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Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2020is a widely used edible, traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It is rich in saponins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and other compounds. It contains a large number of... (Review)
Review
is a widely used edible, traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It is rich in saponins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and other compounds. It contains a large number of fatty acids such as linoleic acid (up to 63.24%), a variety of amino acids, vitamins, and multiple essential trace elements. has several biological applications, such as in hypotension, lipid reduction, atherosclerosis, inflammation, relieving cough and phlegm, promoting cholic acid secretion, and as an antioxidant. Further, is often used in the development of cold mixed vegetables, canned vegetables, preserved fruit, salted vegetables, and cosmetics in northeast China, South Korea, Japan, and Korea. In this paper, the active chemical components and the health benefits of have been reviewed, providing new ideas for the further development of nutraceutical products to prevent and manage chronic diseases.
PubMed: 32023858
DOI: 10.3390/foods9020142 -
ERJ Open Research Jan 2022Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients often report aggravated symptoms due to heat and cold, but few studies have formally evaluated this.
RATIONALE
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients often report aggravated symptoms due to heat and cold, but few studies have formally evaluated this.
METHODOLOGY
We followed 30 Boston-based former smokers with COPD for four non-consecutive 30-day periods over 12 months. Personal and outdoor temperature exposure were measured using portable and Boston-area outdoor stationary monitors. Participants recorded daily morning lung function measurements as well as any worsening breathing (breathlessness, chest tightness, wheeze) and bronchitis symptoms (cough, sputum colour and amount) compared to baseline. Using linear and generalised linear mixed-effects models, we assessed associations between personal and outdoor temperature exposure (1-3-day moving averages) and lung function and symptoms, adjusting for humidity, smoking pack-years and demographics. We also stratified by warm and cold season.
RESULTS
Participants were on average 71.1±8.4 years old, with 54.4±30.7 pack-years of smoking. Each 5°C increase in personal temperature exposure was associated with 1.85 (95% CI 0.99-3.48) higher odds of worsening breathing symptoms. In the warm season, each 5°C increase in personal and outdoor temperature exposure was associated with 3.20 (95% CI 1.05-9.72) and 2.22 (95% CI 1.41-3.48) higher odds of worsening breathing symptoms, respectively. Each 5°C decrease in outdoor temperature was associated with 1.25 (95% CI 1.04-1.51) higher odds of worsening bronchitis symptoms. There were no associations between temperature and lung function.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that higher temperature, including outdoor exposure during the warm season and personal temperature exposure year-round, may worsen dyspnoea, while colder outdoor temperature may trigger cough and phlegm symptoms among COPD patients.
PubMed: 35295231
DOI: 10.1183/23120541.00574-2021 -
Pharmaceutical Biology Dec 2022Farrerol, a typical natural flavanone isolated from the traditional Chinese herb 'Man-shan-hong' [ L. (Ericaceae)] with phlegm-reducing and cough-relieving properties,...
CONTEXT
Farrerol, a typical natural flavanone isolated from the traditional Chinese herb 'Man-shan-hong' [ L. (Ericaceae)] with phlegm-reducing and cough-relieving properties, is widely used in China for treating bronchitis and asthma.
OBJECTIVE
To present the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, vasoactive, antitumor, and antimicrobial effects of farrerol and its underlying molecular mechanisms.
METHODS
The literature was reviewed by searching PubMed, Medline, Web of Knowledge, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases between 2011 and May 2021. The following key words were used: 'farrerol,' 'flavanone,' 'anti-inflammatory,' 'antioxidant,' 'vasoactive,' 'antitumor,' 'antimicrobial,' and 'molecular mechanisms'.
RESULTS
Farrerol showed anti-inflammatory effects mainly mediated via the inhibition of interleukin (IL)-6/8, IL-1β, tumour necrosis factor(TNF)-α, NF-κB, NO, COX-2, JNK1/2, AKT, PI3K, ERK1/2, p38, Keap-1, and TGF-1β. Farrerol exhibited antioxidant effects by decreasing JNK, MDA, ROS, NOX4, Bax/Bcl-2, caspase-3, p-p38 MAPK, and GSK-3β levels and enhancing Nrf2, GSH, SOD, GSH-Px, HO-1, NQO1, and p-ERK levels. The vasoactive effects of farrerol were also shown by the reduced α-SMA, NAD(P)H, p-ERK, p-Akt, mTOR, Jak2, Stat3, Bcl-2, and p38 levels, but increased OPN, occludin, ZO-1, eNOS, CaM, IP3R, and PLC levels. The antitumor effects of farrerol were evident from the reduced Bcl-2, Slug, Zeb-1, and vimentin levels but increased p27, ERK1/2, p38, caspase-9, Bax, and E-cadherin levels. Farrerol reduced α-toxin levels and increased NO production and NF-κB activity to impart antibacterial activity.
CONCLUSIONS
This review article provides a theoretical basis for further studies on farrerol, with a view to develop and utilise farrerol for treating of vascular-related diseases in the future.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Antioxidants; Chromones; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Humans; Medicine, Chinese Traditional
PubMed: 34846222
DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2021.2006723 -
Medicine Nov 2022Traditional Chinese tongue diagnosis plays an irreplaceable role in disease diagnosis. This study aimed to describe the tongue characteristics of patients with...
Traditional Chinese tongue diagnosis plays an irreplaceable role in disease diagnosis. This study aimed to describe the tongue characteristics of patients with granulomatous lobular mastitis (GLM). Forty GLM patients and 40 non-GLM controls were evaluated using the Traditional Chinese Medicine subjective clinical interpretation and a TDA-1 Tongue Diagnostic and Analysis system. The associations between the image features of the tongue body and coating and the profiling of immune-inflammatory parameters were analyzed. GLM patients were prone to a reddish tongue bodies with thick, white, and greasy coatings. Thick and greasy tongue coating features are risk factors for GLM. GLM patients had higher levels of white blood cells (WBC), platelets, C-reactive protein, interleukin-2, and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) than non-GLM controls (P < .05). Also, tongue coating contrast and entropy values were significantly correlated with WBC or TGF-β levels in GLM patients (r < -0.310 and P < .05). We demonstrated that the hot evil and phlegm-dampness constitutions are the main characteristics of GLM. This might provide a reference for GLM diagnosis.
Topics: Humans; Female; Tongue; Granulomatous Mastitis; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Transforming Growth Factor beta
PubMed: 36401439
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000031327 -
Medicine Sep 2022Epilepsy is a chronic encephalopathy caused by abnormal discharge of neurons in the brain, resulting in brain dysfunction. Cognitive impairment is one of the most common... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUNDS
Epilepsy is a chronic encephalopathy caused by abnormal discharge of neurons in the brain, resulting in brain dysfunction. Cognitive impairment is one of the most common complications of epilepsy. The current treatment of epilepsy in the control of symptoms at the same time cause a lot of side effects, especially the aggravation of cognitive impairment. Many literatures have stated that the efficacy and safety of integrated Traditional Chinese and western medicine in the treatment of epilepsy with cognitive impairment is superior to that of western medicine alone. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we intend to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of removing stasis and resolving phlegm in the treatment of epilepsy with cognitive impairment.
OBJECTIVE
To systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of removing blood stasis and resolving phlegm in the treatment of epilepsy with cognitive impairment.
METHODS
The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed to conduct this systematic review. The Chinese Journal Full Text Database (CNKI), Wanfang Database, CQVIP Database (CQVIP), Cochrane Library, EMbase, and Pubmed were searched by computer, and randomized controlled studies on the efficacy of removing blood stasis and resolving phlegm in the treatment of epilepsy with cognitive disorders were included. Retrieval was carried out until January 2022, and relevant data were extracted for meta-analysis using Rev Man5.3 software.
RESULTS
Fourteen randomized controlled studies with a total of 1198 patients were included, including 601 patients in the control group and 597 patients in the treatment group (experimental group).
RESULTS
Meta-analysis results showed that compared with the treatment of epilepsy with cognitive impairment in the western anti-epileptic drugs group alone, the treatment of epilepsy with cognitive impairment combined with the method of removing blood stasis and resolving phlegm could significantly improve the clinical efficacy of epilepsy (OR = 3.41, 95% CI 2.39-4.88, P < .001). Improved the TCM symptom score (OR = 3.99, 95% CI 1.72-9.26, P < .001). Increased the EEG improvement rate (RR = 1.39, 95% CI 1.05-1.84, P = .02). Improved MOCA score and cognitive function (MD = 3.54, 95% CI 1.68-5.40, P < .001). Improved QOLIE-31 cognitive function score. Improved cognitive function (MD = 7.22, 95% CI 3.35-11.08, P < .001). Improved the incidence of adverse reactions (RR = 0.50, 95% CI 0.33-0.76, P = .001).
CONCLUSION
Compared with the treatment of epilepsy with cognitive impairment by western anti-epileptic drugs alone, the treatment of epilepsy with cognitive impairment combined with the method of removing blood stasis and resolving phlegm is superior to the treatment of epilepsy with cognitive impairment by western anti-epileptic drugs alone.
Topics: Cognition Disorders; Cognitive Dysfunction; Epilepsy; Humans; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 36123849
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000030212 -
International Journal of Environmental... Aug 2022Human exposure to indoor pollution is one of the most well-established ways that housing affects health. We conducted a review to document evidence on the morbidity and... (Review)
Review
Human exposure to indoor pollution is one of the most well-established ways that housing affects health. We conducted a review to document evidence on the morbidity and mortality outcomes associated with indoor household exposures in children and adults in South Africa. The authors conducted a scientific review of the publicly available literature up to April 2022 using different search engines (PubMed, ProQuest, Science Direct, Scopus and Google Scholar) to identify the literature that assessed the link between indoor household exposures and morbidity and mortality outcomes in children and adults. A total of 16 studies with 16,920 participants were included. Bioaerosols, allergens, dampness, tobacco smoking, household cooking and heating fuels, particulate matter, gaseous pollutants and indoor spray residue play a significant role in different morbidity outcomes. These health outcomes include dental caries, asthma, tuberculosis, severe airway inflammation, airway blockage, wheeze, rhinitis, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, phlegm on the chest, current rhinoconjunctivitis, hay fever, poor early life immune function, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational hypertension, and increased incidence of nasopharyngeal bacteria, which may predispose people to lower respiratory tract infections. The findings of this research highlight the need for more initiatives, programs, strategies, and policies to better reduce the negative consequences of indoor household exposures.
Topics: Adult; Air Pollutants; Air Pollution, Indoor; Child; Cooking; Dental Caries; Humans; Morbidity; South Africa
PubMed: 35954827
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19159471 -
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine... Aug 2022To investigate the short-term efficacy and safety outcomes following a sequential treatment with clearing heat and eliminating phlegm (CHEP) formula and tonifying Qi and...
Efficacy and safety of a sequential treatment with clearing heat and eliminating phlegm and tonifying and activating blood circulation in treating acute ischemic stroke: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the short-term efficacy and safety outcomes following a sequential treatment with clearing heat and eliminating phlegm (CHEP) formula and tonifying Qi and activating blood circulation (TQABC) formula in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) within a 72 h time window.
METHODS
In this randomized, multicenter, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, 500 participants will be randomly assigned in a ratio of 1∶1 to the CHEP+ TQABC group or control group. In addition to guideline-based standard medical care, participants in the treatment group will receive the CHEP formula for the first 5 consecutive days followed by the TQABC formula for another 10 consecutive days, while those in the control group will receive CHEP formula placebo and TQABC formula placebo consecutively. The primary outcome measure will be the comparison of the change in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score from baseline to 15 days after randomization. The secondary outcome measures will include the scores on the modified Rankin Scale, Barthel Index, Patient-Reported Outcomes, TCM symptom pattern (Zheng-hou) evaluation Scale, and the incidence of in-hospital complications. Safety assessment will include the physical examination, laboratory detection, any adverse events or serious adverse events, and the proportion of any complications during hospitalization.
DISCUSSION
The results of this study will provide objective and scientific data with which to assess the efficacy and safety of a sequential treatment based on "integrating disease and symptom pattern" for patients with AIS.
Topics: Double-Blind Method; Hospitalization; Hot Temperature; Humans; Ischemic Stroke; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Qi; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Stroke; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 35848977
DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20220617.003 -
Journal of Healthcare Engineering 2022To observe the clinical efficacy of heat clearing phlegm mixture combined with vibration sputum excretion instrument in the treatment of patients with acute exacerbation...
To observe the clinical efficacy of heat clearing phlegm mixture combined with vibration sputum excretion instrument in the treatment of patients with acute exacerbation of COPD with phlegm-heat obstructing lung, 90 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD are selected and divided into three groups, namely, control group, traditional medicine group, and combined group: the control group (conventional western medicine treatment), traditional medicine group (heat clearing and phlegm mixture), and combined group (heat clearing and phlegm mixture + vibratory sputum excretion instrument) with 30 cases each. All the patients in the three groups were given conventional western medicine treatment. On this basis, the traditional medicine group was given the oral administration of the heat-clearing and phlegm-clearing mixture, and the combined group was given the oral administration of the heat-clearing and phlegm-clearing mixture and the vibratory sputum discharge apparatus. Machine learning is used to classify the patients into three groups based on the characteristics of their biomarkers, physical attributes, and medical history. The TCM syndrome score, blood gas analysis, lung function, and inflammatory indexes of the three groups were compared. TCM syndrome scores of the three groups were all lower than before; both the combined group and the TCM group were better than the control group ( < 0.05). Although the improvement degree of the combined group was better than that of the TCM group, the difference was not statistically significant ( > 0.05). TCM syndrome effect is seen to be 96.55% in the combined group, 89.29% in the TCM group, and 63.33% in the control group. Blood gas analysis is also performed; PO2 and PCO2 of the three groups were significantly improved after treatment. The combination group was superior to the traditional medicine group and the control group ( < 0.05), and the traditional medicine group was superior to the control group ( < 0.05). It is concluded that the combination of heat clearing phlegm mixture and vibration sputum excretion instrument can improve TCM syndrome score, CAT score, blood gas analysis, lung function, and inflammatory indicators in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD with phlegm-heat obstructing lung.
Topics: Hot Temperature; Humans; Lung; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 35313509
DOI: 10.1155/2022/3962074 -
Environmental Health : a Global Access... Sep 2021To conduct a systematic review to evaluate the association between residential or occupational short- and long-term exposure to odour pollution from industrial sources... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
To conduct a systematic review to evaluate the association between residential or occupational short- and long-term exposure to odour pollution from industrial sources and the health status of the exposed population.
METHODS
The searches were conducted in Medline, EMBASE and Scopus in April 2021. Exposure to an environmental odour from industrial sources in population resident near the source or in workers was considered. We considered outcomes for which there was a biological plausibility, such as wheezing and asthma, cough, headache, nausea and vomiting (primary outcomes). We also included stress-related symptoms and novel outcomes (e.g. mood states). Risk of bias was evaluated using the OHAT tool. For primary outcomes, when at least 3 studies provided effect estimates by comparing exposed subjects versus not exposed, we pooled the study-specific estimates of odour-related effect using random effects models. Heterogeneity was evaluated with Higgins I.
RESULTS
Thirty studies were eligible for this review, mainly cross-sectional (n = 23). Only one study involved school-age children and two studies involved workers. Only five studies reported odour effects on objective laboratory or clinical outcomes. Animal Feeding Operations and waste were the most common industrial sources. The overall odds ratios in exposed versus not exposed population were 1.15 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.29) for headache (7 studies), 1.09 (95% CI 0.88 to 1.30) for nausea/vomiting (7 studies), and 1.27 (95% CI 1.10 to 1.44) for cough/phlegm (5 studies). Heterogeneity was a moderate concern. Overall, the body of evidence was affected by a definitely high risk of bias in exposure and outcome assessment since most studies used self-reported information.
CONCLUSIONS
Findings underline the public health importance of odour pollution for population living nearby industrial odour sources. The limited evidence for most outcomes supports the need for high quality epidemiological studies on the association between odour pollution and its effects on human health.
Topics: Air Pollution; Animals; Cross-Sectional Studies; Environmental Exposure; Humans; Industry; Occupational Exposure; Odorants
PubMed: 34551760
DOI: 10.1186/s12940-021-00774-3 -
Evidence-based Complementary and... 2022This study aimed to establish a method for fast and accurate determination of body constitution types from the body constitution questionnaire (BCQ) by employing a...
This study aimed to establish a method for fast and accurate determination of body constitution types from the body constitution questionnaire (BCQ) by employing a decision tree model. The model was trained for 4 classes, namely, Yin-Xu, Yang-Xu, Phlegm and Blood Stasis, and Normal, and it achieved 67% accuracy for the testing dataset. The model also reduced the required number of BCQ questions from 44 to 3-6, depending on the responses. Lastly, we developed the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) body constitution online diagnosis system using our model to collect data digitally and use it more practically and efficiently. This system can assist doctors to improve the diagnosis and treatment in TCM practice.
PubMed: 35295930
DOI: 10.1155/2022/5560087