Effects of electroacupuncture combined with paliperidone palmitate long-acting injection on withdrawal symptoms and neurotransmitters in methamphetamine addicts.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture combined with paliperidone palmitate long-acting injection (PP-LAI) on withdrawal symptoms and neurotransmitters in methamphetamine (MA) addicts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 109 methamphetamine addicts, who were treated in the hospital from October 2021 to October 2022, were selected. According to the random number table, the patients were divided into the study group (n=54) and the control group (n=55), in which the control group was treated with PP-LAI and the study group was treated with electroacupuncture on the basis of the control group; the methamphetamine withdrawal symptom score scale was used to assess the therapeutic effect before treatment and within 12 months after treatment; the changes of brain neurotransmitters dopamine, γ-aminobutyric acid, serotonin, acetylcholine values were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: 1) There was no statistical difference in MA withdrawal symptom scores between the two groups before treatment (p>0.05); 2) MA withdrawal symptom scores have a statistically significant difference between the study group and the control group after 3 and 6 months of treatment; 3) dopamine levels in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group after 6 months of completion of treatment, and γ-aminobutyric acid values and 5- serotonin values in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Electroacupuncture combined with PP-LAI can partially improve the withdrawal symptoms and anxiety of methamphetamine addicts. This is a potential treatment for preventing relapse of withdrawal symptoms.

[Feasibility of multi models targeting home pain alleviation service used on 220 cases with advanced cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of multiple modes on home pain alleviation service used for advanced cancer patients to in prove clinical therapy services. METHODS: The study was involved with 220 patients with advanced cancers to provide them with multimodal analgesia services at home, from February 2010 to February 2013. Patients in this study had been taking both opioid treatments. They were randomly divided into two groups with the number as 112 and 108 and were given different doses of morphine or other drugs. During the period of observation, data was collected under the M. D. Anderson symptom Inventory (MDASI) score and classification of score on pain. RESULTS: Differences of pain scores in the two groups and the MDASI score were significant and presented as skewed distribution. Scores on pain score were between groups were significantly different (Z = -9.735, P < 0.001). The average rankings of A group and B group were 76.68 and 162.79 respectively. Under the application of 0.4 mg alprazolam, the degree of pain alleviation seemed to be better. The differences on comprehensive scores between different drug groups were statistically significant (Z = -13.334, P < 0.001). The average rankings of groups A and B were respectively 59.87 and 179.08. Under the use of 0.4 mg of alprazolam, the results could be considered to show better improvements in symptomatic patients. Application of 0.4 mg alprazolam on patients with advanced-cancer-induced-pain showed a better symptomatic improvement than using morphine. CONCLUSION: Patients with advanced cancers receiving multimodal analgesia short-term sedation therapies at home, showed both ideal feasibility and good effectiveness. When morphine was combined used with midazolam at home, a better outcome could be seen in pain-releasing on patients with cancer, than single morphine analgesia was used.