ObjectiveTo investigate the optimal termination time for acupuncture in treating patients with acute peripheral facial paralysis and its cost-effectiveness. MethodsA total of 120 eligible patients with acute-stage peri-pheral facial paralysis were randomly assigned to either the mild dysfunction termination group and the complete recovery termination group， with 60 patients in each group. Both groups received the standard acupuncture treatment protocol. Treatment in the mild dysfunction termination group was terminated when the Sunnybrook facial grade scale （SFGS） score first reached or exceeded 83 points， while that in the complete recovery termination group was terminated when the SFGS score first reached or exceeded 95 points. Assessments were conducted before treatment， 6 and 12 months after onset. SFGS， facial disability index （FDI） including physical function （FDIp） and social function （FDIs）， self-rating anxiety scale （SAS）， and self-rating depression scale （SDS） scores were assessed before treatment， and 6 and 12 months after onset. Any acupuncture-related adverse events during treatment were recorded for safety evaluation. Treatment sessions and medical costs including direct costs， indirect costs， insurance coverage， total societal costs， and patient out-of-pocket expenses were also recorded， and an economic evaluation was conducted including cost-effectiveness ratio （CER） and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio （ICER）. ResultsUltimately， 56 patients in the mild dysfunction termination group and 55 in the complete recovery termination group completed the follow-up. At 6 and 12 months after onset， SFGS and FDIp scores in both groups improved significantly while FDIs， SAS and SDS scores decreased （P＜0.05）. Comparison of scores between groups 6 months and 12 months after onset showed no statistically significant differences （P＞0.05）. During the trial， the incidence of adverse events was 13.3% （8/60） in the mild dysfunction termination group and 18.3% （11/60） in the complete recovery termination group， with no statistically significant difference （P＞0.05）. The number of treatment sessions， total social costs， and out-of-pocket expenses in the mild dysfunction termination group were significantly lower than those in the complete recovery termination group （P＜0.05）. The CER of the mild dysfunction termination group in SFGS， FDIp， FDIs， SAS， and SDS scores was lower than that of the complete recovery termination group. The ICER analysis showed that continuing treatment until full recovery incurred an additional cost of 573.30 CNY/point in SFGS improvement， whereas 1-point improvement in FDIp， FDIs， SAS， and SDS required 21,355.25 CNY， 1779.60 CNY， 3713.96 CNY， and 2755.52 CNY， respectively. ConclusionFor acupuncture in treating acute peripheral facial palsy， terminating treatment when mild dysfunction is achieved yields long-term efficacy comparable to that of continuing treatment until complete recovery， while significantly reducing medical costs and socioeconomic burden.

Objective:To discuss the clinical value of pan-immune inflammation index(PIV)in predicting the major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)within 1 year after percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)in the elderly patients with coronary heart disease,and to clarify the role of inflammatory response in postoperative recovery and prognosis of the patients with coronary heart disease.Methods:A total of 150 elderly patients with coronary heart disease who underwent PCI from July 2020 to August 2023 were selected as the research subjects;according to the occurrence of MACE within 1 year after operation,they were divided into MACE group(n=28)and non-MACE group(n=122);the baseline data and biochemical indicators of the patients were collected,and PIV was calculated;multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of MACE within 1 year after PCI in the elderly patients with coronary heart disease;receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the predictive value of PIV for MACE within 1 year after PCI in the elderly patients with coronary heart disease.Results:Compared with non-MACE group,the levels of total cholesterol(TC)and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),neutrophils(NEUT),platelets(PLT)counting and PIV in the patients in MACE group were significantly increased(P<0.05);there were no significant differences in other data between two groups(P>0.05).The multivariate Logistic regression analysis results showed that the levels of TC(OR=1.571,95％CI:1.088-2.270)and LDL-C(OR=32.506,95％CI:8.880-118.994)and PIV(OR=1.014,95％CI:1.010-1.019)were the influencing factors of MACE within 1 year after PCI in the elderly patients with coronary heart disease(P<0.05).The ROC curve analysis results showed that the area under the ROC curve(AUC)of PIV for predicting MACE was 0.857(95％CI:0.762-0.951),the sensitivity was 0.821,the specificity was 0.959,the maximum Youden index was 0.780,and the best cut-off value was 778.805(P<0.01).Conclusion:PIV has important predictive value for MACE within 1 year after PCI in elderly patients with coronary heart disease.

Compounds isolated from Epimedium include the total flavonoids of Epimedium , icariin, and its metabolites (icaritin, icariside I, and icariside II), which have similar molecular structures. Modern pharmacological research and clinical practice have proved that Epimedium and its active components have a wide range of pharmacological effects, especially in improving sexual function, hormone regulation, anti-osteoporosis, immune function regulation, anti-oxidation, and anti-tumor activity. To date, we still need a comprehensive source of knowledge about the pharmacological effects of Epimedium and its bioactive compounds on the male reproductive system. However, their actions in other tissues have been reviewed in recent years. This review critically focuses on the Epimedium , its bioactive compounds, and the biochemical and molecular mechanisms that modulate vital pathways associated with the male reproductive system. Such intrinsic knowledge will significantly further studies on the Epimedium and its bioactive compounds that protect the male reproductive system and provide some guidances for clinical treatment of related male reproductive disorders.
Male ; Epimedium/chemistry* ; Humans ; Genitalia, Male/drug effects* ; Flavonoids/therapeutic use* ; Animals

Objective:To compare the effect of repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting the M1 hand area, the M1 lower limb area, or the sciatic nerve on the motor functioning and ability in the activities of daily living of persons after a spinal cord injury (SCI).Methods:This was a retrospective analysis of data describing 86 hospitalized SCI patients. They were divided into four groups based on where the rTMS was applied: an M1 hand area group ( n=22), an M1 lower limb area group ( n=20), a sciatic nerve group ( n=24), and a control group ( n=20) who never received rTMS. In addition to conventional medication and rehabilitation training, the M1 hand area group, the M1 lower limb area group and the sciatic nerve group received 10Hz rTMS over the named area for 4 weeks. Before and after the treatment, the Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM) total scores, SCIM indoor activity (SCIM12) sub-scores, Modified Barthel Index (MBI) scores, and lower extremity motor (LEMS) scores were compared among the four groups. Results:After the treatment, the average SCIM, SCIM12, MBI, and LEMS scores had improved significantly in all four groups. The average SCIM [10.00(4.00, 24.75] and MBI scores [12.00(6.75, 31.50)] of the M1 hand area group were then significantly better than the control group′s averages [3.50(0.00, 9.50) and 7.50(1.25, 17.75)]. There was also significantly greater improvement in the average LEMS score of the M1 hand area group [2.00(0.00, 10.00)] compared with both the sciatic nerve group [0.00(0.00, 2.00)] and the control group [0.00(0.00, 1.75)].Conclusions:High-frequency rTMS stimulation of the M1 hand area significantly promotes the recovery of lower limb motor function and self-care ability after an SCI. It is more effective than stimulating the M1 lower limb area or the sciatic nerve.

OBJECTIVE: To explore clinical effects of bone setting manipulation combined with pry reduction and Kirschner needle internal fixation in treating SandersⅡ-Ⅲ calcaneal fracture. METHODS: Clinical data of 52 patients with types Sanders Ⅱand Ⅲ calcaneal fracture (foot) treated with bone-setting manipulation combined with pry reduction and Kirscher needle internal fixation from July 2017 to July 2019 were retrospectively analyzed, including 43 males and 9 females, aged from 31 to 72 years old with an average of (50.83±10.48) years old; 15 patients with Sanders typeⅡ and 37 patients with Sanders type Ⅲ. The changes of Bühler angle, Gissane angle, calcaneus width and calcaneus height before operation and 24 months after operation were compared, and Maryland foot function score was performed to evaluate clinical effects. RESULTS: All patients were followed up from 24 to 60 months with an average of (41.50±9.86)months. The fracture healed normally and the healing time was (11.00±0.95) weeks. Bühler angle, Gissane angle, calcaneal bone width and calcaneal bone height were increased from (16.37±8.36)°, (96.27±9.62)°, (46.82±4.67) mm, (38.41±3.58) mm before operation to (31.48±8.24)°, (111.62±8.69)°, (42.06±4.83) mm, (44.21±3.82) mm at 24 months after operation, and the difference were statistically significant (P<0.01). Postoperative Maryland score at 24 months was (93.04±8.83), 40 patients got excellent result, 7 good and 5 fair. CONCLUSION Orthopedic manipulation combined with percutaneous reduction and Kirschner wire internal fixation could significantly improve Bühler angle, Gissane angle, width, and height of Sanders typeⅡ and Ⅲ calcaneal fractures, and the curative effect is satisfactory.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Calcaneus/surgery* ; Middle Aged ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/methods* ; Adult ; Aged ; Fractures, Bone/therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Bone Wires ; Manipulation, Orthopedic/methods*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the accuracy and safety of pedicle screw placement using 3D-printed auxiliary guides in scoliosis correction surgery for adolescents. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 51 patients who underwent posterior scoliosis correction surgery from January 2020 to March 2023. Among them, there were 35 cases of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and 16 cases of congenital scoliosis. The patients were divided into two groups based on the auxiliary tool used:the 3D-printed auxiliary guide screw placement group (3D printing group) and the free-hand screw placement group (free-hand group, without auxiliary tools). The 3D printing group included 32 patients (12 males and 20 females) with an average age of (12.59±2.60) years;the free-hand group included 19 patients (7 males and 12 females) with an average age of (14.58±3.53) years. The two groups were compared in terms of screw placement accuracy and safety, spinal correction rate, intraoperative blood loss, number of intraoperative fluoroscopies, operation time, hospital stay, and preoperative and last follow-up scores of the Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 707 pedicle screws were placed in the two groups, with 441 screws in the 3D printing group and 266 screws in the free-hand group. All patients in both groups successfully completed the surgery. There was a statistically significant difference in operation time between the two groups (P<0.05). The screw placement accuracy rate of the 3D printing group was 95.46% (421/441), among which the Grade A placement rate was 89.34% (394/441);the screw placement accuracy rate of the free-hand group was 86.47% (230/266), with a Grade A placement rate of 73.31% (195/266). There were statistically significant differences in the accuracy of Grade A, B, and C screw placements between the two groups (P<0.05), while no statistically significant differences were observed in intraoperative blood loss, number of fluoroscopies, correction rate, or hospital stay (P>0.05). In the SRS-22 questionnaire scores, the scores of functional status and activity ability, self-image, mental status, and pain of patients in each group at the last follow-up were significantly improved compared with those before surgery (P<0.05), but there were no statistically significant differences in all scores between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION In scoliosis correction surgery, compared with traditional free-hand screw placement, the use of 3D-printed auxiliary guides for screw placement significantly improves the accuracy and safety of screw placement and shortens the operation time.
Humans ; Male ; Scoliosis/surgery* ; Female ; Adolescent ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Retrospective Studies ; Pedicle Screws ; Child

Objective To observe the value of conventional MRI and diffusion weighted imaging(DWI)for differentiating soft tissue lymphoma(STL)and soft tissue sarcoma(STS).Methods Conventional MRI and DWI data of 25 cases of STL(STL group)and 38 cases of STS(STS group)were retrospectively analyzed.MRI features being statistically different between groups were included in logistic regression analysis to screen the independent risk factors of STL and to evaluate the sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of their combination for predicting STL.Receiver operating characteristic curve was generated,the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated to assess the diagnostic efficacy of the mean apparent diffusion coefficient(ADCmean),the minimum apparent diffusion coefficient(ADCmin),the maximum apparent diffusion coefficient(ADCmax)values for distinguishing STL from STS.Results Slightly hyperintensity on T1WI,non-necrosis,involvement of multiple muscle groups and homogeneous enhancement were all independent risk factors of STL(all P＜0.05).The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of their combination for predicting STL was 72.00％(18/25),89.47％(34/38)and 82.54％(52/63),respectively.ADCmean,ADCmin and ADCmax values of STL was(1.06±0.18)× 10-3,(0.77±0.14)×10-3 and(1.47±0.31)× 10-3mm2/s,respectively,all lower than those of STS([1.31±0.17]× 10-3,[1.02±0.23]× 10-3 and[1.64±0.16]× 10-3 mm2/s;t=-4.829--2.498,all P＜0.05).The AUC of ADCmean,ADCmin and ADCmax values and their combination for differential diagnosis of STL and STS was 0.845,0.844,0.683 and 0.877,respectively.Conclusion Conventional MRI features,including T1WI signal intensity,necrosis,involvement of multiple muscle groups and enhancement pattern,along with ADCmean and ADCmin values derived from DWI contributed to differentiating STL and STS.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the threonine and tyrosine kinase(TTK)gene and eyelid basal cell carcinoma(BCC).Methods Bioinformatics methods were used to screen the core gene(namely,TTK)associated with the occurrence and development of BCC from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database.Surgically removed eyelid BCC tissue specimens(BCC cells were divided into BBC Grade Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ groups by tumor grade)and be-nign tumor tissue specimens(Control group)were collected from Ziyang Central Hospital for subsequent experiments.Cel-lular immunofluorescence assay(CIA)was used to detect the expression of the TTK gene in benign and malignant eyelid tumor cells.After knocking down TTK in BCC cells through transfection with lentiviruses(the cells transfected with LV-TTK-shRNA were taken as the TTK-shRNA group,and those transfected with LV-BBC-shRNA were taken as the BBC nega-tive control group),CIA was used to detect the expression of key proteins Bcl-2 and Bax in the apoptotic signaling pathway of each group of cells.Results The bioinformatics analysis showed that the TTK gene was the core gene associated with the occurrence and development of eyelid BCC.CIA detection results revealed that the fluorescence signal intensities in the tumor cytoplasm of Control,BCC Grade Ⅰ,Ⅱ,and Ⅲ groups were 1.03±0.07,1.28±0.11,1.58±0.13 and 1.92±0.17,respectively.The fluorescence signal intensity gradually increased,and the difference in fluorescence signal intensity among the four groups was statistically significant(all P＜0.05).Compared with that in the Control group(1.02±0.05),the cell fluorescence intensity was increased in the BCC negative control group(1.74±0.12)and decreased in the TTK-shRNA group(1.31±0.09)(P＜0.05).The difference in cell fluorescence intensity was significant among the Control,BCC nega-tive control and TTK-shRNA groups(all P＜0.05).The fluorescence intensity of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was 1.04±0.12 in the Control group,2.12±0.23 in the BCC negative control group,and 1.43±0.15 in the TTK-shRNA group.The fluorescence intensity of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax was 1.02±0.08 in the Control group,0.64±0.11 in the BCC negative control group,and 1.47±0.16 in the TTK-shRNA group.After TTK knockdown,the expression level of BcL-2 in BCC cells decreased,and that of Bax increased.The fluorescence intensities of BcL-2 and Bax were significantly different among the Control,BCC negative control and TTK-shRNA groups(all P＜0.05).Conclusion The TTK gene plays a role in the regulation of eyelid BCC cell proliferation,and this effect is closely related to the PI3K-AKT-Bcl-2/Bax signaling path-way.

Objective We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Shengxuebao Mixture in the treatment of cancer-related anemia(CRA)presenting with syndrome of deficiency of liver and kidney combined with syndrome of deficiency of both qi and blood.Methods A randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled,multicenter clinical trial was conducted.Eligible patients with malignant tumors meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled from 26 hospitals,including Dongzhimen Hospital,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine,Xiaogan Central Hospital,and Yangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine,from June 1,2022,to September 30,2024.Patients were allocated 1:1 to either the experimental group receiving Shengxuebao Mixture or the control group receiving its simulator(placebo)using a block randomization method under double-blind conditions.Both groups received 15 mL orally three times daily for 28 consecutive days.The primary efficacy indicators included the hemoglobin(Hb)improvement rate(RHb)and the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome improvement rate(RTCM)at week 4 of treatment.The secondary efficacy indicators encompassed Hb and red blood cell(RBC)count,Karnofsky Performance Status(KPS)score,TCM syndrome score,individual TCM symptom scores,and changes in each of these indicators compared to the baseline period at weeks 2,4,and 6 of treatment.Safety evaluations were conducted at week 4 of treatment.Results A total of 239 patients were enrolled,with 225 cases included in the Full Analysis Set(FAS)(109 in the experimental group vs.116 control group),163 in the Per Protocol Set(PPS)(77 vs.86),and 225 in the Safety Set(SS)(109 vs.116).Baseline characteristics between groups showed no significant differences.Significant differences were observed between the experimental and control groups in RHb at week 4(FAS:49.51%vs.35.24%,P<0.05;PPS:53.25%vs.36.05%,P<0.05)and RTCM at week 4(FAS:61.54%vs.39.62%,P<0.01;PPS:64.94%vs.40.70%,P<0.01).At weeks 2,4,and 6,the experimental group showed greater improvements in Hb and RBC counts than the control group.Additionally,the TCM syndrome scores were lower in the experimental group than in the control group at these time points.Except for week 2 in PPS,the KPS improvement was better in the experimental group than in the control group(P<0.05).The experimental group also demonstrated a greater reduction in scores for individual TCM symptoms such as spiritlessness and weakness,poor appetite and reduced food intake at weeks 4 and 6 compared to the control group(P<0.05,P<0.01).Furthermore,the reduction in vertigo score was more pronounced in the experimental group at week 6(P<0.01).For the score of pale and lusterless complexion,only in the PPS was the reduction from baseline more significant in the experimental group than in the control group at weeks 4 and 6(P<0.05).No significant differences were observed between the experimental and control groups in the incidence of all adverse events or drug-related adverse reactions.Conclusion Shengxuebao Mixture demonstrates significant efficacy in patients with CRA presenting syndrome of deficiency of liver and kidney combined with syndrome of deficiency of both qi and blood,effectively increasing Hb levels,ameliorating TCM syndromes,alleviating clinical symptoms,and enhancing functional status,with no significant difference in adverse drug reactions compared to the placebo.