[Prospects for the use of antioxidant pharmacopuncture in metabolic syndrome]. / Perspektivy primeneniya farmakopunktury antioksidantnymi sredstvami pri metabolicheskom sindrome.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to further reveal the mechanisms and therapeutic capabilities of the pharmacopuncture method (the introduction of drugs into the area of reflexotherapy points) in metabolic syndrome. In previously published materials on the problem, we pointed out the efficacy of the pharmacopuncture antioxidant Ubiquinone Composite (as a pilot study), similar in effect to the drug Coenzyme Composite (Heel, Germany). The present work develops this topic by further comparing the characteristics of pharmacopuncture with the presented drugs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 160 patients (103 women and 57 men) with metabolic syndrome. In addition to clinical parameters, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, atherogenic index, catalase and superoxide dismutase activity, the level of prooxidant processes, and the presence of insulin resistance were evaluated. In the clinical phase, the patients were divided into four groups. In group 1, treatment was limited to standard medication, in other groups, pharmacopuncture was additionally performed. In the 2nd group, physiological solution (placebo) was used as an agent, in the 3rd and 4th groups - the drugs Ubiquinone compositum and Coenzyme compositum, which differ mainly in antioxidant effect. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: It was found that pharmacopuncture with both drugs leads, in general, to comparable positive results, significantly superior to the effectiveness of other methods. However, certain differences were noted within these groups: in the case of using the drug Ubiquinone compositum, a predominant decrease in blood pressure and dyslipidemia is observed, and when using the drug Coenzyme compositum, a shift in insulin resistance against the background of regression of disbalance in the peroxidation system. On the one part, the presented data show about the therapeutic breadth of the effects of pharmacopuncture, and on the other part, they demonstrate the possibility of a differentiated influence.

[The mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of reflexotherapy and drinking mineral waters in the patients presenting with metabolic syndrome]. / Mekhanizmy lechebnogo deistviia akupunktury i pit'evykh mineral'nykh vod pri metabolicheskom sindrome.

Both acupuncture and drinking mineral water can influence the metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids as well as their hormonal regulation, but the possibility of the application of these therapeutic factors for the correction of insulin resistance has not been studied in the patients presenting with metabolic syndrome. AIM: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects produced by the intake of drinking mineral water and acupuncture on the various parameters characterizing the patients suffering from metabolic syndrome in combination with altered insulin resistance. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety patients with this condition included in the study underwent the analysis of their the blood pressure, body mass index, blood glucose and lipid levels, insulin and cortisol secretion. RESULTS: We undertook the analysis of the effects of the single and repeated intakes of Essentuki No 17 mineral water included in the combined treatment of the patients with metabolic syndrome and revealed many common responses of the organism to its therapeutic action. Specifically, the stress-type reactions suggested the initiation of the adaptive processes in the system of hormonal regulation of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Simultaneously, the manifestations of insulin resistance became less pronounced indicating that both acupuncture and drinking mineral water suppressed the action of the main pathogenic mechanisms underlying the development of metabolic syndrome. Moreover, it was shown that acupuncture had a stronger hypotensive effect in the combination with the decrease of the overproduction of cortisol whereas the intake of the mineral water had a greater metabolic potential and contributed to the intensification of the basal secretion of glucocorticoids. Both reflexotherapy and drinking mineral water have a well apparent effect on the pathogenetic reactions of the metabolic syndrome and therefore can be used in addition to the standard therapy to activate the non-specific, phylogenetically established and enshrined at the genetic level self-healing responses by mainstreaming the adaptation processes and the formation of the adaptive reactions initiated by stressor components. CONCLUSION: The addition of acupuncture or domestic mineral water intake to the standard therapy of the patients suffering from metabolic syndrome significantly enhances the effectiveness of the treatment. The beneficial therapeutic action of acupuncture and drinking mineral water is underlain by their impact on the mechanisms of resistance to insulin that manifests itself as a decrease of the fasting secretion of this hormone and optimization of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. The therapeutic effect of acupuncture and drinking mineral water is realized through the induction of the stress-initiating reactions which activate the processes of adaptation, with reflexotherapy largely acting on the cardiovascular system and drinking mineral water on the system responsible for insulin regulation of the metabolic processes.

[The application of invasive and non-invasive reflexotherapeutic methods for the improvement of tolerance to the influence of seasonal meteorological factors and correction of bronchial asthma].

The present study included 94 patients presenting with bronchial asthma (BA) who underwent the controlled treatment during one year. The treatment consisted of basal anti-asthmatic therapy in combination with acupuncture reflexotherapy or a complex of non-invasive reflexotherapeutic methods (CNIRTM) designed to increase the effectiveness of correction of asthma, to improve the clinical status of the patients, to decrease by more than two-fold the frequency of unstable episodes of the disease showing the well-apparent seasonal dependence, and to diminish the consumption of pharmaceuticals (reduction of the mean daily dose of prednisolone by 31% and 37% in comparison with its 79% increase in the patients receiving the standard treatment). Moreover, it was shown that the achievement of clinical and preventive effect of the application of non-pharmacological methods may be associated with the activation of the mechanisms of adaptation to the stress factors (such as correction of the cortisol blood level and parameters of the immune status, etc.) and the increase of the patient's tolerance to their influence.

[Predictive significance of initial morpho-functional characteristics for the evaluation of effectiveness of remedial correction of arterial hypertension].

Analysis of effectiveness of spa-and-resort treatment of 154 patients with arterial hypertension and metabolic disturbances has demonstrated predictive value of variations of biological characteristics which suggests their important contribution to beneficial outcome of rehabilitative therapy. Results of the study made it possible to distinguish the most essential aspects of metabolism and its regulation related to the success of spa-and-resort treatment.

[Metabolic mechanisms underlying reparative action of metal-dependent spectral light flux from a hollow cathode lamp (experimental study)].

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of serial irradiation of experimental animals with a visible light flow showing spectral lines of copper and manganese on the rate of reparative processes and the associated metabolic events. The cathode of the lamp that contained both microelements generated the light flux possessed of significant biological activity. Specifically, it accelerated reduction of the wound surface area and optimized regulation of carbohydrate metabolism in the lipid peroxidation system by insulin and cotisol. The light flux emitted by the cathode containing only one of the two elements (either copper or manganese) produced a similar but less pronounced effect.

[Application of contrast thermopuncture for the treatment of dorsopathies].

The objective of this work was to study the possibility of replacing acupuncture variants of reflexotherapy of dorsopathies by non-invasive procedures, such as thermopuncture at biologically active points. Mechanisms of action of contrast thermopuncture were elucidated. Its clinical efficiency for the rehabilitative treatment of cervical and thoracic dorsopathies was demonstrated. It is concluded that many specific features of the method account for its advantages over classical acupuncture.

[Phytotherapy of arterial hypertension with concomitant obesity in sanatorium-resort conditions].

Efficiency of different phytotherapeutic modalities (per os, baths, inhalation) in patients with arterial hypertension was evaluated under conditions of balneologic treatment. Modes of their curative action and mechanisms of the disease are considered. Comparative analysis of non-medicamentous technologies used in balneologic practice is presented. It is shown that hormonal regulation of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism plays the key role in the realization of therapeutic effects of phytopreparations. The improvement of functional activity of the cardiovascular system turns out to correlate with reduced clinical manifestations of metabolic syndrome.

[Therapeutic and preventive effects of sulfate-chloride-sodium mineral water in experimental peptic ulcer].

Healthy animals and individuals with experimental peptic ulcer were used to evaluate effect of weakly mineralized Tselitel'nitsa water on hormonal control of metabolic and trophic reactions. The mineral water was found to activate regulation of carbohydrate metabolism by insulin and cortisol due to the formation of adaptive reactions during a course of its therapeutic intake. The mineral water promoted realization of trophic effects of gastrin and insulin in animals with peptic ulcer the size of which significantly decreased. A preventive course of therapy with the mineral water was shown to enhance resistance of experimental animals to stressful factors.

[The combined effect of potable mineral waters and mid-alpine factors on hormonal status (clinico-experimental research)]. / Sochetannoe vliianie pit'evykh mineral'nykh vod i faktorov srednegor'ia na gormonal'nyi status (kliniko-éksperimental'noe issledovanie).

Hormonal status was examined in 30 intact male Wistar rats (body mass 200-220 g) and 10 healthy male volunteers aged 25-35 years. Hormonal status and influence of exercise were assessed in human males after 2, 10 and 19 days of stay in the sanatorium situated 2000 m above the sea level. The animals were decapitated on day 24 of their stay in the mountains. Blood from the rats' cervical vessels was examined for glucose, beta-lipoproteins, triiodothyronine, thyroxine, TTH, hydrocortisone. The findings indicate that stay in conditions of medium-height mountains climate aroused adaptation reactions in the hormonal systems, i.e. activation of thyroid hormones. An additional course of mineral water contributed to further rise of the blood hormones. Hormonal trends in the volunteers were similar. There was also a rise in the levels of beta-lipoproteins which was arrested by physical exercise.

[The correction of the hormonal response during the treatment of the dumping syndrome with potable mineral waters]. / Korrektsiia gormonal'nogo otveta pri lechenii demping-sindroma pit'evymi mineral'nymi vodami.

Glucose tolerance test (40 g/lm2 b.s.) in patients with stomach resected for gastroduodenal ulcer provoked dumping-syndrome seen 15-30 min after glucose introduction. There was also a rise in blood sugar (by 77%), ACTH (by > 400%), STH (by > 400%), hydrocortisone (by 56%). Aldosterone levels fell by 68%. There was also a marked fall in activity of early insulin pool changed for elevation of its secretion by the test minute 60. 65 patients with dumping-syndrome following a course of drinking mineral water demonstrated improvement in clinical symptoms of the disease and changed hormonal response to glucose which manifested with activation of insulin secretion early phase and reduced rise of hydrocortisone levels.

[Changes in tissue insulin sensitivity under the action of potable mineral waters (clinico-experimental research)]. / Izmenenie chuvstvitel'nosti tkanei k insulinu pod deistviem pit'evykh mineral'nykh vod (kliniko-éksperimental'nye issledovaniia).

The trial included 43 Wistar rats with alloxan diabetes, 80 patients with impaired carbohydrate tolerance, 80 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). 22 healthy volunteers and 60 intact rats served control. Glucose levels were measured 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after insulin administration (3.7 U/m2). It was found that insulin resistance in impaired carbohydrate tolerance was higher than in diabetes. Mineral water intake improves recovery of sensitivity to insulin. This improvement was more evident in intact rats. Therefore, mineral water is a good prophylactic modality.

[The effect of the preliminary intake of mineral waters in acute alcoholic intoxication (an experimental study)]. / Vliianie predvaritel'nogo priema mineral'nykh vod pri ostroi alkogol'noi intoksikatsii (éksperimental'noe issledovanie).

101 male Wistar rats (body mass 180-200 g) received a single dose of ethanol in two concentrations--96% and 30%. High ethanol concentrations produced a direct damage to gastric and duodenal mucosa. 30% ethanol inhibited secretion of glucagon, insulin and aldosterone. This inhibition rapidly changes for the hormones rise in the blood. Hydrocortisone was high over the experiment. Previous intake of mineral water prevents damage to the gastroduodenal mucosa induced by 96% ethanol and modifies the hormonal response provoked by 30% ethanol as evident from reduced expression of the two phases.