Chinese herbal medicine Ginkgo biloba L. preparations for ischemic stroke: An overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

BACKGROUND: Ginkgo biloba L. preparations (GBLPs) are a class of Chinese herbal medicine used in the adjuvant treatment of ischemic stroke (IS). Recently, several systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses (MAs) of GBLPs for IS have been published. OBJECTIVE: This overview aims to assess the quality of related SRs and MAs. SEARCH STRATEGY: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Chinese Biological Medicine, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and Chinese Science and Technology Journals databases were searched from their inception to December 31, 2022. INCLUSION CRITERIA: SRs and MAs of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that explored the efficacy of GBLPs for patients with IS were included. DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS: Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed the methodological quality, risk of bias (ROB), reporting quality, and credibility of evidence of the included SRs and MAs using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2), Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews (ROBIS), the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA), and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE), respectively. Additionally, descriptive analysis and data synthesis were conducted. RESULTS: Twenty-nine SRs/MAs involving 119 outcomes were included in this review. The overall methodological quality of all SRs/MAs was critically low based on AMSTAR 2, and 28 had a high ROB based on the ROBIS. According to the PRISMA statement, the reporting items of the included SRs/MAs are relatively complete. The results based on GRADE showed that of the 119 outcomes, 8 were rated as moderate quality, 24 as low quality, and 87 as very low quality. Based on the data synthesis, GBLPs used in conjunction with conventional treatment were superior to conventional treatment alone for decreasing neurological function scores. CONCLUSION: GBLPs can be considered a beneficial supplemental therapy for IS. However, because of the low quality of the existing evidence, high-quality RCTs and SRs/MAs are warranted to further evaluate the benefits of GBLPs for treating IS. Please cite this article as: Meng TT, You YP, Li M, Guo JB, Song XB, Ding JY, Xie XL, Li AQ, Li SJ, Yin XJ, Wang P, Wang Z, Wang BL, He QY. Chinese herbal medicine Ginkgo biloba L. preparations for ischemic stroke: An overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. J Integr Med. 2024;22(2): 163-179.

[Analysis and prospects of common problems in clinical data mining of traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions].

Mining data from traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) prescriptions is one of the important methods for inheriting the experience of famous doctors and developing new drugs. However, current research work has problems such as to be optimized research plans and non-standard statistics. The main problems and corresponding solutions summarized by the research mainly include four aspects.(1)The research plan design needs to consider the efficacy and quality of individual cases.(2)The significance of the difference in confidence order of association rules needs to be further considered, and the lift should not be ignored.(3)The clustering analysis steps are complex. The selection of clustering variables should comprehensively consider factors such as the frequency of TCM, network topology parameters, and practical application significance. The selection of distance calculation and clustering methods should be improved based on the characteristics of TCM clinical data. Jaccard distance and its improvement plan should be given attention in the future. A single, unexplained clustering result should not be presented, but the final clustering plan should be selected based on a comprehensive consideration of TCM clinical characteristics and objective evaluation indicators for clustering.(4)When calculating correlation coefficients, algorithms that are only suitable for continuous variables should not be applied to binary variables. This article explained the connotations of the above problems based on the characteristics of TCM clinical research and statistical principles and proposed corresponding suggestions to provide important references for future data mining research work.

[Analysis of Chinese patent medicine prescriptions for Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome].

To analyze the medication characteristics and compatibility rules in treatment of Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome. Chinese patent medicine prescriptions for Qi stagnation and blood stasis were collected from the 2015 edition of Pharmacopoeia of the people's Republic of China(herein after referred to as Chinese Pharmacopoeia) and Drug Standards of the People's Republic of China Ministry of Public Health-Chinese Patent Drug(herein after referred to as Chinese Patent Drug). Traditional Chinese medicine inheritance support system(TCMISS V2.5) was used to analyze the rules of prescription composition. Seventy-nine prescriptions included 105 symptoms, and dysmenorrhea, palpitations, chest tightness, stomach pain were common symptoms of Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome. Among 221 herbs, Chuanxiong Rhizoma, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Angelicae Sinenses Radix ranked top 3 in usage frequency for the treatment of Qi stagnation and blood stasis. The herbal combinations included Angelicae Sinenses Radix-Chuanxiong Rhizoma, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma-Carthami Flos, Chuanxiong Rhizoma-Carthami Flos, and Carthami Flos-Chuanxiong Rhizoma-Paeoniae Radix Rubra-Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma-Angelicae Sinenses Radix-Cyperi Rhizoma-Corydalis Rhizoma was the core herbal combination. In addition, a new prescription(Foenoculi Fructus-Alpiniae Officinarum Rhizoma-Caryophylli Flos-Angelicae Sinenses Radix-Chuanxiong Rhizoma-Leonuri Herba) for Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome was formed. Overall, the main symptom for the Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome could be pain, but because of different pathogenic factors, it could be reflected by different symptoms. Accordingly, invigorating the circulation of Qi and blood is the basic treatment for the Qi stagnation and blood stasis. Meanwhile, the treatment based on differentiation of symptoms and signs for different reasons should be considered. The prescriptions mainly included the herbs that could invigorate the circulation of Qi and blood, and were accompanied by the herbs that could warm spleen and stomach for dispelling cold.

[Compatibility regularity of compound traditional Chinese medicine patents based on association principle and entropy method].

To analyze the compatibility regularity of compound traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) patents for treating dyslipidemia, and provide basis for the clinical development and research of new TCM for treating dyslipidemia. Totally 243 compound traditional Chinese medicine patents for treating dyslipidemia were collected from the national patent database from September 1985 to March 2014 and analyzed by using drug frequency, association rules, complex network and entropy method of Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance System (V1.1). The commonest single medicine in the treatment of dyslipidemia is Crataegi Fructus 109 (44.86%). The commonest pair medicine is Crataegi Fructus-Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma 53 (21.81%). The commonest corner drug is Crataegi Fructus-Cassiae Semen-Polygoni Multiflori Radix 25 (10.29%). The common prescriptions on basis of association rules are Prunellae Spica-->Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (0.833), Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, Alismatis Rhizoma-->Polygoni Multiflori Radix (1.00), Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Cassiae Semen, Alismatis Rhizoma-->Polygoni Multiflori Radix (0.929). The core drugs based on complex networks are Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Crataegi Fructus. The new prescriptions extracted by entropy method are Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma-Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma-Platycladi Semen-Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix; Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium-Poria-Coicis Semen-Pinelliae Rhizoma. This study shows the regularity in the compatibility of compound TCM patents treating dyslipidemia, suggesting that future studies on new traditional Chinese medicines treating dyslipidemia should focus on the following six aspects: (1) Single medicine should be preferred: e. g. Crataegi Fructus; (2) Pair medicines should be preferred: e. g. Crataegi Fructus-Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma; (3) Corner drugs should be preferred: e. g. Crataegi Fructus, Cassiae Semen, Polygoni Multiflori Radix; (4) The compatibility among drugs shall be given attention, and highly correlated drugs should be preferred: e. g. Prunellae Spica, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma; Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, Alismatis Rhizoma, Polygoni Multiflori Radix; Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Cassiae Semen, Alismatis Rhizoma, Polygoni Multiflori Radix; (5) Core drugs should be dominant and compatible, e. g. in the digestion catharsis method, the core drugs is Crataegi Fructus and compatible with Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma; (6) Application of new prescriptions: Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Platycladi Semen, Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix; Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, Poria, Coicis Semen, Pinelliae Rhizoma.

Effects of panax notoginseng saponins on homing of C-kit+ bone mesenchymal stem cells to the infarction heart in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on homing of C-kit+ bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) to the infarction heart. METHODS: The acute myocardial infraction (AMI) model was established in 140 Wistar rats, 105 model rats survived after operation, and the model rats were randomly divided into five groups, 21 rats in each group: Western medicine group mobilized by subcutaneous injection of human granuloctye colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) 50 microg x kg(-1) x d(-1); sham operation group and a model group treated by subcutaneous injection of normal saline 50 microg x kg(-1) x d(-1); Chinese medicine group mobilized by intraperitoneal injection of Xuesaitong (see text) (ingredients of PNS) 150 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1); integrative medicine group mobilized by subcutaneous injection of G-CSF 50 microg x kg(-1) x d(-1) and intraperitoneal injection of Xuesaitong 150 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1). Except for the sham-operated group, each group was divided into three sub-groups by three time points of 1 d, 7 d and 14 d. G-CSF was injected once a day for 7 d. Xuesaitong was injected once a day until the rats were killed. The flow cytometry was used for detection of C-kit+ cells in the peripheral blood in different time points, and immunohistochemical method was used for detection of the changes of C-kit+ cell and Ki-67+ cell numbers in the marginal zone of AMI. RESULTS: Twenty-four hours after the operation, C-kit+ cells had a slight increase in the model group compared with the sham operation group (P > 0.05). The peripheral blood C-kit+ cells in the integrative group increased significantly compared with the other groups on 7 d and 14 d (all P < 0.05). Meanwhile the expression of C-kit+ cells and Ki-67+ cells in the marginal zone of AMI in the integrative group increased significantly compared with the Chinese medicine group, the western medicine group and the model group on 1 d, 7 d and 14 d (all P < 0.05), and the cells in the integrative group decreased significantly on 14 d compared with that on 7 d (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: PNS can cooperate with G-CSF to mobilize C-kit+ BMSCs from the marrow into the peripheral blood and promote them "homing" to the infarction heart.

Clinical application of the TCM classic formulae for treating chronic bronchitis.

Chronic bronchitis is chronic non-specific inflammation of bronchial mucosa and its surrounding tissues due to infected or non-infected factors. Except other reasons causing chronic cough, it can be diagnosed from cough and expectoration for 3 months with a history over 2 years. It can be classified as"cough", "dyspnea" and "asthma" in TCM.

[Establishment and primary screening of primitive entry pool of rating scale for patient-reported outcomes of coronary heart disease angina].

OBJECTIVE: To establish and screen the primitive entry pool of scale for patient-reported outcomes of coronary heart disease angina (CHDA). METHODS: Under the guidance of Chinese medical theory, the original entry pool was preliminarily established in referring the international scale development methods and the characteristics of angina pectoris, which was screened by focus group discussions, semi-open questionnaires investigation, and expert's interviews. RESULTS: Thirty-six entries were screened out from the 41 entries of initially established entry pool, in which 14 entries dealt with physiological domain, 8 with psychological domain, 4 with independent domain, 3 with social relations domain, 6 with social environment domain and 1 for overall assessment. CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary entries screened out have covered all the 5 commonly concerned domains of CHD-AP, could reflect the connotation of the disease more comprehensively. And it has good content validity due to its popular language, which is easily to be understood, comprehended and responded.

Logistic regression analysis of syndrome essential factors in patients with unstable angina pectoris.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation between common syndrome essential factors and the symptoms and signs of unstable angina (UA). METHODS: Eight hundred and fifteen patients with UA confirmed by coronary angiography were identified from several centers. Common syndrome essential factors were selected on the basis of expert experience. The correlations between common syndrome essential factors and symptoms and signs of UA were analyzed using binary logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The common syndrome essential factors in unstable angina were blood stasis, qi stagnation, phlegm turbidity, heat stagnancy, qi deficiency, yin deficiency, and yang deficiency. Symptoms such as chest pain, hypochondriac distention, ecchymosis, dark orbits, dark and purplish tongue, and tongue with ecchymosis and petechiae were significant diagnostic features of "blood stasis". Aversion to cold and cool limbs, weakness in the waist and knees, and clear abundant urine were significant diagnostic features of"yang deficiency". These results were in accordance with the understanding of traditional clinical Chinese medical practice. CONCLUSION: This clinical study analyzed the correlations between common syndrome essential factors and the symptoms and signs of unstable angina. The results provide the basis for establishing diagnostic criteria for syndrome essential factors.

[Application status and safety countermeasures of traditional Chinese medicine injections].

The research and development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) injections is an important innovation of modernization of TCM, which has great clinical value and irreplaceability in medical enterprise of China. But reports of adverse events of TCM injections gradually increased in recent years and the security problems received much concern with the enlargement of its application range. The reasons include unreliable herb sources and unreasonable utilization, in which the former includes historical reasons and non-unified standard and the latter includes combined use of Chinese and Western medicine, misused dosage and formula not corresponding to syndromes. We should face the problems, and preventive measures should be worked out by pharmaceutical factory, doctors and government. The first one is strictly guarding the pharmaceutical preparation procedures with advanced pharmaceutical technology; the second one is advocating the idea of formula corresponding to syndromes to minimize the occurrence of adverse effects; and the last one is strengthening the postmarketing reevaluation and market supervising management.

Effect of Yiqi Yangyin Decoction on the quality of life of patients with unstable angina pectoris.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Yiqi Yangyin Decoction (, YQYYD) on the quality of life (QOL) of patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP). METHODS: A total of 108 patients with UAP of qi-yin deficiency syndrome confirmed by coronary angiography were enrolled and assigned to the treated group (treated with YQYYD and conventional therapy of Western medicine) and the control group (treated with conventional therapy of Western medicine), by the use of the PROC PLAN of the SAS 6.12 software, in a prospective, randomized, controlled design. The clinical total effective rate, symptom score, QOL scale [Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ)] and incidence of important clinical events were defined as the observation indices to evaluate the interventional effect of YQYYD on the QOL of patients with UAP of the qi-yin deficiency syndrome. RESULTS: During the study, three cases dropped out in the treated group, one case dropped out in the control group, and 104 cases, including 51 cases in the treatment group and 53 cases in the control group, finished the trial. After four weeks of treatment, the total clinical effective rates in the treated group and the control group were 80.4% and 75.5% respectively, and there was no obvious difference between them (P>0.05). However, the symptom score of the treated group (9.31 + or - 2.02) was significantly lesser than that of the control group (11.62 + or - 3.04, P<0.05), and the total score of the QOL scale of the treated group (68.76 + or - 5.74) was significantly higher than that of the control group (61.06 + or - 3.31, P<0.01). Among those in the treated group physical limitation, angina stability, angina frequency, and treatment satisfaction were significantly ameliorated when compared with the control group after treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01). The incidence of important clinical events in the treated group (3.9%) was lower than that in the control group (5.7%) during the 8-month follow-up period, but the difference was insignificant (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: YQYYD could improve the clinical symptoms of patients with UAP of qi-yin deficiency syndrome and greatly improve their QOL.

Thinking on how to construct the system of Chinese medicine efficacy evaluation for coronary heart disease angina pectoris.

The existing efficacy evaluation for coronary heart disease (CHD) angina pectoris does not demonstrate the characteristics and advantages of Chinese medicine (CM), so a new system of efficacy evaluation which can scientifically and systematically reflect the specific features of CM needs to be urgently set up. Based on wide references of efficacy evaluations of CHD angina pectoris from our country and abroad, and considering the general acceptance by academic circles and demonstration of the characteristics of CM, this paper tries to set up a new index system of efficacy evaluation, combining both disease and syndrome differentiation for CHD angina pectoris. This paper also offers some explorations based on the results of clinical trials. The system is composed of six aspects, including efficacy evaluation of "disease", syndrome factors and main endpoints (the incidence of important clinical events), as well as patient reported outcomes, safety evaluation and medical economics.

Effect of shenshao tablet on the quality of life for coronary heart disease patients with stable angina pectoris.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Chinese medicine Shenshao Tablet (SST) on the: quality of life in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP). METHODS: Sixty-six: patients with SAP confirmed by coronary angiography were enrolled and assigned to two groups by means of PROC PLAN using a SAS 6.12 software in a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled design. Patients in the treated group were treated with SST, and the others in the control group were given placebo. The weekly angina frequency, quality of life scale [Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ)] and incidence of important clinical events were observed to evaluate the intervention effect of SST on the quality of life for CHD patients with SAP. RESULTS: During the study, one case dropped out in the treated group and two cases in the control group,: respectively, and 63 cases including 32 cases in the treated group, and 31 cases in the control group completed the trial. After four weeks of treatment, the weekly angina frequency of the treated group (5.32+/-2.46 times per week) was significantly less than that of the control group (7.32+/-3.20 times per week, P<0.05). The total score of the quality of life in the treated group (71.30+/-5.44) was obviously higher than that in the control group (63.50+/-4.60, P<0.01), and the angina stability, angina frequency, and treatment satisfaction were significantly superior to those in the control group (P<0.01). The incidence of important clinical events of the treated group (3.1%) was lower than that of the control group (6.5%) during the six-month follow-up period, but the difference was insignificant (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: SST could lower the angina frequency and greatly improve the quality of: life in CHD patients with SAP.

[Study on the Chinese medicine syndrome characteristics and coronary artery lesion specialty of female coronary heart disease].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical feature, coronary artery lesion specialty and Chinese medicine syndrome characteristics of coronary heart disease (CHD) in females. METHODS: The clinical materials of 297 female patients with CHD, whose diagnosis had been confirmed by coronary angiography, were analyzed and compared with those of 772 male patients. RESULTS: CHD in females was characterized by later occurrence, frequently complicated with diabetes mellitus and blood lipid disorder, and rather serious coronary lesion, mainly the multi- or double-branch lesion, involving the anterior descend branch, right coronary artery and convolution branch; with the often encountered syndrome factors and their combinations of qi deficiency, blood stasis, yin deficiency, blood stasis due to qi deficiency,deficiency of both qi and yin,turbid phlegm, yang-deficiency, etc.; the figures of tongue and pulse were generally dark-red or dark-purple or pale-red colored corpulent tongue proper, with waterless yellow or less coating, even without coating, cyanosed varicose sublingual veins,thin-weak or thin- rapid pulse. CONCLUSION: Female CHD has its special clinical feature, coronary specialty and Chinese medicine syndrome characteristics. Proper treatment methods for it are supplementing qi, activating blood, nourishing yin in dominance, with dissolving phlegm and accessing yang as accessory.

[Effect of electro-acupuncture in treating morphine sulfate caused constipation in tumor patients].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) for treatment of morphine sulfate caused constipation in tumor patients. METHODS: Sixty-six tumor patients suffering from constipation caused by oral taking of morphine sulfate controlled-release tablet were equally randomized into the treated group treated with EA [on the bilateral Zusanli (ST36) and Tianshu (ST25) points] and the control group treated with citrate-mosapride tablet. The overall therapeutic effect and scores of constipation in both groups were estimated after treatment. RESULTS: Scores of constipation in terms of frequency, time, and difficulty degree of defecation, as well as stool properties, were all improved in both groups after treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05); the total score of constipation was 5.52 +/- 1.54 and 5.70 +/- 2.49 in the two groups respectively, which in the treated group was better, and showed significant difference compared with the score in the control group (P<0.01). The overall effective rate was 97.0% in the treated group and 87.9% in the control group. CONCLUSION: EA has a good effect in treating constipation caused by oral taking of morphine sulfate controlled-release tablet.

Thirty-two cases of vascular headache treated by acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal decoction.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the acupuncture plus oral administration of Chinese herbal decoction with simple oral administration of Chinese herbal decoction in the treatment of vascular headache. METHODS: Sixty two patients were randomly divided into a treatment group (32 cases) and a control group (30 cases). Acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Fengchi (GB 20), Shuaigu (GB 8), Xingjian (LR 2), Neiguan (PC 6), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Ashi points combined with oral administration of Chinese herbal decoction, was applied in the treatment group, and simple oral administration of Chinese herbal decoction was applied in the control group. RESULTS: The total therapeutic effect in the treatment group was better than that in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the frequency, and duration of the attacks were reduced and shortened, and headache greatly alleviated in both groups (P < 0.01). The alleviation in the treatment group was more obvious than that in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture combined with oral administration of Chinese herbal decoction provided remarkable therapeutic effects in treating vascular headache.

Clinical observation on the efficacy of Xiaoshui decoction combined with intrapleural perfusion of cisplatin in treating malignant pleural effusion.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of Xiaoshui decoction (XSD) combined with intrapleural perfusion of cisplatin in the treatment of malignant pleural effusion. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with malignant pleural effusion were randomly assigned to two groups. The treated group (26 patients) received oral administration of XSD combined with intrapleural perfusion of cisplatin, and the control group (25 patients) was only treated with intrapleural perfusion of cisplatin. The effects of the short-term efficacy, quality of life scores and clinical symptom scores of malignant pleural effusion were evaluated. RESULTS: The short-term efficacy in the treated group and the control group was 72.0% and 58.3%, respectively, and no significant difference was found (P>0.05). In contrast, the quality of life in the treated group was significantly improved compared to that of the control group (P<0.05), and so was the symptom remission (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The combined therapy of XSD and intrapleural perfusion of cisplatin did not show obvious improvement in short-term efficacy, but the therapy remarkably alleviated the symptoms and improved the quality of life of patients.

Study on syndrome element characteristics and its correlation with coronary angiography in 324 patients with coronary heart disease.

OBJECTIVE: Recently, a new traditional Chinese medicine differentiation theory "Syndrome Element (SE)" has been raised. In this study, the main syndrome element types and their correlations with the results of coronary angiography (CAG) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) were investigated. METHODS: Epidemiology cross-sectional study method was employed and 324 patients with CHD were enrolled, and their syndrome element types as well as the CAG results were analyzed. The correlations among syndrome element types, Gensini score, and the number of abnormal branches were also analyzed based on the distribution characteristics of syndrome element and coronary angiography results in the 324 cases. RESULTS: According to their occurrence frequency in 324 CHD patients, the top eight major heart syndrome elements were Xin () blood stasis (85.8%), Xin qi deficiency (79.6%), Xin heat blockage (41.1%), Xin phlegm with turbid fluid (38.0%), Xin qi stagnation (24.7%), Xin yang deficiency (18.9%), Xin yin deficiency (17.5%) and Xin cold coagulation (4.4%), respectively, which suggested that Xin blood stasis and Xin qi deficiency were the two most common syndrome elements. Also, as coronary artery Gensini score increased, the changing trend of the syndrome element was "Xin yang deficiency with blood stasis" to "Xin phlegm obstruction with heat blockage" to "Xin yin deficiency with blood stasis" to "Xin qi deficiency with blood stasis" to "Xin cold coagulation with phlegm and turbid fluid, "Xin cold coagulation with blood stasis" to "Xin deficiency of qi, yin and yang". As the number of abnormal branches increased, the syndrome element changing trend was "simultaneous occurrence of cold and heat syndrome" to "Xin qi and yang deficiency with blood stasis" to "Xin retention of phlegm with turbid fluid" to "Xin cold coagulation in the heart meridian", "Xin deficiency of both qi and yin". The result of this study shows that Xin qi deficiency and Xin blood stasis were the major syndrome elements in patients with CHD. CONCLUSION: As the severity and extent of coronary artery lesion increased, there were some apparent correlations among syndrome elements, Gensini score and number of abnormal coronary artery branches.

[Correlation between syndrome factor combination and cardiac function as well as blood-lipid in coronary heart disease].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the distribution laws of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome factor and their combination in coronary heart disease (CHD), and to study the correlation between the TCM syndrome factor combination and cardiac function as well as blood-lipid. METHODS: The parameters of the cardiac function of 300 patients with a final diagnosis of CHD by coronary angiography were measured by echocardiography, and the levels of blood lipids in the CHD patients were detected. An analysis of the correlation was done between the TCM syndrome factor combination and cardiac function as well as blood-lipid in CHD. RESULTS: The TCM syndrome factor combinations of CHD were blood stasis due to qi deficiency, qi and yin deficiency, intermingled phlegm and blood stasis, and yang deficiency and blood stasis. The ejection fraction of CHD patients with yang deficiency and blood stasis was markedly decreased. The levels of triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in CHD patients with intermingled phlegm and blood stasis were markedly increased, and the level of triglyceride in CHD patients with qi and yin deficiency was markedly increased too. CONCLUSION: The treatment of CHD should aim directly at the symptoms and causes. It is also proved that some compound traditional Chinese herbal medicines for supplementing qi and activating blood circulation, nourishing yin and resolving phlegm, and activating yang should be used in treatment of CHD. In cases of CHD with low cardiac function, particular emphasis should be laid on activating yang and blood circulation, while in cases of CHD with blood-lipid disturbance, particular emphasis should be laid on resolving phlegm and activating blood circulation, replenishing qi and nourishing yin.

[Laws of syndrome element combination in stable angina pectoris: a study based on cluster analysis and corresponding-correlation analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the classification of common symptoms and the laws of syndrome element combination in 251 cases of stable angina pectoris (SAP) by using cluster analysis and corresponding-correlation analysis. METHODS: A total of 251 SAP cases were selected and their information from four diagnosis in traditional Chinese medicine was recorded. The classification of common symptom and the laws of syndrome element combination were investigated by cluster analysis and corresponding-correlation analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-five symptoms found in 251 SAP cases were divided into four types by cluster analysis: deficiency of heart qi, deficiency of spleen qi, deficiency of qi and yin, and phlegm accumulation and blood stasis. The deficiency of heart qi had the closest relation to phlegm accumulation and blood stasis. By corresponding-correlation analysis, the deficiency of qi had the closest relation to blood stasis, next was turbid phlegm and heat stagnation, and then deficiency of qi and deficiency of yin. CONCLUSION: Blood stasis due to deficient qi is the key factor in pathogenesis of SAP. Deficiency of qi plus blood stasis, deficiency of qi plus deficiency of yin, blood stasis plus turbid phlegm, deficiency of heart qi plus blood stasis plus turbid phlegm are common syndrome element combinations of SAP. It is proved that cluster analysis and corresponding-correlation analysis are the proper methods for studying laws of syndrome element combination.

[Factor analysis of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes in 815 patients with unstable angina].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the laws of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes in unstable angina, and to establish the preliminary diagnostic criteria for TCM syndromes. METHODS: Multi-center prospective research on TCM syndromes in 815 cases of unstable angina was done with the nonlinear dimension reduction by factor analysis. RESULTS: There were five extracted factors in factor analysis: F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5. F1 was yin deficiency of heart and kidney, F2 was deficiency of both heart and spleen, F3 was intermingled phlegm and blood stasis, F4 was qi deficiency and blood stasis, and F5 was yang deficiency and coagulated cold. Qi deficiency and blood stasis (F4) syndrome accounted for the maximum proportion. The diagnostic criteria for TCM syndromes were preliminarily and respectively established. CONCLUSION: Qi deficiency and blood stasis is the key factor of pathogenesis. The factor analysis can help us classify traditional Chinese medicine syndromes and establish the preliminary diagnostic criteria.