ObjectiveTo explore the possible mechanisms of electroacupuncture at Fengchi （GB 20）， Waiguan （TE 5）， and Yanglingquan （GB 34） in treating chronic migraine from the perspective of nociceptive sensitization. MethodsForty SPF-grade SD rats were randomly divided into blank group， model group， electroacupuncture group， electroacupuncture + agonist group， and inhibitor group， with 8 rats in each group. Except for the blank group， rats were injected intraperitoneally with nitroglycerin to establish a chronic migraine rat model. After successful modeling， the electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture at bilateral "Fengchi" （GB 20）， "Waiguan" （TE 5）， and "Yanglingquan" （GB 34） for 30 minutes each session. The electroacupuncture + agonist group received the same electroacupuncture treatment and additional injection of protein kinase C （PKC） agonist Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate （1.0 ng/μl， 25 μl） via the infraorbital foramen. The inhibitor group received PKC inhibitor Chelerythrine Chloride （1.0 ng/μl， 10 μl） via the infraorbital foramen. The blank group， model group， and inhibitor group underwent restraint for 30 minutes without other interventions. All groups were continuously intervened for 5 days. After the intervention， the nociceptive thresholds （mechanical and thermal pain） of the periorbital area and hind paw were measured. The expression levels of transient receptor potential vanillic acid subtype 1 （TRPV1）， phosphorylated TRPV1 （p-TRPV1）， PKC proteins， Trpv1， Pkc mRNA， and the average fluorescence intensity of transient receptor potential vanillic acid subtype 1 （TRPV1） and PKC in the trigeminal ganglion were detected using Western Blot， real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR， and immunofluorescence methods. ResultsCompared with the blank group， the mechanical and thermal pain thresholds of the periorbital area and hind paw were reduced in the model group， and the protein levels of TRPV1， PKC， p-TRPV1， as well as the mRNA expression of Trpv1 and Pkc， and the average fluorescence intensity of TRPV1 and PKC in the trigeminal ganglion significantly increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared with the model group， the electroacupuncture group exhibited increased mechanical and thermal pain thresholds in the periorbital and hind paw areas， and decreased protein levels of TRPV1， PKC， p-TRPV1， mRNA expression of Trpv1 and Pkc， and average fluorescence intensity of TRPV1. In the electroacupuncture + agonist group， the average fluorescence intensity of TRPV1 in the trigeminal ganglion decreased. The inhibitor group exhibited increased mechanical pain thresholds in the periorbital area and thermal pain thresholds in the hind paw， along with decreased protein levels of TRPV1， PKC， p-TRPV1， and the average fluorescence intensity of TRPV1 and PKC （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared with the electroacupuncture group， the electroacupuncture + agonist group showed an increase in the protein levels of TRPV1， PKC， p-TRPV1， and the mRNA expression of Trpv1 （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. ConclusionElectroacupuncture at the "Fengchi" （GB 20）， "Waiguan" （TE 5）， and "Yanglingquan" （GB 34） acupoints can increase the mechanical and thermal pain thresholds in chronic migraine rats and alleviate nociceptive sensitization. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of PKC/TRPV1 pathway.

As a supplement to randomized controlled trials， observational studies can provide evidence for the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） treatment measures. They can also study influencing factors of diseases， etiology， and prognosis. However， there is a confounding effect due to the lack of randomization， which seriously affects the causal inference between the study factors and the outcome， resulting in confounding bias. Therefore， identifying and controlling confounding factors are key issues to be addressed in TCM observational studies. According to the causal network and the characteristics of TCM theory， confounding factors can be categorized into measured and unmeasured confounding factors. In addition， attention must be paid to identifying confounding factors and intermediate variables， as well as the interaction between confounding factors and study factors. For methods of controlling confounding factors， measured confounding factors can be controlled by stratification， multifactor analysis， propensity scores， and disease risk scores. Unmeasured and unknown confounding factors can be corrected using instrumental variable methods， difference-in-difference methods， and correction for underlying event rate ratios. Correcting and controlling confounding factors can ensure a balance between groups， and confounding bias can be reduced. In addition， methods such as sensitivity analysis and determination of interactions make the control of confounding factors more comprehensive. Due to the unique characteristics of TCM， observational studies of TCM face unique challenges in identifying and controlling confounding factors， including the ever-changing TCM treatment measures received by patients， the often-overlooked confounding effects in the four diagnostic information of TCM， and the lack of objective criteria for TCM evidence-based diagnosis. Some scholars have already conducted innovative explorations to address these issues， providing a methodological basis for conducting higher-quality TCM observational studies， so as to obtain more rigorous real-world evidence of TCM and gradually develop quality evaluation criteria for OS that are consistent with the characteristics of TCM.

ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism of electroacupuncture at Fengchi （GB 20）， Yanglingquan （GB 34） and Waiguan （TE 5） for acute migraine attacks by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ/ nuclear transcription factor-κB pathway in the trigeminal neurovascular system. MethodsForty SD rats were randomly divided into blank group， model group， electroacupuncture group， electroacupuncture plus inhibitor group， and agonist group， 8 rats in each group. Except for the blank group， rats were injected with inflammation decoction intracranial catheter to establish rat models of acute migraine. Thirty minutes after modelling， the electroacupuncture group was given 0.9% NaCl solution by intraperitoneal injection and then electroacupuncture at "Fengchi" （GB 20）， "Yanglingquan" （GB 34）， and "Waiguan" （TE 5） for 30 mins； the electroacupuncture plus inhibitor group was given PPARγ inhibitor T0070907 （1.5 mg/kg） and eclectroacupuncture as the above for 30 mins； the agonist group was given PPARγ inhibitor pioglitazone hydrochloride （10 mg/kg） for 30 mins. Rats in the blank group and the model group were injected intraperitoneally with 0.9% NaCl solution and then bound and restrained for 30 mins. Behavioural scores were evaluated before modelling， 30 mins after modelling （pre-intervention） and post-intervention； after the last behavioural test， PPARγ， NF-κB p65 mRNA content in rat dura mater was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR； protein expression of PPARγ， NF-κB p65， interleukin 6 （IL-6）， tumour necrosis factor α （TNF-α） in spinal trigeminal nucleus of rats was detected by protein blotting； immunofluorescence double-labelling method was used to detect the fluorescence intensity of PPARγ， NF-κB p65 in spinal trigeminal nucleus of rats. ResultsCompared with the blank group at the same time， the behavioural scores of rats in the remaining groups increased after modelling and after intervention （P＜0.01）. Compared with the model group at the same time， the beha-vioural scores of rats in the electroacupuncture group， electroacupuncture plus inhibitor group， and agonist group decreased after the intervention （P＜0.01）. Compared with the electroacupuncture group at the same time， beha-vioural scores reduced in the agonist group and elevated in the electroacupuncture plus inhibitor group after intervention （P＜0.01）. Compared with the blank group， expression of PPARγ and NF-κB p65 mRNA elevated in the dura mater of rats in the model group， and expression of PPARγ， NF-κB p65， IL-6， and TNF-α protein enhanced in spinal trigeminal nucleus， and the fluorescence intensity of PPARγ and NF-κB p65 enhanced （P＜0.01）. Compared with the model group， PPARγ mRNA expression in dura mater elevated and NF-κB p65 mRNA expression reduced in each intervention group， PPARγ protein expression in spinal trigeminal nucleus enhanced， and NF-κB p65， IL-6， and TNF-α protein expression weakened； in the electroacupuncture group and the agonist group， PPARγ fluorescence intensity enhanced， and the fluorescence intensity of NF-κB p65 weakened in each intervention group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared with the electroacupuncture group， in the electroacupuncture plus inhibitor group， PPARγ mRNA， protein expression and fluorescence intensity reduced， NF-κB p65 mRNA， protein expression and fluorescence intensity elevated， and IL-6 and TNF-α protein expression enhanced； in the agonist group， PPARγ mRNA and protein expression elevated， NF-κB p65 mRNA and protein expression reduced， and IL-6 and TNF-α protein expression decreased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. ConclusionElectroacupuncture at "Fengchi" （GB 20）， "Yanglingquan" （GB 34） and "Waiguan" （TE 5） can can reduce the symptoms of acute migraine attacks in rats， and its mechanism may be related to the up-regulation of PPARγ expression and the reduction of NF-κB expression， thus inhibiting the neurogenic inflammatory response.

Objective:To summarize and analyze the current application status of oral mucosal graft (OMG) technique in the repair of ureteral strictures in China, and clarify the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of this technique.Methods:The 175 patients who underwent repair of ureteral stricture using oral mucosal patches from June 2015 to February 2022 were etrospectively analyzed in 14 medical centers in China, including 49 cases in Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 32 cases in Affiliated Seventh Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, 3 cases in The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 6 cases in The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 56 cases in Peking University First Hospital, 3 cases in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 3 cases in Shanghai Sixth People' s Hospital, 4 cases in General Hospital of Estern Theater Command, 4 cases in Lanzhou University Second Hospital, 2 cases in Guizhou Province People 's Hospital, 2 cases in Peking University People' s Hospital, 5 cases in Jinzhou First People's Hospital, 5 cases in The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, 1 case in Shandong Provincial Hospital. In this study, 127 patients (72.6%) used lingual mucosal patches, 32(18.3%) labial mucosa, and 16(9.1%) buccal mucosa. The surgical approach for OMG ureteral reconstruction was mainly minimally invasive, with robot-assisted laparoscopy in 84 patients (48.0%), traditional laparoscopic surgery in 87 patients (49.7%), and open surgery in only 4 patients (2.3%). There were 133 males and 42 females with an average age of (35.0±17.2) years. The mean body mass index (BMI) and stenosis length were (23.1±4.1) kg/m 2 and (4.7±1.8) cm, respectively. The stricture was located in the left ureter in 116 patients, right ureter in 58 case and bilateral ureter in 1 case. The most common causes of ureteral stricture were endoscopic surgery in 88(50.3%)patients, congenital stricture in 55(31.4%)patients, failed ureteroplasty in 29(16.6%)patients, history of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in 13(7.4%)patients, radiotherapy history in 3(1.7%)patients and other causes in 6(3.4%)patients. Strictures were mainly located in the upper ureter, accounting for 61.7% (108/175 cases), followed by 36.0% (63/175) at the ureteropelvic junction and 2.3%(4/175)in the middle ureter. According to the surgical methods, the patients were divided into robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery group ( n=84), traditional laparoscopic surgery group ( n=87)and open surgery group ( n=4). Subgroup analysis of patients in robot-assisted laparoscopic and traditional laparoscopic surgery groups was performed. There were no significant difference in preoperative data between the two groups except for age (32.0±18.3) years vs.(37.0±15.9)years, P=0.040], BMI[(22.5±4.3)kg/m 2 vs. (23.7±3.6)kg/m 2, P=0.028], and etiology of stenosis [endoscopic injury, 34(40.5%) vs. 53(60.9%), P=0.012]. Preoperative hydronephrosis and stricture length were assessed by CTU and ureterography. Ureterography 7-9 weeks after surgery showed patency of the reconstructed segment, or no recurrence of hydronephrosis was judged as success. Evaluate the operation method, operation time, success rate, length of OMG in repairing ureteral stricture between laparoscopic and robot-assisted groups. Results:The overall success rate of oral mucosal graft repair surgery reached 97.7%(171/175). The success rate of ureteral reconstruction in the two groups were 96.4%(81/84)and 98.9%(86/87), respectively ( P=0.351), and the difference was not statistically significant. There was no significant difference for operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and mean oral mucosal length between the robotic and laparoscopic groups[(244.7±85.8) min and (222.7±83.5)min ( P=0.116), (58.9±38.6) ml and (68.4±45.5) ml ( P=0.217), (5.0±2.0) cm and (4.6±1.5) cm ( P=0.350)], respectively.Postoperative complications were reported in 23 (13.1%) patients, such as fever, urinary leakage, lymphatic leakage, infection, but only 2 (1.4%) cases patients had complications of Clavien-Dindo score ≥ Ⅲ. The two patients developed urinary stricture after surgery with failed conservative treatment, and no urinary stricture occurred following endoscopic treatment.The short-term (three months after surgery)incidence of complications in the site where the oral mucosa was taken, such as difficulty in opening mouth, pain, and swelling, was 12.0% (21/175), and there was no significant difference for oral complications between patients harvesting different length of mucosal graft. Conclusions:Ureteroplasty with oral mucosal graft is a safe, feasible and reliable technique for ureteral reconstruction. At present, minimally invasive technology is the main surgical approach for ureteroplasty, and there is no significant difference in operation time and success rate between robotic surgery and laparoscopic surgery.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have been reapproved for heart failure (HF) therapy in patients with and without diabetes. However, the initial glucose-lowering indication of SGLT2i has impeded their uses in cardiovascular clinical practice. A challenge of SGLT2i then becomes how to separate their anti-HF activity from glucose-lowering side-effect. To address this issue, we conducted structural repurposing of EMPA, a representative SGLT2 inhibitor, to strengthen anti-HF activity and reduce the SGLT2-inhibitory activity according to structural basis of inhibition of SGLT2. Compared to EMPA, the optimal derivative JX01, which was produced by methylation of C2-OH of the glucose ring, exhibited weaker SGLT2-inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ > 100 nmol/L), and lower glycosuria and glucose-lowering side-effect, better NHE1-inhibitory activity and cardioprotective effect in HF mice. Furthermore, JX01 showed good safety profiles in respect of single-dose/repeat-dose toxicity and hERG activity, and good pharmacokinetic properties in both mouse and rat species. Collectively, the present study provided a paradigm of drug repurposing to discover novel anti-HF drugs, and indirectly demonstrated that SGLT2-independent molecular mechanisms play an important role in cardioprotective effects of SGLT2 inhibitors.

Objective:To synthesize N- 18F-fluoroethyl-tofacitinib, and explore its feasibility in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods:The " two-step method" was used to modify tofacitinib with 18F-fluoroethyl, and the labeling rate and radiochemical purity of the probe were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the stabilities of the probe in vivo and in vitro were investigated. BALB/c mice (normal group; n=3) and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model mice (CIA group; n=3) were injected with N- 18F-fluoroethyl-tofacitinib and CIA model mice injected with tofacitirrib and N- 18F-fluoroethyl-tofacitinib were as blocking group ( n=3). All mice underwent microPET imaging and the percentage injection dose per gram of tissue (%ID/g) and the uptake ratio of inflamed joints to muscle (T/M) were calculated. One-way analysis of variance and the least significant difference (LSD) t test were used to analyze the data. Results:The synthesis time of N- 18F-fluoroethyl-tofacitinib was about 120 min, with the yield approximately 1%, the specific activity >13.6 GBq/μmol, and the radiochemical purity >99%. After the probe incubated with PBS, plasma or in vivo for 2 h, the radiochemical purity was still more than 95%. MicroPET imaging showed that 30 min after injection, the uptake of N- 18F-fluoroethyl-tofacitinib in the inflamed joints of CIA group was higher than that of normal group and blocking group ((10.22±1.64), (2.71±0.26) and (2.81±0.33) %ID/g; F=58.26, t values: 7.83, 7.67, P values: 0.001, 0.002). The T/M of CIA group was also higher than that of normal group and blocking group (24.73±5.77, 2.75±1.36 and 2.89±0.54; F=40.64, t values: 6.42, 6.53, P values: 0.003, 0.003). Conclusions:N- 18F-fluoroethyl-tofacitinib is successfully prepared and it is stable in vitro with good imaging performance in vivo. It may be used in clinic for the diagnosis of RA.

We report a case of maternal asymptomatic COVID-19 in a patient with typical CT image of pneumonia in the third trimester, and both the mother and baby were well. The patient, a 30-year-old female, was transferred to Yichun People's Hospital at 37 +3 gestational weeks because of a positive 2019 novel coronavirus nucleic acid result over seven hours. Her husband and mother-in-law were diagnosed with COVID-19 eight days before her admission and on the same day, respectively. The patient reported no discomfort before admission, and there were no abnormalities in the prenatal course during her pregnancy. On February 13 (the second day of admission), a patchy blurred shadow was observed in the lower lobe of the right lung in chest CT scan, and a live baby girl was delivered by a precaution-based emergent cesarean section because of suspected fetal distress shown in electrical fetal heart monitoring. Both the mother and the newborn were isolated separately after the operation without etiological examination of amniotic fluid, umbilical cord blood, placenta, etc. All the medical staff involved in the cesarean section were isolated as well. The mother was healthy and remained asymptomatic after delivery, while antiviral and anti-inflammatory treatment was offered. COVID-19 nucleic acid tests of pharyngeal swab were negative on the 4 th and 6 th day after operation. Chest CT on the 5 th day after delivery showed inflammation in the lower lobe of the right lung, and reexamination on the 8 th day showed a slight absorption of the inflammation. Samples of peripheral blood and pharynx swab were obtained from the newborn on the day of birth and four and seven days after birth and novel coronavirus nucleic acid test were all negative. The mother and baby dyad were discharged nine days after operation. And novel coronavirus nucleic acid tests were all negative in all medical staff involved.

Objective To provide clues for the study on the mechanism of autoimmune liver disease (AILD) by exploring the existence of specific bacteria in liver tissues of AILD patients.Methods From August 2017 to August 2018,at Department of Gastroenterology arnd Hepatology,Tianjin Medical University General Hospital,a total of 12 patients diagnosed as AILD (four autoimmune hepatitis (AIH),four primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and four PBC-AIH overlap syndrome (OS)) and four patients with hepatic cyst (control group) were enrolled and all the patients underwent liver biopsy.16S rRNA gene sequencing was carried out in the obtained aseptic liver tissues.Linear discriminant analysis effect size was used to find out the specific bacteria.Spearman correlation analysis was performed to analyze the correlation between the liver microbiota and the disease.The metabolic function of the 16S rRNA gene sequences was also predicted.Results Bacteria were detected in the liver tissues of all the 16 patients.At the species level,the abundance of Planococcus rifietoensis of AIH group was 0.100％,which was higher than those of other three groups (0),and the difference was statistically significant (linear discriminant analysis (LDA) =3.31,P =0.034).The abundance of Anoxybacillus flavithermus of PBC group was 0.200％,which was higher than those of other three groups (0.100％),and the difference was statistically significant (LDA =3.34,P =0.014).The abundance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1,Bacillus firmus,Brevibacillus agri,Acinetobacter baumannii,Sphingomonas zeae and Salmonella enterica were significantly negatively correlated with serum level of γ-glutamyl transferase (r=-0.68,-0.68,-0.67,-0.68,-0.68 and-0.66,all P ＜0.01).Compared with that of the hepatic cyst group,the lipid metabolism of AILD patients decreased.The levels of serum low density lipoprotein and total cholesterol were significantly negatively correlated with the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids (r =-0.55 and-0.65,both P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions There exist specific bacteria in the liver tissues of AIH and PBC groups.The liver microbiota which is closely related with the pathogenesis of AILD might be a potential therapeutic target and diagnostic biomarker.

Objeetive To explore the clinical application value of new modified paracalculous ureteral catheter in ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy for the treatment of large middle and lower ureteral stone.Methods From January 2014 to January 2017,86 patients with unilateral middle and lower ureteral large stone were treated in Jingzhou Central Hospital.By adopted to random digital table,86 patients were randomly separated into two groups,all of whom were treated with ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy.Forty-three cases were underwent new modified laser lithotripsy with ureteral catheter inserted beneath the stone.Normal saline was injected continuously through the catheter during lithotripsy procedure (modified lithotripsy group).Forty-three cases were underwent direct ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy (direct lithotripsy group).The outcome data were compared between the two groups,such as the operation time,stone clearance rate,ureteral perforation,transit to open surgery,postoperative urinary sepsis,perirenal hematoma,ureterostenosis and other complications.Measurement data were expressed as ((x) ± s),and t test was used for comparison between groups.Results All the patients in the modified lithotripsy group were completed successfully without ureteral perforation,rupture,loss of lithotripsy channel,transit to open surgery,perirenal hematoma,and urinary sepsis and so on.In the direct lithotripsy group,there were 5 cases of ureteral perforation,4 cases of lithotripsy channel loss,6 cases of transit to open surgery,2 cases of perirenal hematoma,1 case of urinary sepsis.The operation time of the two groups was (39.5 ± 7.2) min and (47.2 ± 11.6) min,respectively,t =-4.975,P =0.001.Stone clearance rate was 100％,91.1％.The patients in both groups received an average of 1 year out-patient follow-up.There were 3 cases of mild ureterostenosis in the modified lithotripsy group,which were not re-operated.In the direct lithotripsy group,there were 5 cases of mild ureterostenosis,and 2 cases of severe ureterostenosis,which were re-operated.Conclusion It is safe and effective to use the new modified paracalculous uteteral catheter in the ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy of large middle and lower ureteral stone,which can shorten the total operation time and reduce the occurrence of complications.It has a higher clinical value.

Objective To study changes of serum and scurf oxidative stress indicators,and hemorheology indicators of patients with psoriasis.Methods A total of 61 patients with psoriasis in hospital from December 2013 to January 2016 were selected as observation group,another 61 healthy of the same age at the same period were selected as control group,the serum and scurf oxidative stress indicators,hemorheology indicators of two groups were respectively detected and compared,and the detection results of above indicators of observation group with different severity and disease stages were compared.Results The serum and scurf SOD of observation group was lower (P ＜ 0.05),serum and scurf MDA,the hemorheology indicators and LPO were higher than that of control group (P ＜0.05),and the detection results of serum and scurf oxidative stress indicators,hemorheology indicators of observation group with different severity and disease stages showed significant differences (P ＜0.05).Conclusion The serum and scurf oxidative stress indicators,hemorheology indicators of patients with psoriasis are obviously differentiated from the healthy,so those indicators of the patients should be closely monitored.