Therapeutic effects on ovulation and reproduction promotion with acupuncture and clomiphene in polycystic ovary syndrome / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the difference in the therapeutic effects on ovulation disorder in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) between the combined therapy of electroacupuncture and clomiphene and the single medication of clomiphene and to explore the effect mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 80 patients of PCOS were randomized into an acupuncture plus medication group (40 cases) and a medication group (40 cases). In the medication group, since the 5th day of menstruation or medicine-withdrawal bleeding, clomiphene was prescribed for oral administration, continuously for 5 days. In the acupuncture plus medication group, the medication was the same as the medication group. Additionally, 30 min electroacupuncture (continuous wave, 2 Hz) was applied to Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Dahe (KI 12), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Zhongji (CV 3), Diji (SP 8), Shenshu (BL 23), Sanjiaoshu (BL 22) and Ciliao (BL 32), etc. The treatment started on the 5th day of menstruation or medicine-withdrawal bleeding, once every two days, 3 times a week. One cycle of menstruation or 1 month was taken as one course. The treatment cycles were 3 months in the two groups. The level of estradiol (E) and progesterone (P) in the serum, the endometrial thickness and morphology, ovulation rate and clinical pregnancy rate, as well as the clinical therapeutic effects were compared after treatment in the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Two cases were dropped out because the herbal medicine was taken simultaneously in the acupuncture plus medication group. In the medication group, the medication was discontinued in 3 cases due to gastrointestinal adverse reactions. The total effective rate was 86.8% (33/38) in the acupuncture plus medication group, better than 64.9% (24/37) in the medication group (<0.05). The ovulation rate in the acupuncture plus medication group was higher than that in the medication group [(86.8%, 33/38) vs (64.9% 24/37), <0.05]. The pregnancy rate in the acupuncture plus medication group was higher than the medication group in tendency, without significant difference [21.1% (8/38) vs 16.2% (6/37), >0.05]. After treatment, the results of endometrial thickness and morphology (A-type rate) in the acupuncture plus medication group were better than those in the medication group (<0.01, <0.05). After treatment, regarding the levels of E and P in the serum in the window period of implantation, the results in the acupuncture plus medication group were higher remarkably than those in the medication group (both <0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The combined intervention of electroacupuncture and clomiphene achieves the definite effects of ovulation and pregnancy promotion in PCOS. It remarkably increases the levels of E and P in the serum, the endometrial thickness and A-type rate. The therapeutic effects of the combined intervention are remarkably better than those of the simple application of clomiphene. This combined intervention is safe and tolerable for the adverse reactions. The effect mechanisms may be related to the improvements of estrogen, progestin and endometrial receptivity.</p>

Professor's experience of staging, classification and sorting method for polycystic ovary syndrome / 中国针灸

The clinical experience of professorfor polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was summarized. According to the main pathogenesis of PCOS, the tonifying kidney should be taken as essence with synchronous treatment on liver, spleen and heart, presenting staging, classification and sorting method for PCOS. In the staging method, the regulation on follicle development should be taken as treatment core to comply with the rules ofand. A four-stage method was proposed, where "regulating method" was suitable in menstrual period, "tonifying method" in follicular phase;"dredging method" in ovulatory period and "adjustment and tonifying " in luteal phase. In the classification and sorting method, attention was paid on individualized treatment, and treatment was based on fat type, thin type and non-fat type as well as childbearing. Besides, psychological counseling and life adjustment for patient was essential, and the unity of body and mind could enhance curative effect.

A new elastic suspension strap orthosis for stroke patients to improve their walking ability in the early stage of recovery / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To explore the efficacy of a new elastic suspension strap orthosis, designed by the authors, in improving the motor function and walking ability of stroke patients. Methods Thirty-nine stroke pa-tients less than 1 month after stroke were recruited and divided randomly into a treatment group and a control group. The patients in the treatment group accepted walking training with the assistance of an elastic suspension strap orthosis, 5 times a week for 8 weeks, while the control group accepted the same training without the assistance of the elastic suspension strap orthosis. Results The treatment group improved significantly more than the control group with regard to its average Fugl-Meyer score, the functional ambulation categories of its members, and their walking speeds. Conclusions The elastic suspension strap orthosis could help correct abnormal gait patterns, improve walking speed, and enhance the recovery of walking ability in stroke patients.

Effects of Butyric acid on the Growth, Cell Cycle, and Morphology of Human Lung Cancer Cells / 第三军医大学学报

The effects of butyric acid on cloned human lung cancer cells (PLA-801D) were observed with flow cytometry (FCM) and the conventional methods to identify the biological characteristics of cell lines. Butyric acid ( 2 or 3 mmol/L)treatment could result in an inhibition of the cell division and the growth rate of the cells,the blocking of the cell cycle progression in the Gl phase,a prolongation in doubling time, a shortening in saturation time, a decrease of saturation densities,and a reduction of plating efficiency. At the same time,there were some normal phenotypes of the cells such as flattening, tendency to grow in a monolayer,weakening of surface membrane activities, regularization of nuclei, and increasing of intercellular junctions.These findings suggest that after the treatment of butyric acid, the cancer cells (PLA-801D) appeared to acquire relatively normal growth properties and phenotypes. Thus, butyric acid, to a certain extent, can induce differentiation of PLA-801D cells, and be a potential anticancer agent.