Objective To explore the mechanism of the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea(PD)by mild moxibustion on"Shenque"and"Guanyuan"acupoints based on the regulation of cAMP-PKA signaling pathway on TRPV1.Methods Totally 32 female non-pregnant Wistar rats were randomly divided into blank group,model group,mild moxibustion group and capsazepine group,with 8 rats in each group.Except for the blank group,the other groups all used estradiol benzoate intraperitoneal injection combined with ice water bath to establish a PD cold-dampness stagnation syndrome rat model.Intervention began on the first day of modeling,the mild moxibustion group selects"Shenque"and"Guanyuan"for mild moxibustion,20 min per time,the capsazepine group was injected capsazepine 2 mg/kg,once a day for 10 consecutive days.ELISA was used to detect uterine PGF2α and cAMP content,immunofluorescence staining was used to detect TRPV1 expression in uterine tissue,Western blot was used to detect PKA,p-PKA and TRPV1 protein expression.Results Compared with the blank group,the latency period of body twisting in the model group rats decreased,and the body twisting score increased(P<0.01);the contents of PGF2α and cAMP in uterine tissue increased(P<0.01),and the expressions of TRPV1 and p-PKA proteins increased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the mild moxibustion group and capsazepine group showed an increase in the latency period of body twisting and a decrease in the body twisting score(P<0.01);the content of PGF2α and cAMP in uterine tissue decreased(P<0.01),and the expressions of TRPV1 and p-PKA proteins decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Compared with the mild moxibustion group,the capsazepine group showed an increase in the latency period of body twisting and a decrease in the body twisting score(P<0.01);the contents of PGF2α and cAMP in uterine tissue decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01),and the expressions of TRPV1 protein decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion Mild moxibustion at"Shenque"and"Guanyuan"acupoints has obvious analgesic effect on PD rats,and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of uterine cAMP-PKA signaling pathway mediated TRPV1 protein expression.

Objective To evaluate and analyze the accuracies of 3 software solutions based on deep learning techniques in the automatic segmentation of head and neck organs at risk(OAR).Methods The automatic segmentation accuracies of 3 software(PV-iCurve,RT-Mind,and AccuContour)were evaluated with Dice similarity coefficient(DSC),Hausdorff distance(HD),center of mass deviation(COMD),false negative rate(FNR),false positive rate(FPR),Jaccard coefficient(JC),sensitivity index(SI),and inclusive index(II)using the manual contours of head and neck OAR as the gold standard.Results The FNR,JC,SI of brain,the FPR,II of brainstem,the FPR,FNR,JC,SI of eye_L,the FPR,FNR,SI,II of mandible,the FPR,FNR,SI,II of parotid_L,and the DSC,FPR,JC,II of spinal cord manifested significant differences among the 3 software(P<0.05);but the HD,FNR,SI of brainstem,and the HD of spinal cord revealed trivial differences among the 3 software(P>0.05).Conclusion Through the comparison of multiple parameters,it is found that the accuracies of 3 software are different in OAR segmentation,which makes it difficult to make overall horizontal comparisons.Therefore,these parameters are for reference only and cannot be used as criteria for evaluating the segmentation results in clinic.Although all 3 software achieve preferable segmentation outcomes,scrutiny and manual modifications before clinical practice are still necessary.

Objective:To observe the effects of preventative moxibustion on analgesia,substance P(SP),prostaglandin(PG)F2α and PGE2 in rats with dysmenorrhea due to cold-dampness stagnation,and to explore the analgesic mechanism. Methods:Sixty-four female Wistar non-pregnant rats were randomly divided into a blank group,a model group,a Western medicine group,and a preventative moxibustion group,with 16 rats in each group.Eight qualified diestrus rats were selected from each group.Except for the blank group,the other three groups established models of dysmenorrhea due to cold-dampness stagnation using an ice water bath combined with estradiol benzoate and oxytocin.On the 8th day after modeling,the preventative moxibustion group was treated with gentle moxibustion at Shenque(CV8)and Guanyuan(CV4),and the Western medicine group was given ibuprofen solution for 4 consecutive days.On the 11th day,the intervention groups(i.e.the Western medicine group and the preventative moxibustion group)were treated once again after being injected with oxytocin.The writhing score and the pain threshold of rats were determined;the serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF),SP,PGF2α,and PGE2 were measured;the mRNA and protein expression levels of BDNF and its receptor tropomyosin receptor kinase B(TrkB)in the spinal dorsal horn and hypothalamus were detected. Results:Compared with the blank group,the writhing score increased(P<0.01),the pain threshold decreased(P<0.01),the serum levels of BDNF,SP,and PGF2α increased(P<0.01),while the PGE2 decreased(P<0.01);the protein and mRNA expression levels of BDNF and TrkB in the spinal dorsal horn and hypothalamus increased(P<0.01)in the model group.Compared with the model group,the writhing score decreased,the pain threshold increased,the serum BDNF,SP,and PGF2α levels decreased significantly,the serum PGE2 level increased,and the protein and mRNA expression levels of BDNF and TrkB in the spinal dorsal horn and hypothalamus decreased significantly in the preventative moxibustion group and the Western medicine group,while the inter-group differences were significant(P<0.01).Compared with the Western medicine group,the writhing score decreased,the pain threshold increased,the serum BDNF,SP,and PGF2α,levels decreased,the serum PGE2 level increased,and the protein and mRNA expression levels of BDNF and TrkB in the spinal dorsal horn and hypothalamus in the preventative moxibustion group decreased significantly,while the inter-group differences were significant(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion:Preventative moxibustion at Shenque(CV8)and Guanyuan(CV4)can improve the pain sensitization state of rats with dysmenorrhea due to cold-dampness stagnation,down-regulate the mRNA and protein expression levels of BDNF and TrkB in the spinal dorsal horn and hypothalamus;regulation of the serum SP,PGF2α,and PGE2 levels may be part of the mechanism.

The automation of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)pharmaceuticals has driven the development of process analysis from offline to online.Most of common online process analytical technologies are based on spectroscopy,making the identification and quantification of specific ingredients still a challenge.Herein,we developed a quality control(QC)system for monitoring TCM pharmaceuticals based on paper spray ionization miniature mass spectrometry(mini-MS).It enabled real-time online qualitative and quantitative detection of target ingredients in herbal extracts using mini-MS without chromatographic separation for the first time.Dynamic changes of alkaloids in Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata(Fuzi)during decoction were used as examples,and the scientific principle of Fuzi compatibility was also investigated.Finally,the system was verified to work stably at the hourly level for pilot-scale extraction.This mini-MS based online analytical system is expected to be further developed for QC applications in a wider range of pharmaceutical processes.

Objective: To observe the immediate effect of small-angle Tui-Pushing and An-Pressing anti-rotation bone-setting manipulation in improving the correction of braces for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Methods: A total of 50 cases of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were selected and given brace correction first. The whole spine anteroposterior and lateral radiographs were taken, the Cobb angle was measured, and the visual analog scale (VAS) score of pain caused by brace wearing was recorded. After removal of the brace, small-angle Tui-Pushing and An-Pressing anti-rotation bone-setting manipulation was performed once. After treatment, the same brace was put on again to take a whole spine anteroposterior radiograph, the Cobb angle was measured, and the VAS score was recorded. The changes in Cobb angle and VAS score after manipulation were compared, and the immediate efficacy was evaluated. Results: After the manipulation, the Cobb angle was significantly smaller than that before treatment (P<0.01) and the VAS score was significantly lower than that before treatment (P<0.01). Conclusion: Small-angle Tui-Pushing and An-Pressing anti-rotation bone-setting manipulation can improve the immediate efficacy of brace in treating adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and relieve the pain caused by brace wearing at the same time.

Objective:To observe the effects of sparrow-pecking moxibustion at Shenque(CV8)and Guanyuan(CV4)on the writhing reaction and score,the temperature and blood flow perfusion of moxibustion point area and uterus,the serum levels of arginine vasopressin(AVP),prostaglandin(PG)F2α,and thromboxane(TX)B2 in rats with primary dysmenorrhea(PD)due to cold-dampness stagnation,and to explore the possible mechanism of sparrow-pecking moxibustion in treating PD.Methods:Thirty-two healthy non-pregnant female Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group,a model group,an ibuprofen group,and a sparrow-pecking moxibustion group,with 8 rats in each group.Except for the normal group,the other three groups were subjected to modeling with cold water bath combined with estradiol benzoate and oxytocin injection.Rats in the sparrow-pecking moxibustion group were treated with sparrow-pecking moxibustion at Shenque(CV8)and Guanyuan(CV4)on the 8th day of modeling,30 min/time,once a day for 3 d;those in the ibuprofen group were treated with 0.8 mL ibuprofen solution(a specification of 125 mg in 10 mL)on the 8th day of modeling,once a day for 3 d;those in the normal group and the model group were given 0.8 mL normal saline,once a day for 3 d.On the 11th day,rats in each group were intraperitoneally injected with oxytocin(2 U/rat),and the writhing incubation period and writhing score in 20 min were observed;the temperature and the blood perfusion of Shenque(CV8),Guanyuan(CV4),and uterus in vivo were detected;the serum levels of AVP,PGF2α,and TXB2 were determined.Results:The writhing incubation period was significantly longer(P<0.01)and the writhing score was significantly lower(P<0.01)in the sparrow-pecking moxibustion group and the ibuprofen group than in the model group;compared with the ibuprofen group,the writhing incubation period was prolonged(P<0.01)and the writhing score was decreased(P<0.01)in the sparrow-pecking moxibustion group;compared with the normal group,the temperature and the blood perfusion of Shenque(CV8),Guanyuan(CV4),and uterus were significantly decreased,while the serum PGF2α,AVP,and TXB2 levels were significantly increased(P<0.01)in the model group;compared with the model group,the temperature and the blood perfusion of Shenque(CV8),Guanyuan(CV4),and uterus were significantly increased,and the serum levels of PGF2α,AVP,and TXB2 were significantly decreased in the ibuprofen group and the sparrow-pecking moxibustion group(P<0.05 or P<0.01);compared with the ibuprofen group,the temperature and the blood perfusion of Shenque(CV8),Guanyuan(CV4),and uterus were significantly increased(P<0.05),the serum AVP and TXB2 levels were significantly decreased(P<0.05),while the serum PGF2α level had no statistical difference in the sparrow-pecking moxibustion group(P>0.05).Conclusion:Sparrow-pecking moxibustion had a remarkable analgesic effect on the rats with PD due to cold-dampness stagnation,and the mechanism may be related to the increased temperature and blood perfusion of the moxibustion point area and uterus,as well as the decreased serum PGF2α,AVP,and TXB2 levels.

Abstract OBJECTIVE To analyze and summarize the research history, development status, trends and hotspots of Codonopsis Radix by bibliometrics. METHODS Search and screen the related literatures of Codonopsis Radix from the CNKI database and the Web of Science core collection database from Januar 1, 1992 to June 30, 2022. VOSviewer and CiteSpace softwares were used for visual analysis of the number of publications, authors, institutions, countries, funding funds, published journals, literature citation frequency, keywords, clustering and emergent word, and a visual graph was drew. RESULTS A total of 594 effective literature, 484 in Chinese and 110 in English were included. GAO Jianping and ZOU Yuanfeng were the scholars with the largest amount of Chinese and English literature. China was the country with the most published researches on Codonopsis Radix. The School of Pharmaceutical Science of Shanxi Medical University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences were the institutions with the largest number of Chinese and English literature publications respectively. The National Science Foundation of China was the largest fund to support the research of Codonopsis Radix. The journal that received the most Chinese and English literature were Journal of Chinese Medicinal Materials and International Journal of Biological Macromolecules respectively. The most frequently cited Chinese literature was a summary of the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of Codonopsis Radix. The most frequently cited English literature was a study on the structure identification and pharmacological effects of Codonopsis Radix polysaccharides. The map of key words, clustering and emergent words in Chinese literature showed that the main research directions of Codonopsis Radix were compatibility formula, resource planting, pharmacological action and quality control. The map of key words, clustering and emergent words in English literature indicated that the study of Codonopsis Radix always focused on the material basis and mechanism of its active ingredients. CONCLUSION The annual publications on of Codonopsis Radix show an increasing trend, and the main research institutions are distributed in many universities and research institutes in China. Both Chinese and English literature have their own research directions, and the pharmacological effects of active ingredients are the common trend hotspots.

Objective: To investigate the effect of miR-23b/PTEN molecular axis on radio-sensitivity of lung cancerA549 cells and its mechanism. Methods: Lung cancer cell lines NCI-H1650, NCI-H175, Calu-1, LT-P-A-2, MSTO-211H, A549 and human normal lung epithelial cell line BEAS-2B were selected. The expression level of miR-23b in lung cancer cell lines was detected by qPCR. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was used to verify the relationship between miR-23b and PTEN. Plasmids miR-23b mimics, miR-23b inhibitor and pcDNA3.1-PTEN were transfected intoA549 cells by lipofection; PTEN expression levels in cells was detected by WB. CCK-8, Transwell andAnnexin V-FITC/PI staining flow cytometry were used to detect the effect of miR-23b/PTEN axis on proliferation, invasion and apoptosis ofA549 cells treated with 60Co γ-ray. Results: miR-23b was upregulated in lung cancer cell lines with the highest expression in A549 cells (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Knockdown of miR-23b reversed the inhibitory effect of 3 Gy 60Co γ-rays on proliferation and invasion of A549 cells, and induced apoptosis (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay results confirmed that miR23b could negatively regulate PTEN (P<0.05). Furthermore, knockdown of miR-23b up-regulated PTEN expression level, and furhter enhanced the inhibitory effect of 3 Gy 60Co γ-ray on the proliferation and invasion of A549 cells as well as induced apoptosis of A549 cells (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion: Knockdown of miR-23b can enhance the radio-sensitivity of A549 cells, the mechanism of which is that 60Co γ-ray down-regulates the inhibitory effect of miR-23b on PTEN, thereby inhibiting the proliferation, invasion and inducing apoptosis ofA549 cells.

Objective: To observe the effects of moxibustion at different times on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and arginine vasopressin (AVP), in the uterine tissues of rats with dysmenorrhea due to cold-dampness retention, and to explore the differences and possible mechanisms of moxibustion at different times in easing pain in dysmenorrhea due to cold-dampness retention. Methods: Forty-three female Wistar rats were randomly divided into a blank control group (n=7), a model group (n=9), a pre-moxibustion group (n=9), an immediate-moxibustion group (n=9) and a pre-moxibustion plus immediate-moxibustion group (n=9). Rat models of primary dysmenorrhea due to cold-dampness retention were established using (0±1) ℃ ice water immersion method combined with injection of estradiol benzoate for 10 d, followed by injection of oxytocin on the 11th day. Rats in the 3 intervention groups received moxibustion to Shenque (CV 8) and Guanyuan (CV 4), 10 min for each acupoint, once a day. Rats in pre-moxibustion group were given mild moxibustion, beginning on the 8th day during modeling, for 3 continuous days; rats in immediate-moxibustion group were given one time mild moxibustion, immediately after injection of oxytocin on the 11th day during modeling; rats in pre-moxibustion plus immediate-moxibustion group were given mild moxibustion, beginning on the 8th day during modeling till immediately after injection of oxytocin on the 11th day during modeling, for 4 continuous days. The level of PGF2α in the rat uterine tissues was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the levels of PGE2 and AVP in rat uterine tissues were measured by radioimmunoassay. Results: Compared with the blank control group, the levels of PGF2α and AVP, the PGF2α/PGE2 ratio in the model group were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the PGE2 level was significantly decreased (P<0.01) in the rat uterine tissues in the model group. Compared with the model group, the writhing latency was significantly prolonged, the writhing number and the total writhing score were all decreased in the pre-moxibustion group, the immediate-moxibustion group and the pre-moxibustion plus immediate-moxibustion group (all P<0.01); the levels of PGF2α and AVP, and the PGF2α/PGE2 ratio were all significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the PGE2 level was significantly increased (P<0.01) in the rat uterine tissues of the 3 treatment groups. Compared with the pre-moxibustion group, the writhing number and the total writhing score were all decreased in the immediate-moxibustion group and the pre-moxibustion plus immediate-moxibustion group (all P<0.01), the writhing latency was significantly prolonged in the pre-moxibustion plus immediate-moxibustion group(P<0.01); the levels of PGF2α and PGF2α/PGE2 ratio were significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the PGE2 level was significantly increased (P<0.01) in rat uterine tissues in the immediate-moxibustion group and the pre-moxibustion plus immediate-moxibustion group. Compared with the immediate-moxibustion group, the writhing latency was significantly prolonged and the writhing number was decreased (all P<0.05), and the total writhing score was decreased (P<0.01) in the pre-moxibustion plus immediate-moxibustion group; the PGF2α level and the PGF2α/PGE2 ratio were significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the PGE2 level was significantly increased (P<0.01) in rat uterine tissues in the pre-moxibustion plus immediate-moxibustion group. Conclusion: Moxibustion at different times all can produce obvious analgesic effects on dysmenorrhea due to cold-dampness retention in rats, and pre-moxibustion plus immediate-moxibustion ranks the top. The mechanism of this analgesic effect may be via the regulation of abnormal PGF2α, PGE2 and AVP levels, to effectively inhibit the spastic contraction of uterine smooth muscle in dysmenorrhea rat, thereby improving the ischemia and hypoxia in uterus.

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect and safety of rock salt aerosol therapy in the treatment of occupational allergic contact dermatitis. Methods: A total of 65 patients with acute exacerbation of occupational allergic contact dermatitis who were treated in the Outpatient Service and Inpatient Department of our hospital from March 2013 to December 2015 were enrolled and randomly divided into observation group and control group using a random number table. Both groups were givensymptomatic treatment including desensitization, and the patients in the observation group were given rock salt aerosol therapy for 2 courses in addition to the symptomatic treatment. The changes in symptoms, signs, blood eosinophil count, and IgE were observed. Results: There were significant changes in symptom score at the first and second courses of the treatment (P<0.05) , and there was an interaction between time of therapy and grouping (P<0.05) . There was no significant difference in symptom score before treatment between the two groups (P>0.05) , while there were differences at the first and second courses of the treatment (P<0.05) . After the second course of treatment, the observation group had a significantly higher overall response rate than the control group (P<0.05) ; both groups had significant reductions in blood eosinophil count and the observation group had a significantly greater reduction than the control group (P<0.05) . After two courses of treatment, both groups had significant increases in the number of patients with normal IgE (both P<0.05) , and after the second course of treatment, the observation group had a significantly higher number than the control group (P<0.05) . Both groups had mild adverse events, which did not affect the treatment. Conclusion In the treatment of occupational allergic contact dermatitis, rock salt aerosol therapy has a certain effect on the recovery of symptoms, signs, blood eosinophil count, and IgE.