Objective To explore the role of ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP) and unilateral centrifugation subjective visual vertical (UC-SVV) tests in evaluating the utricular function of patients with Meniere’s disease (MD) at different clinical stages. Methods A total of 97 unilateral MD patients at Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital from July 2019 to September 2021 were selected. All patients underwent oVEMP, UC-SVV, and pure tone audiometry tests. MD patients were classified into clinical stages 1, 2, 3, and 4, with stages 1 and 2 defined as early stage and stages 3 and 4 as late stage. The results of utricular function tests (abnormal rates of oVEMP, UC-SVV, and oVEMP＋UC-SVV) were compared among patients at different stages. Spearman correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between utricular function and clinical staging. Results Among the 97 MD patients, the abnormal rate of oVEMP was 66.0% (64/97), and the abnormal rate of UC-SVV was 55.7% (54/97). The abnormal rates of oVEMP and oVEMP＋UC-SVV in early-stage patients were significantly lower than those in late-stage patients (P＜0.05), while the difference in UC-SVV abnormal rates between the two groups was not statistically significant. Intra-group comparisons showed that the abnormal rate of oVEMP＋UC-SVV in stage 1 patients was significantly lower than that in stage 2 patients (P＜0.05), without significant difference in the other indices. There were no significant differences among the three indices in stages 3 and 4 patients. Spearman correlation test results indicated that the abnormal rate of oVEMP (r＝0.336, P＝0.001) and the abnormal rate of oVEMP＋UC-SVV (r＝0.301, P＝0.003) were weakly positively correlated with clinical staging, while there was no correlation between the abnormal rate of UC-SVV and clinical staging (r＝0.022, P＝0.832). Conclusions Both oVEMP and UC-SVV tests can assess utricular function in MD patients at different clinical stages. Their combination is helpful of early-stage (stages 1 and 2) MD diagnosis.

Standardized patient (SP) has been widely used for medical teaching and assessment in medical colleges at home and abroad. Pediatric consultations are mostly directed toward parents, so in pediatric education, SP is usually referred to as standardized family (Sfam), which is trained to portray the patient's family members. At present, the development of Sfam in pediatric teaching in China is relatively slow. Based on the characteristics of pediatric teaching, the paper summarizes the necessity of Sfam, the application of different types of Sfam, the integration of Sfam with other clinical teaching methods, and the value of Sfam in pediatric teaching, and also discusses the future direction and prospects of Sfam combined with artificial intelligence in pediatric teaching. After years of development, Sfam has been proved to be an effective teaching model. We hope this paper can help more pediatric clinical educators gain a deeper understanding of the Sfam teaching method, and promote the application of Sfam in pediatric teaching to maximize its role in advancing the development of pediatric education.

Objective·To investigate the relation between urinary excretion of protein-bound uremic toxins(PBUTs)and upper urinary tract calculus.Methods·Residents aged 18?80 years in the community of Haitou,Danzhou city in Hainan Province were recruited.Basic information and diet for the last 3 d of the subjects were recorded.Their fasting sera and 24-hour urine samples were collected,and they also underwent ultrasound examination of kidneys and ureters.The subjects with upper urinary calculi detected by ultrasound or a clear history of upper urinary calculi were selected as the calculus group,and the others as the non-calculus group.The biochemical indicators related to the formation of calculus in blood and urine were detected,and the levels of PBUTs,including indoxyl sufate(IS),indole-3-acetic acid(IAA),and p-cresol sulfate(PCS)in blood and urine,as well as oxalic acid and citric acid in urine were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography.The related factors of upper urinary tract calculus formation were analyzed by multivariate Logistic regression.The correlations of urine PBUTs with urine uric acid,oxalic acid,and citric acid were analyzed by Spearman correlation test.Results·A total of 117 participants were screened out with 54 people in the calculus group and 63 people in the non-calculus group.There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of gender,age,serum indicators,and prevalence of complications such as hypertension,diabetes,and hyperuricemia/gout.The 24-hour urine pH,calcium,uric acid,and chlorine in the calculus group were significantly higher than those in the non-calculus group(all P<0.05),while IS was significantly lower than that in the non-calculus group(P<0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that urinary IS(OR=0.929,95%CI 0.875?0.986,P=0.016)was related to the calculus formation independently,in addition to urinary calcium.The Spearman correlation analysis results showed that the levels of IAA(r=0.420,P=0.000)and PCS(r=0.307,P=0.001)in 24-hour urine were positively correlated with oxalic acid,PCS was positively correlated with uric acid(r=0.297,P=0.002),and IS was positively correlated with citric acid(r=0.289,P=0.002).Conclusion·In the population,a decrease in urinary excretion of IS may be an independent risk factor for the formation of upper urinary tract calculus,and PBUTs levels are correlated with levels of uric acid,oxalic acid,and citric acid.

Objective To explore the effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation(TEAS)combined with multi-model analgesia on infrared thermal imaging characteristics and pain after total knee arthroplasty(TKA).Methods A total of 74 patients with TKA were divided into the treatment group and the control group according to random number table method,with 37 cases in each group.The control group was treated with multi-model analgesia,and the treatment group was treated with TEAS on the basis of multi-model analgesia for 30 min,once in the morning and afternoon before the patient's rehabilitation exercise 1-7 days after surgery.The infrared thermal imaging data,visual analogue scale(VAS)score,Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC)score and pain threshold of the two groups were recorded and analyzed before and at different time points after operation.Results There were 2 cases dropped out in each group.Compared with before surgery,both groups had an increase in knee joint temperature on the surgical side 14 days after surgery(P<0.05),and the temperature in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).The self knee temperature difference in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group 14 days after surgery(P<0.05).Compared with before surgery,the VAS score of the treatment group decreased 3 and 7 days after surgery(P<0.05),while the VAS score of the control group decreased 7 days after surgery(P<0.05);compared with the control group at 3 and 7 days after surgey,the VAS score of the treatment group was lower than that of the control group.Compared with before surgery,the WOMAC scores of both groups increased 7 days after surgery(P<0.05);after 7 days of surgery,the WOMAC score of the treatment group was lower than that of the control group(P<0.05).Compared with before surgery,the pain threshold values of both groups increased 7 days after surgery(P<0.05);compared with the control group at 3 and 7 days after surgery,the pain threshold values of the treatment group was higher than that of the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion TEAS combined with multi-model analgesia can reduce the temperature of the knee joint,relieve the pain of the operated limb,and promote the early functional recovery of the knee joint after TKA.Infrared thermal imaging technology has a certain application value in indirectly assessing the degree of postoperative pain and detecting early infection of the affected limb.

【Objective】 This study aims to summarize the hotspots of acupuncture research in China and abroad in recent 10 years. 【Methods】 The core collection of Web of Science was retrieved, and the literature on experimental and clinical research of acupuncture in China and abroad was collected from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2021. The included literature was visually analyzed using CiteSpace 6.1.R3. Statistical analysis was carried out in the annual number of papers, authors, countries, and journals. According to the author's country, the literature was divided into Chinese and global categories for keywords clustering analysis and co-citation references analysis independently to obtain hotspots and trends in acupuncture research. 【Results】 There are 1 215 articles in acupuncture experimental medicine, 3 805 articles in acupuncture clinical medicine in China; 551 articles in acupuncture experimental medicine, and 4 538 articles in acupuncture clinical medicine abroad. The number of articles on acupuncture abroad remains stable and flat, whereas the annual number of domestic papers shows a continuously growth trend. LIU Cunzhi from Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University in China is the author who has published the most articles in the field of acupuncture in the recent decade. China is the most productive country in publishing such research articles. Evidence-based Comprehensive and Alternative Medicine is the journal with the most published articles. The mechanisms of acupuncture on nerve regeneration or nerve recovery and research on the mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia are hotspots in experimental acupuncture research, and the treatment of neuropathic pain and dysfunctional diseases with acupuncture are hotspots in clinical acupuncture research in China. Research on the mechanism of protection of the cardiovascular system by acupuncture and research on the mechanism of analgesia by acupuncture are hotspots in experimental research on acupuncture abroad. Studies on the amelioration of inflammatory pain and psychological or psychiatric disorders by acupuncture also serve as hotspots in clinical research on acupuncture abroad. 【Conclusion】 Acupuncture research in China focuses on the treatment of internal diseases and visceral pain, while acupuncture research abroad concentrates on the alleviation and improvement of cancer and psychological and mental diseases. Treatment of internal diseases and mental diseases with acupuncture is the trend of future research.

Pediatric idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) is characterized by massive albuminuria, hypoproteinemia, edema and hyperlipidemia, with a long course and high probability of relapse and prolongation. Long-term complications caused by long-term usage of hormones and immunosuppressants in children with INS seriously affect their physical and mental health and quality of life. Most children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome can be cured before adulthood, while some of them relapse in adulthood. Long-term prognosis of children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome is poor. There have been few studies in China followed the long-term outcomes and its related factors of children with INS over 10 years. The paper reviewed the literatures on the long-term outcomes of children with INS, including renal survival, growth, mental health, learning and work, marriage and fertility, disease recurrence and long-term related complications, to explore the factors related to the poor long-term outcomes of children with INS and to assist in clinical decision-making and follow-up management.

Objective:To analyze the effect of vitrectomy combined with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling on the prevention of post-vitrectomy epiretinal membrane (ERM) in macular-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and its influence on visual outcomes.Methods:A cohort study was conducted.Seventy-four patients (74 eyes) with macular-off RRD, who realized retinal reattachment after vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade from January 2015 to January 2018 in Baoding NO.1 Central Hospital, were enrolled.The patients were divided into the non-ILM peeling group (36 cases, 36 eyes) and ILM peeling group (38 cases, 38 eyes) according to whether they received ILM peeling or not.The patients underwent silicone oil removal within 3 to 5 months after the surgery.Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit-lamp microscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy, fundus photography and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were examined before and at 1, 6 and 12 months after the surgery.This study protocol adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by an Ethics Committee of Baoding NO.1 Central Hospital (No.[2019]042). Written informed consent was obtained from each patient.Results:There was no ERM found in the two groups at 1 month after the operation.There were 3 eyes (8.33%) with ERM in the non-ILM peeling group and 2 eyes (5.26%) in the ILM peeling group at 6 months after the operation, with no statistically significant difference between them ( P=0.067). There were 9 eyes (25.00%) with ERM in the non-ILM peeling group and 4 eyes (10.53%) in the ILM peeling group at 12 months postoperatively, with no statistically significant difference between them ( χ2=2.674, P=0.102). There was a significant difference in BCVA between before and after the operation in the two groups ( Ftime=31.692, P<0.001). Postoperative 1-, 6-and 12-month BCVA were all significantly better than the preoperative BCVA in the two groups (all at P<0.05). There was no significant difference in BCVA between the two groups ( Fgroup=0.117, P=0.773). OCT images showed that there were 25 eyes (77.78%) and 30 eyes (78.95%) with the intact ellipsoid zone in the non-ILM peeling group and ILM peeling group at 12 months after the operation, respectively, with no statistically significant difference between them ( χ2=0.875, P=0.350). Conclusions:Compared with vitrectomy alone, the vitrectomy combined with ILM peeling does not show better efficacy in the prevention of ERM occurrence in macula-off RRD patients and has no obvious influence on postoperative visual acuity.

The incidence of brain metastases in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has increased as a result of improved local control rate and survival rate. Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) has been proven to reduce the incidence of brain metastases and improve survival rate in patients with NSCLC. However, the value of PCI for NSCLC is still controversial. This paper reviews the progress of the efficacy and adverse reactions after PCI treatment for patients with NSCLC.

Objective:To observe the effect of intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs on the subfoveal choroid thickness (SFCT) of patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and macular edema (ME).Methods:A prospective clinical study. From January 2017 to January 2019, 59 monocular RVO-ME patients with 59 eyes diagnosed in the eye examination of The First Central Hospital of Baoding were included in the study. Among them, there were 31 males with 31 eyes and 28 females with 28 eyes; the average age was 57.4±10.3 years old. The course of the disease was 5 days to 1 month, all of whom had the first-onset disease. Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) was found in 35 eyes (BRVO-ME group); non-ischemic central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) was found in 24 eyes (CRVO-ME group). Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and frequency domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed. The BCVA examination was carried out using the international standard visual acuity chart, which was converted into the logarithmic minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity during statistics. The Cirrus HD-OCT 5000 instrument from Carl Zeiss company of Germany was used to measure the central macular thickness (CMT) and SFCT. All eyes were treated with intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs. The follow-up time after treatment was 6 months, and the changes of BCVA, CMT and SFCT of eyes before treatment and 2 weeks after treatment were compared and observed, as well as the occurrence of treatment-related complications. The comparison of BCVA, CMT, and SFCT at different times before and after treatment were adopted repeated measures analysis of variance; pairwise comparison of differences at different time points adopts the least significant difference t test. Results:Before treatment, the average logMAR BCVA and CMT of RVO-ME eyes were 0.92±0.46 and 604.71±169.35 μm, respectively. At 2 weeks, 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment, the average logMAR BCVA of the affected eye was significantly improved compared with that before treatment, and the CMT was significantly decreased. The difference was statistically significant ( F=55.664, 59.518; P<0.05). Before treatment, the average SFCT of the affected eye and the contralateral eye of RVO-ME patients were 306.3±65.8 and 241.3±59.8 μm, respectively. The SFCT of the affected eye was significantly thicker than that of the contralateral healthy eye, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=25.772, P<0.05). At 2 weeks, 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment, the average SFCT of the eyes were 267.7±81.4, 252.3±57.3, 239.2±46.5, 240.6±48.3 μm, respectively. Compared with before treatment, treatment SFCT decreased significantly at different times afterwards, and the difference was statistically significant ( F=924.341, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in SFCT between CRVO-ME group and BRVO-ME group at 2 weeks, 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment ( P>0.05). No complications such as endophthalmitis, cataract progression and neovascular glaucoma occurred during the follow-up period of all eyes. Conclusion:The SFCT of eyes with short course of disease and first-onset RVO-ME is thickened; anti-VEGF drug treatment can effectively reduce SFCT, improve ME, and increase BCVA.

Metformin, a first-line drug for type 2 diabetes mellitus, has been recognized as a potential anti-tumor agent in recent years. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), as the dominant catechin in green tea, is another promising adjuvant agent for tumor prevention. In the present work, the potential effect of EGCG on the anti-tumor efficacy of metformin in a mouse melanoma cell line (B16F10) was investigated. Results indicated that EGCG and metformin exhibited a synergistic effect on cell viability, migration, and proliferation, as well as signal transducer and activator of transcription 3/nuclear factor-κB (STAT3/NF-κB) pathway signaling and the production of inflammation cytokines. Meanwhile, the combination showed an antagonistic effect on cell apoptosis and oxidative stress levels. The combination of EGCG and metformin also differentially affected the nucleus (synergism) and cytoplasm (antagonism) of B16F10 cells. Our findings provide new insight into the potential effects of EGCG on the anti-tumor efficacy of metformin in melanoma cells.