Effects of Qingre Huoxue Jiedu Formula on Nerve Growth Factor-Induced Psoriasis / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To elucidate the mechanisms of 4 effective components from a Chinese medicine formula, namely Qingre Huoxue Jiedu Formula (QHJ heat- and toxin-clearing and blood-activating formula), in the treatment of nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced psoriasis.@*METHODS@#Keratinocyte proliferation and T cell proliferation models were developed using NGF. An NGF solution (NGF+DMEM, 100 ng/mL) was added to all induced groups and treated groups and were cultured for 24 h, while a solution with NTRK1 antagonist (K252a+DEME, 300 nmol/L) was added and cultured for 1 h. The models were used to evaluate the effects of the treatment with each of the 4 components of QHJ, namely shikonin, paeonol, astilbin and ursolic acid. Cell apoptosis and proliferation were measured by flow cytometry analysis and CCK8 assay, respectively. The mRNA expression levels of Bax, Bcl-xl, and NGF receptor (NGFR) were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot analysis, respectively.@*RESULTS@#(1) All QHJ-treated groups showed significantly increased cell apoptosis and inhibition of cell proliferation compared with the NGF-induced groups (P<0.05). In addition, treatment with QHJ plus NTRK1 significantly enhanced cell apoptosis and inhibition of cell proliferation compared with cells treated with QHJ only (P<0.05), particularly in cells treated with ursolic acid. (2) QHJ-treated groups showed higher protein expression levels of Bax, Bcl-xl compared with other groups (P<0.05). Additionally, treatment with QHJ plus NTRK1 significantly increased the protein expression levels of Bax, Bcl-xl and NGFR compared with those treated with QHJ only (all P<0.05), especially in those treated with shikonin.@*CONCLUSION@#The action mechanism of QHJ on psoriasis might be through enhancing cell apoptosis and inhibition of cell proliferation, and upregulating the expression level of Bax, Bcl-xl and NGFR.

A randomized, placebo controlled study on Fangfeng Tongsheng granule in treatment of sub-acute eczema / 中国中药杂志

The clinical study was conducted to further evaluation the effectiveness and safety of Fangfeng Tongsheng granule in the treatment of sub-acute eczema (superficial cold and interior heat syndrome, exterior and interior sthenic syndrome). In the block randomized, multi-centered study, totally 108 patients were enrolled and assigned to two groups: 72 patients in the test group and 36 patients in the placebo control group. Those in the test group took Fangfeng Tongsheng granule with the dose of 3 g, twice a day, while those in the control group were give simulated agent granules with the same dose. The therapeutic course lasted for 14 days. Their efficacies in TCM syndrome, dermal symptoms and adverse events were observed. According to the test results, except for the one exit case, all of the remaining 108 cases, including 71 in the test group, and 36 in the control group, completed the clinical trial. As for the efficacy of TCM syndrome, after the medication for 2 weeks, the cure rate was 33.81% (24/71) in the test group and 0% (0/36) in the control group (P < 0.01), with a statistical difference between the two groups. Regarding the TCM score, after the medication for 2 weeks, the test group decreased by (12.82 +/- 7.96), while the control group decreased by (3.67 +/- 4.12), indicating a statistical difference between the two groups. As for the efficacy of dermal symptoms, after the medication for 2 weeks, the cure rate was 25.35% (18/71) in the test group and 0% (0/36) in the control group, with a statistical difference between the two groups. Regarding the dermal symptom score, after the medication for 2 weeks., the test group decreased by (10.04 +/- 7.17), while the control group decreased by (2.33 +/- 3.57), indicating a statistical difference between the two groups. There was no significant adverse event caused by Fangfeng Tongsheng granule. In conclusion, Fangfeng Tongsheng granule was effective and safe in treating subcute eczema (superficial cold and interior heat syndrome, exterior and interior sthenic syndrome).

Effects of Chinese medical facial mask comprehensive therapy in treating acne vulgaris / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of Chinese medical facial mask comprehensive therapy in treating acne vulgaris.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 233 acne vulgaris patients (FAS set) in I -III degree were randomly assigned to the facial mask group (113 cases) and the Western medicine group (120 cases). They were respectively treated with external application of Chinese medical facial mask (twice a week) and 5% benzoyl peroxide gel (Benzine, once in the evening). The treatment lasted for four successive weeks. The integrals of lesions and the improvement of Chinese medicine syndrome integrals were observed 1 week, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after treatment respectively. The occurrence of adverse reactions was recorded. The subjects' evaluation on using the Chinese medical facial mask comprehensive therapy was also recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Totally 228 of the 233 patients completed the therapeutic course (7 cases of overtime, 221 cases of PPS set, 105 cases in the facial mask group and 116 cases in the Western medicine group). After 4 weeks of treatment, the lesions and the total effective rate of CM symptoms were obviously higher in the facial mask group than in the control group (46.9% vs 30.0%, 70.8% vs 55.8%, P < 0.05). The statistical results of FAS set and PPS set showed no difference. After 4 weeks of treatment, the integrals of PPS lesions and the CM syndrome integrals in the facial mask group were lower than in the Western medicine group, showing statistical difference (P < or = 0.05). After 2 weeks and 4 weeks of treatment, the integrals of lesions and the CM syndrome integrals of FAS set and PPS set were all higher in the facial mask group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The occurrence of adverse reactions was 1.8% (2/113) in the facial mask group and 2.5% (3/120) in the control group without statistical difference (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Chinese medical facial mask comprehensive therapy is safe and effective in treating acne vulgaris of I - III degree. The occurrence of adverse reactions is very low. It is easy to operate and spread.</p>

Effect of combined herbal medicine therapy on the expression of psoriasis-associated antigen-Pso p27 in patients with psoriasis vulgaris / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of combined herbal medicine therapy on the expression of psoriasis-associated antigen (Pso p27) in patients with psoriasis vulgaris.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifteen psoriasis vulgaris patients were included in the study and they were all treated with combined herbal medicine therapy for 12 weeks. Both psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score and plaque index (PI) score were evaluated before and after treatment, while skin biopsies from selected lesions and uninvolved skin near the lesions were performed. Expression of Pso p27 in the target skin and surrounding uninjured skins were analysed using immunofluorescence method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The PASI score and PI score decreased after the combined herbal medicine therapy in both acute and silent stages (P < 0.01), so did the positive cells of Pso p27 and the intensity of fluorescein stain (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The combined herbal medicine therapy is effective in treating psoriasis vulgaris in both acute and silent stages, which may be resulted from its inhibition of the expression of Pso p27.</p>

Clinical efficacy of narrow band ultraviolet bin combined with yuyin recipe in treating psoriasis vulgaris / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the clinical efficacy of narrow band ultraviolet bin (NB-UVB) combined with Yuyin Recipe (YYR) in treating psoriasis vulgaris (PV).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and nineteen patients with PV were randomly assigned to 2 groups by envelop method, the 62 patients in the treated group were treated with NB-UVB and YYR bathing, and the 57 in the control group were treated with NB-UVB alone. The course of treatment for both groups was 8 weeks. PASI scoring was performed before treatment and at the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th week of treatment respectively, and the treatment effect was evaluated depending on the decreasing rate of PASI score. The accumulated dose and side-effect of NB-UVB applied was observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The PASI scores in the treated group measured at various time points after treatment were significantly different to that of baseline (P < 0.05). The cure rate in the treated group and the control group was 69.35% and 24.56% while the total effective rate in them 96.77% and 71.93%, respectively, showing significant difference between the two groups (chi2 = 27.755, P <0.01). The difference of PASI decreasing rate between groups showed statistical significant from the 4th week (P <0.01). The total dose of NB-UVB applied in the treated group (9.95 +/- 4.76) was less than that in the control group (12.77 +/- 5.05) with the difference of statistical significance (t = 3.141, P <0.01). The adverse reaction occurrence in them was 4.84% (3/62) and 31.58% (18/57) respectively, also showing significant difference (chi2 = 119, P <0.01). CCONCLUSION: The combined use of TCM medicated bath with NB-UVB can enhance the curative effect, reduce the accumulated dosage and lessen the adverse reactions of ultraviolet radiation.</p>