This paper outlines the development of artificial intelligence （AI） and its applications in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） research， and elucidates the roles and advantages of large language models， knowledge graphs， and natural language processing in advancing syndrome identification， prescription generation， and mechanism exploration. Using spleen-stomach diseases as an example， it demonstrates the empowering effects of AI in classical literature mining， precise clinical syndrome differentiation， efficacy and safety prediction， and intelligent education， highlighting an upgraded research paradigm that evolves from data-driven and knowledge-driven approaches to intelligence-driven models. To address challenges related to privacy protection and regulatory compliance in cross-institutional data collaboration， a "trusted federated evidence-based analysis platform for TCM spleen-stomach diseases" is proposed， integrating blockchain-based smart contracts， federated learning， and secure multi-party computation. The deep integration of AI with privacy-preserving computing is reshaping research and clinical practice in TCM spleen-stomach diseases， providing feasible pathways and a technical framework for building a high-quality， trustworthy TCM big-data ecosystem and achieving precision syndrome differentiation.

Neurological disorders such as post-stroke hemiplegia, spinal cord injury, and Parkinson disease represent a major global health burden. Brain-computer interface (BCI), which creates direct communication pathways between the nervous system and external devices, offers a promising strategy for functional restoration. The long-term efficacy of such BCI fundamentally depends on the performance of biomaterials at the neural interface. Ideal materials must concurrently satisfy biocompatibility, electrical conductivity, enduring chemical stability, and mechanical compatibility with brain tissue. This review systematically outlines the application of conductive polymers, inorganic nanomaterials, natural biomaterials, and composites in BCI, with a focus on how advanced designs, such as bionic and encapsulated electrodes, improve signal fidelity and surgical feasibility through structural innovation. It further summarizes key material-modification techniques and analyzes the complex foreign-body response orchestrated by microglia, astrocytes, and peripheral immune cells. Finally, it provides insights into future research directions and clinical translation of BCI-based neurorehabilitation, while highlighting critical challenges including long-term biosafety and the establishment of standardized evaluation frameworks, aiming to bridge the gap between laboratory innovation and effective clinical deployment.

Background: and Purpose Vertebrobasilar fusiform aneurysms (VBFAs) carry substantial morbidity and mortality, but optimal management for unruptured VBFAs remains unclear. We compared the safety and efficacy of conservative management (CM), stent-assisted coiling (SAC), and flow diverters (FDs) in patients with unruptured VBFAs, focusing on long-term prognosis. Methods: This study included data from a nationwide Chinese cohort of patients with vertebrobasilar dissecting aneurysms. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) balanced confounders across groups. The primary outcome was poor prognosis (modified Rankin Scale score >2). Secondary outcomes included aneurysm rupture, ischemic stroke, compression symptoms, and VBFA-related deaths. Logistic regression estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: Among 1,115 patients with unruptured VBFAs, 838 (median age, 54 years; 655 men) were included. After IPTW, baseline characteristics were balanced. Median follow-up was 54 months. FD was associated with a lower risk of poor prognosis than CM (OR, 0.48 [95% CI, 0.30 to 0.77]; p=0.002), with no difference between CM and SAC. FD also reduced aneurysm rupture (OR, 0.20 [95% CI, 0.07 to 0.60]; p=0.004) and compression symptoms (OR, 0.30 [95% CI, 0.13 to 0.68]; p=0.004) versus CM. Time-to-event analyses further revealed significant differences in vertebral artery lesions and Type I–II VBFAs, whereas no significant differences were observed in basilar or vertebrobasilar junction lesions or in Type III–IV VBFAs. Conclusions Compared with CM, FD was associated with improved long-term outcomes in unruptured VBFAs, particularly in vertebral artery lesions and Type I–II VBFAs, although residual confounding cannot be excluded.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the reversal effect of Qingfei huayu jiedu formula （QFHYJDF） on drug resistance in non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC） cells based on the microRNA-641 （miR-641）/extracellular signal-regulated kinase （ERK） signaling pathway. METHODS The human parental NSCLC cell line A549 was used to establish gefitinib-resistant cells A549/GR by combining concentration gradient increment with high-concentration pulse strategy. After screening for optimal intervention concentration and duration， the resistant cells were divided into a control serum group （treated with 20% blank serum for 48 h）， QFHYJDF-containing serum group （treated with 20% QFHYJDF-containing serum for 48 h）， and the normally cultured group （normally cultured for 48 h）. The cell relative viability， total apoptosis rate， as well as the expression levels of miR-641， neurofibromin 1 （NF1）， ERK1/2， and phosphorylated ERK1/2 （p-ERK1/2）， were assessed in each group. RESULTS Compared with the normally cultured group and the control serum group， the QFHYJDF-containing serum group exhibited significantly decreased cell relative viability and significantly increased total apoptosis rate （ P ＜0.05）. Moreover， the expression of NF1 protein was significantly up-regulated， while the expression levels of miR-641 and p-ERK1， p-ERK2 proteins were significantly down-regulated in the QFHYJDF-containing serum group （ P ＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS QFHYJDF can inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis of gefitinib-resistant lung cancer cells， which may be associated with up-regulating NF1 protein expression， down-regulating miR-641 expression， and inhibiting the activity of the ERK signaling pathway.

Objective:To evaluate the feasibility, safety and effects of tumor resection in the anterior space of the styloid process via transoral endoscopic medial parapterygomandibular ligament approach. Methods:This retrospective study included 24 patients who were diagnosed with tumors in the anterior space of the styloid process and treated with the transoral endoscopic medial parapterygomandibular ligament approach. Twenty-four patients who underwent surgery by traditional approach were selected on a 1∶1 ratio as control group. We compared the en bloc resection rate, the operation time, amount of blood loss, the postoperative pain VAS score, recurrence rate, length of hospital stay, complication rate between the two groups. Results:Among the 24 patients, pleomorphic adenoma was confirmed in 18 cases （75.0%）, basal cell adenoma in 2 cases （8.3%）, and neurilemmoma in 4 cases （16.7%）. In the transoral endoscopic group, the en bloc resection rate was 91.7%, the maximum tumor diameter was （42.2±12.2） mm, the operative time was （117.9±29.8）min, the blood loss was （36.7±18.7） mL, the postoperative pain VAS score （1.5±0.7）, no recurrence was observed, length of hospital stay was （10.8±2.9） d. Wound dehiscence occurred in one case in the transoral endoscopic group, and no other postoperative complication was observed. There were significant differences in the operation time, blood loss, the postoperative pain VAS score between the two groups, while no difference was found in gender, age, en bloc resection rate and length of hospital stay. Conclusion:The tumor resection in the anterior space of the styloid process via transoral endoscopic medial parapterygomandibular ligament approach was safe, minimally invasive and feasible.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Retrospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Endoscopy/methods* ; Temporal Bone/surgery* ; Aged ; Young Adult ; Ligaments/surgery*

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Xiaohuang Qudan decoction (XHQDD) is a classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula widely used in the treatment of cholestatic liver injury. Despite its widespread use, the protective mechanism of XHQDD against cholestatic liver injury remains incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether XHQDD mediates its beneficial effects by inhibiting the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway and regulating TH17/Treg balance. To this end, the researchers used Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and established a cholestatic liver injury model by oral administration of alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT). The experimental group was divided into six groups: Control (CON), ANIT, ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), XHQDD-low dose (XHQDD-L) group, XHQDD-medium dose (XHQDD-M) group, and XHQDD-high dose (XHQDD-H) groups. Then, after 7 d of treatment, various tests were performed to verify the results. Firstly, XHQDD and its drug-containing serum were analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), and 14 blood-entry components were identified. Then, bile flow was monitored and found to be significantly reduced in the model group, which was significantly reversed in the UDCA and XHQDD groups. To further assess ANIT-induced liver injury, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Sirius red staining, alongside transmission electron microscopy (TEM), were employed to observe liver tissues, revealing hepatocellular injury, cholestasis, and hepatic fibrotic changes. Serum inflammatory factors and liver injury indicators were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), indicating an inflammatory state in ANIT-induced liver injury rats. The expression levels of JAK2/STAT3-related genes and proteins in liver and intestinal tissues were measured via quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence (IF) staining, and Western blottting (WB) assays. These studies revealed that the inflammatory state of liver-injured rats was inextricably linked to the inflammatory cascade associated with the JAK2/STAT3 pathway and that XHQDD may exert anti-inflammatory efficacy by inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. Flow cytometry was used to determine the percentage of T helper 17 (Th17)/regulatory T (Treg) cells in serum and hepatocytes, and it was further found that XHQDD was able to regulate Th17/Treg immune homeostasis in liver-injured rats. The findings suggest that XHQDD markedly alleviates inflammation in ANIT rats, potentially treating cholestasis and liver injury through JAK2/STAT3 inhibition and Th17/Treg balance regulation.
Animals ; STAT3 Transcription Factor/immunology* ; Janus Kinase 2/immunology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; 1-Naphthylisothiocyanate/adverse effects* ; Male ; Rats ; Th17 Cells/immunology* ; Cholestasis/immunology* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology* ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/immunology* ; Liver/drug effects*

OBJECTIVE To investigate the selection strategy for recipient vessels in free flap reconstruction of head and neck defects.METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on 96 patients who underwent 99 free flap reconstructions for head and neck defects between January 2020 and December 2024.Recipient vessel selection,flap survival,and postoperative complications were analyzed based on defect location and flap type.RESULTS In 99 cases microvessel anastomosis,the recipient arteries were superior thyroid artery in 49 branches,facial artery in 28 branches,superficial temporal artery in 14 branches,lingual artery in 5 branches.external carotid artery in 1 branch,transverse cervical artery in 1 branch,and superior laryngeal artery in 1 branch.Venous anastomosis was performed in 104 branches,with 94 cases in 1 venous anastomosis and 5 cases in 2 venous anastomoses.The recipient veins selected were facial vein in 62 branches,external jugular vein in 21 branches,superficial temporal vein in 12 branches,retromandibular vein in 3 branches,middle thyroid vein in 2 branches,internal jugular vein in 2 branches,middle temporal vein in 1 branch,and superior thyroid vein in 1 branch.Complete flap necrosis occurred in 5 cases,and partial necrosis occurred in 4 cases.When the recipient vessels were deficient,the lingual artery was chosen in 3 cases,the facial artery in 1 case,the external jugular vein in 3 cases,the internal jugular vein with end-to-side anastomosis in 1 case,and the common facial vein with end-to-side anastomosis in 1 case.CONCLUSION In free flap reconstruction for head and neck defects,the superior thyroid artery,facial artery,and superficial temporal artery are commonly used as recipient arteries,while the facial vein,external jugular vein,and superficial temporal vein are frequently selected as recipient veins.When recipient vessels are scarce,the ipsilateral lingual artery,transverse cervical artery,and main trunk of the internal jugular vein can serve as alternative recipient vessels.

OBJECTIVE To explore the application of the facial artery musculomucosal(FAMM)flap for the reconstruction of head and neck defects.METHODS A retrospective analysis of 9 patients with head and neck defects reconstructed with the FAMM at the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery,Beijing Tongren Hospital,Capital Medical University,between May 2019 and March 2024.Data regarding defect location,flap size,and postoperative complications were analyzed.RESULTS The defect locations among the nine patients were as follows:hard palate(3 cases),soft palate(2 cases),nasal septum and columella(1 case),oropharyngeal lateral wall(1 case),retromolar region and oropharyngeal lateral wall(1 case),and lower lip(1 case).The FAMM flap sizes ranged from 1.5 cm×2.5 cm to 4 cm×6 cm.Primary closure of the donor site was achieved by direct intermittent suturing in 7 cases;one case was repaired using acellular dermal matrix,and 1 case was repaired using a buccal fat pad graft.Postoperatively,eight flaps survived completely,while 1 flap experienced necrosis.None of the patients developed trismus or malocclusion.CONCLUSION The FAMM flap is suitable for reconstructing defects of the hard palate,soft palate,lower lip or oropharyngeal lateral wall.With reliable blood supply and an intraoral donor site,it offers relatively favorable aesthetic outcomes and is worthy of widespread adoption.

Human Respiratory Stem Cells (RSCs) play a crucial role in the maintenance, repair and regeneration of the respiratory system. As a novel therapeutic method, stem cell therapy is a popular research direction in the medical field. And with the in-depth research on the mechanism of pneumonia caused by respiratory infections in recent years, the use of RSCs to explore pneumonia caused by respiratory infections and its therapeutic strategies has become a hot topic. In this paper, we firstly outlined the types of RSCs, summarized the mechanism of pneumonia caused by respiratory tract infections, discussed the advantages of RSCs application and the progress of culture differentiation, and elaborated the therapeutic exploration of RSCs in pneumonia caused by respiratory tract infections.