Clinical Efficacy of Tiandan Tongluo Capsule Against Cerebral Infarction in Convalescence Corresponding to Stoke Due to Wind-Phlegm-Static Blood Obstructing Vessels / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Tiandan Tongluo capsule in the treatment of cerebral infarction （CI） in convalescence （stoke involving meridians and collaterals due to wind-phlegm-static blood obstructing vessels）， with Naoshuantong capsule as a control. Method:A total of 352 convalescent patients with CI differentiated into stoke involving meridians and collaterals due to wind-phlegm-static blood obstructing vessels in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） were included in this multi-center， randomized， double-blind， single-simulated， Naoshuantong capsule-controlled clinical trial， which lasted from 28 December， 2016 to 12 April， 2019. After being randomized into an experimental group and a control group at a ratio of 3∶1， patients in the experimental group were provided with oral Tiandan Tongluo capsule， five capsules per time， three times per day， whereas those in the control group received both Naoshuantong capsule simulator， two capsules per time， three times per day， and Naoshuantong capsule， three capsules per time， three times per day， for 12 successive weeks. The patients were followed up until 180 days after onset. The Barthel activities of daily living （ADL） index （BI） score was used as the primary outcome， and the secondary outcomes included neurological deficit score ［assessed with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale （NIHSS）］， modified Rankin scale （mRS）， TCM syndrome score， and proportion of patients with new vascular events. The changes in laboratory indexes and the incidence of adverse reactions during treatment were observed. Result:Among the 389 cases enrolled， 30 dropped out， with the drop-out rate being 7.71%. There were 374 cases included in the full analysis set and 377 in the safety set. The comparison with the control group revealed that the total BI score and the percentage of BI score ≥ 75 in the experimental group were increased， but the difference was not statistically significant. The percentage of mRS score ≤ 2 within 180 days after onset in the experimental group obviously elevated in contrast to that of the control group （<italic>P</italic><0.05）. As demonstrated by TCM syndrome score analysis， the markedly effective rate in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group （<italic>P</italic><0.05）. During the trial， the incidence rates of new vascular events in the experimental group and the control group were 0.00% and 1.09% （one case）， respectively， exhibiting no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion:Tiandan Tongluo capsule and Naoshuantong capsule both produce definite therapeutic effects in the treatment of CI in convalescence （stoke involving meridians and collaterals due to wind-phlegm-static blood obstructing vessels）. Compared with Naoshuantong capsule， Tiandan Tongluo capsule better alleviates neurological deficit， promotes neural functional recovery， and improves TCM syndrome score， without inducing severe adverse reactions.

Fire-needle therapy for deglutition disorders in post-stroke pseudobulbar palsy:a randomized controlled trial / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of fire-needle therapy in treating deglutition disorders due to pseudobulbar palsy in the remission stage of stroke.Methods:Sixty-two eligible subjects were divided into a fire-needle group and a rehabilitation group by a simple randomization method at a ratio of 1:1.The two groups received same basic intervention;in addition,the fire-needle group received fire-needle treatment,while the rehabilitation group received rehabilitation training.The two groups of subjects all received a 3-week treatment and were evaluated by the dysphagia severity rating scale (DSRS),modified Mann assessment of swallow ability (MMASA) and Kubota Toshio swallow test (KTST) before and after the intervention.The complications and adverse events occurred during the trial were recorded.The data were statistically analyzed.Results:At the third week,the DSRS,MMASA and KTST scores changed significantly compared with the baseline in both groups (P＜0.05),and the changes in the fire-needle group were more significant than those in the rehabilitation group (P＜0.05).The between-group comparison at the third week showed that the therapeutic efficacy in the fire-needle group was superior to that in the rehabilitation group (P＜0.05).Conclusion:Fire-needle therapy can obviously change the DSRS,MMASA and KTST scores in pseudobulbar palsy in the remission stage of stroke,and significantly enhance the therapeutic efficacy of the treatment of deglutition disorders in this stage.

Therapeutic Observation of Acupuncture at the Three Nasal Points plus Bloodletting at Suliao (GV 25) for Rosacea / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at the three nasal acupoints plus bloodletting at Suliao (GV 25) in treating rosacea.Method Sixty rosacea patients were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 30 cases each. The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture at the three nasal acupoints plus bloodletting at Suliao (GV 25), while the control group was intervened by ordinary medication. The skin lesion scores of the two groups were observed before and after 4-week treatment, and the clinical efficacies were also compared. Result The skin lesion scores were significantly changed after respectively 2, 3 and 4 weeks of treatment in both groups (P<0.05). The skin lesion scores in the treatment group were significantly different from those in the control group respectively after 2, 3 and 4 weeks of treatment (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 93.3％ in the treatment group versus 73.3％ in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture at the three nasal acupoints plus bloodletting at Suliao (GV 25) is an effective approach in treating rosacea.

Clinical Observation of Electroacupuncture at Bilateral Auditory Fainting Region plus Body Acupuncture for Tinnitus / 上海针灸杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture at bilateral Auditory Fainting Region plus body acupuncture in treating tinnitus.MethodForty patients were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 20 cases in each group. The treatment group was intervened by electroacupuncture at bilateral Auditory Fainting Region in addition to the routine acupuncture, once each day, 7 times as a course, with 1-day interval between two courses; the control group was by routine acupuncture by selecting Ermen (TE21), Tinggong (SI19), Tinghui (GB2), Yifeng (TE17), Zhongzhu (TE3), and Xiaxi (GB43) on the affected side, once a day, 7 times as a course, with 1-day interval between two courses. The therapeutic efficacies were observed and compared after 4 treatment courses.ResultThe total effective rate was 85% in the treatment group, versus 60% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).ConclusionElectroacupuncture at bilateral Auditory Fainting Region plus body acupuncture can produce a more significant therapeutic efficacy.

Therapeutic Observation of Genger-partitioned Moxibustion plus Ba Zhen Decoction for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / 上海针灸杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the therapeutic efficacy of ginger-partitioned moxibustion plus Ba Zhen decoction in treating chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).MethodSixty patients with CFS were randomized into two groups, 30 in each group. The treatment group was intervened by ginger-partitioned moxibustion plus Ba Zhen decoction, while the control group was by electroacupuncture.ResultAfter 3 treatment courses, the total effective rate was 93.3% in the treatment group versus 83.3% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).ConclusionGinger-partitioned moxibustion plus Ba Zhen decoction can produce a higher total effective rate than electroacupuncture in treating CFS.

Clinical observation on diabetic peripheral neuropathy treated with electroacupuncture and acupoint injection / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the differences in the therapeutic effect on diabetic peripheral neuropathy between the combined therapy of electroacupuncture and acupoint injection and the simple acupoint injection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Under the satisfactory control of blood glucose, 60 cases of diabetic peripheral neuropathy were divided randomly into two groups, 30 cases in each one. In electroacupuncture plus acupoint injection group (group A), electroacupuncture and acupoint injection with Methylcobalamin were administered. Penetrating acupuncture was applied from Gongsun (SP 4) to Quanzhong (Extra) and from Yongquan (KI 1) to Taichong (LR 3) mainly. Acupoint injection was administered on Sanyinjiao (SP 6). In acupoint injection group (group B), only acupoint injection with Methylcobalamin was provided on Sanyinjiao (SP 6). After 2 sessions of treatment, the conduction velocity of ulnar nerve and tibial nerve was measured. The scores of Chinese medicine syndrome and diabetic peripheral neuropathy were recorded before and after treatment in two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The effective rates were 90.0% (27/30) and 63.3% (19/30) in group A and group B respectively, presenting significant statistical difference (P < 0.05). After treatment, the motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV) and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV) of ulnar nerve and tibial nerve in group A were higher than those in group B (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). After treatment, the score of Chinese medicine syndrome in group A was lower than that in group B (14.36 +/- 1.88 vs 26.58 +/- 3.52, P < 0.01), the score of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in group A was lower than that in group B (12.86 +/- 4.28 vs 17.89 +/- 4.35, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Electroacupuncture and acupoint injection with Methylcobalamin achieve a significant clinical efficacy on diabetic neuropathy and its efficacy is superior to that of simple acupoint injection with Methylcobalamin. This therapy can effectively increase nerve conduction velocity, control and relieve the symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.</p>

Involvement of NF-kappaB activation in the apoptosis induced by extracellular adenosine in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells.

Adenosine can exhibit cytotoxic activity in vivo and in vitro, though its mechanisms are still uncertain. In this study, we investigated the adenosine-mediated apoptotic signaling pathway and the role of NF-kappaB in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. HepG2 cells were treated with different concentrations of adenosine for 12-48 h, and the effect of adenosine on cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT assay. The cytotoxicity of adenosine alone or in combination with an NF-kappaB inhibitor, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), was also evaluated by MTT assay and the mode of cell death was detected by Hoechst 33342 staining. Cell cycle progress was performed by flow cytometry with PI staining. The protein expressions of Bcl-2, p53, NF-kappaB subunit p65, and caspase-3 were assayed by Western blot. Caspase-3 activity was measured by spectrophotomteric assay. The results showed that adenosine significantly reduced the viability of HepG2 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, with IC 50 (24 and 48 h) of 2.52 and 1.89 mmol x L(-1), respectively. The apoptotic index (percentage of sub-G1 phase) of HepG2 cells in adenosine treatment alone for 12 and 24 h or in combination with PDTC were 8.30%, 22.32% and 20.18%, 30.89%, respectively. All of them were higher than that in the control group (0.81%, p < 0.01). The characteristic changes of cell apoptosis (chromatin condensation and sub-G1 peak) were observed under fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry. We also found that the apoptotic process triggered by adenosine was involved in G0-G1 cell-cycle arrest, enhanced the activity of caspase-3, upregulated p53 and NF-kappaB p65 expression, and downregulated Bcl-2 expression. Inhibition of NF-kappaB by PDTC decreased NF-kappaB p65 expression, enhanced cell apoptosis ratio, and increased caspase-3 activity. NF-kappaB may play an anti-apoptosis role in adenosine-induced HepG2 cytotoxicity.

Clinical Study on Puncturing Renying (ST 9) to Treat Poststroke Dysphagia / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of puncturing Renying (ST 9) in the treatment of poststroke dysphagia. Methods: Sixty cases of poststroke dysphagia were randomized into two groups, a control group in which 30 cases were given rehabilitation training, and a treatment group in which 30 cases were treated by puncturing Renying (ST 9) and rehabilitation training, with a course of four weeks. Results: The total effective rate for dysphagia was higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Puncturing Renying (ST 9) is quite effective for poststroke dysphagia.

Changes of the anti-oxidation capability of rat model of Parkinson disease after acupuncture at subthalamus / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture has been confirmed to be effective in treating Parkinson disease both clinically and experimentally, but there is still lack of systematical and complete therapeutic principle and law to be followed in clinic.OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence on glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde(MDA)and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in corpus striatum of the damaged side in rat models of Parkinson disease by acupuncture at subthalamus.DESIGN: A randomized controlled animal experiment.SETTING: The Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.MATERIALS: The experiment was performed in the Experimental Animal Center of Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January to June in 2003. Eighteen healthy adult Wistar rats of pure breed were randomly divided into 3 groups with 6 rats in each:electroacupuncture group, model group and normal saline group.METHODS: ① Model group: The rats were made into models of Parkinson disease with damaged corpus striatum by injecting 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA, 12 μg), which was dissolved in 5 μL normal saline containing 2 g/L ascorbic acid, slowly into caudal putamen. without intervention. ②Normal saline group: 6-OHDA was replaced by normal saline of the same dosage, and other treatments were the same as those in the model group. ③ Electroacupuncture group: The model preperation was the same as that in the model group. The needles were embedded in subthalamus at 6 weeks postoperatively, and then electroacupuncture (in frequency of 100 Hz, and the intensity about 1 mA) was given one week later for 2 weeks, once a day,15 minutes for each time.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All the rats were killed by cutting heads to remove brain under anesthesia at 2 weeks after electroacupuncture, and the activities of GSH, GSH-Px, SOD and NOS and the concentration of MDA were detected with chromatometry.RESULTS: All the 18 rats were involved in the analysis of results. ① MDA concentration was higher in the model group and electroacupuncture group than in the normal saline group [(5.53±0.71),(4.10±0.27), (5.53±0.71) μmol/L, P ＜ 0.01], but lower in the electroacupuncture group than in the model group (P ＜ 0.05). ② The activities of GSH and GSH-Px were both lower model group and electroacupuncture group than in the normal saline group (P ＜ 0.01), but lower in the electroacupuncture group than in the model group (P ＜ 0.05).③ The activity of SOD was higher in the model group and electroacupuncture group than in the normal saline group [(113.36±2.17),(73.85±5.17), (42.34±1.83) μkat/g, P ＜ 0.01], but lower in the electroacupuncture group than in the model group (P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION: The anti-oxidation capability of the rat models of Parkinson disease has been recovered and the nerve injury has been reduced after acupuncture, indicating that it is available and effective to treat Parkinson disease by acupuncture at subthalamus.

Clinical Study on Treatment of Tourette's Syndrome with Acupuncture-Chinese Herbs Combination / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To observe the clinical effect on treatment of Tourette's syndrome with combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbs. Method: Sixty cases were randomly divided into acupuncture-Chinese group and western drug group, which have been treated with acupuncture plus modified Tranquilizing Liver-wind Decoction and orally taken holoperidol respectively.Result: Therapeutic effect comparison between the two groups showed a significant difference (P＜0.05).Conclusion: Combination of scalp acupuncture and Chinese herbs has good effect in treating Tourette's syndrome, with better result than western drug.