This paper reports a case of a patient with sleep-related painful erections treated by acupuncture combined with abdominal vibration therapy. The main symptom was repeated painful penile erections during nighttime sleep. The syndrome was differentiated as "water failing to nourish wood" and "liver qi stagnation". Acupuncture was applied at Baihui (GV20), Sishencong (EX-HN1), Guanyuan (CV4), and bilateral Neiguan (PC6), Hegu (LI4), Taichong (LR3), Taixi (KI3), Guilai (ST29), Yongquan (KI1), Yanglingquan (GB34), and Sanyinjiao (SP6). The treatment was combined with abdominal vibration therapy. Treatment was given once daily, five times per week. After the first treatment, the severity and duration of nocturnal erection pain were reduced, and sleep quality was improved. After two weeks of treatment, nocturnal erection pain persisted but became tolerable, with significantly shortened duration.
Humans ; Male ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Erectile Dysfunction/physiopathology* ; Penile Erection ; Sleep

"Weibing" is a fundamental concept in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), representing a transitional state characterized by diminished self-regulatory abilities without overt physiological or social dysfunction. This perspective delves into the biological foundations and quantifiable markers of Weibing, aiming to establish a research framework for early disease intervention. Here, we propose the "Health Quadrant Classification" system, which divides the state of human body into health, sub-health, disease-susceptible state, and disease. We suggest the disease-susceptible stage emerges as a pivotal point for TCM interventions. To understand the intrinsic dynamics of this state, we propose laboratory and clinical studies utilizing time-series experiments and stress-induced disease susceptibility models. At the molecular level, bio-omics technologies and bioinformatics approaches are highlighted for uncovering intricate changes during disease progression. Furthermore, we discuss the application of mathematical models and artificial intelligence in developing early warning systems to anticipate and avert the transition from health to disease. This approach resonates with TCM's preventive philosophy, emphasizing proactive health maintenance and disease prevention. Ultimately, our perspective underscores the significance of integrating modern scientific methodologies with TCM principles to propel Weibing research and early intervention strategies forward.

As a biocatalyst, laccase has been widely studied and applied in the papermaking industry. However, the low catalytic efficiency and poor stability of natural laccase limit its application in the pulping process. To develop the laccase with high activity and strong tolerance, we carried out directed evolution for modification of the laccase derived from Bacillus pumilus and screened out the mutants F282L/F306L and Q275P from the random mutant library by high-throughput screening. The specific activities of F282L/F306L and Q275P were 280.87 U/mg and 453.94 U/mg, respectively, which were 1.42 times and 2.30 times that of the wild-type laccase. Q275P demonstrated significantly improved thermal stability, with the relative activity 20% higher than that of the wild-type laccase after incubation at 40 ℃, 50 ℃, and 70 ℃ for 4 h. F282L/F306L and Q275P showed greater tolerance to metal ions and organic solvents than the wild-type laccase. The K_m value of the wild-type laccase was 374.97 μmo/L, and those of F282L/F306L and Q275P were reduced to 318.96 μmo/L and 360.71 μmo/L, respectively, which suggested that the substrate affinity of laccase was improved after mutation. The k_cat values of F282L/F306L and Q275P for the substrate ABTS were 574.00 s^-1 and 898.03 s^-1, respectively, which were 1.1 times and 1.7 times that of the wild-type laccase, indicating the improved catalytic efficiency. Q275P demonstrated better performance than the wild-type laccase in pulping, as manifested by the reduction of 0.82 in the Kappa number and the increases of 2.00% ISO, 7.8%, and 7.2% in whiteness, tensile index, and breaking length, respectively. This work lays a foundation for improving the adaptation of laccase to the environment of the papermaking industry.
Laccase/chemistry* ; Directed Molecular Evolution ; Enzyme Stability ; Bacillus pumilus/genetics* ; Mutation ; Biocatalysis ; Catalysis

ObjectiveTo analyze the epidemiological characteristics of clustered vomiting and diarrhea outbreaks in Minhang District of Shanghai, to identify the influencing factors of outbreak scale and duration of epidemic, and to provide scientific evidence for further strengthening surveillance early-warning efforts in key settings and for optimizing prevention and control measures. MethodsThe data for describing epidemiological characteristics of clustered vomitting and diarrhea outbreaks in Minhang District from 2018 to 2023 were collected, multivariable logistic regression models were applied to analyze the influencing factors for epidemic scale,and Spearman rank correlation analyses were applied to analyze the factors duration. ResultsA total of 136 clustered vomiting and diarrhea outbreaks were reported in Minhang District from 2018 to 2023, all occurring in school settings, with an overall attack rate of 0.90%. The outbreaks exhibited distinct seasonality, predominantly occurring from October to December (43.38%) and March to May (32.35%). The primary settings were preschools (45.59%) and elementary schools (44.12%), with students accounted for the majority of cases (99.48%). The predominant clinical manifestation was vomiting (90.44%), with person-to-person contact being the primary transmission route (98.53%). Norovirus genogroup Ⅱ was identified as the main pathogen (71.32%). Standardized terminal disinfection of outbreak sites (OR=0.39, 95%CI=0.20‒0.74) and effective isolation of affected classes (OR=0.23, 95%CI=0.09‒0.57) were significant protective factors for reducing outbreak scale. Both response time (r=0.64, P<0.001) and the number of case generations (r=0.71, P<0.001) showed positive correlations with outbreak duration. ConclusionSchools are the key settings for the prevention and control of clustered vomiting and diarrhea outbreaks in Minhang District, with peak occurring in autumn and spring. Early detection, timely reporting, and prompt response to outbreaks are crucial. Strengthening school-based surveillance systems and standardizing outbreak management protocols are of particular importance.

ObjectiveTo analyze the reported cases of infectious diseases across different tiers of public medical and healthcare institutions in Minhang District, Shanghai from 2013 to 2023, to investigate the status and changes in reported infectious diseases in this district from a temporal, etiological, and demographic perspectives, so as to provide a scientific basis for the construction of a hierarchica early-warning surveillance system under the grading diagnosis and treatment model in medical institutions, as well as for optimizing sentinel surveillance at facilities of different levels. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed using surveillance data from the China Disease Prevention and Control Information System in Minhang District from 2013 to 2023. Reported infectious diseases were categorized into three categories based on transmission routes: respiratory infectious diseases, intestinal infectious diseases, and sexually transmitted and blood borne infectious diseases. According to the implementation phase of the grading diagnosis and treatment policy, the research time was divided into four time periods: 2013‒2016, 2017‒2019, 2020‒2022, and 2023. The distribution and temporal changes of reported cases of infectious diseases were compared across community health service centers (CHCs), secondary hospitals, tertiary grade-A hospitals and tertiary grade-B hospitals. Chi-square test was used for univariate analysis of differences in the number of reported cases. Quantitative data with normal distribution were analyzed using parametric tests, otherwise, Kruskal⁃Wallis H tests were used. ResultsThe proportions of total reported cases of infectious diseases in medical institutions at all levels in Minhang District, Shanghai from 2013 to 2023 were 10.66% in CHCs, 9.10% in secondary hospitals, 64.95% in tertiary grade-B hospitals, and 15.29% in tertiary grade-A hospitals, with an overall decline and then rebound trend in the reported cases. After the implementation of grading diagnosis and treatment policy, the number of reported cases in CHCs and secondary hospitals showed a trend of first decreasing and then increasing, while that in tertiary grade-B hospitals showed a steady decreasing trend and that in tertiary grade-A hospitals showed an increasing trend. In terms of the research periods divided above, a total of 10 392 cases were reported in 2013‒2016 (70.34% from tertiary grade-B hospitals and 12.59% from CHCs), including 2 922 cases of respiratory infectious diseases, 1 241 cases of intestinal infectious diseases, and 6 229 cases of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infectious diseases. Between 2017 and 2019, a total of 6 967 cases were reported (73.49% from tertiary grade-B hospitals and 11.84% from tertiary grade-A hospitals), including 2 983 cases of respiratory infectious diseases, 279 cases of intestinal infectious diseases, and 3 705 cases of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infectious diseases. Between 2020 and 2022, a total of 4 599 cases were reported (69.92% from tertiary grade-B hospitals and 24.57% from tertiary grade-A hospitals), including 1 627 cases of respiratory infectious diseases, 123 cases of intestinal infectious diseases, and 2 849 cases of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infectious diseases. In 2023, a total of 4 648 cases were reported (35.20% from tertiary grade-B hospitals and 27.50% from tertiary grade-A hospitals), including 3 165 cases of respiratory infectious diseases, 69 cases of intestinal infectious diseases, and 1 414 cases of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infectious diseases. The proportion of reported cases from tertiary grade-B hospitals was the highest in all the four research periods, but exhibited an obvious decrease in 2023. The differences in the reported cases of infectious diseases with different transmission routes among medical institutions at all levels were statistically significant (χ²=3 225.628, P<0.05). The differences in the mean age of patients among medical institutions at all levels were statistically significant (H=1 325.927, P<0.05). ConclusionThere are significant differences in the number of reported cases of infectious disease in the medical institutions at different levels. Tertiary grade-B hospitals have historically dominated the number of reported cases, but its share has declined recently. Whereas, CHCs and tertiary grade-A hospitals have played an increasingly important role in the surveillance and early warning of respiratory and intestinal infectious diseases. Therefore, it is recommended to leverage the strengths of grading diagnosis and treatment to establish targeted sentinel sites and deploy specialized teams tailored to the epidemiological characteristics of specific disease categories.

Objective : To explore the correlation between the clinical, pathological, genetic features, prognosis, and tumor lymph node metastasis in patients with stage ⅠA-Ⅲ B lung invasive non-mucinous adenocarcinoma(INMA). Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 67 eligible patients with INMA. Clinical data, histopathological assessments, and genetic testing were collected. Disease progression-free survival(PFS) was the primary endpoint through follow-up. The chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used to analyse the correlation between tumour lymph node metastasis and clinicopathological and genetic characteristics. The Cox proportional hazards regression model and Kaplan-Meier method were used to analyse the impact of tumour lymph node metastasis on prognosis. Results: A total of 67 patients were included, aged 46-77 years, with a median age of 61 years. Age, gender, and smoking history were not significantly associated with tumor lymph node metastasis. Larger tumor diameter, tumor progression, and receiving postoperative adjuvant treatment were associated with tumour lymph node metastasis(P<0.05). Poorer differentiated tumors according to International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer(IASLC) grading system was more likely to have lymph node metastasis(P=0.043). There was no significant difference in the types of driver gene mutations and lymph node metastasis. However,EGFRmutations were more common in patients without lymph node metastasis, while co-mutations were more common in patients with lymph node metastasis. Lymph node metastasis was significantly associated with PFS. Patients without lymph node metastasis had a significantly better PFS compared to those with lymph node metastasis(P=0.002). Under different treatment conditions, patients without lymph node metastasis exhibited a significant advantage in PFS when untreated. While treatment showed a trend toward improved PFS, the difference did not reach statistical significance. Additionally, no significant differences in PFS were observed between patients with or without lymph node metastasis following chemotherapy or targeted therapy. Conclusion Lymph node metastasis in INMA patients is related to tumor size, progression status, and gene co-mutations, and is a key prognostic indicator affecting PFS.

Objective:To investigate the clinical features, molecular etiology, and treatment of a family with Treacher Collins Syndrome 2 (TCS2).Methods:Information of the proband (female, 8 years old) including medical history and family history was collected. Physical examination and examinations concerning laboratory, audiology, and radiology were performed on the proband. Physical examination was also performed on the family members. Genomic DNA of proband was extracted for whole exome sequencing, and then the genomic DNA of family members was extracted for Sanger sequencing. POLR1D and TCS2 related literatures published before August 31,2023 were searched and sifted in PubMed and CKNI databases. The clinical characteristics of TCS2 were summarized. Results:The proband had poor hearing since childhood, with pure tone audiometry indicating conductive hearing loss. She had a smaller jaw, bilateral preauricular fistulas and cup-shaped ear deformities. Temporal bone CT scan revealed deformities in the left external ear canal, bilateral middle ear and inner ear. A bone-conduction hearing aid device was surgically implanted, resulting in restoration of almost normal hearing levels. The proband′s mother also had a slightly smaller jaw. Genetic analysis revealed a novel heterozygous variant NM_015972.4:c.38_47del in the POLR1D gene in the proband, which was inherited from her mother. A review of the literature revealed no clear evidence of genotype-phenotype correlation in TCS2. Conclusions:Molecular diagnosis plays a vital role in the diagnosis of TCS2. Patients with normal facial phenotype may be carriers of pathogenic variants in the POLR1D gene and have the risk of passing it to the offsprings with complete penetrance. Proper bone conductive hearing devices can improve the quality of life of TCS2 patients.

Objective:To study the biological traits and mutations of the influenza A (H3N2) virus in order to produce a vaccine and offer references for controlling and preventing influenza epidemics.Methods:Four strains of the influenza A(H3N2) virus were chosen from the Huai′an surveillance network laboratory. Nucleic acid extraction, library building, and sequencing (CridION x5 MKI Nanopore) were used to produce the whole-genome sequences. Using homologous alignments of whole-genome sequences, phylogenetic tree construction, and amino acid variant screening, bioinformatics analysis was carried out.Results:The nucleotide identity between 8 gene segments ranged from 97.1% to 100.0%. The gene that differed the most from the reference sequences was HA (97.1%-99.9%), and the gene that differed the least was MP (98.6%-99.9%). The HA gene (3.06%) and MP gene (1.43%) were the regions with the greatest and lowest frequencies of nucleotide site change, respectively. The rates of nucleotide change varied significantly between the genes ( χ2=14.293, P=0.046). Four influenza A(H3N2) virus strains′ whole-genome phylogenies from each of the eight gene segments maintained a roughly consistent topological structure. One strain was linked to the 3C.2a1b.1b clade, which was lost at the 142NWT, 149NGT(HA1), and 436NLS(NA). Three strains were linked to the 3C.2a1b.2a.1a clade lineage. Amantadine and NA inhibitors were effective against all Huai′an strains. Conclusions:The antigenicity of one strain of Huai'an strain changed and its matching with the vaccine strain of that year was low. It is suggested that the genetic surveillance of H3N2 influenza virus should be continuously strengthened to provide scientific basis for influenza prevention and control and influenza vaccine screening.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the cognitive function and quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease. MethodsRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) on tDCS for Parkinson's disease were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, CBM, VIP and Wanfang Data from the inception to September, 2023. Control group was administered standard Parkinson's medications or placebo, physical therapy, and cognitive rehabilitation, while treatment group received tDCS additionally. The quality of the researches was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Data synthesis and analysis were performed using RevMan 5.4 and Stata 17.0, with heterogeneity and sensitivity analyses. ResultsEight articles were included. tDCS significantly improved the scores of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MD = 2.00, 95%CI 1.13 to 2.87, P < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the scores of Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (MD = 0.73, 95%CI -5.78 to 7.23, P = 0.830), Beck Depression Inventory-Ⅱ(MD = -0.77, 95%CI -7.14 to 5.60, P = 0.810), and Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale-Ⅲ (MD = 1.60, 95%CI -0.77 to 3.97, P = 0.190). ConclusiontDCS may improve cognitive function of patients with Parkinson's disease.

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of modified Zuojinwan granules in treating reflux esophagitis （RE） and functional dyspepsia （FD） with the same syndrome with disharmony between liver and stomach）. MethodA randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted to enroll 144 patients with disharmony between liver and stomach， including 72 patients with RE and 72 patients with FD. These patients were then randomly divided into observation and control groups， with 36 patients in each group. The observation group was given modified Zuojinwan granules orally， and the control group was given placebo granules orally. They both were treated with two packs each time， twice a day， for four weeks. The traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores， cerebrointestinal peptides ［calcitonin gene-associated titanium （CGRP）， vasoactive intestinal peptide （VIP）， 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT）， and substance P （SP）］， inflammatory factors ［tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and interleukin-6 （IL-6）］， common gastrointestinal related hormones ［gastrin （GAS） and motilin （MTL）］， and other indicators in the two groups were compared before and after treatment， and the curative effect of TCM syndromes and the occurrence of adverse reactions were determined. At the same time， the changes in the above indicators and the curative effect of TCM syndromes in the two groups of patients with the same disease were analyzed. ResultAfter treatment， CGRP， VIP， 5-HT， SP， TNF-α， IL-6， GAS， MTL， and TCM syndrome scores in the observation group and control group were significantly improved （P<0.05）. After treatment， the improvement of CGRP， VIP， 5-HT， SP， TNF-α， IL-6， GAS， MTL， and TCM syndrome scores in the observation group was better than that in the control group （P<0.05）. After treatment， CGRP， VIP， 5-HT， SP， TNF-α， IL-6， GAS， MTL， and TCM syndrome scores in both groups of RE patients and FD patients were significantly improved （P<0.05）. After treatment， the improvement of CGRP， VIP， 5-HT， SP， TNF-α， IL-6， GAS， MTL， and TCM syndrome scores in RE patients and FD patients in the observation group were better than that in the control group （P<0.05）. In the observation group and the control group， the incidence of nausea， vomiting， fatigue， dry mouth， and other adverse reactions was lower， and there was no statistical significance. ConclusionModified Zuojinwan granules can effectively improve the TCM syndromes of disharmony between liver and stomach of RE and FD， brain and intestinal peptide， gastrointestinal hormone， and inflammatory factors and provide evidence for the clinical application of TCM theory of "treating different diseases with the same method".