OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) in promoting recovery of the facial function with the involvement of autophagy, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. METHODS: Seventy-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into the control, sham-operated, facial nerve injury (FNI), EA, EA+3-methyladenine (3-MA), and EA+GDNF antagonist groups using a random number table, with 12 rats in each group. An FNI rat model was established with facial nerve crushing method. EA intervention was conducted at Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6), Yifeng (SJ 17), and Hegu (LI 4) acupoints for 2 weeks. The Simone's 10-Point Scale was utilized to monitor the recovery of facial function. The histopathological evaluation of facial nerves was performed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The levels of Beclin-1, light chain 3 (LC3), and P62 were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Additionally, IHC was also used to detect the levels of GDNF, Rai, PI3K, and mTOR. RESULTS: The facial functional scores were significantly increased in the EA group than the FNI group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). HE staining showed nerve axons and myelin sheaths, which were destroyed immediately after the injury, were recovered with EA treatment. The expressions of Beclin-1 and LC3 were significantly elevated and the expression of P62 was markedly reduced in FNI rats (P<0.01); however, EA treatment reversed these abnormal changes (P<0.01). Meanwhile, EA stimulation significantly increased the levels of GDNF, Rai, PI3K, and mTOR (P<0.01). After exogenous administration with autophagy inhibitor 3-MA or GDNF antagonist, the repair effect of EA on facial function was attenuated (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS EA could promote the recovery of facial function and repair the facial nerve damages in a rat model of FNI. EA may exert this neuroreparative effect through mediating the release of GDNF, activating the PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway, and further regulating the autophagy of facial nerves.
Rats ; Male ; Animals ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Electroacupuncture ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/metabolism* ; Facial Nerve Injuries/therapy* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Beclin-1 ; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; Signal Transduction ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; Autophagy ; Mammals/metabolism*

Objective:To investigate the post-traumatic stress response in women with unintended pregnancy termination and analyze its related factors.Methods:Totally 388 women with unintended pregnancy termination from two public hospitals in Fujian were selected as the research subjects.They were assessed with the Impact of E-vent Scale-Revised(IES-R),Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS),Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale(CD-RISC)and Perinatal Grief Scale(PGS).The total score of IES-R ≥35 was positive for post-traumatic stress disorder screening.Results:The total score of IES-R was(20.6±12.4),and the positive rate of post-traumatic stress disorder screening was 16.5％.Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the IES-R total scores were higher in those who thought pregnancy timing was appropriate than those who thought pregnancy timing was wrong(β=0.13),and lower in women with moderate pain during termination than in those with severe pain(β=-0.09).The IES-R total scores were positively correlated with gestational weeks,depression scores of the HADS and grief scores of the PGS(β=0.18,0.27,0.16),and negatively correlated with optimism scores of the CD-RISC(β=-0.12).Conclusion:The post-traumatic stress response of unintended termination of pregnancy is at a moder-ate level.Post-traumatic stress symptoms are more likely to occur in women who thought pregnancy timing is ap-propriate,and those with severe pain during pregnancy termination,large gestational weeks,high level of depression during pregnancy,and high level of grief after pregnancy termination.

The toad, known for its various medicinal properties including parotid gland secretion (toad venom), dried skin, and gallbladder (toad bile), holds considerable medicinal applications as a valuable traditional Chinese animal medicine. Currently, in-depth attentions have been paid to the chemical composition and pharmacological properties of toad venom and skin; however, a lesser number of detailed analyses were concentrated on the toad bile. This review provides an overview of the chemical constituents in the bile of the Bufo genus, with a special focus on the cholestane and bufadienolides, and highlights the progress in their biosynthetic pathway and pharmacological activities. The analysis uncovers a distinct category of unsaturated Δ²² or Δ²³-C₂₇/C₂₈ bile acids in the toad gallbladder, potentially acting as key intermediaries in forming C-17 α-pyrone of bufadienolides. Furthermore, the high presence of 3α-OH configured bufadienolides in toad bile, in contrast to the common 3β-OH configured found in toad venom or skin, indicates a possible link between their minimal toxicity and the toad's self-defensive or physiological control. This review provides scientific basis for the development and utilization of toad bile resources, and provides useful reference for the discovery of lead compounds, analysis of the biosynthetic pathway of bufadienolides, and research on toad physiology.

Objective Studies on the relationship between iodine,vitamin A(VA),and vitamin D(VD)and thyroid function are limited.This study aimed to analyze iodine and thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH)status and their possible relationships with VA,VD,and other factors in postpartum women. Methods A total of 1,311 mothers(896 lactating and 415 non-lactating)from Hebei,Zhejiang,and Guangxi provinces were included in this study.The urinary iodine concentration(UIC),TSH,VA,and VD were measured. Results The median UIC of total and lactating participants were 142.00 μg/L and 139.95 μg/L,respectively.The median TSH,VA,and VD levels in all the participants were 1.89 mIU/L,0.44 μg/mL,and 24.04 ng/mL,respectively.No differences in the UIC were found between lactating and non-lactating mothers.UIC and TSH levels were significantly different among the three provinces.The rural UIC was higher than the urban UIC.Obese mothers had a higher UIC and a higher prevalence of excessive TSH.Higher UICs and TSHs levels were observed in both the VD deficiency and insufficiency groups than in the VD-sufficient group.After adjustment,no linear correlation was observed between UIC and VA/VD.No interaction was found between vitamins A/D and UIC on TSH levels. Conclusion The mothers in the present study had no iodine deficiency.Region,area type,BMI,and VD may be related to the iodine status or TSH levels.

Pharmacokinetics of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)is a discipline that adopts pharmacokinetic research methods and techniques under the guidance of TCM theories to elucidate the dynamic changes in the absorption,distribution,metabolism and excretion of active ingredients,active sites,single-flavour Chinese medicinal and compounded formulas of TCM in vivo.However,the sources and components of TCM are complex,and the pharmacodynamic substances and mechanisms of action of the majority of TCM are not yet clear,so the pharmacokinetic study of TCM is later than that of chemical medicines,and is far more complex than that of chemical medicines,and its development also confronts with challenges.The pharmacokinetic study of TCM originated in the 1950s and has experienced more than 70 years of development from the initial in vivo study of a single active ingredient,to the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study of active ingredients,to the pharmacokinetic study of compound and multi-component of Chinese medicine.In recent years,with the help of advanced extraction,separation and analysis technologies,gene-editing animals and cell models,multi-omics technologies,protein purification and structure analysis technologies,and artificial intelligence,etc.,the pharmacokinetics of TCM has been substantially applied in revealing and elucidating the pharmacodynamic substances and mechanisms of action of Chinese medicines,research and development of new drugs of TCM,scientific and technological upgrading of large varieties of Chinese patent medicines,as well as guiding the rational use of medicines in clinics.Pharmacokinetic studies of TCM have made remarkable breakthroughs and significant development in theory,methodology,technology and application.In this paper,the history of the development of pharmacokinetics of TCM and the progress of cutting-edge research was reviewed,with the aim of providing ideas and references for the pharmacokinetics of TCM and related research.

Objective To investigate the factors influencing the prognosis of complex intracranial aneurysms treated with pipeline flow-directed device(PED)and to develop a nomogram prediction model.Methods The clinical data of a total of 98 patients with complex intracranial aneurysm,who were admitted to the Anyue County People's Hospital or the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical College of China from January 2021 to April 2023 to receive PED treatment,were retrospectively analyzed.The influencing factors that might affect the prognosis of patients with complex intracranial aneurysm were collected.According to the modified Rankin Scale(mRS)score,the patients were divided into good prognosis group(being defined as mRS ≤2 points)and poor prognosis group(being defined as mRS＞2 points).The clinical data were compared between the two groups,and a nomogram model was established and validated.Results In the 98 patients,poor prognosis was seen in 10(10.20％).The differences in age,history of hypertension,history of diabetes mellitus,clopidogrel resistance,Fisher classification,repeated aneurysm rupture,aneurysm location,aneurysm size,aneurysm neck,multiple lesions,and Hunt-Hess grade on admission between good prognosis group and poor prognosis group were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).Multivariate analysis revealed that history of hypertension,clopidogrel resistance,repeated aneurysm rupture,aneurysm location,multiple lesions,and Hunt-Hess grade were the independent factors influencing the prognosis of patients with complex intracranial aneurysm after receiving PED treatment.The AUC of the nomogram model in predicting the prognosis of PED for complex intracranial aneurysms was 0.849(95％CI=0.758-0.939).The predicted curves of the model group and validation group were basically fitted to the standard curves.The results of the decision curve analysis showed that the net benefit to patients was greater than 0 when the probability threshold of the nomogram model for predicting a poor prognosis of PED for complex intracranial aneurysms was 0.10-0.90.Conclusion The factors causing poor prognosis of PED for complex intracranial aneurysms mainly include history of hypertension,clopidogrel resistance,repeated aneurysm rupture,etc.The nomogram model established in this study can predict the risk of poor prognosis in patients with complicated intracranial aneurysm after receiving PED treatment.

Objective To discuss the clinical application value of super selective renal artery embolization-assisted(SRAE-assisted)laparoscopic partial nephrectomy(LPN).Methods A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of patients with stage T1 renal carcinoma,who received LPN,was conducted.The patients were divided into SRAE group(performing LPN without adopting renal hilum vascular clamping)and VC group(performing LPN with adopting renal hilum vascular clamping).The time spent for operation,amount of intraoperative blood loss,and preoperative and postoperative renal functions were compared between the two groups.According to the warm ischemia time(WIT),the patients of the VC group were subdivided into WIT＜25 min subgroup and WIT≥25 min subgroup,and the preoperative and postoperative renal functions were compared between the two subgroups.Results A total of 59 patients with renal carcinoma were enrolled in this study,including 12 patients in SRAE group and 47 patients in VC group.In VC group,WIT＜25 min subgroup had 33 patients and WIT≥25 min subgroup had 14 patients.In both SRAE group and VC group,no patient was referred to open surgery or total nephrectomy.No patient in SRAE group was referred to traditional LPN.The time spent for operation in SRAE group and VC group was 100.50(73.75,132.50)min and 120.00(90.00,145.00)min respectively,the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant(P＞0.05).The postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR)in SRAE group was 100.56(82.85,106.81),which was remarkably higher than 84.66(70.84,94.85)in VC group(P＜0.05).The postoperative serum creatinine level in VC group was 90.50(77.10,104.90)μmol/L,which was strikingly higher than 72.24(65.97,80.27)μmol/L in SRAE group(P＜0.05).The amount of intraoperative blood loss in SRAE group was 50(50,50)mL,which was lower than 50(50,100)mL in VC group(P＜0.05).In VC group,the postoperative eGFR in WIT≥25 min subgroup was 66.13(47.08,82.50),which was lower than 90.80(77.18,98.78)in WIT＜25 min subgroup(P＜0.05).During the postoperative one-year follow-up,no recurrence was observed in both groups.Conclusion Compared with traditional LPN,SRAE-assisted LPN doesn't need to obstruct the renal hilus during surgery,which can avoid the ischemic impairment of the residual renal function and reduce the amount of intraoperative blood loss,moreover,it doesn't increase the operation time,doesn't increase the incidence of complications such as postoperative bleeding,etc.and doesn't affect the curative efficacy and patient's prognosis.

Objective To observe the value of self-supervised deep learning artificial intelligence(AI)noise reduction technology based on the nearest adjacent layer applicated in ultra-low dose CT(ULDCT)for urinary calculi.Methods Eighty-eight urinary calculi patients were prospectively enrolled.Low dose CT(LDCT)and ULDCT scanning were performed,and the effective dose(ED)of each scanning protocol were calculated.The patients were then randomly divided into training set(n=75)and test set(n=13),and a self-supervised deep learning AI noise reduction system based on the nearest adjacent layer constructed with ULDCT images in training set was used for reducing noise of ULDCT images in test set.In test set,the quality of ULDCT images before and after AI noise reduction were compared with LDCT images,i.e.Blind/Referenceless Image Spatial Quality Evaluator(BRISQUE)scores,image noise(SDROI)and signal-to-noise ratio(SNR).Results The tube current,the volume CT dose index and the dose length product of abdominal ULDCT scanning protocol were all lower compared with those of LDCT scanning protocol(all P＜0.05),with a decrease of ED for approximately 82.66％.For 13 patients with urinary calculi in test set,BRISQUE score showed that the quality level of ULDCT images before AI noise reduction reached 54.42％level but raised to 95.76％level of LDCT images after AI noise reduction.Both ULDCT images after AI noise reduction and LDCT images had lower SDROI and higher SNR than ULDCT images before AI noise reduction(all adjusted P＜0.05),whereas no significant difference was found between the former two(both adjusted P＞0.05).Conclusion Self-supervised learning AI noise reduction technology based on the nearest adjacent layer could effectively reduce noise and improve image quality of urinary calculi ULDCT images,being conducive for clinical application of ULDCT.

Objective:To investigate the clinical features and prognostic factors of patients with primary extranodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(DLBCL)in the rituximab era.Methods:The continuous data of newly diagnosed DLBCL patients with complete case data and first-line treated with rituximab,cyclophosphamide,epirubicin,vincristine,prednisone(R-CHOP)or R-CHOP treatment admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University from January 2013 to November 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.The clinical and molecular immunological features and prognosis of extranodal DLBCL were analyzed,Logistics regression model was used to analyzed the influencing factors of patients prognosis.Results:A total of 237 patients were enrolled,of which 54.4％(129 cases)were primary extranodal sources of DLBCL,and the most common extranodal sites were as follows:stomach(19.4％),colon(14.7％),tonsils(12.4％),skin/muscle(9.3％),central(7.7％),nasal/nasopharynx(6.2％),bone marrow(5.4％),testes(4.7％).The 3-year PFS and OS of DLBCL patients with extranodal involvement of bone marrow,central,liver,gastrointestinal or pulmonary origin were significantly lower than those of other patients with extranodal DLBCL of non-special site origin,and the difference was statistically significant(PFS:65.2％vs 76.7％,P=0.008;OS:82.6％vs 88.3％,P=0.04).Multivariate analysis showed that the prognostic factors affecting OS included NCCN-IPI score＞3(OR:0.142,95％CI:0.041-0.495,P=0.002),non-germinal center source(OR:2.675,95％CI:1.069-6.694,P=0.036),and DEL patients(OR:0.327,95％CI:0.129-0.830,P=0.019).An NCCN-IPI score＞3 was the only independent adverse prognostic factor for PFS(OR:0.235,95％CI:0.116-0.474,P＜0.001).Conclusion:Patients with primary extranodal source DLBCL are more common in gastrointestinal involvement,and the overall prognosis is worse than that of patients with lymph node origin.NCCN-IPI score is an important independent adverse prognostic factor for predicting overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with primary extranodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Objective:To investigate the early predictive value of halving time(HT)of BCR-ABLIS for deep molecular response(DMR)in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia(CML)treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitor(TKI).Methods:The continuous data of newly diagnosed CML patients with complete case data and first-line imatinib treatment admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University from January 2014 to June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.Combined with the clinical characteristics of the patients and the efficacy analysis at each time point,a logistic regression model was used to explore the independent influencing factors of DMR,and combined HT of BCR-ABLIS with BCR-ABLIS level at 3 months to predict DMR of the patients.Results:Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that HT and 3-month BCR-ABLIS levels were independent influencing factors for MR4,MR4.5,and stable MR4.5(P＜0.05).ROC curve analysis determined that the best cut-off value of HT was 28 days.Compared with patients with HT＞28 d,patients with HT ≤28 d were more likely to obtain DMR at 2,3,and 5 years,respectively(74.2％vs 27.3％,71.2％vs 22.7％,and 63.6％vs 25.0％,all P＜0.001).The patients were divided into 4 groups according to BCR-ABLIS levels at 3 months and HT.Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the patients in the BCR-ABLIS ≤10％and HT≤28 d group had a higher probability of obtaining cumulative MR4 and MR4.5 than those in the BCR-ABLIS≤10％and HT＞28 d group(P＜0.05);Patients in the BCR-ABLIS＞10％and HT≤28 d group had a higher probability of obtaining cumulative MR4 and MR4.5 than those in the BCR-ABLIS＞10％and HT＞28 d group(P＜0.05).Conclusion:In addition to BCR-ABLIS level,HT of BCR-ABLIS can be used as another important predictor of treatment efficacy in CML patients.The combination of BCR-ABLIS level and HT has a more accurate predictive value for long-term molecular response of CML patients after TKI treatment.