Randomized Controlled Trial on Treatment of Bronchial Asthma of Qi-deficiency Cold Syndrome Type by Pingchuan Yiqi Granule (平喘益气颗粒)

Objective： To evaluate the effect and safety of Pingchuan Yiqi Granule （平喘益气颗粒, PYG） in treating bronchial asthma of qi-deficiency cold syndrome type （BS-QDC）. Methods： With the randomized, positive agent parallel controlled design adopted, the 80 subjects enrolled were assigned in the ratio of 3：1 to two groups, the 60 patients in the trial group were treated with PYG and the 20 in the control group treated with Ruyi Dingchuan Pill （如意定喘丸,RDP）, with the therapeutic course consisting of 7 days for both groups. The clinical effects, effects on TCM syndrome and the changes of lung function after treatment were observed. Results： The effect of the treatment on asthma in the trial group： clinically controlled rate was 6.67%, markedly effective rate 51.67%, improved rate 33.33% and ineffective rate 8.33%; and the corresponding rates in the control group were 5.00%, 50.00%, 30.00%, and 15.00% respectively. Comparison between the two groups showed insignificant difference （P〉0.05）. The effect on TCM syndrome in the treated group： clinically controlled rate was 11.67%, markedly effective rate 58.33%, effective rate 21.67% and ineffective rate 8.33%; and those in the control group were 10.00%, 50.00%, 30.00% and 10.00% respectively, also showing insignificant difference between the two groups （P〉0.05）. Lung function test showed that the change on forced expiratory volume in 1 second （FEV1） after treatment in the trial group was of statistical significance （P〈0.05）, but no significant difference was shown in the change of peak expiratory flow （PEE P〉0.05）; while the changes in the control group were just the opposite, showing insignificance in FEV1 （P〉0.05） but significance in PEF （P〈0.05）. Comparison of the therapeutic effect on lung function between the two groups showed no significant difference （P〉0.05）. No adverse reaction was found in either group in the course of treatment. Conclusion： PYG used to treat BS-QDC is effective and safe, it＇s effect is similar to that of RDP.

Pathophysiological Characteristics of Phlegm-stasis Cementation Syndrome in Coronary Heart Disease:a Review and Update

The pathophysiological characteristics of Phlegm-stasis Cementation Syndrome in Coronary Heart Disease(CHD) has been summarized in this article. According to epidemiological investigations, phlegm-stasis cementation syndrome has become a dominant syndrome in CHD along with the improvement in living and dietary condition. The interaction between blood stasis and phlegm turbidity that is called Phlegmstasis Cementation Syndrome exists in CHD and other diseases. The bridge linked blood stasis and phlegm turbidity lies in the adversely effects of lipid metabolism disorder on platelet activation, vascular function and hemorheology indexes. Lipid metabolism disorder also can induce persistent inflammation including monocyte/macrophage activation and oxidative stress. Inflammation also is an important stimulating factor for atherosclerosis and the biology that underlies the complications of CHD,which belonged to the concept of "toxin" in Traditional Chinese medicines(TCM). On the other hand, the important function of inflammatory process on abnormal hemorheology,platelet activation and vascular dysfunction can be used to elucidate the basic pathogenetic condition of the toxin inducing blood stasis in TCM. Therefore, it is this pathological process that can be used to address the basic pathogenetic theory of phlegm turbidity inducing the symptom of toxin and blood stasis, and subsequently phlegm-stasis cementation in TCM. We deduced that lipid metabolic disturbance,inflammation activation, vascular dyfunction and hemorheological disorders could be as pathophysiological characteristics of Phlegm-stasis cementation syndrome.

Efficacy evaluation of acupuncture plus rehabilitation training for post-stroke deglutition disorders of qi-deficiency blood stasis pattern

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus rehabilitation training in treating post-stroke deglutition disorders of qi-deficiency blood stasis pattern.Methods:Sixty-six patients with post-stroke deglutition disorders of qi-deficiency blood stasis patter were divided into an observation group and a rehabilitation group using the random number table method.The two groups both received conventional medications and supportive treatment for stroke.In addition,the observation group received acupuncture plus rehabilitation training while the rehabilitation group only received the same rehabilitation training.The interventions were conducted 3 times a week for a total of 4 weeks in both groups.They were evaluated using Kubota water swallowing test(KWST),Fujishima Ichiro food intake level scale(FILS)and symptoms score of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)before and after treatment,and at the 1-month follow-up.The therapeutic efficacy was assessed at the 1-month follow-up.Results:The KWST grading and FILS result after treatment and at the follow-up were significantly different from those before treatment in both groups(all P<0.001);the results of these two items at the follow-up were not significantly different from those after treatment in the two groups(all P>0.05).There were significant differences in the KWST grading and FILS result between the two groups after treatment and at the follow-up(all P<0.05).The TCM symptoms score changed significantly after treatment and at the follow-up compared with that before treatment in both groups(all P<0.001).The TCM symptoms grading efficacy at the follow-up was significantly different from that after treatment in the observation group(P<0.05),while the difference was statistically insignificant in the rehabilitation group(P>0.05).The TCM symptoms grading efficacy in the observation group was significantly different from that in the rehabilitation group after treatment and at the follow-up(both P<0.05).Conclusion:Based on the conventional treatment for stroke,acupuncture plus rehabilitation training or use of rehabilitation training alone both can improve the clinical symptoms in post-stroke deglutition disorders of qi-deficiency blood stasis pattern,but acupuncture plus rehabilitation training can produce more significant efficacy and better long-term efficacy in improving TCM symptoms.

Comfortable Lifestyle-induced Imbalance of Neuro-endocrine-immunity Network:A Possible Mechanism of Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction

Objective： To observe the changes of vascular endothelial functions and general neuroendocrine-immunity （NEI） network under the state of qi-deficiency syndrome induced by excessive idleness and to approach their internal relevance and illuminate initially the pathophysiological mechanism of vascular lesion induced by excessive idleness. Methods： A total of 100 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group and the qi-deficiency syndrome model group, 50 rats in each group. The qi-deficiency syndrome model was established by feeding the animals with hyper-alimentation diet in combination with restricting movement for 10 weeks. Changes of common chemical signal molecules related to NEI and vascular endothelial functions were measured by the end of the experiment. Furthermore, their internal relevance was analyzed by the method of canonical correlation analysis. Results： The vascular endothelial structure and function were obviously injured in the model group. Compared with the control group, the chemical signal molecules, such as 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT）, corticosterone （CORT）, triiodothyronine （T3）, tetraiodothyronine （T4）, angiotensin Ⅱ （Ang Ⅱ）, interleukin-1 （IL-1）, and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in peripheral blood of the model group （n=43） were changed significantly （P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）. Canonical correlation analysis showed that vascular endothelial dysfunction was correlated to the changes of these signal molecules in the NEI network. Conclusions： Comfortbased lifestyle induced not only vascular endothelial dysfunction but also an imbalance of the NEI network. Vascular endothelial dysfunction and the imbalanced NEI network interacted with each other, and an imbalance of the NEI network may be the pathophysiologic basis for the genesis and development of vascular endothelial dysfunction, even diseases of the blood vessel.

Clinical and Experimental Study on Huodan Tablet (藿丹片) in Treating Infantile Viral Myocarditis

Objective: To study the effect of Huodan tablet (藿丹片, HDT) in treating infantile viral myocarditis. Methods: Clinical manifestations and physical signs as well as laboratory examinations have been observed. Results: The markedly effective rate was 68%, and total effective rate 91.67% in the treated group, while in the control group, the markedly effective rate was 30.83%, and the total effective rate 70.84%. According to Ridit analysis, significant difference was shown between the two groups. r-treated group=0.5000, r-control group=0.295+2×0.025 respectively. Conclusion: HDT has no toxic side-effect and can be taken safely and conveniently, it conforms to the demands of WHO on new drug for prevention and cure of myocarditis.