ObjectiveColorectal cancer (CRC) is a highly heterogeneous malignancy, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome differentiation is widely used in its clinical management. However, the biological basis underlying different TCM syndromes remains insufficiently understood. This study aimed to investigate the proteomic differences between qi-blood deficiency syndrome (QBDS) and damp-heat syndrome (DHS) in CRC patients and to establish a “syndrome-differential protein-herbal component” network for exploring potential molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets associated with syndrome-specific treatment strategies. MethodsTumor tissue samples were collected from 10 patients with pathologically confirmed CRC, including 5 patients diagnosed with QBDS and 5 with DHS according to standardized TCM syndrome differentiation criteria. Tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomics was employed to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between the two syndrome groups. Functional enrichment analyses, including Gene Ontology (GO) annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses, were performed to characterize the biological functions and signaling pathways associated with the identified DEPs. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis was further applied to screen key syndrome-related proteins and construct a core protein prediction model. Subsequently, molecular docking was conducted to evaluate the binding affinities between representative herbal compounds, astragaloside IV and berberine, and the identified core proteins. Finally, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays were performed in HCT 116 and HT-29 colorectal cancer cell lines to validate the anti-proliferative activities of these compounds in vitro. ResultsA total of 44 DEPs were identified between QBDS and DHS tissues, including 21 upregulated and 23 downregulated proteins in the QBDS group relative to the DHS group. Functional enrichment analyses revealed that these proteins were primarily associated with antiviral immune responses, regulation of inflammatory signaling, NF‑κB signaling pathways, cholesterol metabolism, and other biological processes relevant to tumor progression and host immune regulation. LASSO regression analysis identified eight core proteins with potential syndrome-specific significance. Among them, ST7, GPCPD1, and PODXL were closely associated with QBDS, whereas FAT1, GRB7, KRT7, MAFF, and MMP8 were associated with DHS. Molecular docking demonstrated favorable interactions between astragaloside IV and QBDS-related proteins, with binding energies lower than -5 kcal/mol, indicating stable binding activity. Berberine exhibited even lower binding energies and stronger binding specificity toward DHS-related core proteins. In vitro experiments further confirmed that both compounds inhibited CRC cell proliferation, while berberine displayed significantly greater anti-proliferative efficacy. The lowest 48 h IC₅₀ value of berberine reached 15.21 mg/L in CRC cells, indicating a stronger growth-inhibitory effect than astragaloside IV. ConclusionCRC patients with QBDS and DHS exhibit distinct proteomic characteristics, suggesting that different TCM syndromes possess unique molecular signatures. The identified core proteins may serve as potential biomarkers for syndrome differentiation, while astragaloside IV and berberine may exert therapeutic effects through targeting syndrome-specific molecular networks. These findings provide preliminary proteomic evidence supporting syndrome-guided precision integrative medicine in CRC and offer new insights into the biological basis of TCM syndrome differentiation and individualized therapeutic strategies.

Objective To investigate the pathogenic bacteria and risk factors of urinary tract infection (UTI) in elderly patients with type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM), and construct a prediction model. Methods Elderly patients with T2DM who were admitted to General Hospital of Western Theater Command from January 2020 to March 2023 were selected. They were divided into the observation group (100 cases) and the control group (82 cases) according to the presence or absence of UTI. Pathogenic bacteria was detected, and influencing factors were analyzed. A prediction model was constructed, and its predictive value was evaluated. Results Escherichia coli was the main pathogenic bacteria of UTI in elderly patients with T2DM. There were significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, 24 h urinary albumin (UALB), serum creatinine (Scr) , blood urea nitrogen (BUN), fasting blood glucose (FBG), gender, complications, course of T2DM , length of hospital stay and serum albumin (ALB) (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis found that advanced age, long course of T2DM, FBG ≥11.1mmol/L and high 24 hUA1b/Scr level were risk factors for UTI in elderly patients with T2DM, and high ALB level was a protective factor. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of the constructed model to predict UTI in patients with T2DM was 0.978. The sensitivity and specificity were 91.00% and 97.56%. Conclusion Escherichia coli are main pathogenic bacteria of UTI in elderly patients with T2DM. UTI is related to factors such as patient age, course of T2DM and FBG. The prediction model constructed based on these factors is of high value in predicting UTI in elderly patients with T2DM. It is worthy of promotion in diagnosis and treatment.

Numerous c-mesenchymal-epithelial transition (c-MET) inhibitors have been reported as potential anticancer agents. However, most fail to enter clinical trials owing to poor efficacy or drug resistance. To date, the scaffold-based chemical space of small-molecule c-MET inhibitors has not been analyzed. In this study, we constructed the largest c-MET dataset, which included 2,278 molecules with different structures, by inhibiting the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of kinase activity. No significant differences in drug-like properties were observed between active molecules (1,228) and inactive molecules (1,050), including chemical space coverage, physicochemical properties, and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) profiles. The higher chemical diversity of the active molecules was downscaled using t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) high-dimensional data. Further clustering and chemical space networks (CSNs) analyses revealed commonly used scaffolds for c-MET inhibitors, such as M5, M7, and M8. Activity cliffs and structural alerts were used to reveal "dead ends" and "safe bets" for c-MET, as well as dominant structural fragments consisting of pyridazinones, triazoles, and pyrazines. Finally, the decision tree model precisely indicated the key structural features required to constitute active c-MET inhibitor molecules, including at least three aromatic heterocycles, five aromatic nitrogen atoms, and eight nitrogen-oxygen atoms. Overall, our analyses revealed potential structure-activity relationship (SAR) patterns for c-MET inhibitors, which can inform the screening of new compounds and guide future optimization efforts.

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 investigate LI Dongyuan's theory of"any deficiency of spleen and stomach is a disease of the blood"and provide reference for modern clinical practice.[Methods]Taking Discussion on Internal and External Injuries,Treatise on Spleen and Stomach,Orchid Chamber of Secrets and Invention of Medicine as references,it starts from the connotation of"any deficiency of spleen and stomach is a disease of the blood",and explores the etiology and pathogenesis of the diseases,the theoretical construction and the clinical application respectively.[Results]Taking Inner Canon of Yellow Emperor and Zhongjing's academic thought as the source,absorbing CHENGs' and ZHU Xi's ideas of science.Being inspired by his teacher ZHANG Yuansu,and driven by his own clinical practice,LI Dongyuan put forward the academic thought of"any deficiency of spleen and stomach is a disease of the blood".From the Treatise on Spleen and Stomach-Treatise on the Prosperity and Decline of Spleen and Stomach,"any deficiency of spleen and stomach is a disease of the blood",which is a pathological state caused by the deficiency of spleen and stomach Qi and the weakness of elevation due to the disorders of emotions and moods,overwork and overdose,and uncontrolled diets,there fore causes insufficient blood production and too much blood consumption,and then leads to the deficiency of blood and Yin,and the essence of which is the disordered ascending,descending,floating and sinking of the human body's Qi.In treatment,LI Dongyuan always based on regulating blood,to restore the body's Qi,and harmonize Qi and blood as the goal,with"blood replenishment must have Yang Qi,Qi and blood double tonic""rising Yang must be in response to the time of the day,and make good use of the wind herbs""relieving heat must protect the Yin and blood,moderation in attacking and destroying".[Conclusion]Exploring this theory can help to view the relationship between Qi and blood from a new perspective,better grasp LI Dongyuan's academic thinking,and provide reference for the treatment of spleen and stomach diseases and blood diseases.

Objective To explore the reliability of the reagent burstbead for field blood transfusion compatibility testing by applying it to bloodtype detection,antibody screening and cross matching tests and conduting parallel contrast with the existing arrays.Methods A field treatment shelter was used as the testing site to simulate the scene of emergency blood transfusion for the wounded under the conditions of field blood station,and 1 358 pieces of blood samples sent to some hospital for examination before transfusion were considered as the objects.Parallel contrast tests were carried out between the reagent burstbead method and the tube method for bloodtype detection and between the reagent burstbead method and the manual polybrene method for antibody screening and cross matching.The reagent burstbead method was compared with other methods in terms of the coin-cidence rate of the bloodtype detection results,the detection rate of positive samples for antibody screening and crossmatch incompatibility.Results The reagent burstbead method and the tube method had high consistency when used for bloodtype detection,with the coincidence rate being 100％.During antibody screening and cross matching tests,the reagent burstbead method found 5 cases of antibody-positive samples leading to major crossmatch incompatibility(positive rate being 0.37％),the manual polybrene method detected 2 cases of irregular antibody-positive samples(positive rate being 0.15％),and the two methods both identified 3 cases of minor crossmatch incompatibility.Conclusion The reagent burstbead has high accuracy and reliability when applied to bloodtype detection,antibody screening and cross matching tests,and thus can be used for blood transfusion compatibility testing in field conditions.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(2):39-42]

Objective:To understand the status quo of general practice postgraduate researches through visualized analysis of masters′ theses.Methods:The master′s theses in general medicine from January 2007 to December 2022 were retrieved from China Knowledge and Wanfang databases. The number and regional distribution of theses, the degree-granting institutions were analyzed; the performed keywords were visualizde with CiteSpace and VOSviewer softwares.Results:A total of 1 688 master′s theses in general practice were included in the analysis. The highest number of theses ( n=345) were published in 2022. The theses from institutions in the eastern, central and western regions of China accounted for 45.67% (771/1 688), 22.16% (374/1 688) and 32.17% (543/1 688), respectively, and those in Shaanxi Province accounted for the highest proportion at 13.68% (231/1 688). A total of 3 755 keywords were included in the theses, and the top three were diabetes mellitus (115/3 755), risk factors (77/3 755) and clinical efficacy (71/3 755). The results of keyword clustering and timeline mapping showed that the research topics were mainly clustered around five themes: clinical treatment and drug efficacy/safety for diabetes mellitus, training of general practitioners and evaluation of general practice services, risk factors related to common chronic diseases in the community, risk factors and cognitive changes in cerebrovascular diseases, and pathogenic mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases. The results of the emergent words showed that recent research hotspots mainly included obesity, older adults, and cognitive function. Conclusions:The number of general practice master′s theses published in China is increasing rapidly with an uneven regional distribution; and the research topics are diverse, mainly focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases and analysis of related risk factors.

Objective:To understand the characteristics of faculty in high-level public health schools in China, and analyze the differences in age, area and school level.Methods:Based on the internet information, the faculty information of 18 high-level public health schools was collected for a descriptive analysis on faculty characteristics.Results:There were 1 642 faculty members in the schools of public health in China, in whom 51.8% were women, 92.8% had doctorate, 32.4% had postdoctoral experience and 56.8% were former students staying to teach. The average age of the faculty members was (45.6±9.8) years. Meanwhile the top three study subjects were epidemiology and health statistics (31.0%), occupational health and environmental sanitation (16.5%), and health toxicology (16.3%). In the faculty members aged >40 years, 90.2% had doctorate, 62.6% were former students staying to teach, and 24.7% had no educational background of public health. The proportions of faculty members aged ≤40 years in the three groups mentioned above were 98.2%, 45.8% and 39.1% respectively. In terms of study subject, big data study were mainly conducted in the schools with top subject ranking and the schools in developed areas.Conclusions:The public health faculty was characterized by cross education background and high capability. The study subjects and sub-disciplines varied with schools and areas.

Numerous c-mesenchymal-epithelial transition(c-MET)inhibitors have been reported as potential anticancer agents.However,most fail to enter clinical trials owing to poor efficacy or drug resistance.To date,the scaffold-based chemical space of small-molecule c-MET inhibitors has not been analyzed.In this study,we constructed the largest c-MET dataset,which included 2,278 molecules with different struc-tures,by inhibiting the half maximal inhibitory concentration(IC50)of kinase activity.No significant differences in drug-like properties were observed between active molecules(1,228)and inactive mol-ecules(1,050),including chemical space coverage,physicochemical properties,and absorption,distri-bution,metabolism,excretion,and toxicity(ADMET)profiles.The higher chemical diversity of the active molecules was downscaled using t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding(t-SNE)high-dimensional data.Further clustering and chemical space networks(CSNs)analyses revealed commonly used scaffolds for c-MET inhibitors,such as M5,M7,and M8.Activity cliffs and structural alerts were used to reveal"dead ends"and"safe bets"for c-MET,as well as dominant structural fragments consisting of pyr-idazinones,triazoles,and pyrazines.Finally,the decision tree model precisely indicated the key structural features required to constitute active c-MET inhibitor molecules,including at least three aromatic het-erocycles,five aromatic nitrogen atoms,and eight nitrogen-oxygen atoms.Overall,our analyses revealed potential structure-activity relationship(SAR)patterns for c-MET inhibitors,which can inform the screening of new compounds and guide future optimization efforts.

Melicope pteleifolia is a plant belonging to the Melicope genus of the Rutaceae family. Known for a bitter taste and cold nature, its stems and tender branches with leaves possess properties of clearing heat, detoxifying, dispelling wind, and removing dampness and can be used to treat sore throat, malaria, jaundice hepatitis, rheumatic bone pain, eczema, dermatitis, and sores and ulcers. In this study, 19 compounds were isolated from the chloroform and n-butanol extracts of M. pteleifolia leaves by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance(~1H-NMR)-guided separation techniques. The compounds were identified as isoleptonol(1), leptaones B-E(2-5), friedelin(6), evodionol(7), ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate(8), litseachromolaevane A(9), quercetin-7,3',4'-trimethyl ether(10), kokusaginin(11), 8-(1-hydroxyethyl)-5,6,7-trimethoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran(12), ethyl p-hydroxycinnamate(13), 3-hydroxy-9-methyl-6H-benzo\[c\]chromen-6-one(14), agrimonolide(15), 7-hydroxycoumarin(16), scopoletin(17), isoscutellarein(18), and agrimonolide 6-O-glucoside(19). Among these, the new compounds included one chromene and four meroterpenoid(1-5). The anti-inflammatory activities of the newly identified compounds 1-5 were screened in vitro, showing that the five compounds(1-5) exhibited inhibitory effects on nitric oxide(NO) production in BV2 cells induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS)/interferon(IFN)-γ, with IC_(50) values ranging from 12.25 to 36.48 μmol·L~(-1).
Anti-Inflammatory Agents/isolation & purification* ; Mice ; Animals ; Rutaceae/chemistry* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification* ; Macrophages/immunology* ; Nitric Oxide/immunology*