OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential mechanism by which electroacupuncture (EA) induces macrophage polarization to promote muscle satellite cell proliferation and differentiation, accelerating the repair of acute skeletal muscle injury. METHODS: Forty-two SPF-grade SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: a blank group (n=6), a model group (n=18), and an EA group (n=18). The model and EA groups established acute blunt contusion model of the right gastrocnemius muscle using a self-made striking device. From day 1 after modeling, rats in the EA group received EA at "Chengshan" (BL57) and "Yanglingquan" (GB34) on the right side, using disperse-dense wave with a frequency of 2 Hz/100 Hz and a current of approximately 2 mA. The EA treatment was administered once daily for 30 minutes for 3, 7, or 14 days based on the designated sampling time points. Gait analysis was performed using the Cat Walk XT^TM system. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the morphological changes in the gastrocnemius muscle. Masson staining was applied to evaluate collagen fiber content. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in muscle satellite cells. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess the expression levels of CD68 and CD206, markers of macrophages. Serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10, IL-13) were detected using ELISA. RESULTS: Compared with the blank group, the model group showed a significant reduction in average movement speed on days 3 and 7 after modeling (P<0.05), and a decrease in the right hind limb stride length on day 3 (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the EA group showed increased average movement speed and right hind limb stride length on day 7 (P<0.05). In the blank group, the gastrocnemius muscle on the right side showed uniform and consistent inter-fiber spacing, with neatly and regularly arranged muscle cells. In contrast, the model group exhibited enlarged inter-fiber spacing, edema, and significant infiltration of red blood cells and inflammatory cells, with progressively increasing fibrosis over time. By day 14 after modeling, the EA group showed a return to baseline levels of inflammatory cell infiltration, and the degree of fibrosis was significantly lower than that observed in the model group. Compared with the blank group, the ratio of collagen fibers in the gastrocnemius muscle of the model group increased significantly on days 3, 7, and 14 after modeling (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the EA group exhibited a lower collagen fiber ratio on days 3, 7, and 14 (P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, PCNA positive expression in the gastrocnemius muscle of the model group was significantly increased on days 3, 7, and 14 after modeling (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the EA group exhibited significantly higher PCNA positive expression on days 3 and 7 (P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the model group showed a significant increase in CD68-positive macrophage expression in the gastrocnemius muscle on day 3 after modeling (P<0.05), while CD206-positive macrophage expression increased on days 3, 7, and 14 (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, CD68 expression was significantly lower in the EA group on day 3 (P<0.05), whereas CD206 expression was significantly higher on days 3 and 7 (P<0.05), peaking on day 7 with CD206 expression. Compared with the blank group, serum TNF-α levels were significantly elevated in the model group on days 3 and 7 after modeling (P<0.05), while serum IL-1β levels were increased on days 3, 7, and 14 (P<0.05). Serum IL-10 and IL-13 levels were significantly higher on day 7 after modeling (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the EA group exhibited lower serum TNF-α level on day 3 (P<0.05) and reduced serum IL-1β levels on days 3 and 7 (P<0.05), while serum IL-10 and IL-13 levels were significantly increased on day 7 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION EA could promote the repair of acute blunt contusion-induced gastrocnemius muscle injury by regulating the proliferation and differentiation of muscle satellite cells. This process is closely related to macrophage polarization.
Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Macrophages/immunology* ; Muscle, Skeletal/immunology* ; Male ; Humans ; Female ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/immunology* ; Cell Proliferation

Objective To observe the role of dried tangerine peel in Yigong Powder improves iron metabolism and promotes red blood cell generation in anemia of chronic disease (ACD).Methods With a two-by-two factorial design,the Yigong Powder was divided into dried tangerine peel and Chenpi absent Decoction. According to the random number table method,32 zymosan-induced generalized inflammation (ZIGI) mice were randomly divided into the model group,the dried tangerine peel group,the Chenpi absent Decoction group,and the Yigong Powder group. The dried tangerine peel group,Chenpi absent Decoction group and the Yigong Powder group were given dried tangerine peel(3.083 g/kg),Chenpi absent Decoction(12.33g/kg),and Yigong Powder(15.413g/kg)by gavage to the corresponding group of mice. The model group was given an equal amount of physiological saline by gavage,and treated continuously for 7 days. After the completion of administration,the body weight of each group of mice was recorded. The hemoglobin content of each group of mice was detected using a fully automatic cell counter,the serum iron content was detected using colorimetry,the serum ferritin content was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA),and the spleen index was calculated. The liver tissue inflammatory factors interleukin-1β (IL-1β),interleukin-6 (IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α),interferon-γ (IFN-γ),interleukin-4 (IL-4),and interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels were detected using Luminex method. The mRNA expressions of liver tissue hepcidin gene (HAMP) and membrane iron transporter ( Fpn) were detected using real-time fluorescence PCR method. Results Dried tangerine peel and Chenpi absent Decoction both showed interactive effects in regulating hemoglobin,serum iron,serum ferritin content,improving spleen index,and regulating the mRNA expressions of HAMP,Fpn,as well as IL-1β and IFN-γ (P<0.05). Compared with the model group,dried tangerine peel significantly increased hemoglobin,serum iron content,and Fpn mRNA expression in ZIGI model mice,while decreasing ferritin content,spleen index,HAMP mRNA expression,and the levels of IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α,and IFN-γ (P<0.05). Chenpi absent Decoction significantly increased serum iron content and Fpn mRNA expression in ZIGI model mice,while reducing spleen index,ferritin content,HAMP mRNA expression,and the levels of IL-1β and IFN-γ、IL-4 (P<0.05). Conclusion The effects of dried tangerine peel on inflammatory factors (IL-6 and TNF-α) and Fpn may play a key role in the improvement effects of Yigong Powder on ACD and iron metabolism.

Objective:To analyze the incidence and progression of overactive bladder(OAB)symp-toms following radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer patients and to identify related risk factors.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 263 local stage prostate cancer patients who underwent radical prostatectomy at Peking University Third Hospital from January 2013 to May 2017.Clinical base-line information,comprehensive imaging features,perioperative parameters,preoperative urinary control status,pathological diagnosis,and the incidence of OAB within one year postoperatively were collected and analyzed.In the imaging features,two parameters were defined:Bladder wall thickness(BWT)and bladder mucosal smoothness(BMS),which were used to predict the occurrence of OAB.Patients were evaluated based on their clinical baseline characteristics,including age,body mass index(BMI),co-morbidities,and prostate-specific antigen(PSA)levels.The imaging characteristics were assessed using preoperative MRI,focusing on BWT and BMS.Perioperative parameters included operative time,blood loss,and length of hospital stay.The OAB symptoms were assessed using the overactive bladder symptom score(OABSS)and the international prostate symptom score(IPSS).These scores were correlated with the postoperative incidence of OAB.Results:Among the 263 patients who underwent radical prostatecto-my,52(19.8％)exhibited OAB within one year postoperatively.Of the 40 patients with preoperative OAB symptoms,17(42.5％)showed remission postoperatively,while 23(57.5％)had persistent symptoms.Additionally,29 patients developed new-onset OAB,accounting for 55.77％of all postopera-tive OAB cases.Univariate analysis indicated that BWT,BMS,OABSS,and IPSS score were all associ-ated with the occurrence of postoperative OAB.Further multivariate analysis identified BMS as an inde-pendent risk factor for long-term OAB(P＜0.001).Conclusion:Long-term postoperative overactive bladder is a common complication following radical prostatectomy.The findings suggest that preoperative MRI measurements of bladder wall thickness and bladder mucosal smoothness during bladder filling phase can predict the risk of OAB occurrence postoperatively.Identifying these risk factors preoperatively can help in counseling patients about potential complications and in developing strategies to mitigate the risk of developing OAB after surgery.Early detection and management of these parameters might improve the quality of life for patients undergoing radical prostatectomy.

Objective:To investigate the expression of replication factor C5 (RFC5) in cervical cancer, and its effect on the prognosis and immune regulation as well as its related mechanism.Methods:RFC5 mRNA expression data and the clinical data of 280 cervical cancer patients were downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database in May 2023. The difference of RFC5 mRNA expression between cervical cancer tissues and paracancerous normal tissues was compared and the expression of RFC5 mRNA in patients with different clinicopathological characteristics was analyzed. According to the median expression level of RFC5 mRNA in cancer tissues, 280 patients were divided into the high expression group and the low expression group. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis, and log-rank test was used for comparison. Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) 2 online tool was used to verify the relationship between RFC5 gene expression and the prognosis of cervical cancer. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional risk models were used to analyze the factors influencing the overall survival (OS) of patients with cervival cancer in TCGA database. LinkedOmics database was used to screen the co-differentially expressed genes (DEG) related to RFC5 in cervical cancer. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genesand Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis of DEG related to RFC5 were performed based on the DAVID database. Based on the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) database, the relationship between RFC5 expression and tumor infiltrating immune cells in cervival cancer was analyzed by using Spearman method. The relationship between RFC5 expression and immunomodulatory factors in cervical cancer was analyzed based on tumor-immune system interactions database (TISIDB). The expression of RFC5 protein in cervical cancer tissues was analyzed based on Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database. The expression of RFC5 in pan-cancer and its correlation with OS were analyzed based on GEPIA2 online tool.Results:In TCGA database, the relative expression level of RFC5 mRNA in cervical cancer tissues (277 cases) was higher than that in paracancerous normal tissues (3 cases), and the difference was statistically significant ( P < 0.001), while there were no significant differences in the relative expression level of RFC5 mRNA in cancer tissues of patients with different age, pathological type and clinical staging (all P > 0.05). The OS of cervival cancer patients in high RFC5 expression group (139 cases) was better than that of patients in low RFC5 expression group (138 cases), and the difference was statistically significant ( P = 0.027). GEPIA tool verification indicated that expression of RFC5 in cervical cancer and its relationship with OS showed the same results. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that RFC5-related genes were mainly involved in DNA replication, cell cycle, Fanconi anemia, mismatch repair, base excision repair, nucleotide excision repair and other signaling pathways. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age ≥ 65 years, clinical staging Ⅳ and the low expression of RFC5 were independent risk factors of poor OS in patients with cervical cancer (all P < 0.05). TIMER database analysis showed that the expression of RFC5 was positively correlated with tumor purity ( rho = 0.198, P < 0.001), while weakly correlated or not correlated with the infiltration levels of B cells ( rho = 0.062, P = 0.306), CD8 + T cells ( rho = 0.168, P = 0.005), CD4 + T cells ( rho = -0.049, P = 0.418), macrophages ( rho = 0.034, P = 0.577), neutrophils ( rho = 0.169, P = 0.005) and bone marrow dendritic cells ( rho = 0.026, P = 0.667). Analysis of TISIDB data showed that RFC5 expression was mostly negatively correlated with immunosuppressive factors and immunostimulatory factors. HPA database showed that the expression level of RFC5 in cervical cancer tissues was higher than that in normal cervical tissues. GEPIA online tool database analysis showed that RFC5 expression was up-regulated in a variety of malignant tumors. The OS of thymoma patients with high RFC5 expression was better than that of those with low RFC5 expression, while the OS of acute myeloid leukemia patients with high RFC5 expression was worse than those with low RFC5 expression, and the differences in OS were statistically significant (both P < 0.05). Conclusions:RFC5 is highly expressed in cervical cancer and its expression is associated with prognosis of patients with cervival cancer. Overexpression of RFC5 may inhibit the expression of immunomodulatory factors, and it may regulate the development and progression of cervical cancer through DNA replication, cell cycle, mismatch repair, base excision repair and other related pathways.

Objective To explore the predictive factors of axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer,and to provide a basis for clinical decision-making under the DIP payment mode of medical insurance.Methods A total of 715 patients with breast cancer were divided into the metastasis group(n=309)and the non-metastasis group(n=406)according to the postoperative paraffin pathological results.Data of age＞60 years old,menopausal status,body mass index(BMI)＞24 kg/m2,hyperglycemia(GLU＞6.1 mmol/L),high triglycerides(TG＞1.7 mmol/L),maximum diameter of the tumor,the distance between the tumor and nipple and the quadrant where the tumor located were compared between the two groups.The expression levels of estrogen receptor(ER),progesterone receptor(PR),nuclear proliferation antigen(Ki-67)and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2(Her-2)in breast cancer tissue samples were detected by histological grading and immunohistochemistry.The consistency,sensitivity and specificity of chest CT and breast ultrasound were examined,taken the pathological diagnosis as the gold standard.Results Compared with the non-metastatic group,the proportion of maximum diameter of tumor＞2 cm,histological grade Ⅲ,high Ki-67 and high ER expression,tumor located in the outer upper quadrant,the distance＞3 cm between tumor and nipple were increased in the metastatic group,and the proportion of high level of TG was decreased in the metastatic group(P＜0.05).The consistency between chest CT and pathological diagnosis was better than that of breast ultrasound(Kappa was 0.493 and 0.353 respectively,P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that histological grade Ⅲ,high expression of ER,maximum diameter of tumor＞2 cm,and chest CT diagnosis were risk factors for axillary lymph node metastasis(P＜0.05).Conclusion The combined application of the predictive factors of axillary lymph node metastasis of breast cancer could provide certain reference for clinical decision-making under the background of DIP payment mode of medical insurance.

Objective:To summarize the content and effects of exercise interventions for stroke survivors, providing references for medical and nursing personnel in formulating exercise intervention plans for these patients.Methods:Literature on exercise interventions for stroke survivors was searched in databases such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, VIP, China Biology Medicine disc, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science up to May 1, 2023. Data extraction and summarization were conducted on the included literature.Results:Twenty-two articles were included in the review. The exercise types for stroke survivors primarily involved aerobic and resistance training; the intensity was mainly moderate to high; the frequency was mostly 3-5 times per week, with each session lasting 30-60 minutes; and the duration of interventions ranged from as short as two weeks to as long as one year. Exercise interventions improved stroke survivors' functional mobility, quality of life, cardiopulmonary function, mental state, cognitive function, fatigue, sleep, and compliance to varying degrees.Conclusions:Exercise interventions have achieved positive outcomes in stroke survivors. In the future, medical and nursing personnel can incorporate patient preferences into exercise intervention plans while ensuring patient safety to promote rehabilitation.

Objective:To investigate whether endoplasmic reticulum transmembrane protein IRE1(encoded by Ern1)can modulate the immunogenicity and tumorigenicity of cancer cells and explore the underlying mechanism.Methods:Correlation between ERN1 expression and the overall survival of cancer patients was explored with public cancer databases.CRISPR-Cas9 technology was used to delete Ern1 in mouse tumor cell lines MCA205 and TC-1.By CCK-8,flow cytometry,ELISA,luciferase reporter systems,subcutaneous tumor models,prime-boost regimens,we analyzed impact of Ern1 on tumor cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo,intratumoral immune cell composition,tunicamycin-induced immunogenic cell death and activation of anti-tumor effector T cells.The growth kinetics of Ern1-/-tumors was also monitored in Ifnar-/-mice.Results:ERN1 expression was found to be negatively correlated with the overall survival of cancer patients across multiple cancer types.Although Ern1 deficiency didn't affect tumor cell proliferation in vitro,it largely delayed tumor growth or caused spontaneous tumor regression in immune-competent mice.As compared to wild type counterparts,Ern1-/-tumors harbored much more neutrophils but significantly less CD4+T cells.Upon tunicamycin-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress,Ern1-/-cells were more vulnerable to cell death.Although Ern1-deficiency reduced HMGB1 release and calreticulin exposure,IFN-α/β secretion was increased,and strongly elevated type Ⅰ IFN response in tumor cells and augmented IFN-γ production by anti-tumor effector T cells.Ern1-/-tumor cells restored the tumorigenic capacity in Ifnar-/-mice.Conclusion:Ern1 defi-ciency can enhance the immunogenicity of tumor cells and inhibit tumor outgrowth by boosting endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced type Ⅰ IFN response.

Humans ; Glycated Hemoglobin ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; Blood Glucose ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2

Diabetic gastroparesis （DGP） is a common diabetic neuropathy that affects the normal function of gastric motility and emptying. Clinically， it often manifests as abdominal distension， nausea and vomiting， early satiety， dyspepsia， etc. The pathogenesis of DGP is multifactorial， closely related to many factors， such as chronic hyperglycemia， neuropathy， autonomic nervous system disorders， inflammation， and oxidative stress. These factors can interact with each other， leading to delayed gastric emptying and the occurrence of related symptoms. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has significant advantages in the prevention and treatment of DGP， including a long history， remarkable efficacy， individualized treatment， diverse therapeutic formulations， and improvement in the quality of life. Additionally， TCM is known for its low adverse reactions， good tolerance， and multi-targeted effects， making it an important approach in the management of DGP. Previous research has found that the main mechanisms of Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of DGP include the regulation of gastrointestinal hormones， inhibition of inflammatory responses， reduction of oxidative stress， enhancement of interstitial cells of Cajal activity， inhibition of pyroptosis， and modulation of related signaling pathways such as stem cell factor （SCF）/cellular growth factor receptor （c-Kit）， adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK）， Ras homologous genome member A （RhoA）/Rho-associated coiled-coil forming kinase （ROCK）. This article primarily summarized the research progress on Chinese medicine in preventing and treating DGP through the inhibition of inflammatory responses， reduction of oxidative stress， enhancement of interstitial cells of Cajal activity， inhibition of pyroptosis， and regulation of related signaling pathways， aiming to provide a reference and basis for further research on the application value of Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of DGP.

Currently， there are many difficulties in formulating recommendations of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） clinical practice guidelines. This paper analyzed and summarized the unique or prominent difficult issues in the formulation of recommendations faced by TCM guidelines， such as experts' professional background and experience bringing about the preferance from the academic emotion， inconsistency between different academic schools making it difficult to reach consensus， lack of guiding principles of the decision weight of different dimensions for recommendations. Therefore， methodological suggestions have been put forward， including organizing parallel TCM and western medicine consensus group， improving the method of combining TCM and western medicine paradigm， attaching great importance to the evidence-based governance of academic schools， and promoting the research on different dimensions for recommendation formulation， which may provide a methodological reference for the guideline development.