Effects of electroacupuncture and fluoxetine on the density of GTP-binding-proteins in platelet membrane in patients with major depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND: Electroacupuncture (EA) has been used to treat Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). However, its efficacy is inconclusive and the mechanism is still unclear. Thus, the objective of this study is to investigate the therapeutic effect of EA on GTP-binding-protein (G protein) in platelet membrane using fluoxetine as a comparison. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was performed on 90 MDD patients, who were divided into three groups treated with fluoxetine, EA and sham EA respectively. Antibodies were utilized to quantify the levels of G protein alpha subtypes in the platelet membrane before and after 6-week anti-depressive treatment. Thirty age and sex-matched normal individuals were used as controls. RESULT: All the treatments had the same therapeutic effects in treating moderate depression. Both levels of Galphai and Galphaq in depression patients were significantly higher than those in controls and were not reduced by treatments, although the severity was considerably relieved. LIMITATIONS: The duration of treatment was limited to six weeks only. CONCLUSION: EA might be served as an alternative treatment for moderate depression and we further demonstrate that the abnormal levels of Galpha protein in platelet membrane might be a potential risk factor for MDD.

[Effect of Danzhi Xiaoyao Powder on neuro-immuno-endocrine system in patients with depression].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Danzhi Xiaoyao Powder (DXP) on neuro-immuno-endocrine system in patients with depression. METHODS: A randomized double-blinded and controlled study was conducted in 63 cases of depression. They were assigned to the DXP group (32 cases, treated with DXP) and the control group (31 cases, treated with maprotiline). The curative effect was evaluated with Hamilton's depressive scale (HAMD) before and at the end of the 2nd, 4th and 6th week of the treatment. Serum levels of serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cortisol (CORT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) were detected before and at the 6th week of the treatment. RESULTS: After 2 weeks of treatment, the total score of HAMD decreased remarkably in both groups (P < 0.01), and the total score, as well as the scores of the three factors, i. e. anxiety/somatization, cognitive impairment and feeling of despair, were lower in the DXP group than that in the control group respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). After 4 and 6 weeks of treatment the total score and score of the three factors all reduced significantly in both groups (P < 0.01), with insignificant difference between the groups. After 6 weeks of treatment, the serum levels of 5-HT and BDNF increased (P < 0.01), and the serum IL-6 level decreased in both groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), the serum CORT level reduced in the DXP group (P < 0.01), while the serum NE level elevated in the control group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: DXP is effective in improving symptoms of depression by regulating the levels of 5-HT, BDNF, CORT and IL-6.

[Clinical observation on effect of danzhi xiaoyao powder in treating depression].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect and side effect of Danzhi Xiaoyao powder (DXP) in treating depression. METHODS: A randomized controlled and double-blinded study was conducted in 63 cases of depression by divided them into the western medicine group (WMG, 31 cases) treated with maprotiline, and the Chinese medicine group (CMG, 32 cases) treated with DXP. The effect of therapy was evaluated before and at the 2nd, 4th and 6th week of the treatment with Hamilton's depressive scale (HAMD), self-rating depression scale (SDS), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and the scale for TCM syndrome and symptom differentiation (TCM-SSD), and the side-effect of therapy was assessed with Asberg side-effect scale as well. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups in scores of HAMD, SDS, SAS, and TCM-SSD. The markedly effective rate in CMG was 84% and in WMG 87%, showed no significance between them (P > 0.05). The scores of HAMD, SDS and SAS of both groups were remarkably lowered after therapy (P < 0.05). However, the score of Asberg in CMG was lower than that in WMG (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: DXP shows the effect equivalent to that of maprotiline, but with obviously less side-effect.

Clinical practice guidelines for using acupuncture to treat depression.

A clinical practice guideline of acupuncture for depression was compiled according to the grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation (GRADE) method, including the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and other information about depression, while several acupuncture treatments of depression, severe depression, depression after stroke were recommended.

Clinical study on electro-acupuncture treatment for 30 cases of mental depression.

UNLABELLED: To observe the clinical therapeutic effects of electro-acupuncture therapy for mental depression, 30 cases were treated by electro-acupuncture on Baihui (GV20), Yintang (EX-HN3) and the differential points. Maprotiline was used in the control group of 31 cases. After the treatment, the scores in HAMD for both groups were found to be obviously decreased as compared with those before the treatment (P < 0.01), without significant between-group differences (P > 0.05). The total effective rate in the treatment group was 96.7%, and that of the control group was 90.3%, showing no significant between-group differences (P > 0.05). After the treatment, the two groups all showed obvious decrease in the TCM symptomatic integrals (P < 0.01), with significant between-group differences (P < 0.05), the integral of the treatment group showing obvious superiority to that of the control group. And the decrease of the Asberg scores testing the side effect of antidepressants of the treatment group was obviously superior to that of the control group. After the treatment, the cortisol (CORT) content and the endothelin-1 (ET-1) content of the two groups were all obviously decreased (P < 0.01), and basically turned to normal, without significant between-group differences (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Electro-acupuncture, therapy can produce the same clinical therapeutic effect as that produced by the tetracyclic drug maprotiline, giving less side effect and better symptomatic improvement.

[Comparative study of electro-acupuncture and maprotiline in treating depression].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) and maprotiline (Map) in treating depression. METHODS: Thirty patients of depression were treated with EA and 31 patients with Map orally taken respectively. The therapeutic effect and side-effect were evaluated by measurement of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), Self-Rating Scale for Depression (SDS), Self-Rating Scale for Anxiety (SAS), Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI) and Asberg Rating Scale for side-effects (ARS) before treatment and on the day 14, 28 and 42 of the therapeutic course. RESULTS: After treatment, the scores of HAMD and SDS lowered significantly (P < 0.01) than before treatment, and with insignificant difference between the group (P > 0.05). For patients with somatic syndrome, the HAMD score decrease rate was obviously higher in the Map group than that in the EA group. However, for the patients with anxiety somatization syndrome, the score of SAS, ARS in the EA group were significantly lower than those in the Map group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the efficacy index was higher in the EA group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Both EA and Map are effective in treating depression.

[Differentiation of somatoform disorders in TCM acupuncture-moxibustion outpatient service].

OBJECTIVE: To strengthen differentiation of somatoform disorders and probe into regular rules of TCM syndrome differentiation treatment. METHODS: Clinical data of 93 cases of somatoform disorders were collected from clinic departments of TCM acupuncture and moxibustion in general hospitals, and were divided into somatoform disorders group (n=41), depression group (n=30) and neurosis group (n=22) according to diagnostic criteria of CCMD-III. Zung's self-evaluating anxiety scale (SAS), and self-evaluating depression scale (SDS) were used for quantitative evaluation and comparison of severities of emotional disorders, and TCM syndrome type differentiation was carried out. RESULTS: Somatoform disorders were most marked by pain, abnormal sensation of the skin mainly on the head, four limbs, etc. in TCM acupuncture and moxibustion clinic department, and the severities of anxiety and depression in the somatoform disorders group are lower than those in other two groups, and stagnation of the liver-qi is main TCM syndrome. CONCLUSION: Strengthening differentiation of somatoform disorders, treatment based on the liver and exerting advantages of TCM in diagnosis and treatment may increase clinical therapeutic effects on somatoform disorders in TCM acupuncture and moxibustion treatment.