This article reports a case of multiple cranial nerve injury after gamma knife radiosurgery treated with acupuncture and moxibustion combined with rehabilitation therapy. The patient presented with weakness of facial and tongue muscles, hoarseness, choking on water, and swallowing difficulties. The syndrome was attributed to qi and blood deficiency, and blood stasis obstructing the collaterals. The treatment principle focused on replenishing qi and blood, promoting blood circulation and unblocking collaterals. Yintang (GV24⁺), Lianquan (CV23), Qihai (CV6), Guanyuan (CV4), and Cuanzhu (BL2), Yangbai (GB14), Jingming (BL1), Sizhukong (TE23), Yingxiang (LI20), Sibai (ST2), Juliao (ST3), Quanliao (SI18), Dicang (ST4), Jiache (ST6), Xiaguan (ST7), Taiyang (EX-HN5) on the affected side, bilateral Jinjin (EX-HN12), Yuye (EX-HN13), Hegu (LI4), Zusanli (ST36), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Tianshu (ST25) were selected. Among these, bilateral Jinjin (EX-HN12) and Yuye (EX-HN13) were treated with pricking, Dicang (ST4) and Jiache (ST6) on the affected side were connected to an electroacupuncture device, and warming acupuncture was applied at Guanyuan (CV4). Rehabilitation therapy and electromyographic biofeedback were also incorporated. The treatments were given 2-3 times a week. After 18 months of intermittent treatment, the patient reported significant improvement, House Brackmann (H-B) facial nerve function grade was Ⅳ, and Sunnybrook facial nerve rating scale score was 53 points. After 2-month of follow-up, the patient reported normal swallowing ability and restored social engagement.
Humans ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Cranial Nerve Diseases/therapy*

This article reports a case of adult scoliosis with limb tremor treated with electroacupuncture. The patient presented with neck stiffness accompanied with limb tremor as the primary symptoms. The pattern was attributed to yang qi deficiency, and the treatment principle focused on unblocking the governor vessel, warming yang, and regulating qi. Acupuncture was applied to Dazhui (GV14), below the spinous processes of C₄-C₆ and bilateral C₄-C₆ Jiaji (EX-B2) points, Feishu (BL13), Xinshu (BL15), Pishu (BL20), Ganshu (BL18), Shenshu (BL23), Dachangshu (BL25). After achieving deqi sensation, bilateral C₄ Jiaji (EX-B2) and C₆ Jiaji (EX-B2) points were separately connected to an SDZ-Ⅴ electroacupuncture device, with continuous wave, 2 Hz of frequency, intensity should be within the tolerance of the patient, the needles were retained for 20 min. For the first 5 months, the treatment was 1-2 times a week, then reduced to 1-2 times a month thereafter. After 30 times of treatment, the patient's bilateral lower limb tremor resolved, the clinical rating scale for tremor (CRST) score was 13 points, the scoliosis showed improvement with about 10° reduction in Cobb angle. At 1-month follow-up, the condition remained stable without progression of scoliosis.
Adult ; Humans ; Acupuncture Points ; Electroacupuncture ; Scoliosis/physiopathology* ; Tremor/complications*

Osteoarthritis (OA) causes chronic pain that significantly impairs quality of life, with current treatments often proving insufficient and accompanied by adverse effects. Recent research has identified the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and its resident macrophages as crucial mediators of chronic OA pain through neuroinflammation driven by macrophage polarization. We present a novel injectable thermo-sensitive hydrogel system, KAF@PLEL, designed to deliver an anti-inflammatory peptide (KAF) specifically to the DRG. This biodegradable hydrogel enables sustained KAF release, promoting the reprogramming of DRG macrophages from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory phenotypes. Through comprehensive in vitro and in vivo studies, we evaluated the hydrogel's biocompatibility, effects on macrophage polarization, and therapeutic efficacy in chronic OA pain management. The system demonstrated significant capabilities in preserving macrophage mitochondrial function, suppressing neuroinflammation, alleviating chronic OA pain, reducing cartilage degradation, and improving motor function in OA rat models. The sustained-release properties of KAF@PLEL enabled prolonged therapeutic effects while minimizing systemic exposure and side effects. These findings suggest that KAF@PLEL represents a promising therapeutic approach for improving outcomes in OA patients through targeted, sustained treatment.

Objective:To analyze the multiple locus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) genotype polymorphism of Bacillus (B.) anthracis and establish a MLVA genotype database of B. anthracis in China. Methods:B. anthracis strains isolated from different sources in China since 1947 were collected. Genotype identification was carried out using the MLVA15 genotyping protocol based on 15 variable number tandem repeat loci. The genotypes were uniformly numbered and named. The distribution characteristics of the MLVA genotypes of strains were analyzed. Software Bionumerics was used to construct clustering diagrams to analyze the genetic relationships. Results:The MLVA15 clustering analysis subdivided the isolates into 4 major groups and 91 genotypes, 54 of which were unique to China. The genotypes from MLVA15-CHN1 to MLVA15-CHN6 were widely distributed throughout China and in all eras, while other genotypes were restricted to certain regions or eras.Conclusions:This study established a MLVA genotype database of B. anthracis, which provides basis for the understanding of MLVA genetic polymorphisms and the control and molecular source tracing of the anthrax outbreaks in China.

Vitiligo is an immune memory skin disease. T-cell factor 1 (TCF1) is essential for maintaining the memory T-cell pool. There is an urgent need to investigate the characteristics of peripheral memory T-cell profile and TCF1⁺ T-cell frequencies in patients with vitiligo. In this study, 31 patients with active vitiligo (AV), 22 with stable vitiligo (SV), and 30 healthy controls (HCs) were included. We measured circulating memory and TCF1⁺ T-cell frequencies using flow cytometry. The Spearman's rank test was used to evaluate the correlation between cell frequencies and disease characteristics. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) were constructed to investigate the discriminative power of the cell subpopulations. Circulating CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ terminally differentiated effector memory T-cell (T_EMRA) frequencies were significantly higher in the AV group than in HCs (P < 0.05). TCF1⁺ T-cell subpopulations were widespread increased in patients with vitiligo (P < 0.05). After adjusting for potential confounders, CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ central memory (T_CM) cells, and CD8⁺ T_EMRA were correlated with disease activity (P < 0.05). The combined diagnostic value of the four (naïve, effector memory, T_CM, and T_EMRA) CD8⁺TCF1⁺ T-cell subsets was relatively high (area under the ROC curve (AUC) = 0.804, sensitivity = 71.70%, specificity = 83.34%), and the CD8⁺ T-cell subsets combination performed well in discriminating disease activity (AUC = 0.849, sensitivity = 70.97%, specificity = 90.91%). We demonstrated an altered circulating memory T-cell profile and increased TCF1⁺ T-cell percentage in patients with vitiligo. T-cell subpopulations had a strong value for vitiligo diagnosis and activity evaluation. This evidence presents a potential new pharmacological target for inhibiting autoimmunity that leads to vitiligo.

OBJECTIVE To establish the fingerprint of total saponins from Mussaenda pubescens， and to study the spectrum- effect relationship of its hepatoprotective activity. METHODS Ten batches of total saponins from M. pubescens from different origins were prepared using 75% ethanol as solvent. High-performance liquid chromatography （HPLC） and the Similarity Evaluation System for Traditional Chinese Medicine Chromatographic Fingerprints （2012 edition） were used to draw the fingerprints of 10 batches of total saponins from M. pubescens. The similarity evaluation and identification of common peaks were conducted. The same HPLC method was adopted to determine the contents of five triterpenoid saponins （mussaendoside H， mussaendoside U， mussaglaoside C， mussaendoside G and mussaendoside O）. The hepatoprotective effect of total saponins from M. pubescens was investigated by establishing carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury model mice， and the spectrum-effect relationship was studied by using grey correlation analysis. RESULTS There were 11 common peaks in 10 batches of total saponins from M. pubescens， 5 of which were identified， i.e. mussaendoside H （peak 3）， mussaendoside U （peak 7）， mussaglaoside C （peak 8）， mussaendoside G （peak 9） and mussaendoside O （peak 11）； the similarities of 10 batches of samples ranged 0.940- 0.991. Average contents of mussaendoside H， mussaendoside U， mussaglaoside C， mussaendoside G， mussaendoside O were 0.01- 0.05， 0.10-0.21， 0.10-0.18， 0.03-0.08， 0.20-0.40 mg/g， respectively. Ten batches of total saponins from M. pubescens could generally reduce the contents of alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST） in serum， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-6 （IL-6） and IL-1β in liver tissue of model mice （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. The E-mail：13878195336@139.com correlation between the common peak areas and the contents of ALT， AST， TNF-α， IL-6 and IL-1β were 0.602-0.757， 0.585-0.833， 0.593-0.795， 0.618-0.820， 0.607-0.804， respectively； the peaks with high correlation were peaks 11， 9 and 8 in order. CONCLUSIONS Ten batches of total saponins from M. pubescens have similar components， and the average contents of mussaendoside H， mussaendoside U， mussaglaoside C， mussaendoside G and mussaendoside O are different. The batches of samples have a certain degree of hepatoprotective effect； mussaendoside O， mussaendoside G and mussaglaoside C may be its main active components.

Objective:To investigate the prediction value of observed to expected lung area to head circumference ratio (o/e LHR), measured at different gestational age with various methods, on indication for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in fetuses with isolated left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).Methods:Clinical data of 40 neonates who were diagnosed with left-sided CDH and treated in Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center were retrospectively collected from January 2017 to May 2021. The o/e LHRs were prenatally calculated using maximum diameter and tracing method at 22-24 and 31-33 weeks of gestation. According to whether the neonates had indications for ECMO after birth or not, they were divided into ECMO ( n=12) or non-ECMO group ( n=28). Differences in the o/e LHR and general situations between the two groups were analyzed using C hi-square test, independent sample t-test, and non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors for ECMO requirement and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the value of o/e LHR in predicting the indication for ECMO. Results:Both maximum diameter and tracing method suggested that the o/e LHR at 31-33 gestational weeks was lower than that at 22-24 gestational weeks [maximun diameter method: 40.4 (32.9-51.5) vs 45.1 (36.3-53.4), Z=－2.48, P=0.013; tracing method: 38.6 (33.2-47.6) vs 44.1 (35.9-51.7), Z=－3.29, P=0.001]. There was no statistical difference in o/e LHR detected at the same gestational weeks between the two methods (both P>0.05). Binary logistic regression showed that o/e LHR measured at 31-33 gestational weeks using maximum diameter method was an independent protective factor for ECMO requirement ( OR=0.873, 95% CI: 0.790-0.965, P=0.008). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve for evaluating the predictive value of o/e LHR for ECMO requirement was 0.830 with the sensitivity of 83.3% and the specificity of 71.4% when the cut-off value of o/e LHR at 31-33 gestational weeks was 38.195 measured by maximum diameter method. Conclusions:The o/e LHR measured at 31-33 weeks is lower than that at 22-24 weeks of gestation by both methods. The o/e LHR measured by maximum diameter method at 31-33 weeks of gestation may be useful for predicting the ECMO indication after birth but requiring comprehensive evaluation of clinical conditions due to its insufficient predicting power.

Objective:To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of a multi-dimensional peripheral quick contrast sensitivity function (pqCSF) measurement established based on Bayesian probability estimation algorithm.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted.Nineteen eyes of 12 healthy emmetropic subjects in Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center of Sun Yat-sen University from September 2017 to March 2018 were included, with an average age of (22.92±2.91) years.The average spherical power and cylindrical power were (-0.34±0.52)D and (-0.30±0.42)D, respectively, and the average uncorrected vision acuity was≥1.0.Based on the Bayesian probability algorithm, the peak contrast sensitivity γ max, the peak spatial frequency ? max, the bandwidth β and the low contrast intercept δ were used to quickly describe the contrast sensitivity function (CSF) curve of the full spatial frequency through multi-dimensional pqCSF method.The 16 peripheral visual field positions of all subjects were tested at 6°, 12°, 18° and 24° eccentricity of the superior, inferior, the temporal and nasal visual field by the pqCSF method, but the 18° eccentricity of temporal field, which was near the physiological blind spot, was excluded.The area under Log CSF (AULCSF) of different peripheral visual fields and the Log CSF of 19 spatial frequencies (distributed at equal intervals in logarithmic units) were compared.This study followed the Declaration of Helsinki, and the study protocol was approved by an Ethics Committee of Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center of Sun Yat-sen University (No.2018KYPJ017). Written informed consent was obtained from each subject prior to any examination. Results:With the increase of eccentricity in different visual fields, the AULCSF decreased gradually, and there were significant differences in AULCSF between different eccentricities (all at P<0.05). The AULCSF of the nasal and temporal visual field at 6°, 12° and 24° eccentricity was significantly larger than that of the superior and inferior visual field (all at P<0.05). As the distance from the fovea was increased, the pqCSF, the AULCSF, and the high-frequency cutoff were all decreased, and the standard deviation of AULCSF was increased gradually. Conclusions:The pqCSF method can depict a relatively complete peripheral CSF curve of a wide peripheral visual field, and reflect the function quality of the peripheral vision comprehensively and accurately.

Objective To investigate the effect of piR-9994 on the biological behavior of gastric cancer cells and its possible mechanism. Methods The expression of piR-9994 in gastric cancer cell lines (MGC803 and AGS) and normal gastric epithelial cells (GES-1) were detected by qRT-PCR. MGC803 cell line with piR-9994 overexpression and knockdown were constructed. The effects of piR-9994 expression changes on cell proliferation were detected by MTT and clone formation assay. The scratch wound healing assay and Transwell invasion assay were used to detect cell migration and invasion abilities. qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect cell proliferation and EMT-related genes expression. Results The expression level of piR-9994 in MGC803 cells was significantly higher than that in normal gastric epithelial cell line GES-1 (P < 0.05). The overexpression of piR-9994 promoted the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer cells, while piR-9994 knockdown had the opposite effect. piR-9994 expression was closely related to cell cycle, especially in S phase. The overexpression of piR-9994 promoted the expression of proliferation-related genes PCNA, CCND1 and Bcl-2, inhibited the expression of apoptosis gene C-PARP, and promoted the expression of EMT-related genes N-cadherin, MMP7, Twist and Vimentin; while piR-9994 knockdown had the opposite effect. Conclusion Abnormal expression of piR-9994 affects the proliferation, invasion, metastasis and EMT process of gastric cancer cells. piR-9994 may be a new biomarker and therapeutic target for gastric cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of gallstones and common bile duct stones. Methods: Eighty-seven patients with gallstones complicated with common bile duct stones who underwent concurrent laparoscopic surgery at Zhoushan Hospital from December 2015 to December 2017 were enrolled.The patients were divided into A group and B group according to the digital table.A group(38 cases) underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) combined with laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE), and B group(49 cases) underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) combined with laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). The curative effect of the two groups was observed.The operation time, the success rate of the operation and the rate of laparotomy were recorded in the two groups.The corresponding hospitalization time and cost were compared.The safety of the two different procedures was compared after surgery, and the complications of the two groups were recorded. Results: In A group, the average diameter of common bile duct stones was (1.02±0.25)cm, the average diameter of common bile duct diameter was (1.15±0.25)cm.In B group, the mean diameter of common bile duct stones was (0.99±0.26)cm, and the average diameter of common bile duct was (1.13±0.26) cm.The differences between the two groups were not statistically significant (t=0.513, 0.437, 0.367, P=2.083, 1.533, 1.095). The successful operation rate of A group was 92.11%(35/38), which in B group was 91.84%(45/49), the difference was not statistically significant between the two groups(χ²=0.006, P=0.974). The incidence rate of complications in B group was 20.41%, which was significantly higher than that in A group, the difference was statistically significant(χ²=3.654, P=0.019). The hospitalization time, hospitalization expenses in A group were (10.6±2.6)d, (26 649.8±3 478.6)CNY, respectively, which were significantly better than those in B group (t=21.971, 17.168, all P<0.05). Conclusion The efficacy of LC combined with LCBDE for patients with gallstones complicated with common bile duct stones is better than ERCP/EST combined with LC surgery, and the safety of the former is higher than the latter.