Objective To analyze the medication rules of Professor HUANG Feng for the treatment of low back pain using data mining methods.Methods The information of prescriptions for the effective cases of outpatients with low back pain treated by Professor HUANG Feng were collected and screened.Microsoft Excel 2019 was used to analyze the frequency of medication and the distribution of properties,flavors and meridian tropism of the drugs in the included prescription.IBM SPSS Modeler 18.0 was used for association rule analysis,and IBM Statistics 26.0 was used for cluster analysis.Results A total of 239 prescriptions and 75 Chinese medicines were included.There were 23 high-frequency Chinese medicines with the medication frequency being or over 20 times,and the top 10 Chinese medicines were Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma,vinegar-processed Corydalis Rhizoma,Cibotii Rhizoma,Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma,Zanthoxyli Radix,salt-processed Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix,Rehmanniae Radix,Dipsaci Radix,Coicis Semen,and Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma.The medicines were mainly warm in nature,and were sweet,bitter and pungent in flavor.Most of the drugs had the meridian tropism of liver,stomach and spleen meridians.Among the drug combinations obtained from association rule analysis with the top 20 highest support,vinegar-processed Corydalis Rhizoma,Cibotii Rhizoma,Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Zanthoxyli Radix were the core drugs.Cluster analysis yielded 6 clustering combinations.Conclusion For the treatment of low back pain,Professor HUANG Feng follows the principle of"treatment adapting to the climate,individuality,and environment"and"treating the root cause of the disease",usually adopts the drugs for activating blood,moving qi and relieving pain,nourishing the liver and kidney,and also uses the medicines for replenishing qi and strengthening the spleen.The ideas of HUANG Feng for the treatment of low back pain can be used as a reference for the clinical treatment.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of Bushen Yijing Decoction for the treatment of xerophthalmia of kidney yang deficiency type and to observe its effect on serum Th1/Th17 cytokines.Methods From January 2021 to January 2023,a total of 96 patients with xerophthalmia of kidney yang deficiency type were selected as the study objects.According to the treatment methods,the patients were divided into observation group and control group,with 48 cases in each group.The control group was treated with Sodium Hyaluronate Eye Drops externally,and the observation group was given oral use of Bushen Yijing Decoction together with Sodium Hyaluronate Eye Drops externally.The course of treatment for the two groups covered 21 days.The changes of tear film break-up time(BUT),corneal fluorescein staining(FL)score,SchirmerⅠtest(SIT)value,serum Th1/Th17 cytokines,Ocular Surface Disease Index(OSDI)questionnaire scores,and 25-Item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire(NEI-VFQ-25)score in the two groups were observed before and after treatment.Moreover,the clinical efficacy and incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.Results(1)After 21 days of treatment,the total effective rate of the observation group was 95.83%(46/48),and that of the control group was 70.83%(34/48).The intergroup comparison(tested by chi-square test)showed that the clinical efficacy of the observation group was significantly superior to that of the control group(P＜0.01).(2)After treatment,the ocular surface function indicators of BUT and SIT values in the two groups were higher and the FL values were lower than those before treatment(P＜0.05).The increase of BUT and SIT values and the decrease of FL values in the observation group were significantly superior to those in the control group(P＜0.01).(3)After treatment,the levels of serum cytokines of interleukin 17(IL-17),tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α)and interferon gamma(IFN-γ)in the two groups were lower than those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease of serum IL-17,TNF-α and IFN-γ levels in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(4)After treatment,the questionnaire scores of OSDI in the two groups were lower and the NEI-VFQ-25 scores were higher than those before treatment(P＜0.05).The decrease of OSDI scores and the increase of NEI-VFQ-25 scores in the observation group were significantly superior to those in the control group(P＜0.01).(5)The incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group was 4.17%(2/48),and that in the control group was 8.33%(4/48).There was no significant difference between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion Bushen Yijing Decoction can enhance the clinical efficacy of xerophthalmia of kidney yang deficiency type,and the decoction is effective on alleviating the eye discomforts,improving the ocular surface function of patients,regulating the levels of Th1/Th17 cytokines,and relieving the inflammatory response without inducing severe adverse reactions while with high safety.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and influencing factors of vascular involvement in Beh?et′s Disease (BD) to improve and provideunderstanding of insights for clinicians to better understand this condition.Methods:Clinical data from 220 BD patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from January 2012 to May 2022 were collected. Clinical manifestations and laboratory findings were compared between BD patients with and without vascular involvement, as well as between those with improved conditions and those with progressive conditions. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors.Results:①The average age of the 220 BD patients was 36.5±15.3 years. Among them, 23 patients (10.5%) had vascular involvement, including 20 males (87.0%).②Compared to BD patients without vascular involvement, those with vascular involvement had significantly higher rates of smoking [6.1%(12/197) vs.34.8%(8/23), χ2=17.19, P<0.001], cardiac involvement [1.5%(3/197) vs. 13.0%(9/23), χ2=6.42, P=0.011], and elevated C-reactive protein(CRP) levels (78.3% vs. 56.3%, χ2=4.08, P=0.043).③ Among BD patients with vascular involvement, 11 cases (47.8%) had venous lesions, and 20 cases (87.0%) had arterial lesions, with 8 cases (34.8%) having both venous and arterial involvement. The most common type of vascular involvement was arterial dilatation (11 cases), mainly aneurysms (10 cases), and deep venous thrombosis of the lower extremities (7 cases).④The 23 BD patients with vascular involvement were followed up for an average of 18.3 months. Among them, 16 patients (69.6%) showed stable improvement, while 7 patients (30.4%) experienced disease progression, including 4 deaths (1 male and 3 females). A total of 91.3% (21/23) of the patients received glucocorticoid therapy. Immunosuppressive therapy was administered to 82.6% (19/23) of the patients, with 65.2% (10/23) receiving with cyclophosphamide and 43.5% receiving with thalidomide. Additionally, 13% (3/23) of the patients were treated with cyclosporine and methotrexate, respectively, and 8.7% (2/23) were treated with received mycophenolate mofetil. Anticoagulant therapy was given to 21.7% (5/23) of the patients, using either warfarin or low molecular weight heparin. Biologic therapy was administered to 17.4% (4/23) of the patients, and surgical intervention was performed in 43.5% (10/23) of the patients. ⑤Binary logistic regression analysis identified male gender [ OR(95% CI)=5.70(1.60, 20.90), P=0.009] as an indepe-ndent risk factor for vascular involvement in BD. Conclusion:The incidence of vascular involvement in BD is 10.5%, with a higher prevalence in males. Arterial involvement is more common than venous involvement, with arterial aneurysms being the most common manifestation. Clinicians should pay attention to CRP and total cholesterol levels in BD patients.

Objective:To study the mechanism of icariin inhibiting the proliferation of human PCa PC-3 cells based on cell metabolomics technology.Methods:We determined the proliferation activity of human PC-3 cells by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT)assay,and compared the proliferation of the PC-3 cells among the control,5-fluorouracil and icariin intervention groups.Using the Bligh Dyer method,we extracted endogenous metabolites from the cells,analyzed the metabolic profile by ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography tandem quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry,identified the differential metabolites by principal component anal-ysis and orthogonal partial least-squares discrimination analysis,and enriched the metabolic pathways based on the MetaboAnalyst data-base.Results:Icariin significantly inhibited the proliferation of human PCa PC-3 cells.A total of 89 differential metabolites were i-dentified,mainly including amino acids,phosphatidylcholine,phosphatidylethanolamine,lysophosphatidylcholine,and lysophosphati-dylethanolamine,all with the tendency to return to the normal level after icariin intervention.Icariin significantly downregulated the metabolic levels of the glycerophospholipid metabolites phosphatidylcholine,phosphatidylethanolamine,lysophosphatidylcholine and ly-sophosphatidylethanolamine,and upregulated those of amino acid metabolites tryptophan,leucine,and proline in the PC-3 cells.Conclusion:Icariin inhibits the proliferation of human PCa PC-3 cells,which may be closely related to its regulatory effect on lipid metabolism(glycerophospholipid metabolism)and amino acid metabolism.

ObjectiveTo compare the effects of programmed intermittent epidural bolus （PIEB） and continuous epidural infusion （CEI） on enhanced recovery after cesarean section. MethodsTotally 120 women scheduled to undergo elective cesarean section under combined spinal and epidural anesthesia， aged 18-45 years， with single fetus， full-term pregnancy （≥37 weeks）， ASA grade II or III， were recruited， with 60 cases in each group. At the end of the surgery， after a similar epidural loading dose， patients were randomLy assigned to receive either PIEB （6 mL·h^-1 beginning 30 minutes after the loading dose） or CEI （6 mL·h^-1， beginning immediately after the loading dose） for the maintenance of analgesia with 0.1% ropivacaine. At 2， 6， 12， 24 and 36 h postoperatively， VAS score was used to evaluate the composite pain， and Bromage Score was used to evaluate the degree of lower extremity motor block. The time to first flatus， time to first ambulation and the satisfaction scores were also recorded. ResultsThe VAS scores at 12， 24 and 36 h postoperatively and the lower extremity motor block scores at 6， 12 and 24 h postoperatively in the PIEB group were significantly lower than those in the CEI group （P < 0.01）. The epidural analgesic dosage was less in the PIEB group than that of the CEI group （P=0.002）. The time to first flatus and time to first ambulation were significantly shorter than those in the CEI group （P < 0.05）. The satisfaction scores were significantly higher in the PIEB group than in the CEI group （P < 0.05）. There was no significant difference in the first urination time after urinary catheter removal and the length of hospital stay between the two groups （P > 0.05）. ConclusionCompared with CEI， PIEB provides better postoperative analgesia， less motor block scores， lower epidural analgesic dosage， shorter the time to first flatus and defecation and time to first ambulation， and greater patient satisfaction， which is more consistent with the ERAS concept of analgesia.

ObjectiveTo explore the role of structural MRI in the diagnosis of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 （SCA3） and further evaluate its correlation with disease severity and disease duration. MethodsWe prospectively enrolled 81 genetically diagnosed SCA3 patients ［59 symptomatic （sym-SCA3） and 22 pre-symptomatic （pre-SCA3）］ and 35 age- and sex-matched healthy controls （HCs）. MRI structural images （3D T1 MPRAGE） and clinical data of all subjects were collected. Three observers with different radiological experience measured the width of the superior， middle and inferior cerebellar peduncle （SCP， MCP and ICP）， the anterior-posterior diameters of the pons and spinal cord at the levels of the foramen magnum and upper edge of the 3rd-5th cervical vertebra. One observer performed the measurements again 2 months later to assess for the intra- and inter-observer reliability， respectively. One-way ANOVA， rank-sum test， ROC curve and Random Forest were used to evaluate the diagnostic value of the above metrics for SCA3， and the correlation between the metrics and clinical variables was analyzed. ResultsNot depending on the radiological experience， the metrics based on morphological MRI showed high intra- and inter-observer reliability， among which bilateral superior and middle cerebellar peduncles performed best. The diameters of bilateral SCP， MCP， ICP， pons and spinal cord （except spinal cord at the level of the upper edge of the 5th cervical vertebra） decreased successively in HCs， pre-SCA3 and sym-SCA3 with a statistical difference （P<0.017）. ROC analysis revealed that the left MCP had the highest diagnostic value for pre-SCA3 （AUC=0.911）， with sensitivity， specificity and a cut-off value of 85.7%， 95.5% and 10.15 mm， respectively. In contrast， the right SCP had the highest diagnostic value for sym-SCA3 （AUC=0.999）， with sensitivity， specificity and a cut-off value of 100%， 98.3% and 2.62 mm， respectively. The Random Forest model based on the above metrics also had high diagnostic efficiency （AUC= 0.970， specificity=93.1%）， and the left MCP contributed the most. Correlation analysis showed that the above metrics had a significantly or moderately negative correlation with the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia （SARA） and disease duration （P<0.05）. ConclusionNot depending on radiological experience， measurements of brain structure based on morphological MRI are reliable， which can help diagnose SCA3 and predict disease severity and duration. The left MCP and the right SCP perform best for predicting pre-SCA3 and sym-SCA3， respectively. Therefore， the structural MRI is recommended for assisting the clinical diagnosis of SCA3.

Pyroptosis is a programmed cell death initiated by the activation of caspases, which is involved in the development and progression of several cardiovascular diseases. The gasdermins, a protein family, are key executive proteins in the development of pyroptosis, which increase cell membrane permeability, mediate the release of inflammatory factors, and aggravate the inflammatory injury. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has shown unique therapeutic advantages in cardiovascular diseases with multi-component and multi-target characteristics. Currently, the effective prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases based on the theory of pyroptosis become a new research hotspot in this field. Based on the theories of TCM and modern medicine, this study summarized the role of pyroptosis in cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, diabetic cardiomyopathy, hypertension, and myocarditis. The role of TCM, including active monomers, crude extracts, and compound preparations, in cardiovascular protection through the regulation of pyroptosis was also summarized, providing a theoretical basis for the clinical prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases by TCM.
Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Cardiovascular Diseases/prevention & control* ; Pyroptosis ; Myocardial Infarction/drug therapy*

Objective: To describe the distribution characteristics of hypertension among adult twins in the Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR) and to provide clues for exploring the role of genetic and environmental factors on hypertension. Methods: A total of 69 220 (34 610 pairs) of twins aged 18 and above with hypertension information were selected from CNTR registered from 2010 to 2018. Random effect models were used to describe the population and regional distribution of hypertension in twins. To estimate the heritability, the concordance rates of hypertension were calculated and compared between monozygotic twins (MZ) and dizygotic twins (DZ). Results: The age of all participants was (34.1±12.4) years. The overall self-reported prevalence of hypertension was 3.8%(2 610/69 220). Twin pairs who were older, living in urban areas, married, overweight or obese, current smokers or ex-smokers, and current drinkers or abstainers had a higher self-reported prevalence of hypertension (P<0.05). Analysis within the same-sex twin pairs found that the concordance rate of hypertension was 43.2% in MZ and 27.0% in DZ, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). The heritability of hypertension was 22.1% (95%CI: 16.3%- 28.0%). Stratified by gender, age, and region, the concordance rate of hypertension in MZ was still higher than that in DZ. The heritability of hypertension was higher in female participants. Conclusions: There were differences in the distribution of hypertension among twins with different demographic and regional characteristics. It is indicated that genetic factors play a crucial role in hypertension in different genders, ages, and regions, while the magnitude of genetic effects may vary.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Alcohol Drinking ; Diseases in Twins/genetics* ; Hypertension/genetics* ; Twins, Dizygotic/genetics* ; Twins, Monozygotic/genetics*

Objective: To describe the distribution characteristics of hyperlipidemia in adult twins in the Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR) and explore the effect of genetic and environmental factors on hyperlipidemia. Methods: Twins recruited from the CNTR in 11 project areas across China were included in the study. A total of 69 130 (34 565 pairs) of adult twins with complete information on hyperlipidemia were selected for analysis. The random effect model was used to characterize the population and regional distribution of hyperlipidemia among twins. The concordance rates of hyperlipidemia were calculated in monozygotic twins (MZ) and dizygotic twins (DZ), respectively, to estimate the heritability. Results: The age of all participants was (34.2±12.4) years. This study's prevalence of hyperlipidemia was 1.3% (895/69 130). Twin pairs who were men, older, living in urban areas, married,had junior college degree or above, overweight, obese, insufficient physical activity, current smokers, ex-smokers, current drinkers, and ex-drinkers had a higher prevalence of hyperlipidemia (P<0.05). In within-pair analysis, the concordance rate of hyperlipidemia was 29.1% (118/405) in MZ and 18.1% (57/315) in DZ, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Stratified by gender, age, and region, the concordance rate of hyperlipidemia in MZ was still higher than that in DZ. Further, in within-same-sex twin pair analyses, the heritability of hyperlipidemia was 13.04% (95%CI: 2.61%-23.47%) in the northern group and 18.59% (95%CI: 4.43%-32.74%) in the female group, respectively. Conclusions: Adult twins were included in this study and were found to have a lower prevalence of hyperlipidemia than in the general population study, with population and regional differences. Genetic factors influence hyperlipidemia, but the genetic effect may vary with gender and area.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; China/epidemiology* ; Diseases in Twins/genetics* ; Hyperlipidemias/genetics* ; Metabolic Diseases ; Twins, Dizygotic ; Twins, Monozygotic/genetics*

Objective: To analyze the morbidity and mortality trends of thyroid cancer in China from 1990 to 2019, explore the causes of the trends, and predict morbidity and mortality in the future. Methods: The morbidity and mortality data of thyroid cancer in China from 1990 to 2019 were collected from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease database. The Joinpoint regression model was used to describe the change trends. Based on the morbidity and mortality data from 2012 to 2019, a grey model GM (1,1) was constructed to predict the trends in the next ten years. The model was tested by the posterior error method and residual test method. Results: In all populations, men and women, the AAPC values of the crude morbidity rates were 4.15% (95%CI: 3.86%-4.44%, P<0.001), 5.98% (95%CI: 5.65%-6.31%, P<0.001) and 3.23% (95%CI: 2.94%-3.53%, P<0.001) respectively, the AAPC values of age-standardized morbidity rates were 2.47% (95%CI: 2.12%-2.83%, P<0.001), 3.98% (95%CI: 3.68%-4.29%, P<0.001), 1.65% (95%CI: 1.38%-1.93%, P<0.001), the AAPC values of crude mortality rates were 2.09% (95%CI: 1.92%-2.25%, P<0.001), 3.68% (95%CI: 3.45%-3.90%, P<0.001), 0.60% (95%CI: 0.50%-0.71%, P<0.001). The age-standardized mortality rates in men showed a fluctuating trend of first decrease (1990-1994), then increase (1994-2012), and then decrease (2012-2019) (AAPC=1.35%, 95%CI: 1.16%-1.53%, P<0.001). The age-standardized mortality rate in women continuously decreased (AAPC=-1.70%, 95%CI: -1.82%- -1.58%, P<0.001). The GM (1,1) models can be used for medium and long-term predictions. The results of the residual test show that the average relative error values of all models are less than 10.00%, the prediction accuracy values are more than 80.00%, and the prediction effects are good. The results of the posterior error method show that all the prediction results are good except the qualified prediction of the age-standardized morbidity rate in men. In 2029, the crude morbidity rates would increase to 3.57/100 000, 2.78/100 000, and 4.40/100 000, respectively, and the age-standardized incidence rates would increase to 2.38/100 000, 1.89/100 000, and 2.88/100 000, respectively, the crude mortality rates would increase to 0.57/100 000, 0.62/100 000 and 0.53/100 000, and the age-standardized mortality rates would decrease to 0.33/100 000, 0.42/100 000 and 0.27/100 000 in all population, men and women in China. Conclusions: The overall, gender- specific age-standardized mortality rates showed downward trends in the last decade or so, and the prediction results showed that it might further decline. However, the crude morbidity rates, age-standardized and crude mortality rates have been on the rise, and the population aging is becoming increasingly serious in China, which requires close attention and targeted prevention and control measures.
Male ; Humans ; Female ; Morbidity ; Thyroid Neoplasms/epidemiology* ; Aging ; China/epidemiology*