Objective To investigate the relationship between lumbosacral Modic changes(MCs)and their types and osteoporosis in patients with low back pain.Methods A total of 204 female patients with low back pain who were treated in Xuzhou City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from January 2021 to September 2024 were selected as study objects.According to magnetic resonance imaging results,the patients were divided into MCs group(139 cases)and non-MCs group(65 cases).MCs group was divided into type Ⅰ group(33 cases),type Ⅱgroup(90 cases)and type Ⅲ group(16 cases)according to MCs type.The age,hip bone mineral density(BMD)and T value of all groups were compared.Results There was no significant difference in age,hip BMD and T value between MCs group and non-MCs group(P＞0.05).Hip BMD and T values of four groups were type Ⅲ group＞non-MCs group＞type Ⅱ group＞typeⅠ group.Most of patients in type Ⅲ group had normal bone mass,and most of patients in other three groups had decreased bone mass or osteoporosis.There was no significant difference in hip BMD and T value between type Ⅱ group and non-MCs group(P＞0.05).The hip BMD and corresponding T values of patients in group Ⅲ significantly higher than the other three groups(P＜0.05).The hip BMD and corresponding T values of type Ⅰ patients were significantly lower than those of the other three groups(P＜0.05).Conclusion Patients with low back pain have different tendency of MCs with different bone mass.High bone mass(normal bone mass)is more likely to develop type Ⅲ MCs,and low bone mass or osteoporosis is more likely to develop type Ⅰ MCs.Anti-osteoporosis therapy for patients with type Ⅰ MCs should be emphasized.

Cancer is the main cause of death,and drug therapy has greatly improved the effectiveness of anti-tumor treatment.However,there are problems such as high adverse reactions and the risk of developing drug resistance after long-term use.There is an urgent need to seek new drug targets.Human antigen R(HuR),as an RNA binding protein,promotes the whole process of tumor occurrence,development and metastasis through post transcriptional regulation of mRNA stability,and HuR is general-ly highly expressed in tumor tissue,making it a new target for an-ti-tumor therapy and a standard for prognosis evaluation.Tradi-tional Chinese medicine formulas and their various chemical components can inhibit tumor proliferation,induce tumor cell ap-optosis,inhibit angiogenesis,suppress immune escape,and re-verse tumor drug resistance by regulating HuR activity.This re-view summarizes the importance of HuR in regulation of tumor progression,as well as analyzes the mechanisms of the antitumor effects through active ingredients of Chinese medicine with the regulation of HuR.It is expected to provide new ideas for tumor therapy and guidance for the development of HuR-targeted anti-tumor drugs.

Objective:To investigate the differences in electroencephalographic (EEG) microstate characteristics between children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing (TD) children, and to explore the correlation between irritability and EEG microstate features in ASD children.Methods:A total of 104 children with ASD [ASD group, 83 boys, 21 girls; aged 4-13 years, mean age (9.47±1.74)years] from the Autism Cohort of Nanjing Medical University and 60 TD children [TD group; 50 boys, 10 girls; aged 5-13 years, mean age(9.86±1.78) years ]from the IEEE Dataport database were enrolled. Irritability severity was assessed using the Affective Reactivity Index-Parent (ARI-P). Resting-state EEG data with eyes closed were recorded using a 24-channel dry-electrode EEG cap. Group-level EEG microstate topographic maps and microstate parameters, including mean duration, frequency, and time coverage, were extracted and compared between groups using nonparametric tests. In the ASD group, Spearman correlation analysis was used to examine the associations between microstate features and ARI-P in ASD children. Multiple linear regression was used to identify predictors of irritability.Results:Four group-level microstates (A, B, C, D) were identified in both groups. Compared to TD children, ASD children exhibited significantly longer mean duration for all microstates, in microstates A[ M(Q1, Q3)]: 0.060 (0.054,0.070) vs 0.091 (0.0530, 0.155) s, microstate B: 0.059 (0.050, 0.066) vs 0.087 (0.057,0.149) s, microstate C: 0.059 (0.050, 0.066) vs 0.095 (0.056, 0.183) s and microstate D: 0.055 (0.049,0.075) vs 0.095 (0.053,0.162) s ( Z=-3.51, -4.89, -4.71, -4.21; all P<0.001); However, microstate occurrence frequencies were significantly lower in the ASD group: A: 5.423 (3.640,21.024) vs 1.834 (1.327,3.395) Hz, microstate B: 4.949 (3.439,20.038) vs 2.146 (1.314,3.834) Hz, microstate C: 5.888 (3.998,22.078) vs 2.234 (1.441,3.768) Hz and microstate D: 5.371 (3.170,15.208) vs 2.074 (1.147,3.582) Hz ( Z=-7.72, -6.41, -7.85, -6.60; all P<0.001). In the ASD group, ARI-P scores were positively correlated with the mean duration of microstates B, C, and D ( r=0.28, 0.26, 0.33; all P<0.05) and negatively correlated with the occurrence frequency of microstates A, C, and D ( r=-0.26, -0.27, -0.21; all P<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the mean duration of microstate B was a significant predictor of irritability severity ( β=0.436, 95% CI: 1.260-4.202, P<0.001). Conclusion:Resting-state EEG microstate characteristics in Children with ASD differ from those in TD children and are associated with the severity of irritability. Prolonged duration of microstate B may serve as a risk factor for increased irritability in children with ASD.

Objective To investigate the effect of the use of glycopyrrolate before anesthesia on the perioperative circulation of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC).Methods 88 patients undergoing LC from March to June in 2024 were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups:the glycopyrrolate group(group G)and the control group(group C),with 44 patients in each.Three patients from group G and four from group C were excluded,leaving 41 patients in group G and 40 patients in group C.Ten minutes before anesthesia induction,group G received an intravenous dose of 4 μg/kg glycopyrrolate diluted to 5 mL with normal saline.The control group received an equal volume of normal saline.Both groups then received an intravenous infusion of dexmedetomidine at 1 μg/kg over 10 minutes.Heart rate(HR)and mean arterial pressure(MAP)were monitored immediately before infusion of glycopyrrolate/saline(T0),5 min after infusion(T1),10 min after infusion(T2),1 min after tracheal intubation(T3),immediately at skin incision(T4),2 min after pneumoperitoneum(T5),dissociating the cholecyst(T6),and 1 min after tracheal tube drawing(T7).Intraoperative amounts of propofol,rocuronium bromide,sufentanil,remifentanil,oral secretion score,PACU stay time,first postoperative flatus time and the occurrence of perioperative adverse reactions were observed.Results HR at T2,T3,T4,T5,and T6 time points was significantly higher in group G than in group C,while MAP at T1,T2,T3,T4,T5 time points was also significantly higher in group G(P<0.05).HR at T2 time points in Group G was significantly lower than that at T0,while T7 was significantly higher than that at T0 time points.In Group C,HR at T1,T2,T4,T5,and T6 time points was significantly lower than that at T0 time points,while T7 time points was significantly higher than that at T0 time points,with the differences being statistically significant(P<0.05).In Group G,MAP at T1 and T2 time pointswas significantly higher than that at T0,and MAP at T6 was significantly lower than that at T0 time points,and in Group C,MAP at T4,T5 and T6 time points was significantly lower than that at T0 time points,and the differences were all statistically significant(P<0.05);Oral secretion was lower in group G compared to group C,with a significant difference(P<0.05).The incidence of bradycardia was significantly lower in group G compared to group C(P<0.05).The incidence of oral dryness within 24 h postoperatively was higher in group G compared to group C(P<0.05).There were no significant differences of HR at T0,T1,and T7 time points,MAP at T0,T6,and T7 time points between the two groups(P>0.05);There were no significant differences of operation time,propofol usage,sufentanil usage,remifentanil usage,rocuronium bromide usage during operation,rate of atropine use,incidence of intraoperative hypotension,PACU stay time,first postoperative flatus,and nausea vomiting rate between the two groups(P>0.05);No delirium occurred in either group of patients 24 h after the operation.Conclusion Use of glycopyrrolate before anesthesia can be effectively applied to patients undergoing LC,is beneficial in reducing the incidence of bradycardia,maintaining the stability of intraoperative circulation,and has no significant effect on the incidence of postoperative delirium and nausea and vomiting.It is a worthy clinical application.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and long-term outcomes of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR) in treatment-na?ve patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) .Methods:Clinical data from 68 CLL/SLL patients treated with FCR at Jiangsu Province Hospital (August 2008–May 2021) were retrospectively analyzed to assess efficacy, safety, and survival outcomes.Results:Among 68 patients [46 males, 22 females; median age 55 (47, 60) years], 13.1% (8/61) had a complex karyotype, 32.3% (20/62) had immunoglobulin heavy variable region mutated (IGHV-M) type, 6.6% (4/61) had del (17p), and 14.8% (8/54) had del (11q). Patients received a median of 6 (4, 6) FCR cycles. The overall response rate was 88.2% (60/68), including 47.0% (32/68) complete remissions. Over a median follow-up of 82 (59, 98) months, 66.2% (45/68) experienced disease progression. Median progression-free survival was 56 (21, 123) months, while median overall survival was not reached. The 5- and 10-year PFS rates were 42.6% (95% CI: 31.9–56.8% ) and 28.7% (95% CI: 19.0–43.4% ), respectively. Poor PFS was associated with del (17p) ( HR=5.04, 95% CI: 1.72–14.74, P=0.003), del (11q) ( HR=5.27, 95% CI: 2.11–13.15, P<0.001), IGHV unmutated (IGHV-UM) ( HR=4.11, 95% CI: 1.72–9.79, P=0.001), complex karyotype (CK) ( HR=3.53, 95% CI: 1.58–7.85, P=0.002), β 2-microglobulin >3.5 mg/L ( HR=2.87, 95% CI: 1.37–6.01, P=0.005). In multivariate analysis, IGHV-UM remained an independent predictor of PFS ( HR=8.63, 95% CI: 1.09–68.40, P=0.042). Sixteen patients with IGHV-M and lacking del (17p) or CK had a median PFS of 123 (58,123) months and a 5-year PFS rate of 70.7% (95% CI: 49.7–99.1% ), reaching a plateau after 5 years with no recurrences by 10 years. Common grade 3–4 adverse events included hematologic toxicity (44.1%, 30/68), infection (36.7%, 25/68), and liver dysfunction (4.4%, 3/68). Among 25 patients receiving single-agent BTK inhibitors after FCR progression, median follow-up was 45 (26, 64) months; 36% (9/25) experienced disease progression, with a median PFS time of 55 (27, 55) months. Conclusion:First-line FCR provides durable long-term benefits for patients with IGHV-M CLL without del (17p) or CK.

Jiuwei Xifeng Granules have become a Chinese patent medicine in the market. Because the formula contains Os Draconis, a top-level protected fossil of ancient organisms, the formula was to be improved by replacing Os Draconis with Ostreae Concha. To evaluate whether the improved formula has the same effectiveness and safety as the original formula, a randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled, equivalence clinical trial was conducted. This study enrolled 288 tic disorder(TD) of children and assigned them into two groups in 1∶1. The treatment group and control group took the modified formula and original formula, respectively. The treatment lasted for 6 weeks, and follow-up visits were conducted at weeks 2, 4, and 6. The primary efficacy endpoint was the difference in Yale global tic severity scale(YGTSS)-total tic severity(TTS) score from baseline after 6 weeks of treatment. The results showed that after 6 weeks of treatment, the declines in YGTSS-TSS score showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. The difference in YGTSS-TSS score(treatment group-control group) and the 95%CI of the full analysis set(FAS) were-0.17[-1.42, 1.08] and those of per-protocol set(PPS) were 0.29[-0.97, 1.56], which were within the equivalence boundary [-3, 3]. The equivalence test was therefore concluded. The two groups showed no significant differences in the secondary efficacy endpoints of effective rate for TD, total score and factor scores of YGTSS, clinical global impressions-severity(CGI-S) score, traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) response rate, or symptom disappearance rate, and thus a complete evidence chain with the primary outcome was formed. A total of 6 adverse reactions were reported, including 4(2.82%) cases in the treatment group and 2(1.41%) cases in the control group, which showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. No serious suspected unexpected adverse reactions were reported, and no laboratory test results indicated serious clinically significant abnormalities. The results support the replacement of Os Draconis by Ostreae Concha in the original formula, and the efficacy and safety of the modified formula are consistent with those of the original formula.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Tic Disorders/drug therapy* ; Treatment Outcome

Medical institutions, with their clinical practice foundation and abundant human use experience data, have become important carriers for the inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and the "cradles" of the preparation of new TCM. To effectively promote the transformation of new TCM originating from the TCM clinical practice in medical institutions and establish an effective evaluation index system for the transformation of new TCM conforming to the characteristics of TCM, consensus experts adopted the literature research, questionnaire survey, Delphi method, etc. By focusing on the policy and technical evaluation of new TCM originating from the TCM clinical practice in medical institutions, a comprehensive evaluation from the dimensions of drug safety, efficacy, feasibility, and characteristic advantages was conducted, thus forming a comprehensive evaluation system with four primary indicators and 37 secondary indicators. The expert consensus reached aims to encourage medical institutions at all levels to continuously improve the high-quality research and development and transformation of new TCM originating from the TCM clinical practice in medical institutions and targeted at clinical needs, so as to provide a decision-making basis for the preparation, selection, cultivation, and transformation of new TCM for medical institutions, improve the development efficiency of new TCM, and precisely respond to the public medication needs.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/standards* ; Humans ; Consensus ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia in the elderly. This study aimed to evaluate urban-rural disparities in its prevalence and management in elderly Chinese. METHODS: Consecutive participants aged ≥ 65 years attending outpatient clinics were enrolled for AF screening using handheld single-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) from April 2017 to December 2022. Each ECG rhythm strip was reviewed from the research team. AF or uninterpretable single-lead ECGs were referred for 12-lead ECG. Primary study outcome comparison was between rural and urban areas for the prevalence of AF. The Student's t-test was used to compare mean values of clinical characteristics between rural and urban participants, while the Pearson's chi-square test was used to compare between-group proportions. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the association between AF and various patient characteristics. RESULTS: The 29,166 study participants included 13,253 men (45.4%) and had a mean age of 72.2 years. The 7073 rural participants differed significantly (P ≤ 0.02) from the 22,093 urban participants in several major characteristics, such as older age, greater body mass index, and so on. The overall prevalence of AF was 4.6% (n = 1347). AF was more prevalent in 7073 rural participants than 22,093 urban participants (5.6% vs. 4.3%, P < 0.01), before and after adjustment for age, body mass index, blood pressure, pulse rate, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and prior medical history. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified overweight/obesity (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.17-1.54) in urban areas and cigarette smoking (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.20-2.17) and alcohol consumption (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.04-1.93) in rural areas as specific risk factors for prevalent AF. In patients with known AF in urban areas (n = 781) and rural areas (n = 338), 60.6% and 45.9%, respectively, received AF treatment (P < 0.01), and only 22.4% and 17.2%, respectively, received anticoagulation therapy (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS In China, there are urban-rural disparities in AF in the elderly, with a higher prevalence and worse management in rural areas than urban areas. Our study findings provide insight for health policymakers to consider urban-rural disparity in the prevention and treatment of AF.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disorder affecting multiple systems, characterized by the development of harmful autoantibodies and immune complexes that lead to damage in organs and tissues. Chinese medicine (CM) plays a role in mitigating complications, enhancing treatment effectiveness, and reducing toxicity of concurrent medications, and ensuring a safe pregnancy. However, CM mainly solves the disease comprehensively through multi-target and multi-channel regulation process, therefore, its treatment mechanism is often complicated, involving many molecular links. This review introduces the research progress of pathogenesis of SLE from the aspects of genetics, epigenetics, innate immunity and acquired immunity, and then discusses the molecular mechanism and target of single Chinese herbal medicine and prescription that are commonly used and effective in clinic to treat SLE.
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/immunology* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Animals

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