| This study aimed to explore TCM syndrome characteristics of Alcohol Dependence Syndrome (ADS) and effects of Harmonizing, Heat-discharging and Tranquillizing (HHdT) formula on quality of life (QOL) of ADS patients, and investigate therapeutic mechanisms of HHdT formula in terms of behavioral changes and neurohumoral transmission in ADS rats. Through the study, we hope to further understand therapeutic mechanisms of HHdT formula and therefore lay foundation for relevant Chinese drug development.1TCM syndrome characteristics of ADSObjectiveTo get a clear picture on TCM syndrome characteristics of ADS through the cross-sectional study.Methods211patients diagnosed as ADS were recruited in the study. The data involving the general information, alcohol consumption, assessment of individual symptoms, assessment of TCM syndrome and liver function were collected and statistically analyzed by factor analysis and complex system entropy cluster.ResultsADS involves6TCM syndrome types which include liver-kidney yin deficiency, dampness-heat and qi stagnation (37cases,17.5%), ascendant hyperactivity of liver-yang, yin deficiency with internal heat (19,9.0%), spleen deficiency and liver depression, dampness-heat and blood stasis (obstruction)(66,31.3%), spleen deficiency with dampness accumulation (18,8.5%); liver depression and qi stagnation, yin deficiency and blood stasis (49,23.2%), and internal dampness-heat (22,10.4%).2Effects of HHdT formula on QOL of ADS patientsObjectiveTo investigate effects of HHdT formula on QOL of ADS patients by the randomized controlled trial.Methods56alcohol-dependent patients were randomly divided into group A and group B. Group A were given HHdT herbal granules, while group B the placebo for4weeks. QOL of both groups was assessed after the treatment with Short Form36Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36).ResultsAssessed by SF-36, the scores in terms of Physical Functioning (PF), Role Physical (RP), Bodily Pain (BP), General Health (GH), Vitality (VT), Mental Health (MH) in group A were significantly higher than those in group B (P<0.05) while there was no significant difference in terms of Social Functioning (SF) and Role Emotional (RE) between the2groups.Assessed by the scales of particular ADS-related symptoms, the clinical control rate and the total relief rate in group A were significantly higher than those in group B (P<0.05). Compared with group B, the symptoms of group A in terms of distention and fullness in the hypochondrium, fatigue, poor appetite, depression, constipation and bitter taste in mouth were significantly relieved (P<0.05)3Effects of HHdT formula on behavioral changes and dopamine in nucleus accumbens (NAc DA) subsequent to alcohol withdrawal in ratsExperiment1Effects of HHdT formula on behavioral changes subsequent to alcohol withdrawal in ratsObjectiveTo evaluate behavioral changes in ADS rats after HHdT formula intervention.MethodsThe ADS models were set up through continuously feeding rats with low concentration alcohol. The rats were divided into the treatment group (TG), control group (CG) and normal group (NG). From day22on, the ADS rats in TG were given HHdT formula, those in CG were given purified water by gavage, while the rats in NF were given no intervention. On day29, all the ADS rats were withdrawn from alcohol, receiving only purified water instead of alcohol. The scores in terms of behavioral characteristics and Audiogenic seizure were assessed2h,6h,24h, and48h after alcohol withdrawal.ResultsScores of alcohol withdrawal behavior in CG were significantly higher than those in NG2h,6h, and24h after alcohol withdrawal (p<0.05), while the scores in TG were in between. The scores were not significantly different among the3groups48h after alcohol withdrawal (P>0.05)Experiment2Effects of HHdT formula on DA NAc subsequent to alcohol withdrawal in ratsObjectiveTo investigate NAc DA levels in ADS rats after HHdT formula intervention using HPLC-MS/MS technique. MethodsThe way to set up models and treatment protocol were same as the experimental1. HPLC-MS/MS technique was used to evaluate NAc DA levels of the high dose treatment group (HDTG), low dose treatment group (LDTG), control group (CG) and normal group (NG).ResultsNAc DA level in CG was the highest (2.14±0.32μg/g), that in NG was the lowest (0.96±0.38μg/g); the NAc DA levels of the treatment group showed no significant difference with HDTG at1.43±0.41μg/g and LDTG at1.50±0.28μg/g (p>0.05). |
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