As a Chinese saying goes， "good Chinese medicinal material makes good medicine"， the quality of Chinese herbal medicines is related to the development prospect of Chinese medicine industry in China. With the rapid development of new technologies such as traceability methods and monitoring instruments， it is imperative to integrate and innovate traditional Chinese herbal medicines with new-generation information technology in view of the quality problems existing in the current production and circulation of Chinese herbal medicines， and it is of great significance for the construction of traceability system to ensure the quality and safety of Chinese herbal medicines and to promote the industry of Chinese herbal medicines to move towards high-quality development. This paper reviews the development history of the traceability system of Chinese herbal medicines in China， takes the influencing factors of the quality of Chinese herbal medicines as the entry point， and proposes that the construction of the traceability system should satisfy the traceability requirements of the characteristics of Chinese herbal medicines and their traditional medication experience. By analyzing the influencing factors of the quality of Chinese herbal medicines， it is pointed out that focusing on the influencing factors to build a traceability system is of great significance for targeting the problematic links at a later stage and exploring the interrelationship between environmental factors and the quality of Chinese herbal medicines. Based on the previous explorations， the author summarizes the system framework， functional modules and practical applications of the traceability system of Chinese herbal medicines， and looks forward to the development of a traceability system with risk early warning function and expert decision-making function in its functional development. Finally， based on the factors affecting the quality of Chinese herbal medicines， the author puts forward several thoughts on construction of the traceability system， and makes an in-depth analysis and puts forward a solution for the current situation that a unified， standardized and universal traceability system has not yet been built， with a view to providing ideas and references for the construction of traceability system of Chinese herbal medicines.

Objective:To investigate the effect of sleep on physical performance and the correlation between sleep quality and physical performance in the elderly.Methods:In this prospective multicenter case-control study, 472 elderly people aged 60-80 years were recruited from three regions in China, Beijing, Tianjin, and Hainan Province.Basic information of study participants was collected through face-to-face interviews, and physical performance of study participants was assessed by the time up and go(TUG)test on site, with 106 cases(22.5%)in the normal physical performance group and 366 cases(77.5%)in the abnormal group.The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale(ESS)were applied to assess sleep quality of study subjects.Correlation analysis was performed to examine factors affecting subjects' physical performance.Results:Age, history of alcohol consumption, BMI, past medical history, the ESS score, daytime sleepiness, and some components of PSQI, such as sleep quality, sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleeping drugs and daytime dysfunction, were influencing factors of the TUG score.Two components of PSQI, sleep duration and habitual sleep efficiency, and the ESS score were positively correlated with physical performance.Logistic regression analysis showed that risk factors for decreased physical performance in the elderly included increased age( OR=1.125, 95% CI: 1.083-1.168, P<0.01), history of alcohol consumption( OR=0.482, 95% CI: 0.384-0.605, P<0.001), abnormally high body mass index( OR=1.663, 95% CI: 1.340-2.063, P<0.01), hyperlipemia( OR=0.156, 95% CI: 0.077-0.318, P<0.01), digestive system diseases( OR=0.154, 95% CI: 0.044-0.532, P<0.01), use of sleeping drugs( OR=0.415, 95% CI: 0.202-0.854, P<0.05), daytime sleepiness( OR=4.234, 95% CI: 2.800-6.403, P<0.01), a high habitual sleep efficiency score of PSQI( OR=1.425, 95% CI: 1.214-1.672, P<0.01)and a high sleep disturbances score in PSQI( OR=3.356, 95% CI: 2.337-4.819, P<0.01). Conclusions:The incidence of physical performance decline is high in the elderly.There is a correlation between physical performance and sleep quality.

As the search for effective treatments for COVID-19 continues, the high mortality rate among critically ill patients in Intensive Care Units (ICU) presents a profound challenge. This study explores the potential benefits of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a supplementary treatment for severe COVID-19. A total of 110 critically ill COVID-19 patients at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Vulcan Hill Hospital between Feb., 2020, and April, 2020 (Wuhan, China) participated in this observational study. All patients received standard supportive care protocols, with a subset of 81 also receiving TCM as an adjunct treatment. Clinical characteristics during the treatment period and the clinical outcome of each patient were closely monitored and analysed. Our findings indicated that the TCM group exhibited a significantly lower mortality rate compared with the non-TCM group (16 of 81 vs 24 of 29; 0.3 vs 2.3 person/month). In the adjusted Cox proportional hazards models, TCM treatment was associated with improved survival odds (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the analysis also revealed that TCM treatment could partially mitigate inflammatory responses, as evidenced by the reduced levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and contribute to the recovery of multiple organic functions, thereby potentially increasing the survival rate of critically ill COVID-19 patients.
Humans ; COVID-19 ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Critical Illness ; Treatment Outcome

ObjectiveIn recent years， with the sharp decline of wild resources in Arisaematis Rhizoma and Pinelliae Rhizoma and the immaturity of medicinal cultivation technology， their adulterants have appeared frequently in the market， and the main identifying characteristics have mostly disappeared in the circulation of medicinal materials. Therefore， there is an urgent need to establish a molecular identification method that can quickly and effectively identify the specificity of Arisaematis Rhizoma and Pinelliae Rhizoma. MethodAfter comparison of the rbcL sequences of Arisaematis Rhizoma，Pinelliae Rhizoma， and their adulterants， the specific enzyme cleavage sites Hae Ⅲ and Dra Ⅰ of Arisaematis Rhizoma and Pinelliae Rhizoma， respectively， were selected and identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism（PCR-RFLP）. The main system conditions of PCR-RFLP reaction were established and optimized， and their durability and the ability to detect genuine， adulterants， and mixed counterfeits were investigated. ResultThe PCR-RFLP identification method of Arisaematis Rhizoma and Pinelliae Rhizoma was established. After specific primer amplification， Arisaematis Rhizoma and Pinelliae Rhizoma could be digested by Hae Ⅲ and Dra Ⅰ-restricted endonucleases respectively， at annealing temperature of 54 ℃， the number of cycles of 35， and the amount of DNA template of 3-30 ng， producing two fragments or small cut fragments with a single band between 100-250 bp， whereas the mixed counterfeits were not cleaved and both showed a band at 250 bp. The method is highly accurate in identifying adulterants and mixed counterfeits of Arisaematis Rhizoma or Pinelliae Rhizoma. ConclusionThe PCR-RFLP method developed in this study allows for the rapid identification of Arisaematis Rhizoma and Pinelliae Rhizoma.

Objective:To analyze the relationship between early-life famine exposure and the risk of metabolic syndrome in Chinese population.Methods:Relevant literature on the relationship between early-life famine exposure and the risk of metabolic syndrome in the Chinese population was retrieved from databases such as CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, CBM, Web of Science, and PubMed. The search was conducted from the inception of the databases up to October 2022. Two researchers independently extracted and systematically evaluated the data from the literature, and meta-analysis was performed using Stata 16.0 software. Results:A total of 12 publications met the inclusion criteria, including 71 470 study subjects. Meta-analysis results showed that early-life famine exposure increased the risk of metabolic syndrome in the Chinese population( OR=1.28, 95% CI 1.16-1.40). Subgroup analysis showed that both fetal famine exposure( OR=1.25, 95% CI 1.03-1.52) and childhood famine exposure( OR=1.29, 95% CI 1.15-1.45) increased the risk of developing metabolic syndrome compared to the non-exposed group, and this significant association was only found in the female population. Conclusion:Early-life exposure to famine may increase the risk of developing metabolic syndrome in adulthood in the Chinese population, particularly among females.

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical effect of Mahuang Xixin Fuzitang combined with acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of localized scleroderma. MethodA total of 95 patients with localized scleroderma treated in Wuhan No. 1 Hospital from September 2019 to October 2021 were assigned into a control group （47 patients） and an observation group （48 patients） by random number table method. The control group was treated with Centella triterpenes tablets and heparin sodium cream， and the observation group was additionally treated with Mahuang Xixin Fuzitang combined with acupuncture and moxibustion. Both groups were treated for 8 weeks， and the clinical effect was compared between groups. The traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） syndrome score （local skin sclerosis， loss of skin texture， darkening of skin pigment， scaly dry skin， etc.）， serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor （sIL-2R） and tumor necrosis factor-alpha （TNF-α）， erythrocyte sedimentation rate （ESR）， and eosinophil count （EO） were compared between before and after treatment as well as between groups. Additionally， the adverse reactions were recorded. ResultThe observation group had higher total effective rate than the control group ［95.83% （46/48） vs. 82.98% （39/47）， χ²=4.166 4， P<0.05］. Before treatment， the TCM syndrome score， sIL-2R， TNF-α， ESR， and EO showed no significant differences between the two groups. The 8 weeks of treatment improved the TCM syndrome score， sIL-2R， TNF-α， ESR， and EO. Moreover， the observation group was superior to the control group in these indicators （P<0.05）. During the treatment， the observation group showed 1 case of abnormal liver function and 1 case of nausea and vomiting， and the control group had 1 case of nausea and vomiting， 1 case of abnormal renal function， and 1 case of abnormal liver function. The total adverse reactions of the observation group （4.17%） and the control group （6.38%） had no significant difference （χ²=0.233 9， P=0.062 86）. ConclusionMahuang Xixin Fuzitang combined with acupuncture and moxibustion is safe and effective in the treatment of localized scleroderma.

In order to make up for the innovation deficiency in the traditional residency training model and the shortcomings of active learning and lifelong learning, evidence-based medicine is introduced into the residency training of dental general practitioners. Theoretical knowledge training of evidence-based medicine is conducted through online course learning. PICO mode is used to conduct evidence-based analysis of clinical cases under the guidance of the instructor, so that trainees can get familiar with the process of evidence-based analysis. Students can finally design and complete the application cases of evidence-based medicine, and teachers give evaluation guidance. Through this process, students can learn and master the knowledge of evidence-based medicine step by step, thus obtaining better teaching results.

BRAF is a serine/threonine kinase that harbors activating mutations in ∼7% of human malignancies and ∼60% of melanomas. Despite initial clinical responses to BRAF inhibitors, patients frequently develop drug resistance. To identify candidate therapeutic targets for BRAF inhibitor resistant melanoma, we conduct CRISPR screens in melanoma cells harboring an activating BRAF mutation that had also acquired resistance to BRAF inhibitors. To investigate the mechanisms and pathways enabling resistance to BRAF inhibitors in melanomas, we integrate expression, ATAC-seq, and CRISPR screen data. We identify the JUN family transcription factors and the ETS family transcription factor ETV5 as key regulators of CDK6, which together enable resistance to BRAF inhibitors in melanoma cells. Our findings reveal genes contributing to resistance to a selective BRAF inhibitor PLX4720, providing new insights into gene regulation in BRAF inhibitor resistant melanoma cells.

Radiotherapy is one of the effective methods for the treatment of head and neck tumors, especially nasopharyngeal carcinoma, but the adverse reactions caused by radiotherapy are common. Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma have a high incidence rate of dysphagia after radiotherapy. This article reviews the research progress of intervention strategies for dysphagia after radiotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, aiming to improve the prognosis of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Objective:To explore the application effect of whole-course guided management under the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in perioperative period of patients with acoustic neuroma.Methods:Retrospective analysis was performed on the patients with acoustic neuroma treated by inpatient surgery in our department from January 2018 to December 2019. The patients before January 2019 adopted the traditional outpatient and inpatient treatment management mode were in the control group. Patients admitted after January 2019 were in the observation group. The experimental group adopted the guided management mode under the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery. In other words, on the basis of the traditional management, the whole-course guided management under the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery was added, which mainly included outpatient documentation, introduction of basic disease knowledge, preoperative and postoperative life guidance, preoperative and postoperative psychological guidance and family follow-up. Patients in both groups were observed for their first medical contact-discharge time, medical and nursing satisfaction, and psychological status was assessed by self-rating depression Scale (SDS) and self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) before surgery, on the day of discharge, and 1 month after discharge.Results:The first medical contact discharge time of the whole-course oriented management group under the concept of accelerated rehabilitation surgery was significantly shorter than that of the traditional group, and its medical and nursing satisfaction was significantly improved ( P<0.05); the SDS score and SAS score before operation, on the day of discharge and 1 month after discharge in the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The whole-process guided management under the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery can significantly shorten the time of patients′ first medical contact and discharge, reduce anxiety and depression in patients with acoustic neuroma before and after surgery, and improve patients′ satisfaction with medical treatment and care.