Objective To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of Wenyang Yiqi Therapy,the method of warming yang and replenishing qi in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),combined with Alendronate Sodium Vitamin D3 in the treatment of elderly patients with osteoporosis(OP)of the spleen-kidney yang deficiency syndrome,and to observe its effect on bone metabolism and serum inflammatory factors.Methods A total of 110 cases of elderly patients with OP of spleen-kidney yang deficiency syndrome who admitted to the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Wuxi Ninth People's Hospital from October 2021 to October 2023 were randomly divided into a trial group and a control group,with 55 patients in each group.The two groups were treated with Alendronate Sodium Vitamin D3,and additionally the trial group was treated with Wenyang Yiqi Therapy by using Chinese herbal medicines of Epimedii Folium,Astragali Radix,Ostreae Concha,Angelicae Sinensis Radix,Cyathulae Radix,Psoraleae Fructus,Taxilli Herba,etc.The course of treatment for the two groups covered three months.Before and after treatment,the two groups were observed in the changes of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome scores,bone mineral density(BMD),Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)score of pain,bone metabolism indicators of β-C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen(β-CTX),total procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide(PINP)and bone gla-protein(BGP),and serum inflammatory factor indicators of interleukin 6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α)].After treatment,the clinical efficacy of the two groups of patients was evaluated.Results(1)After three months of treatment,the total effective rate of the trial group was 94.55%(52/55)and that of the control group was 74.55%(41/55),and the intergroup comparison(tested by chi-square test)showed that the efficacy of the trial group was significantly superior to that of the control group(P<0.01).(2)After treatment,the scores of TCM symptoms of soreness and weakness in the waist and knee,aversion of cold with cold limbs,fatigue and tiredness,and nocturnal frequent polyuria in the two groups were decreased compared with those before treatment(P<0.05),and the decrease in the trial group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P<0.01).(3)After treatment,the BMD of patients in the two groups were increased(P<0.05)while the pain VAS scores were decreased compared with those before treatment(P<0.05),and the increase in BMD and the decrease in pain VAS score of the trial group were significantly superior to that of the control group(P<0.01).(4)After treatment,the serum levels of bone metabolism indicators of β-CTX and PINP in the two groups were decreased compared with those before treatment(P<0.05),and the serum BGP level was increased compared with that before treatment(P<0.05).And the decrease of the serum β-CTX and PINP levels as well as the increase of the serum BGP levels in the trial group were significantly superior to that in the control group(P<0.01).(5)After treatment,the serum levels of inflammatory factors of IL-6 and TNF-αof patients in the two groups were decreased compared with those before treatment(P<0.05),and the decrease in the trial group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P<0.01).Conclusion Wenyang Yiqi Therapy combined with Alendronate Sodium Vitamin D3 exerts certain efficacy in the treatment of elderly patients with OP of spleen-kidney yang deficiency syndrome.The combined therapy is effective on alleviating the symptoms such as soreness in the waist and legs,improving bone metabolism,increasing BMD,and inhibiting the inflammatory responses,which will provide evidence for the clinical treatment.

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.