ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of Zhuanyaotang Granules for the treatment of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis(DLSS).Methods Using a randomized double blind controlled design,104 DLSS patients were divided into an experimental group and a control group using a random number table method,with 52 patients in each group.The treatment group took oral Zhuanyaotang Granules,methylcobalamin tablets and celecoxib capsule simulants.The control group used Zhuanyaotang Granules simulants,methylcobalamin tablets and celecoxib capsules.The course of treatment was 3 weeks for both groups.The follow-ups were conducted at 1 month and 3 months after treatment.The intermittent claudication distance,visual analogue scale(VAS)score and JOA efficacy rating criteria for low back pain score were observed in both groups before treatment,1,2,3 weeks of treatment and 1 month after treatment and 3 months after treatment.Adverse reactions during treatment were recorded.Results There were 5 cases of detachment and 2 cases of exclusion in the experimental group,and 5 cases of detachment and 1 case of exclusion in the control group.Compared with before treatment,there were statistically significant differences in intermittent claudication distance,VAS score,and JOA score between the two groups of patients at various time points during treatment and follow-up(P<0.05);there was no statistically significant difference in intermittent claudication distance,VAS score,and JOA score between the experimental group and the control group before treatment and 1 and 2 weeks of treatment(P>0.05);compared with the two groups at 3 weeks of treatment and 1 and 3 months after treatment,the intermittent claudication distance and JOA score in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05);There was no significant difference in VAS score between the two groups and the control group after 3 weeks of treatment(P>0.05).There were 2 adverse reactions(4.4%)in the experimental group and 5 adverse reactions(10.8%)in the control group,without statistical significance(P>0.05).Conclusion Zhuanyaotang Granules can effectively relieve pain and improve lumbar function in patients with DLSS,which is more effective and safer than oral celecoxib capsules and methylcobalamin tablets.
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ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Zhuangyao Tongluo Formula（壮腰通络方，ZTF） in delaying intervertebral disc degeneration. MethodsM1 macrophages were induced from THP-1 cells using LPS， IFN-γ and PMA. The induced M1 macrophages were then co-cultured with nucleus pulposus cells in a transwell system. Fetal bovine serum was used as the control serum， and the effects of different concentrations （5%， 10%， 15%， 20%） of serum from rats treated with ZTF on the activity of M1 macrophages and nucleus pulposus cells were analyzed using MTT assay. Experiment 1 was established， including the nucleus pulposus cell control group， M1 macrophage control group， nucleus pulposus cell + ZTF group， nucleus pulposus cell + TNF control group， nucleus pulposus cell + TNF + ZTF group， co-culture group， and co-culture + ZTF group. The levels of IL-1β， and IL-18 in the culture supernatant were detected using ELISA. The mRNA expression of IL-1β and IL-18 in nucleus pulposus cells was detected using qPCR. Additionally， the expression of GSDMD protein in nucleus pulposus cells was detected using cell immunofluorescence. In experiment 2， co-culture groups were constructed using TNF-α overexpression （OE） or empty vector （EV） plasmids， including co-culture group， TNF-EV + co-culture group， TNF-EV co-culture group + ZTF， co-culture + ZTF group， TNF-OE co-culture group + ZTF， and TNF-OE + co-culture group. The mRNA and protein expression of TNF-α in M1 cells in each group were detected using qPCR and WB. ResultsThe ZTF with 10% serum was selected for subsequent experiments. The results of experiment 1 showed that compared to the control group of nucleus pulposus cells， there was no statistically significant difference in the levels of IL-1β， IL-18， mRNA， and GSDMD expression in the nucleus pulposus cells + ZTF group （P＞0.05）. However， the TNF-α + co-culture group showed a significant increase in IL-1β， IL-18 levels， mRNA， and GSDMD expression （P＜0.01）. When compared to the co-culture group， the ZTF+ co-culture group showed a significant decrease in IL-1β， IL-18 levels， mRNA， and GSDMD expression （P＜0.01）. The results of experiment 2 showed that there was no statistically significant difference in TNF-α mRNA and protein expression between the empty vector plasmids + co-culture group and the co-culture group （P＞0.05）. Compared to the empty vector + co-culture group， the expression of TNF-α mRNA and protein was significantly reduced in the empty vector co-culture + ZTF group （P＜0.01）. Compared to the co-culture group and the empty vector + co-culture group， the expression of TNF-α mRNA and protein was significantly reduced in the co-culture + ZTF group （P＜0.01）. Compared to the co-culture + ZTF group， the expression of TNF-α mRNA and protein significantly increased in the overexpression vector co-culture + ZTF group （P＜0.01）. Compared to the overexpression vector co-culture + ZTF group， the expression of TNF-α mRNA and protein significantly increased in the overexpression vector co-culture group （P＜0.01）. ConclusionZTF serum can inhibit the TNF-α-induced apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells and delay lumbar disc degeneration by reducing the expression of TNF-α in M1 macrophages.
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This study was aimed to analyze the therapeutic effect of Shu-lung post with different stimula-tion intensities on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), in order to determine the best stimulus intensity. A multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial was designed to take COPD patients at stable stage as study sub-jects. Patients were randomly divided into two groups, which were the foaming group and non-foaming group. The application was given 10 days before the summer dog days, on the 1st, 10th and 20th day within the dog days, and 10 days after the dog days. The results showed that a total of 164 cases were enrolled in the study, with 18 drop-out cases, and 146 cases fitted in the program. There was statistical difference on acute exacerbation frequency after treatment between the foaming group and non-foaming group (P < 0.05). There were statistical differences on clinical symptoms and signs of total score (P< 0.01) during the 8-month follow-up. It was concluded that Shu-lung post with different stimulation intensities were positively correlation with clinical efficacy.
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This study was aimed to analyze effects on quality of life (QOL) for stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by Shu-Fei Paste (SFP) with different sticking time, in order to determine the optimal sticking time. A multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial was designed. A total of 164 stable COPD cases were randomly divided into Group A and Group B. There were 82 cases in Group A (sticking time for 6-8 h), and 82 cases in Group B (sticking time for 8-12 h). The paste was given 10 days before the summer “dog days”, on the 1st, 10th, and 20th day during the summer “dog days”, and 10 days after the summer “dog days”. At the end of the study, 18 cases were fallen off or removed. The 146 cases (71 cases in Group A and 75 cases in Group B), which met the require-ments of the study, were analyzed. The results showed that both groups can improve QOL in patients with stable COPD after treatment. However, there were no statistical differences. There were no statistical differences between the sticking time for 6-8 h and sticking time for 8-12 h. However, the sticking time for 6-8 h with low incidence of severe bullous and better safety. Therefore, the best choice of sticking time was 6-8 h. It was concluded that there was no statistical differences on the treatment between the sticking time for 6-8 h and 8-12 h. However, the sticking time for 8-12 h had high rate of severe bullous and low safety. The best sticking time of SFP was 6-8 h.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the changes of geometry and function of left ventricle (LV) and left atrium(LA) in hypertensive male patients with concentric remodeling.Methods Consecutive male patients were divided into two groups: normal control group(NC group,n=146) and concentric remodeling group(CR group,n=274).The whole patients were checked with echocardiogram.Echocardiographic parameters included: thickness of interventricular septum(IVST) and LV posterior wall(PWT),LV end-diastolic diameter(LVIDd),media-lateral diameter(LVID),LV length(LVL),LA anterior-posterior diameter,media-lateral diameter,superior-inferior diameter,LA area,LV end-diastolic volume,end-systolic volume,stoke volume,ejection fraction(EF),early diastolic peak velocity (E) and atrial contraction peak velocity(A) of the mitral valve flow.LV mean diameter(LVMD) and E/A were calculated.Student t test was used to compare the variables between the two groups.Results IVST,PWT,IVST/LVPWT ratio,LA diameters and LA area in CR group were larger than those in NC group.LVIDd was shorter and LVID was larger in CR group than in NC group.LVL in CR group was larger than that in NC group.LVMD/LVL ratio was smaller than that in NC group.There was no significant difference in LVEF between two groups while E/A ratio in CR group was smaller than that in NC group.Conclusions The concentric remodeling in hypertensive patients makes the LV a thin,long but thick-walled cavity.The LV diastolic function is impaired in CR group but the systolic function reserves well.