[Acupuncture with Tiaochong Shugan method by stages for menstrual headache based on syndrome differentiation: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy between acupuncture with Tiaochong Shugan method by stages based on syndrome differentiation and oral administration of ibuprofen sustained-release capsule in patients with menstrual headache. METHODS: A total of 90 cases with menstrual headache were randomly divided into an acupuncture group (45 cases, 1 case excluded, 3 cases dropped off) and a medication group (45 cases, 3 cases dropped off). The patients in the acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture with Tiaochong Shugan method by stages based on syndrome differentiation; during period of pain attacks, Ganshu (BL 18), Qimen (LR 14), Hegu (LI 4), Taichong (LR 3), Sizhukong (TE 23) through Shuaigu (GB 8) were selected, once a day; during period of pain relief, Qichong (ST 30), Dahe (KI 12), Guanyuan (CV 4), Taixi (KI 3) were selected, once every 1-2 days. The patients in the medication group were treated with oral administration of ibuprofen sustained-release capsule during period of pain attacks. Each menstrual cycle was taken as a course of treatment, and both groups were treated for 3 courses. The headache comprehensive score (HCS), visual analogue scale (VAS) socre, dysmenorrhea symptom score (DSS) were compared before treatment, 1, 2 and 3 courses into treatment and 1, 2, 3 menstrual cycles after treatment; the clinical efficacy was also evaluated. RESULTS: The HCS score at each time point after treatment was lower than that before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05); 2 and 3 menstrual cycles after treatment, the HCS socres in the acupuncture group were lower than those in the medication group (P<0.05). Except for the 2 and 3 menstrual cycles after treatment in the medication group, the VAS score at each time point after treatment was lower than that before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05). Except for 1 menstrual cycle into treatment, the DSS scores in the acupuncture group at each time point after treatment was lower than that before treatment (P<0.05); the DSS socres at 2 and 3 menstrual cycles into treatment and 1 menstrual cycle after treatment were lower than those before treatment in the medication group (P<0.05). Except for 1 menstrual cycle into treatment, the VAS score and DSS score in the acupuncture group were lower than those in the medication group at each time point after treatment (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 82.9% (34/41) in the acupuncture group, which was higher than 73.8% (31/42) in the medication group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The analgesic effect of acupuncture with Tiaochong Shugan method by stages based on syndrome differentiation is superior to oral administration of ibuprofen sustained-release capsules, which could effectively prevent the recurrence of menstrual headache, and improve irregular menstruation-related symptoms.

Effects of needle-knife therapy on iNOS activity and NO content in skeletal muscles in the L3 transverse process syndrome model rat.

OBJECTIVE: To study on relationship of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity and nitric oxide (NO) content in the injured local soft tissue with injured degrees of the soft tissue in the third lumbar vertebrae (L3) transverse process syndrome model rat and to observe the effect of needle-knife therapy. METHODS: One hundred and sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, aminoguanidine (AG) group, needle-knife group, 40 rats in each group. The L3 transverse process syndrome rat model was established, and after treatment of needle-knife and AG iNOS activities and NO contents and histomorpholocal changes in the soft tissues around L3 transverse process on 1, 3, 7 and 14 days were observed in the groups. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, iNOS activity and NO content in the model group were significantly increased (P < 0.01); Compared with the model group, iNOS activities and NO contents were significantly decreased in both the needle-knife group and the AG group (both P < 0.01); And both iNOS activities and NO contents were identical with both local inflammation response and injured degrees of the injured tissue in the groups. CONCLUSION: Needle-knife therapy can significantly inhibit generation of NO, alleviate inflammatory response and injured degree of the injured soft tissue, improve microcirculation, prevent formation of pathological scar tissue, and promote repair of the chronic soft tissue injury.

[Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression and nitric oxide (NO) content in the skeletal muscles in transverse process syndrome of the 3rd lumbar vertebra of model rats treated with acupotomology therapy].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relation between the nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) expression and nitric oxide (NO) content in the skeletal muscles and the injury condition of soft tissue in the 3rd lumbar vertebrae syndrome model rats, and to observe the effect of acupotomology therapy. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-eight adult SD rats were allocated to 4 groups randomly: normal group, model group, aminoguanidin group and acupotomology treatment group, 32 rats in each group. NOS expression, NO content and injury of the soft tissue in the 3rd lumbar vertebra were observed on the 1st, 3rd, 7th and 14th day after the acupotomology treatment and aminoguanidine intervention. RESULTS: 1) Inducible NOS (iNos) activity and NO content in model group was significantly higher (F = 522.860, P < 0.01), in acupotomology group and aminoguanidine group was significantly lower than the model group (FiNOS = 28.894, P < 0.01), and iNOS activity and NO content in all groups was in competence with the condition of soft tissue injuries. 2) Endothelium NOS (eNOS) expression raised in model group and acupotomology group, and achieve peak on the 7th day. There was significant difference between the eNOS expression in acupotomology group and the model group (FeNOS = 3.454, P < 0.05). 3) The expression of neuron NOS (nNOS) in the model group, aminoguanidine group and acupotomology group had no significant (FnNOS = 0.962, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupotomology treatment can restrain the development of high content NO, release the inflammatory reaction and injury condition, improve microcirculation, prevent the development of scar tissue of the injured soft tissue, and has significant recovering effectiveness in the soft tissue injured model rats.