Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) represents a paradigmatic approach to personalized medicine, developed through the systematic accumulation and refinement of clinical empirical data over more than 2000 years, and now encompasses large-scale electronic medical records (EMR) and experimental molecular data. Artificial intelligence (AI) has demonstrated its utility in medicine through the development of various expert systems (e.g., MYCIN) since the 1970s. With the emergence of deep learning and large language models (LLMs), AI's potential in medicine shows considerable promise. Consequently, the integration of AI and TCM from both clinical and scientific perspectives presents a fundamental and promising research direction. This survey provides an insightful overview of TCM AI research, summarizing related research tasks from three perspectives: systems-level biological mechanism elucidation, real-world clinical evidence inference, and personalized clinical decision support. The review highlights representative AI methodologies alongside their applications in both TCM scientific inquiry and clinical practice. To critically assess the current state of the field, this work identifies major challenges and opportunities that constrain the development of robust research capabilities-particularly in the mechanistic understanding of TCM syndromes and herbal formulations, novel drug discovery, and the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered clinical care. The findings underscore that future advancements in AI-driven TCM research will rely on the development of high-quality, large-scale data repositories; the construction of comprehensive and domain-specific knowledge graphs (KGs); deeper insights into the biological mechanisms underpinning clinical efficacy; rigorous causal inference frameworks; and intelligent, personalized decision support systems.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Artificial Intelligence ; Humans ; Precision Medicine ; Decision Support Systems, Clinical

To evaluate the therapeutic effect of a modified Devine procedure with a subcutaneous sliding fixation method for the treatment of congenital concealed penis, we retrospectively selected 45 patients with congenital concealed penises who were admitted to General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University (Yinchuan, China) between September 2020 and November 2023. In all cases, the penis was observed to be short, and retracting the skin at the base revealed a normal penile body, which immediately returned to its original position upon release. All patients underwent the modified Devine procedure with subcutaneous sliding fixation and completed a 12-week postoperative follow-up. A statistically significant increase in penile length was observed postoperatively, with the median length increasing from 4.0 (interquartile range [IQR]: 3.5-4.8; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.9-4.4) cm to 8.0 (IQR: 7.8-8.0; 95% CI: 7.7-7.9) cm, with P < 0.001. The parents were satisfied with the outcomes, including increased penile length, improved hygiene, and enhanced esthetics. Except for mild foreskin edema in all cases, no complications (such as infections, skin necrosis, or penile retraction) were observed. The edema was resolved within 4 weeks after the operation. This study demonstrates that the modified Devine procedure utilizing the subcutaneous sliding fixation method yields excellent outcomes with minimal postoperative complications, reduced penile retraction, and high satisfaction rates among patients and their families.
Humans ; Male ; Penis/abnormalities* ; Retrospective Studies ; Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male/methods* ; Treatment Outcome ; Child ; Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods*

OBJECTIVE: Blood culture remains the gold standard for diagnosing bloodstream infections. Clinical laboratories must ensure the quality of blood culture processes from receipt to obtaining definitive results. We examined laboratory analytical indicators associated with positive blood culture results. METHODS: Blood cultures collected from Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022, were retrospectively analyzed. The mode of transportation (piping logistics delivery vs. staff), source of blood cultures (outpatient/emergency department vs. inpatient department), rotation of personnel, and time of reception (8:00-19:59 vs. 20:00-07:59) were compared between blood culture-positive and -negative results. RESULTS: Between 2020 and 2022, the total positive rate of blood culture was 8.07%. The positive rate of blood cultures in the outpatient/emergency department was significantly higher than that in the inpatient department (12.46% vs. 5.83%; P < 0.0001). The time-to-detection of blood cultures was significantly affected by the delivery mode and personnel rotation. The blood culture positive rate of the total pre-analytical time within 1 h was significantly higher than that within 1-2 h or > 2 h ( P < 0.0170). CONCLUSION Laboratory analytical indicators such as patient source, transportation mode, and personnel rotation significantly impacted the positive detection rate or time of blood culture.
Blood Culture/statistics & numerical data* ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Emergency Service, Hospital/statistics & numerical data*

Arsenic is a semi-metal,and lipid-soluble arsenic compounds are one of the widespread forms in the environment and food chain,but there is a lack of standards for lipid-soluble arsenic compounds,which is one of the bottlenecks in the current analytical detection and toxicological studies of organic arsenic.In this study,four saturated arsenic-containing hydrocarbons,AsHC 318,AsHC 332,AsHC 346,and AsHC 374(The number is relative molecular mass),were successfully synthesized in three steps by using dimethylarsinic acid,potassium iodide,sodium hydroxide,and four brominated alkanes(1-Bromotetradecane,1-bromopentadecane,1-bromohexadecane,and 1-bromooctadecane)as raw materials.The structures of these four saturated arsenic-containing hydrocarbons were characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance(1H NMR)spectroscopy,13C nuclear magnetic resonance(13C NMR)spectroscopy,and high-resolution mass spectrometry(HR-MS).The yields of the method were 8%-10%,and the synthesized compounds could be used in subsequent toxicity evaluation experiments to assess the toxic effects and mechanisms of action of arsenic-containing hydrocarbons.This study provided an effective method for synthesis of arsenic-containing hydrocarbons,enriching the synthesis methods of arsenic-containing hydrocarbons,and provided raw materials for the subsequent toxicological studies of arsenic-containing hydrocarbons.

Objective:To investigate the effect of pre-stroke metformin (MET) use on early neurological improvement (ENI) and outcome after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).Methods:AIS patients with T2DM underwent IVT in the Department of Neurology, Yuncheng Central Hospital from January 2019 to February 2025 were included retrospectively. According to whether MET was used before onset, they were divided into MET group and non-MET group. Early neurological improvement (ENI) was defined as a decrease in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ≥4 at 24 hours after IVT compared to admission, or the NIHSS score was 0-1. At 90 days after onset, the modified Rankin Scale was used for outcome assessment, and ≤2 was good outcome and >2 was poor outcome. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent influencing factors of ENI and outcome. Results:A total of 115 AIS patients with T2DM were included in the study, with an age of 65.42±12.22 years. There were 83 males (72.2%). Fifty-four patients (47.0%) used MET, and 61 (53.0%) used other hypoglycemic drugs; 43 (37.4%) developed ENI, and 33 (28.7%) had poor outcome at 90 days. There were no significant difference in all baseline data between the MET group and the non-MET group, but the proportions of patients with ENI and good prognosis at 90 days in the MET group were significantly higher than those in the non-MET group (all P<0.05). The proportions of hypertensive patients and baseline NIHSS scores in the ENI group were significantly lower than those in the non-ENI group, while the proportions of patients using MET, antihypertensive drugs, statins, and patients with good outcome was significantly higher than that in the non-ENI group (all P<0.05). The body weight, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, as well as the proportions of patients using antiplatelet drugs, MET, and patients with ENI in the good outcome group were significantly higher than those in the poor outcome group, while systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, and the proportions of patients with hemorrhagic transformation, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage were significantly lower than those in the poor outcome group (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that using statins (odds ratio [ OR] 5.291, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 1.599-17.514; P=0.006) and MET ( OR 3.018, 95% CI 1.125-8.092; P=0.006) were the independent influencing factors of ENI; using MET ( OR 0.014, 95% CI 0.001-0.246; P=0.004) and anterior circulation stroke ( OR 0.005, 95% CI 0.000-0.745; P=0.038) were significantly independently associated with good outcome, while high baseline NIHSS score ( OR 2.092, 95% CI 1.198-3.655; P=0.009) and serum homocysteine ( OR 1.202, 95% CI 1.024-1.411; P=0.024) were significantly independently associated with the poor outcome. Conclusion:The use of MET before stroke onset can help improve ENI and clinical outcome in AIS patients with T2DM after IVT.

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, is characterized by high mortality and recurrence rates. Common treatments include hepatectomy, liver transplantation, ablation therapy, interventional therapy, radiotherapy, systemic therapy, and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). While exhibiting specific advantages, these approaches are associated with varying degrees of adverse effects. To alleviate patients' suffering and burdens, it is crucial to explore additional treatments and elucidate the pathogenesis of HCC, laying a foundation for the development of new TCM-based drugs. With emerging research on gut microbiota, it has been revealed that microbiota plays a vital role in the development of HCC by influencing intestinal barrier function, microbial metabolites, and immune regulation. TCM, with its multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway characteristics, has been increasingly recognized as a vital therapeutic treatment for HCC, particularly in patients at intermediate or advanced stages, by prolonging survival and improving quality of life. Recent global studies demonstrate that TCM exerts anti-HCC effects by modulating gut microbiota, restoring intestinal barrier function, regulating microbial composition and its metabolites, suppressing inflammation, and enhancing immune responses, thereby inhibiting the malignant phenotype of HCC. This review aims to elucidate the mechanisms by which gut microbiota contributes to the development and progression of HCC and highlight the regulatory effects of TCM, addressing the current gap in systematic understanding of the "TCM-gut microbiota-HCC" axis. The findings provide theoretical support for integrating TCM with western medicine in HCC treatment and promote the transition from basic research to precision clinical therapy through microbiota-targeted drug development and TCM-based interventions.
Humans ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/microbiology* ; Liver Neoplasms/microbiology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Animals ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Objective : To investigate the mechanism of prostaglandin E synthase 3(PTGES3)/heat shock protein 90(HSP90) in the medial prefrontal cortex regulating obesity-related cognitive dysfunction. Methods: This study consisted of clinical trials and animal experiments. In part one, obese patients scheduled for bariatric surgery, and healthy adults matching gender and age were recruited at the same time to reach 10 cases in each group. The cognitive level was assessed with trail making test part A(TMT-A) and victoria stroop tests(VST). Four-dimensional data-independent acquisition(4D-DIA) was used to screen the proteome changes in peripheral blood. In part two, forty SPF healthy male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups: normal diet group(ND group), high fat diet induced obesity group(DIO group), DIO supplemented with the control virus group(DIO+Scramble group) and DIO supplemented with the interfering virus group(DIO+shPTGES3 group). The Morris water maze test was conducted to evaluate the cognitive behavior changes of the four groups of mice. The immunofluorescence staining was performed to detect the expression of PTGES3 and HSP90 in the medial prefrontal cortex and the activation of ionized calcium binding adapter molecule 1(IBA1)-labeled microglia. Results: In the case-control study, the cognitive function of obese patients significantly decreased, and the expression of PTGES3 in peripheral blood significantly increased, while the level of PTGES3 was negatively correlated with cognitive function. In animal experiments, compared with ND group, DIO group had significantly prolonged time reaching the target platform, otherwise, the residence time in the target quadrant was shortened in the Morris water maze test. Simultaneously, there were significant increase in the expression of PTGES3 and HSP90, and the activation of IBA1 in the medial prefrontal cortex. Compared with DIO+Scramble group, mice in the DIO+shPTGES3 group spent less time reaching the target platform, and stayed longer in the target quadrant. The expression and co-localization levels of PTGES3 and HSP90 in medial prefrontal cortex significantly decreased. The activation level of microglia cells was also attenuated by PTGES3 interference. Conclusion Obesity-related cognitive dysfunction may be attributed to PTGES3/HSP90 in the medial prefrontal cortex by mediating neural inflammation.

Objective To explore the acupoint selection law and staged acupuncture prescriptions in the treatment of post-stroke dysphagia using data mining technology.Methods Clinical research literature about acupuncture treatment of post-stroke dysphagia was retrieved from CNKI,Wanfang Data,VIP,SinoMed,PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Library from January 1,2004 to October 1,2024.Prescription information was organized and summarized,and was entered into the database.Descriptive analysis,association rule analysis,complex network analysis and clustering analysis on prescription acupoints were conducted with Excel 2021,SPSS Modeler 18.0 and SPSS 26.0 softwares.Results A total of 306 articles were included,including 328 acupuncture prescriptions involving 118 acupoints,with a cumulative frequency of 1 541 times.The core acupoints were Lianquan,Fengchi,Yuye,Jinjin,Yifeng,Jialianquan,Fengfu and Wangu.The main meridians were Conception Vessel,gallbladder meridian,Governor Vessel and stomach meridian.The distribution was concentrated in the head,face and neck,and the use of intersection acupoints were the most.Association rule analysis showed that Lianquan-Fengchi,Lianquan-Jinjin-Yuye had the highest degree of support for association rules,and the clustering analysis showed 4 categories such as Jialianquan-Baihui-Fengfu.The analysis obtained corresponding acupuncture prescriptions for oral stage,pharyngeal stage and esophageal stage of dysphagia.Conclusion Acupuncture treatment of post-stroke dysphagia is mainly based on local acupoint and acupoint along meridians,mostly using intersection acupoints,combined with distal acupoints,and selecting the corresponding acupoints in different periods,which can improve the clinical efficacy.

Currently,there are practical and technical difficulties in the construction of clinical ques-tions in the development of clinical practice guidelines.Clinicians or guideline developers seldom construct clin-ical questions based the actual case scenario,leading to some information loss between structured and actual clinical connotation.To overcome this challenge,we proposed a case-guided questions construction approach,and carried out case research and verification in the formulation of the guideline.We found that this method could more efficiently and scientifically assist the formulation of clinical questions,and provide reference for clinicians or guideline developers.