Objective: To develop a RHCE genotyping assay based on kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) and assess its clinical accuracy for RhCE blood group determination. Methods: KASP primers were designed to interrogate three RHCE loci: the 109 bp insertion/deletion in intron 2, c. 307T>C, and c. 676C>G. A total of 1 194 RhD-positive inpatients from Chengdu were typed by both KASP genotyping and manual tube serology. Discordant samples (n=10) were retested by both methods and further resolved by Sanger sequencing. An additional 377 cases were tested for the c. 48C>G locus to evaluate the predictive accuracy of individual loci and combined locus testing for RhC antigen. Results: Genotyping concordance with serology was 100.0% for both the c. 676C>G locus (RhE/Rhe) and the c. 307T>C locus (Rhc). For RhC prediction using the 109 bp insertion, overall accuracy was 99.7% (1 191/1 194); the 3 discordant cases were confirmed by Sanger sequencing to be false negatives attributable to 109 bp deletion in intron 2. Testing the c. 48C>G allele for RhC prediction yielded 7 false positives, with an accuracy of 98.1% (370/377). RhC antigen status was determined by combining the 109 bp insertion and the c. 48C allele. After excluding 10 samples with inconsistent results between the two loci, the accuracy reached 100% in the remaining 367 samples. When both loci were applied in combination, accuracy reached 100% in the 367 cases with concordant results. Among the 1 194 patients, CCee (45.8%) and CcEe (31.7%) were the most common RhCE phenotypes. The e antigen had the highest positivity rate (92.2%), and the Ce haplotype was the most frequent (66.9%). Conclusion: The KASP-based RHCE genotyping method achieves high accuracy for clinical RhCE typing. Combining the 109 bp insertion/deletion with the c. 48C allele significantly improves RhC antigen prediction compared with either locus alone. This method was applied to RhCE genotyping of 1 194 RhD-positive inpatients in Chengdu, providing local RhCE phenotype and haplotype distribution data to support RhCE-matched transfusion practice.

Objective: To conduct screening for rare blood types within important blood group systems for the Chinese population, such as Rh, Duffy, Kidd, P1Pk, Diego, and MNS, in the Guangzhou region, and to establish a corresponding rare blood type database and physical repository. Methods: The saline medium microplate method was used to screen blood donors with the ccDEE phenotype combined with either Jk(a-) or Jk(b-). The polybrene microplate method was employed to screen for donors with Fy(a-), s(-), Lu(b-), Di(b-), k(-), and p phenotypes. The urea lysis microplate method was applied to screen for the Jk(a-b-) phenotype. A high-resolution melting (HRM) curve method was established for screening some donors with the Di(b-) phenotype. Subsequently, expanded phenotyping of antigens in the Rh, Kidd, MNS, Duffy, P1Pk, Lewis, Kell, and Lutheran blood group systems was performed on identified rare blood type donors using monoclonal antibodies. The test results are entered into the Rare Blood Type Bank Management System of the Guangzhou Blood Center, enabling functions such as confirmation reminders and cryopreservation storage when the donor donates again. Red blood cells of rare blood types are processed into frozen red blood cells for long-term storage. Results: Among voluntary blood donors, 16 cases of the ccDEE combined with Jk(a-) phenotype were identified (0.221 7%, 16/7 216); 10 cases of the ccDEE combined with Jk(b-) phenotype (0.138 6%, 10/7 216); 78 cases of the Fy(a-) phenotype (0.169 5%, 78/46 012); 39 cases of the Lu(b-) phenotype (0.138 2%, 39/28 214); 31 cases of the s(-) phenotype (0.081 8%, 31/37 913); 22 cases of the Di(b-) phenotype (0.029 9%, 22/73 691); 30 cases of the Jk(a-b-) phenotype (0.010 1%, 30/298 250); and 1 case of the k(-) phenotype (0.001 3%, 1/77 382), which was further identified as KELnull phenotype (K0). No p phenotype donors were identified (0/88 528). A total of 228 units of frozen red blood cells were prepared. The screening results were compared and analyzed with rare blood type data from other regions. Conclusion: This study, through a combination of different screening methods, significantly improved the efficiency of rare blood type screening while remaining cost-effective. By conducting large-scale screening and performing data informatization processing, a database and physical repository of rare blood types in the Guangzhou region were successfully established. This provides a strong guarantee for the timely supply of blood to patients with difficult-to-match and rare blood types in the region, effectively enhances the level of transfusion safety in the region, and offers a practical paradigm for constructing a comprehensive blood transfusion support system.

Objective In order to understand the current resistance status of Aedes albopictus(Ae. albopictus) adult population to commonly used insecticides and the resistance dynamics development in Zhejiang Province and provide a theoretical basis for the scientific and rational use of hygienic insecticides. Methods Resistance determination was carried out using the diagnostic dose method(GB/T 26347-2010)recommended by WHO in the adult mosquito contact cylinder method to monitor the resistance of Ae. albopictus field populations in 11 cities and districts in Zhejiang Province in 2024. Results The monitoring result showed that adult Ae. albopictus in 11 areas were resistant or suspected resistant populations to both cis-cypermethrin and permethrin; suspected and resistant populations to the organophosphate insecticide malathion were as high as 81.82%; while suspected resistance to the carbamate insecticide residual carbofuran accounted for 45.45%, and the rest of the monitoring sites were sensitive to it. Conclusions The result suggest that the generalized resistance of Ae. albopictus populations to pyrethroids and organophosphorus insecticides in the field in Zhejiang Province needs to be highly emphasized. In future mosquito vector and mosquito-borne disease control, insecticides should be selected based on the resistance monitoring information, while following scientific guidelines for insecticide use.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease （MAFLD） progresses to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis （MASH） due to mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance and dysfunction in hepatocytes caused by various factors such as lipotoxicity and inflammatory infiltration. Recent studies have confirmed that mitochondrial injury is closely associated with chronic inflammation， with extracellular vesicle （EV） acting as a key mediator linking the two processes. This article systematically reviews the molecular mechanisms of hepatocyte mitochondrial dysfunction in MAFLD/MASH， highlights the regulatory role of hepatocyte-derived EV in intrahepatic inflammation， and discusses the potential application prospects of mitochondria-targeted therapies and intercellular communication interventions in MAFLD/MASH， in order to provide a theoretical basis for developing novel therapeutic strategies for these diseases.

Objective:To assess the value of artificial intelligence（AI）assisted system in the diagnosis of malignancy in follicular thyroid tumours，and to compare with the diagnostic results of doctors with different levels of experience.Methods:A total of 101 nodules were retrospectively collected from 86 patients with follicular thyroid tumours who underwent surgical treatment at Peking Union Medical College Hospital，Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences，Peking Union Medical College from May 2016 to January 2018.The nodules were classified into risk group（29 patients，34 nodules，including 15 follicular carcinomas and 19 follicular tumours of indeterminable malignant potential）and benign group（59 atients，67 nodules，including 15 follicular adenomas and 52 nodular goitre adenomatoid hyperplasia）. The sensitivities，specificities and accuracies of the AI system，two doctors of different seniorities（one junior A and one senior B），and guidelines of thyroid ultrasound malignancy risk stratification［including the 2015 American Thyroid Guidelines（ATA），the 2017 American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System（ACR TI-RADS），the 2020 Chinese Society of Ultrasound，Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System（C-TIRADS）］（classified by a senior doctor C）for diagnosing follicular tumours in the risk group and follicular carcinomas were calculated and compared.Results:The AI system showed a sensitivity of 46.7%，specificity of 89.6% and accuracy of 81.7% for diagnosing follicular carcinoma；and a sensitivity of 32.4%，specificity of 89.6% and accuracy of 70.3% for diagnosing follicular neoplasms（risk group）. Compared with junior doctor A，the specificity of AI system in diagnosing follicular cancer and follicular neoplasms（risk group）was higher（89.6% vs. 83.6%， P=0.020；89.6% vs. 73.1%， P=0.020），and the differences of sensitivity were not significant（46.7% vs. 32.4%， P=0.181；32.4% vs. 11.8%， P=0.073）. The difference of sensitivity and specificity were not statistically significant between the AI system and senior doctor B（all P＞0.05）.The differences in area under the curve for diagnosis of follicular carcinoma and follicular tumour（risk group）were not statistically significant between the AI system compared to junior doctor A，senior doctor B，the C-TIRADS，ATA guideline，and ACR TI-RADS（all P＞0.05）. Conclusions:Ultrasound-based AI-assisted diagnostic system is similarly efficient in diagnosing follicular thyroid tumours as experienced doctors，and the AI system diagnostic specificity is superior to that of junior doctors.

OBJECTIVE To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of different induction regimens for AIDS complicated with cryptococcal meningitis.METHODS PubMed,Embase,Cochranre library,Web of science,CNKI,Wanfang,Weipu and other databases were systematically searched to collect randomized controlled trials related to the induction treatments of AIDS complicated with cryptococcal meningitis.The search was limited to Oct.2024.The Cochrane risk of bias evaluation system was used to evaluate the quality of the literature,and Stata 15.1 and Revman 5.3 software were used for network meta-analysis.RESULTS A total of 17 randomized controlled trials involving 3,281 patients were included.The result of network meta-analysis showed that the treatment regi-men with the lowest early mortality was the short-course of amphotericin B+fluconazole+flucytosine;the regi-men with the lowest late mortality was a single high-dose amphotericin B liposome;the regimen with the highest 14-day fungal clearance rate was amphotericin B+flucytosine;the regimen with the lowest incidence of grade 3+4 anemia was a single high-dose amphotericin B liposome;the regimen with the lowest incidence of grade 3+4 re-nal injury was amphotericin B liposome;the regimen with the lowest incidence of grade 3-4 hypokalemia was flu-conazole+flucytosine.CONCLUSION According to the comprehensive analysis of various indices,there is good efficacy and safety for the inclusion of short-course amphotericin B regimen and single high-dose amphotericin B li-posome as induction period therapy for AIDS complicated with cryptococcal meningitis.

AIM To improve the quality of Compound Yuxingcao Tablets.METHODS The HPLC fingerprints were established,after which the contents of neochlorogenic acid,chlorogenic acid,cryptochlorogenic acid,forsythoside I,forsythoside A,quercitrin,3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid,4,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid,baicalin,oroxyloside,wogonin and baicalein were determined.The analysis was performed on a 30 ℃ thermostatic Waters XBridge C18 column(250 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of acetonitrile-0.1％phosphoric acid flowing at 1.0 mL/min in a gradient elution manner,and the detection wavelength was set at 327 nm.Subsequently,principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis were adopted.RESULTS There were 21 common peaks in the fingerprints for 22 batches of samples with the similarities of more than 0.85.Twelve constituents showed good linear relationships within their own ranges(R20.999 8),whose average recoveries were 93.68％-101.16％with the RSDs of 0.95％-2.35％.Baicalin,wogonin and forsythoside A were taken as quality differential components.CONCLUSION This simple and accurate method can be used for the quality control of Compound Yuxingcao Tablets.

Ethanol detection plays an important role in food industry,environmental monitoring,medical health monitoring,prevention of drunk driving,etc.The development of low-cost,high-performance ethanol sensors has important application value.In this study,a ZnO/FeS nano heterojunction ethanol sensor was prepared on commercial ceramic silver electrode substrate.The sensing characteristics of the sensor for ethanol gas were systematically studied.The results showed that ZnO had a nanowire structure,and the FeS was coated on the ZnO nanowire in the form of nanosheets.The sensor performed well for ethanol detection in environments with relative humidity ranging from 30%to 60%,with a detection range from 0.2 mg/m3 to 50 mg/m3.At the optimum operating temperature of 300℃,the response of ZnO/FeS nano heterojunction sensor to 50 mg/m3 ethanol was 15.6,the response time was 5.0 s,and the detection limit was as low as 0.101 mg/m3,which was obviously better than that of commercial ethanol sensor.This sensor was highly selective for ethanol compared to other gases such as CO,NH3,acetone,etc,and could steadily work for 30 days.The fabricated sensor had good development potential in the field of low-cost and high-performance ethanol gas detection.

This article presents a comprehensive review of new methods for target identification of complex components in tradi-tional Chinese medicine(TCM)and research progress in their applications.It systematically summarizes classical approaches and cutting-edge technical systems for target identification,cov-ering multiple strategies such as proteomic analysis,fluorescence resonance energy transfer(FRET)technology,network pharma-cology prediction models,high-throughput biochip screening,tar-get capture strategies based on molecular affinity fishing,gene site-directed mutagenesis verification,and co-crystallization structure analysis of target proteins.The review emphasizes the critical role of target identification in elucidating the action mechanisms of TCM and facilitating new drug development,lay-ing a foundation for promoting the modernization of TCM.

BACKGROUND: The use of inserted sham acupuncture as a placebo in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is controversial, because it may produce specific effects that cause an underestimation of the effect of acupuncture treatment. OBJECTIVE: This systematic survey investigates the magnitude of insert-specific effects of sham acupuncture and whether they affect the estimation of acupuncture treatment effects. SEARCH STRATEGY: PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched to identify acupuncture RCTs from their inception until December 2022. INCLUSION CRITERIA: RCTs that evaluated the effects of acupuncture compared to sham acupuncture and no treatment. DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS: The total effect measured for an acupuncture treatment group in RCTs were divided into three components, including the natural history and/or regression to the mean effect (controlled for no-treatment group), the placebo effect, and the specific effect of acupuncture. The first two constituted the contextual effect of acupuncture, which is mimicked by a sham acupuncture treatment group. The proportion of acupuncture total effect size was considered to be 1. The proportion of natural history and/or regression to the mean effect (PNE) and proportional contextual effect (PCE) of included RCTs were pooled using meta-analyses with a random-effect model. The proportion of acupuncture placebo effect was the difference between PCE and PNE in RCTs with non-inserted sham acupuncture. The proportion of insert-specific effect of sham acupuncture (PIES) was obtained by subtracting the proportion of acupuncture placebo effect and PNE from PCE in RCTs with inserted sham acupuncture. The impact of PIES on the estimation of acupuncture's treatment effect was evaluated by quantifying the percentage of RCTs that the effect of outcome changed from no statistical difference to statistical difference after removing PIES in the included studies, and the impact of PIES was externally validated in other acupuncture RCTs with an inserted sham acupuncture group that were not used to calculate PIES. RESULTS: This analysis included 32 studies with 5492 patients. The overall PNE was 0.335 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.255-0.415) and the PCE of acupuncture was 0.639 (95% CI, 0.567-0.710) of acupuncture's total effect. The proportional contribution of the placebo effect to acupuncture's total effect was 0.191, and the PIES was 0.189. When we modeled the exclusion of the insert-specific effect of sham acupuncture, the acupuncture treatment effect changed from no difference to a significant difference in 45.45% of the included RCTs, and in 40.91% of the external validated RCTs. CONCLUSION The insert-specific effect of sham acupuncture in RCTs represents 18.90% of acupuncture's total effect and significantly affects the evaluation of the acupuncture treatment effect. More than 40% of RCTs that used inserted sham acupuncture would draw different conclusions if the PIES had been controlled for. Considering the impact of the insert-specific effect of sham acupuncture, caution should be taken when using inserted sham acupuncture placebos in RCTs. Please cite this article as: Luo XC, Liu JL, Yao MH, Chen YM, Fan AY, Liang FR, Zhao JP, Zhao L, Zhou X, Zhong XY, Yang JH, Li B, Zhang Y, Sun X, Li L. Specific effect of inserted sham acupuncture and its impact on the estimation of acupuncture treatment effect in randomized controlled trials: A systematic survey. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(6):630-640.
Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Humans ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Placebo Effect ; Placebos ; Treatment Outcome