1.Effect of Yang-Reinforcing and Blood-Activating Therapy on the Long-Term Prognosis for Dilated Cardio-myopathy Patients with Yang Deficiency and Blood Stasis Syndrome:A Retrospective Cohort Study
Shiyi TAO ; Jun LI ; Lintong YU ; Ji WU ; Yuqing TAN ; Xiao XIA ; Fuyuan ZHANG ; Tiantian XUE ; Xuanchun HUANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(1):53-59
ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of yang-reinforcing and blood-activating therapy on the long-term prognosis for patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) of yang deficiency and blood stasis syndrome. MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted involving 371 DCM patients with yang deficiency and blood stasis syndrome. The yang-reinforcing and blood-activating therapy was defined as the exposure factor. Patients were categorized into exposure group (186 cases) and non-exposure group (185 cases) according to whether they received yang-reinforcing and blood-activating therapy combined with conventional western medicine for 6 months or longer. The follow-up period was set at 48 months, and the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to assess the cumulative incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in both groups. Cox regression analysis was used to explore the impact of yang-reinforcing and blood-activating therapy on the risk of MACE, and subgroup analysis was performed. Changes in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) score were compared between groups at the time of first combined use of yang-reinforcing and blood-activating therapy (before treatment) and 1 year after receiving the therapy (after treatment). ResultsMACE occurred in 31 cases (16.67%) in the exposure group and 47 cases (25.41%) in the non-exposure group. The cumulative incidence of MACE in the exposure group was significantly lower than that in the non-exposure group [HR=0.559, 95%CI(0.361,0.895), P=0.014]. Cox regression analysis showed that yang-reinforcing and blood-activating therapy was an independent factor for reducing the risk of MACE in DCM patients [HR=0.623, 95%CI(0.396,0.980), P=0.041], and consistent results were observed in different subgroups. Compared with pre-treatment, the exposure group showed decreased TCM syndrome score and MLHFQ score, reduced LVEDD, and increased LVEF and LVFS after treatment (P<0.05); in the non-exposure group, TCM syndrome score decreased, LVEF and LVFS increased, and LVEDD reduced after treatment (P<0.05). After treatment, the exposure group had higher LVEF and LVFS, smaller LVEDD, and lower TCM syndrome score and MLHFQ score compared with the non-exposure group (P<0.05). ConclusionCombining yang-reinforcing and blood-activating therapy with conventional western medicine can reduce the risk of MACE in DCM patients with yang deficiency and blood stasis syndrome, meanwhile improving their clinical symptoms, cardiac function, and quality of life.
2.The Neural Circuit Characteristics of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Over The Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex for The Treatment of Migraine
Chen-Xia JIN ; Bo-Lin TAN ; Yang YE ; Ji-Qing HE ; Ling-Yan WANG ; Zhong-Ming GAO ; Yu-Jun WANG ; Hui-Li LIU ; Yong-Xing YAN ; Xian-Wei CHE
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(7):1953-1968
ObjectiveMigraine is a leading neurological disorder and the fourth most common cause of years lived with disability worldwide, affecting nearly 116 million individuals. Although pharmacological treatments are available, their efficacy is often limited by side effects and variable response rates. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) offers a safe, non-invasive alternative for migraine management. However, the neurophysiological mechanisms, particularly how rTMS modulates local cortical excitability and distributed pain-related circuits, remain poorly understood. Elucidating these mechanisms is essential for optimizing treatment protocols and improving clinical outcomes. MethodsThis study employed concurrent transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) to investigate neuroplastic and neurocircuitry mechanisms of DLPFC-rTMS in migraine. Study 1 compared 30 migraineurs and 28 healthy controls to identify abnormalities in TMS-evoked potentials (TEPs) and significant current density (SCD) within sensory-discriminative regions including the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) and posterior insula (pINS), cognitive-affective regions including the anterior insula (aINS) and midcingulate cortex (MCC), and a descending modulatory region, the periaqueductal gray (PAG). Study 2 used a single-blind, crossover, sham-controlled design in 34 healthy participants. Each participant received both active (10 Hz, 80% RMT, 1 500 pulses) and sham DLPFC-rTMS in counterbalanced order. TMS-EEG and cold pain tolerance were assessed before and after each session. ResultsIn Study 1, migraineurs showed a significantly less negative N120 amplitude compared to healthy controls (P=0.027, Cohen’s d=0.60), indicating local intracortical disinhibition. No group differences were observed for N40, P60, or P180 components. At the source level, migraineurs exhibited significantly higher SCD in the S1, pINS, aINS, and MCC (allQ<0.05), but not in the ventroposterior thalamus (vpTHAL), mediodorsal thalamus (mdTHAL), or PAG. In Study 2, active rTMS significantly reduced SCD from pre- to post-stimulation in the S1, aINS, and MCC (all Q<0.05). Sham stimulation also reduced SCD in the S1 (Q<0.05) but not in the aINS or MCC. Although no significant group-level analgesic effect was observed between active and sham conditions (P=0.107), correlation analyses revealed that greater SCD reductions in the S1 and MCC were significantly associated with higher post-rTMS pain tolerance (R=-0.487 and -0.495, both Q<0.01) and larger improvements in pain tolerance(R=-0.487 and -0.451, both Q<0.05). No such correlations were found following sham stimulation, suggesting that the behavioural relevance of neural changes is specific to active rTMS. ConclusionThis study provides novel evidence that migraineurs exhibit both local neuroplastic abnormalities (reduced N120 amplitude) and hyperactivity in key pain-processing regions (S1, pINS, aINS, MCC). A single session of DLPFC-rTMS reduced hyperactivity in the aINS, MCC, and S1. Notably, greater reductions in the S1 and MCC were associated with improved pain tolerance. These findings identify distinct cortical circuitries, particularly within the cognitive-affective pain network, that may serve as potential biomarkers for optimizing rTMS treatment in migraine and other chronic pain conditions. Future studies should validate these results in patient populations experiencing spontaneous migraine attacks and explore multi-session or accelerated rTMS protocols.
3.Role of SPINK in Dermatologic Diseases and Potential Therapeutic Targets
Yong-Hang XIA ; Hao DENG ; Li-Ling HU ; Wei LIU ; Xiao TAN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):417-424
Serine protease inhibitor Kazal-type (SPINK) is a skin keratinizing protease inhibitor, which was initially found in animal serum and is widely present in plants, animals, bacteria, and viruses, and they act as key regulators of skin keratinizing proteases and are involved in the regulation of keratinocyte proliferation and inflammation, primarily through the inhibition of deregulated tissue kinin-releasing enzymes (KLKs) in skin response. This process plays a crucial role in alleviating various skin problems caused by hyperkeratinization and inflammation, and can greatly improve the overall condition of the skin. Specifically, the different members of the SPINK family, such as SPINK5, SPINK6, SPINK7, and SPINK9, each have unique biological functions and mechanisms of action. The existence of these members demonstrates the diversity and complexity of skin health and disease. First, SPINK5 mutations are closely associated with the development of various skin diseases, such as Netherton’s syndrome and atopic dermatitis, and SPINK5 is able to inhibit the activation of the STAT3 signaling pathway, thereby effectively preventing the metastasis of melanoma cells, which is important in preventing the invasion and migration of malignant tumors. Secondly, SPINK6 is mainly distributed in the epidermis and contains lysine and glutamate residues, which can act as a substrate for epidermal transglutaminase to maintain the normal structure and function of the skin. In addition, SPINK6 can activate the intracellular ERK1/2 and AKT signaling pathways through the activation of epidermal growth factor receptor and protease receptor-2 (EphA2), which can promote the migration of melanoma cells, and SPINK6 further deepens its role in stimulating the migration of malignant tumor cells by inhibiting the activation of STAT3 signaling pathway. This process further deepens its potential impact in stimulating tumor invasive migration. Furthermore, SPINK7 plays a role in the pathology of some inflammatory skin diseases, and is likely to be an important factor contributing to the exacerbation of skin diseases by promoting aberrant proliferation of keratinocytes and local inflammatory responses. Finally, SPINK9 can induce cell migration and promote skin wound healing by activating purinergic receptor 2 (P2R) to induce phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor and further activating the downstream ERK1/2 signaling pathway. In addition, SPINK9 also plays an antimicrobial role, preventing the interference of some pathogenic microorganisms. Taken as a whole, some members of the SPINK family may be potential targets for the treatment of dermatological disorders by regulating multiple biological processes such as keratinization metabolism and immuno-inflammatory processes in the skin. The development of drugs such as small molecule inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies has great potential for the treatment of dermatologic diseases, and future research on SPINK will help to gain a deeper understanding of the physiopathologic processes of the skin. Through its functions and regulatory mechanisms, the formation and maintenance of the skin barrier and the occurrence and development of inflammatory responses can be better understood, which will provide novel ideas and methods for the prevention and treatment of skin diseases.
4.Effectiveness evaluation of pit and fissure sealing for first permanent molars in children in Haizhu District, Guangzhou after 3 years
CHEN Chunyan ; TAN Fengqing ; YANG Yan ; LIU Xia
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2025;33(5):385-392
Objective:
To investigate the effect of a free pit and fissure sealing program for caries prevention on first permanent molars (six-year molars) in Haizhu District, Guangzhou, three years after its implementation in 2019. The study aims to provide a reference for the future development of pit and fissure sealing programs for children’s first permanent molars and the effective prevention and treatment of permanent tooth caries in children.
Methods:
A random sampling method was used. In 2022 October, 270 sixth-grade primary-school students in Haizhu District, Guangzhou, who had participated in the free pit and fissure sealing program for their first permanent molars in 2019, were placed in the sealant group. Another 223 age-matched students from the same schools who met the criteria for the pit and fissure sealing but did not participate in the program were placed in the control group. The first permanent molars of students in both groups were examined. The retention status of the sealant and the caries status of the first permanent molars were recorded for the sealant group, and the caries status of the first permanent molars was recorded for the control group. The 2022 results were compared with the results of a prior pit and fissure sealing program implemented in Haizhu District in 2011, three years after its implementation.
Results:
Compared with the control group, the caries rate in the sealant group decreased (15.56% vs. 21.52%, P>0.05), the caries detection rate was significantly lower (6.12% vs. 9.00%, P<0.001), and the mean number of decayed teeth was significantly reduced (0.19 vs. 0.37, P<0.001). Compared with the results of the pit and fissure sealing program in Haizhu District in 2011 (in 2014, the retention rate of the first permanent molar sealant was 65.56%, the intact rate was 42.25%, and the protection rate was 38.34%), the results of the pit and fissure sealing program in Haizhu District in 2019 [in 2022, the retention rate of the first permanent molar sealant was 86.09% (P<0.001), the intact rate was 47.00% (P<0.001), and the protection rate was 51.97%] were improved.
Conclusion
The quality of the pit and fissure sealing program for the first permanent molars in Haizhu District, Guangzhou in 2019 was good. It reduced the caries detection rate, and the retention rate of the sealant was maintained at a high level. However, the intact rate was less than 50%; therefore, it is necessary to vigorously promote oral-health education and examinations in all age groups, and to be attentive to the re-examination and re-sealing of fissure sealants.
5.One case of disseminated infection of Fusarium solani
Qin WANG ; Lu WANG ; Jishan TAN ; Danli WEN ; Xia LIU ; Yuan LIU
Chinese Journal of Infection Control 2025;24(11):1656-1659
This paper reports a case of disseminated infection caused by Fusarium solani in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia after transplantation.Fusariun solani was cultured from the patient's blood as well as foot and ocular secretion.Anti-infection treatment was not effective.Combined with literature review,characteristics,clini-cal diagnosis,and treatment strategies of Fusarium disseminated infection were analyzed,aiming to assist the early detection,early diagnosis,and early treatment in clinical practice.
6.The mediating effect of self-acceptance and implicit attitude on the relationship between perceived stress and body image disorder among patients with thyroid associated ophthalmopath
Chinese Journal of Practical Nursing 2025;41(21):1654-1661
Objective:To explore the path way of self-acceptance and implicit attitude on perceived stress and body image disorder among patients with thyroid associated ophthalmopathy, and provide a basis for clinical medical staff to develop intervention measures to reduce patients′ body image impairment.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted using convenience sampling from October 2018 to October 2023 on patients with thyroid associated ophthalmopathy who visited the Huazhong University of Science and Technology Tongji Medical College Affiliated Union Hospital. The survey included the General Information Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale, Self-Acceptance Questionnaire, Implicit Association Test, and Body Image Scale.Results:Finally, 310 questionnaires were distributed in total, 303 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 97.7%. Among the 303 patients, there were 87 males and 216 females, aged 25-78 (44.07 ± 4.76) years. The scores for body image impairment, perceived stress, self-acceptance, and implicit attitude in patients with thyroid associated ophthalmopathy were (16.51 ± 4.19), (38.36 ± 6.74), (33.49 ± 10.07), and (0.45 ± 0.11) points, respectively; there was a perceived stress positively correlated with body image disorder and implicit attitude ( r=0.829, 0.636, both P<0.05), perceived stress also negative correlated with self-acceptance ( r=-0.807, P<0.05). The mediating model showed that perceived stress not only had a significant direct effect on body image disorder ( β=0.409, P<0.05), but also indirectly affected body image disorder through three paths, including the independent mediating effect of self-acceptance ( β=0.125, P<0.05), and implicit attitude ( β=0.195, P<0.05), as well as the chain mediating effect of self-acceptance and implicit attitude ( β=0.022, P<0.05), which accounting for 45.5% of the total effect. Conclusions:Self-acceptance and implicit attitude play mediating role in the relationship between perceived stress and body image disorder in patients with thyroid associated ophthalmopathy, medical staff can promote self-acceptance by enhance self-compassion, correct negative implicit attitude, decrease the effect of perceived stress on body image disorder in patients with thyroid associated ophthalmopathy.
7.Research on the application of machine learning algorithms in anti-cancer drug response prediction
Yanchen TAN ; Wenwen WANG ; Jielai XIA ; Chen LI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2025;30(2):200-208
With the continuous development of genomics and precision medicine,targeted therapy and immunotherapy targeting biomarkers have ush-ered in a new era of anti-tumor therapy.However,due to the heterogeneity of tumor cells and the variability of tumor microenvironment,there are still significant differences in response to the same drug even in patient populations with the same bio-marker enrichment.By combining omics data with drug sensitivity algorithms,the response of anti-tu-mor drugs can be predicted and transformed into personalized diagnosis and treatment strategies re-quired for precision medicine,which is expected to improve the effectiveness of anti-tumor drugs in clinical treatment.Currently,machine learning is one of the commonly used modeling algorithms for predicting the response of anti-tumor drugs.How-ever,due to differences in input data and algorithm construction methods,there is currently a lack of comprehensive literature review in this field.There-fore,this article provides a review of machine learning algorithms for predicting anti-tumor drug responses,summarizing publicly available cell ge-nome characterization datasets,machine learning algorithms,and evaluation indicators in drug re-sponse prediction,as well as the current situation and challenges faced in clinical applications,in or-der to provide methodological references for the main research problems and potential solutions of machine learning algorithms in the field of drug re-sponse prediction.
8.A study of attention and interpretation therapy based on Swanson′s caring theory in children with adolescent epilepsy
Shan ZENG ; Huayan LIU ; Lingfang TAN ; Yuewei CHEN ; Min YI ; Xia WU ; Li XU
Chinese Journal of Practical Nursing 2025;41(9):641-650
Objective:To explore the application effect of the attention and interpretation therapy based on Swanson′s caring theory in adolescents with epilepsy, aiming to reduce negative emotions and improve self-management levels in children.Methods:This study was a quasi-experimental research. A convenience sampling method was used to select 78 adolescents with epilepsy who were admitted to the Department of Neurology, the Affiliated Children′s Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University (Hunan Children′s Hospital) from March 1 to August 31, 2023. The participants were assigned into two groups, the control group ( n=39) and the intervention group ( n=39), using a random number table. The control group received standard anti-epileptic treatment and routine nursing care, while the intervention group received the same treatment and care with the addition of a caring team providing attention and interpretation therapy based on Swanson′s caring theory. Assessments were made at three time points: before the intervention, 4 weeks after the intervention, and 12 weeks after the intervention. The Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale (DASS-21), Epilepsy Self-Management Scale (ESMS), and Pediaric Quality of Life Inventory Measurement Methods (PedsQL TM4.0) were used to assess the participants′ scores. Results:In the control group, 23 were male and 16 were female, with aged of (13.49 ± 1.43) years. In the intervention group, 24 were male and 15 were female, with aged of (13.51 ± 1.45) years. After 4 weeks of intervention, the scores of depression, anxiety, and stress on the DASS-21 for the intervention group were (9.32 ± 2.04), (6.79 ± 2.44), and (13.63 ± 2.67), respectively, which were lower than those of the control group: (10.43 ± 2.27), (8.43 ± 2.75) and (16.05 ± 3.32); the scores of ESMS and PedsQL TM4.0 in the intervention group were (66.66 ± 10.87) and (73.63 ± 9.85), respectively, which were higher than those of the control group: (60.70 ± 10.24) and (67.27 ± 12.33), the differences were statistically significant ( t values were -2.47 to 3.49, all P<0.05). After 12 weeks of intervention, the scores on the DASS-21 for the intervention group were (5.47 ± 1.66), (3.37 ± 1.68) and (8.42 ± 2.24) for depression, anxiety and stress, respectively, which were lower than those of the control group: (8.03 ± 1.98), (6.06 ± 2.64) and (11.28 ± 3.21) ;the scores for ESMS and PedsQL TM4.0 in the intervention group were (74.66 ± 9.15) and (85.24 ± 7.00), respectively, which were higher than those of the control group: (65.36 ± 10.86) and (75.67 ± 11.39), the differences were statistically significant ( t values were -4.33 to 6.03, all P<0.05). Additionally, there were statistically significant differences in the DASS-21 depression, anxiety, and stress scores, ESMS, and PedsQL TM4.0 scores across the different time points ( F values ranged from 4.65 to 1 134.03, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Attention and interpretation therapy based on Swanson′s caring theory can effectively reduce negative emotions in adolescents with epilepsy, improve their self-management skills, and further enhance their quality of life.
9.Multidisciplinary team-based real-world study of patients with hepatitis B-related liver cancer
Huimin LIU ; Shilian LI ; Lijian RAN ; Jing WANG ; Wenting CHEN ; Baoyan XU ; Wenting TAN ; Jie XIA ; Qing MAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental and Clinical Virology 2025;39(4):403-410
Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with hepatitis B virus(HBV)-related primary hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)who were treated in a multidisciplinary team(MDT)for liver cancer,so as to provide a basis for clinical optimization of the diagnosis and treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB).Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed for 482 HBV-related HCC patients who were treated with HCC-MDT every Thursday afternoon in The First Affiliated Hospital of the Army Medical University from January 2022 to May 2024,aged 18-87(55.54±10.84)years,86.93%(419/482)males and 13.07%(63/482)females. According to the different underlying liver diseases at the time of initial medical treatment and the different prognostic outcomes at the later follow-up,the differences in clinical characteristics between groups under different conditions were compared and analyzed,and the influencing factors of HCC prognosis were understood by Logistic regression analysis. Results:At the time of MDT presentation,the differences in HBeAg status( χ2=6.311 ,P=0.043),γ-glutamyl traspeptidase(GGT)( Z=6.277, P=0.043),alkaline phosphatase(ALP)( Z=7.236 ,P=0.027),and model for end-stage liver disease(MELD)scores( Z=6.111, P=0.047)among patients with different underlying liver diseases were statistically significant. At follow-up,6.75%(11/163)of HBV-related HCC patients who presented to MDT had a family history of HCC,and their cumulative mortality rate was as high as 60.8%(205/337)at least for 1 year. Mulitivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that different underlying liver disease at the time of initial medical treatment,HBV DNA replication level,MELD score and choice of anti-cancer treatment regimen were the influencing factors for the prognosis of HCC(all P<0.05). The worse the degree of cirrhosis at the initial presentation,the higher the level of HBV DNA replication,and the higher the MELD score,the worse the prognosis for HCC. Conclusion:Advancing the diagnosis and treatment of CHB,maximizing the inhibition of HBV DNA replication,reducing the MELD score,and optimizing the anti-cancer treatment regimen can reduce the mortality rate of HBV-related HCC.
10.Hand eczema among health care workers and its association with hand hygiene
Dan WANG ; Shu NIE ; Min XIA ; Dan ZHU ; Xi TAN ; Zhouwei WU ; Ni ZOU
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(18):2842-2846
OBJECTIVE To investigate the current status of prevalence of hand eczema(HE)among the health care workers,explore the influencing factors and analyze the association with hand hygiene.METHODS A questionnaire survey was conducted for the health care workers.The health care workers who had HE were followed up by the dermatology department and were completed the assessment of severity.Logistic regression analysis was per-formed for the influencing factors.RESULTS The questionnaires were distributed to the health care workers of Shanghai First Peoples Hospital in Jul.2024,and 659 valid questionnaires were recycled.The prevalence rate of HE by self-report was 37.03%in recent almost one year.The finger and dorsal hand were the predilection sites of skin damage,with the symptom dominated by itching;dryness,desquamation and vesicles were the primary man-ifestations of skin damage,most of which(64.81%)were moderate.Wearing gloves in work environment and contact with hand sanitizer and disinfectants could make the HE symptoms ever more severe.The use of hand san-itizer/frequent hand washing with soap lye and prolonged glove-wearing were the leading causes of HE.The nurses were dominant among the health care workers with HE(P=0.003),and the proportion of those with allergic his-tory was even higher(P<0.001).As for the health care workers who washed hands for surgeries,high volume of daily surgical procedures(OR=1.325,95%CI:1.121 to 1.567)and glove-wearing duration more than 120 min(OR=3.177,95%CI:1.087 to 9.281)were the risk factors for HE.As for the common hand-washing health care workers,daily hand washing more than 15 times(OR=3.199,95%CI:1.014 to 10.137),glove-wearing dura-tion more than 120 min(OR=2.216,95%CI:1.117 to 4.391)and use of powdered latex glove(OR=1.591,95%CI:1.058 to 2.390)were the risk factors for HE.CONCLUSION The prevalence rate of HE is high among the health care workers.It is necessary to attach great importance to the hand skin health of the health care work-ers and take comprehensive intervention measures for prevention of HE such as optimization of hand hygiene pro-cedure,enhancement of barrier protection and stress on occupational health education so as to achieve the dual goals of infection control and skin health.


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