To explore the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） and integrative TCM-Western medicine approaches in the treatment of diabetic microvascular complications （DMC）， refine key pathophysiological insights and treatment principles， and promote academic innovation and strategic research planning in the prevention and treatment of DMC. The 38th session of the Expert Salon on Diseases Responding Specifically to Traditional Chinese Medicine， hosted by the China Association of Chinese Medicine， was held in Beijing， 2024. Experts in TCM， Western medicine， and interdisciplinary fields convened to conduct a systematic discussion on the pathogenesis， diagnostic and treatment challenges， and mechanism research related to DMC， ultimately forming a consensus on key directions. Four major research recommendations were proposed. The first is addressing clinical bottlenecks in the prevention and control of DMC by optimizing TCM-based evidence evaluation systems. The second is refining TCM core pathogenesis across DMC stages and establishing corresponding "disease-pattern-time" framework. The third is innovating mechanism research strategies to facilitate a shift from holistic regulation to targeted intervention in TCM. The fourth is advancing interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance the role of TCM in new drug development， research prioritization， and guideline formulation. TCM and integrative approaches offer distinct advantages in managing DMC. With a focus on the diseases responding specifically to TCM， strengthening evidence-based support and mechanism interpretation and promoting the integration of clinical care and research innovation will provide strong momentum for the modernization of TCM and the advancement of national health strategies.

Background and aims The mechanism of cholestatic liver injury (CLI) is unclear, and effective therapies are lacking. While peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) agonists show potential hepatoprotective effect and pyroptosis is implicated in hepatocellular damage, how PPARα activation mitigates lithocholic acid (LCA)-induced pyroptosis remains unknown. Methods The hepatoprotective effect of PPARα agonists was evaluated in a mouse model of intrahepatic cholestasis induced by LCA. Liver injury was assessed via serum biochemistry, hematoxylin and eosin and TUNEL staining, and electron microscopy. Pyroptosis pathways were analyzed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and co-immunoprecipitation. Results Combined morphological, histopathological, and biochemical analyses confirmed that PPARα activation protects against CLI. Compared with LCA treatment alone, PPARα activation significantly attenuated the elevation of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), the increased TUNEL-positive cells, and the formation of hepatocyte membrane pores. Mechanistically, PPARα activation suppressed both NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis and apoptosis protease-activating factor-1 (APAF-1)/CASPASE-3/GSDME-mediated pyroptosis. Furthermore, PPARα agonist pretreatment inhibited activation of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) signaling pathways. Conclusions PPARα protects against LCA-induced CLI by inhibiting both NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis associated with NF-κB and APAF-1/CASPASE-3/GSDME-mediated pyroptosis associated with the FOXO1 signaling pathway.

Objective To compare the performance and efficacy of prognostic models constructed by different machine learning algorithms in predicting the survival period of lung transplantation (LTx) recipients. Methods Data from 483 recipients who underwent LTx were retrospectively collected. All recipients were divided into a training set and a validation set at a ratio of 7:3. The 24 collected variables were screened based on variable importance (VIMP). Prognostic models were constructed using random survival forest (RSF) and extreme gradient boosting tree (XGBoost). The performance of the models was evaluated using the integrated area under the curve (iAUC) and time-dependent area under the curve (tAUC). Results There were no significant statistical differences in the variables between the training set and the validation set. The top 15 variables ranked by VIMP were used for modeling and the length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) was determined as the most important factor. Compared with the XGBoost model, the RSF model demonstrated better performance in predicting the survival period of recipients (iAUC 0.773 vs. 0.723). The RSF model also showed better performance in predicting the 6-month survival period (tAUC _{6 months} 0.884 vs. 0.809, P = 0.009) and 1-year survival period (tAUC _{1 year} 0.896 vs. 0.825, P = 0.013) of recipients. Based on the prediction cut-off values of the two algorithms, LTx recipients were divided into high-risk and low-risk groups. The survival analysis results of both models showed that the survival rate of recipients in the high-risk group was significantly lower than that in the low-risk group (P<0.001). Conclusions Compared with XGBoost, the machine learning prognostic model developed based on the RSF algorithm may preferably predict the survival period of LTx recipients.

Objective:To explore the correlation between serum ferritin(SF)levels and the efficacy of platelet transfusion in patients with malignant hematological diseases.Methods:Patients with malignant hematological diseases who received repeated transfusions of apheresis platelets in Department of Hematology of Aerospace Center Hospital in 2023 were selected.The platelet corrected count increment(CCI)was used to evaluate the efficacy of platelet transfusion.The correlations between sex,age,disease type,transplantation history,red blood cell transfusion history,and SF level and the efficacy of platelet transfusion were analyzed.Results:A total of 87 patients were included,with a cumulative 326 person-times platelet transfusions.As suggested by one-way analysis of variance,compared with the patients in the age groups of 24-45 years old and 46-66 years old,the patients in the age group of 2-23 years old had a better efficacy of platelet transfusion(P=0.004,P=0.004).There was no significant difference in the efficacy of platelet transfusion between the patients in the age group of 24-45 years old and those in the age group of 46-66 years old(P=0.876).Compared with the patients who had a history of red blood cell transfusion within 3 days,the patients without a history of red blood cell transfusion within 3 days had a better efficacy of platelet transfusion(P＜0.001).Compared with the groups with SF levels of 1.44-2.78 ng/L and＞2.78 ng/L,the group with SF levels＜1.44 ng/L had a better efficacy of platelet transfusion(P=0.028,P＜0.001).Compared with the group with SF levels＞2.78 ng/L,the group with SF levels of 1.44-2.78 ng/L had a better efficacy of platelet transfusion(P=0.001).After adjusting for age and the history of red blood cell transfusion,the transfusion efficacy of the group with SF levels＜1.44 ng/L was better than that of the groups with SF levels of 1.44-2.78 ng/L and＞2.78 ng/L(P=0.021,P＜0.001);Compared with the group with SF levels＞2.78 ng/L,the group with SF levels of 1.44-2.78 ng/L had a better efficacy of platelet transfusion(P=0.001).Both univariate and multivariate linear regression models showed that SF levels were negatively correlated with the efficacy of platelet transfusion(P＜0.001).Conclusion:There is a negative correlation between SF levels and the efficacy of platelet transfusion in patients with malignant hematological diseases.Detection of SF levels may provide guidance for predicting the efficacy of platelet transfusion.

Objective To develop and validate a fast Monte Carlo(MC)-based patient-specific quality assurance(PSQA)tool using the treatment log files that is suitable to be used in the online adaptive radiotherapy for pencil beam scanning proton therapy(PBSPT-ART).Methods The proposed tool first used the delivery log file of a PBSPT plan to reversely reconstruct the PBSPT(rPBSPT)plan,and then used an in-house developed graphic processing unit(GPU)-accelerated virtual particle MC(VPMC)dose engine to calculate the dose distribution of the rPBSPT plan.The rPBSPT dose calculated by VPMC was then compared to the rPBSPT dose calculated by another independent MC dose engine(MCsquare),using 3D gamma analysis to verify the accuracy of VPMC calculation.As a demonstration of the feasibility of developed log file-based PSQA,the VPMC calculated dose of the rPBSPT plan was compared to the pre-delivery second check dose of the corresponding PBSPT plan calculated by MCsquare,using 3D gamma analysis.3D gamma analysis employes a criterion of 2 mm/2%/10%.Twenty patients with different disease sites were representatively selected to validate the efficiency and accuracy of the tool.Results The average calculation time of a rPBSPT plan by VPMC was(5.88±4.00)s in the accuracy verification.Compared to MCsquare,the passing rate of the 3D gamma analysis was 99.47%±0.72%.In the proposed PSQA tool demonstration,the passing rate of comparing the VPMC calculated rPBSPT dose to MCsquare calculated second check dose of the corresponding PBSPT plan was 98.91%±0.92%.Conclusion The accuracy and efficiency of the tool can meet the requirements of PSQA in the online PBSPT-ART workflow.

Objective To explore the distribution and characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndromes in patients with adenomyosis.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data collected from patients with adenomyosis between December 2019 and April 2022 based on a cross-sectional survey.Variables included age,body mass index(BMI),disease duration,geographical region,dysmenorrhea,menstrual flow,diagnosis and treatment goals,history of adenomyosis-related surgery,postoperative recurrence,and carbohydrate antigen 125(CA125)and carbohydrate antigen 199(CA199)levels.The distribution pattern of TCM syndromes,including general information of patients with different syndromes,CA125 and CA199 levels,were analyzed.The relationship between syndromes and age,BMI,duration of disease,geographic region,and history of adenomyosis-related surgery were analyzed using the multinomial logistic regression.Results A total of 1,816 patients with adenomyosis were included.The most common TCM syndrome was syndrome of cold coagulation and blood stasis(36.84%).The other four TCM syndromes,ranked by frequency,were syndrome of qi stagnation and blood stasis(25.39%),syndrome of blood stasis due to qi deficiency(17.35%),syndrome of kidney deficiency and blood stasis(15.97%),and syndrome of intermin-gled phlegm and blood stasis(4.46%).Significant differences in age,disease duration,and BMI were observed among patients with different TCM syndromes(P<0.05).Patients with syndrome of cold congelation and blood stasis,syndrome of kidney deficiency and blood stasis,were younger than those with syndrome of qi stagnation and blood stasis.Patients with syndrome of cold congelation and blood stasis had a longer disease duration than those with syndrome of blood stasis due to qi deficiency.Patients with syndrome of blood stasis due to qi deficiency had lower BMI(P<0.05)than those with syndrome of intermin-gled phlegm and blood stasis.The most common symptom in North China,East China,Southwest China,Northwest China,and Northeast China was syndrome of cold congelation and blood stasis,accounting for 45.39%,35.98%,30.33%,41.38%,and 50.00%,respectively.The most common syndrome in Southern and Central China was syndrome of qi stagnation and blood stasis,accounting for 31.34%and 36.23%respectively.Differences in syndrome distribution were observed between patients in East,Southwest,South,and Central China and those in North China(P<0.05).Syndrome distribution also varied significantly across different diagnosis and treatment goals,as well as menstrual conditions(P<0.05).For treatment goals such as pain relief,lesion control,menstrual flow reduction,and recurrence prevention,the dominant syndromes were syndrome of cold congelation and blood stasis(40.67%,37.13%,36.95%,and 43.35%,respectively)and syndrome of qi stagnation and blood stasis(29.35%,26.39%,26.10%,and 25.75%,respectively).Among patients seeking assisted pregnancy,the primary syndromes were syndrome of cold congelation and blood stasis(41.12%)and syndrome of kidney deficiency and blood stasis(18.69%).Patients with dysmenorrhea were mostly diagnosed with syndrome of cold congelation and blood stasis(39.95%)and syndrome of qi stagnation and blood stasis(28.52%).Differences in syndrome distribution were observed between patients with small and large menstrual volume,with a higher proportion of syndrome of kidney deficiency and blood stasis in patients with small menstrual volume(P<0.05).However,no significant difference was noted in the distribution of TCM syndromes in different treatment stages.Additionally,no statistical significance was observed in the CA125 and CA199 levels among patients with various TCM syndromes.Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that compared with syndrome of cold congelation and blood stasis,the course of disease was the influencing factor of syndrome of blood stasis due to qi deficiency,BMI was the influencing factor of syndrome of qi stagnation and blood stasis and syndrome of intermin-gled phlegm and blood stasis,and geography was the influencing factor of syndrome of blood stasis due to qi deficiency,syndrome of qi stagnation and blood stasis,syndrome of kidney deficiency and blood stasis,and syndrome of intermin-gled phlegm and blood stasis.Conclusion Syndrome of cold coagulation and blood stasis is the most prevalent TCM syndrome among patients with adenomyosis,and the distribution of TCM syndromes has a specific regularity.The syndromes are independently correlated with region,disease duration,and BMI.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of endoscopic treatment of superficial non-ampullary duodenal adenoma.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data and follow-up information of patients diagnosed with superficial duodenal non-ampullary adenomas via preoperative endoscopy and treated endoscopically at Peking University First Hospital between January 2013 and January 2024. The overall en bloc resection rate, complete resection rate of the lesion, perioperative complications, and recurrence rates were evaluated. Patients were categorized into three groups based on their treatment modality: endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR)（ n=46）, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD)（ n=16）, and modified ESD (ESD with snare, ESD-S)（ n=24）. Comparative analyses were conducted to evaluate operative time, en bloc resection rate, and complete resection rate among the three groups. Results:Among 86 patients, the overall en bloc and complete resection rates were 87.2% (75/86) and 86.0% (74/86), respectively. No case of delayed bleeding was observed during the perioperative period. Intraoperative perforation occurred in two patients, both of whom improved following conservative management. Delayed perforation was noted in four patients, and three of them were successfully managed with surgical intervention, while one case was resolved after conservative treatment. During the follow-up period, local recurrence was identified in two patients. Following re-treatment with endoscopy and continuous surveillance, no further recurrence was observed. The operative times for the EMR group, ESD-S group, and ESD group were 4 (1-36) minutes, 25 (5-190) minutes, and 46 (5-150) minutes, respectively. Significant differences were observed in operative times among the three groups ( Hc=49.892, P<0.001). The en bloc resection rates for the EMR, ESD-S, and ESD groups were 80.4% (37/46), 91.7% (22/24), and 100.0% (16/16), respectively. The complete resection rates were 80.4% (37/46), 91.7% (22/24), and 93.8% (15/16) for the respective groups. Conclusion:Endoscopic treatment demonstrates favorable efficacy and safety for superficial non-ampullary duodenal adenoma. In addition to traditional EMR and ESD, ESD-S is also an effective procedure for endoscopic treatment of non-ampullary duodenal adenoma.

Objective:To investigate the application effect of entrustable professional activities (EPAs) in competency evaluation of dermatology residents, to practice the goal of hierarchical progressive training for EPAs competency in dermatology residents, and to improve the competency of physicians.Methods:A questionnaire survey was conducted among 8 clinical instructors and 165 residents who received standardized residency training in Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, from September 2019 to September 2022, and self-assessment and trainer-assessment were performed based on EPAs. The Kruskal-Wallis H test and the Mann-Whitney U test were used for comparison of entrustable level between the dermatology residents of different grades. Results:The scores of both trainer-assessment and self-assessment based on EPAs increased with the increase in the grade of the resident physicians, and the resident physicians of the third year (the PGY3 group) had the highest levels of trainer-assessment and self-assessment based on EPAs. The resident physicians of all grades showed relatively low assessment scores of EPA4 (making a medical decision), EPA8 (recognize a patient requiring urgent or emergent care and initiate evaluation and management), EPA14 (clinical teaching), and EPA15 (public health events management). There were significant differences in all EPAs items of trainer-assessment and self-assessment between the residents of different grades (Kruskal-Wallis test, P<0.05). There was a significant difference in trainer-assessment between PGY1 and PGY2 and between PGY1 and PGY3 (Bonferroni P correction, P<0.05), while there was no significant difference between the PGY2 and PGY3 groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:There are differences in the evaluation of EPAs in dermatology residents of different grades, and hierarchical progressive training of EPAs competency can effectively improve the clinical competency of dermatology residents. Given the inconsistency between the scores of self-assessment and trainer-assessment, it is necessary to improve the feedback plan in the future.

Objective To analyze the medication rules of traditional Chinese medicine in treating breast cancer based on real-world data mining.Methods Inpatients with breast cancer who received traditional Chinese medicine treatment at the Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2017 to December 2021 were selected.Python 3.10 software was used to mine traditional Chinese medicine prescription data;SPSS 23.0 software was applied for descriptive analysis,and systematic cluster analysis was performed on high-frequency drugs.Results A total of 3026 consultation records of inpatients with breast cancer were collected.The main traditional Chinese medicine syndrome diagnosis of"predominantly liver depression and Qi stagnation"accounted for 60.94％of the total consultations.A total of 240 kinds of traditional Chinese medicine were used,with a cumulative frequency of 35 462 times.Among them,29 kinds of traditional Chinese medicine such as Danggui,Fuling,Baizhu,Chaihu had a cumulative usage frequency exceeding 300 times.Regarding the four natures of drugs,cold-natured(43.55％),warm-natured(30.05％),and neutral-natured(23.34％)drugs were predominant;In terms of five flavors,sweet(46.12％),bitter(30.91％),and pungent(20.02％)were the main ones.The most frequently used drugs were tonifying herbs(32.77％),followed by heat-clearing herbs(15.96％)and phlegm-resolving herbs(14.71％).Systematic cluster analysis yielded 7 groups of drug combinations.Conclusion In real-world clinical practice,traditional Chinese medicine for breast cancer mainly uses tonifying herbs,reflecting the traditional Chinese medicine principle of"strengthening healthy Qi and cultivating the root"in treating tumors.The four natures and five flavors of drugs follow syndrome differentiation and the combination of cold and heat.The clustered drug combinations have extensive therapeutic effects,covering various syndromes of breast cancer at different stages,which can provide a reference for clinical medication.

Postoperative infection of internal fixation of closed fractures the lower limbs in adults represents a devastating complication, characterized by diagnostic challenges, prolonged treatment duration and high disability rates. Current management of these infections faces multiple challenges, such as difficulties in early accurate diagnosis, and various controversies about the treatment plan, leading to poor overall diagnosis and treatment results. To address these issues, based on evidence-based medicine and principles with emphasis on scientific rigor, clinical applicability and innovation, the Trauma Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, Orthopedic Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, Orthopedics Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, and Trauma Orthopedics and Polytrauma Group of the Resuscitation and Emergency Committee of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association have collaboratively organized a panel of relevant experts to develop the Guideline for diagnosis and treatment of infection after internal fixation of closed lower limb fractures in adults ( version 2025). The guideline proposed 10 recommendations, aiming to provide a foundation for standardized diagnosis and treatment of postoperative infection in adults with closed lower limb fractures.