Efficacy and safety of acupuncture with moxibustion for knee osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is prevalent, yet its management remains challenging. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture combined with moxibustion versus other standard treatments in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods: Searches were conducted in Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to retrieve relevant RCTs.

Application of deep reinforcement learning in electricity demand response market: Demand response decision-making of load aggregator.

With the large-scale integration of renewable energy generation, developing the potential of demand response is becoming more and more significant. However, the number of consumers is huge, the electricity consumption behaviors are various and the information of consumers is incomplete, thus there are great difficulties in modeling and processing demand response by the conventional mathematical methods. Therefore, how to accurately predict the response behaviors of consumers and select the appropriate consumers for demand response is worthy of in-depth discussion.

Effect of the gene on the pathogenicity of and immune function .

Objectives: a ubiquitous membrane protein in fungi, plays a pivotal role in various physiological processes, such as osmotic stress, oxidative stress, temperature response, and virulence regulation across different fungal species. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the gene on the pathogenicity of and its immune function .

Materials And Methods: Ninety-nine clinical strains from various infection sites were collected to investigate the expression levels of the gene compared to its levels in the standard strain (SC5314).

Retrospective analysis of molecular characteristics, risk factors, and outcomes in carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infections.

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) is the second most prevalent Gram-negative bacterium causing bloodstream infections (BSIs). In recent years, the management of BSIs caused by KP has become increasingly complex due to the emergence of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP). Although numerous studies have explored the risk factors for the development of CRKP-BSIs, the mortality of patients with KP-BSIs, and the molecular epidemiological characteristics of CRKP, the variability in data across different populations, countries, and hospitals has led to inconsistent conclusions.

Expression and clinical significance of interleukin-10, transforming growth factor-β1, and CD4+CD25 cytokines in paediatric allergic rhinitis with allergic asthma.

Introduction: It was intended to research the level changes and clinical significance of interleukin (IL)-10, transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), and CD4+CD25 cytokines in paediatric allergic rhinitis (AR) accompanied with allergic asthma (AA).

Material And Methods: Eighty children of AA with AR receiving immunotherapy indications were included as the experimental group (EG), while another 40 healthy children in the same period were selected as the control group (CG). IL-10, TGF-β1, and CD4+CD25 levels in cells of the two groups before and after treatment were compared and analysed.

Regional decreases of cortical thickness in major depressive disorder and their correlation with illness duration: a case-control study.

Background: Alterations in brain structure and function in major depressive disorder (MDD) have been identified in a number of studies, but findings regarding cortical thickness were various and inconsistent. Our current study aims to explore the differences in cortical thickness between individuals with MDD and healthy controls (HC) in a Chinese population.

Methods: We investigated T1-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging data from 61 participants (31 MDD and 30 HC).

Serum and urinary essential trace elements in association with major depressive disorders: a case-control study.

Introduction: The etiology and pathophysiology of major depressive disorders (MDDs) remain unclear. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that essential trace elements (ETEs), such as iodine (I), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), selenium (Se), cobalt (Co), and molybdenum (Mo), play vital roles in MDDs.

Methods: In total, 72 patients with MDD and 75 healthy controls (HCs) in the Zhumadian Second People's Hospital, Henan Province, China were recruited in our study.

White matter microstructure changes in adults with major depressive disorder: evidence from diffusion magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a serious psychiatric disorder marked by low mood and anhedonia. Understanding the neural mechanism of MDD is essential for the treatment of depression. White matter fibres, connecting different computational units in the brain, have an important effect on brain function; however, the mechanism of white matter fibre abnormality in MDD is still unclear.

Three types of bidirectional leader development in triggered lightning flashes.

Eight cases of bidirectional leader (BL) development in artificially triggered lightning flashes are reported with synchronous high-speed camera images and electric field signals. Based on optical progressing characteristics, the eight cases can be divided into three types: a reflection type, a discontinuity type, and an inducement type. For the reflection type, the tail of a dart leader may begin to extend backward when the leader's head reaches a branch point, or the top of the exploded triggering wire.

Genotype-specific reference interval of haptoglobin tests in a Chinese population on the BN II System.

The distribution of Haptoglobin (HP) subtypes differs according to race and geography. It was also confirmed that the serum HP concentration was substantially affected by the HP subtypes. This study aimed to investigate the HP subtypes in northern Chinese and to establish reference intervals for the major HP subtypes using the BN II system.

Neural activity in adults with major depressive disorder differs from that in healthy individuals: A resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

Objective: Currently, findings regarding resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging studies of major depressive disorder (MDD) are inconsistent. In contrast to the previously used seed-based functional connectivity analyses, this study employed whole-brain exploratory analyses and aimed to explore neural activity patterns in Chinese adults with MDD.

Materials And Methods: Specifically, this study examined the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations within the whole brain and adopted a large-scale brain network template to explore the core dysfunctional brain regions in individuals with MDD.

Clinical Value of Serum Neuron-Specific Enolase Combined with Serum S100B Protein in the Diagnosis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Objective: To investigate the clinical value of serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) combined with serum S100B protein in the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Sixty patients with SLE treated in our hospital from January 2019 to April 2021 were enrolled as the study group. According to the degree of activity, the study group was assigned into three groups: mild activity group ( = 20), moderate activity group ( = 20), and severe activity group ( = 20).

Observation of five types of leaders contained in a negative triggered lightning.

A negative triggered lightning involving five types of leaders was recorded by high-speed camera using frame rate of 20,000 fps and fast antennas at different distances. Five types of leaders contained one upward positive stepped leader, one upward positive dart leader, ten downward negative dart leader, one bidirectional leader and three downward negative dart-stepped leaders were propagated successively in the same channel. The upward positive dart leader occurred after initial continuous current pulse with average 2-D speed of 1.

Infection in Nephrotic Syndrome Patients: Three Case Studies and A Systematic Literature Review.

Objective: The multicenter literature review and case studies of 3 patients were undertaken to provide an updated understanding of nocardiosis, an opportunistic bacterial infection affecting immunosuppressed nephrotic syndrome (NS) patients receiving long-term glucocorticoid and immunosuppressant treatment. The results provided clinical and microbiological data to assist physicians in managing nocardiosis patients.

Methods: Three cases between 2017 and 2018 from a single center were reported.

Leader-chasing behavior in negative artificial triggered lightning flashes.

Two special cases of dart leader propagation were observed by the high-speed camera in the leader/return stroke sequences of a classical triggered lightning flash and an altitude-triggered lightning flash, respectively. Different from most of the subsequent return strokes preceded by only one leader, the return stroke in each case was preceded by two leaders occurring successively and competing in the same channel, which herein is named leader-chasing behavior. In one case, the polarity of the latter leader was opposite to that of the former leader and these two combined together to form a new leader, which shared the same polarity with the former leader.

PCR-detectable DNA exists a short period in the blood of systemic candidiasis murine model.

Invasive candidiasis is a major challenge to clinical medicine today. However, traditional fungal diagnostic techniques and empirical treatments have shown great limitations. Although efforts are necessarily needed in methodology standardization and multicenter validation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a very promising assay in detecting fungal pathogens.

Progress in the Study of Epidemiologic Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Asymptomatic Malaria Infection in Africa.

Malaria is caused by protozoan parasitic Plasmodium infections. Plasmodium falciparum is common in Africa; P ovale, P malaria and P vivax infections are less prevalent and globally confined, contributing to major causes of global mortality and morbidity, particularly in children in sub-Saharan African countries. In 2018, the total incidence of malaria increased from 221 million to 229 million, with an estimated 503 000 deaths reported.

Evaluation of a Novel Laboratory Candiduria Screening Protocol in the Intensive Care Unit.

Background: Since urine cultures are only guaranteed for patients with obvious urinary symptoms in most cases, most of candiduria episodes are ignored in clinic.

Objective: This study aimed to design a screening protocol to improve diagnostic efficiency of candiduria, and provide information of species and drug susceptibility.

Methods: All patients, who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of our hospital during December 1, 2018 and October 1, 2019, were enrolled in this study.

Management of candiduria in hospitalized patients: a single-center study on the implementation of IDSA guidelines and factors affecting clinical decisions.

Candiduria are common findings in clinic especially in hospitalized patients, while its significance remains undetermined. Since there are few criteria to follow, physicians tended to make decisions by personal experience in many cases in clinical practice. The present study was designed to unveil the present situation of candiduria management in hospitalized patients in clinical practice.

Candiduria in hospitalized patients: an investigation with the Sysmex UF-1000i urine analyzer.

Background: Candiduria is common in hospitalized patients. Its management is limited because of inadequate understanding. Previous epidemiological studies based on culture assay have been limited to small study populations.

Performance of yeast-like cell counting (YLCC) using the Sysmex UF-1000i for clinical candiduria screening.

Candiduria is common in clinical practice. However, an effective and convenient assay to screen for candiduria is still needed. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the Sysmex UF-1000i urine analyzer for yeast-like cell counting (YLCC) to screen for candiduria prior to urine culture.

[Detection and analysis of serum level of anti-Candida enolase IgG antibody in patients with autoimmune diseases].

Objective To detect IgG antibody against Candida enolase in the sera of patients with autoimmune diseases. Methods Using purified recombinant Candida enolase as the coating antigen, an ELISA was established for enolase IgG antibody detection and the reactive conditions were optimized. The enolase IgG antibody in the sera from patients with autoimmune diseases and healthy controls were detected by ELISA.

Development of a Lateral Flow Immunoassay for the Rapid Diagnosis of Invasive Candidiasis.

Early and accurate diagnosis of invasive candidiasis (IC) is very important. In this study, a lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) was developed to detect antibody against Candida albicans enolase (Eno). Colloidal gold particle labeled mouse anti human IgG (1.

Aggravation of Helicobacter pylori stomach infections in stressed military recruits.

Objective: To investigate the effect of military stress on immune response and Helicobacter pylori stomach infections.

Methods: In this prospective, observational study, the Symptom Checklist-90 questionnaire was completed by military recruits before and following a 3-month basic training programme. H.

Upregulation of Tim-3 on CD4(+) T cells is associated with Th1/Th2 imbalance in patients with allergic asthma.

T cell Ig and mucin domain-containing molecule-3 (Tim-3) is a negative regulator preferentially expressed on Th1 cells. Allergic asthma is a clinical syndrome well characterized by Th1/Th2 imbalance. To investigate the role of Tim-3 in the pathogenesis of asthma and its relationship with Th1/Th2 imbalance, a total of 40 patients with allergic asthma and 40 healthy controls were enrolled.