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.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Huayu Tongluo (transforming stasis and unblocking collaterals) moxibustion on learning-memory ability and hippocampal mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 (Mst1)/nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) p65 pathway related to inflammatory response in rats with vascular dementia (VD). METHODS: A total of 60 male Wistar rats of SPF grade were randomly divided into a sham operation group (12 rats) and a modeling group (48 rats). VD model was established by the method of modified bilateral common carotid artery permanent ligation in the modeling group. Thirty-six rats with successful modeling were randomly divided into a model group, a moxibustion group and a western medication group, with 12 rats in each group. Huayu Tongluo moxibustion was applied at "Dazhui" (GV14), "Baihui" (GV20) and "Shenting" (GV24) in the moxibustion group, 20 min each time, once a day, 7 day-intervention was as one course, and 1 day-interval was taken between two courses, for a total of 3 courses. In the western medication group, piracetam was given 0.72 mg/kg by intragastric administration, twice a day, the course of intervention was same as that of the moxibustion group. The learning-memory ability was detected by Morris water maze test; the morphology of hippocampal CA1 region was observed by HE staining; the mRNA expression of Mst1, M1 microglia markers CD86, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was detected by real-time PCR; the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in hippocampus were detected by ELISA; and the protein expression of Mst1 and NF-κB p65 in hippocampus was detected by Western blot in rats of each group. RESULTS: Compared with the sham operation group, the escape latency was prolonged in the model group (P<0.05); compared with the model group, the escape latency was shortened in the moxibustion group and the western medication group (P<0.05). The cells in the CA1 region of hippocampus were disordered, cell collapse and irregular nuclei could be observed in the model group; compared with the model group, the cell arrangement in the CA1 region of hippocampus was more regular, and the damage was improved in the moxibustion group and the western medication group. Compared with the sham operation group, the mRNA expression of Mst1, CD86, IL-6 and TNF-α, as well as the protein expression of Mst1, NF-κB p65 in hippocampus were increased in the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the mRNA expression of Mst1, CD86, IL-6 and TNF-α, as well as the protein expression of Mst1, NF-κB p65 in hippocampus were decreased in the moxibustion group and the western medication group (P<0.05). Compared with the sham operation group, the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in hippocampus were increased in the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in hippocampus were decreased in the moxibustion group and the western medication group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Huayu Tongluo moxibustion can improve the learning-memory ability of VD rats, the mechanism may be related to regulating the activation of microglia through Mst1/NF-κB p65 pathway, reducing the release of pro-inflammatory factors i.e. IL-6 and TNF-α, so as to alleviating the damage of inflammatory factors in the hippocampus of VD rats.
Animals ; Male ; Rats ; Moxibustion ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Rats, Wistar ; Dementia, Vascular/genetics* ; Memory/drug effects* ; Humans ; Transcription Factor RelA/genetics* ; Learning ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics* ; Acupuncture Points ; Interleukin-6/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal

In order to characterize the characteristics of pathological tremor of human upper limb, a simulation system of pathological tremor of human arm was provided and its dynamic response was analyzed. Firstly, in this study, a two-degree-of-freedom human arm dynamic model was established and linearized according to the arbitrary initial angle of joints. After solving the analytical solutions of steady-state responses of the joints, the numerical solution was used to verify it. The results of theoretical analysis show that the two natural frequencies of the developed dynamic model are 2.9 Hz and 5.4 Hz, respectively, which meet the characteristic frequency range of pathological tremors. Then, combined with the measured parameters of human arm, a tremor simulation system was built, and the measured results of joint responses are in good agreement with the theoretical and simulation analysis results, which verifies the effectiveness of the theoretical model. The results show that the human arm pathological tremor simulation system designed in this paper can characterize the frequency and response amplitude of the human upper limb pathological tremor. Moreover, the relevant research lays a theoretical foundation and experimental conditions for the subsequent development of wearable tremor suppression devices.
Humans ; Tremor/physiopathology* ; Computer Simulation ; Arm/physiopathology* ; Joints/physiopathology* ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Upper Extremity/physiopathology* ; Models, Biological

Objective:To analyze the association between waist circumference (WC) and ischemic stroke (IS).Methods:The data for the present study were from the prospective cohort study of China Kadoorie Biobank in Qingdao. Using baseline information and IS events of the participants, the Cox proportional hazard regression model and restricted cubic spline (RCS) were used to analyze the association between WC and IS.Results:A total of 33 355 participants were included in the study, with 302 008.88 person-years of follow-up. A total of 1 093 new cases of IS were observed. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression model analysis showed that compared to the respondents with normal WC (male <85.0 cm, female <80.0 cm), respondents with excessive WC (male ≥85.0 cm, female ≥80.0 cm) had a 78% higher risk of IS incidence [hazard ratio( HR)=1.78, 95% CI: 1.51-2.10], and the risk increased by 72% ( HR=1.72, 95% CI: 1.40-2.12) and 83% ( HR=1.83, 95% CI: 1.40-2.39) in men and women. According to the RCS, the increase in WC and the risk of IS showed an "S" trend of nonlinear dose-response relationship. Conclusions:The risk of IS would increase with the WC. Keeping a normal WC is important for preventing IS.

Objective:To investigate the association between solid fuel use for heating, smoking, and respiratory diseases.Methods:This study is based on the Qingdao project of the China Kadoorie Biobank. After screening, 26 165 individuals were included in the study. We employed Cox proportional hazards regression models, stratified by risk age (in 5-year intervals) and sex while adjusting for confounding variables such as occupation and physical activity level to analyze the association between solid fuel use for heating, smoking, and increased risk of respiratory diseases.Results:Among the 26 165 participants, the average age of those using solid fuel for heating was (52.57±10.31) years, with females constituting 58.04% and former/current smokers accounting for 65.38%. The results indicated that both the solid fuel group and the former/current smoking group had a higher risk of respiratory diseases, with hazard ratios ( HR) (95% CI) of 1.21 (1.04-1.41) and 1.41 (1.16-1.71), respectively. For the duration of solid fuel use, the HR (95% CI) for 20 years or more, it was 1.27 (1.07-1.51). The multiplicative interaction term between solid fuel use and smoking was statistically significant. Conclusions:The use of solid fuel for heating and smoking significantly increases the risk of respiratory diseases, and there may be a multiplicative interaction between solid fuel use and smoking.

Background In recent years, radiation diagnosis and treatment technology has been increasingly applied and popularized in the medical field, and the status of radiation health protection has attracted widespread attention. Objective To understand the knowledge, attitude, and behavior of radiological health protection in radiation workers in Jiading District of Shanghai. Methods Convenience sampling method was used to select 441 radiation workers from 33 medical institutions in Jiading District, Shanghai to conduct a questionnaire survey from May to August 2023. Basic information and radiation protection associated knowledge, attitude, and behavior were collected from the study participants, and the scores of knowledge, attitude, and behavior were calculated. Factors affecting the behavior were evaluated by multiple linear regression. Results A total of 441 subjects were included in this study, with an age range of 22-71 years, 53.06% male and 46.94% female. In terms of knowledge, the correct response rate of the study subjects to the seven questions on the basics of radiation protection ranged from 44.22%-96.60%, with the lowest rate of 44.22% for the question on "radiation stochastic effect diseases". The subjects acquired knowledge about radiation hygiene mainly through vocational training (98.41%), and wanted to acquire knowledge mainly about the basics of nuclear and radiation (76.42%). In terms of attitude, the recognition level (strongly agree/agree) of the study subjects on the six attitude questions ranged from 73.47% to 96.37%, in which only 56.92% of the radiological staff at tertiary hospitals believed that the radiation dose they were exposed to at work would be hazardous to their health, and 73.85% believed that it was necessary to participate in training on knowledge of radiological protection, both lower than those in other levels of hospitals. In terms of behavior, the implementation rate (always/often) of the five behavioral questions by the study participants ranged from 75.28% to 91.84%, and there was a statistically significant difference in the total behavioral scores of the study participants by levels of hospitals (P=0.015). The results of multiple linear regression showed that gender, age, and radiation work permit associated with the behavioral scores of the study subjects. Conclusion In Jiading District, Shanghai, the coginitive rate of radiation workers' basic knowledge of theoretical protection still needs to be improved, and occupational training should be carried out in a targeted manner; the attitude of radiation workers varies by levels of hospitals, and the publicity and education of workers at tertiary hospitals in particular should be strengthened; and the supervision and management of male, senior, and non-certified radiation workers in hospitals of different levels should be enhanced.

The first working meeting of the 8th Editorial Committee of Chinese Journal of Nephrology was held in Guangzhou, China on November 30, 2023. At the meeting, the list of the 8th Editorial Committee was announced, the work of the journal in the past 5 years was summarized, and the future work of the Editorial Committee was planned and discussed. Jiang Yongmao, former deputy secretary-general of the Chinese Medical Association, Jin Dong, deputy general manager of the Chinese Medical Journals Publishing House Co., Ltd, Lu Quan, editor of the Journal Management Department of Chinese Medical Association, Yu Xueqing, editor-in-chief of the 8th Editorial Committee, Cai Guangyan, Chen Jianghua, Zhao Minghui and Mao Haiping, deputy editor-in-chief of the 8th Editorial Committee, and 69 members of the 8th Editorial Committee, attended the meeting. The meeting came to a successful conclusion, and provided guidance for how to break through the difficulties, publish high-quality content and achieve high-quality development under the new situation.

To report a case with hereditary spastic paraplegia type 11(SPG11)in association with typical thin corpus callosum(TCC)and"Ears-of-the-lynx sign"on MRI imaging.The patient was a 13-year-old boy.The main symptoms are walking instability and falling easily.Over the period of one year,the symptoms gradually progressed when accompanied by poor handwriting and a decrease in learning ability.The parents are not related.Brain MRI shows a thin corpus callosum,and high symmetric signals in the anterior horn of the lateral ventricles on T2 and Flair sequence.WES detected two heterozygous mutations in the SPG11 gene,NM_025137:c.2073delT and c.257+5G>A,respectively from the parents.The proband was finally diagnosed with SPG11.Brain MRI found that TCC and"lynx ear sign"are highly sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of SPG11.The patients with spastic paraplegia should be considered the possibility of SPG11.

Objective:To evaluate the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the Lubeck Alcohol Withdrawal Risk Scale(C-LARS).Methods:Referring to previous literature and clinical expert opinions using the Delphi method,a C-LARS was established through translation and back-translation.Principal component analysis was used to evaluate the structural validity of C-LARS,and the maximum variance method was used to calculate factors and factor loadings to evaluate the structural validity of C-LARS.The severity of alcohol withdrawal syn-drome in patients was evaluated using the the Alcohol Withdrawal Scale(AWS),and the criterion validity of C-LARS was evaluated by calculating the correlation coefficient between AWS and C-LARS.Results:The internal correlation coefficient(ICC)of the evaluation factors was 0.972,and the total Cronbach α coefficient was 0.938.Factor analysis and ROC analysis showed that a C-LARS score of ≥ 3 could predict the occurrence of mild alcohol withdrawal syndrome,with sensitivity and specificity of 0.945 and 0.899,respectively.The C-LARS scores of ≥ 5 could predict the occurrence of moderate alcohol withdrawal syndrome,with sensitivity and specificity of 0.910 and 0.905,respectively.The C-LARS scores of≥7 could predict the occurrence of severe alcohol with-drawal syndrome within 12 hours,the sensitivity and specificity were 0.990 and 0.877,respectively.Conclusion:The C-LARS has good validity and reliability,which could be used as a tool to assess the incidence and severity of alcohol withdrawal syndrome within 12 hours after visit.

Objective:To explore the prevalence and independent associated factors of vascular calcification (VC) in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients of stage 3-5.Methods:It was a single-center cross-sectional observational study. Non-dialysis stage 3-5 CKD patients ≥18 years old who were admitted to the Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from May 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 with VC evaluation were enrolled. The patients' general information, laboratory examination and imaging data were collected. Coronary artery calcification (CAC), thoracic aorta calcification (TAC), abdominal aorta calcification (AAC), carotid artery calcification and aortic valve calcification (AVC) were evaluated by cardiac-gated electron-beam CT (EBCT) scans, lateral lumbar x-ray, cervical macrovascular ultrasound and echocardiography, respectively. The differences in clinical data and the prevalence of VC at different sites of patients with different CKD stages were compared, and the prevalence of VC at different sites of patients in different age groups [youth group (18-44 years old), middle-aged group (45-64 years old) and elderly group (≥65 years old)] and patients with or without diabetes were compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the independent associated factors of VC for different areas.Results:A total of 206 patients aged (51±14) years were included, including 129 (62.6%) males. There were 44 patients with CKD stage 3 (21.4%), 51 patients with CKD stage 4 (24.8%), and 111 patients with CKD stage 5 (53.9%). CKD was caused by chronic glomerulonephritis [104 cases (50.5%)], diabetic kidney damage [35 cases (17.0%)], hypertensive kidney damage [29 cases (14.1%)] and others [38 cases (18.4%)]. Among 206 patients, 131 (63.6%) exhibited cardiovascular calcification, and the prevalence of CAC, TAC, AAC, carotid artery calcification, and AVC was 37.9%, 43.7%, 37.9%, 35.9% and 9.7%, respectively. The overall prevalence of VC in young, middle-aged and elderly patients was 24.6%, 73.6% and 97.4%, respectively. With the increase of age, the prevalence of VC in each site gradually increased, and the increasing trend was statistically significant (all P<0.001). The overall prevalence of VC in CKD patients with diabetes was 92.5% (62/67), and the prevalence of VC at each site in the patients with diabetes was significantly higher than that in the patients without diabetes (all P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age (every 10 years increase, OR=2.51, 95% CI 1.77-3.56, P<0.001), hypertension ( OR=5.88, 95% CI 1.57-22.10, P=0.009), and diabetes ( OR=4.66, 95% CI 2.10-10.35, P<0.001) were independently correlated with CAC; Age (every 10 years increase, OR=6.43, 95% CI 3.64-11.36, P<0.001) and hypertension ( OR=6.09, 95% CI 1.33-27.84, P=0.020) were independently correlated with TAC; Female ( OR=0.23, 95% CI 0.07-0.72, P=0.011), age (every 10 years increase, OR=3.90, 95% CI 2.42-6.29, P<0.001), diabetes ( OR=5.37, 95% CI 2.19-13.19, P<0.001) and serum magnesium ( OR=0.01,95% CI 0-0.35, P=0.014) were independently correlated with AAC. Moreover, age and diabetes were independently correlated with carotid artery calcification, AVC and overall VC Conclusions:The prevalence of VC in non-dialysis CKD patients of stage 3-5 is 63.59%, of which CAC reaches 37.9%, TAC is the most common one (43.7%), while AVC is the least one (9.7%). Age and diabetes are the independent associated factors for VC of all sites except TAC, while hypertension is an independent associated factor for both CAC and TAC.