This narrative review examines the challenges, strategies, and future directions in the development of young teachers within the pathophysiology departments of Chinese medical colleges. A thorough review of 49 studies published between 2013 and 2024 was carried out using PubMed, Web of Science, and various Chinese databases. The primary challenges identified include teaching innovation (cited in 84.2% of the studies), research pressure (91.2%), disciplinary characteristics (87.7%), and career development (80.7%). Medical schools have responded by enhancing training systems (94.7%), innovating teaching methods (93.0%), and bolstering research support (96.5%). Looking ahead, trends are shifting toward the application of new technologies, interdisciplinary integration, and international collaboration. The focus on cultivating young teachers is increasingly geared towards personalization and diversification, which are essential for advancing education in pathophysiology. High-quality young teachers are pivotal in raising teaching standards, fostering research innovation, and facilitating interdisciplinary exchanges. Based on these insights, we recommend several practical measures to enhance the quality of pathophysiology education in China. These include establishing comprehensive training programs that integrate teaching innovation and research skills; developing structured mentorship systems with clear pathways for career advancement; creating platforms that support technology-enhanced teaching and international collaboration; and implementing systematic evaluation mechanisms to assess teaching effectiveness. These targeted interventions will require a coordinated effort from department heads, educational institutions, and policymakers to ensure a sustained improvement in the quality of pathophysiology education.

Aim To investigate the effects of sodium lactate(NALA)on right heart failure induced by monocrotaline(MCT)-induced pulmonary arterial hy-pertension in rats and to reveal the underlying mecha-nisms.Methods Forty male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly allocated into four groups,with ten rats in each group,namely,MCT group,NALA group,and NALA+MCT group;the MCT and NALA+MCT groups were administered a single intraperito-neal injection of MCT at 60 mg·kg-1 to induce pul-monary hypertension,and one week later,the NALA and NALA+MCT groups received intraperitoneal in-jections of NALA at 0.1 g·kg-1(once a day,for 5 weeks),while the CON and MCT groups received e-qual volumes of physiological saline(once a day,for 5 weeks);right heart function was assessed using echo-cardiography,right ventricular and pulmonary artery remodeling were evaluated via histopathological sec-tions,and the expression levels of ANP,BNP,and in-flammatory factors were measured by ELISA,along with assessments of oxidative stress levels,Western blot detection of the expression levels of proteins in the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.Results Compared to the CON group,the MCT group exhibited increased RVSP and RVHI,decreased right heart function,in-creased collagen fiber deposition,and elevated oxida-tive stress and inflammatory factor expression,and the expression levels of proteins in the TLR4/NF-κB signa-ling pathway increased(P＜0.05);compared to the MCT group,the NALA+MCT group showed reduced RVSP and RVHI,improved right heart function,atten-uated pulmonary vascular remodeling,decreased ex-pression of ANP,BNP,inflammatory factors,and H2O2,along with increased antioxidant enzyme expres-sion,and the expression levels of proteins in the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway decreased(P＜0.05).Conclusion NALA can inhibit right ventric-ular remodeling in rats with pulmonary hypertension,and the underlying mechanism may involve the allevia-tion of inflammatory responses and oxidative stress through the inhibition of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Adrenal incidentalomas in the elderly individuals refer to adrenal nodules with a diameter ≥ 1 cm that are unexpectedly discovered in elderly patients during health check-ups or imaging examinations performed for non-adrenal-related conditions.The prevalence of adrenal incidentalomas in the elderly increases with age, exceeding 7% in individuals over 70 years old.Comprehensive evaluation including malignancy risk assessment, functional status determination, surgical indication selection, and follow-up monitoring is critical for optimizing the clinical management pathways for elderly patients with adrenal incidentalomas and improving their outcomes.In light of this, the Chinese Expert opinions on the diagnosis, treatment, and health management of adrenal incidentalomas in the elderly(2025 edition)was established, which systematically summarizes the screening approaches, diagnostic procedures, and treatment algorithms of adrenal incidentalomas in the elderly population while providing expert suggestions, with particular emphasis on age-specific diagnostic strategies and follow-up protocols.These opinions serve as a valuable reference for standardizing adrenal incidentalomas management in the elderly among geriatricians, endocrinologists, radiologists, and urologists.

Adrenal incidentalomas in the elderly individuals refer to adrenal nodules with a diameter ≥ 1 cm that are unexpectedly discovered in elderly patients during health check-ups or imaging examinations performed for non-adrenal-related conditions.The prevalence of adrenal incidentalomas in the elderly increases with age, exceeding 7% in individuals over 70 years old.Comprehensive evaluation including malignancy risk assessment, functional status determination, surgical indication selection, and follow-up monitoring is critical for optimizing the clinical management pathways for elderly patients with adrenal incidentalomas and improving their outcomes.In light of this, the Chinese Expert opinions on the diagnosis, treatment, and health management of adrenal incidentalomas in the elderly(2025 edition)was established, which systematically summarizes the screening approaches, diagnostic procedures, and treatment algorithms of adrenal incidentalomas in the elderly population while providing expert suggestions, with particular emphasis on age-specific diagnostic strategies and follow-up protocols.These opinions serve as a valuable reference for standardizing adrenal incidentalomas management in the elderly among geriatricians, endocrinologists, radiologists, and urologists.

Objective::To evaluate the early pregnancy loss (EPL) rates in women with and without low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) treatment during early pregnancy.Methods::A retrospective, non-randomized study was conducted at Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center between June 2019 and March 2022, involving women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). All participants conceived following standard preconception care and voluntarily chose either the control group or the LMWH intervention group during the first month of pregnancy. The intervention was administered throughout the entire first trimester. Early and final pregnancy outcomes were recorded, with a particular focus on EPL rates. In addition, venous blood samples and clinical data were collected to compare hormonal profiles, blood lipid levels, and anthropometric parameters between the two groups. Statistical analyses included the two-tailed unpaired Student’s t-test, Mann–Whitney U test, Chi-square test, and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. A value of P < 0.050 was considered statistically significant. Results::Thirty-eight women in the LMWH group and 102 women in the control group were included. The EPL rates in the LMWH and control groups were 5.3% (2/38) and 26.5% (27/102), respectively ( χ2 = 7.582, P = 0.006, odds ratio ( OR) = 0.154, 95% confidence interval ( CI): 0.035-0.685). The age ( P = 0.005), PCOS subtype ( P = 0.012), and levels of total cholesterol ( P = 0.003), and high-density lipoprotein ( P = 0.018) were significantly different between these two groups. Continued follow-up was performed to observe the long-time effects of LMWH treatment in early pregnancy. Seventy-three patients were successfully delivered, 23 patients in the LMWH group and 50 patients in the control group. There was no significant difference between the LMWH and control groups in gestation length, bleeding during delivery, birth weight, gender of the newborn, or mode of delivery. In addition, Kaplan-Meier curve analysis revealed that LMWH treatment may decrease the risk of EPL in PCOS patients in the first trimester ( χ2 = 4.144, P = 0.040). Conclusion::LMWH treatment during early pregnancy may reduce the EPL rate in women with PCOS.

This narrative review examines the challenges, strategies, and future directions in the development of young teachers within the pathophysiology departments of Chinese medical colleges. A thorough review of 49 studies published between 2013 and 2024 was carried out using PubMed, Web of Science, and various Chinese databases. The primary challenges identified include teaching innovation (cited in 84.2% of the studies), research pressure (91.2%), disciplinary characteristics (87.7%), and career development (80.7%). Medical schools have responded by enhancing training systems (94.7%), innovating teaching methods (93.0%), and bolstering research support (96.5%). Looking ahead, trends are shifting toward the application of new technologies, interdisciplinary integration, and international collaboration. The focus on cultivating young teachers is increasingly geared towards personalization and diversification, which are essential for advancing education in pathophysiology. High-quality young teachers are pivotal in raising teaching standards, fostering research innovation, and facilitating interdisciplinary exchanges. Based on these insights, we recommend several practical measures to enhance the quality of pathophysiology education in China. These include establishing comprehensive training programs that integrate teaching innovation and research skills; developing structured mentorship systems with clear pathways for career advancement; creating platforms that support technology-enhanced teaching and international collaboration; and implementing systematic evaluation mechanisms to assess teaching effectiveness. These targeted interventions will require a coordinated effort from department heads, educational institutions, and policymakers to ensure a sustained improvement in the quality of pathophysiology education.

Aim To investigate the effects of sodium lactate(NALA)on right heart failure induced by monocrotaline(MCT)-induced pulmonary arterial hy-pertension in rats and to reveal the underlying mecha-nisms.Methods Forty male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly allocated into four groups,with ten rats in each group,namely,MCT group,NALA group,and NALA+MCT group;the MCT and NALA+MCT groups were administered a single intraperito-neal injection of MCT at 60 mg·kg-1 to induce pul-monary hypertension,and one week later,the NALA and NALA+MCT groups received intraperitoneal in-jections of NALA at 0.1 g·kg-1(once a day,for 5 weeks),while the CON and MCT groups received e-qual volumes of physiological saline(once a day,for 5 weeks);right heart function was assessed using echo-cardiography,right ventricular and pulmonary artery remodeling were evaluated via histopathological sec-tions,and the expression levels of ANP,BNP,and in-flammatory factors were measured by ELISA,along with assessments of oxidative stress levels,Western blot detection of the expression levels of proteins in the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.Results Compared to the CON group,the MCT group exhibited increased RVSP and RVHI,decreased right heart function,in-creased collagen fiber deposition,and elevated oxida-tive stress and inflammatory factor expression,and the expression levels of proteins in the TLR4/NF-κB signa-ling pathway increased(P＜0.05);compared to the MCT group,the NALA+MCT group showed reduced RVSP and RVHI,improved right heart function,atten-uated pulmonary vascular remodeling,decreased ex-pression of ANP,BNP,inflammatory factors,and H2O2,along with increased antioxidant enzyme expres-sion,and the expression levels of proteins in the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway decreased(P＜0.05).Conclusion NALA can inhibit right ventric-ular remodeling in rats with pulmonary hypertension,and the underlying mechanism may involve the allevia-tion of inflammatory responses and oxidative stress through the inhibition of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective:To explore the correlation between palm temperature,disease activity,and traditional chinese medicine syndrome types in patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Methods:80 RA patients(RA group)who were admitted to our hospital from April 2022 to June 2024 were selected,they were divided into high group(DAS28 score＞5.1 score)and low to moderate group(2.6 score ≤ DAS28 score≤5.1 score)according to the 28 joint disease activity scores(DAS28).70 healthy volunteers who underwent physical examinations during the same period(control group)were selected.The palm temperature,erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),C-reactive protein(CRP),and DAS28 scores between the control group and RA group were compared.The palm temperature,ESR,and CRP levels between low to moderate group and high group were compared.The correlation between palm temperature and disease activity,ESR,and CRP levels in RA patients was analyzed by Pearson correlation.The distribution of traditional chinese medicine syndrome types in RA patients was observed,the palm temperature,ESR,and CRP levels of RA patients with different traditional chinese medicine syndrome types were compared.Results:The palm temperature,ESR,CRP levels,and DAS28 score in the RA group were higher than those in the control group(P＜0.05).The palm temperature,ESR,and CRP levels in the high group were higher than those in the low to moderate group(P＜0.05).Pearson correlation analysis results showed that,the palm temperature of RA patients was positively correlated with DAS28 score,ESR,and CRP levels(P＜0.05).Among 80 RA patients,there were 17 cases(21.25％)of liver and kidney deficiency syndrome,23 cases(29.02％)of cold and dampness obstruction syndrome,14 cases(17.86％)of qi and blood deficiency syndrome,17 cases(21.47％)of damp heat obstruction syndrome,and 9 cases(11.52％)of phlegm and blood stasis obstruction syndrome.The palm temperature,ESR,and CRP levels of patients with Qi and blood deficiency syndrome,liver and kidney deficiency syndrome,and phlegm and blood stasis obstruction syndrome increased in sequence and were higher than those of patients with damp heat obstruction syndrome and cold and dampness obstruction syndrome(P＜0.05).There was no statistical difference in palm temperature,ESR,and CRP levels between the groups of damp heat obstruction syndrome and cold and dampness obstruction syndrome(P＞0.05).Conclusion:There is a certain correlation between the palm temperature and disease activity and traditional chinese medicine syndrome types of RA patients.Regular observation of palm temperature,ESR,CRP levels,and DAS28 score is helpful for assessing the condition of RA patients.

OBJECTIVE: Angiogenesis is a critical target for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment. The previous studies indicated that Jiedu Fang (JDF) could inhibit hypoxia-induced angiogenesis through interleukin-8 (IL-8). Therefore, the present study further explores the mechanisms behind JDF's inhibition of HCC angiogenesis. METHODS: Angiogenesis was assessed with the capillary-like tube formation assay in vitro and the matrigel plug angiogenesis assay in vivo. A liver cancer-related gene set and genes associated with angiogenesis and the hypoxic microenvironment were analyzed using a bioinformatics platform. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting assays were used to assess the targeted mRNA and protein levels, respectively. The Transwell assay was used to assess the migration and invasion potential of EA.hy 926 cells. The orthotopic tumor xenograft model was established, and immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence assays were used to detect cluster of differentiation 31 and angiopoietin 2 expression, while an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect vascular endothelial growth factor and IL-8 protein levels. RESULTS: In vitro and in vivo assays showed that IL-8 promoted angiogenesis, and JDF could antagonize this effect. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that aurora kinase A (Aurora A) was an important candidate, which can promote IL-8 expression through activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). The overexpression of Aurora A increased IL-8 secretion and promoted HCC migration, invasion, and angiogenesis, which was partly inhibited by JDF. Such effects were validated by in vivo assays. Further validation using the STAT3 inhibitor S3I-201 demonstrated that STAT3 was regulated by Aurora A. CONCLUSION JDF exhibits efficacy in reducing hypoxia-induced angiogenesis in HCC through a mechanism involving the Aurora A/STAT3/IL-8 signaling pathway. Therefore, JDF holds promise as a potential therapeutic approach for targeting HCC angiogenesis. Please cite this article as: Zhong MF, Luo YJ, Guo YY, Xiang S, Lin WF. Jiedu Fang inhibits hypoxia-induced angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting Aurora A/STAT3/IL-8 signaling pathway. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(6):683-693.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/blood supply* ; Humans ; STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism* ; Interleukin-8/metabolism* ; Liver Neoplasms/blood supply* ; Aurora Kinase A/metabolism* ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/drug therapy* ; Animals ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Mice ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Angiogenesis

Objective:To explore the correlation between palm temperature,disease activity,and traditional chinese medicine syndrome types in patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Methods:80 RA patients(RA group)who were admitted to our hospital from April 2022 to June 2024 were selected,they were divided into high group(DAS28 score＞5.1 score)and low to moderate group(2.6 score ≤ DAS28 score≤5.1 score)according to the 28 joint disease activity scores(DAS28).70 healthy volunteers who underwent physical examinations during the same period(control group)were selected.The palm temperature,erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),C-reactive protein(CRP),and DAS28 scores between the control group and RA group were compared.The palm temperature,ESR,and CRP levels between low to moderate group and high group were compared.The correlation between palm temperature and disease activity,ESR,and CRP levels in RA patients was analyzed by Pearson correlation.The distribution of traditional chinese medicine syndrome types in RA patients was observed,the palm temperature,ESR,and CRP levels of RA patients with different traditional chinese medicine syndrome types were compared.Results:The palm temperature,ESR,CRP levels,and DAS28 score in the RA group were higher than those in the control group(P＜0.05).The palm temperature,ESR,and CRP levels in the high group were higher than those in the low to moderate group(P＜0.05).Pearson correlation analysis results showed that,the palm temperature of RA patients was positively correlated with DAS28 score,ESR,and CRP levels(P＜0.05).Among 80 RA patients,there were 17 cases(21.25％)of liver and kidney deficiency syndrome,23 cases(29.02％)of cold and dampness obstruction syndrome,14 cases(17.86％)of qi and blood deficiency syndrome,17 cases(21.47％)of damp heat obstruction syndrome,and 9 cases(11.52％)of phlegm and blood stasis obstruction syndrome.The palm temperature,ESR,and CRP levels of patients with Qi and blood deficiency syndrome,liver and kidney deficiency syndrome,and phlegm and blood stasis obstruction syndrome increased in sequence and were higher than those of patients with damp heat obstruction syndrome and cold and dampness obstruction syndrome(P＜0.05).There was no statistical difference in palm temperature,ESR,and CRP levels between the groups of damp heat obstruction syndrome and cold and dampness obstruction syndrome(P＞0.05).Conclusion:There is a certain correlation between the palm temperature and disease activity and traditional chinese medicine syndrome types of RA patients.Regular observation of palm temperature,ESR,CRP levels,and DAS28 score is helpful for assessing the condition of RA patients.