OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of moxibustion at different temperatures on cognitive function and blood glucose levels in patients with cognitive impairment associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: A total of 66 T2DM patients with cognitive impairment were randomly assigned to a high-temperature group (22 cases, 1 case dropped out, 1 case was eliminated), a medium-temperature group (22 cases, 2 cases were eliminated), and a low-temperature group (22 cases, 2 cases were eliminated). All groups received moxibustion at Baihui (GV20), Dazhui (GV14), and Shenting (GV24) based on their existing glycemic control treatment. Moxibustion temperatures were maintained at 44-46 ℃ (high-temperature group), 41-43 ℃ (medium-temperature group), and 38-40 ℃ (low-temperature group), respectively, for 20 min per session, every other day, 3 times a week for 3 months. The Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) score, mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score, short-term memory (STM) accuracy and average reaction time, Rey-Osterrieth complex figure (ROCF) score, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were assessed before and after treatment. Clinical efficacy was evaluated after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, MMSE scores in all three groups were higher than those before treatment (P<0.05). In the high-temperature group, the total MoCA score and the scores of visuospatial and executive function, memory and delayed recall, attention, naming, language, and abstraction were higher than those before treatment (P<0.05); the scores of ROCF copy, immediate recall, and delayed recall were higher than those before treatment (P<0.05); the HbA1c level was lower than that before treatment (P<0.05). In the medium-temperature group, the total MoCA score and the scores of memory and delayed recall, attention, and language were higher than those before treatment (P<0.05). STM accuracy was higher than before treatment (P<0.05), and STM average reaction time was shorter than before treatment (P<0.05) in both the high-temperature and medium-temperature groups. After treatment, the total MoCA score and the scores of visuospatial and executive function, memory and delayed recall, attention, and language in the high-temperature group were higher than those in the medium- and low-temperature groups (P<0.05); MMSE score, STM accuracy, and ROCF immediate recall and delayed recall scores were higher than those in the medium- and low-temperature groups (P<0.05); STM average reaction time was shorter than that in the medium- and low-temperature groups (P<0.05); HbA1c level was lower than that in the low-temperature group (P<0.05). The total MoCA score, attention score, and MMSE score in the medium-temperature group were higher than those in the low-temperature group (P<0.05), and STM average reaction time was shorter than that in the low-temperature group (P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in FPG within or between the three groups before and after treatment (P>0.05). The total effective rates were 75.0% (15/20) in the high-temperature group, 50.0% (10/20) in the medium-temperature group, and 15.0% (3/20) in the low-temperature group; the total effective rate in the high-temperature group was significantly higher than that in the low-temperature group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Moxibustion at different temperatures has a dose-effect relationship in treating cognitive impairment in T2DM patients. A temperature range of 44-46 ℃ is more effective in improving cognitive function and stabilizing average blood glucose levels over 2-3 months.
Humans ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/therapy* ; Male ; Female ; Moxibustion ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Cognitive Dysfunction/psychology* ; Cognition ; Temperature ; Blood Glucose/metabolism* ; Adult ; Acupuncture Points

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Huayu Tongluo (transforming stasis and unblocking collaterals) moxibustion on cognitive function and insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cognitive decline. METHODS: Ninety patients with T2DM and cognitive decline were randomly divided into a moxibustion group (n=45, 3 cases dropped out, 2 cases were eliminated) and a waiting moxibustion group (n=45, 2 cases dropped out). Both groups received routine hypoglycemic treatment for 12 weeks. The moxibustion group additionally received Huayu Tongluo moxibustion at Baihui (GV20), Shenting (GV24), and Dazhui (GV14). Pressing moxibustion was applied to Baihui (GV20) for 20 min, while suspended moxibustion was applied to Shenting (GV24) and Dazhui (GV14) for 20 min each. Treatments of moxibustion were administered every other day (three times per week) for 12 weeks. All patients were followed up for 12 weeks, during which their original hypoglycemic medication regimen was maintained. Before treatment, after 12 weeks of treatment, and at the 12-week follow-up, the scores of Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Addenbrooke's cognitive examination Ⅲ (ACE-Ⅲ), symbol digit modalities test (SDMT), and Athens insomnia scale (AIS) and the insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were observed in the two groups. RESULTS: Compared with before treatment, the MoCA scores, MMSE scores, ACE-Ⅲ subscale scores (attention, memory, language fluency, language, visuospatial ability) and total scores, and SDMT scores were increased (P<0.01), while the AIS scores were decreased (P<0.05) in the moxibustion group after treatment and at follow-up. Compared with before treatment, the MMSE score, ACE-Ⅲ subscale scores (memory, attention) and total score after treatment, as well as the ACE-Ⅲ subscale scores (language, memory, attention) and total score, and SDMT score at follow-up were increased (P<0.05, P<0.01) in the waiting moxibustion group. Compared with before treatment, HOMA-IR was decreased in both groups after treatment and at follow-up (P<0.01). At follow-up, ACE-Ⅲ subscale scores (attention, memory), and the total score in the moxibustion group were lower than those after treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the ACE-Ⅲ language subscale score, total ACE-Ⅲ score, and SDMT score in the waiting moxibustion group were higher than those after treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05). After treatment and at follow-up, compared with the waiting moxibustion group, the moxibustion group had higher MoCA scores, MMSE scores, SDMT scores, ACE-Ⅲ subscale scores (attention, memory, language fluency) and total scores (P<0.05, P<0.01), and lower HOMA-IR (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Huayu Tongluo moxibustion can effectively improve cognitive function in patients with T2DM and cognitive decline. This improvement may be associated with the reduction in insulin resistance.
Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications* ; Male ; Female ; Moxibustion ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Cognition ; Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Cognitive Dysfunction/therapy*

OBJECTIVE To explore the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma （PRP） intrauterine infusion combined with Gushen antai pills in the treatment of recurrent abortion （RSA） and its impacts on endometrial receptivity and hormone levels in patients. METHODS A total of 108 patients with RSA treated in our hospital from January 2021 to January 2024 were selected and evenly divided into control group and study group using the random number table method， with 54 cases in each group. On the basis of conventional treatment， patients in the control group were administered with Gushen antai pills， while patients in the study group received PRP intrauterine infusion combined with Gushen antai pills. The clinical efficacy， TCM syndrome scores before and after treatment， endometrial receptivity [endometrial thickness （EST）， spiral artery resistance index （RI）， and pulsatility index （PI）]， hormone [progesterone （P）， estradiol （E2）， and human chorionic gonadotropin （HCG）] levels， as well as pregnancy outcomes， were compared between the two groups. Additionally， the occurrence of adverse reactions in both groups was recorded. RESULTS The total effective rate （91.44% vs. 81.48%） and infant live birth rate （96.30% vs. 83.33%） of the study group were significantly higher than those of the control group （P＜0.05）. Following treatment， various TCM syndrome scores and total score， spiral artery RI and PI levels in both groups were markedly lower than those in the same groups before treatment， with the study group showing significantly lower levels than the control group（P＜0.05）. Conversely， the P， E2， HCG and EST levels in both groups were significantly higher than those in the same groups before treatment， and the study group exhibited notably higher levels than the control group （P＜0.05）. There was no statistically significant difference in the total incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS PRP intrauterine infusion combined with Gushen antai pills has good clinical efficacy in the treatment of RSA. It can improve TCM syndromes， enhance endometrial receptivity， regulate hormone levels and improve pregnancy outcomes， and it is highly safe.

Objective To investigate the status quo of fear of disease progression(FoP)in patients after pituitary neuroendocrine tumour surgery and analyse the medication effects of positive coping style on disease perception and FoP.Methods Convenient sampling method was used to select 345 patients with pituitary neuroendocrine tumours who underwent surgical operations in the neurosurgery department of a Grade IIIA hospital in Shanxi Province from January 2022 to January 2023 as the research objects.A general data questionnaire,disease perception questionnaire,medical coping style questionnaire and fear of progression questionnaire-short form(FoP-Q-SF)were used in the investigation.Pearson correlation was employed to analyse the correlations of the disease perception,active coping style and FoP among the patients.Structural equation models were used to analyse the mediating effects of positive coping styles on disease perception and FoP.Results The FoP score of patients after pituitary neuroendocrine tumour surgery was found at(35.02±4.92).FoP was positively correlated with the disease perception(r=0.672,P<0.01),and negatively with the active coping style(r=-0.679,P<0.01).Positive coping styles were positively correlated with disease perception(r=-0.610,P<0.01).Disease perception not only had a direct effect on FoP,but also had an indirect effect on FoP via active coping style,with an intermediate effect value of 0.202(P<0.001),accounting for 25.5%of total effect.Conclusion Postoperative positive coping style in patients with pituitary neuroendocrine tumour is a mediating variable between the disease perception and FoP.Medical staff should dynamically assess and early identify coping styles of patients and adopt personalised guidance programs,therefore to guide the patients to actively cope with the disease,so as to reduce the negative disease perception and alleviate the fear of disease progression of the patients.

Objective:To summarize the clinical characteristics of patients with end-stage heart failure who receive heart transplant under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support.Methods:The clinical data of 12 pediatric patients who received heart transplant with ECMO support in the Seventh Medical Center of Chinese People′s Liberation Army General Hospital and Guangdong Provincial People′s Hospital, from January 2019 to December 2023 was collected. The data included sex, age, weight, diagnosis, pre-ECMO lactate level, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS), and preoperative ECMO running time. Surgical data included cold ischemia time of the donor heart, cardiopulmonary bypass time, intraoperative use of immunosuppressant, postoperative use of ECMO, duration of postoperative ECMO, rate of successful weaning from ECMO, and survival discharge rate. The paired t-test was performed to compare cardiac function indices before and after left ventricular decompression. Results:The 12 patients ranged in age from 1.1 to 15.8 years, and weighted from 8 to 63 kg. Ten children were diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, one with myocardial underdensification, and one with a novel heterozygous mutation of the SCN5A gene causing overlap syndrome complicated by fatal arrhythmia. Before ECMO, the lactate ranged from 0.6 to>15.0 mmol/L, the LVEF from 6.5% to 43%, and VIS from 3 to 108. Four patients underwent left ventricular decompression supported by preoperative ECMO, and their pulse pressure was significantly increased after decompression ((17.8±2.1) vs. (9.8±1.5) mmHg, 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa, t=11.31, P=0.001), while there was no apparent change in LVEF ((26.8±4.4)% vs. (24.9±4.9)%, t=1.75, P=0.178). A total of 7 children received a second run of ECMO after surgery and 3 of them successfully weaned off ECMO and survived to discharge. In the entire cohort, 10 were successfully weaned from ECMO and 8 survived to discharge. Conclusions:For children with end-stage heart failure supported by ECMO, left ventricular decompression can significantly improve pulse pressure. These patients will eventually require heart transplantation.

Objective:To investigate the values of two-dimensional and three-dimensional echocardiographic parameters in predicting pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) in chronic pulmonary thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).Methods:A total of 141 patients diagnosed with CTEPH in China-Japan Friendship Hospital from November 2015 to December 2022 were included. Two-dimensional echocardiographic indicators reflecting PVR were constructed according to the calculation formula of PVR: echocardiographic estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP Echo)/left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVIDd), echocardiographic estimated mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP Echo)/LVIDd. sPAP Echo/left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), sPAP Echo/left ventricular cardiac output (LVCO) were measured by three-dimensional echocardiography. The correlations between two-dimensional and three-dimensional echocardiographic ratios and invasive PVR were then analyzed using the Spearman correlation method. Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, cut-off values for the ratios were generated to identify patients with PVR>1 000 dyn·s -1·cm -5. Pre- and postoperative hemodynamics and echocardiographic data were analyzed, as well as the correlation between the reduction rate of the echocardiographic index and PVR in 54 patients who underwent pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA). Results:sPAP Echo/LVIDd, sPAP Echo/LVEDV and sPAP Echo/LVCO were moderately correlated with PVR( rs=0.62, 0.52, 0.63, both P<0.001). The ratio of sPAP Echo to LVEDV, when greater than or equal to 1.41, had a sensitivity of 0.800 and a specificity of 0.930 for determining PVR >1 000 dyn·s -1·cm -5 (AUC=0.860, P<0.001). Similarly, the ratio of sPAP Echo to LVIDd, when greater than or equal to 2.14, had a sensitivity of 0.647 and a specificity of 0.861 for determining PVR >1000 dyn·s -1·cm -5 (AUC=0.830, P<0.001). The sPAP Echo/LVIDd and mPAP Echo/LVIDd significantly decreased after PEA (both P<0.001). The sPAP Echo/LVIDd and mPAP Echo/LVIDd reduction rate (ΔsPAP Echo/LVIDd and ΔmPAP Echo/LVIDd) were significantly correlated with PVR reduction rate (ΔPVR), respectively ( rs=0.61, 0.63, both P<0.05). Conclusions:Two-dimensional ratio sPAP Echo/LVIDd and three-dimensional ratio sPAP Echo/LVEDV can be used to noninvasively estimate PVR in CTEPH patients. The conventional ratio sPAP Echo/LVIDd is convenient and reproducibly suitable for monitoring the improvement of PVR before and after treatment, and its ratio of 2.14 can predict the significant increase of PVR in CTEPH patients (>1 000 dyn·s -1·cm -5).

Objective:To explore the efficacy of central combined peripheral dual-target magnetic stimulation on Parkinson disease (PD) patients with freezing of gait (FOG).Methods:A total of 39 patients with FOG diagnosed at the Parkinson disease clinic of the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University were included in the study from July 2022 to September 2023.They were randomly divided into observation group ( n=20) and control group ( n=19) by the random number table method. The patients in control group were treated with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), while the patients in observation group were treated with additional repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation(rPMS) on the affected tibialis anterior muscle on the basis of the control group. Other clinical medical treatments were the same for both groups of patients.The timed up and go test (TUGT), 10 meter walk test (10MWT), and motor evoked potentials (MEP) were used to evaluate the efficacy before and after 2 weeks of treatment.The SPSS 25.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Independent sample t-test was used for comparison between the two groups, and paired sample t-test was used for comparison before and after treatment within group. Results:Before treatment, there were no statistically significant difference in TUGT time, 10MWT speed and MEP amplitude between the two groups( t=0.659, 0.514, 0.345, all P>0.05).After treatment, the TUGT time((7.87±1.74) s vs (9.31±1.57)s)and MEP amplitude((41.59±14.81)mV vs (58.26±19.26) mV)of the observation group were lower than those of the control group( t=2.723, 3.039, P=0.010, 0.004), while the 10MWT speed of the observation group was higher than that of the control group ((1.21±0.20) m/s vs (1.01±0.17)m/s, t=3.173, P=0.003).After treatment, the TUGT time and MEP amplitude of patients in the observation group and control group were all lower than before treatment (observation group: t=13.512, 7.126, both P<0.001; control group: t=6.535, 3.094, both P<0.05). The 10MWT speeds of patients in the observation group and control group after treatment were both higher than before treatment ( t=25.665, 6.750, both P<0.001). Conclusion:The combination of central and peripheral dual-target magnetic stimulation may improve the FOG of PD patients, and it is worthy of clinical promotion.

Objective:To review the application of virtual reality in cardiac rehabilitation patients, identify intervention types, intervention elements, outcome indicators, and application effects.Methods:Electronic retrieval was implemented on PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, and China Biology Medicine disc, using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) scoping review guideline as the methodological framework. The search period was from the establishment of the database to April 10, 2023. The literature was extracted, summarized, and analyzed.Results:A total of 16 articles were included. The main types of virtual reality interventions were immersive and non-immersive. The intervention population included patients at different stages of cardiac rehabilitation, with unrestricted intervention venues. The intervention frequency was mostly 2 to 3 times per week, with intervention duration mostly ranging from 30 to 60 minutes and intervention cycles mostly ranging from 3 weeks to 12 months. Virtual reality improved the physical function and mental health of cardiac rehabilitation patients to a certain extent, and patient feedback showed good participation and satisfaction.Conclusions:Virtual reality has a positive impact on cardiac rehabilitation patients, with good safety and feasibility, but the recovery of cardiac function is still controversial. It is still necessary to conduct large sample size, multi center research, and track long-term effects.

Objective:To investigate the levels of serum surface active protein D (SP-D) and clara cell protein (CCl6) in workers exposed to black silica dust, and analyze its influencing factors.Methods:From July to September 2021, 174 workers in 37 positions exposed to silica dust in 5 ferrous metal foundry were investigated by cross-sectional research method. The exposure concentration of silica dust workers was obtained through occupational health field investigation and detection, and the general situation of the study subjects was obtained through questionnaire survey and peripheral blood was collected. Double antigen sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the concentrations of SP-D and CC16 in serum of workers. The mean values were compared by one-way ANOVA, and the influencing factors of SP-D and CC16 concentrations in serum were analyzed by ordered multiple logistic regression.Results:The time-weighted average concentration (C-TWA) of 174 workers exposed to silica dust (respirable dust) ranged from 0.09 mg/m 3~3.58 mg/m 3, and the C-TWA overstandard rate of dust exposed workers was 32.18% (56/174) , with differences among workers in different positions (χ 2=28.85, P<0.001) . The highest concentration of silica dust was (0.82±0.11) mg/m 3. Using C-TWA<50% OEL occupational exposure limit (OEL) as reference, serum SP-D concentration in workers with ≥50% OEL was increased ( OR=4.95, 95% CI: 1.86~13.17, P=0.001) , while CC16 concentration was decreased ( OR=0.15, 95% CI: 0.05~0.40, P<0.001) ; Serum CC16 concentration decreased in workers exposed to silica dust C-TWA≥OEL ( OR=0.46, 95% CI: 0.28~0.98, P=0.043) . Compared with those with low occupational health literacy, the serum SP-D concentration of workers with high occupational health literacy decreased ( OR=0.48, 95% CI: 0.25~0.92, P=0.027) and CC16 concentration increased ( OR=2.09, 95% CI: 1.10-3.97, P=0.024) . Conclusion:When no abnormality was found in the physical examination of workers, the serum SP-D and CC16 concentration levels changed, and the change was related to the concentration of workers exposed to silica dust.

Humans ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; Mesenchymoma/diagnostic imaging* ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes/pathology*