Acupuncture ameliorates negative emotion in PCOS patients: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the effectiveness and possible mechanism of acupuncture treatment for negative emotion in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).@*METHODS@#A total of 40 PCOS patients were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 20 cases in each one. Both groups received lifestyle interventions (exercise and diet guidance) on the 5th day of menstruation. On the basis of above treatment, the patients in the observation group received acupuncture at Guanyuan (CV 4), Zhongwan (CV 12), Guilai (ST 29), Futu (ST 32), Liangqiu (ST 34), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Hegu (LI 4), Shenmen (HT 7), Baihui (GV 20) as the main acupoints, and connected the electroacupuncture (continuous wave, 2 Hz, 30 min), once every other day, 3 times a week. The treatment for 1 month was as one course and 4 courses were required totally in both groups. Before and after treatment, the body mass index (BMI), ferriman-gallway (F-G) score, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) score, self-rating depression scale (SDS) score, PCOS health-related quality of life questionnaire (PCOSQ) score were observed, meanwhile, serum sex hormone, including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estrogen (E), progestin (P), prolactin (PRL), testosterone (T), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and free androgen index (FAI) levels, and serumβ-endorphin levels were detected.@*RESULTS@#Compared with before treatment, the BMI, F-G score, SAS score, SDS score and serum FAI level were decreased and the PCOSQ score and the levels of serum SHBG andβ-endorphin were increased in the observation group after treatment (all <0.05). Compared with before treatment, the SDS score was decreased in the control group after treatment (<0.05). Compared with the control group, the F-G score, SDS score, SAS score, and serum FAI level were lower, and the PCOSQ score and serumβ-endorphin level were higher in the observation group after treatment (all <0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Applying acupuncture to the treatment of patients with PCOS can effectively relieve anxiety and depression, and the mechanism may be related to the regulation on the levels of serumβ-endorphin and androgen.

Effect and regulation mechanism of Chinese Bushen Huoxue prescriptions on endometrial receptivity / 中国中药杂志

Endometrial receptivity refers to the ability of endometrium to accept and accommodate endometrial implantation in the process of embryo implantation in implantation window period. It is an important factor affecting the rate of blastocyst implantation in assisted reproduction. It is worth mentioning that ovulation-promoting drugs in current assisted reproduction technology could reduce endometrial receptivity and inhibit blastocyst implantation, greatly affecting the success rate of assisted reproduction. By searching Chinese Scientific Citation Database, it was found that 121 studies from 2006 to 2017 showed that Chinese Bushen Huoxue prescriptions could significantly improve the development of pinopodes in the implantation window, promote the expression of endometrial receptors ER, PR, integrinβ3, LIF, LPA3 and other molecules, and thus enhancing endometrial receptivity and improving embryo implantation. In the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, kidney deficiency is an important factor causing infertility. Chinese Bushen Huoxue prescriptions could nourish the kidney-essence, and promote blood circulation, playing an important role in treating infertility with combined application of western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine. These studies suggest that Chinese Bushen Huoxue prescriptions could improve endometrial receptivity, and their mechanisms are worth further investigation. This article has summarized the research progress of Chinese Bushen Huoxue prescriptions in the field of assisted reproduction, summarized the deficiency of current researches, and preliminarily discussed the potential application prospect of Chinese Bushen Huoxue prescriptions in the treatment of infertility.