As one of the chronic diseases with high incidence in contemporary society, cervical spondylosis has increasing patient groups who gradually present a low age, and it seriously affects social and public health. Although modern medicine has made great progress in the pathological research and clinical treatment of cervical spondylosis, patients still face gastrointestinal side effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs), neck pain, limited mobility, upper limb numbness, and other symptoms after conservative or surgical treatment. In the theory of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), cervical spondylosis belongs to the categories of "Bi syndrome" "stiff neck" "stiff Bi", etc. With the change of the times, the change of lifestyle, and the application of western medicine treatment, the etiology and pathogenesis of TCM in cervical spondylosis also show new characteristics. In terms of etiology and pathogenesis, it involves the invasion of wind, cold, and dampness, long-term strain, liver and kidney deficiency, Qi and blood stasis, which are associated with factors such as cervical degeneration, muscle tension and spasm, intervertebral disc herniation, and nerve root compression in modern medicine. In terms of the evolution of pathogenesis, in the early stage, wind, cold, and dampness, were more common in Xuanfu, resulting in unfavorable muscles and bones, poor flow of Qi and blood, and cervical spondylosis and radiculopathy. Medium-term phlegm stasis and internal knots, sluggish muscles and veins, and long-term weathering and fire are more likely to occur in the vertebral artery and sympathetic radiculopathy. In the later stage, the positive Qi is depleted; the true Yin is damaged, and the viscera Qi and blood are deficient, which is most common in cervical myelopathy. The strategy of treating cervical spondylosis with TCM classic formulas applies Gegen Decoction, Wutou Decoction, Qianghuo Shengshi Decoction, Mahuang Jiazhu Decoction to patients with wind, cold, and dampness. Patients with phlegm dampness and blood stasis are treated with Huoxue Xiaoling Dan, Jinlingzi Powder, Siwu Decoction, Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction, Shuanghe Decoction, etc. For those patients with liver, spleen, and kidney deficiency, Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction, Tianma Gouteng Decoction, Guishao Dihuang Pills, Shenling Baizhu Powder, and Lizhong Decoction are used to invigorate the spleen, nourish Qi and blood, and tonify liver and kidney. In clinical practice, the authors advocate a safe and effective treatment plan of classic formulas based on deficiency and excess, the integration of formulas and syndromes, and the combination of modern research results, so as to relieve symptoms, reduce recurrence, and reduce medical burden.
Humans ; Spondylosis/drug therapy* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Cervical Vertebrae/pathology*

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive decline, functional impairment, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. It represents the most prevalent form of dementia among the elderly population. Accumulating evidence indicates that oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of AD. Notably, elevated levels of oxidative stress have been observed in the brains of AD patients, where excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) can cause extensive damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA, ultimately compromising neuronal structure and function. Amyloid β‑protein (Aβ) has been shown to induce mitochondrial dysfunction and calcium overload, thereby promoting the generation of ROS. This, in turn, exacerbates Aβ aggregation and enhances tau phosphorylation, leading to the formation of two pathological features of AD: extracellular Aβ plaque deposition and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). These events ultimately culminate in neuronal death, forming a vicious cycle. The interplay between oxidative stress and these pathological processes constitutes a core link in the pathogenesis of AD. The signaling pathways mediating oxidative stress in AD include Nrf2, RCAN1, PP2A, CREB, Notch1, NF‑κB, ApoE, and ferroptosis. Nrf2 signaling pathway serves as a key regulator of cellular redox homeostasis, exerts important antioxidant capacity and protective effects in AD. RCAN1 signaling pathway, as a calcineurin inhibitor, and modulates AD progression through multiple mechanisms. PP2A signaling pathway is involved in regulating tau phosphorylation and neuroinflammation processes. CREB signaling pathway contributes to neuroplasticity and memory formation; activation of CREB improves cognitive function and reduce oxidative stress. Notch1 signaling pathway regulates neuronal development and memory, participates in modulation of Aβ production, and interacts with Nrf2 toco-regulate antioxidant activity. NF‑κB signaling pathway governs immune and inflammatory responses; sustained activation of this pathway forms “inflammatory memory”, thereby exacerbating AD pathology. ApoE signaling pathway is associated with lipid metabolism; among its isoforms, ApoE-ε4 significantly increases the risk of AD, leading to elevated oxidative stress, abnormal lipid metabolism, and neuroinflammation. The ferroptosis signaling pathway is driven by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, and the subsequent release of lipid peroxidation products and ROS exacerbate oxidative stress and neuronal damage. These interconnected pathways form a complex regulatory network that regulates the progression of AD through oxidative stress and related pathological cascades. In terms of therapeutic strategies targeting oxidative stress, among the drugs currently used in clinical practice for AD treatment, memantine and donepezil demonstrate significant therapeutic efficacy and can improve the level of oxidative stress in AD patients. Some compounds with antioxidant effects (such asα-lipoic acid and melatonin) have shown certain potential in AD treatment research and can be used as dietary supplements to ameliorate AD symptoms. In addition, non-drug interventions such as calorie restriction and exercise have been proven to exerted neuroprotective effects and have a positive effect on the treatment of AD. By comprehensively utilizing the therapeutic characteristics of different signaling pathways, it is expected that more comprehensive multi-target combination therapy regimens and combined nanomolecular delivery systems will be developed in the future to bypass the blood-brain barrier, providing more effective therapeutic strategies for AD.

Chaihu Jia Longgu Muli Decoction was firstly recorded in Treatise on Cold Damage(ZHANG Zhong-jing, Eastern Han dynasty). According to this medical classic, it is originally used in the treatment of the Shaoyang and Yangming syndrome. Based on the modern pathophysiological mechanism, this study interpreted the classic provisions of Chaihu Jia Longgu Muli Decoction. Original records of "chest fullness" "annoyance" "shock" "difficult urination" "delirium" "heavy body and failing to turn over" all have profound pathophysiological basis, involving disorders in cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, and mental systems. This formula is widely used, which can be applied to treat epilepsy, cerebral arteriosclerosis, cerebral infarction, and other cerebrovascular diseases, hypertension, arrhythmia, and other cardiovascular diseases, insomnia, constipation, anxiety, depression, cardiac neurosis and other acute and chronic diseases as well as diseases in psychosomatic medicine. The clinical indications include Bupleuri Radix-targeted syndrome such as fullness and discomfort in chest and hypochondrium, bitter taste mouth, dry throat, and dizziness, the insomnia, anxiety, depression, susceptibility to fright, upset, dreamfulness and other psychiatric symptoms, red tongue, thick and yellow tongue coating, and wiry hard and powerful pulse. This formula was found to be used in combination with other formulas, such as Gualou Xiebai Decoction, Wendan Decoction, Zhizhu Pills, Juzhijiang Decoction, Suanzaoren Decoction, and Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction.
Humans ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/drug therapy* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Hypertension/drug therapy* ; Syndrome ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac/drug therapy* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Natural products are an important source for the development of antitumor lead compounds, but the pharmacological effects and regulatory mechanisms of natural products in osimertinib resistance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are not well understood. The natural product ligustroflavone was used as the research object to analyze its efficacy in osimertinib-resistant NSCLC cells by cell proliferation assay and cell cycle detection. The potential targets of ligustroflavone in osimertinib-resistant NSCLC cells were screened by public databases and bioinformatics, molecular docking and microscale thermophoresis were used to identify the interaction between privet and target molecules. Western blot was used to detect the effect of privet on the target molecules and their downstream pathways. Ligustroflavone reduced the proliferation of osimertinib-resistant NSCLC cells, and could arrest the cell cycle. Cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6) was the potential target of ligustroflavone in osimertinib-resistant NSCLC cells. Ligustroflavone inhibited the activation of CDK6-Rb axis. Together, ligustroflavone could regulate osimertinib resistance in NSCLC cells by binding cell cyclin-related molecules. This study provides a theoretical basis for the targeted drug resistance of NSCLC with natural products, and also provides a new idea for the development of clinical drug combination.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare and analyze the consistency and difference between metageno-mic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) and conventional bacterial culture in the detection of pathogenic microorganisms in maxillofacial space infection, as well as to provide a new detection method for the early clinical identification of pathogenic bacteria in maxillofacial space infection. METHODS: The clinical data of 16 patients with oral and maxillofacial space infections in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from March 2020 to June 2020 were collected. mNGS and conventional bacterial culture methods were used to detect pus. We then analyzed and compared the test results of the two methods, including the test cycle, positive detection rate, anaerobic bacteria, facultative anaerobes and aerobic bacteria detection rates, distribution of pathogenic bacteria, relative species abundance, and resistance genes. RESULTS: The average inspection period of mNGS was (18.81±3.73) h, and the average inspection period of bacterial culture was (83.25±11.64) h, the former was shorter than the latter ( CONCLUSIONS Compared with conventional bacterial culture, mNGS has the characteristics of short test time, high sensitivity, and high accuracy. Thus, it is a new detection method for the early identification of pathogenic bacteria in maxillofacial space infection and is beneficial to the early clinical diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
Bacteria/genetics* ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Humans ; Metagenomics ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Technology

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare genetic disease characterized by calcifications within the alveoli in the lung. Mutations in SLC34A2 gene, which encodes a type IIb sodiumphosphate cotransporter, are responsible for PAM, leading to the intra-alveolar accumulation of phosphate which favors the formation of microliths. A "sandstorm" appearance is the typical radiographic presentation of PAM. The hallmark of this disorder is clinical-radiological dissociation, with typical imaging findings, specific pathological findings and closely correlated specific genetic mutations. The disease has an insidious onset, runs a chronic course and the prognosis is poor. There is no effective treatment except for lung transplantation. This article summarizes the epidemiology, molecular genetics and clinical features of pulmonary alveolar calculi.

The acquisition of metastasis potential is a critical point for malignant tumors. Melanoma differentiation associated gene-7/interleukin-24 (mda-7/IL-24) is a potential tumor suppress gene and frequently down-regulated in malignant tumors. It has been implicated that overexpression of MDA-7 led to proliferation inhibition in many types of human tumor. Invasion is an important process which is potential to promote tumor metastasis. However, the role and potential molecular mechanism of mda-7/IL-24 to inhibit the invasion of human melanoma cancer is not fully clear. In this report, we identified a solid role for mda-7/IL-24 in invasion inhibition of human melanoma cancer LiBr cells, including decreasing of adhesion and invasion in vitro, blocking cell cycle, down-regulating the expression of ICAM-1, MMP-2/9, CDK1, the phosphorylation of ERK and Akt, NF-kappaB and AP-1 transcription activity. Meanwhile, there was an increased expression of PTEN in mda-7/IL-24 over-expression LiBr cells. Our results demonstrated that mda-7/IL-24 is a potential invasion suppress gene, which inhibits the invasion of LiBr cells by the down-regulation of ICAM-1, MMP-2/9, PTEN, and CDK1 expression. The molecular pathways involved were the MAPK/ERK, PI3K-Akt, NF-kappaB, and AP-1. These findings suggest that mda-7/IL-24 may be used as a possible therapeutic strategy for human melanoma cancer.
CDC2 Protein Kinase/genetics/metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Down-Regulation ; G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1/genetics/metabolism ; Interleukins/genetics/*metabolism ; M Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2/genetics/metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9/genetics/metabolism ; Melanoma/metabolism/pathology ; NF-kappa B/genetics/metabolism ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase/genetics/metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics/metabolism ; Transcription Factor AP-1/genetics/metabolism ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of acupuncture on the immune function of patients with colorectal cancer liver metastasis.

METHODSSixty cases with colorectal cancer liver metastasis confirmed by pathology and mageology diagnosis were treated with acupuncture. Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Neiguan (PC 6), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Hegu (LI 4), Taixi (KI 3), Taichong (LR 3) ,Yinlingquan (SP 9), Yanglingquan (GB 34), etc. were selected for acupuncture, and Shenque (CV 8), Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6), Zusanli (ST 36) were selected for moxibustion. The changes of CD(3) , CD(4) , CD(8) T cells and NK cells in value were examined with flow cytometry before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe value of T lymphocyte subsets such as CD(3) , CD(4), and CD(8) , as well as NK cells were obviously increased after treatment, and there were significant differences between them before and after treatment.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture can improve the immune function of patients with colorectal cancer liver metastasis.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Leukocyte Count ; Liver Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology ; secondary ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of needle and syringe exchange program among a community of injecting drug users (IDUs) on AIDS prevention.

METHODSA quasi-experiment design was used in a controlled community intervention study. Needle and syringe exchange program was implemented for 10 months in IDUs of an intervention community, including peer education and health education, provision of free needles and syringes, and collecting back of used needles and syringes by trained peer educators and local health workers, whereas no intervention measure in a control community was instituted. Interviews with IDUs were conducted before and after intervention with a snowballing strategy to evaluate its effectiveness.

RESULTSA total of 428 and 429 IDUs were interviewed with structured questionnaire before and after intervention in intervention and control communities, respectively. Results revealed that awareness of HIV-related knowledge increased from 29.4% to 58.7% in the intervention community. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that awareness of HIV-related knowledge was higher in those who had read health education materials (OR = 2.93, 95% CI 2.12 - 4.04). As compared with the baseline data, frequency of sharing needles and syringes in past 30 days in the intervention community decreased from 48.9% to 20.4% in before intervention community (chi(2) = 41.02, P = 0.001), whereas there was no significant change in the control community. The causes of sharing needles and syringes in the intervention community included 'disable to get needle and syringe during the night', 'lack of needle and syringe when injecting at friend's home', 'not daring to buy needle and syringe for fear of being arrested' and 'no money to buy needle and syringe', declined markedly.

CONCLUSIONSNeedle and syringe exchange program was feasible and effective in reducing their risky drug injecting behavior among IDUs in communities. Such strategy should be adopted in the country to reduce rapid spread of HIV.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; HIV Infections ; prevention & control ; transmission ; Health Education ; Humans ; Male ; Needle Sharing ; adverse effects ; statistics & numerical data ; Needle-Exchange Programs ; economics ; organization & administration ; Pilot Projects ; Program Evaluation ; Substance Abuse, Intravenous ; complications ; epidemiology