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Chen SJ, Qiu CL, Zhang LP, Jiang LZ, Zhao XY, Hou Q, Jiang Y. Complementary therapy with Chinese aromatic herbs to promote awakening in a comatose patient: A case report. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e39277. [PMID: 39121268 PMCID: PMC11315557 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000039277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/11/2024] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE Traumatic brain injury frequently leads to prolonged coma, posing significant medical management challenges. Complementary therapies, including traditional Chinese herbal medicine, have been investigated as potential interventions in comatose patients. Chinese aromatic herbs, such as Borneolum (Bingpian), Moschus (Shexiang), and Acori tatarinowii rhizoma (Shichangpu), have long been believed to be "resuscitation with aromatics" based on traditional Chinese medicines theory. PATIENT CONCERNS A 16-year-old male was admitted to the intensive rehabilitation unit for further treatment due to prolonged coma and frequent seizures following traumatic brain injury. DIAGNOSES Western medicine diagnosed the patient as coma, diffuse axonal injury, and epilepsy. According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, the syndrome differentiation indicates a Yin-closed disease. INTERVENTIONS According to the patient's condition, we use the Chinese aromatic herbs as a complementary therapy. OUTCOMES Following a month-long administration, the patient's consciousness and electroencephalogram (EEG) background progressively improved. A 6-month follow-up demonstrated full arousal, though with ambulatory EEG revealing mild to moderate abnormality in the background. LESSONS The addition of Chinese aromatic herbs appears to have a beneficial effect on the patient's consciousness and EEG background. This could be attributed to the herbs' inherent pharmacological properties, as well as their potential to enhance the permeability of the blood-brain barrier to other drugs. This makes them a promising option for complementary therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Jia Chen
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chang-Lin Qiu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, China
- Qiu Changlin Provincial TCM Master Studio, Hangzhou, China
| | - Li-Ping Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, China
- Qiu Changlin Provincial TCM Master Studio, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ling-Zhi Jiang
- Department of Rehabilitation, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Yu Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qun Hou
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, China
| | - Yan Jiang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, China
- Qiu Changlin Provincial TCM Master Studio, Hangzhou, China
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Wei C, Wang J, Yu J, Tang Q, Liu X, Zhang Y, Cui D, Zhu Y, Mei Y, Wang Y, Wang W. Therapy of traumatic brain injury by modern agents and traditional Chinese medicine. Chin Med 2023; 18:25. [PMID: 36906602 PMCID: PMC10008617 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-023-00731-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of disability and death, and the social burden of mortality and morbidity caused by TBI is significant. Under the influence of comprehensive factors, such as social environment, lifestyle, and employment type, the incidence of TBI continues to increase annually. Current pharmacotherapy of TBI mainly focuses on symptomatic supportive treatment, aiming to reduce intracranial pressure, ease pain, alleviate irritability, and fight infection. In this study, we summarized numerous studies covering the use of neuroprotective agents in different animal models and clinical trials after TBI. However, we found that no drug has been approved as specifically effective for the treatment of TBI. Effective therapeutic strategies for TBI remain an urgent need, and attention is turning toward traditional Chinese medicine. We analyzed the reasons why existing high-profile drugs had failed to show clinical benefits and offered our views on the research of traditional herbal medicine for treating TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunzhu Wei
- Department of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jingbo Wang
- Department of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jintao Yu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qing Tang
- Department of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinjie Liu
- Department of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanlong Zhang
- Department of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Dandan Cui
- Department of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanqiong Zhu
- Department of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanli Mei
- Department of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanjun Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Wenzhu Wang
- Department of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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Cao LX, Lin SJ, Zhao SS, Wang SQ, Zeng H, Chen WA, Lin ZW, Chen JX, Zhu MM, Zhang YM. Effects of acupuncture on microglial polarization and the TLR4/TRIF/MyD88 pathway in a rat model of traumatic brain injury. Acupunct Med 2022:9645284221108214. [PMID: 36046956 DOI: 10.1177/09645284221108214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Neuroinflammation caused by traumatic brain injury (TBI) can lead to neurological deficits. Acupuncture can inhibit neuroinflammation and promote nerve repair; however, the specific mechanism is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore whether acupuncture could modulate the M1 and M2 phenotypic polarization of microglia in a rat model of TBI via the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/intracellular toll-interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domain-containing adaptor inducing interferon-β (TRIF)/myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) pathway. METHODS A total of 90 adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, SPF grade, were randomly divided into a normal group, model group and acupuncture group. Each group was further divided into three subgroups (first, third, and fifth day groups) according to the treatment time (n = 10 rats/subgroup). We used the modified neurological severity score (mNSS) method to quantify neurological deficits before and after modeling. We used Nissl staining to observe the pathological changes in brain tissue, flow cytometry to detect the proportion of M1 and M2 polarized microglia in the injured area on the first, third and fifth day, and co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) to examine TLR4/TRIF/MyD88 expression in microglia on the first, third and fifth day, as well as expression of the amount of binding of TLR4 with TRIF and MyD88. RESULTS Compared to the model group, mNSS in the acupuncture group gradually decreased and pathological morphology improved. The proportion of CD11b/CD86 positive cells was decreased, while that of CD11b/CD206 was increased in the acupuncture group. Expression of IP TLR4, IP TRIF and IP MyD88 also decreased in the acupuncture group. CONCLUSION The results of this study demonstrate that one of the mechanisms through which acupuncture mitigates neuroinflammation and promotes nerve repair in TBI rats may be inhibition of M1 phenotypic polarization and promotion of M2 phenotypic polarization through inhibition of the TLR4/TRIF/MyD88 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu-Xi Cao
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.,Formula-Pattern Research Center, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shu-Jun Lin
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.,Clinical Medical College of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Si-Si Zhao
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shi-Qi Wang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hai Zeng
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wen-An Chen
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhuo-Wen Lin
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jia-Xu Chen
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.,Formula-Pattern Research Center, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ming-Min Zhu
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi-Min Zhang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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