Objective  To explore Professor YANG Zhixu’s clinical medication experience for the treatment of sepsis induced acute gastrointestinal injury (S-AGI) based on data mining technology.

Methods  The prescriptions of S-AGI written by Professor Yang in the ICU of Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences from January 1st 2020 to December 31st 2023 were included. Data analysis involved the frequency of the four properties, the five flavors, meridian tropism and efficacy classification, the association rules, Phi coefficient, factor analysis, hierarchical clustering analysis, complex network analysis, and network topology analysis.

Results  Among the 202 prescriptions, the overall formula and description by Professor Yang were mild. The four properties and five flavors were dominated by cold, warm and sweet, bitter and spicy. Meridian tropism was mainly lung, stomach, spleen, kidney, heart, liver and large intestine meridians. The frequency analysis also indicated a higher proportion and frequency of deficiency-tonifying herbs, heat-clearing herbs, resolving phlegm, relieving cough and asthma herbs, followed by clearing damp and promoting diuresis herbs, relieving exterior syndrome herbs, expelling wind and dampness herbs, sedative tranquilizing herbs, damp-clearing herbs, qi-regulating herbs, dissipating blood stasis herbs, arresting discharge herbs, resuscitation-inducing aromatic herbs, digestant herbs, interior-warming drug and calming liver to stop endogenous wind herbs. The results of association rule mining and Phi coefficient were consistent with the overall principles of medication by Professor Yang, which included supplementing vacuity and supporting right, clearing heat and resolving phlegm and regulating qi-flowing for eliminating dampness. The results of factor analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis revealed the presence of seven common factors and drug combinations. It reflected and emphasized the characteristics of drug application including dispersing lung qi, invigorating spleen and replenishing qi, tranquilizing and sedating the mind and flexible addition or subtraction according to the different syndromes. Complex network analysis and network topology analysis indicated that astragalus membranaceus, atractylodes macrocephala, fructus trichosanthis, honeysuckle, tuckahoe, raw rehmannia glutinosa were the core drugs.

Conclusion  The medication for the treatment of S-AGI by Professor Yang is quite mild, with the main treatment methods of supplementing vacuity and supporting right, clearing heat and resolving phlegm and regulating qi-flowing for eliminating dampness. Professor Yang pays special attention to dispersing lung qi, invigorating spleen and replenishing qi, tranquilizing and sedating the mind and flexible addition or subtraction according to the different syndromes.

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