BACKGROUND: The STAR (Scientific, Transparent, and Applicable Rankings) working group conducts regular evaluations of Chinese guidelines and consensus statements. This study gathered insights from STAR working group members using qualitative interviews. METHODS: From March to August 2023, members of the STAR specialist committees were interviewed using semi-structured interview outline. The interviewees were selected through purpose-based sampling. Subject analysis was employed to summarize the findings. RESULTS: We conducted interviews with 37 members from 36 committees and summarized the contents into four main themes and 16 specific topics. The value of STAR in enhancing the development and selection of high-quality guidelines in China was commonly mentioned. Challenges identified included the lack of resources and suboptimal organizational structures, collaboration, and evaluation efficiency. Suggestions for the STAR tool included developing extensions for different guideline types, adjusting certain items, and better covering guideline applicability. The promotion of STAR and the consideration of an international committee for global outreach were also highlighted. CONCLUSION STAR has exerted a substantial influence on the evaluation of Chinese guidelines, and the insights gained from interviews offer valuable directions for its further enhancement.
Humans ; China ; Qualitative Research ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Interviews as Topic

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of three traditional Chinese medicine formulas for nourishing kidney Yin on the occurrence of breast cancer， including Zuoguiwan（ZGW）， Liuwei Dihuangwan（LWDHW） and Erzhiwan（EZW）， and to explore their preventive mechanisms from the phagocytic function of macrophages. MethodsTen-month-old post-breeding female mice were randomly divided into the blank group， soy isoflavone group（0.13 g·kg^-1·d^-1， mixed with feed）， ZGW group（2.34 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， LWDHW group（0.56 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， and EZW group（4.68 g·kg^-1·d^-1）. The mice were palpated every 3 d until the age of 18 months， and those with detected lumps were confirmed for tumor development through hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining， and the incidence of breast cancer in mice was calculated. A total of 40 SPF-grade female SD rats were randomly divided into the blank serum group（physiological saline）， ZGW drug-containing serum group（16.20 g·kg^-1·d^-1of ZGW）， LWDHW drug-containing serum group（3.89 g·kg^-1·d^-1 of LWDHW） and EZW drug-containing serum group（32.40 g·kg^-1·d^-1 of EZW）， each group was orally administered 3 times a day for 5 consecutive days. On the 5^th day， blood was collected from the abdominal aorta 1 h after the last gavage to prepare drug-containing serum. The effect of drug-containing serum with different concentrations on the viability of RAW264.7 cells was assessed by cell counting kit-8（CCK-8）. Taking 20% of drug-containing serum concentration as the research object， its effect on the expression levels of major histocompatibility complex-Ⅱ（MHC-Ⅱ）， CD80 and CD86 on the surface of RAW264.7 cells was detected by immunofluorescence（IF）， the phagocytic function of RAW264.7 cells was examined by flow cytometry， and the levels of interleukin-6（IL-6） and nitric oxide（NO） in RAW264.7 cells in the conditioned medium（CM） co culture system of 4T1 cells were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） and Griess assay. ResultsAfter prophylactic administration， the tumor incidence rates in the soy isoflavone group（4%）， ZGW group（4%）， LWDHW group（4%）， and EZW group（6%） were lower than that in the blank group（8%）. Compared with the blank serum group， the drug-containing serum of the three nourishing kidney Yin formulas could enhance the expression levels of MHC-Ⅱ， CD80 and CD86 on the surface of RAW264.7 cells， enhance phagocytic ability towards tumor cells， and reduce the content of IL-6 and increase the level of NO（P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionThe three nourishing kidney Yin formulas can reduce the incidence of tumor in mice， the mechanism may be related to activating RAW264.7 cells， increasing their phagocytosis to breast cancer cells， and regulating the secretion of IL-6 and NO.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture manipulation combined with massage therapy in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis,and to analyze the efficacy-value.Methods A total of 118 patients with knee osteoarthritis admitted to Kuitun Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps from January 2023 to January 2024 were selected as research subjects and divided into electroacupuncture manipulation and massage group(n=60)and sodium hyaluronate group(n=58)by random number table methood.Electroacupuncture manipulation and massage group was treated 3 times a week for 3 weeks.Sodium hyaluronate group was injected with sodium hyaluronate injection in the joint cavity once a week for 3 weeks.Knee function scores and effective rate of two groups before and after treatment were observed,and the differences between two treatments were compared by using the health economics evaluation method.Results After comparing the patients before and after treatment,the knee function scores improved.There was significant difference of knee function scores after treatment between two groups(P＜0.05).There were significant difference of response rate and the incidence of adverse effects between two groups(P＜0.05).Sodium hyaluronate group had a better clinical efficacy-value than electroacupuncture manipulation and massage group.Conclusion Electroacupuncture manipulation and massage and sodium hyaluronate intra-articular injection can effectively improve joint pain and joint function in patients,and intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate has a higher incidence of adverse reactions.

Objective:This study aims to analyze the gamma band effective connectivity characteristics of the prefrontal-striatal circuitry in bipolar disorder patients with and without a history of manic episodes, as well as in major depressive disorder patients, during the recognition of positive emotional faces, this study aims to identify unique neurophysiological features that may aid in the early detection of bipolar disorder.Methods:This retrospective study collected clinical data and magnetoencephalography (MEG) imaging data from patients performing a positive emotional face recognition task at the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from May 2009 to December 2019. The study included 75 patients with major depressive disorder and 29 patients with bipolar disorder in a depressive episode (rBD group). Concurrently, 39 age-and gender-matched healthy controls (HC group) were recruited. After a follow-up period of at least 5 years, 23 out of the 75 patients with major depressive disorder converted to bipolar disorder (ctBD group), while the remaining 52 who did not convert maintained a diagnosis of major depressive disorder.Results:There were statistically significant differences in gamma-band effective connectivity in the prefrontal-striatal circuit when recognizing positive emotional faces among the converted to bipolar disorder (ctBD), raw bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and HC groups ( H=9.04, 10.30, 8.30, 13.43, 14.38, 12.62, 9.82, 8.94, 24.62, 7.89, 18.53, 9.97, 9.58, 12.79, P<0.05). The ctBD group, rBD group, and major depressive group all showed reduction in effective connectivity from the right orbital inferior frontal gyrus (ORBinf.R) to the left orbital inferior frontal gyrus (ORBinf.L) [ Z=-1.98, -3.38, -2.88], from the right orbital inferior frontal gyrus to the right ventral striatum (VS.R) ( Z=-2.05, -2.76, -2.11; P<0.05) and from the left ventral striatum (VS.L) to the left orbital middle frontal gyrus (ORBmid.L) ( Z=-2.76, -1.98, -2.43; P<0.05). Among the disease groups, the ctBD group showed significantly enhanced effective connectivity strength compared to the major depressive group from the right amygdala (AMYG.R) to the left orbital inferior frontal gyrus(0.04(0.03, 0.08)), from the right amygdala to the left ventral striatum(0.05(0.03, 0.09)), and from the right ventral striatum to the right anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyri (ACG.R) (0.04(0.02, 0.08)) ( Z=4.17, 3.70, 3.35; P<0.001).The ctBD group also exhibited enhanced effective connectivity compared to the rBD group from ORBinf.R to the ACG.R, fron the AMYG.R to the ORBinf.L, from the AMYG.R to the VS.L, and from the VS.R to the ACG.R ( Z=2.05, 4.61, 3.60, 3.04; P<0.05).The rBD group demonstrated reduced effective connectivity compared to the major depressive disorder group from the right orbital middle frontal gyrus(ORBmid.R) to the left anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyri (ACG.L), ORBinf.R to the ACG.R and from the ORBinf.R to the AMYG.R ( Z=-2.12, -2.40, -2.22; P<0.05). Conclusion:There are significant differences in the gamma-band effective connectivity characteristics of the prefrontal-striatal pathway when recognizing positive emotional faces between patients with bipolar disorder in depressive episodes and those with depression, as well as differences between bipolar depressed patients with and without a history of manic episodes.

Objective:To explore the neurophysiological features of the prefrontal-limbic-striatal circuit in patients with early-stage bipolar disorder without manic or hypomanic episodes, and its role in identifying early-stage bipolar disorder.Methods:From 2009 to 2019, a total of 155 hospitalized patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) from Nanjing Brain Hospital were selected after at least 5 years of follow-up, 31 patients with depression transitioned to bipolar disorder(ctBD group) and 76 patients remained the diagnosis of MDD(MDD group) were recruited.Sixty-two healthy controls matched for age, gender, and education years were selected as control group(HC group). Resting-state magnetoencephalography (MEG) data in eyes-open state of all subjects were collected.Data were analyzed based on the fieldtrip toolkit on the MATLAB platform. The key brain area of the prefrontal-limbic-striatal circuit were selected. Inter-group statistical analysis were conducted on the spectral energy and power-correlated functional connectivity at the theta, alpha, beta, and gamma frequency bands in the brain area of interest. In addition, the prediction model was constructed to early recognize bipolar disorder.Results:(1)There were statistically significant differences in the spectral energy of theta and alpha frequency bands in the prefrontal-limbic-striatal circuit among the 3 groups (cluster- F=120.50, 112.39, both P<0.05). The spectral energy of theta and alpha frequency bands in interest brain regions of prefrontal-limbic-striatal circuit in MDD group was lower than that in HC group (cluster- t=89.52, P<0.05). The spectral energy of theta band in prefrontal-limbic-striatal circuit in ctBD group was lower than that in HC group(cluster- t=105.82, P<0.05), and the spectral energy of alpha band in inferior frontal gyrus, orbitofrontal gyrus and caudate nucleus was lower than that in HC group (cluster- t=75.78, P<0.05), while there was no significant difference between the MDD group and the ctBD group ( P>0.05).(2)After FDR correction, there were statistically significant differences in functional connectivity between the left orbitofrontal gyrus and the right ventral striatum among the three groups (0.26 (0.13, 0.34), 0.12 (0.09, 0.24), 0.27 (0.20, 0.37), H=13.51, P<0.05, FDR correction). The strength of functional connectivity between the left orbitofrontal gyrus and the right ventral striatum in the MDD group was weaker than that in the HC group and the ctBD group (all P<0.05).(3)Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that the functional connectivity of beta frequency band between the left orbitofrontal gyrus and the right ventral striatum ( B=1.50, OR=4.50, 95% CI=1.73-11.70), the functional connectivity between the right orbitofrontal gyrus and the right amygdala( B=0.98, OR=2.68, 95% CI=1.18-6.13), the total HAMD score ( B=0.80, OR=2.28, 95% CI=1.36-3.67), the body weight factor score ( B=-1.99, OR=0.14, 95% CI=0.04-0.45), the anxiety factor score ( B=-0.99, OR=0.37, 95% CI=0.19-0.71), and sleep factor score( B=-1.14, OR=0.32, 95% CI=0.16-0.65)were the influencing factors for depression transitioned to bipolar disorder. Conclusion:The decreased resting low-frequency energy in the prefrontal-limbic-striatal circuit may be the common neural basis for the onset of unipolar and bipolar depression, and enhanced functional connectivity may be a potential neural circuit mechanism for depression transitioned to bipolar disorder. Functional connectivity combined with clinical manifestations is helpful for early recognition of bipolar disorder.

Background and Aims:Long noncoding RNA(lncRNA)nuclear-enriched abundant transcript 1(NEAT1)is an oncogenic lncRNA that promotes the progression of various cancers through the competing endogenous RNA(ceRNA)mechanism.Using the TargetScan database,we previously identified binding sites between NEAT1 and microRNA-124-3p(miR-124-3p),as well as between miR-124-3p and catenin beta-1(CTNNB1).Therefore,this study was conducted to investigate the expression of NEAT1,miR-124-3p,and CTNNB1 in pancreatic cancer and their interactions affecting pancreatic cancer cell functions.Methods:A dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to validate the relationships among NEAT1,miR-124-3p,and CTNNB1.The expression levels of NEAT1 and miR-124-3p,as well as CTNNB1 protein expression,were detected in pancreatic cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues,as well as in pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells and normal pancreatic epithelial H6C7 cells.PANC-1 cells were transfected with NEAT1 siRNA alone or co-transfected with a miR-124-3p inhibitor.After transfection,changes in PANC-1 cell biological functions,epithelial-mesenchymal transition related protein expression,and tumor growth ability in mice were assessed.Results:The dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed the targeting relationships between NEAT1 and miR-124-3p,as well as between miR-124-3p and CTNNB1.NEAT1 and CTNNB1 expression levels were significantly upregulated,while miR-124-3p expression was downregulated in pancreatic cancer tissues(vs.adjacent tissues)and in PANC-1 cells(vs.H6C7 cells)(all P<0.05).NEAT1 siRNA transfection led to decreased NEAT1 and CTNNB1 expression and increased miR-124-3p expression in PANC-1 cells.However,co-transfection with a miR-124-3p inhibitor suppressed the expression changes in miR-124-3p and CTNNB1(all P<0.05).NEAT1 siRNA transfection significantly reduced PANC-1 cell proliferation,migration,and invasion,while promoting apoptosis.Additionally,E-cadherin protein expression was upregulated,whereas N-cadherin and vimentin protein expression were downregulated.Tumor growth in mice was also significantly inhibited(all P<0.05).These changes were attenuated upon co-transfection with the miR-124-3p inhibitor(all P<0.05).Conclusion:NEAT1 may act as a ceRNA by competitively binding to miR-124-3p,thereby attenuating miR-124-3p-mediated inhibition of CTNNB1.This leads to CTNNB1 upregulation,ultimately promoting the malignant biological behavior of pancreatic cancer cells.

Objective:To explore the neurophysiological features of the prefrontal-limbic-striatal circuit in patients with early-stage bipolar disorder without manic or hypomanic episodes, and its role in identifying early-stage bipolar disorder.Methods:From 2009 to 2019, a total of 155 hospitalized patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) from Nanjing Brain Hospital were selected after at least 5 years of follow-up, 31 patients with depression transitioned to bipolar disorder(ctBD group) and 76 patients remained the diagnosis of MDD(MDD group) were recruited.Sixty-two healthy controls matched for age, gender, and education years were selected as control group(HC group). Resting-state magnetoencephalography (MEG) data in eyes-open state of all subjects were collected.Data were analyzed based on the fieldtrip toolkit on the MATLAB platform. The key brain area of the prefrontal-limbic-striatal circuit were selected. Inter-group statistical analysis were conducted on the spectral energy and power-correlated functional connectivity at the theta, alpha, beta, and gamma frequency bands in the brain area of interest. In addition, the prediction model was constructed to early recognize bipolar disorder.Results:(1)There were statistically significant differences in the spectral energy of theta and alpha frequency bands in the prefrontal-limbic-striatal circuit among the 3 groups (cluster- F=120.50, 112.39, both P<0.05). The spectral energy of theta and alpha frequency bands in interest brain regions of prefrontal-limbic-striatal circuit in MDD group was lower than that in HC group (cluster- t=89.52, P<0.05). The spectral energy of theta band in prefrontal-limbic-striatal circuit in ctBD group was lower than that in HC group(cluster- t=105.82, P<0.05), and the spectral energy of alpha band in inferior frontal gyrus, orbitofrontal gyrus and caudate nucleus was lower than that in HC group (cluster- t=75.78, P<0.05), while there was no significant difference between the MDD group and the ctBD group ( P>0.05).(2)After FDR correction, there were statistically significant differences in functional connectivity between the left orbitofrontal gyrus and the right ventral striatum among the three groups (0.26 (0.13, 0.34), 0.12 (0.09, 0.24), 0.27 (0.20, 0.37), H=13.51, P<0.05, FDR correction). The strength of functional connectivity between the left orbitofrontal gyrus and the right ventral striatum in the MDD group was weaker than that in the HC group and the ctBD group (all P<0.05).(3)Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that the functional connectivity of beta frequency band between the left orbitofrontal gyrus and the right ventral striatum ( B=1.50, OR=4.50, 95% CI=1.73-11.70), the functional connectivity between the right orbitofrontal gyrus and the right amygdala( B=0.98, OR=2.68, 95% CI=1.18-6.13), the total HAMD score ( B=0.80, OR=2.28, 95% CI=1.36-3.67), the body weight factor score ( B=-1.99, OR=0.14, 95% CI=0.04-0.45), the anxiety factor score ( B=-0.99, OR=0.37, 95% CI=0.19-0.71), and sleep factor score( B=-1.14, OR=0.32, 95% CI=0.16-0.65)were the influencing factors for depression transitioned to bipolar disorder. Conclusion:The decreased resting low-frequency energy in the prefrontal-limbic-striatal circuit may be the common neural basis for the onset of unipolar and bipolar depression, and enhanced functional connectivity may be a potential neural circuit mechanism for depression transitioned to bipolar disorder. Functional connectivity combined with clinical manifestations is helpful for early recognition of bipolar disorder.

Background and Aims:Long noncoding RNA(lncRNA)nuclear-enriched abundant transcript 1(NEAT1)is an oncogenic lncRNA that promotes the progression of various cancers through the competing endogenous RNA(ceRNA)mechanism.Using the TargetScan database,we previously identified binding sites between NEAT1 and microRNA-124-3p(miR-124-3p),as well as between miR-124-3p and catenin beta-1(CTNNB1).Therefore,this study was conducted to investigate the expression of NEAT1,miR-124-3p,and CTNNB1 in pancreatic cancer and their interactions affecting pancreatic cancer cell functions.Methods:A dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to validate the relationships among NEAT1,miR-124-3p,and CTNNB1.The expression levels of NEAT1 and miR-124-3p,as well as CTNNB1 protein expression,were detected in pancreatic cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues,as well as in pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells and normal pancreatic epithelial H6C7 cells.PANC-1 cells were transfected with NEAT1 siRNA alone or co-transfected with a miR-124-3p inhibitor.After transfection,changes in PANC-1 cell biological functions,epithelial-mesenchymal transition related protein expression,and tumor growth ability in mice were assessed.Results:The dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed the targeting relationships between NEAT1 and miR-124-3p,as well as between miR-124-3p and CTNNB1.NEAT1 and CTNNB1 expression levels were significantly upregulated,while miR-124-3p expression was downregulated in pancreatic cancer tissues(vs.adjacent tissues)and in PANC-1 cells(vs.H6C7 cells)(all P<0.05).NEAT1 siRNA transfection led to decreased NEAT1 and CTNNB1 expression and increased miR-124-3p expression in PANC-1 cells.However,co-transfection with a miR-124-3p inhibitor suppressed the expression changes in miR-124-3p and CTNNB1(all P<0.05).NEAT1 siRNA transfection significantly reduced PANC-1 cell proliferation,migration,and invasion,while promoting apoptosis.Additionally,E-cadherin protein expression was upregulated,whereas N-cadherin and vimentin protein expression were downregulated.Tumor growth in mice was also significantly inhibited(all P<0.05).These changes were attenuated upon co-transfection with the miR-124-3p inhibitor(all P<0.05).Conclusion:NEAT1 may act as a ceRNA by competitively binding to miR-124-3p,thereby attenuating miR-124-3p-mediated inhibition of CTNNB1.This leads to CTNNB1 upregulation,ultimately promoting the malignant biological behavior of pancreatic cancer cells.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture manipulation combined with massage therapy in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis,and to analyze the efficacy-value.Methods A total of 118 patients with knee osteoarthritis admitted to Kuitun Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps from January 2023 to January 2024 were selected as research subjects and divided into electroacupuncture manipulation and massage group(n=60)and sodium hyaluronate group(n=58)by random number table methood.Electroacupuncture manipulation and massage group was treated 3 times a week for 3 weeks.Sodium hyaluronate group was injected with sodium hyaluronate injection in the joint cavity once a week for 3 weeks.Knee function scores and effective rate of two groups before and after treatment were observed,and the differences between two treatments were compared by using the health economics evaluation method.Results After comparing the patients before and after treatment,the knee function scores improved.There was significant difference of knee function scores after treatment between two groups(P＜0.05).There were significant difference of response rate and the incidence of adverse effects between two groups(P＜0.05).Sodium hyaluronate group had a better clinical efficacy-value than electroacupuncture manipulation and massage group.Conclusion Electroacupuncture manipulation and massage and sodium hyaluronate intra-articular injection can effectively improve joint pain and joint function in patients,and intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate has a higher incidence of adverse reactions.

Objective:This study aims to analyze the gamma band effective connectivity characteristics of the prefrontal-striatal circuitry in bipolar disorder patients with and without a history of manic episodes, as well as in major depressive disorder patients, during the recognition of positive emotional faces, this study aims to identify unique neurophysiological features that may aid in the early detection of bipolar disorder.Methods:This retrospective study collected clinical data and magnetoencephalography (MEG) imaging data from patients performing a positive emotional face recognition task at the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from May 2009 to December 2019. The study included 75 patients with major depressive disorder and 29 patients with bipolar disorder in a depressive episode (rBD group). Concurrently, 39 age-and gender-matched healthy controls (HC group) were recruited. After a follow-up period of at least 5 years, 23 out of the 75 patients with major depressive disorder converted to bipolar disorder (ctBD group), while the remaining 52 who did not convert maintained a diagnosis of major depressive disorder.Results:There were statistically significant differences in gamma-band effective connectivity in the prefrontal-striatal circuit when recognizing positive emotional faces among the converted to bipolar disorder (ctBD), raw bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and HC groups ( H=9.04, 10.30, 8.30, 13.43, 14.38, 12.62, 9.82, 8.94, 24.62, 7.89, 18.53, 9.97, 9.58, 12.79, P<0.05). The ctBD group, rBD group, and major depressive group all showed reduction in effective connectivity from the right orbital inferior frontal gyrus (ORBinf.R) to the left orbital inferior frontal gyrus (ORBinf.L) [ Z=-1.98, -3.38, -2.88], from the right orbital inferior frontal gyrus to the right ventral striatum (VS.R) ( Z=-2.05, -2.76, -2.11; P<0.05) and from the left ventral striatum (VS.L) to the left orbital middle frontal gyrus (ORBmid.L) ( Z=-2.76, -1.98, -2.43; P<0.05). Among the disease groups, the ctBD group showed significantly enhanced effective connectivity strength compared to the major depressive group from the right amygdala (AMYG.R) to the left orbital inferior frontal gyrus(0.04(0.03, 0.08)), from the right amygdala to the left ventral striatum(0.05(0.03, 0.09)), and from the right ventral striatum to the right anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyri (ACG.R) (0.04(0.02, 0.08)) ( Z=4.17, 3.70, 3.35; P<0.001).The ctBD group also exhibited enhanced effective connectivity compared to the rBD group from ORBinf.R to the ACG.R, fron the AMYG.R to the ORBinf.L, from the AMYG.R to the VS.L, and from the VS.R to the ACG.R ( Z=2.05, 4.61, 3.60, 3.04; P<0.05).The rBD group demonstrated reduced effective connectivity compared to the major depressive disorder group from the right orbital middle frontal gyrus(ORBmid.R) to the left anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyri (ACG.L), ORBinf.R to the ACG.R and from the ORBinf.R to the AMYG.R ( Z=-2.12, -2.40, -2.22; P<0.05). Conclusion:There are significant differences in the gamma-band effective connectivity characteristics of the prefrontal-striatal pathway when recognizing positive emotional faces between patients with bipolar disorder in depressive episodes and those with depression, as well as differences between bipolar depressed patients with and without a history of manic episodes.