OBJECTIVE: Varied acupoint selections represent a potential cause of the uncertainty surrounding the efficacy of acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Skin temperature, a guiding factor for acupoint selection, may help to address this issue. This study explored thermal sensitization of acupoints used for the treatment of knee OA. METHODS: This cross-sectional case-control study enrolled cases aged 45-75 years with symptomatic knee OA and age- and gender-matched non-knee OA controls in a 1:1 ratio. All participants underwent infrared thermographic imaging. The primary outcome was the relative skin temperature of acupoint (STA), and the secondary outcome was the absolute STA of 11 acupoints. The Z test was used to compare the relative and absolute STAs between the groups. Principal component analysis was used to extract the common factors (CFs, acupoint cluster) in the STAs. A general linear model was used to identify factors affecting the STA in the knee OA cases. For the group comparisons of relative STA, P < 0.0045 (adjusted for 11 acupoints through Bonferroni correction) was considered to indicate statistical significance. For other analyses, P < 0.05 was used as the threshold for statistical significance. RESULTS: The analysis included 308 participants, consisting of 151 cases (mean age: [64.58 ± 6.67] years; male: 25.83%; mean body mass index: [25.70 ± 3.16] kg/m²) and 157 controls (mean age: [63.37 ± 5.96] years; male: 26.11%; mean body mass index: [24.47 ± 2.84] kg/m²). The relative STAs of ST34 (P = 0.0001), EX-LE2 (P < 0.0001), EX-LE5 (P = 0.0006), SP10 (P < 0.0001), BL40 (P = 0.0012) and GB39 (P = 0.0037) were higher in the knee OA group. No difference was found in the STAs of ST35, ST36, SP9, GB33 and GB34. Four CFs were identified for relative STA in both groups. The acupoints within each CF were consistent between the groups. The mean values of the relative STAs across each CF were higher in the knee OA group. In the knee OA cases, no factors were observed to affect the relative STA, while age and gender were found to affect the absolute STA. CONCLUSION Among patients with knee OA, thermal sensitization occurs in the acupoints of the lower extremity, exhibiting localized and regional thermal consistencies. The thermally sensitized acupoints that we identified in this study, ST34, SP10, EX-LE2, EX-LE5, GB39 and BL40, may be good choices for the acupuncture treatment of knee OA. Please cite this article as: Tu JF, Wang XZ, Yan SY, Wang YR, Yang JW, Shi GX, Zhang WZ, Jing LN, Yang LS, Liu DH, Wang LQ, Mi BH. Thermal sensitization of acupoints in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A cross-sectional case-control study. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(3): 289-296.
Humans ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/physiopathology* ; Male ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Acupuncture Points ; Case-Control Studies ; Aged ; Skin Temperature ; Acupuncture Therapy

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT combined with abnormal prothrombin(PIVKA-Ⅱ)in the diagnosis of different tumors.Methods A total of 200 patients with suspected cancer who underwent examinations in the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from September 2021 to December 2023 were retrospectively selected,including 51 suspected liver cancer,49 suspected pancreatic cancer,52 suspected rectal cancer and 48 suspected prostate cancer.All patients underwent both serum PIVKA-Ⅱ testing and 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT imaging.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis was used to assess the diagnostic performance of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT and serum PIVKA-Ⅱ for liver cancer,pancreatic cancer,rectal cancer and prostate cancer.Results No significant differences were found in general data of 4 suspected tumor groups(P>0.05)except for age.Serum PIVKA-Ⅱ levels were significantly higher in patients with suspected liver cancer and rectal cancer compared with those with suspected pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer(P<0.05).No significant difference was observed in the serum PIVKA-Ⅱ levels between suspected pancreatic cancer group and suspected prostate cancer group(P>0.05).The positive rates of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT and serum PIVKA-Ⅱ for diagnosing liver,pancreatic,rectal,and prostate cancers were significantly lower than those of pathological examination(49.0%vs.47.1%vs.92.2%,57.1%vs.55.1%vs.87.8%,48.1%vs.44.2%vs.92.3%,64.6%vs.62.5%vs.89.6%,respectively,P<0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that serum PIVKA-Ⅱ had a sensitivity of 79.06%,specificity of 72.02%,area under ROC curve(AUC)of 0.822,and Youden index of 0.512.For 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT,the sensitivity was 79.11%,specificity 72.07%,AUC 0.829,and Youden index 0.510.The combined use of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT and serum PIVKA-Ⅱ achieved higher diagnostic accuracy,with a sensitivity of 93.28%,specificity of 81.15%,AUC of 0.924 and Youden index of 0.744,all surpassing the single index.Conclusion Both 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT and serum PIVKA-Ⅱ are effective diagnostic tools for liver,pancreatic,rectal,and prostate cancers,with the combined approach yielding superior diagnostic performance.

The inclusion complex of taxifolin(TAX)with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin(HP-β-CD)was prepared by saturated aqueous solution method,and the preparation conditions such as molar ratio,volume ratio of solution,inclusion temperature and inclusion time were selected by single-factor experiment.The orthogonal design of three-level four-factor L9(34)was used to screen the preparation process of the inclusion complex,and the inclusion complex was prepared with optimal preparation process.The prepared inclusion complex was characterized by scanning electron microscopy(SEM),nuclear magnetic resonance(1H NMR,2D NMR),Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR),ultraviolet-visible(UV-Vis)absorption spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction(XRD).The inclusion ratio,biostability,solubility and in vitro release of the inclusion complex were investigated.The results of orthogonal experiments showed that the optimum conditions for preparation of the inclusion complex were as follows:the molar ratio of TAX to HP-β-CD was 1:1,the volume ratio of methanol to ultra-pure water was 1:8,the inclusion time was 8 h,and the inclusion temperature was 30℃.Under the optimal conditions,the inclusion ratio between TAX and HP-β-CD was calculated to be 1:1 by Job's curve method.According to the change of UV-vis absorption spectra,the host-guest complexation constant of 4.9488×104 L/mol was obtained by Benesi-Hildebrand curve method.The solubility of TAX increased from 1.2665 mg/mL to 19.3469 mg/mL after inclusion,demonstrating that HP-β-CD could serve as an effective host molecule for TAX,which could significantly enhance the bio-stability and solubility of the formed inclusion complex.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the preliminary efficacy and safety of a dose-intensified C5VD regimen (cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, vincristine, and doxorubicin) in children with locally advanced hepatoblastoma. METHODS: This prospective study enrolled 24 children with newly diagnosed, locally advanced hepatoblastoma who received the dose-intensified C5VD regimen at Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, and Shanghai Children's Hospital between January 2020 and December 2023. Clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes, and chemotherapy-related toxicities were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 24 patients, 13 were male and 11 were female, with a median age at diagnosis of 18.7 months (range: 3.5-79.4 months). All patients achieved complete macroscopic resection of hepatic lesions without liver transplantation. Serum alpha-fetoprotein levels decreased significantly after two chemotherapy cycles. During a median follow-up of 38.4 months (range: 15.8-50.7 months), all patients maintained continuous complete remission, with 3-year event-free survival and overall survival rates of 100%. Across 144 chemotherapy cycles, the incidence rates of grade 3-4 neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and infections were 97%, 77%, and 71%, respectively; no treatment-related deaths occurred. Notably, 5 patients (21%) developed Brock grade ≥3 hearing loss, of whom 1 required a hearing aid. CONCLUSIONS The dose-intensified C5VD regimen demonstrates significant efficacy with an overall favorable safety profile in the treatment of newly diagnosed, locally advanced pediatric hepatoblastoma. Grade 3-4 myelosuppression and infection are the predominant toxicities. However, high‑dose cisplatin-induced ototoxicity remains a concern, highlighting the need for improved otoprotective strategies.
Humans ; Hepatoblastoma/pathology* ; Male ; Female ; Infant ; Liver Neoplasms/pathology* ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Child, Preschool ; Prospective Studies ; Doxorubicin/adverse effects* ; Child ; Cisplatin/adverse effects* ; Vincristine/adverse effects* ; Fluorouracil/adverse effects*

Objective:To investigate the overall drug resistance, drug resistance trend and distribution of drug resistance mutation sites in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients with antiviral therapy failure in Yunnan Province.Methods:The demographic data and genotype drug resistance of HIV/AIDS population with antiviral therapy failure in Yunnan Province from January 2021 to December 2023 were collected and analyzed by cross-sectional investigation. Statistical analyses were performed using chi-square test.Results:Among 15 159 HIV/AIDS patients, 12 215 cases tested positive by amplification. The circulating recombinant form (CRF) 08_BC was the predominant genetic subtype, accounting for 54.97%(6 714/12 215), followed by CRF01_AE (16.14%(1 972/12 215)) and CRF07_BC (14.48% (1 769/12 215)). When the viral load was ≥200 to <1 000 copies/mL, the incidence of drug resistance was 21.48%(99/461). When it was ≥1 000 to <10 000 copies/mL, the incidence was 51.29%(2 867/5 590). When it was ≥10 000 to <100 000 copies/mL, the incidence was 69.39% (3 979/5 734). When it was ≥100 000 copies/mL, the incidence was 81.86%(352/430). A total of 7 297 drug resistant cases were detected, with a drug resistance rate of 59.74% (7 297/12 215), thus the estimated drug resistance incidence rate among the antiviral treated population in Yunnan Province was 2.00% (7 297/364 238). From 2021 to 2023, the annual drug resistance rates among patients were 60.71%(2 554/4 207), 60.28%(1 671/2 772), and 58.67% (3 072/5 236), respectively, with no statistically significant difference ( χ2=4.47, P=0.107). Among the population with antiviral therapy failure, the drug resistance rates of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI), and protease inhibitor (PI) were 93.70%(6 837/7 297), 44.10%(3 218/7 297) and 5.15%(376/7 297), respectively. The mutation sites with the highest frequencies among the three classes of drugs including NRTI, NNRTI and PI were M184V/I (46.13%(2 123/4 602)), K103N/S (37.14%(2 648/7 129)), L33F (15.50%(82/529)) and M46I/L (15.50%(82/529)), respectively. Analysis of the degree of drug resistance showed that among NNRTI drugs, nevirapine (49.01%(5 987/12 215)) and efavirenz (48.00%(5 863/12 215)) had the highest drug resistance rates, followed by emtricitabine (23.59%(2 882/12 215)) and lamivudine (23.58%(2 881/12 215)) among NRTI drugs. Conclusions:Among HIV/AIDS patients with antiviral therapy failure in Yunnan Province from 2021 to 2023, CRF08_BC is the main genetic subtype. The drug resistance rate of patients increases with the increase of HIV-1 viral load. There is no significant change in the drug resistance rate from 2021 to 2023. NNRTI has the highest drug resistance rate, followed by NRTI, and PI has the lowest. The main mutation sites are M184V/I for NRTI, K103N/S for NNRTI, and M46I/L and L33F for PI. The drug resistance rates of nevirapine, efavirenz, emtricitabine and lamivudine are relatively high.

Objective To explore the value of analysis on the incidence of healthcare-associated infection(HAI)based on disease diagnosis-related grouping(DRG),case mix index(CMI),and relative weight(RW).Methods All discharged cases,DRG and HAI status in a tertiary first-class general hospital from January 1 to December 31,2023 were analyzed retrospectively.Incidences of HAI in different departments were adjusted and compared by CMI.Incidences of HAI in different DRG groups were adjusted by RW.Results Among the 47 695 cases included in the analysis,757 were HAI cases,including 225 DRG groups.The department of critical care medicine had the highest incidence of HAI(11.98％).After CMI adjustment,departments with higher incidence of HAI were main-ly the department of respiratory and critical care medicine(3.96％),department of critical care medicine(3.04％),and department of neurology(2.85％),et al.DRG groups with the top five high incidence of HAI were AH11(tracheotomy and with ventilator support ≥96 hours or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation[ECMO],accompa-nied by major complications and comorbidity[MCC],50.00％),BC29(ventricular shunt and revision surgery,31.43％),BB21(craniotomy other than trauma,accompanied by MCC,27.56％),BB11(craniotomy of brain trauma,accompanied by MCC,26.32％),and GB1A(major surgery of esophagus,stomach,and duodenum,accompanied by major or moderate complications and comorbidity,16.00％).After RW adjustment,the DRG groups with the top five high incidence of HAI were ES21(respiratory system infection/inflammation,accompanied by MCC,5.89％),BR21(cerebral ischemic disease,accompanied by MCC,5.17％),FR11(heart failure,shock,accompanied by MCC,4.80％),BC29(4.57％)and AH11(3.57％).Conclusion Analyzing the incidence of HAI based on CMI and RW can help to identify key departments and disease groups for infection prevention and control,and provide reference for precise prevention and control of HAI in the new era.

Objective:To investigate the overall drug resistance, drug resistance trend and distribution of drug resistance mutation sites in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients with antiviral therapy failure in Yunnan Province.Methods:The demographic data and genotype drug resistance of HIV/AIDS population with antiviral therapy failure in Yunnan Province from January 2021 to December 2023 were collected and analyzed by cross-sectional investigation. Statistical analyses were performed using chi-square test.Results:Among 15 159 HIV/AIDS patients, 12 215 cases tested positive by amplification. The circulating recombinant form (CRF) 08_BC was the predominant genetic subtype, accounting for 54.97%(6 714/12 215), followed by CRF01_AE (16.14%(1 972/12 215)) and CRF07_BC (14.48% (1 769/12 215)). When the viral load was ≥200 to <1 000 copies/mL, the incidence of drug resistance was 21.48%(99/461). When it was ≥1 000 to <10 000 copies/mL, the incidence was 51.29%(2 867/5 590). When it was ≥10 000 to <100 000 copies/mL, the incidence was 69.39% (3 979/5 734). When it was ≥100 000 copies/mL, the incidence was 81.86%(352/430). A total of 7 297 drug resistant cases were detected, with a drug resistance rate of 59.74% (7 297/12 215), thus the estimated drug resistance incidence rate among the antiviral treated population in Yunnan Province was 2.00% (7 297/364 238). From 2021 to 2023, the annual drug resistance rates among patients were 60.71%(2 554/4 207), 60.28%(1 671/2 772), and 58.67% (3 072/5 236), respectively, with no statistically significant difference ( χ2=4.47, P=0.107). Among the population with antiviral therapy failure, the drug resistance rates of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI), and protease inhibitor (PI) were 93.70%(6 837/7 297), 44.10%(3 218/7 297) and 5.15%(376/7 297), respectively. The mutation sites with the highest frequencies among the three classes of drugs including NRTI, NNRTI and PI were M184V/I (46.13%(2 123/4 602)), K103N/S (37.14%(2 648/7 129)), L33F (15.50%(82/529)) and M46I/L (15.50%(82/529)), respectively. Analysis of the degree of drug resistance showed that among NNRTI drugs, nevirapine (49.01%(5 987/12 215)) and efavirenz (48.00%(5 863/12 215)) had the highest drug resistance rates, followed by emtricitabine (23.59%(2 882/12 215)) and lamivudine (23.58%(2 881/12 215)) among NRTI drugs. Conclusions:Among HIV/AIDS patients with antiviral therapy failure in Yunnan Province from 2021 to 2023, CRF08_BC is the main genetic subtype. The drug resistance rate of patients increases with the increase of HIV-1 viral load. There is no significant change in the drug resistance rate from 2021 to 2023. NNRTI has the highest drug resistance rate, followed by NRTI, and PI has the lowest. The main mutation sites are M184V/I for NRTI, K103N/S for NNRTI, and M46I/L and L33F for PI. The drug resistance rates of nevirapine, efavirenz, emtricitabine and lamivudine are relatively high.

Objective To explore the value of analysis on the incidence of healthcare-associated infection(HAI)based on disease diagnosis-related grouping(DRG),case mix index(CMI),and relative weight(RW).Methods All discharged cases,DRG and HAI status in a tertiary first-class general hospital from January 1 to December 31,2023 were analyzed retrospectively.Incidences of HAI in different departments were adjusted and compared by CMI.Incidences of HAI in different DRG groups were adjusted by RW.Results Among the 47 695 cases included in the analysis,757 were HAI cases,including 225 DRG groups.The department of critical care medicine had the highest incidence of HAI(11.98％).After CMI adjustment,departments with higher incidence of HAI were main-ly the department of respiratory and critical care medicine(3.96％),department of critical care medicine(3.04％),and department of neurology(2.85％),et al.DRG groups with the top five high incidence of HAI were AH11(tracheotomy and with ventilator support ≥96 hours or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation[ECMO],accompa-nied by major complications and comorbidity[MCC],50.00％),BC29(ventricular shunt and revision surgery,31.43％),BB21(craniotomy other than trauma,accompanied by MCC,27.56％),BB11(craniotomy of brain trauma,accompanied by MCC,26.32％),and GB1A(major surgery of esophagus,stomach,and duodenum,accompanied by major or moderate complications and comorbidity,16.00％).After RW adjustment,the DRG groups with the top five high incidence of HAI were ES21(respiratory system infection/inflammation,accompanied by MCC,5.89％),BR21(cerebral ischemic disease,accompanied by MCC,5.17％),FR11(heart failure,shock,accompanied by MCC,4.80％),BC29(4.57％)and AH11(3.57％).Conclusion Analyzing the incidence of HAI based on CMI and RW can help to identify key departments and disease groups for infection prevention and control,and provide reference for precise prevention and control of HAI in the new era.

Background: Triglyceride glucose (TyG) and TyG-body mass index (TyG-BMI) are reliable surrogate indices of insulin resistance and used for risk stratification and outcome prediction in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Here, we inserted estimated average glucose (eAG) into the TyG (TyAG) and TyG-BMI (TyAG-BMI) as derived parameters and explored their clinical significance in cardiovascular risk prediction. Methods: This was a population-based cohort study of 9,944 Chinese patients with ASCVD. The baseline admission fasting glucose and A1C-derived eAG values were recorded. Cardiovascular events (CVEs) that occurred during an average of 38.5 months of follow-up were recorded. We stratified the patients into four groups by quartiles of the parameters. Baseline data and outcomes were analyzed. Results: Distribution of the TyAG and TyAG-BMI indices shifted slightly toward higher values (the right side) compared with TyG and TyG-BMI, respectively. The baseline levels of cardiovascular risk factors and coronary severity increased with quartile of TyG, TyAG, TyG-BMI, and TyAG-BMI (all P<0.001). The multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios for CVEs when the highest and lowest quartiles were compared from low to high were 1.02 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.77 to 1.36; TyG), 1.29 (95% CI, 0.97 to 1.73; TyAG), 1.59 (95% CI, 1.01 to 2.58; TyG-BMI), and 1.91 (95% CI, 1.16 to 3.15; TyAG-BMI). The latter two showed statistical significance. Conclusion This study suggests that TyAG and TyAG-BMI exhibit more information than TyG and TyG-BMI in disease progression among patients with ASCVD. The TyAG-BMI index provided better predictive performance for CVEs than other parameters.