Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) represents a paradigmatic approach to personalized medicine, developed through the systematic accumulation and refinement of clinical empirical data over more than 2000 years, and now encompasses large-scale electronic medical records (EMR) and experimental molecular data. Artificial intelligence (AI) has demonstrated its utility in medicine through the development of various expert systems (e.g., MYCIN) since the 1970s. With the emergence of deep learning and large language models (LLMs), AI's potential in medicine shows considerable promise. Consequently, the integration of AI and TCM from both clinical and scientific perspectives presents a fundamental and promising research direction. This survey provides an insightful overview of TCM AI research, summarizing related research tasks from three perspectives: systems-level biological mechanism elucidation, real-world clinical evidence inference, and personalized clinical decision support. The review highlights representative AI methodologies alongside their applications in both TCM scientific inquiry and clinical practice. To critically assess the current state of the field, this work identifies major challenges and opportunities that constrain the development of robust research capabilities-particularly in the mechanistic understanding of TCM syndromes and herbal formulations, novel drug discovery, and the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered clinical care. The findings underscore that future advancements in AI-driven TCM research will rely on the development of high-quality, large-scale data repositories; the construction of comprehensive and domain-specific knowledge graphs (KGs); deeper insights into the biological mechanisms underpinning clinical efficacy; rigorous causal inference frameworks; and intelligent, personalized decision support systems.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Artificial Intelligence ; Humans ; Precision Medicine ; Decision Support Systems, Clinical

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of 3D printing technology combined with computer navigation-assisted screw implantation in the treatment of atlantoaxial instability (AAI) complicated by vertebral artery anomalies.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 23 patients with AAI complicated by vertebral artery anomalies who were admitted to Honghui Hospital of Xi′an Jiaotong University between January 2019 and January 2023, including 10 males and 13 females, aged 19-70 years [(51.0±13.3)years]. Vertebral artery anomalies were categorized into unilateral high-riding vertebral artery with unilateral dominance ( n=14), bilateral high-riding vertebral arteries with unilateral dominance ( n=6), and ponticulus posticus ( n=3). All the patients underwent preoperative planning using a 3D-printed model of the atlantoaxial complex with the vertebral artery, followed by posterior atlantoaxial pedicle screw fixation with computer-assisted navigation. Operative duration and intraoperative blood loss were recorded. The accuracy of pedicle screw placement was assessed at 3 days postoperatively using the Gertzbein-Robbins classification. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores were evaluated preoperatively, at 3 days, 3 months postoperatively, and at the last follow-up. Bony fusion was assessed using cervical CT with 3D reconstruction at the last follow-up. Complications were also observed. Results:All the patients were followed up for 12-19 months [(15.1±1.9)months]. The operative duration was 125-167 minutes [(140.6±10.9)minutes] and intraoperative blood loss was 200-600 ml [(295.7±77.8)ml]. At 3 days postoperatively, all the 66 pedicle screws were safely placed, with 60 screws (91%) rated as Gertzbein-Robbins Grade 0 and 6 screws (9%) as Grade 1. At 3 days and 3 months postoperatively, and at the last follow-up, the VAS scores were (4.0±1.0)points, (2.0±0.6)points, and (1.3±0.5)points, and the JOA scores were (14.2±1.2)points, (16.0±0.8)points, and (16.6±0.5)points, both of which were not only significantly improved compared with preoperative (5.6±1.3)points and (12.8±1.5)points, but also further improved over time ( P<0.05). At the last follow-up, 22 patients (96%) achieved satisfactory atlantoaxial bony fusion. No vertebral artery injury, spinal cord or nerve injury, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, or screw loosening were observed in any patients. Conclusion:For patients with AAI complicated by vertebral artery anomalies, 3D printing combined with computer navigation-assisted navigation for atlantoaxial pedicle screw implantation offers multiple advantages, including minimal surgical trauma, high screw placement accuracy, pain relief, neurological function improvement, high fusion rate, and lowered incidence of complications.

Postoperative infection of internal fixation of closed fractures the lower limbs in adults represents a devastating complication, characterized by diagnostic challenges, prolonged treatment duration and high disability rates. Current management of these infections faces multiple challenges, such as difficulties in early accurate diagnosis, and various controversies about the treatment plan, leading to poor overall diagnosis and treatment results. To address these issues, based on evidence-based medicine and principles with emphasis on scientific rigor, clinical applicability and innovation, the Trauma Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, Orthopedic Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, Orthopedics Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, and Trauma Orthopedics and Polytrauma Group of the Resuscitation and Emergency Committee of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association have collaboratively organized a panel of relevant experts to develop the Guideline for diagnosis and treatment of infection after internal fixation of closed lower limb fractures in adults ( version 2025). The guideline proposed 10 recommendations, aiming to provide a foundation for standardized diagnosis and treatment of postoperative infection in adults with closed lower limb fractures.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of Union Plate combined with robotic placement of infra-acetabular and posterior column screws and common reconstruction plate combined with freehand placement of infra-acetabular and posterior column screws in the treatment of complex acetabular fractures.Methods:The data of 42 patients with complex acetabular fractures treated in Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from June 2020 to June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 22 patients were treated with Union Plate combined with robotic placement of posterior column screws and infra-acetabular screws (Union Plate robot group). 20 cases were treated with common reconstruction plate combined with posterior column screw and infra-acetabular screw fixation by hand (reconstruction plate freehand group). The Union Plate robot group included 16 males and 6 females, aged 43.7±11.6 years (range, 24-67 years). Letournel-Judet classification: 14 cases of double-column fractures, 5 cases of anterior column with posterior semi-transverse fractures, 3 cases of "T" -shaped fractures. There were 15 males and 5 females in the reconstruction plate freehand group, aged 42.9±12.0 years (range, 22-66 years). Letournel-Judet classification: 15 cases of double-column fractures, 3 cases of anterior column with posterior semi-transverse fractures, 2 cases of "T" -shaped fractures. The operative time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative fluoroscopy times, frame screw placement time, fracture healing time, perfect frame screw placement rate (grade 0 rate) assessed according to the Lonstein criteria, reduction quality assessed according to the Matta criteria, the modified Merle d'Aubign-Postel score and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.Results:All 42 patients were followed up for 10 to 30 months, with an average of 13 months. The fracture healing time was 3.4±0.4 months in the Union Plate robot group and 3.6±0.4 months in the reconstruction plate freehand group, with no statistical significance ( t=2.179, P=0.035). The operative time and intraoperative blood loss of the Union Plate robot group were 138.3±30.7 min and 735.7±159.8 ml, respectively, which were lower than 163.9±48.7 min and 843.5±181.1 ml in the reconstruction plate freehand group. The differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The time and intraoperative fluoroscopy times of the Union Plate robot group were 19.9±3.2 min and 17.1±4.9 times, respectively, which were less than 42.5±6.7 min and 45.4±4.9 times of the reconstruction plate freehand group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). According to the Lonstein evaluation, there were 42 cases of class 0 and 2 cases of class I in the Union Plate robot group, and the perfect frame screw placement rate was 96%(42/44). There were 30 cases of grade 0, 8 cases of grade I and 2 cases of grade II in the reconstruction plate freehand group, and the perfect frame screw placement rate was 75%(30/40). There was significant difference between the two groups (χ 2=7.426, P=0.024). According to the Matta criteria, 15 cases of Union Plate robot group were excellent, 4 cases were good, and 3 cases were poor, with an excellent and good rate of 86%(19/22). In the reconstruction plate free hand group, 13 cases were excellent, 4 cases were good, and 3 cases were poor, with an excellent and good rate of 85%(17/20). There was no significant difference between the two groups (χ 2=0.048, P=0.976). At the last follow-up visit, the modified Merle d'Aubign-Postel score of the Union Plate robot group was 16.9±1.7 points and that of the reconstruction plate freehand group was 16.5±2.2 points, with no statistical significance ( t=0.593, P=0.557). In the Union Plate robot group, wound fat liquefaction and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve injury occurred in 1 case, the complication rate was 9%(2/22). There were 4 cases of fat liquefaction, 1 case of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve injury, and 1 case of traumatic hip arthritis in the reconstruction plate freehand group. The complication rate was 30%(6/20), and the difference in complication rate was not statistically significant (χ 2=1.769, P=0.183). Conclusions:The clinical efficacy of Union Plate combined with robotic placement of posterior column screws and infra-acetabular screws in the treatment of complex acetabular fractures is comparable to that of reconstruction plate combined with freehand placement of posterior column screws and infra-acetabular screws. However, the use of Union Plate combined with robotic placement of frame screws can shorten the operative time and the time of frame screw placement. The amount of intraoperative blood loss and intraoperative fluoroscopy times were reduced, and the accuracy of frame screw placement was higher.

OBJECTIVE T o explore the prevention and control measures for the hospital-acquired pulmonary mu-cormycosis caused by Cunninghamella bertholletiae.METHODS One case of patient with pulmonary mucormyco-sis caused by Cunninghamella bertholletiae who was treated in pediatric intensive care unit(PICU)of a three-A general hospital was enrolled in the study,the process of clinical diagnosis and treatment was summarized.A ret-rospective survey regarding four aspects including people,machine,materials and environment was conducted.The related factors leading to the hospital-acquired infections in the patient were analyzed.RESULTS The child was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia and underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation,the child was treated with various invasive procedures during the treatment period and was infected with pulmona-ry mucormycosis caused by the rare Cunninghamella bertholletiae.The occurrence of the pulmonary mucormyco-sis was associated with the poor management of medical textile,insufficient environmental cleaning and disinfec-tion and nonstandard invasive procedures.CONCLUSIONS The Cunninghamella bertholletiae infection is less com-mon,but the risk of death is high.It is necessary for the medical institutions to complete the prevention and con-trol measures and intensify the health care workers'capabilities in identification of the pathogenic fungus so as to reduce the incidence of pulmonary mucormycosis caused by the pathogen.

As the key channel of hepatic blood circulation, the portal vein plays a key role in the planning and implementation of minimally invasive liver surgery based on its branch morphology, location, and hemodynamic information. Intelligent imaging technology not only provides more reliable anatomical basis for precision liver resection, but also opens up new possibilities for per-sonalized planning and precise implementation of minimally invasive liver resection. The authors will review the application of portal vein imaging in minimally invasive surgery.

Objective:To investigate the completion rate of tumor evaluation at initial assessment and after neoadjuvant therapy for mid and low rectal cancer patients in the national multicenter real-world database.Methods:The prospective real-world study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 1 074 patients who underwent surgical treatment for mid and low rectal cancer in 47 national medical institutions, including Peking Union Medical College Hospital et al, from May 12,2023 to May 11,2024 were collected. Observation indicators: (1) clinical characteristics of patients with mid and low rectal cancer; (2) initial colonoscopy and pathologic evaluation of tumors in patients with mid and low rectal cancer; (3) initial imaging evaluation of patients with mid and low rectal cancer; (4) imaging evaluation after neoadjuvant therapy for patients with mid and low rectal cancer. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M( Q1, Q3). Count data were described as absoluter numbers and/or percentages. Results:(1) Clinical characteristics of patients with mid and low rectal cancer. Of the 1 074 patients, there were 713 males and 361 females, aged 63(56,70)years. The body mass index of 1 074 patients was 24(21,26)kg/m 2.For American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, there were 147 cases of stage Ⅰ, 641 cases of stage Ⅱ, 157 cases of stage Ⅲ, 2 cases of stage Ⅳ, and there were 127 cases missing data. (2) Initial colonoscopy and pathologic evaluation of tumors in patients with mid and low rectal cancer. Of the 1 074 patients, there were 787 cases (73.28%) undergoing complete colonoscopy, and there were only 197 cases (18.34%) undergoing immunohistochemical evaluation of all four mismatch repair proteins. (3) Initial imaging evaluation of patients with mid and low rectal cancer. Of the 1 074 patients, there were 842(78.40%) patients completing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ultrasound evaluation, and there were 914(85.10%) patients completing chest, abdomen, and pelvis enhanced computed tomography (CT) evaluation. In the 149 patients completing rectal ultrasound evaluation, there were 122 cases (81.88%) comple-ting T staging evaluation, and there were 81 cases (54.36%) completing N staging evaluation. In the 808 patients completing rectal MRI evaluation, there were 708 cases (87.62%) completing T staging evaluation, and there were 590 cases (73.02%) completing N staging evaluation. (4) Imaging evalua-tion after neoadjuvant therapy for patients with mid and low rectal cancer. Of the 388 patients with neoadjuvant therapy, there were 332 patients (85.57%) completing MRI or ultrasound evaluation, and there were 327 patients (84.28%) completing chest, abdomen, and pelvis enhanced CT evalua-tion. In the 70 patients completing rectal ultrasound evaluation, there were 65 cases (92.86%) com-pleting T staging evaluation, and there were 49 cases (70.00%) completing N staging evaluation. In the 327 patients completing rectal MRI evaluation, there were 246 cases (75.23%) completing T staging, and there were 228 cases (69.72%) completing N staging evaluation. Conclusion:The com-pletion rate of tumor imaging evaluation at initial assessment and after neoadjuvant therapy for mid and low rectal cancer patients on a national scale is relatively good.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of Union Plate combined with robotic placement of infra-acetabular and posterior column screws and common reconstruction plate combined with freehand placement of infra-acetabular and posterior column screws in the treatment of complex acetabular fractures.Methods:The data of 42 patients with complex acetabular fractures treated in Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from June 2020 to June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 22 patients were treated with Union Plate combined with robotic placement of posterior column screws and infra-acetabular screws (Union Plate robot group). 20 cases were treated with common reconstruction plate combined with posterior column screw and infra-acetabular screw fixation by hand (reconstruction plate freehand group). The Union Plate robot group included 16 males and 6 females, aged 43.7±11.6 years (range, 24-67 years). Letournel-Judet classification: 14 cases of double-column fractures, 5 cases of anterior column with posterior semi-transverse fractures, 3 cases of "T" -shaped fractures. There were 15 males and 5 females in the reconstruction plate freehand group, aged 42.9±12.0 years (range, 22-66 years). Letournel-Judet classification: 15 cases of double-column fractures, 3 cases of anterior column with posterior semi-transverse fractures, 2 cases of "T" -shaped fractures. The operative time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative fluoroscopy times, frame screw placement time, fracture healing time, perfect frame screw placement rate (grade 0 rate) assessed according to the Lonstein criteria, reduction quality assessed according to the Matta criteria, the modified Merle d'Aubign-Postel score and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.Results:All 42 patients were followed up for 10 to 30 months, with an average of 13 months. The fracture healing time was 3.4±0.4 months in the Union Plate robot group and 3.6±0.4 months in the reconstruction plate freehand group, with no statistical significance ( t=2.179, P=0.035). The operative time and intraoperative blood loss of the Union Plate robot group were 138.3±30.7 min and 735.7±159.8 ml, respectively, which were lower than 163.9±48.7 min and 843.5±181.1 ml in the reconstruction plate freehand group. The differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The time and intraoperative fluoroscopy times of the Union Plate robot group were 19.9±3.2 min and 17.1±4.9 times, respectively, which were less than 42.5±6.7 min and 45.4±4.9 times of the reconstruction plate freehand group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). According to the Lonstein evaluation, there were 42 cases of class 0 and 2 cases of class I in the Union Plate robot group, and the perfect frame screw placement rate was 96%(42/44). There were 30 cases of grade 0, 8 cases of grade I and 2 cases of grade II in the reconstruction plate freehand group, and the perfect frame screw placement rate was 75%(30/40). There was significant difference between the two groups (χ 2=7.426, P=0.024). According to the Matta criteria, 15 cases of Union Plate robot group were excellent, 4 cases were good, and 3 cases were poor, with an excellent and good rate of 86%(19/22). In the reconstruction plate free hand group, 13 cases were excellent, 4 cases were good, and 3 cases were poor, with an excellent and good rate of 85%(17/20). There was no significant difference between the two groups (χ 2=0.048, P=0.976). At the last follow-up visit, the modified Merle d'Aubign-Postel score of the Union Plate robot group was 16.9±1.7 points and that of the reconstruction plate freehand group was 16.5±2.2 points, with no statistical significance ( t=0.593, P=0.557). In the Union Plate robot group, wound fat liquefaction and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve injury occurred in 1 case, the complication rate was 9%(2/22). There were 4 cases of fat liquefaction, 1 case of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve injury, and 1 case of traumatic hip arthritis in the reconstruction plate freehand group. The complication rate was 30%(6/20), and the difference in complication rate was not statistically significant (χ 2=1.769, P=0.183). Conclusions:The clinical efficacy of Union Plate combined with robotic placement of posterior column screws and infra-acetabular screws in the treatment of complex acetabular fractures is comparable to that of reconstruction plate combined with freehand placement of posterior column screws and infra-acetabular screws. However, the use of Union Plate combined with robotic placement of frame screws can shorten the operative time and the time of frame screw placement. The amount of intraoperative blood loss and intraoperative fluoroscopy times were reduced, and the accuracy of frame screw placement was higher.

OBJECTIVE T o explore the prevention and control measures for the hospital-acquired pulmonary mu-cormycosis caused by Cunninghamella bertholletiae.METHODS One case of patient with pulmonary mucormyco-sis caused by Cunninghamella bertholletiae who was treated in pediatric intensive care unit(PICU)of a three-A general hospital was enrolled in the study,the process of clinical diagnosis and treatment was summarized.A ret-rospective survey regarding four aspects including people,machine,materials and environment was conducted.The related factors leading to the hospital-acquired infections in the patient were analyzed.RESULTS The child was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia and underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation,the child was treated with various invasive procedures during the treatment period and was infected with pulmona-ry mucormycosis caused by the rare Cunninghamella bertholletiae.The occurrence of the pulmonary mucormyco-sis was associated with the poor management of medical textile,insufficient environmental cleaning and disinfec-tion and nonstandard invasive procedures.CONCLUSIONS The Cunninghamella bertholletiae infection is less com-mon,but the risk of death is high.It is necessary for the medical institutions to complete the prevention and con-trol measures and intensify the health care workers'capabilities in identification of the pathogenic fungus so as to reduce the incidence of pulmonary mucormycosis caused by the pathogen.

As the key channel of hepatic blood circulation, the portal vein plays a key role in the planning and implementation of minimally invasive liver surgery based on its branch morphology, location, and hemodynamic information. Intelligent imaging technology not only provides more reliable anatomical basis for precision liver resection, but also opens up new possibilities for per-sonalized planning and precise implementation of minimally invasive liver resection. The authors will review the application of portal vein imaging in minimally invasive surgery.