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

Objective To observe area of coagulation necrosis after microwave ablation(MWA)of rabbit liver showed on contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)in comparison with pathological findings.Methods Twenty-five healthy male experimental rabbits were equally randomly divided into L0,M0,H0,M7 and M14 groups.MWA was achieved with different power and time,and then CEUS and pathological examinations were performed,respectively.Four target areas of rabbit liver were ablated under 20 W for 1 min in L0 group,under 30 W for 1 min in M0 group and under 30 W for 3 min in H0 group,and the ablated areas were observed on the same day after MWA,while 2 target areas of rabbit liver were ablated under 30 W for 1 min in M7 and M14 groups,and the ablated areas were observed 7 days and 14 days after MWA,respectively.The ablated foci and ablated foci+edema band(inflammatory reaction band,IRB)showed on CEUS and pathology were compared,and their differences and changes with time going were analyzed.Results On the day of ablation,the extent of ablation foci,ablation foci+IRB as well as IRB in L0,M0 and H0 groups showed on CEUS were all larger than pathological findings under light microscopy(all P＜0.05),and the difference value of the length of the ablation foci between 2 methods increased sequentially among group L0,M0 and H0(all adjusted P＜0.05).Seven days after ablation,the area of ablation foci measured with CEUS in M 7 group was slightly larger than that measured with pathology(adjusted P=0.045),but no significant difference of the length nor the short diameter was found(both adjusted P＞0.05).Fourteen days after ablation,no significant difference of the length,the short diameter nor the area of ablation foci was detected between 2 methods in M14 group(all adjusted P＞0.05).The length,short diameter and area of ablation foci in M0 group measured with CEUS or pathology were all smaller than those in M 7 and M14 groups(all adjusted P＜0.05),while no significant difference was found between the latter 2 groups(all adjusted P＞0.05).Conclusion On the day of MWA of rabbit liver with different power and time settings,the areas of ablation foci,ablation foci+IRB and IRB showed on CEUS were larger than pathological findings.The range of ablation foci showed on CEUS 7 days after ablation was basically in line with pathology,indicating that CUES should be reexamined 7 days after ablation to evaluate the actual extent of coagulation and necrosis of ablation foci.

Patients with severe trauma require an extremely timely treatment and transfusion plays an irreplaceable role in the emergency treatment of such patients. An increasing number of evidence-based medicinal evidences and clinical practices suggest that patients with severe traumatic bleeding benefit from early transfusion of low-titer group O whole blood or hemostatic resuscitation with red blood cells, plasma and platelet of a balanced ratio. However, the current domestic mode of blood supply cannot fully meet the requirements of timely and effective blood transfusion for emergency treatment of patients with severe trauma in clinical practice. In order to solve the key problems in blood supply and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma, Branch of Clinical Transfusion Medicine of Chinese Medical Association, Group for Trauma Emergency Care and Multiple Injuries of Trauma Branch of Chinese Medical Association, Young Scholar Group of Disaster Medicine Branch of Chinese Medical Association organized domestic experts of blood transfusion medicine and trauma treatment to jointly formulate Chinese expert consensus on blood support mode and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma patients ( version 2024). Based on the evidence-based medical evidence and Delphi method of expert consultation and voting, 10 recommendations were put forward from two aspects of blood support mode and transfusion strategies, aiming to provide a reference for transfusion resuscitation in the emergency treatment of severe trauma and further improve the success rate of treatment of patients with severe trauma.

Objective:To evaluate the long-term efficacy of percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods:2054 cases with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage 0~B at the Fifth Medical Center of the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital from January 2006 to September 2020 were retrospectively collected. All patients were followed up for at least 2 years. The primary endpoint of overall survival and secondary endpoints (tumor-related survival, disease-free survival, and postoperative complications) of patients treated with ultrasound-guided percutaneous MWA were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier method was used for stratified survival rate analysis. Fine-and-Gray competing risk model was used to analyze overall survival.Results:A total of 5 503 HCC nodules [mean tumor diameter (2.6±1.6) cm] underwent 3 908 MWAs between January 2006 and September 2020, with a median follow-up time of 45.6 (24.0 -79.2) months.The technical effectiveness rate of 5 375 tumor nodules was 97.5%. The overall survival rates at 5, 10, and 15-years were 61.6%, 38.8%, and 27.0%, respectively. The tumor-specific survival rates were 67.1%, 47.2%, and 37.7%, respectively. The free tumor survival rates were 25.8%, 15.7%, and 9.9%, respectively. The incidence rate of severe complications was 2.8% (108/3 908). Further analysis showed that the technical effectiveness and survival rate over the passing three time periods from January 2006-2010, 2011-2015, and 2016-September 2020 were significantly increased, with P ?

Objective To observe the impact of cold circulation liquid temperature on ablation focus morphology of microwave ablation(MWA)for in vitro porcine liver tissue.Methods Twenty in vitro fresh porcine liver blocks were randomly divided into ice water circulation group(group A)and normal temperature circulation group(group B),respectively.Ten target ablations in each subgroups in group A and group B,i.e.A1 and B1(50 W,1 min),A2 and B2(50 W,5 min),A3 and B3(60 W,1 min),A4 and B4(60 W,5 min),A5 and B5(70 W,1 min)as well as A6 and B6(70 W,5 min)subgroups were performed using different ablation power(50,60,70 W)and ablation time(1,5 min),respectively.Then the morphology indexes of ablation foci,including longitudinal diameter(LD),transverse diameter(TD),roundness index(RI)and volume(V)were compared between subgroups in group A and B,also among subgroups within group A and B.Results Under the same ablation power and time,LD of ablation foci in subgroups of group A were all smaller than those of group B(all P＜0.05).Significant differences of RI of ablation foci were found between A1 and B1,A2 and B2,A4 and B4,A5 and B5 as well as A6 and B6 subgroups(all P＜0.05),but not between A3 and B3 subgroups(P＞0.05).However,the main effect of cold circulation liquid temperature on ablation focus TD(F=1.125)nor V(F=3.332)was not significant(both P≥0.05).Under the same cold circulation liquid temperature,significant differences of the morphology indexes of ablation foci were detected between A1 and A2,A3 and A4 as well as A5 and A6 subgroups,also between corresponding subgroups in group B(all P＜0.05).Conclusion During MWA for in vitro porcine liver tissue under constant ablation power and time,taken ice water as the cold circulation liquid was benefit to ablation focus shaped spherically.With the extension of ablation time,the larger the ablation focus,the higher the RI.

Objective:To screen interleukin(IL)-1β secretion-related membrane transporters by macrophage experiment in vitro and conventional knockout mice.Methods:THP-1 cell line was differentiated to obtain human THP-1-derived macrophages,and the primary macrophages were obtained from human peripheral blood.FVB wild-type mice with the same sex and age were used as the controls of MRP1 knockout mice.The macrophages in abdominal cavity and bone marrow of mice were cultivated.The cells were treated with ABCC1/MRP1,ABCG2/BCRP,ABCB1/P-gp,OATP1B1,and MATE transporter inhibitors,then stimulated by lipopolysaccharide and adenosine triphosphate.The secretion level of IL-iβ was detected by ELISA,Western blot,and immunofluorescence.Results:After inhibiting ABCC1/MRP1 transporter,the secretion of IL-1β decreased significantly,while inhibition of the other 4 transporters had no effect.In animal experiment,the level of IL-1 β secreted by macrophages in bone marrow of MRP1 knockout mice was significantly lower than control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion:ABCC1/MRP1 transporter is a newly discovered IL-1β secretion pathway,which is expected to become a new target for solving clinical problems such as cytokine release syndrome.

Objective To investigate the expression of microRNA-142(miR-142)in children with autoimmune thyroid disease(AITD)and its relationship with the imbalance of helper T cell 17(Th17)and regulatory T cell(Treg).Methods A total of 89 children hospitalized for AITD from January 2019 to December 2022 were prospectively selected as the study subjects,including 48 children with Graves'disease(GD group)and 41 children with Hashimoto's thyroiditis(HT group).Additionally,55 healthy children undergoing physical examinations during the same period were selected as the control group.The differences in serum miR-142,antithyroglobulin antibody(TGAb),antithyroperoxidase antibody(TPOAb),Th17/Treg,and interleukin-17(IL-17)expression were compared among the groups.Results The expression of miR-142,TPOAb,TGAb,Th17,Th17/Treg,and IL-17 in the GD group and HT group was higher than that in the control group,while Treg was lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).Pearson correlation analysis revealed that in the GD group,miR-142 was positively correlated with TPOAb,TGAb,Th17,Th17/Treg,and IL-17(r=0.711,0.728,0.785,0.716,0.709,respectively;P<0.001)and negatively correlated with Treg(r=-0.725,P<0.001);in the HT group,miR-142 was positively correlated with TPOAb and TGAb(r=0.752,0.717,respectively;P<0.001).Conclusions miR-142 is highly expressed in children with AITD,and its expression may be related to the Th17/Treg imbalance in children with GD.

AIM To study endophytic fungi from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi.and the enzyme inhibitory activities of their secondary metabolites.METHODS Six different media were used to isolate and purify endophytic fungi from S.baicalensis by tissue homogenate method.The activities of secondary metabolites were evaluated by targeting different enzymes.The highly active strains were identified by molecular biology combined with morphology,and the highly active chemical components were tracked and separated by modern chromatographic separation technology.RESULTS Sixty-four endophytic fungal strains were isolated from S.baicalensis,and one hundred and twenty-eight secondary metabolites were obtained by fermentation.The samples with certain inhibitory activities against adenosine deaminase(ADA),β-lactamase and tyrosinase(TYR)accounted for 14.06%,3.91%and 18.75%,respectively.Strain HTS-23-2 showed high TYR inhibitory activity,and 99%homology with Aspergillus flavus by molecular identification.One compound was isolated from the fermentation samples and identified as kojic acid.CONCLUSION S.baicalensis harbors a rich diversity of endophytic fungi,which serve as a valuable resource for active substances.

BACKGROUND: Human interleukin (IL)-37 is a constituent of the IL-1 family with potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive attributes. It has been demonstrated extensive beneficial effects on various diseases; however, its role in the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) remains unclear. METHODS: In vivo, DCM mouse model was established with streptozotocin injection and a high-fat diet in WT and cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) specific hIL-37b overexpression mice (IL-37-Tg). In vitro, primary mouse CFs were isolated from the hearts of adult mice and cultured with high levels of glucose and palmitic acid. Cardiac function of the mice was assessed using echocardiography. Masson staining, immunofluorescence, western blot and RT-PCR assays were employed to evaluate the expression of cardiac fibrosis and SOCS3-JAK2-STAT3 signaling pathway-related proteins. RESULTS: In this study, we found that CFs specific IL-37-Tg significantly ameliorated cardiac dysfunction and reduced collagen production by inhibiting the JAK2-STAT3 axis, as evidenced by the decreased levels of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 in the heart of CFs specific IL-37-Tg DCM mice. The beneficial effects of IL-37 were consistently observed in CFs treated with high glucose (HG) and palmitic acid (PA). Moreover, we also discovered that the presence of IL-37 increased the expression of SOCS3, a crucial regulator of JAK/STAT signaling, in DCM mice and HG and PA-treated CFs. Finally, the anti-fibrotic action of IL-37 in HG and PA-treated CFs was abolished when either SOCS3 was genetically knocked down or JAK2/STAT3 was pharmacologically activated. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that IL-37 exerts its antifibrotic effect by promoting SOCS3-mediated JAK2-STAT3 inactivation and may be considered as a potential therapeutic agent for DCM.

Objective: This cross-sectional investigation aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, prognosis, and related risk factors of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain in mainland China. Methods: Data of patients with SARS-CoV-2 from December 28, 2022, to February 21, 2023, were collected through online and offline questionnaires from 45 tertiary hospitals and one center for disease control and prevention in mainland China. The questionnaire included demographic information, previous health history, smoking and alcohol drinking, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, olfactory and gustatory function before and after infection, other symptoms after infection, as well as the duration and improvement of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. The self-reported olfactory and gustatory functions of patients were evaluated using the Olfactory VAS scale and Gustatory VAS scale. Results: A total of 35 566 valid questionnaires were obtained, revealing a high incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain (67.75%). Females(χ2=367.013, P<0.001) and young people(χ2=120.210, P<0.001) were more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Gender(OR=1.564, 95%CI: 1.487-1.645), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), oral health status (OR=0.881, 95%CI: 0.839-0.926), smoking history (OR=1.152, 95%CI=1.080-1.229), and drinking history (OR=0.854, 95%CI: 0.785-0.928) were correlated with the occurrence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2(above P<0.001). 44.62% (4 391/9 840) of the patients who had not recovered their sense of smell and taste also suffered from nasal congestion, runny nose, and 32.62% (3 210/9 840) suffered from dry mouth and sore throat. The improvement of olfactory and taste functions was correlated with the persistence of accompanying symptoms(χ2=10.873, P=0.001). The average score of olfactory and taste VAS scale was 8.41 and 8.51 respectively before SARS-CoV-2 infection, but decreased to3.69 and 4.29 respectively after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and recovered to 5.83and 6.55 respectively at the time of the survey. The median duration of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions was 15 days and 12 days, respectively, with 0.5% (121/24 096) of patients experiencing these dysfunctions for more than 28 days. The overall self-reported improvement rate of smell and taste dysfunctions was 59.16% (14 256/24 096). Gender(OR=0.893, 95%CI: 0.839-0.951), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), history of head and facial trauma(OR=1.180, 95%CI: 1.036-1.344, P=0.013), nose (OR=1.104, 95%CI: 1.042-1.171, P=0.001) and oral (OR=1.162, 95%CI: 1.096-1.233) health status, smoking history(OR=0.765, 95%CI: 0.709-0.825), and the persistence of accompanying symptoms (OR=0.359, 95%CI: 0.332-0.388) were correlated with the recovery of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 (above P<0.001 except for the indicated values). Conclusion: The incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain is high in mainland China, with females and young people more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Active and effective intervention measures may be required for cases that persist for a long time. The recovery of olfactory and taste functions is influenced by several factors, including gender, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status, history of head and facial trauma, nasal and oral health status, smoking history, and persistence of accompanying symptoms.
Female ; Humans ; Adolescent ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Smell ; COVID-19/complications* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; COVID-19 Vaccines ; Incidence ; Olfaction Disorders/etiology* ; Taste Disorders/etiology* ; Prognosis