Promoting the international acceptance of clinical studies about traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) interventions is a key strategy for internationalization of TCM. However, the complexities of TCM interventions—in terms of the theories, practice patterns, and components—pose challenges to the design and implementation of clinical studies that are well accepted by the international community. This article summarized the current status of clinical studies about TCM interventions that were published in international journals, explored underlying barriers hindering the international acceptance, and discussed potential strategies for future development.

Promoting the international acceptance of clinical studies about traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) interventions is a key strategy for internationalization of TCM. However, the complexities of TCM interventions—in terms of the theories, practice patterns, and components—pose challenges to the design and implementation of clinical studies that are well accepted by the international community. This article summarized the current status of clinical studies about TCM interventions that were published in international journals, explored underlying barriers hindering the international acceptance, and discussed potential strategies for future development.

Promoting the international acceptance of clinical studies about traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) interventions is a key strategy for internationalization of TCM. However, the complexities of TCM interventions—in terms of the theories, practice patterns, and components—pose challenges to the design and implementation of clinical studies that are well accepted by the international community. This article summarized the current status of clinical studies about TCM interventions that were published in international journals, explored underlying barriers hindering the international acceptance, and discussed potential strategies for future development.

Tripterygium glycosides tablet(TGT),the classical commercial drug of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.F.has been effectively used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis,nephrotic syndrome,leprosy,Behcet's syndrome,leprosy reaction and autoimmune hepatitis.However,due to its narrow and limited treatment window,TGT-induced organ toxicity(among which liver injury accounts for about 40％of clinical reports)has gained increasing attention.The present study aimed to clarify the cellular and molecular events underlying TGT-induced acute liver injury using single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)technology.The TGT-induced acute liver injury mouse model was constructed through short-term TGT exposure and further verified by hematoxylin-eosin staining and liver function-related serum indicators,including alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin.Using the mouse model,we identified 15 specific subtypes of cells in the liver tissue,including endothelial cells,hepatocytes,cholangiocytes,and hepatic stellate cells.Further analysis indicated that TGT caused a significant inflammatory response in liver endothelial cells at different spatial locations;led to marked inflammatory response,apoptosis and fatty acid metabolism dysfunction in hepatocytes;activated he-patic stellate cells;brought about the activation,inflammation,and phagocytosis of liver capsular macrophages cells;resulted in immune dysfunction of liver lymphocytes;disturbed the intercellular crosstalk in liver microenvironment by regulating various signaling pathways.Thus,these findings elaborate the mechanism underlying TGT-induced acute liver injury,provide new insights into the safe and rational applications in the clinic,and complement the identification of new biomarkers and ther-apeutic targets for liver protection.

OBJECTIVE:To establish a method for simultaneous determination of α-pinene,β-pinene and linalool in volatile oil of Hedychium flavum. METHODS:The volatile oil was extracted from H. flavum according to steam distillation stated in Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2015 edition volume Ⅳ). GC method was adopted to determine the content. The determination was performed on HP-5 capillary chromatographic column(30 m×0.032 mm×0.25 μm)with hydrogen flame ion detector(FID),nitrogen gas as carrier gas,with injector temperature of 200 ℃,and detector temperature of 250 ℃,column flow rate of 0.8 mL/min, samples size of 1 μL and split ratio of 40:1 by programmed temperature. RESULTS:The linear range of α-pinene,β-pinene and linalool were 0.090 5-2.413 3 mg/mL(r=0.999 9),0.098 3-2.620 0 mg/mL(r=0.999 9),0.169 1-4.510 0 mg/mL(r=0.999 8), respectively. RSDs of precision,stability(12 h),reproducibility tests were no more than 2.0%(n=6). The average recoveries were 99.84%(RSD=0.49%,n=6),100.24%(RSD=1.38%,n=6),99.41%(RSD=1.67%,n=6),respectively.The contents of α-pinene,β-pinene and linalool ranged 0.214 4-1.325 0,0.766 2-3.172 1,0.357 4-1.518 7 mg/g in volatile oil from 23 batches of H. flavum produced in Guizhou province. CONCLUSIONS:The method established in this experiment is rapid,simple and accurate.It can be used for the content determination of α-pinene,β-pinene and linalool in volatile oil from H.flavum.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of arthroscopic treatment with anchor fixation for Segond fractures.Methods A total of 29 patients with Segond fractures treated with arthroscopic evaluation and anchor fixation technique between January 2011 and December 2015 were included in this retrospective case series study.There were 17 males and 12 females,with an average age of 41 years (range,27-62 years).Among the patients with Segond fractures,there were 20 patients combined with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture,three with posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) rupture,seven with medial collateral ligament (MCL) lesion,six with lateral collateral ligament (LCL) rupture,12 with meniscus lesion,and two with tibial plateau fracture.The time duration from injury to operation was 5-14 days (mean,7 days).The operation time and intraoperative blood loss volume were recorded.The postoperative pain,complications,knee joint stability,and fracture healing were observed.The pain was evaluated using numerical rating scale (NRS).Drawer test,Lachman test,lateral stress test,and Lysholm scores were performed to assess the knee function before and after operation.Results The operation time was 40-125 minutes (mean,85 minutes),and intraoperative blood loss was 10-30 ml (mean,15 ml).All patients were followed up for 12-18 months (mean,14 months).Two weeks after operation,the pain was not obvious,with NRS of 0-1.One patient had deep venous thrombosis one week after operation,and recovered after vascular intervention therapy.Other patients had no infection,deep vein thrombosis or other postoperative complications.The results of drawer test,Lachman test,and lateral stress test were negative in all patients,which indicated good knee joint stability.All patients were seen bone union,with the healing rate of 100％.The preoperative Lysholm scores were 35-62 points [(52.0 ± 4.2) points],and the scores one year after operation were 86-95 points [(91.9 ± 1.4) points] (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Arthroscopic treatment with anchor fixation has advantages of minor trauma,little hemorrhage,high fracture healing rate and good function recovery,and hence is an effective surgical treatment for Segond fractures.

Objective By analysis of the key performance indexes of the clinical laboratory automation system, to clarify the advantage and optimize the comprehensive performance of the laboratory automation system.Methods Key performance indexes were Collected from January 2017 to April 2017 in biochemistry and immunoassay group of Clinical Laboratory of Shanghai Tong Ren Hospital.(1)The data were collected and compared by the before-and-after method,the starting time of the automation system and initial sample test were analyzed.(2)Key performance indexes were analyzed for the time of specimen registration,inspection,and reporting.(3)The specimen turnaround time(TAT)was analyzed based on two months operation of the laboratory automation system.In view of disadvantage of infectious assays, setting up priority sample absorption, then TAT performance was re-evaluated.(4)By the assessment of total serum dosage required in the automation system, the number of blood vacuum tubes were reduced reasonably.The pros and cons of laboratory automation system were analyzed and the potential improvement were proposed.Results (1)According to the sample peak shift forward,the system start time could move forward 30 minutes earlier.(2)With the adopting of railway logistics,the specimens were sent to the lab and the registration time was at 7:25 am,and the time required for specimen delivery was greatly reduced which made specimen test,report and audit time all moved forward accordingly.(3)Data has shown that specimen TAT declined dramatically based on the performance of the first two month operation of the automation system,biochemical items were shortened 2 h,and the immunoassay shortened 4 h,respectively.Moreover the trend keeps better gradually.With setting up priority absorption infectious tests,the TAT was improved greatly,TAT reduced the average by 40 min.(4)500 μl(including the sample in dead space of vacuum tube)were needed for all the 65 biochemical items included in the system, and 1 495 μl serum were used for the 28 immunoassay.As a result, a total of 2 000 μl serum will be enough for sample analysis by the system, which provided the feasibility to reduce 3 vacuum tubes averagely.Considering the current automation system does not include all the analysis items in our lab directory, a few tests remain to be performed on offline instruments respectively.The methodology for some infectious agents are different from previous method, therefore some test results may need a period of time for comprehensive clinical appreciation.Furthermore,due to the parallel connection of multiple instruments included in the system, more rigorous and frequent quality control becomes a necessity,which may rely on more strict quality control procedure to guarantee the quality.Conclusions The application of the automation system significantly enhanced the efficiency of clinical laboratory all round.In addition, by the quantitative indicators, it is possible to monitor the system operation performance real time, which may feedback and facilitate the improvement constantly,and result in auto confirmation the majority results,eventually.

Objective: To investigate the breakthrough points and methods of pharmaceutical care performed by clinical pharmacists for chemotherapy-induced Ⅳ degree myelosuppression.Methods: One advanced lung adenocarcinoma patient suffering from chemotherapy-induced Ⅳ degree myolosuppression was selected as the example, clinical pharmacists provided suggestions on the chemotherapy regimen, assisted physicians in making reasonable treatment plan and implemented comprehensive pharmaceutical care for the patient.Results: Clinical pharmacists played a positive role in the clinical treatment through the comprehensive pharmaceutical care in oncology department.Conclusion: With the professional knowledge of pharmacy, clinical pharmacists can improve the level of clinical rational drug use.

Objective To compare the analgesic effects of fire needling, conventional acupuncture and acupoint catgut embedding in rats with rheumatoid arthritis.Methods Fifty healthy male SD rats were randomized into control, model, acupuncture, fire needling and catgut embedding groups, 10 rats each. A SD rat model of rheumatoid arthritis was made by intracutaneous injection of complete Freund’s adjuvant into the right hind foot pad. Right Kunlun and Zusanli were selected as therapeutic points in the three groups and given fire needling, acupuncture or catgut embedding. The right paw mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) were used as observation indices and measured in every group of rats at one day before and four days after model making and at one, seven and fourteen days after the beginning of treatment. Rat paw inflammatory tissues were separated after the completion of treatment. The IL-1 and TNF-α contents of them were measured. Results There were statistically significant differences in MWT and TWL between the model, acupuncture, fire needling or catgut embedding group and the control group after model making, and one, seven and fourteen days of treatment (P<0.01). There were statistically significant differences in MWT and TWL between the fire needling group and the model, acupuncture or catgut embedding group after one, seven and fourteen days of treatment (P<0.01,P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in MWT between the acupuncture or catgut embedding group and the model group after one, seven and fourteen days of treatment (P<0.01). There was a statistically significant difference in TWL between the acupuncture or catgut embedding group and the model group after seven and fourteen days of treatment (P<0.01,P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in IL-1 and TNF-α contents between the model, acupuncture, catgut embedding or fire needling group and the control group after model making (P<0.01). after treatment, there were statistically significant differences in IL-1 and TNF-α contents between the acupuncture, catgut embedding or fire needling group and the model group and between the acupuncture or catgut embedding group and the fire needling group (P<0.05).Conclusions Fire needling can raise pain threshold in rats with rheumatoid arthritis. It alleviates rheumatoid arthritis-induced chronic pain by reducing the inflammatory factor content of affected muscular tissues.

Objective To preliminaryly explore the effect and adverse reaction of Marine Injection combined therapy through local spray in benign tracheobronchial stenosis.Methods 19 cases of bronchial tuberculosis were collected in our department.By assessing cough,shortness of breath and other symptoms,chest high -resolution CT (HRCT)of three -dimensional reconstruction,and length were observed by ultrafine bronchial stenosis.According to the pathogeny and types of stenosis,combined multiple intervention were sequentially adopted,and then Marine Injec-tion was sprayed through one -off endoscopic spray tube.All the subjects were divided into the two groups,the higher concentration Marine injection (1 200 mg/mL)group was chosen with the condition of serious inflammation,edema, ulcer and necrosis,obvious local granulation tissue hyperplasia,severe scar stenosis,and the length of stenosis greater than 2 cm or the sectional area of stenosis less than 50% of the normal sectional area,otherwise the low concentration (600 mg/mL)group was chosen.The subjects were reexamined by clinical symptoms,high -resolution CT (HRCT) of three -dimensional reconstruction,and ultrafine bronchoscopy a week after the surgery to dynamically observe the local changes.Depending on the situation,the injection was sprayed once a week,adding up to 2 -4 times.Follow -up visit lasted for 3 months,cough,expectoration or hemoptysis,and dyspnea were observed.Results 11 cases were effective fully,17 cases were effective substantially,7 cases were ineffective,the total effective rate was 80% (28 /35).The overall complication rate was 42.8% (15 /35),no deaths occurred.No complications related to local spra-ying of Marine were seen.Conclusion Local spray of Marine Injection may have preferable effect that inhibits scar formationand prevention airway restenosis.It is worth further study with a high security,precise clinic effect,easy oper-ation and etc.