Abstract:Objective: To explore the possibility of reverting HBV-related hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).Methods: A herbal recipe (861), comprising of 10 herbs includingSalvia miltiorrhiza, Astragalus membranaceus andSpatholobus saberectus were used as the antifibrotic agents. Three controlled clinical trials of treating HBV-related fibrosis and early cirrhosis were carried out. A total of 107 patients were assessed clinically and pathologically with double liver biopsies before and after treatment by means of modified Scheuer and Chevallier scoring system. Rat model of hepatic fibrosis induced by CC14 and human albumin immune injury, culture of separated hepatic stellate cells (HSC) were established. Total collagen content of the liver was determined by detection of hydroxyproline, amount of type I, III, IV collagens by histoimmunochemistry, quantitative measurement of mRNA for collagen I, III, IV, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-(3), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP1), MMP2, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) in liver tissue by dot blot hybridization. Serum and liver tissue collagenase activity was detected by method of Rajabi M and Emonard H. Histopathological study of liver specimen was done with H. E., Masson and sirius red stain as well as histoimmunochemistry.Results: (1) In HBV-related patients, after six months treatment with 861, the reversion rate was as high as 78% in S2, 82% in S3 (precirrhotic stage) and 75% in S4 (cirrhosis). These results correspond well with that obtained in animal experiment. (2) Total and type I, III, V collagen content in animal model liver were significantly reduced in amount after 861 treatment, whereas quantitation of mRNA for collagen I, III, V and TGF-β were also markedly suppressed either in liver tissue or cultured HSC, suggesting the suppression by 861 on fibrogenesis. At the same time, serum and liver tissue collagenase activity (latent and active) were enhanced significantly by administration of 861, while mRNA for MMP1 (interstitial collagenase) in cultured HSC and collagenase activity in the supernatant of the HSC culture were both increased, and meantime, mRNA for TIMP1 was significantly suppressed in quantity, indicating the enhancement of excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation after 861 treatment.Conclusions: (1) Contrary to the conventional concept, the liver fibrosis and early cirrhosis due to HBV infection in man could be definitely reversed by TCM treatment of 861. This was also verified in CCI4 and immune injury models. (2) The mechanism leading to the reversal of fibrosis was due to suppression of fibrogenesis, and the concurrent enhancement of ECM degradation. In the latter, suppression of TIMP also plays an important role. (3) Both initiation by imflammation and perpetuation of the activation of HSC were suppressed by the 861.  
Keywords:Liver Fibrosis;liver cirrhosis;reversal treatment;Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment
Abstract:Objective: Exploring the relationship between Liver-Blood Stasis (LBS) and liver fibrosis (LF) to lay a theoretical foundation of rational using traditional Chinese medicine against LF.Methods: Human procollagen peptide III (hPIIIP), hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin in the sera of 35 patients with hepatopathy and blood stasis syndrome (HP-BS) and 35 patients with hepatopathy and non-blood stasis syndrome (HP-NBS) were measured by radioimmunoassay. Thirty healthy subjects were taken as control. Correlation analysis between the degrees of LBS and those of the serum indexes of LF was made.Results: (1)hPIII P, HA, laminin in the sera of the patients with HP-BS were markedly higher than those in the sera of the patients with HP-NBS, but the latter were markedly higher than healthy subjects. (2) Degrees of LBS correlated closely with those of LF. (3) Xuefu Zhuyu
Decoction not only might improve the degrees of LBS but also decline the serum LF indexes. Nevertheless, the curative effects in early period of taking the herbs only showed serum HA dropped.Conclusions: The nature of LF in traditional Chinese medicine is mainly LBS, the degrees of which might reflect those of LF to a certain extent. Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction showed effective in reducing serum LF indexes but it needs at least 2 months.  
Abstract:Objective: To find the effective method of curing liver fibrosis of hepatitis B.Methods: Using interferon-α1 (IFN-α1) and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparation to treat the patients with liver fibrosis of hepatitis B and observe the changes of indexes including levels of laminin, precollagen type III, hyaluronic acid, liver puncture, ultrasonography and fibergastroscopy before and after treatment.Results: After 3 months treatment, the indexes were lower than those before treatment. There was a significant difference (P < 0.01). Liver biopsy, ultrasonography and fiber-gastroscopy proved that the liver fibrosis was improved. After 6 months the indexes of the hepatofibrosis, blood albumin and globulin levels showed that the differences between the IFN-effective group and the IFN-ineffective group was significant (P < 0.001).Conclusion: Beneficial effect might be obtained by using IFN-cq to suppress the replication of hepatitis B virus and TCM preparation to treat liver fibrosis.  
Keywords:hepatitis B;hepatofibrosis;interferon;Chinese medical preparation;liver biopsy;laminin
Abstract:Objective: To assess the efficacy of Yanggan Aoping Mixture (
, YGAPM) in treating hepatitis B.Methods: Patients suffered from chronic hepatitis B were treated with YGAPM. Observe their short- and long-term efficacy and the change of serum hepatitis B virus marker. In experiment, the effects of YGAPM in treating rat’s liver injury as well as HBV-infected tree shrew and duck HBV-infected ducks were observed.Results: In 79 cases of chronic persistent hepatitis, the markedly effective rate was 60.76%, and further raised to 70.00% in follow-up study in 40 cases. In 73 cases of chronic active hepatitis, the markedly effective rate was 60.27%, and further raised to 62.50% in 32 follow-up cases. In the treatment group, 85 of the 119 cases (71.43%) with HBeAg-positive were converted to negative. Whereas in the control group, only 40 of 89 HBeAg-positive cases (44. 94%) were converted to negative,P < 0. 01. Results of experimental study showed that negative conversion rate of tree shrew infected with HBV marker was raised, while the duck HBV DNA in infected duck blood was inhibited. Those compared with the control group separately, the difference was markedly significant.Conclusion: YGAPM is an effective drug in treating chronic hepatitis B, and it could effectively convert the marker to negative.  
Keywords:chronic hepatitis B;Yanggan Aoping Mixture;hepatitis B virus infected tree shrew;duck hepatitis B virus infected duck
Abstract:Objective: To explore the mechanism of Zhiganle capsule (
, ZGLC) in treating fatty liver of Phlegm-Dampness Stagnation type. Methods: One hundred and forty-six patients were treated with ZGLC, the effects were observed and compared with those treated with Dongbao Gantai(DBGT,
) tablets as control. The effect of ZGLC on ethionine induced hyperlipemia model rats was also observed. Results: The effect of ZGLC was obviously better than those of DBGT in relieving or removing symptoms, normalizing the ultrasonic abnormal findings, lowering the serum levels of lipid and enzyme and improving hemorrheologic functions. Experimental study showed that ZGLC could reduce the blood lipids, inhibit the lipid deposition in liver. As compared with the model group, level of triglyceride in the ZGLC treatment group were much lowered (P < 0.01) and the effect was better than those in the control group. Conclusions: ZGLC has the effect of reducing blood triglyceride level, inhibiting lipid deposition in liver and improving hemorrheologic function.  
Keywords:Zhiganle capsule;Phlegm-Dampness Stagnation;animal model of fatty liver
Abstract:Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of oxymatrine in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C and to discuss its mechanism.Methods: Forty-three patients with chronic HCV infection were randomly divided into the treated group (20 cases) and the control group (23 cases). The treated group was given oxymatrine 600 mg per day intramuscularly for three months, and the control group was given the general liver protective agents such as vitamins. Serum HCV-RNA, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), soluble interleukin-2 receptor and collagen type IV (IV-C) were determined before and after treatment.Results: Eight out of 17 HCV-RNA-positive (47.1%) in the treated group converted to HCV-RNA-negative cases, while in 18 cases of the control group, the negative convertion only took place in 1 patient (5.6%), the negative conversion rate was significantly higher in the treated group than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The normalization rates of serum ALT of the treated group at the end of the first and second month treatment were higher than those of the control group, but after three months treatment, the normalization rates of the two groups were not different significantly. Both serum levels of IV-C and plasma levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor were significantly reduced after oxymatrine treatment for three months (P < 0.05).Conclusion: Oxymatrine is effective on eliminating HCV-RNA and reducing fibrosis activity, so it could be a safe, effective drug in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.  
Keywords:Oxymatrine;hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid;soluble interleukin-2 receptor;collagen type III
Abstract:Objective: To observe the effects of Yunqi decoction (
, YQD) on both esophageal mucosal morphology and esophageal motility in patients with reflux esophagitis (RE).Methods: According to syndrome differentiation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), 42 RE patients were divided into three groups: disharmony of Liver and Stomach (group D), Deficiency-Cold of Spleen and Stomach (Group DC), Heat Syndrome caused by stagnation of Liver Qi (Group H). No. I, II, III of YQD were taken respectively for 4 weeks. Before and after treatment scores of typical symptoms were collected, gastroscopy was performed and esophageal motility were measured.Results: (1) The symptom remission rate was 81.1%, there were significant differences between the group DC with group D and group H(P < 0.01). (2) The esophageal mucosal healing rate was 61.9%, the effective rate was 90.5%, and the ineffective rate was 9.5%. There were not significant differences of effective rate among the three groups (P>0.05). (3) The changes of esophageal motility: Lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) and average peristaltic pressure (APP) of group D were obviously higher than before treatment (P < 0.05), LESP, gastro-esophageal barrier pressure (GEBP) and peristaltic conduct speed (PCS) of group DC were remarkably higher (P < 0.05). GEBP of group H was improved (P < 0.05). Conclusions: YQD has a good therapeutic effect. It’s not only resolving reflux esophageal symptoms, healing esophageal mucosa, but also improving esophageal motile function.  
Keywords:reflux esophagitis;esophageal motility;Yunqi decoction;Syndrome Differentiation in traditional Chinese medicine
Abstract:Objective: To observe the effect of Sanhuang Jiangtang recipe (
, SHJT) on insulin peripheral resistance in Type II diabetes mellitus (DM).Methods: Ninety-five patients with type II DM were randomly divided into two groups. Fifty-three cases of SHJT group were given decoction and tablets of SHJT orally for 4–6 months. The efficacy was compared with that of 42 cases treated with Glipizide as the control. Before and after treatment standard steamed bread meal test was performed to measure the insulin peripheral sensitivity, insulin release to glucose and insulin sensitivity index.Results: (1) The total effective rates of improving insulin peripheral resistance and reducing blood sugar in SHJT group were 79. 2% and 80.1 %, which was equivalent to levels in the control group, but SHJT recipe was more effective in relieving symptoms of Qi deficiency and signs of blood stasis. (2) In SHJT group, the insulin peripheral sensitivity and insulin sensitivity index were significantly increased (P < 0.05 and 0.01), meanwhile the fasting blood sugar and blood sugar area were reduced (P < 0.05), but the change of insulin release to glucose was blunted. (3)The lowering of blood sugar in SHJT group was significantly negative correlated with the changing of degree of insulin peripheral sensitivity and index of insulin sensitivity (P < 0.01 and 0.05), but not with that of insulin area.Conclusion: It suggested that the treatment of SHJT recipe might decrease insulin peripheral resistance (partial reversal) by means of reducing hyperinsulinemia and improving insulin sensitivity.  
Keywords:type II diabetes mellitus;Sanhuang Jiangtang recipe;insulin resistance;insulin peripheral sensitivity;insulin release
Abstract:Objective: To explore the therapeutic effect of single-dose methotrexate (MTX) with Chinese medicinal herbs in the treatment of ectopic pregnancy(EP).Methods: Eighty-five patients with unruptured and ruptured EP were prospectively treated with an intramuscular injection of MTX (50 mg/m2) without citrovorum factor rescue to destroy embryo and villi, meanwhile, EP 1 decoction was given orally, in the case of ruptured EP with active internal hemorrhage resulted from EP mass rupture, or EP 2 decoction was given orally, in the case of unruptured EP and ruptured EP without active internal hemorrhage resulted from EP mass rhexis and blood in the peritoneal cavity has already formed hematomas. The serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) (3-subunit were monitored regularly until they were undetectable. Serial B-ultrasound examinations were followed up by observing the gestational sac, fetal cardiac activity, EP mass absorption, etc. Of those who has the desire of being pregnant, after all EP mass disappeared, hysterosalpingogram may be performed.Results: The total of 81 cases (95.3%) were successfully treated without surgical operation, 4 cases (4.7%) required surgical management of EP. The mean serum hCG β-subunit clearance time was 18.7 β 7.2 days. Total disappearance of EP mass assessed by transvaginal ultrasonography, was 1.2 β 0.7 months. Hysterosalpingograms done on 20 patients of attempting pregnancy subsequently demonstrated tubal patency in 90.0% (18 cases) on the affected side. To date, 15 intrauterine pregnancies have occurred in this group, none of the patients were recurrent EP.Conclusions: EP were treated with integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine, it may expand the EP indication treated with MTX alone, elevate cure rate and obtain ideal efficacy without surgical intervention.  
Abstract:Objective: To compare the effects of Radix Astragalus (RA) on vascular endothelial cells in Binswanger’s disease (BD) patients with Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae (RSM).Methods: There were 37 patients with BD in the treated group and 37 healthy subjects in the control group. Thirty-seven patients were further randomly subdivided into two groups: RA group (19 patients) and RSM group (18 patients). Circulating endothelial cells (CEC) and the levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1), nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the blood of internal jugular vein which were examined before and after treatments.Results: When compared with those of the control group, CEC counts, ET-1 and MDA levels in plasma increased significantly, meanwhile serum NO concentration decreased significantly in the treated group. When compared with those of pretreatment, CEC counts, ET-1 and MDA decreased significantly and serum NO concentration increased significantly after treatment in RA group. There were no significant changes of these indices in RSM group after treatment.Conclusions: There are damage and dysfunction of vascular endothelial cells in patients with BD. RA injection is an effective drug to protect vascular endothelial cells of BD patients.  
Abstract:Objective: To explore the effect of total saponins of Ginseng leaves(GS) on the functions of neutrophil and lymphocyte in the aged rats of 20 months.Methods: Three groups of aged rats were injected intraperiton-eally with doses of 12.5 mg/kg, 25 kg/mg and 50 mg/kg of GS once daily for 3 days, the declined immunity of spleen lymphocytes (proliferation of spleen lymphocyte, phagocytosis), superoxide anion and nitric oxide formation were studied and were compared with those of young rats (2 months).Results: The declined immunity of spleen lymphocytes were improved dose-dependently after GS injected.Conclusion: The results indicate that GS may enhance neutrophil and lymphocyte mediated non-specific and specific defense function in aged rats.  
Abstract:Objective: To investigate the effect of supplemented Taohe Chengqi Decoction (
, STHCQD) in treating non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).Methods: The model of rats with NIDDM was formed with injection of streptozotocin and fed on high calorie diet to study the effects of STHCQD on the release of insulin sensitivity.Results: (1) Fasting serum glucose, serum insulin, intake of food and water were significantly decreased (P < 0.05- 0.01) in STHCQD-treated diabetic rats as compared with untreated diabetic rats, while the insulin sensitivity was significantly increased (P < 0.05). (2) The liver cell membranes from STHCQD-treated diabetic rats released the quantity of insulin receptor which inhibited adenylate cyclase activity, but this effect was blunted in untreated diabetic rats (P < 0.05). (3) A significantly increased glucose oxidation in adipocyte of STHCQD-treated diabetic rats was found as compared with those of untreated diabetic rats (P < 0.05).Conclusions: STHCQD therapy increased sensitivity and responsiveness of target cells to insulin, i.e. it might decrease insulin resistance at receptor sites and post-receptor sites in rats with NIDDM, but could not reverse the insulin resistance.  
Abstract:Objective: To investigate the preventive effect of Radix Astragali on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-a) induced insulin resistance.Methods: Rats were treated orally with Radix Astragali before TNF-α intravenous injection. The changes of K value in glucose-insulin tolerance test, the concentrations of glucagon (GC), ACTH and lipids in serum and the contents of glycogen, triglyceride (TG) in liver and red quadriceps were tested 4 hours after the injection and compared with the control.Results: Exogenous TNF-α can induce hyperinsulinemia in normal rats, and the K value decreased, the concentration of serum ACTH, GC and lipids all increased, the glycogen contents in liver and red quadriceps muscle decreased, and the liver TG depots increased. Radix Astragali can improve all the parameters significantly except the serum lipids level and liver triglyceride depots.Conclusions: Radix Astragali has preventive effect on insulin resistance induced by TNF-α and is useful in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The mechanism may be due to the decrease of insulin-antagonistic hormones and the increase of tissue glycogen contents.  
Abstract:Objective: To study the inhibitory effect of purified trichosanthin component on the proliferation of malignant melanoma.Methods: The effect of purified trichosanthin component on the DNA synthesis, cell cycle and cell apoptosis of murine melanoma cells were detected by flow cytometry when cultured in vitro.Results: The significant G0/G1 phase arrest was revealed by the increase of cells in G0/G1 phase and decrease of cells in S phase. The obvious apoptosis of melanoma cells was induced by purified trichosanthin component. G0/ G1 phase arrest was highly correlated with apoptosis (r = 0. 8705).Conclusion: The purified trichosanthin component can markedly inhibit melanoma cells by the suppression of DNA synthesis in S phase and cell mitosis as well as induction of cell apoptosis.