Complexity science and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） share a profound intrinsic compatibility. To address the limitations of reductionist approaches in guiding the dynamically holistic theory and practice of TCM， this paper develops​ a novel research pathway under the guidance of complexity science， using the open complex giant systems （OCGS） theory as its practical framework， upholding the fundamental principles of TCM and breaking new ground of artificial intelligence （AI）. The core tasks of this pathway involve the objectification and structured diagnosis-treatment systems， and the construction of a complex， large-scale TCM model. The paper further delineates the data architecture design and reinforcement learning training pathway. Acknowledging the differences in information processing between the human brain and computers， it proposes a training strategy that minimizes manual labeling of "syndromes" and instead focuses on the training paradigm of "herb-human interaction → syndrome manifestation → dosage adjustment". Under the guidance of complexity science theory， TCM is poised for deep integration with AI technology， driving technological innovation powered by data and computational capabilities.

The Dunhuang manuscript Fuxing Jue takes the "Tangye Jingfa Tu" as the core of its theory on prescription and compatibility. Its medication principles mainly include the "five elements principle of tonifying and purging" and the "five elements principle of elimination and transformation". Based on the differentiation of deficiency and excess in the five Zang organs， it flexibly applies medicinal properties， usage， and flavor transformation for tonifying and purging， forming its unique method of medication and compatibility. In Taiyin disease， "fullness syndrome" often occurs together with "diarrhea"， and these two conditions also serve as the primary indications for the middle-regulating formulas. Among them， Lizhong Wan （Tang） mainly address Taiyin deficiency. The three Xiexin Tang （Banxia Xiexin Tang， Gancao Xiexin Tang， Shengjiang Xiexin Tang） address Taiyin deficiency accompanied by pathogenic excess. The Sini Tangand Tongmai Sini Tang primarily treat dysfunction of the liver， spleen， and kidney with impaired opening and closing of Taiyin， manifesting as diarrhea. The medicinal flavors of middle-regulating formulas are pungent， sweet， and bitter， acting directly on the spleen of Taiyin. The pungent flavor induces purging of the spleen， sweet flavor tonifies the spleen， and bitter flavor eliminates lumps. When the constituent medicinal units of middle-regulating formulas are unified， the ratio of pungent to sweet flavors reflects the tonic and purgative strength of the formula. In addition， the two decoction methods， "short-term decoction to extract Qi" and "long-term decoction to extract flavor"， also influence the formula's tonifying and purgative effects. Based on the composition of flavors and special decoction methods， this article discusses the differences in the use of middle-regulating formulas for treating "“fullness syndrome" versus "diarrhea". Dysfunction of the spleen can give rise to various diseases. Therefore， middle-regulating formulas are not limited to treating "deficiency， cold， and dampness" syndromes. Later generations of physicians further modified Lizhong Tang to treat "excess， heat， and dryness" syndromes， laying a solid foundation for more flexible and effective clinical application of middle-regulating formulas.

The Dunhuang manuscript Fuxing Jue takes the "Tangye Jingfa Tu" as the core of its theory on prescription and compatibility. Its medication principles mainly include the "five elements principle of tonifying and purging" and the "five elements principle of elimination and transformation". Based on the differentiation of deficiency and excess in the five Zang organs， it flexibly applies medicinal properties， usage， and flavor transformation for tonifying and purging， forming its unique method of medication and compatibility. In Taiyin disease， "fullness syndrome" often occurs together with "diarrhea"， and these two conditions also serve as the primary indications for the middle-regulating formulas. Among them， Lizhong Wan （Tang） mainly address Taiyin deficiency. The three Xiexin Tang （Banxia Xiexin Tang， Gancao Xiexin Tang， Shengjiang Xiexin Tang） address Taiyin deficiency accompanied by pathogenic excess. The Sini Tangand Tongmai Sini Tang primarily treat dysfunction of the liver， spleen， and kidney with impaired opening and closing of Taiyin， manifesting as diarrhea. The medicinal flavors of middle-regulating formulas are pungent， sweet， and bitter， acting directly on the spleen of Taiyin. The pungent flavor induces purging of the spleen， sweet flavor tonifies the spleen， and bitter flavor eliminates lumps. When the constituent medicinal units of middle-regulating formulas are unified， the ratio of pungent to sweet flavors reflects the tonic and purgative strength of the formula. In addition， the two decoction methods， "short-term decoction to extract Qi" and "long-term decoction to extract flavor"， also influence the formula's tonifying and purgative effects. Based on the composition of flavors and special decoction methods， this article discusses the differences in the use of middle-regulating formulas for treating "“fullness syndrome" versus "diarrhea". Dysfunction of the spleen can give rise to various diseases. Therefore， middle-regulating formulas are not limited to treating "deficiency， cold， and dampness" syndromes. Later generations of physicians further modified Lizhong Tang to treat "excess， heat， and dryness" syndromes， laying a solid foundation for more flexible and effective clinical application of middle-regulating formulas.

Based on the theory of "disease of both blood and water" in Essentials from the Golden Cabinet （《金匮要略》）， and in combination with the dynamic syndrome evolution of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction （HFpEF）， this paper systematically clarifies the pathomechanism of HFpEF， characterized by yang deficiency as the root， blood stasis as the pivotal factor and water retention as the manifestation. Accordingly， the therapeutic principles have been proposed， which are warming yang and banking up original qi to consolidate the root， activating blood and unblocking collaterals to smooth the mechanism， and promoting urination and regulating pivot to remove the branch. On this basis， a compound formula structure of "one monarch， one minister and one assistant" is established， forming an integrated intervention strategy that synergistically combines the three methods of warming yang， activating blood， and promoting urination through combined classical formulas. Zhenwu Decoction （真武汤）， which warms yang and dissolves rheum， is used to consolidate the root and directly target the source of yang deficiency， serving as the monarch； Guizhi Fuling Pills （桂枝茯苓丸）， which activates blood， promotes urination and unblocks the pivot， assists in interrupting the binding of blood stasis and water retention， serving as the minister； Tingli Dazao Xiefei Decoction （葶苈大枣泻肺汤）， which regulates qi， disperses retained fluids， and eliminates the manifestation， alleviates acute water-retention symptoms， serving as the assistant. This compound formula is warming without being drying， diuretic without being drastic， and dispels stasis without consuming blood， thereby achieving the therapeutic effects of warming yang， activating blood， and promoting urination.

Animal experimentation constitutes a critical link between basic research and clinical application, making its research quality and translational efficiency paramount. Although considerable progress has been made in standardizing operational procedures and ethical guidelines, the standardization of outcome evaluation systems has significantly lagged, creating a key bottleneck that constrains the quality of biomedical research and evidence synthesis. This deficiency is manifested by pronounced heterogeneity in outcome selection across similar studies, incomplete methodological reporting, and disparate criteria for result interpretation, which severely impairs the comparability of findings and the evidence integration. To cope with this challenge, this paper systematically introduces a mature methodological tool from clinical research–the core outcome set (COS)–and explores its construction strategies and application potential in the field of animal experimentation. Given the extensive diversity of animal experiments, a pragmatic strategy of "focusing on key areas, implementing phased pilots, and promoting gradual expansion" should be adopted. This approach prioritizes the development of domain-specific COS for disease areas characterized by high research volume, urgent translational needs, and well-established animal models. A multi-source integration pathway for COS development is detailed, comprising systematic literature searches, methodological appraisals, and expert consensus, with the feasibility of leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance efficiency also being examined. The development and promotion of such COS are not intended to restrict scientific exploration; rather, they aim to establish a new, tiered evaluation paradigm consisting of "core outcomes" (mandatory), "recommended outcomes" (encouraged), and "exploratory outcomes" (optional). This framework is expected not only to enhance research quality through standardization and to adhere to the "3R" principles but also to accelerate the accumulation of high-quality evidence. This, in turn, provides a solid foundation for higher-level evidence synthesis, ultimately facilitating the effective translation of basic research findings into clinical practice and providing an essential methodological framework for scientific advancement in relevant disciplines.

There is a close relationship between cardiovascular disease and psychological disease in pathogenesis,treatment and prognosis,but the specific pathological mechanism is not clear.This article explored the understanding of heart failure with anxiety and depression in TCM based on the theory of"deficient qi stagnation",and discussed the pathological mechanism and treatment methods of micro-inflammatory state in heart failure with anxiety and depression in combination with relevant research in both TCM and Western medicine.It is believed that"deficient qi"is the internal factor for the onset of heart failure with anxiety and depression,and"stagnation"is an important pathological condition for the onset.Treatment can be carried out by tonifying qi and blood,nourishing yin and warming yang to replenish"deficient qi",and regulating qi,resolving phlegm,promoting blood circulation,removing blood stasis and promoting diuresis to unblock"stagnation",which can provide theoretical reference for related research and integrated treatment of traditional Chinese and Western medicine on this disease.

Objective:To investigate and analyze the surgical method and therapeutic effect of removing benign masses between the nasal radix and eyebrow via a V-shaped cosmetic incision approach through the columella with the assistance of nasal endoscopy.Methods:The data of patients who underwent surgical treatment from May 2020 to August 2023 at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Linyi People’s Hospital were retrospectively analyzed, because of a mass involving the radix of the nose and the interbrow area. Preoperative CT examination of the nose was performed to clarify the nature, size, and level of the mass, and a V-shaped incision was made in the middle and lower third of the nasal columella, with subcutaneous tunnels along the dorsal median line of the nose, and the mass was excised with the aid of nasal endoscopy. Postoperative follow-up was performed for recurrence of swelling, diplopia, ocular dyskinesia, frontal-facial numbness, and recovery of the operative area; patients were evaluated by visual analogue scoring (VAS) to assess satisfaction with the appearance of the incorporeal scar (0~10 points, higher scores indicate higher satisfaction).Results:A total of 4 patients were included, with an average age of 18.5 years (15-21 years). All 4 patients had complete resection of the tumor through the columellar V-shaped incision approach, and the surgical incisions were all healed by primary intention. Postoperative pathology suggested epidermoid cysts in 1 case, lipoma in 1 case, sebaceous cysts in 1 case, and osteomas in 1 case. Postoperative follow-up ranged from 6 to 24 months, with an average follow-up of 12 months, with no recurrence of the mass, no depression at the radix of the nose and between the eyebrows, and no noticeable scar at the columella. The patients were satisfied with the appearance of the incision scar with a VAS score of 10 points.Conclusion:Nasal endoscopic transnasal columella approach to excision of benign tumors at the root of the nose and between the eyebrows has the advantages of small skin incision and hidden scarring, and has good treatment effect.

The key symptom of Shaoyin syndrome,"only wanting to sleep",aligns with the core symptoms of depression,such as"low mood and loss of interest in daily activities".Additionally,the timing of symptom resolution in Shaoyin syndrome,"from 11 PM to 3 AM",corresponds to the pattern of symptom changes in depression.Therefore,depression can be treated from the perspective of Shaoyin syndrome.The fundamental pathogenesis of depression involves Shaoyin heart-kidney yang deficiency.On one hand,heart-kidney yang deficiency leads to spleen yang deficiency,resulting in a lack of nourishment for the spirit.On the other hand,yang deficiency generates dampness,leading to the stagnation of yang qi and a lack of vitality in the spirit.Mahuang Fuzi Gancao Decoction is the primary formula for treating depression based on Shaoyin syndrome.This formula works by supplementing and warming yang,invigorating the heart and kidneys,warming the spleen to dispel cold,and nourishing the spirit to alleviate depression.Additionally,it promotes lung qi,drains water,and expels pathogens to invigorate the spirit.In clinical application,attention should be paid to the preparation of the herbs,dosage,method of decoction,and administration.The formula can also be adjusted with other classic formulas based on the patients'specific symptoms for optimal effectiveness.

To investigate the role of the DPP4-nestin axis in liver fibrosis induced by alveolar cyst infection,a murine model was established using C57BL/6 mice via hepatic portal vein injection.Liver histopathological changes were assessed using HE staining,while immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were employed to evaluate the expression levels of nestin and DPP4 in infected mouse livers.In vitro,J S1 cell line was stimulated with recombinant DPP4 protein to es-tablish a cellular model,and qPCR,Western blot,and shRNA lentivirus interference techniques were utilized to examine the involvement of the DPP4-nestin axis in hepatic stellate cell activation.The findings demonstrated that compared to the Sham group,liver tissue structure disruption and collagen deposition were evident along with significantly increased expressions of nestin and DPP4(P＜0.050 0),which colocalized with nesin and α-SMA.Furthermore,stimulation with recombi-nant DPP4 protein significantly enhanced JS1 cell activation(P＜0.050 0)as well as upregulated nestin expression(P＜0.050 0)when compared to control group cells.Notably,shRNA lentivirus-mediated inhibition of nestin expression effectively suppressed the activating effects exerted by re-combinant DPP4 protein on JS1 cells(P＜0.050 0).Collectively,these results highlight the crucial regulatory role played by the DPP4-nestin axis in hepatic stellate cell activation triggered by alveo-lar infection;thus,targeting this axis may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for treating alveo-lar infection-induced liver fibrosis.

Objective To investigate the effect of butorphanol on lipopolysaccharide-induced chondrocyte injury by regulating the stromal cell-derived factor-1α(SDF-1α)/C-X-C chemokine receptor 4(CXCR4)pathway.Methods Human C28/12 chondrocytes were cultured in vitro and assigned to the following groups:control(normal culture),model(100 μmol/L lipopolysaccharide),model+low-dose butorphanol(100 μmol/L lipopolysaccharide+1μmol/L butorphanol),model+medium-dose butorphanol(100 μmol/L lipopolysaccharide+2 μmol/L butorphanol),model+high-dose butorphanol(100 μmol/L lipopolysaccharide+4 μmol/L butorphanol),and model+high-dose butorphanol+NUCC-390(100 μmol/L lipopolysaccharide+4 μmol/L butorphanol+500 nmol/L CXCR4 agonist NUCC-390).Cell viability,interleukin(IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)levels,apoptosis,and SDF-1α/CXCR4 pathway-related proteins were evaluated by MTT assay,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,flow cytometry,and Western blot,respectively.Results Chondrocyte survival rate and Bcl-2 protein expression were decreased while TNF-α,IL-6,apoptosis rate,Bax,Cleaved caspase-3,SDF-1α,and CXCR4 proteins were increased in the model group compared with the control group(P＜0.05).The above indicators were improved in the model+low-,medium-,and high-dose butorphanol groups compared with the model group,while the result for the model+high-dose butorphanol+NUCC-390 group were opposite to those of the model+high-dose butorphanol group.Conclusions Butorphanol may improve lipopolysaccharide-induced chondrocyte injury induced by inhibiting the SDF-1α/CXCR4 signaling pathway.