Acupuncture for insomnia after ischemic stroke: an assessor-participant blinded, randomized controlled trial.

Background: To date, there has been little focus on research into acupuncture for insomnia after ischemic stroke. Insomnia is one of the most common sequelae after ischemic stroke, and it is the most unrecognized modifiable risk factor.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for insomnia after ischemic stroke.

Guideline Acupuncture for low back pain: a clinical practice guideline from the Hong Kong taskforce of standardized acupuncture practice.

Objective: To develop a clinical practice guideline to guide the treatment of low back pain by acupuncture.

Methods: An integrative approach of systematic review of literature, clinical evidence classification, expert opinion surveying, and consensus establishing via a Delphi program was utilized during the developing process. Both evidence-based practice standards and the personalized features of acupuncture were taken into considerations.

Methodological challenges in design and conduct of randomised controlled trials in acupuncture.

examine the problems with designing and implementing trials of acupuncture

The effectiveness of Baduanjin exercise for hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Hypertension, a major risk factor of cardiovascular mortality, is a critical issue for public health. Although Baduanjin (Eight Brocades, EB), a traditional Chinese exercise, might influence blood pressure, glucose, and lipid status, the magnitude of true effects and subgroup differences remains unclear. Therefore, we performed a systematic review of relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the effect of EB on patient-important outcomes.

Laser irradiation activates spinal adenosine A1 receptor to alleviate osteoarthritis pain in monosodium iodoacetate injected rats.

The analgesic role of the adenosine A1 receptor is thought to involve the modulation of the spinal N-methyl D-aspartate receptor-mediated nociceptive pathway, which is suggested to be an underlying mechanism in chronic pain. Knee osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition accompanied by chronic pain. We have demonstrated that 10.

Verum- versus Sham-Acupuncture on Alzheimer's Disease (AD) in Animal Models: A Preclinical Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common health condition affecting senile people and leads to severe cognitive dysfunctions. Acupuncture has been shown to be a possible alternative natural remedy for AD in some animal studies.

Objective: To perform a systematic review to identify the effect of verum-acupuncture compared with sham-acupuncture on learning and memory performance among animal models of AD.

Chemical constituents from the thorns of and their cytotoxic activities.

A new aromatic glycoside () and a new natural product, neolignan (), along with twenty-three known compounds (), were isolated from the thorns of . According to the spectroscopic analyses (IR, UV, HRESIMS, NMR and ECD), the structures of isolates were elucidated. Herein, compounds , , , , , , , were isolated from the plant of for the first time.

CO Laser Moxibustion for Knee Osteoarthritis: Study Protocol for A Multicenter, Double-blind, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of disability among the older adults. Few treatments are safe and effective. Moxibustion is commonly used in treating knee OA in Chinese medicine (CM).

[Exploration and practice of micro-video teaching of ].

In this paper, the micro-video teaching mode was explored in the course construction of . The micro-video teaching contents include the academic thought, experience in diagnosis and treatment, characteristic technology and clinical manipulation of famous acupuncture experts in the Henan University of CM. Each micro-video film is designed within 15-18 min, including three sections of knowledge, i.

Self-administered acupressure for knee osteoarthritis in middle-aged and older adults: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To test the acceptability and feasibility of self-administered acupressure as an intervention for knee pain among middle-aged and older adults with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

Methods: In this pilot randomized controlled trial, 35 participants with KOA were randomized to receive self-administered acupressure (n = 17, two self-administered acupressure training sessions followed by self-practice for 6 weeks) or knee health education (n = 18, two health education sessions about KOA management followed by self-care for 6 weeks). Current pain intensity (primary outcome) was measured using a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) at baseline and weeks 1, 2, 4 and 6 (post-intervention).

Correlation between acupuncture dose and effectiveness in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review.

Background: Acupuncture is a widely used treatment for knee osteoarthritis, but evidence of its effectiveness from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) is contradictory.

Objective: To systematically review RCTs to determine whether the effect of acupuncture is dose dependent for symptom management in knee osteoarthritis.

Methods: Seven English/Chinese databases were searched through January 2017.

Application of UPLC-MS/MS to simultaneously detect four bioactive compounds in the tumour-shrinking decoction (FM1523) for uterine fibroids treatment.

Introduction: The Chinese medicine formulation, tumour-shrinking decoction (TSD, FM1523), which consists of 15 natural medicines, is used for uterine fibroids (UFs) therapy and possesses excellent clinical therapeutic effect.

Objective: To develop a sensitive and validated analytical method for the simultaneous quantification of four crucial bioactive compounds including isorhamnetin-3-O-neohesperidoside, curcumin, peimine and tetrahydropalmatine in the principal formulation of this decoction.

Methods: An ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) with an electrospray ionisation (ESI) source in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode was conducted to investigate these bioactive compounds in the TSD.

Electroacupuncture for tapering off long-term benzodiazepine use: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of using electroacupuncture as an adjunct treatment in enhancing the benzodiazepine cessation rate in long-term benzodiazepine users.

Methods: This was a randomized, assessor- and subject-blinded, controlled trial. One hundred and forty-four long-term benzodiazepine users were randomly assigned to receive either electroacupuncture or placebo acupuncture (a sham itervention using non-invasive placebo needles) combined with a gradual benzodiazepine tapering schedule for 4 weeks.

Downregulation of Aquaporin 9 Exacerbates Beta-amyloid-induced Neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's Disease Models In vitro and In vivo.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly, characterized by progressive cognitive dysfunction. Aquaporin 9 (AQP9) is an aquaglyceroporin membrane channel shown biophysically to conduct water, glycerol, and other small solutes. In our study, we reported for the first time an age-associated decrease in AQP9 mRNA and protein expressions in both hippocampus and cerebral cortex of APPswe/PS1dE9 (Tg) AD mice at 3, 6 and 10 months of age.

[Mechanisms of Acupuncture for Inflammatory Pain].

Although acupuncture, especially electroacupuncture (EA) is widely used to treat pain, its mechanisms have not been completely understood. In the present paper, we review the development of researches on the underlying mechanisms of EA in relieving inflammatory pain in recent years from a)peripheral inflammation-mediated immune response and neuro-immune interaction of receptors on primary nociceptors, b) crosstalk of neurotransmitters or neuromodulators, cellular signaling pathways, other related bioactive molecules, as well as glial activation in the dorsal horns of spinal cord, and c) supraspinal modulation of both sensory and affective components of pain. Inflammatory pain involves complex neuro-immune networks of neurons and non-neurons, various inflammatory mediators, neurotransmitters, neuromodulators and cellular signaling molecules in the peripheral and central nervous systems.

Self-administered acupressure for insomnia disorder: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Self-administered acupressure has potential as a low-cost alternative treatment for insomnia. To evaluate the short-term effects of self-administered acupressure for alleviating insomnia, a pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted. Thirty-one subjects (mean age: 53.

Proanthocyanidins from Uncaria rhynchophylla induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells while enhancing cytotoxic effects of 5-fluorouracil.

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and cause of cancer death in women worldwide. Current treatments often result in systematic toxicity and drug resistance. Combinational use of non-toxic phytochemicals with chemotherapeutic agents to enhance the efficacy and reduce toxicity would be one promising approach.

Electroacupuncture for tapering off long-term benzodiazepine use: study protocol of randomized controlled trial.

Background: Conventional approaches for benzodiazepine tapering have their limitations. Anecdotal studies have shown that acupuncture is a potential treatment for facilitating successful benzodiazepine tapering. As of today, there was no randomized controlled trial examining its efficacy and safety.

Effect of YH0618 soup on chemotherapy-induced toxicity in patients with cancer who have completed chemotherapy: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The incidence of cancer has been staying at a high level worldwide in recent years. With advances in cancer diagnosis and therapy strategy, the survival rate of patients with cancer has been increasing, but the side effects of these treatments, especially chemotherapy, are obvious even when the chemotherapy ceases. YH0618, a prescription, has showed efficacy in reducing chemotherapy-induced toxicity through long clinical practice.

Quality and safety control of tumor-shrinking decoction (TSD): A Chinese herbal preparation for the treatment of uterine fibroids.

Reproducible efficacy assessments of Chinese herbal medicines are largely based on well-established quality control procedures. This study presents a comprehensive quality control procedure for tumor-shrinking decoction (TSD), a 15-herb preparation under study as a potential therapy for uterine fibroids. Morphological, microscopic, and physicochemical authentications were first carried out on individual herbal medicines composing TSD.

Botanical drug puerarin coordinates with nerve growth factor in the regulation of neuronal survival and neuritogenesis via activating ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways in the neurite extension process.

Aim: Nerve growth factor (NGF) regulates neuronal survival and differentiation by activating extracellular signal-regulated-kinases (ERK) 1/2 and phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathways in two distinct processes: latency process and neurite extension process. This study was designed to investigate whether botanical drug C-glucosylated isoflavone puerarin coordinates with NGF to regulate neuritogenesis via activating ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt in neurite extension process.

Methods: We investigated the neuroprotective and neurotrophic activities of puerarin in MPTP-lesioned mice and dopaminergic PC12 cells.

[Efficacy of acupuncture in treatment of cancer pain: a systematic review].

Background: Although acupuncture is a well-established treatment for cancer pain and its effects have been widely reported in recent two decades, there is still controversy over whether its efficacy is better than placebo.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture therapy on cancer pain.

Search Strategy: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library, Issue 3, 2008), EMBASE, PubMed, ScienceDirect database, Current Controlled Trials, Chongqin VIP database and CNKI database were searched, and the search date ended in June 2008.

Mechanisms of treatment of cancer pain with a topical Chinese herbal formula in rats.

Background: Pain has a substantial impact on patients' activities and overall quality of life, but current conventional drugs have debilitating side effects, including gastrointestinal disorders. Thus there is a pressing need for new therapies with fewer side effects to alleviate cancer pain. We recently developed a topical herbal formula Xiaotan Tongluo analgesic gel (XTTL gel) based on the principles of traditional Chinese herbalism, and we have received positive feedback from bone cancer pain patients.

[Acupuncture clinical studies and evidence-based medicine--an update].

Acupuncture has been widely used in the West in recent years and demand has been growing for scientific evaluation of its clinical efficacy. The practice of evidence-based medicine has brought new challenges in the design of acupuncture research, and publication of randomized clinical trials on acupuncture has significantly increased. While systematic reviews of these trials have advanced our current knowledge, they have exposed deficiencies in research design and revealed that one design can not answer all research questions.