Efficacy and Safety of Yanggan Jian in Hepatitis B Virusrelated Decompensated Cirrhosis:A Randomized,Doubleblind,Controlled Trial

Background and Aims:The aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Yanggan Jian(YGJ)in HBV-infected patients with decompensated cirrhosis.Methods:This randomized,double-blind controlled trial enrolled 160 patients with HBV-related decompensated cirrhosis who were already receiving or about to start antiviral therapy.Patients were randomly assigned to receive YGJ or placebo for 24 weeks,and were followed-up to 36 weeks.The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with a≥2 point reduction in Child-Turcotte-Pugh(CTP)score from baseline at week 24.Secondary outcomes were CTP class and score,serum liver function indices,mortality,incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma and variceal bleeding.Results:The proportion of patients with a CTP score reduction≥2 was significantly greater in the YGJ than in the placebo group(p=0.009);the percentage of patients with CTP class C was significantly less than that in the placebo group(p<0.05),and the YGJ group had a significantly greater mean change from baseline in CTP score at week 24(p=0.034).The improvement in measured values and change from baseline of prothrombin time,serum albumin,platelets,cholinesterase,international normalized ratio,and activated partial thromboplastin time were significantly better with YGJ than with placebo.Between-group differences in cumulative rates of variceal bleeding,hepatocellular carcinoma,death,or the frequency of any adverse event(AE),AEs related to treatment,or discontinuation because of AEs were not significant.Conclusions:YGJ significantly improved CTP scores and hepatic synthetic and reserve function in patients with HBV-related decompensated cirrhosis,and was safe and well tolerated.

Pharmacological effects of Astragaloside IV: a literature review

OBJECTIVE: To review the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of action of Astragaloside IV in Huangqi (Radix Astragali Mongolici). METHODS: Aticles focusing on Astragaloside IV in English and Chinese in databases were collected and reviewed in order to summarize the latest extraction separation, pharmacokinetics, and the pharmacological effects of astrageloside IV. RESULTS: Protective effects of Astrageloside IV on the cardiovascular system, immune, digestive, nervous system were identified, and the action mechanisms were associated with regulation of the calcium balance, anti-oxydant, antiapoptosis, antivirus, and so on. CONCLUSION: Astrageloside IV has broad application prospects, especially in cardiovascular diseases, digestive diseases, cancer and other modern high incidence, high-risk diseases, and could be developed as a medicine.

Reduning injection for fever, rash, and ulcers in children with mild hand, foot, and mouth disease: a randomized controlled clinical study

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of Reduning injection for fever, rash, and ulcers in children with mild hand, foot, and mouth disease(HFMD). METHODS: A stratified-block randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled, and multicenter clinical trial was conducted with 360 patients in five hospitals across China: Quanzhou Children's Hospital, Shijiazhuang No. 5 Hospital, Shanghai Public Health Centre, Hunan Provincial Children's Hospital, and Kaifeng Children's Hospital. Patients were randomized into three groups with 120 in each. Group A was treated with Western Medicine, group B with Reduning injection, a Chinese herbal medicine, and group C with both Reduning injection and Western Medicine. Results were compared for treatment efficacy and safety on HFMD. The clinical outcomes were observed as follows: fever and onset time of antifebrile effect(time to bring the body temperature down ≥0.5℃ after medication); cumulative time for fever recovery(body temperature recovering to normal and lasting more than 24 h without medication); cumulative time for rash disappearance(without new rashes or ulcers appearing and the original ones fading away); and cumulative time for mouth ulcer disappearance. RESULTS: For the onset time of the antifebrile effect, there was no statistical difference between groups A and B(P>0.05) and groups B and C(P> 0.05). However, there was a statistical difference between groups A and C(P<0.05), and the effect in group C was the best. For the cumulative time for rash disappearance, there was no statistical difference between groups A and B(P>0.05). There were statistical differences between groups A and C, and groups B and C(P<0.05), and the effect in group C was the best. For the cumulative time for mouth ulcers disappearance, there were no statistical differences among the three groups(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Reduning injection with Western Medicine for symptomatic treatment is most effective for mild HFMD. No adverse reactions were observed.