Comparison of Electroacupuncture and Mild-Warm Moxibustion on Brain-Gut Function in Patients with Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and mild-warm moxibustion (Mox) therapies for constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (C-IBS) patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty C-IBS patients were assigned to 2 groups by simple randomized method, i.e. EA group (30 cases) and Mox group (30 cases). Both EA and Mox treatments were performed on bilateral Tianshu (ST 25) and Shangjuxu (ST 37) for 30 min each time, 6 times per week, for 4 consecutive weeks. The gastrointestinal symptoms and psychological symptoms of the two groups were scored before and after treatment. The effects on the corresponding functional brain areas, namely the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), insular cortex (IC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) were observed by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the Mox group, greater improvements in abdominal distension, defecation frequency, diffificulty in defecation and stool features were observed in the EA group (all P<0.01), both Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores were signifificantly decreased in the EA group (all P<0.01). Finally, decreased activated voxel values were observed in the ACC, right IC and PFC brain regions of EA group with 150 mL colorectal distension stimulation (P<0.05 or P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Both EA and Mox could signifificantly improve some of the most intrusive symptoms of C-IBS patients, and EA was more effective than Mox. The therapeutic effect of these two therapies might through modulating of the brain-gut axis function. (Registration No. ChiCTRTRC-11001349).</p>

Comparison of electroacupuncture and moxibustion on brain-gut function in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: A randomized controlled trial / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and moxibustion therapies on patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 60 D-IBS patients were randomly allocated to the EA group (30 cases) and moxibustion group (30 cases). Before and after treatment, the gastrointestinal symptoms and psychological symptoms were scored by Visual Analogue Scale, Bristol Stool Form Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD); the expressions of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), 5-HT3 receptor (5-HT3R), and 5-HT4 receptor (5-HT4R) in the sigmoid mucosal tissue were measured by immunohistochemical staining. Additionally, the effects on the functional brain areas of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), insular cortex (IC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) were observed by functional magnetic resonance imaging.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with before treatment, both EA and moxibustion groups reported significant improvements in abdominal pain and abdominal bloating after treatment (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The moxibustion group reported greater improvements in defecation emergency, defecation frequency, and stool feature than the EA group (P<0.01). Both HAMA and HAMD scores were significantly decreased in the moxibustion group than in the EA group (P<0.01). Both groups demonstrated significantly reduced expressions of 5-HT, 5-HT3R and 5-HT4R in the colonic mucosa after treatment (P<0.01), with a greater reduction of 5-HT in the moxibustion group (P<0.05). Finally, decreased activated voxel values were observed in the left IC, right IC and PFC brain regions of patients in the moxibustion group under stimulation with 150 mL colorectal distension after treatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while in the EA group only PFC area demonstrated a reduction (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Moxibustion can significantly improve the symptoms of D-IBS, suggesting that moxibustion may be a more effective therapy than EA for D-IBS patients.</p>

Effect of platelet rich plasma on vascularization of tissue-engineered bone / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of platelet rich plasma (PRP) on vascularization of tissue-engineered bone.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC) were isolated from iliac bone of dogs. PRP was obtained from the same dog and demineralized bone matrix (DBM) was prepared from homologous bone. Twelve dogs were divided into three groups and the back of each dog was divided into four areas. The DBM- BMSC- PRP was implanted in the area A and B; the DBM-BMSC without PRP was implanted in the area C and D. The implants in the areas A and C were wrapped using myo-fascia with blood vessel of latissimus dorsi. The implants in the area B and D were wrapped using superficial fascia of the back without blood vessel. The implants were taken out 4, 8 and 12 weeks later for examination.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The degree of calcification and blood vessel formation of the implants was A > B > C > D.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Both PRP and vessels of latissimus dorsi muscle could promote calcification and vascularization in tissue-engineered bone, when used separately or in combination.</p>

Effect of platelet-rich plasma and latissimus dorsi myofascia with blood vessel on vascularization of tissue engineered bone in dogs / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and latissimus dorsi myofascia with blood vessel on vascularization of tissue engineered bone in dogs.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) were isolated from iliac bone of dogs. PRP was obtained from the same dog. And demineralized bone matrix (DBM) were prepared from homologuous bone. ABCD 4 areas were divided on the back of dog. PRP/BMSCs/DBM was implanted around the vessels of lattisimus dorsi muscle in the A. PRP/BMSCs/DBM wrapped by superficial fascia in the B. BMSCs/DBM was implanted around vessels of lattisimus dorsi muscle in the C. BMSCs/DBM wrapped by superficial fascia in the D area of the same dog. 4, 8, 12 weeks after implantation, gross specimen and histology examination were made.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Osteogenesis and blood vessel formation results were A>B>C>D area.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results suggested that the PRP and latissimus dorsi myofascia with blood vessels could promote calcification and vascularization in tissue-engineered bone.</p>