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

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.

[Study on medication regularity of chronic atrophic gastritis in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region based on latent structure model]

To explore the etiology, pathogenesis, distribution of syndromes and the rule of medication of chronic atrophic gastritis(CAG) in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region based on the latent structure model. Chronic atrophic gastritis of 279 cases in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region were extracted from the established database of spleen and stomach diseases of famous veteran Chinese medicine experts. The latent structure models of symptoms and drugs of chronic atrophic gastritis were constructed by using Lantern 3.1.2 software, and the latent structure models were interpreted. SAS 10.0 software was used to mine association rules of drugs and symptoms. The constitutional characteristics of patients with chronic atrophic gastritis in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region were "turbid toxin and damaging Yin". The common syndromes were turbid toxin, deficiency of stomach Yin, stagnation of liver and stomach, stagnation of liver and stomach Qi, obstruction of stomach collaterals and blood stasis, and weakness of spleen and stomach. Common medicines are Lobeliae Chinensis Herba, Scutellariae Barbatae Herba, Amomi Fructus Rotundus, Amomi Fructus, Poria, Isatidis Radix, Artemisiae Scopariae Herba, Scorpio, Coptidis Rhizoma, Lilii Bulbus, Linderae Radix, Phragmitis Rhizoma, Ophiopogonis Radix, Pogostemonis Herba, Eupatorii Herba, Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex, Aurantii Fructus Immaturus. Common prescriptions are Baihe Wuyao Powder, Danggui Shaoyao Powder, Xiaoyao Pills, Xiangsu Powder, Dachengqi Decoction, Zuojin Pills, Qingzhong Decoction, Zhishi Daozhi Pills, etc. The application of latent structure model and correlation analysis in the empirical study of famous and veteran Chinese medicine experts is in line with the research direction of modern Chinese medicine "traditional Chinese medicine + X". The conclusions obtained effectively tap the experience of famous and veteran TCM experts, and provide a data and visual clinical reference and prescription compatibility for young TCM physicians in the treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis based on syndrome differentiation.

[Acupoint selection pattern of chronic atrophic gastritis based on data mining methods of latent structure model and frequency item set]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the acupoint selection pattern of chronic atrophic gastritis and provide reference for clinical treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis.

METHODS

The literature regarding acupuncture for chronic atrophic gastritis published before September 5th of 2016 was searched in the databases of CNKI, CBM, PubMed, etc. The information of symptoms and acupoint selection was extracted to establish medical database of chronic atrophic gastritis. The data mining methods of latent structure model and frequency item set were applied to analyze the acupoint selection pattern of chronic atrophic gastritis.

RESULTS

A total of 42 papers were collected in preliminary screening, and 32 papers were included, involving 604 medical cases. The data mining indicated 215 symptoms were involved in medical cases, including 16 high-frequency symptoms (stomach pain, stomach distension and hiccup, etc.), and the latent structure model of chronic atrophic gastritis symptoms was established. Fifty-two acupoints were identified, and high-frequency acupoints included Zusanli (ST 36), Zhongwan (CV 12), Neiguan (PC 6) and Weishu (BL 21), etc. Five frequency item sets of symptom-acupoint were identified, including stomach pain+stomach distension+Zusanli (ST 36)+Zhongwan (CV 12), etc. Six frequency item sets of symptom-syndrome-acupoint were identified, including stomach distension+dry mouth+dry defecation+insufficiency of stomach yin+Sanyinjiao (SP 6).

CONCLUSION

Acupuncture for chronic atrophic gastritis selected Zusanli (ST 36), Zhongwan (CV 12) and Neiguan (PC 6) as main acupoints, and selected other acupoints based on clinical symptoms. This could provide reference for clinical treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis.

Bayesian latent structure models with space-time-dependent covariates

Spatial-temporal data requires flexible regression models which can model the dependence of responses on space- and time-dependent covariates. In this paper, we describe a semiparametric space-time model from a Bayesian perspective. Nonlinear time dependence of covariates and the interactions among the covariates are constructed by local linear and piecewise linear models, allowing for more flexible orientation and position of the covariate plane by using time-varying basis functions. Space-varying covariate linkage coefficients are also incorporated to allow for the variation of space structures across the geographical location. The formulation accommodates uncertainty in the number and locations of the piecewise basis functions to characterize the global effects, spatially structured and unstructured random effects in relation to covariates. The proposed approach relies on variable selection-type mixture priors for uncertainty in the number and locations of basis functions and in the space-varying linkage coefficients. A simulation example is presented to evaluate the performance of the proposed approach with the competing models. A real data example is used for illustration.