Chunggan extract, a traditional herbal formula, ameliorated alcohol-induced hepatic injury in rat model

AIM: To evaluate protective effects of Chunggan extract(CGX), a traditional herbal formula, under 4 wk of alcohol consumption-induced liver injury. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley Rats were orally administered 30% ethanol daily for 4 wk with or without CGX. The pharmaceutical properties were assessed through liver enzymes, histopathology, fibrogenic cytokines, and alcohol metabolism in hepatic tissues as well as by in vitro experiment using HSC-T6 cells. RESULTS: Four weeks of alcohol consumption notably increased liver enzymes and malondialdehyde levels in serum and hepatic tissue. CGX not only prevented the collagen deposition determined by histopathology and hydroxyproline content, but also normalized transforming growth factor-beta, platelet-derived growth factorbeta and connective tissue growth factor at the gene expression and protein levels in liver tissue. Moreover, CGX treatment also significantly normalized the abnormal changes in gene expression profiles of extracellular matrix proteins, matrix metalloproteinase and their inhibitors, alcohol metabolism, and inflammatory reactions. In the acetaldehyde-stimulated HSC-T6 cells, CGX considerably inhibited collagen production and normalized fibrogenic cytokines in both gene expression and protein levels. CONCLUSION: The present study evidenced that CGX has hepatoprotective properties via modulation of fibrogenic cytokines and alcohol metabolism in alcoholic liver injury.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Acupuncture for Pain Caused by Liver Cancer

Objective:The objective of this study is to systematically review and analyze the efficacy of acupuncture for pain caused by primary liver cancer(PLC).Materials and Methods:We searched databases,including PubMed,Medline,Embase,Cochrane Library,Web of Science,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,Chinese Science and Technology Periodicals Database(VIP),Wanfang,and SinoMed/Chinese Biomedical Database(CBM),and retrieved randomized controlled trials(RCTs)that used acupuncture as the primary intervention to treat pain caused by PLC.Two investigators then screened the articles,extracted and pooled data,and evaluated the risk of bias of the included articles according to the Cochrane Handbook.RevMan5.3 was used for the meta-analysis of eligible RCTs.Results:A total of 145 articles were retrieved;after screening,8 RCTs involving 496 patients were eventually included in this meta-analysis.The results showed that acupuncture effectively improved cancer pain and was superior to Western medicine.Moreover,acupuncture was fast-acting for pain relief,prolonged the relief,and prevented relapse.Its adverse reaction rate was also significantly lower than that of Western medicine.No significant difference was observed in Visual Analog Scale score between acupuncture and Western medicine.Conclusion:Acupuncture relieves pain caused by liver cancer and can be used as an adjunct and alternative therapy for drug treatment.The existing research evidence is not yet objective or comprehensive,and more rigorous clinical trials are needed to validate the results.

Distributions of Sasang constitutions and six syndromes in patients with functional dyspepsia and healthy subjects

OBJECTIVE:To investigated the characteristics of patients with functional dyspepsia(FD)in terms of Sasang constitutional medicine.METHODS:A total of 116 patients with FD were recruited based on diagnosis by gastroscopy and symptomatic measurements.The distributions of Sasang constitutions and six syndromes in terms of TKM theory in the patients was compared with those from 1423 healthy subjects.RESULTS:The distribution of Sasang constitutions for the patients with FD significantly differed from that for healthy subjects,especially among women;36.7%vs 45.6%for Taeumin,28.9%vs 33.9%for Soumin,and 34.4%vs 20.4%for Soyangin.Our results assumed a high prevalence in Soyangin women(around 1.7 folds),and Soumin(45.2%),inparticular,had a high prevalence of"deficiency and coldness of spleen and stomach"compared with Taeumin(14.9%)and Soyangin types(15.7%).CONCLUSION:This study identified a trend for the frequency of FD and the Sasang constitutions.The findings may provide new ideas for the study of prevention and management of FD.

Antioxidant effect of indirect moxibustion on healthy subjects:a pilot study

OBJECTIVE:Moxibustion has long been thought to promote vital energy or immunity through clinical experience.This study aimed to investigate the clinical effects of indirect moxibustion on antioxidant and immunomodulation in a normal population.METHODS:Twenty-five healthy volunteers with no objective or subjective disorders were recruited.The participants were treated with indirect moxibustion on acupoints Guanyuan(CV 4) and Shenque(CV 8) three times per week for 4 weeks.The serum levels of reactive oxygen species(ROS) and malondialdehyde(MDA),the total antioxidant capacity(TAC),the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase(SOD),and the total glutathione content were determined before and after the 12th moxibustion.Lymphocyte subpopulations and 42 cytokines in the peripheral blood were analyzed using flow cytometry and antibody array,respectively.RESULTS:Compared with the initial time point,the serum levels of ROS and MDA were significantly lowered by moxibustion,while TAC was increased(P<0.01 for all).A significant increase was observed in catalase activity(P<0.05),but not in SOD or total glutathione.There were no significant changes in lymphocyte subpopulations or cytokines in the peripheral blood.Fifteen of 25 participants reported at least one symptom in which they felt subjective improvement after moxibustion.CONCLUSION:Indirect moxibustion on acupoints CV 4 and CV 8 improved the antioxidant defense system,which may be a mechanism explaining the clinical effects of moxibustion.

中草药对治疗癌症恶病质动物模型有效性的系统性回顾（英文）

本综述总结利用中草药治疗癌症恶病质的临床前研究及其潜在的机制,是首个针对中草药治疗癌症恶病质动物模型成效进行系统性回顾评价的研究。本文通过检索PubMed、EMBASE、Allied and Complementary Medicine Database以及Web of Science四大代表性的资料库(检索时间至2016年12月),就中草药治疗癌症恶病质的随机对照动物试验进行系统性回顾分析,并采用CAMARADE评分清单进行质量评价。分析结果显示:在十四项中草药及其化合物中,除了姜黄素外其他如黄连、黄连素、病得灵、清暑益气汤、黄芩、补中益气汤、六君子汤、橙皮苷、苍术呋喃烃、十全大补汤、小柴胡汤、知母及黄柏等都已被证实可以通过抗炎、调节神经内分泌途径、调节泛素蛋白酶体系统或蛋白质合成来改善癌症恶病质的症状。因此,利用中草药治疗癌症恶病质是一种有效的方法。然而该结论尚需要有更详细的分子机制和活性化合物的实验研究验证。

Fatigue severity of patients with idiopathic chronic fatigue compared to healthy subjects

OBJECTIVE:To analyze the fatigue severity of patients with idiopathic chronic fatigue(ICF) and to compare the severity of this group with that of healthy subjects.METHODS:one hundred and nine ICF patients and 98 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study.Fatigue severity was measured using the Korean-translated Chalder fatigue severity questionnaire.All subjects scored each item on a 10-point scale as a self-rating numeric scale(NRS),and additionally rated their feeling of general fatigue by visual analogue scale(VAS).RESULTS:The total NRS scores of patients with ICF was 53 ± 15 compared with 25 ± 14 of healthy subjects(2.4 folds for physical symptoms vs.1.7 folds for mental symptoms respectively).The VAS scores of patients with ICF were 2.7 times as high as those of healthy subjects.CONCLUSION:This report is the first to compare the severity of fatigue between ICF patients and healthy subjects.This study contains reference data applicable for the management of this disorder in field of complementary and alternative medicine.

Treatment with Modified Bazhen Decoction(八珍汤)for A Patient with Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia: A Case Report of A Ten-Month Period

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia（AIHA）is uncommon but prospective fatal condition with an incidence rate of 1-3 per 100,000 persons.;（1,2）]AIHA is characterized by autoantibodies with specificity against red blood cell（RBC）antigens leading to an increased removal of red cells from blood circulation.;（1,3）]AIHA responds well to steroids,but most patients remain steroid-dependent,and many cases require secondline treatment.Currently,splenectomy can be regarded as the most effective and best-evaluated second-line therapy,but there are still only limited data on longterm efficacy and adverse effects.The monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody rituximab,another second-line

Cancer incidence varies significantly depending on Sasang constitution of Traditional Korean Medicine

OBJECTIVE: Sasang constitutional medicine is a component of Traditional Korean Medicine that stresses the hereditary makeup of disease incidences or therapeutic responses. This study investigated the relationship between the incidence of cancer and Sasang constitution classification. METHODS: Five hundred and one cancer patients were classified as having one of the four types of Sasang constitutions (Taeumin, Soumin, Soyangin, Taeyangin) using Questionnaire for Sasang Constitution Classification II, then compared with data from 1423 healthy subjects. RESULTS: The Sasang constitutional distribution for the cancer patients was significantly differentfrom that for healthy subjects: 22.8% vs 46.9% for Taeumin, 35.5% vs 24.0% for Soumin, and 41.7% vs 29.1% for Soyangin. Our results assumed that the lowest cancer incidence would be in Taeumin (around 2-fold in both sex) while the highest cancer incidence in Soumin males (2.8-fold) and Soyangin females (2.1-fold). CONCLUSION: This study identified a trend involving the frequency of cancer and the Sasang constitutional classification. We hope that this finding will provide new ideas for the study of cancer incidence and its preventive management.