OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of acupuncture with yin-yang regulation method versus local acupuncture in treating chronic low back pain (CLBP) in elderly patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH), and to evaluate the changes in the multifidus muscle before and after treatment using musculoskeletal ultrasound. METHODS: A total of 128 elderly patients with CLBP due to LDH were randomly assigned to an observation group (64 cases, 2 cases dropped out) and a control group (64 cases, 2 cases dropped out). The control group received local acupuncture at bilateral L₃-L₅ Jiaji points (EX-B2), Shenshu (BL23), Dachangshu (BL25), Weizhong (BL40), Yaoyangguan (GV3), and ashi points. The observation group received acupuncture with yin-yang regulation method, which included an abdominal protocol with Baihui (GV20), Zhongwan (CV12), Qihai (CV6), Guanyuan (CV4), bilateral Tianshu (ST25), and Dahe (KI12), etc., and a lumbar protocol with Baihui (GV20), Dazhui (GV14), Jizhong (GV6), Yaoyangguan (GV3), and ashi points, etc., alternated bilaterally. Both groups were treated once every other day, three times per week, for a total of 12 sessions. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI) score, and the indexs of musculoskeletal ultrasound multifidus muscle (resting and functional thickness and Young's modulus values) were observed before and after treatment, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated in the two groups. RESULTS: After 1 and 4 weeks of treatment, both groups showed lower VAS scores compared to baseline (P<0.05), the VAS scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.001). ODI scores in both groups were decreased after 1 and 4 weeks of treatment compared to baseline (P<0.05), with a further reduction at 4 weeks of treatment compared to 1 week of treatment (P<0.05); the observation group showed lower ODI score than the control group after 1 week of treatment (P<0.001). After treatment, both groups demonstrated increased resting and functional multifidus muscle thickness bilaterally compared to baseline (P<0.01), with an increased right-side thickness change rate (P<0.01), though no significant difference was observed between groups (P>0.05). Compared to baseline, after treatment, the observation group exhibited decreased Young's modulus values for bilateral resting and functional multifidus muscle (P<0.01), while the control group showed reductions only in bilateral resting and right-side functional Young's modulus values (P<0.01). After treatment, the bilateral functional Young's modulus values in the observation group were lower than that in the control group (P<0.05), and the bilateral resting and functional changes in Young's modulus values were greater in the observation group than those in the control group (P<0.01). The overall effective rate was 93.5% (58/62) in the observation group, which was higher than 79.0% (49/62) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Acupuncture with yin-yang regulation method effectively alleviates pain, improves functional disability, increases multifidus muscle thickness, and reduces Young's modulus values in elderly patients with CLBP due to LDH, which has superior therapeutic effect compared to local acupuncture.
Humans ; Low Back Pain/physiopathology* ; Male ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Female ; Aged ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/physiopathology* ; Middle Aged ; Yin-Yang ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Acupuncture Points ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the causal relationship between gut microbiota and pigmented villonodular synovitis using Mendelian randomization analysis.Methods We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate the causal relationship between 211 gut microbiome taxa and pigmented villonodular synovitis based on GWAS summary data,with inverse variance weighted(IVW)analysis as the primary result and the other methods as supplementary analyses.The reliability of the results was tested using Cochran's Q test,MR-Egger regression,MR-PRESSO method and conditional Mendelian randomization analysis(cML-MA).Results The increased abundance of Barnesiella(OR=3.12,95%CI:1.15-8.41,P=0.025)and Rumatococcaceae UCG010(OR=4.03,95%CI:1.19-13.68,P=0.025)may increase the risk of pigmented villous nodular synovitis,and elevated abundance of Lachnospiraceae(OR=0.33,95%CI:0.12-0.91,P=0.032),Alistipes(OR=0.16,95%CI:0.05-0.53,P=0.003),Blautia(OR=0.20,95%CI:0.06-0.61,P=0.005),and Lachnospiraceae FCS020 group(OR=0.38,95%CI:0.15-0.94,P=0.036)and Ruminococcaceae UCG014(OR=0.36,95%CI:0.14-0.94,P=0.037)were all associated with a reduced risk of pigmented villonodular synovitis,which were supported by the results of sensitivity analyses.Reverse Mendelian randomization analysis did not reveal any inverse causal association.Conclusion Increased abundance of specific intestinal microorganisms is associated with increased or decreased risks of developing hyperpigmented villonodular synovitis,and gut microbiota plays an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease.

Objective To investigate the causal relationship between gut microbiota and pigmented villonodular synovitis using Mendelian randomization analysis.Methods We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate the causal relationship between 211 gut microbiome taxa and pigmented villonodular synovitis based on GWAS summary data,with inverse variance weighted(IVW)analysis as the primary result and the other methods as supplementary analyses.The reliability of the results was tested using Cochran's Q test,MR-Egger regression,MR-PRESSO method and conditional Mendelian randomization analysis(cML-MA).Results The increased abundance of Barnesiella(OR=3.12,95%CI:1.15-8.41,P=0.025)and Rumatococcaceae UCG010(OR=4.03,95%CI:1.19-13.68,P=0.025)may increase the risk of pigmented villous nodular synovitis,and elevated abundance of Lachnospiraceae(OR=0.33,95%CI:0.12-0.91,P=0.032),Alistipes(OR=0.16,95%CI:0.05-0.53,P=0.003),Blautia(OR=0.20,95%CI:0.06-0.61,P=0.005),and Lachnospiraceae FCS020 group(OR=0.38,95%CI:0.15-0.94,P=0.036)and Ruminococcaceae UCG014(OR=0.36,95%CI:0.14-0.94,P=0.037)were all associated with a reduced risk of pigmented villonodular synovitis,which were supported by the results of sensitivity analyses.Reverse Mendelian randomization analysis did not reveal any inverse causal association.Conclusion Increased abundance of specific intestinal microorganisms is associated with increased or decreased risks of developing hyperpigmented villonodular synovitis,and gut microbiota plays an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease.

Objective To delve into the causal relationship between 211 gut microbiota and sepsis employing bidirectional Mendelian randomization(MR).Methods The gut microbiota genome-wide association study(GWAS)data from the Microbiome Genetics Consortium(MiBioGen,n = 18 340)and sepsis GWAS data from the FinnGen(n = 286 146)were harnessed for this study.Initially,single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP)significantly associated with the relative abundance of 211 gut microbiota taxa were identified as instrumental variables using predefined selection criteria.The primary analytical approach was characterized by the application of inverse variance weighting(IVW),with the effect measure represented by the odds ratio(OR)to assess the results of MR.To ensure precision and reliability,analyses were conducted,including leave-one-out analysis,heterogeneity testing,and tests for pleiotropy at both coherent and incoherent levels.Results The increased risk of sepsis was associated with the elevated abundance of Collinsella[OR = 1.28,95%confidence interval(95%CI)was 1.06-1.56,P = 0.01]and Ruminococcus(OR = 1.19,95%CI was 1.05-1.35,P = 0.005).Furthermore,a protective effect against the development of sepsis was observed in association with the increased abundance of Prevotella(OR = 0.88,95%CI was 0.79-0.97,P = 0.01)and Firmicutes(OR = 0.86,95%CI was 0.75-0.996,P = 0.04).No obvious heterogeneity and irrelevant level pleiotropy were detected.Conclusion Collinsella and Ruminococcus increase the risk of sepsis,while Prevotella and Firmicutes have protective effects against sepsis.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of esketamine for patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) in elderly patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer.Methods:Ninety elderly female patients, aged 65-78 yr, weighing 46-75 kg, of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅱ or Ⅲ, undergoing elective modified radical surgery for breast cancer under general anesthesia, were divided into 2 groups ( n=45 each) using a random number table method: esketamine PCIA group (group E) and sufentanil PCIA group (group S). Anesthesia was induced with target-controlled infusion of propofol, intravenous atracurium besylate and sufentanil and maintained with target-controlled infusion of propofol and remifentanil and intermittent intravenous boluses of cis-benzenesulfonic acid atracurium.The patients were connected to an analgesic pump for PCIA at 10 min before completion of operation.The PCIA solution in group E contained esketamine 2 mg/kg, ketorolac tromethamine 90 mg and tropisetron 5 mg in 100 ml of normal saline.The PCIA solution in group S contained sufentanil 1 μg/kg, ketorolac tromethamine 90 mg and tropisetron 5 mg in 100 ml of normal saline.The PCA pump was set up with a 1.5 ml bolus dose, a 15 min lockout interval and background infusion at a rate of 1.5 ml/h, and the analgesia was performed until 48 h after operation.When numeric rating scale score ≥ 4 points and the efficacy of patient-controlled analgesia was not good, tramadol 100 mg was intravenously injected for rescue analgesia.Steward recovery scores were recorded at 4, 8, 24 and 48 h after operation.The requirement for rescue analgesia, effective pressing times of analgesic pump and time to first flatus were recorded within 48 h after operation.The nausea and vomiting, respiratory depression, dizziness and pruritus within 48 h after operation and delirium within 7 days after operation were recorded.The 40-item Quality of-Recovery scale was used to evaluate the early postoperative recovery of patients at 24 and 48 h after operation. Results:Compared with group S, the 40-item Quality of Recovery scale score was significantly increased at each time point, postoperative time to first flatus was shortened, the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting and pruritus was decreased ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the Steward recovery score at each time point after operation, effective pressing times of PCA and requirement for rescue analgesia in group E ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Esketamine provides better efficacy than sufentanil when used for PCIA in elderly patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer.

Iron (Fe) is an important trace element involved in many important plant physiological and metabolic processes such as photosynthesis, respiration and nitrogen metabolism. Plants maintain iron homeostasis through absorption, transporting, storage and redistribution of iron. Iron metabolism is strictly regulated in plants. Iron regulatory transcription factors and iron transporters constitute the regulatory network of plant iron absorption and transport in plants. Ferritin and iron transporter jointly regulate the response to excess iron in plants. In recent years, important progress has been made in understanding how abscisic acid (ABA) regulates iron metabolism in plants. ABA may be used as a signal to regulate the absorption, transportation and reuse of Fe, or to relieve the symptoms of iron stress by regulating the oxidative stress responses in plants. In order to gain deeper insights into the crosstalk of ABA and iron metabolism in plants, this review summarized the mechanisms of iron absorption and transport and metabolic regulatory network in plants, as well as the mechanisms of ABA in regulating iron metabolism. The relationship between ABA and FER-like iron deficiency-induced transcription factor (FIT), iron-regulated transporter 1 (IRT1), and oxidative stress of iron deficiency were highlighted, and future research directions were prospected.
Abscisic Acid/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Homeostasis ; Iron/metabolism* ; Plants/metabolism* ; Transcription Factors/metabolism*

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of sugammadex for the reversal of residual neuromuscular blockade after laparoscopic radical gastrectomy in elderly patients.Methods:Sixty patients of both sexes, aged 65-85 yr, with body mass index of 20-26 kg/m 2, of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ-Ⅲ, undergoing elective laparoscopic radical gastrectomy under general anesthesia, were divided into 2 groups ( n=30 each) by a random number table method: sugammadex group (S group) and neostigmine group (N group). Rocuronium 0.3-0.6 mg·kg -1·h -1 was intravenously infused during operation, and the muscle relaxation was monitored by a Veryark-TOF monitor, maintaining TOF ratio=0 and counting 1 or 2 after tonic stimulation.Rocuronium was discontinued when the peritoneum was closed.The patients were admitted to the PACU after operation.When the muscle relaxation monitoring T 2 appeared, sugammadex 2 mg/kg was intravenously injected in S group, and neostigmine 0.03 mg/kg plus atropine 0.015 mg/kg was intravenously injected in N group.The tracheal tube was removed after the patient′s consciousness and spontaneous breathing recovered.Before anesthesia (T 1) and 5 and 30 min after tracheal extubation (T 2, 3), arterial blood samples were collected for blood gas analysis, PaO 2 and PaCO 2 were recorded, and ultrasound was used to measure the diaphragm end-inspiratory thickness, end-expiratory thickness and mobility of diaphragm muscle at the above time points.The diaphragm thickening fraction was calculated.The time of T 2 appeared, time of extubation, time of postanesthesia care unit (PACU) stay, postoperative hospital stay, and residual neuromuscular blockade (TOF ratio <0.9) and hypoxemia occurred within 30 min after extubation were recorded.The pulmonary complications within 7 days after operation were recorded. Results:Compared with group N, PaO 2 was significantly increased and PaCO 2 was decreased at T 2, 3, the mobility of diaphragm muscle and diaphragm thickening fraction were increased at T 2, the tracheal extubation time, time of PACU stay and postoperative hospital stay were shortened, the residual neuromuscular blockade and hypoxemia occurred after extubation and incidence of pulmonary complications after operation were decreased ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the time of T 2 appeared in group S ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Sugammadex can quickly and effectively reverse the residual neuromuscular blockade after laparoscopic radical gastrectomy, which is helpful for early postoperative recovery in elderly patients.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of operation duration on the pharmacokinetics of desflurane in the patients undergoing tumor resection.Methods:One hundred and fifty patients of both sexes, aged 18-75 yr, with body mass index of 19-25 kg/m 2, of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ, in whom abnormal preoperative lung function was not found, undergoing elective surgery with general anesthesia from November 2019 to March 2020, were enrolled in this study.Anesthesia was induced with intravenous injection of sufentanil 0.3 μg/kg, cisatracurium besylate 0.2 mg/kg and propofol 2 mg/kg.The patients were tracheally intubated after mechanical ventilation.Anesthesia was maintained with inhalation of desflurane, the vaporizer dial was adjusted to 6% with fresh gas flow rate of 2 L/min, and sufentanil and cisatracurium besylate were intermittently injected intravenously according to the changes in hemodynamics and degree of muscle relaxation during operation.The duration required for the end-tidal concentration of desflurane reaching 0.5 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC), time when the ratio of the end-tidal concentration of desflurane to the pre-set concentration of the vaporizer reached 1/2, time when the ratio of the end-tidal concentration of desflurane to the inhaled concentration reached 1/2, time for the end-tidal concentration of desflurane to decrease to 0.5 MAC and time for the end-tidal concentration to decrease from 0.5 MAC to 0.2 MAC immediately after closing the volatile tank were recorded.The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the operation time: operation time <2 h group (group S), operation time 2-4 h group (group M), and operation time >4 h group (group L). Results:There were no significant differences among the 3 groups in the duration required for the end-tidal concentration of desflurane reaching 0.5 MAC, time when the ratio of the end-tidal concentration of desflurane to the pre-set concentration of the vaporizer reached 1/2, time when the ratio of the end-tidal concentration of desflurane to the inhaled concentration reached 1/2, time for the end-tidal concentration of desflurane to decrease to 0.5 MAC and time for the end-tidal concentration to decrease from 0.5 MAC to 0.2 MAC immediately after closing the vaporizer ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Operation duration does not affect the pharmacokinetics of desflurane in the patients undergoing tumor resection.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of remimazolam pretreatment on brain injury following thalamic hemorrhage in mice.Methods:Sixty clean-grade healthy adult CD1 male mice, weighing 25-30 g, aged 7-8 weeks, were divided into 3 groups ( n=20 each) by using a random number table method: sham operation group (Sham group), brain injury group (BI group) and remimazolam pretreatment group (Rem group). Remimazolam 25 mg/kg was intravenously injected via the tail vein in group Rem.and the equal volume of normal saline was given instead in Sham group and BI group.Ten min later, type Ⅳ collagenase 0.01 U/10 nl was microinjected into unilateral ventroposterolateral nucleus and ventromedial nucleus to develop a mouse model of brain jury induced by thalamic hemorrhage.The rats were sacrificed at 6 h after developing the model, brain tissues were taken for measurement of the wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio, and hippocampal tissues were taken and stained with haematoxylin and eosin for determination of the count of the viable neurons in the hippocampal dentategyrus area, count of apoptotic neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region (by TUNEL), expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP), activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) and X-box binding protein-1 (XBP1) mRNA (by real-time polymerase chain reaction) and expression of CHOP, Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3 (by Western blot) and for microscopic examination of ultrastructure of hippocampal tissues (with a transmission electron microscope). Results:Compared with group Sham, the W/D ratio of brain tissues and count of apoptotic neurons in the hippocampal CA1 area were significantly increased, the count of viable neurons in the hippocampal dentate gyrus was decreased, the expression of CHOP, ATF4 and XBP1 mRNA in hippocampal tissues was up-regulated, the expression of CHOP, caspase-3 and Bcl-2 was up-regulated, and the expression of Bax was down-regulated in BI and Rem groups ( P<0.05). Compared with group BI, the W/D ratio of brain tissues and count of apoptotic neurons in the hippocampal CA1 area were significantly decreased, the number of viable neurons in the hippocampal dentate gyrus was increased, the expression of CHOP, ATF4 and XBP1 mRNA in hippocampal tissues was down-regulated, the expression of CHOP, caspase-3 and Bcl-2 was down-regulated, and the expression of Bax was up-regulated in group Rem ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Remimazolam pretreatment can reduce the brain injury following thalamic hemorrhage in mice, and the mechanism may be related to inhibition of cell apoptosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress in hippocampus.

Objective:To investigate the effect of postsynaptic density-95(PSD-95)on long-term learning and memory impairment in neonatal rats induced by sevoflurane anesthesia.Methods:A total of 54 SD rats aged 7 days of SPF grade were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group (exposed to air), model group (exposed to 2.1% sevoflurane, 4 h/d, consecutive 3 days) and PSD-95 inhibitor group (inhaled sevoflurane+ intraperitoneal injection NA-1, consecutive 5 days), with 18 rats in each group.Morris water maze test and new object recognition test were used to detect the ability of visuospatial learning and memory and recognition memory of rats in each group.RT-qPCR was used to detect the mRNA levels of kalirin, Rac1 and PSD-95 in rat hippocampus.The expressions of kalirin, Rac1, PSD-95 and apoptosis related proteins Caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax in rat hippocampus were detected by Western blot.The expression levels of kalirin and Rac1 in hippocampus were detected by immunohistochemistry.SPSS 23.0 software was used for statistical analysis.Repeated measurement ANOVA and one-way ANOVA was used for comparing among groups.Results:Repeated measurement ANOVA showed that in the water maze test, the interaction between time and group of platform seeking latency and swimming distance of the three groups were significant ( Ftime×group=36.539, 41.548, both P<0.01). Simple effect analysis showed that the platform latency and swimming distance in the model group from day 2 to 6 were longer than those in the control group (platform latency from day 2 to 6: t=14.039, 17.147, 13.155, 13.831, 27.247, all P<0.01; swimming distance from day 2 to 6: t=10.122, 20.987, 7.267, 10.011, 8.121, all P<0.01). Compared with the model group, from day 2 to 6, the platform latencies of PSD-95 inhibitor group were prolonged( t=7.948, 14.768, 11.582, 12.832, 24.346, all P<0.01) and the swimming distances were increased( t=8.235, 24.325, 11.234, 12.031, 7.036, all P<0.01). The new object recognition test found that the new object exploration time in the model group was significantly longer than that in the control group ((21.30±2.27)s, (19.21±1.42)s, t=1.843, P<0.01), and the new object exploration time in the PSD-95 inhibitor group was significantly longer than that in the model group ((26.83±2.13)s, t=4.844, P<0.01). The difference index of novel objects in the model group was significantly lower than that in the control group ((0.41±0.12), (0.59±0.10), t=3.416, P<0.01), and the difference index of novel objects in the PSD-95 inhibitor group was significantly lower than that in the model group ((0.37±0.08), t=0.696, P<0.05). The qRT-PCR results showed that the expressions of Rac1, kalirin and PSD-95 mRNA in the model group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t=9.969, 3.954, 6.561, P<0.05), and the expressions of Rac1, kalirin and PSD-95 mRNA in the PSD-95 inhibitor group were significantly lower than those of the model group ( t=2.132, 2.251, 3.502, all P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry results showed that the kalirin in the hippocampus CA1 area of the model group was significantly lower than that in the control group((8.18±1.94) vs (15.47±3.35), t=11.47, P<0.01), and kalirin in the PSD-95 inhibitor group was significantly lower than that in the model group((4.98±1.53), t=10.28, P<0.01); Rac1 in the model group was significantly lower than that in the control group ((3.72±1.53), (8.17±2.91), t=6.76, P<0.01), and the Rac1 in the PSD-95 inhibitor group(2.73±0.37) was significantly lower than the model group ( t=4.72, P<0.05). Western blot results showed that Caspase-3((1.37±0.16) vs (0.54±0.01), t=5.71, P<0.01) and Bax((1.87±0.31) vs (1.23±0.25), t=12.01, P<0.01) protein levels in the model group were significantly higher than those in the control group.Caspase-3 and Bax protein levels in the PSD-95 inhibitor group were significantly higher than those in model group (Caspase-3: (1.79±0.17), t=9.87, P<0.01; Bax: (2.19±0.21), t=16.19, P<0.01). The Bcl-2 protein level in the model group was significantly lower than that of the control group ((1.22±0.21) vs (1.96±0.38), t=11.92, P<0.01). And the Bcl-2 protein level in the PSD-95 inhibitor group (1.01±0.19) was significantly lower than that in the model group ( t=10.73, P<0.01). Conclusion:Sevoflurane anesthesia can damage the long-term learning and memory function and reduce the expression of PSD95 protein in neonatal rats.Inhibiting the expression of PSD95 can aggravate this damage, which may be related to the synaptic plasticity and apoptosis of neurons involved in PSD95.