OBJECTIVE: To explore prevalence, incidence and possible factors of immediate herniated discs after posterior cervical expansive open-door laminoplasty (EODL). METHODS: Totally 29 patients with cervical spinal stenosis and intervertebral disc herniation who underwent EODL from October 2020 to December 2021 were collected, including 24 males and 5 females, aged from 43 to 81 years old with an average of (61.3±9.0) years old;the courses of disease ranged from 1 to 120 months with an average of (36.4±37.0) months. Three or more intervertebral discs on C₃-C₇ were observed. The clinical efficacy was evaluated according to Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score before operation, 3 days and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after operation, respectively. The changes of herniated disc before and after operation were measured by multipoint area method and two-dimensional distance method, and incidence and percentage of herniated disc regression were further calculated. Cervical imaging parameters such as Cobb angle (C₃-C₇), intervertebral angle, T₁ slope (T₁S), spinal canal sagittal diameter, K-line angle, dural sac sagittal diameter were measured and compared before and after operation. Pearson correlation was used to analyze correlation between cervical sagittal imaging parameters and disc herniation changes before and after operation. RESULTS: All patients obtained grade A wound healing, and 14 of them were followed up for 3(1.00, 5.25) months. There were no immediate or long-term postoperative complications. Totally 101 herniated intervertebral discs were measured, of which 79 regression numbers were obtained by area measurement. The number of intervertebral disc regressions by distance measurement was 77. There was no statistically significant difference in Cobb angle, intervertebral angle, T₁S and K-line angle of C₃-C₇ (P>0.05), however, there were statistically significant differences in sagittal diameter of spinal canal, sagittal diameter of dural sac, and JOA score before and after operation(P<0.05). The regression ratio of disc herniation ranged from 5% to 50%, and regression ratio of disc herniation was greater than 25% in 45.57%(36/79). Disc herniation in C_4,5 was positively correlated with sagittal plane diameter in C₅(r=0.423, P=0.028). There was a negative correlation between changes of C_3,4 and C_3,4 intervertebral angle (r=-0.450, P=0.041). The improvement rate of cervical JOA score immediately after operation was (59.54±15.07) %, and postoperative follow-up improved to (76.57±14.66) %. CONCLUSION Herniated disc regression immediately after EODL is a common occurrence, and EODL should be selected as far as possible under the premise of satisfying surgical indications. The regression of disc herniation is positively correlated with spinal canal sagittal diameter, and spinal canal should be enlarged as far as possible in the appropriate scope during EODL, so as to create more opportunities and conditions for disc regression and achieve better clinical results.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/diagnostic imaging* ; Spinal Stenosis/diagnostic imaging* ; Laminoplasty/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging* ; Adult ; Aged, 80 and over ; Intervertebral Disc/surgery*

As the population is aging rapidly,the incidence of Alzheimer's disease(AD)is increasing year by year.The World Health Organization stresses that early prevention plays a key role in reducing the incidence of AD.Subjective cognitive decline(SCD)is an early window of AD development,and timely intervention can effectively slow down the progression of the disease or prevent it from developing into dementia,thus reducing the burden on the society.White matter hyperintensity(WMH)can effectively reflect white matter changes and provide strong evidence to identify SCD.In this paper,we review the recent research progress in WMH and SCD,reveal the problems in the current research on WMH,explain the correlation between WMH and SCD in terms of physiopathology and cognitive function,and put forward several suggestions for the future research.
Humans ; White Matter/pathology* ; Cognitive Dysfunction/pathology* ; Alzheimer Disease/pathology* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Tuberous sclerosis complex(TSC)is a rare genetic disease that can lead to benign dysplasia in multiple organs such as the skin, brain, eyes, oral cavity, heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, and bones. Its main symptoms include epilepsy, intellectual disabilities, skin depigmentation, and facial angiofibromas, whilst incidence is approximately 1 in 10 000 to 1 in 6000 newborns. This case presents a middle-aged woman who initially manifested with epilepsy and nodular depigmentation. Later, she developed a lower abdominal mass, elevated creatinine, and severe anemia. Based on clinical features and whole exome sequencing, the primary diagnosis was confirmed as TSC. Laboratory and imaging examinations revealed that the lower abdominal mass originated from the uterus. CT-guided biopsy pathology and surgical pathology suggested a combination of leiomyoma and abscess. With the involvement of multiple organs and various complications beyond the main diagnosis, the diagnostic and therapeutic process for this patient highlights the importance of rigorous clinical thinking and multidisciplinary collaboration in the diagnosis and treatment of rare and challenging diseases.

Objective:This study discusses the job preferences of Center for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC)staffs at the prefectural-level,and provides a basis for the development of an effective incentive mechanism.Method:This study used a combination of stratified sampling and purposive sampling to research online 455 staffs from six prefectural-level CDCs in Shandong Province,analyzed the data using a mixed logit model and latent class model,and calculated willingness to pay and relative importance.Result:In the mixed logit model,income,benefit level,establishment,workload,recognition and respect from the public,personal career development opportunities,and training opportunities all had significant influences(P<0.05)on the job selection preferences of the CDC staffs,with hygiene factors such as establishment(β =2.636)and income(β =0.083)having a greater degree of influence than motivation factors.The latent class model shows that relatively young CDC staffs with lower monthly incomes value income more;older CDC staffs with higher monthly incomes value establishment more.Conclusion:Prefectural-level CDC staffs prefer jobs with establishment,higher incomes,very good benefit levels,recognition and respected from the public,lower workloads,many opportunities for personal career advancement and abundant training opportunities.It is recommended that the total number of establishments be rationally controlled and dynamically adjusted to balance the differences between working conditions within and outside the establishment and that the financial input to CDC be increased and the pay performance system be improved;that attention be paid to both hygiene factors and motivation factors,and that a variety of measures work together to incentivize CDC staffs development;and that differentiated incentives be adopted for different categories of CDC staffs.

Objective:To investigate the clinical significance of bone metabolic indexes for disease assessment and curative effect monitoring in multiple myeloma(MM)bone disease(MBD)patients with different blood separation results.Methods:A total of 134 newly diagnosed MM patients treated in Cangzhou Hospital of Integrated TCM-WM-Hebei were enrolled and divided into control group[119 cases,serum,colloid and red blood cell(RBC)from top to bottom of sample]and abnormal group(15 cases,serum,mixed layer of RBC and serum,colloid and RBC from top to bottom of sample)according to the results of blood separation.According to the imaging findings,MBD was classified into grade 0-4,grade 0-2 was mild,and grade 3-4 was severe.The MBD grade of patients in the two groups was analyzed.The curative effect of MBD patients after chemotherapy and the changes of blood separation results and bone metabolic indexes before and after treatment were evaluated.The correlation between β 2-microglobulin(MG)and bone metabolic indexes was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis.Results:In the control group,there were 69 cases of grade 0-2 and 50 cases of grade 3-4,while in the abnormal group,there were 5 cases of grade 0-2 and 10 cases of grade 3-4,the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The serum β 2-MG,β-CTX levels in abnormal group were both significantly higher than those in control group,while the levels of P1NP and osteocalcin(OC)were significantly lower(all P＜0.001).In the control group,there were 95 patients with ≥ partial response(PR)and the blood separation results were not changed,while 24 patients with＜PR and 5 of them had abnormal blood separation results.In the abnormal group,9 patients with efficacy≥PR showed normal blood separation results,while 6 patients with efficacy＜PR and 5 of them still remained abnormal blood separation results.Compared with before treatment,β-CTX and β 2-MG of patients with efficacy ≥ PR were significantly decreased but P1NP and OC increased in the control group(all P＜0.00 1),which was the same as abnoraml group(both P＜0.001,P＜0.01).There were no significant changes in the levels of all indexes in the two groups of patients with efficacy＜PR(P＞0.05).Compared with before treatment,the levels of β-CTX and β 2-MG in the control group with unchanged blood separation results were significantly decreased(both P＜0.00l),while the levels of P1NP and OC were significantly increased(P＜0.01,P＜0.001),and the level of each index in the patients transformed to abnormal blood separation result after treatment did not significantly change(P＞0.05);the levels of β-CTX and β 2-MG in the abnormal group transformed to normal blood separation result were significantly decreased(both P＜0.01),while the levels of P1NP and OC were significantly increased(P＜0.001,P＜0.01),and the level of each index in patients with unchanged blood separation results did not significantly change(P＞0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed that serumβ 2-MG was positively correlated with β-CTX(r=0.709,P＜0.001),and negatively correlated with P1NP and OC(r=-0.410,r=-0.412,both P＜0.001).Conclusion:MBD patients with abnormal blood separation results have higher bone disease grade and poor prognosis,which is closely related to the significant increase of bone resorption index β-CTX level and decrease of bone formation index P1NP and OC levels,leading to more serious bone metabolic homeostasis disorder.The results of blood separation combined with the changes of bone metabolic indexes can be used as one of the comprehensive predictors of disease condition,efficacy monitoring and prognosis evaluation of MBD patients.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the cerebral metabolism in the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus-associated cognitive dysfunction (T2DACD) and explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) at the acupoints for Tiaozang Xingshen (adjusting zangfu function and rescuing the spirit) in treatment of T2DACD, using magnetic resonance spectroscopy. METHODS: Fifteen patients with T2DACD (observation group) and 22 healthy subjects (control group) were enrolled. In the observation group, the patients were treated with EA for Tiaozang Xingshen at Baihui (GV 20) and Shenting (GV 24), and bilateral Feishu (BL 13), Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Hegu (LI 4) and Taichong (LR 3). EA was operated with disperse-dense wave, 2 Hz/100 Hz in frequency and 0.1 mA to 1.0 mA in current intensity; 30 min each time, once daily. One course of EA consisted of 5 treatments, at the interval of 2 days and the intervention lasted 8 courses. Before treatment in the control group, before and after treatment in the observation group, the score of Montreal cognitive assessment scale (MoCA), the score of clinical dementia rating (CDR), Flanker paradigm, Stroop paradigm, Nback paradigm, the score of self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), the score of self-rating depression scale (SDS), and the score of Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) were evaluated separately; the glycolipid metabolic indexes (fasting plasma glucose [FPG], glycosylated hemoglobin type A1c [HbA1c], total cholesterol [TC], triacylglycerol [TG], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C]) were determined；with the magnetic resonance spectroscopy technique adopted, the metabolites in the basal ganglia area were detected. The correlation analysis was performed for the metabolite values with MoCA score, CDR score , Flanker paradigm, Stroop paradigm, and Nback paradigm. RESULTS: Before treatment, compared with the control group, in the observation group, MoCA score was lower (P<0.001), CDR score and the levels of FPG and HbA1c were higher (P<0.001); the reaction times of Flanker non-conflict, Flanker conflict, Stroop neutrality, Stroop congruence, Stroop conflict, and 1-back were prolonged (P<0.05, P<0.001), and the accuracy of Flanker conflict, Stroop conflict, and 1-back decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01); the ratio of N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) to creatine (Cr) in the left basal ganglia area was dropped (P<0.001), and that of myo-inositol (MI) to Cr in the right side increased (P<0.05). In the observation group after treatment, compared with the levels before treatment, MoCA score was higher (P<0.001), the scores of CDR, SAS and HAMD were reduced (P<0.01, P<0.05), the reaction times of Flanker conflict and Stroop conflict shortened (P<0.001, P<0.05), and the accuracy of Flanker conflict and 1-back increased (P<0.001, P<0.05); the ratio of NAA to Cr in the left basal ganglia area and that of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) to Cr in the right increased (P<0.05), that of MI to Cr in the right decreased (P<0.05). Before treatment, in the observation group, the ratio of MI to Cr in the right basal ganglia area was positively correlated with the reaction time of Stroop congruence (r=0.671, P=0.012) and this ratio was positively correlated with the reaction time of Stroop conflict (r=0.576, P=0.039). CONCLUSIONS Electroacupuncture for "adjusting zangfu function and rescuing the mind" improves the cognitive function of T2DACD patients, which may be related to the regulation of NAA, MI and GABA levels in the basal ganglia.
Humans ; Electroacupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture Points ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/therapy* ; Glycated Hemoglobin ; Cognitive Dysfunction/therapy* ; Cholesterol ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid

AIM To optimize the TLC identification method for Cirsii Herba and to study the changes in quality properties"carbonizing retains characteristics"of Cirsii Herba Carbonisata.METHODS After the improvement of thin layer plate and solvent in the TLC identification based on the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020 Edition for Cirsii Herba,Cirsii Herba Carbonisata had its TLC identification method and UPLC fingerprint established for the determination of its content of buddleoside and acacetin as well.RESULTS We used silica gel G plate,and the solvent of toluene-acetone-formic acid-methanol(6 ∶ 3 ∶ 0.5 ∶ 2.5)for TLC identification of Cirsii Herba.The content variations of buddleoside and acacetin in Cirsii Herba and its differently charred products were consistent with the result of the TLC identification.CONCLUSION The improved TLC identification method for Cirsii Herba is of lower cost and less solvent toxicity compared to the method in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020 Edition,and can identify the changes in quality properties"carbonizing retains characteristics"of differently charred Cirsii Herba,therefore it can be used to control the quality of Cirsii Herba Carbonisata in the market.

Objective: To explore the molecular features of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) . Methods: According to 2022 World Health Organization (WHO 2022) classification, 113 CMML patients and 840 myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients from March 2016 to October 2021 were reclassified, and the clinical and molecular features of CMML patients were analyzed. Results: Among 113 CMML patients, 23 (20.4%) were re-diagnosed as acute myeloid leukemia (AML), including 18 AML with NPM1 mutation, 3 AML with KMT2A rearrangement, and 2 AML with MECOM rearrangement. The remaining 90 patients met the WHO 2022 CMML criteria. In addition, 19 of 840 (2.3%) MDS patients met the WHO 2022 CMML criteria. At least one gene mutation was detected in 99% of CMML patients, and the median number of mutations was 4. The genes with mutation frequency ≥ 10% were: ASXL1 (48%), NRAS (34%), RUNX1 (33%), TET2 (28%), U2AF1 (23%), SRSF2 (21.1%), SETBP1 (20%), KRAS (17%), CBL (15.6%) and DNMT3A (11%). Paired analysis showed that SRSF2 was frequently co-mutated with ASXL1 (OR=4.129, 95% CI 1.481-11.510, Q=0.007) and TET2 (OR=5.276, 95% CI 1.979-14.065, Q=0.001). SRSF2 and TET2 frequently occurred in elderly (≥60 years) patients with myeloproliferative CMML (MP-CMML). U2AF1 mutations were often mutually exclusive with TET2 (OR=0.174, 95% CI 0.038-0.791, Q=0.024), and were common in younger (<60 years) patients with myelodysplastic CMML (MD-CMML). Compared with patients with absolute monocyte count (AMoC) ≥1×10(9)/L and <1×10(9)/L, the former had a higher median age of onset (60 years old vs 47 years old, P<0.001), white blood cell count (15.9×10(9)/L vs 4.4×10(9)/L, P<0.001), proportion of monocytes (21.5% vs 15%, P=0.001), and hemoglobin level (86 g/L vs 74 g/L, P=0.014). TET2 mutations (P=0.021) and SRSF2 mutations (P=0.011) were more common in patients with AMoC≥1×10(9)/L, whereas U2AF1 mutations (P<0.001) were more common in patients with AMoC<1×10(9)/L. There was no significant difference in the frequency of other gene mutations between the two groups. Conclusion: According to WHO 2022 classification, nearly 20% of CMML patients had AMoC<1×10(9)/L at the time of diagnosis, and MD-CMML and MP-CMML had different molecular features.
Humans ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Chronic/genetics* ; Prognosis ; Splicing Factor U2AF/genetics* ; Mutation ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes/genetics* ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics*

Animals ; Rats ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

BACKGROUND: The placebo response of sham acupuncture in patients with primary dysmenorrhea is a substantial factor associated with analgesia. However, the magnitude of the placebo response is unclear. OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis assessed the effects of sham acupuncture in patients with primary dysmenorrhea and the factors contributing to these effects. SEARCH STRATEGY: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched from inception up to August 20, 2022. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using sham acupuncture as a control for female patients of reproductive age with primary dysmenorrhea were included. DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS: Pain intensity, retrospective symptom scale, and health-related quality of life were outcome measures used in these trials. Placebo response was defined as the change in the outcome of interest from baseline to endpoint. We used standardized mean difference (SMD) to estimate the effect size of the placebo response. RESULTS: Thirteen RCTs were included. The pooled placebo response size for pain intensity was the largest (SMD = -0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], -1.31 to -0.68), followed by the retrospective symptom scale (Total frequency rating score: SMD = -0.20; 95% CI, -0.80 to -0.39. Average severity score: SMD = -0.35; 95% CI, -0.90 to -0.20) and physical component of SF-36 (SMD = 0.27; 95% CI, -0.17 to 0.72). Studies using blunt-tip needles, single-center trials, studies with a low risk of bias, studies in which patients had a longer disease course, studies in which clinicians had < 5 years of experience, and trials conducted outside Asia were more likely to have a lower placebo response. CONCLUSION Strong placebo response and some relative factors were found in patients with primary dysmenorrhea. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022304215. Please cite this article as: Sun CY, Xiong ZY, Sun CY, Ma PH, Liu XY, Sun CY, Xin ZY, Liu BY, Liu CZ, Yan SY. Placebo response of sham acupuncture in patients with primary dysmenorrhea: A meta-analysis. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(5): 455-463.
Female ; Humans ; Dysmenorrhea/therapy* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Pain Management ; Needles ; Placebo Effect