Effect of Huqian Wan on liver-Yin and kidney-Yin deficiency patterns in patients with knee osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE: To observe the curative effect of Huqian Wan on liver and kidney-Yin deficiency knee osteoarthritis(KOA).METHODS: One hundred patients were randomly divided into a treatment(50 patients) and control group(50 patients). In the treatment group, patients orally took the Chinese medicine Huqian Wan. Control group patients orally took Votalin, 75 mg, once a day, for 8 weeks. The visual analog scale(VAS), Western Ontario and Mc Master University Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC), and Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36-Item Health Survey(SF36) were used to evaluate the curative effect before treatment and after 8 and 16 weeks of treatment.RESULTS: VAS and WOMAC scores significantly decreased and SF 36 scores significantly increased after treatment in both groups compared with before treatment(P < 0.05). There were significant differences in VAS, WOMAC, and SF 36 score changes between the two groups at week 16(P < 0.05).There was a significant increase in VAS and WOMAC scores in the control groups(P < 0.05) between weeks 8 and 16, but no significant difference was found in the treatment group(P > 0.05).CONCLUSION: Huqian Wan could effectively improve the clinical symptoms and quality of life in patients with KOA. It could also have a better and longer lasting curative effect without obvious adverse events compared with Votalin.

The Clinical Experience of Prof. Zhang Xiaofeng in the Treatment of Small Follicular, Ovulatory Infertility with Traditional Chinese Medicine

With the popularization of clinical ultrasound technology,small follicular ovulation infertility is gradually being recognized in clinical practice.Low follicle ovulation refers to the phenomenon that the average value of the three diameter lines of the dominant follicle is less than 14mm-18mm under continuous ultrasound monitoring.The dominant follicle ovulates before it develops to maturity,which is a kind of ovulation disorder and one of the leading causes of unexplained infertility[1],accounting for 25%-30%of the total number of patients with infertility[2].At present,Western medicine mostly uses ovulation,stimulating drugs to treat this disease.Still,due to the clinical result of“high ovulation but low pregnancy”,there are certain obstacles in treatment.The purpose of this article is to discuss Zhang Xiaofeng’s understanding of TCM of this disease.The tutor believes that the location of the disease is in the kidney,and the mechanism of the disease is kidney yin deficiency and blood heat.The treatment principle is sequential therapy,nourishing yin and clearing heat,taking into account the protection of the spleen and stomach,and the therapeutic effect is perfect.

Liuwei Dihuang Pill(六味地黄丸)Treats Postmenopausal Osteoporosis with Shen(Kidney) Yin Deficiency via Janus Kinase/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription Signal Pathway by Up-regulating Cardiotrophin-Like Cytokine Factor 1 Expression

Objectives： To investigate the mechanism of Liuwei Dihuang Pill （六味地黄丸, LDP） in treating postmenopausal osteoporosis （PMOP） with Shen （Kidney） yin deficiency. Methods： In this study, 205 cases of PMOP were divided into the PMOP Shen-yin deficiency group （Group A）, PMOP Shen-yang deficiency group （Group B）, PMOP without Shen deficiency group （Group C）, and control group （Group N）. Real-time polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） and Western blot techniques were used to observe the effects of LDP treatment on the cardiotrophin-like cytokine factor 1 （CLCF1）, ankyrin repeat and SOCS box containing 1 （ASB1）, and proldneticin 2 （PROK2） genes and the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription （JAK/STAT） signaling pathway. Results： The mRNA （P〈0.05） and protein （P〈0.01） expression levels of the CLCF1 gone in Group A were significantly lower than the corresponding levels in Group N. After LDP treatment for 3 months, the mRNA expression levels of the CLCF1 gone were obviously up-regulated （P〈0.01）. After 6-month treatment, the expression levels of CLCF1 mRNA and protein were significantly up-regulated （both P〈0.01）, and the average bone density of the top femur had significantly increased （P〈0.05）. In vitro, CLCF1 overexpression resulted in a significant increase in the total protein and phosphorylated protein levels of JAK2 and STAT3. Conclusions： The CLCF1 gone is an important gone associated with PMOP Shen-yin deficiency and the therapeutic effects of LDP may be mediated by up-regulation of CLCF1 gone expression and activation of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway.

Treatment of Immunological Infertility with Chinese Medicinal Herbs of Ziyin Jianghuo（滋阴降火）

According to the microcosmic Syndrome Differentiation, immunological infertility is recog-nised as Kidney Yin Deficiency-Hyperactivity of Fire Syndrome. Zhibai Dihuang Pills(知柏地黄丸) , a recipeof Chinese medicinal herbs which plays a nourishing Yin to rernove Fire action, was used to treat the infertilecouples with antisperm and/or antizona pellucida antibodies in their blood serum. It was found that after thetreatment, the antibodies were converted to negativeness in 81.3 % of 32 immunological intertile couples. All8 cases of successful pregnancy occurred in 1-9 months after negative conversion of the antibodies and thenegative status was maintained throughout the course of pregnancy.

Protective effect of Yiguanjian decoction against DNA damage on concanavalin A-induced liver injury mice model

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the inhibitory effect of Yiguanjian decoction(YD) on DNA damage in Concanavalin A(Con A)-induced liver injury mice model and to explain the possible mechanism.METHODS:Totally 120 male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 6 groups,20 mice each:normal group,model group,Bifendate group,YD low dose group,YD middle dose group and YD high dose group.Except normal group,liver injury model induced by Con A was established.While modeling,each mouse in YD group was given YD(0.4 m L/20 g per day) by intragastric administration(0.13 g YD for YD low dose group;0.26 g for YD middle dose group;0.52 g for YD high dose group).Bifendate group was given Bifendate(0.2 gnd model·kg-1 grou·d-1) by gavage.Normal group ap were fed with same volume of physiological saline daily.After 8 weeks,the serum alanine transaminase(ALT)and aspartate transaminase(AST) were tested.The hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to evaluate the grade of liver inflammation and liver fibrosis stage.Hepatocellular DNA damage was detected by single cell gel electrophoresis technology.The protein expression of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),Bax and Mut T Homolog 1(MTH1) was detected by western blotting and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.Bax m RNA and MTH1 m RNA were detected by Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR).RESULTS:YD can improve the degree of liver inflammation and fibrosis in the liver of chronic hepatitis mice,the dose effect relationship is remarkable(P < 0.05).YD can reduce liver cell DNA damage.The difference between YD middle dose group and model group was statistically significant(P < 0.05).YD middle dose group had decreased the protein expression of TNF-α in the mice liver of immunological liver injury(P < 0.05).YD can increase the protein expression of Bax(P < 0.05).Compared with normal group,the protein expression of MTH1 was decreased(P < 0.05),but there was no statistical significance between YD group and model group(P >0.05).YD can increase the m RNA expression of Bax and MTH1(both P < 0.05).CONCLUSION:YD can effectively inhibit the DNA damage in immunological liver injury mice,the mechanism may be that it can decrease the TNF-αand increase the Bax and MTH1 expression.

Study on Molecular Mechanism of Liver Yang Ascending Syndrome in Hypertension

Objective: To investigate the molecular mechanism of Liver Yang Ascending Syndrome (LYAS) in hypertension. Methods: The plasma norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E) contents in patients with LYAS or Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency Syndrome (LKYDS) of hypertension and normal controls were determined by high performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detector (HPLC-ECD). The polymorphism of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene in the three groups were analysed by Southern Blot assay. The polymorphism of TH and monoamine oxidation A(MAO-A), monoamine oxidation B(MAO-B) gene microsatellite in these groups were analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-SSCP. At the same time, the LYAS model was established by administering Aconitum preparation (AP) to spontaneous hypertension rats (SHR). The adrenal gland medulla of the experimental animal was examined for their TH expression at the protein level after ABC immuno-histochemical staining with the TH monoclonal antibody (McAb). The adrenal TH gene mRNA expression was demonstrated by in situ hybridization with the synthetized TH oligonucleic acid probe. The results of immuno-histochemistry and in situ hybridization were analyzed with the image analysis system (IAS). Results: The plasma NE and E contents in patients with LYAS were more obviously increased than those in LKYDS and normal controls. The TH gene amplified and the type A1 TH microsatellite D11S4046 was markedly higher in the LYAS group than those in the other groups. The TH mRNA protein expression in the adrenal tissue of the AP induced LYAS model in SHR elevated. Conclusion: The LYAS of hypertension has the characters as amplified TH gene and increased TH mRNA and protein expression, which suggested that the overexpression of TH is probably the mechanism of LYAS in hypertension.

Comparative research between acupuncture and Climen in treatment of menopausal hot flashes:A randomized controlled trial

Objective:To compare the therapeutic effect on menopausal hot flashes between acupuncture and Climen so as to provide a new approach to the treatment of this disease.Methods:A total of 80 cases in line with inclusion criteria were randomized into a treatment group(treated with acupuncture) and a control group(oral administration with climen),40 cases in each one.The treatment for 1 month was as 1 course and lasted consecutively for 2 courses.Before and after treatment,the contents of serum estrogen(estradiol,E_(2)) and 5-hydroxytryptamine(HT) and the scores of the attack frequency and severity scale of hot flashes and sweating,domestic modified Kupperman scale and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) symptom scale were observed,and the clinical therapeutic effect was evaluated in the two groups separately.Results:Before treatment,there was no difference in the content of E_(2) and 5-HT,the score of hot flashes and sweating,Kupperman score and TCM symptom score in the patients between two groups,indicating the comparability(all P>0.05).Compared with the data before treatment,the contents of serum E_(2)(treatment group vs control group:22.24±11.02 vs 33.12±1.01;22.11±10.19 vs 25.29±2.23) and5-HT(treatment group vs control group:96.12±8.21 vs 131.21±30.21;96.98±7.99 vs 108.29±22.08),the score of hot flashes and sweating(treatment group vs control group:8.24±1.02 vs 3.12±1.01;8.11±1.19 vs 5.29±2.23),Kupperman score(treatment group vs control group:26.12±2.21 vs11.21±0.21;26.98±1.99 vs 18.29±2.08) and TCM symptom score(treatment group vs control group:18.97±3.87 vs 10.12±0.16;19.01±2.29 vs 15.61±2.89) were statistically different after treatment in the two groups(all P<0.05).After treatment,the contents of serum E_(2) and 5-HT,the score of hot flashes and sweating,Kupperman score and TCM symptom score in the treatment group were all different statistically compared with the control group(all P<0.05).There was statistical difference in clinical therapeutic effect in the patients between two group,in which,the therapeutic effect in the treatment group was better than that in the control group(90% vs 77.5%,P<0.05).Conclusion:Acupuncture effectively reduces Kupperman score and TCM symptom score in the patients and its therapeutic effect is better than climen.Regarding relieving hot flashes symptoms in menopausal patients of kidney yin deficiency and improving in attack frequency and severity of hot flashes and sweating,the effects of acupuncture are superior to Climen.Acupuncture obviously increases the contents of serum E_(2) and 5-HT.