Aromatherapy refers to the method of using the aromatic components of plants in appropriate forms to act on the entire body or a specific area to prevent and treat diseases. Essential oils used in aromatherapy are hydrophobic liquids containing volatile aromatic molecules， such as limonene， linalool， linalool acetate， geraniol， and citronellol. These chemicals have been extensively studied and shown to have a variety of functions， including reducing anxiety， relieving depression， promoting sleep， and providing pain relief. Terpenoids are a class of organic molecules with relatively low lipid solubility. After being inhaled， they can pass through the nasal mucosa for transfer or penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream upon local application. Some of these substances also have the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier， thereby exerting effects on the central nervous system. Currently， the academic community generally agrees that products such as essential oils and aromatherapy from aromatic plants have certain health benefits. However， the process of extracting a single component from it and successfully developing it into a drug still faces many challenges. Its safety and efficacy still need to be further verified through more rigorous and systematic experiments. This article systematically elaborated on the efficacy of aromatic substances， including plant extracts and natural small molecule compounds， in antibacterial and antiviral fields and the regulation of nervous system activity. As a result， a deeper understanding of aromatherapy was achieved. At the same time， the potential of these aromatic substances for drug development was thoroughly explored， providing important references and insights for possible future drug research and application.

Objective: To investigate the impact of milk and egg supplementation on body composition and bone mineral density of rural primary school students in Yunnan Province, so as to provide a reference for developing targeted nutritional intervention strategies. Methods: In December 2023, a cluster sampling method was adopted to select students from grades one to three in four primary schools each from Jinggu and Shidian countys of Yunnan Province, as the intervention group (662 students). Additionally, two boarding primary schools were selected from each county based on the principle of matching scale and student numbers as the control group (455 students). Starting from April 2023, the intervention group received 200 mL milk and 50 g eggs during the break on school days for 8 months, while the control group maintained their usual diet behavior. Body composition was measured by using bioelectrical impedance analysis, and distal radial bone mineral density was assessed via dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in April and December 2023. The intervention effects were analyzed by using a difference in-differences approach. Results: The final measurements of body fat percentage, skeletal muscle mass and fat free mass of the intervention group and the control group of primary school students were significantly higher than the baseline values, and the net effect of milk and egg intervention on these body composition indicators was not statistically significant ( P >0.05, both before and after adjustment). In contrast, bone mineral density increased significantly by 0.02 g/cm 2 in the intervention group. The net intervention effect on bone mineral density was statistically significant ( β=0.02, 95%CI =0.00-0.04), and remained significant after model adjustment ( β=0.02, 95%CI =0.00-0.04) (both P < 0.05). Subgroup analysis showed statistically significant effects of the intervention among girls ( β=0.02, 95%CI =0.00-0.04), day students ( β=0.04, 95%CI =0.01-0.07), and students with normal nutritional status ( β=0.02, 95%CI =0.00-0.04) (all P <0.05). No significant effect of milk and egg supplementation was observed on body composition indicators (all P <0.05). Conclusions Milk and egg supplementation can improve bone mineral density among rural primary school students in Yunnan Province. It is recommended that rural school aged children should increase intake of milk and eggs to support growth and development.

By combing the application and funding situation of general， young scholar and regional scholar programs from National Natural Science Foundation of China（NSFC） in field of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine in 2023， this paper summarizes the distribution of supporting units， application and funding hotspots， and the problems of application and funding projects in this discipline， in order to provide a reference for applicants and supporting organizations to understand the hotspot dynamics and reporting requirements of the discipline. In 2023， the discipline of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine received a total of 2 793 applications， and there were 1 254 applications for general programs， 1 278 applications for young scholar programs， and 261 applications for regional scholar programs. The amounts of project funding obtained by the three were 145， 164 and 35， respectively， and the funding rates were 11.56%， 12.83% and 13.41% in that order. From the situation of obtaining funding， the age distribution of the project leaders who obtained funding for the general， young scholar and regional scholar programs were mainly distributed in the age of 40-46， 30-34， 38-44 years， respectively. Within the supported programs， the Chinese medicine affiliations accounted for 55.52%. With respect to research subjects， the proportion of one single Chinese herbs， or monomers， or extracts accounted for 29.4%， but the proportion of Chinese herb pairs or prescriptions accounted for 47.1%. Research hotspots included ferroptosis， bile acid metabolism， macrophages， mitochondria， microglia， exosomes， intestinal flora， microecology and so on. The current research mainly focused on the common key problems of the advantageous diseases of Chinese and western integrative medicine， but still need to be improved in the basic theories of Chinese and western medicine and multidisciplinary cross-disciplinary research.

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Cangxi Tongbi capsules （CXTB） in regulating the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （p38 MAPK）/NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）/cysteine protease-1 （Caspase-1） signaling pathway to inhibit pyroptosis of cartilage cells in knee osteoarthritis （KOA）. MethodSixty male SD rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group， a model group， low， medium， and high dose CXTB groups， and a positive control group， with 10 rats per group. The modified Hulth method was employed to establish a rat model of KOA. According to their respective assignments， rats were administered CXTB （0.25， 0.5， 1.0 g·kg^-1） and Celecoxib （24 mg·kg^-1） by gavage. The sham operation and model groups were given an equivalent volume of physiological saline. Treatment was performed once daily for 28 days. Micro-computed tomography （Micro-CT） was used to assess bone volume/total volume （BV/TV） and trabecular separation （Tb.Sp）. Joint degeneration was evaluated through hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， safranin-fast green （SO） staining， and Osteoarthritis Research Society International （OARSI） scoring. Western blot analysis was conducted to measure the expression levels of p38 MAPK， phosphorylated p38 MAPK （p-p38 MAPK）， NLRP3， Caspase-1， and gasdermin D （GSDMD） proteins. Real-time PCR was used to assess mRNA expression levels of p38 MAPK， NLRP3， Caspase-1， and GSDMD genes. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to measure serum concentrations of inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-alpha （TNF-α）， interleukin-1 beta （IL-1β）， and interleukin-18 （IL-18）. After knee replacement surgery， cartilage tissue was analyzed using Western blot to assess the protein expression levels of p38 MAPK， p-p38 MAPK， NLRP3， Caspase-1， and GSDMD， and Real-time PCR was used to evaluate gene expression levels of p38 MAPK， NLRP3， Caspase-1， and GSDMD. ResultMicro-CT analysis revealed significant narrowing of the joint space and increased bone spur formation in KOA rats compared with the sham operation group， with a decrease in BV/TV ratio and an increase in Tb.Sp value （P<0.01）. Serum levels of TNF-α， IL-1β， and IL-18 were elevated （P<0.01）. The protein expression levels of p-p38 MAPK， NLRP3， Caspase-1， and GSDMD in cartilage were significantly increased （P<0.01）， and the mRNA expression levels of p38 MAPK， NLRP3， Caspase-1， and GSDMD were also enhanced （P<0.01）. Significant differences in protein expression of p-p38 MAPK， NLRP3， Caspase-1， and GSDMD were observed between normal and diseased cartilage tissues after knee replacement surgery （P<0.05）， and the gene expression of p38 MAPK， NLRP3， Caspase-1， and GSDMD were also significantly different （P<0.01）. HE and SO staining showed roughened joint surfaces， reduced cartilage thickness， and disordered cellular arrangement in KOA rats. OARSI scores were significantly higher （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， treatment with low， medium， and high concentrations of CXTB resulted in increased BV/TV ratios and decreased Tb.Sp values in the knee joints of rats （P<0.01）. HE and SO staining indicated a trend towards smoother joint surfaces and reduced OARSI scores （P<0.01）. The protein expression levels of p-p38 MAPK， NLRP3， Caspase-1， and GSDMD were notably decreased （P<0.05）， as were the mRNA expression levels of p38 MAPK， NLRP3， Caspase-1， and GSDMD （P<0.01）. Additionally， serum concentrations of TNF-α， IL-1β， and IL-18 were significantly reduced （P<0.01）. ConclusionCXTB intervention may alleviate knee joint degeneration in KOA rats and inhibit the expression of inflammatory factors and pyroptosis of cartilage cells， thereby protecting cartilage. The underlying mechanism may involve modulation of the p38 MAPK/NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway.

Osteoarthritis （OA） is a common degenerative joint disease with a rising incidence rate year by year. Treatment often relies on analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs （NSAIDs）， which can lead to gastrointestinal damage with long-term use and the recurrence of symptoms. Chinese medicine has a long history of preventing and treating OA， with widespread application and fewer side effects. It offers unique advantages such as a broad treatment scope， multiple targets， and pathways. The effective components of Chinese medicine can reduce the content of reactive oxygen species （ROS）， relieve oxidative stress （OS） damage， and increase the antioxidant capacity of the body by interfering with the expression of biomarkers of OS response such as malondialdehyde （MDA） and superoxide dismutase （SOD）. Through the modulation of signaling pathways such as nuclear factor E₂-related factor 2 （Nrf2）/heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1）， phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）， nuclear factor kappa B （NF-κB）， c-Jun N-terminal kinase （JNK）， NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）， and osteoprotegerin （OPG）， they downregulated the expression of inflammatory factors such as interleukin-6 （IL-6）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， thereby effectively relieving local joint inflammation， protecting chondrocytes and bone tissue， inhibiting chondrocyte apoptosis， and further alleviating the progression of OA. Currently， there are still certain limitations in the medical research status and development trends of OA， necessitating the continued advancement of traditional Chinese medicine. This paper reviewed the literature on the regulation of OS response by effective components of Chinese medicine for the prevention and treatment of OA， providing new directions and ideas for future research.

Objective To analyze the acupoint selection rules of acupuncture for the treatment of tic disorders in children based on data mining techniques.Methods A computerized search was conducted for the clinical research literature on acupuncture treatment of tic disorders in children included in the CNKI,Wanfang,VIP,SinoMed,and PubMed databases from January 1992 to December 2022.A database was established by Excel 2019 to count the commonly used treatment methods and analyze the high-frequency application methods acupuncture(high-frequency acupoints,channel entry of acupoints,acupoint association rules,and acupoint clustering),auricular point seed-pressing(high-frequency auricular points,and acupoint association rules),and the high frequency division of cluster needling of scalp point.Results A total of 190 valid literature articles were included,involving 270 acupuncture prescriptions;among them,184 acupoints were counted in the acupuncture method,with a total application frequency of 1 906 times,and the high-frequency application of the acupoints in descending order were Baihui(DU20),Taichong(LR3),Fengchi(GB20),Hegu(LI4),Sanyinjiao(SP6),Neiguan(PC6),Shenmen(HT7),Zusanli(ST36),Yintang(EX-HN3),Sishencong(EX-HN1);and the high-frequency meridians were governor vessol,foot taiyang stomach meridian,foot taiyang stomach meridian,foot shaoyang gallbladder meridian,hand taiyang large intestine meridian,foot taiyang bladder meridian,foot jueyin gallbladder meridian;three sets of strong association rules and five clusters of acupoints were analyzed by SPSS modeler 18.0 and IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0 software.There were 29 acupoints of auricular point seed-pressing,application total frequency was 206 times,high-frequency application of auricular points in descending order of Shenmen(HT7),liver,heart,subcortex,kidney;four groups of acupoint strong association rules were obtained through the analysis of SPSS modeler 18.0 software.A total of 14 zones were involved in the application of cephalic acupoint plexus zoning,of which the high-frequency zones were parietal anterior temporal diagonal,parietal parietal 1,and chorea tremor control zone.Conclusion Acupuncture treatment of tic disorders in children,according to its pathogenesis(liver hyperactivity,kidney depletion,spleen deficiency,phlegm disturbance,etc.)and tic site,select acupoints compatibility,and mostly choose yang meridian acupoints,which is related to the nature and treatment characteristics of wind pathogen.Children's tic disorders are closely related to emotional disorders,therefore acupuncture and auricular acupoints all emphasize the method of soothing the liver and clearing the heart,and regulating the emotional state.Cluster needling of scalp point mostly used parietal temporal anterior oblique line,parietal 1 line,and dance tremor control area for the treatment of tic disorders.For children,auricular point seed-pressing and cluster needling of scalp point has the minimun of pain,the effect of treatment is long,and it is not easy to have dangerous situations such as bent needle,broken needle and so on.

Objective:To explore the clinical application and triage management value of using blood circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) (cysteine dioxygenase type 1 gene, CDO1, and Homeobox protein A9 gene, HOXA9) hypermethylation level to detect and diagnose ovarian cancer.Methods:A case-control study was conducted on patients who went for surgery at Chengdu Womens and Childrens Central Hospital from November 2022 to October 2023. Blood samples were collected before surgery for evaluation of cancer antigen 125 (CA125), human epididymis protein 4 (HE4), risk of ovarian malignancy algorithm (ROMA) score, and DNA methylation testing. The basic clinical information, biomarkers, and transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) information were collected simultaneously. Information from a total of 151 patients was collected, including 122 cases with benign pathology and 29 ovarian cancer cases. The pathologic diagnosis of ovarian tissue was defined as the gold standard. The multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify high-risk factors for ovarian cancer. The clinical efficacy of DNA methylation detection for ovarian cancer was analyzed using the area under curve (AUC).Results:The results showed that the age, menopausal status, CA125 and HE4 detection, ROMA score, positivity rate of CDO1 gene and HOXA9 gene single or combined testing in ovarian cancer patients were higher than those in the benign group and showed significant differences ( P<0.05). Among these detection protocols, the AUC of CDO1 and HOXA9 dual gene methylation testing for ovarian cancer was the highest at 0.936 (95% CI, 0.878-0.994), with 89.7% (95% CI 73.6%-96.4%) sensitivity and 97.5% (95% CI 93.0%-99.2%) specificity, respectively. The positive detection rate of CDO1 and HOXA9 dual gene methylation in early ovarian cancer FOGO I-II stage is 12/14 higher than other tests. Conclusion:Blood cfDNA methylation detection, a simple, non-invasive, and highly sensitive detection method, is superior to the current ovarian cancer testing in the risk assessment and early detection.

【Objective】 To explore the feasibility of en-bloc resection of bladder tumors by flexible cystoscope combined with laparoscopic instruments through urethra and to provide reference for the clinical application of this technique. 【Methods】 Self-designed and processed transurethral single-hole PORT and Olympus electronic cystoscope were used as observation mirror; Φ1.8 mm soft grasper, tissue scissors, electric hook, and ultrasonic scalpel were used as instruments; the porcine bladder was used as a model.The PORT was placed through the urethra, and the cystoscope was inserted to observe the inner wall of the bladder and the condition of the mucosa.After the lesion site was identified in the bladder cavity, the soft grasper was inserted to pull the mucosa to be removed, which was then fixed with tension at the target position to maintain a satisfactory feild of view.The surgeon held the cystoscope in the left hand, and operated the laparoscopic instruments into the bladder cavity through the PORT with the right hand.Observing with the cystoscope and lifting and pulling the mucosa with the grasper, the surgeon simulated the cutting and pushing actions to realize the en-bloc resection of the lesioned mucosa. 【Results】 The mucosa at 4 different locations were successfully resected on 2 in vitro porcine bladder models. 【Conclusion】 The in vitro experiments show that the combination of flexible electronic cystoscope and laparoscopic instruments achieves synergistic effects in en-bloc resection of bladder tumor by transurethral single-hole laparoscope without additional iatrogenic bladder injury caused by percutaneous bladder incision.This method is feasible in the treatment of bladder tumors, and has the potential of clinical application after further optimization.

The working principle and development of flexible semiconductor devices based on organic field effect transistor(OFET)technology were introduced.The current research status of OFET-based wearable flexible monitoring devices were reviewed,including biomechanical monitoring devices,tattoo biomonitoring devices and cellular detection devices and etc.The deficiencies of OFET-based wearable flexible monitoring devices were analyzed,and it's pointed out that miniaturization,personalization and diversification were the directions for the development of the future OFET-based wearable flexible moni-toring devices.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(1):93-100]

AIM:To investigate whether crocin alleviates right ventricular injury induced by monocrotaline(MCT)in rats with pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH),and to explore the underlying mechanisms.METHODS:Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:normal group,PAH group,crocin group and sildenafil group,with 10 rats in each group.The rats in PAH,crocin and sildenafil groups received subcutaneous injection of MCT(50 mg/kg)to establish the PAH model.Starting from the day of MCT injection,the rats in crocin group received crocin(200 mg/kg),the rats in sildenafil group received sildenafil(30 mg/kg),and those in PAH and normal groups were orally gavaged with an equal volume of saline once daily.After 4 weeks,measurements of right ventricular systolic pressure(RVSP),mean pulmonary artery pressure(mPAP),right ventricular hypertrophy index(RVHI)and right ventricular mass index(RVMI)were taken for the rats in each group.Tissue staining was conducted to observe pathological changes in the right ventricle,and the expression levels of inflammatory factors(IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α),the p38 MAPK/NF-κB inflammato-ry pathway,CCL2,CCR2,and the macrophage marker CD68 were assessed.RESULTS:Compared with PAH group,the rats in crocin and sildenafil groups exhibited significant reductions in RVSP,mPAP,RVHI and RVMI(P＜0.05).Right ventricular tissue displayed no evident infiltration of inflammatory cells or proliferation of collagen fibers.The down-regulation of the p38 MAPK/NF-κB pathway and inflammatory factors(IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α)was significant(P＜0.05).Additionally,the CCL2/CCR2 pathway and the infiltration of CD68+ macrophages were markedly decreased(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION:Crocin effectively mitigates right ventricular damage in MCT-induced PAH rats,with its effica-cy comparable to that of sildenafil at the dosage utilized in this experiment.Some protective mechanisms of crocin may be attributed to its regulatory effects on inflammation.