This paper summarizes Li Fei's academic insights and clinical experience in treating intractable facial paralysis.Li Fei posits that prolonged illness inevitably leads to deficiency and stasis,and thus,the treatment of intractable facial paralysis should first focus on identifying the etiology and syndrome differentiation,resolving stasis and unblocking stagnation,and regulating qi and blood,with particular emphasis on the relaxation of the meridian sinew system.The meridian sinew system,affiliated with the meridian and collateral,serves as the framework through which qi and blood nourish muscles,tendons,and joints,playing a crucial role in facial paralysis treatment.Guided by the theory of the meridian sinew system,Li Fei employs syndrome-based treatment,integrating the anatomy of facial expression muscles.His approach includes needle-knife therapy to release adhesions and break stasis,acupuncture to harmonize qi and blood,and intradermal needle therapy for sustained stimulation.Through these methods,the meridian sinew system is relaxed,qi and blood are regulated,and facial muscles are nourished,leading to gradual recovery from facial paralysis.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a multi-system disease that can lead to various severe complications. Acute limb ischemia (ALI) has been increasingly recognized as a COVID-19-associated complication that often predicts a poor prognosis. However, the pathophysiology and molecular mechanisms underlying COVID-19-associated ALI remain poorly understood. Hypercoagulability and thrombosis are considered important mechanisms, but we also emphasize the roles of vasospasm, hypoxia, and acidosis in the pathogenesis of the disease. The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) pathway, inflammation, and platelet activation may be important molecular mechanisms underlying these pathological changes induced by COVID-19. Furthermore, we discuss the hypotheses of risk factors for COVID-19-associated ALI from genetic, age, and gender perspectives based on our analysis of molecular mechanisms. Additionally, we summarize therapeutic approaches such as use of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) blocker tocilizumab, calcium channel blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, providing insights for the future treatment of coronavirus-associated limb ischemic diseases.
Humans ; COVID-19/physiopathology* ; Ischemia/etiology* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Extremities/blood supply* ; Risk Factors ; Interleukin-6/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Acute Disease ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2

Objective To analyze the current status of outcome measures in randomized controlled trials(RCTs)of acupuncture treatment for vascular dementia(VD)and promote the development of a standardized set of outcome measures.Methods Chinese and English literature databases were searched,including the Chinese Medical Periodical Full-Text Database,the Chinese Biology Medicine disc,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,Wanfang Data,VIP Database,PubMed,Embase,the Cochrane Library,MEDLINE,Web of Science,Chinese Clinical Trials Registry,and the International Traditional Medicine Clinical Trial Registry.Two researchers independently screened RCT literature on acupuncture treatment for VD between January 1,2015 and January 1,2025,risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool.Extract basic study information,intervention measures,diagnostic criteria for both Chinese and Western medicine,TCM syndromes,and outcome measures.Summarize the indicator domains of RCT studies on acupuncture treatment for VD,and analyze the basic information and outcome measures of the included studies.Results A preliminary search identified 2,898 articles,of which 93 RCTs were ultimately included.These studies involved 84 outcome measures,covering six indicator domains:symptoms/signs(23.81%),traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndromes(3.57%),medical checkups(60.71%),quality of life(5.95%),safety assessment(4.76%),and prognosis follow-up(1.19%).A total of 91(97.85%)RCTs reported treatment duration,ranging from 2 to 24 weeks;72(77.42%)RCTs used clinical efficacy as the outcome indicator;11 studies(11.83%)reported safety assessments and adverse events.Conclusion Currently,the RCT study design for acupuncture treatment of VD lacks unified standards and has numerous methodological issues.These include insufficient description of sample size estimation processes,strong reliance on subjective rating scales,ambiguous definitions of primary and secondary outcome measures,incomplete integration of Chinese and Western medical indicators,and insufficient reflection of individualized syndrome differentiation and treatment characteristics.In addition,safety assessments and follow-up mechanisms remain relatively weak.Future research should focus on the essential nature of VD,establish a core set of indicators aligned with the clinical characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine,promote the scientific and standardized development of acupuncture research for VD,and provide more compelling evidence-based support for clinical practice.

Objective To analyze the current status of outcome measures in randomized controlled trials(RCTs)of acupuncture treatment for vascular dementia(VD)and promote the development of a standardized set of outcome measures.Methods Chinese and English literature databases were searched,including the Chinese Medical Periodical Full-Text Database,the Chinese Biology Medicine disc,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,Wanfang Data,VIP Database,PubMed,Embase,the Cochrane Library,MEDLINE,Web of Science,Chinese Clinical Trials Registry,and the International Traditional Medicine Clinical Trial Registry.Two researchers independently screened RCT literature on acupuncture treatment for VD between January 1,2015 and January 1,2025,risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool.Extract basic study information,intervention measures,diagnostic criteria for both Chinese and Western medicine,TCM syndromes,and outcome measures.Summarize the indicator domains of RCT studies on acupuncture treatment for VD,and analyze the basic information and outcome measures of the included studies.Results A preliminary search identified 2,898 articles,of which 93 RCTs were ultimately included.These studies involved 84 outcome measures,covering six indicator domains:symptoms/signs(23.81%),traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndromes(3.57%),medical checkups(60.71%),quality of life(5.95%),safety assessment(4.76%),and prognosis follow-up(1.19%).A total of 91(97.85%)RCTs reported treatment duration,ranging from 2 to 24 weeks;72(77.42%)RCTs used clinical efficacy as the outcome indicator;11 studies(11.83%)reported safety assessments and adverse events.Conclusion Currently,the RCT study design for acupuncture treatment of VD lacks unified standards and has numerous methodological issues.These include insufficient description of sample size estimation processes,strong reliance on subjective rating scales,ambiguous definitions of primary and secondary outcome measures,incomplete integration of Chinese and Western medical indicators,and insufficient reflection of individualized syndrome differentiation and treatment characteristics.In addition,safety assessments and follow-up mechanisms remain relatively weak.Future research should focus on the essential nature of VD,establish a core set of indicators aligned with the clinical characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine,promote the scientific and standardized development of acupuncture research for VD,and provide more compelling evidence-based support for clinical practice.

Objective: To explore the microbial correlation between oral tongue coating (TC) and gastric mucosa (GM) in patients with gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM). Methods: The present study recruited 1360 volunteers for upper gastrointestinal cancer screening. The microbiota in TC and GM were profiled by long-read sequencing of full-length 16S rRNA gene. The microbial diversity, community structure, and linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) were analyzed by the software Visual Genomics. SparCC correlation analysis was used to construct the commensal network and the graphical display was conducted by R software. Results: The population included 44 patients with precancerous GIM, and 28 matched controls with negative rapid urease test (RUT) and non-symptomatic chronic superficial gastritis (CSG). No significant difference in diversity was observed between GIM patients and controls in TC or GM microbiota (P > 0.05). Patients had a higher percentage of 41 – 60 co-occurring operational taxonomic units (OTUs) between TC and GM than controls (34.1% vs. 25.0%) (P < 0.05). The LEfSe showed that TC Prevotella melaninogenica and three gastric Helicobacter species (i.e., Helicobacter pylori, Helicobacter pylori XZ274, and Helicobacter pylori 83) were enriched in patients with GIM. Furthermore, GIM patients with positive RUT had a lower percentage of co-occurring OTUs over 20 (P < 0.05), and lower abundances of gastric Veillonella, Pseudonocardia, and Mesorhizobium than those with negative RUT (P < 0.05). The commensal network between TC and GM was more complex in GIM patients than in controls. GIM patients with positive RUT demonstrated more bacterial correlations between TC and GM than those with negative RUT. Finally, the serum ratio of PG-I/II was negatively correlated with three gastric Helicobacter species (Helicobacter pylori, Helicobacter pylori XZ274, and Helicobacter pylori 83) in patients with negative RUT (P < 0.05), and negatively correlated with two TC species (Fusobacterium nucleatum subsp. nucleatum and Campylobacter showae) in patients with positive RUT (P < 0.05). Conclusion The development of GIM potentiated the commensal network between oral TC and GM, providing microbial evidence of the correlation between TC and the stomach.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of total aortic arch replacement in elderly patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection(TAAD).Methods:In this retrospective study, a total of 481 TAAD patients treated with total arch replacement in our hospital from January 2016 to January 2020 were divided into three groups: aged≤59 years, 60-69 years and ≥70 years.The differences between three groups in surgical method, extracorporeal circulation time, blocking time, circulatory time, stopping time, surgical time, ventilator use time, ICU time, hospitalization time, treatment rate of continued renal replacement, fatality rate, and cause of death were statistically analyzed and compared.Results:There were statistically significant differences in the stopping time between any two groups of the three groups(all P<0.05). The older the age, the shorter the circulatory arrest time.The difference of ventilator time and ICU time between ≤59 and 60-69 years was statistically significant( P<0.01). Patients with continuous renal replacement(CRRT)were 19.0%(71/373)in ≤59 years, 23.1%(18/78)in 60~69 years, and 26.7%(8/30)over 70 years.In-hospital mortality was 35/373(9.4%)in the group of ≤59 years old, 11/78(14.1%)in the group of 60~69 years old, and 5/30(16.7%)in the group of ≥70 years old.There was no death in patients undergoing type Ⅱ hybrid surgery. Conclusions:Age is one of the important death factors after total aortic arch replacement in TAAD patients.Total aortic arch replacement is an acceptable surgical method for elderly patients with TAAD.Hybridization may reduce hospitalization death in elderly patients.

Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of cap-assisted endoscopic sclerotherapy (CAES) and procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids (PPH) for internal hemorrhoids.Methods:This study was a prospective double-blind controlled clinical one. A total of 80 patients with internal hemorrhoids who visited Baoding No.1 Central Hospital from March 2018 to March 2020 and met the inclusion and did not meet exclusion criteria, were randomly divided into CAES group ( n=40) and PPH group ( n=40) by random number table method, and received corresponding treatment respectively. The perioperative indices of the two groups were compared, including intraoperative blood loss, operation time, visual analogue scale (VAS) score at 24 and 48 hours after operation, length of hospital stay, treatment costs, time to return to normal life, and curative rates. The complications within 3 months after operation and the 1-year recurrence after operation were also compared between the two groups. Results:The operation was successfully completed in all patients. The intraoperative blood loss (0.54±0.15 mL VS 7.32±2.17 mL) and treatment cost (6 249.53±435.67 yuan VS 7 832.96±526.74 yuan) in CAES group were significantly lower than those in PPH group ( t=19.714, P<0.05; t=14.650, P<0.05). The length of hospital stay (3.53±0.94 d VS 5.18±1.36 d) and time to return to normal life (5.26±1.28 d VS 7.17±2.09 d) in CAES group were significantly lower than those in PPH group ( t=6.312, P<0.05; t=4.929, P<0.05). There was no significant difference in operation time between the two groups ( t=0.977, P>0.05). The VAS scores at 24 h (2.64±0.70 points VS 3.59±0.93 points) and 48 h (1.28±0.31 points VS 2.16±0.57 points) after operation in CAES group were significantly lower than those in PPH group ( t=5.162, P<0.05; t=8.578, P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the curative rate [90.0% (36/40) VS 97.5% (39/40)] between CAES group and PPH group ( χ2=0.853, P=0.356). During the follow-up period within 3 months after the operation, the incidence of urinary retention [0.0% (0/40) VS 15.0% (6/40)] and pain [2.5% (1/40) VS 22.5% (9/40)] in CAES group was significantly lower than those in PPH group ( χ2=4.504, P<0.05; χ2=7.314, P<0.05). No other complications occurred in the 80 patients. After 1 year of follow-up, the recurrence rate of CAES group was 7.5% (3/40), which was not statistically different from that in PPH group [5.0% (2/40), χ2=0.180, P>0.05]. Conclusion:As a new minimally invasive technique for the treatment of internal hemorrhoids, CAES has similar curative rate and 1-year recurrence rate to PPH. Compared with PPH, CAES shows the advantages of less trauma, less pain, faster recovery and lower cost.

Objective: To investigate the bacterial species, characteristics and differences of oral bacteria flora of saliva in the longevous elderly between in Bama county and in Debao county in Guangxi, in order to explore the relationship between longevity and oral salivary bacteria flora in the elderly. Methods: The saliva was taken from the longevous elderly in Bama county(BM group)and people aged over 60 years in Debao county(BS group)separately, and the total DNA was extracted.The 16S rDNA-V4 region was amplified by PCR and analyzed by sequencing.The main species and diversity of bacterial colonies were recorded for difference analysis. Results: A total of 14 saliva samples were collected from 7 cases in BM group and 7 cases in BS group.A total of 369 OTUs were generated by cluster analysis of 14 samples.At the genus level, the dominant salivary bacteria flora were Ctinomyces, Capnocytophaga, Chryseobacterium, Fusobacterium, Haemophilus, Lactobacillus, Leptotrichia, Neisseria, Porphyromonas, Prevotella, Rothia, Streptococcus, Veillonella in both BM group and BS group.The OTU PCA analysis showed that some evidence for indeterminate differences was found, but statistically significant differences did not exist in the dominant components of oral flora between the two groups(P>0.05). Also, the same tendency toward the diversity(P>0.05)was presented.Similarly, the species annotation analysis and the heat map showed that there were no significant differences(P>0.05)in oral salivary flora composition between the two groups.Lactobacillu was always the prevailing flora in the Phylume, Class, Order, Family and Genus, but the abundance ratio was different between the two groups as following: Lactobacillus abundance in salivary bacteria flora was higher in BM Group than in the BS group, while Mycoplasma abundance was lower in BM Group than in the BS group(P<0.05). Conclusions The dominant salivary bacteria flora is Lactobacillus in both BM and BS group, while, the abundance of Lactobacillus is higher in the BM group than in the BS group, which indicates that the longevity of population in Bama county may be related to Lactobacillus.

Objective    To summarize the clinical feature and treatment experience of patients with acute type A aortic dissection involving coronary arteries. Methods    The clinical data of 107 patients with acute type A aortic dissection involving coronary arteries, who received operation between June 5, 2012 and December 31, 2019 in our hospital, were analyzed retrospectively. There were 80 males and 27 females at age of 24-83 (49.8±11.2) years. Results    The right coronary artery was involved in 65 patients, the left in 17 patients, and both coronary arteries in 25 patients. There were 48 (44.9%) patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, 49 (45.8%) patients undergoing coronary artery plasty. Fifteen patients died 30 d after the operation, with a mortality rate of 14.0%. Patients with preoperative cardiogenic shock and postoperative acute renal failure had increased risk of death (P<0.05). Eighty-two (88.2%) patients were followed up for 2 to 71 months, and 1 patient had sudden cardiac death during the follow-up period. Conclusion    Acute type A aortic dissection with coronary involvement is associated with high misdiagnosis rate and mortality rate. Taking proper strategies for surgical treatment of involved coronary arteries based on precise diagnosis may improve the prognosis of patients.

Objective:To investigate the effects of total minimally invasive surgery (TMA) and mixed minimally invasive/open surgery (HMOA) on perioperative conditions and long-term efficacy of patients with rectal cancer.Methods:The clinical data of 240 patients with rectal cancer treated with minimally invasive surgery from January 2014 to August 2018 in Hangzhou Third People′s Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 110 patients were treated with TMA (TMA group) and 130 patients were treated with HMOA (HMOA group). The relevant indexes of patients before and after surgery were collected and analyzed.Results:The operation time in TMA group was significantly longer than that in HMOA group: (312.5 ± 20.3) min vs. (210.8 ± 15.2) min, the length of hospital stay was significantly shorter than that in HMOA group: (4.0 ± 0.5) d vs. (6.8 ± 1.0) d, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01); there were no statistical differences in low anterior resection and surgical procedures, ileostomy, open surgery, postoperative complications, reoperation, morphine dosage at 3 d after surgery and readmission between 2 groups ( P>0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis result showed that BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ( OR=4.11, 95% CI 1.68 to 9.72, P<0.01), TMA ( OR=0.13, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.42, P<0.01), delayed bowel obstruction ( OR=13.6, 95% CI 1.59 to 110.56, P<0.05) and reoperation ( OR=15.32, 95% CI 5.52 to 42.56, P<0.01) were independent risk factors of prolonged hospital stay in patients with rectal cancer. The patients were followed up for 15 to 42 (29.5 ± 0.2) months, and there were no statistical differences in 3-year overall survival (OS) rate and 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate between HMOA group and TMA group (92.5% vs. 92.8% and 79.6% vs. 85.5%, HR=1.20 and 0.75, 95% CI 0.35 to 3.14 and 0.28 to 1.34, P=0.98 and 0.25). Conclusions:Patients with rectal cancer treated with TMA have the advantages of shorter hospital stay and shorter short-term effects compared with those treated with HMOA. However, the long-term effects of the two minimally invasive procedures are similar.