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.

Neurexin-3α, discovered in 2016, is a new type of autoimmune encephalitis antibody. Anti-neurexin-3α antibody-associated encephalitis is generally associated with prodromal symptoms or mood changes, having main clinical manifestations as seizures, memory disorders, confusion or loss of consciousness, central ventilation insufficiency, abnormal behavior, and speech disorders. This paper reviews the relevant research progress at home and abroad about pathogenesis, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of anti-neurexin-3α antibody-associated encephalitis, so as to expand the understanding of clinicians for this disease.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the prognostic power of serum uric acid (UA) in predicting adverse events in elderly acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: The analysis involved 718 ACS patients ‍>80 years old whose general clinical data and baseline blood biochemical indicators were collected prospectively from January 2006 to December 2012. These patients were classified into two groups based on DM status, and then followed up after discharge. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for major adverse cardiac event (MACE) rates and all-cause mortality. Multivariate Cox regression was performed to analyze the relationship between UA level and long-term clinical prognosis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were analyzed to predict the cutoff value of UA in elderly ACS patients with DM. There were 242 and 476 patients in the DM and non-DM (NDM) groups, respectively, and the follow-up time after discharge was 40‒120 months (median, 63 months; interquartile range, 51‒74 months). RESULTS: The all-cause mortality, cardiac mortality, and MACE rates in both DM and NDM patients were higher than those in the control group ( CONCLUSIONS Serum UA level is a strong independent predictor of long-term all-cause death and MACE in elderly ACS patients with DM.

Objective To quantitatively explore the influence of knife sharpness on forearm wounds in knife slash cases. Methods The finite element models of the upper limb and knives with 3 degrees of sharpness (with sharp blade, blunt blade, wide blade) were developed based on human CT images and prototype of slash knife. The slash by 3 kinds of knives on the forearm at velocity of 4 m/s and duration of 10 ms was simulated, so as to analyze changes in contact forces, wound dimensions and energy. Results During the slash by knives with sharp, blunt, wide blade, the blades reached the ulna at about 65, 85, 95 ms, respectively. The corresponding slash forces were 846, 1 064 and 1 865 N; the wound lengths were 135.64, 105.47 and 99.23 mm; the wound depths were 38.77, 27.81 and 18.74 mm. With the sharpness of blade decreasing, the wound formation was slowed, the length and depth decreased and the slash force increased. The model system for slash knife with sharp blade had obviously greater total energy and inner energy, but smaller kinetic energy, compared with slash knife with blunt blade and wide blade. Conclusions The method for quantitatively assessing wound formation in knife slash upon the forearm was developed. The research findings deepen the understanding of biomechanical mechanism of wound formation by knife slash, and provide new scientific means for forensic investigation and court trial of knife slash cases.

BACKGROUND:Silk fibroin, as an inorganic mineralization template, can induce hydroxyapatite crystal growth, and combined with nano-hydroxyapatite can simulate the inorganic and organic components of natural bone, which is expected to become the most ideal bone graft material. OBJECTIVE:To prepare the silk fibroin/nano-hydroxyapatite composite material and investigate its treatment outcomes in spinal fusion. METHODS:Silk fibroin/nano-hydroxyapatite composite was synthesized by the co precipitation method with silk fibroin and calcium phosphate as raw materials, to simulate the structure and composition of the bone tissue. The crystal phase composition and microstructure of the composite scaffold were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope. Osteoblasts were seeded onto the composite, and the cel adhesion and proliferation were observed under inverted microscope. The lumbar posterolateral spinal fusion models were established in the New Zealand rabbits, fol owed by treated with autologous bone graft (control group) and composite (composite group), respectively. The gross, radiological and histological observations of bone fusion were compared between groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Silk fibroin/nano-hydroxyapatite composite appeared to be fascicular under electron microscope, the length was 200-500 nm and width was 20-30 nm. And the hydroxyapatite was about 200 nm in length and 50 nm in width. X-ray diffraction showed that the bottom of diffraction peak was wide, and the peak was not sharp. Transmission electron microscope found that cel s adhered wel onto the composite scaffold at 2 days. Scanning electron microscope showed that the polygonal, oval or conical cel s covered most of the composite scaffold holes, presented obvious mitotic phase at 5 days. The third generation of MC3T3-E cel s tended to rise at first 3 days, and then decreased. The fusion site of L5-6 transverse process was strong, and non-bony fusion occurred. At the same time, numerous new bones were visible in the composite group. Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed a large number of cel aggregation, abundant osteoblasts surrounding cartilage, and the bone tissues were in a regular arrangement in the composite group. Moreover, irregular trabecular bone with medul ary cavity was found in the composite material. These results suggest that the silk fibroin/nano-hydroxyapatite composite with the similar structure and composition of natural bone can achieve satisfactory fusion effect in the rabbit lumbar posterolateral fusion.

Objective To evaluate the effect of Babaodan capsules combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) therapy in patients with BCLC stage B primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods A total of 32 patients with BCLC B primary hepatocellular carcinoma who cannot be treated with operation in the Department of Oncology in Fujian Province Cancer Hospital from May 2010 to March 2013 were enrolled in the experimental group. According to paired design, 64 patients with BCLC B primary liver cancer who were treated with only TACE were as control. The patients of experimental group were treated with Babaodan capsules combined with TACE, and the patients of control group were treated with only TACE. Overall response rate (ORR), time to progression (TTP), overall survival (OS), liver function change 1 week after TACE, and post-embolization syndromes were analyzed. Measurement data were compared using t test, count data were compared with χ2test. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis, and Log-rank method for testing. Results The ORR 1.5 month after TACE was 75.0%in experimental group and 81.3%in control group(P=0.477). The median TTP was 8.9 months(95%CI 3.1-14.7 months) in experimental group, and 5.5 months (95%CI 4.3-6.7 months) in control group (P=0.048). The median OS time was 16 months(95%CI 8.0-24.0 months) in experimental group, and 12 months(95%CI 11.0-13.0 months) in control group (P=0.159). Compared with the experimental group, the alanine transaminase 1 week after TACE in control group increased obviously (P=0.018). The incidence rate of ≥CTCAE grade 2 pain after the first time TACE in experimental group was lower than that in control group(P=0.019). Conclusion Babaodan capsules could reduce pain of HCC patients after TACE, improve liver damage after TACE,and prolong the TTP of patients with BCLC stage B HCC.

Objective To investigate the safety , feasibility , and clinical application value of digital sub-traction angiography ( DSA) -guided insertion of totally implantable venous access port ( TIVAP) in patients with digestive system cancer .Methods We retrospectively analyzed the data of 15 digestive system cancer patients who were inserted with TIVAP under DSA guidance between April 2013 and January 2016, recorded the TIVAP-related complications and indwelling time, and investigated the patients’satisfaction about TIVAP.Paired rank sum test was used for the differences in patients’quality of life before and after the insertion of TIVAP.Results Of the 15 digestive system cancer patients , operation success rate of TIVAP insertion was 100%, with the success rate of venipuncture on first attempt being 100%.The incidence of complication was 6.67% ( 1/15 ) , which was manifested as pull feeling at the neck occurring in the eighth month after insertion .The indwelling time of TIVAP was from 2 to 28 months, with a median value of 9 months.Patients’satisfaction rate of TIVAP was 86.67%(13/15).The proportion of patients with a good quality of life was 100%(15/15), statically signifi-cantly higher than that before the insertion [46.67%(7/15), Z=-3.416, P=0.000).Conclusions TIVAP insertion under DSA guidance in digestive system cancer patients is safe and feasible , with few complications and fair patient satisfaction .It may improve the patient ’s quality of life , worthy of clinical application .