Effect of Huxin Formula on reverse cholesterol transport in ApoE-gene knockout mice / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Huxin Formula on expressions of the chief reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) associated genes, caveolin-1 and scavenger receptor-BI (SR-BI) in ApoE-gene knockout [ApoE (-/-)] mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty ApoE (-/-) mice of 4-6 weeks old were randomly divided into three groups (A-C). After being fed with high-fat diet for 16 weeks, they were treated with HXF (1 mL/100 g), pravachol (0.3 mg/100 g), and saline in equal volume respectively for 16 weeks successively; in addition, a blank group was set up with 10 C57BL/6J mice of 6-week old received 16-week high-fat feeding and saline treatment. Animals were sacrificed at the termination of the experiment, their paraffin sections of aortic tissue were used to measure the size of plaque, expressions of cavolin-1 and SR-BI were detected by immunological histochemical method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>As compared with the blank group, levels of caveolin-1 and SR-BI were increased in Groups A and B (P<0.01); but the increase in Group A was more significant than that in Group B (P<0.05). The plaque/aorta area ratio decreased significantly in Groups A and B, but showed insignificant difference between the two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HXF could obviously increase the expressions of RCT associated genes, caveolin-1 and SR-BI, promote the RCT process, so as to reduce the formation of aorta atherosclerotic plaque in ApoE (-/-) mice.</p>

Effect of abdominal needling in treating post-cardiosurgical operational gastrointestinal dysfunction / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinic effect of abdominal needling (AN) on post-cardiosurgical operational gastrointestinal dysfunction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty patients were equally assigned to two groups, the AN group and the control group. AN applied on the AN group was conducted by needling at Xiawan (Ren 10), Qihai (Ren 6), Qipang, Guanyuan (Ren 4), Qixue, Shuifen (Ren 9), Tianshu (St. 25) and Daju (St. 27), starting from the first day after operation, once every day with the needle retained time of 20 min, 5 days as one therapeutic course. The control group was treated with the conventional post-operational measurement with intravenous injection of 20 mg Omeprazole once a day, for 3 successive days. The score on symptoms as anorexia, weakness, abdominal distension, constipation, laziness to speak, nausea and vomiting, weakened borborygmus, pale-yellow complexion and edema, etc. , were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The symptom scores in the aspects of anorexia, weakness, abdominal distension, constipation, weakened borborygmus, nausea and vomiting in the AN group were significant difference when compared with before treatment and the control group (P <0.01). After treatment the improvement in the control group only showed in weakness and pale-yellow complexion (P <0.01). Observation on gastric emptying showed that 24 h gastric paresis occurred in 17 patients (56.7%) of the AN group, and 22 (73.3%) of the control group; the 24 h and 72 h barium residue (strip) in the AN group was 10.60 +/- 4.61 and 8.53 +/- 4.08 respectively, while in the control group 17.07 +/- 3.99 and 15.83 +/- 4.19; the 24 h, 72 h gastric emptying rate in the former was (47.00 +/- 23.07) % and (57.33 +/- 20.37) %, and in the latter (14.67 +/- 19.95) % and (20.83 +/- 20.97) %, all showed significant difference between them (P <0.05 or P <0.01). Levels of motilin in the two groups after operation were decreased showing significant difference in comparison with before operation (P < 0.01), and AN group was raised after teratment, also showing significant difference between groups (P <0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>AN can strengthen gastrointestinal peristalsis, promote gastrointestinal emptying, recover quickly gastrointestinal hormone to the normal range. Besides, it is safe and effective, with no pain or only slight pain, easy in locating the acupoint accurately, standard prescription, high compliance of patients, and convenient for clinical operating, therefore, it is worthy of spreading in clinical practice.</p>

Progress of study on applying traditional Chinese medicine and drugs in cardiac surgery / 中国中西医结合杂志

Application of traditional Chinese medicine and drugs in cardiac surgery have won great progress in recent 10 years, mainly presented in aspects of the treatment of coronary heart disease, myocardium protection, cardiopulmonary bypass and pulmonary hypertension.

Systematic review of randomized controlled trials on preventing and treating restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention with Chinese medicine / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the randomized controlled trials on preventing and treating restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with Chinese medicine adopting the principle of evidence-based medicine (EBM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Pertinent literatures were retrieved roundly, and scored depending on Jadad Quality Scale. Meta-analysis was applied on the total effect of outcomes reported using RevMan 4. 2 software. Moreover, the sensitivity was analyzed, the publication bias was identified with funnel-plot and the adverse reaction of medicine was reported.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 17 literatures met the inclusion criteria, only two double-blinded trials were appraised as high quality. The analysis on the recurrence rates of restenosis post-PCI and angina pectoris in patients treated with Chinese medicine illustrated that the rates in the treatment group were all lower than those in the control group with statistical significance (P < 0.01). Sensitivity analysis revealed a relatively stable result of the evaluation. Funnel-plot displayed an asymmetrical figure, indicating the possible existence of publication bias.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TCM has definite therapeutic effect on preventing and treating restenosis after PCI and reducing the recurrence rate of angina pectoris in patients.</p>

Analysis on TCM syndrome distribution laws in 319 patients with coronary heart disease / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study TCM syndrome distribution laws in patients with coronary heart diseases (CHD) by epidemiological investigation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A clinical survey was carried out in 319 inpatients with CHD, whose diagnosis was confirmed by coronary arteriography, in the authors' hospital from January 2004 to December 2004. The TCM syndrome distribution laws were analyzed, and the relationship of coronary arteriographic picture with TCM syndrome elements, common symptoms, pulse and tongue figures, as well as the correlation between syndrome typing and blood-lipid levels were analyzed, too.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Qi deficiency was the most popular syndrome in patients with CHD (87.1%), blood stasis syndrome and phlegm retention syndrome took the second place, accounting for 79.9% and 78.7% respectively. No significant difference was shown in comparison of tongue and pulse figures with the affected branches of coronary artery, the dark-pale tongue with white greasy fur and taut-slippery pulse being the dominance in patients. The blood-lipid levels in patients with various TCM syndrome types were similar, showing insignificant difference.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The TCM pathogenesis of CHD takes qi deficiency as the core, blood stasis and phlegm retention as the important pathologic products.</p>

Cluster analysis on TCM syndromes in 319 coronary artery disease patients for establishment of syndrome diagnostic figure / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the diagnostic figures for TCM syndrome typing in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective investigation was carried out in 319 CHD patients hospitalized from Jan. 2004 to Dec. 2004 in authors' hospital. Through cluster analysis, descriptive statistics and frequency normalization in combination of clinical observation, the diagnostic figures of TCM syndromes were obtained.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The figures for qi deficiency syndrome were: primary symptoms: chest pain and stuffiness, secondary symptoms: tiredness, short breath, poor appetite, light colored tongue, deep and thready pulse; for qi deficiency with phlegm and blood stasis syndrome: primary symptoms: chest stuffiness and pain, secondary symptoms: tiredness, insomnia, palpitation, obesity, dark red tongue, string and slippery pulse; for turbid-phlegm blocking collateral syndrome: primary symptoms: chest stuffiness, secondary symptoms: cough, expectoration with much white sputum, tiredness, short breath and poor appetite, light colored tongue with white greasy coating, slippery pulse.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Research on diagnostic criteria for TCM syndrome typing could be established upon clinical epidemiologic survey and statistic analysis in combining with specialists' suggestions to primarily set the referrence figures.</p>

Clinical efficacy of treatment for regulating Pi and protecting Xin in treating patients after coronary artery bypass grafting and its effect on patients' quality of life / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical efficacy of treatment for regulating Pi and protecting Xin (abbr. as CHM) and its effect on quality of life (QOL) in patients after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and six patients, who were planned to undergo CABG were assigned into two groups, the 51 patients in the control group were treated with conventional Western medicinal treatment (WM) and the 55 patients in the experimental group were treated by WM with additional medication of CHM constituted mainly by modified Huxin Recipe. The changes of symptoms and heart function were observed and the patients' QOL was evaluated by SF-36 Scale.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After being treated for 3 months, the total scores of symptoms in the experimental group was significantly improved in comparing with that in the control group (P < 0.01), the clinical efficacy on symptoms of TCM and improvement of heart function were superior to those in the control group (P < 0.05) respectively. The scores in terms of pain, vitality, role of emotion, mental health, health transition of patients in the experimental group according to SF-36 scale were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Treatment for regulating Pi and protecting Xin by modified Huxin Recipe can improve the recovery process of patients after CABG, elevate patients' heart function, symptoms and QOL.</p>

Effects of shenfu injection on immune function in patients during perioperative cardiopulmonary bypass / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of Shenfu Injection (SI) on immune function in patients during perioperative cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety patients scheduled for CPB were randomly divided into 3 groups, the group A treated with SI before CPB, the group B treated with SI after CPB and the group C (the control group), 30 cases in each group. Counts of leukocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte and T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+) and serum levels of IgG, IgA, IgM, C3 and C4 were investigated at different time-points, i.e. one day before CPB, immediately after anesthesia and finishing CPB, and the 1st, 3rd and 8th post-operational days.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In all the three groups, counts of leukocyte and neutrophil rose immediately after CPB and the high level maintained on the 1st and 3rd post operational days, it somewhat lowered on the 8th day but still higher than that before operation, showing insignificant difference among the 3 groups. As for the other indexes, they declined obviously and immediately after CPB and began to restore on the 8th day to a certain extent, and the restoration were better in the group A and B, as the changes were milder.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SI could improve the immune function and reduce the risk of post operational infection in patients during perioperative CPB.</p>

Clinical observation on quality of life in coronary artery bypass grafting patients treated according to syndrome differentiation of TCM / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical effect and quality of life (QOL) in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients treated according to syndrome differentiation of TCM.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-two CABG patients were allocated in the control group (n = 39) treated with conventional method of western medicine, and the TCM-treated group (n = 43) treated according to syndrome differentiation of TCM based on the conventional western medicine. The Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) was used to assess the clinical effect and quality of life.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 2 months treatment, the TCM syndrome score in TCM-treated group was better, and the score of SAQ was higher than that in the control group (all P < 0.01). In the aspects of anginal stability, anginal frequency, treatment satisfaction and disease perception, there was significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TCM treatment could promote recovery, improve symptoms and elevate QOL of CABG patients.</p>