Objective To evaluate the protective effect of radiation protection safety education (RPSE) on patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) undergoing iodine-131 (¹³¹I) treatment. Methods The DTC patients who undergo ¹³¹I treatment were divided into the control group and the RPSE group using the convenience sampling method, with 142 patients in each group. Patients in the control group received routine health education, while the RPSE group received routine health education combined with RPSE. Dose equivalent rate (DER) on pillows, bed sheets, quilt covers, and household waste of patients were compared between the two groups upon discharge. Results The median (M) DERs of patients' pillows, bed sheets, quilt covers and household waste were 3.86, 3.63, 3.91 and 56.59 times higher in the control group compared with the environmental background level, respectively. The M DERs of patients' pillows, bed sheets, quilt covers were 2.23, 2.18, and 2.55 times higher in the RPSE group compared with the environmental background level, while the M DER of household waste was equivalent to the environmental background level. The DERs of patients' pillows, bed sheets, quilt covers, and household waste in the RPSE group were significantly lower than those in the control group (all P<0.001). The DERs of the above four items were lower in both male and female patients in RPSE group compared with same-gender patients in the control group (all P<0.001). The patients' DERs of the above indicators had no significant difference among different gender in both control group and RPSE group (all P>0.05), except for higher DER of household waste in female patients than that of male patients in the control group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the DERs of pillows, bed sheets, quilt covers, and household waste across subgroups, where patients received different treatment doses, of both the control group and the RPSE group (all P>0.05). Conclusion RPSE for DTC patients treated with ¹³¹I, reduces the DERs of pillows, bed sheets, quilt covers, and particularly household waste.

OBJECTIVE: To explore early curative effect of upper joint capsule reconstruction combined with biceps tendon transposition in treating irreparable rotator cuff tears. METHODS: From October 2019 to March 2021, 16 patients with irreparable rotator cuff tear were underwent arthroscopic autogenous semitendinosus tendon transplantation for upper articular capsule reconstruction combined with biceps tendon transposition, included 12 males and 4 females, aged from 53 to 72 years old with an average of (62.13±5.35) years old; 3 patients on the left side and 13 patients on the right side. All patients had preoperatively limited joint mobility, resting pain, and mobility pain, and had a history of failure to respond to conservative treatment for more than 8 months. The duration of preoperative symptoms ranged from 45 to 144 months with an average of (85.25±32.08) months. Visual analogue scale (VAS) of shoulder pain, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) score, Constant-Murley score, active and passive motion of shoulder joint were compared before operation and 2 years after operation, complications were recorded. RESULTS: All 16 patients were followed up for 21 to 32 months with an average of (24.25±3.57) months. There were no complications such as incision infection, vascular and nerve injury, retear occurred. VAS, UCLA and Constant-Murley scores were improved from (5.75±1.18), (11.88±3.38) and (33.38±9.34) before operation to (1.13±0.89), (32.56±2.71), (89.06±6.25) at 2 years after operation (P<0.05). Anterior flexion, abduction, lateral external rotation and lateral internal rotation of shoulder joint were improved from (79.75±21.36) °, (62.06±10.49) °, (19.19±5.41) °, (3.04±0.21) °, respectively to (156.94±13.18) °, (116.19±12.59) °, (42.63±6.07) °, (8.16±0.64) ° at 2 years after operation. Anterior flexion, abduction, lateral lateral rotation and lateral internal rotation of shoulder joint were improved from (116.28±21.47) °, (107.12±9.67) °, (27.62±4.70) °, (4.21±0.41) °, respectively to (165.28±7.15) °, (153.34±4.69) °, (52.46±4.46) °, (9.68±0.68) ° at 2 years after operation, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Arthroscopic autograft of semitendinosus tendon combined with transposition of biceps tendon could achieve satisfactory early clinical results in treating patients with irreparable rotator cuff tear, which is a reliable and effective surgical method.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Arthroscopy/methods* ; Rotator Cuff Injuries/physiopathology* ; Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods* ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Shoulder Joint/surgery* ; Tendon Transfer

OBJECTIVE: To illustrate the role of dehydrocorydaline (DHC) in chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced neuropathic pain and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 3 groups by using a random number table, including sham group (sham operation), CCI group [intrathecal injection of 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)], and CCI+DHC group (intrathecal injection of DHC), 8 mice in each group. A CCI mouse model was conducted to induce neuropathic pain through ligating the right common sciatic nerve. On day 14 after CCI modeling or sham operation, mice were intrathecal injected with 5 µL of 10% DMSO or 10 mg/kg DHC (5 µL) into the 5th to 6th lumbar intervertebral space (L5-L6). Pregnant ICR mice were sacrificed for isolating primary spinal neurons on day 14 of embryo development for in vitro experiment. Pain behaviors were evaluated by measuring the paw withdrawal mechanical threshold (PWMT) of mice. Immunofluorescence was used to observe the activation of astrocytes and microglia in mouse spinal cord. Protein expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), phosphorylation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit 2B (p-NR2B), and NR2B in the spinal cord or primary spinal neurons were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: In CCI-induced neuropathic pain model, mice presented significantly decreased PWMT, activation of glial cells, overexpressions of iNOS, TNF-α, IL-6, and higher p-NR2B/NR2B ratio in the spinal cord (P<0.05 or P<0.01), which were all reversed by a single intrathecal injection of DHC (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The p-NR2B/NR2B ratio in primary spinal neurons were also inhibited after DHC treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSION An intrathecal injection of DHC relieved CCI-induced neuropathic pain in mice by inhibiting the neuroinflammation and neuron hyperactivity.
Animals ; Neuralgia/etiology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Analgesics/pharmacology* ; Neuroinflammatory Diseases/pathology* ; Constriction ; Male ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/metabolism* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Microglia/pathology* ; Spinal Cord/drug effects* ; Female ; Mice ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Constriction, Pathologic/complications* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Astrocytes/metabolism* ; Chronic Disease ; Neurons/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of acupuncture on the neurotransmitter levels and gut microbiota in a mouse model of Tourette syndrome (TS). METHODS: Thirty-six male C57/BL6 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups using a random number table method: 3,3'-iminodipropionitrile (IDPN) group, control group, acupuncture group, and tiapride group, with 9 mice in each group. In the IDPN group, acupuncture group, and tiapride group, mice received daily intraperitoneal injections of IDPN (300 mg/kg body weight) for 7 consecutive days to induce stereotyped behaviors. Subsequently, in the acupuncture intervention group, standardized acupuncture treatment was administered for 14 consecutive days to IDPN-induced TS model mice. The selected acupoints included Baihui (DU 20), Yintang (DU 29), Waiguan (SJ 5), and Zulinqi (GB 41). In the tiapride group, mice were administered tiapride (50 mg/kg body weight) via oral gavage daily for 14 consecutive days. The control group, IDPN group, and acupuncture group received the same volume of saline orally for 14 consecutive days. Stereotypic behaviors were quantified through behavioral assessments. Neurotransmitter levels, including dopamine (DA), glutamate (Glu), and aspartate (ASP) in striatal tissue were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Dopamine transporter (DAT) expression levels were additionally quantified through quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Gut microbial composition was analyzed through 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing, while metabolic profiling was conducted using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). RESULTS: Acupuncture administration significantly attenuated stereotypic behaviors, concurrently reducing striatal levels of DA, Glu and ASP concentrations while upregulating DAT expression compared with untreated TS controls (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Comparative analysis identified significant differences in Muribaculaceae (P=0.001), Oscillospiraceae (P=0.049), Desulfovibrionaceae (P=0.001), and Marinifilaceae (P=0.014) following acupuncture intervention. Metabolomic profiling revealed alterations in 7 metabolites and 18 metabolic pathways when compared to the TS mice, which involved various amino acid metabolisms associated with DA, Glu, and ASP. CONCLUSIONS Acupuncture demonstrates significant modulatory effects on both central neurotransmitter systems and gut microbial ecology, thereby highlighting its dual therapeutic potential for TS management through gut-brain axis regulation.
Animals ; Tourette Syndrome/metabolism* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Neurotransmitter Agents/metabolism* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice

Temporal interference (TI) is a form of stimulation that epitomizes an innovative and non-invasive approach for profound neuromodulation of the brain, a technique that has been validated in mice. Yet, the thin cranial bone structure of mice has a marginal influence on the effect of the TI technique and may not effectively showcase its effectiveness in larger animals. Based on this, we carried out TI stimulation experiments on rats. Following the TI intervention, analysis of electrophysiological data and immunofluorescence staining indicated the generation of a stimulation focus within the nucleus accumbens (depth, 8.5 mm) in rats. Our findings affirm the viability of the TI methodology in the presence of thick cranial bones, furnishing efficacious parameters for profound stimulation with TI administered under such conditions. This experiment not only sheds light on the intervention effects of TI deep in the brain but also furnishes robust evidence in support of its prospective clinical utility.
Animals ; Deep Brain Stimulation/methods* ; Nucleus Accumbens/physiology* ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Time Factors

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness and safety of neck seven-line method combined with periauricular acupuncture as salvage treatment for sudden hearing loss in non-acute stage. MethodsSixty-six patients with non-acute stage of sudden hearing loss with a disease duration of 15-90 days were randomly divided into 33 cases each in treatment group and control group. The treatment group was given neck seven-line method combined with acupuncture at periauricular points； the control group used sham acupuncture and sham electroacupuncture at the same points. Both groups were treated 3 times a week for 6 weeks. The pure tone average hearing threshold of impaired frequencies were examined before treatment， after treatment finish and at follow-up （week 10）， and the difference between pure tone average hearing threshold of impaired frequencies before and after treatment was calculated； calculate the proportion of patients with ≥10 dB improvement in pure tone average hearing threshold of impaired frequency after treatment and at follow-up； compare the patients' Tinnitus Evaluation Scale （TEQ） scores， Chinese Medicine Quality of Life Assessment Scale （CQ-11D） health utility values and the difference between before and after treatment， and record the occurrence of adverse events. ResultsThe pure tone average of impaired frequency in the treatment group were （50.57±18.07） dB and （47.70±17.42） dB at post-treatment and follow-up respectively， and （54.38±21.77） dB and （53.36±20.99） dB in the control group at post-treatment and follow-up. Compared with the pre-treatment period， the pure tone average hearing threshold of impaired frequency in the two groups significantly decreased （P＜0.05） at post-treatment and follow-up. The difference of pure tone average hearing threshold of impaired frequency in the treatment group after treatment and at the follow-up visit compared to that before treatment was lower than those in the control group （P＜0.05）. After treatment， 13 patients （39.39%） in the treatment group and 10 patients （30.30%） in the control group showed improvement of ≥10 dB in pure tone average hearing threshold of impaired frequency； at the follow-up visit， 18 patients （54.55%） in the treatment group and 10 patients （30.30%） in the control group showed improvement of ≥10 dB in the pure tone average hearing threshold of impaired frequency， and there was no statistical significance for comparison between groups at the time of post-treatment and follow-up （P＞0.05）. The TEQ score of the treatment group significantly lower than that before treatment （P＜0.05）； the TEQ score of the treatment group and the difference between before and after treatment significantly lower than that of the control group （P＜0.05）. The difference in CQ-11D health utility values and the difference between before and after treatment were not statistically significant between the two groups （P＞0.05）. Eight cases of acupuncture-related adverse events occurred among 66 patients， including subcutaneous haematomas after needling， severe pain during needling and needle fainting， which disappeared after symptomatic treatment and did not affect the following treatment. ConclusionNeck seven-line method combined with periauricular acupuncture could be used as salvage treatment for sudden hearing loss in non-acute stage to improve the pure tone average hearing threshold of impaired frequency， alleviate tinnitus， with safety.

Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy of customized titanium plate and conventional maxillary protraction treatment in patients with skeletal class Ⅲ malocclusion during growth spurt.Methods:During growth spurt, skeletal class Ⅲ patients with maxillary hypoplasia who were treated in the Department of Orthodontics, Capital Medical University School of Stomatology from August 2018 to July 2021 were prospectively enrolled. They were treated with maxillary protraction using customized titanium plates (customized titanium plate group) and conventional methods (conventional protraction group), respectively. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were collected before and after treatment for conventional cephalometric analysis, including SNA angle (angle between Sella, Nasion and A point), ANB angle (angle between A point, Nasion, and B point), FH-MP angle (mandibular plane angle), Y-axis angle, U1-L1 angle (upper to lower central incisor angle), U1-SN angle (upper incisor to SN plane angle), anterior and lower height, maxillary length, etc. The stable basicranial line (SBL) was used as the reference line to measure the distance from each reference point (ANS point, A point, Prn point, Sn point, UL point etc.) to the stable basicranial vertical line (VerT, the perpendicular line of the skull base line at the intersection point of the anterior wall of the sella image and the inferior edge of the anterior bed process). Paired t-tests were performed on the cephalometric data before and after maxillary protraction treatment in the two groups, and two independent samples t-tests were performed to compare the differences in the efficacy of the two maxillary protraction methods. Results:A total of 20 patients (9 males and 11 females), aged (10.8±1.3) years, were included in the personalized titanium plate group. A total of 20 patients (8 males and 12 females), aged (10.5±1.1) years, were included in the conventional protraction group. The SNA angle, ANB angle, FH-MP angle, Y-axis angle, anterior lower height, maxillary length, ANS-VerT distance, A-VerT distance, Prn-VerT distance, Sn-VerT distance, and UL-VerT distance were significantly higher than those before treatment in the two groups ( P<0.05). The changes of SNA angle, ANB angle and A-VerT before and after treatment in the personalized titanium plate group [3.15°±2.28°, 4.64°±1.40°, (4.41±3.43) mm, respectively] were significantly higher than those in the traditional group [2.13°±2.69°, 2.81°±1.10°, (3.13±4.76) mm, respectively]( P<0.05), and the changes of U1-L1 angle and U1-SN angle before and after treatment (-0.76°±7.42° and 1.74°±6.38°, respectively) was significantly lower than that of the control group (-5.14°±6.62° and 4.57°±5.24°, respectively, P<0.05). Conclusions:Maxillary protraction can effectively improve skeletal class Ⅲ relationships in growing patients. The linear measurements using the SBL line as a reference plane visualize the sagittal improvement in sagittal relationship after maxillary protraction. The customized titanium plate maxillary protraction treatment has a clear therapeutic effect on patients with skeletal class Ⅲ deformities, and its dental effect is relatively small.

ObjectiveTo analyze the research status and trends in low-level occupational benzene exposure. Methods Articles on low-level occupational benzene exposure from Chinese and English journals from January 1st, 2000, to December 31th, 2022 were retrieved using the Web of Science and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and a bibliometric analysis was conducted. Results A total of 327 articles were included in the analysis, comprising 216 English articles and 111 Chinese articles. i) The number of articles published in English fluctuates greatly over the years, without a trend of continuous growth or decline. Authors from 359 research institutions in 45 countries and regions have published relevant English articles in 97 kinds of journals, involving 281 grants from 226 foundations. The top three countries in terms of articles amount were the United States, Italy, and China, with 81, 46, and 43 papers, respectively. The English articles mainly focused on mechanistic research at the genetic level, such as hematotoxicity, oxidative stress, and DNA damage. ii) The number of Chinese articles increased gradually after 2012, with the growth peak in 2017. Authors from 127 research institutions in 26 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities published Chinese articles in 51 kinds of journals, involving 154 grants from 78 foundations. Chinese articles tended to focus on benzene-induced hematotoxicity and occupational health damage. Conclusion Most studies on low-level occupational benzene exposure were conducted in China, the United States and Italy, focused on hematotoxicity. Monitoring international research topics and hotspots of the field has certain reference value for related research in China.

Pure-tone audiometry can be performed to evaluate the type and degree of hearing loss， whose results can be divided into four types including low-frequency descending， high-frequency descending， flat descending and total deafness. The low-frequency descending type of sudden hearing loss （SHL） is more likely to be spleen deficiency and dampness exuberance， the high-frequency descending type is often due to yin deficiency of liver and kidney， the flat descending type is commonly associated with qi and blood depletion， and the type of total deafness is often linked to blood stasis. Our team has further developed a comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic approach for SHL， emphasizing "the integration of disease and syndrome， the combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine， and dynamically administering treatment". Firstly， it advocates integrating disease diagnosis with syndrome differentiation. Secondly， it recommends combining acupuncture and herbal medicine， with local acupoints such as Ermen （TE 21）， Tinggong （SI 19）， Tinghui （GB 2）， and Yifeng （TE 17） used to unblock the auditory orifice， and herbal prescriptions tailored to the hearing curve patterns. For the low-frequency descending type， it is recommended to fortify the spleen and percolate dampness by taking distal points of spleen channel and stomach channel and using Shenling Baizhu Powder （参苓白术散）. For the high-frequency descending type， the method of nourishing kidney and calming liver is recommended， using distal points of kidney and liver channels and taking Erlong Zuoci Pills （耳聋左慈丸）. Regarding the flat descending type， tonifying qi and nourishing blood is advised， for which acupoints of Conception Vessel， spleen， stomach and large intestine channels can be needled， and Yiqi Congming Decoction （益气聪明汤） can be administered. For the total deafness type， it is recommended to activate blood and dissipate stasis， often with Xuehai （SP 10） and Geshu （BL 17） needled and Tongqiao Huoxue Decoction （通窍活血汤） administered. All these are conducted to treat the root and branch simultaneously. At the same time， it emphasizes the need to consider complex syndrome presentations and disease progression， dynamically analyze the disease causes and mechanisms， and adjust treatment according to the changing syndromes. In conclusion， this article is expected to inspire clinical diagnosis and treatment of SHL.