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

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

Objective Air pollution is a leading public health issue.This study investigated the effect of air quality and pollutants on pulmonary function and inflammation in patients with asthma in Shanghai. Methods The study monitored 27 asthma outpatients for a year,collecting data on weather,patient self-management[daily asthma diary,peak expiratory flow(PEF)monitoring,medication usage],spirometry and serum markers.To explore the potential mechanisms of any effects,asthmatic mice induced by ovalbumin(OVA)were exposed to PM2.5. Results Statistical and correlational analyses revealed that air pollutants have both acute and chronic effects on asthma.Acute exposure showed a correlation between PEF and levels of ozone(O3)and nitrogen dioxide(NO2).Chronic exposure indicated that interleukin-5(IL-5)and interleukin-13(IL-13)levels correlated with PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations.In asthmatic mouse models,exposure to PM2.5 increased cytokine levels and worsened lung function.Additionally,PM2.5 exposure inhibited cell proliferation by blocking the NF-κB and ERK phosphorylation pathways. Conclusion Ambient air pollutants exacerbate asthma by worsening lung function and enhancing Th2-mediated inflammation.Specifically,PM2.5 significantly contributes to these adverse effects.Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms by which PM2.5 impacts asthma.

The tumor microenvironment includes blood vessels， lymph， nerves， non-malignant cells， and their metabolites at and near the tumor lesion site， which interact with cancer cells and promote cancer progression. Rapid proliferation of cancer cells increases oxygen consumption， or abnormalities in the structure and function of blood vessels in solid tumors lead to a decrease in oxygen supply， forming a hypoxia microenvironment. The existence of a hypoxia microenvironment is a typical pathophysiological feature of locally advanced solid tumors， widely present in various types of human malignant tumors. Hypoxia microenvironment is a sign of tumor microenvironment and an important and complex system in the breast tumor microenvironment. Its formation and development are closely related to the growth of breast cancer， occupying an important position in the research and treatment of breast cancer. With its advantages of multiple pathways and multiple targets， the effective monomer and compound of traditional Chinese medicine can better regulate the hypoxia microenvironment of breast cancer， inhibit the proliferation， invasion， and metastasis of breast cancer cells in the hypoxia environment， induce apoptosis， reverse their drug resistance， intervene in the metabolic reprogramming of breast cancer cells in the hypoxia environment， and inhibit their angiogenesis， thereby improving the quality of life of patients to a certain extent and prolonging the survival cycle of patients. This paper first summarized and discussed the effects of hypoxia microenvironment on proliferation， invasion， metastasis， drug resistance， immune function， metabolic reprogramming， non-coding RNA， iron death， and autophagy of breast cancer cells， which affected the occurrence and development of breast cancer， and it elaborated the mechanism behind it. Then， the paper elucidated the regulatory effect and mechanism of targeting the hypoxia microenvironment based on the two modes of effective monomer and compound of traditional Chinese medicine， so as to analyze and extract the deficiencies and directions of traditional Chinese medicine in regulating the hypoxia microenvironment and provide a theoretical reference for the effective treatment of breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of Jiawei Tianwang Buxin Dan(JWBXD)on insomnia in rats exposed to simulated high-altitude conditions.METHODS ① Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into the normal control,model,model+Jiawei Tianwang Buxin Dan(JWBXD,9.6 mg·kg-1),model+Tianwang Buxin Dan(TWBXD,9.6 mg·kg-1),and model+diazepam(DZP,3 mg·kg-1)groups.Rats,except for the normal control group,were subjected to a low-pressure,low-oxygen animal experimental chamber simulating a 5000 m altitude.Respective drugs were ig administrated once daily at 9:00 for seven days,and signal acquisition and sleep analysis were conducted by a wireless physiological sig-nal telemetry system.②Forty rats were randomly divided into five groups as described in ①.Through-out the experiment,the general condition and body mass of the rats were observed daily.Drug adminis-tration lasted for seven days,and grip strength was tested one hour after the final administration.ELISA was used to measure the levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH),adrenocorticotropic hor-mone(ACTH),corticosterone(CORT),and melatonin(MLT)in serum.Western blotting was performed to measure the expression levels of core clock proteins period circadian regulator 2(Per2),circadian locomotor output cycles(Clock),cryptochrome 2(Cry2),brain-muscle arnt-like protein 1(Bmal1),nuclear receptor subfamily 1,group D member 1(NR1D1),glycogen synthase kinase-3β(GSK-3β),as well as acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase(ASMT)in the hypothalamus and pineal gland,respectively.RESULTS ① Compared with the normal control group,the model group exhibited a decrease in total sleep time(P<0.01),an increase in wakefulness(P<0.01),a significant reduction in slow wave sleep(SWS)(P<0.05)and the mean bouts duration(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,both DZP and JWBXD(P<0.01)prolonged sleep time and suppressed wakefulness(P<0.01)in the hypoxic envi-ronment.DZP and JWBXD prolonged SWS(P<0.05,P<0.01),while TWBXD had no significant effect.JWBXD improved the mean bouts duration of SWS in the model rats(P<0.01),whereas no such improvement was observed in model+DZP and model+TWBXD groups.② Compared with the normal control group,the model group showed a significant decrease in forelimb grip strength(P<0.01),increased levels of serum ACTH(P<0.05),CRH,and CORT(P<0.01),and decreased MLT levels(P<0.05).The expression levels of Per2,Cry2,GSK-3β,and NR1D1 in the hypothalamus were downregu-lated(P<0.05,P<0.01),while Bmal1 and Clock were upregulated(P<0.05,P<0.01).ASMT expression in the pineal gland was decreased(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,JWBXD and TWBXD enhanced forelimb grip strength(P<0.01),reduced serum CORT and ACTH levels(P<0.05),decreased CRH levels(P<0.01),and restored MLT levels(P<0.01).JWBXD upregulated the expression levels of Per2,Cry2,GSK-3β and NR1D1 in the hypothalamus(P<0.05,P<0.01),but downregulated Bmal1 and Clock expression(P<0.05,P<0.01).TWBXD downregulated Bmal1 expression in the hypothalamus(P<0.01)and increased NR1D1 expression(P<0.05).DZP significantly enhanced the expression levels of Per2,Cry2 and NR1D1 in the hypothalamus(P<0.01).JWBXD,TWBXD and DZP improved ASMT expression in the pineal gland(P<0.05).CONCLUSION JWBXD can improve sleep structure and prolong the duration of SWS in rats exposed to simulated high-altitude conditions.The mechanisms may involve the regulation of core clock protein expressions in the hypothalamus,promotion of mela-tonin secretion,and inhibition of HPA axis hyperactivity.

Objective:To evaluate the reliability and validity of different quantitative methods based on CT images to evaluate the proportion of shoulder glenoid defect.Methods:Four shoulder joint specimens with no trauma, osteoarthritis or deformity were used, including 2 females and 2 males; the average age of death was 58±10 years old; all the specimens were prepared with a standard method with no bone defect occurring before preparation. A glenoid bone defect model was established with each specimen being cut into four defect gradient defects of approximately 8%, 16%, 24%, and 32% in proportion in sequence. A total of 16 samples were obtained. Physical photography and CT image reconstruction were performed on the 16 samples respectively. A total of 8 quantitative methods were used to quantify bone defects, which were surface area method, superimposed circle method, Barchilon method, Pico method, Shaha method, Griffith method, Sugaya method, and Giles method. Intraclass correlation (ICC) using a consistency model was used to evaluate reliability. Paired t-test was used to evaluate validity, with the physical measurement of the specimens using the surface area method as the reference standard. Result:The consistency ICC of each quantitative method was greater than 0.9, and all had high reliability. Combining the results of all bone defect gradients and imaging images, the surface area method had the best validity, which was 0.83%±0.75%; the Barchilon method came second, which was 0.91%±0.93%; the superimposed circle method and the Pico method had good validity, which were 0.99%±0.87% and 1.27%±1.09%, respectively; the Shaha method, the Griffith method, and the Sugaya method had poor validity, which were 6.11%±1.56%, 5.06%±1.35%, and 6.02%±1.61%, respectively; the Giles method had the worst validity, which was 8.40%±3.08%. Conclusion:In clinical practice, surface area method and superimposed circle method are the most reliable to quantify the proportion of bone defect if they can be performed. Otherwise, linear measurement of Barchilon method is the favored method while PICO method is the favored method for angle measurement.

Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is a condition comprising ectopic bone formation from spinal ligaments. This disease is a leading cause of myelopathy in the Asian population. However, the molecular mechanism underlying OPLL and efficient preventive interventions remain unclear. Here, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing and revealed that type I interferon (IFN) signaling was activated in the ossified ligament of patients with OPLL. We also observed that IFN-β stimulation promoted the osteogenic differentiation of preosteoblasts in vitro and activated the ossification-related gene SPP1, thereby confirming the single-cell RNA sequencing findings. Further, blocking the IFN-α/β subunit 1 receptor (IFNAR1) using an anti-IFNAR1 neutralizing antibody markedly suppressed osteogenic differentiation. Together, these results demonstrated that the type I IFN signaling pathway facilitated ligament ossification, and the blockade of this signaling might provide a foundation for the prevention of OPLL.
Humans ; Signal Transduction ; Interferon Type I/metabolism* ; Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament/genetics* ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Single-Cell Analysis ; Osteogenesis/genetics* ; Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta/metabolism* ; Male ; Female ; Cell Differentiation ; Middle Aged

Objective:To investigate the effects of surgery with the Yeung endoscopic spine system (YESS) technique on lumbar range of motion and limb function in patients with lumbar disc herniation.Methods:A total of 148 patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation admitted to Liaocheng Second Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University from April 2018 to April 2021 were included in this study. They were randomly divided into control and observation groups ( n = 74/group). The control group was treated with laminectomy, and the observation group was treated with an intervertebral foramen mirror YESS. The lumbar range of motion, Oswestry disability index score, and incidence of surgical complications were compared between the two groups. Results:At postoperative 7 days, ranges of motion in lumbar flexion, lumbar extension, left lumbar lateral flexion, and right lumbar lateral flexion in the observation group were (87.45 ± 7.38)°, (26.87 ± 3.41)°, (28.58 ± 3.41)°, (28.39 ± 3.41)°, which were significantly higher than (68.98 ± 6.51)°, (15.69 ± 3.23)°, (18.69 ± 2.32)°, (14.56 ± 2.96)° in the control group ( t = 16.15, 20.48, 20.63, 26.35, all P < 0.001). At postoperative 7 days, the Oswestry Disability Index in each group was significantly decreased compared with before treatment (both P < 0.05). At postoperative 7 days, the score of each dimension of the Oswestry Disability Index in the observation group was significantly lower compared with the control group ( t = 49.13, 50.20, 54.78, 37.79, 32.04, 36.68, 43.69, 28.92, 39.31, 64.12, all P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the incidences of perioperative incision infection, nerve injury, cerebrospinal fluid leaks, lumbar spondylolisthesis, and foot drop between the two groups (all P > 0.05). Conclusion:Treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation with the YESS technique is helpful to improve lumbar mobility and reduce lumbar dysfunction and is highly safe.

OBJECTIVE Insomnia is the most fre-quent sleep disorder worldwide and the clinical applica-tion of therapeutic drugs has various adverse effects.In recent years,drugs developed from natural herbs have become potential alternative therapies for insomnia.Nuciferine,one of the main bioactive components obtained from the lotus leaves,has been reported to possess extensive pharmacological activities.However,its hypnotic and sleep regulatory effects have rarely been reported.Hence,this study was intended to investigate the pharma-cological effects of nuciferine and its mechanisms of action in insomnia.METHODS The hypnotic and seda-tive effects of nuciferine were investigated using the eval-uation of locomotor activity test and pentobarbital-induced sleep test in normal and serotonin(5-HT)depletion-induced insomniac mice.Furthermore,the sleep regulatory effects,including sleep time,sleep architecture,and δ-wave power spectral density,were explored using elec-troencephalography/electromyogram(EEG/EMG)-based sleep profiling in normal rats.Finally,the mechanisms of the hypnotic and sedative effects of nuciferine were explored usingin vivoand in silico experiments.RESULTS Nuciferine reduced locomotor activity and prolonged pen-tobarbital-induced sleep time in a dose-dependent man-ner in normal and insomniac model mice.Nuciferine sig-nificantly increased the total sleep time and non-rapid eye movement(NREM)sleep time,inhibited NREM sleep fragmentation,and improved delta power between 0.5 Hz and 1 Hz in normal rats.The results of molecular experiments showed that nuciferine could increase the 5-HT content and 5-HT1A receptor level in the hypothala-mus of insomnia model mice.CONCLUSION This study combined network pharmacological prediction and experi-mental pharmacological techniques to discover the seda-tive-hypnotic effect of nuciferine for the first time Nucif-erine can ameliorate sleep disorder in mice with insom-nia,possibly via serotonergic system.Nuciferine may rep-resent a novel treatment that alleviate the insomnia-like symptoms by modulating 5-HT system.