1.Methods and Strategies Employed in Compatibility and Formulation of New Chinese Medicinal Material Resources
Wenhua MING ; Qingqing LI ; Caifeng LI ; Yeran WANG ; Lan WANG ; Yanwen LI ; Zhiyong LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(12):248-256
Chinese medicinal materials serve as the material foundation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) culture. The sustainable development of Chinese medicinal material resources is a focal point in the modernization of TCM. With the increasing scarcity of Chinese medicinal material resources, the expansion of new Chinese medicinal material resources has become a crucial means for the sustainable utilization of these resources. New Chinese medicinal material resources refer to natural resources that have been newly discovered or developed, possessing potential medicinal value or healthcare functions, which fall outside the traditional application scope of herbal medicines. These resources have not yet been widely recognized or applied within the framework of traditional TCM theory. They specifically include artificial substitutes for endangered medicinal materials, new medicinal parts of medicinal plants, medicinal materials with expanded clinical applications, and foreign medicinal resources. The rational compatability and formulation of new Chinese medicinal material resources are essential pathways for integrating them into the TCM system. Due to the weak foundational research on new Chinese medicinal material resources in China, the characteristics of these resources that align with the TCM theory are not yet fully understood, posing numerous constraints on formulating prescriptions based on the traditional compatibility principles of TCM. This paper integrates the traditional formulation theory of TCM with modern data integration methods, proposing four formulation models for new TCM resources: synergistic compatibility, substitutive compatibility, symptom-based compatibility, and efficacy semantic compatibility. These models provide new insights for the application of new Chinese medicinal material resources, not only facilitating their rational use in clinical practice but also offering theoretical support for the development and compatibility research of these resources.
2.Methods and Strategies Employed in Compatibility and Formulation of New Chinese Medicinal Material Resources
Wenhua MING ; Qingqing LI ; Caifeng LI ; Yeran WANG ; Lan WANG ; Yanwen LI ; Zhiyong LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(12):248-256
Chinese medicinal materials serve as the material foundation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) culture. The sustainable development of Chinese medicinal material resources is a focal point in the modernization of TCM. With the increasing scarcity of Chinese medicinal material resources, the expansion of new Chinese medicinal material resources has become a crucial means for the sustainable utilization of these resources. New Chinese medicinal material resources refer to natural resources that have been newly discovered or developed, possessing potential medicinal value or healthcare functions, which fall outside the traditional application scope of herbal medicines. These resources have not yet been widely recognized or applied within the framework of traditional TCM theory. They specifically include artificial substitutes for endangered medicinal materials, new medicinal parts of medicinal plants, medicinal materials with expanded clinical applications, and foreign medicinal resources. The rational compatability and formulation of new Chinese medicinal material resources are essential pathways for integrating them into the TCM system. Due to the weak foundational research on new Chinese medicinal material resources in China, the characteristics of these resources that align with the TCM theory are not yet fully understood, posing numerous constraints on formulating prescriptions based on the traditional compatibility principles of TCM. This paper integrates the traditional formulation theory of TCM with modern data integration methods, proposing four formulation models for new TCM resources: synergistic compatibility, substitutive compatibility, symptom-based compatibility, and efficacy semantic compatibility. These models provide new insights for the application of new Chinese medicinal material resources, not only facilitating their rational use in clinical practice but also offering theoretical support for the development and compatibility research of these resources.
3.Development of DUS testing guidelines for new Atractylodes lancea varieties.
Cheng-Cai ZHANG ; Ming QIN ; Xiu-Zhi GUO ; Zi-Hua ZHANG ; Hao-Kuan ZHANG ; Xiao-Yu DAI ; Sheng WANG ; Lan-Ping GUO
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(6):1515-1523
Atractylodes lancea is a perennial herbaceous plant of Asteraceae, with rhizomes for medical use. However, A. lancea plants from different habitats have great variability, and the germplasm resources of A. lancea are unclear and mixed during production. Therefore, it is urgent to protect new varieties of A. lancea. The distinctness, uniformity, and stability(DUS) testing of new plant varieties is the foundation of plant variety protection, and the DUS testing guidelines are the technical basis for variety approval agencies to conduct DUS testing. In this study, the phenotypic traits of 94 germplasm accessions of A. lancea were investigated considering the breeding and variety characteristics of A. lancea in China. The traits were classified and described, and 24 traits were preliminarily determined, including 20 basic traits that must be tested and four traits selected to be tested. The 20 basic traits included 3 quality traits, 5 false quality traits, and 12 quantitative traits, corresponding to 1 plant traits, 2 stem traits, 8 leaf traits, 6 flower traits, and 3 seed traits. The measurement ranges and coefficients of variation of eight quantitative traits were determined, on the basis of which the grading criteria and codes of the traits were determined and assigned. The guidelines has guiding significance for the trait evaluation, utilization, and breeding of new varieties of A. lancea.
Atractylodes/growth & development*
;
China
;
Phenotype
;
Guidelines as Topic
;
Plant Breeding
4.Mechanism of Tougu Xiaotong Capsules regulating Malat1 and mi R-16-5p ceRNA to alleviate "cholesterol-iron" metabolism disorder in osteoarthritis chondrocytes.
Chang-Long FU ; Yan-Ming LIN ; Shu-Jie LAN ; Chao LI ; Zi-Hong ZHANG ; Yue CHEN ; Ying-Rui TONG ; Yan-Feng HUANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(15):4363-4371
From the perspective of competitive endogenous RNA(ceRNA) constructed by metastasy-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1(Malat1) and microRNA 16-5p(miR-16-5p), the improvement mechanism of Tonggu Xiaotong Capsules(TGXTC) on the imbalance and disorder of "cholesterol-iron" metabolism in chondrocytes of osteoarthritis(OA) was explored. In vivo experiments, 60 8-week-old C57BL/6 mice were acclimatized and fed for 1 week and then randomly divided into two groups: blank group(12 mice) and modeling group(48 mice). The animals in modeling group were anesthetized by 5% isoflurane inhalation, which was followed by the construction of OA model. They were then randomly divided into model group, TGXTC group, Malat1 overexpression group, and TGXTC+Malat1 overexpression(TGXTC+Malat1-OE) group, with 12 mice in each group. The structural changes of mouse cartilage tissues were observed by Masson staining after the intervention in each group. RT-PCR was employed to detect the mRNA levels of Malat1 and miR-16-5p in cartilage tissues. Western blot was used to analyze the protein expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1(ABCA1), sterol regulatory element-binding protein(SREBP), cytochrome P450 family 7 subfamily B member 1(CYP7B1), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein(CHOP), acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4(ACSL4), and glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4) in cartilage tissues. In vitro experiments, mouse chondrocytes were induced by thapsigargin(TG), and the combination of Malat1 and miR-16-5p was detected by double luciferase assay. The fluorescence intensity of Malat1 in chondrocytes was determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The miR-16-5p inhibitory chondrocyte model was constructed. RT-PCR was used to analyze the levels of Malat1 and miR-16-5p in chondrocytes under the inhibition of miR-16-5p. Western blot was adopted to analyze the regulation of TG-induced chondrocyte proteins ABCA1, SREBP, CYP7B1, CHOP, ACSL4, and GPX4 by TGXTC under the inhibition of miR-16-5p. The results of in vivo experiments showed that,(1) compared with model group, TGXTC group exhibited a relatively complete cartilage layer structure. Compared with Malat1-OE group, TGXTC+Malat1-OE group showed alleviated cartilage surface damage.(2) Compared with model group, TGXTC group had a significantly decreased Malat1 mRNA level and an increased miR-16-5p mRNA level in mouse cartilage tissues(P<0.01).(3) Compared with the model group, the protein levels of ABCA1 and GPX4 in the cartilage tissue of mice in the TGXTC group increased, while the protein levels of SREBP, CYP7B1, CHOP and ACSL4 decreased(P<0.01). The results of in vitro experiments show that,(1) dual-luciferase was used to evaluate that miR-16-5p has a targeting effect on the Malat1 gene.(2)Compared with TG+miR-16-5p inhibition group, TG+miR-16-5p inhibition+TGXTC group had an increased mRNA level of miR-16-5p and an decreased mRNA level of Malat1(P<0.01).(3) Compared with TG+miR-16-5p inhibition group, TG+miR-16-5p inhibition+TGXTC group exhibited increased expression of ABCA1 and GPX4 proteins and decreased expression of SREBP, CYP7B1, CHOP, and ACSL4 proteins(P<0.01). The reasults showed that TGXTC can regulate the ceRNA of Malat1 and miR-16-5p to alleviate the "cholesterol-iron" metabolism disorder of osteoarthritis chondrocytes.
Animals
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MicroRNAs/metabolism*
;
RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism*
;
Chondrocytes/drug effects*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice
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Osteoarthritis/drug therapy*
;
Iron/metabolism*
;
Male
;
Cholesterol/metabolism*
;
Humans
;
Capsules
;
RNA, Competitive Endogenous
5.Meta-analysis of association between cadmium exposure and cardiovascular disease
Huanhuan XIE ; Lan GUAN ; Ming ZENG ; Jianlan LUO
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(7):840-845
Background Existing studies suggest that cadmium exposure is associated with the occurrence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but the current epidemiological evidence is inconsistent. Objective To systematically evaluate the relationship between cadmium exposure and CVD through meta-analysis. Methods We systematically searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang and SinoMed databases to collect observational studies on the relationship between cadmium exposure and CVD in human population published until July 30, 2024. On the basis of following predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria, the retrieved literature was systematically screened, and the basic information of the included research was extracted, including basic participant information, research outcomes, and data results. This study used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and a cross-sectional study evaluation protocol (11 items) recommended by the Quality of Health Care and Research Institutions of the United States for literature quality evaluation. Meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and assessment of publication bias of the data were conducted using Stata16.0 software. Result A total of 15 studies (18 datasets) were included, and the quality of all the studies was graded as medium or above. Among them, there were
6.Early clinical outcomes of 3D-printed individualised customised prostheses in hip revision combined severe bone defect.
Hong-Ping WANG ; Ming-You WANG ; Xiao-Qin YANG ; Zhuo-Dong TANG ; Xun-Zhou SONG ; Yu-Ping LAN
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2025;38(2):163-169
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the early clinical outcomes of 3D printed individualised customised prostheses for in hip revision in patients with combined severe bone defects.
METHODS:
Twenty-two patients from January 2021 to May 2023 underwent hip revision using 3D printed personalised customised prostheses were retrospective analyzed, including 10 males and 12 females, age 28 to 78 with a mean of (58.9±12.8) years old. All of patients were combined with severe bone defects (Parprosky type Ⅲ). Among of them, 9 patients had periprosthetic infections and 13 patients had aseptic prosthesis loosening. All patients were treated with a 3D printed personalised prosthesis protocol, patients with the periprosthetic infection received a second stage revision after infection control. The operation time, preoperative waiting time, intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded, and the clinical efficacy were evaluated at the final follow-up using the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, the Harris hip score.
RESULTS:
One patient was lost to follow-up and the remaining 21 patients were followed up for 10 to 15 with a mean of (12.91±1.44) months after surgery. All patients completed surgery as planned, with an operative time of 135 to 390 with a mean of (165.4±39.3) minutes and a preoperative waiting time of 7 to 16 with a mean of (10.5±3.3) days. Regarding patient complications:one patient had a severe intraoperative periprosthetic femoral fracture due to the combination of severe osteoporosis; one patient had an intraoperative greater trochanteric femur fracture. At the latest follow-up, all patients had good position of the custom-made prosthesis and no loosening of the prosthesis;all patients had good wound healing and no local redness or swelling. The total Harris score at the final follow-up (85.86±7.04) was significantly improved compared to the preoperative (44.86±2.36), P<0.001. The VAS at the last follow-up (2.19±0.87) was significantly improved compared with preoperative (7.41±0.96), P<0.001.
CONCLUSION
The clinical efficacy of 3D-printed personalised customised prosthesis in combined severe bone defect hip revision is satisfactory, but due to the increased preoperative waiting time of the patients and certain risks, certain indications should be mastered when applying in the clinic.
Humans
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Male
;
Female
;
Printing, Three-Dimensional
;
Middle Aged
;
Aged
;
Adult
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Hip Prosthesis
;
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip
;
Reoperation
;
Prosthesis Design
;
Treatment Outcome
7.Comparison of application and efficacy of domestic HURWA and imported Smith & Nephew Cori robots in total knee arthroplasty.
Ming-You WANG ; Zhuo-Dong TANG ; Yu-Ping LAN ; Heng XIAO ; Ming-Li WANG ; Xun-Zhou SONG ; Hong-Ping WANG
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2025;38(10):1027-1036
OBJECTIVE:
Investigation on the clinical application of HURWA robot and Smith & Nephew Cori robot in total knee arthroplasty(TKA).
METHODS:
A retrospective analysis was performed on 84 patients with knee osteoarthritis who underwent robotic-assisted TKA (RATKA) between June 2023 and March 2025. According to the different robotic systems used, the patients were divided into the domestic HUARUN robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty group (HRATKA group) and the Smith & Nephew Cori robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty group (CRATKA group). There were 42 patients in the HRATKA group, including 16 males and 26 females; the age ranged from 56 to 73 years old, with an average of (64.70±8.30) years old;the body mass index (BMI) was (25.10±2.30) kg·m-2;21 cases were on the right side and 21 cases on the left side;in terms of Kellgren-Lawrence(K-L) classification, there were 15 cases of Grade Ⅲ and 27 cases of Grade Ⅳ;the disease duration ranged from 3 to 25 years, with an average of (15.5±7.5) years. The CRATKA group also included 42 patients, with 14 males and 28 females;the age ranged from 58 to 74 years old, with an average of (65.60±7.50) years old;the BMI was (24.50±2.70) kg·m-2; 20 cases were on the right side and 22 cases on the left side;regarding K-L classification, there were 11 cases of Grade Ⅲ and 31 cases of Grade Ⅳ;the disease duration ranged from 2 to 26 years, with an average of (16.5±8.8) years. Collect general data of all patients, including age, gender, height, weight, surgical site, K-L classification, incision length, and operation time. To evaluate prosthesis position, compare the frontal tibia component (FTC) angle, lateral femoral component (LFC) angle, lateral tibia component (LTC) angle, and frontal femoral component angle between the two groups of patients after surgery. Measure the deviation of the hip-knee-ankle (HKA) angle to assess lower limb alignment. Additionally, compare the following indicators between the two groups:Knee Society Score (KSS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, knee range of motion (ROM), hemoglobin (HB) level, hematocrit (HCT) level, complication rate, and in-hospital satisfaction.
RESULTS:
All patients successfully completed the surgery as scheduled, and all were followed up after the operation. The follow-up period ranged from 5 to 17 months with an average of (11.2±6.1) months. There were 4 cases of venous thrombosis in the HRATKA group and 3 cases in the CRATKA group;each group had 2 cases of wound exudation. No mechanical-related complications, pulmonary embolism, or other severe complications occurred. Comparison of the incision length and hospital stay between the HRATKA group and the CRATKA group showed no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). The operation time in the HRATKA group was (96.80±7.10) minutes, which was longer than that in the CRATKA group (90.10±8.80) minutes, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). In the HRATKA group, the HKA angle was (178.93±1.11) degree, the FFC angle was (89.00±0.91)°, and the LFC angle was (7.31±2.17) degree;the corresponding values in the CRATKA group were (178.05±1.34)°, (87.88±1.74)°, and (10.60±2.84) degree respectively. The differences in these three indicators between the two groups were all statistically significant (P<0.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences in the FTC angle or LTC angle between the two groups (P>0.05). There was also no statistically significant difference in the total perioperative blood loss between the two groups (P>0.05). At 3 days after surgery, the VAS score for movement in the HRATKA group (5.95±1.45) points was higher than that in the CRATKA group (4.50±0.97) points, with a statistically significant difference (P<0.05);at 90 days after surgery, there was no statistically significant difference in the movement VAS score between the two groups (P>0.05). Additionally, no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in the KSS, ROM at 3 and 90 days after surgery, or satisfaction degree during hospitalization (all P>0.05).
CONCLUSION
The domestic HURWA robot demonstrates excellent performance in osteotomy efficiency and lower limb alignment recovery. The Smith & Nephew Cori robot has a significant advantage in soft tissue assessment and joint stability optimization. Both robotic systems offer high-quality surgical treatments that significantly improve short-term knee function.
Humans
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Male
;
Female
;
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee/instrumentation*
;
Aged
;
Middle Aged
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Robotic Surgical Procedures/methods*
;
Osteoarthritis, Knee/surgery*
8.Effect of phenytoin and levetiracetam on busulfan blood concentration in children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Shi-Xi XU ; Guang-Ting ZENG ; Jing-Yu WANG ; Shu-Lan LIU ; Jing LIU ; Bo-Yan DENG ; Ji-Ming LUO ; Jie LIN ; An-Fa WANG
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(11):1378-1383
OBJECTIVES:
To study the effect of prophylactic phenytoin (PHT) or levetiracetam (LEV) on busulfan (BU) blood concentration in children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
METHODS:
Pediatric patients conditioned with BU plus cyclophosphamide and fludarabine at the First People's Hospital of Chenzhou from September 2023 to February 2025 were retrospectively included. Patients were grouped by prophylactic antiepileptic regimen into PHT (n=24) and LEV (n=26). BU blood concentrations at the end of infusion (0 hour) and at 1, 2, and 4 hours post-infusion were compared between groups.
RESULTS:
At 0 hour post-infusion, BU blood concentrations did not differ significantly between groups (P>0.05). At 1, 2, and 4 hours post-infusion, BU blood concentrations were higher in the LEV group than in the PHT group (P<0.05). The area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to ∞ (AUC0-∞) was greater in the LEV group (P<0.001), and the attainment rate of AUC0-∞ was higher in the LEV group than in the PHT group (73% vs 21%, P<0.001). No significant differences were observed between groups in time to hematopoietic engraftment or in the incidence of BU-related adverse drug reactions (P>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Compared with PHT, LEV prophylaxis is associated with higher BU blood concentration and a higher AUC0-∞ attainment rate. There is no observed difference in BU efficacy or safety between PHT and LEV.
Humans
;
Levetiracetam/therapeutic use*
;
Busulfan/pharmacokinetics*
;
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
;
Male
;
Female
;
Child
;
Child, Preschool
;
Phenytoin/pharmacology*
;
Infant
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Anticonvulsants/pharmacology*
;
Adolescent
9.Prognostic Value of Baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT Combined with Clinicopathological Characteristics in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.
Tong ZHAO ; Ling YUAN ; Jia-Lin LI ; Ming ZHAO ; Yan-Mei LIN ; Jun XING ; Lan-Lan BAO
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(2):365-372
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the prognostic value of 18 F-deoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT metabolic parameters combined with clinicopathological features for newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) before treatment, and analyze the relationship between tumor metabolic volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG) and clinicopathological features.
METHODS:
The clinical data of 120 patients with pathologically confirmed DLBCL were retrospectively analyzed and 18F-FDG PET/CT was performed 1 week before treatment. The metabolic parameters including SUVmax, SUVmean, tumor-to-blood standardized uptake value ratio (TBR), tumor-to-liver standardized uptake value ratio (TLR) were obtained. MTV and TLG of the lesions were obtained with 41% of SUVmax as the threshold, and the correlation of MTV and TLG with clinicopathological features were analyzed. Progression-free survival (PFS) was calculated by follow-up for 6-153 months. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier test, log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model were used to analyze the date.
RESULTS:
The optimum cut-off values of the SUVmax, MTV, TLG, TBR and TLR for predicting tumor progression were 22.25, 256.05, 5 232.67, 12.97 and 10.60, respectively. The patients were divided into two groups according to the above cut-off values, respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in PFS between the two group (all P <0.05). The MTV and TLG values were correlated with NCCN-IPI score, Ann Arbor stage, serum lactate dehydrogenase level, and C-MYC, BCL-2, BCL-6 gene rearrangement (all P <0.05). Univariate analysis showed that NCCN-IPI score >3, C-MYC, BCL-2, BCL-6 gene rearrangement positive, SUVmax≥22.25, MTV≥256.05 cm3, TLG≥5 232.67 g and TBR≥12.97 were adverse factors for prognosis (HR: 1.949-5.759, all P <0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that C-MYC, BCL-2 gene rearrangement positive and TLG≥5 232.67 g were all independent risk factors affecting PFS (HR: 4.660, 3.350, 4.031, all P <0.05).
CONCLUSION
The 18F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters SUVmax, MTV, TLG, TBR and TLR can be used as important indicators to predict PFS of DLBCL patients, and combining clinicopathological features can better predict the prognosis of patients.
Humans
;
Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/diagnosis*
;
Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
;
Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
;
Prognosis
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Male
;
Female
;
Middle Aged
;
Adult
10.Glucocorticoid Discontinuation in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis under Background of Chinese Medicine: Challenges and Potentials Coexist.
Chuan-Hui YAO ; Chi ZHANG ; Meng-Ge SONG ; Cong-Min XIA ; Tian CHANG ; Xie-Li MA ; Wei-Xiang LIU ; Zi-Xia LIU ; Jia-Meng LIU ; Xiao-Po TANG ; Ying LIU ; Jian LIU ; Jiang-Yun PENG ; Dong-Yi HE ; Qing-Chun HUANG ; Ming-Li GAO ; Jian-Ping YU ; Wei LIU ; Jian-Yong ZHANG ; Yue-Lan ZHU ; Xiu-Juan HOU ; Hai-Dong WANG ; Yong-Fei FANG ; Yue WANG ; Yin SU ; Xin-Ping TIAN ; Ai-Ping LYU ; Xun GONG ; Quan JIANG
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(7):581-589
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

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