OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy of YANG's pricking-cupping therapy for knee osteoar thritis (KOA). Methods This was a multi-center randomized parallel controlled trial. One hundred and seventy one patients with KOA were randomly allocated to a pricking-cupping group (89 cases) and a conventional acu puncture group (82 cases). Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Dubi (ST 35) and ashi points were selected in the two groups. Patients in the pricking-cupping group were treated with YANG's pricking-cupping therapy; the seven-star needles were used to perform pricking at acupoints, then cupping was used until slight bleeding was observed. Patients in the conventional acupuncture group were treated with semi-standardized filiform needle therapy. The treatment was given for 4 weeks (from a minimum of 5 times to a maximum of 10 times). The follow-up visit was 4 weeks. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the visual analogue scale (VAS) were adopted for the efficacy assessments.

RESULTSThe pain score, stiffness score, physical function score and total score of WOMAC were all reduced after 4-week treatment and during follow-up visit in the two groups (all P<0. 0001). Except that the difference of stiffness score between the two groups was not significant after 4-week treatment (P>0. 05), each score and total score of WOMAC in the pricking-cupping group were lower than those in the conventional acupuncture group after 4-week treatment and during follow-up visit (P<0. 0001, P<0. 01). After 2-week treatment, 4-week treatment and during follow-up visit, the VAS was all reduced compared with that before treatment (all P<0. 0001) ; with the increase of the treatment, the reducing trend of VAS was more significant (P<0. 0001). The scores of VAS in the pricking-cupping group were lower than those in the conventional acupuncture group after 4-week treatment and during follow-up visit (P < 0. 01, P <0. 0001). CONCLUSION The YANG's pricking-cupping and conventional acupuncture therapy can both significantly improve knee joint pain and function in patients with KOA, which are relatively safe. The pricking cupping therapy is superior to conventional acupuncture with the identical selection of acupoints.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Arthralgia ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; physiopathology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To evaluate the effects of ketogenic diet(KD) on pancreatic β-cell dedifferentiation in db/db mice.Methods:In animal study, 8-week-old db/db male mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) were randomly divided into 3 groups: T2DM model group(ND), KD group, 75% caloric restriction(CR) group, and male C57BL/6 mice of the same age as normal control group(C) fed with standard diet. Both C and ND groups were on ad lititum feeding of chow, the KD group was free to eat the ketogenic diet, and the CR group was the positive control group, consuming 75% of the calories of the ND group every day. Four weeks after different diet intervention, body weight, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, glucose tolerance and blood β-hydroxybutyric acid(BHB) were measured. Morphology and structure of pancreatic islet was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining(HE). Immunofluorescence co-staining was used to observe the expression of mouse pancreatic β-cell specific transcription factors.Results:After 4 weeks diet intervention, the fasting blood glucose, insulin and the area under the curve of blood glucose in KD group was significantly decreased( P<0.05); When compared with ND group, the morphology and structure of the islets in the KD group were more regular, and the number of islet cells increased as revealed with HE staining. Pancreatic immunofluorescence co-assay showed that KD not only restored the number and arrangement of β-cells and the ratio of β/α-cell in the pancreatic islets, but also reversed the expression of specific β-cell transcription factors such as pancreatic duodenal homeobox factor-1(PDX1). Conclusion:KD can reduce fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin and improve glucose tolerance in db/db mice, which may be related to its ability to restore the expression of specific β-cell transcription factors and reverse the dedifferentiation of pancreatic β-cells.

Background::Urticaria is a common skin disease characterized by episodes of wheals, and it has a negative effect on patients’ quality of life. Large-scale population-based epidemiological studies of urticaria are scarce in China. The aim of this survey was to determine the prevalence, clinical forms, and risk factors of urticaria in the Chinese population.Methods::This survey was conducted in 35 cities from 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities of China. Two to three communities in each city were selected in this investigation. Participants completed questionnaires and received dermatological examinations. We analyzed the prevalence, clinical forms, and risk factors of urticaria.Results::In total, 44,875 questionnaires were distributed and 41,041 valid questionnaires were collected (17,563 male and 23,478 female participants). The lifetime prevalence of urticaria was 7.30%, with 8.26% in female and 6.34% in male individuals ( P < 0.05). The point prevalence of urticaria was 0.75%, with 0.79% in female and 0.71% in male individuals ( P < 0.05). Concomitant angioedema was found in 6.16% of patients. Adults had a higher prevalence of urticaria than adolescents and children. Living in urban areas, exposure to pollutants, an anxious or depressed psychological status, a personal and family history of allergy, thyroid diseases, and Helicobacter pylori infection were associated with a higher prevalence of urticaria. Smoking was correlated with a reduced risk of urticaria. Conclusion::This study demonstrated that the lifetime prevalence of urticaria was 7.30% and the point prevalence was 0.75% in the Chinese population; women had a higher prevalence of urticaria than men. Various factors were correlated with urticaria.