title: Effect of Sancaijiangtang on plasma nitric oxide and endothelin-1 levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and vascular dementia: a single-blind randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of Sancaijiangtang powders on plasma nitric oxide and endothelin-1 levels. We sought to identify the common pathological link and mechanism of action for Traditional Chinese medicine in type 2 diabetes mellitus and vascular dementia, and to explicate the material basis for treating the different diseases with the same method in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 168 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and vascular dementia were enrolled in the study, and randomly divided into two groups by simple randomization. Patients in the treatment group received oral Sancaijiangtang powders with pioglitazone hydrochloride three times daily, while patients in the control group received pioglitazone hydrochloride alone. The treatment course was for 12 weeks. Mini-mental state examinations (Chinese version) and Montreal Cognitive Assessments (Beijing version) were performed, and fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, hemoglobin A1c, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, plasma nitric oxide and endothelin-1 levels were measured before and after the treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The post-treatment levels for all measurements in both groups were better than pre-treat- ment levels (P < 0.05). The post-treatment levels for all measurements in the treatment group were better than the levels measured in the control group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Type 2 diabetes mellitus and vascular dementia have common pathological mechanisms for insulin resistance and endothelium dysfunction. Sancaijiangtang powders could improve the release of nitric oxide and inhibit the secretion of endothelin-1. Therefore, the material basis exists for treating the different diseases with the same method in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
authors.forename: Guo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Qiang
authors.forename: Cao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wenzhai
authors.forename: Zhao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huan
authors.forename: Zhu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yuxia
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dongdong
authors.forename: Zhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Qiu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D016037:Single-Blind Method
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D019332:Endothelin-1; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D009569:Nitric Oxide