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.
The research background, way of thinking, research contents and methods of a united research project - "The Clinical Research on the Treatment of SARS with Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine" were reviewed. The latest research achievements on the treatment of SARS with integrated traditional and western medicine and the difficult points in the research were discussed. Furthermore, some tentative ideas were put forward to further the research. The conclusion was drawn that the principles of evidence-based medicine and the research scheme of multi-centered, prospective and randomized controlled trials, as well as the standard statistical and analyzing methods are the best way to assess the effectiveness and safety of treating SARS with integrated traditional and western medicine.
Despite of the progress in the treatment of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), there are still factors that hinder the improvement of the efficacy of treatment: there is a lack of an accurate and easy-to-use system for early severity prediction; the multidisciplinary collaboration mechanism needs to be further optimized; there is no clinical efficacy evaluation system for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM); the therapeutic targets of TCM are unclear; the effector substances are unknown; and the research and development of new medicines is still difficult. In order to further reduce the mortality of SAP and realize the goal of improving the efficacy, we should strengthen the integration of Chinese and Western medicine, multidisciplinary collaboration, and improve the treatment levels; as well as carry out basic and clinical research oriented to clinical value. We will also promote the innovative development of combined Chinese and Western medicine in the treatment of SAP by elucidating the mechanism, validating the efficacy and commercializing the achievements. In view of SAP, a major and difficult disease, we should insist on the principle of integrity and innovation, the synergy of Chinese and Western medicines and the complementarity of advantages, and promote the innovation and development of combined Chinese and Western medicines in the treatment of SAP, so as to further reduce the morbidity and mortality and to alleviate the burden of the disease.
Objective To analyze the effectiveness of conservative medical treatments for ectopic pregnancy (EP): methotrexate (MTX) + mifepristone + Ectopic Pregnancy II decoction (EP-II) vs. methotrexate + mifepristone. Methods A total of 95 patients with EP in Shenzhen Shajing Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from January 2009 to January 2011 were randomly divided into two groups: 45 patients in the experimental group were treated with MTX, mifepristone and EP II decoction, while the other 50 patients in the control group were treated with MTX and mifepristone. The effectiveness of the two groups was analyzed with SPSS 13.0 software. Results There were significant differences in the time of serum β-HCG return to normal (16.13±8.13 ds vs. 22.05±7.15 ds, Plt;0.05), time of EP mass absorption (30.46±7.56 ds vs. 39.99±18.26 ds, Plt;0.05) and tubal patency rate (80% vs. 75%, Plt;0.05) between the two groups. But there were no significant differences in effective rate (95.56%, 43/45 vs. 94%, 47/50, χ2=0.0809, Pgt;0.05) and side effects. Conclusion The combination of methotrexate, mifepristone and EP II decoction for ectopic pregnancy is more effective than mifepristone and methotrexate in coordinately killing the embryo, shortening the time of serum β-HCG return to normal and the time of EP mass absorption, and improving the function of oviducts.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with high prevalence rate, mortality, and disability rate, and heavy burden caused by the disease, has become a major chronic disease seriously threatening public health worldwide. Chinese medicine and Western medicine both have advantages in diagnosing and treating COPD, which have been widely used in clinic. In order to improve the diagnostic and treatment level for COPD with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine, Chinese Medicine of internal Medicine Committee of World federation of Chinese Medicine Societies organized and established a multidisciplinary background working group, the document was formulated by referring to the formulating method and process of international guidelines in clinical practice, current evidence with the best quality, and characteristics of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine in treating COPD and weighing pros and cons of interventions, 13 recommendations were established, physicians can refer to this guideline to formulate individualized treatment plans in combination with the specific conditions of patients.