ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy and economic value of the Jiangsu Traditional Chinese Medicine （TCM） Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for Dominant Diseases （abbreviated as the Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol） in adult patients with non-severe community-acquired pneumonia （CAP） based on real-world clinical data. MethodsA retrospective real-world cohort study was conducted using electronic medical records of adult patients hospitalized for non-severe CAP from September 1st， 2023 to December 31st， 2024 across 10 TCM hospitals in Jiangsu province. Patients were classified into an exposure group and a non-exposure group based on whether they received Chinese herbal medicine （CHM） according to the Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol. The non-exposure group received only conventional western medicine， while the exposure group additionally received differentiated CHM for at least five consecutive days. Outcomes were compared between two patient groups， including cough resolution rate， sputum resolution rate （assessed by volume， color， and consistency）， incidence of abnormal C-reactive protein （CRP）， incidence of abnormal white blood cell （WBC） count， and radiographic resolution rate of pulmonary infiltrates on chest imaging. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors influencing clinical efficacy. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to age， gender， smoking status， history of hypertension， and pneumonia severity score （CURB-65）， and the efficacy of treatment for cough and sputum was analyzed within each subgroup. Cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted using cough resolution rate as the outcome measure， evaluating the pharmacoeconomics of the two groups. ResultsA total of 1688 patients were included with 1293 in the exposure group and 395 in the non-exposure group. Compared to the non-exposure group， the exposure group demonstrated significantly higher resolution rates of cough， sputum volume， color， and consistency， as well as a significantly lower incidence of abnormal CRP （P＜0.05）. No statistically significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of abnormal WBC count and radiographic resolution rate of pulmonary infiltrates （P＞0.05）. Logistic regression analysis showed that the cough resolution rate in the exposure group was 1.83 times that of the non-exposure group， while the probabilities of resolution in sputum volume， color， and consistency were 1.37， 2.09， and 1.56 times those of the non-exposure group， respectively （P＜0.05）. Subgroup analyses showed that the exposure group achieved significantly higher cough resolution rates across most subgroups except for populations with a CURB-65 score ≥2 or those with a history of hypertension （P＜0.05）. Specifically， among females， patients aged ≥18 and ＜65 years， non-smokers， those without hypertension， and those with a CURB-65 score of 0， the exposure group showed a higher cough resolution rate than the non-exposure group （P＜0.05）. From an economic perspective， total hospitalization cost， length of stay， antibiotic cost， and CHM cost all differed significantly between groups （P＜0.05）. The cost-effectiveness ratio （CER） was 10,788.80 CNY/case in the exposure group， while 22,513.80 CNY/case in the non-exposure group. This implies that， compared with the exposure group， the non-exposure group incurred an additional 17,302.27 CNY to achieve one case of cough resolution. When the willingness-to-pay threshold ranged from 0 to 50,000 CNY， the probability of economic advantage was consistently higher in the exposure group than in the non-exposure group. ConclusionOn the basis of conventional western medicine， the addition of CHM in accordance with the Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol can effectively improve clinical symptoms， reduce inflammatory markers， promote clinical recovery， and is more cost-effective in treating adults with non-severe CAP.

ObjectiveTo observe the real‑world effectiveness and economic outcomes of Weishi Qingjin Formula （苇石清金方， WQF） in the treatment of adult community‑acquired pneumonia （CAP） with phlegm‑heat obstructing the lung syndrome. MethodsBased on a multicenter， real-world retrospective cohort study， clinical data were collected from hospitalized adult patients diagnosed with non‑severe CAP and phlegm‑heat obstructing the lung syndrome in 10 traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） hospitals in Jiangsu province. Patients were divided into an exposure group （those who received oral WQF） and a non‑exposure group （those who did not）. The following outcomes were compared between the two groups before and after treatment， which were remission rates of clinical symptoms including cough， expectoration （sputum volume， color， consistency）， and chest pain， levels of inflammatory markers including C‑reactive protein （CRP） and white blood cell count （WBC）， and the rate of pulmonary inflammatory absorption on chest CT. Subgroup analyses were performed based on age， gender， smoking status， presence of hypertension， and the severity of community-acquired pneumonia （CURB‑65） score， comparing the two groups in terms of cough remission rate， chest pain remission rate， and chest CT absorption rate. For health economic evaluation， cost‑effectiveness analysis was used to calculate the cost‑effectiveness ratio （CER） and incremental cost‑effectiveness ratio （ICER）. Univariate sensitivity analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analysis were performed to test the robustness of the results. ResultsA total of 647 patients in the exposure group and 1491 patients in the non-exposure group were included in the final statistical analysis. There was no statistically significant difference in length of hospital stay， gender， marital status， smoking history， bronchoscopy history， and comorbidities between the groups （P＞0.05）， but age， CURB-65 score， and antibiotic use. The exposure group had significantly higher remission rates of cough and sputum consistency than the non-exposure group （P＜0.05）. After adjusting for confounders using propensity score matching and logistic regression， the cough remission rate in the exposure group was 1.49 times that of the non-exposure group （P＜0.01）. No significant difference was observed between groups in the reduction rates of CRP and WBC， and in the rate of pulmonary inflammatory absorption on chest CT （P＞0.05）. Subgroup analyses revealed that the cough remission rate in the exposure group was significantly better than that in the non-exposure group except for patients aged ≥65 years， smokers， hypertensive patients， those using other type antibiotics or not using antibiotics， and those with a CURB-65 score ≥1 （P＜0.05）. Among smokers， the chest pain remission rate in the exposure group was 4.38 times that of the non-exposure group （P＜0.01）. No significant difference in chest CT absorption rate was found between groups across subgroups of gender， age， hypertension status， or antibiotic type （P＞0.05）. In terms of economic evaluation， CER was 10,877.60 CNY/case in the exposure group and 16,773.10 CNY/case in the non-exposure group. Compared to the exposure group， the non-exposure group incurred an additional 15,034.26 CNY to achieve one case of cough resolution， indicating a more favorable cost-effectiveness profile. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis yielded results consistent with the cost-effectiveness analysis， confirming the robustness of the findings. ConclusionWQF demonstrates significant efficacy in improving cough symptoms in the treatment of adult CAP with phlegm-heat obstructing the lung syndrome， and also exhibits favorable economic benefits.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy and economic value of the Jiangsu Traditional Chinese Medicine （TCM） Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for Dominant Diseases （abbreviated as the Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol） in adult patients with non-severe community-acquired pneumonia （CAP） based on real-world clinical data. MethodsA retrospective real-world cohort study was conducted using electronic medical records of adult patients hospitalized for non-severe CAP from September 1st， 2023 to December 31st， 2024 across 10 TCM hospitals in Jiangsu province. Patients were classified into an exposure group and a non-exposure group based on whether they received Chinese herbal medicine （CHM） according to the Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol. The non-exposure group received only conventional western medicine， while the exposure group additionally received differentiated CHM for at least five consecutive days. Outcomes were compared between two patient groups， including cough resolution rate， sputum resolution rate （assessed by volume， color， and consistency）， incidence of abnormal C-reactive protein （CRP）， incidence of abnormal white blood cell （WBC） count， and radiographic resolution rate of pulmonary infiltrates on chest imaging. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors influencing clinical efficacy. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to age， gender， smoking status， history of hypertension， and pneumonia severity score （CURB-65）， and the efficacy of treatment for cough and sputum was analyzed within each subgroup. Cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted using cough resolution rate as the outcome measure， evaluating the pharmacoeconomics of the two groups. ResultsA total of 1688 patients were included with 1293 in the exposure group and 395 in the non-exposure group. Compared to the non-exposure group， the exposure group demonstrated significantly higher resolution rates of cough， sputum volume， color， and consistency， as well as a significantly lower incidence of abnormal CRP （P＜0.05）. No statistically significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of abnormal WBC count and radiographic resolution rate of pulmonary infiltrates （P＞0.05）. Logistic regression analysis showed that the cough resolution rate in the exposure group was 1.83 times that of the non-exposure group， while the probabilities of resolution in sputum volume， color， and consistency were 1.37， 2.09， and 1.56 times those of the non-exposure group， respectively （P＜0.05）. Subgroup analyses showed that the exposure group achieved significantly higher cough resolution rates across most subgroups except for populations with a CURB-65 score ≥2 or those with a history of hypertension （P＜0.05）. Specifically， among females， patients aged ≥18 and ＜65 years， non-smokers， those without hypertension， and those with a CURB-65 score of 0， the exposure group showed a higher cough resolution rate than the non-exposure group （P＜0.05）. From an economic perspective， total hospitalization cost， length of stay， antibiotic cost， and CHM cost all differed significantly between groups （P＜0.05）. The cost-effectiveness ratio （CER） was 10,788.80 CNY/case in the exposure group， while 22,513.80 CNY/case in the non-exposure group. This implies that， compared with the exposure group， the non-exposure group incurred an additional 17,302.27 CNY to achieve one case of cough resolution. When the willingness-to-pay threshold ranged from 0 to 50,000 CNY， the probability of economic advantage was consistently higher in the exposure group than in the non-exposure group. ConclusionOn the basis of conventional western medicine， the addition of CHM in accordance with the Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol can effectively improve clinical symptoms， reduce inflammatory markers， promote clinical recovery， and is more cost-effective in treating adults with non-severe CAP.

ObjectiveTo observe the real‑world effectiveness and economic outcomes of Weishi Qingjin Formula （苇石清金方， WQF） in the treatment of adult community‑acquired pneumonia （CAP） with phlegm‑heat obstructing the lung syndrome. MethodsBased on a multicenter， real-world retrospective cohort study， clinical data were collected from hospitalized adult patients diagnosed with non‑severe CAP and phlegm‑heat obstructing the lung syndrome in 10 traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） hospitals in Jiangsu province. Patients were divided into an exposure group （those who received oral WQF） and a non‑exposure group （those who did not）. The following outcomes were compared between the two groups before and after treatment， which were remission rates of clinical symptoms including cough， expectoration （sputum volume， color， consistency）， and chest pain， levels of inflammatory markers including C‑reactive protein （CRP） and white blood cell count （WBC）， and the rate of pulmonary inflammatory absorption on chest CT. Subgroup analyses were performed based on age， gender， smoking status， presence of hypertension， and the severity of community-acquired pneumonia （CURB‑65） score， comparing the two groups in terms of cough remission rate， chest pain remission rate， and chest CT absorption rate. For health economic evaluation， cost‑effectiveness analysis was used to calculate the cost‑effectiveness ratio （CER） and incremental cost‑effectiveness ratio （ICER）. Univariate sensitivity analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analysis were performed to test the robustness of the results. ResultsA total of 647 patients in the exposure group and 1491 patients in the non-exposure group were included in the final statistical analysis. There was no statistically significant difference in length of hospital stay， gender， marital status， smoking history， bronchoscopy history， and comorbidities between the groups （P＞0.05）， but age， CURB-65 score， and antibiotic use. The exposure group had significantly higher remission rates of cough and sputum consistency than the non-exposure group （P＜0.05）. After adjusting for confounders using propensity score matching and logistic regression， the cough remission rate in the exposure group was 1.49 times that of the non-exposure group （P＜0.01）. No significant difference was observed between groups in the reduction rates of CRP and WBC， and in the rate of pulmonary inflammatory absorption on chest CT （P＞0.05）. Subgroup analyses revealed that the cough remission rate in the exposure group was significantly better than that in the non-exposure group except for patients aged ≥65 years， smokers， hypertensive patients， those using other type antibiotics or not using antibiotics， and those with a CURB-65 score ≥1 （P＜0.05）. Among smokers， the chest pain remission rate in the exposure group was 4.38 times that of the non-exposure group （P＜0.01）. No significant difference in chest CT absorption rate was found between groups across subgroups of gender， age， hypertension status， or antibiotic type （P＞0.05）. In terms of economic evaluation， CER was 10,877.60 CNY/case in the exposure group and 16,773.10 CNY/case in the non-exposure group. Compared to the exposure group， the non-exposure group incurred an additional 15,034.26 CNY to achieve one case of cough resolution， indicating a more favorable cost-effectiveness profile. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis yielded results consistent with the cost-effectiveness analysis， confirming the robustness of the findings. ConclusionWQF demonstrates significant efficacy in improving cough symptoms in the treatment of adult CAP with phlegm-heat obstructing the lung syndrome， and also exhibits favorable economic benefits.

OBJECTIVE To optimize the extraction process of flavonoids from Potentilla discolor .METHODS Deep eutectic solvents （DESs） were used as the extraction solvent to prepare test sample solutions. The contents of rutin， quercitrin， and kaempferol were determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography. The analytic hierarchy process combined with the criteria importance through intercriteria correlation weighting method was employed to assign comprehensive weights to the contents of the three flavonoids， and calculate the comprehensive score. The optimal DESs were screened based on the comprehensive score.Mean while， using the comprehensive score as the response variable and the liquid-to-solid ratio， ultrasonic time， and urltrasonic temperature as the influencing factors， the extraction technology of flavonoids from P.discolor was optimized by Box-Behnken response surface methodology and subsequently validated.RESULTS The comprehensive weight coefficients of rutin， quercitrin， and kaempferol were 0.646 7， 0.207 5， and 0.145 8， respectively. The optimal DESs were choline chloride-lactic acid （molar ratio 1∶4） with a water content of 40%. The optimal extraction conditions were determined as follows： liquid-to-solid ratio of 25∶1， ultrasonic time of 40 min， and ultrasonic temperature of 50 ℃. The validation results showed that the average comprehensive score of three batches of samples was 99.28， with an RSD of 0.54% （ n ＝3）.CONCLUSIONS The optimal extraction technology of flavonoids from P. discolor based on DESs obtained in this study was stable and feasible.

Objective:To evaluate the levels and source of cadmium exposure by dietary pathway among middle-aged and elderly people ≥40 in cadmium-contaminated areas of China.Methods:A total of 7 193 people aged 40-89 years from four typical cadmium-contaminated areas in China were selected as the study subjects. Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), Total Diet Study (TDS) and a 3-day-24-hour dietary recall survey were conducted. Dietary cadmium intake and food sources through dietary pathways were assessed based on cadmium content in foods, consumption amounts and intake frequencies.Results:The mean age of the participants was 63.39±12.21 years, with 50.05% being males. The average monthly dietary cadmium intake was 7.39 μg/(kg·BW). Staple foods and vegetables were the primary sources of dietary cadmium intake, accounting for 57.51% and 32.48%, respectively. The monthly dietary cadmium intake in all surveyed regions did not exceed the Provisional Tolerable Monthly Intake (PTMI) recommended by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA).Conclusion:The monthly dietary cadmium intake among middle-aged and elderly people in cadmium-contaminated areas of China is relatively low, with the risk remaining at an acceptable level. Staple foods and vegetables are the most significant contributors to dietary cadmium intake.

Objective To design a VR-based air evacuation training system for simulating the on-board medical treatment process during air evacuation.Methods A VR-based air evacuation training system was developed which used 3D modeling technology to construct models of the medical aircraft cabin,medical devices and virtual characters to achieve scene interaction.The hardware part of the system included server computers,training terminal computers,VR equipment,3D fusion projection equipment,motion capture equipment,etc.The software of the system was developed using C++,UE4 Blueprint and C# programming languages,including two modules for medical treatment unit and medical treatment training process evaluation.The efficacy of the system was verified by the trials in air evacuation.Results The system developed successfully simulated the scenarios of tracheal tube dislodgement and increased intracranial pressure in the scenario model of open severe craniocerebral injury.The expert evaluation showed that the system gained advantages in training efficiency,low cost,safety,sense of immersion and recorded the operation data in real time to optimize the follow-up training.Conclusion The system developed delivers a virtual training environment with high-fidelity replication of real-mission conditions,enabling whole-course and immersive air evacuation drills.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(3):15-20]

Rapid developments in biotechnology have led researchers to seek new method to improve the efficiency and accuracy of biomedical research and drug development,promoting interdisciplinary integration.Recent advancements in artificial intelligence(AI)technologies have brought unprecedented opportunities to this field.The integration of various AI models allows researchers to better utilize multi-omics data,identify disease phenotypes,interpret animal behavior,assess treatment effects,improve experimental designs,reduce the use of experimental animals,enhance animal facility management,and improve animal welfare.This article reviews the advancements in AI biomedical research over the past decade and discusses its contributions to disease phenotype identification,the selection and design of experimental animal models,animal behavior analysis,and animal facility management.It also points out the challenges related to data standardization,AI model selection and interpretability,the extrapolation process from AI models to animal experiments and clinical practice,as well as ethical considerations in using AI in sensitive areas involving human genetics and personalized medicine.This review aims to help researchers and practitioners in relevant fields understand the current state and opportunities of AI development,thus providing support for its broader application.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of serum vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP)and 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)levels on the outcome of spinal cord electrical stimulation(SCS)in patients with postherpetic neuralgia(PHN).Methods A total of 96 PHN patients who received SCS treatment in Ziy-ang Central Hospital from January 2022 to December 2023 were selected.According to the disease outcomes of all PHN patients after 6 months of treatment,a good group(n=71)and a poor group(n=25)were set up.The clinical data of the two groups were collected and the serum VIP and 5-HT levels were detected in all pa-tients before treatment.The predictive value of serum VIP and 5-HT on disease outcome after SCS treatment in PHN patients was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve,and the influencing factors of disease outcome after SCS treatment in PHN patients was explored by multivariate Logistic steppe gression a-nalysis.Results The levels of serum VIP and 5-HT in poor group were higher than those in good group(P＜0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)of serum VIP and 5-HT for predicting the disease outcome of PHN patients after SCS treatment were 0.829(95％CI:0.779-0.874)and 0.743(95％CI:0.693-0.793),respec-tively,and the AUC of combined prediction was 0.941(0.891-0.986).There were no significant differences in age,gender,body moss index,education,location of onset,hypertension and drinking history between the two groups(P＞0.05).The time of initial hospital admission in the poor group was longer than that in the good group,skin rash area in the poor group was larger than that in the good group,and diabetes mellitus and smoking history in the poor group were higher than those in the good group(P＜0.05).The time of admis-sion for initial treatment＞3 d(OR=2.188,95％CI:1.383-3.461),skin rash area＞10 cm2(OR=2.018,95％CI:1.283-3.173),diabetes mellitus(OR=2.264,95％CI:1.379-3.717),serum VIP level ≥41.78 ng/L(OR=3.022,95％CI:1.685-5.420),serum 5-HT level ≥99.27 ng/mL(OR=3.579,95％CI:1.885-6.793)were the influencing factors of disease outcome after SCS treatment in PHN patients(P＜0.05).Con-clusion The elevated levels of serum VIP and 5-HT before treatment are associated with poor outcomes after SCS in patients with PHN,and could be used as potential markers to predict the outcomes of SCS in patients with PHN.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics,diagnosis and treatment of pediatric myocardial infarction (MI) patients with coronary artery lesions (CAL) after Kawasaki disease (KD).Methods:Clinical data including baseline characteristics, KD and CAL information, clinical symptoms at MI onset, electrocardiogram (ECG) and imaging findings, MI treatment, and clinical outcomes of 41 MI patients with CAL after KD admitted to the Children′s Hospital of Fudan University from January 2017 to August 2024 were analyzed retrospectively.Results:(1) Demographic characteristics: a total of 41 patients were included (36 males and 5 females). The age at MI was 4.6 (2.3, 5.7) years, and time from KD onset to MI was 397 (50, 1 095) d. (2) Treatment of acute KD: only 15 patients (37%) received standard initial treatment within 10 days of KD onset with intravenous immunoglobulin 2 g/kg. The other 26 cases (63%) received non-standard treatment or no treatment. (3) Treatment of CAL before MI: the time from KD onset to CAL was 14 (10, 116) d, with CAL not identified before MI onset in 15 patients. Among the 26 cases diagnosed with CAL prior to MI, 9 cases received only single or dual antiplatelet drug, of which 7 cases received oral dipyridamole. The remaining 16 cases received antiplatelet drug combined with warfarin, but only 1 case achieved the target international standardized ratio of 1.5-2.5. Out of all 41 cases, only 1 case (2%) received standard antithrombotic treatment before MI onset. (4) Clinical symptoms of MI: at MI onset, 32 patients presented with different clinical symptoms, with typical MI symptoms such as chest tightness, chest pain, precordial discomfort in 18 cases, and cardiopulmonary arrest accompanied by syncope or convulsions in 10 cases. Other non-specific symptoms included abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and pallor. Nine patients were asymptomatic and were found to have silent MI on follow-up. (5) ECG and imaging findings: ECG showed ST-T changes in 33 cases, and abnormal Q waves, and arrhythmias in the remaining patients; echocardiography indicated coronary artery aneurysm with thrombosis in 27 cases, reduced left ventricular ejection fraction in 18 cases, abnormal wall motion in 15 cases, and ventricular aneurysm in 3 cases. Thirty-seven patients underwent coronary angiography and (or) multi-slice spiral CT angiography, with 39 occluded vessels and 3 severe stenosis (≥75%), all of which were caused by giant aneurism with thrombus formation. (6) Treatment of MI: of the 32 patients with acute MI, 9 patients received successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation, 7 patients received intravenous thrombolysis, and 1 patient underwent percutaneous coronary balloon angioplasty. All of these patients received dual antiplatelet drugs and low-molecular-weight heparin at therapeutic doses following MI treatment. Sixteen patients received coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) treatment, all of which were successful. (7) Outcomes: the follow-up time was 994 (215, 1 832) d. Thirty-one patients showed improvement, 5 patients experienced disease progression or no change, 1 patient died, and 4 patients were lost to follow-up.Conclusions:MI in children with CAL after KD often occurs within 1 year after the onset of KD. MI can present with atypical clinical symptoms in children. CABG is the main treatment option in children severe CAL after KD who developed MI.