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.

Structure-Function Correlation Using Confocal Laser Ophthalmoscope in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Pseudoexfoliative Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To compare Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT) optic disc parameters and structure-function correlation between primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PEXG). DESIGN: Prospective, observation case series. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 54 POAG and 33 PEXG cases, consecutively recruited from a University Glaucoma Service, underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination, including HRT optic disc imaging. Glaucoma definition required the presence of both structural and functional damage. One eye per subject was included in the analysis. T test, Mann-Whitney U test, and analysis of covariance were used to compare HRT parameters between POAG and PEXG, adjusting for age, mean deviation (MD) in the visual field, intraocular pressure, and disc area. The correlation between HRT and MD was assessed in each group. RESULTS: Cup area (P=0.048), height variation contour (P=0.016), and cup/disc area ratio (P=0.023) were higher in POAG, whereas the mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (P=0.048), retinal nerve fiber layer cross-section area (P=0.044), and rim area (P=0.048) were lower in POAG, compared with PEXG. The correlation of HRT parameters with MD was significant only in the POAG group. CONCLUSIONS: At a similar level of functional damage, POAG subjects presented with more pronounced structural damage than PEXG subjects. The correlation between HRT and visual field parameters was more evident in POAG, compared with PEXG.

[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.

[Assessment of capacity for chronic noncommunicable diseases prevention and control of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Organizations in China].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the capacity for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) prevention and control in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCs) in China. METHODS: All CDCs in China, including provincial, city and county CDCs were surveyed by questionnaires designed by China CDC including resource provided, capacity and efforts for NCDs. RESULTS: (1) RESOURCE: 7483 staff members worked on NCDs prevention and control, only accounting for 4.0% of all the CDCs' personnel; 23.6% of the staff members devoted their time to NCDs control less than 6 months in 2008. Fundings for NCDs prevention and control only accounted for 2.29%, 1.70% and 2.69% of the total funds of provincial, city and county CDCs, respectively. (2) Capacity: The proportions of CDCs that had professional institutes of NCD at provincial, city and county level were 100.0%, 62.8% and 43.7% respectively. CDCs mainly cooperated with health agencies regarding NCDs prevention and control programs. 34.7% of the staff members had educational background of college undergraduate or higher, 12.1% had senior professional titles, 61.7% of them worked for NCDs less than 5 years. The average person-times of continuing education in NCDs were 21.90, 4.60 and 1.68 at the provincial, city and county CDCs respectively. 8.7% of the CDCs sent their staff members for advanced studies on NCDs. All provincial CDCs carried out surveillance but only 4.2% of them published reports of NCDs in all the CDCs during the past three years. (3) Efforts: 43.5% and 30.8% of the county CDCs carried out surveillance and intervention of NCDs respectively in 2008. CONCLUSION: RESOURCEs for NCDs prevention and control were quite limited in CDCs. Fundings and staff members for NCDs were not enough, compared to the heavy disease burden of NCDs. Capacity for NCDs prevention and control need to be improved.