Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinocerebellar Ataxias ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in the clinical efficacy on primary trigeminal neuralgia (PTN) between the comprehensive therapy of electroacupuncture (EA) at qi streets acupoints combined with spinal regulation method and medication with carbamazepine (CBZ).

METHODSSixty patients were randomized into a comprehensive therapy group (30 cases) and a medication group (30 cases). In the comprehensive therapy group, the acupoints at qi streets on the head such as Taiyang (EX-HN 5) and Sishencong (EX-HN 1) and those at qi streets on the chest and abdomen such as Shenshu (BL 23), Zhongwan (CV 12) and Guanyuan (CV 4), etc. were selected. After arrival of qi, EA was attached on 2 to 4 groups of acupoints. After acupuncture, the spinal regulation method was applied. This comprehensive therapy was given once a day. In the medication group, CBZ was used for oral administration, 100 mg at the first time, twice a day, and 400 to 600 mg each day as the maintenance dose. Separately, before and after treatment, in 2 and 6 months in follow-up, pain rating index (PRI), life satisfaction index B (LSI-B) and hamilton depression scale (HAMD) were adopted to evaluate comprehensively the clinical efficacy in the two groups and compare the adverse reaction during the treatment between the two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the curative and markedly effective rate in the comprehensive therapy group was 76.7% (23/30), which was better than 63.3% (19/30) in the medication group (P < 0.01). The difference in PRI was not significant after treatment between the two groups (all P > 0.05). In 2 and 6 months follow-up, PRI grade in the comprehensive therapy group was superior to that of the medication group (both P<0. 05). After treatment and in follow-up, HAMD score was all reduced in the two groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) and the result in follow-up in the comprehensive therapy group was significant as compared with that in the medication group (all P<0. 05). After treatment, LSI-B score was increased obviously in the two groups (all P < 0.05) and the result in the comprehensive therapy group was better than that in the medication group (P < 0.05). The incidence of adverse reaction in the comprehensive therapy group was 16.7% (5/30), which was lower than 30.0% (9/30, P < 0.01) in the medication group.

CONCLUSIONThe comprehensive therapy of EA at qi streets acpoints combined with spinal regulation method achieves the long-term efficacy on PTN as compared with oral administration of CBZ in terms of the improvement of psychological condition, analgesia and life quality. It is the safe, effective and stable therapy.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Manipulation, Spinal ; Middle Aged ; Trigeminal Neuralgia ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy difference between electroacupuncture (EA) at qijie area combined with spine balance-regulating massage and medication for posterior circulation ischemia (PCI).

METHODSOne hundred cases of PCI were randomly divided into a treatment group (50 cases) and a medication group (50 cases). The treatment group was treated with EA at Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Fengchi (GB 20), Shenshu (BL 23), Danzhong (CV 17), etc. in qijie area combined with spine muscle-relieving massage and comprehensive chiropractic. The medication group was treated with oral administration of nimodipine (30 mg per time, three treatments per day) and vinpocetine injection with 500 mL of glucose injection or intravenous drip of 500 mL 0.9% sodium chloride injection, once a day. Ten treatments were taken as one course in both groups, and two courses were given. The symptom score, mean resistance index (RI) of vertebral artery (VA) and basilar artery (BA), mean velocity of blood flow (Vm) and comprehensive clinical efficacy were compared before and after treatment in two groups.

RESULTSThe cured and markedly effective rate was 79.6% (39/49) in the treatment group, which was superior to 54.7% (23/42) in the medication group (P<0.05). The symptom score was both significantly improved after treatment in two groups (both P<0.05), which was more obvious in the treatment group (P<0.05). The RI of VA and BA, Vm of VA and BA were significantly improved after treatment in two groups (all P<0.05), which were more obvious in the treatment group (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe electroacupuncture combined with spine balance-regulating massage has superior effect on improving mean velocity of blood flow and resistance index of vertebral artery and basilar artery as well as symptom score to medication, and is believed to be a safe and effective treatment for posterior circulation ischemia.

Acupuncture Points ; Aged ; Blood Circulation ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Ischemia ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Male ; Massage ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy of Huangqi Fuzheng Decoction (HQFZD) in treating recurrent genital herpes (RGH) and its influence on related cytokines in peripheral blood.

METHODSEighty-four patients with RGH were randomly assigned to 3 groups, the treated group treated with HQFZD (31 cases), the control group A (25 cases) treated with Aciclovir, and the control group B (28 cases) treated with Aciclovir plus interferon. The course of treatment was 3 weeks for all. The relapse rate was estimated at 6 months after treatment, and levels of IL-4, IL-10, IL-12 and IL-18 in all patients were detected before and after treatment using double-sandwich ELISA.

RESULTSAll patients were cured after treatment. The relapse rate in the treated group and the control group B was lower than that in the control group A (P < 0.01) but insignificant difference was shown between the former two groups. Before treatment, patients' serum levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were significantly higher while those of IL-12 and IL-18 were lower than the normal range (P < 0.01). The abnormal change aforementioned reversed after treatment in the treated group and the control group B (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), showing a superior effect to that in the control group A (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONHQFZD can reduce the relapse rate of RGH without obvious adverse reaction, and it could also enhance the immunity of the patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cytokines ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Herpes Genitalis ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-12 ; blood ; Interleukin-18 ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Recurrence ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo probe the mechanism of acupuncture for anti-aging.

METHODSIn the senescence accelerated mouse the SAMP10 and the SAMR1, by using RT-PCR and DIG-labeled Northern blot technique, the expression differences of HSP84 and HSP86 genes in whole brain, cortex and hippocampus in the 4 groups,8-month SAMR1 control group, 8-month SAMP10 control group, 8-month SAMP10 acupuncture group and 8-month SAMP10 non-point acupuncture group were investigated.

RESULTSIn the SAMP10 control group, the expression of HSP84 and HSP86 were down-regulated in the whole brain, the cortex and the hippocampus, and they were up-regulated after acupuncture, tending to the normal group.

CONCLUSIONBrain aging of the SAMP10 mouse is related with abnormal expression of HSP84 and HSP86 genes, and acupuncture can strengthen the protection of cells, inhibit apoptosis and anti-oxidative stress through regulating expression of HSP84 and HSP86, hence anti-aging.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Aging ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blotting, Northern ; Brain ; metabolism ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; Female ; HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of acupuncture in delaying aging.

METHODSUsing SAMP10 mice and normal control SAMR1 as model and applying RT-PCR and DIG probed Northern blot techniques to observe expression of NF-E2, YB-1, LRG47 genes in whole brain, cortex and hippocampus in the 8-month SAMR1 control group, 8-month SAMP10 control group, 8-month SAMP10 acupuncture group and 8-month SAMP10 non-point acupuncture group.

RESULTSIn the SAMP10 control group, the expression of NF-E2, YB-1 and LRG47 were down-regulated in the whole brain, cortex and hippocampus, and after acupuncture they were up-regulated and tended to normal.

CONCLUSIONAging of the SAMP10 mouse brain is related with expression of NF-E2, YB-1 and LRG47 genes, and acupuncture can regulate the expression of NF-E2, YB-1 and LRG47 genes, improving the functions of erythrocyte series, increasing proliferation of cells and immune function of cells in anti-bacteria, hence anti-aging.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Aging ; metabolism ; Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Female ; GTP-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Male ; Mice ; NF-E2 Transcription Factor, p45 Subunit ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Y-Box-Binding Protein 1 ; genetics

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To examine tIle prevalence and predictors of HIV and syphilis infections among men who have sex with men(MSM)in Chongqing municipality.China.Methods Cross-sectional studies were conduced in three districts of Chongqing municipality from July to September,2006 and 2007,respectively.Questionnaire-based interviews were conducted to provide information on demographic characteristics,behaviors on sex and drug use,and HIV and sexually transmitted diseases(STD)related health services.Blood samples were tested for HIV and syphilis infections.Results Of 1773 panicipants.10.6%were HIV-positive and 8.4%were sero-positive for syphilis infection.Factors independently associated with HIV infection included older age(26-35 year:AOR=1.7,95%CI:1.1-2.6;＞35 years of age:AOR=2.3,95%CI:1.4-3.8),low level of education(AOR=2.3,95%CI:1.5-3.5),having had multiple male sex partners(AOR=1.8,95%CI:1.2-2.8),venues of recruitment from bathhouses/sauna (AOR=2.3,95%CI:1.1-4.7),with self-reported STD symptoms in the past 12 months(AOR=1.8,95%CI.1.2-2.7)and syphilis infeetion(AOR=1.7,95%CI:1.1-2.9).Conclusion The prevalence rates on both HIV and syphilis infections were considered to be high among MSM in Chongqing city.Unprotected anal sex and multiple sex partners were conqmon in this group.Education,condom promotion.combination of HIV and STD screening,and treatment to the diseases are essential to this population in Chongqing.However,MSM had not hitherto been perceived to be in the epidemic mainstream in this area.

smission between HIV high risk group and general population. More attention need to be spocificalIy paid to prevent HIV transmit from HIV high risk group to general population.

Objective To compare the effects of clopidogrel with or without combined with CYP3A4-metabolized statin in treating coronary artery disease (CAD) among the elderly patients.Methods The study cohort was defined as all patients were over 60 years of age and hospitalized for CAD who were prescribed clopidogrel between January 2000 and February 201 1.A total of 1021 patients were enrolled,with 178 of them prescribed clopidogrel and 843 patients were administrated clopidogrel combined with statins (CYP3A4-metabolized statins 636 and non CYP3A4-metabolized statins 207).The primary endpoint was all cause of death and the second endpoint were non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI),but hospitalized for unstable angina,stroke,transient ischemic attack,or repeated revascularization (PCI or coronary artery bypass graft).Results Among the clopidogrel group and the clopidogrel plus statins group,the incidence density of death was 6.86/1000 and 3.18/ 1000 respectively,with crude RR as 2.15(95％CI:1.39-3.33) and statistically significant (x2=3.53,P＜0.01).The incidence density of composite thromboembolic events did not show statistical significance (P＞0.05).The two groups were 1∶1 matched,after propensity score matching,clopidogrel coadministrated with statins group showed significant decrease in all cause of death,with RR as 0.42 (95％ CI:0.19-0.93),x2=7.23,P＜0.01.No significant difference was observed in deaths or composite thromboembolic events between statins via different cytochrome P450 pathways.Conclusion Clopidogrel with statin could reduce the mortality of elderly CAD patients compared with clopidogrcl without statin.The result did not show statistical significance between CYP3A4-metabolized statins or non CYP3A4-metabolized statins regarding the mortality or composite endpoint events.