BACKGROUND:Degenerative scoliosis is defined as a condition that occurs in adulthood with a coronal cobb angle of the spine>10° accompanied by sagittal deformity and rotational subluxation,which often produces symptoms of spinal cord and nerve compression,such as lumbar pain,lower limb pain,numbness,weakness,and neurogenic claudication.The finite element method is a mechanical analysis technique for computer modelling,which can be used for spinal mechanics research by building digital models that can realistically restore the human spine model and design modifications. OBJECTIVE:To review the application of finite element method in the etiology and treatment of degenerative scoliosis. METHODS:The literature databases CNKI,PubMed,and Web of Science were searched for articles on the application of finite element method in degenerative scoliosis published before October 2023.Search terms were"finite element analysis,biomechanics,stress analysis,degenerative scoliosis,adult spinal deformity"in Chinese and English.Fifty-four papers were finally included. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The biomechanical findings from the degenerative scoliosis model constructed using the finite element method were identical to those from the in vivo experimental studies,which proves that the finite element method has a high practical value in degenerative scoliosis.(2)The study of the etiology and treatment of degenerative scoliosis by the finite element method is conducive to the prevention of the occurrence of the scoliosis,slowing down the progress of the scoliosis,the development of a more appropriate treatment plan,the reduction of complications,and the promotion of the patients'surgical operation.(3)The finite element method has gradually evolved from a single bony structure to the inclusion of soft tissues such as muscle ligaments,and the small sample content is increasingly unable to meet the research needs.(4)The finite element method has much room for exploration in degenerative scoliosis.

Heart and spleen deficiency syndrome is the most common syndrome type in patients with insomnia. Based on the theory of disease syndrome-combined animal model， this paper used multiple databases to search for the keywords "heart and spleen deficiency"， "insomnia"， "sleepless"， "disease syndrome-combined animal model"， "model evaluation"， etc. It selected the literature related to the animal model of insomnia with heart and spleen deficiency in the past 20 years to evaluate from the aspects of model establishment， modeling factors， syndrome model， disease model， macro characterization & macro characterization evaluation scale， micro indicators， etc. It is found that the existing animal model of insomnia with heart and spleen deficiency is not completely constructed by the method of disease syndrome combination of disease modeling factors and syndrome modeling factors. In the model using this method， the single establishment factor of heart and spleen deficiency does not conform to the clinical reality of disease， and the selection of the factors for the insomnia model is not closely related to or even separated from the syndrome performance. There is a problem of insufficient quantification of macro representation when the macro representation of the model replaces the symptoms related to heart and spleen deficiency syndrome and insomnia in an equivalent manner for macro representation evaluation， which can be improved according to the quantitative ideas and examples of the existing macro representation and macro representation evaluation scale. There are few specific indicators of heart and spleen deficiency syndrome in micro indicators. The micro research of heart and spleen deficiency syndrome and the essence of other traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndromes can be carried out by metabonomics and other technologies combined with the theory of corresponding prescription and syndrome， along the specific related ideas of "prescription and syndrome， treatment principle and selection of prescription， treatment principle and selection of acupoints， as well as therapeutic mechanism and syndrome essence". The future users and researchers of animal models of insomnia with heart and spleen deficiency can get improved methods and ideas through the shortcomings of animal models of heart and spleen deficiency listed in this paper and construct animal models of insomnia with heart and spleen deficiency that are more suitable for clinical practice， so as to establish a more perfect modeling method and evaluation system of disease syndrome-combined animal model.

Heart and spleen deficiency syndrome is the most common syndrome type in patients with insomnia. Based on the theory of disease syndrome-combined animal model， this paper used multiple databases to search for the keywords "heart and spleen deficiency"， "insomnia"， "sleepless"， "disease syndrome-combined animal model"， "model evaluation"， etc. It selected the literature related to the animal model of insomnia with heart and spleen deficiency in the past 20 years to evaluate from the aspects of model establishment， modeling factors， syndrome model， disease model， macro characterization & macro characterization evaluation scale， micro indicators， etc. It is found that the existing animal model of insomnia with heart and spleen deficiency is not completely constructed by the method of disease syndrome combination of disease modeling factors and syndrome modeling factors. In the model using this method， the single establishment factor of heart and spleen deficiency does not conform to the clinical reality of disease， and the selection of the factors for the insomnia model is not closely related to or even separated from the syndrome performance. There is a problem of insufficient quantification of macro representation when the macro representation of the model replaces the symptoms related to heart and spleen deficiency syndrome and insomnia in an equivalent manner for macro representation evaluation， which can be improved according to the quantitative ideas and examples of the existing macro representation and macro representation evaluation scale. There are few specific indicators of heart and spleen deficiency syndrome in micro indicators. The micro research of heart and spleen deficiency syndrome and the essence of other traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndromes can be carried out by metabonomics and other technologies combined with the theory of corresponding prescription and syndrome， along the specific related ideas of "prescription and syndrome， treatment principle and selection of prescription， treatment principle and selection of acupoints， as well as therapeutic mechanism and syndrome essence". The future users and researchers of animal models of insomnia with heart and spleen deficiency can get improved methods and ideas through the shortcomings of animal models of heart and spleen deficiency listed in this paper and construct animal models of insomnia with heart and spleen deficiency that are more suitable for clinical practice， so as to establish a more perfect modeling method and evaluation system of disease syndrome-combined animal model.

Fire twinkling is the common method in cupping therapy. In the teaching materials of acupuncture and moxibustion, and the national standard, Standardized Manipulations of Acupuncture and Moxibustion-Part 5: Cupping Therapy, this cupping technique is operated by igniting an alcohol-soaked cotton ball held with a forceps, placing it inside the cup, taking it out after "turning around in several circles", and placing the cup on the selected area. Based on the clinical experience of chief physician LI Yan, a high-efficient and safe fire twinkling was developed. Clamping the middle part of the cotton ball with a holder, dipping it in 95% ethanol, and squeezing the cotton ball to ensure no ethanol drops left; holding the cup with the dominant hand and covering the ignited cotton ball vertically, removing the cup immediately when the ball touching the cup bottom. Such manipulation mode, "flame going in and out directly", can avoid the potential safety hazards such as residual ethanol left on the cup opening, overheating of cup opening and accidentally falling-off of the ignited cotton ball.
Humans ; Cupping Therapy/instrumentation* ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Fires

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the short-term efficacy and safety of low-dose venetoclax combined with CHG (cytarabine+homoharringtonine+G-CSF) priming regimen in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) ineligible for intensive chemotherapy. METHODS: The data of 14 patients with AML or high-risk MDS admitted to the department of hematology/oncology of the First Hospital of Tsinghua University and 2 cooperative institutions from July 2022 to August 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were treated with low-dose venetoclax combined with CHG priming regimen and the early induction (one course) efficacy and adverse reactions were observed. RESULTS: Among the 14 patients, 10 were males and 4 were females, with a median age of 69.5 (46-83) years. After 1 cycle of induction chemotherapy, the complete remission (CR) rate was 64.3% (9/14) and overall response rate (ORR) was 78.6% (11/14). Among the 10 patients with adverse prognosis according to cytogenetics and molecular genetics, the CR rate was 50.0% (5/10), and ORR was 70.0% (7/10). In 7 patients with TP53 mutation, the CR rate was 42.9% (3/7) and ORR was 71.4% (5/7). In the 6 patients with complex karyotype, CR rate was 33.3% (2/6) and ORR was 66.7% (4/6). While the CR rate and ORR of 8 non-complex karyotype patients were both 87.5% (7/8), and the difference in CR rate between patients with complex karyotype and non-complex karyotype was statistically significant ( P < 0.05). The adverse reactions of chemotherapy were tolerable, without early treatment-related deaths. CONCLUSION Low-dose venetoclax combined with CHG priming regimen can be used as an effective treatment for AML and high-risk MDS patients who are ineligible for intensive chemotherapy, and it is safe and worthy of clinical application.
Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy* ; Aged ; Male ; Female ; Sulfonamides/therapeutic use* ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes/drug therapy* ; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/therapeutic use* ; Aged, 80 and over ; Retrospective Studies ; Cytarabine/administration & dosage* ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Homoharringtonine/therapeutic use*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive value of endothelial activation and stress index (EASIX) for the prognosis of patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted to assess prognosis and compare the clinical features of patients diagnosed with MCL who were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2010 to June 2023, had therapeutic indications and received standard treatment. RESULTS: A total of 66 patients were included and divided into high EASIX group and low EASIX group, according to a cutoff value of 0.97 determined by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that prealbumin <0.2 g/L, high EASIX, and ECOG PS score ≥2 were independent risk factors influencing overall survival (OS) in MCL patients. The median OS of patients in the high and low EASIX group was 13.0 and 37.5 months, and the median progression-free survival was 8.8 and 26.0 months, respectively. The proportions of patients with ECOG PS score ≥2 and prealbumin <0.2 g/L at onset significantly increased in the high EASIX group compared to those in the low EASIX group. CONCLUSION At the time of initial diagnosis, EASIX can serve as an independent prognostic indicator impacting OS in patients with MCL. Furthermore, patients in the high EASIX group experience a poorer prognosis and shorter survival duration compared with those in the low EASIX group.
Humans ; Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell/pathology* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; ROC Curve

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the significance of serum β₂-microglobulin (β₂-MG) for survival and relapse of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in the rituximab era. METHODS: Clinical data of 92 patients with DLBCL admitted from December 2003 to July 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. The optimal cutoff value of β₂-MG levels for predicting prognosis of the DLBCL patients was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. KaplanMeier analysis was used to estimate progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Cox logistic regression analysis was used to explore potential prognostic factors associated with survival. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between various factors and relapse. RESULTS: The most discriminative cutoff value for β₂-MG level was determined to be 2.25 mg/L by the ROC curve. Subgroup analysis showed that patients in the elevated β₂-MG (＞2.25 mg/L) group had significantly worse PFS(P =0.006) and a trend toward worse OS compared with those in the low β₂-MG (≤2.25 mg/L) group(P =0.053). Univariate analysis showed that elevated β₂-MG, age>60 years, Ann Arbor stage III-IV, as well as IPI score ≥3 were associated with worse PFS. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that age＞60 years and β₂-MG＞2.25 mg/L were potential influencing factors for relapse of DLBCL patients. CONCLUSION Serum β ₂-MG might be an important predictor for the survival and relapse of DLBCL patients in the rituximab era.
Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/drug therapy* ; beta 2-Microglobulin/blood* ; Rituximab ; Retrospective Studies ; Prognosis ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; ROC Curve

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the immediate effect of Kuanxiong Aerosol (KXA) on perioperative coronary microcirculation in patients with unstable angina (UA) suffering from elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: From February 2021 to July 2023, UA inpatients who underwent PCI alone in the left anterior descending (LAD) branch were included. Random numbers were generated to divide patients into the trial group and the control group at a ratio of 1:1. The index of coronary microcirculation resistance (IMR) was measured before PCI, and the trial group was given two sprays of KXA, while the control group was not given. IMR was measured again after PCI, cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB (CK-MB) were detected before and 24 h after surgery, and major cardiovascular adverse events (MACEs) were recorded for 30 days. The data statistics and analysis personnel were blinded. RESULTS: Totally 859 patients were screened, and 62 of them were involved into this study. Finally, 1 patient in the trial group failed to complete the post-PCI IMR and was excluded, 30 patients were included for data analysis, while 31 patients in the control group were enrolled in data analysis. There was no significant difference in baseline data (age, gender, risk factors, previous history, biochemical index, and drug therapy, etc.) between the two groups. In addition, differences in IMR, cTnI and CK-MB were not statistically significant between the two groups before surgery. After PCI, the IMR level of the trial group was significantly lower than that of the control group (19.56 ± 14.37 vs. 27.15 ± 15.03, P=0.048). Besides, the incidence of perioperative myocardial injury (PMI) was lower in the trial group, but the difference was not statistically significant (6.67% vs. 16.13%, P=0.425). No MACEs were reported in either group. CONCLUSIONS KXA has the potential of improving coronary microvascular dysfunction. This study provides reference for the application of KXA in UA patients undergoing elective PCI. (Registration No. ChiCTR2300069831).
Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Male ; Microcirculation/drug effects* ; Female ; Angina, Unstable/physiopathology* ; Pilot Projects ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Aerosols ; Troponin I/blood* ; Coronary Circulation/drug effects* ; Elective Surgical Procedures

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effect and safety of acupuncture manipulation on treatment of intractable facial paralysis (IFP), and verify the practicality and precision of the Anzhong Facial Paralysis Precision Scale (Eyelid Closure Grading Scale, AFPPS-ECGS). METHODS: A multicentre, single-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted from October 2022 to June 2024. Eighty-nine IFP participants were randomly assigned to an ordinary acupuncture group (OAG, 45 cases) and a characteristic acupuncture group (CAG, 44 cases) using a random number table method. The main acupoints selected included Yangbai (GB 14), Quanliao (SI 18), Yingxiang (LI 20), Shuigou (GV 26), Dicang (ST 4), Chengjiang (CV 24), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Jiache (ST 6), Fengchi (GB 20), and Hegu (LI 4). The OAG patients received ordinary acupuncture manipulation, while the CAG received characteristic acupuncture manipulation. Both groups received acupuncture treatment 3 times a week, with 10 times per course, lasting for 10 weeks. Facial recovery was assessed at baseline and after the 1st, 2nd and 3rd treatment course by AFPPS-ECGS and the House-Brackmann (H-B) Grading Scale. Infrared thermography technology was used to observe the temperature difference between healthy and affected sides in various facial regions. Adverse events and laboratory test abnormalities were recorded. The correlation between the scores of the two scales was analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS: After the 2nd treatment course, the two groups showed statistically significant differences in AFPPS-ECGS scores (P<0.05), with even greater significance after the 3rd course (P<0.01). Similarly, H-B Grading Scale scores demonstrated significant differences between groups following the 3rd treatment course (P<0.05). Regarding temperature measurements, significant differences in temperatures of frontal and ocular areas were observed after the 2nd course (P<0.05), becoming more pronounced after the 3rd course (P<0.01). Additionally, mouth corner temperature differences reached statistical significance by the 3rd course (P<0.05). No safety-related incidents were observed during the study. Correlation analysis revealed that the AFPPS-ECGS and the H-B Grading Scale were strongly correlated (r=0.86, 0.91, 0.93, and 0.91 at baseline, and after 1st, 2nd, and 3rd treatment course, respectively, all P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Acupuncture is an effective treatment for IFP, and the characteristic acupuncture manipulation enhances the therapeutic effect. The use of the AFPPS-ECGS can more accurately reflect the recovery status of patients with IFP. (Trial registration No. ChiCTR2200065442).
Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Facial Paralysis/therapy* ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Treatment Outcome ; Acupuncture Points ; Aged

Social working memory (SWM)-the ability to maintain and manipulate social information in the brain-plays a crucial role in social interactions. However, research on SWM is still in its infancy and is often treated as a unitary construct. In the present study, we propose that SWM can be conceptualized as having two relatively independent components: "externally oriented SWM" (e-SWM) and "internally oriented SWM" (i-SWM). To test this external-internal hypothesis, participants were tasked with memorizing and ranking either facial expressions (e-SWM) or personality traits (i-SWM) associated with images of faces. We then examined the neural correlates of these two SWM components and their functional roles in empathy. The results showed distinct activations as the e-SWM task activated the postcentral and precentral gyri while the i-SWM task activated the precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex and superior frontal gyrus. Distinct multivariate activation patterns were also found within the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex in the two tasks. Moreover, partial least squares analyses combining brain activation and individual differences in empathy showed that e-SWM and i-SWM brain activities were mainly correlated with affective empathy and cognitive empathy, respectively. These findings implicate distinct brain processes as well as functional roles of the two types of SWM, providing support for the internal-external hypothesis of SWM.
Humans ; Memory, Short-Term/physiology* ; Male ; Female ; Empathy/physiology* ; Young Adult ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Adult ; Brain/diagnostic imaging* ; Brain Mapping ; Facial Expression ; Social Behavior ; Facial Recognition/physiology* ; Social Perception ; Personality/physiology*