Latest Issue

    2015 Year 21 Vol. 5 Issue

      OriginalPaper

    • Guo-zheng Li,Bao-yan Liu
      2015, 21(5): 323-331. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-015-2169-3
      Abstract:To give a short summary on achievements, opportunities and challenges of big data in integrative medicine (IM) and explore the future works on breaking the bottleneck to make IM develop rapidly, this paper presents the growing field of big data from IM, describes the systems of data collection and the techniques of data analytics, introduces the advances, and discusses the future works especially the challenges in this field. Big data is increasing dramatically as the time flies, whatever we face it or not. Big data is evolving into a promising way for deep insight IM, the ancient medicine integrating with modern medicine. We have great achievements in data collection and data analysis, where existing results show it is possible to discover the knowledge and rules behind the clinical records. Transferring from experience-based medicine to evidence-based medicine, IM depends on the big data technology in this great era.  
      Keywords:big data;analytics;Integrative Medicine;Chinese Medicine;healthcare;methodology   
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      Published:2021-08-27
    • Habibollah Esmaily,Amirhossein Sahebkar,Mehrdad Iranshahi,Shiva Ganjali,Akram Mohammadi,Gordon Ferns,Majid Ghayour-Mobarhan
      2015, 21(5): 332-338. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-015-2160-z
      Abstract:To investigate the effectiveness of curcumin, a natural polyphenolic compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, on the frequency of symptoms of anxiety and depression in obese individuals. In this double blind, cross-over trial, 30 obese subjects were randomized to receive either curcumin (1 g/day) or placebo for a period of 30 days. Following a wash-out interval of 2 weeks, each subject was crossed over to the alternative regimen for a further 30 days. Severity of anxiety and depression was assessed at baseline and at weeks 4, 6 and 10 of the trial using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scales, respectively. Mean BAI score was found to be significantly reduced following curcumin therapy (P=0.03). However, curcumin supplementation did not exert any significant impact on BDI scores (P=0.7). Curcumin has a potential anti-anxiety effect in individuals with obesity.  
      Keywords:Curcuma Longa;Curcumin;phenolic;psychological disorders;Beck Anxiety Inventory scale;Beck Depression Inventory scale   
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      Published:2021-08-27
    • Yi Wang,Wen-li Cheng,Yong Wang,Jing-pin Peng,Jie Yuan,Li Chen,Lin Pan,Hong Li,Jian Guo
      2015, 21(5): 339-345. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-015-2161-y
      Abstract:To investigate the therapeutic effects of Qingre Quyu Granule (清热祛瘀颗粒, QQG) on the patients with severe carotid stenosis, and to explore the mechanism of it. Ninety-six patients with severe carotid stenosis were enrolled in the study and were classified into a QQG group (n=48) and a control group (n=48) randomly using consecutively numbered envelopes. The patients in the QQG group were given QQG and Western medicine, those in the control group were given Western medicine merely, the course of treatment was 16 weeks. All patients went through endarterectomy after treatment. Plaques were subjected to the analysis of CD3, CD68, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), matrix metalloprotease-9 (MMP-9), CD40L, tenascin-C, and collagen content lipid content by immunohistochemistry or polarized light analysis. By the end of experiment, the expressions of CD3, CD68, ICAM-1, MMP9, CD40L and tenascin-C on the plaques were statistically significant lower in the QQG group compared with the control group(P<0.01). The lipid content of the plaque was also significantly lower in the QQG group compared with the control group (P<0.01). The interstitial collagen in the tissue sections of the plaques was also significantly higher in the QQG group in comparison with the control group (P<0.01). QQG could stabilize carotid artery plaques through inhibiting pro-inflammation factors and restraining the tenascin-C and MMP9 pathway.  
      Keywords:vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque;CD40L;matrix metalloprotease-9;tenascin-C;Chinese Medicine;Qingre Quyue Granule   
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      Published:2021-08-27
    • Young-Jae Park,Young-Bae Park
      2015, 21(5): 346-354. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-015-2171-9
      Abstract:To examine whether vocal characteristics estimated by acoustic parameters were associated with phlegm, yin deficiency, or cold-heat patterns. A total of 75 college students (males:females = 53:22) aged 19–24 years were enrolled in this study. Each subject was asked to complete the phlegm pattern questionnaire (PPQ), yin deficiency questionnaire (YDQ) and cold-heat questionnaire (CHQ). For the acoustic analysis, each subject was asked to produce a sustained vowel sound (/a/) for 3 s to be used to calculate acoustic parameters. Then, habitual fundamental frequency (F0), jitter, shimmer, F0tremor, mean F0, standard deviation of F0, maximum F0, minimum F0, normalized noise energy, harmonic-to-noise ratio, signal-to-noise ratio, amplitude tremor, and power ratio were calculated using the Dr. Speech software. Finally, four hierarchical regression models with pattern questionnaire scores as dependent variables were formed to examine which factors among acoustic parameters, sex, and age were predictive of those pattern scores. PPQ, YDQ, heat, and cold pattern scores all formed significant regression model equations and the adjusted R2 values were 0.281, 0.164, 0.156, and 0.170, respectively. There were aging effects in the PPQ and YDQ models (standardized β=0.199, 0.271, respectively). Vocal tremor-related F0 tremor and vocal ringing-related power ratio parameters were associated with PPQ and YDQ scores. Gender was directly predictive of PPQ and indirectly moderated the relationship between power ratio and YDQ score. Vocal pitchrelated habitual F0 and mean F0 were associated with heat and cold scores. These results indicate that the vocal qualities of phlegm- and yin deficiency-susceptible subjects tend to be ringing and less tremorous, and those of heat- and cold-susceptible subjects tend to be high-pitched. Our study results suggest that vocal characteristics estimated by acoustic parameters are partially predictive of phlegm, yin deficiency, heat, and cold patterns. In terms of phlegm and yin deficiency patterns, there were direct or moderating effects of sex and age.  
      Keywords:Chinese medicine syndrome;Oriental Medicine;acoustic parameters   
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      Published:2021-08-27
    • Fu-feng Li,Ren Sun,Song Xue,Peng Qian,Hai-xia Yan,Wei-fei Zhang,Zhu-mei Sun,Hong-kai Zhang,Yi-qin Wang
      2015, 21(5): 355-360. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-015-2173-7
      Abstract:To explore characteristic of pulse signal to distinguish patients with coronary heart diseases (CHD) from patients without CHD and healthy adults, and accordingly evaluate the potential role of pulse signal to diagnosis CHD. Totally 407 patients enrolled from 4 collaborating medical centers were assigned to a CHD group (205 patients) and a non-CHD group (202 patients). The healthy control group (62 adults) enrolled from Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Pulse signals were collected using the synchronous multiplex pulse signal acquisition system. The pulse signals were analyzed and extracted using Hilbert-Huang transformation (HHT) and time-domain, respectively. The time-domain parameters of pulse signal were processed by the analysis of variance (SNK test). Special patterns in the CHD group pulse signal were found in this study: (1) time-domain parameters of pulse signal, h1, h3, h4, h3/h1, ts, t4/t were increased and w was wider; (2) 44% of C2 waves in HHT were chaotic and disordered and 72% of C waves were exhibited irregularly with average amplitude over 10 g-forces, which were all significantly different from controls. Characteristic wave and time-domain parameters of pulse signal were extracted using HHT and time-domain which could be served as a non-invasive approach for assessing patients with CHD.  
      Keywords:coronary heart diseases;pulse signal;Hilbert-Huang transformation;time domain   
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      Published:2021-08-27
    • Bin-rui Yang,Nan Yu,Yan-hui Deng,Pui Man Hoi,Bin Yang,Guang-yu Liu,Wei-hong Cong,Simon Ming-Yuen Lee
      2015, 21(5): 361-368. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-015-2165-7
      Abstract:To investigate whether I-tetrahydropalmatine (I-THP), an alkaloid mainly present in Corydalis family, could ameliorate early vascular inflammatory responses in atherosclerotic processes. Fluorescently labeled monocytes were co-incubated with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), which were pretreated with I-THP and then simulated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in absence of I-THP to determine if I-THP could reduce thecytokine-induced adhesion of monocytes to HUVECs. Then I-THP were further studied the underlying mechanisms through observing the transcriptional and translational level of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor (NF)-κ B in HUVECs. L-THP could block TNF-α-induced adhesion of monocytes to HUVECs and could significantly inhibited the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on cell surface by 31% and 36% at 30 μ mol/L. L-THP pretreatment could also markedly reduce transcriptional and translational level of VCAM-1 as well as mildly reduce the total protein and mRNA expression levels of ICAM-1. Furthermore, I-THP attenuated TNF-α-stimulated NF-κ B nuclear translocation. These results provide evidences supporting that I-THP could be a promising compound in the prevention and treatment of the early vascular inflammatory reaction in atherosclerosis by inhibiting monocyte adhesion to vascular endothelial cell through downregulating ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in vascular endothelial cell based on suppressing NF-κ B.  
      Keywords:I-tetrahydropalmatine;atherosclerosis;cell adhesion molecules;tumor necrosis factor-α;nuclear factor-κ B   
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      Published:2021-08-27
    • Jin-yan Zhao,Wei Lin,Qun-chuan Zhuang,Xiao-yong Zhong,Jun Peng,Zhen-feng Hong
      2015, 21(5): 369-375. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-015-2062-0
      Abstract:To evaluate the effect of bear bile powder (BBP) on angiogenesis, and investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms. A chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay was used to evaluate the angiogensis in vivo. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 mg/mL of BBP for 24, 48 and 72 h, respectively. The 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was performed to determine the viability of HUVECs. Cell cycle progression of HUVECs was examined by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis with propidium iodide staining. HUVEC migration was determined by wound healing method. An ECMatrix gel system was used to evaluate the tube formation of HUVECs. The mRNA and protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A in both HUVECs and HepG2 human cells were examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Compared with the untreated group, BBP inhibited angiogenesis in vivo in the CAM model (P< 0.01). In addition, treatment with 0.25–1 mg/mL of BBP for 24, 48, or 72 h respectively reduced cell viability by 14%–27%, 29%–69% and 33%–91%, compared with the untreated control cells (P< 0.01). Additionally, BBP inhibited the proliferation of HUVECs via blocking the cell cycle G to S progression, compared with the S phase of untreated cells 48.05%± 5.00%, 0.25–0.75 mg/mL BBP reduced S phase to 40.38%± 5.30%, 36.54± 4.50% and 32.13± 3.50%, respectively (Pglt; 0.05). Moreover, BBP inhibited the migration and tube formation of HUVECs, compared with the tube length of untreated cells 100%± 12%, 0.25–0.75 mg/mL BBP reduced the tube length to 62%± 9%, 43%± 5% and 17%± 3%, respectively (p< 0.01). Furthermore, BBP treatment down-regulated the mRNA and protein expression levels of VEGF-A in both HepG2 cells and HUVECs. BBP could inhibit the angiogenesis by reducing VEGF-A expression, which may, in part, explain its anti-tumor activity.  
      Keywords:bear bile powder;hepatocellular carcinoma;tumor angiogenesis;human umbilical vein endothelial cells;Chinese Medicine   
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      Published:2021-08-27
    • Hai-yan Zhu,Hai Huang,Xun-long Shi,Wei Zhou,Pei Zhou,Qian-lin Yan,Hong-guang Zhu,Dian-wen Ju
      2015, 21(5): 376-383. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-014-2020-2
      Abstract:To investigate the preventive effects of Qiangzhi Decoction (羌跖汤, QZD) on influenza A pneumonia through inhibition of inflammatory cytokine storm in vivo and in vitro. One hundred ICR mice were randomly divided into the virus control, the Tamiflu control and the QZD high-, medium-, and low-dose groups. Mice were infected intranasally with influenza virus (H1N1) at 10 median lethal dose (LD50). QZD and Tamiflu were administered intragastrically twice daily from day 0 to day 7 after infection. The virus control group was treated with distilled water alone under the same condition. The number of surviving mice was recorded daily for 14 days after viral infection. The histological damage and viral replication and the expression of inflammatory cytokines were monitored. Additionally, the suppression capacity on the secretion of regulated on activation normal T cells expressed and secreted (RANTES) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in epithelial and macrophage cell-lines were evaluated. Compared with the virus control group, the survival rate of the QZD groups signifificantly improved in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05), the viral titers in lung tissue was inhibited (P<0.05), and the production of inflammatory cytokines interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-6 (IL-6), TNF-α, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were suppressed (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the secretion of RANTETS and TNF-α by epithelial and macrophage cell-lines was inhibited with the treatment of QZD respectively in vitro (p<0.05) The preventive effects of QZD on influenza virus infection might be due to its unique cytokine inhibition mechanism. QZD may have significant therapeutic potential in combination with antiviral drugs.  
      Keywords:herbal medicine;influenza A virus;antiviral activity;pneumonia;inflammatory cytokine;Chinese Medicine   
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    • Chun-yu Guo,Xiao-juan Ma,Jing-shang Wang,Ying Shi,Xin Liu,Hui-jun Yin,Ke-ji Chen
      2015, 21(5): 384-388. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-014-1881-8
      Abstract:To explore the effects of Panax Quinquefolium Saponin (PQS) on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/serine threonine kinase (PI3K/Akt) pathway of neonatal rat myocardial cells subjected to hypoxia. Neonatal rat myocardial cells were cultured in vitro. After the myocardial cell injury was induced by hypoxia, the cells were randomized into 5 groups: the normal group, the model group, the positive control group (Ciclosporin A, 2 µ mol/L), the low-dose PQS group (PQSL, 25mg/L), and the high-dose PQS group (PQSH, 50 mg/L). Morphology and behavior of myocardial cells were observed under an inverted microscope. Apoptosis rate and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage rate of myocardial cells were determined by colorimetry. Mitochondrial transmembrane potential was assessed using a fluorexon laser. Phospho-glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β and phospho-Akt as well as cytochrome C were determined by Western blot LDH leakage in the Ciclosporin A group, PQSH group and PQSL group reduced progressively compared with the model group (P<0.05). Akt and GSK-3β was strongly phosphorylated after treatment with Ciclosporin A and PQS compared with the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group (16.41±1.74; 35.28±6.30), both the integrated optical density of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) and the mitochondrial transmembrane potential significantly increased in the PQSH group (42.74±2.12; 71.36±6.54) and the PQSL group (39.58±1.49; 66.99±5.45; P<0.05, P<0.01). However, the protein of cytochrome C outside the mitochondrion decreased in the PQSH group (273.66±14.61) and the PQSL group (259.62±17.31) compared with the model group (502.41±17.76; P<0.05). Through activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway and inhibition of the MPTP, PQS might protect the heart against ischemia injury and apoptosis of myocardial cells.  
      Keywords:Panax Quinquefolium Saponin;ischemic cardiomyocytes;phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/serine;threonine kinase;mitochondrial permeability transition pore   
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    • Ji Wang,Ting Wang,Ying-shuai Li,Yan-fei Zheng,Ling-ru Li,Qi Wang
      2015, 21(5): 389-393. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-014-2019-8
      Abstract:Translational medicine is a new concept presented in recent decades, the core of which is to build a bridge between basic medical research and clinical application. From the beginning of constitution of Chinese medicine, clinical application has been given priority. Therefore, the idea of translational medicine is fully demonstrated in the research into the three key scientific problems of “classification of constitution of Chinese medicine”, “relationship between constitution and disease” and “adjustment of constitution”. Under its guidance, not only was the systematic theory of constitution of Chinese medicine established, but also the Constitution of Chinese Medicine Scale and the Standards of Classification and determination of Constitution of Chinese Medicine were developed, which translates methods of classifying the nine constitutional types into guidance for prevention of disease, management of health and clinical application. The research findings of constitution of Chinese medicine have been applied in clinical practice and public health, establishing the diagnosis and treatment model of constitution-disease-syndrome differentiation. The nationwide application of constitution differentiation has shown good effect. In the future, constitution of Chinese medicine should strengthen the evidence-based research and multi-disciplinary cooperation, and establish a research team on comprehensive constitution of Chinese medicine and translational medicine, to translate the findings into clinical practice and public health more accurately and quickly.  
      Keywords:constitution of Chinese medicine;translational medicine;implementation   
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      ReviewPaper

    • Mei-na Yang,Jin-xiang Han
      2015, 21(5): 394-400. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-015-2168-4
      Abstract:The meridian research situation and various meridian hypotheses of China in the past sixty years between 1950 and 2013 are summarized in the paper; possible existed problems in the process of current meridian research are analyzed. Based on previous research results, we proposed that the essence of meridian can not be explained by the reductive analysis method, meridian research should be carried out under the guidance of overall concept of Chinese medicine theory. In this paper, combined with coherence theory of biophoton, we put forward the quantum interference hypothesis of meridian, which provides a possible research idea for meridian study.  
      Keywords:meridian research;hypothesis;essence;integrated concept;coherence of biophoton   
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