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.

The influence of female pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) on maternal and neonatal outcomes is well recognized. Similarly, the role of male BMI on pregnancy complications in their partners and offspring birth outcomes has also caught increasing public attention. Male obesity may negatively affect their partners and fetuses through a variety of mechanisms, such as changes in semen composition, sperm morphology and physiology, and epigenetic modifications. Unhealthy lifestyles shared by couples can also contribute to these issues. Some animal studies have attempted to explore the related mechanisms. This article reviews the effect of male BMI on female pregnancy complications and neonatal outcomes, and investigations into the potential mechanisms involved using animal models. This study emphasizes the importance of taking paternal factors into diagnostic evaluations for healthcare professionals and the significance of male BMI control for better protecting their partners and offspring.

Uncovering the risk factors of pulmonary hypertension and its mechanisms is crucial for the prevention and treatment of the disease.In the current study,we showed that experimental periodontitis,which was established by ligation of molars followed by orally smearing subgingival plaques from patients with periodontitis,exacerbated hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in mice.Mechanistically,periodontitis dysregulated the pulmonary microbiota by promoting ectopic colonization and enrichment of oral bacteria in the lungs,contributing to pulmonary infiltration of interferon gamma positive(IFNγ+)T cells and aggravating the progression of pulmonary hypertension.In addition,we identified Prevotella zoogleoformans as the critical periodontitis-associated bacterium driving the exacerbation of pulmonary hypertension by periodontitis,and the exacerbation was potently ameliorated by both cervical lymph node excision and IFNγ neutralizing antibodies.Our study suggests a proof of concept that the combined prevention and treatment of periodontitis and pulmonary hypertension are necessary.

The influence of female pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) on maternal and neonatal outcomes is well recognized. Similarly, the role of male BMI on pregnancy complications in their partners and offspring birth outcomes has also caught increasing public attention. Male obesity may negatively affect their partners and fetuses through a variety of mechanisms, such as changes in semen composition, sperm morphology and physiology, and epigenetic modifications. Unhealthy lifestyles shared by couples can also contribute to these issues. Some animal studies have attempted to explore the related mechanisms. This article reviews the effect of male BMI on female pregnancy complications and neonatal outcomes, and investigations into the potential mechanisms involved using animal models. This study emphasizes the importance of taking paternal factors into diagnostic evaluations for healthcare professionals and the significance of male BMI control for better protecting their partners and offspring.

Objective To analyze the influencing factors of recurrence within one year after dis-continuation of regular treatment of children's cough variant asthma(CVA)and to construct a predic-tive model,in order to provide guidance for doctors to evaluate the risk of recurrence after CVA treat-ment in children and develop prevention strategies.Methods A total of 215 children with CVA were selected as the study objects.According to whether recurrence occurred within one year after discontin-uation of regular treatment,the patients were divided into recurrence group(n=89)and non-recur-rence group(n=126).Data of two groups were collected for univariate and multivariate Logistic re-gression analysis to screen out the influencing factors of recurrence in children with CVA.The GBM prediction model was constructed by using R software to run the gradient boosting model(GBM)algo-rithm.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze and compare the predictive efficiency of GBM model and Logistic regression model.Results The recurrence rate of 215 children with CVA within one year after regular treatment was 41.40％(89/215).Allergy history(OR=2.870,95％CI,1.442 to 5.714),repeated respiratory infection history(OR=4.132,95％CI,2.045 to 8.348),parents'cognitive level of CVA prevention and control(OR=1.063,95％CI,1.011 to 1.118),eosinophils(OR=0.801,95％CI,0.674 to 0.952),forced expiratory flow at 50％of vi-tal capacity(FEF50)(OR=1.055,95％CI,1.012 to 1.099),maximal midexpiratory flow rate 75/25(MMEF75/25)(OR=1.054,95％CI,1.009 to 1.102),and fractional exhaled nitric oxide(FeNO)(OR=0.883,95％CI,0.834 to 0.935)were influencing factors for recurrence within one year after regular treatment of children's CVA(P＜0.05).According to ROC curve analysis,the area under the curve of GBM model was 0.872,which was larger than 0.827 of Logistic regression model.Conclusion GBM prediction model is established based on the influencing factors of recur-rence within one year after regular treatment of CVA in children,which can be used as a reference for clinical measures to prevent recurrence in children after treatment of CVA.

Objective To analyze the influencing factors of recurrence within one year after dis-continuation of regular treatment of children's cough variant asthma(CVA)and to construct a predic-tive model,in order to provide guidance for doctors to evaluate the risk of recurrence after CVA treat-ment in children and develop prevention strategies.Methods A total of 215 children with CVA were selected as the study objects.According to whether recurrence occurred within one year after discontin-uation of regular treatment,the patients were divided into recurrence group(n=89)and non-recur-rence group(n=126).Data of two groups were collected for univariate and multivariate Logistic re-gression analysis to screen out the influencing factors of recurrence in children with CVA.The GBM prediction model was constructed by using R software to run the gradient boosting model(GBM)algo-rithm.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze and compare the predictive efficiency of GBM model and Logistic regression model.Results The recurrence rate of 215 children with CVA within one year after regular treatment was 41.40％(89/215).Allergy history(OR=2.870,95％CI,1.442 to 5.714),repeated respiratory infection history(OR=4.132,95％CI,2.045 to 8.348),parents'cognitive level of CVA prevention and control(OR=1.063,95％CI,1.011 to 1.118),eosinophils(OR=0.801,95％CI,0.674 to 0.952),forced expiratory flow at 50％of vi-tal capacity(FEF50)(OR=1.055,95％CI,1.012 to 1.099),maximal midexpiratory flow rate 75/25(MMEF75/25)(OR=1.054,95％CI,1.009 to 1.102),and fractional exhaled nitric oxide(FeNO)(OR=0.883,95％CI,0.834 to 0.935)were influencing factors for recurrence within one year after regular treatment of children's CVA(P＜0.05).According to ROC curve analysis,the area under the curve of GBM model was 0.872,which was larger than 0.827 of Logistic regression model.Conclusion GBM prediction model is established based on the influencing factors of recur-rence within one year after regular treatment of CVA in children,which can be used as a reference for clinical measures to prevent recurrence in children after treatment of CVA.

Objective:To explore the value of spectral CT in the preoperative evaluation of solid lung adenocarcinoma with different pathological grades based on the 2011 and 2020 version of the pathological grading system.Methods:A total of 76 cases of solid lung adenocarcinoma confirmed by surgery in Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, from January 2019 to September 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. All cases were divided into groups according to the grading system for invasive adenocarcinoma proposed by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) in 2011 and 2020 (G low group included G1 and G2 adenocarcinoma, G high group included G3 adenocarcinoma). The tumors with stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ were non-advanced and the tumors with stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ were advanced. The clinical manifestations (gender, age, smoking history and stage), routine CT parameters (tumor size, morphological characteristics, plain CT value and enhancement degree) and spectral parameters [iodine concentration, effective atomic number, enhanced monochromatic CT attenuation values of 40-200 keV (CT 40 keV-CT 200 keV), and the slope of spectral curve (k value)] were compared between G low group and G high group using independent sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U test. And the efficacy of each parameter for indicating G high adenocarcinoma was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and area under the curve (AUC), and the Z test was used to compare the AUC. Results:Seventy-six cases were included (59 cases of G low group and 17 cases of G high group in 2011 version; 46 cases of G low group and 30 cases of G high group in 2020 version). Among the 76 cases, 62 cases were non-advanced stage (50 cases of G low group and 12 cases of G high group in 2011 version; 37 cases of G low group and 25 cases of G high group in 2020 version) and 14 cases were advanced stage (9 cases of G low group and 5 cases in G high group in both 2011 and 2020 version). Among the non-advanced adenocarcinomas, the CT parameters of enhancement degree, k value and CT 40 keV-CT 60 keV in arterial phase and enhancement degree, k value and CT 40 keV-CT 70 keV in venous phase of G high group in 2011 grading system were significantly lower than those of G low group ( P<0.05), while other parameters were similar between G low and G high group in 2011 grading system ( P>0.05); and the CT parameters of CT 60 keV in arterial phase and CT 50 keV-CT 70 keV in venous phase of G high group in 2020 grading system were significantly lower than those of G low group ( P<0.05). Among the advanced adenocarcinomas, all of the clinical and CT parameters were similar between G low and G high group in both 2020 and 2011 grading systems ( P>0.05). For the non-advanced adenocarcinomas, there was medium to good efficacy of the CT parameters of enhancement degree, k value and CT 40 keV-CT 60 keV in arterial phase and enhancement degree, k value and CT 40 keV-CT 70 keV in venous phase for diagnosing 2011 grading system G high adenocarcinoma (AUC=0.700-0.853), with CT 50 keV in venous phase as the best; while the diagnosis efficacy of CT parameters of CT 60 keV in arterial phase and CT 50 keV-CT 70 keV in venous phase was poor for 2020 grading system G high adenocarcinoma (AUC=0.652-0.688), with CT 60 keV in venous phase as the best. After combining smoking history and CT 60 keV in venous phase, the diagnosis efficacy for 2020 grading system G high adenocarcinoma was slightly improved (AUC=0.772), but the difference had no significance ( Z=0.93, P=0.176). Conclusion:The spectral parameters are useful for distinguishing the pathological grades of solid lung adenocarcinoma. And the detecting efficacy for G high adenocarcinoma of IASLC 2011 version is slightly better than that of 2020 version.