Transcutaneous electrical stimulation equipment is a kind of characteristic therapeutic devices developed on the basis of the integration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory and modern science and technology, which is widely used in clinical practice. Significant breakthroughs have been made in the development of related devices such as transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) devices, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) devices, and transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) devices in recent years. Although the market for these devices is vast, there are still limitations that need to be optimized in terms of electrode materials and power supply methods, bulky instrument size, cumbersome wiring, restricted applications, and inadequate intelligent functionality. In the future, it is still necessary to further build upon the theoretical foundation of TCM acupuncture, integrate a variety of modern scientific technologies to advance the intelligence and modernization of acupuncture equipment, and thereby improving its capabilities to support clinical practice and research.
Humans ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation/methods* ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

After being treated with acupuncture, some patients with idiopathic tinnitus may experience a short-term aggravation of tinnitus symptoms on the original basis. These symptoms can be gradually relieved and the overall condition fluctuates towards recovery. This phenomenon has brought some difficulties to patients and clinicians. Based on the academic view of TCM, "destroying pathogens and re-building balance", and in association with the existing understanding of acupuncture in modern medicine for tinnitus, this paper briefly discusses the mechanism and influencing factors of symptom fluctuation in patients with idiopathic tinnitus after acupuncture treatment in terms of both TCM and modern medicine, and proposes the future direction in the research of symptom fluctuation, so as to promote the recognition of clinicians and patients on symptom fluctuation and make rational use of its positive effects. Besides, it is hoped that more researchers will pay attention to symptom fluctuation and advance the exploration of it in academic field.
Humans ; Tinnitus/physiopathology* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Male ; Female

Objective:To evaluate the effect of esmketamine for labor analgesia on the occurrence of postpartum depression (PPD).Methods:Two hundred and forty-two cases of nulliparous parturients who selected natural labor and agreed to receive labor analgesia were selected and divided into conventional labor analgesia group (C-LA group, n=119) and esmketamine-based labor analgesia group (E-LA group, n=123). The epidural labor analgesia solution contained ropivacaine 100 mg and sufentanil 30 μg in 100 ml of normal saline in C-LA group. The epidural labor analgesia solution contained ropivacaine 100 mg, sufentanil 30 μg and esketamine 50 mg in 100 ml of normal saline in E-LA group. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to screen parturients for depression on admission to the predelivery room and at 2 h and 1, 7 and 42 days after delivery, and EPDS scores were recorded. The patients were diagnosed as having PPD when EPDS score ≥ 9 at 7-42 days after delivery. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected on admission to the predelivery room and at 1 day after delivery to determine the concentrations of serum estrogen, progesterone, 5-hydroxytryptamine and cortisol by enzyme linked inmunosorbent assay. Results:Compared with group C-LA, the EPDS scores were significantly decreased on the 1 and 42 days after delivery( P<0.01), no significant change was found in the incidence of PPD (1.7%/0.8%, P>0.05), no significant change was found in the concentrations of serum estrogen, progesterone, 5-hydroxytryptamine and cortisol on admission to the delivery room ( P>0.05), and the concentrations of serum progesterone and cortisol were significantly increased on 1 day after delivery in group E-LA ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Combination of esketamine is helpful in reducing the risk of postpartum depression when used for epidural labor analgesia, and the mechanism is related to slowing the declines in blood levels of sex hormones and stress hormones after delivery.

Metastatic vascular calcification and calcinosis universalis, as severe complications of parathyroid hyperfunction and hyperparathyroidism, have attracted more attention in patients with renal secondary hyperparathyroidism and primary hyperparathyroidism. But, they are of little concern in patients with long-term negative calcium balance related parathyroid hyperfunction or hyperparathyroidism caused by calcium and/or vitamin D insufficiency (CVI). CVI is common in the population. Relatively low level of serum calcium and negative calcium balance caused by long-term CVI result in parathyroid hyperfunction or hyperparathyroidism, which may cause secretion of PTH beyond the physiological level, leading to bone absorption and release of a large amount of bone calcium into the blood. It may not only cause bone loss and osteoporosis, but also form metastatic vascular calcification or calcinosis universalis presented by cardiovascular diseases and other multi-organ lesions. Early calcium deposition can gradually fade after reasonable treatment, but middle arterial calcification is not easy to fade once it occurs. Therefore, vascular calcification and calcium deposition should be actively prevented and early screened and diagnosed. The early prevention, diagnosis and treatment of parathyroid hyperfunction or hyperparathyroidism can prevent, delay, or even reverse the occurrence and development of metastatic vascular calcification and calcinosis universalis, which is significant for disease prevention and protecting the patients' health influenced by these diseases.

The lifetime prevalence of nephrolithiasis is 15% for men, with a 5-year recurrence rate of 35% to 50% after an initial event. Although it was initially recommended to limit calcium intake in these patients, a number of studies have reported association between lower total dietary calcium intake and increased risk of incident kidney stones, and that increased calcium intake might reduce the risk of incident kidney stones. We report a 35-year-old male who presented recurrent 8-years of nephrolithiasis and urine crystal with calcium intake restriction, and had no recurrence after 5 years of follow-up after intensive calcium and vitamin D supplementation.

Objective:To observe the perioperative rehabilitation of children undergoing lingual frenoplasty under dexmedetomidine nasal drip combined with esketamine anesthesia.Methods:100 children who underwent lingual frenoplasty in Changsha Maternal and Child Health Hospital from 2020 to 2021 were randomly divided into two groups: the esketamine group (E group, 50 cases) and the dexmedetomidine nasal drip combined with esketamine group (DE group, 50 cases). The mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) , blood oxygen saturation (SpO 2) and respiratory rate (RR) were measured, and the patients were admitted to the post anesthesia recovery unit (PACU) after operation. The modified Aldrete score, Visual Analogue Score (VAS), Wake-up Restlessness Score, food intake (clear water) time and hospital leaving time were observed at 10 min, 30 min, 60 min and 120 min after operation. Results:There was no significant difference in SpO 2 and RR, MAP and HR at T 0 and T 6 between the two groups (all P>0.05). The MAP and HR at T 1, T 2, T 3, T 4 and T 5 in DE group were lower than those in E group (all P<0.05). The modified Aldrete score of DE group was higher than that of E group, and the VAS and Wake-up Restlessness Score were lower than that of E group (all P<0.05); The time of food intake (clear water) and leaving hospital were shorter than those in Group E, with statistically significant difference (all P<0.05). Conclusions:In children′s lingual frenoplasty, dexmedetomidine nasal drip combined with esmketamine can more effectively relieve postoperative pain and agitation than esmketamine alone, shorten children′s postoperative eating time, leave the hospital earlier, and enhance recovery of children.