This paper comprehensively discusses on the potential neurobiological mechanisms of acupuncture in the treatment of tobacco dependence， focusing on three important aspects， including acupuncture's regulation of tobacco dependence behavior， effects of acupuncture on withdrawal syndrome， and the role of acupuncture in preventing relapse. It is found that acupuncture can inhibit drug-seeking behavior by regulating the reward pathway and related neurons， such as dopamine， thus modulating tobacco dependence behavior. It also alleviates withdrawal symptoms by improving the oral environment of smokers and reducing negative emotions after quitting. Furthermore， acupuncture can prevent relapse by decreasing brain network activity related to smoking cravings and improving cognitive brain functions like addiction memory. Currently， research on the specific neurobiological mechanism of acupuncture in treating tobacco dependence and the involved neural circuits is limited. Future research directions are proposed， including the evaluation of clinical effects， exploration of specific therapeutic mechanisms， investigation of brain pathology， and strengthening the exploration of brain functions. Additionally， combining modern technologies to clarify the neural circuits involved in acupuncture intervention will provide a basis for acupuncture treatment of tobacco addiction.

Objective We aimed to explore the clinical efficacy of precise electro-acupuncture stimulation in the pterygopalatine fossa for the treatment of chronic sinusitis.Methods In total,40 patients with chronic sinusitis who visited the Xiyuan Hospital,China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences between January 2022 and January 2023 were selected.The subjects were randomly divided into two groups:the treatment group(receiving precise electro-acupuncture in the pterygopalatine fossa)and the control group(receiving standard western medical treatment),with 20 cases in each groups.The treatments were administered twice a week for a period of 12 weeks.The effectiveness of the treatments was evaluated through computed tomography(CT)of the sinus changes and the Lund-Mackay scoring system.Results In cases of total opacity and partial opacity,there were significant differences between the two patient groups before and after treatment(P<0.05).Intra-group comparison revealed statistically significant improvements in both groups before and after treatment(P<0.05).The treatment group exhibited significant improvement in various sinus conditions(P<0.05),while in the control group,a significant improvement was only observed in the left maxillary sinus(P<0.05).Inter-group comparison also demonstrated that the treatment group's improvements were superior to those of the control group across multiple indicators(P<0.05).Conclusion The precise electro-acupuncture stimulation technique in the pterygopalatine fossa demonstrated significant therapeutic effects in the treatment of chronic sinusitis,with superior outcomes with respect to radiological changes compared to standard western medicine treatment.

Humans ; Heparin/therapeutic use* ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Respiratory System ; Respiratory Insufficiency

Ultra-rapid cooling and rewarming rate is a critical technical approach to achieve ice-free cells during the freezing and melting process. A set of ultra-rapid solid surface freeze-thaw visualization system was developed based on a sapphire flim, and experiments on droplet freeze-thaw were carried out under different cryoprotectant components, volumes and laser energies. The results showed that the cooling rate of 1 μL mixed cryoprotectant [1.5 mol/L propylene glycol (PG) + 1.5 mol/L ethylene glycol (EG) + 0.5 mol/L trehalose (TRE)] could be 9.2×10 ³ °C/min. The volume range of 1-8 μL droplets could be vitrified. After comparing the proportions of multiple cryoprotectants, the combination of equal proportion mixed permeability protectant and trehalose had the best vitrification freezing effect and more uniform crystallization characteristics. During the rewarming operation, the heating curve of glassy droplets containing gold nanoparticles was measured for the first time under the action of 400-1 200 W laser power, and the rewarming rate was up to the order of 10 ⁶ °C/min. According to the droplet images of different power rewarming processes, the laser power range for ice-free rewarming with micron-level resolution was clarified to be 1 400-1 600 W. The work of this paper simultaneously realizes the ultra-high-speed temperature ramp-up, transient visual observation and temperature measurement of droplets, providing technical means for judging the ice free droplets during the freeze-thaw process. It is conducive to promoting the development of ultra-rapid freeze-thaw technology for biological cells and tissues.
Freezing ; Vitrification ; Cryopreservation/methods* ; Trehalose ; Gold ; Rewarming ; Metal Nanoparticles ; Cryoprotective Agents ; Lasers

Chinese medicinal materials are the basis for the inheritance and development of traditional Chinese medicine,as well as strategic resources related to the national economy and people's livelihood.In 2015,12 departments,including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology,and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine,jointly formulated the Plan for the Protection and Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine(2015-2020)(hereinafter referred to as the Plan),focusing on seven major construction tasks for the protection and development of traditional Chinese medicine.Through the summary and evaluation of the Plan,it can be seen that the overall development goals and 7 specific indicators have been achieved by 2020.It has been focused on solving the problems of the loss and depletion of some wild Chinese medicinal materials resources and the shortage of Chinese medicinal materials supply.Promoting to alleviate the problems,including the abuse of chemical fertilizers,pesticides,and growth regulators.The extensive production and management of Chinese medicinal materials,as well as the poor exchange of supply and demand information were effectively improved.On the whole,the development and protection of Chinese medicinal materials were promoted.Moreover,the dependence on wild Chinese medicinal materials was reduced through scientific development of Chinese medicinal materials production.And the sustainable development of the Chinese medicinal materials industry was coordinated with the protection of the ecological environment.However,there were still some problems and deficiencies,such as a lack of accurate information guidance,an incomplete price formation mechanism,and an incomplete whole-process traceability system of Chinese medicinal materials.It is suggested that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period,we should continuously strengthen the protection and sustainable development of traditional Chinese medicine resources,and build a new development pattern for traditional Chinese medicine industry based on the new development concept and requirement.

OBJECTIVE To reveal the role of the basal forebrain(BF)GABAergic neurons in the regulation of isoflurane anesthesia and to elucidate the underlying neural pathways.METHODS The activity of BF GABAer-gic neurons was monitored during isoflurane anesthesia using a genetically encoded calcium indicator in Vgat-Cre mice of both sexes.The activity of BF GABAer-gic neurons was manipulated by chemogenetic and opto-genetic approaches.Sensitivity,induction time and emer-gence time of isoflurane anesthesia were estimated by righting reflex.The electroencephalogram(EEG)power and burst-suppression were monitored by EEG recording.The effects of activation of GABAergic BF-thalamic reticu-lar nucleus(TRN)pathway on isoflurane anesthesia were investigated with optogenetics.RESULTS The activity of BF GABAergic neurons was generally inhibited during isoflurane anesthesia,obviously decreased during the induction of anesthesia and gradually restored during the emergence from anesthesia.Activation of BF GABAergic neurons with chemogenetics and optogenetics promoted behavioral emergence from isoflurane anesthesia,with decreased sensitivity to isoflurane,delayed induction and accelerated emergence from isoflurane anesthesia.Optogenetic activation of BF GABAergic neurons prom-oted cortical activity during isoflurane anesthesia,with decreased EEG delta power and burst suppression ratio during 0.8%and 1.4%isoflurane anesthesia,respectively.Similar to the effects of activating BF GABAergic cell bod-ies,photostimulation of BF GABAergic terminals in the TRN also strongly promoted cortical activation and behav-ioral emergence from isoflurane anesthesia.CONCLU-SION The GABAergic neurons in the BF is a key neural substrate for general anesthesia regulation that facilitates behavioral and cortical emergence from general anesthe-sia via the BF-TRN pathway.

Objective:To provide reference for establishing the testing method for quality control of neutron beam in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) equipment in China by testing the radiation characteristic parameters and dosimetry characteristic parameters of epithermal neutron beam in hospital neutron irradiator (IHNI).Methods:By comparing the uncertainties in the result of various test items with the deviation values recommended by the European Joint Research Center (EC-JRC), the feasibility of the relevant of testing method was analyzed and evaluated.Results:The uncertainty in epithermal neutron fluence rate was 2.7%. The uncertainty in ratio of thermal to epithermal neutron fluence rate was 3.1%. The uncertainty in ratio of fast neutron air kerma to epithermal neutron fluence rate was 9.3%. The uncertainty in ratio of gamma air kerma to epithermal neutron fluence rate was 8.7%. The uncertainty in spatial distribution of neutron fluence rate was 2.7%. The uncertainty in thermal neutron fluence rate in phantom was 1.8%. The uncertainty in neutron and gamma-ray dose rate in phantom was 17.1% and 4.0%, respectively.Conclusions:The uncertainty in neutron dose rate measurement result in phantom is higher, and further research is needed to improve the accuracy of the testing method. The uncertainty in the measurement result of other test items is lower, and the accuracy of the test result is expected to meet the allowable deviation value recommended by the European Joint Research Center, and the test method is feasible.

There are more than 70 species of flaviviruses, including Zika virus, Dengue virus and Japanese encephalitis virus, and more than 33 species are known to be capable of infecting humans. Only three flavivirus vaccines have been approved, and there is a lack of safe and effective vaccines for most flaviviruses. Adenovirus-vectored vaccines have high safety, low cost, and convenience to store and transport. Currently, two adenovirus-vectored Zika vaccines are under early clinical trials, and adenovirus-vectored vaccines for Dengue virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, West Nile virus and yellow fever virus are still in the phase of animal experiment. In the development of adenovirus-vectored flavivirus vaccines, there are still problems of pre-existing immunity to adenovirus, the insufficient immunogenicity of adenovirus vectors and the antibody-dependent enhancement effects among flavivirus. Based on relevant publications from January 2006 to June 2023, this article reviews the current status, challenges and solutions of the research into adenovirus-vectored flavivirus vaccines, so as to provide the reference for the development of relevant vaccines.

ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of avian influenza viruses in the external environment of poultry in Anqing City， Anhui Province， and provide scientific evidence for prevention and control of animal-derived influenza in humans. MethodsA total of 28 farmers’ markets/farms in 10 counties （cities， districts） of Anqing City， Anhui Province， were selected as surveillance sites by simple random sampling strategy. Poultry faeces and other related samples were collected for 6 consecutive weeks. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to examine the nucleic acids of influenza A virus. Subtypes H5， H7， and H9 of avian influenza virus were further tested in the positive samples. ResultsA total of 426 specimens were collected， among which 113 tested positive with a positive rate of 26.53%. Among the positive specimens， 104 were determined to be subtype H9， accounting for 92.04%. It did not significantly differ in the positive rate between the main and non-main urban areas （χ²<0.01， P>0.05） or among the specimens collected in different weeks （χ²=7.57， P>0.05）. However， it significantly differed in the positive rate among the specimens collected in the third week and other weeks （χ²=6.89， P<0.05）. Furthermore， among the different sampling sites， farms had the highest positive rate of 46.67%. Among the specimens from different sources， the surface-coated specimens from poultry cages had the highest positive rate of 34.78%. ConclusionAvian influenza viruses are prevalent in the external environment of poultry in Anqing City. It warrants strengthening the surveillance and risk assessment to reduce the virus transmission in the external environment and risk of human infection with animal-derived influenza.

  Objective  To discuss the significance of genetic diagnosis of children with syndromic hearing loss by using whole-exome sequencing.  Methods  The clinical data of 34 children with sensorineural hearing loss were collected and the whole exons of genome of the children and their parents were sequenced and analyzed.  Results  Genetic causative gene and mutations have been identified in 19 children, including 4 genes (HARS2, USH2A, GATA3, MITF) related to rare syndromic hearing loss. Fifteen children were diagnosed with non-syndromic hearing loss related gene, including 8 cases with GJB2 mutation, 5 cases with SLC26A4 mutation and 2 cases with MYO15A mutation. Mutations of c.435_437del(p.K147del) and c.1403G > C (p.G468A) in gene HARS2, c.11389+1del in gene USH2A, c.1327delA(p.M443Wfs*33) in gene GATA3, c.627C > A(p.C209X) in gene MITF and c.8033_8057delinsG(p.N2678_D2686delinsS) in gene MYO15A were first reported.  Conclusions  Whole-exome sequencing helps the accurate diagnosis of causes of hearing loss, especially for the rare syndromic hearing loss with atypical clinical manifestations. Information from genetic testing may highlight further recommended exams of structure and functions of related organs.