Fecal metabolomic analysis of the role of gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids in the therapeutic mechanism of Timosaponin AIII in Sjögren's syndrome.

Introduction/objectives: Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic inflammatory and difficult-to-treat autoimmune disease. Timosaponin AIII (TAIII), a plant-derived steroidal saponin, effectively inhibits cell proliferation, induces apoptosis, and exhibits anti-inflammatory properties. This study explored the mechanisms of action of TAIII in SS treatment by studying gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) using fecal metabolomics.

Traditional Chinese medicine for sjögren's syndrome: a national survey of attitudes and perceptions among Chinese patients and rheumatologists.

Background: This study explored similarities and differences among Chinese patients and rheumatologists in their attitudes towards and perceptions of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for Sjögren's syndrome (SS), including analyzing factors that influenced their decision making.

Methods: An anonymous questionnaire was used to conduct a multicenter survey among patients with SS at three tertiary care medical centers in Beijing and among rheumatology clinicians at several hospitals across China. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Effect of acupuncture on regulating IL-17, TNF-ɑ and AQPs in Sjögren's syndrome.

Aim: The aim of the study was to observe the effect of acupuncture on regulating interleukin (IL)-17, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-ɑ, and aquaporins (AQPs) in Sjögren's syndrome (SS) on patients and on non-obese diabetic (NOD) models.

Methods: Levels of anti-AQP 1, 5, 8, and 9 antibodies, IL-17, and TNF-ɑ in the serum of SS patients were compared prior and following 20 acupuncture treatment visits during 8 weeks. While in murine model, five groups were divided to receive interventions for 4 weeks, including control, model, acupuncture, isoflurane, and hydroxychloroquine.

Efficacy of Lushi Runzao decoction on ameliorating Sjogren's syndrome: a network pharmacology and experimental verification-based study.

Objective: To investigate the possible mechanism underlying the effect of the Lushi Runzao decoction on Sjogren's syndrome using network pharmacology and to verify the mechanismsanimal experiments.

Methods: Available biological data on each drug in the Lushi Runzao decoction were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform, and the target proteins of Sjogren's syndrome were retrieved from the GeneCards database. Information regarding Sjogren's syndrome and the targets of the drugs were compared to obtain overlapping elements.

China rheumatoid arthritis registry of patients with Chinese medicine (CERTAIN): Rationale, design, and baseline characteristics of the first 11,764 enrollees.

Background: Chinese medicine (CM) has become a popular interventional treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, limited knowledge about general characteristics and long-term clinical outcomes hampers the development of CM for RA.

Purpose: The main objectives of the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) were to describe the population of RA patients receiving CM treatment in multiple centers in China using different variables and compare these findings with internationally reported data.

Efficacy and Safety of Acupuncture on Symptomatic Improvement in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Aim: We sought to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in treating the main symptoms of primary Sjögren's syndrome, specifically dryness, pain, and fatigue.

Methods: A total of 120 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome were randomized in a parallel-group, controlled trial. Participants received acupuncture or sham acupuncture for the first 8 weeks, then were followed for 16 weeks thereafter.

The Impact of Traditional Chinese Medicine QingreHuoxue Treatment and the Combination of Methotrexate and Hydroxychloroquine on the Radiological Progression of Active Rheumatoid Arthritis: A 52-Week Follow-Up of a Randomized Controlled Clinical Study.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used successfully to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA). QingreHuoxue treatment (QingreHuoxue decoction [QRHXD]/QingreHuoxue external preparation [QRHXEP]) is a Chinese medicine treatment for RA. To date, very few studies have compared the long-term effects of QRHXD with those of conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs on RA disease activity and radiological progression.

The Multiple Roles of B Cells in the Pathogenesis of Sjögren's Syndrome.

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by lymphocytic infiltration and tissue destruction of exocrine glands such as salivary glands. Although the formation of ectopic lymphoid tissue in exocrine glands and overproduction of autoantibodies by autoreactive B cells highlight the critical involvement of B cells in disease development, the precise roles of various B cell subsets in pSS pathogenesis remain partially understood. Current studies have identified several novel B cell subsets with multiple functions in pSS, among which autoreactive age-associated B cells, and plasma cells with augmented autoantibody production contribute to the disease progression.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Qingre Huoxue Treatment vs. the Combination of Methotrexate and Hydroxychloroquine for Active Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Multicenter, Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used successfully to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Qingre Huoxue treatment (Qingre Huoxue decoction (QRHXD)/Qingre Huoxue external preparation (QRHXEP)) is a therapeutic scheme of TCM for RA. To date, there have been few studies comparing the efficacy and safety of QRHXD and conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) for the treatment of active RA.

Acupuncture for primary fibromyalgia: Study protocol of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Acupuncture is well recognized for its unique therapeutic effect for many diseases as a nonpharmacological therapy in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). However, whether acupuncture can effectively treat fibromyalgia is currently unclear. Therefore, we aim to design a study protocol of a randomized controlled clinical trial and assess the effectiveness of acupuncture for patients with fibromyalgia, which may lead to alleviation of clinical symptoms and improvement of patients' quality of life.

Effect of cream, prepared with Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F and other four medicinals, on joint pain and swelling in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a double-blinded, randomized, placebo controlled clinical trial.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness a cream onjoint pain and swelling in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The cream, topically used, in was prepared with Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF), Mangxiao (Nalrii Sulfas), Chuanxiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong), stir-frying with liquid adjuvant Ruxiang (Olibanum), and stir-frying with liquid adjuvant Moyao (Myrrh).

Methods: Patients were 1∶1 randomized to add-on TwHF cream twice a day or placebo for 4 weeks.

Classifying rheumatoid arthritis by Traditional Chinese Medicine Zheng: a multi-center cross-sectional study.

Objective: To assess the relationship between disease symptoms and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome (Zheng) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: RA Patients were recruited in Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences and in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, and diagnosed with a particular RA Zheng from their symptoms. Demographic characteristics, self-reported symptoms, and blood samples were collected from patients.

[Regularity of prescription and medication of Jiang Quan in treating rheumatoid arthritis].

The data mining method was used to analyze and summarize the prescription and medicate regularities of chief physician Jiang Quan in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis,in order to provide references for the clinical treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Totally 121 prescriptions of rheumatoid arthritis treated by chief physician Jiang Quan from 2007 to 2017 were collected and input into the Chinese medicine inheritance auxiliary system. The " prescription statistics" function of the software " statistical report" system,and the " prescription analysis" function of the " data analysis" system,the data mining methods such as rule analysis,integration correlation,complex system entropy clustering,and unsupervised entropy hierarchical clustering,were used to analyze the prescription regularity of chief physician Jiang Quan.

Will Chinese external therapy with compound Tripterygium wilfordii hook F gel safely control disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: design of a double-blinded randomized controlled trial.

Background: Chinese external therapy (CET) is a topical application with mainly Chinese herb medicine therapy with thousands of years of historical implications and is a clinical routine that is commonly used for relieving joint-related symptoms in patients with arthritis in Chinese hospitals. However, there is a paucity of modern medical evidence to support its effectiveness and safety. Thus, we propose to implement a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using, as the experimental intervention, topical application of a hospital-compounded gel preparation of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF).

Hypouricemic and arthritis relapse-reducing effects of compound tufuling oral-liquid in intercritical and chronic gout: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter randomized trial.

Trial Design: In the double-blind, randomized, controlled trial, we aimed to evaluate the effects of compound tufuling oral liquid (CoTOL) on serum uric acid (sUA) levels and recurrence of acute gouty arthritis in intercritical and chronic gout treatment.

Methods: A total of 210 patients with gout were screened from 8 hospitals to observe the sUA and acute gouty arthritis recurrence rate-reducing effects of CoTOL in intercritical and chronic gout during a 12-week treatment. We treated 139 and 71 patients with CoTOL and the placebo, respectively, and evaluated their sUA levels, acute gouty arthritis recurrence rate, and adverse events at week 0, 6, and 12.

[Effect of External Applying Compound Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. on Joint Pain of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients].

Objective: To observe the effectiveness and safety of external applying Compound Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. (TwHF) in relieving joint pain in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: In this double-blinded, randomized multicenter trial, a total of 174 moderately active RA patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to the treatment group (treated with Compound TwHF, 87 cases) and the placebo control group (87 cases).

[Clinical effect analysis of ankylosing spondylitis treated by Chinese medical syndrome differentiation].

Objective: To evaluate the curative effect and safety of Bushen Qiangji Decoction (BQD) and Qingre Qiangji Decoction (QQD) in treating ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients, and to verify the clinical utility of AS syndrome differentiation and treatment scheme [Shen-deficiency induced stasis obstruction syndrome (SDISOS) and dampness-heat obstruction syndrome (DHOS) being two basic syndrome types, Shen invigorating blood activating method (SIBAM) and heat clearing dampness resolving method (HCDRM) being two basic treatment methods].

Methods: Totally 354 AS patients of SDISOS and DHOS were randomly assigned to the treatment group and the control group using a multi-center randomized, positive drug parallel-controlled clinical trail. Patients in treatment group were treated by BQD or QQD according to syndrome typing, while those in the control group took Sulfasalazine enteric-coated tablet (SECT), 24 weeks as one therapeutic course.

[One-year evaluation of radiographic progress in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated by Qingre Huoxue decoction].

Objective: To investigate the effect of Qingre Huoxue decoction, (QRHX) on radiographic progression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with X-ray imaging.

Methods: From July 2007 to March 2009, 86 patients with active RA who were diagnosed as damp-heat and blood stasis syndrome were randomly divided into QRHX group and QRHX plus methotrexate (MTX) group, 43 cases in each group. Patients in the QRHX group were treated with QRHX decoction [composed of Huangbai, Chishao, Bixie, Danshen, Ezhu, Qingfengteng, raw Huangqi, Jinyinhua, Tufuling, Wugong, Fengfang, raw Yiyiren, which was cooked with water as 400 ml liquid); while patients in the other group were treated with QRHX decoction plus MTX.

A one-year evaluation of radiographic progression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated by Qingre Huoxue Decoction ().

Objective: To investigate the effects of Qingre Huoxue Decoction , clearing heat and promoting blood flow; QRHXD), on the radiographic progression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by X-ray imaging.

Methods: Eighty-six patients with active RA diagnosed as damp-heat and blood stasis syndrome were randomized into a QRHXD group and a QRHXD plus methotrexate (MTX) group, with 43 cases in each group. After one-year of treatment, 21 cases in each group (42 in total) were evaluated.

[Tripterygium wilfordii extract for treating rheumatoid arthritis: systematic review].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Tripterygium wilfordii extract (TWE) in treating rheumatoid arthritis.

Method: Mainly using the simple methods from the International Cochrane Collaboration as systematic evaluation methods. Using Revman 4.

[Effects of Jianpi Yishen Recipe on recurrence, metastasis and life span of mice transplanted with proventriculus squamous carcinoma after tumorectomy].

Objective: To observe the effects of Jianpi Yishen Recipe (JPYSR), a compound Chinese herbal medicine, on recurrence, metastasis and life span of mice transplanted with proventriculus squamous carcinoma cells after tumorectomy.

Methods: JPYSR was orally administered to 615 mice transplanted with proventriculus squamous carcinoma cells in the palma of left hind limb after tumorectomy. The local tumor recurrence, lung metastasis and life span of the mice were evaluated and compared with those of the 5-FU-treated mice and untreated mice.