Objective: To assess the dynamic changes of microcirculation at acupoints in patients with primary dysmenorrhea and cold congelation and blood stasis syndrome using laser speckle blood flow imaging. Methods: Patients with primary dysmenorrhea and cold coagulation and blood stasis syndrome (primary dysmenorrhea group, n=53) and healthy female college students(control group, n=57) who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria from October 2020 to July 2022 were enrolled at Hebei University of Chinese Medicine. On the premenstrual and first day of menstruation, a laser speckle blood flow imaging system was used to measure the microcirculation blood flow perfusion on the surface of acupoints related to the conception, thoroughfare, and governor vessels, and stomach, spleen, and bladder meridians in the abdomen and lumbosacral regions. The dynamic changes in microcirculation were calculated based on the difference in average blood flow perfusion at each acupoint before and after menstruation. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis was used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of dynamic changes in microcirculation on the surface of each acupoint. The microcirculation sensitization rate of acupoints was calculated. Results: Compared with the control group, the dynamic changes in microcirculation at the following acupoints in the primary dysmenorrhea group were increased (P<0.05): conception vessel (Yinjiao[CV7], Qihai[CV6], Shimen[CV5], Guanyuan[CV4]); left thoroughfare vessel (left Huangshu[KI16], left Zhongzhu[KI15], left Siman[KI14], left Qixue[KI13], left Dahe[KI12], left Henggu[KI11]); left stomach meridian (left Tianshu[ST25], left Wailing[ST26], left Qichong[ST30]); left spleen meridian (left Daheng[SP15], left Fujie[SP14]); right thoroughfare vessel (right Huangshu[KI16], right Zhongzhu[KI15], right Siman[KI14], right Qixue[KI13], right Dahe[KI12], right Henggu[KI11]); right stomach meridian (right Wailing[ST26], right Daju[ST27], right Shuidao[ST28], right Guilai[ST29], right Qichong[ST30]); and right spleen meridian (right Fujie[SP14]). The area under the ROC curve of conception vessel (Yinjiao[CV7], Qihai[CV6], Shimen[CV5], Guanyuan[CV4]), thoroughfare vessel (right Siman[KI14], left Huangshu[KI16], right Qixue[KI13], right Zhongzhu[KI15], right Dahe[KI12], left Zhongzhu[KI15], left Siman[KI14], right Huangshu[KI16], left Qixue[KI13], right Henggu[KI11], left Henggu[KI11], left Dahe[KI12]); stomach meridian (left Tianshu[ST25], right Guilai[ST29], left Wailing[ST26], right Shuidao[ST28], right Daju[ST27], right Wailing[ST26], right Qichong[ST30], left Qichong[ST30]), and spleen meridian (left Daheng[SP15], left Fujie[SP14], right Fujie[SP14]) was 0.610-0.682 (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the sensitization rate of some acupoints in the primary dysmenorrhea group increased (P<0.05). Conclusion With the onset of menstruation, the blood flow perfusion of some acupoints in the abdomen (thoroughfare, and conception vessels, and stomach and spleen meridians) of patients with primary dysmenorrhea and cold blood coagulation and blood stasis syndrome increased, and the status of acupoints changed from a resting state to an active state. These acupoints are sensitive in patients with primary dysmenorrhea and cold blood coagulation and blood stasis syndrome and have a certain diagnostic efficacy, providing a basis for further analyzing the efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion to treat primary dysmenorrhea with cold blood coagulation and blood stasis syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment has been reported to improve ovarian function in women, but the relationship between the dose and frequency of PRP treatment and its therapeutic effect remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of single and double PRP treatments for diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). METHODS: A total of 65 patients treated at the Reproductive Center of Xiangtan Central Hospital from September 2020 to October 2022 were randomly divided into 4 groups: A single PRP treatment group (21 patients, PRP treatment once), a double PRP treatment group (15 patients, PRP treatment twice), a blank control group (15 patients), and an artificial cycle control group (14 patients, treated with estrogen and progesterone). The differences in baseline follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), antral follicle count (AFC), ovarian volume, number of oocytes retrieved, number of good quality embryos, and pregnancy outcomes before and after treatment were compared among the 4 groups. RESULTS: Compared to before treatment, both single and double PRP treatment groups showed a significant reduction in FSH, and an increase in AFC, ovarian volume, numbers of oocytes retrieved, and number of MII oocytes (all P<0.05). Compared to the blank control group, the single and double PRP groups showed a decrease in FSH, with an increase in AFC, number of oocytes retrieved, and number of MII oocytes (all P<0.05). The rates of good quality embryos, clinical pregnancy rate, and live birth rate in the single and double PRP groups were higher than those in the blank control group and artificial cycle control groups, but the differences were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). Compared to the single PRP treatment group, the double PRP group had lower FSH and higher AFC, but the differences were not statistically significant (both P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Both single and double PRP ovarian injections can effectively improve ovarian reserve function in DOR patients and enhance ovarian response. Compared to single PRP ovarian injection, double PRP ovarian injection shows a trend of better improvement in ovarian reserve function.
Humans ; Female ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Ovarian Reserve/physiology* ; Adult ; Pregnancy ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone/blood* ; Pregnancy Rate ; Ovary ; Ovulation Induction/methods* ; Ovarian Follicle ; Oocyte Retrieval

Background::Findings on the association of genetic factors and colorectal cancer (CRC) survival are limited and inconsistent, and revealing the mechanism underlying their prognostic roles is of great importance. This study aimed to explore the relationship between functional genetic variations and the prognosis of CRC and further reveal the possible mechanism.Methods::We first systematically performed expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analysis using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset. Then, the Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to filter out the survival-related eQTL target genes of CRC patients in two public datasets (TCGA and GSE39582 dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus database). The seven most potentially functional eQTL single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with six survival-related eQTL target genes were genotyped in 907 Chinese CRC patients with clinical prognosis data. The regulatory mechanism of the survival-related SNP was further confirmed by functional experiments.Results::The rs71630754 regulating the expression of endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 ( ERAP1) was significantly associated with the prognosis of CRC (additive model, hazard ratio [HR]: 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-1.88, P = 0.012). The results of dual-luciferase reporter assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that the A allele of the rs71630754 could increase the binding of transcription factor 3 (TCF3) and subsequently reduce the expression of ERAP1. The results of bioinformatic analysis showed that lower expression of ERAP1 could affect the tumor immune microenvironment and was significantly associated with severe survival outcomes. Conclusion::The rs71630754 could influence the prognosis of CRC patients by regulating the expression of the immune-related gene ERAP1. Trial Registration::No. NCT00454519 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/)

Background: ChatGPT is a large language model (LLM) based on artificial intelligence (AI) capable of responding in multiple languages and generating nuanced and highly complex responses. While ChatGPT holds promising applications in medical education, its limitations and potential risks cannot be ignored. Methods: A scoping review was conducted for English articles discussing ChatGPT in the context of medical education published after 2022. A literature search was performed using PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science databases, and information was extracted from the relevant studies that were ultimately included. Results: ChatGPT exhibits various potential applications in medical education, such as providing personalized learning plans and materials, creating clinical practice simulation scenarios, and assisting in writing articles. However, challenges associated with academic integrity, data accuracy, and potential harm to learning were also highlighted in the literature. The paper emphasizes certain recommendations for using ChatGPT, including the establishment of guidelines. Based on the review, 3 key research areas were proposed: cultivating the ability of medical students to use ChatGPT correctly, integrating ChatGPT into teaching activities and processes, and proposing standards for the use of AI by medical students. Conclusion ChatGPT has the potential to transform medical education, but careful consideration is required for its full integration. To harness the full potential of ChatGPT in medical education, attention should not only be given to the capabilities of AI but also to its impact on students and teachers.

Targeted therapeutic drugs for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are showing immense development, thereby laying a solid foundation for the precise treatment of AML patients. The paper reviews four types of targeted drugs that have progressed rapidly for AML treatment (by targeting genes or signaling-pathway alterations, targeting apoptosis-related pathways, targeting cell-surface antigens, and targeting immune-related substances). We look forward to the future development directions of targeted drugs, providing references for hematologists and developers of new drugs for AML.

Neurons in the primary auditory area (AUDp) innervate multiple brain regions with long-range projections while receiving informative inputs for diverse functions. However, the brain-wide connections of these neurons have not been comprehensively investigated. Here, we simultaneously applied virus-based anterograde and retrograde tracing, labeled the connections of excitatory and inhibitory neurons in the mouse AUDp, and acquired whole-brain information using a dual-channel fluorescence micro-optical sectioning tomography system. Quantified results showed that the two types of neurons received inputs with similar patterns but sent heterogeneous projections to downstream regions. In the isocortex, functionally different areas consistently sent feedback-dominated projections to these neurons, with concomitant laterally-dominated projections from the sensory and limbic cortices to inhibitory neurons. In subcortical regions, the dorsal and medial parts of the non-lemniscal auditory thalamus (AT) were reciprocally connected to the AUDp, while the ventral part contained the most fibers of passage from the excitatory neurons and barely sent projections back, indicating the regional heterogeneity of the AUDp-AT circuit. Our results reveal details of the whole-brain network and provide new insights for further physiological and functional studies of the AUDp.

Objective:Summarizing the clinical characteristics of extraneural metastasis in childhood medulloblastoma.Methods:A total of 616 cases with medulloblastoma treated in Beijing Shijitan Hospital from April 2010 to April 2019 were analyzed retrospectively, among which 11 cases developed extraneural metastasis.The age of onset, location and time of extraneural metastasis, pathological and molecular typing, treatment and prognosis were descriptively analyzed.The differences of blood biochemical indexes between medulloblastoma cases with and without extraneural metastasis were statistically analyzed by t test. Results:As of February 2020, the median follow-up period was 16 months (ranging from 3 to 69 months). Eleven cases, including 8 males and 3 females, were diagnosed with extraneural metastasis, with the incidence being about 1.8%.The median age of medulloblastoma was 6 years (2-10 years), and the median age at presentation of extraneural metastasis was 7 years (2-12 years). Extraneural metastasis occurred from 0.5 months to 38.0 months after the operation, and the affected location includes bone (6 cases), bone marrow (3 cases), lung (3 cases), pelvis (2 cases) and abdominal cavity (1 case). In these patients, the range of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) was (2 298.00±1 570.70) U/L and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) was (201.00±68.34) μg/L, which were significantly higher than those in patients without extraneural metastasis [(249.50±46.28) U/L and (22.80±7.12) μg/L, all P<0.05]. Partial patients were treated with chemotherapy, while the majority of them were treated with palliative treatment in the terminal stage, with the survival period mostly less than 10 months. Conclusions:Although there is a low incidence of extraneural metastasis in medulloblastoma pediatric patients, the prognosis of these patients with extraneural metastasis is poor and most of them would die within one year.The most common sites include bone, followed by bone marrow and lungs, which may be related to the spread of cerebrospinal fluid and the increased levels of LDH and NSE.

Objective:To explore the effect of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) at the initial visit on the survival of children with newly diagnosed medulloblastoma (MB).Methods:This was a case-control study involving 61 children with newly diagnosed MB at the Department of Pediatrics, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University from August 2018 to January 2020 .The blood cell counts, lymphocyte subsets and immunoglobulin in the periphe-ral blood were measured to calculate NLR at the initial visit.Based on the cut-off value determined by receiver opera-ting characteristic (ROC) curve, patients were divided into high NLR group (≥ 2.07, n=21) and low NLR group (<2.07, n=40). The progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) between 2 groups were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method, followed by Log- rank test.The correlation between NLR at the initial visit with clinical characteristics, lymphocyte subsets and immunoglobulin of children with newly diagnosed MB was analyzed.Differences between groups were compared by the Chi- square test, Mann- Whitney U test and independent sample t test. Results:The survival analysis showed that the relapse rate (38.1% vs.10.0%, χ2=6.879, P=0.016) and mortality rate (19.0% vs.0, χ2=8.154, P=0.011) were significantly higher in high NLR group than those of low NLR group.PFS (12 months vs.19 months, χ2=9.775, P=0.002) and OS (19 months vs.20 months, χ2=8.432, P=0.004) were significantly shorter in high NLR group than those of low NLR group.No significant differences in clinical characteristics were detected between groups (all P>0.05). Compared with low NLR group, the percentage of T lymphocyte[(67.93±6.37)% vs.(73.38±8.08)%, t=2.886, df=48.865, P=0.006], T helper cells (Th)[(30.86±5.53)% vs.(34.29±7.44)%, t=2.037, df=51.981, P=0.047], and T suppressor cells (Ts)[(27.39±5.50)% vs.(30.84±6.58)%, t=2.164, df=47.581, P=0.035] were significantly lower in high NLR group.Spearman correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between NLR and T lymphocyte count ( r=-0.303, P=0.018), and Ts lymphocyte count ( r=-0.260, P=0.043). Conclusions:Children with newly diagnosed MB expressing a high level of NLR had a poor prognosis, which may be associated with T lymphocyte and Ts lymphocyte.

Objective To establish a druggability evaluation method for new targets of anti-tumor drugs by analyzing the mutation genes of common tumors in the digestive system. Methods We collected the mutant gene data of the five common tumors of the digestive system (esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer and pancreatic cancer) in the Integrative Onco Genomics database, and screened out the genes with higher mutation rates in each tumor. We evaluated the druggability of these genes or their encoded proteins, and discovered the potential targets for the new anti-tumor drugs. Results A total of five tumors, 35 cohorts and 5445 tumor samples were collected in this study. The top 10 mutation genes were selected for further analysis. The canSAR database was used to analyze the druggability of unpublished mutant genes or their encoded proteins, and a total of 17 potential therapeutic drug targets were screened out. Conclusion A method for evaluating druggability of targets based on mutant genes or their encoded protein is established in this study. The application of this method can provide a reference for discovering new anti-tumor therapeutic target, saving the cost and time of target screening in new drug development.

This paper collects information on the species resources of medicinal plants in Laos through various methods such as literature collation and analysis, sample line survey, visits and surveys, and initially obtains the medicinal plant resources in Laos, the use of folk herbs, and traditional medicine knowledge archives. It is found that Laos is rich with wild medicinal plant resources. There are 2 165 species (including varieties) belonging to 1 014 genera of 214 families, including 57 species belonging to 40 genera of 29 families of ferns, 32 species belonging to 17 genera of 8 families of gymnosperms, and 2 076 species belonging to 957 genera of 177 families of angiosperms. And, there are 108 kinds of medicinal materials currently circulatingin the market. Herbal resources is widely used in Laos, and many fresh herbs in the market have the special effects of relieving cough and promoting salivation, eliminating dampness, dispelling summer heat, nourishing yin and cooling blood.The medicinal materials for alleviating rheumatism and strengthening waist and knees in the market are with good prospects for development and utilization, so the development and management should be strengthened. China and Laos can conduct in-depth research and strengthen experience exchanges on traditional medicine experience.