Follow-up Efficacy of Integrative Chinese and Western Drugs on Localized Scleroderma with Vitamine B 6 and Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (血府逐瘀汤)

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effects of vitamine B 6 (Vit B 6) and Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (血府逐瘀汤,XFZY, for activating blood circulation to remove stasis) in patients with localized scleroderma(LSD). Methods: Thirty-three patients were treated with XFZY and Vit B 6, with 15 cases taking orally prednisone acetate and 20 healthy volunteers as the control. Their level of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the patients with LSD before and after treatment were observed. Results: The level of sIL-2R and TNF-α in the serum from the patients with LSD were higher than those of healthy volunteers ( P <0.01). After treatment with Vit B 6 and XFZY, the level of sIL-2R and TNF-α from the patients with LSD decreased significantly ( P <0.01), but there were no difference between the group taking Vit B 6 plus XFZY and the group given prednisone. Conclusion: The activating blood circulation to remove stasis approach in treating LSD with integrative Chinese and Western drugs got better results, and metabolic disorder of tryptophan might be correlated with the etiology of LSD.

Clinical Study of Drug-resistant Pulmonary Tuberculosis Treated by Combination of Anti-Tuberculosis Chemicals and Compound Astragalus Capsule(复方黄芪胶囊)

Objective: To observe and evaluate the therapeutic effect of anti-tuberculosis (anti-TB) chemicals and Compound Astragalus Capsule (CAC) in combinedly treating drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (DR-TB). Methods: Ninety-two patients with DR-TB were equally randomized into the treated group (treated with combination therapy) and the control group (treated with anti-TB chemicals alone). The therapeutic course for both groups was 18 months. Therapeutic effects between the two groups were compared at the end of the therapeutic course. Sputum bacterial negative rate, focal absorption effective rate, cavity closing rate, 10-day symptom improving rate, the incidence of adverse reaction and 2-year bacteriological recurrence rate between the two groups were compared. Results: In the treated group, the sputum bacterial negative conversion rate was 84. 8% , focal absorption effective rate 91. 3% , cavity closing rate 58. 7% and 10-day symptom improving rate 54. 4% , while in the control group, the corresponding rates were 65.2% , 73. 9 % , 37.0% and 26.1 % , respectively. Comparison between the groups showed significant difference in all the parameters (P<0.05, P<0.05, P<0.05 and P<0.01). The incidence of adverse reaction and 2-year bacteriological recurrence rate in the treated group were 23. 9% and 2.6% respectively, while those in the control group 50. 0% and 16. 7% , which were higher than the former group with significant difference ( P<0. 01 and P<0. 05, respectively). Conclusion: The therapeutic effect of combined treatment with anti-TB and CAC is superior to that of treatment with anti-TB chemicals alone, and the Chinese herbal medicine showed an adverse reaction alleviating effect, which provides a new therapy for DR-TB, and therefore, it is worth spreading in clinical practice.