A Molecular Approach to Identification of the Chinese Drug“pu Gong Ying”(Herba Taraxaci)and Six Adulterants byDNA Fingerprinting Using Random Primed PolymeraseChain Resaction(PCR)

DNA fingerprinting among members of the Chinese drug Pu Gong Ying(Taraxacum mongolicum Hand,-Mazz.)and six adulterants of Tu Gong Ying were demonstrated with random-primed polymerase chain reaction(PCR)including arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction(AP-PCR)and random amplified polymorphic DNA(RAPD).Distinctive,reproducible genomic fingerprints from DNA from 7 species belonged to Compositae were generated with two long(20 and 24 mer)and one short(10 mer)randomly chosen primers.The Pu Gong Ying can be differentiated from six species of Tu Gong Ying according to the banding pattems of their amplified DNA on agarose gels.The results showed that AP-PCR and RAPD methods can be used for identifying Chinese drugs.Moreover,the Similarity Indexes of the genomic DNA fingerprints showed that Pu Gong Ying and its adulterants are unrelated.Therefore,AP-PCR and RAPD methods can be used for identifying Chinese drugs.

CLINICAL OBSERVATION ON 40 CASES OF ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS TREATED WITH ACUPUNCTURE AND CHINESE DRUGS

Objective： To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture plus Chinese herbal medicines for ankylceing Methods： A total of 80 cases of AS patients were evenly and randomly divided into treatment group and control group. In treatment group, patients were treated with acupuncture of Jiaji （夹脊 EX-B 2） and oral administration of Yishen Tongdu Won （益肾通督丸,Bolus for Reinforcing the Kidney and Dredging Governor Vessesl） and those of control group treated with oral administration of Sulfasalazin （0.5 g, twice daily）. Before and after treatment, the thoracic-dilaion scale, Schober test, Bath ankylceing spondylitis disease activity index （BASDAI）, Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index （BASFI）, erythrocyte sedimentation rate （ESR） and C-reaction protein （CRP） were detected separately. Results： After 6 months of treatment, of the both 40cases in treatment and control groups, 27 （67.5%） and 13 （32.5%） were improved remarkably, 11 （27.5%） and 16 （40.0%） effective, and 2 （5.0%） and 11 （27.5%） failed, with the effective rates being 95.0% and 72.5% separately. The therapeutic effect of treatment group was significantly superior to that of control group （P〈 0.05）. After treatment, the thoracicdilaion scale and Schober test values increased significantly （ P〈 0.05）, while BASDAI, BASFI, ESR and CRP lowered considerably （P〈0.01, P〈0.05）. Comparison between two groups indicated that after treatment, the decreased values of BASDAI, BASFI, ESR and CRP of treatment group were significantly lower than those of control group （ P〈 0.01 ）, while those of the thoracio-dilaion scale and Schober test of treatment group were significantly higher than those of control group （ P 〈 0.05, P 〈 0.01 ）. Results displayed that both acupuncture combined with Chinese drugs and Sulfasalazin could lower BASDAI, BASFI, ESR and CRP, raise the thoracic-dilaion scale and Schober test values considerably in AS patients, and the therapeutic effect of combined acupunclure and Chinese drugs was apparently superior to that of Westem medicine. Conclusion： Joint application of acupuncture and Chinese drugs is superior to Western medicine in the therapeutic effect for AS and has fewer side effects.

Study on Active Principle and Modernization of Chinese Drugs

The people as a whole cannot live for one day without drug, and the requirement of drugs would never come to an end or stay on the same level. Pharmaceutical industry, being of great significance, has become a new and important one in economic growth in the 21st century. Therefore, the modernization of Chinese drugs has also become a hot spot in public opinion in recent years.

Treatment of Dizziness by Massotherapy and Traditional Chinese Drugs——A Report of 110 cases

Note: HLY = hyperactivity of the liver-yang, STPMJ = stagnation of turbid phlegm in middle-Jiao, DQB = deficiency of qi and blood, DKE = deficiency of the kidney-essence, OCBS = obstruction of collaterals by blood

Some Hot Spots in the Study of Chinese Drugs in the 21st Century

Mankind has entered the 21st century of high speed development in science and e-conomics. Owing to the alteration of disease modes in the new century, the greatly elevated quality of human life and the arrival of aged society, the modes of medicine have obviously changed from the treatment mode

Analysis on Therapeutic Effect of Western and Chinese Drug in Treating Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of Yinchenghao decoction (YCHD, 茵陈蒿汤) and S-adenosy-L-methionine (SAM) in treating intra-hepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (TCP) and improving prognosis of perinatal newborn babies. Methods: Sixty in-patients of TCP were randomly divided into two groups, the group A treated with YCHD and the group B treated with SAM. The symptom of itching and serum biochemical indexes, including glycocholic acid, bilirubin and transaminase, were observed after 3 weeks treat-ment, and the prognosis of perinatal newborn babies between the two groups was compared after delivery. Results: After treatment, the symptom of itching, serum levels of glycocholic acid, bilirubin and transaminase improved significantly (P< 0.05) in both groups, and the prognosis of newborn in the two groups was similar (P>0. 05). Conclusion: Both YCHD and SAM could effectively treat ICP. The former is rather cheaper, so it is more feasible for spreading.Original article on CJITWM (Chin) 2004 ;24(4): 309

Regulative Actions of the Chinese Drugs for Tonifying the Kidney on Gene Expression of the Hypothalamic GnRH,Pituitary FSH,LH and Osteoblastic BGP

It is found that the drugs for nourishing yin to reduce pathogenic fire can significantly down-regulate,and the drugs for tonifying the kidney to replenish essence can up-regulate mRNA expression of the hypothalamic GnRH,pituitary FSH,LH and osteoblastic BGP,indicating that the Chinese drugs for tonifying the kidney can regulate gene expression of the hypothalamic GnRH,pituitary FSH,LH,and osteoblastic BGP,which is possibly one of the main mechanisms of the Chinese drug for tonifying the kidney,regulating ephebic development process and improving skeletal development in sexual precocity children.

The Principle and Technique of Using Chinese Drugs in the Treatment of Hypertension

Differential use of Chinese and western drugs, and combination of traditional theory of materia medica with the results of modern pharmacological research can be regarded as a general principle in the treatment of a disease, while combination of lowering blood pressure with preventing and treating complications is a specific method in the treatment of hypertension. As to the use of drugs based on differentiation of diseases and/or symptoms, drugs which have the action of relieving symptoms but also reducing blood pressure should be used as the first choice. For those drugs which have the action of relieving symptoms but can not lower blood pressure should not be used or should be used as less as possible. Drugs with action of raising blood pressure are contraindicated. When patients have the symptoms of hyperactivity of yang resulting from yin deficiency, Huang Bo ([symbol: see text] Cortex Phellodendri) and Zhi Mu ([symbol: see text] Rhizoma Anemarrhenae) are used together to enhance the effects of both nourishing yin to reduce pathogenic fire, and reducing blood pressure. This practice conforms to the TCM theory and also to the modern pharmacological research.

The Antagonistic Action of Heat-Clearing and Detoxifying Chinese Drugs on Endotoxins

In the recent decade, interest in treatment and prevention of many critical, severe and acute diseases caused by bacterial endotoxins has been aroused along with the advance of the knowledge on the nature of the endotoxin and the conditions involved. In abroad, attention has been mainly payed to raising antisera and monocolonal antibodies against the endotoxin and the induced mediators. However, the allergic reactions and the cost are still the problems. Till now, there is no drug that can antagonize endotoxin with high effectiveness and low toxicity. Clinical treatments are still confined in inhibiting or killing the pathogen, and correcting the internal environmental disturbance. Being less toxic and rich in resources with low cost and less side-effects, screening of effective Chinese drugs for antagonizing endotoxin is of important and practical significance. Endotoxin belongs to the category of toxic evils, or more precisely, the heat toxin in TCM. Therefore the application of heat-clearing and detoxifying Chinese drugs to antagonizing endotoxins is consistent with the theory of TCM. Some achievements in this field are reported as follows.

Observation on 105 Cases of Duodenal Bulbar Ulcer Treated by Combined Therapy of Catgut Embe0ding and Chinese Drugs

Duodenal bulbar ulcer is a frequently encountered disease. Clinically, it manifests itself by regular epigastric pain accompanied by belching and acid regurgitation, corresponding to epigastralgia and stomach distending pain in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Based on the TCM type-differentiation, the author has treated 105 cases of duodenal bulbar ulcer by the combined therapy of catgut embedding at point Zusanli (ST 36) and Chinese drugs with satisfactory results. A summary is as follows. Clinical Data1. Case selection: The cases selected all had the clinical symptoms and signs of duodenal bulbar ulcer, and had been diagnosed by GI examination at this or other hospitals with no obvious therapeutic effects obtained after relevant treatment, and still symptoms and signs and repeated attacks of pain.

Clinical Observations on 109 Cases of Vocal Nodules Treated with Acupuncture and Chinese Drugs

The treatment of vocal nodules with the combined use of needling on Kaiyin Yihao Xue (开音一号穴Kai Yin Point No. 1 for Voice-Regaining) and medicinal spray and tea made according to Xie Qiang’s empirical prescription, obtained a total effective rate of 93.6%, obviously superior to that of the group treated with western medicine and the group simply treated by Chinese drugs (P<0.01). This suggests that the combined use of acupuncture and Chinese drugs in the treatment of vocal nodules has better therapeutic effect and requires shorter course of treatment.

TREATMENT OF SENILE DIABETIC DIARRHEA WITH TRADITIONAL CHINESE DRUGS

Diabetic diarrhea, a noninfectiousdiarrhea, is one of the complications ofdiabetics. It only consists of a smallerconstituent ratio among all other

Advances in the Researches on the Blocking Effect of Chinese Drugs on Tumors

Malignant tumors are caused by multiple carcinogenic factors undergoing several stages. The occurrence and development of tumors may be prevented and blocked if some effective interference factors are brought into play.1 At present, there are two main subjects for the researches, that is, blocking the precancerous lesions and blocking the develop-ment of tumors. The former focuses on the removing of carcinogenic factors and on the chemoprophylaxis of cancer, while the latter on the inhibition of cancer cell infiltration and cancerometastasis. These are summarized as follows.

Forty-seven Cases of Gonitis Treated by A Combined Therapy of Chinese Drugs and Acupuncture

Osteoarthritis, a nonspecific inflammatory lesion, is a commonly seen joint disease. Clinically, it is mainly characterized by arthralgia, swelling, and motor impairment. Since the knee joint is the load-bearing joint of the human body, and is susceptible to trauma, gonitis tends to have the highest morbidity in the four limbs, which manifests itself arthritis of patella and femur at the early stage; narrowness or disappearance of the medial joint space at the mid stage; and damage of the cartilage accompanied with flexion deformity at the late stage. In recent years, based on the experience of Prof. Cao Yiming, the author has treated 47 cases of gonitis by combined use of Chinese drugs and acupuncture, and obtained satisfactory therapeutic results as reported in the following.

AN ANALYSIS FOR DEATH CAUSES IN 45 CASES OF LIVER CANCER TREATED WITH TRADITIONAL CHINESE DRUGS

Among the 165 cases of late-stage liver cancer treated in our hospital,65(39.4%)died,with an average survival time of 8.1 months and a median survival time of 7 months.Among the 65 dead patients,45 were treated with traditional Chinese drugs and 20 withwestern medicine.The average survival time was 8.4 months in the former and 7.3months in the latter group.The direct causes of death for the 65 patients were hepaticcoma,severe hemorrhage of the upper digestive tract,Heyd’s syndrome,hepatorrhexis,respiratory failure,cardiac failure,etc.The incidence rates of hemorrhage of the upperdigestive tract and hepatorrhexis in the 45 patients treated with traditional Chinese drugswere obviously lower than those treated with western medicine.

Survey on Radiosensitizing Effects of Chinese Drugs

Radiotherapy is one of the main therapeuticmethods for malignant tumors at present.Clinically,about 70% cases of malignant tumor are treated byradiotherapy.However,the therapeutic effects ofradiotherapy are often unsatisfactory because of theparticular biological characteristics and local micro-environment of cancer cells,and of other factors as well.Therefore,radiosensitizing agents have become as a

THE EFFECTS OF CHINESE DRUGS FOR SUPPORTING HEALTHY ENERGY AND REMOVING BLOOD STASIS ON POSTOPERATIVE METASTASIS OF GASTRIC CARCINOMA AND ORNITHINE DECARBOXYLASE

32 postoperative cases of gastric carcinoma were treated by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) drugs for supporting healthy energy and removing blood stasis, and their therapeutic results were compared with those in the control group treated by western medicine. After 6 months of treatment, in the TCM group, the rate of metastatic recurrence was significantly reduced, and the level of ornithine decarboxylase was also markedly lowered. Therefore, it is considered that the action of anti-metastatic recurrence of TCM drugs in postoperative cases of gastric carcinoma is probably related to the lowered activity of ornithine decarboxylase.

Screening of Common Traditional Chinese Drugs for Reversing Multidrug Resistance of KBV200 In Vitro

The ethanolic extracts of 100 common traditional Chinese drugs, which are widely used in many prescriptions in treatment of cancer in China, were screened for MDR of KBV200 cell line in vitro with MTT method. The result showed 9 extracts having MDR reversal activity. They were the extracts of Fructus Lagenariae Sicerariae, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Poria, Herba Andrographitis, Radix Sophorae Tonkinensis, Caulis Mahoniae, Folium Artemisiae Argyi, Rhizoma Curcumae, Fructus Cnidii. Other 5 extracts showed cytotoxic on KBV200 cell line. $$$$

Screening of Common Traditional Chinese Drugs for Reversing Multidrug Resistance of KBV200 In Vitro

The ethanolic extracts of 100 common traditional Chinese drugs, which are widely used in many prescriptions in treatment of cancer in China, were screened for MDR of KBV200 cell line in vitro with MTT method. The result showed 9 extracts having MDR reversal activity. They were the extracts of Fructus Lagenariae Sicerariae, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Poria, Herba Andrographitis, Radix Sophorae Tonkinensis, Caulis Mahoniae, Folium Artemisiae Argyi, Rhizoma Curcumae, Fructus Cnidii. Other 5 extracts showed cytotoxic on KBV200 cell line. $$$$

Effect of Chinese Drugs for Supplementing Qi,Nourishing Yin and Activating Blood Circulation on Myocardial Perfusion in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction after Revascularization

Objective:To observe the effects of Chinese drugs for supplementing qi,nourishing yin and activating blood circulation on the myocardial perfusion in acute myocardial infarction(AMI) patients after revascularization.Methods:Eighty patients with anterior or inferior ventricular wall AMI,who had received revascularization by intravenous thrombolysis or coronary bypass,were randomized into the treated group and the control group equally,both treated with conventional Western medical treatment,but combined,resp...