Abstract: In order to improve the quality of reporting Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) trials, an elaborated checklist was developed according to the basic characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and on the basis of the Reporting Randomized Controlled Trials of Herbal Interventions: An Elaborated CONSORT Statement. This checklist adopted the 22 items of the Herbal CONSORT Statement with some necessary elaboration and modification in the detailed contents of 11 items, among which, the items of Participants, Intervention, Control group and Outcomes were elaborated and modified accordingly to adapt TCM characteristics. Since the design and reporting of trials on Chinese proprietary medicine and herbal decoctions are different in some aspects, the checklist provided two sets of elaborated item 4 (interventions). We hope that authors, journal editors and peer reviewers find this checklist instructive.

Qualitative research methods are becoming more and more important in medical research area. Some qualitative researches played important roles in the exploration and the spread of core ideas of Chinese medicine. The report of qualitative research should be transparent and credible according to the standardized report criterion. On the basis of 22 criteria, the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) was developed and published in September 2007. This introduction to COREQ will be helpful to Chinese qualitative researchers and readers in the implementation of high quality of medical qualitative research in China.

Abstract] Objective To investigate the in vivo therapeutic effects of an extract of herb medi-cines, YiGanQingDuKeLi, in combination with adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) on the rebound of duck hepatitis B virus ( DHBV) multiplication after withdrawal of ADV treatment.Methods Peking ducks were infected with DHBV positive serum samples for 7 days and then screened by SYBR Green real-time PCR.The ducks positive for DHBV were randomly divided into five groups including the model control group, the ADV treat-ment group, the herb treatment group, the high-dose combination therapy group and the low-dose combina-tion therapy group.The ducks in the ADV treatment and the herb treatment groups were respectively treated with distilled water and YiGanQingDuKeLi (1.2 g/ml) for 14 days after the treatment of ADV (0.25 mg/ml) for 21 days.The ducks in the high-dose group were treated with YiGanQingDuKeLi (1.2 g/ml) for 14 days after the combined treatment with high-dose YiGanQingDuKeLi (1.2 g/ml) and ADV (0.25 mg/ml) for 21 days.The ducks in the low-dose group were treated with YiGanQingDuKeLi (0.6 g/ml) for 14 days after the combined treatment with YiGanQingDuKeLi (0.6 g/ml) and ADV (0.125 mg/ml) for 21 days.Blood samples were collected from each duck via leg vein after 0, 7, 14 and 21 days of drug adminis-tration and after 7 and 14 days of drug withdrawal.The levels of DHBV-DNA, alanine aminotransferase ( ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase ( AST) in blood serum samples were detected.Results Compared with the model group, the levels of DHBV-DNA, ALT and AST in ducks from the herb treatment group and combined treatment groups were decreased before the discontinuation of ADV treatment ( P<0.05 or P<0.01).Moreover, the titers of DHBV-DNA in ducks treated with high doses of drugs were much lower than those from ADV treatment group.The levels of DHBV-DNA, ALT and AST in ducks treated with herb medi-cine and high doses of drugs remained at relatively low levels after the cessation of ADV treatment, but re-bounded significantly in ducks with ADV treatment.The levels of DHBV-DNA and ALT rebounded slightly in ducks treated with low doses of drugs as compared with those of ADV treatment group ( P<0.01 or P<0.05).Conclusion The treatment of YiGanQingDuKeLi in combination with ADV could inhibit not only the in vivo replication of DHBV, but also the rebound of DHBV multiplication after ADV withdrawal.

Objective:To observe the effect of ankle stretching on ankle biomechanics, balance, walking ability and ability in the activities of daily living among stroke survivors.Methods:Eighteen hemiplegic stroke survivors were randomly divided into an experimental group ( n=9) and a control group ( n=9). In addition to routine medication and rehabilitation training, the experimental group received 20 minutes of ankle joint stretching daily while the control group underwent an additional twenty minutes of routine rehabilitation training. Before and after the treatment, both groups′ ankle joint stiffness (K), muscle strength, active range of motion (AROM) and passive range of motion (PROM) were evaluated. They were also assessed using the modified Ashworth scale (MAS), the Fugl-Meyer lower extremity assessment (FMA-LE), the Berg balance scale (BBS), the 6-minute walking test (6MWT) and the modified Barthel Index (MBI). Results:After two weeks of treatment significant improvement was observed in the AROM and muscle strength of both groups in dorsiflexion and plantarflexion. The average BBS and FMA-LE scores of both groups had also improved significantly. Significant improvement in the average PROM of plantarflexion and the K of dorsiflexion, as well as in average MBI score was observed only in the treatment group. After two weeks the treatment group′s average muscle strength in plantarflexion and dorsiflexion was significantly better than the control group′s.Conclusions:Stretching can reduce ankle stiffness, improve the range of motion, muscle strength, and ability of in the activities of daily living after a stroke.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Jiawei Simiao powder (JWSMP) combined with celecoxib for the treatment of acute gouty arthritis by conducting a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods: The Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Databases, Chinese Scientific Journal Database, Wanfang, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception until December 2023. Continuous variables were analyzed using the mean difference (MD) for analysis, and dichotomous variables were used as risk ratios. Data with similar characteristics were pooled for meta-analysis, and heterogeneity was assessed using I2. The Cochrane Handbook was used to assess the risk of bias and quality. RevMan 5.3 software was used to perform the meta-analysis. Results: Thirteen RCTs involving 1007 patients were included in the study. The quality of the included studies was low (unclear randomization processes and insufficient blinding reporting). The group receiving JWSMP combined with celecoxib showed significantly lower levels of serum uric acid (SUA, MD = −66.32, 95% confidence interval (CI): −80.97 to −51.67, P < .001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR, MD = −6.05, 95% CI: −8.29 to −3.82, P < .001), C-reactive protein (CRP, MD = −7.39, 95% CI: −11.15, −3.63, P < .001), and joint pain score (VAS score, MD = −2.14, 95% CI: −2.4 to −1.88, P < .001) compared to celecoxib alone. Additionally, the JWSMP combined group had a higher total effective rate (risk ratio = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.14 to 1.29, P < .001) and fewer adverse compared to celecoxib alone. Conclusions JWSMP combined with celecoxib is more effective than celecoxib alone in improving the total efficacy rate, alleviating joint pain, and improving SUA, ESR, and CRP levels. JWSMP also reduced the occurrence of adverse events caused by celecoxib. However, the quality of the included studies was low, highlighting the need for further high-quality research with larger sample sizes and robust methodologies, such as double-blind randomization, to confirm these findings.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion for knee osteoarthritis and the methodological quality of systematic reviews(SRs).Methods SRs of moxibustion for knee osteoarthritis were retrieved from CNKI,VIP,Wanfang Data,SinoMed,PubMed,Cochrane Library,Embase and Web of Science was conducted from the establishment of the databases to February 10,2022.AMSTAR 2 was used to assess the methodological quality of SRs.The randomized controlled trials(RCTs)included in these SRs were screened and summarized according to inclusion standard.RevMan 5.4 software was used for Meta-analysis,and GRADE approach was used to assess the certainty of evidence.Results A total of 15 SRs were included.The evaluation results of the AMSTAR 2 showed that the methodological quality was very low for 14 SRs,and low for other 1 SR.A total of 36 RCTs were included.Meta-analysis results showed that compared with the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs),the moxibustion group had better effects on improvement of WOMAC scores[mean difference(MD)=-5.95;95%confidence interval(CI):-9.25 to-2.65;low quality],relieving pain[MD=-1.26;95%CI:-2.19 to-0.32;very low quality],and improving effective rate[risk ratio(RR)=1.16;95%CI:1.11 to 1.22;low quality].In the moxibustion group,some patients experienced blisters,and most healed in 3 days.Conclusion Moxibustion has advantages in pain reduction and improving effective rate compared with routine Western therapy for knee osteoarthritis.However,well-designed high-quality RCTs are needed for further verification.

This study was aimed to investigate the mechanism underlying the neuropsychiatric comorbidity in the process of "stress"-"inflammation"-"comorbidity",from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) basic theory in combination with our previous 20-year findings.Notably,the neural-psychiatric comorbidity between psychiatric disorders,including depression,schizophrenia and anxiety,and systemic diseases,such as ischemic stroke,Alzheimer's disease (AD) and asthma,have something in common in the pathophysiological mechanism.The stress-induced structural and functional changes in the brain,the stress-initiated diversely structural and neurobiological changes in neurocircuitry,and the stress-mediated neurochemical alterations in neurotransmitter are considered to be involved in the common pathophysiological mechanisms in the neural-psychiatric comorbidity,which initiates a cascade of physiological and psychological processes that contributes to the development of various types of neuropsychiatric disorders.Accordingly,it will be of great significance to investigate mechanisms underlying the neuropsychiatric comorbidity in the process of "stress"-"inflammation"-"comorbidity" under the guidance of the basic theory of "treating disease from the root" and "same treatment for different diseases" in TCM.

OBJECTIVE To explore the research sta tus，hotspots and frontier trends in the field of domestic evidence-based traditional Chinese medicine ，and to provide reference for the development of this field. METHODS Retrieved from CJFD ，VIP and Wanfang database ，CiteSpace software and bibliometrics method were used to statistically analyze the annual quantity of documents published ，authors，institutions，and keywords ，etc. RESULTS A total of 3 154 papers were included in this study ，and the annual number of papers presented an overall upward trend. The author with the highest number of papers was Liu Jianping ， who published 106 papers and was closely connected with other authors. China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences ，Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and Tianjin University of Chinese Medicine were highly productive institutions ，with more than 100 articles published each and a relatively wide range of cooperation. Evidence-based medicine ，Traditional Chinese Medicine ， evaluation，evidence-based nursing ，review，medical education ，clinical research and other high-frequency keywords （frequency of more than 100 times each ）formed hot topics of research. CONCLUSIONS The research of evidence-based traditional Chinese medicine in China has been paid more and more attention ；“evidence-based medicine ”“traditional Chinese medicine ” “evidence-based nursing ”and“clinical research ”are the research hotspots.

OBJECTIVE To provide refere nce for the optimization and adjustment of the relevant policies in the field of pediatric drug in China. METHODS“Children”“pediatrics”and“drugs”were taken as the keywords to search the official websites of the State Council ，the National Health Commission ，the National Healthcare Security Administration ，the State Administration of Market Regulation and other relevant ministries and commissions ，and collect the relevant pediatric drug policies issued at the national level from January 1，2010 to December 31，2021. Content analysis method was used to summarize ，code and statistically analyze the policy tools used in the policy research documents. RESULTS A total of 39 policy documents and 327 policy tools were included in this study. According to statistics ，from 2011 to 2021，China issued national policy documents on pediatric drug use every year ，and in recent years ，the issuance of documents was relatively intensive. The main body of issuing pediatric drugs policy was the national health department and drug supervision and administration department （71.79％，28/39），and the number of documents issued by relevant ministries and commissions alone （76.92％，30/39）was significantly more than the number of documents jointly issued by multiple ministries and commissions （23.08％，9/39）. The environmental policy tools were the most widely used （64.83％，212/327），followed by s upply-oriented policy tools （30.28％，99/327），and demand-oriented policy tools were the least used （4.89％，16/327）. CONCLUSIONS The development of pediatric drug use in China is in its infancy. It is suggested that China should optimize supply-oriented policy tools，increase capital investment and the use of public health service tools ；adjust environmental policy tools ，accelerate the legislation of pediatric drugs ，and increase the proportion of incentive policy tool ；attach importance to demand-oriented policy tools ，strengthen international exchanges and the application of service outsourcing in the field of pediatric medication ；plan the use of various policy tools as a whole ，and coordinate the use proportion of three types of policy tool and their sub policy tools，so as to enhance the initiative of policy tools ，form policy synergy ，and jointly promote the development of pediatric drug use.

Syndrome differentiation and treatment is a unique mode of diagnosis in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. The establishment of scientific and standardized syndrome diagnosis standards is an important link to evaluate the clinical efficacy of TCM objectively and systematically， and also a prerequisite for the promotion and development of TCM to obtain international recognition. This article reviewed the basic modes and existed problems of the current syndrome diagnosis criteria， and proposed to construct a multidimensional core information set integrating the minimized core symptoms， the artificial intelligence signs， the multi-modal laboratory indicators， and multi-omics specific markers， so as to present syndrome characteristics from multiple perspectives systematically. This paper also described the basic mode， constructure， as well as the process and methodology to be adopted in the establishment of the standardized diagnostic research method. The core information set of diagnostic symptoms not only took into account the specificity of the disease， but also improved the inconsistency due to the complexity and subjectivity of the syndrome differentiation， thereby providing a methodological basis for the standardization of TCM syndrome differentiation in clinical research.