OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of combination therapy of wheat-grained sized cone moxibustion and point-to-point needle insertion with medical ozone penetrating injection for allergic rhinitis (AR) and its effect on inflammation-related indexes. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with persistent AR were enrolled. The patients received medical ozone injection at bilateral Yingxiang (LI20)-to-Shangyingxiang (EX-HN8), and wheat-grained sized cone moxibustion at Dazhui (GV14), twice a week (with a 3-day interval) for 4 consecutive weeks. The total nasal symptoms score (TNSS), total non-nasal symptom score (TNNSS), rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ), and rhinitis control assessment test (RCAT) scores were evaluated before treatment, after treatment, and at the 8-week follow-up. Levels of eosinophil (EOS) count, immunoglobulin E (IgE), interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, and IL-17 were measured before and after treatment. Clinical efficacy was evaluated after treatment, and the recurrence rate was assessed at follow-up. RESULTS: Compared with those before treatment, the TNSS, TNNSS, and RQLQ scores were decreased (P<0.05), while the RCAT score was increased (P<0.05) after treatment and at follow-up. There were no statistically significant differences in above indexes between the post-treatment and follow-up (P>0.05). After treatment, the whole blood EOS count and serum levels of IgE, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-17 were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05). After treatment, 17 cases were markedly effective, 12 cases were effective, and 2 cases were ineffective, resulting in a total effective rate of 93.5%. At follow-up, 2 cases relapsed, and the recurrence rate was 6.9%. CONCLUSION Combination therapy of wheat-grained sized cone moxibustion and point-to-point needle insertion with medical ozone injection can improve AR symptoms, reduce the recurrence rate, and enhance the quality of life. The mechanism may be associated with the regulation of immune-related indexes.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Adult ; Ozone/administration & dosage* ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Immunoglobulin E/blood* ; Rhinitis, Allergic/immunology* ; Interleukin-4/immunology*

Epidural Space ; Female ; Headache Disorders, Primary ; etiology ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; drug therapy ; Middle Aged ; Oxygen ; administration & dosage ; Ozone ; administration & dosage ; Spinal Puncture ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical therapeutic effects between ozone and triamcinolone acetonide for the treatment of mild meniscal injury.

METHODSFrom January 2008 to December 2012, 119 patients with meniscal injury diagnosed as type I or II by MRI were divided into three groups. In the triamcinolone acetonide (A) group, there were 38 males and 2 females, with an average age of (25.34 +/- 6.34) years old, ranging from 18 to 48 years old; 36 patients had single knee injuries, 4 patients had double knee injuries and 44 knees with joint effusion. In the ozone (B) group,there were 37 males and 2 females, with an average age of (26.98 +/- 7.20) years old, ranging from 19 to 50 years old; 33 patients had single knee injuries, 6 patiens had double knees injuries and 40 knees with joint effusion. In the combination of ozone and triamcinolone acetonide (C) group, there were 37 males and 3 females,with an average age of (26.44 +/- 6.38) years old, ranging from 18 to 47 years old; 33 patients had single knee injuries, 7 patients had double knees injuries and 39 knees with joint effusion. The patients were treated with injection of 3 mg triamcinolone acetonide alone, 30 ml (30 microg/ml) ozone alone, or both two drugs respectively in knee joint cavity. All the treatment methods were carried out weekly and 4 times injections were required for a treatment course. Knee joint function was evaluated by Lysholm scale and knee joint effusion was examined by MRI before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe scale of knee joint function was 35.68 +/- 4.15 and 65.55 +/- 7.66 in group A, 36.35 +/- 6.83 and 74.39 +/- 8.47 in group B, 36.62 +/- 6.03 and 95.47 +/- 4.78 in group C before and after treatment. Compared with that before treatment, the total scale of knee joint function improved after treatment in every group. The total scale of group C was better than that of the other groups after the treatment,but there was no significant difference between group A and group B. The effective rate of these drugson joint effusion was 68.18% in group A, 62.5% in group B and 87.18% in group C. The effect of co-injection on joint effusion in group C was significantly better than that of triamcinolone acetonide or ozone alone, but the difference between group A and group B was not significant.

CONCLUSIONOzone and triamcinolone acetonide are effective in the treatment of mild meniscal injury, which can relieve symptoms and promote the recovery of joint function. Campared with the single injection, the combination of ozone and triamcinolone acetonide is better.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Injuries ; drug therapy ; Male ; Menisci, Tibial ; drug effects ; Middle Aged ; Ozone ; administration & dosage ; Triamcinolone Acetonide ; administration & dosage ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo discuss the effect of calcitonin gene-related peptides (CGRP) on epithelial cadherin (E-cd) expression in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) in vitro.

METHODSThe effect of CGRP on E-cd protein and mRNA expression in both normal and O3-challenged HBECs were determined by immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR. The signal transduction pathways of CGRP were observed by using protein kinase C(PKC) inhibitor (H-7), calmodulin(CaM) inhibitor (W-7) and PKA inhibitor (H-89).

RESULTSCGRP increased E-cd mRNA and protein expressions of normal and O3-challenged HBECs in a dose-dependent manner. CGRP had no effect on cytoplasm E-cd expression. Pre-treatment with H-89, H-7 and W-7, the up-regulatory effect of CGRP on E-cd expression was partly abolished.

CONCLUSIONCGRP increased in cytomembrane E-cd expression of normal and O3-challenged HBECs in a dose-dependent manner. E-cd expression on HBECs was strengthened by CGRP via PKA, PKC and CaM pathways.

Bronchi ; cytology ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Ozone ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo verify the efficacy on lumbar disc herniation treated with Shu-needle therapy in combination with ozone injection of low concentration.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty cases of lumbar disc herniation were randomized into a Shu-needle therapy group and an acupotomy group, 65 cases in each one. In the Shu-needle therapy group, Shu-needle therapy was used in combination with ozone injection of low concentration. In the acupotomy group, the conventional acupotomy therapy was applied in combination with ozone injection of low concentration. The treatment was given once every 10 days, 3 treatments made one session. After one session treatment, the clinical efficacy of two groups was observed, scores of visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were counted before and after treatment. The long-term efficacy was followed up in half a year.

RESULTSThe clinical curative rate was 69.2% (45/65) and the total effective rate was 96.9% (63/65) in the Shu-needle therapy group. The curative rate was 43.1% (28/65) and the total effective rate was 84.6% (55/65) in the acupotomy group. In comparison, the efficacy of the Shu-needle therapy group was superior to that of the acupotomy group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The scores of VAS and ODI were reduced obviously after treatment as compared with those before treatment in two groups (all P < 0.05). The improvements in the Shu-needle therapy group were superior to those in the acupotomy group (both P < 0.05). In the follow-up observation, the recurrence rate in the Shu-needle therapy group was lower than that in the acupotomy group [17.8% (8/45) vs 46.4% (13/28), P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONShu-needle therapy in combination with ozone injection of low concentration achieves the superior efficacy on lumbar disc herniation as compared with the acupotomy group.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Injections ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; drug effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ozone ; administration & dosage ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Injections ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; drug therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; drug effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ozone ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of targeted percutaneous injection of medical ozone through the posterior approach via the spinal canal and dural sac under CT guidance for treatment of lumbar disc herniation.

METHODSIn 262 patients with lumbar disc herniation, medical ozone was injected percutaneously under CT guidance into the lumbar intervertebral disc by the posterior approach at paramedian 1-2 cm from the spinous process, targeting the affected lumbar discs, protruded nucleus pulposus and ipsilateral lateral recess. The concentration of ozone was 40-50 µg/ml in the disc/protruded nucleus pulposus and 30 µg/ml in the lateral recess (around the nerve root).

RESULTSThe treatment procedures were successfully completed in all the 262 patients. The average scores of JOA and VAS before treatment were 8.30∓1.4 and 8.73∓0.8, and changed significantly to 24.16∓3.2 (P=0.0158) and 2.41∓0.2 (P=0.0242) after treatment, respectively. According to the modified MacNab criteria, the therapeutic effect was excellent in 165 cases, fair in 64 cases, acceptable in 20 cases, and poor in 13 cases, with a total success rate of 87.4%. No patient showed serious complications after the treatment.

CONCLUSIONCompared with routine ozone therapy by the posterior-lateral approach, targeted percutaneous ozone injection into the intervertebral disc by the modified posterior approach is safe and yields better therapeutic effect for lumbar disc herniation.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Injections, Intralesional ; methods ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; drug therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ozone ; administration & dosage ; Spinal Canal ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of intra-articular ozone injection at different concentrations on the contents of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), TNF receptor I (TNFR I), and TNFR II in the serum and synovium of rats with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and explore the therapeutic mechanism of ozone in RA treatment.

METHODSForty-eight Wistar rats were randomized into 8 groups, including 5 ozone groups receiving intra-articular injection of 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 µg/ml ozone, a blank control group, an oxygen group and a RA model group. All the rats, except for those in the blank control group, were subjected to hypodermic injection of bovine collagen II and complete Freunds adjuvant to induce RA. Ozone treatment was administered once weekly for 3 weeks starting at 21 days after the modeling. The swelling and thickness of the hind paws were observed, and the serum and synovial contents of TNF-α, TNFR I, and TNFR II were detected.

RESULTSAt the end of treatment, the paw thickness was reduced significantly in rats with 40 µg/ml ozone injection compared with that in the model RA group (P<0.01). The serum contents of TNF-α, TNFR I and TNFR II showed no significant difference between the RA model group, oxygen group and the ozone groups, but their synovial contents showed significant reductions in rats with 40 and 50 µg/ml ozone injection (P<0.01); the synovial TNFR I was significantly higher in 40 µg/ml ozone group than in the model group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONIntra-articular injection of 40 µg/ml ozone can attenuate synovitis in rats with RA, the mechanism of which may involve the inhibition of TNF-α and TNFR II activity and enhancement of TNFR I activity in the synovium.

Animals ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; metabolism ; therapy ; Injections, Intra-Articular ; Male ; Ozone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I ; metabolism ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Injections ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ozone ; administration & dosage ; Spondylosis ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo compare electrophysiological changes in treating lumbar disc herniation (LDH) with ozone by curving sheath-needle multi-direction rotating injection (CSNMRI) and conventional injection method.

METHODSFrom May 2005 to June 2009,100 patients with LDH were studied, included 68 males and 32 females, ranging in age from 25 to 58 years with an average of 44 years, in course of disease from 3 months to 8 years with an average of 8.8 months. All patients were numbered according to sequence of visit, and were completely randomly divided into group A and group B with DPS software, 50 cases in each group. All patients were injected ozone into lesion of intervertebral disc, in group A with CSNMRI and in group B with conventional method. The electrophysiologic study of all patients was performed respectively before treatment and at the 3 month after treatment. The electromyogram (EMG) of the main muscle groups of involved lower limb and the corresponding segments of sacrospinal muscle was tested; the duration and multiphase-wave rate of MUP were calculated. H-reflex of tibial nerve in both lower limbs was observed and the number of abnormal H-reflex and the H-wave latency were recorded.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the number of muscles with abnormal EMG was reduced to different degrees in each group, but there was more significant reduction in group A (P < 0.05 or 0.01); the duration and multiphase-wave rate of MUP in the two groups were both reduced and close to the normal level (P < 0.01), yet the changes in group A was more than that of group B (P < 0.05 or 0.01). There was no significant difference in the number of abnormal H-reflex before treatment between two groups, whereas was markedly lower in group A than that of group B after treatment (P < 0.05). After treatment, H-wave latency in two groups was shortened and become close to normal, but group B was more statistically significant than group B (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe neural electrophysiological abnormalities can reflect the degree of nerve root compression and damage, and is one of the objective indicators to estimate neuromuscular function. It can better meliorate abnormal electrophysiology to inject ozone to treat LDH with CSNMRI than conventional method.

Adult ; Aged ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; Encephalocele ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Injections ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; drug therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Lumbosacral Region ; abnormalities ; Male ; Meningocele ; Middle Aged ; Ozone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult