ABSTRACT
The toxic pathogen theory, an important part of the theories of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), began in the Qin and Han dynasties, formed in the Jin, Sui, Tang, and Song dynasties, developed rapidly in the Ming and Qing dynasties, and conti-nued to develop in contemporary times based on the achievements of its predecessors. The continuous exploration, practice, and inheri-tance of many medical practitioners over the generations have facilitated the enrichment of its connotation. The toxic pathogen is violent, fierce, dangerous, prolonged, rapid in transmission, easy to hurt the internal organs, hidden, and latent, with many changes, and it is closely related to the development of tumor diseases. TCM has a history of thousands of years in the prevention and treatment of tumor diseases. It is gradually realized that the etiology of tumor is mainly attributed to the deficiency of healthy Qi and excess of to-xic pathogen, and the struggle between healthy Qi and toxic pathogen runs through the whole course of tumor, with the deficiency of healthy Qi as the prerequisite and the invasion of toxic pathogen as the root of the occurrence. The toxic pathogen has a strong carcinogenic effect and is involved in the whole process of tumor development, which is closely related to the malignant behaviors of tumors, including proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. This study discussed the historical origin and modern interpretation of the toxic pathogen theory in the prevention and treatment of tumors, with aims of sorting out the theoretical system based on the toxic pathogen theory in the treatment of tumor diseases, and illustrating the importance of the toxic pathogen theory in the treatment of tumors in the context of modern research on pharmacological mechanisms and the development and marketing of relevant anti-tumor Chinese medicinal preparations.
Subject(s)
Medicine, Chinese Traditional , Cell Movement , ChinaABSTRACT
Chronic heart failure is a serious heart disease with dyspnea and limited activity tolerance as the main clinical manifestations. Activation of the inflammatory system can significantly stimulate cardiac fibrosis and remodeling and promote the progression of heart failure， playing a key role in the development of the disease. Studies have confirmed that inflammation is involved in the development of different types of heart failure. "Toxic pathogen theory" is an important basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） to explain the occurrence of diseases. We concluded the similarities between TCM toxic pathogens and inflammation in concept， disease location， etiology， syndrome differentiation， and clinical characteristics. Chronic heart failure is manifested by the toxic pathogens of turbid phlegm， stagnated blood， and accumulated fluid. Heart vessel obstruction is the main pathological factor， and the inflammatory factors produced by necrotic cardiomyocytes are the microscopic manifestations of the obstruction. Therefore， based on the "toxic pathogen theory"， this study aimed to clarify the role of inflammation in the development of chronic heart failure from both macroscopic and microscopic perspectives. Moreover， this paper proposed that the stagnated blood has not been transformed into toxin in the early stage of the disease and thus the products of clearing heat and detoxification should not be used. At the development stage of the disease when the transformation tends to begin， treatment should be based on syndrome differentiation， and detoxifying Chinese medicine should be used in order to achieve the goal of "removing toxin without harming the healthy Qi". At the late stage of heart failure， toxins have been accumulated and detoxifying medicines and therapies should be applied to eliminate the toxic pathogens. This study is expected to lay a foundation for the modern research on the role of inflammation in the development of chronic heart failure with TCM theory and guide the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.
ABSTRACT
Chronic heart failure is a serious heart disease with dyspnea and limited activity tolerance as the main clinical manifestations. Activation of the inflammatory system can significantly stimulate cardiac fibrosis and remodeling and promote the progression of heart failure， playing a key role in the development of the disease. Studies have confirmed that inflammation is involved in the development of different types of heart failure. "Toxic pathogen theory" is an important basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） to explain the occurrence of diseases. We concluded the similarities between TCM toxic pathogens and inflammation in concept， disease location， etiology， syndrome differentiation， and clinical characteristics. Chronic heart failure is manifested by the toxic pathogens of turbid phlegm， stagnated blood， and accumulated fluid. Heart vessel obstruction is the main pathological factor， and the inflammatory factors produced by necrotic cardiomyocytes are the microscopic manifestations of the obstruction. Therefore， based on the "toxic pathogen theory"， this study aimed to clarify the role of inflammation in the development of chronic heart failure from both macroscopic and microscopic perspectives. Moreover， this paper proposed that the stagnated blood has not been transformed into toxin in the early stage of the disease and thus the products of clearing heat and detoxification should not be used. At the development stage of the disease when the transformation tends to begin， treatment should be based on syndrome differentiation， and detoxifying Chinese medicine should be used in order to achieve the goal of "removing toxin without harming the healthy Qi". At the late stage of heart failure， toxins have been accumulated and detoxifying medicines and therapies should be applied to eliminate the toxic pathogens. This study is expected to lay a foundation for the modern research on the role of inflammation in the development of chronic heart failure with TCM theory and guide the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.