Gouty arthritis （GA） is caused by monosodium urate（MSU） deposition due to purine metabolism disorders. In traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， it falls under the category of "dampness-heat Bi syndrome"， with core pathogenesis involving dampness-heat accumulation and dysfunction of the spleen and kidney. The dampness-heat syndrome is the most common and the primary syndrome type during acute attacks. In Western medicine， GA is associated with purine metabolism imbalance and inflammation triggered by MSU crystals， involving pathways such as NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） inflammasome activation and Toll-like receptor 2/4 （TLR2/4） signaling. Clinically， colchicine and similar drugs are commonly used to treat GA， although long-term use carries potential side effects. Ermiao Formula analogs originate from ancient prescriptions， including Ermiao， Sanmiao， and Simiao compound formulas. All contain Atractylodis Rhizoma and Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex. Ermiaowan follow a 1∶1 formulation ratio. Sanmiaowan add Cyathulae Radix. Simiaowan further incorporate Coicis Semen. These formulas are rich in active ingredients， including alkaloids， terpenoids， flavonoids， and sterols， and treat GA through multi-component， multi-pathway， and multi-target mechanisms. Ermiaosan primarily exerts anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting pathways such as TLR4/nuclear factor kappa-B （NF-κB） or regulating immune responses to reduce the release of inflammatory mediators， while also suppressing xanthine dehydrogenase （XDH） and xanthine oxidase （XO） activity to decrease uric acid production. Sanmiaowan enhance uric acid-lowering and anti-inflammatory effects through the guiding herb Cyathulae Radix， while also protecting cartilage from damage. Simiaowan utilizes Coicis Semen to regulate intestinal flora， alleviate dampness-heat symptoms， and exert multi-pathway anti-inflammatory and uric acid-lowering effects. The active ingredients contribute differently to uric acid metabolism regulation， anti-inflammation， antioxidant activity， and bone repair， resulting in varying therapeutic effects due to differences in formula composition. In summary， formulas derived from Ermiaosan demonstrate significant efficacy in treating dampness-heat type GA. This review summarizes their research progress and mechanisms， providing a reference for clinical application， new drug development， and further studies.

Diabetic nephropathy （DKD）， as a common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus （DM）， is a major cause of end-stage renal disease （ESRD）. Its clinical manifestations include increased urinary protein excretion， thickening of the glomerular basement membrane， and renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis. The pathogenesis of DKD is complex and involves multiple factors， including disordered glucose metabolism， hemodynamic alterations， and oxidative stress. Although modern medical approaches can alleviate certain symptoms， they still have limitations such as insufficient therapeutic targeting and prominent adverse effects. The transforming growth factor-β/Smad （TGF-β/Smad） signaling pathway is not only a tissue fibrosis pathway that has attracted considerable attention in recent years， but also regulates multiple protein molecules， including the glomerular podocyte slit diaphragm protein Podocin， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， and superoxide dismutase （SOD）， thereby participating in various pathological processes and ultimately mediating renal injury. Flavonoid compounds， owing to their sustained pharmacological effects， broad spectrum of action， and high safety profile， have become ideal candidates for targeted therapy research in DKD. Existing studies have shown that these compounds can exert inhibitory effects on renal fibrosis， alleviate inflammatory responses， protect podocytes， and reduce oxidative stress by regulating the interactions between the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway and the aforementioned protein molecules， thereby maintaining renal structure and function， reducing proteinuria， and significantly improving DKD lesions. This review briefly outlines the composition and functions of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway， elucidates the mechanisms by which this pathway regulates DKD， and focuses on summarizing major studies from the past decade on flavonoid-based interventions in DKD through targeted inhibition of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. Furthermore， it discusses the considerable therapeutic potential of flavonoids in the treatment of this disease， aiming to provide a scientific basis for future clinical prevention and treatment of DKD and to promote the development of targeted drugs.

Acute lung injury （ALI） is one of the most common and critical diseases in clinical practice， with extremely high morbidity and mortality， seriously threatening human life and health. The pathogenesis of ALI is complex， in which the inflammatory response is a key factor. Studies have shown that NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） inflammasomes are involved in ALI through mechanisms such as inflammation induction， increased microvascular permeability， recruitment of neutrophils， oxidative stress， and pyroptosis， playing a key role in the occurrence and progression of ALI. Therefore， regulating NLRP3 inflammasomes and inhibiting the release of inflammatory factors can alleviate the damage in ALI. At present， ALI is mainly treated by mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy， which have problems such as high costs and poor prognosis. In recent years， studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） can reduce the inflammatory response and the occurrence of oxidative stress and pyroptosis by regulating the NLRP3 inflammasome， thus alleviating the damage and decreasing the mortality of ALI. Based on the relevant literature in recent years， this article reviews the research progress in TCM treatment of ALI by regulating NLRP3 inflammasomes， discusses how NLRP3 inflammasomes participate in ALI， and summarizes the active ingredients， extracts， and compound prescriptions of TCM that regulate NLRP3 inflammasomes， aiming to provide new ideas for the clinical treatment of ALI and the development of relevant drugs.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of gasless robotic surgery via transaxillary approach and combined axillary-retroauricular approach for unilateral N1b PTC, and to explore the safety and effectiveness of gasless robotic surgery via transaxillary approach for unilateral N1b PTC. Methods:Unilateral N1b PTC patients who underwent surgery in the Department of Otolaryngology, Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat sen University between July 2016 and December 2024 were included and analyzed. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and the differences of surgical approaches, the patients were divided into the transaxillary approach（TA） group and the combined axillary-retroauricular approach（TARA） group. The demographic data, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, postoperative complications, shoulder function evaluation, postoperative visual analogue scale（VAS） of neck aesthetics and recurrence of the two groups were statistically analyzed. Results:A total of 88 patients undergoing gasless robotic surgery were included in this study, including 23 cases in the TA group and 65 cases in the TARA group. The proportion of males in the TA group was significantly higher than that in the TARA group（56.5% vs 21.5%, χ²=9.776, P=0.002）. The total operation time in the TA group was significantly lower than that in the TARA Group（180.00[155.00, 220.00]min vs 220.00[177.50, 272.50]min, z=-2.775, P=0.006）, and the postoperative blood loss in the TA group was significantly lower than that in the TARA Group（30.00[20.00, 50.00]ml vs 50.00[30.00, 60.00]ml, Z=-2.127, P=0.033）. The proportion of area Ⅱ-Ⅴ in the TA group and the TARA group was 87.0% and 70.8%, respectively, and there was no significant difference between the two groups（P>0.05）. There was no significant difference in lateral cervical lymph node dissection and central lymph node dissection between the two groups（P>0.05）. During the follow-up period, no recurrence was found in the two groups, and there was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups（P>0.05）. According to the stratification of dynamic recurrence risk assessment, it can be seen that the proportion of curative effect satisfaction in the TA group was as high as 95.7%, and that in the TARA group was as high as 81.5%, with no significant difference between the two groups. There was no significant difference in VAS score of neck, Constant Shoulder Score and NDⅡ scale between the two groups（P>0.05）. Conclusion:Gasless robotic surgery via transaxillary approach for unilateral N1b PTC is safe and feasible, and the amount postoperative lymph node acquisition is equivalent to that of combined axillary-retroauricular approach, which can provide a new choice for the treatment of unilateral N1b PTC patients.
Humans ; Robotic Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Axilla/surgery* ; Male ; Female ; Operative Time ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Treatment Outcome ; Postoperative Complications

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy (NACI) combined with transoral robotic surgery (TORS) in the treatment of locally advanced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC).Methods:This was a retrospective study of 15 patients with locally advanced OPSCC who underwent TORS after neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) at the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from April 2019 to February 2023. There were 12 males and 3 females, aged 31 to 74 years. Twelve cases were tonsil cancer, and 3 cases were tongue base cancer. There were 11 cases in stage Ⅲ and 4 cases in stage Ⅳ. Two patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and 13 patients received NACI, with 2 to 3 cycles, and all patients underwent TORS after multidisciplinary team consultation. The clinicopathological characteristics, surgical outcomes, and oncological results were summarized.Results:All surgeries were successfully completed with negative surgical margins, and no case was required conversion surgery. All patients were fed via nasogastric tubes postoperatively, with a median gastric tube stay of 7 days (range: 2-60 days). No tracheotomy was applied. There were no major complications such as postoperative bleeding. Pathological complete response (pCR) was found in 10 cases (76.9%) among the 13 patients with NACI. The follow-up time was 21 months (range: 10-47 months), and there was no death or distant metastasis. One patient with rT0N3M0 tonsil cancer had local recurrence 5 months after surgery. The 2-year overall survival and 2-year disease-free survival were respectively 100.0% and 93.3% in the 15 patients.Conclusion:NACI combined with TORS provides a safe, effective and minimally invasive treatment for patients with locally advanced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective:To investigate the preliminary efficacy of 3D printed individualized genioglossus advancement (GA) for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults with micrognathia.Methods:The OSA patients with retropalatal and retroglossal collapses due to micrognathia underwent 3D printed individualized GA combined with Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty(UPPP) in Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University. Clinical data including pre-and post-operative polysomnography (PSG), cephalometric measurements of genioglossus advancement, patient-reported symptom and surgical complications were collected. A comparison of pre-and post-operative data was conducted using paired t-tests. Results:Nineteen OSA patients with micrognathia successfully underwent 3D printed individualized GA combined with UPPP, and achieved an actual mean genioglossus advancement distance of (9.0±1.4) mm compared to the planned distance of (9.4±1.0) mm preoperatively ( t=0.81, P=0.427). Among the 14 patients followed up for more than 6 months, the mean AHI reduced by 60.4% at 6 months postoperatively, with 5 cases (5/14) cured and 5 cases (5/14) showing significant improvement, resulting in an overall surgical response rate of 10/14. All patients expressed satisfaction with their postoperative facial appearance, with 13 cases perceiving an improvement in attractiveness. Two patients reported temporary genial numbness, and one patient experienced temporary mandibular occlusal asthenia. Conclusion:The 3D printed individualized GA combined with UPPP effectively reduces AHI in adult OSA patients with micrognathia, accompanied by a low incidence of surgical complications and high patient satisfaction regarding postoperative facial appearance.

Referring to ZHANG Xichun's experience in treating dysentery from cold-fire accumulation， the treatment of ulcerative colitis （UC） in this paper can be divided into three stages including cold-fire accumulation stage， excessive heat and putrid intestine stage， and healthy qi deficiency and pathogen lingering stage. For people with slippery and excess pulse in the cold-fire accumulation stage， Xiaochengqi Decoction （小承气汤） added with Baishao （Radix Paeoniae Alba） and Gancao （Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae） can be used for purgation， while those with deficient pulse， Huazhi Decoction （化滞汤） or Xieli Decoction （燮理汤） can be used. In the excessive heat and putrid intestine stage， Tongbian Baitouweng Decoction （通变白头翁汤） and Jiedu Shenghua Elixir （解毒生化丹） are suggested. In the healthy qi deficiency and pathogen lingering stage， it is advised to use Jiedu Shenghua Elixir added with Shanyao （Rhizoma Dioscoreae）， and Sanbao Porridge （三宝粥）. Additionally， the medication rules， dosage and administration characteristics of Huanglian （Rhizoma Coptidis）-Rougui （Cortex Cinnamomi）， Yadanzi （Fructus Bruceae）， Diyu （Radix Sanguisorbae）， Shanyao and Liuhuang （Sulphur） by ZHANG Xichun have been summarized with the help of modern pharmacological research， so as to provide new ideas for the treatment of UC by TCM.

Objective:To explore any effect of standing balance dynamic lifting training on balance, motor functioning and the life quality of hemiplegic stroke survivors.Methods:Eighty stroke survivors were randomly divided into a control group and an experimental group, each of 40. Both groups received routine rehabilitation training, while the experimental group additionally underwent standing balance dynamic lifting training. Before the intervention, and 2 and 4 weeks later, everyone′s balance and motor functioning were evaluated using the Brunel balance assessment (BBA) and the timed " up and go" test (TUGT). Life quality was quantified using the stroke special quality of life scale (SS-QOL).Results:Significant improvement in the average walking function score, BBA total score and TUGT time was observed in both groups, with significantly greater improvement after 4 weeks than after two. The improvements in the experimental group were significantly greater than in the control group. After 4 weeks the average total SS-QOL score and the scores on all of its dimensions had increased significantly in the experimental group. The scores for energy, language, motor function, emotions, self-care ability, upper limb function and the average SS-QOL total score were all then significantly better in the experimental group.Conclusions:Standing balance dynamic lifting training can effectively improve the balance, motor function and life quality of stroke survivors with hemiplegia.

Diabetic retinopathy （DR） is a common complication of diabetes， which causes a great threat to the health of human vision. Recent studies have shown that saponins， polysaccharides and flavonoids in Astragali Radix regulate phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway， silent information regulator 1/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 pathway， B-cell lymphoma-2 and other signaling pathways by acting on nuclear factor-κB， hypoxia-inducible factor-1α， glial fibrillary acidic protein， glutamine synthetase， aldose reductase， multiple miRNA and other related targets， so as to exert anti- inflammatory， anti-microangiopathy， anti-neurodegenerative disease and anti-apoptosis， and then achieve the purpose of treating DR.

Heart failure is the leading cause of death worldwide. Compound Danshen Dripping Pill (CDDP) or CDDP combined with simvastatin has been widely used to treat patients with myocardial infarction and other cardiovascular diseases in China. However, the effect of CDDP on hypercholesterolemia/atherosclerosis-induced heart failure is unknown. We constructed a new model of heart failure induced by hypercholesterolemia/atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and LDL receptor (LDLR) dual deficient (ApoE^-/-LDLR^-/-) mice and investigated the effect of CDDP or CDDP plus a low dose of simvastatin on the heart failure. CDDP or CDDP plus a low dose of simvastatin inhibited heart injury by multiple actions including anti-myocardial dysfunction and anti-fibrosis. Mechanistically, both Wnt and lysine-specific demethylase 4A (KDM4A) pathways were significantly activated in mice with heart injury. Conversely, CDDP or CDDP plus a low dose of simvastatin inhibited Wnt pathway by markedly up-regulating expression of Wnt inhibitors. While the anti-inflammation and anti-oxidative stress by CDDP were achieved by inhibiting KDM4A expression and activity. In addition, CDDP attenuated simvastatin-induced myolysis in skeletal muscle. Taken together, our study suggests that CDDP or CDDP plus a low dose of simvastatin can be an effective therapy to reduce hypercholesterolemia/atherosclerosis-induced heart failure.