Gyejigachulbutang (Gui-Zhi-Jia-Shu-Fu-Tang, Keishikajutsubuto, TJ-18) in Degenerative Knee Osteoarthritis Patients: Lessons and Responders from a Multicenter Randomized Placebo-Controlled Double-Blind Clinical Trial

Effect of Resveratrol on Serum Levels of Type II Collagen and Aggrecan in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Pilot Clinical Study

Treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA) remains a challenging concern. Preclinical studies provided accumulating evidence on resveratrol efficacy in ameliorating degenerative articular damage. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of resveratrol as monotherapy on the serum level of type II collagen (Coll 2-1) and aggrecan in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The study was an open-labeled noncontrolled clinical trial. Resveratrol 500 mg/day in a single oral dose was given to the patients with knee osteoarthritis for 90 days. The serum levels of Coll-2-1, aggrecan, and biomarkers of inflammation were measured pre- and posttreatment. Hematological profiles and both hepatic and renal function markers were investigated at the baseline and at the end of the treatment for evaluating the tolerability and safety of resveratrol. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) for disease activity were clinically assessed monthly. Administration of 500 mg resveratrol for three months led to a nonsignificant decrease in the serum level of Coll 2-1 while a significant increase in aggrecan serum level. Resveratrol significantly improves pain score measured by VAS and KOOS after 30 days. Improvements in patients' activity and functional status were also evident at day 30 and kept on for three months which was reflected by KOOS subscale scores and with a significant improvement in all KOOS areas. In conclusion, oral administration of resveratrol as a monotherapy provides a remarkable improvement in the clinical status of the patients but has no significant effect on serum levels of Coll 2-1.

Efficacy and Safety of Ningmitai Capsules in Patients with Chronic Epididymitis: A Prospective, Parallel Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Ningmitai (NMT) capsules in patients with chronic epididymitis.

METHODS

This prospective randomized controlled trial included 112 patients diagnosed with chronic epididymitis. The patients were randomized (1 : 1 : 1) to receive levofloxacin (LVX), NMT, or NMT combined with LVX for 4 weeks. The patients were followed up at 2 and 4 weeks after initiation of treatment and were evaluated in terms of Chronic Epididymitis Symptom Index (CESI) scores, epididymal nodules, and safety parameters. The primary endpoints were the CESI scores at the end of 2 and 4 weeks of treatment. The secondary endpoints included the mean epididymal nodule diameter and the clinical efficacy rate. Safety was evaluated by hepatorenal function tests and adverse event reports during the trial.

RESULTS

After 2 weeks of treatment, the CESI score of the NMT group was significantly lower than that of the LVX group (P < 0.05). In addition, the clinical efficacy rate of the NMT group was significantly higher than that of the LVX group (55% vs. 8.33%, P < 0.0001), indicating that NMT has a rapid effect on chronic epididymitis. After 4 weeks of treatment, there was no significant difference in CESI scores or clinical efficacy rates between the two monotherapy regimens (P > 0.05); however, the mean diameter of epididymal nodules was significantly smaller in the NMT group than in the LVX group (P < 0.0001). Moreover, after 4 weeks of treatment, the patients in the LVX + NMT group, which had a clinical efficacy rate of 97.22%, had lower CESI scores (both P < 0.01) and a smaller epididymal nodule diameter (vs. LVX, P < 0.0001; vs. NMT, P < 0.05) than those in the other two groups. No adverse events or abnormal hepatorenal function were found during the study.

CONCLUSION

NMT significantly improved CESI scores and epididymal nodule diameter in patients with chronic epididymitis. The combination of NMT and LVX provides a much better effect than monotherapy, and this treatment regimen was well tolerated.