Current Chinese-medicine News Results

Clinical application of computer-designed polystyrene models in complex severe spinal deformities: a pilot study.

Eur Spine J. 2010 Mar 7;
Mao K, Wang Y, Xiao S, Liu Z, Zhang Y, Zhang X, Wang Z, Lu N, Shourong Z, Xifeng Z, Geng C, Baowei L

Surgical treatment of complex severe spinal deformity, involving a scoliosis Cobb angle of more than 90 degrees and kyphosis or vertebral and rib deformity, is challenging. Preoperative two-dimensional images resulting from plain film radiography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging provide limited morphometric information. Although the three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction CT with special software can view the stereo and rotate the spinal image on the screen, it cannot show the full-scale spine and cannot directly be used on the operation table. This study was conducted to investigate the application of computer-designed polystyrene models in the treatment of complex severe spinal deformity. The study involved 16 cases of complex severe spinal deformity treated in our hospital between 1 May 2004 and 31 December 2007; the mean +/- SD preoperative scoliosis Cobb angle was 118 degrees +/- 27 degrees . The CT scanning digital imaging and communication in medicine (DICOM) data sets of the affected spinal segments were collected for 3D digital reconstruction and rapid prototyping to prepare computer-designed polystyrene models, which were applied in the treatment of these cases. The computer-designed polystyrene models allowed 3D observation and measurement of the deformities directly, which helped the surgeon to perform morphological assessment and communicate with the patient and colleagues. Furthermore, the models also guided the choice and placement of pedicle screws. Moreover, the models were used to aid in virtual surgery and guide the actual surgical procedure. The mean +/- SD postoperative scoliosis Cobb angle was 42 degrees +/- 32 degrees , and no serious complications such as spinal cord or major vascular injury occurred. The use of computer-designed polystyrene models could provide more accurate morphometric information and facilitate surgical correction of complex severe spinal deformity.

Genetic variants in trinucleotide repeat-containing 9 (TNRC9) are associated with risk of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer in a Chinese population.

Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2010 Mar 9;
Liang J, Chen P, Hu Z, Shen H, Wang F, Chen L, Li M, Tang J, Wang H, Shen H

Trinucleotide repeat-containing 9 (TNRC9), a high mobility group chromatin-associated protein, has been implicated in breast cancer metastasis to the bone. Recently, several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of TNRC9 were identified as novel breast cancer susceptibility loci by whole genome association studies, especially in estrogen receptor (ER) positive tumors. In the present case-control study of 1,049 breast cancer patients and 1,073 cancer-free controls in a Chinese population, we genotyped three polymorphisms (rs3803662C/T, rs12443621A/G, and rs8051542C/T) of the TNRC9 gene using the SNPstream 12-plex platform to test the hypothesis that these SNPs are associated with breast cancer risk in this population. None of the three polymorphisms was significantly associated with breast cancer risk in the whole data set (P = 0.151, 0.644, and 0.737 for rs3803662, rs12443621. and rs8051542, respectively). However, rs12443621 AG/GG genotypes were significantly associated with increased risk of ER positive breast cancer (OR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.01-1.88), compared with homozygote AA. In addition, a borderline significantly increased risk was also observed for the variant genotypes (CT/TT) of rs8051542 C/T compared with the wild-type genotype (CC) (adjusted OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 0.99-1.60). Interestingly, a significant interaction was detected between rs12443621A/G and ER status on breast cancer risk in a case-only analysis (P for interaction = 0.004). These findings suggest that genetic variants of TNRC9 may contribute to the development of ER positive breast cancer.

Low Birth Weight and Lung Function in Adulthood: Retrospective Cohort Study in China, 1948-1996.

Pediatrics. 2010 Mar 8;
Pei L, Chen G, Mi J, Zhang T, Song X, Chen J, Ji Y, Li C, Zheng X

Objective: The goal was to determine whether the components of low lung function in adulthood were associated with low birth weight in a Chinese population. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted from December 1995 to August 1996. A total of 627 men and women who were born between 1948 and 1954 were recruited; lung function indices were tested and respiratory diseases were examined in the Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Information on variables was recorded, and multivariate analysis of variance was performed to evaluate associations. Results: Significant associations were observed between birth weight and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)), forced vital capacity (FVC), and peak expiratory flow (PEF) in adulthood, after adjustment for maternal age, gestational week, offspring's gender, birth height, history of dyspnea and asthma, lung diseases before 16 years of age, lung diseases after measles and pneumonia before 16 years of age, cough with sputum within 2 years, current asthma, taking medicine for asthma, adult BMI, male alcohol consumption, and male smoking (P < .001). Linear trends between birth weight and FEV(1), FVC, and PEF were noted (P < .001, 1-way analysis of variance); FEV(1), FVC, and PEF values increased with increasing birth weight. Low birth weight was associated with the FEV(1)/FVC predictive value (P < .05), but there was no linear trend (P > .05). Conclusions: Low birth weight may increase the prevalence of and risk for low lung function in adulthood in the Chinese population. The development of lung function may be affected by hypogenesis in utero.

Survey for the presence of BK, JC, KI, WU and Merkel cell polyomaviruses in human brain tissues.

J Clin Virol. 2010 Mar 6;
Lam WY, Leung BW, Chu IM, Chan AC, Ng HK, Chan PK

BACKGROUND: Recently three previously unknown polyomaviruses (KI, WU and Merkel cell polyomaviruses) have been identified from human specimens. The spectrum of clinical manifestations and their tissue tropism are currently unknown. Since a member of this virus family, JC virus, is well-known for its capacity to establish latency in human brain tissue where reactivation in immunocompromised individuals can result in fatal progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, we sought to examine for the presence of all the five known human polyomaviruses in a series of human brain tissues. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the possibility of neuropersistence of the newly identified human polyomaviruses. STUDY DESIGN: Autopsy brain tissues were collected from 10 different brain regions of 30 individuals who died from diseases unrelated to viral infections. Nested PCR was used to assess the presence or absence of viral DNA. RESULTS: Ten samples collected from five individuals were found to harbour JCV DNA. In contrast, none of the 300 brain tissues examined showed positive results for BK, KI, WU or Merkel cell polyomavirus. CONCLUSION: The newly identified KI, WU and Merkel cell polyomaviruses either do not, or have a much lower neuropersistent potential compared to JCV.

The Pharmacological Activities Of Compound Salvia Plebeia Granules On Treating Urinary Tract Infection.

J Ethnopharmacol. 2010 Mar 5;
Peng M, Fang Y, Hu W, Huang Q

AIM OF THE STUDY: Compound Salvia Plebeia Granules (CSPG) had been used for treating urinary tract infection (UTI) for more than twenty years in Drum Tower hospital, but there were lack of sufficient pharmacology studies. The aim of this study was to testify the effects of CSPG on UTI, namely to prove its diuretic, antiblastic, antipyretic and antidynous activities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study evaluated the diuretic effect of CSPG on water load Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats by the method of metabolic cage, and then analysised the contents of Na(+), K(+), Cl- in urine. The antiblastic activity of CSPG was testified by various kinds of strains in vitro. The antipyretic effect was evaluated by carrageenan-induced fever model in mice. Antidynous activity was demonstrated by the method of acetic acid-induced writhing. RESULTS: Intragastric (i.g.) administration of CSPG (20 to 40g/kg) (equivalent to crude herb) produced a dose-related diuretic effect on water load mice and promoted excreting of Na(+), K(+), Cl- in urine. In addition, the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of CSPG on Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were separately 0.25g/ml and 0.5g/ml. Moreover, i.g. the doses of CSPG ranging from 25.2 to 50.4g/kg showed significantly antipyretic effect on carrageenan-induced fever in mice. CSPG (12.6 to 50.4g/kg) can also produce dose-related antidynous effects on acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. CONCLUSIONS: The results described the integrity report of pharmacological studies of CSPG and indicated that it had significantly diuretic, antiblastic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and antidynous activities which support its folk medicine use on UTI.

Two new chalcones from leaves of Morus alba L.

Fitoterapia. 2010 Mar 5;
Yang Y, Zhang T, Xiao L, Yang L, Chen R

Two new chalcone derivatives named morachalcone B - C (1 -2) were isolated from the leaves of Morus alba L.. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. Morachalcones B (1) and C (2) represent two examples of chalcones having unusual furan ring which is formed by cyclization between C-alpha-OH and C-2-OH. Compounds 1, 2 displayed only moderate cytotoxic activity against HCT-8 and BGC823 human cancer cell lines.

benzyl-beta-resorcylates from Cassia obtusifolia.

Fitoterapia. 2010 Mar 5;
Wu XH, Ruan JL, Cheng CR, Wu ZY, Guan SH, Tao SJ, Xu PP, Guo DA

The seed of Cassia obtusifolia Linn have yielded three new compounds, 2-benzyl-4,6-dihydroxy benzoic acid (1), 2-benzyl-4,6-dihydroxy benzoic acid-6-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2) and 2-benzyl-4,6-dihydroxy benzoic acid-4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, including 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy, HR-ESI-MS, as well as by comparison of their spectral data with those of related compounds.

Trivalent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) VLP vaccine covering HPV type 58 can elicit high level of humoral immunity but also induce immune interference among component types.

Vaccine. 2010 Mar 5;
Zhang T, Xu Y, Qiao L, Wang Y, Wu X, Fan D, Peng Q, Xu X

Both Human Papillomavirus (HPV) type 16/18 bivalent vaccine and type 16/18/6/11 quadrivalent vaccine have been proved to be safe and effective, and licensed for public use. However, these two vaccines do not quite match the distribution of HPV types in China, Southeast Asia and Latin America, where HPV 58 is highly prevalent. Here we produced three types of virus-like particles (VLPs) in baculovirus expression system, formulated a trivalent vaccine containing HPV 16, 18, and 58 L1 VLPs and examined its in vitro neutralizing titers. This vaccine could induce high level and long-term humoral immunity against the component types. But immune interference was observed when comparing type specific neutralizing antibody levels induced by trivalent vaccine to those by corresponding monovalent vaccines. This kind of interference would become more obvious when formulating more types of VLPs into multivalent vaccines, but could be greatly overcome by decreasing the antigen dosage and adding a proper adjuvant.

[Effects of genistein on colon cancer cells in vitro and in vivo and its mechanism of action.]

Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi. 2010 Jan; 32(1): 4-9
Fan YZ, Li GH, Wang YH, Ren QY, Shi HJ

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of genistein on the proliferation, apoptosis induction and expression of related gene proteins of human colon cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, and its mechanisms of action. METHODS: MTT colorimetric assay was used to detect the effects of genistein on the proliferation of human colon adenocarcinoma SW480 cells. Light and transmission electron microscopy were used to study the histological and ultrastructural changes. Flow cytometry was used to determine the effects of genistein on cell cycle and apoptosis. Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry were used to determine the effects of genistein on apoptosis induction and expression of related gene proteins of colon cancer cells. RESULTS: The MTT colorimetric assay showed that genistein inhibited the proliferation of SW480 cells in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner, and the highest inhibition rate was 60.2% after 80 microg/ml genistein treatment for 72 h. The light microscopy revealed that many genistein-treated cancer cells were shrunken, disrupted, or showing cytoplasmic vacuolization. The electron microscopic examination showed cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation and pronounced chromatin condensation, sometimes formed crescent chromatin condensation attached to the nuclear membrane. The results of flow cytometry showed that: after SW480 cells were treated with 0, 20, 40, 80 microg/ml genistein for 48 h, the FI values of PCNA were 1.49 +/- 0.02, 1.28 +/- 0.04, 1.14 +/- 0.03, and 0.93 +/- 0.08; the FI values of VEGF were 1.75 +/- 0.02, 1.34 +/- 0.06, 1.32 +/- 0.04, and 1.23 +/- 0.04; the fluorescence index (FI) values of p21 were 1.26 +/- 0.05, 1.36 +/- 0.06, 1.61 +/- 0.03, and 1.73 +/- 0.03, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between the control group and each treatment group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The scores of immunohistochemical staining of PCNA and VEGF proteins were decreased, while p21 increased. There were statistically significant differences between the control group and each treatment group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Genistein can inhibit the growth of colon cancer cells via apoptosis induction and cell cycle arrest at G(2)/M phase. The anti-tumor mechanisms of genistein may be related with the down-regulation of expression of VEGF and PCNA, and up-regulation of the expression of p21.

Expressed Peptide Assay for DNA Detection.

J Am Chem Soc. 2010 Mar 8;
Zhou X, Cao P, Tian Y, Zhu J

Innovation in molecular diagnostics ultimately requires the conceptually distinct design of detection architectures. The diagnostic strategies reported thus far (planar/suspension arrays) suffer from either mass transport issues or limitations on the maximum number of targets that can be simultaneously detected. We report herein an expressed peptide assay scheme, by using nanoparticle probes, for detecting DNA hybridization events. The method exploits plasmid-encoded peptide tags as surrogate molecules for the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry identification of target DNA. The binding of target DNA is achieved through its recognition with a gold nanoparticle probe (functionalized with peptide-encoding plasmid and oligonucleotide complementary to part of the target sequence) and a microparticle probe (derivatized with oligonucleotide complementary to the rest of the target sequence). The magnetic separation of the three-component complex and expression of the peptide allows for the target identification by mass spectrometry. The detection of two DNA targets has been demonstrated through the selection of each individual tag for the respective target. Importantly, the modular nature of the probe design, by decoupling molecular binding events from peptide expression processes, should enable the ready extension of the methodology to the analysis of other species. An assay on a protein target has confirmed the efficacy of the conceptual framework proposed herein beyond the detection of DNA. The vast choice of mass tags offered by mass spectrometry provides significant advantages over previously documented assay systems.

Integrated Countercurrent Extraction of Natural Products: A Combination of Liquid and Solid Supports.

Anal Chem. 2010 Mar 8;
Lu Y, Hu R, Pan Y

An integrated online column-switching countercurrent chromatography (CCC) with a solid-phase trapping/preconcentration interface is presented. The interface is systematically evaluated in terms of sorbent type, column size, and kinetic factor from the view of the unique CCC process. Results indicate that satisfactory trapping efficiency can be achieved using a 25 mm x 10 mm i.d. column packed with Oasis HLB materials. In addition to the analyte focusing effect, large volume injection is avoided, thereby allowing the use of totally different biphasic liquid systems to enhance the system orthogonality. The present integrated system simply combines the liquid and solid supports and is successfully applied in a one-step preparative separation of four antioxidative compounds from the ethyl acetate extract of traditional Chinese herbal medicine Rubia cordifolia L. (Rubiaceae), exhibiting great advantages in peak resolution, peak capacity, and instrument integration compared with conventional CCC separations.

Tanshinone II-A inhibits invasion and metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo.

Tumori. 2009 Nov-Dec; 95(6): 789-95
Yuxian X, Feng T, Ren L, Zhengcai L

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Tanshinone II-A is an alcohol extract of the root of the traditional Chinese medicinal plant Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, whose effects and mechanism in tumor metastasis are still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of tanshinone II-A on tumor invasion and metastasis in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its possible mechanism of action. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: The HCC cell lines HepG2 and SMMC-7721 were treated with tanshinone II-A at different doses. Invasion and metastasis of tumor cells were examined by in vitro and in vivo assays. The molecular mechanisms of tanshinone II-A for inhibiting invasion and metastasis of HCC cells were investigated by Western blot and gelatin zymography. RESULTS: Treatment with tanshinone II-A had inhibitory effects on the migration and invasion of HCC cells. Increasing doses resulted in enhanced inhibitory effects. At 0.5 mg/L, the inhibitory effect was noticeable. At 1 mg/L, the inhibitory rate was 53.15%. The inhibitory effect became stronger with time; among 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours of treatment, the most significant effects were observed at 72 hours. Tanshinone II-A also significantly inhibited in vivo metastasis of HepG2 cells. Tanshinone II-A inhibited in vitro and in vivo invasion and metastasis of HCC cells by reducing the expression of the metalloproteinases MMP2 and MMP9 and by blocking NF-kappa B activation. CONCLUSIONS: Tanshinone II-A effectively inhibited invasion and metastasis of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo, partly by inhibiting the activity of MMP2 and MMP9, and partly via the NF-kappa B signal transduction pathway.

[Determination of eight metal elements in Cichorium glandulosum Boiss et Huet by microwave digestion-FAAS]

Guang Pu Xue Yu Guang Pu Fen Xi. 2009 Dec; 29(12): 3412-5
Pei LP, Zhou XY, Cui J, Pang ZR, Liu HB, Ge L

The Cichorium glandulosum Boiss et Huet is a traditional Uighur natural herbal medicine, but has not been analyzed and studied in terms of its metal elements. In the experiment, the Cichorium glandulosum Boiss et Huet powder was digested with HNO3 by microwave digestion before determination. The eight metal elements, potassium, nickel, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper and zinc, in Cichorium glandulosum Boiss et Huet were determined by FAAS. The working conditions, accuracy and precision of the method were studied. The linear correlations of standard curves are good (r = 0.999 1-0.999 9). The recovery (n = 6) is 92.25%-110.5%, and the RSD (n = 6) is 0.7%-3.88%. The results showed that there were comparatively rich metal elements, among which are comparatively high calcium (65.84 mg x g(-1)), iron (24.38 mg x g(-1)), magnesium (278.17 mg x g(-1)) and potassium (18.50 mg x g(-1)), in Cichorium glandulosum Boiss et Huet, and the contents of other elements are nickel of 0.004 38 mg x g(-1), manganese of 0.52 mg x g(-1), copper of 0.016 5 mg x g(-1) and zinc of 0.18 mg x g(-1). This provided useful data for discussing the relationship between the content of the metal elements in Cichorium glandulosum Boiss et Huet and its clinical application in cardiovascular and osteoporosis disease.

[FTIR spectra-principal component analysis of Erigeron breviscapus and Erigeron multiradiatus from different areas]

Guang Pu Xue Yu Guang Pu Fen Xi. 2009 Dec; 29(12): 3263-6
Zhang ZF, Liu Y, Zhang H

Erigeron breviscapus and erigeron multiradiatus, belonging to compositae, have been widely used as "meiduoluomi" in traditional Tibetan medicine for treatment of heat-clearing and detoxicating. However, it is difficult to distinguish them because of similarity of morphology. Therefore, the chemotaxonomy method was established. FTIR fingerprint spectra of E. breviscapus and E. multiradiatus samples from 13 geographical origins were studied. The results demonstrated that they could be divided into 2 classes with principal component analysis (PCA). The classification was well correlated to their gene, geographical origins and weather. In the same class, the chemical components are similar to each other, which can be considered as the criterion for evaluating their quality. The results showed that their infrared spectra characteristic of the same species was similar in the range of 4 000-450 cm(-1), but varied significantly for different species. The method is rapid and simple, and could be applied to evaluate the quality of this traditional medicine.

[The distribution analysis of the biomarkers on breast cancer tissues by Hadamard transform spectral microscopic imaging]

Guang Pu Xue Yu Guang Pu Fen Xi. 2009 Dec; 29(12): 3216-9
Xu H, Chen C, Liu CM, Peng J, Li Y, Zhang ZL, Tang HW

Multi-functional Hadamard transform spectral microscopic imaging system was employed to provide high-resolutional fluorescence spectrum and image of tiny samples such as single cells and tissues. Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have several photo-physical advantages such as broad excitation spectrum, multi-color fluorescence with one single wavelength light source, narrow fluorescence emission peak, high photostability and long fluorescence lifetime, which make QDs good markers of the fluorescence spectral imaging microscopic analysis in biomedical applications. Based on immunostaining with quantum dots (QDs) emitting at 610 nm to tag and trace two breast cancer biomarkers human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and estrogen receptor (ER) in human breast cancer tissue with in situ fluorescence imaging, sensitive spectra and images were obtained. Moreover, by comparing the differences of fluorescence spectra and 4D images between positive samples, (the human breast cancer tissues) and negative control, (the normal human breast tissues) by Hadamard transform spectral microscopic imaging system, a method to evaluate tumor malignancy of breast cancer tissues based on the analysis of distribution of HER2 and ER was proposed. The results show that the Hadamard system can be applied to visualize and quantitatively measure the subcellular proteins such as HER2 and ER inside the tumor tissues. The method developed with the above technique can be applied to quantitatively evaluate tumor malignancy and is advantageous over conventional method.

[Effect of the restriction on the efficacy of acupuncture in mice]

Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2009 Dec; 34(6): 429
Zhang HX, Wang DJ, Yu JC, Han JX

[A meta analysis on randomized controlled trials of acupuncture treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome]

Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2009 Dec; 34(6): 421-8
Wang JJ, Song YJ, Wu ZC, Chu XO, Wang XH, Wang XJ, Wei LN, Wang QM

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). METHODS: According to the requirement of evidence-based medicine, CFS, fatigue syndrome, acupuncture and moxibustion, acupuncture, electroacupuncture, auricular acupuncture, auricular pellet pressure, plum-blossom needle, intradermal needle, moxibustion, three edged needle, cupping, cup-moving, acupoint injection, etc. were selected as the subject words for retrieving the related papers form domestic and foreign medical databases. The RCT was used as the enrolled criteria, and the clinical cure rate, markedly effective rate, total effective rate, and the scores of the Fatigue Assessment Instrument Questionnaire (FAI) and fatigue scale (FS) were used as the assessment indexes. The statistical package (RevMan 4.2) was used to review management and analysis of 13 papers. RESULTS: A total of 28 papers were enrolled. Logistic regression analysis showed that the total odds ratio (OR) was 4.56, with 95% confidence interval (CI) [2.84, 7.33] for the total effective rate in 10 studies, the total OR was 2.07 with 95% CI [1.49, 2.88] for the markedly effective rate in 8 studies, and the total OR was 2.51 with 95% CI [1.64, 3.85] for the clinical cure rate in 8 studies. The weighted mean difference (WMD) was -29.52 with 95% CI [-36.17, -22.88] for the FAI score in 3 studies, and the WMD -1.22 with 95% CI [-1.77, -0.67] for the FS score in 4 studies. The therapeutic effect in the treatment group of CFS was superior to that in the control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture therapy is effective for CFS, but still needs being confirmed by more high-quality studies.

[Effect of heat-reinforcing needling combined with rehabilitation training on the motor function of ischemic stroke patients]

Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2009 Dec; 34(6): 406-9
Zhang NX, Liu GZ, Huang TQ, Li WJ, Luo JQ, Liu WW, Huang Y, Wang AM

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of heat-reinforcing needling combined with modem rehabilitation training on the motor function of ischemic stroke patients. METHODS: Fifty case of ischemic stroke patients were randomly divided into rehabilitation (Rehab, n=40) and acupuncture (Acup) + Rehab (n=40) groups. Heat-reinforcing needling was applied to Jianyu (LI 15), Quchi (LI 11), Hegu (LI 14), Zusanli (ST 36), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Yinlingquan (SP 9) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6), once daily for 3 weeks. Rehabilitation training including healthy limb and joint movement was conducted, once daily for 3 weeks. The patient's neurological impairment degree and the motor function (Fugl-Meyer index) were evaluated before and after the treatment. RESULTS: After the treatment, of the each 40 cases in Rehab and Acup + Rehab groups, 10 (25.0%) and 17 (42.5%) experienced marked improvement in their symptoms, 17 (42.5%) and 18 (45.0%) had improvement, 13 (32.5%) and 5 (12.5%) failed, with the effective rates being 67.5% and 87.5% respectively. The therapeutic effect of Acup + Rehab group was markedly superior to that of Rehab group (P<0.05). Comparison between two groups showed no significant differences in the scores of clinical neurological impairment degree and the scores of Fugl-Meyer index before the treatment (P>0.05). After the treatment, the scores of neurological impairment degree of two groups both decreased significantly (P<0.05), and the scores of the Fugl-Meyer index of the upper and lower limbs increased significantly in two groups (P<0.05). The score of neurological impairment degree of Acup + Rehab group was significantly lower than that of Rehab group (P<0.05), while the scores of the Fugl-Meyer index of two limbs of Acup + Rehab group were obviously higher than those of Rehab group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The therapy of heat-reinforcing needling combined with rehabilitation training is significantly superior to that of simple rehabilitation training in improving neurological impairment and motor function of ischemic stroke patients.

[Clinical observation on the effect of acupuncture-assisted anesthesia for 40 cases of mixed hemorrhoids surgery]

Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2009 Dec; 34(6): 403-5
Xu TS, Qian HH

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy of comined administration of acupuncture and anesthetics for mixed hemorrhoids surgery and its postoperative complications. METHODS: A total of 40 cases of mixed hemorrhoid patients were randomized into acupuncture-assisted anesthesia (AAA) group and narcotic drug group (control), with 20 cases in each. For patients of AAA group, electroacupuncture (EA, 2 Hz/100 Hz, 9 mA) was applied to Changqiang (GV 1) and Yaoshu (GV 2) for 20 min, and 1% lidocaine (5 mL) was injected into GV 1. For patients of control group, 20 mL and 10 mL of 1% lidocaine were injected into GV 2 and GV 1, separately. The patients' pain response, anus muscular relaxion state, and postoperative complications were observed to evaluate their clinical efficacy. RESULTS: Of the 20 cases in AAA and control groups, 16 and 18 cases had a striking analgesic effect, 4 and 2 were effective, respectively. No significant difference was found between two groups in the analgesic efficacy for surgery (P>0.05). Postoperative urinary retention, pain severity I and II and the cases with intoxic response in AAA and control groups were 1 and 8, 16 and 6, 4 and 14, and 1 and 9, separately. The effects of AAA group were significantly superior to those of control group in lessening urinary retention and toxication, and in inducing analgesia (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture combined with narcotic drugs is superior to simple anesthetics for mixed hemorrhoids surgery in reducing postoperative complications.

[Randomized controlled clinical study on ginger-partitioned moxibustion for patients with cold-damp stagnation type primary dysmenorrhea]

Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2009 Dec; 34(6): 398-402
Sun LH, Ge JJ, Yang JJ, She YF, Li WL, Li XH, Yuan J, Li ZB, Lu YJ, Bi XX, Li M, Geng YH, Wang T

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of ginger-partitioned moxibustion in the treatment of patients with primary dysmenorrhea (PD) of cold-damp stagnation type. METHODS: A total of 209 PD patients were randomized into moxibustion group (n=105) and control group (medication group, n=104). Patients of the former group were treated with ginger-partitioned moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) and Guanyuan (CV 4), once daily for 3 days in the first menstrual cycle, and 3 days before menstruation and once daily for 6 days in the 2nd and 3rd menstrual cycles, and those of control group were asked to take Yueyueshu Granules (a Chinese herbal patent drug for relieving PD). Clinical symptom scores were assessed before and after the treatment. RESULTS: After the treatment, of the 105 and 104 cases in the moxibustion and control groups, the cured, markedly effective, effective and failed cases were 58 (55.24%) and 32 (30.77%), 37 (35.24%) and 33 (31.73%), 5 (4.76%) and 24 (23.08%), and 5 (4.76%) and 15 (14.42%), respectively. The total therapeutic effect of moxibustion group wassignificantly better than that of control group (P<0.01). The effects of moxibustion for relieving mild, moderate and severe dysmenorrhea were evidently superior to those of medication (P<0.01). The symptom scores after the treatment and 3 months of post-treatment in moxibustion group were significantly lower than those of control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Ginger-partitioned moxibustion therapy was effective for PD of cold-damp stagnation type.