The effects of laser stimulation at acupoint ST36 on anxiety-like behaviors and anterior cingulate cortex c-Fos expression in a rat post-traumatic stress disorder model.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder that is linked with the onset of multiple anxiety-like behaviors. This study was designed to assess how these behaviors and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) c-Fos expression were impacted by 10.6-µm laser stimulation at acupoint ST36 a rat model of PTSD. A rat model of PTSD was prepared via prolonged exposure of animals to a stressor, followed by a 7-day period during which animals were allowed to rest undisturbed in their cages. Rats were randomized into four experimental groups (n = 12/group): the control, PTSD, LS, and sham LS groups. Control group animals were not subjected to SPS procedures prior to behavioral testing. LS and sham LS animals were administered LS treatment at bilateral ST36 acupoints or non-acupoints, respectively, for a 7-day period. Animals were then assessed for performance in elevated plus maze (EPM) tests and open-field tests (OFT), and their plasma corticosterone levels were measured. In addition, c-Fos-positive nuclei in the ACC were detected via immunohistochemical staining. Relative to sham LS treatment and PTSD model control rats, LS was associated with increased time spent in both open EPM test arms and in the central area in the OFT (P < 0.05). The PTSD model group exhibited a significant reduction in ACC c-Fox expression, while LS treatment significantly increased this expression (P < 0.001). In addition, a correlation was detected between anxiety-like behaviors and altered ACC neuronal activation. The results of this study indicate that LS at acupoint ST36 can have a previously unreported effect on anxiety-like behaviors in the context of PTSD, with ACC neuronal activation potentially being implicated as a driver of this effect.

Perioperative non-pharmaceutical therapies for insomnia in cancer survivors: a systematic review and network meta-analysis protocol.

INTRODUCTION: The presence of perioperative insomnia is common but yet often overlooked among cancer survivors. Non-pharmaceutical therapies have shown promise in treating cancer-related insomnia during the perioperative period; however, the existing evidence from various studies remains inconsistent. Therefore, this study aims to systematically review and assess the effectiveness of a wide range of non-pharmaceutical interventions during perioperative period for cancer-related insomnia. Findings from this study will help to make evidence-based treatment decisions. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A comprehensive electronic search will be conducted to identify relevant articles from multiple databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Chinese literature databases such as CNKI, VIP, Wanfang from inception to 1 December 2023. Language restrictions will not be imposed to ensure inclusivity. The change of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index or the Insomnia Severity Index from baseline will be used as the primary outcome of the study. Studies using these as secondary outcomes are also acceptable. Pairwise meta-analysis and network meta-analysis will be conducted using Stata V.15.0 software. The Cochrane collaboration tool for assessing the Risk of Bias and Risk of Bias in Non-randomised Studies of Interventions will be used for risk and bias assessment. Additionally, the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation scale will be employed to evaluate the quality of the evidence. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval is not required for this study since it involves the analysis of existing studies. The anticipated results will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42023437356.

Non-pharmaceutical interventions for depressive symptoms in patients with breast cancer: protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with breast cancer often suffer from depressive symptoms throughout various stages of cancer, significantly impacting their quality of life and treatment outcomes. Non-pharmaceutical interventions such as psychotherapy, mind-body therapies and physical exercise have shown effectiveness in addressing cancer-related depression. However, the efficacy and safety of different non-pharmacological interventions remain a topic of debate. Therefore, to provide an objective assessment and comparison of the impact of different non-pharmaceutical interventions on depression, we will conduct a network meta-analysis (NMA) to explore the effects of different non-pharmaceutical interventions on reducing depressive symptoms among patients with breast cancer. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will search nine Chinese and English-language databases, from database inception to 31 July 2023, for randomised controlled trials published in Chinese or English. The English-language databases are PubMed, Medline, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the Chinese databases are CBM, CNKI, VIP and Wanfang. Two independent researchers will perform information extraction from eligible articles. The primary outcome will be the changes in depressive symptoms, while the secondary outcome will include adverse events. STATA V.15.0 will be used to conduct paired meta-analysis and NMA. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation will be used to assess the quality of evidence, and the Cochrane tool for assessing the risks of bias in randomised trials V.2 will be used for risk of bias assessment. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study does not require ethical approval as it will analyse data from existing studies. It is expected that the results of the study will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at relevant conferences. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42023450494.

Efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture for functional constipation in older adults: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Functional constipation (FC) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder in clinical practice, with the prevalence of which increasing with age. With the increasing aging of the population worldwide, this problem is bound to become more prominent. Acupuncture is effective and recommended for the treatment of FC. However, little is known about how acupuncture affects the gut microbiota and inflammatory cytokines and thus improves gut function. Meanwhile, there are few high-quality clinical trials specifically focusing on acupuncture in treating FC in older people. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in treating FC in older people. Additionally, the research aims to explore the mechanism of action of acupuncture in treating FC in older people by affecting intestinal microbiota and inflammation cytokines. Methods and analysis: This study is designed as a single-center, randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial. A total of 98 eligible FC patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio into an acupuncture group and a sham acupuncture group. Both groups will receive 24 treatments over 8 weeks with a 12-week follow-up. The primary outcome of the study is the treatment response rate, which is the proportion of participants with ≥3 mean weekly Complete Spontaneous Bowel Movements (CSBMs) over weeks 3-8. The secondary outcomes will include the proportion of participants with ≥3 mean weekly CSBMs during other assessment periods; the percentage of patients with ≥1 increase in mean weekly CSBMs from baseline; the average changes in CSBMs; Patient Assessment of Constipation-Symptoms (PAC-SYM), Bristol Stool Scale, Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAC-QOL), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) and weekly usage of emergency bowel medications. Adverse events will be recorded throughout the study. Data for the outcomes will be collected at Week 0 (baseline), Week 4 (the intervention period), Week 8 (the post-treatment), Week 12 (the follow-up period) and Week 20 (the follow-up period). In addition, changes in intestinal microbiota will be analyzed using 16S rRNA high-throughput detection, and the concentration of relevant inflammatory cytokines in serum will be measured by ELISA based on blood samples. The intention-to-treat analysis will be performed in this study.Clinical trial registration: [https://www.chictr.org.cn/], identifier [ChiCTR2300070735].

Efficacy of acupuncture treatment for breast cancer-related insomnia: study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Background: Insomnia is one of the most common symptoms among breast cancer patients, which can be present throughout all stages of breast cancer. As a non-pharmacological alternative treatment, acupuncture has been suggested to improve sleep situations in patients with cancer suffering from insomnia. However, there is a lack of well-designed, high-quality clinical evidence regarding the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of breast cancer-related insomnia. This study is conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture treatment for breast cancer-related insomnia. Methods: This study was designed as a multicenter, randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial. A total of 264 eligible patients with breast cancer-related insomnia will be randomized into an acupuncture group and a sham acupuncture group in a 1:1 ratio. In the trial, patients in the acupuncture and sham acupuncture groups will receive 12 sessions over a consecutive 4-week period. The primary outcome will be the treatment response rate of Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) at week 4; secondary outcomes include treatment remission rate of ISI, Sleep Efficiency (SE) obtained by the use of Sleep diary, treatment response rate of ISI at 8th and 16th weeks of follow-up, the mean changes of ISI, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Quality of Life Questionnaire - Core 30 (QLQ-C30), sleep parameters recorded in Actigraphy and weekly usage of remedial drugs. Adverse events will be recorded throughout the study. All analyses will be based on the ITT principle and performed with SAS 9.4 statistical software. Discussion: This trial will evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture for breast cancer-related insomnia. If proven effective, acupuncture will provide an effective option for patients with breast cancer-related insomnia, which will play a positive role in helping patients reduce their use of sleeping medications. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT05510700.

Electroacupuncture versus solifenacin succinate for female overactive bladder: study protocol for a multicentre, randomised, controlled, double-dummy, non-inferiority trial.

INTRODUCTION: Overactive bladder (OAB) affects approximately 500 million people worldwide, with a higher prevalence in women than in men, significantly impacting the quality of life of female patients. Treatment options for OAB are currently limited. Previous research has proposed that electroacupuncture could be a viable treatment for OAB in women, but there is a lack of high-quality clinical evidence. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of electroacupuncture as a safe and efficient non-pharmacological treatment for female OAB by comparing it with solifenacin succinate. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study is a multicentre, single-blind, double-dummy randomised controlled non-inferiority clinical trial involving 204 eligible female participants with OAB. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the electroacupuncture group (receiving electroacupuncture and placebo) or the solifenacin succinate group (receiving sham electroacupuncture and solifenacin succinate). Each participant will undergo 12 sessions of electroacupuncture (or sham electroacupuncture) treatment and solifenacin succinate (or placebo) treatment over a 4-week period. The primary outcome measure will be the percentage change in the number of micturition episodes every 24 hours at week 4 compared with baseline. Secondary outcomes will include a percentage reduction in the number of micturition episodes every 24 hours at 2th, 8th and 16th weeks of the trial, Overactive Bladder Symptom Score, number of urinary incontinence and urgency episodes every 24 hours based on a 3-day voiding diary, OAB Questionnaire, Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale-7, King's Health Questionnaire and Participant Self-evaluation of Therapeutic Effects. Adverse events will be monitored throughout the study. Efficacy analyses will be conducted on both the intention-to-treat population and the per-protocol set population. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval has been obtained from the Medical Ethics Committee of Longhua Hospital Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (approval number: 2022LCSY097). Each participant will sign a written informed consent before randomisation. The results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER : NCT05798403.

Clinical Observation on Auricular Acupressure for Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Study Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Purpose: The objective of this study is to evaluate the immediate and time-dependent effects of AA in treating PD and assess its safety. Methods/Design: This study is a randomized, single-blinded, controlled trial that will enroll 92 patients in a 1:1 allocation ratio. Patients will be assigned to either the treatment group (n=46) or the control group (n=46). During the first menstrual period, the treatment group will receive AA treatment, while the control group will receive sham AA treatment for 7 days. The second menstrual period will serve as the follow-up period. The primary outcome measure is the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score 30 min after the first treatment. Secondary outcome measures include the VAS score immediately after the first treatment, onset time of analgesic effect, duration of pain, extra dosing rate of ibuprofen, and change of the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ) score. The outcomes will be assessed at baseline, during the intervention period, and during the follow-up period. Conclusion: The study results will provide evidence on the efficacy and safety of AA in managing PD by analyzing its immediate effect, time-effect relationship, and reduction of painkiller use. Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2300069741).

Non-pharmaceutical interventions in complementary and alternative medicine for insomnia in breast cancer survivors: a protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Insomnia has a high incidence in patients with breast cancer, which not only affects the quality of life of patients, but also affects the efficiency of later treatment and rehabilitation. Although the sedative and hypnotic drugs commonly used in clinical practice have a rapid onset of action, they are also accompanied by different degrees of sequelae, withdrawal effects and dependence and addiction. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) or complementary and integrative medicine, complementary integrative therapies, including natural nutritional supplement therapy, psychotherapy, physical and mental exercise, physiotherapy, have been reported to be used to treat cancer-related insomnia. Its clinical results are increasingly recognised and accepted by patients. However, the effectiveness and safety of these CAM are uneven, and there is no standard clinical application method. Therefore, in order to objectively evaluate the effects of different non-pharmaceutical interventions in CAM on insomnia, we will conduct a network meta-analysis (NMA) to explore the effects of different CAM interventions on improving sleep quality in patients with breast cancer. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will search all Chinese and English databases from the inception of the database to 31 December 2022. The databases include PubMed, Medline, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and the Chinese literature databases include CBM, CNKI, VIP, WANFANG. The Insomnia Severity Index and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index will be considered as the primary outcomes in the study. STATA V.15.0 software will be used to conduct pairwise meta-analysis and NMA. Finally, we will use the recommended risk assessment tool RoB2 for risk and bias assessment, and use the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation evaluation method to evaluate the quality of evidence. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval will not be required because the study will not include the original information of participants. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal or disseminated in relevant conferences. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022382602.

[Immediate analgesic effect of electroacupuncture combined with diclofenac sodium on acute gouty arthritis: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the immediate analgesic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with diclofenac sodium on acute gouty arthritis (AGA). METHODS: A total of 90 patients with AGA were randomly divided into a low-dose medication (LM) group (30 cases, 1 case was eliminated, 1 case dropped off), a conventional medication (CM) group (30 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a combination of acupuncture and medication (AM) group (30 cases ). The LM group was given oral administration of 50 mg diclofenac sodium sustained-release capsule; the CM group was given oral administration of 100 mg diclofenac sodium sustained-release capsule; on the basis of the treatment of LM group, the AM group was treated with electroacupuncture at ashi points, Dadu (SP 2), Taichong (LR 3), Taibai (SP 3), Neiting (ST 44), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Zusanli (ST 36) and Yinlingquan (SP 9) on the affected side, and Taichong (LR 3) and Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Yinlingquan (SP 9) were connected to electroacupuncture respectively, continuous wave, 2 Hz in frequency. The visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of pain before treatment and after 10 min, 2 h, 4 h and 6 h of treatment completion, joint tenderness and swelling scores before treatment and after 10 min and 6 h of treatment completion were compared, and the rate of diclofenac sodium addition within 24 h after treatment completion was recorded among the three groups. RESULTS: After 10 min of treatment completion, the scores of VAS, joint tenderness and joint swelling in the AM group were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05), and the VAS score in the AM group was lower than that in the other two groups (P<0.05). After 2, 4 and 6 h of treatment completion, the VAS scores of the three groups were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05), and the scores in the AM group were lower than those in the LM group (P<0.05). After 6 h of treatment completion, the joint tenderness scores of the three groups and the joint swelling scores of the AM group and the CM group were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05), and the joint tenderness and swelling scores of the AM group were lower than those of the LM group (P<0.05). The rate of diclofenac sodium addition was 3.3 % (1/30) and 3.4 % (1/29) in the AM group and the CM group, respectively, which were lower than 17.9% (5/28) in the LM group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture combined with diclofenac sodium have a good immediate analgesic effect in the treatment of AGA, and have the advantages of small dosage of analgesic drugs and less adverse reactions.

Mechanotransduction in the urothelium: ATP signalling and mechanoreceptors.

The urothelium, which covers the inner surface of the bladder, is continuously exposed to a complex physical environment where it is stimulated by, and responds to, a wide range of mechanical cues. Mechanically activated ion channels endow the urothelium with functioning in the conversion of mechanical stimuli into biochemical events that influence the surface of the urothelium itself as well as suburothelial tissues, including afferent nerve fibres, interstitial cells of Cajal and detrusor smooth muscle cells, to ensure normal urinary function during the cycle of filling and voiding. However, under prolonged and abnormal loading conditions, the urothelial sensory system can become maladaptive, leading to the development of bladder dysfunction. In this review, we summarize developments in the understanding of urothelial mechanotransduction from two perspectives: first, with regard to the functions of urothelial mechanotransduction, particularly stretch-mediated ATP signalling and the regulation of urothelial surface area; and secondly, with regard to the mechanoreceptors present in the urothelium, primarily transient receptor potential channels and mechanosensitive Piezo channels, and the potential pathophysiological role of these channels in the bladder. A more thorough understanding of urothelial mechanotransduction function may inspire the development of new therapeutic strategies for lower urinary tract diseases.

A marginal structural model analysis for the effect modification by education on the association between cancer diagnosis history and major depressive symptoms: Findings from Midlife Development in the U.S. (MIDUS).

BACKGROUND: Limited research has employed a longitudinal approach to investigate the role of education level as an effect modifier on the relationship between cancer diagnosis history and the experience of major depressive disorder (MDD) with a nationally representative sample. METHODS: We harnessed data from three installments of the MIDUS Longitudinal study (n = 7108). A Marginal Structural Model facilitated the investigation of associations between a history of cancer diagnosis, MDD, and potential modifying effects of education level. Inverse probability weighting helped manage confounding factors. RESULTS: Findings indicated that a cancer diagnosis made one year prior was linked with 3.741 times greater odds of experiencing MDD (95 % CI: 1.411-9.918, p < 0.01). This connection was absent for diagnoses made two years earlier. Among individuals with education up to high school, a recent cancer diagnosis significantly increased the likelihood of MDD in the subsequent wave by 3.45 times (95 % CI: 1.31-9.08, p < 0.05). This pattern was not apparent among better-educated individuals. LIMITATIONS: As the exposure variable was dependent on self-reported questionnaires, recall bias could be a potential limitation. Moreover, unaccounted variables like genetic factors could introduce confounding. CONCLUSIONS: A recent cancer diagnosis, particularly among less educated individuals, correlated with an increased probability of MDD, while the impact was not observed for older diagnoses. These findings emphasize that the timing of a cancer diagnosis and education level need consideration in the mental health assessment of cancer survivors.

Optimized electroacupuncture treatment for female stress urinary incontinence: study protocol for a multi-center randomized controlled trial.

Background: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a common condition that can severely affect women's life quality. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been proved to be an optional treatment for SUI, but the tolerance of EA becomes a factor affecting efficiency, which should not be ignored and needs to be solved urgently. The purpose of this study is to find out whether the use of alternating acupoints combination can solve this problem or not and provide an optimization of EA treatment for female SUI. Methods: This multi-center randomized controlled trial will enroll 360 patients with SUI. They will be randomly assigned to one of the three groups-sacral acupoints group (sacral group), abdominal acupoints group (abdominal group), or alternating acupoints group (alternating group)-at a 1:1:1 ratio. The patients will receive 18 sessions of EA treatment and will be followed up for 48 weeks after the treatment. The primary outcome measure of the study is the change of urine leakage at week 6. The secondary outcomes include the incontinence episode frequency (IEF), International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), severity of SUI, patient self-evaluation of therapeutic effects, weekly usage of urine pads, ultrasonography of pelvic floor, specialty therapies for SUI, evaluation of discomfort during EA treatment, patient acceptability evaluation and adverse events related to intervention. Discussion: This trial is specifically designed to offer an optimized EA treatment for female SUI, aiming to enhance their quality of life.Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier ID:NCT05635669.

Neurological mechanism and efficacy of acupuncture for breast cancer-related insomnia: a study protocol for randomized clinical trial.

Background: Breast cancer survivors (BCSs) are at a higher risk of developing insomnia. The negative effects of cancer-related insomnia (CRI) include depression, anxiety, fatigue, aggressive pain, impaired immune functioning, decreased quality of life, and even increased cancer mortality. Although preliminary progress has been made in the treatment of CRI with acupuncture, the evidence is insufficient and the neurological mechanism underlying the effect of acupuncture is still unclear. Methods: The study employs a single-blinded, randomized, controlled trial design. A total of 80 participants will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either the treatment group (n = 40) or the control group (n = 40). The former will receive acupuncture treatment, while the latter will receive sham acupuncture treatment. Both groups will receive 12 sessions over a 4-week period, three times per week (every other day), and each session will last for 30 min. Follow-up assessments will be conducted in week 8. The primary outcome will be the treatment response rate. Secondary outcomes include the change in Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the treatment remission rate, actigraphy sleep assessment, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Quality of Life Core Scale (QLQ-C30), the weekly usage of remedial drugs, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) analysis. Data for the outcomes will be collected at week 0 (the baseline), week 1 (the intervention period), week 4 (the post-treatment period), and week 8 (the follow-up period). Discussion: The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of acupuncture for patients with CRI in comparison with sham acupuncture. Additionally, the research aims to explore the neuropathological mechanisms of CRI and provide the first evidence on the characteristics of acupuncture treatment using fMRI. We expect that the results of this study will provide valuable scientific evidence of acupuncture treatment for CRI.Clinical trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, identifier ChiCTR2300070349: https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=188677.

Combination of Aspergillus niger MJ1 with Pseudomonas stutzeri DSM4166 or mutant Pseudomonas fluorescens CHA0-nif improved crop quality, soil properties, and microbial communities in barrier soil.

Soil salinization and acidification seriously damage soil health and restricts the sustainable development of planting. Excessive application of chemical fertilizer and other reasons will lead to soil acidification and salinization. This study focus on acid and salinized soil, investigated the effect of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria, Aspergillus niger MJ1 combined with nitrogen-fixing bacteria Pseudomonas stutzeri DSM4166 or mutant Pseudomonas fluorescens CHA0-nif on crop quality, soil physicochemical properties, and microbial communities. A total of 5 treatments were set: regular fertilization (T1), regular fertilization with MJ1 and DSM4166 (T2), regular fertilization with MJ1 and CHA0-nif (T3), 30%-reducing fertilization with MJ1 and DSM4166 (T4), and 30%-reducing fertilization with MJ1 and CHA0-nif (T5). It was found that the soil properties (OM, HN, TN, AP, AK, and SS) and crop quality of cucumber (yield production, protein, and vitamin C) and lettuce (yield production, vitamin C, nitrate, soluble protein, and crude fiber) showed a significant response to the inoculated strains. The combination of MJ1 with DSM4166 or CHA0-nif influenced the diversity and richness of bacterial community in the lettuce-grown soil. The organismal system-, cellular process-, and metabolism-correlated bacteria and saprophytic fungi were enriched, which were speculated to mediate the response to inoculated strains. pH, OM, HN, and TN were identified to be the major factors correlated with the soil microbial community. The inoculation of MJ1 with DSM4166 and CHA0-nif could meet the requirement of lettuce and cucumber growth after reducing fertilization in acid and salinized soil, which provides a novel candidate for the eco-friendly technique to meet the carbon-neutral topic.

Clinical Observation on Therapeutic Effect of Electroacupuncture Combined with Diclofenac Sodium in Treatment of Acute Gouty Arthritis: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with diclofenac sodium (DS) in the treatment of acute gouty arthritis (AGA). Methods: Patients with AGA were randomly divided into three groups: the EA + DS treatment group (i.e., EA + DS group), the low-dose DS treatment group (i.e., low-dose DS group), and the conventional-dose DS treatment group (i. e., conventional DS group). Patients in the low-dose DS group took 50 mg of DS sustained-release capsules once a day. Patients in the conventional DS group took 100 mg of DS sustained-release capsules once a day. Patients in the EA + DS group were treated with EA three times in 7 days combined with 50 mg of DS sustained-release capsules once a day. For all the three groups, 7 days were regarded as a course of treatment. Outcome indicators included pain visual analog scale (VAS), joint tenderness, joint swelling and activity limitation, and levels of inflammatory indicators (C-reactive protein (CRP)/white blood cells (WBC)/percentage of neutrophils (NE%)), level of serum uric acid (SUA), gout impact scale (GIS), and frequency of adverse reactions). Results: After a course of treatment, indicators regarding the VAS, joint tenderness, joint swelling, activity limitation, GIS, inflammatory indicators (CRP/WBC/NE%), and SUA were all improved (P < 0.05) with no adverse reactions in the EA + DS group. The EA + DS group performed better than the low-dose DS group in improving indicators regarding the VAS, joint tenderness, activity limitation, GIS, inflammatory markers (WBC/NE%), and SUA (P < 0.05). Similarly, the EA + DS group performed better than the conventional DS group in improving indicators regarding GIS, SUA, and adverse reactions (P < 0.05). Conclusion: EA combined with DS can improve AGA patients' joint pain and functional status, thus improving their quality of life. Moreover, this combined treatment can reduce the levels of inflammatory markers and SUA, leading to fewer adverse reactions in AGA patients.

N,P-codoped carbon quantum dots-decorated TiO2 nanowires as nanosized heterojunction photocatalyst with improved photocatalytic performance for methyl blue degradation.

N,P-doped carbon quantum dots (N,P-CQDs) are deemed as a promising candidate to environmentally friendly materials owing to the inexpensive, biocompatible nature. TiO2 nanowire is a prospective photocatalyst because of its efficient migration of photoexcited carriers in wastewater treatment. However, the N,P-CQDs-decorated TiO2 nanowire (N,P-CQDs/NW-TiO2) photocatalysts have been rarely reported. In this study, we build N,P-CQDs on the surface of TiO2 nanowires via a simple deposition process. Our investigations demonstrate that N,P-CQDs/NW-TiO2 has a great photocatalytic degradation for methyl blue (MB) under irradiation. The degradation rate of can reach 93.6% within 120 min under proper conditions. The excellent degradation performance of N,P-CQDs/NW-TiO2 is ascribed to the mesoporous structure and high separation rate of photoexcited carriers. In addition, the N,P-CQDs/NW-TiO2 have outstanding recycled photocatalytic capability. After being recycled four times, the N,P-CQDs/NW-TiO2 still maintain 59.9% photocatalytic activity. The fabricated nanosized photocatalyst can be widely utilized in the field of photocatalysis for wastewater treatment.

Response of Bacterial Community to the Occurrence of Clubroot Disease in Chinese Cabbage.

Clubroot disease is a common soilborne disease caused by Plasmodiophora brassicas Wor. and widely occurs in Chinese cabbage. Soil microorganisms play vital roles in the occurrence and development of plant diseases. The changes in the soil bacterial community could indicate the severity of plant disease and provide the basis for its control. This study focused on the bacterial community of the clubroot disease-infected soil-root system with different severity aiming to reveal the composition and structure of soil bacteria and identified potential biomarker bacteria of the clubroot disease. In the clubroot disease-infected soil, the bacterial community is mainly composed of Actinobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Bacilli, Thermolrophilia, Bacteroidia, Gemmatimonadetes, Subgroup_6, Deltaproteobacteria, KD4-96, and some other classes, while the major bacterial classes in the infected roots were Oxyphotobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacilli, Bacteroidia, Saccharimonadia, Thermoleophilia, Clostridia, Chloroflexia, and some other classes. The severe clubroot disease soil-root system was found to possess a poorer bacterial richness, evenness, and better coverage. Additionally, a significant difference was observed in the structure of the bacterial community between the high-severity (HR) and healthy (LR) soil-root system. Bacillus asahii and Noccaea caerulescens were identified as the differential bacteria between the LR and HR soil and roots, respectively. pH was demonstrated as a vital factor that was significantly associated with the abundance of B. asahii and N. caerulescens. This study provides novel insight into the relationship between soil bacteria and the pathogen of clubroot disease in Chinese cabbage. The identification of resistant species provides candidates for the monitoring and biocontrol of the clubroot disease.

[Research advances of studies on involvement of the anterior cingulate cortex involved in acupuncture-induced amelioration treatment of affective pain].

As an unpleasant subjective feeling and emotional experience, pain has a negative impact on the physical and mental health of patients. In the early years, the research concerning pain mostly focused on the sensory-discriminative component. With the development of modern medicine, people found that the generation of affective-emotional component of pain has its unique physiological mechanism, and thus carried out a lot of in-depth research. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is the main brain area activated by affective pain, and the regulation of acupuncture on pain aversion is mainly related to it. The mechanism includes various signal pathways, such as extracellular regulated protein kinases-mitogen activated protein kinase-cAMP-response element binding protein pathway, adenylate cyclase 1 protein kinase Mζ- glutamate receptor 1 pathway, contains many biomolecules, such as opioid receptors, neuropeptide S and its receptor, and refers to microglia at the cellular level. This article reviewed the neural mechanism of ACC involved in affective pain and the role of acupuncture played in this process.

Electroacupuncture Attenuates Anxiety-Like Behaviors in a Rat Model of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: The Role of the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex.

Electroacupuncture (EA) is a promising clinical approach to treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), yet the mechanisms whereby EA can alleviate anxiety and other PTSD symptoms have yet to be clarified. In the present report, rats underwent EA for 14 consecutive days following modified single prolonged stress (MSPS) exposure. These animals were then evaluated in open field and elevated plus maze tests (OFT and EPM), while Fos immunohistochemical staining was performed to assess ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) functional activation. In addition, an extracellular recording and stimulation system was used to analyze vmPFC inputs into the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in these rats. Temporary vmPFC inactivation was further performed to assess whether this was sufficient to reverse the anxiolytic effects of EA. Overall, rats that underwent EA treatment spent more time in the central region (OFT) and the open arm (EPM) relative to MSPS model animals (P < 0.05). These MSPS model animals also exhibited significantly fewer activated Fos-positive nuclei in the vmPFC following behavioral testing, while EA was associated with a significant relative increase in c-Fos expression in this region. The transient inactivation of the vmPFC was sufficient to reverse the effects of EA treatment on anxiety-like behaviors in MSPS model rats. MSPS and SEA rats exhibiting no differences in bursting activity between baseline and vmPFC stimulation, whereas bursting activity rose relative to baseline upon ventral mPFC stimulation in EA treated and control rats. Together, these findings indicate that the vmPFC and its inputs into the VTA are functionally linked to the anxiolytic activity of EA, implicating this pathway in the EA-mediated treatment of PTSD.

Immediate effects of Zhongji point acupuncture on pelvic floor structure in female patients with stress urinary incontinence: a randomized, single-blind, and sham-controlled clinical trial protocol.

BACKGROUND: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is defined as involuntary leakage of urine from the external urethra due to increased abdominal pressure, for example, upon sneezing, coughing, or exercise. Acupuncture is an effective therapy for patients with SUI, although objective evidence of its benefits or mechanism of action is limited. Patients with SUI often harbor structural changes of pelvic floor, the parameters of which are measurable from various perspectives and in multiple dimensions, dynamically and comprehensively, through transperineal ultrasound (TPUS). The status of such changes may then be assessed following acupuncture procedures. In the present investigation, TPUS serves to gauge the immediate effects of acupuncture on pelvic floor structures in female patients with SUI. METHODS: This protocol calls for a prospective, randomized, controlled, and single-blinded study of 72 female patients with SUI, each randomly assigned as test or control group members. The test group is subjected to one-time acupuncture at the Zhongji (RN3) acupoint for a period of 10 min, whereas the control group undergoes sham acupuncture in the same manner. In both groups, TPUS imaging of pelvic floor is performed before, during, and immediately after acupuncture procedures. Bladder neck mobility (BND), urethral rotation angle (URA), retrovesical angle (RVA), lowest point of bladder (BN-S), and presence/absence of urethral funneling or bladder bulging are then recorded as outcome measures. DISCUSSION: Above efforts are intended to assess real-time pelvic floor structural changes in women undergoing acupuncture for SUI. The subsequent findings may help objectively document the efficacy of acupuncture in this setting and clarify its mechanism of action. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registration with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR200041559) (http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=64591&htm=4), was effective December 29, 2020. DATES OF STUDY: 12/19/2020 to 06/30/2022.