Diabetic cardiomyopathy （DCM） is one of the most common complications of diabetes mellitus and is a major threat to global health. As a key mechanism in the occurrence and progression of DCM， the inflammatory response persists throughout the entire course of the DCM. The Gaozhuo theory suggests that the basic pathogenesis of inflammatory injury in DCM is the Qi deficiency of spleen and kidney and Gaozhuo invasion， and divides the pathological process into three phases： Gaozhuo invasion， turbid heat damage to the channels， and turbid blood stasis and heat junction. Among them， the Qi deficiency of spleen and kidney and the endogenous formation of Gaozhuo represent the process of inflammatory factor formation induced by glucose metabolism disorders. Turbid heat damage to the channels refers to the process of myocardial inflammatory injury mediated by inflammatory factors， and turbid blood stasis and heat junction are the process of myocardial injury developing toward myocardial fibrosis and ventricular remodeling. As the disease continues to progress， it eventually develops into a depletion of the heart Yang， leading to the ultimate regression of heart failure. According to the theory of Gaozhuo， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） should regulate inflammatory injury in DCM by strengthening the spleen and tonifying the kidney to address the root cause， and resolving dampness and lowering turbidity to treat the symptoms. If the turbidity has been stored for a long time and turns into heat， strengthening the spleen and tonifying the kidney， and clearing heat and resolving turbidity should be the therapy. If the turbidity， stasis， and heat are knotted in the heart and collaterals， strengthening the spleen and tonifying the kidney， and resolving stasis and lowering turbidity should be the therapy. TCM compounds and monomers can regulate the inflammatory response in DCM. TCM compounds can be divided into the categories for benefiting Qi to resolve turbidity， benefiting Qi and clearing heat to resolve turbidity， and benefiting Qi and activating blood to reduce turbidity. The compounds can inhibit upstream signals of inflammation and expression of inflammatory factors， improve the inflammatory damage to myocardium and blood vessels， myocardial fibrosis， and cardiac systole and diastole， and thus slow down the onset and progression of DCM.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD） is one of the most common complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM）， and hepatic stellate cell （HSC） activation is the key link in the progression of NAFLD to liver fibrosis. According to the theory of "Gaozhuo"， spleen deficiency and Qi stagnation， along with Gaozhuo invasion， are the causes of NAFLD progression to liver fibrosis， which reveals the pathogenesis essence of HSC activation in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. Among them， spleen deficiency and Qi stagnation are the root causes of the endogenous formation of Gaozhuo. Spleen deficiency indicates the insulin sensitivity decrease and glucose metabolism disorders， and Qi stagnation means the dysregulation of hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism， which creates the preconditions for HSC activation. Gaozhuo invasion is the direct cause of HSC activation， including three stages： Internal retention of Gaozhuo， turbidity and stasis stagnation， and toxic stasis and consolidation. Internal retention of Gaozhuo refers to the abnormal metabolism and deposition of hepatic lipids， as well as the microcirculatory disorders. Turbidity and stasis stagnation is the process by which lipotoxicity stimulates the transformation of HSC into myofibroblast （MFB）， and toxic stasis and consolidation represent the secretion of a large amount of extracellular matrix （ECM） by MFB to promote the fibrosis. According to the theory of Gaozhuo and the activation process of HSC， syndromes for T2DM combined with NAFLD can be classified into spleen deficiency and Qi stagnation with internal retention of Gaozhuo， spleen Qi deficiency with turbidity and stasis stagnation， and spleen Qi deficiency with toxic stasis and consolidation. Clinically， the treatment principle is to strengthen the spleen and promote Qi， resolve turbidity， and eliminate blood stasis. Both TCM compounds and monomers can effectively inhibit the HSC activation. TCM compounds can be classified into categories for regulating spleen and harmonizing liver， resolving turbidity and removing stasis， and detoxifying and removing stasis. They mainly work by improving lipid metabolism， reducing lipid accumulation in the liver， alleviating inflammatory and oxidative stress responses， inhibiting the activation and proliferation of HSC， and reducing ECM deposition， thereby delaying the progression of liver fibrosis.

The promulgation of the Technical Specifications for Clinical Use of Blood (2025 Edition) signifies that China's clinical blood transfusion management has transitioned from mere technical operations to a new stage centered on patient blood management (PBM). Through an in-depth comparison of the new and old specifications, this paper analyzes the core transformations regarding conceptual reconstruction, legal alignment, technological upgrades, and closed-loop management. The new specifications establish PBM principles, reinforce legal safeguards for informed consent and emergency treatment, and construct a comprehensive, refined quality control system by specifying compatibility testing standards and introducing a post-transfusion evaluation system. Medical institutions should seize this opportunity to update management protocols and information systems, deepen multidisciplinary collaboration, and drive the profound transformation of clinical blood use from focusing solely on safety assurance to placing equal emphasis on science and value.

AIM:To investigate the effect of ranibizumab on blood flow density in different regions of the macula in patients with macular edema(ME)secondary to ischemic and non-ischemic branch retinal vein occlusion(BRVO).METHODS:This retrospective study enrolled patients with BRVO-ME who were treated at the hospital from September 2019 to March 2021. Patients were divided into ischemic and non-ischemic groups based on fundus findings. All patients received intravitreal injections of ranibizumab once monthly for three consecutive months. Best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), central macular thickness(CMT), and macular blood flow density were measured before treatment and at 1 d, 1 wk, 1 and 3 mo after treatment.RESULTS: A total of 46 patients(46 eyes)with BRVO-ME were included, comprising 21 eyes in the ischemic group(7 males, 14 females; mean age 55.81±10.36 y)and 25 eyes in the non-ischemic group(11 males, 14 females; mean age 54.84±9.81 y). At 3 mo after treatment, BCVA(LogMAR)in the non-ischemic group was superior to that in the ischemic group(0.19±0.19 vs 0.38±0.27, P=0.009). Analysis of CMT changes showed that the reduction amplitude in the ischemic group was significantly greater than that in the non-ischemic group at both 1 and 3 mo after treatment(all P<0.05). Blood flow densities in the whole, parafoveal, and perifoveal regions of the superficial capillary plexus(SCP), as well as in the whole and perifoveal regions of the deep capillary plexus(DCP), were significantly lower in ischemic patients than in non-ischemic patients, while blood flow density in the foveal region of DCP was significantly higher in the ischemic group(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Ranibizumab is effective for both types of patients. Non-ischemic patients have a better long-term visual prognosis, and the advantage may be related to better blood flow perfusion patterns in specific areas 3 mo after treatment. Monitoring changes in blood flow density in these areas can help provide personalized treatment for patients.

The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC), in collaboration with multiple professional organizations, jointly released the "Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults" in August 2025. Based on the latest evidence-based medical findings from February 2015 to January 2025, the guideline proposes an individualized treatment strategy grounded in total cardiovascular disease risk stratification, incorporates the novel PREVENT risk assessment model, lowers the medication initiation threshold and control targets for high-risk populations, and provides specific management recommendations for special populations. This article provides an interpretation of these updates and conducts a comparative analysis with the current status of hypertension prevention and treatment in China as well as Chinese guidelines, aiming to offer reference for hypertension control practices in China.

The American Heart Association (AHA) officially released the "2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association" on January 27, 2025. This report systematically compiles the latest statistics on major cardiovascular diseases worldwide, while simultaneously integrating relevant outcome indicators, including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs, and updating the global prevalence patterns and evolving trends of diverse risk factors impacting cardiovascular health, providing essential guidance for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Synthesizing insights from this pivotal report and other relevant studies, this article highlights key findings concerning the global prevalence and mortality of heart diseases, associated risk factors, and emerging diagnostic and therapeutic technologies.

[Objective] To investigate the seroprevalence characteristics of hepatitis E virus (HEV) among blood donors with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, so as to provide data support for the monitoring, prevention and treatment of HEV. [Methods] From January to December 2022, 219 samples positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), 142 occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) samples (HBV group) and 873 samples tested negative (control group) were collected. 361 samples were further tested with viral load assay and serological testing for five serological markers (HBsAg, HBsAb, HBeAg, HBeAb and HBcAb), and the DNA load was measured using real time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were used for the detection of anti-HEV IgG, anti-HEV IgM and HEV antigen (Ag). The Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used to assess the differences in the reactivity rates of anti-HEV IgG and anti-HEV IgM among different blood donor populations and different variables. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine potential risk factors associated with anti-HEV IgG seroprevalence. [Results] In the HBV group, HBsAg positive donors exhibited low expression of antigen. The HBV DNA load of OBI infected donors ranged from 1 to 131.43 IU/mL (median 11.24 IU/mL). The prevalence of anti-HEV IgG and IgM antibody in the HBV group were 34.63% and 1.11%, respectively. Among them, the prevalence of anti-HEV IgG and anti-HEV IgM in the HBV group was 34.63% and 0, respectively (P<0.05), while in the OBI donors, they were 41.55% and 2.82%, respectively. In the normal donors, the reactivity rates for anti-HEV IgG and anti-HEV IgM were 18.67% and 1.49%, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that there was a difference in the reactivity rate of anti-HEV IgG between the HBV-infected donors and the normal donors (34.63% vs 18.67%, P<0.05), but no difference in the reactivity rate of anti-HEV IgM (1.11% vs 1.49%, P>0.05). No HEV Ag was detected in either group of blood donors. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that age was an independent risk factor for anti-HEV IgG reactivity in both groups of blood donors. [Conclusion] The reactivity rate of anti-HEV IgG among HBV-infected blood donors was significantly higher than that in the normal donors in Wuhan, with age being an independent risk factor. Therefore, for HBV-infected donors, it is essential to strengthen and prioritize the prevention and treatment of HEV to reduce the spread of HEV.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the anatomical relationship among the nerve roots, intervertebral space, pedicles, and intradural rootlets of the cervical spine for improving operative outcomes and exploring neuroventral decompression approach in posterior endoscopic cervical discectomy (PECD). Methods: Cervical computed tomography myelography imaging data from January 2021 to May 2023 were collected, and the RadiAnt DICOM Viewer Software was employed to conduct multiplane reconstruction. The following parameters were recorded: width of nerve root (WN), nerve root-superior pedicle distance (NSPD), nerve root-inferior pedicle distance (NIPD), and the relationship between the intervertebral space and the nerve root (shoulder, anterior, and axillary). Additionally, the descending angles between the spinal cord and the ventral (VRA) and dorsal (DRA) rootlets were measured. Results: The WN showed a gradual increase from C4 to C7, with measurements notably larger in men compared to women. The NSPD decreased gradually from the C2–3 to the C5–6 levels. However, the NIPD showed an opposite level-related change, notably larger than the NSPD at the C4–5, C5–6, and C7–T1 levels. Furthermore, significant differences in NIPD were observed between different age groups and genders. The incidence of the anterior type exhibited a gradual decrease from the C2–3 to the C5–6 levels. Conversely, the axillary type exhibited an opposite level-related change. Additionally, the VRA and DRA decreased as the level descended, with measurements significantly larger in females. Conclusion A prediction of the positional relationship between the intervertebral space and the nerve root is essential for the direct neuroventral decompression in PECD to avoid damaging the neural structures. The axillary route of the nerve root offers a safer and more effective pathway for performing direct neuroventral decompression compared to the shoulder approach.

Objective To identify long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) associated with rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) and investigate their mechanisms. Methods Peripheral blood samples were collected from RA-ILD patients (n＝3), RA patients without lung involvement (n＝3), and healthy controls (n＝3). Next-generation sequencing was performed to screen differentially expressed lncRNA. A human fibrotic lung cell model was established by inducing the MRC-5 cell line with transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). Following siRNA-mediated knockdown of target genes, changes in inflammatory and oxidative stress-related genes were analyzed via real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Western blotting and dual-luciferase reporter (DLR) assays were used to validate protein expression, ubiquitination levels, and nuclear translocation of oxidative stress regulators, and antioxidant response element (ARE) transcriptional activity. Rescue experiments were conducted to confirm the role of target lncRNA in oxidative stress and inflammation in fibrotic lung cells. Results High-throughput sequencing revealed significant downregulation of LINC00638 in RA-ILD patients. Knockdown of LINC00638 markedly reduced transcriptional levels of interleukin (IL)-4, nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), while increasing IL-6, IL-1β, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Furthermore, LINC00638 knockdown decreased Nrf2 protein expression, increased its ubiquitination, reduced nuclear translocation, and suppressed ARE transcriptional activity. In MRC-5 cells, LINC00638 knockdown combined with N-acetylcysteine treatment restored Nrf2 and HO-1 levels while reducing IL-6 expression. Conclusions LINC00638 suppresses inflammatory responses in RA-ILD by activating the Nrf2/ARE antioxidant signaling pathway, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target for diagnosis and treatment.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the anatomical relationship among the nerve roots, intervertebral space, pedicles, and intradural rootlets of the cervical spine for improving operative outcomes and exploring neuroventral decompression approach in posterior endoscopic cervical discectomy (PECD). Methods: Cervical computed tomography myelography imaging data from January 2021 to May 2023 were collected, and the RadiAnt DICOM Viewer Software was employed to conduct multiplane reconstruction. The following parameters were recorded: width of nerve root (WN), nerve root-superior pedicle distance (NSPD), nerve root-inferior pedicle distance (NIPD), and the relationship between the intervertebral space and the nerve root (shoulder, anterior, and axillary). Additionally, the descending angles between the spinal cord and the ventral (VRA) and dorsal (DRA) rootlets were measured. Results: The WN showed a gradual increase from C4 to C7, with measurements notably larger in men compared to women. The NSPD decreased gradually from the C2–3 to the C5–6 levels. However, the NIPD showed an opposite level-related change, notably larger than the NSPD at the C4–5, C5–6, and C7–T1 levels. Furthermore, significant differences in NIPD were observed between different age groups and genders. The incidence of the anterior type exhibited a gradual decrease from the C2–3 to the C5–6 levels. Conversely, the axillary type exhibited an opposite level-related change. Additionally, the VRA and DRA decreased as the level descended, with measurements significantly larger in females. Conclusion A prediction of the positional relationship between the intervertebral space and the nerve root is essential for the direct neuroventral decompression in PECD to avoid damaging the neural structures. The axillary route of the nerve root offers a safer and more effective pathway for performing direct neuroventral decompression compared to the shoulder approach.