The effects of metformin on simple obesity: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of metformin versus a placebo in the treatment of patients with simple obesity without obesity related diseases. METHODS: A search was done on Pub-Med, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Science Citation Index Expanded databases. The main inclusion criteria included the following:(1) randomized controlled trials. (2) patients diagnosed as being overweight or obese. (3) patients were randomly assigned to receive metformin or control. Exclusion criteria included the following: patients diagnosed with an obesity related disease, such as diabetes mellitus (DM) or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). RESULTS: Compared with the placebo, weighted mean difference (WMD) was 2.33 (95% CI 0.31, 4.35) kg higher with metformin (p = 0.02). Compared with the placebo, WMD was 0.57 (95% CI 0.35, 0.79) kg/m² higher with metformin(p < 0.00001). There was no significant difference in the reduction of waist circumference between the metformin group and the control group (p = 0.05). The fasting blood glucose levels were significantly lower in the metformin group than in the control group (p < 0.00001). However, no hypoglycemia was noted in the metformin group or the control group. CONCLUSION: Metformin is effective in reducing body weight of simple obesity patients, and metformin does not induce hypoglycemia as a side effect.

[Changes of soil physical properties during the conversion of cropland to agroforestry system]. / 农田向农林复合系统转变过程中土壤物理性质的变化.

To provide theoretical basis for modeling and managing agroforestry systems, the influence of conversion of cropland to agroforestry system on soil physical properties was investigated via a walnut (Juglans regia)-wheat (Triticum aestivum) intercropping system, a wide spreading local agroforestry model in northern Weihe River of loess area, with the walnut and wheat monoculture systems as the control. The results showed that the improvement of the intercropping system on soil physical properties mainly appeared in the 0-40 cm soil layer. The intercropping system could prevent soil bulk density rising in the surface soil (0-20 cm), and the plow pan in the 20-40 cm soil layer could be significantly alleviated. The intercropping system had conti-nuous improvement on soil field capacity in each soil layer with the planting age increase, and the soil field capacity was higher than that of each monoculture system in each soil layer (except 20-40 cm soil layer) since the 5th year after planting. The intercropping system had continuous improvement on soil porosity in each soil layer, but mainly in the 0-20 and 20-40 cm soil layer, and the ratio of capillary porosity was also improved. The soil bulk density, field capacity and soil porosity obtained continuous improvement during the conversion of cropland to agroforestry system, and the improvement on soil physical properties was stronger in shallow soil layer than in deep soil.

[Clinical study on method of "tonifying the lung to check the liver" for treatment of chronic cholecystitis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the significance of method of "tonifying the lung to check the liver" for treatment of chronic cholecystitis. METHODS: Forty cases were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group were treated with acupuncture and moxibustion by the method of "tonifying the lung to check the liver", and the control group with routine moxibustion. RESULTS: After treatment of one day, pain improved significantly in the two groups (P < 0.001), with no significant difference between the two groups; and 15 days after treatment, the treatment group was superior to the control group in the improvement of pain. CONCLUSION: TCM syndrome differentiation has an important significance in clinical acupuncture and moxibustion, and the therapeutic principle "tonifying the lung to check the liver" in classical TCM theories is of scientific basis.