Effects of Chinese herbal medicine Yiqi Huaju Qingli Formula in metabolic syndrome patients with microalbuminuria:a randomized placebo-controlled trial

BACKGROUND： Microalbuminuria （MAU） is a key component of metabolic syndrome （MetS） and is an early sign of diabetic nephropathy as well. Although routine Western medicine treatments are given to MetS patients to control high blood pressure, hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia, some patients still experience progressive renal lesions and it is necessary to modify and improve the treatment strategy for MetS patients. OBJECTIVE： To investigate the efficacy of Yiqi Huaju Qingli Herb Formula, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, in MetS patients with MAU when it is combined with routine Western medicine treatment. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS： Sixty patients with MetS were randomized into the Chinese herbal formula group （CHF, Yiqi Huaju Qingli formula treatment in combination with Western medicine） and control group （placebo in combination with Western medicine）. All treatments were administered for 12 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Urinary microalbumin （MA）, urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio （UACR）, 24-hour total urine protein （24-hTP）, body mass index （BMI）, waist circumference （WC）, waist-to-hip ratio （WHR）, fasting plasma glucose （FPG）, 2-hour postprandial plasma glucose （2-hPPG）, glycosylated hemoglobin （HbAlc）, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance （HOMA-IR）, blood lipid profile and blood pressure were observed. RESULTS： Compared with the control group, CHF treatment significantly decreased BMI （P〈0.05）, WC （P〈0.01） and WHR （P〈0.01）. Both groups had significant decreases in FPG, 2-hPPG, HbAlc, HOMA-IR, MA, and UACR, with CHF treatment showing better effects on these parameters compared with the control treatment （P〈0.05）. Both treatments significantly reduced the levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triacylglycerol （TAG）, and a greater reduction in TAG was observed with CHF treatment （P〈0.05）. The level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol did not change in the control group after treatment （P〉0.05）, whereas it significantly increased with CHF treatment （P〈0.01）. Compared with before the treatment, significant decreases in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial blood pressure were observed in both groups （P〈0.01）. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups （P〉0.05）. CONCLUSION： Combined treatment ofYiqi Huaju Qingli Formula and Western medicine significantly alleviated MAU, which may correlate with the improvement of insulin sensitivity and glucose and lipid metabolism. TRIAL REGISTRATION IDENTIFIER： This trial was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry with the identifier ChiCTR-TRC-11001633.

Enhancing the treatment of metabolic syndrome with integrative medicine

Metabolic syndrome, with the main clinical manifestations of obesity, dyslipidemia, elevated blood pressure, and elevated blood glucose levels, has become an increasingly prevalant global public health concern. Metabolic syndrome is a convergence of multiple risk factors related to cardiovascular disease. When the concept of metabolic syndrome was initially proposed, some researchers thought the concept was unnecessary, since there were already measures in place to describe the separate cardiovascular risk factors such as dyslipidemia, hypertension and diabetes. However, a large number of epidemiological investigations confirmed that even if blood glucose or blood pressure did not reach the cutoff point of the diseases,

Negative Association of Domestic Activity and Active Commuting with Metabolic Syndrome in a Chinese Population Aged 35-64 Years

Objective To understand the associations of physical activity domains with metabolic syndrome among a middle-aged Chinese population. Methods In all, 3326 professional adults aged 35-64 years from Beijing and Zhejiang province were recruited with a cluster random sampling method. The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire was modified, and the recommended Asia-Pacific cut-offs of waist circumstance were introduced into the criteria for metabolic syndrome from the Adult Treatment Panel III. A binary logistic regression model was applied to examine the association of all physical activity domains with the risk of the syndrome. Results Participants who engaged in domestic activity for 〉1176 MET-min/week had a 41.6% less chance of having metabolic syndrome [odds ratio （OR）, 0.584; 95% confidence interval （CI）, 0.480-0.710] than those without this activity. In adjusted models, adults who actively commuted for 〉33 MET-rain/week but 〈52g MET-min/week had a 25% less chance of having the syndrome （OR, 0.750; 95% CI, 0.582-0.966） than those who did not. No interaction was detected between the two domains of activity and the syndrome. Conclusion This study highlighted the independently negative association of traffic and house activity with the prevalence of the syndrome in this sample with a generally low level of moderate activity.

Metabolic Syndrome: Consensus and Controversy: State of the Art

Metabolic syndrome is an epidemic that affects more and more people, increasing the probability of suffering metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in the short, medium or long term depending on the severity. The purpose of this article is to review the metabolic syndrome, assessing consensus, controversy and prevalence. The methodology was the preparation of a literature review on various health care databases, which were from 43 articles published from 2010 to 2015, in the general population. SM rate ranges from 0% to 90% depending on genders, ages and regions. There is still lack of consensus on cutoffs of diagnostic criteria. Thus, it is concluded that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome is being increased, urging the need for early diagnosis and treatment to promote the health of the global population.

Liver steatosis correlates with iron overload but not with HFE gene mutations in chronic hepatitis C

BACKGROUND: Liver steatosis and iron overload, which are frequently observed in chronic hepatitis C (CHC), may contribute to the progression of liver injury. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between liver steatosis and iron overload in Polish patients with CHC compared to non- alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and HFE-hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) patients. METHODS: A total of 191 CHC patients were compared with 67 NAFLD and 21 HH patients. Liver function tests, serum markers of iron metabolism, cholesterol and triglycerides were assayed. The inflammatory activity, fibrosis, iron deposits and steatosis stages were assessed in liver specimens. HFE gene polymorphisms were investigated by PCR-RFLP. RESULTS: Liver steatosis was associated with obesity and diabetes mellitus. This disease was confirmed in 76/174 (44%) CHC patients, most of whom were infected with genotype 1. The average grade of steatosis was higher in NAFLD patients. CHC patients had significantly higher iron concentrations and transferrin saturations than NAFLD patients. Compared with CHC patients, HH patients had higher values of serum iron parameters and more intensive hepatocyte iron deposits without differences in the prevalence and intensity of liver steatosis. In the CHC group, lipids accumulation in hepatocytes was significantly associated with the presence of serummarkers of iron overload. No correlation between the HFE gene polymorphism and liver steatosis in CHC patients was found. CONCLUSIONS: Liver steatosis was diagnosed in nearly half of CHC patients, most of whom were infected with genotype 1. The intensity of steatosis was lower in CHC patients than that in NAFLD patients because of a less frequent diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. Only in CHC patients were biochemical markers of iron accumulation positively correlated with liver steatosis; these findings were independent of HFE gene mutations.

The use of complementary and alternative medicine by individuals with features of metabolic syndrome

OBJECTIVE： To compare the use of complementary and alternative medicine （CAM）, including dietary supplements, by individuals with and without features of metabolic syndrome （FeMS）. METHODS： Using a cross sectional study design, information was obtained by self-administered questionnaires from 300 university individuals. FeMS was defined as any individuals self-reporting at least one of the clinical diagnoses of diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or obesity. Finally, two categories were created for cross tabulation, and individuals with and without FeMS were compared. RESULTS： Of the 192 individuals completing the study, 39% （n=76） were currently using or had used CAM therapies in the past 12 months. Individuals with FeMS （n=54, 28%） were more likely （P〈0.05） to use different types of CAM therapies, in particular dietary and herbal supplements, aromatherapy and massage therapy compared to individuals without FeMS （n=138, 72%）. CONCLUSION： Individuals with FeMS were more likely to use CAM, particularly supplements. Doctors need to properly inquire about and understand their patients＇ supplement use, especially if CAM therapies are used in coniunction with conventional medications.