University Of Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Articles

An in-depth study on the magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of tendon rupture in sports injuries and its correlation with patients' clinical symptoms.

Muscle injuries, such as Achilles and quadriceps tendon ruptures, pose a significant challenge in elite sports, accounting for more than 30% of all sports-related injuries. Our primary goal is to investigate the MR imaging characteristics of tendon rupture in sports injuries and their relationship with patients' clinical symptoms. In our retrospective study at Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine's Second Affiliated Hospital (Zhejiang Xinhua Hospital), we compared the clinical presentation and MRI results of 106 patients with isolated AT and QT ruptures. In the AT, the enthesis was identified as a common site of bony avulsions (30.2%). In contrast, insertional ruptures were more common in the gastrocnemius heads (69.8% and 66.0%). The low frequency of mid-substance tears (13.2% to 20.8%) demonstrated the central tendon region's inherent tensile strength. The ruptured musculotendinous junctions affected the soleus (20.8%). In QT, bony avulsions play a minor role (5.1% to 11.3%). The patella was the primary site of tears (42.2% - 45.3%), with the Vastus intermedius favoring proximal tears (58.5%). Our examination of AT and QT ruptures across sub-components sheds light on their distinct patterns and the implications for clinical practice in terms of precise diagnosis, personalized treatment, and, ultimately, better patient outcomes for these debilitating injuries.

[Effect of corneal e-value on myopia control in children and adolescents with orthokeratology].

Objective: To investigate the influence of corneal e-value on the effectiveness of orthokeratology in controlling myopia in children and adolescents. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, involving the data from 1 563 myopic patients (1 563 eyes) who underwent orthokeratology at the Affiliated Eye Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from June 2015 to August 2021 and adhered to lens wear for at least 2 years. The cohort consisted of 737 males and 826 females with an average age of (10.84±2.13) years. Based on corneal e-value parameters obtained from corneal topography, patients were categorized into a low e-value group (n=425) and a high e-value group (n=1 138). Data on gender, age, parental myopia history, and baseline measures such as spherical equivalent (SE), axial length, and corneal e-value were collected. Differences in axial length change and corneal fluorescein staining rates were compared between the two groups at 1 and 2 years after the start of lens wear. A generalized linear mixed model was established with axial length change as the dependent variable to analyze the correlation between axial length change and baseline corneal e-value. Results: The initial age of the 1 563 myopic patients was (10.84±2.13) years, with a baseline SE of (-3.05±1.30) D. After 1 year of lens wear, the axial length change was (0.20±0.19) mm in the low e-value group and (0.24±0.20) mm in the high e-value group. After 2 years, the changes were (0.38±0.25) mm and (0.43±0.27) mm, respectively, with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). The incidence of corneal staining after 1 year of lens wear was 9.2% (39/425) in the low e-value group and 14.1% (160/1 138) in the high e-value group. After 2 years, the rates were 15.8% (67/425) and 21.8% (248/1 138), respectively, with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). After adjusting for parental myopia history, age, SE, and baseline axial length, the baseline corneal e-value was positively correlated with axial length change at 1 and 2 years after lens wear (all P<0.05). Conclusions: Corneal e-value is an independent factor influencing the effectiveness of orthokeratology in controlling myopia. A smaller corneal e-value is associated with slower axial length growth after orthokeratology, indicating better control of myopia in treated eyes.

Global trends of acupuncture clinical research on analgesia from 2010 to 2023: a bibliometric and visualization analysis

ObjectiveAcupuncture, acknowledged as a potent non-pharmacological therapy, is frequently employed to alleviate pain. Despite its widespread use, there has been a lack of overarching bibliometric analysis of clinical research on acupuncture analgesia. We aimed to summarize current patterns, hotspots, and development trends in this field through bibliometric analysis.MethodsThis study evaluates academic publications retrieved from the Web of Science database (2010.01–2023.09) concerning acupuncture analgesia in clinical settings. All primary and secondary studies on humans were included. To track global developmental trends, we employed several software for analyzing annual publication volumes, countries/regions, institutions, authors, cited authors, journals, cited journals, references, and keywords and to draw collaborative networks and reference co-citation network maps.ResultsThe final search encompassed 7,190 relevant studies, including 1,263 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 1,293 systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The results indicated a gradual increase in the number of annual publications on acupuncture analgesia in clinical practice. Among countries and institutions, China (2,139) and Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (258) ranked first. Liang FR (89 articles) was the most prolific author, while MacPherson H (604) was the most cited author. MEDICINE (455) was the most productive journal, and Pain (2,473/0.20) ranked first in both the frequency and centrality of cited journals. Notably, the most frequently cited reference was a systematic review of individual patient data on acupuncture carried out for chronic pain that was published by Vickers Andrew J in 2012 (156). Burst analysis identified frontier research areas for 2010–2020, encompassing network meta-analysis, case reports, dry needling, lumbar disc herniation, cancer, post-herpetic neuralgia, insomnia, and bibliometric analysis.ConclusionThis study outlines current trends and potential future research hotspots in clinical acupuncture analgesia over the past decade. Findings emphasize the necessity for enhanced international collaboration to improve research output and translation.

Research on the Impact of Organization Commitment on Traditional Chinese Medicine University Teachers' Innovative Work Behaviour

As a result of an imbalance of innovation, several countries' increase in productivity has stopped, which is why Education 4.0 promotes development. A world-class system of education that develops outstanding learners and cutting-edge concepts is essential, and talented teachers serve a key role in development—results from the current study on Innovative Work Behaviour (IWB) at Traditional Chinese Medicine University. Professors are discussed online. These research outcomes show that HE institutions significantly impact Organisation Commitment (OC)  and IWB, with OC functioning as an initial step towards IWB. The paper intended to provide insight into how Higher Education (HE) institutions in the nation of China employ the principles of Traditional Chinese Medical Education Innovative Work Behaviour (TCMEWB) along with factors that might impact IWB analysis. The medical education on-the-job teachers' TCMEWB is investigated regarding their respective emotions, strengths, and adaptability. Similar to previous studies and current hypotheses, outcomes show that stress and unreasonable assumptions affect the relationship between self-confidence and TCMEWB, with both theoretical and practical impacts. The investigators in the southwest region of China analysed 500 teachers (F=75.5%; M = 24.5% ) and reported that IWB and the impact of OC dramatically improved academic achievement. The results of the study were examined using Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) and SPSS. Studies from the two statistical tests of weight (t-test and analysis of deviation) indicate that the mean OC of teachers at China's Traditional Chinese Medicinal Higher Education Institutions depends on demographic factors such as Experience, Education, and Salary. In order to figure out the level of OC among teachers, investigators evaluated several factors, including emotions, strength, and adaptability. The correlation and coefficients for these factors vary from 0.24 to 0.57. 

Clinical features and risk factors for primary Sjögren’s syndrome combined with interstitial lung disease: a retrospective study

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) combined with interstitial lung disease (ILD), so as to provide a theoretical basis for the early diagnosis, treatment and prevention of PSS-ILD.Methods:From October 2017 to January 2022, patients with pSS who were admitted to the Department of Rheumatology at Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were included in this retrospective study. Patients were divided into the pSS-ILD (102 cases) and pSS-non-ILD groups (154 cases) based on the presence or absence of ILD on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Demographics information, clinical symptoms, laboratory indicators and HRCT features were compared, and the logistic regression analysis was utilized to identify the risk factors.Results:A total of 256 patients were included. Patients with pSS-ILD were more often female, and their age and disease duration were significantly higher than those in the pSS-non-ILD group (p &amp;lt; 0.05). The HRCT imaging classification included ground glass-like shadow (78.4%) and patchy solid shadow (17.6%), and Non-specific interstitial pneumonitis (NSIP) (72.5%) was the predominant typology. Regarding the laboratory indexes, the positive rates of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, white blood cell count, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and anti-SS-A52 antibodies were significantly higher in the pSS-ILD patients than in the pSS-non-ILD group, while the positive rates of anti-synaptic antibodies were lower than in the pSS-non-ILD group, and the differences between two groups were statistically significant (p &amp;lt; 0.05). Logistic regression showed that age &amp;gt;60 years, longer duration of disease, higher triglycerides, and cholesterol were risk factors for pSS-ILD patients.Conclusion:The clinical features of pSS-ILD patients were xerophthalmia, cough and shortness of breath, and HRCT can help to diagnose the disease at an early stage. Age over 60 years, chronic course of disease, and elevated lipid levels are risk factors for ILD in pSS patients, and the relationship between autoimmune antibody levels and the occurrence of ILD needs to be further confirmed in follow-up studies with large sample sizes. These findings have the potential to provide useful information for early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of the development of pSS-ILD.

Factors Influencing Ethical Behavior Among Chinese Undergraduate Nursing Students

Learning how to effectively respond to ethical dilemma can affect nurses’ physical and mental health, which is not conducive to developing a nursing career. Nursing students’ ethical behavior warrants attention as professionals about to begin clinical work. We aim to understand the current situation and influencing factors of Chinese nursing students’ ethical behavior. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data. Full-time nursing students were recruited from an undergraduate medical university in Jinan through convenient sampling from November to December 2021. Research ethics approval (No. 2022-0018) was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Informed consent was also received from participants. The EBT scores of the nursing students were 95.14 ± 11.37, which was not high compared with the total score. Gender, year level, and professional values had a significant impact on participants’ ethical behavior. A positive correlation was found between nursing professional values and ethical behavior. A gap still exists between the moral development and maturity of undergraduate nursing students. To further cultivate their ethical behavior and improve their confidence and ability to respond to ethical dilemmas, more innovative methods must be employed in teaching ethics courses, and continuity in the ethics education system must be maintained. For male and third- and fourth-year nursing students who showed lower ethical behavior scores, nursing educators can develop their ethical behaviors by helping them establish positive professional values.

World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS) Technical Benchmark of Acupuncture and Moxibustion: Electroacupuncture: 世界针灸学会联合会标准《针灸技术操作规范:电针》

World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS) Technical Benchmark of Acupuncture and Moxibustion: Electroacupuncture, developed under the leadership of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, was approved by WFAS. This technical benchmark was issued on October 9, 2023, and implemented on December 31, 2023. The main contents include the scope, normative references, terms and definitions, acupuncture and moxibustion procedures and rules, and safety. This article focuses on the above contents. An outlook on the application, popularization, and update plan of this technical benchmark is proposed.

[Clinical study on growth impairment induced by oral glucocorticoids based on FGF23/Klotho homeostasis observations].

To observe the correlation between growth impairment induced by long-term oral glucocorticoids (GC) therapy and the ratio of FGF23/Klotho in children with primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS). A prospective study was conducted on 56 children with GC-sensitive PNS who had discontinued GC therapy for more than 3 months and revisited the Department of Pediatrics of the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between June 2022 and December 2022. After monitoring qualitative and quantitative urine protein levels upon admission, the children with proteinuria relapse were treated with GC (GC group; n=29), while those without relapse did not receive GC treatment (non-GC group; n=27). In addition, 29 healthy children aged 3 to prepuberty were selected as the control group. Height, bone age, growth rate, and the FGF23/Klotho ratio were compared among the groups. The correlations of the FGF23/Klotho ratio with height, bone age, and growth rate were analyzed. The FGF23/Klotho ratio in the GC group was significantly higher than that in the non-GC group after 1 month of GC therapy (P<0.05), and the height and bone age growth rates within 6 months were lower than those in the non-GC group (P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed significant negative correlations between the FGF23/Klotho ratio after 1 month of treatment and the growth rates of height and bone age within 6 months in children with PNS (r=-0.356 and -0.436, respectively; P<0.05). The disturbance in FGF23/Klotho homeostasis is one of the mechanisms underlying the growth impairment caused by long-term oral GC therapy.

Effect of Mingmu nourishing cream on asthenopia

Purpose: To assess the therapeutic efficacy and safety of Mingmu nourishing cream in asthenopia. &#x0D; Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed data from 124 patients who were treated for asthenopia in the Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China from January 2015 to January 2018. Patients were divided into control group (n = 63; received conventional eye drops) and study group (n = 61; received Mingmu nourishing cream in addition to control group treatment). The ocular symptom scores and tear secretion test (Schirmer's I test (SIT)) were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. Furthermore, the clinical efficacy of Mingmu nourishing cream in the treatment of asthenopia was evaluated. &#x0D; Results: The differences in SIT, conjunctival congestion classification and ocular symptoms between the two groups after treatment were statistically significant (p &lt; 0.05). Moreover, the rate of total therapeutic efficacy in the study group was 86.9 % (53/61), which was significantly higher than the control group (p &lt; 0.05). &#x0D; Conclusion: Mingmu nourishing cream significantly improves symptoms and exhibits favourable tolerability profile. Multi-center large sample study is needed for further verifications of the findings of this study.

Understanding the mechanism of acupuncture in acute cerebral infraction through a proteomic analysis: protocol for a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Acute cerebral infarction (ACI), being the predominant form of stroke, presents challenges in terms of the limited effectiveness of various treatments in improving the neurological function. Although acupuncture shows promise in addressing ACI, the availability of high-quality evidence regarding its efficacy, safety, and underlying mechanism remains insufficient. In this study, we design a multicenter, prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled trial with the aim of evaluating the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for ACI, making an attempt to unveil the molecular mechanisms by proteomic. A total of 132 patients involving four hospitals will be randomized at a 1:1:1 ratio in the acupuncture group, control group, and sham acupuncture group. All the patients will receive basic treatment, and the patients in the acupuncture and sham acupuncture groups will also receive either acupuncture or sham acupuncture treatment, respectively, at six sessions each week for a 2 weeks period, followed by 3 months of follow-up. The primary outcome will be the change in the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores after treatment. The secondary outcomes will include the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) scale scores and the Barthel Index (BI). Adverse events that occur during the trial will be documented. To discover differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and their roles between the ACI subjects and healthy controls, we will also perform 4D-DIA quantitative proteomics analysis, and the DEPs will be confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). This study was approved by the institutional review board of the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TYLL2023043). Written informed consent from patients is required. This trial is registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2300079204). Trial results will be published in a peer-reviewed academic journal. The results of this study will determine the preliminary efficacy and safety of acupuncture in ACI patients and whether the mechanism of this form of non-pharmacologic stimulation is mediated by a novel therapeutic target for neurorehabilitation through our proteomic analysis. https://www.chictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR2300079204.

Predicting COVID-19 Re-Positive Cases in Malnourished Older Adults: A Clinical Model Development and Validation.

Building and validating a clinical prediction model for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) re-positive cases in malnourished older adults. Malnourished older adults from January to May 2023 were retrospectively collected from the Department of Geriatrics of the Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. They were divided into a "non-re-positive" group and a "re-positive" group based on the number of COVID-19 infections, and into a training set and a validation set at a 7:3 ratio. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis was used to identify predictive factors for COVID-19 re-positivity in malnourished older adults, and a nomogram was constructed. Independent influencing factors were screened by multivariate logistic regression. The model's goodness-of-fit, discrimination, calibration, and clinical impact were assessed by Hosmer-Lemeshow test, area under the curve (AUC), calibration curve, decision curve analysis (DCA), and clinical impact curve analysis (CIC), respectively. We included 347 cases, 243 in the training set, and 104 in the validation set. We screened 10 variables as factors influencing the outcome. By multivariate logistic regression analysis, preliminary identified protective factors, risk factors, and independent influencing factors that affect the re-positive outcome. We constructed a clinical prediction model for COVID-19 re-positivity in malnourished older adults. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test yielded χ2 =5.916, P =0.657; the AUC was 0.881; when the threshold probability was >8%, using this model to predict whether malnourished older adults were re-positive for COVID-19 was more beneficial than implementing intervention programs for all patients; when the threshold was >80%, the positive estimated value was closer to the actual number of cases. This model can help identify the risk of COVID-19 re-positivity in malnourished older adults early, facilitate early clinical decision-making and intervention, and have important implications for improving patient outcomes. We also expect more large-scale, multicenter studies tofurther validate, refine, and update this model.

Efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese manual therapy (Tuina) in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

IntroductionNon-pharmacological interventions play a crucial role in the management of non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP). One prime example is Tuina, a traditional Chinese manual therapy that incorporates pressing, kneading...

Development and validation of a prediction model for all-cause mortality in maintenance dialysis patients: a multicenter retrospective cohort study

Background The mortality risk varies considerably among individual dialysis patients. This study aimed to develop a user-friendly predictive model for predicting all-cause mortality among dialysis patients. Methods Retrospective data regarding dialysis patients were obtained from two hospitals. Patients in training cohort (N = 1421) were recruited from the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, and patients in external validation cohort (N = 429) were recruited from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The follow-up endpoint event was all-cause death. Variables were selected by LASSO-Cox regression, and the model was constructed by Cox regression, which was presented in the form of nomogram and web-based tool. The discrimination and accuracy of the prediction model were assessed using C-indexes and calibration curves, while the clinical value was assessed by decision curve analysis (DCA). Results The best predictors of 1-, 3-, and 5-year all-cause mortality contained nine independent factors, including age, body mass index (BMI), diabetes mellitus (DM), cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, urine volume, hemoglobin (HGB), albumin (ALB), and pleural effusion (PE). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year C-indexes in the training set (0.840, 0.866, and 0.846, respectively) and validation set (0.746, 0.783, and 0.741, respectively) were consistent with comparable performance. According to the calibration curve, the nomogram predicted survival accurately matched the actual survival rate. The DCA showed the nomogram got more clinical net benefit in both the training and validation sets. Conclusions The effective and convenient nomogram may help clinicians quantify the risk of mortality in maintenance dialysis patients.

Effects of the Prolong Life With Nine Turn-Method Qigong on Fatigue, Insomnia, Anxiety, and Gastrointestinal Disorders in Patients With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating multisystem disorder that can lead to various pathophysiological abnormalities and symptoms, including insomnia, gastrointestinal disorders, and anxiety. Due to the side effects of currently available drugs, there is a growing need for safe and effective nondrug therapies. The Prolong Life With Nine Turn (PLWNT) Qigong method is a system of mind-body exercise with restorative benefits that can alleviate the clinical symptoms of CFS and impart a significant inhibitory effect. Various studies have proven the treatment efficacy of PLWNT; however, the impact on insomnia, gastrointestinal disorders, and anxiety in patients with CFS has not yet beeninvestigated. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the PLWNT method in terms of its effects on fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, and gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with CFS. We will conduct a randomized, analyst-blinded, parallel-controlled trial with a 12-week intervention and 8-week follow-up. A total of 208 patients of age 20-60 years will be recruited. The patients will be randomly divided into a PLWNT Qigong exercise group (PLWNT Group) and a control group treated with cognitive behavioral therapy at a ratio of 1:1. Participants from the treatment groups will be taught by a highly qualified professor at the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine once a week and will be supervised via web during the remaining 6 days at home, over 12 consecutive weeks. The primary outcome will be the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory 20, while the secondary outcomes include the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, functional magnetic resonance imaging, gut microbiota, and peripheral blood. The study was approved by the ethics committee of Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in March 2022 (Ethics Approval Number 2022SHL-KY-05). Recruitment started in July 2022. The intervention is scheduled to be completed in December 2024, and data collection will be completed by the end of January 2025. Over the 3-year recruitment period, 208 participants will be recruited. Data management is still in progress; therefore, data analysis has yet to be performed. This randomized trial will evaluate the effectiveness of the PLWNT method in relieving fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, and gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with CFS. If proven effective, it will provide a promising alternative intervention for patients with CFS. China Clinical Trials Registry ChiCTR2200061229; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=162803. PRR1-10.2196/53347.

Application Analysis of Nursing Students' Grades in Course Relevance Based on Association Rule Mining Algorithm Apriori

By analyzing the correlation between courses in students’ grades, we can provide a decision-making basis forthe revision of courses and syllabi, rationally optimize courses, and further improve teaching effects. With the help of IBM SPSS Modeler data mining software, this paper uses Apriori algorithm for association rule mining to conduct an in-depth analysis of the grades of nursing students in Shandong College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and to explore the correlation between professional basic courses and professional core courses. Lastly, according to the detailed analysis of the mining results, valuable curriculum information will be found from the actual teaching data.

Construction and validation of a nomogram for predicting lateral lymph node metastasis in pediatric and adolescent with differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Limited research has been conducted to specifically investigate the identification of risk factors and the development of prediction models for lateral lymph node metastasis (LNM) in pediatric and adolescent differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) populations, despite its significant association with unfavorable prognosis. This study entails a retrospective analysis of the clinical characteristics exhibited by pediatric and adolescent patients who have been diagnosed with DTC. The data utilized for this analysis was sourced from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, spanning the time frame from 2000 to 2020. Furthermore, the study incorporates patients who were treated at the Departments of Breast and Thyroid Surgery in the Second Clinical Medical College, Affiliated Fifth People's Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, as well as The General Hospital of Western Theater Command, during the period from 2010 to 2020. A cohort of 2631 patients from the SEER database, along with an additional 339 patients from our departments who met the specified inclusion criteria, were included in this study. Subsequently, four clinical variables, namely age, tumor size, multifocality, and extrathyroidal invasion, were identified as being significantly associated with lateral LNM in pediatric and adolescent DTC patients. These variables were then utilized to construct a nomogram, which demonstrated effective discrimination with a concordance index (C-index) of 0.731. Furthermore, the performance of this model was validated through both internal and external assessments, yielding C-index values of 0.721 and 0.712, respectively. Afterward, a decision curve analysis was conducted to assess the viability of this nomogram in predicting lymph node metastasis. The current investigation has effectively constructed a nomogram model utilizing visualized multipopulationsal data. Our findings demonstrate a significant association between various clinical characteristics and lateral LNM in pediatric and adolescent DTC patients. These outcomes hold substantial significance for healthcare practitioners, as they can employ this model to inform individualized clinical judgments for the pediatric and adolescent cohorts.

Epidemiological insights into seasonal, sex‑specific and age‑related distribution of bacterial pathogens in urinary tract infections.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are prevalent and recurrent bacterial infections that affect individuals worldwide, posing a significant burden on healthcare systems. The present study aimed to explore the epidemiology of UTIs, investigating the seasonal, gender-specific and age-related bacterial pathogen distribution to guide clinical diagnosis. Data were retrospectively collected from electronic medical records and laboratory reports of 926 UTIs diagnosed in Fuding Hospital (Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuding, China). Bacterial isolates were identified using standard microbiological techniques. χ2 tests were performed to assess associations between pathogens and the seasons, sex and age groups. Significant associations were found between bacterial species and seasons. Enterococcus faecium exhibited a substantial prevalence in spring (χ2, 12.824; P=0.005), while Acinetobacter baumannii demonstrated increased prevalence in autumn (χ2, 16.404; P=0.001). Female patients showed a higher incidence of UTIs. Gram-positive bacteria were more prevalent in males, with Staphylococcus aureus showing significant male predominance (χ2, 14.607; P<0.001). E. faecium displayed an age-related increase in prevalence (χ2, 17.775; P<0.001), whereas Escherichia coli tended to be more prevalent in younger patients (χ2, 12.813; P=0.005). These findings highlight the complex nature of UTIs and offer insights for tailored diagnostic and preventive strategies, potentially enhancing healthcare outcomes.

Real-world effects of Yishen Tongbi decoction for rheumatoid arthritis: protocol for a prospective, observational, multicenter cohort study with validation against double-blind, randomized, controlled trial.

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a globally challenging and refractory autoimmune disease, constituting a serious menace to human health. RA is characterized by recurrent pain and is difficult to resolve, necessitating prolonged medication for control. Yishen Tongbi decoction is a traditional Chinese herbal compound prescribed for treating RA. We have completed a 3-year RCT study that confirmed the clinical efficacy of Yishen Tongbi decoction for RA. Notably, we observed a faster clinical remission rate compared to MTX by week 4 of treatment. In our forthcoming study, we intend to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the efficacy and safety of Yishen Tongbi decoction in the real-world treatment of RA through a prospective study. Methods and analysis: This prospective, multicenter, real-world observational study will be conducted at two designated centers in China from October 2023 to August 2025. The study will include 324 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. One group will receive Yishen Tongbi decoction combined with conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs). The other group will receive standard treatment. Standard treatment can be further divided into subgroups: csDMARDs, targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (tsDMARDs), and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). In each group, the number of tender joints, number of swollen joints, pain score, patient global assessment, physician global assessment, disease activity index (DAS28-ESR or DAS28-CRP), clinical disease activity index (cDAI), simplified disease activity index (sDAI) and relevant laboratory data will be compared. Clinical indicators and disease activity of the patients will be assessed at baseline, week 4 and week 12 after the initiation of treatment. The primary outcome will be the American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement criteria (ACR20) attainment rate among patients at week 12 after treatment. Every adverse event will be reported. Ethics and dissemination: This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the first affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of traditional Chinese Medicine (NO.K-2023-009). The results of the study will be published in national and international peer-reviewed journals and at scientific conferences. The researchers will inform participants and other RA patients of the results through health education. Clinical Trial Registration: https://www.chictr.org.cn/index.html, identifier ChiCTR2300076073.

Analysis of related factors influencing postoperative recurrence of adenomyosis treated with HIFU.

To analyze the efficacy of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for adenomyosis and postoperative recurrence and its influencing factors. Clinical and follow-up data of 308 patients with adenomyosis who were treated with HIFU in Haifu Center, Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from September 2017 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The recurrence of adenomyosis and the efficacy of HIFU at 6months after surgery were followed up. To explore factors influencing postoperative prognosis and recurrence, the following variables were analyzed: patients' age, course of disease, gravidity and parity, size of the uterus, duration of HIFU, duration of irradiation, treatment intensity, dysmenorrhea score, time of follow-up, combined treatment of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), western medicine adjuvant treatment, lesion location and type, and menorrhagia. Among the 308 patients, 238 (77%) were followed up from 6 to 36months, with an average follow-up time of 15.24 ± 9.97months. The other 70 (23%) were lost to follow-up. At 6-month after surgery, efficacy rates of dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia management were 86.7% and 89.3%, respectively. Postoperative recurrence rates were 4.8% (1-12months), 9.0% (12-24months), and 17.0% (24-36months) for dysmenorrhea; and 6.3% (1-12months), 2.4% (12-24months), and 12.2% (24-36months) for menorrhagia. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that parity (P = 0.043, OR = 1.773, 95% CI 1.018-3.087), uterine size (P = 0.019, OR = 1.004, 95% CI 1.001-1.007), combined treatment of TCM (P = 0.047, OR = 1.846, 95% CI 1.008-3.381), diffuse lesion type (P = 0.013, OR = 0.464, 95% CI 0.254-0.848) and ablation rate (P = 0.015, OR = 0.481, 95%CI 0.267-0.868) were prognostic factors (P < 0.05). Age, course of disease, gravidity, duration of HIFU, duration of irradiation, treatment intensity, preoperative dysmenorrhea score, time of follow-up, western medicine adjuvant therapy, lesion location, and preoperative menstrual volume had no effect on prognosis (P > 0.05). HIFU can effectively relieve dysmenorrhea and reduce menstrual volume in patients with adenomyosis. Parity, uterine size, lesion type (diffuse), and ablation rate are risk factors for symptom recurrence after HIFU, while the combination of TCM therapy is a protective factor for relapse. We, therefore, recommend TCM in the adjuvant setting after HIFU according to patient condition.

Exploring the relations of NLR, hsCRP and MCP-1 with type 2 diabetic kidney disease: a cross-sectional study

Type 2 diabetic kidney disease (T2DKD) is a common microvascular complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and its incidence is significantly increasing. Microinflammation plays an important role in the development of T2DKD. Based on this, this study investigated the value of inflammatory markers including neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in the prediction of T2DKD. This was a cross-sectional survey study. A total of 90 patients with T2DM, who were hospitalized in the nephrology and endocrinology departments of the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from June 2021 to January 2022, were included and divided into three groups (A1, A2, A3) according to the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR). Observe and compare the basic information, clinical and laboratory data, and the inflammatory markers NLR, hs-CRP, MCP-1. Results revealed that high levels of NLR (OR = 6.562, 95% CI 2.060–20.902, P = 0.001) and MCP-1 (OR = 1.060, 95% CI 1.026–1.095, P < 0.001) were risk factors in the development of T2DKD. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the area under curve of NLR and MCP-1 in diagnosing T2DKD were 0.760 (95% CI 0.6577–0.863, P < 0.001) and 0.862 (95% CI 0.7787–0.937, P < 0.001). Therefore, the inflammatory markers NLR and MCP-1 are risk factors affecting the development of T2DKD, which of clinical value may be used as novel markers of T2DKD.