Knowledge mapping of acupoint sensitization and acupoint specificity: a bibliometric analysis.

Objective: The relationship between acupoint sensitization and acupoint specificity is a topic of significant interest in acupuncture research. Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated that needling pain sensitive acupoints yields superior therapeutic outcomes compared to traditional acupoints, particularly in the context of pain disorders. However, there is a lack of bibliometric analysis in acupuncture area. Therefore, the objective of this study is to offer a comprehensive overview of the knowledge structure and research hotspots pertaining to acupoint sensitization and acupoint specificity. Methods: The search for publications pertaining to acupoint sensitization and acupoint specificity was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database from its inception until August 11, 2023. Subsequently, bibliometric analyses were carried out using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, R software (Bibliometrix package), and GraphPad Prism software. Results: This study includes 4,940 articles from 72 countries, with China and the United States being the leading countries. The number of publications related to acupoint sensitization and specificity has been increasing annually. Major research institutions involved in this field include the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, and China Medical University, among others. "Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine" is the most popular journal in acupuncture field, and "PAIN" is the most co-cited journal. Publications are contributed by 20,325 authors from all over the world, with Wu Huangan, Fang Jianqiao, Lin Yi-Wen, Liu Huirong, and Chen Rixin having published the most articles. Han Ji-Sheng is the most cited author in this research area. The main directions include the study of temperature specificity of acupoints, the diagnosis of acupoint sensitization diseases, and the study of the mechanism of acupoint sensitization. The most listed keywords in recent years are "TRPV1," "signaling pathway," and "diagnosis." Conclusion: This is the first bibliometric study to comprehensively summarize research trends and advances in acupoint sensitization and acupoint specificity, and the information highlights recent research preliminary and main directions that serve as a reference for acupoint sensitization and acupoint specificity research.

Role of the KRT7 Biomarker in Immune Infiltration and Paclitaxel Resistance in Ovarian.

Context: Paclitaxel (PTX) resistance is often associated with poor outcomes for patients with ovarian cancer (OC), but its mechanism is unknown. Clinicians are increasingly using immunotherapy in the management of OC, and the ability to assess tumor-immune interactions and identify effective, predictive, prognostic molecular biomarkers for OC is an urgent need. Objective: The study intended to explore the potential tumorigenesis mechanisms to identify promising biomarkers and improve survival in OC patients. Design: The research team performed a genetic analysis. Setting: The study took place at First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. Outcome Measures: The research team: (1) obtained GSE66957 and GSE81778 gene expression profiles from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and identified 468 differentially expressed genes (DEGs); (2) conducted functional enrichment analysis and constructed a protein-to-protein interaction (PPI) network; (3) identified the OC survival-related genes using the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 (GEPIA2) webserver and compared those genes with upregulated DEGs to identify the core genes; (4) used GEPIA2 and the Kaplan-Meier plotter to explore the expression profiles and the prognostic values of the core genes in OC; (5) used the LinkOmics, Oncomine, and GEPIA2 web servers to perform co-expression analysis and explore functional networks correlated with keratin 7 (KRT7); (6) performed correlation analyses between KRT7, the six main types of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and immune signatures, using the TIMER tool; and (7) subsequently detected the KRT7 expression in the cell lines IOSE80, A2780, A2780/PTX, ho8910, skov3, and ovcar3 using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) technology. Results: High expression levels of KRT7 were significantly correlated with progression-free survival (PFS) and poor overall survival (OS) for OC patients, with logrank P = .0074 and logrank P = .014, respectively. The expression levels of KRT7 were also significantly correlated with the infiltrated neutrophil levels (r = 0.169, P = .0077). The study identified neutrophils as potential predictors of survival in OC. Moreover, the expression levels of KRT7 in OC were positively correlated with 51 (31.68%) of the 161 immune gene markers. The RT-qPCR analyses revealed a high expression of KRT7 in the paclitaxel-resistant OC cell line. Conclusions: KRT7 is correlated with immune infiltration and paclitaxel resistance in OC patients. Therefore, clinicians could use KRT7 as a prognostic marker and a target in the development of new drugs.

Health Education and Nursing Needs of Breast Cancer Patients With Totally Implantable Venous Access Ports at Different Stages.

Context: The totally implantable venous access port (TIVAP) is an intravenous-infusion device, with a lower complication rate than other such devices. If patients fail to maintain the catheter, however, complications can still occur. Patients' needs may vary by the period of the port's use. Objective: The study intended to explore the differences in the needs of breast-cancer (BC) patients with TIVAPs for health education and nursing care at different periods of the port's use and to determine the kinds of targeted health education that can improve patients' quality of life. Design: The research team designed a questionnaire that the participants completed. Setting: The study took place at the Breast Center at the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University in Shijiazhuang, China. Participants: Participants were 442 BC patients at the hospital between March and June 2020, who had TIVAPs at different stages. Groups: The study included three groups: (1) the preoperative group-participants in the preoperative period prior to the TIVAP implantation after they had signed a consent; (2) the chemotherapy group-participants in the chemotherapy period during the TIVAP's use for chemotherapy-agent transfusion, and (3) the maintenance group-participants in the maintenance period during which the TIVAD was in place but wasn't being used. Outcome Measures: The research team analyzed the results from the questionnaires, categorizing them as: (1) methods of knowledge acquisition, (2) methods of distribution of knowledge, (3) needs of participants in the different groups, and (4) distribution of symptoms among the groups. Results: Compared to other methods, the nursing staff was the main source that participants used to access the TIVAP-related information at different periods: preoperative group (79.6%), chemotherapy group (90.7%), and maintenance group (90.2%).The differences between the periods were statistically significant (P = .00). A traditional mode of education-the medical staff's explanations-was the most common in all groups: preoperative group (79.6%), chemotherapy group (83.3%), and (3) maintenance group (80.7%). Patients wanted new modes of receiving information: talks, a poster, and a medical system. TIVAP patients paid different amounts of attention to educational contents at the different stages (χ2 = 29.816, P = .00). Conclusions: BC patients' needs for health education and nursing vary at different stages when using TIVAPs. Nurses are the main source of knowledge about TIVAP in different periods for BC patients, and the nurses should obtain multidisciplinary health knowledge to enhance the benefits of the education for patients. The current education for patient is traditional, and hospitals need to implement new modes of education such as medical systems and network platforms, lectures, and posters for health education.

Clinical Effect of Electroacupuncture on Acute Sleep Deprivation and Event-Related Potential Affecting the Inhibition Control of the Brain: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Acute sleep deprivation (ASD) can effect mood, attention, memory, alertness and metabolism. Especially, it is often accompanied by cognitive impairment of the brain. Acupuncture is safe and effective for improving cognitive function, but its underlying mechanism is not fully understood. In this study, an event-related potential (ERP) technique will be employed to measure the behavioral, cognitive, and physiological changes produced by electroacupuncture intervention after ASD. Methods: We will recruit 60 healthy subjects. The participants will be randomly divided into a treatment group, a control group, a sham electroacupuncture group and a blank group, at a 1:1:1:1 ratio. The primary outcome will be determined by the change from baseline to 36 h in the MoCA score. The secondary results include the amplitude and latency of ERP N2 and P3, Go-hit rates, Go-RTs, No-Go-FA rates, the WCST, the Digit Span Subtest of the WAIS, the ESS score and FS-14. The 15 healthy subjects will not receive acupuncture treatment and ASD, but will receive EEG records and cognition functions test at the beginning and end of the experiment. Electroacupuncture intervention will be performed for 30 min once every 12 h, a total of three times. ERP measurements and other tests will be performed after baseline and ASD, and the statistician and outcome evaluator will be blinded to treatment allocation. Discussion: This study is expected to investigate the effectiveness of electroacupuncture in improving cognition for ASD. Trial Registration: ChiCTR2200055999.

Protective Effects of Baicalin on Experimental Myocardial Infarction in Rats.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of baicalin on myocardial infarction in rats and explore the related mechanisms. METHODS: Fifty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control, model, and low-, medium- and high-dose baicalin groups. The latter 3 groups were intraperitoneally injected with baicalin, with a dose of 12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg, respectively. Then, the myocardial infarction model was established. The hemodynamic of rats was tested, the serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), prostacyclin (PGI2) and thromboxane A2 (TXA2) were determined, the myocardial superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were detected, and the myocardial B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2 associated X (Bax) protein expressions were determined. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, in the high-dose baicalin group the ST segment height and LVEDP were significantly decreased (P<0.05), the LVSP was significantly increased (P<0.05), the serum LDH, CK-MB and TXA2 levels were significantly decreased (P<0.05), the PGI2 level was significantly increased (P<0.05), the myocardial SOD level was significantly increased (P<0.05), and the myocardial MDA level was significantly decreased (P<0.05); the myocardial Bcl-2 protein level was significantly increased, and the Bax protein level was significantly decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Baicalin has protective effects on myocardial infarction in rats. The possible mechanisms may be related to its resistance to oxidative stress, and up-regulation of Bcl-2 protein expression and down-regulation of Bax protein expression in myocardial tissue.

Protective effects of baicalin on experimental myocardial infarction in rats

Abstract Objective: This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of baicalin on myocardial infarction in rats and explore the related mechanisms. Methods: Fifty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control, model, and low-, medium- and high-dose baicalin groups. The latter 3 groups were intraperitoneally injected with baicalin, with a dose of 12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg, respectively. Then, the myocardial infarction model was established. The hemodynamic of rats was tested, the serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), prostacyclin (PGI2) and thromboxane A2 (TXA2) were determined, the myocardial superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were detected, and the myocardial B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2 associated X (Bax) protein expressions were determined. Results: Compared with the model group, in the high-dose baicalin group the ST segment height and LVEDP were significantly decreased (P<0.05), the LVSP was significantly increased (P<0.05), the serum LDH, CK-MB and TXA2 levels were significantly decreased (P<0.05), the PGI2 level was significantly increased (P<0.05), the myocardial SOD level was significantly increased (P<0.05), and the myocardial MDA level was significantly decreased (P<0.05); the myocardial Bcl-2 protein level was significantly increased, and the Bax protein level was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion: Baicalin has protective effects on myocardial infarction in rats. The possible mechanisms may be related to its resistance to oxidative stress, and up-regulation of Bcl-2 protein expression and down-regulation of Bax protein expression in myocardial tissue.

Combined pretreatment with torrefaction and washing using torrefaction liquid products to yield upgraded biomass and pyrolysis products.

This study presented an approach to upgrade biomass and pyrolysis products using a process based on torrefaction liquid washing combined with torrefaction pretreatment. The torrefaction of cotton stalk was first conducted at 250°C for 30min and then the resulting torrefaction liquid products were collected and reused to wash cottonstalk. The pyrolysis of the original and pretreated cotton stalk was performed at 500°C for 15min in a fixed-bed reactor. The results indicated that the combined pretreatment obviously reduced the metallic species in cotton stalk, decreased the water and acids contents while promoted phenols in bio-oil, declined the ash content in biochar, as well as improved the heating value of non-condensable gas. Overall, the combined pretreatment did not only allow to reuse the liquid products issued from torrefaction pretreatment but also improved the quality of biomass and the pyrolysis products, making it a novel promising pretreatment method.

A Polysaccharide from the Culinary-Medicinal Mushroom Pholiota nameko (Agaricomycetes) Inhibits the NF-κB Pathway in Dendritic Cells Through the TLR2 Receptor.

A polysaccharide purified from Pholiota nameko (PNPS-1) was found to have anticancer and anti-inflammatory activity. This study investigated the effect of PNPS-1 on the nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway of TLR2 small interfering RNA-silenced murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) and relevant mechanisms. The expression of messenger RNA of 4 NF-κB-related genes, including MyD88, IKBKB, RelA(p65), and CCL2, was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction; the expression of the phenotype molecule intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) by flow cytometry; the protein expression of IKKß and p65 by Western blot; the production of p65 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; and the expression of p65 by immunocytochemistry. The results showed that TLR2-specific small interfering RNA could effectively inhibit the decrease in the expression of MyD88, IKBKB, CCL2, p65, and ICAM-1 in BMDCs induced by PNPS-1, and thus the transcription inactivation of NF-κB, which obviously suggests that PNPS-1 could downregulate the NF-κB signaling pathway via the TLR2 receptor.

Publication trends in studies examining radix notoginseng as a treatment for ischemic brain injury.

Acute ischemic stroke has become a major disease burden with high mortality and morbidity rates. There is a lack of evidence-based medicine confirming the efficacy of common treatments. Panax notoginseng saponins, the main active ingredient of radix notoginseng, have a neuroprotective role in ischemic brain injury, and have been popularized as a maintenance treatment for acute cerebral infarction and its sequelae. We conducted literature searches on the Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, Cochrane Collaboration, CNKI, Wanfang and the China Scientific & Technological Achievements Database and analyzed the experimental and clinical outcomes of studies investigating the use of radix notoginseng in the treatment of ischemic brain injury to improve the understanding of relevant research trends and existing problems. We found that over the past 10 years, China has maintained its interest in Panax notoginseng research, while such studies are scarce on the Web of Science. However, Chinese researchers often focus on the neuroprotective role of radix notoginseng in ischemic brain injury, but there are no large-scale clinical data to confirm its efficacy and safety. There remains a need for more rigorous large-sample randomized controlled clinical trials with long-term follow-up, to determine whether radix notoginseng lowers stroke recurrence and improves patient's quality of life.

Conjugated linoleic acid conversion by six Lactobacillus plantarum strains cultured in MRS broth supplemented with sunflower oil and soymilk.

UNLABELLED: Six strains of Lactobacillus plantarum, isolated from traditional dairy products of minority nationalities, were evaluated for their ability to produce conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) from free linoleic acid in vitro. All the 6 strains were found to be capable of converting linoleic acid to CLA when using sunflower oil as substrate or during soymilk fermentation. The inhibitory effect of linoleic acid on the growth of the L. plantarum was also discussed. The production of CLA was increased with adding high concentration of substrate in sunflower oil and IMAU60042 produced the highest CLA both in sunflower oil and soymilk. The CLA was composted by 2 isomers: cis9, trans11-CLA and tran10, cis12-CLA, and cis9, tran s11-CLA covered the most part of the total CLA formed except for L. plantarum P8. The production of CLA was decreased during the storage of fermented soymilk. The CLA contents decreased significantly in the first week, also more quickly in 2 wk. Especially, tran10, cis12-CLA decreased more rapidly than cis9, tran11-CLA. No dramatic change was observed among other 8 fatty acids in soymilk. The proportion of unsaturated fatty acids varied after fermentation with different L. plantrum strains, but all decreased the during storage. The research on the ability of converting CLA of L. plantrum strains could be basis for the future research and development of fermented soymilk products. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Desirable probiotic traits, such as acid and bile tolerance, aggregation activity, and antibacterial activity, have been proved for the 6 Lactobacillus plantarum strains. The 6 L. plantarum strains might be used in the fermentation of soymilk to produce multifunctional probiotic soymilk products, especially the rich CLA contents.

Radical scavenging activity of flavonoids from Trollius chinensis Bunge.

OBJECTIVE: Flos trollii is considered as functional tea, as well as a traditional medicinal herb, in China. In this study, total phenolic and flavonoid contents of Flos trollii were determined by a colorimetric method. The antioxidative potential of the hydroalcoholic extract of Flos trollii (FTE, extracted by alcohol:water, 80:20) was also evaluated by various antioxidant assays. METHODS: Chemiluminescence technique was used to determine the radical scavenging activities of FTE toward different reactive oxygen species, including superoxide anion (O(-2)·), hydroxyl radical (OH·), lipid-derived radicals (R·), and singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)). RESULTS: FTE could effectively scavenge O(-2)·, OH·, R·, and (1)O(2) at an efficient concentration (EC(50)) of 46, 5.64, 5.19, and 3.97 mg/mL, respectively. Moreover, the radical scavenging activities of FTE were higher than those of ascorbic acid. Further, FTE had higher 1,1 diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity with EC(50) 44 mg/mL, compared with butylated hydroxytoluenesynthetic antioxidant with EC(50) 52 mg/mL. CONCLUSION: All results indicated that FTE is a powerful antioxidant, deserving of better utilization of the extracted Flos trollii as antioxidants.

Efficacy of tetrandrine on lowering intraocular pressure in animal model with ocular hypertension.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of topical tetrandrine (an alkaloid isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Radix Stephania tetrandrae S) and timolol 0.5% ophthalmic solution on lowering the intraocular pressure (IOP) in ocular normotensive and hypertensive rats. METHODS: The experiment was designed as 2 parts. In the first part, normal male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups followed by topical administration once of 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3% tetrandrine, and 0.5% timolol in the right eye, 0.9% saline was administered once at the opposite eye as control. In the second part, the ocular hypertension model was induced unilaterally in the rats by a diode laser treatment. Twice daily applications of the above drugs were delivered to hypertensive eyes. The control group was administered 0.9% saline. The TonoPen XL tonometer was used to determine the IOP levels. RESULTS: No lowering effect on IOP was detected in the normotensive rats treated with tetrandrine whereas timolol significantly reduced IOP in normotensive eyes. Both tetrandrine and timolol significantly reduced the IOP levels in the hypertensive eyes compared with the levels in the saline-treated groups. All concentrations of tetrandrine used in this study showed significant reduction of IOP in the laser-induced hypertensive eyes. Tetrandrine 0.3% had a similar efficacy as 0.5% timolol in reducing elevated IOP in ocular hypertensive eyes. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that tetrandrine has a major effect on lowering IOP levels in the ocular hypertension rat model. The functional mechanisms of tetrandrine require further investigation.

Anti-inflammatory activity of polysaccharide from Pholiota nameko.

Pholiota nameko polysaccharide (PNPS-1) has been isolated and purified by enzymatic hydrolysis, hot water extraction, ethanol precipitation, and ion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography. The anti-inflammatory activity of PNPS-1 was evaluated in rodents using xylene-induced ear edema, egg albumin-, carrageenin-, and formaldehyde-induced paw edema, cotton pellet granuloma test, adhesion of peritoneal leukocytes in vitro, and ulcerogenic activity. The results showed that PNPS-1 (5 mg/ear) inhibited topical edema in the mouse ear and at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg (intraperitoneally) it significantly suppressed the development of egg albumin-, carrageenin-, and formaldehyde-induced paw edema in the animals. PNPS-1 (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, per oral) significantly inhibited the growth of granuloma tissues induced by subcutaneously implanted cotton pellets in rats by 10.96, 18.07, and 43.75%, respectively. PNPS-1 also inhibited spontaneous and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate-activated adhesion of peritoneal leukocytes in vitro. Further, both acute as well as chronic administration of PNPS-1 (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, per oral) did not produce any gastric lesion in rats. In conclusion, these data indicated that PNPS-1 possesses significant anti-inflammatory activity suggesting its potential as an anti-inflammatory agent for use in the treatment of various inflammatory-related diseases.

Radical scavenging activity of ribonuclease inhibitor from cow placenta.

Cow placenta ribonuclease inhibitor (CPRI) has been purified 5062-fold by affinity chromatography, the product being homogeneous by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis. The chemiluminescence technique was used to determine the radical scavenging activities of CPRI toward different reactive oxygen species (ROS) including superoxide anion (O2-*), hydroxyl radical (OH*), lipid-derived radicals (R*), and singlet oxygen (1O2). CPRI could effectively scavenge O2-*, OH*, R*, and 1O2 at EC50 of 0.12, 0.008, 0.009, and 0.006 mg/ml, respectively. In addition, the radical scavenging activities of CPRI were higher than those of tea polyphenols, indicating that CPRI is a powerful antioxidant.