Intelligent acupuncture-moxibustion medical equipment is an important force in promoting the inheritance, innovation, and modernization of acupuncture-moxibustion. This paper reviews the development status of intelligent acupuncture-moxibustion medical equipment and related new technologies, as well as the challenges faced. It is found that, with the advancement of technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence, acupuncture-moxibustion medical equipment has shown characteristics of greater precision, miniaturization, intelligence, and portability. However, deficiencies remain in areas such as standardization and regulation, including relatively low rates of effective transformation and a lack of innovation in research outcomes. Therefore, there is an urgent need to formulate corresponding strategies: improving the development of relevant standards for intelligent acupuncture-moxibustion medical equipment, encouraging the integration of medicine and engineering, cultivating interdisciplinary talents, and strengthening the protection of invention patents. It is necessary to establish a demand-oriented pathway connecting "equipment development, equipment evaluation, product formation" through multiple stages such as talent training and research project initiation, thereby promoting the modernization and standardization of intelligent acupuncture-moxibustion medical equipment and supporting the revitalization of traditional medicine.
Moxibustion/instrumentation* ; Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy/trends* ; Artificial Intelligence

BACKGROUND: Spicy food consumption has been reported to be inversely associated with mortality from multiple diseases. However, the effect of spicy food intake on the incidence of vascular diseases in the Chinese population remains unclear. This study was conducted to explore this association. METHODS: This study was performed using the large-scale China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) prospective cohort of 486,335 participants. The primary outcomes were vascular disease, ischemic heart disease (IHD), major coronary events (MCEs), cerebrovascular disease, stroke, and non-stroke cerebrovascular disease. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the association between spicy food consumption and incident vascular diseases. Subgroup analysis was also performed to evaluate the heterogeneity of the association between spicy food consumption and the risk of vascular disease stratified by several basic characteristics. In addition, the joint effects of spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of vascular disease were also evaluated, and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the reliability of the association results. RESULTS: During a median follow-up time of 12.1 years, a total of 136,125 patients with vascular disease, 46,689 patients with IHD, 10,097 patients with MCEs, 80,114 patients with cerebrovascular disease, 56,726 patients with stroke, and 40,098 patients with non-stroke cerebrovascular disease were identified. Participants who consumed spicy food 1-2 days/week (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = [0.93, 0.97], P <0.001), 3-5 days/week (HR = 0.96, 95% CI = [0.94, 0.99], P = 0.003), and 6-7 days/week (HR = 0.97, 95% CI = [0.95, 0.99], P = 0.002) had a significantly lower risk of vascular disease than those who consumed spicy food less than once a week ( Ptrend <0.001), especially in those who were younger and living in rural areas. Notably, the disease-based subgroup analysis indicated that the inverse associations remained in IHD ( Ptrend = 0.011) and MCEs ( Ptrend = 0.002) risk. Intriguingly, there was an interaction effect between spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of IHD ( Pinteraction = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS Our findings support an inverse association between spicy food consumption and vascular disease in the Chinese population, which may provide additional dietary guidance for the prevention of vascular diseases.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Prospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Vascular Diseases/etiology* ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology* ; Adult ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Cerebrovascular Disorders/epidemiology* ; East Asian People

OBJECTIVE: To explore the functional roles and underlying mechanisms of neferine in the context of angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced hypertension and vascular dysfunction. METHODS: Male mice were infused with Ang II to induce hypertension and randomly divided into treatment groups receiving neferine or a control vehicle based on baseline blood pressure using a random number table method. The hypertensive mouse model was constructed by infusing Ang II via a micro-osmotic pump (500 ng/kg per minute), and neferine (0.1, 1, or 10 mg/kg), valsartan (10 mg/kg), or double distilled water was administered intragastrically once daily for 6 weeks. A non-invasive blood pressure system, ultrasound, and hematoxylin and eosin staining were performed to assess blood pressure and vascular changes. RNA sequencing and network pharmacology were employed to identify differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) and pathways. Vascular ring tension assay was used to test vascular function. A7R5 cells were incubated with neferine for 24 h and then treated with Ang II to record the real-time Ca²⁺ concentration by confocal microscope. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot were used to evaluate vasorelaxation, calcium, and the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 pathway. RESULTS: Neferine treatment effectively mitigated the elevation in blood pressure, pulse wave velocity, aortic thickening in the abdominal aorta of Ang II-infused mice (P<0.05). RNA sequencing and network pharmacology analysis identified 355 DETs that were significantly reversed by neferine treatment, along with 25 potential target genes, which were further enriched in multiple pathways and biological processes, such as ERK1 and ERK2 cascade regulation, calcium pathway, and vascular smooth muscle contraction. Further investigation revealed that neferine treatment enhanced vasorelaxation and reduced Ca²⁺-dependent contraction of abdominal aortic rings, independent of endothelium function (P<0.05). The underlying mechanisms were mediated, at least in part, via suppression of receptor-operated channels, store-operated channels, or voltage-operated calcium channels. Neferine pre-treatment demonstrated a reduction in intracellular Ca²⁺ release in Ang II stimulated A7R5 cells. IHC staining and Western blot confirmed that neferine treatment effectively attenuated the upregulation of p-ERK1/2 both in vivo and in vitro, which was similar with treatment of ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Neferine remarkably alleviates Ang II-induced elevation of blood pressure, vascular dysfunction, and pathological changes in the abdominal aorta. This beneficial effect is mediated by the modulation of multiple pathways, including calcium and ERK1/2 pathways.
Animals ; Angiotensin II ; Male ; Benzylisoquinolines/therapeutic use* ; Network Pharmacology ; Blood Pressure/drug effects* ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Mice ; Hypertension/chemically induced* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Calcium/metabolism*

Mycophenolic acid (MPA), the active moiety of both mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS), serves as a primary immunosuppressant for maintaining solid organ transplants. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) enhances treatment outcomes through tailored approaches. This study aimed to develop an evidence-based guideline for MPA TDM, facilitating its rational application in clinical settings. The guideline plan was drawn from the Institute of Medicine and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Using the Delphi method, clinical questions and outcome indicators were generated. Systematic reviews, Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) evidence quality evaluations, expert opinions, and patient values guided evidence-based suggestions for the guideline. External reviews further refined the recommendations. The guideline for the TDM of MPA (IPGRP-2020CN099) consists of four sections and 16 recommendations encompassing target populations, monitoring strategies, dosage regimens, and influencing factors. High-risk populations, timing of TDM, area under the curve (AUC) versus trough concentration (C₀), target concentration ranges, monitoring frequency, and analytical methods are addressed. Formulation-specific recommendations, initial dosage regimens, populations with unique considerations, pharmacokinetic-informed dosing, body weight factors, pharmacogenetics, and drug‍-‍drug interactions are covered. The evidence-based guideline offers a comprehensive recommendation for solid organ transplant recipients undergoing MPA therapy, promoting standardization of MPA TDM, and enhancing treatment efficacy and safety.
Mycophenolic Acid/administration & dosage* ; Drug Monitoring/methods* ; Humans ; Organ Transplantation ; Immunosuppressive Agents/administration & dosage* ; Delphi Technique

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a highly aggressive hematologic malignancy with a poor prognosis, despite advancements in treatment. Many patients struggle with relapse or refractory disease. Investigating the role of the super-enhancer (SE) regulated gene ubiquitin-specific protease 20 (USP20) in T-ALL could enhance targeted therapies and improve clinical outcomes. Analysis of histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) data from six T-ALL cell lines and seven pediatric samples identified USP20 as an SE-regulated driver gene. Utilizing the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) and BloodSpot databases, it was found that USP20 is specifically highly expressed in T-ALL. Knocking down USP20 with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) increased apoptosis and inhibited proliferation in T-ALL cells. In vivo studies showed that USP20 knockdown reduced tumor growth and improved survival. The USP20 inhibitor GSK2643943A demonstrated similar anti-tumor effects. Mass spectrometry, RNA-Seq, and immunoprecipitation revealed that USP20 interacted with hypoxia-inducible factor 1 subunit alpha (HIF1A) and stabilized it by deubiquitination. Cleavage under targets and tagmentation (CUT&Tag) results indicated that USP20 co-localized with HIF1A, jointly modulating target genes in T-ALL. This study identifies USP20 as a therapeutic target in T-ALL and suggests GSK2643943A as a potential treatment strategy.

Cemental tear is a rare and indetectable condition unless obvious clinical signs present with the involvement of surrounding periodontal and periapical tissues. Due to its clinical manifestations similar to common dental issues, such as vertical root fracture, primary endodontic diseases, and periodontal diseases, as well as the low awareness of cemental tear for clinicians, misdiagnosis often occurs. The critical principle for cemental tear treatment is to remove torn fragments, and overlooking fragments leads to futile therapy, which could deteriorate the conditions of the affected teeth. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and subsequent appropriate interventions are vital for managing cemental tear. Novel diagnostic tools, including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), microscopes, and enamel matrix derivatives, have improved early detection and management, enhancing tooth retention. The implementation of standardized diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols, combined with improved clinical awareness among dental professionals, serves to mitigate risks of diagnostic errors and suboptimal therapeutic interventions. This expert consensus reviewed the epidemiology, pathogenesis, potential predisposing factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cemental tear, aiming to provide a clinical guideline and facilitate clinicians to have a better understanding of cemental tear.
Humans ; Dental Cementum/injuries* ; Consensus ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Tooth Fractures/therapy*

Objective To compare the influence between self-monitoring of blood gluocose(SMBG)combined with digital diabetes management and traditional management mode on the related clinical indexes in the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods A total of 100 patients with T2DM treated in the endocrinology and metabolism outpatient department of this hospital from January 2022 to June 2022 and meeting the inclusion criteria of this study were successively included.They were divided into the experimental group and control group.The experimental group was managed by SMBG combined with digital diabetes man-agement mode,while the control group adopted the traditional management mode,the outpatient clinic follow up once a month.After 6 months of follow-up,fasting blood glucose,glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c),low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)and urinary microalbumin/creatinine ratio(UACR)were compared between the two groups.Results The FBG,HbA1c,LDL-C,and UACR of the experimental group decreased after intervention when compared with baseline.Compared with the control group,the FBG[8.7(7.7,9.2)mmol/L vs.10.8(8.8,12.7)mmol/L,Z=-4.660,P＜0.001],HbA1c[6.3％(5.3,7.8)％vs.8.5％(7.2,10.0)％,Z=-5.130,P＜0.001],LDL-C[2.6(1.8,3.1)mmol/L vs.3.3(2.6,4.0)mmol/L,Z=-4.112,P＜0.001],UACR[16.1(3.5,46.5)mg/g vs.58.4(11.9,108.0)mg/g,Z=-2.220,P=0.026]for patients in the expriemental group after intervention were significantly decreased.Conclusion SMBG combined with digital diabetes management model can significantly improve the clinical indicators of patients.

OBJECTIVE To develop the evaluation system for the readability of drug instructions based on Chinese patient needs， and to provide scientific evidence for improving the readability of drug instructions in China. METHODS The literature review and expert consultation were adopted to establish the evaluation index system for the readability of drug instructions. Then， by the analytic hierarchy process， the index weight in the evaluation system was determined， and the evaluation system for the readability of drug instructions was established. Fuzzy comprehensive evaluation was used to test the evaluation system， taking drug instruction of Dexamethasone acetate cream as an example. RESULTS The evaluation system for the readability of drug instructions was established with 5 primary criteria such as text expression， numerical application， content design， behavioral suggestions， and layout design， as well as 17 sub-criteria such as easy-to-understand words and appropriately long sentences. The reliability and validity tests met the requirements. The result of 100 respondents evaluating the readability of the drug instructions of Dexamethasone acetate cream showed that the readability of drug instructions was scored as good as 4.24. CONCLUSIONS Established evaluation system for the readability of drug instructions in the study can be used to evaluate the quality and readability of drug instructions in China.

Objective:To explore the feasibility and application value of indocyanine green(ICG)lymph node tracer in clinical early stage cervical cancer staging surgery.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 31 patients with early clinical stage(ⅠA1-ⅡA1)cervical cancer who underwent laparoscopic radical hysterectomy,pelvic lymph node resection and para-aortic lymph node sampling were selected as the study subjects in Sichuan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital from April 1,2022 to July 31,2023.They were divided into the ICG fluorescence tracer group(ICG group,17 cases)and the conventional surgery group(control group,14 ca-ses)based on whether ICG was injected or not.The resected lymph nodes were classified and submitted for ex-amination according to location and whether they presented visualization.The method of contingency coefficient was used to analyze the correlations between lymph node visualization patterns and lymph node metastasis and clinicopathological characteristics,and the perioperative data of the two groups were compared.Results:①The postoperative stage of 8 patients(25.8％)(4 in each group)were improved compared with the preoperative clini-cal stage.The number of resected lymph nodes in the ICG group was less than that in the control group(18±9 nodes/person vs.26±11 nodes/person,P＜0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in operation time,intraoperative blood loss,postoperative FIGO(2018)staging,lymph node metastasis rate,and positive rate of resected lymph nodes between the two groups(P＞0.05).②The visualization rate in the ICG group was 64.71％(11/17).There was no statistically significant difference in the positive rate between the visualized and non-visualized lymph nodes(P＞0.05).There was a significant correlation between lymph node visualization and lymph node metastasis(C=0.707,P＜0.05),and a significant correlation was found between lymph node visual-ization and lymph node metastasis in the same patient(C=0.557,P＜0.05).Conclusions:The rate of lymph node metastasis in clinical early stage cervical cancer is low.ICG fluorescence visualization can trace lymph nodes and predict the risk of metastasis.By only resecting the visualized lymph nodes under the guidance of ICG tracer,the lymph node metastasis status of early-stage cervical cancer can be fully evaluated,which is worthy of further research.

Objective:To explore the feasibility and application value of indocyanine green(ICG)lymph node tracer in clinical early stage cervical cancer staging surgery.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 31 patients with early clinical stage(ⅠA1-ⅡA1)cervical cancer who underwent laparoscopic radical hysterectomy,pelvic lymph node resection and para-aortic lymph node sampling were selected as the study subjects in Sichuan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital from April 1,2022 to July 31,2023.They were divided into the ICG fluorescence tracer group(ICG group,17 cases)and the conventional surgery group(control group,14 ca-ses)based on whether ICG was injected or not.The resected lymph nodes were classified and submitted for ex-amination according to location and whether they presented visualization.The method of contingency coefficient was used to analyze the correlations between lymph node visualization patterns and lymph node metastasis and clinicopathological characteristics,and the perioperative data of the two groups were compared.Results:①The postoperative stage of 8 patients(25.8％)(4 in each group)were improved compared with the preoperative clini-cal stage.The number of resected lymph nodes in the ICG group was less than that in the control group(18±9 nodes/person vs.26±11 nodes/person,P＜0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in operation time,intraoperative blood loss,postoperative FIGO(2018)staging,lymph node metastasis rate,and positive rate of resected lymph nodes between the two groups(P＞0.05).②The visualization rate in the ICG group was 64.71％(11/17).There was no statistically significant difference in the positive rate between the visualized and non-visualized lymph nodes(P＞0.05).There was a significant correlation between lymph node visualization and lymph node metastasis(C=0.707,P＜0.05),and a significant correlation was found between lymph node visual-ization and lymph node metastasis in the same patient(C=0.557,P＜0.05).Conclusions:The rate of lymph node metastasis in clinical early stage cervical cancer is low.ICG fluorescence visualization can trace lymph nodes and predict the risk of metastasis.By only resecting the visualized lymph nodes under the guidance of ICG tracer,the lymph node metastasis status of early-stage cervical cancer can be fully evaluated,which is worthy of further research.