title: [Efficacy of Zaozhu Yinchen Recipe for Treating Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis and its Effect on Free Fatty Acid and TNF-alpha].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the efficacy of Zaozhu Yinchen Recipe (ZZYCR) on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients, and to explore its effect on serum free fatty acid (FFA) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha).
  
  
  METHODS
  Totally 120 patients with NASH were randomly assigned to the treatment group (60 cases, treated with ZZYCR, one dose per day) and the control group (60 cases, treated with Silibin Meglumine Tablets, 20 mg each time, thrice per day). The therapeutic course for all was 24 weeks. Serum levels of ALT and AST activities, TC and TG levels were detected before and after treatment. Peritoneal CT was performed in all patients, and CT ratios of liver and spleen calculated. NAFLD activity score (NAS) and degree of hepatic fibrosis were assessed using pathological examinations of liver tissue, and efficacy also evaluated. Serum contents of FFA and TNF-alpha were also detected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with before treatment in the same group, activities of ALT and AST, serum levels of TC, TG, FFA, and TNF-alpha, NAS, scores of symptoms and signs all obviously decreased, degree of hepatic fibrosis was obviously improved in the two groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). These changes were more obviously seen in the treatment group (P < 0.05). After 24-week treatment, the total effective rate and total clinical efficacy were 80.00% (48/60 cases) and 85.00% (51/60 cases) in the treatment group, obviously higher than those in the control group [60.00% (36/60 cases) and 73.33% (44/60 cases) respectively], with significant difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ZZYCR could improve the clinical efficacy of NASH patients, and its mechanism might be associated with inhibiting serum levels of FFA and TNF-alpha.
authors.forename: Jin-mo
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Hui-qing
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Hong-guo
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Man-ting
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Li-min
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shao-dong
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha