ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of herbal cake-separated moxibustion using the classical formula Xiaoyaosan in alleviating neuroimmune inflammatory responses in chronic fatigue syndrome （CFS） rats， based on the regulation of the toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）/myeloid differentiation factor 88 （MyD88）/nuclear transcription factor-κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway. MethodsFifty SPF-grade SD rats aged 6-8 weeks were randomly divided into five groups： Normal group， model group， sham herbal cake moxibustion group， Chinese medicine intragastric administration group， and herbal cake-separated moxibustion group， with 10 rats in each group. Except for the normal group， all other groups underwent a 21-day modeling process， followed by behavioral testing. The herbal cake-separated moxibustion and sham herbal cake moxibustion groups received interventions at the Shenque （CV8）， Guanyuan （CV4）， Zusanli （ST36）， and Qimen （LR14） acupoints. The Chinese medicine intragastric administration group was treated with a Xiaoyaosan suspension via gavage. Behavioral tests were conducted after 10 days of continuous intervention. Serum levels of interleukin （IL）-1β， IL-6， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， as well as hippocampal levels of IL-1β， IL-6， TNF-α， and NF-κB， were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Morphological changes in the hippocampus were observed using hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect mRNA expression levels of TLR4， MyD88， and NF-κB in the hippocampus. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the relative expression levels of TLR4， MyD88， NF-κB， and p65 proteins in the hippocampus. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showed a significant decrease in upright times during the open field test （P<0.01）， as well as significant reductions in total movement distance， resting time， and center region duration （P<0.01）. In the tail suspension test， immobility time increased （P<0.01）， and struggle times decreased （P<0.01）. Serum and hippocampal levels of IL-1β， IL-6， and TNF-α， as well as hippocampal NF-κB levels and TLR4， MyD88， and NF-κB mRNA expression， were significantly elevated （P<0.01）. After treatment， compared with the model group， the total movement distance and upright times in the open field test were significantly increased in all treatment groups （P<0.01）， while resting time and center region duration were notably prolonged （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Immobility time in the tail suspension test was significantly shortened （P<0.01）， and struggle times significantly increased （P<0.05）. Serum and hippocampal levels of IL-1β， IL-6， TNF-α， hippocampal NF-κB levels， and TLR4 and NF-κB mRNA expression were significantly reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the sham herbal cake moxibustion group， the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group showed a significant extension in center region duration during the open field test （P<0.05） and a significant increase in upright times （P<0.01）. In the tail suspension test， immobility time was reduced （P<0.01）， and struggle times increased （P<0.01）. Serum TNF-α levels in the Chinese medicine intragastric administration group were significantly reduced （P<0.01）， while serum IL-6 levels， as well as hippocampal levels of IL-1β， TNF-α， NF-κB， and TLR4， MyD88， and NF-κB mRNA expression， were significantly decreased in both the Chinese medicine intragastric administration group and the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the Chinese medicine intragastric administration group， the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group exhibited significantly increased upright times in the open field test （P<0.01）. In the tail suspension test， immobility time was reduced （P<0.01）， and struggle times increased （P<0.01）. Serum IL-1β， hippocampal TNF-α levels， and TLR4， MyD88， and NF-κB mRNA expression were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionHerbal cake-separated moxibustion effectively improves fatigue and memory function in CFS rats， regulates neuroimmune inflammatory responses， and its mechanism may be related to the modulation of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of moxibustion with the classical prescription Xiaoyaosan as the herbal cake in improving cognitive function in the rat model of chronic fatigue syndrome （CFS） by regulating autophagy via phosphatidylinosiol 3-kinase （PI3K）/autophagy key molecule yeast Atg6 homologue 1 （Beclin1） signaling pathway. MethodsFifty SPF-grade SD rats aged 6-8 weeks were randomly grouped as follows： control， model， sham cake-separated moxibustion， intragastric administration with Chinese herbs， and herbal cake-separated moxibustion， each with 10 rats. The other groups except the control group were subjected to modeling by exhaustive swimming and chronic restraint stress for 21 days， and the behavioral test was performed after modeling. Herbal cake-separated moxibustion and sham cake-separated moxibustion were carried out at Shenque （CV8）， Guanyuan （CV4）， Zusanli （ST36）， and Qimen （LR14）. The rats in the intragastric administration with Chinese herbs group were treated with Xiaoyaosan suspension by gavage. After continuous intervention for 10 days， rat behaviors were observed and the levels of interleukin （IL）-4， IL-10， blood urine nitrogen （BUN）， and malondiadehyde （MDA） in the serum and hippocampal tissue of rats in each group were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The morphological changes of the hippocampal tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The relative mRNA and protein levels of PI3K and Beclin1 in the hippocampal tissue were determined by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot， respectively. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showed reduced crossings， shortened residence time in the target quadrant， and prolonged average escape latency on days 1， 2， 3， and 4 （P<0.01） in the Morris water maze test. In the new object recognition test， the model group showed decreased recognition index of exploration time and recognition index of exploration times （P<0.01）， lowered levels of IL-4 and IL-10 and elevated levels of BUN and MDA in the serum and hippocampus （P<0.01）， and down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of PI3K and Beclin1 （P<0.01）. After treatment， compared with the model group， each treatment group showed increased crossings， prolonged residence time in the target quadrant， and shortened average escape latency on days 1， 2， 3， and 4 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In addition， the treatment elevated the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 and lowered the levels of BUN and MDA in the serum and hippocampus （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of PI3K and Beclin1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the sham cake-separated moxibustion group， the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group and the intragastric administration with Chinese herbs group showed increased crossings， prolonged residence time in the target quadrant （P<0.05）， elevated level of IL-4， lowered level of MDA， and up-regulated relative mRNA and protein levels of PI3K and Beclin1 in the hippocampus （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The serum levels of MDA and BUN in the intragastric administration with Chinese herbs group were significantly decreased. The average escape latency of the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group was significantly shortened on days 2 and 3 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In addition， this group showed elevated serum level of IL-4， lowered serum level of MDA， and declined BUN level in the hippocampus （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the intragastric administration with Chinese herbs group， the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group presented risen serum level of IL-4 and up-regulated mRNA level of Beclin1 （P<0.05） and relative protein levels of PI3K and Beclin1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionHerbal cake-separated moxibustion can effectively alleviate fatigue and improve the memory， reduce inflammatory response and oxidative stress， and decrease autophagy of hippocampal neurons in CFS rats by regulating the PI3K/Beclin1 signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of moxibustion with the classical prescription Xiaoyaosan as the herbal cake in improving cognitive function in the rat model of chronic fatigue syndrome （CFS） by regulating autophagy via phosphatidylinosiol 3-kinase （PI3K）/autophagy key molecule yeast Atg6 homologue 1 （Beclin1） signaling pathway. MethodsFifty SPF-grade SD rats aged 6-8 weeks were randomly grouped as follows： control， model， sham cake-separated moxibustion， intragastric administration with Chinese herbs， and herbal cake-separated moxibustion， each with 10 rats. The other groups except the control group were subjected to modeling by exhaustive swimming and chronic restraint stress for 21 days， and the behavioral test was performed after modeling. Herbal cake-separated moxibustion and sham cake-separated moxibustion were carried out at Shenque （CV8）， Guanyuan （CV4）， Zusanli （ST36）， and Qimen （LR14）. The rats in the intragastric administration with Chinese herbs group were treated with Xiaoyaosan suspension by gavage. After continuous intervention for 10 days， rat behaviors were observed and the levels of interleukin （IL）-4， IL-10， blood urine nitrogen （BUN）， and malondiadehyde （MDA） in the serum and hippocampal tissue of rats in each group were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The morphological changes of the hippocampal tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The relative mRNA and protein levels of PI3K and Beclin1 in the hippocampal tissue were determined by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot， respectively. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showed reduced crossings， shortened residence time in the target quadrant， and prolonged average escape latency on days 1， 2， 3， and 4 （P<0.01） in the Morris water maze test. In the new object recognition test， the model group showed decreased recognition index of exploration time and recognition index of exploration times （P<0.01）， lowered levels of IL-4 and IL-10 and elevated levels of BUN and MDA in the serum and hippocampus （P<0.01）， and down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of PI3K and Beclin1 （P<0.01）. After treatment， compared with the model group， each treatment group showed increased crossings， prolonged residence time in the target quadrant， and shortened average escape latency on days 1， 2， 3， and 4 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In addition， the treatment elevated the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 and lowered the levels of BUN and MDA in the serum and hippocampus （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of PI3K and Beclin1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the sham cake-separated moxibustion group， the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group and the intragastric administration with Chinese herbs group showed increased crossings， prolonged residence time in the target quadrant （P<0.05）， elevated level of IL-4， lowered level of MDA， and up-regulated relative mRNA and protein levels of PI3K and Beclin1 in the hippocampus （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The serum levels of MDA and BUN in the intragastric administration with Chinese herbs group were significantly decreased. The average escape latency of the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group was significantly shortened on days 2 and 3 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In addition， this group showed elevated serum level of IL-4， lowered serum level of MDA， and declined BUN level in the hippocampus （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the intragastric administration with Chinese herbs group， the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group presented risen serum level of IL-4 and up-regulated mRNA level of Beclin1 （P<0.05） and relative protein levels of PI3K and Beclin1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionHerbal cake-separated moxibustion can effectively alleviate fatigue and improve the memory， reduce inflammatory response and oxidative stress， and decrease autophagy of hippocampal neurons in CFS rats by regulating the PI3K/Beclin1 signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND:Immunosuppression leads to impaired body immune function and aggravates the disease.Herb-partitioned moxibustion can effectively regulate immune function and improve immunity in the body,but its regulatory mechanism has not been elucidated. OBJECTIVE:To sequence immunosuppressed model rats treated with herb-partitioned moxibustion using bioinformatics techniques based on transcriptomics and to explore the mechanisms by which it regulates immunity. METHODS:Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to three groups:control,model,and herb-partitioned moxibustion groups,with eight rats in each group.The model and herb-partitioned moxibustion groups were subjected to establishment of an immune suppression model by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide at a dose of 35 mg/kg for 3 consecutive days.No interventions were administered to the control and model groups after modeling.In contrast,the herb-partitioned moxibustion group received moxibustion treatment at Zhongwan,Shenque,Guanyuan,and Zusanli acupoints using a combination of moxa and herbal cakes,once a day,for 10 consecutive days,with samples being collected the day after the end of the intervention.Peripheral blood was collected from all groups of rats to measure their white blood cell count.RNA-seq was performed on the Illumina sequencing platform,and differentially expressed genes were selected for bioinformatics analysis using the GO and KEGG databases. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group,the model group exhibited a significant decrease in white blood cell count(P<0.001).RNA-seq analysis identified 3 026 differentially expressed genes between the model and control groups,with 1 565 upregulated and 1 461 downregulated.There were 535 differentially expressed genes identified between the herb-partitioned moxibustion group and the model group,with 280 upregulated and 255 downregulated.The Venn diagram analysis revealed that 159 genes were downregulated in the model group compared with the control group.However,after moxibustion with herbal cakes,these genes were upregulated.Protein-protein interaction network analysis identified 10 core targets,including Oasl,Oas2,Isg15,Herc6,Mx2,Helz2,Mx1,Syk,Hspa1a,and Ret.According to GO and KEGG analyses,moxibustion with herbal cakes regulated the body through pathways related to immune response,viruses,angiogenesis,and the autoimmune system.To conclude,there is a significant association between herbal cake-separated moxibustion intervention and immune suppression targets,including Oasl,Oas2,Isg15,Herc6,Mx2,Helz2,and Mx1.The intervention exhibits regulatory effects in the pathways related to immune responses,viral activities,and angiogenesis.

Objective:To compare similarities and differences in expression changes of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4(CT-LA-4)and programmed death receptor 1(PD-1)in immunosuppressed rabbits under different moxibustion interventions.Methods:Twenty large-eared white rabbits were randomly divided into normal group,model group,moxa stick moxibustion(MSM)group and herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion(HPM)group,with five rabbits in each group.CTX-induced immunosuppressed models were prepared by intraperitoneal injection for 7 consecutive days.After successful modeling,MSM and HPM were performed on alternate days for 10 treatments.Rabbits were anesthetized after treatment,and serum,liver and spleen were collected.Serum PD-1 and PD-L1 contents were detected by ELISA.PD-1 in liver tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry,and CTLA-4 mRNA in liver and spleen tissues were detected by RT-qPCR.Results:Both HPM and MSM could reduce PD-1 and PD-L1 levels due to immunosuppression,and could effectively suppress elevated levels of CTLA-4 in spleen and PD-1 and CTLA-4 in liver,which were statistically different compared with immunosuppression model group(P<0.05).Pearson correlation test showed that CTLA-4 and PD-1 in liver tissue had significant positive correlation(r=0.780 7,P<0.001).Conclusion:HPM can improve body immune function by regulating multiple immunosuppressive sites.

Objective:To investigate the clinical application of Grunenwald incision in cervicothoracic junction surgery.Methods:The clinical data of 25 patients with cervicothoracic junction tumor and 1 patient with cervicothoracic junction trauma in the single treatment group of Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from December 2011 to September 2021 were analyzed retrospectively, including 19 males and 7 females, aged 9-73 years old. Among the 26 patients, there were 9 cases of upper mediastinal tumor, 6 cases of superior sulcus tumor, 4 cases of thyroid tumor invading the upper mediastinal, 4 cases of chest wall tumor, 2 cases of esophageal cancer combined with supraclavicular lymph node metastasis, and 1 case of foreign body penetrating injury at the cervicothoracic junction. Grunenwald incision or additional posterolateral thoracic incision, median sternal incision, neck collar incision were used in all patients. The degree of tumor resection was evaluated. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, length of hospital stay were observed, and the postoperative follow-up was analyzed.Results:There was no perioperative death in the whole group. 14 cases were treated with Grunenwald incision alone, 6 cases with additional posterolateral chest incision, 4 cases with additional neck collar incision, and 2 cases with additional median sternal incision. The tumors were completely resection in 22 cases, palliative tumor resection in 3 cases, and complete foreign body removal in 1 case. Postoperative pathology included 4 cases of schwannoma; 3 cases of lung adenocarcinoma, thyroid cancer and myofibroblastoma, respectively; 2 cases of supraclavicular lymph node metastasis of esophageal cancer and lung squamous carcinoma, respectively; 1 case of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, metastatic carcinoma of the first rib after lung squamous cell carcinoma, ganglioneuroma, nodular goiter, hemangioma, well differentiated liposarcoma, vascular endothelial tumor and cavernous angioma, respectively. The operation time was 120-430 min, with a mean of(226.92±88.40)min. The intraoperative blood loss was 100-1 000 ml, with a mean of(273.46±196.34)ml. The length of hospital stay was 6-26 days, with a mean of(12.73±4.46 )days. 26 patients were followed up for 6-130 months, with a mean of(57.88±43.64) months. During the follow-up period, 6 patients died.Conclusion:Grunenwald incision can provide good exposure of the structures near the cervicothoracic junction, preserve the integrity of sternoclavicular joint, reduce shoulder deformity, and has advantages for patients with cervicothoracic junction tumors, high rib resection, and cervicothoracic junction trauma.

【Objective】 To investigate the role of microRNA-218 (miR-218) in regulating prostate cancer (PCa) cell stemness and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). 【Methods】 PCa cell line stably overexpressing miR-218 was constructed with lentivirus transfection. The expression of miR-218 was detected with real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR). The migration ability was detected with Transwell assay. The expression of EMT related proteins were detected with Western blot. The properties of cells were determined with colony formation and tumor sphere formation assays. 【Results】 The results of q-PCR showed that the mRNA level of miR-218 was significantly lower in PCa cell lines LNCaP and C4-2 than in BPH-1. Transwell assay showed that miR-218 inhibited the migration of PCa cells. Western blot showed that the expression of EMT related proteins were inhibited by miR-218. Colony formation and tumor sphere formation assays showed that overexpression of miR-218 significantly inhibited the properties of cells. 【Conclusion】 The expression of miR-218 is downregulated in PCa cell lines. miR-28 can inhibit cell migration, EMT and cancer stem cell properties.

Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae (Mccp) is the cause of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) in goats. Inactivated vaccines and capsular polysaccharide (CPS) indirect hemagglutination reagents are available for prevention and serological detection, but high culture costs and complex antigen quantification have been plagued by production staff. In order to solve these problems in production practice, a sugar fermentation medium with an initial pH value of 7.8, which could improve the production of two antigens simultaneously, was screened out by changing the initial pH value based on previous Mccp metabolomics analysis. Since phenol red can be identified by UV absorption spectrum and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) can bind to anionic capsular polysaccharide, a UV spectrum measurement method for analyzing the culture stage reached by Mccp and a CTAB precipitation test for relative quantification of capsular polysaccharide antigen content in the fermentation broth were established. The UV spectrum observation method can guide the production of Mccp according to the growth curve of Mccp, which greatly reduces the monitoring time of the traditional CCU method and improves the accuracy of the original eye-observation method. The established CTAB precipitation test can complete the monitoring of CPS content within 5 hours, which greatly reduces the time required compared with the traditional differential technique, and its accuracy was verified by the phenol-sulfuric acid method. The optimized culture medium and the two correlation comparison methods established in this study can effectively reduce the production cost of Mccp and improve the production efficiency. The two assays have been used in the research at our laboratory, which provides experimental data for further improvement of the production process of CCPP inactivated vaccine and capsular polysaccharide as well as rapid quantification.
Humans ; Animals ; Goats ; Cetrimonium ; Mycoplasma ; Polysaccharides

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of preoperative endovascular embolization of Solid Hemangioblastomas.Methods The data bases including Wan Fang,CNKI(China National Knowledge Infrastructure),VIP Database,PubMed、Medline、Springer were searched for the related studies.Two independent surgeons assessed trails for eligibility and quality,and all data marching the standards were abstracted for Meta-analysis by RevMan 5.3.Results 8 randomized controlled trails(RCT)were included.Selected analysis of embolized and non-embolized groups of Solid Hemangioblastomas were observed for variables of clinical efficacy in surgery time,number of blood loss and transfusions,complete resection,there were statistical difference.(P＜0.000 01,WMD=-1.18,95％CI[-1.16,-0.71];P＜0.000 01,WMD=-464.17,95％CI[-492.17,-437.24];P＜0.000 01,WMD=-238.81,95％CI[-282.84,-194.77];P＜0.006,RR=1.17,95％CI[1.05,1.31]).Conclusion The preoperative endovascular embolization is beneficial for Hemangioblastomas because it can shorten the time of surgery,diminish the necessity of intra-operative blood loss and transfusion,it also raises the ratio of complete resection of Solid Hemangioblastomas.

Background::The study aimed to clarify the characteristics of lymph node metastasis (LNM) and to compare the oncologic outcomes of minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) with open esophagectomy (OE) in terms of lymph node dissection (LND) in thoracic esophageal cancer patients.Methods::The data from esophageal cancer patients who underwent MIE or OE from January 2016 to January 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. The characteristics of LNM in thoracic esophageal cancer were discussed, and the differences in numbers of LND, LND rate, and LNM rate/degree of upper mediastinum between MIE and OE were compared.Results::For overall characteristics of LNM in 249 included patients, the highest rate of LNM was found in upper mediastinum, while LNM rate in middle and lower mediastinum, and abdomen increased with the tumor site moving down. The patients were divided into MIE ( n = 204) and OE groups ( n = 45). In terms of number of LND, there were significant differences in upper mediastinum between MIE and OE groups (8 [5, 11] vs. 5 [3, 8], P < 0.001). The comparative analysis of regional lymph node showed there was no significant difference except the subgroup of upper mediastinal 2L and 4L group (3 [1, 5] vs. 0 [0, 2], P < 0.001 and 0 [0, 2] vs. 0, P = 0.012, respectively). Meanwhile, there was no significant difference in terms of LND rate except 2L (89.7% [183/204] vs. 71.1% [32/45], P = 0.001) and 4L (41.2% [84/204] vs. 22.2% [10/45], P = 0.018) groups. For LNM rate of T3 stage, there was no significant difference between MIE and OE groups, and the comparative analysis of regional lymph node showed that there was no significant difference except 2L group (11.1% [5/45] vs. 38.1% [8/21], P = 0.025). The LNM degree of OE group was significantly higher than that of MIE group (27.2% [47/173] vs. 7.6% [32/419], P < 0.001), and the comparative analysis of regional LNM degree showed that there was no significant difference except 2L (34.7% [17/49] vs. 7.7% [13/169], P < 0.001) and 4L (23.8% [5/21] vs. 3.9% [2/51], P= 0.031) subgroups. Conclusion::MIE may have an advantage in LND of upper mediastinum 2L and 4L groups, while it was similar to OE in other stations of LND.