1.Heterogeneity of Adipose Tissue From a Single-cell Transcriptomics Perspective
Yong-Lang WANG ; Si-Si CHEN ; Qi-Long LI ; Yu GONG ; Xin-Yue DUAN ; Ye-Hui DUAN ; Qiu-Ping GUO ; Feng-Na LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(4):820-835
Adipose tissue is a critical energy reservoir in animals and humans, with multifaceted roles in endocrine regulation, immune response, and providing mechanical protection. Based on anatomical location and functional characteristics, adipose tissue can be categorized into distinct types, including white adipose tissue (WAT), brown adipose tissue (BAT), beige adipose tissue, and pink adipose tissue. Traditionally, adipose tissue research has centered on its morphological and functional properties as a whole. However, with the advent of single-cell transcriptomics, a new level of complexity in adipose tissue has been unveiled, showing that even under identical conditions, cells of the same type may exhibit significant variation in morphology, structure, function, and gene expression——phenomena collectively referred to as cellular heterogeneity. Single-cell transcriptomics, including techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq), enables in-depth analysis of the diversity and heterogeneity of adipocytes at the single-cell level. This high-resolution approach has not only deepened our understanding of adipocyte functionality but also facilitated the discovery of previously unidentified cell types and gene expression patterns that may play key roles in adipose tissue function. This review delves into the latest advances in the application of single-cell transcriptomics in elucidating the heterogeneity and diversity within adipose tissue, highlighting how these findings have redefined the understanding of cell subpopulations within different adipose depots. Moreover, the review explores how single-cell transcriptomic technologies have enabled the study of cellular communication pathways and differentiation trajectories among adipose cell subgroups. By mapping these interactions and differentiation processes, researchers gain insights into how distinct cellular subpopulations coordinate within adipose tissues, which is crucial for maintaining tissue homeostasis and function. Understanding these mechanisms is essential, as dysregulation in adipose cell interactions and differentiation underlies a range of metabolic disorders, including obesity and diabetes mellitus type 2. Furthermore, single-cell transcriptomics holds promising implications for identifying therapeutic targets; by pinpointing specific cell types and gene pathways involved in adipose tissue dysfunction, these technologies pave the way for developing targeted interventions aimed at modulating specific adipose subpopulations. In summary, this review provides a comprehensive analysis of the role of single-cell transcriptomic technologies in uncovering the heterogeneity and functional diversity of adipose tissues.
2.A new amide alkaloid from Cannabis Fructus.
Rui-Wen XU ; Yong-Zhuo ZHAO ; Yu-Guo MA ; Hui LIU ; Yan-Jun SUN ; Wei-Sheng FENG ; Hui CHEN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(11):3043-3048
Eight amide alkaloids(1-8) were isolated from the 70% ethanol extract of Cannabis Fructus using silica gel column chromatography, MCI column chromatography, and semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). Their structures were identified as hempspiramide A(1), N-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]formamide(2), N-acetyltyramide(3), N-trans-p-coumaroyltyramine(4), N-trans-caffeoyltyramine(5), N-trans-feruloyltyramine(6), N-cis-p-coumaroyltyramine(7), N-cis-feruloyltyramine(8) by using spectroscopic methods such as NMR and MS. Among these compounds, compound 1 was a new amide alkaloid, while compounds 2 and 3 were isolated from Cannabis Fructus for the first time. Some of the isolates were assayed for their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Compounds 5-7 displayed significant inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase with IC_(50) values ranging from 1.07 to 4.63 μmol·L~(-1).
Cannabis/chemistry*
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Alkaloids/pharmacology*
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Amides/isolation & purification*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification*
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Fruit/chemistry*
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Molecular Structure
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alpha-Glucosidases/chemistry*
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Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
3.A propensity score-matched analysis on biopsy methods: enhanced detection rates of prostate cancer with combined cognitive fusion-targeted biopsy.
Bi-Ran YE ; Hui WANG ; Yong-Qing ZHANG ; Guo-Wen LIN ; Hua XU ; Zhe HONG ; Bo DAI ; Fang-Ning WAN
Asian Journal of Andrology 2025;27(4):488-494
The choice of biopsy method is critical in diagnosing prostate cancer (PCa). This retrospective cohort study compared systematic biopsy (SB) or cognitive fusion-targeted biopsy combined with SB (CB) in detecting PCa and clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa). Data from 2572 men who underwent either SB or CB in Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (Shanghai, China) between January 2019 and December 2023 were analyzed. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance baseline characteristics, and detection rates were compared before and after PSM. Subgroup analyses based on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) scores were performed. Primary and secondary outcomes were the detection rates of PCa and csPCa, respectively. Of 2572 men, 1778 were included in the PSM analysis. Before PSM, CB had higher detection rates for both PCa (62.9% vs 52.4%, odds ratio [OR]: 1.54, P < 0.001) and csPCa (54.9% vs 43.3%, OR: 1.60, P < 0.001) compared to SB. After PSM, CB remained superior in detecting PCa (63.1% vs 47.9%, OR: 1.86, P < 0.001) and csPCa (55.0% vs 38.2%, OR: 1.98, P < 0.001). In patients with PSA 4-12 ng ml -1 (>4 ng ml -1 and ≤12 ng ml -1 , which is also applicable to the following text), CB detected more PCa (59.8% vs 40.7%, OR: 2.17, P < 0.001) and csPCa (48.1% vs 27.7%, OR: 2.42, P < 0.001). CB also showed superior csPCa detection in those with PI-RADS 3 lesions (32.1% vs 18.0%, OR: 2.15, P = 0.038). Overall, CB significantly improves PCa and csPCa detection, especially in patients with PSA 4-12 ng ml -1 or PI-RADS 3 lesions.
Humans
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Male
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Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnosis*
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Propensity Score
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Retrospective Studies
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Middle Aged
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Aged
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Image-Guided Biopsy/methods*
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Prostate-Specific Antigen/blood*
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Prostate/diagnostic imaging*
4.Comparative Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses Reveal the Mechanism by Which Foam Macrophages Restrict Survival of Intracellular Mycobacterium Tuberculosis.
Xiao PENG ; Yuan Yuan LIU ; Li Yao CHEN ; Hui YANG ; Yan CHANG ; Ye Ran YANG ; Xuan ZHANG ; An Na JIA ; Yong Bo YU ; Yong Li GUO ; Jie LU
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(7):781-791
OBJECTIVES:
This study aimed to investigate the impact of foam macrophages (FMs) on the intracellular survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and identify the molecular mechanisms influencing MTB survival.
METHODS:
An in vitro FM model was established using oleic acid induction. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were conducted to identify the key molecular pathways involved in FM-mediated MTB survival.
RESULTS:
Induced FMs effectively restricted MTB survival. Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling revealed distinct changes in gene and metabolite expression in FMs during MTB infection compared with normal macrophages. Integrated analyses identified significant alterations in the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling pathway, indicating that its activation contributes to the FM-mediated restriction of MTB survival.
CONCLUSIONS
FMs inhibit MTB survival. The cAMP signaling pathway is a key contributor. These findings enhance the understanding of the role of FMs in tuberculosis progression, suggest potential targets for host-directed therapies, and offer new directions for developing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies against tuberculosis.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis/physiology*
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Transcriptome
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Metabolomics
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Foam Cells/microbiology*
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Humans
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Metabolome
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Tuberculosis/microbiology*
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Gene Expression Profiling
5.PRMT7 Regulates Adipogenic Differentiation of hBMSCs by Modulating IGF-1 Signaling
Qian GUO ; Jia QING ; Da-Zhuang LU ; Xu WANG ; Yang LI ; Hui ZHANG ; Ying-Fei ZHANG ; Yun-Song LIU ; Yong-Sheng ZHOU ; Ping ZHANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(6):1406-1417
ObjectiveProtein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) play pivotal roles in numerous cellular biological processes. However, the precise regulatory effects of PRMTs on the fate determination of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) remain elusive. Our previous studies have shed light on the regulatory role and molecular mechanism of PRMT5 in MSC osteogenic differentiation. This study aims to clarify the role and corresponding regulatory mechanism of PRMT7 during the adipogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Methods(1) Human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) were cultured in a medium that induces adipogenesis. We used qRT-PCR and Western blot to monitor changes in PRMT7 expression during adipogenic differentiation. (2) We created a cell line with PRMT7 knocked down and assessed changes in PRMT7 expression and adipogenic capacity using Oil Red O staining, qRT-PCR and Western blot. (3) We implanted hBMSCs cell lines mixed with a collagen membrane subcutaneously into nude mice and performed Oil Red O staining to observe ectopic lipogenesis in vivo. (4) A cell line overexpressing PRMT7 was generated, and we examined changes in PRMT7 expression using qRT-PCR and Western blot. We also performed Oil Red O staining and quantitative analysis after inducing the cells in lipogenic medium. Additionally, we assessed changes in PPARγ expression. (5) We investigated changes in insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) expression in both PRMT7 knockdown and overexpressing cell lines using qRT-PCR and Western blot, to understand PRMT7’s regulatory effect on IGF-1 expression. siIGF-1 was transfected into the PRMT7 knockdown cell line to inhibit IGF-1 expression, and knockdown efficiency was confirmed. Then, we induced cells from the control and knockdown groups transfected with siIGF-1 in lipogenic medium and performed Oil Red O staining and quantitative analysis. Finally, we assessed PPARγ expression to explore IGF-1’s involvement in PRMT7’s regulation of adipogenic differentiation in hBMSCs. Results(1) During the adipogenesis process of hBMSCs, the expression level of PRMT7 was significantly reduced (P<0.01). (2) The adipogenic differentiation ability of PRMT7 knockdown group was significantly stronger than that of control group (P<0.001). (3) The ectopic adipogenic differentiation ability of PRMT7 knockdown group was significantly stronger than that of control group. (4) The adipogenic differentiation ability of the PRMT7 overexpression group was significantly weaker than that of the control group (P<0.01). (5) The expression level of IGF-1 increased after PRMT7 knockdown (P<0.000 1). The expression level of IGF-1 decreased after PRMT7 overexpression (P<0.000 1), indicating that PRMT7 regulates the expression of IGF-1. After siIGF-1 transfection, the expression level of IGF-1 in all cell lines decreased significantly (P<0.001). The ability of adipogenic differentiation of knockdown group transfected with siIGF-1 was significantly reduced (P<0.01), indicating that IGF-1 affects the regulation of PRMT7 on adipogenic differentiation of hBMSCs. ConclusionIn this investigation, our findings elucidate the inhibitory role of PRMT7 in the adipogenic differentiation of hBMSCs, as demonstrated through both in vitro cell-level experiments and in vivo subcutaneous transplantation experiments conducted in nude mice. Mechanistic exploration revealed that PRMT7’s regulatory effect on the adipogenic differentiation of hBMSCs operates via modulation of IGF-1 signaling pathway. These collective findings underscore PRMT7 as a potential therapeutic target for fatty metabolic disorders, thereby offering a novel avenue for leveraging PRMT7 and hBMSCs in the therapeutic landscape of relevant diseases.
6.The role of age and body mass index on cancer occurrence in a hypertensive population:a retrospective cohort study
Xin-Yue GUO ; Jia-Huan PENG ; Hui-Lin XU ; Yong-Fu YU ; Guo-You QIN
Fudan University Journal of Medical Sciences 2024;51(1):12-18
Objective To analyze the combined effect of body mass index(BMI)and age with cancer occurrence among a hypertensive population in Minhang District,Shanghai.Methods Participants of this study were 212 394 hypertensive patients without cancer in Minhang District,Shanghai,registered in the electronic health information system from 2007 to 2015.Age and BMI were included as smoothing functions in the generalized additive Cox proportional risk model.The bivariate response model was constructed to visualize results using surface plots and to comprehensively analyze the association of BMI and age with the risk of cancer occurrence.Results A total of 22 141 participants developed cancer by Dec 31,2018.The association between age and the risk of cancer incidence showed an overall linear trend while the association between BMI and the risk of cancer incidence showed an overall"U"shape.BMI at about 26 kg/m2 showed the lowest risk of cancer incidence.The risk of cancer occurrence increased with increasing age in people with different BMIs.The associations between BMI and the risk of cancer incidence were different at different age groups:there was no significant association between BMI and the risk of cancer incidence in the young people(20-44 years).While in the middle-aged and older people aged over 45 years,BMI was associated with the risk of cancer incidence in a"U"shape.The lowest risk of cancer incidence was around the BMI of 26 kg/m2.Conclusion BMI among the population with hypertension should be controlled in a reasonable range,especially in the middle-aged and older population,to prevent cancer occurrence.
7.Clinical safety and validity analysis of retrograde new endo-scopic visual field in miniature pigs
Zhe KUANG ; Peng LI ; Da-Qing JIN ; Yong-Chao ZHANG ; Hui-Li GUO ; Yu-Fei ZHANG ; Guang-Lin HE ; Guo-Feng SUN ; Yuan HE
Chinese Journal of Current Advances in General Surgery 2024;27(1):14-18
Objective:To study the clinical safety and validity of retrograde new endoscopic field of vision in miniature pigs.Methods:6 live miniature pigs were selected as study subjects,En-doscopic Retrograde New View(ERNV)was selected.The performance,image quality and intraoper-ative and postoperative complications were evaluated.To evaluate whether all the experimental ani-mals could complete the relevant endoscopy.Verify ERNV's operating performance,including whether the duodenoscope can enter the biliary tract smoothly,and made sure whether the injection,suction,and instrument channels were unobstructed.Choledochoscope image clarity,color resolu-tion,image deformation and distortion,accurate evaluation of lumen conditions and clear observation of mucosal surface conditions were analyzed.Whether there were operant injuries such as bleeding and perforation,as well as adverse events such as respiratory depression and cardiac arrest.The sur-vival status and adverse reactions of all pigs were observed.Results:The choledochoscope was successfully inserted into the bile duct of 6 miniature pigs.The product had good operation perfor-mance and could enter the bile duct through the duodenoscope smoothly.The injection,suction and instrument channels were relatively smooth.In addition,the endoscopic images are clear,with better color resolution,and without image deformation and distortion,which can realize accurate evaluation of the conditions in the lumen and observe the mucosal surface conditions more clearly.No bile duct stenosis or dilatation occurred in all miniature pigs,and the bile duct mucosa was smooth,without hyperemia and edema,and no abnormal thickening or bending of mucous vessels.During the exami-nation,there were no operational injuries such as bleeding and perforation,and no adverse events such as respiratory depression and cardiac arrest occurred.The vital signs of all miniature pigs tended to be stable after operation,and the survival state was good,and there were no complications such as cholangitis,bleeding and perforation.Conclusion:ERNV has good clinical safety and efficacy,ex-cellent operation performance and excellent image quality,and is worthy of clinical application.
8.Development of a High-throughput Sequencing Platform for Detection of Viral Encephalitis Pathogens Based on Amplicon Sequencing
Li Ya ZHANG ; Zhe Wen SU ; Chen Rui WANG ; Yan LI ; Feng Jun ZHANG ; Hui Sheng LIU ; He Dan HU ; Xiao Chong XU ; Yu Jia YIN ; Kai Qi YIN ; Ying HE ; Fan LI ; Hong Shi FU ; Kai NIE ; Dong Guo LIANG ; Yong TAO ; Tao Song XU ; Feng Chao MA ; Yu Huan WANG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2024;37(3):294-302
Objective Viral encephalitis is an infectious disease severely affecting human health.It is caused by a wide variety of viral pathogens,including herpes viruses,flaviviruses,enteroviruses,and other viruses.The laboratory diagnosis of viral encephalitis is a worldwide challenge.Recently,high-throughput sequencing technology has provided new tools for diagnosing central nervous system infections.Thus,In this study,we established a multipathogen detection platform for viral encephalitis based on amplicon sequencing. Methods We designed nine pairs of specific polymerase chain reaction(PCR)primers for the 12 viruses by reviewing the relevant literature.The detection ability of the primers was verified by software simulation and the detection of known positive samples.Amplicon sequencing was used to validate the samples,and consistency was compared with Sanger sequencing. Results The results showed that the target sequences of various pathogens were obtained at a coverage depth level greater than 20×,and the sequence lengths were consistent with the sizes of the predicted amplicons.The sequences were verified using the National Center for Biotechnology Information BLAST,and all results were consistent with the results of Sanger sequencing. Conclusion Amplicon-based high-throughput sequencing technology is feasible as a supplementary method for the pathogenic detection of viral encephalitis.It is also a useful tool for the high-volume screening of clinical samples.
9.Infection following shoulder arthroplasty caused by Cutibacterium avi-dum:a case report and literature review
Qing-Xin GUO ; Hui-Yi ZENG ; Chao-Long GUO ; Zhi-Yong ZHUANG ; Jin-Hua GUO ; Li-Long CAI ; Bing-Zuan LI
Chinese Journal of Infection Control 2024;23(2):231-237
Objective To explore the clinical characteristics and treatment scheme of periprosthetic joint infection(PJI)caused by Cutibacterium avidum(C.avidum).Methods The diagnosis and treatment process of a patient with PJI caused by C.avidum was summarized,and relevant literatures in the database were retrieved for review.Results A 65-year-old female patient with body mass index(BMI)of 31.1 kg/m2 underwent left humeral head prosthesis replacement surgery following a left proximal humerus fracture.Ten months after the surgery,the pa-tient exhibited poor wound healing and oozing,along with limited movement of the left shoulder joint,and was diag-nosed infection following shoulder arthroplasty.Patient underwent debridement of the infected lesion and removal of the prosthesis.The tissue,bone cement and prosthesis were cultured for C.avidum.Four literatures were re-trieved and screened,a total of 30 patients with PJI(28 cases hip joint infection and 2 cases shoulder joint infection)caused by C.avidum were reported through literature retrieval,and 78.6%(n=22)total hip arthroplasty(THA)surgeries were performed using direct anterior approach(DAA).The positive rate of preoperative joint fluid culture was 71.4%,29 cases underwent surgical combined with sensitive antimicrobials treatment.Except for one patient who had repeated infection and underwent three surgeries,other patients had a good prognosis.Conclusion PJI caused by C.avidum is mostly seen in THA patients who are obese and undergo DAA,with a few cases reported after shoulder arthroplasty.The high sensitivity of preoperative joint fluid culture provides an important basis for the development of surgical strategies and anti-infection protocols.
10.Effects of five-element acupuncture on clinical symptoms, brain metabolism and immunoglobulin levels in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome
Huan YANG ; Hui GUO ; Yong MI ; Yimei BAO
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;46(1):30-36
Objective:To evaluate the effect of five-element acupuncture on clinical symptoms, brain metabolism and immunoglobulin level in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.Methods:It was a randomized controlled trial. A total of 94 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome in our hospital from January 2021 to January 2022 were selected and divided into two groups according to the random number table method, with 47 in each group. The conventional western medicine group was treated with conventional western medicine, and the five-element acupuncture group was treated with five-element acupuncture on the basis of the conventional western medicine group. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, the serum levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), corticosterone (CORT), IL-2 and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were detected by ELISA; the levels of natural killer (NK) cells, CD4 +, CD8 +, IgG and IgM were detected by flow cytometry; the whole body superconducting MRI scanner was used to scan T2 Flair, T2WI and TlWI sequences of the hippocampus, and the spectral curves and the areas under the peak of N-acetylaspartic acid (NAA), creatine (Cr) and choline (Cho) were obtained, and the ratios of Cho/Cr and NAA/Cr were calculated. the fatigue Scale-14 (FS-14) and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) were used to evaluate the fatigue state of the patients, and the Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were used to evaluate the anxiety state of the patients. Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) and Somatic and Mental Health Report Score (SPHERE) were used to evaluate the quality of life of patients. And the clinical efficacy was evaluated. Results:After treatment, the levels of IgG, CD4 + and NK in the five-element acupuncture group were significantly higher than those in the conventional western medicine group ( t values were 4.76, 3.65, 6.42, respectively, P<0.01), and the level of IgM, CD8 + was significantly lower than that in the conventional western medicine group ( t values were 7.30, 4.79, P<0.01); the levels of IFN-γ, IL-2 and 5-HT in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the conventional western medicine group ( t values were 7.60, 4.05, 2.79, respectively, respectively, P<0.01), and the level of CORT was significantly lower than that in the conventional western medicine group ( t=6.72, P<0.01); the NAA/Cr levels in the left [(1.10±0.04) vs. (1.05±0.03), t=6.86] and right [(1.18±0.02) vs. (1.21±0.03), t=8.23] hippocampus of the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the conventional western medicine group ( P<0.01), and the Cho/Cr levels in the left [(1.08±0.04) vs. (1.03±0.03), t=5.70] and right [(1.17±0.02) vs. (1.20±0.03), t=5.71] hippocampus of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the conventional western medicine group ( P<0.01). After treatment, the scores of physical fatigue, mental fatigue and FSS in the five-element acupuncture group were significantly lower than those in the conventional western medicine group ( t values were 8.08, 9.08 and 7.07, respectively, P<0.01). The scores of DASS-21, BAI, SCL-90 and SPHERE in the conventional western medicine group were significantly lower than those in the conventional western medicine group ( t values were 3.63, 5.77, 8.74, 5.92, respectively, P<0.01).The total effective rate was 95.74% (45/47) in the five-element acupuncture group and 82.98% (39/47) in the conventional western medicine group, and there was no significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=2.80, P=0.094). Conclusion:Five-elements acupuncture can improve the expression of T lymphocytes, increase the levels of immunoglobulin and NK, reduce the level of CORT, regulate the brain metabolism of NAA in the left and right hippocampus, improve the clinical symptoms and negative emotions, and improve the clinical efficacy and quality of life in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

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