1.Research progress of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of chronic eczema
Xia ZHANG ; Zhili RAO ; Xia LIU ; Ping SHEN ; Qin WANG
China Pharmacy 2026;37(6):817-822
Chronic eczema has a high prevalence in China, significantly impacting patients’ quality of life. Leveraging the unique advantages of pattern identification/syndrome differentiation and treatment, along with a holistic approach, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which integrates internal and external therapies, has been widely applied in the management of chronic eczema. It has demonstrated significant efficacy and distinctive strengths in alleviating symptoms, reducing recurrence rates, maintaining disease stability, and enhancing patients’ quality of life. Oral administration of TCM(e.g. modified Longdan xiegan decoction) can improve patients’ clinical symptoms through systemic regulation. External use of TCM can directly act on the skin lesion with the help of steaming and washing, hydropathic compress, ointment and other forms. At the same time, it can effectively relieve the clinical symptoms of chronic eczema by combining with non-drug therapies such as acupuncture, moxibustion, acupoint catgut embedding, blood-letting puncture and cupping. In addition, characteristic therapies such as oral administration of TCM combined with external treatment, a combination of various external treatments and a combination of Chinese and Western medicine have also demonstrated certain advantages in regulating immune function, alleviating skin lesions, and relieving itching symptoms. These therapies cooperate with each other, creating a synergistic effect that treats both the symptoms and the root cause simultaneously. It is suggested that more high-quality, large-scale clinical research should be conducted in the future to systematically confirm the therapeutic advantages of TCM and further explore the specific molecular mechanism of action.
2.Research progress on chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis
RAO Chenxing ; LIANG Jing ; MO Longhui ; WANG Jiongke ; ZENG Xin
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2026;34(2):191-201
Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC) is an infectious phenotype characterized by recurrent or persistent infections caused by Candida species that affect the skin, nails, oral, and genital mucosae for a duration exceeding six months. Current research suggests that CMC is an immunodeficiency disease with a complex pathogenesis. Patients with CMC have various defects in nonspecific and/or specific immunity against Candida infection, resulting in the inability of patients to defend themselves against Candida infection. CMC can be stratified into primary CMC and secondary CMC based on etiology. Primary CMC is often associated with genetic mutations leading to immunodeficiencies in T helper cell 17 and interleukin-17, whereas secondary CMC is frequently linked to factors such as human immunodeficiency virus infection, diabetes mellitus, and immunosuppressive therapy. Primary CMC typically manifests as Candida infections, with distinct genetic mutations often correlating to varied concomitant symptoms. Secondary CMC may present with not only superficial mucosal Candida infections and manifestations of the underlying primary disease but also with invasive fungal infections. Diagnosing CMC requires an integration of medical history and clinical presentation, supplemented by the outcomes of auxiliary diagnostic procedures, including microscopic examination of fungal smear, fungal culture, immunological testing, and genetic sequencing and analysis. Furthermore, confirming primary CMC requires exclusion of the aforementioned secondary factors. At present, antifungal drugs such as triazoles, echinocandins, and polyenes are the main treatment for CMC. Moreover, immunotherapy with biologics such as Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors provides more options for the clinical treatment of patients with CMC. Gene therapy also has potential clinical application value. In this review, we discuss the etiologies, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatments of CMC, aiming to provide a reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of CMC.
3.Syndrome Differentiation and Treatment of Bile Reflux Gastritis Based on the "Regulating the Pivot and Unblocking the Stomach" Theory
Xianjun RAO ; Zixing QIAN ; Guodong HUANG ; Chun WANG ; Yang YANG ; Wei WEI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(12):1339-1342
Based on the "regulating the pivot and unblocking the stomach" theory, this article proposes that the core pathogenesis of bile reflux gastritis (BRG) is disharmony of the three pivots and imbalance between the gallbladder and the stomach. Specifically, the pivot of zang-fu (脏腑) organs (spleen and stomach) exhibits abnormal ascending and descending functions, while the pivot of opening and closing (shaoyang) shows impaired flow, and the pivot of mind (heart and brain) has disordered regulation. These three pivots interact, ultimately leading to bile reflux attacking the stomach, injuring the gastric mucosa, and causing symptoms such as epigastric distension, pain, acid regurgitation, and heartburn. Clinically, the treatment principle is unblocking and regulating the three pivots, harmonizing the gallbladder and descending stomach qi, which closely follows the different pathomechanisms of three-pivot dysregulation, applying treatment according to syndrome differentiation. The regulation of the pivot of zang-fu organs focuses on fortifying the spleen and harmonzing stomach, raising the clear and directing the turbid downward. The regulation of the opening-and-closing pivot emphasizes harmonizing shaoyang, promoting gallbladder function and bowel movement. The regulation of the mind pivot centers on calming the heart and the mind, and harmonizing the stomach to ensure smooth qi flow. "Unblocking and regulating three pivots" method aims to restore the physiological functions of the gallbladder and stomach, providing a conceptual framework for the clinical management of BRG.
4.Construction and Evaluation of Mouse Models Simulating Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Associated Pneumonitis
Zhiqun GONG ; Xiwu RAO ; Tianyi ZHANG ; Rongchen WU ; Mingnan YE ; Chunxi JIANG ; Sumei WANG ; Yanjuan ZHU ; Xiaoshu CHAI
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2026;46(4):498-506
ObjectiveTo construct and evaluate a mouse model that simulates the pathological progression of immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated pneumonitis (CIP), in order to address the critical issue of the lack of standardized animal models in this research field. MethodsThirty-five SPF-grade 6-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to a control group (n=5), a bleomycin (BLM) group (n=15), and a BLM+programmed death-1 (PD-1) monoclonal antibody (BLM+PD-1) group (n=15). Corresponding drugs were administered via intraperitoneal injection for intervention. The general condition, body weight changes, survival rate, and pulmonary histopathological alterations were systematically monitored. ResultsCompared with the BLM group, the BLM+PD-1 group exhibited significantly more severe pulmonary fibrosis, characterized by progressive body weight loss and more severe deterioration of general conditions. Histopathological examination showed that pulmonary inflammation was alleviated 4 weeks post-modeling in the BLM group. In contrast, pulmonary lesions continued to worsen in the BLM+PD-1 group, with no evidence of resolution of inflammation 28 days post-modeling. Quantitative immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the positive expression rate of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) in lung tissues reached 34.28% in the BLM+PD-1 group 14 days post-modeling, which was markedly higher than that in the BLM group (24.02%, P < 0.000 1). The positive expression rate of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was 12.40% in the BLM+PD-1 group 14 days post-modeling, nearly twice the level in the BLM group (5.87%). 28 days post-modeling, the positive expression rate of α-SMA remained at 7.72% in the BLM+PD-1 group, while it declined to 3.38% in the BLM group. ConclusionThe addition of a PD-1 inhibitor to bleomycin treatment accelerates the progression of pulmonary interstitial fibrosis and effectively recapitulates the pathological process of lung injury and fibrosis driven by aberrant immune activation during clinical immunotherapy. Accordingly, this study successfully establishes a dynamic CIP animal model recapitulating the progression from early inflammatory response to pulmonary fibrosis. This model addresses the critical shortage of animal models for this condition and offers an experimental platform for further mechanistic studies and the development of therapeutic strategies.
5.Differential expression of LEFTY1 in peritoneal dialysis-associated peritoneal fibrosis and its clinical value
Guang CHEN ; Lu LI ; Lejia SONG ; Li ZHANG ; Huaina DOU ; Qiufeng WANG ; Qingqing RAO ; Pei ZHANG
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(7):1269-1276
ObjectiveTo investigate the differential expression of LEFTY1 in peritoneal dialysis (PD)-associated peritoneal fibrosis (PF) and its clinical value. MethodsLevels of LEFTY1, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and fibronectin (FN) in peritoneal dialysis effluent were measured in 72 PD patients, and clinical data were collected. Differences in these indicators were compared among groups with different dialysis durations, and the correlation between LEFTY1 and clinical parameters was analyzed to evaluate its predictive value for ultrafiltration insufficiency. ResultsLEFTY1 levels decreased progressively with longer dialysis duration: short-term group [(2 262.49±270.47) ng/mL] > mid-term group [(1 853.52±226.06) ng/mL] > long-term group [(1 767.24±264.57) ng/mL], with significant differences among groups (P<0.001). TGF-β and FN levels increased with prolonged dialysis duration (P<0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that LEFTY1 was significantly negatively correlated with FN (r=-0.327, P=0.004), dialysis duration (r=-0.496,P<0.001), peritoneal Kt/V (r=-0.333, P=0.004), peritoneal creatinine clearance (r=-0.239, P=0.043), and serum calcium (r=-0.410, P<0.001), while positively correlated with total creatinine clearance (r=0.283, P=0.016). The area under the ROC curve for LEFTY1 combined with peritoneal Kt/V and peritoneal Ccr in predicting ultrafiltration insufficiency was 0.739. Multivariate regression analysis identified dialysis duration as an independent influencing factor for LEFTY1 expression (P=0.001). ConclusionThe expression of LEFTY1 in the peritoneal dialysis effluent of PD patients decreases with prolonged dialysis duration and is negatively correlated with pro-fibrotic indicators, suggesting that it may play a potential anti-fibrotic role in the progression of PF. The combined detection of LEFTY1 and solute removal indicators holds value for the early identification of ultrafiltration dysfunction.
6.Analysis of sarcopenia prevalence and related factors in community-dwelling older adults based on C-MSRA-7 combined with Ishii score
Lijun WANG ; Ping WU ; Haimin XU ; Kewen CHENG ; Fen RAO ; Miaomiao YAO ; Yu ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2026;33(4):643-650
Objective To investigate the prevalence and related factors of sarcopenia among non–bedridden older adults in the community of Baoshan District using the China mini sarcopenia risk assessment 7 (C-MSRA-7) combined with Ishii scoring system. Methods The older individuals consulting at 20 community health stations in Baoshan District between April 2025 and June 2025 were enrolled. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, a dietary and lifestyle habits survey, the C-MSRA-7, and the mini nutritional assessment-short form (MNA-SF). Handgrip strength and anthropometric measurements were also obtained. Individuals with both Ishii score and C-MSRA-7 results positive were classified into the sarcopenia risk group, while the remaining participants were assigned to the non–sarcopenia risk group. Differences in lifestyle habits, dietary patterns, and nutritional status between the two groups were compared. Results A total of 2 611 valid questionnaires were retrieved. Univariate analysis showed statistically significant differences in alcohol consumption, physical activity frequency, body mass index (BMI), nutritional status, activities of daily living, and regularity of three meals in sarcopenia risk group (n=486) and non–sarcopenia risk group (n=2 125, P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that advanced age (75–84 years: OR=2.55, 95%CI 2.03–3.21; ≥85 years: OR=3.98, 95%CI 2.24–7.07), underweight status (OR=2.19, 95%CI 1.50–3.19), weight loss>2 kg (OR=4.52, 95%CI 2.68–7.64) past 3 months, lack of regular physical activity (OR=1.77, 95%CI 1.24–2.52) , and alcohol consumption (OR=1.48, 95%CI 1.07–2.05) were independent risk factors for sarcopenia (P<0.05). Behaviors related to healthy diet, including daily milk consumption (OR=0.40, 95%CI 0.30–0.52), regular three meals (OR=0.56, 95%CI 0.41–0.78), and high-quality protein intake (OR=0.70, 95%CI 0.52–0.94), were protective factors (P<0.05). Conclusions Sarcopenia among community–dwelling, non–bedridden older adults is closely associated with physical activity levels, dietary habits, and nutritional status. Early identification of individuals at risk, enhanced nutritional education, and timely implementation of nutritional interventions and exercise programs are recommended for this population.
7.Effect of zerotime exercise intervention on physical activity levels and sedentary behavior among college students
WANG Jingsong, FU Rao, WANG Shen, LI Chuangtao
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(4):504-508
Objective:
To explore the effects of a zerotime exercise (ZTEx) intervention on physical activity levels and sedentary behavior among college students, providing evidence for improving physical activity and reducing sedentary habits.
Methods:
In September 2023, 45 sedentary college students from a university in Fuzhou were recruited and randomly assigned to either the ZTEx group (23 students) or the control group (22 students) according to a random number table method. ZTEx group received two ZTEx focus group meetings for 3 months, while the control group received safety and health education. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire and a threeaxis accelerometer were used to evaluate the sedentary and physical activity levels of college students. At the same time, evaluations related to physical health and psychological questionnaires were completed. Mixed effects analysis of variance and nonparametric tests were used to statistically analyze the physical health, psychological questionnaire, and sedentary and physical activity data of the college students.
Results:
Postintervention, the ZTEx group showed significant improvements in the duration of lowintensity physical activity [pretest(1 492.78±369.50)min; posttest(1 918.93±354.63)min] and the number of sedentary interruptions [pretest(45.26±13.69)times; posttest(73.78±16.74)times]; grip strength [pretest(28.77±9.23)kg; posttest(31.78±8.00)kg]; sitting up continuously for 30 seconds [pretest(22.52±4.90)times; posttest(26.96±4.87)times]; general selfefficacy [pretest(26.52±4.14)points; posttest(32.96±5.24)points]; body composition summary [pretest(66.44±4.83)points; posttest(72.62±4.88)points]; and psychological composition summary [pretest(61.21±9.88)points; posttest(63.98±9.57)points], while reducing sedentary time [pretest(3 694.28±687.56)min; posttest(2 865.90±493.81)min] in the past 7 days, the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05). The control group exhibited no significant changes(P>0.05).
Conclusion
ZTEx effectively improve the lowintensity physical activity, increases sedentary breaks, and reduces prolonged sitting among college students, fostering healthier habits and improving physical/mental wellbeing.
8.Detection research of diatom by gene arrays in drowning cases
Ping YANG ; Yongjun XIA ; Min RAO ; Zhihao ZHANG ; Bo XIE ; Weiwen CAI ; Xiaoli WANG
Chinese Journal of Forensic Medicine 2025;40(1):56-59
Objective To detect diatoms in tissues and water samples from drowning cases by gene array,and explore the application value of DNA microarray.Methods Diatoms in the lung,liver,kidney samples,and on-site water samples from 19 drowned corpses that appeared in the rivers of Zhongshan City between July 2021 and April 2022,were detected by gene arrays.Moreover,diatom detection was also performed on 28 samples from 7 corpses by microscope.Then the testing results were compared and analyzed.Results For those 28 samples,diatom types in both tissue and water samples by gene detection were more than those detected by microscopy,the detection was statistically significant(P<0.05).However,there was no statistically significant difference(P>0.05)in the detection of diatom types between tissue samples and water samples both using gene arrays.In terms of tissue samples,diatoms were easier to be detected in lung than liver or kidney,and there were also more types of diatoms detected in lung.Diatom detection by gene arrays showed that the diatom types showed a decreasing trend as the tissue was further away from the entrance of body,and the difference of diatom types increased among tissues.Conclusion The gene array can effectively detect the diatom types and distribution characteristics in drowned corpses,and has great potential in the research of the traceability analysis of corpses found in water and the causes of death.
9.Predictive Value of Multiple Obesity Indicators for Hypertension in the Eelderly
Hui WANG ; Feifei RAO ; Haoran NIU
Journal of Medical Research 2025;54(2):117-122
Objective To evaluate the value of multiple obesity indicators in predicting hypertension of the elderly population aged 65 years and above,to provide a scientific basis for the timely identification of hypertensive patients and high-risk groups,and to provide a strategic reference for the early intervention of hypertension in the elderly.Methods A total of 6873 elderly people who received health checkups at a community health service centre in Wuhan from March 2022 to December 2023 were selected as the study subjects.The Chinese visceral adipose index(CVAI),a body shape index(ABSI),conicity index(CI)and cardiometabolic index(CMI)were calcu-lated,the area under the curve(AUC)of the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze and compare the ability of the above obesity indicators for identifying the risk of hypertension in elderly people of different genders.Results There were signifi-cant differences in all obesity indexes between different gender(P<0.05).The differences in AUC for identifying the risk of hypertension among ABSI,CI and CMI in males,and CVAI,ABSI and CI in females were statistically significant(P<0.05),and the AUC were 0.524,0.575,0.611,0.635,0.530,0.565,respectively.The AUC of CMI in males and CVAI in females for identifying the risk of hypertension was larger than other indicators.Conclusion Obesity indicators for identifying the risk of hypertension differ between gen-ders;CMI and CVAI are the best indicators for predicting the risk of hypertension in elderly males and females,respectively;the commu-nity can apply and promote the corresponding obesity indicators for elderly hypertensive patients of different genders to improve the early intervention and prevention of hypertension.
10.Analysis of current status and influencing factors of knowledge, attitude, and practice of post-intensive care syndrome
Wenhao WU ; Yun RAO ; Zhi WANG ; Pingang LI ; Yanmei TONG ; Guiping ZHANG ; Yanxia SHAO ; Boshan TONG ; Wei SUN
Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery 2025;24(10):1326-1332
Objective:To investigate the current status of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of intensive care unit (ICU) medical staff for post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) and explore its influencing factors.Methods:The cross-sectional investigation study with stratified sampling was conducted. From June to September 2024, ICU medical staff from general hospitals in 5 regions (Chongqing, Beijing, Shaanxi, Jiangsu, and Gansu) were selected as the research subjects. The KAP of PICS questionnaire was distributed in the form of an electronic questionnaire. Observation indicators: (1) results of the questionnaire survey; (2) general information of ICU medical staff; (3) KAP scores of PICS and the correlation among various dimensions; (4) analysis of influencing factors for KAP of PICS. Comparison of measurement data with normal distribution between groups was conducted using the independent samples t test. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied for com-parison among multiple groups, and post-hoc LSD test was used for pairwise comparison. Comparison of count data between groups was conducted using the chi-square test. Pearson correlation analysis was adopted for correlation analysis. Multiple linear regression analysis was used for univariate and multivariate analyses. Results:(1) Results of questionnaire survey. A total of 410 questionnaires were distributed and retrieved, among which 408 were valid, with an effective rate of 99.512%(408/410). (2) General information of ICU medical staff. Among the 408 ICU medical staff, there were 79 males and 329 females. Eight cases were under 25 years old, 248 cases were 25-35 years old, 132 cases were 36-40 years old, and 20 cases were over 40 years old. In terms of professional title, there were 10 junior nurses, 130 junior nurse practitioners, 228 intermediate nurse practitioners, and 40 senior nurse practitioners. About the educational background, 34 cases had a junior college degree, 347 cases had a bachelor's degree, and 27 cases had a master's degree or above. Regarding the hospital level, 25 nurses worked in secondary hospitals and 383 cases in tertiary hospitals. In terms of ICU type, 181 cases were from specialized ICU and 227 cases from general ICU. About working experience in ICU, 41 nurses had less than 5 years, 207 cases had 5-10 years, and 160 cases had more than 10 years. (3) KAP scores of PICS and the correlation among various dimensions. The total KAP score of PICS among the 408 ICU medical staff was 88.7±14.2, with 40.2±9.2 for the knowledge dimension, 22.0±5.6 for the attitude dimension, and 26.5±6.3 for the practice dimension. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the knowledge dimension of PICS among ICU medical staff was significantly positively correlated with both the attitude dimension and the practice dimension ( r=0.15, 0.69, P<0.05); the attitude dimension was positively correlated with the practice dimension ( r=0.23, P<0.05).(4) Analysis of influencing factors for KAP of PICS. Results of multivariate analysis showed that age (25-35 years old, 36-40 years old, over 40 years old), educational background and hospital level were independent influencing factors for the KAP of PICS among ICU medical staff ( t=2.23, 1.97, 2.84, 0.15, 2.04, P<0.05). Conclusions:The KAP of PICS among ICU medical staff is relatively good, while their practical ability still needs to be improved. Age, educational background, and hospital level are independent influencing factors for the KAP of PICS among ICU medical staff.


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