Effect of reinforcing kidney-essence, removing phlegm, and promoting mental therapy on treating Alzheimer's disease

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of reinforcing kidney-essence, removing phlegm, and promoting mental therapy in treating Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS: Sixty patients with AD in Wuhan No.1 Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Geriatrics from May 2009 to April 2011 were randomly divided into two groups, with 30 in each group. Patients in Bushenhuatanyizhi group (BHY group) took BHY instant granules (6 g, twice per day). Patients in the control group took piracetam (0.8 g, 3 times per day). There were twelve weeks in a course. Changes in the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score and Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADL) score were analyzed before and after treatment. RESULTS: MMSE scores in the two groups in-creased and ADL scores decreased after treatment, compared with those before treatment (both P< 0.05).The total effective rate was 86.67% in the BHY group (10 very effective, 13 effective, 7 non-responsive). The control group was 57.69% (5 very effective, 16 effective, 9 non-responsive) (P<0.05). Superoxide dismutase levels were increased, lipid peroxide and triglyceride levels decreased after treatment in the BHY group as compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Reinforcing kidney-essence, removing phlegm, and promoting mental therapy can improve cognitive function and daily life of AD patients. The mechanism of the therapy might be related to improving blood fat, scavenging free radicals, and inhibiting lipid peroxides.

Clinical observation of kidney-qi deficiency syndrome patients with hypertension by Bushenjiangya decoction

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of Bushenjiangya(reinforcing kidney and lowering blood pressure) decoction in curing hypertension of kidney Qi deficiency type. METHODS: First 60 patients with hypertension of kidney Qi deficiency type were divided into control group and treatment group randomly; the conventional western medicine was given to patients of the control group for antihypertensive therapy, while the traditional Chinese medicine Bushenjiangya decoction was added for patients in the treatment group based on the therapy for those in control group; after 2 months, the blood pressure, clinical efficacy and urine microalbumin changes of patients in the two groups before and after the treatment were observed. RESULTS: a. The systolic pressure of patients in the two groups was all reduced obviously(P<0.05); b. The total effective rate of experiment group in antihypertensive effect was 76.7%, while that of control group was 83.3%(P>0.05); c. The total effective rate of experiment group in TCM syndrome effect was 86.7%, while that of control group was 63.3%, showing that the effect of experiment group was better than that of control group(P<0.05); d. The 24 h urine microalbumin reduction of experiment group was better than that of control group(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The curative effect of Bushenjiangya decoction in combination with the western medicine is better than that of simple western medicine for hypertension of kidney Qi deficiency type, and also the urine microalbumin can be obviously reduced to protect the kidney function.

Efficacy and advantages of modified Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments based on"kidney reinforcing"for chronic aplastic ane-mia:a randomized controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVE:To compare the efficacy of modified treatments based on "kidney reinforcing" in the management of chronic aplastic anemia(CAA),and explore their advantages and specialties.METHODS:One hundred and eleven patients with CAA were randomly divided into three groups:kidney reinforcing alone(KA),"kidney reinforcing and Qi tonifying"(KQ),and "kidney reinforcing and blood circulation invigorating"(KC).Normal and positive control groups were also formed.All patients were treated for 6 months(two courses).Hemograms,Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) syndrome scores,and therapeutic effects were assessed,and changes in T-lymphocyte subsets,regulatory T cells and cytokines were detected.RESULTS:The KQ and KC groups had lower TCM syndrome scores than the positive control group after 6 months(P < 0.05).The KQ group had a higher overall efficacy than the positive control group after 3 months(P < 0.05),while platelet counts increased in the KC group after 6 months(P < 0.05).CD3+ T-lymphocyte ratios decreased only in the KQ group,while CD3 + CD4 + CD8-Tlymphocytes increased only in the KC group after 6 months(P <0.05).Levels of interferon-γ,tumor necrosis fac-tor-α,interleukin(IL)-2 and IL-6 decreased and levels of IL-4 and IL-10 increased in all treated groups after 6 months.Levels of IL-6 in the KQ and KC groups were lower than those in the positive control group(P < 0.05).CONCLUSION:Treatments based on kidney reinforcing have a rebalancing effect on cytotoxic and T helper cells,and regulate expression of interferon-γ,IL-2,IL-6 and IL-4.KQ may be more effective in treating CAA,and KC may have an advantage in platelet recovery.

Regulative Effects of Auricular Acupuncture,Moxibustion and Chinese Herbs on Immunologic Function in the D-Galactose-induced Aging Mouse

Objective:To observe the regulative effect of auricular acupuncture, moxibustion and Chinese herbs on immunologic function in the D-galactose-induced aging mouse and to probe the feasibility and possible mechanisms for delaying aging, so as to provide experimental basis for acupuncture, moxibustion and Chinese herbs for delaying aging. Methods: Aging mouse model was established by subcutaneous injection of D-galactose, and treated by auricular acupuncture, auricular acupuncture plus moxibustion, and auricular acupuncture plus Chinese herbs respectively for 6 weeks and then serum interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-6 contents and splenic lymphocyte transformation rate were compared among the groups. Results: Compared with the young group, the serum IL-2 level and the splenic lymphocyte transformation rate significantly decreased and the IL-6 level significantly increased in the aging mouse. After treatment by auricular acupuncture, auricular acupuncture plus Chinese herbs, especially auricular acupuncture plus moxibustion, the serum IL-2 level and the splenic lymphocyte transformation rate significantly increased, and the IL-6 level significantly decreased as compared with the model group. Conclusions: Combined application of auricular acupuncture, moxibustion and Chinese herbs can improve the decline or dysfunction of immunological function in the aging organism to a certain extent.

Brain neural effects of the ’tonifying kidney and benefiting marrow’ method in the treatment of osteoporosis

In Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM),the'tonifying kidney and benefiting marrow'(TKBM)method is based on the theory that kidney controls bones,while marrow moistens bones.There have been aboundant theoretical studies on kidney controlling bones since Huangdi's Internal Classics.Howev-er,there are too few ones about the marrow moistening the bones.Researchers generally use the tonifying kidney method instead of the TKBM method,which causes lack of a unified standard and theoretical basis in evaluating the TKBM method.Herein,we first proposed the hypothesis that deficiency of marrow sea causes osteoporosis.Next,we prove the scientific validity of this hypothesis from the side of the TCM theory on the relationship among kidney,bone and marrow sea physiologically and pathologically.Based on this,we find that the TCM theory provides theoretical basis for deficiency of marrow sea causing osteoporosis.On the other side,Western Medicine theory holds that(a)physiologically,the brain regulates the bone mass via three pathways:the neuro-osteogenic network,neuro-endocrine-bone network,and neuropeptide-bone network;(b)pathologically,brain impacts bone mass via three major passways including the regulation of the sympathetic nervous system,secreting hormones that directly act on bone cells and regulating the synthesis and secretion of hormones in the intermediary organs,and neuropeptides such as neuropeptide Y(NPY),substance P(SP),and calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP).Evidences involving estrogen deficiency,sympatheticotonia,or neuropeptides imbalance prove that brain-bone mass regulation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis.Finally,we find that kidney invigoration method can change the concentrations of central neurotransmitters of norepinephrine and glutamate to regulate neuro-osteogenic network,and promote the recovery of ovarian function and have an estrogen-like effect by regulating the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis,which thus influences bone metabolism without clinically significant estro-gen-like side effects,and regulate NPY,CGRP and SP involved in the bone metabolism.These further support our hypothesis by revealing the brain neural mechanism of the TCM kidney invigoration method for preventing and treating osteoporosis.In the future,neuroimaging techniques may be useful in exploring its neural effects and also aid in developing new strategies for treating osteoporosis.

Antithymocyte globulin/antilymphocyte globulin plus kidney-nourishing Chinese Medicinal:effect on severe aplastic anemia

OBJECTIVE： To explore the effect of antithymocyte globulin （ATG）/antilymphocyte globulin （ALG） plus kidney-nourishing Chinese medicinal （KNCM） on se- vere aplastic anemia （SAA）. METHODS： Twenty-five subjects of severe aplastic anemia were treated with ATG/ALD plus KNCM be- tween 1992 and 2009, and the clinical data before and after treatment were collected and analyzed. RESULTS： Of the 25 patients, 9 were nearly cured, 6 were improved, 5 were in remission, and 5 failed. The overall effective rate was 80.0%. The 3-year, 5-year, 10-year, 15-year survival rate were respec- tively 98.6%, 97.3%, 97.3%, 67.5%, and median sur- vival time was 180 months. Compared to the condi- tions before administering the medication of ATG/ ALG plus KNCM, after 2 weeks, reticulocyte was first improved （P=0.001）, one month later, followed by palette （P=0.037）, two months later, by neutrophil cell in peripheral blood （P=0.001）; three months lat- er, then by the hemoglobin （P=0.012）. By conduct- ing 1-year follow-up, 1 case of complication--parox-ysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria （PNH） was identi- fied and the patient still alive today. CONCLUSION： ATG/ALG fect on SAA and could rate. plus KNCM had better ef- improve patients＇ survival

Tonifying kidney therapy for stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tonifying kidney therapy(Bushen, TK) for stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).METHODS: Randomized controlled trials(RCTs) of TK use for treatment of stable COPD were searched in four databases including Pub Med, the Cochrane Library, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database,and China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database from inception to December 2017. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted the data, and assessed the risk of bias in the included studies. Rev Man 5.3 software was used for the Meta-analysis.RESULTS: Eight RCTs involving 809 patients with stable COPD were included. Compared with the conventional Western Medicine(CWM) group, the TK group(TK combined with CWM) showed significant improvements in the effectiveness rates(RR =1.37, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.53, P < 0.000 01) and 6-min walk distance in meters(MD 11.92, 95% CI 3.52 to20.32, P = 0.005), this study also showed that the TK group can decrease The Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Score(MD-8.01, 95% CI-12.89 to-3.13, P = 0.001). The lung function [forced expiratory volume in one second%(FEV1%), FEV1/forced vital capacity] showed no difference between the TK and control groups.CONCLUSION: For patients with stable COPD, TK can improve the clinical effectiveness and exercise capacity but fail to improve the patient's symptoms. Because of the low methodological quality of the included trials, additional high-quality and large-scale RCTs are required.

Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine herbs for tonifying Qi and kidney, and replenishing spleen on intermittent asthma in children aged 2 to 5 years old

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) herbs for tonifying Qi and kidney, and replenishing spleen on intermittent asthma in children aged 2 and 5 years.METHODS: A randomized, single-blind, placebo controlled trial was conducted. Children with intermittent asthma were enrolled and their baseline conditions were measured using a questionnaire. A total of 60 participants, aged 2 to 5, were randomized into either the treatment group(n = 40) or the placebo group(n = 20). The treatment group was treated with granules of TCM herbs for tonifying Qi and kidney, and replenishing spleen, and the placebo group was given placebo granules for 3 months.The number of asthma attacks was counted and TCM syndrome scores were measured at 1, 2, 3, 6, 9,and 12 months. The airway resistance and levels of eosinophil cationic protein for the two groups were observed before and after 3 months. The results were statistically analyzed.RESULTS: Compared with the placebo group, the number of asthma attacks significantly decreased in the treatment group(P < 0.05). For the treatment group, the TCM syndrome scores decreased after 1 and 2 months; there was also a significant difference in scores between the two groups(P < 0.05).The difference remained after the medicine was stopped for 9 months(P < 0.05). After the 3-month treatment, compared with the placebo group, the airway resistance decreased in the treatment group(P < 0.05). No adverse events were reported in the treatment group.CONCLUSION: The TCM herbs for tonifying Qi and kidney, and replenishing spleen reduced the number of intermittent asthma attacks, decreased the TCM syndrome scores, and reduced the airway resistance in the children aged 2 to 5.

Effects of Preventive Administration of Juanbi Capsules on TNF-α、 IL-1 And IL-6 Contents of Joint Fluid in the Rabbit with Knee Osteoarthritis

Objective:To probe into the mechanism of the Chinese herbs with functions of reinforcing kidney and supplementing qi for preventing knee osteoarthritis of the rabbit. Methods: Totally 72 healthy Japan long-ear white rabbits, aged 4 months, were randomly divided into 6 groups, blank group (A), model group (B), high dose Chinese herb group (C), middle dose Chinese herb group (D), small dose Chinese herb group (E), aminoglucose hydrochloride capsule control group (F), 12 rabbits in each group. All the rabbits in the groups, except the group A, were fixed with plaster cast for six weeks to establish rabbit knee osteoarthritis. At the same time of modeling, the different doses of Juanbi Capsules and aminoglucose hydrochloride capsule were administrated intragastrically in the group C, D, E, F, respectively, for 4 weeks, for preventive treatment. In the group B, the rabbit was administrated intragastrically with equal volume of normal saline to the medication groups, twice each day, in the morning and the evening, and in the group A, nothing was administrated. After modeling for 6 weeks, the joint fluid was taken and TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6 contents were detected with ELISA method, and the articular cartilage was taken for macroscopic and microscopic examinations. Results: In all the preventive treatment groups, the articular cartilage color changed to varying degrees with formation of osteophyte and bone cyst, superficial erosion on the chondral articular surface, and the cartilage defect reached to the mid layer in a part of specimens with cartilage exfoliation, but which in the extent were significantly lower than those in the model group. There were significant differences between the group A and B in TNF-α , IL-1 and IL-6 contents in the joint fluid (P<0.05), indicating that the modeling is successful; and there were significant differences as group B compared with the group C,D, E, F, showing that TNF-α , IL-1 and IL-6 contents are decreased in all the medication groups; and significant differences between group C, D, E suggests that the increase of Chinese herb doses strengthened the effect of reducing TNF-α , IL-1 and IL-6 contents in joint fluid. Conclusion: The Juanbi Capsule prevents osteoarthritis possibly through decreasing serum TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6 contents.

Chinese herbal medicine enhances sexual function and c-Fos/nNOS expression in the nucleus accumbens of orchidectomized rats

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the central nervous system is involved in the effect of Chinese herbal medicine on sexual function recovery in orchidectomized rats.METHODS: Orchidectomized rats were administered intragastrically with a decoction of "kidneynourishing" Chinese herbal medicine once per day for 28 days. Accessory genital organ weight, plasma testosterone, and mating behavior were investigated. The expression of c-Fos and neuronal nitric oxide synthase(n NOS) in neuronal cells in the nucleus accumbens(NAc) was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS: There was a decrease in accessory genital organ weight, plasma testosterone, and sexual behavior, as well as a low number of c-Fos-positive cells and a large n NOS-positive cell area in orchidectomized rats. Administration of the herbal medicine increased accessory genital organ weight, testosterone level, mating behavior, and c-Fos-positive cell number, while it decreased the n NOS-positive cell area in orchidectomized rats.CONCLUSION: An increase of plasma testosterone after administration of "kidney-nourishing" herbal medicine might contribute to the elevated sexual function and activity in orchidectomized rats. In addition, a central nervous system mechanism, such as the functional alteration of NAc, might be involved.

Effects of Bushen Huoxue Formula on the Learning and Memory Function and the Cerebral Neurotransmitters in Diabetic Mice

Objective: To observe the effects of Bushen Huoxue Formula (Formula for reinforcing the kidney and activating blood circulation) on the learning and memory function and the cerebral neurotransmitters in diabetic mice. Methods: Forty ICR mice were randomized into the normal control group, model group, Nimotop group and Chinese medicine group, 10 mice in each group. Tail intravenous injection of alloxan was applied to prepare diabetic model. Four weeks later, intragastric administration of Bushen Huoxue Formula for the Chinese medicine group, Nimotop for the Nimotop group, and isometric distilled water for the other two groups were respectively given for 8 weeks. The changes in the blood sugar level were observed; the learning and memory function was detected by Morris labyrinth test; and the contents of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxyltryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyl indole acetic acid (5-HIAA) in cerebral cortex were determined in mice of all the groups. Results: The blood sugar levels in the diabetic model mice significantly increased as compared with those of the normal control group determined 72 h and 12 weeks later (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Latencies for Morris labyrinth test in the Nimotop group and the Chinese medicine group were significantly shortened as compared with that in the model group (P<0.01). The contents of cortical NE in the Chinese medicine group was significantly higher than that in the model group (P<0.01). Conclusion: Bushen Huoxue Formula can improve the learning and memory function in the diabetic mice, and the mechanism is possibly related with change of the cortical NE content.