Comparison of the Effectiveness of Six and Two Acupuncture
Point regimens in Osteoarthritis of the Knee
Taechaarpornkul W, et al. Sirindhorn National
Medical Rehabilitation Center, 88/26 Soi Bamrasnaradura, Tiwanon Road,
Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand; wiratt@health.moph.go.th.
BACKGROUND: Although substantial data have supported the effectiveness of
acupuncture for treating knee osteoarthritis (OA), the number of points used has
varied. The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of six and
two acupuncture points in the treatment of knee OA. METHODS: A randomised trial
of knee OA patients was conducted. Patients were randomly allocated into two
groups of 35. The "six point group" received treatment at six acupuncture
points, ST35, EX-LE4 (Neixiyan), ST36, SP9, SP10 and ST34, while the "two point
group" received treatment at just the first pair of points, ST35 and EX-LE4.
Both groups received twice weekly electroacupuncture on 10 occasions. Electrical
stimulation was carried out at low-frequency of 3 Hz to all points, with the
intensity as high as tolerable. Both groups were allowed to take a 200 mg
celecoxib capsule per day for intolerable pain. Patients were assessed at
baseline, week 5, week 9 and week 13, using a Thai language version of the
Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Global assessment of
change after 10 treatments was also recorded. RESULTS: Acupuncture at both six
and two acupuncture points was associated with significant improvement. Mean
total WOMAC score at weeks 5 and 13 of patients in both groups showed no
significant difference statistically (p = 0.75 and p = 0.51). Moreover, the
number of celecoxib capsules taken, global assessment of global change and body
weight change of both groups also showed no statistical difference. CONCLUSION:
This evidence suggests that electroacupuncture to two local points may be
sufficient to treat knee OA, but in view of some limitations to this study
further research is necessary before this can be stated conclusively.
Acupunct Med. 2009 Mar;27(1):3-8. Links
Source: PubMed
[TOP]
Acupuncture in Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease
Whale CA, et al. John Eastwood Hospice, Mansfield
Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire NG17 4HJ; claudiahallam@doctors.org.uk.
BACKGROUND: Exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a
common reason for hospital admission, and adjunctive non-pharmacological
treatments would be welcomed. A pilot study was undertaken to assess the
feasibility of conducting a study of acupuncture during an acute exacerbation of
COPD. We also examined the credibility of a sham device in this setting and
assessed the effect of acupuncture on breathlessness and anxiety. METHODS: A
prospective, randomised, patient- and assessor-blinded, sham controlled study
was conducted on three consecutive days in a district general hospital.
Credibility of both acupuncture and the Park sham device were assessed using the
Borkovec and Nau questionnaire. Dyspnoea was measured on the modified Borg score
and a 10 cm visual analogue scale, while anxiety was measured on a 10 cm visual
analogue scale. RESULTS: 11 patients were recruited and nine completed the
study. There were no adverse events with either intervention. Acupuncture was
well tolerated and credibility scores were similar before and after real and
sham acupuncture. Symptoms improved after both treatments, with no significant
difference between groups. CONCLUSION: In this pilot study acupuncture was well
tolerated by subjects experiencing an acute exacerbation of COPD. Acupuncture
treatment and the Park sham device were both credible. Although recruitment was
slow, a further trial with a larger sample size is feasible and recommended.
Acupunct Med. 2009 Mar;27(1):13-5.
Source: PubMed
[TOP]
In Vivo Inhibition of S180 Tumors by the Synergistic Effect
of the Chinese Medicinal Herbs Coptis Chinensis (Huang Lian) and Evodia
Rutaecarpa (Wu Zhu Yu)
Wang XN, et al. College of Pharmacy, Dalian
Medical University, Dalian, P. R. China.
The aim of the present paper was to investigate the synergistic effect and
mechanism of anticancer activity of ZUOJINWAN ( ZJW) comprising COPTIS CHINENSIS
Franch ( HL) and EVODIA RUTAECARPA (Juss.) Benth ( WZY) at a ratio of 6 : 1
(w/w). IN VIVO anticancer activity testing was carried out by inhibiting the
growth of S180 tumor. Tumor growth inhibition, spleen index, lymphocyte
proliferation, apoptosis, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) level,
activities of serum tumor markers (TMs), increase in life span (ILS),
histopathology and gene expression were tested. The results indicated that ZJW
could significantly induce apoptosis of cancer cells. The inhibition ratio, ILS
and TNF-alpha levels of mice treated with ZJW were 50.54 %, 64.91 % and 1.04 ng/mL,
respectively, much higher than HL and WZY when singly used. Furthermore, the
activities of acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase were significantly
increased and the activities of creatine kinase, aldolase and lactate
dehydrogenase were reduced in serum, and the expressions of Bax and wild-type
p53 proteins were much higher for the mice treated by ZJW compared with HL and
WZY single-treatment groups. A clear synergistic effect on the anticancer
activity was observed with ZJW, and the mechanism of antitumor growth may be due
to an effect on gene expression and activities of tumor markers in serum.
Planta Med. 2009 Apr 6.
Source: PubMed [TOP] |
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