Stomach-Qi is an important concept in traditional Chinese medicine and widely accepted among many traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. However, the essence of stomach-Qi is unclear and not systematically reported. Thus, this article summarized some recent researches about stomach-Qi. It elaborated that the relationships among stomach-Qi and hemodynamic, immunity function and gastrointestinal function (gastrointestinal substance, gastrointestinal motility, gastrointestinal nutrition). With such review, TCM practitioners will well understand stomach-qi, emphasizeit, reinforce and protect it.

Objective To observe the effect of cognitive training combined with swallowing training real-time electrical stimulation on dysphagia and cognitive impairment after stroke. Methods 40 patients with dysphagia and cognitive impairment after stroke were randomly divided into observation group (n=20) and control group (n=20). The observation group accepted swallowing training (including routine vocal training and swallowing training real-time electrical stimulation) and cognitive training. The control group accepted routine vocal training and neuromuscular electrical stimulation. The cognitive function and swallowing function were accessed with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Video Fluoroscopy Swallowing Study (VFSS) respectively before and 1 month after stroke. Results After treatment, the MMSE scores and the time for a bolus to pass the pharynx improved in both groups (P<0.05), and the observation group was superior to the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Cognitive training combined with swallowing training real-time electrical stimulation can promote the recovery of swallowing function of patients with dysphagia and cognitive impairment after stroke.

This article mainly elaborated around the four common categories of objective classification indicators, including constitution-gene and pathway, symptoms and signs, imaging examinations and biological indicators. We summarized advantages and limitations in all the objective classification categories, and put forward that both human secretory immunoglobulins A and salivary cortisol have the potential to be important classification indicators in constitution of traditional Chinese medicine, which might bring objective and quantitative criterion for constitution recognition and constitutional interventions in the future.