1.Horticultural Therapy Combined with Intradermal Needling for Patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder of Liver Depression Transforming into Fire Syndrome Under Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Psychological Therapy:Clinical Observation of 60 Cases
Wanyun ZHANG ; Jiayi YAN ; Qingyi QIU ; Yumei PENG ; Xiaoling ZHONG ; Jinwen ZHANG ; Rundong TANG ; Miao WU ; Dan HU ; Guang SU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(1):50-58
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical effectiveness of horticultural therapy involving the planting of Chinese medicinal herbs (mint and lily potted plants) combined with intradermal needling therapy for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) of liver depression transforming into fire syndrome under transcranial magnetic stimulation and basic psychological therapy, and to explore the possible mechanisms of action. MethodsA total of 180 patients with GAD of liver depression transforming into fire syndrome were randomly divided into three groups, horticultural therapy group, intradermal needling group, and horticultural therapy+intradermal needling group, with 60 patients in each. All groups received basic treatment including basic psychological therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation. The horticultural therapy group received horticultural therapy in addition to the basic treatment; the intradermal needling group received intradermal needling therapy once a week for 8 weeks in addition to the basic treatment; the horticultural therapy+intradermal needling group received both horticultural therapy and intradermal needling therapy, following the same procedures and duration. Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores were assessed at baseline and after 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of treatment. Serum levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) were measured before treatment and after 8 weeks of treatment. Motor-evoked potential (MEP) baseline levels were recorded before treatment, and MEP amplitude ratios were compared after 1 week and 8 weeks of treatment. Clinical effectiveness and safety were evaluated after 8 weeks of treatment. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the relationships between serum ACTH and CORT levels, MEP amplitude, and anxiety. ResultsIn the horticultural therapy group and intradermal needling group, HAMA, SAS and PSQI scores after 4, 6, and 8 weeks treatment were lower than baseline scores (P<0.05). In the horticultural therapy+intradermal needling group, these scores showed a significant decline starting after 2 weeks treatment and continuing through 8 weeks after treatment (P<0.05). The HAMA, SAS, and PSQI scores in the horticultural therapy+intradermal needling group were significantly lower than those in the other two groups after 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks treatment (P<0.05). After 8 weeks of treatment, serum CORT and ACTH levels in the horticultural therapy+intradermal needling group were significantly lower than baseline levels (P<0.05) and were also lower than those in the horticultural therapy group and intradermal needling group at the same time point (P<0.01). When comparing the level after 8 weeks treatment to that after 1 week treatment, under PAS10 stimulation, the MEP amplitude ratio in the intradermal needling group decreased at 30 minutes, while in the horticultural therapy+intradermal needling group, the MEP amplitude ratio decreased at all time points (P<0.05 or P<0.001); under PAS25 stimulation, the MEP amplitude ratio in the horticultural therapy group increased at 20 minutes, and in the intradermal needle group at 10 minutes (P<0.05). In the horticultural therapy+intradermal needling group, the MEP amplitude ratio increased significantly at all time points after treatment (P<0.001). The cure rate in the horticultural therapy+intradermal needling group (74.14%, 43/58) was significantly higher than that in the horticultural therapy group (30.00%, 18/60) and the intradermal needling group (48.28%, 28/58, P<0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that serum ACTH and CORT levels were positively correlated with HAMA scores (r = 0.488, P<0.01; r = 0.428, P<0.01). Following PAS10 intervention, the MEP amplitude ratio was positively correlated with HAMA scores (r = 0.458, P<0.01), whereas after PAS25 intervention, the MEP amplitude ratio was negatively correlated with HAMA scores (r = -0.562, P<0.01). ConclusionHorticultural therapy combined with intradermal needling treatment, under transcranial magnetic stimulation and basic psychological therapy, demonstrates significant clinical effectiveness in patients with GAD of liver depression transforming into fire syndrome. Its mechanism of action may be related to the regulation of hyperactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the reduction of cortical excitability.
2.Effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation combined with sertraline on cognitive function in patients with depressive disorder
Dan LI ; Zhong XIA ; Wenli ZHU ; Dandan LIANG ; Wenwen MIAO ; Chuanfu SONG
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(3):204-210
BackgroundCognitive function is closely related to an individual's quality of life and social functioning, with approximately 20%~35% of patients with depressive disorder experiencing some degree of cognitive impairment even after clinical symptom remission. Existing evidence suggests that tACS can improve specific cognitive domains, such as memory function, while its effects on other cognitive dimensions, such as executive functioning, attention, and information processing speed, remain unclear. ObjectiveTo explore the effects of tACS on the multidimensional cognitive functions and emotional problems of patients with depressive disorder, thus to provide references for the treatment of depressive disorder. MethodsForty-nine patients with depressive disorder who were hospitalized in the Fourth People's Hospital of Wuhu from November 2022 to October 2024 and met the diagnostic criteria for depressive disorder outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5), were selected as study participants. Subjects were randomly divided into study group (n=23) and control group (n=26) based on Microsoft Excel. Both groups received sertraline treatment. The initial dose was 50 mg/day, which gradually titrated upward based on individual variability, drug tolerance, and therapeutic response, with a maintenance dose ranging from 100 to 200 mg/day. In addition, the study group underwent tACS therapy for 4 weeks, with 5 sessions per week, each lasting 20 minutes. The control group received sham stimulation, in which the stimulus was interrupted after the first 30 seconds. At baseline, the 4th week, and the 12th week of treatment, patients were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Scale-17 item (HAMD-17), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), and MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). ResultsRepeated measures analysis of variance indicated that both the time effect and the time×group interaction effect for HAMD-17 scores were statistically significant between the two groups (F=260.437, 25.309, P<0.01). At week 12 of treatment, the HAMD-17 score in the study group was lower than that in the control group (t=4.236, P<0.01). For HAMA scores, the time effect, group effect, and time×group interaction effect were all statistically significant between the two groups (F=248.082, 4.506, 9.500, P<0.05 or 0.01). At weeks 4 and 12, study group reported lower HAMA scores compared with control group (t=4.580, 2.608, P<0.05 or 0.01). Regarding the MCCB scores for attention/vigilance, verbal learning, and overall composite, the time effect, group effect, and time×group interaction effect were all statistically significant between the two groups (F=70.331, 27.882, 51.679, 5.560, 10.948, 7.860, 8.490, 3.874, 5.025, P<0.05 or 0.01). After intervention, the study group showed significantly higher MCCB scores for attention/vigilance, verbal learning, and overall composite at both week 4 (t=-2.149, -3.530, -2.740, P<0.05) and week 12 (t=-3.534, -3.576, -3.838, P<0.01) when compared to the control group. ConclusionThe combined tACS and sertraline therapy may demonstrate superior efficacy to pharmacotherapy alone in the short term for improving attention/vigilance, verbal learning, overall cognitive function, and anxiety symptoms in patients with depressive disorders. Based on the 12-week outcomes, the combined tACS and sertraline therapy not only sustaine its previously observed advantages in improving cognitive domains and anxiety symptoms, but also demonstrate potentially superior efficacy over monotherapy in alleviating depressive symptoms. [Fund by Clinical Medical Research Transformation Special Project of Anhui Province (number, 202204295107020065)]
3. Mechanism of ellagic acid improving cognitive dysfunction in APP/PS double transgenic mice based on PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway
Li-Li ZHONG ; Xin LU ; Ying YU ; Qin-Yan ZHAO ; Jing ZHANG ; Tong-Hui LIU ; Xue-Yan NI ; Li-Li ZHONG ; Yan-Ling CHE ; Dan WU ; Hong LIU
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(1):90-98
Aim To investigate the effect of ellagic acid (EA) on cognitive function in APP/PS 1 double- transgenic mice, and to explore the regulatory mechanism of ellagic acid on the level of oxidative stress in the hippocampus of double-transgenic mice based on the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/glycogen synthase kinase-3 (PI3K/AKT/GSK-3 β) signaling pathway. Methods Thirty-two SPF-grade 6-month-old APP/PS 1 double transgenic mice were randomly divided into four groups, namely, APP/PS 1 group, APP/PS1 + EA group, APP/PS1 + LY294002 group, APP/PS 1 + EA + LY294002 group, with eight mice in each group, and eight SPF-grade C57BL/6J wild type mice ( Wild type) were selected as the blank control group. The APP/PS 1 + EA group was given 50 mg · kg
4.The immediate brain effect of acupuncture at Fengchi in patients with posterior circulation ischemia vertigo:a resting-state functional MRI study
Xiaojia YUAN ; Yu XU ; Weitao WANG ; Liqun ZHONG ; Xiaozhen LI ; Dan XU ; Wenlong SHE ; Zhengguang CHEN
Journal of Practical Radiology 2024;40(2):186-189
Objective To investigate the immediate brain effect of acupuncture at Fengchi using amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation(ALFF)and functional connectivity by the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI)in patients with posterior circulation ischemia vertigo(PCIV).Methods Twenty patients with PCIV were enrolled.The dizziness handicap inventory(DHI)was used to evaluate the severity of vertigo.The patients were randomly divided into acupuncture group and sham acupoint acupuncture group.Rs-fMRI scan was performed before and after acupuncture.MATLAB-based DPABI 6.1 software was used to analyze rs-fMRI data.Correlation analysis was used between the altered ALFF values and DHI scores.The regions of altered ALFF were taken as seeds to analyze functional connectivity.Results Compared with the sham acupoint acupuncture group,the increased ALFF values were mainly located on the left precuneus,left superior frontal gyrus and left caudate nucleus after acupuncture in the acupuncture group;the decreased ALFF values were mainly located on the left cerebellum and right inferior occipital gyrus.The ALFF value of the left superior frontal gyrus was negatively correlated with the DHI score(P=0.04).The increased functional connectivity was mainly found between left precuneus and the right middle frontal gyrus,the right superior frontal gyrus,the decreased functional connectivity was mainly found between left precuneus and the bilateral paracentral lobule and right cerebellum.Conclusion The ALFF value and functional connectivity are different before and after acupuncture,indicating that the vestibular network,visual and motor brain regions functional activities are changed after needling at Fengchi,which may be the brain functional basis of Fengchi for vertigo in PCIV.
5.Frst-line treatment of Zorifertinib in EGFR-mutant NSCLC with CNS metastases:a report of two cases
Dan XU ; Xia LIU ; Diansheng ZHONG
Tianjin Medical Journal 2024;52(3):315-318
Objective To investigate the efficacy of Zorifertinib in first-line treatment of patients with untreated epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)mutation in non-small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC)with central nervous system(CNS)metastases.Methods Two patients received Zorifertinib as first-line treatment.The response of tumor treatment was evaluated by response evaluation criteria in solid tumors version 1.1(RECEST v1.1)and RANO criteria for brain metastases(RANO-BM).Results Case 1 had EGFR exon 19del mutation and multiple brain metastases at baseline.After 51.4 months of treatment with Zorifertinib,case 1 still maintained partial response(PR)in lung lesions and complete response(CR)in intracranial lesions.Case 2 had EGFR exon 19del mutation and a single brain metastasis at baseline.Case 2 achieved PR in lung lesions and CR in intracranial lesions during the treatment with Zorifertinib.After 13.7 months,lung disease progression(PD)and new single brain metastases occurred.The comprehensive evaluation was PD.Case 1 had three-grade treatment-related adverse events(TRAEs),including dry skin,and other TRAEs were rash,abnormal liver function and diarrhea.The TRAEs were generally controllable.Conclusion Zorifertinib has a good effect on controlling intracranial and extracranial lesions in patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC with CNS metastases.The efficacy of Zorifertinib is consistent with the EVEREST study.Zorifertinib can be one of the first-line initial treatment options.
6.Application of p16INK4a combined with human papillomavirus and liquid-based cytology in clinical diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
Xue XIAO ; Yuqi WANG ; Wei JING ; Shaotao ZHONG ; Cuiliu ZHAO ; Dan LIU ; Rongshao TAN ; Xiaolan LAI
Modern Hospital 2024;24(1):140-143
Objective To analyze the detection efficiency of p16INK4a protein combined with human papillomavirus and liquid-based cytology(LCT)in the screening of cervical precancerous lesions,and to provide a basis for cervical cancer preven-tion and treatment.Methods The results of p16INK4a staining of cervical epithelial cells,human papillomavirus testing and cer-vical cytology were analyzed in 139 inpatients at Guangzhou Women's and Children's Medical Center between January 2019 and December 2020.Of them,there were 111 patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN)and 28 cases of cervical inflam-matory disease.The efficacy of the three methods alone and in combination to screen for CIN lesions was compared.Results In the detection of CIN patients,the sensitivity of p16INK4a,microfluidic microarray and cervical cytology for detecting CIN and a-bove lesions was 91.89% ,94.59% and82.88% ,with specificity of 57.14% ,17.86% and46.43% ,and AUC of 0.75,0.56 and 0.65,respectively;while the sensitivity of"p16INK4a+LCT","p16INK4a+hrHPV","LCT+hrHPV"and their sen-sitivity were 96.40% ,97.30% ,94.59% and 99.10% ,their specificity was 85.71% ,92.86% ,89.29% and 92.86% ,and the AUC was 0.91,0.95,0.92 and 0.96,respectively.Conclusion The combined p16INK4a and hrHPV test helps to improve diagnostic accuracy and early detection,thus allowing for earlier intervention or treatment.This combined application allows for more accurate identification of low-grade and high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia,providing more information for indi-vidualized patient management.
7.Syndrome Differentiation from Micro to"Near-micro":Origins,Controversies and Prospects
Liqin ZHONG ; Dan SHENG ; Wanghua LIU ; Zhixi HU ; Qinghua PENG ; Weixiong JIAN ; Yingjie WU ; Yanjie WANG ; Shuyue FU ; Hao LIANG
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;31(3):8-12
As an emerging discipline that combines traditional diagnostic methods with modern scientific technology,micro syndrome differentiation has good prospects for development,but there are some controversies in the research process.Based on ancient and modern literature,this article reviewed the origin and flow of research on micro syndrome differentiation,and summarized the problems to be improved in the process of research on micro syndrome differentiation from three aspects:application of disease type,guiding ideology and micro indicators.Based on this,the article further expounded the new thinking on"near-micro"syndrome differentiation from three aspects:connotation,scope of application,and links to traditional identification and micro-identification,and pointed out that the modern medical detection basis should be incorporated into the field of TCM syndrome differentiation,and at the same time,it should be based on the overall thinking mode of TCM,which would provide a new idea for the development of modern TCM diagnosis technology.
8.Relationship between parenting style and emotional behavior problems in children with development dyslexia
YIN Feifei, ZHANG Jing, ZHONG Lin, LI Dan, XIAO Xinyu, ZUO Pengxiang
Chinese Journal of School Health 2024;45(7):988-992
Objective:
To explore the relationship between parenting style and emotional behavior problems in children with development dyslexia (DD), so as to provide reference for family support and intervention measures.
Methods:
From June to September 2023, 201 children in DD group and typically developing matched by age and sex were selected from the students in grades 3-6 of 4 primary schools in a district of Xinjiang by random cluster sampling method. The Childrens Version of the Parenting Style Scale and the Strength and Difficulty Scale were administered, and the occurrence of childrens emotional behavior problems and parentingstyles in the two groups were compared by Chisquare test and Wicoxon rank sum test. The correlation between parents parenting styles and childrens emotional behavior problems was analyzed by generalized linear regression.
Results:
The detection rates of emotional behavior problems were 45.77% in DD group and 15.42% in normal control children group. The differences in parenting styles between fathers and mothers of the DD group and the normal control group were statistically significant in terms of emotional warmth, parenting anxiety, and overprotection (Z=4.02, 29.03; 4.94, 26.32; 23.47, 5.30, P<0.05). Generalized linear regression analysis showed that father affective warmth was positively correlated with emotional symptoms, hyperactivity, peer interaction problems and prosocial behaviors (β=0.08, 0.05, 0.05, 0.09, P<0.05). The emotional warmth of mothers in DD group was negatively correlated with emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity and peer interaction problems (β=-0.18, -0.08, -0.07, -0.08, P<0.05).
Conclusions
Parenting style is an important factor affecting the emotional behavior problems of DD children. Improving parenting style can reduce the occurrence of emotional behavior problems of DD children.
9.Exploring Effect of Levo-tetrahydropalmatine on Spinal Metabolic Profiles of Rats with Chronic Pain Based on Widely-targeted Metabolomics
Dan WU ; Junhong ZHANG ; Lu FU ; Yute ZHONG ; Ping WANG ; Haiyu XU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(23):187-194
ObjectiveTo elucidate the underlying mechanism of the efficacy of Levo-tetrahydropalmatine (l-THP) in alleviating chronic pain and identify the key metabolites and metabolic pathways for l-THP regulation. MethodA classical chronic constrictive injury (CCI) model was built in rats’ bodies, and the pain intensity was evaluated by detecting the mechanical withdrawal threshold. On the sixth day after surgery, oral administration of l-THP (64 mg·kg-1) and positive control drug pregabalin (Pre, 30 mg·kg-1) was performed on rats. After the last administration following consecutive five times of administration, ipsilateral spinal cord tissues were collected for widely-targeted metabonomics, with eight rats in each group. Differential metabolites (DEMs) were identified according to the standard of VIP>1.0 and P<0.05, and functional enrichment and interaction analyses of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were performed to obtain the key metabolites and metabolic pathways associated with the analgesic effects of l-THP. ResultIn behavioral science, administration of both l-THP and Pre significantly improved mechanical hyperalgesia in CCI rats (P<0.01), thus mitigating pain. Metabonomic analysis results revealed that l-THP administration corrected the aberrant metabolic profile in the spinal cord of CCI rats. Meanwhile, 53 DEMs were called back, including several classical pain biomarkers such as sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), acetylcholine, and glutamate. Functional enrichment analysis of the DEMs indicated the involvement of metabolic pathways such as ferroptosis, autophagy, neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions, phospholipase D and cAMP-related signaling pathways, glutathione metabolism, and cofactor biosynthesis in mediating the effects of l-THP on the metabolic profile of the spinal cord. Further analyses on the relative metabolite abundance and metabolic pathways indicated that by significantly decreasing the relative levels of glutamate (P<0.01) and glycine (P<0.01) in the spinal cord, l-THP can promote the synthesis of reduced glutathione (GSH) and increase the ratio of reduced/oxidized GSH (P<0.05). Additionally, it can relieve oxidative stress in the spinal cord of CCI rats and significantly reduce the acetyl-CoA level (P<0.01) to finally inhibit ferroptosis occurrence. Conclusionl-THP may exert analgesic effects by regulating multiple metabolic pathways including GSH metabolism, ferroptosis, cofactor biosynthesis, and amino acid synthesis to correct the aberrant metabolic profile in the spinal cord of CCI rats. Ferroptosis and GSH metabolism may be the key pathways for l-THP regulation, with glutamate, glycine, glutathione, and acetyl-CoA as the key metabolites.
10.Screening and content determination of differential quality markers in Zingiber officinale mixed and triturated with Schisandra chinensis before and after processing
Pei ZHONG ; Jianglin XUE ; Quan ZHAO ; Chanming LIU ; Xiaojing YAN ; Dan SU ; Yonggui SONG ; Tulin LU ; Wei HUANG
China Pharmacy 2024;35(23):2870-2876
OBJECTIVE To screen and quantitatively analyze differential quality markers (Q-Marker) in Zingiber officinale mixed and triturated with Schisandra chinensis (ZMTS) before and after processing. METHODS HPLC fingerprints of before processing [Z. officinale complicated with S. chinensis (ZWS)] and after processing (ZMTS) (10 batches each) were established. The differences of Q-Markers before and after processing were screened by the chemical pattern recognition method and Q-Marker “five principles”, and the contents were determined. RESULTS A total of 14 common peaks were identified in the fingerprints of ZWS, 22 common peaks were identified in the fingerprints of ZMTS, and 8 components were identified. Differential Q-Marker were screened by chemical pattern recognition and Q-Marker “five principles”, i. e. 6-gingerol, schisandrol A schisandrol B, 8-gingerol, 10-gingerol, schisandrin A, schisandrin B, schizandrin C. The average contents of the 8 differential Q-Markers in ZMTS were 229.46, 244.48, 39.96, 44.12, 61.17, 47.82, 100.11 and 9.70 μg/g, respectively. The average contents of the 4 differential Q-Markers (6-gingerol, schisandrol A, schisandrol B, 8-gingerol) in ZWS were 112.58, 19.01, 26.74 and 5.98 μg/g, respectively. CONCLUSIONS In this study, the differential Q-Markers before and after ZMTS processing are screened. The contents of the Q-Markers in ZMTS after processing are higher than those before processing.


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