Objective To systematically assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture and moxibustion for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Methods Articles were searched from databases, i.e., CNKI, VIP, WanFang Data, CBM, Embase, and PubMed. Articles about RCT on acupuncture and moxibustion for rheumatoid arthritis and traditional medicine therapy were under meta-analysis. Results Totally 24 articles involving 2006 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis indicated that the overall effective rate of treatment in the group receiving acupuncture and moxibustion was higher than that in the drug group, with statistical significance [OR=2.73, 95%CI (2.18, 3.41), Z=8.78, P<0.000 01]. Sub-group analysis showed that:acupuncture and moxibustion showed statistical significance in decreasing serum RF levels compared with drug therapy [MD=-2.92, 95%CI (-5.60, -0.25), P<0.05]. Acupuncture and moxibustion showed statistical significance in decreasing serum ESR levels compared with drug therapy [MD=-2.99, 95%CI (-4.78, -1.21), P<0.05]. Acupuncture and moxibustion showed statistical significance in decreasing serum CPR levels compared with drug therapy [MD=-1.44, 95%CI (-2.44, -0.44), P <0.05]. Conclusion The overall effective rates of acupuncture and moxibustion for rheumatoid arthritis and the decreasing levels of RF, ESR, CRP are superior to drug therapy, but it still needs larger samples, multi-center, and high quality RCT to verify.

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy differences between Zheng's gold hook, fishing acupuncture and electroacupuncture (EA) for lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

METHODSSixty patients of LDH were randomly allocated to a gold hook fishing acupuncture group and an EA group, 30 cases in each one. Lumbar Jiaji (EX-1 B 2), Yaoyangguan (GV 3), Shenshu (BL 23), Dachangshu (BL 25), Guanyuanshu (BL 26) and ashi points were selected in the gold hook fishing acupuncture group; after the needles were inserted, the manipulation of gold hook fishing acupuncture was applied at tendon junction points and ashi points. The identical acupoints were selected in the EA group and patients were treated with EA. The treatment was both given once a day; ten days of treatment were taken as one session, and totally 3 sessions were given. The clinical effective rate, visual analogue scale (VAS), low back pain score and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were used for efficacy evaluation.

RESULTSThe effective rate was 93.3% (28/30) in the gold hook fishing acupuncture group, which was superior to 86.7% (26/30) in the EA group (P < 0.05). The VAS, low back pain score and ODI were both significantly improved after treatment (all P < 0.05), which were more significant in the gold hook fishing acupuncture group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONZHENG's gold hook fishing acupuncture could effectively improve the symptoms and sings of LDH, reduce the disability index and improve the quality of life, which is superior to EA.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; therapy ; Low Back Pain ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life

Objective To observe clinical efficacy of warm-promotion needling for the treatment of cold coagulation and blood stasis of primary dysmenorrhea.Methods Totally 120 patients with cold coagulation and blood stasis of primary dysmenorrhea were randomly divided into warm-promotion needling group (60 cases) and control group (60 cases). Warm-promotion needling group was treated with warm-promotion needling at Guanyuan (RN4), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Shiqizhui (EX-B8), and Diji (SP8), and cooperated with Ciliao (BL32), Hegu (LI4), and Taichong (LR3). Control group took same acupoints and applied uniform reforcing-reducing method. The two groups began treatment 5-7 d before menstruation, 1 times a day, for 7 times. The treatment was given 3 menstrual cycles. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and COX menstrual symptom scale (CMSS) were used to observe the pain degree at the end of 1, 2, 3 menstrual cycles. The clinical efficacy was evaluated 3 months after treatment.Results The scores of VAS and CMSS was obviously reduced in the two groups after the treatment compared with those before treatment (P<0.01). The synperiodic scores of VAS and CMSS in warm-promotion needling group was obviously lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate of warm-promotion needling group was 96.67% (58/60), and the control group was 73.33% (44/60), the difference was significant (P<0.05).Conclusion Warm- promotion needling can obviously relieve dysmenorrhea symptoms and shorten the time of pain of patients with cold coagulation and blood stasis of primary dysmenorrhea, which has affirmative clinical efficacy.

Objective To investigate the possible mechanism of scutellarin on the apoptosis of human tongue squa?mous carcinoma Tca8113 cells. Methods Human tongue squamous carcinoma Tca8113 cells were divided into control group and scutellarin groups (80, 120 and 160 mg/L). Tunel method was used to detect the apoptosis. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot assay was used to detect the caspase-8 protein expression of cells. Results (1)The apoptotic rates of Tca8113 cells were significantly high in scutellarin groups (80, 120 and 160 mg/L) than those in control group [(17.63 ± 0.25)%, (36.23±0.36)%, (51.84±0.58)%vs (4.45±0.27)%, P<0.05].(2)Compared with control group, the expressions of cas?pase-8 protein were significantly increased in different concentrations (80, 120 and 160 mg/L) of scutellarin groups (0.283± 0.040 vs 0.474±0.031, 0.592±0.077, 0.781±0.020,P<0.05). Conclusion Scutellarin could obviously induce the apoptosis of human tongue squamous carcinoma Tca8113 cells, which may be related to the caspase-8 protein expression.

Objective To study the effect of Yuzhenxifeng Decoction on the brain ferritin in PD mouse models .Methods All ex‐perimental animals were devided into 4 groups:the control group ,the model group ,the positive drug group and TCM group .Prepare PD model mice with MPTP ,then use the immunohistochemical staining technique to observe the change of expression of Fn .Results the results showed that compared with the model group ,movement coordination disorder of rats in TCM group were relieved ;the Fn level of the model group on 6th ,13th ,20th were higher than control group(P<0 .05) ,and were 2 .21 times ,1 .15 times and 0 .36 times higher respectively .Compared with model group mice ,expression of Fn were enhanced in the treatment group .Conclusion Yuzhenxifeng Decoction can improve the expression of Fn in the brain ,which provide the basis for further study on mechanism of the treatment of Parkinson′s disease .

Tree shrews have an excellent visual system, their cones accounted for 96%of the photorecepter cells, so that their color vision and stereo vision are well developed.With their rich resources and low cost, tree shrews have been considered as an ideal animal model in eye research in comparative medicine and genomics research.The ophthalmological research on tree shrew mainly focused on the establishment of myopia model, as well as the changes in myopic sclera and choroids, and the basic studies of their retina, optic and visual cortex.This paper reviewed the basic ophthalmological re-search of tree shrew.

Objective To establish an HPLC-ELSD method for the determination of pinitol in Fufang Kushen Injection. Methods Chromatographic condition was as follows:Cosmosil Sugar-D column (250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm), the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-water in gradient mode, the temperature of the drift tube of 77 ℃, and the gas flow rate of 2.0 L/min. Results The standard curve of pinitol was rectilinear within the range of 0.5-10.0 μg, r=0.999 6 (n=5). The average recovery was 97.30%(RSD=1.29%, n=5). Conclusion The method is simple and rapid, the result is accurate, reliable and reproducible.

Objective:To investigate the effects and the possible mechanisms of Neiguan(PC6)and Gongsun(SP4)on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA)axis in rats with functional dyspepsia(FD),thus to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical application of the Eight Confluent Points.Methods:Forty specific-pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a blank group,a model group,an electroacupuncture(EA)group,and a Western medicine group by the random number table method,with 10 rats in each group.Rats in the blank group did not receive modeling or intervention.Rats in the other three groups were subjected to the FD with mood disorder model using the compound etiology modeling method.After the successful modeling,rats in the model group did not receive any interventions,rats in the Western medicine group received deanxit and mosaprid intervention,and those in the EA group received EA intervention on the ipsilateral Neiguan(PC6)and Gongsun(SP4)for 21 d.The sugar-water consumption rate was measured before the experiment and before and after interventions to assess the emotional status.The gastric emptying rate was measured after interventions to assess the gastrointestinal dynamics.The expression levels of hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH),pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH),and adrenal corticosterone(CORT)were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results:Compared with the blank group,the sugar-water consumption rate and the gastric emptying rate were decreased(P<0.01),and the hypothalamic CRH,pituitary ACTH,and adrenal CORT expression levels were increased(P<0.01)in the model group.Compared with the model group,the sugar-water consumption rate and the gastric emptying rate were significantly increased(P<0.01),while the expression levels of hypothalamic CRH,pituitary ACTH,and adrenal CORT were significantly decreased(P<0.01)in the EA group and the Western medicine group.The differences between the EA group and the Western medicine group were not statistically significant(P>0.05).Conclusion:The Eight Confluent Points Neiguan(PC6)and Gongsun(SP4)can improve the mood and gastrointestinal dynamics in FD rats,which may be achieved by down-regulating the hypothalamic CRH,pituitary ACTH,and adrenal CORT,as well as by correcting the HPA axis hyperfunction.

Objective To understand the status of service contract signing conducted by primary medical and health institutions.Methods A questionnaire survey and in-depth interview methods were used to study the service contract signing at primary health care institutions.Results The contract signing rate of the institutions surveyed was 1 9.1%,and valid contract signing rate was 76%.Senior people above 65 years old accounted for 33.5% of those signers,while hypertension patients accounted for 1 9.5% and diabetes patients for 10.6%.Interviews to the general practitioners team at the primary health institutions found that main factors affecting residents′ intention to sign were drug availability, attraction for signing the services,treatment habits among others.Interviews to the staff the primary health institutions found that contracted services are facing such difficulties as medical staff shortage,lack of motivation,lack of competence among others.Interviews to leaders of the primary health institutions found that the lack of publicity and support of medical insurance also has great influence to service contract signing.Conclusions The enthusiasm of general practitioners and residents to sign up for the service remains to be improved.

Objective:To investigate the effects of sign-contract services on hypertension patient disease control and the satisfaction of medical staff. Methods:a face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted among hypertension patients selected from 20 primary health centers in 10 provinces in China. Results:This paper collected 1 ,881 valid questionnaires, and the average age of the population was 65. 72 ± 10. 88. Respondents that received sign-contract services accounted for 53. 88%, and there was no difference between patients who signed the service contract and who did not in terms of demographics. In self-reporting of blood pressure controls, respondents who signed the service contract, aged 40~50 years old, enjoyed the free medical care, preferred to seek medical services from primary a-gencies ( i. e. community health centers and township hospitals) for minor illnesses, controlled their blood pressure better ( P<0. 05 ) . Respondents enjoyed the civil resident medical insurance, preferred to seek medical care from community health centers for minor illnesses and signed the service contract were more likely to be satisfied with their medical practitioner (P<0. 05). After adjusting for age, gender, education level, medical insurance style, patient willingness to seek medical care for minor illnesses, signing service contracts was found to be an independent factor both associated with blood pressure self-control and attitudes towards medical service providers, with the odds ratio of 3. 007 (95%CI:2. 572 -3. 517) and 1. 814 (95%CI: 1. 563 -2. 105) respectively. Conclusion: Contracts are correlated with blood pressure control and satisfaction toward medical practitioners, which means that patients who signed the service contract control their blood pressure better and are more satisfied with their medical deliverers.