[Advances of clinical studies of acupuncture and moxibustion for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize recent development of studies on acupuncture and moxibustion for prevention and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, so as to provide a basis and thinking for clinical scientific studies. METHODS: More than 60 papers about clinical and experimental studies were reviewed, choosing clinically commonly-used acupoints and introducing mainly different therapeutic methods. RESULTS: Acupuncture and moxibustion can prevent and cure rheumatoid arthritis with outstanding results. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture and moxibustion have vast vistas for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

[Randomized controlled trial on haiguiyuyang capsule in the treatment of duodenal ulcer].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of haiguiyuyang capsule in the treatment of duodenal ulcer (also diagnosed as weiwan pain and hanrecuoza syndrome according to the theory of TCM). METHODS: This is a multi-center clinical trial cooperatively conducted from May 2003 to March 2004 in accordance to the principle of informed consent, to the criteria for subject inclusion, exclusion, discontinuation, and to the relevant guidelines for evaluating the therapeutic effects of new TCM drugs. The design of double-blind, double-dummy and randomized controlled trial was adopted. 438 patients were randomized to the Test group (n = 330, treated with haiguiyuyang capsule) and to the Control group (n = 108, treated with ranitidine). The therapeutic course for both groups was 6 weeks. RESULTS: Regarding the efficacy in treating duodenal ulcer, in the Test group, the Marked Efficacy Rate was 66.37% and the Total Efficacy Rate was 82.13%; in the Control group, the Marked Efficacy Rate was 68.61% and the Total Efficacy Rate was 93.34%; there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Regarding the efficacy in treating the syndrome diagnosed by TCM, in the Test group, the Marked Efficacy Rate was 70.31% and the Total Efficacy Rate was 93.34%; in the control group, the rates were 71.29% and 91.66% respectively; there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Besides, regarding the abatement of distention and fullness of stomach after treatment, the haiguiyuyang capsule was better than ranitidine (P<0.05). No adverse side-effect was observed. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of haiguiyuyang capsule in treating duodenal ulcer is similar to that of ranitidine. No obvious adverse effect of it was observed in this trial.

[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.