1.Mechanism of Sangpi Zhike Prescription in Treating Cough After Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection Based on "Lung-intestine Co-treatment" Theory
Chuang SUO ; Xiaohong BAI ; Zhitong YU ; Xue GONG ; Chan XIU ; Qihui LYU ; Zhihui LIU ; Kelin LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(4):126-137
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Sangpi Zhike prescription in treating cough after respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection through the "lung-intestine co-treatment" approach using network pharmacology and animal experimental validation. MethodsActive ingredients and targets of Sangpi Zhike prescription were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database. Disease targets were obtained from GeneCards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM) databases. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks and drug-component-target networks were constructed using overlapping targets between drugs and diseases to identify core targets. Gene ontology(GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed on the overlapping targets. Sixty mouse models were established: 10 as the normal group, and the remaining mice were infected with RSV via slow nasal drip of RSV suspension, with cough induced using capsaicin solution. After modeling, mice were divided into a model group, a Montelukast Sodium group (1 mg·kg-1·d-1), and low, medium, and high dose groups of Sangpi Zhike prescription (4.875,9.75,and 19.5 g·kg-1·d-1), with 10 mice per group. From day 14 after RSV infection, the normal and model groups received saline via gavage, while other groups received corresponding drug treatments once daily for 5 d. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe pathological changes in lung and intestinal tissue. The protein content of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and phosphorylated (p)-ERK1/2 in the lung and colon tissue of mice was detected by Western blot. Real-time polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR) detected ERK1/2 mRNA expression in lung and intestinal tissue. Immunohistochemistry assessed p-MEK1/2, p-ERK1/2, p-c-Fos protein levels, and inflammatory cytokines interleukin(IL)-4 and (TNF)-α in lung and colon tissue. ResultsNetwork pharmacology identified 184 active ingredients and 684 targets in Sangpi Zhike prescription, with 1 344 RSV-related disease targets and 209 overlapping targets. Core targets included TNF, Fos, and Jun. KEGG enrichment revealed 179 pathways, primarily mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK), cancer, TNF, and IL-17 signaling pathways. Animal experiments showed that, compared to those of the normal group, the lung tissue sections of the model group showed typical inflammatory damage, infiltration of inflammatory cells, rupture of alveolar septa, extensive alveolar fusion, and disruption of tight junctions between single-layer columnar epithelial cells in the intestinal tissue. The values of p-ERK1/2 and ERK1/2 in lung and intestinal tissue were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the expression level of ERK1/2 mRNA was significantly elevated (P<0.01). The levels of ERK1/2, p-MEK1/2, p-ERK1/2, p-c-Fos, IL-4, and TNF-α along the ERK pathway were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared to the model group, Sangpi Zhike prescription groups showed reduced lung and intestinal inflammation, decreased p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2 ratios (P<0.05,P<0.01), lower ERK1/2 mRNA levels, and downregulated ERK pathway proteins (P<0.05,P<0.01). ConclusionSangpi Zhike prescription alleviates cough and intestinal symptoms after RSV infection via the "lung-intestine co-treatment" mechanism by suppressing expression levels of ERK1/2, p-MEK1/2, p-ERK1/2, p-c-Fos, IL-4, and TNF-α on ERK pathway components, thereby mitigating lung and intestinal pathological damage.
2.Exploring Biological Characteristics of Rat Model of Atrial Fibrillation with Phlegm-heat and Blood Stasis Pattern Based on Metabolomics
Ailin HOU ; Yuxuan LIU ; Wenxi YU ; Xing JI ; Chan WU ; Dazhuo SHI ; Ying ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(5):245-255
ObjectiveTo establish an animal model of atrial fibrillation(AF) that accurately reflects the phlegm-heat and blood stasis(TRYZ) pathogenesis in traditional Chinese medicine. MethodsForty SPF-grade SD rats were randomly assigned using a random number table to the following groups:the control group, the TRYZ+AF group,the AF group and the TRYZ group, with ten rats in each group. The TRYZ+AF and TRYZ groups underwent a high-fat diet combined with intraperitoneal lipopolysaccharide(LPS) injection to simulate the pathological alterations of TRYZ syndrome. Groups TRYZ+AF and AF were induced with acetylcholine-calcium chloride(Ach-CaCl2) via caudal vein injection to induce AF. The control group received no intervention and was maintained under normal conditions. The modeling period lasted 3 weeks. Electrocardiography was used to assess AF episodes and duration, echocardiography evaluated left atrial dimensions and cardiac function, fully automated biochemical analyzer measured the levels of total cholesterol(TC), triglycerides(TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), hemoreometer analyzed the whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, and whole blood reduced viscosity, a coagulation analyzer assessed prothrombin time(PT), activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT), thrombin time(TT), and fibrinogen(FIB), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to determine the levels of C-reactive protein(CRP), interleukin(IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-17, tumour necrosis factor(TNF)-α, matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9), galectin-3(Gal-3), Collagen Ⅰ, and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA). Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and Masson's trichrome staining were used to analyze pathological changes in atrial myocardium, Western blot was employed to detect MMP-9, Collagen Ⅰ and α-SMA protein expression in myocardial tissue, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR) evaluated fibrous factor gene expression levels. Changes in the TRYZ syndrome were assessed via body weight, tongue color[red(R), green(G), and blue(B)], and rectal temperature. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was employed to detect differential metabolites between the control group and the TRYZ+AF group. ResultsFollowing three weeks of sustained modeling, compared with the control group, rats in the TRYZ+AF and the TRYZ groups exhibited reduced body weight, dry faeces, elevated rectal temperature, dark red tongue, decreased RGB values on the tongue surface, and markedly elevated TC and LDL-C levels(P<0.05, P<0.01). The TRYZ+AF, TRYZ, and AF groups exhibited significantly decreased TT, APTT and PT, along with markedly elevated whole blood viscosity and FIB(P<0.05, P<0.01). Rats in the TRYZ+AF and AF groups exhibited AF rhythm, markedly decreased heart rate, prolonged RR intervals, enlarged left atrium, and significantly reduced ejection fraction and shortening fraction(P<0.05, P<0.01). Serum levels of CRP, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, TNF-α, MMP-9, Gal-3, Collagen Ⅰ, and α-SMA were elevated in rats from the TRYZ+AF, TRYZ, and AF groups compared to the control group, with the most pronounced increase observed in the TRYZ+AF group(P<0.05, P<0.01). Histopathology revealed that the collagen fiber deposition in the atrial of rats in the TRYZ+AF, TRYZ and AF groups was higher than that in the control group(P<0.05, P<0.01). Western blot and Real-time PCR results further demonstrated that the protein and mRNA expression levels of MMP-9, Collagen Ⅰ and α-SMA in the myocardial tissue of the TRYZ+AF group were higher than those in the other three groups(P<0.05, P<0.01). Metabolomic analysis revealed 173 differentially expressed metabolites in the TRYZ+AF group and the control group, primarily enriched in pathways such as glycerophospholipid metabolism and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis. ConclusionThis study successfully establishes a rat model of AF integrated with the TRYZ syndrome, demonstrating the pathological process where the interactions of phlegm, heat and stasis jointly trigger tremor, this provides a reliable experimental tool for in-depth research into the biological basis of this disease syndrome.
3.Research on Electrical Impedance and Microwave Dual-modality Tomography Algorithm Based on Conditional Diffusion Models
Jin-Zhen LIU ; Xiang-Qian MENG ; Hui XIONG ; Li-Min ZHOU ; Chun-Chan LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(6):1780-1792
ObjectiveStroke poses a heavy burden due to its high mortality and morbidity rates. Accurate and real-time detection of lesions is pivotal for prompt clinical intervention and favorable prognosis. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) and microwave tomography (MWT) have emerged as compelling alternatives for stroke screening, owing to their non-ionizing, non-invasive and portable nature. EIT provides information on tissue conductivity, and MWT offers high sensitivity to changes in dielectric properties. However, single-modality imaging is inherently limited, EIT suffers from low sensitivity to deep-seated tissues and severe ill-posedness of inverse problems, whereas MWT is challenged by strong nonlinearity in inverse scattering and susceptibility to modeling errors. Consequently, the clinical utility of standalone EIT or MWT for stroke diagnosis remains constrained by poor spatial resolution and imaging artifacts. To improve the accuracy and robustness of stroke imaging, a dual-modality fusion conditional denoising diffusion probabilistic model (DM-DDPM) was proposed for high-precision dual-modality image reconstruction. MethodsA dual-encoder network with a symmetric architecture and independently trained parameters was constructed to extract heterogeneous features separately from EIT boundary voltage measurements and MWT scattered field signals. Attentional feature fusion (AFF) is employed to integrate complementary information from the two modalities adaptively, generating robust fused priors that suppress redundant noise while preserving key physical characteristics. Subsequently, the fused priors are embedded into a Transformer-based diffusion model via a cross attention mechanism to guide the reverse denoising process. This approach effectively reduces artifacts and enhances the stability of conductivity distribution reconstruction. Time step embedding is introduced to enable the network to perceive the diffusion stage and further improve the accuracy of noise prediction. ResultsSimulated experiments demonstrated that DM-DDPM significantly outperforms single-modality and multi-modality networks under various noise levels. A head model simulation dataset was constructed based on COMSOL Multiphysics, and tests were carried out under 50 dB, 40 dB and 30 dB signal-to-noise ratio levels. At 30 dB, the average relative error (RE) was below 0.20, while the structural similarity index measure (SSIM) and correlation coefficient (CC) remained above 0.90 and 0.89, respectively. Compared with single-modality and multi-modality networks, artifacts were significantly reduced, lesion edges were clearer, and localization was more accurate. The model maintains high reconstruction quality and strong robustness for single, double, and triple lesions simultaneously. Furthermore, physical experiments were conducted using a 16-electrode EIT system and a 16-antenna MWT system with asynchronous data acquisition. These experiments confirmed the feasibility of the method in real-world scenarios and demonstrated that it can robustly reconstruct simulated lesions despite environmental interference and measurement noise, validating its reliability for practical clinical applications. ConclusionThe proposed method effectively combines complementary dual-modality information with a conditional diffusion model. Low accuracy and poor noise resistance in single-modality imaging were effectively addressed, while the noise amplification issue caused by direct multimodal data fusion was avoided. The proposed algorithm exhibits strong anti-noise interference ability and high imaging stability in both simulation and physical experiments. Precise localization of stroke lesions with different quantities was achieved, providing a high-precision, and practical technical support for clinical stroke detection.
4.The relationship between white matter injury and sleepiness,sleep disorders,and cognitive decline in patients with obstructive sleep apnea
Yaoyao ZHAI ; Xiaoxia LIU ; Chan MENG ; Lei ZHAO ; Zhiming ZHANG ; Dahai WU
Chinese Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2025;32(4):244-250
OBJECTIVE To explore the relationship between white matter damage and sleepiness,decreased sleep quality,and cognitive decline in patients with OSA.METHODS There were 55 confirmed cases of OSA diagnosed by polysomnography(PSG)from January 2018 to May 2023 were selected,with 29 non-OSA controls also diagnosed by PSG.DKI scanning and Epworth sleepiness scale(ESS),Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI),and Montreal cognitive assessment(MoCA)scores were performed for all subjects.Differences in kurtosis fractional anisotropy(KFA)of various brain regions were compared between the two groups to identify differential brain regions,and pairwise correlations were analyzed between KFA reduction and apnea-hypopnea index(AHI),lowest oxygen saturation(LSaO2)and various scale scores in OSA patients.RESULTS The KFA values in right external capsule,bilateral corona radiata,bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculus,corpus callosum,posterior cingulate gyrus of OSA group were lower than control group(P<0.05).For the OSA group:The correlation between ESS scores and KFA values of right posterior corona radiata,left superior longitudinal fasciculus,body of corpus callosum,splenium of corpus callosum are all negative(r=-0.287,-0.286,-0.276,-0.449,P<0.05).The correlation between PSQI scores and KFA values of right posterior corona radiata,left posterior corona radiata,splenium of corpus callosum are all negative(r=-0.390,-0.274,-0.348,P<0.05).The correlation between MoCA scores and KFA values of right posterior corona radiata,right superior longitudinal fasciculus,left anterior corona radiata,left posterior corona radiata,left superior corona radiata,left superior longitudinal fasciculus,genu of corpus callosum,body of corpus callosum,are all positive(r=0.290,0.389,0.298,0.278,0.340,0.473,0.344,0.344,P<0.05).The correlation between visuospatial and executive function scores and AHI,LSaO2,ESS scores and KFA values of right posterior corona radiata,left superior corona radiata,left superior longitudinal fasciculus and splenium of corpus callosum are all significant(r=-0.350,0.470,-0.343,0.401,0.284,0.387,0.274,P<0.05).CONCLUSION Patients with OSA exhibit damage to the white matter in certain brain regions.The damage to the corpus callosum,posterior corona radiata,and superior longitudinal fasciculus has the greatest impact on patients'sleepiness,reduced sleep quality,and cognitive impairment.In particular,the impairment in visuospatial and executive function is closely associated with white matter damage in the corona radiata and superior longitudinal fasciculus.
5.Establishment of PK-PD Binding Model for Multi-Components of Crossbow Medicine Microemulsion Based on a Rat Model of Knee Osteoarthritis
Chan ZHAO ; Huan XIE ; Jian XU ; Yao LIU ; Fangfang YANG ; Yinglong CHEN ; Yongping ZHANG
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;41(6):804-812
OBJECTIVE To establish a combined pharmacokinetic(PK)-pharmacodynamic(PD)model for knee osteoarthritis(KOA)of crossbow drug microemulsion multi-components(benzoylmesaconine,benzoylhypacoitine,mesaconitine,periplocin,neo-chlorogenic acid,vanillic acid,chlorogenic acid),and elucidate the dynamic changes in the KOA rats and the interrelation with the e-lapsed efficacy of the drug.METHODS A KOA rat model was induced by 4%papain;the PK process of crossbow medicine microe-mulsion components in rat synovial fluid was analyzed by UPLC to establish a PK model;the contents of MMP-3,MMP-13,TNF-α and IL-1β in KOA rats at different time points after administration were determined by ELISA analysis to establish a PD model;Phoe-nix WinNonlin software was used to fit the PK and PD data to obtain a PK-PD model.RESULTS PK results showed that the multi-components of the microemulsion were slowly absorbed in the joint cavity and gradually reached the peak value within 3-5 h.The Cmax of benzoylmesaconine,benzoylhypacoitine mesaconitine,periplocoside,neochlorogenic acid,vanillic acid and chlorogenic acid were 1.23,1.48,1.62,4.67,0.93,1.25 and 2.35 μg·mL-1,respectively;the area under the drug-time curve(AUC0-11)was 2.58,4.04,3.54,12.15,2.51,2.41 and 4.11 h·μg·mL-1,respectively.PD results showed that at different time points after adminis-tration,the contents of MMP-3,IL-1β,TNF-α,and MMP-13 decreased to varying degrees,among which MMP-3 decreased insig-nificantly,with significant differences only at 6 h;the contents of the remaining IL-1β,TNF-α,and MMP-13 decreased significantly(P<0.05,P<0.01),and showed the phenomenon of lagged efficacy;the PK-PD binding model showed that the drug concentration of the multi-component drug in the crossbow medicine microemulsion could be well fitted with its drug efficacy data.CONCLUSION The established PK-PD binding model can predict the drug efficacy changes after administration,and provides a corresponding refer-ence for the crossbow medicine microemulsion treatment of KOA.
6.Effect of m6A demethylase ALKBH5 on proliferation and migration of cardiac fibroblasts induced by high glucose
Zhi-yan LIU ; Li-chan LIN ; Zhen-yu LIU ; Ji-ming SHA ; Peng LIU ; Sui MAO ; Yun-sen ZHANG ; Rui LI ; Ye ZHANG ; Hui TAO
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(2):235-241
Aim To investigate the effect of N6-methy-ladenosine(m6A)demethylase ALKBH5 on the prolif-eration and migration of cardiac fibroblasts(CFs)in-duced by high glucose.Methods Primary CFs were isolated from neonatal mouse hearts and identified u-sing optical and confocal microscopy.Cell activation was induced using a high-glucose medium(33 mmol·L-1 glucose).An ALKBH5 overexpression model was established by transfecting CFs with an ALKBH5 ex-pression vector in a high-glucose medium.The expres-sion of ALKBH5 in CFs was assessed through immuno-fluorescence staining,Western blot and RT-qPCR.Changes in m6A levels were evaluated using Dot blot a-nalysis.Additionally,Alterations in the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA)and collagenⅠ,a pivotal fibrosis indicator,were measured using Western blot.The proliferation and migration ability of CFs were assessed through EdU staining and Transwell migration assay,respectively.Results Following treatment with high glucose,the expression of ALKBH5 in CFs notably decreased,while m6A level increased.This was accompanied by a significant increase in the expression of the proliferation marker PCNA and the fi-brosis marker collagen Ⅰ.Additionally,there was a sig-nificant improvement in the ability of proliferation and migration.Overexpression of ALKBH5 resulted in a significant decrease in the expressions of PCNA and collagen Ⅰ,leading to the inhibition of both proliferation and migration in CFs.Conclusion Overexpression of ALKBH5 suppresses the expression of PCNA and colla-gen Ⅰ,consequently reducing the proliferation and mi-gration of CFs,potentially through m6A methylation modification.
7.Clinical outcome of modified laparoscopic uterosacral fixation in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse
Liu-chan LIANG ; Yu-hong QIN ; Hui LU ; Kun CHEN
Journal of Regional Anatomy and Operative Surgery 2025;34(8):706-710
Objective To analyze the outcome of modified laparoscopic uterosacral fixation in the treatment of anterior and middle pelvic organ prolapse.Methods The clinical data of 30 patients with anterior and middle pelvic organ prolapse undergoing modified laparoscopic uterosacral fixation in our hospital from September 2020 to July 2023 were analyzed retrospectively.The perioperative related indicators and complications of patients during follow-up were observed.The pelvic organ prolapse quantification(POP-Q)scores,pelvic floor distress inventory-short form 20(PFDI-20)scores,pelvic floor impact questionnaire-short form 7(PFIQ-7)scores,and patient global impression of improvement(PGI-I)scores of patients before and after operation were compared.Results The operations of all patients were successfully completed without conversion to open surgery or serious complications.The average operation time was(170.8±21.5)minutes,the average intraoperative blood loss was(29.3±20.2)mL,the average postoperative exhaust time was(1.7±0.7)days,the average postoperative retaining urinal catheter time was(2.3±0.6)days,and the average postoperative hospitalization time was(4.2±0.8)days.Except for the total vaginal length,other indicators of POP-Q of patients 3 and 6 months after operation were significantly improved compared with those before operation(P<0.05).The PFDI-20 score and PFIQ-7 score of patients 6 months after operation were significantly improved compared with those before operation(P<0.05).The objective cure rate of patients was 100%;the results of PGI-I questionnaire showed that the subjective success rate of patients was 100%.Conclusion Modified laparoscopic uterosacral fixation is an effective operation for the treatment of anterior and middle pelvic organ prolapse,which has the advantages of good anatomical recovery,high satisfaction,and few postoperative complications,with a definite short-term curative effect.
8.Analysis of frailty status and risk factors in elderly patients with AIDS and opportunistic infection
Chan YAN ; Cong LIU ; Jinhua JIAO ; Lujun WEN ; Ting WANG ; Yan WANG
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(20):3115-3118
OBJECTIVE To investigate the frailty status of elderly patients with acquired immune deficiency syn-drome(AIDS)and opportunistic infection,and to analyze the associated risk factors.METHODS A convenience sampling method was used to survey 210 elderly patients with AIDS and opportunistic infection in Guangzhou from May 2024 to Apr.2025.General information questionnaires,FRAIL scale,Nutritional Risk Screening 2002,Athens Insomnia Scale and objective biological indicators were utilized to investigate the incidence of frailty.Logis-tic regression analysis was employed to identify the risk factors for frailty in elderly patients with AIDS and oppor-tunistic infection.RESULTS Among the 210 elderly patients with AIDS and opportunistic infection,40(19.05%)were frail,including 20(15.62%)patients aged<60 years and 20(24.39%)≥60 years.Advanced age(OR=1.111,95%CI:1.033-1.194,P=0.004),body mass index(BMI)≥ 24.0 kg/m2(OR=4.329,95%CI:1.008-18.1585,P=0.049),hemoglobin level(OR=1.037,95%CI:1.009-1.065,P=0.009)and CD4+T lymphocyte count<200(OR=10.792,95%CI:1.358-85.765,P=0.024)were identified as risk factors for frailty.Regular exercise(OR=0.108,95%CI:0.032-0.362,P<0.001)was found to be a protective factor.CONCLUSIONS Elderly patients with AIDS and opportunistic infection experience early onset and high inci-dence of frailty,influenced by multiple factors.Early intervention,enhanced nutrition and engaging in regular ex-ercise can reduce the occurrence of frailty.
9.Combining proprioceptive training with core stability training improves the balance and lower limb motor functioning of burns patients
Haiyang ZHAO ; Juntao HAN ; Jiaqi LIU ; Dahai HU ; Qin ZHOU ; Chan ZHU ; Jin XU ; Bowen ZHANG ; Zongshi QI
Chinese Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2025;47(5):425-429
Objective:To observe any influence of combining proprioceptive training with core stability training in rehabilitation motor functioning and balance after extensive burns.Methods:Sixty patients with lower limb motor and balance disorders after extensive burns were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, each of 30. Both groups underwent skin grafting on the lower limbs. After the wounds had healed, both groups were given routine rehabilitation treatment, including joint stretching and muscle strength training, but the treatment group was additionally provided with proprioception and core stability training. Before and after 12 weeks of treatment, both groups′ lower limb motor function and walking ability were evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (L-FMA), and static and dynamic balance were quantified using Holden Functional Ambulation Classification (FAC). The duration of standing on one leg with the eyes closed was recorded, along with Timed " Up & Go" Test (TUGT) times. After the treatment, each patient′s satisfaction was assessed using a self-designed questionnaire.Results:Significant improvement was observed in the average L- FMA and FAC scores after the treatment, as well as in the ability to stand on one leg with the eyes closed. The average TUGT time in both groups was shorter, but there had been significantly greater improvement of the treatment group than among the controls. Reported satisfaction was significantly higher among the treated group than among the controls.Conclusions:Supplementing basic rehabilitation with proprioception training and core stability training can further improve the motor functioning, balance and walking of persons who have suffered extensive burns.
10.Effect of self-made static progressive braces in the stepwise treatment of hand flexion dysfunction caused by scar contracture after burn injury
Haiyang ZHAO ; Qin ZHOU ; Jiaqi LIU ; Wanfu ZHANG ; Chan ZHU ; Jing XU ; Juntao HAN ; Dahai HU ; Hao GUAN
Chinese Journal of Burns 2025;41(2):155-162
Objective:To explore the effect of self-made static progressive braces in the stepwise treatment of hand flexion dysfunction caused by scar contracture after burn injury.Methods:This study was a retrospective observational study. From January 2022 to March 2024, the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University admitted twenty-nine patients who met the inclusion criteria and used the self-made static progressive braces for stepwise treatment of hand flexion dysfunction caused by scar contracture, including 23 males and 6 females, aged 16 to 55 years. The depth of burn on the back of the hand was deep partial-thickness to full-thickness. The self-made static progressive brace referred to the self-made static progressive joint distractor and the self-made static progressive hand flexion distractor. The stepwise treatment was adopted. In the first stage, in-hospital treatment for 2 to 4 weeks was selected. The treatment contents included conventional rehabilitation training and training on the application of the self-made joint distractors. When the active flexion range of motion of the metacarpophalangeal joint was ≥60°, the second stage of treatment was carried out, that is, two weeks of home remote rehabilitation treatment. The treatment contents included individualized exercise training such as training with self-made static progressive joint distractors and training with self-made static progressive hand flexion distractors. Adverse events such as blister, brace compression, and tissue strain during the stepwise treatment were recorded. After the end of the stepwise treatment, the active flexion of the affected hand was observed. During follow-up, the total active range of motion of the affected hand was measured, and the extensibility of the scar and skin and soft tissue on the back of the affected hand and the patient's satisfaction with the therapeutic effect were evaluated. At the last follow-up, the function of the affected hand was evaluated according to the trial standards for evaluation of partial function of upper extremity by the Hand Surgery Society of Chinese Medical Association.Results:During the stepwise treatment, a small amount of blisters developed on the skin at the wrist joint in 2 patients, which was cured after symptomatic treatment; the other patients had no adverse events such as brace compression and tissue strain. After the end of the stepwise treatment, the active flexion function of the hand was better, and the fist could be basically clenched. After 1-3 months of follow-up, the total active range of motion of the affected hand was 200-245°; the scar on the back of the hand was soft and light-colored, and the skin and soft tissue was malleable. Twenty-two patients were very satisfied with the curative effect, 6 patients were satisfied, and 1 patient was dissatisfied. At the last follow-up, there were 20 cases with excellent hand function and 9 cases with good hand function.Conclusions:The stepwise treatment of hand flexion dysfunction caused by scar contracture after burn injury with self-made static progressive braces has a good effect and few complications. Moreover, the two self-made static progressive distractors are convenient in material acquisition, simple to make, cost-effective, and highly practical, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

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