1.Short-Term Efficacy and Long-Term Recurrence Rate of Traditional Chinese Medicine Versus Western Surgical Treatment for Mixed Hemorrhoids:A Multi-Center Retrospective Cohort Study Based on Real-World Data
Kang DING ; Zhimin FAN ; Xiaojie ZHOU ; Xiaoxiao WANG ; Yuanyuan GE ; Huiting ZHU ; Yuxin ZHU ; Xia YANG ; Jun DU ; Shicai HUANG ; Yang ZHANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(7):747-754
ObjectiveTo observe the short-term and long-term efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) surgical operations in treating mixed hemorrhoids. MethodsA multi-center retrospective cohort study was conducted, collecting clinical data from 17,831 mixed hemorrhoid surgery patients in 8 top-tier TCM hospitals in Jiangsu Province. Standardized and structured datasets were obtained through artificial intelligence models. Patients who underwent western surgical treatment were categorized into the western surgery group (11,646 cases), and those receiving TCM surgical operations were categorized into the TCM surgery group (6185 cases). Propensity score matching (1∶1 matching) was used to balance baseline data between groups. The primary outcome was the one-year recurrence rate, and secondary outcomes included the main symptoms (rectal bleeding, degree of prolapse) and secondary symptoms (anal distension, anal edema, wound secretion and exudation, anal stenosis, residual skin tags, perianal itching, and anal pain) measured on days 7, 28, and 60 after discharge. ResultsAfter matching, 2194 patients were included in each group. Symptom scores showed that at 28 days after discharge, the TCM surgical group had superior improvement in rectal bleeding [OR=5.786, 95%CI (3.092,10.827)], degree of prolapse [OR=4.510, 95%CI (1.649,12.333)], and anal edema [OR=3.188, 95%CI (1.295,7.845)] compared to the western surgical group. At 60 days post-discharge, the TCM group still showed advantages in improving rectal bleeding [OR=5.237, 95%CI (1.077,25.464)] and anal pain [OR=11.697, 95%CI (1.186,115.336)] (P<0.05). Long-term follow-up showed that the one-year recurrence rate in the TCM surgery group was 1.1% (8/726), while that in the western surgery group was 2.3% (10/444), with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). ConclusionBased on real-world data, TCM surgical treatment for mixed hemorrhoids shows significant short-term symptom improvement, particularly in terms of hemostasis, reducing swelling, and alleviating prolapse of anal masses.
2.Shuhe Granules (舒和颗粒) in Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis Comorbid with Insomnia with Kidney-Heart Deficiency and Qi-Blood Disharmony Syndrome:An Exploratory Single-Arm Clinical Trial
Yonghao PAN ; Yuxi LI ; Yu GAO ; Xiangbin CHEN ; Kaixin GAO ; Runyue HUANG ; Fei TAN ; Jiamin YUAN ; Biyun XU ; Zhimin YANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(16):1743-1751
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical effects and safety of Shuhe Granules (舒和颗粒) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) comorbid with insomnia. MethodsA single-arm prospective exploratory design was adopted. Thirty RA patients comorbid with insomnia and diagnosed with the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome of kidney-heart deficiency and qi-blood disharmony were enrolled. On the basis of maintaining their original RA treatment regimens, all patients received oral Shuhe Granules, one dose per day, for 12 consecutive weeks. The outcomes were assessed before treatment and at weeks 4, 8, and 12 after treatment. Sleep and related psychosomatic function were evaluated using the insomnia severity index (ISI), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), fatigue severity scale (FSS), patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) scores. RA-related assessments included the 28-joint disease activity score based on C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP), pain visual analog scale (VAS), tender joint count (TJC28), swollen joint count (SJC28), morning stiffness duration, and health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) score. Laboratory parameters included erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum C-reactive protein (CRP), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti-CCP), and rheumatoid factor (RF) levels. A literature-based historical control group was established through literature retrieval and meta-analysis. The ISI, PSQI, DAS28-CRP, and pain VAS scores were compared between the treatment group in the present study and the historical control group. Safety assessments were also performed. ResultsCompared with baseline before treatment, ISI and PSQI scores decreased at weeks 4, 8, and 12, while MoCA scores increased at weeks 4, 8, and 12. FSS scores decreased at weeks 4 and 12. At weeks 8 and 12, GAD-7 scores, DAS28-CRP scores, duration of morning stiffness, TJC28, and SJC28 were reduced. At week 12, PHQ-9, pain VAS, and HAQ scores significantly decreased (P<0.05). FSS and DAS28-CRP scores at week 12 were lower than those at week 4, and CRP levels at week 8 were lower than those at week 4 (P<0.05). Compared with the historical control group, the treatment group showed superior improvement in ISI and PSQI scores (P<0.001); however, no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in DAS28-CRP or pain VAS scores (P>0.05). No serious adverse events occurred during the study, and the 4 reported mild adverse events were all considered unrelated to the study medication. ConclusionShuhe Granules significantly improve sleep quality, fatigue, emotional status, cognitive function, RA-related symptoms, and joint function in patients with RA comorbid insomnia, with good safety and tolerability.
3.Diffusion tensor imaging study of intracerebral glymphatic system function and white matter microstructure in type 2 diabetes patients with peripheral neuropathy
Xin WANG ; Jin XU ; Meng WANG ; Cheng LI ; Zhimin HUANG ; Yong XIAO
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2025;34(3):223-228
Objective:To investigate the glymphatic system dysfunction and white matter microstructural damage in type 2 diabetic mellitus patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), and to identify the early diagnostic imaging biomarkers.Methods:Thirty-one DPN patients and 31 type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients who attended the First People's Hospital of Yancheng from March 2022 to October 2023 were included. In addition, 40 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. All subjects underwent 3.0T MRI scan with diffusion tensor imaging and 3D-T1WI sequences, and the diffusion tensor imaging analysis along the perivascular space(DTI-ALPS) index, perivascular space volume fraction in white matter(PVSVF-WM) and peak width of skeletonized mean diffusivity (PSMD) were calculated. SPSS 26.0 software was used to perform one-way ANOVA, t-tests, and Chi-square tests to compare clinical data and imaging indicators among the three groups. Partial correlation analysis was used to explore the relationships between DTI-ALPS index, PVSVF-WM, PSMD and clinical indicators in DPN patients. Finally, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to evaluate the diagnostic value of DTI-ALPS index, PVSVF-WM, and PSMD for DPN. Results:The DPN group(1.46±0.19)had considerably lower DTI-ALPS index than the T2DM group (1.59±0.14) and HC group (1.60±0.17) (both P<0.05, Bonferroni correction). The DPN group (1.44±0.11) had significantly higher PVSVF-WM than both the T2DM group (1.35±0.14) and HC group (1.26±0.13) (both P<0.05, Bonferroni correction). The DPN group (1.84±0.31) and the T2DM group (1.83±0.25) had higher PSMD than HC group (1.60±0.24) (both P<0.05, Bonferroni correction), but the difference between the DPN group and the T2DM group was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). The DTI-ALPS index in the DPN group were negatively correlated with PSMD ( r=-0.379, P=0.035). The DTI-ALPS index was negatively correlated with the Toronto clinical scoring system (TCSS) score ( r=-0.456, P=0.01), while PSMD was positively correlated with TCSS scores ( r=0.686, P<0.001) in DPN group. The ROC curves showed that the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.777 ( P<0.001) for the combined diagnosis of DPN with the DTI-ALPS index, PVSVF-WM and PSMD. Conclusion:DPN patients exhibit glymphatic system dysfunction and white matter microstructural damage. The DTI-ALPS index and PSMD can serve as objective markers for assessing DPN severity. The combination of glymphatic system function indicators and white matter microstructural damage markers has moderate diagnostic value for peripheral neuropathy in T2DM patients.
4.Development of a needs assessment tool for grading care services for adults with disabilities in welfare institutions
Jiayao SUN ; Chunhua MA ; Jun LÜ ; Qi TANG ; Zhimin SHAO ; Kangning HU ; Haoying HUANG ; Aihua HUANG
Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice 2025;31(7):802-811
Objective To develop a tool for assessing the needs for care services for adults with disabilities in welfare institutions,and formulate criteria for classifying care needs.Methods Based on the theory of the International Classification of Functioning,Disability and Health,the core contents of domestic and international care service assessment standards were analysed,and the first draft of the assess-ment tool was formed integrating with the current practice of welfare institutions.A total of eleven experts in the field of care services validated the first draft,and the assessment tool was revised according to the experts'opin-ions.From May to June,2024,340 adults with disabilities from Second Social Welfare Institute of Shanghai were graded to analyze the reliability and validity of the assessment tool.And then,1 046 subjects from Second Social Welfare Institute of Shanghai were graded using the assessment tool,and the scoring intervals for the five levels of care were determined using cluster analysis.Results The assessment tool included four first-level dimensions,eleven second-level dimensions,39 third-level dimen-sions and 43 indicators.The coefficients of variation of each dimension and indicator were less than 0.25 for ex-pert validation,while the average score of the importance of each indicator was above 4.63,with a full score rate more than 0.86.The overall Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.956,the test-retest reliability was 0.997,and the con-tent validity index of each indicator was 0.83 to 1.00.The exploratory factor analysis extracted four common fac-tors,with a cumulative variance contribution of 86.679%;the loading coefficients of indicators were 0.675 to 0.878,and the correlation coefficients among the dimensions were 0.325 to 0.476.Cluster analysis determined the level of institutional care needs as level 1(severe),level 2(medium-heavy),level 3(medium),level 4(light-moderate),and level 5(light).Conclusion The needs assessment tool for care services for adults with disabilities in welfare institutions developed in this study is good in reliability and validity,and can be used in guiding the care services provided for people with disabilities more efficient and targeted.
5.Exploring mechanism of TLR4/NF-κB-NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway in experimental autoim-mune prostatitis rats
Liangxi LU ; Hong SHI ; Zhimin HUANG ; Jie LU ; Wenjie WANG
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2025;41(6):800-805
Objective The pathogenesis of EAP in rats based on the TLR4/NF-κB-NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway was explored.Methods Randomly divide 12 male SD rats into 4 groups using the number table,namely normal group(N),model group(M),Caspase-1 inhibitor group(Caspase-1),and NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 group(NLRP3),with 3 rats in each group.After drug intervention,relevant indicators were observed by using HE staining,ELISA,WB methods.Results Compared with the N group,the M group rats had showed significant damage in prostate gland structure and infiltration of inflammatory cells.Compared with group N,the expression of TLR4,P-NF-κB P65,NLRP3,ASC,Cleaced-Caspase-1,Cleaced-IL-1β,and IL-18 proteins in the prostate tissue of group M rats had increased(P<0.01).Compared with group M,the expression of TLR4,P-NF-κB P65,NLRP3,ASC,Cleaced-Caspase-1,Cleaced-IL-1β,and IL-18 proteins in the NLRP3 and Caspase-1 groups had significantly reduced(P<0.01).The serum levels of IL-1 β,IL-6,IL-8,IL-17A,IL-18,IFN-γ,and TNF-α in group M rats had been significantly higher than those in group N(P<0.01).But the serum levels of IL-10 had been slightly lower and no statistical significance.The serum levels of IL-1β,IL-6,IL-8,IL-17A,IL-18,IFN-γ,and TNF-α in group M rats had been lower than those in group N(P<0.01 or P<0.05),the serum IL-10 level had increased(P<0.01).Conclusion The activation of TLR4/NF-κB-NLRP3 inflammasome signaling path-way promotes the occurrence and development of prostatitis in EAP rats.
6.Characteristics of Yang Dan and Yin Dan Method to Identify and Treat Insomnia Based on Latent Structure Analysis
Yuanjun LIANG ; Jiamin YUAN ; Xiaoxuan ZHANG ; Xinyan CHEN ; Shiya HUANG ; Zhimin YANG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(10):2986-2998
Objective To explore the syndrome differentiation rules of the Yin Dan and Yang Dan method,and summarize Professor Yang Zhimin's valuable experience in the treatment of insomnia.Methods The case data of 11390 insomnia patients treated by Professor Yang Zhimin was retrospectively analyzed,and the distribution of symptoms,signs,pathogenesis and syndrome differentiation rules of insomnia patients was examined based on latent structure analysis.Result A total of 44 symptoms and signs can explain the overall situation of insomnia patients,showing the characteristics of both excess and deficiency,cold and heat.A total of 36 hidden categories(symptom clusters and pathogenesis)was composed.Symptoms and signs such as fear of wind and cold can explain the overall situation of insomnia patients with cold syndrome due to weakness of Wei Qi,symptoms and signs such as pale eyelid can explain the overall situation of insomnia patients with heat syndrome due to weakness of Ying Xve,and established diagnostic criteria for insomnia patients with cold syndrome due to weakness of Wei Qi and heat syndrome due to weakness of Ying Xve.Conclusion Based on the Yang Dan and Yin Dan method to distinguish and treat insomnia from the perspective of disharmony between Ying and Wei,it is in line with the basic understanding of the pathogenesis of insomnia in the classics of traditional Chinese medicine.The pattern differentiation rules obtained through the latent structure analysis method are helpful to summarize valuable clinical experience and provide a certain reference and basis for clinical practice.
7.To evaluate the clinical efficacy of"dynamic and static combination"of shaking,pulling and poking ma-nipulation of lateral malleolus combined with brace fixation in the treatment of Hepple type Ⅰ-Ⅲ OLT
Shulong WANG ; Dongxiao LI ; Huan LIANG ; Ruizheng ZHU ; Junde WU ; Xuyue PAN ; Zhanhua MA ; Yinze QI ; Feng ZHAO ; Ayong HUANG ; Zhimin YANG ; Zhaojun CHEN
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2025;41(14):2210-2216
Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of the"dynamic and static combination"approach in the treatment of Hepple Ⅰ-Ⅲ type osteochondral lesions of the talus(OLT),utilizing external ankle shaking,pulling,and poking manipulations in conjunction with ankle brace fixation.Methods A total of 82 patients diagnosed with OLT,who sought treatment at four hospitals between June 2022 and December 2023,were included in the study.Both the experimental and control groups received ankle immobilization using braces through-out the treatment period.The control group was administered Voltaren Emulgel topically twice daily(morning and evening),with each treatment course lasting 30 days,for a total of one course.The experimental group received additional therapeutic intervention involving shaking,pulling,and poking manipulations,conducted twice weekly,with the same duration and number of treatment courses as the control group.Follow-up assessments were scheduled at 2 weeks,4 weeks,and 2 months post-treatment.Outcome measures included the pain rating index(PRI),visual analogue scale(VAS)for pain intensity,current pain intensity(PPI),American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society(AOFAS)ankle and hindfoot scores,proprioceptive function,and the size of OLT.Results During the longitudinal assessment conducted at 2-week,4-week,and follow-up intervals,the experimental group exhibited superior clinical outcomes compared to the control group,with statistically significant decreases in PRI,PPI,and AOFAS scores(all P<0.05).VAS scores showed progressive improvement over time,with significant intergroup differences observed at both the 4-week and follow-up assessments(P<0.05).Biomechanical analysis performed post-intervention indicated improved kinematic repositioning accuracy in the experimental group,as reflected by significantly reduced active-passive error angles(P<0.05).Importantly,measurements of OLT area revealed notable therapeutic effects in the experimental group(P<0.05),whereas no statistically significant changes were observed in the control group throughout the study period(all P>0.05).Conclusions Under the guidance of the"dynamic and static combination"concept,the integration of shaking,pulling,and poking manipu-lation with conventional Western medicine-based conservative treatment for OLT demonstrates more pronounced advantages in alleviating pain,improving ankle joint function,restoring proprioception,facilitating lesion recovery,and enhancing overall quality of life.
8.Level and clinical significance of CD4+CD25+CD127low regulatory T cell in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Keke HUANG ; Jiyu WANG ; Huiping WANG ; Zhimin ZHAI
Chinese Journal of Immunology 2025;41(5):1102-1107
Objective:To study the level of regulatory T cell(Treg)in peripheral blood of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(DLBCL)patients at initial diagnosis,and its value in the evaluation of efficacy and prognosis.Methods:A total of 72 newly diagnosed DLBCL patients admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from January 2018 to February 2022 were selected as research objects,and 17 healthy volunteers were taken as the control group.The level of CD4+CD25+CD127lowTreg in peripheral blood of patients was detected by flow cytometry,and a comparative analysis was conducted in conjunction with the clinical characteristics of patients.Results:The percentage of Treg in peripheral blood before treatment was correlated with Ann Arbor stage,IPI score,ECOG score and hemoglobin(HB).The levels of Treg in peripheral blood at initial diagnosis were significantly lower than that of healthy con-trols(3.85±0.22 vs 5.15±0.31,P=0.007).DLBCL patients were divided into high Treg group and low Treg group according to the me-dian percentage of CD4+CD25+CD127lowTreg in peripheral blood to CD4+T cells at initial diagnosis,the total effective rate of high Treg group was significantly higher than that of low Treg group(P=0.035).ECOG score(P=0.040)and low level of Treg before treatment(P=0.014)were independent risk factors for progression-free survival(PFS)in DLBCL patients.Having B symptom(P=0.028),ECOG score≥2(P=0.041)and low level of Treg before treatment(P=0.036)were independent risk factors for OS.PFS(P=0.020)and OS(P=0.036)in low Treg group were significantly lower than those in high Treg group.Conclusion:The low percentage of CD4+CD25+CD127lowTreg in peripheral blood of newly diagnosed DLBCL patients indicates a poor prognosis.
9.MiRNA-155-5p aggravates renal injury in lupus nephritis by targeting OCS1 to regulate the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway
Aitao LIN ; Zhimin HUANG ; Zhiying ZHANG ; Tingna FU ; Liangxi LU ; Xiaoyu LIU ; Yini JIANG ; Leilei ZHAO ; Jinyu WU
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2025;41(9):1285-1292
Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of miR-155-5p targeting suppressor of cytokine signaling 1(SOCS1)in regulating the Janus kinase 2(JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcrip-tion 3(STAT3)signaling pathway in renal injury associated with lupus nephritis(LN).Methods Thirty female MRL-faslpr lupus model mice were randomly divided into five groups(n=6 per group):the model group,the antagomir NC group,the miR-155-5p antagomir group,the miR-155-5p antagomir+shRNA control group,and the miR-155-5p antagomir+SOCS1 shRNA group.The mice were treated with adeno-associated virus vectors carrying miR-155-5p antagomir,antagomir NC,SOCS1 shRNA,or shRNA control.Additionally,six age-matched C57BL/6 mice served as a control group and received an equivalent volume of saline.Serum blood urea nitrogen(BUN)and creatinine(Scr)levels,renal histopathological changes,and the expression levels of miR-155-5p,SOCS1,phosphorylated JAK2(p-JAK2),and phosphorylated STAT3(p-STAT3)in renal tissues were evaluated.Results Compared with the normal group,the model group exhibited significantly elevated levels of BUN,Scr,miR-155-5p,p-JAK2,and p-STAT3 proteins in the kidneys(P<0.01),while the expression level of SOCS1 was markedly reduced(P<0.01).Compared with both the model group and the antagomir NC group,the miR-155-5p antagomir group showed decreased levels of BUN,Scr,miR-155-5p,p-JAK2,and p-STAT3 proteins(P<0.01),along with a significant increase in SOCS1 expression(P<0.01).Similarly,compared with the miR-155-5p antagomir group and the miR-155-5p antagomir+shRNA control group,the miR-155-5p antagomir+SOCS1 shRNA group demon-strated significantly higher levels of BUN,Scr,miR-155-5p,p-JAK2,and p-STAT3 proteins(P<0.01),while SOCS1 expression was notably decreased(P<0.01).Renal pathology analysis revealed that,compared to the normal group,the model group exhibited glomerular atrophy,extensive infiltration of inflammatory cells in the renal tubulointerstitial region,and partial renal tubular necrosis.In contrast,the miR-155-5p antagomir group showed marked improvements in glomerular atrophy,tubular necrosis,and inflammatory cell infiltration compared with the model group and antagomir NC group.Furthermore,compared with the miR-155-5p antagomir group and the miR-155-5p antagomir+shRNA control group,the miR-155-5p antagomir+SOCS1 shRNA group exhibited more severe glomerular atrophy,tubular necrosis,and inflammatory cell infiltration.Conclusion MiR-155-5p exacerbates renal damage in MRL-faslpr lupus model mice by targeting SOCS1,potentially through the activation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.
10.“Blood flow control techniques” in laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy: strategy and application
Zhijian TAN ; Xiaosheng ZHONG ; Chengjiang QIU ; Zhimin YU ; Guihao CHEN ; Sheng ZHANG ; Yanchen CHEN ; Youxing HUANG ; Zhangyuanzhu LIU ; Yifeng LIU ; Zhantao SHEN
Chinese Journal of Surgery 2025;63(11):1005-1008
Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy(LPD) poses a high risk of intraoperative bleeding due to the complex anatomy and rich blood supply in the pancreatic head region. This paper innovatively proposes a blood flow control technique system for LPD, adopting a strategy of “priority devascularization and pre-blocking”.By first addressing the peripheral collateral blood supply and the gastroduodenal artery, and then performing dual-system pre-blocking, the dorsal pancreatic artery and the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery are treated in situ through a combined middle and left posterior approach. This progressive blood flow control method enhances surgical safety and oncological radicality, offering a new paradigm for the development of minimally invasive pancreatic surgery.

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