Traditional Chinese Medication Research Articles

Efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is a highly prevalent chronic pain syndrome that affects up to 4% of the population and causes significant morbidity and disability, with an increasing associated cost. Though many approaches for treatment have been tested, therapy regimens are still elusive, and efficacy is limited. This review summarizes the background of fibromyalgia and acupuncture and reviews the latest and seminal literature discussing the application of acupuncture in fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is hard to treat, owing both to its chronicity and poorly understood pathophysiology and etiology. Current treatments target symptoms primarily, and few attempt to address the source. Efficacious treatment requires long-term treatment by a multidisciplinary team. Though several treatments exist, they still fall short with a substantial number of patients. Acupuncture, a form of integrative medicine, has been a part of traditional Chinese medication for generations. Evidence shows that it effectively treats different kinds of pain conditions, including migraines and chronic musculoskeletal pain. Recent studies showed evidence to support its use in fibromyalgia. Clinical trials studying acupuncture in fibromyalgia have shown improvement in pain, quality of sleep, and quality of life, though the quality of evidence is mainly low to medium. Several studies were not able to provide evidence to support real over sham acupuncture. Weighing the overall evidence paints a picture of mixed results between equivocal results to positive. In analyzing these results, one must also consider publication bias supporting the dissemination of positive results. An increasing number of studies support the utilization of acupuncture for the treatment of fibromyalgia. Though no head-to-head comparison was able to show the superiority of acupuncture to other therapies, mounting evidence supports its use as part of multimodal approaches to treatment with additive efficacy to traditional therapy. Further research will likely provide data on effective regimens and combination therapies.

Efficacy and safety of Naoxintong capsule for treating chronic stable angina: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundCardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, Chronic stable angina (CSA) is the main symptom of myocardial ischemia, causes increased risk of major cardiovascular events such as sudden cardiac death and myocardial infarction. Naoxintong (NXT) capsule is a classical traditional Chinese medication used to treat CSA, however, few evidence to support the wide utility of NXT capsule for the treatment of CSA. We design this study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of NXT capsule versus placebo in patients with CSA.Methods/designThis is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. A total of 260 eligible participants will be enrolled. The participants will be randomized assigned in an equal ratio to groups receiving either NXT or placebo for 12 weeks. After a 2-week run-in period, they will receive either NXT or placebo (3 pills, 3 times daily) for 12 weeks. The primary outcome is therapeutic efficacy. Secondary outcome measures include the quantitative score of TCM syndromes, severity grading of angina pectoris, the number of angina pectoris per week, nitroglycerin dosage, score of Seattle angina scale, serum homocysteine, and incidence of cardiovascular events. Safety outcomes and adverse events will be monitored throughout the trial.DiscussionWe designed this study in accordance with principles and regulations issued by the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA). The results will provide clinical evidence of the efficacy and safety of NXT Capsule in the treatment of CSA.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2100044563. Registered on 24 March 2020.

RETRACTED: Medical intelligent processor system and traditional Chinese medicine to treat endometriosis

It is viewed as human sickness; an ongoing report shows that it very well might be a significant reason for metastatic malignant growth and barrenness. It additionally has been related to different illnesses identified with the capacity of the invulnerable framework. Hereditary and ecological variables are known to impact the turn of events and side effects of endometriosis. Danger elements of endometriosis in a ladies are a synopsis of the most recent exploration of analysis and treatment. As an effective and novel knowledge management technology, the Knowledge Graph provides a new way to inherit the traditional Chinese medicine development. However, the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) knowledge graph is based on the current configuration data. An inserted Web worker is a blend of installed gadgets and Internet innovation. Focus on the advancement of clinical MSP430 and Acorn RISC Machine (ARM) 11 (Raspberry Pi) inside organization workers. For instance, blood oxygen, pulse, an information obtaining arrangement of the patient endometriosis, circulatory strain plan Utilized as a simple front end and the arm as Linux OS and a leading computerized group of the base station of the organization completely utilitarian In a restricted space worker, the fundamental thought, as specialists realize the medical issue of the patient, to realize the ailment of the patient, is the shading Occasionally, he is likewise a spot that doesn't arrive at the patient, as expected. Traditional Chinese Medication (TCM) is created, including different types of traditional Chinese medication. Needle therapy, just as development, depends on the idea of a typical act of the year and the customary drug stocks in a wide reach sustenance therapy. It, for the most part, is utilized as a reciprocal and elective clinical medicine. Since it is based is consumed into the philosophical hypothesis. Impact of Chinese philosophical works by the greater part of five components and a similar likeness hypothesis microcosm of the universe is grounded.

Effects of Traditional Chinese Medication‐Based Bioactive Compounds on Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Oxidative Stress

The oxidative stress reaction is the imbalance between oxidation and antioxidation in the body, resulting in excessive production of oxygen free radicals in the body that cannot be removed, leading to excessive oxidation of the body, and causing damage to cells and tissues. A large number of studies have shown that oxidative stress is involved in the pathological process of many diseases, so inhibiting oxidative stress, that is, antioxidation, is of great significance for the treatment of diseases. Studies have shown that many traditional Chinese medications contain antioxidant active bioactive compounds, but the mechanisms of those compounds are different and complicated. Therefore, by summarizing the literature on antioxidant activity of traditional Chinese medication-based bioactive compounds in recent years, our review systematically elaborates the main antioxidant bioactive compounds contained in traditional Chinese medication and their mechanisms, so as to provide references for the subsequent research.

Study on traditional Chinese medicine medication for acne of wind-heat type in lung meridian based on data mining and network pharmacology

Acne vulgaris of wind-heat in lung meridian is a common skin disease, and there are many traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions, but the mechanism is still not clear. In this paper, the literature on the treatment of acne due to wind-heat in lung meridian and the prescriptions in the patents were collected and sorted out in the past twenty years. Excel 2019 was used for medication frequency statistics, and IBM SPSS 25.0 was used for clustering analysis to obtain the core formula. Network pharmacology was used to collect the related targets of drugs and diseases, to construct the action network, and to conduct enrichment analysis. A total of 137 prescriptions and 167 drugs were obtained. The core prescriptions were Cortex mori, Folium eriobotryae, Scutellariae radix, Glycyrrhrizae radix, Fructus gardeniae, Radix rehmanniae, and Cortex moutan. The treatment of acne due to wind-heat in lung meridian should begin with clearing heat, purging the lung, cooling blood and detoxicating. The core prescriptions mainly played a role through AKT1, IL6, TP53, TNF, VEGFA, EGF targets and Kaposi's sarcoma-related herpes virus infection, measles, toxoplasmosis, EB virus infection, IL-17, MAPK and other signaling pathways, so as to provide reference for further clinical research.

Chinese traditional medicine (GuiZhi-ShaoYao-ZhiMu decoction) as an add-on medication to methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Background:GuiZhi-ShaoYao-ZhiMu decoction (GSZD), a traditional Chinese herbal medication, has been frequently used as an add-on medication to methotrexate (MTX) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment in China. This meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of adding GSZD to MTX for RA treatment.Methods:We performed a systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library (all databases) for English-language studies and WanFang, VIP, and CNKI for Chinese-language studies up to 28 July 2020. Data from selected studies, mainly the response rates and rate of adverse events (AEs), were extracted independently by two authors, and a random-effects model (Mantel–Haenszel method) was used for the meta-analysis.Results:A total of 14 randomized controlled trials and 1224 patients were included (623 patients in the GSZD + MTX group and 601 patients in the MTX group). For efficacy, the meta-analysis found that combining GSZD with MTX increased the effective rate [relative risk (RR) = 1.24, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.18–1.30, based on 1069 patients], defined as >30% efficacy, American College of Rheumatology 20, or a decrease of disease activity score 28 >0.6. Adding GSZD reduced the swollen and tender joint counts, the duration of morning stiffness, the levels of C-reactive protein and rheumatoid factor, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The adjuvant therapeutic effect of GSZD was independent of the dose of MTX or the combined utilization of other drugs in both groups. For safety, adding GSZD was associated with a lower rate of total AEs (RR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.26–0.83, based on 615 patients) and gastrointestinal tract AEs (RR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.24–0.88, based on 537 patients).Conclusion:Combining GSZD with MTX may be a more efficacious and safer strategy for treating RA compared with MTX alone. Further large studies are warranted to investigate the long-term efficacy and safety of adding GSZD to MTX for RA treatment.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy of MLC901 (NeuroAiD IITM) for Acute Ischemic Brain Injury in Animal Models.

Introduction.Moleac (MLC) 901 is a traditional Chinese medication approved by the Sino Food and Drug Administration in 2001 for treating stroke. This study aims to analyze the efficacy of MLC901 in animal stroke models after medial cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).Methods.Literature selection was performed according to the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA) 2015. Inclusion criteria for the experimental studies were the use of animal models, publication in English between 1990 and 2020, information regarding the intervention technique used, and outcomes regarding the efficacy of MLC901 administration.Results.MLC901 administration resulted in significantly less infarction volume by a mean difference of 17.17 compared to the control group (p < .00001). The MLC901 group resulted in significant improvement in 5-bromo-20-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-positive cells expression by a mean difference of 662.79 (p < .00001) and neurological function, which was indicated by a mean difference in the Bederson Neurological Outcome Score of 1.40 (p < .00001).Conclusions.MLC901 administration in an animal stroke model resulted in a better reduction in infarction volume and improvement in BrdU expression and neurologic function. These data could help in further determining the efficacy of MLC901 for acute ischemic brain injury in humans.

Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Aspects of Rubus niveus thumb Plant – A Review

Several plant species are utilized in extraordinary common remedy system around the globe and are viewed as doable marketers for the revelation of new medications. Traditional Chinese medication have a long history of flora therapeutically including multiple species of the genus Rubus (Rosaceae). The pharmacological effects of Rubus include antibacterial, antistress, anticancer, antiaging, antiinflammatory, antigastropathic, antirheumatic, antinocieptive, anxiolytic and antigiardial activities. In India, the roots of Rubus niveus (R. niveus) are utilized to treat women for excessive menstrual bleeding and its juice extract as an antidote of snake bite. R. niveus root helps to relieve rheumatoid pain, clear warmness, detoxify, clear wind damp and deal with dysentery. This review article is focused on the ethanopharmacological, phytochemical and pharmacognostical standardization and pharmacological activity of R. niveus.

The thromboprotective effect of traditional Chinese medicine Tongji 2 granules is dependent on anti-inflammatory activity by suppression of NF-κB pathways.

Inflammation is a vital physiological response of the immune system meant to protect against the invasion of pathogens. However, accumulating evidence describes an intimate link between inflammation and thrombosis and cellular elements of the immune system of the immune system such as neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages are emerging as key players in the generation of a prothrombotic milieu suggesting that anti-inflammatory therapy may have a role in the management of thrombosis that is driven by inflammation. Tongji 2 (TJ2) is a traditional Chinese medication manufactured as granules by Tongji hospital of Tongji University (Shanghai, China) with known anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we examine the effects of TJ2 on inflammation and thrombosis. Our study shows that TJ2 modulates NF-κB activation and thus generates a prominent anti-inflammatory effect. Further, we use mouse models of thrombosis to demonstrate that TJ2 has a beneficial effect in both arterial and venous thrombosis that occurs in the absence of alterations in platelet activation or coagulation.

Pharmacological Activity and Mechanism of Tanshinone IIA in Related Diseases.

Salvia miltiorrhiza: (Danshen) is a significant (traditional Chinese medication) natural remedy, enhancing blood circulation and clear blood stasis. In this view, it is widely used against several heart diseases, eg, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, and congenital heart defects. Tanshinone IIA (tan-IIA) is the main fat-soluble component of Salvia miltiorrhiza. Modern pharmacological study shows that tan-IIA has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities. Tan-IIA induces remarkable cardioprotective effects via enhancing angiogenesis which may serve as an effective treatment against cardiovascular diseases (CVD). There is also evidence that tan-IIA has extensive immunomodulatory effects and plays a significant role in the development and function of immune cells. Tan-IIA reduces the production of inflammatory mediators and restores abnormal signaling pathways via regulating the function and activation of immune cells. It can also regulate signal transduction pathways, ie, TLR/NF-κB pathway and MAPKs/NF-κB pathway, thereby tan-IIA has an anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, antithrombotic and neuroprotective role. It plays a protective role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disorders (ie, atherosclerosis, hypertension) and Alzheimer’s disease. It has also been revealed that tan-IIA has an anti-tumor role by killing various tumor cells, inducing differentiation and apoptosis, and has potential activity against carcinoma progression. In the review of this fact, the tan-IIA role in different diseases and its mechanism have been summarized while its clinical applications are also explored to provide a new perspective of Salvia miltiorrhiza. An extensive study on the mechanism of action of tan-IIA is of great significance for the effective use of Chinese herbal medicine and the promotion of its status and influence on the world.

Use of complementary therapies for chronic pain management in patients with reported Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or hypermobility spectrum disorders.

Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) and related Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD) are debilitating connective tissue disorders that feature a prominent pain component for which there are limited therapeutic options for pain management. Consequently, many patients try various non-prescribed treatments, including complementary and alternative therapies that have not been well studied in the EDS/HSD patient population. We surveyed over 500 individuals through the EDS Society who reported having been diagnosed with EDS or HSD to ascertain what complementary and alternative therapies were used and their reported effectiveness in alleviating pain and improving quality of life. Specifically, we focused on the use of traditional Chinese therapies, herbal medications, and marijuana. The most commonly reported therapies, used by 70-92% of participants, were non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, acetaminophen, opioids, and physical therapy. Therapies rated by participants as most efficacious were opioids, physical therapy, and marijuana with 10-24% of those using these therapies rating them as extremely helpful. Patient-initiated complementary therapy use in EDS/HSD patients is widespread at 56%. Complementary therapies were largely utilized by EDS/HSD patients with higher reported pain levels. Providers caring for EDS/HSD patients should be aware of these data showing broad usage of predominantly non-prescribed therapies and be prepared to consider such usage in working collaboratively with these patients to develop comprehensive treatment plans to manage their chronic pain complications.

Guipi decoction for coronary heart disease: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Guipi Decoction (GPD) is a classical traditional Chinese medication used to treat CHD. However, systematic review and meta-analysis regarding its efficacy and safety has not been systematically evaluated. The objective of this protocol is to determine the efficacy and safety of GPD in the treatment of CHD. Randomized controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness and safety of GPD in the treatment of CHD will be retrieved from 8 electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, VIP Database, Wanfang Database and China Biology Medicine Database. Study selection, data collection, risk of bias assessment, and evaluation of the quality of evidence will be performed in order. Data will be analyzed by RevMan V.5.3.5 software. This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of GPD in the treatment of CHD. This systematic review will provide evidence for determining whether or not GPD is an effective and safe intervention for CHD. PROSPERO CRD 42020156420.

Qingda granules attenuate hypertensive cardiac remodeling and inflammation in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Qingda granules (QDG) are derived from QingXuanJiangYa Decoction (QXJYD) a traditional Chinese medication that has been used to treat hypertension for more than 60 years. QXJYD has been shown to be effective in rat models of hypertension. However, the effects of QDG on hypertension remain largely unknown. In the current study, baicalin was identified as one of the main components of QDG using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) analysis. We investigated the effects of QDG on blood pressure, cardiac remodeling, and cardiac inflammation. QDG (0.8 g/kg/day) treatment attenuated the elevated blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Moreover, QDG treatment reduced the degree of myocardial fiber disarray, degeneration and necrosis of myocardial cells, expression of ANP and BNP, as well as collagen content of SHRs. Moreover, we further assessed the effect of QDG treatment on cardiac inflammation and found that QDG treatment reduced CD68 protein expression, decreased levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in both serum and cardiac tissues, as well as suppressed activation of NF-κB pathway in cardiac tissues of SHRs. Differential expressed metabolites (DEMs) analysis identified 41 increased and 51 decreased metabolites in the cardiac tissues of SHRs after QDG treatment. In summary, QDG treatment of SHRs attenuated the elevated blood pressure and ameliorated cardiac remodeling and inflammation, in part, through suppression of NF-κB pathway and DEMs, which provide a basis for other therapeutic uses of this TCM.

Vaccines and Drug Therapeutics to Lock Down Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials

The ongoing novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been responsible for millions of infections and hundreds of thousands of deaths. To date, there is no approved targeted treatment, and many investigational therapeutic agents and vaccine candidates are being considered for the treatment of COVID-19. To extract and summarize information on potential vaccines and therapeutic agents against COVID-19 at different stages of clinical trials from January to March 2020, we reviewed major clinical trial databases such as ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), and other primary registries between January and March 15, 2020. Interventional studies at different phases under the COVID-19 pipeline were included. A total of 249 clinical trials were identified between January to March 15, 2020. After filtering observational studies (194 studies), a total of 56 interventional trials were considered. The majority of clinical trials have been conducted on chloroquine (n=10) and traditional Chinese medications (TCMs; n=10), followed by antivirals (n=8), anti-inflammatory/immunosuppressants (n=9), cellular therapies (n=4), combinations of different antivirals therapies (n=3), antibacterial (n=1), and other therapies (n=5). Five vaccines are under phase I, and there are a couple of phase III trials on the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine under investigation among healthcare workers. Many novel compounds and vaccines against COVID-19 are currently under investigation. Some candidates have been tested for other viral infections and are listed for clinical trials against the COVID-19 pipeline. Currently, there are no effective specific antivirals or drug combinations available for the treatment of COVID-19.

The Effects of a Traditional Chinese Medication on Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Objective: This feasibility study examined the effects of a particular Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herbal formula on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and related problem behaviors. Design: A total of 79 participants aging 6-12 years consumed a granulated TCM herbal formula twice daily over a period of 3 months and underwent assessments at months 0, 3, and 6. Changes in ADHD symptoms and related behaviors were measured using the ADHD rating scale-IV (ADHD-RS-IV), child behavior checklist (CBCL), children's global sssessment scale (CGAS), as well as the clinical global impressions-severity (CGI-S) and improvement (CGI-I) scales. Results: Repeated measures mixed model analyses revealed significant differences in scores across time on all ADHD-RS-IV and CBCL subscales as well as on the CGAS, CGI-S, and CGI-I scales. Pairwise comparisons between months 0 and 3 as well as months 0 and 6 indicated significant improvements in scores. Scores also did not differ significantly between months 3 and 6. The results may suggest that this particular TCM formula possesses potential therapeutic qualities in the treatment of ADHD. Furthermore, changes in ADHD symptoms generally appear to be stable 3 months after discontinuation. However, these findings could also be attributed to placebo effects as well as reporting biases. Conclusion: This particular TCM formula may prove to be a useful adjunctive treatment for children with ADHD, and randomized controlled trials need to be conducted to evaluate its efficacy.

Non-Targeted Metabolomic Profiling of Coronary Heart Disease Patients With Taohong Siwu Decoction Treatment.

Traditional Chinese medicine is one of the complementary and alternative therapies to improve the prognosis of coronary heart disease (CHD). Taohong Siwu Decoction (THSWD), a classical traditional Chinese medication that promotes blood circulation, is clinically beneficial in CHD. However, the underlying mechanism of THSWD is still unclear. To comprehensively understand the material foundation of the “blood”, it is significantly important to study the differential metabolites involved in the treatment of CHD with Chinese medicinal herb promoting blood circulation in TCM theory. Hence, this study investigated the metabolic profiles of the serum in CHD patients to determine the differential metabolites between the THSWD group and the placebo group. Eleven CHD patients were recruited and divided into two groups randomly and double-blindly. Serum samples were determined by performing non-targeted ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. Pearson’s correlation analysis was used to assess the association between identified metabolites and clinical serum indexes of CHD. Based on the result, a total of 513 metabolites were found in the serum of CHD patients, of which 27, involved in 29 metabolic pathways, were significantly different between the two groups. Among the differential metabolites, THSWD upregulated succinylcarnitine in fatty acid metabolism and 5′-methylthioadenosine in cysteine and methionine metabolism compared with the placebo group. However, THSWD downregulated pelargonic acid, involved in FA metabolism; succinate, involved in the tricarboxylic acid cycle; gluconic acid, gluconolactone, and d-glucose, involved in pentose phosphate pathway; glycerophosphocholine, involved in glycerophospholipid metabolism; 8,9-dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (8,9-DiHETrE), l-lysine, N-acetyl-l-aspartic acid, N-alpha-acetyl-l-asparagine, hippurate, indoxyl sulfate, and 3-ureidopropionate involved in amino acid metabolism compared with the placebo group. Moreover, succinylcarnitine, pelargonic acid, succinate, d-glucose, gluconic acid, l-lysine, N-alpha-acetyl-l-asparagine, 5′-methylthioadenosine, indoxyl sulfate, 8,9-DiHETrE, and 3-ureidopropionate were associated with total cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein. Succinylcarnitine, pelargonic acid, gluconolactone, N-acetyl-l-aspartic acid, N-alpha-acetyl-l-asparagine, hippurate, and 5′-methylthioadenosine were associated with activated partial thromboplastin time. Our findings indicated that glycerophosphocholine, 8,9-DiHETrE, 5′-methylthioadenosine, hippurate, indoxyl sulfate, and 3-ureidopropionate might constitute the partial material foundation of the “blood” in CHD patients treated with THSWD.

PND115 TREATMENT PATTERNS AND HEALTH CARE EXPENDITURES IN PATIENTS WITH CLUSTER HEADACHE: RESULTS FROM CHINA HEALTH INSURANCE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION (CHIRA) DATABASE

To understand the treatment patterns and health care expenditures among patients with cluster headache (CH) in China. We retrospectively analyzed data from China Health Insurance Research Association (CHIRA) database, which was collected from 87 sampling cities and over 19 million insured patients in the calendar year of 2016 and 2017. Patients aged≥ 18 years old, having at least one CH diagnosis (ICD-10 code G44.0 supplemented by physician’s Chinese characters description), without cancer, schizophrenia, stroke, and hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis were included for analysis. Descriptive analyses were performed to evaluate demographics, comorbidities, prescription medication usage and direct medical cost per visit in patients with CH. Of 90,948 people with outpatient claims for headache, 79 (0.087%) patients with 90 visits had CH diagnosis. The mean (SD) age was 50.1 (14.4) years old and 43.0% were female. The most common comorbidities were anxiety (6.3%) and major depressive disorder (2.5%). Hospital visits were more frequent in autumn and winter with the top two most frequently-visited months being September (14.4%) and January (12.2%). The majority (54.6%) of patients’ initial visits were from tertiary-level hospitals. Among CH patients, 30 (38.0%) patients had at least one prescription for acute treatments. Of the patients with any acute medication, the most common prescriptions are No patients were prescribed with oxygen. Only 10.1% of patients received preventive medications, with verapamil or prednisolone prescribed in 3 patients. Traditional Chinese medications were prescribed in 58.9% visits. The average cost per visit was USD 44.1±55.3 (median=27.4). The proportion of CH in headache patients is extremely low. CH is likely to be undertreated in China, both in acute and preventive aspects. Given the burden of the disease, improving availability of effective therapies might be in urgent need.

Real-world study on syndrome distribution and medication characteristics of colonic malignant tumors

In order to explore the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) syndromes and medications in patients with colonic malignant tumors in China, the clinical data of patients with colonic malignant tumors from the information system of 33 Grade-A tertiary hospitals in China from 2001 to 2016 were extracted and a descriptive analysis was conducted on their disease characteristics, syndrome distribution, drug characteristics and treatment status. A total of 22 691 patients with colonic malignancies nationwide were included in the analysis, with male to female ratio of 1.59∶1, median age of 62 years, susceptible age of 50-79 years. Postoperative patients with colonic malignant tumors accounted for 47.10%, and patients with liver metastases reached 36.02%. Among the 520 patients with colonic malignant tumors, the top three TCM syndromes were: spleen deficiency syndrome(21%), Qi and Yin deficiency syndrome(17%) and liver and stomach disharmony syndrome(15%). The most frequently used Western medicine for patients with colonic malignant tumors was anti-metabolite cytotoxicity(61.23%), most frequently used in combination with platinum-based cytotoxic drugs(support degree 42.40%).The top three Western medicines were oxaliplatin(42.26%), leucovorin injection(38.58%) and dexamethasone(34.67%). The most frequently used traditional Chinese medicine type was heat-clearing and detoxifying drugs(39.59%), most frequently used in combination with Qi replenishing and body resistance strengthening drugs(support degree 12.72%). The top three traditional Chinese medicines were compound Kushen Injection(14.62%), Shenqi Fuzheng Injection(10.18%) and Aidi Injection(6.48%). This study shows that spleen and Qi deficiency may be the dominant syndrome of colonic malignant tumor, and chemotherapy is one of the main treatment methods. Traditional Chinese medicine has shown unique advantages in alleviating the toxic and side effects of chemotherapy and preventing recurrence and metastasis, so integrated TCM and Western medicine can significantly improve the clinical efficacy.

Effects of moving cupping therapy for plaque psoriasis: study protocol for a randomized multicenter clinical trial

BackgroundIt is difficult to achieve a balance among safety, efficacy, and cost for the clinical treatment of plaque psoriasis. The current treatment of psoriasis often involves comprehensive therapy such as topical plasters, internal medicine, and phototherapy, which are expensive, and some of the drugs have serious side effects. Moving cupping is a type of cupping that has been used clinically for thousands of years in China. It has the advantage of being inexpensive and easy to perform. Therefore, it is widely used in public hospitals in China for psoriasis treatment. However, a comprehensive evaluation of the current clinical evidence of its efficacy is lacking. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of moving cupping to treat plaque psoriasis.MethodsA multicenter, two-arm parallel group, single-blind, randomized, controlled trial will be conducted at six hospitals in China between August 1, 2019 and December 31, 2021. A total of 122 adult patients (aged 18–65 years) who meet the inclusion criteria are being recruited. Participants will receive either basic treatment combined with moving cupping therapy or basic treatment combined with moving cupping placebo. The treatment cycle will be 4 weeks, and the efficacy of treatment will be assessed weekly by the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index during the treatment period and follow-up visits at weeks 6 and 8. The body surface area, physician’s global assessment, Dermatology Life Quality Index, patient-reported quality of life, visual analog scale, Traditional Chinese Medication syndrome scoring scale, combined medication, and adverse events will also be recorded and compared to the relative baseline values.DiscussionThe findings of this trial may lead to better decisions regarding the treatment of plaque psoriasis. If the trial outcomes are considered favorable, this ancient Chinese medical therapy may be worthy of widespread use because of its convenience and low cost.Trial registrationThis study was registered on May 15,2019 at ClinicalTrials.gov with the identifier number NCT03952676.

Protective effect of rhubarb combined with ulinastatin for patients with sepsis.

Background:Sepsis is the leading cause of death in critically ill patients. Ulinastatin (UTI), a protease inhibitor, and rhubarb, used as a traditional Chinese medication, are proved to be effective in treating sepsis, but the effect of the combination therapy of these two drugs on sepsis remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the combination treatment of UTI and rhubarb on sepsis patients.Methods:A total of 75 septic patients were randomly divided into control group, UTI group, Rhubarb group, and UTI plus Rhubarb group. Clinical data and score of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) were collected; lymphocyte subtypes in the peripheral blood were analyzed before and after the 5-day treatment in the Intensive Care Unit.Results:All the therapeutic interventions (UTI alone, rhubarb alone, or UTI plus rhubarb) significantly reduced the levels of C-Reactive protein, white blood cell density, lactic acid, and APACH II scores, and elevated the levels of CD4/CD8, but only UTI plus rhubarb treatment obviously decreased the level of procalcitonin.Conclusion:This study suggested that the combination of UTI and rhubarb may be a promising therapeutic scheme to ameliorate sepsis.