OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the rules of temporal and spatial variations in distal skin potential at Hegu (LI4) under different stimulation modes by extracting nonlinear characteristic parameters from array multichannel data and adopting multivariate statistical analysis. METHODS: Seven healthy subjects were selected and the surface potential at the left Quchi (LI11) was collected using 14×9 array multichannel electrodes. Using Hegu (LI4) on the left as the stimulation point, four stimulation modes were applied, i.e. being quiescent, point pressing, moxibustion, and manual needling manipulation. Electrical signals were collected for 30 s in each mode, with a 5-min interval between operations, and a sampling frequency of 16 384 Hz. The data was denoised using ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD), and sample entropy (SaEn) features were extracted. Statistical analysis was conducted on these data using factor analysis and multivariate analysis of variance. RESULTS: The SaEn values of most electrode channels were higher under point pressing, moxibustion and manual needling manipulation compared with those under quiescent condition. Under manual needling manipulation, the SaEn value of the electrode channel reached the peak in the first time interval (1-5 s) and it was declining thereafter. Factor analysis showed that the specificity of activation channels was concentrated at the left Quchi (LI11) (loading capacity ≥0.90). Analysis of variance indicated that the significant differences were presented in average sample entropy (SaEn()) values of activation channels among different stimulation modes at Hegu (LI4) (P<0.001), but there was no statistically significant interaction effect between groups and time intervals (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Through nonlinear characteristic parameter extraction and multivariate statistical analysis, we have uncovered the complex temporal and spatial dynamical rules of distal skin potential at Hegu (LI4) under various stimulation modes and successfully identified the specific activation characteristics at Quchi (LI11).
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Acupuncture Points ; Male ; Adult ; Female ; Young Adult ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the pain-location interaction between pressure-sensitive points on the body surface and traditional acupoints in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP) under different disease courses, using Euclidean distance and multivariate statistical analysis. METHODS: A pressure-sensitive point detection was performed on 30 CNLBP patients with varying disease courses. A constant pressure was applied using an FDK20 algometer within a designated lumbar area, a total of 50 points were tested, and the tested points were numbered; the visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score was recorded simultaneously. MatlabR2022a9.12. software was used to extract the positions of pressure-sensitive points, and preprocessing and normalization of point location and VAS scores data were conducted. Under constraint conditions (VAS≥8.0 ∩ Euclidean distance to acupoint≤0.5), the proportion of pressure-sensitive points within the Euclidean distance threshold to each acupoint (PVD_acupoint) was calculated, followed by multivariate statistical analysis. RESULTS: ①Constrained analysis of PVD_acupoint showed that PVD_{Qihaishu (BL24)} and PVD_{Dachangshu (BL25)} were positively correlated with disease course (r=0.55, P<0.01). ②Factor analysis and silhouette analysis revealed that PVD_{Shenshu (BL23)} and PVD_{Dachangshu (BL25)} exhibited trends consistent with disease course progression (P>0.05), with different degree (P<0.01). CONCLUSION The PVD_acupoint value based on Euclidean distance can characterize the pressure sensitivity features of traditional acupoints associated with disease. Multivariate statistical analysis of PVD_acupoint confirms that selecting the acupoint combination of Shenshu (BL23) and Dachangshu (BL25) for CNLBP is associated with the distribution of surrounding pressure-sensitive points and the pathological characteristics of the condition.
Humans ; Acupuncture Points ; Low Back Pain/physiopathology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Aged ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Young Adult ; Pressure

Cervical spinal cord injury without fracture-dislocation (CSCIWFD) is referred to as a special type of cervical spinal cord injury characterized by traumatic spinal cord dysfunction and no significant bony structural abnormalities on imagines. Duo to the high risk of missed diagnosis during the initial consultation, CSCIWFD may lead to progressive neurological deterioration or even complete paralysis, severely impacting patients′ prognosis. Currently, there are no established consensuses over the diagnosis and treatment of CSCIWFD, such as the lack of evidence-based standards for indications of non-surgical treatment and risk of secondary neurological injury, as well as debates over the optimal timing for surgical intervention and indications for different surgical approaches. To address these issues, the Spine Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts in the relevant fields to formulate Diagnosis and treatment guideline for acute cervical spinal cord injury without fracture- dislocation in adults ( version 2025) . Based on evidence-based medicine and the principles of scientific rigor and clinical applicability, the guidelines proposed 11 recommendations covering terminology, diagnosis, evaluation treatment, and rehabilitation, etc., aiming to standardize the management of CSCIWFD.

Vertebral refracture following percutaneous vertebral augmentation (PVA) is commonly seen in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures (OTLCF). It can lead to recurrent pain, loss of vertebral height, progression of kyphosis, and even neurological dysfunction, significantly impairing patients′ quality of life. Current diagnosis and treatment face multiple challenges, including high misdiagnosis rate, difficulty in choosing between surgical and non-surgical treatment options, lack of standardized surgical protocols, interference from intralesional bone cement during procedures, inadequate stability of internal fixation in osteoporotic bone, and suboptimal compliance of anti-osteoporotic therapy. Establishing a standardized diagnostic and therapeutic framework is urgently needed. To standardize the management process and improve outcomes for vertebral refractures after PVA in elderly OTLCF patients, Spinal Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts in the field to develop Guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of vertebral refracture after percutaneous vertebral augmentation in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures ( version 2025), based on current literature and clinical experience, and adhering to principles of scientific rigor and clinical applicability. A total of 11 recommendations were proposed, encompassing diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of vertebral refracture after PVA in elderly patients with OTLCF, aiming to provide a foundation for a standardized management.

As the application of immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)in the perioperative treatment of melanoma is increasingly introduced at earlier stages,it presents a critical opportunity for the development and clinical translation of neoadjuvant therapy.The results of phaseⅠ/Ⅱ clinical trials on neoadjuvant ICI therapy for melanoma demonstrate that neoadjuvant ICIs effectively improve the pathologic re-sponse rate in melanoma patients.Recent studies have shown that combining ICIs with other treatment modalities,including radiotherapy,chemotherapy,and targeted therapies,can enhance antitumor efficacy of neoadjuvant treatment for patients with melanoma.Optimizing treatment regimens,managing adverse events,identifying and addressing pseudoprogression,and handling cases of oligoprogression have become key areas of research in incorporating ICI regimens into neoadjuvant treatment for patients with melanoma.The search for bio-markers to monitor immunotherapy efficacy is expected to become a major focus of future research.This article provides a review of the re-search progress,controversies,and challenges in the application of ICIs in the neoadjuvant treatment of melanoma,and discusses future re-search directions,aiming to offer insights into the clinical application and development of ICIs in melanoma neoadjuvant therapy.

Immunotherapy has become a pivotal treatment regimen for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, its efficacy is influenced by various factors. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the primary etiological factors leading to HCC. HBV DNA replication can alter the immune microenvironment through multiple mechanisms, notably by upregulating the expression of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1), thereby facilitating tumor immune escape. Paradoxically, this upregulation of PD-1/PD-L1 may enhance the response rate to PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and potentiate the antitumor effect. This review aims to summarize current research progress on the relationship between HBV DNA load and the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, explore the underlying mechanisms, and provide a scientific basis for promoting personalized treatment strategies for patients with HBV-related HCC.

As the application of immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)in the perioperative treatment of melanoma is increasingly introduced at earlier stages,it presents a critical opportunity for the development and clinical translation of neoadjuvant therapy.The results of phaseⅠ/Ⅱ clinical trials on neoadjuvant ICI therapy for melanoma demonstrate that neoadjuvant ICIs effectively improve the pathologic re-sponse rate in melanoma patients.Recent studies have shown that combining ICIs with other treatment modalities,including radiotherapy,chemotherapy,and targeted therapies,can enhance antitumor efficacy of neoadjuvant treatment for patients with melanoma.Optimizing treatment regimens,managing adverse events,identifying and addressing pseudoprogression,and handling cases of oligoprogression have become key areas of research in incorporating ICI regimens into neoadjuvant treatment for patients with melanoma.The search for bio-markers to monitor immunotherapy efficacy is expected to become a major focus of future research.This article provides a review of the re-search progress,controversies,and challenges in the application of ICIs in the neoadjuvant treatment of melanoma,and discusses future re-search directions,aiming to offer insights into the clinical application and development of ICIs in melanoma neoadjuvant therapy.

Immunotherapy has become a pivotal treatment regimen for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, its efficacy is influenced by various factors. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the primary etiological factors leading to HCC. HBV DNA replication can alter the immune microenvironment through multiple mechanisms, notably by upregulating the expression of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1), thereby facilitating tumor immune escape. Paradoxically, this upregulation of PD-1/PD-L1 may enhance the response rate to PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and potentiate the antitumor effect. This review aims to summarize current research progress on the relationship between HBV DNA load and the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, explore the underlying mechanisms, and provide a scientific basis for promoting personalized treatment strategies for patients with HBV-related HCC.

Cervical spinal cord injury without fracture-dislocation (CSCIWFD) is referred to as a special type of cervical spinal cord injury characterized by traumatic spinal cord dysfunction and no significant bony structural abnormalities on imagines. Duo to the high risk of missed diagnosis during the initial consultation, CSCIWFD may lead to progressive neurological deterioration or even complete paralysis, severely impacting patients′ prognosis. Currently, there are no established consensuses over the diagnosis and treatment of CSCIWFD, such as the lack of evidence-based standards for indications of non-surgical treatment and risk of secondary neurological injury, as well as debates over the optimal timing for surgical intervention and indications for different surgical approaches. To address these issues, the Spine Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts in the relevant fields to formulate Diagnosis and treatment guideline for acute cervical spinal cord injury without fracture- dislocation in adults ( version 2025) . Based on evidence-based medicine and the principles of scientific rigor and clinical applicability, the guidelines proposed 11 recommendations covering terminology, diagnosis, evaluation treatment, and rehabilitation, etc., aiming to standardize the management of CSCIWFD.

Vertebral refracture following percutaneous vertebral augmentation (PVA) is commonly seen in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures (OTLCF). It can lead to recurrent pain, loss of vertebral height, progression of kyphosis, and even neurological dysfunction, significantly impairing patients′ quality of life. Current diagnosis and treatment face multiple challenges, including high misdiagnosis rate, difficulty in choosing between surgical and non-surgical treatment options, lack of standardized surgical protocols, interference from intralesional bone cement during procedures, inadequate stability of internal fixation in osteoporotic bone, and suboptimal compliance of anti-osteoporotic therapy. Establishing a standardized diagnostic and therapeutic framework is urgently needed. To standardize the management process and improve outcomes for vertebral refractures after PVA in elderly OTLCF patients, Spinal Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts in the field to develop Guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of vertebral refracture after percutaneous vertebral augmentation in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures ( version 2025), based on current literature and clinical experience, and adhering to principles of scientific rigor and clinical applicability. A total of 11 recommendations were proposed, encompassing diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of vertebral refracture after PVA in elderly patients with OTLCF, aiming to provide a foundation for a standardized management.