The historical development of endogenous wind （内风） is traced with time as the thread， based on the progression of factors such as syndromes， causes of disease， and pathogenesis. It is believed that the concept of wind syndrome originated in The Inner Canon of Yellow Emperor （《黄帝内经》）， encompassing both exogenous wind （外风） and endogenous wind syndrome. Over time， exogenous wind syndrome gradually evolved into mild syndromes and severe syndromes， while endogenous wind syndrome emerged from severe syndromes of exogenous wind. Endogenous wind syndrome has both syndrome and pathogenic attributes， and its theoretical system has gradually become more refined. Based on the theories of ancient and modern medical practitioners， and combining the holistic perspectives with Xiang （象） thinking， it is proposed that endogenous wind has both physiological and pathological distinctions. The physiological endogenous wind refers to the liver's moderate dispersing and regulating function， which helps to distribute qi （气）， blood， and body fluids， while pathological endogenous wind arises from abnormal liver dispersal. Therefore， in clinical practice， different treatment methods， such as tonifying， unblocking， and warming， can be applied according to the differentiation of deficiency and excess in the pathogenesis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the neuroprotective effects of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XFZYD) based on in vivo and metabolomics experiments. METHODS: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) was induced via a controlled cortical impact (CCI) method. Thirty rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (10 for each): sham, CCI and XFZYD groups (9 g/kg). The administration was performed by intragastric administration for 3 days. Neurological functions tests, histology staining, coagulation and haemorheology assays, and Western blot were examined. Untargeted metabolomics was employed to identify metabolites. The key metabolite was validated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunofluorescence. RESULTS: XFZYD significantly alleviated neurological dysfunction in CCI model rats (P<0.01) but had no impact on coagulation function. As evidenced by Evans blue and IgG staining, XFZYD effectively prevented blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption (P<0.05, P<0.01). Moreover, XFZYD not only increased the expression of collagen IV, occludin and zona occludens 1 but also decreased matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which protected BBB integrity (all P<0.05). Nine potential metabolites were identified, and all of them were reversed by XFZYD. Adenosine was the most significantly altered metabolite related to BBB repair. XFZYD significantly reduced the level of equilibrative nucleoside transporter 2 (ENT2) and increased adenosine (P<0.01), which may improve BBB integrity. CONCLUSIONS XFZYD ameliorates BBB disruption after TBI by decreasing the levels of MMP-9 and COX-2. Through further exploration via metabolomics, we found that XFZYD may exert a protective effect on BBB by regulating adenosine metabolism via ENT2.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Blood-Brain Barrier/metabolism* ; Brain Injuries, Traumatic/metabolism* ; Adenosine/metabolism* ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of Chinese patent medicine Huatuo Zaizao Pill (HTZZ) on neurological function and limb motor in ischemic stroke (IS) patients during convalescence. METHODS: This is a prospective, open-labelled, randomized controlled trial. Patients with IS were recruited from the Neurology Department of Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences from May 2021 to June 2023. Eligible participants were randomly assigned to the HTZZ (40 cases) or control group (40 cases) at a ratio of 1:1. The HTZZ group was treated with oral HTZZ (8 g, thrice daily) combined with conventional treatment, while the control group received only conventional treatment. The treatment duration was 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) score from baseline to week 6 and 12. Secondary outcomes included changes in scores of National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FM), and Barthel Index (BI) from baseline to week 6 and 12, as well as lipid indices after 12 weeks. All adverse events (AEs) were recorded and liver and kidney indices were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 72 patients completed the study (38 in the HTZZ group and 34 in the control group). Compared with the control group, the HTZZ group demonstrated significant improvements in MAS, NIHSS, FM, and BI scores following 6 and 12 weeks of treatment in both intent-to-treat and per-protocol analyses (all P<0.05). No significant differences were noted between groups in lipid indices, AEs, and liver and kidney dysfunction after 12 weeks (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS HTZZ alleviated spasticity and enhanced neurological function and prognosis of IS patients during convalescence. However, further evaluation of HTZZ's effect on IS outcomes is warranted in clinical trials with larger sample sizes and extended observation periods. (Trial registration No. NCT04910256).
Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Male ; Female ; Ischemic Stroke/physiopathology* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Recovery of Function/drug effects* ; Convalescence ; Extremities/physiopathology* ; Treatment Outcome ; Prospective Studies

Objective To explore the application of plasma 7 microRNA (miR7) testing in the differential diagnosis of very early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods This study is a multicenter real-world study. Patients with single hepatic lesion (maximum diameter≤2 cm) who underwent plasma miR7 testing at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Anhui Provincial Hospital, and Peking University People’s Hospital between January 2019 and December 2024 were retrospectively enrolled. Patients were divided into very early-stage HCC group and non-HCC group, and the clinical pathological characteristics of the two groups were compared. The value of plasma miR7 levels, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) in the differential diagnosis of very early-stage HCC was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the curve (AUC). In patients with both negative AFP and DCP (AFP＜20 ng/mL, DCP＜40 mAU/mL), the diagnostic value of plasma miR7 for very early-stage HCC was analyzed. Results A total of 64 528 patients from 4 hospitals underwent miR7 testing, and 1 682 were finally included, of which 1 073 were diagnosed with very early-stage HCC and 609 were diagnosed with non-HCC. The positive rate of miR7 in HCC patients was significantly higher than that in non-HCC patients (67.9% vs 24.3%, P＜0.001). ROC curves showed that the AUCs for miR7, AFP, and DCP in distinguishing HCC patients from the non-HCC individuals were 0.718, 0.682, and 0.642, respectively. The sensitivities were 67.85%, 43.71%, and 44.45%, and the specificities were 75.70%, 92.78%, and 83.91%, respectively. The pairwise comparison of AUCs showed that the diagnostic efficacy of plasma miR7 detection was significantly better than that of AFP or DCP (P＜0.05). Although its specificity was slightly lower than AFP and DCP, the sensitivity was significantly higher. Among patients negative for both AFP and DCP, miR7 maintained an AUC of 0.728 for diagnosing very early-stage HCC, with 67.82% sensitivity and 77.73% specificity. Conclusions Plasma miR7 testing is a potential molecular marker with high sensitivity and specificity for the differential diagnosis of small hepatic nodules. In patients with very early-stage HCC lacking effective molecular markers (negative for both AFP and DCP), miR7 can serve as a novel and effective molecular marker to assist diagnosis.

Cultivating innovative medical talents is a key strategy for enhancing a hospital's core competitiveness.Taking Zhejiang Cancer Hospital as a case study,this paper constructs a lifelong training system for innovative medical talents based on the"Triple-Phase Cultivation Framework(three stages,four integrations,five mechanisms)".This system delineates the cultivation cycle in-to three stages aligned with talent development trajectories:the"30s Start-up Phase"(young talents under 35),the"40s Growth Phase"(core professionals under 45),and the"50s Breakthrough Phase"(academic leaders under 50).It implements a four-dimensional cultivation model integrating medicine with research,education,engineering/informatics,and industry.Furthermore,a com-prehensive guarantee mechanism is established,encompassing policies & systems,platform re-sources,project drivers,financial investment,and talent teams.Practice demonstrates that this system has significantly enhanced talent development effectiveness.Over the past five years,the hospital has established 2 academician workstations and recruited 10 academician teams.The annual number of postdoctoral researchers has surged from 4 in 2020 to 58 in 2024.A total of 71 innova-tive talents have been selected across three batches,with 69 recognitions in provincial/ministerial-level talent programs,placing the hospital among the leaders within hospitals directly under the Zhejiang Provincial Health Commission.Notably,the hospital achieved a"zero breakthrough"in in-dependently cultivating national-level talents,including recipients of the National Ten-Thousand Talent Program(Young Top Talents)and the Postdoctoral Innovative Talent Support Program.The"Triple-Phase Cultivation Framework"establishes a replicable paradigm for nurturing innovative medical talents through its full-career-cycle approach,multidisciplinary integration,and systematic support mechanisms,offering valuable insights for talent strategies in specialized cancer hospitals.

Objective To investigate the clinical diagnostic value of serum sTREM2 level in patients with cerebral small vessel disease(CSVD)and its correlation with depression and its severity.Methods A total of 208 CSVD inpatients admitted in Department of Neurology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University from December 2023 to November 2024 were en-rolled,and according to their score of HAMD,they were divided into a depression group(CSVD+D group,112 cases)and a non-depression group(CSVD—D group,96 cases).According to the 17-item HAMD,the depression group(CSVD+D group)was further divided into mild(8-17,n=80),moderate(18-24,n=27)and severe depression(≥25,n=5)subgroups.Another 208 healthy individuals who taking health checkups in the same period were selected and served as the control group.The general clinical data were compared among the groups and subgroups,and mul-tivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to identify the risk factors for the occurrence of depression and the relationship between sTREM2 and depression severity in the CSVD patients.ROC curve was plotted to evaluate the predicative performance of serum sTREM2 level for the occurrence of depression in the CSVD patients.Results The serum sTREM2 level was remark-ably higher in the CSVD patients than the control group(5.95±3.82 μg/L vs 1.40±1.21 μg/L,P＜0.01).ROC curve analysis indicated that the AUC value of serum sTREM2 level in predicting CSVD was 0.917,with a sensitivity of 87.52％and a specificity of 85.64％,and an optimal cut-ff value of 2.272 μg/L.The CSVD+D group also had significantly higher serum sTREM2 level than the CSVD—D group(6.40±3.93 μg/L vs 5.01±2.87 μg/L,P＜0.01).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that serum sTREM2 level was an independent influencing factor for occurrence of depression in the CSVD patients(OR=1.115,95％CI:1.019-1.220,P=0.018).Statistical difference was also observed in the patients without and with mild,moderate and severe depression(P＜0.05).Multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis revealed that serum sTREM2 level was an independent influencing factor for mild,moderate and severe depression(OR=1.113,95％CI:1.013-1.223,P=0.026;OR=1.135,95％CI:1.004-1.284,P=0.043).The AUC value of serum sTREM2 level in predicting depressive symptoms in CSVD patients was 0.603.Conclusion Serum sTREM2 is closely associated with CSVD patients.Its level may provide certain reference value for clinical diagnosis of CSVD,and has potentially predictive value for the occurrence of depression in the CSVD patients.

Under the context of the research-oriented hospital construction strategy and national medical talent cultivation policies,postdoctoral research stations have emerged as vital platforms for assembling high-level innovative talents.Based on the construction practices of the postdoctoral research station at Zhejiang Cancer Hospital,this paper focuses on its development trajectory from humble beginnings to being recognized as the only"Excellent medical institution-affiliated post-doctoral work station"in Zhejiang Province.It analyzes the achievements in constructing high-standard organizational management systems,high-caliber mentor teams,and high-investment talent support systems.Addressing existing challenges,the study proposes development strategies in-cluding broadening recruitment channels,exploring diversified training models,striving for inde-pendent recruitment authority,and promoting synergistic development with research-oriented hos-pital initiatives.The aim is to provide replicable experience and insights for postdoctoral platforms in tumor specialty hospitals to empower the construction of research-oriented hospitals.

BACKGROUND: As an essential part of health services, rehabilitation is of great significance to improve the health and quality of life of the whole population. Accelerating aging calls for a significant expansion of rehabilitation services in China, but rehabilitation needs remain unclear. We conducted the study to explore the rehabilitation needs in China and project the trend of rehabilitation needs from 2020 to 2034. METHODS: The data of health conditions that might potentially benefit from rehabilitation were obtained from Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. Estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) were calculated to quantify the trends of the age-standardized rates. Projections of rehabilitation needs were made until 2034 using Bayesian age-period-cohort analysis (BAPC). RESULTS: Approximately 460 million persons (33.3% of the total population) need rehabilitation in China, contributing to 63 million years lived with disabilities (YLDs) in 2019. The number of prevalent cases that need rehabilitation increased from around 268 (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 257-282) million in 1990 to almost 460 (95% UI: 443-479) million in 2019, representing an increase of 71.3%. The highest contribution to the need for rehabilitation was musculoskeletal disorders with about 322 (95% UI: 302-343) million persons in seven aggregate disease and injury categories, and hearing loss with over 95 (95% UI: 84-107) million people among 25 health conditions. Based on the projection results, there will be almost 636 million people (45% of the total population) needing rehabilitation services in China by 2034, representing an increase of 38.3%. The rehabilitation needs of neoplasms, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders are expected to increase significantly from 2019 to 2034, with increases of 102.3%, 88.8% and 73.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The need for rehabilitation in China substantially increased over the last 30 years. It is predicted that over two in five people will require rehabilitation by 2034, thus suggesting the need to develop rehabilitation services that meet individuals' rehabilitation needs.
Humans ; China/epidemiology* ; Global Burden of Disease ; Female ; Male ; Musculoskeletal Diseases/epidemiology* ; Rehabilitation/trends* ; Quality of Life ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Bayes Theorem

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) presents a significant health burden in Asia and remains a critical challenge. This study aims to delineate the PAH burden in Asia from 1990 to 2021. METHODS: Using the latest data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021, we evaluated and analyzed the distributions and patterns of PAH disease burden among various age groups, sexes, regions, and countries in Asia. Additionally, we examined the associations between PAH disease burden and key health system indicators, including the socio-demographic index (SDI) and the universal health coverage (UHC) index. RESULTS: In 2021, there were 25,989 new PAH cases, 103,382 existing cases, 13,909 PAH-associated deaths, and 385,755 DALYs attributed to PAH in Asia, which accounted for approximately 60% of global PAH cases. The age-standardized rates (ASRs) for prevalence and deaths were 2.05 (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 1.66-2.52) per 100,000 population and 0.31 (95% UI: 0.23-0.38) per 100,000 population, respectively. From 1990 to 2021, Asia reported the lowest ASRs for PAH prevalence but the highest ASRs for deaths compared to other continents. While the ASRs for prevalence increased slightly, ASRs for mortality and DALYs decreased over time. This increasing burden of PAH was primarily driven by population growth and aging. The burden was especially pronounced among individuals aged ≥60 years and <9 years, who collectively accounted for the majority of deaths and DALYs. Moreover, higher SDI and UHC levels were linked to reduced incidence, but higher prevalence rates. CONCLUSIONS Although progress has been made in reducing PAH-related mortality and DALYs, the disease continues to impose a substantial burden in Asia, particularly among older adults and young children. Region-specific health policies should focus on improving early diagnosis, expanding access to treatment, and effectively addressing the growing PAH burden in the region.
Humans ; Global Burden of Disease ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Asia/epidemiology* ; Prevalence ; Aged ; Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension/mortality* ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Infant ; Hypertension, Pulmonary/epidemiology*