This paper outlines the development of artificial intelligence （AI） and its applications in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） research， and elucidates the roles and advantages of large language models， knowledge graphs， and natural language processing in advancing syndrome identification， prescription generation， and mechanism exploration. Using spleen-stomach diseases as an example， it demonstrates the empowering effects of AI in classical literature mining， precise clinical syndrome differentiation， efficacy and safety prediction， and intelligent education， highlighting an upgraded research paradigm that evolves from data-driven and knowledge-driven approaches to intelligence-driven models. To address challenges related to privacy protection and regulatory compliance in cross-institutional data collaboration， a "trusted federated evidence-based analysis platform for TCM spleen-stomach diseases" is proposed， integrating blockchain-based smart contracts， federated learning， and secure multi-party computation. The deep integration of AI with privacy-preserving computing is reshaping research and clinical practice in TCM spleen-stomach diseases， providing feasible pathways and a technical framework for building a high-quality， trustworthy TCM big-data ecosystem and achieving precision syndrome differentiation.

Objectives: . This study aimed to investigate the regulatory functions of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neural circuits from the inferior colliculus (IC) to the medial geniculate body (MGB) in salicylate-induced tinnitus. Methods: . Mice were treated with salicylate to induce tinnitus, and tinnitus-like behaviors were evaluated via gap prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle. Using combined viral tracing methodologies, we identified and mapped the pathways and connections from the IC to the MGB. Furthermore, we employed Gq-coupled human M3 designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) and Gi-coupled human M4 DREADDs to achieve targeted excitation or suppression of GABAergic neurons in the IC and MGB. Following the administration of clozapine N-oxide, which binds to these receptors, we modulated these neural circuits to assess their impact on tinnitus severity in a mouse model. Results: . Our findings demonstrated that mice exposed to salicylate exhibited tinnitus-like behaviors. GABAergic neurons projecting retrogradely from the MGB to the IC were primarily concentrated in the external nucleus of the IC. After clozapine N-oxide administration, chemogenetic activation of IC-MGB GABAergic neurons aggravated salicylate-induced tinnitus. Additionally, activation of GABAergic neurons between the IC and MGB induced the perception of tinnitus even without salicylate. However, chemogenetic inhibition of the IC-MGB GABAergic circuit did not reverse salicylate-induced tinnitus. Conclusion . These findings suggest that activation of the IC-MGB GABAergic neural circuit may contribute to tinnitus generation through a mechanism distinct from that of salicylate-induced tinnitus. This study provides novel insights into the mechanisms underlying tinnitus.

BACKGROUND:Carnosic acid,a bioactive compound found in rosemary,has been shown to reduce inflammation and reactive oxygen species(ROS).However,its mechanism of action in osteoclast differentiation remains unclear. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of carnosic acid on osteoclast activation,ROS production,and mitochondrial function. METHODS:Primary bone marrow-derived macrophages from mice were extracted and cultured in vitro.Different concentrations of carnosic acid(0,10,15,20,25 and 30 μmol/L)were tested for their effects on bone marrow-derived macrophage proliferation and toxicity using the cell counting kit-8 cell viability assay to determine a safe concentration.Bone marrow-derived macrophages were cultured in graded concentrations and induced by receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand for osteoclast differentiation for 5-7 days.The effects of carnosic acid on osteoclast differentiation and function were then observed through tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining,F-actin staining,H2DCFDA probe and mitochondrial ROS,and Mito-Tracker fluorescence detection.Western blot and RT-PCR assays were subsequently conducted to examine the effects of carnosic acid on the upstream and downstream proteins of the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand-induced MAPK signaling pathway. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining and F-actin staining showed that carnosic acid dose-dependently inhibited in vitro osteoclast differentiation and actin ring formation in the cell cytoskeleton,with the highest inhibitory effect observed in the high concentration group(30 μmol/L).Carnosic acid exhibited the most significant inhibitory effect during the early stages(days 1-3)of osteoclast differentiation compared to other intervention periods.Fluorescence imaging using the H2DCFDA probe,mitochondrial ROS,and Mito-Tracker demonstrated that carnosic acid inhibited cellular and mitochondrial ROS production while reducing mitochondrial membrane potential,thereby influencing mitochondrial function.The results of western blot and RT-PCR revealed that carnosic acid could suppress the expression of NFATc1,CTSK,MMP9,and C-fos proteins associated with osteoclast differentiation,and downregulate the expression of NFATc1,Atp6vod2,ACP5,CTSK,and C-fos genes related to osteoclast differentiation.Furthermore,carnosic acid enhanced the expression of antioxidant enzyme proteins and reduced the generation of ROS during the process of osteoclast differentiation.Overall,carnosic acid exerts its inhibitory effects on osteoclast differentiation by inhibiting the phosphorylation modification of the P38/ERK/JNK protein and activating the MAPK signaling pathway in bone marrow-derived macrophages.

Objective: To investigate the incidence and trends of liver, lung, breast, colorectal and gastric cancers in Nanning City from 2018 to 2022. Methods: Data of new cases of liver, lung, breast, colorectal and gastric cancers in Nanning City from 2018 to 2022 were collected through the big data platform of the Nanning Health Propaganda and Information Center's Hospitalization System. The incidence rates were calculated and standardized using the data of the seventh national population census in 2020. The age, gender, and urban-rural distribution of the five malignant tumor cases were descriptively analyzed. The trends in incidence of the five malignant tumors were analyzed using annual percent change (APC). Results: From 2018 to 2022, the crude and standardized incidence rates of liver cancer in Nanning City were 24.46/105 and 26.39/105, respectively, showing upward trends (APC=15.122% and 13.111%, both P<0.05). The crude and standardized incidence rates of lung cancer were 23.42/105 and 25.83/105, respectively, showing upward trends (APC=13.714% and 10.056%, both P<0.05). The crude and standardized incidence rates of breast cancer were 19.13/105 and 20.29/105, respectively, with no significant trends (APC=-5.129% and -5.164%, both P>0.05). The crude incidence rate of colorectal cancer was 18.81/105, showing an upward trend (APC=8.164%, P<0.05), while the standardized incidence rate was 20.64/105, with no significant trend (APC=5.044%, P>0.05). The crude incidence rate of gastric cancer was 7.27/105, showing an upward trend (APC=5.984%, P<0.05), while the standardized incidence rate was 7.98/105, with no significant trend (APC=3.304%, P>0.05). The age of onset peak for liver cancer was 65 to <70 years, for lung cancer was 75 to <80 years, for breast cancer was 55 to <60 years, for colorectal cancer was 80 to <85 years, and for gastric cancer was 75 to <80 years. The standardized incidence rates of liver, lung, colorectal and gastric cancers were higher in males than in females (all P<0.05). The standardized incidence rates of liver, lung and gastric cancers were higher in rural areas than in urban areas, while the standardized incidence rates of breast and colorectal cancers were lower in rural areas (all P<0.05). Conclusions The incidence rates of liver, lung, colorectal and gastric cancers in Nanning City showed upward trends from 2018 to 2022, while the incidence rate of breast cancer remained stable. The standardized incidence rates of liver, lung, colorectal and gastric cancers were higher in males, and the standardized incidences of liver, lung and gastric cancers were higher in rural areas.

Pancreaticobiliary maljunction （PBM） is a rare congenital developmental defect of the biliary-pancreatic system characterized by a junction of the pancreatic and bile ducts outside the duodenal wall， forming an extended common channel. This anatomical anomaly compromises the normal function of Oddi’s sphincter， weakens defenses against reflux， and thus triggers a series of biliary and pancreatic complications. Although there is a relatively low incidence rate of PBM， its insidious clinical symptoms often lead to delayed diagnosis， which increases the difficulties in treatment and the risk of poor prognosis. For PBM patients with marked bile duct dilatation， surgical intervention， especially cholecystectomy combined with extrahepatic bile duct resection and bile duct-jejunum Roux-en-Y anastomosis， remains the standard treatment at present. For PBM without marked bile duct dilatation， there are still controversies over related treatment strategies， and most experts are in favor of cholecystectomy， while there is still a lack of consensus on the management of extrahepatic bile ducts， which requires further research and exploration. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography （ERCP） is currently the gold standard for diagnosing PBM and assessing pancreaticobiliary abnormalities， and it can not only clarify the nature of lesion， but also collect the bile and biliary duct tissue for pathological examination. ERCP also has the function of interventional treatment， such as stenting， expansion， and drainage， thereby bringing benefits to patients comorbid with biliary neoplasms. However， the application of ERCP in screening is limited by its invasiveness， with increases in technique complexity and the risk of complications in the pediatric population. This article summarizes the definition， classification， pathogenesis， and epidemiological features of PBM and the research advances in current diagnosis and treatment strategies， in order to provide guidance for clinical practice.

Objective: To investigate the regional differences in the incidence of urothelial carcinoma among kidney transplant recipients between northern and southern China，so as to provide reference for early diagnosis of this disease. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases，including CNKI，Wanfang，CBM，and PubMed，using the keywords “kidney transplantation” and “tumor” to collect clinical data from qualified kidney transplant centers.The latest and most complete literature data published by 17 transplant centers in northern China and 14 in southern China were included.Statistical analyses were performed to compare the incidence of post-transplant urothelial carcinoma and non-urothelial malignancies. Results: A total of 37 475 kidney transplant recipients were included，among whom 837 (2.23%) developed post-transplant malignancies，including urothelial carcinoma (366/837，43.73%)，non-urothelial carcinoma (444/837，53.05%)，and malignancies with unspecified pathology (27/837，3.23%).The incidence of malignancies was significantly higher in northern China than in southern China [(2.82±1.39)% vs. (1.67±0.83)%，P=0.011]，with a particularly pronounced difference in the incidence of urothelial carcinoma [(1.68±1.12)% vs. (0.32±0.32)%，P<0.001].No significant difference was observed in the incidence of non-urothelial carcinoma between the two regions [(1.11±0.56)% vs. (1.35±0.65)%，P=0.279].Additionally，female transplant recipients exhibited a higher incidence of malignancies than males in both regions (southern China：2.38% vs. 1.80%; northern China：8.93% vs. 2.52%). Conclusion: The incidence of urothelial carcinoma following kidney transplantation is significantly higher in northern China than in southern China，underscoring the importance of implementing regular tumor screening for kidney transplant recipients，particularly for female patients in northern China，to facilitate early diagnosis and timely intervention.

Objective To compare the changes of lung cell pyroptosis indexes in heat stress rats through different target temperature cooling intervention on classical heat stroke(CHS)rats,and to explore the choice of suitable target temperature of CHS.Methods A total of 40 male SD rats were divided into the blank control group(n=10)and classical heat stroke(CHS,n=30)group according to the random number table method.The CHS group was divided into the CHS0 group(Tic),CHS1 group(Tic-1℃)and CHS2 group(Tic+1℃)according to the initial core temperature(Tic)±1℃.After anesthesia,the rats in CHS group were placed by the prone position in the thermal environment simulation chamber,and the heat shock rat model was established when the core body temperature reached 42℃.Immediately after successful model-ing,the room temperature water bath was used to cool down to the setting target temperature of the group,and then the cooling blanket was used to maintain the body temperature for 3 h.The blank control group was always kept at room temperature.At the end of the experiment,the blood samples of femoral artery of rats were collected,and the levels of serum interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and interleukin-18(IL-18)were detected by ELISA.The lung samples of rats were taken to prepare the tissue homogenate.Then the concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18 in the lung tissue were detected by ELISA and Western blot method was used to detect GSDMD and cysteine aspartate protease-1 precursor(pro-caspase-1)protein expression levels in rat lung tissue,and the enzyme activity in the sample was calculated according to the formula or standard curve.Results The levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in lung tissues and serum in the CHS0 group and serum IL-18 level in the CHS1 group were higher than those in the blank control group(P<0.05).The lung tissue IL-1β level in the CHS1 group,the IL-1β and IL-18 levels in the CHS2 group,and the IL-18 level in the serum CHS1 and CHS2 groups were lower than those in the CHS0 group.There was no statistically significant difference between the CHS1 group and CHS2 group.The GSDMD and pro-caspase-1 levels in the CHS0 group and CHS2 group,and the GSDMD level in the CHS1 group were higher than those in the blank control group(P<0.05).The GSDMD and pro-caspase-1 levels in the CHS1 group and CHS2 group were lower than those in the CHS0 group,and the pro-caspase-1 level in the CHS1 group was lower than that in the CHS2 group.Conclusion The expression levels of lung pyroptosis effective molecules and proteins in lung cells of heat stress rats are increased,and the cool-ing intervention could alleviate the lung tissue cellular pyroptosis.A cooling intervention setting the target temperature to a certain range above or below the initial core temperature may have a better protective effect on the lung tissue of heat stress rats.

Liver transplantation is the ultimate treatment for patients with end-stage liver disease.In recent years,significant progress has been made in technological innovation and perioperative management,but its efficacy is still limited by challenges such as donor liver shortage and postoperative cardiopulmonary fail-ure.Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO),as a cardiopulmonary support technique,provides oxy-genation and hemodynamic stability through extracorporeal circulation,demonstrating multidimensional value in the field of liver transplantation,especially in donor liver preservation and the management of complex com-plications.This article reviews the research progress of ECMO application in liver transplantation,facilitating a deeper understanding of the current status and future development directions of this technology in liver transplantation,providing references for clinical practice and scientific research.

The prevalence of Class III malocclusion varies among different countries and regions. The populations from Southeast Asian countries (Chinese and Malaysian) showed the highest prevalence rate of 15.8%, which can seriously affect oral function, facial appearance, and mental health. As anterior crossbite tends to worsen with growth, early orthodontic treatment can harness growth potential to normalize maxillofacial development or reduce skeletal malformation severity, thereby reducing the difficulty and shortening the treatment cycle of later-stage treatment. This is beneficial for the physical and mental growth of children. Therefore, early orthodontic treatment for Class III malocclusion is particularly important. Determining the optimal timing for early orthodontic treatment requires a comprehensive assessment of clinical manifestations, dental age, and skeletal age, and can lead to better results with less effort. Currently, standardized treatment guidelines for early orthodontic treatment of Class III malocclusion are lacking. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the etiology, clinical manifestations, classification, and early orthodontic techniques for Class III malocclusion, along with systematic discussions on selecting early treatment plans. The purpose of this expert consensus is to standardize clinical practices and improve the treatment outcomes of Class III malocclusion through early orthodontic treatment.
Humans ; Malocclusion, Angle Class III/classification* ; Orthodontics, Corrective/methods* ; Consensus ; Child

Radiochemotherapy-induced oral mucositis (OM) is a common oral complication in patients with tumors following head and neck radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Erosion and ulcers are the main features of OM that seriously affect the quality of life of patients and even the progress of tumor treatment. To date, differences in clinical prevention and treatment plans for OM have been noted among doctors of various specialties, which has increased the uncertainty of treatment effects. On the basis of current research evidence, this expert consensus outlines risk factors, clinical manifestations, clinical grading, ancillary examinations, diagnostic basis, prevention and treatment strategies and efficacy indicators for OM. In addition to strategies such as basic oral care, anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents, anti-infective agents, pro-healing agents, and photobiotherapy recommended in previous guidelines, we also emphasize the role of traditional Chinese medicine in OM prevention and treatment. This expert consensus aims to provide references and guidance for dental physicians and oncologists in formulating strategies for OM prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, standardizing clinical practice, reducing OM occurrence, promoting healing, and improving the quality of life of patients.
Humans ; Chemoradiotherapy/adverse effects* ; Consensus ; Risk Factors ; Stomatitis/etiology*