OBJECTIVE To analyze the influencing factors for achieving target plasma drug concentration （trough） （abbreviated as “PDC”） of vancomycin in patients from high-altitude regions and establish a predictive model for PDC using single- center data， providing references for rational clinical drug use. METHODS Inpatients with vancomycin （1 g， q12 h） administered intravenously in our hospital from January 2021 to June 2024 were retrospectively included. Demographic data， liver and kidney function and hematological indexes were collected. Spearman correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between vancomycin PDC and each detection index. Univariate analysis was used to evaluate the differences of each index in patients with different PDC， and the effects of different gender， body mass index， age and underlying diseases （hypertension/diabetes） on vancomycin PDC. Based on the results of correlation analysis and univariate analysis， multiple linear stepwise regression analysis was used to obtain the independent predictors of vancomycin PDC and construct the prediction model. RESULTS A total of 141 patients were included， with an overall attainment rate of 46.81% for the target PDC of vancomycin. Correlation analysis showed that the vancomycin PDC was positively correlated with age， blood urea nitrogen， uric acid （UA）， serum creatinine （CRE） and β2- microglobulin （β2-MG）， and negatively correlated with height， weight， creatinine clearance rate （CCR）， glomerular filtration rate （GFR）， alanine transaminase （ALT）， hemoglobin （HGB）， white blood cell count and neutrophils （P＜0.05）. There were significant differences in age， CRE and other 14 indexes among different PDC groups （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Age and underlying diseases had significant effects on vancomycin PDC （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CCR， direct bilirubin （DBil）， β2-MG， UA， HGB and height （standardized coefficients were －0.371， 0.367， 0.169， 0.232， －0.140， －0.132； P＜0.05） were independent predictors of vancomycin PDC. The F value of the regression equation was 34.858 （P＜0.05）， the R2 was 0.610， and the adjusted R2 was 0.592. CONCLUSIONS The vancomycin PDC of patients in high-altitude regions is affected by multiple factors such as renal function， liver function and hematological indexes. CCR， HGB and height could be used to predict vancomycin PDC negatively， while DBil， β2-MG and UA could be used to predict vancomycin PDC positively. The variables of the established prediction model could explain 59.2% of the variation of vancomycin PDC.

Background Meteorological factors are among the key extrinsic triggers for the onset and exacerbation of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (CVD). Against the backdrop of sustained global warming, elucidating the impact of ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure on CVD, especially on pre-hospital CVD emergent events, has become imperative for evidence-based prevention and emergency preparedness. Objective To quantify the temporal trends of daily mean temperature and atmospheric pressure and their associations with pre-hospital CVD emergent events in Yantai, and to explore effect modification by demographic subgroups and geographic areas, thereby providing an empirical basis for the rational allocation of emergency medical resources. Methods Pre-hospital CVD emergency data from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2022 were selected from the Yantai 120 Emergency Medical Command System. Synchronous meteorological factors and environmental pollutant data were obtained from the websites of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Centers for Environmental Information of the United States. Time-series analysis combined with distributed lag non-linear model was used to analyze the association between daily temperature, atmospheric pressure, and pre-hospital CVD emergencies. Average annual percentage changes (AAPC) were calculated using Joinpoint (version 5.2.0.0) to reflect temporal trends. Spearman correlation analysis was employed to screen variables with low collinearity for inclusion in the multi-pollutant adjusted models. Results From 2016 to 2022, a total of 268275 pre-hospital CVD emergency cases were recorded in Yantai City, showing an increasing annual trend (AAPC=7.16%, P=0.002). Emergency volume, daily temperature, atmospheric pressure, and PM₁₀ displayed marked seasonal patterns, with summer bottoms and winter peaks for emergencies, daily temperature higher in summer and lower in winter, and the inverse for atmospheric pressure. Correlation analysis showed that both daily temperature and atmospheric pressure were positively correlated with O₃, with correlation coefficients of 0.745 and 0.723, respectively; negatively correlated with PM_2.5, with correlation coefficients of −0.246 and −0.235, respectively; and negatively correlated with PM₁₀, with correlation coefficients of −0.241 and −0.229, respectively (P < 0.05). A U-shaped correlation was revealed between daily temperature and pre-hospital CVD emergency risk. Using 24 °C as the reference, risk was elevated at both low and high daily temperatures, with the strongest cold effect at –11 ℃ (RR=1.53, 95%CI: 1.35, 1.73) and strongest heat effect at 30 ℃ (RR=1.06, 95%CI: 1.01, 1.11); cold effects were prolonged (lag0–14d) compared to heat effects. Atmospheric pressure exhibited a positive association with emergencies; using a median of 1012.2 hPa as the reference, the maximum risk occurred at 1037 hPa (RR=1.25, 95%CI: 1.03, 1.52), with a 0–5 d lag. In the subgroup analysis, the impact of low temperature was more pronounced among females (RR_{−9 ℃}=1.66), people over 60 years (RR_{−9 ℃}=1.91), and rural residents (RR_{−9 ℃}=1.76). High atmospheric pressure significantly increased the risk of pre-hospital CVD emergency among females (RR_{1035 hPa}=1.54), people under 18 years (RR_{1035 hPa}=3.62), and rural residents (RR_{1035 hPa}=1.46). The sensitivity analysis results indicated that, after excluding the impact of pandemic and the degrees of freedom for time variations, the effects of daily average temperature and atmospheric pressure on pre-hospital CVD emergency volume were consistent with the primary analysis findings. Conclusion Both non-optimal temperature and atmospheric pressure significantly increase the pre-hospital CVD emergency volume; therefore, emergency medical services should develop targeted response protocols, optimize resource allocation, and intensify public health education to mitigate the pre-hospital burden attributable to temperature and pressure fluctuations.

Objective: Current guidelines recommend surveillance or diagnostic lobectomy for indeterminate thyroid nodules. Although radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has emerged as a potential alternative, its role remains controversial. Functional imaging modalities, including 99mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile scintigraphy and 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, have been used to support risk stratification. This study evaluated the mid-term outcomes of RFA and their predictors in a functionally screened cohort of patients with indeterminate thyroid nodules. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 109 patients with Bethesda category III or IV thyroid nodules who underwent RFA after functional imaging–based evaluation between January 2018 and November 2024. The primary outcome was local treatment failure (LTF), defined as the first occurrence of nodule regrowth, an increase in vital volume, or repeated indeterminate cytology. The secondary outcome was complete disappearance of the nodule.Supplementary outcomes included the volume reduction rate, symptom and cosmetic scores, and biochemical markers. Results: During a median follow-up of 2.2 years (range, 0.7–6.8 years), LTF occurred in 15 of 109 patients (13.8%), whereas complete disappearance was observed in 9 (8.3%) patients. The 3-year LTF-free probability and cumulative incidence of complete disappearance were 85.4% and 6.5%, respectively. Significant reductions were observed in the nodule volume, symptom scores, cosmetic scores, and free T4 and thyroglobulin levels. A greater initial maximum nodule diameter was independently associated with a higher likelihood of LTF (hazard ratio [HR] per 1-cm increase, 2.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23–4.48; P = 0.010) and a lower likelihood of complete disappearance (HR, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.04–0.60; P = 0.006). At 3 years, 93% of the tumors with an initial diameter <3.0 cm remained free of LTF, whereas no tumors >2.1 cm achieved complete disappearance. Conclusion In this functionally screened cohort of patients with indeterminate thyroid nodules, RFA demonstrated acceptable outcomes with volume reduction and symptom relief, particularly in patients with nodules <3 cm.

BACKGROUND: Medical informatics accumulated vast amounts of data for clinical diagnosis and treatment. However, limited access to follow-up data and the difficulty in integrating data across diverse platforms continue to pose significant barriers to clinical research progress. In response, our research team has embarked on the development of a specialized clinical research database for cardiology, thereby establishing a comprehensive digital platform that facilitates both clinical decision-making and research endeavors. METHODS: The database incorporated actual clinical data from patients who received treatment at the Cardiovascular Medicine Department of Chinese PLA General Hospital from 2012 to 2021. It included comprehensive data on patients' basic information, medical history, non-invasive imaging studies, laboratory test results, as well as peri-procedural information related to interventional surgeries, extracted from the Hospital Information System. Additionally, an innovative artificial intelligence (AI)-powered interactive follow-up system had been developed, ensuring that nearly all myocardial infarction patients received at least one post-discharge follow-up, thereby achieving comprehensive data management throughout the entire care continuum for high-risk patients. RESULTS: This database integrates extensive cross-sectional and longitudinal patient data, with a focus on higher-risk acute coronary syndrome patients. It achieves the integration of structured and unstructured clinical data, while innovatively incorporating AI and automatic speech recognition technologies to enhance data integration and workflow efficiency. It creates a comprehensive patient view, thereby improving diagnostic and follow-up quality, and provides high-quality data to support clinical research. Despite limitations in unstructured data standardization and biological sample integrity, the database's development is accompanied by ongoing optimization efforts. CONCLUSION The cardiovascular specialty clinical database is a comprehensive digital archive integrating clinical treatment and research, which facilitates the digital and intelligent transformation of clinical diagnosis and treatment processes. It supports clinical decision-making and offers data support and potential research directions for the specialized management of cardiovascular diseases.

Objective To explore the rehabilitation effect of abdominal breathing training and the improvement status of cardiopulmonary function in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) over 60 years old. Methods A total of 520 COPD patients over 60 years old admitted to the hospital were selected from June 2021 to March 2024 as the research subjects. The patients were divided into reference group (routine intervention, n=260) and abdominal rehabilitation group (abdominal breathing training on the basis of routine intervention, n=260) by adopting computer random function. Cardiopulmonary tolerance, respiratory muscle condition and pulmonary function markers were compared between the two groups before and after intervention. Results Compared with the reference group after intervention, the abdominal rehabilitation group had higher maximum oxygen uptake and minute ventilation volume, lower anaerobic threshold, and higher maximal expiratory pressure (MEP). The maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced expiratory volume (FVC), ratio of forced expiratory volume to forced vital capacity in one second (FEV1/FVC), the percentage of FEV1 to the predicted value (FEV1%pred) and 1 min maximum ventilation volume (MVV) (P<0.05) were all higher in the abdominal rehabilitation group than the reference group after intervention. Conclusion Abdominal breathing training for patients with COPD over 60 years old can effectively enhance cardiopulmonary tolerance, and improve respiratory muscle physiology and pulmonary function.

Meropenem （MEM） is one of the important drugs for the treatment of severe infections， but the standard dose is often difficult to achieve an effective therapeutic concentration target. This article reviews the related studies on the population pharmacokinetics of MEM in patients with severe infection. It is found that the apparent volume of distribution （Vd） and clearance rate are the most important factors affecting the dose adjustment， and the factors affecting Vd include serum albumin， age， overall weight， shock status， and chest/abdomen/cerebrospinal fluid drainage. The main factors affecting the clearance rate were renal function， renal replacement therapy treatment mode and combination therapy. For adult patients with severe infections in China， MEM is recommended to be administered in an individualized manner based on glomerular filtration rate， with a dosage range of 500 to 1 500 mg given every 4 to 6 hours， and prolonged infusion is preferred. When the minimum inhibitory concentration （MIC） of the pathogenic bacteria reaches 64 mg/L， therapeutic drug monitoring is required. For therapeutic efficacy， it is essential to ensure that the trough concentration remains above the MIC； to prevent drug resistance， it should be maintained above 4×MIC. Regarding safety， it is recommended that the upper limit of the trough concentration be 32 mg/L， and blood sampling for monitoring can be conducted as early as after 1 to 2 doses of administration.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a highly prevalent chronic metabolic disease with an increasing incidence worldwide, that poses a significant risk to public health. In many current clinical practices for diabetes management, conventional Western treatments, including oral or injectable hypoglycemic agents, have serious side effects. Given that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is characterized by a multi-component, multi-target and multi-pathway approach, its combination with Western medicine could enhance efficacy and reduce adverse effects. Consequently, the use of TCM as a potential auxiliary or alternative treatment for the prevention and/or management of T2DM has emerged as a research hotspot. This article reviews existing reports on TCM in the treatment of T2DM and provides a detailed discussion of its applications. By integrating relevant clinical evidence, this review summarizes the clinical data on 23 TCM formulas and Chinese patent medicines, comprehensively describing their efficacy and potential pharmacological mechanisms in the treatment of T2DM. This includes an exploration of the impacts of TCM-based therapeutic interventions on T2DM-related microRNAs and their target genes. We hope this review not only offers new insights for future research directions but also enhances the understanding of the scientific value of TCM. Please cite this article as: Ni HX, Cao LH, Gong XX, Zang ZY, Chang H. Traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus: Clinical evidence and pharmacological mechanisms. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(6):605-622.
Humans ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Hypoglycemic Agents/pharmacology*

Objective: To retrospectively compare the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with parotidectomy for superficial pleomorphic adenoma (PA). Materials and Methods: From March 2022 to October 2023, 88 patients diagnosed with superficial parotid PA underwent either RFA (n = 12; mean age, 47.1 years) or parotidectomy (n = 76; mean age, 47.8 years). Patients in the RFA group were matched to those in the surgery group in a 1:1 ratio using propensity scores based on age, sex, tumor volume, diameter, location, and comorbidities. Ultrasound characteristics, cosmetic scores (0–4), numerical rating scale scores (0–10), and complications were assessed before the procedures and at 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups. Outcomes were compared between baseline and follow-up in the RFA group and between the RFA and surgery groups. Results: In the RFA group, significant reductions in tumor volume were observed between baseline (median, 2.02 cm 3 ) and the 1-month follow-up (median, 1.21 cm 3 ; P = 0.015), between the 1-month and 3-month follow-ups (median, 0.53 cm 3 ; P= 0.002), and between the 3- and 6-month follow-ups (median, 0.23 cm 3 ; P = 0.003). The volume reduction ratios at 1, 3, and 6 months were 39.7%, 79.9%, and 88.0%, respectively. The cosmetic score was significantly lower at 3- and 6-month followup compared to baseline (median 1 and 1 vs. 4, P = 0.04). The numerical rating scale scores did not differ significantly from baseline throughout follow-up. In the propensity score-matched analysis (12 patients per group), RFA was associated with a shorter median procedure time (61.5 vs. 253.3 minutes; P < 0.001), shorter hospital stay (0 vs. 4 days; P < 0.001), and lower cost (1859.9 vs. 3512.4 USD; P < 0.001) than parotidectomy, with no significant difference in overall complication rates (33.3% [4/12] vs. 41.7% [5/12]; P = 1.000). Conclusion RFA may be a safe and effective alternative to surgery for superficial parotid PA, offering a shorter median procedure time, shorter hospital stay, and lower costs.

Objective: To retrospectively compare the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with parotidectomy for superficial pleomorphic adenoma (PA). Materials and Methods: From March 2022 to October 2023, 88 patients diagnosed with superficial parotid PA underwent either RFA (n = 12; mean age, 47.1 years) or parotidectomy (n = 76; mean age, 47.8 years). Patients in the RFA group were matched to those in the surgery group in a 1:1 ratio using propensity scores based on age, sex, tumor volume, diameter, location, and comorbidities. Ultrasound characteristics, cosmetic scores (0–4), numerical rating scale scores (0–10), and complications were assessed before the procedures and at 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups. Outcomes were compared between baseline and follow-up in the RFA group and between the RFA and surgery groups. Results: In the RFA group, significant reductions in tumor volume were observed between baseline (median, 2.02 cm 3 ) and the 1-month follow-up (median, 1.21 cm 3 ; P = 0.015), between the 1-month and 3-month follow-ups (median, 0.53 cm 3 ; P= 0.002), and between the 3- and 6-month follow-ups (median, 0.23 cm 3 ; P = 0.003). The volume reduction ratios at 1, 3, and 6 months were 39.7%, 79.9%, and 88.0%, respectively. The cosmetic score was significantly lower at 3- and 6-month followup compared to baseline (median 1 and 1 vs. 4, P = 0.04). The numerical rating scale scores did not differ significantly from baseline throughout follow-up. In the propensity score-matched analysis (12 patients per group), RFA was associated with a shorter median procedure time (61.5 vs. 253.3 minutes; P < 0.001), shorter hospital stay (0 vs. 4 days; P < 0.001), and lower cost (1859.9 vs. 3512.4 USD; P < 0.001) than parotidectomy, with no significant difference in overall complication rates (33.3% [4/12] vs. 41.7% [5/12]; P = 1.000). Conclusion RFA may be a safe and effective alternative to surgery for superficial parotid PA, offering a shorter median procedure time, shorter hospital stay, and lower costs.

Objective: To retrospectively compare the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with parotidectomy for superficial pleomorphic adenoma (PA). Materials and Methods: From March 2022 to October 2023, 88 patients diagnosed with superficial parotid PA underwent either RFA (n = 12; mean age, 47.1 years) or parotidectomy (n = 76; mean age, 47.8 years). Patients in the RFA group were matched to those in the surgery group in a 1:1 ratio using propensity scores based on age, sex, tumor volume, diameter, location, and comorbidities. Ultrasound characteristics, cosmetic scores (0–4), numerical rating scale scores (0–10), and complications were assessed before the procedures and at 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups. Outcomes were compared between baseline and follow-up in the RFA group and between the RFA and surgery groups. Results: In the RFA group, significant reductions in tumor volume were observed between baseline (median, 2.02 cm 3 ) and the 1-month follow-up (median, 1.21 cm 3 ; P = 0.015), between the 1-month and 3-month follow-ups (median, 0.53 cm 3 ; P= 0.002), and between the 3- and 6-month follow-ups (median, 0.23 cm 3 ; P = 0.003). The volume reduction ratios at 1, 3, and 6 months were 39.7%, 79.9%, and 88.0%, respectively. The cosmetic score was significantly lower at 3- and 6-month followup compared to baseline (median 1 and 1 vs. 4, P = 0.04). The numerical rating scale scores did not differ significantly from baseline throughout follow-up. In the propensity score-matched analysis (12 patients per group), RFA was associated with a shorter median procedure time (61.5 vs. 253.3 minutes; P < 0.001), shorter hospital stay (0 vs. 4 days; P < 0.001), and lower cost (1859.9 vs. 3512.4 USD; P < 0.001) than parotidectomy, with no significant difference in overall complication rates (33.3% [4/12] vs. 41.7% [5/12]; P = 1.000). Conclusion RFA may be a safe and effective alternative to surgery for superficial parotid PA, offering a shorter median procedure time, shorter hospital stay, and lower costs.