OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of auricular electroacupuncture for post-stroke dysphagia in the pharyngeal phase. METHODS: Eighty-two patients with post-stroke dysphagia in the pharyngeal phase were randomized into an auricular electroacupuncture group (41 cases) and a swallowing electrical stimulation group (41 cases, 1 case dropped out). In the auricular electroacupuncture group, electroacupuncture was applied at auricular points, i.e. Xin (CO₁₅) and Yanhou (TG₃), using disperse-dense wave, in frequency of 2 Hz/10 Hz, 30 min a time. In the swallowing electrical stimulation group, swallowing electrical stimulation was delivered for 30 min a time. Both groups were treated once daily for 4 weeks. The functional oral intake scale (FOIS) grade, as well as the hyolaryngeal complex displacement, the pharyngeal constriction rate (PCR) and the pharyngeal delay time (PDT) under video fluoroscopic study of swallowing (VFSS) were observed before and after treatment, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated in the two groups. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the FOIS grade was improved (P<0.01), the forward and upward displacement amplitude of hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage was increased (P<0.05), and the PCR and PDT were decreased (P<0.05) after treatment in the two groups. After treatment, compared with the swallowing electrical stimulation group, the FOIS grade was superior (P<0.01), the upward displacement amplitude of hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage was larger (P<0.05) and the PCR and PDT were lower (P<0.05) in the auricular electroacupuncture group. The total effective rate was 85.4% (35/41) in the auricular electroacupuncture group, which was higher than 62.5% (25/40) in the swallowing electrical stimulation group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Auricular electroacupuncture can effectively trigger pharyngeal initiation and improve post-stroke dysphagia in the pharyngeal phase.
Humans ; Electroacupuncture ; Male ; Deglutition Disorders/etiology* ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Stroke/physiopathology* ; Pharynx/physiopathology* ; Acupuncture, Ear ; Acupuncture Points ; Deglutition ; Treatment Outcome ; Adult

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic interstitial lung disease, is characterized by aberrant wound healing, excessive scarring and the formation of myofibroblastic foci. Although the role of alternative splicing (AS) in the pathogenesis of organ fibrosis has garnered increasing attention, its specific contribution to pulmonary fibrosis remains incompletely understood. In this study, we identified an up-regulation of serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 7 (SRSF7) in lung fibroblasts derived from IPF patients and a bleomycin (BLM)-induced mouse model, and further characterized its functional role in both human fetal lung fibroblasts and mice. We demonstrated that enhanced expression of Srsf7 in mice spontaneously induced alveolar collagen accumulation. Mechanistically, we investigated alternative splicing events and revealed that SRSF7 modulates the alternative splicing of pyruvate kinase (PKM), leading to metabolic dysregulation and fibroblast activation. In vivo studies showed that fibroblast-specific knockout of Srsf7 in conditional knockout mice conferred resistance to bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Importantly, through drug screening, we identified lomitapide as a novel modulator of SRSF7, which effectively mitigated experimental pulmonary fibrosis. Collectively, our findings elucidate a molecular pathway by which SRSF7 drives fibroblast metabolic dysregulation and propose a potential therapeutic strategy for pulmonary fibrosis.

This study investigated the regulatory potential of salidroside (SAL), a primary active compound in Rhodiola rosea L., on osteoclast differentiation by modulating the hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1a) pathway in osteoblasts. Luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay were employed to validate whether the receptor activator of nuclear factor-?B ligand (RANKL) is the downstream target gene of HIF-1a in osteoblasts. The study also utilized lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse osteolysis to examine the impact of SAL on osteolysis in vivo. Furthermore, conditioned medium (CM) from SAL-pretreated osteoblasts was used to investigate the paracrine effects on osteoclastogenesis through the HIF-1a pathway. Hypoxic condition-induced overexpression of HIF-1a upregulated RANKL levels by binding to the RANKL promoter and enhancing transcription in osteoblastic cells. In vivo, SAL significantly alleviated bone tissue hypoxia and decreased the expression of HIF-1a by downregulating the expression of RANKL, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4). In the paracrine experiment, conditioned media from SAL-pretreated osteoblasts inhibited differentiation through the HIF-1a/RANKL, VEGF, IL-6, and ANGPTL4 pathways. RANKL emerges as the downstream target gene regulated by HIF-1a in osteoblasts. SAL significantly alleviates bone tissue hypoxia and bone loss in LPS-induced osteolysis through the HIF-1a/RANKL, VEGF, IL-6, and ANGPTL4 pathways. SAL inhibits osteoclast differentiation by regulating osteoblast paracrine secretion.
Animals ; Osteoblasts/cytology* ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/genetics* ; Glucosides/administration & dosage* ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects* ; Phenols/administration & dosage* ; Mice ; Osteoclasts/metabolism* ; RANK Ligand/genetics* ; Rhodiola/chemistry* ; Osteogenesis/drug effects* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Interleukin-6/genetics* ; Male ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Osteolysis/genetics* ; Humans ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

ObjectiveTo investigate the acute effects of compound air pollution on children’s respiratory function. MethodsUsing panel group study design， 223 students in five classes of grade 4 from two primary schools （a， b） in Xuhui and Hongkou districts of Shanghai were randomly selected to measure pulmonary function and exhaled nitric oxide （FeNO）. The first three tests were carried out from May to June in 2020， and the fourth test was carried out from September to December in 2021. At the same time， the daily and hourly mean values of PM_2.5， PM₁₀， SO₂， NO₂， O₃ and CO was collected from the nearby air quality monitoring points of the two schools during the same period ， as well as meteorological monitoring data （temperature， humidity， wind speed and atmospheric pressure）. The linear mixed effect model was used to analyze the effects of air pollution on pulmonary function and respiratory inflammation in the summer. ResultsThe results of single pollutant model showed that PM_2.5， PM_10， SO₂ and NO₂ were positively correlated with FeNO， and the effect was reflected in lag0， lag1 and lag3 （P<0.05）. PM_2.5， PM₁₀ and NO₂ were negatively correlated with the changes of lung function FEF_25%， FEF_50%， FEF_75%， FeF_25%-75%， PEF， FVC， FEV1 and FEV1/FVC， and the effect was reflected in lag0 to lag3 days （P<0.05）. The results of the dual pollutant model showed that the concentration changes of SO₂ and NO₂ were significantly correlated with the decrease of FEV1 when combined with O₃ or PM_2.5 （P<0.01）， and the concentration changes of PM_2.5 was significantly correlated with the increase of FeNO when O₃， SO₂ and NO₂ were combined respectively （P<0.01）. The effects of the dual pollutant model were greater than the effect of PM_2.5 single pollutant model. ConclusionThe health effects of different air pollutants on children’s respiratory tract function indexes in summer are different. The combined effects of two pollutants on the lung function of children increased to different degrees. Although air pollution is light in summer， it still has an impact on children’s respiratory tract function index and inflammation index， and the combined effect of dual pollutants is more significant than that of single pollutant.

Objective To investigate the risk factors of microcirculation obstruction(MVO)after reperfusion in patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI).Methods Forty-one patients with AMI who received treatment with myocardial reperfusion were retrospectively selected.Cardiac magnetic resonance(CMR)was used to determine whether the patients had MVO.The patients were divided into MVO and non-MVO groups.The basic data,laboratory examination and CMR parameters of patients were collected and compared between the groups,and the risk factors related to MVO were screened out by logistic regression analysis.Results Delayed myocardial enhancement was observed in all 41 patients,among which 11 cases(26.8%)were with MVO.A total of 206 delayed myocardial enhancement segments were observed,of which 77 segments combined with MVO and 129 segments without MVO.AMI patients with MVO had a higher rate of transmural myocardial infarction,greater infarct volume,left ventricular myocardial mass(LVMM)and edema degree,as well as lower ejection fraction of left and right ventricles(P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that infarct volume[odds ratio(OR)=1.116,95%confidence interval(CI)1.017-1.224,P=0.020]was an independent risk factor for MVO after AMI reperfusion.Conclusion Infarct volume is an independent risk factor for MVO after AMI reperfusion,and MVO is associated with left and right ventricular function impairment.

Objective:To assess the effectiveness of a 6-month Ba Duan Jin exercise program in improving the balance of community-dwelling older adults.Methods:A two arms, parallel-group, cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in 1 028 community residents aged 60-80 years in 40 communities in 5 provinces of China. Participants in the intervention group (20 communities, 523 people) received Ba Duan Jin exercise 5 days/week, 1 hour/day for 6 months, and three times of falls prevention health education, and the control group (20 communities, 505 people) received falls prevention health education same as the intervention group. The Berg balance scale (BBS) score was the leading outcome indicator, and the secondary outcome indicators included the length of time of standing on one foot (with eyes open and closed), standing in a tandem stance (with eyes open and closed), the closed circle test, and the timed up to test.Results:A total of 1 028 participants were included in the final analysis, including 731 women (71.11%) and 297 men (28.89%), and the age was (69.87±5.67) years. After the 3-month intervention, compared with the baseline data, the BBS score of the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group by 3.05 (95% CI: 2.23-3.88) points ( P<0.001). After the 6-month intervention, compared with the baseline data, the BBS score of the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group by 4.70 (95% CI: 4.03-5.37) points ( P<0.001). Ba Duan Jin showed significant improvement ( P<0.05) in all secondary outcomes after 6 months of exercise in the intervention group compared with the control group. Conclusions:This study showed that Ba Duan Jin exercise can improve balance in community-dwelling older adults aged 60-80. The longer the exercise time, the better the improvement.

Objective:To investigate the status of medical care seeking delay and diagnosis delay of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients in Tongzhou District and Changping District of Beijing, analyze the related factors and put forward suggestions for early detection and scientific management of PTB patients.Methods:A retrospective epidemiological survey was conducted to collect the incidence data of PTB registered in Tongzhou and Changping from January 1 to December 31, 2021 by using the Chinese Tuberculosis Information Management System, and telephone interview were used for information supplement. Multivariate logistic regression model and decision tree model were used to analyze the influencing factors of medical care seeking delay and diagnosis delay of PTB patients.Results:In 2021, the medical care seeking delay time M( Q1, Q3) in the PTB patients in Tongzhou and Changping was 11 (5, 26) days, with a delay rate of 41.71%. Results from multivariate logistic regression model analysis revealed that factors influencing the medical care seeking delay included regular health check-up ( OR=0.033, 95% CI: 0.008-0.147), coughing for less than 2 weeks or showing any symptom of PTB before medical care seeking ( OR=0.378, 95% CI: 0.215-0.665), showing other symptoms before medical care seeking( OR=2.791, 95% CI: 1.710-4.555), no work or school in medical care seeking ( OR=2.990, 95% CI: 1.419-6.298). The diagnosis delay time M( Q1, Q3) in the PTB patients was 8 (0, 18) days, with a delay rate of 35.20%. Multivariate logistic regression model analysis revealed that the factors influencing the diagnosis delay of PTB included being diagnosed at a specialized tuberculosis hospital ( OR=0.426, 95% CI: 0.236-0.767) or a tuberculosis prevention and control institution ( OR=1.843, 95% CI: 1.061-3.202) and being traced as a source of infection ( OR=2.632, 95% CI: 1.062-6.521). The overall performance of the multivariate logistic regression model was comparable to that of the decision tree model, with the decision tree model exhibiting higher sensitivity but lower specificity. Conclusions:The medical care seeking delay rate and diagnosis delay rate of tuberculosis in Tongzhou and Changping were at low levels in 2021. However, it is still necessary to strengthen the health education and active screening, improve the public awareness of PTB prevention and control, and further improve the level of medical services and medical access to reduce the medical care seeking delay and diagnosis delay of PTB patients.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of Ganmao Qingre Pills(GQP)against lung injury based on network pharmacology,molecular docking and in vivo experiments.Methods The potential targets of GQP in the treatment of lung injury were screened through traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and analysis platform(TCM-SP)and Genecards.A"Chinese medicine-active ingredients-targets"network was constructed using Cytoscape 3.9.0 software,then gene ontology(GO)function and Kyoto encyclopaedia of genes and genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analysis for potential targets were conducted using a bioinformatics cloud platform.We established a protein-protein interaction(PPI)network,which was intersected with"Chinese medicine-active ingredients-targets"network to obtain core targets.The molecular docking between key target proteins and active ingredients was performed.The effect of GQP on these key target proteins was verified by using a mouse model of lung injury.Results A total of 707 targets for the treatment of lung injury by GQP were identified,corresponding to 107 active ingredients in 11 Chinese medicines.It was found that GQP might regulate targets such as PTGS1,AR,and ACHE through active ingredients including stigmasterol,luteolin,and acacetin using the"Chinese medicine-active ingredients-targets"network analysis.Core targets such as SRC,EGFR,and STAT3 were discovered by using the PPI network.Key target proteins,including CDK1,CDK2,EGFR,ESR1 and SRC,were screened through the intersection analysis of the PPI network and"Chinese medicine-active ingredients-targets"network.Molecular docking study showed that stigmasterol,luteolin and acacetin had good binding effects with CDK1,CDK2,EGFR,ESR1,and SRC,respectively.In vivo experiments revealed that GQP dose-dependently attenuated lung injury and inflammatory infiltration,reduced the release of pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6,increased the expression of CDK1 and CDK2,and decreased the expression of EGFR,ESR1 and SRC in lung injury mice.Conclusion The therapeutic effect of GQP against lung injury may be achieved through interaction of key active ingredients(stigmasterol,luteolin,and acacetin)and key target proteins(CDK1,CDK2,EGFR,ESR1,SRC),and regulation of key signaling pathways such as neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions,cancer pathways,and calcium signaling pathways.

Background/Aims: Low educational attainment is a well-established risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in developed areas. However, the association between educational attainment and the risk of NAFLD is less clear in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study including over 200,000 Chinese adults across mainland China was conducted. Information on education level and lifestyle factors were obtained through standard questionnaires, while NAFLD and advanced fibrosis were diagnosed using validated formulas. Outcomes included the risk of NAFLD in the general population and high probability of fibrosis among patients with NAFLD. Logistic regression analysis was employed to estimate the risk of NAFLD and fibrosis across education levels. A causal mediation model was used to explore the potential mediators. Results: Comparing with those receiving primary school education, the multi-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for NAFLD were 1.28 (1.16 to 1.41) for men and 0.94 (0.89 to 0.99) for women with college education after accounting for body mass index. When considering waist circumference, the odds ratios (95% CIs) were 0.94 (0.86 to 1.04) for men and 0.88 (0.80 to 0.97) for women, respectively. The proportions mediated by general and central obesity were 51.00% and 68.04% for men, while for women the proportions were 48.58% and 32.58%, respectively. Furthermore, NAFLD patients with lower educational attainment showed an incremental increased risk of advanced fibrosis in both genders. Conclusions In China, a low education level was associated with a higher risk of prevalent NAFLD in women, as well as high probability of fibrosis in both genders.