ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism by which 2，3，5，4'-tetrahydroxyldiphenylethylene-2-O-glucoside （THSG） mitigates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion （CI/R） injury by regulating mitochondrial calcium overload and promoting mitophagy. MethodsSixty male SD rats were randomized into sham， model， SAS （40 mg·kg^-1）， and low-， medium- and high-dose （10， 20， 40 mg·kg^-1， respectively） THSG groups， with 10 rats in each group. The middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion （MCAO/R） model was established by the modified Longa suture method. An oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation （OGD/R） model was constructed in PC12 cells. Neurological deficits were assessed via Zea Longa scoring， and cerebral infarct volume was measured by 2，3，5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride （TTC） staining. Structural and functional changes of cortical neurons in MCAO/R rats were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin and Nissl staining. PC12 cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay， and mitochondrial calcium levels were quantified by Rhod-2 AM. Immunofluorescence was used to detect co-localization of PTEN-induced kinase 1 （PINK1） and leucine zipper/EF-hand-containing transmembrane protein 1 （LETM1） in neurons. Transmission electron microscopy （TEM） was employed to observe mitochondrial morphology in neurons. Western blot was employed to analyze the expression of translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 20 （TOMM20）， autophagy-associated protein p62， microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 （LC3）， cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-9 （Caspase-9）， B-cell lymphoma 2-associated protein X （Bax）， and cytochrome C （Cyt C）. ResultsCompared with the sham group， the model group exhibited increased infarct volume （P<0.01） and neurological deficit scores （P<0.01）， neuronal structure was disrupted with reduced Nissl bodies. （P<0.01）， mitochondrial swelling/fragmentation， decreased PINK1/LETM1 co-localization （P<0.01）， upregulated protein levels of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ， TOMM20， Caspase-9， Bax， and Cyt C （P<0.01）， downregulated protein level of p62 （P<0.05）， weakened PC12 viability （P<0.01）， and elevated mitochondrial calcium level （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， THSG and SAS groups showed reduced infarct volumes （P<0.05，P<0.01） and neurological deficit scores （P<0.05，P<0.01）， mitigated mitochondrial damage， and increased PINK1/LETM1 co-localization （P<0.01）. Medium/high-dose THSG and SAS alleviated the neurological damage， increased Nissl bodies （P<0.05，P<0.01）， downregulated the protein levels of p62， TOMM20， Caspase-9， Bax， and Cyt C （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and elevated the LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ level （P<0.05，P<0.01）. High-dose THSG enhanced PC12 cell viability （P<0.01）， increased PINK1/LETM1 co-localization （P<0.01）， and reduced mitochondrial calcium （P<0.01）. ConclusionTHSG may exert the neuroprotective effect on CI/R injury by activating the PINK1-LETM1 signaling pathway， reducing the mitochondrial calcium overload， and promoting mitophagy.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism by which 2，3，5，4'-tetrahydroxyldiphenylethylene-2-O-glucoside （THSG） mitigates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion （CI/R） injury by regulating mitochondrial calcium overload and promoting mitophagy. MethodsSixty male SD rats were randomized into sham， model， SAS （40 mg·kg^-1）， and low-， medium- and high-dose （10， 20， 40 mg·kg^-1， respectively） THSG groups， with 10 rats in each group. The middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion （MCAO/R） model was established by the modified Longa suture method. An oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation （OGD/R） model was constructed in PC12 cells. Neurological deficits were assessed via Zea Longa scoring， and cerebral infarct volume was measured by 2，3，5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride （TTC） staining. Structural and functional changes of cortical neurons in MCAO/R rats were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin and Nissl staining. PC12 cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay， and mitochondrial calcium levels were quantified by Rhod-2 AM. Immunofluorescence was used to detect co-localization of PTEN-induced kinase 1 （PINK1） and leucine zipper/EF-hand-containing transmembrane protein 1 （LETM1） in neurons. Transmission electron microscopy （TEM） was employed to observe mitochondrial morphology in neurons. Western blot was employed to analyze the expression of translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 20 （TOMM20）， autophagy-associated protein p62， microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 （LC3）， cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-9 （Caspase-9）， B-cell lymphoma 2-associated protein X （Bax）， and cytochrome C （Cyt C）. ResultsCompared with the sham group， the model group exhibited increased infarct volume （P<0.01） and neurological deficit scores （P<0.01）， neuronal structure was disrupted with reduced Nissl bodies. （P<0.01）， mitochondrial swelling/fragmentation， decreased PINK1/LETM1 co-localization （P<0.01）， upregulated protein levels of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ， TOMM20， Caspase-9， Bax， and Cyt C （P<0.01）， downregulated protein level of p62 （P<0.05）， weakened PC12 viability （P<0.01）， and elevated mitochondrial calcium level （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， THSG and SAS groups showed reduced infarct volumes （P<0.05，P<0.01） and neurological deficit scores （P<0.05，P<0.01）， mitigated mitochondrial damage， and increased PINK1/LETM1 co-localization （P<0.01）. Medium/high-dose THSG and SAS alleviated the neurological damage， increased Nissl bodies （P<0.05，P<0.01）， downregulated the protein levels of p62， TOMM20， Caspase-9， Bax， and Cyt C （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and elevated the LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ level （P<0.05，P<0.01）. High-dose THSG enhanced PC12 cell viability （P<0.01）， increased PINK1/LETM1 co-localization （P<0.01）， and reduced mitochondrial calcium （P<0.01）. ConclusionTHSG may exert the neuroprotective effect on CI/R injury by activating the PINK1-LETM1 signaling pathway， reducing the mitochondrial calcium overload， and promoting mitophagy.

Acupuncture, a therapeutic treatment defined as the insertion of needles into the body at specific points (ie, acupoints), has growing in popularity world-wide to treat various diseases effectively, especially acute and chronic pain. In parallel, interest in the physiological mechanisms underlying acupuncture analgesia, particularly the neural mechanisms have been increasing. Over the past decades, our understanding of how the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system process signals induced by acupuncture has developed rapidly by using electrophysiological methods. However, with the development of neuroscience, electrophysiology is being challenged by calcium imaging in view field, neuron population and visualization in vivo. Owing to the outstanding spatial resolution, the novel imaging approaches provide opportunities to enrich our knowledge about the neurophysiological mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia at subcellular, cellular, and circuit levels in combination with new labeling, genetic and circuit tracing techniques. Therefore, this review will introduce the principle and the method of calcium imaging applied to acupuncture research. We will also review the current findings in pain research using calcium imaging from in vitro to in vivo experiments and discuss the potential methodological considerations in studying acupuncture analgesia.
Calcium ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Analgesia/methods* ; Acupuncture Points ; Technology

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*

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of galvanic vestibular stimulation on stroke patients with lateropulsion. MethodsFrom February to October, 2023, 30 stroke patients with lateropulsion in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were divided into control group (n = 15) and experimental group (n = 15) randomly. The control group received routine rehabilitation and sham galvanic vestibular stimulation, and the experimental group received routine rehabilitation and true galvanic vestibular stimulation, for two weeks. They were assessed with Scale for Contraversive Pushing (SCP), subjective visual vertical (SVV), Line Cancellation Test (LCT), Star Cancellation Test (SCT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Holden Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) and Barthel Index (BI) before and after treatment. ResultsAll the indexes improved in both groups after intervention (|t| > 2.461, Z > 3.000, P < 0.05), except the SVV orientation, SVV certainty and SCT in the control group; while the SCP, SVV certainty, LCT and FAC were better in the experimental group than in the control group (|t| > 2.189, Z = -2.862, P < 0.05), and the differences before and after intervention were better in the experimental group than in the control group (|t| > 2.382, P < 0.05), except LCT. SCP was correlated with SVV orientation, SVV certainty, SCT, BBS, BI and FAC (|r| > 0.381, P < 0.05). ConclusionGalvanic vestibular stimulation can improve the lateropulsion, balance, walking function and activities of daily living in stroke patients, which may be related to improvement for spatial cognitive function, especially vertical perception.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Baihuan Xiaoyao Decoction （Xiaoyaosan added with Lilii Bulbus and Albiziae Cortex） in alleviating depression-like behaviors of juvenile rats by regulating the polarization of microglia. MethodSixty juvenile SD rats were randomized into normal control， model， fluoxetine， and low-， medium-， and high-dose （5.36， 10.71， 21.42 g·kg^-1， respectively） Baihuan Xiaoyao decoction groups. The rat model of juvenile depression was established by chronic unpredictable mild stress （CUMS）. The sucrose preference test （SPT） was carried out to examine the sucrose preference of rats. Forced swimming test （FST） was carried out to measure the immobility time of rats. The open field test （OFT） was conducted to measure the total distance， the central distance， the number of horizontal crossings， and the frequency of rearing. Morris water maze （MWM） was used to measure the escape latency and the number of crossing the platform. The immunofluorescence assay was employed to detect the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS， the polarization marker of M1 microglia） and CD206 （the polarization marker of M2 microglia）. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was employed to determine the mRNA levels of iNOS， CD206， pro-inflammatory cytokines ［tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α， interleukin （IL）-1β， and IL-6］ and anti-inflammatory cytokines （IL-4 and IL-10） in the hippocampus. Western blotting was employed to determine the protein levels of iNOS and CD206 in the hippocampus. The levels of IL-4 and IL-6 in the hippocampus were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ResultCompared with the normal control group， the model rats showed a reduction in sucrose preference （P<0.05）， an increase in immobility time （P<0.05）， decreased motor and exploratory behaviors （P<0.05）， and weakened learning and spatial memory （P<0.05）. In addition， the model rats showed up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of iNOS and mRNA levels of IL-1β， IL-6， and TNF-α （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， Baihuan Xiaoyao decoction increased the sucrose preference value （P<0.05）， shortened the immobility time （P<0.01）， increased the motor and exploratory behaviors （P<0.05）， and improved the learning and spatial memory （P<0.01）. Furthermore， the decoction down-regulated the positive expression and protein level of iNOS， lowered the levels of TNF-α， IL-1β， and IL-6 （P<0.01）， promoted the positive expression of CD206， and elevated the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 （P<0.01） in the hippocampus of the high dose group. Moreover， the high-dose Baihuan Xiaoyao decoction group had higher sucrose preference value （P<0.01）， shorter immobility time （P<0.01）， longer central distance （P<0.01）， stronger learning and spatial memory （P<0.01）， higher positive expression and protein level of iNOS （P<0.01）， lower levels of TNF-α， IL-1β， and IL-6 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， lower positive expression and mRNA level of iNOS （P<0.05）， and higher levels of IL-4 and IL-10 （P<0.05， P<0.01） than the fluoxetine group. ConclusionBaihuan Xiaoyao decoction can improve the depression-like behavior of juvenile rats by inhibiting the M1 polarization and promoting the M2 polarization of microglia in the hippocampus.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of lung adenocarcinoma patients with positive EGFR mutations detected in pleural effusion.Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics including gender,age,smoking history,presence of other underlying diseases(such as COPD,cardiovascular disease,and diabetes),site of pleural fluid,feature of pleural fluid,and TNM stage in patients with lung adenocar-cinoma who had been admitted to the first Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College from 2020.01 to 2022.12 for the first time by the detection of EGFR mutation positive in pleural effusion.The data were statistically analyzed using the SPSS 26.0 software.Results A total of 126 patients were screened for enrollment,including 61 patients(48.41%)with EGFR exon 19 deletion mutation(19del),56 patients(44.44%)with exon 21 L858R mutation(21L858R),and 9 patients(7.14%)with non-classical mutations.Univariate analysis showed that the three muta-tion subtypes were statistically significant in terms of gender,age,smoking history,and presence of COPD(P<0.05 for all comparisons),but not in terms of pleural fluid site,feature of pleural fluid,tumor size,and presence of cardiovascular disease,diabetes mellitus,presence of distant metastases,and mediastinal lymph node metastases(P>0.05 for all comparisons);Multivariate analysis showed that 21 L858R mutation was more likely to be found in male,older age,non-smoking,and presence of COPD than 19del mutation;non-classical mutation was more likely to be found in male than 19del mutation.Conclusions There are significant differences among the three mutation subtypes in sex,age,smoking history,and presence of COPD,but not in pleural fluid location,feature of pleural fluid,tumor size,presence of cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus,presence of distant metastases,or medias-tinal lymph node metastases;Among lung adenocarcinoma patients with positive EGFR mutations in pleural fluid,21 L858R mutation mostly occurs in male,older age,non-smokers,and those complicated with COPD,while non-classical mutation mainly develops in male.However,more case studies are needed to confirm the above conclusions.

AIM To establish a UPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous content determination of liquiritin apioside,alibiflorin,swertiamarin,methyl gallate,benzoylpaeoniflorin,sweroside,6′-O-β-D-glucosylgentiopicroside,isoliquiritigenin,loganic acid,liquiritigenin,gallic acid,paeoniflorin,oxypaeoniflorin,gentiopicroside,glycyrrhizic acid,isoliquiritoside and liquiritin in Yangxue Ruanjian Capsules.METHODS The analysis was performed on a 40℃thermostatic Waters BEH C18column(2.1 mm×100 mm,1.7 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of 2 mmol/L ammonium acetate(containing 0.1%formic acid)-acetonitrile flowing at 0.3 mL/min in a gradient elution manner,and electron spray ionization source was adopted in negative ion scanning with multiple reaction monitoring mode.RESULTS Seventeen constituents showed good linear relationships within their own ranges(r>0.999 6),whose average recoveries were 91.33%-104.03%with the RSDs of 1.58%-3.50%.CONCLUSION This rapid,accurate and stable method can be used for the quality control of Yangxue Ruanjian Capsules.

Important forensic diagnostic indicators of sudden death in coronary atherosclerotic heart dis-ease,such as acute or chronic myocardial ischemic changes,sometimes make it difficult to locate the ischemic site due to the short death process,the lack of tissue reaction time.In some cases,the de-ceased died of sudden death on the first-episode,resulting in difficulty for medical examiners to make an accurate diagnosis.However,clinical studies on coronary instability plaque revealed the key role of coronary spasm and thrombosis caused by their lesions in sudden coronary death process.This paper mainly summarizes the pathological characteristics of unstable coronary plaque based on clinical medi-cal research,including plaque rupture,plaque erosion and calcified nodules,as well as the influencing factors leading to plaque instability,and briefly describes the research progress and technique of the atherosclerotic plaques,in order to improve the study on the mechanism of sudden coronary death and improve the accuracy of the forensic diagnosis of sudden coronary death by diagnosing different patho-logic states of coronary atherosclerotic plaques.

Objective To establish an evaluation criterion for high-quality nursing services in comprehensive hospitals of Grade Three in Guangdong Province and provide references for promoting the evaluation of high quality nursing services and standardising high quality nursing services.Methods Based on literature review,brainstorming and references of relevant domestic systems,standards and policies,a pool of evaluation index items and a preliminary questionnaire were constructed.Delphi method was used for two rounds of expert consultations on evaluation indicators.Results The positive coefficients of the two rounds of expert consultations were of 80.00%and 91.67%,respectively,with the authority coefficients both at 0.93.The Kendall coordination coefficients for hospital part were 0.128 and 0.116 respectively,for ward part were 0.193 and 0.107 with statistical differences(both P＜0.001).The evaluation criteria for high-quality nursing services in general hospitals above the third level in Guangdong Province involved in nursing services of hospitals and wards.There were 8 primary indicators,22 secondary indicators and 65 tertiary indicators in the nursing services at hospital part,and 9 primary indicators,23 secondary indicators and 50 tertiary indicators in the nursing services at ward part.Conclusions The evaluation criteria for high-quality nursing services in comprehensive hospitals above the third level in Guangdong Province,established in this study,are scientifically valid and reliable.They allow improvement of management system for the high-quality nursing services as well as guide the healthy development of high-quality nursing services.