Fetal malformation of cortical development(MCD)is a group of structural neurological disorders caused by abnormalities in development of cortical layer during embryogenesis,characterized by significant heterogeneity and diversity,which may lead to adverse clinical outcomes such as epilepsy and intellectual disabilities.The progresses in prenatal evaluation on fetal MCD were reviewed in this article.

DNA methylation is the first epigenetic modification found in humans.Abnormal changes in DNA methylation are closely associated with the development and progression of diseases.Acupuncture,an important component of traditional Chinese medicine,has been shown to have significant therapeutic efficacy.The mechanisms underlying acupuncture are complex,involving physiological and pathological processes of integrated interactions across multiple targets.However,current research mostly focuses on a single target,highlighting the need for a more upstream approach to the investigation of the mechanisms.Herein,we reviewed studies on the direct or indirect regulation of DNA methylation via acupuncture.We also discussed its mechanisms of action in pain,obesity,depression,and Alzheimer disease,in order to provide a new perspective on the therapeutic mechanisms of acupuncture and the role of DNA methylation in the field of acupuncture research.Future research should concentrate on the effect of acupuncture on the DNA methylation of specific genes,the quantification of changes in DNA methylation at different acupoints,the development of individualized acupuncture prescriptions,further investigation of the specificity of the effects at different acupoint,and the expansion of the research to integrate epigenetics and genomics.This will provide a theoretical basis for the internationalization and the promotion of clinical application of acupuncture.

Objective To evaluate the application of shear wave elastography(SWE)in the diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy in patients with diabetes.Methods Totally 85 patients with type 2 diabetes(T2DM)were selected from the Chengdu Office Hospital of People's Government of Tibetan Autonomous Region,including 46 patients with peripheral neuropathy(DPN)and 39 patients without peripheral neuropathy(NDPN).Compared for clinical data(gender,age,disease duration),cross-sectional area of the median nerve measured by high-frequency ultra-sound(CSA)and shear wave elastography(SWE)parameters(mean Young's modulus value,Emean)and shear wave velocity(SWV)between two groups of patients.Multifactor Logistic regression analysis was carried out on the indicators between the above groups to screen independent predictors in the diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy in diabetes patients,and a combined model was constructed.The area under the operating characteristic curve(AUC),sensitivity and specificity of the subjects were used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the single model and com?bined model of the quantitative parameters(CSA,Emean,SWV)measured by clinical data,high?frequency ultra?sound and SWE in the diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy in diabetes patients.Results Age,course of disease,Emean,SWV and CSA were statistically significant in the diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy in diabetes patients(all P<0.05).AUC was 0.658,0.754,0.839,0.822 and 0.736,respectively.The combination model based on disease course,CSA and SWV showed the highest diagnostic efficiency,with AUC,sensitivity,and specificity of 0.887(0.800-0.946),80.43％,and 84.62％,respectively.Conclusions The combined model based on the course of disease,CSA and SWV have a high diagnostic efficiency in peripheral neuropathy of diabetes patients,and has good clinical application value.

Objective To explore strategies for further subdivision of DRG in gastrointestinal surgery cases,providing references to enhance the differentiation of DRG subgroups.Methods A total of 5 108 gastrointestinal surgery cases were selected from a tertiary grade A hospital and a tertiary hospital in Hubei Province,spanning from January 2019 to June 30,2023,and another secondary hospital's data from 2020 and 2021.It employs single factor analysis and multiple linear regression analysis to identify factors influencing case costs.Additionally,the opinions of nine clinicans were gathered regarding factors affecting resource consumption in gastrointestinal surgery cases.The four selected case groups were further subdivided considers the peak characteristics of disease costs.It compares subdivided groups with the DRG Payment Subgroups Scheme(Version 2.0).Results Groups GB1,GB2,GC1,and GC2 were subdivided into 7,4,7,and 6 DRG groups,respectively.The coefficient of variation of each subdivided DRG were reduced,homogeneity was increased,and inter-group differentiation was increased.The results were consistent with the DRG Payment Subgroups Scheme(Version 2.0).Conclusion Based on DRG grouping,the DRG groups can be further subdivided according to the peak characteristics presented by case costs.This subdivision strategy is helpful to provide new ideas for case grouping of Medicare payment.

Fetal malformation of cortical development(MCD)is a group of structural neurological disorders caused by abnormalities in development of cortical layer during embryogenesis,characterized by significant heterogeneity and diversity,which may lead to adverse clinical outcomes such as epilepsy and intellectual disabilities.The progresses in prenatal evaluation on fetal MCD were reviewed in this article.

Objective To observe the value of left atrial volume/mechanical coupling index(LACI)for predicting left atrial(LA)dysfunction in patients with chronic kidney disease(CKD).Methods Totally 213 CKD patients(CKD group)and 50 healthy controls(control group)were enrolled.Clinical data,laboratory indicators and echocardiographic parameters were compared between groups.According to quartile values of LACI,patients in CKD group were further divided into 4 subgroups,and their clinical,laboratory indicators and echocardiographic parameters were compared.The correlations between LACI and laboratory markers of myocardial injury as well as echocardiographic parameters were analyzed.Taken LAVI＞34 ml/m2 as LA dysfunction,the efficacy of LACI,LA strain and LA stiffness index(LASI)for predicting LA dysfunction in CKD patients were evaluated.Results Statistical differences of gender,blood pressure,creatinine,estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR),cardia troponinT(cTnT),creatine kinase isoenzymes(CK-MB)and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)were found between groups(all P＜0.05).In CKD group,with the increase of LACI,the prevalence of blood pressure and diabetes,the levels of cTnT and NT-proBNP in different subgroups showed increasing trend,while eGFR showed a decreasing trend.LACI was correlated with cTnT,CK-MB,NT-proBNP and multiple echocardiographic parameters(all P＜0.001).The AUC of LACI for predicting LA dysfunction in CKD patients was 0.884,higher than that of LA strain during reservoir phase,conduit phase,contraction phase and LASI(AUC=0.652,0.621,0.611,0.746,all P＜0.05).Conclusion LACI could be used to effectively predict LA dysfunction in CKD patients.

Objective To observe the value of left atrial volume/mechanical coupling index(LACI)for predicting left atrial(LA)dysfunction in patients with chronic kidney disease(CKD).Methods Totally 213 CKD patients(CKD group)and 50 healthy controls(control group)were enrolled.Clinical data,laboratory indicators and echocardiographic parameters were compared between groups.According to quartile values of LACI,patients in CKD group were further divided into 4 subgroups,and their clinical,laboratory indicators and echocardiographic parameters were compared.The correlations between LACI and laboratory markers of myocardial injury as well as echocardiographic parameters were analyzed.Taken LAVI＞34 ml/m2 as LA dysfunction,the efficacy of LACI,LA strain and LA stiffness index(LASI)for predicting LA dysfunction in CKD patients were evaluated.Results Statistical differences of gender,blood pressure,creatinine,estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR),cardia troponinT(cTnT),creatine kinase isoenzymes(CK-MB)and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)were found between groups(all P＜0.05).In CKD group,with the increase of LACI,the prevalence of blood pressure and diabetes,the levels of cTnT and NT-proBNP in different subgroups showed increasing trend,while eGFR showed a decreasing trend.LACI was correlated with cTnT,CK-MB,NT-proBNP and multiple echocardiographic parameters(all P＜0.001).The AUC of LACI for predicting LA dysfunction in CKD patients was 0.884,higher than that of LA strain during reservoir phase,conduit phase,contraction phase and LASI(AUC=0.652,0.621,0.611,0.746,all P＜0.05).Conclusion LACI could be used to effectively predict LA dysfunction in CKD patients.

Objective To explore strategies for further subdivision of DRG in gastrointestinal surgery cases,providing references to enhance the differentiation of DRG subgroups.Methods A total of 5 108 gastrointestinal surgery cases were selected from a tertiary grade A hospital and a tertiary hospital in Hubei Province,spanning from January 2019 to June 30,2023,and another secondary hospital's data from 2020 and 2021.It employs single factor analysis and multiple linear regression analysis to identify factors influencing case costs.Additionally,the opinions of nine clinicans were gathered regarding factors affecting resource consumption in gastrointestinal surgery cases.The four selected case groups were further subdivided considers the peak characteristics of disease costs.It compares subdivided groups with the DRG Payment Subgroups Scheme(Version 2.0).Results Groups GB1,GB2,GC1,and GC2 were subdivided into 7,4,7,and 6 DRG groups,respectively.The coefficient of variation of each subdivided DRG were reduced,homogeneity was increased,and inter-group differentiation was increased.The results were consistent with the DRG Payment Subgroups Scheme(Version 2.0).Conclusion Based on DRG grouping,the DRG groups can be further subdivided according to the peak characteristics presented by case costs.This subdivision strategy is helpful to provide new ideas for case grouping of Medicare payment.

This paper briefly introduces the basic principle, application scenarios and main steps of subpopulation treatment effect pattern plot (STEPP), and summarizes the theoretical basis of its combined application with propensity score matching (PSM) in cohort study data for the heterogeneity analysis on the association between exposure and outcome risk. In this paper, the combined application of PSM and STEPP in cohort study data is summarized by simulation of "cohort study of the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in cancer patients with different infusion catheter types". The absolute risk value and relative risk value of VTE in the peripherally inserted central catheter group and the central venous catheter group in subpopulations are introduced, as well as the results of heterogeneity analysis among subpopulations. The limitations and research prospects of the combined application of PSM and STEPP are discussed to provide reference for researchers in practical application.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness and safety of neck seven-line method combined with periauricular acupuncture as salvage treatment for sudden hearing loss in non-acute stage. MethodsSixty-six patients with non-acute stage of sudden hearing loss with a disease duration of 15-90 days were randomly divided into 33 cases each in treatment group and control group. The treatment group was given neck seven-line method combined with acupuncture at periauricular points； the control group used sham acupuncture and sham electroacupuncture at the same points. Both groups were treated 3 times a week for 6 weeks. The pure tone average hearing threshold of impaired frequencies were examined before treatment， after treatment finish and at follow-up （week 10）， and the difference between pure tone average hearing threshold of impaired frequencies before and after treatment was calculated； calculate the proportion of patients with ≥10 dB improvement in pure tone average hearing threshold of impaired frequency after treatment and at follow-up； compare the patients' Tinnitus Evaluation Scale （TEQ） scores， Chinese Medicine Quality of Life Assessment Scale （CQ-11D） health utility values and the difference between before and after treatment， and record the occurrence of adverse events. ResultsThe pure tone average of impaired frequency in the treatment group were （50.57±18.07） dB and （47.70±17.42） dB at post-treatment and follow-up respectively， and （54.38±21.77） dB and （53.36±20.99） dB in the control group at post-treatment and follow-up. Compared with the pre-treatment period， the pure tone average hearing threshold of impaired frequency in the two groups significantly decreased （P＜0.05） at post-treatment and follow-up. The difference of pure tone average hearing threshold of impaired frequency in the treatment group after treatment and at the follow-up visit compared to that before treatment was lower than those in the control group （P＜0.05）. After treatment， 13 patients （39.39%） in the treatment group and 10 patients （30.30%） in the control group showed improvement of ≥10 dB in pure tone average hearing threshold of impaired frequency； at the follow-up visit， 18 patients （54.55%） in the treatment group and 10 patients （30.30%） in the control group showed improvement of ≥10 dB in the pure tone average hearing threshold of impaired frequency， and there was no statistical significance for comparison between groups at the time of post-treatment and follow-up （P＞0.05）. The TEQ score of the treatment group significantly lower than that before treatment （P＜0.05）； the TEQ score of the treatment group and the difference between before and after treatment significantly lower than that of the control group （P＜0.05）. The difference in CQ-11D health utility values and the difference between before and after treatment were not statistically significant between the two groups （P＞0.05）. Eight cases of acupuncture-related adverse events occurred among 66 patients， including subcutaneous haematomas after needling， severe pain during needling and needle fainting， which disappeared after symptomatic treatment and did not affect the following treatment. ConclusionNeck seven-line method combined with periauricular acupuncture could be used as salvage treatment for sudden hearing loss in non-acute stage to improve the pure tone average hearing threshold of impaired frequency， alleviate tinnitus， with safety.