Guasha-induced hepatoprotection in chronic active hepatitis B: A case study

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has demonstrated hepatoprotective effect in animal hepatitis models. HO-1 was also reported to be upregulated with Guasha, an ancient therapeutic technique which applies instrument assisted press-stroking to treat many disorders. We report a case on the changes of liver funct...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinica chimica acta 2011-08, Vol.412 (17-18), p.1686-1688
Main Authors: Chan, Suk-tak, Yuen, John W.M., Gohel, Mayur-Danny I., Chung, Chi-ping, Wong, Ho-cheong, Kwong, Kenneth K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Drugs, Chinese Herbal
Guasha
Heme oxygenase
Hepatitis
Hepatitis B, Chronic - pathology
Hepatitis B, Chronic - therapy
Human
Humans
Liver - drug effects
Male
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Summary:Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has demonstrated hepatoprotective effect in animal hepatitis models. HO-1 was also reported to be upregulated with Guasha, an ancient therapeutic technique which applies instrument assisted press-stroking to treat many disorders. We report a case on the changes of liver function, plasma HO-1 and T-helper (Th) cytokine balance in a chronic active hepatitis B carrier before and after Guasha. The patient presented with increased activities of liver enzymes (ALT and AST), indicating inflammatory damage in liver before Guasha. Forty-eight hours after receiving Guasha, the patient showed changes in a number of serum markers: a decline of liver enzymes (ALT and AST) indicating reduced chronic inflammation, an elevated plasma HO-1, and a modulation of T-helper (Th)1/Th2 balance. Guasha was shown to transiently reduce the inflammatory markers of liver injury in human, together with an enhancement of HO-1 which might be responsible for the hepatoprotective action.
ISSN:0009-8981
1873-3492
DOI:10.1016/j.cca.2011.05.009