ObjectiveTo observe the effect of healthy side tilt training on balance function in patients with Pusher syndrome (PS) after stroke. MethodsFrom February, 2021 to November, 2023, 40 patients with PS after stroke in People's Hospital of Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture were selected. They were divided into control group (n = 20) and experimental group (n = 20) in accordance with the order of the patients' admission. The control group received comprehensive training for paralyzed limbs combined with sitting balance training, and the experimental group received comprehensive training for paralyzed limbs combined with healthy side tilt training, for three weeks. They were assessed with Burke Lateropulsion Scale (BLS), Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Balance (FMA-B) and modified Barthel Index (MBI) before and after treatment. ResultsAfter treatment, BLS score significantly decreased in both groups (t > 12.603, P < 0.001), and was lower in the experimental group than in the control group (t = -2.559, P < 0.05). The scores of FMA-B and MBI were significantly increased in both groups (|Z| > 3.941, |t| > 12.082, P < 0.001), and FMA-B score was higher in experimental group than in the control group (Z = -2.538, P < 0.05). ConclusionComprehensive training for paralyzed limbs combined with healthy side tilt training can effectively improve the balance function and postural control of patients with PS after stroke, and improve the activities of daily living.

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and risk factors of chronic kidney disease in patients with 10 years of hypertension. Methods A total of 350 patients with 10 years or longer course of hypertension who underwent physical examination in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University from June 2021 to June 2024 were selected. General information of the patients was collected through questionnaires. Renal function related indicators and imaging results were obtained through relevant laboratory tests and imaging examinations. Based on the results of renal function related indicators, the epidemiological characteristics of chronic kidney disease in hypertensive patients with 10 years of hypertension, as well as risk factors for chronic kidney disease in the hypertensive patients were identified. Results Among the 350 patients enrolled in this study, there were 71 (20.29%) with proteinuria, 32 (9.14%) with hematuria, and 40 (11.43%) with decreased renal function. A total of 80 (22.86%) cases with structural variations such as kidney stones and cysts were detected by renal B-mode ultrasound. There were 121 (34.57%) patients with hypertension and chronic kidney disease. There were statistically significant differences in gender, age, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and hyperuricemia between patients with chronic kidney disease and those without (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis results showed that gender, age, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hyperuricemia were the risk factors for chronic kidney disease in patients with hypertension (P<0.05). Conclusion Patients with 10 years of hypertension have a high risk of chronic kidney disease, and the risk factors include gender, age, diabetes, hyperuricemia, and hyperlipidemia.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of children with head and neck rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and to summarize the mid-long term efficacy of Beijing Children′s Hospital Rhabdomyosarcoma 2006 (BCH-RMS-2006) regimen and China Children′s Cancer Group Rhabdomyosarcoma 2016 (CCCG-RMS-2016) regimen.Methods:A retrospective cohort study. Clinical data of 137 children with newly diagnosed head and neck RMS at Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University from March 2013 to December 2021 were collected. Clinical characteristic of patients at disease onset and the therapeutic effects of patients treated with the BCH-RMS-2006 and CCCG-RMS-2016 regimens were compared. The treatments and outcomes of patients with recurrence were also summarized. Survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier method, and Log-Rank test was used for comparison of survival rates between groups.Results:Among 137 patients, there were 80 males (58.4%) and 57 females (41.6%), the age of disease onset was 59 (34, 97) months. The primary site in the orbital, non-orbital non-parameningeal, and parameningeal area were 10 (7.3%), 47 (34.3%), and 80 (58.4%), respectively. Of all patients, 32 cases (23.4%) were treated with the BCH-RMS-2006 regimen and 105 (76.6%) cases were treated with the CCCG-RMS-2016 regimen. The follow-up time for the whole patients was 46 (20, 72) months, and the 5-year progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates for the whole children were (60.4±4.4)% and (69.3±4.0)%, respectively. The 5-year OS rate was higher in the CCCG-RMS-2016 group than in BCH-RMS-2006 group ((73.0±4.5)% vs. (56.6±4.4)%, χ2=4.57, P=0.029). For the parameningeal group, the 5-year OS rate was higher in the CCCG-RMS-2016 group (61 cases) than in BCH-RMS-2006 group (19 cases) ((57.3±7.6)% vs. (32.7±11.8)%, χ2=4.64, P=0.031). For the group with meningeal invasion risk factors, the 5-year OS rate was higher in the CCCG-RMS-2016 group (54 cases) than in BCH-RMS-2006 group (15 cases) ((57.7±7.7)% vs. (30.0±12.3)%, χ2=4.76, P=0.029). Among the 10 cases of orbital RMS, there was no recurrence. In the non-orbital non-parameningeal RMS group (47 cases), there were 13 (27.6%) recurrences, after re-treatment, 7 cases survived. In the parameningeal RMS group (80 cases), there were 40 (50.0%) recurrences, with only 7 cases surviving after re-treatment. Conclusions:The overall prognosis for patients with orbital and non-orbital non-parameningeal RMS is good. However, children with parameningeal RMS have a high recurrence rate, and the effectiveness of re-treatment after recurrence is poor. Compared with the BCH-RMS-2006 regimen, the CCCG-RMS-2016 regimen can improve the treatment efficacy of RMS in the meningeal region.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the potential mechanism of epigallocatechin gallate （EGCG） enhancing the sensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） cells to lenvatinib based on the phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） signaling pathway. METHODS Five human HCC cell lines （HepG2， Huh-7， SMMC-7721， SNU-368 and SNU-739） were used to evaluate the effects of lenvatinib alone and in combination with EGCG on survival rates， clone number， proliferation rate， invasion number and the expressions of mRNAs and proteins related to the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. The PI3K activator insulin-like growth factor-1 （IGF-1） was introduced to investigate the effect of activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway on the sensitization effect of EGCG. RESULTS Compared with the control group， lenvatinib （10 μmol/L） and different concentrations of EGCG+ lenvatinib （1， 5 and 10 μg/mL EGCG+10 μmol/L lenvatinib） significantly reduced the survival rates and clone numbers of all five HCC cell lines in a dose-dependent manner （P＜0.05）. Lenvatinib （10 μmol/L） and EGCG+lenvatinib （10 μg/mL EGCG+10 μmol/L lenvatinib） also markedly inhibited the proliferation rate and invasion numbers of these cells， and decreased the mRNA expressions of PI3K， Akt， mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR）， P70S6K and 4EBP， and the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt， as well as the protein expressions of mTOR and B cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2） in HepG2 cells or all five HCC cells； conversely， the mRNA and protein expressions of phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10（PTEN）， and the protein expressions of caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3 were significantly upregulated， with more pronounced effects observed in the EGCG+lenvatinib group than in the lenvatinib group （P＜0.05）. Compared with the lenvatinib group and the EGCG+lenvatinib group， the clone number， proliferation rate and invasion number of HepG2 cells in the EGCG+lenvatinib+IGF-1 group （10 μg/mL EGCG+10 μmol/L lenvatinib+50 ng/mL IGF-1） were significantly increased （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS EGCG can enhance the sensitivity of HCC cells to lenvatinib， and its underlying mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway activation.

Aim To investigate the molecular mechanism by which quercetin inhibits the malignant behavior of breast cancer cells. Methods Breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MB231 were used as the research models. Lentiviral transfection was employed to establish tumor cells with high expression of ERa and MAL-AT-1. The expression of MALAT-1 was assessed using RT-qPCR,and ERa expression was determined through Western blot. Subsequently, CCK-8 assay and colony formation assay were conducted to evaluate cell proliferation. PI staining and adenovirus transfection were performed to observe the inhibitory effects of quercetin on breast cancer cell proliferation. Results 17|3-es-tradiol ( E2 ) promoted the proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells, while 5 jjunol L quercetin reversed the promoting effect of E2 on proliferation ( P 0. 05 ) . Quercetin had no effect on MB231 breast cancer cells. Overexpression of ERa significantly inhibited the pro-proliferative effect of E2 on MB231-ERa cells, and quercetin further suppressed this effect. Additionally , quercetin inhibited the expression of MALAT-1. However,this inhibitory effect was reversed by overexpression of MALAT-1, leading to enhanced cell proliferation , cell cycle progression, and clonal formation a-bility. Conclusions Quercetin exerts its anti-tumor effects on breast cancer cells by regulating MALAT-1, dependent on the presence of estrogen receptor. Quercetin shows potential as a therapeutic drug for breast cancer targeting the estrogen receptor.

Objective To establish a rapid screening method for 34 emerging contaminants in surface water by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS).Methods The pretreatment conditions of solid phase extraction(SPE)were op-timized by orthogonal experimental design and the surface water samples were concentrated and ex-tracted by Oasis? HLB and Oasis? MCX SPE columns in series.The extracts were separated by Kine-tex? EVO C18 column,with gradient elution of 0.1%formic acid aqueous solution and 0.1%formic acid methanol solution.Q-TOF-MS'fullscan'and'targeted MS/MS'modes were used to detect 34 emerging contaminants and to establish a database with 34 emerging contaminants precursor ion,prod-uct ion and retention times.Results The 34 emerging contaminants exhibited good linearity in the con-centration range respectively and the correlation coefficients(r)were higher than 0.97.The limit of de-tection was 0.2-10 ng/L and the recoveries were 81.2%-119.2%.The intra-day precision was 0.78%-18.70%.The method was applied to analyze multiple surface water samples and 6 emerging contaminants were detected,with a concentration range of 1.93-157.71 ng/L.Conclusion The method is simple and rapid for screening various emerging contaminants at the trace level in surface water.

BACKGROUND:Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative neurological disorder characterized primarily by cognitive impairment.Acupuncture is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine therapy for treating Alzheimer's disease,but its mechanism is not yet clear. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of electroacupuncture with"Zhi San Zhen"on the Notch signaling pathway,β-amyloid protein(Aβ)and synaptic plasticity in 5xFAD mice. METHODS:Sixteen male,6-month-old 5xFAD mice,SPF-grade,were randomly divided into the electroacupuncture with"Zhi San Zhen"group(electroacupuncture group)and the model group,with eight mice in each group.Eight SPF-grade,male,6-month-old C57BL/6 mice were used as the wild control(wild)group.The electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture with"Zhi San Zhen"intervention,5 times a week for 4 consecutive weeks.The model group and the wild group did not receive electroacupuncture intervention.The Morris water maze was used to preliminarily assess their learning and memory abilities.Thioflavin S staining was performed to detect Aβ plaque deposition.Western blot and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)were used to measure the expression levels of transmembrane receptor protein Notch-1,Notch 1 intracellular domain(NICD),hairy and enhancer of split 1(Hes 1),hairy and enhancer of split 5(Hes 5),synaptophysin(SYN),postsynaptic density protein-95(PSD-95),and Aβ. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the model group,the wild group and the electroacupuncture group showed shortened escape latency,increased platform crossing times,and longer target quadrant dwell time(P<0.05).Compared with the wild group,the model group had significantly increased deposition of Aβ plaques,while electroacupuncture with"Zhi San Zhen"inhibited the deposition of Aβ plaques in the hippocampus of 5xFAD mice(P<0.05).Compared with the wild group,the model group had decreased mRNA levels of SYN,PSD-95,Notch 1,NICD,Hes 1,and Hes 5 in the hippocampal tissue of mice,and increased mRNA levels of Aβ(P<0.05).Electroacupuncture with"Zhi San Zhen"increased the mRNA levels of SYN,PSD-95,Notch 1,NICD,Hes 1,and Hes 5 in the hippocampal tissue,and decreased the mRNA level of Aβ(P<0.05).Compared with the Wild group,the model group had decreased protein expression levels of SYN,PSD-95,Notch 1,NICD,Hes 1,and Hes 5 in the hippocampal tissue of mice,and increased protein expression levels of Aβ(P<0.05).Electroacupuncture with"Zhi San Zhen"upregulated the protein expression levels of SYN,PSD-95,Notch 1,NICD,Hes 1,and Hes 5,and inhibited the protein expression of Aβ(P<0.05).To conclude,electroacupuncture with"Zhi San Zhen"can improve the learning and memory abilities of 5xFAD mice,possibly by inhibiting the deposition of Aβ protein and activating the Notch signaling pathway in the hippocampus to enhance synaptic plasticity.

Acupuncture, a therapeutic treatment defined as the insertion of needles into the body at specific points (ie, acupoints), has growing in popularity world-wide to treat various diseases effectively, especially acute and chronic pain. In parallel, interest in the physiological mechanisms underlying acupuncture analgesia, particularly the neural mechanisms have been increasing. Over the past decades, our understanding of how the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system process signals induced by acupuncture has developed rapidly by using electrophysiological methods. However, with the development of neuroscience, electrophysiology is being challenged by calcium imaging in view field, neuron population and visualization in vivo. Owing to the outstanding spatial resolution, the novel imaging approaches provide opportunities to enrich our knowledge about the neurophysiological mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia at subcellular, cellular, and circuit levels in combination with new labeling, genetic and circuit tracing techniques. Therefore, this review will introduce the principle and the method of calcium imaging applied to acupuncture research. We will also review the current findings in pain research using calcium imaging from in vitro to in vivo experiments and discuss the potential methodological considerations in studying acupuncture analgesia.
Calcium ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Analgesia/methods* ; Acupuncture Points ; Technology

BACKGROUND: The effects of acupuncture have varied in different randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and there are many factors that influence treatment effect of acupuncture in different outcomes, with conflicting results. OBJECTIVE: To identify factors and their impact on the treatment effect of acupuncture in different outcomes. METHODS: Acupuncture RCTs were searched from 7 databases including Medline (PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, VIP Database, and China Biology Medicine disc between January 1st, 2015 and December 31st, 2019. Eligible studies must compare acupuncture to no acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or waiting lists, and report at least 1 patient-important outcome. A multi-level meta-regression was conducted using a 3-level robust mixed model and univariate analyses were performed for all independent variables, even those excluded from the multivariable model due to collinearities. We used thresholds of 0.2 and 0.4 for the difference of standardized mean differences (SMDs), categorising them as small (<0.2), moderate (0.2-0.4), or large (>0.4) effects. RESULTS: The pain construct analysis involved 211 effect estimates from 153 studies and 14 independent variables. High-frequency acupuncture treatment sessions produced larger effects compared to low-frequency sessions [large magnitude, the difference of adjusted SMDs 0.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07 to 0.84; P=0.02]. The non-pain symptoms construct analysis comprised 323 effect estimates from 231 studies and 15 independent variables. Penetrating acupuncture showed moderately larger effects when compared to non-penetrating acupuncture (0.30, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.53; P=0.01). The function construct analysis included 495 effect estimates from 274 studies and 14 independent variables. Penetrating acupuncture and the flexible acupuncture regimen showed moderately larger effects, compared to non-penetrating acupuncture and fixed regimen, respectively (0.40, 95% CI 0 to 0.80; P=0.05; 0.29, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.53; P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS High-frequency acupuncture sessions appear to be a more effective approach to managing painful symptoms. Penetrating acupuncture demonstrated greater effect in relieving non-painful symptoms. Both penetrating acupuncture type and flexible acupuncture regimen were linked to significant treatment effects in function outcomes. Future studies should consider the factors that are significantly associated with the effects of acupuncture in patient-important outcomes.
Humans ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Pain ; Pain Management ; China

Objective:To study the clinical manifestations and genetic characteristics of neonatal-onset primary mitochondrial disease (PMD) caused by nuclear gene mutations.Methods:From May 2020 to March 2022, the clinical data, genetic results and follow-up information of neonates with PMD admitted to the Department of Neonatology of our two hospitals were retrospectively analyzed.Results:A total of 4 patients were enrolled, all with hyperlactatemia and metabolic acidosis. In case 1, the fetal cranial MRI showed agenesis of corpus callosum. In case 2, echocardiography after birth indicated hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Whole exome sequencing found the following mutations: EARS2 nuclear gene c.1294C>T and c.971G>T variants, COA6 nuclear gene c.411_412insAAAG variant, ACAD9 nuclear gene c.1278+1G>A and c.895A>T variants, FOXRED1 nuclear gene c.1054C>T and c.3dup variants. Mitochondrial second-generation sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification showed no abnormalities. Cases 1 and 3 died during the neonatal period. Case 2 died at 2-year-and-2-month of age. Case 4 was followed up to 1 year of age with developmental delay.Conclusions:The main phenotypes of neonatal-onset PMD caused by nuclear gene mutations are hyperlactatemia, refractory metabolic acidosis and cardiomyopathy, which have a poor prognosis. Proactive genetic tests are helpful for early diagnosis.