Objective:To compare the anticoagulant efficacy and safety between argatroban and heparin in patients with liver failure complicated with hepatic encephalopathy undergoing artificial liver treatment.Methods:A total of 207 patients with liver failure complicated with hepatic encephalopathy who received artificial liver treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Wuxi No.5 People′s Hospital from January 2021 to October 2024 were enrolled, including 105 cases in the argatroban group and 102 cases in the heparin group. Changes in coagulation function, hemoglobin (Hb), platelet (PLT) count, and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score before and after artificial liver treatment were compared between the two groups. The formation of deep vein thrombosis in the lower extremities, coagulation in the extracorporeal circulation circuit and plasma separator, bleeding at the deep venous catheter site were compared between the two groups. The 28-day survival outcome of the patient were recorded. Two independent sample t-test, rank sum test, and chi-square test were used for statistical comparisons, and the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to analyze the survival rate of patients. Results:There were no statistically significant differences in activated partial thromboplastin (APTT), international normalized ratio (INR), Hb and PLT count before and after artificial liver treatment in the argatroban group ( Z=-1.74, -1.80, -1.26 and -0.52, respectively, all P>0.05), while the MELD score after treatment was lower than that before treatment and the difference was statistically significant ( t=6.49, P<0.001). After artificial liver treatment, the APTT in the argatroban group was 47.10(42.65, 51.90) s, which was shorter than that in the heparin group (56.05(50.02, 63.00) s). The INR, Hb, and PLT count in the argatroban group were 2.00(1.65, 2.54), 98.00(88.00, 112.00) g/L, and 92.00(75.50, 106.00)×10 9/L, respectively, which were all higher than those in the heparin group, which were 1.56(1.22, 1.93) g/L, 90.50(80.00, 104.75) g/L, and 74.00(64.75, 99.50)×10 9/L, respectively. The differences were all statistically significant ( Z=-7.16, -5.28, -3.05 and -3.32, respectively, all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in MELD scores between the two groups ( P=0.250). The incidence of coagulation in the extracorporeal circulation circuit and plasma separator and bleeding at the deep venous catheter site in the argatroban group was 5.71%(6/105) and 1.90%(2/105), respectively, which were both lower than those in the heparin group (14.71%(15/102) and 9.80%(10/102), respectively). The differences were both statistically significant ( χ2=4.59 and 5.91, respectively, both P<0.05). At the end of the 28-day follow-up, the mortality rates in the argatroban group and the heparin group were 22.9%(24/105) and 34.3%(35/102), respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant ( χ2=3.33, P=0.068). There was no statistically significant difference in the 28-day survival rate between the argatroban group and the heparin group ( χ2=2.09, P>0.05). Conclusions:Argatroban has a relatively minor impact on PLT count and Hb when it is used in artificial liver treatment for patients with liver failure complicated with hepatic encephalopathy. The incidence of coagulation in extracorporeal circulation circuits and plasma separators is low, and the risk of bleeding at the deep venous catheters is low. Argatroban is highly safe, which provides a new anticoagulation option for patients with a high risk of bleeding.

Objective:To explore the correlation and predictive value of the blood urea nitrogen to serum albumin ratio (BAR) in the development of sepsis among patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF).Methods:A total of 410 patients diagnosed with ACLF who were admitted to Wuxi Fifth People′s Hospital between January 1st, 2020 and December 31st, 2024 were enrolled in this study. Demographic information, laboratory test indicators, and other clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Participants were stratified into two groups using a 6∶4 allocation ratio, comprising a training set of 246 patients and a validation set of 164 patients, the clinical data of two groups were compared. Logistic regression was employed to evalute the influencing factors of sepsis during hospitalization in ACLF patients. Additionally, the predictive value of different factors for sepsis occurrence was evaluated using receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis. DeLong test was used to compare the area under the curve.Results:The comparison of baseline data between the training set and the validation set revealed no statistically significant differences (all P>0.05). A total of 197 sepsis cases were observed during the study period. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that both BAR and the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score were independent influencing factors for sepsis development in ACLF patients (odds ratio ( OR)=1.274, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.075 to 1.510, P=0.005; OR=1.142, 95% CI 1.038 to 1.256, P=0.006). In the training set, the area under the curve (AUC) of BAR for predicting sepsis in ACLF patients was 0.802, which was superior to that of the SOFA score (AUC=0.706) ( Z=2.16, P=0.031). The validation set showed the predictive ability of BAR with an AUC of 0.726, which was superior to the SOFA score′s performance (AUC=0.606) ( Z=2.28, P=0.023). Conclusions:BAR could independently predict sepsis development in ACLF patients with significant prognostic value. BAR could be used as a clinically useful biomarker for sepsis risk stratification.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is associated with high mortality rates, resulting in a range of adverse effects on individuals. When the duration of the illness exceeds three years, it often progresses into severe and enduring anorexia nervosa (SE-AN). Given the limited efficacy of pharmacological treatments for AN, the management of SE-AN should focus more on non-pharmacological interventions, primarily including physical therapy and psychotherapy. Previous studies have indicated that non-pharmacological treatments may have some efficacy in SE-AN. However, due to the limited empirical research, the most appropriate treatment strategies for this group remain to be determined.

[Objective] To determine the correlation between traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) inspection of spirit classification and the severity grade of depression based on facial features, offering insights for intelligent intergrated TCM and western medicine diagnosis of depression. [Methods] Using the Audio-Visual Emotion Challenge and Workshop (AVEC 2014) public dataset on depression, which conclude 150 interview videos, the samples were classified according to the TCM inspection of spirit classification: Deshen (得神, presence of spirit), Shaoshen (少神, insufficiency of spirit), and Shenluan (神乱, confusion of spirit). Meanwhile, based on Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) score for the severity grade of depression, the samples were divided into minimal (0 – 13, Q1), mild (14 – 19, Q2), moderate (20 – 28, Q3), and severe (29 – 63, Q4). Sixty-eight landmarks were extracted with a ResNet-50 network, and the feature extracion mode was stadardized. Random forest and support vectior machine (SVM) classifiers were used to predict TCM inspection of spirit classification and the severity grade of depression, respectively. A Chi-square test and Apriori association rule mining were then applied to quantify and explore the relationships. [Results] The analysis revealed a statistically significant and moderately strong association between TCM spirit classification and the severity grade of depression, as confirmed by a Chi-square test (χ2 = 14.04, P = 0.029) with a Cramer’s V effect size of 0.243. Further exploration using association rule mining identified the most compelling rule: “moderate depression (Q3) → Shenluan”. This rule demonstrated a support level of 5%, indicating this specific co-occurrence was present in 5% of the cohort. Crucially, it achieved a high Confidence of 86%, meaning that among patients diagnosed with Q3, 86% exhibited the Shenluan pattern according to TCM assessment. The substantial Lift of 2.37 signifies that the observed likelihood of Shenluan manifesting in Q3 patients is 2.37 times higher than would be expected by chance if these states were independent—compelling evidence of a highly non-random association. Consequently, Shenluan emerges as a distinct and core TCM diagnostic manifestation strongly linked to Q3, forming a clinically significant phenotype within this patient subgroup. [Conclusion] Automated facial analysis can serve as a common lens for TCM and western psychological assessments align in the diagnosis of depression. The inspection of spirit decline trajectory parallels worsening depression, supporting early screening and stratified intervention, and providing a reference for the intelligent assistance of integrated TCM and western medicine in the diagnosis of depression.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is associated with high mortality rates, resulting in a range of adverse effects on individuals. When the duration of the illness exceeds three years, it often progresses into severe and enduring anorexia nervosa (SE-AN). Given the limited efficacy of pharmacological treatments for AN, the management of SE-AN should focus more on non-pharmacological interventions, primarily including physical therapy and psychotherapy. Previous studies have indicated that non-pharmacological treatments may have some efficacy in SE-AN. However, due to the limited empirical research, the most appropriate treatment strategies for this group remain to be determined.

Objective:To explore the correlation and predictive value of the blood urea nitrogen to serum albumin ratio (BAR) in the development of sepsis among patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF).Methods:A total of 410 patients diagnosed with ACLF who were admitted to Wuxi Fifth People′s Hospital between January 1st, 2020 and December 31st, 2024 were enrolled in this study. Demographic information, laboratory test indicators, and other clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Participants were stratified into two groups using a 6∶4 allocation ratio, comprising a training set of 246 patients and a validation set of 164 patients, the clinical data of two groups were compared. Logistic regression was employed to evalute the influencing factors of sepsis during hospitalization in ACLF patients. Additionally, the predictive value of different factors for sepsis occurrence was evaluated using receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis. DeLong test was used to compare the area under the curve.Results:The comparison of baseline data between the training set and the validation set revealed no statistically significant differences (all P>0.05). A total of 197 sepsis cases were observed during the study period. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that both BAR and the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score were independent influencing factors for sepsis development in ACLF patients (odds ratio ( OR)=1.274, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.075 to 1.510, P=0.005; OR=1.142, 95% CI 1.038 to 1.256, P=0.006). In the training set, the area under the curve (AUC) of BAR for predicting sepsis in ACLF patients was 0.802, which was superior to that of the SOFA score (AUC=0.706) ( Z=2.16, P=0.031). The validation set showed the predictive ability of BAR with an AUC of 0.726, which was superior to the SOFA score′s performance (AUC=0.606) ( Z=2.28, P=0.023). Conclusions:BAR could independently predict sepsis development in ACLF patients with significant prognostic value. BAR could be used as a clinically useful biomarker for sepsis risk stratification.

Objective:To compare the anticoagulant efficacy and safety between argatroban and heparin in patients with liver failure complicated with hepatic encephalopathy undergoing artificial liver treatment.Methods:A total of 207 patients with liver failure complicated with hepatic encephalopathy who received artificial liver treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Wuxi No.5 People′s Hospital from January 2021 to October 2024 were enrolled, including 105 cases in the argatroban group and 102 cases in the heparin group. Changes in coagulation function, hemoglobin (Hb), platelet (PLT) count, and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score before and after artificial liver treatment were compared between the two groups. The formation of deep vein thrombosis in the lower extremities, coagulation in the extracorporeal circulation circuit and plasma separator, bleeding at the deep venous catheter site were compared between the two groups. The 28-day survival outcome of the patient were recorded. Two independent sample t-test, rank sum test, and chi-square test were used for statistical comparisons, and the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to analyze the survival rate of patients. Results:There were no statistically significant differences in activated partial thromboplastin (APTT), international normalized ratio (INR), Hb and PLT count before and after artificial liver treatment in the argatroban group ( Z=-1.74, -1.80, -1.26 and -0.52, respectively, all P>0.05), while the MELD score after treatment was lower than that before treatment and the difference was statistically significant ( t=6.49, P<0.001). After artificial liver treatment, the APTT in the argatroban group was 47.10(42.65, 51.90) s, which was shorter than that in the heparin group (56.05(50.02, 63.00) s). The INR, Hb, and PLT count in the argatroban group were 2.00(1.65, 2.54), 98.00(88.00, 112.00) g/L, and 92.00(75.50, 106.00)×10 9/L, respectively, which were all higher than those in the heparin group, which were 1.56(1.22, 1.93) g/L, 90.50(80.00, 104.75) g/L, and 74.00(64.75, 99.50)×10 9/L, respectively. The differences were all statistically significant ( Z=-7.16, -5.28, -3.05 and -3.32, respectively, all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in MELD scores between the two groups ( P=0.250). The incidence of coagulation in the extracorporeal circulation circuit and plasma separator and bleeding at the deep venous catheter site in the argatroban group was 5.71%(6/105) and 1.90%(2/105), respectively, which were both lower than those in the heparin group (14.71%(15/102) and 9.80%(10/102), respectively). The differences were both statistically significant ( χ2=4.59 and 5.91, respectively, both P<0.05). At the end of the 28-day follow-up, the mortality rates in the argatroban group and the heparin group were 22.9%(24/105) and 34.3%(35/102), respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant ( χ2=3.33, P=0.068). There was no statistically significant difference in the 28-day survival rate between the argatroban group and the heparin group ( χ2=2.09, P>0.05). Conclusions:Argatroban has a relatively minor impact on PLT count and Hb when it is used in artificial liver treatment for patients with liver failure complicated with hepatic encephalopathy. The incidence of coagulation in extracorporeal circulation circuits and plasma separators is low, and the risk of bleeding at the deep venous catheters is low. Argatroban is highly safe, which provides a new anticoagulation option for patients with a high risk of bleeding.

This paper traces the origin of digital Chinese medicine,summarizes its embryonic form and development stage,the pro-posal of the term of digital Chinese medicine,the concept evolution at this stage,and the development and application of artificial intel-ligence in TCM.It is expected to inspire related researchers in the overall understanding and research in the field,and is expected to comprehensively promote the basic research and system construction of digital Chinese medicine.

This paper traces the origin of digital Chinese medicine,summarizes its embryonic form and development stage,the pro-posal of the term of digital Chinese medicine,the concept evolution at this stage,and the development and application of artificial intel-ligence in TCM.It is expected to inspire related researchers in the overall understanding and research in the field,and is expected to comprehensively promote the basic research and system construction of digital Chinese medicine.

Objective:To survey the post competency of general practitioners who completed residency training in Suzhou Municipal Hospital.Methods:A questionnaire survey on post competency of general practitioners was conducted from January to March 2022. General practitioners who completed standardized residential training in Suzhou Municipal Hospital from 2009 to 2021 were randomly selected for the survey. The self-designed questionnaire included the basic information and post competency in terms of clinical, public health, research and teaching abilities as well as medical ethics and humanism. A self-evaluation was also performed and the abilities were graded (A 86-100, B 70-85, C 55-69, D 0-54), and grade A was classified as excellent.Results:A total of 163 questionnaires were distributed and 157 valid ones were collected with a recovery rate of 96.3%. Among 157 respondents 62 (39.5%) were males. The participants mainly worked in urban community health service institutions (78 (49.7%)), and most of them worked as general practice (119 (75.8%)). For the self-assessment of clinical skills, the proportion of respondents with excellent abilities in history taking, basic drug use, diagnosis and treatment of common diseases, and chronic disease management was 58.8% (70/119), 57.1% (68/119), 54.6% (65/119) and 54.6% (65/119), respectively. The proportion of respondents with excellent abilities in evidence-based clinical decision making, physical examination, tests interpretation, referral services, family medical services, rehabilitation services, first aid, and psychological counseling and treatment was 43.7% (70/119), 42.9% (52/119), 38.7% (46/119), 37.8% (45/119), 33.6% (40/119), 22.7% (27/119), 21.0% (25/119), and 16.8% (20/119), respectively. For the self-assessment of basic public health service ability, the proportion of respondents with excellent abilities in health education, disease prevention and control, health management, health care for key and special groups, handling public health emergencies, management of infectious diseases, epidemiology-based community diagnosis and community health leadership was 38.7% (46/119), 33.6% (40/119), 33.6% (40/119), 26.1% (31/119), 25.2% (30/119), 2.7% (27/119), 22.7% (27/119), and 21.0% (25/119), respectively. For humanistic literacy, the proportion of respondents with excellent abilities in privacy protection, sense of responsibility for patients, understanding patients′ needs, effective communication and cooperation with patients was 82.4% (98/119), 73.9% (88/119), 61.3% (73/119), 55.5% (66/119) and 2.1% (62/119), respectively. For research and teaching, the proportion of respondents with excellence abilities in continuous learning and innovation, training and teaching and literature retrieval was 47.9% (57/119), 10.9% (13/119), 10.1% (12/119), respectively. In addition 56.3% (67/119) of respondents were interested in scientific research, 23.5% (28/119) had published articles as the first author or correspondence author, and only 6.7% (8/119) had scientific research projects in the last 5 years.Conclusion:The post competency of general practitioners who received standardized residency training in our hospital varies in different aspects, their abilities in basic public health service, scientific research and teaching are relatively low, which need to be strengthened.