1.
Efficacy of rhubarb combined with early enteral nutrition for the treatment of severe acute pancreatitis: a randomized controlled trial.
Wan, B, Fu, H, Yin, J, Xu, F
Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology. 2014;(11):1375-84
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of rhubarb combined with early enteral nutrition (EEN) on the gastrointestinal function, disease severity and systemic inflammation in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). METHODS A total of 126 patients with SAP were randomly assigned into three groups: parenteral nutrition group, treated with standard solution first and EN 14 days later; EEN group, treated with EN suspension; or EEN combined with rhubarb group, treated with rhubarb and then EN 2 h later. The gastrointestinal function, APACHE II scores, the levels of plasma IL-6, IL-11, C-reactive proteins (CRP) and the liver and kidney functional measures were longitudinally analyzed. RESULTS Patients in the EEN/rhubarb group had the shortest period of abdominal pain and the fastest recovery from abnormal bowel movement and high fever as well as significantly shorter periods of intensive-care unit and hospital stays. The combination of EEN and rhubarb significantly reduced the values of APACHE II scores. Combination therapies significantly reduced abnormally higher white blood cell (WBC) counts and levels of plasma CRP and IL-6, but increased the levels of plasma IL-11. Finally, combination therapies improved the SAP-related damages of liver and kidney function by reducing abnormally higher levels of plasma alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and creatinine (Cr). CONCLUSION Combination of EEN and rhubarb significantly improved the gastrointestinal function, inhibited systemic inflammation and disease severity and mitigated the disease-related damages of liver and kidney function in SAP patients.
2.
Comparison of Xilei-san, a Chinese herbal medicine, and dexamethasone in mild/moderate ulcerative proctitis: a double-blind randomized clinical trial.
Zhang, F, Li, Y, Xu, F, Chu, Y, Zhao, W
Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.). 2013;(10):838-42
Abstract
BACKGROUND Xilei-san is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that has proven to be of possible use in the treatment of ulcerative proctitis (UP) in a pilot study. OBJECTIVES This study was intended to compare Xilei-san with dexamethasone enemas in subjects with mild-to-moderate active UP. METHODS A double-blind randomized study was performed in 35 subjects. During the initial 8 weeks, the subjects received an enema of Xilei-san or dexamethasone at bedtime, then discontinued the treatment and were followed for 12 weeks. All of the subjects received 3 g/day oral mesalazine during the entire study. The disease activity was assessed at inclusion and at weeks 4, 8, and 20. RESULTS Both treatments showed significant improvement in clinical, endoscopic, and histological grades in comparison with the baseline. CONCLUSIONS Xilei-san enemas are comparable to dexamethasone enemas in this study. This medicine is safe, well accepted, and may be an alternative drug in the treatment of mild-to-moderate active UP.