Efficacy evaluation of Mongolian medical warm acupuncture for sciatica caused by lumbar disc herniation: a randomized, controlled, single-blind clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the short-term and long-term efficacy of Mongolian medical warm acupuncture for sciatica caused by lumbar disc herniation (LDH). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The patients diagnosed with sciatica caused by LDH were randomly divided into the warm acupuncture of the Mongolian medicine group (n = 42, warm acupuncture treatment), the sham acupuncture group (n = 38, sham acupuncture using blunt-tipped needles) and the conventional drug group (n = 40, ibuprofen sustained release capsule). All patients were treated for 4 weeks and followed up for 8 weeks. The visual analog scale for leg pain (VAS-LP), Mongolian medicine indicators (efficacy indicators), VAS for waist pain (VAS-WP) and the Mos 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) score were analyzed at baseline, after two-week treatment, after four-week treatment, at four-week follow-up and at eight-week follow-up. RESULTS: Warm acupuncture treatment significantly decreased the VAS-LP and VAS-WP scores of patients at treatment and follow-up (p < 0.05), and pain was improved compared to the conventional drug group and sham acupuncture group. The total effective rate was markedly higher in the warm acupuncture of the Mongolian medicine group compared with the conventional drug group at 8-week follow-up (p < 0.05), but sham acupuncture treatment resulted in no evident improvement in the Mongolian medicine indicators. Additionally, at treatment and follow-up, warm acupuncture of the Mongolian medicine group showed a significant increase in the physical function, physical role, body pain, and emotional and mental health role scores of the SF-36 survey compared with the sham acupuncture groups. CONCLUSIONS: Mongolian medical warm acupuncture effectively relieves leg and waist pain and improves the total therapeutic effect and the quality of daily life for patients with sciatica caused by LDH, with significant long-term efficacy. Our study provides a basis for warm acupuncture in the treatment of sciatica caused by LDH. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ID: ChiCTR- INR-15007413.

[Effects of glycyrrhizic acid on ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK signaling pathway in a murine model of asthma].

Objective: To explore the effects of glycyrrhizic acid (GA) on Extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK1/2) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38 MAPK) signaling pathways in a murine model of asthma. Methods: Sixty female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=10 each): a control group, an asthmatic group, two treatment groups with low and high doses of GA, U0126 group and SB203580 group. Within 24 hours after the last OVA challenge, histological studies of lung were conducted with the hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE) and alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff (AB-PAS), the relative protein expression of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting in vivo. CD4(+) T cells were purified from spleens of OVA-sensitized and challenged mice by using the Mouse CD4 Cell Positive Isolation Kit and incubated with anti-CD3 mAb (1 µg/ml) in the presence of various concentrations of GA (10 and 100 µg/ml), U0126 (10 µmol/L) or SB203580(10 µmol/L). After 72 h of incubation, the relative protein expression of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK of CD4(+) T cells were detected by Western blotting in vitro. Results: The asthmatic mice induced infiltration of inflammatory cells around airways and blood vessels, airway goblet cell hyperplasia and mucus production. Administration of GA at a dose of 100 mg/kg, U0126 or SB203580 significantly reduced the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the peribronchial areas and goblet cell hyperplasia compared with the asthmatic mice. The protein expressions of p-ERK1/2 were lower in GA at a dose of 100 mg/kg (0.090±0.022) and U0126 group (0.072±0.017) than those in asthmatic group (0.143±0.022) (all P<0.05). The protein expressions of p-p38 MAPK were lower in GA at a dose of 100 mg/kg (0.072±0.019) and SB203580 group (0.061±0.015) than those in asthmatic group (0.121±0.022) (all P<0.05) by immunohistochemistry. Compared with asthmatic group (0.783±0.133, 0.649±0.095), the protein expressions of p-ERK1/2 and p-p38 MAPK in GA at a high dose group (0.385±0.186, 0.275±0.089) and in U0126 group (0.117±0.051) or in SB203580 group (0.108±0.043) were decreased by Western blotting (all P<0.05). The expressions of p-ERK1/2 in CD4(+) T cells after 72 h incubation were lower in 100 µg/ml concentrations of GA (0.579±0.184) and group U0126 (0.249±0.082) and the expressions of p-p38 MAPK were much lower in 100 µg/ml concentrations of GA (0.445±0.081) and group SB203580 (0.249±0.082) compared with those in group CD3 (1.028±0.147, 0.902±0.107) (all P<0.05). Conclusion: ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK signaling pathways are activated in asthmatic mice and GA may negative regulate this activation.

[Long-term effect of Schonlein-Henoch nephritis with nephritic-nephrotic syndrome in children by traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine].

21 cases are fully agreed with the diagnosis standard of Schonlein-Henoch nephritis. Biopsy on the kidney of 5 cases with resistant duration was made and all were diagnosed as mesenteric hyperplastic glomerular nephritis, among them, one with segmental sclerosis, one with segmental sclerosis and crescents in some glomerulus. 13 cases were treated with prednisone, cyclophosphamide and Traditional Chinese herbs. 8 cases with wilfordine adding and/or traditional Chinese herbs. The results showed that 15 of 21 cases were cured, one case perfect remission, 4 cases part remission. All of the cases were followed-up from 2 years and 10 months to 12 years and 4 months, average 7.34 years. The late results: Group A, 16 cases with symptom, physical exam, urine routine normal. Group B, 4 cases with microscopic hematuria and/or "a little-(+)" urinary protein. Group C, one case with "+2" urinary protein and/or hypertension, urinary creatinine clearance rate normal. Of 5 cases, whose biopsies of kidney were made, one with glomerular segmental sclerosis belonged to Group B. 13 of 21 cases had recurrence for 1-6 times, which was closed related with up respiratory tract infection.

[Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in children treated with replenishing qi and tonifying kidney and the changes in thrombocyte aggregative function].

UNLABELLED: Forty-one children with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) were reported in this paper. Of all, 36 with petechia and ecchymosis, 28 with nasal hemorrhage, 5 with hematochezia and 1 with subcutaneous hematoma. According to the TCM differentiation, 24 and 17 of all belonged to the type of impairment of Yin due to blood-heat and both deficiencies of Qi and tonifying Kidney and its basic prescriptions were: dried Radix Rehmanniae, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Radix Paeoniae Rubra, Radix Rubiae, Fructus Psoraleae, stir-frying Radix Astragali, Semen Cuscutae, Caulis Spatholob; Chinese Jujubae, Radix et Rhizoma Rhei. The average treating duration was 5.02 months. RESULTS: 24 cases cured, 6 recovered, 10 improved, 1 failed, with a total effective rate of 97.6%. 22 of the cured were followed-up without recurrence in average 10.4 months after withdrawal. In 32 cases, the thrombocyte aggregative function was tested with ADP induction, meanwhile in 20 of 32 cases aggregation with adrenaline induction was tested. The results before and after treatment showed an evident difference, with low function before treatment and normal after treatment. It is concluded that the replenishing Qi and tonifying Kidney may have a better effect on both acute and chronic children ITP without recurrence after withdrawal.