Objective: To determine the clinical efficacy and mechanism of Piwei Peiyuan Pill (PPP) combined with moxibustion for treating patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) with spleen and stomach weakness syndrome. Methods: Ninety-six CAG patients with spleen and stomach weakness syndrome who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled at the Department of Spleen and Stomach Diseases of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from June 2022 to December 2023. The patients were randomly divided into a control, a Chinese medicine, and a combined group using a random number table method, with 32 cases in each group (two cases per group were excluded). The control group was treated with rabeprazole combined with folic acid tablets (both thrice daily), the Chinese medicine group was treated with PPP (8 g, thrice daily), and the combined group was treated with moxa stick moxibustion (once daily) on the basis of the Chinese medicine group for 12 consecutive weeks. Gastric mucosa atrophy in the three groups was observed before and after treatment. The gastric mucosal pathological score was evaluated. The Patient Reported Outcome (PRO) scale was used to evaluate the patients′ physical and mental health status and quality of life.An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-10, IL-37, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β levels in each group. Real-time fluorescence PCR was used to detect the relative expression levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) mRNA in each group. Western blotting was used to detect the relative expression levels of proteins related to the STAT3/mTOR signaling pathway, and the adverse drug reactions and events were recorded and compared. Results: There was no statistical difference in age, gender, disease duration, family history of gastrointestinal tumors, alcohol consumption history, and body mass index among the three groups of patients.The total therapeutic efficacy rates of the control, Chinese medicine, and combined groups in treating gastric mucosal atrophy were 66.67% (20/30), 86.67% (26/30), and 90.00% (27/30), respectively (P<0.05). Compared to before treatment, the pathological and PRO scale scores of gastric mucosa in each group decreased after treatment, and TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-37, and TGF-β levels decreased. The relative STAT3 and mTOR mRNA expression levels, as well as the relative STAT3, p-STAT3, mTOR, and p-mTOR protein expression levels decreased (P<0.05), whereas the IL-4 and IL-10 levels increased (P<0.05). After treatment, compared to the control group, the pathological score of gastric mucosa, PRO scale score, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-37, TGF-β content, relative STAT3 and mTOR mRNA expression levels, and relative STAT3, p-STAT3, mTOR, and p-mTOR protein expression levels in the Chinese medicine and combined groups after treatment were reduced (P<0.05), whereas the IL-4 and IL-10 levels increased (P<0.05). After treatment, compared to the Chinese medicine group, the combined group showed a decrease in relative STAT3, mTOR mRNA expression levels, and STAT3, p-STAT3, mTOR, and p-mTOR protein expression levels (P<0.05). Conclusion The combination of PPP and moxibustion may regulate the inflammatory mechanism of the body by inhibiting the abnormal activation of the STAT3/mTOR signaling pathway, upregulating related anti-inflammatory factor levels, downregulating pro-inflammatory factor expression, and increasing related repair factor expression, thereby promoting the recovery of atrophic gastric mucosa, reducing discomfort symptoms, and improving the physical and mental state of CAG patients with spleen and stomach weakness syndrome.

Allergen-specific immunotherapy（AIT） remains the only therapeutic approach with the potential to modify the natural course of allergic rhinitis（AR）. Nevertheless, considerable inter-individual variability exists in patients'responses to AIT. To facilitate more reliable assessment of treatment efficacy, the China Rhinopathy Research Cooperation Group（CRRCG） convened young and middle-aged nasal experts in China to formulate the present consensus. The recommended subjective outcome measures for AIT comprise symptom scores, medication scores, combined symptom and medication scores, quality-of-life assessments, evaluation of disease control, and assessment of comorbidities. Objective indicators may supplement these measures. Currently available objective approaches include skin prick testing, nasal provocation testing, and allergen exposure chambers. However, these methods remain constrained by practical limitations and are not yet appropriate for routine implementation in clinical efficacy evaluation. In addition, several biomarkers, including sIgE and the sIgE/tIgE ratio, sIgG4, serum IgE-blocking activity, IgA, cytokines and chemokines, as well as immune cell surface molecules and their functional activity, have been shown to have associations with AIT outcomes. While these biomarkers may complement subjective assessments, they are subject to significant limitations. Consequently, large-scale multicenter trials and real-world evidence are required to strengthen the evidence base. The present consensus underscores the necessity of integrating patients'subjective experiences with objective testing throughout the treatment process, thereby providing a more comprehensive and accurate framework for efficacy evaluation. Looking forward, future investigations should prioritize the incorporation of multi-omics data and artificial intelligence methodologies, which hold promise for overcoming current limitations in assessment strategies and for advancing both the standardization and personalization of AIT.
Humans ; Allergens/immunology* ; China ; Consensus ; Desensitization, Immunologic ; Immunoglobulin E ; Quality of Life ; Rhinitis, Allergic/therapy* ; Treatment Outcome ; East Asian People

AIM: To observe the imaging characteristics of the affected eyes of patients with central serous chorioretinopathy(CSC)of different ages and their asymptomatic fellow eyes.METHODS: Retrospective study. A total of 76 cases(88 eyes)of CSC patients diagnosed in the ophthalmology department of our hospital from April to September, 2023 and 35 cases(35 eyes of asymptomatic fellow eyes of patients with unilateral CSC)were selected for the study. According to age, they were divided into young and middle-aged groups(<40 years old), middle-aged groups(40-50 years old)and middle-aged and elderly groups(>50 years old). The imaging features of the affected eyes of CSC patients of different ages and their asymptomatic fellow eyes were observed.RESULTS: The subfoveal choroidal thickness(SFCT)of CSC eyes in the young and middle-aged patients(487.30±83.33 μm)was significantly greater than that of the middle-aged group(414.17±96.02 μm, P<0.05)and the middle-aged and elderly group(409.4±107.42 μm, P<0.05). The incidence of choroidal neovascularization(CNV)in CSC patients of the middle-aged and elderly group was significantly higher than that in the young and middle-aged group(P<0.0167). The SFCT of the asymptomatic fellow eye of the unilateral CSC patient in the young and middle-aged group(511.29±40.89 μm)was significantly larger than that of the middle-aged and elderly group(364.76±82.26 μm, P<0.05). Among them, the vortex vein anastomosis rate in eyes with CSC is higher than 90%, and vortex vein anastomosis or dilatation is present in all asymptomatic fellow eyes of CSC patients.CONCLUSION: There are differences in the imaging manifestations of CSC-affected eyes and their asymptomatic fellow eyes of different age groups. SFCT is generally thickened and gradually becomes thinner with the growth of age. The incidence of CNV in CSC-affected eyes is the highest in the middle-aged and elderly group. In addition, vortex vein anastomosis and dilatation are common in CSC-affected eyes and asymptomatic fellow eyes.

Objective:To systematically evaluate the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in elderly patients with depression.Methods:The randomized controlled trials on the effect of CBT in elderly patients with depression, published until December 15, 2022, were searched in PubMed, CINHAL, Cochrane Library, China Biology Medicine, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, and VIP. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and used the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials (ROB 2.0) to evaluate the quality of the included studies. Statistical analysis was conducted using Stata 16.0, and the quality of evidence was rated using Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (GRADE) predictor software.Results:A total of 11 randomized controlled trials were included, with a total of 833 elderly patients with depression. Randomized effect models were used to analyze outcome indicators such as depression, anxiety, and quality of life by combining effect quantities. Meta-analysis and GRADE evidence quality showed that compared to the control group, medium quality evidence showed that CBT could relieve depression in elderly depression patients with a statistical difference [ SMD=-1.58, 95% CI (-2.16, -0.99), P<0.05]. Low quality evidence suggested that CBT could alleviate anxiety in elderly depression patients also with a statistical difference [ SMD=-2.25, 95% CI (-4.04, -0.47), P<0.05]. Very low quality evidence indicated that CBT did not significantly improve the quality of life in elderly depression patients compared to conventional or pharmacological treatment [ SMD=-0.09, 95% CI (-2.07, 1.88), P>0.05] . Conclusions:Existing evidence suggests that CBT can alleviate depression and anxiety in elderly depression patients, but its improvement in quality of life is not yet significant. Treatment feedback and forms of CBT may become a research focus in recent years on intervention for elderly depression patients.

Objective:To analyze the mutant spectrum of clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential(CHIP)related mutations and clinical characteristics and to explore the correlation and the possible mechanism between CHIP-related mutations and cardio-cerebrovasculars events(CCEs)in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms(MPNs).Methods:The clinical data and next-generation sequencing results of 73 MPN patients in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from August 2019 to July 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.Statistical analyses were conducted by multivariate logistic regression for the effects of CHIP-related mutations and inflammatory cytokines on CCEs for MPNs patients.Results:Fifty-five cases of MPN(75.3％)showed positive in CHIP-related genes.There was no significant difference in variant allele frequency of CHIP-related gene between essential thrombocythemia(ET)and polycythemia vera(PV).CHIP-related gene mutations were mainly single gene mutations,with mutation rate from high to low as JAK2V617F(63.0％,46/73),ASXL1(16.4％,12/73),TET2(11.0％,8/73),DNMT3A(9.6％,7/73),SRSF2(6.9％,5/73),SF3B1(4.1％,3/73),TP53(1.4％,1/73)and PPM1D(1.4％,1/73).The mutation rate of CHIP-related genes in MPN patients＞60 years old was significantly higher than that in the patients ≤ 60 years old[91.7％(33/36)vs 59.5％(22/37)].CCEs occurred in 27 MPNs patients(37.0％,MPNs/CCEs),and 5 had recurrent CCEs,all of which were arterial events.Age(62.8±12.8 years vs 53.9±15.8 years,P=0.015),IL-1β level(17.7±26.0 vs 4.3±8.6,P=0.012),IL-8 level(360.7±598.6 vs 108.3±317.0,P=0.045),the proportion of the patients with thrombosis history(29.6％vs 2.2％,P=0.020),and the detection rate of CHIP-related mutations(88.9％vs 67.4％,P=0.040)in the group with CCEs were higher than those in the group without CCEs.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age(OR=0.917,95％CI:0.843-0.999,P=0.047),thrombosis history(OR=34.148,95％CI·2.392-487.535,P=0.009),any CHIP-related mutations(OR=16.065,95％CI·1.217-212.024,P=0.035),and elevated levelofIL-1β(OR=0.929,95％CI:0.870-0.992,P=0.027)were independent risk factors for MPNs/CCEs.CHIP-related gene mutations were not associated with CCEs in MPN patients,but DNMT3A(OR=88.717,95％CI:2.690-292.482,P=0.012)and ASXL1(OR=7.941,95％CI:1.045-60.353,P=0.045)were independent risk factors for CCEs in PV.Conclusion:There is a higher mutation rate of CHIP-related genes in MPN patients,especially those over 60 years old.Older age,thrombosis history,CHIP-related mutations and IL-1βelevated levels are independent risk factors for CCEs in MPN.DNMT3A and ASXL1 mutations are independent risk factors for CCEs in PV patients.CHIP-related gene mutations and inflammatory cytokine IL-1 β elevated levels may be the novel risk factors for CCEs in MPN.

Objective:This study aims to explore the synergistic effects of DIP and other medical insurance supply-side policies.Method:City A that has piloted DIP reform was set as the treatment group,and City B without reform was set as the control group.A total of 1 120 public medical institution samples from 2019 to 2022 were collected.The total medical expenses during hospitalization and some structural expenses were analyzed using DID method.Result:DIP had a significant inhibitory effect on the medical expenses,and the expenses of checkups and examinations during hospitalization in city A,but had no impact on the drug and the material expenses during hospitalization.Conclusion:DIP played a significant cost control role and effectively controlled the total medical expenses during hospitalization.The synergistic effects of price adjustment of medical services policy and national centralized drug/material procurement policy on cost control were insufficient.DIP synergized with other supply-side policies to promote rational medical cost structure.It is suggested that medical insurance departments should focus on the synergistic effects of medical insurance supply-side policies to jointly improve the efficiency of medical insurance fund utilization.

Objective To compare choroidal parameters and morphological changes in asymptomatic contralateral eyes of patients with pachychoroid neovasculopathy(PNV)and central serous chorioretinopathy(CSC)using ultra-wide-field swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography(UWF SS-OCTA).Methods A prospective,cross-section-al,observational study was conducted,including 23 asymptomatic contralateral eyes of 23 CSC patients and 19 asympto-matic contralateral eyes of 19 PNV patients treated in our Ophthalmology Department from April 2023 to September 2023,as well as 22 eyes of 22 age-and sex-matched healthy individuals.These eyes were divided into the CSC contralateral eye group,PNV contralateral eye group,and healthy eye group,respectively.There was no statistically significant difference in age,male ratio,and best corrected visual acuity among the three groups(all P＞0.05).All subjects underwent UWF SS-OCTA imaging examination and comparison,and their choroidal thickness(CT),vascular density(VD)in the major vas-cular layer of the choroid(ratio of blood flow pixel area to total area of the target area),and choroidal vascular index(CVI)(ratio of choroidal vascular lumen volume to total volume of choroidal vessels and stromata)in 9 zones(superior temporal,superior,superior nasal,temporal,foveal,nasal,inferior temporal,inferior,and inferior nasal)were measured and recorded,respectively.The macular subfoveal retinal thickness,subfoveal choroidal thickness(SFCT),and asymmet-ric dilation and anastomosis of the vortex veins were examined and compared in each group of patients.Results There was a statistically significant difference in macular SFCT among the three groups(all P＜0.01).There was a statistically significant difference in the proportion of asymmetric dilation or anastomosis of the vortex veins among the three groups(all P＜0.001).The CVI in the superior nasal and nasal zones in the CSC contralateral eye group were higher than those in the PNV contralateral eye group(both P＜0.05).The CVI and average CVI in the superior nasal,temporal,foveal,inferi-or,and inferior nasal zones in the CSC contralateral eye group were higher than those in the healthy eye group(all P＜0.05).The CVI in the temporal,foveal,and inferior zones in the PNV contralateral eye group were higher than those in the healthy eye group(all P＜0.05).The VD in the major vascular layer of the choroid in the superior temporal,superior,su-perior nasal,foveal,and inferior temporal zones in the CSC contralateral eye group were lower than those in the healthy eye group(all P＜0.05).The VD in the major vascular layer of the choroid in the PNV contralateral eye group were lower than that in the healthy eye group in all zones(all P＜0.001).The CT in the superior temporal and superior nasal zones in the CSC contralateral eye group were higher than those in the PNV contralateral eye group(both P＜0.05).The CT in the superior temporal,superior,superior nasal,temporal,foveal,inferior,and inferior nasal zones in the CSC contralateral eye group were higher than those in the healthy eye group(all P＜0.05).The CT in the superior,temporal,foveal,and in-ferior zones in the PNV contralateral eye group were higher than those in the healthy eye group(all P＜0.05).Conclu-sion This study provides validation from the perspective of the fellow eye that CSC and PNV may not be different stages of the same disease.CSC and PNV are not unilateral diseases,but bilateral choroida diseases that manifest in one eye.

Objective To observe the efficacy of 577 nm subthreshold micropulse laser photocoagulation(SMLP)on central serous chorioretinopathy(CSC)and explore the baseline characteristics and prognostic features of multimodal ima-ging-based CSC.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 44 patients(46 eyes)with CSC diagnosed at the Ophthalmology Department of the General Hospital of Central Theater Command,PLA from June 2017 to May 2022.The pa-tients were classified into the simple CSC group(23 eyes)and the complex CSC group(23 eyes)based on the multimodal imaging classification.All patients underwent 577 nm SMLP treatment.The best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)and cen-tral macular thickness(CMT)of patients between the two groups were compared before treatment and at 1,3 and 6 months after treatment.The intra-group and inter-group changes and the complete absorption rate of subretinal fluid(SRF)in CSC eyes of patients between the two groups were assessed before treatment and at 6 months after follow-up.Results The BCVA of patients in the simple CSC group significantly improved at 6 months after treatment compared with the base-line(P=0.010);the BCVA of patients in the complex CSC group significantly improved at 3 and 6 months after treatment compared with the baseline(both P＜0.01).The CMT of patients in the simple CSC group was significantly lower than the baseline at 1,3,and 6 months after treatment(all P＜0.05);the CMT of patients in the complex CSC group was signifi-cantly lower than the baseline at 1 and 6 months after treatment(both P＜0.05);the change in CMT from baseline after 6 months of treatment for simple CSC was(-163.74±88.10)μm,the change in CMT from baseline after 6 months of treat-ment for complex CSC was(-71.96±164.30)μm,and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P=0.023).During the follow-up period,the number of eyes with persistent SRF in the simple CSC group was significant-ly lower than that in the complex CSC group(P＜0.05).The complete absorption rate of SRF at 6 months after treatment in the simple CSC group was greater than that in the complex CSC group(P＜0.05).Conclusion The prognosis of sim-ple CSC treated with 577 nm SMLP is better than that of complex CSC,and the new multimodal imaging classification has a certain value in predicting the prognosis of CSC after SMLP.

Haemosuccus pancreaticus (HP) as a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding is rarely reported. Due to the intermittent bleeding and lack of standardized diagnostic methods, pancreatic bleeding is often misdiagnosed and can be life-threatening in severe cases. Currently, angiography is the "gold standard" for diagnosis among commonly used diagnostic methods. In addition to vascular embolization and surgical treatment, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) -guided vascular therapy as an emerging treatment method is also gradually being used in clinical practice, with great potential to become the preferred treatment for subsequent cases.

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is one of the main causes of impaired visual function in middle-aged men. CSC is characterized by a thickening of the choroid and hyperpermeability of the choroidal vessels, resulting in serous subretinal fluid. The pathogenesis of CSC is not fully understood. Since the introduction of indocyanine green angiography, the detection of the influence of the vortex veins in CSC, it has been established that the presence of a thick choroid may be caused by congestion of the vortex vein, resulting in new choroidal drainage through a vortex vein anastomosis. The study of vortex venous blood hemodynamics has elucidated the new concept of the pathogenesis of CSC, deepened our understanding of the disease, and provided a theoretical basis for new treatment methods. With a better understanding of the pathogenesis of CSC, we expect to be able to stratify patients at risk in the clinic and evaluate optimized treatment options for patients with CSC