1.Differences in deltamethrin resistance and kdr gene mutation in Culex tritaeniorhynchus population in and outside the Yellow Sea wetland
Xiao-er ZHANG ; Zhi-ming WU ; Ye TIAN ; Qian CUI ; Yu-qian JI ; Huan WANG ; Shu-juan YANG ; Yi-chao ZHAO ; Yu WANG ; Hua-yu YIN ; Yu DING ; Guo-jin YAN ; Min-sen ZHAO ; Shou-gang ZHANG ; Bing-dong SONG ; Hong-na CHEN ; Jian GAO ; Wei-fang YANG ; Yu-fu ZHANG ; Hui LIU ; Hong-liang CHU
Acta Parasitologica et Medica Entomologica Sinica 2026;33(2):101-107
Objective To gain insights into the biological characteristics of different populations of Culex tritaeniorhynchus within and around the Yellow Sea wetland from the perspective of the occurrence of resistance, we investigated the levels of resistance to deltamethrin and kdr gene mutation in the wetland and its peripheral areas. Methods Specimens were collected from Cx. tritaeniorhynchus populations at two monitoring sites in the Rare Bird National Nature Reserve and Tiaozi Ni Wetland Scenic Area, and also from two populations in Yancheng City and the Liuhe District of Nanjing, and the resistance of these mosquitoes to deltamethrin was determined using the CDC biotest bottle method. For each concentration of deltamethrin assessed, a random subset of exposed specimens was selected for amplification of the kdr gene fragment, followed by Sanger sequencing to identify and analyze resistance-associated mutations. Results The LC50 levels of deltamethrin among mosquitoes from the four populations in Luhe, Yancheng, the Rare Bird National Nature Reserve and the Tiaozi Ni Wetland Scenic Area were 2.048 5, 7.798 2, 3.473 3, and 17.695 5 mg/mL, respectively, with corresponding concentrations of deltamethrin ranging from 0.005 to 5.000,0.050 to 50.000,0.050 to 25.000 and 0.050 to 50.000 mg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the ranges of the KT50 values were 11.76-107.43, 67.05-216.30,29.77-107.43 and 28.40-329.51 min; the 1-h knockdown rates were 34.58%-99.15%, 9.52%-43.80%, 55.09%-73.01%, and 10.09%-68.07%; and the 24-h mortality rates were 12.15%-67.52%,9.52%-79.56%,13.17%-82.21%, and 11.01%-78.99%, respectively. With respect to kdr gene mutation, we assayed a total of 63,70,59, and 57 mosquitoes for the four populations, for which we detected L1014F mutation frequencies of 14.29%, 35.00%, 20.34%, and 31.58%, respectively, with a majority of these mutations being heterozygous for resistance. In addition, five adult mosquitoes were identified has having synonymous mutations at site 1011[i. e. , AAT(asparagine)mutation to AAC(asparagine)]. Conclusions Our findings revealed the clear resistance of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus to deltamethrin in the Yancheng region of the Yellow Sea wetland, and the resistance phenotype and kdr frequency of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus in the wetland environment were comparable to those of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus in the wetland environment, thereby indicating that the resistance of different populations of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus was homogeneous under the pressure of different insecticide selection within and around the wetland. However, the underlying mechanisms need to be further studied.
2.Comparison of setup errors between two postural fixation methods in radiotherapy for breast cancer
Fukui HUAN ; Yu ZHAO ; Chao LIU ; Gengqiang ZHU ; Ruiao ZHAO ; Yongtai ZHENG ; Yandong GE ; Bao WAN ; Bin LIANG
Chongqing Medicine 2025;54(4):921-925
Objective To compare the positioning errors and the motion of acromioclavicular joint in breast cancer patients with integrated cervicothoracic thermoplastic membrane and breast bracket fixation,and to provide reference for accurate irradiation of upper and lower clavicular region.Methods Sixty-three pa-tients with breast cancer who were treated in the radiotherapy center of the hospital from November 1,2021 to August 9,2023 were selected as the study objects,and were divided into the integrated cervicothoracic thermo-plastic membrane group(n=32)and breast bracket group(n=31)according to different positioning meth-ods.The translation errors of left and right direction(X),head and foot direction(Y)and ventral and dorsal direction(Z)and the rotation errors of sagittal plane(Rx),cross section(Ry)and coronal plane(Rz)of the two groups were analyzed,and the movement amplitude and three-dimensional displacement of acromioclavic-ular joint were measured respectively.Results Compared with the breast bracket group,X translation errors[(0.18±0.14)cm vs.(0.15±0.12)cm]and Z translation errors[(0.19±0.14)cm vs.(0.16±0.14)cm]of the cervicothoracic thermoplastic memberane group were greater,Z translation error[(0.21±0.17)cm vs.(0.22±0.21)cm]and Rx rotation error of cervical and sternoclavicular joints[(0.93±0.87)° vs.(1.08±0.92)°]were smaller,Rz rotation error[(1.00±0.94)° vs.(0.95±0.86)°]was greater,and the motion ΔX of acromioclavicular joint[(0.18±0.15)cm vs.(0.25±0.21)cm]was smaller,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion Integrated cervicothoracic thermoplastic membrane can be used as a solu-tion for prophylactic irradiation of breast cancer in the upper and lower clavicular region and for radiation leak-age in the presence of metastasis.
3.Multi-center Study on Specific IgE Antibodies to Alternaria Alternata and Aspergillus Fumigatus in Sera of Clinical Allergy Patients in Selected Provinces in China
Chao XU ; Xingyuan ZHU ; Caizhi HUANG ; Hong ZHU ; Shu WANG ; Hongxia YUAN ; Pengfei ZHAO ; Ji YAN ; Jianhua MA ; Chunlei KUANG ; Yanli XIE ; Rongcai WU ; Yu ZHANG ; Sheng LIANG ; Qunying WANG ; Yingsha DUAN ; Yiwu ZHENG
Journal of Modern Laboratory Medicine 2025;40(3):13-17
Objective To investigate the prevalence of specific IgE antibodies against Alternaria alternata and Aspergillus fumigatus in serum samples from clinical allergy patients across selected provinces in China.Methods Data on specific IgE antibodies for Alternaria A.and Aspergillus F.were collected from 20 hospital laboratories in 17 cities spanning 11 provinces.The study analyzed the levels of specific IgE and their variations across different provinces and seasons.Results A total of 27 471 cases of Alternaria A.and 32 843 cases of Aspergillus F.specific IgE data were included.The national average positive rate of Alternaria A.IgE was 10.40%,with the highest rate of 22.68%in Jiangsu and the lowest rate of 2.06%in Guangxi.For Aspergillus F.specific IgE,the average positive rate was 4.24%,with Hubei province having the highest rate(7.25%)and Hunan province the lowest(1.23%).The difference in IgE levels for both Alternaria A.and Aspergillus F.among provinces were statistically significant(H=9 955,16 993,all P<0.0001).Among patients,5.85%had Alternaria A.specific IgE levels at grade 3 or above,while only 0.57%had Aspergillus F.specific IgE levels at this level.When examining seasonal variations using data from Liaoning,Hunan and Anhui provinces,significant seasonal changes were observed for both Alternaria A.and Aspergillus F.IgE antibodies(HAlternaria A=347.6,338.0,401.3,HAspergillus F=196.6,133.7,231.7,all P<0.0001).Conclusion The sensitization to Alternaria A.and Aspergillus F.exhibits distinct geographical characteristics and vary significantly with seasons.Given the relatively high IgE levels associated with Alternaria A.,it should be given adequate clinical attention.
4.Novel Structural Features of Isoflavone Synthase from Medicago truncatula Shed Light on Its Unique Enzymatic Mechanism
Chao SHI ; Zhao-Yang YE ; Fei XU ; Xiang-Ning DU ; Zhang-Xin CHEN ; Ming-Yue GU ; Jie DENG ; Wei WANG ; Liang-Yu LIU ; Mei-Ying WANG ; Xiao-Dong SU ; He-Li LIU ; Ming-Ying SHANG ; Li-Xin HUANG ; Zhen-Zhan CHANG
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(8):1204-1213,中插1-中插6
Isoflavones which mainly distributed in leguminous plants have plenty of health benefits.Isoflavone synthase(IFS)is a membrane-associated cytochrome P450 enzyme(CYP450)which carries out the unique aryl-ring migration and hydroxylation.So far,few crystal structures of plant P450s have been obtained.We determined the crystal structure of IFS from Medicago truncatula at 1.9 ? by MAD method using a selenomethionine substituted crystal and conducted molecular docking and mutagenesis study.The structure of IFS complexed with imidazole exhibits the helix Ⅰa-loop-helix Ⅰβ motif which cor-responds to helix Ⅰ of other P450s.Compared with structures of common P450s,IFS/imidazole structure contains an extra domain,i.e.,the γ-domain.The structure reveals a homodimer in which the γ-domain of one molecule interacts with the β-domain of another.The plane of heme group makes an angle of ap-proximately 40° with the helix Ⅰa-loop-helix Ⅰβ motif.Molecular docking combined with mutagenesis study suggested that Trp-128 and Asp-300 might play important roles in substrate binding and recogni-tion.Phe-301,Ser-303 and Gly-305 from the helix Ⅰa-loop-helix Ⅰβ motif may play important roles in the aryl-ring migration.These novel structural features reveal insights into the unique reaction mechanism of IFS and provide a basis for engineering IFS in leguminous crops for health purpose.
5.Mechanism of action of D-limonene on steatosis in primary hepatocytes based on AMPK/ACC/CPT1A signaling pathway
Qian-jun REN ; Su LI ; Yu-qing CHEN ; Yin-ying LIAO ; Chun-ni LIANG ; Rui-chao FANG ; Xu-dong LIU ; Xiao-fang ZHAO
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(9):1665-1672
Aim To explore the effects of D-limonene on the steatosis of primary mouse hepatocytes and its potential mechanism of action.Methods Oleic acid-induced steatosis in primary mouse hepatocytes was used as a model to observe the effects of D-limonene on cell viability,cellular lipid content,and intracellular expression of proteins such as AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK),acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase 1(ACC1),and carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1A(CPT1A).Results It was found that a low dose of D-limonene could effectively enhance the viability of primary mouse hepatocytes.When oleic acid at a con-centration of 300 μmol·L-1 successfully induced steatosis in primary mouse hepatocytes,D-limonene re-duced the lipid content of the cells,and D-limonene up-regulated the cellular AMPK expression level,down-regulated the cellular ACC1 and fatty acid synthetase(FAS)expression levels,which in turn promoted the overexpression of CPT1A.Conclusions D-limonene has the effect of reducing lipid deposition in primary mouse hepatocytes,and the mechanisms may be related to the activation of AMPK,the inhibitions of ACC1 and FAS,and the up-regulation of CPT1A protein expres-sion level.
6.Management of tibial cortical cuts by loop plates during reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament by all-inside technique
Liang XU ; Yang TANG ; Gang YU ; Yingming WANG ; Chao FANG ; Di WU ; Qichun ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics 2025;45(8):508-514
Objective:To investigate the management options for loop plate cutting of the tibial cortex during reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) by the all-inside technique.Methods:From January 2022 to December 2024, a total of 13 patients with ACL injury who underwent all-inside reconstruction with tibial lateral loop plate cutting of the cortex and immediate revision for ACL injuries at Department of Sports Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China were retrospectively analyzed (cut group). There were 5 males and 8 females with an average age of 28.7±9.1 years (range, 17-39 years). During the revision, a transverse tunnel was drilled at the distal end of the tibial tunnel, and the loop plate was fixed to the lateral tibial cortex through the transverse tunnel. Matched by gender, age, and side, the patients who underwent ACL reconstruction with all-inside loop steel without cutting the tibial cortex during the same period (the uncut group) were selected as the control group at a ratio of 1∶2, including 10 males and 16 females, aged 29.1±9.3 years (range, 17-39 years). The visual analogue scale (VAS), Tegner score, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and Lysholm score for knee pain before and after surgery were compared between the two groups, and bone tunnel enlargement was assessed using the Peyrache grading scale.Results:All patients were successfully operated and followed up for 13.1±2.5 months and 13.3±2.6 months, respectively. The Lysholm scores of the cutting group before surgery, 6 months after surgery, and 1 year after surgery were 35.44±15.69, 75.21±16.77, and 93.47±18.56 respectively, while those of the uncut group were 37.81±17.33, 71.45±15.82, and 91.05±19.54. The Lysholm scores of both groups 6 months and 1 year after surgery were higher than those before surgery, and the Lysholm scores 1 year after surgery were higher than those 6 months after surgery, with statistically significant differences ( P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the Lysholm scores between the two groups before and after surgery ( P>0.05). The IKDC scores of the cutting group before surgery, 6 months after surgery, and 1 year after surgery were 39.12±14.28, 69.52±15.36, and 84.24±17.91 respectively, while those of the uncut group were 37.46±11.55, 72.81±17.73, and 87.62±18.52. The IKDC scores of both groups 6 months and 1 year after surgery were higher than those before surgery, and the IKDC scores 1 year after surgery were higher than those 6 months after surgery, with statistically significant differences ( P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the IKDC scores between the two groups before and after surgery ( P>0.05). The Tegner scores of the cutting group before surgery, 6 months after surgery, and 1 year after surgery were 1.61±1.11, 3.59±1.66, and 5.59±1.79 respectively, while those of the non-cutting group were 1.57±1.05, 3.47±1.51, and 5.41±1.63. The Tegner scores of both groups 6 months and 1 year after surgery were higher than those before surgery, and the Tegner scores 1 year after surgery were higher than those 6 months after surgery, with statistically significant differences ( P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the Tegner scores between the two groups before and after surgery ( P>0.05). According to Peyrache's grading criteria, 7 cases in the cutting group had femoral side bone tunnel enlargement and 8 cases had tibial side bone tunnel enlargement; 12 cases in the non-cutting group had femoral side bone tunnel enlargement and 15 cases had tibial side bone tunnel enlargement, with no statistically significant differences (χ 2=0.205, P=0.650; χ 2=0.053, P=0.818). At the last follow-up, there were 2 cases of Lachman grade I in the cutting group and 3 cases in the non-cutting group, 1 case of joint stiffness in the cutting group and 2 cases in the non-cutting group. None of the patients in the two groups had vascular nerve injury, deep vein thrombosis, or intra-articular infection. Conclusion:The method of drilling a transverse tunnel at the distal end of the outer opening of the tibial tunnel and fixing the loop plate to the lateral tibial cortex through the transverse tunnel, along with cutting the tibial cortex, can improve the knee joint function.
7.Management of tibial cortical cuts by loop plates during reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament by all-inside technique
Liang XU ; Yang TANG ; Gang YU ; Yingming WANG ; Chao FANG ; Di WU ; Qichun ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics 2025;45(8):508-514
Objective:To investigate the management options for loop plate cutting of the tibial cortex during reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) by the all-inside technique.Methods:From January 2022 to December 2024, a total of 13 patients with ACL injury who underwent all-inside reconstruction with tibial lateral loop plate cutting of the cortex and immediate revision for ACL injuries at Department of Sports Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China were retrospectively analyzed (cut group). There were 5 males and 8 females with an average age of 28.7±9.1 years (range, 17-39 years). During the revision, a transverse tunnel was drilled at the distal end of the tibial tunnel, and the loop plate was fixed to the lateral tibial cortex through the transverse tunnel. Matched by gender, age, and side, the patients who underwent ACL reconstruction with all-inside loop steel without cutting the tibial cortex during the same period (the uncut group) were selected as the control group at a ratio of 1∶2, including 10 males and 16 females, aged 29.1±9.3 years (range, 17-39 years). The visual analogue scale (VAS), Tegner score, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and Lysholm score for knee pain before and after surgery were compared between the two groups, and bone tunnel enlargement was assessed using the Peyrache grading scale.Results:All patients were successfully operated and followed up for 13.1±2.5 months and 13.3±2.6 months, respectively. The Lysholm scores of the cutting group before surgery, 6 months after surgery, and 1 year after surgery were 35.44±15.69, 75.21±16.77, and 93.47±18.56 respectively, while those of the uncut group were 37.81±17.33, 71.45±15.82, and 91.05±19.54. The Lysholm scores of both groups 6 months and 1 year after surgery were higher than those before surgery, and the Lysholm scores 1 year after surgery were higher than those 6 months after surgery, with statistically significant differences ( P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the Lysholm scores between the two groups before and after surgery ( P>0.05). The IKDC scores of the cutting group before surgery, 6 months after surgery, and 1 year after surgery were 39.12±14.28, 69.52±15.36, and 84.24±17.91 respectively, while those of the uncut group were 37.46±11.55, 72.81±17.73, and 87.62±18.52. The IKDC scores of both groups 6 months and 1 year after surgery were higher than those before surgery, and the IKDC scores 1 year after surgery were higher than those 6 months after surgery, with statistically significant differences ( P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the IKDC scores between the two groups before and after surgery ( P>0.05). The Tegner scores of the cutting group before surgery, 6 months after surgery, and 1 year after surgery were 1.61±1.11, 3.59±1.66, and 5.59±1.79 respectively, while those of the non-cutting group were 1.57±1.05, 3.47±1.51, and 5.41±1.63. The Tegner scores of both groups 6 months and 1 year after surgery were higher than those before surgery, and the Tegner scores 1 year after surgery were higher than those 6 months after surgery, with statistically significant differences ( P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the Tegner scores between the two groups before and after surgery ( P>0.05). According to Peyrache's grading criteria, 7 cases in the cutting group had femoral side bone tunnel enlargement and 8 cases had tibial side bone tunnel enlargement; 12 cases in the non-cutting group had femoral side bone tunnel enlargement and 15 cases had tibial side bone tunnel enlargement, with no statistically significant differences (χ 2=0.205, P=0.650; χ 2=0.053, P=0.818). At the last follow-up, there were 2 cases of Lachman grade I in the cutting group and 3 cases in the non-cutting group, 1 case of joint stiffness in the cutting group and 2 cases in the non-cutting group. None of the patients in the two groups had vascular nerve injury, deep vein thrombosis, or intra-articular infection. Conclusion:The method of drilling a transverse tunnel at the distal end of the outer opening of the tibial tunnel and fixing the loop plate to the lateral tibial cortex through the transverse tunnel, along with cutting the tibial cortex, can improve the knee joint function.
8.Design and implementation of night vision simulation training system
Chao ZHAO ; Liang-yu ZHAO ; Jia-li WANG ; Yan WANG ; Hong-yue YANG ; Jian-fei CUI
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2025;46(3):21-26
Objective To design a night vision simulation training system to provide pilots with practical training on ground night vision goggles.Methods The system had its hardware composed of a control stick,a throttle lever,rudder pedals,a head-up display(HUD),a control box,a computer,a projector and a screen.The HUD and control box were designed using night vision-compatible lighting technology to simulate the ambient light conditions pilots experienced when flying with night vision goggles.The software of the system consisted of five ones developed with C++programming languge for visual scene simulation,instrument simulation,flight performance simulation,integrated management control and cockpit manage-ment.Night vision images and computer-rendered images of typical scenes with varying brightness levels were collected.Objective image evaluation metrics such as contrast and brightness were used as inputs,while subjective evaluation data served as outputs to construct and train a support vector machine(SVM)model.Totally 30 typical night vision training scenarios were selected based on model validation and optimization to evaluate the system's optical fidelity.Results The average fidelity score for the 30 typical night vision training scenarios was 8.05,indicating that the system could realistically simulate terrain and landscapes under various lighting and weather conditions during night flights and static and dynamic targets in the air,on the ground and at sea.Conclusion The system meets the desired requirements and effectively facilitates night vision training for pilots.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(3):21-26]
9.Clinical application of three-dimensional printing technology combined with customized bone plate in the treatment of acetabulum fracture.
Yan-Chao ZANG ; Quan-Yong ZHAO ; Li YANG ; Jin-Zeng ZUO ; Wei QI ; Wei-Dong LIANG ; Jie XING
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2025;38(2):203-207
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the application value and clinical effect of 3D printing combined with customized bone plate in the treatment of acetabular fracture.
METHODS:
From June 2020 to June 2022, 11 patients with acetabular fractures underwent preoperative planning using 3D printing technology and were treated with customized bone plates including 8 males and 3 females, aged 25 to 66 years old. The fractures were classified according to Letournel-Judet:4 posterior wall fractures, 2 T-type fractures, 2 transverse posterior wall fractures, 2 double column fractures, and 1 anterior column with posterior semi-transverse fractures. The operative time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative fluoroscopy times, postoperative drainage volume, postoperative fracture healing time, and hip function score were recorded and analyzed.
RESULTS:
The operation time of 11 patients was 80 to 150 min, intraoperative blood volume was 150 to 700 ml, fluoroscopy frequency was 2 to 6, postoperative drainage flow was 60 to 195 ml, and the fracture healing time was 2.5 to 6.0 months. Fracture reduction was evaluated according to Matta score:anatomical reduction in 3 cases and satisfactory reduction in 8 cases. Eleven patients were followed up for 7 to 18 months. The hip Merle d'Aubigne function scores were excellent in 6 cases, good in 3 cases, fair in 1 case and poor in 1 case. Incision fat liquefaction occurred in 1 case and obturator nerve traction in 1 case.
CONCLUSION
The application of 3D printing technology combined with customized bone plates in the treatment of acetabular fracture is effective. In addition, the printed model can provide the operator with the results of the three-dimensional shape of the fracture, which is convenient for surgical reduction and effectively improves the efficiency of surgery.
Humans
;
Female
;
Male
;
Middle Aged
;
Acetabulum/surgery*
;
Printing, Three-Dimensional
;
Adult
;
Aged
;
Bone Plates
;
Fractures, Bone/surgery*
;
Fracture Fixation, Internal/methods*
10.Specific effect of inserted sham acupuncture and its impact on the estimation of acupuncture treatment effect in randomized controlled trials: A systematic survey.
Xiao-Chao LUO ; Jia-Li LIU ; Ming-Hong YAO ; Ye-Meng CHEN ; Arthur Yin FAN ; Fan-Rong LIANG ; Ji-Ping ZHAO ; Ling ZHAO ; Xu ZHOU ; Xiao-Ying ZHONG ; Jia-Hui YANG ; Bo LI ; Ying ZHANG ; Xin SUN ; Ling LI
Journal of Integrative Medicine 2025;23(6):630-640
BACKGROUND:
The use of inserted sham acupuncture as a placebo in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is controversial, because it may produce specific effects that cause an underestimation of the effect of acupuncture treatment.
OBJECTIVE:
This systematic survey investigates the magnitude of insert-specific effects of sham acupuncture and whether they affect the estimation of acupuncture treatment effects.
SEARCH STRATEGY:
PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched to identify acupuncture RCTs from their inception until December 2022.
INCLUSION CRITERIA:
RCTs that evaluated the effects of acupuncture compared to sham acupuncture and no treatment.
DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS:
The total effect measured for an acupuncture treatment group in RCTs were divided into three components, including the natural history and/or regression to the mean effect (controlled for no-treatment group), the placebo effect, and the specific effect of acupuncture. The first two constituted the contextual effect of acupuncture, which is mimicked by a sham acupuncture treatment group. The proportion of acupuncture total effect size was considered to be 1. The proportion of natural history and/or regression to the mean effect (PNE) and proportional contextual effect (PCE) of included RCTs were pooled using meta-analyses with a random-effect model. The proportion of acupuncture placebo effect was the difference between PCE and PNE in RCTs with non-inserted sham acupuncture. The proportion of insert-specific effect of sham acupuncture (PIES) was obtained by subtracting the proportion of acupuncture placebo effect and PNE from PCE in RCTs with inserted sham acupuncture. The impact of PIES on the estimation of acupuncture's treatment effect was evaluated by quantifying the percentage of RCTs that the effect of outcome changed from no statistical difference to statistical difference after removing PIES in the included studies, and the impact of PIES was externally validated in other acupuncture RCTs with an inserted sham acupuncture group that were not used to calculate PIES.
RESULTS:
This analysis included 32 studies with 5492 patients. The overall PNE was 0.335 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.255-0.415) and the PCE of acupuncture was 0.639 (95% CI, 0.567-0.710) of acupuncture's total effect. The proportional contribution of the placebo effect to acupuncture's total effect was 0.191, and the PIES was 0.189. When we modeled the exclusion of the insert-specific effect of sham acupuncture, the acupuncture treatment effect changed from no difference to a significant difference in 45.45% of the included RCTs, and in 40.91% of the external validated RCTs.
CONCLUSION
The insert-specific effect of sham acupuncture in RCTs represents 18.90% of acupuncture's total effect and significantly affects the evaluation of the acupuncture treatment effect. More than 40% of RCTs that used inserted sham acupuncture would draw different conclusions if the PIES had been controlled for. Considering the impact of the insert-specific effect of sham acupuncture, caution should be taken when using inserted sham acupuncture placebos in RCTs. Please cite this article as: Luo XC, Liu JL, Yao MH, Chen YM, Fan AY, Liang FR, Zhao JP, Zhao L, Zhou X, Zhong XY, Yang JH, Li B, Zhang Y, Sun X, Li L. Specific effect of inserted sham acupuncture and its impact on the estimation of acupuncture treatment effect in randomized controlled trials: A systematic survey. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(6):630-640.
Acupuncture Therapy/methods*
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Humans
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Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
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Placebo Effect
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Placebos
;
Treatment Outcome


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