Clinical study of Qianggu granule and diacerein capsule in treating knee osteoarthritis / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the therapeutic efficacy of Qianggu Granule (QGG), Diacerein Capsule (DC), and QGG + DC in treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA, belonging to Gan-Shen insufficiency induced vein stasis syndrome), and to explore the clinical advantages of QGG + DC.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety patients in line with the diagnosis standard were randomly assigned to three groups, i. e., the QGG group (30 case, treated by QGG), the Western medicine treatment group (30 case, treated by DC), and the combination therapy group (30 case, treated by QGG +DC). Then the patients' symptoms and signs were scored. Meanwhile, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), comprehensive efficacy, and adverse reactions, etc. were assessed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The ache could be obviously alleviated, the patients' joint function could be improved, and their quality of daily activities could be elevated in all the 3 groups. There was statistical difference in the symptoms and signs scores, CRP, ESR, and TNF-alpha before and after treatment (P < 0.05). Better effects were obtained in the combination therapy group (P < 0.05). As for the comprehensive efficacy, it was better in the QGG + DC group than in the QGG group and the DC group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The comprehensive therapeutic efficacy of applying QGG + DC in treating KOA (belonging to Gan-Shen insufficiency induced vein stasis syndrome) was superior to using QGG or DC alone. Besides, no obvious adverse reaction occurred.</p>

Clinical study of Biqi Capsule combined with methotrexate for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the clinical effects of Biqi Capsule (BQC) combined with methotrexate (MTX) for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to study an effective protocol of RA treated by integrative medicine.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and thirty-eight patients with RA were randomly assigned to Group I (44 cases, treated by BQC), Group II (46 cases, treated by MTX), and Group III (48 cases, treated by BQC combined with MTX). The therapeutic course for each group was 12 weeks. The degree of joint pain, the tender joint number, the tender joint index, the swollen joint number, the swollen joint index, the two-hand grip, the morning stiffness time, and related laboratory indices were observed in each group before and after treatment. The adverse reactions were recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with before treatment, there was statistical difference in the degree of joint pain, the tender joint number, the tender joint index, the swollen joint number, the swollen joint index, the two-hand grip, the morning stiffness time, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and rheumatoid factor (RF) in the 3 groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Besides, better results were obtained in Group III (P < 0.01). As for the inter-group therapeutic efficacy, better results were obtained in Group III (P < 0.01). The gastrointestinal discomfort was the only adverse reaction in the 3 groups. No treatment was given due to its milder symptoms without any effects on the treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>BQC showed favorable effects on treating RA with no obvious adverse reaction. BQC combined with MTX showed better clinical efficacy than use of BQC or MTX alone. It could reduce the adverse reactions of MTX. BQC combined with MTX could reduce the toxic reactions and enhance the therapeutic effects, indicating it was an effective treatment program for RA.</p>

Therapeutic effect of total glucosides of paeony on lupus nephritis in MRL/lpr mice / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the therapeutic effect of total glucosides of paeony (TGP) on lupus nephritis (LN) in MRL/lpr mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>MRL/lpr mice with lupus nephritis were randomized into model group and TGP group. The urinary protein content was detected using Coomassie brilliant blue, and the serum levels of IgG anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibodies and antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The changes in the renal pathology were examined microscopically, and the spleen and thymus were weighed to calculate the spleen and thymus indexes.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At 15 and 30 days after TGP administration, the urinary protein content in the TGP group was significantly lower than that in the model group (P<0.05). TGP treatment significantly lowered the serum levels of anti-dsDNA antibodies and ANA and the weight and index of spleen (P<0.05), resulting also in lessened renal pathology at 30 days after the administration. Compared to those before TGP treatment, the urinary protein content and the levels of anti-dsDNA antibodies and ANA decreased significantly at 15 and 30 days after TGP administration (P<0.05), while in the model group, the level of anti-dsDNA increased significantly without obvious changes in urinary protein content or ANA. At 30 days after TGP administration, the urinary protein content was significantly lowered in the TGP group as compared to that at 15 days (P<0.05), but the antibodies showed no significant changes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TGP can reduce urinary protein content and serum levels of anti-dsDNA antibodies and ANA, and lessen renal pathology in MRL/lpr mice with lupus nephritis, suggesting its therapeutic effect on lupus nephritis.</p>

Clinical study on the treatment of knee osteoarthritis by wangbi tablet / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the clinical efficacy of Wangbi Tablet (WT) on the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and to study its treatment program by integrative medicine.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The randomized, parallel control, and multi-center clinical observation method was used. 160 KOA patients of Gan-Shen deficiency complicated with stasis-blood blockade syndrome were assigned to three groups. Group A (72 cases) was treated by WT, Group B (42 cases) was treated by Votalin Tablet, and Group C (46 cases) was treated by WT + Votalin Tablet. All patients were treated for two months. Before and after treatment the clinical symptoms, the knee function activity, adverse reactions were observed and recorded. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) of each patient were respectively detected, statistically analyzed and compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After eight weeks of treatment significant difference was shown in the time of morning stiffness in joints, joint tendemess, swelling, pain, joint functional activities, ESR, and CRP between Group A and Group B (P<0.01). Besides, better effects were obtained in Group C (P<0.01). Improvement of ESR and CRP: They were obviously improved in the three groups after treatment (P<0.01). As for the markedly effective rate, better effects were obtained in Group C (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In the treatment of KOA, WT showed favorable effects with no obvious adverse reaction. The combination of WT and Voltaren Tablet was significantly superior to use of WT or Votalin Tablet alone. It could reduce the dosage of Voltaren Tablet and avoid adverse reactions of the gastrointestinal tract.</p>

Efficacy of integrative medicine for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and its effect on glucocorticoid receptor expression / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the efficacy and mechanism of Fengshikang (FSK) in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-eight patients with RA of damp-heat block syndrome type in Chinese medicine (CM), were randomized into two groups. They all received glucocorticoid therapy for 1 month, but FSK was administered to the 20 patients in the CM group in addition, while to the 18 in the WM group, MTX was given. Besides, a normal control group with 20 healthy subjects was set up. Blood levels of RA related indices were measured and compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, the levels of rheumatoid factor (RF) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly reduced in both groups (P<0.05), but the reduction was more significant in the CM group (P<0.05). No significant change was found in the level of ESR after treatment and showed no significant difference between groups (P>0.05). Both hGRalpha mRNA and hGRbeta mRNA expressions were significantly higher in the patients than in the normal controls (P<0.01), they were lowered after treatment in the CM group (P<0.01), but significant reduction could only be found in level of hGRbeta mRNA in the control group (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>FSK combined with glucocorticoid can effectively control the inflammatory reaction, decrease the level of hGRalpha and hGRbeta expressions and enhance the clinical efficacy in treating RA.</p>

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of Hanshibi tablet in mice and its effect on synovial pathology in a rat model of rheumatoid arthritis / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of Hanshibi tablet in Kunming mice and the effect of the tablet in ameliorating synovial pathology in a rat model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Stretching test, capillary permeability and ear swelling test of Kunming were performed to observe the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of Hanshibi tablet administered intragastrically at different doses. In a SD rat model of RA induced by heat-inactivated Mycobacterium tuberculolytic H37Ra (Mtb), the effect of the tablet on the symptoms and progression of arthritis was observed regularly, and the numbers of the peripheral white blood cells, platelets and lymphocytes and mononuclear cells were measured. HE staining was used to examine the pathology of the rat ankle, and flow cytometry performed to monitor the changes in the T lymphocyte subsets.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Hanshibi tablet treatment reduced the writhing response frequency and prolonged the stretching latency of Kunming mice. The tablet also inhibited the acetic acid-induced increase in capillary permeability and ear swelling. In the rat model of RA, administration of the tablet resulted in reduced ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+), and significantly ameliorated synovial pathology.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Hanshibi tablet has obvious analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects and ameliorates the synovial pathology in the rat model of RA possibly by regulating CD4(+)/CD8(+) balance.</p>