OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) on gut microbiota and fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) levels in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) with constipation. METHODS: A total of 80 PD patients with constipation were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 40 cases in each group. Additionally, 40 healthy individuals were recruited as a healthy control group. The control group received conventional Western medical treatment for PD combined with polyethylene glycol (PEG), once daily for eight weeks. The observation group received additional ACE treatment at bilateral Tianshu (ST25), Zusanli (ST36), and Shangjuxu (ST37), once every two weeks for eight weeks. The healthy control group received no intervention. The spontaneous bowel movements (SBMs) per week and patient assessment of constipation quality of life (PAC-QOL) scores were assessed at baseline and after treatment in the two groups. Fecal samples were collected at the end of treatment for the observation and the control groups and at baseline for the healthy control group. Gut microbiota composition and diversity were analyzed using 16S rRNA method, and SCFA levels were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the observation group showed a significant increase in SBMs (P<0.01), and PAC-QOL scores including physical discomfort, psychosocial discomfort, worry and concern, and total score were significantly reduced (P<0.01) after treatment; the control group also showed a reduction in PAC-QOL total score after treatment (P<0.01). After treatment, the observation group had significantly more SBMs (P<0.01), and lower PAC-QOL physical discomfort, psychosocial discomfort, worry and concern scores, and total score (P<0.01), and higher PAC-QOL satisfaction score (P<0.01) than the control group. Compared with the healthy control group, the control group showed decreased Chao1 and Ace indices (P<0.01). Compared with the healthy control group, the relative abundance of Prevotella and Roseburia was increased (P<0.05), while that of Enterobacter and Ruminococcus torques (six species in total) was decreased (P<0.05) in the control group. Compared with the control group, the observation group had increased relative abundance of Dialister, Parabacteroides, and Ruminococcus torques (P<0.05), and decreased relative abundance of Prevotella and Eubacterium ruminantium (P<0.05). Compared with the healthy control group, the control group had increased fecal SCFA levels (P<0.05); compared with the control group, the observation group had reduced fecal SCFA levels (P<0.05). Compared with the healthy control group, acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid levels were elevated in the control group (P<0.05); compared with the control group, acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid levels were decreased in the observation group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION ACE could increase spontaneous bowel movements and improve the quality of life in PD patients with constipation, which may be related to the regulation of gut microbiota composition and SCFA levels.
Humans ; Constipation/metabolism* ; Male ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Acupuncture Points ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease/complications* ; Aged ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism* ; Catgut ; Feces/microbiology* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Quality of Life ; Adult

Objective To investigate the effectiveness and safety of combining Omalizumab with compound glycyrrhetinic acid glycoside in the management of chronic urticaria that exhibits poor response to antihistamine therapy.Methods 92 patients with chronic urticaria who were treated with H1 antihistamines and still had symp-toms from February 2022 to February 2024 in the hospital were selected as the study subjects.The study partici-pants were randomly assigned to either the observation group,consisting of 46 cases,or the control group,also comprising 46 cases,using a random number table method.The control group received subcutaneous injection of omalizumab for treatment.The observation group was treated with oral compound glycyrrhizin tablets on the basis of the control group.After 24 weeks of treatment,compare the efficacy,adverse reactions,Urticaria Activity Score over 7 days(UAS7),Dermatology Life Quality Index(DLQI),Immunoglobulin(Ig)E,and High Sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs CRP)between the two groups,and record the recurrence rate.Results After treatment,the UAS7,DLQI,IgE and hs-CRP of both groups of patients decreased compared to before treatment,and the observation group demonstrated lower results compared to the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,the overall effectiveness rate in the observation group exceeded that of the control group(P<0.05),and the recurrence rate was lower than that of the control group(P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups of drugs(P>0.05).Conclusion The combination therapy of omali-zumab and compound glycyrrhetinic acid glycoside in the treatment of chronic urticaria patients with low response to antihistamines helps reduce IgE expression,improve treatment effectiveness,lower recurrence rates,and does not increase adverse drug reactions.

Objective To investigate the effectiveness and safety of combining Omalizumab with compound glycyrrhetinic acid glycoside in the management of chronic urticaria that exhibits poor response to antihistamine therapy.Methods 92 patients with chronic urticaria who were treated with H1 antihistamines and still had symp-toms from February 2022 to February 2024 in the hospital were selected as the study subjects.The study partici-pants were randomly assigned to either the observation group,consisting of 46 cases,or the control group,also comprising 46 cases,using a random number table method.The control group received subcutaneous injection of omalizumab for treatment.The observation group was treated with oral compound glycyrrhizin tablets on the basis of the control group.After 24 weeks of treatment,compare the efficacy,adverse reactions,Urticaria Activity Score over 7 days(UAS7),Dermatology Life Quality Index(DLQI),Immunoglobulin(Ig)E,and High Sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs CRP)between the two groups,and record the recurrence rate.Results After treatment,the UAS7,DLQI,IgE and hs-CRP of both groups of patients decreased compared to before treatment,and the observation group demonstrated lower results compared to the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,the overall effectiveness rate in the observation group exceeded that of the control group(P<0.05),and the recurrence rate was lower than that of the control group(P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups of drugs(P>0.05).Conclusion The combination therapy of omali-zumab and compound glycyrrhetinic acid glycoside in the treatment of chronic urticaria patients with low response to antihistamines helps reduce IgE expression,improve treatment effectiveness,lower recurrence rates,and does not increase adverse drug reactions.

Objective To analyze the hotspots and frontiers of researches related to pain in Parkinson's disease. Methods The literatures on pain in Parkinson's disease were retrieved from CNKI,VIP,Wanfang data,CBM and Web of Science Core Collection from inception to November,2023,and were analyzed with CiteSpace 6.1.R6. Results A total of 926 literatures were included with 293 in Chinese and 633 in English,respectively.Chinese high-fre-quency keywords were quality of life,sleep disorders and depression,while English high-frequency keywords were nonmotor symptom,quality of life and levodopa.The latest bursting word in Chinese was pathogenesis,while the latest bursting words in English were exercise and management. Conclusion Number of researches related to pain in Parkinson's disease is gradually rising,and the characteristics,patho-genesis,quality of life,rehabilitation interventions and clinical efficacy have become research hotspots.The mechanism of pain in Parkinson's disease and rehabilitation management program will be the main research top-ics in the future.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of red and blue lights combined with Yufa Shengfa solution and 5% minoxidil solution in treating Ludwig type Ⅰ female androgenetic alopecia. Methods A total of 160 patients with Ludwig type Ⅰ female androgenetic alopecia were randomly divided into group A (Yufa Shengfa solution combined with 5% minoxidil solution), group B (red and blue lights therapy combined with Yufa Shengfa solution), group C (red and blue lights therapy combined with 5% minoxidil solution) and group D (red and blue lights therapy combined with Yufa Shengfa solution and 5% minoxidil solution), with 40 cases in each group. All the patients orally took compound glycyrrhizin tablets and Centrum multivitamins, and the therapeutic period was 3 months. Differences in hair diameter, hair density, and the number of hair follicles with multiple hairs were compared before and after treatment. Results The hair density, hair diameter, and the number of hair follicles with multiple hairs improved significantly in 4 groups compared with those before treatment, and group D showed the best improvement in these parameters, with significant between-group differences (P < 0.001). There were no serious adverse events or side effects during treatment in all the patients. Conclusion Red and blue lights therapy combined with Yufa Shengfa solution and 5% minoxidil solution is an effective non-surgical treatment for Ludwig type Ⅰ female androgenetic alopecia.

Objective:To observe the correlation between blood cell-related inflammatory markers and diabetic retinopathy (DR).Methods:A cross-sectional study. From June 2020 to February 2022, the phase Ⅰ data of Beichen Eye Study in Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital were included in the study. The research contents included questionnaires, routine systemic and ocular examinations, and laboratory blood cell-related indicators including mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), neutrophils, and lymphocytes were performed. Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were calculated. The diagnosis and classification of DR referred to the international clinical classification standard of DR. Monocular or binocular DR was defined as DR patients. Participants were categorized into different groups based on whether they had diabetes and whether they had DR. The groups included the no-diabetes group, the diabetes without DR group, and the DR group. The Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for the comparison of quantitative data among multiple groups. Wilcoxon test was used for comparison between the two groups. The χ2 test was used to compare the categorical variables between groups. The variables was adjusted step by step, an unadjusted univariate model was built and the different parameters of the model Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ were adjusted. The correlation between MPV, PDW, NLR, PLR, and DR in different models was analyzed by logistic regression. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of different NLR models for DR. Results:A total of 3 328 subjects were recruited. Among them, 1 121 (33.68 %, 1 121/3 328) were males and 2 207 (66.32 %, 2 207/3 328) were females. The median age of the included participants was 61.84 (6.05) years. The no-diabetes group, the diabetes without DR group, and the DR group were 2 679, 476, and 173, respectively. There was no significant difference in MPV and PLR among the three groups ( H=5.98, 1.94; P=0.051, 0.379). However, compared with no-diabetes group and the diabetes without DR group, PDW and NLR in the DR group showed an upward trend. In model Ⅲ with completely adjusted related factors, NLR was an independent risk factor for DR in no-diabetes group and DR group [odds ratio ( OR)=1.440, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.087-1.920, P=0.041], diabetes without DR group and DR group [ OR=1.990, 95% CI 1.440-2.749, P<0.001]. The results of ROC curve analysis showed that the diagnostic efficiency of NLR model Ⅲ was the highest, the area under the curve was 0.751 (95% CI 0.706-0.796, P<0.001), the optimal cutoff value was 0.390, and the sensitivity and specificity were 74.3% and 64.8%, respectively. Conclusions:The NLR of the DR group is significantly higher than that of the no-diabetes group and diabetes without DR group. NLR is an independent risk factor for DR.

Objective:To systematically review the efficacy of preoperative corticosteroids use as an adjunctive treatment for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment associated with choroidal detachment (RRDCD).Methods:A evidence-based medicine study. The National Library of Medicine's PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, and WanFang database were searched. Clinical controlled studies were selected the study object was RRDCD patients and the interventions were preoperative corticosteroids used as an adjunctive treatment. The search was conducted from January 2000 to January 2022. Duplicated, incomplete, or irrelevant articles were excluded. The conventional meta-analysis was used to evaluate the efficacy of corticosteroids used before surgery. The network meta-analysis was used to directly or indirectly compare the efficacy of oral corticosteroids or intravenous dexamethasone, peribulbar injection of glucocorticoids, prednisolone acetate eye-drops, intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) and posterior sub-tenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide. Publication bias was evaluated by funnel plot.Results:According to the search strategy, 43 articles were initially retrieved, and 929 eyes of 13 articles were finally included for analysis; 6 and 10 articles were included in the traditional meta-analysis and the network meta-analysis. Among the 6 studies included in the conventional meta-analysis, 5 studies were retrospective and 1 study was a randomized controlled trial, involving a total of 575 eyes. The analysis results showed that there was no significant difference in the primary retinal reattachment rate between the corticosteroids group and the control group [odds ratio ( OR)= 1.53, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 0.67-3.53, P=0.314]. Among the 10 studies included in the network meta-analysis, 7 studies were retrospective trials, 2 studies were randomized controlled trials, and 1 study was prospective trial, involving a total of 575 eyes. The analysis results showed that there were significant differences in the primary retinal reattachment rate between the triamcinolone acetonide intravitreal injection group and the no corticosteroid treatment group ( OR=4.09, 95% CI 1.06-15.79). Sub-tenon injection triamcinolone acetonide had a higher incidence rate of ocular hypertension than oral glucocorticoid or intravenous dexamethasone ( OR= 4.47, 95% CI 1.42-14.13). Conclusions:Triamcinolone acetonide intravitreal injection before surgery can improve the primary retinal reattachment rate in RRDCD patients. Patients with the posterior sub-tenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide should be alert to elevated intraocular pressure.

Objective:To quantify any correlation between the severity of spinal curvature of an adolescent with idiopathic scoliosis and their cardiopulmonary exercise endurance.Methods:The cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) results and the full-length spinal X-rays in a standing position of 64 adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis were reviewed retrospectively. Independent t-tests were used to compare the two datasets obtained from those with left or right thoracic scoliosis. The correlation between the Cobb angle and cardiopulmonary exercise endurance was analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients, multiple factor linear regression and two-stage linear regression.Results:After adjusting for gender, age, height and weight, the multiple linear regression analysis showed that the Cobb angle was significantly negatively correlated with maximum tidal volume (β=-0.013) and significantly positively correlated with the rate of respiration (β=0.421). The relationship between the Cobb angle and cardiopulmonary exercise endurance was non-linear. With a Cobb angle > 34°, a 1° increase reduces cardiopulmonary exercise endurance by a factor of 1.4 on average. At smaller Cobb angles the corresponding increase is about 0.87 times.Conclusions:The Cobb angle is a negative predictor of ventilation during exercise among adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. The more severe a patient′s spinal curvature, the lower the cardiopulmonary exercise endurance is likely to be.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the ubiquitin ligase E3 cirRNA(circHERC4/hsa＿circ＿0007113) and the senescence in Human embryonic lung fibroblasts(IMR-90)cells. Methods: The whole gene sequence of circHERC4 was obtained from circBase database and cloned into cirRNA expression vector pLC5-ciR. The recombinant pLC5-ciR(+) hsa＿circ＿0007113 was constructed in vitro. The recombinant plasmid was identified by PCR, enzyme digestion and sequencing. The recombinant plasmid was transfected into HEK293 T and IMR90 cells with liposome 2000 transfection reagent. The expression of circHERC4 in normal cells, empty vector group and recombinant vector group was detected by RT-PCR, and the senescence of cells was detected by SA-β-Gal staining. Cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 method. Results: The overexpression vector of circHERC4 was successfully constructed by correct sequencing, and circHERC4 could be efficiently transfected in HEK293 T cells. Compared with the control group, the positive rate of SA-β-Gal staining in the recombinant vector group decreased(P<0.05), and the proliferation rate of cells increased(P<0.05). Overexpression of circHERC4 could improve the proliferation and inhibit the senescence in IMR90 cells. Conclusion It suggests that circHERC4 has potential function of anti-senescence, which lays a foundation for further study on the function of circHERC4.

Objective:To visualize the research hot spots and frontiers of non-surgical treatments for idiopathic scoliosis (IS) based on CiteSpace.Methods:The Web of Science Core Database and China National Knowledge Infrastructure from 1990 to 2020 were searched for studies of non-surgical treatments of idiopathic scoliosis. The time, distributions of nations, institutions, academic disciplines and keywords of literature were analyzed. With CiteSpace 5.7.R4 and Excel 2017, the visualized knowledge graphs and the data tables were generated.Results:A total of 822 studies including 548 articles in English and 274 articles in Chinese were retrieved, including 378 articles published during 2015—2020. The top three nations with higher number of published articles were USA (114 studies), Canada (77 studies) and China (68 studies). Studies covered 33 disciplines, including rehabilitation, engineering and orthopedics, and the betweenness centrality of rehabilitation medicine was the highest (0.59). The non-surgical treatment research was focused on adolescents (187 studies) and brace treatment (116 studies). From 1990 to 2014, the non-surgical treatment of IS mainly focused on the brace treatment (70.4%,69/98) in domestic studies. After 2014, comprehensive treatments such as exercise therapy and manual therapy gradually became the research trend in this field (61.3%,92/150). Research hotspots included different forms of brace treatment (betweenness centrality: 0.31), exercise (6 studies), manual therapy (3 studies), guide of medicine (2 studies), acupuncture therapy (2 studies) of non-surgical treatments. Among top 30 research institutions for domestic publication of Chinese literature, there were 22 tertiary hospitals, 1 secondary hospital, 5 schools, 1 comprehensive rehabilitation service organization, and 1 community health service center.Conclusion:The research content of non-surgical treatment for idiopathic scoliosis tends to be diversified, comprehensive treatment of exercise therapy, brace therapy, and manual therapy are currently the main research hotspots.