Acupuncture for Bell’s palsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

<正>Objective:To assess the clinical evidence for and against acupuncture as a treatment for Bell's palsy.Methods:We conducted a literature search of 15 databases from their inception to December 2010 without language restrictions.We included all randomized clinical trials(RCTs) regardless of their controls. Methodological quality was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool.Results:Of the 3474 articles,only eight RCTs met our inclusion criteria.Four RCTs tested the effects of acupuncture against drug therapy on disease response rate.The meta-analysis of these data showed significant improvements in the acupuncture group[n=463,risk ratio(RR)=1.07,95%CI:1.02 to 1.13;P=0.006,l~2=0%].Six RCTs tested the effects of acupuncture plus drug therapy versus drug therapy alone.The meta-analysis of this set of RCTs also showed the favorable effects of acupuncture on disease response rate(n=512,RR=1.11,95%CI:1.05 to 1.17; P=0.001,l~2=13%).Conclusions:The evidence supporting the effectiveness of acupuncture for treating Bell's palsy is limited.The number and quality of trials are too low to form firm conclusions.Further rigorous RCTs are warranted but need to overcome the many limitations of the current evidence.     

A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study of Pu’er tea (普洱茶) extract on the regulation of metabolic syndrome

Objective:To explore the regulative efficacy of Pu’er tea(普洱茶)extract on metabolic syndrome. Methods:Ninety patients with metabolic syndrome were randomly divided into two groups,the intervention group administered with Pu’er tea extract,and the placebo group with placebo capsules.After 3 months’ treatment, body mass index,waist hip ratio,blood lipids,blood sugar,immune and inflammatory index,and oxidation index of the patients with metabolic syndrome were tested and analyzed.Results:In the intervention group,the body mass index,waist-hip ratio,fasting and 2 h postprandial blood glucose,serum total cholesterol,triglycerides, low density lipoprotein and apolipoprotein B-100 all decreased in the patients with metabolic syndrome,and also the high-density lipoprotein level increased and apolipoprotein A-1 showed the tendency to increase. Serum C-reactive protein,tumor necrosis factor-α,and interleukin-6 were decreased in the intervention group. lnterleukin-10 level was increased,MDA was decreased and superoxide dismutase was increased.Compared with before treatment and the placebo group,there were significant differences(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusions: Pu’er tea demonstrated excellent potential in improving central obesity,adjusting blood lipid,lowering blood sugar,regulating immunity and resisting oxidation.It can adjust the metabolic syndrome of different clinical phenotypes to different degrees,and is ideally fit for early prevention of metabolic syndrome.     

Clinical Observation on the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation with Amiodarone Combined with Shenmai Injection (参麦注射液)

Objective: To observe the therapeutic efficacy and safety of amiodarone combined with Shenmai Injection (参麦注射液) on atrial fibrillation. Methods: A total of 351 patients with atrial fibrillation caused by cardiovascular diseases and idiopathic atrial fibrillation were assigned to amiodarone group (control group, 128 cases) and amiodarone combined with Shenmai Injection group (treatment group, 223 cases). The patients in the control group received intravenous injection of 150 mg amiodarone in 10 min, followed by intravenous drip infusion at 1 mg /min and 6 h later at 0.5 mg /min until 48 h or cardioversion. The patients in the treatment group received the same treatment of amiodarone, while in addition, they received an injection of Shenmai Injection of 100 mL simultaneously. Blood pressure, ventricular rate, and cardioversion were observed. Results: The total efficiency rate was 98% (control group) and 99% (treatment group) (P0.05). The mean ventricular rate decreased 23% and 31% in the control group and the treatment group, respectively (P0.05). The mean cardioversion time of the two groups was 570±211 min and 351±123 min, respectively (P0.05). Only mild side effects were observed in both groups. Conclusion: Compared with amiodarone, amiodarone combined with Shenmai Injection takes effect more quickly with low side effects on the treatment of atrial fibrillation.     

Clinical efficacy and safety of Gubitong Recipe (骨痹通方) in treating osteoarthritis of knee joint

Objective:To observe the therapeutic efficacy and safety of Gubitong Recipe(骨痹通方,GBT) in treating osteoarthritis(OA) of knee joint.Methods:Ninety patients with knee osteoarthritis were equally assigned, according to a randomizing digital table,to the treatment group and the control group.The treatment group was treated with GBT Decoction one dose every day and the control group with glucosamine sulfate 500 mg thrice a day,respectively,for eight successive weeks.Besides,diclofenac sodium could be given as...     

Clinical evaluation of Soothing Gan (肝) and invigorating Pi (脾) acupuncture treatment on diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome

Objective:To explore the effect of Soothing Gan(肝) and invigorating Pi(脾)(SGIP) acupuncture treatment on the clinical symptoms and quality of life(QOL) in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome(IBS-D).Methods:With a single-blinded randomized control study adopted,63 patients who met the inclusion criteria were assigned by a random number table to two groups,31 in the treatment group and 32 in the drug control group.The treatment group received SGIP acupuncture therapy; while the control group was treated orally with pinaverium bromide.The treatment duration of both groups was 28 days.The clinical efficacy was evaluated and compared by scoring patient’s symptom and QOL.Results: A significant difference was found by variance analysis in efficacies between the two groups(P<0.01),shown as the quicker initiation of effect(P<0.05) and the more evident clinical improvement in symptoms along the increase in treatment duration,as well as the more significant elevation of QOL in the acupuncture treatment group(P<0.01).SGIP displayed its superiority especially in improving dysphoria,conflict behavior,dietary restrictions,and social responses.Conclusion:SGIP acupuncture treatment could effectively alleviate the degree and frequency of symptoms’ attack in IBS-D patients,such as abdominal pain,diarrhea,abdominal distension,etc.,markedly relieve the tenesmic sensation,with the efficacy better than that of pinaverium bromide,showing a preponderance in improving patient’s QOL.     

Effect of new Pulian Ointment (新普连膏) in treating psoriasis of blood-heat syndrome: A randomized controlled trial

Objective:To objectively assess the clinical efficacy and safety of a new Pulian Ointment(新普连膏,NPLO) in treating psoriasis of blood-heat syndrome of Chinese medicine.Methods:A total of 108 patients with psoriasis of blood-heat syndrome were equally assigned,using a randomizing digital table,to the test group treated externally with NPLO and the control group treated with placebo;the medication was done using a single-blinded method twice a day.Meanwhile,all patients received by oral intake a conventional...     

Clinical Observation on the Treatment of Chronic Severe Hepatitis B by Retention Enema with Huchang Jiedu Decoction(护肠解毒汤)

<正>Objective:To observe the efficacy of retention enema with Huchang Jiedu Decoction(护肠解毒汤, HJD)in treating chronic severe hepatitis B(CSHB).Methods:Sixty patients of CSHB were equally randomized into the treated group and the control group.Both groups were treated with conventional integrative medicine, but to patients in the treated group,retention enema with HJD was given in addition,once every day for 3 weeks.The dominant symptoms,physical signs,and related biochemical indices,as well as the incidence of complications in patients before and after treatment,were observed.Results:Good therapeutic effects were shown in the treated group,with a total effective rate better than that in the control group(83.3%versus 60.0%, P0.05),superior in terms of lowering alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST), total bilirubin(TBil),globulin(GIb),and endotoxin(ET)levels and increasing prothrombin activity(PTA),total cholesterol(TC),and calcium(Ca)levels,as well as eliminating ascites and preventing hepatic encephalopathy (P0.05);especially in treating middle/early stage patients with Chinese medicine syndrome differentiated as water-toxin accumulation pattern.Conclusion:Retention enema with HJD is surely effective in treating CSHB, and its primary mechanism may be related to the mitigation of enterogenous endotoxemia.     

A multi-center randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of Xiongshao Capsule (芎芍胶囊) in preventing restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention: A subgroup analysis of senile patients

Objective  

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Xiongshao Capsule (芎芍胶囊, XS), consisting of Chuangxiongol and paeoniflorin, in preventing restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in senile coronary heart disease (CHD) patients.     

Qushi Huayu Decoction (祛湿化瘀方) Inhibits Protein and Gene Expression of Cathepsin B in HepG2 Cells Induced by Free Fatty Acids

Objective: To study the experimental efficacy of Qushi Huayu Decoction (祛湿化瘀方,QHD) on protein and gene expression of cathepsin B (ctsb) in HepG2 cells induced by free fatty acids (FFAs).Methods: The model of HepG2 steatosis and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) secretion was induced by long-chain FFAs.HepG2 cells were divided into 4 groups: control group (group C),model group (group M),low-dose QHD group (group L) and high-dose QHD group (group H ).Long-chain FFAs were added to groups M,L and H.The 10% blank-control serum was added to group C and M,while 5% and 10% QHD-containing sera were added to group L and H,respectively.The levels of serum TNF-α and cellular triglyceride (TG) were detected.Cellular p-IκB and ctsb expression were detected using Western blot and PCR.The expression and distribution of ctsb were observed by immunofluorescence.Results: After incubating with FFA for 24 h,TG deposition in HepG2,TNF-α content in cell supernatant,the protein expression of cellular ctsb and P-IκB,as well as mRNA expression of ctsb increased markedly in group M compared with group C (P0.05,P0.01).Compared with group M,TG deposition,the expression of cellular ctsb,P-IκB and ctsb mRNA in groups L and H,as well as TNF-α content in group H,decreased significantly (P0.05).Cell immunochemical fluorescence studies showed that ctsb was released from lysosomes and distributed in the cytoplasm extensively and diffusedly after being stimulated with FFA.In this study,these above-mentioned changes were inhibited markedly in groups L and H.Conclusion: QHD might have a direct inhibitory effect on the ctsb target in the FFA-ctsb-TNFα pathway of hepatic lipotoxicity.     

Yiqi Zhuyu Decoction (益气逐瘀汤) Combined with FOLFOX-4 as first-line therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer

Objective  

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Yiqi Zhuyu Decoction (益气逐瘀汤, YZD) combined with oxaliplatin plus 5-flurouracil/leucovorin (FOLFOX-4) in the patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC).     

Efficacy of Ursodeoxycholic Acid Combined with Tongdan Decoction(通胆汤) on Immunological Indices and Histopathological Changes in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis Patients

<正>Objective:To observe the efficacy of ursodeoxycholic acid(UDCA) combined with Tongdan Decoction(通胆汤) on immunological indices and histopathological changes in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis(PBC) ofⅡorⅢhistological stage.Methods:Sixty PBC patients were assigned randomly and equally to the control group treated with UDCA alone and the treatment group treated with UDCA combined with Tongdan Decoction.The immunological indices and histopathological changes were detected before and after 24-week treatment,and the follow-up lasted for 1-3 years.Results:After 24-week treatment,CD4~+CD28~- in the peripheral blood was lowered and CD4~+CD25~+ was increased in both groups,and better effect was shown in the treatment group(P0.01).The levels of IgM,IgG,and IgA decreased markedly after 96-week treatment in the treatment group(P0.05,P0.01),while in the control group,only the latter two showed significant decrease after 148 week(all P0.05).At the end of the 3-year follow-up,the medians of histopathological inflammation grading and fibrosis staging declined to a lower rank,and the effect on inflammation was superior in the treatment group to the control group shown by non-parameters Wilcoxon paired symbols test(Z = 2.761, P=0.006).Conclusion:Combined therapy of Tongdan Decoction and UDCA showed a better therapeutic effect than UDCA monotherapy on PBC,especially in improving immunological indices and histopathological hepatic changes.     

Effects of external application of Chinese medicine on diabetic ulcers and the expressions of β-catenin, c-myc and K6

Objective  

To observe the clinical efficacy of Chinese medicine (CM) treatment of Hongyou Ointment (红油膏) and Shengji Powder (生肌散) on diabetic ulcers, and to observe the influence of CM treatment on the expressions of proteins associated with the Wnt signaling pathway, such as β-catenin, c-myc and K6.     

Clinically controlled study on children’s infectious mononucleosis treated by Chinese medicine

Objective： To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Chinese drugs for the treatment of children＇s infectious mononucleosis （CIM）. Methods： Sixty CIM patients were assigned into the treated group and the control group, patients in the treated group were administered with Chinese herbal decoction, and those in the control group were treated with intravenous dripping of ganciclovir 10 mg/kg per day, for a treatment course of 14 days. Results： The total effective rate was 96.0% in the treated group and 97.1% in the control group, showing insignificant difference between groups. The efficacy in the treated group was superior to that in the control group on the fever clearance time （3.0 ± 1.5 days vs 4.9 ± 3.9 days ） and the disappearance time of cervical lymph node swelling （0.8 ± 1.0 score vs 1.5 ± 1.2 score）, showing statistical significance （all P〈0.05）. T-cell subsets were markedly improved in both groups after treatment. Adverse reaction occurred in four cases of the control group. Conclusion： Using Chinese herbs for clearing heat, removing toxin, activating blood circulation, and dissolving stasis is effective and safe for the treatment of CIM. It can effectively improve the clinical symptoms and shows a certain effect on immune regulation.     

The psychological impact of arthritis: the effects of illness perception and coping

Background  

Coping and illness perception are considered to be important contributors in the relationship between physical and psychological factors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).     

Effect of Xuefu Zhuyu Capsule (血府逐瘀胶囊) on the Symptoms and Signs and Health-related Quality of Life in the Unstable Angina Patients with Blood-stasis Syndrome after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: Compared with Shengmai Capsule (生脉胶囊, SM), the study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Xuefu Zhuyu Capsule (血府逐瘀胶囊, XFZY) on the symptoms and signs and health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) in the unstable angina (UA) patients with blood-stasis syndrome (BSS) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: A randomized, double-blinded, doubledummy, and placebo-controlled trial was applied. Ninety patients, diagnosed as UA and BSS after successful PCI, were enrolled and equally randomized into three groups, XFZY group, SM group, and placebo group, and administered with the corresponding medications respectively for four weeks. The clinical symptoms and signs (CSS), electrocardiography (ECG), and BSS scores were recorded and compared among groups during and after the treatment. Short-form 36 (SF-36) and Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) were applied to assess the HR-QOL in each group before and after the treatment. Safety indexes (blood routine and liver and kidney function tests) were also examined at the beginning and after the treatment. Results: Eighty-six patients completed the whole study. After the treatment, the total effective rates of the XFZY group in ameliorating CSS and ECG were 76.7% and 60.0%, respectively, which were obviously higher than those in SM (CSS: 53.3%; ECG: 36.7%) and the placebo (CSS: 43.3%; ECG: 30.0%) groups. After one week's treatment, BSS scores slightly decreased in each group, but no significant differences were found among three groups (P0.05). After four weeks' treatment, BSS scores in the XFZY group decreased to a lower level compared with SM (P0.05) and the placebo (P0.01) groups. After the treatment, the efficacy of XFZY group in improving body pain (BP), general health (GH), vitality (VT), society functioning (SF), role emotional (RE), angina stability (AS), angina frequency (AF), and treatment satisfaction (TS) were better than those in the placebo group (P0.05, P0.01). Meanwhile, the dimensions of BP, GH, SF, AS, AF, and TS were better improved than those in the SM group (P0.05). No obvious adverse reaction was found during and after the treatment except one case in the XFZY group reporting of stomach discomfort. Conclusions: Compared with SM Capsule treatment, a short-term treatment with XFZY Capsule exhibits better efficacy on CSS and BSS scores, and HR-QOL in UA patients with BSS after PCI. However, its long-term efficacy and safety still needs further investigation.     

Effect of electro-acupuncture on tumor necrosis factor-α and vascular endothelial growth factor in peripheral blood and joint synovia of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Objective  

To observe the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in peripheral blood and joint synovia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to verify the clinical efficacy of EA.     

Effect of chinese herbal drug-containing serum for activating-blood and dispelling-toxin on ox-LDL-induced inflammatory factors’ expression in endothelial cells

<正>Objective:To investigate the effects of drug-containing serum of Chinese herbal compound, Xiongshao Capsule(芎芍胶囊,XS,for activating-blood) and Huanglian Capsule(黄连胶囊,HL,for dispellingtoxin) on the oxidized low-density lipoprotein(ox-LDL)-induced inflammatory factors in human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs).Methods:Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into four groups:the blank control group treated with distilled water,the positive control group treated with simvastatin(1.8 mg/kg),the test group I treated with Chinese herbal compound of XS(0.135 g/kg),and the test group II treated with Chinese herbal compound of XS(0.135 g/kg) and HL(0.135 g/kg).All the treatments were administered for 7 successive days by gastrogavage.Rats' blood serum was harvested 1 h after the last administration to prepare respective drugcontaining serum.HUVECs were exposed to ox-LDL(100μg/mL) to induce cell injury model and incubated with corresponding drug-containing serum for 24 h.Untreated HUVECs were set for blank control.Levels of interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1(slCAM-1) in supernatant of cultured HUVECs were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).HUVEC surface expressions of ICAM-1 and E-selectin were determined by flow cytometry.Results:Levels of IL-6, TNF-α,and slCAM-1 in the supernatant of HUVECs as well as the cell surface expressions of ICAM-1 and E-selectin significantly increased after 24-h ox-LDL stimulation(P0.01),while the abnormal elevations,except slCAM-1 in the test groupⅠ,were all reduced in the treated groups(the positive control and the two test groups) significantly(P0.01 or P0.05).Besides,the effect in the test group II seemed somewhat higher than that in the test group I but with no statistical significance(P0.05).Conclusion:Drug-containing serum of XS plus HL has a certain inhibitory effect on the vascular endothelial inflammation response induced by ox-LDL.     

Effect of electro-scalp acupuncture on acute ischemic stroke: a randomized,single blind,trial

OBJECTIVE

To determine the clinical efficacy and safety of electro-scalp acupuncture in the treatment of patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Effect of Chinese herbal medicine for activating blood circulation and detoxifying on expression of inflammatory reaction and tissue damage related factors in experimental carotid artery thrombosis rats

Objective：To observe the pharmaceutical effect of Chinese drugs for activating blood circulation （Xiongshao Capsule,XSC,芎芍胶囊）and for activating blood circulation and detoxification（Xiongshao Capsule and Huanglian Capsule,XSHLC,黄连胶囊）in terms of the indices of thrombosis,inflammatory reaction and tissue damage related factors in experimental carotid artery thrombosis rats.Methods：Fifty Wistar rats were randomly divided into the sham operation group,the model group,the Simvastatin group（SG）,the activating blood circulation（ABC）group,and the activating blood circulation and detoxifying（ABCD）group,with 10 rats in each group.Simvastatin（1.8 mg/kg）,XSC（0.135 g/kg）and XSHLC（0.135 g/kg）were administered to Simvastatin,ABC and ABCD group by gastrogavage,and an equal volume of normal saline was given to the sham operation group and the model group.After 2 weeks of successive medication,the rats in the model and all drug therapy groups were made into experimental carotid artery thrombosis model.The serum levels of matrix metalloproteinases（MMP-9）,tissue inhibitors to metalloproteinase（TIMP-1）,granule membrane protein-140（GMP-140）,tissue-type plasminogen activator（t-PA）,high-sensitivity C-reactive protein（hs-CRP） and interleukin-6（IL-6）were detected with enzyme-linked immunoassay 24 h later.Results：Compared with the model group,the levels of serum GMP-140,hs-CRP,IL-6 and MMP-9 were significantly decreased,and the level of t-PA was significantly increased in the ABC and ABCD group（P〈0.05）,while the level of serum hs-CRP in ABCD group decreased significantly compared with that in the ABC group（P〈0.05）.Conclusions：Chinese drugs both for activating blood circulation and for activating blood circulation and detoxifying have good effects on regulating indices of thrombosis,inflammatory reaction and tissue damage in experimental carotid artery thrombosis rats.The effect of activating blood circulation and detoxifying drugs on regulating the level of serum hs-CRP is superior to that of activating blood circulation drug alone.     

Evaluation study on urine metabolomics in Yinhuang (阴黄) rat model induced by triplet factors of rhubarb, ethanol, and α-nephthylisothiolyanate

Objective:To ascertain the biomarkers capable to characterize the animal composite model of Chinese medicine(CM) Yinhuang(阴黄) syndrome induced by triplet factors of rhubarb,ethanol,andα-nephthylisothiolyanate(abbreviated as R,E,and A below) through metabolomic study and to evaluate the established model by means of studying the sources of markers based on the changes of metabolites produced from various combinations of the three modeling drugs.Methods:Eighty Wistar rats allocated equally in eight groups(A-H) were treated with saline,R+E+A,R,E,A,R+E,R+A,and E+A,respectively.Rats’ 12 h urine in the 14 successive experimental days were collected separately using metabolic cages and analyzed by ultra peformance liquid chromatograph/time of flight mass spectrometer(UPLC/TOF-MS) to create the metabolic contour graph of urine in different groups for identifying the differences between them.The similarities and differences of metabolic network among various groups were represented from microcosmic viewpoint by pattern recognition method(principal component analysis).Results:Controlled by group A,the landing points in principal component map of various groups were apparently assorted,especially obvious on the 14th day;19 biomarkers, which capable to represent the genesis and development process of the Yinhuang syndrome in the triplet factors-induced rat model,were identified.Conclusion:Metabolomic method is successfully used in evaluating the animal model of CM syndrome.Furthermore,according to the holistic view and substance changes in vivo, the influences of disease on organism were comprehensively analyzed,and the pathogenic mechanism of CM Yinhuang syndrome was explored at the level of metabolomics in vivo as well.