Objective To study the correlation between Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) constitution and dyslipidemia. Methods CNKI, VIP, Wanfang database, CBMdisc, PubMed, and Embase were searched, and meta-analysis was performed by Review Manager 5.2 software. Results Altogether 11 studies were included with 12890 individuals. The results showed that balanced constitution was a protective factor of dyslipidemia (OR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.47~0.82) while phlegm-dampness constitution was a risk factor of it (OR = 2.50, 95% CI 2.22~2.80), and the effect of phlegm-dampness constitution in South China (OR = 3.31, 95% CI 1.71~6.43) was more obvious than that in East (OR = 2.40, 95% CI 2.06~2.80) and North China (OR = 2.24, 95% CI 1.81~2.78). Conclusion This study provides evidence for the prevention and treatment of dyslipidemia in TCM. However, most of the studies included are of moderate quality; more high quality, multicenter, large-sample studies are expected to provide higher level evidence.

The present study aimed to investigate the protective effect of compound formula Rehmannia (CFR) against the development of Parkinson’s disease (PD). After the in vivo and in vitro models of PD were established with overexpression α-syn induced, CFR was administrated into the PD model rats for 6 weeks or SK-N-SH cells with coincubation for 48 h. Apomorphine-induced rotation test, CCK8 assay, TUNEL assay, immunofluorescence staining, and western blot assay were performed to evaluate the behavioral changes, cell viability, cell apoptosis, α-syn, GSK-3β, P-GSK-3β (Ser9), P-GSK-3β (Tyr216), and β-catenin expression in PD rats or SK-N-SH cells. PD rat behavior results showed that the rotation numbers were significantly decreased in the CFR treatment group comparing with the AAV-α-syn PD model group. The cell viability suppressed by H2O2 and α-syn in SK-N-SH model cells was also significantly improved with CFR administration. Cell apoptosis and α-syn overexpression observed in PD rats and SK-N-SH cells were also inhibited by CFR treatment. Furthermore, the protein expression of α-syn, GSK-3β, P-GSK-3β (Ser9), P-GSK-3β (Tyr216), and β-catenin in in vivo and in vitro was also significantly regulated by CFR. The present study suggested that CFR may be considered as a potential neuroprotective agent against PD, and this application will require further investigation.

Objective. To observe the effects of Asini Corii Colla, turtle carapace glue, and other drugs on the intestinal flora of nude mice with uterine fibroids model, so as to provide evidence for the clinical application of drugs. Methods. Set up five groups: blank control group, turtle carapace glue group, turtle carapace glue and ejiao 4 : 1 mixed group, turtle carapace glue and ejiao 1 : 1 mixed group, and turtle shell glue and Salvia miltiorrhiza (danshen) 1 : 1 mixed group. Then, the model nude mice were fed ejiao, turtle carapace glue, and other corresponding drugs. Before administration, 2 weeks after administration, and 4 weeks after administration, the feces of the model nude mice were taken respectively, subpacked into labeled cryotubes, and stored at −80°C. All samples were sent for gene sequencing after completion. The differences in gut microbiota and abundance in different groups were compared by 16SrRNA segment sequencing. Results. ① There were differences in flora composition and a relative abundance among the groups, but the strains with a high relative abundance were Bacteroides, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria; ② there were significant differences in the community structure and composition of intestinal flora between nude mice treated for 4 weeks and those not treated ( p < 0.05 ); ③ after 4 weeks of administration, the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes in each group was higher than that before administration, and the relative abundance of Firmicutes decreased. Conclusion. Asini Corii Colla, turtle carapace glue, and other drugs with different compatibility ratios can change the composition of intestinal flora in nude mice with uterine fibroids to a certain extent; the decrease in the relative abundance of Firmicutes and the increase in the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes were important structural changes of intestinal flora in nude mice at 4 weeks after administration.

Background: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the controversial Chinese herbal prescriptions containing Ejiao or Velvet antler (VA) in the treatment of uterine fibroids. Methods: We searched 4 famous Chinese databases, the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, PubMed, Cochrane Central, Google Scholar, Embase, and J-STAGE up to July 2019. We included all eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which compared Chinese herbal prescriptions containing Ejiao or VA (E/VA) with placebo, pharmaceutical intervention, surgery, or other traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) for uterine fibroids and assessed the risk of bias according to the Cochrane Collaboration's tool. The software Review Manager (RevMan) 5.1 was used for data analysis. Results: A total of 9 RCTs involving 844 patients were identified. Meta-analyses demonstrated that TCM (E/VA) plus mifepristone reduced the volume of uterine fibroids to a greater degree than mifepristone alone [standardized mean difference (SMD): 0.59, 95% CI: 0.33 to 0.85, P<0.00001, I 2 =50%]; TCM (E/VA) did not enlarge the volume of fibroids when menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) significantly increased the volume (SMD: 1.06, 95% CI: 0.73 to 1.38, P<0.00001, I 2 =0. The uterine volume change difference was larger via combination therapy of TCM (E/VA) and mifepristone than that of mifepristone (SMD: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.49, P=0.005, I 2 =0%). The TCM (E/VA) group of had an advantage over the control group in the improvement of fibroid-related symptoms [relative risk (RR): 1.24, 95% CI: 1.15 to 1.35, P<0.00001, I 2 =0%]. It was found that TCM (E/VA) plus mifepristone could lower estradiol (E2) levels to a greater degree than mifepristone alone (SMD: 1.63, 95% CI: 0.42 to 2.83, P=0.008, I 2 =97%), as well as progesterone (P) level (SMD: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.55 to 1.04, P<0.00001, I 2 =43%) in non-menopausal women. A total of 5 studies reported adverse events (AEs), the TCM (E/VA) group was potentially safer than the control group, with lower incidence of AEs (RR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.15 to 0.40, P<0.00001, I 2 =25.8%).Discussion: TCM prescriptions containing E/VA seemed superior to the control group in shrinking the volume of uterine fibroids and uterus, improving related symptoms, and reducing non-menopausal women's E2 and P levels, with lower incidence of AEs.