1.Vanillic acid inhibits inflammatory response and extracellular matrix degradation of endplate chondrocytes
Qinghe YU ; Ziming CAI ; Jintao WU ; Pengfei MA ; Xin ZHANG ; Longqian ZHOU ; Yakun WANG ; Xiaoqin LIN ; Wenping LIN
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(30):6391-6397
BACKGROUND:Research has shown that vanillic acid has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress effects,but it is unclear whether it has a protective effect on endplate chondrocytes.OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect and mechanism of vanillic acid on endplate chondrocytes under inflammatory microenvironment.METHODS:(1)Primary endplate chondrocytes were isolated from the intervertebral disc of SD rats and identified by toluidine blue staining and collagenⅡ immunofluorescence.(2)The CCK-8 assay was employed to detect the effects of interleukin-1β and vanillic acid on the proliferation activity of endplate chondrocytes,in order to determine the concentration of vanillic acid for subsequent cell treatment.(3)An inflammatory microenvironment was simulated by adding 10 ng/mL interleukin-1β to the culture medium,and the endplate chondrocytes were treated with low,medium,and high mass concentrations of vanillic acid.The expression levels of inflammatory markers and extracellular matrix proteins were detected by western blot assay and immunofluorescence.(4)The expression of nuclear factor κB signaling pathway-related proteins was detected by western blot assay.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The morphology of endplate chondrocytes in adherent culture was pike or triangular in shape,positive for toluidine blue staining and immunofluorescence for collagen Ⅱ,indicating that the experimentally extracted cells were endplate chondrocytes.(2)The CCK-8 assay results showed that treatment with 2.5,5,10,and 20 μg/mL vanillic acid for 24 hours did not significantly inhibit the proliferation of endplate chondrocytes.Compared with the interleukin-1β group,the viability of endplate chondrocytes treated with 5,10,and 20 μg/mL vanillic acid for 24 hours was significantly increased(P<0.05).Therefore,5,10,and 20 μg/mL vanillic acid was selected as the low,medium,and high dose groups for subsequent treatment of endplate chondrocytes.(3)Compared with the model group(complete medium containing 10 ng/mL interleukin-1β),the expression of NOD-like receptor thermal domain associated protein 3(NLRP3),matrix metalloproteinase 13,matrix metalloproteinase 3,and tumor necrosis factor alpha protein in the endplate chondrocytes of the low,medium,and high doses of vanillic acid groups were significantly reduced(P<0.05).(4)Compared with the model group,the protein expression of aggrecan and collagen Ⅱ in the endplate chondrocytes of the low,medium,and high dose groups of vanillic acid significantly increased(P<0.05).(5)Compared with the model group,the protein expression of phospho-nuclear factor κB and phospho-inhibitor of nuclear factor κB in the endplate chondrocytes of the low,medium,and high dose groups of vanillic acid was significantly reduced(P<0.05).(6)The above results indicate that vanillic acid may alleviate the inflammatory response and extracellular matrix degradation induced by interleukin-1β in rat endplate chondrocytes by inhibiting the activation of the nuclear factor κB signaling pathway.
2.Clinical features of hepatitisassociatedaplastic anemia in children
Bingjie QUAN ; Yijing LIU ; Xiaoqin LI ; Fang ZHOU
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2025;41(1):84-89
Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia(HAAA)in pediatric patients.Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 212 children with aplastic anemia(AA)who were hospitalized at Henan Children's Hospital from September 2014 to February 2023.The patients were categorized into two groups based on etiology:the HAAA group and the non-HAAA group.The study group consisted of 23 patients in the HAAA group,while a control group of 115 children without HAAA was matched in a 1∶5 ratio based on age,sex,and severity of aplastic anemia.The clinical characteristics,treatment regimens,and outcomes of the 23 patients with HAAA were analyzed and compared with those of the control group comprising 115 patients.Results Among the 23 children with HAAA,there were 11 males and 12 females,with a median age of 6 years and 3 months(ranging from 1 year and 4 months to 12 years old).The onset of aplastic anemia in all HAAA children occurred after the initial presentation of acute hepatitis.Following gradual improvement in liver function,peripheral blood images showed a progressive decline by two or three lines,including platelets.Among these cases,very severe aplastic anemia was observed in 14 patients(60.9%),severe aplastic anemia in 7 patients(30.4%),and non-severe aplastic anemia in 2 patients(8.7%).The median interval between hepatitis onset and diagnosis of aplastic anemia was found to be 56 days(range:10~157 days).All 23 pediatric patients with HAAA presented with acute icteric hepatitis,accounting for 100%of the cohort.One patient(4.3%)was genetically diagnosed with X-linked lymphoproliferative disease type 2,while liver biopsy revealed drug-induced hepatitis/chemical liver injury in five patients(21.7%).Compared to the control group,HAAA patients exhibited significantly lower levels of CD4+cells[(1.2±0.3)vs.(1.5±0.1)]and CD4+/CD8+ratios[(-0.2±0.4)vs.(0.1±0.2)](P<0.05).Three patients received immunosuppressive therapy(IST),18 underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT),and two non-severe cases were treated with methylprednisolone sodium succinate and compound Zapoan pill;all patients survived.Conclusions Children with HAAA present a critical condition and exhibit a poor prognosis,predominantly manifesting as severe or extremely severe aplastic anemia during the recovery phase of hepatitis.Reduction in CD4+cell count and inversion of CD4+/CD8+ratio may serve as early warning indicators for HAAA.Effective improvement in prognosis can be achieved through immunosuppressive therapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
3.Practical experience in perineal protection and assessment by midwives in general hospitals: a qualitative study
Hanmei ZHANG ; Xueqin LIU ; Mei HUANG ; Yong WANG ; Xiaoqin WANG ; Lihua ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2025;31(30):4087-4092
Objective:To explore the practical experience in perineal protection and assessment by midwives in general hospitals, so as to provide reference for further reducing the episiotomy rate for non-medical indications.Methods:From December 2021 to January 2022, applying a phenomenological research methodology, 14 midwives from four general hospitals in Anhui Province were selected through purposive sampling combined with maximum difference sampling for semi-structured interviews. Colaizzi 7-step analysis method was used to summarize, analyze and refine themes.Results:Three themes and 10 sub-themes were extracted, namely the motivation for perineal protection (policy orientation, reduction of childbirth injuries, maternal needs), decision-making factors for perineal protection (maternal and infant safety, maternal perineal condition, work experience, work environment, maternal cooperation), and techniques for perineal protection (patience, controlling the speed of fetal head delivery) .Conclusions:Midwives' perineal protection and assessment practices are influenced by multiple factors. Hospital administrators are advised to enhance midwife training, establish system processes to reduce perineal injuries, unify perineal assessment standards, and rationally control episiotomy rates while fully prioritizing the maternal and infant safety.
4.Different Acupuncture Therapies for Insomnia with Heart and Spleen Deficiency:A Network Meta-analysis
Xinyi FENG ; Chunqing ZHOU ; Xiaoqin MA
Journal of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University 2025;49(2):241-248
[Objective]To evaluate the efficacy of different acupuncture therapies in treating patients with insomnia with heart and spleen deficiency,thereby providing evidence-based guidance for clinical practice in selecting optimal treatment regimens.[Methods]A systematic search was performed across China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),WanFang,China Biomedical Literature Database(SinoMed),China Science and Technology Journal Database(VIP),PubMed,the Cochrane Library,Web of Science and Embase for randomized controlled trials assessing different acupuncture interventions for heart-spleen deficiency insomnia.The retrieval time limit was from the establishment date of the databases to August 2024.Data were analyzed by using Review Manager 5.3 and Stata 17.0 software.[Results]Ultimately,28 studies were included,encompassing 10 distinct acupuncture modalities and involving a total of 2 117 patients.According to the network Meta-analysis,moxibustion,warm acupuncture,acupuncture plus moxibustion,ear acupuncture with moxibustion,as well as ear acupressure beads combined with acupuncture demonstrated superior effectiveness compared with conventional sedative-hypnotic medications in enhancing Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI)scores,and the ranking from high to low was warm acupuncture,ear acupoint pressure bead plus acupuncture,ear acupoint pressure bead plus moxibustion,moxibustion,acupuncture plus moxibustion,electroacupuncture,simple acupuncture,acupoint catgut embedding.Regarding clinical efficacy rates,warm acupuncture,acupuncture plus moxibustion,ear acupoint pressure bead plus acupuncture,pure acupuncture,electroacupuncture,and acupoint catgut embedding exhibited greater efficacy than conventional sedative-hypnotic medications.And the ranking in terms of clinical efficacy was electroacupuncture,warm acupuncture,acupoint catgut embedding,ear acupoint pressure bead plus acupuncture,simple acupuncture,acupuncture plus acupoint injection,acupoint injection,acupuncture plus moxibustion,ear acupoint pressure bead plus moxibustion.[Conclusion]Electroacupuncture can effectively increase the total clinical effective rate of insomnia treatment,warming moxibustion can effectively improve the PSQI score of patients.In clinical practice,an appropriate treatment plan can be selected based on the patient's own condition.
5.Guideline for the prevention of intraoperative acquired pressure injury in paraplegic patients with spinal cord injury (version 2025)
Aijun XU ; Shuixia LI ; Bo CHEN ; Mengyuan YE ; Lejiao LANG ; Ning NING ; Lin ZHANG ; Changqing LIU ; Zhonglan CHEN ; Weihu MA ; Weishi LI ; Xiaoning WANG ; Dongmei BIAN ; Jiancheng ZENG ; Xin WANG ; Yuan GAO ; Yaping CHEN ; Jiali CHEN ; Yun HAN ; Xiuting LI ; Yang ZHOU ; Xiaojing SU ; Qiong ZHANG ; Tianwen HUANG ; Ping ZHANG ; Hua LIN ; Xingling XIAO ; Ruifeng XU ; Fanghui DONG ; Bing HAN ; Luo FAN ; Yanling PEI ; Suyun LI ; Xiaoju TAN ; Rongchen GUO ; Yefang ZOU ; Xiaoyun HAN ; Junqin DING ; Yi WANG ; Shuhua DENG ; Jinli GUO ; Yinhua LIANG ; Yuan CEN ; Xiaoqin LIU ; Junru CHEN ; Haiyang YU ; Lunlan LI ; Ying REN ; Yunxia LI ; Jianli LU ; Ying YING ; Lan WEI ; Yin WANG ; Qinhong XU ; Yanqin ZHANG ; Yang LYU ; Shijun ZHANG ; Sui WENJIE ; Sanlian HU ; Shuhong YANG ; Guoqing LI ; Jingjing AN ; Baorong HE ; Leling FENG
Chinese Journal of Trauma 2025;41(6):530-541
Paraplegia caused by spinal cord injury is a serious neurological complication, for which surgery is currently the main treatment method. Due to different surgical approaches, patients are usually expected to maintain a passive prone position for a long time or switch between the supine and prone positions. Affected by multiple factors such as neurogenic sensory disorders, pathological changes in muscle tone and operative duration, the risk of intraoperative acquired pressure injury (IAPI) is significantly increased. Current clinical prevention strategies for IAPI in these patients predominantly focus on localized pressure relief during positioning, lacking systematic, standardized comprehensive prevention protocols or evidence-based guidelines. To address it, Department of Nursing, Orthopedics Branch, China International Exchange and Promotive Association for Medical and Health Care, Spinal Trauma Professional Committee, Orthopedics Branch, Chinese Medical Doctor Association, Nursing Group of Spine and Spinal Cord Professional Committee of Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine organized experts in relevant fields to formulate Guideline for the prevention of intraoperative acquired pressure injury in paraplegic patients with spinal cord injury ( version 2025), based on evidence-based medical evidence and latest research results and clinical practice at home and abroad. Eleven recommendations were put forward from the aspects of preoperative risk assessment, intraoperative prevention strategies, postoperative handover and monitoring, and supportive mechanisms for IAPI prevention, aiming to standardize the prevention measures and management strategies of IAPI in paraplegic patients with spinal cord injury and accelerate the recovery of patients and improve the therapeutic effect.
6.Herbal Textual Research on Picrorhizae Rhizoma in Famous Classical Formulas
Feng ZHOU ; Yihan WANG ; Yanmeng LIU ; Xiaoqin ZHAO ; Kaizhi WU ; Cheng FENG ; Wenyue LI ; Wei ZHANG ; Wentao FANG ; Zhilai ZHAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(9):228-239
This article systematically analyzes the historical evolution of the name, origin, quality evaluation, harvesting, processing and other aspects of Picrorhizae Rhizoma by referring to the medical books, prescription books, and other documents of the past dynasties, combined with relevant modern research materials, in order to provide a basis for the development and utilization of famous classical formulas containing this medicinal herb. The research results indicate that Picrorhizae Rhizoma was first recorded in New Revised Materia Medica from the Tang dynasty. Throughout history, Huhuanglian has been used as its official name, and there are also aliases such as Gehu Luze, Jiahuanglian and Hulian. The main source of past dynasties is the the rhizomes of Picrorhiza kurrooa and P. scrophulariiflora. In ancient times, Picrorhizae Rhizoma was mainly imported by foreign traders via Guangzhou and other regions, and also produced in China, mainly in Xizang. In ancient times, it was harvested and dried in early August of the lunar calendar, while in modern times, it is mostly harvested from July to September, with the best quality being those with thick and crispy rhizomes without impurities, and bitter taste. Throughout history, Picrorhizae Rhizoma was collected, washed, sliced, and dried before being used as a raw material for medicine, it has a bitter and cold taste, mainly used to treat bone steaming, hot flashes, infantile chancre fever, and dysentery. There is no significant difference in taste and efficacy between ancient and modern times. Based on the research results, it is recommended that the rhizomes of P. scrophulariiflora in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia, or the rhizomes of P. kurrooa, can be used in famous classical formulas containing this medicinal herb, which can be processed according to the processing requirements marked by the original formula. For those without clear processing requirements, the dried raw products are used as medicine.
7.Reporting quality and influencing factors of patient-reported outcomes in randomized controlled trials of lung cancer: Based on the CONSORT-PRO extension
Guiying ZHANG ; Yueyuan YOU ; Xiaoqin ZHOU ; Jing LI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(03):322-331
Objective To evaluate the reporting quality and influencing factors of patient-reported outcome (PRO) data in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of lung cancer. Methods RCTs of lung cancer with PRO as either primary or secondary endpoints were searched from PubMed, EMbase, Medline, CNKI, Wanfang Data, and VIP databases between January 1, 2010 and April 20, 2024. Reporting quality of included RCTs were assessed based on the CONSORT-PRO extension. Descriptive statistics and bivariate regression analysis were used to describe the reporting quality and analyze the factors influencing the reporting quality. Results A total of 740 articles were retrieved. After screening, 53 eligible RCTs of lung cancer with 22 780 patients were included. The patients were mainly with non-small cell lung cancer (84.91%), with the median sample size of the included studies was 364.0 (160.5, 599.5) patients. The primary PRO tool used was the EORTC QLQ-C30 (60.38%). There were 52 (98.11%) studies whose PRO measured the domain of "symptom management of cough, dyspnea, fatigue, pain, etc.", and 45 (84.91%) studies measured "health-related quality of life". Multicenter studies accounted for 84.91%, and randomized non-blind trials accounted for 62.26%. PRO was used as the primary endpoint in 33.96% of the studies and as secondary endpoints in 66.04%. The reliability and validity of the PRO tools were explicitly mentioned in 11.32% and 7.55% of the studies, respectively. The average completeness of reporting according to the CONSORT-PRO guidelines was 60.00%, ranging from 25.00% to 93.00%. The main factors affecting the completeness of CONSORT-PRO reporting included sample size and publication year. For every increment in sample size, the completeness of reporting increased by 27.5% (SE=0.00, t=2.040, P=0.046). Additionally, studies published after 2018 had a 67.2% higher completeness of reporting compared to those published in or before 2018 (SE=17.8, t=–3.273, P=0.006). Conclusion The study reveals that the overall reporting quality of PRO in lung cancer RCTs is poor. Particularly, the reporting of PRO measures reliability and validity, PRO assumptions, applicability, and handling of missing data need further improvement. Future research should emphasize comprehensive adherence to the CONSORT-PRO guidelines.
8.Challenges and future directions of medicine with artificial intelligence
Xiaoqin ZHOU ; Huizhen LIU ; Ting WANG ; Xueting LIU ; Fang LIU ; Deying KANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(02):244-251
This comprehensive review systematically explores the multifaceted applications, inherent challenges, and promising future directions of artificial intelligence (AI) within the medical domain. It meticulously examines AI's specific contributions to basic medical research, disease prevention, intelligent diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, nursing, and health management. Furthermore, the review delves into AI's innovative practices and pivotal roles in clinical trials, hospital administration, medical education, as well as the realms of medical ethics and policy formulation. Notably, the review identifies several key challenges confronting AI in healthcare, encompassing issues such as inadequate algorithm transparency, data privacy concerns, absent regulatory standards, and incomplete risk assessment frameworks. Looking ahead, the future trajectory of AI in healthcare encompasses enhancing algorithm interpretability, propelling generative AI applications, establishing robust data-sharing mechanisms, refining regulatory policies and standards, nurturing interdisciplinary talent, fostering collaboration among industry, academia, and medical institutions, and advancing inclusive, personalized precision medicine. Emphasizing the synergy between AI and emerging technologies like 5G, big data, and cloud computing, this review anticipates a new era of intelligent collaboration and inclusive sharing in healthcare. Through a multidimensional analysis, it presents a holistic overview of AI's medical applications and development prospects, catering to researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in the healthcare sector. Ultimately, this review aims to catalyze the deep integration and innovative deployment of AI technology in healthcare, thereby driving the sustainable advancement of smart healthcare.
9.Interpretation of the CONSORT 2025 statement: Updated guideline for reporting randomized trials
Geliang YANG ; Xiaoqin ZHOU ; Fang LEI ; Min DONG ; Tianxing FENG ; Li ZHENG ; Lunxu LIU ; Yunpeng ZHU ; Xuemei LIU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(06):752-759
The Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement aims to enhance the quality of reporting for randomized controlled trial (RCT) by providing a minimum item checklist. It was first published in 1996, and updated in 2001 and 2010, respectively. The latest version was released in April 2025, continuously reflecting new evidence, methodological advancements, and user feedback. CONSORT 2025 includes 30 essential checklist items and a template for a participant flow diagram. The main changes to the checklist include the addition of 7 items, revision of 3 items, and deletion of 1 item, as well as the integration of multiple key extensions. This article provides a comprehensive interpretation of the statement, aiming to help clinical trial staff, journal editors, and reviewers fully understand the essence of CONSORT 2025, correctly apply it in writing RCT reports and evaluating RCT quality, and provide guidance for conducting high-level RCT research in China.
10.Interpretation of the TRIPOD-LLM reporting guideline for studies using large language models
Xiaoqin ZHOU ; Huizhen LIU ; Ting WANG ; Xuemei LIU ; Deying KANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(07):940-946
As the volume of medical research using large language models (LLM) surges, the need for standardized and transparent reporting standards becomes increasingly critical. In January 2025, Nature Medicine published statement titled by TRIPOD-LLM reporting guideline for studies using large language models. This represents the first comprehensive reporting framework specifically tailored for studies that develop prediction models based on LLM. It comprises a checklist with 19 main items (encompassing 50 sub-items), a flowchart, and an abstract checklist (containing 12 items). This article provides an interpretation of TRIPOD-LLM’s development methods, primary content, scope, and the specific details of its items. The goal is to help researchers, clinicians, editors, and healthcare decision-makers to deeply understand and correctly apply TRIPOD-LLM, thereby improving the quality and transparency of LLM medical research reporting and promoting the standardized and ethical integration of LLM into healthcare.

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