Autophagy is associated with regulation of both the survival and death of neurons, and has been linked to many neurodegenerative diseases. Postoperative cognitive dysfunction is commonly observed in elderly patients following anesthesia, but the pathophysiological mechanisms are largely unexplored. Similar effects have been found in aged rats under sevoflurane anesthesia; however, the role of autophagy in sevoflurane anesthesia-induced hippocampal neuron apoptosis of older rats remains elusive. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of autophagy on the sevoflurane-induced cognitive dysfunction in aged rats, and to identify the role of autophagy in sevoflurane-induced neuron apoptosis. We used 20-month-old rats under sevoflurane anesthesia to study memory performance, neuron apoptosis, and autophagy. The results demonstrated that sevoflurane anesthesia significantly impaired memory performance and induced hippocampal neuron apoptosis. Interestingly, treatment of rapamycin, an autophagy inducer, improved the cognitive deficit observed in the aged rats under sevoflurane anesthesia by improving autophagic flux. Rapamycin treatment led to the rapid accumulation of autophagic bodies and autophagy lysosomes, decreased p62 protein levels, and increased the ratio of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 II (LC3-II) to LC3-I in hippocampal neurons through the mTOR signaling pathway. However, administration of an autophagy inhibitor (chloroquine) attenuated the autophagic flux and increased the severity of sevoflurane anesthesia-induced neuronal apoptosis and memory impairment. These findings suggest that impaired autophagy in the hippocampal neurons of aged rats after sevoflurane anesthesia may contribute to cognitive impairment. Therefore, our findings represent a potential novel target for pro-autophagy treatments in patients with sevoflurane anesthesia-induced neurodegeneration.

Purpose Qigong is a modality of traditional Chinese mind-body medicine that has been used to prevent and cure ailments, to improve health in China for thousands of years. Wuqinxi, a Chinese traditional Qigong that focuses on mind-body integration, is thought to be an effective exercise in promoting physical and mental wellbeing. Thus, we summarized the evidence and aim to unravel effects of Wuqinxi on health outcomes. Methods We performed a systematic review of Wuqinxi studies published in English or Chinese since 1979. Relevant English and Chinese language electronic data bases were used for literature search. The selection of studies, data extraction, and validation were performed independently by two reviewers. Results A total of 28 eligible studies were included in this review, among which three are 3 in English and 25 in Chinese. The studies included in this review involve three different experimental designs: (1) 16 RCTs; (2) 2 historical cohort studies; and (3) 10 pretest and posttest studies (PPS). Participants in this review are categorized as either healthy or clinical populations. The results from this systematic review support the notion that Wuqinxi may be effective as an adjunctive rehabilitation method for improving psychological and physiological wellbeing among different age of healthy populations in addition to alleviating and treating diseases among various clinical populations. Conclusion The results indicated that Wuqinxi has been thought to be beneficial to improve health and treat chronic diseases. However, the methodological problems in the majority of included studies make it difficult to draw firm conclusive statements. More methodologically rigorous designed large-scale RCTs with a long-term follow-up assessment should be further conducted to examine the effects of Wuqixi on health-related parameters and disease-specific measures in different health conditions. This systematic review lends insight for future studies on Wuqinxi and its potential application in preventive and rehabilitation medicine.

Objective. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for functional constipation (FC). Methods. A rigorous literature search was performed in English (PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and EMBASE) and Chinese (China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Biological Medical (CBM), Wanfang database, and China Science and Technology Journal (VIP)) electronic databases from their inception to October 2019. Included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) compared acupuncture therapy with sham acupuncture or pharmacological therapies. The outcome measures were evaluated, including the primary outcome of complete spontaneous bowel movement (CSBM) and secondary outcomes of Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS), constipation symptoms scores (CSS), responder rate, the Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL) questionnaire, and safety evaluation. Meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan5.3. Results. The merged data of 28 RCTs with 3525 participants indicated that acupuncture may be efficient for FC by increasing CSBMs (p<0.00001; MD = 0.84 [95% CI, 0.65 to 1.03]; I2 = 0%) and improving constipation symptoms (p=0.03; SMD = −0.4 [95% CI, −0.78 to −0.03]; I2 = 74%), stool formation (p<0.00001; MD = 0.24 [95% CI, 0.15 to 0.34]; I2 = 0%), quality of life (p<0.00001; N = 1, MD = −0.33 [95% CI, −0.45 to −0.21]), and responder rates (p=0.02; RR = 2.16; [95% CI, 1.1 to 4.24]; I2 = 69%) compared with the effects of sham treatment. No increased risk of adverse events was observed (p=0.44; RR = 1.18; [95% CI, 0.77 to 1.81]; I2 = 0%). With regard to medication comparisons, the pooled data indicated that acupuncture was more effective in increasing CSBMs (p=0.004; MD = 0.53 [95% CI, 0.17 to 0.88]; I2 = 88%) and improving patients’ quality of life (p<0.00001; SMD = −0.73 [95% CI, −1.02 to −0.44]; I2 = 64%), with high heterogeneity. However, there were no significant differences in responder rate (p=0.12; RR = 1.31; [95% CI, 0.94 to 1.82]; I2 = 53%), BSFS (p=0.5; MD = 0.17 [95% CI, −0.33 to 0.68]; I2 = 93%), or CSS (p=0.05; SMD = −0.62 [95% CI, −1.23 to −0.01]; I2 = 89%). Regarding safety evaluation, acupuncture was safer than medications (p<0.0001; RR = 0.3; [95% CI, 0.18 to 0.52]; I2 = 30%). Conclusions. Current evidence suggests that acupuncture is an efficient and safe treatment for FC. Acupuncture increased stool frequency, improved stool formation, alleviated constipation symptoms, and improved quality of life. However, the evidence quality was relatively low and the relationship between acupuncture and drugs is not clear. More high-quality trials are recommended in the future. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019143347.

Background:The physical and mental health of college students tends to continuously decline around the world due to lifestyle or behavior habits changes, and pervasive presence of the Internet. Thus it is urgent to improve their health in college life. As a traditional Qigong form is practiced mainly in a standing posture. Three-Circle Post Standing Qigong (TCPSQ) is suitable for regular practicing and has beneficial effects on improving the physiological function and psychological emotion by adjusting body, breathing, and mind. The aim of the 3 adjustments is to achieve a state of harmonious unity-integrating these adjustments into “one.” In this study protocol article, we will systematically explore the effectiveness and safety, feasibility of TCPSQ on physical and psychological outcomes of the college students and deeply understand the state of harmonious unity-integrating adjustments of body, breath, and mind into “one.”Method/design:We will conduct a randomized, assessor, and statistician blinded, parallel-controlled trial comparing the beneficial effect of TCPSQ in college students. A total of 80 eligible college students from the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM) will be recruited and randomly allocated into TCPSQ training or unaltered lifestyle control group according 1:1 allocation ratio with allocation concealment. TCPSQ intervention will last 10 weeks. The study period is 18 weeks including a 10-week supervised intervention and a 8-week follow-up. The relevant physical and psychological outcomes, adverse events, and safety will be evaluated at baseline, 6 weeks (at the mid-point of intervention), 11 weeks (at the end of intervention), and 19 weeks (after the 8-week follow-up period) by blinded independent outcome assessors.Discussion:This is the first randomized controlled trial protocol from the perspective of Qigong connotation to systematically investigate the effect of TCPSQ for the physical and mental health of a college student population. If the results in our study prove a significant intervention effect, this would provide preliminary higher-quality evidence and establish an optimal guidance for the application of TCPSQ exercise program among a college student population.Ethics and dissemination:The study was approved by the ethics committee of the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (approval number: 2018BZHYLL0109). A SPIRIT checklist is available for this protocol. The trial was registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (WHO ICTRP member). Registration number: ChiCTR-BON-17010840.

Background: The aim of this study was twofold: (i) to investigate the intrarater reliability of acromiohumeral distance measurement; (ii) to assess the level of association between acromiohumeral distance measured by ultrasonography, and the degree of supraspinatus tendon tear, in patients suffering from chronic shoulder pain. Methods:A cross-sectional, case-control study was carried out. A convenience sample comprising 59 patients with a unilateral supraspinatus tendon tear was assessed. Both shoulders of each patient were scanned by ultrasound, with the contralateral asymptomatic shoulders serving as the control group for comparison. Acromiohumeral distances of each shoulder were measured and analysed. Results: Intrarater reliability was excellent for the ultrasound method of acromiohumeral distance measurement. The acromiohumeral distance of shoulders with full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tear was significantly smaller than that of joints with partial-thickness supraspinatus tendon tear and an intact supraspinatus tendon. There was a significant positive correlation between reduced acromiohumeral distance and the severity of a supraspinatus tendon tear. Conclusions:Ultrasound is a reliable tool to measure acromiohumeral distance. A positive relationship was found between a narrowed acromiohumeral distance and the severity grading of a supraspinatus tendon tear. Reduced acromiohumeral distance can be considered a predictive parameter for a full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tear.Trial registration: The study was prospectively registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. Registration number: ChiCTR-ROC-17013550. Date of registry: 26 November 2017.