Effect of electroacupuncture on knee osteoarthritis and relevant inflammatory factors: A randomized clinical trial: 电针治疗膝骨关节炎以及对相关炎症因子水平的影响

ObjectiveTo explore the treatment effects of electroacupuncture (EA), acupuncture with filiform needle, and western medication for knee osteoarthritis (KOA).MethodsIt was a randomized, controlled trial with the blinding of outcome assessors and statistician. 90 outpatients were diagnosed as KOA in Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, the First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Using the random number table, they were divided into a medication group, an acupuncture group and an EA group, 30 cases in each one. In the medication group, routine medication was provided with oral administration of celebrex for 21 days. Regular acupuncture was applied in the remaining groups, at Liángqiū (梁丘ST34), Xuèh?i (血海SP10), Dúbí (犊鼻ST35), Nèixīy?n (内膝眼EX-LE4), Yánglíngquán (阳陵泉GB34), Hèd?ng (鹤顶EX-LE2) and Sānyīnjiāo (三阴交SP6) and the needles were retained for 30 min. In the EA group, electric stimulation with low-frequency pulse current and dense wave was applied for 30 min on the basis of the treatment of the acupuncture group. The treatment was applied once daily at 1-day intervals after each 6-day treatment for a total of 21 days. Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and visual analogy scale (VAS) scores and levels of serum inflammatory factors (interleukin-1β [IL-1β] and tumor necrosis factor [TNF-α]) were used to assess the clinical therapeutic effect.ResultsFollowing treatment, there were significant differences in the WOMAC score in the medication, acupuncture, and EA groups after treatment (all P < 0.01). In the comparison among groups, after treatment, the WOMAC score in the EA group was lower than that in either the acupuncture or medication group (both P < 0.01). Compared to before treatment, VAS scores were significantly different in the medication group (3.95 ± 0.55 vs 5.75 ± 1.40), the acupuncture group (2.78 ± 0.38 vs 5.78 ± 1.44) and EA group (1.72 ± 0.38 vs 5.78 ± 1.39) separately after treatment (all P < 0.01). In the comparison among groups, after treatment, the VAS score in the EA group was lower than that in either the acupuncture or medication group (both P < 0.01). Compared to before treatment, IL-1β levels were significantly different in the medication group (31.53 ± 6.84 vs 63.33 ± 10.25), acupuncture group (31.70 ± 7.54 vs 63.90 ± 9.96) and the EA groups (23.43 ± 3.94 vs 63.10 ± 10.66) separately after treatment (all P < 0.01). IL-1β levels were significantly lower in the EA group than in the acupuncture and medication groups (both P < 0.01). Compared to before treatment, TNF-α levels were significantly different in the medication group (40.20 ± 6.09 vs 68.77 ± 11.13), the acupuncture group (39.60 ± 7.55 vs 68.33 ± 11.51) and the EA groups (22.17 ± 5.72 vs 68.97 ± 10.52) separately after treatment (all P < 0.01). TNF-α levels were significantly lower in the EA group than in the acupuncture and medication groups (both P < 0.01). After treatment, there were no significant differences in TNF-α and IL-1β levels between the acupuncture and medication groups (both P > 0.05). The total effective rates were 86.67% (26/30), 73.33% (22/30) and 70.00% (21/30) in the EA, acupuncture, and medication groups, respectively. The total effective rate was higher in the EA group than in either the acupuncture or medication group (both P < 0.05). In the whole process of trial, the adverse events occurred in three groups. In consideration of the potential association between these adverse events and acupuncture treatment, the acupuncture physiotherapists and experts classified the adverse events into the treatment relevance or non-treatment relevance within 24 h of occurrence.ConclusionAll three therapeutic methods alleviated clinical symptoms of KOA and reduced levels of relevant inflammatory factors in serum. EA with dense wave is more advantageous than the traditional acupuncture technique and routine medication and is therefore worthy of clinical application.     

Effectiveness and safety of Jinshuibao capsules(金水宝胶囊)in treatment of residual cardiopulmonary symptoms in convalescent patients of coronavirus disease 2019:a pilot randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Jinshuibao capsules(金水宝胶囊), a Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM), in the treatment of residual cardiopulmonary symptoms in convalescent corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19) patients. METHODS: A total of 200 participants with COVID-19 in convalescence phase were randomly assigned into two groups at a 1:1 ratio in this multicenter randomized,double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. One group received Jinshuibao capsules, and the other received pl...     

Effects of Shengmai Yin(生脉饮)on pulmonary and cardiac function in coronavirus disease 2019 convalescent patients with cardiopulmonary symptoms:a randomized,double blind,multicenter control trial

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Shengmai Yin(生脉饮, SMY) on visual analogue scale(VAS) for cardiopulmonary symptoms in coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) convalescent patients. METHODS: In this randomized, double blind and multicenter controlled trial, a total of 200 COVID-19 convalescent patients who with cardiopulmonary symptoms were enrolled from three medical centers in Hubei, China. These patients were randomized divided into trial group and the control group, 100 patients i...     

Efficacy of catgut-embedding therapy at “five neck points” on cervical spondylotic arteriopathy and effects on hemodynamics: A randomized clinical trial “颈五针”穴位埋线治疗椎动脉型颈椎病疗效及对血流动力学的影响-随机临床试验

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of catgut-embedding therapy at five neck points in the treatment of cervical spondylotic arteriopathy (CSA) and analyze its effects on the hemodynamics of patients with CSA.MethodsUsing the computer randomization method, 72 patients with CSA were divided into a catgut-embedding therapy group (n = 36, none dropped out) and a western medication group (n = 36, none dropped out). In the catgut-embedding therapy group, the therapy was applied to five neck points, i.e. bilateral J?ngjiāj? (颈夹脊) at C5, bilateral J?ngjiāj? (颈夹脊) at C6, and Dàzhuī (大椎GV14) once a week. One 3-week treatment session was required. In the western medication group, flunarizine hydrochloride 5 mg capsules were administered orally once daily for 3 weeks. Efficacy was assessed before and after 3 weeks treatment using a functional evaluation scale for cervical spondylotic arteriopathy (FS-CSA). Changes in vertebral-basilar arterial hemodynamics, serum nitric oxide (NO) level, and plasma endothelin (ET) level were detected.ResultsEfficacy was assessed when the treatment session was completed. The total efficacy rate was significantly higher in the catgut-embedding therapy group (86.1%) than in the western medication group (61.1%; P < 0.01). The after treatment FS-CSA score was reduced compared with baseline score in both groups (P < 0.05), and the reduction in the catgut-embedding therapy group was superior to that in the Western medication group (P < 0.05). Compared with baseline, the flow velocity and pulsatility index of the bilateral vertebral and basilar arteries increased at each period in both groups (P < 0.05) except for the left systolic velocity of the vertebral artery after treatment. The increase in the catgut-embedding therapy group was greater than that in the western medication group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the serum NO concentration was increased and the plasma ET concentration was reduced compared to baseline in both groups (P < 0.05), while the improvements in the catgut-embedding therapy group were superior to those in the western medication group (P < 0.05).ConclusionThe clinical efficacy in the catgut-embedding therapy group was superior to that in the western medication group. Catgut-embedding therapy at five neck points may effectively improve psychological and functional conditions, promote vertebral basilar arterial supply, and relieve clinical symptoms in patients with CSA.