DPP-4 inhibitors and GLP-1RAs: cardiovascular safety and benefits

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors are commonly used treatments for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Both anti-diabetic treatments function by playing key modulatory roles in the incretin system. Though these drugs have been deemed effective in treating T2DM, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and some members of the scientific community have questioned the safety of these therapeutics relative to important cardiovascular endpoints. As a result, since 2008, the FDA has required all new drugs for glycemic control in T2DM patients to demonstrate cardiovascular safety. The present review article strives to assess the safety and benefits of incretin-based therapy, a new class of antidiabetic drug, on the health of patient cardiovascular systems. In the process, this review will also provide a physiological overview of the incretin system and how key components function in T2DM.

[Study on effect of moxibustion and guben yiliu III combined with chemotherapy in treating middle-late stage malignant tumor]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the complementary function of moxibustion and Guben Yiliu III (GBYL), a Chinese herbal composite preparation, in combination with chemotherapy.

METHODS

Eighty-one patients of middle-late stage malignant tumor were randomly divided into three groups, 16 in the control group treated with chemotherapy alone, 35 in the TCM group treated with chemotherapy combined GBYL and 30 in the TCM combined moxibustion group. The therapeutic effect of treatment was evaluated according to the immediate effect, living quality scoring, etc.

RESULTS

The comprehensive living quality score and Karnofsky score dropped significantly in the control group after treatment with significant increase of pain score and decrease of tongue figure score (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). In the TCM group, the former two criteria lowered less than those in the control group, but no significant difference in the latter two criteria was shown. For those in the TCM combined moxibustion group, all the four criteria were improved better than those in the control group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

GBYL combined or not combined with moxibustion could improve the living quality of patients received chemotherapy.

[Studies of guben quyu No I combined with chemotherapy in treating cancer]

Cancer patients with Qi-Deficiency and Blood Stasis (QDBS) syndrome were studied, and stress was put on the observation of the Guben Quyu No. I, which was used in combining with chemotherapy for synergistic effect and attenuation of toxicity.

THE RESULTS

QDBS syndrome often existed in cancer patients, and chemotherapy exacerbate the occurrence rate of QDBS syndrome. QDBS syndrome is somehow related to immuno-deficiency and blood hypercoagulability, the method of Yiqi Huoxue (YQHX) which used to be combined with chemotherapy could not only reduce the toxic-side effects of chemotherapy, but also improve the cellular immune function and hemorheology. Since the cellular immuno-deficiency and blood hypercoagulability were associated with recurrence and metastasis of cancer. It is considered that the Guben Quyu No I possibly is to reduce the occurring of the above-mentioned consequences.

[Sheng xue tang on immunological functions of cancer patients with spleen-deficiency syndrome]

242 cases of cancer patients with spleen-deficiency syndrome have been studied. It has been found that some immune indexes such as phagocytic activities of macrophages, lymphocytic transformation rate, E-rosette forming rate, Th-cell in T cell subgroup, the NK cell cytotoxicity and combining ability, of cancer patients with spleen-deficiency syndrome were lower than those of normal donor (P less than 0.001 or 0.002). After the patients were treated with sheng xue tang (SXT), the immune indexes above mentioned have been increased significantly. These results suggest that SXT can improve the cell-mediated immune function, therefore, it can strengthen the anticancer ability of the patient, prolong the survival period of some patients.