title: Inflammatory state of type II diabetic patients with chronic ulcers in response to herbal treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Type II diabetic patients easily develop ulcers over their feet which heal with great difficulties and not infrequently, end up in amputations. In the quest for innovative means to avoid amputation, herbal medicine has been used in China to heal ulcers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized placebo controlled clinical trial involving 80 patients was conducted to test whether a herbal formula taken orally could help to preserve the ulcerated leg. Other parameters measured included granulation maturation time, skin temperature and circulation, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α).
  
  
  RESULTS
  showed a 85% limb rescue with the herbal treatment group showing superiority over placebo group. TNF-α decline was observed with gradual ulcer healing and the herbal supplement group showed a more impressive decline (p=0.037).
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. pingcleung@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: E L Y
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000601:surgery; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D023821:Limb Salvage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012881:Skin Temperature; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha