China’s population has rapidly aged over the recent decades of social and economic development as neurodegenerative disorders have proliferated, especially Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias (ADRD). AD’s incidence rate, morbidity, and mortality have steadily increased to make it presently the fifth leading cause of death among urban and rural residents in China and magnify the resulting financial burdens on individuals, families and society. The ‘Healthy China Action’ plan of 2019–2030 promotes the transition from disease treatment to health maintenance for this expanding population with ADRD. This report describes related epidemiological trends, evaluates the economic burden of the disease, outlines current clinical diagnosis and treatment status and delineates existing available public health resources. More specifically, it examines the public health impact of ADRD, including prevalence, mortality, costs, usage of care, and the overall effect on caregivers and society. In addition, this special report presents technical guidance and supports for the prevention and treatment of AD, provides expertise to guide relevant governmental healthcare policy development and suggests an information platform for international exchange and cooperation.

Resina Draconis (RD) is a type of dragon's blood resin obtained from Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S.C. Chen (Yunnan, China). It has been used as a medicine since ancient times by many cultures. The ethanolic extract of Resina Draconis (RDEE) was evaluated for its wound-healing activity using excision and incision wound models in rats. Group I, the control group, was treated with ointment base. Group II, which served as a reference standard, was treated with moist exposed burn ointment (MEBO). Group III was treated with RDEE. The parameters observed were percentage of wound contraction, epithelialization period, tensile strength, histopathological studies, microvessel density (MVD), and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). The group treated with RDEE showed significantly better wound contraction and better skin-breaking strength as compared with the control group. The results of histopathological examination, MVD, and the expression levels of growth factors supported the outcome of the wound models as well. The present study provided a scientific rationale for the traditional use of RD in the management of wounds.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency can lead to osteoporosis and increases the risk of fractures. Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in Asian populations, however, research focusing on the association between vitamin D deficiency and osteoporotic hip fractures, particularly in Chinese populations is scarce. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and osteoporotic hip fractures in elderly Chinese patients.Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 60 patients (aged 65 years and over) who had hip fractures.Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels were examined using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The patients were classified into two groups based on their bone mineral density (BMD); subjects with osteoporosis (BMD t value ≤-2.5) and individuals without osteoporosis (BMD t value ≥-1.0).Serum 25OHD was further analyzed in these two groups.Results: Across all of the patients with hip fractures, approximately 10% showed vitamin D deficiency, and a further 53.33% showed vitamin D. insufficiency. Furthermore, of the patients with hip fractures, those with osteoporosis had significantly lower levels of serum 25OHD (25.43±6.35 ng/mL) compared to those patients without osteoporosis (30.70±7.17 ng/mL). The incidence of vitamin D insufficiency (66.67%) and deficiency (16.67%) was higher in the patients with osteoporosis than in those without osteoporosis (insufficiency 44.44% and deficiency 5.56%, respectively).Conclusions: Our study confirmed a high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in elderly patients with hip fractures in China. Our data suggests that vitamin D plays an important role in the occurrence of hip fractures in these elderly patients, and especially where patients also suffer from osteoporosis.