OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy of successive trigger needling combined with conventional acupuncture for cervical spondylosis of qi stagnation and blood stasis. METHODS: A total of 40 patients with cervical spondylosis of qi stagnation and blood stasis were selected, and successive trigger needling at ashi points combined with conventional acupuncture at Baihui (GV20) and bilateral C₃-C₇ Jiaji (EX-B2), Jiquan (HT1), etc. were delivered, once a day, 5 times a week as one course, and 2 courses were required totally. Before treatment and after 1, 2 weeks of treatment, the pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score was observed, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated after treatment. RESULTS: After 1, 2 weeks of treatment, the VAS scores were decreased compared with that before treatment (P<0.001). After treatment, the total effective rate was 97.5% (39/40). CONCLUSION Successive trigger needling combined with conventional acupuncture can effectively treat the cervical spondylosis of qi stagnation and blood stasis, reduce pain and improve the clinical symptoms and signs.
Humans ; Spondylosis/physiopathology* ; Male ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Qi ; Aged ; Acupuncture Points ; Treatment Outcome ; Combined Modality Therapy

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of "Zhibian" (BL54)-toward-"Shuidao" (ST28) needling technique on the relative protein expression of the signaling pathway of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 1 (NOD1)/ receptor-interacting protein 2 (RIP2)/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in the rats with primary dysmenorrhea (PD), so as to explore the underlying mechanism of this acupuncture technique for pain alleviation in PD. METHODS: Thirty female SD rats of SPF grade with normal estrous cycle were randomized into a blank group, a model group and an acupuncture group, 10 rats in each one. Using the intraperitoneal injection with estradiol benzoate combined with oxytocin, PD model was prepared in the model group and the acupuncture group. In the acupuncture group, during model preparation, the intervention with "Zhibian" (BL54)-toward-"Shuidao" (ST28) needling technique was delivered simultaneously, 20 min each time, once daily for consecutive 10 days. On day 11, within 30 min after the intraperitoneal injection with oxytocin, the writhing reaction (latency, frequency and score) was recorded; the morphology of uterine tissue was observed with HE staining, the contents of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in the serum were detected using ELISA method; the relative protein expression of NOD1, RIP2, NF-κB p65, phosphorylation-NF-κB p65 (p-NF-κB p65) was detected in the uterine tissue using Western blot method; and the mRNA expression of NOD1, RIP2 and NF-κB p65 was detected with the quantitative real-time PCR employed. RESULTS: Compared with the blank group, in the model group, the writhing latency was prolonged (P<0.01), the writhing frequency and score increased (P<0.01) in the rats; the endometrial epithelial cells showed massive degeneration and necrosis, with severe endometrial edema and widespread shedding, combined with neutrophil infiltration; the serum PGE₂ content was dropped (P<0.01), while those of PGF_2α, IL-1β, IL-18, COX-2, and TNF-α elevated (P<0.01); the protein expression of NOD1, RIP2, NF-κB p65 and p-NF-κB p65, and the mRNA expression of NOD1, RIP2 and NF-κB p65 in uterine tissue increased (P<0.01). In comparison with the model group, in the acupuncture group, the writhing latency was prolonged (P<0.01), the writhing frequency and score were reduced (P<0.01) in the rats; there was less degeneration and necrosis of endometrial epithelial cells, with mild endometrial edema and very little neutrophil infiltration; the serum PGE₂ content increased (P<0.01), while those of PGF_2α, IL-1β, IL-18, COX-2, and TNF-α decreased (P<0.01); the protein expression of NOD1, RIP2, NF-κB p65 and p-NF-κB p65 and the mRNA expression of NOD1, RIP2 and NF-κB p65 in uterine tissue were dropped (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION "Zhibian" (BL54)-toward-"Shuidao" (ST28) needling technique can alleviate the pain symptom of PD rats, and its action mechanism may be related to inhibiting the active expression of NOD1/RIP2/NF-κB signaling pathway in the uterine tissue, thereby reducing the inflammatory response.
Animals ; Female ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; Dysmenorrhea/metabolism* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Acupuncture Analgesia ; Nod1 Signaling Adaptor Protein/metabolism* ; Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinase 2/metabolism* ; Acupuncture Therapy

OBJECTIVE: To explore the possible mechanism by which the "Zhibian" (BL54) toward "Shuidao" (ST28) acupuncture improves ovarian function in mice with poor ovarian response (POR) by observing its effect on gut microbiota. METHODS: A total of 35 SPF-grade C57BL/6 female mice were screened for normal estrous cycles using vaginal smears, and 30 mice were selected. Ten mice were assigned to the blank group, while the remaining mice were used to establish the POR model by intragastric administration of tripterygium wilfordii suspension. The successfully modeled mice were randomly divided into a model group and an acupuncture group, with 10 mice in each group. After modeling, the acupuncture group received the "Zhibian" (BL54) toward "Shuidao" (ST28) acupuncture method once daily for 20 minutes per session. Ovulation induction began the day after the intervention, and samples were collected after ovulation induction. Vaginal cytology was used to observe estrous cycle changes, and the number of oocytes obtained, ovarian wet weight, and ovarian index were recorded. Serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) were detected using ELISA. HE staining was used to observe ovarian histology. Gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology. Western blot was used to detect the relative protein expression levels of Occludin and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in colonic tissue. Correlation analysis was conducted among serum hormone indexes, the number of oocytes obtained, ovarian index and gut microbiota. RESULTS: Compared with the blank group, the model group showed a higher estrous cycle disorder rate (P<0.01), increased serum FSH and LH levels, and a higher LH/FSH ratio (P<0.01), while the number of oocytes obtained, ovarian wet weight, ovarian index, and serum E2 and AMH levels were significantly reduced (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the acupuncture group showed a lower estrous cycle disorder rate (P<0.01), decreased serum FSH and LH levels, and a lower LH/FSH ratio (P<0.01), along with an increased number of oocytes obtained, higher ovarian wet weight, ovarian index, and elevated serum AMH and E2 levels (P<0.01, P<0.05). The blank group had a large number of well-developed primordial follicles, with abundant and closely arranged follicles at various stages. In the model group, there was a significant increase in the number of atretic follicles, a reduction in the number of follicles at various stages, and loosely arranged ovarian tissue. Compared with the blank group, the model group showed a significant decrease in the number of normal follicles (P<0.01) and an increase in the number of atretic follicles (P<0.01). The acupuncture group showed a reduction in atretic follicles and an increase in the number of follicles at various stages compared with the model group, with a significant increase in normal follicles (P<0.01) and a decrease in atretic follicles (P<0.01). Compared with the blank group, the model group exhibited reduced gut microbiota diversity and richness, with significantly lower Chao1 and Shannon indices (P<0.01), and a greater clustering distance from the blank group. The model group also showed an increase in the relative abundance of Firmicutes_D, Verrucomicrobiota, Paramuribaculum, Dubosiella, and Muribaculum (P<0.01, P<0.05), while the relative abundance of Firmicutes_A and the relative protein expression of Occludin and ZO-1 in colonic tissue were decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the acupuncture group showed improved gut microbiota diversity and richness, with increased Chao1 and Shannon indices (P<0.05), and a clustering distance closer to the blank group. The acupuncture group exhibited reduced relative abundance of Firmicutes_D, Verrucomicrobiota, and Muribaculum (P<0.05, P<0.01), while the relative abundance of Firmicutes_A and the relative protein expression of Occludin and ZO-1 were significantly increased (P<0.01, P<0.05). Correlation analysis indicated a relationship between gut microbiota and serum hormone indicators, as well as the ovarian index. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis showed that the metabolic pathways of the intersecting species were related to amino acid biosynthesis and nucleotide metabolism. CONCLUSION The "Zhibian" (BL54) toward "Shuidao" (ST28) acupuncture method improves ovarian function in POR mice, and its mechanism may be related to regulating gut microbiota structure and maintaining intestinal barrier homeostasis.
Animals ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Mice ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Humans ; Ovary/physiopathology* ; Acupuncture Points ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone/metabolism* ; Luteinizing Hormone/metabolism* ; Estrous Cycle ; Anti-Mullerian Hormone/blood*

The expert consensus on the clinical treatment of herpes zoster with fire needling was developed, and the commonly used fire needling treatment scheme verified by clinical research was selected to form a standardized diagnosis and treatment scheme for acute herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), so as to answer the core problems in clinical application. The consensus focuses on patients with herpes zoster, and forms recommendations for 9 key clinical issues, covering simple fire needling and TCM comprehensive therapy based on fire needling, including fire needling combined with cupping, fire needling combined with Chinese herb, fire needling combined with cupping and Chinese herb, fire needling combined with filiform needling, fire needling combined with moxibustion, and provides specific recommendations and operational guidelines for various therapies.
Humans ; Herpes Zoster/therapy* ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Consensus ; Clinical Protocols

Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy of axillary transthoracic approach and posterior approach in the treatment of upper thoracic tuberculosis with vertebral clearance, bone graft fusion, and internal fixation surgery.Methods:Fifty five patients with upper thoracic tuberculosis admitted to Changsha Central Hospital, University of South China from March 2017 to March 2022 were selected and divided into axillary transthoracic group and posterior group according to different surgical approaches. The incision length, surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative hospitalization time were compared between the two groups of patients. Two groups of patients were recorded for preoperative and postoperative pain visual analog scale (VAS) scores, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores at 1 week, 3 months, and 12 months, preoperative and postoperative serum inflammatory indicators, CD4 + /CD8 + ratio of T lymphocyte subsets, and complications. Results:The incision length, operation time, and intraoperative blood loss in the axillary transthoracic group were significantly less than those in the posterior group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference in postoperative hospitalization time between the two groups of patients ( P>0.05). The VAS and ODI scores of the two groups of patients showed significant improvement compared to preoperative levels at 1 week, 3 months, and 12 months after surgery (all P<0.05); And at 1 week and 3 months after surgery, the VAS scores of patients in the axillary transthoracic group were significantly lower than those in the posterior group (all P<0.05), and the ODI scores at 3 and 12 months after surgery were significantly lower than those in the posterior group (all P<0.05). The erythrocyte sedimentation rate and CRP levels of both groups of patients increased significantly one week after surgery compared with preoperative levels (all P<0.05), but the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and CRP levels basically returned to normal levels at three months after surgery. The CD4 + /CD8 + ratio of T lymphocyte subsets in both groups was lower than preoperative levels at one week after surgery, but with the continuation of treatment, the CD4 + /CD8 + ratio increased significantly at three months after surgery. Conclusions:Both axillary and posterior approaches can be used for surgical treatment of upper thoracic tuberculosis, but axillary and thoracic approaches have the advantages of less trauma, less bleeding, and faster recovery.

Objective To establish and validate a risk prediction model based on multiple blood routine parameters for preliminary differential diagnosis of influenza A and influenza like illness(ILI)in children.Methods Children with influenza A(n=2 686)and ILI(n=1 369)who were treated in Department of Pediatrics,The First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University(Second Military Medical University)from Jul.1,2022 to Jun.30,2023 were enrolled,and their clinical and laboratory features were collected for retrospective analysis.According to age,patients were divided into 2 subgroups:1 year≤age≤6 years and 6 years＜age≤16 years.Patients in each subgroup were randomly divided into training set(70%)and internal validation set(30%).Children with influenza A(n=204)and ILI(n=404)who were treated in Department of Pediatrics of The Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University(Second Military Medical University)and Naval Hospital of PLA Eastern Theater Command from Jul.1,2022 to Jun.30,2023 were selected as the external validation set.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed on the training set to obtain the independent influencing factors of influenza A.The prediction model based on these factors were displayed as a nomogram.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve,Hosmer-Lemeshow test,and decision curve analysis(DCA)were used to evaluate the performance of the model from 3 aspects:discrimination,calibration,and clinical practicality,respectively.The diagnostic performance of the model was verified in both internal validation set and external validation set.Results In the subgroup of 1 year≤age≤6 years,age,white blood cell count,lymphocyte count and C reactive protein were the independent influencing factors of influenza A(all P＜0.01);the area under the curve(AUC)value of the established nomogram prediction model for identifying influenza A was 0.746 in the training set,0.771 in the internal validation set,and 0.753 in the external validation set;the predicted probability of the model was highly consistent with the actual probability(P=0.216);and taking intervention measures within a threshold probability range of 16%-60%could yield net benefits.In the subgroup of 6 years＜age≤16 years,gender,white blood cell count and lymphocyte count were the independent influencing factors of influenza A(all P＜0.01);the AUC value of the established nomogram prediction model for identifying influenza A was 0.733,0.747 in the internal validation set,and 0.753 in the external validation set;the predicted probability of the model was highly consistent with the actual probability(P=0.06);and taking intervention measures within a threshold probability range of 12%-58%could yield net benefits.Conclusion This risk prediction model based on easily obtainable blood routine parameters shows good diagnostic performance for influenza A,with high accuracy and clinical practicality.

Objective:To investigate the current status of therapeutic relationships, organizational support, and compassion fatigue among psychiatric nurses, and to analyze the mechanism of action between these variables.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. From August to September 2023, totally 310 psychiatric nurses were selected from three ClassⅢ Grade A psychiatric hospitals in Qingdao, Jinan, and Linyi by convenience sampling. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, the Therapeutic Relationship Assessment Scale-Nurse (TRAS-N), the Perceived Organizational Support Scale (POSS), and the Chinese version of Compassion Fatigue short Scale (CCFS). SPSS 22.0 and the Process macro plugin were used for data analysis.Results:A total of 310 questionnaires were distributed, with 282 valid responses, yielding a response rate of 90.97%. The total score for TRAS-N among the 282 psychiatric nurses was (95.59±18.75), the total score for CCFS was 45.50 (24.75, 68.25), and the total score for POSS was (43.66±13.34). Therapeutic relationships were positively correlated with organizational support and negatively correlated with compassion fatigue, while organizational support was negatively correlated with compassion fatigue (all P< 0.01). Organizational support had a direct positive effect on therapeutic relationships (β=0.291, P<0.01) and also had an indirect effect through the mediating effect of compassion fatigue (β=0.212, P<0.01), with the mediation effect accounting for 42.15% of the total effect. Conclusions:Compassion fatigue partially mediates the relationship between organizational support and therapeutic relationships in psychiatric nurses. Nursing managers should enhance organizational support for psychiatric nurses to reduce their levels of compassion fatigue, thereby improving therapeutic relationships.

China has classified the Corona Virus Disease 2019(COVID-19) as a statutory category B infectious disease and managed it according to Category B since January 8, 2023.In view that Omicron variant is currently the main epidemic strain in China, in order to guide the treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) infection in children with the times, refer to the Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for Novel Coronavirus Infection (Trial 10 th Edition), Expert Consensus on Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Novel Coronavirus Infection in Children (Fourth Edition) and the Diagnosis and Treatment Strategy for Pediatric Related Viral Infections.The Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Novel Coronavirus Infection in Children (Fifth Edition) has been formulated and updated accordingly on related etiology, epidemiology, pathogenic mechanism, clinical manifestations, auxiliary examination, diagnosis and treatment, and added key points for the treatment of COVID-19 related encephalopathy, fulminating myocarditis and other serious complications for clinical reference.

Objective:To investigate the value of quantitative parameters of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in predicting the efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy for children and adolescents with mature aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).Methods:It was a retrospective multicenter study.Clinical data of 44 children and adolescents diagnosed with mature aggressive B-cell NHL between January 2016 and January 2023 in Henan Cancer Hospital, Beijing Gaobo Boren Hospital, and the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were divided into complete response (CR) group and non-CR group based on the international criteria for the diagnosis of pediatric NHL.Quantitative parameters of MRI, including T2 signal intensity, the minimal apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCmin), maximal ADC (ADCmax), and the mean ADC (ADCmean) were measured before and within 2 weeks after CAR-T infusion.The correlation between the above parameters and the achievement of CR was analyzed.The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to assess the inter-observer agreement among observers in measuring quantitative parameters of MRI.Differences between groups were analyzed using the independent sample t-test.Factors influencing CR were identified through the binary Logistic regression analysis, and a prediction model was established.Model performance was evaluated by plotting receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results:Significant differences were observed between the CR group and non-CR group in T2 signal intensity before CAR-T infusion (267±152 vs.364±160, P=0.048), and ADCmin (0.94±0.38 vs.0.53±0.28, P<0.05), ADCmax (1.73±0.69 vs.0.84±0.43, P<0.05), ADCmean (1.28±0.48 vs.0.67±0.33, P<0.05), and T2 signal intensity within 2 weeks after CAR-T infusion (198±139 vs.345±168, P=0.004). A univariate prediction model was created by introducing the above quantitative parameters.The area under the curve (AUC), specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy of T2 signal intensity before CAR-T infusion in predicting the efficacy on children and adolescents with mature aggressive B-cell NHL were 0.800, 84.0%, 57.9%, and 72.7%, respectively.The AUC, specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy of ADCmax within 2 weeks of CAR-T infusion were 0.958, 88.0%, 78.9%, and 84.1%, respectively.The AUC, specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy of T2 signal intensity within 2 weeks of CAR-T infusion were 0.869, 84.0%, 68.4%, and 77.3%, respectively. Conclusions:Quantitative parameters of MRI, including ADC values and T2 signal intensity, are of great significance in the early prediction of CAR-T therapy efficacy on children and adolescents with mature aggressive B-cell NHL.Among these parameters, ADCmax presents the strongest predictive performance and serves as a valuable indicator for predicting a complete response with CAR-T treatment.

Objective:To investigate the feasibility of the surgical mode of immediate implant-based breast reconstruction (IIBR) with silicone implants under subcutaneous tissue directly after the total mastectomy in breast cancer.Methods:Data of 53 patients who underwent (skin-sparing mastectomy, SSM) or (nipple-areola-complex-sparing mastectomy, NSM) combined with IIBR in Department of Breast Surgery, Maoming People’s Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups, 31 cases with the silicone implant placed in different anatomical locations of the chest wall, including subcutaneous tissue, and 22 cases with subpectoral space implantation followed NSM or SSM. The two groups were compared in terms of the short-term and long-term complications, as well as the aesthetic outcome. Within 12 months the local recurrence rate was collected to evaluate the treatment safety of the two groups preserving the thickness of subcutaneous adipose after NSM or SSM.Results:There was no nipple-areola-complex (NAC) or skin flap for both groups, and the time of removing the drainage tube had no significant difference ( P>0.05) . There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the short-term complications within 6 months (repeated local infection and unknown effusion occurrence) , the long-term complications after 6 months (local skin with wrinkles sign, prosthesis displacement, and grade III-IV capsular contracture ( P>0.05) . However, the subcutaneous tissue implant group were superior ( P<0.05) in cosmetic outcome because of the breast had better symmetry. What’s more, no local tumor recurrence occurred in either group within 12 months. Conclusions:IIBR of subcutaneous tissue implantation (without patches) is an economical, novel, safe, and effective surgical mode for breast reconstruction, and the key to this operation mode depends on quality control of surgical procedures and the thickness of skin flap ≥ 1cm covering silicone implants. However, due to the cases enrolled in this study is not enough and short follow-up time, further clinical studies are still needed.