1.Interpretation of Evidence-to-decision Framework and Its Application in Pharmacovigilance Guidelines of Chinese Patent Medicines
Hongyan ZHANG ; Xin CUI ; Yuanyuan LI ; Zhifei WANG ; Mengmeng WANG ; Shuo YANG ; Xiaoxiao ZHAO ; Fumei LIU ; Yaxin WANG ; Rui MA ; Yanming XIE ; Lianxin WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):220-228
To interpret the evidence-to-decision (EtD) framework and to illustrate its application in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) guideline development using the example of the Pharmacovigilance Guideline of Chinese Patent Medicine, thereby providing methodological references for TCM guideline standardization. Based on the core three stages of the EtD framework (formulating the question, making an assessment of the evidence, and drawing conclusions), critical decision points and evaluation evidence within the evidence-translation process were systematically addressed, aligning with the purpose, scope, and key questions of the guideline. Qualitative research methods, such as the nominal group technique, were employed to formulate recommendations. The analysis was conducted based on the EtD framework. During question formulation, the specific characteristics and practical needs of pharmacovigilance for Chinese patent medicines were clarified, focusing on the core objective of safety assurance throughout the product lifecycle. In the evidence assessment, multi-source evidence was integrated, including policy documents, literature research, and expert consensus, completing the evidence evaluation. Finally, in recommendation-forming, dispersed research evidence and expert experience were synthesized into consensus, culminating in the guideline's completion through solicitation of opinions and peer review. The EtD framework provides a structured tool for evidence-to-decision translation in TCM guideline development, effectively enhancing the transparency and scientific rigor of the process. Therefore, it is recommended that TCM guideline development adopt the EtD framework to improve the evidence-to-decision process with TCM characteristics.
2.Compilation Instruction and Key Point Interpretation for Pharmacovigilance Guidelines for Clinical Application of Chinese Patent Medicines for Mucosal Administration
Wenzhe LI ; Rui MA ; Xiaoxiao ZHAO ; Hong HUA ; Xin CUI ; Yanming XIE ; Lianxin WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):260-266
To develop the Pharmacovigilance Guidelines for Clinical Application of Chinese Patent Medicines for Mucosal Administration in response to common problems, including insufficient safety information in package inserts, amplified medication risks in special populations, and non-standard clinical practices, thus establishing a risk management system tailored to the characteristics of Chinese patent medicines for mucosal administration. An approach combining qualitative and quantitative methods was adopted. In accordance with the Drug Administration Law of the People's Republic of China (2019 revision) and the GB/T 1.1—2020 standard, a systematic search was performed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 edition), the Catalog of Medicines Covered by Medical Insurance (2022 edition), Chinese databases [China Network of Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data (Wanfang), and VIP journal resource integration service platform (VIP)], and international databases (Cochrane Library, PubMed, and EMbase). Guideline outlines were developed through questionnaire surveys, expert interviews, and the nominal group technique. The content of each item was formulated with full consideration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) incompatibility, as well as the conceptual connotations and extensions of pharmacovigilance. The results included 54 Chinese patent medicines for mucosal administration from the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 edition) and 58 from the Catalog of Medicines Covered by Medical Insurance (2022 edition). Safety-related items in the corresponding package inserts were collected, and 27 relevant publications were retrieved. Thirty experts from 24 institutions were mobilized for the drafting, and opinions from 61 external experts were solicited. A pharmacovigilance framework was established, covering the full chain of "monitoring, identification, assessment, and control". Based on seven anatomical sites, including nasal, ocular, and oral mucosa, a stratified monitoring system was constructed. The guideline proposed key recommendations on improving package insert sections such as "Adverse Reactions", "Contraindications", and "Precautions", clinical procedure standardization in healthcare institutions, risk control, and dynamic pharmacovigilance. The Guideline provides evidence-based support tailored to the risk profile of Chinese patent medicines for mucosal administration, filling the current gap in international pharmacovigilance standards in this field, while offering technical support for safety management across the full life cycle of medicines for mucosal administration.
3.Interpretation of Evidence-to-decision Framework and Its Application in Pharmacovigilance Guidelines of Chinese Patent Medicines
Hongyan ZHANG ; Xin CUI ; Yuanyuan LI ; Zhifei WANG ; Mengmeng WANG ; Shuo YANG ; Xiaoxiao ZHAO ; Fumei LIU ; Yaxin WANG ; Rui MA ; Yanming XIE ; Lianxin WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):220-228
To interpret the evidence-to-decision (EtD) framework and to illustrate its application in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) guideline development using the example of the Pharmacovigilance Guideline of Chinese Patent Medicine, thereby providing methodological references for TCM guideline standardization. Based on the core three stages of the EtD framework (formulating the question, making an assessment of the evidence, and drawing conclusions), critical decision points and evaluation evidence within the evidence-translation process were systematically addressed, aligning with the purpose, scope, and key questions of the guideline. Qualitative research methods, such as the nominal group technique, were employed to formulate recommendations. The analysis was conducted based on the EtD framework. During question formulation, the specific characteristics and practical needs of pharmacovigilance for Chinese patent medicines were clarified, focusing on the core objective of safety assurance throughout the product lifecycle. In the evidence assessment, multi-source evidence was integrated, including policy documents, literature research, and expert consensus, completing the evidence evaluation. Finally, in recommendation-forming, dispersed research evidence and expert experience were synthesized into consensus, culminating in the guideline's completion through solicitation of opinions and peer review. The EtD framework provides a structured tool for evidence-to-decision translation in TCM guideline development, effectively enhancing the transparency and scientific rigor of the process. Therefore, it is recommended that TCM guideline development adopt the EtD framework to improve the evidence-to-decision process with TCM characteristics.
4.Compilation Instruction and Key Point Interpretation for Pharmacovigilance Guidelines for Clinical Application of Chinese Patent Medicines for Mucosal Administration
Wenzhe LI ; Rui MA ; Xiaoxiao ZHAO ; Hong HUA ; Xin CUI ; Yanming XIE ; Lianxin WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):260-266
To develop the Pharmacovigilance Guidelines for Clinical Application of Chinese Patent Medicines for Mucosal Administration in response to common problems, including insufficient safety information in package inserts, amplified medication risks in special populations, and non-standard clinical practices, thus establishing a risk management system tailored to the characteristics of Chinese patent medicines for mucosal administration. An approach combining qualitative and quantitative methods was adopted. In accordance with the Drug Administration Law of the People's Republic of China (2019 revision) and the GB/T 1.1—2020 standard, a systematic search was performed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 edition), the Catalog of Medicines Covered by Medical Insurance (2022 edition), Chinese databases [China Network of Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data (Wanfang), and VIP journal resource integration service platform (VIP)], and international databases (Cochrane Library, PubMed, and EMbase). Guideline outlines were developed through questionnaire surveys, expert interviews, and the nominal group technique. The content of each item was formulated with full consideration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) incompatibility, as well as the conceptual connotations and extensions of pharmacovigilance. The results included 54 Chinese patent medicines for mucosal administration from the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 edition) and 58 from the Catalog of Medicines Covered by Medical Insurance (2022 edition). Safety-related items in the corresponding package inserts were collected, and 27 relevant publications were retrieved. Thirty experts from 24 institutions were mobilized for the drafting, and opinions from 61 external experts were solicited. A pharmacovigilance framework was established, covering the full chain of "monitoring, identification, assessment, and control". Based on seven anatomical sites, including nasal, ocular, and oral mucosa, a stratified monitoring system was constructed. The guideline proposed key recommendations on improving package insert sections such as "Adverse Reactions", "Contraindications", and "Precautions", clinical procedure standardization in healthcare institutions, risk control, and dynamic pharmacovigilance. The Guideline provides evidence-based support tailored to the risk profile of Chinese patent medicines for mucosal administration, filling the current gap in international pharmacovigilance standards in this field, while offering technical support for safety management across the full life cycle of medicines for mucosal administration.
5.TCM Syndrome Distribution Patterns and Clinical Characteristics in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Comorbid with Metabolically Associated Fatty Liver Disease
Dingqi LI ; Liang HUANG ; Baixue LI ; Rui ZHAO ; Zhenglong ZHENG ; Yichen PENG ; Yu LIANG ; Caiying HE ; Jingdong CUI ; Zilin XIONG ; Xiyang LIU ; Quansheng FENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(14):259-270
ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate the distribution patterns of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) comorbid with metabolically associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and analyze their correlation with clinical characteristics and the progression of liver fibrosis. MethodsA cross-sectional study method was employed, and 506 patients with CHB comorbid with MAFLD who attended the Hepatology Outpatient Department of Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu from June 2024 to December 2024 were enrolled. General information, traditional Chinese medicine syndromes information, laboratory indicators, and imaging examination results were collected using case report forms (CRF). Tongue images of patients were acquired using a tongue diagnosis instrument, and tongue feature parameters were extracted using computer image processing technology. Frequency analysis, factor analysis, and cluster analysis, and other methods were used to explore syndrome categories and distribution patterns. Non-parametric tests were used to compare the differences in clinical characteristics among different syndromes. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the correlation between traditional Chinese medicine syndromes and the progression of liver fibrosis. ResultsThe main traditional Chinese medicine syndromes in patients with CHB comorbid with MAFLD were mainly dominated by damp-heat accumulation syndrome, liver stagnation and spleen deficiency syndrome, and phlegm-blood stasis syndrome, with damp-heat accumulation syndrome accounting for the highest proportion (41.89%). Compared with those without damp-heat accumulation syndrome, patients with damp-heat accumulation syndrome had significantly lower tongue proper H value, tongue coating H value, and tongue coating a* value (P<0.05), significantly higher tongue coating b* value (P<0.05), significantly increased levels of white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), and glucose (GLU), increased CAP values (P<0.05), a higher proportion of males (P<0.05), and a younger age (P<0.05). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses show that age, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), diabetes, and damp-heat accumulation syndrome are independent risk factors for liver fibrosis (P<0.05), and that damp-heat accumulation syndrome is predominantly distributed in liver fibrosis stage F0-F1. ConclusionDamp-heat accumulation syndrome is a typical syndrome in patients with CHB comorbid with MAFLD, which is significantly associated with enhanced inflammatory response, metabolic disorders, and early liver fibrosis, and is a key link in disease progression. Clinical attention and early intervention are needed.
6.Conflicts Between the Application of Artificial Intelligence and the Inheritance of Traditional Chinese Medicine Academic Thought and the Corresponding Strategies
Jinxiao LIANG ; Rui LI ; Ruixia ZHAO ; Hongyan CUI ; Xing YANG ; Xuehan WANG ; Rui REN ; Zhongqi JIANG ; Mingyi SHAO
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(19):2037-2041
Under the current upsurge of cross-disciplinary research between artificial intelligence (AI) and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the inheritance of academic thought in TCM is confronted with the deep-seated predicament of cognitive paradigm dislocation. The existing AI model is based on the classical reasoning mode of formal logic and statistical probability, which is difficult to adapt to the nonlinear and holistic cognitive logic of TCM with image-based thinking and syndrome-differentiated treatment as the core, resulting in systematic misreading and loss of the core essence in digital inheritance. Based on this, this paper proposes to construct a new cognitive model oriented towards the context of TCM. Its essence is not to have AI imitate the thinking of TCM, but to establish an auxiliary understanding framework based on semantic mapping and relational reasoning. It is advocated that the role of AI should be reconstructed from a knowledge substitute to a clinical interactor, and its application boundary in the inheritance of TCM wisdom should be clarified. By establishing the theoretical framework and practical path of human-computer collaboration, this paper aims to provide a scientific basis for realizing the deep integration of AI technology and the academic thought in TCM.
7.Conflicts Between the Application of Artificial Intelligence and the Inheritance of Traditional Chinese Medicine Academic Thought and the Corresponding Strategies
Jinxiao LIANG ; Rui LI ; Ruixia ZHAO ; Hongyan CUI ; Xing YANG ; Xuehan WANG ; Rui REN ; Zhongqi JIANG ; Mingyi SHAO
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(19):2037-2041
Under the current upsurge of cross-disciplinary research between artificial intelligence (AI) and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the inheritance of academic thought in TCM is confronted with the deep-seated predicament of cognitive paradigm dislocation. The existing AI model is based on the classical reasoning mode of formal logic and statistical probability, which is difficult to adapt to the nonlinear and holistic cognitive logic of TCM with image-based thinking and syndrome-differentiated treatment as the core, resulting in systematic misreading and loss of the core essence in digital inheritance. Based on this, this paper proposes to construct a new cognitive model oriented towards the context of TCM. Its essence is not to have AI imitate the thinking of TCM, but to establish an auxiliary understanding framework based on semantic mapping and relational reasoning. It is advocated that the role of AI should be reconstructed from a knowledge substitute to a clinical interactor, and its application boundary in the inheritance of TCM wisdom should be clarified. By establishing the theoretical framework and practical path of human-computer collaboration, this paper aims to provide a scientific basis for realizing the deep integration of AI technology and the academic thought in TCM.
8.Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevents and Treats Ulcerative Colitis via TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway: A Review
Xi CUI ; Wenke DU ; Xing SHEN ; Cuicui LIU ; Rui ZHAI ; Hanghang LI ; Shuxun SHI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(21):284-294
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease primarily affecting the colon and rectum. With a rising incidence, UC has aroused an increasingly serious public health concern. The etiology and pathogenesis of UC are complex, involving genetic susceptibility, intestinal barrier dysfunction, immune dysregulation, and environmental factors such as diet, smoking, and infection. Current UC therapies face limitations including persistent drug resistance, multiple side effects, and compromised immune function, necessitating the exploration of novel intervention strategies. In recent years, with the continuous advancement of research into UC mechanisms, the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway has been revealved as one of the classical pathways involved in inflammation. Being crucial for maintaining intestinal homeostasis, this pathway regulates inflammatory and immune responses by controlling gene transcription, thereby playing a significant role in the occurrence and progression of UC. However, systematic summarization within this field remains lacking. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) possesses unique advantages through its multi-target, multi-pathway, and multi-mechanism approaches, being capable of curbing the pathological progression of UC by targeting key molecules in the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. This paper systematically summarizes the mechanisms by which TLR4/NF-κB-related pathways regulate UC, primarily encompassing inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, immune balance, and gut microbiota. It reviews single herbs (e.g., Rosa roxburghii root and Saposhnikoviae Radix), active components (e.g., resveratrol, Tripterygium glycosides, and gypenosides), herbal extracts (e.g., Zingiberis Rhizoma extract and Taraxaci Herba extract), and compound formulas for clearing heat and removing dampness, invigorating the spleen and warming the kidneys, clearing heat and detoxifying, harmonizing the liver and spleen, and treating cold and heat in complexity (e.g., Huaihua Powder, Shenling Baizhu Powder, and Jiedu Huayu Formula). The aim is to fully leverage the advantages of TCM in UC treatment and provide novel insights for clinical and pharmacological research on UC.
9.Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevents and Treats Ulcerative Colitis via TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway: A Review
Xi CUI ; Wenke DU ; Xing SHEN ; Cuicui LIU ; Rui ZHAI ; Hanghang LI ; Shuxun SHI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(21):284-294
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease primarily affecting the colon and rectum. With a rising incidence, UC has aroused an increasingly serious public health concern. The etiology and pathogenesis of UC are complex, involving genetic susceptibility, intestinal barrier dysfunction, immune dysregulation, and environmental factors such as diet, smoking, and infection. Current UC therapies face limitations including persistent drug resistance, multiple side effects, and compromised immune function, necessitating the exploration of novel intervention strategies. In recent years, with the continuous advancement of research into UC mechanisms, the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway has been revealved as one of the classical pathways involved in inflammation. Being crucial for maintaining intestinal homeostasis, this pathway regulates inflammatory and immune responses by controlling gene transcription, thereby playing a significant role in the occurrence and progression of UC. However, systematic summarization within this field remains lacking. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) possesses unique advantages through its multi-target, multi-pathway, and multi-mechanism approaches, being capable of curbing the pathological progression of UC by targeting key molecules in the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. This paper systematically summarizes the mechanisms by which TLR4/NF-κB-related pathways regulate UC, primarily encompassing inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, immune balance, and gut microbiota. It reviews single herbs (e.g., Rosa roxburghii root and Saposhnikoviae Radix), active components (e.g., resveratrol, Tripterygium glycosides, and gypenosides), herbal extracts (e.g., Zingiberis Rhizoma extract and Taraxaci Herba extract), and compound formulas for clearing heat and removing dampness, invigorating the spleen and warming the kidneys, clearing heat and detoxifying, harmonizing the liver and spleen, and treating cold and heat in complexity (e.g., Huaihua Powder, Shenling Baizhu Powder, and Jiedu Huayu Formula). The aim is to fully leverage the advantages of TCM in UC treatment and provide novel insights for clinical and pharmacological research on UC.
10.Construction of a Path for Evaluating the Efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine Driven by the Integration of Big Data and Multidisciplinary Technologies
Hongyan CUI ; Yuhan FENG ; Rui LI ; Yanan LIU ; Ruixia ZHAO ; Mingyi SHAO
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(20):2149-2154
By systematically analyzing the bottlenecks in current traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) efficacy evaluation, this study addresses the limitations of TCM efficacy assessment methods in terms of individualization, holism, and complexity representation. Drawing on the concepts and methodologies of evidence-based medicine and systems biology, this paper proposes a new evaluation path by integrating multidisciplinary technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence (AI), omics techniques, and bioinformatics, and encompassing from foundational data, individualized evaluation, and mechanistic analysis to evidence translation. The path first integrates real-world data, multi-omics profiling, and dynamic monitoring via smart devices to construct a high-dimensional dynamic data foundation. Subsequently, leveraging this foundation, it combines digital twins, dynamic symptom networks, and reinforcement learning to develop a dynamic efficacy evaluation method based on individual self-reference, enabling a shift from group mean comparisons to individual potential outcome comparisons. Furthermore, adopting the systems biology paradigm, it employs dynamic omics monitoring and deep learning models to dissect the synergistic mechanisms of TCM compound prescriptions from network regulation, emergent effects, and dynamic evolution dimensions. Finally, it enhances real-world evidence strength through target trial emulation and causal inference, achieving model iteration via incremental learning. This path aims to advance efficacy evaluation from "point validation" to "systematic characterization" and from "outcome assessment" to "process mechanism elucidation," providing methodological support for the modernization of TCM.

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