Stationary Treatment Compared with Individualized Chinese Medicine for Type 2 Diabetes Patients with Microvascular Complications: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial / 中国结合医学杂志

BACKGROUND@#Microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes (T2DM), including diabatic retinopathy (DR), diabetic kidney disease (DKD), diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) are the leading causes of visual loss, end-stage renal disease or amputation, while the current therapies are still unsatisfactory. Chinese medicine (CM) has been widely used for treating diabetic mellitus. However, most of the previous studies focused on the single complication. The role of CM treatment in T2DM patients with 2 or multiple microvascular complications is not clear.@*OBJECTIVE@#To appraise the curative effect of CM in T2DM patients with 2 or multiple microvascular complications, and to compare the effects of stationary treatment and individualized treatment in T2DM patients with microvascular complications.@*METHODS@#This trial will be an 8-center, randomized, controlled study with 8 parallel groups. A total of 432 patients will be randomized to 8 groups: DR study group (32 cases) and a corresponding control group (32 cases), DR+DKD study group (64 cases) and a corresponding control group (64 cases), DR+DPN study group (64 cases) and a corresponding control group (64 cases), DR+DKD+DPN study group (56 cases) and a corresponding control group (56 cases). The control group will receive stationary treatment, and the study group will receive individualized treatment based on CM syndrome differentiation in addition to stationary treatment. The study duration will be 50 weeks, comprising a 2-week run-in period, 24 weeks of intervention, and 24 weeks of follow-up. The outcomes will assess efficacy of treatment, improvement in CM symptoms, safety assessments, adherence to the treatment, and adverse events.@*CONCLUSION@#This study will provide evidence of evidence-based medicine for CM treatment in two or multiple microvascular complications caused by T2DM. (Registration No. ChiCTR-IPR-15007072).

Effect of qiming granule on retinal blood circulation of diabetic retinopathy: a multicenter clinical trial / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To objectively assess the effect of Qiming Granule in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy (DR) by fluorescence fundus angiography (FFA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In a multi-center, randomized, parallel controlled clinical trial, patients with DR were randomly assigned to the control group (calcium dobesilate capsule) and the test group (Qiming Granule). Changes in the retinal blood circulation time were recorded by FFA after 3 months of medication.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Significant reduction was observed in the retinal arterio-venous circulation time (AVCT) in both groups (P<0.01), the value was 7.635+/-3.149 s before treatment and 5.165 +/-3.382 s after treatment in the treated group, and 7.737+/-3.413 s and 5.313+/-3.472 s in the control group respectively. Qiming Granule also reduced the arm-to-retinal circulation time (ARCT, P<0.05). The value was 17.867+/-3.872 s before treatment and 15.643+/-4.648 s after treatment in the treated group, and 17.217+/-3.833 s and 16.312+/-3.613 s in the control group (P>0.05) respectively. The ARCT in the tested group was reduced, with a statistically significant difference post-medication (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>As a Chinese medicine complex prescription, Qiming Granule may alleviate retinal hypoxia and ischemia by increasing retinal blood flow and improving the blood circulation.</p>

Effects of electroacupuncture at different acupoints on FVEP in the rabbit with separated monocular optic nerve / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on the visual system and the mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four rabbits were randomly divided into a "Hegu" (Ll 4) group and a "Taixi" (KI 3) group, 12 rabbits in each group. The rabbit model with separated monocular optic nerve was developed, cutting the link between the retina with the center, but do not injure the blood circulation in the retina. The effect of electroacupuncture on flicker vision evoked potential (FVEP) was investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>When the optic nerve was cut off, the distal fibers of descending regulating the retina were cut off, the FVEP of the operative eye extinguished. Elctroacupuncture at "Hegu" (LI 4) and "Taixi" (KI 3) at various stages have stronger inhibiting action on the latent time and amplitudes of N1, P1, N2 of FVEP, marked by prolongation of the latent time of peak, and obvious decrease of the amplitude. And this inhibiting action has difference of acupoints.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The distal fiber plays a certain role in the process of electroacupuncture influencing flicker electroretinogram (FERG) and FVEP, but the effect of acupuncture on FERG is induced through the distal fibers to influence the retina in a limited extent, but not through the central descending inhibition.</p>