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Background: To explore whether combined with TCM based on classical proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) therapy can achieve better efficacy for patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux disease. Methods: There were 150 laryngopharyngeal reflux patients enrolled and divided into three groups randomly, with 50 cases in each group. Patients in group A were treated with the proton pump inhibitor (PPI) lansoprazole. Patients in group B were treated with lansoprazole combined with Banxia Houpu decoction, and patients in group C were treated with acupuncture treatments and a combination of Chinese and Western medicine. The reflux symptom index (RSI), reflux finding score (RFS), and quality of life (36-item short form health survey questionnaire) were assessed before and 4 and 8 weeks after treatment. Results: The RSI and RFS scores of the three groups were significantly reduced after treatment (P < 0.001). In group B and C, they were lower than in group A at 8 weeks (P < 0.01). The SF-36 score of 3 groups increased after treatment. At both 4 and 8 weeks (P < 0.001), and patients in groups B and C scored higher than patients in group A (P < 0.001). The total effective rate of group B and group C was higher than that of group A (P < 0.05). Conclusion: All three treatments have therapeutic effects on the disease, but the efficacy of a PPI alone is not as good as the combined treatments' efficacies. Moreover, PPI combined with Banxia Houpu decoction and/or acupuncture treatment substantially affects life improvement.

Background: Kuan Xiong aerosol (KXA) is a Chinese herbal compound used to regulate qi-flowing to relieve pain and improve angina. However, only a few pharmacological studies on this traditional Chinese medicine preparation have been reported to confirm these activities. Objective: This article aims to observe the effect of resisting acute myocardial ischemia (AMI) in vivo and dilating vessel in vitro of KXA. Materials: The AMI model involves intravenously injecting pituitary (2 U.kg-1) into the ear of rabbits. Electrocardiograph (ECG) T waves were then recorded after administration and the falling range was calculated. Following this, the level of serum Cardiac troponin T (cTn-T) and the histopathology of the cardiac muscle tissue was evaluated. In vitro, the effect of KXA on vasodilation of isolated aortic rings that had been pre-contracted with KCl (30 mM) was observed. Results: The AMI model involves intravenously injecting the pituitary (2 U.kg-1) into the ear of rabbits. Electrocardiograph (ECG) T waves were then recorded after administration, and the falling range was calculated. Following this, the level of serum Cardiac troponin T (cTn-T) and the histopathology of the cardiac muscle tissue were evaluated. In vitro, the effect of KXA on vasodilation of isolated aortic rings that had been pre-contracted with KCl (30 mM) was observed. Conclusions: These results suggest that KXA protects against AMI, contributes to the dilation of blood vessels, and has long-acting effectiveness.

Background Although rural communities are home to a higher proportion of older residents, they provide fewer healthcare services than do urban core communities. Chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is often associated with reduced daily activity and quality of life in older adults, particularly those in rural areas. Aims This study investigated the pain experiences and coping strategies in rural older adults with MSK pain in Taiwan. Methods A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from rural older adults with chronic MSK pain in mountainous areas of Taiwan. Results In total, 55 rural older adults were enrolled in this study. The most common pain sites were the low back and knees. The main cause of pain was osteoarthritis. Three quarters of the participants suffered from moderate to severe chronic MSK pain on average. The results revealed that behavioral strategies were used more often than cognitive strategies. Regarding behavioral strategies, the most common non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic pain coping strategies were to rest and to take Chinese medicine, respectively. The most common cognitive strategy for pain coping was to talk to others. Conclusions The findings suggested that pain management for chronic MSK pain in rural older adults was inadequate in mountainous areas of Taiwan. Most rural older adults used multiple coping strategies to deal with their pain, and behavioral strategies were favored over cognitive strategies.

Introduction: Palpitation is a common complaint among patients presenting to emergency departments or cardiologists. Palpitation caused by organic heart diseases, such as coronary atherosclerotic heart disease and hypertensive heart disease, may be a sign of a life-threatening condition. In such cases, treatment with western medicines or surgeries is warranted. However, for patients with palpitation caused by non-cardiac factors, western medicine treatment is often ineffective, and traditional Chinese medicine has comparatively superior advantage. With the change in people's lifestyle and habits in the past decades, the time spent sitting and that with a forward head posture is increasing, which has accelerated the process of spinal aging and increased the incidence rate of spinal diseases. Case presentation: A 54-year-old female presented with paroxysmal palpitations, chest depression, and neck pain that had lasted for more than 2 months. Western medicine diagnosis was palpitations due to spinal disorders, while the traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis was palpitation (heart and spleen deficiency). The patient was treated with traditional Chinese massage, 30 min sessions, 5 times a week, 3 weeks totally. Subsequently, the patient's neck pain and numbness disappeared and the palpitations, chest tightness, and dizziness ameliorated. The patient resumed regular appetite, experienced better sleep, and had further improvement of spirit, enabling her to lead a normal life. Conclusions: Traditional Chinese massage therapy can relieve muscle spasm, regulate cervical facet joint disorder and dislocation, release adhesion, relieve synovial incarceration, restore the dynamic and static balance of the cervical spine, improve blood circulation of the cervical spine, increase the nutritional supply of the cervical spine and surrounding soft tissue, and promote metabolism and tissue repair. All these advantages make it a good complementary and alternative therapy for palpitation caused by spine disorders.

Background: The epidemic of SARS-CoV-2 has made COVID-19 a serious threat to human health around the world. The severe infections of SARS-CoV-2 are usually accompanied by higher mortality. Although the Qingfei Paidu Decoction (QFPDD) has been proved to be effective in blocking the transition of COVID-19 patients from mild to severe stage, its mechanism remains unclear. Objective: This study aims to explore the mechanism of QFPDD in blocking the transition of COVID- 19 patients from mild to severe stage. Materials and Methods: In the process of screening active ingredients, oral bioavailability (OB) and drug likeness (DL) are key indicators, which can help to screen out pivotal compounds. Therefore, with the criteria of OB≥30% and DL≥0.18, we searched active ingredients of QFPDD in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP, https://tcmspw.com/) by using its 21 herbs as keywords. Results: We filtered out 6 pivotal ingredients from QFPDD by using the bioinformatics method, namely quercetin, luteolin, berberine, hederagenin, shionone and kaempferol, which can inhibit the highly expressed genes (i.e. CXCR4, ICAM1, CXCL8, CXCL10, IL6, IL2, CCL2, IL1B, IL4, IFNG) in severe COVID-19 patients. By performing KEGG enrichment analysis, we found seven pathways, namely TNF signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, NFkappa B signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, JAK-STAT signaling pathway, and Th17 cell differentiation, by which QFPDD could block the transition of COVID-19 patients from mild to severe stage. Conclusion: QFPDD can prevent the deterioration of COVID-19 in the following mechanisms, i.e. inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 invasion and replication, anti-inflammatory and immune regulation, and repairing body damage. These results will be helpful for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

Although Western medicine and ideas about atopic dermatitis (AD) have become popular in many Asian countries, local beliefs about the disease and its treatment often prevail. The multi- racial background of these countries as well as the influence of the diverse religions (such as Taoism and Ramadan) in these regions often lead to diverse belief systems about the causes of AD (such as the Chi concept, also known as the balance of yin and yang) and the types of treatment (e.g. herbal remedies, topical versus concoctions, and decoctions). In addition, many of the cultural practices are preserved among the Southeast Asian minorities residing in the United Kingdom and North America. Eastern treatments typically take a holistic approach to AD and emphasize the psychosomatic component of the disorder. This overview provides a summary of the difference between Conventional, Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Medicine in terms of epidemiology, aetiology, therapy, and prognosis in children with AD. There are a number of similarities in genetic and environmental factors in epidemiology and aetiology; however, differences exist in terms of the concept of management. Complementary and alternative medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, and integrative medicine usage are not only prevalent among the Asian population but are also becoming more popular and accepted in Western societies.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of most common malignancies worldwide and its incidence is still growing. In spite of recent advances in targeted therapies, their clinical efficacy has been limited, non-curative and unaffordable. A growing body of literature indicates that CRC is a multi-modal disease, where a variety of factors within the tumor microenvironment play a significant role in its pathogenesis. For instance, imbalance in gut microbial profiles and impaired intestinal barrier function contribute to the overall intestinal inflammation and initiation of CRC. Moreover, persistent chronic inflammation favors a tumor microenvironment for the growth of cancer. In addition, autophagy or ‘self-eating’ is a surveillance mechanism involved in the degradation of cellular constituents that are generated under stressful conditions. Cancer stem cells (CSCs), on the other hand, engage in the onset of CRC and are able to endow cancer cells with chemo-resistance. Furthermore, the aberrant epigenetic alterations promote CRC. These evidences highlight the need for multi-targeted approaches that are not only safe and inexpensive but offer a more effective alternative to current generation of targeted drugs. Curcumin, derived from the plant Curcuma longa, represents one such option that has a long history of its use for a variety of chronic disease including cancer, in Indian ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine. Scientific evidence over the past few decades have overwhelmingly shown that curcumin exhibits a multitude of anti-cancer activities orchestrated through key signaling pathways associated with cancer. In this article, we will present a current update and perspective on this natural medicine – incorporating the basic cellular mechanisms it effects and the current state of clinical evidence, challenges and promise for its use as a cancer preventative and potential adjunct together with modern therapies for CRC patients.

Medicinal plants are the primary material basis for disease prevention and treatment in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The conservation and sustainable utilization of these medicinal plants is critical for the development of the TCM industry. However, wild medicinal plant resources have sharply declined in recent decades. To ameliorate the shortage of medicinal plant resources, it is essential to explore the development potential of the TCM industry in different geographical regions. For this purpose, we examined the spatial distribution of commonly used medicinal plants in China, the number of Chinese medicinal material markets, and the number of TCM decoction piece enterprises. Specifically, multispecies superimposition analysis and Thiessen polygons were used to reveal the optimal range for planting bulk medicinal plants and the ideal regions for building Chinese medicinal material markets, respectively. Furthermore, we quantitatively analyzed mismatches between the spatial distribution of commonly used medicinal plant richness, Chinese medicinal material markets, and TCM decoction piece enterprises. We found that the areas suitable for growing commonly used medicinal plants in China were mainly distributed in Hengduan Mountain, Nanling Mountain, Wuling Mountain, and Daba Mountain areas. The Thiessen polygon network based on Chinese medicinal material market localities showed there are currently fewer markets in southwestern, northwestern, and northeastern China than in central and southern China. TCM decoction piece enterprises are concentrated in a few provinces, such as Hebei and Jiangxi. We found that the distribution of commonly used medicinal plants, Chinese medicinal material markets and TCM decoction piece enterprises are mismatched in Henan, Shaanxi, Hunan, Hubei, Zhejiang, Fujian, Chongqing, and Xizang. We recommend strengthening development of the TCM industry in Henan, Hunan, Zhejiang, Shaanxi, Hubei, Chongqing, Fujian, and Xizang; building more Chinese medicinal material markets in southwestern, northwestern, and northeastern China; and establishing medicinal plant nurseries in resource-rich provinces to better protect and domesticate local medicinal plants.

Background: Berberine (BBR), an alkaloidal compound found in many plants, is widely used for hundreds of years in the traditional system of Chinese medicine. Objective/Aim: The present review is aimed to summarize the potential of Berberine in the amelioration of various neurological disorders. Methods: The collection of data for the compilation of this review work was searched in PubMed Scopus, Google Scholar, and Science Direct. Of late, researchers are more focused on its beneficial role in neurodegenerative diseases. Result: BBR has proven its protective role in numerous neurotoxicity models including, oxygen-glucose deprivation, mercury-induced, neurodegenerative model by ibotenic acid, and hypoxia caused by COCl2. BBR treatment averts the generation of reactive oxygen species in the oxygen-glucose deprivation model. Further, it subdues cytochrome c along with the divulge of apoptosis-inducing factors that indicate its beneficial action in the management of stroke. BBR diminished hydrogen peroxide-induced neuronal damage by enhancing the PI3k / Akt / Nrf-2 based pathway and showed a preventive impact on neurites of SH-SY5Y cells by averting the formation of ROS and inhibiting apoptosis. The impact of BBR on neurological disorder using a transgenic AD type mouse strain (TgCRND8) showed a reduction in the piling up of amyloid-β plaque. In mice, administration of BBR in the dose range of 5-10m/kg has been reported to raise the levels of serotonin (47%), dopamine (31%), and norepinephrine (29%) in CNS to allay depression. Conclusion: The present review is aimed to summarize the potential of Berberine in the amelioration of various neurological disorders.

Background and aim Chronic back pain causes physical, functional, and emotional disabilities. Traditional Chinese Medicine therapies have been shown as interventions to treat chronic back pain. The present study aimed to clinically evaluate the effects of ear acupuncture combined with cupping therapy on people with chronic back pain. Experimental procedure We conducted an open-label, randomized, parallel-group controlled clinical trial. Following the CONSORT statement recommendations, 198 participants were randomized into ‘ear acupuncture’ and ‘ear acupuncture and cupping therapy’ groups. Data were collected in three different points; before the first session (initial) with the patient, after the last session (final), and seven days after the end of the treatment (follow-up). The Brief Pain Inventory, a digital algometer, and the Rolland Morris Disability Questionnaire were used for data collection. Generalized Estimation Equation model was used to examine the association between the interventions and the primary outcome pain severity. Results Pain severity, pressure pain threshold, and physical disability improved over time in both groups. However, for the patients being treated with both ear acupuncture and cupping therapy, significant changes were seen in pain severity, pain relief, and physical disabilities between the initial and final sessions. For the ‘ear acupuncture and cupping therapy’ group, significant changes were also seen for pain relief and physical disability in the follow-up session. Conclusion Ear acupuncture combined with cupping therapy was shown to be more effective in the treatment of chronic back pain when compared to treatment using only ear acupuncture.

Objective To observe the effect of the combined therapy of electroacupuncture (EA) and ginger-isolated moxibustion on endometrial receptivity in the patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Methods A total of 70 subjects of PCOS were randomized into two groups, 35 cases in each one. In the western medication group, letrozole and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) were administered. In the combined therapy group, on the base of the treatment as the western medication group, the artificial cycle therapy with EA and ginger-isolated moxibustion was provided. The treatment duration was 3 menstrual cycles in two groups. After treated for 3 menstrual cycles, the symptom score of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), endometrial thickness, the number of ovulation cycle, endometrial morphology, bilateral uterine artery pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), the sum of peak systolic velocity/end diastolic velocity (S/D) and pregnancy were compared in the patients between two groups. Results (1) After treatment, the endometrial thickness was better (0.21 ± ± 0.13 vs 0.14 ± 0.08, P Conclusion The combined treatment of electroacupuncture and ginger-isolated moxibustion with western medication effectively improves endometrial receptivity, increases clinical pregnancy rate and reduces early abortion rate in the patients with PCOS.

Objective To evaluate the clinical therapeutic effect and safety of individualized moxibustion in treatment of postpartum pantalgia. Methods A total of 99 patients with postpartum pantalgia were divided into three group at the ratio of 1: 1: 1 according to random number table, i.e. an individualized moxibustion group, a quantitative moxibustion group and a voltaren group. The same acupoints were selected in the individualized moxibustion group and the quantitative moxibustion group. With the patient in supine, Zhōngwan (中脘CV12),Guānyuan (关元CV4), bilateral Tiānshū (天枢ST25), bilateral Xuehai (血海SP10), bilateral Yanglingquan (阳陵泉GB34), bilateral Zusānlĭ (足三里ST36) and bilateral Sānyīnjiāo (三阴交SP6) were selected. With the patient in prone, Dazhuī (大椎GV14), bilateral Geshū (膈俞BL17), bilateral Pishū(脾俞BL20), bilateral Shenshū (肾俞BL23), Mingmen 命门(GV4), bilateral Wĕizhōng (委中BL40) and bilateral Yŏngquan (涌泉KI1) were selected. In the individualized moxibustion group, the moxibusion dose was determined by patient's constitution and conditions as well as no occurrence of dry throat, thirst and local skin lesion. In the quantitative moxibustion group, the moxibustion dose was fixed as 1 cone at each acupoint in treatment. In these two groups, the treatment was given once every two days, three times a week and the treatment for 2 weeks was as 1 course. Totally, 2 courses of treatment were required. In the voltaren group, voltaren ointment was used externally at the pain area, once a day, for 4 weeks totally. Separately, before treatment, at the end of treatment course and in follow-up, the symptom score of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), pain score of visual analogue scale (VAS) and patient's treatment satisfaction score were observed in the patients of the three groups. Results In comparison within group, TCM symptom score, VAS score and the treatment satisfaction score at the end of treatment were all reduced obviously as compared with those before treatment in each of the three groups (P 0.05). In the voltaren group, these data were not different as compared with those at the end of treatment in 4 weeks of follow-up (all P > 0.05), but these data were all increased as compared with those at the end of treatment in 12 and 24 weeks of follow-up (all P Conclusion Individualized moxibustion and quantitative moxibustion improve the short-term and long-term therapeutic effect on postpartum pantalgia as compared with the external application of voltaren ointment. The therapeutic effect and patient's satisfaction of individualized moxibustion for replenishing kidney and nourishing blood are better than the quantitative moxibustion. The individualized moxibustion therapy for replenishing kidney and nourishing blood achieves a satisfactory effect on postpartum pantalgia and is excelled to voltaren ointment that is strongly recommended in modern medicine. Individualized moxibustion is an external therapy of TCM with optimal short-term and long-term therapeutic effect and reliable safety. Hence, it deserves to be promoted in practice.

Cardiovascular disease is a crucial disease threatening human health, and its mortality rate ranks first among Chinese residents. Myocardial mitochondrial dysfunction is the main cause of various heart diseases such as myocardial infarction, myocarditis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and heart failure. In recent years, many studies have confirmed that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can be used to improve myocardial mitochondrial function and treat heart disease. The purpose of this review was to analyze the regulatory mechanism of myocardial mitochondrial function by summarizing the effect of TCM on cardiovascular disease.

Objective: To provide an overview of Japanese cosmetic acupuncture and promote its development. Methods: The study retrieved original and conference papers on cosmetic acupuncture published in the Japana Centra Revuo Medicina and summarized relevant operation techniques, indications, and other pertinent information. Results: A total of 163 related papers were retrieved, which focused on the treatment of 12 dermatological conditions including wrinkles and pigmentation. Treatment not only utilized acupuncture, but also incorporated other techniques, including cupping therapy, scraping therapy, pulse therapy, aromatherapy, exercise, and diet. All the treatments were guided either by Chinese medicine or western medicine theories. Conclusion: Cosmetic acupuncture has progressed rapidly in Japan in the past two decades and shows promising future developmental prospects.

This study proposes the following hypothesis based on studies from various aspects and various historical periods in acupuncture: meridians and collaterals are a continuous, interwoven and ordered system of cells with the same active vibration frequency that guides human nerve activity and blood circulation, and acupuncture can temporarily open, unblock or shut such a system. Yin and Yang depend on the acidity and alkalinity of the internal and external liquid of cells caused by the human body after ingestion of food or influenced by the environment. Traditional Chinese medicine can help the human body adjust the acid-base balance, which is to say, adjust the imbalance state of Yin and Yang. The structure of functional active groups determines the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine, and the structure can be predicted by using the principle of topology to play a role in the treatment of the corresponding target.

Background Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a frequently occurring clinical disease, which could be treated by traditional Chinese medicine. However, the effects and mechanisms of xiao-zhi-fang (XZF) alone or in combination with fructooligosaccharides (FOS) on NAFLD remains unclear. Methods This study established the NAFLD mouse model by feeding with a high-fat diet and by administering with XZF and/or FOS. Moreover, the fat content in the liver tissues was evaluated by oil red O and hematoxylin and eosin staining, and the liver function indices were examined using a biochemical analyzer. Changes in the intestinal flora were monitored using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The results of the current study showed that the alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total triglyceride, total cholesterol levels, and the amount of lipid accumulation were markedly elevated in NAFLD mice. Results XZF alone or in combination with FOS significantly reduced lipid accumulation in the liver and blood lipid levels in NAFLD mice. Moreover, XZF alone or in combination with FOS notably altered the intestinal flora structure in NAFLD mice. Consequently, 17 operational taxonomic units were decreased and nine were increased in the XZF and/or FOS groups. Conclusions FOS may accelerate the intestinal microecological balance in NAFLD mice after treatment with XZF by promoting intestinal flora growth, thereby enhancing the therapeutic effect of XZF on NAFLD.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in both developed and developing countries. Di'ao Xinxuekang (DAXXK) is a pure Chinese medicine herbal preparation refined from dioscin extracted from the roots of Dioscorea panthaica Prain et Burk and Diosorea nipponica Makino. Objective: To evaluate the application of DAXXK in Cardiovascular disease. Methods: : We searched and summarized all the studies on DAXXK and Cardiovascular disease in pumend, Google, and CNKI. Results: Modern pharmacological studies have shown that DAXXK has pharmacological effects such as dilating blood vessels, lowering blood pressure and cardiac load, improving hemodynamics, lowering blood lipids and anti-platelet aggregation, and is widely used for the therapy of various kinds of cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease (CHD), angina pectoris (AP) and myocardial infarction. We provide an overview of the clinical efficacy, molecular mechanisms, safety and therapeutic potential of DAXXK in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, aiming to provide clues and evidence for clinical decision-making. Conclusion: DAXXK exerts cardiovascular protection by regulating a variety of cardiovascular disease-related signaling pathways.

Background As the use of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in the international market increases, the number of clinical studies including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of CHM which published in international journals has also increased. Using bibliometrics, we systematically and comprehensively analyzed the research status of CHM RCTs published in English during the period of 2010 to 2019. Methods Electronic searches in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were undertaken. CHM RCTs published in English between January 2010 and December 2019 were included. We randomly selected 20% from the eligible articles. Descriptive statistical analysis was carried out by extracting information on general information, characteristics of the study participants, interventions, outcomes, and risk of bias assessment of included RCTs. Results Two hundred and twenty-seven CHM RCTs published in English were included in our study. Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine was the journal which published most of the relevant papers (22.0%). A total of 45,774 participants were included, sample size ranged from 12 to 3,143 (median: 115). The most common disease was the circulatory diseases (n=36, 15.9%). Decoction was the most common dosage form (28.2%), and "CHM vs. placebo" was the most common type of control (36.1%). The median of the total number of outcomes was 4 (range: 1-14), 92 (40.5%) did not clearly specify any primary outcome, 56 (24.7%) did not report any adverse event, 41 (18.1%) and 68 (30.0%) reported traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)- specific outcomes and quality of life, respectively. Eighty-five (37.4%) did not report sufficient information about the random sequence generation process, 100 (44.1%) used the adequate allocation concealment, 92 (40.5%) blinded participants and key study personnel, and 24 (10.6%) blinded outcome assessors. Conclusions Our results provided insight into the research status regarding CHM RCTs published in English during the past decade, this study may be helpful in understanding research trends in this field.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of astragalus–saffron–rhubarb mixture (Bao’shen recipe, BSR) on diabetic nephropathy (DN) in db/db mice and preliminarily explore the possible underlying mechanism. Methods A total of 125 8-week-old male db/db mice with DN were randomly divided into five groups: model group, irbesartan group and high-, medium- and low doses of BSR group, while 25 male db/m mice were used as a blank control. At 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 weeks of feeding, the animals were sacrificed and blood as well as urine samples were collected for blood glucose, urea nitrogen, creatinine and urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) measurement via blood glucose meter or corresponding detection kits, respectively. The renal tissues of each mouse underwent hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Masson, periodic acid Schiff (PAS) staining. Renal homogenate was used to detect IL-6, TNF-α, TNF-1R and TNF-2R by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Additionally, the data obtained was statistically analyzed via one-way analysis of variance. Results BSR could effectively reduce the body weight, blood glucose, UAER, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels, relieve the proliferation of mesangial tissue, and lower the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, TNF-1R, and TNF-2R in renal tissue of db/db mice with DN. Of note, the high-dose BSR treatment group has advantages over irbesartan treatment group in improving above-mentioned aspects. Conclusion BSR could effectively delay the progress of DN, partly related to its anti-inflammation effect.

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine, abundant in honeysuckle and eucommia, and has a wide range of biological activities, and pharmacological effects. Previous studies have shown that CGA can regulate learning, memory, cognitive ability, coupled with improvement to anxiety, depression, and other post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-like symptoms. This article explores the protective effects of CGA on neurons through its anti-apoptotic effect, inhibition of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, which may be the mechanisms of its improvement of PTSD-like symptoms. It may provide a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of PTSD and its comorbidities.

Objective: To observe and compare whether the combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine can achieve more satisfactory results in the treatment of patients with chronic ulcerative rectitis (UR). Methods: 70 cases of chronic ulcerative rectitis were selected in all hospitals of our hospital for comparison. Observation and control were set up. The number of people was the same, but there were differences in methods. The control group retained enema, and the observation group was treated with traditional Chinese medicine. Rectal mucosa scores after different treatments were compared to evaluate the effect of intervention. Results: It was found that the observation group scored lower (P < 0.05), and the effect was better. Conclusion: For the treatment of patients with chronic ulcerative rectitis, the combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine will help to promote the prognosis of the disease, improve the problem of ulcer, promote the improvement of gastrointestinal function and bring a more positive impact.

Dysphagia is a common complication after stroke, which does not only affect the quality of life of patients, but also increase the risk of death. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment has always played an important role in the clinical treatment of dysphagia after stroke, but its mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Literatures on the use of TCM for the disease in the recent 5 years have been reviewed, and the problems existing in the development and treatment of the disease are discussed in this article, in an attempt to provide new ideas for the treatment of the disease. This paper presents a summary of traditional Chinese medicine treatment for the disease in the past five years, including traditional Chinese medicine compound and acupuncture.

This article is a summary of the research progress of the maternal-fetal interface immune microenvironment regulated by traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of recurrent spontaneous abortion. The imbalance of the immune microenvironment at the maternal-fetal interface is closely related to the occurrence of recurrent spontaneous abortion. Traditional Chinese medicine can maintain the homeostasis of the immune microenvironment at the maternal-fetal interface by regulating the function of immune cells and the expression of related cytokines.

Explore the current status of Chinese medicine understanding and prevention and treatment of dry eye, so as to improve the efficacy of Chinese medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of dry eye.

In recent years, seeking effective anti-angiogenic components and therapeutic methods from traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been a hot spot in the treatment of malignant tumors. In particular, the active ingredients found in Chinese herbal extracts have shown strong inhibition of tumor neovascularization.

With the aggravation of an aging population, the prevalence of chronic heart failure is increasing. As a famous traditional Chinese medicine practitioner in Shaanxi Province, Mingjun Zhao is amicable at using traditional Chinese medicine to treat chronic heart failure. He believes that the pathogenesis of the condition is mainly due to the lack of heart Yang, deficiency of heart Qi, as well as the combination of water and blood stasis. Therefore, in treating this condition, it is essential to warm and nourish heart Yang, replenish Qi to benefit water, and promote blood circulation to remove blood stasis. Based on the standardized treatment used in western medicine, traditional Chinese medicine should be reasonably and accurately combined with it as a drug pair into a prescription, thus highlighting the advantages of the combination of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of chronic heart failure to a great extent.

Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees, a renowned herb medicine in China, is broadly utilized in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of cold and fever, sore throat, sore tongue, snake bite with its excellent functions of clearing heat and toxin, cooling blood and detumescence from times immemorial. Modern pharmacological research corroborates that andrographolide, the major ingredient in this traditional herb, is the fundamental material basis for its efficacy. As the main component of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees, andrographolide reveals numerous therapeutic actions, such as antiinflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, antihyperglycemic and so on. However, there are scarcely systematic summaries on the specific mechanism of disease treatment and pharmacokinetics. Moreover, it is also found that it possesses easily ignored security issues in clinical application, such as nephrotoxicity and reproductive toxicity. Thereby it should be kept a lookout over in clinical. Besides, the relationship between the efficacy and security issues of andrographolide should be investigated and evaluated scientifically. In this review, special emphasis is given to andrographolide, a multifunctional natural terpenoids, including its pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicity and pharmaceutical researches. A brief overview of its clinical trials is also presented. This review intends to systematically and comprehensively summarize the current researches of andrographolide, which is of great significance for the development of andrographolide clinical products. Noteworthy, those un-cracked issues such as specific pharmacological mechanisms, security issues, as well as the bottleneck in clinical transformation, which detailed exploration and excavation are still not to be ignored before achieving integration into clinical practice. In addition, given that current extensive clinical data do not have sufficient rigor and documented details, more high-quality investigations in this field are needed to validate the efficacy and/or safety of many herbal products.

Objective. To study the efficacy of restricting dietary protein intake combined with Buyang Huanwu decoction in treating diabetic nephropathy (DN) and its effect on patients’ inflammatory factor levels. Methods. The medical data of 150 DN patients treated in Wuhan No.1 Hospital (June 2018—May 2021) were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received regular therapy, those who received the intervention of restricting dietary protein intake were included in the control group (n = 75), and on this basis, those treated with Buyang Huanwu decoction were included in the experimental group (n = 75), so as to scientifically evaluate their efficacy and inflammatory factor levels after treatment. Results. The patients’ general information was not statistically different between the two groups ( P > 0.05 ); after treatment, the experimental group gained remarkably higher marked effective rate and total effective rate of treatment than the control group ( P < 0.05 ); the inflammatory factor levels of all patients were obviously better than before ( P < 0.05 ), and the levels of TNF-α, IL-2, IL-8, IL-4, and IL-10 were obviously lower in the experimental group than in the control group ( P < 0.05 ); the levels of fasting blood glucose, 2 h postprandial blood glucose, and glycosylated hemoglobin of all patients were remarkably lower than before ( P < 0.05 ), but with no significant between-group difference ( P > 0.05 ); the renal function indexes of all patients were better than before, and between the two groups, the levels of 24 h microalbuminuria, 24 h urine protein excretion, and serum creatinine were obviously lower and the glomerular filtration rate was significantly higher in the experimental group ( P all P < 0.05 ). Conclusion. Jointly applying Buyang Huanwu decoction on the basis of restricting dietary protein intake can effectively promote the clinical efficacy of DN, which is conducive to adjusting the inflammatory factor levels, promoting the patients’ renal function, and alleviating the clinical symptoms.

Background. To investigate the clinical effects of Chinese medicine decoction combined with glucocorticoid in treating children with primary nephrotic syndrome. Methods. A total of 70 children with pediatric nephritis nephrotic syndrome treated at Weifang People’s Hospital from January 2019 to December 2019 were randomly allocated to the therapy group and the control group, each with 35 cases. The control group was treated with conventional Western medicine, and the therapy group received Western medicine and Chinese medicine. After 12 weeks of treatment, the therapeutic effect of the two groups was compared. Results. After receiving the treatment, the levels of urine protein (UPro), triglyceride, and cholesterol were significantly decreased in the two groups ( p < 0.05 ), and these levels in the therapy group were much lower than those of the control group ( p < 0.05 ). However, the level of albumin (ALB) was predominantly increased in the two groups after treatment ( p < 0.05 ), and this level in the therapy group was much higher than that of the control group ( p < 0.05 ). Moreover, the immune indicators, coagulation function, and recurrence rate were noticeably improved after treatment ( p < 0.05 ), and the therapy group was better than the control group ( p < 0.05 ). Furthermore, the comparison of renal function indexes, liver function indexes, and blood routine between the two groups showed no statistical significance in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups ( p > 0.05 ). Conclusions. For the treatment of refractory nephrotic syndrome in children, based on conventional shock therapy, the addition of traditional Chinese medicine (Liuwei Dihuang pill decoction) remedy can significantly improve the disease symptoms in children and improve the efficacy, and the incidence of adverse reactions is low.

Gap junctions are the main form of interaction between cardiomyocytes, through which the electrochemical activities between cardiomyocytes can be synchronized to maintain the normal function of the heart. Connexins are the basis of gap junctions. Changes in the expression, structural changes (e.g., phosphorylation and dephosphorylation), and distribution of connexins can affect the normal electrophysiological activities of the heart. Myocardial infarction (MI) and concurrent arrhythmia, shock, or heart failure can endanger life. The structural and functional damage of connexin (Cx) 43 in cardiomyocytes is a central part of the pathological progression of MI and is one of the main pathological mechanisms of arrhythmia after MI. Therefore, increasing Cx43 expression has become one of the main measures to prevent MI. Also, intervention in Cx43 expression can improve the structural and electrical remodeling of the myocardium to improve MI prognosis. Here, research progress of Cx43 in MI and its prevention and treatment using Traditional Chinese Medicine formulations is reviewed.

During the last decades, Chinese medicine has been widely used for curing various diseases in the healthcare domain. Based on the databases of medicine wisdom and modern application of prescriptions, we have explored the medication pattern of ancient and modern prescriptions for the treatment of peptic ulcer in various patients. In this paper, we have proposed a neural network model which is based on the time series decomposition and is able to mine and predict the medication pattern of peptic ulcer treatment in Chinese medicine. For this purpose, cumulative distance level method, Mann–Kendall trend analysis, Hurst exponent, and characteristic point methods are used for the trend analysis. Likewise in the proposed model, the wavelet analysis method is used for the periodicity analysis and Mann–Kendall mutation test method along with Pettitt methods is used for mutability analysis. In addition, autocorrelation and unit root methods are utilized to test the random terms. The Chinese herbal formulas (where the main diseases are peptic ulcer, peptic ulcer, cerebral leakage, and cerebral abscess) are collected from the databases of medicine wisdom and modern application of prescriptions. Furthermore, methods of frequency analysis, association rule analysis, and factor analysis are used to evaluate the grouping pattern of prescriptions for peptic ulcer treatment. The error in the proposed scheme between the predicted and the measured values of 87 prescriptions, which involve five Chinese medicines for peptic ulcer and 160 Chinese medicines, obtained from the neural network was 16.79%.

Objective. To observe the clinical effect of Xiaozheng Decoction combined with bladder perfusion with hydroxycamptothecin in the treatment of bladder cancer. Methods. A total of 92 bladder cancer patients admitted to our hospital from January to December 2018 were selected and divided into an observation group and a control group according to the random number table method, with 46 cases in each group. The observation group was given Xiaozheng Decoction combined with bladder perfusion with hydroxycamptothecin, and the control group was given hydroxycamptothecin. The levels of serum-related factors (intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), E-cadherin, cell adhesion molecules (CAM), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)), white blood cell (WBC) level, immune function indexes, short-term total response rate, and incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. Results. After 2 years of postoperative treatment, the levels of ICAM-1, E-cadherin, CAM-1, FGF, and VEGF (a, b, c) in both groups were improved compared with those before treatment and the observation group was better than the control group p < 0.01 . The number of WBCs was significantly higher than in the control group after Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment. The observation group was better than the control group in increasing CD3+ and CD4+ levels and decreasing CD8+ level p < 0.05 , indicating that this prescription could improve the immune function of patients. The recurrence rate in the observation group was 6.52% after 2 years of treatment, lower than 17.39% in the control group. Color ultrasound parameters showed that there were no statistically significant differences in arrive time (AT) and time to peak (TTP) between patients with and without recurrence and peak intensity (PI) and washout time (WT) were higher in patients with recurrence than in patients without recurrence p < 0.01 . The incidence of adverse reactions was significantly lower than that of the control group p < 0.01 . Conclusion. The clinical effect of Xiaozheng Decoction combined with hydroxycamptothecin on the treatment of bladder cancer was clear and superior to that of hydroxycamptothecin, which could effectively improve the serological indicators of patients with a low incidence of adverse reactions and prolong the survival cycle of patients. Therefore, it is worthy of promotion and application.

Background. Nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the main type of lung cancer, whose morbidity and mortality rank first among malignant tumors. More than 70% of NSCLC patients are diagnosed at locally advanced or advanced stage, missing the best operation period. Chemotherapy and targeted therapy are important means for the treatment of advanced NSCLC, but various side effects seriously affect the curative effect and the life quality of NSCLC patients. Our previous clinical practice has shown that Mufangji Decoction, a classic traditional Chinese medicine, has a significant curative effect in the treatment of NSCLC, but the specific mechanism is not clear. This study intends to explore the potential mechanism of Mufangji Decoction and its active ingredient patchouli alcohol against NSCLC and to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of NSCLC by traditional Chinese medicine. Methods. The in vivo and in vitro experiments were performed to evaluate the antitumor effects and investigate the underlying mechanism of Mufangji Decoction and its active ingredient patchouli alcohol. Network pharmacology was applied to analyze the effective ingredients and potential targets or signaling pathways of Mufangji Decoction. Results. Our current study shows that Mufangji Decoction can effectively inhibit the growth of subcutaneous transplantation of NSCLC. The following network pharmacological analysis and in vivo experiment suggest that patchouli alcohol is one of the main active ingredients of Mufangji Decoction and exerts antitumor effects. Further mechanism investigation reveals that the antitumor effect of patchouli alcohol is related to the induction of Akt/mTOR signaling pathway-mediated autophagy in NSCLC cells. Conclusion. Mufangji Decoction and its active ingredient patchouli alcohol might exert their antitumor effects in NSCLC partly through regulating Akt/mTOR-mediated autophagy, providing the evidence that traditional Chinese medicine might be a key approach for NSCLC treatment via targeting the Akt/mTOR signal axis.

Background Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is associated with lower esophageal sphincter (LES) incompetence. In some patients, GERD is refractory to acid reduction therapy which is the main treatment for GERD. So far, medications that can increase LES tone are few. Arecae pericarpium (A. pericarpium) is a medication in Traditional Chinese Medicine known to promote intestinal motility. Methods We investigated the effect of A. pericarpium extracts on porcine LES motility. In addition, we used tetrodotoxin (TTX) and atropine to study the underlying mechanism of A. pericarpium extracts-induced contractions of LES. Results The results of this study showed that A. pericarpium extracts and their main active ingredient, arecoline, can induce the contractions of porcine LES sling and clasp muscles in a dose-response manner. TTX did not have an inhibitory effect on the contractions induced by A. pericarpium extracts and arecoline in LES. However, atropine significantly inhibited A. pericarpium extracts- and arecoline-induced contractions of LES. Conclusion A. pericarpium extracts can induce the contractions of porcine LES in a dose dependent manner, possibly through muscarinic receptors, and hence, may be worth developing as an alternative therapy for GERD.

Xiao-Zhen Hu, Miao Zhou, Jia-Hao Weng Department of Internal Medicine-Cardiovascular, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jia-Hao WengDepartment of Internal Medicine-Cardiovascular, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 274 of Zhijiang Middle Street, Jingan District, Shanghai, 200071, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 21 56639828Fax +86 21 56639828Email wemgjh@163.comObjective: To investigate the therapeutic effects of Eight Trigrams Boxing combined with a Wenyang Huoxue recipe on the cardiopulmonary motor function and quality of life in patients with coronary heart disease after an interventional operation (percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI]); further, to provide new clinical evidence and ideas for integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine in cardiac rehabilitation.Methods: Sixty patients were selected and successfully underwent PCI in designated hospitals after four weeks, from June 2018 to September 2020. The patients were randomly divided into a treatment group and control group, and both groups were given standard pharmaceuticals after PCI and the Wenyang Huoxue recipe. The treatment group was additionally treated with the Eight Trigrams Boxing Method. The control group was provided with aerobic rehabilitation exercise. The maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), metabolic equivalent (MET), the results of a 6-min walking test, the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) score, SF-36 score, and other indicators were evaluated before and after treatment. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by comparison between the groups and within the groups.Results: The VO2max, MET, 6-min walking distance, SAQ score, and SF-36 score in both groups improved after treatment compared with before treatment. There was no difference between the two groups before treatment. However, after treatment, the VO2max, MET, 6 min walking distance, SAQ score, and SF-36 score in the treatment group were higher compared with the control group.Conclusion: A traditional Chinese medicine cardiac rehabilitation program of Eight Trigrams Boxing combined with a Wenyang Huoxue recipe can improve the cardiopulmonary function and quality of life of patients. The therapeutic effect was clear and is worthy of further investigation.Keywords: eight trigrams boxing, Wenyang Huoxue recipe, cardiac rehabilitation, cardio-pulmonary function, quality of life

Gastrointestinal dysfunction is one of the complications after stroke. If it is not treated in time, it will affect the rehabilitation process after stroke and reduce the quality of life of patients. In this study, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the reports on the treatment of gastrointestinal dysfunction after stroke with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in recent years to provide evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment.The clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Medline, and Web of Science databases from January 2010 to August 2021 were searched. After screening the qualified literatures, literature quality evaluation was performed. The software Stata 16.0 was used to analyze and compare the outcome indicators of TCM and conventional western medicine treatment, and the utility of TCM in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders after stroke was comprehensively evaluated.A total of 16 studies were finally selected including a total of 1,589. Meta-analysis showed that TCM treatment of gastrointestinal disorders after stroke was more effective than conventional western medicine treatment [odds ratio (OR) =3.94; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.63 to 5.89; P=0.000]. It was also shown that TCM can reduce the recovery time of bowel sounds and is superior to conventional western medicine [standard mean difference (SMD) =-1.92; 95% CI: -2.51 to -1.34; P=0.000]; reduce defecation and flatulence recovery time (SMD =-2.51; 95% CI: -3.41 to -1.61; P=0.000); increase gastrin level (SMD =0.80; 95% CI: 0.35 to 1.25; P=0.001); increase motilin level (SMD =2.27; 95% CI: 1.55 to 3.00; P=0.000); increase serum albumin level (SMD =0.72; 95% CI: 0.54 to 0.90; P=0.000); increase transferrin levels (SMD =1.11; 95% CI: 0.86 to 1.36; P=0.000); and it can increase serum prealbumin levels (SMD =1.50; 95% CI: 0.78 to 2.22; P=0.000).The use of TCM in the treatment of gastrointestinal dysfunction after stroke can effectively reduce symptoms, shorten the recovery time of bowel sounds, the first defecation and flatulence time, promote gastric motility and gastrointestinal hormone secretion, and improve the nutritional status of patients.

Similar to other medicines, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) originated from the need for various practical solutions to treat diseases. It is a knowledge system summarized and condensed by the Chinese nation in the health care practice for thousands of years. TCM continues to serve the health care system. This study summarized the history, health concept, main treatment strategies and methods, current development, and future perspectives of TCM. It may provide a more comprehensive image of the overall TCM system.

Background Common chronic wounds include diabetic ulcers, venous ulcers, and pressure ulcers. The traditional Chinese medicine Huiyang Shengji decoction (HYSJD) has been shown to promote the healing of diabetic chronic wounds, however, its pharmacological mechanism is still unclear. Purpose This study aimed to determine the mechanism of HYSJD in promoting the healing of diabetic chronic skin ulcers. Methods Ultra-performance liquid chromatography was combined with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) to analyze the main components of HYSJD and the absorbed components in mouse serum at 30 min after oral administration of HYSJD. db/db mouse models for chronic skin ulcers were constructed by full-thickness skin resection. Wound tissues at day 7 post wound formation were used to perform microarray analysis of growth factors and chemokine expression. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis was performed on differentially expressed proteins. ELISA assays were used to measure differential expressed cytokines in the serum and Western blot analysis was used to determine the expression levels of related pathway proteins in the skin wounds. Results UPLC-MS/MS analysis showed that the main chemical components of HYSJD were flavonoids, terpenes, alkaloids, phenylpropanoids, and carbohydrates. At 30 min after oral administration of HYSJD, five absorbed components were detected in the serum, these included formononetin, calycosin, hypaconitine, calycosin-7-glucoside, and sinapic acid. HYSJD was found to increase the wound healing rate in chronic skin ulcers in db/db mice at days 3, 7, and 14 post wound formation, and promote the proliferation of epidermal cells. Two proteins that were differentially expressed between the different groups, i.e., IGF-1 and EGFR, were further validated. Serum ELISA assays showed that serum EGFR in the HYSJD treatment group was significantly increased. KEGG pathway analysis suggested that the PI3K/AKT pathway involved in HYSJD promoting the proliferation of epidermal cells in chronic wounds in db/db mice. Experimental verification showed that HYSJD activated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in mouse wound skin. Conclusion HYSJD promotes the proliferation of epidermal cells in chronic diabetic wounds by increasing EGFR expression in the wounds and activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Our study provides an experimental basis for the pharmacological mechanism of HYSJD.

As the main carrier of cultural inheritance, paper cultural relics are easily affected by the microorganism and external environment. In order to protect paper cultural relics, in this paper, traditional Chinese medicine A and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) were prepared into a multi-functional mixture solution to use for antibacterial and reinforcement of paper relics. The antibacterial effects of the A on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were studied through the single factor experiment. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of A and the concentration range of A-CMC for paper reformulation were determined. The results showed that the MIC values of A to Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were 0.2 mg/ml. The optimal ratio of the composite liquid is 0.8% CMC concentration and 0.2 mg/ml A. Under this condition, the paper has a good bacteriostatic effect. This showed that the traditional Chinese medicine A can be used as an antibacterial agent for paper. Keywords: Traditional Chinese Medicine A, bacteriostasis, CMC, paper properties.

India has a long history of traditional medicine, and Ayurveda is the most representative system. Similar to traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda is a life science derived from experience. It emphasizes that human health requires both personalized medicine and a holistic approach. This article takes Ayurveda as an example to introduce traditional Indian medicine, hoping to provide readers with a preliminary understanding of the development of traditional medicine in India.

Background:. Shenque (CV8) acupoint is located on the navel and has been therapeutically used for more than 2000 years in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). However, clinical research on the underlying therapeutic molecular mechanisms of the CV8 acupoint lags far behind. This study aimed to study the mechanisms of umbilical acupoint therapy by using stem cells. Methods:. The morphological characteristics of CV8 acupoint were detected under a stereomicroscope using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Oil Red, Masson, and immunohistochemical staining on multi-layered slices were used to identify the type of cells at the CV8 acupoint. Cell proliferation was measured by a cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method. Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry were used for cell identification. Induced differentiation was used to compare the differentiation of cells derived from CV8 acupoint and non-acupoint somatic stem cells into other cell types, such as osteogenic, adipogenic, and neural stem cell-like cells. Results:. Morphological observations showed that adipose tissues at the linea alba of the CV8 acupoint in mice had a mass-like distribution. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed the distribution of stem cell antigen-1 (Sca-1) positive cells in the multi-layered slices of CV8 acupoint tissues. Cells isolated from adipose tissues at the CV8 acupoint exhibited high expression of Sca-1 and CD44 and low expression of CD31 and CD34, and these cells possessed osteogenic, adipogenic, and neurogenic stem cell-like cell differentiation ability. The cell proliferation (day 4: 0.5138 ± 0.0111 vs. 0.4107 ± 0.0180, t = 8.447, P = 0.0011; day 5: 0.6890 ± 0.0070 vs. 0.5520 ± 0.0118, t = 17.310, P 100 μm: 2.6000 ± 0.5477 vs. 0.8000 ± 0.8367, t = 4.025, P = 0.0038) were significantly enhanced in somatic stem cells derived from the CV8 acupoint compared to somatic stem cells from the groin non-acupoint. However, cells possessed significantly weaker osteogenicity ([2.697 ± 0.627]% vs. [7.254 ± 0.958]%, t = 6.893, P = 0.0023) in the CV8 acupoint group. Conclusions:. Our study showed that CV8 acupoint was rich with adipose tissues that contained abundant somatic stem cells. The biological examination of somatic stem cells derived from the CV8 acupoint provided novel insights for future research on the mechanisms of umbilical therapy.

BACKGROUND Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is caused by a deficit in the ABCD1 gene, which leads to demyelination of neurons and dysfunction of the adrenal cortices and testicles. Of the three known phenotypes, 30%-50% of male ALD patients present with the adrenomyeloneuropathy phenotype, characterized by gait disturbance as the initial symptom. CASE SUMMARY A 46-year-old man with a prior diagnosis of ALD was admitted to a Korean medicine hospital for the treatment of gait disturbance. His ability to walk was severely impaired at admission, significantly affecting the patient’s quality of life. He was treated with acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, electroacupuncture, and herbal medicine for 23 d. The 25-Foot Walk test (25FW), timed up and go (TUG), comfortable gait speed (CGS), numeric rating scale (NRS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Tinetti test, manual muscle test (MMT), and 3-level version of EuroQol-5 dimension (EQ-5D-3L) were used to evaluate the patient. The outcomes of the 25FW, TUG, and CGS improved during hospitalization. From the time of admission to discharge we observed: A decrease in NRS scores in the lower extremities and the lower back; an increase of 3 points in the BBS; a 1-point increase in the balancing part of the Tinetti Test; MMT and EQ-5D-3L performances remained unchanged. CONCLUSION Traditional Chinese medicine treatments could be a therapeutic option to alleviate issues related to gait disturbance in ALD.

Background Insomnia is a common sleeping disorder which affects the quality of life which can bring harms to physical and mental health of human beings and even economic development. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays an outstanding role in treating chronic diseases and alleviating their symptoms. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess the treatment efficacy in patients with insomnia treated with abdomen-rubbing qigong exercise (ARQE). In addition, the brain function changes of patients will be explored by resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Method/design This trial is a randomized, single-blind, controlled study planned to transpire between July 1, 2020, and July 31, 2021. A sample size of 114 participants (57 per group) with chronic insomnia will be randomly assigned to receive ARQE or CBTI for 8 weeks. The study duration will be 13 weeks, including a 1-week screening period, 8 weeks of intervention, and another 4 weeks of follow-up. The primary outcome is the Pittsburgh sleep quality index scores. Secondary outcomes include insomnia severity index, gastrointestinal symptom rating scale, the Hamilton Depression Scale, and rs-fMRI scan. The adverse events will be in control. Discussion The results of this study will help to clarify the efficacy of ARQE in the treatment of insomnia and try to use rs-fMRI technology to explore the brain function changes of ARQE in improving sleep quality in patients with insomnia disorder. If the results are as expected, this study will provide high-quality evidence for the treatment of insomnia with ARQE. Trial registration China Clinical Registration Agency ChiCTR1900028009. Registered on 19 December 2019.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a widespread metabolic disease characterized by chronic hyperglycemia. Human microbiota, which is regarded as a “hidden organ”, plays an important role in the initiation and development of T2DM. In addition, anti-hyperglycemic agents and traditional Chinese medicine may affect the composition of gut microbiota and consequently improve glucose metabolism. However, the relationship between gut microbiota, T2DM and anti-hyperglycemic agents or traditional Chinese medicine is poorly understood. In this review, we summarized pre-clinical and clinical studies to elucidate the possible underlying mechanism. Some anti-hyperglycemic agents and traditional Chinese medicine may partly exert hypoglycemic effects by altering the gut microbiota composition in ways that reduce metabolic endotoxemia, maintain the integrity of intestinal mucosal barrier, promote the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), decrease trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) and regulate bile acid metabolism. In conclusion, gut microbiota may provide some new therapeutic targets for treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus.

Background: Chinese medicine (CM) has been widely used for women's health, including those with early breast cancer. Contemporary literature varies in descriptions of the CM syndromes that are critical for determining CM treatment options for breast cancer patients. However, the corresponding syndromes have not been standardized to align with the conventional medicine treatment stages. This review aimed to address this knowledge gap to enhance the quality and consistency of CM interventions for early breast cancer patients. Methods: In total, eight Chinese and English language databases were searched, and textbooks and clinical care documents were gathered. Sources were classified according to five treatment stages: preoperative, postoperative, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and endocrine therapy. Descriptive statistics were used to examine the syndromes, and hierarchical cluster analysis was conducted to investigate clusters of signs and symptoms. Results: The CM syndrome of dual deficiency of qi and Blood was one of the most common syndromes across all treatment stages, whereas lack of strength and lassitude were the most common clinical presentations throughout all stages, except the preoperative stage. Cluster analyses identify three or four syndromes in each treatment stage. Cluster results for the preoperative stage were: Blood stasis, Liver depression and qi stagnation, and Kidney yin deficiency. Dual deficiency of qi and Blood existed at different stages except for the preoperative stage. In the postoperative stage and chemotherapy stages, some symptoms were categorized into clusters that related to the Spleen and Stomach. Syndromes such as yin deficiency with fire toxin and yin deficiency with fluid depletion were unique to the radiation therapy stage. Clusters for endocrine therapy stage included the dual deficiency of Spleen and Kidney, Liver depression and qi stagnation, and Kidney yin deficiency. Conclusions: Systematic review of the contemporary literature for early breast cancer revealed that the most frequently seen CM syndromes and cluster results have some similarities but some important distinctions. Clinical data are needed to confirm whether the syndromes described in contemporary literature reflect those seen in women with early breast cancer.

Background Stroke has always been a major threat worldwide but is most severe in China, with 2.5 million new stroke cases each year and 7.5 million stroke survivors, placing a heavy burden on the social and national health care systems. Zhishi Rhubarb Soup (ZRS) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that has been used clinically for many years in China. To explore the potential mechanism of ZRS in the treatment of stroke, liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC–MS) was performed. Methods In this study, a quantitative proteomic method with LC–MS was used to analyse the proteomic differences between MACO samples treated with ZRS and those without ZRS treatment. Results Liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC–MS) analysis led to the identification of 35,006 peptides, with 5160.0 proteins identified and 4094.0 quantified. Significantly differentially expressed proteins were identified through data analysis, and the difference was found to be more than 1.2 times (P Conclusion In this study, LC–MS/MS was performed to assess the effects of ZRS on differentially expressed proteins in rats with cerebral infarction. These promising results could help to improve the understanding of the effects of drugs on stroke.

Background. Carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) is a common disease which seriously threatens the health of senile patients. The studies have indicated that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) may effectively improve the symptom of CAS, while the therapeutic effect of Huayu Tongmai decoction on CAS remains unclear. Thus, this study aimed to explore the correlation between traditional Chinese medicine Huayu Tongmai decoction intervention and prognosis indexes of patients with CAS. Methods. Ninety CAS patients admitted to Zibo TCM-Integrated Hospital from September 2018 to September 2020 were selected as the research object and randomly divided into the control group and the observation group according to the male-female ratio of 1 : 1. Patients in the control group accepted the atorvastatin intervention, and on this basis, patients in the observation group were further intervened with TCM Huayu Tongmai decoction. Before and after treatment, patients’ levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured by the enzyme photometric colorimetry; hypersensitive c-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were measured by the ELISA method; nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured by the nitrate reductase assay and endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay; and the right and left carotid internal diameter (CAD), intima-media thickness (IMT), and plaque volume were measured by carotid ultrasonography. Results. The TC, TG, and LDL-C levels significantly decreased in patients compared to those before intervention; compared with the control group, patients who accepted Huayu Tongmai decoction combined with atorvastatin saw more significant improvement in their blood lipid indexes ( P < 0.01 ); after intervention, patients’ hs-CRP and ET-1 levels dropped significantly while the NO level rose remarkably, and between the two groups, the improvement in levels of hs-CRP, ET-1, and NO of patients in the observation group was significantly better ( P < 0.01 ); it was concluded from the imaging diagnosis results that compared with using atorvastatin alone, the combined intervention could better improve patients’ CAD, IMT, and plaque volume. Conclusion. Huayu Tongmai decoction can effectively improve patients’ blood lipid, reduce inflammatory response, enhance levels of relevant regulatory factors of CAS, and alleviate the symptoms.