Effects of "menstrual cycle-based acupuncture therapy" on IVF-ET in patients with decline in ovarian reserve / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of "menstrual cycle-based acupuncture therapy" on ovarian function and pregnancy results of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in patients with decline in ovarian reserve (DOR).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 63 patients of DOR who received treatment of IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were randomly divided into an observation group (30 cases) and a control group (33 cases). The patients in the observation group were treated with "menstrual cycle-based acupuncture therapy". The syndrome differentiation and treatment were given based on different phases of menstruation. Shiqizhui (EX-B 8) and Mingmen (GV 4) were selected during menstrual phase, Shenshu (BL 23), Geshu (BL 17), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Taixi (KI 3) were selected after menstruation, Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Zusanli (ST 36) were selected during ovulatory period, Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Taichong (LR 3) were selected before menstruation. The acupuncture was given twice a week until second menstrual cycle of oocyte retrieval. The total times of acupuncture was (15 ± 2). After acupuncture, patients were treated with IVF-ET. The patients in the control group were treated with IVF-ET but no acupuncture. The indices of ovarian reserve function, including basic follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), antral follicle count (AFC), number of retrieved oocytes, number of fertilization and number of high quality embryo, were compared and analyzed before and after acupuncture in the observation group. The differences of outcomes of IVF-ET, including the cycle cancellation rate, implantation rate, the clinical pregnancy rate, were compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared before acupuncture, the E2, AFC, number of retrieved oocytes, number of high quality embrgo and number of fertilization were all increased after acupuncture in the observation group (all P< 0. 05). Compared with the control group, levels of the E2, the number of retrieved oocytes, number of fertilization and number of high quality embryo were all increased in the observation group (all P < 0.05). Also, the implantation rate, the clinical pregnancy rate were improved (both P < 0.01) and cycle cancellation rate was reduced (P< 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The "menstrual cycle-based acupuncture therapy" can effectively improve the ovarian reserve function in DOR patients, leading to an improved clinical pregnancy rate of IVF-ET.</p>

Observations on the Efficacy of Acupuncture plus Chinese Herbal Medicine in Treating Allergic Rhinitis / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus Chinese herbal medicine in treating allergic rhinitis. Methods One hundred and thirty-five patients with allergic rhinitis were randomly allocated to combination, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine groups, 45 cases each. The combination group received treatment with acupuncture plus Chinese herbal medicine; the acupuncture group, treatment with acupuncture alone; the Chinese herbal medicine group, treatment with Chinese herbal medicine alone. IgE, IL-4, IL-5 and TNF-αlevels and clinical symptom and sign total score were observed in the three groups before and after treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the three groups. Results There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in IL-4, IL-5, TNF-αand IgE levels in the three groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in IL-4, IL-5 and IgE levels between the combination group and the Chinese herbal medicine or acupuncture group (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in clinical symptom and sign total score in the three groups (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant post-treatment difference in clinical symptom and sign total score between the combination group and the Chinese herbal medicine or acupuncture group (P<0.05). The total efficacy rate was 91.1%in the combination group, 71.1%in the Chinese herbal medicine group and 66.7%in the acupuncture group. There was a statistically significant difference in the total efficacy rate between the combination group and the Chinese herbal medicine or acupuncture group (P<0.05). Conclusions Acupuncture plus Chinese herbal medicine has a better therapeutic effect on allergic rhinitis. It can effectively relieve the clinical symptoms and signs and reduce IgE, IL-4 and IL-5 levels in the patients.