Transcutaneous electrical stimulation equipment is a kind of characteristic therapeutic devices developed on the basis of the integration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory and modern science and technology, which is widely used in clinical practice. Significant breakthroughs have been made in the development of related devices such as transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) devices, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) devices, and transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) devices in recent years. Although the market for these devices is vast, there are still limitations that need to be optimized in terms of electrode materials and power supply methods, bulky instrument size, cumbersome wiring, restricted applications, and inadequate intelligent functionality. In the future, it is still necessary to further build upon the theoretical foundation of TCM acupuncture, integrate a variety of modern scientific technologies to advance the intelligence and modernization of acupuncture equipment, and thereby improving its capabilities to support clinical practice and research.
Humans ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation/methods* ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Objective:To identify the association between CD4 +T lymphocyte (CD4) counts and physical frailty among HIV-infected people aged 65 years and older, and evaluate whether this association will be modified by the indicators of body composition. Methods:From May to October 2022, 485 elderly HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) were recruited from 7 antiviral treatment sites in Jiangjin District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chongqing. The data of basic characteristics (age and gender), living habits (smoking and drinking) and disease history (metabolic diseases, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, respiratory disease and malignant tumors) were collected through the face-to-face investigation with self-made questionnaires. Fried Frailty Scale was used to evaluate the status of physical frailty. Physical fitness (walking speed, grip strength, height, and weight) and body composition (skeletal muscle mass, body fat mass, and basal metabolic rate) were measured. The antiretroviral treatment data were obtained from the China AIDS Integrated Prevention and Treatment Data information management system. The prevalence of physical frailty was calculated among the HIV-infected patients. The potential effects of CD4 counts on physical frailty were explored by using multivariate logistic regression. Subgroup analyses were repeated in the logistic regression with muscle mass, body fat mass, and other indicators of body composition as subgroup variables to determine whether the association might be modified by body composition.Results:The age of 485 patients were (72±5) years old, of which 48.2% (234 cases) were>70 years old and 70.9% (344 cases) were male, and all of whom had initiated the ART treatment. The prevalence of physical frailty among these patients was 7.4% (36/485). Multivariate logistic regression showed that after adjusting for age, sex, smoking, drinking, body composition index, ART duration, viral load and the number of comorbidities, increased CD4 cell level was associated with decreased prevalent risk of physical frailty among elderly HIV-infected patients. For every increase of 5.0×10 7 CD4 cells/L, the prevalent risk of physical frailty decreased by 12% [ OR (95% CI): 0.88 (0.76-1.01)]. Compared with the low CD4 cell level group, the risk of physical frailty in those with normal CD4 cell level decreased by 69% [ OR (95% CI): 0.31 (0.10-0.92)]. Subgroup analysis of body composition indicators showed that the protective effect of normal CD4 cell level on physical frailty was more pronounced in the high skeletal muscle mass and high basal metabolic rate group ( Pinteraction<0.05). Conclusion:The prevalence of physical frailty among elderly HIV-infected patients is relatively lower in Chongqing, and the CD4 cell level, skeletal muscle mass and basal metabolic rate are related to physical frailty.

Objective:To identify the association between CD4 +T lymphocyte (CD4) counts and physical frailty among HIV-infected people aged 65 years and older, and evaluate whether this association will be modified by the indicators of body composition. Methods:From May to October 2022, 485 elderly HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) were recruited from 7 antiviral treatment sites in Jiangjin District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chongqing. The data of basic characteristics (age and gender), living habits (smoking and drinking) and disease history (metabolic diseases, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, respiratory disease and malignant tumors) were collected through the face-to-face investigation with self-made questionnaires. Fried Frailty Scale was used to evaluate the status of physical frailty. Physical fitness (walking speed, grip strength, height, and weight) and body composition (skeletal muscle mass, body fat mass, and basal metabolic rate) were measured. The antiretroviral treatment data were obtained from the China AIDS Integrated Prevention and Treatment Data information management system. The prevalence of physical frailty was calculated among the HIV-infected patients. The potential effects of CD4 counts on physical frailty were explored by using multivariate logistic regression. Subgroup analyses were repeated in the logistic regression with muscle mass, body fat mass, and other indicators of body composition as subgroup variables to determine whether the association might be modified by body composition.Results:The age of 485 patients were (72±5) years old, of which 48.2% (234 cases) were>70 years old and 70.9% (344 cases) were male, and all of whom had initiated the ART treatment. The prevalence of physical frailty among these patients was 7.4% (36/485). Multivariate logistic regression showed that after adjusting for age, sex, smoking, drinking, body composition index, ART duration, viral load and the number of comorbidities, increased CD4 cell level was associated with decreased prevalent risk of physical frailty among elderly HIV-infected patients. For every increase of 5.0×10 7 CD4 cells/L, the prevalent risk of physical frailty decreased by 12% [ OR (95% CI): 0.88 (0.76-1.01)]. Compared with the low CD4 cell level group, the risk of physical frailty in those with normal CD4 cell level decreased by 69% [ OR (95% CI): 0.31 (0.10-0.92)]. Subgroup analysis of body composition indicators showed that the protective effect of normal CD4 cell level on physical frailty was more pronounced in the high skeletal muscle mass and high basal metabolic rate group ( Pinteraction<0.05). Conclusion:The prevalence of physical frailty among elderly HIV-infected patients is relatively lower in Chongqing, and the CD4 cell level, skeletal muscle mass and basal metabolic rate are related to physical frailty.

AIM: To investigate the effect of scleral-fixated capsular tension ring(SFCTR)combined with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens(IOL)implantation in the treatment of traumatic lens subluxation.METHODS: A total of 14 patients(14 eyes)who underwent SFCTR combined with phacoemulsification and IOL implantation for traumatic lens subluxation from December 2018 to February 2023 were selected. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure, anterior segment photography, and ultrasound biomicroscopy(UBM)were examined during postoperative follow-up. The location of IOL and postoperative complications were recorded.RESULTS: SFCTRs and IOLs were successfully implanted in all patients. The mean postoperative follow-up was 1.92±1.36 a. At the last follow-up, the uncorrected distance visual acuity(UDVA; 0.20±0.18 LogMAR)and corrected distance visual acuity(CDVA; 0.16±0.17 LogMAR)were significantly improved compared with the UDVA(1.13±0.56 LogMAR)preoperatively(P<0.01). The intraocular pressure(17.64±3.67 mmHg)was lower than that before the operation(22.00±9.92 mmHg; P<0.05). During the follow-up, the slit-lamp examination showed that the IOL was in the middle of the pouch. UBM examination showed that the CTR and IOL were located in the pouch, and the distance between the equatorial part of the pouch and the ciliary process was equal in all directions.CONCLUSION: The SFCTR combined with phacoemulsification and IOL implantation is an efficient and minimally invasive method in the treatment of traumatic lens subluxation.

OBJECTIVE To explore the potential mechanism of action of Gexia zhuyu decoction in the intervention of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease （MAFLD） based on ferroptosis. METHODS With the help of network pharmacology， the central targets of Gexia zhuyu decoction intervening in ferroptosis of MAFLD were screened， then gene ontology， Kyoto Encyclopedia Gene and Genomes enrichment analysis and molecular docking were performed. Juvenile zebrafish with normal development at 3 d post-fertilization were randomly divided into control group， model group （5 mmol/L thioacetamide）， magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate group （positive control， 5 mg/mL）， and Gexia zhuyu decoction low- ， medium- and high- concentration groups （20， 40， 80 μg/mL， calculated by crude drugs）. After cultured for 72 h， the contents of alanine transaminase （ALT）， aspartate transaminase （AST）， total cholesterol （TC）， triglyceride （TG）， malondialdehyde （MDA）， superoxide dismutase （SOD）， glutathione （GSH）， reactive oxygen species （ROS） and Fe2+ were determined； the cellular structure of the liver tissues and hepatic steatosis were observed； the protein expression of silence information regulator 1 （SIRT1）， nuclear factor- erythroid 2-related factor 2 （Nrf2） and glutathione peroxidase 4 （GPX4） were detected. RESULTS The central targets of potential active ingredients of Gexia zhuyu decoction that act on ferroptosis in MAFLD included tumor proteins p53， SIRT1， Nrf2， etc.， which were enriched in biological processes such as positive/negative regulation of RNA polymerase Ⅱ promoter transcription， cellular components such as nucleus and cytoplasm， molecular functions such as protein binding， as well as signaling pathways such as ferroptosis and the cancer pathway， and they might be tightly linked to the main active ingredients. Compared with model group， the contents of ALT， AST， TC， TG， MDA， ROS and Fe2+ were all decreased significantly in each administration group， while the contents of SOD and GSH were increased significantly （P＜0.05）； the pathological damage of liver tissue cells had improved， and the accumulation of liver lipids had decreased. The protein expressions of SIRT1， Nrf2 and GPX4 had been significantly upregulated （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Gexia zhuyu decoction can regulate lipid metabolism， improve the level of oxidative stress， maintain Fe2+ homeostasis， and inhibit the process of ferroptosis in juvenile zebrafish with MAFLD， and the above effects may be related to the activation of the SIRT1/Nrf2/GPX4 axis.

Chronic hepatitis C is a kind of viral hepatitis caused by hepatitis C virus infection, which can further progress to cirrhosis, liver failure, hepatocellular carcinoma, and even death. Presently, there is no preventive vaccine yet. Therefore, preventing infection and safe and effective drug treatment are currently the most effective strategies for dealing with hepatitis C virus infection. Since 2014, the clinical application of direct-acting antiviral drugs has brought revolutionary changes to the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Direct-acting antiviral drugs have an excellent hepatitis C virus clearance effect, are well tolerated, have a good safety profile, and can significantly improve liver function, metabolic disorders, immune dysfunction, etc. However, some studies have pointed out that even if the hepatitis C virus is cleared during the treatment of chronic hepatitis C-related cirrhosis with direct-acting antiviral drugs, a considerable proportion of patients still have severe liver failure, hepatocellular carcinoma, and even liver disease-related death, so there are still some problems in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C- related cirrhosis with direct-acting antiviral drugs that need to be further explored. This article reviews the research progress of direct-acting antiviral drugs so as to provide meaningful references for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C-related cirrhosis.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)has become the most common liver disease in the world and is an important risk factor for the progression to hepatocellular carcinoma.However,the pathogenesis of NAFLD remains unclear,and there is still a lack of specific treatment measures.Sterol regulatory element-binding proteins(SREBP)are an important nuclear transcription factor,which mainly maintains the balance of lipid metabolism inside the body by activating the genes associated with the synthesis and uptake of cholesterol,fatty acids,and triglycerides,and therefore,SREBP are a target for the treatment of metabolic diseases.This article reviews the latest advances in SREBP in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and the latest evidence of SREBP-targeted therapy for NAFLD.It is worth noting that recent studies have shown that SREBP inhibition can cause liver injury together with autophagy damage.Therefore,excessive inhibition of lipogenesis may exert a counterproductive effect on the treatment of NAFLD.In conclusion,SREBP is a promising therapeutic target for NAFLD;the molecular mechanism of SREBP in lipid metabolism is regulated by many factors,and these factors are being deeply explored and analyzed,which has an important clinical significance for the treatment of NAFLD.

Objective To explore the application and prospects of artificial intelligence (AI) in metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) based on bibliometrics. Methods Relevant literature on the application of AI technology in MAFLD was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database. Bibliometric analysis was conducted using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, R package "bibliometrix", and online bibliometric analysis was platformed to identify hotspots and trends in this field. Results A total of 303 eligible articles were obtained. Since 2017, the number of papers in this field had experienced explosive growth. The United States was leading the research on the application of AI in MAFLD and was the most frequent participant in international cooperation. San Diego of University of California was the institution with the highest number of publications. Rohit Loomba was the author with the highest number of publications, having published 14 articles. The co-cited keyword clustering labels revealed 10 major clusters: digital image analysis, machine learning, computer-aided diagnosis, fibrosis stage, automated quantitative analysis, metaproteomics, non-invasive diagnosis, ultrasonography, electronic health records, and knowledge representation. Current research on the application of AI in MAFLD mainly focused on the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and staging of MAFLD. Image recognition and analysis, intelligent assisted diagnosis, AI algorithms, and monitoring disease progression will be important research directions for AI in MAFLD. Conclusion Research on the application of AI in MAFLD is experiencing exponential growth. Given enormous potential and clinical application prospects of this field, the application of AI in MAFLD-related areas will remain a research hotspot in the future.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic etiology of a small-for-date infant with gastrointestinal bleeding, developmental delay and thrombocytopenia (Zhu-Tokita-Takenouchi-Kim syndrome). METHODS: Clinical and laboratory examinations were carried out for the patient. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to detect potential variant associated with the disease. Candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing of the child and her parents. RESULTS: NGS revealed that the child has carried a heterozygous c.5751_5754del variant of the SON gene, which resulted in a frameshift p.V1918Efs*87. The same variant was detected in neither parent. CONCLUSION The heterozygous variant of SON gene probably underlay the ZTTK syndrome in this child. Above finding has enriched the mutational spectrum of the SON gene and provides a basis for genetic counseling and clinical decision-making.
Child ; Family ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Infant ; Intellectual Disability/genetics* ; Mutation

Objective:To investigate the prognosis and outcome of patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) related cirrhosis after achieved sustained virologic response (SVR) treated with direct-acting antiviral agent (DAA).Methods:Ninety-five patients diagnosed with CHC related cirrhosis who had complete data in Tianjin Second People′s Hospital from January 2014 to June 2017 were retrospectively followed up. Among them, 72 patients were treated with DAA and all of them achieved SVR, and the other 23 patients did not receive any antiviral therapy. The differences of mortality and incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) between DAA treatment group and non-antiviral treatment group were compared. Statistical analysis was performed by independent sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square test. Results:At the end of follow-up for three to 71 months, patients in DAA treatment group had a significant improvements in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, albumin and liver stiffness measurement compared with those before treatment (42(23, 61) U/L vs 18(13, 28) U/L, 54(37, 75) U/L vs 23(18, 28) U/L, 39(33, 42) g/L vs 45(41, 48) g/L, 26(18, 37) kPa vs 15(11, 26) kPa, respectively, Z=-6.005, -7.008, -6.057 and -3.162, respectively, all P<0.01). However, there were no significant differences in incidence of HCC (12%(9/72) vs 17%(4/23)) and mortality (3%(2/72) vs 13%(3/23)) between the DAA treatment group and non-antiviral treatment group (both P>0.05). There was no significant difference of cumulative incidence of HCC in DAA treatment group compared with non-antiviral treatment group ( P=0.609). The age of patients progressed to HCC was older than those without HCC ((60.3±3.6) years vs (54.4±9.9) years, t=-3.948, P<0.01). In subgroup analysis, among the six patients with HCC, four had diabetes, the prevalence of diabetes in the patients without HCC was 17%(7/42); the level of fasting blood glucose (FBG) ((7.3±1.9) mmol/L vs (5.9±1.1) mmol/L) were higher in patients progressed to HCC than those without HCC in DAA treatment group with compensated cirrhosis ( χ2=7.430 and t=-2.442, respectively, both P=0.019). Conclusions:DAA treatment could notably improve liver function and alleviate liver fibrosis, but could not reduce the mortality and incidence of HCC in patients with CHC related cirrhosis significantly. Diabetes and high level FBG may be the risk factors for occurrence of HCC in patients with CHC related compensated cirrhosis.