[Therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with medication on chronic prostatitis of damp and heat stasis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with tamsulosin hydrochloride sustained release capsule on chronic prostatitis (CP) of damp and heat stasis. METHODS: A total of 70 patients with CP of damp and heat stasis were randomized into an acupuncture plus medication group (35 cases, 4 cases dropped off) and a medication group (35 cases, 5 cases dropped off). In the medication group, tamsulosin hydrochloride sustained release capsule was given orally, 0.2 mg a time, once each night. On the basis of treatment in the medication group, EA was applied at Guanyuan (CV 4), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Yinglingquan (SP 9), with disperse-dense wave, 5 mA in intensity for 30 min. Treatment for 30 days was as one course, and totally 3 courses were required in both groups. Before treatment, 1, 2, 3 months into treatment and at the follow-up of 2 months after treatment, the TCM syndrome score and National Institutes of Health chronic prostatitis symptom index (NIH-CPSI) score were observed, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated in both groups. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the TCM syndrome scores of 3 months into treatment and follow-up were decreased in the acupuncture plus medication group (P<0.01), and were lower than those in the medication group (P<0.05). Compared before treatment, the NIH-CPSI scores of 3 months into treatment and follow-up were decreased in both groups (P<0.01), and those in the acupuncture plus medication group were lower than the medication group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 90.3% (28/31) in the acupuncture plus medication group, which was superior to 80.0% (24/30) in the medication group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture combined with medication can improve the clinical symptoms in patients with CP of damp and heat stasis, and its therapeutic effect is superior to simple western medication.

Systemic abnormalities of psoriatic patients: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease related to the metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and other comorbidities. However, so far there has been no specific research concerning systemic abnormalities in psoriatic patients. OBJECTIVE: A retrospective study was conducted focusing on the detailed systemic abnormalities in psoriatic patients. METHODS: Psoriatic inpatients data was collected from July 2009 to September 2015. The inclusion criteria were first-time hospitalization and without administration of systemic drug therapy or exposure to phototherapy for psoriasis for at least 1 month. Detailed systemic indexes were mainly evaluated. RESULTS: The abnormality rates of blood routine examination, urine examination, blood biochemical examination and chest X-ray of 43 psoriatic patients were significantly higher than those of 44 non-psoriasis controls, and psoriasis patients significantly had higher absolute values of leukocytes and neutrophils, and significantly lower values of lymphocytes. Compared with psoriasis vulgaris, erythrodermic psoriasis had significantly higher abnormality rates of blood biochemical examination and serum electrolyte analysis. Erythrodermic psoriasis had significantly higher absolute values of blood leukocytes, neutrophils, and lower serum calcium compared with those of psoriasis vulgaris. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio of controls was significantly lower than that of psoriatic patients, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio of erythrodermic psoriasis was significantly higher in comparison with psoriasis vulgaris. CONCLUSION: This study is the first report in relation to a detailed assessment of systemic abnormalities in psoriatic patients prior to onset of systemic treatment. The systemic condition of psoriatic patients should be observed by clinicians before systemic therapy.

Effect of low-dose alendronate treatment on bone mineral density and bone turnover markers in Chinese postmenopausal women with osteopenia and osteoporosis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of low-dose alendronate (ALN) treatment on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover markers in Chinese postmenopausal women with osteopenia and osteoporosis. METHODS: This study was a large-sample, randomized, open-label, prospective, multicenter, clinical trial with a 12-month follow-up. A total of 639 postmenopausal women (aged 62.2 ± 7.0 y) with osteopenia or osteoporosis were randomized into two groups: low-dose ALN (70 mg every two weeks) and standard-dose ALN (70 mg weekly). All patients were also supplemented with calcium (600 mg) and vitamin D3 (125 IU) daily. BMD (measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry; Hologic and Lunar) and levels of serum bone turnover markers (bone resorption marker, carboxy-telopeptide of type I collagen; bone formation marker, alkaline phosphatase) were assessed at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months of treatment. BMD and bone turnover markers were compared between the baseline and the end of treatment, and the changes in BMD and bone turnover markers were also compared between the low-dose ALN group and the standard-dose ALN group. RESULTS: No significant differences in age, years since menopause, body mass index, BMD, 25-hydroxy vitamin D level, and serum biochemical markers were found at baseline between the two dose groups. A total of 558 (87.3%) and 540 (84.5%) women completed the treatment at the 6th and 12th months, respectively. After the 12-month treatment, lumbar spine and hip BMD increased and serum bone turnover markers decreased significantly in both of the treatment groups (P < 0.01), and no differences in percentage changes in BMD at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and hip were found between the low-dose group (5.60%, 3.87%, and 3.28%, respectively) and the standard-dose group (5.07%, 2.93%, and 3.80%, respectively; P > 0.05). However, levels of serum alkaline phosphatase and carboxy-telopeptide of type I collagen in the standard-dose group decreased moderately compared with those in the low-dose group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). The women tolerated the two doses of ALN quite well. Adverse effects were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with low-dose ALN (70 mg every two weeks) in women with postmenopausal osteopenia or osteoporosis effectively increases lumbar spine and hip BMD, similar to treatment with standard-dose ALN. Low-dose ALN may be a cost-effective and safe protocol for treating osteopenia or osteoporosis in Chinese women.