Integrative Chinese And Western Medicine Research Articles

Evidence-based practice method of integrative Chinese and Western medicine based on literature retrieval through PICO question and complementary and alternative medicine topics

An evidence-based practice method according to literature retrieval through PICO (Patients, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) questions and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) topics, which can obtain helpful evidence for guiding clinical practice, was introduced with a practical example in this paper. The knowledge of diseases and Western medicine treatment can be acquired by literature retrieval through PICO question, while searching by CAM topics may provide evidence for Chinese medicine (CM). Thus the author held that literature retrieval through both PICO question and CAM topics was an ideal evidence-based practice method for integrative Chinese and Western medicine (ICWM). However, since the standard in CM evidence hierarchy is still under study, the value of the CAM thematic retrieval method remains very limited. In the future, studies on the definition and hierarchy of CM evidences and the herb-drug interaction between Western and Chinese medicine during a combination therapy should be strengthened to improve the status of ICWM evidence-based practice.

Treatment using Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine in hormone-dependent myasthenia gravis

Objective: The aim of this study was to observe the therapeutic effect of integrative Chinese and Western medicine (ICWM) and single Western medicine approaches in treating patients with myasthenia gravis and summarize remedial before and after changes in acetylcholine receptor content and attenuation of repetitive nerve stimulation of electromyography of the two groups. Methods: The Western medicine group included 18 patients treated with prednisone, and the ICWM group included 50 patients treated with Chinese traditional medicine, Zhongjiling, which has the therapeutic principle of ‘warming and coordinating Qi yang and supporting Zhenyuan.’ The period of treatment was 3 months. Results: In the ICWM group, the cure rate was 10%, elementary rate was 18%, appearing effect rate was 42% and the total effective rate was 92%. In the Western medicine group, the rates were 6.3, 10.4, 20.8 and 77.1%, respectively. In the ICWM group, 14 patients were withdrawn from prednisone treatment (28%), 36 patients had their...

Progress of integrative Chinese and Western medicine in treating polycystic ovarian syndrome caused infertilit

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most popular diseases that cause menstrual dysfunction and infertility in women. The present paper is a brief retrospection on the progress in treatment of PCOS caused infertility with integrative Chinese and Western medicine (ICWM). It can be seen from these materials that using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) recipes formulated by Shen-replenishing herbs or acupuncture to reinforce Gan-Shen, regulate Chong-Ren Channels in treating PCOS, stable clinical efficacy could be obtained, with less adverse reaction, though the effect initiated somewhat late. Whereas, when Shen-replenishing recipe and acupuncture are combined with hormone or ovulation promoting drugs of Western medicine, the above-mentioned shortcomings would be overcome. So, this combined therapy is frequently used in clinical practice.

Treatment of severe post-kidney-transplant lung infection by integrative Chinese and Western medicine

Objective: To explore treatments of severe post-kidney-transplant lung infection by integrative Chinese and Western medicine (ICWM), in order to elevate the curing rate as well as to lower the death rate.Methods: Based on conventional ways of Western medical treatments of 18 cases of severe post-kidney-transplant lung infection, such as putting the patients in single individual ward, antibiotics to prevent infection, respiratory machines, blood filtration, nutritional support, steroids, and maintaining electrolytes balance, we applied integrated Chinese medicinal treatments, like altering conventional prescription “pneumonia III”, and conducted clinical observation of effectiveness, and indexes including white blood cell (WBC), neutrophilic granulocyte, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), blood creatinine (Cr), etc.Results: Of the 18 cases studied, 7 were already cured, 8 proved the treatment effective, 3 died. All clinical indexes had statistically significant changes compared with those of before treatment (P<0.01).Conclusion: ICWM can increase curing rate and lower death rate.

Effect of combination of Bushen Jianpi Recipe and erythropoietin on serum tumor necrosis factor a in patients with anemia

To study the effect of treatment of renal anemia by combination of Bushen Jianpi Recipe (BJR, a Chinese experience recipe for supplementing Shen and supporting Pi) and low dosage erythropoietin (EPO), and the influence of treatment on change of serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) so as to explore the possible mechanism of integrative Chinese and western medicine (ICWM) in treating renal anemia. Patients with renal anemia were randomly divided into two groups, the ICWM group and the control group, symptomatic and supporting treatment such as dialysis, supplementing of ferrous, foliac acid and vitamin B12, was given to both groups. Additionally, to the ICWM group, 50 IU/kg of EPO subcutaneous injection for twice every week, and oral intake of BJR, one dose per day taken in two parts, were given, and to the control group, EPO alone, 50 IU/kg by subcutaneous injecting, 3 times per week, was given. The therapeutic course for two groups was 3 months. Blood levels of hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), TNF-alpha were measured before treatment and the therapeutic effect was observed. After treatment, the levels of Hb and Hct increased significantly in both groups (P < 0.01), comparison between the two groups in Hb and Hct after being treated for 3 months showed significant difference (P < 0.05). The serum level of TNF-alpha was markedly higher than normal range in both groups before treatment, it significantly lowered after treatment in the ICWM group (P < 0.05), but unchanged in the control group. Combination of BJR and EPO could significantly inhibit the production of TNF-alpha, this may be an important factor for ICWM in effectively improving sensitivity to EPO.

Effects of integrative Chinese and Western medicine on arterial oxygen saturation in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome

Objective: To evaluate the effects of treatment of integrative Chinese and Western medicine (ICWM) on arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).Methods:The non-randomized, controlled trial was conducted on 447 SARS patients treated synchronously with western conventional treatment (WM group,n = 171) alone and ICWM (ICWM group,n = 276). The changes of the cases with normal level (≥95%) or abnormal level (<95%) SaO2 were observed dynamically.Results: In the 3rd-14th day of the therapeutic course, the percentage of patients with normal SaO2 in the ICWM group was higher than that in the WM group (OR = 0. 5178,P = 0.0038), and this tendency was more evident in patients of the severe type (OR = 0.18,P = 0.0001). However, the statistical significance of difference was only shown in patients for whom the ICWM treatment started in the early period after the onset (<-7 days after it, OR = 0.3803,P = 0.006), but not shown in those who received ICWM treatment later in the mid-late period of SARS (P>0.05).Conclusion: ICWM treatment, particularly when it is used for intervention in the early stage, is beneficial for maintaining normal SaO2 in SARS patients.

Therapeutic effect of integrative traditional Chinese and western medicine on 51 SARS patients and its influence on their T lymphocyte subsets

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of integrative Chinese and western medicine (IC-WM) in treatment of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and its influence on their T-lymphocyte subsets.Methods: Fifty-one patients with SARS of severe type were observed with synchronous non-randomized controlled method. They were divided into the ICWM group (29 patients) and the western medicine (WM) group (22 patients). Western medical treatment was applied to both groups, but to the ICWM group, Chinese medicine was given additionally. The therapeutic course was 2–3 weeks for both groups. Clinical effect and changes of T-lymphocyte subsets (CD4+) after treatment were observed.Results: In the ICWM group, 26 patients (89. 66%) were cured and 3 (10. 34%) died, while in the WM group, 12 (54. 55%) cured and 10 (45. 45%) died, thus comparison of the cure rate between the two groups showing significant difference (P <0.01). The score of clinical symptoms in the ICWM group was decreased from 7.14±5.20 scores before treatment to 1.82±3.75 scores after treatment, while in the WM group, it lowered from 7. 36±3.84 scores before treatment to517±417 scores after treatment, significant difference shown in the comparison of the values between the two groups after treatment (P < 0.01). Immunological function test showed that CD4+ T-lymphocyte in the ICWM group rose from 361 ± 278 cells/mm3 before treatment to 630 ± 454 cells/mm3 after treatment, showing significant difference (P < 001); but in the WM group, it merely rose from 288±186 cells/mm3 to 376±285 cells/mm3 in the corresponding period (P > 0.05).Conclusion: ICWM could improve the clinical symptoms of SARS patients markedly, enhance their T-lymphocyte immune function, and reduce their mortality.

Clinical controlled study of integrative Chinese and western medicine in treating 49 cases of SARS

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of integrative Chinese and western medicine (ICWM) in treating severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients.Methods: Through parallel control design, 49 SARS patients were observed. Used as control, there were in the western medicine (WM) group 29 patients, who were treated with Ribavirin, Levofloxacin, Thymopentin, Azithromycin, methylprednisolone, etc., on the basis of “Recommended Protocol for Infectious Atypical Pneumonia” (abbreviated as “Recommended Protocol”) issueed by Ministry of Health. As the treated group, there were in the ICWM 20 cases. The protocol for treatment of SARS in “Special Science and Technological Action to Prevent and Treat SARS” (abbreviated as “Special S-T Action”), issued by Ministry of Science and Technology, together with the same WM as those for the control group.Results: (1) Time from the disease onset to the symptom improvement were 5.10±2. 83 days and 7. 62±2. 27 days in ICWM and WM group respectively,P < 0.05; (2) As to corticosteroid (CS) amount and days before reducing dosage, 2 groups showed no significant difference,P > 0.05; (3) There was no significant difference in the time from disease onset to the body temperature normalization and the total amount of CS and the duration of using CS before reducing it to 80 mg between the ICWM group and the WM group; (4) The days and amounts for use CS after reducing between the ICWM group and the WM group were significantly different (P < 0. 05).Conclusion: There were obvious advantages in ICWM to treat SARS, compared with that of WM alone, especially in improving the clinical symptoms, promoting the recovery of immune function, promoting the absorption of pulmonary inflammation and reducing the dosage and duration of CS treatment.

Clinical evaluation of integrative Chinese and western medicine in treating SARS

Objective: To evaluate the effective treatment with integrative Chinese and western medicine (ICWM) of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).Methods: The 65 cases of SARS patients were treated with ICWM and 37 cases with western medicine (WM) alone as the control in our hospital from March 11 to April 30, 2003. The results were analyzed, with T subset profile tested for all the 102 patients.Results: Sixty-five cases of SARS patients treated with ICWM included 52 mild cases of whom 51 cases were cured (98.1%) and no patient died. As to the 13 severe cases in this group, 9 were cured (69. 2%) and 2 died (15. 4%). Of the 37 cases treated with WM alone, 16 out of the 18 common cases were cured (88. 9%) and 10 out of the 19 severe cases were cured (52. 6%), with the other 9 died (47. 4%). Comparison between the two groups (P=0. 061) showed the difference was close to the value for statistical significance. But considering that the number of samples was small, more cases are needed for further study. The immune function examination: in cases of the common type, after ICWM treatment, CD4 + T lymphocytes were increased from 360±247 cell/mm3 to 563±479 cell/mm3 (P 0.05). In the group of severe cases treated with WM alone, CD4 + T lymphocytes reduced from 229±69 cell/mm3 to 205±108 cell/mm3 (P > 0.05). While after ICWM treatment, CD4 + T lymphocytes were significantly higher than that of the group treated with WM alone (P < 0.05).Conclusion: Compared with the group treated with WM alone, ICWM can significantly improve the prognosis, reduce the mortality as well as improve the immune function of SARS patients.

Clinical characteristics of 42 SARS patients and their treatment of integrative Chinese and western medicine

Objective: To understand the clinical manifestation of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and explore its effective treatment with integrative Chinese and western medicine (ICWM).Methods: The data of patients, whose diagnosis of SARS had been confirmed were summarized and analyzed, and clinical observation was conducted when the patients were treated with ICWM.Results: In the early stage of the 42 patients, the symptoms revealed were fever in 100% of SARS patients, headache in 92. 9%, aversion to cold in 76. 2%, chest stuffiness in 76. 2%, cough in 73. 8% and myalgia in 88. 1%; pulmonary lesion involves ≥3 lobes in 42. 9%, 2 lobes in 47. 6% and 1 lobe in 9. 5%; 61. 9% of them showed liver function abnormality (increase of ALT or AST), 47. 6% showed elevated myocardial enzyme (CK or CK-MB), 0. 48% showed an inclination of renal function (higher of BUN or Cr); in their T lymphocyte subsets, 91. 2% (31/34 patients) had lowered CD3 and 76. 5% (26/34 patients) lowered CD4/CD8 ratio. In the mid-late stage, the symptoms were lassitude and weakness in 85. 7%, scare in 81. 0%, short of breath or chest stuffiness in 71. 4%, loss of appetite in 64. 3%; light dark tongue proper in 52.4%, yellow and white tongue coating in 45. 2%, and yellow thick coating on the middle-root part of the tongue in 21. 4%. Most of them were asymptomatic when discharged from hospital, with 92. 8% of their pulmonary lesion, according to chest film, completely absorbed and liver function, myocardial enzyme and renal function all normalized. However, of the 30 patients who had CD3 reexamination, 70% of the CD3 showed lower than normal range and 36. 7% showed their CD4/CD8 inclined to lower margin, follow-up should be done for these patients. Of the 42 patients, who received western medicine (WM) alone in the early stage and ICWM in the mid-late stage, 10 were severe cases and 3 critical cases, but none of them died. The mean defervescent time was 3. 52±0. 85 days, the time for complete absorption of pulmonary lesion judged by chest X-ray film was 26. 82±5. 98 days, and the mean hospitalization time was 33. 60±4. 37 days.Conclusion: The manifestation of SARS is multifarious, showing that there were damage in multiple organs. The T lymphocyte count percentage and its subsets, CD3 and CD4 /CD8 ratio, are valuable for early diagnosis and follow-up in the rehabilitation stage. Majority of the patients could be clinically cured. Combined treatment of WM and TCM according to syndrome differentiation and psychiatric intervention are beneficial to remit partial symptoms and promote rehabilitation.

Preliminary study on clinical efficacy of integrative Chinese and western medicine in treating severe acute respiratory syndrome

Objective: To explore the treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) by integrative Chinese and western medicine (ICWM), for elevating the clinical therapeutic level of SARS. Methods: By adopting the randomized controlled method, the clinical efficacy of treatment of patients with SARS, hospitalized from April 10,2003 to May 20, 2003 in Ditan Hospital, Beijing weas evaluated. All the patients were treated by western medicine according to the therapeutic program recommended by the SARS Coordinating Group, the Chinese decoction for clearing Heat and removing Dampness was given additionally to the 35 patients in the treated group, but it was not given to the 30 patients in the control group. The therapeutic effect in the two groups was analyzed and compared. Results: The efficacy of treatment in the treated group was superior to that in the control group, in apects of promoting the absorption of pulmonary inflammation and alleviating the inhibitory state of lymphocyte. Conclusion: Efficacy of SARS treatment with ICWM is better than that with western medicine alone.

Therapeutic evaluation on advanced pancreatic cancer Treated by Integrative Chinese and western medicine — Clinical analysis of 56 cases

Objective:In comparison with chemotherapy, to evaluate therapeutic effects on advanced pancreatic cancer treated by integrative Chinese and western medicine (ICWM) therapies.Methods: Based on the retrospective study of 56 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, life table was applied to the analysis of patients’ survival rate and χ2 test to the comparison of therapeutic response between ICWM and chemotherapy groups.Results: The results showed that 1-year survival rate in the ICWM group was 55. 37%±3.24%; 2-year survival rate 34. 61%±16. 31%; 3-year survival rate 25. 96%±24. 64%; 5-year survival rate 2596%±24.64%; and median survival period 16.3 months. However 1-year survival rate in the chemotherapy group was 21. 95%±27. 54%; 2-year survival rate 7. 31%±27. 54%; 3-year survival rate 0%; and median survival period 7. 5 months. The therapeutic effects between two groups were significantly different (P=0. 004). Further analysis suggested that the reduction of cancer mass in the ICWM group was more than that in chemotherapy group (P=0.049) and the improvement of advanced pancreatic cancer related-symptoms better than that of chemotherapy group (P = 0. 002).Conclusion: The ICWM comprehensive therapy is of important value in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer.