Warming acupuncture combined with "three steps and seven methods" of tuina for chronic nonspecific low back pain of yang deficiency and cold-dampness blockage: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical efficacy and possible mechanism of warming acupuncture combined with "three steps and seven methods" of tuina and simple "three steps and seven methods" of tuina in treatment of chronic nonspecific low back pain (NLBP) of yang deficiency and cold-dampness blockage.@*METHODS@#A total of 138 patients were randomized into an observation group (69 cases, 5 cases dropped off) and a control group (69 cases, 7 cases dropped off). In the control group, "three steps and seven methods" of tuina was applied. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, warming acupuncture was applied at Shenshu (BL 23), Yaoyangguan (GV 3), Mingmen (GV 4), Weizhong (BL 40) and ashi points. The treatment was given once a day, 6 times a week for 3 weeks in both groups. Before and after treatment, the short form of McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI) score, finger-to-floor distance (FFD), Schober test distance, fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire (FABQ) score and yang deficiency and cold-dampness blockage score were observed, the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) were detected in both groups. The recurrence rate was evaluated in follow-up of 6 months after treatment.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the scores of PRI, PPI, VAS, ODI, FABQ and FFD, yang deficiency and cold-dampness blockage scores were decreased compared before treatment in both groups (P<0.01), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.01); the Schober test distances were increased compared before treatment in both groups (P<0.01), and that in the observation group was larger than the control group (P<0.01). After treatment, the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and TXB2 were decreased compared before treatment in both groups (P<0.01), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.01). In follow-up, the recurrence rate was 12.8% (6/47) in the observation group, which was lower than 34.3% (12/35) in the control group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Warming acupuncture combined with "three steps and seven methods" of tuina can effectively alleviate pain in patients with chronic NLBP of yang deficiency and cold-dampness blockage, improve activity and dysfunction of waist, the clinical efficacy is superior to simple "three steps and seven methods" of tuina, its mechanism may be relate to the inhibition of inflammatory reaction.

Study on solubilization effect of solid dispersion technology and inclusion technology on pulsatillae total saponins / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of solid dispersion technology and inclusion technology on dissolution performance of Pulsatillae total saponins, and preliminarily investigate its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The solid dispersion of Pulsatillae total saponins-PEG 4000 was prepared by the melting method. The inclusion compound of Pulsatillae total saponins-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin ( HP-beta-CD) was prepared by the freeze-drying method. The properties of solid dispersion and inclusion compound were identified by using IR, DSC and NMR. And the dissolution of solid dispersion and inclusion compound were also determined by the small glass method.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>IR, DSC and NMR results showed the formation of solid dispersion and inclusion compound. In terms of the dissolution, the inclusion compound ranked first, which was followed by solid dispersion and bulk pharmaceutical chemicals.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The inclusion technology could significantly increase the dissolution of Pulsatillae total saponins, whereas the solid dispersion showed no notable solubilization effect.</p>