effect of vacuum compression therapy on diabetic foot ulcer

Recent studies indicate that vacuum compression therapy [VCT] of the foot may offer benefits in patients with intermittent claudication through improving arterial and venous blood flow. Regarding this mechanism, we investigated the effectiveness of VCT in the treatment of diabetic leg and foot ulcers. In a clinical trial study, sixteen patients with diabetic foot ulcer received VCT plus routine management for 4 weeks and twelve controls received only routine treatments. The reduction in the size and depth of ulcer were compared between two groups after the study. The mean reduction of ulcer size after the study in VCT group was 1.26 +/- 1.37 cm[2], while in controls the size of ulcer was increased. 44 +/- .89 cm[2] [P=.000]. The depth of ulcer in VCT group was significantly decreased [4.0 +/- 1.5 mm] versus a slight increase [.3 +/- .5 mm] in control group [P=. 000]. VCT can be used as an effective method in the treatment of diabetic leg and foot ulcers. Although it's limits and contraindications should be kept in mind

effects of laser acupuncture on chronic tension headache arandomized controlled trial

Objective Headache affects the quality of life for many people throughout the world. Tension headache is among the commonest forms. Acupuncture is the most widely practiced non-medicinal treatment for headaches. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of laser acupuncture in this type of headache. Fifty patients with chronic tension-type headache were randomly allocated to treatment or placebo groups. Patients in the treatment group received low energy laser acupuncture to LU7, LI4, GB14, and GB20 bilaterally. Point was irradiated for 43 seconds, and the intensity was 1.3J [13J/cm[2].Ten sessions were given, three per week. The placebo group was treated in a similar way except that the output power of the equipment was set to zero. The outcome variables were headache intensity [VAS], duration of attacks, and number of days with a headache per month, by daily diary, assessed monthly to three months after treatment. There were significant differences between groups [p < 0.001] in changes from baseline in months one, tow and three, in median score for headache intensity [treatment group-5, -3 and -2, placebo group -1,0 and 0], median duration of attacks [treatment group -6, -4 and -4, placebo group -1,0 and 0 hours], and median number of days with headache per month [treatment group-15, -10 and -8, placebo group-2, 0 and 0. This study suggests that laser acupuncture may be an effective treatment for chronic tension-type headache, but the results should be confirmed in larger and more rigorous trials