Observations on the Therapeutic Effect of Gentle Moxibustion on Old Interphalangeal Collateral Ligament Injury / 上海针灸杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy of gentle moxibustion in treating old interphalangeal collateral ligament injury.MethodSixty patients were randomly allocated to two groups. The treatment group of 30 patients received gentle moxibustion 20-30 min once daily for two consecutive courses of treatment. The control group of 30 patients received TDP irradiation 20-30 min once daily for two consecutive courses of treatment.ResultThe excellent rate and the total excellent rate were 56.7% and 83.3%, respectively, in the treatment group and 36.7% and 76.7%, respectively, in the control group; there were statistically significant differences between the two groups (P<0.01).ConclusionGentle moxibustion has a marked therapeutic effect on old interphalangeal collateral ligament injury.

Reducing visit-to-visit variability in systolic blood pressure for improving the progression of carotid atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction in patients with hypertension management

Visit-to-visit variability [VVV] in blood pressure [BP] creates challenges to hypertension control and was independent associated with increased all-cause mortality in hypertensive patients. The major goal of the present study was to investigate the association of VVV in systolic [S]BP with progression of carotid atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction in on-treated hypertensive patients. Overall, 356 hypertensive patients were enrolled and completed the trial. Clinic BP was measured at base-line and at 3 monthly thereafter. Carotid artery ultrasound and endothelial function were evaluated at baseline and annually follow-up visit. VVV in BP was assessed by standard deviation [SD] and coefficient of variation [CV] of serial follow-up BP measurements. The patients were divided into low, middle, and high group by tertile of SD in SBP. Decrease percentage of maximum intima-media thickness [IMT] and stiffness index beta and increase percent-age of brachial flow-mediated dilation [FMD] and nitric oxide [NO] in lower groups were significant greater than in higher groups [P < 0.05]. Change percentage of stiffness index beta and endothelin-1 positively, and change percentage of FMD and NO negatively correlated with SD, CV, maximum, and delta of SBP [P < 0.05]. SD and CV of SBP were risk factors for change percentage of IMT, stiffness index beta, FMD, NO, and endothelin-1 independently of other influential factors, such as age, and mean SBP. Excessive VVV in SBP maybe increase carotid atherosclerosis and impair endothelial function in on-treated hypertensive patients. Reducing VVV in SBP is benefit for patients with hypertension management