1.PageRank Algorithm and Factor Analysis Assists the Identification of Treatment Patterns of Chinese Herbal Medicine for Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy
Jiayan LU ; La ZHANG ; Xiaoxuan HU ; Xitao LING ; Haotian YU ; Ziyue LIANG ; Zuochen LU ; Haijing HOU ; Fuhua LU ; Nizhi YANG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;26(3):581-590
Objective The objective of this study was to provide methodological references for the inheritance of the experience of well-known Chinese medicine doctors in the treatment of kidney disease.Methods The study collected medical case data for IgA nephropathy,diagnosed and treated by Professor Yang Nizhi's outpatient department at Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from 2010 to 2020.The data was standardized and divided into three groups:urine and blood,urine turbidity,and renal failure groups.The study utilized the FangNet platform to apply the PageRank algorithm and calculate the THScore of different subgroups of core herbs for IgA nephropathy.The distribution pattern of syndrome differentiation and corresponding herb use regulations were visualized through Python(SciPy package,Clusterheatmap package),and the study explored and verified the drug prescription through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis based on Pearson correlation coefficient.The weighted least squares estimation mean and variance adjusted(WLSMV)and the oblique rotated GEOMIN method were used with the Mplus software.Results The study included a total of 548 treatments for 145 patients with IgA nephropathy,with heamturia group(54 cases),urine turbidity group(51 cases),and renal failure group(40 cases).Results showed 9 basic syndromes such as Qi deficiency syndrome(91.79%),blood stasis syndrome(77.01%),damp-heat syndrome(66.06%),and Yin deficiency syndrome(38.69%).There are 24 core drugs in total,23 in the urine and blood group,21 in the urine turbidity group,and 16 in the renal failure group.These drugs mainly include qi-tonifying and yang-invigorating drugs,nourishing yin and blood drugs,promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis drugs,and clearing heat and cooling blood drugs.The regulations for the differentiation and medication of IgA nephropathy(Z-Score>0.5 and P<0.05)were as follows:Huangqi,Shan Zhu Yu,and Tusizi were commonly used in Qi deficiency syndrome;Danshen,Ze Lan,and Shan Zhu Yu were commonly used in blood stasis syndrome;Pu Gong Ying,Shi Wei,Tao Ren,and Tu Fu Ling were commonly used in damp-heat syndrome;and Mo Han Lian,Tai Zi Shen,and Nv Zhen Zi were commonly used in Yin deficiency syndrome.Through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis,the core drug combination factors for the treatment of IgA nephropathy by Professor Yang Nizhi were obtained as follows:F1(Tusizi,Shan Zhu Yu,Huangqi);F2(White Mao Gen,Xiao Ji,Qian Cao);F3(Nv Zhen Zi,Mo Han Lian,Tai Zi Shen);and F4(Ze Lan,Tao Ren).Conclusion This study analyzed the diagnosis and treatment experience of Professor Yang Nizhi in the treatment of IgA nephropathy by grouping,defining the core syndrome of"Qi deficiency and blood stasis,damp-heat and Yin deficiency",and the core treatment methods of"tonifying Qi,promoting blood circulation,clearing heat,and nourishing Yin"using the PageRank algorithm and Mplus factor analysis.The study provided methodological references for the inheritance of the experience of famous Chinese medicine doctors and promoted the development and utilization of traditional Chinese medicine.