Panax notoginseng saponins alleviate osteoporosis and joint destruction in rabbits with antigen-induced arthritis.

Although a number of anti-rheumatic drugs and biologics may be used to alleviate the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), these compounds have been associated with bone loss and joint destruction; thus, alternative treatment approaches are required. In the present study, various plant extracts were evaluated for their capacity to inhibit joint destruction, and Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS), obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Panax notoginseng, was identified as such a compound. Therefore, a rabbit antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) model was generated by immunization with ovalbumin in Freund's complete adjuvant, followed by treatment with PNS for 3 months. The morphology of the quadriceps femoris muscle, cartilage chondrocytes and skeletal elements was histologically observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), as well as micro-computed tomography. The results revealed that PNS significantly reduced the histopathological alterations associated with arthritic muscular atrophy and inflammation. In addition, TEM demonstrated that PNS protected chondrocytes from RA-associated damage. Furthermore, the bone density and microarchitecture in rabbits treated with PNS were markedly improved compared with those of the model group. Collectively, these data indicated that treatment with PNS may relieve osteoporosis and prevent joint and bone destruction in AIA.

Icariin Prevents Cartilage and Bone Degradation in Experimental Models of Arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Icariin (ICA) is an active compound extracted from Epimedium brevicornum Maxim. Previous reports have shown that icariin has a clinically significant therapeutic effect on rheumatoid arthritis. However, little is known about the mechanism by which icariin inhibits cartilage and bone degradation. METHODS: New Zealand rabbits were immunized with antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) and treated with icariin. Joint tissues from rabbits were studied by histological analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and micro-CT. The expression levels of receptor activator of nuclear factor-B ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in joint tissues were determined using immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR analysis. RESULTS: Histological analysis and TEM sections of cartilage in the ICA treated group showed a low level of chondrocyte destruction. Micro-CT analysis showed that the bone mineral density value and bone structural level in ICA treated rabbits were significantly higher compared with those in the AIA group. Immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR analysis showed that icariin treatment reduced RANKL expression and enhanced OPG expression levels, as compared to the AIA group. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that ICA suppresses articular bone loss and prevents joint destruction. This study also determined that ICA regulated articular bone loss in part by regulating RANKL and OPG expression.

Research Advances in Acupuncture-moxibustion Treatment for Cervical Spondylosis / 上海针灸杂志

Cervical spondylosis is a clinical common disease. With people’s changes in living and working styles, the incidence of the disease increases gradually and there is a development trend in younger population. There are various ways to treat cervical spondylosis. This article summarizes and analyzes recent 10 years’ literature about acupuncture-moxibustion treatment for cervical spondylosis.

Observations on the Efficacy of Electroacupuncture plus a Multi-function Cervical Rehabilitation System in Treating Cervical Spondylosis / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture plus a multi-function cervical rehabilitation system in treating cervical spondylosis.Methods Sixty patients with cervical spondylosis were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 30 cases each. The treatment group received electroacupuncture plus treatment with a multi-function cervical rehabilitation system and the control group, electroacupuncture alone. After 30 days of treatment, changes in the pain score, the neck disability index, and cervical active range of motion and isometric muscle strength were observed in the two groups and the clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.Results The total efficacy rate was 96.7% in the treatment group and 93.3% in the control group; there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the pain score, the neck disability index, and cervical active range of motion and isometric muscle strength in the two groups (P<0.01,P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in the neck disability index, and cervical active range of motion and isometric muscle strength between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05).Conclusions Electroacupuncture plus a multi-function cervical rehabilitation system is an effective way to treat cervical spondylosis. It can relieve the clinical symptoms in the patients.

Determination of morusin in cortex mori / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the contents of morusin in Sangbaipi (Cortex Mori) of different commercial grades and species and obtained from different regions.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Contents of morusin were determined by HPLC on an Alltima C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) with acetonitrile-water (58:42) as mobile phase. UV detection was conducted at 270 nm.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The amounts of morusin were found to vary among samples of Cortex Mori bearing a yellow-brown outer layer and those without the yellow-brown cork layer. The morusin contents were also related to the thickness of Cortex Mori.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method was simple, reproducible and reliable. It can be applied to the quality assessment of Cortex Mori.</p>

Clinical Study on Treatment of Shoulder Periarthritis with Electro-acupuncture on Point Jianyu (LI 15) / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To compare the curative efficacy and safety of electro-acupuncture on Jianyu (LI 15) with oral administration of Diclofenac Sodium Sustained-release Capsules in treating shoulder periarthritis. Method: Randomized controlled trials (RCT) were adopted in the study. The patients were randomized into two groups, 30 cases in one group.Electroacupuncture was done on Jianyu (LI 15) 20 min every time in the treatment group,while 75 mg Diclofenac Sodium Sustained-release Capsules were orally administered in the control group. For all the patients in two groups, one treatment course contains 7 days. Then the curative efficacy was evaluated by the efficacy evaluation criteria after two consecutive courses. Result: The total effective rate of treatment group and control group were 93.3% and 56.7% respectively. Conclusion: Electroacupuncture on Jianyu (LI 15) is an effective therapy for shoulder periarthritis and has more significant effect than oral Diclofenac Sodium Sustained-release Capsules.

Clinical Observations on Treatment of Hip Osteoarthritis by Electroacupuncture / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

To investigate the curative effect of electroacupuncture on hip osteoarth-ritis, 120patients with hip osteoarthritis were randomly divided into two groups, 60 cases each group, and treated by electroacupuncture and oral administration of slow released diclofenac tablet,respectively. The degrees of pain, activity and swelling were observed in both groups before and after treatments. A follow-up was performed for more than 2 years. The curative effects were assessed by JOA criteria for evaluating the effect on hip osteoarthritis. After treatment, the average score increased by 18 marks in the electroacupuncture group and by 12.3 marks in the diclofenac group (P<0.05). Electroacupuncture treatment has a significantly better effect on hip osteoarthritis than oral administration of slow released diclofenac tablet.