This article systematically reviews the current research status as well as diagnosis and treatment strategies of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） for gastroesophageal reflux disease （GERD）. Studies demonstrate that TCM， based on the "disease-syndrome combination" approach， exhibits multi-target advantages in alleviating symptoms of various GERD subtypes， promoting mucosal repair， regulating emotions， and facilitating the reduction of western medication. To address clinical challenges such as symptom overlap and limited therapeutic efficacy， strategies have been proposed including "treating different diseases with the same method" and integrated regulation based on viscera correlation. Future efforts should focus on elucidating the mechanisms of compound prescriptions， promoting TCM drug development under the "three-combination" evaluation framework that integrates TCM theory， human experience and clinical trial evidence， and optimizing integrated traditional and western medicine models to enhance GERD management.

This study employed the "disease-medicine-dose" pattern to mine the medication rules of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) prescriptions containing Astragali Radix in ancient Chinese medical books, aiming to provide a scientific basis for the clinical application of Astragali Radix and the development of new medicines. The TCM prescriptions containing Astragali Radix were retrieved from databases such as Chinese Medical Dictionary and imported into Excel 2020 to construct the prescription library. Statical analysis were performed for the prescriptions regarding the indications, syndromes, medicine use frequency, herb effects, nature and taste, meridian tropism, dosage forms, and dose. SPSS statistics 26.0 and IBM SPSS Modeler 18.0 were used for association rules analysis and cluster analysis. A total of 2 297 prescriptions containing Astragali Radix were collected, involving 233 indications, among which sore and ulcer, consumptive disease, sweating disorder, and apoplexy had high frequency(>25), and their syndromes were mainly Qi and blood deficiency, Qi and blood deficiency, Yin and Yang deficiency, and Qi deficiency and collateral obstruction, respectively. In the prescriptions, 98 medicines were used with the frequency >25 and they mainly included Qi-tonifying medicines and blood-tonifying medicines. Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium were frequently used. The medicines with high frequency mainly have warm or cold nature, and sweet, pungent, or bitter taste, with tropism to spleen, lung, heart, liver, and kidney meridians. In the treatment of sore and ulcer, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 3.73 g and combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma to promote granulation and heal up sores. In the treatment of consumptive disease, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 37.30 g and combined with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma to tonify deficiency and replenish Qi. In the treatment of sweating disorder, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 3.73 g and combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma to consolidate exterior and stop sweating. In the treatment of apoplexy, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 7.46 g and combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma to dispell wind and stop convulsions. Astragali Radix can be used in the treatment of multiple system diseases, with the effects of tonifying Qi and ascending Yang, consolidating exterior and stopping sweating, and expressing toxin and promoting granulation. According to the manifestations of different diseases, when combined with other medicines, Astragali Radix was endowed with the effects of promoting granulation and healing up sores, tonifying deficiency and Qi, consolidating exterior and stopping sweating, and dispelling wind and replenishing Qi. The findings provide a theoretical reference and a scientific basis for the clinical application of Astragali Radix and the development of new medicines.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/history* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/history* ; History, Ancient ; Astragalus Plant/chemistry* ; China ; Astragalus propinquus

OBJECTIVES: To assess the preliminary efficacy and safety of a dose-intensified C5VD regimen (cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, vincristine, and doxorubicin) in children with locally advanced hepatoblastoma. METHODS: This prospective study enrolled 24 children with newly diagnosed, locally advanced hepatoblastoma who received the dose-intensified C5VD regimen at Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, and Shanghai Children's Hospital between January 2020 and December 2023. Clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes, and chemotherapy-related toxicities were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 24 patients, 13 were male and 11 were female, with a median age at diagnosis of 18.7 months (range: 3.5-79.4 months). All patients achieved complete macroscopic resection of hepatic lesions without liver transplantation. Serum alpha-fetoprotein levels decreased significantly after two chemotherapy cycles. During a median follow-up of 38.4 months (range: 15.8-50.7 months), all patients maintained continuous complete remission, with 3-year event-free survival and overall survival rates of 100%. Across 144 chemotherapy cycles, the incidence rates of grade 3-4 neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and infections were 97%, 77%, and 71%, respectively; no treatment-related deaths occurred. Notably, 5 patients (21%) developed Brock grade ≥3 hearing loss, of whom 1 required a hearing aid. CONCLUSIONS The dose-intensified C5VD regimen demonstrates significant efficacy with an overall favorable safety profile in the treatment of newly diagnosed, locally advanced pediatric hepatoblastoma. Grade 3-4 myelosuppression and infection are the predominant toxicities. However, high‑dose cisplatin-induced ototoxicity remains a concern, highlighting the need for improved otoprotective strategies.
Humans ; Hepatoblastoma/pathology* ; Male ; Female ; Infant ; Liver Neoplasms/pathology* ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Child, Preschool ; Prospective Studies ; Doxorubicin/adverse effects* ; Child ; Cisplatin/adverse effects* ; Vincristine/adverse effects* ; Fluorouracil/adverse effects*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive value of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) for short-term efficacy and prognosis in newly treated patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). METHODS: The general data, laboratory indicators, disease stage and other clinical data of 91 newly treated PTCL patients admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2015 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The optimal cutoff values for PNI and SIRI were determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and the patients were stratified into groups based on these cutoffs to compare clinical features and short-term efficacy between the different groups. Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot survival curves, and univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the factors affecting overall survival (OS). RESULTS: The optimal cutoff values for PNI and SIRI were 45.30 and 1.74×10⁹/L, respectively. Patients in different PNI groups showed statistically significant differences in age, Ann Arbor stage, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, international prognostic index (IPI), prognostic index for PTCL-not otherwise specified (PIT), pathological subtypes, and complete response (CR) rate (P < 0.05). PTCL patients in different SIRI groups exhibited significant differences in Ann Arbor stage, LDH level, IPI score, PIT score, and CR rate (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that age ≥60 years old (OR =2.750), Ann Arbor stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ (OR =5.200), IPI score ≥2 (OR =7.650), low PNI (OR =3.296), and high SIRI (OR =3.130) were independent risk factors affecting treatment efficacy in PTCL patients (P < 0.05). Cox proportional hazards regression model analysis showed that low PNI and elevated β₂-microglobulin (β₂-MG) levels were independent risk factors affecting OS (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION PNI and SIRI have certain application value in evaluating short-term efficacy and prognosis in patients with PTCL. Compared with SIRI, PNI demonstrates greater predictive value for patient prognosis.
Humans ; Prognosis ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral/therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Nutrition Assessment ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; ROC Curve ; Inflammation

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics of adrenal cortical carcinoma(ACC),compare differences between hypercortisolism and non-functional ACC,and assess the diagnostic value of indicators such as Ki-67 index.Methods The clinical data of 57 ACC patients admitted to the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2015 to March 2025 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the results of endocrine function assessment,47 of these patients were divided into hypercortisolism group(n=19)and non-functional group(n=28).The differences in clinical and pathological characteristics between the two groups were compared,and non-parametric tests and Spearman correlation analysis were used to explore the relationship between Ki-67 index and tumor stage as well as imaging features.Results Among the 57 patients,there were 20 males and 37 females,with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.85.The age ranged from 16 to 76 years,and the age at diagnosis was(48.7±13.3)years.The tumor diameter was(10.53±4.14)cm.The tumors were located on the right side in 12 cases(21.1%),on the left side in 34 cases(59.6%),and bilaterally in 11 cases(19.3%).Among them,16 cases(28.1%)were complicated with glucose metabolism disorders,31 cases(54.3%)had hypertension,and 20 cases(35.1%)had hypokalemia.According to ENSAT staging,there were 0 cases in stage Ⅰ,15 cases(26.3%)in stage Ⅱ,24 cases(42.1%)in stage Ⅲ,and 18 cases(31.6%)in stage Ⅳ.Endocrine function assessment was completed in 47 of the 57 patients,including 28 cases(59.6%)of non-functional ACC and 19 cases(40.4%)of hypercortisolism(including 1 case of hypercortisolism combined with increased sex hormone secretion).Compared with non-functional group,hypercortisolism group had a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension(P=0.014),later ENSAT stage(P=0.010),and a higher proportion of hypervascularization(P=0.048).The median Ki-67 index was 20%(10%-40%),showing no significant correlation with either the maximum tumor diameter or SUVmax value,but it was related to ENSAT staging,with Ki-67 index in stageⅣ patients being significantly higher than that in stage Ⅱ(P=0.032).Immunohistochemistry results showed that the positive rate of Inhibin-α was 84.8%,and the positive rate of Melan-A was 40.9%.Conclusions ACC is a rare malignant endocrine tumor.ACC patients with hypercortisolism are more likely to be complicated with hypertension,have later staging,and more common hypervascular manifestations.Clinically,their endocrine function should be prioritized for assessment,and more active treatment strategies should be adopted.Diagnosis should be combined with imaging characteristics(such as hypervascularization)and immunohistochemical indicators(Ki-67,Inhibin-α,Melan-A).The significant increase in Ki-67 is in the advanced stage can serve as an important prognostic indicator to guide individualized treatment.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with clinical and subclinical Cushing's syndrome caused by primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia(PBMAH).Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 198 patients with Cushing's syndrome caused by PBMAH diagnosed in the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2004 to October 2024.According to clinical manifestations,the patients were classified into clinical type Cushing's syndrome(n=61)and subclinical type Cushing's syndrome(n=137),and the clinical characteristics of the two types were compared.Results The mean age at diagnosis of patients with PBMAH-induced Cushing's syndrome was(53.5±10.4)years,including 118 males and 80 females,with a male-to-female ratio of 1.475:1.Compared with the subclinical type,the clinical type had a higher proportion of females,higher levels of serum cortisol,24-hour urine free cortisol(24 h UFC),and inhibited serum cortisol after low-dose dexamethasone suppression.Additionally,the clinical type had lower plasma ACTH,larger adrenal nodules and a higher risk of surgery(P<0.05)compared with those in subclinical type.The incidences of hypertension,dyslipidemia,obesity,diabetes mellitus,hypokalemia,vitamin D deficiency,osteoporosis,coronary heart disease,and cerebrovascular disease in patients with Cushing's syndrome caused by PBMAH were 87.9%,50.5%,37.1%,36.9%,27.8%,25.9%,18.7%,18.7%and 12.1%,respectively.Among them,compared with subclinical type patients,clinical type patients had higher incidence of hypokalaemia,vitamin D deficiency and osteoporosis(P<0.05),while there were no statistically significant differences in the incidences of other comorbidities between the two types(P>0.05).The results of postoperative follow-up for PBMAH patients showed that the short-term biochemical remission rate of unilateral total adrenalectomy was 41.5%(22/53)and the long-term biochemical remission rate was 32.0%(8/25).The short-term biochemical remission rate of unilateral partial(or nodular)adrenalectomy was 52.9%(9/17),and the long-term biochemical remission rate was 14.3%(1/7).All patients who underwent unilateral total adrenalectomy plus contralateral partial resection developed adrenal insufficiency(3/3),and 1 patient(1/3)relapsed 3.4 years after surgery.Conclusion Clinical and subclinical types of Cushing's syndrome caused by PBMAH have their distinct clinical characteristics.Surgery is an effective treatment for PBMAH,but a certain proportion of patients fail to achieve biochemical remission after non-bilateral total adrenalectomy.

Objective To summarize the clinical characteristics of primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease(PPNAD)and provide a reference for its clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical characteristics,laboratory tests,imaging examinations,treatment plans,and follow-up data of 10 PPNAD patients diagnosed and treated at the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2008 to October 2024.Databases including CNKI,Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform,and PubMed were searched,and the clinical characteristics of 120 PPNAD patients reported in the literature were summarized in combination with literature reviews.Results The age at diagnosis of the 10 PPNAD patients ranged from 15 to 55 years,with a median age of onset of 21.5 years.Seven patients had the protein kinase A regulatory subunit 1 alpha(PRKAR1A)gene mutations,meeting the diagnosis criteria for Carney syndrome.One patient presented with hypertension only,while the remaining 9 patients showed typical Cushing's syndrome manifestations such as thin skin and moon face,among whom 5 experienced stagnation of height growth.In 7 patients,the adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH)levels were<2.2 pmol/L,with the disrupted circadian rhythm of cortisol,and the cortisol levels at midnight ranged from 243.24 to 679.83 pmol/L.None of the patients showed suppression in the low-dose dexamethasone suppression test,and 8 patients had an increase in urinary free cortisol(UFC)after dexamethasone suppression.Adrenal CT showed that 9 patients presented with unilateral adrenal nodules accompanied by contralateral thickening or bilateral adrenal nodular thickening.All 10 patients underwent initial unilateral adrenalectomy,and during follow-up,4 patients experienced symptom recurrence and underwent contralateral adrenalectomy.Most of the 120 patients reported domestically and internationally showed typical Cushing's syndrome manifestations.Surgical resection of the adrenal gland was the main treatment modality.Gene mutations were predominantly in PRKAR1A,with a few in PDE11A and PRKACA.Conclusions PPNAD is more likely to occur in adolescents.Patients with typical Cushing's syndrome manifestations should undergo screening.Imaging manifestations are atypical,and a definitive diagnosis depends on pathological and genetic diagnoses.Bilateral adrenalectomy combined with long-term postoperative hormone replacement therapy is the standard treatment protocol.Patients who undergo early unilateral adrenalectomy require long-term follow-up,with contralateral adrenalectomy performed when necessary.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of Fuzheng Hejie Prescription(composed of Scutellariae Radix,Lonicerae Japonicae Flos,Agastachis Herba,Bupleuri Radix,Atractylodis Rhizoma,Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma,etc.)in the treatment of respiratory viral infections in children and to observe its effect on inflammatory factors and immune function.Methods A total of 203 children with respiratory viral infection of H1N1 virus were randomly divided into 101 cases in the observation group and 102 cases in the control group.Both groups were given the routine treatment for subsiding fever,maintaining water-electrolyte balance,and ensuring enough sleep.And additionally,the control group was given Ribavirin Granules and Ibuprofen Granules,and the observation group was given Fuzheng Hejie Prescription based on the treatment for the control group.The course of treatment covered 7 days.The changes of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome scores and the levels of immunological indicators and inflammatory factors in the two groups were observed before and after the treatment.Moreover,the clinical efficacy,symptom resolution time and the incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups of children.Results(1)In the course of the trial,one case fell off in the observation group and 2 cases fell off in the control group,and eventually 100 children in each group were included in the trial.(2)After 7 days of treatment,the total effective rate of the observation group was 93.00%(93/100),and that of the control group was 88.00%(88/100),and the intergroup comparison showed that the therapeutic effect of the observation group was superior to that of the control group,but the difference was not statistically significant(χ2= 1.454,P = 0.228).(3)After treatment,the scores of primary symptoms and secondary symptoms as well as the total TCM syndrome scores in the two groups were decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(4)After treatment,the time for the resolution of clinical symptoms such as fever,cough,expectoration and sore throat in the observation group was significantly shorter than that in the control group(P＜0.01).(5)After treatment,the levels of immunological indicators of T lymphocyte subset CD3+ and CD4+ in the two groups were increased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the levels of CD8+ and B cells were decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05).The intergroup comparison showed that the increase in the levels of CD3+ and CD4+ as well as the decrease in the levels of CD8+ and B cells of the observation group was significantly superior to that of the control group(P＜0.01).(6)After treatment,the levels of inflammatory factors of serum amyloid A(SAA),C-reactive protein(CRP),serum tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α),soluble interleukin 2 receptor(SIL-2R),and interleukin 6(IL-6)in the two groups were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the levels of interleukin 2(IL-2)and interferon γ(IFN-γ)ls were all significantly increased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05).The intergroup comparison showed that the decrease of serum SAA,CRP,TNF-α,SIL-2R,and IL-6 levels and the increase of serum IL-2 and IFN-γ levels in the observation group were significantly superior to those in the control group(P＜0.01).(7)The incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group was 2.00%(2/100),which was significantly lower than that of 8.00%(8/100)in the control group,but the difference was not statistically significant(χ2 = 3.789,P = 0.052).Conclusion Fuzheng Hejie Prescription exerts certain effect in treating children with respiratory viral infection of H1N1 virus,which can effectively decrease children's TCM syndrome scores,regulate the inflammatory response,improve the immune function,accelerate the relief of clinical symptoms and shorten the course of the disease.

BACKGROUND:Near infrared responsive hydrogels,have a variety of excellent properties such as high spatial and temporal precision,remote tunability,and safety and non-invasiveness,providing a new direction of exploration for the development of tissue engineering. OBJECTIVE:To summarize the application progress of near infrared responsive hydrogels in the field of tissue engineering in recent years. METHODS:The literature search was performed on PubMed and CNKI databases.The keywords were"near infrared responsive hydrogels,tissue engineering,bone defect,bone repair,bone regeneration,wound healing,wound dressing,angiogenesis"in Chinese and English.The search time limit was from May 2006 to October 2022 and extended for some classical literature.The abstracts and contents of the retrieved literature were analyzed,and the relevant literature was obtained according to inclusion and exclusion criteria.Finally,97 articles were included for review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Near infrared responsive materials are involved in tissue repair by controlling infection and reducing inflammation,promoting angiogenesis,osteoblast differentiation and new bone formation.(2)Near infrared responsive hydrogel can be prepared by constructing a thermosensitive hydrogel with a photothermal effect or by using a photochemical reaction.(3)Near infrared responsive hydrogels as wound dressings perform various functions such as rapid hemostasis,tissue adhesion through polymerization of polymer monomers,antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects,and promotion of angiopoiesis and epithelial regeneration through the local photothermal effect of photothermal nanomaterials during soft tissue healing and regeneration.(4)Near infrared responsive hydrogels function during bone reconstruction and repair by promoting osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells,stimulating the expression of heat shock proteins,and increasing angiogenesis.(5)Near infrared responsive hydrogels present a combination of multiple therapeutic strategies with significant synergistic therapeutic functions and are also being progressively developed for application in other tissue reconstruction and disease treatment scenarios.