BACKGROUND:Internal heat-type acupuncture therapy is a new treatment technique that combines acupuncture therapy with hyperthermia.It has good clinical effects on steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head,but the mechanism of action is still not fully clear. OBJECTIVE:To explore the possible mechanism of internal heat-type acupuncture therapy in treating steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head in rabbits. METHODS:Thirty-two New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into blank group,model group,internal heat-type acupuncture group and shock wave group using a random number table method,with 8 rabbits in each group.The model group,internal heat-type acupuncture group and shock wave group were modeled using methylprednisolone sodium succinate combined with Escherichia coli endotoxin.The internal heat-type acupuncture group received an internal heat-type acupuncture intervention on the buttocks of rabbits,once a week,for 20 minutes each time.The shock wave group received shock wave intervention on the buttocks of rabbits,once a week,with 2 000 beats per session.The blank group and model group were not given any treatment.After 4 weeks of intervention,blood samples and bilateral femoral head samples were collected from experimental rabbits.The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 in serum were detected by ELISA;the histomorphology of the femoral head was observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining and the rate of empty lacunae was calculated;the protein expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 2,matrix metalloproteinase 9,matrix metalloproteinase tissue inhibitor 1,and matrix metalloproteinase tissue inhibitor 2 were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blot. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the blank group,the model rabbits showed reduced food intake,mental fatigue,and decreased activity;compared with the model group,the above performance of the experimental rabbits was significantly improved after internal heat-type acupuncture and shock wave treatment.Compared with the blank group,the histomorphology of the femoral head in the model group deteriorated significantly and the rate of empty bone lacuna increased(P<0.001),while the histomorphology of the femoral head in the internal heat-type acupuncture group and shock wave group was significantly improved compared with the model group,and the rate of empty bone lacuna was reduced(P<0.001).The serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 in the model group were significantly higher than those in the blank group(P<0.05),while the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 in the internal heat-type acupuncture group and the shock wave group were significantly lower than those in the model group(P<0.05).Compared with the blank group,the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase 2 and matrix metalloproteinase 9 in the femoral head of the model group were significantly increased,while the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase tissue inhibitor 1 and matrix metalloproteinase tissue inhibitor 2 were significantly decreased(P<0.001);compared with the model group,the protein expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase 2 and matrix metalloproteinase 9 were significantly decreased,while the protein expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase tissue inhibitor 1 and matrix metalloproteinase tissue inhibitor 2 were significantly increased in the internal heat-type acupuncture group and the shock wave group(P<0.001).Overall,these findings indicate that internal heat-type acupuncture may promote the repair of the necrotic femoral head by regulating the levels of matrix metalloproteinases/matrix metalloproteinase tissue inhibitors and serum inflammatory factors,thus treating early steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors in the treatment of 5 children with severe alopecia areata, especially those with complicated nail damage.Methods:A total of 5 children with severe alopecia areata were enrolled and treated with oral JAK inhibitors (tofacitinib or baricitinib). The improvement of hair loss was assessed by using the severity of alopecia tool (SALT) at 12, 24, 36, and 48 weeks after the start of treatment. For 3 children with complicated nail damage, the improvement of diseased nails and toenails was evaluated by using the modified nail psoriasis severity index after treatment. During the treatment, adverse reactions were monitored.Results:The 5 children with severe alopecia areata were aged 2 - 11 years, with the disease duration ranging from 5 to 120 months, and the treatment with JAK inhibitors lasted 24 - 48 weeks. After 12-week treatment, 2 children achieved a 50% improvement in SALT (SALT50) ; after 24-week treatment, 3 achieved SALT95, and 1 achieved SALT75 and then withdrew baricitinib for personal reasons; after 36-week treatment, 3 achieved SALT99, and then received half-dose treatment; after 48-week treatment, 1, 1, 1 and 1 patient achieved SALT99, SALT83, SALT31, and SALT0, respectively, and 2 of them experienced gradually aggravated hair loss 1 - 2 months after the start of half-dose treatment. Among the 3 children with complicated nail damage, the improvement rates of nail severity index scores were 67.5%, 45.4%, and 25% respectively, and the improvement rates of toenail severity index scores were 42.5%, 71.4%, and 5% respectively after 12-week treatment; after 48-week treatment, the improvement rate of nail severity index scores were 100%, 100%, and 50% respectively, and the improvement rate of toenail severity index scores were 96.2%, 100%, 50% respectively. During the treatment, the uric acid level increased in 2 children, and one of them was accompanied by increased serum levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; 1 suffered from respiratory tract infections twice during the treatment, and was recovered after symptomatic treatment; there were no adverse reactions leading to drug withdrawal.Conclusion:JAK inhibitors can be used as a treatment option for severe alopecia areata in children.

In the context of a healthy China, strengthening humanistic literacy education for general medical students reflects the demands of the times, promotes the transformation of medical models, and has important practical significance in reducing the work burnout of general practitioners in practice. Integrating narrative medicine into general practice student education is conducive to implement the patient-centered concept of general practice, provide continuous and systematic medical services, and further improve the humanistic literacy of general practitioners. Based on these, this paper proposed the relevant paths of integrating narrative medicine into student education in general medicine, including changing educational concepts and integrating educational resources, boldly carrying out curriculum reforms and innovating educational methods, fully utilizing parallel medical records and reflective writing, as well as cultivating the habit of lifelong learning.

Tinnitus refers to the perception of abnormal sound in the absence of external sound stimulation. It can have an impact on a person's mood, memory, attention, and mental state, although the mechanism of tinnitus is still unclear. In recent years, the research on the central neural mechanism of tinnitus has attracted the attention of scholars.Functional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI）,as an effective imaging technology, has been actively employed in this field. This paper provides a systematic summary of studies on the central neural mechanism of tinnitus by fMRI in recent years,revealed the changes of functional connections among tinnitus-related neural networks,such as auditory network,limbic system,default mode network and salience network. The central neural mechanism of tinnitus involves multiple networks that interact with each other. By understanding this mechanism, we hope to develop more targeted prevention and treatment strategies to help patients alleviate long-term tinnitus.
Humans ; Tinnitus/diagnostic imaging* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods* ; Attention

Objective To observe the effect of Bushen Gutai mixture on uterine blood supply of rat model of abortion induced by hydroxyurea tablets combined with mifepristone through PKA-CREB signal pathway and its mechanism of calming fetus.Methods 60 pregnant rats of SPF grade SD rats were prepared by closing cages at 2∶1.According to the order of pregnancy,60 pregnant rats were randomly divided into 6 groups with 10 rats in each group:Bushen Gutai mixture group(low,middle and high dose),normal pregnancy group,model group and Di qu progesterone group.On the 1st to 9th day of pregnancy,except the normal group,the pregnant rats in each group were gavaged with hydroxyurea tablets at 5∶00 pm every day(450 mg·kg-1),and at 10∶00 am on the 10th day of pregnancy.Mifepristone tablets were given by intragastric administration(4.0 mg·kg-1).At 9∶00 am every day from the 1st to 9th day of pregnancy,Bushen Gutai mixture was given to the low,middle and high dose groups(0.5,1.0,2.0 g·kg-1),didrone group(3.02 mg·kg-1),model group and normal pregnancy group with 0.9%normal saline.24 hours after the last administration of pentobarbital sodium(50 mg kg-1),all pregnant rats were killed by intraperitoneal injection of pentobarbital sodium,and the uterine decidual tissue of pregnant rats was bluntly isolated in sterile environment.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was used to observe the lumen diameter and wall thickness of spiral artery in uterine decidual tissue.Immunohistochemical staining(IHC)was used to detect the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in decidual tissues.Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of phosphorylated protein kinase A,protein kinase A,phosphorylated cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein,Cyclic Adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein and aquaporin 5 in the decidua of pregnant rats.The apoptosis of decidual cells was detected by in situ end labeling(TUNEL)of DNA fragmentation.Results Compared with the model group,the wall thickness of spiral artery was higher than that in other groups(P<0.05),the lumen diameter was lower than that in other groups(P<0.05)and the expression of VEGF protein was lower than that of other groups(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the apoptosis level of decidual cells in uterine decidua of abortive rats in high,middle and low dose groups of Bushen Gutai mixture and diqu progesterone group decreased in varying degrees.Bushen Gutai mixture can up-regulate the levels of p-PKA/PKA and p-CREB/CREB in uterine decidua(P<0.01)and promote the expression of AQP5 protein in uterine decidua of abortion rats(P<0.01).Conclusion Bushen Gutai mixture can improve uterine blood supply of aborted rats by activating PKA and CREB phosphorylation,up-regulating AQP5 expression,promoting physiological recasting of spiral artery and high expression of Vascular endothelial growth factor.

Objective:To explore the commonly used ear acupoints and their selection and compatibility rules for the treatment of primary hypertension with auricular acupressure.Methods:Systematic research was conducted on China Biology Medicine disc, VIP Information Chinese Journal Service Platform, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, CNKI, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library, and the search period was from establishment of the databases until December 31, 2022. Excel 2021 was used to establish the database, and R Studio software was used to analyze the principles of ear acupoint compatibility correlation.Results:A total of 165 articles were included, of which 136 articles were solely treated with auricular acupressure for primary hypertension and 29 articles were treated with other intervention measures. The common syndrome types were hyperactivity of liver fire, stagnation of phlegm, Yin deficiency and Yang hyperactivity, and deficiency of both Yin and Yang. The common acupoints were Shenmen (15.1%, 135/894) , Jiangya Gou (14.09%, 126/894) , Sympathetic (10.63%, 95/894) , Liver (10.29%, 92/894) , Heart (9.73%, 87/894) , Kidney (9.06%, 81/894) , and Subcortical (6.94%, 62/894) .Common acupoint combinations included Shenmen-Jiangya Gou-Sympathetic-Liver-Kidney, Shenmen-Jiangya Gou-Liver-Kidney, Shenmen-Jiangya Gou-Sympathetic, and Shenmen-Jiangya Gou.Conclusions:The treatment of primary hypertension with auricular acupressure has a certain regularity, which can provide reliable references for selecting acupoints for clinical treatment of primary hypertension.

Objective:To explore the effect of educational intervention based on timing theory on mothers of premature infants.Methods:Using the convenience sampling method, 80 mothers of premature infants hospitalized in the Neonatology Department of Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities from May 2019 to October 2020 were included in this study. According to the time of admission, they were divided into the control group (42 cases) and the observation group (38 cases). The mothers in the control group were given routine educational guidance during the hospitalization of premature infants, while the mothers in the observation group were given comprehensive educational intervention based on timing theory on the basis of the control group. The mothers′ caring ability during the transition period, breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding rate at a month after discharge, and mother′s coping ability at 3 months after discharge were compared between the two groups.Results:There were 35 cases in each group completed the study. The observation group scored (100.86 ± 6.22) on the maternal care ability of premature infants in transition period, and the control group scored (89.51 ± 4.17), the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( t=-8.97, P<0.05). The breastfeeding self-efficacy score of the observation group a month after discharge from hospital was (47.83 ± 2.54) points, which was higher than (41.20 ± 1.97) points of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-12.21, P<0.05). The breastfeeding rate a month after discharge in the observation group was 62.9% (22/35), which was higher than 37.1% (13/35) in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=4.63, P<0.05). The maternal coping ability scores of the premature infants in the observation group and control group 3 months after discharge were (119.29 ± 6.03) and (113.66 ± 6.59) points respectively, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( t=-3.73, P<0.05). Conclusions:The educational intervention based on timing theory can help mothers of premature infants master the nursing knowledge and skills, strengthen the mother′s transitional care ability and post-discharge coping ability, improve the breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding rate of premature infants, promote and development the growth of premature infants, worthy of clinical application.

Objective:To evaluate the benefits and risks of advanced age patients with acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusive stroke (ALVOS) accepted mechanical thrombectomy (MT), and explore the related influencing factors for prognoses in these patients.Methods:Six hundred and eighty patients with acute anterior circulation ALVOS accepted MT in 3 comprehensive stroke centers from January 2014 to December 2020 were sequentially collected. (1) Patients were divided into advanced age group (≥80 years old) and non-advanced age group (<80 years old) according to age, and the differences between the two groups were compared in successful postoperative vascular recanalization rate, incidence of perioperative complications, and good prognosis rate (modified Rankin scale [mRS] scores≤2) and mortality 90 d after onset. (2) Patients were divided into good prognosis group (mRS scores≤2) and poor prognosis group (mRS scores>2) according to the prognoses 90 d after onset; univariate analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to investigate the independent factors for prognoses of the patients after MT. (3) According to the prognoses 90 d after onset, the advanced age patients were divided into good prognosis subgroup (mRS scores≤2) and poor prognosis subgroup (mRS scores>2). Univariate analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to investigate the independent factors for prognoses of the elderly patients after MT.Results:(1) In these 680 patients, 92 patients (13.5%) were into the advanced age group and 588 patients (86.5%) were in the non-advanced age group; patients in the advanced age group had significantly lower successful recanalization rate (67.4% vs. 77.9%), significantly lower good prognosis rate 90 d after onset (20.7% vs. 50.2%), and statically higher mortality 90 d after onset (40.2% vs. 21.1%) as compared with the non-advanced age group ( P<0.05); however, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the incidences of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH, 15.6% vs. 10.6%) and malignant cerebral edema (MCE, 12.2% vs. 17.6%, P>0.05). The baseline data of the advanced age and non-advanced age patients were further matched with propensity score matching analysis (1:1) and statistically analyzed: the 91 elderly patients had significantly lower good prognosis rate 90 d after onset (20.9% vs. 36.3%) and MCE incidence (12.4% vs. 33.3%) than the 91 non-elderly patients ( P<0.05); there was no significant differences in successful vascular recanalization rate (67.0% vs. 71.4%), sICH incidence (15.7% vs. 17.6%) or mortality 90 d after onset (39.6% vs. 37.4%) between the two groups ( P>0.05). (2) Among the 680 patients, 314 (46.2%) had good prognosis and 366 (53.8%) had poor prognosis. As compared with the good prognosis group, the poor prognosis group had significantly higher proportion of patients at advanced age, significantly lower proportion of male patients, significantly higher proportion of patients with hypertension, diabetes or atrial fibrillation, significantly lower baseline Alberta Stroke early CT (ASPECT) scores, significantly higher baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, statistically higher proportion of patients with cardiogenic embolism, significantly lower incidence of tandem lesions, significantly shorter time from onset to sheathing, statistically higher proportion of internal carotid artery occlusion, significantly lower proportion of patients with grading 2 collateral circulation, and significantly lower proportion of successful vascular recanalization ( P<0.05). Advanced age ( OR=3.144, 95%CI: 1.675-5.900, P<0.001) was an independent factor for prognoses 90 d after MT, in addition to baseline ASPECT scores, baseline NIHSS scores, diabetes mellitus, successful recanalization, and collateral circulation grading. (3) In the advanced age group, there were 19 patients (20.7%) with good prognosis and 73 patients (79.3%) with poor prognosis. As compared with the good prognosis subgroup, the poor prognosis subgroup had significantly lower proportion of male patients, significantly lower proportion of patients with grading 2 collateral circulation or complete recanalization, and significantly higher baseline NIHSS scores ( P<0.05). Baseline NIHSS score ( OR=1.482, 95%CI: 1.187-1.850, P=0.001) was an independent factor for prognoses 90 d after MT in advanced age patients. Conclusion:Although advanced age is an independent risk factor for prognoses of patients with acute anterior circulation ALVOS accepted MT, there are still some advanced age patients benefiting from MT without increased complications, especially for those with low baseline NIHSS scores.

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture combined with Medical Training Therapy (MTT) for Functional ankle instability (FAI).Methods:A total of 72 patients, who met the inclusion criteria of FAI, from January 2018 to June 2019, were selected and randomly divided them into 4 groups: Combination group (CG), MTT group (MTT), Acupuncture group (ACU) and Control group (Ctrl). Intervention of groups were that MTT and Acupuncture were used in CG, MTT and acupuncture are used separately in MTT and ACU groups. Patients of Ctrl Group were on the waiting list. All four groups were treated for 8 weeks. The Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT), Foot And Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) and American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) were assessed for the ankle function evaluation.Results:After treatment, the CAIT (23.17 ± 5.22, 21.17 ± 6.85, 21.88 ± 4.24 vs. 20.10 ± 6.31, F=34.737), FAAM-ADL (96.52 ± 3.61, 94.39 ± 5.56, 95.04 ± 4.03 vs. 92.66 ± 10.18, F=39.244), FAAM-Sport (72.38 ± 8.10, 70.71 ± 9.57, 71.82 ± 10.0 vs. 57.98 ± 15.27, F=42.187) and AOFAS (89.16 ± 3.02, 85.82 ± 5.33, 86.08 ± 4.00 vs. 77.08 ± 8.90, F=37.629) in CG Group, MTT Group, ACU Group were significantly higher than those in the Ctrl Group ( P<0.01). Conclusion:Acupuncture combined with MTT treatment can increase the stability and improve the ankle function, which is superior to acupuncture alone and MTT alone.

A 26-month-old male child was admitted for hair abnormality after birth. There was no hair growth on the scalp of the child after birth, rough skin and scattered rice-grain-sized follicular papules were observed all over the body, and erythema was seen in the perianal region. Fifteen days after birth, the patient was found to be photophobic. Skin examination showed diffusely distributed rice-grain-sized follicular papules all over the body, no growth of hair, eyelashes or eyebrows, and well-circumscribed perianal erythema with scaling at the edges. Genetic testing revealed a c.661T>A mutation in the MBTPS2 gene on the X chromosome of the child, which caused a substitution of phenylalanine by isoleucine at amino acid position 221 (p. Phe221Ile) . A heterozygous mutation at the same locus was identified in the patient′s mother. The patient was diagnosed with ichthyosis follicularis, alopecia, and photophobia syndrome.