Investigation of the Therapeutic Effect and Mechanism of Holographic Meridian Scraping Therapy on Knee Osteoarthritis.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of holographic meridian scraping therapy on patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and its impact on serum IL-1ß and TNF-α levels. Methods: A prospective study was conducted, enrolling seventy KOA patients admitted to the Hebei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between August 2021 and April 2022. The patients were divided into two groups using the random number table method: control group (n = 35) and treatment group (n = 35). The control group received oral celecoxib capsules (100 mg, twice daily), while the treatment group received an additional daily holographic meridian scraping session (20 minutes/day). Throughout the two-week study, the researchers continuously monitored the visual analogue scale (VAS) score, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) score, and the changes in serum IL-1ß and TNF-α expression. Results: The treatment group demonstrated significantly better overall efficiency and efficacy compared to the control group (P < .05). Both groups exhibited decreased VAS and WOMAC scores after treatment in comparison to pre-treatment levels (P < .05), with the treatment group showing lower scores than the control group after treatment (P < .05). Furthermore, serum TNF-α and IL-1ß levels in both groups decreased after treatment compared to pre-treatment levels within the same group (P < .05). The treatment group had significantly lower serum TNF-α and IL-1ß levels than the control group after treatment (P < .05). Conclusions: Combining holographic meridian scraping therapy with celecoxib effectively treats KOA and significantly improves patient conditions, along with reductions in serum TNF-α and IL-1ß levels.

[Effect of acupoint application of Zhanjin Huoxue formula combined with local cold compress on swelling and pain after knee arthroscopy in patients with knee osteoarthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect between acupoint application of Zhanjin Huoxue formula combined with local cold compress and simple local cold compress on swelling and pain after knee arthroscopy in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHODS: A total of 62 KOA patients with knee swelling after knee arthroscopy were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 31 cases in each group. In the control group, cold compress was adopted after surgery, 3 times a day. On the basis of the treatment as the control group, acupoint application of Zhanjin Huoxue formula (angelicae sinensis radix, chuanxiong rhizome, cinnamon twig, poria, etc.) was applied at Liangqiu (ST 34), Xuehai (SP 10), Zusanli (ST 36), Fenglong (ST 40), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Xuanzhong (GB 39) on the affected side in the observation group, 4 h each time, 2 times a day. The treatment was given 7 days in both groups. Before treatment and 1,3,5 and 7 days into treatment, the pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score and swelling value of knee joint (2 cm above the patella upper pole, patella midline, 5 cm below the patella lower pole) were compared in the two groups. RESULTS: The VAS scores 3, 5 and 7 days into treatment were lower than those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). The swelling values of 2 cm above the patella upper pole 3, 5 and 7 days into treatment were lower those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). The swelling values of patella midline 1, 3, 5 and 7 days into treatment were lower than those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05), and except for 1 day into treatment, those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). The swelling values of 5 cm below the patella lower pole 1 day into treatment in the observation group and 3, 5 and 7 days into treatment in the two groups were lower those before treatment (P<0.05), and except for 1 day into treatment, those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate in the observation group was 93.5% (29/31), which was higher than 74.2% (23/31) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupoint application of Zhanjin Huoxue formula combined with cold compress could effectively improve the knee joint swelling and pain after arthroscopy in KOA patients, and the curative effect is better than simple cold compress.