A cross-sectional study method combined with two types of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) syndrome differentiation methods was adopted to investigate the clinical symptoms and distribution characteristics of TCM syndromes in patients with pulmonary nodules from the perspectives of number, size, nature, and stability of pulmonary nodules by using the χ~2 test, systematic clustering and Apriori algorithm correlation analysis. The common clinical symptoms of pulmonary nodules were fatigue(77.35%) and irritability(75.40%), and 40 symptoms were clustered into 3 groups(digestive system symptoms, respiratory system symptoms, and emotional and systemic symptoms) and 8 major symptom categories. The proportion of cold and heat in complexity syndrome(63.43%) was higher based on cold-heat syndrome differentiation. The top two syndromes were Qi deficiency syndrome(88.03%) and Qi depression syndrome(83.17%) based on disease syndrome differentiation. Yang deficiency syndrome(60.52%) was more than Yin deficiency syndrome(50.16%). There were higher proportions of phlegm syndrome(78.67%) and Yang deficiency syndrome(69.33%) of so-litary pulmonary nodules in terms of the number of pulmonary nodules. In terms of size, the proportion of phlegm syndrome decreased as the mean diameter of pulmonary nodules increased, while the proportions of Yang deficiency syndrome and blood stasis syndrome increased. The distribution of Qi depression syndrome was more in those with mean diameter<10 mm(85.02%, P=0.044) and cold syndrome was more in those with mean diameter ≥10 mm(16.67%, P=0.024). In terms of the nature of pulmonary nodules, the proportions of Qi depression syndrome and heat syndrome decreased with the increase in solid components of pulmonary nodules, while the proportions of Yin deficiency syndrome and cold and heat in complexity syndrome increased. The blood stasis syndrome accounted for a higher proportion of pulmonary nodules with solid components. In terms of the stability of pulmonary nodules, dampness syndrome(72.97%), blood stasis syndrome(37.84%), and cold and heat in complexity syndrome(70.27%) accounted for higher proportions. In addition, patients with new nodules presented higher proportions in Qi inversion syndrome(52.00%, P=0.007) and cold and heat in complexity syndrome(66.00%, P=0.008). Meanwhile, 11 syndromes were associated and 4 common compound syndromes were obtained(Qi deficiency and depression syndrome, Qi depression and phlegm coagulation syndrome, Qi deficiency and phlegm coagulation syndrome, and Qi deficiency and dampness obstruction syndrome). Qi deficiency syndrome and Qi depression syndrome could be associated with other syndromes. The results show that the main clinical symptoms of pulmonary nodules are fatigue and irritability. The main TCM syndromes of pulmonary nodules are Qi deficiency syndrome, Qi depression syndrome, Yang deficiency syndrome, and cold and heat in complexity syndrome. The distribution of TCM syndromes is significantly correlated with the size of pulmonary nodules and the presence or absence of new nodules. The common compound syndromes are Qi deficiency and depression syndrome, Qi depression and phlegm coagulation syndrome, Qi deficiency and phlegm coagulation syndrome, and Qi deficiency and dampness obstruction syndrome.
Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Yin Deficiency/diagnosis* ; Yang Deficiency/diagnosis* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Syndrome

Objective: To investigate the correlation between the syndrome types of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and clinical symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with chronic prostatitis (BPH-CP). METHODS: We selected 150 cases of BPH-CP in this study and divided them into 7 TCM syndrome types. Using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, we studied the correlation of each TCM syndrome type with the age, disease course, prostate volume, postvoid residual urine volume (PVR), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), and International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS). RESULTS: Kidney-yin deficiency was correlated positively with the prostate volume but negatively with Qmax and IPSS; kidney-yang deficiency positively with the age and prostate volume but negatively with IPSS; the damp heat syndrome positively with the PSA level but negatively with the disease course, prostate volume and Qmax; the spleen-qi deficiency syndrome positively with the prostate volume but negatively with the disease course; liver-qi stagnation positively with the disease course but negatively with the age, prostate volume and PVR; the syndrome of qi stagnation and blood stasis positively with the disease course and IPSS but negatively with PVR; the syndrome of lung-heat and qi blockage positively with the age, Qmax and IPSS but negatively with the disease course. CONCLUSIONS The TCM syndrome types of BPH-CP are closely correlated to their clinical symptoms. The analysis of the clinical objective indexes of BPH-CP can provide some reliable evidence for accurate identification of the TCM syndrome type of the disease.
Age Factors ; Chronic Disease ; Disease Progression ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; diagnosis ; Liver Diseases ; diagnosis ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Organ Size ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; classification ; diagnosis ; Prostatitis ; classification ; diagnosis ; Qi ; Regression Analysis ; Splenic Diseases ; diagnosis ; Symptom Assessment ; classification ; methods ; Urination ; Yang Deficiency ; diagnosis ; Yin Deficiency ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation between signs of living body in abdominal and pelvic cavities and syndrome typing of Chinese medicine (CM) in colorectal cancer patients.

METHODSTotally 112 colorectal cancer patients undergoing open abdominal surgery or laporoscopic surgery were syndrome typed as five types, i.e., inner-accumulation of damp and heat, blockage of stasis and toxin, Pi-Shen yang deficiency, blood-qi deficiency, Gan-Shen yin deficiency. Signs of living body in abdominal and pelvic cavities were collected. The correlation between signs of living body in abdominal and pelvic cavities and syndrome typing of CM were analyzed.

RESULTSRed colorectal canals or mass were dominated in colorectal cancer patients with inner-accumulation of damp and heat syndrome. Dark purple colorectal canals or mass were dominated in colorectal cancer patients with blockage of stasis and toxin syndrome. Reddish colorectal canals or mass were dominated in colorectal cancer patients with blood-qi deficiency syndrome. Pale colorectal canals or mass were dominated in colorectal cancer patients with Pi-Shen yang deficiency syndrome. Whitish or red-white stripes were dominated in colorectal cancer patients with Gan-Shen yin deficiency syndrome. Dropsy colorectal canal was associated with Pi-Shen yang deficiency syndrome. Intracavitary effusion was often seen in colorectal cancer patients with inner-accumulation of damp and heat syndrome. The effusion was yellowish in less amount. Intracavitary adhesion was often seen in colorectal cancer patients with blockage of stasis and toxin syndrome. There was no correlation between the maximum diameter of mass or each syndrome type of CM.

CONCLUSIONThere existed correlation between signs of living body in abdominal and pelvic cavities and syndrome typing of CM, which could be taken as one of references for syndrome typing of colorectal cancer patients.

Abdominal Cavity ; pathology ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Pelvis ; pathology ; Yang Deficiency ; diagnosis ; Yin Deficiency ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution of constitution types of Chinese medicine (CM) in the elderly living at home in Beijing downtown, and to explore its relationship with life habits.

METHODSA total of 3894 senile more than 60 years old were enrolled in this study. Their constitution types of CM were typed using CM constitution questionnaire. Meanwhile, their demographic features, disease condition, diet habits, exercise habits, sleep habits, and so on were investigated. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between life habits and constitution types of CM.

RESULTSThe number of mild type constitution senile was 1111 (28.53%) and the number of biased constitutions 2783 (71.47%). Biased constitutions of the top three were qi deficiency constitution (662, 17.00%), yang deficiency constitution (445, 11.43%), and blood stasis constitution (363, 9.32%). Univariate analysis showed that different habits of diet, exercise, and sleep exist among the senile of different constitutions (P < 0.05). By taking mild type constitution, multivariate Logistic regression analysis (except demographic indices and chronic history) showed that significantly positive correlation existed between qi deficiency constitution and favor for hot food (OR = 1.349, P = 0.015), yang deficiency constitution and favor for hot food (OR = 2.448, P < 0.01), phlegm-wetness constitution and favor for barbecue food (OR = 2.144, P = 0.003), wet-heat constitution and favor for sweet food (OR = 1.355, P = 0.032), wet-heat constitution and favor for tea (OR = 1.359, P = 0.047), blood stasis constitution and favor for hot food (OR = 1.422, P = 0.017), and qi depression constitution and favor for hot food (OR = 1.446, P = 0.031). Regular exercise had negative correlation with qi deficiency constitution (OR = 0.397, P < 0.01), yang deficiency constitution (OR = 0.522, P < 0.01) , phlegm-wetness constitution (OR = 0.475, P < 0.01), wet-heat constitution (OR = 0.647, P = 0.015), blood stasis constitution (OR = 0.608, P = 0.001), qi depression constitution (OR = 0.541, P = 0.001), and special diathesis constitution (OR = 0.466, P < 0.01). Early sleep and rise habit had negative with phlegm-wetness constitution (OR = 0.414, P < 0.01), wet-heat constitution (OR = 0.536, P = 0.015), blood stasis constitution (OR = 0.515, P = 0.004), and special diathesis constitution (OR = 0.526, P = 0.039).

CONCLUSIONSDifferent constitution types of CM might be highly related to specific life habits. Cultivating better life habits can improve biased constitutions of CM.

Aged ; Beijing ; Diet ; Exercise ; Humans ; Life Style ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Sleep ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Yang Deficiency ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo establish discriminant functions of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) by studying it from quantitative diagnosis angle, hoping to reduce interference of subjective factors in diagnosing and differentially diagnosing Chinese medical syndromes of IBS-D.

METHODSA Chinese medical clinical epidemiological survey was carried out in 439 IBS-D patients using Clinical Information Collection Table of IBS. Initial syndromes were obtained by cluster analysis. They were analyzed using step-by-step discrimination by taking information of four Chinese medical diagnostic methods and serum brain-gut peptides (BGP) as variables.

RESULTSClustering results were Gan stagnation Pi deficiency syndrome (GSPDS), Pi-Wei weakness syndrome (PWWS), Gan stagnation qi stasis syndrome (GSQSS), Pi-Shen yang deficiency syndrome (PSYDS), Pi-Wei damp-heat syndrome (PWDHS), cold-damp disturbing Pi syndrome (CDDPS). Of them, GSPDS was mostly often seen with effective percentage of 34. 2%, while CDDPS was the least often seen with effective percentage of 5.5%. A total of 5 discriminant functions for GSPDS, PWWS, GSQSS, PSYDS, and PWDHS were obtained by step-by-step dis- crimination method. The retrospective misjudgment rate was 4.1% (16/390), while the cross-validation misjudgment rate was 15.4% (60/390).

CONCLUSIONThe establishment of discriminant functions is of value in objectively diagnosing and differentially diagnosing Chinese medical syndromes of IBS-D.

Alarmins ; Brain ; Cluster Analysis ; Diarrhea ; classification ; diagnosis ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; classification ; diagnosis ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Qi ; Retrospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Yang Deficiency

OBJECTIVETo study Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome types of chronic aplastic anemia (CAA) patients and the distribution laws of typical CM symptoms in different genders.

METHODSFrom June 2002 to June 2012, 220 CAA outpatients/inpatients at Department of Hematology, Zhejiang Chinese Medical Hospital were recruited. Patients' symptoms and signs, as well as four diagnostic information at the first onset were collected. CM syndrome differentiation was performed. The syndrome types and typical symptoms were analyzed.

RESULTS(1) In the 220 CAA patients, there were 121 cases of Shen yang deficiency syndrome (55.0%), 18 of Shen yin deficiency syndrome type (8.18%), 81 cases of Shen yin-yang deficiency syndrome (36.82%). (2) The distribution of typical symptoms: fatigue and shortness of breath (77.12% males and 73.53% females), pale complexion (64.41% males and 57.84% females), low temperature of four limbs (12.71% males and 26.47% females), spontaneous perspiration and night sweating (32.20% males and 26.47% females), dry mouth and throat (6.78% males and 6.86% females), feverish feelings in palms and soles (14.41% males and 20.59% females), loose stool (6.78% males and 2.94% females), petechiae and ecchymosis (42.37% males and 43.14% females).

CONCLUSIONSShen yang deficiency syndrome was most often seen in CAA patients at the initial diagnosis, followed by Shen yin-yang deficiency syndrome. Shen yin deficiency syndrome was the least seen. In CM symptoms, fatigue and shortness of breath were most common seen, followed by pale complexion, skin petechia and ecchymosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anemia, Aplastic ; diagnosis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Yang Deficiency ; diagnosis ; Yin Deficiency ; diagnosis ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the characteristics of Chinese medicine (CM) syndromes of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Sichuan area, thus providing referential evidence for objective research of CHB.

METHODSAccording to the CRF chart, 1 064 CHB patients' four diagnostic information from 8 clinical units were recorded in Sichuan region using cross-sectional method. The laws of CHB syndrome characteristics were explored using the K-means clustering analysis method.

RESULTSBased on the K-means cluster analysis, we found 8 categories that fulfill the clinical practice combined professional knowledge with experts' opinions. They were Pi-Wei dampness heat (326 cases, 30.6%), Gan and gallbladder dampness heat (193 cases, 18.1%), Gan and Pi dampness heat (158 cases, 14.8%), Gan depression and Pi deficiency (92 cases, 8.6%), Gan depression transforming into heat (89 cases, 8.4%), Pi deficiency with dampness encumbrance (74 cases, 7.0%), dampness-heat combined with yin deficiency of Gan and Shen (73 cases, 6.9%), yang deficiency mingled with blood stasis (59 cases, 5.5%).

CONCLUSIONThe results of cluster analysis showed Pi-Wei dampness heat, Gan and gallbladder dampness heat, Gan and Pi dampness heat, Gan depression and Pi deficiency, Gan depression transforming into heat, Pi deficiency with dampness encumbrance, dampness-heat combined with yin deficiency of Gan and Shen, yang deficiency mingled with blood stasis were mainly syndromes of CHB patients in Sichuan area.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cluster Analysis ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Yang Deficiency ; diagnosis ; Yin Deficiency ; diagnosis ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore Chinese medical syndrome distribution features of Japanese encephalitis (JE), and to analyze its correlation between syndromes and features of etiologies and pathogeneses.

METHODSRecruited were 277 patients with confirmative diagnosis of JE from Wuhan Medical Treatment Center, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University, Fifth People's Hospital of Guiyang City, Hangzhou Sixth People's Hospital, and Chengdu Hospital of Infectious Diseases between July to September 2012. Chinese medical syndrome distribution features were summarized from their general materials and detailed records of clinical data, including medical history, symptoms and signs, tongue fur, and pulse figures.The frequency of symptoms and signs was calculated according to mild, ordinary, severe, extreme severe degrees. The distribution of Chinese medical syndromes was summarized. And its correlation between syndromes and features of etiologies and pathogeneses were analyzed.

RESULTSAfter clustering analysis, Chinese medical syndromes of JE could be categorized as four groups: toxicity accumulation in Fei and Wei syndrome (TAFWS), brain collateral impaired by poison syndrome (BCIPS), depression of toxicity in the pericardium syndrome (DTPS), exhaustion of yin and yang syndrome (EYYS). BCIPS and DTPS were dominated, accounting for 74.0% (205 cases). The main causes covered evil of summer heat [accounting for 92.42% (256/277 cases)], heat [accounting for 87.73% (243/277 cases)], and toxin [accounting for 99.64% (276/277 cases)].

CONCLUSIONSThe four Chinese medical syndrome types of JE met Chinese medical clinical features of encephalitis. It is induced by infestation of dampness-heat, resulting in toxicity accumulation in Fei and Wei, brain collateral impaired by poison, depression of toxicity in the pericardium. Yin fluid and blood is exhausted as time goes by. Qi and yin are impaired to form intermingled deficiency and excess, and finally causing exhaustion of yin and yang.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Encephalitis, Japanese ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Yang Deficiency ; diagnosis ; Yin Deficiency ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo explore the distribution features of Chinese medical syndromes of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by literature retrieval.

METHODSPertinent articles on treating RA by syndrome differentiation were retrieved from China National Knowledge Infrastructure Databases (CNKI), VIP Chinese Biomedical Journal Database, Guizhou Digital Library, and Duxiu Chinese Academic Periodicals full papers database from January 2000 to December 2011.

RESULTSA total of 33 documents were recruited covering 4 233 cases. Damp-heat blocking collaterals syndrome occupied the top in the occurrence frequency (20 times, 60.61%), followed by deficiency of Gan and Shen syndrome (18 times, 54.55%), intermingled phlegm and blood-stasis syndrome (17 times, 51.52%), wind-cold-damp impediment syndrome (15 times, 45.45%), cold-damp blocking collaterals syndrome (14 times, 42.42%), wind-damp-heat impediment and deficiency of qi and blood syndrome (10 times, 30.30%), and intermingled cold and heat syndrome (9 times, 27.27%). According to the case number of patients, it was sequenced as damp-heat blocking collaterals syndrome syndrome (768 cases, 18.14%), wind-damp-heat impediment syndrome(666 cases, 15.73%), wind-cold-damp impediment syndrome(584 cases, 13.80%), cold-damp blocking collaterals syndrome syndrome (517 cases, 12.21%), intermingled cold and heat syndrome (415 cases, 9.80%), intermingled phlegm and blood-stasis syndrome (364 cases, 8.60%), deficiency of Gan and Shen syndrome (235 cases, 5.55%),asthenia of healthy energy due to lingering arthralgia syndrome (223 cases, 5.27%). The case numbers of remaining syndromes did not exceed 5%.

CONCLUSIONDamp-heat blocking collaterals syndrome was the main syndrome in RA patients, followed by wind-cold-damp impediment syndrome,wind-damp-heat impediment syndrome,cold-damp blocking collaterals syndrome,intermingled phlegm and blood-stasis syndrome, and deficiency of Gan and Shen syndrome.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; classification ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Yang Deficiency ; classification ; diagnosis ; Yin Deficiency ; classification ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between various complications of chronic heart failure (CHF) patients and Chinese medical syndromes, thus indicating distribution laws of Chinese medical syndromes in various complications of CHF patients.

METHODSChinese medical syndrome typing was performed in 630 CHF patients by cross-sectional study of the demographic data, history of present diseases, related information on Chinese medical four diagnostic methods, and the distribution of complications. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the correlation of various complications of CHF patients and Chinese medical syndromes.

RESULTSIn this study, recruited were common complications such as hypertension, diabetes, arrhythmia, hyperlipemia, and cerebral vascular accident, and so on. Main syndromes were sequenced as qi deficiency syndrome, blood stasis syndrome, water retention syndrome, yin deficiency syndrome, phlegm turbid syndrome, yang deficiency syndrome. Results of Logistic regression analysis indicated that correlation existed between common complications and Chinese medical syndromes. In CHF complicated hypertension patients, Logistic regression analysis showed qi deficiency syndrome and yang deficiency syndrome were negatively correlated with hypertension (P < 0.05). In CHF complicated diabetes patients, Logistic regression analysis showed phlegm turbid syndrome and water retention syndrome were positively correlated with diabetes (P < 0.05). In CHF complicated arrhythmia patients, there was no statistical difference in the distribution of each syndrome (P > 0.05). In CHF complicated hyperlipemia patients, Logistic regression analysis showed qi deficiency syndrome and water retention syndrome were negatively correlated with hyperlipemia (P < 0.05), while blood stasis syndrome, yin deficiency syndrome, and phlegm turbid syndrome were positively correlated with hyperlipemia (P < 0.01). In CHF complicated cerebral vascular accident patients, Logistic regression analysis showed qi deficiency syndrome and yang deficiency syndrome were negatively correlated with cerebral vascular accident (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere existed certain correlations between complications of CHF and the distribution of main Chinese medical syndromes. It could be used as guidance for treating CHF and its various complications by Chinese medicine and pharmacy.

Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Heart Failure ; complications ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Yang Deficiency ; complications ; diagnosis ; Yin Deficiency ; complications ; diagnosis