Du-Moxibustion in a Mouse Model of Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a progressively worsening and disabling form of arthritis that primarily affects the axial skeleton. This disease mainly involves the spine and the sacroiliac joint. Fusion of the spine and the sacroiliac joint may occur in the later stage of the disease, resulting in spinal stiffness and kyphosis, as well as difficulty in walking, which seriously affects the quality of work and daily living activities and imposes a heavy burden on the patient, the family, and society. Increasing attention has been paid to non-pharmacotherapy as an alternative therapy for AS. Moxibustion is an ancient therapeutic technique used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Du-moxibustion therapy, a unique and innovative external treatment developed on the basis of ordinary moxibustion, has a definite therapeutic effect on AS. Du-moxibustion skillfully combines the compatible techniques of TCM to integrate meridians, acupoints, Chinese herbal medicine, and moxibustion. This paper describes the operation procedures and precautions to be taken during Du-moxibustion in experimental mice in detail to provide an experimental basis for the study of the mechanism of Du-moxibustion in the treatment of AS.

[Evaluation of clinical efficacy and mechanisms of Governor Vessel moxibustion therapy on carotid atherosclerosis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical efficacy and possible efficacy mechanisms of Governor Vessel moxibustion therapy in patients with carotid atherosclerosis (CAS). METHODS: A total of 100 patients with CAS were randomly divided into Governor Vessel moxibustion therapy group (n=51) and control group (n=49). The patients in the Governor Vessel moxibustion therapy group were treated by herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion ï¼»applied on Governor Vessel from Dazhui (GV14) to Yaoshu (GV2)ï¼½, once a week, for 8 weeks. Patients in the control group received oral administration of atorvastatin calcium tablets (10 mg) once daily for 8 weeks. Before and after treatment, the patients' constitution quantized score, body mass index (BMI), carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and laboratory indicators ï¼»including total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), homocysteine (Hcy), fibrinogen (Fbg), and hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)ï¼½ were observed, and their clinical efficacy was evaluated. RESULTS: After the treatment, the constitution score and BMI were significantly reduced, and the IMT, TC, TG, LDL, Fbg and hs-CRP decreased significantly in the patients of the two groups as compared with those before treatment (P<0.05); and the constitution score and BMI were obviously lower in the Governor Vessel moxibustion therapy group than in the control group (P<0.05). In the Governor Vessel moxibustion therapy group, the effective rate of constitution score was 88.2% (45/51), the effective rate of weight loss was 54.9% (28/51), while the control group was 61.2% (30/49) and 34.7% (17/49) respectively, those in the Governor Vessel moxibustion therapy group were significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.05). Regarding to the CAS clinical effect, the effective rate was 80.4% (41/51) in the Governor Vessel moxibustion therapy group, and it was 73.5% (36/49) in the control group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the CAS effective rate (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The Governor Vessel moxibustion therapy can effectively treat CAS, and its mechanism may be related to the improvement of risk factors such as high level of TC, TG, LDL, Fbg, and hs-CRP.

Percutaneous pinning versus volar locking plate internal fixation for unstable distal radius fractures: a meta-analysis.

This meta-analysis compared outcomes between percutaneous pinning/wiring and open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) with locking plates for treatment of unstable distal radius fractures. Medline, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Google Scholar were searched through December 30, 2015. Twenty randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomised two-arm studies were included. Outcomes included scores of Disabilities of the Arms, Shoulders and Hands (DASH), visual analogue scale (VAS) pain, and patient rated wrist evaluation (PRWE) score, as well as range of motion (ROM) and complication incidence. ORIF/plating was associated with lower DASH scores but longer procedure time, while there was no difference between the two methods with respect to VAS pain score and PRWE score. The overall incidence of complications, including complex regional pain syndrome, was higher with pinning/wiring, though the incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome and nerve defects was not different. Supination and grip strength were better with ORIF. Radiographically, ulnar variation was greater with pinning/wiring. These results suggest that ORIF/plating is the preferred method of managing unstable distal radius fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.