Efficacy and safety of activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis of Traditional Chinese Medicine for managing renal fibrosis in patients with chronic kidney disease:a systematic review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis in terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) for managing renal fibrosis(RF) in patients with chronic kidney disease(CKD).METHODS:We searched randomized controlled trials(RCTs) from eight databases.RESULTS:Sixteen eligible studies with 1,356 participants were included in this study.Compared to treatment with Western Medicine(WM) alone,the combined treatment with activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis in terms of TCM(ARTCM) and WM to manage RF in patients with CKD significantly ameliorated type Ⅳ collagen(C-Ⅳ)(SMD:-2.17,95% CI:3.01 to-1.34),type Ⅲ procollagen(PC-Ⅲ)(SMD:-1.08,95% CI:-1.64 to-0.53),laminin(LN)(SMD:-1.28,95% CI:-1.65 to-0.90),transforming growth factor β 1(TGF-β1)(SMD:-0.65,95% CI:-1.18 to-0.12),serum creatinine(Scr)(SMD:-1.36,95% CI:-1.85 to-0.87),blood urea nitrogen(BUN)(MD:-1.51,95% CI:-2.59 to-0.43),and 24 h urine protein(24h Upro)(SMD:-1.23;95% CI:-1.96 to-0.50).The level of hyaluronic acid(HA) was similar in both types of treatment(SMD:-0.74,95% CI:-1.91 to 0.44).The subgroup analysis showed that the duration of 8 weeks might affect the concentration of C-Ⅳ,PC-Ⅲ,and LN(P < 0.05).The effectiveness of the longer duration to C-Ⅳ,PC-Ⅲ,and LN was not certain.However,the result should be interpreted in care.The safety of the treatment using ARTCM and WM could not be evaluated because a few studies had reported adverse effects.The results of the Meta-analysis were not stable enough.There was publication bias for the reports on Scr(P = 0.001),C-Ⅳ(P = 0.001),PC-Ⅲ(P = 0.026),and LN(P = 0.030) and no publication bias for the reports on BUN(P = 0.293).The quality of evidence varied from low to very low.CONCLUSIONS:The combined treatment using ARTCM and WM to manage RF in patients with CKD has some advantages over treatment with WM alone.High-quality RCTs need to be conducted for the strong support.

Clinical Experience in the Treatment of Vitiligo by the Method of Invigorating Qi,Promoting Blood Circulation and Detoxification

Studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicines have clear curative effects in the treatment of vitiligo with few side effects.Through literature research and clinical observation,the study summarized the etiology and pathogenesis of vitiligo in traditional Chinese medicine as"deficiency,toxin,and stasis",formulated the method of invigorating qi,promoting blood circulation and detoxification,and prescribed Fuse Hexue Jiawei Decoction for the treatment of vitiligo.

Exploration of the Effect and Mechanism of Activating Blood Circulation and Stasis-Removing Therapy on Tumor Metastasis

Metastasis is one of the specificities of late stage tumor and also a lethal factor often encountered. The study of tumor metastasis has important meaning for prolonging patients＇ survival and elevating their quality of life, but no really ideal prevention and treatment method has been found so far. Recent researches showed that tumor metastasis is correlated with platelet aggregation and blood hyperviscosity manner. Therefore, the early application of surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and biological therapies, in combination with Chinese medicine therapy for activating blood circulation and removing stasis （ABCRS） may be, after all, an effective approach. ABCRS therapy is an important therapy of Chinese medicine, which, composed of several methods like smoothening blood flow in vessels, promoting blood circulation and dispersing stagnant blood, could influence tumor metastasis to different extents, and could coordinate with some other Chinese medicine therapeutic methods like supplementing qi, promoting qi, clearing heat, removing toxic substances, warming meridian, dispelling wind, eliminating dampness, nourishing yin, dissolving sputum, relieving stagnancy, emptying viscerals, etc. The effect and acting mechanism of ABCRS on tumor metastasis is summarized in this paper and its bi-directional regulatory effects discussed as well.