Core Viewpoint - The article discusses a groundbreaking study on tau protein disassembly in Alzheimer's disease, highlighting the potential of D-type peptides as a novel therapeutic strategy to combat neurodegenerative diseases [3][15]. Group 1: Alzheimer's Disease and Tau Protein - Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by cognitive decline and is closely associated with the abnormal aggregation of tau protein and β-amyloid protein [2]. - Tau protein aggregation is more strongly correlated with the cognitive symptoms and severity of Alzheimer's disease compared to β-amyloid [2]. Group 2: Research Findings - A study published in Nature by Dr. Ke Hou from UCLA reveals that D-type peptides can disassemble tau fibrils without the need for enzymatic activity or external energy sources [3][15]. - The research introduces a new paradigm in amyloid protein studies, enhancing understanding of protein aggregation dynamics and inspiring innovative treatment strategies for Alzheimer's and other amyloid-related diseases [3][15]. Group 3: D-type Peptides Advantages - D-type peptides exhibit higher specificity and binding affinity compared to small molecules, with lower immunogenicity and resistance to proteolytic degradation [8]. - Previous studies indicated that D-type peptides could decompose tau protein fibers extracted from Alzheimer's patients and improve behavioral deficits in mouse models [8]. Group 4: Mechanism of Action - The study identified that D-type peptides assemble into amyloid-like fibers, which are essential for disassembling tau protein fibers [12]. - The tension released during the transition from left-handed to right-handed helical structures of these peptides is sufficient to disrupt local hydrogen bonds in tau fibers, leading to their disintegration [13][15]. Group 5: Implications for Treatment - The findings suggest that D-type peptides could revolutionize treatment methods for Alzheimer's disease and provide new tools for tackling other neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Huntington's disease [15]. - The stability, protease resistance, and good biocompatibility of D-type peptides allow them to cross the blood-brain barrier without eliciting harmful immune responses [15].

Core Viewpoint - The National Health Commission of China has banned the use of "Lymphatic-Venous Anastomosis (LVA)" for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease due to a lack of long-term, statistically significant safety and efficacy data [1][2][15]. Group 1: Background of LVA Surgery - LVA surgery is not a new procedure; it was originally developed in the late 20th century for treating lymphatic diseases like lymphedema [2][12]. - The application of LVA for Alzheimer's treatment began in 2018 by Dr. Xie Qingping, leading to its widespread adoption in various medical institutions [2][12]. - Prior to the ban, over a hundred hospitals had been performing LVA surgeries, with total cases exceeding a thousand [7][12]. Group 2: Financial Aspects and Demand - The cost of LVA surgery ranges from tens of thousands to over 210,000 yuan, with many hospitals charging between 20,000 to 50,000 yuan [12][9]. - The financial burden of long-term care for Alzheimer's patients often makes LVA surgery an attractive option for families, as it can be more cost-effective compared to ongoing care [12][9]. - Hospitals have been motivated to promote LVA surgery due to the potential for significant revenue generation, especially in light of financial struggles faced by many medical institutions [12][13]. Group 3: Regulatory and Clinical Concerns - The rapid promotion of LVA surgery occurred in a regulatory vacuum, with many institutions conducting the procedure without sufficient clinical trial data to support its safety and efficacy [14][15]. - The National Health Commission's ban highlights the need for rigorous clinical trials and ethical guidelines for new treatments, as many hospitals had been charging for a procedure that lacked proper validation [15][16]. - There are currently only 12 registered clinical trials for LVA surgery in Alzheimer's treatment, indicating a significant gap in clinical research [15][16].

Core Viewpoint - The National Health Commission of China has suspended the use of "Cervical Deep Lymphatic-Venous Anastomosis (LVA)" for Alzheimer's disease treatment due to concerns over its safety, efficacy, and lack of high-quality evidence supporting its clinical application [1][9][10] Group 1: Treatment Overview - Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative condition characterized by cognitive impairment and emotional disturbances, leading to significant declines in daily functioning [2] - Traditional treatments primarily involve medication, but drug development for Alzheimer's has been slow, with only a few new drugs approved in the last two decades [2][3] - LVA surgery aims to connect lymphatic vessels to nearby veins to facilitate the drainage of harmful proteins from the brain, potentially improving cognitive function [3][8] Group 2: Clinical Application and Controversy - The LVA procedure has been performed in over 130 hospitals across 28 provinces in China, with more than 200 Alzheimer's patients treated at one hospital alone [3][4] - Despite its growing popularity, the LVA treatment remains controversial and is considered to be in the early exploratory stage of clinical research [4][9] - Patient feedback on the effectiveness of the LVA surgery is polarized, with some reporting improvements while others see no significant benefits [5][6][7] Group 3: Regulatory Response - The National Health Commission's decision to halt the procedure reflects a commitment to patient safety and the need for rigorous evidence before clinical application [1][10] - The Commission has mandated local health authorities to investigate the use of LVA and ensure that medical institutions cease its application until further evidence is available [9][10] - Future clinical research on LVA will be guided by the availability of sufficient preclinical evidence and ethical review [9][10]

Core Viewpoint - The National Health Commission of China has issued two important notifications prohibiting the use of specific surgical techniques for treating Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes due to safety and efficacy concerns [2][4][5]. Group 1: Prohibition of Surgical Techniques - The "cervical deep lymphatic vessel/lymph node-venous anastomosis" technique is prohibited for Alzheimer's treatment as it is still in the early exploratory stage of clinical research, lacking clear indications and contraindications, and high-quality evidence for safety and efficacy [4]. - The "jejunum-ileum anastomosis" technique is banned for type 2 diabetes treatment due to uncertain safety and efficacy, with potential severe complications such as liver failure and malnutrition [5]. Group 2: Regulatory Actions - Local health administrative departments are required to ensure that medical institutions cease the use of the prohibited techniques for the specified conditions and provide follow-up services for affected patients [4][5]. - The National Health Commission will guide qualified medical institutions to strengthen clinical research design once sufficient preclinical research evidence is available, and will reassess the clinical application of these techniques based on research outcomes [4].

Core Viewpoint - The National Health Commission has issued notifications prohibiting the use of "jejunum-ileum anastomosis" for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and "cervical deep lymphatic vessel/lymph node-venous anastomosis" for Alzheimer's disease, citing lack of safety and efficacy evidence [2][6]. Group 1: Jejunum-Ileum Anastomosis - Jejunum-ileum anastomosis is a surgical procedure that connects the jejunum and ileum, primarily used for bowel obstruction, tumor resection reconstruction, or congenital malformation repair [3]. - The assessment concluded that the safety and efficacy of jejunum-ileum anastomosis for diabetes treatment are uncertain, with potential severe complications such as liver failure and malnutrition [4]. - Local health authorities are required to ensure that medical institutions cease the use of this technique for diabetes treatment and enhance regulatory oversight [5]. Group 2: Cervical Deep Lymphatic Vessel/Venous Anastomosis - Cervical deep lymphatic vessel/lymph node-venous anastomosis is a microsurgical technique that connects lymphatic vessels or nodes to nearby veins, mainly used for treating persistent lymphedema [7]. - The evaluation indicated that this technique is still in the early exploratory stage of clinical research, lacking direct evidence for safety, efficacy, and economic viability [8]. - Provincial health authorities must oversee the cessation of this technique's application for Alzheimer's treatment and guide qualified medical institutions in conducting clinical research in a scientific and regulated manner [9].

Core Viewpoints - The National Health Commission has issued notifications prohibiting the use of "jejunum-ileum anastomosis" for treating type 2 diabetes and "cervical deep lymphatic vessel/vein anastomosis" for treating Alzheimer's disease due to lack of sufficient evidence supporting their safety and efficacy [1][2]. Group 1: Jejunum-Ileum Anastomosis for Type 2 Diabetes - The National Health Commission assessed the use of "jejunum-ileum anastomosis" for type 2 diabetes and found it lacks theoretical support and high-quality evidence, leading to its prohibition [1]. - Local health authorities are required to ensure that medical institutions cease using this technique for diabetes treatment, with serious consequences for non-compliance [1]. Group 2: Cervical Deep Lymphatic Vessel/Vein Anastomosis for Alzheimer's Disease - The National Health Commission has identified that "cervical deep lymphatic vessel/vein anastomosis" is still in the early exploratory stage of clinical research, with unclear indications and contraindications, resulting in its prohibition for Alzheimer's treatment [2][3]. - Local health authorities must monitor and ensure that medical institutions stop using this technique, while also providing follow-up services for affected patients [3]. - The National Health Commission will consider re-evaluating the clinical application of this technique once sufficient preclinical research evidence is available [3].

Core Viewpoint - The National Health Commission of China has prohibited the use of "cervical deep lymphatic vessel/lymph node-venous anastomosis" for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease due to insufficient clinical evidence supporting its safety and efficacy [1][4]. Group 1: Regulatory Actions - The National Health Commission organized an expert evaluation of the technique, concluding that it is still in the early exploratory stage of clinical research, with unclear indications and contraindications [1][4]. - Local health authorities are required to ensure that medical institutions cease the use of this technique for Alzheimer's treatment and provide follow-up services for affected patients [1][5]. - Institutions and personnel continuing to use this technique post-notification will face serious consequences under relevant health laws and regulations [2]. Group 2: Technical Overview - "Cervical deep lymphatic vessel/lymph node-venous anastomosis" is a microsurgical technique that connects lymphatic vessels or nodes to nearby veins, primarily used for treating persistent lymphedema [3]. Group 3: Evaluation Findings - The evaluation found a lack of direct evidence from preclinical studies regarding the safety, efficacy, and economic viability of the technique for Alzheimer's treatment [4]. - The technique's application for Alzheimer's disease lacks high-quality evidence from clinical studies and health economics [4]. Group 4: Implementation Guidelines - Provincial health authorities must fulfill their responsibilities in managing the clinical application of medical technologies and enhance daily supervision of medical institutions [5]. - Local health departments should conduct investigations into the clinical application of the technique and ensure compliance with the prohibition [5].

Core Viewpoint - The National Health Commission has issued two important notifications prohibiting specific surgical techniques for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes, emphasizing the need for clinical application management and evidence-based support for medical practices [1]. Group 1: Alzheimer's Disease Treatment - The notification prohibits the use of "cervical deep lymphatic vessel/lymph node-venous anastomosis" for treating Alzheimer's disease due to its early exploratory stage in clinical research [1]. - Expert evaluations indicate that the indications and contraindications for this technique are not clearly defined, and there is a lack of high-quality evidence supporting its safety and effectiveness [1]. Group 2: Type 2 Diabetes Treatment - The notification also bans the use of "jejunum-ileum anastomosis" for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, reflecting similar concerns regarding the clinical application of this surgical method [1]. - The decision underscores the importance of rigorous evaluation and evidence before adopting new medical technologies in clinical settings [1].

国家卫生健康委办公厅日前发布关于禁止将"颈深淋巴管/结—静脉吻合术"应用于阿尔茨海默病治疗的 通知。通知提出，国家卫生健康委近期获悉有个别医疗机构开展"颈深淋巴管/结—静脉吻合术"治疗阿 尔茨海默病，为进一步加强医疗技术临床应用管理，国家卫生健康委组织专家对该技术进行评估，评估 认为该技术处于临床研究早期探索阶段，适应证及禁忌证尚不明确，安全性、有效性缺乏高质量循证医 学证据支撑。根据《医疗技术临床应用管理办法》(国家卫生健康委员会令第1号)有关规定，决定禁止 将"颈深淋巴管/结—静脉吻合术"应用于阿尔茨海默病治疗。 ...

Core Viewpoint - Tencent's cognitive training software "Tencent Brain Exercise" has received medical device registration approval from the Guangdong Provincial Drug Administration, marking its entry into clinical application for improving cognitive abilities in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) [1][3] Industry Overview - The cognitive digital therapy market in China has over 40 companies focusing on this area, with 47 cognitive digital therapy software products approved by the National Medical Products Administration as of October 2024 [2] - The market for cognitive impairment digital therapy is expected to grow significantly, with a projected market size of 2.686 billion yuan in 2023, increasing to 10.467 billion yuan by 2025 and 89.274 billion yuan by 2030, reflecting compound annual growth rates of 97.4% and 53.5% respectively [4] - The number of MCI patients in China is approximately 38.77 million, with a prevalence rate of 15.5%, indicating a substantial patient base driving demand for cognitive digital therapies [4] Company Insights - Tencent's "Tencent Brain Exercise" transforms traditional cognitive rehabilitation into a mobile application format, utilizing gamified cognitive training based on evidence-based medicine principles [3] - The company aims to address the challenges of commercializing digital therapies, as the current business models are still in the early stages of development [1][2] - Brain Dynamics, a competitor in the market, has achieved a market share of 25.0% in the cognitive digital therapy market and 91.6% in the medical-grade cognitive digital therapy market in China, but faces challenges in profitability despite significant revenue growth [5] Challenges in the Market - The cognitive digital therapy sector is experiencing high market education costs and is still in the exploratory phase regarding application scenarios [1][2] - Regulatory challenges exist, as clinical experts have varying opinions on the clinical use of digital therapy products, which complicates their appropriate application [4][5] - The industry faces difficulties in ensuring that payers (such as insurance companies and hospitals) are willing to cover these therapies, which is crucial for sustainable business models [1][2] Competitive Landscape - Major tech companies like Tencent, Alibaba, and ByteDance are entering the healthcare sector, but a mature commercialization model is still needed [6] - The cognitive digital therapy market is characterized by a mix of substantial patient demand and ongoing challenges in commercialization pathways, creating a complex development landscape [2][4]