ABSTRACT
China Association of Chinese Medicine organized specialists in andrology of Chinese and western medicine to explore the population and treatment stage of benign prostatic hyperplasia （BPH） with Chinese medicine as the leading therapy. Chinese medicine has great advantages in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. However， it is necessary to make clear the stage when Chinese medicine or modern medical treatment can be used as the leading therapy， and the conditions under which Chinese and western medicine can be combined to achieve the best treatment efficacy. The specialists agreed Chinese medicine as the leading therapy for the treatment of BPH in the following populations or conditions： the elderly and weak patients with basic diseases， BPH symptoms， and cannot tolerate anesthesia and surgery， the patients with BPH symptoms and cannot tolerate the adverse reactions or the possible adverse reactions of western medicine； the patients with mild ［international prostatic symptom score （IPSS） ≤ 7］ or moderate lower urinary tract symptoms （IPSS ≥ 8） and the quality of life not significantly affected， the patients with bladder detrusor hypofunction， bladder dysfunction and cannot be treated surgically， or with incomplete bladder emptying after surgical treatment； the BPH patients with prostatitis as the main clinical manifestation， the patients with non-acute complications after operation. BPH is one of the dominant diseases in urology and andrology of Chinese medicine， and the symptoms， complications， and prognosis of BPH patients need to be fully considered during the clinical treatment. When Chinese medicine is taken as the leading therapy， it is essential to regularly review the serum level of prostate-specific antigen to exclude the possibility of prostate cancer， and apply Chinese medicine for full treatment course and cycle. At the same time， Chinese and western medicine can be combined to achieve the most effective， convenient， economical， and satisfactory treatment， which can carry forward the advantages of Chinese medicine in treating this disease.
ABSTRACT
In recent years， the incidence rate of andrological diseases has shown a significant growth trend. Considering the unavailability of a perfect theoretical system for andrology in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） and the complex pathogenesis despite of the limited types of andrological diseases， it is necessary to improve the clinical efficacy of andrological diseases so as to satisfy the needs of patients. Therefore， the China Association of Chinese Medicine （CACM） organized the andrologists of TCM and western medicine and the outstanding young clinicians to discuss the andrological diseases responding specifically to TCM or integrated TCM and western medicine， such as chronic prostatitis， male infertility， benign prostatic hyperplasia， erectile dysfunction， and premature ejaculation， determine their diagnostic criteria in western medicine， and standardize the specifications for TCM diagnosis and treatment based on syndrome differentiation， thus formulating recognized and integrated diagnosis and treatment protocols. Apart from proposing suggestions on the treatment of such andrological diseases with TCM and western medicine， the experts have also figured out the andrological diseases responding specifically to TCM， the optimal intervention time of TCM and western medicine， and the suitable measures including surgery. The resulting consensus helps to better guide the formulation of accurate， personalized， and optimized treatment plans in clinical practice and improve the diagnosis and treatment effects of andrological diseases by giving full play to the advantages of TCM， which will in turn contribute to further innovation and development of TCM.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of pterygopalatine fossa puncture using one acupuncture needle inserted through the temporal fossa (intervention) and Chinese verum acupuncture (VA) in patients with moderate-to-severe persistent allergic rhinitis. METHODS: The patients were randomized to an intervention group receiving pterygopalatine fossa puncture with one acupuncture needle for 4 weeks (once or twice weekly, 4-8 sessions in total, with a second course performed if required) or to a control group receiving individualized VA for 4 weeks (twice weekly, eight sessions in total). Patients were followed up 4 weeks later. RESULTS: Ninety-six participants were assigned to intervention (n = 48) or VA (n = 48) or VA (P > 0.05 in all cases). Compared with the VA, the time to onset of effect in the intervention group was shorter and the duration of effectiveness was longer. The mean clinical waiting time was significantly shorter in the intervention group than in the control group (6.640 ± 3.035 min and 31.19 ± 10.216 min, respectively). The total number of sessions in the VA group was 384; 7 episodes of subcutaneous bleeding occurred but did not require treatment. The total number of sessions in the intervention group was 185. Two cases of subcutaneous bleeding (one of local hematoma during the intervention and the other one of bruising in the palpebra inferior on the day after intervention) resolved upon withdrawal from the study. CONCLUSIONS: Pterygopalatine fossa puncture using one acupuncture needle resulted in a shorter time to onset of effect, a longer duration of effectiveness, and less clinical waiting time when compared with VA. Though the significant differences for TNSS and TNNSS were shown within intervention and VA groups, there were no differences between the two groups. Although the rate of subcutaneous bleeding was low, these adverse events may influence patient compliance. This trial is registered with ISRCTN21980724.
