Aerobic exercise training engages the canonical wnt pathway to improve pulmonary function and inflammation in COPD.

BACKGROUND: We studied whether the exercise improves cigarette smoke (CS) induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in mice through inhibition of inflammation mediated by Wnt/ß-catenin-peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ signaling. METHODS: Firstly, we observed the effect of exercise on pulmonary inflammation, lung function, and Wnt/ß-catenin-PPARγ. A total of 30 male C57BL/6J mice were divided into the control group (CG), smoke group (SG), low-intensity exercise group (LEG), moderate-intensity exercise group (MEG), and high-intensity exercise group (HEG). All the groups, except for CG, underwent whole-body progressive exposure to CS for 25 weeks. Then, we assessed the maximal exercise capacity of mice from the LEG, MEG, and HEG, and performed an 8-week treadmill exercise intervention. Then, we used LiCl (Wnt/ß-catenin agonist) and XAV939 (Wnt/ß-catenin antagonist) to investigate whether Wnt/ß-catenin-PPARγ pathway played a role in the improvement of COPD via exercise. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into six groups (n = 6 per group): CG, SG, LiCl group, LiCl and exercise group, XAV939 group, and XAV939 and exercise group. Mice except those in the CG were exposed to CS, and those in the exercise groups were subjected to moderate-intensity exercise training. All the mice were subjected to lung function test, lung histological assessment, and analysis of inflammatory markers in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, as well as detection of Wnt1, ß-catenin and PPARγ proteins in the lung tissue. RESULTS: Exercise of various intensities alleviated lung structural changes, pulmonary function and inflammation in COPD, with moderate-intensity exercise exhibiting significant and comprehensive effects on the alleviation of pulmonary inflammation and improvement of lung function. Low-, moderate-, and high-intensity exercise decreased ß-catenin levels and increased those of PPARγ significantly, and only moderate-intensity exercise reduced the level of Wnt1 protein. Moderate-intensity exercise relieved the inflammation aggravated by Wnt agonist. Wnt antagonist combined with moderate-intensity exercise increased the levels of PPARγ, which may explain the highest improvement of pulmonary function observed in this group. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise effectively decreases COPD pulmonary inflammation and improves pulmonary function. The beneficial role of exercise may be exerted through Wnt/ß-catenin-PPARγ pathway.

Revisiting airway epithelial dysfunction and mechanisms in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Role of mitochondrial damage.

Chronic exposure to environmental hazards causes airway epithelial dysfunction, primarily impaired physical barriers, immune dysfunction, and repair or regeneration. Impairment of airway epithelial function subsequently leads to exaggerated airway inflammation and remodeling, the main features of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Mitochondrial damage has been identified as one of the mechanisms of airway abnormalities in COPD, which is closely related to airway inflammation and airflow limitation. In this review, we evaluate updated evidence for airway epithelial mitochondrial damage in COPD and focus on the role of mitochondrial damage in airway epithelial dysfunction. In addition, the possible mechanism of airway epithelial dysfunction mediated by mitochondrial damage is discussed in detail, and recent strategies related to airway epithelial-targeted mitochondrial therapy are summarized. Results have shown that dysregulation of mitochondrial quality and oxidative stress may lead to airway epithelial dysfunction in COPD. This may result from mitochondrial damage as a central organelle mediating abnormalities in cellular metabolism. Mitochondrial damage mediates pro-cellular senescence effects due to mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, which effectively exacerbate different types of programmed cell death, participate in lipid metabolism abnormalities, and ultimately promote airway epithelial dysfunction and trigger COPD airway abnormalities. These can be prevented by targeting mitochondrial damage factors and mitochondrial transfer. Thus, because mitochondrial damage is involved in COPD progression as a central factor of homeostatic imbalance in airway epithelial cells, it may be a novel target for therapeutic intervention to restore airway epithelial integrity and function in COPD.

Lung transcriptomics reveals the underlying mechanism by which aerobic training enhances pulmonary function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: Aerobic training is the primary method of rehabilitation for improving respiratory function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in remission. However, the mechanism underlying this improvement is not yet fully understood. The use of transcriptomics in rehabilitation medicine offers a promising strategy for uncovering the ways in which exercise training improves respiratory dysfunction in COPD patients. In this study, lung tissue was analyzed using transcriptomics to investigate the relationship between exercise and lung changes. METHODS: Mice were exposed to cigarette smoke for 24 weeks, followed by nine weeks of moderate-intensity treadmill exercise, with a control group for comparison. Pulmonary function and structure were assessed at the end of the intervention and RNA sequencing was performed on the lung tissue. RESULTS: Exercise training was found to improve airway resistance and lung ventilation indices in individuals exposed to cigarette smoke. However, the effect of this treatment on damaged alveoli was weak. The pair-to-pair comparison revealed numerous differentially expressed genes, that were closely linked to inflammation and metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is necessary to confirm the cause-and-effect relationship between the identified biomarkers and the improvement in pulmonary function, as this was not examined in the present study.

FGF9 is required for Purkinje cell development and function in the cerebellum.

Fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9) is a member of the fibroblast growth factor family, which is widely expressed in the central nervous system (CNS). It has been reported that deletion of FGF9 leads to defects in cerebellum development, including Purkinje cell defect. However, it is not clear how FGF9 regulating cerebellar development remains to be determined. Our results showed that in addition to disrupt Bergmann fiber scaffold formation and granule neuron migration, deletion of neuronal FGF9 led to ataxia defects. It affected development and function of Purkinje cells, and also changed the action potential threshold and excitation frequency. Mechanistically, depletion of FGF9 significantly changed neurotransmitter contents in Purkinje cells and led to preferential increase in inflammation, even downregulation in ERK signaling. Together, the data demonstrate that neuronal FGF9 is required for the development and function of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum. Insufficient FGF9 during cerebellum development will cause ataxia defects.

A Case of Severe Rhabdomyolysis, Acute Myocardial Damage and Multi-Organ Dysfunction Syndrome in a Patient with Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia.

In recent years, healthcare systems worldwide have faced the challenge of the severe COVID-19 pandemic. However, cases of severe rhabdomyolysis, acute myocardial damage, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) caused by COVID-19 are currently rare. This report presents a case of severe rhabdomyolysis, acute myocardial damage, and MODS caused by COVID-19. The patient was treated at The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital. The purpose of this report is to aid clinicians in quickly identifying and treating similar cases, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Catalpol alleviates hypoxia ischemia-induced brain damage by inhibiting ferroptosis through the PI3K/NRF2/system Xc-/GPX4 axis in neonatal rats.

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a brain damage caused by perinatal hypoxia and blood flow reduction. Severe HIE leads to death. Available treatments remain limited. Oxidative stress and nerve damage are major factors in brain injury caused by HIE. Catalpol, an iridoid glucoside found in the root of Rehmannia glutinosa, has antioxidant and neuroprotective effects. This study examined the neuroprotective effects of catalpol using a neonatal rat HIE model and found that catalpol might protect the brain through inhibiting neuronal ferroptosis and ameliorating oxidative stress. Behavior tests suggested that catalpol treatment improved functions of motor, learning, and memory abilities after hypoxic-ischemic injury. Catalpol treatment inhibited changes to several ferroptosis-related proteins, including p-PI3K, p-AKT, NRF2, GPX4, SLC7A11, SLC3A2, GCLC, and GSS in HIE neonatal rats. Catalpol also prevented changes to several ferroptosis-related proteins in PC12 cells after oxygen-glucose deprivation. The ferroptosis inducer erastin reversed the protective effects of catalpol both in vitro and in vivo. We concluded that catalpol protects against hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) by inhibiting ferroptosis through the PI3K/NRF2/system Xc-/GPX4 axis.

Clock knockout in inhibitory neurons reduces predisposition to epilepsy and influences anxiety-like behaviors in mice.

Epilepsy is a brain disorder affecting up to 1 in 26 individuals. Despite its clinical importance, the molecular mechanisms of epileptogenesis are still far from clarified. Our previous study showed that disruption of Clock in excitatory neurons alters cortical circuits and leads to generation of focal epilepsy. In this study, a GAD-Cre;Clockflox/flox mouse line with conditional Clock gene knockout in inhibitory neurons was established. We observed that seizure latency was prolonged, the severity and mortality of pilocarpine-induced seizure were significantly reduced, and memory was improved in GAD-Cre;Clockflox/flox mice. We hypothesize that mice with CLOCK knockout in inhibitory neurons have increased threshold for seizure, opposite from mice with CLOCK knockout in excitatory neurons. Further investigation showed Clock knockout in inhibitory neurons upregulated the basal protein level of ARC, a synaptic plasticity-associated immediate-early gene product, likely through the BDNF-ERK pathway. Altered basal levels of ARC may play an important role in epileptogenesis after Clock deletion in inhibitory neurons. Although sEPSCs and intrinsic properties of layer 5 pyramidal neurons in the somatosensory cortex exhibit no changes, the spine density increased in apical dendrite of pyramidal neurons in CLOCK knockout group. Our results suggest an underlying mechanism by which the circadian protein CLOCK in inhibitory neurons participates in neuronal activity and regulates the predisposition to epilepsy.

L-ascorbyl-2-phosphate alleviates white matter injury caused by chronic hypoxia through the PRMT5/P53/NF-κB pathway.

White matter injury (WMI) is one of the most serious complications associated with preterm births. Damage to oligodendrocytes, which are the key cells involved in WMI pathogenesis, can directly lead to myelin abnormalities. L-ascorbyl-2-phosphate (AS-2P) is a stable form of vitamin C. This study aimed to explore the protective effects of AS-2P against chronic hypoxia-induced WMI, and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. An in vivo chronic hypoxia model and in vitro oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model were established to explore the effects of AS-2P on WMI using immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, western blotting, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Morris water maze test, novel object recognition test, beaming-walking test, electron microscopy, and flow cytometry. The results showed that AS-2P resulted in the increased expression of MBP, Olig2, PDGFRα and CC1, improved thickness and density of the myelin sheath, and reduced TNF-α expression and microglial cell infiltration to alleviate inflammation in the brain after chronic hypoxia. Moreover, AS-2P improved the memory, learning and motor abilities of the mice with WMI. These protective effects of AS-2P may involve the upregulation of protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) and downregulation of P53 and NF-κB. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that AS-2P attenuated chronic hypoxia-induced WMI in vivo and OGD-induced oligodendrocyte injury in vitro possibly by regulating the PRMT5/P53/NF-κB pathway, suggesting that AS-2P may be a potential therapeutic option for WMI.

Effectiveness of mandibular advancement devices in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea and the impact of different body positions on treatment： A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of mandibular advancement device (MAD) for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and explore the effect of different positions on MAD for OSA. METHODS: The Embase, PubMed, Medline, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for relevant studies evaluating the effect of MAD on the treatment of OSA from database inception to November 2022. The Bayesian random-effects mode was used to calculate the pooled outcome. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were applied to investigate the heterogeneity. RESULTS: A total of 6 studies enrolling 643 patients were eligible for further analysis. MAD treatment led to improvements in total apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) for both positional OSA(POSA) and Non-POSA groups, but there was no significant difference in the effect of MAD on Non-POSA and POSA (MD = -1.46,95%CI [-4.89,1.97], P = 0.40). In the supine position, AHI improvement after MAD treatment in POSA group was more than that in Non-POSA group by 15 events/hour in average (MD = 14.82, 95%CI [11.43,18.22], P＜0.00001), while in the non-supine position, the change of AHI in Non-POSA group was significantly better than that in POSA group by approximately 8 events/hour (MD = -7.55,95%CI[-10.73,-4.38],p < 0.00001). CONCLUSION: MAD is more suitable for POSA compared to Non-POSA in patients with habitual sleep in the supine or supine predominant position. While for patients with habitual sleep in the non-supine position, MAD is an effective treatment option for Non-POSA.

microRNA profilings identify plasma biomarkers and targets associated with pediatric epilepsy patients.

BACKGROUND: Although previous studies show that microRNAs (miRNAs) can potentially be used as diagnostic markers for epilepsy, there are very few analyses of pediatric epilepsy patients. METHODS: miRNA profiles using miRNA-seq was performed on plasma samples from 14 pediatric epileptic patients and 14 healthy children. miRNA miR-27a-3p that were significantly changed between two groups were further evaluated. The potential target genes of miR-27a-3p were screened through unbiased mRNA-seq and further validated using Western blot and immunohistochemistry in HEK-293T cells and in the brains of mice with epilepsy induced by lithium chloride-pilocarpine. RESULTS: We found 82 upregulated and 76 downregulated miRNAs in the plasma from pediatric patients compared with controls (p < 0.01), of which miR-27a-3p exhibited a very low p value (p < 0.0001) and validated in additional plasma samples. Two genes, GOLM1 and LIMK1, whose mRNA levels were decreased (p < 0.001) with the increase of miR-27a-3p were further validated in both HEK-293T cells and in epileptic mice. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-27a-3p exhibits potential as a diagnostic and therapeutic marker for epilepsy. We postulate that additional studies on the downstream targets of miR-27a-3p will unravel its roles in epileptogenesis or disease progression. IMPACT: A total of 158 differentially expressed miRNAs were detected in plasma between epileptic and control children. Plasma miR-27a-3p was one of the miRNAs with a low p value. GOLM1 and LIMK1 were validated as downstream target genes of miR-27a-3p. miR-27a-3p has potential as a diagnostic and therapeutic marker for epilepsy.

Neonatal di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate exposure induces permanent alterations in secretory CRH neuron characteristics in the hypothalamus paraventricular region of adult male rats.

Corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) play a critical role in the modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Early-life exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) has been associated with an increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders in adulthood. The present work was designed to explore the impact of neonatal exposure to DEHP on adult PVN CRH neuronal activity. DEHP or vehicle was given to male rat pups from PND16 to PND22. Then, anxiety-like behaviors, serum corticosterone and testosterone, immunohistochemistry, western blotting, fluorescence in situ hybridization and acute ex vivo slice electrophysiological recordings were used to evaluate the influence of DEHP on adult PVN secretory CRH neurons. Neonatal DEHP-exposed rats exhibited enhanced anxiety-like behaviors in adults, with an increase in CORT. Secretory CRH neurons showed higher spontaneous firing activity but could be inhibited by GABAAR blockers. CRH neurons displayed fewer firing spikes, prolonged first-spike latency, depolarizing shifts in GABA reversal potential and strengthened GABAergic inputs, as indicated by increases in the frequency and amplitude of sIPSCs. Enhancement of GABAergic transmission was accompanied by upregulated expression of GAD67 and downregulated expression of GABABR1, KCC2 and GAT1. These findings suggest that neonatal exposure to DEHP permanently altered the characteristics of secretory CRH neurons in the PVN, which may contribute to the development of psychiatric disorders later in life.

Effects of external diaphragm pacing combined with conventional rehabilitation therapies in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Numerous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have reported the benefits of external diaphragm pacing combined with conventional rehabilitation therapies (EDP-CRTs) on pulmonary function and exercise capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, evidence-based regarding its effects remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of EDP-CRTs versus CRTs on patients with COPD. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES AND METHODS: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis, searching PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, China Biology Medicine Disc, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan-Fang Database, and Chinese Scientific Journal Database from inception to 10 September 2023. RCTs investigating the effects of EDP-CRTs versus CRTs on COPD patients were included. The primary outcome was pulmonary function, including forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), the percentage of predicted values of FEV1 (FEV1%pred), and FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC)%. Secondary outcomes included arterial blood gas analysis [the partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) and the partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2)]; dyspnea [modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (mMRC)]; exercise capacity [6-min walking distance (6MWD)]; and quality of life [COPD assessment test (CAT)]. RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the revised Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2.0). The certainty of the evidence was evaluated with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system. RESULTS: In total, 13 studies/981 participants were included. The pooled results revealed significant benefits of EDP-CRTs versus CRTs on the FEV1 [standardized mean difference (SMD) = 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.58-1.56], FEV1%pred [weighted mean difference (WMD) = 6.67, 95% CI = 5.69-7.64], the FEV1/FVC% (SMD = 1.24, 95% CI = 0.48-2.00), PaO2 (SMD = 1.29, 95% CI = 0.74-1.84), PaCO2 (SMD = -1.88, 95% CI = -2.71 to -1.04), mMRC (WMD = -0.55, 95% CI = -0.65 to -0.45), 6MWD (SMD = 1.63, 95% CI = 0.85-2.42), and CAT (WMD = -1.75, 95% CI = -3.16 to -0.35), respectively. Planned subgroup analysis suggested that EDP-CRTs had a better effect on FEV1, FEV1/FVC%, 6MWD, and CAT in the duration of 2-4 weeks. CONCLUSION: EDP-CRTs have better effects on pulmonary function, PaCO2, dyspnea, exercise capacity, and quality of life in COPD patients than CRTs, and the duration to achieve the most effective treatment is 2-4 weeks. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This systematic review and meta-analysis protocol was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (No. CRD42022355964).

Role of Nrf2 and exercise in alleviating COPD-induced skeletal muscle dysfunction.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex chronic respiratory disease with cumulative impacts on multiple systems, exhibiting significant extrapulmonary impacts, and posing a serious public health problem. Skeletal muscle dysfunction is one of the most pronounced extrapulmonary effects in patients with COPD, which severely affects patient prognosis and mortality primarily through reduced productivity resulting from muscle structural and functional alterations. Although the detailed pathogenesis of COPD has not been fully determined, some researchers agree that oxidative stress plays a significant role. Oxidative stress not only catalyzes the progression of pulmonary symptoms but also drives the development of skeletal muscle dysfunction. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), is a key transcription factor that regulates the antioxidant response and plays an enormous role in combating oxidative stress. In this review, we have summarized current research on oxidative stress damage to COPD skeletal muscle and analyzed the role of Nrf2 in improving skeletal muscle dysfunction in COPD through exercise. The results suggest that oxidative stress drives the occurrence and development of skeletal muscle dysfunction in COPD. Exercise may improve skeletal muscle dysfunction in patients with COPD by promoting the dissociation of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) and Nrf2, inducing sequestosome1(p62) phosphorylation to bind with Keap1 competitively leading to Nrf2 stabilization and improving dynamin-related protein 1-dependent mitochondrial fission. Nrf2 may be a key target for exercise anti-oxidative stress to alleviate skeletal muscle dysfunction in COPD.

MRI-based radiomics features for the non-invasive prediction of FIGO stage in cervical carcinoma: A multi-center study.

PURPOSE: To develop and validate a model based on MRI radiomics modals for predicting surgical high FIGO(IB3 and ≥ IIA2) and low FIGO(IB1, IB2, and IIA1) stages in patients with cervical carcinoma (CC) . METHODS: A total of 296 early-stage patients with CC (preoperative FIGO stages IB-IIA) confirmed by surgery and pathology were included in this retrospective study from two institutions For each patient,we extracted radiomics features from spectral attenuated inversion-recovery T2-weighted (SPAIR-T2W) and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted (CE-T1W) images.Manual segmentation was performed using the 3D Slicer software, while radiomics features were extracted, screened using the R software. A 2-stage feature extraction strategy involving univariate analysis and the Least Absolute Shrinkage Selection Operator technique was performed. A support vector machine-based model was eventually constructed. Predictive accuracy of the training and validation datasets was assessed in terms of area under the ROC curve (AUC). RESULTS: A total of 1130 features were extracted from SPAIR-T2WI and CET1WI images respectively, in which 8 and 7 features significantly were associated with FIGO staging. AUCs of the SPAIR-T2W and CE-T1W models were were 0.803 and 0.790, respectively, in the internal validation group. In the external validation group, the AUCs were 0.767 and 0.749, respectively, which increased to 0.771 in the combined model. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated the feasibility of radiomics features from SPAIR-T2W and CE-T1W images for the prediction of surgical FIGO stage in CC. Our proposed model thereby carries the potential as a non-invasive tool for the staging and treatment planning of this disease. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: A radiomics model provide a non-invasive and objective method for the detection of FIGO staging in patients with cervical cancer before surgery, thus providing a reference for the selection of treatment options for patients.

Effects of pulmonary-based Qigong exercise in stable patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Physical exercise training is the central component of pulmonary rehabilitation. This study aimed to further investigate the rehabilitative effects of pulmonary-based Qigong exercise (PQE) in stable patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: In this randomized, assessor-blinded clinical trial, 44 participants with stable COPD were randomly assigned to 2 groups in a 1:1 ratio. Participants in the control group received usual care for 3 months. Participants in the intervention group received usual care combined with PQE (60 min each time, 2 times per day, 7 days per week, for 3 months). The outcome included exercise capacity, lung function test, skeletal muscle strength, dyspnea, and quality of life were measured before and after intervention. RESULTS: A total of 37 participants completed the trial. Compared to the control group, after 3 months of PQE, the mean change in exercise capacity, skeletal muscle strength, and quality of life were statistically significant (P < 0.05, for each), but no significant differences were observed in lung function (except for the forced expiratory volume in one second) and dyspnea (P > 0.05, for each). CONCLUSION: The findings of study suggest that the proposed program of 3 months of PQE intervention has significant improvement in exercise capacity, skeletal muscle strength, and quality of life of COPD-stable patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Trial ID: ChiCTR-1800017405 on 28 July 2018; available at https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=28343 ).

Anti-inflammatory effects of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Numerous randomised controlled trials have suggested the positive effects of acupuncture on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the underlying therapeutic mechanisms of acupuncture for COPD have not been clearly summarized yet. Inflammation is central to the development of COPD. In this review, we elucidate the effects and underlying mechanisms of acupuncture from an anti-inflammatory perspective based on animal studies. Cigarette smoke combined with lipopolysaccharide is often used to establish animal models of COPD. Electroacupuncture can be an effective intervention to improve inflammation in COPD, and Feishu (BL13) and Zusanli (ST36) can be used as basic acupoints in COPD animal models. Different acupuncture types can regulate different types of inflammatory cytokines; meanwhile, different acupuncture types and acupoint options have similar effects on modulating the level of inflammatory cytokines. In particular, acupuncture exerts anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the release of inflammatory cells, inflammasomes and inflammatory cytokines. The main underlying mechanism through which acupuncture improves inflammation in COPD is the modulation of relevant signalling pathways: nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) (e.g., myeloid differentiation primary response 88/NF-κB, toll-like receptor-4/NF-κB, silent information regulator transcript-1/NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling pathways (extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, p38 and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase), cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, and dopamine D2 receptor pathway. The current synthesis will be beneficial for further research on the effect of acupuncture on COPD inflammation. Please cite this article as: Jiang LH, Li PJ, Wang YQ, Jiang ML, Han XY, Bao YD, Deng XL, Wu WB, Liu XD. Anti-inflammatory effects of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(6): 518-527.

The modulatory effects on enterohepatic cholesterol metabolism of novel cholesterol-lowering peptides from gastrointestinal digestion of Xuanwei ham.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects and mechanism of in vitro protein digestive products of Xuanwei ham with different ripening periods on cholesterol metabolism and hypercholesterolemia. The results showed that compared with other gastrointestinal digestion (GID) groups, the GID group of Xuanwei ham with 3-year ripening period (XWH3-GID) inhibited the expression of Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 (NPC1L1) and acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase 2 (ACAT2) through hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-alpha (HNF-1α), which in turn effectively inhibited cholesterol absorption in Caco-2 cell monolayers. Following absorption by Caco-2 cell monolayers, the XWH3-GID group suppressed the expression and secretion of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) via HNF-1α, which enhanced the protein expression and fluorescence intensity of low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) on the HepG2 cell membrane, and thus promoted the uptake of low density lipoprotein (LDL). Importantly, three novel peptides (LFP, PKF and VPFP) derived from titin were identified after intestinal epithelial transport in the XWH3-GID group, which could exert cholesterol-lowering effects through inhibiting intestinal cholesterol absorption and promoting peripheral hepatic LDL uptake, and effectively ameliorate western diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in ApoE-/- mice. These results suggest that Xuanwei ham with 3-year ripening period can be used as a source of cholesterol-lowering peptides and has potential to intervene in hypercholesterolemia.

Inverse scattering of periodic surfaces with a superlens.

We propose a scheme for imaging periodic surfaces using a superlens. By employing an inverse scattering model and the transformed field expansion method, we derive an approximate reconstruction formula for the surface profile, assuming small amplitude. This formula suggests that unlimited resolution can be achieved for the linearized inverse problem with perfectly matched parameters. Our method requires only a single incident wave at a fixed frequency and can be efficiently implemented using fast Fourier transform. Through numerical experiments, we demonstrate that our method achieves resolution significantly surpassing the resolution limit for both smooth and non-smooth surface profiles with either perfect or marginally imperfect parameters.

Analysis of the genetic contribution to thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissection in a prospective cohort of patients with familial and sporadic cases in East China.

BACKGROUND: Thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissections (TAADs) represent a group of life-threatening diseases. Genetic aetiology can affect the age of onset, clinical phenotype, and timing of intervention. We conducted a prospective trial to determine the prevalence of pathogenic variants in TAAD patients and to elucidate the traits related to harbouring the pathogenic variants. One hundred and one unrelated TAAD patients underwent genetic sequencing and analysis for 23 TAAD-associated genes using a targeted PCR and next-generation sequencing-based panel. RESULTS: A total of 47 variants were identified in 52 TAAD patients (51.5%), including 5 pathogenic, 1 likely pathogenic and 41 variants of uncertain significance. The pathogenic or likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants in 4 disease-causing genes were carried by 1 patient with familial and 5 patients with sporadic TAAD (5.9%). In addition to harbouring one variant causing familial TAAD, the FBN1 gene harboured half of the P/LP variants causing sporadic TAAD. Individuals with an age of onset less than 50 years or normotension had a significantly increased genetic risk. CONCLUSIONS: TAAD patients with a younger age at diagnosis or normotension were more likely to carry a P/LP variant; thus, routine genetic testing will be beneficial to a better prognosis through genetically personalized care prior to acute rupture or dissection.

Early swallowing training after free flap surgery in oral cancer: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of early swallowing training on postoperative outcomes of patients who had undergone oral cancer surgery plus free flap reconstruction. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In this prospective, randomized controlled trial, 121 patients who had undergone oral cancer surgery plus free flap reconstruction were randomly assigned to the control (n = 59) or intervention group (n = 62). The control group underwent routine nursing measures. The intervention group received swallowing training on the sixth postoperative day. On the 15th day and 1 month after surgery, the swallowing function (Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability-Oral Cancer [MASA-OC] score), weight loss rate, time of nasogastric tube removal, and quality of life were evaluated. RESULTS: Patients in the intervention group had higher MASA-OC scores and better weight loss rates than those in the control group on the 15th day (MASA-OC: p = 0.014, weight loss: p < 0.001) and 1 month (both p < 0.001) after surgery. The time of nasogastric tube removal and the quality of life was statistically significant between groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Early swallowing training improves the swallowing function, nutritional status, and quality of life and shortens the indwelling time of nasogastric tube of patients who have undergone oral cancer surgery plus free flap reconstruction.