ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the effects of Sanyinjiao (SP6) acupressure in reducing the pain level and menstrual distress resulting from dysmenorrhea. METHODS: Forty participants with dysmenorrhea were assigned to either the acupressure group (n = 19) or the control group (n = 21). The acupressure group received 20 min of SP6 acupressure during the initial intervention session and was taught to perform the technique for them to do twice a day from the first to third days of their menstrual cycle, 3 months subsequent to the first session. In contrast, the control group was only told to rest. Outcomes were measured through (1) the Pain Visual Analogue Scale (PVAS), (2) the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), and (3) the Short-Form Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (SF-MDQ). RESULTS: There was a statistically significant decrease in pain score for PVAS (p = 0.003) and SF-MPQ (p = 0.02) immediately after the 20 min of SP6 acupressure. In the self-care periods, significant reduction of PVAS (p = 0.008), SF-MPQ (p = 0.012), and SF-MDQ (p = 0.024) scores was noted in the third month of post-intervention. CONCLUSIONS: SP6 acupressure has an immediate pain-relieving effect for dysmenorrhea. Moreover, acupressure applied to the SP6 acupoint for 3 consecutive months was effective in relieving both the pain and menstrual distress level resulting from dysmenorrhea.
Subject(s)
Acupressure , Acupuncture Points , Dysmenorrhea/therapy , Menstruation , Adult , Female , Humans , Pain Measurement , Surveys and Questionnaires , Young AdultABSTRACT
In the current study our objective was to develop a murine model of human hyper-IgD syndrome (HIDS) and severe mevalonic aciduria (MA), autoinflammatory disorders associated with mevalonate kinase deficiency (MKD). Deletion of one Mvk allele (Mvk (+/-)) yielded viable mice with significantly reduced liver Mvk enzyme activity; multiple matings failed to produce Mvk (-/-) mice. Cholesterol levels in tissues and blood, and isoprene end-products (ubiquinone, dolichol) in tissues were normal in Mvk (+/-) mice; conversely, mevalonate concentrations were increased in spleen, heart, and kidney yet normal in brain and liver. While the trend was for higher IgA levels in Mvk (+/-) sera, IgD levels were significantly increased (9-12-fold) in comparison to Mvk (+/+) littermates, in both young (<15 weeks) and older (>15 weeks) mice. Mvk (+/-) animals manifested increased serum TNF-alpha as compared to wild-type littermates, but due to wide variation in levels between individual Mvk (+/-) mice the difference in means was not statistically significant. Mvk (+/-) mice represent the first animal model of HIDS, and should prove useful for examining pathophysiology associated with this disorder.
Subject(s)
Gene Deletion , Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency/genetics , Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor)/genetics , Alleles , Animals , Disease Models, Animal , Dolichols/chemistry , Gene Frequency , Humans , Immunoglobulin D/chemistry , Mice , Mice, Transgenic , Models, Biological , Models, Genetic , Ubiquinone/chemistryABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To study the attitudes and personal experiences with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) use in pharmacy students. DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional study. SETTING: University School of Pharmacy. METHODS: Pharmacy students were asked 17 questions according to an anonymous survey questionnaire. RESULTS: All 91 students (46% males) participated in the survey. The attitude toward TCM use was positive in 40%, neutral in 59% and negative in only 1%. On scales from 0 to 10, the mean (SD) scores for the adequacy of the current curriculum in TCM training and state of TCM knowledge were 3.2 (2.0) and 3.6 (1.6), respectively. Of the 35 participants who had used TCM in the past year, nearly half did so without any TCM practitioner consultation. Seventy-four percent reported that they had not been told of any side effects of TCM. When comparing the third year with first or second year students, there was no significant difference between any of these findings. CONCLUSION: The training in TCM within this 3-year pharmacy curriculum appears inadequate. Most students are not aware of any possible side effects in TCM. The attitude and practice do not appear to vary significantly between successive year of pharmacy students.
