To elucidate the mechanism by which steaming affects the quality of Curcuma kwangsiensis root tubers, methods such as LSCM, RVA, dual-wavelength spectrophotometry, LF-NMR, and LC-MS were employed to qualitatively and quantitatively detect changes in starch gelatinization characteristics, water distribution, and material composition of C. kwangsiensis root tubers under different steaming durations. Based on multivariate statistical analysis, the correlation between differences in gelatinization parameters, water distribution, and terpenoid material composition was investigated. The results indicate that steaming affects both starch gelatinization and water distribution in C. kwangsiensis. During the steaming process, transformations occur between amylose and amylopectin, as well as between semi-bound water and free water. After 60 min of steaming, starch gelatinization and water distribution reached an equilibrium state. The content of amylopectin, the amylose-to-amylopectin ratio, and parameters such as gelatinization temperature, viscosity, breakdown value, and setback value were significantly correlated(P≤0.05). Additionally, the amylose-to-amylopectin ratio was significantly correlated with total free water and total water content(P≤0.05). Steaming induced differences in the material composition of C. kwangsiensis root tubers. Clustering of primary metabolites in the OPLS-DA model was distinct, while secondary metabolites were classified into 9 clusters using the K-means clustering algorithm. Differential terpenoid metabolites such as(-)-α-curcumene were significantly correlated with zerumbone, retinal, and all-trans-retinoic acid(P<0.05). Curcumenol was significantly correlated with isoalantolactone and ursolic acid(P<0.05), while all-trans-retinoic acid was significantly correlated with both zerumbone and retinal(P<0.05). Alpha-tocotrienol exhibited a significant correlation with retinal and all-trans-retinoic acid(P<0.05). Amylose was extremely significantly correlated with(-)-α-curcumene, curcumenol, zerumbone, retinal, all-trans-retinoic acid, and α-tocotrienol(P<0.05). Amylopectin was significantly correlated with zerumbone(P<0.05) and extremely significantly correlated with(-)-α-curcumene, curcumenol, zerumbone, retinal, all-trans-retinoic acid, and 9-cis-retinoic acid(P<0.01). The results provide scientific evidence for elucidating the mechanism of quality formation of steamed C. kwangsiensis root tubers as a medicinal material.
Curcuma/chemistry* ; Starch/chemistry* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Water/chemistry* ; Terpenes/analysis* ; Plant Roots/chemistry* ; Plant Tubers/chemistry* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*

Nonunion of osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF), predominantly affecting the elderly, can lead to intractable pain, vertebral collapse, progressive kyphotic deformity, and neurological impairment, significantly compromising patients′ quality of life. There exists considerable debate on diagnosis and management of OVF, encompassing key issues such as clinical diagnosis and staging criteria for nonunion, surgical indications and procedure selection, and postoperative rehabilitation planning. Currently, there lacks standardized clinical guideline and expert consensus on the diagnosis and management of OVF nonunion in China. To address this gap, Minimally Invasive Surgery Group of Chinese Orthopedic Association, Osteoporosis Committee of Chinese Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, Prevention and Rehabilitation Committee for Osteoporosis of Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine and Minimally Invasive Orthopedic Surgery Branch of China Association for Geriatric Care jointly organized domestic experts in spinal surgery, endocrinology, and rehabilitation to formulate the Clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment for nonunion of osteoporotic vertebral fractures ( version 2025), based on existing literature and clinical experience and adhering to principles of scientific rigor and practicality. The guideline provided 13 evidence-based recommendations encompassing diagnosis and treatment of OVF nonunion, aiming to standardize its clinical management.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical equivalence between a domestic calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate ointment and the originator product in the treatment of stable plaque psoriasis.Methods:A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, three-arm, parallel-group, active- and placebo-controlled study was conducted, and 449 patients aged 18 - 65 years with stable plaque psoriasis were enrolled from 25 hospitals (such as the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University). Eligible patients had a baseline physician's global assessment (PGA) score of ≥ 3 points, baseline body surface area (BSA) involvement of 5% - 30%, and a target lesion psoriasis area and severity index (TL-PASI) for plaque elevation of ≥ 3 points. Participants were randomly assigned in a 2:2:1 ratio to the test group ( n = 179), reference group ( n = 180), and placebo group ( n = 90), and applied the domestic calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate ointment, originator product, and ointment base respectively, once daily in the evening for 4 weeks. Efficacy and safety were assessed at weeks 1, 2, and 4. The primary efficacy endpoints were the treatment success rates and clinical success rates in each group at week 4. The per-protocol set (PPS) was used for the primary efficacy analysis, and the intention-to-treat (ITT) set for supplementary efficacy analysis. Equivalence between the test and reference preparations was tested using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel method adjusted for randomization strata. Superiority of the test and reference preparations over the placebo was also tested. Measurement data were compared among the 3 groups using analysis of variance or non-parametric tests, while treatment success rates, clinical success rates, and incidence rates of adverse reactions were compared using the chi-square test. Results:The ITT, PPS, and safety sets included 447, 420, and 448 patients, respectively. In the ITT set, patients were aged 43.6 ± 12.8 years, including 320 (71.6%) males and 127 (28.4%) females, and the disease duration was 11.21 ± 9.05 years; 316 (70.7%) had a PGA score of 3 points and 131 (29.3%) had a PGA score of 4 - 5 points. No significant differences in the baseline characteristics (including age, sex, disease duration and disease severity) were observed among the 3 groups (all P > 0.05). Based on the PPS analysis, the treatment success rates were 57.9% (99/171) in the test group, 50.3% (86/171) in the reference group, and 7.7% (6/78) in the placebo group, and the clinical success rates were 57.9% (99/171), 50.3% (86/171), and 10.3% (8/78), respectively; both the test and reference groups were superior to the placebo group in both treatment and clinical success rates (all P < 0.001) ; the rate differences for treatment success (90% confidence interval [ CI]: -1.3% - 16.4%) and clinical success (90% CI: -1.3% - 16.3%) between the test and reference groups were entirely within the pre-defined equivalence margin (-20% - 20%). Subgroup analyses by baseline PGA scores: for patients with a baseline PGA score of 3 points, the treatment success rates in the test, reference, and placebo groups were 60.8% (73/120), 52.1% (62/119), and 11.1% (6/54), respectively, and the corresponding clinical success rates were 61.7% (74/120), 53.8% (64/119), and 13% (7/54), respectively; the test and reference groups did not differ significantly in treatment or clinical success rates (both P > 0.05), but both showed higher success rates than the placebo group (all P < 0.001) ; the results of statistical comparisons among the 3 groups in patients with a baseline PGA score of 4 - 5 points were consistent with those observed in patients with a baseline PGA score of 3 points. The percentage reductions in PGA and TL-PASI scores from baseline to weeks 1, 2, and 4 showed significant differences among the 3 groups, which were significantly higher in the test and reference groups than in the placebo group (all P < 0.001), but did not differ between the test and reference groups (all P > 0.05). The primary adverse reactions were local skin reactions, such as pruritus, pain, and erythema. The incidence rates of adverse reactions were 8.9% (16/179) in the test group, 7.3% (13/179) in the reference group, and 7.8% (7/90) in the placebo group, with no significant difference among the 3 groups ( P > 0.05) . Conclusions:The domestic calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate ointment demonstrated clinical equivalence to the originator product in the treatment of stable plaque psoriasis, and the two agents exhibited comparable efficacy for patients with varying degrees of disease severity, and were comparable in the speed and degree of clinical improvement, with similar favorable safety profiles.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical equivalence between a domestic calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate ointment and the originator product in the treatment of stable plaque psoriasis.Methods:A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, three-arm, parallel-group, active- and placebo-controlled study was conducted, and 449 patients aged 18 - 65 years with stable plaque psoriasis were enrolled from 25 hospitals (such as the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University). Eligible patients had a baseline physician's global assessment (PGA) score of ≥ 3 points, baseline body surface area (BSA) involvement of 5% - 30%, and a target lesion psoriasis area and severity index (TL-PASI) for plaque elevation of ≥ 3 points. Participants were randomly assigned in a 2:2:1 ratio to the test group ( n = 179), reference group ( n = 180), and placebo group ( n = 90), and applied the domestic calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate ointment, originator product, and ointment base respectively, once daily in the evening for 4 weeks. Efficacy and safety were assessed at weeks 1, 2, and 4. The primary efficacy endpoints were the treatment success rates and clinical success rates in each group at week 4. The per-protocol set (PPS) was used for the primary efficacy analysis, and the intention-to-treat (ITT) set for supplementary efficacy analysis. Equivalence between the test and reference preparations was tested using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel method adjusted for randomization strata. Superiority of the test and reference preparations over the placebo was also tested. Measurement data were compared among the 3 groups using analysis of variance or non-parametric tests, while treatment success rates, clinical success rates, and incidence rates of adverse reactions were compared using the chi-square test. Results:The ITT, PPS, and safety sets included 447, 420, and 448 patients, respectively. In the ITT set, patients were aged 43.6 ± 12.8 years, including 320 (71.6%) males and 127 (28.4%) females, and the disease duration was 11.21 ± 9.05 years; 316 (70.7%) had a PGA score of 3 points and 131 (29.3%) had a PGA score of 4 - 5 points. No significant differences in the baseline characteristics (including age, sex, disease duration and disease severity) were observed among the 3 groups (all P > 0.05). Based on the PPS analysis, the treatment success rates were 57.9% (99/171) in the test group, 50.3% (86/171) in the reference group, and 7.7% (6/78) in the placebo group, and the clinical success rates were 57.9% (99/171), 50.3% (86/171), and 10.3% (8/78), respectively; both the test and reference groups were superior to the placebo group in both treatment and clinical success rates (all P < 0.001) ; the rate differences for treatment success (90% confidence interval [ CI]: -1.3% - 16.4%) and clinical success (90% CI: -1.3% - 16.3%) between the test and reference groups were entirely within the pre-defined equivalence margin (-20% - 20%). Subgroup analyses by baseline PGA scores: for patients with a baseline PGA score of 3 points, the treatment success rates in the test, reference, and placebo groups were 60.8% (73/120), 52.1% (62/119), and 11.1% (6/54), respectively, and the corresponding clinical success rates were 61.7% (74/120), 53.8% (64/119), and 13% (7/54), respectively; the test and reference groups did not differ significantly in treatment or clinical success rates (both P > 0.05), but both showed higher success rates than the placebo group (all P < 0.001) ; the results of statistical comparisons among the 3 groups in patients with a baseline PGA score of 4 - 5 points were consistent with those observed in patients with a baseline PGA score of 3 points. The percentage reductions in PGA and TL-PASI scores from baseline to weeks 1, 2, and 4 showed significant differences among the 3 groups, which were significantly higher in the test and reference groups than in the placebo group (all P < 0.001), but did not differ between the test and reference groups (all P > 0.05). The primary adverse reactions were local skin reactions, such as pruritus, pain, and erythema. The incidence rates of adverse reactions were 8.9% (16/179) in the test group, 7.3% (13/179) in the reference group, and 7.8% (7/90) in the placebo group, with no significant difference among the 3 groups ( P > 0.05) . Conclusions:The domestic calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate ointment demonstrated clinical equivalence to the originator product in the treatment of stable plaque psoriasis, and the two agents exhibited comparable efficacy for patients with varying degrees of disease severity, and were comparable in the speed and degree of clinical improvement, with similar favorable safety profiles.

OBJECTIVE To design and synthesize mono-carbonyl curcumin analogues(MCACs)and investigate the activities of them against breast cancer.METHODS The analogues F1,F2,and F3 were obtained by aldol condensation reaction,and their antitumor activities(including the activities of human breast cancer cell MCF-7 and human lung cancer cell A549)were detected by MTT assay[evaluated with half inhibitory concentration(IC50)].The results of MTT assay were compared with those of curcumin.Bioinformatics methods were used to collect the core targets of analogues F1,F2 and F3 acting on breast cancer,and then molecular docking verification was carried out.The cell experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of high,medium and low concentrations(16,8,4 μmol/L)of F1,F2 and F3 on the expression of the first core target protein as well as the effects of medium concentration of F1,F2 and F3 on the expression of cleaved-caspase-3.RESULTS Compared with curcumin,IC50 of analogues F1,F2 and F3 to A549 and MCF-7 cells(except for IC50 of analogue F2 to A549 cells)were decreased significantly(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01);among them,IC50of analogue F2 to MCF-7 cell was the lowest,being(9.67±1.27)μmol/L.Bioinformatics analysis showed that index of affinity of analogues F1,F2 and F3 with the first core target epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),protein kinase B(AKT)and AKT were 5.909 2,8.402 5 and 6.486 6,respectively;high concentration of F1 could significantly reduce the phosphorylation level of EGFR protein in MCF-7 cells(P＜0.01),while low,medium,and high concentrations of F2 and high concentration of F3 could significantly reduce the phosphorylation level of AKT protein in MCF-7 cells(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Medium concentration of F1,F2,and F3 could significantly increase the expression level of cleaved-caspase-3 protein in MCF-7 cells(P＜0.01).CONCLUSIONS Designed and synthesized MCACs F1,F2 and F3 all have good anti-breast cancer activity,and F2 has better anti-breast cancer activity.

Nonunion of osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF), predominantly affecting the elderly, can lead to intractable pain, vertebral collapse, progressive kyphotic deformity, and neurological impairment, significantly compromising patients′ quality of life. There exists considerable debate on diagnosis and management of OVF, encompassing key issues such as clinical diagnosis and staging criteria for nonunion, surgical indications and procedure selection, and postoperative rehabilitation planning. Currently, there lacks standardized clinical guideline and expert consensus on the diagnosis and management of OVF nonunion in China. To address this gap, Minimally Invasive Surgery Group of Chinese Orthopedic Association, Osteoporosis Committee of Chinese Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, Prevention and Rehabilitation Committee for Osteoporosis of Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine and Minimally Invasive Orthopedic Surgery Branch of China Association for Geriatric Care jointly organized domestic experts in spinal surgery, endocrinology, and rehabilitation to formulate the Clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment for nonunion of osteoporotic vertebral fractures ( version 2025), based on existing literature and clinical experience and adhering to principles of scientific rigor and practicality. The guideline provided 13 evidence-based recommendations encompassing diagnosis and treatment of OVF nonunion, aiming to standardize its clinical management.

Objective:To explore the efficacy of precise and empirical bismuth-containing quadruple therapy guided by clarithromycin sensitivity testing in the first eradication of Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori) in Ningxia. Methods:From August 12, 2022 to March 22, 2023, 600 patients diagnosed as H. pylori-positive by 14C-urea breath test ( 14C-UBT) for the first time in People′s Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Ningnan Hospital of People′s Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Zhongwei People′s Hospital, Yanchi County People′s Hospital, and Pingluo People′s Hospital were selected, and divided into empirical treatment group (hereinafter referred to as the empirical group), genetic testing group (hereinafter referred to as the genetic group), and drug sensitivity testing group (hereinafter referred to as the drug sensitivity group) by using random number table with 200 patients in each group. The empirical group did not undergo drug sensitivity testing and genetic testing, while the genetic and drug sensitivity groups were confirmed to be sensitive to clarithromycin through genetic testing and drug sensitivity testing, and the patients with drug-resistant were excluded, respectively. All the patients of the 3 groups received the same clarithromycin bismuth-containing quadruple therapy. Intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses were performed to compare the eradication rates of H. pylori among 3 groups. Cost-effectiveness ratio (CER) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) were used for cost-effectiveness and sensitivity analysis based on the ITT. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. Results:There were 200, 126, and 168 patients included in the empirical group, genetic group, and drug sensitivity group in ITT analysis, and 190, 123, and 164 patients were enrolled in the 3 groups in PP analysis, respectively. The results of ITT analysis showed that the eradication rates of H. pylori in the empirical group, genetic group, and drug sensitivity group were 80.5% (161/200), 94.4% (119/126), and 95.2% (160/168), respectively. The results of PP analysis indicated that the eradication rates of H. pylori in the 3 groups were 84.7% (161/190), 96.7% (119/123), and 97.6% (160/164), respectively, and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=25.39 and 24.93, both P<0.001). The H. pylori eradication rates of genetic group and drug sensitivity group were both higher than that of empirical group in ITT and PP analysis( χ2=12.40, 17.80, 11.42, and 17.13; all P<0.001). The cost-effectiveness analysis showed that the direct treatment cost of the empirical group, genetic group, and drug sensitivity group was 400.8, 729.2, and 779.2 yuan, respectively, and the CER was 4.98, 7.72, and 8.18 yuan/%, respectively. Compared to the empirical group, the ICER of the genetic group and drug sensitivity group was 23.6 and 25.7 yuan/%, respectively. The sensitivity analysis demonstrated that, when the cost of genetic testing reduced or increased by 20%, the ICER of the genetic group compared to the empirical group was 21.8 or 25.5 yuan/%, respectively. When the cost of drug sensitivity testing reduced or increased by 20%, the ICER of the drug sensitivity group compared to the empirical group was 23.3 or 28.2 yuan/%. When the cost of gastroscopy reduced or increased by 20%, the ICER of the genetic group compared to the empirical group was 20.8 or 26.5 yuan/%, and the ICER of the drug sensitivity group compared to the empirical group was 23.0 or 28.4 yuan/%, respectively. Conclusion:In Ningxia, if the clarithromycin bismuth-containing quadruple regimen is applied as the first H. pylori eradication regimen, in order to achieve the clinical eradication efficacy of H. pylori, and the patients can accept an additional payment of 23.6 or 25.7 yuan for each 1% increasing in the H. pylori eradication rate, then the precision treatment after clarithromycin resistance test is recommended.

Osteoporotic proximal humeral fracture (OPHF) is one of the common osteoporotic fractures in the aged, with an incidence only lower than vertebral compression fracture, hip fracture, and distal radius fracture. OPHF, secondary to osteoporosis and characterized by poor bone quality, comminuted fracture pattern, slow healing, and severely impaired shoulder joint function, poses a big challenge to the current clinical diagnosis and treatment. In the field of diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of OPHF, traditional Chinese and Western medicine have accumulated rich experience and evidence from evidence-based medicine and achieved favorable outcomes. However, there is still a lack of guidance from a relevant consensus as to how to integrate the advantages of the two medical systems and achieve the integrated diagnosis and treatment. To promote the diagnosis and treatment of OPHF with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine, relevant experts from Orthopedic Expert Committee of Geriatric Branch of Chinese Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Youth Osteoporosis Group of Orthopedic Branch of Chinese Medical Association, Osteoporosis Group of Orthopedic Surgeon Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association, and Osteoporosis Committee of Shanghai Association of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine have been organized to formulate Expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporotic proximal humeral fracture with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine ( version 2024) by searching related literatures and based on the evidences from evidence-based medicine. This consensus consists of 13 recommendations about the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of OPHF with integrated traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, aimed at standardizing, systematizing, and personalizing the diagnosis and treatment of OPHF with integrated traditional Chinse and Western medicine to improve the patients ′ function.

Objective:To investigate effects of mesalazine(MS)on proliferation,apoptosis and inflammatory injury of cell model of ulcerative colitis(UC)induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS),as well as transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)/Smad signaling pathway effect in this study.Methods:Human colonic epithelial cells NCM-460 cultured in vitro were induced UC model by LPS,and divided into Con group(no treatment),LPS group(1 mg/L LPS),MS group(0.1,0.2,0.4 mg/L MS+1 mg/L LPS)and inhibitor group(10 μmol/L TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway inhibitor LY2109761+0.2 mg/L MS+1 mg/L LPS).Cell morphology,proliferation,apoptosis and levels of inflammatory factors and TGF-β1/Smad pathway-related markers were examined by inverted microscope,EdU assay,Hoechst 33258 staining,ELISA and Western blot.Results:LPS treatment highly induced cell proliferation rate and Smad7 pro-tein level compared with Con group,while apoptotic cells,inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-6,soluble interleukin-2 receptor(sIL-2R)release,as well as TGF-β1,p-Smad2,p-Smad3 protein expressions were increased;the above effects induced by LPS was reversed by MS in a dose-dependent manner(P<0.05).Compared with 0.2 mg/L MS group,NCM-460 cells proliferation rate and Smad7 expression were increased,while apoptotic cells,TNF-α and IL-6,sIL-2R releases,and TGF-β1,p-Smad2,p-Smad3 protein expressions were decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion:MS can attenuate LPS-induced apoptosis and inflammatory injury in NCM-460 cells,and this protection was possibly through suppressing TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the associations of reproductive health indicators with lung function and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)among women aged 40 years and above.Methods From Jul to Sep,2021,female subjects aged 40 years and above were randomly selected from the Shanghai Suburban Adult Cohort and Biobank for COPD screening.A questionnaire was used to obtain information on demographic characteristics and reproductive health indicators.Linear regression was used to analyze the effects of reproductive health indicators on forced vital capacity(FVC)and forced expiratory volume in the first second(FEV1).Logistic regression was also used to analyze the effects of reproductive health factors on FVC as a percentage of the predicted value(FVC%Pred)and FEV1%Pred as well as on COPD.Results A total of 1876 women aged 40 years and above were enrolled with mean age of(62.1±8.2)years old,among them,78.1%were menopausal,and 40.9%had been pregnant≥3 times.Multivariate analysis showed that FVC and FEV1 decreased in postmenopausal women,but menopause was not associated with a decrease in their percentage of predicted values.Pregnancies≥3 times was a risk factor for COPD(for 3 times,OR=4.92,95%CI:1.48-19.95,P<0.05;for≥4 times,OR=9.06,95%CI:2.32-41.57,P<0.01),while pregnancies of 2 times did not increase the risk of COPD.Conclusion In women aged 40 years and above,menopause is associated with poorer FVC and FEV1,and excessive pregnancy(≥3 times)is a risk factor for COPD.