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 investigate the clinical application effect of bypass vein bridging in repairing high-voltage electric burn wounds on the head with free anterolateral thigh flaps.Methods:This study was a retrospective observational study. From May 2017 to December 2022, 8 patients with high-voltage electric burns on the head who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to Zhengzhou First People's Hospital, including 6 males and 2 females, aged 33 to 73 years. All patients had skull exposure, including 3 cases of large skull defect, 1 case of left eye necrosis, and 3 cases of cerebral hemorrhage. After debridement, the head wound area was from 13 cm×7 cm to 21 cm×15 cm, and the free anterolateral thigh flap with the area of 14 cm×8 cm to 22 cm×16 cm was cut for repair. The main descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery carried by the flap was anastomosed end-to-end with the superficial temporal artery in the recipient area. One accompanying vein of the anastomotic artery of the flap was end-to-end anastomosed with the branch of the external jugular vein via great saphenous vein bridging, and the other accompanying vein was end-to-end anastomosed with the superficial temporal vein in the recipient area. The donor site wounds were directly sutured or closed with medium-thickness skin grafts from inner thigh. The blood supply and survival of the flap, and the wound healing on the head were observed after operation. The blood flow and lumen filling of the transplanted vein were observed and recorded by using color ultrasound diagnostic system within 2 weeks after operation. The wound repair method and wound healing of the flap donor site were recorded and observed. Patients were followed up to observe the appearance of the flaps and the flap donor sites, the muscle strength of the lower limbs where the flap donor site was located, and whether the patient could complete standing, walking, and squatting using the lower limbs where the flap donor site was located.Results:The flaps of 8 patients survived after operation, and no arterial or venous crisis occurred. The wounds of 5 patients on the head healed after operation, and the wounds of 3 patients on the head healed after second debridement 21 to 35 days after operation due to exudates under the flap 2 weeks after operation. Within 2 weeks after operation, the grafted vein continued to be unobstructed. After the ultrasound probe was pressurized, the grafted vein could be deflated, and the blood vessels were rapidly filled after the probe was released. The wounds of flap donor sites of 3 patients were directly sutured and healed 2 weeks after operation. The wounds of flap donor sites of 5 patients were closed with medium-thickness skin grafts from inner thigh, and all the skin grafts survived 12 days after operation. During follow-up of 6 to 12 months, the head flaps of all patients were slightly bloated without hair growth. Mild linear or patchy scar hyperplasia was left in the donor site. The muscle strength of the lower limbs where the flap donor site was located was normal and did not decrease. The patients could stand, walk, and squat with the lower limbs where the flap donor site was located.Conclusions:When using the free anterolateral thigh flap to repair high-voltage electric burn wounds of various areas and depths on the head, bypass vein bridging can reduce the occurrence of postoperative flap vein crisis and improve the quality of postoperative wound healing without affecting the function of the lower limbs where the flap donor site is located.

Objective:To explore the effects of free gracilis muscle flap combined with sural nerve transfer for reconstruction of digital flexion and sensory function of hand in patient with severe wrist electric burn.Methods:A retrospective observational study was conducted. From January 2017 to December 2020, 4 patients with wrist high-voltage electric burn admitted to the Department of Burns of the First People's Hospital of Zhengzhou and 4 patients with wrist high-voltage electric burn admitted to the Department of Hand Surgery of Beijing Jishuitan Hospital met the inclusion criteria, including 6 males and 2 females, aged 12 to 52 years. They were all classified as type Ⅱ wrist high-voltage electric burns with median nerve defect. In the first stage, the wounds were repaired with free anterolateral thigh femoral myocutaneous flap. In the second stage, the free gracilis muscle flap combined with sural nerve transplantation was used to reconstruct the digital flexion and sensory function of the affected hand in 3 to 6 months after wound healing. The cut lengths of muscle flap and nerve were 32 to 38 and 28 to 36 cm, respectively. The muscle flap donor area and nerve donor area were both closed and sutured. The survival condition of gracilis muscle flap and sural nerve, the wound healing time of recipient area on forearm, the healing time of suture in muscle flap donor area and nerve donor area were observed and recorded after operation, and the recovery of donor and recipient areas was followed up. In 2 years after operation, the muscle strength of thumb and digital flexion and finger sensory function after the hand function reconstruction were evaluated with the evaluation criteria of the hand tendon and nerve repair in the trial standard for the evaluation of functions of upper limbs of Hand Surgery Society of Chinese Medical Association.Results:All the gracilis muscle flap and sural nerve survived successfully after operation. The wound healing time of recipient area on forearm was 10 to 14 days after operation, and the healing time of suture in muscle flap donor area and nerve donor area was 12 to 15 days after operation. The donor and recipient areas recovered well. In the follow-up of 2 years after operation, the muscle strength of thumb and digital flexion was evaluated as follows: 4 cases of grade 5, 3 cases of grade 4, and 1 case of grade 2; the finger sensory function was evaluated as follows: 4 cases of grade S3 +, 2 cases of grade S3, and 2 cases of grade S2. Conclusions:For patients with hand dysfunction caused by severe wrist electric burn, free gracilis muscle flap combined with sural nerve transplantation can be used to reconstruct the digital flexion and sensory function of the affected hand. It is a good repair method, which does not cause great damage to thigh muscle flap donor area or calf nerve donor area.

Objective:To explore the curative effects of foot microflap free transplantation in the repair of full-thickness electric burn wounds deep to tendon or even bone in fingers.Methods:A retrospective observational study was conducted. From July 2017 to February 2022, 20 patients with full-thickness electric burn wounds deep to tendon or even bone in fingers who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to Zhengzhou First People's Hospital, including 19 males and 1 female, aged 18 to 64 years. Among the 20 wounds, 15 wounds were located on the palm side, including 8 on the thumb, 5 on the index finger, and 2 on the middle finger; 5 wounds were located on the back, including 1 on the index finger and 4 on the middle finger. After debridement, the wound area ranged from 4.5 cm×2.0 cm to 7.0 cm×3.0 cm. According to the principle of tissue structure similarity, 10 wounds were repaired with plantar medial flaps, 5 wounds were repaired with hallux peroneal flaps, and 5 wounds were repaired with dorsalis pedis artery flaps, with flap area of 5.0 cm×2.5 cm-8.0 cm×3.5 cm. The flaps were transplanted freely and arteries and veins and/or nerves were anastomosed at the same time. The wound in the donor site was repaired with thigh medium-thick skin graft. The survival of flaps and skin grafts were observed after surgery. The appearance of flap, temperature and color of the distal end in the affected finger were observed during follow-up. At the last follow-up, the joint function and flap sensory recovery of the affected finger were evaluated with the trial standard for the evaluation of the functions of the upper limbs of the Hand Surgery Society of the Chinese Medical Association; the two-point discrimination distance of skin in the area of flaps with nerve anastomosis was measured; the satisfaction of patients with the curative effect was investigated by using the curative effect satisfaction rating scale, and the very satisfied rate was calculated; the repair effect of flap was evaluated by the comprehensive evaluation scale, and the excellent and good rate was calculated.Results:All the flaps and skin grafts survived after surgery. During the follow-up of 10-18 months after surgery, the appearance of flap was natural and not bloated; the temperature and color of the distal end in the affected finger were basically the same as that of normal finger skin. At the last follow-up, the function recovery of the affected finger joints was as follows: 11 affected fingers were within the normal range of motion, 6 affected fingers had their total active range of motion recovered to 85% of the healthy side, and 3 affected fingers had their total active range of motion recovered to 75% of the healthy side; the flap sensory recovery was as follows: the sense of 15 flaps with nerve anastomosis all recovered to grade S3 +, and the two-point discrimination distance of skin in the flap area was 7.0-9.0 mm; the sense of 1 flap without nerve anastomosis recovered to grade S2 and the sense of 4 flaps recovered to grade S1. The satisfaction with curative effect of 20 patients was very satisfied in 16 cases and moderately satisfied in 4 cases, with the very satisfied rate of 80%; the repair result of 20 flaps was excellent in 16 cases, good in 2 cases, and fair in 2 cases, with excellent and good rate of 90%. Conclusions:Due to the similar tissue structure of donor site and recipient site, foot microflap free transplantation in the repair of full-thickness electric burn wounds deep to tendon or even bone in fingers can achieve good appearance and function, with better functional and sensory recovery of the affected finger in the case of nerve anastomosis. Patients have high degree of satisfaction with the curative effects, which is worthy of promotion.

Objective:To explore the curative effects of ultrathin anterolateral femoral flap in one-stage split-finger repair of palmar combined with multiple finger wounds.Methods:A retrospective observational study was conducted. From October 2016 to June 2018, 20 patients with wounds on palms and multiple fingers who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to Zhengzhou First People's Hospital, including 15 males and 5 females, aged 18 to 77 years. After debridement, the wound area was 8 cm×4 cm-17 cm×12 cm. The wound was repaired by ultrathin anterolateral femoral flap with area of 9 cm×5 cm to 19 cm×13 cm. According to the wound condition of finger, the finger division was performed in one stage, and the length-to-width ratio of the split-finger flap was 2.0:1.0-2.5:1.0. During the surgery, the descending branches of lateral circumflex femoral artery and accompanying vein of flap were anastomosed end-to-end to the radial artery and vein in the recipient area, respectively, and the anterolateral femoral cutaneous nerve of flap was bridged with the superficial branch of radial nerve in the recipient area. The wounds in the donor area of flap in 14 patients were sutured directly, the wounds in the donor area of flap in 3 patients were repaired by relay superficial iliac circumflex artery perforator flap, and the wounds in the donor area of flap in 3 patients were covered by free trunk medium-thick skin graft. The survival of flap, occurrence of vascular crisis and other complications, and healing of wounds in the donor area of flap were recorded. The appearance of flap, scar hyperplasia in the donor and recipient areas and the patients' satisfaction with the shape and function of the donor and recipient areas were followed up. In 1 year after surgery, the two-point discrimination distance of the flap was measured, and the recovery of hand function was evaluated by the trial standard for the evaluation of the functions of the upper limbs of the Hand Surgery Society of the Chinese Medical Association.Results:The flaps of 17 patients survived without vascular crisis or other complications after surgery. The flap of 1 patient had poor blood circulation and partial necrosis, and the wound was healed 14 days after dressing change and grafting of split-thickness skin graft from head. Two patients had mild cyanosis at the margin of flap after surgery, which disappeared spontaneously 5 days later. Incisions at donor site, relay flaps, and skin grafts of all patients survived well. After surgery, the color and texture of flap were basically the same as that of the normal skin of hand, and linear scars were observed in the donor and recipient areas. The patients were satisfied with the recovery of appearance and function of donor and recipient areas. After 1 year of follow-up, the patients' hand sensory function recovered well, the two-point discrimination distance of flap was 4-6 mm, and the recovery of hand function was evaluated as excellent in 18 cases and good in 2 cases.Conclusions:The ultrathin anterolateral femoral flap in repairing the palmar combined with multiple finger wounds in one-stage split-finger can significantly reduce the number of surgeries and improve the function and beauty of the hand, so it is worthy of clinical promotion.

Objective:To explore the clinical effects of scalp flaps pedicled with superficial temporal artery parietal branch in repairing facial destructive burn wounds.Methods:A retrospective observational study was conducted. From January 2016 to December 2021, 15 patients with facial destructive burns who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to Zhengzhou First People's Hospital, including 11 males and 4 females, aged 22 to 79 years. Two patients were complicated with unilateral eyeball destructive burns, two patients were complicated with unilateral auricle defects, eight patients were complicated with lip and cheek defects, and three patients were complicated with lip, cheek, and unilateral nasal alar defects. The burn wound areas ranged from 9 cm×6 cm to 13 cm×10 cm. The scalp flaps pedicled with superficial temporal artery parietal branch, with the area of 10 cm×7 cm to 15 cm×11 cm, were designed, excised, and transferred for repairing burn wounds. The secondary wounds at the donor sites were repaired with medium-thickness scalp grafts. According to patient's needs, the hairs grew at the facial transplanted flap were removed by laser at 2 weeks after the flap was completely viable, or the expanded scalp flap was used to treat the secondary alopecia in the flap donor area of the head at 3 months after the primary wound repair. The survival of the flap/skin graft and the wound healing of the donor and recipient areas after the primary wound repair were recorded. During the follow-up, the appearance of the flap, the scar hyperplasia at the suture site, the repair effect of facial functional parts, the treatment effects of laser hair removal and secondary alopecia treatment at the flap donor site were observed; the patient's satisfaction with the overall repair effect was inquired.Results:After the primary wound repair, all the flaps transplanted to the burn wounds and the skin grafts transplanted to the secondary wounds of the flap donor sites survived well, and the wounds at the donor and recipient sites of flap healed well. The color, texture, and thickness of flap were basically the same as those of normal facial skin, and the scar at the suture site was slight during 3 to 18 months of follow-up period after the primary wound repair. In 11 patients complicated with lip defects, the oral integrity, and the opening and closing functions of mouth were restored with the mouth opening being 2.0-2.5 cm and no microstomia; all the patients could carry out basic language communication, 8 of them could take regular food, and 3 of them could take soft food. The wounds in two patients with unilateral eyeball destructive burns were repaired. In 2 patients complicated with auricle defects, the wounds were repaired, and the external auditory canals were normal. In 3 patients complicated with unilateral nasal alar defects, their noses had poor appearance with reduced nostrils. No hair growth was observed in the facial flap sites after treatment of laser hair removal in 8 patients. Five patients were successfully treated with expanded scalp flaps for secondary alopecia in the flap donor area of the head. The patients were all satisfied with the overall repair effect.Conclusions:The scalp flap pedicled with superficial temporal artery parietal branch has abundant blood supply and is suitable for repairing the wounds in facial destructive burns. It is easy to transfer and can better restore the appearance and function of the recipient area with minimal damage to the flap donor area, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Objective:To explore the technique and clinical effects of free medial plantar flap on reconstruction of the severe defect of thumb caused by electric burn.Methods:Surgical techniques and clinical effects were explored in reconstruction with free medial plantar flap for treatment of severe electric burns of thumbs. From July 2016 to July 2021, 18 patients suffered from severe electric burns of thumbs were admitted in the Department of Burn, Zhengzhou First People's Hospital. All the wounds were the entrance of electric burns. After thorough debridement, the arteries, nerves, tendons, phalanges and interphalangeal joints were exposed to various degrees. Damaged digital proper palmar arteries were ligated and defected proper palmar digital nerves were marked and further anastomosed with the nerves carried by the flap. Palmaris longus tendon grafts were employed to reconstruct the defects of flexor pollicis longus tendon. Wounds were closed by transfer of free medial plantar flaps, and the flap donor sites were closed by inguinal skin grafts. Survival of the flap was observed 1 week after surgery, and the survival of the skin graft in the foot donor site 12 days after surgery. Outpatient follow-up including observation of the appearance and texture of the flap, evaluation of sensory function, thumb alignment and finger flexion according to the Evaluation Trial Standards of Upper Limb Partial Functional of Hand Surgery of Chinese Medical Association. Evaluate the scar hyperplasia in the foot donor site and the standing and walking functions of the donor foot.Results:All flaps survived,at 1 week after surgery. On the 12th day after surgery, all 16 foot flap survived, and 2 patients had local necrosis, and the necrosis healed completely after dressing change for 10 days, the wound healed completely. Among them, 3 patients without tendon transfer experienced a rupture of the flexor pollicis longus tendon at 2 months after surgery, and underwent another palmaris longus tendon transfer. After the surgery, functional exercise was performed with the palm and flexor fingers. After 6-12 months of follow-up, the blood supply, appearance, and texture of the flap were good and similar to that of the palmar skin of the thumb, with varying degrees of recovery in sensation. The TPD was 6-11 mm, and the thumb was restored to varying degrees. According to the Evaluation Trial Standards of Upper Limb Partial Functional of Hand Surgery of Chinese Medical Association, 13 cases in excellent and 5 cases in good. Mild scar hyperplasia remains in the flap site of donor feet, which does not affect the standing and walking functions of the donor foot.Conclusion:The texture of medial plantar skin is similar to that of palmar skin, with good wear resistance and good sensation. Furthermore, it causes a little damage to the donor site and without obvious complication. The medial plantar flap is ideal for reconstruction of a severe wound caused by electric burn in thumb.

Objective:To analyze the influencing factors related to visiting rate of residents to contracted family doctors in a community health service center in Beijing.Methods:One thousand patients with contracted family doctor services who visited our center from January 2019 to December 2019 were selected for retrospective analysis. According to the corresponding visiting rate of contracted family doctors,patients were divided into low corresponding visiting rate, medium corresponding visiting rate and high corresponding visiting rate, and the influencing factors were analyzed.Results:Among the 1 000 patients, 481 (48.1%) were in the high corresponding visiting rate group, 342 (34.2%) in the middle corresponding visiting rate group, and 177 (17.7%) in the low corresponding visiting rate group. Univariate analysis showed that the corresponding visit rate was significantly associated with the age, marital status and educational level of patients, history of hypertension, the number of family doctor visits, the total visiting time and the consultation time per year (χ 2=12.55, 12.42, 7.69, 21.69, 253.97, 49.54, 9.07, all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared with the high corresponding visiting rate group, fewer of family doctor visits ( OR=0.68, 95 %CI: 0.58-0.78), lower education level( OR=0.65, 95 %CI: 0.46-0.92), history of hypertension ( OR=0.09, 95 %CI: 0.02-0.49), and 18-65 years old( OR=1.80, 95 %CI: 1.27-2.55) were the influencing factors for the low corresponding family doctor visiting rate(all P<0.05); while fewer of family doctor visits( OR=0.91, 95 %CI: 0.83-0.99),lower education level ( OR=0.74, 95 %CI: 0.55-0.98)and history of hypertension( OR=0.09, 95 %CI: 0.02-0.44)were the related factors of the medium corresponding visiting rate(all P<0.05). Conclusions:The visiting rate of patients to the contracted family doctor needs to be improved. The number of consultations of the contracted family doctor, educational background, history of hypertension, and age are the influencing factors of the corresponding visiting rate.

Objective:To explore the clinical effects of artificial dermis combined with split-thickness skin for repairing wounds with bone and tendon exposure in hands and feet.Methods:A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted. From October 2018 to February 2020, 82 patients with bone and tendon exposed wounds in hands and feet admitted to the Department of Burns of Zhengzhou First People′s Hospital who met the inclusion criteria were selected. All the patients were divided into flap group (41 cases, including 27 males and 14 females) and artificial dermis+split-thickness skin group (41 cases, including 29 males and 12 females) according to the random number table, with age of (37±7) years. After complete debridement of wounds of patients in the two groups, the wounds of patients in flap group were transplanted with anterolateral femoral free flaps; the wounds of patients in artificial dermis+split-thickness skin group were grafted with artificial dermis with continuous negative pressure suction applied, and then grafted with split-thickness skin from autologous lateral thigh once the vascularization of artificial dermis was completed. One week after autologous skin graft/flap grafting, the survival of wound graft was observed and the graft survival rate was calculated. The complete wound healing time, number of operation, length of hospital stay, hospitalization cost, and the occurrence of surgery-related complications during hospitalization after autologous skin graft/flap grafting were recorded, and the incidence of complications was calculated. Six months after autologous skin graft/flap grafting, the scar hyperplasia of recipient area was evaluated by Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), while the recovery of hand and foot function was evaluated by Total Action Mobility (TAM) System Rating method and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Ankle and Hindfoot Function Scale (AOFAS-AHS), respectively. Data were statistically analyzed with chi-square test, Fisher's exact probability test, and independent sample t test. Results:One week after autologous skin graft/flap grafting, the survival rates of wound grafts were similar in the two groups ( P>0.05). The complete wound healing time and length of hospital stay were (29±5) and (35±5) d for patients in artificial dermis+split-thickness skin group, respectively, which were significantly longer than (22±4) and (28±5) d in flap group ( t=6.96, 6.22, P<0.01). Compared with those in flap group, the number of operations was fewer ( t=7.39, P<0.01), the incidence of surgery-related complications during hospitalization after autologous skin graft/flap grafting was lower ( P<0.01), but there was no significant change in hospitalization cost of patients in artificial dermis+split-thickness skin group ( P>0.05). Six months after autologous skin graft/flap grafting, the VSS scores of recipient area of patients in the two groups were similar ( t=0.32, P>0.05); the TAM score of hand function and AOFAS-AHS score of foot function of patients in artificial dermis+split-thickness skin group were 40±6 and 62±12, respectively, which were significantly higher than 34±6 and 53±11 of flap group ( t=4.66, 3.41, P<0.01). Conclusions:The combined application of artificial dermis and split-thickness skin results in fewer number of operation compared with using flaps in the repair of wounds with bone and tendon exposure in hands and feet, reducing the incidence of surgery-related complications and improving the postoperative hand and foot joint function of patients, without significant scar hyperplasia, although it may also prolong the wound healing time and length of hospital stay accordingly.

Objective:To investigate the coexistence status of common chronic diseases among hypertensive patients with contracted family doctor service in the community.Methods:Clinical data of 7 910 hypertensive patients with contracted family doctor service in Yuetan Community Health Service Center and its affiliated service stations were collected. The status of comorbidities and related factors were analyzed.Results:Among 7 910 hypertensive patients, there were 2 959 cases(37.4%) with 2 chronic diseases, 1 747 cases (22.1%) with 3 chronic diseases and 2 289 cases(28.9%) with simple hypertension. There was significant difference in comorbidity status among hypertensive patients in different age groups (χ 2=25.269, P<0.05). The top 3 comorbid chronic diseases were type 2 diabetes (2 979 cases, 37.7%), dyslipidemia (2 227 cases, 28.2%), and coronary heart disease (1 945 cases, 24.6%). Univariate analysis showed that the comorbidity of hypertensive patients was significantly related to age, smoking, marital status,employ status and education level (χ 2=9.697, 19.539, 33.343, 8.986, 7.923; P<0.05). Conclusion:There is a phenomenon of coexistence of multiple diseases in hypertensive patients with contracted family doctor service in Yuetan community.