[The effect of drug oil moxibustion for contents of Zinc and C-reactive protein in succus prostaticus of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effects differences and partial mechanism for chronic nonbacterial prostatitis (CNP) among drug oil moxibustion, simple moxibustion, and conventional western medicine. METHODS: A total of 120 patients who met the criteria of inclusion were randomly assigned into a drug oil moxibustion group, a moxibustion group and a western medication group, 40 cases in each one. Moxibustion was used at Guanyuan (CV 4), Zhongji (CV 3), Qihai (CV 6) and bilateral Yinlingquan (SP 9), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Shenshu (BL 23), Mingmen (GV 4), Pangguangshu (BL 28), Ciliao (BL 32), and Zhibian (BL 54), etc. The same moxibustion was used at the same acupoints in the drug oil moxibustion group after external application of medicated oil. Thirty min treatment was used once a day in alternated abdomen and back. In the western medication group, oral tamsulosin hydrochloride capsules were applied once a day, one capsule at a time. All the treatment was given for 30 days. Chronic prostatitis symptom index from National Institutes for Health (NIH-CPSI), the contents of Zinc (Zn) and C-reactive protein (CRP), as well as the number of white blood cells (WBC) and density of lecithin bodies were observed before and after treatment and 1 month after treatment. The effects were evaluated after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, the total effective rate of the drug oil moxibustion group was 90.0% (36/40), which was significantly higher than 72.5% (29/40) of the moxibustion group and 62.5% (25/40) of the western medication group (both P<0.05). After treatment and at follow-up in the three groups, the NIH-CPSI scores were lower than those before treatment (all P<0.05), and those in the drug oil moxibustion group were lower than the results in the moxibustion group and the western medication group (all P<0.05). The contents of Zn in the three groups were higher than those before treatment (all P<0.05), with better results in the drug oil moxibustion group (all P<0.05), and higher Zn contents in the moxibustion group compared with those in the western medication group (both P<0.05). The CRP levels were lower than those before treatment (all P<0.05), and those in the drug oil moxibustion group were better than those in the moxibustion group and western medication group (all P<0.05). The CRP contents in the moxibustion group were lower than those in the western medication group (both P<0.05). The number of WBC were lower than those before treatment (all P<0.05), with better results in the drug oil moxibustion group (all P<0.05). The concentrations of lecithin were higher than those before treatment (all P<0.05), with better results in the drug oil moxibustion group (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical effect of drug oil moxibustion is better than those of simple moxibustion and western medicine, which has advantages in improving clinical symptoms, Zn, the density of lecithin body and decreasing CRP content and the number of WBC.

L-carnitine ameliorated fasting-induced fatigue, hunger, and metabolic abnormalities in patients with metabolic syndrome: a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to determine that whether L-carnitine infusion could ameliorate fasting-induced adverse effects and improve outcomes. METHOD: In this 7-day, randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot study, 15 metabolic syndrome (MetS) patients (11/4 F/M; age 46.9 ± 9.14 years; body mass index [BMI] 28.2 ± 1.8 kg/m2) were in the L-carnitine group (LC) and 15 (10/5 F/M; age 46.8 ± 10.9 years; BMI 27.1 ± 2.3 kg/m2) were in the control group (CT). All participants underwent a 5-day modified fasting therapy introduced with 2-day moderate calorie restriction. Patients in the LC group received 4 g/day of intravenous L-carnitine, while patients in the CT group were injected with saline. Blood pressure (BP), anthropometric characteristics, markers of liver function, metabolic indices (plasma glucose, lipid profiles, uric acid, free fatty acid and insulin) and hypersensitivity C-reactive protein were measured. Perceived hunger was recorded daily by self-rating visual analogue scales. Fatigue was evaluated by Wessely and Powell scores. RESULTS: In contrast to the CT group, total cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, systolic and diastolic BP did not change significantly in the LC group after prolonged fasting. There were significant differences in weight loss (LC -4.6 ± 0.9 vs. CT -3.2 ± 1.1 kg, P = 0.03), and waist circumference (LC -5.0 ± 2.2 vs. CT -1.7 ± 1.16 cm, P < 0.001), waist hip ratio (LC -0.023 ± 0.017 vs. CT 0.012 ± 0.01, P < 0.001), insulin concentration (LC -9.9 ± 3.58 vs. CT -6.32 ± 3.44 µU/mL, P = 0.046), and γ-glutamyltransferase concentration (LC -7.07 ± 6.82 vs. CT -2.07 ± 4.18, P = 0.024). Perceived hunger scores were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the CT group during starvation, which was alleviated with L-carnitine administration in the LC group. Physical fatigue (LC -3.2 ± 3.17 vs. CT 1.8 ± 2.04, P < 0.001) and fatigue severity (LC -11.6 ± 8.38 vs. CT 8.18 ± 7.32, P < 0.001) were significantly reduced in the LC group but were aggravated in the CT group. CONCLUSION: Intravenous L-carnitine can ameliorate fasting-induced hunger, fatigue, cholesterol abnormalities and hepatic metabolic changes and facilitate fasting-induced weight loss in MetS patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR-TNRC-12002835.