Symptom and syndrome efficacy evaluation scales are indispensable tools for clinical efficacy assessment in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， and hold significant value at all stages of new drug research development for spleen and stomach diseases. These scales can provide scientific basis for clinical positioning， efficacy evaluation， and expansion of indications of new drugs. By analyzing the current hotspots and difficulties in research， this study aims to explore the important significance of these scales in the development of new drugs for spleen and stomach diseases， summarize the domestic research progress， and conduct comparative analyses with international studies. Future development trends are also discussed in order to promote the application of symptom and syndrome efficacy evaluation scales in the development of new drugs for spleen and stomach diseases and to advance the moder-nization process of TCM.

Objective:To investigate the expressions of serum cytokines in patients with autoimmune retinopathy (AIR), and their association with disease diagnosis as well as clinical features.Methods:A prospective case-control study was conducted.A total of 90 eyes of 45 AIR patients were consecutively collected in Beijing Tongren Hospital from September 2018 to December 2023.Additionally, age-matched 43 controls (86 eyes) were enrolled, consisting of 21 patients (42 eyes) with retinitis pigmentosa as a disease control group and 22 healthy subjects (44 eyes) as a normal control group.The main clinical outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), mean deviation (MD) of visual field, central retinal thickness and the maximal response amplitude and implicit time of full-field electroretinography (ff-ERG). A total of 21 serum cytokines were detected by Luminex multiple cytokines assay or ELISA.Differences in serum cytokine concentrations of among groups, the correlation between cytokine levels and clinical outcomes, and the contribution of cytokines to the diagnosis of AIR were analyzed.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Beijing Tongren Hospital (No.TRECKY2018-048). Written informed consent was obtained from each subject.Results:In AIR patients, the expression levels of Th1-type cytokines or receptors (including interferon-γ[IFN-γ], interleukin [IL]-8, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand [CXCL]9, and CXCL10) and Th17-type cytokines (including IL-17 and IL-6) were elevated.There were statistically significant overall differences in pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines (IL-6, IL-8, CXCL10, IL-10, IFN-γ, IL-17, C-X3-C motif chemokine ligand 1 [CX3CL]1, CXCL9) among the three groups ( H=10.823, 10.816, 9.633, 10.103, 23.670, 16.493, 9.050, 9.253; all P<0.05). Compared with the disease control group and the healthy control group, the IFN-γ level was significantly increased in the AIR group (both P=0.001). Compared with the healthy control group, the serum levels of IL-6, IL-8, CXCL10, IL-10, IL-17, and CXCL9 in the AIR group were significantly elevated (all P<0.05). The serum level of CX3CL1 was significantly higher in the AIR group than in the disease control group ( P=0.039). The serum level of IFN-γ was significantly higher in the AIR group than in the healthy control and disease control groups, but no association with AIR diagnosis was found ( OR=1.402, 95% CI: 0.710-2.870, P=0.245). Multilevel mixed-effects regression modeling analysis showed that the serum levels of IL-8 and CXCL9 in AIR patients were positively correlated with LogMAR BCVA ( β=0.028, P=0.033; β=0.023, P=0.003). The C-C motif chemokine ligand 11 level was positively correlated with implicit time of ERG a-wave ( β=13.950, P<0.001). The tumor necrosis factor-α level was positively correlated with MD value of visual field ( β=6.310, P=0.002). Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor was negatively correlated with the amplitude of ERG a-wave and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was negatively correlated with ERG b-wave amplitude ( β=-152.700, P<0.001; β=-14.790, P=0.003). Conclusions:Serum Th1 and Th17-type cytokines/chemokines may be involved in the pathogenesis of AIR and are related to disease severity.

Objective:To investigate the expressions of serum cytokines in patients with autoimmune retinopathy (AIR), and their association with disease diagnosis as well as clinical features.Methods:A prospective case-control study was conducted.A total of 90 eyes of 45 AIR patients were consecutively collected in Beijing Tongren Hospital from September 2018 to December 2023.Additionally, age-matched 43 controls (86 eyes) were enrolled, consisting of 21 patients (42 eyes) with retinitis pigmentosa as a disease control group and 22 healthy subjects (44 eyes) as a normal control group.The main clinical outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), mean deviation (MD) of visual field, central retinal thickness and the maximal response amplitude and implicit time of full-field electroretinography (ff-ERG). A total of 21 serum cytokines were detected by Luminex multiple cytokines assay or ELISA.Differences in serum cytokine concentrations of among groups, the correlation between cytokine levels and clinical outcomes, and the contribution of cytokines to the diagnosis of AIR were analyzed.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Beijing Tongren Hospital (No.TRECKY2018-048). Written informed consent was obtained from each subject.Results:In AIR patients, the expression levels of Th1-type cytokines or receptors (including interferon-γ[IFN-γ], interleukin [IL]-8, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand [CXCL]9, and CXCL10) and Th17-type cytokines (including IL-17 and IL-6) were elevated.There were statistically significant overall differences in pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines (IL-6, IL-8, CXCL10, IL-10, IFN-γ, IL-17, C-X3-C motif chemokine ligand 1 [CX3CL]1, CXCL9) among the three groups ( H=10.823, 10.816, 9.633, 10.103, 23.670, 16.493, 9.050, 9.253; all P<0.05). Compared with the disease control group and the healthy control group, the IFN-γ level was significantly increased in the AIR group (both P=0.001). Compared with the healthy control group, the serum levels of IL-6, IL-8, CXCL10, IL-10, IL-17, and CXCL9 in the AIR group were significantly elevated (all P<0.05). The serum level of CX3CL1 was significantly higher in the AIR group than in the disease control group ( P=0.039). The serum level of IFN-γ was significantly higher in the AIR group than in the healthy control and disease control groups, but no association with AIR diagnosis was found ( OR=1.402, 95% CI: 0.710-2.870, P=0.245). Multilevel mixed-effects regression modeling analysis showed that the serum levels of IL-8 and CXCL9 in AIR patients were positively correlated with LogMAR BCVA ( β=0.028, P=0.033; β=0.023, P=0.003). The C-C motif chemokine ligand 11 level was positively correlated with implicit time of ERG a-wave ( β=13.950, P<0.001). The tumor necrosis factor-α level was positively correlated with MD value of visual field ( β=6.310, P=0.002). Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor was negatively correlated with the amplitude of ERG a-wave and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was negatively correlated with ERG b-wave amplitude ( β=-152.700, P<0.001; β=-14.790, P=0.003). Conclusions:Serum Th1 and Th17-type cytokines/chemokines may be involved in the pathogenesis of AIR and are related to disease severity.

ObjectiveTo explore the suitability of four qualitative research methods in the development of TCM scale. MethodsTaking the development of "Seven Emotions Scale" as an example， we conducted semi-structured interviews with 31 patients of emotional disorders and 10 healthy people by objective sampling， and collected psychological feelings and emotional cognition data related to seven emotions according to the interview outline. Two qualitative methods， descriptive qualitative research and descriptive phenomenology， were used to analyze the data and construct the item library of the scale. The conceptual framework of the scale was constructed by using commonly used grounded theory and frame analysis. ResultsDuring data analysis， it is found that the themes extracted from descriptive phenomenology were not easily understood by the interviewees， and it is difficult for the researchers to truly achieve the "suspension" required by phenomenology. Considering the feasibility and convenience of the researchers' actual operation， as well as whether the initial purpose of the scale research can be intuitively included in the interviewees' views and feelings， descriptive phenomenology is not suitable for the formation of scale items. Using descriptive qualitative research method to analyze the interview data of healthy people and patients with emotional disorders， 306 and 476 scale items were obtained respectively. Through grounded theory， five selective codes were obtained： physical symptoms， external manifestations， psychological feelings， behaviors and emotional control. Using frame analysis， four themes including physical symptoms， psychological feelings， behavior and emotional cognition were constructed. Both methods can be used to construct the conceptual frame of scale， but the framework analysis is more convenient and can better ensure the transparency of the research. ConclusionDescriptive qualitative research methods can be used to form the item library of TCM scales. Framework analysis is more suitable for the construction of the conceptual framework of the scale than grounded theory， while descriptive phenomenology is not suitable for the development of TCM scales.

Objective This study aims to explore the associations between threat and deprivation childhood traumas and dysfunctional attitudes among patients with major depressive episode,based on the dimensional model of adversity and psychopathology(DMAP).Methods Data from 970 patients with major depressive episode were collected and categorized based on the childhood trauma questionnaire-short form(CTQ-SF)scores into no trauma(426),threat-only(86),deprivation-only(210),and mixed groups(248).Cognitive distortions were assessed using the dysfunctional attitudes scale(DAS),with scores above the upper quartile indicating significant distortions.Multifactorial logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the association between threat and deprivation and dysfunctional attitudes.Results There were significant differences in the proportion of cognitive distortions among the no trauma,threat-only,deprivation-only,and mixed groups(19.25% vs.30.23% vs.20.00% vs.35.89%,P<0.001),with differences across all dimensions(P≤0.001).Multifactorial logistic regression revealed a positive correlation between threat and overall cognitive distortions(OR=2.031,P<0.001),and specific positive correlations with dimensions such as vulnerability(OR=1.709,P<0.001),appeal and repulsion(OR=2.088,P<0.001),perfectionism(OR=2.321,P<0.001),compulsivity(OR=1.765,P=0.001),approval seeking(OR=1.837,P<0.001),dependency(OR=1.554,P=0.006),and autonomous attitudes(OR=1.864,P<0.001).In contrast,deprivation was only positively correlated with the cognitive philosophy dimension(OR=1.495,P=0.015).Conclusion Childhood trauma is closely associated with dysfunctional attitudes in patients with major depressive episode.Threat correlates positively with cognitive distortions in all dimensions except cognitive philosophy,whereas deprivation correlates only with the cognitive philosophy dimension.

Objective:To observe and analyze the multimodal imaging characteristics of fundus in patients with sympathetic ophthalmia (SO).Methods:A retrospective study. From October 2012 to December 2021, 28 patients (36 eyes) diagnosed SO in the Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital were inclued in the study. There were 19 males (25 eyes) and 9 females (11 eyes), with the mean age of 51.61±12.02 years. There were 8 exciting eyes and 28 sympathizing eyes. The time to onset after trauma or surgery was 46.10±107.98 months. All patients underwent examinations including vision test, color fundus photograph, optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundus fluorescence angiography (FFA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). Angio-OCT (OCTA) was performed on 3 eyes and fundus autofluorescence (AF) was performed on 8 eyes. The early and late phase were defined respectively as ≤2 months and >2 months. Their multimodal imaging characteristics were summarized.Results:In 8 exciting eyes, subretinal fibrosis with mutifocal retinal atrophy and pigmentation was noted in 5 eyes (62.50%, 5/8), the other 3 eyes showed sunset glow fundus (37.50%, 3/8). In 28 sympathizing eyes, in the early phase, the fundus photograph showed shallow retinal detachment with optic disc edema in 9 eyes (32.14%, 9/28); in the late phase, peripapillary yellowish-white subretinal lesions in 11 eyes (39.29%, 11/28). In the late course of the disease, there were yellow-white lesions around the optic disc (peridisc) and peripheral subretinal area in 11 eyes (39.29%, 11/28). Dalen-Fuchs nodules were found in 10 eyes (35.71%, 10/28). On OCT, multiple serous retinal detachment and irregular choroidal folds were noted in the early phase; hill-like subretinal hyperreflective elevation was noted in peripapillary area and subfovea with presence of cystic spaces in the intraretina in the late phase. FFA examination showed"pinpoint-like" strong fluorescence in the early stage, and "multi-lake-like" fluorescein accumulation and leakage in the late stage; "map-like" weak fluorescence around the disc in the early stage of the disease, dot-like strong fluorescence lesions in each quadrant of the peripheral retina, and fluorescence in the late stage of the disease course. enhanced. ICGA examination showed that the FFA strong fluorescence lesions in the middle and late stages were weak fluorescence. FAF examination, point-like strong and weak autofluorescence lesions with unclear boundaries. Nine sympathizing eyes with subretinal yellow-white lesions has vision without light-0.1 (significantly decreased vison), while 8 eyes with sunset glow fundus was 0.5-1.0 (mildly decreased vison).Conclusions:SO could not only show the semblable features of acute phases of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome, but also the yellowish-white lesions in the peripapillary area, macula and periphery. Most of the eyes with peripapillary lesions has a significantly decreased vison, while the eyes with sunset glow fundus has a mildly decreased vison.

Objective To study the urinary arsenic safety guideline value of a population for evaluating the arsenic exposure level in a certain population and providing evidence for the implementation of prevention and control measures in endemic arsenicosis area.Methods According to the data from the national high-arsenic drinking water sources screening in endemic arsenicosis area of drinking water type and quality supervision and inspection for water-improving project to decrease arsenic from 2005 to 2014,census data on arsenic poisoning in endemic arsenicosis area,data on surveillance of endemic arsenicosis,10 722 people with detailed personal information,complete water arsenic exposure data and accurate urinary arsenic detection data were selected to be the research objects.The relationship between urinary arsenic and water arsenic was analyzed based on the surveillance data of 4 501 people from 2013 to 2014.The safety guidance value of urinary arsenic was determined based on the geometric mean value of urinary arsenic in people exposed to water arsenic in the range of (0.050 ± 0.005) mg/L,and verified using the data of 6 221 people from 2005 to 2012.Every time,a random sample of 2 000 people was taken as the verification sample,the sensitivity and specificity of the index for determining whether water arsenic exposure exceeded the standard were determined by area under the ROC curve (AUC),and a total of 10 sample tests was performed.Results When the water arsenic concentration was less than 0.01 mg/L,the correlation coefficient of water arsenic concentration with urinary arsenic concentration was 0.097 (P ＜ 0.01);when the water arsenic concentration was more than 0.01 mg/L and less than 0.05 mg/L,the correlation coefficient of arsenic concentration with water arsenic concentration was 0.456 (P ＜ 0.01);when the water arsenic concentration was more than 0.05 mg/L,the correlation coefficient of water arsenic concentration with urinary arsenic concentration was 0.630 (P ＜ 0.01).With increase of water arsenic concentration,the concentration of urinary arsenic increased significantly,and the difference was statistically significant (x2 =2 337.956,P ＜ 0.01).When water arsenic concentration was in the range of (0.050 ± 0.005) mg/L,the urinary arsenic geometric mean was 0.032 mg/L.AUC analysis of 10 random samples of 2 000 people showed that the geometric mean of urinary arsenic was 0.032 mg/L in the population,which can accurately distinguish whether the water arsenic level exceeded 0.05 mg/L,and the AUC value was higher than 0.94.And the sensitivity and specificity were achieved 0.898 and 0.844.Conclusions The geometric mean of urinary arsenic is 0.032 mg/L,which can be used as a safety guideline value for urinary arsenic in the population.When the geometric mean of urinary arsenic exceeds this value,the population may be exposed to high arsenic.