Knowledge Domain and Emerging Trends of Chinese Medicine in Management of Pediatric Asthma: A Scientometric Study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the intellectual landscape and emerging research trends of Chinese medicine (CM) in the management of pediatric asthma through a scientometric study. METHODS: Publications related to CM in the management of pediatric asthma were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection using relevant keywords. A scientometric study was performed using CiteSpace and VOSviewer. RESULTS: A total of 1,673 original articles and reviews from 1991 to 2019 were included in the analysis. The amount of annual publications had a gradual increase with time. USA was the major contributor both in country and institution analyses. Based on the co-citation, the published journals were grouped into 4 clusters. Keyword analysis indicated that the main hotspots were: (1) comprehensive management; (2) risk factors, mechanism, and prevalence; (3) prevention and treatment; (4) inflammation; and (5) environmental research. Lastly, we predicted that three emerging trends were quality of life promotion, immune response, and combination therapy. CONCLUSIONS: CM research in the management of pediatric asthma will maintain the current trend of steady growth. This scientometric analysis may help scientists to identify the areas of interests and future directions in the field.

[Analysis of medication characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine in treating COVID-19 based on data mining].

OBJECTIVE: To analysis the medication characteristics of the prescriptions issued via open channel by the National and Provincial Health Committee and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine in treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: We collected the data of traditional Chinese medicine related to treatment plans published by the National and Provincial Health Committee and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine from the start of COVID-19 outbreak to February 19, 2020. The frequency analysis, cluster analysis and association analysis were performed. RESULTS: The study collected 4 national and 34 regional prevention and treatment plans, 578 items, 84 traditional Chinese formulations, 60 Chinese patent medicines, and 230 Chinese herbs. The high frequently used herbs were Liquorice, Scutellariabaicalensis, Semen armeniacaeamarae, and Gypsum. The commonly used traditional formulations included Maxing Shigan decoction, Yin Qiao powder, and Xuanbai Chengqi decoction. The Chinese patent drugs included Angong Niuhuang pill, Xuebijing injection, and Lianhua Qingwen capsule. The most common paired medications were Ephedra and Semen armeniacaeamarae, Fructusforsythiae and Liquorice. Two core combinations and one novel formula were discovered in the study. CONCLUSIONS: Yin Qiao powder and Huopo Xialing decoction are the basic formulations for Weifen syndrome of COVID-19. In addition, Maxing Shigan decoction, Liang Ge powder, Qingwen Baidu decoction and Da Yuan decoction are the basic formulations for Qifen syndrome of COVID-19. The main medication characteristics are clearing heat, entilating lung, removing toxicity and removing turbidity. It shows that removing toxicity and eliminating evil are the prescription thought in treating epidemic disease of traditional Chinese medicine.

Efficacy of Banxia Xiexin decoction in a rat model of chronic atrophic gastritis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of Banxia Xiexin decoction (BXD) in a rat model of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). METHODS: Sixty 6-week-old healthy Wistar rats (30 males, 30 females) were used in the present study. A rat model of CAG was successfully established using the combined active immunization/ethanol/sodium deoxycholate method. BXD was prepared from a mixture of seven Chinese herbs, and was intragastrically administered to CAG rats at three different doses (6, 12, and 24 g·kg－1·d－1). After 24 weeks, the rats were euthanized, and gastric tissue specimens were collected. Gastric mucosal specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histological examination to evaluate the degree of inflammation and morphological changes. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to examine the mucosal expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen. Serum gastrin levels were measured using radioimmunoassay. The expression of Notch signaling-associated genes was examined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot assay. RESULTS: BXD at all three doses significantly reversed the adverse effects generated by CAG in rats. Compared with control rats, the CAG rats who were administered BXD had an accelerated growth rate, reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, improved gastric mucosal morphology, augmented thickness of the gastric mucosa, increased number of gastric glands, enhanced mucosal expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and elevated serum gastrin levels. CONCLUSION: BXD has a therapeutic effect in a rat model of CAG by targeting the Notch signaling pathway, thereby blocking the CAG from progressing to early gastric cancer.