombinant plasmid was constructed as the standard.A fluorescent RPA reaction system was established.Dilute the plasmid standard 10 times to different concentrations as the detection template for sensitivity testing;Specific testing was conducted using genomic DNA from several parasitic spe-cies,including Toxoplasma gondii,Cryptosporidium,Neosporidium,Trichinella spiralis,Giardia flagellata,Babesia bo-vis and Theileria annulata as templates;Simultaneously,fluorescence RPA and RT-PCR were used to detect 52 positive and 40 negative cats clinical samples,and the coincidence rate of the detection results of the two methods were compared and ana-lyzed.The RPA reaction system was successfully established using PTRep recombinant plasmid as the standard,ToxD-F/ToxD-R as the primer,and RepD-P as the fluorescent probe.The reaction temperature was constant at 39 ℃,the reaction time was 30 minutes,and the detection sensitivity was 1 copy/μL.There is no significant cross reaction with parasites such as Cryptosporidium,Neosporidium,Trichinella spiralis,Giardia,Babesia bovis and Theileria annulata,and the specificity is good.A total of 92 clinical fecal samples from cats were tested,and the positive coincidence rate of fluorescence RPA detection method was higher than that of conventional RT-PCR method(98.08％vs.82.69％),and the difference of the positive rate was not statistically significant(X2=1.392,P＞0.05).The fluorescence RPA detection method for Toxoplasma gondii suc-cessfully established in this study has the characteristics of being fast,sensitive,specific,accurate,and reliable.It can be used as a rapid clinical detection kit for Toxoplasma gondii in cats and other animals,providing new technical support for the subsequent epidemiological monitoring and precise clinical diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in cats,other animals,and humans in the future.