Effect of Bushen Huoxue recipe on women with thin endometrial ovulation disorder and a rat model of thin endometrium resulted from kidney deficiency-related blood stasis.

To examine the therapeutic effect of Bushen Huoxue recipe (BHR) on women with thin endometrial ovulation disorder and on a rat model of kidney deficiency-related blood stasis. A total of 60 women with thin endometrial ovulation disorder was enrolled. The primary outcome of the study was the pregnancy rate three menstrual cycles after treatment. The study also examined the changes in the type and thickness of uterine artery, uterine artery pulsatility index (PI) and endometrial resistance index (RI). To establish kidney deficiency-related blood stasis in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, an intragastric administration of hydroxyurea and a tail vein injection of Dextran were given, following with a flashing of the uterine cavity with 95% anhydrous ethanol. A combined regimen of BHR and estradiol valerate significantly increased the rate of pregnancy in women with thin endometrial ovulation disorder. The treatment was accompanied by a significant increase in endometrial thickness and decreases in uterine artery PI and endometrial RI. In rats, kidney deficiency-related blood stasis caused severe loss in endometrial architecture, thickness, and numbers of gland and blood vessel compared to the healthy SD rats. Treatment with BHR could ameliorate the endometrial damages associated with kidney deficiency-related blood stasis.

[Effect of Wenshen Yangxue Recipe on Inhibin-Activin-Follistatin System in Anovulatory Rats].

Objective To explore the effect of Wenshen Yangxue Recipe (WYR) on inhibin-ac- tivin-follistatin (INH-ACT-FS) system and gonadal hormone level in anovulatory rats. Methods Anovula- tory rat model was established in 76 rats (9 days old) by subcutaneous injecting testosterone propionate (1. 25 mg/0. 05 mL for each rat) from the nape. Totally 58 successfully modeled rats were divided into 5 groups according to random digit table, i.e., the model group (n =10), the Western medicine (WM) group (n =12), high, middle, and low dose WYR groups (n =12). Besides, another ten 22-day old rats were recruited as a normal group. Distilled water was daily administered to rats in the normal group and the model group by gastrogavage. Clomiphene citrate (0. 58 mg/100 g) was daily administered to rats in the WM group for 5 successive days. WYR at 5. 2, 2. 6, 1. 3 mg/100 g was daily administered to rats in high, middle, and low dose WYR groups for 21 successive days. Levels of follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) , luteinizing hormone (LH) , estradiol (E2) , progesterone (P) , and prolactin (PRL) were detected using radioimmunoassay. Contents of inhibin (INH) , activin (ACT) , and follistatin (FS) were measured using ELISA. Results Compared with the normal group, serum levels of FSH and LH increased, and P level decreased in the model group (P <0. 05) ; INH level decreased and FS level increased in the model group (P<0. 05). Compared with the model group, serum FSH level decreased in the WM group and 3 WYR groups, P level decreased in the WM group (P <0. 05); INH increased and FS levels decreased in the WM group and 3 WYR groups; ACT level increased in the high dose WYR group, with statistical differ- ence (P <0. 05). Conclusion WYR promoted follicular development possibly through regulating INH- ACT-FS system and gonadal hormone level.

[A multi-center, randomized, double-blind clinical study on Bushen Huoxue in treatment of ovulatory dysfunction caused infertility].

OBJECTIVE: The multi-center, randomized, double-blind, double-simulated and positive-control trial was used to verify the contribution degree of Bushen Huoxue for the treatment of ovulatory dysfunction caused infertility, which provided scientific basis for clinical treatment. METHOD: According to diagnostic, inclusion and exclusion criteria, we observed 349 patients which were divided into the treated group (n = 177, treated with Bushen Huoxue ricipe) and control group (n = 172, treated with clomiphene). Ovulation rate, pregnancy rate, clinical effective rate of traditional Chinese medicine, endometrium and diameter of dominant follicle were observed. Serum reproductive endocrine hormones were assayed before and after treatment. RESULT: The treated group showed ovulation rate of 69.34%, with pregnancy rate of 41.35%. The clinical effective rate of treated group and control group were 91.73% and 80.77%. There was remarkable difference in endometrium (P < 0.05) and remarkbale difference in sex hormones PRL and E2in treated group at prior-treatment and post-treatment (P < 0.05). No adverse effects were found in the experiment. Security indicators did not show abnormal change. CONCLUSION: The comparison between the two groups showed that the treated group was significantly different from control group in the pregnancy rate (P < 0.05), without notable difference in ovulation rate. There was significant difference in clinical effective rate between the treated group and control group. Both the two groups could contribute to the mature development and discharge of the follicles. The growth of endometrium and endometrial receptivity in the treated group were higher than control group. The treated group has regulatory effect on PRL and E2.

[Randomized controlled multi-central study on acupuncture at Tanzhong (CV 17) for treatment of postpartum hypolactation].

OBJECTIVE: To study on clinical role of acupuncture at Tanzhong (CV 17) for treatment of postpartum hypolactation and to provide clinical basis for indications of acupoints. METHODS: This was a single blind randomized controlled multi-center study by Beijing obstetrical and gynecological hospital, Beijing Mother and Child health institute and Haidian Mother and Child health institute, 276 cases of postpartum hypolactation were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a Chinese drug group. The acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture at Tanzhong (CV 17) and the Chinese drug group with traditional drug Tongre Decoction. Degree of breast engorge, lactating volume, prolactin, neonate body weight, artificial feeding frequency and volume, urination frequency and crying time of neonate were recorded for comparison of therapeutic effects. RESULTS: After treatment, degree of breast engorge, lactating volume, neonate body weight, artificial feeding frequency and volume, urination frequency and crying time of neonate were significantly improved in the two groups, with no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at Tanzhong (CV 17) can effectively promote lactation with a same therapeutic effect as the traditional Chinese drug Tongru Decocnon.

[Study on treatment of climacteric depression with bushen tiaogan qingxin recipe].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of bushen tiaogan qingxin recipe (BTQR) on Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAMD), monoamine meurotransmitter and endocrinal function in patients with climacteric depression, and to explore its mechanism. METHODS: Patients were randomly divided into two groups, the 25 patients in the treated group treated with BTQR and 15 patients in the control group treated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The HAMD scoring, levels of 5-HT, NE in plasma, serum estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) were determined before and after treatment, and the thickness of endometrium was measured by B-Doppler ultrasonographic technique. RESULTS: The total effective rate, evaluated by the HAMD score reducing rate, in the treated group was 87.2%, and in the control group was 67.3%, showing significant difference (P<0.05). After treatment, 5-HT decreased (P<0.01), NE increased (P<0.05) and 5-HT/NE ratio lowered (P<0.01) in the treated group; E2 increased in both groups; FSH, LH and FSH/LH ratio decreased in the treated group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), FSH/LH ratio decreased in the control group (P<0.05). The thickness of endometrium increased in the control group after treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The mechanism of BTQR in treating climacteric depression might be related with its actions in: (1) To regulate the synthesis and release of monoamine neurotransmitter; (2) To adjust reproductive endocrine function; (3) To coordinate the neuroendocrinal function.