OBJECTIVES: To investigate the protective effects of graphene heating film far-infrared (FIR) hyperthermia therapy against frostbite in mice and its impacts on microcirculation and coagulation function. METHODS: Seventy-six C57BL/6J mice were randomized into control, model, graphene-FIR, and carbon fiber-FIR groups. After 7-day FIR intervention (4 h/day), the mice were subjected to acute (4 ℃, 4 h) and intermittent (4 ℃, 4 h/day for 3 days) cold exposure and the changes in rectal temperature were monitored. In liquid nitrogen frostbite experiment, 24 ICR mice were divided into model, graphene-FIR, and carbon fiber-FIR groups, and after a 7-day FIR pretreatment (4 h/day), the liquid nitrogen frostbite models were established and apparent scores of the wounds were assessed on days 3 and 6 after modeling. In carrageenan-induced thrombosis experiment, 40 ICR mice were allocated to control, model, graphene-FIR, carbon fiber-FIR, and prazosin groups to test the effect of a 7-day FIR intervention on thrombosis induced by intraperitoneal carrageenan injection (2.5 mg/kg) by measuring thrombus length, blood perfusion, and serum biomarkers (6-keto-PGF1α, TXB2, t-PA, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF‑α) 24 h after the injection. RESULTS: The mice in graphene-FIR group showed significantly elevated rectal temperature in cold exposure tests. In mice with liquid nitrogen-induced frostbite, graphene-FIR treatment significantly reduced the wound scores and reduced frostbite area, producing better effects than carbon fiber. In mice with carrageenan-induced thrombosis, graphene-FIR treatment significantly decreased tail thrombosis length and thrombosis area, increased blood perfusion, lowered serum levels of TXB2, TNF-α and IL-6, and increased the levels of 6-keto-PGF1α and t-PA. CONCLUSIONS Graphene heating film FIR therapy can alleviate frostbite injury in mice by improving microcirculation, suppressing thrombosis and inflammatory responses, and reducing coagulation dysfunction.
Animals ; Frostbite/therapy* ; Graphite ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice ; Infrared Rays ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Hyperthermia, Induced/methods* ; Male ; Microcirculation

OBJECTIVES: To assess the regulatory effect of cannabidiol (CBD) on circadian rhythm sleep disorders following general anesthesia and explore its potential mechanism in a rat model of propofol-induced rhythm sleep disorder. METHODS: An electrode was embedded in the skull for cortical EEG recording in 24 male SD rats, which were randomized into control, propofol, CBD treatment, and diazepam treatment groups (n=6). Eight days later, a single dose of propofol (10 mg/kg) was injected via the tail vein with anesthesia maintenance for 3 h in the latter 3 groups, and daily treatment with saline, CBD or diazepam was administered via gavage; the control rats received only saline injection. A wireless system was used for collecting EEG, EMG, and body temperature data within 72 h after propofol injection. After data collection, blood samples and hypothalamic tissue samples were collected for determining serum levels of oxidative stress markers and hypothalamic expressions of the key clock proteins. RESULTS: Compared with the control rats, the rats with CBD treatment showed significantly increased sleep time at night (20:00-6:00), especially during the time period of 4:00-6:00 am. Compared with the rats in propofol group, which had prolonged SWS time and increased sleep episodes during 18:00-24:00 and sleep-wake transitions, the CBD-treated rats exhibited a significant reduction of SWS time and fewer SWS-to-active-awake transitions with increased SWS aspects and sleep-wake transitions at night (24:00-08:00). Diazepam treatment produced similar effect to CBD but with a weaker effect on sleep-wake transitions. Propofol caused significant changes in protein expressions and redox state, which were effectively reversed by CBD treatment. CONCLUSIONS CBD can improve sleep structure and circadian rhythm in rats with propofol-induced sleep disorder possibly by regulating hypothalamic expressions of the key circadian clock proteins, suggesting a new treatment option for perioperative sleep disorders.
Animals ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Male ; Cannabidiol/therapeutic use* ; Rats ; Circadian Rhythm/drug effects* ; Propofol/adverse effects* ; Anesthesia, General/adverse effects* ; Sleep Wake Disorders/chemically induced* ; Hypothalamus/metabolism* ; Electroencephalography

Stent migration is one of the common complications following transcatheter valve implantation. This study aims to design a "drum-shaped" balloon-expandable aortic valve stent to address this issue and conduct a mechanical analysis. The implantation process of the stent was evaluated using a method that combines numerical simulation and in vitro experiments. Furthermore, the fatigue process of the stent under pulsatile cyclic loading was simulated, and its fatigue performance was assessed using a Goodman diagram. The process of the stent migrating toward the left ventricular side was simulated, and the force-displacement curve of the stent was extracted to evaluate its anti- migration performance. The results showed that all five stent models could be crimped into a 14F sheath and enabled uniform expansion of the native valve leaflets. The stress in each stent was below the ultimate stress, so no fatigue fracture occurred. As the cell height ratio decreased, the contact area fraction between the stent and the aortic root gradually decreased. However, the mean contact force and the maximum anti-migration force first decreased and then increased. Specifically, model S5 had the smallest contact area fraction but the largest mean contact force and maximum anti-migration force, reaching approximately 0.16 MPa and 10.73 N, respectively. The designed stent achieves a "drum-shaped" change after expansion and has good anti-migration performance.
Stents ; Prosthesis Design ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Humans ; Aortic Valve/surgery* ; Stress, Mechanical ; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement/instrumentation*

Objective:To investigate the reliability and validity of different measurement methods under 30° arthroscopy for quantifying the proportion of glenoid bone defect in bony Bankart lesions of the shoulder joint and validate its preliminary application effect.Methods:Eight intact shoulder glenoid specimens were selected, with no existing defects or deformities, from donors of 4 females and 4 males, with their age at death of 43-67 years [(54.4±8.0)years]. Bone defects of 12.5% and 25% were created in the glenoid at 0° and 45° relative to the longitudinal axis, with two specimens per defect category. The defect proportion in each specimen was quantified using direct measurement and CT-based digital reconstruction and these values served as reference standards for subsequent statistical analysis. Using a combined approach of arthroscopic simulation equipment and cadaveric study, five investigators performed simulated examinations through the standard posterior portal (2 cm medial and 1.5 cm inferior to the posterolateral acromial corner) and the modified posteroinferior portal (2 cm medial and 3 cm inferior to the posterolateral acromial corner) separately. Under 30° arthroscopy, the glenoid bone loss percentage was measured using the bare spot method and secant chord method. The reliability was analyzed for these measurements. Furthermore, using direct physical measurements and CT-based three-dimensional reconstruction data from the same specimens as reference standards, the comprehensive validity of four measurement methods was evaluated (standard posterior portal-bare spot method, standard posterior portal-secant chord method, modified posteroinferior portal-bare spot method, and modified posteroinferior portal-secant chord method). The independent validity of each method was assessed according to bone defect morphology classification to determine differences in measurement accuracy across defect types. In an arthroscopic procedure for a patient with Bigliani type IIIB bony Bankart lesion, the standard posterior portal-secant chord method was applied to quantify the proportion of glenoid bone defects.Results:The mean reference values from direct measurement and CT measurement of glenoid bone defect proportion in eight bony Bankart lesion specimens were 12.71%/12.37%, 13.17%/13.10%, 25.71%/24.9%, 26.6%/26.95%, 13.41%/13.10%, 12.90%/12.59%, 26.42%/25.94%, and 26.73%/27.06%, respectively. Measurements obtained by the five investigators showed intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) all greater than 0.90, indicating excellent interobserver agreement. In the validity analysis, the standard posterior portal-secant chord method demonstrated the highest overall validity. Using direct measurement and CT-based measurement as reference standards, the overall validity was (0.90±0.38)% and (1.07±0.53)% for the standard posterior portal-bare spot method, (1.33±0.40)% and (1.51±0.54)% for the modified posteroinferior portal-bare spot method, and (0.53±0.17)% and (0.70±0.38)% ( P<0.05) for the modified posteroinferior portal-secant chord method. In contrast, the standard posterior portal-secant chord method showed an overall validity of (0.10±0.10)% and (0.28±0.39)% ( P>0.05). In subsequent independent validity analyses, the standard posterior portal-secant chord method also demonstrated superior validity across all bone defect subtypes over the other three methods. In a patient with a Bigliani type IIIB bony Bankart lesion, we used the standard posterior portal-secant chord method to quantify the glenoid bone loss in 2 minutes, revealing a defect proportion of 26.6%. An arthroscopic autologous iliac bone graft procedure with single-tunnel elastic fixation guided by this measurement achieved favorable outcomes, with stable reduction, secure internal fixation and favorable recovery of shoulder function at 2 months postoperatively. Conclusion:For various types of bony Bankart lesions, the 30° arthroscopic standard posterior portal-secant chord method provides the most accurate quantification of glenoid bone loss and its preliminary clinical application yields satisfactory results.

Non-human primates are the closest relatives of human beings and possess similar morphological， anatomical， physiological， and behavioral characteristics， making them indispensable in fields such as neuroscience， reproduction， infectious diseases， and drug research and development. Currently， the restrictions on using non-human primates in experiments are becoming increasingly stringent in Europe and the United States. These experiments have ethical particularities that are different from those involving ordinary animals， and they also pose ethical challenges such as lack of necessity assessment， no unified assessment standards， and ethical dumping hazards. Supervision and ethical review should be strengthened. The key points of their ethical review include the necessity of the experiments， the assessment of the harm-benefit ratio， and the implementation of the “3R” principles.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture and moxibustion combined with umbilical therapy on anxiety and depression in patients with neurogenic bladder (NB) after spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS: Thirty cases of NB after SCI with anxiety and depression were selected and treated with acupuncture and moxibustion combined with umbilical therapy. Acupuncture was applied at Baihui (GV20), Yintang (GV24⁺), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Shenmen (HT7), Hegu (LI4), Taichong (LR3), once a day, continuous treatment for 4 weeks. Ginger moxibustion was applied at the bladder meridian of foot taiyang and governor vessel, once a day, continuous treatment for 4 weeks. In treatment of umbilical therapy, Chaihu (Radix Bupleuri), Yujin (Radix Curcumae), Rougui (Cortex Cinnamomi) were ground and mixed with the same amount of honey, put into the application, and the application was placed on the navel after filling the navel with fine salt, once a day for 4 weeks. Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) score, Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) score, urodynamic indexes (maximum urinary flow rate [Qmax], maximum detrusor pressure [Pdet-max], residual urine volume [RUV]), neurogenic bladder symptom score (NBSS), urinary symptom distress scale (USDS) score were compared before and after treatment, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. RESULTS: After treatment, the scores of HAMA, HAMD, NBSS, USDS and RUVwere lower than those before treatment (P<0.05), and Qmax and Pdet-max were higher than those before treatment (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 93.3 (28/30). CONCLUSION Acupuncture and moxibustion combined with umbilical therapy can effectively relieve anxiety and depression symptoms, improve urination disorders in patients with NB after SCI.
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Spinal Cord Injuries/psychology* ; Depression/etiology* ; Anxiety/etiology* ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic/etiology* ; Young Adult ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Acupuncture Points

Circadian rhythms,a result of the long-term evolution of organisms adapting to the Earth′s environment,play a crucial regulatory role in biological activities.Disruptions in circadian rhythms have been iden-tified as potential carcinogenic risk factors,closely linked to the pathological states of digestive system diseases,and significantly contribute to the occurrence and progression of digestive system tumors.These rhythms not only influence the regulation of cell cycles,proliferation,and apoptosis of tumor cells but also profoundly affect their migratory abilities,immune functions,and drug resistance.This article focuses on the specific regulatory mechanisms of circadian rhythm genes in relation to digestive system tumors and comprehensively summarizes research findings on the anti-tumor effects of traditional Chinese medicine targeting these circadian clock genes.The aim is to provide new avenues for target selection and prognostic evaluation in the treatment of digestive system tumors.

Objective To explore the effect of acupuncture combined with manual reduction on pain and lumbar function in elderly patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis under the guidance of the Bone Strengthening and Tendon Softening Theory.Methods Ninety elderly patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis treated in our hospital from January 2021 to April 2023 were selected as study subjects.Based on a random number table method,the participants were divided into experimental group and control group,each consisting of 45 cases.The control group received acupuncture treatment,while the experimental group received manual reduction treatment on top of that.Both groups underwent continuous treatment for 4 weeks.We compared the two groups in Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)syndrome score,Visual Analog Scale(VAS)score,Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA)lumbar function score,Oswestry Disability Index(ODI),serum inflammatory factor level,and clinical efficacy between before and after treatment.Results Before treatment,there was no statistically significant difference in TCM syndrome scores or VAS scores between the two groups(P＞0.05).After treatment,both TCM syndrome scores and VAS scores significantly decreased in both groups,with the experimental group showing significantly lower scores than the control group(P＜0.05).Before treatment,there was no statistically significant difference in JOA scores and ODI scores between the two groups(P＞0.05).After treatment,JOA scores significantly increased in both groups,with the experimental group showing significantly higher scores than the control group(P＜0.05).ODI scores significantly decreased in both groups,with the experimental group showing significantly lower scores than the control group(P＜0.05).Before treatment,the two groups did not differ significantly in serum IL-6,TNF-α,or CRP levels(P＞0.05).After treatment,serum IL-6,TNF-α,and CRP levels significantly decreased in both groups,with the experimental group showing lower levels than the control group(P＜0.05).The total effective rate in the experimental group was 88.89％,significantly higher than 68.89％ in the control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture combined with manual reduction guided by the Bone Straightening and Tendon Softening theory can effectively alleviate pain,improve various TCM syndromes,enhance lumbar function level,and show significant clinical efficacy in patients.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the role and mechanisms of the soluble guanylate cyclase(sGC)stimulator sGC003 in improving high altitude pulmonary edema(HAPE)in mice.METHODS Mice were randomly assigned to a normal control group,model group,model+dexamethasone 4 mg·kg-1 group(before modeling,intragastric administration of saline was performed once daily for 6 d,followed by intragastric administration of dexamethasone 4 mg·kg-1 on days 7 and 8),model+riociguat 10 mg·kg-1 group(before modeling,intragastric administration once a day for 7 d),and model+sGC003 5 and 10 mg·kg-1 groups(before modeling,intragastric administration once a day for 7 d).All groups except the normal control group received intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide at a dose of 4 mg·kg-11 h after drug administration on day 7,followed by placement in a hypoxic environment to establish the HAPE model.After 24 h of modeling,the expiratory time,end-inspiratory pause,enhanced pause,and breathing frequency were measured,Lung tissue morphology was examined using HE staining,and lung tissue edema was assessed by determining the wet to dry weight ratio(W/D).The level of interleukin-1β(IL-1β)was determined using immunofluorescence staining.The phosphorylation level of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein(VASP)in lung tissue was analyzed by Western blotting.Additionally,levels of sGC,hypoxia inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α),cyclic guanosine monophosphate(cGMP),IL-6,and IL-1βin serum were quantified using ELISA.RESULTS Compared with the normal control group,the model group had obvious pulmonary edema,and the lung W/D,IL-1β levels,expiratory time,end-inspiratory pause,enhanced pause,as well as serum levels of IL-1β,HIF-1α and IL-6 were significantly increased.Concurrently,the frequency of breathing and serum levels of sGC and cGMP were significantly decreased.Compared with model group,the expiratory time,end-inspiratory pause,enhanced pause,lung W/D and IL-1β levels,and serum levels of IL-1β,HIF-1α and IL-6 were significantly decreased in the model+sGC003 10 mg·kg-1 group;while the frequency of breathing,serum sGC and cGMP levels,phosphorylation level of VASP in lung tissues were significantly increased.CONCLUSION sGC003 can improve lung function,suppress pulmonary inflammation,and mitigate pulmonary edema in HAPE mice by activating the sGC/cGMP pathway.