Clinical Efficacy of Potato Extract for Alleviating Chemoradiotherapy-Related Leukopenia: a Randomized, Single-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Leukopenia is the most common adverse event in chemotherapy, which natural products can prevent and treat. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy of potato extract for alleviating chemoradiotherapy-induced leukopenia in cancer patients. METHODS: This was a single-blinded randomized placebo-controlled trial that enrolled 184 cancer patients. The participants were scheduled to undergo chemoradiotherapy in two hospitals, where they were randomized to receive potato extract or a placebo in a 1:1 ratio for a period of 49 days. Change in leukocyte value was considered the primary outcome of this clinical trial. Secondary outcomes included tumor response rate, blood test, and quality of life score. RESULTS: The leukopenia was relieved in the potato extract group compared with the placebo group. Of note, a significant difference in leukopenia between the two groups was found after 14 days (p = 0.04). In addition, there was no statistically significant difference in leucocyte levels in the potato extract group (before and after potato extract treatment; p = 0.13), but in the placebo group, the leukocyte value significantly decreased compared to before treatment (p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Potato extract can alleviate chemoradiotherapy-induced leukopenia in cancer patients. These results show the potential function of potato extract as a protective agent in management of cancer chemoradiotherapy.

[The spinous process tenderness syndrome--a new naming of a series of common symptoms].

The rheumatoid activity on any part of the spine may affect the surrounding nerves, causing a series of symptoms at the related region of the innervations. By pressing corresponding parts on spinous processes of patient spine, tenderness of various degrees occurs. We named this kind of symptoms as "the spinous process tenderness syndrome". Meanwhile, we borrowed laboratory and imaging examinations to diagnose and differential identify. The symptoms could be alleviated by eliminating pathogenic reasons, local resting, and anti-rheumatic drugs.

Several considerations in using traditional Chinese patent medicine for cerebral infarction.

Nowadays, a great number of traditional Chinese patent medicine (TCPM) are used more and more widely to treat cerebral infarction in China. When great attention is paid to using TCPM in the real world, several problems can be identified: ignoring the Chinese medicine (CM) therapeutic principle based on syndrome differentiation, a lack of appropriate dosage and usage based on individual patient conditions, and a shortage of evidence from randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials. Furthermore, in terms of evaluation of the TCPM effectiveness, few comprehensive criteria and evaluation methods recognized by the international community exist. This article addresses some opinions regarding the above mentioned problems.

Effect of acupuncture treatment on spastic states of stroke patients.

PURPOSES: The control of spasticity is often a significant problem in the management of patients with stroke. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of acupuncture treatment on the spastic states of stroke patients. SETTING: An outpatient Acupuncture Department in the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and thirty-one patients, mean (SD) age of 59 (12) years, with spastic hemiplegia were included at mean (SD) month of 17 (7) months after stroke. INTERVENTION: Participants received two 30-day treatment regimens: combined stimulating surface projection zone of decussation of pyramid and traditional acupuncture treatment, and traditional acupuncture treatment only. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences in the modified Ashworth scale (MAS), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Barthel Index (BI), and the electromyographic activity of the affected extremity between arms. RESULTS: The average (+/-SD) upper extremity Ashworth score significantly decreased, from 3.08+/-0.77 before treatment to 1.82+/-0.65 after acupuncture intervention (wrist joint, P<0.05), and from 2.72+/-0.59 to 1.32+/-0.71 (elbow joint, P<0.05) for treatment group. There were significant differences noted between the treatment group and control group after administration. Lower extremity treatment responses were similar to upper extremity responses. However, both groups showed similar improvement in FMA (upper extremity) and FMA (lower extremity). However, the improvements of FMA (total), BI, and F/M ratio were better in treatment group than in control group. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that acupuncturing surface projection zone of decussation of pyramid was effective in reducing spastically increased muscle tone and motor neuron excitability in spastic hemiplegia, and could improve spastic states of stroke patients, thus providing a safe and economical method for treating stroke patients.

[Clinical study of acupuncture and moxibustion for preventing nosocomial infection in the patient with acute cerebrovascular disease].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion for preventing nosocomial infection in the patient with acute cerebrovascular disease. METHODS: One hundred cases of acute cerebrovascular disease were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group, 50 cases in each group. The control group were treated by routine therapeutic method without any method for preventing nosocomial infection; the observation group were treated by the routine treatment, with acupuncture and moxibustion added at Guanyuan (GV 4) and Zusanli (ST 36), once daily, for 10 days. The nosocomial infection rate and the abnormal rates of body temperature, WBC and neutrophil were investigated in the two groups. RESULTS: The nosocomial infection rate was 8.0% in the observation group and 26.0% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05), and the abnormal rates of body temperature, WBC and neutrophil in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture and moxibustion can effectively prevent nosocomial infection for the patient with acute cerebrovascular disease. The mechanism possibly is related with regulative action of acupuncture and moxibustion on immunity.

[Clinical observation on effects of acupuncture at Dazhui (GV 14) for abating fever of common cold].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Dazhui (GV 14) for abating fever of common cold. METHODS: Two hundred and sixty-one cases were randomly assigned to a treatment group of 133 cases and a control group of 128 cases. The treatment group were treated with electroacupuncture at Dazhui (GV 14) and the control group with antondine injection. The transient effect of abating fever within 24 h was observed. RESULTS: After treatment, the body temperature at all observation time points in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group (P < 0.01). The effect-appearing time (1.42 +/- 1.79) h in the treatment group was shorter than that in the control group (3.44 +/- 5.10) h (P < 0.01). The cured rate and the abating fever rate were 27.8% and 75.9% in the treatment group, and 10.9% and 55.5% in the control group, with significant differences between the two groups, the treatment group being better than the control group (P < 0.01). The abating fever rate for the wind-heat type common cold was 75.3% in the treatment group and 50.0% in the control group, with significant difference between the two groups, the treatment group being better than the control group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The method of acupuncture at Dazhui (GV 14) has a definite therapeutic effect on high fever of common cold, and for wind-heat type common cold, Dazhui (GV 14) first may be chosen to abate high-fever and the treatment should be taken as early as possible.

[PET study of effects of combination of different points on glucose metabolism in the patient of cerebral infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To observe effects of combination of different points on glucose metabolism in the patient of cerebral infarction. METHODS: Neiguan (PC 6), Shuigou (GV 26), Fengchi (GB 20), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Taichong (LR 3) were selected for the Xingnao Kaiqiao group (n =7), and Hegu (LI 4), Quchi (LI 11), Zusanli (ST 36), Yanglingquan (GB 34) and Xuanzhong (GB 39) for the routine acupuncture group (n = 5). PET-CT was used to observe the local cerebral glucose metabolism. RESULTS: The cerebral regions activated in the the Xingnao Kaiqiao group included infarction center, gyrus temporalis superior, thalamus, gyrus temporalis inferior, gyrus rectus, insula, lateral occipital lobe, parietal lobe and cerebellum, and in the routine acupuncture group included gyrus frontalis inferior, caudate nucleus, cingulated gyrus, hippocampus, precuneus and parietal lobe. CONCLUSION: PET is very suitable for exploring acupuncture mechanisms in treatment of cerebral infarction, and further shows the specificity of acupoints-brain functional region.

[Clinical observation on acupuncture for treatment of high fever due to common cold].

OBJECTIVE: To observe clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture in abatement of fever. METHODS: Eighty-six cases of high fever were randomly divided into two groups, an acupuncture group (n = 45) treated with acupuncture at Dazhui (GV 14) and a drug group (n = 41) treated with intramuscular injection of Antongding Injectio. Changes of body temperature before and after 24 hours treatment were observed by single blind. RESULTS: In the acupuncture group, 9 cases were cured, and in the drug group, 2 cases were cured, the acupuncture group was better than the drug group in abatement of fever. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture has a reliable therapeutic effect on fever.

[Clinical observation on effect of acupuncture on nervous functions of the patient after operation of. hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage].

OBJECTIVE: To probe the best therapy for the patient after operation of hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage. METHODS: One hundred cases were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, 50 cases in each group. The control group were treated by routine western medicine (Mannitol, Nifedipine and Caftriaxone sodium and so On), and the treatment group by the medication of the control group plus acupuncture 9 days after operation. Acupuncture was given at Neiguan (PC 6), Shuigou (GV 26), Sanyinjiso (SP 6), Jiquan (HT 1) and Weizhong (BL 40) and so on, combined with scalp acupuncture, with "restoring consciousness and inducing consciousness" needling method, for 10 days. The nervous function defect was assessed by Chinese Stroke Scale and the criteria for assessment of therapeutic effects. RESULTS: Acupuncture could improve significantly nervous function defect. The total effective rate was 86.000 in the treatment group and 14.0% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effect of the treatment group is better than that of the control group. Acupuncture combined with western medicine has cooperation for treatment of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage with a better therapeutic effect.

[Effects of acupuncture on ET mRNA expressions in different brain regions of the rat of experimental cerebral bleeding].

OBJECTIVE: To probe into the mechanism of acupuncture for treatment of cerebro-cardiac syndrome. METHODS: The rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a sham operation group, a cerebral bleeding group, an acupuncture group and an acupuncture control group. The acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture at "Neiguan" (PC 6), "Shuigou" (GV 26), "Renying" (ST 19), and the acupuncture control group with acupuncture at "Shenmen" (HT 7) and "Danzhong" (CV 17). The tissue in situ hybridization technique was used to detect dynamic changes of endothelin (ET) mRNA expression in both the central cardiovascular special regulative area and the myocardium, and imaging quantitative analysis on the positive response materials was carried out. RESULTS: The experimental cerebral bleeding could rapidly induce abnormal expression of ET gene in the cerebral bleeding surrounding area, hypothalamus, brain stem, hippocampus and myocardium. Up-regulation of FT mRNA expression could be found at 6 h of cerebral bleeding, and it reached to the peak at 24 h, and slightly reduced at 72 h, still being higher than the normal level. At the same time, ET expression in the myocardium increased. Acupuncture could block the increase of FT gene expression induced by cerebral bleeding. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture exerts protective action on injuries of neurons and myocardium induced by cerebral bleeding via blocking the increase of FT gene expression induced by cerebral bleeding.