Biomolecular condensates are formed through phase separation of biomacromolecules such as proteins and RNAs. These condensates exhibit liquid-like properties that can futher transition into more stable material states. They form complex internal structures via multivalent weak interactions, enabling precise spatiotemporal regulations. However, the use of inconsistent and non-standardized terminology has become increasingly problematic, hindering academic exchange and the dissemination of scientific knowledge. Therefore, it is necessary to discuss the terminology related to biomolecular condensates in order to clarify concepts, promote interdisciplinary cooperation, enhance research efficiency, and support the healthy development of this field.

Based on commonly used acupoints in the clinical acupuncture treatment of functional dyspepsia （FD）， this study systematically analyzes the therapeutic differences and synergistic effects between local and distal point selection. It also examines the suitability of primary acupoint selection for different FD subtypes， postprandial distress syndrome （PDS） and epigastric pain syndrome （EPS）. The findings suggest that a combination of local and distal acupoints may be more appropriate as primary points for PDS， whereas local acupoints alone may be more suitable for EPS. Additionally， the study explores the impact of various factors， such as stimulation techniques， needling order， intensity or stimulation parameters， and depth， on the efficacy of acupuncture. It concludes that the intrinsic properties of acupoints are the primary determinants of therapeutic direction. Other factors mainly influence the magnitude rather than the direction of the effect. Future research may further investigate how different acupoint combinations， local versus distal， affect the treatment outcomes of FD subtypes， providing new insights for clinical acupuncture prescriptions.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the effects of 4-week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on synaptic plasticity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of rats exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), and to explore its potential mechanisms. MethodsA total of 48 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control (C), model (M), control plus HIIT (HC), and model plus HIIT (HM). Rats in groups M and HM underwent 8 weeks of CUMS to establish depression-like behaviors, while groups HC and HM received HIIT intervention beginning from the 5th week for 4 consecutive weeks. The HIIT protocol consisted of repeated intervals of 3 min at high speed (85%-90% maximal training speed, S_max) alternated with one minute at low speed (50%-55% S_max), with 3 to 5 sets per session, conducted 5 d per week. Behavioral assessments and tail-vein blood lactate levels were measured at the end of the 4th and 8th weeks. After the intervention, rat PFC tissues were collected for Golgi staining to analyze synaptic morphology. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were employed to detect brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1), lactate, and glutamate levels in the PFC, as well as serotonin (5-HT) levels in serum. Additionally, Western blot analysis was conducted to quantify the expression of synaptic plasticity-related proteins, including c-Fos, activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc), and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 1 (NMDAR1). ResultsCompared to the control group (C), the CUMS-exposed rats (group M) exhibited significant reductions in sucrose preference rates, number of grid crossings, frequency of upright postures, and entries into and duration spent in open arms of the elevated plus maze, indicating marked depressive-like behaviors. Additionally, the group M showed significantly reduced dendritic spine density in the PFC, along with elevated levels of c-Fos, Arc, NMDAR1 protein expression, and increased concentrations of lactate and glutamate. Conversely, BDNF and MCT1 contents in the PFC and 5-HT levels in serum were significantly decreased. Following HIIT intervention, rats in the group HM displayed considerable improvement in behavioral indicators compared with the group M, accompanied by significant elevations in PFC MCT1 and lactate concentrations. Furthermore, HIIT notably normalized the expression levels of c-Fos, Arc, NMDAR1, as well as glutamate and BDNF contents in the PFC. Synaptic spine density also exhibited significant recovery. ConclusionFour weeks of HIIT intervention may alleviate depressive-like behaviors in CUMS rats by increasing lactate levels and reducing glutamate concentration in the PFC, thereby downregulating the overexpression of NMDAR, attenuating excitotoxicity, and enhancing synaptic plasticity.

ObjectiveBased on functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), we investigated the brain activity characteristics of gross motor tasks in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and motor dysfunctions (MDs) to provide a theoretical basis for further understanding the mechanism of MDs in children with ASD and designing targeted intervention programs from a central perspective. MethodsAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 48 children with ASD accompanied by MDs were recruited into the ASD group and 40 children with typically developing (TD) into the TD group. The fNIRS device was used to collect the information of blood oxygen changes in the cortical motor-related brain regions during single-handed bag throwing and tiptoe walking, and the differences in brain activation and functional connectivity between the two groups of children were analyzed from the perspective of brain activation and functional connectivity. ResultsCompared to the TD group, in the object manipulative motor task (one-handed bag throwing), the ASD group showed significantly reduced activation in both left sensorimotor cortex (SMC) and right secondary visual cortex (V2) (P<0.05), whereas the right pre-motor and supplementary motor cortex (PMC&SMA) had significantly higher activation (P<0.01) and showed bilateral brain region activity; in terms of brain functional integration, there was a significant decrease in the strength of brain functional connectivity (P<0.05) and was mainly associated with dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and V2. In the body stability motor task (tiptoe walking), the ASD group had significantly higher activation in motor-related brain regions such as the DLPFC, SMC, and PMC&SMA (P<0.05) and showed bilateral brain region activity; in terms of brain functional integration, the ASD group had lower strength of brain functional connectivity (P<0.05) and was mainly associated with PMC&SMA and V2. ConclusionChildren with ASD exhibit abnormal brain functional activity characteristics specific to different gross motor tasks in object manipulative and body stability, reflecting insufficient or excessive compensatory activation of local brain regions and impaired cross-regions integration, which may be a potential reason for the poorer gross motor performance of children with ASD, and meanwhile provides data support for further unraveling the mechanisms underlying the occurrence of MDs in the context of ASD and designing targeted intervention programs from a central perspective.

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

The assessment of adverse drug events is an important basis for clinical safety evaluation and post-marketing risk control of drugs,and its causality assessment is gaining increasing attention.The existing methods for assessing the causal relationship between drugs and the occurrence of adverse reactions can be broadly classified into three categories:global introspective methods,standardized methods,and probabilistic methods.At present,there is no systematic introduction of the operational details of the various methods in the domestic literature.This paper compares representative causality assessment methods in terms of definition and concept,methodological steps,industry evaluation and advantages and disadvantages,clarifies the basic process of determining the causality of adverse drug reactions,and discusses how to further improve the adverse drug reaction monitoring and evaluation system,with a view to providing a reference for drug development and pharmacovigilance work in China.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Bailing capsules combined with compound ipratropium bromide solution inhalation in the treatment of patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD).Methods AECOPD patients were randomly divided into control group and treatment group.The control group was given compound ipratropium bromide 2.5 mL each time,3 times a day.On the basis of control group,the treatment group was given Bailing capsules 2.5 g,3 times a day,orally.Two groups were treated for 2 weeks.The clinical efficacy,forced vital capacity(FVC),arterial partial pressure of oxygen(PO2),serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1(sIC AM-1),soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1(sTREM-1)and adverse drug reactions were compared between two groups.Results Forty-nine patients were enrolled in both the treatment group and the control group,and no patients dropped out.After treatment,the total effective rates of treatment and control groups were 95.92％(47 cases/49 cases)and 83.67％(41 cases/49 cases)with significant difference(P＜0.05).After treatment,FVC of the treatment and control groups were(2.89±0.41)and(2.66±0.35)L;PO2 were(83.39±8.02)and(76.78±7.55)mmHg;arterial partial carbon dioxide pressure were(48.47±5.11)and(56.02±6.42)mmHg;the levels of TNF-α were(41.14±6.03)and(69.64±8.29)ng·L-1;the levels of sICAM-1 were(327.52±31.19)and(420.20±38.88)μg·L-1;the levels of sTREM-1 were(31.14±3.22)and(38.85±5.29)ng·L-1;the differences were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).The adverse drug reactions in treatment group were nausea and upper abdominal discomfort,which in control group were upper abdominal discomfort.The total incidences of adverse drug reactions in the treatment and control groups were 4.08％and 2.04％,without significant difference(P＞0.05).Conclusion The clinical efficacy of Bailing Capsules combined with compound ipratropium bromide solution inhalation in the treatment of AECOPD patients is better than that of compound ipratropium bromide alone,without increasing the incidence of adverse drug reactions.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of ticagrelor tablets combined with atorvastatin calcium tablets in the treatment of cerebral thrombosis.Methods The patients with cerebral thrombosis were divided into control group and treatment group according to cohort methods.Two groups were given basic therapy.On the basic therapy,control group was given atorvastatin calcium 20 mg per time,once a day,orally;on the basic of control group,the treatment group received ticagrelor 90 mg per time,twice a day,orally.Two groups were treated for 4 months.The clinical efficacy,nerve function,blood viscosity,platelet parameters,brain injury markers and adverse drug reactions were compared between two groups.Results Treatment and control groups enrolled 119 and 117 cases,respectively.After treatment,the total effective rates of treatment and control groups were 91.60％(109 cases/119 cases)and 82.05％(96 cases/117 cases)with significant difference(P＜0.05).After treatment,the scale scores of treatment and control groups were(5.47±0.82)and(6.51±0.96)points;the plasma viscosity levels were(1.35±0.21)and(1.62±0.24)mPa·s,whole blood high shear viscosity levels were(3.67±0.51)and(4.01±0.59)mPa·s;the whole blood low shear viscosity levels were(6.12±0.93)and(7.05±1.07)mPa·s;the platelet adhesion rates were(30.52±3.81)％and(36.21±4.02)％;the mean platelet volumes were(12.75±1.86)and(15.42±2.06)fL;the carboxy-terminal hydrolase of ubiquitin levels were(0.39±0.06)and(0.51±0.07)μg·L-1;the key protein antigen-5 of aging levels were(90.76±12.23)and(81.64±11.95)μg·L-1;and the differences were statistically significant between two groups(all P＜0.05).The adverse drug reactions of two groups were nausea,vomiting,bleeding,abdominal pain and diarrhea.The total incidences of adverse drug reactions in treatment and control groups were 5.04％and 4.27％,without significant difference(P＞0.05).Conclusion Ticagrelor tablets combined with atorvastat in calcium tablets have a significant clinical efficacy in the treatment of patients with cerebral thrombus,which can significantly improve the neurological function,blood viscosity,brain injury markers,and platelet parameters of patients,without increasing the incidence of adverse drug reactions.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of brexpiprazole in treating acute schizophrenia.Methods Patients with schizophrenia were randomly divided into treatment group and control group.The treatment group was given brexpiprozole 2-4 mg·d-1 orally and the control group was given aripiprazole 10-20 mg·d-1orally,both were treated for 6 weeks.Clinical efficacy of the two groups,the response rate at endpoint,the changes from baseline to endpoint of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS),Clinical Global Impression-Improvement(CGI-S),Personal and Social Performance scale(PSP),PANSS Positive syndrome subscale,PANSS negative syndrome subscale were compared.The incidence of treatment-related adverse events in two groups were compared.Results There were 184 patients in treatment group and 186 patients in control group.After treatment,the response rates of treatment group and control group were 79.50％(140 cases/184 cases)and 82.40％(150 cases/186 cases),the scores of CGI-I of treatment group and control group were(2.00±1.20)and(1.90±1.01),with no significant difference(all P＞0.05).From baseline to Week 6,the mean change of PANSS total score wese(-30.70±16.96)points in treatment group and(-32.20±17.00)points in control group,with no significant difference(P＞0.05).The changes of CGI-S scores in treatment group and control group were(-2.00±1.27)and(-1.90±1.22)points,PSP scores were(18.80±14.77)and(19.20±14.55)points,PANSS positive syndrome scores were(-10.30±5.93)and(-10.80±5.81)points,PANSS negative syndrome scores were(-6.80±5.98)and(-7.30±5.15)points,with no significant difference(P＞0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of treatment-related adverse events between the two group(69.00％vs.64.50％,P＞0.05).Conclusion The non-inferiority of Brexpiprazole to aripiprazole was established,with comparable efficacy and acceptability.

Objective To investigate whether curcumin is a potential drug for the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GIST).Methods The differential genes of imatinib-resistant cells and non-resistant cells were analyzed by cell transcriptology.The antitumor activity of curcumin was verified by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)method,and the concentration of Curcumin ranged from 5 to 80 μg·mL-1for GIST-T1 and GIST-T1/IMR cells.20 μg·mL-1 Curcumin as the experimental group,phosphate buffered solution as the control group.The contents of interleukin-6(IL-6),reactive oxygen species(ROS)and nitric oxide(NO)were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.The cell cycle changes were analyzed by flow cytometry.Results Using non-resistant cells as a contrast,the results showed that there were 1 300 up-regulated genes and 1 609 down-regulated genes in imatinib-resistant cells.The 50％inhibiting concentration values of Curcumin on GIST-T1 and GIST-T1/IMR cells were(15.33±1.36)and(10.49±2.12)μg·mL-1,respectively.In GIST-T1 cells,the IL-6 levels in experimental group and control group were(3.45±0.01)and(5.64±0.42)pg·mL-1;the ROS levels were(2 841.42±81.83)and(4 174.32±439.12)pg·mL-1;the iNOS levels were(7.02±0.08)and(8.08±0.03)μmol·L-1,respectively.In GIST-T1/IMR cells,the IL-6 levels in experimental group and control group were(2.47±0.30)and(6.30±0.01)pg·mL-1;the ROS levels were(4 706.40±146.71)and(8 254.34±342.35)pg·mL-1;the iNOS levels were(6.42±0.09)and(7.29±0.04)μmol·L-1,respectively.Among the 2 cells,the differences of above indicators were statistically significant between the experimental group and the control group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Curcumin blocked the cell cycle of GIST-T1 and GIST-T1/IMR in G1 phase,further shortens S phase and G2 phase.Conclusion Curcumin can inhibit the secretion of inflammation and regulate the proliferation of GIST.