Chinese medicine formula DSQRL versus glucocorticoids for the treatment of experimental pulmonary fibrosis.

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a devastating interstitial lung disease that may develop idiopathically or as a complication of many other diseases. The outcome of the current main treatment by glucocorticoids is by no means satisfactory. This study has tested a new Chinese medicine Decoction for Strengthening Qi and Replenishing Lung (DSQRL) for the treatment of experimental PF in comparison with prednisolone. Eighty-five rats with PF induced by CCl(4) were randomly divided into 4 groups to undertake treatment either by (a) high dose of prednisolone; (b) Chinese medicine formula DSQRL; (c) combined treatment of the above two; or (d) sham feeding of water in equal volume. At the end of 60 days treatment, the DSQRL treatment achieved a significantly better outcome than prednisolone in terms of general behavior, histological examination, hydroxyproline content of the lung and inflammatory cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Thus, the newly proposed Chinese medicinal formula DSQRL appears to be a better and promising option for PF than glucocorticoids for the treatment of PF.

Changes in health-related quality of life following percutaneous coronary intervention: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in developed countries. The percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a frequently used treatment for CAD. In order to manage the disease more effectively and to promote the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of these patients, understanding the current status of HRQoL before and after PCI procedure is essential. OBJECTIVES: This study was to examine the changes of HRQoL from before PCI to the first 3 months after PCI on Hong Kong Chinese. DESIGN: A longitudinal, one-group observational design was used. SETTING: Data collected from cardiac patients admitted into a regional public hospital at Hong Kong Island for PCI. PARTICIPANTS: Between August 2003 and February 2004, all patients admitted for non-emergency PCI at the study site and met the inclusion criteria were invited to take part in the study. Seventy-eight out of 85 eligible patients agreed to participate. However, 13 patients dropped out during data collection period. METHODS: HRQoL data using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form 36 (SF-36) and Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) were collected before PCI, 1 and 3 months after PCI. RESULTS: Sixty-five patents completed the study. All domains in SF-36 and SAQ improved at 1 month but the improvements did not continue in all domains at 3 months. The HRQoL measured by SF-36 improved significantly over time (p<0.05) for six out of the eight domains. Scores of all domains of SF-36 improved at 3 months when compared with baseline. Moreover, all five domains of SAQ changed significantly over time (p<0.05); however, the score of angina stability at the third month was lower than that at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study quantify the benefits of PCI procedure on HRQoL of patients. Although PCI improved the HRQoL 1 month after PCI, the effect did not last long. Nursing interventions are needed to maintain and further enhance the HRQoL of these patients and the interventions should be introduced immediately post-PCI.