To thoroughly implement the strategic deployment outlined in the Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Promoting the Inheritance and Innovative Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine regarding research on dominant diseases of traditional Chinese medicine and to uphold the development philosophy of equal emphasis on traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine，the China Association of Chinese Medicine has fully played a leading academic role by systematically organizing and conducting a series of academic youth salons on clinical dominant diseases of traditional Chinese medicine. On September 13，2024，the 36^th Youth Salon on Clinical Dominant Diseases was successfully held in Nanjing，focusing on the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine and the integrative traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction （ED）. The conference brought together leading experts from traditional Chinese medicine，western medicine，and interdisciplinary fields，facilitating in-depth multidisciplinary discussions that led to key consensus on optimizing traditional Chinese medicine treatment protocols for ED，researching and developing new drugs of traditional Chinese medicine，and advancing interdisciplinary development in traditional Chinese medicine. This salon systematically sorted out the clinical strengths and distinctive features of traditional Chinese medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of ED. Based on current research foundations and clinical needs，it identified key directions for future scientific layout and scientific research tackling： （1） Standardization of syndrome differentiation system of traditional Chinese medicine for ED. （2） Optimization and standardization of intervention methods of integrated traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine. （3） High-quality clinical research guided by evidence-based medicine. （4） In-depth analysis of the pharmacological mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of ED. （5） Clinical translation and application promotion of new drugs of traditional Chinese medicine. （6） Interdisciplinary integration and innovation in traditional Chinese medicine. For each research direction，key focus areas，expected objectives，and clinical value were further refined，along with the establishment of a scientifically sound priority funding level evaluation system. Therefore，building on the series of salons on the ED-focused dominant diseases of traditional Chinese medicine，this paper provides standardized guidance for clinical practice of traditional Chinese medicine in ED management，effectively contributing to the high-quality development of traditional Chinese medicine. It serves as a valuable reference for national scientific and technological strategic layout， research and development decision-making in new drugs of traditional Chinese medicine，research topic planning，and clinical guideline formulation.

BackgroundLow medication compliance among patients with severe mental disorders increases the disease burden on both the patients' families and the society. Medication adherence is influenced by numerous factors. Traditional methods such as Logistic regression struggle to quantify the importance of these factors. By introducing Extreme Gradient Boosting （XGBoost） combined with Shapley Additive Explanations （SHAP）， enables the quantification of the relative contribution weights of each factor， providing support for identifying the core influencing factors. ObjectiveTo explore the influencing factors of medication adherence among patients with severe mental disorders in Zhuhai， aiming to provide references for optimizing patient management strategies. MethodsExtract the data of patients with severe mental disorders who were registered on the mental health system platform in Zhuhai City from January 1， 2023 to March 31， 2025. A total of 9 329 patients were finally included for analysis. Influencing factors were screened using univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis， and an XGBoost model combined with the SHAP algorithm was constructed to quantify the importance of each influencing factor. ResultsAmong 9 329 patients， 8 446 demonstrated medication adherence， yielding an adherence rate of 90.53%. Multivariable analysis identified several risk factors significantly associated with medication non-adherence， being unmarried （OR=1.237， 95% CI： 1.019–1.502） or divorced （OR=1.389， 95% CI： 1.038–1.832）， a diagnosis of mental retardation with psychiatric disorders （OR=3.025， 95% CI： 2.402–3.796） or paranoid psychosis （OR=5.117， 95% CI： 3.086–8.299）， a disease duration of 2–4 years （OR=1.355， 95% CI： 1.085–1.696）， 4–6 years （OR=2.143， 95% CI： 1.671–2.747）， or >6 years （OR=1.681， 95% CI： 1.365–2.079）， lack of guardian subsidies （OR=1.412， 95% CI： 1.099–1.801）， absence of a disability certificate （OR=1.900， 95% CI： 1.588–2.282）， not being enrolled in care and support groups （OR=1.384， 95% CI： 1.183–1.617） or community services （OR=1.313， 95% CI： 1.042–1.645）， and not cohabiting with a guardian （OR=1.257， 95% CI： 1.048–1.501）. Conversely， the enrollment in special outpatient disease programs （OR=0.716， 95% CI： 0.609–0.842） and a family history of mental illness （OR=0.713， 95% CI： 0.503–0.982） were identified as protective factors. The XGBoost model exhibited robust predictive performance， with a sensitivity of 0.433， specificity of 0.944， accuracy of 0.891， Area Under the Curve （AUC） of 0.837， and F1 value of 0.449. Feature importance ranking indicated that the top three factors were disease duration， diagnosis， and the acquisition of disability certificates. ConclusionPolicy-based support （acquisition of disability certificates， special outpatient disease enrollment） and clinical disease characteristics （disease duration， diagnosis type） are key factors affecting medication adherence among patients with severe mental disorders in Zhuhai City. ［Funded by Zhuhai Medical Research Project （number， 2220009000281）］

ObjectiveTo analyse the efficacy and mechanism of Guizhi Fulingwan in regulating sex hormone disorders in rats with benign prostatic hyperplasia （BPH）. MethodsThirty male SD rats were randomly divided into a sham group， a model group， a finasteride group （0.45 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）， and low-dose and high-dose groups of Guizhi Fulingwan （0.135， 0.337 5 g∙kg^-1∙d^-1）， with six in each group. The BPH model was prepared by subcutaneous injection of 3.5 mg∙kg^-1∙d^-1 testosterone propionate after debridement surgery in all groups except the sham group. The rats in the sham group and the model group were administered with an equal volume of saline by gavage， and the rest of the groups were administered with the corresponding medicinal solution by gavage for 35 days. Histopathology in rats was evaluated by prostate wet weight， volume， index， and hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. The serum sex hormone levels of testosterone （T）， dihydrotestosterone （DHT）， and estradiol （E₂） were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The protein expression of the androgen receptor （AR） was detected by immunohistochemistry. The serum metabolism profiles of rats in the sham group， the model group， and the high-dose group of Guizhi Fulingwan were compared by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem Fourier transform mass spectrometry （UHPLCQ Exactive） to screen for metabolic markers and to obtain relevant metabolic pathways. ResultsCompared with those in the sham group， the wet weight， volume， index， serum sex hormone level， and AR protein expression of the prostate in the model group were all elevated （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the histomorphology showed pathological changes. Compared with those in the model group， the wet weight， volume， index， serum sex hormone level， and AR protein expression of the prostate in the intervention groups showed a decreasing trend （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and histopathology was improved. Serum metabolomics analysis obtained a total of 40 metabolic markers related to the intervention effect of Guizhi Fulingwan， such as dehydrosafynol， hyoscyamine， and lumichrome， which were involved in the pathways of autophagy， riboflavin metabolism， and retrograde endocannabinoid signaling. ConclusionGuizhi Fulingwan can effectively regulate sex hormone disorders in BPH rats， and its mechanism may be related to autophagy， riboflavin metabolism， and retrograde endocannabinoid signaling.

BACKGROUND: The transcription factor POU2F1 regulates the expression levels of microRNAs in neoplasia. However, the miR-29b1/a cluster modulated by POU2F1 in gastric cancer (GC) remains unknown. METHODS: Gene expression in GC cells was evaluated using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR), western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and RNA in situ hybridization. Co-immunoprecipitation was performed to evaluate protein interactions. Transwell migration and invasion assays were performed to investigate the biological behavior of GC cells. MiR-29b1/a cluster promoter analysis and luciferase activity assay for the 3'-UTR study were performed in GC cells. In vivo tumor metastasis was evaluated in nude mice. RESULTS: POU2F1 is overexpressed in GC cell lines and binds to the miR-29b1/a cluster promoter. POU2F1 is upregulated, whereas mature miR-29b-3p and miR-29a-3p are downregulated in GC tissues. POU2F1 promotes GC metastasis by inhibiting miR-29b-3p or miR-29a-3p expression in vitro and in vivo . Furthermore, PIK3R1 and/or PIK3R3 are direct targets of miR-29b-3p and/or miR-29a-3p , and the ectopic expression of PIK3R1 or PIK3R3 reverses the suppressive effect of mature miR-29b-3p and/or miR-29a-3p on GC cell metastasis and invasion. Additionally, the interaction of PIK3R1 with PIK3R3 promotes migration and invasion, and miR-29b-3p , miR-29a-3p , PIK3R1 , and PIK3R3 regulate migration and invasion via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) pathway in GC cells. In addition, POU2F1 , PIK3R1 , and PIK3R3 expression levels negatively correlated with miR-29b-3p and miR-29a-3p expression levels in GC tissue samples. CONCLUSIONS The POU2F1 - miR-29b-3p / miR-29a-3p-PIK3R1 / PIK3R1 signaling axis regulates tumor progression and may be a promising therapeutic target for GC.
MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement/physiology* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Animals ; Mice ; Octamer Transcription Factor-1/metabolism* ; Mice, Nude ; Class Ia Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/metabolism* ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/genetics* ; Male ; Immunohistochemistry ; Female

The NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, a high-molecular-weight protein complex in the cytoplasm, is composed of three core components: the sensor protein NLRP3, the adaptor protein apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase-recruitment domain (ASC) and the effector protein caspase-1. It plays a critical role in regulating host immune and inflammatory responses. Studies have shown that the NLRP3 inflammasome has increasingly become a focal point in tumor molecular biology field. A growing body of evidence indicates that the increased expression and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is closely associated with the pathogenesis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and the tumor microenvironment (TME). It may promote tumor proliferation, invasion, migration, and other biological behaviors through various regulatory mechanisms while influencing tumor immune evasion and therapy resistance, which holds promise as a prognostic biomarker for patients. This review explores the current effect and mechanism of the NLRP3 inflammasome and its signaling pathways in head and neck cancer, providing insights into clinical targeted drug development and molecular immunotherapy.
Humans ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics* ; Inflammasomes/metabolism* ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/pathology* ; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck/metabolism* ; Tumor Microenvironment ; Signal Transduction ; Animals

OBJECTIVES: To explore the efficacy of DSA-guided intrathecal drug delivery system combined with Zi Wu Liu Zhu Acupoint Therapy for management of cancer pain and provide reference for its standardized clinical application. Methods and. RESULTS: Recommendations were formulated based on literature review and expert group discussion, and consensus was reached following expert consultation. The consensus recommendations are comprehensive, covering the entire treatment procedures from preoperative assessment and preparation, surgical operation process, postoperative management and traditional Chinese medicine treatment to individualized treatment planning. The study results showed that the treatment plans combining traditional Chinese with Western medicine effectively alleviated cancer pain, reduced the use of opioid drugs, and significantly improved the quality of life and enhanced immune function of the patients. Postoperative follow-up suggested good treatment tolerance among the patients without serious complications. CONCLUSIONS The formulated consensus is comprehensive and can provide reference for clinicians to use DSA-guided intrathecal drug delivery system combined with Zi Wu Liu Zhu Acupoint Therapy. The combined treatment has a high clinical value with a good safety profile for management of cancer pain.
Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Cancer Pain/therapy* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Pain Management/methods* ; China

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Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction syndrome caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Septic acute kidney injury (SAKI) is one of the most common complications of sepsis, and the occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI) indicates that the patient's condition is critical with a poor prognosis. The traditional view holds that the main mechanism of SAKI is the reduction of renal blood flow, inadequate renal perfusion, inflammatory response, and microcirculatory dysfunction caused by sepsis, which subsequently leads to ischemia and necrosis of renal tubular cells. Recent research findings indicate that processes such as autophagy and other forms of programmed cell death play an increasingly important role. Autophagy is a programmed intracellular degradation process and is a form of programmed cell death. Cells degrade their cytoplasmic components via lysosomes, breaking down and recycling intracellular constituents to meet their metabolic needs, maintain intracellular homeostasis, and renew organelles. During SAKI, autophagy plays a crucial protective role through various mechanisms, including regulating inflammation and immune responses, clearing damaged organelles, and maintaining stability in the intracellular environment. In recent years, the role of autophagy in the pathogenesis and treatment of SAKI has received widespread attention. Research has confirmed that various intracellular signaling pathways and signaling molecules targeting autophagy [such as mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway, and Sirtuins (SIRT), autophagy associated factor Beclin-1, and Toll-like receptor (TLR)] are involved in the development of SAKI. Due to the complex pathogenesis of SAKI, current treatment strategies include fluid management, infection control, maintenance of internal environment balance, and renal replacement therapy; however, the mortality remains high. In recent years, it has been found that autophagy plays a critical protective role in sepsis-mediated AKI. As a result, an increasing number of drugs are being developed to alleviate SAKI by regulating autophagy. This article reviews the latest advances in the role of autophagy in the pathogenesis and treatment of SAKI, with the aim of providing insights for the development of new drugs for SAKI patients.
Humans ; Acute Kidney Injury/etiology* ; Autophagy ; Sepsis/complications* ; Signal Transduction

ObjectiveTo assess the microstructural involvement of gray matter in recovered COVID-19 patients using Synthetic MRI. MethodsThis study was conducted in 29 recovered COVID-19 patients， including severe group （SG， n=11） and ordinary group （OG， n=18）. Healthy volunteers matched by age， sex， BMI and years of education were selected as a healthy control group （HC=23 cases）. Each subject underwent synthetic MRI to generate quantitative T₁ and T₂ maps， and the T₁ and T₂ maps were segmented into 90 regions of interest （ROIs） using automatic anatomical labeling （AAL） mapping. T₁ and T₂ values for each ROI were obtained by averaging all voxels within the ROIs. The T₁ and T₂ values of the 90 brain regions between the three groups were compared. ResultsRelative to HC， the SG had significantly higher T2 values in bilateral orbital superior frontal gyrus， bilateral parahippocampal gyrus， bilateral putamen， bilateral middle temporal gyrus， bilateral Inferior temporal gyrus， left orbital superior frontal gyrus， left orbital inferior frontal gyrus， left gyrus rectus， left anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyri， right median cingulate and paracingulate gyri， left posterior cingulate gyrus， and left supramarginal gyrus （P＜0.05）； Relative to OG， SG showed significantly increased T₂ values in the left rectus gyrus， left parahippocampal gyrus， bilateral middle temporal gyrus， and bilateral inferior temporal gyrus （P＜0.05）. Relative to HC， the T₁ values of SG were significantly increased in bilateral orbital superior frontal gyrus， left rectus gyrus， left anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyri， right posterior cingulate gyrus， left parahippocampal gyrus， left lingual gyrus， left putamen， left thalamus（P＜0.05）； Relative to OG， the T₁ values of SG were significantly higher in the right posterior cingulate gyrus， right calcarine fissure and surrounding cortex， and left putamen （P＜0.05）. ConclusionsEven after recovering from COVID-19， patients may still have persistent or delayed damage to their brain gray matter structure， which is correlated with the severity of the condition. SyMRI can serve as a sensitive tool to assess the extent of microstructural damage to the central nervous system， aiding in early diagnosis of the disease.

Alzheimer's disease is a common central neurodegenerative disease， mainly manifested by cognitive impairment and non-cognitive neuropsychiatric symptoms that severely affect patients' daily life and behavioral functioning. The pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease is still unclear， and the western medicine currently used to treat Alzheimer's disease is only symptomatic， with a single pathway， limited efficacy， and many side effects. In recent years， with the deepening of research on Alzheimer's disease， the study and application of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease have gradually increased. Several studies have shown that TCM and its effective components can exert anti-Alzheimer's disease effects by regulating molecular mechanisms such as pathological protein production and aggregation， oxidative stress， neuroinflammation， ferroptosis， mitochondrial dysfunction， neurogenesis and neurotransmission， and brain-gut axis. This paper summarized the research progress of TCM in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in recent years， so as to provide a reference for further study of the specific mechanism of TCM in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and the discovery of effective components of TCM.