Traditional Chinese medicine for idiopathic precocious puberty: A hospital-based retrospective observational study.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the application of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) among children with idiopathic precocious puberty (IPP). DESIGN AND SETTING: This study examined data sets from patients diagnosed with IPP at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between 2010 and 2012. The patients were allocated into three groups according their voluntary choice of treatment modalities: TCM users (received TCM treatment only), Western medicine (WM) users (received WM treatment only), and "no treatment" group (received no medical treatment at all). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The demographic data of children with IPP were characterized. The prescription patterns and frequencies of TCM for IPP patients were analyzed. The patients' bone maturation rates and the change of predicted height after different approaches were measured as outcomes. RESULTS: There were 3390 patients enrolled in the study. Zhi-Bai-Di-Huang-Wan (70.62%) was the most common herbal formula and Mai-Ya (Hordei Fructus Germinatus) (51.58%) was the most common single herb prescribed for IPP in all of the 2784 prescriptions. The bone maturation rates of TCM users (0.95±0.20) and WM users (0.69±0.05) were both decelerated but the "no treatment" group had an accelerated bone maturation rate of 1.33±0.04. TCM and WM users also had higher predicted height after treatment (1.15±1.19cm versus 1.73±0.29cm), while the "no treatment" group had a decreased predicted height (-0.52±0.23cm). CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed a comprehensive list of TCM prescriptions for IPP patients. Future well-designed, randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled clinical trials are warranted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TCM for precocity.

Hepatic veno-occlusive disease induced by Gymura segetum: report of two cases.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) or sinusoidal obstruction syndrome is associated with a high mortality because of its severity. Gymura segetum, a Chinese herbal medicine, is always used to cure injury and bleeding in rural areas in China. This study was undertaken to better understand VOD and its relations to the effect of Gymura segetum. METHODS: Between 2000 and 2002, two patients were admitted to our department because of VOD. Before admission, both of them had been injured and taken oral decoction of patent drug Gymura segetum. We analyzed the clinical manifestations, diagnosis and therapy of the two patients. RESULTS: Pyrrolizidine in Panax notginseng was proved to induce VOD. The diagnosis of VOD depended on hepatic biopsy. CONCLUSION: Gymura segetum can induce VOD. More attention should be paid to its unsuscepted side effects.

[Research on cytokines gene express of rats alcoholic liver disease affected by tea polyphenol].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of tea polyphenol(TP) on the rat with alcoholic liver damage. METHOD: Rats were divided into 3 groups, in which 2 groups were stomach perfused with alcohol to result in ALD, and 1 group of them stomach perfused with TP simultaneously. Another group was normal control groups (stomach perfused with drinking water). In the end of 12 weeks, the liver specimen of each rat was observed by anglicizing its tissue damage, and all data collected was performed by statistical analysis in quantum and semi-quantum. Meanwhile cytokines gene express of each group is determined. RESULT: In the end of 12 weeks, alcoholic hepatitis appeared in rat liver. Hepatic injury in alcohol group and TP group were found, but could not be found in normal group. Compared with pure alcohol group, alcoholic liver damage mainly showing with steatosis in TP group were slight, in addition showing liver cellular swelling with small area, with less spot and focal necrosis, none bridging necrosis. Steatosis were slight relatively, mega-bubble steatosis were less found. Collagen deposition of TP group were less than those of pure alcohol group. Gene expression of. cytokine have diversity statistically such as IL-3, IL-4, IL-1R2, IL-6R, IL-7R2, IL-3Ra, IL-R1, IL-13, IL-1R1, IL-7R2, EPO-R, LIFR, IL-1R2, IL-5R2, CSF1, CD27, IL-6R. CONCLUSION: TP is able to attenuate alcoholic liver damage. It's mechanism is possibly due to modulating cytokines gene expression of cytokine.

[Effect of tea polyphenols on alcoholic liver injury].

OBJECTIVE: To reproduce an experimental model of alcoholic liver disease in rats and to investigate the preventive and treatment effects of tea polyphenols on alcoholic liver disease. METHODS: 68 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: alcohol group (gastrically infused with 56% of ethanol once a day with a dose of 7 g/kg body weight for 4, 12 and 24 weeks), tea polyphenols group (gastric infusion with alcohol same as in the alcohol group and with tea polyphenols at 0.25 g/kg bw) and control group (gastric infusion with normal saline). At the end of 4, 12 and 24 weeks, blood samples were collected and then the rats were sacrificed. Liver samples were obtained for routine histological examination and the degree of hepatic steatosis and alcoholic hepatitis were examined. Blood specimens were used for evaluation of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). RESULTS: (1) The levels of the two transaminases were elevated with the increase of the duration of ethanol feeding and the difference is significant. TP significantly mitigated the increase of ALT and AST activities induced by the alcohol. (2) Histological changes of the liver injury indicated that piecemeal or focal necrosis of hepatocytes was present in the centrilobular area. As fibrosis advanced, broader septa were formed with central-central and centra-portal bridging necrosis. In the TP infusion group, the severity of the pathological changes was significantly milder. CONCLUSION: The results of this study revealed that TP mitigated the development of alcoholic liver disease, and TP may be a potential drug for treatment of alcoholic liver disease.

Effects of tea polyphenols on hepatic fibrosis in rats with alcoholic liver disease.

BACKGROUND: As an anti-oxidation agent, tea polyphenols may have the effect of anti-fibrosis. This study was designed to observe the effect of tea polyphenols on hepatic fibrosis in rats with alcoholic liver disease and to explore the related mechanisms. METHODS: Sixty healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into normal control group, single alcohol group, and three alcohol groups given different doses of tea polyphenols. Alcohol or isovolumic normal saline and corresponding doses of tea polyphenols were given daily to the rats separately. The rats were sacrificed at the end of the 24th week. Masson staining was performed to observe liver fibrosis, serum endotoxin, and oxidant and anti-oxidant activity. RESULTS: Hepatic fibrosis was less severe in the rats of the alcohol groups given tea polyphenols than in the single alcohol group. Tea polyphenols increased the serum anti-oxidant capacity and decreased the endotoxin level. CONCLUSION: Tea polyphenols show anti-fibrosis effect in rats with alcoholic liver disease, and the mechanism may be related to the clearance of overall oxidant and decrease of the endotoxin level.

[Effect of tea polyphenol on liver fibrosis in rats and related mechanism].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of tea polyphenol (TP)'s on liver fibrosis in rats and its possible mechanism. METHOD: Rats were divided into 5 groups, 4 groups of which were stomach perfused with alcohol resulting in alcoholic liver fibrosis, and 3 groups of which were stomach perfused with TP simultaneously. Another group was normal control one. Histological change of rat liver was investigated and quantitative analysis was made in 24 weeks, and rat liver anti-oxidation index and serum endotoxin were determined at the same time. RESULT: Liver fibrosis in TP group was slight, and anti-oxidize index and endotoxin level were markedly improved in comparison with those of alcohol groups. CONCLUSION: Tea polyphenol can protect hepatocytes from fibrosis. Its mechanism is possibly due to cleaning up overfull lipid per-oxidation and reducing the level of endotoxin.