Traditional Chinese Medicine In Patients Research Articles

Research progress on influencing factors affecting the efficacy of moxibustion in treating knee osteoarthritis.

The article summarizes the relevant factors to the therapeutic effect of moxibustion on knee osteoarthritis, including the origin and storage time of moxa leaves, the time of moxibustion, the numbers of moxa cone, and the temperature when moxibustion is operated. Artemisia mugwort in Qichun county stored for over 3 years is the best regarding its property； and it is recommended for about 40 min in suspended moxibustion； and the heat-sensitive moxibustion is determined when the sensation of moxibustion disappears； and in terms of moxibustion techniques and the numbers of moxa cone, two moxa cones are optimal in warm needling, but the highly applicable duration of moxibustion needs to be confirmed through more high-quality studies. There are few studies on the other influencing factors, such as the specific operation of suspended moxibustion, the angle of knee flexion, treatment sequence, light and smoking factors, moxibustion method and disease staging and type； and the studies are limited in the comparison in terms of the middle-term and long-term efficacy, the comparison of the efficacy among different syndromes of traditional Chinese medicine in patients and the comparison among various frequencies and sessions of treatment. In future, more high-quality clinical trials should be designed to complete the evidence-based regimens and optimize clinical operations.

Usage Patterns of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Patients with Bipolar Disorder: A Population-Based Study in Taiwan.

Patients with bipolar disorder (BD) receive traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for clinical needs unmet with psychotropic medications. However, the clinical characteristics of practices and outcomes of TCM in BD are not fully understood. This cohort study investigated the clinical characteristics, principal diagnoses, TCM interventions, and TCM prescriptions in patients with BD. Data for a total of 12,113 patients with BD between 1996 and 2013 were withdrawn from Taiwan's longitudinal health insurance database 2000 (LHID 2000). The chi-square test was used for categorical variables, and the independent t-test was used for continuous variables. A p-value less than 0.05 indicated significance. One thousand three hundred nineteen patients who visited TCM clinics after the diagnosis of BD were in the TCM group, while those who never visited TCM were in the non-TCM group (n = 1053). Compared to the non-TCM group, patients in the TCM group had younger average age, a higher percentage of female individuals, more comorbidities of anxiety and alcohol use disorders, and higher mood stabilizer usage rates. The TCM group exhibited pain-related indications, including joint pain, myalgia, myositis, headache, and sleep disturbances. Corydalis yanhusuo and Shu-Jing-Huo-Xue-Tang were the most useful single herbs and herbal formulae. Physicians need to be aware of the use of TCM in patients with BD.

Efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of menopause-like syndrome for breast cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundIn recent years, breast cancer (BC) incidence and mortality have been the highest in females. Menopause-like syndrome (MLS), arising from hypoestrogenism caused by endocrine therapy, significantly affects the quality of life for females. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has advantages in ameliorating MLS, but the efficacy of TCM in patients with BC has not been systematically evaluated.MethodsA comprehensive search was performed on PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Ovid, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database, Chinese Scientific Journals Database, and Clinical Trial Registry from inception to September 4, 2023. The Cochrane Risk of Bias assessment tool was used for the quality evaluation of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Review Manager 5.4 software was used for statistical analysis, and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation was used for quality evaluation of the synthesized evidence.ResultsThis review included 42 studies involving 3112 female patients with BC. The results showed that the TCM group was better at decreasing the Kupperman Menopausal Index (KMI) scores (standardized MD, SMD = − 1.84, 95% confidence interval, CI [− 2.21–-1.46], Z = 9.63, P < 0.00001). Regarding the main symptoms of MLS, the TCM groups could significantly decrease the scores of hot flashes and night sweats (SMD = − 0.68, 95% CI [− 1.1–-0.27], Z = 3.24, P = 0.001), paraesthesia (SMD = − 0.48, 95% CI [− 0.74–-0.21], Z = 3.53, P = 0.0004), osteoarthralgia (SMD = − 0.41, 95% CI [− 0.6–0.21], Z = 4.09, P < 0.0001), anxiety (MD = − 0.85, 95% CI [− 1.13, − 0.58], Z = 6.08, P < 0.00001) and insomnia (MD = − 0.61, 95% CI [− 0.8, − 0.43], Z = 6.51, P < 0.00001). TCM can effectively improve the symptoms of MLS in patients with BC. Moreover, TCM could improve the objective response rate (ORR) by 50% (RR = 1.5, 95% CI [1.37–1.64], Z = 9.01, P < 0.00001). Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and oestradiol (E2) had no significant difference compared with the control group (p = 0.81 and p = 0.87), and luteinizing hormone (LH) in the TCM group decreased significantly (MD = − 0.99, 95% CI [− 1.38, − 0.5], Z = 5.01, P < 0.00001). This means that the use of TCM does not negatively affect endocrine therapy and may even have a synergistic effect. The incidence of adverse events (AEs) was lower in the TCM groups than in the control groups.ConclusionsThe meta-analysis stated that TCM could better improve the MLS of patients, alleviate related symptoms, and did not increase adverse drug reactions in BC survivors. This review brings more attention to MLS, and the present findings shed light on the potential applications of TCM in the treatment of MLS in BC survivors.

Efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine nursing intervention in postoperative patients after gastrectomy.

Gastrectomy is a technically demanding procedure for gastric cancer patients that is associated with different degrees of postoperative complications (POCs). Perioperative traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) nursing intervention presents benefits for improving the survival of patients with gastric cancer. However, the effects of TCM nursing intervention on POCs and the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer following surgery are far from clear. In the present study, the effects of TCM nursing intervention on POCs, postoperative physical capacity, metal status, long-term survival and recurrence were investigated in patients with gastric cancer after gastrectomy. In total, 1,032 patients with gastric cancer were included in the study. The patients underwent a gastrectomy and were randomly divided into two groups: The TCM nursing intervention group (TCM group; n=520) and the routine nursing intervention group (control group; n=512). Postoperative pain score, hospital stay, POCs, postoperative gastrointestinal function, frequency of postoperative symptoms, inflammatory index, quality of life, physical capacity, mental status, survival and recurrence were compared after gastrectomy in the TCM and control groups. The treatment-related adverse events of TCM in patients after gastrectomy were recorded in the TCM nursing intervention group. The outcomes showed that TCM nursing intervention decreased the postoperative pain score and hospital stay, improved gastrointestinal function, and decreased the POCs and the inflammation index compared with the control group. In addition, TCM nursing intervention improved physical capacity, quality of life, depression, anxiety, immune activity, long-term survival and recurrence in patients with gastric cancer after gastrectomy. Furthermore, TCM nursing intervention was only associated with a low number of adverse events. In conclusion, outcomes in this study indicate that perioperative TCM nursing intervention improves POCs, mental status, long-term survival and reduces the recurrence of patients with gastric cancer, suggesting that TCM nursing intervention is efficacious and safe with regard to improving the prognosis in these patients after gastrectomy (Retrospective clinical trial registration number, 2015001CW1; name of the register, The First Hospital of Harbin; date of registration, May 7, 2015).

Commentary: The efficacy of ginseng-containing traditional Chinese medicine in patients with acute decompensated heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Commentary: The efficacy of ginseng-containing traditional Chinese medicine in patients with acute decompensated heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Ultra-weak photon emission as a potential tool for evaluating the therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine in patients with type 2 diabetes

BackgroundTraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used to prevent and treat type 2 diabetes (T2DM) for thousands of years. The holistic view of TCM and the “multitarget” characteristics of Chinese medicine have unique advantages in the prevention and treatment of T2DM. TCM syndrome differentiation and treatment are effective for T2DM; however, currently, the therapeutic effect of TCM is generally evaluated by asking for patients' subjective feelings, or by checking the changes in relevant indicators. The main problems are that the patient's descriptions are unclear and subjective, and although the self-reported symptoms may have improved significantly, the relevant indicators are sometimes not obvious, which cannot truly reflect the therapeutic effect of TCM. Therefore, it is urgent to develop a novel, sensitive, and noninvasive method to quantitatively evaluate the therapeutic effect of TCM. MethodsIn this study, ultra-weak photon emission (UPE) was measured at four sites of hands of T2DM patients with Qi-Yin deficiency before treatment and after 1 and 2 weeks of treatment with TCM. The UPE intensity and spectral distribution were calculated and analyzed using the results measured at these four sites. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to quantify the correlation between the UPE parameters and the syndrome scores of TCM. ResultsThe UPE intensity of T2DM patients with Qi-Yin deficiency decreased gradually with the course of the treatment and was significantly lower than that before the treatment. The ratio of photon counts between the wavelength ranges of 495–550 nm and 550–610 nm after the treatment was higher than that before the treatment and negatively correlated with the corresponding syndrome scores so that the degree of symptoms improvement could be characterized by the ratio (495–550 nm/550–610 nm). ConclusionsThe therapeutic effect of TCM in T2DM patients with Qi-Yin deficiency can be shown at the level of UPE. UPE is a potential and noninvasive tool for evaluating the therapeutic effect of TCM in patients with T2DM.

HSP90AB1 as the Druggable Target of Maggot Extract Reverses Cisplatin Resistance in Ovarian Cancer.

Cisplatin resistance is a crucial factor affecting ovarian cancer patient's survival rate, but the primary mechanism underlying cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer remains unclear, and this prevents the optimal use of cisplatin therapy. Maggot extract (ME) is used in traditional Chinese medicine for patients with comas and patients with gastric cancer when combined with other drug treatments. In this study, we investigated whether ME enhances the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin. Two ovarian cancer cells-A2780/CDDP and SKOV3/CDDP-were treated with cisplatin and ME in vitro. SKOV3/CDDP cells that stably expressed luciferase were subcutaneously or intraperitoneally injected into BALB/c nude mice to establish a xenograft model, and this was followed by ME/cisplatin treatment. In the presence of cisplatin, ME treatment effectively suppressed the growth and metastasis of cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer in vivo and in vitro. RNA-sequencing data showed that HSP90AB1 and IGF1R were markedly increased in A2780/CDDP cells. ME treatment markedly decreased the expression of HSP90AB1 and IGF1R, thereby increasing the expression of the proapoptotic proteins p-p53, BAX, and p-H2AX, while the opposite effects were observed for the antiapoptotic protein BCL2. Inhibition of HSP90 ATPase was more beneficial against ovarian cancer in the presence of ME treatment. In turn, HSP90AB1 overexpression effectively inhibited the effect of ME in promoting the increased expression of apoptotic proteins and DNA damage response proteins in SKOV3/CDDP cells. Inhibition of cisplatin-induced apoptosis and DNA damage by HSP90AB1 overexpression confers chemoresistance in ovarian cancer. ME can enhance the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin toxicity by inhibiting HSP90AB1/IGF1R interactions, and this might represent a novel target for overcoming cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer chemotherapy.

Enema of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Patients with Severe Acute Pancreatitis.

Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is characterized by high mortality rates, numerous complications, and extreme difficulties in treatment. A traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) enema has been widely utilized in clinical and experimental studies of SAP. It has been demonstrated to have beneficial effects in protecting pancreatic function and delaying disease progression. The procedure of TCM enema is to perfuse the Chinese medicinal liquid of raw rhubarb (Rheum officinale Baill. DaHuang) from the anus into the rectum and colon. Basic steps of the procedure include boiling the herbal solution in advance, using a disposable enema kit to assist patients in taking a left lying position, raising the patient's hip 10 cm, and carefully inserting the enema 30-35 cm into the anus, with a drip speed of 60-80 drops/min. The medicine liquid temperature should be equivalent to the patient's body temperature, typically between 37-39 °C. The end of the enema operation should be slow, and Tui na (massage therapy) should be administered before extubation. The medication liquid should be kept in the rectum for more than 1 h. After issuing an enema, it is essential to observe the patient's feces and abdomen, and to evaluate the remission of abdominal signs and symptoms.

Observation of Application Effect of Comprehensive Nursing of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Patients with Chronic Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Observation of Application Effect of Comprehensive Nursing of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Patients with Chronic Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Efficacy of Dialectical Comprehensive Treatment of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Patients with Chronic Stable Heart Failure: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The treatment of chronic stable heart failure (CSHF) with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine has been of wide concern. We mainly discuss the clinical efficacy of TCM decoction combined with acupuncture and moxibustion (A&M) in CSHF treatment on the basis of syndrome differentiation and treatment (SDT). The control group was given conventional cardiac rehabilitation (CCR), and the treatment group was given TCM decoction combined with A&M treatment based on SDT on the basis of conventional cardiac rehabilitation. The clinical efficacy and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) indicators were evaluated. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), NT-proBNP, myocardial ischemia threshold (MIT), and 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) were measured by ultrasound, ELISA, electrocardiogram, and 6MWD test. After treatment, the clinical efficacy, LVEF, and 6MWD of the treatment group were better than in the control group. The NT-proBNP plasma level and MIT in the treatment group were lower than in the control group. The treatment group had enhanced AT, VO2 Peak, VO2 Peak/HR, and Peak power and decreased resting systolic pressure and peak systolic pressure, and the difference was statistically significant. Dialectical comprehensive treatment of TCM could effectively improve cardiac function and clinical treatment effect, which was worthy of clinical application.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Symptom Score in Integrative Treatments (ALS-SSIT) for Evaluating Therapeutic Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Prospective Study.

Objective To evaluate the reliability, validity, sensitivity, and clinical applicability of a new scale—the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis symptom score in integrative treatments (ALS-SSIT)—for measuring the effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods A total of 160 patients with ALS were enrolled and followed up for 6 months. All patients received TCM. Patients were evaluated at enrollment and at the end of 6 months with a new scale, the ALS-SSIT, developed after extensive consultations with TCM experts with several years of experience in the treatment of ALS. The 36-item Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-36) scale and the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale (ALSFRS) were used as the reference standards. Results The acceptance rate and completion rate of the ALS-SSIT scale were high, and the content validity was confirmed by experts. Test-retest performed at enrollment and at 6 months showed good reliability of the ALS-SSIT scale (Cronbach α, 0.9172 and 0.9181, respectively). The ALS-SSIT scale score showed significant change at 6 months, indicating the ability to reflect the change in disease severity. Conclusion The ALS-SSIT appears to be a feasible, reliable, and sensitive tool for the evaluation of the effect of TCM in patients with ALS.

Observation on the Clinical Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine Damp-heat Compress and Rectal Instillation of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Patients with Chronic Pelvic Inflammatory

Observation on the Clinical Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine Damp-heat Compress and Rectal Instillation of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Patients with Chronic Pelvic Inflammatory

Efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine in patients with acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: study protocol for randomized, controlled, exploratory clinical trial

BackgroundAt present, there is short of effective treatment for acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (AE-IPF). The treatment of IPF with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has some advantages. However, the evidence is unclear whether TCM can be recommended as an effective therapy to treat AE-IPF. The purpose of the study is to explore the efficacy and safety of TCM for patients with AE-IPF.MethodsA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, exploratory clinical trial will be performed. A total of 80 patients diagnosed with AE-IPF will be randomized into the intervention or control group. In addition to conventional treatment, the intervention group will be treated with Kangxianhuanji granule, and the control group will be given a placebo granule. The administration frequency is 10 g each time and two times daily. After 4 weeks of treatment, the patients were followed up for 12 weeks. The primary outcomes are treatment failure rate and all-cause mortality. Secondary outcome measures will include the length of hospitalization, overall survival, acute exacerbation rate, intubation rate, Modified British Medical Research Council (mMRC) score, the St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (SGRQ-I) score, and arterial blood gas analysis.DiscussionTCM may be beneficial in IPF. However, it has never been evaluated in patients with AE-IPF, who are incredibly prone to respiratory failure and have a high mortality rate. It is the first clinical trial to explore the efficacy and safety of TCM in the treatment of AE-IPF. This result will provide a basis for further study, which provides a high-quality evidence for the treatment of AE-IPF with TCM.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1900026289. Registered on 29 September 2019.

The Clinical Efficacy of Chemotherapy Combined with Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Cervical Cancer and Its Influence on Cellular Immunity, Serum CEA, and TNF-α.

Background This study aims to investigate the clinical efficacy of chemotherapy combined with traditional Chinese medicine in patients with cervical cancer and its effect on cellular immunoglobulin, serum sugar chain antigen 125 (CA125), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Methods Conventional chemotherapy was performed in control and observation groups. Meantime, the observation group received traditional Chinese medicine. Finally, the clinical efficacy, immunoglobulin, serum tumor markers, and serum TNF-α of the two groups were compared. Results Compared with the control group, total effective rate in the observation group was increased. After treatment, serum CD8+, TNF-α, CA125, and CEA levels were reduced in the two groups, and the observation group was higher. In the two groups, CD3+ and CD4+ levels were enhanced after treatment, and the observation group was also higher. Compared with the control group, the immunoglobulin IgG, IgA, and IgM levels increased in the observation group. The incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group was reduced compared to the control group. Conclusion Chemotherapy combined with traditional Chinese can help improve the clinical efficacy and immunity in patients with cervical cancer. Moreover, the safety and feasibility of the treatment method are relatively high.

The Use of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Patients with Oral, Oropharynx, Nasopharynx, and Hypopharynx Cancers: A Retrospective Longitudinal Cohort Study in Taiwan

Given the prevalent use of tobacco and betel nut in the Taiwanese community, an increase risk of oral, oropharynx, and hypopharynx cancers (head and neck cancers) is apparent. The use of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture is both common and conveniently accessible in Taiwan, with treatments being financially supported by the National Health Insurance (NHI). This study aims to investigate the use of TCM in head and neck cancers in Taiwan through a longitudinal cohort study. The Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) was utilized in order to conduct this study. The study populations consisted of oral, oropharynx, nasopharynx, and hypopharynx cancers (head and neck cancer) patients in 2002, which were then followed up until 2007 in regards to TCM use, until 2013 in regards to acupuncture use and until 2014 for all-cause mortality. Patients were divided into 4 groups. Common symptoms, Chinese herbs and formula used, TCM visits and 5 and 12 years all-cause mortality were analyzed. The use of TCM was increased in the second to fourth-year post-diagnosis. TCM use in nasopharynx cancer patients was higher compared to other cancers. The number of TCM visits per patient was increased post-diagnosis. The findings suggest a non-significant reduction in 5 and 12 years all-cause mortality between TCM II and CON II groups. The use of TCM in new patients suffering from head and neck cancers was increased in close proximity to the cancer diagnosis. The relation between TCM use and mortality of head and neck cancer should be investigated through larger scale studies.

Application of "dredging meridians and dispersing lung exercises" based on meridian theory of traditional Chinese medicine in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Application of "dredging meridians and dispersing lung exercises" based on meridian theory of traditional Chinese medicine in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Therapeutic Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Patients With Coronary Heart Disease After Treatment of Revascularization: A Prospective Cohort Study in the Northern of China.

Aim: To investigate the compliance and the outcome of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) after treatment of revascularization.Methods: In this prospective cohort study, the non-exposure group (NEG), low-exposure group (LEG), and high-exposure group (HEG) were divided after 2 years follow-up. The primary outcome was a composite of death from cardiovascular causes, non-lethal myocardial infarction, heart transplantation, or stroke. Time-to-event data were evaluated by using the Cox regression analysis with hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs. Then, the two-sided p-values were calculated by using the Cox models. In order to indicate the therapeutic effects of TCM on the CHD after revascularization, the survival analysis and the nested case–control study were conducted separately.Results: There were 1,003 patients with CHD enrolled, 356 patients (35.49%) did not choose the TCM, 379 patients (37.79%) used the TCM seldom, and only 268 patients (26.72%) used TCM regularly. A total of 653 patients with revascularization participated in the prospective cohort study. Over the duration of the trial, the primary endpoints occurred in 12 (4.35%), 11 (4.80%), and 2 (1.35%) patients in the NEG, LEG, and HEG, while the secondary endpoints occurred in 84 (30.43%), 57 (24.89%), and 15 (10.14%) patients in the NEG, LEG, and HEG, respectively. The occurrence time of secondary endpoint events in HEG was significantly postponed (p < 0.001) compared with the other cohorts. The Cox regression analysis indicated that the HRs in the primary endpoints, the secondary endpoint events, the major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), and the composite endpoint events for HEG were all around 0.3 (p < 0.05) and HRs for LEG were all around 0.8. The results of the nested case–control study showed that the TCM exposure was significantly different between the cases and controls in the secondary endpoints (p < 0.05), while no significant difference in the primary endpoints (p > 0.05), but the percentage of HEG in the cases was extremely lower than the controls.Conclusion: The HEG-TCM may improve the outcomes of the patients with CHD after treatment of revascularization.Registration: http://www.chictr.org.cn. Unique identifier: ChiCTR-OOC-17012995.

Proposal of Living Evidence-based Guideline for Combination of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Treatment of COVID-19

In order to standardize the clinical diagnosis and treatment decision-making with traditional Chinese medicine for pa-tients of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) and put the latest clinical study evidence into clinical practice, the international trust-worthy traditional Chinese medicine recommendations( TCM Recs) working group started the compilation of Living Evidence-based Guideline for Combination of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Treatment of COVID-19 on the basis of the standards and re-quirements of WHO handbook, GRADE and RIGHT. This proposal mainly introduces the formulation methods and processes of the living guidelines in details, such as the composition of the working group, the collection and identification of clinical issues and out-comes, the production of the living systematic review and the consensus of recommendations. The guidelines will continue to monitor the clinical study evidences of TCM in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, and conduct regular evidence updating, retrieval and screening. When there is new study evidence, the steering committee will evaluate the possibility of the evidence to change clinical practice or previous recommendations, so as to decide whether the recommendations for the guidelines shall be implemented or upda-ted. The main criteria considered in the guideline updating are as follows:(1) There are new high-quality randomized controlled trial(RCT) evidences for TCM uninvolved in the previous edition of the guidelines;(2) as for the TCM involved in the guidelines, living sys-tematic review shows that new evidence may change the direction or strength of the existing recommendations. The specific implementation of the living evidence-based guidelines will take this proposal as the study basis and framework, in order to ensure the standardization of the formulation process and methods. This will be the first exploration of the methodology for living guidelines in the field of TCM.

Traditional Chinese Medicine in Patients With Primary Sjogren's Syndrome: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Background: Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease mainly characterized by dryness, fatigue, and pain. Current therapies for SS in Western medicine are limited. The purpose of this clinical study was to explore the efficacy and safety of using a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula on patients with primary SS.Methods: We performed a 12-week, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial at Chung Shan Medical University Hospital. We included 42 patients with SS between the ages of 20 and 80 years who met the classification criteria of the American and European Consensus Group (AECG). Patients who had other severe systemic manifestations or diseases were excluded from this trial. After screening, patients were randomly assigned to the TCM treatment group or placebo group (ratio of 2:1). We treated the TCM group with 6 g of Gan-Lu-Yin granules after breakfast and 6 g of Jia-Wei-Xiao-Yao-San combined with 1 g of Suan-Zao-Ren-Tang and 1 g of Ye-Jiao-Teng every night after dinner. Patients in the control group were treated with a placebo with the same appearance and flavor but only one-tenth the dosage of that received by the treatment group. The European League Against Rheumatism Sjogren's Syndrome Patient-Reported Index (ESSPRI) was used as the primary endpoint at week 12. Secondary endpoints were the Sjogren's Syndrome Disease Activity Index (SSDAI), physician global assessment (PGA), visual analogue scale (VAS), Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form-36, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Score (PSQI). Adverse events were also recorded.Results: Of the 42 randomized patients, 28 patients were assigned to the TCM treatment group and 14 patients were assigned to the controlled group. During the study period, 5 patients withdrew from the TCM group and 7 withdrew from the control group. At week 12, the ESSPRI scores of both groups had improved. The ESSPRI score of the treatment group decreased by 0.62 (95% CI P = 0.557) and that of the placebo group decreased by 0.91 (P = 0.557). However, no significant difference was observed between the two groups. Sleep duration in the PSQI was −0.61, which exhibited an improvement of more than the −0.21 compared with the placebo group (P = 0.914).Conclusion: At week 12, the ESSPRI scores did not reveal that the use of the TCM formula was efficacious for treating patients with Sjogren's syndrome. However, the PSQI scores indicated that this formula could prolong patient sleep duration. We also found that this formula could decrease the blood pressure of patients.

Analysis of Nursing Value of Characteristic Nursing Techniques of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Patients with Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy

Analysis of Nursing Value of Characteristic Nursing Techniques of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Patients with Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy