The Chinese herbal formula Zhibai Dihuang Granule treat Yin-deficiency-heat syndrome rats by regulating the immune responses.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Zhibai Dihuang Granule (ZDG), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) made from eight Chinese herbs, has been classically used to treat Yin-deficiency-heat (YDH) syndrome. ZDG is well known with the therapeutic efficacy of nourishing Yin and decreasing internal heat in clinic, but the mechanism of ZDG's therapeutic effect is still not clear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: High doses of triiodothyronine (T3) were given intraperitoneally to induce Hyperthyroid YDH syndrome in SD rats. The animals were then treated with ZDG for one week. The iTRAQ-coupled with two-dimensional liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (2D LC-MS/MS) technique was used to screen the differentially expressed serum proteins between ZDG treated rats and YDH syndrome rats. The differentially expressed proteins were analyzed by bioinformatics method and were verified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: A total of 55 differentially expressed proteins were identified, including 23 up-regulated proteins (>1.25 fold, p < 0.05) and 32 down-regulated proteins (<0.80 fold, p < 0.05). Among the differentially expressed proteins, 26 proteins returned to normal after ZDG treatment. Bioinformatics analysis showed that these proteins were mainly involved in immune response, including regulation of immune system process, complement activation, and humoral immune response mediated by circulating immunoglobulin. ELISA revealed significantly increased levels of Zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein (Azgp1), L-selectin, C-reactive protein (Crp), Plasminogen (Plg), Kininogen 1 (Kng1), and significantly decreased levels of Mannose binding lectin 2 (Mbl2) and Complement C1qb chain (C1qb) in ZDG treated rats compared with YDH syndrome rats. Bioinformatics analyses indicated that Azgp1 participated in antigen processing and presentation, Crp, C1qb, and Mbl2 were involved in complement activation, while L-selectin, Plg, and Kng1 were involved in regulating the inflammatory response. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides experimental evidence to understand the therapeutic mechanism of ZDG in YDH syndrome. The results suggested that ZDG may regulate the complement activation and inflammatory response, and promote the ability to recognize antigens to alleviate YDH syndrome.

[Research on the application role of yin-yang consumption theory in evaluating the inflammatory immune state and prognosis of patients with abdominal surgical].

OBJECTIVE: To study the differences of the inflammation immune state, severity, and prognosis of patients with abdominal surgical critical illness between yin consumption and yang consumption, to clarify the clinical application of yin-yang consumption theory in evaluating their inflammatory immune state, pathological severity, and prognosis. METHODS: One hundred and forty-five patients with abdominal surgical critical illness were recruited from Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Tianjin Nankai Hospital from January 2007 to March 2010. According to syndrome typing, all patients were assigned to yang deficiency group (82 cases) and yin deficiency group (63 cases). The patient's vital signs were measured, including body temperature, pulse, respiration, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and so on. The acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score was performed. The patients' white blood cell (WBC) count, C-reactive protein (CRP), human leukocyte antigen DR-site (HLA-DR), as well as regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg) were determined. The CU length of stay, the total hospitalization time, the hospitalization cost, and the mortality, were also statistically recorded. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in gender, age, or primary disease between the two groups (P > 0.05) . The APACHE U score, the number of organ dysfunction, MAP, HLA-DR, the ICU length of stay, the total hospitalization time, and the hospitalization cost were significantly higher in yang deficiency group than in yin deficiency group (P < 0.05). But the body temperature, heart rate, respiration, WBC count, CRP, and Treg were significantly lower in yang deficiency group than in yin deficiency group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the mortality between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In the domain of abdominal surgical critical diseases, the differences in yang consumption and yin consumption of primary disease could help judge the severity of patient's condition and immunodissonance. Yin-yang consumption theory had stronger application value in assistant diagnosis and treatment.

Correlation between pathogenesis of dampness syndrome and interleukin-2, interleukin-8 in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the pathogenesis of dampness syndrome by detecting the changes of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels. METHODS: Female Sprague Dawley rats were divided randomly into five groups according to the random number table: a normal group (Group I), an external dampness group (Group II), an internal dampness group (Group III), and an external and internal dampness group (Group IV). Twenty days after the model made, IL-2 and IL-8 levels were detected by radioimmunoassay method. RESULTS: The IL-2 and IL-8 levels among groups were significant (F = 3.102, P < 0.05; F = 2.657, P < 0.05, respectively). The level of IL-2 in Group II and Group III were higher than that in Group I (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively), especially higher in the Group III compared with Group II (P < 0.05). The level of IL-8 in Group III were higher than those in Group I, Group II and Group IV (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively). In the Group III, the 24-hour water and body weight were higher than that in the Group IV (all P < 0.05), and spontaneous movement frequency was higher than those in Group II and Group IV (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Immune activation and inflammatory reaction might be easily caused by external dampness other than internal dampness.

[Curative effect of Yidu Recipe in treating chronic hepatitis B patients of gan-shen yin-deficiency and damp-heat syndrome type and its influence of T-cell subsets].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Yidu Recipe (YDR) in treating patients of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) with positive hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) and its influence on the quantity and function of T-cell subsets. METHODS: Fifty-seven CHB patients measured up the inclusive criteria were randomly assigned to the control group and the treated group, treated respectively by entecavir alone and entecavir + YDR for 6 months. Changes of alanine a minotransferase (ALT), aspartate a minotransferase (AST), HBV-DNA, HBV-M, interleukin-4 (IL-4) and Chinese medicine syndrome score, as well as amounts of natural killer (NK) T cell, gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN), Th1, Th2, Tc1 and Tc2 cells in peripheral blood (detected by flow cytometry) before and after treatment were observed. And the liver function normalization rate, negative inversion rates of HBV-DNA and HBeAg were estimated at terminal of the trial. RESULTS: Seven cases were dropped out in the observation period. Compared with the control group, levels of ALT, AST, HBV-DNA and Chinese medicine syndrome score were lower after treatment (P < 0.05), and liver function normalization rate was higher in the treated group, while the difference between groups in negative inversion rates HBV-DNA and HBeAg were insignificant (P > 0.05). Amount of IFN-gamma increased, IL-4 reduced, and Tc1 cell raised after treatment, which led to the rise of Tcl/Tc2 ratio in both groups; while in the treated group, in addition to the above-mentioned changes, the Th1 cell was increased also, and thus to make elevation of Th1/Th2 ratio (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The efficacy of entecavir + YDR in treating HBeAg positive CHB patients is better than that of entecavir alone. YDR can effectively improve patients' liver function, inhibit HBV-DNA replication and improve clinical symptoms, its action may be realized by way of increasing the amount of NKT cells, inducing increase of IFN-gamma and decrease of IL-4 secretions, and regulating the balance between Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2.

Clinical observation on the endocrinal and immune functions in subjects with yin-deficiency constitution.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between yin-deficiency constitution (YDC) and biochemical indexes by way of observing the endocrinal and immune functions in subjects with YDC. METHODS: On the basis of epidemiological investigation, 60 subjects with YDC and 50 with gentle constitution (GC) were selected according to the pertinent criteria. From each subject, 8 mL of fasting venous blood was drawn at 8:00-9:00 in the morning, with the serum separated by centrifugation 3 000 r/min for 5 min and preserved at -70 degrees Celsius in a freezer. Serum levels of corticosterone, cortisol, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), throtropic stimulation hormone, interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) and interleukin 2 (IL-2) were detected by double-antibody sandwich ELISA; cAMP/cGMP ratio was calculated, and the difference between the two constitutions in terms of these indexes was analyzed. RESULTS: Serum FT3 was 4.16 + or - 1.38 pmol/L in subjects with YDC, which was higher than that in subjects with GC (3.71 + or - 0.55 pmol/L), but levels of cortisol (124.58 + or - 45.36 ng/mL), ACTH (58.92 + or - 14.55 pg/mL), cGMP (66.00 + or - 18.02 pmol/mL) and FT4 (12.33 + or - 3.12 pmol/L) in YDC were lower than those in GC (13.43 + or - 2.31 pmol/L), showing significant difference (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: YDC is related to some extent with the disturbances in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis, cyclic nucleoside system and immune function.

Relationship between various Chinese medicine types and T-cell subsets in patients with ulcerative colitis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between various Chinese medicine (CM) types and T-cell subsets (CD4(+) and CD8(+)) in the colonic mucous membranes of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: Fifty UC patients were enrolled, after differentiation into four types by CM syndromes, i.e., the internal heat-damp accumulation type (IHDA), the qi-stagnancy with blood stasis type (QSBS), the Pi-Shen yang-deficiency type (PSYD) and the yin-blood deficiency type (YBD). From every patient, 3-5 pieces of intestinal mucous membrane tissues were taken through colonoscopy to determine the levels of the T-cell subsets (CD4(+) and CD8(+)) using immunohistochemical method. The results were compared with those in the normal control. RESULTS: The level of CD8(+)increased and the ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+)decreased mainly in colonic mucous membranous tissues in UC patients. The level of CD4(+)decreased significantly in IHDA types (P<0.01), but decreased only slightly in the PSYD, QSBS and YBD types. CD8(+)increased significantly in the IHDA types (P<0.01), but only slightly in the other three types. CONCLUSION: The IHDA types of UC are closely related with T-cell subsets. The difference of T-cell subsets in various IHDA types of UC patients has provided a theoretical basis for syndrome differentiation in the CM typing of UC.

[Study on immunological pathogenesis of 59 patients with multiple sclerosis of different TCM syndrome types].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the immunological pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients of different TCM syndrome types. METHODS: Fifty-nine MS patients were assigned to two types by syndrome typing according to their clinical manifestations, the Gan-Shen yin-deficiency (GSYD, 40 cases) type and the both yin-yang deficiency (YYD, 19 cases) type. Difference of patients' age of first attack, times of relapsing, duration of disease, MRI finding and evoked potential between the two groups were compared. The immunology indexes were also compared in part of the patients (26 cases in GSYD type and 12 cases in YYD type). RESULTS: The age of first attack was later (P < 0.01), level of myelin basic protein in cerebrospinal fluid was higher (P < 0.05), in the YYD type than those in the GSYD type. Besides, the relapsing time in GSYD type, and the blood-brain barrier index and level of myelin basic protein in YYD type showed an ascending trend (P = 0.056, 0.074, 0.093, respectively). CONCLUSION: Immunological difference exists between the MS patients of GSYD type and those of YYD type.

[Effects of Chinese herbal medicine for Yiqi Yangyin Quyu in treating Sjögren's syndrome and on patients' immunologic function].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immuno-regulatory and therapeutic effects of Chinese herbal medicine for Yiqi Yangyin Quyu (YYQ, supplementing qi, nourishing yin, removing blood stasis) on Sjögren's syndrome (SS). METHODS: Sixty-two patients were randomly divided into the treated group (37 cases) treated with Chinese medicine and prednisone, and the control group (25 cases) treated with prednisone alone, and another 20 healthy persons were taken as the normal control group. Curative effects was observed, and immunoglobulin (Ig) and T lymphocyte subsets were detected before and after 3 months' treatment. RESULTS: Immunoglobulin (IgG, IgM and IgA) before treatment in SS patients were higher, while the proportion of natural killer (NK) cell and CD4 were lower as compared with those in the normal control group. After treatment, IgG, IgM and IgA lowered to normal levels (P < 0.05), the proportion of NK cell and CD4 rose in both groups (P < 0.05), but CD3 in the control group was still lower than that in the treated group (P < 0.05). The total curative effective rate in the treated group was 91.9%, better than that in the control group (76.0%, chi-squared = 3.92, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Chinese herbal medicine for YYQ could improve clinical curative effective rate and regulate immune function in SS patients.

[Relationship between CD8+ T-cell CD28 expression and TCM differentiation type in patients with chronic aplastic anemia].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between CD8+ T-cell CD28 molecular expression in peripheral blood and TCM type in patients with chronic aplastic anemia (CAA). METHODS: Using flow cytometry to detect the CD28 expression in 45 in-patients or out-patients and 24 healthy subjects for control. And the relation with TCM type was analyzed from the immunological aspect. RESULTS: (1) The levels of CD8, CD28, CD8+ CD28+ expression and CD8+ CD28+/CD8+ CD28- were all higher in the CAA patients than those in the healthy subjects (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). (2) The levels of CD28, CD8+ CD28+ expression and CD8+ CD28+/CD8+ CD28- were all higher in the CAA patients of Shen-Yin deficiency type than those in the CAA patients of Shen-Yang deficiency type (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: (1) The abnormal high expression of peripheral blood co-stimulatory molecules CD28 suggested CD28 disorder may play an important role in immuno-pathogenesis of CAA. (2) The levels of peripheral CD28, CD8+ CD28+ expression and CD8+ CD28+/CD8+ CD28- can be taken as an objective indexes for TCM typing of CAA, which was disordered more severe in patients of Shen-Yin deficiency type than in those of Shen-Yang deficiency type.

[Effects of Eupolyphaga Sinensis Walker on erythrocyte's CR1 activity and anti-cardiolipin antibody level in rats with stagnation of blood].

AIM: To study the effect of Eupolyphaga Sinensis Walker(ESW) on red blood cell immune adherence (RCIA) and serum anticardiolipin antibody level in rat model of Yin-deficiency Huo-excess with chronic blood stasis. METHODS: The model was made by i.m. injection of dexamethasone (0.5 mg/kg) and adrenaline (0.84 mg/kg). The serum anti-cardiolipin antibodies (ACA) ACA-IgG, ACA-IgA and ACA-IgM and the plasma D-dimmer levels were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The body and organ weight of the rats were measured. RESULTS: For rats of Yin-deficiency Huo-excess, rosette rates of red blood cell C3b receptors (RBC-C3b RR) and red blood cell cancer (RBC-CaR) decreased, the serum ACA-IgG, ACA-IgA, ACA-IgM and the plasma D-dimmer levels markedly increased, body weight and the weight of spleen and thymus all decreased. ESW (5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg) increased RBC-C3bRR and RBC-CaR, reduced serum ACA-IgG, ACA-IgA, ACA-IgM and plasma D-dimmer levels, and increased spleen weight of the rats. CONCLUSION: ESW can boost the immune function in rats of Yin-deficiency Huo-excess with chronic blood stasis.

[Regulatory effect of zengmian mixture on T-lymphocyte dysfunction in children with repeated lower respiratory tract infection of both Qi-Yin deficiency type].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the T-lymphocyte dysfunction in children with repeated infection of lower respiratory tract of both Qi-Yin deficiency type (RIR-QYD) and the immune regulatory effect of zengmian mixture (ZMM), to provide theoretical basis for the effective therapy. METHODS: Peripheral T-lymphocyte subsets and expressions of T-lymphocyte activating related surface molecules (CD3+/HLA-DR+ and CD3+/CD25+, etc.) in children with RIR-QYD, 31 of mild type and 28 of severe type cases, were investigated before administration of ZMM and after treatment of ZMM for 3-6 months (non-infectious stage), using immune fluorescent labelling and flow cytometric technique. RESULTS: In the patients with mild RIR-QYD, the expression rate of CD4+ and CD3+/HLA-DR+ activated T-cells before treatment were all obviously lowered, after 3 months treatment, the positive rate of CD4+, CD3+/HLA-DR- resting T-cell, CD3+/HLA-DR+ activated T-cell and CD3+/CD25+ express IL-2R T-cells were all obviously lowered, but after treatment for 6 months, only that of CD3+/HLA-DR+ activated T-cells was lower than that in the control group. In the patients with severe RRI-QYD before treatment, the expression rate of CD3+, CD4+, CD3+/HLA-DR-, CD3+/HLA-DR+ and CD3+/CD25+ all lowered, while after 3-6 months treatment, some recoveries were shown in these parameters but still lower than those in the control group. The total effective rate of ZMM for mild patients was 100%, and the markedly effective rate 78.9%, while for severe cases, the total effective rate was 90.9% and the markedly effective rate 68.2%. CONCLUSION: In patients with RIR-QYD, the T-cells decreased with activating dysfunction, the severity of disease is in accordance with the degree of T-cell activating dysfunction. ZMM shows markedly clinical effect in treating RIR-QYD and evident regulatory effect on T-cell dysfunction, but a long-term treatment is needed for the recovery of laboratory parameters.

[Study on relationship between cellular immunity and TCM typing in patients with minimal residual leukemia].

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the correlation between the cellular immunity and TCM Syndrome typing of patients with minimal residual leukemia (MRI). METHODS: The analysis was performed by detecting cellular immunological parameters in 30 MRI patients, 55 healthy persons and 36 patients with acute leukemia (AL) using three fluoresceine-conjugated monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometer. RESULTS: As compared with those in the healthy persons, universal reductions of various parameters were shown in the MRI patients, including WBC count, absolute value of total T-lymphocytes, T-helper lymphocyte (P < 0.05) and total lymphocytes; the percentage and absolute value of NK cells (P < 0.01); and the percentages of total T-lymphocytes, CD4+ CD29+, T-suppressor cells and T-memory cells (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), but without any rising of absolute value. As compared with those in the patients with AL, parameters were similar in the two groups with insignificant difference. The disturbances, including the lowering on ratio of T-helper/T-suppressor lymphocytes, in MRI patients of Qi-blood insufficiency type was the severest, that in the patients of Qi-Yin deficiency type was the mildest, and that in patients of Yin-deficiency with excess Fire type located between them. CONCLUSION: The immune function of MRI patients is low, belonging to the TCM Syndrome of vital energy deficiency with evil-lingering. Since the degree of cellular immune disturbance is different in various TCM Syndrome types, therefore, they should be treated with different dosages of different drugs.

[Study on erzhi pill effects on neuro-endocrinologic-immuno network of animal of deficiency of yin].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate Erzhi Pill effect on Neuro-Endocrinologic-Immuno network of animal of deficiency of Yin. METHOD: In the experiment through the determination of hemotic cortisol, insulin, testosterone, beta-endorphin, cholesterol, weight of adrenal and thymus, ConA-induced, spleelymphocyte proliferation and activity of natural killer cells (NKC). The changes of the animals of deficiency of Yin and the effects of the Erzhi Pill were investigated. RESULT: It showed that rats of deficiency of Yin, their hemotic, cortisol, insulin, testosterone, beta-endorphin, weight of adrenal and thymus decreased, cholesterol increased and mouse of deficiency of Yin, their lymphocyte proliferation and activity of NKC dcreased, which might be modulated with Erzhi Pill. Erzhi Pill could improve hemotic cortisol, insulin, testosterone, beta-endorphin, weight of adrenal and thymus, reduce hemotic cholesterol, improve lymphocyte proliferation and activity of NKC. CONCLUSION: This principle could improve animals of deficiency of Yin regulating Neuro-Endocrinologic-Immuno network and keeping homeostais.

[Immunoregulation of Youguiyin, Sijunzitang, Taohong Siwutang in treating patients with deficiency of kidney, spleen and blood stasis syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To study the different immunoregulatory effects of Youguiyin, Sijunzitang, Taohong Siwutang to patients with deficiency of Kidney, Spleen and blood stasis Syndrome respectively. METHODS: The treated group, 40 patients in each with deficiency of Kidney, Spleen and blood stasis were treated with Youguiyin, Sijunzitang and Taohong Siwutang respectively. Three control groups (20 patients each) were established respectively. Peripheral venous level of complement C3, circulating immunocomplex (CIC), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), lymphocyte transformation rate (LTR), the activity of natural killer (NK) cell, and the phagocytic function of neutrophil were measured before and after treatment. RESULTS: Sijunzitang could reduce the level of CIC (P < 0.01), raise the activity of NK cell and LRT (P < 0.01) of the patients with deficiency of Spleen syndrome; the same did the Youguiyin to that of patients with deficiency of Kidney syndrome. Also, Sijunzitang could increase the level of IL-2 in blood and the phagocytic function of neutrophil (P < 0.05); the Taohong Siwutang could lower the level of CIC to patients with blood stasis syndrome (P < 0.01), increase the activity of NK cells (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Youguiyin, Sijunzitang could enhance the immunoregulatory function of the patients with deficiency of Spleen and Kidney, particularly the cellular immune functions, in which the Sijunzitang effect is more complete and significant, while Taohong Siwutang eliminated the effect of CIC in blood better.

[Relationship between syndrome types of TCM in lung neoplasm patients and peripheral T lymphocyte subsets, carcino-embryonic antigen].

Fifty-six cases with lung carcinoma were detected for peripheral blood T lymphocyte by direct staphylococcal protein A (SPA) bacterial rose ring for carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) by radioimmunoassay, and the relationship between T lymphocyte. CEA and Syndrome of TCM was explored. The results were as follows:the values of OKT3, OKT4, OKT4/OKT8 were lower in the lung carcinoma than that in healthy subjects (P < 0.05-0.01), but OKT8 was higher (P < 0.05); The values of T lymphocyte lowered or increased in the order of Yin Deficiency with internal Heat, Qi Stagnation with blood stasis, Phlegm-Dampness in Lung, Qi-Yin Deficiency, but that of CEA was the highest in Qi-stagnation with blood stasis. There was a significant difference between all Syndrome-types of TCM and the healthy subjects (P < 0.01). Therefore, it is suggested that the values of peripheral T lymphocytes and CEA with the lung carcinoma were regarded as good referential parameters in reflection the condition of Deficiency in Vitality and Excess in Superficiality, which offered the objective evidence for the TCM treatment.

[Effect of fu-fang si-shen yin on cellular immunity in patients with viral myocarditis].

In order to study the effect of the Fu-Fang Si-Shen Yin (FFSSY) on cellular immunity, the natural killer (NK) cell activity of 60 patients with viral myocarditis, while the lymphocyte subsets consisted of OKT3, OKT4, OKT8, OKT4/OKT8 of other 20 patients were determined. The pretreatmental results were 25.25 +/- 0.46%, 59.11 +/- 8.72%, 30.72 +/- 6.94%, 29.72 +/- 5.35% and 1.04 +/- 0.24 respectively, which were significantly lower than that of the normal value (P < 0.01) except OKT8 However, after the treatment with FFSSY, NK cell activity and OKT3, OKT4, OKT4/OKT8 were elevated to 30.96 +/- 10.13% (P < 0.05), 62.33 +/- 7.78% (P < 0.05), 33.67 +/- 5.50% (P < 0.05) and 1.14 +/- 0.20 (P < 0.01) respectively. The Syndrome Differentiation of TCM indicated that NK cell activity decreased obviously in the Qi-Yin-Deficiency group, while T lymphocyte subsets changed significantly in the Qi-Deficiency group. There existed negative correlation between NK cell activity and OKT4/OKT8 (r = -0.60, P < 0.05). The patients with high NK cell activity in the early stage could have a favourable prognosis, while unfavourable with low NK cell activity.

[Effect of yishen jianpi drugs on T lymphocyte subsets, soluble interleukin-2 receptor and red blood cell immunity of senile deficiency syndrome patients].

UNLABELLED: To evaluate the effect of Yishen Jianpi drugs (YJD) on immunological function of the Senile Deficiency Syndrome (SDS) patients, T lymphocyte subsets, soluble interleukin-2 receptor (SIL-2 R), the red blood cell immunity, the rate of red blood cell C 3b receptor rosette (RBC-C 3 bRR) and red blood cell immune complex rosette (RBC-ICR) were dynamically investigated in 31 SDS patients as well as in normal controls. RESULTS: the percentage of CD3, CD4 and CD4/CD8 ratio and the rate of RBC-C 3 bRR in SDS were all significantly lower than that of control (P < 0.01). The further analysis also revealed that between the immunological indices of CD4/CD8 ratio and SIL-2 R in SDS patients were markedly negative correlated (r = -0.572, P < 0.01) while positive correlated (r = 0.435, P < 0.02) markedly between CD4/CD8 and RBC-C 3 bRR. After treatment with YJD, in comparing pretreatmentally, all the above-mentioned immunological indices, following the relief of clinical manifestation of SDS, they were corresponding negatively changed, and there were marked significance (P < 0.01) except red blood cell immunity. It suggested that YJD would markedly improve and/or regulate immunological function in SDS.

[Treatment of immunological infertility with Chinese medicinal herbs of ziyin jianghuo].

According to the microcosmic Syndrome Differentiation, immunological infertility is recognised as Kidney Yin Deficiency-Hyperactivity of Fire Syndrome. Zhibai Dihuang Pills, a recipe of Chinese medicinal herbs, was used to treat the infertile couples with antisperm and/or antizona pellucida antibodies in their blood serum. It was found that after the treatment, the antibodies were converted to negativeness in 81.3% of immunological infertile couples. All 8 cases of successful pregnancy occurred in 1-9 months after antibodies negative conversion and the negative status was maintained throughout the course of pregnancy.

[Immunological observation on chyluric patients with heat-clearing and hemostatic drugs].

In order to investigate the pathogenesis and therapeutic mechanism of chyluria, an experiment with a basic Heat-clearing and hemostatic prescription was conducted in treating 30 patients of chyluria. The result, 26 cases were cured completely. The cell-mediated and humoral immunity observation showed that OKT3 and OKT4 levels were commonly low in chyluric cases, and OKT8 as higher than normal value, the OKT4/OKT8 ratio was inverted before treatment. While OKT3 and OKT4 increased commonly, and OKT8 decreased with the OKT4/OKT8 ratio adjusted after treatment. Meanwhile, humoral immunity level was also commonly low before treatment, it increased after treatment.

[Relationship between T cell subsets and traditional Chinese medicine type in patient with ovarian tumor].

In order to study the difference in TCM types as well as between Deficiency and Excess type in immunity in the patients with ovarian tumors, the profile of peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets in 73 cases of ovarian tumors was determined by using flow cytometry and monoclonal antibody technique. The results showed that the total T cells (OKT3) of peripheral blood were almost normal in 73 tumor cases. And 50 of them were malignant tumors in which T helper cell were progressively decreased and T suppressor cell gradually increased in accordance with the order of Qi-Deficiency, Yin-Deficiency, Qi-Yin Deficiency types. The T4/T8 ratio showed significant difference (P < 0.01) compared with the control group and the initial ovarian tumor group. These results indicated that the change in the T lymphocyte subset in tumor was correlated with TCM type and this serves as both clinically sensitive indexes of different TCM type and reflection of the patient's immunologic status.