1.Transcriptomic analysis of key genes involved in sex differences in intellectual development.
Jia-Wei ZHANG ; Xiao-Li ZHENG ; Hai-Qian ZHOU ; Zhen ZHU ; Wei HAN ; Dong-Min YIN
Acta Physiologica Sinica 2025;77(2):211-221
Intelligence encompasses various abilities, including logical reasoning, comprehension, self-awareness, learning, planning, creativity, and problem-solving. Extensive research and practical experience suggest that there are sex differences in intellectual development, with females typically maturing earlier than males. However, the key genes and molecular network mechanisms underlying these sex differences in intellectual development remain unclear. To date, Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) have identified 507 genes that are significantly associated with intelligence. This study first analyzed RNA sequencing data from different stages of brain development (from BrainSpan), revealing that during the late embryonic stage, the average expression levels of intelligence-related genes are higher in males than in females, while the opposite is observed during puberty. This study further constructed interaction networks of intelligence-related genes with sex-differential expression in the brain, including the prenatal male network (HELP-M: intelligence genes with higher expression levels in prenatal males) and the pubertal female network (HELP-F: intelligence genes with higher expression levels in pubertal females). The findings indicate that the key genes in both networks are Ep300 and Ctnnb1. Specifically, Ep300 regulates the transcription of 53 genes in both HELP-M and HELP-F, while Ctnnb1 regulates the transcription of 45 genes. Ctnnb1 plays a more prominent role in HELP-M, while Ep300 is more crucial in HELP-F. Finally, this study conducted sequencing validation on rats at different developmental stages, and the results indicated that in the prefrontal cortex of female rats during adolescence, the expression levels of the intelligence genes in HELP-F, as well as key genes Ep300 and Ctnnb1, were higher than those in male rats. These genes were also involved in neurodevelopment-related biological processes. The findings reveal a sex-differentiated intelligence gene network and its key genes, which exhibit varying expression levels during the neurodevelopmental process.
Female
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Intelligence/physiology*
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Male
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Sex Characteristics
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Animals
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Brain/growth & development*
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E1A-Associated p300 Protein/physiology*
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beta Catenin/physiology*
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Transcriptome
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Rats
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Gene Expression Profiling
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Genome-Wide Association Study
2.Analysis and application thinking of standards for 500 kinds of traditional Chinese medicine formula granules on base of industrial practice.
Yong LIU ; Jun ZHANG ; Xin-Hai DONG ; Lin ZHOU ; Dong-Mei SUN ; Fu-Lin MAO ; Zhen-Yu LI ; Lei HUANG ; Jin-Lai LIU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(5):1427-1436
Following the release of the Technical Requirements on Quality Control and Standard Establishment of Traditional Chinese Medicine Formula Granules by the National Medical Products Administration in 2021, Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission has promulgated 296 national drug standards so far, and most provinces have started the work of establishing provincial standards as supplements. The promulgation of standards fostered high-quality development of the industry. Since the implementation of national and provincial standards for more than three years, enterprises have gained deep understanding and hands-on experiences on the characteristics, technical requirements, production process, and quality control of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) formula granules. Meanwhile, challenges have emerged restricting the high-quality development of this industry, including how to formulate quality control strategies for medicinal materials and decoction pieces, how to reduce manufacturing costs, and how to improve the pass rate and product stability under high standards. Based on the work experiences from standard management and process research, this article analyzed the distribution of sources, processing methods, dry extract rate ranges, process requirements for volatile oil-containing decoction pieces, control measures of safety indices, characteristics and trends of setting characteristic chromatograms or fingerprints, characteristics and trends of setting content ranges, and main differences between national standards and provincial standards. On the one hand, this article aims to present main characteristics for deeply understanding different indicators in standards and provide basic ideas for establishing quality and process control systems. On the other hand, from the perspective of industrial practice, suggestions are put forward on the important aspects that need to be focused on in the quality and process control of TCM formula granules.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*
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Quality Control
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional/standards*
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China
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Drug Industry/standards*
3.International clinical practice guideline on the use of traditional Chinese medicine for functional dyspepsia (2025).
Sheng-Sheng ZHANG ; Lu-Qing ZHAO ; Xiao-Hua HOU ; Zhao-Xiang BIAN ; Jian-Hua ZHENG ; Hai-He TIAN ; Guan-Hu YANG ; Won-Sook HONG ; Yu-Ying HE ; Li LIU ; Hong SHEN ; Yan-Ping LI ; Sheng XIE ; Jin SHU ; Bin-Fang ZENG ; Jun-Xiang LI ; Zhen LIU ; Zheng-Hua XIAO ; Jing-Dong XIAO ; Pei-Yong ZHENG ; Shao-Gang HUANG ; Sheng-Liang CHEN ; Gui-Jun FEI
Journal of Integrative Medicine 2025;23(5):502-518
Functional dyspepsia (FD), characterized by persistent or recurrent dyspeptic symptoms without identifiable organic, systemic or metabolic causes, is an increasingly recognized global health issue. The objective of this guideline is to equip clinicians and nursing professionals with evidence-based strategies for the management and treatment of adult patients with FD using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The Guideline Development Group consulted existing TCM consensus documents on FD and convened a panel of 35 clinicians to generate initial clinical queries. To address these queries, a systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Database, China Biology Medicine (SinoMed) Database, Wanfang Database, Traditional Medicine Research Data Expanded (TMRDE), and the Traditional Chinese Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (TCMLARS). The evidence from the literature was critically appraised using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. The strength of the recommendations was ascertained through a consensus-building process involving TCM and allopathic medicine experts, methodologists, pharmacologists, nursing specialists, and health economists, leveraging their collective expertise and empirical knowledge. The guideline comprises a total of 43 evidence-informed recommendations that span a range of clinical aspects, including the pathogenesis according to TCM, diagnostic approaches, therapeutic interventions, efficacy assessments, and prognostic considerations. Please cite this article as: Zhang SS, Zhao LQ, Hou XH, Bian ZX, Zheng JH, Tian HH, Yang GH, Hong WS, He YY, Liu L, Shen H, Li YP, Xie S, Shu J, Zeng BF, Li JX, Liu Z, Xiao ZH, Xiao JD, Zheng PY, Huang SG, Chen SL, Fei GJ. International clinical practice guideline on the use of traditional Chinese medicine for functional dyspepsia (2025). J Integr Med. 2025; 23(5):502-518.
Dyspepsia/drug therapy*
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Humans
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods*
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Practice Guidelines as Topic
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
4.Establishment and evaluation of a predictive model for spontaneous peritonitis in HBV-related primary liver cancer
Hong-Yan WEI ; Yong-Zhen CHEN ; Ren-Hai TIAN ; Li-Xian CHANG ; Ying-Yuan ZHANG ; Dan-Qing XU ; Chun-Yun LIU ; Li LIU
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2025;50(8):949-957
Objective To establish and evaluate a nomogram prediction model for spontaneous peritonitis in HBV-related primary liver cancer.Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 1298 patients with HBV-related primary liver cancer hospitalized in the Kunming Third People's Hospital from January 2012 to December 2022.General data and serological indicators were collected,and patients were divided into infection group(n=262)and control group(n=1036)based on the occurrence of spontaneous peritonitis.Univariate and LASSO regression analyses were used to screen variables,followed by binary logistic regression to analyze the influencing factors of spontaneous peritonitis in HBV-related primary liver cancer patients,leading to the establishment of a nomogram prediction model.Finally,the Hosmer-lemeshow(H-L)goodness of fit test,receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve,calibration curve,decision curve analysis(DCA)and clinical impact curve(CIC)were utilized to evaluate the fit degree,accuracy,calibration,and clinical practicability of the nomogram prediction model.Results Single factor analysis revealed significant differences between infection group and control group in portal vein cancer thrombus(PVTT),Child-Pugh grade,China Liver Cancer Staging(CNLC)stage,alcohol consumption history,smoking history,white blood cell count(WBC),neutrophil count(NE),hemoglobin(Hb),fibrinogen(FIB),abnormal prothrombin(PIVKA-Ⅱ),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),total protein(TP),prealbumin(PA),γ-glutamyltransferase(GGT),alkaline phosphatase(ALP),cholinesterase(CHE),total bile acid(TBA),total cholesterol(TC),low density lipoprotein(LDL),creatinine(Cr),HBV DNA,CD3+T cells count,CD4+T cells count,CD8+T cells count,CD4+T cells/CD8+T cells ratio,procalcitonin(PCT),serum amyloid A(SAA),interleukin-6(IL-6),high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP),alpha-fetoprotein(AFP),and IL-4(P<0.05).LASSO regression analysis identified 5 variables:Child-Pugh grade,PVTT,WBC,CHE and hs-CRP.Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that Child-Pugh grade(Grade B:OR=5.780,95%CI 3.271-10.213,P<0.001;Grade C:OR=14.818,95%CI 7.697-28.526,P<0.001),PVTT(OR=2.893,95%CI 2.037-4.108,P<0.001),WBC(OR=1.088,95%CI 1.031-1.148,P=0.002),and hs-CRP(OR=1.005,95%CI 1.001-1.010,P=0.026)were the independent risk factors of spontaneous peritonitis in HBV-related primary liver cancer patients.Using these 4 variables,a nomogram prediction model was constructed and evaluated.The P-value of the H-L goodness of fit test was 0.760.Moreover,the area under ROC curve(AUC)was 0.866,with a sensitivity of 0.870 and a specificity of 0.716.The average absolute error of the calibration curve is 0.022.DCA and CIC analyses demonstrated that the nomogram prediction model possessed some clinical utility.Conclusion The nomogram prediction model for spontaneous peritonitis in HBV-related primary liver cancer patients,constructed using Child-Pugh grade,PVTT,WBC and hs-CRP,exhibits a high fitting degree and accuracy,with the prediction probability highly consistent with the actual occurrence probability,and possesses certain clinical practicability.
5.Brain Aperiodic Dynamics
Zhi-Cai HU ; Zhen ZHANG ; Jiang WANG ; Gui-Ping LI ; Shan LIU ; Hai-Tao YU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):99-118
Brain’s neural activities encompass both periodic rhythmic oscillations and aperiodic neural fluctuations. Rhythmic oscillations manifest as spectral peaks of neural signals, directly reflecting the synchronized activities of neural populations and closely tied to cognitive and behavioral states. In contrast, aperiodic fluctuations exhibit a power-law decaying spectral trend, revealing the multiscale dynamics of brain neural activity. In recent years, researchers have made notable progress in studying brain aperiodic dynamics. These studies demonstrate that aperiodic activity holds significant physiological relevance, correlating with various physiological states such as external stimuli, drug induction, sleep states, and aging. Aperiodic activity serves as a reflection of the brain’s sensory capacity, consciousness level, and cognitive ability. In clinical research, the aperiodic exponent has emerged as a significant potential biomarker, capable of reflecting the progression and trends of brain diseases while being intricately intertwined with the excitation-inhibition balance of neural system. The physiological mechanisms underlying aperiodic dynamics span multiple neural scales, with activities at the levels of individual neurons, neuronal ensembles, and neural networks collectively influencing the frequency, oscillatory patterns, and spatiotemporal characteristics of aperiodic signals. Aperiodic dynamics currently boasts broad application prospects. It not only provides a novel perspective for investigating brain neural dynamics but also holds immense potential as a neural marker in neuromodulation or brain-computer interface technologies. This paper summarizes methods for extracting characteristic parameters of aperiodic activity, analyzes its physiological relevance and potential as a biomarker in brain diseases, summarizes its physiological mechanisms, and based on these findings, elaborates on the research prospects of aperiodic dynamics.
6.Diagnostic value of serum H-FABP,cTnⅠ and electrocardiogram for AMI
Huan GAO ; Zhen SUN ; Hai-bo ZHENG
Chinese Journal of cardiovascular Rehabilitation Medicine 2025;34(1):71-76
Objective:To investigate diagnostic value of serum heart type fatty acid-binding protein(H-FABP),cardiac troponin Ⅰ(cTnⅠ)and electrocardiogram(ECG)for acute myocardial infarction(AMI).Methods:A total of 120 patients with chest pain suspected of AMI admitted in Hefei Eighth People's Hospital between March 2018 and March 2020 were enrolled.All patients received ECG and coronary angiography(CAG)examination.According to diagnostic criteria,they were divided into AMI group(n=75)and non-AMI group(n=45);according to Gensini score,AMI patients were divided into mild group(n=34),medium-severe group(n=41);another 120 healthy subjects undergoing physical examination simultaneously were treated as control group.Serum H-FABP and cTnⅠlevels were measured in all groups.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn to assess diagnostic value of H-FABP,cTnⅠ and ECG and their combination for AMI.Results:With CAG as the gold standard,ECG examination showed that 62 cases were finally diagnosed among the 120 patients with chest pain suspected of AMI,the accuracy,sensitivity and specificity was 69.2%,82.7%,46.7%respectively.Compared with participants in control group,those in non-AMI group and AMI group had significant higher serum H-FABP and cTnⅠ levels,and those of AMI group were significantly higher than those of non-AMI group(P<0.001 all).Serum levels of in medium-severe group H-FABP[(9.15±1.39)μg/L vs.(7.63±1.25)μg/L]and cTnⅠ[(0.72±0.13)ng/ml vs.(0.41±0.08)ng/ml]were significantly higher than those of mild group(P<0.001 all).ROC curve analysis indicated that cut-off point of H-FABP and cTnⅠ diagnosing AMI was 7.850μg/L,0.35ng/ml respectively,com-bined detection of ECG(AUC=0.680,95%CI 0.589~0.762),H-FABP(AUC=0.781,95%CI 0.696~0.851)and cTnⅠ(AUC=0.912,95%CI 0.847~0.956)had significant higher diagnostic value(AUC=0.966,95%CI 0.916~0.991)than single diagnosis(Z=6.783,4.499,2.954,P<0.01 all).Conclusion:Serum H-FABP and cTnⅠ were associated with the degree of coronary lesions in AMI patients,and the combination of serum H-FABP,cTnⅠ and ECG had good diagnostic value for AMI.
7.Ferroptosis and Its Potential Targeting Applications
Meng-Dan LIU ; Hai-Zhen MO ; Li-Shan YAO
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(9):1268-1279
Ferroptosis,a novel form of programmed cell death driven by iron-dependent lipid peroxida-tion,plays a crucial role in both disease treatment and microbial control due to its multi-level regulatory mechanisms.It mainly involves iron metabolism,lipid peroxidation,and antioxidant systems.In the field of disease treatment,ferroptosis is regarded as a highly promising therapeutic target because of its key role in autoimmune diseases,cancer,and cardiovascular diseases.This review systematically summarizes the core regulatory factors of ferroptosis,such as glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4)and long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4(ACSL4)and their interaction networks,and deeply explores the application prospects of targeted intervention strategies based on ferroptosis signaling pathways in disease treatment and micro-bial control.Additionally,we also summarize the current issues faced by ferroptosis in practical applica-tions and proposes strategies,such as nanodelivery,improved drug chemical stability and enhanced water solubility to optimize therapeutic efficacy.We aim to provide a theoretical basis and practical guidelines for exploring more targeted treatments using ferroptosis.
8.Mechanisms of Gut Microbiota Influencing Reproductive Function via The Gut-Gonadal Axis
Ya-Qi ZHAO ; Li-Li QI ; Jin-Bo WANG ; Xu-Qi HU ; Meng-Ting WANG ; Hai-Guang MAO ; Qiu-Zhen SUN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(5):1152-1164
Reproductive system diseases are among the primary contributors to the decline in social fertility rates and the intensification of aging, posing significant threats to both physical and mental health, as well as quality of life. Recent research has revealed the substantial potential of the gut microbiota in improving reproductive system diseases. Under healthy conditions, the gut microbiota maintains a dynamic balance, whereas dysfunction can trigger immune-inflammatory responses, metabolic disorders, and other issues, subsequently leading to reproductive system diseases through the gut-gonadal axis. Reproductive diseases, in turn, can exacerbate gut microbiota imbalance. This article reviews the impact of the gut microbiota and its metabolites on both male and female reproductive systems, analyzing changes in typical gut microorganisms and their metabolites related to reproductive function. The composition, diversity, and metabolites of gut bacteria, such as Bacteroides, Prevotella, and Firmicutes, including short-chain fatty acids, 5-hydroxytryptamine, γ-aminobutyric acid, and bile acids, are closely linked to reproductive function. As reproductive diseases develop, intestinal immune function typically undergoes changes, and the expression levels of immune-related factors, such as Toll-like receptors and inflammatory cytokines (including IL-6, TNF-α, and TGF-β), also vary. The gut microbiota and its metabolites influence reproductive hormones such as estrogen, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone, thereby affecting folliculogenesis and spermatogenesis. Additionally, the metabolism and absorption of vitamins can also impact spermatogenesis through the gut-testis axis. As the relationship between the gut microbiota and reproductive diseases becomes clearer, targeted regulation of the gut microbiota can be employed to address reproductive system issues in both humans and animals. This article discusses the regulation of the gut microbiota and intestinal immune function through microecological preparations, fecal microbiota transplantation, and drug therapy to treat reproductive diseases. Microbial preparations and drug therapy can help maintain the intestinal barrier and reduce chronic inflammation. Fecal microbiota transplantation involves transferring feces from healthy individuals into the recipient’s intestine, enhancing mucosal integrity and increasing microbial diversity. This article also delves into the underlying mechanisms by which the gut microbiota influences reproductive capacity through the gut-gonadal axis and explores the latest research in diagnosing and treating reproductive diseases using gut microbiota. The goal is to restore reproductive capacity by targeting the regulation of the gut microbiota. While the gut microbiota holds promise as a therapeutic target for reproductive diseases, several challenges remain. First, research on the association between gut microbiota and reproductive diseases is insufficient to establish a clear causal relationship, which is essential for proposing effective therapeutic methods targeting the gut microbiota. Second, although gut microbiota metabolites can influence lipid, glucose, and hormone synthesis and metabolism via various signaling pathways—thereby indirectly affecting ovarian and testicular function—more in-depth research is required to understand the direct effects of these metabolites on germ cells or granulosa cells. Lastly, the specific efficacy of gut microbiota in treating reproductive diseases is influenced by multiple factors, necessitating further mechanistic research and clinical studies to validate and optimize treatment regimens.
9.Clinical efficacy analysis of Shibao Decoction in the treatment of late-onset hypogonadism with kidney essence deficiency
Shao-kang CHEN ; Yi SHAN ; Zhen-fu SHI ; Hai-feng XU ; Yao-hua ZHANG ; Yi LU
National Journal of Andrology 2025;31(7):630-636
Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of"Shibao Decoction"in the management of late-onset hypogonadism(LOH)caused by deficiency of kidney essence.Methods:Sixty male patients with late-onset hypogonadism of kidney essence defi-ciency type were randomly assigned to the treatment group and the control group,each with 30 cases.The patients in treatment group were treated with oral Shibao Decoction,while the control group was treated with oral Testosterone Undecanoate Capsules.The patients in both groups were treated for 12 weeks.The PADAM symptom score,TCM syndrome score,serum total testosterone(TT),serum free testosterone(FT),sex hormone binding globulin(SHBG),body mass index(BMI),total skeletal muscle mass index(SMI),appendicular skeletal muscle mass index(ASMI),FBG,FINS,and insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR)levels were compared be-tween the two groups.Results:After treatment,PADAM scores for each item and TCM symptoms score decreased,TT and FT in-creased in both groups,all with statistically significant differences from those of pre-treatment(P<0.05).The level of SHBG in the control group decreased(P<0.05),which had not changed significantly in the treatment group(P>0.05).After treatment,SMI and ASMI increased in both groups significantly(P<0.05).BMI decreased in the control group(P<0.05),which had not changed significantly in the treatment group(P>0.05).The level of FINS decreased in the control group(P<0.05),which had not changed significantly in the treatment group(P>0.05).FPG had not changed significantly in both groups(P>0.05),and the insulin resist-ance index(HOMA-IR)had significantly improved in both groups,all with statistically significant differences from those of pre-treat-ment(P<0.05).After treatment,the total effective rates of PADAM score and TCM syndrome score in the treatment group were 73.3%and 86.6%respectively,and the total effective rates in the control group were 66.7%and 76.6%respectively.The total ef-fective rates of the two scores in the treatment group were slightly higher than those in the control group(P>0.05).There was no sig-nificant difference in the indicators between the two groups after treatment,and the treatment group is generally comparable with the control group in the therapeutic effects(P>0.05).And no adverse reactions occurred during treatment in both groups.Conclu-sion:The"Shibao Decoction"has a remarkable therapeutic effect on late-onset hypogonadism caused by deficiency of kidney essence and has good safety.It can be used as an alternative to testosterone undecanoate and is worthy of clinical promotion and application.
10.Application Effect of Process Refinement Intervention Mode in Patients with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and its Impact on Self Management Efficacy and Psychological State
Hai-hong DAI ; Li-zhen MA ; Ling-li MA
Progress in Modern Biomedicine 2025;25(19):3106-3113
Objective:To observe the application effect of process refinement intervention mode in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM),and its impact on self management efficacy and psychological state.Methods:This study was a single-center prospective study,a total of 80 patients with GDM admitted to Tingzhou Hospital of Fujian Province from January 2021 to December 2023 were selected,and they were divided into control group(conventional intervention,n=40)and observation group(conventional intervention combined with process refinement intervention mode,n=40)according to the envelope drawing method.the self management efficacy(self management efficacy scale),Psychological status[Edinburgh postnatal depression scale(EPDS),Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire-Revision 2(PRAQ-R2)]and Blood glucose control status(fasting blood glucose,2-hour postprandial plasma glucose)of two groups before and after intervention were compared,and the incidence of postpartum complications was observed.Results:After intervention,scores in various dimensions of self management efficacy in the observation group were higher than those in the control group in all dimensions,the EPDS and PRAQ-R2 scores,fasting blood glucose and 2-hour postprandial plasma glucose in the observation group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).The total incidence of postpartum complications in the observation group was lower than that in the control group(P>0.05).Conclusion:The process refinement intervention mode can enhance the can enhance the self management ability of GDM patients,reduce negative emotions,effectively reduce blood glucose levels and the rate of occurrence incidence of postpartum complications.

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