Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation Combined with Warm Acupuncture for Breast Cancer Related Upper Limb Lymphedema: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) combined with warm acupuncture in treating breast cancer associated with upper limb lymphedema (BCRL). METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study using a paired control design. Fifty-two BCRL patients were assigned to the control group (27 cases) and the treatment group (25 cases). The patients in the control group were treated with lymphedema comprehensive detumescence treatment (CDT) for 4 weeks, including systematic therapy composed of manual lymphatic drainage, compression bandage, skincare, and functional exercise. The patients in the treatment group were treated with TEAS combined with warm acupuncture based on the control group methods. Each treatment lasted for 30 min and was applied twice a week for 4 weeks. The arm circumference (AC) of different positions of the affected limb and the degree of swelling of the affected limb were evaluated before the first treatment and after the last treatment. The clinical efficacy was evaluated according to the degree of edema before and after treatment. All adverse events during treatment were recorded. RESULTS: The patients' AC and the swelling feeling of the affected limb in the treatment group and the control group were both reduced compared with those before treatment. Compared with the control group, AC of the wrist joint transverse stria, the midpoint between the wrist joint transverse stria and the elbow joint transverse stria in the treatment group were significantly reduced (P<0.05). The decrease in AC diameter at the midpoint between the elbow joint transverse stria and the axillary transverse stria was the most significant (P<0.01). The swelling degree of the affected limbs in the treatment group was significantly lower than before treatment, and was significantly lower compared with the control group after treatment (P<0.01). The total effective rate was 72% in the treatment group, significantly higher than that in the control group (55.56%, P<0.05). No serious adverse events occured in either group. CONCLUSIONS: TEAS combined with warm acupuncture can effectively reduce AC and swelling feeling of the affected limb in patients with BCRL. The effect is better than that of CDT therapy alone. (Registration No. ChiCTR2200062075).

Effect of cimicifuga racemosa on menopausal syndrome caused by LHRH-a in breast cancer.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cimicifuga racemose is previously proved effective on nature menopausal syndrome (MPS). However, its clinical value in treating with MPS induced by luteinizing-hormone releasing hormone analogue (LHRH-a) therapy of pre-/peri-menopausal breast cancer patients is still unknown. AIM OF STUDY: This perspective randomised-design study is to investigate the effect and safety of cimicifuga racemosa on MPS induced by LHRH-a in breast cancer (clinical trial registered: NCT03339882). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Breast cancer patients planning for LHRH-a treatment were randomly divided into 2 groups. The control group which was being treated with the standard treatment of LHRH-a. The other group was being treated with Remifemin, the commercialized product of cimicifuga racemose extract, combined with LHRH-a, called Remifemin group. Our main endpoint was Kupperman menopause index (KMI). Hormone levels in peripheral blood and gynecological complications were also evaluated. RESULTS: Totally, 85 patients (42 in Remifemin group and 43 in control group) were enrolled in Zhejiang Cancer Hospital. At the 4th, 8th and 12th week after using LHRH-a, the KMI were all significantly lower in Remifemin group than in control group (P < 0.01), while the hormone levels, including estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were similar in the two groups. In addition, the incidence of cervical cyst in Remifemin group was higher than that in control group (P = 0.02), and there was no significant difference in the other gynecological complications, including endometrial thickening, ovarian cyst or uterine fibroid (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Cimicifuga racemose is effective, oncological safe and reliable for treatment of MPS caused by LHRH-a in breast cancer.

Lack of associations of polymorphisms of IL-7R, IL-13 and IL-15 with NSCLCs in non-smoking Chinese.

Studies have shown that immune cells play a key role in lung cancer development. Five SNPs (rs1494555, rs7737000, rs20541, rs1057972 and rs2857261) are associated with lung cancer risk among Caucasians and/or African-Americans, but the polymorphisms may be implicated in different susceptibilities for lung cancer across different populations because of underlying genetic heterogeneity. We therefore conducted a study to examine this relationship in non-smoking Chinese. As a result , no significant associations were observed between SNPs and NSCLCs, whetehr of squamous cell or adenocarcinoma type. Results indicated polymorphisms of IL-7R, IL-13 and IL-15 are not major contributors to NSCLC susceptibility, although we can not rule out synergistic effects with cigarette smoke in NSCLC development in smoking Chinese.

[Dishen Qufeng Decoction for treating allergic rhinitis: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical therapeutic effects of Dishen Qufeng Decoction (DSQFD), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, in treatment of allergic rhinitis. METHODS: Sixty cases of allergic rhinitis were selected and randomized into DSQFD group (30 cases) and cetirizine group (30 cases), and the patients were orally administered DSQFD and cetirizine respectively. The integrals of patients' symptoms, such as sneezing, nose running, nasal occlusion and nasal itching, signs in the nasal conchae and peripheral blood eosinophil (EOS) count were abserved count before and after treatment. RESULTS: DSQFD obviously improved the symptoms and signs of allergic rhinitis. The total response rate of DSQFD treatment was 83.3%, while that of the cetirizine treatment was 86.7%; the EOS counts in both groups were significantly decreased. These results showed statistical difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: DSQFD is an effective preparation of traditional Chinese medicine for treating allergic rhinitis.