Inflammation-Induced Nitric Oxide Synthase May Mediate the Acute Hypotensive Effect of ST36 Stimulation.

Purpose: Acupoint Zusanli (ST36) has been shown to reduce blood pressure, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. This study aimed to characterize the effects of manual acupuncture (MA) at ST36 on BP and its associated mechanisms in anesthetized rats.

Methods: The cardiovascular response to MA at ST36 in Sprague-Dawley rats was measured by electrocardiogram, hemodynamic methods, heart rate variability, echocardiography, laser speckle contrast imaging, and Western blotting.

Acupuncture and moxibustion as adjunctive therapy for postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction in gastric cancer: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of different acupuncture and moxibustion techniques as adjunctive therapy in addressing Postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction (PGD) associated with gastric cancer (GC).

Methods: Eight medical databases were comprehensively searched for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) as of October 2024. A network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed using frequency models, combining all available direct and indirect evidence from RCTs.

Neonatal anesthesia with remimazolam Reduces the expression of synaptic proteins and increases depressive behavior in adult mice.

The demand for pediatric anesthesia has risen in decades, raising concerns about the neurotoxic potential of anesthetics like remimazolam, which may impact neurodevelopment and later cognitive function. This study utilized a neonatal mouse model to assess remimazolam's neurodevelopmental effects. Results indicate that remimazolam-exposed mice displayed cognitive impairment and depressive behaviors in adulthood.

Effects of glycopyrrolate and atropine for oral secretions and perioperative hemodynamics in children undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy: a prospective, single-center, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

Introduction: Glycopyrrolate is commonly researched as a preoperative medication or in conjunction with cholinesterase inhibitors to counteract the lingering muscarinic effects of non-depolarizing muscarinic agents. However, studies have yielded inconsistent results regarding the superiority of glycopyrrolate over other anti-cholinergic drugs, such as atropine, particularly its effect on heart rate, blood pressure (BP), and glandular secretions. This study aimed to evaluate the differences in perioperative oral secretions, hemodynamics, and recovery quality with glycopyrrolate versus those with atropine before anesthesia induction in children undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.

Transcriptomic Insights into Different Stimulation Intensity of Electroacupuncture in Treating COPD in Rat Models.

Background: Electroacupuncture (EA), with varying stimulation intensities, has demonstrated therapeutic potentials in both animal and clinical studies for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, a comprehensive investigation of the intensity-related effects, particularly 1mA and 3mA of EA, and the underlying mechanisms remains lacking.

Methods: A COPD rat model was established by prolonged exposure to cigarette smoke and intermittent intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide.

Carnosine ameliorates postoperative cognitive dysfunction of aged rats by limiting astrocytes pyroptosis.

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common postoperative complication in elderly patients, and neuroinflammation is a key hallmark. Recent studies suggest that the NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-mediated astrocytes pyroptosis is involved in the regulation of neuroinflammation in many neurocognitive diseases, while its role in POCD remains obscure. Carnosine is a natural endogenous dipeptide with anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects.

Esketamine Prevents Postoperative Emotional and Cognitive Dysfunction by Suppressing Microglial M1 Polarization and Regulating the BDNF-TrkB Pathway in Ageing Rats with Preoperative Sleep Disturbance.

Postoperative depression (POD) and postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) have placed heavy burden on patients' physical and mental health in recent years. Sleep disturbance before surgery is a common phenomenon that has been increasingly believed to affect patients' recovery, especially in aged patients, while little attention has been paid to sleep disruption before surgery and the potential mechanism remains ambiguous. Ketamine has been reported to attenuate POCD after cardiac surgery and elicit rapid-acting and sustained antidepressant actions.

Acupuncture and moxibustion in patients with cancer-related insomnia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Objectives: Cancer-related insomnia (CRI) is one of the most common and serious symptoms in patients with cancer. Acupuncture and moxibustion have been widely applied in the treatment of CRI. Nevertheless, the comparative efficacy and safety of different acupuncture and moxibustion techniques remain unclear.

Neuroprotective Effects of Ultra-High Dose Rate FLASH Bragg Peak Proton Irradiation.

Purpose: To investigate brain tissue response to ultra-high dose rate (uHDR, FLASH) and standard dose rate (SDR) proton irradiations in the Bragg peak region.

Methods And Materials: Active scanning uHDR delivery was established for proton beams for investigation of dose rate effects between clinical SDR and uHDR at ∼10 Gy in the Bragg peak region (dose-averaged linear energy transfer [LET] ranging from 4.5 to 10.

Radioresistance and Transcriptional Reprograming of Invasive Glioblastoma Cells.

Purpose: Infiltrative growth pattern is a hallmark of glioblastoma (GBM). Radiation therapy aims to eradicate microscopic residual GBM cells after surgical removal of the visible tumor bulk. However, in-field recurrences remain the major pattern of therapy failure.

Simultaneous targeting of TGF-β/PD-L1 synergizes with radiotherapy by reprogramming the tumor microenvironment to overcome immune evasion.

Localized radiotherapy (RT) induces an immunogenic antitumor response that is in part counterbalanced by activation of immune evasive and tissue remodeling processes, e.g., via upregulation of programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β).

Railing Nanoparticles Along Activated Tracks Towards Continuous-Flow Electrokinetic Enrichment from Blood Plasma.

We report on a unique microfluidic device that can enrich nanoparticles in a continuous flow by railing them along activated tracks (electrodes). This was achieved based on dielectrophoretic force and electrohydrodynamic drag (electrothermal rolls and AC electroosmosis) in both low and high conductive media. The results have implication for the isolation of high quality and pure nanoparticles such as exosomes from biofluids for applications in cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

-CD40 Crosstalk in Glioblastoma Invasion and Temozolomide Resistance.

Glioma therapy is challenged by the diffuse and invasive growth of glioma. Lysosomal protein transmembrane 5 () was identified as an invasion inhibitor by an screen for invasion-associated genes. The aim of this study was to decipher the function of in glioblastoma and its interaction with the CD40 receptor which is intensively evaluated as a target in the therapy of diverse cancers including glioma.

Poly(arylene ether nitrile) Composites with Surface-Hydroxylated Calcium Copper Titanate Particles for High-Temperature-Resistant Dielectric Applications.

In order to develop high-performance dielectric materials, poly(arylene ether nitrile)-based composites were fabricated by employing surface-hydroxylated calcium copper titanate (CCTO) particles. The results indicated that the surface hydroxylation of CCTO effectively improved the interfacial compatibility between inorganic fillers and the polymer matrix. The composites exhibit not only high glass transition temperatures and an excellent thermal stability, but also excellent flexibility and good mechanical properties, with a tensile strength over 60 MPa.

Carbon irradiation overcomes glioma radioresistance by eradicating stem cells and forming an antiangiogenic and immunopermissive niche.

Tumor radioresistance leading to local therapy failure remains a major obstacle for successful treatment of high-grade glioma. We hypothesized that distinct radiobiological features of particle therapy with carbon ions may circumvent glioma radioresistance. We demonstrate that carbon irradiation (CIR) efficiently eradicates radioresistant patient-derived glioma stem cells (GSCs), leading to growth inhibition and prolonged survival.

Corticomedullary mixed tumour resembling a small adrenal gland-involvement of cancer stem cells: case report.

Background: Adrenal corticomedullary mixed tumours are very rare. Its mechanism is rarely reported. Here we report the first case of a corticomedullary mixed tumour resembling a "small adrenal gland" with distinct arrangement of the cortical and medullary layers.

Feasibility study on the application of coal gangue as landfill liner material.

Coal gangue is one of the largest industrial solid waste all over the world, and many methods have been proposed for the recycling of coal gangue. In the present study, the feasibility of using coal gangue as landfill liner material is studied through a series of laboratory tests in terms of hydraulic conductivity, sorption characteristics and leaching behavior. The results indicated that the hydraulic conductivity of coal gangue could be smaller than the regulatory requirement 1×10cm/s with a void ratio less than 0.

NRF2 activation by antioxidant antidiabetic agents accelerates tumor metastasis.

Cancer is a common comorbidity of diabetic patients; however, little is known about the effects that antidiabetic drugs have on tumors. We discovered that common classes of drugs used in type 2 diabetes mellitus, the hypoglycemic dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) saxagliptin and sitagliptin, as well as the antineuropathic α-lipoic acid (ALA), do not increase tumor incidence but increase the risk of metastasis of existing tumors. Specifically, these drugs induce prolonged activation of the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NRF2)-mediated antioxidant response through inhibition of KEAP1-C151-dependent ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of NRF2, resulting in up-regulated expression of metastasis-associated proteins, increased cancer cell migration, and promotion of metastasis in xenograft mouse models.

Radiosensitivity of Patient-Derived Glioma Stem Cell 3-Dimensional Cultures to Photon, Proton, and Carbon Irradiation.

Purpose: To investigate the radiosensitivity of primary glioma stem cell (GSC) cultures with different CD133 status in a 3-dimensional (3D) model after photon versus proton versus carbon irradiation.

Methods And Materials: Human primary GSC spheroid cultures were established from tumor specimens of six consented glioblastoma patients. Human U87MG was used as a classical glioblastoma radioresistant cell line.

Effects of long-term acupuncture treatment on resting-state brain activity in migraine patients: a randomized controlled trial on active acupoints and inactive acupoints.

Background: Acupuncture has been commonly used for preventing migraine attacks and relieving pain during a migraine, although there is limited knowledge on the physiological mechanism behind this method. The objectives of this study were to compare the differences in brain activities evoked by active acupoints and inactive acupoints and to investigate the possible correlation between clinical variables and brain responses.

Methods And Results: A randomized controlled trial and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were conducted.