ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate and verify the preventive and therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture (EA) plus pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) in treating mild-moderate female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Method By adopting a single-blind randomized controlled design, eighty-two SUI patients were randomized into an observation group of 40 cases and a control group of 42 cases. The observation group was intervened by EA plus PFMT, while the control group only received PFMT. Before the treatment and after 4-week treatment, the 1 h urine leakage amount, Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICI-Q-SF) and improvement rate were evaluated in the two groups, to analyze the effects of the two methods in improving mild-moderate SUI. Result For mild SUI patients, the 1 h urine leakage amount and ICI-Q-SF score dropped significantly after the treatment in the observation group (P<0.05), and the observation group was significantly lower than the control group (P<0.05). For moderate SUI patients, the 1 h urine leakage amount and ICI-QSF score dropped significantly in both groups after the intervention (P<0.05), the observation group was significantly lower than the control group (P<0.05), and the improvement rate in the observation group was markedly higher than that in the control group (P<0.01). Conclusion EA plus PFMT caneffectively improve the urine leakage and urination in mild-moderate SUI patients. EA plus PFMT can effectively prevent the aggravation of moderate female SUI, and its effect is better than PFMT alone.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the action mechanisms of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on prevention and treatment of orthodontic toothache.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into a blank group, an orthodontic group and a TEAS group, 8 rabbits in each one. The orthodontic model of rabbit was made in orthodontic group and TEAS group by bonding brackets and fixing NI-TI screw with ligature wire. After model establishment, the TEAS group was treated with TEAS atpoints (skin surface corresponding points to the bilateral upper 1st molars) and "Hegu" (LI 4) with dilatational wave, 20 min per treatment, twice a day, totally 2-day consecutive treatment (4 treatments) was provided. The rabbit general behavior, total food intake and threshold of pain were observed; the contents of serum prostaglandin E(PGE), granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) as well as endorphin (β-EP) fluid and cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were detected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the orthodontic group, the rabbit general behavior, total food intake and threshold of pain in the TEAS group were significantly improved (<0.05,<0.01). The serum PGEwere significantly reduced (<0.05), while GM-CSF presented reducing trend without statistical significance (>0.05). The β-EP in the CSF were increased (<0.05), while CCK-8 in CSF presented reducing trend without statistical significance (>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The preventive and therapeutic effects of TEAS on rabbits with orthodontic toothache are achieved by reducing algogenic substance PGEin peripheral nervous system selectively, increasing β-EP in CSF in central nervous system and keeping the level of anti-opioid pain maintaining substance CCK-8.Both the central and peripheral nervous systems participate in the analgesic effect of TEAS.</p>