Effect of Feitai Capsule () on quality of life and progression-free survival of patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine the effect of a Chinese medicinal herbal formula (Feitai Capsule, ) on the quality of life (QOL) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-two patients were randomly divided into the treatment group (31 cases) and the control group (31 cases). For the treatment group, 4 capsules (1.2 g/capsule) of Feitai Capsule were administered 3 times a day after meals for 3 weeks; then no drug was administered for 1 week. This schedule was continued for at least 3 more cycles (12 weeks totally). If there were no obvious toxic reactions, the treatment was extended. The patients were evaluated at least once every 8 weeks until progressive disease (PD). For the control group, the regular follow-up and evaluation were performed at least once every 8 weeks until PD. Clinical symptoms, objective response, physical constitution and energy, QOL, and PFS were evaluated regularly. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), a non-parametric test, and analysis of covariance were used to compare clinical features, amelioration of clinical symptoms, physical constitution and energy, and QOL. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare the two-group PFS.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sixty patients finished the final evaluation, with 30 patients in each group. Baseline characters between groups were not significantly different (P>0.05). The control group had a 36.7% improvement in clinical symptoms, while the treatment group had a 73.3% improvement. This difference was statistically significant (Z= -2.632, P=0.008). The control group had a 26.7% improvement in the Karnofsky performance status (KPS), while the treatment group had a 53.4% improvement. This was also significantly different (Z=-2.182, P=0.029). A comparative analysis indicated a positive correlation (r=0.917, P<0.001). Compared with the control group, QOL in the treatment group was significantly improved, except in the social/family condition and doctor-patient relationship indicators. The PFS of the treatment group and control group were 6.23 months and 4.67 months, respectively (P=0.048).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Feitai Capsule, a Chinese medicinal herbal treatment could improve the QOL and extend the PFS of the unresectable NSCLC patients.</p>

Clinical study on treatment of primary hepatocellular carcinoma by Shenqi mixture combined with microwave coagulation / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the short-term efficacy and safety of Shenqi mixture (SQM) combined with microwave coagulation in treating primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-two patients with primary HCC of stage II-III, Karnofsky scoring > or = 50 scores and predicted survival period > or = 3 months were selected and randomly assigned into two groups, the treated group and the control group, 36 in each. Microwave therapy was applied to both groups by double leads, 60 W, 800 sec once a week for two weeks. To the treated group, SQM was given additionally through oral intake of 20 ml, three times a day for 1 month. The changes in tumor size, main symptoms, serum level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), immune function and adverse reaction were observed after treatment and the immune parameters of the patients were compared with 30 healthy persons in the normal control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) In the SQM treated group, after treatment 3 patients got completely remitted (CR), 24 partial remitted (PR), 4 unchanged (NC) and 5 progressively deteriorated (PD), the effective rate being 75.00%; while in the control group, 1 got CR, 19 PR, 9 NC and 7 PD, the effective rate being 55.56%. Comparison of the effective rate between the two groups showed significant difference (P < 0.05). (2) AFP level decreased after treatment in both groups, but the decrement in the treated group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.01). (3) After treatment, in the treated group, CD3(+), CD4(+), CD4(+)/CD8(+) and NK activity were improved, Karnofsky scores increased and liver function bettered, with these improvements significantly superior to those in the control group (P < 0.01). (4) The improvement in symptoms such as hepatic region pain, fever, weakness, poor appetite and jaundice in the treated group after treatment was also superior to that in the control group (P < 0.01). (5) The 12-month, 18-month and 24-month survival rates were higher and the recurrence rate was lower in the treated group than those in the control group, showing significant difference (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Combined therapy with SQM and microwave coagulation could not only kill the tumor and residue tumor cells to prevent recurrence, but also enhance the cellular immunity of organism. It is one of the effective therapies for patients with middle-advanced hepatocarcinoma, who have lost the chance of surgical operation. It could improve clinical symptoms, elevate the quality of life, prolong the survival period of patients, but shows no evident adverse reaction.</p>

Relationship between sCD44v6 expression and TCM differentiation type of gastric carcinoma patients and influence of weitai capsule on the expression / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationship of TCM type with serum level of soluble CD44v6 (sCD44v6) and different histologic parameters in gastric carcinoma patients and to observe the influence of Weitai capsule (WTC) on the sCD44v6 expression.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>TCM typing and sCD44v6 expression were determined in all the enrolled patients (30 in the control and 32 in the trial group) before operation, and 3-4 courses of chemotherapy was applied to them from 3-4 weeks after operation. To the patients of trial group, oral administration of WTC was given additionally with 4 capsules, 3 times a day for consecutive 3 months.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>sCD44v6 was significantly positive correlated with the degree of cancer cell differentiation, infiltration and lymph node metastasis; (2) Level of sCD44v6 was the highest in patients of blood stasis type, as compared with that in the patients of Pi-deficiency type or of damp-heat type, the difference was significant; (3) After ending treatment, level of sCD44v6 in the trial group was significantly lower than that in the control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>(1) Serum level of sCD44v6 could be taken as the criterion for evaluating the development and prognosis of gastric cancer, as well as the therapeutic target for anti-metastasis treatment; (2) Serum level of sCD44v6 is related to some extent with TCM type of blood stasis and Pi-deficiency; (3) WTC combined with chemotherapy could further inhibit the expression of serum sCD44v6 in gastric carcinoma patients.</p>

Effects of shouwu-huanjing recipe on human sperm motility and fertility in vitro / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Shouwu-Huanjing Recipe(SWHJR) medicated serum on human sperm motility and fertility in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human sperm was co-cultured with SWHJR medicated serum in vitro. Human sperm motility was evaluated by computer-assisted semen analysis(CASA). The acrosome reaction and the capability of penetrating zona-free hamster eggs were also observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The co-cultured SWHJR medicated serum significantly increased the sperm motion velocity(VAP, VCL, VSL) (P < 0.01), the amplitude of lateral head movement (ALH) and the beat frequency of flagellum(BCF), the density of progressive motility sperms (P < 0.05), the acrosome reaction rate(P < 0.001), the fertilization rate(FR) and the fertilization index (FI) in sperm penetration assay(SPA) test (P < 0.01). The stimulation of SWHJR medicated serum occurred in dose-dependent manner.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SWHJR can improve human sperm motility and fertility.</p>