Study on syndrome differentiation of ancient arthralgia syndrome and drug use rules based on latent structure model

Abstract

In this study, the ancient doctors' concentrated prescriptions for arthralgia syndrome were collected and Lantern 3.2 software was used to construct and analyze the latent structure model of ancient arthralgia syndrome. A total of 10 syndrome types of ancient arthralgia syndrome were obtained, namely, cold-coagulation meridian syndrome(partial Yang deficiency), cold-dampness obstruction syndrome(cold weight), damp-heat obstruction syndrome, liver and kidney deficiency syndrome, essence deficiency syndrome, phlegm and blood stasis syndrome, spleen and stomach Qi deficiency syndrome, dampness evil accumulation syndrome, arthralgia meridian syndrome, cold-dampness binding lung syndrome, meridian obstruction syndrome, and wind-cold-dampness arthralgia syndrome(both wind-cold and dampness). This syndrome differentiation method further strengthened the thought on eight-class syndrome differentiation, and showed the characteristics of different syndrome differentiation types of the core drugs in the latent structure model, which was mainly reflected in paying attention to removing blood stasis and eliminating phlegm with use of pungent taste products having dispersing effect, emphasizing the effect of nourishing Yin and generating marrow to supplement congenital deficiency, invigorating spleen and replenishing Qi to regulate the spleen and stomach functions, nourishing vital energy and expelling evil. In addition, Python 3.7 software was used to mine the frequent item sets and association rules for the frequently used drugs for ancient arthralgia syndrome. The drug compatibility law is characterized by making good use of blood-nourishing drugs. Blood-activating drugs are often compatible with cold-dispelling drugs, liver and kidney tonifying drugs, and wind-dampness-dispelling drugs, following the compatibility principle of dispelling wind and dispelling cold as well as tonifying liver and kidney. The induction of syndrome differentiation types of ancient arthralgia syndrome and the discussion on the characteristics of drug use and compatibility law provide a new way for clinical syndrome differentiation and treatment, with certain reference value for the research and development of new Chinese patent medicines.