Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis （IPF） is a chronic and fibrotic lethal interstitial lung disease with poor prognosis. It is mainly treated by organ transplantation and administration of chemical drugs， which have poor efficacy and induce side effects， failing to meet the clinical needs. Therefore， it is urgent to develop more safe and effective drugs to treat IPF. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has garnered increasing attention in recent years in the treatment of IPF due to its unique advantages. Increasing studies have shown that TCM has remarkable therapeutic effects on IPF and thus demonstrate broad application prospects. Modern medical research shows that the pathogenesis of IPF can be discussed from inflammation （macrophage polarization）， oxidative stress， epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT）， autophagy inhibition and other related signaling pathways， while few studies systematically explain the relationship between the signaling pathways and TCM theory. According to the theory of TCM， lung collateral obstruction is the basic pathogenesis of IPF. Therefore， according to the principle of dredging and replenishing lung collaterals， IPF can be treated with the methods of reinforcing healthy qi and eliminating pathogen， replenishing qi and activating blood， and detoxifying and dredging collaterals， which demonstrate definite curative effect and can effectively relieve clinical symptoms， restore the lung function and blood oxygen partial pressure， improve the quality of life of patients， and reduce adverse reactions. Experimental studies have found that dredging and replenishing lung collaterals have significant effects on IPF inflammation （macrophage polarization）， oxidative stress， EMT， autophagy inhibition and other signaling pathways. Therefore， from the perspective of impediment， this article reviews pathogenesis of IPF， the research progress in TCM treatment of IPF， and the treatment of IPF from active components， single herbs， and compound prescriptions of TCM， with the aim of revealing the scientific connotation of the treatment of IPF from impediment and providing a new theoretical basis for enriching the TCM methods of treating IPF.

BACKGROUND:Currently,different methods of model establishment have been derived from different injury modes of spinal cord injury.Traditional physical injury modeling methods have their own advantages and disadvantages,and there is a lack of more effective and stable animal models of spinal cord injury. OBJECTIVE:To establish a reproducible,controllable,trauma-free,low-mortality,more stable,widely applicable,and short-term postoperative care rat model of spinal cord injury. METHODS:Forty Sprague-Dawley rats with similar body mass and ages were randomly divided into a control group and an improved group,with 20 rats in each group.Animal models of spinal cord injury in the control group were constructed using a clip model method,while the improved group used a modified ligation method based on the compression method to make the spinal cord injury models using suture ligation based on fenestration.Postoperative comparisons were made between the two groups,assessing urination behavior,hematuria,pyuria(infection rate),mortality,scoliosis rate and Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan locomotor rating scale scores at 1,3,5,and 7 days after modeling. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the conventional modeling method,the modified ligation method based on the compression method resulted in faster recovery of urination behavior,lower hematuria rate,lower infection rate,lower mortality rate,lower scoliosis rate,and more concentrated and stable Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan scores(all below 2 points within 1 week).This proves that the modified ligation method based on compression is more suitable for the establishment of spinal cord injury models in rats.

Taste is a sensation produced by the reaction of substances in the mouth with taste receptor cells， and a normal taste function is essential for our daily life and health. As receivers of taste molecules， taste receptors include sour， bitter， sweet， salty， and umami receptors， which are mainly distributed in the oral cavity， gastrointestinal tract， respiratory tract epithelium and other organs and play a physiological role. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has five flavors （sour， bitter， sweet， pungent， and salty）， which are closely related to the efficacy. Except the pungent flavor and umami taste receptors， the other five taste receptors correspond to the five flavors in the TCM theory， while the correlations between them have not been studied， such as those between bitter receptors and bitter TCM and between sweet receptors and sweet TCM. This article reviews the research reports on taste receptors in recent years. By analyzing the relationships of taste receptors with five flavors of TCM， signaling mechanisms， and diseases based on "receptor-TCM" correlations， this article puts forward the possibility of combining the TCM theory of five flavors with modern biomedical research， providing a reference for the research on "flavors" in TCM and the correlations between TCM and taste receptors.

Taste is a sensation produced by the reaction of substances in the mouth with taste receptor cells， and a normal taste function is essential for our daily life and health. As receivers of taste molecules， taste receptors include sour， bitter， sweet， salty， and umami receptors， which are mainly distributed in the oral cavity， gastrointestinal tract， respiratory tract epithelium and other organs and play a physiological role. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has five flavors （sour， bitter， sweet， pungent， and salty）， which are closely related to the efficacy. Except the pungent flavor and umami taste receptors， the other five taste receptors correspond to the five flavors in the TCM theory， while the correlations between them have not been studied， such as those between bitter receptors and bitter TCM and between sweet receptors and sweet TCM. This article reviews the research reports on taste receptors in recent years. By analyzing the relationships of taste receptors with five flavors of TCM， signaling mechanisms， and diseases based on "receptor-TCM" correlations， this article puts forward the possibility of combining the TCM theory of five flavors with modern biomedical research， providing a reference for the research on "flavors" in TCM and the correlations between TCM and taste receptors.

Objective: To investigate the distribution of pupil diameter and its association with myopia in school age children, providing ideas into the mechanisms of the role of pupil diameter in the onset and development of myopia. Methods: Adopting a combination of stratified cluster random sampling and convenience sampling method, 3 839 children from six schools in Shandong Province were included in September 2021. Pupil diameters distribution was analyzed by age, sex, and myopic status. Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between pupil diameter and cycloplegic spherical equivalent (SE), as well as axial length (AL) and other variables. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to match myopic and non myopic children at a 1∶1 ratio based on age and sex. A generalized linear model (GLM) was constructed with pupil diameter as the dependent variable to identify independent factors influencing pupil size and its association with myopia. Results: The mean pupil diameter of school age children was (5.77±0.80)mm. Pupil diameter exhibited a significant increasing trend with age ( F =49.34， P trend ＜ 0.01). Myopic children had a significantly larger mean pupil diameter [(6.10±0.73)mm] compared to non myopic children [(5.62±0.79)mm] with a statistically significant difference( t=18.10, P <0.01). Multivariable GLM analysis, adjusted for age, amplitude of accommodation, and uncorrected visual acuity, revealed a negative correlation between pupil diameter and cycloplegic SE (before PSM: β =-0.089, after PSM: β =-0.063, both P ＜0.01). Conclusions Myopic school age children exhibite larger pupil diameters than their non myopic counterparts. Pupil diameter may serve as a potential indicator for monitoring myopia development in school age children.

Objective: This study investigated the effect of applying different torque values on the sagittal displacement tendency of mandibular incisors during intrusion using clear aligners, with the aim of providing a reference for achieving true vertical intrusion (intrusion without labiolingual movement) of mandibular incisors in clear aligner therapy. Methods: This study was approved by the institutional ethics committee. A volunteer with an incisor mandibular plane angle of 94° was selected. Using cone-beam computed tomography and intraoral scan data, a high-precision three-dimensional finite element model was established. An intrusion amount of 0.2 mm was set for the mandibular incisors, and four simulation groups were defined by applying 0°, 1°, 2°, and 3° of root labial torque. The displacement tendency of the incisors and the stress distribution within the periodontal ligament were analyzed. Results: When 0° of root labial torque was applied, the mandibular incisors exhibited intrusion accompanied by crown-labial, root-lingual inclination. When 1°-3° of root labial torque was applied, the mandibular incisors exhibited intrusion accompanied by the inclination gradually shifted from crown-labial, root-lingual towards crown-lingual, root-labial. Based on the line graph of sagittal displacement, the central incisors and lateral incisors approximated true vertical intrusion when 1.8° and 2.5° of root labial torque was applied, respectively. The mandibular canines consistently exhibited extrusion accompanied by labial crown inclination. Stress within the periodontal ligament of the incisors and canines was primarily concentrated at the root apex and cervical region. After applying root labial torque, the area of stress concentration in the incisors cervical periodontal ligament shifted from the labial side to the lingual side. The stress in the periodontal ligament at the cervical region of the canines is predominantly concentrated on the labial side. Conclusion Applying appropriate torque control during mandibular incisor intrusion with clear aligners facilitates true vertical intrusion, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the intrusion.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy and safety of eye transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (Eye-TEAS) on preventing the progression of pre-myopic to myopia in children aged 6-12 years. METHODS: A total of 170 pre-myopic children aged 6-12 years were randomly divided into an Eye-TEAS group (85 cases, 3 cases dropped out, 2 cases were eliminated) and a placebo Eye-TEAS group (85 cases, 3 cases dropped out, 2 cases were eliminated). The Eye-TEAS group received Eye-TEAS intervention at bilateral Cuanzhu (BL2), Yuyao (EX-HN4), Sizhukong (TE23), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Sibai (ST2), and Jingming (BL1), with continuous wave at a frequency of 4 Hz and a current of 1-2 mA for 30 min per session. The placebo Eye-TEAS group received sham intervention with the same equipment and procedure, but no electrical stimulation. Both groups received intervention once every other day, at least 3 times a week, for a duration of 20 weeks. After intervention and during the 28-week follow-up period after the intervention completion, the changes in axial length (AL), spherical equivalent refraction (SER), and the incidence of myopia were compared between the two groups. Adherence and safety during the intervention period were also evaluated. RESULTS: Compared before intervention, both groups showed an increase in AL after the intervention and during the follow-up (P<0.01). The AL during follow-up was higher than that after the intervention in the two groups (P<0.01). The Eye-TEAS group exhibited a smaller change in AL than the placebo Eye-TEAS group after the intervention and during follow-up (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared before intervention, both groups showed a decrease in SER after the intervention and during follow-up (P<0.01). The SER during follow-up was lower than that after the intervention in the two groups (P<0.01). The Eye-TEAS group had a higher SER than the placebo Eye-TEAS group after the intervention (P<0.05). The Eye-TEAS group exhibited a smaller change in SER than the placebo Eye-TEAS group after the intervention and during follow-up (P<0.01). The incidence of myopia in the Eye-TEAS group was lower than that in the placebo group during follow-up (20.0% [14/70] vs 34.7% [25/72], P<0.05). Both groups had good adherence, with no adverse events related to the intervention. CONCLUSION Eye-TEAS can delay the progression of pre-myopic to myopia in children, and has a high safety profile.
Humans ; Child ; Male ; Female ; Acupuncture Points ; Myopia/prevention & control* ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation ; Treatment Outcome ; Disease Progression

OBJECTIVE: To review clinical application and research progress of different types of intelligent responsive hydrogels in repairing articular cartilage injury. METHODS: The animal experiments and clinical studies of different types of intelligent responsive hydrogels for repairing articular cartilage injury were summarized by reviewing relevant literature at home and abroad. RESULTS: The intrinsic regenerative capacity of articular cartilage following injury is limited. Intelligent responsive hydrogels, including those that are temperature-sensitive, light-sensitive, enzyme-responsive, pH-sensitive, and other stimuli-responsive hydrogels, can undergo phase transitions in response to specific stimuli, thereby achieving optimal functionality. These hydrogels can fill the injured cartilage area, promote the proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes, and expedite the repair of the damaged site. With advancements in cartilage tissue engineering materials research, intelligent responsive hydrogels offer a novel approach and promising potential for the treatment of cartilage injuries. CONCLUSION Intelligent responsive hydrogel is a kind of flexible, controllable, efficient, and stable polymer, which has similar structure and functional properties to articular cartilage, and has become one of the important biomaterials for cartilage repair. However, there is still a lack of unified treatment standards and simple and efficient preparation technology.
Hydrogels/therapeutic use* ; Cartilage, Articular/injuries* ; Tissue Engineering/methods* ; Humans ; Animals ; Chondrocytes/cytology* ; Biocompatible Materials/chemistry* ; Tissue Scaffolds/chemistry*