Jiuwei Xifeng Granules have become a Chinese patent medicine in the market. Because the formula contains Os Draconis, a top-level protected fossil of ancient organisms, the formula was to be improved by replacing Os Draconis with Ostreae Concha. To evaluate whether the improved formula has the same effectiveness and safety as the original formula, a randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled, equivalence clinical trial was conducted. This study enrolled 288 tic disorder(TD) of children and assigned them into two groups in 1∶1. The treatment group and control group took the modified formula and original formula, respectively. The treatment lasted for 6 weeks, and follow-up visits were conducted at weeks 2, 4, and 6. The primary efficacy endpoint was the difference in Yale global tic severity scale(YGTSS)-total tic severity(TTS) score from baseline after 6 weeks of treatment. The results showed that after 6 weeks of treatment, the declines in YGTSS-TSS score showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. The difference in YGTSS-TSS score(treatment group-control group) and the 95%CI of the full analysis set(FAS) were-0.17[-1.42, 1.08] and those of per-protocol set(PPS) were 0.29[-0.97, 1.56], which were within the equivalence boundary [-3, 3]. The equivalence test was therefore concluded. The two groups showed no significant differences in the secondary efficacy endpoints of effective rate for TD, total score and factor scores of YGTSS, clinical global impressions-severity(CGI-S) score, traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) response rate, or symptom disappearance rate, and thus a complete evidence chain with the primary outcome was formed. A total of 6 adverse reactions were reported, including 4(2.82%) cases in the treatment group and 2(1.41%) cases in the control group, which showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. No serious suspected unexpected adverse reactions were reported, and no laboratory test results indicated serious clinically significant abnormalities. The results support the replacement of Os Draconis by Ostreae Concha in the original formula, and the efficacy and safety of the modified formula are consistent with those of the original formula.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Tic Disorders/drug therapy* ; Treatment Outcome

This study selected 6 529 plant-based Chinese materia medica(PCMM) from Chinese Materia Medica as research subjects and applied a random permutation test to explore the overall correlation characteristics between nature and flavor, as well as the correlation characteristics after distinguishing different medicinal parts and harvest seasons. The results showed that the overall correlation characteristics between nature and flavor in PCMM were significantly associated in the following pairs: cold and bitter, cool and bitter, cool and astringent, cool and light, neutral and sweet, neutral and astringent, neutral and light, neutral and sour, hot and pungent, and warm and pungent. When analyzing the data by distinguishing medicinal parts and/or harvest seasons, new correlation patterns emerged, characterized by the disappearance of some significant correlations and the emergence of new ones. When analyzing by medicinal parts alone, significant correlations were found in the following cases: cold and light in leaves, cold and salty in barks, cool and sweet in fruits and seeds, neutral and pungent in whole herbs, neutral and salty in stems, and warm and salty in flowers. However, no significant correlations were found between cool and bitter in stems and other types of herbs, cool and astringent in fruits, seeds, flowers, and other types of herbs, cool and light in leaves, fruits, seeds, barks, flowers and other types of herbs, neutral and sweet in barks, neutral and astringent in whole herbs and stems, neutral and light in leaves, fruits, seeds, and flowers, neutral and sour in whole herbs, stems, barks, flowers, and other types of herbs, and hot and pungent in whole herbs, stems, flowers, and other types of herbs. When analyzing by harvest season alone, significant correlations were found in the following cases: cold and salty, and cool and sour in herbs harvested in winter, and neutral and salty in herbs harvested year-round. However, no significant correlation was found between cool and light in herbs harvested in winter. When considering both medicinal parts and harvest seasons, compared to the independent influence of medicinal parts, 14 new significant correlations emerged(e.g., the correlation between cool and bitter in stems harvested in spring), while 53 previously significant correlations disappeared(e.g., the correlation between cool and bitter in barks harvested in summer). Compared to the independent influence of harvest seasons, 11 new significant correlations appeared(e.g., the correlation between cold and light in barks harvested in autumn), while 50 previously significant correlations disappeared(e.g., the correlation between hot and pungent in leaves harvested in winter). This study is the first to reveal the influence of medicinal parts and harvest seasons on the correlation between nature and flavor in PCMM, which highlights that these two factors can interact and jointly affect nature-flavor correlations. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms. This study provides a deeper understanding of the inherent scientific connotations of herbal properties and offers a theoretical foundation for the cultivation and harvesting of PCMM.
Seasons ; Plants, Medicinal/growth & development* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Taste

Poor prognosis and high mortality rate are frequently observed in patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (R/R AML), and there is no standard salvage therapy for these patients. As a method to evade apoptosis, cancer cells often upregulate anti-apoptotic proteins BCL-2 and MCL-1. Recently, venetoclax-based combination therapies have demonstrated promising prospects in treating R/R AML. However, the prevalent use of venetoclax comes with a new challenge of resistance. Upregulation of BCL-1 and/or MCL-1 is the main cause of venetoclax resistance and preemptively targeting BCL-2/BCL-XL/MCL-1 can be used to delay or forestall drug resistance. Thus, selective targeting of BCL-2 and MCL-1 is a viable treatment strategy. This review reports the latest clinical progress on targeting BCL-2 and MCL-1 in R/R AML.
Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy* ; Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/therapeutic use* ; Sulfonamides/therapeutic use* ; Recurrence

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 a novel stroke recurrence risk prediction model,which utilized radiomics machine learning methods and specifically combined carotid computed tomography angiography(CT A)with the Essen stroke risk score(ESRS).Methods A total of 136 patients who underwent carotid CT A were analyzed retrospectively.The features of carotid plaque were extrac-ted by machine learning to construct a radiomics feature model,as well as combined with ESRS.Based on clinical outcomes at one-year follow-up,the stroke recurrence risk prediction model was constructed using the logistic regression(LR)machine learning model.To construct an effective and robust model,the dataset was divided into a training set and a validation set in a ratio of 7∶3.The performance of this model was evaluated using area under the curve(AUC)of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve,sensi-tivity and specificity.Results The model had strong predictive value.In the training set,AUC,sensitivity and specificity of this model were 0.903,0.796 and 0.761,respectively.In the validation set,AUC,sensitivity and specificity of this model were 0.869,0.667 and 0.850,respectively.Conclusion The stroke recurrence risk prediction model constructed based on radiomics analysis of carotid plaque characteristics in carotid CTA,in combination with the ESRS,can provide reliable predictions for stroke prognosis.

Abstract: Objective　To find out the existing problems and provide reference for further improving the quality of report information by analyzing the report cards of COVID-19 and the positive report cards of primary screening reported in Ningxia. Methods　All COVID-19 case cards from 2020 to 2021 and initial screening positive cards were derived from the Chinese Information System for Disease Control and Prevention according to final review date. The timeliness of case reporting, timeliness of case review, completeness and accuracy of the case cards were analyzed. Results　In Ningxia, the first case of COVID-19 was reported on January 20, 2020, and as of December 31, 2021, 122 confirmed cases and 4 symptomatic infected cases were reported. In 2021, the timely reporting rate of COVID-19 was 98.00%, which increased by 8.24% compared with 2020 (90.54%). Compared with 2020, the average time limit for diagnosis to reporting of COVID-19 in 2021 was shortened by 83.12%; in 2021, the timely review rate of COVID-19 was 100.00%, which increased by 13.84% compared with 2020 (87.84%). Compared with 2020, the time from reporting to final review was shortened by 98.91%. In 2021, the timely rate of positive reports in COVID-19 in Ningxia was 90.00%, among which the timely rate of reports by county (district) nucleic acid detection institutions was the highest (92.31%), followed by municipal (91.67%) and autonomous region (81.82%). Conclusions　At the beginning of the epidemic in 2020, the timeliness of COVID-19 in Ningxia was poor, and through the implementation of measures such as technical training, supervision and inspection to continuously optimize the staffing of medical institutions and disease control institutions, the timeliness of reporting COVID-19 in Ningxia in 2021 was substantially improved, but there were still some weak links. In the future work, technical guidance and training should be carried out for weak links, and efforts should be made to improve the quality of reports.

Objective: To provide survival evidence of anthracycline-free neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with stages Ⅱ-Ⅲ human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) positive and hormone receptor (HR) negative breast cancer. Methods: The prospective cohort study was conducted at the Department of Medical Oncology of Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Patients with HER-2 positive and HR negative breast cancer in stages Ⅱ-Ⅲ were enrolled to receive neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) of dose-dense paclitaxel (175 mg/m(2)) plus carboplatin (AUC=4.0) biweekly for 6 cycles in combination with trastuzumab (PCbH), and matched patients who received standard adjuvant therapy of physicians' choice were recruited for survival and safety comparison. Results: From July 2013 to November 2019, 166 patients were included (neoadjuvant 51, adjuvant 115). Compared with those who received adjuvant therapy, patients receiving NAT were younger (<35 years: 19.6% vs 5.2%, P=0.014), had larger tumors (T3: 62.7% vs 7.8%, P<0.001) and more advanced diseases (stage ⅡA: 2.0% vs 41.7%, P<0.001). Patients in the neoadjuvant group all received surgery, and 96 (83.5%) in the adjuvant group received anthracycline-and-taxane-containing regimens. A total of 98 patients (49 pairs) were matched, and the covariates between the two groups were acceptably balanced. Within a median follow-up of 46.5 (range, 14-87) months, the 4-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate among patients who received NAT was 73.3% (95% CI: 59.0%-87.6%), versus 80.6% (95% CI: 67.9%-93.3%) among those in the adjuvant group without statistical difference (P=0.418). A similar result was observed for the 4-year overall survival (OS) [neoadjuvant versus adjuvant: 91.5% (95% CI: 81.7%-100.0%) vs 97.8% (95% CI: 93.5%-100.0%), P=0.314]. Compared with standard adjuvant therapy, PCbH was related to less neutropenia and better cardiac safety. Conclusions: These results support the consideration of anthracycline-free neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with anti-HER-2 therapy for patients with stages Ⅱ-Ⅲ HER-2-positive and HR-negative breast cancer. Optimized regimens with both efficacy and safety are needed and to be further investigated.
Female ; Humans ; Anthracyclines/therapeutic use* ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/therapeutic use* ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Carboplatin/therapeutic use* ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Hormones/therapeutic use* ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Paclitaxel/therapeutic use* ; Prospective Studies ; Receptor, ErbB-2/metabolism* ; Trastuzumab/therapeutic use* ; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy*

Aim To explore the effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by regulating autophagy through PI3K/AKT pathway. Methods The rats were randomly divided into five groups(n=10): sham operation group(Sham), model group(Model), Buyang Huanwu Decoction group(BYHWD), PI3K inhibitor group(LY294002)and Vehicle group(Vehicle). Except Sham group, the other groups were treated with 2h ischemia and 72 h reperfusion for modeling. The Zea Longa score was used to assess the neurological defects, HE was used to observe brain injury in the ischemic penumbra(IP), immunofluorescence was employed to detect LC3, and Western blot was used to detect pathway and autophagy marker proteins. Results Compared BYHWD group with model group, the neurological score of rats decreased, cerebral infarction volume decreased, the pathological lesions of brain IP were relieved, PI3K and p-AKT/AKT expression increased, and LC3Ⅱ/ decreased and p62 increased(P<0.05). The regulatory effect of BYHWD was weakened by LY294002(P<0.05). Conclusion Buyang Huanwu Decoction alleviates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by activating PI3K/AKT pathway to inhibit autophagy.

AIM: To investigate the effect of Nd:YAG laser peripheral iridotomy(LPI)on macular retinal thickness in patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma(PACG).METHODS: Prospective study. A total of 30 patients(30 eyes)with PACG in our hospital from October 2019 to October 2021 were selected as the PACG group, and 20 healthy people(20 eyes)were selected as the control group(randomly selected one eye)during the same period. The PACG group received LPI treatment and was followed up for 1mo after surgery. Best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), intraocular pressure, corneal endothelial cells, anterior chamber depth(ACD)and axial length(AL)measured by IOL Master 500 optical measuring instrument and macular retinal thickness measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT)in both groups were collected. The ACD, intraocular pressure, AL and macular retinal thickness were compared between the two groups and the PACG group before and after LPI, and the correlation was analyzed.RESULTS: The ACD in the PACG group at 1wk and 1mo after surgery was deeper than that before surgery(all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in intraocular pressure and AL in the PACG group before and after surgery(all P>0.05). The retinal thickness at central fovea of macula, the superior side, temporal side, inferior side, and nasal side of the inner and outer central macular rings were 243.50±13.24, 324.50±13.46, 308.83±15.94, 310.00±14.24, 314.50±16.29, 300.67±19.95, 290.17±12.58, 302.40±16.37 and 307.33±14.84μm in the PACG group, respectively, and were 266.14±16.16, 342.67±15.86, 327.95±16.41, 337.85±13.03, 341.24±15.58, 313.76±17.59, 290.24±16.29, 303.81±13.91, 323.01±14.80μm in the control group, respectively. The differences at central fovea of macula, the superior side, temporal side, inferior side, and nasal side of the inner central macular rings were statistically significant between the two groups(all P<0.05). In the PACG group, the retinal thickness at 9 areas of macular in 1wk after operation were higher than those before operation, and they were close to the preoperative level at 1mo after operation, but the differences of each area in the overall comparison were not statistically significant(all P>0.05).CONCLUSIONS: The macular retinal thickness of patients with PACG is thinner than that of normal people, and it can become thicker in the early stage after LPI.