Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)emphasizes syndrome differentiation and treatment,characterized by"maintaining the prescription if effective"and"changing the prescription if ineffective".Traditional randomized controlled trials(RCTs)are inadequate for evaluating the efficacy of dynamic treatment adjustments.The Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial(SMART)is an emerging adaptive research design that incorporates randomization at multiple stages,allowing for adjustments in subsequent interventions based on treatment responses.This approach is suitable for evaluating dynamic treatment regimens while retaining the low bias risk of traditional RCTs,making it highly promising for clinical research in TCM.This paper summarizes recent methodological advancements in SMART design,including different sample size estimation and statistical analysis methods for primary effect objectives,embedded adaptive intervention objectives,and optimization objectives,along with providing corresponding operational software.Additionally,it offers considerations for applying SMART design in TCM research,such as the selection of disease types,interventions,decision points,tailoring variables,sample size calculation,statistical methods,the importance of pilot trials,ethical considerations,and limitations.The aim is to promote the exploration and practice of this method in the field of TCM,thereby contributing to the generation of high-quality evidence-based evidence for TCM.

Objective To explore the mechanism of Yizhu Wendan Decoction in treating eczema through GEO database combined with network pharmacology and experimental verification.Methods TCMSP,BATMAN-TCM and ETCM databases were used to screen the active components of Yizhu Wendan Decoction.Disease target information related to eczema was collected through GEO database.The drug-component-target network and PPI network were constructed by intersections of active component targets and disease targets.GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed using DAVID database.CCK-8 method was used to screen out the optimal intervention concentration of freeze-dried powder of Yizhu Wendan Decoction.HaCaT cells were divided into control group,model group,Yizhu Wendan Decoction low concentration group,Yizhu Wendan Decoction high concentration group,si-IL-17RA group,si-IL-17RA+Yizhu Wendan Decoction low concentration group,si-IL-17RA+Yizhu Wendan Decoction high concentration group,Dexamethasone group,si-IL-17RA+Dexamethasone group.Each group was given relevant intervention.The expressions of chemokines and inflammatory factors were detected by qPCR.EdU and Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining were used to detect cell proliferation and apoptosis.Western blot was performed to detect the expressions of proteins related to apoptosis,skin barrier and IL-17 signaling pathway.Results By using databases,180 active components of Yizhu Wendan Decoction were obtained.Combined with GEO database microarrays related to eczema(GSE6012 and GSE57225),8 potential targets of Yizhu Wendan Decoction in the treatment of eczema were obtained.KEGG enrichment pathway mainly involved IL-17 signaling pathway,lipid and atherosclerotic,TNF signaling pathway,fluid shear stress and atherosclerotic,etc.When Yizhu Wendan Decoction freeze-dried powder concentration was 100 μg/mL,cell viability was the strongest.Yizhu Wendan Decoction could significantly inhibit the mRNA expressions of chemokines and inflammatory factors CCL17,CCL22,IL-1β,TNF-α,IL-6,IFN-γ,and increase the mRNA expression of IL-4 in eczema.It promoted the proliferation of HaCaT cells,increased the protein expression of Bcl-2,and reduced the protein expressions of Bad and Cleaved Caspase-3,thus inhibiting HaCaT cells apoptosis;promoted the protein expressions of FLG and LOR,and reduced the expression of MMP9,MMP1,CCL2,FOSL1,IL-17RA proteins in IL-17 signaling pathway.Conclusion Yizhu Wendan Decoction can treat eczema with multiple components,multiple pathways and multiple targets,promote the proliferation of HaCaT cells,inhibit their apoptosis,and restore the skin barrier.Its mechanism may be related to inhibiting the activation of IL-17 signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND:The cervical facet joint,as an important anatomical structure of the posterior column of the cervical spine,plays an important role in neck activity,stress transmission,and maintaining cervical stability. In recent years,anatomical and biomechanical studies have shown that asymmetry of cervical facet joints can cause degeneration of facet joints,which may be the main cause of cervical spine degeneration in young people. Existing research is mostly focused on adults,and there are also reports on preschool and school-age children in China,while there are few reports on the morphological parameters of cervical facet joints in adolescents.OBJECTIVE:Through three-dimensional reconstruction of the cervical facet joints in adolescents,measuring their relevant morphological parameters,and comparing them with those in children and adults,we explored the age-related changes in the morphological development of cervical facet joints,providing a theoretical basis for the diagnosis,treatment,and prevention of cervical spondylosis arising from cervical facet joints.METHODS:A total of 62 adolescents aged 13-18 years were selected to undergo spiral CT scan of cervical vertebrae and 3D reconstruction,requiring no bone destruction,tumor,deformity,or fracture,no changes in vertebrae morphology and structure,no previous spinal operations. The guardian's informed consent to the experimental protocol was obtained. By age group,group A was 13-14 years old;group B was 15-16 years old;group C was 17-18 years old. Thecorrelation morphometry and statistical analysis of C2-C7 facet joints were performed in adolescents of each group.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) In three groups of subjects,the facet joint surface heights and widths displayed decreasing and increasing trends in relation to the change of vertebra order. The facet joint surfaces on the inferior surface showed larger height and width compared to the corresponding indicators on the superior surface. (2) The intra-articular height of the articular process was lowest in C5 among the three groups of ages,and it showed a positive correlation with age. (3) Among the three groups,the gaps between the articular surfaces of the joints in C4-5 of group A,C3-4 of group B,and C4-5 of group C weresignificantly larger than the rest of the gaps in each group. Except for C4-5,there were no significant differences between the two groups. Except for C2-3,the remaining gaps between the vertebrae in group C were significantly larger than those in the two groups. (4) It is indicated that the morphology of the cervical facet joint surface gradually transitions from circular to elliptical as the vertebral order increases. In inter-group comparison,facet joint surface height is significantly affected by age compared to facet joint surface width. The area of the lower facet joint surface of each segment is greater than that of the upper facet joint surface,with only significant differences in the shape and area of C4-5 and C5-6. In addition,the minimum height of the facet joint is located at C5,and the significantly widened gap between the facet joint surfaces is mainly located at C3-4 and C4-5. Therefore,cervical instability often occurs at the mid-level.

BACKGROUND:The cervical facet joint,as an important anatomical structure of the posterior column of the cervical spine,plays an important role in neck activity,stress transmission,and maintaining cervical stability. In recent years,anatomical and biomechanical studies have shown that asymmetry of cervical facet joints can cause degeneration of facet joints,which may be the main cause of cervical spine degeneration in young people. Existing research is mostly focused on adults,and there are also reports on preschool and school-age children in China,while there are few reports on the morphological parameters of cervical facet joints in adolescents.OBJECTIVE:Through three-dimensional reconstruction of the cervical facet joints in adolescents,measuring their relevant morphological parameters,and comparing them with those in children and adults,we explored the age-related changes in the morphological development of cervical facet joints,providing a theoretical basis for the diagnosis,treatment,and prevention of cervical spondylosis arising from cervical facet joints.METHODS:A total of 62 adolescents aged 13-18 years were selected to undergo spiral CT scan of cervical vertebrae and 3D reconstruction,requiring no bone destruction,tumor,deformity,or fracture,no changes in vertebrae morphology and structure,no previous spinal operations. The guardian's informed consent to the experimental protocol was obtained. By age group,group A was 13-14 years old;group B was 15-16 years old;group C was 17-18 years old. Thecorrelation morphometry and statistical analysis of C2-C7 facet joints were performed in adolescents of each group.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) In three groups of subjects,the facet joint surface heights and widths displayed decreasing and increasing trends in relation to the change of vertebra order. The facet joint surfaces on the inferior surface showed larger height and width compared to the corresponding indicators on the superior surface. (2) The intra-articular height of the articular process was lowest in C5 among the three groups of ages,and it showed a positive correlation with age. (3) Among the three groups,the gaps between the articular surfaces of the joints in C4-5 of group A,C3-4 of group B,and C4-5 of group C weresignificantly larger than the rest of the gaps in each group. Except for C4-5,there were no significant differences between the two groups. Except for C2-3,the remaining gaps between the vertebrae in group C were significantly larger than those in the two groups. (4) It is indicated that the morphology of the cervical facet joint surface gradually transitions from circular to elliptical as the vertebral order increases. In inter-group comparison,facet joint surface height is significantly affected by age compared to facet joint surface width. The area of the lower facet joint surface of each segment is greater than that of the upper facet joint surface,with only significant differences in the shape and area of C4-5 and C5-6. In addition,the minimum height of the facet joint is located at C5,and the significantly widened gap between the facet joint surfaces is mainly located at C3-4 and C4-5. Therefore,cervical instability often occurs at the mid-level.

BACKGROUND:Cervical spondylosis is a chronic degenerative disease that has become one of the most common and frequent diseases threatening human health.At present,the initial diagnosis of the cervical spine and its surrounding structures mainly relies on the interpretation of medical images by radiologists,which not only requires a high level of technical requirements for operators,but also has the disadvantages of strong subjectivity,high labor intensity,and low efficiency.With the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology,its powerful data processing and image recognition capabilities have shown broad application prospects in the medical field.Deep learning has also made certain progress in the research of spinal diseases.OBJECTIVE:To summarize the current status and research progress in the application of artificial intelligence technology in cervical spine imaging images in recent years,evaluating the performance of artificial intelligence models as well as future trends and challenges to be overcome.METHODS:The first author searched the relevant articles in WanFang,CNKI,and PubMed in June 2024.The Chinese search terms were"artificial intelligence,deep learning,cervical spine."English serach terms were"artificial intelligence,Al,cervical vertebrae,cervical."Finally,101 articles were included and analyzed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Artificial intelligence technology can realize automatic segmentation of cervical vertebrae and measurement of curvature change by segmentation,classification,landmarks recognition of medical image parts,detect cervical vertebral fracture,nerve root,and spinal cord type cervical spondylosis,identify cervical spine ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament,and predict post-surgery related risk factors and cervical vertebra maturation classification.(2)Although artificial intelligence technology has shown great potential in the field of cervical spine research,it is still in the early stages of exploration and rapid development,with unlimited room for development and innovation.

This consensus was developed by the Orthodontic Society of the Chinese Stomatological Association to provide a systematic, scientific, and practical guideline for informed consent in orthodontic care. Orthodontic treatment is typically lengthy, highly individualized, and involves multiple factors such as growth and development, occlusal function, and facial esthetics. Rapid technological advances and diverse risk profiles make the traditional reliance on orthodontist experience or institutional templates insufficient to ensure patients′ full understanding and autonomous decision-making. To address this, the expert panel conducted extensive reviews of domestic and international guidelines, analyzed representative dispute cases, and performed multicenter patient-clinician surveys. Using a multi-round Delphi method, the group established a standardized informed consent framework covering the initial consultation, treatment, and retention phases. The consensus emphasizes that informed consent is not only a fundamental legal and ethical requirement but also a key step in building trust, improving patient compliance, and enhancing treatment satisfaction. Orthodontists should clearly and comprehensively explain treatment plans, potential risks, uncertainties, and associated costs, while respecting the autonomy of patients or guardians, and maintain continuous communication and dynamic evaluation throughout the treatment process. The release of this consensus provides unified and authoritative guidance for clinical orthodontics, helping to standardize informed consent, enhance its transparency, safeguard patient rights, reduce medical risks, and promote high-quality, sustainable development of orthodontic practice.

Objective:To evaluate spinal-pelvic mobility and sagittal spinal-pelvic alignment characteristics in patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), and to investigate differences in sagittal spinal-pelvic parameters between patients with DDH and those with osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH).Methods:A total of 55 patients with DDH who underwent primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University between April 2021 and March 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. The cohort included 8 males and 47 females, with a mean age of 56.16±10.82 years (range: 26-76 years). Among them, 18 patients had bilateral DDH and 37 had unilateral DDH. Fifty-five age- and sex-matched patients with ONFH were selected as the control group. Unilateral DDH cases were classified according to the Hartofilakidis classification: 18 cases of type A, 13 cases of type B, and 6 cases of type C. Lateral spinal-pelvic radiographs were used to measure pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS), and lumbar lordosis (LL) in both standing and sitting positions. Changes in sagittal spinal-pelvic parameters between standing and sitting positions were analyzed to assess spinal-pelvic mobility. Spinal-pelvic mobility was considered abnormal if △SS was outside the range of 10°-30°. Abnormal mobility was further categorized as stiffness (△SS<10°) or hypermobility (△SS>30°).Results:The PI (52.37°±12.43°), standing PT (12.13°±9.50°), and sitting PT (36.49°±13.43°) of DDH patients were significantly higher than those of ONFH patients (44.88°±11.38°, 7.80°±11.36°, and 28.91°±11.38°, respectively), with statistically significant differences ( P<0.05). Abnormal spinal-pelvic mobility, including both stiffness and hypermobility, was observed in 53% of DDH patients, with stiffness accounting for 20%. These proportions were significantly higher than those in ONFH patients, which were 24% and 6%, respectively ( P<0.05). The prevalence of abnormal spinal-pelvic mobility in Hartofilakidis type C DDH patients was 83%, significantly higher than the 30.8% observed in type B patients (χ 2=4.550, P=0.033). The standing LL (54.37°±11.59°) and sitting LL (28.56°±15.51°) in unilateral DDH patients were significantly greater than those in bilateral DDH patients (46.88°±15.30° and 20.42°±9.77°, respectively), with statistically significant differences ( P< 0.05). Conclusions:Compared with patients with ONFH, those with DDH demonstrate a higher prevalence of abnormal spinal-pelvic mobility, particularly a greater incidence of spinal stiffness. Among DDH subtypes, Hartofilakidis type C patients exhibit a higher proportion of abnormal mobility compared to types A and B. Additionally, patients with unilateral DDH present with greater lumbar lordosis than those with bilateral involvement.

Background and Aims:Papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC)is the most common endocrine malignancy in China,with cervical lymph node metastasis being a frequent and critical clinical feature that directly affects patient prognosis and recurrence risk.In recent years,with the rapid increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in China,the role of body mass index(BMI)in various tumors has attracted growing attention.This study aimed to investigate the association between overweight and cervical LNM in PTC,analyze sex-specific differences and influencing factors,and provide evidence for precise clinical management.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinicopathologic data of 1 445 patients with classical PTC treated at Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between August 2021 and June 2022.Patients were divided into groups based on the presence or absence of lymph node metastasis.Restricted cubic spline analysis explored the nonlinear relationship between BMI and lymph node metastasis risk.Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were applied to identify independent risk factors.Furthermore,sex-stratified analysis was performed among overweight patients(BMI≥24 kg/m2)to determine sex-specific risk factors for lymph node metastasis.Results:Among all patients,716(49.6%)had lymph node metastasis.Univariate analysis showed that BMI,sex,age,tumor diameter,multifocality,and extrathyroidal extension were significantly associated with cervical lymph node metastasis in PTC patients(all P<0.05).A nonlinear positive correlation was observed between BMI and lymph node metastasis risk,which was more pronounced in male patients.Additionally,BMI was positively correlated with triglyceride levels and negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.Sex-stratified analysis revealed that in overweight male patients,younger age(OR=0.954),larger tumor diameter(OR=1.085),and multifocality(OR=2.776)were independent risk factors for LNM;in overweight female patients,younger age(OR=0.943)and larger tumor diameter(OR=1.074)were the main influencing factors.Conclusion:Overweight is closely associated with cervical lymph node metastasis in PTC,and the high-risk factors for LNM differ between male and female overweight patients.Young age,larger tumor size,and multifocality in overweight males,and young age and larger tumors in overweight females indicate a higher risk of metastasis.It is recommended that high-risk populations receive enhanced preoperative evaluation and individualized lymph node dissection strategies to achieve precise treatment and improved risk control.

Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)emphasizes syndrome differentiation and treatment,characterized by"maintaining the prescription if effective"and"changing the prescription if ineffective".Traditional randomized controlled trials(RCTs)are inadequate for evaluating the efficacy of dynamic treatment adjustments.The Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial(SMART)is an emerging adaptive research design that incorporates randomization at multiple stages,allowing for adjustments in subsequent interventions based on treatment responses.This approach is suitable for evaluating dynamic treatment regimens while retaining the low bias risk of traditional RCTs,making it highly promising for clinical research in TCM.This paper summarizes recent methodological advancements in SMART design,including different sample size estimation and statistical analysis methods for primary effect objectives,embedded adaptive intervention objectives,and optimization objectives,along with providing corresponding operational software.Additionally,it offers considerations for applying SMART design in TCM research,such as the selection of disease types,interventions,decision points,tailoring variables,sample size calculation,statistical methods,the importance of pilot trials,ethical considerations,and limitations.The aim is to promote the exploration and practice of this method in the field of TCM,thereby contributing to the generation of high-quality evidence-based evidence for TCM.

Objective To explore the efficacy of progressive exercise training based on the modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale (mMRC) grading in respiratory rehabilitation for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at a primary healthcare setting. Methods A total of 106 patients with COPD admitted to Zhuanqiao Community Health Service Center in Shanghai from Aug.1, 2022 to Jul. 30, 2024 were selected as research subjects. They were randomly divided into a study group and a control group in a 1∶1 ratio, with 53 patients in each group. The control group received conventional treatment, while the study group received conventional treatment combined with progressive exercise training. After 4 weeks of continuous treatment, the changes in the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), COPD assessment test (CAT) score, mMRC grading, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) grading and pulmonary function were compared between the two groups. Results Patients in both groups showed improvements in 6MWT distance, CAT score, mMRC grading, GOLD grading, and pulmonary function compared to baseline (P＜0.05). Moreover, the study group had better improvements in 6MWT distance, CAT score, mMRC grading, GOLD grading, and pulmonary function than the control group (P＜0.05). Conclusions Conventional treatment combined with progressive exercise training based on mMRC grading can enhance the effect of respiratory rehabilitation in patients with COPD, particularly in improving pulmonary function and exercise tolerance.