ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Jianpi Qinghua granules on blood glucose fluctuations in patients with newly diagnosed overweight/obese type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM） and Qi-Yin deficiency syndrome from the perspective of skeletal muscle mass and function， while providing new insights for the treatment of diabetes. MethodsThis study employed a randomized， double-blind， placebo-controlled design. A total of 110 newly diagnosed overweight/obese T2DM patients meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to either the traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） group （54 cases） or the control group （56 cases）. Patients in the TCM group received Jianpi Qinghua Granules， while those in the control group received a placebo. Both groups underwent dietary and exercise guidance. After 12 weeks of intervention， blood glucose fluctuations were assessed using the following parameters： time in the target blood glucose range （TIR）， mean daily blood glucose （MBG）， standard deviation of mean daily blood glucose （SDBG）， mean amplitude of glycemic excursions （MAGE）， coefficient of variation of blood glucose （CV）， glycated hemoglobin （HbA1c） achievement rate， fasting plasma glucose （FPG）， and 2 hour postprandial glucose （2 hPG）. Skeletal muscle mass was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry （DXA）， while skeletal muscle function was evaluated using a handheld dynamometer for distal muscle strength and a 5-time sit-to-stand test for lower limb function. Additionally， pancreatic islet function and TCM syndrome scores were analyzed. ResultsNo significant differences were observed in baseline data between the two groups before intervention， ensuring comparability. After treatment， compared to the control group， the TCM group showed a significant increase in TIR （P<0.01）. While the SDBG and CV decreased， and MBG and MAGE increased in the TCM group， these differences were not statistically significant. Notably， the TCM group exhibited significant reductions in 2 hPG （P<0.01） and HbA1c （P<0.05）， though the decrease in FPG was not statistically significant. The HbA1c achievement rate in the TCM group was significantly higher than that in the control group （χ²=45.498， P<0.01）. In terms of skeletal muscle mass and function， the TCM group demonstrated a significant increase in handgrip strength （P<0.01） and a significant reduction in the 5-time sit-to-stand duration （P<0.05）. However， although body fat percentage increased， leading to a decrease in skeletal muscle mass and the ratio of skeletal muscle to fat， these changes were not statistically significant. For pancreatic islet function， the TCM group showed significant reductions in fasting insulin （FINS） and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance （HOMA-IR） （P<0.01）. Additionally， the TCM syndrome score in the TCM group was significantly reduced （P<0.01）. ConclusionJianpi Qinghua granules may reduce blood glucose fluctuations in newly diagnosed overweight/obese T2DM patients with Qi-Yin deficiency syndrome by enhancing skeletal muscle function， improving pancreatic islet function， and ameliorating related TCM syndromes.

Objective:Locus coeruleus(LC)noradrenergic(NEergic)neurons densely project to anterior piriform cortex(aPC).However,the modulation of LC to aPC remains unclear.Therefore,this study aims to investigate the effect of LC-aPC projection on the modulation of aPC in odor perception.Methods:The AAV-DIO-ChR2-eYFP virus was injected into LC of DBH-Cre mice and the optrode was placed into aPC.Optogenetics combined with in vivo electro-physiology were used to record the air/odor-evoked response of aPC pyramidal neurons.Results:The immunofluores-cent staining showed that the LC project directly to aPC.Activation of aPC NEergic fibers decreased the spontaneous re-sponses and odor-evoked responses of aPC pyramidal neurons.Conclusion:Activation of aPC NEergic neurons inhibits the spontaneous responses and odor-evoked responses of aPC pyramidal neurons.

Objective:Locus coeruleus(LC)noradrenergic(NEergic)neurons densely project to anterior piriform cortex(aPC).However,the modulation of LC to aPC remains unclear.Therefore,this study aims to investigate the effect of LC-aPC projection on the modulation of aPC in odor perception.Methods:The AAV-DIO-ChR2-eYFP virus was injected into LC of DBH-Cre mice and the optrode was placed into aPC.Optogenetics combined with in vivo electro-physiology were used to record the air/odor-evoked response of aPC pyramidal neurons.Results:The immunofluores-cent staining showed that the LC project directly to aPC.Activation of aPC NEergic fibers decreased the spontaneous re-sponses and odor-evoked responses of aPC pyramidal neurons.Conclusion:Activation of aPC NEergic neurons inhibits the spontaneous responses and odor-evoked responses of aPC pyramidal neurons.

Objective To explore the feasibility and corresponding implementation methods of constructing a sample resource bank based on individual-level data of completed clinical trials and using it to construct external controls for drug/device clinical trials.Methods Taking the pre-marketing clinical trial of transcatheter active valve replacement(TAVR)for the treatment of aortic valve stenosis as an example,the individual-level databases of multiple trials were standardized to form a sample bank.The original data of any trial in the sample bank were selected as the experimental group,and the remaining samples were selected as the control group.The potential confounding was handled by using the propensity score matching and stratification methods to clarify the process of constructing external controls based on the sample bank of individual-level data of clinical trials.Results This study included individual-level data of single-group trials of 4 TAVR devices,with a total of 569 subjects(59.2%male).The number of subjects in Trials 1 to 4 was 120,120,163,and 166,respectively.Propensity score matching enabled the matching of 113,117,125,and 147 subjects with comparable or similar characteristics from individual-level data from other trials,respectively,demonstrating a high matching success rate.The PS score distribution plot after stratification showed that the proportions of subjects in the experimental and control groups in strata 1 to 5 in scheme 1 were 4/103,11/103,22/92,32/87,and 51/64,respectively.For all constructed external controlled trials,a certain number of control samples with similar baseline characteristics to the experimental groups were distributed within each propensity score stratum.The results of the simulation test also reflected the potential differences between different devices in the 12-month all-cause mortality rate.Conclusions The sample bank constructed with individual-level data from clinical trials,as a high-quality data source,can serve as a source of external control for single-arm trials in the same field,and as a useful supplement to the external control scenario of real-world evidence to support drug and device development.At the same time,targeted research on research methods and bias control measures in related fields is also needed.

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of myelodysplastic syndrome(MDS)with U2 small nuclear RNA cofactor 1(U2AF1)mutation in different age groups,as well as the efficacy and prognosis of an arsenic-containing traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)compound prescription(Qinghuang Capsules combined with Bushen Yijing Formula).Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients with MDS who were hospitalized in the Hematology Department Ward of Xiyuan Hospital,China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences,and received arsenic-containing TCM compound treatment from November 30,2020,to September 30,2023.Stratified by age,the U2AF1 mutation and wild-type groups aged＜65 years and≥65 years were compared in terms of sex,TCM syndrome,World Health Organization classification,MDS Revised International Prognostic Score System(IPSS-R)score,blood routine indicators,serum lactate dehydrogenase content,nephroblastoma 1(WT1)expression level,bone marrow puncture and biopsy indicators,and chromosomal prognostic grades,et al.Furthermore,the efficacy of arsenic-containing TCM compound were compared in the U2AF1 mutation and wild-type groups among different age groups,as well as the influence of age on the survival prognosis of MDS patients with U2AF1 mutation.Results A total of 201 patients with MDS were included.104 patients were under 65 years old,among whom 20 had U2AF1 mutation,and 84 had wild-type.Ninety-seven patients were aged 65 years or older,among whom 19 patients had the U2AF1 mutation and 78 had the wild-type.Among patients aged＜65 years,the U2AF1 mutation group had a higher proportion of male patients and very low-risk/low-risk patients with an IPSS-R score≤3(P＜0.05),a lower mean corpuscular volume(MCV)(P＜0.05),and a relatively higher proportion of peripheral blood cell line 1 reduction than the wild-type group(P＜0.05).Among patients aged≥65 years,the MCV in the U2AF1 mutation group was lower(P＜0.05),and the expression level of the bone marrow WT1 gene and the proportion of patients with reticular fiber grade 4 were relatively higher than in the wild-type group(P＜0.05).The total effective rate of the arsenic-containing TCM compound for patients with U2AF1 mutation was 61.5％(24/39),and the total response rate was 30.8％(12/39).The total effective rate for the wild-type patients was 67.9％(110/162),and the total response rate was 29.6％(48/162).No significant difference was observed in the total effective and response rates.Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of 39 patients with U2AF1 mutation revealed that the median overall survival(mOS)of patients older than 65 years had not been reached.The 1-,2-,and 3-year survival rates were 93.8％,84.4％,and 84.4％,respectively.The mOS of the patients aged≥65 years was 35 months(95％confidence interval[CI]:7.559-62.441),and the 1-,2-,and 3-year survival rates were 66.2％,58.9％,and 29.4％,respectively.The mOS of patients in the aged≥65 years group was significantly lower than that in the aged＜65 years group(P＜0.05),and no significant difference was observed in median progression-free survival between the two groups.Conclusion The U2AF1 mutation is closely associated with the clinical characteristics of MDS.However,age and the presence of U2AF1 mutation have no significant effect on the total effective and response rates of arsenic-containing TCM compound.Age is a significant factor influencing the prognosis of patients with MDS with U2AF1 mutation.Patients aged 65 years or older have a shorter survival time than those younger than 65 years.

Objective To compare the safety and efficacy of various brachial plexus block techniques using local anesthesia(LA)in patients undergoing their first radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula(RCAVF)surgery.Methods Patients were randomly allocated into three groups:LA,interscalene brachial plexus block(ISBPB),and axillary brachial plexus block(ABPB).Ultrasound was utilized to evaluate the pre-and post-anesthesia changes in vessel diameter and blood flow.Postoperative follow-up assessments were performed at three days and three months to determine fistula patency.Results Immediate patency rates were 92.52％(LA),96.26％(ISBPB),and 95.33％(ABPB),with no statistically significant differences among the groups(χ2=1.615,P=0.446).However,at three months,primary patency rates differed significantly among the groups(χ2=22.691,P<0.001).Specifically,the ISBPB group(83.18％)exhibited significantly higher patency compared to the LA group(57.01％)(χ2=17.477,P<0.001).Similarly,the ABPB group(80.37％)demonstrated better patency than the LA group(χ2=13.580,P<0.001).Regarding respiratory complications,they were more prevalent in the ISBPB group(15.89％)compared to the LA group(2.80％)(χ2=9.761,P=0.002)and the ABPB group(0.93％)(χ2=14.377,P<0.001).No significant difference was observed between the LA and ABPB groups in terms of respiratory complications(χ2=1.019,P=0.313).Conclusions Both ISBPB and ABPB demonstrated superior primary patency compared to LA.Nevertheless,ABPB exerted a lesser impact on respiratory function and provided a more comfortable surgical experience for ESRD patients.

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of myelodysplastic syndrome(MDS)with U2 small nuclear RNA cofactor 1(U2AF1)mutation in different age groups,as well as the efficacy and prognosis of an arsenic-containing traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)compound prescription(Qinghuang Capsules combined with Bushen Yijing Formula).Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients with MDS who were hospitalized in the Hematology Department Ward of Xiyuan Hospital,China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences,and received arsenic-containing TCM compound treatment from November 30,2020,to September 30,2023.Stratified by age,the U2AF1 mutation and wild-type groups aged＜65 years and≥65 years were compared in terms of sex,TCM syndrome,World Health Organization classification,MDS Revised International Prognostic Score System(IPSS-R)score,blood routine indicators,serum lactate dehydrogenase content,nephroblastoma 1(WT1)expression level,bone marrow puncture and biopsy indicators,and chromosomal prognostic grades,et al.Furthermore,the efficacy of arsenic-containing TCM compound were compared in the U2AF1 mutation and wild-type groups among different age groups,as well as the influence of age on the survival prognosis of MDS patients with U2AF1 mutation.Results A total of 201 patients with MDS were included.104 patients were under 65 years old,among whom 20 had U2AF1 mutation,and 84 had wild-type.Ninety-seven patients were aged 65 years or older,among whom 19 patients had the U2AF1 mutation and 78 had the wild-type.Among patients aged＜65 years,the U2AF1 mutation group had a higher proportion of male patients and very low-risk/low-risk patients with an IPSS-R score≤3(P＜0.05),a lower mean corpuscular volume(MCV)(P＜0.05),and a relatively higher proportion of peripheral blood cell line 1 reduction than the wild-type group(P＜0.05).Among patients aged≥65 years,the MCV in the U2AF1 mutation group was lower(P＜0.05),and the expression level of the bone marrow WT1 gene and the proportion of patients with reticular fiber grade 4 were relatively higher than in the wild-type group(P＜0.05).The total effective rate of the arsenic-containing TCM compound for patients with U2AF1 mutation was 61.5％(24/39),and the total response rate was 30.8％(12/39).The total effective rate for the wild-type patients was 67.9％(110/162),and the total response rate was 29.6％(48/162).No significant difference was observed in the total effective and response rates.Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of 39 patients with U2AF1 mutation revealed that the median overall survival(mOS)of patients older than 65 years had not been reached.The 1-,2-,and 3-year survival rates were 93.8％,84.4％,and 84.4％,respectively.The mOS of the patients aged≥65 years was 35 months(95％confidence interval[CI]:7.559-62.441),and the 1-,2-,and 3-year survival rates were 66.2％,58.9％,and 29.4％,respectively.The mOS of patients in the aged≥65 years group was significantly lower than that in the aged＜65 years group(P＜0.05),and no significant difference was observed in median progression-free survival between the two groups.Conclusion The U2AF1 mutation is closely associated with the clinical characteristics of MDS.However,age and the presence of U2AF1 mutation have no significant effect on the total effective and response rates of arsenic-containing TCM compound.Age is a significant factor influencing the prognosis of patients with MDS with U2AF1 mutation.Patients aged 65 years or older have a shorter survival time than those younger than 65 years.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of gene mutation on the effectiveness of arsenic-containing Chinese herbal compound formulas in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes （MDS） of different traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） patterns， so as to provide the basis for the clinical application. MethodsClinical data of 442 MDS patients who were treated with arsenic-containing herbal compound formulas were retrospectively collected， including the baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients. Based on the TCM four examinations， the patients were divided into the spleen-kidney deficiency group as well as the qi-yin deficiency group， and according to the results of the next-generation sequencing （NGS） test， they were divided into the group with and without gene mutation respectively. The influence of gene mutation on the clinical effectiveness of patients with different TCM patterns was analyzed， the baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients with different outcomes of the two TCM patterns were compared， and multivariate Logistic regression analysis was conducted on the influencing factors of the effective rate of MDS patients with gene mutation. ResultsA total of 190 cases were included in the spleen-kidney deficiency group （119 cases with gene mutation） and 43 cases in the qi-yin deficiency group （23 cases with gene mutation）. No statistically significant differences were noted in effectiveness assessment， total effective rate， and total response rate between the spleen-kidney deficiency group and the qi-yin deficiency group （P＞0.05）. In the spleen-kidney deficiency group， the total effective rate of MDS with gene mutation was 65.55% （78/119）， which was lower than 80.28% （57/71） of MDS without gene mutation， with statistical significance （P = 0.033）， while no statistical differences in effectiveness assessment and total response rate were noted （P＞0.05）. In the qi-yin deficiency group， no statistical differences were observed in effectiveness assessment， total effective rate， and total response rate of the patients in with or without gene mutation （P＞0.05）. In the spleen-kidney deficiency group with gene mutation， the rate of complex karyotype （P = 0.031） and the mutation rate of CBL gene （P = 0.032） in the ineffective population were higher than those in the effective population， while the mutation rate of DDX41 gene in the effective population was higher than that in the ineffective population （P = 0.033）. No statistically significant differences were found in other gene mutations， age， gender distribution， number of gene mutations， bone marrow hyperplasia degree， blast cell range， reticular fiber tissue proliferation or not， and prognosis of chromosomal abnormalities between the effective and ineffective populations （P＞0.05）. In the qi-yin deficiency group with gene mutation， no statistically significant differences were found in various items between populations with different outcomes （P＞0.05）. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that complex karyotype， CBL mutation， and DDX41 mutation were independently associated with the effective rate of MDS with spleen-kidney deficiency and gene mutation （P＜0.05）. DDX41 mutation was an independent protective factor in the spleen-kidney deficiency group （OR＞1）， while complex karyotype and CBL mutation were independent risk factors （OR＜1）. ConclusionThe arsenic-containing TCM compound formulas exhibited better effectiveness in MDS with spleen-kidney deficiency pattern without mutation； and in MDS with spleen-kidney deficiency pattern without complex karyotypes， CBL mutation， and with DDX41 mutations. Furthermore， DDX41 mutation was an independent protective factor in the spleen-kidney deficiency group， while complex karyotype and CBL mutation were independent risk factors. In MDS with qi-yin deficiency pattern， gene mutation-related factors showed no significant impact on the effectiveness of arsenic-containing TCM compound formulas.

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of different noninvasive diagnostic models in the diagnosis of esophageal and gastric varices since there is a high risk of esophageal and gastric varices in patients with compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis and significant portal hypertension， and to provide a basis for the early diagnosis of esophageal and gastric varices. MethodsA total of 108 patients with significant portal hypertension due to compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis who attended Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from November 2017 to November 2023 were enrolled， and according to the presence or absence of esophageal and gastric varices under gastroscopy， they were divided into esophageal and gastric varices group （GOV group） and non-esophageal and gastric varices group （NGOV group）. Related data were collected， including age， sex， imaging findings， and laboratory markers. The chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups； the least significant difference t-test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups， and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between groups. The receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve was plotted to evaluate the diagnostic value of five scoring models， i.e.， fibrosis-4 （FIB-4）， LOK index， LPRI， aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index （APRI）， and aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio （AAR）. The binary logistic regression method was used to establish a combined model， and the area under the ROC curve （AUC） was compared between the combined model and each scoring model used alone. The Delong test was used to compare the AUC value between any two noninvasive diagnostic models. ResultsThere were 55 patients in the GOV group and 53 patients in the NGOV group. Compared with the NGOV group， the GOV group had a significantly higher age （52.64±1.44 years vs 47.96±1.68 years， t=0.453， P<0.05） and significantly lower levels of alanine aminotransferase ［42.00 （24.00 — 17.00） U/L vs 82.00 （46.00 — 271.00） U/L， Z=-3.065， P<0.05］， aspartate aminotransferase ［44.00 （32.00 — 96.00） U/L vs 62.00 （42.50 — 154.50） U/L，Z=-2.351， P<0.05］， and platelet count ［100.00 （69.00 — 120.00）×10⁹/L vs 119.00 （108.50 — 140.50）×10⁹/L， Z=-3.667， P<0.05］. The ROC curve analysis showed that FIB-4， LOK index， LPRI， and AAR used alone had an accuracy of 0.667， 0.681， 0.730， and 0.639， respectively， in the diagnosis of esophageal and gastric varices （all P<0.05）， and the positive diagnostic rates of GOV were 69.97%， 65.28%， 67.33%， and 58.86%， respectively， with no significant differences in AUC values （all P>0.05）， while APRI used alone had no diagnostic value （P>0.05）. A combined model （LAF） was established based on the binary logistic regression analysis and had an AUC of 0.805 and a positive diagnostic rate of GOV of 75.80%， with a significantly higher AUC than FIB-4， LOK index， LPRI， and AAR used alone （Z=-2.773，-2.479，-2.206， and-2.672， all P<0.05）. ConclusionFIB-4， LOK index， LPRI， and AAR have a similar diagnostic value for esophageal and gastric varices in patients with compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis and significant portal hypertension， and APRI alone has no diagnostic value. The combined model LAF had the best diagnostic efficacy， which provides a certain reference for clinical promotion and application.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) serves as a treasure trove of ancient knowledge, holding a crucial position in the medical field. However, the exploration of TCM's extensive information has been hindered by challenges related to data standardization, completeness, and accuracy, primarily due to the decentralized distribution of TCM resources. To address these issues, we developed a platform for TCM knowledge discovery (TCMKD, https://cbcb.cdutcm.edu.cn/TCMKD/). Seven types of data, including syndromes, formulas, Chinese patent drugs (CPDs), Chinese medicinal materials (CMMs), ingredients, targets, and diseases, were manually proofread and consolidated within TCMKD. To strengthen the integration of TCM with modern medicine, TCMKD employs analytical methods such as TCM data mining, enrichment analysis, and network localization and separation. These tools help elucidate the molecular-level commonalities between TCM and contemporary scientific insights. In addition to its analytical capabilities, a quick question and answer (Q&A) system is also embedded within TCMKD to query the database efficiently, thereby improving the interactivity of the platform. The platform also provides a TCM text annotation tool, offering a simple and efficient method for TCM text mining. Overall, TCMKD not only has the potential to become a pivotal repository for TCM, delving into the pharmacological foundations of TCM treatments, but its flexible embedded tools and algorithms can also be applied to the study of other traditional medical systems, extending beyond just TCM.