Efficacy of Modified Huanglian Wendantang and Shaofu Zhuyutang Against Ovulation Disorder in Combined Phlegm and Stasis-Induced Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of modified Huanglian Wendantang and Shaofu Zhuyutang in the treatment of ovulation disorder in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome （PCOS） due to the combined phlegm and stasis-induced and its influence on chronic inflammation. Method:According to the random number table， 100 patients were divided into a control group （50 cases） and an observation group （50 cases）. Apart from lifestyle intervention and oral administration of clomiphene citrate （CC） capsules to induce ovulation， patients in the control group further received Guizhi Fulingwan， 6 g/time， 2 times/day， while those in the observation group were treated with the modified Huanglian Wendantang and Shaofu Zhuyutang， 1 dose/day， for six menstrual cycles. The ovulation， endometrial thickness， proportion of type A endometrium， as well as the pulsatility index （PI） and resistance index （RI） of uterine artery were monitored before and after treatment. The fasting blood glucose （FBG）， fasting insulin （FINS）， luteinizing hormone （LH）， follicle stimulating hormone （FSH）， serum testosterone （T）， estradiol （E₂）， dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate （DHEAS）， tumor necrosis factor-<italic>α</italic> （TNF-<italic>α</italic>）， high-sensitivity C-reactive protein （hs-CRP）， adiponectin （APN）， and interleukin-6 （IL-6） levels before and after treatment were detected， followed by the calculation of homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance （HOMA-IR） value and the evaluation of ovarian volume and combined phlegm and stasis-induced syndrome score. Result:The overall response rate of the observation group was （44/47） 93.62%， which was higher than （36/46） 78.26% of the control group （<italic>χ</italic>²=4.802， <italic>P</italic><0.05）. The ovulation rate in the observation group was （199/264） 75.38%， higher than （173/272） 63.60% in the control group （<italic>χ</italic>²=8.714， <italic>P</italic><0.01）. The clinical pregnancy rate of the observation group was （11/47） 23.40%， higher than （5/46） 10.87% of the control group， but the difference was not statistically significant （<italic>χ</italic>²=2.564， <italic>P</italic>>0.05）. Compared with the control group， the observation group exhibited reduced PI， RI， LH， T， DHEAS， FINS， FPG， HOMA-IR， TNF-<italic>α</italic>， hs-CRP， and IL-6 （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， but elevated E₂， FSH， and APN （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Besides， the bilateral ovarian volume and combined phlegm and stasis-induced syndrome score of the observation group were smaller than those of the control group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， while the endometrial thickness and proportion of type A endometrium were higher （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Conclusion:On the basis of CC treatment， the modified Huanglian Wendantang and Shaofu Zhuyutang alleviates the ovulation disorder in PCOS patients of combined phlegm and stasis-induced syndrome and regulates IR and chronic inflammation， thus creating a favorable condition for clinical pregnancy， which is worthy of further research.

Modified Xiaoyao Erxian Decoction in Treatment of Mood Disorders in Perimenopausal Syndrome / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of modified Xiaoyao Erxian decoction in the treatment of mood disorders among perimenopausal syndrome due to kidney deficiency and liver depression and its effects on monoamine neurotransmitters and brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF）. Method:According to the random number table， 108 patients were divided into a control group （54 cases） and an observation group （54 cases）. Control group were treated with Shugan Jieyu capsule orally， two capsules per time， two times per day， while those in the observation group received the modified Xiaoyao Erxian decoction， one bag per day， for 12 consecutive weeks. Before and after treatment， the Hamilton Anxiety Scale （HAMA）， 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale （HAMD-17）， modified Kupperman Index （KI）， Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index （PSQI）， Menopause-specific Quality of Life （MENQOL） and kidney deficiency and liver depression syndrome scores were calculated. The levels of estradiol （E₂）， follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）， luteinizing hormone （LH）， BDNF， 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT）， norepinephrine （NE）， and dopamine （DA） were detected， followed by safety evaluation. Result:The HAMA， HAMD-17， KI， kidney deficiency and liver depression syndrome， PSQI， and MENQOL scores of the observation group were lower than those of the control group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， whereas the 5-HT， E₂， DA， NE， and BDNF levels in the observation group were higher （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. The clinical efficacy of the observation group was superior to that in the control group （<italic>Z</italic>=2.184， <italic>P</italic><0.05）. No adverse reactions occurred after the oral administration of Chinese medicinal preparations. Conclusion:The modified Xiaoyao Erxian decoction effectively alleviates the mood disorders and other related symptoms of perimenopausal syndrome due to kidney deficiency and liver depression by regulating the monoamine neurotransmitters， BDNF， and E₂， without inducing obvious side effects.

Effect of Method of Regulating Qi to Dissipate Blood Stasis and Phlegm on Cardiac Rehabilitation in Patients with Qi Deficiency and Blood Stasis Type Chronic Heart Failure / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To observe effect of method of regulating Qi to dissipate blood stasis and phlegm on degree of heart failure, ventricular remodeling, disease progression in patients with Qi deficiency and blood stasis type chronic heart failure (CHF).Method: One hundred and thirty-four patients with CHF were randomly divided into control group (62 cases) and observation group (62 cases) by random number table. The patients in control group got spironolactone tablets, 20 mg/time and qd. Benazepril, 20 mg/time and qd. Bisoprolol, 10 mg/time and qd. And digaoxin tablets if necessary. Based on the treatment in control group, patients in observation group additionally received Danshenyin and Xuefu Zhuyutang, 1 dose/day. The treatment course was 3 months in both groups. Before and after treatment, scores of Lee heart failure score were graded, cardiac function classification of the New York Heart Association (NYHA), 6 mins' walking test (6 MWT), scores of Qi deficiency and blood stasis and Minnesota living with heart failure questionnaire (MLHFQ) were evaluated. Echocardiography, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd), left ventricular end-stolic diameter (LVEDs), interventricular septum thickness at end-diastole (IVSd) and left ventricular myocardial mass index (LVMI) were recorded. Levels of matrix metalloprotein-9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloprotease-1 (TIMP-1), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), N-terminal pro-B-type na-triuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), galectin-3 and copeptin were detected.Result: Ridit analysis showed that after treatment, effect on cardiac function in observation group was better than that in control group (PPPPPβ1, NT-proBNP, galectin-3 and copeptin in observation group were lower than those in control group, while level of TIMP-1 was higher than that in control group (PConclusion: Based on the routine western medicine treatment, additional Danshenyin and Xuefu Zhuyutang can ameliorate symptoms of heart failure, relieve degree of heart failure, improve exercise tolerance and quality of life, inhibit ventricular remodeling, improve cardiac rehabilitation and delay progress of the disease for the CHF patients with Qi deficiency and blood stasis.

The Screening of Genes Sensitive to Long-Term, Low-Level Microwave Exposure and Bioinformatic Analysis of Potential Correlations to Learning and Memory / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To gain a better understanding of gene expression changes in the brain following microwave exposure in mice. This study hopes to reveal mechanisms contributing to microwave-induced learning and memory dysfunction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Mice were exposed to whole body 2100 MHz microwaves with specific absorption rates (SARs) of 0.45 W/kg, 1.8 W/kg, and 3.6 W/kg for 1 hour daily for 8 weeks. Differentially expressing genes in the brains were screened using high-density oligonucleotide arrays, with genes showing more significant differences further confirmed by RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The gene chip results demonstrated that 41 genes (0.45 W/kg group), 29 genes (1.8 W/kg group), and 219 genes (3.6 W/kg group) were differentially expressed. GO analysis revealed that these differentially expressed genes were primarily involved in metabolic processes, cellular metabolic processes, regulation of biological processes, macromolecular metabolic processes, biosynthetic processes, cellular protein metabolic processes, transport, developmental processes, cellular component organization, etc. KEGG pathway analysis showed that these genes are mainly involved in pathways related to ribosome, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, long-term potentiation, Huntington's disease, and Neurotrophin signaling. Construction of a protein interaction network identified several important regulatory genes including synbindin (sbdn), Crystallin (CryaB), PPP1CA, Ywhaq, Psap, Psmb1, Pcbp2, etc., which play important roles in the processes of learning and memorye.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Long-term, low-level microwave exposure may inhibit learning and memory by affecting protein and energy metabolic processes and signaling pathways relating to neurological functions or diseases.</p>

A literature review on Chinese medicine syndrome and syndrome elements of chronic fatigue syndrome / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To research the distribution characteristics of Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome and syndrome elements of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) by analyzing literature in recent 20 years.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Relevant literature on treating CFS by syndrome differentiation of CM at home were retrieved by computer and manual ways. Database were established by using EpiData 3.1 to conduct frequency analysis of syndrome and syndrome elements.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The most common clinical syndromes were Xin-Pi deficiency syndrome, Gan stagnation Pi deficiency syndrome, Gan-Shen yin deficiency syndrome, Gan qi stagnation syndrome, and Pi-Wei qi deficiency syndrome. Disease locations were sequenced as Pi, Gan, Shen, and Xin. The clinical pathogenesis of CFS was characterized by deficiency of vital energy, complicated with intermingled excess and deficiency. Asthenia of healthy energy was mainly manifested as qi deficiency, blood deficiency, and yin deficiency, while excess of sthenia was mainly manifested as qi stagnation, phlegm dampness, and static blood.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Research of CM syndrome starting from syndrome elements can better unify and standardize clinical syndrome differentiation. Results of literature analysis can provide reference for further studies.</p>