Methodological Evaluation of Advantages of Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment of Sjögren's Syndrome / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Screening and evaluating the diseases responding specifically to traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） will help to highlight the advantages of TCM treatment， and the evaluation method should be standardized with consideration to the unique characteristics of the diseases. The incidence of Sjögren's Syndrome （SS） is increasing year by year， while the pathogenesis of this disease remains unclear. Modern therapies for this disease include biological agents and immunosuppressants， which generally have unsatisfactory efficacy. The TCM treatment of SS focuses on the harmony of the physical and mental health. The Rheumatology Branch of the China Association of Chinese Medicine organizes experts in TCM， Western medicine， and evidence-based medicine to form working groups. Delphi method and bibliometric method were used for analysis， and SS was selected as a disease responding specifically to TCM. Furthermore， the evaluation system was established for this disease， and the consensus regarding this disease was reached after seminar discussion. This paper summarized the whole process of the evaluation of the advantages of TCM treatment of SS. First， because TCM atomization is widely used in clinical practice and enriches TCM administration methods， this therapy is included after other non-drug therapies were taken as characteristic therapies. Second， the evaluation indicators of therapeutic effect should be determined with consideration to international acceptance and the current research status. Third， the expression method should be accurate， standardized， and objective， highlight the natural advantages of TCM， and avoid arbitrary extension. This paper provides a reference for clinicians to explore other diseases responding specifically to TCM.

Prognosis and Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Based on Yin-Yang Toxin Theory / 中医杂志

This paper explored the relationship between systemic lupus erythematosus （SLE） and yin-yang toxins based on the discussion of yin-yang toxin in Synopsis of the Golden Chamber （《金匮要略》）， and found that the two are similar in symptoms， and there is a potential relationship between adverse prognosis factors； and the idea that early treatment of SLE can improve prognosis is in accordance with the opinion in traditional Chinese medicine claiming that yin-yang toxin should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. Therefore， it is proposed to take yin-yang as general and toxin pathogen as key to explain the pathogenesis， use yin-yang toxin theory for guidance， discuss on the treatment of SLE around the pathological elements including “toxin， heat， stasis”， and take into account of the kidney essence. Accordingly， Shengma Biejia Decoction （升麻鳖甲汤） is recommended as the basic formula with modifications in accordance with different syndromes in staged treatment， providing reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of SLE.

Discussion on the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Sjögren's Syndrome Based on YE Gui's Theory of “Upper Dryness Treats Qi and Lower Dryness Treats Blood” / 中医杂志

The pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome （SS） was considered to involve external dryness， internal injured essence and blood， yin-deficiency endowment， and abnormal emotion and spirit， and it was believed that SS has the characteristics of dryness and impassability， and the pathogenesis of deficiency-excess in complexity. According to the theory “upper dryness treats qi， and lower dryness treats blood” in YE Gui's monograph “Medical Records for Clinical Guidance”， the dryness was divided into upper dryness and lower dryness syndromes to be differentiated and treated. When treating dryness syndrome， the patient should follow the characteristics of the five zang organs， using soft and cool medicines， avoiding warm and dry medicines， and valuing the animal products. The upper dryness could be treated with Sangxiang Decoction （桑杏汤） to clear the qi and moisten the dryness， Qiaohe Decoction （翘荷汤） to clear the upper with pungent-cool， and Shashen Maidong Decoction （沙参麦冬汤） to nourish yin and promote the production of body fluid. The lower dryness could be treated with Fumai Decoction （复脉汤） to enrich and nourish the five kinds of fluid. Liuwei Dihuang Pill （六味地黄丸） to nourish the kidneys and supplement essence， and Wuren Pill （五仁丸） to moisten the dryness and nourish the blood， which provided a new way of thinking for differentiation of the dryness syndrome.

Professor Lu Zhizheng of Clinical Examples for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis / 浙江中医药大学学报

Objective To summarize professor Lu Zhizheng's clinical experience in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis,in order to better guide clinic. [Method]By analyzing professor Lu Zhizheng's treatment of two patients with rheumatoid arthritis of the medical record data, it summarized from the aspects of etiology and pathogenesis,syndrome differentiation and treatment.[Result]Professor Lu argued that invigorating spleen to remove dampness should be throughout the course of the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.Two patients can reduce joint swel ing and pain,improve the appetite gradual y,and the symptoms were relieved obviously by replenishing qi and reconciling ying,adjusting ying and wei.[Conclusion]Professor Lu Zhizheng's Chinese medicine treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has significant curative effect,it is worthy of reference study.

Study on Qingre-Huoxue Recipe in improving clinical symptoms of dampness-heat and blood-stasis syndrome of rheumatoid arthritis / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective To Evaluate the efficacy and safety of Qingre-Huoxue Recipe ( QHR ),Qingre -Huoxue Recipe and Methotrexate(QHR+MTX) in improving clinical symptoms of dampness-heat and blood-stasis syndrome of rheumatoid arthritis.Methods According to multi-center,randomized,and control intervention design,142 RA patients were randomly divided into QHR group (71 cases) and QHR+MTX group (71 cases).With clinical symptoms as evaluation indexes,FAS set and PP set were adapted for analysis.Results FAS set analysis:Both groups can significantly reduce pain VAS score [ (4.82 ± 1.98) vs (4.31 ± 1.85) ],reduce tenderness and swollen joint number[(4.87±4.05)vs(4.20±3.36)、(8.72±6.24)vs(7.14±5.03)respectively],shorten morning stiffness [ (39.56 ± 46.68) min vs (36.65 + 42.58) min] and significantly reduce the symptoms of fatigue[ (4.13 ±2.34) vs (3.74 ±2.20) ],also with good security.But there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups.Conclusion Qingre-Huoxue Recipe with MTX had no significant advantage in improving clinical symptoms in patients with the dampness-heat and blood-stasis syndrom of RA than without MTX.

Tripterygium wilfordii extract for treating rheumatoid arthritis: systematic review / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Tripterygium wilfordii extract (TWE) in treating rheumatoid arthritis.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Mainly using the simple methods from the International Cochrane Collaboration as systematic evaluation methods. Using Revman 4.2.5 which Cochrane Cooperation Web recommended to analysis. Using American College of Rheumatology (ACR) core set (ACR20, ACR50, and ACR70) of therapeutic efficacy measures which recommended by ACR, radiographic change of bone and the rate of inefficacy as efficacy methods. Dividing into placebo subgroup and DMARDs (disease modifying anti rheumatism drugs) subgroup according to different control treatments.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>A total of seven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were collected. They are all of small sample size, six of which exist some methodological defects, resulting in many possible biases. As evaluated by ACR20/50/70, TWE was as effective as DMARDs in reducing number of swelling joints, level of C-reactive protein (CRP), and was more effective than DMARDs in reducing erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (P <0.01). While TWE was no effect in delaying bone destruction. The incidence of adverse reactions of TWE is higher than DMARDs.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TWE can be used as an alternative medicine in treating RA. But owing to lacking of data from high-quality RCTs, however, the efficacy and safety of TWE are desired for further exploration.</p>

Effects of Jianpi Yishen Recipe on recurrence, metastasis and life span of mice transplanted with proventriculus squamous carcinoma after tumorectomy / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Jianpi Yishen Recipe (JPYSR), a compound Chinese herbal medicine, on recurrence, metastasis and life span of mice transplanted with proventriculus squamous carcinoma cells after tumorectomy. METHODS: JPYSR was orally administered to 615 mice transplanted with proventriculus squamous carcinoma cells in the palma of left hind limb after tumorectomy. The local tumor recurrence, lung metastasis and life span of the mice were evaluated and compared with those of the 5-FU-treated mice and untreated mice. RESULTS: The pulmonary metastasis rate was 94.4% and the recurrence rate was 94.44% in untreated group. The pulmonary metastasis rate was 68.4%, the inhibition rate of pulmonary metastasis was 27.5%, the recurrence rate was 78.95%, and the inhibition rate of tumor recurrence was 65.35% in JPYSR-treated group. The average and median life spans were obviously prolonged in JPYSR-treated group, as compared with those in untreated group. The life-prolonging rate was 100%. CONCLUSION: JPYSR can effectively inhibit the local recurrence and pulmonary metastasis of the transplanted proventriculus squamous carcinoma in mice after tumorectomy, and prolong the life span.