[Warming acupuncture combined with "three steps and seven methods" of tuina for chronic nonspecific low back pain of yang deficiency and cold-dampness blockage: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy and possible mechanism of warming acupuncture combined with "three steps and seven methods" of tuina and simple "three steps and seven methods" of tuina in treatment of chronic nonspecific low back pain (NLBP) of yang deficiency and cold-dampness blockage. METHODS: A total of 138 patients were randomized into an observation group (69 cases, 5 cases dropped off) and a control group (69 cases, 7 cases dropped off). In the control group, "three steps and seven methods" of tuina was applied. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, warming acupuncture was applied at Shenshu (BL 23), Yaoyangguan (GV 3), Mingmen (GV 4), Weizhong (BL 40) and ashi points. The treatment was given once a day, 6 times a week for 3 weeks in both groups. Before and after treatment, the short form of McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI) score, finger-to-floor distance (FFD), Schober test distance, fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire (FABQ) score and yang deficiency and cold-dampness blockage score were observed, the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6 and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) were detected in both groups. The recurrence rate was evaluated in follow-up of 6 months after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, the scores of PRI, PPI, VAS, ODI, FABQ and FFD, yang deficiency and cold-dampness blockage scores were decreased compared before treatment in both groups (P<0.01), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.01); the Schober test distances were increased compared before treatment in both groups (P<0.01), and that in the observation group was larger than the control group (P<0.01). After treatment, the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6 and TXB2 were decreased compared before treatment in both groups (P<0.01), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.01). In follow-up, the recurrence rate was 12.8% (6/47) in the observation group, which was lower than 34.3% (12/35) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Warming acupuncture combined with "three steps and seven methods" of tuina can effectively alleviate pain in patients with chronic NLBP of yang deficiency and cold-dampness blockage, improve activity and dysfunction of waist, the clinical efficacy is superior to simple "three steps and seven methods" of tuina, its mechanism may be relate to the inhibition of inflammatory reaction.

Protective effects of paeoniflorin against FasL-induced apoptosis of intervertebral disc annulus fibrosus cells via Fas-FasL signalling pathway.

In the present study, we demonstrate that the degeneration of intervertebral discs is caused by ageing and apoptosis of matrix cells. Apoptosis is as essential as the function of proteoglycan synthesis in assessing the possible degeneration of intervertebral discs; paeoniflorin (PF) induces cytoprotective effects on various types of cells. In this study, the function of PF in inhibiting Fas ligand (FasL)-induced apoptosis in annulus fibrosus cells was assessed, and the correlation between apoptosis and the Fas-FasL pathway was determined. Annulus fibrosus cells were derived from the intervertebral discs of 1-month-old Sprague Dawley rats; the cells were characterised by toluidine blue staining and subjected to apoptosis with FasL. PF was diluted to various concentrations and added to annulus fibrosus cells at various times. The impact of PF and FasL on cell apoptosis of annulus fibrosus cells was determined by flow cytometry. Western blot analysis was performed to determine the protein expression levels of Fas and caspase-3. The percentages of apoptotic annulus fibrosus cells as well as the expression levels of caspase-3 and Fas were significantly reduced following treatment with 208, 20.8 or 2.08 µM PF. PF inhibits the activation of the Fas-FasL signal pathway and decreases FasL-induced apoptosis of annulus fibrosus cells.

[Effect of guizhi plus gegen decoction on ultrastructural changes of intervertebral disc annulus fibrosus cells].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Guizhi plus Gegen Decoction (GGD) on ultrastructural changes of intervertebral disc annulus fibrosus cells. METHODS: Rats' intervertebral disc annulus fibrosus cells were isolated and cultured using adherence wall screening method. After annulus fibrosus cells were intervened by GGD, the microstructure and ultrastructural features of untreated annulus fibrosus cells and annulus fibrosus cells treated by GGD containing serum at different concentrations were observed under optical microscope and electron microscope. RESULTS: Under optical microscope, most annulus fibrosus cells showed irregular polygons and few in star shape with rich superficial ecphyma. The nuclei were oval, large and complete. Under electron microscope, most cells in the blank group were oval after intervened by GGD containing serum at different concentrations. The nucleus was large, deviated, and irregular, the heterochromatin scattered diffusely, partial mitochondria vacuolized, and rough endoplasmic reticulum dilated. In the low dose GGD group, increased mitochondria and condensed density could be seen. The rough endoplasmic reticulum were expanded, lipid drops or glycogen could be occasionally seen. In the middle dose GGD group, increased endoplasmic reticulum expansion and condensed density could be seen. More medium density protein sediment could be seen. Increased mitochondria with condensed density could be seen, showing irregular cystic form with various sizes nucleus. In the high dose GGD group, increased rough endoplasmic reticulum with obvious expansion could be seen. More high density protein sediment could be seen. The nuclei were deviated. More mitochondria could be seen with secretory granules in them. CONCLUSIONS: After intervened by GGD containing serum at different concentrations, the ultrastructure of annulus fibrosus cells were manifested as follows: (1) The endoplasmic reticulum increased more in the middle and high dose GGD groups than in the blank group and the low dose GGD group. Greater density protein sediment occurred, especially in the high dose GGD group. (2) GGD played an important role in preventing ultrastructural changes induced by the degeneration of annulus fibrosus cells.