Bmc Complem Altern M
-
Bmc Complem Altern M · Dec 2016
Activation of hippocampal MEK1 contributes to the cumulative antinociceptive effect of electroacupuncture in neuropathic pain rats.
Electroacupuncture (EA) intervention can relieve a variety of pain; however, optimal EA protocols have not been clearly determined. In addition, although central mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) signaling has been shown to be involved in the antinociceptive effect of acupuncture stimulation, its characteristics at different time-points of EA intervention have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, the present study investigated the relationship between the effects of different numbers of EA intervention sessions and the activation of MEK1 in the hippocampus and hypothalamus in a rat model of neuropathic pain. ⋯ EA intervention can induce time-dependent cumulative analgesia in neuropathic pain rats after 4 successive sessions of daily EA intervention, which is at least in part related to the activation of hippocampal MEK1.
-
Bmc Complem Altern M · Dec 2016
Antiplatelet and antithrombotic effects of cordycepin-enriched WIB-801CE from Cordyceps militaris ex vivo, in vivo, and in vitro.
A species of the fungal genus Cordyceps has been used as a complementary and alternative medicine of traditional Chinese medicine, and its major component cordycepin and cordycepin-enriched WIB-801CE are known to have antiplatelet effects in vitro. However, it is unknown whether they have also endogenous antiplatelet and antithrombotic effects. In this study, to resolve these doubts, we prepared cordycepin-enriched WIB-801CE, an ethanol extract from Cordyceps militaris-hypha, then evaluated its ex vivo, in vivo, and in vitro antiplatelet and antithrombotic effects. ⋯ WIB-801CE inhibited collagen- and ADP-induced platelet activation and its associated thrombus formation ex vivo and in vivo. These were resulted from down-regulation of TXA2 production and its related AA release and TXAS activity, and p38MAPK and ERK2 activation. These results suggest that WIB-801CE has therapeutic potential to treat platelet activation-mediated thrombotic diseases in vivo.
-
Bmc Complem Altern M · Nov 2016
Randomized Controlled TrialAcupuncture with different acupoint combinations for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
Acupuncture is beneficial for controlling chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). However, the effect of different acupoint combinations on controlling CINV remains unknown. This study aims to compare the effects of distal-proximal point association and local distribution point association on controlling CINV. ⋯ Results of this trial will help in evaluating the efficacy and safety of electro-acupuncture with different acupoint combinations in the management of CINV.
-
Bmc Complem Altern M · Nov 2016
Randomized Controlled TrialEfficacy of acupuncture for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndromes: study protocol for a randomized, sham acupuncture-controlled trial.
Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) affects many adult men worldwide. The currently available therapies offer little or no proven benefit for CP/CPPS. We designed this study to assess the efficacy of acupuncture therapy for the treatment of CP/CPPS. ⋯ This is a randomized, sham-controlled trial of acupuncture treatment for CP/CPPS. The results of this trial will provide more evidence on whether acupuncture is efficacious for treating CP/CPPS.
-
Bmc Complem Altern M · Oct 2016
ReviewThe quantity and quality of complementary and alternative medicine clinical practice guidelines on herbal medicines, acupuncture and spinal manipulation: systematic review and assessment using AGREE II.
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is often not disclosed by patients, and can be unfamiliar to health care professionals. This may lead to underuse of beneficial CAM therapies, and overuse of other CAM therapies with little proven benefit or known contraindications. No prior research has thoroughly evaluated the credibility of knowledge-based resources. The purpose of this research was to assess the quantity and quality of CAM guidelines. ⋯ Guidelines that scored well could be used by patients and health care professionals as the basis for discussion about the use of these CAM therapies. In future updates, guidelines that achieved variable or lower scores could be improved according to specifications in the AGREE II instrument, and with insight from a large number of resources that are available to support guideline development and implementation. Future research should identify CAM therapies other than those reviewed here for which guidelines are available. Research is also needed on the safety and effectiveness of CAM therapies.