Trapezius myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a highly prevalent musculoskeletal disorder. Conventional acupotomy release relies heavily on operator experience and lacks objective quantitative outcomes, thus severely limiting its reproducibility and mechanistic research. This protocol establishes a standardized ultrasound-guided acupotomy release combined with an objective biomechanical assessment system, detailing standardized patient positioning, ultrasound localization of pathological fascial layers, precise needle insertion, and layered superficial/deep fascial release. Shear wave elastography (SWE) and digital palpation were applied to quantitatively assess soft tissue biomechanical properties under both resting and passive stretching conditions. Results from 27 affected sides in patients with trapezius MPS who underwent ultrasound-guided acupotomy release demonstrated that: VAS scores at 1 week and 2 weeks post intervention were significantly reduced compared with both baseline and immediately after intervention (all P < 0.001); resting-state shear modulus (G-value) immediately, at 1 week, and at 2 weeks post-intervention was significantly improved compared with baseline (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); muscle tone and stiffness at both resting and passive stretching positions, as well as resting elasticity, were significantly improved at 1 and 2 weeks compared with immediately after intervention (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); elasticity at both passive stretching and resting positions was significantly improved at 2 weeks compared with baseline and immediately after intervention (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). These representative short-term results suggest that the protocol can be applied reproducibly to perform ultrasound-guided acupotomy release and to quantify associated clinical and biomechanical changes. The workflow may support standardized clinical practice, technical training, and mechanistic studies of acupotomy in trapezius MPS.

BackgroundSarcopenia is an age-related syndrome characterized by muscle loss and reduced muscle strength, with a high incidence rate, significantly increasing the risk of falls, fractures, and death. Baduanjin, a traditional Chinese exercise, compared with traditional rehabilitation programs, has low intensity, high safety and strong interest, and is particularly suitable for patients who cannot tolerate high-intensity exercise. This study will evaluate the therapeutic effect of Baduanjin on sarcopenia.Method/designThis trial is a multicenter randomized controlled trial that will recruit 200 participants,and is randomized (1: 1) the subjects to the intervention group (Baduanjin + health education + dietary guidance, BHD) and the control group (health education + dietary guidance, HD). After enrollment, health lectures were given to all subjects. The intervention group received 12 weeks of Baduanjin intervention, with each class lasting 70 min, once a week, and provide online guidance for home workouts four times a week, while the control group maintained their original exercise habits. Health education and dietary guidance were also provided. Observation indicators will be tested before the trial begins and during the follow-up period after the intervention ends.DiscussionThis trial is a randomized controlled trial that will evaluate the intervention effect of Baduanjin on sarcopenia. According to the study of this trial, it will provide evidence for Baduanjin to improve sarcopenia.Clinical trial registrationITMCTR2024000887.

Background:Mindful breathing is a well-established method for inducing relaxation, but anxious individuals often struggle to enter a mindful state. Liuzijue breathing, a traditional Chinese practice involving controlled abdominal movements, low-pitched vocalization, and guided mental focus, may facilitate mindful breathing and enhance its efficacy. This study examined whether combining Liuzijue breathing with mindful breathing could help anxious students achieve relaxation more effectively. Methods:Twenty-four male participants (aged 21 ± 2, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale score 57 ± 8) completed this randomized crossover trial with two experimental sequences on consecutive days: Sequence A: pretest, 15 min mindful breathing, posttest; Sequence B: pretest, 5 min Liuzijue breathing followed by 10 min mindful breathing, posttest. Heart rate and heart rate variability were recorded as indicators of relaxation, and subjective concentration levels during mindful breathing were assessed. In an additional session, respiration rate (RR), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂), and end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO₂) were measured during 5 min of breathing practice and a 3 min rest period. Results:Compared with 15 min of mindful breathing alone, the combination of 5 min Liuzijue breathing followed by 10 min mindful breathing produced more sustained relaxation. Significant interaction effects were observed for heart rate, which showed a greater continued reduction, and for heart rate variability in both time and frequency domains, which showed greater progressive increases. Concentration ratings during mindful breathing were also significantly higher following Liuzijue breathing. RR was lower during Liuzijue breathing and remained significantly reduced during the first 2 min of rest. SpO₂ was significantly higher during Liuzijue breathing and at the first minute of rest. EtCO₂ was significantly lower from minutes 2-5 of Liuzijue breathing, with no differences observed during the 3 min resting period. Conclusion:The combination of Liuzijue and mindful breathing produced longer-lasting relaxation than mindful breathing alone in male university students with anxiety symptoms. The reduced RR and elevated SpO₂ induced by Liuzijue breathing may partly explain this effect. These findings suggest that Liuzijue breathing may serve as an effective preparatory technique to optimize mindfulness-based interventions.

This article systematically reviews the characteristics and trends of the writing, editing, publication and promotion of physiology textbooks in China from the late 19th century to the present, focusing on the introduction, development and innovation of Chinese physiology textbooks. The development of physiology textbooks in China is divided into four main stages: the introduction and initial development of physiology textbooks from the late 19th century to 1925; the localization and diversification of textbooks from 1926 to 1949, after the establishment of the Chinese Physiological Society; the exploratory phase of textbook construction after the founding of the People's Republic of China from 1949 to 1976; the formation and innovation of the textbook development process from 1977 to the present, following the restoration of the college entrance examination. For each phase, the article not only records the historical development of physiology textbooks, but also analyzes the evolution of their content, writing styles and the interaction with the social and political contexts. The article summarizes the characteristics and experiences of all these four phases. Special attention is given to the comprehensive statistical analysis of physiology textbooks published since the restoration of the college entrance examination and Economic Reform and Opening-up in 1977, revealing the changes in the number, publication trends and academic features of textbooks during this period. Finally, the article presets the future development of physiology textbooks in China, proposing that textbook writing should integrate aspects such as ideological and political education, medical humanities, basic and clinical medicine, health education, scientific research and international exchange and collaboration. The article also advocates for the application of new technologies and methods, such as artificial intelligence, virtual teaching models and knowledge graphs, to support "personalized learning". This research provides a systematic reference for the study of the history of medical education and offers theoretical support for the future innovation of physiology textbook in China.

Background Breathing exercises, particularly those involving altered inhalation/exhalation duration ratios (I/E ratios) and increased abdominal movement, have demonstrated the potential for alleviating symptoms of mental health issues. However, it remains unclear which approach is more effective. This study aims to examine how resting respiratory patterns (e.g., I/E ratios and abdominal movement) relate to mental health, potentially guiding psychologists in recommending tailored breathing exercises.Methods A total of 240 university students (120 male and 120 female) were recruited by systematic sampling. The I/E ratio and the contribution of abdominal movement to the sum of abdominal and thoracic movements AM/(AM + TM) were recorded by respiration belts, while depression, anxiety, and stress levels were assessed with the DASS-21. Data were analyzed for each gender; each gender being categorized into either a low or high level symptom category.Results Women with high stress symptoms exhibited significantly lower I/E ratios (a lower I/E ratio indicates breathing with relatively shorter inhalation and longer exhalation) compared to those with lower stress symptoms (n = 117, F = 4.198, p = 0.043, ηp² = 0.035). A negative correlation was observed between I/E ratios and depression in women (n = 117, r = -0.211, p = 0.023). For students with high anxiety symptoms, I/E ratios were negatively correlated with anxiety scores in both men (n = 61, r = -0.292, p = 0.022) and women (n = 70, r = -0.392, p < 0.001). There were no substantial correlations between abdominal movement and mental health.Conclusions In general, university students who exhibit relatively shorter inhalations and longer exhalations tend to have poorer mental health, especially among women; This respiratory pattern may represent an autonomic compensatory strategy for coping with psychological distress. More attention could be devoted to breathing exercises involving altered I/E ratios as part of mental health management programs.

Objective To investigate the clinical application characteristics and rules of acupuncture-moxibustion therapy in treatment of cervicogenic headache(CEH)based on complex network analysis techniques.Methods A comprehensive and systematic literature search was conducted across the China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform(Wanfang),VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database(VIP),SinoMed Chinese Biomedical Literature Database,PubMed,EMbase,and Cochrane Library,from their inception to May 31,2024,to retrieve relevant articles on acupuncture-moxibustion treatments for CEH.A database was constructed using Microsoft Excel 2019 to statistically analyze and create comprehensive pivot tables for the frequency of acupoint utilization,meridian attribution,syndrome differentiation,and therapeutic protocols.Furthermore,the Apriori algorithm within SPSS Modeler 18.0 was employed to perform an association rule analysis on the primary acupoint prescriptions.Cytoscape 3.7.2 software was utilized to visualize the complex network co-occurrence patterns.Results A total of 311 eligible articles were included,yielding 452 acupuncture prescriptions that encompassed 146 acupoints with a cumulative utilization frequency of 2 349.The top five most frequently employed acupoints were Fengchi(GB20),Tianzhu(BL10),Jingjiaji(EX-B2),Ashi points,and Baihui(GV20).The predominant meridians targeted were the gallbladder meridian,bladder meridian,governor vessel,triple energizer meridian,and stomach meridian.Specific points,such as confluent points and five-shu points,were frequently utilized.Acupoints selected are mainly distributed on the head,neck,upper extremities,and lower extremities.The even veinforcing-reducing needling technique was dominant in acupuncture manipulation.The most commonly adopted single technique is filiform needling or electroacupuncture.Regarding the comprehensive therapy,filiform needling and tuina was combined.The highest co-occurrence frequency was observed between BL10 and GB20,and the close interconnection was presented among GB20,GV20,BL10,EX-B2 and Ashi(Extra);and these points demonstrated the strongest connectivity to other acupoints.Five syndromes/patterns of traditional Chinese medicine were involved.Shaoyang syndrome was treated with Shuaigu(GB8),Waiguan(TE5),and Taiyang(EX-HN5),liver-yang hyperactivity syndrome was with Taichong(LR3),Xingjian(LR2),and Taixi(KI3);wind-cold syndrome was with Dazhui(GV14),Fengmen(BL12),and Hegu(LI4);Taiyang syndrome was with BL10,Fengfu(GV16),and Houding(EX-HN9);and Jueyin syndrome was with GV20,LR3,and Sishencong(EX-HN1).Conclusion The core acupoint combination of acupuncture and moxibustion for CEH comprises GB20,GV20,BL10,EX-B2 and Ashi points.In clinical practice,the nearby points are principal,combined with the distal points,as well as those selected by the upper-lower combination;and the meridian differentiation is emphasized.On the basis of core acupoints,the supplementary acupoitns are selected accordingly to optimize therapeutic outcomes.

This study aims to construct a nomogram to predict the prognosis of patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). This study included 358 patients diagnosed with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. We collected serological indicators of patients at admission, including routine blood tests, biochemical tests, liver and kidney function, coagulation function and other laboratory tests. We used t-test, rank-sum test, chi-square test or Fisher test for inter-group comparison. We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis to obtain independent predictors of poor prognosis of patients, and constructed the independent predictors into a nomogram using R language, and verified the predictive performance of the nomogram. The results showed that Platelets (PLT) (1.005 [1.001, 1.009], p = 0.021), Albumin (ALB) (0.891 [0.818, 0.97], p = 0.008), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (1.031 [1.002, 1.061], p = 0.035), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (0.958 [0.92, 0.998], p = 0.037), and Fibrinogen (FIB) (0.654 [0.464, 0.921], p = 0.015) were independent predictors. Good prediction performance with modest errors was shown by the nomogram in both the training and validation groups. ALB, AST, ALT, FIB, and PLT at admission may be independent predictors of the efficacy of ACDF in CSM patients. The nomogram constructed with these factors has good predictive performance. Serological indicators can be used as a supplement to cervical spine-related imaging indicators, allowing clinicians to better complete the admission diagnosis and treatment process and preoperative evaluation process, so that more postoperative patients can benefit.

Objective:To provide the evidence for quantitative assessment of clinical diagnosis of myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) of trapezius muscle and the therapeutic effect of acupotomy, utilizing portable shear wave elastography (SWE). Methods:A total of 49 subjects (including 21 cases of unilateral trapezius MPS, 20 cases of bilateral trapezius MPS and 8 healthy subjects) were recruited, including 98 trapezius samples. According to whether pain occurred or not, they were divided into an observation group (61 samples) and a control group (37 samples). The cases in the observation group were subdivided into an observation subgroup 1 (14 samples) and an observation subgroup 2 (47 samples) based on whether acupotomy was received. In the observation subgroup 1, under ultrasound guidance, only 1 intervention with acupotomy was performed to release the deep and superficial fascia layers of the trapezius muscle. In the observation subgroup 2 and the control group, no treatment was delivered. Before treatment, the shear modulus (G-value) and the score of visual analogue scale (VAS) were compared between the observation group and the control group, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to determine the optimal diagnostic threshold of trapezius MPS. The G-value and VAS score were compared before and after treatment in the observation subgroup 1, and the therapeutic effect of acupotomy was assessed. Results:The G-value and VAS score in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05) before treatment. For the diagnosis of trapezius MPS, the optimal diagnostic threshold of G-value was 9.08 kPa, yielding a specificity of 83.78% and a sensitivity of 75.41%. In the observation subgroup 1, both G-value and VAS score decreased after treatment in comparison with those before treatment (P<0.05). Conclusion:Acupotomy may improve the elasticity of the trapezius muscle and obtain the immediate therapeutic effect on trapezius MPS in patients. The portable SWE holds the promise for the objective evaluation of clinical diagnosis and therapeutic effect on trapezius MPS.

Background The altered respiratory patterns have a significant impact on our health. However, the links between respiration patterns during spontaneous breathing and physical fitness remain unknown. Therefore, we sought to examine how the respiratory pattern during spontaneous breathing interacts with physical fitness. Methods A total of 610 participants (aged 20-59 years) were enrolled; 163 men (age = 41 ± 11) and 401 women (age = 42 ± 9) were included for analysis. The parameters of the respiration pattern were respiration rate (RR) and inhalation/exhalation (I/E) ratio. The physical fitness components were body size, visuomotor reaction time, balance, flexibility, hand grip strength, back extension strength, vertical jump height, number of push-ups, number of sit-ups, and the maximum rate of oxygen consumption. The data were analyzed separately for two gender groups. Participants within each gender group were further divided into two age categories (young: 20−39 years, middle-aged: 40−59 years) for the analysis, and both correlational and comparative tests were used to solidify the results. Results Neither RRs nor the I/E ratios were substantially correlated with physical fitness in women. In addition, the I/E ratios showed no significant correlation with physical fitness in young men, while the results from correlational and comparative tests were inconsistent in middle-aged men. Consistently, men with lower RRs exhibited significantly shorter visuomotor reaction times in two age groups, and demonstrated significantly higher vertical jump heights in the middle-aged group. Conclusions In women, respiratory patterns were not correlated with physical fitness. The relationship between middle-aged men’s I/E ratios and their physical fitness warrants further investigation. Men with lower RRs may have better visual-motor coordination and/or sustained attention, while middle-aged men with lower RRs may also have greater leg explosive power and neuromuscular coordination, which should be considered for physical assessment and health improvement.

Neurodegenerative diseases, mostly occurring in the elderly population, are the significant cause of disability and death worldwide. The pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases is still largely unknown yet, although they have been continuously explored. Thus, there is still a lack of safe, effective, and low side effect drugs in clinical practice for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Pieces of accumulating evidence have demonstrated that licorice played neuroprotective roles in various neurodegenerative diseases. In the past two decades, increasing studies have indicated that glycyrrhizic acid (GL), the main active ingredient from traditional Chinese medicine licorice (widely used in the food industry) and a triterpenoid saponin with multiple pharmacological effects (such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune regulation), and its metabolites (glycyrrhetinic acid and carbenoxolone) play a neuroprotective role in a range of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and epilepsy. This review will elaborate on the multiple neuroprotective mechanisms of GL and its metabolites in this series of diseases, aiming to provide a basis for further research on these protective drugs for neurodegenerative diseases and their clinical application. In summary, GL may be a promising candidate drug for the therapy of neurodegenerative diseases.

BACKGROUND:CNSLBP accounts for 85% of all LBP cases and impairs physical health, quality of life, and work productivity, posing a significant health and economic burden. Baduanjin (BDJ) exercises are traditional Chinese Qi Gong mind-body exercises that have been practiced for over 1,000 years. However, the standard BDJ protocol established by the State Sports General Administration does not stimulate core muscles, limiting the effectiveness of low back pain rehabilitation. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the original BDJ protocol. METHODS:This 24-week single-center, single-blind, parallel-group randomized control superiority trial will allocate 100 patients into two groups (control and intervention) at a 1:1 ratio. The patients in the control group will perform the standard BDJ protocol established by the State Sports General Administration. The patients in the patients in the control group will perform the standard BDJ protocol established by the State Sports General Administration. The intervention group will perform intervention. The primary outcomes will be Quebec back pain disability scale. Secondary outcomes will include visual analog scale pain scores, Surface electromyography. The assessments of the tests will be performed at four time points. Adverse events will be recorded faithfully during the study. DISCUSSION:This randomized control trial is the first to compare a standard BDJ protocol and an optimized protocol in patients with CNSLBP. This study can help guide rehabilitation programs. TRIAL REGISTRATION:Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2200065618, Registered on 10 Nov. 2022. This protocol is the first version 1, which was approved on 26 Aug 2022.

The main protease (MPro) of SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, is a pivotal nonstructural protein critical for viral replication and pathogenesis. Its protease function relies on three active site pockets for substrate recognition and a catalytic cysteine for enzymatic activity. To develop potential SARS-CoV-2 antivirals, we successfully synthesized a diverse range of azapeptide inhibitors with various covalent warheads to target MPro's catalytic cysteine. Our characterization identified potent MPro inhibitors, including MPI89 that features an aza-2,2-dichloroacetyl warhead with a remarkable EC50 value of 10 nM against SARS-CoV-2 infection in ACE2+ A549 cells and a selective index of 875. MPI89 is also remarkably selective and shows no potency against SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease and several human proteases. Crystallography analyses demonstrated that these inhibitors covalently engaged the catalytic cysteine and used the aza-amide carbonyl oxygen to bind to the oxyanion hole. MPI89 stands as one of the most potent MPro inhibitors, suggesting the potential for further exploration of azapeptides and the aza-2,2-dichloroacetyl warhead for developing effective therapeutics against COVID-19.

We have witnessed three coronavirus (CoV) outbreaks in the past two decades, including the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. Main protease (MPro), a highly conserved protease among various CoVs, is essential for viral replication and pathogenesis, making it a prime target for antiviral drug development. Here, we leverage proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology to develop a new class of small-molecule antivirals that induce the degradation of SARS-CoV-2 MPro. Among them, MPD2 was demonstrated to effectively reduce MPro protein levels in 293T cells, relying on a time-dependent, CRBN-mediated, and proteasome-driven mechanism. Furthermore, MPD2 exhibited remarkable efficacy in diminishing MPro protein levels in SARS-CoV-2-infected A549-ACE2 cells. MPD2 also displayed potent antiviral activity against various SARS-CoV-2 strains and exhibited enhanced potency against nirmatrelvir-resistant viruses. Overall, this proof-of-concept study highlights the potential of targeted protein degradation of MPro as an innovative approach for developing antivirals that could fight against drug-resistant viral variants.

SARS-CoV-2 is the coronavirus pathogen of the currently prevailing COVID-19 pandemic. It relies on its main protease (M Pro ) for replication and pathogenesis. M Pro is a demonstrated target for the development of antivirals for SARS-CoV-2. Past studies have systematically explored tripeptidyl inhibitors such as nirmatrelvir as M Pro inhibitors. However, dipeptidyl inhibitors especially those with a spiro residue at their P2 position have not been systematically investigated. In this work, we synthesized about 30 reversibly covalent dipeptidyl M Pro inhibitors and characterized them on in vitro enzymatic inhibition potency, structures of their complexes with M Pro , cellular M Pro inhibition potency, antiviral potency, cytotoxicity, and in vitro metabolic stability. Our results indicated that M Pro has a flexible S2 pocket that accommodates dipeptidyl inhibitors with a large P2 residue and revealed that dipeptidyl inhibitors with a large P2 spiro residue such as ( S )-2-azaspiro[4,4]nonane-3-carboxylate and ( S )-2-azaspiro[4,5]decane-3-carboxylate have optimal characteristics. One compound MPI60 containing a P2 ( S )-2-azaspiro[4,4]nonane-3-carboxylate displayed high antiviral potency, low cellular cytotoxicity, and high in vitro metabolic stability and can be potentially advanced to further preclinical tests.

Main protease (M Pro ) of SARS-CoV-2, the viral pathogen of COVID-19, is a crucial nonstructural protein that plays a vital role in the replication and pathogenesis of the virus. Its protease function relies on three active site pockets to recognize P1, P2, and P4 amino acid residues in a substrate and a catalytic cysteine residue for catalysis. By converting the P1 Cα atom in an M Pro substrate to nitrogen, we showed that a large variety of azapeptide inhibitors with covalent warheads targeting the M Pro catalytic cysteine could be easily synthesized. Through the characterization of these inhibitors, we identified several highly potent M Pro inhibitors. Specifically, one inhibitor, MPI89 that contained an aza-2,2-dichloroacetyl warhead, displayed a 10 nM EC 50 value in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 from infecting ACE2 + A549 cells and a selectivity index of 875. The crystallography analyses of M Pro bound with 6 inhibitors, including MPI89, revealed that inhibitors used their covalent warheads to covalently engage the catalytic cysteine and the aza-amide carbonyl oxygen to bind to the oxyanion hole. MPI89 represents one of the most potent M Pro inhibitors developed so far, suggesting that further exploration of the azapeptide platform and the aza-2,2-dichloroacetyl warhead is needed for the development of potent inhibitors for the SARS-CoV-2 M Pro as therapeutics for COVID-19.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1265172.].

The fenrou zhijian is defined as potential gap between different layers in the three-dimensional network structure formed by the twelve meridian tendons. Various pathological changes of the meridian tendons lead to the adhesion and closure of fenrou zhijian, causing abnormal mechanical conduction of the meridian tendon system, which in turn leads to painful bi syndrome of meridian tendons. As such, restarting the fenrou zhijian is the key to acupuncture treatment for painful bi syndrome of meridian tendons. Under the guidance of musculoskeletal ultrasound, the level and the angle of needle insertion of acupuncture at fenrou zhijian could be accurately controlled, the efficacy of acupuncture is improved.

Background and Objectives: The current study aimed to better understand the changes in respiration that occur with aging in men and women to provide accurate recommendations for breathing exercises to improve health. Materials and Methods: A total of 610 healthy subjects, aged 20 to 59, participated in the study. They performed quiet breathing while wearing two respiration belts (Vernier, Beaverton, OR, USA) at the height of the navel and at the xiphoid process to record abdominal motion (AM) and thoracic motion (TM), respectively. Vital capacity, representing maximal inhalation movement, was measured using a spirometer (Xindonghuateng, Beijing, China). After exclusion, 565 subjects (164 men, aged 41 ± 11; 401 women, aged 42 ± 9) were included for statistical analysis using the Kruskal–Wallis U test and stepwise multiple linear regression. Results: Abdominal motion and its contribution to spontaneous breathing were significantly larger for older men, while the contribution of thoracic motion was smaller for older men. There was no significant difference in thoracic motion between the younger and older men. The differences in women’s respiratory movements among various ages were mild and negligible. The contribution of thoracic motion to spontaneous breathing in women was larger than in men for those of older ages (40–59 years), but not for those of younger ages (20–39 years). Additionally, men’s and women’s vital capacities were less in those of older ages, and the men’s were larger than the women’s. Conclusions: The findings indicate that men’s abdominal contribution to spontaneous breathing increased from 20 to 59 years of age due to increased abdominal motion. Women’s respiratory movements did not change much with aging. The maximal inhalation movement became smaller with aging for men and women. Healthcare professionals should focus on improving thoracic mobility when addressing health concerns about aging.

跟师教育是中医住院医师规范化培训的重要组成部分.其与病房规范化培训工作的结合旨在保障规培生既能具备统一、标准的中医思想,又能形成个性化的中医思维模式.但是在实践过程中,指导老师和规培生对跟师教育的积极性不高,跟师教育流于形式.分析跟师教育政策不能被很好落实的原因,并尝试从灵活调整跟师时间、完善导师与学生之间的双向选择制度、以团队的形式完成跟师教育工作3 个方面提出建议,以期更好地落实中医住院医师规范化培训中的跟师教育工作.

IntroductionIntensive and long-lasting office work is a common cause of muscular and mental disorders due to workplace stressors. Mindful and slow breathing exercises decrease psychological stress and improve mental health, whereas fast breathing increases neuronal excitability. This study aimed to explore the influence of 5 min of mindful breathing (MINDFUL), slow breathing (SLOW), fast breathing (FAST), and listening to music (MUSIC) on muscle tension and executive function during an intensive psychological task. MethodsForty-eight participants (24 men and 24 women) were enrolled. Muscle tension was recorded using surface electromyography, and executive function was assessed using the Stroop Color and Word Test (Stroop Test). The respiration rate (RR), oxygen saturation (SpO(2)), end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2), and the subjects' preferred method were also recorded. During the experiment, participants performed a one-time baseline test (watching a neutral video for 5 min) and then completed 5 min of MUSIC, MINDFUL, SLOW, and FAST in a random sequence. The Stroop Test was performed after each intervention, including the baseline test, and was followed by a 5 min rest before performing the next intervention. ResultsNone of the methods significantly influenced muscular activity and performance of the Stroop Test in both men and women, based on the average 5 min values. However, at the fifth minute, men's accuracy rate in the Stroop Test was significantly higher after SLOW than after MUSIC and FAST, and the reaction time after the SLOW was the shortest. SpO(2) was significantly higher during SLOW than during MUSIC, and RR was relatively lower after SLOW than after MUSIC. Most men preferred SLOW, and most women preferred MUSIC, whereas FAST was the most unfavorable method for both men and women. ConclusionBrief breathing exercises did not substantially affect muscle tension under psychological stress. SLOW demonstrated greater potential for sustaining executive function in men, possibly via its superior respiration efficiency on SpO(2) and inhibition of RR.