OBJECTIVE To analyze the selection and rationales of comparators for pharmaceutical enterprises in their medical insurance access application， so as to provide a reference for promoting communication and consensus between enterprises and medical insurance authorities in this process. METHODS The application materials for drugs outside the catalogue that passed formal review published by the National Healthcare Security Administration from 2021 to 2025 were extracted， and then content analysis was used to systematically sort out relevant information of the declared drugs and comparators； the specific situations and rationales of pharmaceutical enterprises’ selection of comparators were analyzed. RESULTS A total of 1 341 declared drug documents were collected. Data analysis showed that 1 035 （77.18%） were submitted with positive comparators and 306 （22.82%） used blank comparators； 58 drugs （4.33%） took combination therapy as the reference， and 5 drugs （0.37%） referred to non-pharmacological （or non-single pharmacological） treatment regimens. Among competitive drugs declared by multiple enterprises， 50.00% of the enterprises submitted different comparators. A total of 4 basic conditions and 39 additional conditions were extracted as the rationales for selecting positive comparators. For blank comparators， 12 drug-related factors， 2 administrative factors， and 1 other factor were identified. More than 10% of the drugs did not state the rationale for comparator selection， and over 44% of drugs using blank comparators provided only one justification. CONCLUSIONS Pharmaceutical enterprises mainly select comparators based on their own interests in the medical insurance access application， and there are deficiencies in the adequacy and standardization of their selection basis and reasoning. It is recommended that enterprises follow the principled requirements of medical insurance authorities， and fully and normatively explain the reasons for selecting comparators in combination with the characteristics of their own products. Meanwhile， it is advisable to change the current open-ended statement form of selection reasons into a closed-ended answering mode， so as to highlight the priority of selection， standardize the declaration behavior of enterprises， and reduce communication divergences between the two parties.

Severe pneumonia is one of the most common and critical respiratory diseases in clinical practice. It is characterized by rapid progression， difficult treatment， high mortality， and many complications， posing a significant threat to the life and health of patients. The pathogenesis of severe pneumonia is highly complex， and studies have shown that its occurrence and development are closely related to multiple signaling pathways. Currently， the treatment of severe pneumonia mainly focuses on anti-infection， mechanical ventilation， and glucocorticoids， but clinical outcomes are often not ideal. Therefore， finding safe and effective alternative therapies is particularly important. In recent years， with the deepening of research into traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， it has gained widespread attention in the treatment of severe pneumonia. This paper reviewed the relationship between severe pneumonia and relevant signaling pathways in recent years and how TCM regulated these pathways in the treatment of severe pneumonia. It was found that TCM could regulate the Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）/myeloid differentiation factor 88 （MyD88）/nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）， Janus kinase （JAK）/signal transducer and activator of transcription （STAT）， phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）/mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR）， NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）， and nuclear factor E₂-related factor 2 （Nrf2） signaling pathways， playing a role in reducing the inflammatory response， inhibiting cell apoptosis and pyroptosis， improving oxidative stress， and other effects in the treatment of severe pneumonia. Among these pathways， it was found that all of them regulated inflammation to treat severe pneumonia. Therefore， reducing inflammation is the core mechanism by which Chinese medicine treats severe pneumonia. This review provides direction for the clinical treatment of severe pneumonia and offers a scientific basis for the research and development of new drugs.

Objective To study the clinical characteristics and medication patterns of Wangbi Tablets in treating patients with knee osteoarthritis(KOA)in the real world and to analyze the advantages and specific features of Chinese patent medicines in treating advantage disease.Methods A prospective case registry study was conducted,registering 3 000 patients from 30 TCM and Western medicine hospitals across China from April 2019 to December 2021.Data on gender,age,BMI,Chinese medicine staging(CMS),K-L grading,medication duration,VAS score,medical history and combined medication were collected for descriptive analysis.Comparisons were made between different stages and between single-use and combined-use groups.The Apriori algorithm was used for association analysis of combined medications.Results A total of 2 999 patients were included,with 2 063 females(68.79%)and 936 males(31.21%).The average age was(56.89±8.90)years.The average BMI was(23.80±2.88)kg/m2.The proportion of patients in CMS I was 512(17.07%),with a VAS median score of 8,while the proportion of patients in CMS Ⅱ was 2 181(72.73%),with a VAS median score of 6.The proportion of patients in CMS Ⅲ was 306(10.20%),with a VAS median score of 3;316 cases(10.54%)were classified as K-L grade I,2 477 cases(82.59%)as grade Ⅱ,204 cases(6.80%)as grade Ⅲ,and 2 cases(0.07%)as grade Ⅳ.Medication analysis indicated that the single-use group(1507 cases,50.25%)was larger than the combined-use group(1 492 cases,49.75%).In terms of the number of drugs used in combination,one(39.01%)and two(38.14%)were the main types;in terms of medication types,combination therapy with Western medicine(62.27%)and simultaneous use of Western medicine and other Chinese materia medica(26.14%)were the main methods;the top three drugs with the highest frequency of combination use were glucosamine capsules,imrecoxib tablets and sodium hyaluronate injection.The top three drug combinations with the highest support were"Huoxue Zhishang Powder+imrecoxib tablets","glucosamine capsules+imrecoxib tablets"and"glucosamine capsules+sodium hyaluronate injection".Inter-group comparisons showed that the medication duration for Wangbi Tablets in CMS I was longer than in CMS Ⅱ and CMS Ⅲ(P<0.01).The proportion of patients on monotherapy in CMS I(62.11%)was higher than in CMS Ⅱ(46.54%)and CMS Ⅲ(56.86%)(P<0.001).Among patients in CMS I(16.41%)and CMS Ⅲ(21.24%),the highest proportion used one combined medication,whereas in CMS Ⅱ,the highest proportion was for those using two combined medications(20.50%).In all three groups,CMS I(19.53%),CMS Ⅱ(33.70%)and CMS Ⅲ(30.72%),the highest proportion of combined medications was Western medicine.Conclusion More than half of the patients treated KOA with Wangbi Tablets alone.Approximately one-fifth of the patients were in CMS I,with a median pain score of 8.The average duration of medication for patients in CMS I,CMS Ⅱ and CMS Ⅲ decreases,and there is no obvious pattern in the medication method at different stages;combination therapy is represented by"Huoxue Zhishang Powder+imrecoxib tablets"and"glucosamine capsules+imrecoxib tablets".

Objective To study the clinical characteristics and medication patterns of Wangbi Tablets in treating patients with knee osteoarthritis(KOA)in the real world and to analyze the advantages and specific features of Chinese patent medicines in treating advantage disease.Methods A prospective case registry study was conducted,registering 3 000 patients from 30 TCM and Western medicine hospitals across China from April 2019 to December 2021.Data on gender,age,BMI,Chinese medicine staging(CMS),K-L grading,medication duration,VAS score,medical history and combined medication were collected for descriptive analysis.Comparisons were made between different stages and between single-use and combined-use groups.The Apriori algorithm was used for association analysis of combined medications.Results A total of 2 999 patients were included,with 2 063 females(68.79%)and 936 males(31.21%).The average age was(56.89±8.90)years.The average BMI was(23.80±2.88)kg/m2.The proportion of patients in CMS I was 512(17.07%),with a VAS median score of 8,while the proportion of patients in CMS Ⅱ was 2 181(72.73%),with a VAS median score of 6.The proportion of patients in CMS Ⅲ was 306(10.20%),with a VAS median score of 3;316 cases(10.54%)were classified as K-L grade I,2 477 cases(82.59%)as grade Ⅱ,204 cases(6.80%)as grade Ⅲ,and 2 cases(0.07%)as grade Ⅳ.Medication analysis indicated that the single-use group(1507 cases,50.25%)was larger than the combined-use group(1 492 cases,49.75%).In terms of the number of drugs used in combination,one(39.01%)and two(38.14%)were the main types;in terms of medication types,combination therapy with Western medicine(62.27%)and simultaneous use of Western medicine and other Chinese materia medica(26.14%)were the main methods;the top three drugs with the highest frequency of combination use were glucosamine capsules,imrecoxib tablets and sodium hyaluronate injection.The top three drug combinations with the highest support were"Huoxue Zhishang Powder+imrecoxib tablets","glucosamine capsules+imrecoxib tablets"and"glucosamine capsules+sodium hyaluronate injection".Inter-group comparisons showed that the medication duration for Wangbi Tablets in CMS I was longer than in CMS Ⅱ and CMS Ⅲ(P<0.01).The proportion of patients on monotherapy in CMS I(62.11%)was higher than in CMS Ⅱ(46.54%)and CMS Ⅲ(56.86%)(P<0.001).Among patients in CMS I(16.41%)and CMS Ⅲ(21.24%),the highest proportion used one combined medication,whereas in CMS Ⅱ,the highest proportion was for those using two combined medications(20.50%).In all three groups,CMS I(19.53%),CMS Ⅱ(33.70%)and CMS Ⅲ(30.72%),the highest proportion of combined medications was Western medicine.Conclusion More than half of the patients treated KOA with Wangbi Tablets alone.Approximately one-fifth of the patients were in CMS I,with a median pain score of 8.The average duration of medication for patients in CMS I,CMS Ⅱ and CMS Ⅲ decreases,and there is no obvious pattern in the medication method at different stages;combination therapy is represented by"Huoxue Zhishang Powder+imrecoxib tablets"and"glucosamine capsules+imrecoxib tablets".

Objective To compare the value of the 2018 Chinese guideline prognostic score with that of the 2019 European Society of Cardiology(ESC)in the predicting efficiency for acute pulmonary embolism(APE)in 30-day all-cause mortality.Methods The data of the hospitalized patients with confirmed APE from January 2015 to December 2019 were retrospectively collected.According to death within 30 days,the patients were divided into a death group and a survival group.Subgroup analysis was performed according to gender,oxygen saturation and infection.The SPSS software was used to establish the receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)for the two scores and calculated the area under the curve(AUC).The Delong's test was applied to compare the AUC differences.The net reclassification index(NRI)and integrated discrimination improvement(IDI)were calculated using the R software packages of survival,survIDINRI,and PredictABEL.Results 626 APE patients were enrolled,and 30-day death was predicted in those patients using two scores.In terms of overall discrimination,the 2018 Chinese guideline prognostic score was better than the 2019 ESC guideline prognostic score,with an AUC of 0.782 and 0.749,respectively;but there were no statistical differences between the two AUC(P＞0.05).In terms of prediction accuracy,the NRI of the 2019 ESC guideline prognostic score was 44.4%(95%CI:0.091～0.753),higher than that of the 2018 Chinese guidelines prognostic score,which increased by 58.6%(95%CI:0.161～0.917)in the correct reclassification to death group,while decreased by 14.2%(95%CI:-0.249～0.08)in the correct reclassification to survival group.IDI increased by 3.38%(P＜0.05).Subgroup analysis showed the prognostic scores of the 2018 Chinese guidelines and the 2019 ESC guidelines prognostic scores had predictive ability for patients with different gender and different oxygen saturation(P＜0.05),and the prognostic scores for co-infected population(AUC:0.749,0.772)(P＞0.05),non-coinfected population(AUC:0.652,0.833).Conclusions Both the 2018 Chinese guideline prognostic score and the 2019 ESC guideline prognostic score can predict 30-day mortality in APE patients,and have a better predictive ability for the co-infected population.However,the predictive accuracy of the former is higher than that of the latter in the survival group,and the score is more rapid and convenient for clinical application,while the latter has improved the prediction ability in the death group.

ObjectiveTo investigate the differences in clinical efficacy of different medication regimens of Wangbi Tablets （尪痹片） for knee osteoarthritis （KOA） in a real-world setting， providing a basis for rational clinical use of Wangbi Tablets. MethodsA prospective registry study was conducted， involving 2，999 KOA patients registered in 30 hospitals nationwide from January 26th， 2019， to December 17th， 2021. Based on the use of Wangbi Tablets during the observation period， patients were divided into a monotherapy group （1，507 cases） and a combination therapy group （1，492 cases）， and the combination group can be further divided into Wangbi Tablets plus Chinese medicine （CM）， Wangbi Tablets plus western medicine （WM）， and Wangbi Tablets plus Chinese and western medicine （CM+WM） subgroups. The baseline data of patients in the monotherapy group and the combination group were compared， including age， gender， body weight， medication time， clinical stage， K-L grade， and others. Efficacy indicators included the Visual Analog Scale （VAS） score， Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index （WOMAC） score， and EuroQol five-dimensional （EQ-5D） health index， which were evaluated before and after 4-， 8- and 12-week treatment， and the difference before and after treatment was calculated after 4， 8 and 12 weeks of treatment. The difference between the baseline and 12 weeks of treatment of all the above indicators was used as the dependent variables， and gender， age， body mass index （BMI）， course of disease， K-L grade， and clinical stage were used as independent variables， when multiple linear regression was taken to explore the influencing factors of the efficacy. At the same time， the occurrence of major symptoms （including morning stiffness， joint swelling， soreness of waist and knees， fear of wind， and fear of cold） was counted， and the disappearance of symptoms at each time point was counted after 4， 8， and 12 weeks of treatment. ResultsAt baseline， there were no statistically significant differences in gender and age distribution between the monotherapy and combination therapy groups （P＞0.05）； the proportion of patients in the acute stage and recovery stage was higher in the monotherapy group than in the combination therapy group， while the proportion in the remission stage was lower （P＜0.05）； the VAS score was higher in the monotherapy group， and the EQ-5D index was lower （P＜0.01）， with no statistically significant difference in total WOMAC score between the two groups （P＞0.05）. Compared to those measured before treatment and at previous timepoint， the VAS score and WOMAC total score significantly decreased in both groups， while EQ-5D value increased （P＜0.05）. The difference in VAS score between baseline and after 12-week treatment was higher in the monotherapy group than the combination group， while the differences in WOMAC total score and EQ-5D value between baseline and after 4-， 8- and 12-week treatment were higher in the combination group （P＜0.05）. Multiple linear regression showed that VAS score before treatment had greatest impact on pain improvement （P＜0.01）， and compared to Wangbi Tablets monotherapy， the combination of Wangbi tablets with WM or CM had larger associations with pain improvement （P＜0.05）； and Wangbi Tablets had better efficacy when the course of treatment was ＞28 days （P＜0.01）. Wangbi Tablets plus WM had a better effect on improving the overall function of the knee joint than Wangbi Tablets alone （P＜0.01）； and the efficacy of Wangbi Tablets with a course of treatment ＞28 days was better （P＜0.05）. The improvement of quality of life of patients in the attack and remission stages was more obvious than that in the recovery stage （P＜0.01）； Wangbi Tablets plus WM or CM had a better effect on improving quality of life than Wangbi Tablets alone （P＜0.05）. Before treatment， the proportion of patients with morning stiffness， soreness of waist and knees， fear of wind and chills in the monotherapy group was higher than that in the combination group （P＜0.01）. The proportion of main symptoms in both groups decreased after 4， 8 and 12 weeks of treatment （P＜0.05）. After 4 weeks of treatment， the disappearance rate of each main symptom in the combination group was higher than that in the monotherapy group， and after 12 weeks of treatment， the disappearance rate of fear of wind in the monotherapy group was higher than that in the combination group， while the disappearance rate of joint swelling and soreness of waist and knees was lower （P＜0.05）. ConclusionWangbi Tablets， whether used alone or in combination with other medications， is effective throughout the course of KOA， with greater benefits in improving joint function and quality of life during the acute and remission stages compared to the recovery stage. Combination therapy had a faster onset of effect， but began to converge with monotherapy after 8 weeks. The best efficacy was observed with the combination of Wangbi Tablets with WM， followed by combination with CM.

This study investigated the primary pathogenesis and syndrome evolution of different heart failure with preserved ejection fraction(HFpEF)stages based on the classical and clinical experience of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),combined with the clinical characteristics of pre-heart failure,symptomatic heart failure,and advanced heart failure.This study summarizes and refines the three core syndrome factors:water,deficiency and blood stasis.Water-fluid retention was observed throughout these three stages,from the beginning to the end.With the advancement of the disease,the heart yang changes from stagnation to deficiency,water-fluid retention gradually increases,blood stasis becomes increasingly prominent,and the disease location develops dynamically from the upper to the middle and lower jiao.This study proposes three methods of treating HFpEF.The main pathogenesis of pre-heart failure is lung qi dysfunction-induced water retention,which can be treated by dispersing lung qi and transforming water retention using Fuling Xingren Gancao Decoction.The primary pathogenesis of symptomatic heart failure is yang and qi deficiency-induced water retention,which can be treated with tonifying yang,supplementing qi,and transforming water retention using Shengxian Decoction combined with Linggui Zhugan Decoction.The primary pathogenesis of advanced heart failure is yang deficiency with blood stasis and water retention affecting the heart,which can be treated with tonifying yang,circulating blood,and expelling water retention using Zhenwu Tingli Decoction.Chinese medicine can be flexibly added or subtracted according to the patients'concurrent patterns.However,the daily care of patients should be considered.This study explores the staging treatment of HFpEF from water,deficiency and blood stasis to provide a TCM clinical reference for treating HFpEF.

Aim The key genes for necroptosis in atherosclerosis were screened by bioinformatics methods and verified with the help of in vitro experiments to provide new strategies for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis from the perspective of necroptosis.Methods Genes related to atherosclerotic plaques were downloaded from GEO da-tabase,and genes related to necroptosis were downloaded from GeneCards database and intersected to obtain atherosclerotic necroptosis genes,and the mechanism of action and signalling pathways of the genes were further analysed by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis,and the protein-protein interaction(PPI)network was constructed and screened for key genes.Finally,macrophages were treated with oxidized low density lipoprotein(oa-LDL)at a final concentration of 100 mg/L,and the expression of key genes was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot.Results A total of 81 atherosclerotic nec-roptosis genes were obtained.GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that they were mainly enriched in the positive regulation of endopeptidase activity,IκB kinase(IKK)/nuclear factor-KB(NF-κB)signalling,and autophagy signalling pathway.Five key genes including HSPA8,STAT3,HMOX1,SQSTM1 and FAS were obtained by using five computa-tional methods of Cytoscape software cytoHubba plug-in.Compared with the normal control group,the HMOX1 gene was highly expressed in THP-1 macrophages treated with ox-LDL(P＜0.05),while the expression of the HSPA8,STAT3,SQSTM1 and FAS genes showed no significant changes(P＞0.05);the HMOX1 and SQSTM1 genes were highly expressed in RAW264.7 macrophages treated with ox-LDL(P＜0.05),while HSPA8,STAT3 and FAS genes showed no significant changes(P＞0.05).The expression of HMOX1 protein in THP-1 macrophages was also increased.Conclusion HMOX1 may be the key gene of atherosclerotic necroptosis,and it is expected to become a new target for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether electroacupuncture(EA)ameliorates abnormal trigeminal neuralgia(TN)orofacial pain and anxiety-like behavior by altering synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus CA1.METHODS A mouse infraorbital nerve transection model(pT-ION)of neuropathic pain was established,and EA or sham EA was used to treat ipsilateral acu-puncture points(GV20-Baihui and ST7-Xia-guan).Golgi-Cox staining and transmission elec-tron microscopy(TEM)were administrated to observe the changes of synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus CA1.RESULTS Stable and per-sistent orofacial allodynia and anxiety-like behav-iors induced by pT-ION were related to changes in hippocampal synaptic plasticity.Golgi stain-ings showed a decrease in the density of dendritic spines,especially mushroom-type dendritic spines,in hippocampal CA1 neurons of pT-ION mice.TEM results showed that the density of synapses,membrane thickness of the postsynap-tic density,and length of the synaptic active zone were decreased,whereas the width of the synap-tic cleft was increased in pTION mice.EA attenu-ated pT-ION-induced orofacial allodynia and anx-iety-like behaviors and effectively reversed the abnormal changes in dendritic spines and syn-apse of the hippocampal CA1 region.CONCLU-SION EA modulates synaptic plasticity of hippo-campal CA1 neurons,and reduces abnormal oro-facial pain and anxiety-like behavior,providing evidence for a TN treatment strategy.

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness of transcutaneous lower eyelid blepharoplasty with a skin flap reserving the pretarsal fullness.Methods:From November 2017 to April 2022, a retrospective analysis was performed to assess the reserving of pretarsal fullness after the transcutaneous lower blepharoplasty with a skin flap in the Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, General Hospital of Southern Theater Command, PLA. A subciliary incision was made below the ciliary margin and a skin flap was elevated at the surface of pretarsal orbicularis. The muscle was partially split at the position of pretarsal crease, leaving the pretarsal orbicularis oculi muscle and the pretarsal crease intact. Preseptal dissection was proceeded down to the level of arcus marginalis, exposing the orbital fat pads. For patient with tear trough deformity or volume deficiency in the medial cheek, retaining ligament laxity and fat repositioning were routinely performed. The muscle wound was closed edge to edge and the excess skin was excised conservatively. Postoperative complications were recorded. Face-Q scale was used for surgical decision and postoperative satisfaction evaluation. The scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating less regret the operation or greater satisfaction. The preoperative and postoperative digital photographs were used to evaluate the change of pretarsal fullness.Results:256 patients were included, of whom 233 cases were women and 23 cases were men. The age was (43.0±10.2) years. 24 cases had concomitant lateral canthoplasty due to hypotonia of lower eyelid, 22 had concomitant upper blepharoplasty, and 21 cases had brow lift surgery to correct upper eyelid relaxation. All patients had follow-up for (3.7±4.1) months, most patients were satisfied with the operation results. A total of 211 patients maintained a natural pretarsal fullness postoperatively, with the rate of 82.4%. The Face-Q satisfaction score was (75.8±18.6) and the surgical decision score was (80.3±15.4), indicating that most patients did not regret the operation. Postoperative complications included 8 cases of eyelid bags undercorrection, of whom 4 patients underwent secondary resection. 7 patients experienced infraorbital bulge for the uneven placement of the fat pad, 2 of them required revision surgery. Hematoma occurred in 4 cases and was resolved by hematoma clearance. Other complications included 3 cases of ectropion and 2 cases of minimal tear trough correction. Lower eyelid ectropion was corrected in one case.Conclusion:Reserving the pretarsal fullness in transcutaneous lower eyelid blepharoplasty with a skin flap provides excellent aesthetic results and high patient satisfaction. This technique is simple and effective.