De una idea a una publicación original en cirugía: Una guía para futuros cirujanos académicos. Capítulo Futuros Cirujanos, Asociación Colombiana de Cirugía / From an idea to an original publication in surgery: A guide for future academic surgeons. Future Surgeons Chapter, Colombian Surgical Association

Introducción. Recientemente, se ha evidenciado un crecimiento exponencial de artículos de estudiantes y autores jóvenes; sin embargo, la mayoría de esos artículos no han sido citados. El objetivo de este artículo fue presentar un manual de fácil interpretación, aplicable durante el proceso de construcción de un manuscrito académico original en cirugía. Métodos. Se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura en las bases de datos académicas, utilizando las palabras clave "manuscrito académico", "cirugía", "investigación" y "how to do it", así como sinónimos. Se incluyeron estudios originales, revisiones y las directrices STROCSS 2021, publicadas hasta marzo de 2023. Resultados. Se logró recopilar una guía empírica, con recomendaciones y directrices útiles para la creación de un manuscrito académico en cirugía, óptima para uso en todos los niveles académicos. Conclusión. Se deben brindar herramientas que sean aplicables en todos los niveles educativos, desde un estudiante hasta cirujano graduado. Con este artículo se buscan dar a conocer un camino para transformar una idea en una publicación científica original de alto impacto, de forma metódica y fácil de entender, actuando como un incentivo y facilitador para la producción científica y académica en cirugía para Colombia y Latinoamérica

Introduction. Recently, there has been an exponential growth of articles by students and young authors; however, most of the articles have not been cited. This review presents an easy-to-interpret manual, applicable during the process of writing an original academic manuscript in surgery. Methods. A systematic literature review was performed in academic databases using the keywords "Academic Manuscript", "Surgery", "Research" and "How to do it", as well as synonyms; the search date was performed until March 2023, where original studies, reviews and STROCSS 2021 guidelines were included. Results. It was possible to compile an empirical guide, with useful recommendations and guidelines for the creation of an academic manuscript in surgery, optimal for use at all academic levels. Conclusion. Tools should be provided that are applicable at all educational levels, from a student to a graduate surgeon. The authors seek to show a way to transform an idea into an original scientific publication of high impact, in a methodical and easy to understand way, so this article acts as an incentive and facilitator for scientific and academic production in surgery in Colombia and Latin America

GRINCIRCAR: una iniciativa para promover la cirugía académica e investigación quirúrgica en el caribe colombiano / GRINCIRCAR: an initiative to promote academic surgery and surgical research in the Colombian Caribbean

Introducción. La investigación quirúrgica es uno de los pilares de la cirugía académica, que integra el microambiente para lograr una adecuada práctica basada en la evidencia, realizar planteamientos y conseguir eventuales soluciones a necesidades quirúrgicas de una población. En el caribe colombiano existen brechas significativas en cuanto al aporte en investigación quirúrgica, comparado con otras regiones del país. Por ende, es necesaria una iniciativa que haga frente a estos retos. Métodos. El Grupo Colaborativo de Investigación en Cirugía General y Subespecialidades del Caribe Colombiano (GRINCIRCAR), es una iniciativa fundada por una colectividad de estudiantes de medicina, médicos residentes de cirugía y cirujanos académicos de universidades del caribe colombiano, que buscan impulsar la investigación quirúrgica y aportar a la resolución de problemas de salud en cirugía de la región. Discusión. De acuerdo al programa de investigación con políticas y prioridades en salud establecidos por el Instituto Nacional de Salud, existen por lo menos dos dimensiones donde se involucra directamente la cirugía. A pesar de esto, no existen datos sobre la distribución de recursos para la investigación quirúrgica en la región del Caribe colombiano, pese a que el acceso al cuidado quirúrgico básico y las enfermedades quirúrgicas, hace parte de las prioridades en salud y cirugía global. Conclusiones. Se necesita promover la cirugía académica y la investigación quirúrgica en la región del caribe colombiano. La investigación colaborativa podría ser una solución al integrar la participación de múltiples centros y participantes

Introduction. Surgical research is one of the cornerstones of academic surgery, which integrates the microenvironment to achieve an adequate evidence-based practice, asking the right questions to achieve eventual solutions to the surgical needs of a population. In the Colombian Caribbean, there are significant gaps in the contribution in surgical research, compared to other regions of the country. Therefore, an initiative is needed to address these challenges. Methods. The Collaborative Group for Research in General Surgery and Subspecialties of the Colombian Caribbean (GRINCIRCAR) is an initiative founded by a group of medical students, surgical residents and academic surgeons from Colombian Caribbean universities, who seek to promote surgical research and contribute to solutions of health problems in surgery in the region. Discussion. According to the research program, health policies and priorities established by the National Institute of Health, there are at least two dimensions where surgery is directly involved. Despite this, there are no data on the distribution of resources for surgical research in the Colombian Caribbean region, despite the fact that access to basic surgical care and surgical diseases are part of the priorities in global health and surgery. Conclusions. There is a need to promote academic surgery and surgical research in the Colombian Caribbean region. Collaborative research in the region could be a solution by integrating the participation of multiple centers and participants

Principales dificultades de los proyectos de investigación de la especialidad Medicina General Integral / Main Difficulties of Research Projects of the General Comprehensive Medicine Specialty

Introducción: El residente de Medicina General Integral, una vez graduado, ejecutará investigaciones en correspondencia con las necesidades actuales del Sistema Nacional de Salud y a partir de los problemas de salud predominantes en su comunidad. Objetivo: Describir las principales dificultades en los proyectos de investigación de los residentes de la Especialidad de Medicina General Integral. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo transversal en la Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de Sagua la Grande en el período 2020-2021. La población objeto de análisis quedó constituida por un total de 69 proyectos de investigación provenientes de 5 policlínicos docentes de 3 municipios del territorio (Corralillo, Quemado de Güines y Sagua la Grande). Se revisó el proyecto de investigación, se confeccionó un modelo para la recogida de datos extraídos de los mismos y se elaboró una base de datos para su almacenamiento. Resultados: Las principales dificultades estuvieron dadas en no sustentar adecuadamente la investigación, en la redacción del problema científico, específicamente la relación entre el problema y el tipo de investigación, la conceptualización y/o operacionalización de las variables, la selección y elaboración de los métodos, técnicas e instrumentos para la recogida de la información y la acotación de la bibliografía por normas de Vancouver. Conclusiones: Resulta de vital importancia que los residentes de esta especialidad desarrollen habilidades investigativas desde el primer año de formación, lo que contribuirá a un mejor desempeño profesional a partir de la aplicación del método científico en la solución de los problemas de salud que se presenten en su quehacer diario(AU)

Introduction: The family medicine resident, once graduated, will do research in correspondence with the current needs of the national health system and considering the predominant health problems in her/his community. Objective: To describe the main difficulties in the research projects of residents in the General Comprehensive Medicine specialty. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive and observational study was carried out in the medical school of Sagua la Grande Municipality, in the period 2020-2021. The population under analysis consisted of a total of 69 research projects from five teaching polyclinics in three municipalities of the territory (Corralillo, Quemado de Güines and Sagua la Grande). Each research project was reviewed, a model was prepared for collecting the data extracted from them, and a database was elaborated for their storage. Results: The main difficulties were not supporting the research adequately, as well as in writing the scientific problem, specifically the relation between the problem and the type of research; also, the conceptualization or operationalization of variables, the selection and elaboration of methods, the techniques and instruments for the collection of information, and the bibliographical adjustment by the Vancouver norms. Conclusions: It is of vital importance that residents of this specialty develop research skills from the first year of training, which will contribute to better professional performance from the application of the scientific method in the solution of health problems that appear in their daily work(AU)

Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated optic neuritis: an update / Neurite óptica associada com anticorpo contra a glicoproteína oligondendrócita da mielina: uma breve atualização

ABSTRACT Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-immunoglobulin G (IgG)-associated optic neuritis has been established as a new entity of immune-mediated optic neuropathy. Patients usually present with recurrent optic neuritis, often bilaterally with initially severe vision loss and optic disc edema. However, in contrast to aquaporin 4-IgG-seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, visual recovery tends to be more favorable, with good response to steroid treatment. Another important differential diagnosis of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-IgG--associated optic neuritis is multiple sclerosis. Close monitoring for signs of relapse and long-term immunosuppression may be considered to maintain optimal visual function. The diagnosis can be made on the basis of the presence of a specific, usually serological, antibody against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (IgG; cell-based assay), and a demyelinating event (optic neuritis, myelitis, brainstem syndrome, or cortical lesions with seizures). The clinical spectrum of this newly recognized inflammatory demyelinating disease is expanding rapidly. We briefly review the epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations, diagnostic considerations, and treatment options of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-IgG-associated optic neuritis.

RESUMO A neurite óptica associada à glicoproteína de oligodendrócito de mielina-IgG foi estabelecida como uma nova entidade de neuropatia óptica imunomediada. Tipicamente os pacientes apresentam neurite óptica recorrente, muitas vezes bilateral, com perda de visão frequentemente severa e alta prevalência de edema do disco óptico na fase aguda. No entanto, em contraste com neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder associada com presença de anticorpo contra aquaporina 4, a recuperação visual tende a ser mais favorável e responde bem ao tratamento com corticoide em altas doses. A esclerose múltipla representa outro importante diagnóstico diferencial de glicoproteína de oligodendrócito de mielina-IgG. O diagnóstico pode ser feito com base na presença de um anticorpo específico, geralmente sorológico contra glicoproteína de oligodendrócito de mielina (IgG, ensaio baseado em células), e presença de evento desmielinizante (neurite óptica, mielite, síndrome do tronco cerebral, lesões corticais com convulsões). O espectro clínico desta doença desmielinizante inflamatória recém-reconhecida está se expandindo rapidamente. Faremos uma breve revisão das características epidemiológicas, manifestações clínicas, considerações diagnósticas e opções de tratamento da neurite óptica associada à glicoproteína de oligodendrócito de mielina-IgG.

Estudios de corte transversal: un diseño de investigación a considerar en ciencias morfológicas / Cross section studies: a research design to consider in morphological sciences

Los estudios de corte transversal (ECT) inician en la década de los 40 en países Europeos. Los ECT corresponden a investigaciones de tipo observacional que permiten estudiar prevalencia de enfermedad, determinar asociación entre variables y el desarrollo de un efecto de interés, conocer propiedades de una prueba diagnóstica, y censar poblaciones; describiendo las características de una población en un momento y lugar determinado. Esto implica, que no se requieren periodos de seguimiento, que no son prospectivos ni retrospectivos; características que permiten que sean más baratos y fáciles de realizar en relación a los estudios longitudinales. Por otro lado, al ser de carácter descriptivo sirven como insumo y evidencia preliminar para estudios de mayor complejidad metodológica, como estudios de cohortes. Sin embargo, tienen limitantes y sesgos que deben ser considerados por los investigadores. El objetivo de este manuscrito fue generar un documento de estudio para revisar características esenciales, fortalezas y debilidades; discutir cuestiones metodológicas de los ECT en ciencias de la salud; y proporcionar algunos ejemplos obtenidos de la literatura, para mejor comprensión del diseño.

SUMMARY: Cross-sectional studies (CSS) began European countries in the 1940s in. The CSSs correspond to observational-type investigations that allow studying the prevalence of disease, determining the association between variables and the development of an effect of interest, discovering the properties of a diagnostic test, and censusing populations, describing the characteristics of a population at a given time and place. This implies that follow-up periods are not required, and that they are neither prospective nor retrospective. These characteristics allow them to be cheaper and easier to perform in relation to longitudinal studies. On the other hand, being descriptive in nature, they serve as input and preliminary evidence for studies of greater methodological complexity, such as cohort studies. However, they have limitations and biases that must be considered by researchers. The aim of this manuscript was to generate a study document to review essential characteristics, strengths and weaknesses; discuss methodological issues of ECT in health sciences; and provide some examples obtained from the literature, for a better understanding of the design.

Statistical methods of unmeasured confounder control based on negative control theory / 中华流行病学杂志

Controlling unmeasured confounders in non-randomized controlled studies is challenging. Negative control theory is based on the theoretical concept that the test result of negative controls must be negative. Setting appropriate negative control incorporates the specificity of association into population studies for the identification and control of unmeasured confounders. This paper explains the principles to control unmeasured confounders using negative control theory from a statistical perspective. A detailed introduction of derived methods based on negative control theory is also introduced, including adjusted standardized mortality ratio method, calibrating P-value method, generalized difference-in-difference model and double negative control method. The reasonable application of those derived methods is also comprehensively summarized based on representative case studies. Negative control is an important statistical design to identify, revise and control unmeasured confounders and a valuable method for comparative effectiveness research based on real-world data.

Observation and evaluation of the application effect of a dynamic scoring method in the emergency department of primary hospital / 中华危重病急救医学

OBJECTIVE@#To establish a new emergency dynamic score (EDS) method based on modified early warning score (MEWS) combined with clinical symptoms, rapidly available examination results and bedside examination data in the emergency department, and to observe its applicability and feasibility in the clinical application of emergency department.@*METHODS@#A total of 500 patients admitted to the department of emergency of Xing'an County People's Hospital from July 2021 to April 2022 were selected as research objects. After admission, EDS and MEWS scores were performed first, and then acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) was performed retrospectively, and the prognosis of patients was followed up. The difference of short-term mortality in patients with different score segments of EDS, MEWS and APACHE II were compared. Receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was drawn to evaluate the prognostic value of various scoring methods in critically ill patients.@*RESULTS@#The mortality of patients in different score groups of each scoring method increased with the increase of the score value [The mortality of 0-1, 2-3, 4-5, 6-7 and ≥ 8 of MEWS were 1.9% (3/159), 2.9% (6/208), 12.4% (11/89), 29.0% (9/31) and 61.5% (8/13), respectively. The mortality of EDS stage 1 weighted MEWS score 0-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12 and ≥ 13 were 0 (0/49), 3.2% (8/247), 6.6% (10/152), 31.9% (15/47) and 80.0% (4/5), respectively. The mortality of EDS stage 2 clinical symptom score 0-4, 5-9, 10-14, 15-19, ≥ 20 were 0 (0/13), 0.4% (1/235), 3.6% (6/165), 26.2% (17/65), 59.1% (13/22), respectively. The mortality of EDS stage 3 rapid test data score 0-6, 7-12, 13-18, 19-24 and ≥ 25 were 0 (0/16), 0.6% (1/159), 4.6% (6/131), 13.7% (7/51) and 65.0% (13/20), respectively. The mortality of patients with APACHE II score 0-6, 7-12, 13-18, 19-24 and ≥ 25 were 1.9% (1/53), 0.4% (1/277), 4.6% (5/108), 34.2% (13/38) and 70.8% (17/24), respectively, all P < 0.01]. When the MEWS score was more than 4, the specificity was 87.0%, the sensitivity was 67.6%, and the maximum Youden index was 0.546, which was the best cut-off point. When the weighted MEWS score of EDS in the first stage was greater than 7, the specificity of predicting the prognosis of patients was 76.2%, the sensitivity was 70.3%, and the maximum Youden index was 0.465, which was the best cut-off point. When clinical symptom score of EDS in the second stage was more than 14, the specificity and sensitivity of predicting the prognosis of patients were 87.7% and 81.1%, respectively, and the maximum Youden index was 0.688, which was the best cut-off point. When the third stage rapid test of EDS reached 15 points, the specificity of predicting the prognosis of patients was 70.9%, and the sensitivity was 96.3%, and the maximum Youden index was 0.672, which was the best cut-off point. When APACHE II score was higher than 16, the specificity was 87.9%, the sensitivity was 86.5%, and the maximum Youden index was 0.743, which was the best cut-off point. ROC curve analysis showed that: EDS score in the stage 1, 2 and 3, MEWS score and APACHE II score can predict the short-term mortality risk of critically ill patients. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were 0.815 (0.726-0.905), 0.913 (0.867-0.959), 0.911 (0.860-0.962), 0.844 (0.755-0.933) and 0.910 (0.833-0.987), all P < 0.01. In terms of the differential ability to predict the risk of death in the short-term, the AUC in the second and third stages of EDS were highly close to APACHE II score (0.913, 0.911 vs. 0.910), and significantly higher than MEWS score (0.913, 0.911 vs. 0.844, both P < 0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#EDS method can dynamically evaluate emergency patients in stages, and has the characteristics of fast, simple, easy to obtain test and inspection data, which can facilitate emergency doctors to evaluate emergency patients objectively and quickly. It has strong ability to predict the prognosis of emergency patients, and is worth popularizing in emergency departments of primary hospitals.

Species identification of Ligustrum lucidum / 中国中药杂志

Ligustrum lucidum is a woody perennial plant of genus Ligustrum in family Oleaceae. Its dried fruit has high medicinal value. In this study, the authors evaluated the variability and species identification efficiency of three specific DAN barcodes(rbcL-accD, ycf1a, ycf1b) and four general DAN barcodes(matK, rbcL, trnH-psbA, ITS2) for a rapid and accurate molecular identification of Ligustrum species. The results revealed that matK, rbcL, trnH-psbA, ITS2 and ycf1a were inefficient for identifying the Ligustrum species, and a large number of insertions and deletions were observed in rbcL-accD sequence, which was thus unsuitable for development as specific barcode. The ycf1b-2 barcode had DNA barcoding gap and high success rate of PCR amplification and DNA sequencing, which was the most suitable DNA barcode for L. lucidum identification and achieved an accurate result. In addition, to optimize the DNA extraction experiment, the authors extracted and analyzed the DNA of the exocarp, mesocarp, endocarp and seed of L. lucidum fruit. It was found that seed was the most effective part for DNA extraction, where DNAs of high concentration and quality were obtained, meeting the needs of species identification. In this study, the experimental method for DNA extraction of L. lucidum was optimized, and the seed was determined as the optimal part for DNA extraction and ycf1b-2 was the specific DNA barcode for L. lucidum identification. This study laid a foundation for the market regulation of L. lucidum.

Overview of systematic reviews of Chinese herbal injections for sepsis / 中国中药杂志

In this study, an overview of systematic reviews/Meta-analysis(SR/MA) of Chinese herbal injections for sepsis was performed to provide references for clinical practice and promote the quality improvement of clinical evidence. Eight Chinese and English databases such as CNKI, Medline, and EMbase were electronically searched for SR/MA of Chinese herbal injections for sepsis from database inception to June 2022. AMSTAR 2, PRISMA 2020, and GRADE system, combined with Recommendations for Clinical Evidence Grading on Traditional Chinese Medicine Based on Evidence Body, were applied to evaluate the methodological quality, reporting quality, and evidence quality of the included articles. Twenty-seven articles of SR/MA were included, containing four Chinese herbal injections(Xuebijing Injection, Shenfu Injection, Shenmai Injection, and Shengmai Injection). AMSTAR 2 checklist showed that the methodological quality of the SR/MA ranged from moderate to very low. Item 2(prior study design) was the critical item with poor scores, and the non-critical items with poor scores were items 3(explain the selection of the study designs), items 10(report on the sources of funding), and items 16(conflicts of interest stated). In terms of PRISMA 2020, items in eight topics with complete reporting of missing>50%, including search strategy, certainty assessment, results of syntheses, certainty of evidence, registration and protocol, support, competing interests, availability of data, code and other materials. The included SR/MA involved 30 outcome indicators. Evidence quality of mortality, APACHE Ⅱ, and safety, the top three outcome indicators, was evaluated, and all of them were graded as the medium level. The lack of random allocation sequence, allocation concealment mechanism, blinding, and trial sample size was the main reason for the reduction of the evidence level. The available evidence shows that Chinese herbal injections can serve as an effective and safe adjunctive treatment for sepsis, which can reduce mortality, inhibit inflammation, improve coagulation function, and regulate immune function, tissue perfusion, and oxygenation in patients with sepsis. However, the quality of SR/MA was suboptimal, and more high-quality SR/MA is needed to provide evidence to support the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal injections in the treatment of sepsis.

Chinese Medicine as Supporting Therapy for Psoriasis: Past, Present, and Future / 中国结合医学杂志

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease and an important health concern. Western medicine and therapies are the main treatment strategies for psoriasis vulgaris (PV); however, the overall prognosis of patients with PV is still poor. Therefore, PV prevention is especially crucial. Chinese medicine (CM) has a long history of treating psoriasis, and it has unique wisdom in different cognitive angles and treatment modes from modern medicine. In this review, we first summarized the herbs and ancient CM formulas that have therapeutic effects on PV. Second, the research status and obstacles to the current development of CM in modern medicine were reviewed. Finally, the future of CM in the context of precision medicine and integrated medicine was discussed. After a detailed reading of the abundant literature, we believe that CM, through thousands of years of continuous development and clinical practice, has achieved high effectiveness and safety for PV treatment, despite its surrounding controversy. Moreover, precise analyses and systematic research methods have provided new approaches for the modernization of CM in the future. The treatment of PV with CM is worth popularizing, and we hope it can benefit more patients.

Discuss Application of Real-world Data from the Boao Lecheng Pilot Zone to Support Premarket Clinical Evaluation of Medical Device / 中国医疗器械杂志

The real-world data of Hainan Boao Lecheng International Tourism Pilot Zone has the advantage of supporting pre-market clinical evaluation of medical devices. Based on the relevant requirements of clinical evaluation of medical devices and based on the practical experience of pilot devices in the early stage, the application of Boao Lecheng real-world data in the pre-market clinical evaluation path of medical devices from the perspective of review is discussed. At the same time, the elements that should be considered in real-world study design and the way of data quality evaluation are proposed. Expect to provide a reference in order to allow registration applicants to use real world data wisely to help declare device registration for marketing.

Chemical reaction mechanism of decoction of traditional Chinese medicines: a review / 中国中药杂志

Complicated chemical reactions occur in the decoction of traditional Chinese medicines(TCMs) which features complex components, influencing the safety, efficacy, and quality controllability of TCMs. Therefore, it is particularly important to clarify the chemical reaction mechanism of TCMs in the decoction. This study summarized eight typical chemical reactions in the decoction of TCMs, such as substitution reaction, redox reaction, isomerization/stereoselective reaction, complexation, and supramolecular reaction. With the "toxicity attenuation and efficiency enhancement" of aconitines and other examples, this study reviewed the reactions in decoction of TCMs, which was expected to clarify the variation mechanisms of key chemical components in this process and to help guide medicine preparation and safe and rational use of medicine in clinical settings. The current main research methods for chemical reaction mechanisms of decoction of TCMs were also summed up and compared. The novel real-time analysis device of decoction system for TCMs was found to be efficient and simple without the pre-treatment of samples. This device provides a promising solution, which has great potential in quantity evaluation and control of TCMs. Moreover, it is expected to become a foundational and exemplary research tool, which can advance the research in this field.

Traditional Chinese medicine microbiomics and its research strategies / 中国中药杂志

The tight relationships between microbiome and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)have been widely recognized. New technologies, results, and theories are emerging in the field of microbiomics in recent years with the advances in high-throughput sequencing and multi-omics technologies. Based on the previous research, the present study has proposed the concept of TCM microbiomics(TCMM), which is an interdisciplinary subject aiming at elucidating the functions and applications of microbiome in the areas of herb resources, herb processing, herb storage, and clinical effects by using modern technology of biology, ecology, and informatics. This subject essentially contains the structures, functions, interactions, molecular mechanisms, and application strategies of the microbiome associated with the quality, safety, and efficacy of TCM. Firstly, the development of the TCMM concept was summarized, with the profound understanding of TCMM on the complexity and entirety of microbiome being emphasized. Then, the research contents and applications of TCMM in promoting the sustainable development of herb resources, improving the standardization and diversification of herb fermentation, strengthening the safety of herb storage, and resolving the scientific connotation of theories and clinical efficacy of TCM are reviewed. Finally, the research strategies and methods of TCM microbiomics were elaborated from basic research, application research, and system research. TCMM is expected to promote the integrative development of TCM with frontier science and technology, thereby expanding the depth and scope of TCM study and facilitating TCM modernization.

Substitution mode of rare and endangered Chinese medicinal materials and research strategy of multi-component replacement / 中国中药杂志

Rare and endangered Chinese medicinal materials are the material basis for innovation and development of Chinese medicinal materials and their curative effects are remarkable. However, the resources are in shortage due to various man-made or natural factors such as rising demand, overexploitation and environmental degradation. Therefore, finding alternatives is a feasible and effective solution. This study systematically sorted out the list of rare and endangered Chinese medicinal materials, and combed relevant policies and regulations. According to existing research, the substitution model of rare and endangered Chinese medicinal materials was constructed from the theoretical level. In view of the slow search for substitutes, the failure to follow the basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine in the process of research and development, the difficulty in breaking through technologies and the incomplete guarantee of the clinical efficacy of substitutes, a multi-component replacement was proposed to replace the originals with more effective components from a wide range of sources. This study was expected to promote the study on the substitutes of rare and endangered Chinese medicinal materials to step into a new stage.

Re-evaluation of systematic reviews of acupuncture and moxibustion for childhood autism / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To re-evaluate the systematic review/Meta-analysis of acupuncture and moxibustion for childhood autism (CA), aiming to provide decision-making basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment.@*METHODS@#The systematic review and/or Meta-analysis of acupuncture and moxibustion for CA were searched in PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, SinoMed, CNKI and Wanfang databases. The retrieval time was from the database establishment to May 5th, 2022. PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and Meta-analyses) was used to evaluate the report quality, and AMSTAR 2 (a measurement tool to assess systematic reviews 2) was used to evaluate the methodological quality, bubble map was used to construct the evidence map and GRADE was used to evaluate the quality of evidence.@*RESULTS@#A total of 9 systematic reviews were included. The PRISMA scores ranged from 13 to 26. The report quality was low, and there was a serious lack in the aspects of program and registration, search, other analysis and funding. The main problems in methodology included not making prespecified protocol, incomplete retrieval strategy, not providing a list of excluded literatures, and incomplete explanation on heterogeneity analysis and bias risk. The evidence map showed that 6 conclusions were valid, 2 conclusions were possible valid and 1 conclusion was uncertain valid. The overall quality of evidence was low, and the main factors leading to the downgrade were limitations, followed by inconsistency, imprecision and publication bias.@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture and moxibustion has a certain effect for CA, but the quality of reporting, methodology and evidence in included literature need to be improved. It is suggested to perform high-quality and standardized research in the future to provide evidence-based basis.

Improving acupuncture research: progress, guidance, and future directions / 中国针灸

This paper makes an interpretation of the collection Acupuncture: how to improve the evidence base published by BMJ & BMJ Open. Studies show that the quality of randomized controlled trial (RCT) of acupuncture is low, and multivariable Meta-regression analysis fails to confirm most factors commonly believed to influence the effect of acupuncture. The methodological challenges in design and conduct of RCT in acupuncture were analyzed, and a consensus on how to design high-quality acupuncture RCT was developed. The number of acupuncture systematic reviews was huge but the evidence was underused in clinical practice and health policy, and a large number of western clinical practice guidelines recommended acupuncture therapy, but the usefulness of recommendations needed to be improved. In view of the problems in clinical research on acupuncture mentioned in this collection, combined with the analysis of the purpose of clinical research on acupuncture, perspectives, study types, as well as the relationship between evidence and clinical decision-making, a five-stage study paradigm of clinical research on acupuncture is proposed.

Assessing the impact of educational methods on influenza vaccine uptake and patient knowledge and attitudes: a randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION@#Although influenza vaccination reduces rates of pneumonia, hospitalisation and mortality, influenza vaccination uptake remains low in older patients. The primary aim was to compare individualised counselling with educational pamphlets alone in improving influenza vaccination uptake. The secondary aims were to evaluate knowledge and attitudes towards influenza vaccination and factors influencing uptake.@*METHODS@#A randomised controlled study was conducted in two government polyclinics with 160 participants per arm. Patients aged 65 years and above attending for doctor consultation were recruited. All participants received an educational pamphlet on influenza vaccination. The intervention group received additional face-to-face counselling. Participants filled a pre- and postintervention questionnaire assessing knowledge of influenza and attitudes towards the vaccine. Follow-up calls and verification of electronic records was done at three months to determine actual vaccine uptake.@*RESULTS@#At three months, 16 (10%) patients in the intervention group and 20 (12.5%) patients in the control group had completed influenza vaccination (P = 0.48). Factors positively associated with vaccine uptake were willingness to receive vaccination immediately after intervention (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 12.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.42-33.38), and male gender (adjusted OR 2.96, 95% CI 1.23-7.12). Individualised counselling was more effective in improving knowledge (P < 0.01). Overall knowledge scores did not influence actual vaccine uptake rates. (adjusted OR 1.10 [0.90-1.3]).@*CONCLUSION@#Both arms of patient education increased uptake of influenza vaccination. Individualised counselling was not superior to pamphlets alone in improving uptake. Performing vaccination at the initial point of contact improves actual uptake rates.

Comunicación científica para la formación de profesionales de la salud / Scientific communication for the training of health professionals

Introducción: La comunicación científica resulta relevante para la formación de profesionales de la salud, quienes apoyan su ejercicio en la sistemática investigación en sus respectivas áreas y requieren incorporar destrezas para la investigación durante los años de formación, desarrollarlas y mantenerlas una vez graduados, y junto a ello, ser capaces de comunicar sus resultados investigativos a colegas y comunidad en general. Objetivo: Evaluar los resultados de una estrategia de comunicación para la socialización de los resultados investigativos de profesores e investigadores de la Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de la UCSG, entre 2018 y 2019. Métodos: Se aplicó el método de estudio de caso, con enfoque metodológico mixto, aplicación de encuesta a muestra probabilística y entrevista en profundidad a muestra intencional. Resultados: Se incrementó el nivel de conocimiento sobre resultados investigativos de la universidad estudiada, así como el nivel de audiencia del programa de divulgación científica en convergencia de medios. Se constató además, la necesidad del uso de redes sociales como Instagram, Facebook y Twitter para poder llegar a otro tipo de público y generar ese interés de conocimiento en la sociedad en áreas tan importantes como la salud. Conclusiones: La Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de la Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil genera resultados investigativos constantes, es necesario comunicarlos, a fin de contribuir a la democratización de la ciencia mediante espacios divulgativos abiertos al público en general, potenciando así los proyectos en el área de la salud, y las respuestas a las necesidades que la sociedad demanda(AU)

Introduction: Scientific communication is very relevant for the training of health professionals, who support their exercise in systematic research in their respective areas and need to incorporate research skills during the training years, develop and maintain them once they graduate, and together with Therefore, be able to communicate their research results to colleagues and the community in general. Objetive: To evaluate the results of an integrated communication strategy of traditional and digital media for the socialization of the research results of professors and researchers of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the UCSG, between 2018 and 2019. Methods: The case study method was applied, with a mixed methodological approach, with the application of a survey to a probabilistic sample and an in-depth interview to an intentional sample. Results: The level of knowledge about the research results of the studied university increased, as well as the level of audience of the I-100 program, analyzed. It was also verified the need to use social networks such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter in order to reach other types of audiences and generate interest in knowledge in society in areas as important as health. Conclusions: The Faculty of Medical Sciences of the Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil generates constant research results, it is necessary to communicate them, in order to contribute to the democratization of science through informative spaces open to the general public, thus promoting projects in the area of health, and the answers to the needs that society demands(AU)

Formación investigativa en profesionales de ciencias médicas y especialidades afines en vínculo docencia-investigación-sociedad / Research training for professionals in medical sciences and related specialties in the teaching-research-society link

Fundamento: la formación investigativa es fundamental en el proceso enseñanza aprendizaje. Tiene como finalidad generar científicos que respondan a las necesidades sociales del siglo XXI. Objetivo: caracterizar la formación investigativa en profesionales de las ciencias médicas y especialidades afines incorporados a proyectos sobre la temática diabetes y embarazo en la línea de investigación "Estudios en biomodelos experimentales de enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles" y en estrecho vínculo docencia-universidad-sociedad. Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal del proceso de formación investigativa de los estudiantes de pregrado y posgrado vinculados a proyectos sobre diabetes y embarazo, desde la Unidad de Investigaciones Biomédicas de la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Villa Clara, en el periodo comprendido entre los años 2012 y 2022. Se emplearon métodos del nivel teórico y empírico. La información resultante del análisis documental se procesó cualitativamente y se presentó como explicación descriptiva. Resultados: a través de la incorporación de 16 estudiantes de pregrado y posgrado a nueve proyectos de investigación, se estableció un equipo de trabajo con una adecuada pirámide investigativa. Los resultados científicos generaron dos trabajos de diploma, 10 tesis de especialidades médicas, dos maestrías y dos doctorados que fueron difundidos en 14 revistas arbitradas. Se desarrollaron competencias y valores durante el proceso de formación investigativa. Conclusiones: la formación investigativa del equipo de investigación sobre diabetes y embarazo se caracterizó por la integración de sus miembros a proyectos, obtención y divulgación de resultados científicos, y formación de competencias y valores que han permitido consolidar la relación docencia-investigación-sociedad.

Background: research training is essential in the teaching-learning process. Its purpose is to generate scientists who respond to the social needs of the 21st century. Objective: to characterize the research training of professionals in the medical sciences and related specialties incorporated into projects on the subject of diabetes and pregnancy in the research line "Studies in experimental bio-models of chronic non-transmissible diseases" and in a close relationship among teaching-university-society. Methods: a cross-sectional descriptive study of the research training process of undergraduate and postgraduate students linked to projects on diabetes and pregnancy was carried out, from the Biomedical Research Unit of Villa Clara University of Medical Sciences, from 2012 to 2022. Methods of the theoretical and empirical level were used. The information resulting from the documentary analysis was qualitatively processed and presented as a descriptive explanation. Results: through the incorporation of 16 undergraduate and graduate students to nine research projects, a working team was established with an adequate research pyramid. The scientific results generated two diploma papers, 10 medical specialty theses, two master's degrees, and two doctorates that were published in 14 peer-reviewed journals. Competences and values were developed during the investigative training process. Conclusions: the investigative training of the research team on diabetes and pregnancy was characterized by the integration of its members into projects, the obtaining and dissemination of scientific results, and the formation of skills and values that have allowed the consolidation of the teaching-research-society relationship.