Acupuncture is an ancient treatment method used in traditional Chinese medicine and has been popularized worldwide. Over the past decade, there has been an increase in the amount of acupuncture research, mostly comprised of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that aimed to answer the question on the efficacy of acupuncture. However, poor methodology and low replicability in these acupuncture RCTs have resulted in uncertainty about the efficacy of acupuncture. In this review, current advancements and challenges in acupuncture RCTs, regarding the methodological aspects of randomization, blinding, sham acupuncture and quality of reporting, were discussed. While there have been advancements in various aspects, current acupuncture RCTs still face pressing issues such as inadequate randomization and blinding, unviable sham acupuncture controls, and poor reporting quality. Given these limitations, this review seeks to identify the methodological problems that are responsible for these problems and to suggest solutions that could help to overcome them so as to improve the quality of future studies evaluating the efficacy of acupuncture. Please cite this article as: Seetoh WS, Lim RQR, Xu RB, Sun MX, Zhang P, Wang MN. Advancements and challenges of acupuncture randomized controlled trials. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(4): 333-343.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic/methods* ; Research Design

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the patterns of fasting blood glucose (FBG) trajectories and analyze the relationship between various occupational hazard factors and FBG trajectories in male steelworkers. METHODS: The study cohort included 3,728 workers who met the selection criteria for the Tanggang Occupational Cohort (TGOC) between 2017 and 2022. A group-based trajectory model was used to identify the FBG trajectories. Environmental risk scores (ERS) were constructed using regression coefficients from the occupational hazard model as weights. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the effects of occupational hazard factors using the ERS on FBG trajectories. RESULTS: FBG trajectories were categorized into three groups. An association was observed between high temperature, noise exposure, and FBG trajectory ( P < 0.05). Using the first quartile group of ERS1 as a reference, the fourth quartile group of ERS1 had an increased risk of medium and high FBG by 1.90 and 2.21 times, respectively (odds ratio [ OR] = 1.90, 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.17-3.10; OR = 2.21, 95% CI: 1.09-4.45). CONCLUSION An association was observed between occupational hazards based on ERS and FBG trajectories. The risk of FBG trajectory levels increase with an increase in ERS.
Humans ; Male ; Adult ; Blood Glucose/analysis* ; China ; Prospective Studies ; Occupational Exposure/adverse effects* ; Risk Factors ; Middle Aged ; Steel ; Fasting/blood* ; Metal Workers ; East Asian People

OBJECTIVE: To investigate chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection's effect on gestational liver function, pregnancy and delivery complications, and neonatal development. METHODS: A total of 157 HCV antibody-positive (anti-HCV[+]) and HCV RNA(+) patients (Group C) and 121 anti-HCV(+) and HCV RNA(-) patients (Group B) were included as study participants, while 142 anti-HCV(-) and HCV RNA(-) patients (Group A) were the control group. Data on biochemical indices during pregnancy, pregnancy complications, delivery-related information, and neonatal complications were also collected. RESULTS: Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) rates in Group C during early, middle, and late pregnancy were 59.87%, 43.95%, and 42.04%, respectively-significantly higher than Groups B (26.45%, 15.70%, 10.74%) and A (23.94%, 19.01%, 6.34%) ( P < 0.05). Median ALT levels in Group C were significantly higher than in Groups A and B at all pregnancy stages ( P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in neonatal malformation rates across groups ( P > 0.05). However, neonatal jaundice incidence was significantly greater in Group C (75.16%) compared to Groups A (42.25%) and B (57.02%) ( χ ² = 33.552, P < 0.001). HCV RNA positivity during pregnancy was an independent risk factor for neonatal jaundice ( OR = 2.111, 95% CI 1.242-3.588, P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS Chronic HCV infection can affect the liver function of pregnant women, but does not increase the pregnancy or delivery complication risks. HCV RNA(+) is an independent risk factor for neonatal jaundice.
Humans ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Adult ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Infant, Newborn ; Viremia/virology* ; Hepatitis C ; Hepacivirus/physiology* ; Hepatitis C, Chronic/virology* ; Young Adult ; Alanine Transaminase/blood*

Sacroiliac complex injuries are commonly seen in high-energy pelvic fractures. The injuries make a big difference in treatment patterns due to the diverse injury types, posing considerable challenges in formulating optimal treatment strategies, and hence are persistent clinical difficulties in orthopedic trauma. The clinical management of sacroiliac complex injuries presents several key challenges such as a non-negligible rate of missed diagnoses in associated vascular and visceral injuries, absence of standardized protocols for surgical approaches and reduction-fixation strategies across different injury patterns, and ongoing controversies regarding surgical indications and optimal timing for patients combined with concomitant lumbosacral plexus injuries. Currently, no systematic clinical guidelines are available for the diagnosis and treatment of sacroiliac complex injuries both domestically and internationally. To this end, the Pelvic and Acetabular Surgery Group, Orthopedic Branch, China International Exchange and Promotive Association for Medical and Health Care and Orthopedic Physician Branch, Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized a panel of domestic experts in the field to develop the Clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of sacroiliac complex injuries ( version 2025), based on evidence-based medicine and adhering to the principles of scientific rigor, clinical applicability, and innovation. These guidelines provided 11 recommendations covering diagnosis, therapeutic principles and techniques, management protocols for lumbosacral plexus injuries, outcome evaluation, and postoperative rehabilitation pathways, etc., aiming to standardize the clinical management of sacroiliac complex injuries.

Objective:To compare the diagnostic value of semi-quantitative parameters of fluorine 18-labelled prostate-specific membrane antigen( 18F-PSMA)positron emission tomography /computed tomography(PET/CT)and the Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen Reporting and Data System(PSMA-RADS)score for identifying benign and malignant oligo-PSMA-avid bone lesions(1-5 lesions)in elderly patients with prostate cancer. Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 157 prostate cancer patients who underwent 18F-PSMA PET/CT examinations at Beijing Hospital from October 2022 to August 2024.According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 63 patients were selected.All patients underwent 18F-PSMA PET/CT examination for the purpose of initial staging or detecting lesions with biochemical recurrence.PSMA-avid bone lesions were evaluated using the PSMA-RADS version 2.0 scoring system and the semi-quantitative parameters were measured on PSMA PET/CT images.According to the comprehensive diagnostic criteria, PSMA-avid bone lesions were divided into metastatic group and non-metastatic group.The differences in PSMA-RADS scores, semi-quantitative parameters, bone density abnormalities, and lesion distribution were compared between the two groups.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors related to the bone metastasis in prostate cancer.By plotting the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves and calculating the area under the curve(AUC), factors with better diagnostic performance were evaluated and screened, and the optimal diagnostic threshold for each factor in diagnosing bone metastasis was determined. Results:There were a total of 129 PSMA-avid bone lesions for 63 patients(aged 60-84 years, median age 69 years), including 35 lesions(27.1%)in the metastatic group and 94 lesions(72.9%)in the non-metastatic group.The differences between metastatic group and non-metastatic group in PSMA-RADS scores[5(4, 5) vs.3(3, 3)], maximum standardized uptake value(SUV max)[12.6(7.0, 18.4) vs.4.7(3.5, 5.9)], lesion SUV max/mediastinal blood pool SUV max ratio(lesion-to-blood pool ratio, LBR)[5.4(3.0, 8.3) vs.1.7(1.4, 2.2)], lesion SUV max/liver SUV max ratio(lesion-to-liver ratio, LLR)[2.6(1.6, 4.1) vs.0.8(0.7, 1.1)], PSMA receptor expressing tumor volume(PSMA-TV)[0.6(0.3, 1.0) vs.1.0(0.7, 1.5)], total lesion of PSMA(TL-PSMA)[4.4(2.4, 7.0) vs.2.4(1.7, 3.9)], proportion of changes in osteogenic bone density[77.1%(27/35) vs.2.1%(2/94)], proportion of lesions located in the ribs[14.3%(5/35) vs.46.8%(44/94)], and proportion of lesions located in the pelvis[54.3%(19/35) vs.20.2%(19/94)]were all statistically significant(all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that none of the variables with statistically significant differences between groups above were independent risk factors for osseous metastasis in prostate cancer(all P>0.05). Among them, The PSMA-RADS score, LLR, LBR, and SUV max all had good diagnostic efficacy for osseous metastasis, with 0.995(95% CI: 0.987-1.000), 0.923(95% CI: 0.869-0.977), 0.898(95% CI: 0.828-0.967), and 0.890(95% CI: 0.820-0.961), respectively.The cut-off values for diagnosing osseous metastasis were 4 score for PSMA-RADS score, 0.934 for LLR, 1.990 for LBR, and 5.47 for SUV max, respectively.According to Delong's test, there were statistically significant differences in AUC between PSMA-RADS score and 18F-PSMA PET/CT semi-quantitative parameters(LLR, LBR, and SUV max)( Z-values were 2.677, 2.776, and 2.929, respectively, and P-values were 0.007, 0.006, and 0.003, respectively). Conclusions:The PSMA-RADS score(Version 2.0)and 18F-PSMA PET/CT semi-quantitative parameters(LLR, LBR, and SUV max)both have good diagnostic value in differentiating benign and malignant PSMA-avid bone lesions in elderly patients with prostate cancer, among which the PSMA-RADS score has the best diagnostic efficacy.

Hearing loss is the most prevalent disabling disease. Cochlear implantation（CI） serves as the primary intervention for severe to profound hearing loss. This consensus systematically explores the value of genetic diagnosis in the pre-operative assessment and efficacy prognosis for CI. Drawing upon domestic and international research and clinical experience, it proposes an evidence-based medicine three-tiered prognostic classification system（Favorable, Marginal, Poor）. The consensus focuses on common hereditary non-syndromic hearing loss（such as that caused by mutations in genes like GJB2, SLC26A4, OTOF, LOXHD1） and syndromic hereditary hearing loss（such as Jervell & Lange-Nielsen syndrome and Waardenburg syndrome）, which are closely associated with congenital hearing loss, analyzing the impact of their pathological mechanisms on CI outcomes. The consensus provides recommendations based on multiple round of expert discussion and voting. It emphasizes that genetic diagnosis can optimize patient selection, predict prognosis, guide post-operative rehabilitation, offer stratified management strategies for patients with different genotypes, and advance the application of precision medicine in the field of CI.
Humans ; Cochlear Implantation ; Prognosis ; Hearing Loss/surgery* ; Consensus ; Connexin 26 ; Mutation ; Sulfate Transporters ; Connexins/genetics*

Aim To investigate the effects of the fangchinoline derivative LYY-32 on the biological prop-erties of the BLM642-1290 DNA helicase,in order to lay a foundation for further research on its antitumor activity.Methods Fluorescence polarization assay,malachite green-phosphate and ammonium molybdate colorime-try,and fluorescein-labeled DNA gel electrophoresis experiments were conducted to study the effects of fangchinoline derivative LYY-32 on the DNA binding activity,ATPase activity,and DNA unwinding activity of BLM642-1290 DNA helicase.The effects of LYY-32 on the DNA unwinding activity of DNA helicase in cells were studied using fluorescent techniques and time-lapse microscopy.Ultraviolet spectral scanning was used to investigate the effects of LYY-32 on the confor-mation of the BLM642-1290 DNA helicase.Results At a concentration of 10 μmol·L-1,the inhibition rate of LYY-32 on BLM642-1290 DNA helicase binding to dsDNA was 53.17％.At a concentration of 5 μmol·L-1,the inhibition rate of LYY-32 on BLM642-1290 DNA helicase binding to ssDNA was 88.49％.The inhibition rate of LYY-32 on the ATPase activity of BLM642-1290 DNA he-licase was 89.3％at a concentration of 50 μmol·L-1.When the concentration of LYY-32 exceeded 5μmol·L-1,its inhibition rate on the DNA unwinding activity of BLM642-1290 DNA helicase was 100％.LYY-32 also significantly inhibited the DNA unwinding ac-tivity of DNA helicase in cells.However,LYY-32 had no effect on the conformation of BLM642-1290 DNA heli-case.Conclusion The DNA binding activity,AT-Pase activity,and DNA unwinding activity of BLM642-1290 DNA helicase could be significantly inhibi-ted by the fangchinoline derivative LYY-32.

Obesity is a common chronic metabolic disease mainly characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue.Recently,the global prevalence of obesity-related metabolic diseases has increased significantly,seriously affecting the physical and mental health of patients.Adipokines are pleiotropic bioactive substances secreted by adipose tissue,which have physiological functions such as regulating energy metabolism,inflammatory response and insulin sensitivity.Abnormal hyperplasia of adipose tissue can induce chronic inflammatory responses in the body,stimulate the production or secretion disorders of adipokines,and alter glucose and lipid homeostasis,thereby leading to the occurrence and development of obesity-related metabolic diseases.However,the specific mechanism remains unclear.Exercise prescription is a planned exercise guidance program based on the results of the patient's physical fitness test to achieve the expected goal by adopting the prescribed exercise methods.In recent years,previous studies have found that exercise prescriptions can regulate adipokines,thereby preventing and treating obesity-related metabolic disorders,which may become a potential treatment for obesity-related metabolic diseases in clinical practice.This article reviews the mechanism and clinical effect of targeted regulation of adipokines by exercise prescriptions in the treatment of obesity-related metabolic disorders,in order to provide some new ideas and directions for finding new therapies for obesity-related metabolic diseases.

To elucidate the mechanism by which steaming affects the quality of Curcuma kwangsiensis root tubers, methods such as LSCM, RVA, dual-wavelength spectrophotometry, LF-NMR, and LC-MS were employed to qualitatively and quantitatively detect changes in starch gelatinization characteristics, water distribution, and material composition of C. kwangsiensis root tubers under different steaming durations. Based on multivariate statistical analysis, the correlation between differences in gelatinization parameters, water distribution, and terpenoid material composition was investigated. The results indicate that steaming affects both starch gelatinization and water distribution in C. kwangsiensis. During the steaming process, transformations occur between amylose and amylopectin, as well as between semi-bound water and free water. After 60 min of steaming, starch gelatinization and water distribution reached an equilibrium state. The content of amylopectin, the amylose-to-amylopectin ratio, and parameters such as gelatinization temperature, viscosity, breakdown value, and setback value were significantly correlated(P≤0.05). Additionally, the amylose-to-amylopectin ratio was significantly correlated with total free water and total water content(P≤0.05). Steaming induced differences in the material composition of C. kwangsiensis root tubers. Clustering of primary metabolites in the OPLS-DA model was distinct, while secondary metabolites were classified into 9 clusters using the K-means clustering algorithm. Differential terpenoid metabolites such as(-)-α-curcumene were significantly correlated with zerumbone, retinal, and all-trans-retinoic acid(P<0.05). Curcumenol was significantly correlated with isoalantolactone and ursolic acid(P<0.05), while all-trans-retinoic acid was significantly correlated with both zerumbone and retinal(P<0.05). Alpha-tocotrienol exhibited a significant correlation with retinal and all-trans-retinoic acid(P<0.05). Amylose was extremely significantly correlated with(-)-α-curcumene, curcumenol, zerumbone, retinal, all-trans-retinoic acid, and α-tocotrienol(P<0.05). Amylopectin was significantly correlated with zerumbone(P<0.05) and extremely significantly correlated with(-)-α-curcumene, curcumenol, zerumbone, retinal, all-trans-retinoic acid, and 9-cis-retinoic acid(P<0.01). The results provide scientific evidence for elucidating the mechanism of quality formation of steamed C. kwangsiensis root tubers as a medicinal material.
Curcuma/chemistry* ; Starch/chemistry* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Water/chemistry* ; Terpenes/analysis* ; Plant Roots/chemistry* ; Plant Tubers/chemistry* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*