TCM Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis by Supplementing the Kidney and Invigorating the Blood Circulation

The therapeutic effects in treating the intermediate and late rheumatoid arthritis by supplementing the kidney and invigorating blood circulation were observed. In the 43 cases of the treatment group, No. 2 Qu Feng Shi Ling capsules (祛风湿灵胶囊2号) and Fenbid (芬必得) were prescribed, while in the 39 cases of the control group Lei Gong Teng Tablets (雷公藤总甙片) and Fenbid were given. The results showed that the total effective rate in the treatment group was more satisfactory than that in the control (P<0.05 or P<0.01). With less toxic effects, the former could better improve the local swelling and lower the blood viscosity.

Research progress on the mechanism of treating chronic kidney disease by invigorating the kidney and removing toxic

Chronic kidney disease is a general term for various types of renal diseases characterized by a long course of disease and difficulty in early detection.It is one of the social diseases that need to be solved urgently and its pathogenesis and treatment have always been a hotspot for researchers.Studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)can effectively delay the progress of chronic kidney disease.According to the clinical experience of national famous TCM physicians,based on its pathogenesis of"kidney deficiency as the foundation and poison as the target",chronic kidney disease can be treated by invigorating the kidney and removing toxic.Based on the above background,this paper summarizes the research progress of invigorating the kidney and removing toxic in delaying chronic kidney disease from multiple mechanisms and pathways in modern research.

Preventive Administration of Juanbi Capsules (蠲痹胶囊) for Knee Osteoarthritis: Effects on Serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels and Cartilage Repair

Objective: To explore the mechanism of action of Juanbi Capsules (蠲痹胶囊), a Chinese medicine for invigorating the kidney and replenishing qi, in preventing osteoarthritis of the knee in rabbits. Methods: Seventy-two 4-month-old, Japanese long-eared white rabbits were randomly divided into 6 groups: control (group A), model (group B), Chinese drug; high-dose (group C), Chinese drug; mid-dose (group D), Chinese drug; low-dose (group E), and drug control (group F). With the exception of the rabbits in group A, each rabbit was subjected to plaster cast fixation for 6 weeks to induce osteoarthritis. In addition, rabbits were administrated with an intragastric injection of the Chinese drug (groups C, D and E) or an aminoglucose hydrochloride capsule (group F) for 4 weeks. Blood was drawn from the central ear artery for serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 concentrations, and the knee joint cartilage was harvested for gross observation and light microscopy. Results: There were significant differences in serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 concentrations between group B and groups C, D and E (P<0.05), with no significant differences between groups D and F. Histological results showed various changes in tissue staining with treatment, with osteophyte and bone cyst formation, and superficial erosion in the articular surface of the cartilage; in some cases, the defect reached the mid-layer of the cartilage, and these changes were lower than those in the model group. Conclusion: Juanbi Capsules assist in preventing osteoarthritis in the rabbit, possibly by decreasing serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels.