Background: Holistic thinking, which is rooted in Eastern culture, is assumed to be the core of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Recently, such holistic thinking has been proposed to be applicable to Western medici...Background: Holistic thinking, which is rooted in Eastern culture, is assumed to be the core of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Recently, such holistic thinking has been proposed to be applicable to Western medicine practices for alleviating serious side effects;however, the obscure and often ill-defined terms of TCM, such as qi, yin yang, and wuxing, pose considerable obstacles for further understanding TCM. In the present study, we explored whether and how TCM is actually related to the scientific construct of holistic thinking, to elucidate the particular cultural signature of TCM. Methods: A random sample of 101 college students majoring in TCM and 93 non-medical college students was recruited for the study. Two psychological scales—the Chinese Holistic Thinking Scale and the TCM Competence Scale were used respectively to measure the holistic thinking and participants’ ability to apply the TCM in practice. Results: We found that individuals who thought more holistically were better at applying TCM to modern medical problems. Interestingly, TCM was associated with holistic thinking in both TCM and non-medical students, suggesting that this association is intrinsic. Further exploration revealed that the association and variability facets of Eastern holistic thinking—which emphasize that the world is interconnected and ever-changing, respectively—significantly accounted for the individual differences in competence in utilizing TCM in practice. Conclusion: In short, our study provides the first empirical evidence linking TCM to the Eastern holistic thinking style, which not only deepens the understanding of TCM from a scientific perspective but also promotes dialogue between TCM and Western medicine for building safer and more effective health care systems.展开更多
Background:Rheumatoid arthritis(RA)is a worldwide public health problem.Intervention and prevention before the onset of rheumatic diseases is a new direction in current research.Objective:The aim of this study was to ...Background:Rheumatoid arthritis(RA)is a worldwide public health problem.Intervention and prevention before the onset of rheumatic diseases is a new direction in current research.Objective:The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential and feasibility of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)in the prevention of RA.Methods:This was a single-armed prospective clinical trial.All participants were recruited from a single center in Guangdong,China.Adults who were tested positive for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody(anti-CCP)and/or rheumatoid factor(RF),had no synovitis and never been treated with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs(DMARDs),were enrolled to take the Huayu-Qiangshen-Tongbi(HQT)decoction orally twice daily,200 mL each time for 24 weeks.Primary outcome was the proportion of patients who met 2010 ACR(American College of Rheumatology)/EULAR(European League Against Rheumatism)classification criteria of RA during observation.Secondary outcomes included levels of anti-CCP,RF,erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),C-reactive protein(CRP),assessment of signs and symptoms,and radiographic progression by magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).Results:19 individuals were enrolled in the study,4 of which withdrew because of the epidemic of COVID-19.During the observation period,3 individuals(20%)developed RA and they had longer morning stiffness(P=0.009)and more obvious synovial enhancement in MRI(P=0.041)at baseline when compared with those who did not develop RA.After 24 weeks of intervention,there were improvements in 28-swollen joint count(SJC28)(P=0.046),Visual Analog Scale(VAS)(P=0.019),Patient’s Global Assessment(PtGA)(P=0.019)and Physician’s Global Assessment(PGA)(P=0.031),but no statistical significance was observed in the levels of anti-CCP,RF,ESR,CRP,morning stiffness,28-tender joint count(TJC28),Health Assessment Questionnaire(HAQ)and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)analysis(P>0.05).Conclusion:The HQT formula is safe and could improve joint symptoms and signs in these at-risk individuals,but it remains to be investigated in futher study to see if it might potentially reduce the risk of developing RA.Besides,for individuals at high risk to develop RA,morning stiffness and synovial enhancement in MRI might be predictive factors and warning signs.展开更多
Background:Chinese patent medicine(CPM)is a type of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)that utilizes Chi-nese medicinal materials as its raw ingredients.Following the principles of TCM theory,it undergoes specific proce...Background:Chinese patent medicine(CPM)is a type of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)that utilizes Chi-nese medicinal materials as its raw ingredients.Following the principles of TCM theory,it undergoes specific processing techniques to create various dosage forms for the prevention and treatment of diseases.The current CPM guidelines,both domestically and internationally,are constrained by limitations in methodological quality and reporting,which do not adequately address the requirements of the majority of clinicians and patients.Objective:To evaluate the methodological rigor and reporting quality of clinical practice guidelines(CPGs)in CPM,with aim to assess their current quality and to provide recommendations for improving guideline develop-ment.Methods:The study utilized the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II(AGREE II)tool and the Reporting Items for Practice Guidelines in Healthcare for Traditional Chinese Medicine(RIGHT for TCM)checklist to evaluate the methodological rigor and reporting quality of CPM guidelines.After the training session,the four investigators were divided into two groups to evaluate the guidelines of patent Chinese medicine included in this study based on the aforementioned criteria.In case of any discrepancies,a secondary analysis was conducted by all four researchers under the guidance of two clinical experts,ensuring an impartial evaluation outcome.Average score or average reporting rate were calculated for each domain.Results:A total of 32 CPM guidelines that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed.The AGREE II yielded an average score of 67.2%.The domain scores were as follows:scope and purpose(93.3%),stakeholder involve-ment(50.1%),rigor of development(76.8%),clarity of presentation(79.4%),applicability(40.1%),and editorial independence(63.6%).The average reporting rate of the RIGHT for TCM checklist was 70.0%,with the report-ing rates for the seven domains as follows:basic information(94.2%),background(87.9%),evidence(97.5%),recommendation(57.5%),review and quality assurance(11.4%),funding and declaration and management of interests(26.6%),and other information(68.8%).Conclusions:The methodological and reporting quality of CPGs for CPM have been deemed acceptable since 2020.However,there is still room for improvement,particularly in enhancing the reporting quality to provide clinicians and patients with more effective and comprehensive guidance.Additionally,it may be beneficial to develop a comprehensive reporting checklist specifically tailored for CPM guideline development.展开更多
[Objectives]To examine the effects of Wumen Qingyi Decoction on inflammatory responses in patients with acute pancreatitis(AP).[Methods]Eighty patients with mild or severe AP were randomly allocated to a treatment gro...[Objectives]To examine the effects of Wumen Qingyi Decoction on inflammatory responses in patients with acute pancreatitis(AP).[Methods]Eighty patients with mild or severe AP were randomly allocated to a treatment group(Wumen Qingyi Decoction+baseline treated)or a control group(baseline treated).All patients were managed conservatively.In addition,the Group A received Wumen Qingyi Decoction for 400 mL/d for 7 d.Laboratory parameters,condition of disease and therapeutic effect indexes,and so on,between the two groups were compared.[Results]The recovery of serum levels of amylase(AMS),C reaction protein(CRP),and tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α),interleukin1(IL-1),IL-6,IL-10,as well as the scores of Balthazar and BISAP in Treatment group were quicker than those in Control group(P<0.05).In addition,the improvement of organic dysfunction in Treatment group was better than that in Control group.[Conclusions]The course of combined Wumen Qingyi Decoction and basic treatment of western medicine could effectively adjust the body's inflammatory response to promote the recovery process of acute pancreatitis.展开更多
Governor moxibustion is a type of external treatment in traditional Chinese medicine that remains being little understood This article briefly describes the current status, limitations, and future development of the c...Governor moxibustion is a type of external treatment in traditional Chinese medicine that remains being little understood This article briefly describes the current status, limitations, and future development of the clinical application of Governor moxibustion, to facilitate its use in treatment and health care展开更多
The current modes of experience inheritance from famous specialists in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) include master and disciple, literature review, clinical-epidemiology-based clinical research observation, an...The current modes of experience inheritance from famous specialists in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) include master and disciple, literature review, clinical-epidemiology-based clinical research observation, and analysis and data mining via computer and database technologies. Each mode has its advantages and disadvantages. However, a scientific and instructive experience inheritance mode has not been developed. The advent of the big data era as well as the formation and practice accumulation of the TCM clinical research paradigm in the real world have provided new perspectives, techniques, and methods for inheriting experience from famous TCM specialists. Through continuous exploration and practice, the research group proposes the innovation research mode based on the real-world TCM clinical research paradigm, which involves the inheritance and innovation of the existing modes. This mode is formulated in line with its own development regularity of TCM and is expected to become the main mode of experience inheritance in the clinical field.展开更多
文摘Background: Holistic thinking, which is rooted in Eastern culture, is assumed to be the core of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Recently, such holistic thinking has been proposed to be applicable to Western medicine practices for alleviating serious side effects;however, the obscure and often ill-defined terms of TCM, such as qi, yin yang, and wuxing, pose considerable obstacles for further understanding TCM. In the present study, we explored whether and how TCM is actually related to the scientific construct of holistic thinking, to elucidate the particular cultural signature of TCM. Methods: A random sample of 101 college students majoring in TCM and 93 non-medical college students was recruited for the study. Two psychological scales—the Chinese Holistic Thinking Scale and the TCM Competence Scale were used respectively to measure the holistic thinking and participants’ ability to apply the TCM in practice. Results: We found that individuals who thought more holistically were better at applying TCM to modern medical problems. Interestingly, TCM was associated with holistic thinking in both TCM and non-medical students, suggesting that this association is intrinsic. Further exploration revealed that the association and variability facets of Eastern holistic thinking—which emphasize that the world is interconnected and ever-changing, respectively—significantly accounted for the individual differences in competence in utilizing TCM in practice. Conclusion: In short, our study provides the first empirical evidence linking TCM to the Eastern holistic thinking style, which not only deepens the understanding of TCM from a scientific perspective but also promotes dialogue between TCM and Western medicine for building safer and more effective health care systems.
基金This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foun-dation of China(81804041)the special project of State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine(SZ2020ZZ17)+5 种基金the 2020 Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Innovation Strategy Special Fund(The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Lab)(2020B1212030006)Natural Science Foundation of Guang-dong Province(2021A1515011477,2021A1515011593)grant from Guangzhou Basic Research Program(202102010256)the Key Research Project of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine(XK2019021)opening project of Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine for Prevention and Treatment of Refractory Chronic Diseases(2018)(2018B030322012,MB2020KF03),Innovation Team and Talents Cultivation Program of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine(ZYYCXTD-C-202204)as well as grants from Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine(MB2019ZZ07,YN10101906,YN2018ML08,YN2018ZD06)。
文摘Background:Rheumatoid arthritis(RA)is a worldwide public health problem.Intervention and prevention before the onset of rheumatic diseases is a new direction in current research.Objective:The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential and feasibility of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)in the prevention of RA.Methods:This was a single-armed prospective clinical trial.All participants were recruited from a single center in Guangdong,China.Adults who were tested positive for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody(anti-CCP)and/or rheumatoid factor(RF),had no synovitis and never been treated with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs(DMARDs),were enrolled to take the Huayu-Qiangshen-Tongbi(HQT)decoction orally twice daily,200 mL each time for 24 weeks.Primary outcome was the proportion of patients who met 2010 ACR(American College of Rheumatology)/EULAR(European League Against Rheumatism)classification criteria of RA during observation.Secondary outcomes included levels of anti-CCP,RF,erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),C-reactive protein(CRP),assessment of signs and symptoms,and radiographic progression by magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).Results:19 individuals were enrolled in the study,4 of which withdrew because of the epidemic of COVID-19.During the observation period,3 individuals(20%)developed RA and they had longer morning stiffness(P=0.009)and more obvious synovial enhancement in MRI(P=0.041)at baseline when compared with those who did not develop RA.After 24 weeks of intervention,there were improvements in 28-swollen joint count(SJC28)(P=0.046),Visual Analog Scale(VAS)(P=0.019),Patient’s Global Assessment(PtGA)(P=0.019)and Physician’s Global Assessment(PGA)(P=0.031),but no statistical significance was observed in the levels of anti-CCP,RF,ESR,CRP,morning stiffness,28-tender joint count(TJC28),Health Assessment Questionnaire(HAQ)and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)analysis(P>0.05).Conclusion:The HQT formula is safe and could improve joint symptoms and signs in these at-risk individuals,but it remains to be investigated in futher study to see if it might potentially reduce the risk of developing RA.Besides,for individuals at high risk to develop RA,morning stiffness and synovial enhancement in MRI might be predictive factors and warning signs.
基金supported by China Association of Chinese Medicine[grant number 2022-QNRC2-A10]Department of Science and Technology of Zhejiang Province[grant number 2023C03040].
文摘Background:Chinese patent medicine(CPM)is a type of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)that utilizes Chi-nese medicinal materials as its raw ingredients.Following the principles of TCM theory,it undergoes specific processing techniques to create various dosage forms for the prevention and treatment of diseases.The current CPM guidelines,both domestically and internationally,are constrained by limitations in methodological quality and reporting,which do not adequately address the requirements of the majority of clinicians and patients.Objective:To evaluate the methodological rigor and reporting quality of clinical practice guidelines(CPGs)in CPM,with aim to assess their current quality and to provide recommendations for improving guideline develop-ment.Methods:The study utilized the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II(AGREE II)tool and the Reporting Items for Practice Guidelines in Healthcare for Traditional Chinese Medicine(RIGHT for TCM)checklist to evaluate the methodological rigor and reporting quality of CPM guidelines.After the training session,the four investigators were divided into two groups to evaluate the guidelines of patent Chinese medicine included in this study based on the aforementioned criteria.In case of any discrepancies,a secondary analysis was conducted by all four researchers under the guidance of two clinical experts,ensuring an impartial evaluation outcome.Average score or average reporting rate were calculated for each domain.Results:A total of 32 CPM guidelines that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed.The AGREE II yielded an average score of 67.2%.The domain scores were as follows:scope and purpose(93.3%),stakeholder involve-ment(50.1%),rigor of development(76.8%),clarity of presentation(79.4%),applicability(40.1%),and editorial independence(63.6%).The average reporting rate of the RIGHT for TCM checklist was 70.0%,with the report-ing rates for the seven domains as follows:basic information(94.2%),background(87.9%),evidence(97.5%),recommendation(57.5%),review and quality assurance(11.4%),funding and declaration and management of interests(26.6%),and other information(68.8%).Conclusions:The methodological and reporting quality of CPGs for CPM have been deemed acceptable since 2020.However,there is still room for improvement,particularly in enhancing the reporting quality to provide clinicians and patients with more effective and comprehensive guidance.Additionally,it may be beneficial to develop a comprehensive reporting checklist specifically tailored for CPM guideline development.
基金Supported by the Science and Technology Project of Suzhou Municipal Health Commission(Special Technical Project for Diagnosis and Treatment of Key Clinical Diseases:LCZX201917)2020 Science and Technology Development Plan Project of Suzhou Science and Technology Bureau(SYSD2020149).
文摘[Objectives]To examine the effects of Wumen Qingyi Decoction on inflammatory responses in patients with acute pancreatitis(AP).[Methods]Eighty patients with mild or severe AP were randomly allocated to a treatment group(Wumen Qingyi Decoction+baseline treated)or a control group(baseline treated).All patients were managed conservatively.In addition,the Group A received Wumen Qingyi Decoction for 400 mL/d for 7 d.Laboratory parameters,condition of disease and therapeutic effect indexes,and so on,between the two groups were compared.[Results]The recovery of serum levels of amylase(AMS),C reaction protein(CRP),and tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α),interleukin1(IL-1),IL-6,IL-10,as well as the scores of Balthazar and BISAP in Treatment group were quicker than those in Control group(P<0.05).In addition,the improvement of organic dysfunction in Treatment group was better than that in Control group.[Conclusions]The course of combined Wumen Qingyi Decoction and basic treatment of western medicine could effectively adjust the body's inflammatory response to promote the recovery process of acute pancreatitis.
基金supported by the Three-year Action Plan to Accelerate the Further Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanghai,under Contract No.ZY14.044632
文摘Governor moxibustion is a type of external treatment in traditional Chinese medicine that remains being little understood This article briefly describes the current status, limitations, and future development of the clinical application of Governor moxibustion, to facilitate its use in treatment and health care
文摘The current modes of experience inheritance from famous specialists in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) include master and disciple, literature review, clinical-epidemiology-based clinical research observation, and analysis and data mining via computer and database technologies. Each mode has its advantages and disadvantages. However, a scientific and instructive experience inheritance mode has not been developed. The advent of the big data era as well as the formation and practice accumulation of the TCM clinical research paradigm in the real world have provided new perspectives, techniques, and methods for inheriting experience from famous TCM specialists. Through continuous exploration and practice, the research group proposes the innovation research mode based on the real-world TCM clinical research paradigm, which involves the inheritance and innovation of the existing modes. This mode is formulated in line with its own development regularity of TCM and is expected to become the main mode of experience inheritance in the clinical field.