Acupoint stimulation for long COVID: A promising intervention: 穴位刺激治疗长新冠:一种有前景的干预措施

“Long COVID” is a sustained symptom following infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). According to recent statistics, at least 65 million people have long COVID, which poses a long-term threat to human health. The pathogenic mechanisms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are complex and affect multiple organs and systems. Common symptoms include palpitations, breathing difficulties, attention and memory deficits, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. It is difficult to achieve satisfactory treatment effect with a single intervention. Currently, treatment strategies for long COVID are still in the exploratory stage, and there is an urgent need to find appropriate and effective methods for long COVID treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine is effective in treating the various phases of COVID-19. Previous studies have shown that acupoint stimulation therapy is effective in improving palpitations, dyspnea, cognitive impairment, anxiety, depression, and other symptoms in patients. According to previous studies, acupoint stimulation may improve various symptoms related to long COVID. This paper discusses the potential application value of acupoint stimulation in the treatment of long COVID-related symptoms, based on the common sequelae of various systems involved in long COVID, and the effect of acupoint stimulation in the treatment of similar symptoms and diseases in recent years.     

两种局灶性脑缺血大鼠模型的影像及超微结构比较

目的比较大鼠大脑中动脉闭塞（MCAO）模型和光化学诱导局灶性脑缺血模型的磁共振影像及超微结构的差异。方法分别建立大鼠MCAO和光化学诱导局灶性脑缺血模型,利用小动物磁共振成像系统观察脑缺血区域及周边血管分布,结合透射电镜技术比较两种模型缺血区超微结构的变化。结果MCAO模型缺血区范围较大且不稳定,细胞结构破坏严重,血管变形显著,新生血管较少。光化学诱导模型缺血区范围较小且稳定,细胞结构损伤区域较小,新生血管较多。结论两种模型方法各有优缺点,均为脑缺血后血管损伤保护及溶栓治疗的研究提供实用性工具,可根据科研需求选取适合的造模方法     

Qingjie Fuzheng Granules regulates cancer cell proliferation,apoptosis and tumor angiogenesis in colorectal cancer xenograft mice via Sonic Hedgehog pathway

BackgroundSonic Hedgehog (SHh) signaling pathway plays a critical role in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and tumor angiogenesis in various types of malignancies including colorectal cancer (CRC). Qingjie Fuzheng Granules (QFG) is a traditional Chinese medicinal formula, which has been clinically used in various cancer treatments, including CRC. In this study, we explored the potential molecular mechanisms of QFG treatment effects on CRC via the SHh pathway.MethodsA CRC HCT-116 xenograft mouse model was utilized for all experiments. Mice were treated with intra-gastric administration of 1 g/kg of QFG or saline 6 days a week for 28 days (4 weeks). Body weight, length and shortest diameter of the tumor were measured every 3 days. At the end of the treatment, the tumor weight was measured. TUNEL staining assays were used to detect tumor apoptosis. Western blot and immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays were used to detect the expression of relative proteins.ResultsIn our results, QFG inhibited the increase of tumor volume and weight, and exhibited no impact on mouse body weight. Furthermore, QFG significantly decreased the expression of SHh, Smo and Gli proteins, indicating the action of SHh signaling. Consequently, the expression of pro-proliferative survivin, Ki-67, Cyclin-D1 and CDK4 were decreased and expression of anti-proliferative p21 was increased. The pro-apoptotic Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, cle-caspase-3 and TUNEL-positive cell percentage in tumor tissues were increased. Meanwhile, the pro-angiogenic VEGF-A and VEGFR-2 expression was down-regulated.ConclusionsQFG inhibited CRC cell proliferation and promoted CRC cell apoptosis and tumor angiogenesis in vivo through the suppression of SHh pathway, suggesting that QFG could be a potential therapeutic drug for CRC.     

前列宁胶囊治疗良性前列腺增生临床疗效观察

目的：观察前列宁胶囊治疗良性前列腺增生tBPH）的临床疗效及安全性与不良反应。方法：采用完全随机法将90例良性前列腺增生症患者分为治疗组与对照组各45例,治疗组采用前列宁胶囊治疗,对照组采用保列治治疗。观察两组治疗12周后的最大尿流率、平均尿流率、前列腺症状评分（I—PSS）、生活质量指数（QOL）及主要症状改善情况,并观察其安全性与不良反应。结果：两组治疗前后最大尿流率、平均尿流率、I-PSS评分、QOL分值及排尿不尽感、排尿等待、夜尿次数比较均有显著性差异（P〈0．05）。患者对前列宁胶囊和保列治的耐受性均良好,不良反应轻微。结论：前列宁胶囊对前列腺增生具有良好的临床疗效,值得临床推广应用。     

H型血管铁死亡对骨质疏松性骨关节炎的影响及调节机制研究

随着全社会人口老龄化的加剧,绝经后女性罹患骨质疏松性骨关节炎的风险亦呈现高发趋势,严重危害中老年人的健康。研究证实血管形成及功能异常是加剧骨质疏松、骨关节炎病理退变的重要事件。H型血管(内皮细胞)在骨与软骨损伤修复中兼具成骨和成血管偶联功能,其形态与功能异常将影响骨质疏松、骨关节炎的损伤修复。铁死亡作为近年来发现的一种新型细胞死亡模式,其主要由铁依赖性脂质过氧化和活性氧诱导损伤引起细胞膜断裂,线粒体变小等改变。而H型血管铁死亡对骨质疏松性骨关节炎病程的影响途径及调节机制尚需进一步探讨,旨在为今后以H型血管铁死亡为切入点进而防治骨质疏松性骨关节炎开辟新方向。     

透骨消痛颗粒含药血清对兔软骨细胞增殖影响的研究

目的：探讨透骨消痛颗粒含药血清对兔软骨细胞增殖的影响。方法：取4周龄新西兰兔膝关节关节软骨Ⅱ型胶原酶消化,建立软骨细胞体外培养体系,体外培养第3代软骨细胞随机分为5组,分别加入培养液、空白血清和中药血清低、中、高剂量继续培养24、48、72 h后,采用流式细胞仪检测软骨细胞周期的变化。结果：流式细胞仪细胞周期检测显示中药血清中、高剂量能够刺激软骨细胞由G0/G1期进入S期和G2/M期,并呈现时间的依赖性,干预48 h后G0/G1期细胞比例降低,S期与G2/M期细胞之和增加,与低量组、空白组相比差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论：透骨消痛颗粒含药血清能有效促进软骨细胞的增殖。     

熊胆粉通过线粒体依赖性途径诱导人肝癌细胞凋亡

Objective:To evaluate the effect of Bear Bile Powder(熊胆粉,BBP) on the growth and apoptosis of HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells,and investigate the possible molecular mechanisms mediating its anti-cancer activity.Methods:HepG2 cells were treated with 0.4-1.0 mg/mL of BBP for 24,48 and 72 h.The viability of HePG2 cells was determined by MTT assay.Cellular morphology was observed via phase-contrast microscopy.Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis with Annexin-V/propidium idodide and 5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethyl-benzimidazol-carbocyanine iodide(JC-1) staining was performed to determine cell apoptosis and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential,respectively.Activation of caspase-9 and-3 was evaluated by a colorimetric assay.Results:The treatment with 0.4-1 mg/mL of BBP for 24,48,or 72 h respectively reduced cell viability significantly by 7%-60%,20%-90%or 25%-98%,compared with the untreated control cells(P0.01).In addition,BBP treatment induced morphological changes in HepG2 cells.Furthermore,after treated with 0,0.4,0.6,0.8 and 1.0 mg/mL of BBP,apoptosis cells(including early and late apoptotic cells) were 18.0%±1.3%,34.9%±2.2%,33.9%±2.8%,37.4%±2.8%and 46.0%±2.5%,respectively(P0.05);and the percentage of cells with reduced JC-1 red fluorescence were 6.6%±0.8%,8.5%±0.8%,13.5%±1.6%,17.6%±2.3%and46.7%±3.6%,respectively(P0.01).Finally,BBP treatment significantly and dose-dependently induced activation of both caspase-9 and caspase-3 in HepG2 cells(P0.05).Conclusions:BBP could inhibit the growth of HepG2hepatocellular cancer cells through mitochondrion-mediated apoptosis,which may,in part,explain its anti-cancer activity.BBP may be a potential novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.     

Millimeter wave promotes the synthesis of extracellular matrix and the proliferation of chondrocyte by regulating the voltage-gated K+ channel

Previously, we reported that millimeter wave promoted the chondrocyte proliferation by pushing cell cycle progression. Activation of K⁺ channels plays an essential role in the stimulating of extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis and the cell proliferation in chondrocytes. While it is unclear if millimeter wave enhances ECM synthesis and proliferation of chondrocytes by regulating K⁺ channel activity, we here investigated the effects of millimeter waves on ECM synthesis, chondrocyte proliferation and ion channels in the primary chondrocyte culture. We found that millimeter waves led to the increase of chondrocyte viability, the morphological changes of chondrocyte, and the F-actin distortion and remodeling. Ultrastructural analysis showed that treated chondrocytes contained an expansion of mitochondria and granular endoplasmic reticulum, and a high number of cytoplasmic vesicles in the cytoplasm compared to untreated cells, suggesting millimeter waves increased the energy metabolism and protein synthesis of chondrocytes. The analysis of differential ion channels’ genes expression further showed an obvious increase of Kcne1, Kcnj3 and Kcnq2. To determine the role of voltage-gated K⁺ channel in chondrocyte, we blocked the voltage-gated K⁺ channel with 10 mM tetraethylammonium (TEA) and treated chondrocytes with millimeter waves. The results indicated that TEA significantly negated the promotion of millimeter waves for the ECM synthesis and chondrocyte proliferation. Our results support the hypothesis that millimeter waves promote the synthesis of ECM and the proliferation of chondrocyte by regulating the voltage-gated K⁺ channel.     

Are bacterial proteins part of the matrix of kidney stones?

An extracellular protein, produced fromPseudomonas fluorescensstrain D with molecular mass of 41.5 kDa was partially purified. Its first 12 amino acid sequence shows strong similarity to a sequence reported to belong to a protein isolated from a urate-calcium oxalate stone (Binnette & Binnette,Scan Microsc1994;2: 233–239). A possible involvement of bacterial proteins in stone matrix is discussed.