Current state of research about acupuncture for the treatment of COVID-19: A scoping review

Chen Chen,Jie Zhan,Hao Wen,Xiaojing Wei,Lu Ding,Chenyang Tao,Cui Li,Peiming Zhang,Yuyuan Tang,Jing-chun Zeng,Li-ming Lu 한국한의학연구원 2021 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.10 No.-

Background Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), acupuncture has been widely used in the treatment of COVID-19. The research community has responded rapidly and has already published many research articles about this topic. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library as well as CNKI, Wanfang and VIP from January 1, 2020 to July 31, 2021. The dates of publication, language of publication, methodological characteristics and the key findings were analyzed separately. The data are presented as bar graphs, structured tables and figures. Results In this scoping review, 16 research articles were included: 7 case reports, 6 observational studies, 1 review, 1 RCT and 1 nonrandomized clinical trial. The majority of the articles (81.3%) were published by Chinese scholars, 12.5% articles were by scholars in the United States, and 6.3% articles were by scholars in Iran. The included studies reported that acupuncture could alleviate the symptoms of COVID-19 patients, shorten their hospitalization days, and is effective for the elderly. There were no side effects reported. The most frequent acupoints used were LI4, PC6, ST36 and KI3. They reported many obstacles in implementing acupuncture therapy for treating COVID-19 patients. Conclusion Acupuncture has a good effect for the treatment of COVID-19, but high-quality evidence support is still lacking. Coupled with the difficulties that acupuncturists experienced during the process of treatment, the promotion of acupuncture treatment for COVID-19 faces many obstacles. Background Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), acupuncture has been widely used in the treatment of COVID-19. The research community has responded rapidly and has already published many research articles about this topic. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library as well as CNKI, Wanfang and VIP from January 1, 2020 to July 31, 2021. The dates of publication, language of publication, methodological characteristics and the key findings were analyzed separately. The data are presented as bar graphs, structured tables and figures. Results In this scoping review, 16 research articles were included: 7 case reports, 6 observational studies, 1 review, 1 RCT and 1 nonrandomized clinical trial. The majority of the articles (81.3%) were published by Chinese scholars, 12.5% articles were by scholars in the United States, and 6.3% articles were by scholars in Iran. The included studies reported that acupuncture could alleviate the symptoms of COVID-19 patients, shorten their hospitalization days, and is effective for the elderly. There were no side effects reported. The most frequent acupoints used were LI4, PC6, ST36 and KI3. They reported many obstacles in implementing acupuncture therapy for treating COVID-19 patients. Conclusion Acupuncture has a good effect for the treatment of COVID-19, but high-quality evidence support is still lacking. Coupled with the difficulties that acupuncturists experienced during the process of treatment, the promotion of acupuncture treatment for COVID-19 faces many obstacles.

수지상세포의 방사선 저항성에 대한 연구

김은실,김종순,이명호,범희승,민정준,정환정,김성민,허영준,송호천,이제중 대한핵의학회 2003 핵의학 분자영상 Vol.37 No.3

목적 : 림프구와 비교되는 수지상 세포의 방사선 민감성을 보기 위하여 본 연구를 시행하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 말초혈액에서 분리한 T 림프구에 0 Gy, 10 Gy, 30 Gy의 방사선을 조사하고 4시간 후에 유세포 분석기를 이용하여 선량별 세포고사 빈도를 관찰하였다. 또한 조혈모세포에서 미성숙 및 성숙 수지상 세포를 단계적으로 분리 배양하여 각각 0 Gy, 10 Gy, 30 Gy, 100 Gy의 방사선을 조사하고 4시간, 24시간 그리고 48 시간 후에 선량별 세포고사 빈도를 관찰하였다. 사이토스핀(cytospin)슬라이드에 림프구와 미성숙 및 성숙 수지상세포를 3×104개 씩 분주하고 May Grunwald-Giemsa 염색한 후, 광학 현미경 하에서 각각의 세포군 당 100개의 세포에서 세포 면적당 핵의 면적 비를 측정하였다. 결과 : 림프구에서는 방사선조사 선량별로 세포고사 빈도가 유의하게 증가하였으나, 수지상 세포에서는 그 분화정도나 방사선조사 선량에 따른 세포고사의 빈도차이가 없었다. 또한 수지상 세포는 방사선선량과 관계없이 용량에 의존적으로 강력한 T-세포 자극능을 보였다. 림프구의 세포에 대한 핵의 면적 비는 미성숙 및 성숙 수지상세포의 세포에 대한 핵의 면적 비보다 현저히 큰 반면, 두 가지 수지상세포간에 유의한 차이는 없었다. 결론 : 수지상세포는 그 분화도와 상관없이 림프구에 비하여 방사선 저항성을 나타내었고, 이는 세포의 형태적 차이에 따른 표적의 크기와 관련이 있을 것으로 생각되며, 향후 분자 생물학적인 연구의 기초 자료로 활용할 수 있을 것으로 생각된다. Purpose : To evaluate radiation sensitivity of dendritic cells in comparison with lymphocytes. Materials and methods : T lymphocytes captured from peripheral blood were irradiated by 0 Gy, 10 Gy, 30Gy. Apoptosis was measured by flowcytometry for staining of Annexin V 4 hours after irradiation. Immature and mature dendritic cells processed from blood hematopoietic stern cell were irradiated by 0 Gy, 10 Gy, 30 Gy, 100 Gy respectively and apoptosis was measured by flowcytometry with time difference as 4h, 24h and 48h after irradiation. Morphometric analysis by percent nucleus was measured in three cell groups, also. Results : Lymphocytes showed radiation sensitivity by increasing apoptotic fraction according to radiation dose. However, both mature and immature dendritic cells showed consistent fraction of apoptosis in spite of increasing radiation dose. Percent nucleus ratio is significantly higher in lymphocytes than that of mature or immature dendritic cells. Stimulation of T-cell by dendritic cells was not changed after irradiation. Conclusion : Dendritic cells showed radioresistance which was associated with small size of nucleus in comparison with lymphocytes and this result would be used as a basal data of radio-labelling for the cellular trafficking studies in nuclear medicine fields.

물리학 선량법을 이용한 갑상선암의 개인별 최대안전용량 I-131 치료법 개발과 유용성 평가

김정철,윤정한,범희승,제갈영종,송호천,민정준,정환정,김성민,허영준,이명호,박영규,정준기 대한핵의학회 2003 핵의학 분자영상 Vol.37 No.2

목적 : 분화갑상선암 환자에 대한 방사성옥소(I-131) 치료는 재발율과 사망률을 감소시키는 효과적인 치료법이지만, 치료용량을 증가시킴으로써 치료율을 향상시킬 수 있는지에 대해서는 아직 논란이 있다. 본 연구에서는 최대허용선량 치료법의 효용성을 검증하고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 임상적 병기가 제3, 4병기이고, 6개월 이후에 I-131 전신스캔(이하 IWBS)과 혈중 thyroglobulin (이하 Tg), anti-thyroglobulin antibody (이하 ATA), 초음파검사 (이하 US) 및 F-18 FDG PET 등을 통해 치료여부를 확인할 수 있었던 58명(남:여=9:49, 평균연령 50±11세)의 유두상갑상선암 환자를 대상으로 하였다. 이중 11명은 제4병기, 47명은 제3병기였으며, 43명(남:여=4:39), 평균연령 50±11세)은 7.4 GBq 이하의 고식적인 저용량치료법으로 치료하였고, 9.25 GBq 이상의 고용량 치료를 받은 환자는 15명(남:여=5:10, 평균연령 50±12세)으로 고용량군에서 남자가 더 많았으나 연령의 차이는 없었다. 고용량군 환자 모두에서 추적용량의 방사성옥소(평균 77±3 MBq)를 경구 투여한 후 혈중 방사능소실곡선을 통해 최대허용선량(maximum permissible dose, 이하 MPD)을 계산하였으며, 7명에서는 말초혈액림프구의 중기염색체분석법에 의해 생물학적으로 MPD를 계산하였다. 14명에서는 치료용량의 방사성옥소를 투여한 후 혈중 방사능소실곡선을 통해 MPD를 계사하였다. 완전치유(complete response, 이하 CR)는 IWBS에서 병소가 없어지고, 혈중 Tg치가 1 ng/mL 이하로 감소한 경우로 정의하였으며, 부분치유(partial response, 이하 PR)는 IWBS에서 병소가 없어졌더라도 혈중 Tg, ATA치가 높거나, US 또는 PET 검사에서 병소가 남아있는 경우로 정의하였다. 치료후 IWBS에서 병소가 오히려 증가하거나 변함없는 경우는 없었다. 방사성옥소 치료에 의한 부작용은 입원기간 중 타액선이 현저하게 붓고 통증이 있거나, 구토를 심하게 하는 경우, 그리고 퇴원후 1개월째 백혈구수가 20% 이상 감소한 경우로 정의하였다. 결과 : 양 군간에 연속적인 수치변화를 비교하는 경우는 paired t-test를 이용하였으며, 대상군간 치료효과와 부작용의 비교는 chi-square test를 이용하였다. p값 0.05 미만을 통계적으로 유의한 차이로 인정하였다. 고용량군 환자 모두에서 추적용량과 치료용량의 방사성옥소 투여 후 혈액의 피폭선량은 각각 0.012±0.3 Gy, 1.66±25 Gy였으며, 방사성옥소 투여 후 혈액에 전달되는 피폭선량은 추적용량보다 치료용량에서 더 많았고 (1.21: 166 rad, p<0.001), 방사성옥소 1 mCi당 혈액에 전달되는 피폭선량은 차이가 없었다(0.58±0.1 vs. 0.56±0.1 rad/37 MBq, p=0.34). 추적용량 방사성옥소 투여 후 구한 MPD는 평균 13.3±1.9 GBq (9.7 ~ 16 GBq) 이였고, 치료용량 방사성옥소 투여 후 구한 MPD는 평균 13.8±2.1 GBq (10.4 ~ 16.3 GBq)로 유의한 차이가 없었으며 (p=0.20), 두 수치간에는 유의한 상관 관계가 있었다(r=0.8, p<0.0001). 7명의 환자에서 말초혈액림프구 중기염색체 분석법으로 MPD를 측정하였는데 혈액의 피폭선량은 1.78±0.03 G였으며, 같은 환자에서 혈중 방사능소실곡선으로부터 구한 피폭선량은 1.54±0.03 G로 유의하게 낮았으나 (p=0.01), 두 측정치 간에는 유의한 상관관계(r=0.86, p=0.01)가 있었다. 저용량 치료군 43명 중 22명(51.2%)에서 완전치유를 보였고 21명(48.8%)에서는 부분치유를 보인 반면 고용량 치료군 15명 중 12명(80%)에서 완전치유를 보였고 3명(20%)에서만 부분치유를 보여 고용량 치료군에서 유의하게 높은 완전치유를 얻을 수 있었다(p=0.05). 한편 부작용 발생빈도는 저용량 치료군 43명 중 13(30.2%), 고용량 치료군 15명 중 6명(40%)로 양군간에 유의한 차이가 없었다(p=0.46). 임상적인 병기, 연령 및 성별에 따라서는 치유의 차이가 없었다(p>0.05). 결론 : 혈중소실곡선으로부터 MPD를 결정하고 이를 토대로 환자 개개인별로 적절한 선량을 선택하여 치료하는 방법은 부작용을 최소화하면서도 치료효과를 높일 수 있는 매우 유용한 치료법이며, 고위험군 분화갑상선 암 환자에게 가장 적절한 치료법이라고 사료되었다. Purpose: Radioiodine (1-131) therapy is an effective modality to reduce both recurrence and mortality rates in differentiated thyroid cancer. Whether higher doses shows higher therapeutic responses was still debatable. The purpose of this study was to validate curve-fitting (CF) method measuring maximum permissible dose (MPD) by a biological dosimetry using metaphase analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes. Materials and Methods: Therapeutic effects of MPD was evaluated in 58 patients (49 females and 9 males, mean age 50±11 years) of papillary thyroid cancer. Among them 43 patients were treated with ≤7.4 GBq, while 15 patients with ≥9.25 GBq. The former was defined as low-dose group, and the latter high-dose group. Therapeutic response was defined as complete response when complete disappearance of lesions on follow-up 1-131 scan and undetectable serum thyroglobulin levels were found. Statistical comparison between groups were done using chi-square test. P value less than 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. Results: MPD measured by CF method using tracer and therapeutic doses were 13.3±1.9 and 13.8±2.1 GBq, respectively (p=0.20). They showed a significant correlation (r=0.8, p<0.0001). Exposed doses to blood measured by CF and biological methods were 1.54±0.03 and 1.78±0.03 Gy (p=0.01). They also showed a significant correlation (r=0.86, p=0.01). High-does group showed a significantly higher rate of complete response (12/15, 80%) as compared to the low-dose group (22/43, 51.2%) (p=0.05). While occurrence of side effects was not different between two groups (40% vs. 30.2%, p=0.46). Conclusion: Measurement of MPD using CF method is reliable, and the high-dose 1-131 therapy using MPD gains significantly higher therapeutic effects as compared with low-dose therapy.

Dysregulated Fatty Acid Metabolism in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

( Ming-da Wang ),( Jun Han ),( Hao Xing ),( Han Zhang ),( Zheng Wang ),( Zhen-li Li ),( Liang Lei ),( Chao Li ),( Feng Shen ),( Tian Yang ) 대한간학회 2018 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2018 No.1

Aims: Studies are urgently needed on it molecular pathogenesis and biological characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Dysregulation of fatty acid (FA) metabolism, in which aberrant activation of oncogenic signaling pathways alters the expression and activity of lipid-metabolizing enzymes, is an emerging hallmark of cancer cells, and it may be involved in HCC development and progression. Methods: We summarize the characteristics of FA metabolism in HCC, focusing on the pathways of FA synthesis, oxidation, uptake and transport. We also provide a brief review of the relationship between NAFLD and HCC development. Results: The current review summarizes the dysregulated FA metabolism in HCC and pathways through which this dysregulation may regulate HCC survival and growth. Aberrant activation of oncogenic signaling pathways regulates the expression and activity of lipid-metabolizing enzymes, thus reprogramming FA metabolism to promote HCC development and progression. Intracellular FAs are required for biosynthesis of most biological membrane lipids and signaling molecules, and are also used to provide energy to support HCCs survival and proliferation, when necessary, through β-oxidation process. HCC cells can employ appropriate metabolic pathways as different situation demands. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and HCC exhibits differential requirement for de novo lipogenesis and distinct response to therapeutic approaches focusing on inhibition of exogenous FA uptake. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease related obesity and diabetes have increasingly emerged as two major factors responsible for the rise in prevalent of HCC. Conclusions: Our understanding of dysregulated FA metabolism and associated signaling pathways may contribute to the development of novel and efficient anti-tumor approaches for patients with HCC.

Fibulin2: a negative regulator of BMSC osteogenic differentiation in infected bone fracture healing

Li Shi-Dan,Xing Wei,Wang Shao-Chuan,Li You-Bin,Jiang Hao,Zheng Han-Xuan,Li Xiao-Ming,Yang Jing,Guo De-Bin,Xie Xiao-Yu,Jiang Ren-Qing,Fan Chao,Li Lei,Xu Xiang,Fei Jun 생화학분자생물학회 2023 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.55 No.-

Bone fracture remains a common occurrence, with a population-weighted incidence of approximately 3.21 per 1000. In addition, approximately 2% to 50% of patients with skeletal fractures will develop an infection, one of the causes of disordered bone healing. Dysfunction of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) plays a key role in disordered bone repair. However, the specific mechanisms underlying BMSC dysfunction caused by bone infection are largely unknown. In this study, we discovered that Fibulin2 expression was upregulated in infected bone tissues and that BMSCs were the source of infection-induced Fibulin2. Importantly, Fibulin2 knockout accelerated mineralized bone formation during skeletal development and inhibited inflammatory bone resorption. We demonstrated that Fibulin2 suppressed BMSC osteogenic differentiation by binding to Notch2 and inactivating the Notch2 signaling pathway. Moreover, Fibulin2 knockdown restored Notch2 pathway activation and promoted BMSC osteogenesis; these outcomes were abolished by DAPT, a Notch inhibitor. Furthermore, transplanted Fibulin2 knockdown BMSCs displayed better bone repair potential in vivo. Altogether, Fibulin2 is a negative regulator of BMSC osteogenic differentiation that inhibits osteogenesis by inactivating the Notch2 signaling pathway in infected bone.

Clinicopathologic Characteristics and Prognoses for Multicentric Occurrence and Intrahepatic Metastasis in Synchronous Multinodular Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients

Li, Shi-Lai,Su, Ming,Peng, Tao,Xiao, Kai-Yin,Shang, Li-Ming,Xu, Bang-Hao,Su, Zhi-Xiong,Ye, Xin-Ping,Peng, Ning,Qin, Quan-Lin,Chen, De-Feng,Chen, Jie,Li, Le-Qun Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.1

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide, and the outcomes for patients are still poor. It is important to determine the original type of synchronous multinodular HCC for preoperative assessment and the choice of treatment therapy as well as for the prediction of prognosis after treatment. Aims: To analyze clinicopathologic characteristics and prognoses in patients with multicentric occurrence (MO) and intrahepatic metastasis (IM) of synchronous multinodular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: The study group comprised 42 multinodular HCC patients with a total of 112 nodules. The control group comprised 20 HCC patients with 16 single nodular HCC cases and 4 HCC cases with a portal vein tumor emboli. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop region was sequenced, and the patients of the study group were categorized as MO or IM based on the sequence variations. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine the important clinicopathologic characteristics in the two groups. Results: In the study group, 20 cases were categorized as MO, and 22 as IM, whereas all 20 cases in the control group were characterized as IM. Several factors significantly differed between the IM and MO patients, including hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), cumulative tumor size, tumor nodule location, cirrhosis, portal vein and/or microvascular tumor embolus and the histological grade of the primary nodule. Multivariate analysis further demonstrated that cirrhosis and portal vein and/or microvascular tumor thrombus were independent factors differentiating between IM and MO patients. The tumor-free survival time of the MO subjects was significantly longer than that of the IM subjects ($25.7{\pm}4.8$ months vs. $8.9{\pm}3.1$ months, p=0.017). Similarly, the overall survival time of the MO subjects was longer ($31.6{\pm}5.3$ months vs. $15.4{\pm}3.4$ months, p=0.024). The multivariate analysis further demonstrated that the original type (p=0.035) and Child-Pugh grade (p<0.001) were independent predictors of tumor-free survival time. Cirrhosis (p=0.011), original type (p=0.034) and Child-Pugh grade (p<0.001) were independent predictors of overall survival time. Conclusions: HBeAg, cumulative tumor size, tumor nodule location, cirrhosis, portal vein and/or microvascular tumor embolus and histological grade of the primary nodule are important factors for differentiating IM and MO. MO HCC patients might have a favorable outcome compared with IM patients.

Information Fusion Predictive Control Algorithm for Time-Varying Systems with Unknown Stochastic System Bias

Ming Zhao,Yun Li,Gang Hao,Junling Li,Hao Jin 보안공학연구지원센터 2014 International Journal of Hybrid Information Techno Vol.7 No.4

Individual Variation of radiation adaptive Responses in patients Undergoing Imaging Studies Using 99mTc Labeled Radiopharmaceuticals

Ming-Hao Li,Hee-Seung Bom,An-Sung Kwon,Young-Ho Kim,Ji-Yeul Kim 대한방사선방어학회 2003 방사선방어학회지 Vol.28 No.2

Colorectal Cancer Concealment Predicts a Poor Survival: A Retrospective Study

Li, Xiao-Pan,Xie, Zhen-Yu,Fu, Yi-Fei,Yang, Chen,Hao, Li-Peng,Yang, Li-Ming,Zhang, Mei-Yu,Li, Xiao-Li,Feng, Li-Li,Yan, Bei,Sun, Qiao Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.7

Objectives: Understanding the situation of cancer awareness which doctors give to patients might lead to prognostic prediction in cases of of colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: Subsets of 10,779 CRC patients were used to screen the risk factors from the Cancer Registry in Pudong New Area in cancer awareness, age, TNM stage, and gender. Survival of the patients was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and assessed by Cox regression analysis. The views of cancer awareness in doctors and patients were surveyed by telephone or household. Results: After a median observation time of 1,616 days (ranging from 0 to 4,083 days) of 10,779 available patients, 2,596 of the 4,561 patients with cancer awareness survived, whereas 2,258 of the 5,469 patients without cancer awareness and 406 of the 749 patients without information on cancer awareness died of the disease. All-cause and cancer-specific survival were poorer for the patients without cancer awareness than those with (P < 0.001 for each, log-rank test). Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that cancer concealment cases had significantly lower cancer-specific survival (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.299; 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.200-1.407)and all-cause survival (HR = 1.324; 95 % CI: 1.227-1.428). Furthermore, attitudes of cancer awareness between doctors and patients were significantly different (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Cancer concealment, not only late-stage tumor and age, is associated with a poor survival of CRC patients.

Neutrophil Count and the Inflammation-based Glasgow Prognostic Score Predict Survival in Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer Receiving First-line Chemotherapy

Li, Qing-Qing,Lu, Zhi-Hao,Yang, Li,Lu, Ming,Zhang, Xiao-Tian,Li, Jian,Zhou, Jun,Wang, Xi-Cheng,Gong, Ji-Fang,Gao, Jing,Li, Jie,Li, Yan,Shen, Lin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.2

Purpose: To explore the value of systemic inflammatory markers as independent prognostic factors and the extent these markers improve prognostic classification for patients with inoperable advanced or metastatic gastric cancer (GC) receiving palliative chemotherapy. Methods: We studied the prognostic value of systemic inflammatory factors such as circulating white blood cell count and its components as well as that combined to form inflammation-based prognostic scores (Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Platelet Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), Prognostic Index (PI) and Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI)) in 384 patients with inoperable advanced or metastatic gastric cancer (GC) receiving first-line chemotherapy. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to examine the impact of inflammatory markers on overall survival (OS). Results: Univariate analysis revealed that an elevated white blood cell, neutrophil and/or platelet count, a decreased lymphocyte count, a low serum albumin concentration, and high CRP concentration, as well as elevated NLR/PLR, GPS, PI, PNI were significant predictors of shorter OS. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that only elevated neutrophil count (HR 3.696, p=0.003) and higher GPS (HR 1.621, p=0.01) were independent predictors of poor OS. Conclusion: This study demonstrated elevated pretreatment neutrophil count and high GPS to be independent predictors of shorter OS in inoperable advanced or metastatic GC patients treated with first-line chemotherapy. Upon validation of these data in independent studies, stratification of patients using these markers in future clinical trials is recommended.