1.Impact of DRG payment on length of stay and medical costs in COPD patients from Kashgar region
Jiale YANG ; Ningning WANG ; Aierken AIZEZIJIANG ; Lingkai LIAN ; Xinyi LYU ; Pengcheng LIU ; Wenbing YAO
China Pharmacy 2026;37(8):991-997
OBJECTIVE To analyze the impact of the diagnosis-related groups (DRG) payment reform on the length of stay and medical costs in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Kashgar region, aiming to provide localized empirical evidence for the optimization of regional medical insurance payment methods. METHODS Based on the inpatient settlement database of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Healthcare Security Administration, settlement data of COPD inpatients from 17 medical institutions in Kashgar region between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2024, were extracted. The overall changes in patients’ length of stay and costs were compared before and after the reform. Subsequently, interrupted time series analysis (ITSA) was employed to explore the impact of the DRG payment reform on these variables. RESULTS Following the reform, both the average length of stay and various cost decreased significantly compared to the pre-reform period ( P <0.001). At the overall sample level, the average length of stay, average total cost, average drug cost, average medical service cost, and average examination cost per admission all demonstrated significant long-term downward trends after the reform ( P <0.05). However, the decrease in average out-of-pocket costs and the increase in average consumable costs per admission were not statistically significant ( P >0.05). In tertiary medical institutions, the average length of stay and all categories of costs (except average consumable costs per admission) exhibited significant long-term upward trends after the reform ( P <0.05); conversely, in secondary and lower-level medical institutions, the average length of stay, average total cost, average drug cost, average medical service cost, and average examination cost per admission showed significant long-term downward trends ( P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS The DRG payment reform has achieved an overall effect of reducing the length of stay and controlling costs in COPD patients from Kashgar region. However, the effects vary across different levels of medical institutions: secondary and lower-level institutions show a long-term downward trend in length of stay and costs, whereas tertiary institutions exhibit a long-term upward trend. Furthermore, patients’ out-of-pocket financial burden does not show significant improvement.
2.GAO Shuzhong's Experience in Treating Idiopathic Tinnitus with Combination of Acupuncture and Chinese Materia Medica
Pengfei WANG ; Yiyang SUN ; Xiaoyan LI ; Wenli YAN ; Ningning MENG ; Guirong YANG ; Yuxia MA
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(3):233-237
To summarize Professor GAO Shuzhong's clinical experience in treating idiopathic tinnitus with a combination of acupuncture and Chinese meteria medica. It is believed that idiopathic tinnitus is mostly caused by weak lungs and spleen, kidney essence deficiency, liver constraint transforming into fire, and binding constraint of heart qi. Treatment advocates the combination of acupuncture and Chinese meteria medica in clinical practice. Acupuncture treatment mainly focus on the method of opening the orifices by syndrome identification in combination with Ermen (TE 21), Tinggong (SI 19), Tinghui (GB 2), Shenmai (BL 62) to regulate qi and blood, and supporting with Baihui (GV 20), Yintang (EX-HN 3), Taichong (LR 3), and Yanglingquan (GB 34) to soothe the liver, resolve constraint, and calm the mind. Oral administration of Chinese medicinal prescription usually includes modified Yiqi Congming Decoction (益气聪明汤) and Tongqi Powder (通气散), and the external administration of Chinese medicinal prescription can apply self-prescribed Wenqing Powder (温清散) to navel moxibustion.
3.The Establishment of a Virus-related Lymphoma Risk Warning System and Health Management Model Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine Conditions
Hanjing LI ; Shunan LI ; Zewei ZHUO ; Shunyong WANG ; Qiangqiang ZHENG ; Bingyu HUANG ; Yupeng YANG ; Chenxi QIU ; Ningning CHEN ; He WANG ; Tingbo LIU ; Haiying FU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(4):335-339
Virus-related lymphoma exhibits a dual nature as both a hematologic malignancy and a viral infectious disease, making it more resistant to treatment and associated with poorer prognosis. This paper analyzes the understanding and therapeutic advantages of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in virus-related lymphoma. It proposes a TCM-based approach centered around syndrome differentiation, using standardized measurements of the overall TCM condition, multi-omics research of hematologic tumors, and artificial intelligence technologies to identify the "pre-condition" of virus-related lymphoma. A risk warning model will be established to early identify high-risk populations with viral infections that may develop into malignant lymphoma, thereby establishing a risk warning system for virus-related lymphoma. At the same time, a TCM health management approach will be applied to manage and regulate virus-related lymphoma, interrupting its progression and forming a human-centered, comprehensive, continuous health service model. Based on this, a standardized, integrated clinical prevention and treatment decision-making model for virus-related lymphoma, recognized by both Chinese and western medicine, will be established to provide TCM solutions for primary prevention of major malignant tumors.
4.Study on the distribution of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes and syndrome elements in lymphoma and the correlation between syndromes and Western medicine clinical indicators
Hanjing LI ; Shunan LI ; Zewei ZHUO ; Shunyong WANG ; Qiangqiang ZHENG ; Bingyu HUANG ; Yupeng YANG ; Chenxi QIU ; Ningning CHEN ; Yanyan QIU ; He WANG ; Tingbo LIU ; Haiying FU
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(1):127-137
Objective:
To investigate the distribution of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes and syndrome elements in lymphoma, as well as the correlation between TCM syndromes and Western clinical indicators, in order to analyze associations between TCM syndromes and these indicators.
Methods:
From January 2023 to May 2024, 216 patients with lymphoma who met the inclusion criteria in the Department of Hematology, Third People′s Hospital Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were enrolled. Four diagnostic methods were applied to perform TCM syndrome differentiation and extract syndrome elements. The correlations between various syndromes and blood test indicators of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), β2-microglobulin (β2-MG), immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), immunoglobulin A (IgA), white blood cell (WBC), hemoglobin (Hb), platelet count (PLT), neutrophil (NEUT), immunohistochemical markers of B-cell lymphoma-6 (BCL6), B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL2), proto-oncogene MYC, and Ki67 protein expression, Ann Arbor staging, international prognostic index (IPI) score, bone marrow infiltration, concurrent infections during chemotherapy, and post-chemotherapy bone marrow suppression rate were analyzed.
Results:
Five TCM syndromes, ranked by frequency, were syndromes of yin deficiency with phlegm accumulation(41.67%), qi depression with phlegm obstruction(30.56%), cold-phlegm congelation and stagnation(12.96%), phlegm-blood stasis toxin(12.04%), and lingering pathogen due to deficient vital qi(2.77%). Yin deficiency(50.93%) and phlegm(45.37%) were the more prevalent syndrome elements. The TCM syndromes were correlated with β2-MG, PLT, MYC, BCL2/MYC, Ki67 protein expression, and bone marrow infiltration (P<0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in Ann Arbor staging or IPI score across the syndromes. Compared to the syndrome of cold-phlegm congelation and stagnation, the syndrome of qi depression with phlegm obstruction exhibited higher levels of NEUT, MYC, BCL2/MYC, and Ki67 protein expression, as well as a higher rate of post-chemotherapy bone marrow suppression (P<0.05); the syndrome of phlegm-blood stasis toxin showed higher MYC and BCL2/MYC protein expression and a higher rate of post-chemotherapy bone marrow suppression rate (P<0.05); the syndrome of yin deficiency with phlegm accumulation demonstrated higher MYC and BCL2/MYC protein expression and bone marrow infiltration rates, whereas PLT level was lower (P<0.05); the syndrome of lingering pathogen due to deficient vital qi had higher MYC, BCL2/MYC, and Ki67 protein expression levels, as well as a higher rate of post-chemotherapy bone marrow suppression rate (P<0.05). Compared to the syndrome of qi depression with phlegm obstruction, the syndrome of phlegm-blood stasis toxin exhibited lower Ki67 protein expression (P<0.05); the syndrome of yin deficiency with phlegm accumulation had higher β2-MG level, bone marrow infiltration rate, and rate of concurrent infections during chemotherapy, whereas PLT and NEUT levels and the rate of post-chemotherapy bone marrow suppression rate were lower (P<0.05). Compared to the syndrome of phlegm-blood stasis toxin, the syndrome of yin deficiency with phlegm accumulation had higher β2-MG level, whereas NEUT and the rate of post-chemotherapy bone marrow suppression were lower(P<0.05); the syndrome of lingering pathogen due to deficient vital qi exhibited a higher Ki67 protein expression (P<0.05). Compared to the syndrome of yin deficiency with phlegm accumulation, the syndrome of lingering pathogen due to deficient vital qi also showed a higher Ki67 protein expression(P<0.05).
Conclusion
The syndrome of yin deficiency with phlegm accumulation is relatively common in lymphoma. There is a correlation between TCM syndromes and Western medicine clinical indicators. The presence of heat signs in the syndromes may indicate active disease and poor prognosis, while the presence of strong pathogenic factors and weak vital qi in the syndromes may indicate a severer chemotherapy-related bone marrow suppression.
5.Latent class analysis and influencing factor study of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among operating room nurses in tertiary hospitals
Xiaogui TANG ; Li LI ; Yue ZHAO ; Ningning HU ; Feng FU ; Boya LI ; Mengru YANG ; Yinglan LI
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(3):293-301
Background Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), as one of the major occupational health issues worldwide, have shown an increasing positive rate year by year. Due to the unique demands of work, operating room nurses exhibit a higher positive rate of WMSDs compared to other occupational groups, necessitating active attention and intervention. Objective To estimate the prevalence of WMSDs among operating room nurses in tertiary hospitals, explore the characteristics and latent categories of WMSDs, and analyze the influencing factors associated with the occurrence of WMSDs. Method Using a randomized cluster sampling method, operating room nurses from nine tertiary hospitals in Urumqi were selected as study participants between December 2023 and January 2024. Data were collected through a general information questionnaire, an ergonomic questionnaire for operating room nurses, and the Chinese Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire. Latent class analysis was employed to examine the patterns of WMSDs among the nurses, while chi-square test and multinomial logistic regression were utilized to analyze the influencing factors of WMSDs. Result A total of 411 valid questionnaires were collected in this survey. The positive rate of WMSDs among operating room nurses in the tertiary hospitals of Urumqi over the past year was 91.9%. The positive rates, ordered from highest to lowest by body region, were neck (79.1%), shoulders (70.3%), and lower back (68.1%). The operating room nurses were categorized into three distinct groups by latent class analysis: multi-site pain group, neck-shoulder-back pain group, and neck and lower back pain group. The results of the multinomial logistic regression models revealed that gender, job strain level, ergonomic load level in the operating room, and exposure to cold or drafty working conditions or not were significant influencing factors for reporting WMSDs among operating room nurses. Specifically, having less than 5 years of work experience, low ergonomic load level, low job strain, and moderate job strain were identified as protective factors against WMSDs. Conversely, exposure to cold or drafty working environments and being female were identified as risk factors for WMSDs. The logistic regression models also indicated that compared to the neck-lower back pain group, the neck-shoulder-back pain group had a higher probability of reporting low job strain (OR=0.168, 95%CI: 0.029, 0.968) and being female (OR=4.847, 95%CI: 2.506, 9.378). In contrast, when comparing to the neck-lower back pain group, the multi-site pain group had a higher probability of reporting, low-level ergonomic workload (OR=0.079, 95%CI: 0.015, 0.412), low job strain (OR=0.019, 95%CI: 0.002, 0.145), moderate job strain (OR=0.080, 95%CI: 0.016, 0.401), high job strain (OR=0.132, 95%CI: 0.027, 0.647), less than 5 years of work experience (OR=0.173, 95%CI: 0.044, 0.683), being female (OR=2.424, 95%CI: 1.130, 5.200), and exposure to cold or drafty working environments (OR=3.277, 95%CI: 1.657, 6.481). Conclusion The positive rate WMSDs among operating room nurses in tertiary hospitals is notably high in Urumqi, with distinct co-occurrence characteristics observed within the population. To mitigate the risk of WMSDs, it is essential to implement targeted health education and prevention training programs tailored to different patterns of WMSDs. Additionally, improving working conditions, optimizing human resource allocation , and other proactive measures should be undertaken. These efforts will effectively reduce the incidence of WMSDs among operating room nurses and safeguard their occupational health.
6.Research progress in virulence factors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Mingrui SUN ; Jiayin XING ; Xiaotian LI ; Ren FANG ; Yang ZHANG ; Ningning SONG
Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology 2025;45(8):693-700
Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( Mtb) is the causative agent of tuberculosis in humans and animals. Mtb invades the host′s lungs via airborne transmission, infects macrophages and causes tuberculosis. In some cases, the infection can spread to other tissues and organs. Despite the availability of several drugs for the treatment of tuberculosis, the emergence of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis has led to high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Therefore, there is an urgent need for researchers to develop new anti-tuberculosis drugs that can treat tuberculosis more efficiently. Recent studies have shown that the virulence factors of Mtb play a crucial role in its pathogenicity. These factors primarily include secreted proteins, transcription factors, proteases, stress response proteins, metabolism-associated proteins, and cell-surface components. By evading the host′s immune surveillance through mechanisms such as anti-oxidative stress, regulating nutrient synthesis and metabolism, and modulating host cells apoptosis, Mtb is able to achieve long-term survival and spread with in the host. Understanding the mechanisms of Mtb virulence factors can provide new directions for targeted tuberculosis therapy. Therefore, knowledge of these virulence factors is essential for the development of new vaccines and anti-tuberculosis drugs. In this review, we summarize the latest research progress in the virulence factors of Mtb to provide a reference for targeted treatment of tuberculosis.
7.The effectiveness of the peripheral arterial calcification scoring system based on CT angiography in assessing renal function in patients with peripheral arterial disease
Yuling CUI ; Ningning DING ; Li ZHOU ; Yan MENG ; Yaqing HAN ; Cuilin YIN ; Zhe LIU ; Jian YANG
Journal of Practical Radiology 2025;41(4):589-593
Objective To explore the effectiveness of the peripheral arterial calcification scoring system(PACSS)based on computed tomography angiography(CTA)in assessing renal function in patients with peripheral arterial disease(PAD).Methods The clinical data,CTA imaging data,and laboratory results from PAD patients who underwent lower limb artery CTA examination were retrospectively collected.The PACSS was utilized to score the calcification in both lower limb arteries.Participants were categorized into three groups based on their estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR)(normal group:eGFR≥90 mL/min;mild renal dysfunction group:eGFR 60-89 mL/min,and moderate to severe renal dysfunction group:eGFR<60 mL/min).The demographic data,clinical symptoms,and comorbidities among the three groups were compared by analysis of variance(ANOVA).The Spearman correlation coefficient was employed to evaluate the relationship between eGFR,cystatin C,and PACSS score.Results The age(P<0.001)and PACSS score(P<0.05)of patients with renal dysfunction were significantly higher than those of patients with normal renal function.However,there were no significant differences in gender,prevalence of diabetes,hypertension,or severe limb ischemia.Spearman correlation analysis showed that eGFR was negatively correlated with PACSS score(r=-0.18 in the right lower limb,P=0.037,r=-0.24 in the left lower limb,P=0.006).In contrast,cystatin C was positively correlated with PACSS score(r=0.26 in the right lower limb,P<0.001,r=0.22 in the left lower limb,P=0.002).Conclusion The PACSS score of lower limb artery in PAD patients is corre-lated with the severity of renal dysfunction.This finding may facilitate early warning and clinical intervention for PAD patients with renal dysfunction.
8.Research on improving the compliance of liver cancer early screening follow-up in patients with chronic liver diseases through follow-up management based on digital information platform
Wei WANG ; Yuxian KUANG ; Yingfang YANG ; Zhenjiao SU ; Ningning FAN ; Min TANG ; Biyun ZHOU ; Liqiao WU
Modern Clinical Nursing 2025;24(5):49-55
Objective To explore the effect of follow-up management based on the digital information platform on the compliance of early screening and follow-up of liver cancer in patients with chronic liver diseases,and to provide a management method for clinical practice.Methods Convenience sampling was adopted to include 3,959 patients who had chronic liver diseases and visited the outpatient clinic of the Department of Infectious Liver Diseases in our hospital from January 2022 to December 2023.Before the application of the digital information platform for management,it was the medical staff of the Infectious Liver Disease Department who conducted telephone follow-ups and handwritten registrations for patients with chronic liver diseases within one week after their visits.After management,A liver cancer prediction model installed in the digital information platform of the hospital automatically collected data of the patients,including information about the diseases and results of examinations for intelligent risk stratification of liver cancer.The nurses who were in charge of the follow-up performed individualised follow-up reviews based on the levels of risk.Follow-up re-visit rate of the patients in very high-and high-risks were calculated.Scores of chronic disease self-efficacy and medication compliance were compared before and at 3 months after the follow-up management.Results A total of 3,860 patients completed the study.After the follow-up management,the total follow-up re-visit rate of the patients was 88.2%(1,818/2,062)and that of the high-risk patients was 95.3%(246/258)in 2022,while those in 2023 were 94.0%(1,691/1,798)and 98.3%(232/236),respectively.After 3 months of follow-up management,scores for medication compliance and chronic disease self-efficacy showed significant improvement in comparison with those before the implementation of follow-up management(P<0.001).Conclusion The follow-up management based on a digital information platform is suitable for screening of early liver cancer in the patients with chronic liver diseases,as it improves the re-visit rate of patients for follow-up,medication compliance and self-efficacy.
9.Correlation analysis of glycemic index and peripheral neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus under continuous glucose monitoring
Xueming FAN ; Ningning YANG ; Zhen ZHENG ; Yumei WU ; Chunyuan HE ; Qi WANG
Journal of Chinese Physician 2025;27(3):361-366
Objective:To analyze the correlation between blood glucose index and peripheral neuropathy in type 2 diabetes patients under continuous blood glucose monitoring.Methods:A total of 110 patients with type 2 diabetes admitted to the Lu′an Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University from November 2022 to January 2024 were retrospectively observed, and the blood glucose indexes of patients were monitored by continuous glucose meter [glucose time in range (TIR), mean blood glucose (MBG), estimated hemoglobin A 1c (eHbA 1c), blood glucose standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV), largest amplitude of glycemic excursions (LAGE), mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE), means of daily differences (MODD), etc ]. All patients with type 2 diabetes were grouped according to whether they had peripheral neuropathy or not, and were divided into the developing group and the non-developing group. General data and blood glucose indexes of the two groups were collected and sorted out. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the value of various blood glucose indicators in predicting peripheral neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes. Spearman correlation analysis was also used to evaluate the correlation between blood glucose index and peripheral neuropathy. Results:The disease course, TIR, MBG, eHbA 1c, SD, CV, LAGE, MAGE and MODD of the occurrence group were significantly different from those of the non-occurrence group (all P<0.05). By plotting the ROC curve, It was found that the area under the curve (AUC) of TIR, MBG, eHbA 1c, SD, CV, LAGE, MAGE and MODD predicting peripheral neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes were 0.942, 0.840, 0.705, 0.759, 0.819, 0.813, 0.857 and 0.677, respectively. The AUC of the combined prediction was 0.971(95% CI: 0.946-0.997), which was higher than that of the single indicator (all P<0.05). Spearman correlation assessment showed a negative correlation between TIR and peripheral neuropathy ( r=-0.738, P<0.05). MBG, eHbA 1c, SD, CV, LAGE, MAGE and MODD were positively correlated with peripheral neuropathy ( r=0.554, 0.376, 0.452, 0.490, 0.527, 0.625, 0.272, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Based on continuous blood glucose monitoring, the blood glucose index of type 2 diabetes patients is closely related to peripheral neuropathy, and the above blood glucose index can accurately predict peripheral neuropathy, providing a reference for reducing or preventing the occurrence of peripheral neuropathy.
10.Evaluation of stent effect display in lower extremity arterial occlusive disease based on energy spectrum CTA
Xin HUANG ; Ningning DING ; Li ZHOU ; Wenzhe ZHAO ; Daliang LI ; Zhe LIU ; Jian YANG ; Chao JIN
Journal of Xi'an Jiaotong University(Medical Sciences) 2025;46(1):178-183
Objective To explore the clinical value of energy-spectrum CT single-energy imaging in enhancing the image quality and stent display of stent placement CT angiography(CTA)in lower extremity atherosclerotic occlusive disease.Methods Twenty patients[mean(65.61±9.65)years;male/female,16/4]who underwent stenting for chronic occlusive disease of the lower extremity arteries by lower extremity arterial energetic spectral CTA were retrospectively recruited at our hospital.The original images were reconstructed into seven sets of single energy(40-100 keV),120 kVp,virtual unenhanced images(VUE)and metal artifact reduction(MAR)technique images.Images were debossed and then scaffolded for display with volumetric reconstruction(VR),maximum density projection(MIP)and curve planar reconstruction(CPR),and were objectively and subjectively assessed and compared using one-way analysis of variance(ANOVA).Results The 80 keV and MAR images had the highest scores compared to the other reconstruction group images(P<0.01).Conclusion 80 keV single-energy imaging and de-metallization artifacts MAR improve the image quality of lower extremity arterial stent lumen and structure display;therefore,they have higher diagnostic value for clinicians.


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