Objective: To investigate the current status of benefit finding among young and middle-aged patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and analyze its influencing factors, so as to provide a reference for improving the level of benefit finding in this population. Methods: From November 2022 to May 2023, young and middle-aged patients with T2DM aged 18-59 years hospitalized in the endocrinology departments of 2 tertiary hospitals in Hengyang City, Hunan Province were selected as survey subjects by a convenience sampling method. Basic demographic information was collected using a general questionnaire survey. Benefit finding, resourcefulness, and stigma were evaluated using the Benefit Finding Scale, the Chinese Version of the Resourcefulness Scale, and the Type 2 Diabetes Stigma Assessment Scale, respectively. A multiple linear regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of benefit finding among young and middle-aged patients with T2DM. Results: A total of 305 young and middle-aged patients with T2DM were investigated, including 222 males (72.79%) and 83 females (27.21%). There were 231 cases aged 45-59 years, accounting for 75.74%. The scores for benefit finding, resourcefulness, and stigma were (42.86±6.06), (75.12±11.30), and (41.20±10.10), respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that young and middle-aged patients with T2DM who were male (β′=0.088), aged 18-<45 years (β′=0.083), absence of diabetes complications (β′=0.124), and had higher resourcefulness scores (β′=0.679) had higher levels of benefit finding, while patients with higher stigma scores (β′=-0.097) had lower levels of benefit finding. Conclusion The level of benefit finding among young and middle-aged patients with T2DM was moderate, and was related to gender, age, diabetes complications, resourcefulness, and stigma.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for postoperative recurrence and metastasis in patients with T1 stageⅢ/Ⅳ clear cell renal cell carcinoma(ccRCC), and to analyze the influence of surgical methods on prognosis, so as to provide prognostic evaluation and treatment guidance for clinical practice. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 398 patients diagnosed with T1 stage Ⅲ/Ⅳ ccRCC who underwent either partial nephrectomy(PN)or radical nephrectomy(RN)at Jiangsu Province Hospital during Jan. 2008 and Sep. 2022. The patients were divided into recurrence group(n=49)and non-recurrence group(n=349)according to whether the tumor recurred during the follow-up period. The general, clinical data and prognosis were compared between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to explore the factors influencing disease-free survival(DFS)and overall survival(OS)after surgery. Subgroup analysis using Kaplan-Meier curves was performed for T1a and T1b patients. Results During the median follow-up of 67(42, 98)months, the recurrence group was characterized by older age, larger tumor diameter, higher proportion of T1b stage, and more complex tumor anatomy. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that age ≥55 years and R.E.N.A.L. score ≥7 were independent risk factors for poorer DFS and OS(P＜0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed that PN or RN did not significantly affect DFS or OS in T1a patients and OS in T1b patients, while RN significantly improved DFS in T1b patients(P＜0.05). Conclusion Age ≥55 years and R.E.N.A.L. score ≥7 are independent risk factors for poor DFS and OS in highgrade T1 ccRCC patients. For T1b patients, RN may improve DFS.

ObjectiveTo investigate the independent risk factors for decompensation in patients with liver cirrhosis， to construct a nomogram-based risk assessment model， and to assess its risk assessment performance and clinical value by comparing it with Model for End-Stage Liver Disease （MELD）， MELD combined with serum sodium concentration （MELD-Na）， and MELD 3.0 scoring system. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for 514 patients with liver cirrhosis who attended The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2020 to May 2025， and related data were collected， including demographic data and laboratory markers. According to the presence or absence of decompensation， the patients were divided into compensation group with 275 patients and decompensation group with 239 patients. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups， and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis was used for screening of variables， and the multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for decompensated liver cirrhosis and construct a nomogram model. The receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve， calibration curve， and decision curve analysis were used to assess the discriminatory ability， calibration， and net clinical benefit of the model. ResultsThe multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that low hemoglobin （odds ratio ［OR］=0.984， 95% confidence interval ［CI］： 0.969　—　0.999， P<0.05）， low lymphocytes （OR=0.564， 95%CI： 0.383　—　0.830， P<0.05）， high international normalized ratio （OR=3.131， 95%CI： 1.242　—　7.891， P<0.05）， and low serum sodium （OR=0.922， 95%CI： 0.872　—　0.975， P<0.05） were independent risk factors for decompensation events in patients with liver cirrhosis. Construct the prediction model equation： Logit（P）=intercept value－0.016×hemoglobin－0.573×lymphocytes+1.141×INR－0.081×serum sodium. The nomogram constructed based on these factors had a good discriminatory ability， with an area under the ROC curve （AUC） of 0.787， a specificity of 77.8%， and a sensitivity of 67.4%， and it had significantly better predictive performance than MELD score （AUC=0.718）， MELD-Na score （AUC=0.719）， and MELD 3.0 score （AUC=0.725）. The calibration curve showed good consistency between the probability of risk assessed by the model and the observed probability. The decision curve analysis showed that compared with the MELD-based scores， this model provided higher net clinical benefit across a wide range of risk thresholds. ConclusionThis study successfully constructed and validated a nomogram risk assessment model incorporating hemoglobin， international normalized ratio， lymphocytes， and serum sodium. This model has good clinical practicability and can help to achieve early identification of high-risk patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis and optimize intervention strategies in clinical practice.

This study systematically elucidates the contemporary understanding of the theory of"the lung and large intestine being interior-exteriorly related"within both traditional Chinese and Western medical theoretical frameworks,while providing an in-depth summary of national medical master Han Mingxiang's clinical experience in diagnosing and treating phlegm-heat obstructing lung syndrome in acute exacerbation chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD).Theoretically,this doctrine originates from the Huangdi Neijing and has been developed into a comprehensive system by subsequent medical practitioners.Modern medical research from embryological,microbiological,and other perspectives has confirmed the close physiological and pathological relationship between the lung and intestine,particularly evidenced by the proposed"gut-lung axis"theory.Based on over 6 decades of clinical practice,professor Han identified the core pathogenesis of AECOPD as involving"phlegm,blood stasis,toxins,and deficiency,"with phlegm-heat obstructing lung syndrome being the most prevalent manifestation.The pathological characteristics include impaired lung qi descent,internal accumulation of phlegm-heat,and intestinal obstruction.The therapeutic approach emphasizes"clearing heat and resolving phlegm,relieving cough and asthma"as the primary treatment principle,focusing on"clearing lung heat,eliminating phlegm pathogens,and descending rebellious qi",while adhering to the concept of"simultaneous treatment of lung and intestine."In terms of herbal prescription,professor Han skillfully employs modified Xuanbai Chengqi decoction,which integrates lung-ventilating,phlegm-resolving,and purgative effects.Importantly,he emphasizes the precise timing and dosage of purgative herbs,particularly for patients with deficiency patterns,advocating discontinuation or dose reduction once intestinal patency is achieved to avoid overtreatment.For remission phase management,professor Han advocates the"reinforcing earth to generate metal"approach using modified Bufei decoction combined with Yigong powder,which strengthens spleen qi to nourish lung function.This therapeutic strategy embodies the fundamental treatment principle of"treating the acute manifestations first,then addressing the root cause."This research not only deepens the understanding of classical Chinese medical theories but also provides more scientifically grounded intervention strategies for the clinical prevention and treatment of lung distension.The findings offer valuable insights into integrative approaches for AECOPD management,combining traditional wisdom with contemporary medical understanding.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) volume and the risk of adverse clinical outcomes in pregnant women.Methods:This was a retrospective cohort study of 41 494 deliveries at Peking University Third Hospital from 2012 to 2020. With PPH volume as the main exposure, the outcome indicators included: (1) Severe adverse outcomes: shock or embolism, abnormal coagulation function, abnormal liver function, and kidney injury; (2) General adverse outcomes: moderate to severe anemia, hypoalbuminemia, postpartum blood transfusion. Robust Poisson regression was employed to calculate the risk of each outcome index in pregnant women with different PPH volumes under the condition of controlling confounding factors, and to analyze the risk trends of each outcome index with the change of PPH volumes.Results:A total of 41 494 pregnant women were included in the study, including 9 959 cases (24.00%, 9 959/41 494), 23 974 cases (57.78%, 23 974/41 494), 5 235 cases (12.62%, 5 235/41 494), 1 144 cases (2.76%, 1 144/41 494), 508 cases (1.22%, 508/41 494), 208 cases (0.50%, 208/41 494), 207 cases (0.50%, 207/41 494) and 259 cases (0.62%, 259/41 494) pregnant women with PPH volume <250, 250-499, 500-749, 750-999, 1 000-1 249, 1 250-1 499, 1 500-1 999 and ≥2 000 ml, respectively. The risk of any serious adverse outcome, such as shock or embolism, abnormal coagulation function, abnormal liver function and kidney injury, showed a "J-shaped" relationship with PPH volume: risks remained stable (0.26%-0.59%) below 1 500 ml but increased significantly to 3.38% ( RR=3.43, 95% CI: 1.14-10.35) at 1 500-1 999 ml and 5.02% ( RR=4.53, 95% CI: 1.49-13.75) at ≥2 000 ml (all P<0.05). Moderate-to-severe anemia showed threshold effects at 750 ml ( RR ranging from 7.21 to 8.53) and hypoalbuminemia at 1 250 ml ( RR ranging from 3.24 to 3.83), with risks plateauing beyond these thresholds (all P<0.05). Conclusion:It is suggested that 750 ml, 1 250 ml and 1 500 ml should be used as the key intervention thresholds, corresponding to the initiation thresholds of anemia, hypoalbuminemia management and multidisciplinary intensive care, respectively, so as to provide a new reference for optimizing the clinical diagnosis and treatment strategy of PPH.

Objective:To investigate the association between blood selenium levels and sex hormones in Chinese men aged 18-79 years.Methods:Data were derived from the China National Human Biomonitoring survey conducted in 2017-2018, with a final sample size of 5 414 men. General demographic characteristics, behavioral habits, and dietary frequency were collected through questionnaires and physical examinations. Fasting blood samples were collected to measure blood lead, serum testosterone, and estradiol levels. Complex sampling linear regression models were used to analyze the associations between blood selenium levels and testosterone, estradiol, and the testosterone/estradiol ratio, adjusting for confounding factors including age, education level, marital status, smoking status, alcohol consumption, seafood intake, soy product intake, protein supplement intake, BMI, and diabetes status.Results:The mean age of the 5 414 participants was (46.85±27.91) years; 4 774 (91.65%) were of Han ethnicity and 4 505 (86.68%) were married. The median ( Q1, Q3) blood selenium concentration in men was 97.80 (80.64, 116.99) μg/L. After adjusting for confounding factors, the complex sampling linear regression model revealed negative associations between blood selenium levels and both testosterone levels and the testosterone/estradiol ratio, with a significant linear trend ( Ptrend<0.05). Compared with the Q1 group, the β (95% CI) values for testosterone in the Q2, Q3, and Q4 groups were -0.02 (-0.06 to 0.02), -0.03 (-0.08 to 0.01), and -0.06 (-0.09 to -0.02), respectively. Similarly, the β (95% CI) values for the testosterone/estradiol ratio in the Q2, Q3, and Q4 groups were -0.01 (-0.03 to 0.02), -0.01 (-0.04 to 0.04), and -0.03 (-0.06 to -0.01), respectively. Subgroup analysis indicated stronger associations between blood selenium levels and testosterone/estradiol levels in non-smoking and obese men (BMI≥28 kg/m2). Conclusion:Blood selenium levels are negatively associated with testosterone levels and the testosterone/estradiol ratio in Chinese adult males.

Objective:To analyze the values of platelet transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and SMAD family member 2 (Smad2) in patients′ peripheral platelets for CRC diagnosis and staging.Methods:Retrospective case-control study. Tumor tissues, paratumor tissues and peripheral blood samples were collected from 248 CRC patients (147 males, 101 females; age 21-93 years) diagnosed in the First Hospital of Jilin University from October 10th, 2020, to March 10th, 2025. Peripheral blood samples were also collected from 40 colorectal adenomatous polyp patients (21 males, 19 females; age 22-74 years) and 75 healthy individuals (43 males, 32 females; age 18-81 years) during the same period. Tissue homogenates and platelets were isolated using tissue disruption and gradient centrifugation, respectively. Total RNA was respectively extracted from tissues and platelets, and the expression levels of TGF-β and Smad2 were quantified by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) expressed as relative quantity 2 -ΔΔCt. Differences of TGF-β and Smad2 expression were compared between CRC tissues and adjacent tissues, as well as among CRC patients, polyp patients, and healthy controls. The relationship of platelet TGF-β and Smad2 expression with pathological features includingtumor stage, pathological type, and metastasis were analyzed. The efficiency of platelet TGF-β, Smad2, and their combination in diagnosing CRC was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results:The expression levels of TGF-β and Smad2 in CRC tumor tissues[1.09 (0.45, 2.00), 2.93 (0.78, 6.73)] were significantly higher than those in adjacent tissues[0.81 (0.27, 1.50), 1.29 (0.40, 2.63)] ( Z TGF-β=4.54, Z Smad2=6.67, both P<0.001). The expression levels of TGF-β and Smad2 in platelets of CRC patients[2.73(1.53, 4.38), 3.16 (1.58, 4.38)] were significantly higher than those in the colorectal polyp group[1.23(0.70, 2.54), 1.16(0.78, 2.27)] and the healthy control group[0.96(0.51, 1.88), 0.92 (0.55, 1.88)] ( H TGF-β=59.71, H Smad2=78.74, both P<0.001). Platelet TGF-β expression increased progressively with tumor stage (stage 1-4) ( P<0.05), while platelet Smad2 levels were higher in metastatic CRC compared with non-metastatic cases ( P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) for diagnosing CRC when combining platelet TGF-β and Smad2 was 0.81[95%Confidence interval( CI) 0.77—0.86], which was 0.90 (95% CI 0.86—0.93) if adding serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Conclusion:Platelet TGF-β and Smad2 expression correlates with the diagnosis and staging of CRC, demonstrating potential as liquid biopsy biomarkers for colorectal malignancies.

Objective:To develop an evaluation index system for the quality management process of investigator-initiated trials(IITs) in ophthalmology, providing a scientific tool and reference for improving clinical research quality and standardized management.Methods:Key quality management elements of ophthalmology IITs were identified through a literature review and experts interviews. A three-round Delphi consultation was conducted with experts from 16 provinces and municipalities in China who specialize in ophthalmic clinical research management. The importance of each index was scored, and weighting calculations were performed. Based on ranking and feasibility, a validated quality index system for ophthalmology IITs was established.Results:A three-tier index system was developed, comprising three first-level indicators (structure, process, and outcome), 15 secondary indicators, and 44 tertiary indicators. The expert authority coefficient was 0.87, and the response rates for the three Delphi rounds were 100%, 92.58%, and 100%, respectively. Among the first-level indicators, the highest weight was assigned to ″Structure″ (0.443 2). The top three secondary indicators were ″Data analysis report″ (0.098 3), ″Study protocol execution and data archiving″ (0.096 0), and ″Research team″ (0.094 1). At the tertiary level, the highest-ranked indicators were ″Data cleaning, verification, and database locking″ (0.049 2), ″Archiving and preservation of research data″ (0.048 8), and ″Execution of statistical analysis as planned″ (0.048 4).Conclusions:The ophthalmology IIT process quality evaluation index system developed in this study is scientifically grounded and will provides a valuable reference for standardizing quality management and further empirical research in ophthalmology IITs.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with adverse reactions to facial skin-lightening cosmetics.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the adverse reaction reports caused by facial skin-lightening cosmetics in the cosmetic adverse reaction reporting system of Yantai city of Shandong province from July 2020 to December 2023. The general information of the patients (such as age, gender), reporting sources, clinical characteristics (types of adverse reactions, skin lesion morphology and subjective symptoms), and channels for purchasing cosmetics were summarized and analyzed.Results:A total of 450 cases of adverse reactions caused by facial skin-lightening cosmetics were identified, predominantly involving females (429 cases, 95.33%). Age distribution was most commonly found from 31 to 40 years (174 cases, 38.67%), followed by 21 to 30 years (130 cases, 28.89%), 41 to 50 years (71 cases. 15.78%), ≥51 years (46 cases, 10.22%), and ≤20 years (29 cases, 6.44%). The main sources of reporting were medical and health institutions (401 cases, 89.11%), followed by cosmetics operators (22 cases, 4.89%), patients (20 cases, 4.44%), business enterprises (3 cases, 0.67%), market supervision and administration bureaus (3 cases, 0.67%), and medical cosmetology hospital (1 case, 0.22%). Cosmetic contact dermatitis was the most common type of cosmetic adverse reaction (416 cases,91.43%), and the common skin lesions included erythema (342 cases,45.00%), papula (166 cases,21.84%), edema and so on. The common symptoms were pruritus (369 cases,49.20% ), burning sensation (158 cases,21.07%) and so on. Online sales was the main purchasing channel (333 cases, 74.01%).Conclusions:The adverse reactions caused by facial skin-lightening cosmetics are mainly found in women, and contact dermatitis is the most common type of cosmetic adverse reaction, predominantly presenting with erythema and manifesting as pruritus.

Quality control is a key link in the modernization process of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). Studies have shown that the effects of active components in TCM depend on not only their chemical composition but also their suitable physical forms and states. The physical phase structures, such as micelles, vesicles, gels, and nanoparticles, can improve the solubility, delivery efficiency, and targeting precision of active components. These structures significantly enhance the pharmacological activity while reducing the toxicity and side effects, demonstrating functional activity surpassing that of active components and highlighting the key effects of "structures" on "functions" of active components. Taking the physical phase structure as a breakthrough point, this paper outlines the common types of TCM physical phase structures. Furthermore, this paper explores how to realize the quality upgrading of TCM through the precise regulation of physical phase structures based on the current applications and potential of TCM physical phase structures in processing to increase the efficacy and reduce the toxicity, compounding and decocting processes, drug delivery systems, and quality control, aiming to provide novel insights for the future quality control of TCM.
Quality Control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/standards* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/standards* ; Humans ; Drug Delivery Systems