Therapeutic Effects of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine in Treating Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Objective: To improve the effects of treatment of severe acute re spiratory syndrome (SARS) and to explore the clinical significance of integrate d traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine (ICWM) in the treatment of S ARS and its influence on the chief indexes in the process of the disease. Methods: The clinical study involving observation of 135 patients of SARS was conducted in the randomized, synchronously controlled and open way. The patients were divided into two groups, 68 in the ICWM group and 67 in the c ontrol group, all of whom were treated with the same basic treatment of western medicine, but to the ICWM group, Chinese drugs for clearing Heat, detoxifying an d removing Dampness were given additionally. The comprehensive effect on relievi ng fever, cell mediated immunity, pulmonary inflammation and secondary infect ion was compared between the two groups. Results: The therapeutic effect in the ICWM group was better than that in the control group in such aspects as steadily lowering body temperature, alleviating general symptoms, accelerating the absorption of pulmonary infiltra tion and easing cellular immunity suppression. Conclusion: The therapeutic effect of ICWM is better in treating SARS than that of western medicine alone.

Description Générale de la Chine and the Spread of Traditional Chinese Medicine to the West in the 18^(th) Century

Description Générale de la Chine is an important sinology masterpiece published in France in the late 18^(th) century.Its author Jean-Baptiste Grosier summarized and rearranged a large number of first-hand materials to systematically introduce China’s national traditions and culture.A great part of this book introduced ancient Chinese medicine,which facilitated the unbiased understanding of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)in Europe and fostered a knowledge dialogue between the Chinese and Western medicine systems.Such content also provided a historical reference for how to promote the further going out of TCM to the world.

Progress on the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD), commonly known as senile dementia, is a neurodegenerative disease with clinical manifestations of memory impairment, personality and behavior changes. The pathogenesis of AD is complex and inconclusive in the point of view of western medicine, which is the fundamental reason for the lack of drugs that can reverse the course of the disease. People have gradually shifted from simple amyloid hypothesis to new pathogenesis theories, such as gamma oscillation, prion like transmission, and so on. As an effective means to treat AD, traditional Chinese medicine has made some research progress in recent years. This article mainly reviews the etiology, pathogenesis and treatment of AD, so as to provide reference for the prevention and treatment of AD. Methods: Through systematic literature research, comparison and analysis, the main pathogenesis, influencing factors, progress and development tendency of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine in the treatment of AD are presented. Results: Alzheimer’s disease is a kind of multiple neurodegenerative diseases. The pathogenesis and related targets of AD still need to be further explored. The main pathological phenomenon of AD is senile plaques formed by intracellular neurofibrillary tangles and extracellular amyloid protein aggregation. Existing possible pathogenesis includes β-amyloid cascade hypothesis, tau protein hypothesis, cholinergic hypothesis and so on. As the pathogenesis of AD has not been clarified, so far no effective therapeutic drugs or means have been found. The traditional drugs used to treat AD mainly include acetylcholinesterase inhibitor kabbalatin, galantamine, donepezil, and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist memantine. However, although these marketed drugs can slow down the course of the disease and alleviate symptoms, they cannot totally cure the disease. Traditional Chinese medicine has the characteristics of personalized differentiation and treatment. The Western medicine can accurately determine the lesion location and target. Conclusions: Integrated traditional Chinese medicine and West medicine is the most promising direction in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

Yin-Yang and Zheng:Exported from Chinese Medicine

Chinese medicine （CM） basic theory differs substantially from modernmedicine in methodology. CM views the healthy human body as an entity in yin-yang equilibrium. CM practitioners typically diagnose patients with ＂Zheng （CMsyndrome）＂-yin-yang status of specific organs, and the ultimate goal of treatment inCM is to restore the yin-yang balance. This concept might seem strange to Westernperceptions; however, CM philosophy and methodology have been graduallyaccepted and used in the West. There is growing evidence from prestigiousworldwide journals like Nature, Science and Cell indicating that CM theory isbecoming an important component in dealing with health issues in the West.