Tag: traditional Chinese medicine

Chaihu Longgu Muli decoction combined with acupuncture at back-shu points for chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect difference between Chaihu Longgu Muli decoction combined with acupuncture at back-shu points and simple Chaihu Longgu Muli decoction for chronic fatigue syndrome.

METHODS: Sixty patients were randomly assigned into an herbal group and a combination group, 30 cases in each one. Simple Chaihu Longgu Muli decoction was used in the herbal group for continuous one month, one decoction a day. Based on that in the herbal group, 30 min acupuncture was used in the combination group at bilateral Xinshu (BL 15), Feishu (BL 13), Pishu (BL 20), Ganshu (BL 18) and Shenshu (BL 23), with acupoints according to syndrome differentiation. Acupuncture was given for 3 courses, 10 times as a course with 3 days between two courses, once a day. Fatigue status was evaluated before and after treatment by fatigue scale 14 (FS-14) and self-rating anxiety scale (SAS).

RESULTS: The FS-14 scores, including body fatigue scores, mental fatigue scores and total scores, and SAS scores after treatment were lower than those before treatment in the two groups (all P<0.01), with better improvements in the combination group (all P<0.01).

CONCLUSION: Chaihu Longgu Muli decoction combined with acupuncture at back-shu points can improve chronic fatigue syndrome, which are better than simple Chaihu Longgu Muli decoction.

Source: Qi Y, Song S, Dou Z, Chen J, He G, Zhang L, Yao J. Chaihu Longgu Muli decoction combined with acupuncture at back-shu points for chronic fatigue syndrome. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2017 Nov 12;37(11):1187-90. doi: 10.13703/j.0255-2930.2017.11.013. [Article in Chinese] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29354956

Efficacy of acupoint catgut embedding combined with ginger-partitioned moxibustion on chronic fatigue syndrome of spleen-kidney yang deficiency syndrome and its effects on T lymphocyte subsets and activity of NK cell

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy differences between acupoint catgut embedding combined with ginger-partitioned moxibustion and regular acupuncture on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) of spleen-kidney yang deficiency syndrome, and to explore its effects on T lymphocyte subsets and activity of NK cell.

METHODS: A total of 60 patients with CFS of spleen-kidney yang deficiency syndrome were randomly divided into a catgut embedding combined with ginger-partitioned moxibustion (CECGP) group and a regular acupuncture group, 30 cases in each one. The patients in the CECGP group were treated with acupoint catgut embedding combined with ginger-partitioned moxibustion; the acupoint catgut embedding was applied at Guanyuan (CV 4), Shenshu (BL 23), Pishu (BL 20), Zusanli (ST 36), Qihai (CV 6), once a week, while the ginger-partitioned moxibustion was applied at Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6) and Zusanli (ST 36), once every three days for consecutive one month. The patients in the regular acupuncture group were treated with regular acupuncture at Guanyuan (CV 4), Shenshu (BL 23), Pishu (BL 20), Zusanli (ST 36), Qihai (CV 6), once a day, 6 treatments per week (one day for rest) for consecutive one month. The clinical symptom scores, fatigue scale-14 (FS-14), fatigue assessment instrument (FAI), laboratory test results and total effective rate were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.

RESULTS: (1) After treatment, the clinical symptom scores, FS-14 and FAI were reduced in the two groups (all P<0.05); after treatment, the clinical symptom scores, FS-14 and FAI in the CECGP group were significantly lower than those in the regular acupuncture group (all P<0.05). (2) After treatment, the CD4+/CD8+, natural killer cell% (NK%), CD3+%, CD% were all increased in the two groups (all +4 P<0.05); the CD4+/CD8+, CD3+%, CD% in the CECGP group were significantly higher than those in the regular acupuncture group (all P<0.05). (3) After treatment, the total effective rate was 96.7% (29/30) in the CECGP group, which was similar to 93.3% (28/30) in the regular acupuncture group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The acupoint catgut embedding combined with ginger-partitioned moxibustion, which could effectively relieve the symptoms, regulate T lymphocyte subsets and the activity of NK cell, is an effective method for CFS of spleen-kidney yang deficiency syndrome.

Source: Xia D, Chen P, Du P, Ding L, Liu A. [Efficacy of acupoint catgut embedding combined with ginger-partitioned moxibustion on chronic fatigue syndrome of spleen-kidney yang deficiency syndrome and its effects on T lymphocyte subsets and activity of NK cell]. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2017 Aug 12;37(8):814-818. doi: 10.13703/j.0255-2930.2017.08.004. [Article in Chinese]

Effect of Acupuncture on the Expression of Transcription Factor T-bet/GATA-3 in Plasma of Rats with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture on the expression of T-box expressed in T cell (T-bet)/GATA binding factor-3 (GATA-3) in plasma of rats with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and explore the mechanism of acupuncture treatment for CFS.

METHODS: Forty-eight healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into blank control group, CFS model group, acupuncture group, and ginsenoside group (12 rats in each group). CFS rat model was established by combining restriction and cold water swimming. Acupuncture was applied to “Baihui”(GV 20), “Guanyuan” (CV 4) and “Zusanli” (ST 36, bilate-ral) acupoints, once a day for two weeks. The ginsenoside group was gavage administrated with ginsenoside, once a day for two weeks. After 14 days, behavioural changes were observed, and the expression levels of T-bet/GATA-3 genes in plasma were detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTS: Compared with the blank control group, the time for immobility of forced suspensory test was signi-ficantly longer (P<0.05) and the time for exhaustive swimming was significantly shortened (P<0.05) in the CFS model group. Compared with the model group, the two indexes above-mentioned were reversed (P<0.05) both in the acupuncture group and the ginsenoside group, and the effects in the acupuncture group were more significant than those in the ginsenoside group (P<0.05). Compared with the blank control group, the expression level of T-cell transcription factor T-bet gene in plasma was higher in the CFS model group (P<0.05), companied with lower GATA-3 gene expression (P<0.05). The ratio of T-bet/GATA-3 was higher in the model group than in the blank control group(P<0.05). Compared with the CFS model group, all the indexes above-mentioned were reversed (P<0.05) in the two treatment groups. Acupuncture group showed a better effect on reducing T-bet gene expression than the ginsenoside group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture can decrease the expression level of T-bet gene while increase the expression of GATA-3 gene, which may be associated with its role in treating CFS.

Source: Wang XY, Liu CZ, Lei B. Effect of Acupuncture on the Expression of Transcription Factor T-bet/GATA-3 in Plasma of Rats with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2017 Jun 25;42(3):246-8. [Article in Chinese] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29071982

Characterization of a protein-bound polysaccharide from Herba Epimedii and its metabolic mechanism in chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

OBJECTIVES: Herba Epimedii is one of the famous Traditional Chinese Medicines used to treat the chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The polysaccharides are the main active components in Herba Epimedii. The aim of this study is to discover the therapeutic effect and metabolic mechanism of Herba Epimedii polysaccharides against CFS.

METHODS: The polysaccharide conjugates named HEP2-a were isolated from the leaves of Herba Epimedii using a water extraction method, and the general physicochemical properties of HEP2-a were analysed. In addition, a CFS rat model was established, and then, urinary metabonomic studies were performed using gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOF-MS) in combination with multivariate statistical analysis.

RESULTS: The physicochemical properties revealed that HEP2-a had an average molecular weight of 13.6×104 Da and consisted of mannose (4.41%), rhamnose (5.43%), glucose (31.26%), galactose (27.07%), arabinose (23.43%), and galacturonic acid (8.40%). The amino acids in HEP2-a include glutamate, cysteine, leucine, tyrosine, lysine, and histidine. Molecular morphology studies revealed many highly curled spherical particles with diameters of 5-10µm in solids and 100-200nm for particles in water. Five metabolites in the HEP2-a group were oppositely and significantly changed compared to the CFS model group.

CONCLUSION: Two metabolic pathways were identified as significant metabolic pathways involved with HEP2-a. The therapeutic effects of HEP2-a on CFS were partially due to the restoration of these disturbed pathways.

Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

 

Source: Chi A, Shen Z, Zhu W, Sun Y, Kang Y, Guo F. Characterization of a protein-bound polysaccharide from Herba Epimedii and its metabolic mechanism in chronic fatigue syndrome. J Ethnopharmacol. 2017 Mar 27. pii: S0378-8741(16)31138-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2017.03.041. [Epub ahead of print] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28359851

 

Acupuncture and moxibustion for chronic fatigue syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: As the etiology of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is unclear and the treatment is still a big issue. There exists a wide range of literature about acupuncture and moxibustion (AM) for CFS in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). But there are certain doubts as well in the effectiveness of its treatment due to the lack of a comprehensive and evidence-based medical proof to dispel the misgivings. Current study evaluated systematically the effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion treatments on CFS, and clarified the difference among them and Chinese herbal medicine, western medicine and sham-acupuncture.

METHODS: We comprehensively reviewed literature including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library, CBM (Chinese Biomedical Literature Database) and CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) up to May 2016, for RCT clinical research on CFS treated by acupuncture and moxibustion. Traditional direct meta-analysis was adopted to analyze the difference between AM and other treatments. Analysis was performed based on the treatment in experiment and control groups. Network meta-analysis was adopted to make comprehensive comparisons between any two kinds of treatments. The primary outcome was total effective rate, while relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used as the final pooled statistics.

RESULTS: A total of 31 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were enrolled in analyses. In traditional direct meta-analysis, we found that in comparison to Chinese herbal medicine, CbAM (combined acupuncture and moxibustion, which meant two or more types of acupuncture and moxibustion were adopted) had a higher total effective rate (RR (95% CI), 1.17 (1.09 ~ 1.25)). Compared with Chinese herbal medicine, western medicine and sham-acupuncture, SAM (single acupuncture or single moxibustion) had a higher total effective rate, with RR (95% CI) of 1.22 (1.14 ~ 1.30), 1.51 (1.31-1.74), 5.90 (3.64-9.56). In addition, compared with SAM, CbAM had a higher total effective rate (RR (95% CI), 1.23 (1.12 ~ 1.36)). In network meta-analyses, similar results were recorded. Subsequently, we ranked all treatments from high to low effective rate and the order was CbAM, SAM, Chinese herbal medicine, western medicine and sham-acupuncture.

CONCLUSIONS: In the treatment of CFS, CbAM and SAM may have better effect than other treatments. However, the included trials have relatively poor quality, hence high quality studies are needed to confirm our finding.

 

Source: Wang T, Xu C, Pan K, Xiong H. Acupuncture and moxibustion for chronic fatigue syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017 Mar 23;17(1):163. doi: 10.1186/s12906-017-1647-x. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28335756

 

Moxibustion at Gaohuang (BL 43) for chronic fatigue syndrome: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) treated with moxibustion at Gaohuang (BL 43).

METHODS: With stratified block randomization, 72 patients accorded with inclusive criteria were divided into a moxibustion at Gaohuang (BL 43) group (moxibustion group) and an acupuncture group, 36 cases in each one. In the moxibustion group, Gaohuang (BL 43) was treated with big moxa cones as the main acupoint, 10 cones a time; Qihai (CV 6) and Zusanli (ST 36) were added with big moxa cones, 7 cones a time. In the acupuncture group, acupoints were the same as those in the moxibustion group, and twirling reinforcing method was used after qi arriving, 60 times one minute and 360° with range. In the two groups, 10-day treatment was made into one course and there were two days between courses. The treatment was given once a day for 3 courses. Changes of fatigue assessment index (FAI) before and after treatment and clinical effects were observed.

RESULTS: The total effective rate was 88.9% (32/36) in the moxibustion group, which was better than 72.2% (26/36) in the acupuncture group apparently (P < 0.05). After treatment in the two groups, FAI scores were obviously declined compared with those before treatment (both P < 0.01) and FAI score in the moxibustion group was apparently lower than that in the acupuncture group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Moxibustion at Gaohuang (BL 43) can improve the FAI score of patients with CFS and the clinical efficacy is definite.

 

Source: Tian L, Wang J, Luo C, Sun R, Zhang X, Yuan B, Du XZ. Moxibustion at Gaohuang (BL 43) for chronic fatigue syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2015 Nov;35(11):1127-30. [Article in Chinese] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26939325

 

Effect of Lixujieyu recipe in combination with Five Elements music therapy on chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effects of the Lixujieyu recipe combined with Five Elements music therapy on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) identified as the symptom patterns of liver stagnation and spleen deficiency in terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

METHODS: Patients with CFS were randomly divided into treatment group 1 (Lixujieyu recipe combined with Gong-Tune, n = 15); treatment group 2 (Lixujieyu recipe combined with Jiao-Tune, n = 15); treatment group 3 (Lixujieyu recipe combined with Yu-Tune, n = 15); treatment group 4 (Lixujieyu recipe combined with Shang-Tune, n = 15); treatment group 5 (Lixuiievu recipe combined with Zhi-Tune, n = 15); and the control group (Lixujieyu recipe alone, n = 15). Chinese medicine was given twice daily, and music was listened to for 45 minutes daily, 5 days a week. All patients were treated for 4 weeks. Patients were assessed via the Fatigue Scale, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale before and after treatment.

RESULTS: Treatment groups 1 and 2 had better effects on relieving the symptoms of physical fatigue related to anxiety and depression than the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Lixujieyu recipe combined with Gong-Tune or Jiao-Tune significantly relieved the symptoms of CFS.

 

Source: Zhang Z, Cai Z, Yu Y, Wu L, Zhang Y. Effect of Lixujieyu recipe in combination with Five Elements music therapy on chronic fatigue syndrome. J Tradit Chin Med. 2015 Dec;35(6):637-41. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26742307

 

Hybrid facial image feature extraction and recognition for non-invasive chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis

Abstract:

Due to an absence of reliable biochemical markers, the diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) mainly relies on the clinical symptoms, and the experience and skill of the doctors currently. To improve objectivity and reduce work intensity, a hybrid facial feature is proposed.

First, several kinds of appearance features are identified in different facial regions according to clinical observations of traditional Chinese medicine experts, including vertical striped wrinkles on the forehead, puffiness of the lower eyelid, the skin colour of the cheeks, nose and lips, and the shape of the mouth corner. Afterwards, such features are extracted and systematically combined to form a hybrid feature.

We divide the face into several regions based on twelve active appearance model (AAM) feature points, and ten straight lines across them. Then, Gabor wavelet filtering, CIELab color components, threshold-based segmentation and curve fitting are applied to extract features, and Gabor features are reduced by a manifold preserving projection method. Finally, an AdaBoost based score level fusion of multi-modal features is performed after classification of each feature.

Despite that the subjects involved in this trial are exclusively Chinese, the method achieves an average accuracy of 89.04% on the training set and 88.32% on the testing set based on the K-fold cross-validation. In addition, the method also possesses desirable sensitivity and specificity on CFS prediction.

Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

 

Source: Chen Y, Liu W, Zhang L, Yan M, Zeng Y. Hybrid facial image feature extraction and recognition for non-invasive chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis. Comput Biol Med. 2015 Sep;64:30-9. doi: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2015.06.005. Epub 2015 Jun 15. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26117650

 

The theoretical basis for chronic fatigue syndrome from bladder meridian of foot-taiyang

Abstract:

The bladder meridian of foot-taiyang is considered as key of six meridians and the yang of the yang, which is the pivot of transportation for qi and blood in the meridians and zang-fu. The running route and treatment characteristic of bladder meridian is closely related with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The bladder meridian belongs to brain and connects with governor vessel, which has a close relationship with zang-fu function, quality of sleep and fatigue. Besides, the running route of bladder meridian is highly consistent with the surface projections of important anatomical structures such as muscle, nerve and sympathetic trunk, etc. Therefore, regulating the meridian-qi of bladder meridian can harmonize five-zang and calm the mind, but also effectively relieve physical and mental fatigue in CFS.

 

Source: Yao F, Zhao Y, Jiang S, Fang M. The theorotical basis for chronic fatigue syndrome from bladder meridian of foot-taiyang. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2015 Mar;35(3):295-8. [Article in Chinese] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26062210

 

Immunomodulating and antioxidant effects of polysaccharide conjugates from the fruits of Ziziphus Jujube on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome rats

Abstract:

To detect the treatment effect of the fruits of Ziziphus Jujube in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Jujube polysaccharide conjugates (JPC) were isolated from the fruits of Z. Jujube. General physicochemical properties of JPC were analyzed.

A four-week rats CFS model was established and JPC were orally administrated, the behavior experiments were conducted after CFS. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum were elevated and T lymphocyte proliferation, CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio and natural killer (NK) cells activity were analyzed.

JPC markedly improved behaviors of CFS rats, also decreased MDA levels in serum, and elevated T lymphocyte proliferation, CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio and natural killer (NK) cells activities. This suggests that JPC can improve the immune system and antioxidant activity of CFS rats and might be regarded as a biological response modifier.

Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

 

Source: Chi A, Kang C, Zhang Y, Tang L, Guo H, Li H, Zhang K. Immunomodulating and antioxidant effects of polysaccharide conjugates from the fruits of Ziziphus Jujube on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome rats. Carbohydr Polym. 2015 May 20;122:189-96. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.12.082. Epub 2015 Jan 14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25817658