ABSTRACT
Objective Research on the correlation of dyslipidemia of civil aviation pilots and the TCM constitution aimed to explore that how professional environmental affects the lipid metabolism and the constitution.MethodsMeasure the lipid statusand TCM constitution of 656 pilots, and 496 of them with dyslipidemia were studied. The sample were stratified according to the age and the types of dyslipidemia, including young and middle-aged groups, only abnormal total cholesterol metabolism (TC), only abnormal triglyceride metabolism (TG), and both abnormal cholesterol and triglycerides metabolism groups and then the differences in prevalence of traditional Chinese medicine in different groups were analyzed and discussed. ResultsThe prevalence of abnormal lipid metabolism was 75.61% in 656 pilots. The top three TCM constitutions among the pilot with dyslipidemia were phlegm dampness constitution (35.89%), dampness heat constitution (33.06%) and deficiency of Yang(20.97%). If age was not considered, the prevalence of TCM constitutions were not significantly different between the groups of only abnormal TC and TG (P>0.05), while the prevalence of Yang deficiency and dampness heat constitutions of only either TC or TG abnormal group were significantly higher than those of the group of both abnormal TC, TG (χ2 values were 6.793, 5.077, P<0.05). Take age as considered, TC metabolic abnormalities in youth group, the prevalence of damp heat constitution of the only TC abnormal group was higher than both TC, TG abnormal group (χ2=7.637,P<0.01); and the prevalence of Qi deficiency and Yang deficiency constitution of the only TG abnormal group were higher than both TC, TG abnormal group (χ2values were 6.139, 7.525,P<0.05). In the middle-aged group, the prevalences of Yang deficiency and Qi stagnation constitution of only TC abnormal group were higher than only TG abnormal group (χ2 values were 9.750, 3.922,P<0.05), and the prevalence of Yang deficiency of only TC abnormal group was higher than both TC, TG abnormal group (χ2=5.208,P<0.05). The prevalence of Yang deficiency of both TC, TG abnormal group was higher than only TG abnormal group (χ2= 4.489,P<0.05). Conclusions The result showed high prevalence of dyslipidemia in the population of civil aviation pilots. Age and lipid metabolism status could affect the types of TCM constitution. Damp-heat constitution was the common type of TCM constitution in the population of the young pilot, and Yang deficiency and Qi stagnation constitution were the common types in the population of middle-aged people whose lipid metabolism were disorder. The group of only abnormal TC influence on TCM constitution more than both abnormal TC and TG.
ABSTRACT
Background: The demand for effective intervention for subhealth conditions is growing with increasing numbers of people being in a state of subhealth with a poor quality of life. Future research and evaluation of the treatment methods for subhealth conditions from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) may provide an important direction for developing effective management of these conditions. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Xiaopi Yishen herbal extract granules (XPYS-HEG), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine for relieving fatigue and promoting a cheerful spirit for the treatment of people with fatigue-predominant subhealth due to liver-qi stagnation and spleen-qi deficiency. Design, setting participants and interventions: A multi-center, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical study was undertaken. The study period was 18 weeks, including 6 weeks for intervention and 12 weeks for follow-up. Participants were recruited from medical center and outpatient clinics of three hospitals in China, i.e. Xiaotangshan Hospital of Beijing, the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of TCM and the Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of TCM. Two hundred participants who met the criteria of fatigue-predominant subhealth and liver-qi stagnation and spleen-qi deficiency in TCM were allocated randomly to the treatment group (XPYS, n=100) and control group (placebo, n=100). Main outcome measures: The total score of Fatigue Scale-14 (FS-14) was used to evaluate the fatigue status of subjects and the extent of liver-qi stagnation and spleen-qi deficiency syndrome was also recorded. Results: Three cases in the XPYS group withdrew from the trial. There were 200 subjects who entered to full analysis set (FAS) analysis and 197 subjects fitted in the per-protocol set (PPS) analysis. (1) According to the score changes of FS-14, the effectiveness rates in the XPYS and placebo group were as follows: 14.0% vs 9.0% (FAS) and 14.4% vs 9.0% (PPS) for complete remission, 19.0% vs 15.0% (FAS) and 19.6% vs 15.0% (PPS) for obvious effects, 39.0% vs 26.0% (FAS) and 39.2% vs 26.0% (PPS) for effective, and 72.0% vs 50.0% (FAS) and 73.2% vs 50.0% (PPS) for complete efficacy. The efficacy of XPYS-HEG was superior to the placebo statistically (P<0.05). (2) According to the score changes of TCM syndrome, the effectiveness rates in the XPYS group and placebo group were as follows: 1.0% vs 0.0% (FAS) and 1.0% vs 0.0% (PPS) for complete remission, 20.0% vs 7.0% (FAS) and 19.6% vs 7.0% (PPS) for obvious effects, 29.0% vs 24.0% (FAS) and 29.9% vs 24.0% (PPS) for effective, and 50.0% vs 31.0% (FAS) and 50.5% vs 31.0% (PPS) for complete efficacy. The efficacy of XPYS-HEG was superior to that of placebo statistically (P<0.05). (3) The follow-up results at 12 weeks and 18 weeks showed that the efficacy of XPYS-HEG was superior to that of placebo statistically (P<0.05). (4) No adverse effects were found in the XPYS group. Conclusion: It can be concluded that XPYS-HEG is effective and safe for the treatment of people with fatigue-predominant subhealth due to liver-qi stagnation and spleen-qi deficiency.