Addressing the enduring challenge of evaluating traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), the integrated evidence chain-based effectiveness evaluation of TCMs (Eff-iEC) has emerged. This paper explored its capacity through a demonstration study that evaluated the effectiveness evidence of six commonly used anti-hepatic fibrosis Chinese patent medicines (CPMs), including Biejiajian Pill (BP), Dahuang Zhechong Pill (DZP), Biejia Ruangan Compound (BRC), Fuzheng Huayu Capsule (FHC), Anluo Huaxian Pill (AHP), and Heluo Shugan Capsule (HSC), using both Eff-iEC and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. The recognition of these CPMs within the TCM academic community was also assessed through their inclusion in relevant medical documents. Results showed that the evidence of BRC and FHC received higher assessments in both Eff-iEC and GRADE system, while the assessments for others varied. Analysis of community recognition revealed that Eff-iEC more accurately reflects the clinical value of these CPMs, exhibiting superior evaluative capabilities. By breaking through the conventional pattern of TCMs effectiveness evaluation, Eff-iEC offers a novel epistemology that better aligns with the clinical realities and reasoning of TCMs, providing a coherent methodology for clinical decision-making, new drug evaluations, and health policy formulation.

Fabry disease, a rare genetic disorder affecting multiple organs, has understudied correlations among enzyme activity, genotype, and clinical manifestations in patients of different sexes with classical and late-onset phenotypes. In this study, clinical data, α-Gal A activity, and GLA gene test results of 311 patients, who were categorized by classical and late-onset phenotypes, ⩽5% and > 5% of the normal mean value of enzyme activity, and truncated and nontruncated mutation groups, were collected. The common clinical manifestations of Fabry disease included acroparesthesia, hypohidrosis/anhidrosis, neuropsychiatric system, and renal and cardiovascular involvement. Multiorgan involvement was higher in males and classical phenotype patients. In both sexes, classical patients commonly presented with acroparesthesia and multiorgan involvement, whereas late-onset patients showed renal, neuropsychiatric, and cardiovascular involvement. Male and classical patients had lower enzyme activity than female and late-onset patients, respectively. Classical males with enzyme activity of ⩽5% of the normal mean level showed higher multiorgan involvement frequency than those with enzyme activity of > 5%, whereas no significant difference was observed among females. Ninety-five gene mutation sites were detected, with significant phenotype heterogeneity in patients with the same mutation. No significant difference in enzyme activity or clinical manifestations was observed between truncated and nontruncated mutations. Overall, male patients with Fabry disease, regardless of classical or late-onset phenotype, have a higher frequency of multiple-organ involvement and lower α-Gal A activity than female patients. α-Gal A activity was closely correlated with clinical symptoms in males but weakly correlated with clinical manifestations in females. The clinical manifestations of patients with the same mutation are heterogeneous, and the correlation between gene mutation and enzyme activity or clinical manifestation is weak.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; Age of Onset ; alpha-Galactosidase/metabolism* ; China ; Fabry Disease/enzymology* ; Genotype ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Sex Factors ; East Asian People/genetics*

Postprandial drowsiness is a clinical condition characterized by pronounced drowsiness after meals， while The Inner Canon of Yellow Emperor （《黄帝内经》） associates this condition with wei qi （defensive qi）. By analyzing the original texts of The Inner Canon of Yellow Emperor and perspectives from many medical professionals， it is found that the transition between wakefulness and sleep depends on the mutual induction of yin and yang， and that the two pathways of wei qi circulation intersect at the spleen and stomach. Based on this， the core pathogenesis of postprandial drowsiness is proposed to be either upper jiao obstruction or spleen-stomach dysfunction， leading to the stagnation of wei qi internally， then the mutual induction of yin and yang causes inward invasion of wei qi in the body， resulting in drowsiness； at this stage， the stagnated and inward invasive wei qi converges at the spleen and stomach， then merges into the circulation of zang-fu organs， rerouting through the Foot Taiyang Meridian， forming a circulation pattern described as "circulating from yin to yang". Treatment should focus on the root and branch simultaneously， with the primary goal of regulating the circulation of wei qi； facilitating its transition from yin to yang to restore the sleep-wake cycle. By proposing the model of wei qi circulating from yin to yang， this study offers novel insights on the understanding of postprandial drowsiness.

Objective:To explore the application value of a novel bag respirator assisted ventilation device in postoperative transport under general anesthesia with laryngeal mask.Methods:A total of 133 patients in postoperative transport who underwent elective bron-choscopy or treatment under general anesthesia with laryngeal mask in the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University,from June to August 2023 were selected.The patients were randomly divided into control group(n=65)and experimental group(n=68),and received manual bag respirator assisted ventilation and the novel bag respirator assisted ventilation device during their postop-erative transport,respectively.The pulse oxygen saturation(SpO2),heart rate(HR),and ventilation frequency during transport,trans-port duration,and transport-related adverse events were compared between the two groups.Results:The difference in SpO2 was signifi-cant when comparing the two groups(Fbetween groups=18.588,P<0.001),and the SpO2 of patients in the experimental group was signifi-cantly higher than that of patients in the control group during and after transport(P<0.001).The difference in HR was not significant when comparing the two groups(Fbetween groups=0.089,P=0.766),but it was significant between the control and experimental groups before and after transport(Ftime point=12.430,P<0.001);the HR in the con-trol and experimental groups before and during transport was signifi-cantly lower than that after transport(all P<0.001).The ventilation frequency of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group(P<0.001).The transport duration in the ex-perimental group was longer than that in the control group,but the difference was not significant(P=0.987).Both groups successfully completed the trial without transport-related adverse events and achieved safe transport.Conclusion:Compared with the manual bag respirator assisted ventilation technology,the novel bag respirator assisted ventilation device for respiratory support during postopera-tive transport in patients under general anesthesia with laryngeal mask is more able to reduce the impact on the patient's hemodynam-ics and conducive to the maintenance of the patient's stable vital signs,showing a good clinical application value.It is expected to be a safe and effective ventilation method during intrahospital transport in some patients under general anesthesia.

Objective To evaluate the value of ultrasound scoring system combined with serum levels of creatine kinase(CK),vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),and alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)in predicting the degree of placental implantation in parturients.Methods A total of 137 pregnant women with placental implantation disorders who were admitted to Xi'an Daxing Hospital from January 2020 to January 2024 were enrolled in this retrospective study.Pathological examination revealed 101 cases of adhesion type and 36 cases of implantation and penetration types.Clinical data were collected.All the patients underwent ultrasonic examination and were scored using an ultrasound scoring system.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the factors influencing the degree of placental implantation.The predictive value of the ultrasound scoring system and serum markers for the degree of placental implantation was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.Results The transfusion rate of allogeneic red blood cell and ultrasound score in patients with implantation and penetration types were significantly higher than those in patients with adhesion type(55.56%vs.14.85%,5.97±1.23 vs.2.52±1.20,P<0.05).Serum levels of CK,VEGF and AFP in patients with implantation and penetration types were also significantly higher than those in patients with adhesion type([151.94±51.02]U/L vs.[121.37±43.01]U/L,[251.64±52.09]pg/mL vs.[151.67±31.08]pg/ml,[234.95±43.01]ng/mL vs.[205.64±35.12]ng/ml,P<0.05).Ultrasound findings such as the disappearance of the clear zone,abnormal placental lacunae,disruption of the bladder boundary,thinning of the myometrium,placental protrusion,extrusion of local tissue,high vascularization between the uterus and bladder,high vascularization behind the placenta,vascular bridges,and direct blood vessels in the placental bed were significantly more frequent in patients with implantation and penetration types compared to the adhesion type(P<0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that allogeneic red blood cell transfusion rate,ultrasound score,and serum levels of CK,VEGF and AFP were independent risk factors for a higher degree of placental implantation,with odds ratios of 5.363,1.810,1.015,1.019,and 1.020(95%CI:1.410-20.404,1.197-2.736,1.000-1.030,1.004-1.035,1.002-1.038,P<0.05).The combined predictive value of ultrasound scoring and serum levels of CK,VEGF and AFP showed the highest sensitivity(94.40%)and specificity(97.00%)for the degree of placental implantation in patients with implantation and penetration types,with a Youden index of 0.914 and an AUC of 0.937(95%CI:0.874-0.999).Conclusion The ultrasound scoring system combined with serum CK,VEGF and AFP can effectively predict the severity of placental implantation.This combined approach offers high sensitivity and specificity for identifying high-risk cases of implantation and penetration types of placental implantation,thereby aiding clinicians in optimizing management and intervention strategies for pregnant women.

Integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine refers to a clinical diagnosis and treatment model that incorporates the essence of traditional Chinese medicine in regard to treatment decisions based on syndrome differentiation and a reliance on modern western medicine as the basis of diagnosis and treatment.It is an organic combination of the two,with each bringing its own strengths into full play and complementing those of the other.After the founding of the People's Republic of China,the development of the integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine has been increasingly valued.The unique advantages of the integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine have been continuously utilized,resulting in fruitful achievements in theoretical inheritance and innovation and in the prevention and treatment of major diseases.Furthermore,integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine has become a unique system of medicine of China.This article provides a review and elaboration of the entire process of the integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine,including its significance,status of development,and achievements.It is suggested that,in the field of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine,efforts should made to delve into classic theories,identify the right entry points for integration,reconstruct and improve the theoretical system of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine by combining the cutting-edge achievements of modern medicine,and focus on enhancing clinical efficacy.

Innovative drugs are defined as new chemical entities that play a vital role in the treatment and maintenance of human health. While single-target innovative drugs have achieved notable success, they face limitations in addressing the increasingly complex and precise spectra of diseases. The advent of multi-target innovative drugs offers new opportunities, supported by a growing body of pharmacological evidence. Herbal medicines are recognized as valuable sources of multi-target therapeutics due to their proven efficacy in treating complex diseases. However, the identification and validation of such drugs from herbal sources continue to pose significant challenges. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the literature on traditional Chinese medicine, integrated medicine, chemistry, and biology from 2015 to 2025. It summarizes the strategies employed in integrating traditional Chinese and Western medicine for innovative drug development, along with successful application cases. We believe these efforts will deepen understanding of the current landscape, accelerate the discovery of multi-target innovative drugs from herbal medicine, and contribute to addressing major human health challenges.

Objective:To investigate the infection and treatment of helicobacter pylori (HP) in flying personnel, as well as their cognition of HP.Methods:By using cluster sampling method, the flying personnel who recuperated at the Second Sanatorium of Air Force Healthcare Center for Special Services Hangzhou were selected for questionnaire survey. They were divided into positive group and negative group according to whether they were infected with HP. The cognition of HP (such as whether they had known HP, how to detect HP, and the symptoms, infection route, as well as the knowledge on treatment and prevention of HP) were compared between 2 groups. The differences on infection situation at different ages, personal lifestyle, diet and living environment were also compared. The treatment of flying personnel in positive group during their stay in the sanatorium was investigated and analyzed among different age groups.Results:A total of 347 flying personnel were included, with 161 in the positive group and 186 in the negative group. The HP infection rate in the rural population before joining the army was higher than that in the urban population, with a significant difference ( χ2=7.19, P=0.007). But there were no significant differences on whether they had long-term smoking history, preferred strong tea or coffee, spicy and fried food and whether their family members were infected ( χ2=0.05-5.92, all P>0.05). The questionnaire showed that the cognition of the negative group was significantly better than the positive group on whether they understood the infection route, symptoms and preventive measures of HP ( χ2=8.28, 12.00, 48.22, P=0.005, 0.001,<0.001), but there was no difference between 2 groups on whether they had known HP, detection methods and treatment after infection ( P>0.05). The treatment rate in positive group was only 29.19% (47/161), and there was no significant difference in the treatment rate among different age groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:There is a high HP infection rate in flying personnel on base of the survey. The poor awareness of HP would affect the treatment rate and the basic cognition would be beneficial to active prevention. The survey also shows that the environment factors are seemed more sensitive to HP than dietary habit.

Objective:To investigate the inhibitory effect of ferulic acid on the retina of diabetic mice and high glucose-induced human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell injury and the mechanism.Methods:Thirty 8-week-old SPF male type 2 diabetic db/db mice were selected and divided into a model group and a ferulic acid group by the random number table method, with 15 mice in each group.Another 15 db/m mice of the same age were selected as a control group.The model and control groups received normal saline (5 ml/kg) by gavage daily, and the ferulic acid group received ferulic acid solution (0.05 g/kg) by gavage daily.After two months of treatment, the mice were sacrificed and the eyeballs were removed.The morphological changes of mouse retinal tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining.The fluorescence intensity and expression levels of mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and phosphorylated p38 MAPK (p-p38 MAPK) in mouse retinal tissues were detected by immunofluorescence staining and Western blot.Human RPE cells were divided into control group, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group, high glucose group and high glucose+ ferulic acid group.The control group received no treatment, and the other cell groups were cultured with the corresponding reagents for 24 hours.The reactive oxygen (ROS) level of RPE cells in each group was detected with the ROS detection kit.The mitochondrial membrane potential level of RPE cells was detected with the a mitochondrial membrane potential detection kit (JC-1).The MCU and microfilament fluorescence intensity of RPE cells were detected with the a microfilament green fluorescent probe.To explore the regulatory relationship between MCU, p38 MAPK and p-p38 MAPK, the MCU protein level was silenced and overexpressed by lentivirus transfection technology.The fluorescence intensity and expression levels of MCU, p38 MAPK and p-p38 MAPK proteins in RPE cells were detected by immunofluorescence staining and Western blot.The use and feeding of experimental animals followed the 3R principle and the Statement of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology on the Use of Animals in Ophthalmology and Vision Research.This study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Ningxia Eye Hospital, People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (No.2019085).Results:The intercellular space of the outer nuclear layer, inner nuclear layer and ganglion cell layer of the retinal tissue in the model group was increased and the cell arrangement was disordered compared with the control group, and the retinal tissue in the ferulic acid group was significantly improved.Compared with the control group, the fluorescence intensity of MCU, p-p38 MAPK and MCU+ p-p38 MAPK protein of mouse retinal tissue in model group and ferulic acid group was significantly increased (all at P<0.05).Compared with the model group, the fluorescence intensity of MCU, p-p38 MAPK and MCU+ p-p38 MAPK protein of mice retinal tissue in ferulic acid group was significantly decreased (all at P<0.05).Compared with the control group, the relative expression levels of MCU, p38 MAPK and p-p38 MAPK proteins of mouse retinal tissue in model group were significantly increased (all at P<0.05).Compared with the model group, the relative expression levels of MCU, p38 MAPK and p-p38 MAPK proteins of mice retinal tissue in ferulic acid group were significantly decreased (all at P<0.05).The ROS fluorescence intensities in the control group, DMSO group, high glucose group and high glucose+ ferulic acid group were 0.22±0.02, 0.22±0.03, 0.30±0.02 and 0.24±0.02, respectively, and the overall difference was statistically significant ( F=7.845, P<0.01).The ROS fluorescence intensity was significantly higher in the high glucose group than in the control and DMSO groups, and it was significantly lower in the high glucose+ ferulic acid group than in the high glucose group (all at P<0.05).The mitochondrial membrane potential was significantly lower in high glucose group and high glucose+ ferulic acid group than in control and DMSO groups, and significantly higher in high glucose+ ferulic acid group than in high glucose group (all at P<0.05).Compared with the control group and DMSO group, the fluorescence intensity of MCU was higher in the high glucose group, accompanied by the decrease and thinning of cell microfilaments, and the fluorescence intensity of MCU protein was significantly decreased in high glucose+ ferulic acid group, with the number of microfilaments increased significantly.Compared with the control group and DMSO group, the fluorescence intensity and relative expressions of MCU, p38 MAPK and p-p38 MAPK proteins were significantly increased in the high glucose group (all at P<0.05).Compared with the high glucose group, the fluorescence intensity and relative expressions of MCU, p38 MAPK and p-p38 MAPK proteins were significantly decreased in the high glucose+ ferulic acid group (all at P<0.05).Compared with the control group and the empty vector group, the relative expressions of MCU, p38 MAPK and p-p38 MAPK proteins were significantly increased in the MCU overexpression group and significantly decreased in the MCU shRNA group and the MCU overexpression+ ferulic acid group (all at P<0.05).Compared with MCU overexpression group, the relative expressions of MCU, p38 MAPK and p-p38 MAPK proteins were significantly decreased in MCU shRNA group and MCU overexpression+ ferulic acid group, and the differences were statistically significant (all at P<0.05). Conclusions:Ferulic acid can regulate oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, thereby ameliorating retinal damage and high glucose-induced RPE cell injury in diabetic mice, which may play a protective role through MCU and p38MAPK signaling pathways.

Objective:To study the clinicopathological features of Sjogren′s syndrome (SS) with liver injury and to improve the understanding of this disease.Methods:Forty-nine patients with SS complicated with liver injury were collected from Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University from October 2008 to January 2022. All patients underwent ultrasound-guided liver biopsy, and all specimens were stained with HE. The histopathologic characteristics were observed and the pathologic indexes were graded. Immunohistochemical stains for CK7, CK19, CD38, MUM1 and CD10 were performed by EnVision method; and special histochemical stains for reticulin, Masson′s trichrome, Rhodanine, Prussian blue, periodic acid Schiff (PAS) and D-PAS stains were conducted .Results:The age of patients ranged from 31 to 66 years, including 3 males and 46 females. SS combined with drug-induced liver injury was the most common (22 cases, 44.9%), followed by autoimmune liver disease (13 cases, 26.5%, including primary biliary cholangitis in eight cases, autoimmune hepatitis in 3 cases, and PBC-AIH overlap syndrome in 2 cases), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD, 9 cases, 18.4%) and other lesions (5 cases, 10.2%; including 3 cases of nonspecific liver inflammation, 1 case of liver amyloidosis, and 1 case of porto-sinusoidal vascular disease). Among them, 28 cases (57.1%) were associated with obvious interlobular bile duct injury, mainly in SS combined with PBC group and drug-induced liver injury group. Twenty-three cases (46.9%) were associated with hepatocyte steatosis of varying degrees. In SS with autoimmune liver disease group, ISHAK score, degree of fibrosis bile duct injury, bile duct remodeling, lymphocyte infiltration of portal area, and plasma cell infiltration, MUM1 and CD38 expression; serum ALP and GGT, IgM; elevated globulin; positive AMA, proportion of AMA-M2 positive and IgM positive were all significantly higher than those in other groups(all P<0.05). Serum ALT, direct bilirubin and SSA positive ratio in SS combined with drug liver group were significantly higher than those in other groups(all P<0.05). The serum total cholesterol level in SS combined with PBC group ( P=0.006) and NALFD group ( P=0.011) were significantly higher than those in other groups ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The pathologic manifestations of SS patients with liver injury are varied. The inflammatory lesions of SS patients with autoimmune liver disease are the most serious, and the inflammatory lesions of SS patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-specific inflammation are mild. Comprehensive analysis of liver histopathologic changes and laboratory findings is helpful for the diagnosis of SS complicated with different types of liver injury.