Deep learning-based spinal canal segmentation of computed tomography image for disease diagnosis: A proposed system for spinal stenosis diagnosis.

Background: Lumbar disc herniation was regarded as an age-related degenerative disease. Nevertheless, emerging reports highlight a discernible shift, illustrating the prevalence of these conditions among younger individuals.

Methods: This study introduces a novel deep learning methodology tailored for spinal canal segmentation and disease diagnosis, emphasizing image processing techniques that delve into essential image attributes such as gray levels, texture, and statistical structures to refine segmentation accuracy.

Acupuncture alleviates inflammatory pain by activating CXCL1/CXCR2 signaling in the primary somatosensory cortex in adjuvant induced arthritis rats.

Objectives: To observe whether acupuncture up-regulates chemokine CXC ligand 1 (CXCL1) in the brain to play an analgesic role through CXCL1/chemokine CXC receptor 2 (CXCR2) signaling in adjuvant induced arthritis (AIA) rats, so as to reveal its neuro-immunological mechanism underlying improvement of AIA.

Methods: BALB/c mice with relatively stable thermal pain reaction were subjected to planta injection of complete Freund adjuvant (CFA) for establishing AIA model, followed by dividing the AIA mice into simple AF750 (fluorochrome) and AF750+CXCL1 groups (=2 in each group). AF750 labeled CXCL1 recombinant protein was then injected into the mouse's tail vein to induce elevation of CXCL1 level in blood for simulating the effect of acupuncture stimulation which has been demonstrated by our past study.

Effects and mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia mediated by afferent nerves in acupoint microenvironments.

In the past few decades, the use of acupuncture analgesia in clinical practice has increased worldwide. This is due to its various benefits, including natural alleviation of pain without causing various adverse effects associated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and opioids. The acupoint represents the initial site of acupuncture stimulation, where diverse types of nerve fibers located at the acupoint hold significant roles in the generation and transmission of acupuncture-related information.

Acupressure for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Depression is a common mental disorder caused by the interaction of social, psychological, and biological factors. Treatments include psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and other therapies, but they have limitations. Particularly, the COVID-19 pandemic may have a negative impact on depressed people.

Isolating micro/nanoplastics from organic-rich wastewater: Co/PMS outweighs Fenton system.

Rapid isolation of microplastics is the prerequisite for correct and in-depth understanding of their environmental impacts and human health threats. And Fenton's reagent (Fe/HO system, FHS) has been proven to be a viable way to isolate microplastics from wastewater, but it is limited because of harsh reaction conditions, long reaction time and low efficiency. Herein, it's proven that the Fenton-like system, which is using Cobalt (II) salts to decompose potassium peroxymonosulfate (Co/PMS system, CPS) with generation of O, can offer shorter time (within 30 min) in complex sample isolation.

Pathological pathway analysis in an experimental rheumatoid arthritis model and the tissue repair effect of acupuncture at ST36.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that generally affects the joints. In the face of inflammation-induced cartilage and bone damage, RA treatment remains insufficient. While research evidence indicates that acupuncture can exert anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, improve the joint function of RA patients, and delay the disease, data on whether it can promote RA repair are lacking.

Inflammation-the role of TRPA1 channel.

Recently, increasing numbers of studies have demonstrated that transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) can be used as a potential target for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. TRPA1 is expressed in both neuronal and non-neuronal cells and is involved in diverse physiological activities, such as stabilizing of cell membrane potential, maintaining cellular humoral balance, and regulating intercellular signal transduction. TRPA1 is a multi-modal cell membrane receptor that can sense different stimuli, and generate action potential signals after activation osmotic pressure, temperature, and inflammatory factors.

The autonomic nervous system: A potential link to the efficacy of acupuncture.

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a diffuse network that regulates physiological systems to maintain body homeostasis by integrating inputs from the internal and external environment, including the sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric nervous systems (ENS). Recent evidence suggests that ANS is one of the key neural pathways for acupuncture signal transduction, which has attracted worldwide attention in the acupuncture field. Here, we reviewed the basic and clinical research published in PubMed over the past 20 years on the effects of acupuncture on ANS regulation and homeostasis maintenance.

[Acupoit is the "transducer" in the physiochemical information coupling response of acupuncture].

Acupoint is the initial response site of acupuncture stimulus and also the source link of the effect onset of acupuncture. Acupuncture is a mechanical physical stimulus. How is the mechanical force of acupuncture transduced into neuroelectrical and biochemical signals at acupoint? How does the physiochemical information of acupoint launch acupuncture effect? All of these remain the common and crucial questions in the study of acupuncture effect mechanism.

[Progress of researches on acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of cartilage damage of osteoarthritis].

Cartilage damage is the key pathological mechanism in the progressive development of osteoarthritis(OA). Slowing down cartilage damage and accelerating cartilage repair are strategies for effective treatment of OA. Acupuncture and moxibustion therapies are widely used in relieving symptoms of OA and have a protective effect on cartilage.

Manual acupuncture at ST36 attenuates rheumatoid arthritis by inhibiting M1 macrophage polarization and enhancing Treg cell populations in adjuvant-induced arthritic rats.

Objectives: Acupuncture has been found to be effective at relieving many inflammatory pain conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We aimed to assess the anti-inflammatory potential of manual acupuncture (MA) treatment of RA using adjuvant-induced arthritic (AIA) rats and to explore the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: The anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions of MA at ST36 () in AIA rats were assessed using paw withdrawal latency and swelling, histological examination and cytokine detection by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA).

PAC1 Receptor Mediates Electroacupuncture-Induced Neuro and Immune Protection During Cisplatin Chemotherapy.

Platinum-based chemotherapy is an effective treatment used in multiple tumor treatments, but produces severe side effects including neurotoxicity, anemia, and immunosuppression, which limits its anti-tumor efficacy and increases the risk of infections. Electroacupuncture (EA) is often used to ameliorate these side effects, but its mechanism is unknown. Here, we report that EA on ST36 and SP6 prevents cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity and immunosuppression.

Efficacy and Safety of Chaihu Jia Longgu Muli Decoction in the Treatment of Poststroke Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Chaihu Jia Longgu Muli decoction (CLMD) is widely used in the treatment of poststroke depression (PSD) in China. Some evidences show that it has advantages, but there lacks reliable evidence. This study aims to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of CLMD in the treatment of PSD.

Role of Neuroimmune Crosstalk in Mediating the Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Effects of Acupuncture on Inflammatory Pain.

Inflammatory pain is caused by peripheral tissue injury and inflammation. Inflammation leads to peripheral sensitization, which may further cause central sensitization, resulting in chronic pain and progressive functional disability. Neuroimmune crosstalk plays an essential role in the development and maintenance of inflammatory pain.

ST36 Acupuncture Alleviates the Inflammation of Adjuvant-Induced Arthritic Rats by Targeting Monocyte/Macrophage Modulation.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic chronic autoimmune disease characterized by the aggregation of immune cells and secretion of cytokines in the joint synovium, causing hyperblastosis and even bone destruction. Acupuncture has been proven effective in RA treatment. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory action of acupuncture, specifically, in relation to immune cell interactions and key mediators.

The Role of Neuroglial Crosstalk and Synaptic Plasticity-Mediated Central Sensitization in Acupuncture Analgesia.

Although pain is regarded as a global public health priority, analgesic therapy remains a significant challenge. Pain is a hypersensitivity state caused by peripheral and central sensitization, with the latter considered the culprit for chronic pain. This study summarizes the pathogenesis of central sensitization from the perspective of neuroglial crosstalk and synaptic plasticity and underlines the related analgesic mechanisms of acupuncture.

Simultaneous Detection of Ascorbic Acid, Dopamine, and Uric Acid Using a Novel Electrochemical Sensor Based on Palladium Nanoparticles/Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite.

A fresh strategy based on two-step electrochemical reduction for the fabrication of palladium nanoparticles/reduced oxide nanocomposite-modified glass carbon electrode (PdNPs/rGO/GCE) was established in this study. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images showed that spherical PdNPs were evenly distributed on the surface of rGO-modified electrode (rGO/GCE), and the introduction of PdNPs has no effect on the morphology of rGO. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies revealed that the conductivity of PdNPs/rGO/GCE was higher than that of rGO/GCE and bare GCE.

Berberine Exerts Anti-cancer Activity by Modulating Adenosine Monophosphate- Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) and the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/ Protein Kinase B (PI3K/AKT) Signaling Pathways.

Background: The antagonistic relationship between adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signaling play a vital role in cancer development. The anti-cancer effects of berberine have been reported as a main component of the traditional Chinese medicine Rhizoma coptidis, although the roles of these signaling pathways in these effects have not been systematically reviewed.

Methods: We searched the PubMed database for studies with keywords including ["berberine"] and ["tumor" or "cancer"] and ["AMPK"] or ["AKT"] published between January 2010 and July 2020, to elucidate the roles of the AMPK and PI3K/AKT pathways and their upstream and downstream targets in the anti-cancer effects of berberine.

The efficacy and safety of acupuncture and moxibustion combined with western medicine for obsessive-compulsive disorder: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder is common, chronic mental disorder, which is characterized by recurrent, unwanted, or intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors or mental action. Acupuncture and moxibustion, as a popular form of complementary and alternative therapy, have the advantages of low side effects, high safety, and low cost. The research showed that acupuncture and moxibustion have a good clinical efficacy on obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Applying Complex Network and Cell-Cell Communication Network Diagram Methods to Explore the Key Cytokines and Immune Cells in Local Acupoint Involved in Acupuncture Treating Inflammatory Pain.

Manual acupuncture (MA) can effectively treat a variety of diseases, but its specific mechanism remains unclear. The "acupoint network" activated by MA participates in MA signal transduction, in which immune-related cells and cytokines play an important role. However, which cells and cytokines in the acupoint have changed after MA? What is the network relationship between them? Which cells and cytokines may play the most important role in MA effect? These problems are unclear.

Efficacy and safety of fire-needle in the treatment of gouty arthritis: A protocol for systematic review and meta analysis.

Background: Fire needle therapy is an ancient external treatment method of traditional Chinese medicine. This therapy is simple to operate and has fewer side effects. Gouty arthritis (GA) is common disease that is often characterized by high excruciating pain on joint.

Synthesis and Anticancer Activity of Novel Actinonin Derivatives as HsPDF Inhibitors.

Human mitochondrial peptide deformylase (HsPDF) is responsible for removing the formyl group from N-terminal formylmethionines of newly synthesized mitochondrial proteins and plays important roles in maintaining mitochondria function. It is overexpressed in various cancers and has been proposed as a novel therapeutic target. Actinonin, a naturally occurring peptidomimetic HsPDF inhibitor, was reported to inhibit the proliferation of a broad spectrum of human cancer cells in vitro.

AMPK and its Activator Berberine in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Neurodegenerative disorders are heterogeneous diseases associated with either acute or progressive neurodegeneration, causing the loss of neurons and axons in the central nervous system (CNS), showing high morbidity and mortality, and there are only a few effective therapies. Here, we summarized that the energy sensor adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and its agonist berberine can combat the common underlying pathological events of neurodegeneration, including oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial disorder, glutamate excitotoxicity, apoptosis, autophagy disorder, and disruption of neurovascular units. The abovementioned effects of berberine may primarily depend on activating AMPK and its downstream targets, such as the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), sirtuin1 (SIRT1), nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor-2 (Nrf2), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK).

Anti-tumor effects and mechanisms of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) and its specific immunopotentiation: Status and prospect.

With cancer deaths increasing, the initiation, pathophysiology and curative management of cancer is receiving increasing attention. Traditional therapies such as surgery and chemoradiotherapy are often accompanied by suppression of host immunity, which increase the risk of metastasis. Astragalus membranceus (AM) is commonly utilized as one herbal medicine of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) with a variety of biological activities.