To explore the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） and integrative TCM-Western medicine approaches in the treatment of diabetic microvascular complications （DMC）， refine key pathophysiological insights and treatment principles， and promote academic innovation and strategic research planning in the prevention and treatment of DMC. The 38th session of the Expert Salon on Diseases Responding Specifically to Traditional Chinese Medicine， hosted by the China Association of Chinese Medicine， was held in Beijing， 2024. Experts in TCM， Western medicine， and interdisciplinary fields convened to conduct a systematic discussion on the pathogenesis， diagnostic and treatment challenges， and mechanism research related to DMC， ultimately forming a consensus on key directions. Four major research recommendations were proposed. The first is addressing clinical bottlenecks in the prevention and control of DMC by optimizing TCM-based evidence evaluation systems. The second is refining TCM core pathogenesis across DMC stages and establishing corresponding "disease-pattern-time" framework. The third is innovating mechanism research strategies to facilitate a shift from holistic regulation to targeted intervention in TCM. The fourth is advancing interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance the role of TCM in new drug development， research prioritization， and guideline formulation. TCM and integrative approaches offer distinct advantages in managing DMC. With a focus on the diseases responding specifically to TCM， strengthening evidence-based support and mechanism interpretation and promoting the integration of clinical care and research innovation will provide strong momentum for the modernization of TCM and the advancement of national health strategies.

Background/Aims: Non-pharmacological treatments are crucial for managing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), yet patient engagement remains a challenge. Understanding patients' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding these treatments is essential for improving care. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted across 5 hospitals, from October 2023 to February 2024. A self-designed knowledge, attitudes, and practices questionnaire along with the IBS quality of life and IBS severity scoring system was administered, and 496 valid responses were analyzed. Statistical analyses included correlation tests, multivariate linear regression, and mediation effect analysis. Results: The median scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice were 28, 25.5, and 21, respectively. Significant positive correlations were found between knowledge-attitude (r = 0.195), knowledge-practice (r = 0.364), and attitude-practice (r = 0.151). The multivariate linear regression analysis further indicated that knowledge (β = 0.399, P < 0.001) and attitude (β = 0.219, P = 0.022) positively correlated with the practical performance. SEM revealed that knowledge had a significant direct effect on both attitude (β = 0.186, P = 0.013) and practice (β = 0.356, P = 0.006). However, the direct effect of attitude on practice was not significant, and attitude did not mediate the relationship between knowledge and practice. Conclusions IBS patients exhibit a significant gap between their positive attitudes and their actual practices concerning non-pharmacological treatments. Knowledge is a direct driver of practice, but positive attitudes alone are insufficient to translate into behavior. Healthcare providers must move beyond simply fostering positive attitudes and focus on targeted educational interventions that provide actionable knowledge and skills to improve patient outcomes.

Intervention in chronically activated microglia-mediated neuroinflammation is a novel approach to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD). The low permeability of the blood‒brain barrier (BBB) and non-selective distribution in the brain severely restrict AD drugs' disease-modifying efficacy. Here, an immunosuppressant TREM2-lowing antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and resveratrol co-loaded cationic liposome is developed as an immune reprogramming nanomodulator modified by acid-cleavable BBB-targeting peptide and microglia-targeting peptide (Res@TcMNP/ASO) for AD management. Res@TcMNP/ASO can enter brain endothelial cells via D-T7 peptides. Then D-T7 undergoes an acid-responsive cleavage, facilitating the escape of Res@MNP/ASO from endo/lysosomes to cross the BBB. The detached Res@MNP/ASO specifically targets M1-phenotype microglia via exposed MG1 peptides to prompt the simultaneous delivery of two drugs into activated microglia. This nanomodulator can not only restore the immune function of microglia through TREM2-lowing ASO but also mitigate the immune stimulation to microglia caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) through resveratrol, thereby synergistically inhibiting the chronic activation of microglia to alleviate neuroinflammation in AD. Our results indicate that this combination treatment can achieve significant behavioral and cognitive improvements in late APP/PS1 mice.

Objective To explore risk factors for cardiac valve calcification (CVC) in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients and evaluate its impact on cardiovascular events and mortality. Methods Retrospective selection of 223 patients with MHD admitted to the Department of Nephrology of Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University from June 30, 2019 to June 30, 2024, and enrollment completed within one week of June 30, 2019. Patients were divided into CVC and non-CVC groups. Baseline data and 5-year follow-up data were collected. The binary logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the risk factors for CVC. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to analyze the survival rate of patients. Cox proportional hazard regression model was applied to evaluate the impact of CVC on the survival rates of MHD patients. Results Totally, 223 MHD patients with an average age of (58.4±13.5) years and an average dialysis duration of (64.0±55.4) months were involved. Among them, 136(61.0%) were males, 117(52.5%) were complicated with CVC. Age, dialysis duration, diabetic kidney disease (DKD), the serum corrected total calcium and phosphate, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and homocysteine (Hcy) were independent related factors for CVC (P＜0.05). Both all-cause mortality (46.6% vs 28.7%) and cardiovascular mortality (33.3% vs 16.0%) were significantly higher in the CVC group than those in the non-CVC group (P＜0.01). Conclusions Age, dialysis duration, the primary disease, calcium and phosphate, and inflammation- and nutrition-related serum indicators are associated with CVC in MHD patients. CVC significantly increases mortality risk of MHD patients.

BACKGROUND:Implant restoration has become an important means to treat anterior tooth loss,and it is particularly important to select appropriate implant restoration materials.However,at present,there are some deficiencies in clinical implant materials,and researchers have been exploring suitable implant materials.OBJECTIVE:To compare the biomechanical characteristics of implants made of different materials in restoring single missing maxillary anterior teeth.METHODS:The cone beam CT data of a patient with single maxillary central incisor loss were imported into 3-matic software to establish a three-dimensional finite element analysis model of single maxillary anterior tooth loss.The model was then imported into Marc Mentat.Eight sets of implant restoration models were designed according to different implant materials(polyetheretherketone,titanium-zirconium alloy,titanium alloy,and zirconia,with the elastic modulus of the four materials increasing in sequence)and cancellous bone density(high density,low density)to simulate the stress conditions of the maxillary anterior teeth in centric occlusion.The total displacements and von Mises stresses of implants,cortical bone stresses and cancellous bone strains were compared and analyzed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The maximum displacement of the implant gradually decreased with the increase of the modulus of elasticity of the material,and the value of the maximum displacement of the implant in the polyetheretherketone group exceeded 10 μm;the implant stress was concentrated in the labial neck in the models.The maximum stress gradually increased with the increase of the modulus of elasticity of the implant material,among which,the zirconia-low density bone model had the highest stress,which was 21.31 MPa;the cortical bone stress was concentrated in the cortical bone at the junction of the implant with the labial side,and the polyetheretherketone-low density bone group had the highest value,which was 29.90 MPa.(2)From the biomechanical point of view,titanium-zirconium alloy,titanium alloy,and zirconia can be used as implant materials for restoration of a single missing anterior tooth,and implant displacement is one of the common problems during implant restorations,but pure polyetheretherketone material may cause excessive implant displacement in implant restorations of anterior areas,causing implant failure.

Objective:To assess the efficacy and safety profile of antaitasvir phosphate combined with yiqibuvir in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) of various genotypes, without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis.Methods:394 cases with CHC from 22 centers were collected from October 2021 to April 2023. They were randomly assigned to receive either the experimental drugs (antaitasvir phosphate 100 mg+yiqibuvir 600 mg) or placebo treatment in a 3∶1 ratio. The patients were administered drugs once a day for 12 consecutive weeks, and then followed up for 24 weeks after treatment cessation. All subjects were unblinded at the four-week follow-up following drug discontinuation, with the experimental drug group continuing to complete subsequent post-discontinuation follow-up. The placebo group was switched to receive the experimental drugs for a repeated 12-week treatment period and followed up for another 24 weeks after discontinuation of the drug (placebo delayed treatment phase).The sustained virologic response rate (SVR12) was observed for subjects in the double-blind phase and the placebo delayed-treatment phase at 12 weeks after treatment cessation.Virological resistance analysis was performed on subjects who failed treatment. The primary efficacy endpoint was SVR12. The number and percentage of subjects who achieved "HCV RNA

Objective To understand the incidence of nutritional risk in IBD patients in Kunming City,and to analyze the influencing factors.Methods A total of 707 IBD patients who were hospitalized in the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University from September 2016 to May 2024 were retrospectively enrolled.Patient general information,disease-related data,and laboratory examination results were collected.Nutritional risk screening was performed using the NRS2002 scale,with subjects divided into nutritional risk and no-nutritional risk groups.Among Crohn's disease(CD)patients,110 were in the nutritional risk group and 85 in the no nutritional risk group.For ulcerative colitis(UC)patients,146 were in the nutritional risk group and 366 in the no nutritional risk group.Statistical analysis was conducted on the collected data.Results The incidence of nutritional risk in IBD patients was 36.21%,with 56.41%for CD and 28.52%for UC.Statistical analysis showed that for CD patients,sleep,BMI,disease diagnosis age,and disease activity were influencing factors of nutritional risk(P<0.05).For UC patients,influencing factors were BMI,disease activity,albumin(ALB),and erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR)(P<0.05).Conclusion IBD patients have a high nutritional risk,with CD patients being more severely affected.The influencing factors of nutritional risk are complex.Medical personnel should conduct early nutritional risk screening for IBD patients to avoid adverse outcomes due to nutritional issues.

BACKGROUND:Implant restoration has become an important means to treat anterior tooth loss,and it is particularly important to select appropriate implant restoration materials.However,at present,there are some deficiencies in clinical implant materials,and researchers have been exploring suitable implant materials.OBJECTIVE:To compare the biomechanical characteristics of implants made of different materials in restoring single missing maxillary anterior teeth.METHODS:The cone beam CT data of a patient with single maxillary central incisor loss were imported into 3-matic software to establish a three-dimensional finite element analysis model of single maxillary anterior tooth loss.The model was then imported into Marc Mentat.Eight sets of implant restoration models were designed according to different implant materials(polyetheretherketone,titanium-zirconium alloy,titanium alloy,and zirconia,with the elastic modulus of the four materials increasing in sequence)and cancellous bone density(high density,low density)to simulate the stress conditions of the maxillary anterior teeth in centric occlusion.The total displacements and von Mises stresses of implants,cortical bone stresses and cancellous bone strains were compared and analyzed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The maximum displacement of the implant gradually decreased with the increase of the modulus of elasticity of the material,and the value of the maximum displacement of the implant in the polyetheretherketone group exceeded 10 μm;the implant stress was concentrated in the labial neck in the models.The maximum stress gradually increased with the increase of the modulus of elasticity of the implant material,among which,the zirconia-low density bone model had the highest stress,which was 21.31 MPa;the cortical bone stress was concentrated in the cortical bone at the junction of the implant with the labial side,and the polyetheretherketone-low density bone group had the highest value,which was 29.90 MPa.(2)From the biomechanical point of view,titanium-zirconium alloy,titanium alloy,and zirconia can be used as implant materials for restoration of a single missing anterior tooth,and implant displacement is one of the common problems during implant restorations,but pure polyetheretherketone material may cause excessive implant displacement in implant restorations of anterior areas,causing implant failure.

Objective:To assess the efficacy and safety profile of antaitasvir phosphate combined with yiqibuvir in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) of various genotypes, without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis.Methods:394 cases with CHC from 22 centers were collected from October 2021 to April 2023. They were randomly assigned to receive either the experimental drugs (antaitasvir phosphate 100 mg+yiqibuvir 600 mg) or placebo treatment in a 3∶1 ratio. The patients were administered drugs once a day for 12 consecutive weeks, and then followed up for 24 weeks after treatment cessation. All subjects were unblinded at the four-week follow-up following drug discontinuation, with the experimental drug group continuing to complete subsequent post-discontinuation follow-up. The placebo group was switched to receive the experimental drugs for a repeated 12-week treatment period and followed up for another 24 weeks after discontinuation of the drug (placebo delayed treatment phase).The sustained virologic response rate (SVR12) was observed for subjects in the double-blind phase and the placebo delayed-treatment phase at 12 weeks after treatment cessation.Virological resistance analysis was performed on subjects who failed treatment. The primary efficacy endpoint was SVR12. The number and percentage of subjects who achieved "HCV RNA

Objective:To explore the effect of cathepsin L (CTSL) inhibitor on apoptosis of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and mitochondrial oxidative stress.Methods:RPE cells were cultured in vitro and divided into control group, hydrogen peroxide (H 2O 2) group, and H 2O 2+CTSL inhibitor group. The cells of H 2O 2 group and H 2O 2+CTSL inhibitor group were incubated in the medium containing 400 μmol/L H 2O 2 for 24 hours and 10 μmol/L CTSL inhibitor was added in H 2O 2+CTSL inhibitor group at the same time. The cells of normal group were routinely cultured cells. The follow-up experiment was carried out 24 hours after modeling. The rate of apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The expression of CTSL was detected by immunofluorescence staining, Western blot and real time-polymerase chain reaction. The level of mitochondrial super oxide was detected by MitoSOX fluorescent probe, and the mitochondrial structure was observed after MitoTracker staining, the average area, form factors, and branch of mitochondria were quantitatively analyzed. The two groups were compared using two-tailed Student t test, while numerous groups were compared using one-way ANOVA. Results:Compared with control group, the rate of apoptosis in H 2O 2 group was significantly higher ( t=3.307, P=0.029 7), the expression level of CTSL was significantly increased ( t=19.950, 6.916, 14.220; P<0.05). Compared with H 2O 2 group, the expression level of CTSL, the rate of apoptosis and the mitochondrial ROS level in H 2O 2+CTSL inhibitor group were significantly lower ( t=11.940, 4.718, 16.680; P<0.05). The mitochondria of H 2O 2+CTSL inhibitor group were elongated, oval-shaped or rod-shaped, while the mitochondria of H 2O 2 group lost their continuous contour shape and complete structure. The differences of the average area, form factors, and brach of mitochondria among 4 groups were statistically significant ( F=251.700, 34.010, 60.500; P<0.000 1). Conclusions:H 2O 2 can significantly induce apoptosis in RPE cells and increase CTSL expression. CTSL inhibitor can inhibit the H 2O 2-induced apoptosis of RPE cells, lower the mitochondrial super oxide level, and successfully repair the mitochondrial structure.