title: [Effect of dongchong xiacao capsule on airway inflammation of asthmatic patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of dongchong xiacao capsule on the airway inflammation of asthmatic patients and to explore the relevant mechanism of therapeutic effect of Dongchongxiacao capsule.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty patients with moderate persistent asthma were randomized into the treatment group (n=30) and the control group (n=30). Inhaled corticosteroid and as-needed beta-agonist were used in the treatment group while this therapy plus dongchong xiacao capsule were used in the control group for two months. Serum IL-4, IFN-gamma, sICAM-1, MMP-9, IgG, IgE level were assessed at randomization and 2 months after randomization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum level of IgE, sICAM-1, IL-4 and MMP-9 of the treatment group was lowered to a greater degree than that of the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01 ).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dongchong xiacao capsule can reduce the serum markers of airway inflammation, which suggests this therapy bares the anti-inflammation effects probably through regulating the balance of TH1/TH2, inhibiting the activity of adherence molecule and reducing IgE production. It may also have the effect of reversing airway remodeling, which needs further research to determine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China. wangningqun@126.com
authors.forename: Ning-qun
authors.initials: NQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Liang-duo
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Xiao-mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zong-xin
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D002214:Capsules; D032661:Cordyceps / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008419:Materia Medica / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D008419:Materia Medica; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma