Fire twinkling is the common method in cupping therapy. In the teaching materials of acupuncture and moxibustion, and the national standard, Standardized Manipulations of Acupuncture and Moxibustion-Part 5: Cupping Therapy, this cupping technique is operated by igniting an alcohol-soaked cotton ball held with a forceps, placing it inside the cup, taking it out after "turning around in several circles", and placing the cup on the selected area. Based on the clinical experience of chief physician LI Yan, a high-efficient and safe fire twinkling was developed. Clamping the middle part of the cotton ball with a holder, dipping it in 95% ethanol, and squeezing the cotton ball to ensure no ethanol drops left; holding the cup with the dominant hand and covering the ignited cotton ball vertically, removing the cup immediately when the ball touching the cup bottom. Such manipulation mode, "flame going in and out directly", can avoid the potential safety hazards such as residual ethanol left on the cup opening, overheating of cup opening and accidentally falling-off of the ignited cotton ball.
Humans ; Cupping Therapy/instrumentation* ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Fires

In recent decades, the prevalence of hyperuricemia and gout has increased dramatically due to lifestyle changes. The drugs currently recommended for hyperuricemia are associated with adverse reactions that limit their clinical use. In this study, we report that berberine (BBR) is an effective drug candidate for the treatment of hyperuricemia, with its mechanism potentially involving the modulation of gut microbiota and its metabolite, succinic acid. BBR has demonstrated good therapeutic effects in both acute and chronic animal models of hyperuricemia. In a clinical trial, oral administration of BBR for 6 months reduced blood uric acid levels in 22 participants by modulating the gut microbiota, which led to an increase in the abundance of Bacteroides and a decrease in Clostridium sensu stricto_1. Furthermore, Bacteroides fragilis was transplanted into ICR mice, and the results showed that Bacteroides fragilis exerted a therapeutic effect on uric acid similar to that of BBR. Notably, succinic acid, a metabolite of Bacteroides, significantly reduced uric acid levels. Subsequent cell and animal experiments revealed that the intestinal metabolite, succinic acid, regulated the upstream uric acid synthesis pathway in the liver by inhibiting adenosine monophosphate deaminase 2 (AMPD2), an enzyme responsible for converting adenosine monophosphate (AMP) to inosine monophosphate (IMP). This inhibition resulted in a decrease in IMP levels and an increase in phosphate levels. The reduction in IMP led to a decreased downstream production of hypoxanthine, xanthine, and uric acid. BBR also demonstrated excellent renoprotective effects, improving nephropathy associated with hyperuricemia. In summary, BBR has the potential to be an effective treatment for hyperuricemia through the gut-liver axis.

Orthostatic dizziness is a common type of dizziness or vertigo in the department of neurology. In the past，there was no expert consensus or diagnosis and treatment guideline for this disease due to the lack of diagnostic methods and standards. Based on the international criteria published by the Committee for the Classification of Vestibular Disorders of the Bárány Society in 2019 as well as our clinical experience，this article focuses on the possible mechanisms and diagnosis and treatment suggestions on orthostatic dizziness/vertigo in the elderly，hoping to provide a reference for clinicians.

Vestibular migraine （VM） is a type of paroxysmal vertigo with headaches. The condition is very common in clinical practice，but its pathophysiological mechanism is not fully understood. The clinical manifestations of VM vary greatly and are similar to or overlap with peripheral vertigo diseases such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo （BPPV） and Meniere's disease （MD），and the neurological examinations of VM usually have no special findings. Therefore，there is no objective gold standard for diagnosis，and exclusive diagnoses are required. Due to the lack of high-level evidence-based studies on the treatment of VM，previous reviews may have been at serious risk of bias due to poor study quality and significant heterogeneity. Despite the poor quality of the overall evidence base for VM treatment，we have systematically performed a clinical practicability-oriented evaluation in this review on the evidence for various treatment options for VM. At the same time，we make treatment recommendations based on this evaluation，hoping to help clinicians in treating patients with VM.

Objective To explore the effects of Cordyceps sinensis extract (CSE) on osteoporosis and RANKL-mediated osteoclastogenesis. Methods Bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) was isolated from the bone marrow of C57BL/6 mice. CSE was added in osteoclast differentiation. Osteoclasts were stained by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). The nearly mature osteoclasts were planted on hydroxyapatite plates and the area of bone lacunae was observed by microscope. The F-actin belt was stained by DAPI and phylloeptide and the number of nuclei was observed by confocal microscopy. The expressions of DC-STAMP, ATP6V0D2, TRAP, CTSK, and NFATC1 were detected by q-PCR. The protein expression of the MAPK pathway was detected by Western Blot. The in vivo experiments were carried out by administering CSE to the ovariectomized mice daily through gavage. After 6 weeks of intervention, mouse femurs were taken for morphological analysis. Peripheral blood was taken for ELISA. Results CSE represses osteoclastogenesis, bone resorption, F-actin belts formation, osteoclast specific gene expressions and MAPK signaling pathways in vitro. In vivo study indicated that CSE prevents OVX-induced osteoporosis and preserves bone volume by repressing osteoclast activity and function. It also increases the serum ALP, BGP content, and reduces TRAP content. Conclusion CSE can attenuate osteoclast formation and OVX-induced osteoporosis, suggesting potential clinical therapeutic effects for osteoporosis.

A case of IgG4-related hypertrophic pachymeningitis was reported. The patient was an elderly female, with the course of disease more than 8 years. Clinical manifestations included recurrent headache, vision and hearing loss, exophthalmos and thyroid dysfunction. Finally, she was diagnosed as IgG4-related disease and IgG4-related hypertrophic pachymeningitis by PET-CT and dural biopsy. After treatment with methylprednisolone and mycophenolate mofetil, the patient′s clinical symptoms improved.

Objective:To investigate the current situation of cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) in China and analyze the causes, to guide the formulation and implementation of technology standard.Methods:The survey task force sent out a nationwide survey to obtain up-to-date information on perfusion practice by ChSECC(Chinese Society of Extracorporeal Circulation). The unit of analysis for the survey was the medical center performs CPB. The survey consisted 48 questions covering four topics of qualifications, including certification and education, policies and practices, device and equipment, techniques used.Results:There were 540 of the 714 centers for an overall response rate of 76%. According to the annual number of CPB, they were divided into 4 groups: group A(≤50 cases/year), group B(50-100 cases/year), group C(100-500 cases/year) and group D(≥500 cases/year). The response rate of center with more than group D last year was 100%. Most of the perfusionists had certification issued by ChSECC. Although there were more than 80% of group D performed regular training and assessment of perfusionist, the result was still not ideal enough. Low utilization of safety equipment was not depend on the annual operation volume in most of responding centers. Ultrafiltration and blood protection technology had high application rate in group D compared with group A and B.Conclusion:The certification rate of perfusionists are high. Lower the number of annual CPB cases, lower the proportion of regular evaluation and training, and lower rate of standards performance. No matter the amount of CPB, the application rate of safety equipment is not ideal. Higher the number of CPB cases, higher the utilization rate of CPB related technologies.

Objective To evaluation the value of single and combined detection of peripheral blood human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA and tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 72-4 (CA72-4), CA19-9 and CA125 in the diagnosis of gastric cancer. Methods A total of 48 patients diagnosed with gastric cancer from June 2017 to October 2018 in Baotou Tumor Hospital were enrolled in the study group. Fifty healthy subjects were selected as healthy control group. The peripheral venous blood samples were collected from all subjects. After the synthesis of hTERT cDNA by reverse transcription, real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used for the amplification of hTERT gene fragment. The tumor markers CEA, CA72-4, CA19-9 and CA125 were quantitatively detected by electrochemiluminescence instrument. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio of individual markers or joint detection were calculated. The sensitivity and specificity of joint testing items were compared. Results There were statistically significant differences in the positive rates of hTERT mRNA (P< 0.01), CEA (P=0.002), CA72-4 (P=0.003), and CA19-9 (P=0.017) between the gastric cancer group and the healthy control group, while the positive rates of CA125 were not significantly different between the two groups (P> 0.05). The expression of hTERT mRNA was correlated with TMN stage, lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis (all P< 0.05), but was not correlated with age, sex, tumor location, invasion degree and differentiation degree (all P>0.05). The results of diagnostic indices showed that the hTERT mRNA had high sensitivity (84.8％), specificity (82.7％), accuracy (83.7％), positive predictive value (81.2％) and positive likelihood ratio (4.90). CA72-4 also had high specificity (61.2％), accuracy (64.3％), and positive predictive value (45.8％), which were second only to the hTERT mRNA. The diagnostic performance of CA125 combined with CEA, CA72-4, CA19-9 and peripheral blood hTERT mRNA was not significantly different from the latter four combined detection (P>0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of combined detection of traditional tumor markers CEA, CA72-4 and CA19-9 were 62.5％and 80.0％. The sensitivity and specificity of combined detection of hTERT mRNA, CEA, CA72-4 and CA19-9 could be change to 90.0％ and 67.5％. The difference in sensitivity between the two combined detection groups was statistically significant (P= 0.019), and the difference in specificity was not statistically significant (P> 0.05). Conclusion The comprehensive evaluation index of peripheral blood hTERT mRNA is better than the traditional gastric tumor markers, and it is expected to become a new marker for the diagnosis of gastric cancer.

Objective:To evaluate the hemodynamic situation of the patients with moyamoya disease using MR perfusion imaging,and to explore the relationship between compensatory collateral circulation and perfusion. Methods:Seventy-two hospitalized patients with moyamoya disease were selected as typical moyamoya disease group,including 37 males and 35 females,aged 10 - 62 years old,all patients underwent cerebral angiography (DSA)and MR perfusion imaging.And 20 patients with out neurological history were used as control group.With mean transit time (MTT)image as a standard,the abnormal perfusion ranges were classified as region of interest (ROI),and the corresponding perfusion parameter values,including cerebral blood flow (CBF),cerebral blood volume (CBV),MTT and time to peak (TTP)were recorded,respectively.The cerebellum was used as a reference in this study,the perfusion parameters were standardized,and the relative ratios of the perfusion parameters (rMTT,rTTP,rCBF,rCBV)were obtained.Results:Compared with control group,the rMTT and rTTP of the patients in typical moyamoya disease group were prolonged and the rCBF was reduced (P <0.05 or P < 0.01), but the rCBV had no obvious difference (P >0.05).②Compared with the contralateral side,the rMTT and rTTP of the suffered side were prolonged,and the rCBF and rCBV were reduced (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).Compared with chronic onset group,the rCBV and rCBF of the patients in acute onset group were reduced (P <0.05 or P <0.01),but the rMTT and rTTP had no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05).There were no significant differences in all parameters between hemorrhagic moyamoya disease group and ischemia group (P > 0.05 ). Conclusion:MR perfusion imaging can accurately evaluate the hemodynamic condition of moyamoya disease;MTT and TTP hve higher sensitivities than CBF and CBV.MR perfusion imaging can evaluate the compensation of collateral circulation of moyamoya disease and provide the objective basis for the clinician to select the proper surgical timing and the best operation methods.

Objective To establish a method of microbial limit tests for compound Hongjingtian oral liquid and to per-form the validation of the method.Methods The validation on the microbial limit test method was conducted according to the counting method of bacteria,mycetes and yeasts and the control bacteria test method stated in the appendix of China pharmaco-poeia (2010 edition).Results The recoveries were over 70% when culture diluting method was used for staphylococcus aureus and routine test method was used for Escherichiacoli,Bacillus subtilis,Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger.In the test of positive control bacteria,the growth was detected,while the negative control was no growth detected.Conclusion The micro-bial limit test for compound Hongjingtian oral liquid is validated in this study.The amount of staphylococcus aureus can be de-termined using diluted culture method ;while the amounts of Escherichiacoli,Bacillus subtilis,Candida albicans,Aspergillus niger can be determined by conventional method.