Meta-Analysis of Chinese Traditional Medicine Bushen Huoxue Prescription for Endometriosis Treatment.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Bushen Huoxue prescription (BSHXP) for endometriosis. METHODS: A meta-analysis was performed, and studies were searched from the seven databases from the date of database establishment to April 30, 2017. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that explored the efficacy and safety of BSHXP for patients with endometriosis were included. Two assessors independently reviewed each trial. The Cochrane Risk of Bias assessment tool was used for quality assessment. RESULTS: In the 13 included studies, the total effectiveness rates of BSHXP were higher than those of Western medicine (RR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.03-2.32; P = 0.04), but the dysmenorrhea alleviation rates of the two treatments did not significantly differ (RR, 1.28; 95% CI, 0.70-2.34; P = 0.42). The pregnancy rates of BSHXP were also higher than those of hormone therapy (RR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.17-3.39; P = 0.01). However, whether BSHXP is more effective than Western medicine in diminishing endometriotic cyst remains unknown. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides evidence that BSHXP is effective and safe for endometriosis, but this evidence is inconclusive because of the low methodological quality of the included RCTs. Our findings suggest that BSHXP is an alternative drug for endometriosis, but it should be further examined in future clinical research.

Wrist-ankle acupuncture and ginger moxibustion for preventing gastrointestinal reactions to chemotherapy: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of wrist-ankle acupuncture combined with ginger moxibustion against gastrointestinal tract reactions (nausea, vomiting, and constipation) to chemotherapy in cancer patients. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with gynecological tumors treated by chemotherapy were randomly divided into two groups. The treatment group (30 cases) underwent wrist-ankle acupuncture and ginger moxibustion, whereas tropisetron hydrochloride and dexamethasone were intravenously administered to the control group (30 cases) during chemotherapy. RESULTS: The frequency of nausea in the treatment group was significantly less than that of the control group from the 2nd to the 5th day of chemotherapy (P<0.01). The anti-emetic effect in the treatment group was significantly better than that in the control group on the 3rd day of therapy (P<0.05). The incidence rate of constipation was significantly lower in the treatment group than that in the control group (P<0.01). Furthermore, the cost of therapy for the treatment group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.01). Only 1 patient manifested a post-acupuncture side effect in the form of subcutaneous blood stasis. CONCLUSION: Wrist-ankle acupuncture combined with ginger moxibustion could prevent gastrointestinal tract reactions to chemotherapy in cancer patients. In addition, the proposed method had fewer side effects, lower cost, and less risk.

[Effects of Chinese herbal medicine Neiyi Recipe-medicated serum on angiopoiesis of endometriosis in the chick chorioallantoic membrane model].

OBJECTIVE: To compare angiopoiesis ability of eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissue isolated from women with endometriosis and endometrium isolated from women without endometriosis (control), and to explore the inhibitory effects of medicated serum of Neiyi Recipe, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine. METHODS: Chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model of endometriosis was established by transplanting endometrium onto CAM. The CAMs were then hatched with blank serum or medicated serum of danazol or Neiyi Recipe, which were prepared in rats by orally administering. The sizes of the transplanted tissue and new vessels around the transplanted tissue were measured. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was detected by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: There was no difference in the sizes of transplanted tissue among CAM models of ectopic and eutopic endometrial tissue isolated from women with endometriosis or control (P>0.05), and more new vessels were found around the ectopic and eutopic endometrial tissue than the endometrial tissue of control (P<0.05). Compared with the controls, the size of the transplanted tissue and positive area of new vessels were significantly inhibited by Neiyi Recipe-medicated serum (P<0.01, P<0.05), and similar changes happened in the danazol groups, except for the size of transplanted tissue from ectopic endometrial tissue (P>0.05). Expression of VEGF was significantly higher in eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissue than in the control (P<0.01); the level of VEGF obviously reduced in the Neiyi Recipe and danazol groups (P<0.01), but no significant difference was detected between them. CONCLUSION: Endometrium from women with endometriosis stimulates the formation of new vessels by increase the expression of VEGF. Neiyi Recipe-medicated serum significantly decreases the expression of VEGF in eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissues and thus restrains the formation of new vessels, reduces the blood supply and inhibits growth of ectopic endometrial tissue, which are similar to danazol, but has greater efficacy in suppressing the expression of VEGF.

[Investigation on traditional Chinese medicine syndrome distribution of 4 618 hepatitis B virus infection subjects in Qidong of Jiangsu Province, China].

OBJECTIVE: To study the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome distribution in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Qidong region of Jiangsu Province, China. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was performed. Subjects from Qidong of Jiangsu Province of China were screened among the locally enrolled residents by detecting hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) from May 2007 to May 2011 and were assigned to HBsAg-negative cohort or HBsAg-positive cohort. Then, the subjects were diagnosed according to alanine aminotransferase, alpha-fetoprotein and B ultrasound. The syndrome of the subjects was determined using a TCM questionnaire consisting of signs and symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 5 908 subjects were enrolled in this survey, among whom, 4 718 were diagnosed with HbsAg infection (positive result of HbsAg detection) and 1 147 were negative. 143 subjects were excluded for not receiving the blood examination. The final diagnoses of the subjects were non-HBV infection (n=1128), HBV carrier (n=4019), chronic hepatitis B (n=225), posthepatitic cirrhosis (n=263) or liver cancer (n=111). The TCM syndrome differentiation results showed that there were differences in syndrome distribution between HBV-infected and non-HBV-infected patients. The main syndromes of the HBV-infected patients were qi deficiency, qi stagnation, blood stasis and dampness heat, related to the Zang of liver and spleen. The distribution principles of TCM syndrome among patients of HBV carrier, chronic hepatitis B and cirrhosis were similar. Moreover, with the progression of the patients' condition, the scores of syndromes increased, and the number of accompanying syndromes increased as well. The main syndromes of patients with liver cancer were blood stasis and excess heat, which was slightly different from that of the other HBV-infected patients. CONCLUSION: The TCM syndrome distribution in patients of HBV infection in Qidong region of Jiangsu Province shows regularity. The disorder is mainly due to qi stagnation and blood stasis and is also related to deficiency of healthy qi, especially deficiency of spleen qi.

[Effects of Chinese herbal medicine Bushen Shugan Recipe in regulating the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis in a rat model of stress-induced anorexia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Bushen Shugan Recipe (BSSGR), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, in regulating the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis (HPOA) in a rat model of stress-induced anorexia. METHODS: Anorexia was induced in rats by the methods of separation, diet restriction and constraint. Rats were divided into 4 groups randomly: control group, untreated group, sham-operated group and BSSGR group. After the experiments, body weights and oestrous cycles of the 4 groups were compared. The levels of serum estradiol (E(2)), hypophysis luteotrophic hormone (LH), hypophysis follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and hypothalamus ß-endorphin (ß-EP) were detected by radioimmunoassay. The level of serum corticosterone (CORT) was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Body weight of BSSGR group was significantly increased in comparison with sham-operated group(P<0.01); the oestrous cycle disordering rate was higher than those of the untreated group and sham-operated group; hypophysis LH and serum E(2) were obviously increased in comparison with untreated group (P<0.05); hypothalamus ß-EP was obviously decreased in comparison with sham-operated group (P<0.05); serum CORT was obviously decreased in comparison with untreated group (P<0.05), and significantly decreased in comparison with sham-operated group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: BSSGR increased hypophysis LH and serum E(2), and decreased serum CORT and hypothalamus ß-EP in rats with stress-induced anorexia.