Objective

The concept of constitution in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been increasingly recognized as a crucial factor in both the prevention and treatment of insomnia. However, rigorous statistical evidence on the correlation between TCM constitutions—particularly mixed constitutions—and insomnia disorder remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the association between specific TCM constitutions and insomnia disorder.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Preventive Medicine, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai, from November 2022 to December 2023. TCM constitutions were assessed using the Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire. Insomnia disorder was diagnosed by experienced internal medicine physicians according to the criteria of the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, Third Edition. A total of 1065 eligible participants (242 with insomnia disorder and 823 controls) were included in the final analysis.

Results

Among the participants, 862 (80.94%) exhibited biased constitutions, with 75.30% of these having mixed constitutions. Logistic regression analysis revealed a negative association between the gentleness constitution and insomnia disorder, whereas qi-deficiency, yang-deficiency, phlegm-dampness and qi-depression constitutions were positively associated with insomnia disorder. These associations remained significant after adjusting for potential confounders and were further validated through sensitivity analysis using propensity score matching.

Conclusion

Significant associations between TCM constitutions and insomnia disorder were demonstrated. Future research should further investigate these relationships and explore the underlying mechanisms through rigorous longitudinal and interventional studies to improve understanding and clinical applications.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a prominent plant-based catechin predominantly derived from Camellia sinensis and widely available on the market as a health supplement, has garnered significant attention for its potential therapeutic benefits, particularly in the context of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This review explores the multifaceted role of EGCG in addressing the “ominous octet”—the 8 core pathophysiological defects associated with T2DM. The literature search was carried out using key terms “EGCG” OR “epigallocatechin-3-gallate” OR “epigallocatechin gallate” AND “diabetes” OR “insulin resistance” OR “hyperglycemia” in the PubMed and Scopus databases. The search was constrained to articles published between January 2018 and April 2024, focusing on the document type. Full-text articles published in English and relevant to EGCG that featured a single active ingredient, included clearly explained diabetes relief mechanism, and included ominous octet aspects were included in the final review. The outcomes of the included studies were reviewed and categorized based on 8 core pathophysiological defects, collectively referred to as the ominous octet in T2DM. This review concludes that EGCG is a potent hypoglycemic agent that has beneficial effects against the ominous octet in addition to its pharmacological activities in modulating gut microbiota dysbiosis, carbohydrate digestion and metabolism, glucose transporter-mediated intestinal glucose-uptake, endothelial dysfunction, and renal damage that are significantly associated with pathogenesis of T2DM. This extensive scientific evidence suggests that EGCG may offer a novel approach to traditional antidiabetic therapies, potentially improving glycemic control and mitigating complications associated with T2DM. The inhibitory effects of EGCG on sodium-glucose transport proteins and their role in reducing renal glucose reabsorption remain unexplored, highlighting a significant research gap. Future research should also aim to broaden the scope by investigating the “egregious eleven”, which comprise a more comprehensive range of diabetic pathophysiological features. This review underscores the therapeutic promise of EGCG for managing T2DM and encourages ongoing research to fully elucidate its clinical applications.

Background

A growing body of research is exploring the role of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory dietary supplements in the treatment of osteoarthritis, highlighting an increasing emphasis on non-pharmacological interventions. Although more patients are turning to supplements to manage osteoarthritis, their actual effectiveness remains uncertain.

Objective

This study aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the available evidence concerning the efficacy of various dietary supplements in osteoarthritis treatment.

Search strategy

We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science for studies on the use of various dietary supplements in the treatment of osteoarthritis from the creation of each database until Jan 20, 2025.

Inclusion criteria

(1) Research object: osteoarthritis. (2) Intervention measures: patients in the treatment group received dietary supplements, while the control group received placebos. (3) Research type: randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Data extraction and analysis

Two researchers independently examined the literature and retrieved data based on predefined criteria. The information gathered included the first author, year of publication, sample size, participant demographics, length of the follow-up period, intervention and control measures, and inclusion indications. RCTs comparing dietary supplements to placebo with the pain and function subscales of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) among patients with osteoarthritis were included. The optimal dietary supplement was identified based on the total ranking by summing the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) of these two scores. Furthermore, the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to confirm the quality of the evidence.

Results

Overall, 23 studies covering 21 dietary supplements and involving 2455 participants met the inclusion criteria. In the WOMAC pain score, the SUCRA of passion fruit peel extract was 91% (mean difference [MD]: –9.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: [–16.0, –2.3]), followed by methylsulfonylmethane (89%), undenatured type II collagen (87%), collagen (84%), and Lanconone (82%). The SUCRA (99%) of passion fruit peel extract (MD: –41.0; 95% CI: [–66.0, –16.0]) ranked first in terms of the WOMAC function score, followed by Lanconone (95%), collagen (86%), ParActin (84%), and Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (83%). The top three total rankings are passion fruit peel extract (95.0%), Lanconone (88.5%), and collagen (85.0%). However, the GRADE revealed low evidence quality.

Conclusion

Passion fruit peel extract was the best supplement for improving WOMAC pain and function scores in patients with osteoarthritis, followed by Lanconone and collagen. However, further large-scale, well designed RCTs are required to substantiate these promising findings.

Background

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is common among individuals with underlying chronic illnesses. 

Objective

This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the global prevalence and patterns of CAM use among individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Search strategy

PubMed, Embase, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature Plus were searched from inception until 26th February, 2024.

Inclusion criteria

Original articles reporting the use of at least one type of CAM among individuals aged above 18 years old and at all stages of CKD or undergoing any form of kidney replacement therapy.

Data extraction and analysis

Two independent reviewers performed the literature screening. The data were extracted from the included studies by one reviewer and cross-checked by another. Discrepancies were resolved by discussion and consensus among two reviewers. Primary information included prevalence of CAM use, types of CAM used, reasons for CAM use, factors associated with CAM use, and disclosure to healthcare providers. Meta-analyses were performed to determine the pooled prevalence of CAM use and non-disclosure of CAM using a random effect model.

Results

Forty-one studies were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of CAM use was 43% (95% confidence interval: 34%, 51%), I² = 99.45%. The reasons for CAM use included treatment of underlying comorbidities, complications or symptoms, maintenance of general health, and treatment of CKD. Nutritional approaches were the most common CAM modality, with 412 different herbal and dietary supplements reported; psychological and physical approaches included massage therapy, relaxation techniques, and mind-body practices; and other complementary health approaches such as homeopathy, traditional Chinese medicine, and Ayurvedic medicine were also frequently reported. Factors associated with CAM use include sociodemographic characteristics such as older age, female gender, or higher income; disease or therapy factors such as not having diabetes, relying on hemodialysis, or poor adherence to medication; and patient or internal factors such as positive attitude towards CAM and perceived safety of CAM. About 66% (61%, 72%) of CAM users did not disclose the use of CAM to their healthcare providers.

Conclusion

CAM use is prevalent among individuals with CKD, and healthcare providers should communicate openly and effectively to emphasize the rational use of CAM to avoid potential harm.

Background
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to spread worldwide. Integrated Chinese and Western medicine have had some successes in treating COVID-19.

Objective
This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of three traditional Chinese medicine drugs and three herbal formulas (3-drugs-3-formulas) in patients with COVID-19.

Search strategy

Relevant studies were identified from 12 electronic databases searched from their establishment to April 7, 2022.

Inclusion criteria

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), non-RCTs and cohort studies that evaluated the effects of 3-drugs-3-formulas for COVID-19. The treatment group was treated with one of the 3-drugs-3-formulas plus conventional treatment. The control group was treated with conventional treatment.

Data extraction and analysis

Two evaluators screened and selected literature independently, then extracted basic information and assessed risk of bias. The treatment outcome measures were duration of main symptoms, hospitalization time, aggravation rate and mortality. RevMan 5.4 was used to analyze the pooled results reported as mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for continuous data and risk ratio (RR) with 95% CI for dichotomous data.

Results
Forty-one studies with a total of 13,260 participants were identified. Our analysis suggests that compared with conventional treatment, the combination of 3-drugs-3-formulas might shorten duration of fever (MD = –1.39; 95% CI: –2.19 to –0.59; P < 0.05), cough (MD = –1.57; 95% CI: –2.16 to –0.98; P < 0.05) and fatigue (MD = –1.36; 95% CI: –2.21 to –0.51; P < 0.05), decrease length of hospital stay (MD = –2.62; 95% CI –3.52 to –1.72; P < 0.05), the time for nucleic acid conversion (MD = –2.92; 95% CI: –4.26 to –1.59; P < 0.05), aggravation rate (RR = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.38 to 0.64; P < 0.05) and mortality (RR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.19 to 0.62; P < 0.05), and increase the recovery rate of chest CT manifestations (RR = 1.22; 95% CI: 1.14 to 1.3; P < 0.05) and total effectiveness (RR = 1.24; 95% CI: 1.09 to 1.42; P < 0.05).

Conclusion
The 3-drugs-3-formulas can play an active role in treating all stages of COVID-19. No severe adverse events related to 3-drugs-3-formulas were observed. Hence, 3-drugs-3-formulas combined with conventional therapies have effective therapeutic value for COVID-19 patients. Further long-term high-quality studies are essential to demonstrate the clinical benefits of each formula.

Objective
As an age-related neurodegenerative disease, the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) increases with age. Within the framework of traditional Chinese medicine, spleen-kidney deficiency syndrome (SKDS) is recognized as the most frequent MCI subtype. Due to the covert and gradual onset of MCI, in community settings it poses a significant challenge for patients and their families to discern between typical aging and pathological changes. There exists an urgent need to devise a preliminary diagnostic tool designed for community-residing older adults with MCI attributed to SKDS (MCI-SKDS).
Methods
This investigation enrolled 312 elderly individuals diagnosed with MCI, who were randomly distributed into training and test datasets at a 3:1 ratio. Five machine learning methods, including logistic regression (LR), decision tree (DT), naive Bayes (NB), support vector machine (SVM), and gradient boosting (GB), were used to build a diagnostic prediction model for MCI-SKDS. Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, F1 score, and area under the curve were used to evaluate model performance. Furthermore, the clinical applicability of the model was evaluated through decision curve analysis (DCA).
Results
The accuracy, precision, specificity and F1 score of the DT model performed best in the training set (test set), with scores of 0.904 (0.845), 0.875 (0.795), 0.973 (0.875) and 0.973 (0.875). The sensitivity of the training set (test set) of the SVM model performed best among the five models with a score of 0.865 (0.821). The area under the curve of all five models was greater than 0.9 for the training dataset and greater than 0.8 for the test dataset. The DCA of all models showed good clinical application value. The study identified ten indicators that were significant predictors of MCI-SKDS.
Conclusion
The risk prediction index derived from machine learning for the MCI-SKDS prediction model is simple and practical; the model demonstrates good predictive value and clinical applicability, and the DT model had the best performance.

Acupuncture is an ancient treatment method used in traditional Chinese medicine and has been popularized worldwide. Over the past decade, there has been an increase in the amount of acupuncture research, mostly comprised of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that aimed to answer the question on the efficacy of acupuncture. However, poor methodology and low replicability in these acupuncture RCTs have resulted in uncertainty about the efficacy of acupuncture. In this review, current advancements and challenges in acupuncture RCTs, regarding the methodological aspects of randomization, blinding, sham acupuncture and quality of reporting, were discussed. While there have been advancements in various aspects, current acupuncture RCTs still face pressing issues such as inadequate randomization and blinding, unviable sham acupuncture controls, and poor reporting quality. Given these limitations, this review seeks to identify the methodological problems that are responsible for these problems and to suggest solutions that could help to overcome them so as to improve the quality of future studies evaluating the efficacy of acupuncture.

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common problem worldwide. It has a major impact on the physical and social activities and interpersonal relationships. UI is common in women, but is under-reported and under-treated. It affects the quality of life in female patients severely and is known as a “nonlethally social cancer.” Acupuncture and moxibustion has been proposed as a potentially effective intervention for female UI. Hence, for the benefit of acupuncture practitioners around the world, the World Federation of Acupuncture-moxibustion Societies have initiated a project to develop the clinical practice guideline (CPG) for the use of acupuncture and moxibustion to treat female UI. The CPG was developed according to the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology, referring to the principles of the World Health Organization Handbook for Guideline Development. During the development of the CPGs, the guideline development group (GDG) played an important role. The clinical questions, recommendations and therapeutic protocols were all formulated by GDG using the modified Delphi method. The CPGs contain ten recommendations about the use of acupuncture and moxibustion interventions for ten clinical questions, which include nine conditional recommendations for the intervention, one conditional recommendations for either the intervention or the comparison. The CPG also provide one conventional filiform needle therapy protocol, two deep puncturing stimulation on lumbosacral acupoints therapy protocols, and four moxibustion therapy protocols, based on the protocols presented in RCTs reviews by the GDG.

Objective
The occurrence and development of atrial fibrillation (AF) are influenced by the autonomic nervous system and inflammation. Acupuncture is an effective treatment for AF. This study explored the protective effects of acupuncture in a rat model of paroxysmal AF and investigated its mechanisms.
Methods
Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 130) were randomly divided into blank control (Con), sham operation (Sham), AF, and acupuncture treatment (Acu) groups. A paroxysmal AF model was established by rapid atrial pacing through the jugular vein. Rats in the Acu group were immobilized to receive acupuncture treatment at Neiguan acupoint (PC6) for 20 min daily for seven days. The other groups were immobilized for the same duration over the treatment period but did not receive acupuncture. The AF induction rate, AF duration, cardiac electrophysiological parameters, and heart rate variability were evaluated by monitoring surface electrocardiogram and vagus nerve discharge signals. After the intervention, the rats were euthanized, and atrial morphology was assessed using haematoxylin and eosin staining. The expression of macrophage F4/80 antigen (F4/80) and cluster of differentiation (CD) 86 in atrial myocardial tissue was detected using immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. The expression levels or contents of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR), phosphorylated Janus kinase 2 (p-JAK2), and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3) in atrial myocardial tissue were detected using Western blotting, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The role of α7nAChR in acupuncture treatment was verified by intraperitoneal injection of the α7nAChR antagonist methyllycaconitine (MLA).
Results
Compared with the AF group, acupuncture significantly reduced AF duration and induction rate, improved cardiac electrophysiology by enhancing vagus nerve activity and regulating autonomic balance. It also decreased the pro-inflammatory M1 macrophage proportion, alleviating myocardial injury and infiltration. MLA weakened acupuncture’s electrophysiological improvement and anti-inflammatory effect. Results suggest that acupuncture triggers the α7nAChR-JAK2/STAT3 pathway and exerts cardioprotection via neuroimmune regulation.
Conclusion
Acupuncture significantly reduced the AF induction rate, shortened AF duration, improved cardiac electrophysiological parameters, enhanced vagus nerve activity, and decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages and inflammatory factors in rats with paroxysmal AF. Its positive effects are related to the activation of the α7nAChR-mediated JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathway, indicating that the interaction between cardiac vagus nerve and macrophages may be a potential target for acupuncture in the prevention and treatment of AF.

Gastric ulcer (GU) is a common digestive system disease. Acupuncture, as one of the external treatments of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has the characteristics of multi-target, multi-pathway and multi-level action in the treatment of GU. The relationship between meridian points and Zang-fu is an important part of the theory of TCM, which is crucial for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. There is an external and internal link between acupoints and Zang-fu. The pathological reaction of Zang-fu can manifest as acupoint sensitization, while stimulation of acupoints can play a therapeutic role in the internal Zang-fu. Therefore, the acupoint has the functions of reflecting and treating diseases. This review explores the tender points on the body surface of patients with GU and the rules of acupoint selection. In addition, Zusanli (ST36), as one of the most used acupoints of the stomach meridian, was selected to show the mechanisms behind acupoint stimulation in the treatment of GU in greater detail, specifically in the well-studied model of the stress-induced GU (SGU). Hence, the mechanisms of acupuncture at ST36 and points commonly used in combination with ST36 to treat SGU are discussed further. Treatment effects can be achieved through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, gastric mucosal injury repair, and interaction with the brain-gut axis. In summary, this review provides evidence for a comprehensive understanding of the phenomena and mechanism of acupoint functions for GU.

Objective
Ulcerative colitis is closely associated with intestinal stem cell (ISC) loss and impaired intestinal mucus barrier. Sinisan (SNS), a compound Chinese herbal medicine, has a long history in the treatment of intestinal dysfunction, yet whether SNS can relieve acute experimental colitis by modulating ISC proliferation and secretory cell differentiation has not been studied. Our study tested the effect of SNS against acute colitis and focused on the mechanisms involving intestinal barrier recovery.
Methods
Network pharmacology analysis and blood entry component analysis of SNS were used to explore the underlying mechanism by which SNS affects the acute dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced murine colitis model. RNA-sequencing was used to demonstrate the mechanism. Further, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence staining, and alcian blue and periodic acid-Schiff staining were performed in vivo and in the colonic organoids to investigate the cell lineage differentiation-related mechanism of SNS. Furthermore, potential active ingredients from SNS were predicted by network pharmacology analysis.
Results
SNS dramatically suppressed DSS-induced acute colonic inflammation in mice. RNA-sequencing analysis revealed downregulation of inflammation and apoptosis-related genes, and upregulation of lipid metabolism and proliferation-related genes, such as Irf7, Pparα, Clspn and Hspa5. Additionally, ISC renewal and intestinal secretory cell lineage commitment were significantly promoted by SNS both in vivo and in vitro in colonic organoids, leading to enhanced mucin expression. Furthermore, potential active ingredients from SNS that mediated inflammation, lipid metabolism, proliferation, apoptosis, stem cells and secretory cells were predicted using a network pharmacology approach.
Conclusion
Our study shed light on the underlying mechanism of SNS in attenuating acute colitis from the perspective of ISC renewal and secretory lineage cell differentiation, suggesting a of novel therapeutic strategy against colitis.

Objective
Circadian rhythm disruption (CRD) is a risk factor that correlates with poor prognosis across multiple tumor types, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to define HCC subtypes based on CRD and explore their individual heterogeneity.
Methods
To quantify CRD, the HCC CRD score (HCCcrds) was developed. Using machine learning algorithms, we identified CRD module genes and defined CRD-related HCC subtypes in The Cancer Genome Atlas liver HCC cohort (n = 369), and the robustness of this method was validated. Furthermore, we used bioinformatics tools to investigate the cellular heterogeneity across these CRD subtypes.
Results
We defined three distinct HCC subtypes that exhibit significant heterogeneity in prognosis. The CRD-related subtype with high HCCcrds was significantly correlated with worse prognosis, higher pathological grade, and advanced clinical stages, while the CRD-related subtype with low HCCcrds had better clinical outcomes. We also identified novel biomarkers for each subtype, such as nicotinamide n-methyltransferase and myristoylated alanine-rich protein kinase C substrate-like 1.
Conclusion
We classify the HCC patients into three distinct groups based on circadian rhythm and identify their specific biomarkers. Within these groups greater HCCcrds was associated with worse prognosis. This approach has the potential to improve prediction of an individual’s prognosis, guide precision treatments, and assist clinical decision making for HCC patients.

Background
Patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) undergoing long-term levodopa therapy are prone to develop levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID). Amantadine is the main drug recommended for the treatment of LID by current guidelines, but it is far from meeting clinical needs. Tianqi Pingchan Granule (TPG), a compound Chinese herbal medicine, has been developed to relieve symptom of LID.
Objective
This randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of the combination of TPG and amantadine for LID.
Design, setting, participants and interventions
This is a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial, conducted from January 2020 to August 2021 at 6 sites in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai, China. One hundred PD patients with ≥ 0.5 h of LID were randomly assigned to either the TPG plus amantadine group (TPG group) or the placebo plus amantadine group (placebo group), and treated for a period of 12 weeks. To ensure unbiased results, all study participants, investigators and sponsors were unaware of group allocations. Additionally, the data analysts remained blinded until the analysis was finalized.
Main outcome measures
The primary outcome was assessed using the Unified Dyskinesia Rating Scale (UDysRS) (Range 0–104). The key secondary end point was improvement of motor and non-motor symptoms. Safety analyses included all enrolled patients.
Results
One hundred patients were enrolled and randomized into the two treatment groups. The changes in UDysRS at week 12 were –11.02 for the TPG group and –4.19 for the placebo group (treatment difference –6.83 [–10.53 to –3.12]; P = 0.0004). Adverse events were reported for 2 of 50 patients (4.0%) in each of the groups.
Conclusion
This study indicated that a 12-week treatment of amantadine plus TPG effectively reduced UDysRS scores and was well tolerated, demonstrating the efficacy and safety of TPG for the treatment of LID in PD.
Trial registration: 
ClinicalTrials.gov
 identifier: NCT04173832.

Functional dyspepsia (FD), characterized by persistent or recurrent dyspeptic symptoms without identifiable organic, systemic or metabolic causes, is an increasingly recognized global health issue. The objective of this guideline is to equip clinicians and nursing professionals with evidence-based strategies for the management and treatment of adult patients with FD using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The Guideline Development Group consulted existing TCM consensus documents on FD and convened a panel of 35 clinicians to generate initial clinical queries. To address these queries, a systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Database, China Biology Medicine (SinoMed) Database, Wanfang Database, Traditional Medicine Research Data Expanded (TMRDE), and the Traditional Chinese Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (TCMLARS). The evidence from the literature was critically appraised using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. The strength of the recommendations was ascertained through a consensus-building process involving TCM and allopathic medicine experts, methodologists, pharmacologists, nursing specialists, and health economists, leveraging their collective expertise and empirical knowledge. The guideline comprises a total of 43 evidence-informed recommendations that span a range of clinical aspects, including the pathogenesis according to TCM, diagnostic approaches, therapeutic interventions, efficacy assessments, and prognostic considerations.

Objective
EPF3 is a fibrinolysin monomer isolated and purified from Pheretima vulgaris Chen, an earthworm used in traditional Chinese medicine as Dilong for treating blood stasis syndrome. Its composition, anticoagulant and fibrinolytic activities, and relevant mechanisms have been confirmed through in vitro experiments. However, whether it has antithrombotic effects in vivo and can be absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract is unknown. This study evaluates the antithrombotic effect in zebrafish and investigates the gastrointestinal stability and intestinal absorption mechanism of this protein in vitro.
Methods
The antithrombotic effect of EPF3 in vivo was verified using the zebrafish thrombus model induced by arachidonic acid and FeCl₃. Then, the protein bands of EPF3 incubated with simulated gastric fluid (SGF), simulated intestinal fluid (SIF), and homogenate of Caco-2 cells (HC2C) were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to evaluate its gastrointestinal stability. Finally, the transport behavior and absorption mechanism of EPF3 were studied using Caco-2 cell monolayer.
Results
EPF3 could significantly enhance the returned blood volume and blood flow velocity in zebrafish with platelet aggregation thrombus induced by arachidonic acid. It could also prolong the formation time of tail artery thrombus and increase the blood flow velocity in zebrafish with vessel injury thrombus induced by FeCl₃. EPF3 was stable in SIF and HC2C and unstable in SGF. The permeability of EPF3 in Caco-2 monolayer was time-dependent and concentration-dependent. The efflux ratio was less than 1.2 during transport, and the transport behavior was not affected by inhibitors. EPF3 could reversibly reduce the expression of tight junction-related proteins, including zonula occludens-1, occludin, and claudin-1 in Caco-2 cells.
Conclusion
EPF3 could play a thrombolytic and antithrombotic role in zebrafish. It could be transported and absorbed into the intestine through cellular bypass pathway by opening the intestinal epithelium tight junction. This study provides a scientific explanation for the antithrombotic effect of earthworm and provides a basis for the feasibility of subsequent development of EPF3 as an antithrombotic enteric-soluble preparation.

Acupuncture is one of the most effective complementary therapies for allergic rhinitis (AR) and has been recommended by several clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for AR. However, these CPGs mentioned acupuncture without making recommendations for clinical implementation and therapeutic protocols, therefore limiting the applicability of acupuncture therapies for AR. Hence, for the benefit of acupuncture practitioners around the world, the World Federation of Acupuncture-moxibustion Societies have initiated a project to develop the CPGs for the use of acupuncture and moxibustion to treat AR. The CPGs were developed according to the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology, referring to the principles of the World Health Organization Handbook for Guideline Development. During the development of the CPGs, the guideline development group (GDG) played an important role. The clinical questions, recommendations and therapeutic protocols were all formulated by the GDG using the modified Delphi method. The CPGs contain recommendations for 15 clinical questions about the use of acupuncture and moxibustion interventions. These include one strong recommendation for the intervention based on high-quality evidence, three conditional recommendations for either the intervention or standard care, and 11 conditional recommendations for the intervention based on very low quality of evidence. The CPGs also provide one filiform needle acupuncture protocol and five moxibustion protocols extracted based on the protocols presented in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) reviewed by the GDG.

Background

Pain associated with cancer is one of the greatest causes of reduced quality of life in patients. Acupuncture is one of the treatments used to address this issue, with the great advantage of having little or no side effects, especially when compared with pharmacological pain-killers.

Objective

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the current evidence regarding the efficacy of acupuncture for cancer pain.

Search strategy

Six electronic databases (PubMed, EBSCO, Cochrane Library, Scielo, b-On and Scopus) were searched for relevant articles about pain relief in cancer patients from their beginning until 2022 using MeSH terms such as “acupuncture,” “electroacupuncture,” “ear acupuncture,” “acupuncture analgesia,” ‘‘oncological pain,” and “cancer pain.”

Inclusion criteria

Studies included were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) where acupuncture was compared with no treatment, placebo acupuncture or usual care.

Data extraction and analysis

Three independent reviewers participated in data extraction and evaluation of risk of bias, and a meta-analysis was conducted. The primary outcome was pain intensity, measured with the visual analog scale, numeric rating scale, or brief pain inventory. Secondary outcomes also assessed were quality of life, functionality, xerostomia, pain interference, and analgesic consumption. Results were expressed as standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI). 

Results

Sixteen RCTs with a total of 1124 participants were included in the meta-analysis, with the majority of the studies presenting a low or unclear risk of bias. Acupuncture was more effective in reducing pain than no treatment (SMD = –0.90, 95% CI [–1.68, –0.12]), sham acupuncture (SMD = –1.10, 95% CI [–1.59, –0.61]) or usual care (SMD = –1.16, 95% CI [–1.38, –0.93]).

Conclusion

The results of this study suggest that acupuncture may be an effective intervention to reduce pain associated with cancer. Despite some limitations due to the low quality and small sample size of some included studies, as well as the different types and stages of cancer, acupuncture might provide an effective and safe treatment to reduce cancer pain.

Objective
Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI) is an obstacle to the success of cardiac reperfusion therapy. This study explores whether luteolin can mitigate MIRI by regulating the p53 signaling pathway.
Methods
Model mice were subjected to a temporary surgical ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery, and administered luteolin. The myocardial infarct size, myocardial enzyme levels, and cardiac function were measured. Latent targets and signaling pathways were screened using network pharmacology and molecular docking. Then, proteins related to the p53 signaling pathway, apoptosis and oxidative stress were measured. Hypoxia/reoxygenation (HR)-incubated HL1 cells were used to validate the effects of luteolin in vitro. In addition, a p53 agonist and an inhibitor were used to investigate the mechanism.
Results
Luteolin reduced the myocardial infarcted size and myocardial enzymes, and restored cardiac function in MIRI mice. Network pharmacology identified p53 as a hub target. The bioinformatic analyses showed that luteolin had anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative properties. Additionally, luteolin halted the activation of p53, and prevented both apoptosis and oxidative stress in myocardial tissue in vivo. Furthermore, luteolin inhibited cell apoptosis, JC-1 monomer formation, and reactive oxygen species elevation in HR-incubated HL1 cells in vitro. Finally, the p53 agonist NSC319726 downregulated the protective attributes of luteolin in the MIRI mouse model, and both luteolin and the p53 inhibitor pifithrin‐α demonstrated a similar therapeutic effect in the MIRI mice.
Conclusion
Luteolin effectively treats MIRI and may ameliorate myocardial damage by regulating apoptosis and oxidative stress through its targeting of the p53 signaling pathway.

Objective: Effects of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been documented widely. In addition, autophagy plays dual roles in the survival and death of cancer cells. Therefore, we investigated the exact role of autophagy in As2O3 -induced apoptosis in liver cancer cells.
Methods: The viability of hepatoma cells was determined with MTT assay. The apoptosis of As2O3-induced liver cancer cells was evaluated by flow cytometry, Hoechst 33258 staining and TUNEL assays. The autophagy of liver cancer cell was detected by immunofluorescence, western blot assay and transmission electron microscopy.
Results: Upon treatment with As2O3, the viability of HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells was decreased in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The apoptosis rates of both liver cancer cells increased with the concentration of As2O3 as determined by Flow cytometry. Apoptosis in liver cancer cells induced by As2O3 was also demonstrated by the activation of the caspase cascade and the regulation of Bcl-2/Bax expression. Furthermore, we also found that As2O3 treatment induced liver cancer cells autophagy, which was demonstrated by western blot, immunofluorescence of LC3-II and Beclin 1 expression and transmission electron microscopy observation. In liver cancer cells, As2O3 inhibited the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal pathway that plays a vital role in both apoptosis and autophagy. The PI3K activator, SC-79 partially reversed As2O3-induced autophagy and apoptosis. Furthermore, inhibiting autophagy with 3-MA partially reversed As2O3-induced cell viability inhibition, and enhanced autophagy with serum starvation facilitated As2O3-induced cell death.
Conclusion: As2O3 is able to induce liver cancer cells apoptosis and autophagy. Autophagy induced by As2O3 may play a proapoptotic effect in the anti-liver cancer effects. Our present study provides novel insights into the anti-liver cancer effects of As2O3.

Background

Acute gouty arthritis (AGA) is an inflammatory joint disease with a high prevalence. Typical medical interventions, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, colchicine and glucocorticoids, can have serious adverse reactions. Huzhang Granule (HZG), a compound Chinse herbal medicine, has been used to treat AGA for more than 30 years with satisfactory effects and no significant adverse reactions. However, the efficacy and safety of HZG in AGA patients remains unknown.

Objective

The present investigation was designed to examine the efficacy and safety profile of HZG in managing AGA patients.

Design, setting, participants and interventions

The current study was conducted as a noninferiority, randomized controlled clinical trial on 180 eligible enrolled participants. Participants were randomly assigned into the HZG and etoricoxib groups. Treatments were administered for 5 d, during which the HZG group received HZG and placebo etoricoxib, while the etoricoxib group received etoricoxib and placebo HZG in the same ratio (1:1).

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome was pain experienced by the patient in the gout-afflicted joint from days 2 to 5 of the treatment window. The pain level was measured via a visual analogue scale, ranging from 0 mm to 100 mm. The secondary outcomes comprised joint tenderness and swelling, reduction of inflammatory biomarkers, and the patient’s and investigator’s global evaluations of therapeutic response.

Results

The mean reduction in pain was –51.22 mm (95% confidence interval [CI], [–53.42, –49.03] mm) for the HZG and –52.00 mm (95% CI, [–54.06, –49.94] mm) for the etoricoxib groups. The mean difference between the two groups was 0.78 mm (95% CI, [–2.25, 3.81] mm). All additional efficacy endpoints, covering decreased inflammation and pain relief, yielded compelling proof of noninferiority. Patients in the HZG group exhibited a comparatively lower rate of adverse events compared to those in the etoricoxib group (4.44% vs 13.33%; P ≤ 0.05).

Conclusion

HZG and etoricoxib groups demonstrated similar levels of analgesic effectiveness. The safety and efficacy of HZG indicates that it can be used as a potential therapeutic option for treating AGA.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2000036970).

Objective

Abnormalities in the gut microbiota and intestinal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels are implicated in the pathogenesis of functional constipation (FC). Electro-acupuncture (EA) has been shown to improve constipation-related symptoms and rebalance the gut microbiota. However, it is currently unknown whether the gut microbiota is a key mechanistic target for EA or how EA promotes gut motility by regulating the gut microbiota and SCFAs. Therefore, we assessed the effects of EA in FC mice and pseudo-germfree (PGF) mice to address these questions.

Methods

Forty female Kunming mice were randomly separated into a normal control group (n = 8), an FC group (n = 8), an FC + EA group (n = 8), a PGF group (n = 8) and a PGF + EA group (n = 8). The FC group and FC + EA group were treated with diphenoxylate to establish the FC model; the PGF group and PGF + EA group were given an antibiotic cocktail to initiate the PGF model. After maintaining the model for 14 d, mice in the FC + EA and PGF + EA groups received EA stimulation at the ST25 and ST37 acupoints, once a day, 5 times per week, for 2 weeks. Fecal parameters and intestinal transit rate were calculated to assess the efficacy of EA on constipation and gastrointestinal motility. Colonic contents were used to quantify gut microbial diversity using 16S rRNA sequencing, and measure SCFA concentrations using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Results

EA significantly shortened the first black stool defecation time (P < 0.05) and increased the intestinal transit rate (P < 0.01), and fecal pellet number (P < 0.05), wet weight (P < 0.05) and water content (P < 0.01) over 8 h, compared with the FC group, showing that EA promoted gut motility and alleviated constipation. However, EA treatment did not reverse slow-transit colonic motility in PGF mice (P > 0.05), demonstrating that the gut microbiota may play a mechanistic role in the EA treatment of constipation. In addition, EA treatment restored the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio and significantly increased butyric acid generation in FC mice (P < 0.05), most likely due to the upregulation of Staphylococcaceae microorganisms (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

EA-mediated resolution of constipation occurs through rebalancing the gut microbiota and promoting butyric acid generation.

Background
Moderate to severe breast pain has major effects on the quality of life for patients. Patent Chinese medicines are widely used in the treatment of breast pain due to their stable dosage form and good efficacy.

Objective
To evaluate the beneficial effects and safety of Hongjin Xiaojie Capsule (HJXJC), a Chinese patent medicine, for the treatment of cyclical breast pain.

Design, setting, participants and intervention
This is a multicenter, single-blind randomized controlled trial conducted in 3 medical centers in China from 2019 to 2021. Patients with moderate to severe cyclic breast pain were randomly divided into the intervention group (who took HJXJC, four capsules per dose, three times a day for 12 weeks) and the control group (waiting for the treatment) in a 1:1 ratio.

Main outcome measures
The primary outcome was pain duration, and the patients recorded measurements at baseline and at the end of weeks 4, 8, 12 and 16 on a patient log card.

Results
The full analysis set (FAS) population included 298 participants (intervention group, n = 150; control group, n = 148), while the per-protocol analysis set (PPS) included 274 participants. After 12 weeks, the duration of breast pain was significantly shorter in the intervention group (FAS: mean difference, –6.69; 95% CI, –7.58 to –5.80; P < 0.01, vs control. PPS: mean difference, –7.09; 95% CI, –8.01 to –6.16; P < 0.01, vs control). The Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) scores were significantly lower in the intervention group (FAS: mean difference, –12.55; 95% CI, –13.90 to –11.21; P < 0.01, vs control. PPS: mean difference, –13.07; 95% CI, –14.48 to –11.66; P < 0.01, vs control). The above indicators continued to be significantly different through week 16. Moreover, in the intervention group, breast lumps shrank after 12 weeks and the size of breast lumps was statistically smaller than that in the control group (P < 0.05), whereas the sizes of breast nodules and uterine fibroid showed no statistically significant difference compared with the control group (P > 0.05). At weeks 8 and 12, the dysmenorrhea scores in the intervention group were lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). No obvious adverse reactions were observed in any group.

Conclusion

HJXJC can significantly shorten the duration of breast pain, reduce breast pain, reduce the size of breast lumps, and relieve dysmenorrhea. However, it has no significant effect on the size of breast nodules or uterine fibroid.

Trial registration

This trial has been registered at the ISRCTN Registry. Number: ISRCTN44184398.

Background

Electroacupuncture is often used to treat insomnia.

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture for insomnia.

Search strategy

Databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data and VIP Full-text e-Journals Database were searched up to January 15, 2023.

Inclusion criteria

Randomized clinical trials were included if they compared the clinical efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture with sham acupuncture, no treatment or usual care (UC) and general acupuncture.

Data extraction and analysis

The full texts of the studies were reviewed to remove ineligible literature. The extracted data included authors, publication year, diagnostic criteria, sample size, population characteristics, interventions and outcomes. The above steps were performed independently by two reviewers and the data were cross-checked. Stata15.0 software was used to analyze the extracted outcome data. For continuous data (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI] score and Insomnia Severity Index score), weighted mean difference (WMD) was calculated and 95% confidence interval (CI) was reported when the same scale was applied. For dichotomous variables (clinical response rate and adverse events), a meta-analysis was performed using risk ratio (RR) as the effect indicator.

Results

Thirty-one trials with 2226 subjects were included. The meta-analysis suggested that electroacupuncture was more effective in improving insomnia compared with the control group (sham acupuncture, no treatment, UC and general acupuncture) (RR = 1.21; 95% CI: [1.16, 1.27]), significantly reducing the PSQI score in insomnia patients after treatment and at follow-up (WMD = ?3.23; 95% CI: [?4.29, ?2.17]; P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the EA and control groups (sham acupuncture and no treatment or UC. RR = 1.48; 95% CI: [0.91, 2.40]; P = 0.117). In addition, the regression results revealed that receiving electroacupuncture for seven to nine weeks provided the best efficacy (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Electroacupuncture can significantly promote better sleep quality in insomnia patients and is suitable for the treatment of various types of insomnia. However, the articles included were single-center trials with small sample sizes, and some articles were of poor quality. Therefore, further research is still needed to confirm these findings.

Objective

Melittin and its derivatives have been characterized to establish effective gene delivery systems. Their capability of facilitating endosomal release enhances the nanoparticles-based gene delivery. Nevertheless, little investigation has been conducted to explore its potential application in the context of viral vectors.

Methods

Various melittin-derived peptides were inserted into the loop VIII of the capsid proteins of recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors. These vectors carrying either gfp or fluc genes were subjected to qPCR assays and transduction assays of HEK293T cells to investigate the efficiency of vector production and gene delivery. In addition, the ability of a specific p5RHH-rAAV vector to deliver genes was examined through in vitro transduction of different cultured cells and in vivo tail vein administration to C57BL/6 mice. Finally, the intricate details of the vector-mediated transduction mechanisms were revealed by specific pharmacological inhibitors of every stage of the rAAV2 intracellular life cycle.

Results

A total of 76 melittin-related peptides were compiled from existing literature. Among them, cMA2, Melt13, p5RHH and aAR3 were found to significantly enhance the gene delivery efficiency of rAAV2 vectors. The p5RHH-rAAV2 vectors efficiently transduced not only rAAV-potent cell lines but also cell lines previously considered resistant to rAAV. Mechanistically, bafilomycin A1, a vacuolar endosome acidification inhibitor, completely inhibited the transgene expression mediated by the p5RHH-rAAV2 vectors. Most importantly, p5RHH-rAAV8 vectors also demonstrated increased hepatic transduction in vivo in C57BL/6 mice.

Conclusion

The incorporation of melittin analogues into the rAAV capsids results in a significant improvement in rAAV-mediated transgene expression. While further modifications remain an area of interest, our studies have substantially broadened the pharmacological prospects of melittin in the context of viral vector-mediated gene delivery.

Background

Ginkgo biloba L. preparations (GBLPs) are a class of Chinese herbal medicine used in the adjuvant treatment of ischemic stroke (IS). Recently, several systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses (MAs) of GBLPs for IS have been published.

Objective

This overview aims to assess the quality of related SRs and MAs.

Search strategy

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Chinese Biological Medicine, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and Chinese Science and Technology Journals databases were searched from their inception to December 31, 2022.

Inclusion criteria

SRs and MAs of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that explored the efficacy of GBLPs for patients with IS were included.

Data extraction and analysis

Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed the methodological quality, risk of bias (ROB), reporting quality, and credibility of evidence of the included SRs and MAs using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2), Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews (ROBIS), the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA), and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE), respectively. Additionally, descriptive analysis and data synthesis were conducted.

Results

Twenty-nine SRs/MAs involving 119 outcomes were included in this review. The overall methodological quality of all SRs/MAs was critically low based on AMSTAR 2, and 28 had a high ROB based on the ROBIS. According to the PRISMA statement, the reporting items of the included SRs/MAs are relatively complete. The results based on GRADE showed that of the 119 outcomes, 8 were rated as moderate quality, 24 as low quality, and 87 as very low quality. Based on the data synthesis, GBLPs used in conjunction with conventional treatment were superior to conventional treatment alone for decreasing neurological function scores.

Conclusion

GBLPs can be considered a beneficial supplemental therapy for IS. However, because of the low quality of the existing evidence, high-quality RCTs and SRs/MAs are warranted to further evaluate the benefits of GBLPs for treating IS.

Background
As one of the most common musculoskeletal ailments, chronic nonspecific low-back pain (CNLBP) causes persistent disability and substantial medical expenses. Epidemiological evidence shows that the incidence rate of CNLBP in young and middle-aged people who are demanded rapidly recovery and social contribution is rising. Recent guidelines indicate a reduced role for medicines in the management of CNLBP.

Objective
The present study investigates the short-term effects of cupping and scraping therapy using a medicated balm, compared to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with a capsaicin plaster, in the treatment of CNLBP.

Design, setting, participants and interventions
We designed a prospective multicenter randomized clinical trial enrolling patients from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. A total of 156 patients with CNLBP were randomized into two parallel groups. Diclofenac sodium-sustained release tablets were administered orally to participants in the control group for one week while a capsaicin plaster was applied externally. Patients in the test group were treated with cupping and scraping using a medical device and medicated balm.

Main outcome measures
Primary outcome was pain recorded using the visual analogue scale (VAS). Two secondary outcomes were recorded using the Japanese Orthopedic Association low-back pain scale (JOA) and the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome integral scale (TCMS) as assessment tools.

Results
Between baseline and postintervention, all changes in outcome metric scales were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Compared to the control group, patients in the test group had a significantly greater treatment effect in all outcome variables, as indicated by lower VAS and TCMS scores and higher JOA scores, after the one-week intervention period (P < 0.001). Further, according to the findings of multivariate linear regression analysis, the participants’ pain (VAS score) was related to their marital status, age, smoking habits and body mass index. No adverse reactions were reported for any participants in this trial.

Conclusion
The effectiveness of TCM combined with the new physiotherapy tool is superior to that of NSAID combined with topical plasters, regarding to pain intensity, TCM symptoms and quality of life. The TCM plus physiotherapy also showed more stable and long-lasting therapeutic effects.

Trial registration

This study was registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2200055655).

Objective

Resveratrol (Res) is a promising anticancer drug against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but whether its anti-HCC effects implicate mitophagy remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to explore the specific role of Res in mitophagy and the related mechanisms during the treatment of HCC. 

Methods

HepG2 cells and tumor-grafted nude mice were used to investigate the effects of low-, middle- and high-dose of Res on HCC progression and mitophagy in vitro and in vivo, respectively. A series of approaches including cell counting kit-8, flow cytometry, wound healing and transwell assays were used to evaluate tumor cell functions. Transmission electron microscopy, immunofluorescence and Western blotting analysis were used to assess mitophagy. Mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate, reactive oxygen species and membrane potential were used to reflect mitochondrial function. After disrupting the expression of metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1), miR-143-3p, and ribonucleoside reductase M2 (RRM2), the effects of the MALAT1/miR-143-3p/RRM2 axis on cell function and mitophagy under Res treatment were explored in vitro. Additionally, dual-luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation were used to confirm interactions between target genes.

Results

Res significantly inhibited the proliferation and promoted apoptosis of HCC cells in vitro, while significantly suppressing tumor growth in a dose-dependent manner and inducing mitophagy and mitochondrial dysfunction in vivo. Interestingly, MALAT1 was highly expressed in HCC cells and its knockdown upregulated miR-143-3p expression in HCC cells, which subsequently inhibited RRM2 expression. Furthermore, in nude mice grafted with HCC tumors and treated with Res, the expression of MALAT1, miR-143-3p and RRM2 were altered significantly. In vitro data further supported the targeted binding relationships between MALAT1 and miR-143-3p and between miR-143-3p and RRM2. Therefore, a series of cell-based experiments were carried out to study the mechanism of the MALAT1/miR-143-3p/RRM2 axis involved in mitophagy and HCC; these experiments revealed that MALAT1 knockdown, miR-143-3p mimic and RRM silencing potentiated the antitumor effects of Res and its activation of mitophagy.

Conclusion

Res facilitated mitophagy in HCC and exerted anti-cancer effects by targeting the MALAT1/miR-143-3p/RRM2 axis.

As one of the key components of clinical trials, blinding, if successfully implemented, can help to mitigate the risks of implementation bias and measurement bias, consequently improving the validity and reliability of the trial results. However, successful blinding in clinical trials of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is hard to achieve, and the evaluation of blinding success through blinding assessment lacks established guidelines. Taking into account the challenges associated with blinding in the TCM field, here we present a framework for assessing blinding. Further, this study proposes a blinding assessment protocol for TCM clinical trials, building upon the framework and the existing methods. An assessment report checklist and an approach for evaluating the assessment results are presented based on the proposed protocol. It is anticipated that these improvements to blinding assessment will generate greater awareness among researchers, facilitate the standardization of blinding, and augment the blinding effectiveness. The use of this blinding assessment may further advance the quality and precision of TCM clinical trials and improve the accuracy of the trial results. The blinding assessment protocol will undergo continued optimization and refinement, drawing upon expert consensus and experience derived from clinical trials.

Background
Yiqi Peiyuan (YQPY) prescription, a composite prescription of traditional Chinese medicine, has been used to prevent or delay the continued deterioration of renal function after acute kidney injury (AKI) in some institutions and has shown considerable efficacy.

Objective
This is the first randomized controlled trial to assess efficacy and safety of YQPY for improving short-term prognosis in adult patients with AKI.

Design, setting, participants and interventions
This is a prospective, double-blind, multicenter, randomized, and placebo-controlled clinical trial. A total of 144 enrolled participants were randomly allocated to two groups according to a randomization schedule. Participants, caregivers and investigators assessing the outcomes were blinded to group assignment. Patients in the YQPY group received 36 g YQPY granules twice a day for 28 days. Patients in the placebo group received a placebo in the same dose as the YQPY granules.

Main outcome measures
The primary outcome was the change in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between baseline and after 4 and 24 weeks of treatment. The secondary outcomes were the change of serum creatinine (Scr) level between baseline and after treatment, and the incidence of endpoint events, defined as eGFR increasing by more than 25% above baseline, eGFR >75 mL/min per 1.73 m2 or the composite endpoint, which was defined as the sum of patients meeting either of the above criteria.

Results
Data from a total of 114 patients (59 in the YQPY group and 55 in the control group) were analyzed. The mean changes in eGFR and Scr in weeks 4 and 24 had no difference between the two groups. In further subgroup analysis (22 in the YQPY group and 31 in the control group), the mean change in eGFR after treatment for 4 weeks was 27.39 mL/min per 1.73 m2 in the YQPY group and 5.78 mL/min per 1.73 m2 in the placebo group, and the mean difference between groups was 21.61 mL/min per 1.73 m2 (P < 0.001). Thirteen (59.1%) patients in the YQPY group and 5 (16.1%) in the placebo group reached the composite endpoints (P = 0.002). During the intervention, 2 and 4 severe adverse events were reported in the YQPY and placebo groups, respectively.

Conclusion
The YQPY granules can effectively improve the renal function of patients 4 weeks after the onset of AKI, indicating that it has good efficacy for improving short-term renal outcomes in patients with AKI. The YQPY granules may be a promising therapy for adults with AKI.

Trial Registration
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2100051723.

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a worldwide epidemic caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Newer medicines for eliminating the viral reservoir and eradicating the virus are urgently needed. Attempts to locate relatively safe and non-toxic medications from natural resources are ongoing now. Natural-product-based antiviral candidates have been exploited to a limited extent. However, antiviral research is inadequate to counteract for the resistant patterns. Plant-derived bioactive compounds hold promise as powerful pharmacophore scaffolds, which have shown anti-HIV potential. This review focuses on a consideration of the virus, various possible HIV-controlling methods and the recent progress in alternative natural compounds with anti-HIV activity, with a particular emphasis on recent results from natural sources of anti-HIV agents.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a well-accepted therapy for atopic dermatitis (AD). However, there are currently no evidence-based guidelines integrating TCM and Western medicine for the treatment of AD, limiting the clinical application of such combined approaches. Therefore, the China Association of Chinese Medicine initiated the development of the current guideline, focusing on key issues related to the use of TCM in the treatment of AD. This guideline was developed in accordance with the principles of the guideline formulation manual published by the World Health Organization. A comprehensive review of the literature on the combined use of TCM and Western medicine to treat AD was conducted. The findings were extensively discussed by experts in dermatology and pharmacy with expertise in both TCM and Western medicine. This guideline comprises 23 recommendations across seven major areas, including TCM syndrome differentiation and classification of AD, principles and application scenarios of TCM combined with Western medicine for treating AD, outcome indicators for evaluating clinical efficacy of AD treatment, integration of TCM pattern classification and Western medicine across disease stages, daily management of AD, the use of internal TCM therapies and proprietary Chinese medicines, and TCM external treatments.

Acupuncture, a therapeutic practice rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and integrated with modern neuroscience, achieves its effects by stimulating sensory nerves at specific anatomical points known as acupoints. This review systematically explores the therapeutic components of acupuncture, emphasizing the interplay between sensory nerve characteristics and neural signaling pathways. Key factors such as acupoint location, needling depth, stimulation intensity, retention time, and the induction of sensations (e.g., Deqi) are analyzed for their roles in neural activation and clinical outcomes. The review highlights how variations in spinal segment targeting, tissue-specific receptor activation, and stimulation modalities (e.g., manual acupuncture, electroacupuncture, moxibustion) influence therapeutic effects. Emerging evidence underscores the significance of ion channels, dermatomes, myotomes, and gene-specific pathways in mediating systemic effects. Additionally, the differential roles of mechanical, thermal and nociceptive stimuli and the temporal dynamics of sensory and immune responses are addressed. While insights from animal models have advanced our understanding, their translation to clinical practice requires further investigation. This comprehensive review identifies critical parameters for optimizing acupuncture therapy, advocating for individualized treatment strategies informed by neuroanatomical and neurophysiological principles, ultimately enhancing its precision and efficacy in modern medicine.

Objective

Acute liver failure (ALF) is characterized by severe liver dysfunction, rapid progression and high mortality and is difficult to treat. Studies have found that sulforaphane (SFN), a nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NRF2) agonist, has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer effects, and has certain protective effects on neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and liver fibrosis. This paper aimed to explore the protective effect of SFN in ALF and it possible mechanisms of action.

Methods

Lipopolysaccharide and D-galactosamine were used to induce liver injury in vitro and in vivo. NRF2 agonist SFN and histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) inhibitor ACY1215 were used to observe the protective effect and possible mechanisms of SFN in ALF, respectively. Cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Fe2+, glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected. The expression of HDAC6, NRF2, glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4) and solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) were detected by Western blotting and immunofluorescence.

Results

Our results show that NRF2 was activated by SFN. LDH, Fe2+, MDA and ACSL4 were downregulated, while GSH, GPX4 and SLC7A11 were upregulated by SFN in vitro and in vivo, indicating the inhibitory effect of SFN on ferroptosis. Additionally, HDAC6 expression was decreased in the SFN group, indicating that SFN could downregulate the expression of HDAC6 in ALF. After using the HDAC6 inhibitor, ACY1215, SFN further reduced HDAC6 expression and inhibited ferroptosis, indicating that SFN may inhibit ferroptosis by regulating HDAC6 activity.

Conclusion

SFN has a protective effect on ALF, and the mechanism may include reduction of ferroptosis through the regulation of HDAC6.

Objective
The efficacy of medications for Parkinson's disease (PD) tend to decline over time, which has a serious impact on patients' health and quality of life. To some extent, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can resolve the distressing problem of ineffective dopaminergic medication in PD patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitude, acceptance, and independent predictors of TCM in PD patients admitted to the outpatient department of a tertiary hospital.

Methods
A cross-sectional study of PD patients was conducted in the outpatient department of a large tertiary hospital in Beijing from March 2022 to June 2023. A self-report questionnaire was developed to investigate PD patients' attitudes and acceptance of TCM based on the questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were also performed to further clarify the independent predictors influencing patients' adoption of TCM therapy.

Results
A total of 397 patients completed the questionnaire, of which 78.09% were willing to be treated with TCM and 21.91% indicated that they were not willing to use TCM. Multifactorial logistic regression analysis showed that several parameters were correlated with a patient's willingness to include TCM in their therapeutic regime. These included education level of a bachelor's degree (odds ratio [OR) = 8.554; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.112–17.794; P < 0.001, vs junior high school education), living in an urban setting (OR = 8.022; 95% CI: 4.577–14.060; P < 0.001, vs rural), having other underlying diseases (OR = 5.126; 95% CI: 3.078–8.537; P < 0.001, vs none), having previously used TCM (OR = 3.083; 95% CI: 1.852–5.134; P < 0.001, vs not used), believing that TCM therapy is safe (OR = 3.530; 95% CI: 1.446–8.616; P = 0.006, vs not thought), believing that TCM therapy is effective (OR = 3.859; 95% CI: 1.482–10.047; P = 0.006, vs not understood), and being willing to discuss ongoing TCM therapy with an attending physician (OR = 62.468; 95% CI: 30.350–128.574; P < 0.001, vs not informed).

Conclusion
This study initially investigated the acceptance, attitude, and independent predictors of TCM use among PD patients. To expand the prevalence of TCM use among patients with PD, we recommend to broadening the public outreach for TCM via contemporary means of Internet and broadcast communication, enhancing access to TCM services in rural communities, and strengthening the communication between doctors and patients.

Objective

In the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), traditional Chinese medicine represents as a significant complementary and alternative therapy. Jiedu Recipe (JR), a Chinese herbal remedy, has been shown to prolong overall survival time and decrease HCC recurrence and metastasis rates. This study aimed to uncover the mechanism of JR in HCC treatment.

Methods

The components of JR were detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The potential anti-HCC mechanism of JR was first screened by network pharmacology and microarray messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) chip assays, followed by experimental validation on human HCC cells (SMMC-7721 and Huh7) in vitro and a nude mouse subcutaneous transplantation model of HCC in vivo. 3-(4,5-Dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide, thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide, wound healing, along with transwell assays were applied respectively to assess HCC cell characteristics of proliferation, migration and invasion under hypoxic setting. Image-iT? Hypoxia Reagent was added to reveal hypoxic conditions. A stem cell sphere formation assay was used to detect stemness. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers like E-cadherin, vimentin, α-smooth muscle actin and pluripotent transcription factors including nanog homeobox, octamer-binding transcription factor 4, sex determining region Y box protein 2 were analyzed by Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Western blot was performed to ascertain the anti-HCC effect of JR under hypoxia involves the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Results

According to network pharmacology and mRNA microarray chip analysis, JR may potentially act on hypoxia and inhibit the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Our findings showed that JR strongly decreased hypoxia, and obviously suppressed HCC cell features of proliferation, migration and invasion. Moreover, the hypoxia-induced increases in EMT and stemness marker expression in HCC cells were inhibited by JR. Further results based on the co-administration of JR and an agonist (LiCl) or inhibitor (IWR-1-endo) verified that JR suppressed hypoxia-induced cancer stem-like properties in HCC by blocking the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Conclusion

JR exerts potent anti-HCC effects by inhibiting cancer stemness via abating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway under hypoxic conditions.

Objective
Functional constipation (FC) is a common intestinal disease worldwide. Despite the presence of criteria such as Roman IV, there is no standardized diagnosis and treatment algorithm in Hong Kong that combines both Western and Chinese medicine approaches. This study integrates current effective and safe diagnosis and treatment methods for FC and provides a clear and scientific pathway for clinical professionals and patients.

Methods
A systematic search of the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases was performed from their inception to June 30th, 2022, collecting the current evidence about the efficacious integrative management for FC. We organized a meeting of professionals in fields relevant to treatment and management of FC to develop a consensus agreement on clinical pathway process.

Results
We developed a clinical pathway for the treatment of FC based on the most recent published guidelines and consultation with experts. This pathway includes a hierarchy of recommendations for every step of the clinical process, including clinical intake, diagnostic examination, recommended labs, diagnostic flowchart, and guidance for selection of therapeutic drugs.

Conclusion
This pathway establishes clinical standards for the diagnosis and treatment of FC using Chinese medicine and Western medicine; it will help to provide high-quality medical services in Hong Kong for patients with FC.

Objective: Xiaotan Sanjie recipe (XTSJ), a Chinese herbal compound, exerts a significant inhibitory effect on the GC metastasis. Nevertheless, the mechanism underlying the XTSJ-mediated inhibition of GC metastasis is unknown. Our study demonstrated the regulation of XTSJ on the GnT-V-mediated addition of β1,6 GlcNAc branches to E-cadherin and affected GC metastasis in vitro and in vivo.
Methods: The effect (and associated mechanism) of XTSJ on GC metastasis was evaluated in vitro (using GC cell lines) and in vivo (using a GC mouse model) by focusing on the expression of GnT-V (encoded by MGAT5).
Results: We demonstrated that the migration and invasion ability of GC cells decreased significantly after XTSJ administration, which confirmed the efficacy of XTSJ in treating GC in vitro. Moreover, we showed that XTSJ increased the accumulation of E-cadherins at junctions between GC cells, an effect which was reversed by MGAT5 overexpression. XTSJ administration and MGAT5 knockdown alleviated the structural abnormality of the cell-cell junctions, while MGAT5 overexpression had the opposite effect. MGAT5 knockdown and XTSJ treatment also significantly increased the accumulation of proteins associated with the E-cadherin-mediated adherens junction complex. Furthermore, the expression of MGAT5 was significantly lower in the lungs of BGC-823-MGAT5+XTSJ mice than in those of BGC-823-MGAT5+solvent mice, indicating that the ability of gastric tumors to metastasize to the lung was decreased in vivo following XTSJ treatment.
Conclusion: Our study confirmed that XTSJ prevented GC metastasis by inhibiting the GnT-V-mediated E-cadherin glycosylation and promoting E-cadherin accumulation at cell-cell junctions.

The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis is a critical component of the neuroendocrine system, playing a central role in regulating the body’s stress response and modulating various physiological processes. Dysregulation of HPA axis function disrupts the neuroendocrine equilibrium, resulting in impaired physiological functions. Acupuncture is recognized as a non-pharmacological type of therapy which has been confirmed to play an important role in modulating the HPA axis and thus favorably targets diseases with abnormal activation of the HPA axis. With numerous studies reporting the promising efficacy of acupuncture for neuroendocrine disorders, a comprehensive review in terms of the underlying molecular mechanism for acupuncture, especially in regulating the HPA axis, is currently in need. This review fills the need and summarizes recent breakthroughs, from the basic principles and the pathological changes of HPA axis dysfunction, to the molecular mechanisms by which acupuncture regulates the HPA axis. These mechanisms include the modulation of multiple neurotransmitters and their receptors, neuropeptides and their receptors, and microRNAs in the paraventricular nucleus, hippocampus, amygdala and pituitary gland, which alleviate the hyperfunctioning of the HPA axis. This review comprehensively summarizes the mechanism of acupuncture in regulating HPA axis dysfunction for the first time, providing new targets and prospects for further exploration of acupuncture.

Background
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a common respiratory disease, can be effectively treated by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Qingfei Huatan, a TCM formula, has been reported to effectively alleviate the clinical symptoms of COPD patients. However, there is a lack of multi-centre, randomised, double-blind, controlled clinical trials documenting the clinical efficacy and safety of this formula in the treatment of acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD).
Objective
This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of Qingfei Huatan formula in the treatment of AECOPD, thereby providing high-quality clinical evidence.
Design, setting, participants and interventions
A total of 276 patients with AECOPD were included in this multi-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial and were randomised into treatment and control groups at a ratio of 1:1. Patients in the treatment and control groups took Qingfei Huatan granules or simulated Qingfei Huatan granules twice a day, for 14 days, in addition to Western medicine treatment. All patients were followed up for 3 months.
Main outcome measures
The primary outcome was time taken to symptom stabilisation. The secondary outcomes included duration of antibiotic use, clinical symptom and sign score, TCM syndrome score, dyspnoea score, and quality of life (QOL) score. Meanwhile, the safety of the formula was assessed through routine urine and stool tests, electrocardiograms, liver and kidney function tests, and the observation of adverse events throughout the trial.
Results
The time taken for effective stabilisation (P < 0.05) and obvious stabilisation (P < 0.01), and the duration of antibiotic use (P < 0.05) were significantly shorter in the treatment group than in the control group. On days 6, 9, 12 and 14 of treatment, clinical symptom and sign score decreased in both groups, particularly in the treatment group (P < 0.01). On days 9, 12 and 14 of treatment, the TCM syndrome scores of both groups were reduced (P < 0.01), with more significant reductions in the treatment group. At 3 months after the end of treatment, the treatment group continued to have lower clinical symptom and sign score and TCM syndrome score than the control group (P < 0.01). On days 6, 9, 12 and 14 of treatment, dyspnoea and QOL scores were markedly reduced in the two groups (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively), especially in the treatment group. At 3 months after the end of treatment, dyspnoea and QOL scores were lower in the treatment group than those in the control group (P < 0.01). No serious adverse events were observed in either group.
Conclusion
The Qingfei Huatan formula can effectively shorten the duration of AECOPD and antibiotic use, significantly relieve clinical symptoms, and increase QOL for AECOPD patients, with a favourable safety profile. These results suggest that this formula can be used as a complementary treatment for AECOPD patients.
Trial registration: The protocol was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1900026576).

This study summarizes and discusses the characteristics and essence of meridians and acupoints from the perspectives of physics, chemistry and biology. An extensive body of literature from PubMed and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure was reviewed and categorized into three distinct groups: physical characteristics-related research (75 articles), which examined electrical, thermal, optical, acoustic and magnetic properties, and isotope migration; chemical characteristics-related literature (44 articles), focusing on chemical ions, oxygen partial pressure, nitric oxide and substance P; and biological essence-related research (52 articles), which primarily explored microcirculation, extracellular fluid channels, mast cells, telocytes, connexins, hilum of muscle and bone, and sensory nerve fibers. Current research emphasizes the electrical and thermal properties of the meridians and acupoints, whereas investigations into the essence of meridians are increasingly shifting from macroscopic to microscopic structures. It is essential to fully harness the advantages of interdisciplinary integration, which could significantly advance our understanding and applications in the realm of acupuncture and traditional medicine.

Objective
Aconite is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that has been found to inhibit the development of liver cancer; however, its exact molecular mechanisms in this process remain unclear. This study explores how aconite aqueous extract (AAE) inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods
An in vivo mouse model of subcutaneous liver cancer was established. After AAE treatment, immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to determine the effect of AAE on natural killer (NK) cells. Subsequently, C57BL/6 mice were used to establish the subcutaneous tumor model, and a group of these mice were treated with anti-PK163 antibody to remove NK cells, which was verified by flow cytometry and IHC. The effect of AAE on the proliferation of HCC cells in vitro was determined using cell counting kit-8. The effect of AAE on chemokine production in HCC cells was measured using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The effect of AAE on the migration of NK cells was determined using a transwell assay. Finally, the molecular mechanism was investigated using the Western blotting method.

Results
We demonstrated that the ability of AAE to induce overexpression of the cytokine C–C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) in HCC cells is fundamental to the infiltration of NK cells into the tumor bed. Mechanistically, we found that the upregulation of CCL2 was achieved by the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase but not extracellular regulated protein kinase or p38.

Conclusion
Our findings suggest that AAE can be used as an effective immune adjuvant to enhance antitumor immunity by increasing NK cell infiltration into tumors, which could help to improve the efficacy of HCC treatments.

Background
Modern acupuncture anesthesia is a combination of Chinese and Western medicine that integrates the theories of acupuncture with anesthesia. However, some clinical studies of acupuncture anesthesia lack specific descriptions of randomization, allocation concealment, and blinding processes, with subsequent systematic reviews indicating a risk of bias.

Objective
Clinical trial registration is essential for the enhancement of the quality of clinical trials. This study aims to summarize the status of clinical trial registrations for acupuncture anesthesia listed on the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP).

Search strategy
We searched the ICTRP for clinical trials related to acupuncture anesthesia registered between January 1, 2001 and May 31, 2023. Additionally, related publications were retrieved from PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and Wanfang Data. Registrations and publications were analyzed for consistency in trial design characteristics.

Inclusion criteria
Clinical trials that utilized one of several acupuncture-related therapies in combination with pharmacological anesthesia during the perioperative period were eligible for this review.

Data extraction and analysis
Data extracted from articles included type of surgical procedure, perioperative symptoms, study methodology, type of intervention, trial recruitment information, and publication information related to clinical enrollment.

Results
A total of 166 trials related to acupuncture anesthesia from 21 countries were included in the analysis. The commonly reported symptoms in the included studies were postoperative nausea and vomiting (19.9%) and postoperative pain (13.3%). The concordance between the publications and the trial protocols in the clinical registry records was poor, with only 31.7% of the studies being fully compatible. Inconsistency rates were high for sample size (39.0%, 16/41), blinding (36.6%, 15/41), and secondary outcome indicators (24.4%, 10/41).

Conclusion
The volume of acupuncture anesthesia clinical trials registered in international trial registries over the last 20 years is low, with insufficient disclosure of results. Postoperative nausea and vomiting as well as postoperative pain, are the most investigated for acupuncture intervention.

Objective
Varied acupoint selections represent a potential cause of the uncertainty surrounding the efficacy of acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Skin temperature, a guiding factor for acupoint selection, may help to address this issue. This study explored thermal sensitization of acupoints used for the treatment of knee OA.

Methods
This cross-sectional case-control study enrolled individuals aged 45–75 years with symptomatic knee OA and age- and gender-matched non-knee OA controls in a 1:1 ratio. All participants underwent infrared thermographic imaging. The primary outcome was the relative skin temperature of acupoint (STA), and the secondary outcome was the absolute STA of 11 acupoints. The Z test was used to compare the relative and absolute STAs between the groups. Principal component analysis was used to extract the common factors (CFs, acupoint cluster) in the STAs. A general linear model was used to identify factors affecting the STA in the knee OA cases. For the group comparisons of relative STA, P < 0.0045 (adjusted for 11 acupoints through Bonferroni correction) was considered to indicate statistical significance. For other analyses, P < 0.05 was used as the threshold for statistical significance.

Results

The analysis included 308 participants, consisting of 151 cases (mean age: [64.58 ± 6.67] years; male: 25.83%; mean body mass index: [25.70 ± 3.16] kg/m²) and 157 controls (mean age: [63.37 ± 5.96] years; male: 26.11%; mean body mass index: [24.47 ± 2.84] kg/m²). The relative STAs of ST34 (P = 0.0001), EX-LE2 (P < 0.0001), EX-LE5 (P = 0.0006), SP10 (P < 0.0001), BL40 (P = 0.0012) and GB39 (P = 0.0037) were higher in the knee OA group. No difference was found in the STAs of ST35, ST36, SP9, GB33 and GB34. Four CFs were identified for relative STA in both groups. The acupoints within each CF were consistent between the groups. The mean values of the relative STAs across each CF were higher in the knee OA group. In the knee OA cases, no factors were observed to affect the relative STA, while age and gender were found to affect the absolute STA.

Conclusion
Among patients with knee OA, thermal sensitization occurs in the acupoints of the lower extremity, exhibiting localized and regional thermal consistencies. The thermally sensitized acupoints that we identified in this study, ST34, SP10, EX-LE2, EX-LE5, GB39 and BL40, may be good choices for the acupuncture treatment of knee OA.

Objective

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) incorporates traditional diagnostic methods and several major treatment modalities including Chinese herbal medicine, Chinese patent medicine, and non-pharmacological methods such as acupuncture and tuina. Even though TCM is used daily by more than 70,000 healthcare facilities and over 700,000 clinical practitioners in China, there is a poor understanding of the extent to which TCM diagnostic methods are used, how different treatment modalities are deployed in general, and what major factors may affect the integration of TCM and Western medicine. This study aimed to fill this void in the literature.

Methods

In the 2021 National Healthcare Improvement Evaluation Survey, we included three questions gauging the perception and practices of TCM amongst physicians working in TCM-related facilities, investigating the frequency of their deployment of TCM diagnostic methods, and predominant TCM treatment methods. Our empirical analysis included descriptive statistics, intergroup chi-square analysis, and binary logistic regression to examine the association between different types of facilities and individual characteristics and TCM utilization patterns.

Results

A total of 7618 clinical physicians comprised our study sample. Among them, 84.27% have integrated TCM and Western medicine in their clinical practice, and 80.77% of TCM practitioners used the 4 diagnostic methods as a tool in their clinical practice. Chinese herbal medicine was the most widely utilized modality by Chinese TCM physicians (used by 88.49% of respondents), compared with the Chinese patent medicine and non-pharmacological TCM methods, which were used by 73.14%, and 69.39%, respectively. Herbal tea as an out-of-pocket health-maintenance intervention is also a notable practice, recommended by 29.43% of physicians. Significant variations exist across certain institutions, departments, and individual practitioners.

Conclusion

Given that most of the surveyed physicians integrated TCM with Western medicine in their clinical practices, the practice of “pure TCM” appears to be obsolete in China’s tertiary healthcare institutions. Notably, remarkable variation exists in the use of different TCM modalities across institutions and among individuals, which might be related to and thus limited by the practitioners’ experience. Future research focusing on the efficacy and safety of TCM interventions for specific diseases, the development of standardized clinical guidelines, and the enhancement of TCM education and training are called for to optimize TCM-Western medicine integration.

Background

Previously published meta-epidemiological studies focused on Western medicine have identified some trial characteristics that impact the treatment effect of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Nevertheless, it remains unclear if similar associations exist in RCTs on Chinese herbal medicine (CHM). Further, Chinese medicine-related characteristics have not been explored yet.

Objective

To investigate trial characteristics related to treatment effect estimates on CHM RCTs.

Search strategy

This meta-epidemiological study searched 5 databases for systematic reviews on CHM treatment published between January 2011 and July 2021.

Inclusion criteria

An eligible systematic review should only include RCTs of CHM and conduct at least one meta-analysis.

Data extraction and analysis

Two reviewers independently conducted data extraction on general characteristics of systematic reviews, meta-analyses and included RCTs. They also assessed the risk of bias of RCTs using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. A two-step method was used for data analyses. The ratio of odds ratios (ROR) and difference in standardized mean differences (dSMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were applied to present the difference in effect estimates for binary and continuous outcomes, respectively.

Results

Ninety-one systematic reviews, comprising 1338 RCTs were identified. For binary outcomes, RCTs incorporated with syndrome differentiation (ROR: 1.23; 95% CI: [1.07, 1.39]), adopting Chinese medicine formula (ROR: 1.19; 95% CI: [1.03, 1.34]), with low risk of bias on incomplete outcome data (ROR: 1.29; 95% CI: [1.06, 1.52]) and selective outcome reporting (ROR: 1.12; 95% CI: [1.01, 1.24]), as well as a trial size ≥ 100 (ROR: 1.23; 95% CI: [1.04, 1.42]) preferred to show larger effect estimates. As for continuous outcomes, RCTs with Chinese medicine diagnostic criteria (dSMD: 0.23; 95% CI: [0.06, 0.41]), judged as high/unclear risk of bias on allocation concealment (dSMD: –0.70; 95% CI: [–0.99, –0.42]), with low risk of bias on incomplete outcome data (dSMD: 0.30; 95% CI: [0.18, 0.43]), conducted at a single center (dSMD: –0.33; 95% CI: [–0.61, –0.05]), not using intention-to-treat analysis (dSMD: –0.75; 95% CI: [–1.43, –0.07]), and without funding support (dSMD: –0.22; 95% CI: [–0.41, –0.02]) tended to show larger effect estimates.

Conclusion

This study provides empirical evidence for the development of a specific critical appraisal tool for risk of bias assessments on CHM RCTs.

Kaiy (medieval cautery) is an ancient method of heat therapy in traditional Persian medicine (TPM). Some of its important applications have been neglected during the medical revolution. Meanwhile, different treatment modalities that incorporate heat, including moxibustion, have progressed in traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, we reviewed the main TPM textbooks that were written specifically in the field of kaiy. We consider the traditional teachings in the context of contemporary information gathered from the scientific literature about moxibustion and modern cauterization. Some surgical therapeutic indications of kaiy (e.g., debridement and coagulative procedures) have been advanced by the innovation of electro-cauterization, but those therapeutic applications that were based on the TPM humoral theory for relieving body coldness or myofascial pains—which are similar to moxibustion usages—have not received the same attention. Apart from the broad similarities of kaiy and moxibustion as thermal therapies with similar indications, there is a striking correspondence between kaiy point mapping and acupoints. Therefore, further research on different kaiy aspects is recommended.

Objective

To investigate whether the presence or absence of improvement in chronic severe functional constipation (CSFC) at the early stage of treatment with electroacupuncture predicts subsequent response or nonresponse, and to determine the optimal treatment duration as assessing electroacupuncture subsequent responses.

Methods

This is a post-hoc analysis using data pooled from two large-scale randomized controlled trials. Patients with CSFC were recruited, and those in the electroacupuncture groups were included in the present study. Early improvement was defined as a weekly increase of ≥ 1 complete spontaneous bowel movement (CSBM) compared to baseline. Three treatment response criteria were evaluated: ≥ 3 CSBMs per week, overall CSBM response, and sustained CSBM response. Predictive statistics, including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV), were calculated at weeks 1 to 4. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and accuracy rates were used to determine the optimal time point for differentiation between responders and non-responders.

Results

A total of 813 participants who received electroacupuncture were analyzed. The proportion of improvers was 40.34% by week 1, increasing to 52.52% by week 4. After 8 weeks of treatment, the response rates were 30.14%, 25.83%, and 25.58% according to the three aforementioned criteria, respectively. Early improvement was a strong predictor of treatment response, with week 3 demonstrating the highest predictive accuracy.

Conclusion

Early improvement with electroacupuncture, especially at week 3, can predict subsequent outcomes. Our findings suggest that acupuncturists may identify non-responders who might require adjustments to therapeutic strategies early in treatment.

Objective
The aim of this study is to identify molecules from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with potential activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its variants.

Methods
We applied the Apriori algorithm to identify important combinations of herbs in the TCM prescriptions for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Then, we explored the active components and core targets using network pharmacology. In addition, the molecular docking approach was performed to investigate the interaction of these components with the main structural and non-structural proteins, as well as the mutants. Furthermore, their stability in the binding pockets was further evaluated with the molecular dynamics approach.

Results
A combination of Amygdalus Communis Vas., Ephedra Herba and Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi was selected as the important herbal combination, and 11 main components and 20 core targets against COVID-19 were obtained. These components, including luteolin, naringenin, stigmasterol, baicalein, and so on, were the potentially active compounds against COVID-19. The binding affinity of these compounds with the potential targets was as high as the positive controls. Among them, baicalein could interfere with multiple targets simultaneously, and it also interfered with the interaction between spike protein and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor. Additionally, almost all the systems reached stability during dynamics simulation.

Conclusion
The combination of Amygdalus Communis Vas., Ephedra Herba and Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi was the most important herbal combination for the treatment of COVID-19. Baicalein may be a potential candidate against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants.

Background

The field of personalized medicine has gained increasing attention in cancer care, with the aim of tailoring treatment strategies to individual patients for improved outcomes. Herbal medicine, with its long-standing historical use and extensive bioactive compounds, offers a rich source of potential treatments for various diseases, including cancer.

Objective

To provide an overview of the current knowledge and evidence associated with incorporating herbal compounds into precision medicine strategies for cancer diseases. Additionally, to explore the general characteristics of the studies included in the analysis, focusing on their key features and trends.

Search strategy

A comprehensive literature search was conducted from multiple online databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL-EBSCO. The search strategy was designed to identify studies related to personalized cancer medicine and herbal interventions.

Inclusion criteria

Publications pertaining to cancer research conducted through in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies, employing natural products were included in this review.

Data extraction and analysis

Two review authors independently applied inclusion and inclusion criteria, data extraction, and assessments of methodological quality. The quality assessment and biases of the studies were evaluated based on modified Jadad scales. A detailed quantitative summary of the included studies is presented, providing a comprehensive description of their key features and findings.

Results

A total of 121 studies were included in this review for analysis. Some of them were considered as comprehensive experimental investigations both in vitro and in vivo. The majority (n = 85) of the studies included in this review were conducted in vitro, with 44 of them specifically investigating the effects of herbal medicine on animal models. Additionally, 7 articles with a combined sample size of 31,271 patients, examined the impact of herbal medicine in clinical settings.

Conclusion

Personalized medication can optimize the use of herbal medicine in cancer treatment by considering individual patient factors such as genetics, medical history, and other treatments. Additionally, active phytochemicals found in herbs have shown potential for inhibiting cancer cell growth and inducing apoptosis, making them a promising area of research in preclinical and clinical investigations.

Objective
The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of treating sepsis patients with Xuebijing injection (XBJI).
Methods
We conducted a retrospective analysis of 418 patients who experienced severe infections and were treated with XBJI from June 2018 to June 2021. Propensity score matching was used to match the patient cases. The study population included 209 pairs of cases (418 individuals), and the analysis included data from before and after a 14-day course of treatment with carbapenem alone, or carbapenem with XBJI.
Results
There were no significant differences in the 14-day mortality or length of hospital stay (P > 0.05) between the two groups. The combined treatment group had more patients with C-reactive protein that returned to normal levels (compared to baseline) than the non-combined treatment group (14.4% vs 8.1%; odds ratio [OR]: 0.528; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.282–0.991; P = 0.026). Similarly, the combined treatment group had higher procalcitonin attainment rate (55.0% vs 39.7%; OR: 0.513; 95% CI: 0.346–0.759; P = 0.001) than the non-combined treatment group. Further, more patients in the combined treatment group achieved normal creatinine levels than in the non-combined treatment group (64.1% vs 54.1%; OR: 0.659; 95% CI: 0.445–0.975; P = 0.037).
Conclusion
The combination of XBJI with carbapenem did not reduce the 14-day mortality rate of patients with severe infection, but it was able to reduce the level of inflammatory factors in patients with sepsis, and had a protective effect on liver and kidney function.