This paper summarizes Professor DING Ying's clinical experience in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus （SLE） through differentiation of three states， yin fire， latent fire， and fire toxin. It is proposed that fire pathogenic factors constitute a key pathological element running throughout the entire disease course of SLE. The evolution of its pathogenesis centers on these three states， spleen-kidney deficiency with the initial emergence of yin fire as the onset of disease， damage to yin by medicinal toxicity with internal blazing of latent fire as the driver of disease progression， and the interlocking of blood stasis and heat with intense scorching by fire toxin as the critical factor leading to severe and life-threatening conditions. Corresponding to these three stages， targeted prescriptions are formulated， Jiuwei Yishen Formulation （九味益肾方） to tonify the spleen and kidney， raise yang， and disperse fire； Ziyin Xiehuo Decoction （滋阴泄火汤） to nourish yin and fluids while clearing latent fire； and Santeng Changluo Jiedu Decoction （三藤畅络解毒汤） to dispel blood stasis， unblock the collaterals， detoxify， and restrain fire. This staged and integrated therapeutic strategy aims to address both root and branch and to achieve overall regulation， providing valuable guidance for the clinical differentiation and treatment of SLE.

Deep medullary vein （DMV） lesions refer to the structural and functional abnormalities of the small venous system within the deep white matter under pathological conditions. Under normal physiological circumstances， DMV are responsible for venous drainage of deep white matter and clearance of metabolic waste. The pathogenesis of DMV lesions mainly involves luminal stenosis caused by collagen deposition in the venous wall， hemodynamic disturbances due to elevated venous pressure， functional impairment of the venous wall induced by inflammatory responses and cytokines， and microcirculatory disturbance caused by ischemia and hypoxia. Studies have shown that DMV lesions are extensively observed in various neurological disorders， including acute ischemic stroke， cerebral small vessel disease， multiple sclerosis， and Sturge-Weber syndrome， and are closely associated with the imaging manifestations， clinical progression， and prognosis of these diseases. However， despite the continuous improvement in the capability for DMV detection， the specific role of DMV in the pathogenesis of different diseases remains unclear. Further studies are needed to explore the role of DMV in pathophysiological processes and assess its clinical value as a target for early diagnosis and intervention， so as to facilitate the development of precision medicine.

Objective: To analyze the phylogenetic characteristics of VP1 gene of Coxsackievirus A10 (CVA10) isolates from 2004 to 2023, and to understand the genetic evolution and epidemic trends of CVA10, so as to provide references for the prevention and control of hand, foot, and mouth disease. Methods: The full-length sequences of the VP1 region of CVA10 isolates were retrieved from the BV-BRC database before December 15, 2024. Gene typing, sequence analysis, evolutionary analysis, and amino acid mutation site analysis were conducted using bioinformatics software. Results: A total of 1 253 CVA10 isolates VP1 region nucleotide full-length sequences from 2004 to 2023 were included, with 9 strains from 2004 to 2008, 338 strains from 2009 to 2012, and 906 strains from 2013 to 2023. China had the highest number of CVA10 isolates, with 1 143 strains accounting for 91.22%, and the predominant genotype was C3. Compared to the prototype strain, the nucleotide sequence homology of the VP1 region of CVA10 isolates ranged from 74.94% to 77.63%, while the amino acid sequence homology ranged from 88.59% to 93.62%. The third codon position preferred cytosine and thymine. The top three most abundant amino acids were threonine, alanine, and valine. The average relative synonymous codon usage of 30 amino acid codon groups was greater than 1. The average amino acid substitution entropy value was 0.04, with four amino acid mutation-prone sites identified, and the mutation-prone rate was 1.35%. Conclusions From 2004 to 2023, the majority of CVA10 isolates were primarily sourced from China, with genotype C3 being the predominant circulating strain in China. The nucleotide homology between the CVA10 isolates and the prototype strain was relatively low, and mutation-prone sites were identified, indicating that enhanced monitoring of viral variation is necessary.

Objective Depression,a most common psychiatric disease,is defined in Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)as Yu Syndrome,i.e.,depression disorder,or Baihe Disease,i.e.,lily bulb disease,a category of emotional disorders treated with lily-based TCM preparations.In TCM,depression is managed through syndrome differentiation and treatment,which is characterized by high efficacy and safety.However,there is no unified standard for the classification of depression syndromes,which leads to a disconnection between the analysis of patients'medication patterns and their actual syndromes and hinders the study of medication patterns specific to particular syndromes.Therefore,this study is focused on investigating the medication patterns of different sub-types of depression patients based on an objective classification system of depression.Methods We searched for and retrieved clinical literature on TCM formulas for depression from relevant databases,including China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),Wanfang Data,VIP Database,Sinomed,Web of Science,and PubMed.Information on patient symptoms and medication was standardized.Then,the symptoms and the medication frequency of depression patients were statistically analyzed.We used the K-means clustering method combined with implicit structural analysis to objectively categorize depression patients into sub-types.In addition,the main symptoms and core TCM formulas of each sub-type of depression patients were identified.On the basis of objective classification system,we also statistically analyzed the characteristics of herbs used on depression patients,including the 4 basic properties,the 5 flavors,the attributes,the therapeutic efficacy,and the co-occurrence patterns,which may help reveal the medication patterns.Results A total of 3 537 publications and 4 434 prescriptions were included in the analysis.By using the K-means algorithm and latent structure analysis methods,patients with depression were categorized into 9 sub-types,with Cluster 6 accounting for the largest proportion.The most common symptoms among depression patients were insomnia and a depressed mood.Medication frequency analysis showed that Radix Bupleuri(Chai Hu),Radix Paeoniae Alba(Bai Shao),Poria(Fu Ling),Rhizoma Chuanxiong(Chuan Xiong),and Radix Curcumae(Yu Jin)were the most commonly used TCM herbs.For the depression sub-types of Clusters 1,2,and 6,blood-activating and stasis-dissolving herbs were used most often.The depression sub-types of Clusters 3,4,5,8,and 9 were mainly treated with qi-regulating herbs,while the depression sub-type of Cluster 7 was treated with qi-supplementing herbs.Depression patients were mostly treated with herbs that were cold or warm in nature and had sweet,bitter,and pungent flavors.Moreover,treatments for Cluster 1 and Cluster 6 mainly targeted the spleen meridian,while those for Cluster 2,Cluster 3,Cluster 4 and Cluster 5 mainly targeted the heart meridian.The treatments for the other sub-types mainly targeted the liver meridian.The core TCM formulas for the 9 depression sub-types included Zishui Qinggan Decoction,Danzhi Xiaoyao Powder,Huanglian Wendan Tang,Chaihu Guizhi Tang,Modified Xiaoyao Powder,Qinggan Jieyu Tang,Xiaoyao Powder,Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction,and Bazhen Decoction.The most commonly used Chinese herbal medicinal formulas were Gan Cao-Chai Hu,Bai Shao-Chai Hu,and Chen Pi-Chai Hu.Conclusion Based on machine learning,this study reveals the scientific aspects of TCM typing and syndrome-based treatment.It clarifies the rationale for targeting different symptoms in depression treatment and provides theoretical support for clinicians to make medication prescriptions.It also presents a new perspective for investigating TCM medication patterns.

Objective:This study aims to investigate the alterations in m 6A methylation associated with age-related idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF). Methods:By collecting peripheral blood samples from IPF patients, we investigated the changes in m6A modification levels of total RNA and key regulatory factors in elderly IPF patients.Then, the pulmonary fibrosis models of young and old mice were constructed for verification.A total of 10 IPF patients and 10 healthy controls were selected for this study.The m 6A methylation quantitative kit was employed to assess the m 6A modification levels of total RNA.The expression levels of key m 6A methylation regulators, METTL3, METTL14, and FTO, were quantified using qRT-PCR.Additionally, thirty-two healthy male C57BL/6 mice, comprising 16 mice aged 10-12 weeks and 16 mice aged 6-7 months, were divided into four groups: young control(A), young pulmonary fibrosis(B), aged control(C), and aged pulmonary fibrosis(D), with 8 mice in each group.Mice in groups B and D were intratracheally administered bleomycin to establish a pulmonary fibrosis model, while those in groups A and C received normal saline.Twenty-eight days post-model establishment, the mice were euthanized, and lung tissues were collected for analysis.Histological evaluations were performed using hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining, Masson staining, hydroxyproline content determination, and immunohistochemistry to assess the extent of pulmonary fibrosis.The m 6A methylation quantification kit was also utilized to measure the m 6A modification levels of total RNA in lung tissue.Furthermore, the mRNA and protein expression levels of the methyltransferase METTL3 were assessed by qRT-PCR and Western blot experiments. Results:The level of m 6A modification was significantly elevated in the aged IPF patient group(0.36±0.03)compared to the control group t=4.882( P<0.05).Furthermore, the expression of METTL3 was markedly higher in the aged IPF patients( t=6.082), while the expression of METTL14 was significantly lower t=17.58( P<0.05).In contrast, the expression level of FTO did not exhibit a significant difference.It is hypothesized that the increased m 6A modification of total RNA in aged IPF patients is closely associated with METTL3.Furthermore, the degree of lung fibrosis in aged mice was more severe than that in young mice.Immunohistochemistry results indicated that TGF-β1 expression was elevated in the lung fibrosis group, with higher levels observed in group D compared to group B( t=5.891, P<0.05), and in group C compared to group A t=4.135( P<0.05).The percentage of positive area for α-SMA was significantly greater in the lung fibrosis mouse model than in the control group t=20.08( P<0.05).The level of m 6A modification was increased in both lung fibrosis groups relative to the normal control group( P<0.05), although no significant difference was found between group D and group B. Overall, METTL3 mRNA and protein expression were upregulated in the lung fibrosis group, with expression in group D being lower than in group B( P<0.05). Conclusions:The level of m 6A modification is elevated in pulmonary fibrosis, and the expression of METTL3 is upregulated in this condition.The downregulation of METTL3 may be associated with the extent of aging, which subsequently exacerbates the progression of pulmonary fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE To systematically evaluate the repair strategies for temporal bone-parotid composite defects,compare the clinical applicability of local muscle flaps and free flaps,and provide references for optimizing the reconstruction of complex head and neck defects.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 17 patients with postoperative defects in the temporal bone-parotid region treated at Beijing Tongren Hospital,Capital Medical University,between January 2018 and June 2023.There were 11 males and 6 females,with a median age of 58 years(range:42-72 years).All patients had undergone radical resection.Defects were reconstructed with local flaps in 13 cases(temporalis muscle flap,n=6;sternocleidomastoid flap,n=3;submental platysma flap,n=2;submental island flap,n=2)and with free flaps in 4 cases(anterolateral thigh fascial flap,n=1;anterolateral thigh flap,n=1;free abdominal adipofascial flap,n=2).RESULTS The primary diseases of the 17 patients were malignant tumors of the external auditory canal and parotid gland(6 cases of squamous cell carcinoma,6 cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma,and 3 cases of ductal carcinoma).All flaps survived completely.One patient with temporalis muscle flap repair developed postoperative wound infection,which healed after debridement and dressing change.The median follow-up period was 16 months(4-29 months).Two cases(11.8%)of external auditory canal squamous cell carcinoma had local recurrence,one case(5.9%)of parotid ductal carcinoma developed pulmonary metastasis 9 months after surgery and died at 15 months.The remaining 14 cases(82.4%)were tumor-free survivors.Functional evaluation showed that the local tissue flap group had a shorter repair time,but was limited by muscle flap rotation arc;the free flap group could accurately match the defect shape,but the surgical time was prolonged to 3.5-4.5 hours.Fourteen cases(82.4%)received postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy.None of the tissue flaps developed radiation necrosis after radiotherapy.CONCLUSION Temporal bone-parotid composite defects need to balance the dual requirements of surgical cavity coverage and cosmetic repair.Local muscle flaps are easy to operate and have reliable blood supply,suitable for small and medium-sized defects;free tissue flaps have better shape adaptability in complex three-dimensional defect reconstruction,but require microsurgical technical support.The repair plan should be comprehensively decided based on the defect range,vascular conditions,and radiotherapy plan.The data of this group confirmed that both techniques can achieve stable therapeutic effects.

Objectives:To investigate the predictive factors of stroke associated-pneumonia (SAP) in patients with acute stroke, develop nomogram and neural network prediction models and verify their predictive performance.Methods:Patients with acute stroke admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University and Zhenxiong County People's Hospital were included retrospectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent predictive factors of SAP, and develop nomogram and neural network prediction models. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) curves were used to validate and compare the predictive performances. Results:A total of 450 patients with acute stroke were enrolled, including 286 males (63.6%), aged 64.28±13.24 years; 344 patientss (76.4%) had ischemic stroke and 106 (23.6%) had hemorrhagic stroke; 128 patients (28.4%) experienced SAP. According to the random number method, they were divided into a modeling cohort ( n=300) and a validation cohort ( n=150). Multivariate logistic regression analysis in the modeling cohort showed that a higher baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, gastric tube placement, use of proton pump inhibitors, heart failure, and higher neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were the independent predictive factors of SAP. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve of the nomogram model for predicting SAP in the modeling cohort and validation cohort was 0.841 (95% confidence interval [ CI] 0.795-0.880) and 0.863 (95% CI 0.798-0.914), respectively. The sensitivity for predicting SAP were 75.00% and 70.45%, respectively, and the specificity was 81.94% and 92.45%, respectively. The area under the ROC curve of the neural network model for predicting SAP in the modeling cohort and validation cohort was 0.847 (95% CI 0.802-0.866) and 0.862 (95% CI 0.796-0.913), respectively. The sensitivity for predicting SAP were 76.19% and 72.73%, and the specificity was 79.17% and 89.62%, respectively. Conclusions:Higher NIHSS score, gastric tube placement, use of proton pump inhibitors, heart failure, and higher NLR are the independent risk factors for SAP in patients with acute stroke. The nomogram and neural network prediction model developed using the above risk factors have higher predictive value for SAP.

Objective To explore the research status and hotspots of umbilical acupuncture over the past 20 years using bibliometric methods,thus to providing references for the subsequent clinical treatment of umbilical acupuncture and studies of the therapeutic mechanism.Methods Literature on umbilical acupuncture published between 2004 and 2024 was retrieved from the CNKI,Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform,and VIP Chinese Journal Service Platform.Duplicate check was conducted using NoteExpress 3.9.0 software,and then manual screening was performed.The included literature data were imported into VOSviewer for visualized analysis,including institutional collaboration,author collaboration,and keyword co-occurrence.Results A total of 388 articles were included,comprising 286 original research articles,23 reviews,and 79 dissertations.Annual publication analysis revealed a significant upward trend in umbilical acupuncture research output starting from 2017.Zhejiang Chinese Medical University and Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine ranked first in publication volume,and Bao Yehua was the most prolific author.Inter-institutional collaboration remained limited,and author collaborations usually occurred in small-team models.Clinical research was the most commonly-seen keyword,and insomnia and stroke were the diseases being frequently studied.Conclusion Clinical research has become the focus of umbilical acupuncture studies over the past two decades,while mechanism research is still in its early stages.Current research hotspots include the research about insomnia and stroke.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy, safety, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) medication patterns of rituximab (RTX) combined with TCM on treating children with steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (SDNS). Methods: One hundred and forty-three children with SDNS who visited the Pediatric Nephrology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine from January 2018 to December 2022 were enrolled. A cohort study design was adopted, with " RTX treatment" as the exposure factor. Children who met this exposure factor were assigned to the RTX cohort (RTX, glucocorticoid, immunosuppressive agent, combined with traditional Chinese medicine syndrome differentiation treatment), whereas those who did not were assigned to the basic treatment cohort (glucocorticoid, immunosuppressive agent, combined with traditional Chinese medicine syndrome differentiation treatment ), and followed up for 6 months. The frequency of urinary protein recurrences, urinary protein remission duration, proportion and duration of steroid reduction and cessation, cumulative usage of steroids, proportion of recurrence, recurrence amount of steroid used, efficacy of TCM syndrome, and laboratory and safety indicators after treatment, and height and CD19+ B cell count before and after treatment were compared between the two cohorts. The medication patterns of TCM in the two cohorts were analyzed using frequency statistics, association rule analysis, and systematic clustering analysis. Results: Compared with the basic treatment cohort, the RTX cohort showed a decrease in the frequency of urinary protein recurrence, extended sustained remission of urinary protein, an increase in the proportion of steroid reduction and cessation, a shorter duration of steroid reduction and cessation, a decrease in cumulative steroid dosage, a lower recurrence rate, a decrease in CD19+ B cell count, and a decrease in 24-h urinary total protein quantification and the level of cholesterol (P<0.05). No significant difference in the recurrence amount of steroid used, height, TCM syndrome efficacy, albumin, aspartate transaminase, blood urea nitrogen, platelet count, and safety indicators between the two cohorts. Children with SDNS were mostly characterized by qi and yin deficiency syndrome, followed by spleen and kidney yang deficiency syndrome. A total of 175 TCMs were included, including 28 high-frequency drugs such as Huangqi, Fuling, Gancao, Baizhu, Dangshen, and Jiuyurou. The primary use of medication is to nourish the qi and spleen, nourish the kidney, and warm yang. The analysis of association rules yielded eight binary associations and ten three-phase associations, with Huangqi, Baizhu, Fuling, and Dangshen, being the most closely related. Cluster analysis identified four TCM combinations, primarily focusing on tonifying kidney and replenishing essence, benefiting qi and nourishing yin, and removing blood stasis. Conclusion RTX combined with TCM syndrome differentiation treatment can reduce the recurrence frequency of SDNS, prolong the remission period, reduce the glucocorticoid dosage, and have no marked effect on height growth. No apparent adverse reactions were observed. TCM should focus on nourishing qi and yin while removing blood stasis.

Objective: To determine the clinical efficacy and mechanism of Piwei Peiyuan Pill (PPP) combined with moxibustion for treating patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) with spleen and stomach weakness syndrome. Methods: Ninety-six CAG patients with spleen and stomach weakness syndrome who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled at the Department of Spleen and Stomach Diseases of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from June 2022 to December 2023. The patients were randomly divided into a control, a Chinese medicine, and a combined group using a random number table method, with 32 cases in each group (two cases per group were excluded). The control group was treated with rabeprazole combined with folic acid tablets (both thrice daily), the Chinese medicine group was treated with PPP (8 g, thrice daily), and the combined group was treated with moxa stick moxibustion (once daily) on the basis of the Chinese medicine group for 12 consecutive weeks. Gastric mucosa atrophy in the three groups was observed before and after treatment. The gastric mucosal pathological score was evaluated. The Patient Reported Outcome (PRO) scale was used to evaluate the patients′ physical and mental health status and quality of life.An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-10, IL-37, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β levels in each group. Real-time fluorescence PCR was used to detect the relative expression levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) mRNA in each group. Western blotting was used to detect the relative expression levels of proteins related to the STAT3/mTOR signaling pathway, and the adverse drug reactions and events were recorded and compared. Results: There was no statistical difference in age, gender, disease duration, family history of gastrointestinal tumors, alcohol consumption history, and body mass index among the three groups of patients.The total therapeutic efficacy rates of the control, Chinese medicine, and combined groups in treating gastric mucosal atrophy were 66.67% (20/30), 86.67% (26/30), and 90.00% (27/30), respectively (P<0.05). Compared to before treatment, the pathological and PRO scale scores of gastric mucosa in each group decreased after treatment, and TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-37, and TGF-β levels decreased. The relative STAT3 and mTOR mRNA expression levels, as well as the relative STAT3, p-STAT3, mTOR, and p-mTOR protein expression levels decreased (P<0.05), whereas the IL-4 and IL-10 levels increased (P<0.05). After treatment, compared to the control group, the pathological score of gastric mucosa, PRO scale score, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-37, TGF-β content, relative STAT3 and mTOR mRNA expression levels, and relative STAT3, p-STAT3, mTOR, and p-mTOR protein expression levels in the Chinese medicine and combined groups after treatment were reduced (P<0.05), whereas the IL-4 and IL-10 levels increased (P<0.05). After treatment, compared to the Chinese medicine group, the combined group showed a decrease in relative STAT3, mTOR mRNA expression levels, and STAT3, p-STAT3, mTOR, and p-mTOR protein expression levels (P<0.05). Conclusion The combination of PPP and moxibustion may regulate the inflammatory mechanism of the body by inhibiting the abnormal activation of the STAT3/mTOR signaling pathway, upregulating related anti-inflammatory factor levels, downregulating pro-inflammatory factor expression, and increasing related repair factor expression, thereby promoting the recovery of atrophic gastric mucosa, reducing discomfort symptoms, and improving the physical and mental state of CAG patients with spleen and stomach weakness syndrome.