ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture in treating severe Bell's palsy and to explore its potential mechanism by investigating the effect on serum levels of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor （GDNF） and nerve growth factor （NGF）. MethodsA randomized， subject-blinded， sham-acupuncture controlled trial was conducted. A total of 130 patients with severe Bell's palsy were randomly allocated into a treatment group or a control group at a 1∶1 ratio. Both groups received conventional western medicine. In addition， the treatment group received acupuncture， while the control group received sham acupuncture， with each session lasting 30 minutes. The treatment course lasted 8 weeks for both groups， followed by a follow-up assessment at week 12. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients achieving House-Brackmann （H-B） grade Ⅱ or lower at week 8. Secondary outcomes included Sunnybrook facial grading system scores at week 0， 4， 8， and 12， the time to satisfactory recovery（the time required to achieve H-B grade≤Ⅱ）， distribution of H-B grades and facial disability index （FDI） scores including the physical function subscale （FDIP） and social/well-being function subscale （FDIS） scores at week 0， 4， 8， and 12， and serum GDNF and NGF levels at week 0， 4， and 8. Adverse events and participants' self-assessments of treatment efficacy were also recorded. ResultsA total of 122 participants completed the study， including 62 in the treatment group and 60 in the control group. An intention-to-treat （ITT） analysis was performed， and missing data were handled using the last observation carried forward （LOCF） method. The proportion of patients achieving H-B grade ≤grade Ⅱ at week 8 was 78.5% （51/65） in the treatment group， significantly higher than 49.2% （32/65） in the control group （P＜0.05）. The Sunnybrook scores， FDIP and FDIS scores increased， while H-B grades decreased at week 4， 8， and 12 in both groups compared to week 0； moreover， improvements in all outcome measures were significantly greater in the treatment group than in the control group （P＜0.05）. The median time to satisfactory recovery was 6 weeks （95%CI： 5.697-6.303） in the treatment group， significantly shorter than 12 weeks （95%CI： 8.314-15.686） in the control group （P＜0.05）. Serum levels of GDNF and NGF were significantly higher in the treatment group at weeks 4 and 8 （P＜0.05）. No serious acupuncture-related adverse events occurred in either group. Adverse events were reported in 5 patients （7.69%） in the treatment group and 4 patients （6.15%） in the control group， with no statistically significant difference between groups （P＞0.05）. Patients' self-assessment of treatment efficacy after 8 weeks treatment was significantly better in the treatment group （P＜0.05）. ConclusionAcupuncture can effectively improve facial nerve function and shorten recovery time in patients with severe Bell's palsy， with a favorable safety profile. The therapeutic mechanism may be associated with the upregulation of serum GDNF and NGF levels.

Objective To observe the value of neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging(NODDI)for diagnosing unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy(TLE)complicated with hippocampal sclerosis(HS)(TLE-HS).Methods Brain diffusion kurtosis imaging(DKI),3D T1WI and 3D fluid attenuated inversion recovery(FLAIR)sequence images were prospectively collected in 55 patients with unilateral TLE-HS(TLE-HS group)and 55 healthy controls(HC group),and NODDI parameter maps were acquired.The hippocampus NODDI parameters values and FLAIR signal intensity were compared among the affected side,the healthy side in TLE-HS group and HC group,as well as between each two,and their value for diagnosing unilateral TLE-HS were analyzed.Results Significant differences of hippocampus intracellular volume fraction(ICVF),isotropic volume fraction(ISOVF),orientation dispersion index(ODI)values and FLAIR signal intensity were found among the affected side,the healthy side in TLE-HS group and HC group(all P＜0.05).There were significant differences of ICVF,ISOVF and ODI values between the affected side and the healthy side in TLE-HS group(all P＜0.05),of ICVF,ISOVF,ODI values and FLAIR signal intensity between the affected side in TLE-HS group and HC group(all P＜0.05),and of ISOVF values and FLAIR signal intensity between the healthy side in TLE-HS group and HC group(both P＜0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)of ICVF,ISOVF,ODI and their combination for differentiating the affected side and the healthy side of TLE-HS was 0.913,0.712,0.912 and 0.964,for differentiating the affected side of TLE-HS and HC was 0.940,0.822,0.871 and 0.971,respectively,and the combination both had the highest AUC(both P＜0.05).The AUC of ISOVF,ODI and their combination for differentiating the healthy side of TLE-HS and HC was 0.666,0.630 and 0.744,respectively,being not significant different(all P＞0.05).The AUC of FLAIR signal intensity for differentiating the affected side and the healthy side of TLE-HS,the affected side of TLE-HS and HC,the healthy side of TLE-HS and HC was 0.627,0.756 and 0.653,respectively.Conclusion Bilateral hippocampus NODDI parameters were helpful for diagnosing unilateral TLE-HS,which might be superior to commonly used FLAIR sequence.

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS) is the most common subtype of peripheral T-cell lymphoma. The overall incidence rate of this disease is low and the heterogeneity is strong. At present, its diagnosis mainly relies on exclusive diagnosis. Clinically, the first-line treatment of PTCL-NOS mostly refers to CHOP-like chemotherapy regimens for B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, but its efficacy is unsatisfactory, with high recurrence rate and poor long-term survival. The widespread application of new targeted drugs and antibody conjugated drugs, such as chidamide, pralatrexate and brentuximab vedotin have improved the therapeutic effects of patients to some extent. However, the prognosis of relapsed/refractory patients is still not satisfactory. This article reviews the pathological characteristics, immunophenotype, genetic characteristics, clinical features, and treatment progress of PTCL-NOS.

Objective To construct a trajectory model for the changes in body roundness index(BRI)of elderly people in China from 2011 to 2018 based on the data derived from Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey(CLHLS),and analyze the influencing factors of different BRI trajectories.Methods Based on the longitudinal cohort data from the CLHLS platform,group-based trajectory model(GBTM)analysis was used to construct longitudinal change trajectories of 3 waves of BRI(2011,2014,and 2018)that meet our research criteria.Unordered multinomial logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the influencing factors of different BRI trajectories.Results A total of 2 512 valid samples were included in the analysis.The BRI trajectory of Chinese elderly people fitted by GBTM was optimally grouped into low-,medium-,and high-level growth trajectory models.There were statistically significant differences among different BRI trajectory groups in gender,length of education,resident place,living with spouse,retirement pension,sleep quality,smoking history,drinking history,continuous exercise,frequency of fruit consumption,frequency of salt-preserved vegetables consumption,and"fruit+protein"dietary patterns(P<0.05).Disordered multiclass logistic regression analysis found that,using the low-level growth trajectory model as a reference,males and those with a history of smoking were less likely to exhibit moderate to high growth levels of BRI trajectories;Elderly people with retirement pensions were more likely to exhibit a moderate to high growth level of BRI trajectory;People with a history of alcohol consumption were more likely to exhibit a moderate steady growth level of BRI trajectory;People with longer than 10 years of education were less likely to exhibit a high level of growth in the BRI trajectory,while urban residents and those who frequently consumed fruits and salted vegetables were more likely to exhibit a high level of growth in the BRI trajectory.Conclusion The trajectory of BRI changes among elderly people in China from 2011 to 2018 can be divided into 3 groups,which are influenced by multiple factors such as gender,resident place,and length of education.It is necessary to pay attention to and make measures in advance to improve the quality of life in the elderly.Countermeasures It is advisable to incorporate BRI as a core indicator in elderly health monitoring systems,establish a dynamic management mechanism for high-risk populations,and implement precision-targeted lifestyle interventions and health guidance.

Objective:To analyze the research hotspots and trends of phytoestrogens for menopausal syndrome based on CiteSpace.Methods:The research articles were retrieved with the search terms of"phytoestrogens""perimenopause""phytoestrogens"and"perimenopause". A total of 405 articles in PubMed database from 1996 to 2023 and 227 articles in CNKI full-text database from 2000 to 2023 were retrieved. The software CiteSpace 6.2.R6 was used to visualize the articles to explore the research hotspots and trends of phytoestrogens used in menopausal syndrome.Results:A total of 632 literatures were included, and the country with a large number of publications and a high degree of central intermediation was the United States (70 publications, 0.05 intermediation centrality). Although Chinese scholars had high publication output (12 articles), they lacked external exchanges and cooperation (0 intermediary centrality). Domestic and foreign research focused on the common source of phytoestrogens, hot flushes, sweating and other common menopausal symptoms, cardiovascular diseases, breast diseases. The research direction had gradually shifted from basic research to clinical research, and more and more natural phytoestrogens types had attracted attention. In contrast, domestic research focused more on bone health, focusing on the long-term benefits of menopausal hormone therapy for patients with low bone mass and osteoporosis.Conclusion:The study of phytoestrogens for menopausal syndrome is based on evidence-based medicine and is developing towards individualized and benefit-risk ratio maximization, but there is still a lack of high-quality randomized controlled studies.

Objective To observe the value of neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging(NODDI)for diagnosing unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy(TLE)complicated with hippocampal sclerosis(HS)(TLE-HS).Methods Brain diffusion kurtosis imaging(DKI),3D T1WI and 3D fluid attenuated inversion recovery(FLAIR)sequence images were prospectively collected in 55 patients with unilateral TLE-HS(TLE-HS group)and 55 healthy controls(HC group),and NODDI parameter maps were acquired.The hippocampus NODDI parameters values and FLAIR signal intensity were compared among the affected side,the healthy side in TLE-HS group and HC group,as well as between each two,and their value for diagnosing unilateral TLE-HS were analyzed.Results Significant differences of hippocampus intracellular volume fraction(ICVF),isotropic volume fraction(ISOVF),orientation dispersion index(ODI)values and FLAIR signal intensity were found among the affected side,the healthy side in TLE-HS group and HC group(all P＜0.05).There were significant differences of ICVF,ISOVF and ODI values between the affected side and the healthy side in TLE-HS group(all P＜0.05),of ICVF,ISOVF,ODI values and FLAIR signal intensity between the affected side in TLE-HS group and HC group(all P＜0.05),and of ISOVF values and FLAIR signal intensity between the healthy side in TLE-HS group and HC group(both P＜0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)of ICVF,ISOVF,ODI and their combination for differentiating the affected side and the healthy side of TLE-HS was 0.913,0.712,0.912 and 0.964,for differentiating the affected side of TLE-HS and HC was 0.940,0.822,0.871 and 0.971,respectively,and the combination both had the highest AUC(both P＜0.05).The AUC of ISOVF,ODI and their combination for differentiating the healthy side of TLE-HS and HC was 0.666,0.630 and 0.744,respectively,being not significant different(all P＞0.05).The AUC of FLAIR signal intensity for differentiating the affected side and the healthy side of TLE-HS,the affected side of TLE-HS and HC,the healthy side of TLE-HS and HC was 0.627,0.756 and 0.653,respectively.Conclusion Bilateral hippocampus NODDI parameters were helpful for diagnosing unilateral TLE-HS,which might be superior to commonly used FLAIR sequence.

Objective:To analyze the research hotspots and trends of phytoestrogens for menopausal syndrome based on CiteSpace.Methods:The research articles were retrieved with the search terms of"phytoestrogens""perimenopause""phytoestrogens"and"perimenopause". A total of 405 articles in PubMed database from 1996 to 2023 and 227 articles in CNKI full-text database from 2000 to 2023 were retrieved. The software CiteSpace 6.2.R6 was used to visualize the articles to explore the research hotspots and trends of phytoestrogens used in menopausal syndrome.Results:A total of 632 literatures were included, and the country with a large number of publications and a high degree of central intermediation was the United States (70 publications, 0.05 intermediation centrality). Although Chinese scholars had high publication output (12 articles), they lacked external exchanges and cooperation (0 intermediary centrality). Domestic and foreign research focused on the common source of phytoestrogens, hot flushes, sweating and other common menopausal symptoms, cardiovascular diseases, breast diseases. The research direction had gradually shifted from basic research to clinical research, and more and more natural phytoestrogens types had attracted attention. In contrast, domestic research focused more on bone health, focusing on the long-term benefits of menopausal hormone therapy for patients with low bone mass and osteoporosis.Conclusion:The study of phytoestrogens for menopausal syndrome is based on evidence-based medicine and is developing towards individualized and benefit-risk ratio maximization, but there is still a lack of high-quality randomized controlled studies.

Objective To explore the difference in efficacy of metoprolol versus ivabradine in the treatment of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome(POTS)in the elderly after COVID-19 infection.Methods A total of 110 patients diagnosed with POTS at our department from Decem-ber 1,2022 to January 31,2023 were included.According to their drug regimen,they were divided into metoprolol group(62 patients)and ivabradine group(48 patients).On the 28th day of out-patient follow-up,the resting heart rate,heart rate of 10 min of standing,symptom disappearance rate,hospitalization rate,and mortality rate were compared between the two groups.Results On the 28th day of treatment,the resting heart rate and postural heart rate for 10 min were decreased in both groups when compared with the levels at initial diagnosis(P＜0.01).And there were no significant differences in the two types of heart rate between the two groups on the 28th day(71.0±7.0 vs 72.1±7.0,P=0.401;76.5±7.2 vs 77.4±7.6,P=0.573).No obvious differences were observed between the two groups in symptom disappearance rate,hospitalization rate,or mortality rate(88.7％vs 89.6％,3.2％vs2.1％,0％vs 0％,P＞0.05).Conclusion Metoprolol and ivabradine can effectively treat POTS in the elderly patients after COVID-19 infection.

Objective To assess the safety of femoral artery puncture procedures guided by X-ray and ultrasound among elderly patients.Methods A total of 480 patients undergoing transcatheter interventional treatment for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases through the femoral ar-tery in our hospital between January 2016 and December 2022 were enrolled in the study.Of them,326 patients receiving femoral artery puncture guided by X-ray fluoroscopy were assigned into X-ray group,while the other 154 patients guided by vascular Doppler ultrasound were into ultrasound group.With propensity score matching(PSM)in a ratio of 1∶1,finally 270 patients were included.Their general clinical data,success rate of puncture,puncture site,and incidence of vascular complications were compared between the two groups.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for vascular complications.Results Before PSM,there were no statistical differences in the mean distance from the skin fold to the bifurcation of the common femoral artery(2.5±1.0 cm vs 2.4±0.8 cm)or the distance from the fold to the in-guinal ligament(6.4±1.4 cm vs 6.3±1.7 cm)between the X-ray group and the ultrasound group(P＞0.05).After PSM,the X-ray group exhibited an obviously higher incidence of puncture points below the common femoral artery than the ultrasound group(14.8％vs 6.7％,P＜0.05),but no significant differences were observed in the one-time success rate of puncture or the occur-rence of vascular complications between the two groups(P＞0.05).Multivariate logistic regres-sion analysis indicated that the presences of non-common femoral artery and femoral artery calci-fication at the puncture site was independent risk factors for vascular complications(OR=8.379,95％CI:3.561-19.717;OR=3.922,95％CI:1.664-9.242).Conclusion There is no statistical disparity in safety between X-ray-versus ultrasound-guided femoral artery puncture procedures.Cli-nicians should choose appropriate puncture procedure or combine them together based on individual con-dition of patients.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of utilizing Kaneka dual lumen microcatheter in combination with anchored balloon in treatment of bifurcation lesions in elderly patients with ra-dial artery 6 F catheter.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 168 patients(≥60 years)receiving bifurcation treatment with a 6 F catheter via the radial artery at the Heart Center of our hospital from January 2020 to January 2023.According to application of dual lumen micro-catheters and anchoring balloon technology or not,they were assigned into an anchoring group(81 cases old)and a control group(87 cases).A comparison was made between the two groups in terms of features of coronary artery disease,operation procedure,and MACE.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed.Results Lower incidence of dissection,shorter operation time,less X-ray exposure dose,and decreased contrast agent dosage were observed in the anchoring group when compared with the control group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).There was no statistical differ-ence in the MACE incidence between the two groups(4.9％vs 8.0％,P＞0.05).The side branch dissection and final TIMI grade＜3 of side branch flow were independent risk factors for postop-erative MACE in elderly patients with bifurcation lesions after surgery(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Conclusion Kaneka dual lumen microcatheter combined with anchored balloon technology via radial artery 6 F catheter has the advantages in effectively shorting operation time,minimizing X-ray exposure,reducing contrast agent usage,and diminishing the incidence of side branch dis-section in treatment of bifurcation lesions in elderly patients undergoing surgical treatment.