OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of stuck acupuncture combined with facial acupuncture for facial cosmetology. METHODS: A total of 22 female patients with symptoms of facial aging were treated with stuck acupuncture combined with facial acupuncture. Stuck acupuncture was applied at bilateral Taiyang (EX-HN5) through Xiaguan (ST7), Jiache (ST6) through Daying (ST5) and Yingxiang (LI20)，once a week. Facial acupuncture was applied at Yintang (GV24⁺), ashi points (nasolabial fold) and bilateral Yangbai (GB14), Quanliao (SI18), Sibai (ST2), Xiaguan (ST7), Dicang (ST4), Jiache (ST6), Daying (ST5), Renying (ST9), twice a week. Four weeks were required. The global aesthetic improvement scale (GAIS) score after treatment, wrinkle severity rating scale (WSRS) score before and after treatment were observed. The quantitative analysis of skin characteristics was performed before and after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, of the 22 patients, 3 cases had complete improvement, 15 cases had obvious improvement, 4 cases had partial improvement, 0 case had no improvement. The WSRS score and scores of wrinkles, textures and pores were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.01). CONCLUSION Stuck acupuncture combined with facial acupuncture could effectively improve the symptoms of facial aging.
Humans ; Female ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Face ; Acupuncture Points ; Skin Aging ; Treatment Outcome ; Aged

Based on the theory of the five-body constituents from Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic), the approach and methods of acupuncture for facial aging are explored. Acupuncture for facial aging can be guided by the concept of the five-body constituents, targeting the facial "skin, flesh, vessels, tendons, and bones", and utilizing five different types of needles-facial needles, needle knives, filiform needles, retaining needles, and elongated needles and filiform needles-to maximize their respective advantages in treating facial aging. Facial needles are applied to the "skin" by selecting facial acupoints or local ashi points (at wrinkle or pigmentation sites). Needle knives are used for the "flesh" to perform longitudinal dredging and transverse dissection of the facial muscle layers. Filiform needles target the "vessels" with needling at Renying (ST9) to improve facial complexion. Retaining needles act on the "tendons" with needling from Taiyang (EX-HN5) to Xiaguan (ST7), and Jiache (ST6) to Daying (ST5), using clockwise twisting to generate a retaining needle sensation and lifting to achieve an overall facial lifting effect.
Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Face ; Skin Aging ; Acupuncture Points ; Aging

Objective:To investigate the effect of up-regulation of microRNA-31(miRNA-31)on the osteogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells(DPSCs),and to elucidate its possible mechanism.Methods:The DPSCs in logarithmic growth phase were divided into control group(no treatment),NC group(transfected with random sequence control),Agomir group(transfected withmiR-31 mimic agomiR-31),and combination group(transfected with miR-31 mimic agomiR-31 and added with XAV939).After 48 h of transfection,real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)was used to detect the expression levels of miR-31 in the DPSCs in various groups.MTT assay was used to detect the proliferation abilities of the DPSCs in various groups.Alizarin red staining was used to detect calcium deposition in the DPSCs in various groups.Alkaline phosphatase(ALP)staining was used to detect the degree of osteogenic differentiation of the DPSCs in various groups.Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of proteins related to the wingless-type MMTV integration site family(Wnt)/β-catenin signaling pathway in the DPSCs in various groups.Results:There were no significant differences in the miR-31 expression level,the cell proliferation abilities at 24,48 and 72 h,the ratio of calcified region,and the ALP ability between control group and NC group(P＞0.05).Compared with control group and NC group,the expression level of miR-31,the cell proliferation abilities at 24,48 and 72 h,the ratio of calcified region,and the ALP activity in the DPSCs in Agomir group were increased(P＜0.05).Compared with Agomir group,the expression level of miR-31,the cell proliferation abilities at 24,48 and 72 h,the ratio of calcified region,and the ALP activity in the DPSCs in combination group were decreased(P＜0.05).There were no significant difference in the expression levels of glycogen synthase kinase 3β(GSK-3β),β-catenin and Runt-associated transcription factor 2(Runx2)in the DPSCs between control group and NC group(P＞0.05).Compared with control group and NC group,the expression level of GSK-3β protein in the DPSCs in Agomir group was decreased(P＜0.05),and the expression levels of β-catenin and Runx2 proteins in the DPSCs were increased(P＜0.05).Compared with Agomir group,the expression level of GSK-3β protein in the DPSCs in combination group was increased(P＜0.05),while the expression levels of β-catenin and Runx2 proteins were decreased(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Up-regulation of miR-31 can promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs,and its mechanism may be related to the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Objective To explore the protective effect of L-carnitine on myocardial systolic dysfunction in sepsis and its underlying mechanism.Methods A mouse sepsis model was established by cecal ligation and puncture(CLP).Ten-week-old male SPF-grade C57BL/6 mice(body weight 20～30 g)were randomly divided into 5 groups via random number table:Sham group,Sepsis group,L-carnitine group,L-carnitine+Etomoxir(Eto)group,and Eto group.Echocardiography assessed cardiac function,ELISA measured serum creatine kinase isoenzyme MB(CK-MB)levels,and 72-hour survival rates were recorded to evaluate L-carnitine's effects on cardiac function.Cardiomyocytes were isolated,and a cell microtensiometer was used to detect cardiomyocyte contractile function and calcium transients.Myocardial tissues were collected from each group,and ELISA was used to determine the contents of triglyceride(TG),free fatty acid(FFA),and adenosine triphosphate(ATP).An in vitro sepsis model was constructed by stimulating HL-1 cardiomyocytes with lipopolysaccharide(LPS)for 12 hours,which was divided into 5 groups:control(CTRL)group,LPS group,L-carnitine group,L-carnitine+Eto group,and Eto group.ELISA was used to detect the contents of TG,FFA,and ATP as well as the activity of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A(CPT1A)in cardiomyocytes.A cellular energy metabolism analysis system was employed to measure fatty acid oxidation capacity,and Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of CPT1A in cardiomyocytes.BODIPY-FL-C16(green fluorescently labeled palmitic acid)was utilized to detect the distribution of fatty acids in the cytoplasm and mitochondria via immunofluorescence technology,thereby observing the ability of cells to transport fatty acids into mitochondria.Results Compared with the Sham group,cardiac function was significantly impaired in the Sepsis group,as evidenced by decreased ejection fraction and mean arterial pressure(P<0.05),along with elevated levels of the cardiac injury marker CK-MB(P<0.05).Treatment with L-carnitine significantly improved myocardial function,restored blood pressure in septic mice,and increased their survival rate from 12.50%to 81.25%(P<0.05).Compared with the Sham group,the contractile function and calcium transients of acutely isolated single cardiomyocytes were significantly reduced in the Sepsis group(P<0.05),while L-carnitine treatment remarkably restored the contractile function and calcium release capacity of septic cardiomyocytes(P<0.05).Both in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that TG and FFA levels were significantly increased(P<0.05),and ATP levels was significantly decreased(P<0.05)in the Sepsis and LPS groups—effects significantly reversed by L-carnitine treatment.Compared with the CTRL group,the basal oxidation rate and maximum oxidation capacity of fatty acids in cardiomyocytes of the LPS group were significantly reduced(P<0.05),and L-carnitine treatment notably improved these indicators.Compared with the CTRL group,the expression and activity of CPT1A in cardiomyocytes of the LPS group were significantly decreased(P<0.05),while L-carnitine treatment significantly increased the expression and activity of CPT1A(P<0.05).In LPS group cardiomyocytes,green fluorescently labeled palmitic acid primarily formed numerous granular/clumpy aggregates in the cytoplasm with minimal mitochondrial colocalization.In the L-carnitine group,the green fluorescent granules in the cytoplasm of cardiomyocytes were smaller,and colocalization with mitochondria was increased.However,the L-carnitine+Eto group exhibited similar phenomena to the LPS group.In addition,both in vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrated that treatment with the CPT1A inhibitor Eto reversed the effect of L-carnitine.Compared with the L-carnitine group,the ATP content in the L-carnitine+Eto group was significantly decreased(P<0.05),while the FFA content was significantly increased(P<0.05).Conclusion L-carnitine facilitates fatty acid entry into mitochondria for β-oxidation via a CPT1A-dependent mechanism,thereby ameliorating fatty acid oxidation dysfunction in septic cardiomyocytes and improving myocardial contractile function.

68Ga-DOTATATE/18F-FDG two-day low-dose total-body PET/CT imaging is increasingly employed to facilitate the diagnosis,prognosis,and heterogeneity assessment of neuroendocrine neoplasms.We present a consensus on operational guideline for a two-day combined imaging from experts in low-dose/ultra-low-dose total-body PET/CT from several domestic medical institutions.

Objective To investigate the clearance capacity of cardiac resident macrophages in post-sepsis and its underlying mechanism.Methods A mouse model of sepsis was established using cecum perforation ligation.Thirty male C57BL/6 mice(8 weeks old,weighing 20～25 g)were randomly and equally divided into a sham operation group(sham group)and a model group(sepsis group).Immunofluorescence assay was employed to label the cardiomyocytes and macrophages to observe the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes and the phagocytosis by cardiac resident macrophages.Cardiac resident macrophages were extracted for transcriptomic sequencing to determine the functional changes of the cells after sepsis.Cardiac resident macrophage cell lines were established at the cellular level and served as the normal group(RAC group),and the RAC cells treated with LPS were subjected as the sepsis group(RAC+LPS group).Then the differences in the ability to clear apoptotic cardiomyocytes between the 2 groups were observed.Then DQ-BSA-RED lysosomal activity detection probe,Lyso-Sensor yellow/bule dye,ELISA,and Western blotting were applied to detect the lysosomal function of cardiac resident macrophages,activity and expression of important lysosomal hydrolases,changes in contents and related subunits of vacuolar-type adenosine triphosphatases(V-ATPase).Results Compared with the sham group,the sepsis group had larger number of apoptotic cardiomyocytes(P＜0.05)and increased phagocytosis of cardiomyocytes by cardiac macrophages(P＜0.05).The results of transcriptomic sequencing revealed a significant dysfunction of lysosome-associated functions of cardiac-resident macrophages after sepsis.In in vitro experiments,the RAC+LPS group had a reduced fragmentation capacity of apoptotic cardiomyocytes,reduction in the intensity of yellow fluorescence of lysosomes(P＜0.05),and decrease in lysosomal hydrolase activity(P＜0.05)when compared with the RAC group.In addition,LPS treatment significantly decreased the activity and expression of V-ATPase and its major subunit ATP6V1A in cardiac resident macrophages(P＜0.05).Conclusion Cardiac resident macrophages show reduced clearance of apoptotic cardiomyocytes after sepsis,which may be related to a decrease in the activity of ATP6V1A,an important subunit of its lysosomal V-ATPase,and reduced activity of lysosomal hydrolases.

Primary liver cancer is a common malignant digestive system tumor, with hepatocellular carcinoma being the most common pathological type. Radiomics significantly boosts the efficiency of predictions by accurately capturing the intrinsically heterogeneous features of tumors that are difficult to discern with the human eye in imaging images. This article outlines the background and concepts of radiomics, introduces its latest research progress in various aspects, such as diagnosis and differential diagnosis, prediction of pathological molecular subtypes, efficacy evaluation, and survival prediction, and further discusses its limitations and prospects in HCC.

Objective:To explore the value of the imaging nomogram model based on preoperative CT features of patients with small intestinal stromal tumor (SIST) in predicting pathological risk classification.Methods:This was a cohort study. The patients who were diagnosed as primary SIST by postoperative pathology in Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 2014 to October 2023 were retrospectively included. According to the modified 2008 National Institutes of Health classification criteria, the patients were divided into a pathological intermediate/high-risk group (86 cases) and a very low/low-risk group (56 cases). The features of preoperative enhanced CT images of SIST were analyzed, including tumor boundary, necrosis, intra-tumoral hemorrhage, intra-tumoral calcification, growth pattern, enhancement pattern, enhancement degree, enlarged vessels feeding or draining the mass (EVFDM), and tumor location. Patients were followed up to determine the recurrence-free survival (RFS). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to screen the independent predictors of SIST with pathological medium/high-risk group. The independent predictors were combined to construct an imaging prediction model, and a nomogram was drawn. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the predictive efficacy of the model. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw the survival curve, and the log-rank test was used to compare the differences in RFS.Results:Univariate logistic regression results showed that tumor shape, necrosis, intra-tumoral hemorrhage, EVFDM, and tumor location were potentially related to medium/high-risk SIST. Multivariate logistic regression results showed that tumor shape ( OR=3.92, 95% CI 1.58-9.71, P=0.003), necrosis ( OR=4.60, 95% CI 1.91-11.09, P<0.001), and EVFDM ( OR=6.25,95% CI 1.74-22.47, P=0.005) were independent predictors of pathological intermediate/high-risk SIST. The area under the curve of the imaging predictive model combining the three predictors to predict the intermediate/high-risk SIST was 0.835 (95% CI 0.769-0.901), the sensitivity was 0.810, the specificity was 0.839, and the accuracy was 0.789. Taking the cut-off value (0.810) as the boundary value, the patients were divided into the high-risk group (74 cases) and the low-risk group (68 cases) according to the prediction results. The median RFS of the predicted high-risk group was poorer than that of the predicted low-risk group, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=5.20, P=0.023). Conclusions:The imaging nomogram model based on preoperative CT image features shape, necrosis, and EVFDM can effectively predict the pathological intermediate/high-risk SIST before surgery and has important predictive value for postoperative recurrence.

ObjectiveTo analyze the traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） patterns in patients with spasmodic torticollis and provide reference for standardized differentiation and clinical treatment. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in the spasmodic torticollis outpatient clinic and dystonia ward of the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from June 2022 to December 2023. The general information including gender， age， duration of disease and type， and the TCM four examinations data such as symptoms， tongue manifestation and pulse manifestation of 198 patients with spasmodic torticollis were obtained by means of on-site questionnaires. Descriptive frequency analysis， factor analysis， and cluster analysis were performed， and the distribution of major TCM patterns were summarized based on the clinical information. ResultsA total of 198 patients with spasmodic torticollis were included， of which 89 （44.95%） were male and 109 （55.05%） were female， with an average age of 40.70±0.96 years and an average course of disease of 24.78±2.32 months. A total of 296 symptoms/signs were obtained， with a cumulative frequency of 6756 times， of which 58 symptoms/signs had a frequency ≥20%， and the top three were neck and back stiffness （83.84%）， condition related to emotions （74.75%） and irritability （72.73%）. Factor analysis of 58 symptoms/signs showed that factor rotation converged after 51 iterations， resulting in 20 common factors with a cumulative contribution of 64.03%. The top three syndrome elements related to the location of the disease were liver， channels， tendons and bones， and those related nature of the disease were dominated by qi stagnation， blood stasis and yin deficiency. The cluster analysis of the 20 common factors showed that the main TCM patterns were internal stirring of liver wind syndrome， liver-kidney yin deficiency syndrome， turbid phlegm obstruction syndrome， and pathogen congested in the channels syndrome. Among the 198 patients， 81 were diagnosed with internal stirring of liver wind syndrome， 60 with liver-kidney yin deficiency syndrome， 37 with turbid phlegm obstruction syndrome， and 20 with pathogen congested in the channels syndrome.There was no statistically significant difference in the distribution of TCM patterns among patients of different genders， age groups， and duration of disease （P＞0.05）. ConclusionSpasmodic torticollis is mainly located in the liver， mostly with internal stirring of liver wind syndrome， liver-kidney yin deficiency syndrome， turbid phlegm obstruction syndrome， and pathogen congested in the channels syndrome.

Objective:To explore the feasibility and efficacy for the dissection and ligation of the superior laryngeal artery in endoscopic surgery for hypopharyngeal cancer.Methods:Eight cadaveric heads were selected, and the laryngopharynxes were harvested. The positions of the superior laryngeal arteries entering the larynxes were dissected and observed under endoscopic vision, and their anatomical characteristics were summarized. Twenty-nine patients (all were male, aged 39-74 years old) with hypopharyngeal cancer who underwent transoral endoscopic surgery at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University from January 2018 to December 2019 were selected, and the patients were randomly divided into two groups by drawing lots, namely, the superior laryngeal artery was actively dissected and occluded during surgery in observation group ( n=15) or not in control group ( n=14). The differences in surgical time, bleeding volume, postoperative complications, and postoperative disease-free survival rate were compared between the two groups. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 25.0 software. Results:The entry point of the superior laryngeal artery into the larynx was approximately at the level of the superior edge of the thyroid cartilage, and entered the larynx at the posterior one-third of the lateral wall of the pyriform fossa. The superior laryngeal artery might be determined through endoscopic exploration in all patients of observation group. The endoscopic surgery time [(40.00±7.56) minutes] and intraoperative bleeding volume [(24.00±8.28) ml] in the observation group were respectively less than those [(48.57±14.06) minutes and (42.86±15.41) ml] in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=-2.064, P=0.049; t=-4.064, P=0.001). There was no case with postoperative bleeding in the observation group, but with one case of postoperative bleeding in the control group. Total disease free survival rate was 86.2% and there was no significant difference in disease free survival rates between the two groups during a follow-up period of at least 36 months ( P=0.986). Conclusion:Dissection of the superior laryngeal artery during endoscopic surgery for hypopharyngeal cancer is feasible, and pre-management and occlusion of the superior laryngeal artery can effectively reduce intraoperative bleeding.