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Objectives. Little information is available regarding the use of Chinese herbal medicine to treat mastitis. This study evaluated the prescription patterns of Chinese herbal medicine products in women with mastitis in Taiwan. Design. This is a population-based cross-sectional study. Setting. 8,531 women aged 20–49 years, who received a diagnosis of mastitis between 2004 and 2013, were identified from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database in Taiwan. We collected data on demographic characteristics, including age, monthly insurance premium, and urbanization level. The ten most Chinese herbal medicines prescribed for mastitis were assessed, including frequency, percentage, average daily dose, and average duration of prescription. Main outcome measures. We analysed the ten most single Chinese herbs and Chinese herbal formulae prescribed for mastitis. Results. Overall, 437 (5.1%) women received Chinese herbal medicine to treat mastitis. Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker Gawl.; 22.3%), Pu Gong Yin (Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz.; 7.8%), and Wang Bu Liu Xing (Vaccaria hispanica (Mill.) Rauschert; 3.5%) were three of the most commonly prescribed single Chinese herbs for mastitis. Xian-Fang-Huo-Ming-Yin (18.2%), Jia-Wei-Xiao-Yao-San (9.1%), and Chai-Hu-Shu-Gan-San (8.4%) were three of the most commonly prescribed Chinese herbal formulae. Conclusion. Xian-Fang-Huo-Ming-Yin can clear heat, detoxify body, alleviate swelling, activate blood, and relieve pain. It was the most frequently prescribed Chinese herbal formula in patients with mastitis.

Background Infections such as common colds, influenza, acute upper respiratory infections, bacterial gastroenteritis, and urinary tract infections are usually diagnosed according to patients’ signs and symptoms. This study aims to develop a scale for the diagnosis of infectious diseases based on the six excesses (Liu Yin) etiological theory of Chinese medicine (CM) by the Delphi method. Methods A total of 200 CM-guided diagnostic items measuring signs and symptoms for infectious diseases were compiled from CM literature archives from the Han to Ming dynasties, CM textbooks in both China and Taiwan, and journal articles from the China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database. The items were based on infections and the six excesses (Liu Yin) etiological theory, i.e., Feng Xie (wind excess), Han Xie (coldness excess), Shu Xie (summer heat excess), Shi Xie (dampness excess), Zao Xie (dryness excess), and Huo Xie (fire excess). The items were further classified into the six excess syndromes and reviewed via a Delphi process to reach consensus among CM experts. Results In total, 178 items with a mean or median rating of 7 or above on a scale of 1–9 from a panel of 32 experts were retained. The numbers of diagnostic items in the categories of Feng (wind), Han (coldness), Shu (summer heat), Shi (dampness), Zao (dryness), and Huo (fire) syndromes were 15, 22, 25, 37, 17, and 62, respectively. Conclusions A CM-based six excesses (Liu Yin) evaluation and diagnosis (SEED) scale was developed for the evaluation and diagnosis of infectious diseases based only on signs and symptoms.

Background. We aimed to apply theZHENGidentification to provide an easy and useful tool to stratify the patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) through exploring the correlation between the quantified scores of AR symptoms and the TCMZHENGs.Methods. A total of 114 AR patients were enrolled in this observational study. All participants received the examinations of anterior rhinoscopy and acoustic rhinometry. Their blood samples were collected for measurement of total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE), blood eosinophil count (Eos), and serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP). They also received two questionnaire to assess the severity scores of AR symptoms and quantified TCMZHENGscores. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine explanatory factors for the score of AR manifestations.Results. IgE and ECP level, duration of AR, the 2 derived TCMZHENGscores of “Yin-Xu − Yang-Xu”, and “Qi-Xu+Blood-Xu” were 5 explanatory variables to predict the severity scores of AR symptoms. The patients who had higher scores of “Yin-Xu − Yang-Xu” or “Qi-Xu+Blood-Xu” tended to manifest as “sneezer and runner” or “blockers,” respectively.Conclusions.The TCMZHENGscores correlated with the severity scores of AR symptoms and provided an easy and useful tool to stratify the AR patients.

Background Late-onset sepsis (LOS) in neonates with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) may predispose them to more complicated hospital courses. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence, the distribution of pathogens, and the clinical features of LOS in neonates with PDA and analyze their outcomes. Methods The medical records were reviewed retrospectively of infants with PDA and LOS who were hospitalized in NICUs of Chang Gung Children's Hospital between January 2003 and December 2009. The clinical features of these infants were compared with a group of gestational age and birth body weight-matched neonates with LOS during the same period. Results During this period, 224 neonates were found to have at least one event of blood-culture proven LOS and 79 (35.3%) were documented to have PDA. Although most LOS episodes (85/104, 81.7%) in neonates with PDA occurred after closure of PDA, neonates with PDA had a significantly higher rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (81.0% vs. 61.0%, p = 0.002) and a relatively higher rate of recurrent sepsis (25.3% vs. 15.2%, p = 0.079) than those without PDA. Longer durations of ventilator support and hospital stay were also noted in neonates with PDA as compared to those without ( p = 0.001 and 0.005, respectively). Conclusion In neonates with LOS, the presence of PDA, even though it is aggressively treated with indomethacin or surgical intervention, may still contribute to the complexity of hospitalization. Close monitoring and aggressive treatments are warranted in these neonates with PDA.