OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of heat-sensitive moxibustion robot for improving the depressive state of methamphetamine addicts during withdrawal period. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with methamphetamine addiction accompanied with depressive state were randomly divided into an observation group (40 cases, 4 cases dropped out) and a control group (20 cases, 2 cases dropped out). The control group received routine health education and addiction treatment in compulsory isolation drug rehabilitation center. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, in the observation group, the heat-sensitive moxibustion robot was used to locate sensitive points at the Shenque (CV8) and Danzhong (CV17), and dual-point sparrow-pecking moxibustion was delivered for 60 min per session. The moxibustion therapy was performed 4 times in the 1st week, 3 times in the 2nd and 3rd weeks respectively, and 2 times in the 4th week, for 12 times totally. The scores of Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), self-rating depression scale (SDS), visual analogue scale (VAS) for drug craving, Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) were observed before treatment, at the end of the 2nd and 4th weeks of treatment, and 4 weeks after the treatment completion (follow-up) in the two groups. RESULTS: At each time point after treatment, in the observation group, the HAMD, VAS, HAMA and PSQI scores were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.01, P<0.001); at the end of the 4th week of treatment and in follow-up, the SDS and SAS scores were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.001, P<0.01). Compared before treatment, there were no significant differences in the above scores at each time point after treatment in the control group (P>0.05). In the observation group, at each time point after treatment, the HAMD and VAS scores were lower than those in the control group (P<0.01, P<0.001, P<0.05); at the end of the 4th week of treatment and in follow-up, the SDS and HAMA scores were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.001); at the end of the 4th week of treatment, the PSQI score was lower than that in the control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION Heat-sensitive moxibustion robot effectively improves depression, anxiety and sleep quality, and reduces drug craving in methamphetamine addicts during withdrawal period.
Humans ; Moxibustion/methods* ; Male ; Adult ; Female ; Methamphetamine/adverse effects* ; Depression/therapy* ; Middle Aged ; Robotics ; Young Adult ; Amphetamine-Related Disorders/psychology* ; Acupuncture Points ; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome/psychology*

OBJECTIVETo analyze the prevalence rates and associated risk factors on HIV, syphilis, herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) among female sex workers (FSWs) in Jiaozhou, Shandong province.

METHODSThrough convenient sampling, an anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted on female sex workers to collect related information. Blood specimens were drawn for serological tests on HIV, syphilis and HSV-2 antibodies, respectively. Patients with positive results from both treponema pallidum and HSV-2 tested by ELISA method, were defined as being superinfected.

RESULTSA total of 460 FSWs were recruited in this study. The prevalence rates of HIV, syphilis, HSV-2, and syphilis/HSV-2 superinfection were 0.22% , 5.9% , 43.0% , and 11.7% , respectively. Among the methamphetamine users, the prevalence rates of syphilis, HSV-2, and syphilis/HSV-2 superinfection were 12.4%, 55.2%, and 22.9%, respectively. Results from multivariate analysis showed that factors that significantly associated with syphilis infection would include: methamphetamine use (OR = 3.61, 95% CI:1.62-8.06), having first commercial sex intercourse at under 20 years of age (OR = 2.80, 95% CI:1.15-6.85), more than 2 establishments that the FSWs worked in the last month (OR = 4.37, 95%CI:0.83-22.83). Factors associated with HSV-2 infection were methamphetamine use (OR = 2.30, 95%CI:1.43-3.70), having first commercial sex intercourse at under 20 years of age (OR = 1.77, 95% CI:1.16-2.69), working at low-end establishments (OR = 2.61, 95%CI:1.66-4.10), working at the local sex-work venues for more than one year (OR = 2.01, 95% CI:1.28-3.14), with low education backgrounds (OR = 2.27, 95% CI:1.18-4.36), using methamphetamine (OR = 3.95, 95% CI:2.09-7.44), low education background (OR = 2.43, 95% CI: 1.10-5.36), 21-30 year-olds (OR = 2.95, 95%CI:1.08-8.03), older than 31 years of age (OR = 7.05, 95% CI:2.48-20.01) etc., were independent risk factors associated with the superinfection of syphilis and HSV-2.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence rates of syphilis, HSV-2 and syphilis/HSV-2 superinfection were relatively high among FSWs in Jiaozhou, especially among the FSWs who were methamphetamine users.

Age Distribution ; Amphetamine-Related Disorders ; epidemiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Educational Status ; Female ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; HIV Seropositivity ; Herpes Genitalis ; epidemiology ; Herpesvirus 2, Human ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Methamphetamine ; administration & dosage ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Serologic Tests ; Sex Work ; Sex Workers ; psychology ; statistics & numerical data ; Superinfection ; epidemiology ; Syphilis ; epidemiology ; Treponema pallidum ; isolation & purification

Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) is the most widespread narcotics in the 21st century. The methamphetamine's intoxication mechanism, psychological dependence, drug resistance and therapeutic drug development are the hot spots in current research. Establishment of animal model with methamphetamine poisoning is the basic for the relative studies, the normalization and standardization of the animal model settles the foundation for methamphetamine's further research. This article reviews the animal model of methamphetamine poisoning in China and abroad, the brief history of the acute, subacute and chronic animal model of methamphetamine poisoning, as well as the principles and methods of the animal model establishment and its evaluation criteria. The necessity, significance and its scientific expansion of performing experimental research on the methamphetamine poisoning animal model are also discussed.
Amphetamine-Related Disorders/psychology* ; Animals ; Behavior, Animal/drug effects* ; Central Nervous System Stimulants/poisoning* ; Cerebral Cortex/drug effects* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Forensic Toxicology ; Humans ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Methamphetamine/poisoning* ; Stereotyped Behavior/drug effects*