To profile telomere-related genes (TRGs) to develop a robust prognostic tool for stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) and explore their associations with immune regulation and treatment response.

A total of 2083 TRGs were analyzed in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-STAD cohort (412 tumor and 36 normal samples) and external validation was performed using the GSE84437 dataset. A prognostic model was constructed through differential expression analysis, univariate Cox regression, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression. Model performance was evaluated using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, multivariable Cox regression, time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves, and nomogram construction. Associations with immune cell infiltration, tumor mutation burden (TMB), tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE), and drug sensitivity were assessed. The expression patterns of the signature genes were experimentally validated using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis in human gastric cancer cell lines and an N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine induced rat gastric adenocarcinoma model.

An eight-TRG signature (ANXA5, ELOVL2, INCENP, NFE2L3, NOS3, RASGEF1C, REPIN1, and SOAT1) effectively predicted overall survival in the TCGA and GSE84437 cohorts, independent of clinicopathological factors (1-, 3-, and 5-year area under curves: 0.682, 0.695, and 0.697, respectively). The expression of seven genes were upregulated in tumor tissues, whereas that of RASGEF1C was downregulated. The derived risk score correlated with immune infiltration, TMB, and TIDE scores, and predicted drug sensitivities differed between the risk groups. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis further validated the expression patterns of these genes in cell lines. In vitro and in vivo assays corroborated the bioinformatics findings, confirming the dysregulation of key signature genes in tumor cells and tissues at the mRNA and protein levels.

The eight-TRG signature provides reliable prognostic stratification for STAD and links telomere biology to the immune context and therapy response.

To determine the efficacy and safety of the Yinmei Kuijie decoction combined with 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) in treating mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis (UC) under real-world conditions.

This multicenter, prospective, non-randomized, observational study will be conducted in real-world settings. A total of 204 eligible patients will be consecutively enrolled in the study. Patients in the combination treatment group will receive Yinmei Kuijie decoction in combination with 5-ASA, whereas those in the control group will be treated with 5-ASA alone. The primary endpoint will be a clinical response at week 12, defined as a ≥3 point and ≥30% reduction from baseline in the Mayo total score with ≥1 reduction in rectal bleeding or rectal bleeding score = 0 or 1. Secondary efficacy endpoints at week 12 will include health-related quality of life, mucosal healing, and inflammation indicators.

The results of this study may provide evidence of the efficacy and safety of Yinmei Kuijie decoction combined with 5-ASA in treating patients with mildly to moderately active UC under real-world principles. The results will provide a basis for further confirmatory studies on the efficacy of Yinmei Kuijie decoction.

To investigate the protective effect of Dahuang Fuzi Decoction (DHFZD), a traditional Chinese prescription, at alleviating sepsis-induced inflammation and gut barrier damage in rats.

Forty clean-grade male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into three groups: normal control group (NCG, n = 10), model control group (MCG, n = 15) and DHFZD-treated group (DHFZDG, n = 15). NCG rats were sham operated on and used as the controls, whereas MCG and DHFZDG rats were used to replicate the rat sepsis model using cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). The DHFZDG rats received DHFZD by gavage (4.5 mg/g of body weight) 2 h prior to CLP and after its successful induction, while the NCG and MCG rats received equivalent amounts of sterilized water by gavage. All rat groups were starved and had free access to water. At 24 h post-experimental set up, the mortality of rats in each group was recorded, and peritoneal inflammation assessment and pathological changes related to the intestinal mucosal injury index (IMII) in the surviving rats were evaluated. D-lactic acid, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 peripheral blood concentrations, along with secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) in the intestinal mucosa were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Gut microbes were detected using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

DHFZD reduced sepsis-related mortality in the rats. Moreover, it alleviated peritoneal inflammation and pathological changes according to the IMII. DHFZD reduced serum procalcitonin, TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations, but not the IL-10 concentration. It also reduced serum D-lactic acid and increased sIgA concentrations in intestinal mucosa. Notably, DHFZDG restored gut microbiota diversity and regulated the decrease in Bacteroidetes induced by sepsis, compared with the MCG rats.

DHFZDG may play a protective role in sepsis by alleviating sepsis-induced inflammation and gut barrier damage in rats.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and modern medicine have both been used in arresting malignant transformation of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) in China with good therapeutic effect. However, no studies have been undertaken to assess the risk of malignant transformation in CAG patients using both modern medicine and TCM features. Our study aimed to develop risk assessment models for malignant transformation of CAG combining indicators of both TCM and modern medicine. These models will facilitate early warning and control of malignant transformation of CAG from the perspective of evidence-based integrative medicine.

In the proposed registry study, a total of 1000 eligible CAG patients will be recruited from four hospitals in China. A 10-year follow-up study will be conducted both on-site and off-site to track the events of malignant transformation. Frequency analysis and chi-squared tests will be used to perform the comparative analysis on the prevalence of malignant transformation events and indicators in TCM or modern medicine in different groups. A multivariate Cox proportional hazard model will be used to perform correlation analyses of malignant transformation events and factors of TCM or modern medicine.

The proposed study has been designed with a large sample size and long follow-up period, in which wide-ranging modern medicine and TCM indicators can be gathered over the whole process of malignant transformation of CAG. Based on this study, risk assessment models for malignant transformation of CAG may be constructed from the perspective of integrative medicine. This may provide clinicians and patients with an optimized early warning system as well as prevention strategies for malignant transformation of CAG.

Aging caused by a deficiency syndrome can be found in ancient and modern traditional Chinese medicine literature. Qi deficiency syndrome (QDS) is a vital factor in the aging process. This study aimed to establish a full-scale trial to evaluate the prevalence, symptom severity, frequency, and distribution of QDS in different age groups and varying health status to elucidate the role of qi deficiency in the aging process and deterioration of health.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in four hospitals in China, and data from 1220 participants were included. The participants, aged between 20 and 79 years, completed questionnaires that recorded prevalence of QDS and severity or frequency of relevant symptoms, then were interviewed by investigators. We used frequency analysis and chi-squared tests to perform comparative analysis of prevalence in different age and health groups; we used a rank-sum tests for quantitative analysis of symptoms severity and frequency scores; we performed a regression analysis of correlation between syndrome occurrence and potential factors using non-conditional binary logistic stepwise regression of numerical variables. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Prevalence, symptom severity and frequency scores of QDS showed a rising trend when physical condition worsened, rather than when age increased. Health status, fatigue, shortness of breath or no desire to talk, spontaneous sweating, swollen tongue with teeth marks on side, and deficient and weak pulse, rather than increasing age were contributing factors to this syndrome. Distribution of QDS in certain health and age stages showed remarkable irregularities.

Qi deficiency may be a contributing factor for sub-health (sub-optimal health) and chronic diseases rather than aging. It may play a crucial role in chronic disease pathogenesis of young and middle-aged people, and in sub-health pathogenesis of older adults. Recognition of the warning signs and symptoms of QDS may lead to early intervention and prevention of sub-health, and chronic diseases.

This study aimed to reveal the age-related changes in prevalence and symptom characteristics in kidney deficiency syndrome (KDS) with varied health status.

This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in6 hospitals. Investigators queried participants aged 20–79 about their health, including symptoms if any, and completed questionnaires to collect participants responses. Prevalence, severity, and frequency of KDS and other relevant parameters were observed and recorded. Comparative analysis of countable variables, including prevalence, was performed by frequency analysis and χ² test and expressed as a composite ratio. Comparative analysis of quantitative scores of the severity and frequency of symptoms was performed by the rank-sum test. Regression analysis of the correlation of KDS with potential contributing factors was performed by non-conditional binary logistic stepwise regression of numerical variables.

Prevalence of KDS in healthy and unhealthy participants correlated with increasing age (P < 0.05). In those with chronic disease, KDS prevalence was comparatively high, but the trend was not obvious. KDS prevalence in participants age 20–39 showed an increasing trend with deteriorating health (P < 0.05). Compared to healthy individuals, KDS prevalence in subhealthy persons and those with chronic disease showed an increasing trend (P < 0.05) in the 40–59 and 60–79 age groups, whereas there was no difference between subhealthy persons and those with chronic disease age 40–59 and 60–79. Symptom severity scores of KDS showed an increasing trend with increasing age and deteriorating health status (P < 0.05). Higher symptom frequency scores were also positively correlated with increasing age (P < 0.05), but health status deterioration was not significantly correlated (P > 0.05). Age, health status, lower back pain, shin soreness or heel pain, tinnitus or deafness, hair loss or loose teeth, incomplete bladder emptying or incontinence, and sexual dysfunction or infertility were potential factors contributing to KDS (P < 0.05), but age was the only independent variable for which OR >1. Moreover, the distribution of typical KDS-related symptoms showed dramatic regularities.

Prevalence and symptom characteristics of KDS were found to increase consistently with increasing age and deteriorating health status. Kidney deficiency may be an important mechanism of aging in the subhealthy and chronic disease states.