OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy differences between "governor vessel method of acupuncture" combined with estazolam and estazolam alone for insomnia.

METHODSSeventy patients of insomnia were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 35 cases in each one. The patients in the control group were treated with oral administration of estazolam, 2 mg each time; the estazolam was taken 30 min before sleeping. The patients in the observation group were treated with "governor vessel method of acupuncture" combined with estazolam; the positive reaction points along governor vessel and Baihui (GV 20) were selected as the main points. The acupuncture was given for 30 min per treatment, once every two days. Both groups were treated for four weeks. Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and polysomnography (PSG) were observed before and after treatment. Clinical efficacy was assessed between the two groups and adverse reactions were recorded.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 94.3% (33/35) in the observation group, which had no significant difference with 82.9% (29/35) in the control group (>0.05). The cured and markedly effective rate was 71.4% (25/35) in the observation group, which was superior to 42.9% (15/35) in the control group (<0.05). Each item score and total score of PSQI were decreased obviously after treatment in the observation group (all <0.05), while the score of sleep latency, sleep duration and sleep efficiency as well as total score of PSQI were decreased obviously after treatment in the control group (all <0.05). The scores of sleep duration, sleep disturbance and day dysfunction due to sleepiness as well as total score of PSQI in the observation group were lower than that in the control group (all <0.05). After treatment, the PSG-related parameters of total sleeping duration, sleeping latency, sleeping arousal and sleeping efficiency were improved significantly in the observation group (all <0.05); the total sleeping duration, sleeping arousal and sleeping efficiency were also improved in the control group (all <0.05). The total sleeping duration, sleeping latency, sleeping arousal and sleeping efficiency in the observation group were superior to those in the control group (all <0.05). 4 adverse reactions in the observation group and 3 adverse reactions in the control group were observed.

CONCLUSION"Governor vessel method of acupuncture" combined with estazolam could significantly improve insomnia, which are superior to estazolam alone.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Estazolam ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Sleep ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

To describe a novel particles surface display system which is consisted of gram-positive enhancer matrix (GEM) particles and anchor proteins for bacteria-like particles vaccines, we treated Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG bacteria with 10% heated-TCA for preparing GEM particles, and then identified the harvested GEM particles by electron microscopy, RT-PCR and SDS-PAGE. Meanwhile, Escherichia coli was induced to express hybrid proteins PA3-EGFP and P60-EGFP, and GEM particles were incubated with them. Then binding of anchor proteins were determined by Western blotting, transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence microscopy and spectrofluorometry. GEM particles preserved original size and shape, and proteins and DNA contents of GEM particles were released substantially. The two anchor proteins both had efficiently immobilized on the surface of GEM. GEM particles that were bounded by anchor proteins were brushy. The fluorescence of GEM particles anchoring PA3 was slightly brighter than P60, but the difference was not significant (P>0.05). GEM particles prepared from L. rhamnosus GG have a good binding efficiency with anchor proteins PA3-EGFP and P60-EGFP. Therefore, this novel foreign protein surface display system could be used for bacteria-like particle vaccines.