Through consulting herbal medicine， medical books， and local chronicles from past dynasties to modern times， this paper systematically researched Spatholobi Caulis from name， origin， producing areas， harvesting， processing， usage， quality evaluation， functions and indications， providing a reference for the development and utilization of famous classical formulas containing Spatholobi Caulis. According to the research， Spatholobi Caulis was first recorded in the Annals of Shunning Prefecture from the Qing dynasty. It was originally a medicinal herb commonly used in Shunning， Yunnan， and was named from the red juice resembling chicken blood that flowed out after the vein was cut off. The mainstream original plants of each dynasty were Kadsura heteroclita and Spatholobus suberectus. Among them， K. heteroclita mainly focused on dispersing blood stasis and unblocking meridians， mainly treating rheumatic pain and injuries caused by falls or blows， and it is mostly used as the raw material of Jixueteng ointments. S. suberectus was commonly used as decoction pieces in decoction， which had the functions of promoting blood circulation and replenishing blood， activating meridians and collaterals， and mainly used for treating anemia， irregular menstruation， and rheumatic bone pain. The production area of Spatholobi Caulis recorded in the Qing dynasty was Yunnan. Currently， the main production area of S. suberectus is Guangxi， while the main production area of K. interior is Yunnan. In the Qing dynasty， the usage of Spatholobi Caulis was an individual prescription with other herbs before making ointments， which was usually composed of the juice of it， safflower， angelica， and glutinous rice. But in modern times， Spatholobi Caulis is mostly sliced and dried for use. The quality of Spatholobi Caulis is often determined by the number of reddish-brown concentric circles on the cut surface， with a higher number indicating better quality. Additionally， the presence of resinous secretions is also considered desirable. Based on the research findings， it is suggested that when developing famous classical formulas containing Spatholobi Caulis， the choice of the primary source should be S. suberectus or K. heteroclita， taking into consideration the therapeutic effects of the formula. It is also recommended that the latest plant classification be referenced in the next edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia， adjusting the primary source of Kadsurae Caulis to K. heteroclita to avoid confusion caused by inconsistent original names， and the functions adjust to promote Qi circulation and relieve pain， disperse blood stasis and unblock collaterals， treating injuries caused by falls and bruises.

Objective To summarize and analyze the clinical efficacy of negative pressure suction bell in the treatment of young children (≤6 years) with pectus excavatum. Methods The relevant clinical medical records of the children with pectus excavatum who received negative pressure suction bell treatment in the Outpatient Department of Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from May 2019 to January 2023 were collected. The age, sex, type, severity, depth of depression, duration of use and prognosis of children with pectus excavatum were retrospectively analyzed. Results A total of 100 pediatric patients were ultimately included in the study, comprising 74 males and 26 females. The age distribution was 57 patients aged 0-3 years and 43 patients aged 3-6 years. All patients were prescribed and used a negative pressure suction device for at least 3 months, after which they returned to our department's outpatient clinic for follow-up. The treatment demonstrated clinical effectiveness in 99 patients, yielding an efficacy rate of 99.00%. The excellent/good rate was 52.00%, and the complication rate was 8.00%. After treatment, the Haller index and the depth of sternal depression were reduced compared with those before treatment (P<0.001), and there was no statistical difference in the effective rate and excellent/good rate between different genders, different ages, different types of pectus excavatum, or different severity (P＞0.05). Conclusion Negative pressure suction bell is safe and effective in the treatment of young children (≤6 years) with pectus excavatum, and the correction effect has nothing to do with gender, type and severity.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of the sequence of intermediate instrumentation and distraction-reduction of the injured vertebra on the surgical efficacy of short-segment percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for thoracolumbar burst fractures with high rate of spinal canal encroachment. METHODS: From January 2016 to January 2022, 38 patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures with high rate of spinal canal encroachment (spinal canal encroachment rate >40%, complete posterior longitudinal ligament, no flipping bone block in the posterior marginal of the vertebra) without spinal cord injury who were were treated with short-segment percutaneous pedicle screw fixation were retrospectively analyzed. During the operation, 18 cases were used distraction-reduction first and then intermediate instrumentation on injured vertebral and sequential distraction-reduction again(the distraction-reduction first group) including 8 females and 10 males with a mean age of 46.5 (38.5, 50.0) years old, and the other 20 cases were used intermediate instrumentation on injured vertebral first and then direct distraction-reduction(the intermediate instrumentation first group) including 10 males and 10 females with a mean age of 46.0 (35.8, 50.8) years. The anterior height ratio of the injured vertebra, local Cobb's angle of the injured vertebrae, the spinal canal encroachment rate, and the improvement rate of spinal canal encroachment were compared and evaluated. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for more than 1 year, and no complications such as spinal cord and root injury, screw loosening and screw rod fracture were found. The anterior height ratio of the injured vertebra, local Cobb' angle of the injured vertebra in the two groups were significantly improved compared with preoperative data(P<0.05), and those at 3 months and 1 year after operation was lost compared with that at the previous time point(P<0.05). Although the spinal canal encroachment rate of the two groups 1 day and 1 year after operation was improved compared with that before operation(P<0.05), the improvement of spinal canal volume in the distraction-reduction first group was significantly better than that in the intermediate instrumentation first group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION In the treatment of patients with thoracolumbar fractures with high rate of spinal canal encroachment, short-segment percutaneous pedicle screw internal fixation with distraction-reduction first and then intermediate instrumentation and sequential distraction-reduction again can more effectively reduce the bony encroachment in the spinal canal and achieve indirect decompression effect better.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fractures/surgery* ; Thoracic Vertebrae/surgery* ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation* ; Pedicle Screws ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Canal/surgery*

The patient, assigned female at birth and aged 1 year and 7 months, presented with clinical manifestations of 46,XY disorders of sex development. The external genitalia exhibited a severely undermasculinized phenotype. Laboratory tests and gonadal biopsy indicated poor Leydig cell function and good Sertoli cell function. Genetic testing revealed compound heterozygous mutations of c.867-2A>C and c.547G>A (p.G183R) in the LHCGR gene. The patient was ultimately diagnosed with type II Leydig cell hypoplasia. Type II Leydig cell hypoplasia presents a broad spectrum of clinical phenotypes, characterized by a lack of parallel function between Leydig cells and Sertoli cells, and significant individual variability in spermatogenesis and gender assignment. This condition should be considered when there is poor Leydig cell function but good development of Wolffian duct derivatives.
Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Disorder of Sex Development, 46,XY/genetics* ; Leydig Cells/pathology* ; Mutation ; Receptors, LH/genetics* ; Testis/abnormalities*

The patient was a boy aged 1 year and 9 months who presented with 46,XY disorder of sex development (DSD), with severe undermasculinization of the external genitalia. Laboratory tests and ultrasound examinations showed normal functions of Leydig cells and Sertoli cells in the testes. Genetic testing revealed a novel pathogenic heterozygous variant, c.1186dupA (p.T396Nfs*17), in the PPP1R12A gene. Thirteen cases of PPP1R12A gene variants have been reported previously. These variants may cause isolated involvement of the genitourinary or neurological systems, or affect other systems/organs including the digestive tract, eyes, heart, etc. Patients with DSD typically present with a 46,XY karyotype and variable degrees of undermasculinization involving the external genitalia, gonads, and reproductive tract. This article reports a child with 46,XY DSD accompanied by growth retardation caused by a heterozygous variant in the PPP1R12A gene, which expands the clinical disease spectrum associated with PPP1R12A gene variants.
Humans ; Male ; Infant ; Disorder of Sex Development, 46,XY/etiology* ; Protein Phosphatase 1/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of gut microbiota changes in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) undergoing induction chemotherapy and to explore the relationship between infectious complications and gut microbiota. METHODS: Fecal samples were collected from 37 newly diagnosed AML patients at four time points: before induction chemotherapy, during chemotherapy, during the neutropenic phase, and during the recovery phase. Metagenomic sequencing was used to analyze the dynamic changes in gut microbiota. Correlation analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between changes in gut microbiota and the occurrence of infectious complications. RESULTS: During chemotherapy, the gut microbiota α-diversity (Shannon index) of AML patients exhibited significant fluctuations. Specifically, the diversity decreased significantly during induction chemotherapy, further declined during the neutropenic phase (P < 0.05, compared to baseline), and gradually recovered during the recovery phase, though not fully returning to baseline levels.The abundances of beneficial bacteria, such as Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, gradually decreased during chemotherapy, whereas the abundances of opportunistic pathogens, including Enterococcus, Klebsiella, and Escherichia coli, progressively increased.Analysis of the dynamic changes in gut microbiota of seven patients with bloodstream infections revealed that the bloodstream infection pathogens could be detected in the gut microbiota of the corresponding patients, with their abundance gradually increasing during the course of infection. This finding suggests that bloodstream infections may be associated with opportunistic pathogens originating from the gut microbiota.Compared to non-infected patients, the baseline samples of infected patients showed a significantly lower relative abundance of Bacteroidetes (P < 0.05). Regression analysis indicated that Bacteroidetes abundance is an independent predictive factor for infectious complications (P < 0.05, OR =13.143). CONCLUSION During induction chemotherapy in AML patients, gut microbiota α-diversity fluctuates significantly, and the abundance of opportunistic pathogens increase, which may be associated with bloodstream infections. Patients with lower baseline Bacteroidetes abundance are more prone to infections, and its abundance can serve as an independent predictor of infectious complications.
Humans ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/microbiology* ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Feces/microbiology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs),commonly utilized analgesics,are extensively employed for managing pain associated with musculoskeletal disorders or injuries.Recent clinical studies have demonstrated a heightened risk of bone stress injuries(BSI)in soldiers and athletes,particularly during high-intensity training,due to NSAID usage.Furthermore,the impact of NSAIDs on fracture healing is well-documented;however,the precise mechanism by which their use during training contributes to an increased incidence of stress bone injuries remains unclear.This article aims to summarize potential mechanisms through an extensive review of domestic and international literature in order to standardize the utilization and clinical management of NSAIDs,optimize pain management strategies,and prevent stress bone injuries or fractures in specific populations such as soldiers and elite athletes.

Aromatic traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) has played an important role against epidemics and viruses, and volatile components are the main components that exert the pharmacological effects of aromatic TCM. By screening the related monomer components in aromatic TCM against epidemic and viruses and analyzing and endowing TCM with medicinal properties based on its clinical application and pharmacological research according to the theoretical thinking of TCM, the key technical issues of compatibility of TCM monomer components were solved from a theoretical perspective, providing new ideas and methods for screening raw materials and formulas for the development of new TCM drugs. Based on the conditions of antiviral activity, clinical application foundation, definite therapeutic effect, and high safety, a gradient screening of aromatic TCM was carried out. Firstly, 30 aromatic TCM were screened from anti-epidemic literature and clinical trial formulas, and seven volatile monomers were further screened from them. Then, four monomer components with significant effects, namely patchouli alcohol, carvacrol, p-cymene, and eucalyptol were screened. By adopting the "four-step method for a systematic study of TCM properties", the four monomer components were endowed with medicinal properties, and compatibility and combination studies were conducted to explore the theoretical basis of monomer formulas and form monomer formulas guided by TCM theory. The screening results of volatile monomers in aromatic TCM against viral pneumonia included patchouli alcohol, carvacrol, p-cymene, and eucalyptol. The medicinal properties and compatibility theory of volatile monomer components in TCM were explored. Patchouli alcohol was the main herb, with a cool and pungent nature. It entered the lung meridian to dispel evil Qi and has the effects of aromatization, detoxification, and epidemic prevention. Carvacrol was a minister drug with a cool and pungent taste. It had the effects of aromatizing, moistening, and dissolving the exterior, as well as strengthening the spleen and stomach. p-Cymene was an adjunctive medicine with a mild and pungent nature. It entered the lungs and kidneys and had the effects of aromatic purification, cough relief, and asthma relief. Eucalyptol was also an adjunctive medicine with a pungent and warm taste. It had the functions of aromatic purification, cough relief, phlegm reduction, and pain relief. The combination of the four medicines had the effects of aromatizing, moistening, detoxifying, and epidemic prevention, as well as relieving cough and asthma and strengthening the spleen and stomach. They were used to treat viral pneumonia caused by upper respiratory tract viral infections, with symptoms such as chest tightness, cough, wheezing, fatigue, nasal congestion, runny nose, nausea, and vomiting. This study has laid a literature and theoretical foundation for further drug efficacy verification experiments, compatibility efficacy experiments, and subsequent product development and clinical applications, and it serves as an innovative practice that combines literature research, theoretical research, experimental research, and clinical practice to develop new products.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Antiviral Agents/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Pneumonia, Viral/virology* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Volatile Organic Compounds/pharmacology* ; Animals

This paper aims to investigate the influence of eucalyptol on the biological effects of spleen cold and spleen heat syndromes in rats and its regulation of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1(TRPV1), transient receptor potential melastatin 8(TRPM8), and uncoupling protein 1(UCP1), so as to explore the cold-heat properties of eucalyptol. Rats were randomly divided into groups as follows: blank group, spleen cold syndrome model group, spleen cold syndrome+Atractylodis Rhizoma group, spleen cold syndrome + low-dose eucalyptol group, and spleen cold syndrome+high-dose eucalyptol group, as well as blank group, spleen heat syndrome model group, spleen heat syndrome+Coptidis Rhizoma group, spleen heat syndrome + low-dose eucalyptol group, and spleen heat syndrome + high-dose eucalyptol group. Spleen cold and spleen heat syndromes were induced by disorders of hunger and satiety combined with bitter cold drugs, as well as a high-fat diet combined with liquor. Except for the blank and model groups, the other groups were administered once a day during the modeling process for 14 consecutive days. The general condition and body weight of rats in each group were observed, and the histopathological morphology of the gastric antrum and small intestine was observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The contents of cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP), cyclic guanosine monophosphate(cGMP), triiodothyronine(T3), thyroxine(T4), Na~+-K~+-ATPase, total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), gastrin(GAS), motilin(MTL), D-xylose, and other related indices were detected in rats. The expression levels of TRPV1, TRPM8, and UCP1 in small intestine tissue of rats with spleen cold syndrome were detected. The results showed that eucalyptol had a certain degree of improvement in the overall state and body weight of rats with spleen cold syndrome. Compared with the spleen cold syndrome model group, high-dose eucalyptol significantly increased the levels of serum cAMP, cAMP/cGMP, TG, and TC in rats with spleen cold syndrome(P<0.05, P<0.01), decreased the content of cGMP, and significantly elevated the levels of gastrointestinal function-related indicators GAS, MTL, and D-xylose(P<0.05, P<0.01). Low-dose eucalyptol significantly increased the level of cAMP/cGMP in the serum and Na~+-K~+-ATPase levels in hepatic tissue(P<0.05, P<0.01), and significantly increased the levels of GAS and D-xylose(P<0.01). Eucalyptol showed similar effects to Atractylodis Rhizoma with a warm nature on rats with spleen cold syndrome. Compared with the spleen heat syndrome model group, the high-dose and low-dose eucalyptol groups showed a trend of increase in gastrointestinal indicators, with no significant changes in other indicators. In addition, high-dose eucalyptol increased the expression of TRPV1 and UCP1 and decreased the expression of TRPM8 in the small intestine tissue of rats with spleen cold syndrome. Eucalyptol could affect the cyclic nucleotide and material energy metabolism levels of rats with spleen cold syndrome and had a certain improvement effect on their gastrointestinal digestion and absorption function, thereby improving spleen cold syndrome. Eucalyptol had no significant improvement effect on rats with spleen heat syndrome, suggesting that eucalyptol may have a warm nature and regulate spleen meridians. It is speculated that eucalyptol may exhibit its medicinal properties by activating the TRPV1 pathway, promoting the expression of UCP1, and inhibiting the TRPM8 channel.
Animals ; Rats ; Spleen/metabolism* ; Male ; TRPV Cation Channels/genetics* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Eucalyptol/administration & dosage* ; TRPM Cation Channels/genetics* ; Uncoupling Protein 1/genetics* ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Cold Temperature ; Cyclic GMP/metabolism*