ObjectiveTo investigate the association of the traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome types of primary liver cancer （PLC） with clinical features and multimodal quantitative radiological features on computed tomography （CT） and magnetic resonance imaging （MRI）， and to provide a reference for the objectification of TCM syndrome differentiation and precise diagnosis and treatment. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 312 patients who were diagnosed with PLC in The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine from March 2020 to June 2025， and according to the TCM syndrome type， they were divided into stagnation of liver Qi group with 40 patients， stagnation of liver Qi and spleen deficiency group with 109 patients， Qi stagnation and blood stasis group with 62 patients， dampness-heat toxin amassment group with 81 patients， and liver-kidney Yin deficiency group with 20 patients. Clinical features and multimodal quantitative radiological features were compared between the patients with different TCM syndrome types. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between multiple groups， and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups； the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between multiple groups， and the Dunn’s multiple test was used for further comparison between two groups； the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups， and the Bonferroni method was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsThere were significant differences between the patients with different TCM syndrome types in China liver cancer staging （CNLC）， Child-Pugh class， alanine aminotransferase， aspartate aminotransferase， albumin， direct bilirubin， total bilirubin， prothrombin time， neutrophil， and albumin-bilirubin score （all P<0.05）. In the stagnation of liver Qi group， the patients with Child-Pugh class A accounted for 75.00%； among the patients with CNLC stage I PLC， the patients with stagnation of liver Qi accounted for 60.00%， and those with Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome accounted for 59.68%， while among the patients with CNLC stage IV PLC， the distribution proportion of dampness-heat toxin amassment （27.16%） and liver-kidney Yin deficiency （30.00%） was significantly higher than that of stagnation of liver Qi （2.50%） （all P<0.05）. Radiological examination showed that there were significant differences between the patients with different TCM syndrome types in the number of tumors， ascites， venous tumor thrombus， maximum tumor diameter， intrahepatic metastasis， and lymph node metastasis in the hepatic hilar and retroperitoneal regions （all P<0.05）. Compared with the patients with stagnation of liver Qi， the patients with liver depression and spleen deficiency or liver-kidney Yin deficiency were more likely to develop intrahepatic metastasis； the patients with liver depression and spleen deficiency， dampness-heat toxin amassment， or liver-kidney Yin deficiency were more likely to develop lymph node metastasis in the hepatic hilar and retroperitoneal regions； the patients with liver-kidney Yin deficiency were more likely to experience multiple tumors； the patients with liver depression and spleen deficiency or dampness-heat toxin amassment were more likely to develop ascites （all P<0.05）. Compared with the patients with Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome， the patients with liver depression and spleen deficiency had a significantly longer maximum tumor diameter and a significantly higher proportion of patients with venous tumor thrombus （both P<0.05）. Furthermore， among the 184 patients with MRI diffusion-weighted imaging sequences， the patients with dampness-heat toxin amassment or Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome had significantly higher ADC values and relative ADC values than those with stagnation of liver Qi （all P<0.05）. ConclusionThere are significant differences in CT/MRI radiological features and clinical features between PLC patients with different TCM syndrome types， among whom the patients with liver depression and spleen deficiency， dampness-heat toxin amassment， and liver-kidney Yin deficiency tend to exhibit progressive radiological features， and those with dampness-heat toxin amassment or Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome tend to have higher ADC values. These findings provide an objective basis for TCM syndrome differentiation in PLC.

ObjectiveTo review the current application status， practical challenges， and ethical issues of artificial intelligence （AI） in the field of hospice care， and to conduct a critical evaluation， with a view to offering a reference for promoting the deep integration of AI into clinical hospice care practice in China. MethodsRelevant domestic and international literature was retrieved to comprehensively analyze the application scenarios of AI in hospice care， the practical barriers encountered， and the ethical controversies， and to explore clinical optimization pathways. ResultsAI is gradually transforming the traditional service model of hospice care， with its applications primarily focusing on patient monitoring， symptom management， predictive analytics， clinical decision support， and other aspects. However， its development faced significant practical constraints and complex ethical challenges. ConclusionWhile AI holds immense potential to enhance the quality of hospice care， its application must be grounded in a core ethical framework centered on dignity， empathy， and patient autonomy. Relevant international explorations have been relatively extensive， whereas domestic studies remain in their infancy. Future research urgently warrants an in-depth exploration of the ethical and practical challenges to find localized integration pathways suited to China’s national context.

BACKGROUND: Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP), a rare and recurrent autoinflammatory disease, imposes a substantial burden on patients and society. Awareness of GPP in China remains limited. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey, conducted between September 2021 and May 2023 across 14 hospitals in China, included GPP patients of all ages and disease phases. Data collected encompassed demographics, clinical characteristics, economic impact, disease severity, quality of life, and treatment-related complications. Risk factors for GPP recurrence were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 127 patients (female/male ratio = 1.35:1), the mean age of disease onset was 25 years (1st quartile [Q1]-3rd quartile [Q3]: 11-44 years); 29.2% had experienced GPP for more than 10 years. Recurrence occurred in 75.6% of patients, and nearly half reported no identifiable triggers. Younger age at disease onset ( P  = 0.021) and transitioning to plaque psoriasis ( P  = 0.022) were associated with higher recurrence rates. The median diagnostic delay was 8 months (Q1-Q3: 2-41 months), and 32.3% of patients reported misdiagnoses. Comorbidities were present in 53.5% of patients, whereas 51.1% experienced systemic complications during treatment. Depression and anxiety affected 84.5% and 95.6% of patients, respectively. During GPP flares, the median Dermatology Life Quality Index score was 19.0 (Q1-Q3: 13.0-23.5). This score showed significant differences between patients with and without systemic symptoms; it demonstrated correlations with both depression and anxiety scores. Treatment costs caused financial hardship in 55.9% of patients, underscoring the burden associated with GPP. CONCLUSIONS The substantial disease and economic burdens among Chinese GPP patients warrant increased attention. Patients with early onset disease and those transitioning to plaque psoriasis require targeted interventions to mitigate the high recurrence risk.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Psoriasis/pathology* ; Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Adolescent ; Child ; Young Adult ; Quality of Life ; Middle Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; East Asian People

Objective: To identify core acupoint patterns and elucidate the molecular mechanisms of acupuncture for primary depressive disorder (PDD) through data mining and network analysis. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Ovid Technologies (OVID), Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (VIP), Wanfang Data, and SinoMed Database from database foundation to January 31, 2025, for clinical studies on acupuncture treatment of PDD. Descriptive statistics, high-frequency acupoint analysis, degree and betweenness centrality evaluation, and core acupoint prescription mining identified predominant therapeutic combinations for PDD. Network acupuncture was used to predict therapeutic target for the core acupoint prescription. Subsequent protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and molecular complex detection (MCODE) analyses were conducted to identify the key targets and functional modules. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses explored the underlying biological mechanisms of the core acupoint prescription in treating PDD. Results: A total of 57 acupoint prescriptions underwent systematic analysis. The core therapeutic combinations comprised Baihui (GV20), Yintang (GV29), Neiguan (PC6), Hegu (LI4), and Shenmen (HT7). Network acupuncture analysis identified 88 potential therapeutic targets (79 overlapping with PDD), while PPI network analysis revealed central regulatory nodes, including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), IL-10, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10), mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3), and nitric oxide synthase 1 (NOS1). MCODE-based modular analysis further elucidated three functionally coherent clusters: inflammation-homeostasis (score = 6.571), plasticity-neurotransmission (score = 3.143), and oxidative stress (score = 3.000). GO and KEGG analyses demonstrated significant enrichment of the MAPK, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 signaling pathways. These mechanistic insights suggested that the antidepressant effects mediated through mechanisms of neuroinflammatory regulation, neuroplasticity restoration, and immune-oxidative stress homeostasis. Conclusion This study reveals that acupuncture alleviates depression through a multi-level mechanism, primarily involving the neuroinflammation suppression, neuroplasticity enhancement, and oxidative stress regulation. These findings systematically clarify the underlying mechanisms of acupuncture’s antidepressant effects and identify novel therapeutic targets for further mechanistic research.

Objective:To investigate the effects of a low-energy balanced diet combined with exercise intervention on glycolipid metabolism levels in children with simple obesity.Methods:A prospective randomized controlled trial was performed in this study. Forty children with simple obesity who attended the pediatric outpatient department of Tangshan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital in Hebei Province from January 2022 to January 2024 were selected and randomly divided into two groups using a random number table: an observation group ( n=22) and a control group ( n=18). No weight-loss products were used by any children in either group. The control group received exercise intervention alone, while the observation group received a combined intervention of exercise and a low-energy balanced diet. The intervention lasted for 8 weeks for both groups. The differences in energy intake during the intervention, as well as body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and adiponectin levels before and after the intervention were compared between the two groups. Measurement data with normal distribution were expressed as Mean±SD, inter-group comparisons were performed by independent samples t-test, and within-group comparisons before and after treatment were performedby paired t-test. Counting data were expressed as case (%), and inter-group comparisons were performed by χ2 test. Results:The energy intake during the intervention was lower in the observation group than in the control group [(1 450±180) kcal/d vs. (1 780±205) kcal/d, t=-5.35, P<0.001]. Before the intervention, there were no statistically significant differences in body weight, BMI and waist circumference between the two groups (all P>0.05). After 8 weeks of intervention, body weight, BMI, and waist circumference decreased significantly compared to pre-intervention levels in both groups [Control group: (62±12) kg vs. (64±13) kg, (26.4±2.9) kg/m 2 vs. (27.9±3.4) kg/m 2, (85±7) cm vs. (91±7) cm, t=7.23, 9.07, 12.31, respectively, all P<0.001; Observation group: (59±16) kg vs. (65 ± 17) kg, (23.3±4.3) kg/m 2 vs. (28.5±4.1) kg/m 2, (82±9) cm vs. (92±10) cm, t=24.90, 17.93, 21.40, respectively, all P<0.001]. Furthermore, the post-intervention values for body weight, BMI, and waist circumference were significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group ( t=-10.89, -18.92, -5.16, respectively, all P<0.001). Before the intervention, there were no statistically significant differences in FBG, FINS, TG, TC, or adiponectin levels between the two groups (all P>0.05). After 8 weeks of intervention, FBG, FINS, TG, and TC levels decreased significantly compared to pre-intervention levels in both groups [Control group: (4.99±0.26) mmol/L vs. (5.22±0.27) mmol/L, (24±6) mU/L vs. (26±8) mU/L, (1.3±0.5) mmol/L vs. (1.5±0.4) mmol/L, (4.3±0.6) mmol/L vs. (4.5±0.6) mmol/L, t=19.75, 6.69, 7.64, 18.27, respectively, all P<0.001; Observation group: (4.64±0.34) mmol/L vs. (5.31±0.26) mmol/L, (16±5) mU/L vs. (21±10) mU/L, (1.0±0.3) mmol/L vs. (1.4±0.5) mmol/L, (4.0±0.8) mmol/L vs. (4.5±0.8) mmol/L, t=19.66, 8.82, 11.26, 22.68, respectively, all P<0.001]. Adiponectin levels increased significantly in both groups [Control group: (8.0±1.2) mg/L vs. (6.8±1.1) mg/L , t=8.38, P<0.001; Observation group: (8.8±1.1) mg/L vs. (6.8±1.2) mg/L, t=23.78, P<0.001], while the improvements in all these glycolipid metabolic parameters were significantly greater in the observation group than in the control group ( t=3.70, 2.76, 2.42, 2.22,2.14, P=0.001, 0.009, 0.020, 0.027, 0.039). Conclusion:The combined intervention of a low-energy balanced diet and exercise can reduce body weight, blood glucose, and blood lipid levels in obese children, thereby improving their glycolipid metabolism.

Objective Differentially expressed genes in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) were subjected to bioinformatic and Mendelian randomization analyses to elucidate their prognostic significance in OSCC. Methods The TCGA database and dataset GSE138206 were used to screen the common differential genes of OSCC, and their relationship was analyzed by using Mendelian randomization. The prognostic value of differential genes was further analyzed by Cox risk regression. The biological function of genes with high prognostic value was further evaluated by single gene differential analysis. Results A total of 147 common differential genes were screened from the two databases. Results of two-sample Mendelian randomization showed that GREM2 was associated with the increased risk of OSCC. In addition, SH3BGRL2 was associated with a decreased risk of OSCC, and DKK1, CCL11, and HOXC6 were considered as independent prognostic markers of OSCC. The predicted results of DKK1 were consistent with the actual results. KEGG enrichment analysis indicated the potential involvement of DKK1 in arachidonic acid and linoleic acid metabolism. Furthermore, DKK1 showed positive correlations with Tgd and Th2 cells, while displaying negative associations with PDC, Cytotoxic cells, Mast cells, CD8 T cells, TFH cells, B cells, T cells, and Th17 cells. Conclusion GREM2 is associated with an increased risk of OSCC. DKK1 is highly expressed in OSCC and associated with poor prognosis, which may be involved in regulating the metabolism of arachidonic acid and linoleic acid and immune cell invasion in OSCC.

BACKGROUND:Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is an important treatment for malignant hematological diseases,and delayed postoperative platelet implantation is a common complication that seriously affects the quality of patient survival;however,there are no standard protocols to improve platelet implantation rates and prevent platelet implantation delays. OBJECTIVE:To compare the safety and efficacy of oral Herombopag Olamine versus subcutaneous recombinant human thrombopoietin for promoting platelet implantation in patients with malignant hematological diseases undergoing haploid hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. METHODS:Clinical data of 163 patients with malignant hematological diseases who underwent haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from January 2016 to October 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.A total of 72 patients who started to subcutaneously inject recombinant human thrombopoietin at+2 days were categorized into the recombinant human thrombopoietin group;a total of 27 patients who started to orally take Herombopag Olamine at+2 days were categorized into the Herombopag Olamine group;and 64 patients who did not apply Herombopag Olamine or recombinant human thrombopoietin were categorized into the blank control group.The implantation status,incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease of degree II-IV within 100 days,1-year survival rate,1-year recurrence rate,and safety were analyzed in the three groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The average follow-up time was 52(12-87)months.The implantation time of neutrophils in the blank control group,recombinant human thrombopoietin group,and Herombopag Olamine group was(12.95±3.88)days,(14.04±3.71)days,and(13.89±2.74)days,respectively,with no statistically significant difference(P=0.352);the implantation time of platelets was(15.16±6.27)days,(17.67±6.52)days,and(17.00±4.75)days,with no statistically significant difference(P=0.287).(2)The complete platelet implantation rate on day 60 was 64.06%,90.28%,and 92.59%,respectively,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.001).The subgroup analysis showed that the difference between the blank control group and the recombinant human thrombopoietin group was statistically significant(P<0.001),and the difference between the blank control group and the Herombopag Olamine group was statistically significant(P=0.004).The difference was not statistically significant between the recombinant human thrombopoietin group and Herombopag Olamine group(P=0.535).(3)100-day II-IV degree acute graft-versus-host disease incidence in the blank control group,recombinant human thrombopoietin group,and Herombopag Olamine group were 25.00%,30.56%,and 25.93%,respectively,and the difference was not statistically significant(P=0.752).(4)The incidence of cytomegalovirus anemia,cytomegalovirus pneumonia,and hepatic function injury had no statistical difference among the three groups(P>0.05).(5)During the follow-up period,there was no thrombotic event in any of the three groups of patients.(6)The results showed that recombinant human thrombopoietin and Herombopag Olamine could improve the platelet implantation rate of malignant hematological disease patients after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation,with comparable efficacy and good safety.

Objective The protective effect and molecular mechanism of electroacupuncture combined with massage on cartilage damage in knee Osteoarthritis rats were explored.Methods 50 SD rats were selected and divided into a control group,a model group,an electroacupuncture group,a massage group,and an electroacupuncture+massage group of 10 rats each using an odd even number method.The rats in the control group were not treated with modeling,and the rats in the other groups were injected with Papain into the articular cavity to build the right knee Osteoarthritis(KOA)model.The massage and electroacupuncture groups were intervened with electroacupuncture and massage for 2 weeks.The improved Le-quesne MG scale was used to evaluate the behavioral performance of rats.The pressure pain value and heat pain threshold of rats before and after intervention were calculated.After eight weeks,the rats were euthanized and abdominal aortic blood was collected.The serum levels of pain mediators(K+),5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT),and dopamine(DA)were measured by ELISA in each group of rats.The right knee joint of rats was taken for HE staining Mankin score,TUNEL chondrocyte apoptosis analysis.Toluidine blue staining was used to observe the changes of cartilage matrix polysaccharide;Western blot was used to detect the concentration and expression of cartilage matrix factor type Ⅱ collagen(Collagen Ⅱ),C-terminal peptide(CTX Ⅱ),type Ⅱ collagen C-precursor peptide(CPⅡ),apoptosis related proteins Bax,Bcl-2,Cleared caspase-3,YAP,p-YAP in the knee joint tissues of rats in each group.Results After the establishment of the KOA model,the Lequesne MG score of rats increased significantly(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the Lequesne MG scores of rats in the electroacupuncture group and massage group decreased significantly(P<0.05).The combination of the two can further reduce the Lequesne MG score significantly(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the pain threshold(TWL,MWT)of the model group was downregulated significantly,and the levels of serum pain factors(K+,DA,5-HT)were upregulated significantly(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the pain thresholds(TWL,MWT)of the electroacupuncture group and the massage group were upregulated significantly,while the levels of serum pain factors(K+,DA,5-HT)were downregulated significantly(P<0.05).The combination of the two reflected the highest pain threshold(TWL,MWT)and the lowest serum pain factor(K+,DA,5-HT)levels.The model group rats had significant joint cartilage fissures,cartilage matrix staining and staining area decreased,and Markin score and cell apoptosis ability were improved(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the arrangement degree of the cartilage layer,staining degree of the cartilage matrix,and staining area of the electroacupuncture group and massage group were all improved,while the Markin score and cell apoptosis rate all decreased significantly(P<0.05).The combination can further reduce the Markin score and the degree of chondrocyte apoptosis(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the expression of Collagen Ⅱ,CPⅡ,Bcl-2,and p-YAP proteins in the model group decreased significantly,while the expression of CTX Ⅱ,Bax,and Cleared caspase-3 proteins increased significantly(P<0.05).Conclusion The combination of electroacupuncture and massage intervention can significantly improve the pathological state of cartilage injury in rats with osteoarthritis,reduce knee joint pain,inhibit chondrocyte apoptosis,and play a protective role in cartilage injury.Its molecular mechanism may be related to the activation of Hippo YAP signaling pathway,which is worth further research in clinical practice.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of short-chain fatty acid(SCFA) on perioperative cognitive dysfunction in aged rats through mitogen-activated protein kinase p38(p38 MAPK)/nuclear factor-κB p65(NF-κB p65) pathway.Methods:According to random number table method, 32 healthy SPF-grade male SD rats, aged 16 months and weighing 520~620 g, were divided into control group, short-chain fatty acid group (SCFA group), perioperative cognitive dysfunction group (PCD group) and perioperative cognitive dysfunction+ short-chain fatty acid group (SCFA+ PCD group), with 8 rats in each group. The perioperative cognitive dysfunction model was established by sevoflurane anesthesia plus internal fixation of tibial fractures. Rats in SCFA group and SCFA+ PCD group freely drank water added with SCFA for 28 days. On the 29th day, rats in SCFA+ FCD group underwent tibial fracture internal fixation surgery. Morris water maze test was performed on the 7th day after surgery to evaluate the cognitive function of rats. The Nissl bodies of hippocampus were observed by Nissl's staining. The hippocampus tissue was collected to analyze the expressions of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), p38 MAPK, phosphorylated p38 MAPK, NF-κB p65 and phosphorylated NF-κB p65 by Western blot.The SPSS 27.0 software was used for statistical analysis. One-way ANOVA was used for comparison among multiple groups, and LSD- t test was used for further pairwise comparison. Results:(1) The results of Morris water maze test showed that the times of crossing the original platform, the escape latency and the residence time in the original platform quadrant were statistically significant among the four groups on the 7th day after surgery ( F=13.80, 47.80, 6.46, all P<0.05). The escape latencies of the SCFA+ PCD group and PCD group were both longer than that in the control group (both P<0.05). The times of crossing the original platform in SCFA+ PCD group and PCD group were less than that of control group (both P<0.05). The residence time in the original platform quadrant in SCFA+ PCD group and PCD group was shorter than that of control group (both P<0.05).Compared with PCD group, the escape latency was shorter, the times of crossing the original platform were more and the residence time in the original platform quadrant was longer in SCFA+ PCD group (all P<0.05). (2) The expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, phosphorylated p38 MAPK and phosphorylated NF-κB p65 were statistically significant among the four groups ( F=184.28, 139.27, 19.40, 58.47, all P<0.05). The expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, phosphorylated p38 MAPK and phosphorylated NF-κB p65 were higher in SCFA+ PCD group (0.49±0.10, 0.60±0.05, 0.489±0.012, 0.435±0.005) and PCD group (0.85±0.05, 1.12±0.08, 0.519±0.028, 0.473±0.008) than those in control group (0.13±0.02, 0.42±0.10, 0.437±0.010, 0.362±0.013)(all P<0.05). The expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, phosphorylated p38 MAPK and phosphorylated NF-κB p65 were lower in SCFA+ PCD group than PCD group (all P<0.05). (3) The average gray value of Nissl bodies was statistically significant different among the four groups ( F=14.65, P<0.05). The average gray value of Nissl bodies was lower in SCFA+ PCD group (193.2±8.1) and PCD group (160.5±14.1) than that of control group (221.2±14.8) (both P<0.05). The average gray value of Nissl bodies was higher in SCFA+ PCD group than that in PCD group( P<0.05). Conclusion:Short-chain fatty acid attenuates cognitive dysfunction, which may be related with inhibiting p38 MAPK/NF-κB p65 pathway and reducing the neuroinflammation.