OBJECTIVE: To propose a machine learning-based method for predicting the trajectories during manual acupuncture manipulation (MAM), aiming to improve the precision and consistency of acupuncture practitioner' operation and provide the real-time suggestions on MAM error correction. METHODS: Computer vision technology was used to analyze the hand micromotion when holding needle during acupuncture, and provide a three-dimensional coordinate description method of the index finger joints of the holding hand. Focusing on the 4 typical motions of MAM, a machine learning-based MAM trajectory predictive model was designed. By integrating the changes of phalangeal joint angle and hand skeletal information of acupuncture practitioner, the motion trajectory of the index finger joint was predicted accurately. Besides, the roles of machine learning-based MAM trajectory predictive model in the skill transmission of acupuncture manipulation were verified by stratified randomized controlled trial. RESULTS: The performance of MAM trajectory predictive model, based on the long short-term memory network (LSTM), obtained the highest stability and precision, up to 98%. The learning effect was improved when the model applied to the skill transmission of acupuncture manipulation. CONCLUSION The machine learning-based MAM predictive model provides acupuncture practitioner with precise action prediction and feedback. It is valuable and significant for the inheritance and error correction of manual operation of acupuncture.
Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Machine Learning ; Adult ; Male ; Female

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of manual acupuncture manipulations (MAMs) on subcutaneous muscle tissue, by developing quantitative models of "lifting and thrusting" and "twisting and rotating", based on machine learning techniques. METHODS: A depth camera was used to capture the acupuncture operator's hand movements during "lifting and thrusting" and "twisting and rotating" of needle. Simultaneously, the ultrasound imaging was employed to record the muscle tissue responses of the participants. Amplitude and angular features were extracted from the movement data of operators, and muscle fascicle slope features were derived from the data of ultrasound images. The dynamic time warping barycenter averaging algorithm was adopted to align the dual-source data. Various machine learning techniques were applied to build quantitative models, and the performance of each model was compared. The most optimal model was further analyzed for its interpretability. RESULTS: Among the quantitative models built for the two types of MAMs, the random forest model demonstrated the best performance. For the quantitative model of the "lifting and thrusting" technique, the coefficient of determination (R²) was 0.825. For the "twisting and rotating" technique, R² reached 0.872. CONCLUSION Machine learning can be used to effectively develop the models and quantify the effects of MAMs on subcutaneous muscle tissue. It provides a new perspective to understand the mechanism of acupuncture therapy and lays a foundation for optimizing acupuncture technology and designing personalized treatment regimen in the future.
Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Machine Learning ; Male ; Adult ; Female ; Subcutaneous Tissue/diagnostic imaging* ; Young Adult

ObjectiveTo explore the molecular mechanism implicated in the treatment of primary myelofibrosis （PMF） using Chinese medicinal herbs （CMH） by bioinformatics and molecular dynamics. MethodsData mining was performed to find the high-frequency CMH in treating PMF between the year of 1985 and 2024 by searching CNKI， Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database （CCD）， and China Academic Journal Database （CSPD）. TCMSP， SwissTargetPrediction and related reports were used to collect the main active ingredients of high-frequency CMH and their targets. The PMF datasets GSE44426 and GSE124281 were downloaded from GEO database， and R software was used for data normalization and differentially expressed genes （DEGs） screening. Key module hub genes were obtained by weighted gene co-expression network analysis （WGCNA） analysis. The common intersection genes of active ingredient targets， DEGs and key module hub genes of CMH were selected， and the target network was generated using Cytoscape 3.9.2 software. The core target network was generated by topological analysis， while key pathways were selected by GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis， and protein interaction relationships were obtained from the String database， so as to construct drug-ingredient-target network and protein interaction network （PPI） relationship diagrams. Discovery Studio 2020 software was used to perform molecular docking， and the GROMACS program was used to perform molecular dynamics simulation. ResultsA total of 21 prescriptions were collected involving 121 herbs. There were 9 herbs with a frequency ≥10 times， which were Danshen （Radix et Rhizoma Salviae Miltiorrhizae）， Huangqi （Radix Astragali）， Baizhu （Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae）， Danggui （Radix Angelicae Sinensis）， Dangshen （Radix Codonopsis）， Gancao （Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae）， Baishao （Radix Paeoniae Alba）， Fuling （Poria） and Shudihuang （Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata） from high- to low-frequency. A total of 98 active ingredients and 1125 potential targets were obtained from 9 high-frequency CMH. GSE44426 and GSE124281 data sets screened out 24 gene samples， including 14 of the healthy control group and 10 of the PMF group， and identified 319 DEGs between the two groups， including 122 up-regulated genes and 197 down-regulated genes. WGCNA screened out 24 co-expression module genes and found that the five modules closely related to the onset of PMF were MEpink， MEdarkred， MEblack， MEgrey， and MEturquoise， involving 7112 key module hub genes. The GO and KEGG enrichment analyses indicated that lipids and the atherosclerosis pathways were mainly involved in the mechanism of above high-frequency CMH in treating PMF， which included six hub protein targets： HSP90AA1， HSP90AB1， SRC， MAPK1， IL1B and IL10. From the drug-ingredient-target network， seven active ingredients of CMH targeting at these six hub targets were found， including verbascoside， verbascos isoflavone， kaempferol， luteolin， naringenin， quercetin and pachymic acid. The molecular docking and molecular dynamics analyses showed that the key CMH were Shudihuang， Huangqi， Baishao， Danshen， Gancao and Fuling， and among the seven active ingredients， calycosin had the highest binding affinity with HSP90AB1. ConclusionThe main CMH for the treatment of PMF may be Shudihuang， Huangqi， Baishao， Danshen， Gancao and Fuling， and the active ingredients include verbascoside， verbascos isoflavones， kaempferol， luteolin， naringenin， quercetin and pachymic acid. The relevant targets are HSP90AA1， HSP90AB1， SRC， MAPK1， IL-10， and IL-1β， and the most critical pathways are lipid and atherosclerosis pathways.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of oral microscope-assisted surface decontamination on implants in vitro. METHODS: Twelve implants that fell off because of severe peri-implantitis were collected, and decontamination was carried out on the surfaces of implants through curetting, ultrasound, titanium brushing, and sandblasting at 1×, 8×, or 12.8× magnifications. The number and sizes of residues on the implants' surfaces after decontamination were determined, and the decontamination effect was analyzed according to the thread spacing in the different parts of the thread. RESULTS: 1) The 8× and 12.8× groups scored lower for implant surface residues than the 1× group (P<0.000 1), and the 12.8× group scored lower than the 8× group (P<0.001); 2) no difference in residue score was found between the wide and narrow thread pitch (P>0.05), and the 8× and 12.8× groups had lower scores than the 1× group (P<0.001); 3) the lowest number of contaminants was observed at the tip of the thread, whereas the highest was observed below the thread, and the difference was significant (P<0.001). However, the thread pitch had no effect on the number of contaminants in different areas (P>0.05); 4) the residue scores of the 8× and 12.8× groups were lower than those of the 1× group at the thread tip and above, sag, and below the thread of the implants (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Residues on the surfaces of contaminated implants can be effectively removed by using an oral microscope. After decontamination, the residues of pollutants were mainly concentrated below the thread of the implants, and the thread pitch of the implants had no significant effect on the residues.
Humans ; Dental Implants ; Decontamination ; Surface Properties ; Peri-Implantitis ; Titanium

【Objective】 To investigate the risk factors of frailty syndrome in elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome （ACS） and their impact on prognosis. 【Methods】 The elderly patients with ACS aged 65 and over， who were hospitalized in the Department of Cardiology and Geriatric Cardiology of The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University from September 2020 to February 2021， were selected in the cross-sectional survey. The patients were divided into frailty syndrome and non-frailty syndrome groups via the Chinese revised version of Tilburg Frailty Scale. We collected the patients’ activities of daily living， nutrition， depression， sleep quality， total cholesterol， triglycerides， low-density lipoprotein， and adverse events during hospitalization and within 30 days of discharge. We then performed LOG-BINOMIAL regression to analyze the risk factors of frailty syndrome. 【Results】 A total of 250 elderly ACS patients were enrolled， and 118 patients were diagnosed with frailty syndrome with 47.2% prevalence of frailty syndrome. There was a significant difference in the average score between the frailty syndrome group and the non-frailty syndrome group （11.06±2.53 vs. 5.77±1.54， P<0.01）. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that age （PR=2.01 CI： 1.81-2.22， P<0.001）， hypertension （PR=1.20 CI： 1.09-1.30， P<0.001）， chronic kidney disease （PR=1.16 CI：1.04-1.29， P=0.012）， and NT-proBNP （PR=1.20 CI： 1.07-1.35， P=0.004） were risk factors for frailty syndrome in elderly ACS patients. The incidence of arrhythmia and pulmonary infection during hospitalization and the rate of readmission within 30 days after discharge were significantly higher in the frailty syndrome group than those in the non-frailty syndrome group （P<0.05）. 【Conclusion】 There is a higher incidence of frailty syndrome in elderly patients with ACS. Older age， hypertension， chronic kidney disease and high NT-proBNP can increase the risk of frailty syndrome. In clinical practice， attention should be paid to the above factors， and reasonable intervention should be provided in time.

Understanding the regulatory networks for germ cell fate specification is necessary to developing strategies for improving the efficiency of germ cell production in vitro. In this study, we developed a coupled screening strategy that took advantage of an arrayed bi-molecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) platform for protein-protein interaction screens and epiblast-like cell (EpiLC)-induction assays using reporter mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). Investigation of candidate interaction partners of core human pluripotent factors OCT4, NANOG, KLF4 and SOX2 in EpiLC differentiation assays identified novel primordial germ cell (PGC)-inducing factors including BEN-domain (BEND/Bend) family members. Through RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, and ATAC-seq analyses, we showed that Bend5 worked together with Bend4 and helped mark chromatin boundaries to promote EpiLC induction in vitro. Our findings suggest that BEND/Bend proteins represent a new family of transcriptional modulators and chromatin boundary factors that participate in gene expression regulation during early germline development.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation/genetics* ; Chromatin/metabolism* ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; Germ Cells/metabolism* ; Germ Layers/metabolism* ; Mice

Objective:To develop an evidence-based nursing program for a patient with oral complications of dysphagia due to cerebral infarction.Methods:According to the principle of PICO, and the problem of patients' clinical manifestations, using the method of combining subject words and free words, the database of Uptodate, NICE, SIGN. RNAO, medical pulse guide network, BMJ, Cochranc library, PubMed, EMbase, CINAHL, China National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched and collected the clinical guidelines, systematic evaluation and randomized controlled trial of oral complications in patients with dysphagia of cerebral infarction.Results:Totally 1 clinical decision, 5 clinical guidelines, 4 expert consensus, 2 systematic evaluations, 1 Meta-analysis, 3 randomized controlled trial (RCT) were included. Based on the search results and the patient′s condition and wishes, nurses performed swallowing function tests every two days according to the Standard Swallowing function rating Scale (SSA), raised the head of the bed 40°~45° and holded it for 1 hour. Three times a day, the teeth were brushed with chlorhexidine oral care solution under negative pressure. Sputum scab was removed by mechanical scrubbing. The back of tongue was scrubbed by 6x tongue scraping technique every night. After the infection was controlled, the teeth were washed twice a day with 0.9% sodium chloride solution. Oral condition and swallowing function were evaluated daily. High flow humidification oxygen therapy and mask spray atomization inhalation were used. Swallowing training was performed on the third day after admission. Seven days after the evidence was applied to clinical practice, the oral mucosa was moist without peculiar smell and sputum scab, and the swallowing function was changed from grade IV to grade II.Conclusion:Nursing cerebral infarction patients with dysphagia, nurses should timely assess the patient's oral cavity and swallowing function, the application of chlorhexidine and 0.9% sodium chloride solution oral care solution mechanical scrubbing method and negative pressure washing brushing method can effectively remove sputum scab, use 6x tongue scraping technology to scrub the back of tongue, can reduce micro organisms, reduce halitosis; the application of nasal mask high flow humidification oxygen therapy and spray atomization inhalation humidification effect is obvious Therefore, early swallowing training can reduce the incidence of oral complications.

Programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1)/programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) cascade is an effective therapeutic target for immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. Targeting PD-L1/PD-1 axis by small-molecule drug is an attractive approach to enhance antitumor immunity. Using flow cytometry-based assay, we identify tubeimoside-1 (TBM-1) as a promising antitumor immune modulator that negatively regulates PD-L1 level. TBM-1 disrupts PD-1/PD-L1 interaction and enhances the cytotoxicity of T cells toward cancer cells through decreasing the abundance of PD-L1. Furthermore, TBM-1 exerts its antitumor effect in mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) and B16 melanoma tumor xenograft

Objective:To investigate the clinical features and associated chronic pain in corticobasal syndrome (CBS).Methods:Clinical data of 8 patients diagnosed as probable CBS or possible CBS admitted to Beijing Hospital during January 2010 to June 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical information included sex, age, course of disease, chief complaint, neurological examination, blood biochemistry, tumor marker, infection and other laboratory tests; the neuropsychological evaluation included Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD); the imaging studies included cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ( 18F-FDG PET). Results:The main clinical manifestations were asymmetrical movement disorders, including rigidity, tremor, myoclonus and abnormalities in posture and gait. Patients showed poor response to levodopa treatment. Among 8 patients, 7 had apraxia, 5 patients had alien hand, and 5 patients had various degrees of cognitive dysfunction. The cranial MRI demonstrated mild cerebral atrophy which was slightly more severe in the contralateral side of the initially affected limb in 7 of the 8 patients. The 18F-FDG PET scan revealed asymmetric decreased metabolism in the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobe, as well as in basal ganglia, which was more severe in the contralateral side of the initially affected limb in 5 of the 8 patients. Six of the 8 patients were associated with pain, including dystonic pain in 3 patients, neuropathic pain in 1 patient, musculoskeletal pain in 1 patient, and unexplained pain in 1 patient. Pain was the onset symptom in 1 patient and pain was relieved by taking levodopa in another patient. Conclusions:CBS is characterized by asymmetric dyskinesia and cognitive impairment, and often associated with apraxia, cortical sensory deficits, and alien limb. The MRI and PET are helpful for CBS diagnosis. Pain may be one of the common non-motor symptoms in CBS.

Objective:To investigate the pathogenic spectrum of hand, foot and mouth disease(HFMD)from 2017 to 2019 in Guangzhou, and analyze molecular epidemiological characteristics of coxsackievirus A6 (CV-A6).Methods:Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71), CV-A16, CV-A6 and enterovirus were tested by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR). The CV-A6 representative samples were isolated and the VP1 region of isolates were amplified and analized by Mega5.0 and SeqMen.Results:A total of 7 578 enterovirus-positive specimens were detected from 2017 to 2019, 320 specimens were positive for EV-A71, 1481 specimens were positive for CV-A16, 3171specimens were positive for CV-A6, and 2606 specimens were positive for other enterovirus. Children under the age of 5 years were the most vulnerable population, and the male/female incidence ratio was 1.56∶ 1.The incidence occurred in all seasons, one peak between May and July, the other between September and November. The virus was isolated from 80 CV-A6 positive specimens and the full length of VP1 gene region was sequenced and nucleotide sequence similarity analysis was performed. The nucleotide homology in the VP1 region was 93%-100%, and the amino acid homology was 98%-100%. The nucleotide homology with the CV-A6 prototype strain (Gdula) VP1 region was 79%-81%, and the amino acid homology was 95%-97%. The nucleotide homology with the representative strain of D3 subtype was 92%-98%, and the amino acid homology was 98%-100%. Phylogenetic tree shows that all CV-A6 belonged to the sub-genotype D3 and distributed in multiple branches.Conclusions:CV-A6 is emerging as one of the major pathogen causing HFMD in Guangzhou, and all insolates belonged to D3 subtype. Closely monitoring the molecular characteristics of CV-A6 and changes in the pathogen spectrum can provide scientific basis for HFMD prevention and control.