Objective To observe the expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)and protein kinase B(Akt)signal transducer in liver tissue of rats with bilateral ovarian castration(OVX)by electroacupuncture at Guanyuan(CV4)point,and explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture in up regulating PI3K/Akt signal pathway,regulating lipid metabolism,and reducing weight was investigated.Methods Thirty-two female SD rats were randomly divided into blank,sham operation,model and electroacupuncture group,with 8 rats in each group.Perimenopausal obesity(PMO)model was prepared by OVX in the model and the electroacupuncture group.After the model was successfully prepared,the electroacupuncture group was subjected to electroacupuncture at CV4(continuous wave,2 Hz,1 mA),once day,20 min once time,and for 14 consecutive days.The body mass of each group of rats was recorded during the whole experiment,and Lee's index was calculated during sampling.The pathological changes of liver were observed by HE staining.Serum levels of HDL,LDL and TG were detected by ELISA.Western blot analysis of PI3K,Akt,p-Akt protein expression and p-Akt/Akt in liver tissues.Results Compared with blank group and sham operation group,the body mass of rats in model group was significantly increased(P＜0.05),Lee's index was increased(P＜0.05),fat vacuoles appeared in liver,serum HDL level was decreased(P＜0.001),LDL and TG levels were increased(P＜0.01).PI3K,Akt,p-Akt,p-Akt/Akt were decreased in liver(P＜0.05).Compared with model group,body mass and Lee's index of rats in electroacupuncture group were decreased(P＜0.05),fat vacuoles in liver were decreased,HDL level was increased(P＜0.01),LDL and TG levels were decreased(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),PI3K,Akt and P-Akt were decreased(P＜0.05),and p-akt/Akt decreased(P＜0.01).Conclusion Electroacupuncture at CV4 can significantly up-regulate PI3K/Akt signaling pathway,improve lipid metabolism disorder and accumulation,and reduce body mass in OVX rats.

Objective Validate the correlation between tongue features and age and gender by utilizing real-world tongue image data from healthy individuals.Methods Establishing,training,and validating a model using artificial intelligence image acquisition techniques and machine learning tools.Results ①Artificial intelligence has achieved the digitization and standardization of Traditional Chinese Medicine tongue diagnosis data,establishing a database of Traditional Chinese Medicine tongue diagnosis(n=56573).②A highly accurate random forest model has demonstrated the correlation between tongue features and gender and age.③Further selection of key factors that show differences in tongue features between different age groups and genders.④Machine learning artificial neural network models were trained,tested,and validated(training set R2=0.8772,validation set R2=0.8715,test set R2=0.8707,AUC=89.5％),demonstrating excellent accuracy.Conclusion Machine learning validation using real-world data has confirmed that tongue features change with age.Additionally,analysis of large-scale real-world data has revealed that there are different tongue features associated with gender differences.

Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of acupuncture on post-stroke insomnia.Methods 148 outpatients and inpatients with post-stroke insomnia were recruited in the Shanghai municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from June 2016 to January 2018.They were randomly divided into two groups,acupuncture group(n=74)and control group(n=74).The acupuncture group was treated with GV20,GV24,GV29,HN22,HT7 and SP6 20 minutes each time,3 times per week for 4 weeks.The follow-up was after 4 weeks.The control group was treated with sham acupuncture on the same acupoints.The needles did not pierce the skin.The Insomnia Severity Index Scale(ISI),the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS)and the Stroke Special Quality of Life Scale(SS-QoL)were used to evaluate the patients before treatment,after 2 weeks of treatment,after 4 weeks of treatment and follow-up.The occurrence of adverse events of acupuncture was also recorded.Results ① ISI:after 2 weeks of treatment,4 weeks of treatment and follow-up,the score of treatment group was decreased compared with the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.01).Compared with baseline,the ISI score of the treatment group was decreased after 4 weeks of treatment(P＜0.05).② HADS score:The difference between 4-week treatment and baseline score of the HADS-A,the difference between the treatment group and the control group was statistically significant(P＜0.01);the difference between 4-week treatment and baseline,and between follow-up and baseline score of the HADS-D,the difference between the treatment group and the control group was statistically significant(P＜0.01).③SS-QoL score:The difference between 2-week treatment and baseline,between 4-week treatment and baseline,and between follow-up and baseline score of the SS-QoL,the difference between the treatment group and the control group was statistically significant(P＜0.01).Conclusion Acupuncture is an effective and safe therapy in improving the severity of insomnia of patients with post-stroke insomnia.Compared with sham acupuncture,acupuncture can improve the anxiety and depression status and quality of life of patients.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of Tongdu Tiaoyang rolling needle pricking-cupping(RNP-C)therapy for cervical spondylosis of qi stagnation and blood stasis type.Methods A total of 90 patients with cervical spondylosis of qi stagnation and blood stasis type were randomly divided into the rolling needle pricking-cupping(RNP-C)group and the electroacupuncture(EA)group,with 45 cases in either group.Both groups were treated with electroacupuncture at Tianzhu(BL 10),Jingjiaji(EX-B2),Houxi(SI 3),Shenmai(BL 62),Xuanzhong(GB 39),Geshu(BL 17),Hegu(LI 4)and Ashi points with continuous wave and 2 Hz of frequency for once a day,7 times as a treatment course.On the basis of electroacupuncture treatment,the rolling needle pricking-cupping(RNP-C)group was treated with bloodletting by rolling needle on the neck Du Mai and three yang channels,from Fengfu(DU 16)to Taodao(DU 13),Yuzhen(BL 9)to Dazhu(BL 11),Fengchi(GB 20)to Jianjing(GB 21),and Yifeng(SJ 17)to Tianyou(SJ 16),followed by fire cupping,for once every other day,and 3 times in all.The visual analogue scale(VAS)scores and Japanese Orthopaedic Association Scores(JOA)were observed before and after treatment,and the efficacy was evaluated.Results Compared before treatment,the scores of VAS in either group were all significantly reduced after treatment(P＜0.01).The scores of VAS in the RNP-C group were significantly inferior to those in the EA group after treatment(P＜0.01).Compared before treatment,the scores of JOA in either group were all significantly promoted after treatment(P＜0.01).The differences of JOA scores between the RNP-C group and EA group after treatment were not significant(P＞0.05).The therapeutic effecacy of the RNP-C group is superior to that of the traditional EA group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Tongdu Tiaoyang rolling needle pricking-cupping(RNP-C)therapy combining with traditional electroacupuncture could improve the cervical pain symptoms of patients with cervical spondylosis of qi stagnation and blood stasis type in a short period of time,and the clinical efficacy is better than traditional electroacupuncture.

Objective This study aim to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of ultrasound-guided acupuncture,specifically targeting the Tiaokou(ST38)acupoint through Chengshan(BL57)to elicit the Deqi sensation,in the context of acute scapulohumeral periarthritis.Methods Utilizing a randomized controlled trial design,a total of 60 subjects diagnosed with acute scapulohumeral periarthritis underwent random allocation into either the observation or control group,with 30 subjects in each.Under ultrasound guidance,acupuncture was administered unilaterally at the specific acupoint ST38 through BL57.The observation group received needling traversing the calf interosseous membrane,reaching the deep fascia of the tibialis posterior muscle,employing lifting and inserting twisting techniques to induce Deqi.In contrast,the control group received acupuncture targeting the sub-superficial fascia without needle manipulation or the requirement for Deqi.Both groups underwent a singular acupuncture session,with a standardized 20-minute needle retention period.Results Post-acupuncture intervention,the observation group exhibited a statistically significant total effective rate of 76.66％,greater than that in the control group at 30％(P＜0.01).Comparative analysis revealed substantial enhancements in the observation group,including improvements in VAS score,Constant shoulder joint function score,the highest △T of red external thermal imaging around the shoulder,and patients'subjective acupuncture sensation scores(P＜0.05).Additionally,within the observation group,post-treatment reductions were observed in VAS score and △ T of red external thermal imaging,coupled with an elevation in Constant shoulder joint function score(P＜0.01).Importantly,neither group manifested discernible adverse reactions.Conclusion Ultrasound-guided acupuncture,facilitating Deqi at Tiaokou(ST38),emerges as a clinically significant and secure intervention for acute scapulohumeral periarthritis.These findings substantiate its potential as a viable therapeutic modality,promoting broader clinical adoption.

Clarifying the degree of facial nerve injury in peripheral facial paralysis(PFP)is crucial for predicting prognosis and selecting treatment plans.Electrophysiological tests have been widely used for prognostic inference of PFP.As one of the methods of electrophysiological tests,nerve excitability test(NET)is more easily accepted by patients compared to electroneurography(ENoG)and electromyography(EMG).When treating PFP with electroacupuncture(EA),observing the contraction amplitude of facial muscle group with varying current frequency based on electrical excitability can also provide a reliable prognostic evaluation.The EA excitability and NET are collectively referred to as electrical excitability.The principles of both tests are similar,as they detect facial nerve damage in PFP through electrical excitability and infer the prognosis of the disease.However,there is limited research on electrical excitability and it has not yet been widely used in clinical practice.This article collects and organizes relevant literature in the past 20 years,comprehensively reviewing studies on the correlation between electrical excitability and the prognosis of PFP from the aspects of understanding of electrical excitability,EA excitability,NET,etc.,in order to improve the clinical attention to electrical excitability and provide important references for clinical research and application.

Due to factors such as an aging population, the Hospital Authority(HA) of Hong Kong is facing a contradiction between limited health resource supply and continuously increasing demand. In order to effectively address challenges, the HA prompted three measures to bridging the demand-supply gap. The HA relied on its management system advantages to continuously increase its capital construction to enhance the service capacity of public health institutions; transformed service delivery mode so as to improve the experience, quality, and efficiency of service delivery; established cooperation with private service providers and communities to shunt population health demand. The practices of HA can provide reference for public hospitals and their sponsors in other regions of China.

Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of acupuncture on post-stroke insomnia.Methods 148 outpatients and inpatients with post-stroke insomnia were recruited in the Shanghai municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from June 2016 to January 2018.They were randomly divided into two groups,acupuncture group(n=74)and control group(n=74).The acupuncture group was treated with GV20,GV24,GV29,HN22,HT7 and SP6 20 minutes each time,3 times per week for 4 weeks.The follow-up was after 4 weeks.The control group was treated with sham acupuncture on the same acupoints.The needles did not pierce the skin.The Insomnia Severity Index Scale(ISI),the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS)and the Stroke Special Quality of Life Scale(SS-QoL)were used to evaluate the patients before treatment,after 2 weeks of treatment,after 4 weeks of treatment and follow-up.The occurrence of adverse events of acupuncture was also recorded.Results ① ISI:after 2 weeks of treatment,4 weeks of treatment and follow-up,the score of treatment group was decreased compared with the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.01).Compared with baseline,the ISI score of the treatment group was decreased after 4 weeks of treatment(P＜0.05).② HADS score:The difference between 4-week treatment and baseline score of the HADS-A,the difference between the treatment group and the control group was statistically significant(P＜0.01);the difference between 4-week treatment and baseline,and between follow-up and baseline score of the HADS-D,the difference between the treatment group and the control group was statistically significant(P＜0.01).③SS-QoL score:The difference between 2-week treatment and baseline,between 4-week treatment and baseline,and between follow-up and baseline score of the SS-QoL,the difference between the treatment group and the control group was statistically significant(P＜0.01).Conclusion Acupuncture is an effective and safe therapy in improving the severity of insomnia of patients with post-stroke insomnia.Compared with sham acupuncture,acupuncture can improve the anxiety and depression status and quality of life of patients.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of Tongdu Tiaoyang rolling needle pricking-cupping(RNP-C)therapy for cervical spondylosis of qi stagnation and blood stasis type.Methods A total of 90 patients with cervical spondylosis of qi stagnation and blood stasis type were randomly divided into the rolling needle pricking-cupping(RNP-C)group and the electroacupuncture(EA)group,with 45 cases in either group.Both groups were treated with electroacupuncture at Tianzhu(BL 10),Jingjiaji(EX-B2),Houxi(SI 3),Shenmai(BL 62),Xuanzhong(GB 39),Geshu(BL 17),Hegu(LI 4)and Ashi points with continuous wave and 2 Hz of frequency for once a day,7 times as a treatment course.On the basis of electroacupuncture treatment,the rolling needle pricking-cupping(RNP-C)group was treated with bloodletting by rolling needle on the neck Du Mai and three yang channels,from Fengfu(DU 16)to Taodao(DU 13),Yuzhen(BL 9)to Dazhu(BL 11),Fengchi(GB 20)to Jianjing(GB 21),and Yifeng(SJ 17)to Tianyou(SJ 16),followed by fire cupping,for once every other day,and 3 times in all.The visual analogue scale(VAS)scores and Japanese Orthopaedic Association Scores(JOA)were observed before and after treatment,and the efficacy was evaluated.Results Compared before treatment,the scores of VAS in either group were all significantly reduced after treatment(P＜0.01).The scores of VAS in the RNP-C group were significantly inferior to those in the EA group after treatment(P＜0.01).Compared before treatment,the scores of JOA in either group were all significantly promoted after treatment(P＜0.01).The differences of JOA scores between the RNP-C group and EA group after treatment were not significant(P＞0.05).The therapeutic effecacy of the RNP-C group is superior to that of the traditional EA group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Tongdu Tiaoyang rolling needle pricking-cupping(RNP-C)therapy combining with traditional electroacupuncture could improve the cervical pain symptoms of patients with cervical spondylosis of qi stagnation and blood stasis type in a short period of time,and the clinical efficacy is better than traditional electroacupuncture.

Objective To observe the expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)and protein kinase B(Akt)signal transducer in liver tissue of rats with bilateral ovarian castration(OVX)by electroacupuncture at Guanyuan(CV4)point,and explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture in up regulating PI3K/Akt signal pathway,regulating lipid metabolism,and reducing weight was investigated.Methods Thirty-two female SD rats were randomly divided into blank,sham operation,model and electroacupuncture group,with 8 rats in each group.Perimenopausal obesity(PMO)model was prepared by OVX in the model and the electroacupuncture group.After the model was successfully prepared,the electroacupuncture group was subjected to electroacupuncture at CV4(continuous wave,2 Hz,1 mA),once day,20 min once time,and for 14 consecutive days.The body mass of each group of rats was recorded during the whole experiment,and Lee's index was calculated during sampling.The pathological changes of liver were observed by HE staining.Serum levels of HDL,LDL and TG were detected by ELISA.Western blot analysis of PI3K,Akt,p-Akt protein expression and p-Akt/Akt in liver tissues.Results Compared with blank group and sham operation group,the body mass of rats in model group was significantly increased(P＜0.05),Lee's index was increased(P＜0.05),fat vacuoles appeared in liver,serum HDL level was decreased(P＜0.001),LDL and TG levels were increased(P＜0.01).PI3K,Akt,p-Akt,p-Akt/Akt were decreased in liver(P＜0.05).Compared with model group,body mass and Lee's index of rats in electroacupuncture group were decreased(P＜0.05),fat vacuoles in liver were decreased,HDL level was increased(P＜0.01),LDL and TG levels were decreased(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),PI3K,Akt and P-Akt were decreased(P＜0.05),and p-akt/Akt decreased(P＜0.01).Conclusion Electroacupuncture at CV4 can significantly up-regulate PI3K/Akt signaling pathway,improve lipid metabolism disorder and accumulation,and reduce body mass in OVX rats.