Objective To compare the effectiveness of integrated traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with Western medicine and Western medicine alone for acute episodes of withdrawal in alcoholism. Methods According to the criteria of alcohol dependence and acute alcochol withdrawal syndrome of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition (DSM-Ⅳ) , 62 consecutive patients were divided into two groups: 31 patients with odd numbers were allocated to the treatment group (4 patients were excluded because they left hospital early), 31 patients with even numbers were allocated to the control group. According to the four diagnostic methods of TCM, all patients in the treatment group were further divided into 4 types. The treatment group received valium, tiopronin, transfusion therapy and herbs (potion per day). The control group received the same therapy as the treatment group did but without oral herbs. Results Liver function, especially the difference between before and after treatment of GOT and γ-GT,the treatment group showed more improvement than the control group (P=0.046 and 0.001). The scores of anxiety and depression test, especially the HAMD, the treatment group showed more improvement than the control group (t=3.165, P=0.003). The treatment group used significantly less time than the control group (P=0.01), but no statistically significant difference was seen in the dosage of valium between the two groups (P=0.434). Conclusions The efficacy of integrated TCM with Western medicine is better than Western medicine alone for acute episodes of withdrawal in alcoholism.
ObjectiveTo compare the clinical effectiveness of Chinese medicine with that of integrated Chinese medicine and antimicrobial drugs in the treatment of pneumonia. MethodsThe electronic medical record (EMR) of patients with pneumonia who were admitted to the Classical Department of Chinese Medicine of Guangdong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from November 29, 2012 to June 17, 2022 were retrospectively collected. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether they were treated with antimicrobial drugs on the basis of Chinese medicine treatment. The non-exposed group was the traditional Chinese medicine group, and the exposed group was the integrated Chinese medicine and antimicrobial drugs group. Propensity score matching method was used to balance possible confounding factors. COX regression analysis was performed on the matched cohort to compare death rates among the groups, and Kaplan-Meier curve was drawn to evaluate the survival probability during hospitalization. The proportion of maximum oxygen concentration and duration of fever remission were compared between the two groups. ResultsThis study included a total of 898 cases, with the majority (over 95%) falling within the range of mild to moderate severity. After propensity score matching,180 patients remained in each group, among whom the baseline characteristics were comparable. The primary outcome indicators showed that the risk of death during hospitalization was same in the integrated Chinese medicine and antimicrobial drugs group and in the Chinese medicine group (HR=1.52, 95%CI 0.36 to 6.39, P=0.566), the subgroup analysis was consistent with the overall trend of the results, and the differences were not statistically significant. The results indicate that during the hospitalization, the overall and subgroup mortality rates were similar between the two groups. The treatment effectiveness on the disappearance of major symptoms such as fever, cough, sputum production, fatigue, shortness of breath, and chest pain were comparable in both groups. The secondary outcome indicators showed that there was no statistical significance in the comparison of the proportion of maximum oxygen therapy concentration and the stable duration of fever remission between the two groups. ConclusionIn the treatment of patients with mainly mild to moderate pneumonia, the effectiveness of the Chinese medicine group and the integrated Chinese medicine and antimicrobial drugs group in the hospitalization mortality, the disappearance of major symptoms, the proportion of maximum oxygen therapy concentration and the stable duration of fever remission are similar. Chinese medicine has a positive significance in reducing the use of antimicrobials in patients with pneumonia.
ObjectiveThis study aimed to revise the perioperative recovery scale for integrative medicine (PRSIM) based on item response theory (IRT). MethodsUnder the guidance of IRT, a total of 349 patient data collected during the development of the original version of PRSIM at Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine were used. Principal component analysis was performed using SPSS 18.0 software to test the unidimensionality. The R language was utilized for parameter estimation, including discrimination coefficient, difficulty parameters and information content, as well as drawing item characteristic curves to assess item quality and estimate item functioning differences. A comprehensive screening process was carried out by combining expert consultations, patient evaluations, and discussions within a core group. ResultsThe degree of discrimination of all items ranged from −0.535 to 2.195. The difficulty coefficient ranged from −10.343 to 5.461, and the average information content of all items ranged from 0.043 to 1.075. Based on the criteria for parameter selection, nine items were retained. The results of expert consultations indicated the removal of 5 items and the modification of 7 items. After discussion within the core group, a final decision was made to remove 5 items. ConclusionBased on a synthesis of IRT and expert consultation feedback, and following discussions within the core group, a revised version comprising 15 items is retained and modified from the original 20 items.
To compare the effectiveness of dressing by a combination of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-Western medicine (WM) after TCM bath and by the silver sulfadiazine cream (SD-Ag) in treating residual deep burn wound. Methods A total of 128 cases of residual deep burn wound between July 2003 and December 2009 were randomly divided into the TCM-WM treatment group (70 cases) and the WM control group (58 cases). In the treatment group, there were 45 males and 25 females with an average age of 38.6 years (range, 18-60 years), including 34 cases of flame burns, 28 cases of molten steel burns, and 8 cases of chemical burns with an average burn area of 57.6% total body surface area (TBSA) and an average residual wound of 7.4% TBSA. In the control group, there were 50 males and 8 females with an average of 37.9 years (range, 20-59 years), including 26 cases of flame burns, 12 cases of hot water burns, 16 cases of molten steel burns, and 4 cases of chemical burns with an average burn area of 56.5% TBSA and an average residual wound of 6.9%TBSA. There was no significant difference in general data between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05), so the cl inical data of 2 groups had comparabil ity. In the treatment group, the patients had a bath with TCM, and then the wounds were treated with dressing change of combined TCM-WM. In the control group, the wounds were treated with SD-Ag after cleaning the wounds with chlorhexidine solution. The pain, wound heal ing time, and the rate of scar formation were observed in 2 groups after treatment. Results According to wound pain classification after medication, the results were excellent in 23 cases, good in 30 cases, fair in 17 cases in the treatment group; were excellent in 17 cases, good in 20 cases, fair in 13 cases, poor in 5 cases, and fairly poor in 3 cases in the control group. The wound heal ing time of the treatment group (13.45 ± 4.74) days was significantly shorter than that of the control group [(23.87 ± 14.45) days, P lt; 0.05)]. After 2 weeks of treatment, scar occurred in 15 patients (21.4%) of the treatment group and 35 patients (60.3%) of the control group, showing significant difference (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Based on TCM bath, a combination of TCM-WM for the residual burn wounds is obviously superior to SD-Ag. It has the advantages of rapid heal ing, l ight pain, no obvious scar, and short hospital ization time.
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical effect of combined traditional Chinese and Western medicine in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). MethodsA total of 180 KOA patients treated between January 2012 and June 2015 were randomly assigned to 3 groups: Chinese medicine group (group A, n=60) with acupuncture and irradiation therapy of specific electromagnetic wave therapeutic apparatus , western medicine group (group B, n=60) with oral glucosamine hydrochloride tablets and knee joint cavity injection of sodium hyaluronate, and integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine group (group C, n=60) with treatments combining those in both group A and B. The treatment course was 6 weeks. The Western Ontario & McMaster University (WOMAC) osteoarthritis index score and total effective rate were evaluated before treatment and 2 weeks after treatment, end of treatment and 5 months after treatment. ResultsAfter treatment, the average improvement of WOMAC scores in the three groups was significantly different (P ＜ 0.05) . The total effective rate was 78.33% in group A, 83.33% in group B, and 91.67% in group C. The difference of total effective rate between group C and A, and between group C and B was statistically significant (P＜0.05) ; and it was also statistically significant between group A and B (P ＜ 0.05) . There were two cases of adverse reactions in group A, two in group B, and two in group C, and the reactions were all relatively mild without any serious adverse events. ConclusionsChinese medicine and western medicine are both effective and safe for the treatment of KOA. When they are combined, the effect is further enhanced with no increase of adverse reactions.
Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of TanReqing Injection in the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to observe its effects on the plasma levels of cytokine IL-17, IL- 8 and Leukotriene B4 in such cases. Methods A randomized, single blind controlled trial (RCT) was designed. Sixty hospitalized COPD patients with an acute exacerbation were randomly allocated to the treatment group (20 ml of TanReqing Injection iv gtt q 24 h) or the control group (20 ml of placebo Injection iv gtt q 24 h) based on the Guideline for Dignosis and Management of COPD issued by Chinese Society for Respiratory Disease and the Criteria of Dignosis and Efficacy Measures of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome and Illness enacted by The State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. All patients were received standard therapy. Each group contained 30 patients. The therapeutic course of both groups was 12 days. The criterias of TCM syndrome of retention of phlegm-heat in the lung were: cough with rough breath, accumulation of sticky or yellow thick sputum, cough with difficulty in expectoration, or accompanied by fever, thirst with desire of drink, red tougue with yellow fur, slippery and rapid pulse. Results According to the analysis on the basis of intention -to -treat and per-protocol population, it showed that the markedly effective rates were 70.00% and 72.41% respectively, and effective rates were 96.67% and 96.55% in the treatment group respectively. While in the control group the markedly effectiverates were 46.67% and 48.28% respectively, and effective rates were 86.67% and 89.65% respectively. Significantly lower plasma concentration of IL-17 and IL-8 in the treatment group was noted when compared with control group. There was a statistically significant difference between two groups (Plt;0.05). Conclusions TanReqing Injection shows a definite clinical effectiveness without obvious toxic-adverse effects in the treatment of patients with acute exacerbations of COPD and its mechnical function may related to the level of the excess expression of plasma cytokine IL-17, IL-8 in such cases.