TCM Syndrome Score Research Articles

Multicenter randomly controlled trial on acupoint injection therapy with Chinese herbal medicines for oculomotor paralysis

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical effect of acupoint injection therapy for paralysis of oculomotor nerve with Chinese herbal medicines. MethodsA total number of 456 patients from 3 centers with paralysis of oculomotor nerve were randomly divided into an acupoint injection group and a control group with 228 cases each. Patients in the acupoint injection group were treated with injection of Chinese herbal medicines to Jīngmíng (▪ BL 1), Yángbái (▪ GB 14), Sìbái (▪ ST 2), Tóngziliáo (▪ GB 1) on the affected side, and Gĕnshū (▪ BL 18) on both sides, Compound Angelica Injection was the main drug, and the corresponding acupoints and other injection drugs were also used according to differentiation of syndrome. Patients in the control group were treated with common western medicine. The treatment was given once a day, 10 times constituted one course with 3 days of interval. After 3 courses, the effect was assessed. TCM syndrome score, eyeball movement degree, the sizes of oculi rimae and pupil of the two groups were recorded before and after treatment. ResultsThe effective rate of acupoint injection group was 91.7% (209/228), and that of the control group was 73.6% (168/228). There was statistical significance in comparing the difference between the two groups (P<0.05). TCM syndrome scores of the two groups after the treatment became less obviously than those before the treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05), the score of acupoint injection group was more reduced than that of the control group (P<0.05). Eyeball movement degree and oculi rimae were enlarged and the pupil reduced in the affected eye in both groups after the treatment (all P<0.05). The musculus rectus medialis for the eyeball movement in the acupoint injection group was more improved than that of the control group, and the oculi rimae was bigger in the acupoint injection group than that in the control group (both P<0.05). ConclusionAcupoint injection therapy with Chinese herbal medicines has assured effect on the treatment of oculomotor paralysis.

Zhen gan xi feng decoction, a traditional chinese herbal formula, for the treatment of essential hypertension: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Objectives. To assess the clinical effectiveness and adverse effects of Zhen Gan Xi Feng Decoction (ZGXFD) for essential hypertension (EH). Methods. Five major electronic databases were searched up to August 2012 to retrieve any potential randomized controlled trials designed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of ZGXFD for EH reported in any language, with main outcome measure as blood pressure (BP). Results. Six randomized trials were included. Methodological quality of the trials was evaluated as generally low. Four trials compared prescriptions based on ZGXFD with antihypertensive drugs. Meta-analysis showed that ZGXFD was more effective in BP control and TCM syndrome and symptom differentiation (TCM-SSD) scores than antihypertensive drugs. Two trials compared the combination of modified ZGXFD plus antihypertensive drugs with antihypertensive drugs. Meta-analysis showed that there is significant beneficial effect on TCM-SSD scores. However, no significant effect on BP was found. The safety of ZGXFD is still uncertain. Conclusions. ZGXFD appears to be effective in improving blood pressure and hypertension-related symptoms for EH. However, the evidence remains weak due to poor methodological quality of the included studies. More rigorous trials are warranted to support their clinical use.

Chinese patent medicine liu wei di huang wan combined with antihypertensive drugs, a new integrative medicine therapy, for the treatment of essential hypertension: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Objectives. To assess the beneficial and adverse effects of Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (LWDHW), combined with antihypertensive drugs, for essential hypertension. Methods. Five major electronic databases were searched up to August 2012 to retrieve any potential randomized controlled trials designed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of LWDHW combined with antihypertensive drugs for essential hypertension reported in any language, with main outcome measures as blood pressure. The quality of the included studies was assessed with the Jadad scale and a customized standard quality assessment scale. Results. 6 randomized trials were included. The methodological quality of the trials was evaluated as generally low. The pooled results showed that LWDHW combined with antihypertensive drugs was more effective in blood pressure and the scale for TCM syndrome and symptom differentiation scores compared with antihypertensive drugs alone. Most of the trials did not report adverse events, and the safety is still uncertain. Conclusions. LWDHW combined with antihypertensive drugs appears to be effective in improving blood pressure and symptoms in patients with essential hypertension. However, the evidence remains weak due to the poor methodological quality of the included studies.

Clinical Research into Qufeng Zhidong Recipe Used to Treat 31 Children with Tic Disorder

To assess the therapeutic effect and adverse reaction of Qufeng Zhidong Recipe (a recipe for dispelling wind to stop abnormal movement) used to treat children with tic disorder (TD). The enrolled patients were randomized into a TCM group (31 cases) treated with Qufeng Zhidong Recipe and a Western medicine group (30 cases) treated with haloperidol and trihexyphenidyl. Two courses of treatment were observed with 12 weeks as one course. The therapeutic effect and adverse reaction were assessed with Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS), Tic Symptom Score Scale (TSSS), TCM Syndrome Score Scale (TCMSSS), Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS) and laboratory examinations. The total effective rate was 100% in the TCM group and 60% in the Western medicine group with statistical significance in difference (P < 0.05). All the scores in the TCM group were better than those in the Western medicine group (P < 0.05). Qufeng Zhidong Recipe can obviously relieve the symptoms and signs of TD children without toxic side-effects.

Effect of Xin’ anning Nasal Drop (心安宁滴鼻剂) in treating coronary heart disease with unstable angina pectoris

To observe the clinical efficacy of Xin'anning Nasal Drop (XAND) in treating coronary heart disease with unstable angina pectoris (CHD-UAP). Sixty patients with CHD-UAP were assigned, according to the randomizing number table, to two groups, the control group treated with conventional Western medicine, and the treated group treated with conventional Western medicine plus XAND. The clinical efficacy and the changes of S-T segment in resting EKG and total ischemia burden (TIB) in 24-h dynamic EKG were observed. The clinical efficacy, including the effect of angina alleviation, its initiation, and the effect of TCM syndrome score reduction, were significantly superior in the treated group to those in the control group ( P<0.05 or P<0.01). The degree and extent of myocardial ischemia were significantly improved in both groups ( P<0.01), but the improvement in the treated group was better than that in the control group ( P<0.05). Moreover, it was worth mentioning that the immediate effect in the treated group was better than that in the control group, and the reduction of TIB, the improvement in heart rate and myocardial oxygen consumption (immediately after the first administration or by the end of the therapeutic course), and systolic blood pressure after treatment in the former were all superior to those in the latter, showing significant difference (P<0.05 or P<0.01). XAND has a quick effect in alleviating angina in patients with CHD-UAP, and it is worthy of further studies and spreading in clinical practice. unstable angina pectoris, Xin'anning Nasal Drop, clinical study

Clinical observation on quality of life in coronary artery bypass grafting patients treated according to syndrome differentiation of TCM

To evaluate the clinical effect and quality of life (QOL) in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients treated according to syndrome differentiation of TCM. Eighty-two CABG patients were allocated in the control group (n = 39) treated with conventional method of western medicine, and the TCM-treated group (n = 43) treated according to syndrome differentiation of TCM based on the conventional western medicine. The Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) was used to assess the clinical effect and quality of life. After 2 months treatment, the TCM syndrome score in TCM-treated group was better, and the score of SAQ was higher than that in the control group (all P < 0.01). In the aspects of anginal stability, anginal frequency, treatment satisfaction and disease perception, there was significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). TCM treatment could promote recovery, improve symptoms and elevate QOL of CABG patients.