Ulcerative colitis （UC） is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease primarily affecting the colon and rectum. With a rising incidence， UC has aroused an increasingly serious public health concern. The etiology and pathogenesis of UC are complex， involving genetic susceptibility， intestinal barrier dysfunction， immune dysregulation， and environmental factors such as diet， smoking， and infection. Current UC therapies face limitations including persistent drug resistance， multiple side effects， and compromised immune function， necessitating the exploration of novel intervention strategies. In recent years， with the continuous advancement of research into UC mechanisms， the Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）/nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway has been revealved as one of the classical pathways involved in inflammation. Being crucial for maintaining intestinal homeostasis， this pathway regulates inflammatory and immune responses by controlling gene transcription， thereby playing a significant role in the occurrence and progression of UC. However， systematic summarization within this field remains lacking. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） possesses unique advantages through its multi-target， multi-pathway， and multi-mechanism approaches， being capable of curbing the pathological progression of UC by targeting key molecules in the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. This paper systematically summarizes the mechanisms by which TLR4/NF-κB-related pathways regulate UC， primarily encompassing inflammatory responses， oxidative stress， immune balance， and gut microbiota. It reviews single herbs （e.g.， Rosa roxburghii root and Saposhnikoviae Radix）， active components （e.g.， resveratrol， Tripterygium glycosides， and gypenosides）， herbal extracts （e.g.， Zingiberis Rhizoma extract and Taraxaci Herba extract）， and compound formulas for clearing heat and removing dampness， invigorating the spleen and warming the kidneys， clearing heat and detoxifying， harmonizing the liver and spleen， and treating cold and heat in complexity （e.g.， Huaihua Powder， Shenling Baizhu Powder， and Jiedu Huayu Formula）. The aim is to fully leverage the advantages of TCM in UC treatment and provide novel insights for clinical and pharmacological research on UC.

Ulcerative colitis （UC） is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease primarily affecting the colon and rectum. With a rising incidence， UC has aroused an increasingly serious public health concern. The etiology and pathogenesis of UC are complex， involving genetic susceptibility， intestinal barrier dysfunction， immune dysregulation， and environmental factors such as diet， smoking， and infection. Current UC therapies face limitations including persistent drug resistance， multiple side effects， and compromised immune function， necessitating the exploration of novel intervention strategies. In recent years， with the continuous advancement of research into UC mechanisms， the Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）/nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway has been revealved as one of the classical pathways involved in inflammation. Being crucial for maintaining intestinal homeostasis， this pathway regulates inflammatory and immune responses by controlling gene transcription， thereby playing a significant role in the occurrence and progression of UC. However， systematic summarization within this field remains lacking. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） possesses unique advantages through its multi-target， multi-pathway， and multi-mechanism approaches， being capable of curbing the pathological progression of UC by targeting key molecules in the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. This paper systematically summarizes the mechanisms by which TLR4/NF-κB-related pathways regulate UC， primarily encompassing inflammatory responses， oxidative stress， immune balance， and gut microbiota. It reviews single herbs （e.g.， Rosa roxburghii root and Saposhnikoviae Radix）， active components （e.g.， resveratrol， Tripterygium glycosides， and gypenosides）， herbal extracts （e.g.， Zingiberis Rhizoma extract and Taraxaci Herba extract）， and compound formulas for clearing heat and removing dampness， invigorating the spleen and warming the kidneys， clearing heat and detoxifying， harmonizing the liver and spleen， and treating cold and heat in complexity （e.g.， Huaihua Powder， Shenling Baizhu Powder， and Jiedu Huayu Formula）. The aim is to fully leverage the advantages of TCM in UC treatment and provide novel insights for clinical and pharmacological research on UC.

The reconstruction of the temporomandibular joint presents a multifaceted clinical challenge in the realm of head and neck surgery, underscored by its relatively infrequent occurrence and the lack of comprehensive clinical guidelines. This review aims to elucidate the available approaches for TMJ reconstruction, with a particular emphasis on recent groundbreaking advancements. The current spectrum of TMJ reconstruction integrates diverse surgical techniques, such as costochondral grafting, coronoid process grafting, revascularized fibula transfer, transport distraction osteogenesis, and alloplastic TMJ replacement. Despite the available options, a singular, universally accepted 'gold standard' for reconstructive techniques or materials remains elusive in this field. Our review comprehensively summarizes the current available methods of TMJ reconstruction, focusing on both autologous and alloplastic prostheses. It delves into the differences of each surgical technique and outlines the implications of recent technological advances, such as 3D printing, which hold the promise of enhancing surgical precision and patient outcomes. This evolutionary progress aims not only to improve the immediate results of reconstruction but also to ensure the long-term health and functionality of the TMJ, thereby improving the quality of life for patients with end-stage TMJ disorders.
Humans ; Temporomandibular Joint/surgery* ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders/surgery* ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Arthroplasty, Replacement/methods* ; Joint Prosthesis ; Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods*

Case managers, as a type of advanced practice nurses, can not only fully meet patient needs and improve patient outcomes, but also innovate nurses′ workplaces and provide nurses with new directions for career development. This article provides an overview of the origin and development of case managers at home and abroad, their practice models, role responsibilities, current training status, current certification status, and current application status, and puts forward suggestions such as the development of practice standards for case managers, and the establishment of a standardized training system and certification body, with a view to providing references for the development of case managers in China.

Ulcerative colitis(UC)is a recurrent,chronic,nonspecific inflammatory bowel disease.Shaoyao Decoction has shown good efficacy in the treatment of UC,which mainly regulates the balance of cytokines to achieve the purpose of treating UC.This article reviewed the research progress in the mechanism of Shaoyao Decoction in the treatment of UC from two aspects of pro-inflammatory cytokines and anti-inflammatory cytokines.Research has shown that Shaoyao Decoction can regulate the body's immune response,alleviate intestinal inflammation,protect the intestinal mucosal barrier,restore normal structure and function of the colon mucosa through pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α,interferon-γ,interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-6,IL-8,IL-17,and anti-inflammatory cytokines such as transforming growth factor-β,IL-4,IL-10,IL-13,which can provide reference for UC related mechanism research and clinical treatment.

Ulcerative colitis(UC)is a recurrent,chronic,nonspecific inflammatory bowel disease.Shaoyao Decoction has shown good efficacy in the treatment of UC,which mainly regulates the balance of cytokines to achieve the purpose of treating UC.This article reviewed the research progress in the mechanism of Shaoyao Decoction in the treatment of UC from two aspects of pro-inflammatory cytokines and anti-inflammatory cytokines.Research has shown that Shaoyao Decoction can regulate the body's immune response,alleviate intestinal inflammation,protect the intestinal mucosal barrier,restore normal structure and function of the colon mucosa through pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α,interferon-γ,interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-6,IL-8,IL-17,and anti-inflammatory cytokines such as transforming growth factor-β,IL-4,IL-10,IL-13,which can provide reference for UC related mechanism research and clinical treatment.

Case managers, as a type of advanced practice nurses, can not only fully meet patient needs and improve patient outcomes, but also innovate nurses′ workplaces and provide nurses with new directions for career development. This article provides an overview of the origin and development of case managers at home and abroad, their practice models, role responsibilities, current training status, current certification status, and current application status, and puts forward suggestions such as the development of practice standards for case managers, and the establishment of a standardized training system and certification body, with a view to providing references for the development of case managers in China.

Objective To track and evaluate the implementation of the Radiation Shielding Requirements in Room of Radiotherapy Installations—Part 1: General Principle (GBZ/T 201.1–2007) among relevant personnel in medical radiation institutions, and to provide a scientific basis for revising the standard. Methods According to the Guidelines for Health Standards Tracking Evaluation (WS/T 536–2017) and the implementation protocol of standard evaluation, an online survey was conducted among 212 relevant workers from 146 medical radiation institutions across 18 provinces in China. The data were aggregated and analyzed with the use of Microsoft Excel 2010. Results A total of 215 questionnaires were returned, of which 212 were valid. Among the valid respondents, 77.8% believe that this standard is universally applied; 96.2% believe that this standard can meet work needs; 63.7% have participated in relevant training on this standard; 74.1% use this standard once or more per year; and 10.8% believe that this standard needs to be revised. Conclusion Medial radiation workers have a high rate of awareness of the basic information and content of the standard, but the understanding and application of the standard content need to be improved. We recommend that relevant departments further strengthen the promotion of and training on the standard, revise some content based on actual situation, and improve workers’ ability to use the standard.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of unilateral percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) and unilateral PKP combined with posterior medial branch block of the contralateral spinal nerve in the treatment of lumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) in the elderly.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 161 aged patients with newly developed lumbar OVCF, admitted to Xi′an Central Hospital Affiliated to Xi′an Jiaotong University School of Medicine from January 2019 to January 2023, including 58 males and 103 females, aged 61-88 [(72.9±6.3)years]. All the patients were diagnosed with type II compression fracture based on acute symptomatic osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture classification (ASOTLF). Seventy-eight patients underwent unilateral PKP (PKP group), while the other 83 patients underwent unilateral PKP combined with posterior medial branch block of the contralateral spinal nerve (PKP+contralateral block group). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and length of hospital stay were recorded. Beck index of the injured vertebra, Cobb angle of lumbar lordosis, Roland-Morris disability (RMD) score, visual analogue scale (VAS), and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were evaluated before operation, at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months after operation, and at the last follow-up. The incidence of complications such as cement leakage was recorded as well.Results:All the patients were followed up for 6-8 months [(6.7±0.6)months]. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, or length of hospital stay ( P>0.05). The Beck index of the injured vertebra and Cobb angle of lumbar lordosis were not significantly different between the two groups before operation, at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months after operation, and at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). The RMD score of the injured vertebra, VAS score, and ODI were not significantly different between the two groups before operation ( P>0.05). At 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months after operation, and at the last follow-up, the RMD scores in the PKP+contralateral block group were (11.23±1.05)points, (10.90±1.11)points, (10.10±1.06)points, (9.94±1.06)points, and (9.60±0.83)points respectively, which were all lower than (17.55±0.71)points, (15.78±0.86)points, (13.42±0.92)points, (10.67±0.78)points, and (9.78±0.72)points in the PKP group ( P<0.05 or 0.01); the VAS scores in the PKP+contralateral block group were (3.02±0.60)points, (2.96±0.55)points, (2.92±0.57)points, (2.88±0.61)points, and (2.70±0.51)points respectively, which were all lower than (3.60±0.57)points, (3.47±0.55)points, (3.32±0.46)points, (2.99±0.47)points, and (2.77±0.42)points in the PKP group ( P<0.05 or 0.01); the ODI values in the PKP+contralateral block group were 14.43±1.29, 14.54±1.24, 14.63±1.32, 14.37±1.31, and 13.42±1.45 respectively, which were all lower than 16.72±1.64, 16.09±1.49, 14.82±1.53, 14.74±1.46, and 13.69±1.75 in the PKP group ( P<0.05 or 0.01). The bone cement leakage rate was 12.0% (10/83) in the PKP+contralateral block group, similar to 11.5% (9/78) in the PKP group ( P>0.05). No other complications such as neurovascular injury, pulmonary embolism or adjacent vertebral fracture were found in either groups. Conclusion:In the treatment of lumbar OVCF in the elderly, unilateral PKP combined with posterior medial branch block of the contralateral spinal nerve is similar to unilateral PKP in terms of the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, length of hospital stay, effectiveness of reduction, and incidence of complications, but it can achieve better pain relief and more satisfactory functional recovery.

Gypenosides, structurally analogous to ginsenosides and derived from a sustainable source, are recognized as the principal active compounds found in Gynostemma pentaphyllum, a Chinese medicinal plant used in the treatment of the metabolic syndrome. By bioactive tracking isolation of the plants collected from different regions across China, we obtained four new gypenosides (1-4), together with nine known gypenosides (5-13), from the methanol extract of the plant. The structures of new gypenosides were elucidated by one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra, complemented by chemical degradation experiments. Through comprehensive evaluation involving COL1A1 promoter assays and PP2Cα activity assays, we established a definitive structure-activity relationship for these dammarane-type triterpenoids, affirming the indispensability of the C-3 saccharide chain and C-17 lactone ring in effectively impeding extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition within hepatic stellate cells. Further in vivo study on the CCl₄-induced liver damage mouse model corroborated that compound 5 significantly ameliorated the process of hepatic fibrosis by oral administration. These results underscore the potential of dammarane-type triterpenoids as prospective anti-fibrotic leads and highlight their prevalence as key molecular frameworks in the therapeutic intervention of chronic hepatic disorders.
Animals ; Mice ; Gynostemma ; Liver Cirrhosis/drug therapy* ; Triterpenes/pharmacology* ; Ginsenosides ; Extracellular Matrix ; Dammaranes