Double-Blind,
Placebo-Controlled trial of the Pain-Relieving Effects of the Implantation of
gold Beads into Dogs with Hip Dysplasia
Jaeger GT, et al. Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian
School of Veterinary Science, po Box 8146 Dep, N-0033 Oslo, Norway
Seventy-eight dogs with pain due to hip dysplasia were studied in a controlled,
double-blind clinical trial to evaluate gold bead implantation as a
pain-relieving treatment. The dogs were randomly assigned to two groups, 36 in
the gold implantation group and 42 in the placebo group. Both groups were
treated equally regarding anaesthesia, hair clipping and penetration of the skin
with the same type of needle. The gold implantation group had small pieces of 24
carat gold inserted through needles at five different acupuncture points and the
placebo group had the skin penetrated at five non-acupuncture points so as to
avoid any possible effect of stimulating the acupuncture points. A certified
veterinary acupuncturist marked the points, and two surgeons performed the
implantations according to a randomisation code made in advance. After 14 days,
three months and six months, the owners assessed the overall effect of the
treatments by answering a questionnaire, and the same veterinarian examined each
dog and evaluated its degree of lameness by examining videotaped footage of it
walking and trotting. The treatment was blinded for both the owners and the
veterinarian. There were significantly greater improvements in mobility and
greater reductions in the signs of pain in the dogs treated with gold
implantation than in the placebo group. The veterinarian's and the owners'
assessments corresponded well.
Vet Rec. 2006 May 27;158(21):722-726
Source PubMed
Analgesic
Effect of Electroacupuncture in Postthoracotomy Pain
Wong RH, et al. Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of
Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong, SAR, China
BACKGROUND: The role of electroacupuncture in postthoracotomy pain control is
uncertain. We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the role of electroacupuncture
in the management of early postthoracotomy wound pain. METHODS: A total of 27
patients with operable non-small cell lung carcinoma who received thoracotomy
were recruited and randomized to receive either electroacupuncture or sham
acupuncture in addition to routine oral analgesics and patient-controlled
intravenous analgesia for postoperative pain control. All patients received
acupuncture twice daily with visual analog pain score recorded for the first 7
postoperative days. Specific chest acupoints (LI 4, GB 34, GB 36, and TE 8) were
targeted. Patient-controlled analgesia was used for the first 3 postoperative
days in all patients, and the cumulative dosage used was recorded. RESULTS: Two
patients were excluded after randomization because of complications unrelated to
acupuncture. Interventions and data collection were completed for the remaining
25 patients (13 in the electroacupuncture group; 12 in the sham acupuncture
group). There was a trend for lower visual analog scale pain scores in the
electro-acupuncture group between postoperative days 2 and 6, although this did
not reach statistical significance. The cumulative dose of patient-controlled
analgesia morphine used on postoperative day 2 was significantly lower in the
electroacupuncture group ( 7.5 +/- 5 mg versus 15.6 +/- 12 mg; p < 0.05). Such
delay of onset of pain control may be related to the frequency of
electroacupuncture used. CONCLUSIONS: Electroacupuncture may reduce narcotic
analgesic usage in the early postoperative period. A prospective randomized
controlled trial using different electroacupuncture frequency is warranted to
verify this benefit.
Ann Thorac Surg. 2006 Jun;81(6):2031-2036
Source: PubMed
Cytoprotective
Effects of Lycium Barbarum Against Reducing Stress on Endoplasmic Reticulum
Yu MS, et al. Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases,
Department of Anatomy, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR
Chinese medicinal herbs have been consumed for thousands of years for the
purpose of healthy aging. Lycium barbarum is valued in Chinese culture for its
benefits to anti-aging, vision, kidney and liver. Recent studies showed that
extracts from L. barbarum possess biological activities including anti-aging,
anti-tumor, immune-stimulatory and cytoprotection. Most of these studies
emphasized that the protective function of L. barbarum is due to its
anti-oxidative effects. We have previously demonstrated that extract from L.
barbarum can protect neurons against beta-amyloid (Abeta) peptide-induced
apoptosis. Since Abeta toxicity may be mediated via oxidative stress, it is
still unclear whether the extract from L. barbarum is a simple anti-oxidant
exhibiting cytoprotective effects. We hypothesized that extract from L. barbarum
is not simply an anti-oxidant in order to function as a neuroprotective agent.
The aim of this study is to investigate whether the extract from L. barbarum (LBG)
protect neurons via mechanisms independent of anti-oxidative effects. Using a
reducing agent, dithiothreitol (DTT), we found that LBG exhibits cytoprotective
effects against reducing stress by lowering the DTT-induced LDH release and
caspase-3 activity. DTT can trigger endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress leading to
PKR-like ER kinase (PERK) activation. We also showed that LBG attenuates DTT-induced
PERK phosphorylation. The extract from L. barbarum is not simply an
anti-oxidant; it can also exhibit cytoprotective effects against reducing stress
by DTT.
Int J Mol Med. 2006 Jun;17(6):1157-61
Source: PubMed [TOP] |
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