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

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness of arthroscopic release of elbow joint assisted by medial small incision ulnar nerve release in the treatment of non-traumatic elbow stiffness. METHODS: The clinical data of 15 patients with non-traumatic elbow stiffness treated with arthroscopic release of elbow joint assisted by medial small incision ulnar nerve release between April 2019 and September 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 6 males and 9 females with an average age of 46 years ranging from 34 to 56 years. The causes included rheumatoid arthritis in 3 cases, gouty arthritis in 2 cases, loose bodies in 3 cases, and elbow osteoarthritis in 7 cases. There were 4 cases with ulnar neuritis and 3 cases with synovial osteochondromatosis. The duration of elbow stiffness ranged from 6 to 18 months, with an average of 10 months. The operation time and intraoperative blood loss were recorded. The effectiveness was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) score, range of elbow motion (maximum flexion, maximum extension, and total flexion and extension), Mayo score, and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) elbow score. RESULTS: The operation time was 60-90 minutes, with an average of 65 minutes, and the intraoperative blood loss was 40-100 mL, with an average of 62 mL. All patients were followed up 13-18 months, with an average of 14 months. There was no complication such as vascular and nerve injury, poor wound healing, collateral ligament injury, elbow joint space narrowing, osteophyte proliferation, or loose body formation around the joint. At last follow-up, the elbow range of motion (maximum flexion, maximum extension, and total flexion and extension), VAS score, and Mayo score significantly improved when compared with those before operation ( P<0.05). The HSS elbow score was 85-95, with an average of 92; 12 cases were excellent, 3 cases were good, and the excellent and good rate was 100%. CONCLUSION Arthroscopic release of elbow joint assisted by medial small incision ulnar nerve release is an effective way to treat non-traumatic elbow stiffness, which has the advantages of small trauma, short operation time, and good effectiveness. It can carry out early elbow rehabilitation training and significantly improve elbow function.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Arthroscopy/methods* ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Elbow Joint/physiopathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Treatment Outcome ; Ulnar Nerve/surgery* ; Operative Time

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between acupuncture during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) and the live birth rate (LBR) using different propensity score methods. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, eligible women who underwent a COH were divided into acupuncture and non-acupuncture groups. The primary outcome was LBR, as determined by propensity score matching (PSM). LBR was defined as the delivery of one or more living infants that reached a gestational age over 28 weeks after embryo transfer. The propensity score model encompassed 16 confounding variables. To validate the results, sensitivity analyses were conducted using three additional propensity score methods: propensity score adjustment, inverse probability weighting (IPW), and IPW with a "doubly robust" estimator. RESULTS: The primary cohort encompassed 9751 patients (1830 [18.76%] in the acupuncture group and 7921 [81.23%] in the non-acupuncture group). Following 1:1 PSM, a higher LBR was found in the acupuncture cohort (41.4% [755/1824] vs 36.4% [664/1824], with an odds ratio of 1.23 [95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.41]). Three additional propensity score methods produced essentially similar results. The risk of serious adverse events did not significantly differ between the two groups. CONCLUSION This retrospective study revealed an association between acupuncture and an increased LBR among patients undergoing COH, and that acupuncture is a safe and valuable treatment option. Please cite this article as: Zheng XY, Jiang ZY, Li YT, Li CL, Zhu H, Yu Z, Yu SY, Yang LL, Tang SY, Lü XY, Liang FR, Yang J. Association between acupuncture and live birth rates after fresh embryo transfer: A cohort study based on different propensity score methods. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(5):528-536.
Humans ; Female ; Propensity Score ; Embryo Transfer ; Adult ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Pregnancy ; Live Birth ; Birth Rate ; Cohort Studies

Objective:To examine the distribution of pathogens that cause postoperative nosocomial infections in patients with rectal cancer(RC)and to construct a predictive nomogram for nosocomial infection.Methods:The clinical data of 1537 RC patients admitted to Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital between January 2021 and December 2022 were collected.Patients were assigned 1∶1 by propensity score matching(PSM)to the infection group(n=83)and control group(n=83)based on the occurrence of nosocomial infection.The dis-tribution and drug resistance of bacteria in patients with nosocomial infection were analyzed.Risk factors for postoperative nosocomial infection were identified by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)regression,and a predictive nomogram was con-structed using multivariate logistics regression.The predictive performance of the model was evaluated by receiver operating character-istic(ROC)curve,calibration curve,and decision curve analysis(DCA).Results:A total of 93 strains of pathogens were isolated from the 83 infected patients,including 62 strains of Gram-negative bacteria(66.67%;predominantly Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas ae-ruginosa),25 strains of Gram-positive bacteria(26.88%;mainly Enterococcus faecalis),and 6 strains of fungi(6.45%;all Candida albicans).LASSO and multivariate logistics regression showed that smoking(odds ratio[OR]=3.97,95%CI=1.27-12.43),the dwelling time of drainage tube(OR=1.19,95%CI=1.08-1.30),difference in preoperative and postoperative neutrophil counts(OR=1.23,95%CI=1.01-1.49),and difference between preoperative and postoperative C-reactive protein levels(OR=1.05,95%CI=1.03-1.07)were inde-pendent risk factors for postoperative nosocomial infection in RC patients.The area under the ROC curve of the nomogram constructed based on the above factors was 0.933(95%CI=0.896-0.969).The calibration curve showed that the predicted risk was in good agree-ment with the actual observed risk of infection.In addition,DCA demonstrated that the nomogram has good clinical utility and high net clinical benefits in predicting nosocomial infection.Conclusion:The nomogram constructed in this study has a good predictive perfor-mance in postoperative nosocomial infection in RC patients.

Objective To establish a method for simultaneous determination of trace levels of microcystins,cylindrospermopsin,anatoxin,and nodularin in lake water based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS).Methods After being adjusted to alkaline conditions and mixed with six internal standards,the water samples were enriched using dual HLB and ENVI-Carb cartridges.The eluates were then evaporated under nitrogen,reconstituted,and subjected to instrumental analysis.Both water and acetonitrile containing 0.1%formic acid were used as mobile phases.An ACQUITY UPLC? BEH C18 column(150 mm×2.1 mm,1.7 μm)was selected to separate the target cyanotoxins.Multiple reaction monitoring was applied for data acquisition,and quantification was accomplished using internal standard methods.Results Within certain concentration ranges,all 14 cyanotoxins examined in the study showed good linearity,with all correlation coefficients greater than 0.998.When the water volume was 100 mL,the limits of detection and quantification for the 14 cyanotoxins were 0.1-0.9 ng/L and 0.3-2.9 ng/L,respectively,and spiked recoveries and relative standard deviations were 81.7%-132.9%and 1.2%-14.9%,respectively.In the 10 lake water samples analyzed,cylindrospermopsin,anatoxin-α,and multiple microcystins were detected.Conclusion The method developed in the study has high-throughput capacity,as well as high sensitivity,accuracy,and reliability.The method can be applied in the simultaneous detection of microcystins,cylindrospermopsin,anatoxin,and nodularin in lake water.

Objective To investigate the types and mechanisms of microglial cell death induced by interaction between palmitic acid(PA)and lipopolysaccharide(LPS).Methods BV-2 microglial cells were divided into three groups for apoptosis research,BSA group,PA treatment group,and staurosporine(STA)group.They were further divided into four groups for necrosis research,BSA group,BSA+inhibitor group,PA group,and PA+inhibitor group.Western blotting was conducted to assess the expression levels of key proteins involved in apoptosis and necrosis pathways.The effect of PA on microglial cells was validated through feeding a high-fat diet to Institute of Cancer Research(ICR)mice.Results Apoptotic microglia were observed in both BSA group and PA group,PA significantly induced the activation of caspase-3,caspase-7,and poly ADP-ribose polymerase(PARP).However,compared to the BSA group,the level of activated Caspase-7 in the STA group did not change significantly.Inhibition of ferroptosis,necroptosis,or autophagy did not protect against PA-induced cell damage,while the Caspase-11 inhibitor,wedelolactone(WE),significantly improved PA induced cell damage.This study also found that PA could promote LPS entry into microglial cells and induce pyroptosis.This phenomenon and the protective effect of WE were further confirmed in a high-fat diet mouse model through immunofluorescent staining and Western blotting.Conclusion PA induces apoptosis and pyroptosis in microglial cells,while simultaneously promoting LPS entry into microglial cells and inducing pyroptosis.

Objective:To explore the application of a role transition shock model based on the teach-back technique in knee arthroplasty nursing teaching.Methods:We assigned 50 nursing student interns practicing in the knee arthroplasty team of Orthopedics Department of Nanjing First Hospital between August 2020 and August 2022 into control group ( n=25, traditional teaching) and observation group ( n=25, teach-back-based role transition shock model teaching) according to the order of admission. At the end of internship, the examination scores, the impact of transition shock on comprehensive abilities, and teaching satisfaction of the students were assessed and analyzed using the t test and Fisher's exact test with the use of SPSS 22.0. Results:Compared with the control group, the observation group scored significantly lower in the physical, psychological, knowledge and skills, and sociocultural and developmental dimensions of the transition shock assessment scale ( P<0.05). The observation group showed significantly higher scores of nurse-patient communication, nursing practice, disease observation, health education, humanistic care, team cooperation, clinical thinking, and emergency response than the control group ( P<0.05). The examination results of the observation group were significantly better than those of the control group ( t=12.31, 11.52, P<0.001). The teaching satisfaction rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group [100.00% (25/25) vs. 68.00% (17/25), χ2=9.52, P=0.002]. Conclusions:The teach-back-based role transition shock model can help alleviate the transition impact faced by nursing student interns when entering clinical practice, and also improve their comprehensive abilities as well as satisfaction with teaching.

Objective To evaluate the pharmacokinetic characteristics and safety of single and multiple oral azvudine tablets in healthy young and elderly Chinese subjects.Methods This was a open-label and parallel-group study.The trial consisted of two groups:healthy young subjects group and healthy elderly subjects group,with 12 subjects in each group.Enrolled subjects were first given a single dose,fasting oral azvudine tablet 5 mg,after a 3-day cleansing period entered the multiple dose phase,fasting oral azvudine tablet 5 mg·d-1 for 7 days.Results After a single dose of azvudine 5 mg,Cmax and AUC0-∞ were(4.76±2.12)ng·mL-1,(6.53±2.20)ng·mL-1·h,and Tmax,t1/2 were 0.75,1.87 h in young subjects;Cmax and AUC0-∞ were(6.40±3.25)ng·mL-1,(9.50±3.70)ng·mL-1·h,and Tmax,t1/2 were 0.63,2.66 h in elderly subjects.After a multiple dose of azvudine 5 mg·d-1 for 7 d,Cmax and AUC0-∞ were(3.26±1.61)ng·mL-1,(5.38±2.19)ng·mL-1·h,and Tmax,ss,t1/2,ss were 0.88,2.13 h in young subjects;Cmax,ss and AUC0-∞,ss were(3.97±2.09)ng·mL-1,(6.71±3.26)ng·mL-1·h,and Tmax,ss,t1/2,ss were 0.75,2.56 h in elderly subjects.Elderly/young geometric mean ratios and 90％CIs were 128.37％(88.23％-186.76％),139.93％(105.42％-185.72％),140.03％(106.33％-184.41％)for azvudine Cmax,AUC0-t,AUC0-∞ after a single dose,and were 118.66％(80.83％-174.20％),118.41％(83.60％-167.69％),118.95％(84.78％-166.89％)for azvudine Cmax,AUC0-t,AUC0_∞ after a multiple dose of azvudine 5 mg·d-1 for 7 d.Conclusion After single and multiple oral administration of azvudine tablets,systemic exposure to azvudine was higher in healthy elderly subjects compared with healthy young subjects.After taking azvudine tablets,the types,severity and incidence of adverse events and adverse drug reactions in healthy elderly people were not significantly different from those in healthy young subjects.Azvudine was found to be safe and well tolerated in healthy elderly subjects.

AIM To explore the effects of Shiquan Dabu Decoction on the synaptic function and cognitive impairment in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease(AD).METHODS Sixty mice were randomly divided into the control group,the model group,the memantine group(5 mg/kg)and the high,medium and low dose Shiquan Dabu Decoction groups(6.24,3.12 and 1.56 g/kg),with 10 mice in each group.Except for those of the control group,the mice of other groups underwent their 70-day AD models induction by intraperitoneal injection of D-galactose and gavage feeding of AlCl3,followed by 42-day corresponding dosing of drugs by gavage on the 29th day.The mice had their spatial learning and associative memory detected by Morris water maze test and conditioned fear test;their morphological changes of hippocampal neurons observed by HE staining;their serum SOD activity,MDA level,and SOD,AChE activities and MDA,ACh,TNF-α and IL-1β levels in hippocampus detected by kits;and their PSD-95,Shank3,NR1,NR2A,NR2B,AMPK and p-AMPK protein expressions in hippocampus detected by Western blot.RESULTS Compared with the model group,the high-dose Shiquan Dabu Decoction group displayed improved spatial learning and memory ability and associative memory(P<0.05,P<0.01);reduced pathological damage of hippocampal neurons,decreased levels of oxidative stress and inflammation(P<0.05,P<0.01);enhanced cholinergic transmission(P<0.05,P<0.01),and increased protein expressions of PSD-95,Shank3,NR1,NR2A,NR2B,and p-AMPK in hippocampal tissue(P<0.05,P<0.01).CONCLUSION Shiquan Dabu Decoction can improve the cognitive impairment of in the mouse model of AD,and its mechanism may be related to AMPK activation and synaptic function restoration.

Objective To explore the efficacy of Krackow locking loop technique combined with the modified Kessler suture technique in the treatment of acute closed Achilles tendon rupture.Methods From January 2020 to January 2022,162 cases of acute closed Achilles tendon rupture were treated with Krackow locking loop technique combined with the modified Kessler suture technique.The patients were treated with the same postoperative rehabilitation plans.The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society(AOFAS)hindfoot score and Achilles Tendon Total Rupture Score(ATRS)were collected to evaluate the functions.Results The operation time was 24-40 min(mean,31.9±4.6 min).All incisions healed in one stage without infection or sural nerve injury.Complications occurred in 2 patients,including 1 case of deep venous thrombosis and 1 case of trauma-related re-rupture.The recovery time of ankle flexion and extension motion was4-12 weeks(mean,7.6±1.9 weeks),the recovery time of single-legged heel rise height on the affected side was 10-18 weeks(mean,13.3±1.8 weeks),and the recovery time of fast walking or jogging was 14-26 weeks(mean,19.1±1.8 weeks).The 162 patients was followed up for 14-25 months(mean,19.0 months).The AOFAS hindfoot score increased from(54.4±4.4)points preoperatively to(98.0±4.0)points at the last follow-up(t =-104.402,P =0.000).The ATRS score increased from(52.0±8.3)points preoperatively to(91.2±2.4)points at the last follow-up(t =-62.823,P = 0.000).Conclusions For young and middle-aged patients with acute closed Achilles tendon rupture,Krackow locking loop technique combined with the modified Kessler suture technique can achieve good clinical outcomes.Early functional exercise is required to return to work and life.