Background: The surgical neck of the humerus is located approximately 2–3 cm distal to the anatomical neck (collum anatomicum) at the junction of the greater and lesser tubercles and the humeral shaft. Owing to the transition between cortical and cancellous bones, this region is biomechanically vulnerable and prone to fractures, particularly in older adults. Fractures of the surgical neck of the humerus are classified under the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10), with diagnostic codes S42.21.3, S42.22, and S42.23. National statistics indicate that 210,763 new trauma cases were reported in Mongolia in 2023, representing an 11.6% increase compared to the previous year, of which 11,452 cases (5.4%) involved shoulder and humeral injuries. Aim: This study aimed to compare the clinical effects of traditional Mongolian bone-setting therapy and surgical treatment on pain intensity, shoulder function, range of motion, and activities of daily living in patients with surgical neck of the humerus fractures. Materials and Methods: Based on the Department of Traditional Therapies of the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences (MNUMS) and the Department of Orthopedic Trauma of the Inner Mongolia International Hospital, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China, a total of 60 patients diagnosed with surgical neck fractures of the humerus were enrolled in this study between January 2024 and December 2025. The patients were randomly assigned into two groups: a Mongolian traditional bone-setting therapy group (n=30) and a surgical treatment group (n=30). Assessments were conducted before treatment and at 1 month and 3 months after treatment. Shoulder joint range of motion, activities of daily living, and muscle strength were evaluated using the Constant–Murley score, while pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The collected data were systematically analyzed, and the therapeutic outcomes of the two treatment modalities were comprehensively compared and summarized. Result: The baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were comparable between the groups. In the traditional bone-setting group, VAS scores decreased significantly, whereas Constant–Murley scores improved markedly at both follow-up points. The overall outcomes in the traditional bone-setting group were significantly better than those in the surgical group (P<0.05). Conclusion Traditional Mongolian bone-setting therapy offers rapid pain relief, superior long-term functional recovery, and fewer complications, making it a valuable treatment option, particularly for elderly patients and those unsuitable for surgery.

Background: Mongolian traditional bone-setting is a non-surgical treatment method for fractures; however, there is a lack of evidencebased research evaluating its effectiveness, which forms the basis of our study. Aim: To study the therapeutic efficacy of traditional bonesetting treatment for surgical neck fractures of the humerus. Materials and Methods: From June 2023 to June 2025, 120 patients diagnosed with surgical neck fractures of the humerus and treated at the Inner Mongolia International Mongolian Hospital were randomly divided into a traditional bone-setting group (n=64) and a surgical treatment group (n=56). Shoulder and upper limb function were evaluated at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment using the Constant–Murley score, Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain. Result: A total of 120 patients with surgical neck fractures of the humerus were divided into two groups, with no significant differences in the baseline characteristics (p>0.05).In the traditional bone-setting group, pain (VAS) decreased more rapidly at 1–3 months (p<0.01), while activities of daily living and functional outcomes improved significantly at 3–6 months (p<0.01). At 6 months, shoulder function (Constant–Murley score) was significantly improved (p=0.049).In contrast, the surgical group showed faster recovery in joint range of motion and muscle strength in the early stage; however, by 6 months, the outcomes between the two groups were comparable. Conclusion In the treatment of surgical neck fractures of the humerus, no significant difference was observed between traditional bone-setting and surgical treatment in terms of shoulder range of motion and muscle strength recovery. However, the advantages of traditional bone-setting lie in its ability to relieve pain more rapidly, promote faster functional recovery, improve activities of daily living, and achieve better long-term outcomes than modern bone-setting. Therefore, traditional bone setting is a safe and effective treatment method that aligns with modern theories of bone healing and rehabilitation principles and holds significant value for wider clinical application and further research in the management of surgical neck fractures of the humerus.

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) that causes oral mucosal tissue sclerosis, and even cancer transformation, is a chronic, progressive fibrosis disease. However, despite some advancements in recent years, no targeted antifibrotic strategies for OSF have been approved; likely because the complicated mechanisms that initiate and drive fibrosis remain to be determined. In this review, we briefly introduce the epidemiology and etiology of OSF. Then, we highlight how cell-intrinsic changes in significant structural cells can drive fibrotic response by regulating biological behaviors, secretion function, and activation of ECM-producing myofibroblasts. In addition, we also discuss the role of innate and adaptive immune cells and how they contribute to the pathogenesis of OSF. Finally, we summarize strategies to interrupt key mechanisms that cause OSF, including modulation of the ECM, inhibition of inflammation, improvement of vascular disturbance. This review will provide potential routes for developing novel anti-OSF therapeutics.
Humans ; Oral Submucous Fibrosis/immunology* ; Extracellular Matrix/metabolism* ; Myofibroblasts

OBJECTIVE: Varied acupoint selections represent a potential cause of the uncertainty surrounding the efficacy of acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Skin temperature, a guiding factor for acupoint selection, may help to address this issue. This study explored thermal sensitization of acupoints used for the treatment of knee OA. METHODS: This cross-sectional case-control study enrolled cases aged 45-75 years with symptomatic knee OA and age- and gender-matched non-knee OA controls in a 1:1 ratio. All participants underwent infrared thermographic imaging. The primary outcome was the relative skin temperature of acupoint (STA), and the secondary outcome was the absolute STA of 11 acupoints. The Z test was used to compare the relative and absolute STAs between the groups. Principal component analysis was used to extract the common factors (CFs, acupoint cluster) in the STAs. A general linear model was used to identify factors affecting the STA in the knee OA cases. For the group comparisons of relative STA, P < 0.0045 (adjusted for 11 acupoints through Bonferroni correction) was considered to indicate statistical significance. For other analyses, P < 0.05 was used as the threshold for statistical significance. RESULTS: The analysis included 308 participants, consisting of 151 cases (mean age: [64.58 ± 6.67] years; male: 25.83%; mean body mass index: [25.70 ± 3.16] kg/m²) and 157 controls (mean age: [63.37 ± 5.96] years; male: 26.11%; mean body mass index: [24.47 ± 2.84] kg/m²). The relative STAs of ST34 (P = 0.0001), EX-LE2 (P < 0.0001), EX-LE5 (P = 0.0006), SP10 (P < 0.0001), BL40 (P = 0.0012) and GB39 (P = 0.0037) were higher in the knee OA group. No difference was found in the STAs of ST35, ST36, SP9, GB33 and GB34. Four CFs were identified for relative STA in both groups. The acupoints within each CF were consistent between the groups. The mean values of the relative STAs across each CF were higher in the knee OA group. In the knee OA cases, no factors were observed to affect the relative STA, while age and gender were found to affect the absolute STA. CONCLUSION Among patients with knee OA, thermal sensitization occurs in the acupoints of the lower extremity, exhibiting localized and regional thermal consistencies. The thermally sensitized acupoints that we identified in this study, ST34, SP10, EX-LE2, EX-LE5, GB39 and BL40, may be good choices for the acupuncture treatment of knee OA. Please cite this article as: Tu JF, Wang XZ, Yan SY, Wang YR, Yang JW, Shi GX, Zhang WZ, Jing LN, Yang LS, Liu DH, Wang LQ, Mi BH. Thermal sensitization of acupoints in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A cross-sectional case-control study. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(3): 289-296.
Humans ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/physiopathology* ; Male ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Acupuncture Points ; Case-Control Studies ; Aged ; Skin Temperature ; Acupuncture Therapy

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab (RTX) in children with steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS).Methods:The was a retrospective observational study. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 14 children with SRNS who received RTX treatment in the Department of Nephrology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics from July 2021 to August 2023. The changes in urinary protein content, renal function, serum albumin, immunoglobulin and other indicators before and after RTX medication were compared to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of RTX treatment for SRNS.Results:A total of 14 children with SRNS were selected for this study, with a male to female ratio of 6:8. The age of onset of kidney disease was (4.36±3.12) years, and 8 of them underwent kidney biopsy. Among them, 6 cases showed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in renal pathology, and 2 cases showed minimal change disease. The age of 14 children who first used RTX was (8.45±3.98) years old, with a dose of 375 mg/m 2 and a maximum dose of 500 mg. The number of children who had used 2, 3, 4, and 5 doses of RTX was 6, 6, 1, and 1, respectively. RTX was administered orally with compound sulfamethoxazole to prevent infection. Glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants were discontinued 4.0(2.5, 6.5) months after the first dose of RTX. The median follow-up time was 10.5(6.0, 18.3) months. By the end of the 3-month, 6-month, and follow-up endpoints, the complete remission rates of kidney disease in the children were 100.0%(14/14), 85.7%(12/14), and 64.3%(9/14), respectively. Five children experienced kidney disease recurrence. Compared with before the first dose of RTX treatment, the serum albumin and height significantly increased, while body mass index significantly decreased at the end of follow-up (all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in urinary protein content, renal function, and IgG (all P>0.05). During the RTX treatment, all 14 children did not experience any infusion reaction, and there were no serious infections during follow-up. One case was diagnosed with hypogammaglobulinemia. Conclusions:RTX can improve the remission rate and recurrence rate of SRNS children, reduce the dosage of glucocorticoids and related drug untoward reaction, significantly improve patient height and BMI, with minimal side effects. Especially for SRNS patients who cannot be relieved by the combination of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants, RTX may be considered.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of the Chikungunya fever outbreak in Shunde District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province in July 2025 and the risk factors associated with delayed viral RNA clearance.Methods:A total of 562 patients with Chikungunya fever admitted to three designated hospitals in Shunde District from July 10 to 30, 2025 were enrolled. Demographic data, clinical manifestations, and laboratory findings were collected. Patients were categorized into four age groups including minors (<18 years), young adults (18 to 39 years), middle-aged adults (40 to 64 years) and elderly adults (≥65 years). The differences of clinical characteristics among these age groups were analyzed. Intergroup comparisons were performed using chi-square test, one-way analysis of variance, or Kruskal-Wallis H test. Pairwise comparisons between groups were conducted using the Bonferroni or Games-Howell or Dunn method. Binary logistic regression was employed to analyze risk factors associated with delayed viral RNA clearance (>7 days). Results:The mean age of the 562 enrolled Chikungunya fever patients was (44.8±21.3) years. Fever, arthralgia and rash were the three core symptoms, with incidence rates of 87.5% (492/562), 88.4%(497/562) and 69.6%(391/562), respectively. At discharge, only 54.1%(304/562) of patients achieved complete symptom resolution, while 26.5%(149/562) still had arthralgia and 36.1%(203/562) had residual rash. Significant differences were observed among age groups in the incidence of fever ( χ2=9.43, P=0.024), peak body temperature ( F=6.54, P<0.001), incidence of arthralgia ( χ2=26.89, P<0.001), duration of arthralgia ( F=12.68, P=0.001), incidence of rash ( χ2=68.99, P<0.001), rate of residual rash at discharge ( χ2=32.37, P<0.001), lymphocyte count ( F=12.94, P<0.001), platelet count ( F=14.95, P<0.001), and C-reactive protein levels (CRP) ( H=94.18, P<0.001). Further pairwise comparisons revealed that compared to the middle-aged and elderly groups, the minor group had a higher incidence of fever and a lower incidence of arthralgia, and the duration of arthralgia was shorter than the elderly group (all P<0.008 3). Compared with the other three groups, the elderly group had lower incidence and residual rate of rash, and lower platelet counts (all P<0.008 3), and higher levels of CRP (all P<0.05). The elderly group had lower lymphocyte counts compared to the minor and young adult groups (both P<0.05). Significant differences were found among age groups in the time to viral RNA clearance ( F=5.77, P=0.003) and length of hospital stay ( F=11.64, P<0.001), with the elderly group having significantly longer duration for both compared to the other three groups (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that advanced age (odds ratio ( OR)=1.049, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.015 to 1.083), longer duration of fever ( OR=1.529, 95% CI 1.086 to 2.155) and longer duration of arthralgia ( OR=1.927, 95% CI 1.318 to 2.817) were independent risk factors for delayed viral RNA clearance (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Patients with Chikungunya fever in Shunde District primarily present with fever, arthralgia and rash. The incidence and characteristics of these three core symptoms show age-related variations. Elderly patients and those with longer durations of fever or arthralgia are more likely to experience delayed viral clearance.

AIM To establish the quantitative models for gallic acid,mononucleoside,loganin,resveratrol,and rhein in Yishen Xiezhuo Mixture.METHODS HPLC was adopted in the content determination of various effective components,after which the near-infrared spectroscopy(NIRS)data were collected in 128 batches of samples and pretreatment was conducted,competitive adaptive reweighting sampling(CARS)algorithm was used for screening wavelength,partial least square method(PLS)regression analysis was performed.RESULTS There were no significant differences between the predicted values obtained by PLS models and measured values obtained by HPLC for various effective components(P＞0.05).CONCLUSION The quantitative models established by NIRS combined with chemometrics display good predictive performance,which can be used for the rapid determination of effective components in Yishen Xiezhuo Mixture,and provide a reference for the rapid monitoring of other traditional Chinese medicine preparations in production processes.

AIM To establish the quantitative models for gallic acid,mononucleoside,loganin,resveratrol,and rhein in Yishen Xiezhuo Mixture.METHODS HPLC was adopted in the content determination of various effective components,after which the near-infrared spectroscopy(NIRS)data were collected in 128 batches of samples and pretreatment was conducted,competitive adaptive reweighting sampling(CARS)algorithm was used for screening wavelength,partial least square method(PLS)regression analysis was performed.RESULTS There were no significant differences between the predicted values obtained by PLS models and measured values obtained by HPLC for various effective components(P＞0.05).CONCLUSION The quantitative models established by NIRS combined with chemometrics display good predictive performance,which can be used for the rapid determination of effective components in Yishen Xiezhuo Mixture,and provide a reference for the rapid monitoring of other traditional Chinese medicine preparations in production processes.

The effect of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction on the intestinal flora of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) was investigated using 16S rRNA sequencing technology. Sixty rats were randomly divided into a normal group(10 rats) and a modeling group(50 rats). After one week of adaptive feeding, a high-fat diet + streptozotocin was given for modeling, and fasting blood glucose >16.7 mmol·L~(-1) was considered a sign of successful modeling. The modeling group was randomly divided into the model group, high-, medium-, and low-dose groups of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction, and metformin group. After seven days of intragastric treatment, the feces, colon, and pancreatic tissue of each group of rats were collected, and the pathological changes of the colon and pancreatic tissue of each group were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The changes in the intestinal flora structure of each group were observed by the 16S rRNA sequencing method. The results showed that compared with the model group, the high-, medium-, and low-dose of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction reduced fasting blood glucose levels to different degrees and showed no significant changes in body weight. The number of islet cells increased, and intestinal mucosal damage attenuated. Alpha diversity analysis revealed that Huanglian Jiedu Decoction reduced the abundance and diversity of intestinal flora in rats with T2DM; at the phylum level, low-and mediam-dose of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction reduced the abundance of Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria, and Desulfobacterota and increased the abundance of Firmicute and Bacteroidota/Firmicutes, while the high-dose of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction increased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota/Firmicutes ratio, and decreaseal the relative; abundance of Firmicute; at the genus level, Huanglian Jiedu Decoction increased the relative abundance of Allobaculum, Blautia, and Lactobacillus; LEfse analysis revealed that the biomarker of low-and medium-dose groups of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction was Lactobacillus, and the structure of the intestinal flora of the low-dose group of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction was highly similar to that of the metformin group. PICRUSt2 function prediction revealed that Huanglian Jiedu Decoction mainly affected carbohydrate and amino acid metabolic pathways. It suggested that Huanglian Jiedu Decoction could reduce fasting blood glucose and increase the number of islet cells in rats with T2DM, and its mechanism of action may be related to increasing the abundance of short-chain fatty acid-producing strains and Lactobacillus and affecting carbohydrate and amino acid metabolic pathways.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/metabolism* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Rats ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Humans ; Bacteria/drug effects* ; Blood Glucose/metabolism*