Experience in the Treatment of Tumors by Replenishing Qi and Nourishing Blood,Detoxicating and Resolving Masses

The pathogenesis of malignant tumors is the deficiency of vital Qi and the excess of pathogenic Qi.Its basic treating principle is to strengthen vital Qi to eliminate pathogenic factor.The paper is to summarize the clinical experiences in tumor treatment of Dr.Chen Shizhou,a well-known traditional Chinese medicine expert in Weifang City,Shandong Province.He put forward the treatment method of"replenishing Qi and nourishing blood,detoxicating and resolving masses",paying attention to protecting stomach qi and advocating survival with tumor,with remarkable clinical effects.

Effect and Mechanism on Mainly Using Traditional Chinese Medicine of Replenishing Qi and Nourishing Yin in Treating Graves' Disease

Objective: To explore the therapeutic effect and its mechanism mainly using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) of Replenishing Qi and Nourishing Yin (RQNY) with a small dosage of Tapazole for treatment of Graves’ disease (GD).Methods: The changes of thyroid function and the activity of sodium pump of human erythrocyte in the patients with Graves’ disease were observed and compared before and after treatment between the treated group (42 cases) by combining treatment mainly using TCM of RQNY and a small amount of Tapazole and a control group (42 cases) by Tapazole alone.Results: After treatment for half a year, one and two years, the serum levels of T3, T4 in above two groups were markedly decreased than those of before treatment, the therapeutic effect of treated group was superior to that of the control group. The activity of sodium pump in human erythrocyte in the GD patients was obviously higher than that of normal group and that of before treatment. After treatment for one and two years mainly by TCM or western medicine, the erythrocyte sodium pump activity was obviously lower than that of normal group and that of before treatment. The decrease of erythrocyte sodium pump activity in the treated group was markedly lower than that in the control group.

Efficacy of Sailuotong(塞络通)on neurovascular unit in amyloid precursor protein/presenilin-1 transgenic mice with Alzheimer's disease

OBJECTIVE:To discuss the influence of Sailuotong(塞络通,SLT)on the Neurovascular Unit(NVUs)of amyloid precursor protein(APP)/presenilin-1(PS1)mice and evaluate the role of gas supplementation in activating blood circulation during the progression of Alzheimer's disease(AD).METHODS:The mice were allocated into the following nine groups:(a)the C57 Black(C57BL)sham-operated group(control group),(b)ischaemic treatment in C57BL mice(the C57 ischaemic group),(c)the APP/PS1 sham surgery group(APP/PS1 model group),(d)ischaemic treatment in APP/PS1 mice(APP/PS1 ischaemic group),(e)C57BL mice treated with aspirin following ischaemic treatment(C57BL ischaemic+aspirin group),(f)C57BL mice treated with SLT following ischaemic treatment(C57BL ischaemic+SLT group),(g)APP/PS1 mice treated with SLT(APP/PS1+SLT group),(h)APP/PS1 mice treated with donepezil hydrochloride following ischaemic treatment(APP/PS1 ischaemic+donepezil hydrochloride group)and(i)APP/PS1 mice treated with SLT following ischaemic treatment(APP/PS1 ischaemic+SLT group).The ischaemic model was established by operating on the bilateral common carotid arteries and creating a microembolism.The Morris water maze and step-down tests were used to detect the spatial behaviour and memory ability of mice.The hippocampus of each mouse was observed by haematoxylin and eosin(HE)and Congo red staining.The ultrastructure of NVUs in each group was observed by electron microscopy,and various biochemical indicators were detected by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The protein expression level was detected by Western blot.The mRNA expression was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR).RESULTS:The results of the Morris water maze and step-down tests showed that ischemia reduced learning and memory in the mice,which were restored by SLT.The results of HE staining showed that SLT restored the pathological changes of the NVUs.The Congo red staining results revealed that SLT also improved the scattered orange-red sediments in the upper cortex and hippocampus of the APP/PS1 and APP/PS1 ischaemic mice.Furthermore,SLT significantly reduced the content of Aβ,improved the vascular endothelium and repaired the mitochondrial structures.The ELISA detection,western blot detection and qRT-PCR showed that SLT significantly increased the vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),angiopoietin and basic fibroblast growth factor,as well as the levels of gene and protein expression of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1(LRP-1)and VEGF in brain tissue.CONCLUSIONS:By increasing the expression of VEGF,SLT can promote vascular proliferation,up-regulate the expression of LRP-1,promote the clearance of Aβand improve the cognitive impairment of APP/PS1 mice.These results confirm that SLT can improve AD by promoting vascular proliferation and Aβclearance to protect the function of NVUs.

Effects of Bushenyiqihexue Formula on the Endometrial Gland Apoptosis in Mice with Blastocyst Implantation Dysfunction

Objective: To observe the effects of Bushenyiqihexue Formula (补肾益气和血方 Formula for Tonifying the Kidney, Replenishing qi and Harmonizing Blood, FTKRQHB) on the endometrial gland apoptosis in the mice with blastocyst implantation dysfunction. Methods: The mice with the first-day pregnancy were divided into the control, model and treatment groups, with 30 in each group, and blastocyst implantation dysfunction was induced by subcutaneous injection of mifepristone in the mice of the model and treatment groups. The pregnancy rate and implantation number of blastocysts were measured and the expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Bax, Bcl-2, and activated caspase-3 were detected in all the three groups. Results: The model group had significantly depressed pregnancy rate, implantation number of blastocysts and apoptosis index, and elevated proliferation index of endometrial gland as compared with the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Administration of FTKRQHB (the treatment group) resulted in significant increases in pregnancy rate, implantation number of blastocysts and apoptosis index of the endometrial gland, and a significant decrease in the proliferation index of the endometrial gland as compared with the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The differences in the four indexes between the treatment group and control group were not significant statistically. The Bax and activated caspase-3 expressions in endometrial gland in the model group became significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.01), whereas those in the treatment group were significant higher than that of the model group (P<0.01). However, the Bax and activated caspase-3 expressions in endometrial gland were similar in both treatment and control groups. Conclusion: Promoting the increases in Bax and activated caspase-3 expressions in the endometrial gland and bringing into balance between apoptosis and proliferation of the glandular cells at the implantation window phase by FTKRQHB may contribute to the effects of promoting the establishment of endometrial receptivity and improving blastocyst implantation dysfunction.

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.

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.