ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined with bloodletting and cupping in the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria（CSU） and to explore its potential mechanisms of action. MethodsSeventy CSU patients were randomly divided into loratadine group and acupuncture + bloodletting group， with 35 patients in each group. The loratadine group received oral loratadine tablets， 10 mg once daily in the evening. The acupuncture + bloodletting group received acupuncture at Zhongwan （CV 12）， Guanyuan （CV 4）， Tianshu （ST 25）， Zusanli （ST 36）， Sanyinjiao （SP 6）， Xuehai （SP 10）， Quchi （LI 11）， Hegu （LI 4）， Taichong （LR 3）， Baihui （GV 20）， and Shenting （GV 24）， once daily，along with bloodletting and cupping at Dazhui （GV 14） and Geshu （BL 17）， every other day. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. The 7-day urticaria activity score（UAS7） was assessed before and after the treatment， and levels of serum immunoglobulin E （IgE）， interleukin-4 （IL-4）， interleukin-5 （IL-5）， eosinophil cationic protein （ECP）， plasma tissue factor （TF）， activated factor Ⅶ （FⅦa）， prothrombin fragment 1+2 （F1+2）， D-dimer （D-D） and complement component 5a （C5a） were detected. ResultsA total of 65 patients were included in the final analysis， 32 in the loratadine group and 33 in the acupuncture + bloodletting group. Before treatment， there was no significant difference in UAS7 score， serum IgE， IL-4， IL-5， ECP levels， or plasma TF， FⅦa， F1+2， D-D， C5a levels between groups （P＞ 0.05）. After treatment， both groups showed significant reductions in UAS7 score， serum IgE， IL-4， IL-5， and plasma TF， FⅦa， F1+2， D-D， and C5a levels compared to those before treatment （P＜0.01）. However， after treatment， there was no significant difference in UAS7 score and serum ECP， IgE， IL-4， IL-5 levels between groups （P＞0.05）. The acupuncture + bloodletting group showed lower plasma TF， FⅦa， F1+2， D-D and C5a levels compared to the loratadine group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. ConclusionAcupuncture combined with bloodletting and cupping can effectively improve the skin symptoms of CSU patients and reduce the levels of inflammatory factors. The potential mechanism of action may involve the regulation of the coagulation-complement-mast cell activation axis， thereby inhibiting mast cell degranulation.

OBJECTIVE: To reveal the research status of fire needle by analyzing its patent applications, so as to provide reference for the development of fire needle equipment and the promotion of this therapy. METHODS: By searching the incoPat global patent database, from its inception to December 29th, 2024, the patent data on fire needle was collected. The patent analysis was employed on patent application trends, geographical distribution, patent types, current legal status, applicants and inventors, overall technical composition and distribution of applicable diseases. With the help of incoPat's "shared value" evaluation model, the technical efficacy value of patent was comprehensively measured from 3 dimensions, i.e. technical stability, technological advancement and protection scope. Using SWOT analysis, the matrix of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of fire needle technique was constructed, and then its development trend was analyzed systematically. RESULTS: A total of 346 patents were included, comprising 23 granted invention patents (6.65%), 219 utility model patents (63.29%), and 157 patents were in an effective state of validity (45.38%). The number of fire needle patent applications showed a growing trend since 2013 and peaked in 2021. The top 3 provinces and cities in terms of the number of applications were Guangdong, Beijing and Shandong. Existing patents focus on improving convenience, reducing complexity, enhancing safety and increasing efficiency; and are specialized in treatment of dermatological diseases. The results of patent research on fire needle show the application of updated materials, invention of equipment and expansion of applicable diseases. However, there are still some limitations such as technical complexity, high cost, lack of composite talents, lack of awareness of patent maintenance and insufficient international promotion. CONCLUSION Multiple strategies are proposed on the development of fire needle therapy, i.e. enhancing financial support and expanding the number of diseases, giving full play to regional characteristics and advantages to promote resource sharing, deepening the integration of industry, research and education to improve the quality of patents, strengthening supervision to reduce low-quality patents, and carrying out high-level research to promote technical standardization and internationalization, and enhance global competitiveness.
Patents as Topic ; Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Needles ; China

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the early effectiveness of navigation-free robot-assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA) compared to traditional TKA in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis combined with extra-articular deformities. METHODS: The clinical data of 30 patients with knee osteoarthritis combined with extra-articular deformities who met the selection criteria between June 2019 and January 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. Fifteen patients underwent CORI navigation-free robot-assisted TKA and intra-articular osteotomy (robot group) and 15 patients underwent traditional TKA and intra-articular osteotomy (traditional group). There was no significant difference in age, gender, body mass index, affected knee side, extra-articular deformity angle, deformity position, deformity type, and preoperative knee range of motion, American Knee Society (KSS) knee score and KSS function score, and lower limb alignment deviation between the two groups ( P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and complications of the two groups were recorded and compared. The knee range of motion and lower limb alignment deviation were recorded before operation and at 6 months after operation, and the knee joint function was evaluated by KSS knee score and function score. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in operation time between the two groups ( P>0.05); the intraoperative blood loss in the robot group was significantly less than that in the traditional group ( P<0.05). Patients in both groups were followed up 6-12 months, with an average of 8.7 months. The incisions of all patients healed well, and there was no postoperative complication such as thrombosis or infection. At 6 months after operation, X-ray examination showed that the position of the prosthesis was good in both groups, and there was no loosening or dislocation of the prosthesis. The knee joint range of motion, the lower limb alignment deviation, and the KSS knee score and KSS function score significantly improved in both groups ( P<0.05) compared to preoperative ones. The changes of lower limb alignment deviation and KSS function score between pre- and post-operation in the robot group were significantly better than those in the traditional group ( P<0.05), while the changes of other indicators between pre- and post-operation in the two groups were not significant ( P>0.05). CONCLUSION Compared to traditional TKA, navigation-free robot-assisted TKA for knee osteoarthritis with extra-articular deformities results in less intraoperative blood loss, more precise reconstruction of lower limb alignment, and better early effectiveness. However, long-term effectiveness require further investigation.
Humans ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee/methods* ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/surgery* ; Robotic Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Retrospective Studies ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Osteotomy/methods* ; Knee Joint/physiopathology* ; Operative Time

Objective To accurately encode pelvic organ prolapse and ensure data accuracy.Methods ICD-10 coding analysis was performed in combination with the professional knowledge of the International Classification of Diseases(ICD-10)and specific clinical cases of pelvic organ prolapse.Results Vaginal anterior wall prolapse,regardless of severity,was encoded as N81.1;vaginal posterior wall prolapse,regardless of severity,as N81.6;uterine prolapse grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ,regardless of the presence or absence of vaginal anterior and posterior wall prolapse,as N81.2;uterine prolapse grade Ⅲ,whether the prolapse of the anterior and posterior vaginal walls is combined,or what level of the severity of the prolapse,as N81.3;cervical prolapse staging,regardless of severity or presence of vaginal anterior and posterior wall prolapse,as N81.2.In addition,the N81.-code does not include genital prolapse complicating pregnancy(O34.5),prolapse and hernia of ovary and fallopian tube(N83.4),vaginal fornix prolapse after hysterectomy(N99.3).Conclusion To ensure accurate coding,the composite coding rules must be cross-checked with volume one.ICD-10 failed to reflect the severity of vaginal prolapse in clinical practice.To consider the severity,coding should be extended in the N81.-segment.It is essential for coders to actively acquire clinical knowledge,rein-force professional knowledge,and enhance their responsibility to improve their coding proficiency and ensure data accuracy.

Objective To monitor the indoor radon concentration of urban residents in Shiyan, China, and to analyze the related influencing factors. Methods From April to July, 2019, RSKS standard detectors were used to measure the indoor radon concentration of 125 households in Shiyan, and the results were analyzed. Results The indoor radon concentration of residents in Shiyan showed a skewed distribution, ranging from 13.8 to 145 Bq/m³, and M (P₂₅,P₇₅) was 38.3 (29.0,62.0) Bq/m³. The estimated annual effective dose of radon and radon daughters from inhalation was 0.52-5.50 mSv, and M (P₂₅,P₇₅) was 1.45 (1.10, 2.36) mSv, which was consistent with literature. Building structure (H = 14.10, P < 0.001), floor (H = 24.41, P < 0.001), and geographical region (H = 8.963, P < 0.05) were influencing factors of indoor radon concentration, and the differences were significant. Conclusion The indoor radon concentration of urban residents in Shiyan is lower than the national standard limit. However, in daily life, it is still necessary to take appropriate measures to reduce the concentration of indoor radon as much as possible.

Objective:The 97.5th percentile upper reference limit (97.5th URL) of N-terminal prob-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is influenced by multiple factors and depends on the inclusion criteria of apparently healthy people. In this study, the reference upper limit of NT-proBNP was established on apparently healthy people in Beijing area with abnormal hs-cTn as the exclusion criterion.Methods:According to the latest expert consensus recommendation standards of natriuretic peptide in the detection and clinical application of heart failure published by the Clinical Application Group of Cardiac Bio-Markers of the International Union of Clinical Chemistry, 1 635 healthy people without abnormal appearance of routine indicators such as sex, age, glycated hemoglobin, estimated glomerular filtration rate and medical history were collected. After excluding participants with potential myocardial injury according to hs-cTnI and/or hs-cTnT concentration>99th URL, NT-proBNP 97.5th URL was established in healthy subjects aged 21-40 years ( n=205), 41-50 years ( n=535), 51-60 years ( n=556) and >60 years ( n=339) based on non-parametric statistics. Results:The level of NT-proBNP was positively correlated with age ( r=0.254, P<0.001). The levels of NT-proBNP were positively correlated with hs-cTnI, hs-cTnT in males ( r=0.377 and r=0.429, both P<0.001). The levels of NT-proBNP were also positively correlated with hs-cTnI, hs-cTnT in females ( r=0.132 and r=0.296, both P<0.001). When hs-cTn>99th URL was used as the criterion to exclude patients with potential myocardial injury, among apparently healthy people aged 21-40 years old, 41-50 years old, 51-60 years old and >60 years old, male NT-proBNP 97.5th URL was 81.9 (90% CI 60.0-588.8), 141.2 (90% CI 100.0-263.6), 272.0 (90% CI 193.0-494.0) and 547.9 (90% CI 311.2-738.6), respectively; For females, the rates were 227.5 (90% CI 81.9-360.8), 153.2 (90% CI 128.2-239.5), 300.6 (90% CI 211.0-376.4) and 395.8 (90% CI 242.3-543.5) ng/L, respectively. Conclusions:This study confirmed that hs-cTn>99th URL can be used as an apparent population screening criterion for natriuretic peptide reference interval studies, which is helpful to remove conventional means to include individuals with occult myocardial injury in apparently healthy patients, so as to establish a more rigorous healthy cohort and establishing solid normal NT-proBNP reference interval.

Objective: To understand the basic characteristics of previously reported patients with hepatitis C and analyze the related factors affecting their antiviral treatment. Methods: A convenient sampling method was adopted. Patients who had been previously diagnosed with hepatitis C in the Wenshan Prefecture of Yunnan Province and Xuzhou City of Jiangsu Province were contacted by telephone for an interview study. The Andersen health service utilization behavior model and related literature were used to design the research framework for antiviral treatment in previously reported hepatitis C patients. A step-by-step multivariate regression analysis was used in previously reported hepatitis C patients treated with antiviral therapy. Results: A total of 483 hepatitis C patients, aged 51.73 ± 12.06 years, were investigated. The proportion of male, agricultural occupants who were registered permanent residents, farmers and migrant workers was 65.24%, 67.49%, and 58.18%, respectively. Han ethnicity (70.81%), married (77.02%), and junior high school and below educational level (82.61%) were the main ones. Multivariate logistic regression analysis results showed that married patients with hepatitis C (OR = 3.19, 95% CI: 1.93-5.25, compared with unmarried, divorced, and widowed patients) with high school education or above (OR = 2.54, 95% CI: 1.54-4.20, compared with patients with junior high school education or below) were more likely to receive antiviral treatment in the predisposition module. Patients with severe self-perceived hepatitis C in the need factor module (compared with patients with mild self-perceived disease, OR = 3.36, 95% CI: 2.09-5.40) were more likely to receive treatment. In the competency module, the family's per capita monthly income was more than 1,000 yuan (compared with patients with per capita monthly income below 1,000 yuan, OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.02-2.47), and the patients had a high level of awareness of hepatitis C knowledge (compared with patients with a low level of knowledge, OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.01-2.35), and the family members who knew the patient's infection status (compared with patients with an unknown infection status, OR = 4.59, 95% CI: 2.24-9.39) were more likely to receive antiviral treatment. Conclusion: Different income, educational, and marital statuses are related to antiviral treatment behavior in hepatitis C patients. Family support of hepatitis C patients receiving hepatitis C-related knowledge and their families knowing the infection status is more important in promoting the antiviral treatment of patients, suggesting that in the future, we should further strengthen the hepatitis C knowledge of hepatitis C patients, especially the family support of hepatitis C patients' families in treatment.
Humans ; Male ; Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use* ; China ; Hepatitis C/drug therapy* ; Hepacivirus ; Logistic Models

Developing new therapeutic agents for cancer immunotherapy is highly demanding due to the low response ratio of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in cancer patients. Here, we discovered that the novel immune checkpoint VISTA is highly expressed on a variety of tumor-infiltrating immune cells, especially myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and CD8⁺ T cells. Then, peptide C1 with binding affinity to VISTA was developed by phage displayed bio-panning technique, and its mutant peptide VS3 was obtained by molecular docking based mutation. Peptide VS3 could bind VISTA with high affinity and block its interaction with ligand PSGL-1 under acidic condition, and elicit anti-tumor activity in vivo. The peptide DVS3-Pal was further designed by d-amino acid substitution and fatty acid modification, which exhibited strong proteolytic stability and significant anti-tumor activity through enhancing CD8⁺ T cell function and decreasing MDSCs infiltration. This is the first study to develop peptides to block VISTA/PSGL-1 interaction, which could act as promising candidates for cancer immunotherapy.

Objective To determine the current status of occupational internal exposure to ¹³¹I in the thyroid of nuclear medicine workers, to explore the influencing factors for internal exposure, and to provide a basis for the radiation safety management of nuclear medicine. Methods The cluster sampling method was used to select 162 workers practicing ¹³¹I treatment in 24 hospitals in Hubei Province, China. Thyroid ¹³¹I activity levels were measured in vitro using a portable γ-spectrometer, and the committed effective dose was estimated. Results The thyroid ¹³¹I activity detected in 13 (54.17%) hospitals was above the lower limit of detection of the instrument. Two hospitals had the highest detection rates, 62.50% and 61.90%; the difference was significant compared with the remaining 11 hospitals (P < 0.0001). Thyroid ¹³¹I was detected in 34 workers in total, with a detection rate of 20.99% and a mean activity of 179.09 ± 138.71 (6.02-589.74) Bq. The highest detection rates were found in cleaners and nurses, which were 35.71% and 33.33%, respectively, with no significant difference in detection rate between positions (least P > 0.08). The mean value of the committed effective dose was 0.68 ± 0.52 (0.02-2.22) mSv/a in the 34 workers. Conclusion The ¹³¹I consumption and workplace ventilation may be important factors affecting the level of internal exposure. It is important to strengthen the training of nuclear medicine workers on radioprotection and workflow management, as well as the regular monitoring of occupational internal exposure for ¹³¹I treatment-related workers.

The flavonoids in Panax notoginseng were qualitatively analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS), and the content of three main flavonoids in P. notoginseng of different specifications and grades collected from different habitats was determined by HPLC-DAD. Flavonoids and anthocyanins were analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS in the positive and negative ion modes, respectively. Twelve flavonoid glycosides and one anthocyanin glycoside in P. notoginseng were identified, but no flavonoid aglycones were detected. Among them, 12 compounds were identified in the underground part of P. notoginseng for the first time and eight compounds were first reported in this plant. Moreover, six and four compounds were identified in the Panax genus and the Araliaceae family for the first time, respectively. A method for simultaneous determination of three flavonoids in P. notoginseng was established by HPLC-DAD. The content of flavonoids in 721 P. notoginseng samples of 124 specifications and grades collected from 20 different habitats was simultaneously determined. Among three flavonoids determined, the content of quercetin-3-O-(2″-β-D-xylosyl)-β-D-galactoside was the highest with the average content in the tested samples of 161.0 μg·g~(-1). The content of compounds quercetin-3-O-hexosyl-hexoside and kaempferol-3-O-pentosyl-hexoside was relatively low, with the average content of 18.5 μg·g~(-1)(calculated as quercetin-3-O-sophoroside) and 49.4 μg·g~(-1)(calculated as kaempferol-3-O-sangbu diglycoside). There were significant differences in flavonoids content of samples from different production area. The content of flavonoids in spring P. notoginseng was significantly lower than that in winter P. notoginseng when the other influencing factors such as production areas, germplasm resources, and cultivation conditions were fixed. As for P. notoginseng of different specifications, the flavonoid content in the part connecting the taproot and the aboveground stem was significantly higher than that in other parts. The results of large-scale data showed that the flavonoid content gradually increased with the increase in the number of heads. There were significant differences between the flavonoid content in most specifications and grades, especially the 20-head P. notoginseng and countless head P. notoginseng, whose content was significantly lower and significantly higher than that of other specifications and grades, respectively. This study provides a scientific basis for the study of the effective components and quality control of P. notoginseng from the perspective of flavonoids.
Flavonoids/analysis* ; Anthocyanins/analysis* ; Quercetin ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Kaempferols ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Glycosides