OBJECTIVES: To observe the effects on the glucose-lipid metabolism and the expression of zinc-α2-glycoprotein (ZAG) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) in the femoral quadriceps and adipose tissue after electroacupuncture (EA) at "Pishu" (BL 20), "Weiwanxiashu" (EX-B 3), "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) in the rats with diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM), so as to explore the effect mechanism of EA in treatment of T2DM. METHODS: Twelve ZDF male rats were fed with high-sugar and high-fat fodder, Purina #5008 for 4 weeks to induce T2DM model. After successfully modeled, the rats were randomly divided into a model group and an EA group, with 6 rats in each one. Additionally, 6 ZL male rats of the same months age were collected as the blank group. The rats in the EA group were treated with EA at bilateral "Pishu" (BL 20), "Weiwanxiashu" (EX-B 3), "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6), with continuous wave, 15 Hz in frequency, and 2 mA in intensity. The electric stimulation lasted 20 min each time. EA was delivered once daily, 6 times a week for 4 weeks. Separately, the levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG) was measured before modeling, before and after intervention, and the body mass of each rat was weighted before and after intervention. After intervention, the levels of the total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG) and free fatty acid (FFA) in serum were detected using enzyme colorimetric method; and the levels of the serum insulin (INS) and ZAG were detected by ELISA. Besides, the insulin sensitivity index (HOMA-ISI) was calculated. With Western blot technique adopted, the protein expressions of ZAG and GLUT4 in the femoral quadriceps and adipose tissue were determined. RESULTS: After intervention, compared with the blank group, the levels of FBG and body mass, and the levels of serum TC, TG, FFA and INS increased (P<0.01), while HOMA-ISI decreased (P<0.01); the level of ZAG in the serum and the protein expressions of ZAG and GLUT4 in the femoral quadriceps and adipose tissue dropped (P<0.01) in the model group. In the EA group, compared with the model group, the levels of FBG and body mass, and the levels of serum TC, TG, FFA and INS were reduced (P<0.01), and HOMA-ISI increased (P<0.01); the level of ZAG in the serum and the protein expressions of ZAG and GLUT4 in the femoral quadriceps and adipose tissue increased (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Electroacupuncture can effectively regulate glucose-lipid metabolism, improve insulin resistance and sensitivity in the rats with T2DM, which is associated with the modulation of ZAG and GLUT4 expression in the skeletal muscle and adipose tissue.
Rats ; Male ; Animals ; Glucose/metabolism* ; Electroacupuncture ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/therapy* ; Lipid Metabolism ; Triglycerides ; Adipose Tissue/metabolism* ; Acupuncture Points

Objective: To grasp the epidemiological characteristics of influenza outbreaks in Guangdong Province by analyzing the outbreaks of influenza-like cases reported in Guangdong Province from January 2015 to the end of August 2022. Methods: In response to the outbreak of epidemics in Guangdong Province from 2015 to 2022, information on on-site epidemic control was collected, and epidemiological analysis was conducted to describe the characteristics of the epidemics. The factors that influence the intensity and duration of the outbreak were determined through a logistic regression model. Results: A total of 1 901 influenza outbreaks were reported in Guangdong Province, with an overall incidence of 2.05%. Most outbreak reports occurred from November to January of the following year (50.24%, 955/1 901) and from April to June (29.88%, 568/1 901). A total of 59.23% (1 126/1 901) of the outbreaks were reported in the Pearl River Delta region, and primary and secondary schools were the main places where outbreaks occurred (88.01%, 1 673/1 901). Outbreaks with 10-29 cases were the most common (66.18%, 1 258/1 901), and most outbreaks lasted less than seven days (50.93%,906/1 779). The size of the outbreak was related to the nursery school (aOR=0.38, 95%CI:0.15-0.93), the Pearl River Delta region (aOR=0.60, 95%CI:0.44-0.83), the time interval between the onset of the first case and the time of report (>7 days compared with ≤3 days: aOR=3.01, 95%CI:1.84-4.90), the influenza A(H1N1) (aOR=2.02, 95%CI:1.15-3.55) and the influenza B (Yamagata) (aOR=2.94, 95%CI: 1.50-5.76). The duration of outbreaks was related to school closures (aOR=0.65, 95%CI: 0.47-0.89), the Pearl River Delta region (aOR=0.65, 95%CI: 0.50-0.83) and the time interval between the onset of the first case and the time of report (>7 days compared with ≤3 days: aOR=13.33, 95%CI: 8.80-20.19; 4-7 days compared with ≤3 days: aOR=2.56, 95%CI: 1.81-3.61). Conclusions: An influenza outbreak in Guangdong Province exhibits two peaks, one in the winter and spring seasons and the other in the summer. Primary and secondary schools are high-risk areas, and early reporting of outbreaks is critical for controlling influenza outbreaks in schools. Furthermore, comprehensive measures should be taken to prevent the spread of the epidemic.
Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; Influenza, Human/epidemiology* ; Disease Outbreaks ; Epidemics ; China/epidemiology*

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on liver protein kinase B (Akt)/forkhead box transcription factor 1 (FoxO1) signaling pathway in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats, and to explore the possible mechanism of EA on improving liver insulin resistance of type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Twelve male 2-month-old ZDF rats were fed with high-fat diet for 4 weeks to establish diabetes model. After modeling, the rats were randomly divided into a model group and an EA group, with 6 rats in each group. In addition, six male Zucker lean (ZL) rats were used as the blank group. The rats in the EA group were treated with EA at bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36), "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6), "Weiwanxiashu" (EX-B 3), and "Pishu" (BL 20). The ipsilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Weiwanxiashu" (EX-B 3) were connected to EA device, continuous wave, frequency of 15 Hz, 20 min each time, once a day, six times a week, for a total of 4 weeks. The fasting blood glucose (FBG) in each group was compared before modeling, before intervention and after intervention; the serum levels of insulin (INS) and C-peptide were measured by radioimmunoassay method, and the insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was calculated; HE staining method was used to observe the liver tissue morphology; Western blot method was used to detect the protein expression of Akt, FoxO1 and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) in the liver. RESULTS: Before intervention, compared with the blank group, FBG was increased in the model group and the EA group (P<0.01); after intervention, compared with the model group, FBG in the EA group was decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the blank group, the serum levels of INS and C-peptide, HOMA-IR, and the protein expression of hepatic FoxO1 and PEPCK were increased (P<0.01), while the protein expression of hepatic Akt was decreased (P<0.01) in the model group. Compared with the model group, the serum levels of INS and C-peptide, HOMA-IR, and the protein expression of hepatic FoxO1 and PEPCK were decreased (P<0.01), while the protein expression of hepatic Akt was increased (P<0.01) in the EA group. In the model group, the hepatocytes were structurally disordered and randomly arranged, with a large number of lipid vacuoles in the cytoplasm. In the EA group, the morphology of hepatocytes tended to be normal and lipid vacuoles were decreased. CONCLUSION EA could reduce FBG and HOMA-IR in ZDF rats, improve liver insulin resistance, which may be related to regulating Akt/FoxO1 signaling pathway.
Male ; Animals ; Rats ; Rats, Zucker ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/therapy* ; Insulin Resistance ; C-Peptide ; Electroacupuncture ; Liver ; Signal Transduction ; Insulin ; Lipids

Objective: To investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and sexual development in Chinese children. Methods: A nationwide multicenter and population-based large cross-sectional study was conducted in 13 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of China from January 2017 to December 2018. Data on sex, age, height, weight were collected, BMI was calculated and sexual characteristics were analyzed. The subjects were divided into four groups based on age, including ages 3-<6 years, 6-<10 years, 10-<15 years and 15-<18 years. Multiple Logistic regression models were used for evaluating the associations of BMI with sexual development in children. Dichotomous Logistic regression was used to compare the differences in the distribution of early and non-early puberty among normal weight, overweight and obese groups. Curves were drawn to analyze the relationship between the percentage of early puberty and BMI distribution in girls and boys at different Tanner stages. Results: A total of 208 179 healthy children (96 471 girls and 111 708 boys) were enrolled in this study. The OR values of B2, B3 and B4+ in overweight girls were 1.72 (95%CI: 1.56-1.89), 3.19 (95%CI: 2.86-3.57), 7.14 (95%CI: 6.33-8.05) and in obese girls were 2.05 (95%CI: 1.88-2.24), 4.98 (95%CI: 4.49-5.53), 11.21 (95%CI: 9.98-12.59), respectively; while the OR values of G2, G3, G4+ in overweight boys were 1.27 (95%CI: 1.17-1.38), 1.52 (95%CI: 1.36-1.70), 1.88 (95%CI: 1.66-2.14) and in obese boys were 1.27 (95%CI: 1.17-1.37), 1.59 (95%CI: 1.43-1.78), and 1.93 (95%CI: 1.70-2.18) (compared with normal weight Tanner 1 group,all P<0.01). Analysis in different age groups found that OR values of obese girls at B2 stage and boys at G2 stage were 2.02 (95%CI: 1.06-3.86) and 2.32 (95%CI:1.05-5.12) in preschool children aged 3-<6 years, respectively (both P<0.05). And in the age group of 6-10 years, overweight girls had a 5.45-fold risk and obese girls had a 12.54-fold risk of B3 stage compared to girls with normal BMI. Compared with normal weight children, the risk of early puberty was 2.67 times higher in overweight girls, 3.63 times higher in obese girls, and 1.22 times higher in overweight boys, 1.35 times higher in obese boys (all P<0.01). Among the children at each Tanner stages, the percentage of early puberty increased with the increase of BMI, from 5.7% (80/1 397), 16.1% (48/299), 13.8% (27/195) to 25.7% (198/769), 65.1% (209/321), 65.4% (157/240) in girls aged 8-<9, 10-<11 and 11-<12 years, and 6.6% (34/513), 18.7% (51/273), 21.6% (57/264) to 13.3% (96/722), 46.4% (140/302), 47.5% (105/221) in boys aged 9-<10, 12-<13 and 13-<14 years, respectively. Conclusions: BMI is positively correlated with sexual development in both Chinese boys and girls, and the correlation is stronger in girls. Obesity is a risk factor for precocious puberty in preschool children aged 3-<6 years, and 6-<10 years of age is a high risk period for early development in obese girls.
Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China/epidemiology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity/epidemiology* ; Overweight/epidemiology* ; Puberty ; Puberty, Precocious ; Sexual Development

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on protein expressions of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) and insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) in hypothalamus and morphology of pancreas islet in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats, and to explore its possible mechanism on improving plasma glucose and insulin resistance of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: Twelve SPF male ZDF rats were selected and fed with high-fat diet for 4 weeks to establish the T2DM model, after modeling, the rats were randomly divided into a model group and an EA group, 6 rats in each one. Besides, 6 SPF male Zucker lean rats were selected as a blank group. In the EA group, EA was applied at "Pishu" (BL 20), "Weiwanxiashu" (EX-B 3), "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6), with continuous wave, 15 Hz in frequency, 2 mA in intensity, once a day, 20 min each time, 6 times a week for 4 weeks. The fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was measured before and after intervention. The serum level of fasting insulin (FINS) was measured by radioimmunoassay, and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was calculated; the morphological change of pancreas islets was observed by HE staining; the protein expressions of SOCS3 and IRS-1 in hypothalamus were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Before intervention, compared with the blank group, FPG in the model group and the EA group was increased (P<0.01). After intervention, compared with the blank group, FPG, serum level of FINS and HOMA-IR were increased (P<0.01), the protein expression of SOCS3 was increased while IRS-1 was decreased in the hypothalamus in the model group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, FPG, serum level of FINS and HOMA-IR were decreased (P<0.01), the protein expression of SOCS3 was decreased while IRS-1 was increased in the hypothalamus in the EA group (P<0.01). In the model group, the shape of pancreas islets was irregular, the area of pancreas islets and the number of islet β cell nuclei were decreased, the nuclei of islet β cell was compensatory enlargement. In the EA group, the shape and the area of pancreas islets and the number of islet β cell nuclei were improved, the compensatory increase of islet β cell nuclei was alleviated compared with the model group. CONCLUSION Electroacupuncture can reduce the fasting plasma glucose, improve the morphology of pancreas islets, and alleviate the insulin resistance in ZDF rats. The mechanism may relate to the down-regulation of SOCS3 and up-regulation of IRS-1 in the hypothalamus, and improving the function of hypothalamus in regulating peripheral glucose metabolism.
Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Blood Glucose/metabolism* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/therapy* ; Electroacupuncture ; Hypothalamus/metabolism* ; Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins/metabolism* ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Pancreas/metabolism* ; Rats ; Rats, Zucker ; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: Vitamin D and Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) inhibition are involved in the protection of keratinocytes. The effects of combination of 1,25(OH) ₂D ₃ and TLR-4 inhibitor on the protection of keratinocytes against ultraviolet radiation B (UVB) irradiation remain unclear. This study was undertaken to explore the effects of combination of 1,25(OH) ₂D ₃ and TAK-242 (TLR-4 inhibitor) on the damage to HaCaT cells caused by UVB irradiation. METHODS: In vitro, HaCaT cells were treated with 1,25(OH) ₂D ₃ or/and TAK-242 prior to UVB irradiation at the intensity of 20 mJ/cm ², then the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), cell migration, apoptosis of cells, and the expression of oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and apoptosis related proteins were determined. RESULTS: Compared with the HaCaT cells treated with 1,25(OH) ₂D ₃ or TAK-242, the cells treated with both 1,25(OH) ₂D ₃ and TAK-242 showed, 1) significantly lower production of ROS ( P < 0.05); 2) significantly less apoptosis of HaCaT cells ( P < 0.05); 3) significantly lower expression of NF- κB, Caspase-8, Cyto-C, Caspase-3 ( P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The combination of 1,25(OH) ₂D ₃ and TAK-242 could produce a better protection for HaCaT cells via inhibiting the oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis than 1,25(OH) ₂D ₃ or TAK-242 alone.
Humans ; HaCaT Cells ; NF-kappa B ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; Ultraviolet Rays/adverse effects* ; Cholecalciferol/analogs & derivatives*

Objective:To observe the expression of adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase （AMPK）/transcription factor EB （TFEB） autophagy signaling pathway protein in type 2 diabetes （T2DM） complicated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD） rats after intervention with Shihu mixture （SHM）. Method:Among 40 male SD rats， 10 rats were randomly selected as normal group according to body weight. The remaining 30 rats were fed with high-fat and high-sugar diet for 6 weeks， and then intraperitoneally injected with streptozotocin （STZ） to establish a T2DM NAFLD model. They were divided into normal control group （10 mL·kg^-1·d^-1）， model control group （10 mL·kg^-1·d^-1）， metformin group （100 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）， SHM group （11.3 g·kg^-1·d^-1）. The rats in each group were gavaged for 4 weeks. After gavage， the rats were euthanized. Abdominal aortic blood and liver tissue were collected to detect fasting blood glucose （FBS）， glycated serum protein （GSP）， insulin （INS）， triglyceride （TG）， total cholesterol （TC）， high density lipoprotein cholesterol（HDL-C）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol（LDL-C） content. Htoxylin eosin （HE） staining was performed to observe changes in liver tissue morphology. Western blot was used to detect AMPK/TFEB signaling pathway-related protein expression. Result:Compared with the model control group， FBS and GSP of the SHM group and the DMBG group decreased （P<0.05）， while INS increased （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， HDL increased in the SHM group and the DMBG group （P<0.05）， whereas TC， TG and LDL contents decreased （P<0.05）. Liver HE staining results showed that both SHM and Metformin could improve the liver morphology of T2DM and NAFLD rats to some extent. Western blot results showed that p-AMPK/AMPK of SHM and metformin increased （P<0.05）， while the expressions of TFEB and LC3Ⅱ increased （P<0.05）. Conclusion:SHM can improve glucose and lipid metabolism by activating AMPK/TFEB autophagy signaling pathway， so as to improve liver pathological morphology.