Exploration of the medication rules of TCM masters in modern times in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis based on bibliometric analysis and data mining
Objective:To explore the current research status,hotspots and medication rules of the treatment of rheu-matoid arthritis(RA)by TCM masters in modern times,and provide references for modern clinical research of RA.Meth-ods:The literature on the experience of TCM masters in the treatment of RA collected from Chinese National Knowledge In-frastructure(CNKI),China Academic Journal Database(Wanfang),China Science and Technology Journal Database(VIP)and China Biology Medicine Disc(CBM)since 1993 were searched.Excel,VOS viewer and CiteSpace were used to analyze the number of publications,authors,institutions,journals,keyword co-occurrence and outbreak,and draw the mapping knowledge domain.The medical records of RA patients treated with TCM masters were extracted and a database was estab-lished.Excel,SPSS Modeler,OriginPro and Cytoscape software were used for Chinese herbal frequency statistics,associa-tion rules,cluster analysis and complex network analysis.Results:Literature measurement included 1037 literature,and the number of published papers in this field showed an overall upward trend.A total of 1988 authors were involved,forming a number of research teams represented by Liu Jian,Kuang Huitao,Peng Jiangyun,Gao Mingli,etc.Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine published the most papers,and data mining and medication rules were the research hotspots.A total of 530 complete prescriptions involving 344 Chinese herbs were included.High frequency drugs included Guizhi,Baishao,Danggui,Weilingxian,and so on.The efficacy of the Chinese herbs was mainly used for tonifying deficiency and dispelling wind-dampness.The nature and flavor of the Chinese herbs were mainly sweet,bitter,pungent and warm,and these herbs were attributed to the liver and spleen meridians.The analysis of association rules obtained 13 binomial associations and 16 ternary associations.Cluster analysis yielded three prescriptions.The complex network analysis obtained 24 core drugs.Con-clusion:In the past 30 years,the research on the treatment of RA by TCM masters has developed vigorously.Medicine pair and medication rules based on data mining technology has become a hot topic and research trend.The medication experience of TCM masters for the treatment of RA is mainly based on supplementing Qi,nourishing blood and tonifying deficiency,combined with expelling wind and removing dampness,as well as promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis,clearing heat and dredging collaterals.