OBJECTIVE To analyze the characteristics and influencing factors of disposal behavior of expired medicines among Chinese residents across regional divisions， and to provide references for regional classification management and precise policy implementation regarding expired medicines. METHODS A stratified random sampling method was employed to conduct a questionnaire survey among residents across sample provinces and cities， utilizing a combination of online and offline approaches. Binary Logistic regression analysis was used to systematically explore the regional （eastern， central and western regions） and urban-rural disparities in the recycling of expired medicines among Chinese residents， identify the core driving factors influencing standardized disposal behaviors， and propose corresponding recommendations. RESULTS A total of 2 200 ques tionnaires were collected， with 2 159 deemed valid， yielding an effective response rate of 98.1%. The surveyed residents commonly stored medicines at home （67.7%）， yet the rate of regular medicine clearance was low （only 57.7%）. Nearly half of the residents （49.7%） had expired medicines in their households， with improper disposal of expired medicines remaining the predominant behavior. Insufficient convenience in recycling was identified as the primary reason for improper disposal of expired medicines （50.1%）. Statistically significant differences were observed between residents in the eastern， central and western regions， as well as between urban and rural residents， in terms of household medicine storage rates and the prevalence of expired medicine possession （ P ＜0.05）. However， no statistically significant difference was found in the standardized disposal rates across regional divisions （ P ＞0.05）. Furthermore， the residents demonstrated a higher level of awareness regarding the health hazards of expired medicines compared to their awareness of environmental hazards， with 46.0% and 32.1% indicating they were “relatively familiar” and “very familiar”， respectively. The participation rate in standardized recycling was only 37.6%. Among non-participating residents， the three primary barriers were “recycling points being too far away” （46.6%）， “unawareness of recycling channels” （46.1%） and “lack of incentives” （48.1%）. The surveyed residents showed relatively high trust in pharmaceutical regulatory authorities and on-site recycling personnel， with “high trust” accounting for 31.2% and 34.7%， respectively. Binary Logistic regression analysis results indicated that the awareness of environmental hazards and the accessibility of recycling points were the core driving factors for proper disposal. CONCLUSIONS Significant issues exist in the recycling of expired medicines among Chinese residents， characterized by “improper behavior， cognitive bias， and unbalanced system”. It is recommended to construct a tiered recycling network focusing on “quality improvement in the eastern region， expansion in the central region， and basic coverage in the western region”， implement targeted educational campaigns and differentiated incentive policies. Moreover， the specific needs of groups such as the elderly should be addressed to achieve spatial equalization and service optimization of the recycling system.

The comorbidity rate of gastroesophageal reflux disease （GERD） and sleep disorders is high， and the two form a vicious circle through the “brain-gut axis”， which seriously impacts the patients’ quality of life. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， guided by the core principles of “holistic concept” and “syndrome differentiation and treatment”， features multi-targeted therapeutic effects with minimal side effects， offering diverse intervention options for clinical practice. From the perspective of the “brain-gut axis”， this article reviews the relationship between the comorbidity of GERD and sleep disorders and systematically examines relevant research findings on how TCM regulates the “brain-gut axis” to intervene in this comorbid condition. The study reveals that the “brain-gut axis” may participate in the pathological progress of GERD accompanied by sleep disorders through pathways such as abnormalities in the secretion of brain-gut peptides （including gastrointestinal secretin）， as well as intestinal dysbiosis. By closely focusing on core pathogenic mechanisms such as “disharmony between the liver and stomach” and “insomnia due to stomach disharmony”， various approaches can be employed， including TCM formulas （e.g.， modified Sini powder combined with Zuojin pills）， external TCM therapies （e.g.， back-shu point digital acupressure）， and integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatments （e.g.， modified Chaihu guizhi ganjiang decoction combined with proton pump inhibitors）. These methods can regulate the levels of neurotransmitters， gastrointestinal hormones， inflammatory factors， and the composition of intestinal microbiota associated with the “brain-gut axis”， thereby achieving simultaneous improvement in both GERD and sleep disorders.

Curcumin (Cur), a natural polyphenolic compound extracted from the rhizomes of plants belonging to the Zingiberaceae and Araceae families, has attracted considerable interest for its remarkable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anticancer activities. Extensive studies have focused on its potential in treating various diseases, including cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation, and autoimmune disorders. However, its clinical application has been hampered by inherent physicochemical challenges, such as poor aqueous solubility, short half-life, and low bioavailability. To address these challenges, nanodrug delivery systems have been developed to improve the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of curcumin, thereby enhancing its therapeutic efficacy. This review summarizes the pharmacological activities and underlying mechanisms of curcumin, encompassing its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiviral, and antibacterial effects. Furthermore, it highlights the significant advancements achieved through the development of curcumin-based nanomedicines. By synthesizing current findings, this review aims to provide insights that may inspire innovative strategies for the future design and broader applications of curcumin nanomedicines.

To explore the latent profile characteristics of fear of progression (FoP) in patients with Behçet′s disease (BD) and analyze its influencing factors.

In order to further promote the standardization of the integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine treatment of atopic dermatitis(AD),the team of Professor Chen Dacan,who is honored as the Qihuang Scholar,developed the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine in Atopic Dermatitis(hereinafter referred to as Guidelines for AD).This paper detailed the process of development of Guidelines for AD,and analyzed the characteristics of Guidelines for AD,as well as the difficulties and countermeasures encountered during such a time.The development of Guidelines for AD follows the methodology of international guidelines for clinical trial.Experts specializing in various disciplines,such as traditional Chinese medicine,western medicine,integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine,and methodology,composed an expert group and a working group.On the basis of systematic literature research,the clinic experiences of frontline experts were well-summarized,and the draft of Guidelines for AD was formed after several meetings and discussions.In the process of developing Guidelines for AD,quite a number of problems were encountered,and the project team found the corresponding countermeasures after analyzing these problems.The countermeasures became the characteristics of Guidelines for AD:the integration of traditional Chinese medicine therapies and western medicine therapies,and the evaluation of the evidence of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine solved the problem of traditional Chinese and western medicine diagnosis and treatment of AD lacking standardization;the adequately combination of the evidence with the experience of clinical practice solved the problems of the low overall level and the insufficiency of traditional Chinese medicine evidence for AD;the establishment of management goals and strategies for AD after taking the advantages of both traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine into account was in line with the international treatment and management concepts;the formulation of individualized traditional Chinese and western medicine therapy based on the integration of traditional Chinese medicine therapy and western medicine therapy met the clinical needs of patients with different characteristics of AD.The development process of Guidelines for AD and the analysis of problems and countermeasures during such a time will provide reference and reflection for the subsequent establishment of clinical guidelines for the integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine in other diseases.

To identify factors associated with the recurrence of polymyalgia rheumatica(PMR) within one year.

Objectives:To investigate the predictive value of epicardial fat volume(EFV)and atrioventricular groove fat thickness(AVGT)—morphological biomarkers of epicardial adipose tissue—for major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM).Methods:This study enrolled 216 DCM patients.EFV and AVGT were obtained from cardiac magnetic resonance imaging(CMR).Patients were divided into event-free group(n=142)and event group(n=74)based on MACE occurrence during follow-up.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis was used to determine optimal cutoff values.Survival differences were assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis,Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors,and restricted cubic spline(RCS)models were used to evaluate dose-response relationships.Results:AVGT and EFV were significantly higher in the event group than in event-free group(both P<0.05).ROC analysis identified optimal MACE-predicting cutoffs as follows:AVGT≥7.74 mm(area under the curve[AUC]=0.57)and EFV≥78.6 ml(AUC=0.62).Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed significantly lower MACE-free survival rates in patients with AVGT≥7.74 mm and EFV≥78.6 ml(both P<0.05).Cox regression analysis confirmed that AVGT(HR=2.18,95%CI:1.34-3.54)and EFV(HR=1.81,95%CI:1.11-2.96)were independent MACE risk factors(both P<0.05)in this patient cohort.RCS models demonstrated the significant linear associations between EFV/AVGT and MACE risk(bothoverall P<0.05).Conclusions:EFV and AVGT,the non-invasive imaging biomarkers quantifying and characterizing fat distribution,are independently correlated with elevated MACE risk in DCM patients.These metrics serve as potential prognostic indicators,enriching risk stratification indicators for early identification of high-risk patients and guiding personalized medication strategies.

Objectives:To investigate the predictive value of epicardial fat volume(EFV)and atrioventricular groove fat thickness(AVGT)—morphological biomarkers of epicardial adipose tissue—for major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM).Methods:This study enrolled 216 DCM patients.EFV and AVGT were obtained from cardiac magnetic resonance imaging(CMR).Patients were divided into event-free group(n=142)and event group(n=74)based on MACE occurrence during follow-up.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis was used to determine optimal cutoff values.Survival differences were assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis,Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors,and restricted cubic spline(RCS)models were used to evaluate dose-response relationships.Results:AVGT and EFV were significantly higher in the event group than in event-free group(both P<0.05).ROC analysis identified optimal MACE-predicting cutoffs as follows:AVGT≥7.74 mm(area under the curve[AUC]=0.57)and EFV≥78.6 ml(AUC=0.62).Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed significantly lower MACE-free survival rates in patients with AVGT≥7.74 mm and EFV≥78.6 ml(both P<0.05).Cox regression analysis confirmed that AVGT(HR=2.18,95%CI:1.34-3.54)and EFV(HR=1.81,95%CI:1.11-2.96)were independent MACE risk factors(both P<0.05)in this patient cohort.RCS models demonstrated the significant linear associations between EFV/AVGT and MACE risk(bothoverall P<0.05).Conclusions:EFV and AVGT,the non-invasive imaging biomarkers quantifying and characterizing fat distribution,are independently correlated with elevated MACE risk in DCM patients.These metrics serve as potential prognostic indicators,enriching risk stratification indicators for early identification of high-risk patients and guiding personalized medication strategies.

Uveal melanoma (UM) poses a significant lethality, with approximately 50% of those developing metastases surviving less than one year. In the progression of UM, vasculogenic mimicry (VM) induced by hypoxia plays a pivotal role, which also partially explains the resistance of UM to anti-angiogenic therapies. Nevertheless, the crucial molecular mechanisms underlying VM in the progression of UM remain unclear. We identified ubiquitin conjugating enzyme E2 G2 (UBE2G2) as a critical suppressor through transcriptomic sequencing and metastasis correlation screening. In UM, hypoxia-induced VM and metastasis are markedly exacerbated by UBE2G2 knockdown and significantly alleviated by its overexpression. Mechanistically, UBE2G2 directly binds to galectin 3 binding protein (LGALS3BP) and forms a complex with the E3 ubiquitin ligase tripartite motif containing 38 (TRIM38), facilitating ubiquitination-mediated degradation of LGALS3BP at the K104 residue. Furthermore, UBE2G2 inhibits oncogenic phenotypes by inactivating intracellular PI3K/AKT signaling and reprogramming the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, targeting intercellular and intracellular molecular mechanisms of the hypoxia-UBE2G2-LGALS3BP axis may contribute to developing various therapeutic strategies for UM.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligatory intracellular parasite which infects a variety of warm-blooded animals and causes toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis seriously endangers human health and animal husbandry production. As one of the effective gene editing tools, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated proteins (Cas) system has been widely used for knockout of genes in T. gondii. This review summarizes the applications of the CRISPR/Cas9 technology in vaccines against single- and double-gene deletion strains of T. gondii, so as to provide insights into development of toxoplasmosis vaccines.