Pulmonary fibrosis（PF） is a progressive and life-threatening disease with limited therapeutic options， highlighting the urgent need for innovative drug discovery strategies. To address this challenge， the authors propose the formula-originated rational intelligent screening&translation（FIRST）， a systematic framework for developing anti-fibrotic monomers derived from classical traditional Chinese medicine（TCM）. The strategy integrates three key dimensions， including tissue-oriented intelligent screening of active compounds， structural optimization based on drug-target spatial interactions and plant biosynthetic pathways， and cross-scale validation of drug. We further highlight its applications in discovering tissue-oriented novel drugs from clinically validated TCM， the development and mechanistic elucidation of anti-fibrotic therapeutics， as well as the clinical translation and secondary development of candidate drugs. This strategy paves the way for first-in-class， formula-derived monomeric drugs with defined structures， clarified mechanisms， and proven safety， offering a transformative avenue to meet the urgent therapeutic needs of PF and setting a new paradigm for TCM-based drug innovation.

Pulmonary fibrosis（PF） is a progressive and life-threatening disease with limited therapeutic options， highlighting the urgent need for innovative drug discovery strategies. To address this challenge， the authors propose the formula-originated rational intelligent screening&translation（FIRST）， a systematic framework for developing anti-fibrotic monomers derived from classical traditional Chinese medicine（TCM）. The strategy integrates three key dimensions， including tissue-oriented intelligent screening of active compounds， structural optimization based on drug-target spatial interactions and plant biosynthetic pathways， and cross-scale validation of drug. We further highlight its applications in discovering tissue-oriented novel drugs from clinically validated TCM， the development and mechanistic elucidation of anti-fibrotic therapeutics， as well as the clinical translation and secondary development of candidate drugs. This strategy paves the way for first-in-class， formula-derived monomeric drugs with defined structures， clarified mechanisms， and proven safety， offering a transformative avenue to meet the urgent therapeutic needs of PF and setting a new paradigm for TCM-based drug innovation.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a kind of exogenous chemicals presenting in the human living environment widely which affects the action of endocrine hormones in the human body. Numerous studies have shown that BPA has reproductive toxicity in the spermatogenic function damage of the testes through a variety of mechanisms such as interfering with endocrine function, inducing oxidative stress, promoting spermatogonial cell apoptosis, destroying the integrity of the blood-testis barrier, and regulating epigenetic inheritance, thereby destroying male fertility. Relevant studies have shown that TCM can improve male fertility by reversing BPA-induced reproductive damage through multi-component, multi-target and multi-mechanisms. However, there is no systematic review on the mechanism of TCM to reduce the reproductive toxicity of BPA. Based on the existing studies, this article will systematically introduce the mechanisms of BPA-induced reproductive impairment in men and the progress of TCM interventions, with a view to providing reference targets and research directions for the development of new Chinese medicines.
Humans ; Benzhydryl Compounds/adverse effects* ; Male ; Phenols/adverse effects* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Infertility, Male/chemically induced* ; Testis/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Bisphenol A Compounds

Objective To investigate the failure distribution characteristics of semiconductor coolers for medical devices and to analyze the failure mechanisms at different time periods.Methods Firstly,a sample of a pilot semiconductor cooler used in some medical device was used as the object,and all the failure data within the last 4 years were collected,screened and organized.Secondly,the failure data were fitted based on the Weibull distribution,and the failure distribution characteristics were analyzed by shape parameters.Finally,based on the failure distribution characteristics,mechanism analysis was carried out with the typical failure samples selected from three time periods of early failure,random failure and wear-out failure,and the causes of failure were found out.Results The failures of semiconductor coolers occurring in the three time periods presented different types of mechanisms,and the failure distribution conformed to the Weibull distribution.The causes included the mechanical stress damage for early failures,the process defect for random failures and water vapour penetration due to sealant aging after long-term operation of the semiconductor cooler.Conclusion The failure patterns of semiconductor coolers for medical devices are revealed effectively,providing a scientific basis for the design,improvement and reliability assessment of semiconductor coolers used in medical equipment.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(5):34-38]

OBJECTIVE: Varied acupoint selections represent a potential cause of the uncertainty surrounding the efficacy of acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Skin temperature, a guiding factor for acupoint selection, may help to address this issue. This study explored thermal sensitization of acupoints used for the treatment of knee OA. METHODS: This cross-sectional case-control study enrolled cases aged 45-75 years with symptomatic knee OA and age- and gender-matched non-knee OA controls in a 1:1 ratio. All participants underwent infrared thermographic imaging. The primary outcome was the relative skin temperature of acupoint (STA), and the secondary outcome was the absolute STA of 11 acupoints. The Z test was used to compare the relative and absolute STAs between the groups. Principal component analysis was used to extract the common factors (CFs, acupoint cluster) in the STAs. A general linear model was used to identify factors affecting the STA in the knee OA cases. For the group comparisons of relative STA, P < 0.0045 (adjusted for 11 acupoints through Bonferroni correction) was considered to indicate statistical significance. For other analyses, P < 0.05 was used as the threshold for statistical significance. RESULTS: The analysis included 308 participants, consisting of 151 cases (mean age: [64.58 ± 6.67] years; male: 25.83%; mean body mass index: [25.70 ± 3.16] kg/m²) and 157 controls (mean age: [63.37 ± 5.96] years; male: 26.11%; mean body mass index: [24.47 ± 2.84] kg/m²). The relative STAs of ST34 (P = 0.0001), EX-LE2 (P < 0.0001), EX-LE5 (P = 0.0006), SP10 (P < 0.0001), BL40 (P = 0.0012) and GB39 (P = 0.0037) were higher in the knee OA group. No difference was found in the STAs of ST35, ST36, SP9, GB33 and GB34. Four CFs were identified for relative STA in both groups. The acupoints within each CF were consistent between the groups. The mean values of the relative STAs across each CF were higher in the knee OA group. In the knee OA cases, no factors were observed to affect the relative STA, while age and gender were found to affect the absolute STA. CONCLUSION Among patients with knee OA, thermal sensitization occurs in the acupoints of the lower extremity, exhibiting localized and regional thermal consistencies. The thermally sensitized acupoints that we identified in this study, ST34, SP10, EX-LE2, EX-LE5, GB39 and BL40, may be good choices for the acupuncture treatment of knee OA. Please cite this article as: Tu JF, Wang XZ, Yan SY, Wang YR, Yang JW, Shi GX, Zhang WZ, Jing LN, Yang LS, Liu DH, Wang LQ, Mi BH. Thermal sensitization of acupoints in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A cross-sectional case-control study. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(3): 289-296.
Humans ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/physiopathology* ; Male ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Acupuncture Points ; Case-Control Studies ; Aged ; Skin Temperature ; Acupuncture Therapy

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of lumbar spondylolysis (LS) and the proportion of spondylolytic spondylolisthesis (SS) in China, and to evaluate the musculoskeletal status of patients with LS and SS. METHODS: Spine Computed Tomography (CT) images were collected from community populations aged 40 and above in a nationwide multi-center project. LS was diagnosed, and SS was graded by an experienced radiologist. Bone mineral density (BMD) and paraspinal muscle parameters were quantified based on CT images. RESULTS: One hundred and seventeen patients of a total of 3,317 individuals were diagnosed with LS, corresponding to a prevalence rate of 3.53%. 63 of the 1,214 males (5.18%) and 54 of the 2,103 females (2.57%) were diagnosed with LS. SS occurred in 64/121 vertebrae (52.89%). BMD was not associated with LS ( P = 0.341). The L5 extensor paraspinal muscle density was higher in the LS group than in the non-LS group. In the LS group, patients with SS had a smaller L5 paraspinal extensor muscle cross-sectional area than those without SS ( P = 0.003). CONCLUSION The prevalence of LS in Chinese adults was 3.53%, with prevalence rates of 5.18% in males and 2.57% in females. Patients with LS have higher muscle density, whereas those with SS have smaller muscle cross-sectional areas at the L5 level.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Prevalence ; Adult ; Lumbar Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging* ; Spondylolysis/diagnostic imaging* ; Aged ; Bone Density ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Aged, 80 and over ; Spondylolisthesis/epidemiology* ; East Asian People

Objective To investigate the failure distribution characteristics of semiconductor coolers for medical devices and to analyze the failure mechanisms at different time periods.Methods Firstly,a sample of a pilot semiconductor cooler used in some medical device was used as the object,and all the failure data within the last 4 years were collected,screened and organized.Secondly,the failure data were fitted based on the Weibull distribution,and the failure distribution characteristics were analyzed by shape parameters.Finally,based on the failure distribution characteristics,mechanism analysis was carried out with the typical failure samples selected from three time periods of early failure,random failure and wear-out failure,and the causes of failure were found out.Results The failures of semiconductor coolers occurring in the three time periods presented different types of mechanisms,and the failure distribution conformed to the Weibull distribution.The causes included the mechanical stress damage for early failures,the process defect for random failures and water vapour penetration due to sealant aging after long-term operation of the semiconductor cooler.Conclusion The failure patterns of semiconductor coolers for medical devices are revealed effectively,providing a scientific basis for the design,improvement and reliability assessment of semiconductor coolers used in medical equipment.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(5):34-38]

Body weight abnormalities, including overweight, obesity, and underweight, have become a dual public health challenge in Chinese adults: overweight and obesity lead to a variety of chronic complications, while underweight increases the risks of malnutrition, sarcopenia, and organ dysfunction. To systematically address these issues, multidisciplinary experts in endocrinology, sports science, nutrition, and psychiatry from various regions have held multiple weight management seminars. Based on the latest epidemiological data and clinical evidence, they expanded the guideline to include assessment and intervention strategies for underweight, in addition to the core content of obesity management. This guideline outlines the etiological mechanisms, evaluation methods, and multidimensional management strategies for overweight and obesity, covering key areas such as diagnosis and assessment, medical nutrition therapy, exercise prescription, pharmacological intervention, and psychological support. It is intended to provide a scientific and standardized approach to weight management across the adult population, aiming to curb the rising prevalence of obesity, mitigate complications associated with abnormal body weight, and improve nutritional status and overall quality of life.

Objective:Previous studies have shown that insomnia is closely related to erectile dysfunction(ED).However,the causal relationship between them is still unclear.Mendelian randomization(MR)provides a new method for studying the relationship between the two,and the theory of heart-kidney interaction in TCM provides a new idea for exploring the causal relationship between them.Methods:Based on the statistical data collected by genome-wide association studies(GWAS),the causal relationship be-tween insomnia and ED was discussed by MR.Inverse variance weighted(IVW)is the main analysis method,and weighted median(WME),simple mode(SM),weighted mode(WM)and MR Egger method were the supplementary analysis to evaluate the causal effect.MR-Egger intercept test,Cochran Q test and leave-one-out method were used in sensitivity analysis to verify the reliability of MR results.Results:Thirty-nine SNPs significantly related to insomnia were finally included for MR analysis.The results of IVW method in MR analysis showed that insomnia had a significant causal relationship with the increased risk of ED(OR=3.111,95％CI=1.566-6.181,P=1.193 × 10-3).The results obtained by MR-Egger method,WME method,WM method and SM method were consistent with IVW method in the direction of effect.The sensitivity results suggested that the results of this study were robust.Conclusion:Our study reveals the causal relationship between insomnia and ED,which provides a new basis for future clinical practice and prevention and treatment of ED.

Body weight abnormalities, including overweight, obesity, and underweight, have become a dual public health challenge in Chinese adults: overweight and obesity lead to a variety of chronic complications, while underweight increases the risks of malnutrition, sarcopenia, and organ dysfunction. To systematically address these issues, multidisciplinary experts in endocrinology, sports science, nutrition, and psychiatry from various regions have held multiple weight management seminars. Based on the latest epidemiological data and clinical evidence, they expanded the guideline to include assessment and intervention strategies for underweight, in addition to the core content of obesity management. This guideline outlines the etiological mechanisms, evaluation methods, and multidimensional management strategies for overweight and obesity, covering key areas such as diagnosis and assessment, medical nutrition therapy, exercise prescription, pharmacological intervention, and psychological support. It is intended to provide a scientific and standardized approach to weight management across the adult population, aiming to curb the rising prevalence of obesity, mitigate complications associated with abnormal body weight, and improve nutritional status and overall quality of life.