Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of oral administration of the traditional Chinese herb rhubarb to treat acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD).Method:This was a multi...Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of oral administration of the traditional Chinese herb rhubarb to treat acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD).Method:This was a multicenter randomized double-blinded placebo controlled study that took place in 7 provinces of China that enrolled 244 patients(aged 18e80 years)who had acute exacerbation of COPD with the traditional Chinese syndrome pattern of phlegm-heat obstructing lung.Participants were divided into experimental and control groups.The experimental group received 4.5 g of rhubarb granules twice daily and the control group received placebo granules.Both groups also received conventional Western therapy consisting of oxygen therapy,an antibiotic,expectorant,and a bronchodilator.Treatment lasted 10 days.Symptom scores for cough,sputum volume and color,wheezing and chest tightness before treatment and on days 3,5,7,and 10 during the treatment were recorded.Lung function,arterial blood gas and levels of serum inflammatory factors,interleukin-4(IL-4),interleukin-8(IL-8),and interleukin-10(IL-10)and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-a),before and after treatment were measured.Results:The sample size of the full analysis set(FAS)was 244 participants,and the sample size of per protocol set(PPS)was 235.Following 10 days’treatment,symptom scores of the experimental group were markedly lower than those of the placebo group(FAS:mean difference1.67,95%CI:e2.66 to0.69,P Z 0.001;PPS:mean difference1.55,95%CI:2.56 to0.54,P Z 0.003).Lung function in the experimental group was significantly higher than in the placebo group(FEV1,FAS:mean difference 0.12,95%CI:0.06 to 0.18;P<0.001;PPS:mean difference 0.12,95%CI 0.05 to 0.18;P<0.001.FVC:FAS:mean difference 0.16,95%CI:0.06 to 0.26;P Z 0.002;PPS:mean difference 0.16,95%CI 0.05 to 0.26;P Z 0.003.FEV1%,FAS:mean difference 5.95,95%CI:3.36 to 8.53;P<0.001;PPS:mean difference 5.92,95%CI 3.28 to 8.56;P<0.001.).PaO2,PaCO2,as well as serum inflammatory factors were also improved when compared to the placebo group.There were no significant differences in the incidence rate of adverse reaction between the two groups.Conclusions:Compared with placebo,rhubarb granules significantly reduced symptom scores,improved blood oxygen level,controlled systemic inflammatory response,without significant adverse effects.Thus,rhubarb may be a beneficial adjuvant method for treating the phlegm-heat obstructing the lung syndrome pattern of AECOPD.展开更多
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS) is a widespread disorder, characterized by recurrent upper airway obstruction during sleep, mostly as a result of complete or partial pharyngeal obstruction. Due to the occurrenc...Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS) is a widespread disorder, characterized by recurrent upper airway obstruction during sleep, mostly as a result of complete or partial pharyngeal obstruction. Due to the occurrence of frequent and regular hypoxic events, patients with OSAS are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, metabolic disorders, occupational errors, motor vehicle accidents and even death. Thus, OSAS has severe consequences and represents a significant economic burden. However, some of the consequences, as well as their costs can be reduced with appropriate detection and treatment. In this context, the recent advances that were made in stem cell biology knowledge and stem cell- based technologies hold a great promise for various medical conditions, including respiratory diseases. However, the investigation of the role of stem cells in OSAS is still recent and rather limited, requiring further studies, both in animal models and humans. The goal of this review is to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding both lung resident as well as circulating stem/progenitor cells and discuss existing controversies in the field in order to identify future research directions for clinical applications in OSAS. Also, the paper highlights the requisite for inter-institutional, multi-disciplinary research collaborations in order to achieve breakthrough results in the field.展开更多
BACKGROUND Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD)is a serious complication of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,often characterized by increased morbidity and mortality.In traditional ...BACKGROUND Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD)is a serious complication of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,often characterized by increased morbidity and mortality.In traditional Chinese medicine,AECOPD is linked to phlegm-heat and blood-stasis,presenting symptoms like thick sputum,fever,and chest pain.It has been shown that acetylcysteine inhalation in conjunction with conventional therapy significantly reduced inflammatory markers and improved lung function parameters in patients with AECOPD,suggesting that acetylcysteine may be an important adjunctive therapy for patients with phlegm-heat-blood stasis type AECOPD.AIM To investigate the effect of acetylcysteine on microinflammation and lung ventilation in patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis-type AECOPD.METHODS One hundred patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis-type AECOPD were randomly assigned to two groups.The treatment group received acetylcysteine inhalation(10%solution,5 mL,twice daily)along with conventional therapy,whereas the control group received only conventional therapy.The treatment duration was 14 d.Inflammatory markers(C-reactive protein,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-alpha)in the serum and sputum as well as lung function parameters(forced expiratory volume in one second,forced vital capacity,and peak expiratory flow)were assessed pre-and post-treatment.Acetylcysteine inhalation led to significant reductions in inflammatory markers and improvements in lung function parameters compared to those in the control group(P<0.05).This suggests that acetylcysteine could serve as an effective adjunct therapy for patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis-type AECOPD.RESULTS Acetylcysteine inhalation significantly reduced inflammatory markers in the serum and sputum and improved lung ventilation function parameters in patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis type AECOPD compared with the control group.These differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).The study concluded that acetylcysteine inhalation had a positive effect on microinflammation and lung ventilation function in patients with this type of AECOPD,suggesting its potential as an adjuvant therapy for such cases.CONCLUSION Acetylcysteine inhalation demonstrated significant improvements in reducing inflammatory markers in the serum and sputum,as well as enhancing lung ventilation function parameters in patients with phlegm-heat and bloodstasis type AECOPD.These findings suggest that acetylcysteine could serve as a valuable adjuvant therapy for individuals with this specific type of AECOPD,offering benefits for managing microinflammation and optimizing lung function.展开更多
基金This study was funded by the China National Key Basic Research Project through The Ministry of Science and Technology(No.2009CB522704).
文摘Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of oral administration of the traditional Chinese herb rhubarb to treat acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD).Method:This was a multicenter randomized double-blinded placebo controlled study that took place in 7 provinces of China that enrolled 244 patients(aged 18e80 years)who had acute exacerbation of COPD with the traditional Chinese syndrome pattern of phlegm-heat obstructing lung.Participants were divided into experimental and control groups.The experimental group received 4.5 g of rhubarb granules twice daily and the control group received placebo granules.Both groups also received conventional Western therapy consisting of oxygen therapy,an antibiotic,expectorant,and a bronchodilator.Treatment lasted 10 days.Symptom scores for cough,sputum volume and color,wheezing and chest tightness before treatment and on days 3,5,7,and 10 during the treatment were recorded.Lung function,arterial blood gas and levels of serum inflammatory factors,interleukin-4(IL-4),interleukin-8(IL-8),and interleukin-10(IL-10)and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-a),before and after treatment were measured.Results:The sample size of the full analysis set(FAS)was 244 participants,and the sample size of per protocol set(PPS)was 235.Following 10 days’treatment,symptom scores of the experimental group were markedly lower than those of the placebo group(FAS:mean difference1.67,95%CI:e2.66 to0.69,P Z 0.001;PPS:mean difference1.55,95%CI:2.56 to0.54,P Z 0.003).Lung function in the experimental group was significantly higher than in the placebo group(FEV1,FAS:mean difference 0.12,95%CI:0.06 to 0.18;P<0.001;PPS:mean difference 0.12,95%CI 0.05 to 0.18;P<0.001.FVC:FAS:mean difference 0.16,95%CI:0.06 to 0.26;P Z 0.002;PPS:mean difference 0.16,95%CI 0.05 to 0.26;P Z 0.003.FEV1%,FAS:mean difference 5.95,95%CI:3.36 to 8.53;P<0.001;PPS:mean difference 5.92,95%CI 3.28 to 8.56;P<0.001.).PaO2,PaCO2,as well as serum inflammatory factors were also improved when compared to the placebo group.There were no significant differences in the incidence rate of adverse reaction between the two groups.Conclusions:Compared with placebo,rhubarb granules significantly reduced symptom scores,improved blood oxygen level,controlled systemic inflammatory response,without significant adverse effects.Thus,rhubarb may be a beneficial adjuvant method for treating the phlegm-heat obstructing the lung syndrome pattern of AECOPD.
文摘Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS) is a widespread disorder, characterized by recurrent upper airway obstruction during sleep, mostly as a result of complete or partial pharyngeal obstruction. Due to the occurrence of frequent and regular hypoxic events, patients with OSAS are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, metabolic disorders, occupational errors, motor vehicle accidents and even death. Thus, OSAS has severe consequences and represents a significant economic burden. However, some of the consequences, as well as their costs can be reduced with appropriate detection and treatment. In this context, the recent advances that were made in stem cell biology knowledge and stem cell- based technologies hold a great promise for various medical conditions, including respiratory diseases. However, the investigation of the role of stem cells in OSAS is still recent and rather limited, requiring further studies, both in animal models and humans. The goal of this review is to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding both lung resident as well as circulating stem/progenitor cells and discuss existing controversies in the field in order to identify future research directions for clinical applications in OSAS. Also, the paper highlights the requisite for inter-institutional, multi-disciplinary research collaborations in order to achieve breakthrough results in the field.
文摘BACKGROUND Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD)is a serious complication of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,often characterized by increased morbidity and mortality.In traditional Chinese medicine,AECOPD is linked to phlegm-heat and blood-stasis,presenting symptoms like thick sputum,fever,and chest pain.It has been shown that acetylcysteine inhalation in conjunction with conventional therapy significantly reduced inflammatory markers and improved lung function parameters in patients with AECOPD,suggesting that acetylcysteine may be an important adjunctive therapy for patients with phlegm-heat-blood stasis type AECOPD.AIM To investigate the effect of acetylcysteine on microinflammation and lung ventilation in patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis-type AECOPD.METHODS One hundred patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis-type AECOPD were randomly assigned to two groups.The treatment group received acetylcysteine inhalation(10%solution,5 mL,twice daily)along with conventional therapy,whereas the control group received only conventional therapy.The treatment duration was 14 d.Inflammatory markers(C-reactive protein,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-alpha)in the serum and sputum as well as lung function parameters(forced expiratory volume in one second,forced vital capacity,and peak expiratory flow)were assessed pre-and post-treatment.Acetylcysteine inhalation led to significant reductions in inflammatory markers and improvements in lung function parameters compared to those in the control group(P<0.05).This suggests that acetylcysteine could serve as an effective adjunct therapy for patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis-type AECOPD.RESULTS Acetylcysteine inhalation significantly reduced inflammatory markers in the serum and sputum and improved lung ventilation function parameters in patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis type AECOPD compared with the control group.These differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).The study concluded that acetylcysteine inhalation had a positive effect on microinflammation and lung ventilation function in patients with this type of AECOPD,suggesting its potential as an adjuvant therapy for such cases.CONCLUSION Acetylcysteine inhalation demonstrated significant improvements in reducing inflammatory markers in the serum and sputum,as well as enhancing lung ventilation function parameters in patients with phlegm-heat and bloodstasis type AECOPD.These findings suggest that acetylcysteine could serve as a valuable adjuvant therapy for individuals with this specific type of AECOPD,offering benefits for managing microinflammation and optimizing lung function.
