1.Finite element analysis of internal fixation with new retrograde intramedullary nail on lateral femur condyle for distal type A2 femur fractures
Xinlin YU ; Huiyu CHEN ; Yingying WANG ; Weizhong GUO ; Bin FENG ; Chengshou LIN ; Wang LIN
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(3):546-552
BACKGROUND:Plate fixation is the mainstream method for the surgical treatment of distal femoral fractures.The intramedullary nailing has the advantages of minimally invasive,such as less soft tissue injury and bone blood supply destruction.At the same time,it is a central fixation and has better biomechanical effect.Therefore,retrograde intramedullary nailing has become another option for the internal fixation of distal femoral fractures.OBJECTIVE:The biomechanical characteristics of new retrograde intramedullary nail on lateral femur condyle,common femoral retrograde intramedullary nail,and lateral femur condyle anatomical locking plate for the treatment of A2-type distal femoral fractures were compared using finite element analysis,and the advantages of new retrograde intramedullary nail on lateral femur condyle was studied.METHODS:A new retrograde intramedullary nail on lateral femur condyle was designed,which was inserted into the bone cortex in front of the insertion point of the lateral collateral ligament of the lateral femoral condyle.A CT scan was performed on the lower limb bone of a male volunteer,and a three-dimensional model of the femur was established.The model was then segmented to create a three-dimensional model of a femoral distal A2-type fracture,The three-dimensional models of small(small group),standard type retrograde intramedullary nail on the lateral femoral condyle(standard group),common retrograde intramedullary needle(common group),and lateral femur condyle anatomical locking plate(plate group)were established respectively.The axial stresses of 600,1 800 N and the torsional load of 4 000,8 000 N·mm were applied to the models,and the displacement and stress of femur and the displacement,stress and shear force of internal fixators were observed in each group.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)When subjected to axial load of 600 and 1 800 N,the femoral peak displacement,the femoral peak stress,and the peak stress of interal fixation in the standard group were the lowest among the four groups.(2)When subjected to torsional load of 4 000 and 8 000 N·mm,the femoral peak displacement and peak displacement of the internal fixation in the standard group were the lowest among the four groups.(3)Compared with femoral lateral condylar locking plate and common retrograde intramedullary needle,the new retrograde intramedullary needle on lateral femur condyle has mechanical advantages of reducing stress concentration and decreasing the risk of internal fixation failure.
2.Finite element analysis of internal fixation with new retrograde intramedullary nail on lateral femur condyle for distal type A2 femur fractures
Xinlin YU ; Huiyu CHEN ; Yingying WANG ; Weizhong GUO ; Bin FENG ; Chengshou LIN ; Wang LIN
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(3):546-552
BACKGROUND:Plate fixation is the mainstream method for the surgical treatment of distal femoral fractures.The intramedullary nailing has the advantages of minimally invasive,such as less soft tissue injury and bone blood supply destruction.At the same time,it is a central fixation and has better biomechanical effect.Therefore,retrograde intramedullary nailing has become another option for the internal fixation of distal femoral fractures.OBJECTIVE:The biomechanical characteristics of new retrograde intramedullary nail on lateral femur condyle,common femoral retrograde intramedullary nail,and lateral femur condyle anatomical locking plate for the treatment of A2-type distal femoral fractures were compared using finite element analysis,and the advantages of new retrograde intramedullary nail on lateral femur condyle was studied.METHODS:A new retrograde intramedullary nail on lateral femur condyle was designed,which was inserted into the bone cortex in front of the insertion point of the lateral collateral ligament of the lateral femoral condyle.A CT scan was performed on the lower limb bone of a male volunteer,and a three-dimensional model of the femur was established.The model was then segmented to create a three-dimensional model of a femoral distal A2-type fracture,The three-dimensional models of small(small group),standard type retrograde intramedullary nail on the lateral femoral condyle(standard group),common retrograde intramedullary needle(common group),and lateral femur condyle anatomical locking plate(plate group)were established respectively.The axial stresses of 600,1 800 N and the torsional load of 4 000,8 000 N·mm were applied to the models,and the displacement and stress of femur and the displacement,stress and shear force of internal fixators were observed in each group.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)When subjected to axial load of 600 and 1 800 N,the femoral peak displacement,the femoral peak stress,and the peak stress of interal fixation in the standard group were the lowest among the four groups.(2)When subjected to torsional load of 4 000 and 8 000 N·mm,the femoral peak displacement and peak displacement of the internal fixation in the standard group were the lowest among the four groups.(3)Compared with femoral lateral condylar locking plate and common retrograde intramedullary needle,the new retrograde intramedullary needle on lateral femur condyle has mechanical advantages of reducing stress concentration and decreasing the risk of internal fixation failure.
3.Construction and Validation of a Clinical Prediction Model for Inflammatory Remission Outcome of Bushen Zhiwang Decoction(补肾治尪汤)in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis with Liver and Kidney Deficiency Syndrome
Zihan WANG ; Xiaojing LIU ; Yanyu CHEN ; Tianyi LAN ; Huilan YANG ; Hongwei YU ; Qingwen TAO ; Yuan XU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(5):523-533
ObjectiveTo construct and validate a clinical prediction model for inflammatory remission outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with liver and kidney deficiency syndrome treated with Bushen Zhiwang Decoction (补肾治尪汤, BZD) based on metabolomics. MethodsA prospective cohort study was conducted, enrol-ling 60 RA patients with liver and kidney deficiency syndrome. All patients were treated with BZD and conventional-dose oral conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) for 12 months. Clinical data were collected, and the change in disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) after treatment compared with baseline (△DAS28) was used as the primary outcome and grouping criterion. Peripheral blood samples were collected before treatment to analyze plasma metabolites. Differential analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression were used to preliminarily screen differential metabolites, followed by machine learning algorithms to further identify a core metabolite combination. Based on the expression levels of the core metabolite combination, a novel metabolite index, namely the metabolomics-based inflammatory remission score (Met-IRS), was calculated using standar-dized metabolite values, and its clinical applicability was evaluated. A clinical prediction model was constructed by integrating clinical characteristics and Met-IRS, and the model performance was assessed. ResultsAmong the 60 patients, those with △DAS28 ≥ 0.27 were assigned to the high inflammatory remission group, while those with △DAS28 < 0.27 were assigned to the low inflammatory remission group, with 30 cases in each group. Compared to the low inflammatory remission group, the high inflammatory remission group showed a higher frequency of methotrexate use and a lower positive rate of rheumatoid factor (RF) (P<0.05). Seven core metabolites were identified as the optimal combination, including mangiferic acid, fatty acid-hydroxy fatty acid ester 40∶6, fatty acid-hydroxy fatty acid ester 18∶0, fatty acid-hydroxy fatty acid ester 36∶1, glucosylceramide, lysophosphatidylcholine 22∶5, and pregnanetriol ketone. The calculated Met-IRS comprehensively reflected the characteristics of differential metabolites and demonstrated clinical applicability. Met-IRS was significantly higher in the high inflammatory remission group than in the low inflammatory remission group, and was positively correlated with high inflammatory remission outcomes (P<0.05). Based on the variables Met-IRS, methotrexate use, leflunomide use, and RF positivity, a clinical prediction model for inflammatory remission in RA treatment (Cj-RTRM) was constructed. Model performance evaluation demonstrated that the model had good clinical predictive ability, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.880, sensitivity 0.967, specificity 0.700 and Youden's index 0.667. ConclusionThe clinical prediction model Cj-RTRM constructed based on the metabolomics-based inflammatory remission score Met-IRS can effectively predict clinical inflammatory remission outcomes in RA patients treated with BZD and accurately identify the advantageous population for this treatment. This model provides guiding evidence for dynamic inflammation monitoring, targeted management, and identification of populations with advantages in traditional Chinese medicine.
4.Clinical Efficacy of Janus Kinase Inhibitors in Combination with Chinese Herbal Medicine for Rheumatoid Arthritis:A Retrospective Study and A Meta-analysis
Chenguang ZHAN ; Shengqin YANG ; Xin LI ; Yu WEN ; Peng ZHANG ; Xingrui YAN ; Haifang DU ; Maojie WANG ; Xiaodong WU ; Liyan MEI ; Xiumin CHEN ; Yanlin LI ; Runyue HUANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(5):534-543
ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors combined with Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MethodsClinical data from 169 RA patients were retrospectively collected. Among them, 71 cases received JAK inhibitors as the control group, while 98 cases received JAK inhibitors plus CHM as the observation group, both treated for 24 weeks. The rheumatoid factor (RF), cyclic citic peptide antibody (anti-CCP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cell count (WBC) were recorded before and after treatment. Databases including CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, PubMed and Web of Science were searched from inception till August 31st, 2025 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the combined use of JAK inhibitors and CHM for RA. The methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated using the risk of bias assessment tool. Meta-analyses were performed for RF, anti-CCP, ESR, CRP, 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28), overall clinical effective rate, and incidence of adverse events. Sensitivity analysis were also performed. ResultsThe retrospective study demonstrated that after treatment, ESR, CRP, and anti-CCP levels decreased in the observation group, while ESR and CRP levels decreased in the control group (P<0.05). Moreover, ESR and RF levels in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). A total of 9 RCTs involving 770 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The results indicated that the JAK inhibitors plus CHM group was superior to the JAK inhibitors group in reducing RF (MD=-8.97, 95%CI -15.01 to -2.94, P=0.004), CRP (MD=-3.34, 95%CI -3.82 to -2.86, P<0.001), ESR (MD=-5.33, 95%CI -7.98 to -2.69, P<0.001), and DAS28 score (MD=-0.54, 95%CI -0.74 to -0.34, P<0.001), as well as in improving the overall clinical effective rate (OR=4.53, 95%CI 2.55 to 8.03, P<0.001). No statistically significant differences were observed between groups in anti-CCP levels (SMD=-2.08, 95%CI -4.41 to 0.24, P=0.080) or incidence of adverse events (OR=0.93, 95%CI 0.55 to 1.57, P=0.790). ConclusionThe combination of JAK inhibitors and CHM demonstrates remarkable efficacy in treating RA, contributing to improved disease activity and reduced inflammatory markers with a favorable safety profile.
5.Research progress on engineered tumor whole-cell vaccines
Weifan WANG ; Fengze MIAO ; Zongguang TAI ; Quangang ZHU ; Zhongjian CHEN ; Cuiyun YU
Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice and Service 2026;44(5):221-227
The emergence of immunotherapy has provided new optimism for cancer treatment. Tumor vaccine, a promising immunotherapy strategy, can be categorized into those with identified single or multiple antigens and those with unidentified whole-tumor antigens as their antigenic sources. Currently, mainstream tumor vaccines are still based on identified antigens. However, due to their limitations, tumor vaccines prepared based on whole tumor antigens have unique advantages. However, the low immunogenicity of whole-tumor antigen vaccines affected their clinical efficacy. To improve the immunogenicity, researchers have employed various strategies such as immunogenic death, genetic engineering modifications, cell membrane modifications, and tumor cell lysates, which demonstrated significant clinical potential. The research progress of engineering whole-cell vaccines based on tumor cells in recent years was reviewed in this paper, with a focus on their clinical progress and application prospects.
6.Acute effects of air pollution on mortality among residents in Jiading District, Shanghai, in 1994 - 2024
Dongyue MIAO ; Menghao WANG ; Renjie CHEN ; Dongni LIANG ; Yaqing JIN ; Yunjie REN ; Hongjie YU
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2026;37(3):29-33
Objective To investigate the exposure-response relationships and lag effects between air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, O3, and NO2) and mortality in Jiading District, Shanghai, and to provide a scientific basis for the formulation of environmental health policies. Methods Using an individual-level time-stratified case-crossover design, conditional logistic regression models in conjunction with a distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) were employed to analyze the exposure-response relationship and temporal lag patterns of ambient air pollution on resident mortality in Jiading District (1994–2024). Results A total of 59 048 death cases were collected, including 18,701 deaths from cardiovascular diseases and 11 731 deaths from respiratory diseases. PM2.5 and NO2 had a significant impact on all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality, and respiratory disease mortality, with the most significant effects observed within a lag of 0–3 days. PM10 also had some impact on these three types of mortality, but its effect was generally weaker than that of PM2.5 and NO2. The exposure-response curves showed that the risk of death increased rapidly with increasing concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10, while the effect of NO2 plateaued at higher levels. No significant differences were found across age or gender subgroups. Conclusion Short-term exposure to PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 significantly increases all-cause mortality risk in Jiading District, with effects persisting up to 7 days, highlighting the need for enhanced air pollution control measures, particularly targeting fine particulate matter.
7.The Specificity of Electroacupuncture at Different Acupoints in Promoting Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow in Mice
Yu SHI ; Qian HUA ; Tian-Tian PENG ; Yu-Xin NIE ; Zhao-Heng LIU ; Chen-Geng DENG ; Xu WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1154-1164
ObjectiveCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) plays a crucial role in maintaining the homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS). CSF rapidly exchanges with interstitial fluid (ISF) via the glymphatic system within the brain parenchyma. CSF-ISF circulation and its associated mechanisms are often referred to as the brain lymphatic system. This system is connected directly to meningeal lymphatic vessels (mLVs), jointly performing the function of clearing metabolic waste from the CNS. Emerging evidence indicates that this system is closely associated with the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Importantly, abnormal CSF circulation is not only a downstream consequence of AD pathology, but also a risk factor. In AD, the dynamics of CSF flow within the CNS are diminished, immune dysregulation occurs, and this may increase the risk of AD by exacerbating the burden of amyloid β-protein (Aβ). In the mouse model of AD, impaired CSF flow compromises this clearance function, leading to cognitive deficits. Clinically, acupuncture at cognition-related acupoints is commonly used for the prevention and treatment of AD. However, whether its therapeutic effects are mediated through the modulation of CSF dynamics remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of acupuncture on CSF flow and investigate its acupoint specificity. MethodsMice were randomly assigned to experimental groups for the different electroacupuncture groups with the following acupoints: Baihui point (GV 20), Ear point, Neiguan point (PC 6), and Tianshu point (ST 25). Wild-type mice on a C57BL/6J background were used as controls. Fluorescent tracer was injected into the cisterna magna to label CSF flow. Fluorescence imaging was employed to assess the distribution of CSF within the brain before and after acupuncture stimulation. ResultsFollowing tracer injection into the cisterna magna, fluorescence signals rapidly reached the cerebellum and medulla—the regions closest to the injection site. Fluorescence intensity was higher in ventral brain regions compared to dorsal regions, likely due to greater vascular density in ventral areas facilitating CSF-ISF exchange. Electroacupuncture at the GV 20 produced the most pronounced enhancement of CSF across the whole brain, while stimulation at the ST 25 primarily augmented flow within subcortical regions. In contrast, electroacupuncture at the Ear point or the PC 6 had no observable effect on CSF in mice. ConclusionElectroacupuncture promotes CSF flow into the brain parenchyma in an acupoint-specific manner, with GV 20 exhibiting the most pronounced enhancement of CSF dynamics. These findings suggest that acupuncture-mediated facilitation of CSF flow may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for preventing or delaying age-related cognitive decline.
8.Neuroprotective Effects of Transcranial Magneto-acoustic Stimulation on Parkinson’s Disease Model Mice by Regulating Mitophagy and Mitochondrial Homeostasis
Shuai ZHANG ; Yan-Bin WANG ; Yi-Hao XU ; Jin-Rui MI ; Xiao-Chao LU ; Yu-Chen AN ; Ji-Zhou LIU ; Jia-Qi SUN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1457-1470
ObjectiveTranscranial magneto-acoustic stimulation (TMAS) is an emerging non-invasive neuromodulation technique that may provide a novel non-pharmacological intervention strategy for Parkinson's disease (PD). PD is characterized by the progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), leading to motor impairments such as bradykinesia, tremor, and rigidity. Increasing evidence indicates that mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired mitochondrial quality control are central mechanisms underlying dopaminergic neuronal loss. In particular, abnormalities in mitophagy and mitochondrial fission-fusion balance contribute substantially to oxidative stress, energy metabolic failure, and neuronal injury. At present, most clinical treatments for PD mainly alleviate symptoms but do not effectively halt disease progression. Therefore, exploring new interventions targeting the core pathological mechanisms is of considerable significance. This study aims to investigate whether TMAS can improve neural damage and motor dysfunction in PD mice by regulating mitophagy and the fission/fusion dynamic balance, thereby providing theoretical and experimental support for its application in PD treatment. MethodsMale C57BL/6 mice were used in this study. A PD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) for 7 consecutive days. After model induction, mice in the intervention group received TMAS once daily for 14 consecutive days, whereas the corresponding control group received sham stimulation. The stimulation target was positioned over the primary motor cortex (M1). Motor performance was evaluated using the pole test and the open-field test. To verify the activation effect of TMAS on the target cortical region, c-Fos immunohistochemistry was performed in the M1. To assess nigral dopaminergic neuronal injury, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry was used to quantify TH-positive neurons in the SNc. Mitochondrial function was evaluated by measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content in the SNc. Western blot was further performed to determine the expression of mitophagy-related proteins, including PINK1, Parkin, LC3-II, and p62, as well as mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins, including Drp1 and Opa1. ResultsTMAS significantly increased the number of c-Fos-positive cells in M1 (P<0.000 1), indicating effective activation of neurons in the targeted cortical region. Compared with the control group, MPTP-treated mice exhibited marked motor dysfunction, including a significant reduction in total distance traveled in the open-field test (P<0.000 1) and mean speed (P=0.000 1), as well as significant prolongation of turn time and total climbing time in the pole test (P<0.000 1). These behavioral impairments were accompanied by a substantial loss of TH-positive dopaminergic neurons in the SNc, whereas TMAS significantly increased TH-positive neuron survival (P<0.000 1). In parallel, MPTP induced a pronounced increase in ROS levels and a significant reduction in ATP content, indicating severe mitochondrial dysfunction and energy metabolism impairment (P<0.01). TMAS treatment significantly improved motor performance, as reflected by the reversal of MPTP-induced impairment in the open-field and pole tests, and significantly reduced ROS accumulation (P<0.01) while restoring ATP production (P<0.001). At the molecular level, MPTP markedly downregulated PINK1 and Parkin, decreased p62 expression, increased LC3-II accumulation, elevated Drp1 expression, and reduced Opa1 expression, whereas TMAS significantly reversed these abnormalities, suggesting restoration of mitophagy-related mitochondrial quality control and re-establishment of mitochondrial fission-fusion balance. Collectively, these findings indicate that TMAS ameliorates MPTP-induced neurotoxicity and restores mitochondrial homeostasis and energy metabolism. ConclusionTMAS effectively attenuates neural damage and improves motor dysfunction in MPTP-induced PD mice. Its neuroprotective effects are closely associated with multidimensional regulation of the mitochondrial quality control system, including restoration of PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy and rebalancing of Drp1/Opa1-related mitochondrial dynamics. Rather than acting only as a symptomatic neuromodulatory intervention, TMAS may influence a key pathological axis of PD by improving mitochondrial homeostasis in SNc and protecting nigral dopaminergic neurons. These findings provide experimental evidence supporting TMAS as a promising non-invasive physical intervention for PD.
9.The Specificity of Electroacupuncture at Different Acupoints in Promoting Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow in Mice
Yu SHI ; Qian HUA ; Tian-Tian PENG ; Yu-Xin NIE ; Zhao-Heng LIU ; Chen-Geng DENG ; Xu WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1154-1164
ObjectiveCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) plays a crucial role in maintaining the homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS). CSF rapidly exchanges with interstitial fluid (ISF) via the glymphatic system within the brain parenchyma. CSF-ISF circulation and its associated mechanisms are often referred to as the brain lymphatic system. This system is connected directly to meningeal lymphatic vessels (mLVs), jointly performing the function of clearing metabolic waste from the CNS. Emerging evidence indicates that this system is closely associated with the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Importantly, abnormal CSF circulation is not only a downstream consequence of AD pathology, but also a risk factor. In AD, the dynamics of CSF flow within the CNS are diminished, immune dysregulation occurs, and this may increase the risk of AD by exacerbating the burden of amyloid β-protein (Aβ). In the mouse model of AD, impaired CSF flow compromises this clearance function, leading to cognitive deficits. Clinically, acupuncture at cognition-related acupoints is commonly used for the prevention and treatment of AD. However, whether its therapeutic effects are mediated through the modulation of CSF dynamics remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of acupuncture on CSF flow and investigate its acupoint specificity. MethodsMice were randomly assigned to experimental groups for the different electroacupuncture groups with the following acupoints: Baihui point (GV 20), Ear point, Neiguan point (PC 6), and Tianshu point (ST 25). Wild-type mice on a C57BL/6J background were used as controls. Fluorescent tracer was injected into the cisterna magna to label CSF flow. Fluorescence imaging was employed to assess the distribution of CSF within the brain before and after acupuncture stimulation. ResultsFollowing tracer injection into the cisterna magna, fluorescence signals rapidly reached the cerebellum and medulla—the regions closest to the injection site. Fluorescence intensity was higher in ventral brain regions compared to dorsal regions, likely due to greater vascular density in ventral areas facilitating CSF-ISF exchange. Electroacupuncture at the GV 20 produced the most pronounced enhancement of CSF across the whole brain, while stimulation at the ST 25 primarily augmented flow within subcortical regions. In contrast, electroacupuncture at the Ear point or the PC 6 had no observable effect on CSF in mice. ConclusionElectroacupuncture promotes CSF flow into the brain parenchyma in an acupoint-specific manner, with GV 20 exhibiting the most pronounced enhancement of CSF dynamics. These findings suggest that acupuncture-mediated facilitation of CSF flow may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for preventing or delaying age-related cognitive decline.
10.Neuroprotective Effects of Transcranial Magneto-acoustic Stimulation on Parkinson’s Disease Model Mice by Regulating Mitophagy and Mitochondrial Homeostasis
Shuai ZHANG ; Yan-Bin WANG ; Yi-Hao XU ; Jin-Rui MI ; Xiao-Chao LU ; Yu-Chen AN ; Ji-Zhou LIU ; Jia-Qi SUN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1457-1470
ObjectiveTranscranial magneto-acoustic stimulation (TMAS) is an emerging non-invasive neuromodulation technique that may provide a novel non-pharmacological intervention strategy for Parkinson's disease (PD). PD is characterized by the progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), leading to motor impairments such as bradykinesia, tremor, and rigidity. Increasing evidence indicates that mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired mitochondrial quality control are central mechanisms underlying dopaminergic neuronal loss. In particular, abnormalities in mitophagy and mitochondrial fission-fusion balance contribute substantially to oxidative stress, energy metabolic failure, and neuronal injury. At present, most clinical treatments for PD mainly alleviate symptoms but do not effectively halt disease progression. Therefore, exploring new interventions targeting the core pathological mechanisms is of considerable significance. This study aims to investigate whether TMAS can improve neural damage and motor dysfunction in PD mice by regulating mitophagy and the fission/fusion dynamic balance, thereby providing theoretical and experimental support for its application in PD treatment. MethodsMale C57BL/6 mice were used in this study. A PD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) for 7 consecutive days. After model induction, mice in the intervention group received TMAS once daily for 14 consecutive days, whereas the corresponding control group received sham stimulation. The stimulation target was positioned over the primary motor cortex (M1). Motor performance was evaluated using the pole test and the open-field test. To verify the activation effect of TMAS on the target cortical region, c-Fos immunohistochemistry was performed in the M1. To assess nigral dopaminergic neuronal injury, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry was used to quantify TH-positive neurons in the SNc. Mitochondrial function was evaluated by measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content in the SNc. Western blot was further performed to determine the expression of mitophagy-related proteins, including PINK1, Parkin, LC3-II, and p62, as well as mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins, including Drp1 and Opa1. ResultsTMAS significantly increased the number of c-Fos-positive cells in M1 (P<0.000 1), indicating effective activation of neurons in the targeted cortical region. Compared with the control group, MPTP-treated mice exhibited marked motor dysfunction, including a significant reduction in total distance traveled in the open-field test (P<0.000 1) and mean speed (P=0.000 1), as well as significant prolongation of turn time and total climbing time in the pole test (P<0.000 1). These behavioral impairments were accompanied by a substantial loss of TH-positive dopaminergic neurons in the SNc, whereas TMAS significantly increased TH-positive neuron survival (P<0.000 1). In parallel, MPTP induced a pronounced increase in ROS levels and a significant reduction in ATP content, indicating severe mitochondrial dysfunction and energy metabolism impairment (P<0.01). TMAS treatment significantly improved motor performance, as reflected by the reversal of MPTP-induced impairment in the open-field and pole tests, and significantly reduced ROS accumulation (P<0.01) while restoring ATP production (P<0.001). At the molecular level, MPTP markedly downregulated PINK1 and Parkin, decreased p62 expression, increased LC3-II accumulation, elevated Drp1 expression, and reduced Opa1 expression, whereas TMAS significantly reversed these abnormalities, suggesting restoration of mitophagy-related mitochondrial quality control and re-establishment of mitochondrial fission-fusion balance. Collectively, these findings indicate that TMAS ameliorates MPTP-induced neurotoxicity and restores mitochondrial homeostasis and energy metabolism. ConclusionTMAS effectively attenuates neural damage and improves motor dysfunction in MPTP-induced PD mice. Its neuroprotective effects are closely associated with multidimensional regulation of the mitochondrial quality control system, including restoration of PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy and rebalancing of Drp1/Opa1-related mitochondrial dynamics. Rather than acting only as a symptomatic neuromodulatory intervention, TMAS may influence a key pathological axis of PD by improving mitochondrial homeostasis in SNc and protecting nigral dopaminergic neurons. These findings provide experimental evidence supporting TMAS as a promising non-invasive physical intervention for PD.


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