Systematic immune cell dysregulation and molecular subtypes revealed by single-cell RNA-seq of subjects with type 1 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a prototypic endocrine autoimmune disease resulting from an immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic insulin-secreting ß  cells. A comprehensive immune cell phenotype evaluation in T1DM has not been performed thus far at the single-cell level. METHODS: In this cross-sectional analysis, we generated a single-cell transcriptomic dataset of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 46 manifest T1DM (stage 3) cases and 31 matched controls. RESULTS: We surprisingly detected profound alterations in circulatory immune cells (1784 dysregulated genes in 13 immune cell types), far exceeding the count in the comparator systemic autoimmune disease SLE. Genes upregulated in T1DM were involved in WNT signaling, interferon signaling and migration of T/NK cells, antigen presentation by B cells, and monocyte activation. A significant fraction of these differentially expressed genes were also altered in T1DM pancreatic islets. We used the single-cell data to construct a T1DM metagene z-score (TMZ score) that distinguished cases and controls and classified patients into molecular subtypes. This score correlated with known prognostic immune markers of T1DM, as well as with drug response in clinical trials. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals a surprisingly strong systemic dimension at the level of immune cell network in T1DM, defines disease-relevant molecular subtypes, and has the potential to guide non-invasive test development and patient stratification.

Role of Platelet/Lymphocyte, Neutrophil/Lymphocyte, and Interleukin-37/Interleukin-17 Ratios in the Occurrence and Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

This study was designed to investigate the correlation of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and interleukin (IL)-37/IL-17 ratio with the incidence/treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Firstly, fifty-eight patients with RA treated at the first affiliated hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from January 2018 to January 2019 were selected as the RA group; forty-nine healthy volunteers were enrolled in the control group. RA patients were treated with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Next, the NLR, PLR, IL-37, IL-17 and 28-joint disease activity score using erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) were deleted in two groups. Subsequently, Spearman correlation analysis was adopted for the correlations of various indicators before and after treatment in two groups. According to the analysis results, the levels of NLR, PLR, IL-37, and IL-17 before treatment in the RA group were higher than those in the control group (P < .05), but the difference in the IL-37/IL-17 level between the two groups was not significant (P > .05). After treatment, NLR, PLR, and IL-37/IL-17 levels were significantly reduced in RA patients (P < .05). NLR and PLR were significantly positively correlated with DAS28-ESR, ESR and C-reactive protein (CRP), of which represented the disease activity of RA. NLP was strongly correlated with IL-37/IL-17. Collectively, NLR, PLR, IL-37, and IL-17 are closely related to the occurrence of RA. In addition, NLR and IL-37/IL-17 are more suitable than PLR in reflecting the therapeutic effect. Therefore, IL-37/IL-17 can be considered as a new indicator for reflecting the treatment effectiveness of RA.

Analysis and identification of oxidative stress-ferroptosis related biomarkers in ischemic stroke.

Studies have shown that a series of molecular events caused by oxidative stress is associated with ferroptosis and oxidation after ischemic stroke (IS). Differential analysis was performed to identify differentially expressed mRNA (DEmRNAs) between IS and control groups. Critical module genes were identified using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). DEmRNAs, critical module genes, oxidative stress-related genes (ORGs), and ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) were crossed to screen for intersection mRNAs. Candidate mRNAs were screened based on the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and the MCODE plug-in. Biomarkers were identified based on two types of machine learning algorithms, and the intersection was obtained. Functional items and related pathways of the biomarkers were identified using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Finally, single-sample GSEA (ssGSEA) and Wilcoxon tests were used to identify differential immune cells. An miRNA-mRNA-TF network was created. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to verify the expression levels of biomarkers in the IS and control groups. There were 8287 DE mRNAs between the IS and control groups. The genes in the turquoise module were selected as critical module genes for IS. Thirty intersecting mRNAs were screened for overlaps. Seventeen candidate mRNAs were also identified. Four biomarkers (CDKN1A, GPX4, PRDX1, and PRDX6) were identified using two types of machine-learning algorithms. GSEA results indicated that the biomarkers were associated with steroid biosynthesis. Nine types of immune cells (activated B cells and neutrophils) were markedly different between the IS and control groups. We identified 3747 miRNA-mRNA-TF regulatory pairs in the miRNA-mRNA-TF regulatory network, including hsa-miR-4469-CDKN1A-BACH2 and hsa-miR-188-3p-GPX4-ATF2. CDKN1A, PRDX1, and PRDX6 were upregulated in IS samples compared with control samples. This study suggests that four biomarkers (CDKN1A, GPX4, PRDX1, and PRDX6) are significantly associated with IS. This study provides a new reference for the diagnosis and treatment of IS.

Prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia among older adults in a post-acute hospital in Singapore.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is common in older adults worldwide, but its prevalence varies widely owing to differences in diagnostic criteria, population sampled, and care setting. We aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia in patients aged 65 and above admitted to a post-acute hospital in Singapore. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 400 patients recruited from a community hospital in Singapore. Data including socio-demographics, physical activity, nutritional status, cognition, clinical and functional status, as well as anthropometric measurements were collected. Sarcopenia was defined using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria [AWGS2019]. RESULTS: Of the 383 patients with complete datasets, overall prevalence of sarcopenia was 54% while prevalence of severe sarcopenia was 38.9%. Participants with increased age, male gender and a low physical activity level were more likely to be sarcopenic, while those with higher hip circumference and higher BMI of ≥27.5m/kg2 were less likely to be sarcopenic. Other than the above-mentioned variables, cognitive impairment was also associated with severe sarcopenia. CONCLUSIONS: More than 1 in 2 older adults admitted to a post-acute hospital in Singapore are sarcopenic. There is an urgent need to address this important clinical syndrome burden and to identify patients at risk of sarcopenia in post-acute settings in Singapore for early intervention.

A literature review and meta-analysis of the optimal factors study of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in post-infarction aphasia.

BACKGROUND: The existing literature indicates that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can potentially enhance the prognosis of poststroke aphasia (PSA). Nevertheless, these investigations did not identify the most effective parameters or settings for achieving optimal treatment outcomes. This study involved a meta-analysis aimed to identify the optimal variables for rTMS in treating post-infarction aphasia to guide the use of rTMS in rehabilitating PSA. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from inception to May 2023, and articles were reviewed manually using subject words and free words and supplemented with references from the included literature to obtain additional relevant literature. The search terms included "poststroke aphasia" and "repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)" repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. Additionally, a review of the reference lists of previously published systematic reviews identified through the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (search terms: poststroke aphasia, rTMS; restrictions: none) and PubMed (search terms: poststroke aphasia, rTMSs; restrictions: systematic review or meta-analysis) was performed. Information from studies involving different doses of rTMS in PSA was independently screened and extracted by 2 researchers. RESULTS: This meta-analysis included 387 participants with PSA across 18 randomized controlled trials. The results showed that the total pulse had a trend toward a significant correlation with the treatment effect (P = 0.088), while all other variables did not correlate significantly. When rTMS was not grouped by stimulus parameter and location, our nonlinear results showed that when the total pulses were 40,000 (standardized mean difference (SMD):1.86, 95% credible interval (CrI) 0.50 to 3.33), the pulse/session was 1000 (SMD:1.05, 95% CrI 0.55-1.57), and an RMT of 80% (SMD:1.08, 95% CrI 0.60-1.57) had the best treatment effect. When rTMS was grouped by stimulus parameters and location, our nonlinear results showed that when the total low-frequency (LF)-rTMS-right inferior frontal gyrus (RIFG) pulse was 40,000 (SMD:1.76, 95% CrI:0.36-3.29), the pulse/session was 1000 (SMD:1.06, 95% CrI:0.54-1.59). Optimal results were obtained with an RMT of 80% (SMD:1.14, 95% CrI 0.54 - 1.76). CONCLUSIONS: The optimal treatment effects of rTMS for PSA may be obtained with a total pulse of 40,000, a pulse/session of 1000, and an RMT of 80%. Further rigorous randomized controlled studies are required to substantiate the validity of these results.

Research Note: Three-dimensional microstructural basis for chicken eggshell translucency.

Eggshell translucency, an externally observable feature, can influence consumer purchase intentions. The eggshell quality often deteriorates in aging laying hens, leading to increased eggshell translucency. Eggs exchange water vapor through the pores. It is commonly believed that the moisture remaining in the mastoid space contributes to translucent egg formation. However, the precise mechanisms underlying eggshell translucency require further structural investigations. This study aimed to explore the 3-dimensional microstructure of eggshells using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) to provide insights into the microstructural basis of eggshell translucency. The results revealed that the ratio of pore volume to mastoid space volume was significantly higher in the high-translucency (TH) group than that in the low-translucency (TL) group (P < 0.01); however, the ratio of mastoid space to eggshell volume showed no significant difference. Additionally, measurements of the individual pore morphological features showed that the roundness of the pores in the TH group was significantly higher than that in the TL group, whereas the flatness of the pores in the TH group was significantly lower (P = 0.01). Eggshell porosity directly reflects the water vapor exchange capacity of eggshells, with the TL group exhibiting significantly higher eggshell porosity compared to the TH group (P = 0.02). In conclusion, based on observations of the 3-dimensional microstructure of eggshells, this study elucidated how the volume and morphological characteristics of pores influence the water vapor exchange capacity of eggshells, resulting in eggshell translucency.

Research on Chinese consumers' shell egg consumption preferences and the egg quality of functional eggs.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of egg consumption in China and the production of functional eggs, and finally enrich the types of shell egg products. Trial 1 explored the influence of egg quality on Chinese consumers' willingness to purchase eggs through a questionnaire, which investigated 1,317 consumers' preferences for egg appearance, factors influencing egg purchase, and purchase of functional eggs. The results showed that about 65% of respondents ate more than 4 eggs per wk, pink eggs were the most popular in China, about 65% of consumers preferred eggs with an egg weight of 48 to 58 grams. For functional eggs, 75.32% of consumers have never heard of them. Preferences for eggshell color and yolk color varied by geographic region, with darker colors preferred in Northeast China. Based on the survey results of functional eggs consumption in Trial 1, the dwarf layers of China Agricultural University were used in Trial 2 to produce functional eggs. The eggs are small and pink in color, which is in line with the preferences of Chinese consumers. Three hundred dwarf layers were divided into 4 groups, using the linseed oil added, marigold extract added, and yeast selenium added diets to produce normal, n-3 fatty acid-enriched, lutein-enriched and selenium-enriched eggs by feeding for 28 d, determined the eggs' nutrient content and egg quality. The results showed that the n-3 fatty acid, lutein and selenium contents of the eggs of dwarf layers were significantly increased by changing the diets and did not affect the egg weight, eggshell strength, Haugh units or the proportion of egg parts. The results of this study are helpful to understand the trend of egg consumption preferences in China, and on this basis to produce functional eggs that meet the consumers' expectations.

Comparative N-Glycoproteomic Investigation of Eggshell Cuticle and Mineralized Layer Proteins.

The eggshell cuticle layer (ECL) and eggshell mineralized layer (EML) contain amounts of glycoproteins and proteoglycans. However, there were few comprehensive reports about the effect of post-translational modifications on protein structure and function which requires investigation. Therefore, we used comparative N-glycoproteomics to study glycoproteins in the ECL and EML. We identified a total of 272 glycoproteins in this experiment and found that glycoproteins located in EML were more than that in ECL. Moreover, they showed distinct functional difference between both layers. As N-glycosylation of ovocleidin-17 and ovocleidin-116 in the EML affected eggshell mineralization, some glycoproteins located in ECL, like ovotransferrin and ovostatin-like, possessed antibacterial activity. The several regulated glycoproteins in the EML may pertain to the regulation of mineralization, while glycosylated proteins in the ECL may contribute to molecular adhesion and defense against microbial invasion. This study provides new insights into the eggshell matrix protein contents of the ECL and EML.

Matricellular Protein SMOC2 Potentiates BMP9-Induced Osteogenic Differentiation in Mesenchymal Stem Cells through the Enhancement of FAK/PI3K/AKT Signaling.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can self-renew and differentiate into multiple lineages, making MSC transplantation a promising option for bone regeneration. Both matricellular proteins and growth factors play an important role in regulating stem cell fate. In this study, we investigated the effects of matricellular protein SMOC2 (secreted modular calcium-binding protein 2) on bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9) in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and revealed a possible molecular mechanism underlying this process. We found that SMOC2 was detectable in MEFs and that exogenous SMOC2 expression potentiated BMP9-induced osteogenic markers, matrix mineralization, and ectopic bone formation, whereas SMOC2 knockdown inhibited these effects. BMP9 increased the levels of p-FAK and p-AKT, which were either enhanced or reduced by SMOC2 and FAK silencing, respectively. BMP9-induced osteogenic markers were increased by SMOC2, and this increase was partially abolished by silencing FAK or LY290042. Furthermore, we found that general transcription factor 2I (GTF2I) was enriched at the promoter region of SMOC2 and that integrin ß1 interacted with SMOC2 in BMP9-treated MEFs. Our findings demonstrate that SMOC2 can promote BMP9-induced osteogenic differentiation by enhancing the FAK/PI3K/AKT pathway, which may be triggered by facilitating the interaction between SMOC2 and integrin ß1.

Salt Metathesis: Tetrafluoroborate Anion Rapidly Fluoridates Organoboronic Acids to give Organotrifluoroborates.

Tetrafluoroborate (BF4 - ) has long been used as a spectator counter anion. Herein, we report an unprecedented salt metathesis between a variety of BF4 - salts and a series of organoboronic acids yielding the corresponding organotrifluoroborates. We identified conditions for fast and efficient fluoridation (<1 h) with minimal workup. Fundamentally, this work discloses the proclivity of BF4 - to exchange fluoride atoms with organoboronates, highlighting the lability of BF4 - .

The progressive application of single-cell RNA sequencing technology in cardiovascular diseases.

The mortality rate of cardiovascular disease ranks first in the world. Its pathogenesis involves not only internal factors such as immunity, inflammation, metabolic disorders, and self-development but also external factors such as the environment. In the last decade, the emergence of single-cell technology has greatly promoted the development of disease research. Among them, the more mature single-cell RNA sequencing can carry out high-throughput analysis of single cells while studying with single-cell resolution. This technology enables people to characterize the heterogeneity of single cells, identify rare cell types in heart and blood vessels, and construct human heart cell map. With the data analysis of bioinformatics experts, it can also reconstruct the development track of the heart, to construct a map of heart development. Single-cell sequencing plays an important role in analyzing the human physiological structure and disease progression due to its advantages of single-cell resolution. The possibility of combining other omics technologies is proposed by summarizing the existing application examples and advanced technologies like spatial transcriptome. In this review, we summarize the current single-cell sequencing technologies (plate-based and droplet-based) and describe the data analysis process. The latest findings in cardiovascular disease using single-cell RNA sequencing technology are described. Finally, we discussed the shortcomings of single-cell RNA sequencing technology. At the same time, the possibility of the combination of single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial omics technology, and how to apply it to the study of cardiovascular diseases is discussed.

Protein intake and risk of inflammatory bowel disease: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although the association between dietary protein intake and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) risk has been investigated, the results are inconsistent. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to reassess the relationship between dietary protein intake and IBD risk. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: The PubMed, Web of Knowledge, and Wanfang databases were searched for pertinent studies through January 31, 2020. Relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were derived using a random-effect model. Subgroup analyses according to disease type, geographic location, and sex; sensitivity analysis; and publication bias analysis were performed. RESULTS: The current report includes 8 articles consisting of 12 studies with 1069 cases and 330,676 participants. The pooled RR (95% CI) of the highest vs. the lowest categories of dietary protein intake for the IBD risk was 1.561 (0.384-6.347) in cohort studies and 1.060 (0.663-1.694) in case-control studies. Evidence of heterogeneity was found both in cohort studies (I2=86.4%, p=0.007) and in case-control studies (I2=49.0%, p=0.039). However, the association was significant among Asian populations (RR=1.675, 95% CI=1.096-2.559) but not in other populations. We did not find any relationship of dietary protein intake with the risk of either Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. CONCLUSIONS: Based on limited information, the highest dietary protein intakes among Asians may increase the risk of IBD, undifferentiated for ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. This may reflect dietary patterns for which protein is a marker rather than implicate protein itself.

Health care worker occupational experiences during the COVID-19 outbreak: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Health care workers treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients experience burnout and stress due to overwork and poor working conditions. AIM: To investigate the work experiences of frontline health care workers in Wuhan city and Qinghai province, China, during the COVID-19 outbreak. METHODS: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, a self-reported questionnaire was designed to evaluate work experiences of medical staff throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 178 health care workers responded to the questionnaire between February 19 and 29, 2020. Higher questionnaire dimen-sional score confirmed dimensional advantage. RESULTS: Of all dimensions evaluated by this questionnaire, the occupational value dimension had the highest mean score of 2.61 (0.59), followed by the support/security dimension score of 2.30 (0.74). Occupational protection scored lowest at 1.44 (0.75), followed by work environment at 1.97 (0.81). The social relationships dimension had an intermediate score of 2.06 (0.80). Significant differences in working conditions were observed across hospital departments, with the fever ward scoring lowest. Total scores also differed significantly across workplaces; the fever outpatient department scored lowest (P < 0.01). This phenomenon was likely due to the fact that work in the fever outpatient department, where many patients present to hospital, necessitates constant contact with a large number of individuals with insufficient provision of resources (such as protective equipment and social support). Medical workers in the fever outpatient department were burdened with a fear of COVID-19 infection and a lower sense of professional value as compared to workers in other hospital departments. Medical staff in Wuhan worked longer hours (P < 0.01) as compared to elsewhere. The mean support/security dimension score was higher for tertiary hospital as compared to secondary hospital medical staff as well as for Wuhan area as compared to Qinghai region staff (P < 0.01). Staff in Wuhan had a lower mean work environment score as compared to staff in Qinghai (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Medical staff treating COVID-19 patients in China report poor occupational experiences strongly affected by work environment, occupational protection and social relationships. Health care managers must address the occupational needs of medical staff by ensuring a supportive and safe work environment.

Automatic Rate and Rate-Integrating Mode-Switchable Axisymmetric Gyroscope.

This paper describes a novel rate and rate-integrating mode-switchable axisymmetric gyroscope. A precession angle tracking algorithm is developed to enable the gyro to switch automatically between rate and rate-integrating modes at preset rate points through a digital control system within the gyro. We also propose a vibrating amplitude control method for the rate-integrating mode that directly extracts the angular rate output to ensure switching stability. In rate mode, the bias instability and angle random walk of the gyro reach 0.106°/h and 0.011°/√h, respectively. Additionally, an input range of over ±5000°/s is measured in rate-integrating mode. The scale factor nonlinearity reaches approximately 116 ppm over the full-scale range. The control system implements effective steering control of the gyroscope, with a switching delay of 10 ms from rate mode to rate-integrating mode and 100 ms from rate-integrating to rate mode. The proposed system actualizes a new type of gyroscope with high accuracy and a wide input range, which combines the benefits of rate and rate-integrating modes.

A New Nomogram for Predicting the Risk of Intracranial Hemorrhage in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients After Intravenous Thrombolysis.

Background: We aimed to develop and validate a new nomogram for predicting the risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). Methods: A retrospective study enrolled 553 patients with AIS treated with IVT. The patients were randomly divided into two cohorts: the training set (70%, n = 387) and the testing set (30%, n = 166). The factors in the predictive nomogram were filtered using multivariable logistic regression analysis. The performance of the nomogram was assessed based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC), calibration plots, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: After multivariable logistic regression analysis, certain factors, such as smoking, National Institutes of Health of Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, blood urea nitrogen-to-creatinine ratio (BUN/Cr), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), were found to be independent predictors of ICH and were used to construct a nomogram. The AUC-ROC values of the nomogram were 0.887 (95% CI: 0.842-0.933) and 0.776 (95% CI: 0.681-0.872) in the training and testing sets, respectively. The AUC-ROC of the nomogram was higher than that of the Multicenter Stroke Survey (MSS), Glucose, Race, Age, Sex, Systolic blood Pressure, and Severity of stroke (GRASPS), and stroke prognostication using age and NIH Stroke Scale-100 positive index (SPAN-100) scores for predicting ICH in both the training and testing sets (p < 0.05). The calibration plot demonstrated good agreement in both the training and testing sets. DCA indicated that the nomogram was clinically useful. Conclusions: The new nomogram, which included smoking, NIHSS, BUN/Cr, and NLR as variables, had the potential for predicting the risk of ICH in patients with AIS after IVT.

Effect of miR-581 on Autophagy of Ovarian Cancer SKOV3 Cells by Regulating FOXO1 / 肿瘤防治研究

Objective To explore the effect and mechanism of miR-581 on the autophagy of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells. Methods miR-581 mimics and miR-581 NC were transfected into SKOV3 cells, and the transfection efficiency was detected by qRT-PCR. After successful transfection, Western blot was used to detect autophagy-related proteins expression in SKOV3 cells. TargetScanHuman database predicted miR-581 target genes, and Western blot verified the role of miR-581 and target genes. Results Overexpression of miR-581 significantly inhibited the expression of autophagy-related proteins LC3 Ⅱ and Beclin1 (P < 0.01); miR-581 negatively regulated FOXO1 expression (P < 0.01) and FOXO1 promoted autophagy of SKOV3 cells (P < 0.01). Conclusion miR-581 affects the autophagy of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells by regulating the expression of FOXO1.

Effect of acupotomy intervention on the morphology and ultrastructure of rectus femoris muscle in rabbits with knee osteoarthritis / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of acupotomy on the morphology and ultrastructure of rectus femoris muscle in rabbits with knee osteoarthritis and to reveal the possible therapeutic mechanism involved in the effect of acupotomology on the treatment of knee osteoarthritis(KOA).@*METHODS@#Twenty-four male New Zealand rabbits aged 6 months and weighed (2.0±0.5) kg were randomly divided into blank group, model group and acupotomy group, 8 rabbits in each group. KOA model was established by modified Videman method with left hind limb extended plaster immobility for 6 weeks. In acupotomy group, the transfascial focal points of quadriceps femoris muscle were released by acupotomy under the guidance of Jingjin theory for 4 times and once a week, and the treatment points include Hedingci, Binwaixia, Binneixia. Blank group and model group were fed normally without intervention. One week after the end of the intervention, the pennation angle(PA), muscle thickness(MT), cross-sectional area(CSA) and strain ratio(SR) of rectus femoris were measured by ultrasound. HE staining was used to observe the changes of the tissue morphology, the number of muscle fibers and the average area of muscle fibers. The myofibril of rectus femoris, sarcomere and myofilament were observed by transmission electron microscope.@*RESULTS@#The PA of rectus femoris muscle in the blank group was (9.05±0.21)°. The MT was(1.09±0.09) cm and the CSA was(1.30±0.01) cm2. The PA of rectus femoris muscle in the model group was (3.06±0.15)°. The MT was (0.71±0.02) cm and the CSA was(0.77±0.02) cm2. The PA of rectus femoris muscle in the acupotomy group was (6.94±0.28)°. The MT was (0.80±0.05) cm and the CSA was(0.94±0.03) cm2. The muscle PA, MT and CSA of rectus femoris in the model group were significantly smaller than those in the blank group (P<0.05). Those in acupotomy group were significantly increased compared with those in model group (P<0.05). The SR of rectus femoris muscle was 1.19±0.02 in the blank group, 3.50±0.05 in the model group and 1.99±0.07 in the acupotomy group. The elastic SR of the model group was significantly higher than that of the blank group (P<0.05). These in acupotomy group was significantly lower than that in model group(P<0.05). The results of HE staining showed:in blank group, the fascicles of rectus femoris were arranged neatly, the number of beam of muscle fibers within the fixed visual field was 94.38±3.50 and the average CSA was(0.75±0.22) mm2. In model group, the fascicles of rectus femoris with different sizes were disorganized with a small amount of inflammatory cell infiltration, the number of beam of muscle fibers within the fixed visual field was 196.63±2.62 and the average CSA was(0.26±0.03) mm2. Compared to the blank group, a significant increase in the number of muscle fibers in the fixed field in the model group (P<0.05) and the average CSA decreased significantly(P<0.05). In acupotomy group, the rectus femoris fascicles in the acupotomy group tended to be arranged in a more orderly manner, with the inflammatory cells decreased, the number of beam of muscle fibers within the fixed visual field was 132.88±4.61 and the average CSA was(0.70±0.07) mm2. Compared to the model group, a significant decrease in the number of muscle fibers in the fixed field in the model group(P<0.05) and the average CSA increased significantly(P<0.05). The results of transmission electron microscope showed:compared with the blank group, the overall arrangement of the myofibrils of the rectus femoris in the model group was less structured. There was fracture between the muscle fibers and the sarcomere, the myofilaments were disordered, and the fracture of the Z line was discontinuous. Compared with the model group, the myofibrillar texture of rectus femoris in acupotomy group was clearer, and the Z line was more continuous.@*CONCLUSION@#Based on the jingjin theory, the release of quadriceps femoris by acupotomy can effectively improve the morphology and structure of rectus femoris, and promote the repair and reconstruction of chronic skeletal muscle injury in rabbits with KOA, which may be one of the mechanisms of acupotomy in the treatment of KOA.

[Study on the rule of acupoint selection in treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the characteristics and rule of clinical acupoint selection in treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). METHODS: The clinical articles of acupuncture in treatment of AECOPD were retrieved from the databases of PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP and SinoMed, from the date of establishment to July 15, 2020. The articles were screened in accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the prescriptions of acupuncture and the relevant information of the acupoints and meridians were extracted to establish the database. The data mining methods i.e. Apriori association rule analysis and cluster analysis were used to analyse the using frequency, involving meridians, acupoint distributions, association rules and cluster of selected acupoints. RESULTS: A total of 54 articles were included, 67 acupuncture prescriptions were extracted, 69 acupoints were involved and the total using frequency was 475 times. The top 5 acupoints in frequency were Danzhong (CV 17), Feishu (BL 13), Zusanli (ST 36), Fenglong (ST 40) and Dingchuan (EX-B1). The main involved meridians were bladder meridian of foot-taiyang, conception vessel, stomach meridian of foot-yangming and lung meridian of hand-taiyin. The acupoints were mainly distributed in chest and abdomen, waist and dorsum. The mainly selected special points were five-shu points, front-mu points, convergent points and back-shu points. Twenty strong association rules were summarized by association rule analysis, including Fenglong (ST 40)Þ Zusanli (ST 36), Fengmen (BL 12)Þ Danzhong (CV 17), Tianshu (ST 25)Þ Zhongwan (CV 12), Dingchuan (EX-B1)+ Feishu (BL 13) Þ Danzhong (CV 17), Fenglong (ST 40)+ Feishu (BL 13) Þ Zusanli (ST 36), etc. Five cluster groups were summarized by cluster analysis, i.e. ①Feishu (BL 13), ② Dingchuan (EX-B1) and Danzhong (CV 17), ③ Chize (LU 5), Lieque (LU 7) and Fengmen (BL 12), ④Zusanli (ST 36) and Fenglong (ST 40), ⑤Tianshu (ST 25), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Zhongwan (CV 12). CONCLUSION: The local acupoints and acupoints along meridians are the main acupuncture prescriptions for AECOPD, and the special points are the predominated selection. The acupoint compatibility embodies the therapeutic principle of "strengthening vital qi to eliminate pathogenic factors and considering both the root cause and symptoms".

[Network Meta-analysis of efficacy and safety of Chinese patent medicines in treatment of insomnia].

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Chinese patent medicines in the treatment of insomnia by frequency network Meta-analysis. Randomized controlled trials of Chinese patent medicines for insomnia were retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, EMbase and Cochrane Library databases from the time of database establishment to October 2020. The quality of the included RCTs was evaluated according to the Cochrane bias risk standard, and the data was analyzed by RevMan 5.3 and Stata/MP 15.1. A total of 11 kinds of Chinese patent medicines in 27 RCTs were included. According to Meta-analysis, in term of the effective rate, Tianmeng Liquid, Zaoren Anshen Capsules, Shumian Capsules, Shensong Yangxin Capsules, Shenqi Wuweizi Tablets, Shugan Jieyu Capsules, Anshen Bunao Liquid and Qiye Anshen Tablets combined with nonbenzodiazepine drugs(NBZDs) were superior to NBZDs alone. In term of the improvement of Pittsburg sleeping quality index(PSQI) score, Tianmeng Liquid, Shumian Capsules, Shensong Yangxin Capsules, Bailemian Capsules, Shenqi Wuweizi Tablets, Shugan Jieyu Capsules, Yangxue Qingnao Granules and Yindan Xinnaotong Capsules combined with NBZDs were superior to NBZDs alone. In terms of the safety, Shumian Capsules, Shensong Yangxin Capsules, Shenqi Wuweizi Tablets and Qiye Anshen Tablets combined with NBZDs were superior to NBZDs alone. In terms of the avoidance of dizziness and headache, Qiye Anshen Tablets combined with NBZDs were superior to NBZDs alone. The results of Network Meta-analysis indicated that in term of the effective rate, top three optimal medication regimens were NBZDs combined with Shugan Jieyu Capsules, combined with Zaoren Anshen Capsules and combined with Shensong Yangxin Capsules in the order from high to low. With the respect of improvement of PSQI score, top three optimal medication regimens were NBZDs combined with Yangxue Qingnao Granules, combined with Tianmeng Liquid and combined with Yindan Xinnaotong Capsules in the order from high to low. In terms of the safety, top three optimal medication regimens were NBZDs combined with Qiye Anshen Tablets, combined with Shensong Yangxin Capsules and combined with Shenqi Wuweizi Tablets in the order from high to low. In terms of the avoidance of dizziness and headache, top three optimal medication regimens were NBZDs combined with Qiye Anshen Tablets, combined with Zaoren Anshen Capsules and combined with Shumian Capsules in the order from high to low. In terms of the avoidance of fatigue, top three optimal medication regimens were NBZDs combined with Shensong Yangxin Capsules, combined with Shumian Capsules and combined with Qiye Anshen Tablets in the order from high to low. In conclusion, Chinese patent medicines combined with NBZDs can effectively alleviate the symptoms of insomnia with a high safety. However, the conclusion of this study needs to be verified by more high-quality studies because of the low methodological quality of the included studies.