OBJECTIVE To explore the transformation of the dispensing and drug pickup process in traditional Chinese medicine pharmacy （TCM Pharmacy） in our hospital based on data-intelligence-driven， aiming to improve pharmacists’ work efficiency and patients’ drug pickup experience. METHODS Value stream mapping and journey mapping were used to systematically identify non-value-added links in pharmacists’ dispensing process and key pain points in patients’ drug pickup under the traditional process. An intelligent dispensing and drug pickup system for the TCM Pharmacy was developed based on the C# and Android television platforms， and a machine-learning model was adopted to predict patients’ drug pickup waiting time. A comprehensive evaluation was performed from three perspectives： system performance， prediction accuracy， and satisfaction of pharmacists and patients. RESULTS The system successfully streamlined non-value-added links such as “waiting for writing on the board” and “searching for drugs”， and realized multimodal dynamic prompts of dispensing status through auditory （number calling） and visual （television terminal） channels. The constructed model for predicting drug pickup waiting time exhibited good fitting degree and generalization ability （mean absolute error＝4.28 min， R 2 ＝0.882）. The comprehensive satisfaction scores of pharmacists and patients in the traditional mode were significantly increased from （70.99±1.74） and （73.58±1.98） to （90.02±1.30） and （88.61±2.08） in the new system， respectively （ P ＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS The transformation of the intelligent drug dispensing and pickup system for TCM pharmacy based on data-intelligence-driven effectively improves the efficiency of pharmacists’ dispensing work， realizes process transparency and waiting time predictability， and significantly enhances patients’ drug pickup experience.

Liver fibrosis is a vital cause of morbidity in patients with liver diseases and developing novel anti-fibrotic drugs is imperative. Isovalerylspiramycin I (ISP I) as a major component of carrimycin applied to upper respiratory infections, was first found to possess anti-fibrotic potential. The present study aims to evaluate the functions and mechanisms of ISP I in protecting against liver fibrosis. According to our results, ISP I not only reduced the expressions of fibrogenic markers in LX-2 cells but also appeared great protective effects on liver injury and liver fibrosis in bile duct ligation (BDL) rats and carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) mice. We proved that nucleotide-binding protein 2 (NUBP2) was the direct target of ISP I. ISP I through targeting NUBP2, increased the amount of vascular non-inflammatory molecule-1 (VNN1) on the cell membrane, which will inhibit oxidative stress and fibrosis. Simultaneously, the original carrimycin's protective effect on liver damage and fibrosis was verified. Therefore, our study provides potential agents for patients with liver fibrosis-related diseases, and the clear mechanism supports wide application in the clinic.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the potential of low-frequency, low-power ultrasound to enhance the transdermal absorption and efficacy of ketoprofen gel. METHODS Ketoprofen gel was used as a model drug to compare the in vitro transdermal permeation of ultrasound treated group and untreated group. Additionally, a rat model of collagen-induced inflammation provided a basis for evaluating pharmacodynamic differences. Pharmacokinetic studies further elucidated the effects of ultrasound on ketoprofen gel's penetration process. RESULTS Ultrasound treatment enhanced the cumulative transdermal permeation of ketoprofen gel by 3.5-fold over 24 hours compared to untreated. Significant pharmacokinetic improvements in AUC0-t from (4289.02±763.58)ng·h·mL−1 to (11301.10±3386.30)ng·h·mL−1 and a reduction in Tmax from (6.0±1.4)h to (3.0±2.0)h. Ultrasound notably improved the gel's anti-inflammatory effects in the rat model, effectively and rapidly reducing inflammation-induced swelling. CONCLUSION Low-frequency, low-power ultrasound can significantly improve the amount and rate of transdermal absorption of ketoprofen gel and enhance its pharmacological potency, from the aspects of skin permeation tests, pharmacodynamic evaluation, and pharmacokinetic studies, which is an effective penetration enhancer for transdermal administration of ketoprofen gel.

A new definition of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has recently been proposed. We aim to examine the associations of MAFLD, particularly its discordance from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), with the progression of elevated brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and albuminuria in a community-based study sample in Shanghai, China. After 4.3 years of follow-up, 778 participants developed elevated baPWV and 499 developed albuminuria. In comparison with the non-MAFLD group, the multivariable adjusted odds ratio (OR) of MAFLD group for new-onset elevated baPWV was 1.25 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.55) and 1.35 (95% CI 1.07-1.70) for albuminuria. Participants without NAFLD but diagnosed according to MAFLD definition were associated with higher risk of incident albuminuria (OR 1.77; 95% CI 1.07-2.94). Patients with MAFLD with high value of hepamet fibrosis score or poor-controlled diabetes had higher risk of elevated baPWV or albuminuria. In conclusion, MAFLD was associated with new-onset elevated baPWV and albuminuria independently of body mass index, waist circumference, and hip circumference. Individuals without NAFLD but diagnosed as MAFLD had high risk of albuminuria, supporting that MAFLD criteria would be practical for the evaluation of long-term risk of subclinical atherosclerosis among fatty liver patients.
Humans ; Pulse Wave Analysis ; Albuminuria ; Ankle Brachial Index ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/diagnosis* ; Vascular Stiffness ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology*

Objective To explore the effect of the expressive psychotherapy on the feeling of inadequacy and loneliness of inpatients with chronic schizophrenia.MethodsTotally 120 chronic schizophrenia inpatients met recruited criteria were randomly divided into study group(n=60) and control group(n=60) according to random number table.57 patients in each group finished all the follow-ups finally.The patients in two groups were received normal medications while the patients in intervention group also attended expressive psychotherapy.All the patients were assessed at baseline,6 weeks and 12 weeks of treatment with the feeling of inadequacy scale (FIS) and the status and trait loneliness scale (STLS).Results(1) The FIS score(F=225.19,P<0.01),STLS total score(F=225.20,P<0.01),STLS status score(F=240.40,P<0.01) and STLS trait score(F=106.75,P<0.01) decreased significantly in both groups after intervention.(2) The FIS score of study group was much lower than those of control group at the at 6-week-follow-up(4.93±20.86,57.89±20.48,t=-2.250,P<0.01) and 12-week-follow-up(38.43±17.50,57.21±22.98,t=-4.900,P<0.01).(3) After 6 weeks treatment and 12 weeks treatment,STLS total score(6 weeks:(54.32±12.30) vs (68.46±15.53),t=-5.425,P<0.01,12 weeks:(44.16±10.81) vs (65.75±16.26),t=-8.386,P<0.01),STLS status score (6 weeks:(25.95±6.41) vs (34.31±7.91),t=-6.239,P<0.01,12 weeks:(19.15±5.49) vs (32.58±8.45),t=-10.103,P<0.01) and STLS trait score (6 weeks:(28.37±6.73) vs (34.15±8.45),t=-4.138,P<0.01,12 weeks:(25.00±6.18) vs (33.15±8.22),t=-6.019,P<0.01) in study group were lower than those in control group,and the difference was statistically significant.ConclusionExpressive psychotherapy can effectively improve the loneliness and inadequacy of patients with chronic schizophrenia.

AIM: To compare the main saponins extracted respectively from the fruits and the whole plant of Tribulus terrestris L. and study its marked component. METHODS: Using C 18 ODS column and Refractive Index Detector, we compared the main saponins extracted respectively from the fruits and the whole plant of Tribulus terrestris L. in quantity by RP-HPLC. RESULTS: Tigogeniin contents from herb and its fruit had distinct difference between them (P