Network Meta-analysis of Qi-supplementing and Yin-nourishing Chinese patent medicines in treatment of early diabetic nephropathy / 中国中药杂志

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Qi-supplementing and Yin-nourishing Chinese patent medicine in the treatment of early diabetic nephropathy(DN) by network Meta-analysis to explore the Chinese patent medicine with optimal efficacy and provide references for preventing renal deterioration and delaying the progression of early DN. Eight databases, including CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, were searched for clinical randomized controlled trial(RCT) of Qi-supplementing and Yin-nourishing Chinese patent medicines in the treatment of early DN. After the literature mee-ting the inclusion criteria was screened, the quality of the literature was evaluated using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, and network Meta-analysis was performed using the BUGSnet package in R 4.2.1. Seventy-two research articles with a sample size of 6 344 cases were included, involving eight Chinese patent medicines and seven outcome indicators. The results of the network Meta-analysis showed that(1)in terms of improving urinary albumin excretion rate(UAER), Chinese patent medicines combined with conventional treatment were superior to conventional treatment, and Qiyao Xiaoke Capsules + conventional treatment was optimal.(2)In terms of reducing serum crea-tinine(Scr), Bailing Capsules + conventional treatment had superior efficacy.(3)In terms of reducing 24-hour urine total protein(24hUTP), Shenyan Kangfu Tablets + conventional treatment and Jinshuibao Capsules + conventional treatment had equivalent efficacy, and Shenyan Kangfu Tablets + conventional treatment was superior.(4)In terms of improving fasting blood glucose(FBG), Shenyan Kangfu Tablets + conventional treatment had superior efficacy.(5)In terms of improving total cholesterol(TC), Qiyao Xiaoke Capsules +conventional treatment had superior efficacy.(6)In terms of reducing triglyceride(TG), Bailing Capsules + conventional treatment had superior efficacy.(7)In terms of safety, the occurrence of adverse reactions was reported in seven interventions, but due to the large clinical heterogeneity, the quantitative analysis could not be performed. Overall, Qi-supplementing and Yin-nourishing Chinese patent medicines combined with conventional treatment were superior to conventional treatment alone in the treatment of early DN. The results showed that Qi-supplementing and Yin-nourishing Chinese patent medicines combined with conventional treatment had good clinical efficacy, and they could significantly reduce renal function indicators such as UAER, Scr, and 24hUTP, and reduce blood sugar and blood lipid, which can provide evidence-based support for the treatment of early DN. However, due to the differences in the quantity and quality of the included research articles, large-sample, multi-center, high-quality studies are still needed for further verification.

Stem cell expansion and hepatic differentiation: Measurement of related indicators and detection methods / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Stem cells have wide application prospects in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, cell therapy and drug research. In recent years, the applied research, such as bioartificial liver, requires large-scale and high-quality stem cells by expansion, and final obtains hepatocytes (hepatocyte-like cells) by directional differentiation. Through this way, how to efficiently obtain the differentiated cells, with excellent consistency, powerful function and uniform expression of markers, are the key problems to be solved. OBJECTIVE: To review the detection indicators and detection methods related to the process of stem cell expansion and hepatic differentiation, summarize the indicators and methods that have been applied to online detection, discuss the limitations of some indicators and methods applied to online detection, and prospect the indicators and detection technologies expected to be applied to online detection in the future. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, Elsevier and CNKI databases were retrieved for the articles concerning stem cell expansion and hepatic differentiation published from 1990 to 2019. The literature related to stem cell expansion and hepatic differentiation was collected. The keywords were “stem cells; expansion; hepatic differentiation; monitoring; real-time online” in English and Chinese, respectively. A total of 93 articles were searched, and finally 53 eligible articles were selected and reviewed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There are many detection indicators and detection methods for stem cell expansion and hepatic differentiation. Among them, the detection indicators of the expansion process are mainly related to the maintenance of pluripotency, metabolic activity, survival rate, and cancer transformation trend of stem cells. The process of hepatic differentiation varies with cell types, in which, the pluripotent stem cells and the mesodermal lineage adult pluripotent stem cells should differentiate into the endoderm-oriented cells and then the mature hepatocytes (hepatocyte-like cells), while the endodermal lineage adult pluripotent stem cells mainly composed of hepatic stem/progenitor cells can directly differentiate into mature hepatocytes (hepatocyte-like cells). The specific markers, survival rate and metabolic activity of cells in different stages of differentiation are the focus of detection. At present, although the detection methods based on large-scale biochemical detection and analysis equipment have high reliability, they face the problems of poor real-time performance, high cost and difficulties in integration and miniaturization. Future concerns are focused on the screening of key detection indicators, quantification of detection criteria and realization of automatic online detection during stem cell expansion and hepatic differentiation.

Efficacy evaluation on knee osteoarthritis treated with acupuncture: non-randomized concurrent control trial / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical efficacy and efficacy sustainable time of acupuncture in knee osteoarthritis (KOA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The non-randomized concurrent control trial was adopted. One hundred and ninety-three cases of KOA were divided into an immediate acupuncture group (group A, 97 cases) and a delayed acupunc-weeks at the end of treatment. In group B, the same acupuncture therapy was applied after waiting 4 weeks. The acupoints in the two groups were Liangqiu (ST 34), Dubi (ST 35), Zusanli (ST 36), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Xuehai (SP 10), Xiyan (EX-LE 4), Xiyangguan (GB 33). WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMasters Universities Osteoarthritis) was used for the assessment of the primary index and VAS (visual analogue scale) was for the secondary index. The evaluation was accomplished by the patients at the beginning of trial, on the 4th and 8th weeks. In each group, 72 patients finished the trial and the data of the lost cases were included in the final data analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the 4th week of trial, WOMAC score was (25. 8+/-22.0) in group A difference (P<0. 001). VAS scorewas (31. 8+/-24. and was (43.8+/-22.2) in group B, indicating the significant 6) in group A and was (56. 6 +/-25. 8) in group B, indicating very significant difference (P<0. 001). In the 8th week, the efficacy was reduced slightly in the follow-up of group A, but it was improved apparently as compared Acupuncture relieves joint pain and improves joint function obviously.by th patiĩeffr,a Mtaetfti-?an tf ri-with that before treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture relieves joint pain and improves joint function obviously.The effect of acupuncture is still sustainable in 4 weeks after terminating the treatment.</p>

Efficacy observation of knee osteoarthritis treated with acupuncture / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical efficacy of the conventional acupuncture on knee osteoarthritis (KOA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-three cases of KOA were treated with the conventional acupuncture therapy at Liang-qiu (ST 34), Dubi (ST 35), Zusanli (ST 36), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Yinlingquan (SP 9), etc. The conventional acupuncture therapy lasted for 4 weeks (at least 3 treatments and less than 5 times each week). At the end of treatment, the follow-up visit lasted for 4 weeks. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) and the visual analogue scale (VAS) were adopted for the efficacy assessments of the patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of 73 cases, 49 cases accomplished the trial. The data of the lost cases were included in the final data analysis. At the end of 4-week treatment and the follow-up visit, every score in VAS and WOMAC was decreased The conventional acupuncture therapy reduces the joint pain for apparently (P < 0.001, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>the patients with KOA and improves the joint function. The 4-week follow-up visit indicates that the efficacy of acupuncture is still sustained.</p>