Personal Experience on Palpation of the Spine

In addition to conventional palpation method, examination on vertebral range of motion （ROM） and mobility can help to determine a pathological displacement and thus provide solid basis for spinal tuina manipulation.     

QIU Chang-lin＇s Experience in the Differential Treatment of Senile Dementia Based on Phlegm

Senile dementia refers to the various dementia syndromes occurring in the geratic period, including Alzheimer＇s dementia （AD）, vascular dementia （VD）, and mixed type dementia. It is mainly manifested by disturbance of intelligence and cognition, which falls into the TCM category of ＇dementia＇, ＇idiocy＇, ＇amnesia＇, and ＇melancholia＇. At present, this disease is considered by TCM differentiation to be excess in superficiality and deficiency in origin, and should be treated for clearing away pathogens and strengthening the body resistance at the same time. Having engaged in TCM clinical practice for more than 40 years, Dr. QIU Chang-lin has treated this disease based on the differentiation of phlegm, and obtained marked clinical therapeutic effects.     

Therapeutic Efficacy Observation on ＇Setting Fire on the Mountain＇ Manipulation by Lu $hou-yan for Cervical Radiculopathy

Objective： To observe the clinical effect of ＇setting fire on the mountain＇ manipulation by Lu Shou-yan for cervical radiculopathy as well as the infrared thermographic changes of the cervical area before and after treatment. Methods： A total of 120 eligible cases with cervical radiculopathy were randomly allocated into an observation group and a control group, 60 in each group. Cases in the observation group were treated with Lu Shou-yan＇s ＇setting fire on the mountain＇ manipulation, whereas cases in the control group were treated with even reinforcing-reducing manipulation. After two courses of treatment, the infrared thermographic changes and overall therapeutic efficacies in the two groups were compared. Results： The recovery rate and total effective rate in the observation group were 68.3% and 98.3% respectively, versus 28.3% and 81.7% in the control group, showing statistical differences in recovery rate and total effective rate （both P〈 0.01）. There was between-group statistical significance in comparing the infrared thermography after treatment （P〈O.01）. Conclusion： ＇Setting fire on the mountain＇ manipulation by Lu Shou-yan is better than even reinforcing-reducing manipulation for cervical radiculopathy.     

The Effects of Invigorating Qi, Removing Blood Stasis and Tonifying the Kidney on the Expression of Ⅱ Collagen Mrna Inside the Degenerated Intervertebral Discs

It has been found from the clinical observa-tion that the method of Invigorating Qi,Remov-ing Blood Stasis and Tonifying the Kidney canhave a good regulatory effect on cervical spondy-losis.But whether this method can be effectiveor not for the tissue of degenerated interverte-bral disc is still unknown.Itwill be of greatsig-nificance for the prevention and treatmentof cer-vical spondylosis if this method can improve andpostpone the course of degeneration of the de-generated intervertebral d…     

On Professor HAN Bi-ying＇s Academic Experience

Professor HAN Bi-ying is a chief doctor in the acupuncture department of Guang An Men Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Science. She has been engaged in clinical practice for nearly 40 years and accumulated abundant clinical experience, especially in clinical syndrome differentiation. I am fortunate to follow professor HAN to practice acupuncture on weekends and learn from him. I now present her academic thoughts and clinical experience with proven cases for References.     

On the Assessment Standardization for TCM Clinical Evidence

Nowadays, the evidence-based medicine has been widely used for assessment of TCM. The assessment based on clinical evidence and the quality is the core of evidence-based medicine. However, the evidencerating methods adopted in the modem medical system are only applicable in a certain degree to the assessment of TCM clinical evidence. Through probing into the relation between TCM science and the evidence-based medicine and the characteristics of TCM clinical evidence, the following suggestions are put forward for establishing a assessment system of TCM clinical evidence： 1） Continue the discussion on the rating standardization for TCM clinical evidence; 2） stipulate the assessment criteria and principles according to the research directions and methods of TCM; and 3） establish the standards for classification and rating of the TCM clinical evidence.     

Introduction to HUA Xue-gui＇s Experience in Acupuncture Treatment of Tinnitus and Deafness

Doctor HUA Xue-gui, an associate chief physician in Shanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian, has been engaged in clinical practice and scientific research of acupuncture for over 30 years. She has created a set of unique and complete acupuncture modalities for neurotic tinnitus and deafness. The authors are honored to have studied with Doctor HUA and have achieved a lot. Now, Doctor HUA＇s experience is summarized as follows.     

Role of Cervical Soft Tissue Lesion in Cervical Spondylosis and Tuina Intervention

Cervical spondylosis is markedly characterized by degenerative changes. The studies in recent years on the role of cervical soft tissue lesion in cervical spondylosis indicated that cervical soft tissue lesion runs through the whole process of cervical spondylosis and is dominantly responsible for varieties of clinical symptoms. Cervical osseous lesion can be regarded as a result of soft tissue lesion and subordinated to soft tissue lesion in the course of cervical spondylosis.     

ABOUT THE JOURNAL

Based upon the updated science and technology, the Global Traditional Chinese Medicine is committed to the clinical research and readers＇ service. It reflects the latest academic achievements and research and development trends of the traditional Chinese medicine as well as its clinical research and development at home and abroad. Our objective is to lead the technology and profession tendency, in order to advance the industrial extension and deepen the international exchange and cooperation.     

SETTING STANDARDS FOR CLINICAL AUDITS

Background Clinical audits are well established in Western general practice medicine. Over the last ten years, researchers have started publishing results from Traditional Chinese Medicine （TCM） clinical audits. Unfortunately, there has been a lack of standardization in both TCM data eollection and reporting methods.Method At the University of Technology Sydney （UTS） Acupuncture clinic, a computerized database was developed to identify and extract demographic and clinical morbidity data. Patient information is coded using the International Classification of Primary Care （ICPC） and includes： reason for eneounter （RFE）, symptom for eneounter （SFE）, and TCM tongue, pulse, diagnostic and treatment data. Coding is automated and systems for testing data accuracy are employed. This paper outlines the methods of data eollection and reporting used at UTS. These are modeled on ＇best practice＇ standards from Western general practice medicine auditing models. When eompared to published TCM audits the need for standardized approaches to TCM data eollection and reporting become evident. Results UTS data has as error rate of 2.7 %, within international standards of 5 %. This paper will report on data relating to 6 208 patients having undergone 32, 101 treatments. As an example, 39%of UTS TCM patients are male and of these 61% are aged 25-44. Musculoskeletal disorders are the most eommon （46%） in this group and back problems （40%） are most frequently reported SFE. Through the reporting of these data and eomparison with other published TCM audits, a series of reeommendations regarding data eollection and reporting will be outlined. Conclusions The need to develop international standards for TCM clinical auditing in this emerging research field is self-evident. Through the reporting of studies such as this, it is hoped that international standards for TCM data collection and reporting can be established.     

Aims & Scope

正Aim:WJTCM is intended to publish the recent research progress in clinical efficacy and action mechanism of traditional Chinese Medicine,Chinese materia medica,acupuncture and moxibustion so as to provide new insight and research methodologies for approaching complex diseases with the art and science of traditional Chinese medicine.WJTCM has four columns listed as the following:·Modern Research on Chinese Materia Medica:including theories of TCM processing,theories of drug property and compatibil-     

Aims & Scope

正Aim:WJTCM is intended to publish the recent research progress in clinical efficacy and action mechanism of traditional Chinese Medicine,Chinese materia medica,acupuncture and moxibustion so as to provide new Insight and research methodologies for approaching complex diseases with the art and science of traditional Chinese medicine.WJTCM has four columns listed as the following:·Modern Research on Chinese Materia Medica:including theories of TCM processing,theories of drug property and compatibil-     

Network pharmacology in quality control of traditional Chinese medicines

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely used to treat and prevent diseases for thousands of years in China and is generally recognized for its unique holistic view and remarkable therapeutic effect on complex diseases. The worldwide interest to TCM has been increasing in recent years, especially since TCM has shown inspiring efficacy in the treatment of COVID-19. These attentions include both recognition of the important role of TCM and doubts about its efficacy and safety. At present, the internationalization and modernization of TCM are facing many challenges, such as unclear biological mechanism of herbs and formulae, and the difficulty of ensuring the quality and safety of TCM. Given the multi-component and multi-target characteristics of TCM, how to systematically describe the interaction between TCM and complex diseases, evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of TCM and carry out quality control has become the focus and difficulty of research. Network pharmacology, as a systematic and holistic medical research paradigm, can help to systematically reveal the biological basis of TCM, and has been widely used in the research of TCM bioactive ingredients, syndromes, formulae, and other topics. The concept of "network target" based on TCM research (Li et al., 2011) has been used to explore new methods and applications since its inception, leading to a new discipline of TCM network pharmacology (Li and Zhang, 2013). On the one hand, TCM network pharmacology research shows the tendency of combining computational, experimental and clinical approaches (Wang et al., 2021), and the research paradigm is improving continuously. On the other hand, the application of network pharmacology is expanding to a variety of aspects in TCM research. It has been applied in fields such as exploring the biological basic of disease and syndrome, uncovering the mechanism of TCM formulae, identifying toxic components and quality markers (Q-Marker) of traditional Chinese medicine and so on. The concept of Q-Marker which was proposed by Prof. Liu to standardize the quality research of TCM has established an effective research framework for the quality control of traditional Chinese medicine (Liu et al., 2017). Since it was proposed, Q-Marker has been utilized by researchers to analyze many TCM herbs and formulae, making an important contribution to the TCM quality control system. A previous research strategy of predicting and determining Q-Marker based on network pharmacology method (Wang et al, 2019) shows the potential of network pharmacology combined with Q-Marker in the application of quality control of TCM. The effectiveness and safety of TCM are taken into consideration when determining Q-Marker. There have been many successful application cases of network pharmacology in studying the effective ingredients and mechanism of TCM, and network pharmacology is also being used more and more frequently in the study of TCM toxicity. This issue will publish a research paper titled “Integrating systematic pharmacology-based strategy and experimental validation to explore mechanism of Tripterygium glycoside on cholangiocyte-related liver injury” on the use of network pharmacology to explore the toxic components of TCM and their underlying mechanisms. Tripterygium glycoside (TG) extracted from Tripterygium wilfordii have been used in clinical treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases, and there are several new indications under study. However, hepatotoxicity, the main adverse effect of TG in clinical practice, is an urgent problem to be solved. By combining network pharmacological analysis with in vivo and in vitro experimental verification, the authors discovered that triptolide, the primary toxic component of TG, could inhibit proliferation and promoted apoptosis of cholangiocytes by inhibiting the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and AKT and activating Bax and cleaved-Caspase 3 signaling. This study is a typical example of using network pharmacology to predict the toxic components and mechanisms of TCM. At the same time, it also shows that network pharmacology can be combined with Q-Marker strategy to identify the toxicity Q-Marker of TCM, and aids in the quality control and standardization of traditional Chinese medicine. As a discipline that has been developed for a short period of time, there are still many challenges in the theory, methodology and application of network pharmacology. The quality control research of TCM using network pharmacology also needs more investigation and exploration. The publication of Network Pharmacology Evaluation Method Guidance in 2021 has positive implications for the standardization of network pharmacology research and promotes the healthy development of the discipline (Li, 2021). However, as the fields of network pharmacology research continues to expand, the guidance cannot cover all kinds of research and need to be updated and revised in time. With the combination with new technologies such as artificial intelligence high-throughput technologies, network pharmacology will undoubtedly develop at a high speed. We look forward to a wider application of network pharmacology in TCM research, which will provide new scientific evidence for deciphering the mysteries of TCM and thus promote the inheritance, innovation and development of TCM.     

Acupuncture research:an update

ABSTRACT The 1997 National Institutes of Health(NIH) Consensus Development Conference on Acupuncture was a landmark in the history of acupuncture research in the USA and the West.The Consensus Statement concluded,"There is sufficient evidence of acupuncture’s value to expand its use into conventional medicine and to encourage further studies of its physiological and clinical value." It also suggested that more high quality clinical research should be conducted.Since then,more than 600 randomized clinical trials have been conducted and published.Trial quality has significantly improved,and the field of acupuncture research is now much more     

Clinical Observation on Physiological and Psychological Effects of Eight-Section Brocade on Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Objective： To observe the physiological and psychological changing of type 2 diabetic patients after practicing Eight-Section Brocade, to evaluate the clinical curative effect, and to provide a safe and effective self-regulating method for type 2 diabetic patients. Methods： This study is a random controlled trial, the 54 type 2 diabetic patients were randomly assigned into the intervention and the control group. The intervention group was given a 2-month period of Eight-Section Brocade practice, then a comparison between groups was made. The intervention group continued to do Eight-Section Brocade practice for 2 months, so it was 4 months＇ intervention all together for this group, and then a comparison within the intervention group was made. Results： There was significant difference 4 months later on HbAlc in the intervention group （P〈0.05）. There was significant difference between the intervention and control groups on obsessive-compulsive, depression, anxiety and hostility scores after 2 months＇ practice （P〈0.05）. There was significant difference between 2 and 4 months＇ practice on hostilities scores within the intervention group （P〈0.05）. Conclusions： As an important part of the traditional Chinese medicine, Eight-section Brocade has physiological and psycholozical effects on type 2 Diabetic Patients.     

Antiviral Properties of Traditional Chinese Medicine against Coronavirus: Research Clues for Coronavirus Disease-2019

The objective of this study was to provide research clues for the prevention and treatment of coronavirus disease?2019 (COVID?19) and coronavirus (CoV) infection using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). A review on research and clinical trials that using TCM extracts and active ingredients against CoV was performed, and a table of TCM agents and their effects on CoV were summarized. Relevant analysis was performed and visual expression of the data included summarizing the types of TCM and treatment methods for COVID?19. TCM fighting against CoV is mainly used in the lung and heart channels, and its medicinal properties are mainly cold and mild, while its taste is mainly bitter and sweet. The majority of research focused on treatments that clear away heat and toxic materials and those that strengthen body resistance and tonify deficiencies. TCM has unique advantages to fight against CoV. The development of new anti?CoV therapy using TCM is of great significance for the prevention and treatment of COVID?19 pneumonia and various viral infectious diseases.     

Research Progress on Processing and Processing Methods in Salvia miltiorrhiza Production Areas

Salvia miltiorrhiza is one of the 40 most commonly used traditional Chinese medicinal materials in clinics. It is effective in activating blood circulation, removing blood stasis, relieving pain through the meridian, clearing the heart and removing irritations, and cooling blood and eliminating blemishes. Each main production area has developed a unique production method and processing technology, in accordance with local conditions. The processed products included in Chinese Pharmacopoeia are purified and wine?fried S. miltiorrhiza. In addition, the Chinese province’s standards include the vinegar-fried and wine-fried types. S. miltiorrhiza is produced in more areas and is more extensively processed, with large variations in specifications. The challenge in establishing a uniform quality standard affects the clinical application of decoction pieces. This review has explored the books of the past dynasties, summarized the relevant literature published in the past three decades, discussed the processing methods of S. miltiorrhiza, and provided a basis for further research on the processing method of the original sample. In particular, we integrate fresh cut processing as the starting point for in-depth research, discuss the processing technology specifications, and formulate quality product standards.     

The Introduction of Our Journal in English

Based upon the updated science and technology, the Global Traditional Chinese Medicine is committed to the clinical research and readers＇s ervice. It reflects the latest academic achievements and research and development trends of the traditional Chinese medicine as well as its clinical research and development at home and abroad. Our objective is to lead the technology and profession tendency, in order to advance the industrial extension and deepen the international exchange and cooperation. We have being dedicating ourselves to the domestic and foreign Chinese medicine specialists and practitioners, promoting the win-win situation between professional coordination and personnel communication.     

ABOUT THE JOURNAL

Based upon the updated science and technology, the Global Traditional Chinese Medicine is committed to the clinical research and readers＇ service. It reflects the latest academic achievements and research and development trends of the traditional Chinese medicine as well as its clinical research and development at home and abroad. Our objective is to lead the technology and profession tendency, in order to advance the industrial extension and deepen the international exchange and cooperation. We have being dedicating ourselves to the domestic and foreign Chinese medicine specialists and practitioners, promoting the win-win situation between professional coordination and personnel communication.     

Treatment of apoplexy with brain-activating and orifice-opening acupuncture

Through summarizing clinical and experimental researches on brain-activating and orifice-opening acupuncture method and the clinical observation of the 9 005 patients in 40 years, the basic pathogenesis of apoplexy has been considered to be stagnant blood, liver wind and turbid phlegm resulting in obstruction of brain orifices, loss of vitality and failure to conduct qi. Therapeutic principles and needling methods have heen devised on that basis. The acupoints in the three yin meridians and the Governor Vessel are mainly selected and standardized quantification of needling techniques emphasized, which are quite different from traditional acupoint selection and needling methods for treatment of apoplexy. It is presented as follows.