Classic mechanisms and experimental models for the anti-inflammatory effect of traditional Chinese medicine

Inflammation is a common disease involved in the pathogenesis,complications,and sequelae of a large number of related diseases,and therefore considerable research has been directed toward developing anti-inflammatory drugs for the prevention and treatment of these diseases.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has been used to treat inflammatory and related diseases since ancient times.According to the re-view of abundant modern scientific researches,it is suggested that TCM exhibit anti-inflammatory effects at different levels,and via multiple pathways with various targets,and recently a series of in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory models have been developed for anti-inflammation research in TCM.Currently,the reported classic mechanisms of TCM and experimental models of its anti-inflammatory effects pro-vide reference points and guidance for further research and development of TCM.Importantly,the research clearly confirms that TCM is now and will continue to be an effective form of treatment for many types of inflammation and inflammation-related diseases.

Efficacy of S-1 vs capecitabine for the treatment of gastric cancer: A meta-analysis

AIM: To rationally evaluate the effect of S-1 vs capecitabine for the treatment of gastric cancer.METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, Google Scholar, and China Journal Full Text Database were accessed to collect clinical randomized controlled trials regarding the effect of S-1 vs capecitabine for the treatment of gastric cancer patients.Statistical analysis was performed by metaanalysis.Four randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria.RESULTS: Compared with capecitabine regimens, the 1-year survival rate in gastric cancer patients was 0.80(95%CI: 0.52-1.21, P = 0.29).The overall response rate of S-1 vs capecitabine was 0.94(95%CI: 0.59-1.51, P = 0.93).Compared with capecitabine regimens, the most frequent hematologic toxicities were neutropenia( O R = 0.9 9, 9 5 % C I : 0.6 5- 1.4 9, P = 0.9 4) a n d thrombocytopenia(OR = 0.72, 95%CI: 0.31-1.67, P = 0.44).The most frequent non-hematologic toxicities included nausea(OR = 0.85, 95%CI: 0.56-1.28, P = 0.43) and hand-foot syndrome(OR = 0.16, 95%CI: 0.10-0.27, P < 0.00001).CONCLUSION: The existing studies suggest that S-1 is not more effective than capecitabine in the treatment of gastric cancer patients, but does exhibit less toxicity with regard to hand-foot syndrome.

Clinical observation of kidney tonifying and collateral tonifying acupuncture combined with thermosensitive moxibustion in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis and its effect on TRACP and CTX-I

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of kidney-tonifying and colllateral-tonifying acupuncture combined with thermosensitive moxibustion in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis and cold congealing syndrome and the effect on Tartrate-resistant Acid Phosphatase(TRACP)andⅠcollagen C-terminal foreign body peptide(CTX-I).Methods:Totally 90 patients with knee osteoarthritis were divided into three groups:acupuncture group,thermosensitive moxibustion group and routine group with 30 cases in each group.In the conventional group,sodium hyaluronate was injected into the joint cavity and diclofenac sustained release tablets were taken orally.Thermosensitive moxibustion group was given thermosensitive moxibustion on the basis of conventional treatment.Acupuncture and moxibustion group in the heat sensitive moxibustion group treatment was given kidney tonifying acupuncture.VAS score,JKOM score and Ly-Sholm knee score were observed before and after treatment and followed up for 2 weeks.The levels of TRACP and CTX-I in serum before and after treatment.Results:Before treatment,there were statistically significant differences in VAS score,JKOM score and Ly-Sholm knee score among all groups(P>0.05).After treatment,the VAS score and JKOM score decreased,and the decrease degree was the greatest in the acupuncture group(P<0.05).Ly-Sholm knee score increased,and the change degree was the greatest in acupuncture group(P<0.05).Before treatment,the levels of TRACP and CTX-I in serum of all groups were significantly different(P>0.05).After treatment,serum TRACP and CTX-I levels were decreased,and the decrease degree was the greatest in acupuncture group(P<0.05).The total effective rates of the acupuncture group,the thermal sensitive moxibustion group and the conventional group were 96.7%,80%and 66.7%,respectively,and the difference between each group was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion:Kidney-tonifying and collature-tonifying acupuncture combined with thermosensitive moxibustion can significantly relieve knee pain and other symptoms of knee osteoarthritis in patients and cold congealing syndrome,which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Diagnosis and therapy of lacrimal system diseases by micro lacrimal endoscope

The lacrimal endoscope is applied to the diagnosis and therapy of the disorders of the lacrimal system in combination with laser or micro drills under orthophoria.The changes of mucous membranes,the characteristics of pathological changes and the predilection sites of lacrimal system diseases were initially approached.One hundred and forty six pairs of eyes of 128 patients with lacrimal system disease were observed by the lacrimal endoscope in the Ophthalmology Department of Tongji Hospital from June 2006 to March 2007.The dynamic changes in mucous membranes,lesion sites,secreted substances and formation of membrane could be observed under orthophoria.Combined with laser or micro drill,the endoscope was applied to the therapy of lacrimal system disorders and the difference before and after the treatment was observed.Results are as follows:(1)The examination and therapy using the lacrimal endoscope were completed under topical anesthesia in 122 patients,and 6 patients of neonatorum dacryocystitis were examined and treated under general anaesthesia.All patients reported painless.(2)Sharp images of the lacrimal system were obtained by the endoscope.Normal lacrimal mucosal membrane was smooth and light pink,expanded and unobstructed during irrigation.In chronic dacryocystitis patients,the inhomo-geneous colour of mucosal membranes was red and white,with different degrees offibrotic membranes at the superior,middle and inferior parts of the nasolacrimal canals and secreted substances at sac could be observed.The lacrimal ducts could not be expanded and obstructed during irrigation.The patients with lacrimal system obstruction had different extents of membrane formation,and stenosis or complete obstruction of the lacrimal duct could be observed,and the corresponding mucosal membrane was not smooth which could not be expanded and obstructed during irrigation.(3)After the treatment by the endoscope combined with laser or micro drill,the major proliferation of the membrane disappeared and the lacrimal duct was unobstructed during irrigation.The cure rate and effective rate were 80.1%and 93.1%,respectively.The lacrimal endoscope is a new method in the diagnosis of lacrimal system diseases.Through a combination with laser or micro drill to carry out the therapy under orthophoria,it will bring a great change to the diagnosis and therapy of lacrimal system diseases.