Use of Chinese Herbal Medicine Therapies in Comprehensive Hospitals in Central China: A Parallel Survey in Cancer Patients and Clinicians

Summary： Chinese herbal medicine （CHM）, as the largest application category of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）, is widely accepted among cancer patients in China. Herbal slice （HS） and Chinese patent drug （CPD） are commonly used CHM in China. This study aimed to investigate the utilization of CHM among clinicians and cancer patients in central China. Five hundred and twenty-five patients and 165 clinicians in 35 comprehensive hospitals in central China were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire that was designed to evaluate the use of CHM. The results showed that 90.74% clinicians and 72.24% cancer patients used CHM during cancer treatment. The educational backgrounds of the clinicians and the age, education level, annual income, and cancer stage of the cancer patients were re- lated to use of CHM. More than 90% clinicians and cancer patients had used CPD. Comparatively, the percentage of HS use was 10% lower than that of CPD use among clinicians and cancer patients. More clinicians preferred to use CHM after surgery than cancer patients did （20.41% vs. 5.37%）. Enhancing physical fitness and improving performance status were regarded as the most potential effect of CHM on cancer treatment （85.71% among clinicians and 94.07% among cancer patients）, in comparison with directly killing tumor cells （24.49% among clinicians and 31.36% among patients）. As for refusal rea- sons, imprecise efficacy was the unanimous （100%） reason for clinicians＇ rejection of CHM, and 95.58% patients objected to using CHM also for this reason. Furthermore, the side effects of CHM were more concerned by clinicians than by patients （33.33% vs. 15.81%）. In conclusion, our survey revealed that CHM was popularly accepted by clinicians and cancer patients in central China. The reasons of use and rejection of CHM were different between clinicians and cancer patients.

CLINICAL OBSERVATION ON THE ACUPOINT INTRADERMAL EMBEDDING OF RINGHEADED THUMBTACK-NEEDLE THERAPY FOR HYPERPLASIA OF MAMMARY GLANDS

In the present paper, the author used acupoint intradermal embedding of ringheaded thumbtack-needle therapy combined with herbal medicine therapy to treat 110 cases of hyperplasia of mammary glands, and compared its therapeutic effect with that of herbal therapy alone. The observed indexes of the treatment were pain relief degree, the size of hyperplasic glands and the time of occurrence of marked effect. Following 3 courses of treatment,the results showed the therapeutic effect of the ringheaded thumbtack-needle needle plus herbal medicine therapy was superior to that of herbal medicine therapy alone in the above-mentioned 3 indexes (P ＜ 0.01 ).

A traditional Chinese herbal medicine compound preparation versus interventional therapy after resection of small hepatocellular carcinoma:22-year follow-up

OBJECTIVE:To compare the long-term effectiveness of compound Ruanjianhugan(RJH)tablets and interventional therapy(IT) in patients after resection of small hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS:A retrospective study was conducted in 399 patients after resection of small HCC who were admitted between January 1987 and December 2008 in the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Center of Minimlly Invasive Surgery,First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University.Four groups were based on different therapy modes:a TCM-only(TCMO) group,a TCM combined with interventional therapy(TCM-IT) group,an interventional therapy-only(ITO) group,and a simple operation(SO) group.Prognostic factors were correlated with overall survival(OS) and OS rates were calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method,and multivariate analyses for factors affecting survival were evaluated by the Cox proportional hazard model.RESULTS:The median OS was 151.20 months in the TCM-IT group,43.87 months in the ITO group,and 20.77 months in the SO group.All survival rates of the TCMO group were higher than those of the other three groups(>50%).The 5-,10-,and 15-year OS in the TCMO and ITO patients were 83.94%,45.50%,and 71.22% and 33.34%,55.58%,and 9.26%,respectively(risk ratio,0.209;95% confidence interval,0.126-0.347;P=0.000).Multivariate analysis revealed that the independent risk factors were therapy mode(P=0.000),sex(P=0.005),family history(P=0.011),TNM Classification of Malignant Tumor staging(P=0.000),medical care-seeking behavior(P=0.021),and maximum diameter(P=0.030).CONCLUSION:Long-term oral use of compound RJH tablets may improve OS for small HCC after resection compared with IT.

Clinical Observations on the Treatment of 90 Chronic Gastritis Patients by Combination of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine

Objective： To investigate the clinical efficacy of combined acupuncture and herbal medicine based on Prof. QIN Liang-fu＇s experience in treating chronic gastritis. Methods： Ninety chronic gastritis patients were randomly divided into acupuncture, herbal medicine and acupuncture plus herbal medicine groups. The clinical effects were evaluated after 6 months. Results： After 6 months, the clinical effect was better in the acupuncture plus herbal medicine group than in the acupuncture group and in the herbal medicine group（P〈 0.05）. Conclusion： The curative effect on chronic gastritis was better in the acupuncture plus herbal medicine group than in the acupuncture group and in the herbal medicine group.

Clinical and Experimental Studies on Composite Divitriol Infusion in Treating Tinea Manum

Objective: To investigate the effect of Composite Divitriol Infusion (CDI) in treating tinea manum and study its antimycotic action.Methods: CDI was used to treat 139 patients with tinea manum and compared with Tinea Unguium Infusion in treating 77 cases as control. The experimental study in vivo was done, and electron microscopy (EM) was used to observe the therapeutical effect of CDI.Results: Among the 139 patients of the CDI group, 104 were cured, 21 markedly effective, 10 improved and 4 ineffective, the cure and markedly effective rate being 89.9%. The difference of effect between the CDI group and the control group was significant statistically (X 2>12.84,P < 0.005). The antimycotic action of CDI was studied in vitro. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of CDI were about 0.25% for Trichophyton rubrum and 0.5% for Trichophyton gypseum and Microsporum gypseum. Trichophyton rubrum immersed with CDI showed that the mycelia became roughened, deformed, and macroconidium became smaller under EM.Conclusion: CDI is valuable in treating tinea manum.