Placental diseases may affect the outcome of pregnancy and long-term health of the mother and fetus. Fetal fraction is a key indicator for the success of non-invasive prenatal testing, and has been associated with gestational age, body mass index and fetal chromosomal aneuploidies. Many studies have found that fetal fraction is also related to placenta-derived diseases and may become a new predictor for such diseases. This article has summarized the association between the two, with an aim to provide new ideas for the prediction of placental diseases.

Resident training is a necessary path to cultivate excellent clinical doctors. Based on the Consensus on Core Competency Framework for Residency Education Among China Consortium of Elite Teaching Hospitals for Residency Education, Department of Neurology from Peking Union Medical College Hospital has established a training program for neurology residents with a graded evaluation system and a progressive clinical responsibility concept guided by core competency. Overcoming the teaching difficulties of neurology and considering the clinical characteristics of neurology, we have established a series of replicable and promotable neurology residency training curriculum through inheritance and innovation, which provides reference for the continuous improvement of China's neurology residency training program.

Objective To observe the value of lumbar spine bone marrow MR T1 mapping radiomics for predicting clinical risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL)in children.Methods Lumbar bone marrow T1 mappings were prospectively acquired from 77 newly diagnosed ALL children.The volume of interest(VOI)of L3 vertebral body was segmented using 3D Slicer software and 2 060 radiomics features were extracted,and the best features were screened.The children were divided into training and testing sets at the ratio of 8:2.Logistic regression(LR),support vector machine(SVM)and random forest(RF)were used to established radiomics models based on the best features,respectively,which were trained in training set and verified in testing set.The clinical risk was evaluated according to newly diagnosed risk and the response to chemotherapy after MR examination.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn,and the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated to evaluate the efficacy of each model for predicting clinical risk of ALL in children.Results There were 52 cases in low-medium risk group and 25 in high risk group.The training set consisted of 44 cases of low-medium risk and 17 of high risk,while the testing set consisted of 8 cases of low-medium risk and 8 of high risk.Twelve best features were selected to establish radiomics models.The sensitivity and accuracy of RF model in training set were both 100％,but its sensitivity(50.00％)and accuracy(75.00％)in testing set were both low,which indicating overfitting.The AUC(0.95)of LR model was slightly higher than that of SVM model(0.92)in testing set,but no significantly difference was found(P＞0.05),and the accuracy of these two models was consistent.Conclusion Both lumbar bone marrow T1 mapping LR and SVM radiomics models could be used to predict clinical risk of ALL in children,and LR model had better predictive efficacy.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the effect mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) on functional constipation (FC) at the combined lower he-sea and front-mu points of large intestine based on enteric neuronal autophagy. METHODS: A total of 40 SPF Kunming mice were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 8), i.e. a control group, a model group, an acupuncture group, a 3-methyl adenine (3-MA) group, and a 3-MA + acupuncture group. Except the control group, the FC model was established by gavage with compound diphenoxylate suspension for 14 days in the other 4 groups. After successful modeling, the mice of the acupuncture group and the 3-MA + acupuncture group received EA at bilateral "Tianshu" (ST 25) and "Shangjuxu" (ST 37), stimulated for 30 min with disperse-dense wave, 2 Hz/15 Hz of frequency, 1 mA of intensity. EA was delivered once daily. One course of treatment was composed of 5 days and 2 courses were needed, with an interval of 2 days. An intraperitoneal injection of 3-MA (15 mg/kg) was administered 30 min before EA in the mice of the 3-MA group and the 3-MA + acupuncture group, once daily. Before and after intervention, the time of the first black stool defecation and defecation behaviors in 6 h were observed in each group. After intervention, in every group, the small intestine propulsion rate was calculated, the colon tissue morphology was observed using HE staining, the ultrastructure of enteric neuronal autophagy was observed under transmission electron microscope, and the expressions of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), Beclin-1 and neuronal nuclear antigen protein (NeuN) in neurons of colonic muscularis were determined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Before intervention, when compared with those in the control group, the time of the first black stool defecation was prolonged (P<0.01, P<0.05), and numbers (P<0.01), wet weight (P<0.01, P<0.05) and water content (P<0.05, P<0.01) of stool in 6 h were reduced in the model, acupuncture, 3-MA and 3-MA + acupuncture groups. After intervention, compared with those in the control group, the time of the first black stool defecation was longer (P<0.05), and numbers (P<0.01), wet weight (P<0.01) and water content (P<0.01) of stool in 6 h were decreased in the model group. The time of the first black stool defecation was shortened (P<0.01), and numbers (P<0.01), wet weight (P<0.01) and water content (P<0.01) of stool in 6 h were increased in the acupuncture group when compared with those in the model group. The time of the first black stool defecation was extended (P<0.01), and numbers (P<0.01), wet weight (P<0.01) and water content (P<0.01) of stool in 6 h were declined in the 3-MA + acupuncture group in comparison with those in the acupuncture group. All layers of colon tissue were normal and intact in each group. When compared with the control group, the small intestine propulsion rate and the average optical density (OD) values of LC3, Beclin-1 and NeuN in neurons of colonic muscularis were decreased (P<0.01), and autophagosomes were dropped in the model group. In the acupuncture group, the small intestine propulsion rate and the average OD values of NeuN, LC3 and Beclin-1 in neurons of colonic muscularis increased (P<0.01,P<0.05), and autophagosomes were elevated when compared with those in the model group. The small intestine propulsion rate and the average OD values of NeuN, LC3 and Beclin-1 in neurons of colonic muscularis were dropped (P<0.05,P<0.01) in the 3-MA + acupuncture group in comparison with those in the acupuncture group. CONCLUSIONS Electroacupuncture may promote enteric neuronal autophagy and increase the number of neurons so that the intestinal motility can be improved and constipation symptoms can be relieved in FC mice.
Mice ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Beclin-1 ; Acupuncture Points ; Constipation/therapy* ; Intestine, Small ; Autophagy ; Water

OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of conducting a full-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT) and investigate the basic information and safety of acupuncture for patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). METHODS: A total of 80 participants with CSU from July 2018 to July 2019 were randomly assigned to receive active acupuncture (n=41) on a fixed prescription of acupoints or sham acupuncture (n=39) with superficial acupuncture on non-acupuncture points through the completely randomized design. Patients in both groups received 5 sessions per week for 2 weeks, and participants were followed for a further 2 weeks. Feasibility was assessed by recruitment and randomization rates, retention of participants, treatment protocol adherence, and the incidence of adverse events (AEs). The clinical primary outcome was the changes from baseline weekly urticaria activity scores (UAS7) after treatment at 2 weeks. Secondary outcomes included the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score of itching intensity, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA). RESULTS: A total of 80 participants were enrolled. The recruitment rate of 24.02%, randomization rate of 100%, a loss rate of 6.25%, and no obvious AEs were observed in either group. The decrease from baseline in the mean UAS7 total score at week 2 in the active acupuncture group was -8.63 (95%CI, -11.78 to -5.49) and -6.21 (95%CI, -9.43 to -2.98) in the sham acupuncture group for a between-group difference of -2.42 (95% CI, -6.93 to 2.07). The change in the DLQI, VAS of itching intensity, HAMA, and HAMD were a slightly better improvement trend in the active acupuncture group than the sham acupuncture group, but the between-group difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS Active acupuncture had a better improvement trend in alleviating symptoms, improving quality of life and regulating the mood of anxiety and depression in patients with CSU than sham acupuncture. (Registration Nos. AMCTR-ICR-18000190 and ChiCTR2100054776).

Objective:To investigate the awareness of diabetes knowledge among the health examination population and its influencing factors.Methods:A cross-sectional study. From september to november 2022, the subjects of six health examination centers located in six different cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Xiamen, Hangzhou) in China were investigated in the form of questionnaires to investigate the awareness of diabetes core information and the level of trust to different information sources of diabetes knowledge. According to the questionnaire results, the subjects were divided into a high awareness group of diabetes core information and a low awareness group. Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of diabetes core information awareness; the t-test was used to compare the trust degree of the two groups to different information sources. Results:A total of 9 315 people were included in the six centers, including 4 932 men (52.90%) with an average age of (39.36±12.64) years and 4 383 women (47.10%) with a mean age of (37.47±11.85) years. Only 36% of the people had high awareness of diabetes core information; variables such as gender, age, education level, physical examination frequency in the past three years, package price of this physical examination, self-evaluation of diabetes knowledge, diabetes status, and city of residence were variables that affect the level of awareness of core information related to diabetes (all P<0.05). Compared with the low awareness group of diabetes core information, the high awareness group trusted professional medical staff ( t=-9.597, P<0.05) and community health promotion more ( t=-5.014, P<0.05), but did not trust the emerging popular science propaganda means, such as WeChat official accounts/WeChat groups/QQ groups, Internet web page, Tiktok/Kwai and other short video APPs. Conclusion:The awareness rate of diabetes knowledge among the health examination population is low, and it is affected by many factors; Health education on diabetes knowledge should be carried out for people undergoing physical examination.

This article reported a survived case of amniotic band syndrome (ABS) following fetal reduction by radiofrequency ablation. The woman conceived monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy spontaneously. Prenatal ultrasound at 24 weeks of gestation indicated twin-twin transfusion syndrome (stage Ⅲ), and radiofrequency ablation for fetal reduction was successfully performed after formal consent. At 28 +6 weeks, ultrasound reexamination revealed significant edema in the left foot of the fetus, with banding around the ankle, as well as the strangulation mark and narrowing rings. Fetal ABS (ⅡB stage) was diagnosed after multidisciplinary consultation. An immediate emergency cesarean section was performed and a live male baby was born. A thin amniotic band could be seen wrapping around the left ankle of the newborn for several rounds, with obvious strangulation marks about 1 cm deep into the skin, and significant edema on the dorsum and sole of the foot, and the submalleolus area. The amniotic band was released at once, and the edema faded gradually after surgery. After a follow-up of 28 days, the lower limbs of the newborn became normal.

OBJECTIVE: Abnormalities in the gut microbiota and intestinal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels are implicated in the pathogenesis of functional constipation (FC). Electro-acupuncture (EA) has been shown to improve constipation-related symptoms and rebalance the gut microbiota. However, it is currently unknown whether the gut microbiota is a key mechanistic target for EA or how EA promotes gut motility by regulating the gut microbiota and SCFAs. Therefore, we assessed the effects of EA in FC mice and pseudo-germfree (PGF) mice to address these questions. METHODS: Forty female Kunming mice were randomly separated into a normal control group (n = 8), an FC group (n = 8), an FC + EA group (n = 8), a PGF group (n = 8) and a PGF + EA group (n = 8). The FC group and FC + EA group were treated with diphenoxylate to establish the FC model; the PGF group and PGF + EA group were given an antibiotic cocktail to initiate the PGF model. After maintaining the model for 14 d, mice in the FC + EA and PGF + EA groups received EA stimulation at the ST25 and ST37 acupoints, once a day, 5 times per week, for 2 weeks. Fecal parameters and intestinal transit rate were calculated to assess the efficacy of EA on constipation and gastrointestinal motility. Colonic contents were used to quantify gut microbial diversity using 16S rRNA sequencing, and measure SCFA concentrations using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: EA significantly shortened the first black stool defecation time (P < 0.05) and increased the intestinal transit rate (P < 0.01), and fecal pellet number (P < 0.05), wet weight (P < 0.05) and water content (P < 0.01) over 8 h, compared with the FC group, showing that EA promoted gut motility and alleviated constipation. However, EA treatment did not reverse slow-transit colonic motility in PGF mice (P > 0.05), demonstrating that the gut microbiota may play a mechanistic role in the EA treatment of constipation. In addition, EA treatment restored the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio and significantly increased butyric acid generation in FC mice (P < 0.05), most likely due to the upregulation of Staphylococcaceae microorganisms (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION EA-mediated resolution of constipation occurs through rebalancing the gut microbiota and promoting butyric acid generation. Please cite this article as: Xu MM, Guo Y, Chen Y, Zhang W, Wang L, Li Y. Electro-acupuncture promotes gut motility and alleviates functional constipation by regulating gut microbiota and increasing butyric acid generation in mice. J Integr Med. 2023; Epub ahead of print.
Mice ; Female ; Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Butyric Acid/pharmacology* ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics* ; Constipation/therapy* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Electroacupuncture/methods*

Danggui Liuhuangtang is the 47^th of the 100 famous classical formulas published by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine， and is known as the holy medicine for night sweat. By bibliometrics， the authors collected the ancient books on Danggui Liuhuangtang and screened out 269 valid data， involving 156 ancient books of traditional Chinese medicine. The analysis on the historical origin， disease syndromes， pathogenesis， composition， dosage， preparation， usage， and processing of Danggui Liuhuangtang found that this famous classical formula originated from Secret Book of the Orchid Chamber （《兰室秘藏》） written by LI Dongyuan， and is composed of Angelicae Sinensis Radix， Rehmanniae Radix， Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata， Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex， Scutellariae Radix， Coptidis Rhizoma and Astragali Radix. It has the functions of nourishing Yin， reducing fire， consolidating exterior and stopping sweating， and mainly treats night sweat due to Yin deficiency and fire exuberance. In the later generations， disease syndromes are mostly treated based on LI Dongyuan's theory， and have expanded to more than 30 kinds （339 in total）， among which night sweat （208） was the most， accounting for 61.36% of the total disease syndromes， followed by spontaneous sweating （38）， accounting for 11.21%. Additionally， it was found that Danggui Liuhuangtang was widely used in modern clinical practice for various disease syndromes. Among them， endocrine disease （77， 28.21%） was predominant， followed by gynecological disease （48， 17.58%）， and pediatric disease （24， 8.79%）. Although Danggui Liuhuangtang treats many disease syndromes， their pathogenesis was always yin deficiency and fire exuberance. Through the systematic excavation of the ancient books on Danggui Liuhuangtang and the analysis of its modern clinical application， this paper probed into the historical evolution and confirmed the key information of the formula， providing detailed literature basis for the research and development application of famous classical formulas.

Hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP) involves two major public health issues: mother-infant safety and prevention and controlling major chronic disease. HDP poses a serious threat to maternal and neonatal safety, and it is one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide, as well as an important risk factor for long-term cardiovascular disease (CVD). In order to explore effective strategies to prevent and control the source of CVD and reduce its risk, we have established a cohort of HDPs in Shenzhen for the primordial prevention of CVD. The construction of the HDP cohort has already achieved preliminary progress till now. A total of 2 239 HDP women have been recruited in the HDP cohort. We have established a cohort data management platform and Biobank. The follow-up and assessment of postpartum cardiovascular metabolic risk in this cohort has also been launched. Our efforts will help explore the pathophysiological mechanism of HDP, especially the pathogenesis and precision phenotyping, prediction, and prevention of pre-eclampsia, which, therefore, may reduce the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, and provide a bridge to linking HDP and maternal-neonatal cardiovascular, metabolic risk to promote the cardiovascular health of mothers and their infants.