Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) decoction pieces are a core carrier for the inheritance and innovation of TCM, and their quality and safety are critical to public health and the sustainable development of the industry. Conventional quality control models, while having established a well-developed system through long-term practice, still face challenges such as relatively long inspection cycles, insufficient objectivity in characterizing complex traits, and urgent needs for improving the efficiency of integrating multidimensional quality information when confronted with the dual demands of large-scale production and precision quality control. With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, machine learning can deeply analyze multidimensional data of the morphology, spectroscopy, and chemical fingerprints of decoction pieces by constructing high-dimensional feature space analysis models, significantly improving the standardization level and decision-making efficiency of quality evaluation. This article reviews the research progress in the application of machine learning in the processing, production, and rapid quality evaluation of TCM decoction pieces. It further analyzes current challenges in technological implementation and proposes potential solutions, offering theoretical and technical references to advance the digital and intelligent transformation of the industry.
Machine Learning ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/standards* ; Quality Control ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/standards* ; Humans

Nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA), one of the most severe types of male infertility, etiology often remains unclear in most cases. Therefore, this study aimed to detect four biallelic detrimental variants (0.5%) in the minichromosome maintenance domain containing 2 ( MCMDC2 ) genes in 768 NOA patients by whole-exome sequencing (WES). Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) demonstrated that MCMDC2 deleterious variants caused meiotic arrest in three patients (c.1360G>T, c.1956G>T, and c.685C>T) and hypospermatogenesis in one patient (c.94G>T), as further confirmed through immunofluorescence (IF) staining. The single-cell RNA sequencing data indicated that MCMDC2 was substantially expressed during spermatogenesis. The variants were confirmed as deleterious and responsible for patient infertility through bioinformatics and in vitro experimental analyses. The results revealed four MCMDC2 variants related to NOA, which contributes to the current perception of the function of MCMDC2 in male fertility and presents new perspectives on the genetic etiology of NOA.
Humans ; Male ; Azoospermia/genetics* ; Meiosis/genetics* ; Spermatogenesis/genetics* ; Adult ; Exome Sequencing ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins/genetics* ; Alleles ; Infertility, Male/genetics*

BACKGROUND: Non-invasive computed tomography angiography (CTA)-based fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) could become a gatekeeper to invasive coronary angiography. Deep learning (DL)-based CT-FFR has shown promise when compared to invasive FFR. To evaluate the performance of a DL-based CT-FFR technique, DeepVessel FFR (DVFFR). METHODS: This retrospective study was designed for iScheMia Assessment based on a Retrospective, single-center Trial of CT-FFR (SMART). Patients suspected of stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and undergoing both CTA and invasive FFR examinations were consecutively selected from the Beijing Anzhen Hospital between January 1, 2016 to December 30, 2018. FFR obtained during invasive coronary angiography was used as the reference standard. DVFFR was calculated blindly using a DL-based CT-FFR approach that utilized the complete tree structure of the coronary arteries. RESULTS: Three hundred and thirty nine patients (60.5 ±10.0 years and 209 men) and 414 vessels with direct invasive FFR were included in the analysis. At per-vessel level, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of DVFFR were 94.7%, 88.6%, 90.8%, 82.7%, and 96.7%, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) was 0.95 for DVFFR and 0.56 for CTA-based assessment with a significant difference (P < 0.0001). At patient level, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV and NPV of DVFFR were 93.8%, 88.0%, 90.3%, 83.0%, and 95.8%, respectively. The computation for DVFFR was fast with the average time of 22.5 ± 1.9 s. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrate that DVFFR was able to evaluate lesion hemodynamic significance accurately and effectively with improved diagnostic performance over CTA alone. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a critical disease in which coronary artery luminal narrowing may result in myocardial ischemia. Early and effective assessment of myocardial ischemia is essential for optimal treatment planning so as to improve the quality of life and reduce medical costs.

The evolution of acupuncture anesthesia (AA) has spanned six decades. Cardiothoracic surgery serves as a representative case study to illustrate this evolution. Reflecting on its historical development, the use of AA in cardiothoracic surgery has advanced from basic AA procedures in the 1960s to combined acupuncture and drug anesthesia techniques in the early 1980s. Since 2005, the innovative use of non-intubation AA combined anesthesia has been implemented extensively in cardiothoracic surgery. As the medical industry continues to evolve, the techniques applied in AA have expanded to encompass the entire perioperative period in cardiothoracic surgery, leading to the introduction of the concept of modern AA. The use of AA in cardiothoracic surgery exemplifies the ongoing advances and integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine. Moving forward, it is imperative to enhance the theoretical framework of AA through the execution of rigorous multicenter clinical trials, to further strengthen the body of evidence supporting evidence-based medicine, and to finally explore the underlying mechanisms of AA. Please cite this article as: Wu XD, Wei XQ, Chen TY, Zhou WX, Wang K, Zhou J. From pioneering to innovation: A comprehensive review of acupuncture anesthesia in cardiothoracic surgeries. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(6):623-629.
Humans ; Acupuncture Analgesia/methods* ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; Anesthesia/methods* ; Thoracic Surgical Procedures

Objective To evaluate the pharmacokinetic characteristics and safety of single and multiple oral azvudine tablets in healthy young and elderly Chinese subjects.Methods This was a open-label and parallel-group study.The trial consisted of two groups:healthy young subjects group and healthy elderly subjects group,with 12 subjects in each group.Enrolled subjects were first given a single dose,fasting oral azvudine tablet 5 mg,after a 3-day cleansing period entered the multiple dose phase,fasting oral azvudine tablet 5 mg·d-1 for 7 days.Results After a single dose of azvudine 5 mg,Cmax and AUC0-∞ were(4.76±2.12)ng·mL-1,(6.53±2.20)ng·mL-1·h,and Tmax,t1/2 were 0.75,1.87 h in young subjects;Cmax and AUC0-∞ were(6.40±3.25)ng·mL-1,(9.50±3.70)ng·mL-1·h,and Tmax,t1/2 were 0.63,2.66 h in elderly subjects.After a multiple dose of azvudine 5 mg·d-1 for 7 d,Cmax and AUC0-∞ were(3.26±1.61)ng·mL-1,(5.38±2.19)ng·mL-1·h,and Tmax,ss,t1/2,ss were 0.88,2.13 h in young subjects;Cmax,ss and AUC0-∞,ss were(3.97±2.09)ng·mL-1,(6.71±3.26)ng·mL-1·h,and Tmax,ss,t1/2,ss were 0.75,2.56 h in elderly subjects.Elderly/young geometric mean ratios and 90％CIs were 128.37％(88.23％-186.76％),139.93％(105.42％-185.72％),140.03％(106.33％-184.41％)for azvudine Cmax,AUC0-t,AUC0-∞ after a single dose,and were 118.66％(80.83％-174.20％),118.41％(83.60％-167.69％),118.95％(84.78％-166.89％)for azvudine Cmax,AUC0-t,AUC0_∞ after a multiple dose of azvudine 5 mg·d-1 for 7 d.Conclusion After single and multiple oral administration of azvudine tablets,systemic exposure to azvudine was higher in healthy elderly subjects compared with healthy young subjects.After taking azvudine tablets,the types,severity and incidence of adverse events and adverse drug reactions in healthy elderly people were not significantly different from those in healthy young subjects.Azvudine was found to be safe and well tolerated in healthy elderly subjects.

Objective To investigate T cell subtypes and their functions in liver immune microenvironments among patients with alveolar echinococcosis (AE) using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Methods Four AE patients that were admitted to Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital in 2023 for hepatic surgery for the first time were enrolled, and liver specimens were sampled 1 cm (peri-lesion, PL group) and > 5 cm from AE lesions (distal lesion, DL group) among each patient. Finally, a total of eight liver specimens were sampled from four AE patients for scRNA-seq analysis. Genome and transcriptome data of liver specimens were processed using the software Cell Ranger and R package. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and their biological functions were analyzed using gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, and the primary intercellular communication patterns and interaction mechanisms were identified among T cell subtypes in liver specimens using the CellChat package. In addition, the developmental stages of T cells were subjected to trajectory analysis with the monocle package to investigate the expression of genes associated with cell growth and tumor transformation, and to predict the developmental trajectories of T cells. Results All four AE patients were female, with a mean age of (25.00 ± 9.06) years, and there were three cases from Jiuzhi County, Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and one case from Chengduo County, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. The viability of single-cell samples from eight liver specimens was 90.41% to 96.33%, and a total of 81 763 cells were analyzed, with 19 cell types annotated. Of these cell types, 13 were immune cells (87.60%), and T cells (33.13%), neutrophils (15.40%), and natural killer cells (11.92%) were the three most common cell types. Re-clustering of 27 752 T cells and proliferative T cells identified 10 distinct T cell subtypes, with CD8⁺ cytotoxic T cells (23.43%), CD8⁺ naive T cells (12.80%), and CD4⁺ effector memory T cells (17.73%) as dominant cell types. The proportions of T helper 2 (Th2) cells (5.19% vs. 3.63%; χ² = 38.35, P < 0.01) and CD4⁺ effector memory T cells (21.59% vs. 13.67%; χ² = 244.70, P < 0.01) were significantly higher in liver specimens in the PL group than in the DL group, and the proportion of CD4⁺ helper T cells was significantly lower in the PL group than in the DL group (7.50% vs. 14.75%; χ² = 330.52, P < 0.01). KEGG pathway analysis revealed that Th2 cells were significantly enriched in cell apoptosis and multiple cancer-associated pathways, and CD4⁺ effector memory T cells were significantly enriched in the regulation of cytokines and chronic inflammation, while CD4⁺ helper T cells were significantly enriched in immune responses regulation. Trajectory analysis of T cells showed that CD4⁺ helper T cells were at an earlier developmental stage relative to Th2 cells and CD4⁺ effector memory T cells, and the expression of inhibitor of DNA binding 3 (ID3), thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP), Bcl2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) and heat shock protein family B (small) member 1 (HSPB1) genes appeared a tendency towards a decline over time. Conclusions CD4⁺ effector memory T cells and CD8⁺ cytotoxic T cells are primary interacting cells in the liver specimens of AE patients. Reduced expression of Th2 cells and CD4⁺ helper T cells contributes to an inhibitory immune microenvironment, which promotes immune evasion by Echinococcus multilocularis, and Th2 cells are significantly enriched in multiple cancer-associated pathways, which may be linked to the invasive growth of E. multilocularis.

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics of neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) in patients with severe cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) and to study their prognostic value in the acute and subacute phases.Methods:This study is a retrospective case series analysis. Clinical and pathological data of 52 patients with severe cerebral venous sinus thrombosis who underwent endovascular treatment in the Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Huanhu Hospital from June 2019 to June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 20 males and 32 females, with an age of (40.1±13.6) years(range:18 to 66 years). Forty-five healthy physical examinees were included in the control group. High-resolution MRI was used to stage the thrombus, with 11 cases in the acute group, 28 cases in the subacute group, and 13 cases in the chronic group. Thrombus specimens were obtained through endovascular treatment, and the fluorescence intensity of NET in peripheral blood at different time points was analyzed by immunofluorescence contrast,including the double-stranded DNA structure and adhesion protein components (citrolinated histone H3 (CitH3), myeloperoxidase-DNA complex(MPO-DNA), neutrophil elastase (NE)). The NET markers were determined by ELISA. Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the NET markers in peripheral blood of patients with severe cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in the acute and subacute phases and the volume of venous sinus thrombus, the degree of venous sinus recanalization after treatment, and the discharge modified Rankin scale(mRS)score. The accuracy of NET markers in predicting the prognosis of patients with severe cerebral venous sinus thrombosis was analyzed by drawing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calculating the area under the curve (AUC).Results:The results of immunofluorescence staining and ELISA showed that no NET structure was formed in the peripheral blood of the control group, while CitH3, MPO-DNA and NE levels in the peripheral blood of CVST patients were increased, among which the acute stage group was the highest, followed by the subacute group, and the chronic group was the lowest. Spearman correlation analysis showed that CitH3, MPO-DNA and NE levels in peripheral blood of patients in acute group and subacute group were positively correlated with thrombus volume and mRS score at discharge ( P<0.05). The levels of CitH3 and MPO-DNA in peripheral blood of patients with complete venous sinus recanalization were lower than those of patients with partial venous sinus recanalization ( P<0.01). ROC curve analysis results showed that MPO-DNA and NE had no predictive ability for the prognosis of CVST patients ( P values were 0.614 and 0.324, respectively), and the AUC of CitH3 was 0.800 (95% CI: 0.638~0.962, P=0.032), the best cut-off value was 13.5 μg/L, the sensitivity was 100%, and the specificity was 58.8%. Conclusions:A large number of NET are formed in patients with severe cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in acute stage. Patients with severe cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in acute stage and subacute stage with high peripheral blood NET content has a low rate of complete sinus revascularization and poor neurological function recovery after treatment.

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics of neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) in patients with severe cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) and to study their prognostic value in the acute and subacute phases.Methods:This study is a retrospective case series analysis. Clinical and pathological data of 52 patients with severe cerebral venous sinus thrombosis who underwent endovascular treatment in the Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Huanhu Hospital from June 2019 to June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 20 males and 32 females, with an age of (40.1±13.6) years(range:18 to 66 years). Forty-five healthy physical examinees were included in the control group. High-resolution MRI was used to stage the thrombus, with 11 cases in the acute group, 28 cases in the subacute group, and 13 cases in the chronic group. Thrombus specimens were obtained through endovascular treatment, and the fluorescence intensity of NET in peripheral blood at different time points was analyzed by immunofluorescence contrast,including the double-stranded DNA structure and adhesion protein components (citrolinated histone H3 (CitH3), myeloperoxidase-DNA complex(MPO-DNA), neutrophil elastase (NE)). The NET markers were determined by ELISA. Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the NET markers in peripheral blood of patients with severe cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in the acute and subacute phases and the volume of venous sinus thrombus, the degree of venous sinus recanalization after treatment, and the discharge modified Rankin scale(mRS)score. The accuracy of NET markers in predicting the prognosis of patients with severe cerebral venous sinus thrombosis was analyzed by drawing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calculating the area under the curve (AUC).Results:The results of immunofluorescence staining and ELISA showed that no NET structure was formed in the peripheral blood of the control group, while CitH3, MPO-DNA and NE levels in the peripheral blood of CVST patients were increased, among which the acute stage group was the highest, followed by the subacute group, and the chronic group was the lowest. Spearman correlation analysis showed that CitH3, MPO-DNA and NE levels in peripheral blood of patients in acute group and subacute group were positively correlated with thrombus volume and mRS score at discharge ( P<0.05). The levels of CitH3 and MPO-DNA in peripheral blood of patients with complete venous sinus recanalization were lower than those of patients with partial venous sinus recanalization ( P<0.01). ROC curve analysis results showed that MPO-DNA and NE had no predictive ability for the prognosis of CVST patients ( P values were 0.614 and 0.324, respectively), and the AUC of CitH3 was 0.800 (95% CI: 0.638~0.962, P=0.032), the best cut-off value was 13.5 μg/L, the sensitivity was 100%, and the specificity was 58.8%. Conclusions:A large number of NET are formed in patients with severe cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in acute stage. Patients with severe cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in acute stage and subacute stage with high peripheral blood NET content has a low rate of complete sinus revascularization and poor neurological function recovery after treatment.

Objective To analyze the risk factors and survival status of Epstein-Barr virus(EBV)infection in pa-tients with aplastic anemia(AA)after haploid allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(Haplo-HSCT).Methods Clinical data of 78 AA patients who underwent Haplo-HSCT in the hematology department of a hospital from January 1,2019 to October 31,2022 were analyzed retrospectively.The occurrence and onset time of EBV viremia,EBV-related diseases(EBV diseases),and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders(PTLD)were ob-served,risk factors and survival status were analyzed.Results Among the 78 patients,38 were males and 40 were females,with a median age of 33(9-56)years old;53 patients experienced EBV reactivation,with a total inci-dence of 67.9％,and the median time for EBV reactivation was 33(13,416)days after transplantation.Among pa-tients with EBV reactivation,49 cases(62.8％)were simple EBV viremia,2 cases(2.6％)were possible EBV di-seases,and 2 cases(2.6％)were already confirmed EBV diseases(PTLD).Univariate analysis showed that age 1＜40 years old at the time of transplantation,umbilical cord blood infusion,occurrence of acute graft-versus-host disease(aGVHD)after transplantation,and concurrent cytomegalovirus(CMV)infection were independent risk fac-tors for EBV reactivation in AA patients after Haplo-HSCT.Multivariate analysis showed that concurrent CMV in-fection was an independent risk factor for EBV reactivation in A A patients after Haplo-HSCT(P=0.048).Ritu-ximab intervention before stem cell reinfusion was a factor affecting the duration of EBV reactivation(P＜0.05).The mortality of EBV viremia,EBV diseases,and PTLD alone were 8.2％,50.0％,and 100％,respectively.The 2-year overall survival rate of patients with and without EBV reactivation were 85.3％,and 90.7％,respectively,difference was not statistically significant(P=0.897).However,patients treated with rituximab had 2-year lower survival rate than those who did not use it,with a statistically significant difference(P=0.046).Conclusion EBV reactivation is one of the serious complications in AA patients after Haplo-HSCT,which affects the prognosis and survival of patients.

The usage of pesticides can enhance the production of crops,but their overuses may be hazardous to both people health and the environment.Thus,it is of great significance to develop effective methods to detect pesticides.Metal nanoclusters(MNCs)have become increasingly popular in analytical sensing areas because of their miniscule size,high stability,ease of manufacturing and good biocompatibility.They have exhibited great potential in the field of pesticides detection.In this paper,the detection methods of pesticides by using MNCs and their development in detection of organophosphorus pesticides,organic nitrogen pesticides,organochlorine pesticides and other types of pesticides were reviewed.Finally,the development prospects were discussed.