OBJECTIVE: To propose a machine learning-based method for predicting the trajectories during manual acupuncture manipulation (MAM), aiming to improve the precision and consistency of acupuncture practitioner' operation and provide the real-time suggestions on MAM error correction. METHODS: Computer vision technology was used to analyze the hand micromotion when holding needle during acupuncture, and provide a three-dimensional coordinate description method of the index finger joints of the holding hand. Focusing on the 4 typical motions of MAM, a machine learning-based MAM trajectory predictive model was designed. By integrating the changes of phalangeal joint angle and hand skeletal information of acupuncture practitioner, the motion trajectory of the index finger joint was predicted accurately. Besides, the roles of machine learning-based MAM trajectory predictive model in the skill transmission of acupuncture manipulation were verified by stratified randomized controlled trial. RESULTS: The performance of MAM trajectory predictive model, based on the long short-term memory network (LSTM), obtained the highest stability and precision, up to 98%. The learning effect was improved when the model applied to the skill transmission of acupuncture manipulation. CONCLUSION The machine learning-based MAM predictive model provides acupuncture practitioner with precise action prediction and feedback. It is valuable and significant for the inheritance and error correction of manual operation of acupuncture.
Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Machine Learning ; Adult ; Male ; Female

To address the limitations of traditional minimally invasive thermal ablation technology such as poor conformability, carbonization and electromagnetic radiation, this paper proposes a steam thermal ablation technology that uses saturated steam internal energy to replace the traditional electromagnetic radiation energy. Through the steam thermal ablation system and the steam thermal ablation needle designed based on simulation, the ex vivo pig liver experiments were carried out. The results have the characteristics of the maximum ablation axis ratio (short diameter / long diameter) and non-carbonization with the same type of thermal ablation technology. Based on the near-infrared light, in this paper the curative effect of the reduced scattering coefficient of the steam thermal ablation results was evaluated. The reduced scattering coefficients of the coagulation area all exceeded 16, reaching the completely damaged state, which verified that the steam thermal ablation can effectively inactivate the tumor cells.
Steam ; Animals ; Swine ; Liver Neoplasms/surgery* ; Ablation Techniques/methods* ; Liver/surgery* ; Equipment Design

The minimally invasive thermal ablation technology differs from traditional surgical operations, which requires auxiliary equipment to evaluate ablation results. However, the ultrasound and CT currently used in clinical practice have shortcomings such as artifacts and radiation. Therefore, this paper proposes a design for a minimally invasive thermal ablation evaluation system based on the principle of electrical impedance tomography technology to monitor the ablation range. At the same time, the innovative introduction of a programmable gain feedforward signal as the parameter signal of the multiplier demodulator in the electrical impedance tomography system design can effectively solve the problem of weak signals being submerged in noise and improve imaging accuracy. The system controls the amplitude of the excitation current signal and the acquisition / processing of boundary voltages via an STM32, uploads the collected data to an upper computer, and reconstructs the conductivity distribution using the Newton-Raphson algorithm to map the size of the ablation area. Experimental results show that the system can effectively reflect the size of the microwave ablation area. Under the same minimally invasive ablation parameters, the average imaging errors are 0.6 mm for the long diameter, 0.8 mm for the short diameter, and 1.75% for the axial ratio (long diameter / short diameter), demonstrating high consistency. This verifies the technical potential of electrical impedance tomography in minimally invasive thermal ablation.
Electric Impedance ; Tomography/instrumentation* ; Equipment Design

Objective To evaluate and compare the maturity of autografts and allografts as well as the postoperative clinical outcomes 10 years after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction(ACLR).Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 64 patients who underwent anterior cruciate liga-ment reconstruction,with an average follow-up period of about 10 years.Autografts were used in 36 cases(56.2%),and allografts in 28 cases(43.8%).Both groups were recorded the knee Lysholm scores,IKDC subjective scores,and stability tests results(KT-1000 side-to-side difference and Lach-man test).Moreover,graft maturity was assessed using the knee magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),and the Signal-to-Noise Quotient(SNQ)for both types of grafts was measured.Results No significant differences were observed between the autograft and allograft groups in the average follow-up time(10.1±2.1 and 10.5±1.8 years)(P=0.376),the SNQ value(24.1±8.8 and 23.2±8.7)(P= 0.652),the Lysholm score(90±10.3 and 89.4±8.9)(P=0.805)and the anterior joint stability dur-ing follow-up(P=0.923).Moreover,the average IKDC score and incidence of abnormal tension of the ligament measured by KT1000 of the autograft group were higher than the allograft group[(84.5±8.3)vs.(80.4±7.8),P=0.075;14.3%vs.8.3%,P=0.724].Meanwhile,ACL re-tear occurred to two cas-es in the autograft group(5.6%)and the allograft group(7.1%),respectively,showing no significant dif-ference(P=0.795).Conclusion Ten years after ACLR,no significant differences are found in graft ma-turity,clinical outcomes,or joint stability between patients using autografts and allografts.Moreover,the rate of graft re-tear is comparable between the two groups.

The cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) has been accepted as a standard treatment for most locally advanced cervical cancer. Compared with radiation therapy alone, CCRT can increase tumor control and survival rates, whereas it also can increase the incidence of acute hematological toxicity, which results in the treatment interruption or delay, and may even affect clinical efficacy and prognosis of patients. Therefore, how to reduce the incidence and severity of acute hematological toxicity induced by CCRT is a hot spot of clinical research. Previous studies have demonstrated that the occurrence of hematological toxicity is associated with the volume and dose of irradiated pelvic bone marrow. With the development of modern radiotherapy technology, precise radiotherapy technologies, such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT), not only guaranteed the enough dose for tumor, but also realized the protection of normal tissues. This article will focus on the feasibility of bone marrow sparing during CCRT for cervical cancer, and summarize the research progress in recent years.

Background Aluminum and fluoride are neurotoxic, and aluminum exposure alone is closely related to the overall cognitive function of operational workers. It is unclear about the effect of aluminum and fluoride interactions on cognitive function. Objective To evaluate a potential interaction effect of blood aluminum and urinary fluoride on the overall cognitive function of workers working in an aluminum plant. Methods Using cluster sampling, 230 workers in the electrolysis workshop of an aluminum group company in Shanxi Province were selected, and plasma aluminum concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and urinary fluoride by ion-selective electrode. The study participants were divided into a low blood aluminum group and a high blood aluminum group according to the median (M) of blood aluminum concentration, and a low urinary fluoride group and a high urinary fluoride group by a predetermined cutoff point (2.160 mg·L⁻¹). The Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Beijing (MoCA-BJ) was used to assess overall cognitive function of the workers. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between blood aluminum, urinary fluoride, and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), including multiplicative interaction analysis and correlation analysis; R language was used to fit an additive interaction model of blood aluminum and urinary fluoride on MCI and to calculate synergy index (S), relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), and attributable proportion due to interaction (API). Results Among the 230 operational workers, the median blood aluminum concentration (P₂₅, P₇₅) was 40.11 (25.16, 58.89) µg·L⁻¹, and there were 104 cases of abnormal urinary fluoride, with an abnormality rate of 45.2%. There was a multiplicative interaction (OR=7.783, 95%CI: 1.377, 43.991) and no additive interaction (RERI=0.030, 95%CI: −0.498, 0.559; API=0.018, 95%CI: −0.279, 0.316; S=1.049, 95%CI: 0.519, 2.118) for the effect between blood aluminum and urinary fluoride on overall cognitive function of the workers. The logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of MCI was 12.105 (95%CI: 2.802, 52.287) times higher in workers with both high blood aluminum and high urinary fluoride than in those with low blood aluminum and low urinary fluoride, after adjusting for selected influencing factors. Conclusion Occupational exposure related high blood aluminum and high urinary fluoride are risk factors for cognitive dysfunction, and the coexistence of both indicators increases the risk of MCI in workers with occupational aluminum exposure, with a multiplicative interaction.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the clinical and genetic characteristics of children with autosomal dominant neurodevelopmental disorders caused by kinesin family member 1A (KIF1A) gene variation. METHODS: Clinical and genetic testing data of 6 children with KIF1A gene de novo heterozygous variation diagnosed in Shanghai Children's Medical Center Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from the year 2018 to 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Pathogenic variants were identified based on whole exome sequencing, and verified by Sanger sequencing. Moreover, the effect of variants on three-dimensional structure and stability of protein was analyzed by bioinformatics. RESULTS: Among 6 patients there were 4 males and 2 females, and the age of consultation varied from 7 months to 18 years. All cases had varying degrees of motor developmental delay since childhood, and 4 of them had gait abnormalities or fell easily. In addition, 2 children were accompanied by delayed mental development, epilepsy and abnormal eye development. Genetic tests showed that all 6 cases had heterozygous de novo variations of KIF1A gene, including 4 missense mutations c.296C>T (p.T99M), c.761G>A (p.R254Q), c.326G>T (p.G109V), c.745C>G (p.L249V) and one splicing mutation c.798+1G>A, among which the last three variants have not been previously reported. Bioinformatics analysis showed that G109V and L249V may impair their interaction with the neighboring amino acid residues, thereby impacting protein function and reducing protein stability, and were assessed as "likely pathogenic". Meanwhile, c.798+1G>A may damage an alpha helix in the motor domain of the KIF1A protein, and was assessed as "likely pathogenic". CONCLUSIONS KIF1A-associated neurological diseases are clinically heterogeneous, with motor developmental delay and abnormal gait often being the most common clinical features. The clinical symptoms in T99M carriers are more severe, while those in R254Q carriers are relatively mild.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Child ; Retrospective Studies ; China ; Mutation ; Epilepsy/genetics* ; Neurodevelopmental Disorders/genetics* ; Kinesins/genetics*

Menopausal syndromes are mostly based on kidney deficiency， which could be expalined that kidney governing essence storage and controlling innateness， so when the kidney water was deficient and the liver fail to nourish， then led to liver depression and transform into fire； deficiency of the kidney， loss of warmth of the spleen， and inability to transport and transform the water and dampness will easily lead to phlegm and fire； the decline of the kidney yin and loss of water and fire will easily cause the exuberance of heart fire. Therefore， clinical symptoms of hot flashes， insomnia， and palpitations are common due to phlegm， depressions， and fire. Based on this， at the beginning of the treatment， we should treat the symptoms firstly by resolving phlegm， relieving depression and clearing fire， and commonly use Huanglian Wendan Decoction （黄连温胆汤）， Yigan Powder （抑肝散）， Chaihu plus Longgu Muli Decoction （柴胡加龙骨牡蛎汤）， and Qingxin Zishen Decoction （清心滋肾饮）， etc. After improving the symptoms of hot flashes and sweating， irritability， dreaming and frightening， then we should give the prescriptions to tonify kidney yang and nourish kidney yin， in order to eliminate the pathogens and reinforce healthy qi， and to treat both the manifestations and the root cause， so that the symptoms of the patients can be better alleviated.

A case of polyarteritis nodosa was reviewed. The patient was a 58-year-old middle-aged man. He developed fever, headache, fatigue and other symptoms. Three weeks after, massive hematuria was seen. CT plain scan and MRI indicated blood clots in renal pelvis, and pericardium and pleural effusion. Renal arteriography indicated multiple venous fistula in both kidneys. Enhanced CT scan showed multiple small aneurysms in abdominal aortic branches, bilateral renal arteries and pancreatic arteries. The diagnosis of nodular polyarteritis was confirmed. Glucocorticoid and immunosuppressive agents were given. Meanwhile, highly selective renal arteriovenous fistula embolization was performed, Postoperative hematuria was effectively controlled, and the general condition was gradually improved. The patient was followed up for 2 months, and the condition was stable.

Objective:To explore the risk factors of sarcopenia in liver cirrhosis and construct a diagnosis model for sarcopenia in cirrhosis.Methods:73 patients with liver cirrhosis hospitalized in Department of Gastroenterology of Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital between June 2021 and June 2022 were included. Common measurements in liver cirrhosis and abdominal CT scans of all patients were collected. The cross-sectional area of skeletal muscle at L3 level was calculated by sliceomatic and the skeletal muscle index (SMI) was subsequently obtained by height standardization. The patients were divided into sarcopenia group and non-sarcopenia group using Asian cut-off per European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People-2nd meeting (EWGSOP2) criteria. Risk factors related to sarcopenia in cirrhosis were analyzed and a subsequent diagnosis model was established.Results:among the cirrhotic patients included in the study, the prevalence of sarcopenia was 65.75% (48/73), 47.73% (21/44) in males and 93.10% (27/29) in females, respectively. There were significant differences in age, sex, BMI, liver function grade per Child Pugh classification, etiology, ferritin level, prothrombin time and hemoglobin level between sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups (P < 0.05). Age, liver function, sex and ferritin level were closely related to the occurrence of sarcopenia in cirrhosis. A diagnostic model was developed based on these 4 indexes and the area under curve reached up to 95.7%.Conclusion:≥ 60 years old, female, Child-Pugh C grade and ferritin < 29.60 μg/L are independent risk factors for sarcopenia in cirrhosis and the model with these indexes shows good diagnostic value for sarcopenia in cirrhosis.