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Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao = Journal... Oct 2021To investigate the effect of dissipating phlegm and blood stasis simultaneously for protecting cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) against high...
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of dissipating phlegm and blood stasis simultaneously for protecting cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) against high glucose-induced injury and the role of AGEs/RAGE axis in the underlying mechanism.
METHODS
The primary CMECs were isolated from rat heart by enzymatic digestion and identified by immunofluorescence assay. The CMECs exposed to 33 mmol/L glucose for 48 h were divided into model group (MC), resolving phlegm (RP) group, dissipating blood stasis (DBS) group, dissipating phlegm and blood stasis (RPDBS) group and ALT-711 group. After treatment with 10% drug-containing serum and ALT-711 for 48 h, the content of AGEs in the cells were measured with ELISA. The expressions of RAGE mRNA and protein were measured with real-time quantitative PCR, immunofluorescence assay and Western blotting; The activity of NADPH oxidase and ROS level were measured by cytochrome c reduction and fluorescent probe DHE.
RESULTS
High glucose exposure significantly increased the content of AGEs, RAGE expressions at the protein and mRNA levels, NADPH oxidase activity and ROS level in the CMECs ( < 0.01). These changes were significantly mitigated by treatments with RP, DBS, RPDBS and ALT-711 ( < 0.01), among which RPDBS caused the most significant decrements in AGEs content, RAGE expression and NADPH oxidase activity ( < 0.01, < 0.05). The reduction of ROS level in the RPDBS group was significantly greater than that in RP group ( < 0.01), but similar to that in DBS group ( > 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Dissipating phlegm and blood stasis simultaneously can be helpful for prevention and treatment of diabetic myocardial microangiopathy by suppressing the excessive activation of AGEs-RAGE signal axis and oxidative stress, thus protecting CMECs against high glucose-induced damage. Dissipating phlegm and blood stasis simultaneously is better than either of the therapy alone.
Topics: Animals; Diabetes Mellitus; Diabetic Angiopathies; Endothelial Cells; Glucose; Glycation End Products, Advanced; Myocardium; Oxidative Stress; Rats; Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products
PubMed: 34755668
DOI: 10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2021.10.11 -
Evidence-based Complementary and... 2014Background. To simplify traditional Chinese medicine syndrome differentiation and allow researchers to master syndrome differentiation for hypertension, this paper... (Review)
Review
Background. To simplify traditional Chinese medicine syndrome differentiation and allow researchers to master syndrome differentiation for hypertension, this paper retrospectively studied the literature and analyzed syndrome elements corresponding to hypertension syndromes. Methods. Six databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Chinese Bio-Medical Literature Database, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journal Database, and Wan-fang Data were searched from 1/January/2003 to 30/October/2013. We included all clinical literature testing hypertension syndromes and retrospectively studied the hypertension literature published from 2003 to 2013. Descriptive statistics calculated frequencies and percentages. Results. 13,272 patients with essential hypertension were included. Clinical features of hypertension could be attributed to 11 kinds of syndrome factors. Among them, seven syndrome factors were excess, while four syndrome factors were deficient. Syndrome targets were mainly in the liver and related to the kidney and spleen. There were 33 combination syndromes. Frequency of single-factor syndromes was 31.77% and frequency of two-factor syndromes was 62.26%. Conclusions. Excess syndrome factors of hypertension patients include yang hyperactivity, blood stasis, phlegm turbidity, internal dampness, and internal fire. Deficient syndrome factors of hypertension patients are yin deficiency and yang deficiency. Yin deficiency with yang hyperactivity, phlegm-dampness retention, and deficiency of both yin and yang were the three most common syndromes in clinical combination.
PubMed: 24660016
DOI: 10.1155/2014/418206 -
PloS One 2021This study determined the association between respiratory symptoms and death from respiratory causes over a period of 45 years. In four cohorts of random samples of...
This study determined the association between respiratory symptoms and death from respiratory causes over a period of 45 years. In four cohorts of random samples of Norwegian populations with 103,881 participants, 43,731 persons had died per 31 December 2016. In total, 5,949 (14%) had died from respiratory diseases; 2,442 (41%) from lung cancer, 1,717 (29%) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 1,348 (23%) pneumonia, 119 (2%) asthma, 147 (2%) interstitial lung disease and 176 (3%) other pulmonary diseases. Compared with persons without respiratory symptoms the multivariable adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for lung cancer deaths increased with score of breathlessness on effort and cough and phlegm, being 2.6 (95% CI 2.1-3.2) for breathlessness score 3 and 2.1 (95% CI 1.7-2.5) for cough and phlegm score 5. The HR of COPD death was 6.4 (95% CI 5.4-7.7) for breathlessness score 3 and 3.0 (2.4-3.6) for cough and phlegm score 5. Attacks of breathlessness and wheeze score 2 had a HR of 1.6 (1.4-1.9) for COPD death. The risk of pneumonia deaths increased also with higher breathlessness on effort score, but not with higher cough and phlegm score, except for score 2 with HR 1.5 (1.2-1.8). In this study with >2.4 million person-years at risk, a positive association was observed between scores of respiratory symptoms and deaths due to COPD and lung cancer. Respiratory symptoms are thus important risk factors, which should be followed thoroughly by health care practitioners for the benefit of public health.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Asthma; Cohort Studies; Cough; Dyspnea; Female; Forced Expiratory Volume; Humans; Lung Diseases; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Norway; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Respiration Disorders; Respiratory Sounds; Risk Factors; Young Adult
PubMed: 34807953
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260416 -
Respiratory Care May 2009Since the detection of the underlying gene defect, our knowledge of how the genetic mutations in cystic fibrosis cause lung disease has increased substantially, but we... (Review)
Review
Since the detection of the underlying gene defect, our knowledge of how the genetic mutations in cystic fibrosis cause lung disease has increased substantially, but we still lack a complete understanding of some of the pieces in the puzzle. Nevertheless, the information gained has led to new therapeutic approaches that address key factors of cystic fibrosis pathophysiology. Past therapeutic successes were largely based on targeting the consequences of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator dysfunction, such as phlegm retention, infection, and inflammation, but new therapies may be able to address the underlying abnormality rather than its downstream effects. The efficacy of these treatments still needs to be established, but early studies look promising for several compounds. This review summarizes our current understanding of the pathophysiology and treatment of cystic fibrosis lung disease.
Topics: Cystic Fibrosis; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genetic Therapy; Humans; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Prognosis; Respiratory Therapy
PubMed: 19393104
DOI: 10.4187/aarc0427 -
Thorax Nov 2014This study aimed to assess associations of outdoor air pollution on prevalence of chronic bronchitis symptoms in adults in five cohort studies (Asthma-E3N, ECRHS, NSHD,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to assess associations of outdoor air pollution on prevalence of chronic bronchitis symptoms in adults in five cohort studies (Asthma-E3N, ECRHS, NSHD, SALIA, SAPALDIA) participating in the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE) project.
METHODS
Annual average particulate matter (PM(10), PM(2.5), PM(absorbance), PM(coarse)), NO(2), nitrogen oxides (NO(x)) and road traffic measures modelled from ESCAPE measurement campaigns 2008-2011 were assigned to home address at most recent assessments (1998-2011). Symptoms examined were chronic bronchitis (cough and phlegm for ≥3 months of the year for ≥2 years), chronic cough (with/without phlegm) and chronic phlegm (with/without cough). Cohort-specific cross-sectional multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted using common confounder sets (age, sex, smoking, interview season, education), followed by meta-analysis.
RESULTS
15 279 and 10 537 participants respectively were included in the main NO(2) and PM analyses at assessments in 1998-2011. Overall, there were no statistically significant associations with any air pollutant or traffic exposure. Sensitivity analyses including in asthmatics only, females only or using back-extrapolated NO(2) and PM10 for assessments in 1985-2002 (ECRHS, NSHD, SALIA, SAPALDIA) did not alter conclusions. In never-smokers, all associations were positive, but reached statistical significance only for chronic phlegm with PM(coarse) OR 1.31 (1.05 to 1.64) per 5 µg/m(3) increase and PM(10) with similar effect size. Sensitivity analyses of older cohorts showed increased risk of chronic cough with PM(2.5abs) (black carbon) exposures.
CONCLUSIONS
Results do not show consistent associations between chronic bronchitis symptoms and current traffic-related air pollution in adult European populations.
Topics: Air Pollution; Bronchitis, Chronic; Cohort Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Environmental Monitoring; Global Health; Humans; Incidence; Risk Factors
PubMed: 25112730
DOI: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2013-204352 -
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Jan 2024Hyperlipidaemia is described as "excessive phlegm" and "blood stasis" in the classic theory of traditional Chinese medicine. Exocarpium Citri Grandis has the effect of...
Selection and evaluation of quality markers for the regulation of PXR-CYP3A4/FXR-LXRα by Exocarpium Citri Grandis for the treatment of hyperlipidaemia with dispelling blood stasis and removing phlegm.
Hyperlipidaemia is described as "excessive phlegm" and "blood stasis" in the classic theory of traditional Chinese medicine. Exocarpium Citri Grandis has the effect of dispelling blood stasis and removing phlegm, which can better meet the treatment needs of this disease. However, there is still a lack of focus and depth in the study of the chemical composition of this medicine, and the correlation between the study of relevant medicinal substances and the efficacy of dispelling stasis and removing phlegm is insufficient. To address this issue, this study was carried out to validate the overall efficacy and identify and determine the chemical composition of Exocarpium Citri Grandis. The regulatory mechanism of the PXR-CYP3A4/FXR-LXRα pathway and its active ingredients were screened, and a pharmacokinetic study of active ingredients was performed. The obtained multidimensional data were statistically analysed and comprehensively evaluated. The quality marker of Exocarpium Citri Grandis in the treatment of hyperlipidaemia based on the PXR-CYP3A4/FXR-LXRα mechanism to exert the efficacy of dispelling blood stasis and removing phlegm was finally determined. Based on the above experiments, we identified 27 compounds from the ethanol extract of Exocarpium Citri Grandis. Among them, naringenin, meranzin hydrate, apigenin, caffeic acid phenethyl ester, anacardiin, hesperidin and naringin can significantly regulate all or part of the targets in the PXR-CYP3A4/FXR-LXRα pathway. It also has suitable content and pharmacokinetic characteristics in vivo. In conclusion, this study established quality markers to characterize the efficacy of Exocarpium Citri Grandis in dispelling blood stasis and removing phlegm, which provides a scientific basis for the targeted evaluation of the hypolipidaemic activity of this medicinal plant.
Topics: Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A; Hyperlipidemias; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Plants, Medicinal; Hesperidin; Medicine, Chinese Traditional
PubMed: 38157640
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.116089 -
Clinical study of the hypothesis of endogenous collateral wind on acute coronary syndrome: a review.African Journal of Traditional,... 2014Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), is a serious threat to people's health, and life, and in recent years, the incidence has increased yearly. This study was to propose the... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), is a serious threat to people's health, and life, and in recent years, the incidence has increased yearly. This study was to propose the hypothesis of "endogenous collateral wind" based on the patho-mechanism of thrombogenesis complicated by ruptured plaque on ACS, and the theory of traditional Chinese medicine.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Through successful coronary angiography (CAG), and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), patients with coronary artery disease were made the differential diagnosis such as blood stasis, blood stasis due to phlegm obstruction, and endogenous collateral wind. The levels of plasma inflammatory marker were measured to study on the characteristics of "endogenous collateral wind". Luo heng dripping pills with promoting blood circulation to expel wind-evil, and remove wetness were made based on the hypothesis of "endogenous collateral wind" on ACS. Patients with unstable angina were randomly divided into 3, groups based on therapeutic methods: conventional therapy group, Luo Heng dripping pills group and Tongxinluo caps. Differences among groups were compared.
RESULTS
There were great changes in number and degree of coronary arteriostenosis confirmed by CAG, the types of ACC/AHA lesion and Levin lesion confirmed by CAG, remodeling index, positive or negative remodeling percentage measured by IVUS, the plasma levels of plasma inflammatory marker measured by ELLSA in the patients with endogenous collateral wind, compared with patients with blood stasis and blood stasis due to phlegm obstruction. The total effective rate of improved angina in Luo Heng dripping pills group was significantly higher than those in other two groups. The levels of plasma inflammatory marker were significantly lower in Luo Heng dripping pills group.
CONCLUSION
There were some pathological basis which were found about the hypothesis of "endogenous collateral wind" on acute coronary syndrome. It provided evidences for patients with coronary artery disease treated by medicines with expelling evil-wind, and removing wetness.
Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Coronary Disease; Diagnosis, Differential; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Humans; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Phytotherapy; Wind
PubMed: 24653564
DOI: 10.4314/ajtcam.v11i1.18 -
Electronic Physician Apr 2018, known as Kafesheh (Persian) and safflower (English) is vastly utilized in Traditional Medicine for various medical conditions, namely dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea,... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
, known as Kafesheh (Persian) and safflower (English) is vastly utilized in Traditional Medicine for various medical conditions, namely dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, postpartum abdominal pain and mass, trauma and pain of joints. It is largely used for flavoring and coloring purposes among the local population. Recent reviews have addressed the uses of the plant in various ethnomedical systems.
OBJECTIVE
This review was an update to provide a summary on the botanical features, uses in Iranian folklore and modern medical applications of safflower.
METHODS
A main database containing important early published texts written in Persian, together with electronic papers was established on ethnopharmacology and modern pharmacology of C. tinctorius. Literature review was performed on the years from 1937 to 2016 in Web of Science, PubMed, Scientific Information Database, Google Scholar, and Scopus for the terms "Kafesheh", "safflower", "Carthamus tinctorius", and so forth.
RESULTS
Safflower is an indispensable element of Iranian folklore medicine, with a variety of applications due to laxative effects. Also, it was recommended as treatment for rheumatism and paralysis, vitiligo and black spots, psoriasis, mouth ulcers, phlegm humor, poisoning, numb limbs, melancholy humor, and the like. According to the modern pharmacological and clinical examinations, safflower provides promising opportunities for the amelioration of myocardial ischemia, coagulation, thrombosis, inflammation, toxicity, cancer, and so forth. However, there have been some reports on its undesirable effects on male and female fertility. Most of these beneficial therapeutic effects were correlated to hydroxysafflor yellow A.
CONCLUSION
More attention should be drawn to the lack of a thorough phytochemical investigation. The potential implications of safflower based on Persian traditional medicine, such as the treatment of rheumatism and paralysis, vitiligo and black spots, psoriasis, mouth ulcers, phlegm humor, poisoning, numb limbs, and melancholy humor warrant further consideration.
PubMed: 29881530
DOI: 10.19082/6672 -
International Journal of Chronic... 2020The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of subjects with chronic cough and phlegm and describe their characteristics including the presence or absence...
Chronic Cough and Phlegm in Subjects Undergoing Comprehensive Health Examination in Japan - Survey of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients Epidemiology in Japan (SCOPE-J).
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of subjects with chronic cough and phlegm and describe their characteristics including the presence or absence of airflow limitation among the general population in Japan.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
This was an observational cross-sectional survey targeting multiple regions of Japan. Subjects aged 40 years or above who were undergoing comprehensive health examination were recruited. The existence of chronic cough and phlegm, airflow limitation, and treatment for respiratory diseases were examined. Chronic cough and phlegm were defined as having both symptoms for at least 3 months of the year and for at least 2 consecutive years, or as receiving any treatment for chronic bronchitis at the time of recruitment. Airflow limitation was defined as forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) less than 0.7.
RESULTS
In a total of 22,293 subjects, 380 subjects (1.7%) had chronic cough and phlegm. Among these 380 subjects, 21.8% received treatment for a respiratory disease, and 11.6% had airflow limitation. Compared to subjects without both chronic cough and phlegm but with airflow limitation, subjects with chronic cough and phlegm without airflow limitation were younger, more likely to be current smokers (39.6%), and had higher total scores on a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) assessment test (CAT). Scores of CAT questions 1-4 (cough, phlegm, chest tightness, breathlessness, respectively) were higher in subjects with chronic cough and phlegm regardless of airflow limitation.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrated that subjects identified to have chronic cough and phlegm in comprehensive health examination settings were symptomatic, while most of them did not receive any treatment for respiratory diseases and did not have airflow limitation. Screening subjects for chronic cough and phlegm in a comprehensive health examination followed by a detailed examination of screened subjects could be an effective approach for better management of chronic cough and phlegm. Smoking cessation should be included in the management, in consideration that around 40% of subjects with chronic cough and phlegm were current smokers.
Topics: Adult; Cough; Cross-Sectional Studies; Forced Expiratory Volume; Humans; Japan; Prevalence; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Spirometry; Vital Capacity
PubMed: 32346287
DOI: 10.2147/COPD.S237568 -
Annals of Palliative Medicine Sep 2021It is becoming more and more important to judge whether patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) have phlegm and blood stasis syndromes in the process of traditional...
BACKGROUND
It is becoming more and more important to judge whether patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) have phlegm and blood stasis syndromes in the process of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnosis and treatment of CHD. The syndrome differentiation strategy of phlegm and blood stasis syndromes of CHD is still not standardized, and it is particularly necessary to make syndrome differentiation simpler and more accurate.
METHODS
Twenty-eight medical cases that met the criteria, comprising 10 ancient medical cases and 18 modern ones, were selected from the TCM literature, which were then analyzed by 57 experts via questionnaire. Statistical analysis of the data was mainly based on frequency analysis.
RESULTS
(I) The average age of the 57 experts from 20 provinces was 48.9±8.5 years; 89.5% were associate professor or above, and 75.4% of them worked at a tertiary hospital. (II) Consistency of expert consultation over medical cases: for the ancient medical cases, the diagnostic consistency rate of phlegm syndrome was 27/34 (79.4%) and additional diagnosis rate of the blood stasis syndrome was 27/57 (47.4%); for the modern medical cases, the consistency rate compared with the original diagnosis of phlegm syndrome was 54/80 (67.5%) and that of blood stasis syndrome was 73/90 (81.1%). (III) The top five experts' diagnostic basics of phlegm syndrome were oppression in the chest, slippery pulse, greasy fur, coughing of phlegm, and chest pain; the top five diagnostic basics of blood stasis syndrome were chest pain, dark tongue, oppression in chest, red tongue, and ecchymosis on tongue. (IV) In the questionnaire consultation on CHD phlegm-blood stasis syndrome cases, the diagnostic basis of "symptom or (and) tongue manifestation" accounted for 12/27 (44.4%) of the diagnostic basics of phlegm syndrome and 28/38 (73.7%) of that of blood stasis syndrome basis.
CONCLUSIONS
Modern Chinese medicine experts pay much attention to the diagnosis and treatment of CHD based on TCM pathology theories of phlegm and blood stasis. To collect and detect the patients' symptoms and tongue manifestation is an important strategy of the experts for CHD phlegm and blood stasis syndrome differentiation.
Topics: Adult; Coronary Disease; Humans; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Middle Aged; Referral and Consultation; Syndrome; Tongue
PubMed: 34628918
DOI: 10.21037/apm-21-2332