Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine最新文献

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of Tongxinluo superfine powder on cardiac function, infarct size and the number of myocardial capillaries in a rabbit model of acute myocardial infarction.

METHODS

A total of 32 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: sham operation group, model group, treatment group, and pre-treatment, the experiment of pre-treatment group was performed 6 weeks early than the treat) group, The four groups use a unified modeling technique. An acute myocardial infarction model was established through external application of 70% ferric chloride on the coronary artery. After 7 d, electrocardiogram, ultrasonography of cardiac function, micro-computed tomography, pathology and other data were collected.

RESULTS

In the treatment and pre-treatment groups, ejection fraction, left ventricular short axis shortening rate, left ventricular end-systolic diameter and cardiac output significantly improved, the number of capillaries significantly increased, and infarct size significantly decreased. In addition, the results suggest that the value of intra-ventricular pressure and the situation of electrocardiogram also changed to different degrees with the increasing of treatment of cycle.

CONCLUSION

Tongxinluo superfine powder can protect the myocardium, improve the blood supply of the myocardium and reduce the degree of myocardial injury, during acute stage of myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of Banxia Xiexin decoction (BXD) on Helicobacter pylori (Hp)-related peptic ulcers (PUs) and the possible mechanism underlying BXD actions via the transforming growth factor-β/small mothers against decapentaplegic (TGF-β/Smad) signaling pathway.

METHODS

PU patients with cold-heat complex syndrome were randomly assigned to groups that received Chinese or Western medicines with 20 patients in each group. Serum was collected after 7 d of treatment. The healthy group included 20 individuals. Gastric mucosal epithelial cell line GES-1 was cultured in vitro and randomly divided into the following seven groups: control, model, healthy, Western Medicine, prior treatment, low dosage, and high dosage. After 72 h of treatment with the corresponding serum, the mRNA and protein expression levels of TGF-β1, Smad3, and Smad7 were measured by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively.

RESULTS

The mRNA expression levels of TGF-β1 and Smad3 in GES-1 cells were increased after Hp introduction, and these increased levels were reduced by the BXD-containing serum. The protein levels of p-Smad3, but not TGF-β1 or Smad3, were significantly increased in Hp-treated GES-1 cells, and treatment with the BXD-containing serum markedly decreased the protein levels. Smad7 expression was significantly enhanced following treatment with the BXD-containing serum at transcriptional and protein levels in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSION

BXD regulates the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway by inhibiting the expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3, and increasing the expression of Smad7.

OBJECTIVE

To critically appraise the methodological quality of clinical practice guidelines for headache produced over the last two decades, including those covering specific interventions using Traditional Chinese Medicine.

METHODS

The guidelines on headache disorders were obtained by searching a number of databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and Wanfang database, three guideline-related databases [Guideline-International Network, National Guideline Clearinghouse, and Medlive], and the records of organizations that develop guidelines. The publication date was limited to the period from January 1996 to June 2015. The search terms “headache”, “headache disorders”, “cephalalgia”, “migraine”, “tension-type headache”, “practice guideline”, “consensus “, “statement”, “regulation”, and “recommendation” were used in the “MeSH” and “Free-text” fields. The guidelines were independently appraised by four researchers using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II instrument.

RESULTS

A total of 23 guidelines published between 1998 and 2014 were reviewed. The overall consistency of the four appraisers was good [interclass correlation coefficient 0.84; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.82–0.86]. The mean (standard deviation) scores for scope and purpose, stakeholder involvement, rigor of development, clarity of presentation, applicability, and editorial independence were 52.1 (18.0), 39.5 (17.1), 33.4 (21.0), 49.8 (21.9), 23.8 (19.3), and 24.2 (23.7). Only two guidelines were recommended, 12 were recommended with modification, and nine were not recommended.

CONCLUSION

Physical Traditional Chinese Medicine therapies were recommended to treat headache. The overall quality of headache guidelines was low in China, but evidence-based guidelines are gradually becoming mainstream. Guideline developers should carefully consider, in particular, three domains: rigor of development, applicability, and editorial independence.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of heat stimulation via scar-producing moxibustion at the acupoints Zusanli (ST 36) and Feishu (BL 13) on the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and quality of life in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

Seventy patients with NSCLC were randomly assigned into two groups: group A received scar-producing moxibustion at the acupoints Zusanli (ST 36) and Feishu (BL 13) every day for 6 weeks, while group B received no intervention (control group). Outcome measures were the NLR and the scores from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30). The NLR and the EORTC QLQ-C30 were assessed at baseline and at the end of 6 weeks.

RESULTS

Five participants dropped out, leaving a final total of 65 participants who completed the trial. Groups A and B had a similar mean NLR at baseline. After the treatment course, the NLR in group A was significantly lower than that in group B (P < 0.001). Compared with group B, the EORTC QLQ-C30 scores in group A were significantly greater in terms of global health status or quality of life (P < 0.001) and function (P < 0.05), and significantly lower in terms of symptoms (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The present study suggests that performing scar-producing moxibustion by heat-stimulating the acupoints Zusanli (ST 36) and Feishu (BL 13) effectively decreases the NLR and improves the quality of life in patients with NSCLC.

OBJECTIVE

To undertake a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare the effectiveness among the different regimens of Salvia miltiorrhiza injection classes (SMICs) for unstable angina pectoris (UAP) treatment.

METHODS

A systematic retrieval was conducted in several literature databases to identify randomized controlled trials focusing on the different regimens of SMICs for UAP treatment until January 2016. The quality assessment was accomplished according to the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Pair-wise meta-analyses were carried out by RevMan 5.3. A random-effects model of NMA was used to compare the different regimens of SMICs with regard to efficacy by STATA 13.0.

RESULTS

A total of 111 studies involving 10 500 patients were included in the NMA. The methodological quality of included studies was not high. Current evidence shows that salvianolate (SI) is the optimal treatment for UAP in improving the total efficacy against UAP. Guanxingning (GXN) is the optimal treatment for UAP for improving the total effectiveness of electrocardiography.

CONCLUSION

SMICs have advantages in preventing cardiovascular events. GXN, SI, and Danhong had the greatest probability of being the best treatment in the total efficacy against UAP and for improving the total effectiveness of electrocardiography.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether patients with post-stroke hemiplegia could benefit from long-term treatment with scalp cluster (SC) acupuncture combined with electrical stimulation (ES) and to evaluate the feasibility of this treatment to improve motor and living abilities.

METHODS

Twenty patients were enrolled and divided into two groups: SC acupuncture and SC acupuncture with ES (SC and SC + ES, respectively). All participants also received rehabilitation training. All participants were blindly evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer assessment scale for motor ability, the modified Barthel Index for living ability, and a scale for the degree of neurological deficits. Outcome was assessed at three points before randomized grouping, at the beginning or treatment, and after 4 weeks of treatment.

RESULTS

Following 4 weeks treatment, all the patients exhibited significant improvements in aspects of motor ability, living ability, and the severity of neurological deficits. The experimental group (SC + ES) scored higher on the Fugl-Meyer assessment scale (68 ± 12) and the modified Barthel Index (49 ± 9) than the control (SC) group (50 ± 13, 36 ± 13, respectively).

CONCLUSION

When patients with post-stroke hemiplegia are treated using SC acupuncture with ES, motor and living ability can improve more than if they were treated with SC acupuncture alone.

OBJECTIVE

To systematically evaluate the effect of conventional medical treatment plus Qigong exercise on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Chinese patients.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Medline, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, Wanfang and China Science and Technology Journal Database until on January 2017. In this Meta-analysis, enrolled were the studies, including experimental group (with conventional medical treatment plus Qigong therapy) and control group (with conventional medical treatment plus diet control or other exercises). Then, the standardized mean differences (SMDs) of fasting blood-glucose (FBG), 2-hplasmaglucose (2hPG), hemoglobinAlc (HbAlc), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL), as well as their 95% confidence interval (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the effect of Qigong on patients with T2DM by RevMan 5.2 and Stata 11.0 software.

RESULTS

Totally 834 cases of T2DM from 11 studies were included in this review. The pooled SMDs with its 95% CIs of FBG, 2hPG, HbAlc, TG, TC, HDL and LDL were – 0.70 (– 0.93, – 0.47), – 0.66 (– 1.11, – 0.21), – 0.73 (– 0.96, – 0.50), – 1.05 (– 1.67, – 0.43), – 0.42 (– 1.12, 0.28), 0.69 (0.19, 1.19), and – 0.26 (– 0.69, 0.18), respectively. The pooled data showed significantly difference between Qigong and the levels of FBG, 2hPG, HbA1c, TG, and HDL in patients with T2DM (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Combining with conventional medical treatment, Qigong exercise might have significant effect on T2DM in Chinese patients.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the involvement of growth arrest specific 5 (GAS5), a long non-coding RNA, in the anti-hepatic fibrosis process induced by Dahuang Zhechong pill (DHZCP) in rats.

METHODS

Thirty adult rats were divided into three groups, including a control group, a CCl₄-induced fibrosis group and a DHZCP-treated fibrosis group. Hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining were used for histopathological study. Serum enzymes, cytokines and cell proliferation were assayed using commercially available kits. A GAS5 lenti-virus vector was constructed to further investigate the role of GAS5 in the anti-hepatic fibrosis effect of DHZCP in rats.

RESULTS

Our results revealed that the proliferation of hepatic stellate cells cultured in serum derived from rats treated with DHZCP was significantly decreased, compared with cells treated with serum from the untreated rats. DHZCP alleviated the CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis. Additionally, DHZCP can restore the expression of GAS5, which was significantly decreased in the CCl₄-induced group, and markedly suppress the expression of p-p38 and p-Erk induced by CCl_4, but not p-Jnk. Cell proliferation was significantly arrested when cells overexpressed GAS5. Thus, DHZCP can inhibit the expression of p-p38 and p-Erk, while GAS5 can only inhibit the expression of p-Erk.

CONCLUSIONS

DHZCP can alleviate hepatic fibrosis by increasing the expression of GAS5 to suppress p-Erk and regulating other factors to inhibit p-p38.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate changes in gene expression profiles in the hypothalamus related to the effects of acupuncture at the Renying (ST 9) acupoint in spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats.

METHODS

We randomly divided 18 SH rats into Renying (ST 9) group and model control group, 9 body weight-matched Wistar-Kyoto rats were used as blank controls. Acupuncture was performed manually for 20-min daily over 28 d in the Renying (ST 9) group. Rat Gene 2.0 array technology was used for the determination of gene expression profiles and the screened key genes were verified by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses.

RESULTS

The different groups exhibited differential gene expression: compared with the blank control group, 48 genes were up-regulated and 91 genes were down-regulated in the model group; compared with the model group, 79 genes were up-regulated and 80 genes were down-regulated in Renying (ST 9) group. The RT-PCR results of the key genes including Chi3l1, Ephx2, Klk1, 5-HT1A and Cbs were consistent with that of gene chip analysis.

CONCLUTION

Acupuncture at Renying (ST 9) could significantly lower the blood pressure of SH rats and affect their hypothalamic gene expression profile. Genes associated with the contraction of vascular smooth muscle and the regulation of inflammation, neurotransmitters may be involved in acupuncture's antihypertensive mechanism.

De Qi refers to a series of sensations experienced when acupuncture is performed at acupoints. De Qi comprises needling sensations felt by the patient, and the sensations perceived by the acupuncturist. Classical Traditional Chinese Medicine theory states that De Qi is closely related to curative effect. In modern studies, the main index that researchers have used to evaluate De Qi was the needling sensation reported by the patient. Between 1st Aug and 31st Oct 2014, we conducted an electronic database search of all fields in Chinese and English to select literature assessing acupuncture needle sensations. We then reviewed the methods used within these studies to evaluate De Qi. The methods included simple evaluation, and the use of a De Qi scale/questionnaire. The simple evaluation, a qualitative evaluation, was judged by typical sensations felt by the patient after needling at acupoints, such as soreness, numbness, fullness, and heaviness. This method was easy and practicable, and had been adopted widely by Chinese researchers. In contrast, the De Qi scale/questionnaire, a quantitative evaluation, had multiple compiling methods available for evaluating the intensity of De Qi. The standardization and objectification of the De Qi scale/questionnaire effectively improved the quality of studies on De Qi, thereby these scales/questionnaires have been acknowledged and applied by most researchers. The present review analyzed and compared the scales/questionnaires used to evaluate De Qi; furthermore, we provided suggestions for the development and improvement of these questionnaires through integration with classical De Qi theory.