Objectives: The aim of this study was to establish a quantitative syndrome differentiation model with logistic regression analysis for phlegm and blood stasis syndrome (PBSS) in coronary heart disease (CHD) to offer methodology guidance for the quantitative syndrome differentiation of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Design: Tongue, face, and pulse information of each subject was obtained using the TCM-intelligent diagnosis instruments. Logistic regression model was used to construct the syndrome diagnosis model. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC-AUC) was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of the model. Subjects: Among the 141 subjects, 83 belonged to the PBSS group, and 58 belonged to the non-PBSS group. Results: The independent indexes used to predict PBSS in patients with CHD were length of the crack (LC) (p = 0.002), number of ecchymosis (NE) (p < 0.001), length of philtrum (LEP) (p = 0.022), and right hand pulse h1 (Rh₁) (p = 0.021). The expression of combining predictor L in this study was L = LC +57.58 NE +4.53 LEP +2.68 Rh₁. The ROC curve analysis indicated that the AUC values of LC, NE, LEP, and Rh₁ were 0.646, 0.710, 0.619, and 0.613, respectively. The AUC = 0.825 of the syndrome diagnosis model was the largest. Conclusions: The quantitative study of TCM syndrome based on logistic regression analysis provides a good method for the objective analysis and application of TCM syndrome.

Background: Pre-diabetes is a growing health concern where a large percentage of these patients develop full type 2 diabetes. Effective interventions on pre-diabetes can prevent or delay the occurrence or development of diabetes. Pharmaco-dynamics and pre-clinical of JinQi-Jiangtang tablets (JQJT) suggest that it could be benefit for pre-diabetes. Methods/Design: Randomized controlled trial (RCT) is implemented in this study. The study term is 24 months (12 months for intervention and 12 months for follow up). Participants are recruited from four cities of China: Beijing, Tianjin, Xi'an and Nanning. Four hundred participants are randomized to treatment group (JQJT tablets) and control group (Placebo); two hundred participants each. People being included in this study must have been diagnosed as pre-diabetes via western medicine criteria and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) criteria. The end-point indexes include: incidence of diabetes mellitus and reversion rate. Primary outcome indexes include: oral glucose tolerance test; insulin releasing test; glycosylated hemoglobin (HA1c). Secondary outcome indexes include: score of the Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36); score of TCM symptoms; blood lipid test. Indexes of safety include: general medical examination; blood and urine regular test; electrocardiogram (ECG), liver function (ALT) and renal function (BUN, Creatinine) test; record of adverse event, such as headache, faint, etc. Qualitative control will be implemented and a number of standard operating processes (SOPs) will be formed throughout the study: laboratory quality control measures; compliance control for researchers and participants; researcher training before study; supervision; investigational drug management and others. Discussion: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of JinQi JiangTang (JQJT) tablets for the treatment of patients with pre-diabetes. Trial registration: Chinese clinical trials register ChiCTR-TRC-00000401

Objective. The purpose of the study was to form a questionnaire of expert consensus about phlegm turbidity syndrome of coronary heart disease (CHD) using literature method and Delphi method, which could provide the objective evidences for the clinical diagnosis and treatment for CHD. Method. The CBM, CNKI, VIP, and PubMed were searched. The articles about phlegm turbidity syndrome for CHD with the definite related four diagnostic data were included. Based on the results of the literature method, two rounds of Delphi method were conducted. The TCM experts about CHD were enrolled. Concentration and coordination index of the experts were used to select the items. Results. Literature method: A total of 118 articles were included. Greasy fur, slippery pulse, chest fullness or chest pain, anorexia, nausea and vomiting, vertigo, excessive phlegm, abdominal fullness, head heaviness, obesity, stringy pulse, physical heaviness, soft pulse, somnolence, fatigue, and pale tongue (16 items) had the relatively high proportion, and they were eligible for Delphi process. Delphi method: A total of 93 experts (22 for the first round, 71 for the second round) were included. The reliability of the items was 0.885 for all the experts. The 16 items were not significantly different between the two rounds (P>0.05). According to the results of mean, frequency, sum of ranks and coefficient of variation, the item of nausea and vomiting, somnolence, pale tongue, and soft pulse were deleted. Conclusions. The questionnaire of phlegm turbidity syndrome of CHD was established, with good reliability. The sensitivity and specificity of the questionnaire are still necessary to further validate for clinical or scientific use.

In this paper, we present our study on the effect of atractylenolide II on hyperlipidemic model mice. After 8 weeks, the blood of these mice was taken to detect four lipids. Pathological changes were detected in the aortas and livers of the mice. Expression of PPARα and SREBP-1C was detected in the liver by western blot. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the effects of atractylenolide II on blood lipids in hyperlipidemia mice. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to detect pathological changes in the aortas and livers of mice with hyperlipidemia after treatment with atractylenolide II. Changes in PPARα and SREBP-1C expression were found in mice with dyslipidemia. As the results shown, atractylenolide II administration reduced body weight and hyperlipidemia in hyperlipidemic model mice. In addition, atractylenolide II effectively relieved fat deposition and damage in aortic and liver tissues. Therefore, atractylenolide II had a beneficial therapeutic effect in reducing hyperlipidemia in hyperlipidemic model mice, which may be related to its ability to inhibit SREBP-1C expression by activating PPARα. The molecular mechanism driving the therapeutic effect of atractylenolide II may involve upregulation of PPARα and activation of the AMPK/PPARα/SREBP-1C signaling pathway. Our research demonstrated the development of therapeutic agents that can be used to improve hyperlipidemia.