Latest Issue

    2019 Year 25 Vol. 10 Issue

      Feature Article

    • Yong-hua ZHAO
      2019, 25(10): 723-727. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-019-2708-4
      Abstract:Ischemic stroke accounts for the majority of all strokes and has been primary causes of long-term disability and mortality in worldwide. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy suggests significantly improved effects on neurological functional outcome, neurogenesis, angiogenesis, blood-brain barrier permeability, inflammatory injury, neuroprotection and so on, following stroke. However, the occurrence of adverse effects results in restriction of the therapy. Chinese medicine accumulates abundant clinical experiences on stroke for over two thousand years, and some formulae and active ingredients of Chinese medicines have presented obvious efficacies in clinical treatment. Therefore, based on Chinese medicine theory, we provide some ideas of screening agents for combination treatment of Chinese medicines and MSC for ischemic stroke, and summarize the potentials of Chinese medicines in MSC treatment and analyze the feasibilities of Chinese medicines against side effects of MSC therapy. Consequently, we propose Chinese medicines combing with MSC should be a promising approach to clinical stroke treatment in future.  
      Keywords:Chinese medicines;combination treatment;ischemic stroke;mesenchymal stem cell   
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      Original Article

    • Hua CUI,Xiao-ying LI,Xue-wen GAO,Xiang LU,Xiu-ping WU,Xiao-fei WANG,Xiang-qing ZHENG,Kui HUANG,Feng LIU,Zhi LUO,Hui-shu YUAN,Gang SUN,Jian KONG,Xiao-hong DU,Jin ZHENG,Hong-ying LIU,Wen-ju ZHANG
      2019, 25(10): 728-735. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-019-2710-x
      Abstract:Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of salvianolate in elderly patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP).Methods:A prospective double-blind randomized placebo-controlled multicenter trial in elderly patients with UAP from 13 third-grade class-A hospitals in China was performed. A total of 318 patients were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to an experimental group (160 patients) and a control group (158 patients). The experimental group was treated with salvianolate for 14 days on the basis of conventional medicine, and the control group was given a placebo for 14 days with the same criteria. Follow-up was lasted 28 days in both groups. The primary endpoint was biweekly frequency of angina pectoris attacks. The secondary endpoints included biweekly dosage of nitroglycerin, the Seattle Angina Questionnaire, angina pectoris severity and duration, myocardial injury markers, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), as well as major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). Safety was assessed according to adverse events and serious adverse events.Results:Baseline characteristics were similar between treatment groups. Compared with those in the control group, the frequency of biweekly angina attacks (2.92 vs . 4.08, P=0.025), the biweekly dosage of nitroglycerin, as well as the severity and duration of angina attacks (P<0.01) were reduced by salvianolate. The Seattle Angina Questionnaire score was also significantly improved in the experimental group than in the control group (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed between the two groups with respect to the incidence of MACEs. Salvianolate was well tolerated.Conclusions:Salvianolate appear to have efficacy and well tolerated for elderly patients with UAP. [ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03037047]  
      Keywords:Salvianolate;unstable angina pectoris;elderly;efficacy   
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      Published:2021-08-27
    • Xue-qing YU,Ming-hang WANG,Jian-sheng LI,Su-yun LI,Yang XIE,Yun-ping BAI,Hai-long ZHANG,Fan CAO,Cong-xia HOU,Li-jun MA
      2019, 25(10): 736-742. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-017-2417-9
      Abstract:Objective:To evaluate the effect of comprehensive therapy based on Chinese medicine (CM) patterns on self-efficacy and satisfaction with its effectiveness in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods:A total of 216 patients were randomly divided into the trial group (n=108) and the control group (n=108) based on the stratified and block randomization design. Patients in the trial group were treated with conventional Western medicine combined with Bufei Jianpi Granules (补肺健脾颗粒), Bufei Yishen Granules (补肺益肾颗粒), and Yiqi Zishen Granules (益气滋肾颗粒) according to the CM patterns respectively, and patients in the control group were treated with conventional Western medicine. The COPD Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES) and the Effectiveness Satisfaction Questionnaire for COPD (ESQ-COPD) were employed in a 6-month treatment and in further 6 month follow-up visit.Results:Among the 216 patients, 191 patients (97 in the trial group and 94 in the control group) fully completed the study. After 12-month treatment and follow-up, the mean scores of the trial group all continued to increase over time, which were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.05), and the improvement in the following trial group domain: negative affect domain (12.13%), intense emotional arousal domain (12.21%), physical exertion domain (11.72%), weather/environmental domain (13.77%), behavioral risk domain (7.67%) and total score (10.65%). The trial group also exhibited significantly higher mean scores in the ESQ-COPD (P<0.05) and the improvement in the following domain: capacity for life and work domain (30.59%), clinical symptoms domain (53.52%), effect of therapy domain (35.95%), convenience of therapy domain (35.54%), and whole effect domain (52.47%).Conclusions:Bufei Jianpi Granules, Bufei Yishen Granules and Yiqi Zishen Granules can improve the self-efficacy and satisfaction of COPD patients.  
      Keywords:chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;Chinese medicine;self efficacy;effectiveness satisfaction   
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      Published:2021-08-27
    • Qian-qian ZHANG,Qiang LI,Lin DONG,Wan-fang LI,Chao LI,Ai-ping WANG,Jin-feng WEI,Hong-tao JIN
      2019, 25(10): 743-749. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-018-2553-x
      Abstract:Objective:To assess the genotoxicity and embryotoxicity of bicyclol methyl ether (BME), the main impurity in bicyclol.Methods:Five concentrations of BME (0.5, 5, 50, 500 and 5000 μg/plate) were used in the Ames test to detect gene mutation. In the chromosome aberration test, Chinese hamster lung cells were used to detect chromosomal aberration of BME (15, 30, 60, 120 μg/mL) with or without S9 mixture. Embryotoxicity test was also conducted to determine any embryotoxicity of BME (7.5, 22.5, 67.5 μg/L) using zebrafish embryos.Results:No significant differences were observed in the Ames test and the chromosome aberration test in the BME groups compared with the vehicle control group. The zebrafish embryos toxicity test also showed no embryo development toxicity of BME, including hatching rate, body length, pericardial area and yolk sac area.Conclusions:Bicyclol methyl ether has no genotoxicity in vitro and embryotoxicity in zebrafish embryos, and the impurity in bicyclol is qualified.  
      Keywords:bicyclol methyl ether;genotoxicity;embryotoxicity;Ames test;chromosome aberration test;zebrafish   
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      Published:2021-08-27
    • Ming JIN,Chang-jiang XUE,Yu WANG,Fang DONG,Yuan-yuan PENG,Ya-dan ZHANG,Bao-xia ZANG,Li TAN
      2019, 25(10): 750-756. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-018-2577-2
      Abstract:Objective:To investigate the attenuating effect of Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) on inflammatory injury in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods:Rats were randomly assigned to 7 groups according to body weight including normal control group, HSYA blank group (76.8 mg/kg), COPD group, COPD+HSYA (30, 48, 76.8 mg/kg) groups and COPD+dexamethasone (2 mg/kg), 10 in each group. Passive cigarette smoke and intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharides were used to establish a COPD model in rats. Hematoxylin and eosin staining of lung tissue sections was used, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to assay mRNA levels of some cytokines in lung tissues, the cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot analysis was used to determine phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) levels in lung tissues, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 protein levels in lung tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results:Lung alveolar septa destruction, alveolus fusion, inflammatory cell infiltration, and bronchiole exudation were observed. These pathological changes were alleviated in the COPD+HSYA group. The mRNA expression of inflammatory factors were significantly increased in lung tissues from COPD rats (all P<0.01) and were inhibited by HSYA. Levels of inflammatory cytokines in BALF of COPD rats were significantly increased (all P<0.01) which were inhibited by HSYA (all P<0.01, 48, 76.8 mg/kg). The levels of p38 MAPK phosphorylation and p65 in lung tissues of COPD rats were significantly increased (all P<0.01) and were suppressed by HSYA (all P<0.01, 48, 76.8 mg/kg).Conclusions:HSYA could alleviate inflammatory cell infiltration and other pathological changes in the lungs of COPD rats. HSYA could inhibit inflammatory cytokine expression, and increase phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and NF-κB p65 in the lungs of COPD rats. The protective mechanism of HSYA to inhibit COPD inflammation might be by attenuating NF-κB and p38MAPK signal transduction.  
      Keywords:Hydroxysafflor yellow A;chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;inflammation;p38 mitogenactivated protein kinase;nuclear factor-κB   
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      Published:2021-08-27
    • Bin YU,An-hong WANG,Kun ZHOU,Li-juan CHAI,Lu LIU
      2019, 25(10): 757-762. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-016-2251-5
      Abstract:Objective:To test the role of psoralidin in human liver cancer HepG2 cells in vitro.Methods:Cell viability was assessed by methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolum bromide assay and apoptotic cells were labeled by annexin V then sorted by flow cytometry. Protein expressions of caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, Bax, Bid, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and p53 were examined by western blot while activity of caspase-3, -8 and -9 were also determined.Results:Psoralidin reduces cell viability greatly in a time dependent manner (64%, 40%, 21%, 12% at 2, 6, 24 and 48 h treatment with 64 μmol/L psoralidin respectively) and up-regulates activities of caspase-3, -8 and -9 in a concentration dependent manner (between 4 to 64 μmol/L). Psoralidin also increases the expression of pro-apoptosis genes Bax, Bid and p53 while decreases the expression of pro-survival genes Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, both in a concentration dependent manner between 4 and 64 μmol/L (P<0.05 at 16 and 64 μmol/L). Caspase-3 inhibitor (Ac-DEVD-CHO at concentrations between 10 to 20 μmol/L), p53 inhibitor (pifithrin-α at 5 μmol/L) and cyclosporin A can attenuate the apoptotic effect of psoralidin.Conclusion:The cytotoxic role of psoralidin might work through both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathway.  
      Keywords:psoralidin;apoptosis;HepG2;mitochondria;p53;cyclosporin A   
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      Published:2021-08-27

      Acupuncture Research

    • Li-yuan JIANG,Jiao-jun HE,Xi-xi CHEN,Xue-jiao SUN,Xue-zhong WANG,Shan ZHONG,Hua-de CHEN
      2019, 25(10): 763-769. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-017-2411-2
      Abstract:Objective:To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on endolymphatic hydrops (EH) and the regulation of arginine vasopressin (AVP)-aquaporin-2 (AQP2) pathway in guinea pigs.Methods:EH was induced in male guinea pigs by an intraperitoneal injection of AVP. For the treatment, EA was delivered to Baihui (GV 20) and Tinggong (SI 19) acupoints, once per day for 10 consecutive days. In histomorphological studies, cochlear hydrops degree was evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and then the ratio of scala media (SM) area to SM + scala vestibuli (SV) area (R value) was calculated. In mechanical studies, a comparison of plasma AVP (p-AVP) concentrations, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels, vasopressin type 2 receptor (V2R) and AQP2 mRNA expressions in the cochlea were compared among groups.Results:EA significantly reduced cochlear hydrops in guinea pigs (P=0.001). EA significantly attenuated the AVPinduced up-regulation of p-AVP concentrations (P=0.006), cochlear cAMP levels (P=0.003) and AQP2 mRNA expression (P=0.016), and up-regulated the expression of V2R mRNA (P=0.004) in the cochlea.Conclusion:The dehydrating effect of EA might be associated with its inhibition of AVP-AQP2 pathway activation.  
      Keywords:endolymphatic hydrops;electroacupuncture;arginine vasopressin (AVP)-aquaporin-2 (AQP2) pathway;Meniere's disease   
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      Published:2021-08-27

      Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine

    • Jun MEI,Hao XU,Feng-qin XU,Jian-qing JU
      2019, 25(10): 770-777. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-019-2704-8
      Abstract:Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of oral Chinese herbal medicine (OCHM) for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).Methods:PubMed, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), Cochrane Library, Chinese Biological Medicine Database (CBM), Wanfang Database, Chongqing VIP Information (VIP) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were searched for appropriate articles from respective inceptions until June 3, 2018. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effectiveness of OCHM for the patients with HFpEF were eligible. Quality assessment was performed by employing the Cochrane Risk of Bias assessment tool. Papers were independently reviewed by two reviewers and analyzed using Cochrane software Revman 5.3. Dichotomous data were analyzed by relative risk (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI), while continuous variables were analyzed by using mean difference (MD) with 95% CI for effect size.Results:A total of 16 RCTs involving 1,320 participants were identified. Fourteen of the trials used conventional Western medicine (CWM) as the control, the control of 1 trial was no treatment, and another was placebo. Three of the trials served Chinese patent medicine (CPM) as interventions, and other OCHM were Chinese medicine decoctions (CMDs). Only limited evidence showed experimental group with OCHM may get better effect on brain natriuretic peptide (BNP: MD –37.29, 95% CI –53.08 to –21.50, P<0.00001) or N terminal pro B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP: MD –236.04, 95% CI –356.83 to –115.25, P=0.0001), Minnesota Living with Heart Failure questionnaire (MLHFQ, MD –9.94, 95% CI –16.77 to –3.11, P=0.004), but the results had high heterogeneities. With concerns on 12 of 16 trials, the meta-analysis found that the adjuvant therapy of OCHM might be more effective in increasing overall response rate (RR 1.17, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.24, P<0.00001), when compared with CWM alone. Subgroup meta-analysis between CPMs and CMDs showed that the two CPMs may have more therapeutic effect on MLHFQ, but not on NT-proBNP, and CMD came to the opposite conclusion. No significant differences were found between experimental groups and control groups on 6-min walk test (6MWT). Adverse events, such as more defecation, weakness, cardiopalmus, edema, cough and hypotension, were mild in all groups and disappeared after the easement of pharmacological intervention.Conclusions:Due to the insufficient quality of trials that were analyzed, it is not appropriate to confirm or deny the potency of OCHMs in treating HFpEF at the present time. More rigorously designed RCTs focusing on primary endpoints with long-term followup are warranted to validate the effect of OCHMs for patients with HFpEF.  
      Keywords:oral Chinese herbal medicine;heart failure with preserved ejection fraction;meta-analysis;systematic review   
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    • Qi WU,Yao ZHOU,Fan-chao FENG,Xian-mei ZHOU
      2019, 25(10): 778-784. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-017-2429-5
      Abstract:Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Chinese medicine (CM) for Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients.Methods:To screened relevant articles, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Excerpta Medica Datase (EMBASE), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese VIP Information (VIP), Wanfang Database and Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM) were searched in English or Chinese until December 2015 for randomized controlled trials, which compared CM treatment (CM group) with Western medicine or placebo (control group) on IPF. The outcome measures included acute exacerbation, pulmonary function, the St George's respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ) scores, 6-minute walk test (6MWT) distance, adverse events and mortality.Results:This meta-analysis included 25 randomized controlled trials involving 1,471 patients. Compared with the control group, CM group was superiori in reducing the risk of exacerbation [relative risk (RR)=0.40, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.72, P<0.05], improving in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) [standard mean difference (SMD)=0.62, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.84, P<0.01] and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO, SMD=0.40, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.58, P<0.01), but there was no significant difference in vital capacity (VC, SMD=0.10, 95% CI –0.12 to 0.31, P>0.05). This meta-analysis also revealed that CM therapy significantly decreased the SGRQ score (SMD=–0.60, 95% CI –1.14 to –0.05, P<0.05) and improved 6MWT distance (SMD=0.59, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.84, P<0.01), compared with the control group. Meanwhile, CM therapy was associated with a low incidence of adverse effects (RR=0.19, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.43, P<0.01). However, there was no significant difference in mortality (RR=0.24, 95% CI 0.05 to 1.10, P>0.05) between CM and control groups.Conclusions:The pooled outcomes suggest that CM treatment appears benefit in reducing the risk of exacerbation, improving lung function and decreasing the incidence of adverse effects and enhancing the quality of life. However, the outcomes were limited because of the low quality of the included studies. More rigorous clinic trials need to be carried out to provide sufficient and accurate evidence in the future.  
      Keywords:idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis;Chinese medicine;meta-analysis   
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    • Li LIU,Jian LIANG,Xin DENG
      2019, 25(10): 785-790. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-017-2426-8
      Abstract:Objective:To evaluate the effects of Aidi Injection (艾迪注射液, AD) in combination with Western medical therapies (WMT) in patients with primary liver cancer (PLC).Methods:Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing AD plus WMT with WMT alone were retrieved from inception to March 2013 by retrieving the literature database thoroughly and systematically. The extracted data from included studies were analyzed and synthesized by Review Manager 5.2 software. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess the quality of included studies, and Begg's and Egger's tests were used to evaluate the potential presence of publication bias. The studies were divided into 7 separate subgroups in terms of quality of life (QOL), recent chemotherapy and the incidence of leukocyte reduction. The subgroup analysis was applied to assess the heterogeneity between included researches, and the sensitivity analysis was used to weigh the stability of studies.Results:Twenty-four RCTs were included in this study. Compared with WMT used alone, AD as additional intervention was more effective on improving QOL (P<0.01), increasing short-term efficacy (P<0.01), prolonging life (P<0.05 or P<0.01), relieving clinical symptoms (P<0.01), and reducing adverse events (e.g. reduce white blood cell counts,P=0.002; reduce in platelet counts, P<0.01). Subgroup analysis showed that the hepatic artery interventions with AD was superior in improving QOL (P<0.01) and enhancing short-term response rates (P=0.007) and reducing white blood cell counts (P=0.0004) than hepatic artery interventions alone (P<0.01). The chemoembolization plus AD or the chemotherapy plus AD were both better than chemoembolization or the chemotherapy alone in improving the QOL and short-term response rate (P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusions:AD in combination with WMT improves QOL in patients with PLC. Considering the inherent limitations of the included studies, further well-designed, rigorously performed, high-quality, and double-blinded RCTs with large sample sizes are needed.  
      Keywords:Aidi Injection;primary liver cancer;quality of life;systematic reviews;meta-analysis   
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      Published:2021-08-27

      Academic Exploration

    • Meng LI,Yan GUO,Pan-Feng WENG
      2019, 25(10): 791-794. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-019-3225-1
      Abstract:Paper media including the People's Daily, Guangming Daily, Health News and Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine were the main media that spread the thought and policy of integrative medicine (IM) in the early stage of the integration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine (WM) in China. Issues including paper media and its roles for spreading IM, from "TCM learning from WM" to "WM learning from TCM", advocating integration of TCM and WM, promoting IM through multiple channels were analyzed in this article, so as to show the propagation process of IM in China and the roles of the paper media. It was shown that strengthening the propaganda of IM through mainstream media, strengthening media convergence and the role of new media are important in spreading the thought of IM.  
      Keywords:paper media;integrated traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine;implications   
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      Review

    • Sunita Timalsena,Prem Prasad Lamichhane
      2019, 25(10): 795-799. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-016-2260-4
      Abstract:Astilbe rivularis Buch. Ham., a rhizomatous perennial herb of the Saxifragaceae family, has been listed in rare species. In traditional medicine the plant has been used for the treatment of ulcer, bleeding during child birth, inflammation, body ache, diarrhea, and dysentery. This article reviews and analyses the traditional use, pharmacological activities of the corresponding bioactive compounds, and toxicological data on A. rivularis species. A. rivularis has been used across Indian subcontinent to treat various human ailments. Its extract consists of alkaloids, flavonoids, coumarins and glycosides. These extracts as well as isolated bioactive compounds demonstrated various biological activities including antimicrobial, anti-peptic ulcer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activity. Toxicological studies of the extract on brine shrimp larvae demonstrated mild toxicity; however no acute toxicity in mice. Although the pharmacological effect of A. rivularis has been poorly explored, the available data validated its use in ethnomedicine. To reveal the cryptic therapeutic potential of the species, research should focus on identification and mechanistic studies of the bioactive compounds.  
      Keywords:Astilbe rivularis;ethnomedical;pharmacological;bioactive compounds;toxicological   
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