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Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine... Aug 2020To analyze clinical studies on correlations between Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) body constitution types and diseases published in the past 10 years, and to... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To analyze clinical studies on correlations between Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) body constitution types and diseases published in the past 10 years, and to provide an evidence base to support the use of such correlations for health maintenance and disease prevention.
METHODS
We searched five databases for the period April 2009 to December 2019: China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, Wanfang Database, China Science and Technology Journal Database, PubMed and Embase. Three types of observational studies on correlation between constitution types and diseases were included: cross-sectional, case-control and cohort studies. Descriptive statistical methods were employed for data analysis.
RESULTS
A total of 1639 clinical studies were identified: 1452 (88.59%) cross-sectional studies, 115 (7.02%) case-control studies and 72 (4.39%) cohort studies covering 30 regions of China and five other countries (Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand and France). The collection of studies comprised 19 disease categories and 333 different diseases. The 10 most commonly studied diseases were hypertension, diabetes, stroke, coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (CAHD), sleep disorders, neoplasm of the breast, dysmenorrhea, fatty liver disease, chronic viral hepatitis B and dyslipidemia. We found high distributions for each biased constitution type in different patient populations as follows: Qi-deficiency constitution in stroke, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and hypertension; Yang-deficiency constitution in female infertility, osteoporosis, irritable bowel syndrome, gonarthrosis and dysmenorrhea; Yin-deficiency constitution in hypertension, diabetes, constipation, female climacteric states and osteoporosis; phlegm- dampness constitution in hypertension, stroke, fatty liver disease, diabetes and metabolic syndrome; damp-heat constitution in acne, chronic gastritis, chronic viral hepatitis B, human papillomavirus infection and hyperuricemia; blood-stasis constitution in CAHD, endometriosis and stroke; Qi-stagnation constitution in hyperplasia and neoplasms of the breast, insomnia, depression and thyroid nodules; and inherited-special constitution in asthma and allergic rhinitis.
CONCLUSION
Eight biased TCM constitutions were closely related to specific diseases, and could be used to guide individualized prevention and treatment. More rigorously designed studies are recommended to further verify the constitution-disease relationship.
Topics: Drug Therapy; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Humans; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Observational Studies as Topic; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 32744037
DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2020.04.019 -
The Clinical Respiratory Journal Mar 2017Pulmonary hamartomas appear as parenchymal or endobronchial lesions, the latter representing '1.4 to 11%' of the total number of pulmonary hamartomas. Endobronchial...
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Pulmonary hamartomas appear as parenchymal or endobronchial lesions, the latter representing '1.4 to 11%' of the total number of pulmonary hamartomas. Endobronchial hamartomas usually emerge as a single mass. As they are accepted as benign tumors, endobronchial treatments are recommended today. 45 year-old male patient admitted with cough, phlegm and fever. A lesion totally obstructing the right main bronchus was found in CT.
METHODS
In his brochoscopy, a mobile, smooth-surfaced lesion obstructing right main bronchus was seen. Its histopathology was reported as 'hamartoma.'
RESULTS
The lesion was removed by using argon plasma coagulation and electrocotery. After the removal of the lesion in right main bronchus, another lesion with similar characteristics was seen in the intermedius bronchus and this lesion which histopathology was reported as 'hamartoma' was excised by using electrocauter snare. There was no recurrence in the 24 month follow-up.
CONCLUSION
Reports of multiple endobronchial hamartomas are rare in the literature, and the awareness of this form of benign disease is important in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary diseases.
Topics: Argon Plasma Coagulation; Bronchial Diseases; Bronchoscopy; Combined Modality Therapy; Diagnosis, Differential; Hamartoma; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 26076678
DOI: 10.1111/crj.12322 -
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi = Zhongguo... Nov 2021Polygalae Radix has long been used in China for calming the mind, promoting intelligence, communicating the heart and kidney, eliminating phlegm, and reducing swelling.... (Review)
Review
Polygalae Radix has long been used in China for calming the mind, promoting intelligence, communicating the heart and kidney, eliminating phlegm, and reducing swelling. At present, it is used to treat amnesia, insomnia, and malaise. Modern research has revealed that Polygalae Radix mainly contains triterpenoid saponins, xanthone, oligosaccharide esters, etc., with the activities of improving memory, resisting dementia, protecting the brain, relieving cough, and removing phlegm, as well as sedation and hypnosis. The present study reviews the research progress on chemical composition, pharmacological action, quality control, and metabolism of Polygalae Radix in the past 30 years, to provide a theoretical basis for further research and development.
Topics: Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Oligosaccharides; Plant Roots; Polygala; Quality Control
PubMed: 34951162
DOI: 10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20210518.601 -
International Journal of General... 2015Hepatic encephalopathy is a common neuropsychiatric abnormality, which complicates the course of patients with liver disease. It was probably first described by... (Review)
Review
Hepatic encephalopathy is a common neuropsychiatric abnormality, which complicates the course of patients with liver disease. It was probably first described by Hippocrates over 2000 years ago, who said that "those whose madness arises from phlegm are quiet and neither shout nor make a disturbance, while those whose madness arises from bile shout, play tricks and will not keep still, but are always up to some mischief ". He was presumably describing the differences between patients with pneumonia and acute liver failure. Despite the fact that the syndrome was probably first recognized thousands of years ago, the exact pathogenesis still remains unclear. Furthermore, a precise definition of the syndrome is lacking, as are definitive methods of diagnosing this condition. It is important as both patients with cirrhosis and the general population with whom they interact may be affected as a consequence. At a minimum, the individual may be affected by impaired quality of life, impaired ability to work, and slowed reaction times, which are relevant to the population at large if affected individuals operate heavy machinery or drive a car. Pathogenic mechanisms, diagnostic tools, and treatment options are discussed.
PubMed: 26719720
DOI: 10.2147/IJGM.S86854 -
Journal of Integrative Medicine Nov 2019Hypothyroidism (Qillat-e-Ifraz-e-Darqiyya) is a condition where the thyroid gland is underactive and unable to produce enough thyroid hormone. The description of... (Review)
Review
Hypothyroidism (Qillat-e-Ifraz-e-Darqiyya) is a condition where the thyroid gland is underactive and unable to produce enough thyroid hormone. The description of hypothyroidism as a disease is not directly found in Unani texts. However, the signs and symptom of hypothyroidism resemble the clinical manifestation associated with Su-e-Mizaj Barid Maddi (derangement in cold temperament), such as plethora (Imtila), excessive salivation (Kasrat-e-Luabe-e-Dahan), tiredness (Aa'yan), loss of appetite (Zoaf-e-Ishteha), excessive sleeping (Kasrat-e-Naum) and cold skin (Baroodat-e-Jildia). These signs and symptoms are the result of an excess in abnormal phlegm (Ghair Tabayi Balgham) in the body. This review article identifies the observations from Unani literature that describe derangement in cold temperament and relate them to the clinical presentation of primary hypothyroidism in conventional medicine. We also discuss management of these symptoms in Unani medicine.
Topics: Humans; Hypothyroidism; Medicine, Unani
PubMed: 31164280
DOI: 10.1016/j.joim.2019.05.006 -
Biomolecules Feb 2021The gastrointestinal (GI) tract has an intriguing and critical role beyond digestion in both modern and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), as demonstrated by... (Review)
Review
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract has an intriguing and critical role beyond digestion in both modern and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), as demonstrated by its link with the immune system. In this review, we attempted to explore the interrelationships between increased GI permeability and phlegm, an important pathological factor in CAM, syndrome, and therapeutic herbs for two disorders. The leaky gut and phlegm syndromes look considerably similar with respect to related symptoms, diseases, and suitable herbal treatment agents, including phytochemicals even though limitations to compare exist. Phlegm may be spread throughout the body along with other pathogens via the disruption of the GI barrier to cause several diseases sharing some parts of symptoms, diseases, and mechanisms with leaky gut syndrome. Both syndromes are related to inflammation and gut microbiota compositions. Well-designed future research should be conducted to verify the interrelationships for evidence based integrative medicine to contribute to the promotion of public health. In addition, systems biology approaches should be adopted to explore the complex synergistic effects of herbal medicine and phytochemicals on conditions associated with phlegm and leaky gut syndromes.
Topics: Humans; Intestinal Diseases; Intestinal Mucosa; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Permeability; Phytochemicals; Plants, Medicinal
PubMed: 33671865
DOI: 10.3390/biom11020284 -
Evidence-based Complementary and... 2016This review paper summarized the current situation of studies on the essence of phlegm syndrome and relation between phlegm syndrome, diseases, and therapeutics based on... (Review)
Review
This review paper summarized the current situation of studies on the essence of phlegm syndrome and relation between phlegm syndrome, diseases, and therapeutics based on published English articles. In studies on the essence of phlegm syndrome, omic technologies were used to explore the molecular basis of phlegm syndrome; in studies on relation between phlegm syndrome and diseases, discovery of markers of phlegm syndrome in diseases becomes a hotspot; the distribution of phlegm syndromes in some common chronic diseases was found; in the therapy of phlegm syndrome, two therapeutic models, treatment with CM formula and treatment with a combination of CM formula and Western medicine, were used most frequently. It is certainly that using one omic technology is not able to deal with the complexity of phlegm syndrome and that the use of a combination of multiple omic methods will be a trend in future studies. Meanwhile, for rapidly increasing clinical research quality of phlegm syndrome, a series of agreed criteria, such as syndrome diagnostic criteria and efficacy criteria clinical studies of phlegm syndrome, needed to be established urgently, and there was an urgent need of standardizing syndrome names in English.
PubMed: 26981140
DOI: 10.1155/2016/6463270 -
Chest Nov 2023Airway mucus plugs are frequently identified on CT scans of patients with COPD with a smoking history without mucus-related symptoms (ie, cough, phlegm [silent mucus...
BACKGROUND
Airway mucus plugs are frequently identified on CT scans of patients with COPD with a smoking history without mucus-related symptoms (ie, cough, phlegm [silent mucus plugs]).
RESEARCH QUESTION
In patients with COPD, what are the risk and protective factors associated with silent airway mucus plugs? Are silent mucus plugs associated with functional, structural, and clinical measures of disease?
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS
We identified mucus plugs on chest CT scans of participants with COPD from the COPDGene study. The mucus plug score was defined as the number of pulmonary segments with mucus plugs, ranging from 0 to 18, and categorized into three groups (0, 1-2, and ≥ 3). We determined risk and protective factors for silent mucus plugs and the associations of silent mucus plugs with measures of disease severity using multivariable linear and logistic regression models.
RESULTS
Of 4,363 participants with COPD, 1,739 had no cough or phlegm. Among the 1,739 participants, 627 (36%) had airway mucus plugs identified on CT scan. Risk factors of silent mucus plugs (compared with symptomatic mucus plugs) were older age (OR, 1.02), female sex (OR, 1.40), and Black race (OR, 1.93) (all P values < .01). Among those without cough or phlegm, silent mucus plugs (vs absence of mucus plugs) were associated with worse 6-min walk distance, worse resting arterial oxygen saturation, worse FEV % predicted, greater emphysema, thicker airway walls, and higher odds of severe exacerbation in the past year in adjusted models.
INTERPRETATION
Mucus plugs are common in patients with COPD without mucus-related symptoms. Silent mucus plugs are associated with worse functional, structural, and clinical measures of disease. CT scan-identified mucus plugs can complement the evaluation of patients with COPD.
PubMed: 38013161
DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2023.11.033 -
Journal of Ethnopharmacology Apr 2024Many researchers have adopted resolving phlegm and unblocking fu-organs (RPUF) therapy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients and yielded beneficial results in terms... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Many researchers have adopted resolving phlegm and unblocking fu-organs (RPUF) therapy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients and yielded beneficial results in terms of clinical symptoms. However, there has been no systematically pooled analysis of RPUF therapy for AIS to date. Therefore, a well-designed systematic review and meta-analysis is necessary.
AIM
This systematic review aims to determine the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy for resolving phlegm and unblocking fu-organs (RPUF) for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS).
METHODS
Eight databases were searched to identify eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving RPUF therapy for AIS. The primary outcome included the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and the secondary outcomes were the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), the Neurological Deficit Score (NDS), Barthel Index (BI), Fugel-Meyer assessment (FMA), and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions was used to assess risk of bias. The quantitative synthesis was analyzed using RevMan 5.3 and Stata 14.0 software.
RESULTS
The systematic review and meta-analysis comprised 61 RCTs with a total of 6056 participants. RPUF prescriptions combined with usual care were superior to usual care alone in individuals with AIS, as evidenced by decreased mRS (MD=-0.34; 95%CI [-0.65, -0.03]; P=0.03), NIHSS (MD=-3.38; 95%CI [-4.07, -2.68]; P<0.00001), and NDS (MD=-3.65; 95%CI [-4.07, -3.24]; P<0.00001), as well as improved BI (MD=10.4; 95%CI [8.21, 12.59]; P<0.00001), FMA (MD=20.41; 95%CI [17.40, 23.41]; P<0.00001), and GCS (MD=3.08; 95%CI [1.95, 4.20]; P<0.00001). No significant difference was observed in the incidence of adverse effects between the RPUF therapy group and the usual care group.
CONCLUSION
RPUF therapy appears to be an effective and safe approach for treating AIS; it could decrease mRS, NIHSS, and NDS while improving BI, FMA, and GCS. However, the methodological quality of the included RCTs was far from sufficient, and further high-quality, well-designed RCTs with long-term follow-up are still required.
Topics: Humans; Ischemic Stroke; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38160868
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117660