1.Clinical Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Patients with Cold Dampness Obstruction Syndrome
Yanyu CHEN ; Yanqi LI ; Longxiao LIU ; Liubo ZHANG ; Tianyi LAN ; Nan ZHANG ; Cheng XIAO ; Yuan XU ; Qingwen TAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(3):140-146
ObjectiveTo study the clinical characteristics and influencing factors of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the patients with cold dampness obstruction syndrome. MethodsThe RA patients treated in the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Rheumatology of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital from August 2022 to June 2024 were selected. The demographic information, clinical data, laboratory test results, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom information were collected for syndrome differentiation, on the basis of which the characteristics and influencing factors of cold dampness obstruction syndrome were analyzed. ResultsA total of 258 RA patients were selected in this study, including 88 (34.1%) patients with cold dampness obstruction syndrome, 53 (20.5%) patients with dampness and heat obstruction syndrome, 31 (12.0%) patients with wind dampness obstruction syndrome, 29 (11.2%) patients with liver-kidney deficiency syndrome, 19 (7.4%) patients with Qi-blood deficiency syndrome, 14 (5.4%) patients with phlegm-stasis obstruction syndrome, 15 (5.8%) patients with stasis obstructing collateral syndrome and 9 (3.5%) patients with Qi-Yin deficiency syndrome. The patients were assigned into two groups of cold dampness obstruction syndrome and other syndromes. The group of cold dampness obstruction syndrome had lower joint fever, 28-tender joint count (TJC28), and 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28)-C-reactive protein (CRP) and higher central sensitization, cold feeling of joints, fear of wind and cold, cold limbs, and abdominal distention than the group of other syndromes (P<0.05). The binary logistic regression analysis showed that central sensitization (OR 5.749, 95%CI 2.116-15.616, P<0.001) and DAS28-CRP (OR 0.600, 95% CI 0.418-0.862, P=0.006) were the independent factors influencing cold dampness obstruction syndrome in RA. ConclusionCold dampness obstruction syndrome is a common syndrome in RA patients. It is associated with central sensitization, cold feeling of joints, abdominal distension and may be a clinical syndrome associated with central sensitization.
2.Systemic Lupus Erythematosus as a Dominant Disease in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Zihan WANG ; Yanyu CHEN ; Yong CUI ; Qingwen TAO ; Mei MO ; Ke XUE ; Xiaoxiao ZHANG ; Yuan XU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(13):263-269
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a refractory autoimmune disease, is among the dominant diseases where traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) shows advantages in the field of rheumatology and immunology. The China-Japan Friendship Hospital hosted the "46th Youth Salon on Dominant Diseases (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)" organized by the China Association of Chinese Medicine, which led to a consensus on "the advantages, challenges, interdisciplinary approaches, and translational achievements of integrated TCM and Western medical approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of SLE." The diagnosis and treatment of SLE currently face several challenges, such as frequent misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis in the early stages, difficulty in achieving treatment targets, multiple side effects from pharmacotherapy, and the lack of management strategies for special populations, all of which hinder the fulfillment of the clinical needs of patients. Integrated TCM and Western medical approaches can improve clinical symptoms such as skin erythema, aversion to cold and cold limbs, fatigue, dry mouth, restlessness, and heat sensation in the palms and soles, thereby improving patients' quality of life. The approaches also help consolidate the efficacy of conventional Western medicine, slow disease progression, reduce relapse rates, address multi-organ involvement, and prevent or treat complications. Additionally, they enhance efficacy and reduce toxicity, prevent the side effects of Western medications, help reduce hormone use, and offer distinct advantages in the individualized intervention of special populations, contributing to the whole-process management of the disease. However, evidence-based medical support for this integrated approach remains limited, and the quality of available evidence is generally low. Common evaluation systems and modern research methodologies should be adopted to clarify the efficacy of TCM in SLE treatment. Efforts should be made to carry out high-quality evidence-based medical research, strengthen the development of fundamental and pharmacological research, and further explain the distinct advantages of TCM in the diagnosis and treatment of SLE. Future efforts should focus on advancing the integration of TCM and modern medicine, incorporating multi-omics technologies, individualized stratification, and other precision medicine concepts, in combination with artificial intelligence. Moreover, interdisciplinary collaboration should be promoted to utilize modern technology in exploring the essence of TCM theories and screening effective formulae, thereby comprehensively improving the diagnosis and treatment of SLE through integrated TCM and Western medical approaches.
3.Systemic Lupus Erythematosus as a Dominant Disease in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Zihan WANG ; Yanyu CHEN ; Yong CUI ; Qingwen TAO ; Mei MO ; Ke XUE ; Xiaoxiao ZHANG ; Yuan XU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(13):263-269
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a refractory autoimmune disease, is among the dominant diseases where traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) shows advantages in the field of rheumatology and immunology. The China-Japan Friendship Hospital hosted the "46th Youth Salon on Dominant Diseases (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)" organized by the China Association of Chinese Medicine, which led to a consensus on "the advantages, challenges, interdisciplinary approaches, and translational achievements of integrated TCM and Western medical approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of SLE." The diagnosis and treatment of SLE currently face several challenges, such as frequent misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis in the early stages, difficulty in achieving treatment targets, multiple side effects from pharmacotherapy, and the lack of management strategies for special populations, all of which hinder the fulfillment of the clinical needs of patients. Integrated TCM and Western medical approaches can improve clinical symptoms such as skin erythema, aversion to cold and cold limbs, fatigue, dry mouth, restlessness, and heat sensation in the palms and soles, thereby improving patients' quality of life. The approaches also help consolidate the efficacy of conventional Western medicine, slow disease progression, reduce relapse rates, address multi-organ involvement, and prevent or treat complications. Additionally, they enhance efficacy and reduce toxicity, prevent the side effects of Western medications, help reduce hormone use, and offer distinct advantages in the individualized intervention of special populations, contributing to the whole-process management of the disease. However, evidence-based medical support for this integrated approach remains limited, and the quality of available evidence is generally low. Common evaluation systems and modern research methodologies should be adopted to clarify the efficacy of TCM in SLE treatment. Efforts should be made to carry out high-quality evidence-based medical research, strengthen the development of fundamental and pharmacological research, and further explain the distinct advantages of TCM in the diagnosis and treatment of SLE. Future efforts should focus on advancing the integration of TCM and modern medicine, incorporating multi-omics technologies, individualized stratification, and other precision medicine concepts, in combination with artificial intelligence. Moreover, interdisciplinary collaboration should be promoted to utilize modern technology in exploring the essence of TCM theories and screening effective formulae, thereby comprehensively improving the diagnosis and treatment of SLE through integrated TCM and Western medical approaches.
4.Association of Obesity Phenotypes With Cognitive Impairment and Genetic Stratification Analysis in Older Chinese Adults
Xin CHEN ; Haiyu YAN ; Qingwen ZHAO ; Nan YANG ; Bin XU ; Jiaqiang LIAO ; Xia JIANG ; Jiayuan LI
Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences) 2025;56(4):956-963
Objective To evaluate the association of different obesity phenotypes and their components with the risk of cognitive impairment in older Chinese adults,and to assess the association between obesity and cognitive impairment in different cognition-related genetic backgrounds.Methods A cross-sectional study based on the West China Health and Aging Cohort was conducted.Logistic regression was applied to estimate the association of obesity phenotypes and components with cognitive impairment in older Chinese adults stratified by APOE gene and polygenic risk scores.Results A total of 7 316 participants were enrolled,of whom 1 820 had cognitive impairment.Weight gains were associated with a reduced risk of cognitive impairment(odds ratio[OR]=0.96,95%CI,0.95-0.97).Being overweight with a normal waist-to-hip ratio was a protective factor for cognition(OR=0.74,95%CI,0.61-0.90),whereas the coexistence of elevated waist-to-hip ratio and overweight did not increase the risk of cognitive impairment.Sarcopenia was associated with an elevated risk of cognitive impairment.This association was found in both overweight(OR=2.03,95%CI,1.71-2.41)and non-overweight older adults(OR=1.86,95%CI,1.58-2.20),and was significant across all polygenic risk score strata.Conclusion Increasing body mass may serve as a key protective factor against cognitive decline in older adults.Having sarcopenia and obesity is associated with an elevated risk of cognitive impairment,independent of genetic susceptibility.
5.Clinical Dominant Disease of Traditional Chinese Medicine: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Jinping WANG ; Qingwen TAO ; Mei MO ; Zihan WANG ; Nan ZHANG ; Yuan XU ; Xiaoxiao ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(17):202-210
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized primarily by erosive arthritis, with a high prevalence and disability rate. Although significant progress has been made in the treatment of RA in recent years, challenges such as suboptimal efficacy, drug resistance, severe side effects, and high costs of long-term treatment remain, especially for patients in the early stages of RA, as well as those with RA complications, comorbidities, and severe conditions. Hosted by the China-Japan Friendship Hospital and organized by the Youth Committee of the China Association of Chinese Medicine, the 27th session of the Clinical Dominant Disease Series (Rheumatoid Arthritis) Youth Salon invited nearly 20 experts and scholars from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), western medicine, and interdisciplinary fields to actively discuss the clinical needs of modern medicine and the advantageous stages and aspects of TCM in RA. Experts at the salon agreed that TCM has unique advantages in the treatment of RA, especially during the early stage, periods of low to moderate disease activity, remission phase, and in addressing complications and comorbidities. TCM can achieve both prevention and treatment by regulating the immune system and restoring immune homeostasis. The integrated approach of traditional Chinese and western medicine demonstrates significant advantages in active RA, refractory cases, and stages with severe complications, by rapidly controlling disease progression, alleviating symptoms, enhancing the quality of life, and facilitating recovery. Given the frequent occurrence of multiple comorbidities in RA, TCM shows potential in regulating immunity, alleviating symptoms, and improving physical constitution, which provides new insights into the comprehensive treatment of RA with comorbidities. However, high-quality clinical studies on integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine in RA are still lacking. It is necessary to establish large-scale clinical cohorts and biological databases to provide a scientific basis for the development of precision-targeted therapies and clinical treatment protocols. In the future, individualized treatment strategies integrating traditional Chinese and western medicine are expected to become an important direction for improving the quality of life in RA patients.
6.Clinical Dominant Disease of Traditional Chinese Medicine: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Jinping WANG ; Qingwen TAO ; Mei MO ; Zihan WANG ; Nan ZHANG ; Yuan XU ; Xiaoxiao ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(17):202-210
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized primarily by erosive arthritis, with a high prevalence and disability rate. Although significant progress has been made in the treatment of RA in recent years, challenges such as suboptimal efficacy, drug resistance, severe side effects, and high costs of long-term treatment remain, especially for patients in the early stages of RA, as well as those with RA complications, comorbidities, and severe conditions. Hosted by the China-Japan Friendship Hospital and organized by the Youth Committee of the China Association of Chinese Medicine, the 27th session of the Clinical Dominant Disease Series (Rheumatoid Arthritis) Youth Salon invited nearly 20 experts and scholars from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), western medicine, and interdisciplinary fields to actively discuss the clinical needs of modern medicine and the advantageous stages and aspects of TCM in RA. Experts at the salon agreed that TCM has unique advantages in the treatment of RA, especially during the early stage, periods of low to moderate disease activity, remission phase, and in addressing complications and comorbidities. TCM can achieve both prevention and treatment by regulating the immune system and restoring immune homeostasis. The integrated approach of traditional Chinese and western medicine demonstrates significant advantages in active RA, refractory cases, and stages with severe complications, by rapidly controlling disease progression, alleviating symptoms, enhancing the quality of life, and facilitating recovery. Given the frequent occurrence of multiple comorbidities in RA, TCM shows potential in regulating immunity, alleviating symptoms, and improving physical constitution, which provides new insights into the comprehensive treatment of RA with comorbidities. However, high-quality clinical studies on integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine in RA are still lacking. It is necessary to establish large-scale clinical cohorts and biological databases to provide a scientific basis for the development of precision-targeted therapies and clinical treatment protocols. In the future, individualized treatment strategies integrating traditional Chinese and western medicine are expected to become an important direction for improving the quality of life in RA patients.
7.3D printing precise positioning guided ulnar groove plasty for treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome
Hanqing DONG ; Xing WU ; Pengcheng XU ; Qingwen WANG ; Zhisheng ZHANG ; Jianyong ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(18):2825-2829
BACKGROUND:With the increase of patients with cubital tunnel syndrome,ulnar groove plasty does not affect the normal anatomical structure and distribution of the ulnar nerve,which is one of the main surgical procedures for the treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome.3D printing combined with ulnar groove plasty can more accurately position the expansion depth and width of the ulnar groove to avoid some surgical complications. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of 3D printing technology combined with ulnar groove plasty on nerve electrophysiology and prognosis in patients with cubital tunnel syndrome. METHODS:A total of 70 patients with moderate and severe cubital tunnel syndrome who were treated in Cangzhou Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital from March 2020 to March 2022 were selected as the study subjects.They were divided into two groups,with 35 cases in each group.The control group underwent traditional ulnar groove plasty.The observation group underwent 3D printing technology combined with ulnar groove plasty.The patients were followed up for 3 months.The clinical efficacy,latency,amplitude of compound muscle action potential of abductor pollicis brevis of the affected limb and ulnar nerve motor conduction velocity,grip strength on the affected side,pinch strength of the middle and thumb fingers,S-W monofilament of the little finger,two-point discrimination of the little finger,and Disabilities of the Arm,Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire score were compared between the two groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the control group(74%),the excellent and good rate was significantly higher in the observation group(91%)(P<0.05).(2)Compared with pre-treatment,the latency of compound muscle action potential of abductor pollicis brevis of affected limb was significantly shorter and the wave amplitude and ulnar nerve motor conduction velocity were significantly higher in the two groups after treatment.The latency was significantly shorter and the wave amplitude and ulnar nerve motor conduction velocity were significantly higher in the observation group than those in the control group(P<0.05).(3)Compared with pre-treatment,the grip strength,middle finger and thumb pinch strength of the affected side,S-W monofilament of the little finger and two-point discrimination of the little finger were significantly decreased in the two groups after treatment.The grip strength,middle finger and thumb pinch strength on the affected side were greater,S-W monofilament of the little finger and two-point discrimination of the little finger were significantly smaller in the observation group than those in the control group(P<0.05).(4)Compared with pre-treatment,the Disabilities of the Arm,Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire scores of the two groups were significantly reduced after treatment,and the Disabilities of the Arm,Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire scores of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group(P<0.05).(5)It is concluded that 3D printing technology combined with ulnar groove plasty in the treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome can effectively improve its clinical efficacy,promote the neurophysiological recovery of patients,and enhance the function of fingers and upper limbs,which has high clinical application value.
8.Longitudinal evaluation of tissue prolapse after carotid stenting by optical coherence tomography
Xuan SHI ; Yunfei HAN ; Xiaohui XU ; Qingwen YANG ; Fang WANG ; Qin YIN ; Rui LIU ; Xinfeng LIU
Chinese Journal of Neurology 2024;57(8):848-858
Objective:To assess the prevalence and type of tissue prolapse (TP) occurring after endovascular treatment (ET), investigate the association between TP types and plaque morphological characteristics before ET, and observe in-stent neointimal hyperplasia (NIH) using optical coherence tomography (OCT).Methods:Patients who underwent carotid artery stenting and received pre- and post-ET OCT assessment at Jinling Hospital between July 2018 and December 2019 were collected. Baseline plaque characteristics and TP features were evaluated using OCT. The TPs were classified into two categories: smooth TP (STP) and irregular and/or high attenuated TP (I/HTP). The association between I/HTP and plaque characteristics was analyzed, while NIH feature was also summarized.Results:A total of 29 patients were included in the study, of whom 23 patients (79.3%) presented with TP. Among these 23 patients, 9 were classified as I/HTP and 14 were classified as STP. Compared with STP, I/HTP was more commonly observed in lipid-rich plaques (7/9 vs 2/14, P=0.007), and lesions with cap rupture (7/9 vs 4/14, P=0.036). Additionally, the longitudinal length of TP appeared to be longer in cases with I/HTP compared to those with STP [3.0 (1.5, 4.6) mm vs 1.1 (0.7, 3.2) mm, Z=1.294, P=0.201]. Six patients underwent OCT follow-up for a mean duration of 6.7 months, of whom 3 patients with I/HTP showed severe heterogeneous NIH (50.1%-61.8%), while 1 patient with STP and 2 patients without TP only demonstrated mild NIH. Conclusions:The study observed that I/HTP was commonly found in plaques with larger lipid core and/or cap rupture, and suggested a potential relationship between I/HTP and NIH. These preliminary findings obtained from a limited sample should be verified by prospective large-scale studies.
9.Potential value of PCSK9 inhibitor in ischemic stroke
Xun XU ; Qingwen JIN ; Renliang ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Neuromedicine 2024;23(10):1038-1042
Stroke has characteristics of high incidence, disability, mortality and recurrence rates. Ischemic stroke (IS) is the most prevalent type of stroke. Early management of risk factors associated with IS, such as cholesterol level, has a beneficial impact on improving long-term prognosis. Proprotein converting enzyme subtilin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a circulating enzyme that regulates low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), and PCSK9 inhibitor can reduce serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol by blocking the PCSK9 binding to LDLR; therefore, PCSK9 inhibitor, as a new type of lipid-lowering drug, shows great potential in IS prevention and treatment. This article summarizes the physiological functions of PCSK9, clinical application of PCSK9 inhibitor and role of PCSK9 inhibitor in IS pathologic, aiming to offer novel suggestions for improving short-term and long-term prognoses of individuals with IS.
10.Establishment of MRI classification for traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head and its correlation with femoral head collapse
Zhikun ZHUANG ; Ziqi LI ; Shihua GAO ; Hanglin QIU ; Zhiqing XU ; Zhibing GONG ; Qingwen ZHANG ; Zhaoke WU ; Wei HE
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics 2024;44(13):881-888
Objective:To establish a classification system for the repair band in the subchondral bone origination point in MRI for traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) and preliminarily explore the correlation between this classification and the progression of femoral head collapse.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 73 cases of traumatic ON-FH treated at the Quanzhou Orthopedic-traumatological hospital from January 2000 to December 2019. Among them, there were 46 males and 27 females with an average age of 34.9±8.3 years (range 19-55 years). Clinical and radiological data such as age, gender, side, fracture classification, reduction quality, JIC classification, and bone repair band (BRB) classification were recorded. The progression of traumatic ONFH was assessed using the ARCO staging system, with stages IIIA and IIIB defined as mild collapse and progressive collapse, respectively. The BRB classification was established based on MRI findings, and the inter- and intra-observer consistency of the BRB classification was analyzed using Kappa test. The correlation between the BRB classification and progressive femoral head collapse was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier survival curve and binary variable Cox regression analysis.Results:According to the BRB classification, 73 cases were divided into type 1 with superficial lesion in 38.4%, type 2 with uncertain lesion in 21.9%, and type 3 with extensive lesion in 39.7%. The inter-observer consistency Kappa value for the BRB classification was 0.798, and the intra-observer consistency Kappa value was 0.896, indicating a high level of consistency. A follow-up of 73 cases (54.8±34.9 months, range 24-165 months) showed a significant correlation between the BRB classification and ARCO staging at the last follow-up (χ 2=37.556, P<0.001), with progression to stages IIIA and IIIB as follows: type 1 had 3 and 1 cases, type 2 had 4 and 1 cases, and type 3 had 14 and 12 cases, respectively. Using the occurrence of progressive collapse (stage IIIB) as the endpoint, the risk of progression to stage IIIB for type 2 was not statistically different from type 1 [ HR=1.766, 95% CI (0.465, 6.702), P=0.403]; the risk of progression to stage IIIB for type 3 was significantly higher than for type 1 [ HR=15.126, 95% CI (4.708, 48.592), P<0.001]. Conclusion:The BRB classification is closely related to the progression of traumatic ONFH and is an independent risk factor for predicting the occurrence of progressive collapse; this classification is helpful for early diagnosis and predicting the progression of collapse and treatment plan decision-making.

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