Effect of Xuefu Zhuyu Capsule (血府逐瘀胶囊) on the symptoms and signs and health-related quality of life in the unstable angina patients with blood-stasis syndrome after percutaneous coronary intervention: A Randomized controlled trial

Elucidating the Synergistic Effect of Multiple Chinese Herbal Prescriptions in the Treatment of Post-stroke Neurological Damage

Background: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely used in the treatment of human diseases. However, the synergistic effects of multiple TCM prescriptions in the treatment of stroke have not been thoroughly studied.

Objective of the study: This study aimed to reveal the mechanisms underlying the synergistic effects of these TCM prescriptions in stroke treatment and identify the active compounds.

Methods: Herbs and compounds in the Di-Tan Decoction (DTD), Xue-Fu Zhu-Yu Decoction (XFZYD), and Xiao-Xu-Ming Decoction (XXMD) were acquired from the TCMSP database. SEA, HitPick, and TargetNet web servers were used for target prediction. The compound-target (C-T) networks of three prescriptions were constructed and then filtered using the collaborative filtering algorithm. We combined KEGG enrichment analysis, molecular docking, and network analysis approaches to identify active compounds, followed by verification of these compounds with an oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R) model.

Results: The filtered DTD network contained 39 compounds and 534 targets, the filtered XFZYD network contained 40 compounds and 508 targets, and the filtered XXMD network contained 55 compounds and 599 targets. The filtered C-T networks retained approximately 80% of the biological functions of the original networks. Based on the enriched pathways, molecular docking, and network analysis results, we constructed a complex network containing 3 prescriptions, 14 botanical drugs, 26 compounds, 13 targets, and 5 pathways. By calculating the synergy score, we identified the top 5 candidate compounds. The experimental results showed that quercetin, baicalin, and ginsenoside Rg1 independently and synergistically increased cell viability.

Conclusion: By integrating pharmacological and chemoinformatic approaches, our study provides a new method for identifying the effective synergistic compounds of TCM prescriptions. The filtered compounds and their synergistic effects on stroke require further research.

The Improvement of Cardiac and Endothelial Functions of Xue-Fu-Zhu-Yu Decoction for Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background

Xue-Fu-Zhu-Yu decoction (XFZYD) is a traditional Chinese prescription that has been used to treat patients with blood stasis in China for many years. The present study aimed to evaluate the improvement of cardiac and endothelial functions of XFZYD for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

Six databases were searched to collect RCTs related to the treatment of XFZYD for ACS. The primary outcomes were cardiac and endothelial functions, including the levels of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), and left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD) in echocardiography, as well as the changes in the levels of nitric oxide (NO), endothelin-1 (ET-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in the serum. The secondary outcomes were the blood levels of oxidative damage markers (including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA)), C-reactive protein (CRP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) as well as the incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Weighted mean difference (WMD) was estimated for all the outcomes with the random effects model. This type of analysis was conducted in the subgroups of the ACS subtypes, and the methodological quality was assessed using the handbook of Cochrane Collaboration.

Results

A total of 1,658 records were identified, and 16 randomized controlled trials (1,171 patients) were included. The primary outcomes suggested that XFZYD combined with routine treatment improved LVEF, reduced LVEDD and LVESD, and also improved the serum levels of NO, and reduced the levels of ET-1 and ICAM-1. XFZYD combination therapy significantly ameliorated the blood levels of SOD, MDA, BNP, CK-MB, and cTnI. However, the results indicated no significant difference between XFZYD plus routine treatment and routine treatment for the levels of VCAM-1 and CRP. Moreover, all the ADRs reported in the included studies were slight and the patients recovered soon.

Conclusions

The present study suggested that XFZYD may improve the cardiac and endothelial functions of ACS patients without serious ADRs. However, based on the mediocre methodological quality, the aforementioned conclusion should be confirmed in a multicenter, large-scale, and accurately designed clinical trial.

Eight Trigrams Boxing Combined with Wenyang Huoxue Recipe Improves Cardiopulmonary Motor Function and the Quality of Life of Patients with Coronary Heart Disease

Objective

To investigate the therapeutic effects of Eight Trigrams Boxing combined with a Wenyang Huoxue recipe on the cardiopulmonary motor function and quality of life in patients with coronary heart disease after an interventional operation (percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI]); further, to provide new clinical evidence and ideas for integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine in cardiac rehabilitation.

Methods

Sixty patients were selected and successfully underwent PCI in designated hospitals after four weeks, from June 2018 to September 2020. The patients were randomly divided into a treatment group and control group, and both groups were given standard pharmaceuticals after PCI and the Wenyang Huoxue recipe. The treatment group was additionally treated with the Eight Trigrams Boxing Method. The control group was provided with aerobic rehabilitation exercise. The maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), metabolic equivalent (MET), the results of a 6-min walking test, the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) score, SF-36 score, and other indicators were evaluated before and after treatment. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by comparison between the groups and within the groups.

Results

The VO2max, MET, 6-min walking distance, SAQ score, and SF-36 score in both groups improved after treatment compared with before treatment. There was no difference between the two groups before treatment. However, after treatment, the VO2max, MET, 6 min walking distance, SAQ score, and SF-36 score in the treatment group were higher compared with the control group.

Conclusion

A traditional Chinese medicine cardiac rehabilitation program of Eight Trigrams Boxing combined with a Wenyang Huoxue recipe can improve the cardiopulmonary function and quality of life of patients. The therapeutic effect was clear and is worthy of further investigation.

Traditional Chinese Medicine for Coronary Artery Disease Treatment: Clinical Evidence From Randomized Controlled Trials

Traditional Chinese medicine has a history of more than 2,000 years and has been widely used in clinical practice. However, due to the lack of a reliable scientific basis, the role of traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of coronary artery disease is not clear. At present, the existing randomized controlled trials about traditional Chinese medicine for coronary artery disease have defects, small sample sizes, and different results, so it is difficult to make a clear conclusion on the actual advantages and disadvantages of traditional Chinese medicine. In this review, the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of coronary artery disease were systematically evaluated through randomized controlled trials, most of which were double-blind trials. We reviewed 17 randomized controlled trials that included a total of 11,726 coronary artery disease patients. The methodological quality of the trials was generally high, with nine (52.94%) having a modified Jadad score of 7 and only three (17.65%) having a modified Jadad score of <3. There are 16 trials (94.12%) reporting safety; the safety of traditional Chinese medicine seems not to be inferior to that of mimetic, placebo, or western medications. Moreover, the results from 17 randomized controlled trials (100.00%) showed that traditional Chinese medicine can be applied as a complementary and alternative method to the primary and secondary prevention of coronary artery disease, and only six trials (35.29%) described adverse cardiovascular events specifically. However, it is necessary to assess the safety and efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine in treating coronary artery disease with long-term hard endpoints.

Effects of Xuefu Zhuyu Granules on Patients with Stable Coronary Heart Disease: A Double-Blind, Randomized, and Placebo-Controlled Study

Despite advances in the drug treatment strategy for stable coronary heart disease (CHD), the mortality of CHD continues to rise. New or adjuvant treatments would be desirable for CHD. Xuefu Zhuyu granules are derived from the formula of traditional Chinese medicine. To determine whether Xuefu Zhuyu granules might have adjuvant effects on stable CHD, we conducted a controlled clinical trial. Patients with stable CHD were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive Xuefu Zhuyu granules or placebo for 12 weeks in addition to their standard medications for the treatment of CHD. The primary endpoints comprise the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Angina Grading Scale (CCS class), echocardiographic measures, Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ), and coronary artery CT. The secondary endpoints included the parameters of nailfold capillary measurement and cutaneous blood perfusion (CBP). After 12 weeks of follow-up, there was a great improvement of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Angina Grading Scale (CCS class) in the Xuefu Zhuyu group compared with the placebo group (p < 0.01). Also, a decrease was found in the percentage of patients with CCS class II in the Xuefu Zhuyu group between follow-up at 12 weeks and baseline (p < 0.01). We observed a significant increase in SAQ scores of physical limitation (p < 0.01) and treatment satisfaction (p < 0.05) in patients receiving Xuefu Zhuyu treatment at 12 weeks in comparison with those at baseline, but not in placebo treatment (p > 0.05). Amelioration in coronary artery stenosis in the Xuefu Zhuyu group was noted (p < 0.05). Xuefu Zhuyu granule treatment led to great improvements in cutaneous blood perfusion at follow-up of 12 weeks compared with placebo (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that on a background of standard medications, Xuefu Zhuyu granules have the ability to further improve the prognosis of patients with stable CHD.

1H NMR-based metabolomics study of the dynamic effect of Xue-Fu-Zhu-Yu capsules on coronary heart disease rats induced by high-fat diet, coronary artery ligation

An ¹H NMR-based metabolomics approach was conducted to holisticly explore the effect of Xue Fu Zhu Yu (XFZY) capsule (a well-known Chinese herbal medicine) on high-fat diets combined with coronary artery ligation induced coronary heart disease (CHD) model rats. 1H NMR-based metabolomics approach combined with multivariate analysis was performed to explore potential biomarkers, a total of 20 metabolites were confirmed as contributors to the discrimination of model group and sham group. We investigated the dynamic metabolic characteristics of XFZY capsule on CHD rats, lactate, glutamine, pyruvate, citrate, choline and taurine were potential biomarkers of early effect. More potential biomarkers changed after 28 days of medication, XFZY capsules primarily influenced the taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, purine metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis.

Effect and safety of Chinese patent medicine capsules for recurrent angina pectoris after percutaneous coronary intervention: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Recurrent angina pectoris after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a common clinical syndrome, which seriously reduces the quality of life and health of patients, increases medical costs, and causes the risk of cardiogenic death. The efficacy of various western medicine improving angina symptoms has not been fully confirmed at the moment, whereas Chinese patent medicine capsules (CPMC) have been generally used in clinical practice due to the therapeutic efficacy and safety. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of CPMC for stable angina after PCI, designed to provide more evidence for clinical treatment.

METHODS

This protocol was based on the previous reporting items. We will search 3 English databases (PubMed, Excerpta Medica Database, and the Cochrane Library) and 3 Chinese databases (China Network Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang Database, and Chinese Biomedicine) until January 2020. RCTs to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CPMC for recurrent stable angina pectoris after PCI will be included. The primary outcome will be assessed by major adverse cardiovascular events and angina attack frequency. We will use the criteria provided by Cochrane risk of bias tool for quality evaluation and risk assessment, and use the Revman 5.3 for meta-analysis.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval is not required for systematic review and meta-analysis. The results of this review will be disseminated in a peer-review journal.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42020164005.

Decreased stroke risk with combined traditional Chinese and western medicine in patients with ischemic heart disease: A real-world evidence

Both ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke are major causes of death worldwide. We investigated the effects of combined Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and western medicine (WM) on stroke risk in IHD patients.Taiwanese patients with IHD were enrolled in the TCM study during their outpatient visit. Stroke events after TCM or non-TCM treatment were examined. Chi-square tests and Student t-tests were used to examine differences between patients using and not using TCM. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs). Sex, age, and comorbidities were included in a multivariable Cox model to estimate the adjusted HR (aHR). The survival probability and the probability free of stroke were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method.There were 733 IHD patients using TCM and 733 using non-TCM treatment, with the same proportion of sex and age within each cohort. Using single Chinese herb such as Dan Shen, San Qi, or Chuan Xiong would have lower stroke events and lower aHR than non-TCM in IHD patients. There was 0.3-fold lower stroke risk in IHD patients with combination TCM and non-TCM treatment (95% CI = 0.11-0.84, P = .02). Moreover, the survival rate was higher (P < .001) and the incidence of hemorrhagic stroke was significantly lower (P = .04) in IHD patients with TCM treatment.IHD patients using combined TCM and WM had a higher survival rate and lower risk of new onset stroke, especially hemorrhagic stroke than those who did not use TCM treatment.

Traditional Chinese Medicine for Coronary Heart Disease: Clinical Evidence and Possible Mechanisms

Coronary heart disease (CHD) remains a major cause of mortality with a huge economic burden on healthcare worldwide. Here, we conducted a systematic review to investigate the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) for CHD based on high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and summarized its possible mechanisms according to animal-based researches. 27 eligible studies were identified in eight database searches from inception to June 2018. The methodological quality was assessed using seven-item checklist recommended by Cochrane Collaboration. All the data were analyzed using Rev-Man 5.3 software. As a result, the score of study quality ranged from 4 to 7 points. Meta-analyses showed CHM can significantly reduce the incidence of myocardial infarction and percutaneous coronary intervention, and cardiovascular mortality (P < 0.05), and increase systolic function of heart, the ST-segment depression, and clinical efficacy (P < 0.05). Adverse events were reported in 11 studies, and CHMs were well tolerated in patients with CHD. In addition, CHM exerted cardioprotection for CHD, possibly altering multiple signal pathways through anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, anti-apoptosis, improving the circulation, and regulating energy metabolism. In conclusion, the evidence available from present study revealed that CHMs are beneficial for CHD and are generally safe.

Herbal medicine (Hyeolbuchukeo-tang or Xuefu Zhuyu decoction) for treating primary dysmenorrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Primary dysmenorrhea is a condition characterized by painful menstrual cramps that usually occurs in the absence of any identifiable pathological condition among menstruating women, with the prevalence estimates varying between 45% and 95%. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are considered as a standard treatment for primary dysmenorrhea; however, the failure rate of NSAIDs is often 20% to 25% and these drugs commonly cause adverse effects. In this review, we investigated the current evidence related to the effectiveness of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction (XZD) or Hyeolbuchukeo-tang, a traditional herbal formula, as a treatment for primary dysmenorrhea.

METHODS

Literature search was conducted about randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for XZD on primary dysmenorrhea. PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, and other Chinese, Korean, Japanese databases were searched up to December 20, 2017. Two independent reviewers extracted and assessed the data. The main outcome domains were visual analogue scale (VAS) score and response rate.

RESULTS

Among 475 publications, 8 RCTs involving 1048 patients were finally included. Methodological quality of included RCTs was relatively low. In 4 add-on design studies, XZD plus western medication (WM) group showed better response rate as compared to the WM sole therapy (relative risk 1.18, 95% confidence interval [1.11, 1.25], P < .01). VAS score after the 3rd month of treatment in the XZD plus WM group was also lower than that in the WM group (mean difference -0.45, 95% confidence interval [-0.79, -0.12], P < .01). In 4 XZD versus WM design studies, XZD sole therapy showed better response rate than did WM sole therapy (relative risk 1.26, 95% confidence interval [1.06, 1.49], P < .01).

CONCLUSION

The existing trials showed a favorable effect of XZD for the management of primary dysmenorrhea. However, the efficacy of XZD on primary dysmenorrhea is not conclusive owing to the small number of studies and the high risk of bias. Large-scale, long-term RCTs with rigorous methodological input are needed to clarify the role of XZD for the management of primary dysmenorrhea.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42016050447 in PROSPERO 2016.

Classical Chinese Herbal Formulas in the Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease: A Narrative Review

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the current evidence for 8 frequently prescribed Chinese herbal formulas (CHF) as treatments for angina pectoris in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and the associated adverse reactions.

METHODS

Seven electronic databases were screened from their inception through July 2018 for all evidence related to classical CHF for the treatment of patients with CHD.

RESULTS

CHF improves CHD outcomes in terms of angina pectoris, electrocardiogram results, Chinese medicine syndromes and biomarkers iomarkers. The combination of CHF and Western medicine (WM) is more effective on CHD than WM alone. The use of CHF to treat CHD shows the same or better clinical effects as the use of WM alone. The 8 investigated CHF do not induce hepatic and renal toxicity or other serious adverse effects.

CONCLUSIONS

The safety and efficacy of 8 frequently prescribed herbal formulas for treating CHD have been confirmed in many studies. The findings of these studies are positive but should be interpreted cautiously due to the poor methodological quality of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses. Additional high-quality, multi-center, large-sample RCTs should be performed to confirm these results.

A traditional Chinese medicine therapy for coronary heart disease after percutaneous coronary intervention: a meta-analysis of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials

Huoxue Huayu therapy (HXHY) has been widely used to treat cardiovascular diseases in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) such as hypertension and coronary heart disease (CHD). The present study describes a meta-analysis of a series of prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials conducted to evaluate the effect of HXHY on patients with CHD after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), the Chinese Biomedical Literature database, and the Wanfang database were searched up until June 2018. A series of randomized controlled clinical trials were included and the subjects were patients with CHD who had undergone PCI. The experimental group was treated with HXHY therapy, and the control group was treated with placebo; meanwhile, all the patients accepted conventional Western medicine. Review Manager 5.3 software was used for the statistical analysis. Ten trials were included in the final study. The overall risk of bias assessment was low. HXHY had a greater beneficial effect on reducing the in-stent restenosis (ISR) rate (RR = 0.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.40-0.80], P=0.001) and the degree of restenosis (MD = -8.89, 95% CI [-10.62 to -7.17], P<0.00001) compared with Placebo. Moreover, HXHY was determined to be more effective in improving Seattle Angina Questionnaires (SAQ) and the revascularization rate (RR = 0.54, 95% CI [0.32-0.90], P=0.02) compared with Placebo, whereas the rate of death and MI of patients treated with HXHY were no different from those treated with the placebo (P>0.05). Therefore, HXHY is an effective and safe therapy for CHD patients after PCI.

Xue-Fu-Zhu-Yu capsule in the treatment of qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome: a study protocol for a randomised controlled pilot and feasibility trial

BACKGROUND

Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome (QS&BSS) is one of the common Zhengs in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which manifests as various symptoms and signs, such as distending pain or a tingling sensation in a fixed position. In recent years, a number of clinical trials have focused on the effectiveness and safety of XFZYC in patients with a QS&BSS subtype disease, such as coronary heart disease, hyperlipidaemia, ischaemic cerebrovascular disease, gastritis, dysmenorrhoea, or arthritis, in terms of the outcomes of relevant diseases. However, there is lack of evidence of the effects of XFZYC in patients with QS&BSS with different diseases, focusing on the outcomes of Zhengs.

METHODS/DESIGN

A randomised, controlled, pilot and feasibility trial will be employed in this study, using a 7-week study period. Participants will be recruited from Guang'anmen Hospital, Huguosi TCM Hospital, Wangjing Hospital in China. One hundred and twenty participants will be randomised to a treatment group (Xue-Fu-Zhu-Yu Capsule (XFZYC)) and placebo group in a 1:1 ratio. Participants included in the study must be diagnosed with Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome criteria. The outcome measurements will include the traditional Chinese medicine patient-reported outcome (PRO) scale for QS&BSS, the single symptom and sign scale of QS&BSS, and the pain scale of QS&BSS. The clinical data management system ( http://www.tcmcec.net /) will be used to collect and manage the data. Quality control will be used, according to Good Clinical Practice (GCP).

DISCUSSION

Previous studies were expected to evaluate whether the addition of XFZYC to standard routine treatment would enhance the treatment effectiveness and improve the biomedical parameters pertaining to relevant disease. However, this trial is focused on the outcome of Zhengs, and we chose a range of outcome measurements to assess the improvement of relevant symptoms and signs. This trial is the first study designed to define and optimise the outcome measurements of Zhengs of XFZYC in the treatment of patients with QS&BSS.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03091634 . Registered on 12 August 2018. Release date 6 May 2017.

Bioinformatics analysis of microRNAs related to blood stasis syndrome in diabetes mellitus patients

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), blood stasis syndrome (BSS) is mainly manifested by the increase of blood viscosity, platelet adhesion rate and aggregation, and the change of microcirculation, resulting in vascular endothelial injury. It is an important factor in the development of diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of the present study was to screen out the potential candidate microRNAs (miRNAs) in DM patients with BSS by high-throughput sequencing (HTS) and bioinformatics analysis. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were incubated with 10% human serum to establish models of DM with BSS, DM without BSS (NBS), and normal control (NC). Total RNA of each sample was extracted and sequenced by the Hiseq2000 platform. Differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) were screened between samples and compared with known changes in mRNA abundance. Target genes of miRNAs were predicted by softwares. Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analysis of the target genes were conducted. According to the significantly enriched GO annotations and pathways (P-value ≤ 0.001), we selected the key miRNAs of DM with BSS. It showed that the number of DE-miRNAs in BSS was 32 compared with non-blood stasis syndrome (NBS) and NC. The potential candidate miRNAs were chosen from GO annotations in which target genes were significantly enriched (-log10 (P-value) > 5), which included miR-140-5p, miR-210, miR-362-5p, miR-590-3p, and miR-671-3p. The present study screened out the potential candidate miRNAs in DM patients with BSS by HTS and bioinformatics analysis. The miRNAs will be helpful to provide valuable suggestions on clinical studies of DM with BSS at the gene level.

Xuefu zhuyu decoction improves cognitive impairment in experimental traumatic brain injury via synaptic regulation

An overarching consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the cognitive impairment. It may hinder individual performance of daily tasks and determine people's subjective well-being. The damage to synaptic plasticity, one of the key mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction, becomes the potential therapeutic strategy of TBI. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XFZYD), a traditional Chinese medicine, provided a synaptic regulation to improve cognitive disorder following TBI. Morris water maze and modified neurological severity scores were performed to assess the neurological and cognitive abilities. The PubChem Compound IDs of the major compounds of XFZYD were submitted into BATMAN-TCM, an online bioinformatics analysis tool, to predict the druggable targets related to synaptic function. Furthermore, we validated the prediction through immunohistochemical, RT-PCR and western blot analyses. We found that XFZYD enhanced neuroprotection, simultaneously improved learning and memory performances in controlled cortical impact rats. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the improvements of XFZYD implied the Long-term potentiation relative proteins including NMDAR1, CaMKII and GAP-43. The further confirmation of molecular biological studies confirmed that XFZYD upregulated the mRNA and protein levels of NMDAR1, CaMKII and GAP-43. Pharmacological synaptic regulation of XFZYD could provide a novel therapeutic strategy for cognitive impairment following TBI.

Adjuvant Chinese Herbal Products for Preventing Ischemic Stroke in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

OBJECTIVE

Chinese herbal products (CHPs) are widely used for atrial fibrillation (AF) in Taiwan. We investigated the effect of adjuvant CHPs in preventing ischemic stroke in patients with AF.

METHODS

Taiwanese patients in the Health Insurance Database newly diagnosed with AF during 2000-2011 were enrolled. Medication treatment with/without CHPs was administered within 7 days after the AF diagnosis. The clinical endpoint was an ischemic stroke. The Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and Student t test were used to examine differences between the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and non-TCM cohorts. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to assess the risk for ischemic stroke between two cohorts.

RESULTS

Three hundred and eleven patients underwent TCM treatment and 1715 patients did not. Compared to non-TCM users, TCM users had a lower incidence of stroke (12.59% vs. 1.93%, respectively) and lower risk of stroke [CHA2DS2-VASc score = 0-2 (hazard ratio = 0.20; 95% confidence interval = 0.06-0.65)]. Compared to non-TCM users, the stroke risk was significantly lower in TCM users with AF who were female or younger than 65 years, but not in males, people more than 65 years old, or people with comorbidities. Compared to TCM users, non-TCM users who received conventional treatment had a higher ischemic stroke risk. The risk for AF-related hospitalization was significantly lower in TCM users (0.64%) than in non-TCM users (38.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

Users of TCM with AF have a lower risk of new-onset ischemic stroke. Therefore, adjuvant CHP therapy may have a protective effect and may be used in AF patients to prevent ischemic stroke.

Susceptible gene polymorphisms for blood stasis syndrome of coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a typically polygenic and multi-factorial disease. Recent advances have proposed the hypothesis that multiple polymorphisms in the presence of environmental factors could act synergistically in the pathogenesis of CHD. Lots of gene polymorphisms related with CHD have been discovered by genome-wide linkage (in families) and association (in populations) studies. A key issue now is to move from mapping gene polymorphisms to pinpointing causal genes and variants, and to develop a molecular understanding of how these genes lead to CHD. New thinking needs to be brought in for resolving this problem. The benefifit of Chinese medicine (CM) in CHD has been proven by more and more clinical evidences. More importantly, linking CM syndrome differentiation and biomedical diagnosis might help further accurate stratifification of CHD patients for intervention selection. The epidemiological investigation has demonstrated that blood stasis syndrome (BSS) is the major CM syndrome type of CHD. BSS is a kind of pathological state caused by disturbance of blood circulation. Clinical studies indicate that the severity of BSS is related with the severity of CHD and BSS of CHD may be "one involved in multiple genes" with hereditary tendency. If BSS of CHD is polygenic and hereditary, gene polymorphisms may be one of the pathogens. There are some pilot researches to explore the association between gene polymorphisms and BSS of CHD. In this review, the current status of gene polymorphisms related with BSS of CHD and future perspectives are discussed.

Use of traditional Chinese medicine in patients with hyperlipidemia: A population-based study in Taiwan

ETHNO-PHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Chinese herbal products (CHPs) are commonly used in patients with hyperlipidemia in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Because hyperlipidemia and related disease are common issues worldwide, this study analyzed the prescription patterns and frequencies of CHPs for treating patients with hyperlipidemia in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has become popular as a therapy for controlling symptoms in patients with hyperlipidemia. This study aimed to analyze the prescription patterns of TCM for patients with hyperlipidemia in Taiwan.

METHODS

The study population was recruited from a random-sampled cohort of 1,000,000 people from the National Health Insurance Research Database between 2003 and 2009. We identified 30,784 outpatient visits related with hyperlipidemia diagnosis and collected these medical records. Association rules of data mining were conducted to explore the co-prescription patterns for Chinese herbal products (CHPs).

RESULTS

The most commonly prescribed herbal formula for hyperlipidemia treatment was Xue-Fu-Zhu-Yu-Tang (16.1%), and Shan Zha (Crataegi fructus; 25.0%) was the most commonly prescribed single herb. The most commonly prescribed combination of an herbal formula and a single herb was Xue-Fu-Zhu-Yu-Tang and Dan Shen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae), and the most commonly prescribed combination of couplet herbs was Dan Shen and Shan Zha.

CONCLUSION

Xue-Fu-Zhu-Yu-Tang is the most frequently prescribed formula and is typically prescribed with Shan Zha, Dan Shen, and He Shou Wu for patients with hyperlipidemia. Clinical trials are warranted in future research to investigate the effects of the CHPs in terms of safety and efficacy and in particular to evaluate potential interactions with conventional treatments.

A review on the traditional Chinese medicinal herbs and formulae with hypolipidemic effect

Hyperlipidemia, characterized by the abnormal blood lipid profiles, is one of the dominant factors of many chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). For the low cost, effectiveness, and fewer side effects, the popularity of using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to handle hyperlipidemia is increasing and its role in health care has been recognized by the public at large. Despite the importance of TCM herbs and formulations, there is no comprehensive review summarizing their scientific findings on handling hyperlipidemia. This review summarizes the recent experimental and clinical results of nine representative single Chinese herbs and seven classic TCM formulae that could improve lipid profiles so as to help understand and compare their underlying mechanisms. Most of single herbs and formulae demonstrated the improvement of hyperlipidemic conditions with multiple and diverse mechanisms of actions similar to conventional Western drugs in spite of their mild side effects. Due to increasing popularity of TCM, more extensive, well-designed preclinical and clinical trials on the potential synergistic and adverse side effects of herb-drug interactions as well as their mechanisms are warranted. Hyperlipidemic patients should be warned about the potential risks of herb-drug interactions, particularly those taking anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs.

A multicentre randomized clinical trial on efficacy and safety of huxin formula in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is widely used in clinical treatment of coronary artery disease. However, the effects of PCI on preventing restenosis after revascularization and improving the quality of life were not satisfying. Huxin Formula is formulated by modifying an experienced Chinese medicine formula and has been widely used in clinical practice due to its marked effects on coronary heart disease. A multicentre double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial was designed to evaluate the effects and safety of Huxin Formula in patients undergoing PCI. Our results showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups in main outcomes. For patients with ejection fraction (EF) >50%, score of the quality of life scale was higher in treatment group compared with control group. For patients with unstable angina, score of the quality of life scale in 360 days was significantly higher in treatment group compared with control group (P < 0.05). No obvious adverse reaction was found in the use of Huxin Formula. In conclusion, Huxin Formula, believed to be a safe treatment for patients after PCI, has benefits in improving the quality of life in patients with unstable angina though it failed to show superiority in primary and secondary outcomes.

Chinese patent medicine Xuefu Zhuyu capsule for the treatment of unstable angina pectoris: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Xuefu Zhuyu Capsule (XFZY) has been commonly used for relieving chest pain in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on XFZY in treating unstable angina (UA) have not been systematically reviewed.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to provide a PRISMA-compliant systematic review to evaluate the efficacy of XFZY in treating UA.

METHODS

An extensive search of 7 medical databases was performed up to June 2013. RCTs involving XFZY or combined with conventional drugs versus conventional drugs were identified. Meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the cardiovascular effects of XFZY. Rev Man 5.0 was used for data analysis.

RESULTS

8 RCTs were included in this review. Statistical analysis of the results showed that XFZY combined with conventional drugs had significant effect on relieving angina symptoms (RR: 1.26 [1.16, 1.38]; P<0.00001) and improving ECG (RR: 1.20 [1.04, 1.38]; P=0.01) compared with conventional drugs alone. No severe adverse events were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

XFZY combined with conventional drugs appears to have potential cardiovascular effects in treatment of UA with few adverse events. However, further rigorous designed trials are still needed.

Blood stasis syndrome of coronary heart disease: A perspective of modern medicine

The medical community as a whole is attempting to start preventive therapy for coronary heart disease (CHD) patients earlier in life. However, the main limitations of such interventions are drug resistance and adverse reactions. Additionally, traditional biomarker discovery methods for CHD focus on the behavior of individual biomarkers regardless of their relevance. These limitations have led to attempting novel approaches to multi-dimensionally investigate CHD and identify safe and efficacious therapies for preventing CHD. Recently, the benefit of Chinese medicine (CM) in CHD has been proven by increasing clinical evidence. More importantly, linking CM theory with modern biomedicine may lead to new scientific discoveries. According to CM theory, all treatments for patients should be based on patients' syndromes. A recent epidemiological investigation has demonstrated that blood stasis syndrome (BSS) is the major syndrome type of CHD. BSS is a type of complex pathophysiological state characterized by decreased or impeded blood flow. Common clinical features of BSS include a darkish complexion, scaly dry skin, and cyanosis of the lips and nails, a purple or dark tongue with purple spots, a thready and hesitant pulse, and stabbing or pricking pain fixed in location accompanied by tenderness, mass formation and ecchymosis or petechiae. The severity of BSS is significantly correlated with the complexity of coronary lesions and the degree of stenosis, and is an important factor affecting the occurrence of restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention. The mechanisms of BSS of CHD patients should be investigated from a modern medicine perspective. Although many studies have attempted to explore the biomedical mechanisms of BSS of CHD, from hemorheological disorders to inflammation and immune responses, the global picture of BSS of CHD is still unclear. In this article, the current status of studies investigating the biomedical mechanisms of BSS of CHD and future perspectives are discussed.

Trends in the treatment of hypertension from the perspective of traditional chinese medicine

Hypertension is a major public-health issue. Much consensus has been reached in the treatment, and considerable progress has been made in the field of antihypertensive drugs. However, the standard-reaching rate of blood pressure is far from satisfaction. Considering these data and the seriousness of the effects of hypertension on the individual and society as a whole, both economically and socially, physicians must look for more effective and alternative ways to achieve the target blood pressure. Could treatment of hypertension be improved by insights from traditional Chinese medicine? As one of the most important parts in complementary and alternative therapies, TCM is regularly advocated for lowering elevated blood pressure. Due to the different understanding of the pathogenesis of hypertension between ancient and modern times, new understanding and treatment of hypertension need to be reexplored. Aiming to improve the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine in treating hypertension, the basis of treatment is explored through systematically analyzing the literature available in both English and Chinese search engines. This paper systematically reviews the trends in emerging therapeutic strategies for hypertension from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine.

A Systems Biology Approach to Characterize Biomarkers for Blood Stasis Syndrome of Unstable Angina Patients by Integrating MicroRNA and Messenger RNA Expression Profiling

Blood stasis syndrome (BSS) has been considered to be the major type of syndromes in unstable angina (UA) patients. The aim of this study was to find the systems biology-based microRNA (miRNA) and mRNA expression biomarkers for BSS of UA. We identified 1081 mRNAs and 25 miRNAs differentially expressed between BSS of UA patients and healthy controls by microarrays. We used DAVID, miRTrail, and the protein-protein interactions method to explore the related pathways and networks of differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNAs. By combining the results of pathways and networks, we found that the upregulation of miR-146b-5p may induce the downregulation of CALR to attenuate inflammation and the upregulation of miR-199a-5p may induce the downregulation of TP53 to inhibit apoptosis in BSS of UA patients. The expression patterns of miR-146b-5p, miR-199a-5p, CALR, and TP53 were confirmed by qRT-PCR in an independent validation cohort including BBS of UA patients, non-BBS of UA patients, and healthy controls. miR-146b-5p, miR-199a-5p, CALR, and TP53 could be significant biomarkers of BSS of UA patients. The systems biology-based miRNA and mRNA expression biomarkers for the BSS of UA may be helpful for the further stratification of UA patients when deciding on interventions or clinical trials.

¹H NMR-based metabolomics approach to evaluate the effect of Xue-Fu-Zhu-Yu decoction on hyperlipidemia rats induced by high-fat diet

An NMR-based metabolomics approach was conducted to holisticly explore the effect of XFZYD (a traditional Chinese medicine formula) on high-fat diet induced hyperlipidemia rats with one of the commonly used antihyperlipidemic agents, simvastatin as the positive control. NMR spectra from blood plasma combined with statistical analysis revealed compounds distinguishing hyperlipidemia rats from normal control rats. XFZYD could ameliorate hyperlipidemia by intervening in some major metabolic pathways, such as decreasing the accumulation of ketone body (β-hydroxybutyrate) and acetyl-glycoproteins, enhancing glutathione (GSH) biosynthesis, partially reversing energy and lipid metabolism disturbance. Oral administration of XFZYD could also be helpful to hyperlipidemia rats in bettering the serum chemistry profile. The combined results demonstrated that XFZYD could ameliorate the hyperlipidemic symptoms in a global scale and restore the abnormal metabolic state to a near normal level in a time-dependent pattern.

Analysis on outcome of 5284 patients with coronary artery disease: the role of integrative medicine

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a history of thousands of years and has made great contributions to the health and well-being of the people. Integrative medicine (IM) treatment, combing TCM and conventional medicine, has been the most representative characteristic for coronary artery disease (CAD) patients in China, especially those in IM hospitals. However, the secondary prevention status of CAD and the potential benefit of IM therapy in improving CAD prognosis remains unclear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

By means of a unified clinical and research information platform, we collected clinical information of hospitalized patients with CAD in cardiovascular department of 9 IM hospitals in Beijing and Tianjin from January 2003 to September 2006. The primary endpoints were major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) which include all-cause death in hospital and during one-year follow-up, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). The diagnostic and therapeutic status of CAD patients was evaluated based on the latest available clinical guidelines. Meanwhile, a logistic stepwise regression analysis was also used to identify independent prognostic factors.

RESULTS

5284 hospitalized patients with CAD were registered. The top five TCM patterns were in turn blood stasis 79.3%, Qi deficiency 56.5%, phlegm-turbidness 41.1%, Yin deficiency 24.8%, Yang deficiency 11.3%. The standard-reaching rate of CAD patients with hyperlipidemia was 85.6% for total cholesterol, 31.2% for triglyceride, 21.4% for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, 52.5% for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, while it was 61.9% and 80.9% in systolic and diastolic blood pressure of CAD with hypertension respectively. The top five commonly used herbs by functions were Qi-tonifying agents 89.25%, blood-activating agents 86.04%, Qi-regulating agents 77.60%, heat-clearing agents 67.50%, dampness-draining agents 65.95%. The herbs commonly used were Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge 63.10%, Poria 59.99%, Raidx Astragali 49.67%, Radix Paeoniae Rubra 48.71%, peach seed 47.32%, angelica 46.82%, Radix Ligustici Chuanxiong 46.36%, safflower 45.40%, Pinellia 45.30%, glycyrrhiza 41.36%. 90 patients (1.7%) died in hospital, and the overall incidence of endpoints was 6.1% (322/5284). The logistic stepwise regress analysis showed that AMI (OR, 5.62, 95% CI=2.56-12.33), heart failure (OR, 2.68, 95% CI=1.67-4.29), age≥60 years (OR, 2.01, 95% CI=1.22-3.30), and medication of phosphodiesterase inhibitors (OR, 1.67, 95% CI=1.15-2.42) were independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality and one-year follow-up MACEs, while statins (OR, 0.23, 95% CI=0.06-0.91) and IM therapy (OR, 0.69, 95% CI=0.49-0.97) were protective factors.

CONCLUSION

There was still certain gap between the usage of conventional medicine and clinical guideline in IM hospitals of China. Integrative Medicine might have potential benefit for CAD patients in reducing MACEs. However, the scheme of IM intervention and the mechanism of action are still needed to be further determined.

Effects of Hyul-Bu-Chuke-Tang on Erythrocyte Deformability and Cerebrovascular CO(2) Reactivity in Normal Subjects

Aim. Hyul-bu-chuke-tang (HCEt) is a well-known traditional herbal medicine that is used for the treatment of ischemic cerebrovascular disorders. We investigated the acute effects of HCEt on erythrocyte deformability and cerebrovascular CO₂ reactivity (CVR) in healthy male subjects. Materials and Methods. We examined erythrocyte deformability in an HCEt group (n = 14) and a control group (n = 10). CVR was measured using hyperventilation-induced CO₂ reactivity of the middle cerebral artery and transcranial Doppler (TCD) in the HCEt group (n = 11). A historical control group (n = 10) of CVR measurements was also created from our previous study. All measurements were performed prior to and 1, 2, and 3 hours after HCEt administration. Results. HCEt significantly improved erythrocyte deformability 1 hour after administration compared to the control group (2.9 ± 1.1% versus −0.6 ± 1.0%, P = 0.034). HCEt significantly improved the CVR 2 hours after administration compared to the historical control group (9.1 ± 4.0% versus −8.1 ± 4.1%, P = 0.007). The mean blood pressure and pulse rate did not vary from baseline values in either group. Conclusions. We demonstrated that HCEt improved erythrocyte deformability and CVR. Our findings suggest that an improvement in erythrocyte deformability contributes to HCEt's effect on cerebral microcirculation.

Chinese medicine pattern differentiation and its implications for clinical practice

Chinese medicine practitioners apply the differentiation reasoning for decision-making. The wide scope of Chinese medicine intervention provides coverage of methods and techniques with applications to primary, secondary and tertiary levels of prevention. The rapid evolution of mathematical and computational techniques allowed the implementation of several models for pattern differentiation that were tested for several physiologic systems. Concurrently, it is argued that pattern differentiation might improve the efficacy of either traditional or conventional medical interventions. This article reviewed the influence of pattern differentiation into clinical practice organized by medical field: general pattern differentiation; genitourinary (recurrent cystitis); cardiovascular (coronary heart disease; arterial hypertension; angina pectoris); neurology (stroke); surgery; metabolic (diabetes mellitus); hepatic (cirrhosis); gastrointestinal (chronic superficial gastritis); orthopedic (low back pain; rheumatoid arthritis; cervical spondylosis; elbow arthritis); oncology (gastric mucosal dysplasia; lung cancer); gynecologic and obstetric manifestations (nausea and vomiting). The reviewed studies presented achievements that have contributed to the integration of Chinese medicine and evidence-based medicine in the treatment of many mild and severe diseases. Target diseases considered as major public health problems were also investigated and the results are promising regarding the possibility to treat guided by pattern differentiation.