Western science has been strong in measuring details of biological systems such as gene expression levels and metabolite concentrations, and has generally followed a bottom up approach with regard to explaining biolog...Western science has been strong in measuring details of biological systems such as gene expression levels and metabolite concentrations, and has generally followed a bottom up approach with regard to explaining biological phenomena. Chinese medicine in contrast has evolved as a top down approach in which body and mind is seen as a whole, a phenomenological approach based on the organization and dynamics of symptom patterns. Western and Chinese perspectives are developing towards a ‘middle out' approach. Chinese medicine diagnosis, we will argue, allows bridging the gap between biologists and psychologists and offers new opportunities for the development of health monitoring tools and health promotion strategies.In this paper, health, resilience and stress concepts are explored from an integrated systems biology perspective. This is followed by a discussion about measuring aspects of health and resilience. Then the issue of how to integrate different types of data is discussed. Semi-quantitative modeling appears to be very suitable and looks promising for building integrated health models. The challenge for the future lies in applying those models in developing personalized health monitoring and advice systems that will tempt people to lead more healthy lives.展开更多
Objective: To explore the effects of two Rehmanniae Radix formulae in patients with metabolic syndrome(Met S), a randomized controlled study was conducted.Methods: Met S patients were randomly assigned to receive eith...Objective: To explore the effects of two Rehmanniae Radix formulae in patients with metabolic syndrome(Met S), a randomized controlled study was conducted.Methods: Met S patients were randomly assigned to receive either a classic Rehmanniae Six Formula(R6, or ‘Liu Wei Di Huang Wan') or a novel multi-herbal Rehmanniae Radix containing formula SUB889 for 8 weeks. Western medicine related clinical parameters, Chinese medicine defined symptoms and syndromes as well as metabolomic profiles were evaluated at different time points.Results: R6(n = 20) and SUB889(n = 20) showed similar effects on Met S regarding the improvement of clinical parameters(waist circumference, body mass index, LDL-cholesterol, systolic blood pressure) and Qi/Yin deficiency(p < 0.05). Decreased levels of cholesteryl esters, phosphatidylcholines, triglycerides and sphingomyelins were found in the R6 group, while SUB889 formula resulted in increased levels of tricarboxylic acid cycle and glucose metabolism intermediates(malate, fumarate and pyruvate).Conclusions: R6 and SUB889 have similar effects on the treatment of Met S by improving Chinese medicine and Western medicine defined clinical outcomes. R6 is more effective in improving lipid profiles compared to SUB889. The exact mechanisms of the two formulae on Met S remain to be elucidated.展开更多
基金funded by a Dutch government grant(ETSB)for early research at TNO
文摘Western science has been strong in measuring details of biological systems such as gene expression levels and metabolite concentrations, and has generally followed a bottom up approach with regard to explaining biological phenomena. Chinese medicine in contrast has evolved as a top down approach in which body and mind is seen as a whole, a phenomenological approach based on the organization and dynamics of symptom patterns. Western and Chinese perspectives are developing towards a ‘middle out' approach. Chinese medicine diagnosis, we will argue, allows bridging the gap between biologists and psychologists and offers new opportunities for the development of health monitoring tools and health promotion strategies.In this paper, health, resilience and stress concepts are explored from an integrated systems biology perspective. This is followed by a discussion about measuring aspects of health and resilience. Then the issue of how to integrate different types of data is discussed. Semi-quantitative modeling appears to be very suitable and looks promising for building integrated health models. The challenge for the future lies in applying those models in developing personalized health monitoring and advice systems that will tempt people to lead more healthy lives.
文摘Objective: To explore the effects of two Rehmanniae Radix formulae in patients with metabolic syndrome(Met S), a randomized controlled study was conducted.Methods: Met S patients were randomly assigned to receive either a classic Rehmanniae Six Formula(R6, or ‘Liu Wei Di Huang Wan') or a novel multi-herbal Rehmanniae Radix containing formula SUB889 for 8 weeks. Western medicine related clinical parameters, Chinese medicine defined symptoms and syndromes as well as metabolomic profiles were evaluated at different time points.Results: R6(n = 20) and SUB889(n = 20) showed similar effects on Met S regarding the improvement of clinical parameters(waist circumference, body mass index, LDL-cholesterol, systolic blood pressure) and Qi/Yin deficiency(p < 0.05). Decreased levels of cholesteryl esters, phosphatidylcholines, triglycerides and sphingomyelins were found in the R6 group, while SUB889 formula resulted in increased levels of tricarboxylic acid cycle and glucose metabolism intermediates(malate, fumarate and pyruvate).Conclusions: R6 and SUB889 have similar effects on the treatment of Met S by improving Chinese medicine and Western medicine defined clinical outcomes. R6 is more effective in improving lipid profiles compared to SUB889. The exact mechanisms of the two formulae on Met S remain to be elucidated.
