1.Effect of auricular therapy on sleep improvement and the GABAergic system pathway in an insomnia rat model
Hao CHEN ; Xifen ZHANG ; Xuesong WANG ; Yuanbo GAO ; Xuxin LI ; Xihui ZHENG ; Yu WANG ; Xiaojun ZHENG ; Haiping LI ; Yanfen SHE
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(1):138-148
Objective:
To investigate the effect of auricular therapy on sleep improvement and the GABAergic system pathway in a rat model of insomnia and to explore its possible mechanism.
Methods:
According to the random number table, 60 male SD rats were randomly divided into blank control, model, auricular point sticking, auricular bloodletting, and auricular bloodletting combined with sticking groups, with 12 rats per group. Insomnia was induced by intraperitoneal injection of p-chlorophenylalanine. After establishing the insomnia model, 36 rats were treated once a day with auricular point sticking or bloodletting for 5 consecutive days. After the intervention, the general condition and body weight of rats were observed; the righting reflex test was used to detect the sleep latency and duration; HE staining was used to observe the morphology of hypothalamic neuron cells; and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the GABA and glutamate content in rat serum. Immunohistochemistry(IHC) and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR were used to detect GABA ARα1 and GABA ARγ2 protein and mRNA expression in the hypothalamus of rats, and Western blotting(WB) was used to detect GABA ARα1, GABA ARγ2, GAD65/67, GAT-1, and GABA-T protein expression in the hypothalamus of rats.
Results:
Compared with the blank control group, the model group had a lower body weight, a significantly shorter sleep duration (P<0.05), severe damage to the morphological structure of hypothalamic neurons with disordered cell arrangement, larger intercellular gaps, enlarged cell bodies, and a vacuolated appearance. All the intervention groups had significantly higher body weight and longer sleep duration than the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the other intervention groups, the auricular point sticking group had a longer sleep duration (P<0.05), and the hypothalamic neuron cells in all intervention groups improved, with the auricular point sticking group showing more apparent improvement. The model group had a lower GABA and higher glutamate contents, and GABA ARα1, GABA ARγ2, and GAD65/67 protein expression in the hypothalamus were lower than in the blank control group. In contrast, GAT-1 and GABA-T protein expression was higher, and GABA ARα1 and GABA ARγ2 mRNA expression was lower (P<0.05). The serum GABA content in the auricular point sticking and auricular bloodletting groups was higher, and the serum glutamate content in the auricular point sticking and auricular bloodletting combined sticking groups was lower than in the model group. GABA ARα1 mRNA expression in the hypothalamus of each intervention group was significantly increased, and GABA ARγ2 mRNA expression in the hypothalamus of the auricular point sticking and auricular bloodletting combined sticking groups increased. GABA ARα1(IHC, WB), GABA ARγ2(WB), and GAD65/67 protein expression in the hypothalamus of the auricular point sticking group increased, whereas GAT-1 and GABA-T protein expression decreased. GABA ARα1 and GABA ARγ2 protein expression(IHC, WB) in the hypothalamus of the auricular bloodletting group increased, whereas GABA-T protein expression decreased. GABA ARγ1(IHC) and GABA ARγ2(WB) protein expression in the hypothalamus of the auricular bloodletting combined sticking group increased, whereas GAT-1 and GABA-T protein expression decreased (P<0.05). Compared with in the inventation groups, the serum GABA content in the auricular point sticking group increased, the serum glutamate content decreased, GABA ARα1 and GABA ARγ2 mRNA expression in the hypothalamus increased, and GABA ARα1(IHC), GAD65/67 protein expression increased. In contrast, GABA-T protein expression decreased (P<0.05), and GABA ARγ2 protein expression(IHC) in the hypothalamus of the auricular bloodletting group increased (P<0.05).
Conclusion
Auricular therapy, particularly auricular point sticking, may have modulated the GABAergic system pathway by upregulating hypothalamic GABA ARα1, GABA ARγ2, and GAD65/67 protein expression while downregulating GAT-1 and GABA-T protein expression to alleviate symptoms in an insomnia rat model.
2.Pathways Related to Osteoporosis Treatment with Active Ingredients of Scutellaria Baicalensis: A Review
Jianqiang DU ; Wenxiu QIN ; Xuesong YIN ; Dan ZHAO ; Zhicheng PAN ; Qi ZHANG ; Enpeng GU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(7):325-330
With the aging of the global population, osteoporosis (OP) is becoming a major public health concern worldwide. Currently, the commonly used anti-osteoporosis drugs in clinical practice have limited application due to many side effects. Therefore, developing more effective and safer strategies for the prevention and treatment of OP has become a research focus in this field. In recent years, the clinical efficacy and advantages of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in treating OP have been gradually recognized. With the deepening pharmacological research on TCM for OP prevention and treatment, it is found that the active ingredients of Scutellaria baicalensis can promote bone formation or inhibit bone resorption by regulating signaling pathways, including Wnt/β-catenin, osteoprotegerin (OB)/receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)/RANK (OPG/RANKL/RANK), and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2)/Smad, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). However, existing research on active ingredients of S. baicalensis for OP treatment is scattered, making it difficult for scholars to gain a systematic understanding of its research and application. This review summarized the literature on the active ingredients of S. baicalensis in OP treatment worldwide, clarified their mechanisms of action, and explored some issues, providing references for the integration of TCM in OP prevention and treatment.
3.Pathways Related to Osteoporosis Treatment with Active Ingredients of Scutellaria Baicalensis: A Review
Jianqiang DU ; Wenxiu QIN ; Xuesong YIN ; Dan ZHAO ; Zhicheng PAN ; Qi ZHANG ; Enpeng GU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(7):325-330
With the aging of the global population, osteoporosis (OP) is becoming a major public health concern worldwide. Currently, the commonly used anti-osteoporosis drugs in clinical practice have limited application due to many side effects. Therefore, developing more effective and safer strategies for the prevention and treatment of OP has become a research focus in this field. In recent years, the clinical efficacy and advantages of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in treating OP have been gradually recognized. With the deepening pharmacological research on TCM for OP prevention and treatment, it is found that the active ingredients of Scutellaria baicalensis can promote bone formation or inhibit bone resorption by regulating signaling pathways, including Wnt/β-catenin, osteoprotegerin (OB)/receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)/RANK (OPG/RANKL/RANK), and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2)/Smad, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). However, existing research on active ingredients of S. baicalensis for OP treatment is scattered, making it difficult for scholars to gain a systematic understanding of its research and application. This review summarized the literature on the active ingredients of S. baicalensis in OP treatment worldwide, clarified their mechanisms of action, and explored some issues, providing references for the integration of TCM in OP prevention and treatment.
4.Study on surface microcirculation sensitization of acupuncture points related to cold coagulation and stasis syndrome in primary dysmenorrhea
Xuxin LI ; Xuesong WANG ; Miao LIN ; Mingjian ZHANG ; Yuanbo GAO ; Xifen ZHANG ; Hao CHEN ; Haiping LI ; Xiaojun ZHENG ; Xisheng FAN ; Jun LIU ; Juncha ZHANG ; Yanfen SHE
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(2):253-269
Objective:
To assess the dynamic changes of microcirculation at acupoints in patients with primary dysmenorrhea and cold congelation and blood stasis syndrome using laser speckle blood flow imaging.
Methods:
Patients with primary dysmenorrhea and cold coagulation and blood stasis syndrome (primary dysmenorrhea group, n=53) and healthy female college students(control group, n=57) who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria from October 2020 to July 2022 were enrolled at Hebei University of Chinese Medicine. On the premenstrual and first day of menstruation, a laser speckle blood flow imaging system was used to measure the microcirculation blood flow perfusion on the surface of acupoints related to the conception, thoroughfare, and governor vessels, and stomach, spleen, and bladder meridians in the abdomen and lumbosacral regions. The dynamic changes in microcirculation were calculated based on the difference in average blood flow perfusion at each acupoint before and after menstruation. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis was used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of dynamic changes in microcirculation on the surface of each acupoint. The microcirculation sensitization rate of acupoints was calculated.
Results:
Compared with the control group, the dynamic changes in microcirculation at the following acupoints in the primary dysmenorrhea group were increased (P<0.05): conception vessel (Yinjiao[CV7], Qihai[CV6], Shimen[CV5], Guanyuan[CV4]); left thoroughfare vessel (left Huangshu[KI16], left Zhongzhu[KI15], left Siman[KI14], left Qixue[KI13], left Dahe[KI12], left Henggu[KI11]); left stomach meridian (left Tianshu[ST25], left Wailing[ST26], left Qichong[ST30]); left spleen meridian (left Daheng[SP15], left Fujie[SP14]); right thoroughfare vessel (right Huangshu[KI16], right Zhongzhu[KI15], right Siman[KI14], right Qixue[KI13], right Dahe[KI12], right Henggu[KI11]); right stomach meridian (right Wailing[ST26], right Daju[ST27], right Shuidao[ST28], right Guilai[ST29], right Qichong[ST30]); and right spleen meridian (right Fujie[SP14]). The area under the ROC curve of conception vessel (Yinjiao[CV7], Qihai[CV6], Shimen[CV5], Guanyuan[CV4]), thoroughfare vessel (right Siman[KI14], left Huangshu[KI16], right Qixue[KI13], right Zhongzhu[KI15], right Dahe[KI12], left Zhongzhu[KI15], left Siman[KI14], right Huangshu[KI16], left Qixue[KI13], right Henggu[KI11], left Henggu[KI11], left Dahe[KI12]); stomach meridian (left Tianshu[ST25], right Guilai[ST29], left Wailing[ST26], right Shuidao[ST28], right Daju[ST27], right Wailing[ST26], right Qichong[ST30], left Qichong[ST30]), and spleen meridian (left Daheng[SP15], left Fujie[SP14], right Fujie[SP14]) was 0.610-0.682 (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the sensitization rate of some acupoints in the primary dysmenorrhea group increased (P<0.05).
Conclusion
With the onset of menstruation, the blood flow perfusion of some acupoints in the abdomen (thoroughfare, and conception vessels, and stomach and spleen meridians) of patients with primary dysmenorrhea and cold blood coagulation and blood stasis syndrome increased, and the status of acupoints changed from a resting state to an active state. These acupoints are sensitive in patients with primary dysmenorrhea and cold blood coagulation and blood stasis syndrome and have a certain diagnostic efficacy, providing a basis for further analyzing the efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion to treat primary dysmenorrhea with cold blood coagulation and blood stasis syndrome.
5.Construction of evaluation index system of infectious disease prevention and control ability in colleges and universities
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(3):438-442
Objective:
To construct a scientific and perfect evaluation index system of infectious disease prevention and control ability in colleges and universities, so as to provide reference tools for colleges and universities to effectively respond to infectious disease.
Methods:
The initial framework of the evaluation index system of infectious disease prevention and control ability in colleges and universities was constructed by using literature analysis method. Experts familiar with infectious disease prevention and control or school health work were selected to conduct two rounds( n =16,18) of Delphi expert consultation for determining the evaluation index system. Analytical hierarchy process was used to calculate the index weights and combined weights. About 198 prevention and control personnel were conveniently selected from 3 universities in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to comprehensively evaluate the evaluation indicators by using fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method.
Results:
After two rounds of Delphi consultation questionnaire, the effective recovery rates were 80.0% and 90.0%, the expert authority levels were 0.89 and 0.86, the expert harmony coefficients for Kendall W were 0.166 and 0.310, and the variation coefficient of each index was <0.25. Finally, the evaluation index system of infectious disease prevention and control ability of colleges and universities included 4 first level indicators, 14 second level indicators and 75 third level indicators. The weights of prevention and monitoring and early warning, organizational system guarantee, emergency management, rehabilitation and summary were 0.176, 0.476, 0.268 and 0.080, respectively. The top 3 weights of the secondary indexes were 0.623 for infectious disease surveillance and early warning, 0.595 for loss assessment and 0.370 for emergency response. The score of fuzzy comprehensive evaluation of the index system of infectious disease prevention and control ability in colleges and universities was 79.148, suggesting a high level.
Conclusion
The established evaluation index system of infectious disease prevention and control ability in colleges and universities is scientific and reasonable, which is conducive to provide tool reference for the evaluation of infectious disease prevention and control ability in colleges and universities.
6.An accurate diagnostic approach for urothelial carcinomas based on novel dual methylated DNA markers in small-volume urine.
Yucai WU ; Di CAI ; Jian FAN ; Chang MENG ; Shiming HE ; Zhihua LI ; Lianghao ZHANG ; Kunlin YANG ; Aixiang WANG ; Xinfei LI ; Yicong DU ; Shengwei XIONG ; Mancheng XIA ; Tingting LI ; Lanlan DONG ; Yanqing GONG ; Liqun ZHOU ; Xuesong LI
Chinese Medical Journal 2024;137(2):232-234
7.Targeting FAPα-positive lymph node metastatic tumor cells suppresses colorectal cancer metastasis.
Shuran FAN ; Ming QI ; Qi QI ; Qun MIAO ; Lijuan DENG ; Jinghua PAN ; Shenghui QIU ; Jiashuai HE ; Maohua HUANG ; Xiaobo LI ; Jie HUANG ; Jiapeng LIN ; Wenyu LYU ; Weiqing DENG ; Yingyin HE ; Xuesong LIU ; Lvfen GAO ; Dongmei ZHANG ; Wencai YE ; Minfeng CHEN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2024;14(2):682-697
Lymphatic metastasis is the main metastatic route for colorectal cancer, which increases the risk of cancer recurrence and distant metastasis. The properties of the lymph node metastatic colorectal cancer (LNM-CRC) cells are poorly understood, and effective therapies are still lacking. Here, we found that hypoxia-induced fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAPα) expression in LNM-CRC cells. Gain- or loss-function experiments demonstrated that FAPα enhanced tumor cell migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, stemness, and lymphangiogenesis via activation of the STAT3 pathway. In addition, FAPα in tumor cells induced extracellular matrix remodeling and established an immunosuppressive environment via recruiting regulatory T cells, to promote colorectal cancer lymph node metastasis (CRCLNM). Z-GP-DAVLBH, a FAPα-activated prodrug, inhibited CRCLNM by targeting FAPα-positive LNM-CRC cells. Our study highlights the role of FAPα in tumor cells in CRCLNM and provides a potential therapeutic target and promising strategy for CRCLNM.
8.Safety and efficacy of domestic Kangduo endoscopic robotic surgical system in lapa-roscopic partial nephrectomy
Mingxin DIAO ; Bing WANG ; Yaming GU ; Yingzhi DIAO ; Zhongyuan ZHANG ; Cheng SHEN ; Xuesong LI ; Zheng ZHANG
Journal of Modern Urology 2024;29(7):622-626
Objective To investigate the safety and efficacy of domestic Kangduo endoscopic robotic surgical system(SR1500)in laparoscopic partial nephrectomy via abdominal approach.Methods Perioperative data of 5 patients with renal tumors undergoing transabdominal partial nephrectomy with SR1500 at Miyun Hospital during Jul.and Aug.2023 were prospectively collected.The surgical procedure,operation time,pathological margins,intraoperative bleeding,hospital stay,and catheter removal time were recorded.Results The average tumor diameter was 1.92 cm,staged as T1a in TNM classification,with an average R.E.N.A.L score of 5.80.The mean docking time of equipment was 3.00 min,robotic arm operating time 97.20 min,and renal warm ischemia time 19.80 min.Postoperative pathology revealed negative surgical margins in all patients.No high-grade perioperative complications or device-related adverse events occurred.Conclusion Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy using the Kangduo endoscopic robotic surgical system(SR1500)via abdominal approach is safe and effective in the treatment of T1a renal tumors.
9.Evaluation and application of automated quality control of automatic pipeline in clinical biochemical and immunological detection
Li′an HOU ; Xuesong SHANG ; Chaochao MA ; Liangyu XIA ; Li LIU ; Ying ZHANG ; Yujun SU ; Xin LIU ; Ling QIU
Chinese Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2024;47(1):86-93
Objective:To assess the applicability of fully automatic pipeline automated testing for internal quality control (automated quality control).Methods:Stability, assay efficiency and implementation costs of 18 biochemical tests, 5 immunoturbidimetric tests and 11 chemical illuminescent tests in the Department of Laboratory Medicine of Peking Union Hospital from January 2019 to July 2022 were evaluated using automated quality control implementation methods. The detailed method is as follows: quality control materials for biochemical, immunoturbidimetric and chemiluminescent tests were stored in the refrigerator in the pipeline which was controlled by the intermediate software, and were automatically retrieved and tested as pre-set followed by documenting and storing. The quality control setup for the biochemical tests included refreshing quality control materials daily and weekly,both of which were paralleled for 3 months. The on-line storage stability of quality control materials in the pipeline was evaluated by comparing the coefficients of variation ( CV) of the quality control results between the two patterns. Effect of automated quality control application was evaluated using 6 indicators, including the results′ variation of automatically performed and manually performed quality controls, the out-of-controlled rate, the consumption of quality control materials, the change of staff workload, the impact on the testing time of the first sample, and the failure rate of automated quality control. Results:(1) Storage stability of quality control materials in the pipeline: under the pattern of weekly refresh of the biochemical quality control materials, except for total carbon dioxide (TCO 2) (the CVs of low and high level quality control were respectively 20.24% and 21.82%) and sodium (the CV of low level quality control was 1.51%) that were greater than the allowable variation set by the laboratory, the CVs of the rest tests meet the lab requirements on the allowable variations. (2) The results′ variation of quality control in automatically performed and manually performed control patterns: in the patterns of daily refresh of biochemical quality control materials and weekly refresh of immunoturbidimetric and chemiluminescent quality control materials, the CVs of both low and high levels of quality control were lower in the automatically performed control pattern than that in manually performed pattern for 8 chemiluminescent items of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, estradiol, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, serum ferritin, serum folic acid, vitamin B12 and testosterone, 3 immunologic items of complement 3, C reactive protein and immunoglobulin G, and 10 biochemical items of alkaline phosphatase, glucose, calcium, chloride, potassium, lactate dehydrogenase, sodium, urea, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and adenosine deaminase. The out-of-control rates of biochemistry, immunoturbidimetric and chemiluminescence tests in both quality control patterns conformed with the clinical routine work requirements. (3) Comparison of quality control materials′ consumption: compared with manually performed quality control, weekly consumption of automatically performed chemiluminescent quality control materials decreased 37.5% (from 8 ml to 5 ml); weekly consumption of automatically performed immunoturbidimetric quality control materials decreased 33.3% (from 3 ml to 2 ml). (4)Comparison of staff workload and first sample testing time: compared with manually performed quality control, automatical quality control reduced manual work by about 156 steps per week, and the daily initial testing time was earlier by 15 min on average. The failure rate was 54.5% (37/64) during the early-stage application of the automated quality control which dropped to 10.2% (13/128) in the late-stage. Conclusion:The results of automated quality control detected in the pipeline system meet the quality indicators′ requirements of the laboratory, and the application of automated quality control can improve the quality control, save costs, reduce workload, and improve work efficiency.
10.Acceptance test of PET/CT based on national standard and the NEMA measurement program
Xuesong SU ; Jianhua GENG ; Chaokun ZHANG ; Hao GUO ; Rong ZHENG ; Xuejuan WANG
China Medical Equipment 2024;21(2):16-22
Objective:To perform acceptance test and performance assessment for Siemens Biograph Vision 600 positron-emission tomography/computed tomography(PET/CT)according to the national health industry standard WS 817-2023.Methods:Spatial resolution,sensitivity,scatter fraction,count loss and random coincidence,correction accuracy of count loss and random coincidence,time-of-flight(TOF)resolution of the PET component within the PET/CT system were tested through the measurement program(NU2-2018)of National Electrical Manufacturers Association(NEMA),which was installed inside of the equipment,in accordance with the requirement of national health industry standard WS 817-2023.The PET/CT registration accuracy was measured through Gantry_offset acquisition program that was built into the equipment.Results:The transversely and axially spatial resolutions of Biograph Vision 600 PET/CT were respectively 3.69 mm and 4.10 mm at 1 cm away from the center of visual field,and were respectively 4.26 mm and 4.89 mm at 10 cm away from the center of visual field,and were respectively 4.68 mm and 4.89 mm at 20 cm away from the center of visual field.The sensitivity of 10 cm away from center and radial of visual field were respectively 16.12 kcps/MBq and 16.00 kcps/MBq.The peak value of noise equivalent count rate(NECR)was 281.60 kcps,and the corresponding radioactivity concentration of peak value was 30.69 kBq/ml.The NECR peak value,scatter fraction and maximum value of the error of relative count rate were respectively 38.17% and 4.0%.The TOF resolution was 209.87 ps when the radioactivity concentration was 5.3 kBq/mL.The registration accuracy values of Biograph Vision 600 PET/CT were 0.347 mm,-0.226 mm and 3.659 mm at the directions of x,y and z axis.Conclusion:It is feasible to perform the acceptance test according to the WS 817-2023 standard through uses the NEMA NU2-2018 standard measurement program that is installed inside of the equipment.The performance indicators can meet requirement of standard as the current national standard GB/T 18988.1-2013 and the health industry standard WS 817-2023 that will being implemented in the test of Biograph Vision 600 PET/CT,which can pass acceptance.


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