This article discusses the key pathogenesis of atherosclerosis （AS） based on the physiological characteristics and pathological changes of lipids and introduces the therapeutic effect of Zhuyuwan on AS， aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases from the spleen. As essential substances， lipids have the same essence but different forms. They circulate throughout the body with body fluids under the action of Yang Qi to nourish the nutrient Qi and support the defensive Qi. Lipid metabolism disorder often leads to the obstruction of Qi movement， the accumulation of dampness and turbidity， and the generation of phlegm and blood stasis. It has been proven that the formation of vulnerable plaques in AS is attributed to the interaction of three pathogenic factors： deficiency of healthy Qi， phlegm-turbidity， and collateral stasis. Their pathological essence is closely related to abnormal lipid metabolism. As lipids constitute the thick and dense components of body fluids， their impaired dispersion may lead to phlegm-turbidity and blood stasis， the pathological process of which is predominantly ascribed to the dysfunction of the spleen in distributing essence. Therefore， AS is rooted in spleen-stomach disorder， manifests as plaques formed by pathological product accumulation in vessels， with lipid transport disorder as its core pathogenesis. Specifically speaking， the dysfunction of spleen in transportation with accumulation of dampness-turbidity marks the initial stage， and blood turbidity and coagulation and phlegm-nodules accumulating in vessels represent the intermediate phase. Cold accumulation and stagnated heat transforming into toxins represent the terminal stage. Zhuyuwan， first recorded in Taiping Holy Prescriptions for Universal Relief， contains equal proportions of Coptidis Rhizoma and Evodiae Fructus. Coptidis Rhizoma， bitter and cold， exerts descending and purging actions to assist stomach Qi in lowering turbidity. Evodiae Fructus， pungent-bitter and hot， disperses obstruction and promotes free flow to support spleen Qi in ascending the clear. The compatibility of Coptidis Rhizoma and Evodiae Fructus ascends the clear and descends the turbid to harmonize Yin and Yang， assisting the spleen in distributing essence and resolving lipid accumulation to reduce lipid levels. In terms of the therapeutic mechanism， Zhuyuwan modulates lipid metabolism by correcting immune-inflammation network imbalance， improving gut microbiota composition and metabolism， and enhancing reverse cholesterol transport. By analyzing the pathological characteristics of lipid transport disorder in AS， this study delves into the intrinsic connections between cardiovascular disease and lipid transport disorder， giving novel insights into the prevention and treatment of AS.

This article discusses the key pathogenesis of atherosclerosis （AS） based on the physiological characteristics and pathological changes of lipids and introduces the therapeutic effect of Zhuyuwan on AS， aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases from the spleen. As essential substances， lipids have the same essence but different forms. They circulate throughout the body with body fluids under the action of Yang Qi to nourish the nutrient Qi and support the defensive Qi. Lipid metabolism disorder often leads to the obstruction of Qi movement， the accumulation of dampness and turbidity， and the generation of phlegm and blood stasis. It has been proven that the formation of vulnerable plaques in AS is attributed to the interaction of three pathogenic factors： deficiency of healthy Qi， phlegm-turbidity， and collateral stasis. Their pathological essence is closely related to abnormal lipid metabolism. As lipids constitute the thick and dense components of body fluids， their impaired dispersion may lead to phlegm-turbidity and blood stasis， the pathological process of which is predominantly ascribed to the dysfunction of the spleen in distributing essence. Therefore， AS is rooted in spleen-stomach disorder， manifests as plaques formed by pathological product accumulation in vessels， with lipid transport disorder as its core pathogenesis. Specifically speaking， the dysfunction of spleen in transportation with accumulation of dampness-turbidity marks the initial stage， and blood turbidity and coagulation and phlegm-nodules accumulating in vessels represent the intermediate phase. Cold accumulation and stagnated heat transforming into toxins represent the terminal stage. Zhuyuwan， first recorded in Taiping Holy Prescriptions for Universal Relief， contains equal proportions of Coptidis Rhizoma and Evodiae Fructus. Coptidis Rhizoma， bitter and cold， exerts descending and purging actions to assist stomach Qi in lowering turbidity. Evodiae Fructus， pungent-bitter and hot， disperses obstruction and promotes free flow to support spleen Qi in ascending the clear. The compatibility of Coptidis Rhizoma and Evodiae Fructus ascends the clear and descends the turbid to harmonize Yin and Yang， assisting the spleen in distributing essence and resolving lipid accumulation to reduce lipid levels. In terms of the therapeutic mechanism， Zhuyuwan modulates lipid metabolism by correcting immune-inflammation network imbalance， improving gut microbiota composition and metabolism， and enhancing reverse cholesterol transport. By analyzing the pathological characteristics of lipid transport disorder in AS， this study delves into the intrinsic connections between cardiovascular disease and lipid transport disorder， giving novel insights into the prevention and treatment of AS.

ObjectiveTo investigate the safety and feasibility of intra-biliary drainage tube placement after laparoscopic common bile duct exploration in elderly patients with choledocholithiasis， and to provide more options for surgical procedures in the clinical management of elderly patients with choledocholithiasis. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 52 elderly patients with choledocholithiasis who were admitted to Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery， Affiliated Dalian Friendship Hospital of Dalian Medical University， from November 2021 to October 2024. According to the biliary drainage method after surgery， the patients were divided into internal drainage group with 24 patients and T-tube drainage group with 28 patients， and there were 19 patients in each group after propensity score matching. The two groups were compared in terms of perioperative parameters and postoperative complications. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups， and the chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. ResultsCompared with the T-tube drainage group， the internal drainage group had a significantly shorter length of postoperative hospital stay and a significantly lower volume of postoperative bile loss （Z=-2.845 and -5.633， both P<0.05）， while there were no significant differences between the two groups in time of operation， intraoperative blood loss， and drainage tube indwelling time （all P>0.05）. There were no significant differences between the two groups in postoperative bile leak， stone recurrence， biliary stricture， and drainage tube-related complications， and the internal drainage group had a significantly lower total complication rate than the T-tube drainage group ［1 （5.3%） vs 7 （36.8%）， P<0.05］. ConclusionFor elderly patients with choledocholithiasis， intra-biliary drainage tube placement after laparoscopic common bile duct exploration can shorten the length of postoperative hospital stay， reduce bile loss， and lower the incidence rate of postoperative complications， thereby helping to accelerate postoperative recovery.

Objective To determine the chemical constituents in BSLYT by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(UHPLC-MS/MS),and to establish a high-performance liquid chromatographic fingerprint of the material basis of BSLYT and the content determination of its six main constituents,mononoside,loganin,oroxin A,oroxin B,baicalein and astilbin,providing a reference for the quality control.Methods The mass spectrometry data were used to establish the fingerprints.The content of the main components in the BSLYT samples was calculated by using the external method,and the discrepency between different batches of samples were analyzed by combining with chemometric methods.Results A total of 69 compounds were identified by mass spectrometry,and 13 compounds were identified after comparison with high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC).The similarity of the baseline characterization profiles of the 15 batches of BSLYT substances was above 0.90,and a total of 27 common peaks were identified.Cluster analysis(CA)classified the substance benchmarks into 2 classes,S1,S2,S5,S8,S9,S13,and S15 were clustered into one class,and S3,S4,S6,S7,S10-S12,and S16 were clustered into one class.By combining PCA and OPLS-DA,the chemical components affecting the baseline classification of the substances were screened and attributed to wood butterfly,cornelian cherry and cocos nigra,respectively.The contents of six components were determined by MICS,which ranged from 0.31%-0.51%,0.12%-0.22%,0.09%-0.19%,0.09%-0.24%,0.07%-0.18%,and 0.08%-0.29%for mononoside,loganin,oroxin A,oroxin B,baicalein and astilbin respectively.Conclusion The fingerprint and multi-indicator content determination method established in this paper are accurate and stable,which provide a basis for the quality control of the material benchmark of Kidney and Pharynx Formula and its related preparations.

Objective: To understand the attitudes and perceptions of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners in Beijing TCM hospitals regarding the use of Ephedra sinica Stapf (E. sinica, Ma Huang). Methods: A two-stage cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire survey of TCM practitioners in Beijing TCM hospitals between April 2023 and March 2024. The questionnaire included demographic information, the clinical background of TCM practitioners, and the clinical application of E. sinica. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relevant influencing factors when using E. sinica. Results: Of the 465 questionnaires collected, 441 were valid. Among these, 84.81% (374/441) reported having used E. sinica in clinical practice at least once. The commonly used doses of E. sinica—excluding the pediatric department—were 10 g for high doses, 6 g for medium, and 3 g for low. The three most frequently used formulas for E. sinica included Maxing Shigan decoction, Mahuang decoction, and Xiao Qing Long decoction. The most common TCM patterns treated with a high dose of E. sinica were wind-cold exterior pattern, wind-cold invading the lung, and wind and water combat with meridians congealed by cold. The top three Western medical diagnoses when using E. sinica for treatment were common cold, pneumonia, and upper respiratory tract infections. Nearly half of the respondents reported experiencing adverse reactions from the oral administration of E. sinica, with the most common being palpitations, insomnia, and restlessness. Starting with a low dose and gradually increasing it as appropriate was identified as an effective approach. Conclusion This study investigated the attitudes and perceptions of TCM practitioners in Beijing TCM hospitals regarding the dose–efficacy–adverse reaction relationship of E. sinica, providing a reference for the safe and effective clinical use of E. sinica.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of intra-biliary drainage versus T-tube drainage following laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) for choledocholithiasis.Methods:The clinical data of 50 patients undergoing LCBDE for choledocholithiasis in Dalian Friendship Hospital of Dalian Medical University from January 2018 to October 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, including 23 males and 27 females, aged (61.3±16.2) years old. Patients were divided into the intra-biliary drainage group and T-tube drainage group. Propensity score matching was used to match the baseline data of the two groups at a 1∶1 ratio. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, abdominal drainage tube indwelling time, postoperative bile drainage volume and postoperative complications were compared between the groups.Results:Compared with the T-tube group, the operative time [(155.0±36.5) min vs. (194.4±55.8) min], length of postoperative hospital stay [8.0(7.0, 8.0) d vs. 11.0(8.0, 13.0) d], and abdominal drainage tube indwelling time [5.0(4.0, 6.0) d vs. 6.0(5.0, 8.0) d] were all shorter in the intra-biliary drainage tube group (all P<0.05). The postoperative bile drainage volume was reduced [0 ml vs. 431.4(344.7, 484.3) ml]. No postoperative bile leakage occurred in either group. The intraoperative blood loss, proportion of postoperative residual stone, stone recurrence and biliary stricture were comparable between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion:Intra-biliary tube drainage following LCBDE could be safe and effective for choledocholithiasis. Compared to the classic procedure of T-tube drainage, it may be superior in the operation time, postoperative hospital stay, abdominal drainage tube indwelling time, postoperative bile drainage volume.

Objective:To analyze the changes in serum IL-1β, IFN-γ and IL-4 levels in children with sepsis and analyze their values in the differential diagnosis of Gram-positive (G + )/Gram-negative (G -) bacterial infection. Methods:Clinical data of 195 children with sepsis admitted to Xuzhou Central Hospital from February 2020 to February 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. They were all confirmed to have G + /G - bacterial infection based on pathogen culturing and identification and enrolled as disease group. Another 180 healthy children taking physical examination in the same hospital during the same period were recruited as control group. The distribution of G + /G - bacterial infection in the disease group was analyzed after pathogen culturing. ELISA was used to detect serum IL-1β, IFN-γ and IL-4 levels in both groups. Differences in the levels of serum IL-1β, IFN-γ and IL-4 were compared between the disease group and the control group as well as between the patients with G + /G - bacterial infection. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to evaluate the values of serum IL-1β, IFN-γ and IL-4 levels used alone or in combination in the differential diagnosis of G + /G - bacterial infection. Results:A total of 211 strains were isolated from 195 blood culture samples in the disease group, including 181 strains (85.78%) of G + bacteria and 30 strains (14.22%) of G - bacteria. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus and Salmonella were the predominant bacteria causing G + /G - bacterial infection, respectively. The levels of serum IL-1β and IFN-γ in the disease group were higher than those in the control group ( P<0.05), while the levels of serum IL-4 were similar in the two groups ( P>0.05). The levels of serum IL-1β, IFN-γ and IL-4 in the patients with G - bacterial infection were higher than those in the patients with G + bacterial infection ( P<0.05). The sensitivity and the area under the ROC curve of serum IL-1β, IFN-γ and IL-4 levels used in combination in the differential diagnosis of G + /G - bacterial infection were respectively 91.62% and 0.960, which were higher than those of each parameter used alone ( P<0.01, P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the specificity ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The levels of serum IL-1β and IFN-γ increased in children with sepsis, while the serum IL-4 level was basically normal in them. Children with G - bacterial infection tended to have higher serum IL-1β, IFN-γ and IL-4 levels. The combination use of all three parameters showed higher value in the differential diagnosis of G + /G - bacterial infection.

Objective:To study the efficacy and safety of oral acetaminophen or high-dose ibuprofen as rescue treatment after failure of conservative management in very preterm infants (VPIs) with haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA).Methods:From May 2020 to November 2022, VPIs with hsPDA (gestational age<32 weeks and age 4~6 d) admitted to NICU of our hospital were prospectively enrolled. The rescue treatment was initiated if hsPDA still exist after 3~4 d of conservative management. The infants were randomly assigned into acetaminophen group (oral acetaminophen 15 mg/kg, once every 6 h for 3 d) and high-dose ibuprofen group (oral ibuprofen 20 mg/kg for the first dose, 10 mg/kg each dose after 24 h and 48 h). Before and after rescue treatment, the following were recorded: echocardiography, complete blood count, biochemistry, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), fecal occult blood test (FOBT) and transcranial Doppler ultrasound. Urine output and complications were also examined. SPSS 20.0 was used for statistical analysis.Results:A total of 36 cases were in the acetaminophen group and 37 in the high-dose ibuprofen group. The two groups showed similar efficacy as rescue treatment [80.6% (29/36) vs. 78.4% (29/37), P>0.05]. No significant differences existed in the incidences of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, positive FOBT, oliguria, stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ necrotizing enterocolitis and stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ intraventricular hemorrhage between the two groups ( P>0.05). After rescue treatment, the serum cystatin C in high-dose ibuprofen group was higher [(1.72±0.29) mg/L vs. (1.58±0.26) mg/L] and 24-hours urine output was lower [(3.1±1.0) ml/(kg·h) vs. (3.7±0.7) ml/(kg·h)] than the acetaminophen group (all P<0.05). No significant differences existed in serum creatinine, platelet count, BNP, alanine aminotransferase and total serum bilirubin between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:After failure of early conservative management in VPIs with hsPDA, when initiated within 7-10 d after birth, rescue treatment with oral acetaminophen or high-dose ibuprofen has a similar efficacy of 80%, and both drugs are safe. Oral high-dose ibuprofen may have a greater effect on renal function than acetaminophen.

Objective:To study the risk factors, diagnosis and treatment of transient hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (HH) in newborns.Methods:From January 2016 to December 2020, newborns with transient HH (HH group) admitted to our hospital were enrolled in this retrospective nested case-control study. Newborns with similar gestational age (GA) (differences of GA<2 w) without HH were matched with 1∶2 ratio as the non-HH group. Clinical characteristics of the two groups were compared and the risk factors and therapeutic results of HH in newborns were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 statistical software.Results:A total of 39 cases were included in the HH group and 75 cases were matched in the non-HH group. The proportion of small for gestational age (SGA) [51.3%(20/39) vs. 32.0%(24/75)], the amount of amino acids (AA) in intravenous infusion[1.0(0.0,1.0) g/(kg·d) vs. 0.0(0.0,1.0) g/(kg·d)], the incidence of hypoglycemia [(4.3±1.9) times vs. (3.6±1.3) times] and the maximum glucose infusion rate (GIR)[(8.3±2.5) mg/(kg·min) vs. (7.4±1.1) mg/(kg·min)] in the HH group were higher than the non-HH group (all P<0.05). The platelet count in the HH group were lower than the non-HH group [(186.9±60.9)×10 9/L vs. (215.3±61.7)×10 9/L, P<0.05]. SGA ( OR=2.535, 95% CI 1.077~5.971), the amount of intravenous AA ( OR=2.180, 95% CI 1.029~4.619) and the maximum GIR ( OR=1.405, 95% CI 1.088~1.815) were independent risk factors for transient HH. In the HH group, 28/39 cases were treated with Diazoxide or Octreotide and the therapeutic effects were good with few adverse drug reactions (ADR). 37/39 cases were recovered within 28 d of birth and the other 2 cases were recovered at 2.5 m and 3.5 m, respectively. Conclusions:SGA, the amount of intravenous AA and higher GIR are risk factors for transient HH in newborns. Diazoxide or Octreotide are effective with few ADR in the treatment of transient HH. Most patients will recover from transient HH in 2 w to 3 m.

Objective:To study the clinical value of bladder stimulation technique (BST) for clean-catch urine collection in late newborns.Methods:From November 2020 to March 2022, relatively stable late newborns hospitalized in the Department of Neonatology of our hospital were enrolled in the prospective randomized controlled trial. The newborns were assigned into BST group and control group. In BST group, urine was collected using BST (suprapubic tapping alternating with lumbosacral massage for 5 min) 20~30 min after feeding and specimen were collected using urine bag before and after BST. In the control group, urine was collected using urine bag method. The urine collection was considered successful if >1 ml of urine not contaminated by faeces were collected within 60 min. The t-test and χ 2 test were used for data analysis. Results:A total of 231 late newborns were included with 117 cases in BST group and 114 in control group. The rate of successful urine collection in BST group was higher than control group (65.8% vs. 39.4%).The time needed for successful urine collection [(30.2±8.5) min vs. (40.7±12.9) min], the incidences of faeces contamination (2.5% vs. 21.1%) and urine contamination (11.7% vs. 26.7%) in BST group were all significantly lower than control group(all P<0.05). Male and female newborns in BST group had similar success rates of urine collection (65.6% vs. 66.0%). Male newborns in BST group had similar urine contamination rate with control group (9.5% vs. 11.5%) and female newborns in BST group had significantly lower urine contamination rate than control group (14.3% vs. 47.4%, P<0.05). Urine was successfully collected in 71 newborns in BST group with median duration of BST for 81 (61,132) s. No adverse effects were observed except for transient consolable crying. Conclusions:Compared with urine bag collection method, BST improves successful urine collection rates and reduces the time needed for urine collection and urine contamination rates (especially for females).