RIGHT for acupuncture: An extension of the RIGHT statement for clinical practice guidelines on acupuncture.

OBJECTIVE: In 2017, the International Standard for Reporting Items for practice Guideline in HealThcare (RIGHT) published reporting guidelines to enhance transparency and clarity in the process of developing clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). Given the original tool was developed in 2017 and demanded in developing and reporting high quality of acupuncture CPGs, an extension with a focus on a specific reporting checklist was warranted. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: The study was designed based on the methodology recommended by the Enhancing the Quality and Transparency Of Health Research (EQUATOR) Network with modification accordingly. A reporting checklist and its elaboration and explanations for users were developed. RESULTS: A checklist of seven sections (Basic information, Background, Evidence, Recommendations, Funding, Declaration and management of interest, Other information), twenty-three first level items and forty-three second level items was developed. We clarified the rationales of the items and provided explanations and examples of each item for additional guidance. CONCLUSION: The RIGHT for Acupuncture checklist identifies a set of items to be reported when reviewing clinical practice guidelines on acupuncture. This extension can be expected to improve the reporting quality of CPGs on acupuncture.

A historical evaluation of Chinese tongue diagnosis in the treatment of septicemic plague in the pre-antibiotic era, and as a new direction for revolutionary clinical research applications.

Chinese tongue diagnosis was initially developed to quickly and efficiently diagnose and prescribe medicine, while at the same time allowing the doctor to have minimal contact with the patient. At the time of its compiling, the spread of Yersinia pestis, often causing septicaemia and gangrene of the extremities, may have discouraged doctors to come in direct contact with their patients and take the pulse. However, in recent decades, modern developments in the field of traditional Chinese medicine, as well as the spread of antibiotics in conjunction with the advancements of microbiology, have overshadowed the original purpose of this methodology. Nevertheless, the fast approaching post-antibiotic era and the development of artificial intelligence may hold new applications for tongue diagnosis. This article focuses on the historical development of what is the world's earliest tongue diagnosis monograph, and discusses the directions that such knowledge may be used in future clinical research.

Thoughts on the importance of government regulated Chinese medicine terminology standardization.

The applications of a standardized Chinese medicine (CM) terminology are ultimately the translation and publication of literature, education, as well as scholarly and legal communication. Over the past 20-30 years the amount of published CM literature, including clinical and experimental research, has increased exponentially. In addition, the numbers of professionally trained Western CM scholars and clinicians have been continuously rising, and they are now forming a considerable academic force that should be taken seriously. Because of the continuous advancements of CM abroad, there is a strong demand for the application of a "common official language" to facilitate this progress and the future developments in the field. A standard to be applied within China is also a necessary work needed for the uniform transmission of the indigenous medical system abroad.

The teacher-disciple tradition and secret teaching in Chinese medicine.

The ancient teacher-disciple tradition is regarded as one of the most celebrated practices within the Chinese medicine world. Such traditions of secrecy, private wisdom and honor are deeply rooted in the theories of Confucianism. This paper only explores the surface of this ancient culture, by investigating relevant popular ancient texts and common Chinese proverbs, as well as utilizing personal experiences, in order to reflect on how the ancient Chinese perceived such practices within their own society and how secret teaching was passed on from teacher to student, including the revelation of secret formulas and their importance and how that tradition differs from our modern-day perspectives. Various rare manuscripts from the author's personal library are employed in order to provide relative examples of the importance of secret knowledge, and how these secrets applied in the traditional healing.