ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined with bloodletting and cupping in the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria（CSU） and to explore its potential mechanisms of action. MethodsSeventy CSU patients were randomly divided into loratadine group and acupuncture + bloodletting group， with 35 patients in each group. The loratadine group received oral loratadine tablets， 10 mg once daily in the evening. The acupuncture + bloodletting group received acupuncture at Zhongwan （CV 12）， Guanyuan （CV 4）， Tianshu （ST 25）， Zusanli （ST 36）， Sanyinjiao （SP 6）， Xuehai （SP 10）， Quchi （LI 11）， Hegu （LI 4）， Taichong （LR 3）， Baihui （GV 20）， and Shenting （GV 24）， once daily，along with bloodletting and cupping at Dazhui （GV 14） and Geshu （BL 17）， every other day. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. The 7-day urticaria activity score（UAS7） was assessed before and after the treatment， and levels of serum immunoglobulin E （IgE）， interleukin-4 （IL-4）， interleukin-5 （IL-5）， eosinophil cationic protein （ECP）， plasma tissue factor （TF）， activated factor Ⅶ （FⅦa）， prothrombin fragment 1+2 （F1+2）， D-dimer （D-D） and complement component 5a （C5a） were detected. ResultsA total of 65 patients were included in the final analysis， 32 in the loratadine group and 33 in the acupuncture + bloodletting group. Before treatment， there was no significant difference in UAS7 score， serum IgE， IL-4， IL-5， ECP levels， or plasma TF， FⅦa， F1+2， D-D， C5a levels between groups （P＞ 0.05）. After treatment， both groups showed significant reductions in UAS7 score， serum IgE， IL-4， IL-5， and plasma TF， FⅦa， F1+2， D-D， and C5a levels compared to those before treatment （P＜0.01）. However， after treatment， there was no significant difference in UAS7 score and serum ECP， IgE， IL-4， IL-5 levels between groups （P＞0.05）. The acupuncture + bloodletting group showed lower plasma TF， FⅦa， F1+2， D-D and C5a levels compared to the loratadine group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. ConclusionAcupuncture combined with bloodletting and cupping can effectively improve the skin symptoms of CSU patients and reduce the levels of inflammatory factors. The potential mechanism of action may involve the regulation of the coagulation-complement-mast cell activation axis， thereby inhibiting mast cell degranulation.

Objective: To explore the therapeutic effects of different surgical methods for temporomandibular joint disc reduction and anchoring surgery, providing reference for optimizing this surgical procedure. Method: The study was approved by the hospital ethics committee. 173 patients (195 joints) who underwent temporomandibular joint disc repositioning and anchoring surgery were selected for retrospective analysis. Patients were categorized into groups A (traditional preauricular incision-scalpel/tissue scissors anterior attachment release), 35 patients (40 joints), B (traditional preauricular incision-plasma bipolar radiofrequency electrode anterior attachment release), 42 patients (46 joints), C (revised tragus incision - scalpel/tissue scissors anterior attachment release), 50 patients (58 joints), and D (revised tragus incision-plasma bipolar radiofrequency electrode anterior attachment release), 46 patients (51 joints). After a 6-month postoperative follow-up, the differences in maximum mouth opening (MMO), visual analogue scale (VAS), effective rate of joint disc reduction, incidence of preauricular numbness, obvious scars among patients in each group at 1, 3, and 6 months were compared postoperatively. Results: After surgery, the MMO of all four groups of patients initially shrunk and then gradually increased compared to before surgery. At the 1-month follow-up after surgery, the plasma bipolar radiofrequency release (B+D) group had a smaller impact on the patient’s MMO compared to the surgical knife/tissue scissors release (A+C) group (P < 0.05). Postoperative VAS scores for all four groups showed a gradual decrease from pre-operative levels, with the (B+D) group scoring significantly lower in the first month post-surgery compared to the (A+C) group (P < 0.05). Six months post-surgery, the rate of joint disc reduction of the four groups were higher than 95%, with no significant differences observed between the groups (P > 0.05). Patients in the revised tragus incision (C+D) group experienced a lower rate of preauricular numbness compared to those in the traditional preauricular incision (A+B) group (4.59% vs. 12.79%, P < 0.05), The incidence of obvious scars in the (C+D) group was significantly lower than that in the (A+B) group (3.67% vs. 23.26%, P < 0.05). Conclusion The revised tragus incision is superior to traditional preauricular incision in terms of protecting the auriculotemporal nerve and the scars were more inconspicuous. Further, the plasma bipolar radiofrequency electrode is superior to the scalpel/tissue scissors in terms of mouth opening recovery and pain control. For temporomandibular joint disc reduction and anchoring surgery, a modified tragus incision combined with plasma bipolar radiofrequency electrode to release the anterior attachment of the joint disc can be recommended as a surgical option.

Objective To assess the quality of gross α and β radioactivity measurements conducted by radiological health service institutions and disease prevention and control centers in Gansu Province, China, and regulate their measurement methods. Methods The samples were distributed by Gansu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention as the organizer of the inter-comparison through mail. The institutions participated in the inter-comparison carried out the measurements in accordance with national standards, and submitted the inter-comparison reports in the form required by the inter-comparison scheme. Results A total of 13 institutions participated in the 2023 inter-comparison of gross α and β radioactivity measurement capabilities, and all measurement results met the required standards. The absolute Z-scores for gross α inter-comparison ranged from 0 to 1.21, and the absolute Z-scores for gross β inter-comparison ranged from 0.08 to 1.85. The comprehensive scores ranged from 74.5 to 93.0. Conclusion The measurement capacities of the institutions participated in the 2023 inter-comparison showed improvement compared with the previous year. However, 12 institutions participated in the inter-comparison showed issues in data processing, report formatting, and laboratory quality control. It is necessary to strengthen technical training, standardize the measurement procedures, and improve the measurement capabilities and skills to ensure the quality of services.

Objective To analyze the predictive value of serum levels of procalcitonin(PCT)and cytokines on the prognosis of patients with COVID-19 at admission.Methods From November 2022 to February 2023,patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who were admitted to Beijing Chest Hospital were enrolled.Chemiluminescence was used to detect serum PCT levels,and flow microsphere array was used to detect serum cytokines IL-1β,IL-2,IL-4,IL-5,IL-6,IL-8,IL-10,IL-12p70,IL-17A,IL-17F,IL-22,TNF-α,TNF-β,IFN-γ level.ICU admission,mechanical ventilation and in-hospital death were defined as poor prognosis.After excluding patients with bacterial infection,the relationship between serum PCT and cytokine levels at admission and the prognosis of COVID-19 patients was analyzed.After excluding patients with bacterial infection,the relationship between serum PCT and cytokine levels at admission and the prognosis of COVID-19 patients was analyzed.Results A total of 176 patients with complete data were included,including 134 in the PCT-normal group and 42 in the PCT-elevated group,with a median age of 71.50 years and 71.59%males.Patients in the PCT elevated-group had significantly higher rates of ICU admission(38.41%vs.13.11%,P<0.05),mechanical ventilation(76.92%vs.24.59%,P<0.001)and in-hospital mortality(38.46%vs.6.56%,P<0.001)were significantly higher than those in the PCT-normal group.Serum levels of cytokines IL-6(7.40 pg/mL vs.4.78 pg/mL,P = 0.033 4)and IL-8(10.97 pg/mL vs.5.92 pg/mL,P<0.001)were significantly higher in patients with poor prognosis than in those with good prognosis.The area under the curve for PCT,IL-6,and IL-8 to predict poor prognosis in COVID-19 patients was 0.687,0.660,and 0.746,respectively;sensitivity was 52.78%,55.17%,and 72.41%,respectively;and specificity was 81.58%,74.19%,and 74.19%,respectively,as calculated from the ROC curve.When PCT,IL-6 and IL-8 jointly predict the prognosis of COVID-19 patients,the area under the curve is 0.764,the sensitivity is 70.00%,and the specificity is 80.00%.Conclusion Serum PCT and cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 could be used as predictive markers for poor prognosis in patients with COVID-19.

Objective To study changes in immune cells and cytokines during the reactivation stage of varicella-zoster virus(VZV)in patients with herpes zoster.Methods A total of 50 patients with herpes zoster and 30 healthy individuals were selected from Xi'an Ninth Hospital between May 2022 and October 2022.Flow cytometry was used to detect the proportion of peripheral blood CD3+cells,CD4+cells,CD8+T cells,B cells and NK cells,as well as levels of cytokines IL-2,IFN-γ,IL-10 and IL-6.We analyzed the immune mechanism of VZV reactivation stage in herpes zoster patients.Results Compared with the healthy control group,the proportion of CD3+cells and CD4+T cells in herpes zoster patients decreased significantly;the proportion of NK cells significantly increased;the levels of IFN-γ,IL-10 and IL-6 significantly increased;the proportion of CD8+T cells,B cells and IL-2 content showed an increasing trend,but there was no significant difference.In addition,the severity of neurological involvement in herpes zoster patients might affect changes in cytokine levels.Conclusion During the reactivation period of VZV,changes in the proportion of immune cells and cytokine expression levels are closely related to the occurrence and development of herpes zoster.

Objective:To explore the association between environment exposure and hormone-sensitive cough in patients with chronic cough.Methods:Clinical data of 197 patients with chronic cough visited outpatient clinic of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from June 2016 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, including 130 cases of corticosteroid responsive cough (CRC, 66.0%) and 67 cases of non-corticosteroid responsive cough (NCRC, 34.0%). The association between living environment exposure and hormone sensitivity was examined with a binary logistic regression analysis.Results:Among 197 patients with chronic cough, there were 82 males (41.6%) and 115 females (58.4%). 75.1% (148/197) had a history of smoking, and 16.8% (33/197) had a history of allergies. 66.0% (130/197) lived in the city center, 18.3% (36/197) had a chemical factory around their place of residence, 11.2% (22/197) renovated their homes within the first six months of the disease, 15.7% (31/197) purchase new furniture, 54.3% (107/197) plant flowers and plants in their houses, 21.3% (42/197) keep pets in their houses, 79.2% (156/197) had lived in their houses for more than 2 years, 71.1% (140/197) had cockroaches in their houses, 16.2% (32/197) had mold in their houses, 83.3% (164/197) had a frequency of air conditioning cleaning exceeds 2 months per time.There were 130 patients (66.0%) with CRC and 67 patients (34.0%) with NCRC.Binary logistic regression analysis showed that living close to the main road ( OR=2.296, 95% CI: 1.350-3.904, P=0.002), living near chemical factories ( OR=3.322, 95% CI: 2.158-5.573, P<0.001), history of allergy ( OR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.165-4.058, P=0.015), purchasing new furniture within 6 months ( OR=2.828, 95% CI: 1.402-5.706, P=0.004), cotton and linen curtains ( OR=1.875, 95% CI: 1.038-3.388, P=0.037) were positively correlated with CRC; while down and wool pillowcases and quilts ( OR=0.142, 95% CI: 0.033-0.602, P=0.008; OR=0.207, 95% CI: 0.067-0.640, P=0.006) and low ventilation frequency ( OR=0.281, 95% CI: 0.131-0.603, P=0.001) were negatively correlated with CRC. Conclusion:Hormone-sensitive cough patients account the most of chronic cough cases, and there are differences in the living environment exposure between CRC and NCRC patients, which provides information for corresponding interventions to prevent and manage CRC.

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics and related socio-demographic factors of schizo-phrenia patients with different ages of onset.Methods:Totally 2 016 patients with schizophrenia aged 15 to 70 were selected according to the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,Fifth Edition.All of the patients were interviewed by psychiatrists using the Mini International Neuropsy-chiatric Interview to diagnose schizophrenia,Clinical-Rated Dimensions of Psychosis Symptom Severity(CRDPSS)and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS)to assess symptoms.The cut-off points were 18 and 25 years old for three age groups,i.e.early onset(EOS),youth onset(YOS)and adult onset(AOS).Statistical analy-ses were performed by analysis of variance Pearson correlation analysis,and multivariate linear regression.Results:The early-onset patients had the highest total PANSS score(73.8±28.0)and CRDPSS score(11.7±5.4).Fe-male gender,high education level,Han ethnicity,early onset age,and slower onset of illness were negatively corre-lated with the total and dimension score of PANSS scale and CRDPSS scale(standardized regression coefficient:0.04-0.47),and income level and smoking were negatively correlated with those score(standardized regression coefficient:-0.04--0.14).Conclusion:Early-onset schizophrenia patients have more severe symptoms,and fe-male,high education level,early-onset disease,and chronic onset are the risk factors of symptom severity in patients with schizophrenia.

Bioactive compounds derived from herbal medicinal plants modulate various therapeutic targets and signaling pathways associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the world's primary cause of death. Ginkgo biloba, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine with notable cardiovascular actions, has been used as a cardio- and cerebrovascular therapeutic drug and nutraceutical in Asian countries for centuries. Preclinical studies have shown that ginkgolide B, a bioactive component in Ginkgo biloba, can ameliorate atherosclerosis in cultured vascular cells and disease models. Of clinical relevance, several clinical trials are ongoing or being completed to examine the efficacy and safety of ginkgolide B-related drug preparations in the prevention of cerebrovascular diseases, such as ischemia stroke. Here, we present a comprehensive review of the pharmacological activities, pharmacokinetic characteristics, and mechanisms of action of ginkgolide B in atherosclerosis prevention and therapy. We highlight new molecular targets of ginkgolide B, including nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidases (NADPH oxidase), lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1), sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), platelet-activating factor (PAF), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) and others. Finally, we provide an overview and discussion of the therapeutic potential of ginkgolide B and highlight the future perspective of developing ginkgolide B as an effective therapeutic agent for treating atherosclerosis.

Objective:To explore the relationship between body composition and the risk of gestational diabe-tes mellitus(GDM)in pregnant women.Methods:90 pregnant women with spontaneous pregnancy of singleton who underwent routine prenatal examination in our hospital were selected as GDM group,and 219 pregnant women with normal singleton in the same period as control group(NGT).The body composition was determined by bioimpedance method at 24-28 weeks of gestation.The relationship between body mass index(BMI),per-centage of body fat(FMP),percentage of fat-free body weight(FFMP),extracellular/intracellular fluid(ECW/ICW),body fat index(FMI)and GDM were analyzed.The levels of circulating adiponectin,fatty acid binding pro-tein 4(FABP4),leptin and fasting insulin(FINS)were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)method,and their relationship with various indicators of human body composition was analyzed.Results:①Adi-ponectin in GDM group was lower than that in NGT group,while leptin was higher than that in control group(P＜0.05).②The FMP,ECW/ICW and FMI in GDM group were significantly higher than those in control group(P＜0.05).Univariate regression analysis showed that BMI,FMP,FMI and ECW/ICW before pregnancy were the risk factorsof GDM(OR＞1,P＜0.05),FFMP,MP,PP and M/F was the protective factor of GDM(OR＜1,P＜0.05).Multivariate analysis showed that only FMP was significantly correlated with the risk of GDM,which was an independent risk factor(OR＞1,P＜0.05).③In GDM group,HOMA-IR was positively correlated with FMI(r＞1,P＜0.05)and negatively correlated with PP(r＜1,P＜0.05).④The ROC curve showed that the diagnostic value of pre-pregnancy BMI、FMP、ECW/ICW and FMI in GDM was similar.There was no significant difference in pre-pregnancy BMI,FMP and FMI(P＞0.05),but they were slightly better than ECW/ICW(P＜0.001).Conclu-sions:Body composition during pregnancy is related to the risk of gestational diabetes.The increase in FMP is associated with an increased risk of developing GDM.The higher the FMP,the higher the risk of GDM.The diag nostic efficacy of BMI,FMP and FMI in GDM is Similar.

Objective:To explore the differences in bacterial community structure between proximal colon cancer (PC), distal colon cancer (DC), and rectal cancer (RC), and the values of featured microbiota in differentiating PC with tumor markers.Methods:This case-control study enrolled 85 newly diagnosed colorectal cancer patients, including 22 PC, 15 DC and 48 RC patients, and 8 colorectal adenoma patients from May 2019 to July 2022 at the Department of General Surgery, Anyang Oncology Hospital. The blood and fecal samples were collected before surgery and then subjected to biochemical tests for tumor markers and 16S rDNA tests, respectively. SPSS (27.0.1) was applied to perform the t-test, one-way ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, and Chi-Squared Test. Also, the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was plotted on tumor markers and/or f_Bacteroidaceae with SPSS software .Results:All groups had significant differences in the CA125 ( F=3.543, P<0.05), CA72-4 ( F=3.596, P<0.05), and serum tumor-associated materials (TAM) levels ( F=5.787, P<0.01). In PC group, the levels of CA125 [PC vs RC, (36.84±6.30) kU/L vs (12.73±4.21) kU/L, P<0.01] and CA72-4 [PC vs RC, (45.56±10.86) kU/L vs (3.30±7.63) kU/L, P<0.01] were significantly higher than that of the RC group, while the level of TAM was remarkably elevated in PC group than in RC group [PC vs RC, (124.84±5.19) U/ml vs (102.44±3.63) U/ml, P<0.001] and CRA group [PC vs CRA, (124.84±5.19) U/ml vs (95.39±8.42) U/ml, P<0.01]. The LEfSe analysis showed that the featured microbiota in the PC group included f_Bacteroidaceae, f_Neisseriaceae, f_Clostridiaceae_1, f_Spirochaetaceae, and so on. The largest area under the ROC belonged to the combination of TAM and f_Bacteroidaceae, which reached 0.845 (95% CI 0.747-0.944), with sensitivity being 0.857 and specificity being 0.815. Conclusions:There is heterogeneity in gut microbiota composition among PC, DC, RC, and CRA. The combination of gut microbiota and tumor biomarkers demonstrated good differentiating effects in proximal colon cancers.