Clinical Evaluation of Soothing Gan(肝) and Invigorating Pi(脾)Acupuncture Treatment on Diarrhea-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Objective： To explore the effect of Soothing Gan （肝） and invigorating Pi （脾） （SGIP） acupuncture treatment on the clinical symptoms and quality of life （QOL） in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome （IBS-D）. Methods： With a single-blinded randomized control study adopted, 63 patients who met the inclusion criteria were assigned by a random number table to two groups, 31 in the treatment group and 32 in the drug control group. The treatment group received SGIP acupuncture therapy; while the control group was treated orally with pinaverium bromide. The treatment duration of both groups was 28 days. The clinical efficacy was evaluated and compared by scoring patient＇s symptom and QOL. Results： A significant difference was found by variance analysis in efficacies between the two groups （P〈0.01）, shown as the quicker initiation of effect （P〈0.05） and the more evident clinical improvement in symptoms along the increase in treatment duration, as well as the more significant elevation of QOL in the acupuncture treatment group （P〈0.01）. SGIP displayed its superiority especially in improving dysphoria, conflict behavior, dietary restrictions, and social responses. Conclusion： SGIP acupuncture treatment could effectively alleviate the degree and frequency of symptoms＇ attack in IBS-D patients, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, abdominal distension, etc., markedly relieve the tenesmic sensation, with the efficacy better than that of pinaverium bromide, showing a preponderance in improving patient＇s QOL.

The Potential Role of Chinese Medicine in Ameliorating Extra-articular Manifestations of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis （RA） is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease chiefly affecting synovial membranes of multiple joints. The clinical manifestations are highly variable. Besides joint affection, extra-articular manifestations always occur in RA patients, such as lung, blood vessel, heart, endocrine glands, hematological system, and nervous system affections. In addition to Western medicine therapy, Chinese medicine also plays a significant role in the treatment of RA with good efficacy and less adverse reactions. This paper summarizes the effects of Xinfeng Capsule （新风胶囊）, a Chinese medicine, and the mechanisms of its action in ameliorating the extra-articular manifestations based on a series of clinical and experimental researches.

Enhancement of Swimming Endurance by Herbal Supplement M3P

Objective:To investigate the effect of M3P(containing Deer antler,Cordyceps sinensis,Rhodiola rosea,and Panax ginseng);an herbal remedy with the function of tonifying Kidney(Shen)and invigorating Spleen(Pi),replenishing qi and nourishing blood;on fatigue alleviation,endurance capacity and toxicity.Methods:Swimming with weight-loading of 24 male ICR mice was used to evaluate the endurance capacity,and fatiguerelated plasma biomarkers were determined.Mice were randomly assigned to control or M3P treatment groups with 6 mice for each group and were orally administered with M3P everyday for 8 weeks at doses 0,10,33 or 100 mg/kg.Swimming time to exhaustion was measured in a specialized water tank.Lliver and kidney functions,body weight,and hematological profile were determined to evaluate the safety and toxicity after long-term M3P administration.Results:M3P supplementation 100 mg/kg significantly increased swimming endurance time up to approximate 2.4 folds of controls(P<0.05).The plasma concentrations of cortisol and hepatic glycogen content were significantly increased in mice received M3P(P<0.05,P<0.01 respectively).The lactic acid level and blood glucose were not changed after M3P treatment(P>0.05).The liver and kidney functions muscle damage biomarker creatine,body weight,and hemograms were not altered in M3P supplementation(P>0.05).Conclusion:M3P supplementation may improve swimming endurance accompanied by increasing hepatic glycogen content and serum cortisol level without major toxicity.