OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study assessed the methodological quality of systematic reviews (SRs) of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) published in Chinese between Jan 2021 and Sep 2022. METHODS: Chinese language CHM SRs were identified through literature searches across 3 international and 4 Chinese databases. Methodological quality was appraised using A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews 2. Logistic regressions were used to explore associations between bibliographical characteristics and quality. RESULTS: Analyses of methodological quality found that among the 213 sampled SRs, 69.5% were of critically low quality, 30.5% were of low quality, and none achieved high or moderate quality. Common shortcomings included the failure to identify the studies excluded from the analysis, failure to disclose funding sources, and limited evaluation of the potential impact of bias on conclusions. Logistic regressions revealed that SRs led by corresponding authors affiliated with universities or academic institutions tended to be of lower quality than SRs led by authors affiliated with hospitals or clinical facilities. CONCLUSION Recent Chinese language CHM SRs exhibited limited methodological quality, making them unlikely to support the development of clinical practice guidelines. Urgent initiatives are needed to enhance training for researchers, peer-reviewers and editors involved in the preparation and publication of SRs. Adoption of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses reporting guidelines in Chinese language journals is crucial to improve the relevance of SRs for Chinese medicine development. Addressing deficiencies in methodology and reporting is essential for promoting evidence-based practices and informed clinical decisions in Chinese medicine. Please cite this article as: Jiang Y, Zhong CC, Wang BH, Xu SS, Ho FF, Kwong MH, Ho L, Zhou JHS, Lam KC, Liu JP, Zhang BT, Chung VCH. Methodological quality of systematic reviews on orally administered Chinese herbal medicine published in Chinese between 2021 and 2022: A cross-sectional study. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(5):492-501.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Systematic Reviews as Topic/standards* ; Humans ; China ; Administration, Oral ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to compare the effects of two orthodontic treatment modalities for skeletal class Ⅲ malocclusion on specific changes in airway volume, morphology, palatal angle, mandibular rotation, and bone displacement. Results provide scientific evidence for the selection of orthodontic treatment plans and reduce the risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). METHODS: Thirty-six patients diagnosed with skeletal class Ⅲ malocclusion at the Department of Orthodontics, the Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from September 2018 to December 2023 were divided into two groups: orthodontic-orthognathic treatment group (18 patients) and camouflage orthodontic treatment group (18 patients). Changes in airway volume, cross-sectional area, palatal angle, mandibular, and tongue positions were observed through pre- and post-operative cone beam computed tomography and 3D cephalometric measurements. RESULTS: In the camouflage orthodontic treatment group, nasopharyngeal volume and oropharyngeal volume statistically increased after treatment (P<0.05). In the orthodontic-orthognathic treatment group, changes in nasopharyngeal volume, nasopharyngeal airway, distance from posterior tongue to pharyngeal wall, palatal angle, mandibular rotation, and hyoid bone displacement were statistically significant after surgery (P<0.05). In the comparison between the two groups after treatment, changes in the distance from posterior tongue to pharyngeal wall, palatal angle, and distance from hyoid bone to sella turcica point were statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Patients in the orthodontic-orthognathic treatment group showed significantly greater changes in oropharyngeal cross-sectional area, palate angle, and tongue position compared with patients in the camouflage orthodontic treatment group. As individuals susceptible to OSAHS often exhibit mandibular retrusion and decreased minimum airway cross-sectional area, special attention should be paid to airway morphology changes when adopting orthodontic-orthognathic treatment to avoid adverse consequences.
Humans ; Hyoid Bone/diagnostic imaging* ; Malocclusion, Angle Class III/therapy* ; Male ; Female ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Cephalometry ; Orthodontics, Corrective/methods* ; Adult ; Mandible ; Pharynx/diagnostic imaging* ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/etiology* ; Orthognathic Surgical Procedures

Early orthodontic treatment has been a hot spot and focus of development in recent years in the field of orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, and general practice dentistry. However, there are still some misconceptions, such as excessive or premature intervention, strict control of indications, exaggeration of the role of early orthodontic treatment. This article starts from the analysis of the current status of early orthodontic treatment in China and combines the latest literature and reviews at home and abroad to analyze the nine issues that dentists and the public are concerned about one by one, including whether early orthodontic treatment is a new concept, whether it is necessary, the timing of early orthodontic treatment, the indications for early orthodontic treatment, whether it can provide a non-tooth extraction or non-surgical opportunity, whether it can completely change the facial profile such as retrognathia and growth pattern of the mandible, whether it can treat habitual mouth breathing or adenoid face or obstructive sleep apnea, the role of myofunctional therapy with prefabricated appliances in early orthodontic treatment, whether transparent aligners are superior to traditional aligners in early orthodontic treatment, with the aim of promoting the standardization of early orthodontic treatment. Early orthodontic treatment must choose the right indications, master the basic principles and techniques of orthodontics, and choose the most suitable treatment method and timing for the child.
Humans ; Orthodontics, Corrective/methods* ; Malocclusion/therapy* ; Orthodontics ; China ; Child

Idiopathic gingival fibromatosis is a rare, benign condition of unknown etiology characterized by extensive gingival overgrowth. This case reports a severe skeletal Class Ⅱ adult female patient with idiopathic gingival fibromatosis. The patient underwent multidisciplinary treatment involving periodontics, orthodontics, and orthognathic surgery, resulting in remarkable crown height elongation, substantial improvements in occlusal function and aesthetics, and stable long-term follow-up outcomes. This case provides a reference for future clinical practice.
Humans ; Female ; Malocclusion, Angle Class II/complications* ; Fibromatosis, Gingival/complications* ; Adult ; Orthodontics, Corrective ; Orthognathic Surgical Procedures

As the field of oral pathology has evolved, the nomenclature and classification of oral mucosal diseases with a remarkable risk of malignant transformation have undergone several modifications. In 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced the concept of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) as an alternative to the terms for oral precancerous lesions and precancerous conditions. In the consensus report by the WHO Collaborating Center for Oral Cancer of 2021, OPMD is defined as "any oral mucosal abnormality that is associated with a statistically increased risk of developing oral cancer."This definition encompasses a range of conditions, in-cluding oral leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis, proliferative verrucous leukoplakia, oral lichen planus, and other lesions. In light of the complex etiology, unclear pathogenesis, and carcinogenesis of OPMDs, early and precise diagnosis and treatment can contribute to the secondary prevention of oral cancer. For this reason, this review, which aims to provide a basis for the precise clinical diagnosis of OPMDs, was performed. Its aim was achieved by reviewing the historical evolution and research progress of the nomenclature, classification, and histopathological diagnostic criteria of OPMDs.
Humans ; Mouth Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Precancerous Conditions/diagnosis* ; Leukoplakia, Oral/diagnosis* ; Lichen Planus, Oral/pathology* ; Oral Submucous Fibrosis/pathology* ; Mouth Mucosa/pathology* ; World Health Organization

In May 2023, the Chinese Stomatological Association promulgated the group standard of "Standard on Clinical Dental Treatment for Children under General Anesthesia Orsedation". These specifications were formulated through broad-based expert consultation, iterative revisions, and a comprehensive review of relevant literature, incorporating the collective expertise of nationally recognized authorities in the field. The standard establishes a unified evaluation system and clinical guidelines tailored to China's medical context, aiming to regulate related medical practices. This paper aims to provide an in-depth interpretation of the standard, integrating the clinical research and experiences from the Pediatric Dentistry Department of West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, in performing dental treatments under general anesthesia in last 12 years. It particularly focuses on interpreting key aspects, including safety considerations, treatment protocol selection, prevention and management of postoperative complication, postoperative follow-up, and oral health maintenance, to provide a reference for medical staffs to understand and apply them in clinical practice.
Humans ; Anesthesia, General ; Child ; Dental Care for Children/standards* ; China ; Postoperative Complications/prevention & control* ; Anesthesia, Dental/standards* ; Practice Guidelines as Topic

Ectodermal dysplasia is a group of hereditary diseases characterized by developmental defects of ectodermal structures. Its oral manifestations mainly center on congenital missing teeth, abnormal tooth morphology, and maxillofacial bone developmental disorders, which seriously affect the masticatory function, maxillofacial development, and mental health of affected children. In this article, the multidimensional diagnostic strategy system for children with ectodermal dysplasia and the related progress of early oral prosthodontic treatment methods were systematically reviewed to provide references for clinicians in the diagnosis and treatment of children with ectodermal dysplasia.
Child ; Humans ; Anodontia ; Ectodermal Dysplasia/diagnosis* ; Prosthodontics ; Tooth Abnormalities/therapy*

Animal experiments are crucial in evaluating the preclinical safety and efficacy of new dental materials, drugs, instruments, and equipment by identifying and eliminating potential health risks to humans. An international team of several dental experts formulated a guideline named Preferred Reporting Items for Animal Studiesin Endodontology (PRIASE) 2021. Consisting of 11 domains, 43 individual items, and a flowchart. PRIASE provides guidance for animal experiments in dentistry and improves the quality of experiment design and reporting. This work introduces the process and basic content of the guideline and interprets the key items of its checklist with specific examples to provide reference for the reporting of animal experiment in dentistry in China.
Animals ; Animal Experimentation/standards* ; Checklist ; China ; Endodontics ; Guidelines as Topic ; Research Design

This study explored a novel digital design and fabrication method for a double constrained split orthodontic miniscrew guide to improve the accuracy and safety of clinical miniscrew implantation and reduce related complications. A patient requiring miniscrew implantation was selected, and data were acquired using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and intraoral optical scanning. For the construction of a double constrained split guide including a screw-hole guide and an insertion rod guide, different types of software such as Mimics 24.0, Geomagic wrap 2021, and Materialise magics 21.0 were utilized for 3D reconstruction, model integration, and guide design. The guide was then fabricated via laser metal 3D printing. Model and intraoral try-in results demonstrated that the guide fitted well and was stable. Postoperative CBCT verified that the final miniscrew implantation site was consistent with the preoperative design, and no related complications occurred. This double constrained split orthodontic miniscrew guide provides a precise and safe digital solution for clinical miniscrew implantation.
Humans ; Bone Screws ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Orthodontic Anchorage Procedures/instrumentation* ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Computer-Aided Design

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly advancing in periodontology, bringing new opportunities to clinical diagnosis, risk assessment, personalized treatment planning, and remote patient care. Leveraging core technologies such as deep learning, machine learning, and natural language processing, AI significantly enhances the sensitivity of early periodontal disease detection and provides precise quantification of alveolar bone loss and soft tissue damage. AI facilitates multimodal data integration by synthesizing medical history, lifestyle factors, and imaging data, thereby offering enhanced accurate risk prediction and personalized therapeutic recommendations. By integrating remote monitoring with tailored health counseling, AI helps patients maintain adherence to self-care protocols, significantly improving their oral health-related quality of life and treatment satisfaction. Moreover, AI demonstrates considerable potential in periodontal research and education, particularly in large-scale data mining, virtual clinical case simulations, and natural language processing-assisted literature management. Nevertheless, challenges remain concerning model generalizability, data quality, ethical concerns, and interpretability. The advancement of multi-center big-data platforms is expected to foster a profound integration of AI and periodontology, propelling precision medicine and digital healthcare, enabling holistic management from prevention to long-term care, and enhancing diagnostic efficiency and patient health outcomes.
Humans ; Artificial Intelligence ; Periodontics/methods* ; Periodontal Diseases/therapy* ; Deep Learning ; Precision Medicine ; Quality of Life