[Influence of different courses of electroacupuncture treatment on compliance and therapeutic outcome of patients with cervical type cervical spondylosis: a small-sample randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of different courses of electroacupuncture treatment on the compliance and therapeutic outcome of patients with cervical type cervical spondylosis. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with cervical type cervical spondylosis were randomly divided into 5-time treatment group and 10-time treatment group, with 30 patients in each group. With the same electroacupuncture prescription, the patients in the 5-time treatment group were given electroacupuncture once a day for 5 times in total, and those in the 10-time treatment group were given electroacupuncture once a day for 10 times in total, with an interval of 2 days between every 5 times of treatment. The two groups were compared in terms of cervical Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and treatment score of cervical spondylosis before and after treatment, as well as whether and why the patients were willing to continue treatment after 5 times of treatment. The two groups were followed up to observe the recurrence of cervical spondylosis within 12 months. RESULTS: Both groups had significant improvements in cervical VAS score and treatment score of cervical spondylosis after treatment (P<0.05), and there were no significant differences in these scores between the two groups after treatment (P>0.05). There was also no significant difference in long-term recurrence between the two groups (P>0.05). Of the 30 patients in the 10-time treatment group, 21 (70%) showed no willingness to continue treatment after 5 times of treatment since they were satisfied with their treatment outcomes. CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture can effectively improve the pain symptom of patients with cervical type cervical spondylosis, and compared with 5 times of electroacupuncture treatment, 10 times of electroacupuncture treatment may affect patients' compliance with clinical treatment.

[Comparison of Clinical Effects of Electroacupuncture of Abdominal and Limb Acupoints in the Treatment of Acute Pancreatitis].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the difference of therapeutic efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of abdominal acupoints and limb acupoints in the treatment of acute pancreatitis (AP), so as to provide a reference for EA treatment of AP. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with AP were equally and randomly divided into abdominal acupoint group and limb acupoint group. On the basis of retention enema of Chaiqin Chengqi Decoction (containing Radix Bupleurum, Radix Scutellaria, etc.), and abdominal external application of Liuhe Powder ointment (containing Cinnabaris, pearl powder, etc.), patients of the two groups were also treated with acupuncture stimulation of acupoints at the abdomen or limbs. The abdominal acupoints were Shangwan (CV 13), Zhongwan (CV 12), Xiawan(CV 10), Liangmen (ST 21, left), Taiyi(ST 23, left), Chengman (ST 20, left), Fu'ai (SP 16, left), Yindu(KI 19, right), and the limb acupoints were Hegu(LI 4), Neiguan(PC 6), Zusanli(ST 36), Shangjuxu(ST 37), Xiajuxu(ST 39), and Yinlingquan(SP 9) which were punctured with filiform needles by retaining the needles for 30 min after twirling for a while. CV 12 - ST 21, CV 10- SP 16 of the abdomen group, and bilateral PC 6 and ST 36 of the limb group were administered EA (2 Hz/15 Hz, 1 mA and duration of 30 min). The treatment was conducted once daily for 5 days. The abdominal pain severity and distension severity were assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS), and the abdominal girth was measured by using a soft ruler. RESULTS: Following the treatment, the abdominal pain and distension symptom scores in the lightest and most severe phases of AP and the abdominal girth levels were considerably decreased on the 5th day in the two groups in comparison with their own pre-treatment in the same one group (P < 0.05); and the abdominal pain scores on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th day in the lightest phase, and those on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th day in the most severe phase were markedly lower in the abdomen acupoint group than in the limb acupoint group (P<0.05). No significant differences were found between two groups in the abdominal distension symptom scores and abdominal circumference levels in the lightest and most severe phases of AP (P>0.05). In addition, no adverse events were found in both groups. CONCLUSION: EA has a good curative effect in the treatment of AP patients. The curative effect of acupuncture of the abdominal acupoints is significantly superior to that of limb acupoints in relieving abdominal pain.

Anti-RhoC siRNAs inhibit the proliferation and invasiveness of breast cancer cells via modulating the KAI1, MMP9, and CXCR4 expression.

Overexpression of RhoC in breast cancer cells indicates poor prognosis. In the present study, we aim to investigate the possible antitumor effects of anti-RhoC small-interfering RNA (siRNA) in inflammatory breast cancer cells. In this study, a specific anti-RhoC siRNA was used to inhibit RhoC synthesis. Transfection of anti-RhoC siRNA into two IBC cells SUM149 and SUM190 induced extensive degradation of target mRNA and led to significant decrease in the synthesis of protein. Anti-RhoC siRNA inhibited cell proliferation and invasion, increased cell apoptosis, and induced cell cycle arrest in vitro. Moreover, the transfection of siRNA increased the expression of KAI1 and decreased the expression of MMP9 and CXCR4 in both mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, transplantation tumor experiments in BALB/c-nu mice showed that intratumoral injection of anti-RhoC siRNA inhibited tumor growth and increased survival rate. Our results suggested that RhoC gene silencing with specific anti-RhoC siRNA would be a potential therapeutic method for metastatic breast cancer.

Efficacy of electroacupuncture in the treatment of functional constipation: A randomized controlled pilot trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture at Tianshu (ST25) for patients with functional constipation (FC). METHODS: Ninety-six patients with FC were randomized to receive deep needling on bilateral ST25 (group A, 48 cases) or shallow needling on bilateral ST25 (group B, 48 cases) with electroacupuncture once daily for 4 weeks. The proportion of patients with four or more complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBMs) per week, and scores of constipation symptoms and satisfaction with treatment were compared between two groups. Safety was also assessed. RESULTS: The proportion of patients with four or more CSBMs per week was 52.1% in group A, significantly higher than 25.0% in group B during the 4-week treatment (P<0.05). The constipation symptom score of patients were significantly improved in group A as compared with group B at week 2-4 (P<0.05). Patients in group A were more satisfied with their treatment compared with those in group B at week 1-4 (P<0.05). Five patients in group A felt significant pain and discomfort. No other adverse reaction was observed in both groups. CONCLUSION: Using electroacupuncture at ST25 to treat patients with FC is effectively, and deep needling had more stable effect than shallow needling.

[Impacts of moxibusiton on pain in the dressing change after perianal abscess surgery: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic effect on pain in the dressing change after perianal abscess surgery treated with warm suspending moxibustion at Changqiang (GV 1). METHODS: One hundred and sixty patients were randomized into a moxibustion group and a far-infrared therapy group, 80 cases in each one. In the moxibustion group, the warm suspending moxibustion at Changqiang (GV 1) was applied. In the far-infrared therapy group, the infrared ray was radiated at Changqiang (GV 1). The treatment started in 10 min after dressing change in the two groups. Totally, 8 treatments were required. The time requirement being equal to or less than 2 score in the assessment face scale (AFS), the case number of pain relief in 10 min after treatment and the intention of the two therapies after everyday dressing change were observed in the patients of the two groups. RESULTS: In the moxibustion group, the time of pain relief was shorter than that of the far-infrared therapy group [(11.5 +/- 3.9) min vs (17.8 +/- 3.8) min on the 1st day; (9.4 +/- 3.6) min vs (15.2 +/- 4.3) min on the 2nd day; (7.8 +/- 2.7) min vs (14.3 +/- 3.2) min on the 3rd day; (6.4 +/- 3.3) min vs (10.5 +/- 2.9) min on the 4th day; (5.9 +/- 2.9) min vs (11.2 +/- 1.9) min on the 5th day; (5.3 +/- 2.2) min vs (8.8 +/- 2.3) min on the 6th day; (5.4 +/- 1.8) min vs (9.2 +/- 2.1) min on the 7th day; (5.1 +/- 1.4) min vs (9.5 +/- 2.6) min on the 8th day, all P < 0.05]. The case numbers of pain relief in 10 min after treatment were 74 cases, 75 cases, 77 cases and 78 cases from the 1st to the 4th day separately in the moxibustion group, which were much more than 63 cases, 65 cases, 68 cases and 69 cases in the far-infrared therapy group (all P < 0.05). The treatment intention scores in the moxibustion group were better than those in the far-infrared therapy group (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The warm suspending moxibustion at Changqiang (GV 1) relieves pain rapidly in the dressing change of much more patients after perianal abscess surgery in much shorter time as compared with the far-infrared therapy. Moreover, the patients have more expectation to be treated with moxibustion therapy.

[A randomized controlled clinical trial for acupuncture stimulation of Neiguan (PC 6) to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting].

OBJECTIVE: To observe whether acupuncture stimulation of Neiguan (PC 6) can prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients undergoing craniotomy. METHODS: A total of 60 patients scheduled for craniotomy were randomly assigned to acupuncture group (n = 30) and control group (n = 30). When regaining consciousness from the surgical anesthesia, patients of the acupuncture group received immediate acupuncture stimulation of bilateral Neiguan (PC 6). After insertion, the filiform needles were manipulated with uniform reinforcing-reducing method for about 1 min (re-manipulated once again 10 min later), followed by retaining it for 20 min. Patients of the control group received no treatment. Vomiting or retching (having vomitus) was considered as an emetic episode. Nausea was assessed by a four-point verbal rating scale (none, mild, moderate, severe). RESULTS: Following the treatment, in the acupuncture group, 1 patient had a vomiting from 0 to 2 h, and 1 patient had a vomiting from 2 to 6 h after the operation, and no patients had this symptom 6 h after the operation. While in the control group, the vomiting occurred in 11 patients from 0 to 2 h, 8 cases from 2 to 6 h, and other 8 cases from 6 to 24 h after the operation. Comparison between two groups showed that the nausea scores in the 3 time-stages were significantly lower in the acupuncture group than in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture stimulation of PC 6 is effective in preventing and treating PONV in patients undergoing craniotomy.

[Effect of electroacupuncture of Tianshu (ST 25) on the rational symptoms of functional constipation patients and evaluation on its efficacy satisfaction: a single-center, prospective, practical and randomized control trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) of Tianshu (ST 25) and medication on the subjective symptoms and the satisfactory degree of functional constipation (FO) patients, and to evaluate the efficacy of different depth-needling. METHODS: Single-blind, randomized and parallel-controlled methods were adopted in the present study and a total of 95 FC patients were randomly divided into medication group (Lactulose, 20-30 mL/d, n = 24), deep needling (DN, about 45 mm beneath the skin) of ST 25 group (n = 48), and shallow needling (SN, about 5 mm beneath the skin) of ST 25 group (n = 23). The treatment was given once daily (except weekends) for 4 weeks. The actual number of patients whose defecation frequency was up to 4 times per week, the integrative score of defecation symptoms (defecation exertion degree, abdominal pain, etc.), and the patients' satisfaction degree after the treatment were recorded and evaluated. RESULTS: One, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after the treatment, of the 48, 23 and 24 cases in DN, SN and medication groups, the numbers of FC patients whose defecation was up to 4 times per week were 31 (64.58%), 32 (66.67%), 34 (70.83%) and 37 (77.08%), 9 (39.13%), 16 (69.57%), 15 (65.22%) and 14 (60.87%), and 8 (33.33%), 7 (29.17%), 5 (20.83%) and 4 (16.67%), respectively. The effects of DN and SN groups were significantly superior to those of medication group in increasing the number of FC patients whose defecation was up to 4 times per week, improving constipation symptom integrative score (defecation exertion degree, survival desire for defecation, abdominal distension, etc.) and patients' satisfaction degree (P < 0.05). Comparison between DN and SN groups showed that the effects of the former group in accelerating the improvement of survival desire for defecation, patients' satisfaction degree were markedly superior to those of the latter group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Deep needling-EA of ST 25 has a positive effect in improving functional constipation, being faster in the onset of action and stable efficacy in comparison with shallow needling.