Clinical observation on mild perimenopausal depression of kidney deficiency and liver stagnation syndrome treated with acupoint catgut implantation / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the efficacy of catgut implantation at back-shu points in treatment of mild perimenopausal depression of kidney, deficiency and liver stagnation syndrome and analyze its essential function on target symptoms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-five cases were randomized into a catgut implantation group (23 cases) and atid acupuncture group (22 cases). In the catgut implantation group, catguts were implanted at Shenshu (BL 23), Ganshu (BL 18), Xinshu (BL 15), Pishu (BL 20), etc., once every week. In the acupuncture group, the conventional acupuncture was applied to the same acupoints as the catgut implantation group, once every two days. The: treatment of 4 weeks made one session, and continuous 2 sessions were required. The efficacy was evaluated in, 2 sessions. The follow-up started in the 12th week. Before treatment, after treatment and in the follow-up period, Kupperman score and the total score in Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), as well as the factor score were observed in the patients separately.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Kupperman score, the total HAMD score and the scores in the items of anxiety/somatization, retardation, sleep disorder and cognitive disorder after treatment were all reduced significantly as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.01, P<0.05). In the follow-up period, the difference in Kupperman was not significant in comparison with that after treatment in the catgut implantation: group (P>0.05). The total HAMD score and sleep disorder were reduced significantly as compared with those after treatment in the catgut implantation group (both P<0.01); in the acupuncture group, Kupperman score, the total HAMD score and sleep disorder were all increased as compared with those after treatment (all P<0.05). In; the catgut implantation group, the total HAMD score was lower than that in the acupuncture group (P<0. 05), and the scores in the items of retardation and sleep disorder were reduced significantly as compared with those in the acupuncture group (both P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The catgut implantation at back-shu points alleviates perimenopasual sympton is in patients of mild perimenopausal depression of kidney deficiency and liver stagnation syndrome. This therapy effectively relieves depressive disorders by regulating the target symptoms such as anxiety/ somatization, retardation, sleep disorder and cognitive' disorder. The long-term efficacy of this therapy is better than the conventional acupuncture.</p>

Clinical Study of Acupuncture Intervention in Muscle, Bone and Joint Pain Caused by Aromatase Inhibitors in the Treatment of Breast Cancer / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture intervention in muscle, bone and joint pain caused by aromatase inhibitors in the treatment of breast cancer. Method One hundred and forty breast cancer patients with aromatase inhibitors-caused muscle, bone and joint pain were randomly allocated to groups A, B, C and D, 35 cases each. group A received ear acupuncture plus the intravenous drip of zoledronic acid;group B, ear acupuncture alone;group C, the intravenous drip of zoledronic acid alone;group D, oral administration of calcium carbonate and vitamin D3 chewable tablets and alfacalcidol soft capsules. The Brief Pain Inventory score was observed in every group before and after treatment. Bone mineral densities of the lumbar vertebrae were compared between the groups before and after treatment. Result In groups a and B, there was a statistically significant difference in the pain interference score at three, six and twelve weeks of treatment and at six weeks after the end of treatment compared with before treatment (P0.05). Conclusion Ear acupuncture can significantly relieve muscle, bone and joint pain caused by aromatase inhibitors and the pain relief is not related to bone mineral density, but muscle, bone and joint pain recurs in the patients after the treatment is discontinued. Zoledronic acid can not relieve the pain. Ear acupuncture plus zoledronic acid is not more effective than ear acupunctura alone in relieving the pain.

Clinical Observation on the Auricular Acupuncture for Perimenopause Syndrome of 34 Cases / 中医杂志

Objective To compare the therapeutic effect of auricular acupuncture with that of hormone substitution on perimenopause syndrome patients to study the mechanism of auricular therapy.Methods Totally 68 female cases were randomized into the auricular acupuncture group and hormone group,34 cases in each.The auricular acupuncture group was given electro-acupuncture on Neifenmi(CD18),Ovarium,and Uterus;and the hormone group was given Tibolone.Before and after treatment,record Kupperman score and determine serum estradiol(E2),follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH)and luteotropic hormone(LH)respectively.Results After treatment,the Kupperman scores of both groups were decreased,the level of E2 increased obviously,FSH and LH decreased,the difference was significant(P0.05).Conclusion The auricular therapy can effectively relieve the perimenopause syndrome and improve the reproductive endocrine function of perimenopause females.