Latest Issue
2012 Year 18 Vol. 6 Issue
EditorialNotes
- Abstract：To assess the current level of acceptance in the United States of complementary and alternative medicine, recent research into the prevalence, acceptance, accessibility, and recognition of complementary and alternative therapies were reviewed. Several signs point to an increasing acceptance of complementary and alternative medicine in the United States; the use of complementary and alternative medicine is significantly increasing, many aspects of Chinese medicine and Ayurveda are becoming mainstream, practitioners in the United States are beginning to be licensed, and insurance companies are beginning to cover some complementary and alternative therapies. Remaining challenges to true acceptance include the restrictive Western mindset, the absence of published studies, a lack of consistent manufacturing processes and quality standards, and a fear of adulteration. Although the field still faces many challenges, alternative and complementary medicine, including Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine, is becoming more accepted and accessible in the United States.Keywords：complementary therapies;Alternative Medicine;Chinese Medicine;Ayurvedic Medicine;United States
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Published：2021-08-27 - Abstract：To survey the use, capability and satisfaction of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in comparison with conventional medicine in Iran. In this national survey, a cross-sectional study was designed, 5,000 people were surveyed to identify predictors of Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) use compared with conventional medicine. Data were collected through a questionnaire that covered three different predictor categories: demographic information, patient’s viewpoint, and patients’ experiences. Most of the participants preferred government owned hospitals rather than other places. Praying for one’s own health was the most frequent and favorable ITM domain (P=0.017) based on patients’ interests, both in low- (P=0.08) and high-level (P=0.011) educated subjects. Among the participants, 97.8% had previous conventional medicine history due to their chronic diseases Iranian patients resort to ITM as a choice at the late stage of the disease. Current deficiency in integration of CAM and conventional medicine is in contrast to the increasing demand on patients’ side. Health care organizers should be facilitating the CAM services by tuition of CAM practitioners and supporting eligible CAM centers for diagnosis and treatment of patients.Keywords：effectiveness;complementary and alternative medicine;Conventional Medicine
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Published：2021-08-27 - Abstract：To investigate the efficacy and safety of combined common femoral artery (CFA) endarterectomy with superficial femoral artery (SFA) stenting plus Shuxuening Injection (舒血宁注射液) infusion in patients with complex multifocal arterial steno-obstructive lesions of the lower extremities. From March 2006 to March 2011, 104 lower limbs in 96 patients with multilevel peripheral arterial steno-occlusive disease, involving SFA as well as CFA and deep femoral artery (DFA) orifice, were treated by combined surgical with endovascular therapy, such as SFA stenting as an adjunct to CFA endarterectomy and patch angioplasty with the great saphenous vein. Before the end of the operation, 20 mL of Shuxuening Injection was infused through the catheter located in the treated artery. Technical and hemodynamic success, as well as primary and primary-assisted patency, was determined according to the Society for Vascular Surgery Guidelines. During follow-up, clinical status assessment, ankle-brachial index (ABI) test, and duplex Doppler ultrasound were administered every 6 months, and computed tomography angiography or magnetic resonance angiography was performed at 12, 24, and 36 months after discharge. All patients underwent successful combined CFA endarterectomy with SFA stenting treatment. The average ABI after the combination treatment increased from pretreatment of 0.32±0.21 to 0.82±0.24 (P<0.01). No perioperative death and major limb amputations occurred. The mean duration of follow-up for 104 limbs from 96 patients was 1,180 days (range, 196–2,064 days). During follow-up, 5 patients died due to myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction, or pneumonia, and 5 patients were lost to follow-up. There were 21 cases (21.4%) of restenosis, with 15 that occurred in-stent and 6 near the distal end of the stent. A total of 18 (18.3%) reinterventions were performed, including 6 balloon angioplasty, 8 restenting procedures, 2 bypass surgeries, and 2 major limb amputations. The primary patency rates were 92.2%, 76.8%, and 61.3% at 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively, while the primary-assisted patency rates were 94.4%, 83.2%, and 75.6% at 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively. The combined CFA endarterectomy with SFA stenting plus Shuxuening Injection infusion appears to offer a safe, less invasive, and effective treatment option to patients with chronic lower extremity ischemia due to complex multifocal peripheral artery disease.Keywords：chronic lower extremity ischemia;endarterectomy;stenting;angioplasty;Shuxuening Injection;hybrid technique
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Published：2021-08-27 - Abstract：To investigate the effects of Chinese herbs for supplementing qi, nourishing yin and activating blood circulation on heart function of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). One hundred patients with ACS after successful PCI were randomly assigned to a Western medicine (WM) treatment group (WMG) and a combined treatment group (CMG) treated by Chinese herbs for supplementing qi, nourishing yin and activating blood circulation, besides Western medicine treatment, with 50 cases in each group. Both treatment courses were 6 months. The followup was scheduled at baseline, 6 months and 1 year after PCI, and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, Chinese medicine (CM) symptom scores, blood stasis syndrome scores, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were observed, serum levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and hyper-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) were measured, an echocardiogram was conducted to examine left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), inter-ventricular septal thickness (IVST), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWT), and ventricular wall motion index (VWMI). Compared with the baseline, LVEF significantly increased (P<0.01), and CM symptom scores, blood stasis syndrome scores, VWMI, LVEDV, LVESV, NT-proBNP, and Hs-CRP all decreased (P<0.01) in both groups at 6 months and at 1 year after PCI. There were no significant differences in all the above parameters at 1 year vs those at 6 months after PCI (P>0.05). VWMI, LVEDV, LVESV, NT-proBNP, Hs-CRP, LVEF, and CM symptom and blood stasis syndrome scores were all improved obviously in CMG than those in WMG (P<0.05 or P<0.01) at 6 months and at 1 year after PCI. There were no significant differences in NYHA functional class between CMG and WMG at different follow-up timepoints; it was notable that value was 0.054 when comparing the cases of NYHA functional class between the two groups at 1-year follow-up. During the 1-year follow-up, 3 MACE and 11 MACE occurred in CMG and WMG, respectively; the MACE rate in CMG was lower than that in WMG (6% vs 22%, P<0.05). Chinese herbs for supplementing qi, nourishing yin and activating blood circulation could improve heart function, reduce the CM symptom scores and blood stasis syndrome scores, and decrease the incidence of MACE in patients with ACS after successful PCI.Keywords：supplementing qi;nourishing yin and activating blood circulation;Percutaneous Coronary Intervention;acute coronary syndrome
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Published：2021-08-27 - Abstract：To investigate the anti-angiogenic effects of Pien Tze Huang (片仔癀, PZH) in vivo and in vitro. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with 0 mg/mL, 0.25 mg/mL, 0.5 mg/mL, and 1 mg/mL of PZH for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h, respectively. Chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model was used to evaluate in vivo angiogenesis. An ECMatrix gel system was used to evaluate in vitro angiogenesis by examining the tube formation of HUVECs. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was performed to determine HUVEC viability. Cell density of HUVECs was observed by phasecontrast microscopy. HUVEC migration was determined by wound healing method. The mRNA and protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in both HUVEC and human colon adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29) was examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. PZH treatment significantly reduced the total number of blood vessels compared with the untreated control in the chicken embryos and resulted in a significant decrease in capillary tube formation and cell density of HUVECs (P<0.05). In addition, treatment with 0.25–1 mg/mL of PZH for 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h respectively reduced cell viability by 9%–52%, 24%–87% or 25%–87%, compared with the untreated control cells (P<0.05). Moreover, PZH treatment decreased the migration of HUVECs. Furthermore, PZH dose-dependently suppressed the expression of VEGF-A and bFGF on both mRNA and protein levels (P<0.05). PZH could inhibit angiogenesis in vivo in CAM model and in vitro on HUVECs, suggesting that inhibiting tumor angiogenesis might be one of the mechanisms by which PZH treats cancer.Keywords：Pien Tze Huang;tumor angiogenesis;Chinese Medicine;multi-target agents
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Published：2021-08-27 - Abstract：To investigate the effects of caffeic acid ester fraction (Caf) from Erigeron breviscapus, mainly composed of dicaffeoylquinic acids (diCQAs), on microglial activation in vitro and focal cerebral ischemia in vivo. The production of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment in rat primary cultured microglia were measured by Griess reaction or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cell viability of cortical neurons was measured using AlamarBlue reagent. The behavioral tests and the infarct area of brain were used to evaluate the damage to central nervous system in rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model of cerebral ischemia. Real time polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA in ischemic cerebral tissues. Caf inhibited the production of NO, TNF-α and IL-1β induced by LPS treatment in primary microglia in a dose-dependent manner. Exposure of cortical neurons to conditioned medium from Caf-treated microglia increased neuronal cell viability (P<0.01) compared with conditioned medium from LPS-treated alone. In MCAO rat model of cerebral ischemia, Caf could significantly improve neurobehavioural performance and reduce percentage infarct volume compared with the vehicle group (P<0.05). Caf could also significantly inhibit the up-regulation of iNOS, TNF-α, and IL-1β gene expressions in ischemic cerebral tissues. Caf could suppress microglial activation, which may be one mechanism of its neuroprotective effect against ischemia.Keywords：microglia;inflammation;dicaffeoylquinic acid;neuroprotcetion
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Published：2021-08-27 - Abstract：To investigate the effects of oxymatrine on hepatic gene expression profile in a rat model of liver fibrosis. Forty healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups, a normal group (n=8), a model group (n=16), and an oxymatrine treatment group (n=16). Experimental hepatic fibrosis was induced by subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The rats in the treatment group received oxymatrine via celiac injection at a dosage of 40 mg/kg once a day at the same time. The rats in the model and normal groups received saline at the same dosage via celiac injection. Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transarninase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), hyaluronic acid (HA), and laminin (LN) were assayed. The deposition of collagen was observed with HE and Masson staining. Effect of oxymatrine on hepatic gene expression profile was detected by oligonucleotide microarray analysis with Affymetrix gene chip rat U230A. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) was carried out to confirm the expression changes of six genes. Oxymatrine significantly improved liver function, lowered serum levels of HA and LN, and decreased the degree of liver fibrosis, compared with the model group (P<0.05). A total of 754 differentially expressed genes were identified by gene chip between the model group and the normal group, among which 438 genes increased and 316 genes decreased over two folds. Compared with the model group, 86 genes were downregulated markedly in the oxymatrine group (P<0.05), including collagen I and other genes related to extracellular material (ECM), integrin signal transduction genes, early growth response factor genes, and proinflammatory genes; 28 genes were upregulated significantly (P<0.05), including cytochrome P450 (CYP450) superfamily genes, glycolipids metabolism and biological transformation related genes. Six genes were confirmed with QRT-PCR, consistent with the result from microarray. Oxymatrine could affect the expression of many functional genes and may be useful in the prevention and treatment of liver fibrosis.Keywords：Oxymatrine;gene chip;Liver Fibrosis
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Published：2021-08-27 - Abstract：To observe the effect of Huxin Formula (护心方, HXF) on expressions of the chief reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) associated genes, caveolin-1 and scavenger receptor-BI (SR-BI) in ApoE-gene knockout [ApoE (−/−)] mice. Thirty ApoE (−/−) mice of 4–6 weeks old were randomly divided into three groups (A-C). After being fed with high-fat diet for 16 weeks, they were treated with HXF (1 mL/100 g), pravachol (0.3 mg/100 g), and saline in equal volume respectively for 16 weeks successively; in addition, a blank group was set up with 10 C57BL/6J mice of 6-week old received 16-week high-fat feeding and saline treatment. Animals were sacrificed at the termination of the experiment, their paraffin sections of aortic tissue were used to measure the size of plaque, expressions of cavolin-1 and SR-BI were detected by immunological histochemical method. As compared with the blank group, levels of caveolin-1 and SR-BI were increased in Groups A and B (P<0.01); but the increase in Group A was more significant than that in Group B (P<0.05). The plaque/aorta area ratio decreased significantly in Groups A and B, but showed insignificant difference between the two groups. HXF could obviously increase the expressions of RCT associated genes, caveolin-1 and SR-BI, promote the RCT process, so as to reduce the formation of aorta atherosclerotic plaque in ApoE (−/−) mice.Keywords：Huxin formula;ApoE-gene knockout mice;reverse cholesterol transport;caveolin-1;scavenger receptor-B I
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Published：2021-08-27 - Abstract：To examine the Eastern-Western difference in the interpretation of Integrative Medicine Attitude Questionnaire (IMAQ) by assessing the psychometric properties of a revised Chinese medicine (CM)-specific version of IMAQ (CM-IMAQ). Factor and Rasch analysis were performed with data collected from a mail survey of 165 Hong Kong Western medical doctors (WMD) randomly sampled from the official registry. The structural validity, unidimensionality, item fit, and differential item functioning (DIF) of the Hong Kong CM-IMAQ were evaluated. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) demonstrated that the original IMAQ factor structure was not concordant with our data on Chinese WMD, and subsequent explanatory factor analysis (EFA) validated a new three-factor model for CM-IMAQ: (1) attitude towards “tonification”, (2) attitude towards the effectiveness of CM, and (3) attitude towards CM knowledge. The original IMAQ factor on holism and doctor-patient relationship disappeared. Rasch analysis confirmed the unidimensionality of “tonification” and the effectiveness domains, but further refinement of the knowledge domain is needed. Cultural adaptation of the IMAQ has demonstrated differences between Eastern and Western doctors trained in allopathic medicine in their interpretations of holism in healthcare. For Chinese WMD, the emphasis of holistic care is placed on “tonifying” the body rather than on nurturing the mind and spirit. Confucian and Taoist conceptualizations of mental health as well as the persistent stigma towards mental illness within modern Chinese culture may explain why Chinese WMD do not regard mental health promotion as part of routine healthcare.Keywords：psychometrics;questionnaires;Chinese Medicine;holistic health;attitude of health personnel
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Published：2021-08-27 - Abstract：To observe the influence of Fuzheng Huayu Tablet (扶正化瘀片, FZHYT) on mental state and social activity of patients with post-hepatitis B liver cirrhosis (LC-HB). Adopting grouped randomized double-blinded control method, 180 LC-HB patients in 3 research centers were distributed to 2 groups, the treated group and the control group, 90 in each group. Patients in the treated group were administered with FZHYT; while those in the control group treated with conventional therapy combined with placebo, the course for all patients were 6 months. Their mental state and social activity were evaluated before treatment, after 3 months’ treatment and at terminal of the 6-month therapeutic course by estimating with Zung self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), self-rating depression scale (SDS) and social deficit screening scale (SDSS). Additionally, the basic demographic materials, liver function, cirrhosis index, hepatic and splenic images, blood coagulation function, etc. in the patients were tested and compared as well. As compared with before treatment, the normal rate of SAS and SDS scores increased and the social deficit rate decreased in the treated group significantly after treatment, showing statistical significance (P<0.05 or P<0.01); while in the control group, change was only shown in the social deficit (P<0.01), inter-group comparisons after treatment showed significant differences in all the three indexes (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Additionally, after treatment, levels of liver function, cirrhosis, blood coagulation function and splenomegaly in the treated group were all improved significantly P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the improvements were better than those in the control group (P<0.01) in levels of total bilirubin (TBIL), albumin (ALB), type IV collagen (IV-C), prothrombin time (PT), prothrombin activity (PTA). Most patients of LC-HB have mental disturbance and social activity deficit, which could definitely be improved by intervention with Chinese FZHYT.Keywords：post-hepatitis B liver cirrhosis;Fuzheng Huayu Tablet;mental state;social activity
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Published：2021-08-27
OriginalPaper
- Abstract：Obesity is recognized as a social problem, associated with serious health risks and increased mortality. Numerous trials have been conducted to find and develop new anti-obesity drugs through herbal sources to minimize adverse reactions associated with the present anti-obesity drugs. The use of natural products as medicine has been documented for hundreds of years in various traditional systems of medicines throughout the world. This review focuses on the medicinal plants such as Achyranthus aspera, Camellia sinensis, Emblica officinalis, Garcinia cambogia, Terminalia arjuna, etc., being used traditionally in Ayurvedic, Unani, Siddha and Chinese, etc., systems of medicine. The review also highlights recent reported phytochemicals such as escins, perennisosides, dioscin, gracillin, etc., and the various extracts of the plants like Nelumbo nucifera, Panax japonicas, Cichorium intybus, Cyperus rotundus, Paeonia suffruticosa, etc., which have been successfully identified for the treatment of obesity.Keywords：Ayurveda;Chinese Medicine;obesity;Siddha;Unani medicine
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Published：2021-08-27
ReviewPaper
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