Heart/breathing rate ratio (HBR) as a predictor of mortality in critically ill patients.

Objectives: The early prediction of death is a challenge for medical staff. We evaluated the ability of the heart/breathing rate ratio (HBR) to predict mortality.

Methods: This was a single-center retrospective observational study of adult patients who had fever with or without respiratory symptoms, who survived at least 2 h after visiting the hospital, and whose lactate levels and vital signs were tested.

[Advances in N-methyl-D-aspartate Receptor Signaling Pathway and Mechanism of the Pathway-mediated Apoptosis].

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR),an important ionic glutamate receptor and a ligand and voltage-gated ion channel characterized by complex composition and functions and wide distribution,plays a key role in the pathological and physiological process of diseases or stress states.NMDAR can mediate apoptosis through different pathways such as mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum damage,production of reactive oxygen species and peroxynitrite,and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and calpain.This paper reviews the structure,distribution,and biological characteristics of NMDAR and the mechanisms of NMDAR-mediated apoptosis.

Protocol to study the effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine on patients with coronary heart disease showing phlegm-heat-stasis symptom pattern.

Objective: To describe a protocol to assess the effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) on patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) showing symptoms of phlegm-heat-stasis symptom pattern.

Methods: This is a single-blind randomized controlled trial that will be conducted in the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of TCM and 60 patients with CHD showing phlegm-heat-stasis symptom pattern will be included. Patients will be randomly divided into either a treatment group (Qingre Huatan formulae + Western Medicine) or to a control group (conventional Western Medicine only) for 7-14 d.

Study on syndrome differentiation and treatment in the management of chronic stable coronary artery disease to improve quality of life.

Background: Chronic stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) is a general term for all kinds of coronary artery disease (CAD), which includes patients with chronic stable angina, old myocardial infarctions, and also stable condition after revascularization (i.e., percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass graft).

[Analysis of Medication Laws for Chinese Medicine Treating Hypertension Patients with Yin Defi- ciency Yang Hyperactivity Syndrome Based on Literatures].

Objective: To analyze medication laws of Chinese medicine (CM) treatment in hypertension patients with yin deficiency yang hyperactivity syndrome.

Methods: China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI, Jan. 1979-Dec 2014), Chinese Scientific Journals Database (VIP, Jan 1989-Dec2014), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM, Jan.

[Scientific Evaluation of TCM Clinical Outcomes Rating Scale for Heart Failure Based on Patients Report].

Objective: To evaluate the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinical outcomes rating scale for heart failure (HF) based on patients' report.

Methods: TCM clinical outcomes rating scale for HF (TCM-HF-PRO) were evaluated based on 340 HF patients' report from multiple centers. The completion of the investigation was recorded.

[Effect of complementary treatment of Chinese drugs on myocardial perfusion patients with acute myocardial infarction after coronary intervention: a systematic review].

Objective: To systematically review the safety and efficacy of routine Western medicine (WM) plus Chinese drugs for no-flow or slow flow after coronary revascularization.

Methods: CNKI, VIP, CBM, Wanfang Data, PubMed, The Cochrane Library, EMBase, and other relevant databases were electronically searched. Literatures were also manually retrieved from related journals.

[Expert survey for Chinese medicine syndrome characteristics of different clinical types of coronary artery disease based on the Delphi method].

Objective: To carry out expert survey for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome characteristics of different clinical types of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: By using Delphi method, we carried out two rounds of nationwide expert surveys for modern TCM characteristics of syndrome elements and syndrome types of CAD.

Results: Based on expert consensus, qi deficiency, blood stasis, phlegm turbidity, qi deficiency blood stasis, and intermingled phlegm and blood stasis are common TCM syndromes for different clinical types of CAD.

[Application and evaluation of Chinese medicine in treatment of chronic heart failure].

Chinese medicine (CM) has been widely used in treatment of chronic heart failure (CHF) and a large number of researches has been done on its clinical application. Through the analysis and assessment of these literatures, CM syndromes and corresponding treatment regimens for heart failure (CF) could be better understood and used in clinics. This will provide guidelines for the treatment of HF and further elevate higher standards of research.

[Routine western medicine treatment plus qishen yiqi dripping pill for treating patients with chronic heart failure: a systematic review of randomized control trials].

Objective: To systematically review the safety and efficacy of Qishen Yiqi Dripping Pill (QYDP) as a complementary treatment for chronic heart failure (CHF) patients.

Methods: CNKI, VIP, Wanfang Data, PubMed and Cochrane Library were retrieved for papers on randomized control trials of treating CHF patients by routine western medical treatment plus QYDP. The quality of inclusive literatures was assessed by methods from Cochrane Handbook.

Clinical assessment of complementary treatment with Qishen Yiqi dripping pills on ischemic heart failure: study protocol for a randomized, double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled trial (CACT-IHF).

Background: Heart failure (HF) is associated with decreased quality of life, high re-admission rate and poor prognosis. In particular, ischemic heart failure (IHF) has a worse prognosis than nonischemic HF. The use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) alongside Western medicine to treat HF has developed into an integrative treatment model in China.

[Preliminary study of establishing clinical effect evaluation methods of Chinese medicine based on combination of disease and syndrome, systematic staging, and multi-dimension index].

The clinical effect evaluation of Chinese medicine (CM) has been the bottleneck restricting its development. Based on the current situation, in this study, we integrated and combined previous results of clinical effect evaluation of CM, and proposed the clinical effect evaluation method of CM based on combination of disease and syndrome, systematic staging, and multi-dimension index. We also made a specific exposition on the connotation, establishment methods and practice of the clinical effect evaluation methods of CM based on combination of disease and syndrome, systematic staging, and multi-dimension index.

Clinical epidemiology survey of the traditional Chinese medicine etiology and syndrome differentiation of coronary artery disease: study protocol of a multicenter trial.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD), a common disease with high incidence and mortality rate, has seriously threatened the health and life of the public. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has an important role in the prevention and treatment of this disease. Through clinical epidemiological survey, a deeper understanding of TCM etiology and syndrome characteristics in CAD would further improve clinical efficacy in the treatment of this disease.