Objective. Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders. Hypnotics have poor long‐term efficacy. Mongolian medical warm acupuncture has significant efficacy in treating insomnia. The paper evaluates the role of Mongolian medical warm acupuncture in treating insomnia by investigating the Mongolian medicine syndromes and conditions, Pittsburgh sleep quality index, and polysomnography indexes. Method. The patients were diagnosed in accordance with International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD‐2). The insomnia patients were divided into the acupuncture group (40 cases) and the estazolam group (40 cases). The patients underwent intervention of Mongolian medical warm acupuncture and estazolam. The indicators of the Mongolian medicine syndromes and conditions, Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and polysomnography indexes (PSG) have been detected. Result. Based on the comparison of the Mongolian medicine syndrome scores between the warm acupuncture group and the drug treatment group, the result indicated P < 0.01. The clinical efficacy result showed that the effective rate (85%) in the warm acupuncture group was higher than that (70%) in the drug group. The total scores of PSQI of both groups were approximated. The sleep quality indexes of both groups decreased significantly (P < 0.05). The sleep quality index in the Mongolian medical warm acupuncture group decreased significantly (P < 0.01) and was better than that in the estazolam group. The sleep efficiency and daytime functions of the patients in the Mongolian medical warm acupuncture group improved significantly (P < 0.01). The sleep time was significantly extended (P < 0.01) in the Mongolian medical warm acupuncture group following PSG intervention. The sleep time during NREM in the Mongolian warm acupuncture group increased significantly (P < 0.01). The sleep time exhibited a decreasing trend during REM and it decreased significantly in the Mongolian warm acupuncture group (P < 0.01). The percentage of sleep time in the total sleep time during NREM3+4 in the Mongolian medical warm acupuncture group increased significantly. Conclusion. Mongolian medical warm acupuncture is efficient and safe in treating insomnia. It is able to better improve the patients’ sleep time and daytime functions. It is better than that in the estazolam group following drug withdrawal in terms of improving the sleep time. It is more effective in helping the insomnia patients than hypnotics.

Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a chronic liver disease prevalent worldwide, with an increasing incidence associated with obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. The progression of MASLD to metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH) poses a pressing health concern, highlighting the significance of accurately identifying MASLD and its progression to MASH as a primary challenge in the field. In this study, a systematic integration of 66 immune cell types was conducted. Comprehensive analyses were performed on bulk, single-cell RNA-Seq, and clinical data to investigate the immune cell types implicated in MASLD progression thoroughly. Multiple approaches, including immune infiltration, gene expression trend analysis, weighted gene coexpression network analysis, and 4 machine learning algorithms, were used to examine the dynamic changes in genes and immune cells during MASLD progression. C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 and dedicator of cytokinesis 8 have been identified as potential diagnostic biomarkers for MASLD progression. Furthermore, cell communication analysis at the single-cell level revealed that the involvement of C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 and dedicator of cytokinesis 8 in MASLD progression is mediated through their influence on T cells. Overall, our study identified vital immune cells and a 2-gene diagnostic signature for the progression of MASLD, providing a new perspective on the diagnosis and immune-related molecular mechanisms of MASLD. These findings have important implications for developing innovative diagnostic tools and therapies for MASLD. Export

Background. Mongolian medical warm acupuncture has a desirable therapeutic effect on sciatica. Apoptosis of the nucleus pulposus cells is considered to play an important role in sciatica. Evidence has demonstrated that oxidative stress and its induced activation of the signaling pathways play important roles in sciatica. However, further research is expected to reveal whether Mongolian medical warm acupuncture can inhibit the apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells and oxidative stress. Objective. To study the effect of the p38 MAPK pathway activated by the generated ROS on apoptosis and the expression of the genes related to the balance of the extracellular matrix metabolism during treatment of sciatica with Mongolian medical warm acupuncture. Method. The volume of the active oxygen generated in the nucleus pulposus cells was detected following intervention of Mongolian medical warm acupuncture. The p38 MAPK phosphorylation level was detected with Western blot. The genes are related to the metabolism of the nucleus pulposus extracellular matrix. Result. Mongolian medical warm acupuncture reduced the active oxygen within the nucleus pulposus cells and inhibited the activation of the p38 MAPK pathway (P=0.013). Meanwhile, it upregulated the gene expression of Type II collagen, aggrecan, Sox‐9, and tissue matrix metalloproteinase reagent 1 (P‐0.015; P=0.025; P=0.031; P=0.045) and downregulated the gene expression of matrix metalloproteinase 3 (P=0.015). Conclusion. Mongolian medical warm acupuncture may inhibit apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells and activation of the extracellular matrix decomposition metabolism pathway and promote its anabolism. This process may rely on the oxidative stress matrix of the p38 MAPK pathway.

Background Mongolian medical warm acupuncture is efficacious in treatment of insomnia but the mechanism still remains unclear. There is no research on the effect on the changes in expression of mRNA in the receptors of 5HT, DA, 5HT1α, 5HT2α, and DRD2 and the levels of hormones related to the central HPA axis in the stress response. Objective To further explain the mechanism of Mongolian medical warm acupuncture in insomnia treatment and its role in protecting cerebral neurons, elaborate the effect of Mongolian medical warm acupuncture on the changes in expression of 5HT, DA, 5HT1α, and 5HT2α at different sites in the brains of the PCPA-induced insomnia model rats and the levels of hormones related to the central HPA axis in the stress response. Method 72 Wistar rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group, Mongolian medical warm acupuncture group, and diazepam group of 18 each. The rats were intraperitoneally injected with PCPA (400 mg/kg) for 2 consecutive days to induce insomnia. The sleep latency and sleep duration before and after treatment were observed. The content of 5HT in the hypothalamus and hippocampus was measured with the ELISA method. The content of mRNA in the 5HT1A and 5HT2A receptors in the hypothalamus and hippocampus with the qPCR technique. The content of DA in the hypothalamus and corpus striatum was determined with the ELISA method. The content of ELISA in the hypothalamus and the content of ACTH in the serum of the insomnia rats were determined with the ELISA method. The changes in content of the BCL-2 and BAX proteins in the hippocampus were observed with the immunohistochemical method. Result PCPA intraperitoneal injections were able to prolong the sleep latency of the rats and shorten the sleep duration (P<0.05) when compared with the blank group. Mongolian medical warm acupuncture was able to alleviate the tendency of decreasing weight gain arising from insomnia (P<0.05). Mongolian medical warm acupuncture was able to decrease the levels of CRH and ACTH in the hormones related to central HPA axis in the stress response (P=0.017, P=0.015) and alleviate the overexciting state of the HPA axis arising from insomnia. Mongolian medical warm acupuncture group was able to up-regulate the expression of the BCL-2 protein in the hippocampus, down-regulate the expression of the BAX protein, and increase the BCL-2/BAX ratio (P=0.011). Mongolian medical warm acupuncture was able to protect the hippocampal neurons by changing the content of the apoptosis factors (P=0.024). Conclusion Mongolian medical warm acupuncture decreases the levels of CRH and ACTH in the hormone related to the HPA axis, up-regulates the expression of the BCL-2 protein in the hippocampus, and down-regulates the expression of the BAX protein for improving rat insomnia by influencing the expression of 5HT1A and 5HT2A receptors in the hypothalamus and hippocampus. Hintergrund Mit der heißen Akupunktur nach Mongolischer Medizin kann Schlaflosigkeit wirksam behandelt werden, aber die genaue Wirkungsweise ist bislang unklar. Es liegen keine Studien vor, die die Auswirkung der veränderte mRNA-Expression an den Rezeptoren von 5HT, DA, 5HT1α, 5HT2α und DRD2 und auf den Hormonspiegel, welcher assoziiert ist mit der zentralen HPA-Achse im Rahmen der Stressantwort, thematisieren. Ziel Die vorliegende Studie wurde mit dem Ziel durchgeführt, die Wirkungsweise der heißen Akupunktur nach Mongolischer Medizin bei der Behandlung von Schlaflosigkeit und deren Rolle beim Schutz zerebraler Nervenzellen besser zu verstehen sowie die Wirkung der heißen Akupunktur nach Mongolischer Medizin auf die veränderte Expression von 5HT, DA, 5HT1α, und 5HT2α an verschiedenen Stellen im Gehirn bei PCPA-induzierter Schlaflosigkeit an Versuchsratten sowie die mit der zentralen HPA-Achse assoziierten Hormonspiegel bei der Stressantwort zu ermitteln. Methode 72 Wistar-Ratten wurden randomisiert mit je 18 Tieren zu einer Kontrollgruppe, einer Modellgruppe, einer Gruppe, die mit heißer Akupunktur nach Mongolischer Medizin behandelt wurde und einer Diazepam-Gruppe zugewiesen. 2 Tage in Folge erhielten die Ratten PCPA (400 mg/kg) als intraperitoneale Injektion, um eine Schlaflosigkeit auszulösen. Vor und nach der Behandlung wurden die Schlaflatenzzeit und die Schlafdauer erfasst. Der Gehalt an 5HT im Hypothalamus und im Hippocampus wurden mittels ELISA gemessen. Der mRNA-Gehalt für die 5HT1A- und 5HT2A-Rezeptoren im Hypothalamus und im Hippocampus wurde mit einer qPCR Technik gemessen. Der DA-Spiegel im Hypothalamus und Corpus Striatum wurde mit der ELISA-Methode bestimmt. Der Gehalt an CRH* im Hypothalamus und der Gehalt an ACTH im Serum der schlafgestörten Ratten wurden mit der ELISA-Methode bestimmt. Die Veränderungen des Gehalts an BCL-2- und BAX-Proteinen im Hippocampus wurden immunhistochemisch ermittelt. Ergebnis Durch die intraperitoneale Injektion von PCPA konnte im Vergleich zur Kontrollgruppe die Schlaflatenzzeit bei Ratten verlängert und die Schlafdauer verkürzt werden (P<0,05). Durch die heiße Akupunktur nach Mongolischer Medizin konnte die Tendenz zum Gewichtverlust aufgrund von Schlaflosigkeit gebremst werden (P<0,05). Durch die heiße Akupunktur nach Mongolischer Medizin konnten die Spiegel von CRH und ACTH in den assoziierten Hormonen der zentralen HPA-Achse bei der Stressantwort gesenkt (P=0,017, P=0,015) und der überreizte Zustand der HPA-Achse aufgrund von Schlaflosigkeit reguliert werden. In der Gruppe, die mit heißer Akupunktur nach Mongolischer Medizin behandelt wurde, konnte die Expression des BCL-2 Proteins im Hippocamus nach oben und die Expression des BAX-Proteins nach unten reguliert werden, sowie das Verhältnis BCL-2/BAX erhöht (P=0,011) werden. Durch die heiße Akupunktur nach Mongolischer Medizin konnten die Nervenzellen des...

The corresponding author in the article "Research on the Mechanism of Mongolian Medical Warm Acupuncture in Alleviating Insomnia by Increasing the BCL-2/BAX Ratio and Decreasing the Hormones Related to the Central HPA Axis of the Stress Response", Lidao Bao, Hongwei Yuan, Lengge Si, Yuehong Wang, Yingsong Chen, Agula Bo, Phys Med Rehab Kuror 2017; 27: 290–297 (10.1055/s-0043-118484) has changed. The address will be reproduced as follows. Correspondence Prof. Lidao Bao and Prof. Agula Bo Department of Pharmacy Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University 1 Tongdaobei Road, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, P. R. China 010059 Hohhot China baolidao2017@163.com

Despite its strong regenerative capacity, liver aging paradoxically increases susceptibility to fibrosis and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease through dysregulated inflammation, senescence-associated secretory phenotypes, and immune-metabolic crosstalk. To systematically characterize these processes, we integrated longitudinal transcriptomics, single-cell RNA sequencing, and machine-learning approaches. We identified 252 aging-associated genes and developed an Aging Gene Score (AGS) to quantify senescence burden across hepatic cell populations. Single-cell analysis revealed macrophages as key drivers of fibrosis progression, with high-AGS myeloid subsets markedly expanded in cirrhotic livers. Using combined Boruta and LASSO algorithms, we established a five-gene biomarker panel ( EFEMP1 , LUM , DKK3 , GPRC5B , NCAM2 ) that accurately predicts advanced fibrosis (AUC > 0.77). Furthermore, a network pharmacology framework was applied to screen medicine-food homology (MFH) herbs, identifying Fagopyrum dibotrys (Jinqiaomai) and Astragalus membranaceus (Huangqi) as top candidates. Molecular docking demonstrated strong binding between the bioactive compound MOL000098 and the fibrosis-related target COL3A1 . Functional assays showed that Jinqiaomai-containing serum alleviates oxidative stress, improves HepG2 cell viability, reduces ALT and AST levels, and suppresses macrophage lipid accumulation, accompanied by reduced expression of inflammatory and fibrosis-related markers. Collectively, our findings highlight macrophage-centered mechanisms linking liver aging and fibrosis and suggest MFH-derived compounds as promising anti-aging and anti-fibrotic dietary interventions.