To explore the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） and integrative TCM-Western medicine approaches in the treatment of diabetic microvascular complications （DMC）， refine key pathophysiological insights and treatment principles， and promote academic innovation and strategic research planning in the prevention and treatment of DMC. The 38th session of the Expert Salon on Diseases Responding Specifically to Traditional Chinese Medicine， hosted by the China Association of Chinese Medicine， was held in Beijing， 2024. Experts in TCM， Western medicine， and interdisciplinary fields convened to conduct a systematic discussion on the pathogenesis， diagnostic and treatment challenges， and mechanism research related to DMC， ultimately forming a consensus on key directions. Four major research recommendations were proposed. The first is addressing clinical bottlenecks in the prevention and control of DMC by optimizing TCM-based evidence evaluation systems. The second is refining TCM core pathogenesis across DMC stages and establishing corresponding "disease-pattern-time" framework. The third is innovating mechanism research strategies to facilitate a shift from holistic regulation to targeted intervention in TCM. The fourth is advancing interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance the role of TCM in new drug development， research prioritization， and guideline formulation. TCM and integrative approaches offer distinct advantages in managing DMC. With a focus on the diseases responding specifically to TCM， strengthening evidence-based support and mechanism interpretation and promoting the integration of clinical care and research innovation will provide strong momentum for the modernization of TCM and the advancement of national health strategies.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of hypoxia-treated mesenchymal stem cell （MSCs） exosomes （Exo） and their loading with curcumin on microglial inflammatory responses， and to explore the enhancing effect of hypoxia treatment on the function of MSCs Exo. MethodsThe supernatants of human umbilical cord （hUC）-MSCs cultured under normal and hypoxic conditions were collected， and Exo were isolated using ultracentrifugation. After identification by transmission electron microscopy and Western blot， curcumin was loaded using the co-incubation method. The lipopolysaccharide （LPS）-induced microglial inflammation model was treated with dimethyl sulfoxide （DMSO）， curcumin， normoxia Exo， hypoxia Exo， normoxic Exo loaded with curcumin， and hypoxic Exo loaded with curcumin， respectively. The expression of the M1-type marker inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） in BV2 cells was detected by immunofluorescence （IF）. Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） were used to measure the expression and secretion levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， and IL-6 in the cells and their culture supernatants. ResultsNormoxia Exo， hypoxia Exo， normoxic Exo loaded with curcumin， and hypoxic Exo loaded with curcumin exhibited a "saucer-like" shape with a diameter ranging from 30~150 nm， and the expression of exosomal markers CD9， CD81， and TSG101 were positive. After treating the BV2 cell inflammation model， IF results showed that， compared with the normoxia Exo group， treatment with hypoxic Exo significantly reduced the expression of iNOS. Moreover， when compared with the curcumin group and the normoxic Exo loaded with curcumin group， the expression level of iNOS significantly decreased after treatment with hypoxic Exo loaded with curcumin. The results of Western blot and ELISA indicated that， in comparison with the normoxia Exo group， treatment with hypoxic Exo significantly reduced the expression and secretion of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α， IL-1β， and IL-6. Additionally， when compared with the curcumin group and the normoxic Exo loaded with curcumin group， both the expression and secretion of TNF-α， IL-1β， and IL-6 significantly decreased after treatment with hypoxic Exo loaded with curcumin. ConclusionHypoxia preconditioning can enhance the ability of hUC-MSCs-Exo in the inhibition of microglial polarization and inflammatory factors’ secretion. Additionally， using Hypoxia-MSCs-Exo as a drug-delivery carrier of curcumin can improve its solubility and stability， facilitating its absorption by cells and exerting the therapeutic effect of combination therapy.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the therapeutic effect of Huazhuo SanJie Chubi presciption （HSCD） on chronic gouty arthritis （CGA） rats with low-grade inflammation and to explore the underlying mechanism with a focus on macrophage polarization. MethodsThe 41 male 6-week-old SD rats were randomly allocated， using the random number table， to a normal group （n=8） and a model group （n =33）. CGA with low-grade inflammation was induced in the model group by daily gavage of potassium oxonate （250 mg·kg^-1·d^-1） and hypoxanthine （300 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）， combined with intra-articular injection of a monosodium urate （MSU） crystal suspension （50 μL， 25 g·L^-¹） into the left ankle twice weekly. After 4 weeks of modeling， 3 rats were randomly selected from each group for model validation. The remaining successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into a model group， an HSCD group （10.35 g·kg^-1·d^-1， gavage once daily）， an M1 polarization agonist group （L-methionine sulfoximine， 300 mg·kg^-1， subcutaneous injection every other day）， an M1 polarization agonist + HSCD group， an M2 polarization inhibitor group （PD0325901， 10 mg·kg^-1·d^-1， gavage once daily）， and M2 polarization inhibitor + HSCD group. The corresponding drug or drug combination was administered according to group assignment， whereas rats in the normal and model groups received 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose sodium （CMC-Na） vehicle （10.35 g·kg^-1·d^-1， gavage once daily）. All interventions were continued for four weeks. During the intervention period， except for the normal group， potassium oxonate （250 mg·kg⁻¹） and hypoxanthine （300 mg·kg^-1） were co-administered by gavage every other day to maintain the model. At the end of treatment， serum uric acid （SUA）， ankle joint diameter and joint swelling index were measured. The levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein （hs-CRP）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， chemokine C-C motif ligand 2 （CCL2）， S100 calcium-binding protein A8/A9 （S100A8/A9）， interleukin-10 （IL-10） and arginase-1 （Arg-1） in serum and joint fluid were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. High-frequency ultrasound was used to assess MSU deposition in the ankle joint. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was performed to evaluate synovial histopathological changes. Quantitative Real-time PCR and immunofluorescence were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of the M1 macrophage polarization markers inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） and the M2 macrophage polarization marker scavenger receptor cysteine-rich type 1 protein M130 （CD163） in synovial tissue. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showed significantly elevated SUA level and joint swelling index， and increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines， CCL2， and S100A8/A9 in both serum and joint fluid （P<0.05）， accompanied by MSU deposition and synovial inflammation in the ankle joint. The mRNA and protein expression levels of macrophage polarization M1/M2 markers iNOS and CD163 in synovial tissues were also significantly up-regulated （P<0.05）. Compared with model group， rats in HSCD group had significantly lower SUA levels， attenuated joint swelling， reduced serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines， and decreased levels of CCL2 and S100A8/A9 in both serum and joint fluid， accompanied with alleviated MSU deposition and synovial inflammation （P<0.05）. HSCD markedly downregulated the mRNA and protein expression of M1 marker iNOS （P<0.05）， whereas it had no significant effect on the expression of M2 marker CD163. Compared with the M1 polarization agonist group， the M1 polarization agonist + HSCD group showed significantly reduced joint swelling， lower serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines， and decreased levels of CCL2 and S100A8/A9 in joint fluid （P<0.05）. In addition， synovial inflammatory cell infiltration and angiogenesis were attenuated， and iNOS mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly reduced （P<0.05）. Compared with the M2 polarization inhibitor group， the M2 polarization inhibitor + HSCD group exhibited reduced joint swelling， decreased levels of CCL2 and S100A8/A9 in joint fluid and ameliorated synovial inflammation （P<0.05）， whereas the levels of anti-inflammatory mediators （IL-10， Arg-1） and CD163 mRNA and protein expression were not significantly increased. ConclusionHSCD alleviates low-grade inflammation in CGA rats， at least in part， by inhibiting macrophage polarization toward the M1 phenotype.

Background Depressive symptoms have become a significant factor affecting the physical and mental health of the occupational population, and workers in petroleum refining enterprises face multiple stressors in their work environment. Objective To explore the impact of occupational noise exposure on depressive symptoms among workers in a petroleum refining enterprise. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in July 2024 using a questionnaire survey among workers of a petroleum refining enterprise in Hainan Province. Basic information of the subjects was collected. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to measure depressive symptoms, the Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scale was used to assess sleep quality, and the Chinese version of the Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) scale was used to evaluate occupational stress. Chi-square test was employed to compare the differences in reporting depressive symptoms among populations with different characteristics. Binary logistic regression models were used to analyze the impact of occupational noise exposure and other factors on depressive symptoms. Results The overall positive rate of depressive symptoms in the study population was 42.7%. The results of the multifactor analysis indicated that compared with the control group, employees in both the low-exposure and high-exposure groups had elevated odds of depressive symptoms, with OR (95%CI) of 2.244 (1.131, 4.454) and 1.970 (1.009, 3.850), respectively. This association remained robust after adjusting for potential confounders, including gender, age, work tenure, and other occupational exposures. Additionally, female [OR (95%CI)=1.483 (1.039, 2.118)], exposure to benzene, toluene, or xylene [OR (95%CI)=1.621 (1.208, 2.174)], sleep disturbance [OR (95%CI)=3.772 (2.942, 4.838)], and occupational stress [OR (95%CI)=2.018 (1.575, 2.585)] were also significantly associated with higher odds of depressive symptoms. Conclusion The positive rate of depressive symptoms is relatively high among employees in this petrochemical enterprise, and occupational noise exposure may be a risk factor for depressive symptoms.

Objective To systematically analyze the characteristics of the disease burden of hypertensive heart disease (HHD) in the elderly (≥60 years) globally and in China from 1990 to 2021, and to predict its future trends from 2022 to 2040, with the aim of providing data support for optimizing comprehensive prevention and control strategies for HHD. Methods Based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database, the number of prevalent cases and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of HHD in the elderly were extracted for the world, China, and five regions categorized by sociodemographic index (SDI). Joinpoint regression was used to analyze the temporal trends of age-standardized prevalence rate and age-standardized DALYs rate of HHD in the elderly. A three-factor decomposition method was applied to evaluate the relative contributions of aging, population growth, and epidemiological changes to the variations in the elderly HHD burden. Additionally, a Bayesian age-period-cohort model was used to predict the elderly HHD burden from 2022 to 2040. Results In 2021, the number of prevalent elderly HHD cases reached 10 283 000 globally and 3 412 400 in China, representing increases of 179.20% and 159.20% respectively, compared with 1990. The DALYs of elderly HHD were 18 812 700 person-years globally and 4 731 400 person-years in China, rising by 76.08% and 29.45% respectively from 1990. Meanwhile, the growth rates of the number of prevalent cases and DALYs of elderly HHD varied across different SDI regions. From 1990 to 2021, the age-standardized prevalence rate of elderly HHD in China, as well as the age-standardized DALYs rate of elderly HHD both globally and in China, showed significant downward trends (all average annual percentage changes<0, all P<0.001). In 2021, the 70-74 years age group accounted for the highest proportion of prevalent cases and DALYs of elderly HHD, both globally and in China. Decomposition analysis revealed that population growth was the dominant factor driving the increase in the elderly HHD burden across all regions. The prediction model results indicated that the number of prevalent cases and DALYs of elderly HHD would continue to rise globally and in China from 2022 to 2040, with the growth rate of the elderly HHD burden in China between 2021 and 2040 expected to exceed the global average. Conclusion Over the past 32 years, although the age-standardized disease rates of elderly HHD have mainly shown a downward trend globally and in China, the absolute number of the disease burden has increased substantially. The projection model indicates a continued upward trajectory, with the growth rate in China higher than the global average. Therefore, there is an urgent need to implement precise prevention and control strategies to effectively mitigate the disease burden of elderly HHD.

With the continuous deepening of the concept of precision diagnosis and treatment for lung cancer, how to achieve higher efficiency and accuracy in the screening, diagnosis, and treatment pathways in clinical practice has become an important issue that urgently needs to be overcome. The current clinical difficulty lies in the fact that despite continuous advancements in imaging and molecular diagnostic technologies, there are still limitations in manual efficiency and subjective experience when it comes to massive data analysis and multi-scale feature extraction. Artificial intelligence (AI), especially algorithm systems based on deep learning, is an innovative technology capable of deeply empowering medical big data. This method utilizes algorithms such as convolutional neural networks, combined with radiomics, pathomics, and multi-modal data fusion analysis, demonstrating immense potential in early precise detection and benign-malignant differentiation of pulmonary nodules, digital pathological subtype recognition and non-invasive prediction of driver genes, precise 3D surgical planning and automatic delineation of radiotherapy target volumes, as well as dynamic risk warning during follow-up. This innovative technology provides a brand-new solution for realizing intelligent and individualized lung cancer diagnosis and treatment models. This consensus, based on the latest evidence from evidence-based medicine and combined with the development trends in the AI field and real-world clinical needs, was ultimately formed by gathering the consensus opinions of multidisciplinary experts in radiology, pathology, thoracic surgery, and other fields. The main content covers the application specifications of AI in the three core scenarios of lung cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment, the technical standards for data collection and algorithm validation, as well as the ethical and regulatory challenges faced at the current stage. It aims to clarify the applicable boundaries of AI as a clinical auxiliary decision support tool, providing scientific guidance and standardized exploration directions for peers currently engaged in or planning to carry out AI-assisted clinical diagnosis, treatment, and translation of lung cancer.

On the occasion of the 110th Anniversary of the establishment of the Chinese Medical Association, the third conference of the Fourth Editorial Board of Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery, and the Second Elite Group of Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery, was successfully held in Kunming on July 4, 2025. This conference systematically summarizes the development experience of the journal over the past 20 years from three aspects: the role of ecological construction of thought in the discipline construction of digestive surgery, the display of the latest academic achievements in the field of digestive surgery, the development difficulties, and breakthrough paths of the discipline, and strategically plans the path of discipline construction in the new era.

Objective:To observe the effect of contralateral needling to regulate tendons and circulate Qi combined with Maitland joint mobilization on ankle joint function and the peri-ankle muscle groups in patients with chronic ankle sprain.Methods:A total of 77 patients with chronic ankle sprain,meeting the inclusion criteria,were randomly divided into a control group(38 cases)and an observation group(39 cases).The control group received conventional acupuncture treatment,while the observation group received contralateral needling to regulate tendons and circulate Qi combined with joint mobilization.Both groups were treated once daily for two consecutive courses.The American Orthopaedic Foot&Ankle Society(AOFAS)ankle-hindfoot scale was used to assess ankle joint function in the two groups,and the biomechanical model of skeletal muscles of lower limbs(Gait2392_simbody)was used to evaluate the muscle strength of the peri-ankle muscle groups.Results:The total effective rate in the observation group was 94.9%,significantly higher than the 79.0%in the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores in both groups increased compared to their respective pre-treatment scores(P<0.05),and the scores in the observation group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,the maximum muscle strength values of the medial and lateral heads of the gastrocnemius,tibialis posterior,and flexor hallucis longus in both groups increased compared to their respective pre-treatment values(P<0.05),and the values in the observation group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).The maximum muscle strength values of the soleus and flexor digitorum longus in both groups decreased compared to their respective pre-treatment values(P<0.05),and the values in the observation group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).The maximum muscle strength values of the extensor hallucis longus and tibialis anterior in both groups increased compared to their respective pre-treatment values(P<0.05),and the values in the observation group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).The visual analog scale(VAS)score in both groups decreased compared to their respective pre-treatment score(P<0.05),and the score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Either the combined therapy(contralateral needling to regulate tendons and circulate Qi combined with joint mobilization)or the conventional acupuncture alone can alleviate pain,improve ankle joint function,and enhance the muscle strength of the peri-ankle muscle groups in patients with chronic ankle sprain,but the combined therapy shows superior efficacy.

Objective:To investigate the risk factors influencing mortality in neonates undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT).Methods:This retrospective study included 34 neonates with a corrected age of≤28 days who received CRRT at the Affiliated Children's Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, from January 2019 to December 2023. The neonates were divided into a mortality group ( n=16) and a survival group ( n=18) based on whether they died during CRRT. Pre-CRRT blood biochemical indices, general condition, CRRT treatment modes, parameters, and related complications were analyzed using t-tests, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, and Chi-square tests. Logistic stepwise regression analysis was used to screen for risk factors associated with CRRT mortality. Results:The mortality rate among the 34 neonates was 48.6% (16/34), with a median CRRT age of 17 days (range: 2-33 days). Eleven neonates (32.3%) were preterm, with the youngest gestational age being 27 weeks and the lowest weight before CRRT initiation being 1 700 g. The mortality group had lower urine output 6-12 hours before CRRT initiation and lower critical illness scores compared to the survival group [0.05 (0.02-1.00) ml/(kg·h) vs. 0.50 (0.20-1.05) ml/(kg·h), (64.50±7.10) scores vs. (77.67±3.65) scores, Z or t values were 10.97 and 3.91, respectively]. However, the vasoactive inotropic score (VIS), proportion of coma, and levels of blood potassium, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood ammonia, blood lactic acid, and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) were higher in the mortality group compared to the survival group [ (86.88±15.80) scores vs. (55.56±24.31) scores, 11/16 vs. 1/18, (7.02±1.73) mmol/L vs. (5.88±1.53) mmol/L, 274.55(132.50-664.98) U/L vs. 31.10(19.03-110.70) U/L, 688.20 (449.73-3 618.13) U/L vs. 96.65 (44.15-439.00) U/L, 232.75 (70.33-1 310.85) μmol/L vs.77.70 (49.78-919.05) μmol/L, (11.17±3.36) U/L vs. (7.99±2.67) U/L, and (99.57±39.74) s vs. (60.97±31.25) s, with t, χ2, or Z values of－4.39, 14.81,－2.03,－2.72,－11.81,－3.89,－3.06, and－3.17, respectively] (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that pre-treatment VIS value ( OR=1.150, 95% CI: 1.035-1.278), and blood ammonia level ( OR=1.004, 95% CI: 1.002-1.009) were independent risk factors for mortality (both P<0.05). Conclusions:Neonatal CRRT mortality is associated with pre-treatment VIS scores and blood ammonia levels. Attention should be paid to a rapid decreases in urine output, the intensity of vasopressor support, and elevated levels of blood ammonia, blood lactic acid, transaminases, and APTT at the initiation of treatment.

Objective To investigate the effects of ischemia time and storage periods on RNA quality in fresh-frozen breast cancer(BC)and esophageal cancer(EC)tissue samples in order to establish evidence-based protocols for biobank sample management.Methods The tumor(T)and paired normal(N)tissue samples from 6 cases of BC and 6 cases of EC were collected and cryopreserved in Biobank,Shantou Central Hospital.Mirror paraffin-embedded tissues were simultaneously prepared into sections for morphological analysis.The samples were divided into two groups of<15 min and 15-30 min according to ischemia time,and RNA quality was analyzed at 4 storage periods of 8-10 months(T1),14-16 months(T2),26-28 months(T3)and 38-40 months(T4).Results In 96 analyzed samples,93.8%(90/96)exhibited high quality(RIN≥6),with 89.6%(43/48)in BC and 97.9%(47/48)in EC.Significant differences in RIN were observed between BC group and EC group(8.050 vs.8.600,P=0.009).In EC group,RIN value was significantly negatively correlated with RNA yield(P<0.001).Moreover,RIN values of tumor-normal pairs exhibited markedly significant differences(7.550 vs.9.000,P<0.001).In contrast,no significant difference was detected in BC group(8.200 vs.7.700,P=0.348).Statistical analysis showed that RIN value was positively correlated with 28S/18S(P<0.001),but had no correlation with tumor content(P=0.676)and necrotic content(P=0.055).Neither ischemia time(<15 min vs.15-30 min:8.200 vs.8.300,P=0.932)nor storage periods(T1-T4:8.400,7.700,8.450,8.600,P=0.163)compromised RNA quality.Conclusion Organ origin and tissue type could influence RNA quality of fresh-frozen tissue samples.However,limited ischemia time(≤30 min)and long-term storage period(38-40 months)do not adversely affect RNA quality in fresh-frozen breast cancer and esophageal cancer tissue samples.