The Chronic and Acute Toxicity of Traditional Medicines Containing Terminalia chebula.

Objectives: Terminalia chebula, the main ingredient of Altan Arur 5, has been used for many years in traditional medicine. This medicine is more effective than other drugs and is used to treat chronic gastritis and gastrointestinal disorders such as peptic ulcers and esophageal reflux. Other ingredients of Altan Arur 5 are Punica granatum (pomegranate), tulip seeds, black balm, and excreta of Trogopterus xanthipes. The main ingredients of T. chebula are antibacterial and analgesic in traditional medicine. Despite having been used for many years and although many studies have been conducted on the beneficial effects of this medicine and its ingredients, the toxicity of Altan Arur 5 has not yet been elucidated. Therefore, we aimed to study the toxicity of Altan Arur 5 to ensure that it is safe to use. Methods: Acute and chronic toxicity of Altan Arur 5 were assessed in 10 Kunming mice and 8 Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively, in different doses. In the acute toxicity study, Altan Arur 5 was orally administered to Kunming mice in doses of 12 g/kg, 24 g/kg, and 48 g/kg for 14 days. In the chronic toxicity study, it was orally administered to Sprague-Dawley rats in doses of 1.25 g/kg, 2.5 g/kg, and 5 g/kg for 12 weeks. Results: No significant differences were observed in the relative organ weights for mice treated with Altan Arur 5 compared with those in the control group. Furthermore, no macro- or microstructural changes were noted in the organs of any group. Conclusion: Our toxicity testing revealed that the traditional medicine Altan Arur 5 has no toxic effects in vivo.

Application and thinking of acupuncture therapy in comprehensive management of hypertension / 中国针灸

The theory of disease prevention with traditional Chinese medicine is introduced into the prevention of chronic diseases such as hypertension. In order to fully implement the advantages of acupuncture, the three-level prevention strategy is strengthened on the whole-process intervention with acupuncture for hypertension, including prevention before disease onset, starting intervention at the early phase, and prevention disease from exacerbating. Moreover, the comprehensive management scheme, multidisciplinary coordination and participation mechanism are investigated in the field of traditional Chinese medicine for preventive treatment of hypertension.

Protective effect of Yougui Yin on steroid-induced avascular necrosis of femoral head in rats by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of Yougui Yin on steroid-induced femoral head necrosis in rats and the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and to explore its mechanism.Methods:Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, high-dose group (26.4 g/kg), medium-dose group (13.2 g/kg) and low-dose group (6.6 g/kg) of Yougui Yin, with 10 rats in each group. Except the normal group, the other groups were prepared with SANFH model by combining LPS and methylprednisolone injection. The treatment groups were intragastrically administered with Yougui Yin, once a day for 8 weeks. After the final administration, the serum calcium and phosphorus levels of rats in each group were determined by automatic biochemical analyzer. The femoral head specimens of rats in each group were detected by MRI, and the pathological changes of the femoral head were observed by HE staining. The expressions of caspase-3, β-catenin and Wnt3α mRNA in the femoral head of rats were detected by RT-PCR.Results:Compared with the model group, the levels of serum calcium and phosphorus in the medium and high dose groups were increased significantly ( P<0.05, P<0.01), and the level of serum phosphorus in the low dose group was increased significantly ( P<0.05); In the medium and high dose groups, the femoral empty bone lacuna rate was decreased ( P<0.05, P<0.01); The expression of caspase-3 mRNA (2.146±0.191, 1.688±0.247, 1.370±0.252 vs. 2.535±0.236) in the low, medium and high dose groups were decreased ( P<0.05, P<0.01), and the expression of β-catenin mRNA (0.433±0.102, 0.496±0.091, 0.698±0.089 vs. 0.259±0.106) were increased ( P<0.05, P<0.01); The expression of Wnt3α mRNA (0.509±0.061, 0.833±0.053 vs. 0.384±0.052) in the medium and high dose groups were increased ( P<0.05, P<0.01); In the medium and high dose groups, MRI showed higher T2 signals around the joint, and high T2 signals within the joint, which were clearly distinguished from the femoral head cartilage, and there was no obvious abnormal signal within the femoral head. HE staining in the Yougui Yin medium and high dose groups showed that trabecular bone was coarse and arranged regularly, most of the bone cells were normal, and empty bone lacunae were less. Conclusion:The protective effect of Yougui Yin on SANFH rats may be related to the inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Mechanism analysis of repeatedly steamed and sundried Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata in delaying brain aging in ovariectomized mice based on proteomics / 中国中药杂志

The present study explored the effect and mechanism of repeatedly steamed and sundried Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata(RRP) in delaying brain aging in ovariectomized mice. After ovariectomy, the mice were randomly divided into a model group, an estradiol valerate group(0.3 mg·kg~(-1)), and low-(1.0 g·kg~(-1)), medium-(2.0 g·kg~(-1)), and high-dose(4.0 g·kg~(-1)) RRP groups, and a sham operation group was also set up, with 15 mice in each group. One week after the operation, intragastric administration was carried out for 15 consecutive weeks. The step-down test and Morris water maze test were used to detect the behavioral changes of mice. HE staining and Nissl staining were used to observe the morphological changes of mouse brain tissues. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of Aβ and ER_β in mouse brain tissues. The serum estrogen levels and cholinesterase and cholinesterase transferase levels in brain tissues of mice were detected by assay kits. The extracted hippocampal protein was detected by the Nano-ESI-LC-MS system, identified by the Protein Discovery, and analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively by the SIEVE. The PANTHER Classification System was used for GO analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of the differential proteins. Compared with the sham operation group, the model group showed decreased learning and memory ability, shortened step-down latency(P<0.05), prolonged escape latency(P<0.05), reduced platform crossings and residence time in the target quadrant, scattered nerve cells in the hippocampus with enlarged intercellular space, increased expression of Aβ-positive cells(P<0.05), declining expression of ER_β-positive cells and estrogen level(P<0.05), and weakened cholinergic function(P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the RRP groups showed improved learning and memory ability, prolonged step-down latency(P<0.05), increased estrogen level(P<0.05), neatly arranged nerve cells in the hippocampus with complete morphology, declining Aβ-positive cells, and elevated expression of ER_β-positive cells. A total of 146 differential proteins were screened out by proteomics, and KEGG pathway enrichment yielded 75 signaling pathways. The number of proteins involved in the dopaminergic synapse signaling pathway was the largest, with 13 proteins involved. In summary, RRP can delay brain aging presumedly by increasing the level of estrogen, mediating the dopaminergic synapse signaling pathway, and improving cholinergic function.

Efficacy and safety of acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of primary liver cancer: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Primary liver cancer (PLC) is a common cancer, and its morbidity and mortality are ranked 6th and 3rd in the world for malignant tumors, respectively. And this number is still on the rise, seriously endangering people's health. In recent years, acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal medicine have been widely used in the treatment of PLC, and there are few restrictions. However, we have not found a meta-analysis of their synergistic effects. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis will evaluate the efficacy and acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of primary liver cancer. METHOD: We will search the following databases from inception up to August 20, 2021: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, AMED, Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP, CBM, and Wanfang. There will be no restrictions regarding publication date or language. We will apply a combination of medical keywords and words, including "acupuncture," "Chinese herbal medicine" and "primary liver cancer". Additionally, we will manually search all reference lists from relevant systematic reviews to find other eligible studies. We will use the random effects model in REVMAN v5.3 for meta-analysis. The study for acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of PLC was a randomized controlled study. Two researchers will independently review the research selection, data extraction, and research quality assessments. Finally, we will observe the outcome measures. RESULTS: This study will provide evidence-based medical evidence for the treatment of PLC with a combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, and provide new ideas and methods for the treatment of PLC.Registration number: INPLASY202180103.

Instructive significance of "treatment in accordance with time factor" for the idea of clinical diagnosis and treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion / 中国针灸

"Treatment in accordance with time factor" is one of the key principles of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment. In clinical practice of acupuncture and moxibustion, the connotation of "timing/time factor" should be fully understood and the temporal rule on physiology and pathology affected by the changes of four seasons and day and night be grasped. Based on the change law of

Progress in pharmacodynamic basis, mechanism, and prediction of Q-markers of Zhenwu Decoction in treatment of chronic heart failure / 中国中药杂志

Zhenwu Decoction(ZWD) has a history of more than 1 800 years in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), which is used to treat various diseases characterized by Yangqi deficiency and exuberant water and dampness. It is currently the classic prescription for the treatment of chronic heart failure(CHF). This study provides a basis for the treatment of CHF with ZWD by elaborating the traditional efficacy, theoretical basis, and underlying mechanism of the prescription. Based on the research methods and judgment basis of quality markers(Q-markers) of Chinese medicine, the Q-markers of ZWD in the treatment of CHF were predicted from the aspects of transfer and traceability, specificity, effectiveness, compatibility environment, measurability, and processing. Demethyl-coclaurine,benzoylaconine, atractylenolide Ⅲ, paeoniflorin, 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol, pachymic acid, and dehydrotumulosic acid can be used as Q-markers of ZWD for treating CHF. The result provides a reference for exploring the pharmacodynamic substances of ZWD in the treatment of CHF.

Efficacy and safety of Shenyankangfu Tablet, a Chinese patent medicine, for primary glomerulonephritis: A multicenter randomized controlled trial / 中西医结合学报

BACKGROUND@#Shenyankangfu Tablet (SYKFT) is a Chinese patent medicine that has been used widely to decrease proteinuria and the progression of chronic kidney disease.@*OBJECTIVE@#This trial compared the efficacy and safety of SYKFT, for the control of proteinuria in primary glomerulonephritis patients, against the standard drug, losartan potassium.@*DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTION@#This was a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Primary glomerulonephritis patients, aged 18-70 years, with blood pressure ≤ 140/90 mmHg, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 45 mL/min per 1.73 m@*MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES@#The primary outcome was change in the 24-hour proteinuria level, after 48 weeks of treatment.@*RESULTS@#A total of 735 participants were enrolled. The percent decline of urine protein quantification in the SYKFT group after 48 weeks was 8.78% ± 2.56% (P = 0.006) more than that in the losartan 50 mg group, which was 0.51% ± 2.54% (P = 1.000) less than that in the losartan 100 mg group. Compared with the losartan potassium 50 mg group, the SYKFT plus losartan potassium 50 mg group had a 13.39% ± 2.49% (P < 0.001) greater reduction in urine protein level. Compared with the losartan potassium 100 mg group, the SYKFT plus losartan potassium 100 mg group had a 9.77% ± 2.52% (P = 0.001) greater reduction in urine protein. With a superiority threshold of 15%, neither was statistically significant. eGFR, serum creatinine and serum albumin from the baseline did not change statistically significant. The average change in TCM syndrome score between the patients who took SYKFT (-3.00 [-6.00, -2.00]) and who did not take SYKFT (-2.00 [-5.00, 0]) was statistically significant (P = 0.003). No obvious adverse reactions were observed in any group.@*CONCLUSION@#SYKFT decreased the proteinuria and improved the TCM syndrome scores of primary glomerulonephritis patients, with no change in the rate of decrease in the eGFR. SYKFT plus losartan potassium therapy decreased proteinuria more than losartan potassium therapy alone.@*TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER@#NCT02063100 on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Antioxidant capacity of extract from Jiangtang Xiaozhi recipe in vitro.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the antioxidant capacity of the extract from Jiangtang Xiaozhi recipe (JXR) of in vitro. METHODS: JXR extract was prepared according to previously reported method. In vitro antioxidant assays were used in this experiment, including 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH) radical scavenging ability, 2-2'-Azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sul phonate (ABTS) radical scavenging ability, reducing power assay, fluorescence recovery after photo bleaching assay, ß-carotene bleaching assay, ferric thiocyanate assay, and thiobarbituric acid method. RESULTS: DPPH, ABTS assay showed that JXR extract had distinct effect on scavenging free radicals; reducing power and ferricreducing-antioxidant power assay showed that JXR extract possessed redox ability; ß-Carotene bleaching assay and antioxidant activity in a linoleic acid system using ferric thiocyanate method, thiobarbituric acid assay indicated that JXR extract could effectively inhibit lipid peroxidation, and the effect was better than that of Vitamin C. CONCLUSION: JXR extract has significant antioxidant capacity in vitro.

Comparison of pulmonary availability and anti-inflammatory effect of dehydroandrographolide succinate via intratracheal and intravenous administration.

Dehydroandrographolide succinate (DAS) injection, which was approved in China for the treatment of viral pneumonia and upper respiratory tract infections, is often off-label used for nebulization therapy to avoid the adverse drug reactions associated with the injection. However, the aerodynamic properties and pulmonary fate of nebulized DAS was largely uninvestigated. In this study, the main objectives were to evaluate the in vitro aerodynamic deposition profiles of nebulizer generated aerosols and comparatively investigate the local drug availability and anti-inflammatory efficacy of DAS between intratracheal and intravenous dosing. The in vitro evaluation of aerodynamic characteristics and droplet size distribution showed more than 50% aerosol particles with size being <5 µm, allowing the aerosols to reach the lower respiratory tract. Following intratracheal administration, the drug underwent pulmonary absorption into the bloodstream, rendering an absolute bioavailability of 47.3%. Compared to the intravenous delivery, the intratracheal administration dramatically increased the drug availability in the lung tissue in rats by more than 80-fold, leading to an improved and prolonged local anti-inflammatory efficacy in a lipopolysaccharide induced lung injury model in mice. The present results demonstrated that inhalation delivery of DAS is a convenient and effective alternative to intravenous injections.

Effect of pretreatment of acupuncture on learning-memory ability and related protein of NLRP3 inflammasome in hippocampus in Alzheimer's disease like rats / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of pretreatment of acupuncture on the expression of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor 3(NLRP3), Caspase-1, interleukin1β(IL-1β) and the number of activated microglia (MG) in the hippocampus in Alzheimer's disease (AD) like rats, so as to explore the mechanism of pretreatment of acupuncture in preventing and treating AD.@*METHODS@#A total of 36 SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group and an electroacupuncture (EA) group, 12 rats in each group. The AD like rat model was established by 8-week continuous intraperitoneal injection of D-galactose (120 mg·kg@*RESULTS@#Compared with the blank group, the average escape latency was prolonged (@*CONCLUSION@#Pretreatment of acupuncture could prevent and treat the learning-memory dysfunction in AD like rats, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammatsome related protein and MG activation.

Safety evaluation of simultaneous resection of colorectal primary tumor and liver metastasis after neoadjuvant therapy: A propensity score matching analysis.

BACKGROUND: Considering the surgical safety and perioperative complications, simultaneous resection after neoadjuvant therapy is not commonly recommended. METHODS: A total of 253 patients were included in study. Comparison of the short-term outcomes was performed after propensity score adjustment in Group A (n = 96) and Group B (neoadjuvant therapy, n = 96). RESULTS: There was no postoperative mortality. After matching, the differences from surgical confounders were well-balanced. Morbidity (15.6% vs. 15.6%, p = 0.981), and Clavien-Dindo grade of complications (p = 0.710) were similar. No difference was found when the complications were divided according to the origin (general, colorectal and hepatic). Length of the hospital stays also did not differ between the groups (p = 0.482). More importantly, there was no increase in the number of patients with delayed adjuvant treatment after surgery in Group B. CONCLUSIONS: Neoadjuvant treatment did not increase morbidity, length of hospital stays and influence adjuvant treatment after simultaneous resection.

Effect of pre-acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) and Zusanli (ST 36) on exercise-induced fatigue / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the therapeutic effect of pre-acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) and Zusanli (ST 36) on exercise-induced fatigue.@*METHODS@#A total of 50 subjects were divided into an observation group and a control group by random number table method, 25 cases in each one. In the observation group, acupuncture was applied at Neiguan (PC 6) and Zusanli (ST 36) before exercise, once a day, consecutive 5-day treatment was required. In the control group, there was no intervention. The subjective fatigue perception score, serum levels of lactate and lactate dehydrogenase, heart rate and oxygen saturation before and after exercise were observed in the two groups.@*RESULTS@#Compared before exercise, the subjective fatigue perception scores, serum levels of lactate and lactate dehydrogenase and heart rates after exercise were increased in the two groups (0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Pre-acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) and Zusanli (ST 36) can effectively reduce the subjective fatigue perception score，serum levels of lactate and lactate dehydrogenase and heart rate to improve exercise-induced fatigue.

Effects of a Traditinal Chinese Medicine Compound Regimen on Differentiation and Proliferation of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cell Lines / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the effect of traditional chinese medicine (TCM) compound on myeloid leukemia cells and to explore its anti-leukemic mechanism.@*METHODS@#Myeloid leukemia cell lines were cultured in vitro and treated with TCM compound. The proliferation of the leukemia cells was measured by CCK8 method. The differentiation of the leukemia cells was evaluated by using Wright＇s staining method and by light microscopy, and the expression of differentiation-related surface antigens such as CD11B was measured and by flow cytometry, the apoptosis of the leukemia cells was detected by flow cytometry with using Annexin V staining.@*RESULTS@#Compared with untreated 4 leukemia cell lines HL-60, MOLM-13, MV4-11, AML-M5, the proliferations of 4 leukemia cells treated with different concentrations of TCM compound decreased (P<0.05), and their proliferation inhibition were in a dose-dependent manner (r=0.9236; r=0.7488; r=0.8889; r=0.8119); compared with HL-60 and AML-M5 leukemia cells, the drug-treated 2 leukemia cells displayed obvious differentiated changes; compared with untreated HL-60 leukemia cell line, the expression of surface antigen CD11B increased by 85%±7.13% in HL-60 cells treated IC50 concentration of drug; compared with untreated AML-M5 leukemia cell line, the apoptotic rate of AML-M5 treated with 1.5 and 2 μl doses of TCM compound increased. (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The traditional chinese medicine compound may inhibit the proliferation of leukemia cell lines mainly by inducing leukemia cell differentiation and apoptosis.

Effects of Niaoduqing Particles () on Delaying Progression of Renal Dysfunction: A Post-trial, Open-Label, Follow-up Study / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To follow up the participants of the randomized clinical trial "Efficacy and Safety of Niaoduqing Particles () for Delaying Moderate-to-Severe Renal Dysfunction", and assess the long-term effects of Niaoduqing Particles on delaying the progression of renal dysfunction.@*METHODS@#Participants, who had previously been randomly assigned to receive Niaoduqing Particles or placebo for 24 weeks (146 cases in each group), were invited to follow-up and all were administered Niaoduqing Particles 5 g thrice daily and 10 g before bedtime for 24 weeks. The primary endpoints were changes in baseline serum creatinine (Scr) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) after completion of the open-label treatment period.@*RESULTS@#After the double-blind period, the median (interquartile range) changes in Scr were 1.1 (-13.0-24.1) and 11.7 (-2.6-42.9) μmol/L for the Niaoduqing Particle and placebo groups, respectively (P=0.008), and the median changes in eGFRs were-0.2 (-4.3-2.7) and-2.21 (-5.7-0.8) mL•min•1.73 m, respectively (P=0.016). There were significant differences in the double-blind period changes in renal function between groups. After the open-label period, the median changes in Scr were 9.0 (-10.0-41.9) and 17.5 (-6.0-50.0) μmol/L for the Niaoduqing Particle and placebo groups according to baseline grouping, respectively (P=0.214), and the median changes in eGFRs were-2.3 (-6.4-1.9) and-3.7 (-7.5-1.1) mL•min•1.73 m, respectively (P=0.134). There were no statistical differences in the open-label period changes in renal function between groups. The eGFR reduction of participants who accepted Niaoduqing Particle treatment for 48 weeks was projected to 2.5 mL•min•1.73 m per year.@*CONCLUSION@#Niaoduqing Particles appear to have long-term efficacy for patients with moderate-to-severe renal dysfunction. Although there was no statistical difference, the early use of Niaoduqing Paticles seems to ameliorate the worsening of renal function. (Trial registration No. ChiCTR-TRC-12002448).

[Application of clinical nursing path integrated with holistic nursing in advanced schistosomiasis patients with ascites].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the clinical nursing path integrated with the holistic nursing on advanced schistosomiasis patients with ascites. METHODS: A total of 226 advanced schistosomiasis patients with ascites were randomly divided into a control group and an experimental group (113 cases each group). The subjects in the experimental group were nursed by the clinical nursing path integrated with the holistic nursing, while those in the control group were nursed only by the holistic nursing. Then the clinical relevant indexes of the two groups were observed, and the quality of life of the patients before and after hospital discharge was assessed. RESULTS: The improvement rate, satisfaction degree, and awareness rate of health knowledge of the patients in the experiment group were 93.8%, 100% and 97.4%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of the control group (all P < 0.05). The mortality rate and the complication rate of the patients in the experimental group were 0 and 2.7%, respectively, which were significantly lower than those of the control group (both P < 0.05). In addition, the average hospitalization days and the hospitalization cost of the experiment group were (12.2 ± 0.7) d and (4 725.0 ± 310.1) Yuan respectively, which were less than those of the control group (both P < 0.01). When 6 months after the discharge from hospital, the quality of life of the patients in the experimental group in various fields was significantly better than that of the control group (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical nursing pathway integrated with holistic nursing can effectively improve the improvement rate and decrease the mortality of the advanced schistosomiasis patients with ascites; meanwhile, it can shorten the hospitalization time and save the hospitalization cost. Therefore, this nursing model is suitable for popularization and application in the treatment and nursing work of the advanced schistosomiasis assistance.

A Clinical Multicenter Randomized Controlled Study on JianpiQinghua Decoction in Treating Stage 3 Chronic Kidney Disease with A Syndrome Type of Dampness-heat due to Spleen Deficiency / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of JianpiQinghua decoction in treating stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD3) with syndrome type of dampness-heat due to spleen deficiency. Methods A multicenter, randomized, controlled, prospective, double-blind, and double-simulation study was undertaken. A total of 270 CKD3 patients with syndrome type of dampness-heat due to spleen deficiency from the outpatient departments of six general hospitals were randomly divided into telmisartan+analog traditional Chinese medicine (TA) group, traditional Chinese medicine+analog telmisartan (TCMA) group, and telmisartan+traditional Chinese medicine (TTCM) group, in which the corresponding treatment was applied in addition to basic treatment. Six months later, changes in the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinical symptom scores and renal functions before and after treatment were compared among these three groups. Results Of these 270 CKD3 patients who had been enrolled in this study, 30 cases lost to follow-up. The baseline data were comparable among these three groups. After treatment, the TCM clinical symptom scores of both syndrome of spleen-qi deficiency and dampness-heat in TA group were significantly higher than those in TCMA group and TTCM group (P<0.001). With the treatment time prolonged, the TCM clinical symptom scores showed similar descending trends in TCMA group and TTCM group but were different from that in TA group. After treatment, abnormal creatinine rate decreased (P=0.003), and these three treatments and their interactions with each visit had no effect on serum urea nitrogen value (P=0.270, P=0.520); with prolonged treatment, the estimated glomerular filtration rates in three groups tended to be relatively stable after the first rise. The liver function and abnormal serum potassium rate were not statistically significant before and after treatment (P>0.05). Conclusions JianpiQinghua decoction can improve clinical symptoms of TCM in CKD3 patients with syndrome type of dampness-heat due to spleen deficiency and thus improve the quality of life and prognosis. The clinical efficacy of JianpiQinghua decoction alone or combined with telmisartan is superior to telmisartan monotherapy.

Kangle Decoction for erectile dysfunction with liver-qi stagnation and kidney deficiency / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>Objective</b>To observe the clinical efficacy of Kangle Decoction in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) with liver-qi stagnation and kidney deficiency.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 79 ED patients with liver-qi stagnation and kidney deficiency were randomly assigned to an experimental group (aged ［36.62±8.05］ yr and with a disease course of ［18.15±6.41］ mo) and a control group (aged ［37.44±8.10］ yr and with a disease course of ［17.51±6.79］ mo), the former treated orally with Kangle Decoction at 0.5 dose bid while the latter with Cialis at 10 mg qd alt, both for 8 weeks. Before treatment, after 4 and 8 weeks of medication, and at 4 weeks after drug withdrawal, we obtained the scores of the patients in the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5), Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS), and Short-Form Psychological and Interpersonal Relationship Scales (SF-PAIRS), and compared the indexes between the two groups of patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The IIEF-5 score was dramatically increased in both the treatment and control groups after 4 weeks (13.40±2.42 and 16.00±2.68) and 8 weeks of medication (18.60±3.50 and 18.59±3.80) and at 4 weeks after drug withdrawal (17.00±3.05 and 13.95±2.61) as compared with the baseline (10.78±2.28 and 10.77±2.33) (P<0.05 ), even higher in the treatment than in the control group after drug withdrawal (P<0.05 ). The EDITS scores in the treatment and control groups were (28.88±3.31 and 28.90±3.31) after 4 weeks of intervention, (29.68±3.30 and 29.13±3.32) after 8 weeks of intervention, and (29.20±2.92 and 26.82±3.23) at 4 weeks after drug withdrawal, all significantly higher in the former than in the latter group after drug withdrawal (P<0.05 ). The sexual self-confidence score (SSCS), sexual spontaneity score (SSS), and sexual time-concern score (STCS) were all improved in the treatment and control groups after medication as compared with the baseline (P<0.05 ), even higher in the former than in the latter group after drug withdrawal (P<0.05 ).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Kangle Decoction has a definite efficacy in the treatment of ED with liver-qi stagnation and kidney deficiency, with few adverse reactions and long-term post-withdrawal effect, and therefore deserves a wide clinical application.</p>

Mild and moderate female stress urinary incontinence treated with transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the difference in the clinical efficacy on mild and moderate female stress urinary incontinence (FSUI) between transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation and oral administration of midodrine hydrochloride tablets.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety cases of mild and moderate FSUI were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 45 cases in each one. In the observation group, the transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation was applied to Ciliao (BL 32), Shenshu (BL 23), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Qihai (CV 6), once a day. In the control group, midodrine hydrochloride tablets were prescribed for oral administration, 2. 5 mg per treatment, three times each day. The duration of treatment was 4 weeks. The score of international consultation on incontinence questionnaire-urinary incontinence short form (ICI-Q-SF) and leakage of urine in 1 h urinal pad test were observed before and after treatment in the patients of the two groups, and the efficacy was compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The score of ICI-Q-SF and leakage of urine in urinal pad test after treatment were all improved apparently as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P<0. 01), and the results in the observation group were better than those in the control group (both P<0. 01). The total effective rate was 86. 7% (39/45) in the observation group, which was better than 68. 9% (31/45, P<0. 05) in the control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation achieves the better efficacy on FSUI as compared with the oral administration of midodrine hydrochloride tablets. This therapy effectively improves the patient's urine control ability and reduces leakage of urine.</p>