Combination of acupuncture, cupping and medicine for treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome: a multi-central randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical effect of combination of acupuncture, cupping and medicine for treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>By using multi-central randomized controlled method, 186 cases were randomly divided into an acupuncture combined with cupping and western medicine group (group A), an acupuncture combined with cupping group (group B) and a western medicine group (group C) and treated continuously for 4 weeks. The treatment of acupuncture combined with cupping was produced by acupuncture at five mental points and moving cupping on the Hechelu of the back, once evrey other day, thrice each week, and the western medicine therapy by oral administration of Amitriptyline, once each day. The scores of McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), the amount of tenderness point and the time of producing effect were compared and the therapeutic effects were assessed with the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cured and markedly effective rate was 65.0% (39/60) in the group A, which was superior to 15.9% (10/63) in the group B and 16.1% (9/56) in the group C (both P < 0.001). After treatment, the scores of MPQ and HAMD and the amount of tenderness point all decreased in the three groups, group A being significantly better than group B and group C, and the time of producing effect in the group A was more earlier than those in the group B and the group C.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The therapeutic effect of combination of acupuncture, cupping and medicine on fibromyalgia syndrome is superior to that of the simple acupuncture combined with cupping or the simple medicine.</p>

Glutathione S-transferase M1, T1 genotypes and the risk of mountain sickness / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationship between genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase (GST) M1, T1 and susceptibility to mountain sickness.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-three soldiers with acute mountain sickness and 80 healthy soldiers matching with sex/age and training under the same condition were divided into case group and control group. A multiple polymerase chain reaction method was used to detect GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes in genomic DNA isolated from peripheral blood cells from both cases and controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequency of the GSTT1 positive genotype was significantly higher in cases (69.8%) than in controls (42.5%) (P = 0.004, OR = 3.12, 95% CI 1.42 approximately 6.86). The frequency of GSTM1 negative genotype was also higher in cases (72.1%) than in controls (52.5%) (P = 0.03, OR = 2.34, 95% CI 1.05 approximately 5.02). Persons with both GSTM1 and GSTT1 negative genotypes had 5-fold more risk than those with GSTT1 negative and GSTM1 positive genotypes in developing mountain sickness (OR = 5.04, 95% CI: 1.00 approximately 25.3).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase M1, T1 may be the risk factors in the development of mountain sickness.</p>

Relationship between heat stress protein 70 gene polymorphisms and the risk of acute mountain sickness / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between heat stress proteins 70 (HSPs70) gene polymorphism and the risk of acute mountain sickness.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-six soldiers with acute mountain sickness and 173 soldiers without that were chosen as cases and controls. HSP70-1, HSP70-2 genotypes were analyzed by using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The HSP70-1 polymorphism was similar in two groups. The genotype frequency of HSP70-2 B/B in acute mountain sickness group (23.2%) was significantly higher than that in the control (6.9%, P < 0.05, OR = 4.02).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There is a significantly increased association of HSP70-2 B/B genotype with the risk of acute mountain sickness. Individuals with HSP70-2 B/B genotype may have weaker adaptive ability than those without this genotype under altitude stress. The results contribute to provide scientific bases for finding these individuals in specified occupational people, ensuring their health and enhancing work efficiency.</p>