RESUMEN
Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of thunder-fire moxibustion for hypomenorrhea after induced abortion. Methods: A total of 74 patients with hypomenorrhea after induced abortion were randomized into two groups, with 37 cases in each group. The control group was treated with conventional hormone sequential therapy, and the observation group was treated with thunder-fire moxibustion. The course of treatment was 3 menstrual cycles. The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom scores, menstrual volume, endometrial thickness and the sex hormone levels were observed before and after treatment. The clinical efficacy was compared after treatment. Results: The total effective rate in the observation group and the control group was 91.4％ and 73.5％, respectively, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). After treatment, the TCM symptom scores in both groups decreased significantly (all P<0.05), and the scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The menstrual volume, endometrial thickness and each sex hormone level of the patients in both groups were significantly improved after treatment (all P<0.05), and the improvements in the observation group were more significant than those in the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Thunder-fire moxibustion can significantly improve the clinical symptoms of patients with hypomenorrhea after induced abortion; it can increase menstrual volume and endometrial thickness, and regulate the sex hormone levels, producing a better curative effect than the conventional hormone sequential therapy.
RESUMEN
Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy difference in treating irritable bowel syndrome-diarrhea (IBS-D) of liver-qi stagnation and spleen-deficiency pattern with different treatment protocols, and the effects on serum levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), for unveiling the mechanism of intradermal needle therapy plus pinaverium bromide in treating IBS-D. Methods: A total of 123 IBS-D patients were divided into an observation group, a Western medication group and an integrated Western and Chinese medication group using the random number table method, with 41 cases in each group. The Western medication group was given oral pinaverium bromide, 50 mg each time and 3 times a day. The integrated Western and Chinese medication group was given additional Chinese herbal medicine Tong Xie Yao Fang, one dose each day. The observation group was given additional intradermal needle therapy on the basis of the Western medication group. The whole intervention lasted for 6 weeks. Before and after treatment, the scores of gastrointestinal symptoms, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptoms, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptom severity scale (IBS-SSS) and IBS quality of life (IBS-QOL) questionnaire, as well as the serum levels of 5-HT, SP and VIP were observed. The clinical efficacy was estimated. Results: The total effective rate was 92.7％ in the observation group, 68.3％ in the Western medication group and 78.1％ in the integrated Western and Chinese medication group. The total effective rate was higher in the observation group than in the other two groups, and higher in the integrated Western and Chinese medication group than in the Western medication group, showing statistical significance (all P<0.05). After treatment, the scores of gastrointestinal symptoms, TCM symptoms and IBS-SSS showed significant decreases in the three groups, presenting statistical significance compared with the baseline (all P<0.05); the scores of gastrointestinal symptoms, TCM symptoms and IBS-SSS were notably lower in the observation group than in the other two groups (all P<0.05), and lower in the integrated Western and Chinese medication group than in the Western medication group (all P<0.05). After treatment, the eight component scores of IBS-QOL showed significant increases in the three groups compared with the baseline (all P<0.05); the eight component scores in IBS-QOL were significantly higher in the observation group than in the other two groups (all P<0.05), and higher in the integrated Western and Chinese medication group than in the Western medication group (all P<0.05). After treatment, the serum levels of 5-HT, SP and VIP decreased markedly in the three groups compared with the baseline (all P<0.05); the serum levels of 5-HT, SP and VIP were significantly lower in the observation group than in the other two groups (all P<0.05), and lower in the integrated Western and Chinese medication group than in the Western medication group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Treatment with intradermal needle therapy plus pinaverium bromide results in significant improvements in the gastrointestinal symptoms and quality of life in patients with IBS-D of liver-qi stagnation and spleen deficiency pattern, and effectively regulates the gastrointestinal hormone production.