ObjectiveTo observe the clinical effect of combined traditional Chinese and Western medicine in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). MethodsA total of 180 KOA patients treated between January 2012 and June 2015 were randomly assigned to 3 groups: Chinese medicine group (group A, n=60) with acupuncture and irradiation therapy of specific electromagnetic wave therapeutic apparatus , western medicine group (group B, n=60) with oral glucosamine hydrochloride tablets and knee joint cavity injection of sodium hyaluronate, and integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine group (group C, n=60) with treatments combining those in both group A and B. The treatment course was 6 weeks. The Western Ontario & McMaster University (WOMAC) osteoarthritis index score and total effective rate were evaluated before treatment and 2 weeks after treatment, end of treatment and 5 months after treatment. ResultsAfter treatment, the average improvement of WOMAC scores in the three groups was significantly different (P ＜ 0.05) . The total effective rate was 78.33% in group A, 83.33% in group B, and 91.67% in group C. The difference of total effective rate between group C and A, and between group C and B was statistically significant (P＜0.05) ; and it was also statistically significant between group A and B (P ＜ 0.05) . There were two cases of adverse reactions in group A, two in group B, and two in group C, and the reactions were all relatively mild without any serious adverse events. ConclusionsChinese medicine and western medicine are both effective and safe for the treatment of KOA. When they are combined, the effect is further enhanced with no increase of adverse reactions.
Postoperative gastrointestinal disorder (POGD) is a common complication after surgery under anesthesia. Strategies in combination with traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine have shown some distinct effects but standardized clinical practice guidelines are not available. Thus, a multidisciplinary expert team from various professional bodies including the Perioperative and Anesthesia Professional Committees of the Chinese Association of Integrative Medicine (CAIM), jointly with Gansu Province Clinical Research Center of Integrative Anesthesiology/Anesthesia and Pain Medical Center of Gansu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and WHO Collaborating Center for Guideline Implementation and Knowledge Translation/Chinese Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) Center /Gansu Provincial Center for Medical Guideline Industry Technology/Evidence-based Medicine Center of Lanzhou University was established to develop evidence-based guidelines. Clinical questions (7 background and 12 clinical questions) were identified through literature reviews and expert consensus meetings. Based on systematic reviews/meta-analyses, evidence quality was analyzed and the advantages and disadvantages of interventional measures were weighed with input from patients’ preferences. Finally, 20 recommendations were developed through the Delphi-based consensus meetings. These recommendations include disease definitions, etiologies, pathogenesis, syndrome differentiation, diagnosis, and perioperative prevention and treatment.
Community-acquired pneumonia refers to infectious pulmonary parenchyma inflammation that occurs outside the hospital, including pneumonia that occurs during the incubation period after admission of pathogens with a clear incubation period. Community-acquired pneumonia has a high incidence and mortality rate, imposing a heavy medical burden and posing a serious threat to social public health. In the diagnosis and treatment of community-acquired pneumonia, traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine each have their own advantages. In order to strengthen the diagnosis and treatment of community-acquired pneumonia through the integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine, and improve the prevention and treatment level of community-acquired lung disease, this guideline was developed by the Internal Medicine Professional Committee of the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies, led by Henan University of Chinese Medicine and the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine. This guideline refers to the development methods and processes of international clinical practice guidelines, based on the best existing evidence, combined with the characteristics of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia, weighing the pros and cons of intervention measures, and finally forming six recommended opinions, in order to provide references for the clinical practice of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia.
Objective To evaluate the reporting quality of rapid guidelines on Chinese medicine responding to public health emergencies. Methods The databases of PubMed, Embase, CNKI, CBM, WanFang Data, and preprint platforms were electronically searched. A supplementary search was performed by navigating the websites and Wechat public platforms specific to guideline development and dissemination, health and medical governing bodies, and academic organizations of Chinese medicine. Only guidelines published within three months after the onset of acute respiratory infectious diseases were eligible. The database search settings were as follows: SARS guidelines up to May 2003, H1N1 guidelines up to August 2009, and COVID-19 guidelines up to April 2020. The report quality was assessed using the Reporting Items for practice Guidelines in HealThcare (RIGHT) and its extension for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Results A total of 50 rapid guidelines on Chinese medicine responding to public health emergencies were included, indicating a growing trend in the number of guidelines. The RIGHT items most frequently reported were item 1c (n=46, 92.00%), item 7a (n=47, 94.00%), item 13a (n=49, 98.00%). The items extended to TCM was generally frequently reported (≥50%). However, the ten key items related to evidence, recommendations, funding, and the declaration and management of interest were rarely reported. Conclusion Enhancing the reporting quality of rapid guidelines on Chinese medicine in response to public health emergencies requires methodological solutions. The development of such guideline reporting standards should consider the unique characteristics of public health emergencies and the special nature of Chinese medicine evidence.