Immobilized enzyme-based enzyme electrode biosensors, characterized by high sensitivity and efficiency, strong specificity, and compact size, demonstrate broad application prospects in life science research, disease diagnosis and monitoring, etc. Immobilization of enzyme is a critical step in determining the performance (stability, sensitivity, and reproducibility) of the biosensors. Random immobilization (physical adsorption, covalent cross-linking, etc.) can easily bring about problems, such as decreased enzyme activity and relatively unstable immobilization. Whereas, directional immobilization utilizing amino acid residue mutation, affinity peptide fusion, or nucleotide-specific binding to restrict the orientation of the enzymes provides new possibilities to solve the problems caused by random immobilization. In this paper, the principles, advantages and disadvantages and the application progress of enzyme electrode biosensors of different directional immobilization strategies for enzyme molecular sensing elements by specific amino acids (lysine, histidine, cysteine, unnatural amino acid) with functional groups introduced based on site-specific mutation, affinity peptides (gold binding peptides, carbon binding peptides, carbohydrate binding domains) fused through genetic engineering, and specific binding between nucleotides and target enzymes (proteins) were reviewed, and the application fields, advantages and limitations of various immobilized enzyme interface characterization techniques were discussed, hoping to provide theoretical and technical guidance for the creation of high-performance enzyme sensing elements and the manufacture of enzyme electrode sensors.

The development of organ transplantation has brought new hope to many patients with organ failure and their families， but it has also raised numerous ethical issues. How to balance the rights and interests between organ donors and recipients， as well as ensure the fairness and transparency of the transplantation process has become an urgent problem to be solved. Based on the latest Regulations on Organ Donation and Transplantation and the Working Rules of the Ethics Committee for Human Organ Transplantation， the current difficulties and challenges in organ transplantation ethics were deeply analyzed. Taking the ethical review practice of Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital as an example， this paper explored issues such as full informed consent of both donors and recipients， risk assessment of marginal donors， and the review of relationships between donors and recipients. It also explored and constructed a set of complete ethical review models for organ transplantation through refined management. This model improved the efficiency and quality of ethical review as well as enriched the related knowledge system. It is expected that the implementation of this model can provide a reference for promoting effective ethical review nationwide， advancing the improvement and development of ethical review work in organ transplantation. Meanwhile， more medical ethics experts and practitioners are called upon to focus on and engage in the research and practice of ethical review in organ transplantation， jointly promoting progress in this field.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

Ovarian tumor (OT) is the most lethal form of gynecologic malignancy, with minimal improvements in patient outcomes over the past several decades. Metastasis is the leading cause of ovarian cancer-related deaths, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Psychological stress is known to activate the glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1), a factor associated with poor prognosis in OT patients. However, the precise mechanisms linking NR3C1 signaling and metastasis have yet to be fully elucidated. In this study, we demonstrate that chronic restraint stress accelerates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis in OT through an NR3C1-dependent mechanism involving nuclear protein 1 (NUPR1). Mechanistically, NR3C1 directly regulates the transcription of NUPR1, which in turn increases the expression of snail family transcriptional repressor 2 (SNAI2), a key driver of EMT. Clinically, elevated NR3C1 positively correlates with NUPR1 expression in OT patients, and both are positively associated with poorer prognosis. Overall, our study identified the NR3C1/NUPR1 axis as a critical regulatory pathway in psychological stress-induced OT metastasis, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for intervention in OT metastasis.

Pulpotomy, which belongs to vital pulp therapy, has become a strategy for managing pulpitis in recent decades. This minimally invasive treatment reflects the recognition of preserving healthy dental pulp and optimizing long-term patient-centered outcomes. Pulpotomy is categorized into partial pulpotomy (PP), the removal of a partial segment of the coronal pulp tissue, and full pulpotomy (FP), the removal of whole coronal pulp, which is followed by applying the biomaterials onto the remaining pulp tissue and ultimately restoring the tooth. Procedural decisions for the amount of pulp tissue removal or retention depend on the diagnostic of pulp vitality, the overall treatment plan, the patient's general health status, and pulp inflammation reassessment during operation. This statement represents the consensus of an expert committee convened by the Society of Cariology and Endodontics, Chinese Stomatological Association. It addresses the current evidence to support the application of pulpotomy as a potential alternative to root canal treatment (RCT) on mature permanent teeth with pulpitis from a biological basis, the development of capping biomaterial, and the diagnostic considerations to evidence-based medicine. This expert statement intends to provide a clinical protocol of pulpotomy, which facilitates practitioners in choosing the optimal procedure and increasing their confidence in this rapidly evolving field.
Humans ; Calcium Compounds/therapeutic use* ; Consensus ; Dental Pulp ; Dentition, Permanent ; Oxides/therapeutic use* ; Pulpitis/therapy* ; Pulpotomy/standards*

Instrument separation is a critical complication during root canal therapy, impacting treatment success and long-term tooth preservation. The etiology of instrument separation is multifactorial, involving the intricate anatomy of the root canal system, instrument-related factors, and instrumentation techniques. Instrument separation can hinder thorough cleaning, shaping, and obturation of the root canal, posing challenges to successful treatment outcomes. Although retrieval of separated instrument is often feasible, it carries risks including perforation, excessive removal of tooth structure and root fractures. Effective management of separated instruments requires a comprehensive understanding of the contributing factors, meticulous preoperative assessment, and precise evaluation of the retrieval difficulty. The application of appropriate retrieval techniques is essential to minimize complications and optimize clinical outcomes. The current manuscript provides a framework for understanding the causes, risk factors, and clinical management principles of instrument separation. By integrating effective strategies, endodontists can enhance decision-making, improve endodontic treatment success and ensure the preservation of natural dentition.
Humans ; Root Canal Therapy/adverse effects* ; Consensus ; Root Canal Preparation/adverse effects*

Functional dyspepsia (FD), characterized by persistent or recurrent dyspeptic symptoms without identifiable organic, systemic or metabolic causes, is an increasingly recognized global health issue. The objective of this guideline is to equip clinicians and nursing professionals with evidence-based strategies for the management and treatment of adult patients with FD using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The Guideline Development Group consulted existing TCM consensus documents on FD and convened a panel of 35 clinicians to generate initial clinical queries. To address these queries, a systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Database, China Biology Medicine (SinoMed) Database, Wanfang Database, Traditional Medicine Research Data Expanded (TMRDE), and the Traditional Chinese Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (TCMLARS). The evidence from the literature was critically appraised using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. The strength of the recommendations was ascertained through a consensus-building process involving TCM and allopathic medicine experts, methodologists, pharmacologists, nursing specialists, and health economists, leveraging their collective expertise and empirical knowledge. The guideline comprises a total of 43 evidence-informed recommendations that span a range of clinical aspects, including the pathogenesis according to TCM, diagnostic approaches, therapeutic interventions, efficacy assessments, and prognostic considerations. Please cite this article as: Zhang SS, Zhao LQ, Hou XH, Bian ZX, Zheng JH, Tian HH, Yang GH, Hong WS, He YY, Liu L, Shen H, Li YP, Xie S, Shu J, Zeng BF, Li JX, Liu Z, Xiao ZH, Xiao JD, Zheng PY, Huang SG, Chen SL, Fei GJ. International clinical practice guideline on the use of traditional Chinese medicine for functional dyspepsia (2025). J Integr Med. 2025; 23(5):502-518.
Dyspepsia/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*

Objective To investigate the characteristics and differences of congenital endowment in senile dementia population based on the theory of five circuits and six qi.Methods Based on the cross-sectional data of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey(CHARLS)in 2018,the dementia status of the population aged 60 and above in China was evaluated by using the Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE),and the five-circuit and six-qi features at birth in the senile dementia population were analyzed by descriptive statistics and Chi-square goodness-of-fit test.Results A total of 854 patients with senile dementia were included.The five-circuit and six-qi features at birth in the senile dementia population were as follows:most of them were born at the heavenly stem of Bing while the least at the heavenly stem of Ji and Geng(P＜0.001),most of them were born at the earthly branch of Wei while the least at the earthly branch of Zi(P＜0.001),most of them were born at the yearly circuit of excessive water circuit while the least at the yearly circuit of excessive gold circuit and deficient earth circuit(P＜0.001),and most of the patients were born at sitan of taiyin damp-earth and zaiquan of taiyang cold-water while the least at sitan of jueyin wind-wood and zaiquan of shaoyang ministerial fire;no statistically significant differences were found in the dominant qi and guest qi(P＞0.05);most of the patients were born in the year of combination of circuit and qi being Shunhua while the least in the year of combination of circuit and qi being same celestial correspondence(P＜0.001),and the patients born in the year of Shunhua usually were frequently distributed in heavenly-stem and earthly-branch year of Jiawu(P＜0.001).Conclusion There is a certain relationship between the congenital endowment at birth and the incidence of senile dementia in the population of senile dementia.The circuit-qi features at birth for the prevalence of senile dementia are the yearly circuit of excessive water circuit,sitan of taiyin damp-earth and zaiquan of taiyang cold-water,and the year of the combination of circuit and qi being Shunhua.The population born at the time with the above circuit-qi features are prone to suffer the injury of the kidneys,the heart,and the spleen,and then result into illness.

Objective To explore the effect of mangiferin(MF)on pyroptosis in an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS)cell model by regulating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1(Nrf2/HO-1)signaling pathway.Methods(1)Mouse NSC-34 cell lines transfected with hSOD1WT and hSOD1G93A plasmids were randomly divided into blank group,model group,MF(100 μmol/L)group,MF(200 μmol/L)group.MF was added into the culture plate for 24 hours.Cell viability was assessed using CCK-8 kit.Lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)release was measured using LDH cytotoxicity detection kit.Levels of inflammatory factors interleukin(IL)-1β and IL-18 in cell supernatant were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The expression of Nrf2,HO-1,NADPH quinone oxidoreductase-1(NQO-1),NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3),gasdermin D(GSDMD)-N and caspase-1 was detected by Western blotting.(2)Mouse hSOD1G93A NSC-34 cells were randomly divided into model group,MF(200 μmol/L)group,Nrf2-siRNA group and Nrf2-siRNA+MF(200 μmol/L)group.The cells were transiently transfected with Nrf2-siRNA using LipofectamineTM 3000.Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression levels of Nrf2,HO-1,NQO-1,NLRP3,caspase-1 and GSDMD-N.Results(1)The results of the CCK-8 assay showed that after the hSOD1G93A NSC-34 cells were treated with MF at concentrations of 300 μmol/L and below for 24 hours,the changes in cell viability were not significant(P>0.05).Compared with blank group,the release of LDH,the contents of IL-1β and IL-18 in the cell culture supernatant of model group were increased(P<0.001);the protein expression levels of Nrf2,HO-1,and NQO-1 were decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01);the protein expression levels of NLRP3,caspase-1,and GSDMD-N were increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01 or P<0.001).Compared with model group,the release of LDH,the contents of IL-18 and IL-1β in the culture supernatant in MF(100 μmol/L)and MF(200 μmol/L)groups were decreased(P<0.001);the protein expression levels of NLRP3,caspase-1 and GSDMD-N were decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.001),and the expression levels of Nrf2,HO-1 and NQO-1 were increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01).(2)Compared with model group,the protein expession levels of Nrf2,NO-1 and NQO-1 were increased(P<0.05 or P<0.001)in MF(200 μmol/L)group,while the protein expression levels of NLRP3,caspase-1 and GSDMD-N were decreased(P<0.001);the protein expression levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 were decreased in Nrf2-siRNA group(P<0.01 or P<0.001),while the protein expression levels of NLRP3,caspase-1 and GSDMD-N were increased(P<0.001).Compared with Nrf2-siRNA group,the protein expression levels of Nrf2,HO-1 and NQO-1 in Nrf2-siRNA+MF(200 μmol/L)group were increased(P<0.01 or P<0.001),and the protein expression levels of NLRP3,caspase-1 and GSDMD-N were decreased(P<0.001).Conclusion MF can inhibit pyroptosis in the ALS cell model through Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway,playing a protective role.

Alcoholic liver disease(ALD), a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, poses a serious threat to human health. Despite the availability of various drugs for treating ALD, their efficacy is often uncertain, necessitating the search for new therapeutic approaches. Traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides have garnered increasing attention in recent years due to their versatility, high efficiency, and low side effects, and they have demonstrated significant potential in preventing and treating ALD. Emerging studies have suggested that these polysaccharides exert their therapeutic effects through multiple mechanisms, including the inhibition of oxidative stress and the regulation of lipid metabolism, gut microbiota, and programmed cell death. This review summarizes the recent research progress in the pharmacological effects and regulatory mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides in treating ALD, aiming to provide a scientific basis and theoretical support for their application in the prevention and treatment of ALD.
Humans ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic/metabolism* ; Polysaccharides/administration & dosage* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Animals ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Lipid Metabolism/drug effects*