The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding acupuncture direction published from January 1st, 2013, to November 7th, 2023 were searched in China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, and VIP Chinese Journal Database. As a result, 21 RCTs were included. The problems identified included conceptual misunderstandings regarding acupuncture direction, incomplete selection strategies, confounding research factors, and inaccuracies in reporting. Based on the findings, four strategic approaches for enhancing therapeutic efficacy through acupuncture direction were summarized: aligning needle direction with the meridian pathway, directing the needle toward the lesion site, orienting the needle toward adjacent acupoints, and targeting special anatomical structures. Two additional strategies were proposed for optimizing the procedure: simplifying acupuncture operations and directing the needle toward safe anatomical sites. Recommendations were made to improve the rationality of research factor settings and the completeness of acupuncture operation reporting. Furthermore, three methods for reporting acupuncture direction were discussed: reporting the tip-pointed position, reporting the insertion angle and orientation, and reporting azimuth and polar angles, aiming to promote greater standardization and completeness in acupuncture practice and reporting.
Acupuncture Therapy/standards* ; Humans ; Acupuncture Points ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Meridians

In this study， bibliometric methods were used to systematically investigate the name and origin， the evolution of prescription composition， dose evolution， origin and processing method， decoction method， ancient application， modified application， modern application and other information of Huoxiang Zhengqisan. After research， Huoxiang Zhengqisan， also known as Huoxiang Zhengqitang， was first recorded in Taiping Huimin Hejijufang. The original formula is composed of 41.3 g of Arecae Pericarpium， 41.3 g of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix， 41.3 g of Perilla frutescens（actually Perillae Folium）， 41.3 g of Poria， 82.6 g of Pinelliae Rhizoma， 82.6 g of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma， 82.6 g of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium（actually Citri Exocarpium Rubbum）， 82.6 g of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex， 82.6 g of Platycodonis Radix， 123.9 g of Pogostemonis Herba， and 103.25 g of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. In this formula， Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex is processed according to the specifications for ginger-processed products， Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma is processed according to the specifications for stir-fried products， and other herbs are used in their raw products. The botanical sources of the herbs are consistent with the 2020 edition of Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China. The above herbs are ground into a fine powder with a particle size passing through a No. 5 sieve. For each dose， take 8.26 g of the powdered formula， add 300 mL of water， along with 3 g of Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens and 3 g of Jujubae Fructus， and decoct until reduced to 140 mL. The decoction should be administered hot， with three times daily. To induce sweating， the patient should be kept warm under a quilt， and an additional dose should be prepared and taken if needed. This formula is traditionally used to relieve the exterior and resolve dampness， regulate Qi and harmonize the middle， which is mainly used to treat a series of diseases of digestive and respiratory systems. However， potential adverse reactions， including allergies， purpura and disulfiram-like reactions， should be considered during clinical use. Huoxiang Zhengqisan features a rational composition， extensive clinical application， and strong potential for further research and development.

In this study， bibliometric methods were used to systematically investigate the name and origin， the evolution of prescription composition， dose evolution， origin and processing method， decoction method， ancient application， modified application， modern application and other information of Huoxiang Zhengqisan. After research， Huoxiang Zhengqisan， also known as Huoxiang Zhengqitang， was first recorded in Taiping Huimin Hejijufang. The original formula is composed of 41.3 g of Arecae Pericarpium， 41.3 g of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix， 41.3 g of Perilla frutescens（actually Perillae Folium）， 41.3 g of Poria， 82.6 g of Pinelliae Rhizoma， 82.6 g of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma， 82.6 g of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium（actually Citri Exocarpium Rubbum）， 82.6 g of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex， 82.6 g of Platycodonis Radix， 123.9 g of Pogostemonis Herba， and 103.25 g of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. In this formula， Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex is processed according to the specifications for ginger-processed products， Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma is processed according to the specifications for stir-fried products， and other herbs are used in their raw products. The botanical sources of the herbs are consistent with the 2020 edition of Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China. The above herbs are ground into a fine powder with a particle size passing through a No. 5 sieve. For each dose， take 8.26 g of the powdered formula， add 300 mL of water， along with 3 g of Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens and 3 g of Jujubae Fructus， and decoct until reduced to 140 mL. The decoction should be administered hot， with three times daily. To induce sweating， the patient should be kept warm under a quilt， and an additional dose should be prepared and taken if needed. This formula is traditionally used to relieve the exterior and resolve dampness， regulate Qi and harmonize the middle， which is mainly used to treat a series of diseases of digestive and respiratory systems. However， potential adverse reactions， including allergies， purpura and disulfiram-like reactions， should be considered during clinical use. Huoxiang Zhengqisan features a rational composition， extensive clinical application， and strong potential for further research and development.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risks and benefits of different resuscitation fluids in patients with early sepsis and septic shock by observing and comparing clinical indicators, clinical outcomes, and the concentration changes of glycocalyx biomarkers, and to determine how to appropriately select suitable resuscitation fluids for sepsis patients to aid fluid therapy. METHODS: A single center, prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted. Patients with early sepsis and septic shock who have required fluid resuscitation after capacity status assessment admitted to the department of critical care medicine of Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from April to October 2023 were enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (balanced crystalloid solution+albumin) or the control group (balanced crystalloid solution) by a random number table method. Clinical data of both groups of patients before and after resuscitation at 3, 8, and 24 hours were monitored, and blood samples were collected, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the concentration of plasma glycocalyx biomarker syndecan-1. The 28-day and 90-day survival rates and complications were also assessed. RESULTS: A total of 66 patients were enrolled, including 44 in the experimental group and 22 in the control group. The baseline data of two groups were balanced and comparable. There was no statistically significant difference in the plasma concentration of syndecan-1 between the experimental group and the control group before and after resuscitation, and both showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. However, the plasma syndecan-1 level in the control group at 8 hours and 24 hours after resuscitation were significantly higher than the baseline level before resuscitation [ng/L: 19.02 (14.41, 27.80), 18.95 (12.40, 22.50) vs. 14.67 (11.57, 21.14), both P < 0.05], while there was no statistically significant difference at any time point within the experimental group. The correlation analysis between plasma syndecan-1 level and lactic acid, albumin, and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) in all patients showed that a positive correlation between syndecan-1 level and SOFA score before resuscitation (r = 0.247, P = 0.046), and a negative correlation between syndecan-1 level and albumin level at 24 hours after resuscitation (r = -0.308, P = 0.012). There were no statistically significant differences in 28-day and 90-day mortality, length of hospital stay, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, blood purification time, number of organ injuries, and complications between the two groups. However, the baseline albumin level in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group (g/L: 28.7±4.5 vs. 31.6±4.2, P < 0.05). Analysis of clinical treatment data showed that compared with the control group, the experimental group had lower absolute lactate level at 8 hours and 24 hours after resuscitation [mmol/L: 8 hours was 1.30 (1.00, 1.88) vs. 1.60 (1.30, 3.05), 24 hours was 1.15 (0.80, 1.78) vs. 1.55 (1.08, 2.05), both P < 0.05], and higher lactate clearance rate [8 hours was 45% (27%, 56%) vs. 20% (-4%, 46%), 24 hours was 55% (34%, 70%) vs. 34% (-14%, 59%), both P < 0.05]. However, there were no statistically significant differences in the amount of fluid resuscitation, use of vasoactive drugs, and oxygenation index between the two groups during the resuscitation process. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that body mass index (BMI) was independently correlated with 90-day mortality [odds ratio (OR) = 1.991, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 1.023-3.387, P = 0.043]. CONCLUSIONS There are no significant difference in plasma syndecan-1 level during fluid resuscitation of early sepsis and septic shock patients using balanced crystalloid fluid and balanced crystalloid fluid combined with albumin resuscitation, and there are no statistically significant differences in the impact on 28-day and 90-day prognosis, length of hospital stay, complications, and other aspects of the patients. However, compared to balanced crystalloid fluid, the combination of balanced crystalloid fluid and albumin for fluid resuscitation in sepsis patients has lower lactate level and better lactate clearance effect, but further validation is still needed through large-scale randomized controlled trials.
Humans ; Clinical Relevance ; Crystalloid Solutions/administration & dosage* ; Fluid Therapy/methods* ; Glycocalyx/metabolism* ; Isotonic Solutions/administration & dosage* ; Prospective Studies ; Resuscitation/methods* ; Sepsis/therapy* ; Shock, Septic/therapy* ; Syndecan-1/blood*

Penicillin G acylases (PGAs) are industrially important enzymes primarily used for the synthesis of first- and second-generation cephalosporins or penicillins. This study aims to establish a high-efficiency biosynthetic system for cefradine on the purpose of significantly enhancing its catalytic efficiency in cefradine synthesis and developing its potentials for industrial application. In this study, we identified and engineered penicillin G acylase and obtained a highly active mutant KsPGA M7(M168F/F313G) for the synthesis of cefradine. The mutant achieved a conversion rate over 95% in the scaled-up reaction. To validate its industrial applicability, we immobilized both the wild-type and mutant enzymes and applied them in continuous flow reactions, which achieved a space-time yield of 2 800 g/(L·d). This study lays a foundation for the future applications of penicillin G acylases in the industrial synthesis of cefradine.
Penicillin Amidase/biosynthesis* ; Protein Engineering/methods* ; Cephradine/metabolism* ; Escherichia coli/metabolism* ; Enzymes, Immobilized/metabolism* ; Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis*

Objective To investigate the effect of glycine N-methyl transferase (GNMT)on intrauterine adhesion (IUA)fibrosis and its related mechanism.Methods In vivo experiment:A total of 36 healthy female SD rats (SPF grade,6～8 weeks old and weighing from 180～220 g)were subjected in this study.IUA model of SD rats and IUA model of GNMT overexpressed rats were established.RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence assay were applied to detect GNMT expression level in normal uterus and model group.RT-qPCR and Western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein levels of fibrosis-related molecules and the activation of TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway in each group.The number of endometrial glands in each group was observed by HE staining.Masson staining was used to analyze the severity of endometrial fibrosis in each group.In vitro experiment:transformed human endometrial stromal cells (THESCs)fibrotic phenotype model was constructed using TGF-β1,and THESCs stably transfected with GNMT overexpression lentvirus were treated with TGF-β1.RT-qPCR and Western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of fibrosis-related molecules.The expression of TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway was detected by Western blotting.TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway was activated by TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway activator (SRI-011381),and the expression of TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway and key molecular proteins of fibrosis phenotype was measured with Western blotting.Results In vivo experiment,the mRNA and protein expression levels of GNMT were significantly decreased in the IUA rats than the control rats (P<0.05).Overexpression of GNMT decreased the mRNA and protein levels of fibrosis related molecules,Collagen Ⅰ,Collagen Ⅲ and FN in the IUA rats (P<0.05),and decreased the phosphorylation levels of TGF-β1 and its downstream Smad3 protein (P<0.05).HE and Masson staining showed that overexpression of GNMT could increase the number of endometrial glands and reduce the severity of fibrosis in the IUA rats (P<0.05).In vitro experiments:overexpression of GNMT decreased the mRNA and protein levels of Collagen Ⅰ,Collagen Ⅲ and FN associated with fibrotic phenotype of THESCs (P<0.05),and reduced the phosphorylation level of Smad3 protein,downstream of TGF-β1 (P<0.05).After activation of TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway,the protein levels of TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway and downstream fibrosis phenotype molecules,Collagen Ⅲ and FN,were significantly decreased in the LV-GNMT+SRI-011381 group.Conclusion Overexpression of GNMT can inhibit endometrial fibrosis by regulating TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway,thus achieving therapeutic effect on IUA.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of back-Shu and front-Mu points combination needling on balance and walking function in patients after stroke and its mechanism. Methods:A total of 79 patients with post-stroke balance and walking dysfunction were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group.Both groups received conventional treatments such as dietary guidance and oral medications as well as rehabilitation training.On this basis,the control group was treated with additional conventional acupuncture,and the observation group was treated with additional back-Shu and front-Mu points combination needling.Both groups were treated for 4 consecutive weeks.The thickness of abdominal muscle group(transverse abdominal muscle,rectus abdominis,obliquus internus abdominis,and obliquus externus abdominis),the scores of Berg balance scale(BBS),Fugl-Meyer assessment(FMA),and functional ambulation categories(FAC),and walking velocity and stride were compared between the two groups. Results:During the trial,there was 1 dropout case in the control group and 4 dropout cases in the observation group.Before treatment,there were no statistical differences in the abdominal muscle group thickness,scores of BBS,FMA,and FAC,and walking velocity and stride between the two groups(P>0.05).After 4 weeks of treatment,the thickness of abdominal muscle groups,scores of BBS,FMA,and FAC,and walking velocity and stride in both groups were improved(P<0.01),and the observation group was superior to the control group(P<0.05). Conclusion:Both conventional acupuncture and back-Shu and front-Mu points combination needling are conducive to the improvement of balance and walking function in patients after stroke.The back-Shu and front-Mu points combination needling method has better curative efficacy.Strengthening the core muscle group strength may be one of the mechanisms of back-Shu and front-Mu points combination needling treatment.

Objective To evaluate the accuracy and reliability of tear film rupture time(TBUT)measurement in the diagnosis of dry eye in adolescents.Methods A total of 185 adolescents with dry eye treated in our hospital from September 2021 to September 2023 were selected as the observation group,and 20 healthy adolescents were selected as the control group.The accuracy and reliability evaluation of TBUT measurement in the diagnosis of dry eye in adolescents were analyzed.Results Among 185 patients,invasive TBUT detection detected 132 cases,the total detection rate was 71.35% ,non-invasive TBUT detection detected 160 cases,the total detection rate was 84.49% ,there was a statistical difference between groups(P＜0.05).Among the 185 patients,there were 128 cases of non-meibomian gland dysfunction and 57 cases of meibomian gland dysfunction.The detection rate of non-meibomian gland dysfunction by invasive TBUT detection was 41.62% ,and the detection rate of meibomian gland dysfunction was 29.73% ,and the detection rate of non-invasive TBUT detection was 63.24% ,and the detection rate of meibomian gland dysfunction was 23.24% .There was statistical difference between groups(P＜0.05).Compared with control group,TBUT,initial TBUT and average TBUT in observation group were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with group A,TBUT,first time TBUT and average TBUT in group B were significantly decreased,with statistical difference between groups(P＜0.05).The sensitivity,specificity and AUC of invasive TBUT detection were 72.49% ,75.88% and 0.762,and the sensitivity,specificity and area under the curve(AUC)of non-invasive TBUT detection were 87.24% ,90.05% and 0.926.Conclusion TBUT has diagnostic value in the diagnosis of juvenile dry eye,and compared with invasive TBUT,non-invasive TBUT is more accurate and reliable.

Objective:To compare the test methods for aluminum content determination in vaccines by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry(ICP-MS),inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry(ICP-OES)and titration of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020.Methods:The pre-treatment procedures,linearity,repeatability,accuracy,quantification limit,detection limit and sample determination results of the three methods were compared and analyzed by methodological verification and sample testing.Results:There was a good linear relationship of ICP-OES in the concentration range of 1-20μg·mL-1 aluminum content,r=0.9999.Aluminum content in 6 types of vaccines was in the range of 99％-104.6％,and RSDs were lower than 3％(n=9).There was a good linear relationship of ICP-MS in the concentration range of 2.5-80ng·mL-1(r=0.999).Aluminum content in 6 types of vaccines were in the range of 99.4％-108.9％,and RSDs were lower than 8％(n=9).There was no significant difference between the three methods in the determination of aluminum content in vaccines,and RSDs were lower than 10％.Conclusion:Both ICP-MS and ICP-OES methods can be used for the determination of alu-minum content in aluminum adjuvant vaccine.Both detection methods are simple,fast and accurate.ICP-OES has lower instrument costs and is easier to promote in the laboratory.

Population aging in China has led to an increase in the incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysm(AAA).AAA rupture is one of the most severe life-threatening diseases,with high mortality.The main histopathological features of AAA include elastin degradation,smooth muscle cell depletion,extracellular matrix digestion,and mural leukocyte accumulation.Clinically,drug therapy is still lacking,and open/endovascular repair remains the most effective treatment strategy for AAA management.Notably however,the detailed molecular mechanism of AAA remains unclear,representing an important bottleneck affecting the development of potential drug targets.Animal models are the most powerful tools for clarifying the pathogenesis of AAA,and although some medium-to-large laboratory animal models(e.g.,rabbits,guinea pigs,dogs,pigs)have been established for AAA studies,rodent models(mice and rats)are still the main models used in this field.Current method of inducing AAA include intra-infrarenal aortic infusion of elastase,subcutaneous infusion of angiotensin Ⅱ,periaortic calcium chloride painting,and decellularized aortic xenografting;however,AAA tends to stabilize in most models after ceasing pre-induced stimulation(medical or surgical),and there remains a need for ideal animal models that maintain continuous aortic dilation and even rupture.AAA animal models are helpful for elucidating the pathogenesis of AAA,screening new drug targets,and promoting clinical translation.This review aims to discuss the application of current AAA modeling method and their translational relevance.