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

Objective:To investigate the application effects of indwelling nasoenteric tubes under bedside electromagnetic navigation in patients with extremely severe burns.Methods:This study was a retrospective cohort study. The 27 patients with extremely severe burns who were admitted to Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University (hereinafter referred to as the hospital) from April 2017 to December 2021 and inserted nasoenteric tubes by blind insertion within 24 h of admission were included in blind insertion group, including 17 males and 10 females, aged (52±16) years. The 33 patients with extremely severe burns who were admitted to the hospital from January 2022 to October 2023 with indwelling nasoenteric tubes under bedside electromagnetic navigation within 24 h of admission were included in electromagnetic navigation group, including 24 males and 9 females, aged (50±15) years. The one-time success rate of indwelling nasoenteric tube and the time of indwelling nasoenteric tube were recorded. Within 0.5 h after indwelling nasoenteric tube, the satisfaction of patients with indwelling nasoenteric tube was assessed using 5-grade Likert scale, and the satisfaction rate was calculated. Numerical rating scale was used to assess the degree of low back pain in the operators of indwelling nasoenteric tube (hereinafter referred to as operators) before and immediately after indwelling nasoenteric tubes, and the incidence rate of low back pain in operators immediately after indwelling nasoenteric tubes was calculated.Results:The one-time success rate of indwelling nasoenteric tube of patients in electromagnetic navigation group was 96.97% (32/33), which was significantly higher than 74.07% (20/27) in blind insertion group ( P<0.05). The time of indwelling nasoenteric tube of patients in electromagnetic navigation group was 10 (8, 13) min, which was significantly shorter than 30 (22, 40) min in blind insertion group ( Z=-6.17, P<0.05). Within 0.5 h after indwelling nasoenteric tube, the satisfaction rate of patients with indwelling nasoenteric tube in electromagnetic navigation group was 96.97% (32/33), which was significantly higher than 70.37% (19/27) in blind insertion group ( P<0.05). Before indwelling the nasoenteric tubes, the low back pain scores of operators of patients in the 2 groups were both 0. Immediately after indwelling nasoenteric tubes, the incidence rate of low back pain in operators of patients in electromagnetic navigation group was 45.45% (15/33), which was significantly lower than 85.19% (23/27) in blind insertion group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Indwelling nasoenteric tube under bedside electromagnetic navigation has high success rate, short time, and high satisfaction with indwelling nasoenteric tube in patients. Meanwhile, it can greatly reduce the incidence of the operators' occupational low back pain, and it is beneficial to start enteral nutrition as early as possible for patients with extremely severe burns.

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.

In recent years, the incidence of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) has been increasing with the aging of the population, and the cognitive impairment caused by it has brought huge burden to patients and their families. As a novel inflammatory biomarker, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A 2 (Lp-PLA 2) directly participates in the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment in patients with CSVD by regulating circulatory vascular injury and neuroinflammation, and is expected to become a predictive indicator and therapeutic target for CSVD.

Objective:To explore the effect of intervention model based on comprehensive nutrition management on glucose and lipid metabolism and pregnancy outcome in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Methods:104 GDM patients admitted to Shanxi Bethune Hospital from February 2022 to March 2023 were randomly divided into control group and experimental group, with 52 cases in each group. The control group implemented routine management measures and nutrition guidance, while the experimental group implemented an intervention model based on comprehensive nutrition management on the basis of routine management. The indexes of glucose and lipid metabolism (glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting blood glucose, 2 h postprandial blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterol), pregnancy outcome, self-management ability and self-efficacy were compared between the two groups before and after intervention.Results:Before the intervention, there was no significant difference in general situation, glucose and lipid metabolism index, self-management ability and self-efficacy between the two groups ( P>0.05). After the intervention, the level of glucose and lipid metabolism index in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group, with statistical significance ( P<0.05). The incidence of adverse pregnancy outcome in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group, with statistical significance ( P<0.05). The scores of self-management ability and self-efficacy in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group, with statistical significance ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The intervention model based on comprehensive nutrition management can effectively improve the glucose and lipid metabolism index and pregnancy outcome of GDM patients, and significantly improve their self-management ability and self-efficacy related to nutrition management, which has high clinical application and promotion value.

Objective:To investigate the expression of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK), and recombinant C-Ros oncogene 1, receptor tyrosine kinase (ROS1) in Spitz tumors, and to analyze their associations with clinical and histopathological features of Spitz tumors.Methods:Clinical and histopathological characteristics, as well as follow-up data, were collected from patients with Spitz tumors at Department of Pathology, Hospital of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 2017 to August 2023, and retrospectively analyzed. Immunohistochemical staining for ALK, pan-TRK, and ROS1 was performed on skin tissues, and associations between the expression of these kinase proteins and clinicopathological features were analyzed.Results:A total of 57 patients with Spitz tumors were collected, including 36 females and 21 males. Immunohistochemical staining showed that 30 (52.6%) patients were positive for ALK, 4 (7.0%) were positive for ROS1, only 2 (3.5%) were positive for TRK, and 21 (36.8%) were negative for the three kinase proteins. Among the 30 ALK-positive patients, the median age was 9.5 years, 21 (70.0%) were females, and 15 (50.0%) presented with lesions on the face, which mainly manifested as papules or nodules; histologically, 29 (96.7%) patients had hypopigmented tumors with an exophytic growth pattern, and the tumor cells were mainly large and long spindle cells arranged in long cord-like, plexiform or fascicular patterns. Among the 4 ROS1-positive patients, there were 3 females and 1 male, presenting with exophytic papules or polyps; histologically, tumor cells were mostly arranged in small nests, without obvious clefts around cell nests. Two TRK-positive patients were both males aged 20 and 50 years respectively, and presented with brown and skin-colored flat papules, respectively; histologically, the tumors were located superficially with a flat base, and tumor cells spread in a pagetoid pattern in the epidermis, with some epithelioid cells and small cell nests. Among the 21 patients negative for the 3 kinase proteins, 9 were males and 12 were females, and they clinically presented with macules, papules and polypoid lesions; histologically, most tumors were located superficially, consisting of a mixture of epithelioid cells and spindle cells, with rare cytological atypia and mitotic figures, and 2 cases showed mild tissue structural and cellular atypia. Fifty-seven patients were followed up for 2 - 83.3 months, with a median follow-up of 19.2 months. Only 1 ALK-positive child experienced a recurrence, and no recurrence or lymph node metastasis was observed in the other cases.Conclusions:Among the three kinase proteins, ALK showed the highest positive rate in Spitz tumors in this study, while TRK- and ROS1-positive cases were sporadic. Histopathologically, ALK-positive Spitz tumor cells were mainly long spindle cells arranged in long cord-like or plexiform patterns, while TRK- and ROS1-positive Spitz tumors tended to have small cell nests. Both the kinase protein-positive and -negative Spitz tumors mostly had a good prognosis.

Objective:To observe the safety and efficacy of 0.01% atropine eye drops in the prevention of myopia onset in schoolchildren.Methods:A randomized double-blind controlled study was conducted.Sixty Chinese Han children (60 eyes) with binocular spherical equivalent (SE) between + 0.50 D and -0.75 D (pre-myopia) by cycloplegic autorefraction treated in The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were enrolled from July to October 2020.Aged 6-12 years old, the children were divided into 0.01% atropine group and control group according to a random number table, with 30 cases (30 eyes) in each group.The children were given one drop of 0.01% atropine or placebo eye drops in both eyes once a night.The SE, axial length (AL), accommodative amplitude and pupil diameter were compared before and after 3-month, 6-month of treatment between the two groups.Discomforts were recorded.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by an Ethics Committee of The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (No.2020-KY-286). Written informed consent was obtained from guardian of each subject.Results:After treatment, 26 and 25 subjects completed the 6-month follow-up in 0.01% atropine group and control group, respectively, among which 3 subjects in 0.01% atropine group accounting for 11.5% and 9 in control group accounting for 36.0% developed myopia, showing a statistically significant difference ( χ2=4.238, P=0.040). There were significant differences in the overall comparison of SE and AL at different time points between before and after treatment ( Ftime=10.981, 81.854; both at P<0.001). At 3 and 6 months after treatment, there were significant increases in the SE and AL of control group and AL of 0.01% atropine group compared with respective baseline values (all at P<0.05). There was no significant difference in SE at 3 and 6 months after treatment compared with baseline SE in 0.01% atropine group (both at P>0.05). At 6 months after treatment, the change in SE in 0.01% atropine group was (-0.15±0.26)D, which was significantly less than (-0.34±0.35)D in control group, and the change in AL in 0.01% atropine group was (0.17±0.11)mm, Which was significantly shorter than (0.28±0.14)mm in control group, with significant differences between them ( t=2.207, P=0.032; t=3.127, P=0.003). There were significant differences in pupil diameter at different time points between before and after treatment ( Ftime=2.263, P=0.032). At 3 and 6 months after treatment, the pupil diameter was increased in comparison with baseline in 0.01% atropine group (both at P<0.05). There were significant differences in accommodative amplitude at different time points between before and after treatment in the two groups ( Fgroup=0.882, P=0.042; Ftime=0.337, P=0.033). The accommodative amplitude at 3 and 6 months after treatment were decreased in comparison with baseline in 0.01% atropine group and control group at corresponding time points (all at P<0.05). Within a month after treatment, photophobia in bright sunlight occurred in 5 cases in 0.01% atropine group, accounting for 16.7%(5/30), and 2 cases in control group, accounting for 6.7%(2/30), showing no significant difference ( χ2=0.647, P=0.421). No near-vision blur and other uncomfortable symptoms was found in the two groups. Conclusions:After 6-month application of 0.01% atropine eye drops, the prevalence of myopia in pre-myopia schoolchildren decreases and the changing rate of SE and AL slows down.The accommodative amplitude is slightly reduced and pupil diameter is slightly increased, with no obvious effects on study and life.

Objective:To evaluate the optimization strategy of anesthesia for liver cancer resection using serratus anterior plane block-posterior rectus sheath block-general anesthesia.Methods:One hundred patients, aged 30-64 yr, with body mass index of 18-30 kg/m 2, of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅱ or Ⅲ, with liver function Child-Pugh grade A or B, scheduled for elective liver cancer resection under general anesthesia, were divided into serratus anterior plane block combined with posterior rectus sheath block group (group S, n=50) and thoracic paravertebral block group (group T, n=50) using a random number table method.Ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block (20 ml) combined with posterior rectus sheath block (10 ml) was performed using 0.375% ropivacaine in group S. Ultrasound-guided paravertebral block was performed at T 7 and T 9(15 ml for each site) with 0.375% ropivacaine in group T. Anesthesia was induced with intravenous midazolam, propofol, sufentanil and cisatracurium and maintained with intravenous infusion of propofol and remifentanil and intermittent intravenous boluses of cisatracurium.BIS value was maintained at 40-60 during operation.Patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) was performed with sufentanil and flurbiprofen at the end of operation, and oxycodone 5 mg was intravenously injected as rescue analgesic when the VAS score>3.The onset time and operation time of nerve block were recorded.The intraoperative consumption of sufentanil and remifentanil and occurrence of cardiovascular events within 30 min after skin incision were recorded.The effective pressing times of PCA and requirement for rescue analgesia within 48 h after operation were recorded.The recovery quality was measured using the 40-item quality of recovery questionnaire at 24 h before surgery and 24 and 48 h after surgery.Peripheral venous blood samples were collected at 24 h before surgery and 24 h and 7 days after surgery to determine the concentrations of interleukin-17 and interferon-gamma in serum.The postoperative time to first flatus, first ambulation time, and length of hospital stay were recorded.The nausea and vomiting, respiratory depression, skin itching, puncture site infection, pneumothorax and other adverse reactions were recorded within 48 h after operation. Results:Compared with group T, the operation time of nerve block was significantly shortened, the incidence of intraoperative hypotension was decreased ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the onset time of nerve block, intraoperative consumption of sufentanil and remifentanil, postoperative requirement for rescue analgesia, effective pressing times of PCA, time to first flatus, first ambulation time, and length of hospital stay, and 40-item quality of recovery scores and serum concentrations of interleukin-17 and interferon-gamma at each time point in group S ( P>0.05). No postoperative adverse reactions were found in either group. Conclusions:Compared with thoracic paravertebral nerve block combined with general anesthesia, serratus anterior plane block-posterior rectus sheath block-general anesthesia has shorter operation time and lower incidence of intraoperative hypotension when used for liver cancer resection.

Objective To evaluate the clinical characteristics and pregnant outcomes of gravidae with COVID-19. Methods This study involved nine gravidae with COVID-19 admitted to the Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from January 22 to February 1, 2020. Their clinical data, including epidemiological history, clinical symptoms, laboratory examinations, chest CT, treatment, delivery mode, and pregnancy outcomes, were analyzed retrospectively. Specimens of maternal vaginal swab were collected in six pregnant women, and the specimens of amniotic fluid, cord blood, neonatal throat swab and breast milk samples were collected in four pregnant women who had a delivery during our study. All samples were tested for the existence of COVID-19. Descriptive analysis was applied in this study. Results (1) Among the nine cases, five were admitted in the third trimester and four in the second trimester. The median incubation period of COVID-19 was 8 (1-14) d. Fever was presented in all cases on admission, and the other commonly seen symptoms were cough (seven cases) and diarrhea (five cases). Other signs and symptoms were also reported, including shortness of breath, myalgia and fatigue (four cases in each), nasal obstruction, pharyngalgia, chest pain, and headache/dizziness (three cases in each), rash (two cases), and chills and expectoration (one case in each). The most common laboratory abnormalities were a decreased number of lymphocytes (seven cases) and elevated C-reactive protein (six cases). Chest CT scans were performed in seven women, and all showed patchy areas or ground-glass opacity in both lungs. Oligohydramnios was detected in only one case at 37 +5 weeks, which was 7 d after the diagnosis of COVID-19. (2) All nine cases received empiric antibiotic and antiviral therapy with Chinese medicine as adjuvant treatment. Eight patients required oxygen inhalation, and eight were treated with glucocorticoid. Six cases received immunotherapy. (3) Four of the nine cases had delivered, including three cesarean sections and one spontaneous vaginal preterm birth after premature rupture of membranes, and the mother was transferred to the intensive care unit 2 d after delivery due to acute respiratory distress syndrome. One case was terminated at 26 gestational weeks. Of the four neonates, there were two term and two premature babies, and one preterm baby was small-for-gestational-age. No neonatal asphyxia was observed. Serial real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed negative results in the detection of 2019-novel coronavirus in all samples obtained from amniotic fluid, umbilical cord blood, neonatal nasopharynx, breast milk, and vagina. Maternal conditions were all stable in all cases, including the four continuing pregnancy, and the terminated ones, except the case mentioned above. Conclusions There is no distinguishable clinical feature between pregnant and non-pregnant COVID-19 patients. So far, there is no evidence for vertical transmission or worsening perinatal outcome in mothers and babies.

Objective:To detect the genes of common genetic diseases in newborns with the high-throughput sequencing technology based on target gene capture, to study the incidence rate of such diseases, the carrying rate and variant types of pathogenic mutations related to such diseases, and to explore the application value of the high-throughput sequencing technology in screening genetic diseases of newborns.Methods:The heel blood of 1 793 newborns born in Guangdong province from June 2019 to April 2020 were collected, and the exon regions of 138 common genetic disease-related genes in neonates were detected using the high-throughput sequencing technology based on target gene capture.The pathogenicity of the mutations was interpreted according to the " Classification Criteria and Guidelines for Genetic Variation(2017)" , in which known disease and probable disease were considered as positive mutations.The positive mutations were verified by Sanger sequencing technology, and the test results were analyzed with statistical methods.Results:Among the 1 793 newborns, 978 were male and 815 were female.A total of 158 positive cases were screened(8.81%), and 11 positive diseases were detected.Among the positive diseases, there were 41 cases(2.29%)of autosomal recessive deafness type 1A, 40 cases(2.23%)of Gilbert syndrome or Crigler-Najjar syndrome, and 33 cases(1.84%)of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency(1.84%), 19 cases(1.06%)of familial hypercho-lesterolemia, 18 cases(1.00%) of sodium taurocholate cotransporter peptide deficiency disease, 2 cases(0.11%)of mitochondrial non-syndromic deafness, 2 cases(0.11%)of Citrin deficiency, 1 case(0.06%)of holocarboxylase synthase deficiency, 1 case(0.06%)of β-thalassemia and 1 case(0.06%)of metachromatic leukodystrophies.Of all studied cases, 972 carried one or more positive mutations, involving 85 kinds of diseases in total.The diseases with a high carrying rate were Gilbert syndrome or Crigler-Najjar syndrome(359 cases, 20.02%), autosomal recessive deafness type 1A(302 cases, 16.84%), and sodium taurocholate cotransport peptide deficiency disease(291 cases, 16.22%). The high-frequency mutation sites were UGT1A1 gene c. 211G> A, GJB2 gene c .109G> A and SLC10A1 gene c. 800C> T. Conclusions:The common genetic diseases detected in neonates from Guangdong province are autosomal recessive deafness type 1A, Gilbert syndrome or Crigler-Najjar syndrome, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, familial hypercholesterolemia, and sodium taurocholate cotransport peptide deficiency.There are high-frequency carrying mutation sites in the population.Preliminary genetic screening of common neonatal genetic diseases can accumulate data and experience for the development of newborn genetic screening.