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 analyze the medication law of core prescriptions and categorized prescriptions of TCM for the treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction(HFpEF);To provide references for clinical prescriptions of HFpEF.Methods The clinical research literature on TCM for HFpEF was retrieved from CNKI,Wanfang Data,VIP,CBM,PubMed,Web of Science,Embase and Cochrane Library from establishment of the databases to November 1,2023.Data mining methods,such as complex network,prescription similarity network and community detection method were used to explore the prescription medication law of HFpEF.Results Totally 142 articles related to TCM treatment of HFpEF were included,containing 146 prescriptions and involving 162 kinds of Chinese materia medica.The most frequently used drugs were represented by Astragali Radix,Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Poria.The core prescription and the commonly used modified law of HFpEF treatment were obtained by complex network analysis.The core prescription consisted of Astragali Radix,Poria,Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma,Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma,Chuanxiong Rhizoma,Cinnamomi Ramulus,Descurainiae Semen Lepidii Semen,Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma,Paeoniae Radix Rubra,Ophiopogonis Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix.Further based on the prescription similarity network and community detection method,the basic prescriptions of the 3 major community of categorized prescription corresponding to the HFpEF staging and syndrome types were obtained,and the staged diagnosis and treatment medication law with the development of the HFpEF disease course were found.Conclusion Invigorating qi and activating blood circulation,warming yang and promoting diuresis are the main therapeutic principles of HFpEF.Data mining technology provides a feasible method for the analysis of core prescriptions and categorized prescriptions for HFpEF,which can provide a basis for the diagnosis and treatment law and medication experience of HFpEF in TCM.

Objective:To evaluate the anterior expansion of sacral foramen and decompression of sacral plexus via the lateral-rectus approach (LRA) in the surgical treatment of sacral fractures complicated with sacral plexus injury.Methods:From January 2013 to June 2018, 11 patients were treated at Department of Orthopaedics, The Third Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University for obsolete sacral fractures complicated with sacral plexus injury. They were 8 males and 3 females, aged from 17 to 54 years (average, 38 years). According to the Denis classification, all the sacral fractures belonged to Denis Zone Ⅱ. According to British Medical Research Council (BMRC) grading system, the nerve injury was complete damage in 2 cases and partial damage in 9. The mean time from injury to surgery was 6 months (range, from 0.7 to 12.0 months). After the sacroiliac joint was exposed via the LRA, the lumbosacral trunk was exposed and released between iliac vessels and the iliopsoas. Next, the S1 foramen was expanded and the S1 nerve root was released after separation of the median sacral artery and the internal iliac artery. Reduction and fixation of the sacroiliac joint was carried out for patients with unstable sacral fracture. X-ray and CT examinations of the pelvis were performed to evaluate fracture healing and neurological function recovery postoperatively.Results:Of this cohort of 11 cases, operation succeeded in 10 but failed in one whose sacral fracture was found to have completely healed with the S1 foramina totally occluded. The surgical time averaged 110 min (range, from 70 to 220 min) and the blood loss 1, 100 mL (range, from 450 to 2, 800 mL). Postoperative X-ray and CT examinations showed that the sacral foramens were expanded significantly without any complications. The follow-up time averaged 18 months (range, from 12 months to 4 years). By the BMRC grading system at the last follow-up, the neural function was completely recovered in 5 cases, partially recovered in 4 cases and not recovered in one.Conclusion:Significant anterior expansion of sacral foramen and decompression of sacral plexus via the LRA is a viable and effective alternative for treatment of sacral fractures complicated with sacral plexus injury.

Objective:To explore the surgical method and clinical efficacy of lateral-rectus approach (LRA) in the treatment of fragility fractures of the pelvis (FFP) in the elderly.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted for elderly FFP patients from January 2011 to December 2019. All the pelvic fractures should be exposed and reduced through LRA and fixed with pelvic reconstruction plates and channel screws. Then, a total of 30 elderly patients were included in the study, including 9 males and 21 females, with an average age of 72.5 years (range, 60-87 years). Fractures were caused by car accident in 5 cases, by falling from high places in 8 cases and by tumbling in 17 cases. According to the FFP classification, there were 6 cases of type IIc (6/30, 20%), 22 cases of type III (22/30, 73.33%, of which 13 cases were type IIIa, 7 cases were type IIIb, and 2 cases were type IIIc), 2 cases of type IVa (2/30, 6.67%). Among that, 2 cases suffered ipsilateral acetabular fractures, 17 suffered medical diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes, etc., and none suffered extremities fractures or other types of injuries. Surgical field was exposed retroperitoneally through LRA, combined with lower limb traction to reduce the anterior and posterior pelvis ring fractures. Then, the reductions were done in direct visions and verified through X-ray fluoroscopy. After that, the posterior ring was fixed with reconstruction plate and/or sacroiliac screws, and the anterior ring was fixed with reconstruction plate or INFIX. The quality of fracture reduction was evaluated by Matta score and the postoperative function was evaluated by Majeed score.Results:All the 30 patients were surgical treated through LRA. The time from injury to operation was 5 to 20 days, with an average of 9.9 days. The operating time ranged from 35 to 150 min (mean, 73.5 min) and the intraoperative bleeding ranged from 220 to 2 400 ml (mean, 586.7 ml). Fractures were successfully reduced under direct vision and the positions of the plates and screws were monitored through X-ray fluoroscopy during the operation. Postoperative X-rays and CT scans showed satisfactory reduction of the pelvic ring. According to Matta criteria, the quality of fracture reduction was evaluated as excellent in 18 cases, good in 6 cases, fair in 4 cases and poor in 2 cases. The overall excellent and good rate was 80% (24/30). All patients were followed up for 6-24 months, the fractures were all healed, and all fractures healed for 2-5 months, with an average of 3.5 months. At the last follow-up, Majeed scores were 86.1±6.11 (range, 66-92), including 21 excellent cases, 7 good cases and 2 fair cases, with an excellent and good rate of 93.3% (28/30). As for complications, 1 patient developed deep venous thrombosis of the affected lower limb, and the thrombosis disappeared after thrombolytic therapy. One patient had fat liquefaction in the incision, and the wound healed after intensive dressing change. After INFIX fixation, 2 patients showed numbness on the lateral thigh of the affected side, and the symptoms were relieved after symptomatic treatment. Four patients were found to have internal fixation screws loosening during follow-up, but still achieved good fracture healing.Conclusion:The entire hemipelvic ring could be exposed through LRA without cutting the peritoneum, so that the sacroiliac joint, ilium wing and anterior ring fractures could be reduced under direct version. In the treatment of pelvis fragility fractures of the elderly, effective reduction and fixation could be achieved using reconstruction plates or channel screws through LRA.

Objective:To investigate the surgical technique and the clinical effects of direct posterior approach (DPA) with the fixation of percutaneous tunnel screw and plate for acetabular posterior comminuted fractures.Methods:Thirty-six cases with acetabular posterior comminuted fractures treated by this technique from January 2016 to July 2020 were retrospectively analyzed in this study. There were 28 males and 8 female, aged 42.0±12.1 (range 19-64) years. According to Letournel-Judet classification, there were 28 cases of transverse associated with posterior wall fractures, 6 cases of posterior column with posterior wall fractures and 2 cases of T shape with posterior wall fractures. DPA was adopted in prone position. The anterior and posterior column fractures of the acetabulum were reduced under direct vision and then fixed with percutaneous tunnel screw. Further, the posterior wall fractures of the acetabulum were reduced and fixed with plate and screws. The operation duration, intraoperative blood loss, incision length, fracture union time, fracture reduction quality, postoperative complications and hip function were recorded.Results:The incision was 9.8±1.2 (range 8-12) cm. The operation duration was 102.9±21.4 (range 65-145) min. Intraoperative bleeding was 214.0±116.9 (range 100-640) ml. Postoperative X-ray and CT examinations showed perfect reduction. All the patients were followed up for 20.9±9.2 (range 10-38) months. The fracture healing time was 4.6±1.0 (range 3-6) months. There was no patient with damaged superior gluteal nerve and blood vessel. There were 2 cases of femoral head cystic changes without pain in walking, 1 case of postoperative infection and bacteremia who was cured at 1 month after debridement and anti-infection treatment, 1 case of sciatic nerve injury but recovered at 3 months after operation, and 1 case of heterotopic ossification at 3 months after surgery without affecting hip motion. According to the Matta's criteria, the reduction quality of the acetabular fracture was rated as excellent in 28 cases, good in 6 cases, fair in 2 cases. According to the modified Merle D'Aubigné and Postel scoring system, hip joint function was excellent in 24 cases, good in 10 cases and fair in 2 cases.Conclusion:DPA approach can directly reduce acetabular posterior comminuted fractures through a minimal incision. Combined with the technique of percutaneous tunnel screw, it displays great advantages of less trauma and with good clinical effects.

Objective:To investigate the surgical techniques and clinical efficacy of periacetabular osteotomy through the lateral-rectus approach (LRA) for obsolete acetabular fractures.Methods:The 22 patients with old acetabular fracture were retrospectively analyzed who had been admitted to Department of Traumatic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital to Southern Medical University from June 2012 to June 2019. They were 16 males and 6 females, aged from 22 to 61 years (average, 45.0 years). By the Judet-letournel classification, there were 4 anterior + posterior hemitransverse fractures, 2 T-shaped fractures and 16 both column fractures. The time from injury to surgery was 3 to 12 weeks in 15 cases, 3 to 6 months in 5 cases, 9 months in one case, and 3 years in one case. After the whole acetabulum was exposed outside the peritoneum through LRA in all patients, periacetabular osteotomy was conducted under direct vision, followed by fixation with multiple reconstruction plates or integrated acetabular airfoil anatomical plates after reduction. Recorded were the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fracture reduction quality, affected hip function and complications in the patients.Results:In this cohort the operation time ranged from 110 to 205 min, averaging 140.5 min; intraoperative blood loss ranged from 500 to 2,100 mL, averaging 1,250.4 mL. According to the Matta X-ray criteria, the postoperative reduction was assessed as excellent in 7 cases, as good in 11 and as poor in 4, yielding an excellent and good rate of 81.8% (18/22). All the 22 patients were followed up for 12 to 36 months (mean, 22.1 months) and achieved fracture union. The one-year follow-up showed that their modified Merle d'Aubigné & Postel scores ranged from 6 to 18 points, averaging 14.6 points and giving 6 excellent, 10 good, 3 fair and 2 poor cases [an excellent and good rate of 72.7% (16/22)]. Osteonecrosis of the femoral head developed in 2 patients one of whom underwent total hip replacement.Conclusions:As LRA can expose the entire hemipelic ring from the medial side of the pelvis, the periacetabular osteotomy can be performed and the fractures of anterior or posterior column and the quadrilateral area can be reduced under direct vision through the medial side of the acetabulum. Moreover, ideal results can be achieved with the use of multiple reconstruction plates or integrated acetabular airfoil anatomical plates.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is now pandemic worldwide and has heavily overloaded hospitals in Wuhan City, China during the time between late January and February. We reported the clinical features and therapeutic characteristics of moderate COVID-19 cases in Wuhan that were treated via the integration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine. We collected electronic medical record (EMR) data, which included the full clinical profiles of patients, from a designated TCM hospital in Wuhan. The structured data of symptoms and drugs from admission notes were obtained through an information extraction process. Other key clinical entities were also confirmed and normalized to obtain information on the diagnosis, clinical treatments, laboratory tests, and outcomes of the patients. A total of 293 COVID-19 inpatient cases, including 207 moderate and 86 (29.3%) severe cases, were included in our research. Among these cases, 238 were discharged, 31 were transferred, and 24 (all severe cases) died in the hospital. Our COVID-19 cases involved elderly patients with advanced ages (57 years on average) and high comorbidity rates (61%). Our results reconfirmed several well-recognized risk factors, such as age, gender (male), and comorbidities, as well as provided novel laboratory indications (e.g., cholesterol) and TCM-specific phenotype markers (e.g., dull tongue) that were relevant to COVID-19 infections and prognosis. In addition to antiviral/antibiotics and standard supportive therapies, TCM herbal prescriptions incorporating 290 distinct herbs were used in 273 (93%) cases. The cases that received TCM treatment had lower death rates than those that did not receive TCM treatment (17/273 = 6.2% vs. 7/20= 35%, P = 0.0004 for all cases; 17/77= 22% vs. 7/9= 77.7%, P = 0.002 for severe cases). The TCM herbal prescriptions used for the treatment of COVID-19 infections mainly consisted of Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, Radix Scutellariae, Rhizoma Pinellia, and their combinations, which reflected the practical TCM principles (e.g., clearing heat and dampening phlegm). Lastly, 59% of the patients received treatment, including antiviral, antibiotics, and Chinese patent medicine, before admission. This situation might have some effects on symptoms, such as fever and dry cough. By using EMR data, we described the clinical features and therapeutic characteristics of 293 COVID-19 cases treated via the integration of TCM herbal prescriptions and Western medicine. Clinical manifestations and treatments before admission and in the hospital were investigated. Our results preliminarily showed the potential effectiveness of TCM herbal prescriptions and their regularities in COVID-19 treatment.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; COVID-19/therapy* ; China ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: To explore the characteristics and short-term changes of high resolutionCT (HRCT) in subclinical stage of new coronavirus pneumonia (NCP). Methods: TheHRCT images of 17 NCP patients in subclinical stage were analyzed retrospectively in Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of science and technology and Wuhan JinyintanHospital from January 15 to January 31, 2020. There were 4 males and 13 females, aged from 25.0 to 51.0 (39.8±7.5) years, who were closely contacted with NCP patients. The follow-up CT examination was performed 3 to 6 days after the initial CT examination in all patients. Six patients were treated using anti-virus, anti-inflammation andsymptomatic therapy, while the orther 11 patients were untreated. The CT imaging signs of subclinical and short-term follow-up were analyzed, and the CT image changes of short-term follow-up was summarized. Results: Thelesions of 17 NCP patients were mainly located at the lower lobes of both lungs (9 cases at the left lower lobe and 10 cases at the right lower lobe in the subclinical stage, 9 casesat the left lower lobe and 11casesat the right lower lobe in the short-term follow-up). The number of lung segments involved increased from 46 in the subclinical stage to 90 in the short-term follow-up. In the subclinical stage, most of the lesions were multiple (13 cases), while in the short-term follow-up, the number of multiple cases decreased (7 cases), focal (6 cases) and diffuse distribution(4 cases) increased. The lesions were mainly distributed under the pleura (13 cases) or along the bronchovascular bundle (10 cases). In the short-term follow-up, 1 case progressed from subpleural to subpleural and along the bronchovascular bundle. There were 3 main types of lesions, including ground glass nodule, ground glass opacity and crazy-paving pattern. In the subclinical stage and short-term follow-up, ground glass nodules were seen in all the 17 cases. In the short-termfollow-up, ground glass nodules decreased in 4 cases and crazy-paving pattern increased in 4 cases. In 6 patients after treatment, 3 cases were changed from multiple to single ground glass nodule, 3 cases showed multiple ground glass opacity reduced. Therange of lesions in 11 patients without treatment enlarged. Conclusion TheHRCT features of the NCP patients in subcilincal stagehave some charicteristics, such as small ground glass nodule, ground glass opacity along the subpleural or along the bronchovascular bundle, and the great changescan be seen in the short-term follow-up.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of lateral-rectus approach(LRA) for vertical shear fracture of pelvis combined with lumbosacral plexus nerve injury.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted of the 37 patients who had been treated at Department of Orthopaedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital to Southern Medical University for vertical shear pelvic fracture combined with lumbosacral plexus nerve injury from August 2010 to August 2018. They were 25 males and 12 females, aged from 18 to 61 years (mean, 36.2 years). By the Tile classification, there were 31 cases of type C1.3, 5 cases of type C2 and one of type C3. LRA was used in all the patients to explore and release the lumbosacral plexus nerve and to reduce the sacral fracture. The posterior ring was fixated with an anterior iliac plate or sacral screws before fixation of the anterior ring and treatment of the acetabular fracture. The operation time, intraoperative bleeding volume, quality of fracture reduction, fracture union time and recovery of nerve and muscle strength were recorded.Results:For this cohort, the operation time ranged from 105 to 228 minutes (mean, 155.0 minutes) and the intraoperative bleeding volume from 680 to 2, 440 mL (mean, 1, 070 mL). Thefollow-up time ranged from 1 to 8 years (average, 2 years). According to the Matta criteria, the quality of fracture reduction was evaluated as excellent in 21 cases, as good in 12 cases and as fair in 4 cases, giving an excellent and good rate of 89.2%. Follow-ups revealed reduction loss in 4 patients, nonunion and reduction loss in one patient and bony union in the other 32 patients after 8 to 12 weeks (mean, 10.1 weeks). According to the criteria by the Nerve Injuries Committee of the British Medical Research Council (BMRC), the recovery of nerve and muscle strength achieved M5 (full recovery of neurological symptoms) in 22 cases, M4 (fine recovery of neurological symptoms) in 7 cases, M1, M2 and M3 (partial recovery of neurological symptoms) in 5 cases, and M0 (no recovery of neurological symptoms) in 3 cases.Conclusion:LRA is an ideal surgical approach for treatment of pelvic vertical shear fractures complicated with lumbosacral plexus nerve injury, because it can well expose the medial pelvic joint from the sacroiliac joint to the symphysis pubis, allow direct release of the lumbosacral plexus nerve compressed and stretched, and, together with traction of the lower limbs, lead to satisfactory fracture reduction.

Objective:To explore the characteristics and short-term changes of high resolution CT (HRCT) in subclinical stage of COVID-19.Methods:The HRCT images of 17 COVID-19 patients in subclinical stage were analyzed retrospectively in Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology and Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital from January 15 to 31, 2020. There were 4 males and 13 females, age ranged from 25.0 to 51.0 (39.8±7.5) years, who were closely contacted with other COVID-19 patients. The follow-up CT examination was performed within 3 to 6 days after the initial CT examination in all patients. Six patients were treated using anti-virus, anti-inflammation and symptomatic therapy, while the other 11 patients were untreated. The subclinical CT findings and short-term follow-up were analyzed, and the CT changes of short-term follow-up were summarized.Results:The lesions of 17 COVID-19 patients were mainly located at the lower lobes of bilateral lungs (at the left lower lobe in 9 cases and at the right lower lobe in 10 cases in the subclinical stage, at the left lower lobe in 9 cases and at the right lower lobe in 11 cases in the short-term follow-up). The number of involved lung segments increased from 46 in the subclinical stage to 90 in the short-term follow-up. In the subclinical stage, the multiple lesions were found in 13 cases, while in the short-term follow-up, the number of cases with multiple lesions decreased by 7, however the cases with focal lesions increased by 6 and diffuse lesions by 4. The lesions were mainly distributed under the pleura (13 cases) or along the bronchovascular bundle(10 cases). In the short-term follow-up, the lesion in 1 case expanded from the subpleural area to neighbouring bronchovascular bundle. There were 3 main types of the lesions, including ground glass nodule, ground glass opacity and crazy-paving pattern. In the subclinical stage and short-term follow-up, the ground glass opacities were seen in all the 17 cases. In the short-term follow-up, the number of cases with ground glass nodules decreased by 4 and crazy-paving pattern increased by 4. In 6 patients after treatment, the multiple ground glass nodules became single one in 3 cases, and in other 3 cases the multiple ground glass opacities were getting smaller. However, the scope of lesions in 11 patients without treatment enlarged.Conclusion:The HRCT features of the COVID-19 in subcilincal stage have some charicteristics, such as small ground glass nodule, ground glass opacity along the subpleural area or along the bronchovascular bundle, and the great changes can be seen in the short-term follow-up.