OBJECTIVES: To compare the effectiveness, safety and acceptability of topical ginger oil extract with VCO and methylsalicylate in reducing pain in adult patients with osteoarthritis at the outpatient department of DLSUMC.

STUDY DESIGN: Randomized Controlled Trial

METHOD: The study included 165 patients ≥ 40 years old complaining of knee pain, screened based on the following criteria: < 30 minutes morning stiffness and crepitus on motion. Those who passed the screening were asked to sign an informed consent and were randomly allocated in the three groups: VCO + ginger extract, VCO, and methylsalicylate. Patients were followed up for 4 consecutive weeks where the assessment was based on the following tools: universal pain assessment tool, range of motion and a questionnaire. The universal pain assessment tool and range of motion were assessed weekly while the questionnaire (1 and 2) were answered on the initial and 4th week of follow up, respectively. The amount of medication that has been applied for the week was also measured weekly. All results were recorded in the patients' record sheet and were then analyzed.

RESULTS: Universal pain assessment tool and range of motion were compared to baseline values at the end of 1 month treatment of 165 patients. There was decrease in pain in VCO + ginger extract (mean difference 2.35) as compared to VCO (mean difference 1.67) and methylsalicylate (mean difference 1.9)(p 0.0066). Analysis of the secondary efficacy variable showed that VCO + ginger extract group (mean difference 18.84) had better improvement in range of motion compared to VCO group (mean difference 18.38), but methylsalicylate (mean difference 27.06) was superior to both VCO groups. Analysis of acceptability variables showed that VCO + ginger extract were more acceptable as compared to VCO, but methylsalicylate was superior to both the VCO and VCO + ginger extract group. However, acceptability as to cost and preparation was not done in this study because the treatment was provided by the researcher and so, the researcher has no means of identifying if the cost and preparation were acceptable to the patient. All treatment groups were found safe to use, no adverse effects reported to all groups.

CONCLUSION: Comparison of the efficacy, safety and acceptability as to ease of application. VCO + ginger extract was superior to VCO group, but methylsalicylate was superior to both VCO + ginger and VCO in terms of efficacy and acceptability.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Based on the efficacy, safety and acceptability, in the absence of methylsalicylate, VCO + ginger extract can be used as an alternative treatment for osteoarthritis.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Osteoarthritis ; methyl salicylate ; Plants, Medicinal ; Ginger ; Plant Extracts

The aim of the present study was to observe whether dopamine receptor (DR) was involved in the effects of sodium salicylate (SS) on the expressions of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in rat cochlear spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs). Forty-eight hours after primary culture of rat SGNs, immunofluorescence technique was applied to detect expressions of DR1 and DR2, the two subtypes of dopamine receptors. Western blot was performed to assess NMDA receptor NR1 subunit and GABAreceptor subunit α2 (GABRα2) protein expressions in the SGNs after the treatments of SS alone or in combination with DR antagonists. The results demonstrated that: (1) The DR1 and DR2 were expressed in the bodies and axons of the SGN; (2) After the treatment with SS, the surface protein expressions of GABRα2 and NR1 were decreased by 44.69% and 21.57%, respectively, while the total protein expressions showed no significant changes; (3) Neither SS + SCH23390 (DR1 antagonist) group nor SS + Eticlopride (DR2 antagonist) group showed significant differences in GABRα2 and NR1 surface protein expressions compared with the control group. These results suggest that SS regulates the surface GABAand NMDA receptors trafficking on SGN, and the mechanism may involve DR mediation.
Animals ; Benzazepines ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cochlea ; cytology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Rats ; Receptors, Dopamine ; metabolism ; Receptors, GABA-A ; metabolism ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; metabolism ; Sodium Salicylate ; toxicity ; Spiral Ganglion ; drug effects

AIMTo study the effects of sodium salicylate on the expression of GABAalpha NR1 and hearing response properties of inferior colliculus neurons in mice.

METHODSThirty-six kunming mice were divided into three groups (A, B, C,). The expression of GABAalpha NR1 were measured by using RT-PCR. The intensity-rates functions, intensity-latency functions and frequency-turning curves were recorded by extracellular electrophysiological recording techniques.

RESULTS(1) The expression of GABAalpha mRNA of B group was decreased remarkably than the control group (A group, P < 0.05), there weren't noticeable differences between A group and C group (P > 0.05). The expression of NR1 mRNA of B group was increased remarkably than the control group (A group, P < 0.01), there were noticeable differences between A group and C group P < 0.05). (2) The intensity-rates functions, intensity-latency functions were monotonic while the frequency-turning curves were more broad when sodium salicylate was given. (3) The intensity-rates functions, intensity-latency functions were non-monotonic while the frequency-turning curves were sharpened after lidocaine was given.

CONCLUSIONS(1) The results suggested that administration of sodium salicylate decreased the expression of GABAalpha while increased the expression of NR1mRNA. (2) The intensity-rates functions, intensity-latency functions were monotonic, the frequency-turning curves were more broad when salicylate was given and the changes above could be reversed by given lidocaine.

Acoustic Stimulation ; Animals ; Inferior Colliculi ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; metabolism ; Sodium Salicylate ; pharmacology ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; metabolism