OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupoint thread-embedding therapy of regulating governor vessel, dispersing lung, and suppressing reflux for gastroesophageal reflux cough (GERC). METHODS: A total of 120 GERC patients were randomly assigned to an observation group (60 cases, 1 case dropped out) and a control group (60 cases, 1 case was eliminated). The observation group received acupoint thread-embedding treatment at positive response points of governor vessel. If no such points were detected, the following acupoints were used: Dazhui (GV14), Fenghu (Extra), Shendao (GV11), Lingtai (GV10), and Zhiyang (GV9). Treatment was administered once every two weeks. The control group received oral rabeprazole enteric capsules at 20 mg twice daily. All the treatment was given for 6 weeks. Clinical outcomes were assessed using cough symptom score, reflux disease questionnaire (RDQ) score, and Leicester cough questionnaire (LCQ) score before and after treatment in the two groups. Clinical efficacy was also compared between the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, both groups showed decreased cough symptom scores and the each item scores and total scores of RDQ (P<0.001), and increased LCQ scores (P<0.001) compare with those before treatment. The observation group exhibited lower cough symptom score and chest pain, reflux and total score of RDQ, and higher LCQ score compared to those in the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate in the observation group was 94.9% (56/59), which was higher than 84.7% (50/59) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Acupoint thread-embedding therapy of regulating governor vessel, dispersing lung, and suppressing reflux could effectively alleviate cough and reflux symptoms in patients with GERC and improve their quality of life.
Humans ; Acupuncture Points ; Gastroesophageal Reflux/physiopathology* ; Male ; Female ; Cough/physiopathology* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Treatment Outcome ; Lung/physiopathology* ; Meridians

BACKGROUND: The correlation between the morphological structure of the patellofemoral joint (PFJ) and the severity of knee joint osteoarthritis (KOA) remains uncertain. This study aims to investigate the correlation between the severity of knee joint osteoarthritis and the alignment of patellofemoral and patellar height on radiographs. METHODS: This multi-center, retrospective study analyzed the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and anteroposterior radiographs of 534 adult outpatients with KOA. To evaluate the radiographic severity of KOA, anteroposterior radiographs of the knee and the Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grade were used. Knee MRI scans were used to measure the patellar length ratio (PLR), sulcus angle (SA), lateral patellar tilt angle (LPTA), and the distance between tibial tuberosity and trochlear groove (TT-TG). We examined the association between the configuration of the PFJ, arrangement, and harshness of the KOA. Information on participants' demographics, such as age, sex, side, height, and weight, was collected. A chi-squared test was used for the correlation of radiographic severity of KOA with sex and the affected side. Spearman correlation was used for patellofemoral alignment or morphology and the radiographic severity of lateral KOA. Multiple linear regression models were used for the association between LPTA, SA, TT-TG, and severity of KOA after accounting for demographic variables. RESULTS: The study comprised of 534 patients; of these, 339 (63%) were female. A total of 586 knees were evaluated in this study. Age showed a strong positive correlation with KOA severity ( r  = 0.516, P <0.01), whereas LPTA showed a strong negative correlation ( r  = -0.662, P <0.01). Additionally, SA ( r  = 0.616, P <0.05), and TT-TG showed a strong positive correlation ( r  = 0.770, P <0.01) with tibiofemoral osteoarthritis (TFOA) severity. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that knee osteoarthritis severity (β = -2.946, P <0.001) and side (β = -0.839, P  = 0.001) was associated with LPTA; knee osteoarthritis severity (β = 5.032, P <0.001) and age (β = -0.095, P <0.001) was associated with SA; knee osteoarthritis severity (β = 2.445, P <0.001), sex (β = -0.326, P  = 0.041), body mass index (β = -0.061, P  = 0.017) and age (β = -0.025, P <0.001) was associated with TT-TG. CONCLUSION Radiographic severity of KOA was positively associated with age, SA, and TT-TG but negatively associated with LPTA.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/pathology* ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Aged ; Patellofemoral Joint/pathology* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Adult ; Patella/pathology* ; Radiography

Arrhythmia is an important disease among cardiovascular diseases. Malignant arrhythmias often occur clinically and are induced by abnormal ion channels， electrical activity disorders， myocardial fibrosis， inflammation， dysfunctional mitochondrial biogenesis， mitochondrial calcium overload， out-of-balance energy metabolism， oxidative stress， sympathetic hyperactivity， and other pathological cardiac remodeling， and they are the main causes of sudden cardiac death. In traditional Chinese medicine， arrhythmias are considered to be palpitations， which are commonly caused by deficiency of Qi and Yin. It is often manifested as a deficiency of the spleen and stomach， resulting in malfunction of the Qi mechanism， followed by a particularly severe decline in cardiac function. Shengmaisan is a representative formula for nourishing Qi and Yin， consisting of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma， Ophiopogonis Radix， and Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus. In recent years， clinical studies have shown that Shengmaisan and its additions and subtractions are commonly used in the treatment of arrhythmias. In this article， the mechanisms of the active ingredients of Shengmaisan in the electrophysiology， biochemistry， structure， autonomic nervous system， and subcellular fraction of the heart are reviewed， and the multi-target， multi-system， and integrality of Shengmaisan in the treatment of arrhythmias of Qi and Yin deficiency are described. In addition， energy metabolism disorder is tightly juxtaposed with Qi and Yin deficiency syndrome. Mitochondria， as the center of myocardial energy metabolism， play a paramount role in cardiac remodeling， indicating that Shengmaisan will be a salient part of future research to ameliorate cardiac pathologic remodeling through energy metabolism of mitochondria， so as to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of these arrhythmias.

Objective To compare the effect of routine speech training and computer-assisted training on post-stroke dysarthria. Methods From March,2021 to April,2023,72 patients with post-stroke dysarthria in Beijing Bo'ai Hospital were ran-domly divided into control group(n=36)and experimental group(n=36).Both groups received routine rehabili-tation,while the control group received routine speech training,and the experimental group received computer-assisted training,for four weeks.They were assessed with modified Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment(m-FDA)and Speech Intelligibility(SI)before and after intervention. Results Eight cases in the control group and one case in the experimental group dropped down.The scores of m-FDA and SI improved in both groups after treatment(|Z|＞4.183,P＜0.001),and there was no significant difference between two groups(|Z|＜1.598,P＞0.05).Noninferiority of m-FDA was found between two groups(|t|＞3.656,P＜0.001). Conclusion Computer-assisted training could improve the speech function of patients with post-stroke dysarthria,simi-lar to routine speech training.

Objective To observe the value of MRI texture features combined with apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)for differentiating uterine sarcoma(US)and cellular uterine leiomyoma(CUL).Methods Pelvic MRI data of 27 US patients(US group)and 34 CUL patients(CUL group)were retrospectively analyzed.The texture features of lesions were extracted from T2WI and diffusion weighted imaging(DWI),the ADC value were measured,and the average ADC value(ADCmean),the minimum ADC value(ADCmin)and standard ADC value(ADCst)were recorded.Then logistic regression(LR)models were constructed based on ADC value,optimal texture features alone and their combination,respectively,including LRADC,LRtexture and LRADC+texture models.Receiver operating characteristic curves were drawn,and the area under the curves(AUC)were calculated to evaluate the efficacy of each model for differentiating US and CUL.Results The ADCmean,ADCmin and ADCst in US group were all lower than those in CUL group(all P＜0.05).A total of 3 750 texture features were extracted from pelvic T2WI and DWI,5 optimal features were finally obtained,and the constructed LRADC+texture model and LRtexture model had similar efficacy of differentiating US and CUL(AUC=0.921,0.887;P＞0.05),which were both higher than that of LRADC model(AUC=0.696;both P＜0.05).The calibration curve of LRADC+texture model was basically consistent with the ideal curve,which had better clinical benefits than LRADC and LRtexture models.Conclusion MRI texture features combined with ADC value could improve efficacy for differentiating US and CUL.

Patellofemoral pain syndrome(PFPS)is one of the main diseases leading to patellofemoral joint dysfunction,which seriously affects the quality of life of patients.This disease is classified as"knee impediment"and"tendon impediment"in TCM,and acupuncture treatment has a significant effect on this disease.This article combed the clinical studies on acupuncture treatment of PFPS in recent years around filiform needling,warm acupuncture and moxibustion,fire needle,needle knife,electro-acupuncture and other acupuncture treatments,and discussed the clinical effects and application scope of different treatments.Studies have shown that acupuncture therapy can effectively improve the symptoms and function of PFPS through a variety of mechanisms,such as regulating the function of the central nervous system,promoting the absorption of inflammatory factors and the clearance of joint effusion,and improving local blood circulation.These findings provide an important reference for the clinical treatment of PFPS.

Objective To systematically explore the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)common symptoms,syndrome elements,clinical syndrome differentiation,and medication rules of coronary microvascular disease(CMVD),and to provide a reference for quantitative criteria of clinical differentiation of CMVD,specification of the diagnosis and efficacy evaluation of TCM clinical syndrome,and guidance of clinical medication.Methods The databases including CNKI,Wanfang,VIP,and SinoMed were searched for research papers on the treatment of CMVD by TCM published from database inception to May 16,2023.Relevant information of the included literature was extracted and the database was established.Then,the frequency statistics of symptoms,syndrome elements,syndrome types and Chinese medicinals were carried out.Latent structural models were constructed using Latern 5.0 and Rstudio softwares respectively for comprehensive clustering and association rule analysis,so as to explore the symptom characteristics,syndrome elements distribution,common syndromes and medication rules for TCM treatment of CMVD.Results A total of 107 literature were included,involving 36 syndromes,17 syndrome elements,121 symptoms and 143 Chinese medicinals.It was speculated that the main syndrome element of CMVD was blood stasis,followed by qi deficiency,qi stagnation,phlegm turbidity,yin deficiency and yang deficiency.The main type of syndrome was qi deficiency and blood stasis,followed by heart blood stasis obstruction,qi stagnation and blood stasis,phlegm blended with stasis,qi-yin deficiency,etc..The main medicinals were Chuanxiong Rhizoma,Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma,Angelica Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix.The medicinals used in the treatment of CMVD were classified as blood-activating and stasis-resolving drugs,deficiency-tonifying drugs,qi-regulating drugs in terms of their efficacy.Conclusion The location of CMVD is in heart,and related to liver and kidney.The syndrome of CMVD is deficiency in origin and excess in superficiality.Blood stasis runs through the development of the disease.The treatment is mainly to activate blood circulation and remove stasis,activate meridians and relieve pain,which should be supplemented with the therapies of tonifying and invigorating qi,soothing the liver and regulating qi,dispelling phlegm and dissipating masses according to the patients'syndromes.

This article provides a review of domestic and international research on nursing-sensitive quality indicators (NSQIs) and evaluation systems for acute poisoning patients. It organizes the indicators into three dimensions based on the "structure-process-outcome" framework. The need for establishing a unified, comprehensive, and nationally suitable system of NSQIs in China is emphasized to standardize nursing practices and improve the monitoring of care quality. Although existing indicators possess some scientific validity, they often overlap with emergency nursing quality evaluation systems or are limited to specific types of poisoning. In addition, large-scale clinical trials to test their practical application and accessibility have yet to be conducted. This review aims to consolidate and analyze NSQIs for acute poisoning patients and provide a foundation and reference for improving the quality of nursing care for these patients.

Eukaryotic organisms constantly face a wide range of internal and external factors that cause damage to their DNA. Failure to accurately and efficiently repair these DNA lesions can result in genomic instability and the development of tumors (Canela et al., 2017). Among the various forms of DNA damage, DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are particularly harmful. Two major pathways, non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR), are primarily responsible for repairing DSBs (Katsuki et al., 2020; Li and Yuan, 2021; Zhang and Gong, 2021; Xiang et al., 2023). NHEJ is an error-prone repair mechanism that simply joins the broken ends together (Blunt et al., 1995; Hartley et al., 1995). In contrast, HR is a precise repair process. It involves multiple proteins in eukaryotic cells, with the RAD51 recombinase being the key player, which is analogous to bacterial recombinase A (RecA) (Shinohara et al., 1992). The central event in HR is the formation of RAD51-single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) nucleoprotein filaments that facilitate homology search and DNA strand invasion, ultimately leading to the initiation of repair synthesis (Miné et al., 2007; Hilario et al., 2009; Ma et al., 2017).
Recombinational DNA Repair ; DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism* ; DNA Repair ; DNA Damage ; DNA

Objective:By studying the gait changes of patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), the study provided a theoretical basis for the quantitative indicators obtained from gait analysis to the diagnosis of KOA. And it provided a gait reference for the clinical diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, prevention and efficacy evaluation of KOA.Methods:A total of 30 patients (KOA group) with KOA hospitalized in our hospital from May 2021 to October 2021 and 30 healthy people (control group) were compared for gait changes. The t test, Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher′s exact test were used to compare differences between groups. Results:The KOA group were greater than the control group in terms of step time [(642±81) ms and (548±62) ms, t=-5.01, P<0.001], gait cycle [(1 284±168) ms and (1 076±114) ms, t=-5.61, P<0.001], double support time [(531±125) ms and (331±51) ms, t=-8.10, P<0.001], double support time period proportion (0.417±0.063 and 0.309±0.023, t=-8.50, P<0.001), total support time [(914±135) ms and (678±107) ms, t=-7.52, P<0.001], total support time period proportion (0.711±0.027 and 0.627±0.044, t=-8.87, P<0.001), and left static standing time (55.7±8.4 and 51.5±2.2, t=-2.65, P=0.012), for which the differences were statistically significant. The KOA group were lower than the control group in terms of single support time period proportion (0.287±0.030 and 0.334±0.013, t=7.80, P<0.001), right static standing time (44.3±8.4 and 48.5±2.3, t=2.65, P=0.012), step length [(36±8) cm and (52±5) cm, t=9.97, P<0.001], stride length [(70±16) cm and (103±8) cm, t=10.00, P<0.001], velocity [(0.60±0.18) m/s and (1.05±0.19) m/s, t=9.54, P<0.001], left knee range of motion [(42±17)° and (63±4) °, t=6.49, P<0.001], and right knee range of motion [(37±18) ° and (62±3)°, t=7.54, P<0.001], for which the differences were statistically significant. Conclusion:Gait analysis can quantitatively evaluate the condition of patients with KOA, making it possible to transform the diagnostic criteria of KOA from qualitative to quantitative.