Childhood simple obesity has become a significant public health issue in China. Modern medicine primarily relies on lifestyle interventions and often suffers from poor long-term compliance， while pharmacological options are limited and associated with potential adverse effects. Traditional Chinese Medicine （TCM） has a long history in the prevention and management of this condition， demonstrating eight distinct advantages， including systematic theoretical foundation， diversified therapeutic approaches， definite therapeutic efficacy， high safety profile， good patient compliance， comprehensive intervention strategies， emphasis on prevention， and stepwise treatment protocols. Additionally， TCM is characterized by six distinctive features： the use of natural medicinal substances， non-invasive external therapies， integration of medicinal dietetics， simple exercise regimens， precise syndrome differentiation， and diverse dosage forms. By combining internal and external treatments， TCM facilitates individualized regimen adjustment and holistic regulation， demonstrating remarkable effects in improving obesity-related metabolic indicators， regulating constitutional imbalance， and promoting healthy behaviors. However， challenges remain， such as inconsistent operational standards， insufficient high-quality clinical evidence， and a gap between basic research and clinical application. Future efforts should focus on accelerating the standardization of TCM diagnosis and treatment， conducting multicenter randomized controlled trials， and fostering interdisciplinary integration， so as to enhance the scientific validity and international recognition of TCM in the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) capable of clearing heat and removing toxin is most commonly used in clinical practice and has the effect of removing fire-heat and toxin. Studies have shown that most of the Ilex plants have the effect of clearing heat and removing toxin, among which the varieties of I. cornuta, I. pubescens, I. rotunda, I. latifolia, and I. chinensis are most widely used. These plants generally contain triterpenoids and their glycosides, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, and other chemical components, especially pentacyclic triterpenoids. According to their skeletons, pentacyclic triterpenoids can be divided into the oleanane type, the ursane type, the lupinane type, etc. Among them, ursane-type components are the most abundant, and 136 species have been found so far. These components have been proved to have pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, hypolipidemic, anti-thrombosis, cardiomyocyte-protective, antibacterial, and hepatoprotective effects. Therefore, this paper systematically reviews the domestic and foreign literature on Ilex plants with a focus on the research progress on pentacyclic triterpenoids and their pharmacological activities, aiming to provide reference for the development of TCM resources with the effect of clearing heat and removing toxin.
Ilex/chemistry* ; Plants, Medicinal/chemistry* ; Pentacyclic Triterpenes/pharmacology* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Animals

Objective To explore the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of transesophageal endoscopic surgery for mediastinal tumors. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 17 patients who underwent transesophageal endoscopic resection for benign mediastinal tumors at the Endoscopy Center of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2024. Epidemiological characteristics, surgical parameters, adverse events, and follow-up outcomes were analyzed. Results Among the 17 patients, there were 9 males and 8 females, with an average age of (42.4±14.5) years and an average tumor size of (2.6±1.6) cm. Pathological types included esophageal duplication cysts (6 cases, 35.3%), bronchogenic cysts (5 cases, 29.4%), gastroenteric cysts (3 cases, 17.6%), schwannomas (2 cases, 11.8%), and lymphangioma (1 case, 5.9%). Fourteen patients (82.4%) underwent submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection (STER), 3 patients (17.6%) underwent natural orifice transluminal endoscopic mediastinal surgery. All surgeries were successfully completed without conversion to open surgery. En bloc resection was achieved in 11 patients (64.7%), with an average operative time of (60.9±32.6) min. No intraoperative bleeding or mucosal injury occurred, and 4 patients (23.5%) experienced minor complications (pneumothorax, fever, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury), all of which resolved with conservative treatment. The average postoperative hospital stay was (3.2±1.5) days, and no recurrence was observed during the follow-up period. Conclusions Transesophageal endoscopic resection of benign mediastinal tumors is a safe, effective, and minimally invasive treatment method. Further validation of its efficacy and safety through large-scale prospective studies is warranted.

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

Homo- or heterodimeric compounds that affect dimeric protein function through interaction between monomeric moieties and protein subunits can serve as valuable sources of potent and selective drug candidates. Here, we screened an in-house dimeric natural product collection, and panepocyclinol A (PecA) emerged as a selective and potent STAT3 inhibitor with profound anti-tumor efficacy. Through cross-linking C712/C718 residues in separate STAT3 monomers with two distinct Michael receptors, PecA inhibits STAT3 DNA binding affinity and transcription activity. Molecular dynamics simulation reveals the key conformation changes of STAT3 dimers upon the di-covalent binding with PecA that abolishes its DNA interactions. Furthermore, PecA exhibits high efficacy against anaplastic large T cell lymphoma in vitro and in vivo, especially those with constitutively activated STAT3 or STAT3^Y640F. In summary, our study describes a distinct and effective di-covalent modification for the dimeric compound PecA to disrupt STAT3 function.

Objective To explore the diagnosis and treatment strategies for elderly patients with ground-glass opacity (GGO). Methods The imaging features and postoperative pathological findings of the elderly patients with pulmonary GGO receiving surgery in our hospital from 2017 to 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into an elderly patient group and a non-elderly patient group based on their age. Results Finally 575 patients were included in the study. There were 281 elderly patients, including 83 males and 198 females, with an average age of (67.0±5.3) years. There were 294 non-elderly patients, including 88 males and 206 females, with an average age of (49.1±7.3) years. Compared with the non-elderly patients, elderly GGO patients showed the following distinct clinical features: long observation time for lesions (P=0.001), high proportion of rough edges of GGO (P<0.001), significant pleural signs (P＜0.001) and bronchial signs (P＜0.001), and high proportion of type Ⅱ-Ⅳ GGO (P<0.001), lobectomy type (P=0.013), and invasive lesions reported in postoperative pathology (P<0.001). There was no statistical difference in the average hospital stay between the two groups (P=0.106). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that GGO diameter and GGO type were the main factors affecting the operation. Observation time, GGO diameter, GGO type and pleural signs were the main influencing factors for postoperative pathological infiltrative lesions. The cut-off value of GGO diameter in predicting infiltrating lesions was 10.5 mm in the elderly patients group. Conclusion The size and type of GGO are important factors in predicting invasive lesions and selecting surgical methods. Elderly patients with radiographic manifestations of type Ⅱ-Ⅳ GGO lesions with a diameter greater than 10.5 mm should be closely followed up.

Objective To investigate the effect of Pirfenidone(PFN)on respiratory syncytial virus(RSV)infection-induced damage to bronchial epithelial cells by regulating the high mobility group protein B1(HMGB1)/receptor for advanced glycation end products(RAGE)signaling pathway.Methods Human bronchial epithelial cells(HBE)were divided into Control group(cultured for 24 h under normal conditions),RSV group(inoculated with 4.65×106/mL RSV at 33℃for 2 h);low PFN(L-PFN)group(treated with 0.05 mg/mL PFN for 24 h),moderate PFN(M-PFN)group(treated with 0.10 mg/mL PFN for 24 h),high PFN(H-PFN)group(treated with 0.20 mg/mL PFN for 24 h)and recombinant HMGB1(rHMGB1)group(treated with 1 μg/mL rHMGB1+0.20 mg/mL PFN for 24 h).EdU method was applied to detect the proliferation rate of cells in each group,Hochest33258 staining method was applied to detect apoptosis status of cells in each group,and the migration of cells in each group was evaluated by the scratch experiment.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was applied to measure the levels of interferon(IFN)-α,IFN-γ,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin(IL)-1α,IL-6 and IL-4 in each group of cells,and Western blot was applied to detect the protein expression of HMGB1,RAGE,B lymphoblastoma-2-associated X protein(Bax),cysteine aspartic protease-3(Caspase-3),and B lymphoblastoma-2(Bcl-2).Results Compared with the RSV group,the cell proliferation rate,scratch closure rate,IL-4 levels,and expression of Bcl-2 in L-,M-,and H-PFN groups increased,while the apoptosis rate,the levels of IFN-α,IFN-γ,TNF-α,IL-1α,IL-6,and the expression of HMGB1,RAGE,Bax,and Caspase-3 reduced(P<0.05);rHMGB1 weakened the effect of H-PFN on the above-mentioned indicators(P<0.05).Conclusion PFN may suppress the apoptosis and inflammatory damage of RSV-infected bronchial epithelial cells by inhibiting the HMGB1/RAGE pathway.Conclusion PFN may suppress the apoptosis and inflammatory damage of RSV-infected bronchial epithelial cells by inhibiting the HMGB1/RAGE pathway.

Objective To explore the application value of ultrasound combined with elastography in grading inflammation in patients with chronic liver disease at S2 stage of liver fibrosis.Methods Totally 51 patients who were hospitalized at Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from Jan.2022 to Mar.2024 and underwent liver biopsy with pathological results indicating a stage of S2 liver fibrosis in chronic liver disease were enrolled.All patients underwent ultrasound-guided liver biopsy to obtain the stage of pathological liver fibrosis(S1 to S4)and the grade of liver inflammation(G0 to G4).In addition,all the patients were examined by ultrasound combined with elastography;and shear wave velocity(Vs),acoustic attenuation coefficient(ATT),liver fibrosis index(LFI),fibrosis-related index(F index),and inflammatory activity index(A index)were obtained.The correlation between ultrasound combined with elastography parameters and pathological inflammation grading was analyzed.Results According to the pathological inflammation grading,there were 15 cases in group G1,28 cases in group G2,and 8 cases in group G3.There were significant differences in F index,A index,Vs and ATT among the 3 groups(all P＜0.05).Among them,F index,A index and Vs in group G1 were significantly lower than those in group G3(P=0.007,0.006,0.040),while ATT was significantly higher than that in group G3(P=0.005);and there was no significant difference in LFI among the 3 groups(P=0.373).Vs,ATT,F index and A index were correlated with pathological inflammation grade(r=0.404,-0.417,0.379,0.383;P=0.003,0.002,0.006,0.006).The mean plot showed that with the increase of pathological inflammation grade,the age of patients showed a linear upward trend,ATT showed a linear downward trend,and A index showed a linear upward trend.Vs was positively correlated with alanine transaminase(ALT),aspartate transaminase(AST),alkaline phosphatase(ALP),γ-glutamyltransferase(GGT),total bilirubin,and direct bilirubin(DBil)(all P＜0.05).ATT was negatively correlated with ALT,AST,GGT,and DBil(all P＜0.05);and both F index and A index were positively correlated with ALT,AST,ALP,GGT,and DBil(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Ultrasound combined with elastography can be used to evaluate the degree of inflammation in patients with chronic liver disease at S2 stage of liver fibrosis.

Forensic medicine has been designated as a first-level discipline,presenting new opportunities and challenges for the development of forensic medicine.Since the 1980s,the establishment of foren-sic medicine discipline and the cultivation of high-level forensic talents have become hot topics in the development of forensic medicine in China.Since the 13th Five-Year Plan,the forensic team of Shanxi Medical University has been aiming at the forefront,proposing the development goals of"Five First-class"and the discipline development path"Six Major Achievements".It has selected benchmark disci-plines,identified gaps in disciplinary development,unified thoughts,formulated completion timelines,concentrated superior resources,assigned tasks to individuals,and created an"Organized Fill-in-the-Blank Format"forensic medicine discipline construction model with the characteristics of the new era.The construction model of forensic medicine has achieved good results in the goals,discipline frame-work,scientific research,talent cultivation,discipline team and platform construction,forming a rela-tively complete discipline construction and management system,and accumulating valuable experience for the construction of first-level discipline and high-level talent cultivation of forensic medicine.

Paraplegia caused by spinal cord injury is a serious neurological complication, for which surgery is currently the main treatment method. Due to different surgical approaches, patients are usually expected to maintain a passive prone position for a long time or switch between the supine and prone positions. Affected by multiple factors such as neurogenic sensory disorders, pathological changes in muscle tone and operative duration, the risk of intraoperative acquired pressure injury (IAPI) is significantly increased. Current clinical prevention strategies for IAPI in these patients predominantly focus on localized pressure relief during positioning, lacking systematic, standardized comprehensive prevention protocols or evidence-based guidelines. To address it, Department of Nursing, Orthopedics Branch, China International Exchange and Promotive Association for Medical and Health Care, Spinal Trauma Professional Committee, Orthopedics Branch, Chinese Medical Doctor Association, Nursing Group of Spine and Spinal Cord Professional Committee of Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine organized experts in relevant fields to formulate Guideline for the prevention of intraoperative acquired pressure injury in paraplegic patients with spinal cord injury ( version 2025), based on evidence-based medical evidence and latest research results and clinical practice at home and abroad. Eleven recommendations were put forward from the aspects of preoperative risk assessment, intraoperative prevention strategies, postoperative handover and monitoring, and supportive mechanisms for IAPI prevention, aiming to standardize the prevention measures and management strategies of IAPI in paraplegic patients with spinal cord injury and accelerate the recovery of patients and improve the therapeutic effect.