OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the intestinal flora in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and explore its possible mechanism based on the gut-lung axis theory. METHODS: A total of 30 male SD rats of SPF grade were randomly divided into a normal control (NC) group, a model group and an EA group, 10 rats in each one. In the model group and the EA group, COPD model was established by intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide combined with cigarette fumigation. In the EA group, EA was applied at bilateral "Feishu" (BL13) and "Zusanli" (ST36), with disperse-dense waves, in frequency of 4 Hz/20 Hz, current of 1-3 mA, 20 min a time, once a day for 14 days continuously. Before and after modeling, as well as after intervention, body weight was observed; after intervention, the lung function indexes (forced expiratory volume in 0.1 second [FEV_0.1], FEV_0.1/forced vital capacity [FVC]%, forced expiratory volume in 0.3 second [FEV_0.3] and FEV_0.3/FVC%) were measured, serum levels of inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor-α[TNF-α], interleukin-6[IL-6], interleukin-1β[IL-1β] and interleukin-10[IL-10]) were detected by ELISA, histopathology of lung and colon tissues was observed by HE staining, the intestinal flora were analyzed by 16S rRNA, and the correlations between lung function and intestinal flora were analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with the NC group, in the COPD group, the body weight and lung function indexes were reduced (P<0.01); the lung and colon tissues were damaged, the mean linear intercept (MLI) of alveolus and inflammatory cell numbers of 100 μm² in lung tissue were increased (P<0.01); the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β were increased (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the serum level of IL-10 was decreased (P<0.01); α-diversity indexes of intestinal flora were increased (P<0.01); the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Oscillospira, Bacteroides, Coprococcus was increased (P<0.01), the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Tenericutes, TM7 and Lactobacillus, Allobaculum, Bifidobacterium, YRC22 was decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05); 31 different expressed metabolic pathways were identified between the two groups. Compared with the COPD group, in the EA group, the body weight and lung function indexes were increased (P<0.01); the damage of lung and colon tissues was improved, the MLI of alveolus was decreased (P<0.05); the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β were decreased (P<0.05), and the serum level of IL-10 was increased (P<0.05); α-diversity indexes of intestinal flora were decreased (P<0.01); the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Oscillospira, Bacteroides, Coprococcus was decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05), the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Tenericutes, TM7 and Lactobacillus, Allobaculum, Bifidobacterium, YRC22 was increased (P<0.01); 35 different expressed metabolic pathways were identified between the two groups. The lung function was positive related with Actinobacteria, Tenericutes, TM7 and YRC22, and was negative related with Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Oscillospira, Bacteroides, Coprococcus. CONCLUSION EA may ameliorate lung function and tissue injury of COPD by regulating intestinal flora dysbiosis and inflammatory response, suggesting an anti-inflammatory effect mediated via "gut-lung" axis.
Animals ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/genetics* ; Male ; Electroacupuncture ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Lung/metabolism* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Interleukin-6/immunology* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/immunology* ; Intestines/microbiology* ; Interleukin-10/immunology*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the neuroprotective effect and underlying mechanism of Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture (acupuncture for regaining consciousness and opening orifices) in the rat models of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) based on the p53 protein (p53)/solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11)/glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) signaling pathway. METHODS: Of 102 male Wistar rats, 20 rats were randomly collected as a sham-operation group. Using a modified external carotid artery filament insertion method, CIRI models were prepared by occluding the middle cerebral artery in the rest rats. After modeling and excluding 1 non-successfully modeled rat and 1 dead one, the other modeled rats were randomized into a model group, an agonist group, an acupuncture group, and an acupuncture + agonist group, 20 rats in each one. Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture therapy was delivered in the rats of the acupuncture group and the acupuncture + agonist group. The acupoints included "Shuigou" (GV26), bilateral "Neiguan" (PC6), and "Sanyinjiao" (SP6) on the affected side. Electroacupuncture was attached to "Neiguan" (PC6) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP6) on the affected side, with dense-disperse wave, a frequency of 2 Hz/15 Hz and intensity of 1 mA. The intervention was delivered twice daily, 20 min each time and for 7 consecutive days. In the agonist group and acupuncture+agonist group, p53 agonist, COTI-2 was intraperitoneally injected (15 mg/kg), once daily for 7 consecutive days. Neurological deficit was evaluated using Zausinger's six-point scale. Cerebral infarction volume was quantified by triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. Histopathological changes were observed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Iron deposition was assessed by Prussian blue staining. Mitochondrial ultrastructure in the ischemic cortex was examined under transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Serum iron (Fe²⁺) was measured with chromometry. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels in the ischemic hippocampus were determined using thiobarbituric acid and microplate assays, respectively. The mean fluorescence intensity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the ischemic cortex was analyzed by flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein expression of GPX4, SLC7A11, and p53 in the ischemic hippocampus were evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with the sham-operated group, the model group exhibited the decrease in neurological deficit score (P<0.01), and the increase in cerebral infarction volume percentage (P<0.01). The changes of brain tissue were presented in extensive cellular necrosis, pyknotic and deeply-stained nuclei, and vacuolar degeneration. The iron deposition was elevated in cortex and hippocampus (P<0.01), mitochondrial membrane density increased, the cristae was broken or reduced, and the outer membrane ruptured. The levels of Fe²⁺ and MDA, as well as the mean flourscence intensity of ROS were elevated (P<0.01) and the level of GSH was reduced (P<0.01). The mRNA and protein expression of GPX4 and SLC7A11 was reduced (P<0.01), while that of p53 rose (P<0.01). When compared with the model group, in the agonist group, the neurological deficit score was reduced (P<0.05), the percentage of infarction volume was higher (P<0.01), the histopathological damage was further exacerbated, and the percentage of iron deposition increased in the cortex and hippocampus (P<0.01). The mitochondrial quantity decreased, the membrane density increased, the mitochondrial cristae were broken or reduced, and the outer membrane was ruptured. The levels of Fe²⁺ and MDA, as well as the mean flourscence intensity of ROS were higher (P<0.01, P<0.05) and the level of GSH was reduced (P<0.05). The mRNA and protein expression of GPX4 and SLC7A11 decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05), while that of p53 was elevated (P<0.01). Besides, in comparison with the model group, the neurological deficit score was higher in the acupuncture group and the acupuncture + agonist group (P<0.01, P<0.05), the percentage of cerebral infarction volume was lower in the acupuncture group (P<0.01), the pathological damage of brain tissue was alleviated in the acupuncture group and the acupuncture + agonist group, and the percentage of iron depositiondecreased in the cortex and hippocampus (P<0.01). The mitochondrial structure was relatively clear, the mitochondrial cristae were fractured or reduced mildly in the acupuncture group and the acupuncture + agonist group. The levels of Fe²⁺ and MDA, as well as the mean flourscence intensity of ROS were lower (P<0.01) and the level of GSH was higher (P<0.01) in the acupuncture group. The mean fluorescence intensity of ROS were dropped (P<0.01) in the acupuncture + agonist group. The mRNA expression of GPX4 and SLC7A11 was elevated (P<0.01) and that of p53 was reduced (P<0.01, P<0.05) in either the acupuncture group or the acupuncture + agonist group; the protein expression of GPX4 and SLC7A11 rose (P<0.05, P<0.01) and that of p53 was dropped (P<0.01) in the acupuncture group; and the protein expression of p53 was also lower in the acupuncture + agonist group (P<0.05). When compared with the agonist group, in the acupuncture + agonist group, neurological deficit score increased (P<0.01), the percentage of cerebral infarction volume decreased (P<0.01), the pathological brain tissue damage was reduced, the percentage of iron deposition in cortex and hippocampus decreased (P<0.01), the mitochondrial structure was relatively clear and the cristae broken or reduced slightly; the levels of Fe²⁺ and MDA, as well as the mean fluorescence intensity of ROS were dropped (P<0.01), while the level of GSH increased (P<0.05); the mRNA and protein expression of GPX4 and SLC7411 was elevated (P<0.01, P<0.05), and that of p53 reduced (P<0.01). In comparison with the acupuncture + agonist group, in the acupuncture group, the neurological deficit score increased (P<0.05), the percentage of cerebral infarction volume decreased (P<0.05), the pathological brain tissue damage was alleviated, the percentage of iron deposition in cortex and hippocampus decreased (P<0.01), the mitochondrial structure was normal in tendency; the levels of Fe²⁺ and MDA, as well as the mean fluorescence intensity of ROS were reduced (P<0.05), while the level of GSH rose (P<0.01); the mRNA and protein expression of GPX4 and SLC7411 was elevated (P<0.01, P<0.05), and that of p53 reduced (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture can alleviate neurological damage in CIRI rats, which is obtained probably by inhibiting ferroptosis through p53/SLC7A11/GPX4 pathway.
Animals ; Reperfusion Injury/metabolism* ; Male ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Rats ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/genetics* ; Brain Ischemia/metabolism* ; Rats, Wistar ; Signal Transduction ; Humans ; Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase/genetics* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Acupuncture Points ; Amino Acid Transport System y+/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the rules of acupoint selection and compatibility of acupuncture and moxibustion in treatment of chronic cough using data mining. METHODS: The ancient and modern medical record cloud platform, and the databases, i.e. CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, EMbase, Web of Science and PubMed, were searched to screen the ancient and modern literature on acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of chronic cough. The prescription database was established for acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of chronic cough, and the analysis conducted on the frequency and use percentage in the aspects of intervention measures, acupoint selection, acupoint distribution, meridian tropism, special points and acupoint combination, as well as the association rules and clustering rules of acupoint selection. The subgroup analysis was performed in accordance with the etiology of chronic cough and intervention measures. RESULTS: A total of 106 articles were included and 158 prescriptions were extracted. The intervention measures were acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal medication and the combination of several measures. The high-frequency acupoints included Feishu (BL13), Zusanli (ST36), Dazhui (GV14), Pishu (BL20), Danzhong (CV17), Shenshu (BL23), Lieque (LU7), Dingchuan (EX-B1), Tiantu (CV22), and Fenglong (ST40). These acupoints are mainly distributed on the back, lumbar region, chest and abdomen. The involved meridians were bladder meridian of foot-taiyang, conception vessel, and lung meridian of hand-taiyin. The special points covered back-shu points, crossing points and five-shu point. Regarding the compatibility of acupoints, the combination of upper and lower points, and the combination of front and back points were predominant in treatment. The analysis of association rules found that the support of Feishu (BL13)→Zusanli (ST36) was the highest; the cluster analysis obtained 8 clusters of acupoints. The acupoint compatibility and overall rules were similar when cough variant asthma (CVA) or the mixed reasons were involved, and the local treatment approach was adopted if the etiology of disease was related to upper airway cough syndrome (UACS) and gastroesophageal reflux cough (GERC). The acupoint selection was similar among different intervention measures. When two kinds of measures were combined in treatment, Feishu (BL13), Pishu (BL20) and Zusanli (ST36) were the most common. CONCLUSION In treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion for chronic cough, the acupoints are selected on the affected local area, depending on syndrome differentiation, and focusing on back-shu points. The main acupoints are Feishu (BL13), Zusanli (ST36), Dazhui (GV14), Pishu (BL20), Danzhong (CV17) and Shenshu (BL23). The combined therapy is dominant with acupuncture, moxibustion and herbal medicine involved.
Acupuncture Points ; Moxibustion/history* ; Humans ; Cough/history* ; Acupuncture Therapy/history* ; Chronic Disease/therapy* ; Data Mining ; History, Ancient ; Meridians ; Chronic Cough

Objective To clarify the bottlenecks in the technology transfer work of public hospitals in China,and try to propose work optimization strategies and suggestions from the perspectives of different stakeholders.Methods The relevant literature about the transformation of scientific and technological achievements in public hospitals was searched on CNKI,and inductively summarize the relevant concepts and categories through the three stages of grounded theory coding.Results Through the three stages of coding,85 initial concepts,29 categories,and 5 main categories were sorted out,and a model attributing the influencing factors of the transformation of scientific and technological achievements in public hospitals was constructed,involving five major entities:public hospitals,medi-cal staff,enterprises,government,and universities.Conclusion The work of transforming scientific and technologi-cal achievements in public hospitals involves multiple stakeholders.It can start from the standardized management of public hospitals,the technological breakthroughs of medical staff,the active leadership of the government,the pro-active integration of enterprises,and the talent cultivation of universities to achieve innovation in talent cultivation mechanisms,industry evaluation mechanisms,profit distribution mechanisms,and intelligent management mecha-nisms.

Objective Understanding the cognitive attitude,influencing factors,and demand elements of medical staff in public hospitals towards the transformation of scientific and technological achievements,and proposing coun-termeasures and suggestions to improve the transformation rate of scientific and technological achievements in pub-lic hospitals.Methods Based on a questionnaire survey of the cognition and needs for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements among medical staff in public hospitals,it investigates medical personnel from 12 public hospitals in Anhui Province.Data processing is conducted using descriptive analysis and moderated mediation effect analysis methods.Results The cognitive attitude is positively correlated with influencing factors(r=0.125,P＜0.01),the degree of cognition is positively correlated with demand elements(r=0.599,P＜0.01),and influencing factors are positively correlated with demand elements(r=0.336,P＜0.01).The impact factors of medical staff in the process of scientific and technological achievement transformation play a partial mediating role between cognitive attitude and demand elements,and the technical title of medical staff has a moderating effect.Conclusion There are bottlenecks in the transformation of scientific and technological achievements by medical staff in public hospitals,in-cluding a weak awareness of transformation,limited transformation capabilities,disconnection between scientific re-search achievements and the market,and an unobvious collaborative effect of"government,education,medical care,production,and research".Public hospitals should improve supporting measures in aspects such as talent cultivation,management systems,professional training,and information construction.

Objective To evaluate the transformation of scientific and technological achievements in 12 affiliated hospitals of a medical university in Anhui Province,and to provide suggestions for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements in affiliated hospitals of colleges and universities.Methods According to the collected data,entropy weight method was used to assign weights to the index system,and TOPSIS method and rank sum ratio method were used for comprehensive evaluation.Results Among theevaluation indicators,the top 3 weights are the total amount of incoming accounts converted by self-implementation(4.801%),the total amount of incoming accounts earned by cooperating with others(4.801%),and the number of R&D institutions,transfer institutions,and conversion service platforms jointly built with affiliated universities(4.779%).In the fuzzy joint results,the top three hospitals were A,C and G,and the bottom three hospitals were K,H and E.There are obvious differences among hospitals,and there are differences between directly affiliated hospitals and non-directly affiliated hospitals.Conclusion The affiliated hospitals of colleges and universities should explore a development path of the transformation of scientific and technological achievements with their own characteristics and make the transformation from the actual situation.Transform the achievements into the discipline construction,deepen and expand the scientific research advantages;construct transformation consciousness raising system,and promote action with consciousness raising;colleges and universities lead the integration of medical industry to build a new ecology of medical production,study and research.

Objective To clarify the bottlenecks in the technology transfer work of public hospitals in China,and try to propose work optimization strategies and suggestions from the perspectives of different stakeholders.Methods The relevant literature about the transformation of scientific and technological achievements in public hospitals was searched on CNKI,and inductively summarize the relevant concepts and categories through the three stages of grounded theory coding.Results Through the three stages of coding,85 initial concepts,29 categories,and 5 main categories were sorted out,and a model attributing the influencing factors of the transformation of scientific and technological achievements in public hospitals was constructed,involving five major entities:public hospitals,medi-cal staff,enterprises,government,and universities.Conclusion The work of transforming scientific and technologi-cal achievements in public hospitals involves multiple stakeholders.It can start from the standardized management of public hospitals,the technological breakthroughs of medical staff,the active leadership of the government,the pro-active integration of enterprises,and the talent cultivation of universities to achieve innovation in talent cultivation mechanisms,industry evaluation mechanisms,profit distribution mechanisms,and intelligent management mecha-nisms.

Objective Understanding the cognitive attitude,influencing factors,and demand elements of medical staff in public hospitals towards the transformation of scientific and technological achievements,and proposing coun-termeasures and suggestions to improve the transformation rate of scientific and technological achievements in pub-lic hospitals.Methods Based on a questionnaire survey of the cognition and needs for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements among medical staff in public hospitals,it investigates medical personnel from 12 public hospitals in Anhui Province.Data processing is conducted using descriptive analysis and moderated mediation effect analysis methods.Results The cognitive attitude is positively correlated with influencing factors(r=0.125,P＜0.01),the degree of cognition is positively correlated with demand elements(r=0.599,P＜0.01),and influencing factors are positively correlated with demand elements(r=0.336,P＜0.01).The impact factors of medical staff in the process of scientific and technological achievement transformation play a partial mediating role between cognitive attitude and demand elements,and the technical title of medical staff has a moderating effect.Conclusion There are bottlenecks in the transformation of scientific and technological achievements by medical staff in public hospitals,in-cluding a weak awareness of transformation,limited transformation capabilities,disconnection between scientific re-search achievements and the market,and an unobvious collaborative effect of"government,education,medical care,production,and research".Public hospitals should improve supporting measures in aspects such as talent cultivation,management systems,professional training,and information construction.

Objective To evaluate the transformation of scientific and technological achievements in 12 affiliated hospitals of a medical university in Anhui Province,and to provide suggestions for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements in affiliated hospitals of colleges and universities.Methods According to the collected data,entropy weight method was used to assign weights to the index system,and TOPSIS method and rank sum ratio method were used for comprehensive evaluation.Results Among theevaluation indicators,the top 3 weights are the total amount of incoming accounts converted by self-implementation(4.801%),the total amount of incoming accounts earned by cooperating with others(4.801%),and the number of R&D institutions,transfer institutions,and conversion service platforms jointly built with affiliated universities(4.779%).In the fuzzy joint results,the top three hospitals were A,C and G,and the bottom three hospitals were K,H and E.There are obvious differences among hospitals,and there are differences between directly affiliated hospitals and non-directly affiliated hospitals.Conclusion The affiliated hospitals of colleges and universities should explore a development path of the transformation of scientific and technological achievements with their own characteristics and make the transformation from the actual situation.Transform the achievements into the discipline construction,deepen and expand the scientific research advantages;construct transformation consciousness raising system,and promote action with consciousness raising;colleges and universities lead the integration of medical industry to build a new ecology of medical production,study and research.

Objective To investigate the role and mechanism of urate in chronic kidney disease complicated with renal interstitial fibrosis(CKD-RIF).Methods Mice were continuously fed with a diet containing 0.2％adenine for a duration of 9 weeks to establish mice models with CKD-RIF.By the end of the 9-week experimental periods,collected blood samples from the posterior orbital venous plexus of mice to measure renal functions and serum urate concentrations prior to euthanizing the mice.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining and periodic acid-Schiff staining(PAS)were used to investigate the pathological alternations in kidney tissues.Masson's trichrome staining was used to observe the extent of renal fibrosis.Urate staining was used to detect urate deposition in renal tissues.Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of target molecules.Scratch tests were used to ex-amine the migration abilities of cells treated with different concentrations of uric acid.Results The kidney function analysis showed that a significant increase in the levels of serum urea nitrogen(P=0.006 4),creatinine(P=0.008 0)and urate(P=0.000 7)in the CKD-RIF mice compared with the normal control group.The results of HE staining and PAS staining showed a significance of renal tubule injury and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the model group.Masson's trichrome staining showed that a marked increase in collagen deposition in the model group.The results of urate staining showed a significant presence of urate crystals in kidney tissue of the model group when compared to the control group.Animal tissue immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry analysis showed a significant increase in the expression levels of vimentin,α-SMA and TGF-β1 in the model group in comparison to the control group.Conversely,in the model group,E-cadherin levels exhibited a dramatic reduction compared to the control group.The findings from the scratching tests showed that uric acid significantly enhanced cell migration.Western blot analysis showed a dramatic increase in the expression levels of vimentin and α-SMA,while E-cadherin exhibited significant decrease in the cells subjected to uric acid treatment.Conclusion Urate stimulates the secre-tion of TGF-β1 by renal tubule epithelial cells and induces epithelial-mesenchymal transdifferentiation,thereby ex-acerbating renal interstitial fibrosis in CKD.