Reasonable and standardised placebo setting for acupoint application pastes is a key factor for clinical trials to verify the safety and effectiveness of acupoint application. By sorting out the current design status of placebo in the allocation concealment and blind design， paste components， paste location， paste duration in the current clinical trials of acupoint application pastes， it is proposed that there are problems such as low application rate of blinding and non-standardised reporting， insufficient standardisation of placebo settings and lack of systematic research， and lack of uniform standards of the placebo evaluation method. Based on the action mechanism of acupoint application， the idea of setting placebo for acupoint application paste is proposed in terms of replacing the application material， controlling the physicochemical effect produced by transdermal absorption of drugs， and setting the permeability of placebo， in order to enrich the methodological content of the placebo setting for acupoint application， and providing more scientific and reliable clinical evidence of acupoint application.

ObjectiveBased on functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), we investigated the brain activity characteristics of gross motor tasks in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and motor dysfunctions (MDs) to provide a theoretical basis for further understanding the mechanism of MDs in children with ASD and designing targeted intervention programs from a central perspective. MethodsAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 48 children with ASD accompanied by MDs were recruited into the ASD group and 40 children with typically developing (TD) into the TD group. The fNIRS device was used to collect the information of blood oxygen changes in the cortical motor-related brain regions during single-handed bag throwing and tiptoe walking, and the differences in brain activation and functional connectivity between the two groups of children were analyzed from the perspective of brain activation and functional connectivity. ResultsCompared to the TD group, in the object manipulative motor task (one-handed bag throwing), the ASD group showed significantly reduced activation in both left sensorimotor cortex (SMC) and right secondary visual cortex (V2) (P<0.05), whereas the right pre-motor and supplementary motor cortex (PMC&SMA) had significantly higher activation (P<0.01) and showed bilateral brain region activity; in terms of brain functional integration, there was a significant decrease in the strength of brain functional connectivity (P<0.05) and was mainly associated with dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and V2. In the body stability motor task (tiptoe walking), the ASD group had significantly higher activation in motor-related brain regions such as the DLPFC, SMC, and PMC&SMA (P<0.05) and showed bilateral brain region activity; in terms of brain functional integration, the ASD group had lower strength of brain functional connectivity (P<0.05) and was mainly associated with PMC&SMA and V2. ConclusionChildren with ASD exhibit abnormal brain functional activity characteristics specific to different gross motor tasks in object manipulative and body stability, reflecting insufficient or excessive compensatory activation of local brain regions and impaired cross-regions integration, which may be a potential reason for the poorer gross motor performance of children with ASD, and meanwhile provides data support for further unraveling the mechanisms underlying the occurrence of MDs in the context of ASD and designing targeted intervention programs from a central perspective.

AIM: To evaluate the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in the iris and ciliary body of Wistar rats in the endotoxin-induced uveitis(EIU), and the effect of Xuebijing injection on its expression.METHODS:A total of 65 Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: Group A(normal saline, n=5), Group B(normal saline+endotoxin-injected, n=30), and Group C(Xuebijing+endotoxin-injected, n=30). The EIU model was induced in Wistar rats of the groups B and C by injecting LPS into the plantar surfaces of the hind feet, and normal saline(15 mL/kg)or Xuebijing(15 mL/kg)were intraperitoneally administered 30 min before LPS administration. The rats of the groups B and C were further divided into 6 subgroups after LPS injection, including 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, and 72 h subgroups, with 5 rats in each group. Furthermore, the intraocular inflammation of the rats was observed at each time above, the number of infiltrating cells in the aqueous humor was counted, and the pathological changes were observed in the iris and ciliary body of rats using hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining. TNF-α expression in iris and ciliary tissue at different postoperative time points was evaluated using immunohistochemistry.RESULTS: Clinical observations indicated no signs of uveitis in the group A, signs of uveitis were observed in the group B. Both iris symptoms and damage were significantly reduced in the group C compared to the group B(P<0.01). Cell counts in the aqueous humor revealed no inflammatory cells in the group A, while the number of aqueous humor cells in the group C was significantly reduced compared to Group B(P<0.01). HE staining revealed no cellular infiltration in the group A. In the group B, some cellular infiltration was observed in the eyes at 6 h post-LPS exposure. The number of infiltrating cells increased over time, peaked at 24 h, and gradually declined thereafter. In the group C, cell infiltration was not obvious at 6 h, few at 24 h, and nearly disappeared by 48 h. Immunohistochemical staining showed higher TNF-α expression in the ciliary body and iris in the group B than in the group A(P<0.01). Compared to the group C, TNF-α expression in the group B was significantly upregulated following LPS injection(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:TNF-α expression was elevated in EIU rats, and there was a positive correlation between its mean optical density ratio and inflammation degree. Moreover, Xuebijing injection could alleviate inflammation response through the reduction of TNF-α levels.

Selenoproteins, as the active form of selenium, play an important role in various physiological and pathological processes, such as anti-oxidation, anti-tumor, immune response, metabolic regulation, reproduction and aging. Although the expression level of selenoproteins in adipose tissue is significantly influenced by dietary selenium intake, it is closely related to the homeostasis of adipose tissue. In this review, we summarized the role of selenoproteins in the physiological function of adipose tissue and the pathogenesis of obesity in recent years, in order to provide a rationale for developing potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of obesity and related metabolic diseases.
Selenoproteins/metabolism* ; Adipose Tissue/physiology* ; Obesity/metabolism* ; Humans ; Animals ; Selenium

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common diseases in elderly men, the incidence of which gradually increases with age and leads to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) are widely used for the treatment of BPH in China and some other countries. To explore the molecular mechanisms of CHMs for BPH, we conducted a review based on peer-reviewed English-language publications in PubMed and Web of Science databases from inception to December 31, 2023. This article primarily reviewed 32 papers on the use of CHMs and its active compounds in the treatment of BPH, covering animal and cell experiments, and identified relevant mechanisms of action. The results suggest that the mechanisms of action of CHMs in treating BPH may involve the regulation of sex hormones, downregulation of cell growth factors, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects, inhibition of cell proliferation, and promotion of apoptosis. CHMs also exhibit α-blocker-like effects, with the potential to relax urethral smooth muscle and alleviate LUTS. Additionally, we also reviewed 4 clinical trials and meta-analyses of CHMs for the treatment of BPH patients, which provided initial evidence of the safety and effectiveness of CHMs treatment. CHMs treatment for BPH shows advantages as a multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway therapy, which can mitigate the severity of the disease, improve LUTS, and may become a reliable treatment option in the future.
Prostatic Hyperplasia/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Male ; Animals

Cemental tear is a rare and indetectable condition unless obvious clinical signs present with the involvement of surrounding periodontal and periapical tissues. Due to its clinical manifestations similar to common dental issues, such as vertical root fracture, primary endodontic diseases, and periodontal diseases, as well as the low awareness of cemental tear for clinicians, misdiagnosis often occurs. The critical principle for cemental tear treatment is to remove torn fragments, and overlooking fragments leads to futile therapy, which could deteriorate the conditions of the affected teeth. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and subsequent appropriate interventions are vital for managing cemental tear. Novel diagnostic tools, including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), microscopes, and enamel matrix derivatives, have improved early detection and management, enhancing tooth retention. The implementation of standardized diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols, combined with improved clinical awareness among dental professionals, serves to mitigate risks of diagnostic errors and suboptimal therapeutic interventions. This expert consensus reviewed the epidemiology, pathogenesis, potential predisposing factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cemental tear, aiming to provide a clinical guideline and facilitate clinicians to have a better understanding of cemental tear.
Humans ; Dental Cementum/injuries* ; Consensus ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Tooth Fractures/therapy*

Gualou Niubangtang is a classic formula for eliminating swelling and dispersing lumps， commonly used in the clinical treatment of breast diseases in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. This paper employed bibliometric methods to collect and organize 12 pieces of data from ancient texts related to Gualou Niubangtang， ultimately screening 10 valid references from 10 ancient Chinese medical books. Information regarding the prescription origin， main indications， formulation principles， drug composition， dosages， preparation methods， and decoction techniques was systematically verified. The results indicate that Gualou Niubangtang originates from the Orthodox Manual of External Medicine （Wai Ke Zheng Zong） by Chen Shigong in the Ming Dynasty. The formula consists of 12 Chinese medicines， including Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium， Arctii Fructus， Gardeniae Fructus， Lonicerae Japonicae Flos， Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma， Trichosanthis Semen， Scutellariae Radix， Trichosanthis Radix， Forsythiae Fructus， Gleditsiae Spina， Bupleuri Radix， and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viridm. In terms of drug origins， the dominant radical for Trichosanthis Semen and Trichosanthis Radix is Trichosanthes kirilowii， and the historical dominant radical for Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma is Glycyrrhiza uralensis. The nine medicines， Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium， Arctii Fructus， Gardeniae Fructus， Lonicerae Japonicae Flos， Scutellariae Radix， Forsythiae Fructus， Gleditsiae Spina， Bupleuri Radix， and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viridm， are consistent with the 2020 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The preparation methods involve frying Arctii Fructus， removing the heart from Forsythiae Fructus， while the remaining 10 medicines are used raw. The efficacy includes clearing heat， removing toxins， reducing swelling， and dispersing lumps. Clinically， it is used to treat conditions such as breast carbuncles， breast gangrene， and knot-like swellings and pain. The dosage， converted to modern standards， includes 3.73 g of Trichosanthis Semen， 3.73 g of Trichosanthis Radix， 3.73 g of Arctii Fructus， 3.73 g of Scutellariae Radix， 3.73 g of Gardeniae Fructus， 3.73 g of Forsythiae Fructus， 3.73 g of Gleditsiae Spina， 3.73 g of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos， 3.73 g of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma， 3.73 g of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium， 1.85 g of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viridm， and 1.85 g of Bupleuri Radix. The preparation is in the form of a decoction， with the 12 medicines added to 400 mL of water and decocted until 160 mL. The liquid is then mixed with 200 mL of yellow wine and taken before meals three times a day. Through the excavation and organization of ancient literature regarding Gualou Niubangtang， key information has been identified to provide a scientific basis for its clinical application and further development.

Bacterial biofilms gave rise to persistent infections and multi-organ failure, thereby posing a serious threat to human health. Biofilms were formed by cross-linking of hydrophobic extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), such as proteins, polysaccharides, and eDNA, which were synthesized by bacteria themselves after adhesion and colonization on biological surfaces. They had the characteristics of dense structure, high adhesiveness and low drug permeability, and had been found in many human organs or tissues, such as the brain, heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and skeleton. By releasing pro-inflammatory bacterial metabolites including endotoxins, exotoxins and interleukin, biofilms stimulated the body’s immune system to secrete inflammatory factors. These factors triggered local inflammation and chronic infections. Those were the key reason for the failure of traditional clinical drug therapy for infectious diseases.In order to cope with the increasingly severe drug-resistant infections, it was urgent to develop new therapeutic strategies for bacterial-biofilm eradication and anti-bacterial infections. Based on the nanoscale structure and biocompatible activity, nanobiomaterials had the advantages of specific targeting, intelligent delivery, high drug loading and low toxicity, which could realize efficient intervention and precise treatment of drug-resistant bacterial biofilms. This paper highlighted multiple strategies of biofilms eradication based on nanobiomaterials. For example, nanobiomaterials combined with EPS degrading enzymes could be used for targeted hydrolysis of bacterial biofilms, and effectively increased the drug enrichment within biofilms. By loading quorum sensing inhibitors, nanotechnology was also an effective strategy for eradicating bacterial biofilms and recovering the infectious symptoms. Nanobiomaterials could intervene the bacterial metabolism and break the bacterial survival homeostasis by blocking the uptake of nutrients. Moreover, energy-driven micro-nano robotics had shown excellent performance in active delivery and biofilm eradication. Micro-nano robots could penetrate physiological barriers by exogenous or endogenous driving modes such as by biological or chemical methods, ultrasound, and magnetic field, and deliver drugs to the infection sites accurately. Achieving this using conventional drugs was difficult. Overall, the paper described the biological properties and drug-resistant molecular mechanisms of bacterial biofilms, and highlighted therapeutic strategies from different perspectives by nanobiomaterials, such as dispersing bacterial mature biofilms, blocking quorum sensing, inhibiting bacterial metabolism, and energy driving penetration. In addition, we presented the key challenges still faced by nanobiomaterials in combating bacterial biofilm infections. Firstly, the dense structure of EPS caused biofilms spatial heterogeneity and metabolic heterogeneity, which created exacting requirements for the design, construction and preparation process of nanobiomaterials. Secondly, biofilm disruption carried the risk of spread and infection the pathogenic bacteria, which might lead to other infections. Finally, we emphasized the role of nanobiomaterials in the development trends and translational prospects in biofilm treatment.

【Objective】 To objectively evaluate the quality control level of blood testing process in blood banks through quantitative monitoring and trend analysis, and to promote the homogenization level and standardized management of blood testing laboratories in blood banks. 【Methods】 A quality monitoring indicator system covering the whole process of blood collection and supply, including blood donation service, blood component preparation, blood testing, blood supply and quality control was established. The questionnaire Quality Monitoring Indicators for Blood Collection and Supply Process with clear definition of indicators and calculation formulas was distributed to 17 blood banks in Shandong province. Quality monitoring indicators of each blood bank from January to December 2022 were collected, and 31 indicators in terms of blood testing were analyzed using SPSS25.0 software. 【Results】 The proportion of unqualified serological tests in 17 blood bank laboratories was 55.84% for ALT, 13.63% for HBsAg, 5.08% for anti HCV, 5.62% for anti HIV, 18.18% for anti TP, and 1.65% for other factors (mainly sample quality). The detection unqualified rate and median were (1.23±0.57)% and 1.11%, respectively. The ALT unqualified rate and median were (0.74±0.53)% and 0.60%, respectively. The detection unqualified rate was positively correlated with ALT unqualified rate (r=0.974, P<0.05). The unqualified rate of HBsAg, anti HCV, anti HIV and anti TP was (0.15±0.09)%, (0.05±0.04)%, (0.06±0.03)% and (0.20±0.05)% respectively. The average unqualified rate, average hemolysis rate, average insufficient volume rate and the abnormal hematocrit rate of samples in 17 blood bank laboratories was 0.21‰, 0.08‰, 0.01‰ and 0.02‰ respectively. There were differences in the retest concordance rates of four HBsAg, anti HCV and anti HIV reagents, and three anti TP reagents among 17 blood bank laboratories (P<0.05). The usage rate of ELISA reagents was (114.56±3.30)%, the outage rate of ELISA was (10.23±7.05) ‰, and the out of range rate of ELISA was (0.90±1.17) ‰. There was no correlation between the out of range rate, outrage rate and usage rate (all P>0.05), while the outrage rate was positively correlated with the usage rate (r=0.592, P<0.05). A total of 443 HBV DNA positive samples were detected in all blood banks, with an unqualified rate of 3.78/10 000; 15 HCV RNA positive samples were detected, with an unqualified rate of 0.13/10 000; 5 HIV RNA positive samples were detected, with an unqualified rate of 0.04/10 000. The unqualified rate of NAT was (0.72±0.04)‰, the single NAT reaction rate [(0.39±0.02)‰] was positively correlated with the single HBV DNA reaction rate [ (0.36±0.02) ‰] (r=0.886, P<0.05). There was a difference in the discriminated reactive rate by individual NAT among three blood bank laboratories (C, F, H) (P<0.05). The median resolution rate of 17 blood station laboratories by minipool test was 36.36%, the median rate of invalid batch of NAT was 0.67%, and the median rate of invalid result of NAT was 0.07‰. The consistency rate of ELISA dual reagent detection results was (99.63±0.24)%, and the median length of equipment failure was 14 days. The error rate of blood type testing in blood collection department was 0.14‰. 【Conclusion】 The quality monitoring indicator system for blood testing process in Shandong can monitor potential risks before, during and after the experiment, and has good applicability, feasibility, and effectiveness, and can facilitate the continuous improvement of laboratory quality control level. The application of blood testing quality monitoring indicators will promote the homogenization and standardization of blood quality management in Shandong, and lay the foundation for future comprehensive evaluations of blood banks.

【Objective】 To establish an effective quality monitoring indicator system for blood quality control in blood banks, in order to analyze the quality control indicators for blood collection and supply, and evaluate blood quality control process, thus promoting continuous improvement and standardizing management of blood quality control in blood banks. 【Methods】 A quality monitoring indicator system covering the whole process of blood collection and supply, including blood donation services, component preparation, blood testing, blood supply and quality control was established. The Questionnaire of Quality Monitoring Indicators for Blood Collection and Supply Process was distributed to 17 blood banks in Shandong, which clarified the definition and calculation formula of indicators. The quality monitoring indicator data from January to December 2022 in each blood bank were collected, and 20 quality control indicators data were analyzed by SPSS25.0 software. 【Results】 The average pass rate of key equipment monitoring, environment monitoring, key material monitoring, and blood testing item monitoring of 17 blood banks were 99.47%, 99.51%, 99.95% and 98.99%, respectively. Significant difference was noticed in the pass rate of environment monitoring among blood banks of varied scales(P<0.05), and the Pearson correlation coefficient (r) between the total number of blood quality testing items and the total amount of blood component preparation was 0.645 (P<0.05). The average discarding rates of blood testing or non-blood testing were 1.14% and 3.36% respectively, showing significant difference among blood banks of varied scales (P<0.05). The average discarding rate of lipemic blood was 3.07%, which had a positive correlation with the discarding rate of non testing (r=0.981 3, P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the discarding rate of lipemic blood between blood banks with lipemic blood control measures and those without (P<0.05). The average discarding rate of abnormal color, non-standard volume, blood bag damage, hemolysis, blood protein precipitation and blood clotting were 0.20%, 0.14%, 0.06%, 0.06%, 0.02% and 0.02% respectively, showing statistically significant differences among large, medium and small blood banks(P<0.05).The average discarding rates of expired blood, other factors, confidential unit exclusion and unqualified samples were 0.02%, 0.05%, 0.003% and 0.004%, respectively. The discarding rate of blood with air bubbles was 0.015%, while that of blood with foreign body and unqualified label were 0. 【Conclusion】 The quality control indicator system of blood banks in Shandong can monitor weak points in process management, with good applicability, feasibility, and effectiveness. It is conducive to evaluate different blood banks, continuously improve the quality control level of blood collection and supply, promote the homogenization and standardization of blood quality management, and lay the foundation for comprehensive evaluation of blood banks in Shandong.