Acupuncture is potentially beneficial for post-stroke rehabilitation and is considered a promising preventive strategy for stroke.Electroacupuncture pretreatment or treatment after ischemic stroke by using appropriate...Acupuncture is potentially beneficial for post-stroke rehabilitation and is considered a promising preventive strategy for stroke.Electroacupuncture pretreatment or treatment after ischemic stroke by using appropriate electroacupuncture parameters generates neuroprotective and neuroregenerative effects that increase cerebral blood flow,regulate oxidative stress,attenuate glutamate excitotoxicity,maintain bloodbrain barrier integrity,inhibit apoptosis,increase growth factor production,and induce cerebral ischemic tolerance.展开更多
BACKGROUND Efficient bowel cleansing is essential for a successful colonoscopy,but the ideal cleansing agent,volume,and pharmaceutical dosage form have yet to be determined.Small-volume cleansers enhance patient compl...BACKGROUND Efficient bowel cleansing is essential for a successful colonoscopy,but the ideal cleansing agent,volume,and pharmaceutical dosage form have yet to be determined.Small-volume cleansers enhance patient compliance.AIM To compare the bowel cleansing efficacy of 32-tablet sodium phosphate(Quiklean®)with 2-L polyethylene glycol(PEG)/bisacodyl(Klean-Prep/Dulcolax®)under identical dietary recommendations.METHODS This multicenter,randomized,parallel-group,noninferiority clinical trial enrolled 472 outpatients,randomized 456 subjects,and scheduled 442 subjects to undergo colonoscopy(Quiklean®=222 and Klean-Prep/Dulcolax®=220).After bowel preparation,a colonoscopist performed the colonoscopy with video recorded for rating.The primary efficacy endpoint was the bowel cleansing quality using the Aronchick Scale.The secondary endpoints were the bowel cleansing efficacy of three colon segments,tolerability and acceptability,safety using the Ottawa bowel preparation scale,questionnaires by subjects,and monitoring of adverse events.RESULTS Success rates(Excellent+Good)of the bowel cleansing quality by Aronchick Scale were 98.6%(n=205)and 97.6%(n=204)in the Quiklean®and Klean-Prep/Dulcolax®groups,respectively.Quiklean®demonstrated noninferiority over Klean-Prep/Dulcolax®in colon cleansing efficacy.Quicken showed better tolerability and acceptability in the overall experience(was rated as excellent;24.0%vs 17.2%;P=0.0016)and the taste of the study preparation(was rated as excellent,23.1%vs 13.4%;P<0.0001)than Klean-Prep/Dulcolax®.Safety profiles did not differ between the two groups.Our data indicate that Quiklean®is an adequate,well-tolerated bowel cleansing preparation compared with the standard comparator Klean-Prep/Dulcolax®.CONCLUSION Quiklean®is sodium phosphate tablets available on Taiwan’s market for bowel preparation;it potentially offers patients an alternative to standard large-volume bowel preparation regimens and may,therefore,increase positive attitudes toward colonoscopies and participation rates.展开更多
Neuroregenerafion is a complex topic in neurosci- ence and includes 3 concepts： neurogenesis, neuro- plasticity, and neurorestoration. After injury of the nervous system, axons have the capacity for self-re- pair, re...Neuroregenerafion is a complex topic in neurosci- ence and includes 3 concepts： neurogenesis, neuro- plasticity, and neurorestoration. After injury of the nervous system, axons have the capacity for self-re- pair, regrowth or proliferation. The peripheral ner- vous system is more effective at restoring damaged axons than the central nervous system （CNS）. This is because formation of scar tissue in the CNS in- fluences neural regrowth or synthesis of growth-in- hibiting proteins, thereby preventing reconstruction of a neural circuit （Silver and Miller, 2004; Enciu et al., 2011）. Parkinson＇s disease （PD） and Alzheimer＇s disease （AD） are two most common degenerative diseases of the CNS among the elderly.展开更多
Traditional Chinese acupuncture has a history of over 2500 years. It is effective in the treatment of many conditions with few side effects. The best known mechanism is via endogenous opiates and their receptors. In a...Traditional Chinese acupuncture has a history of over 2500 years. It is effective in the treatment of many conditions with few side effects. The best known mechanism is via endogenous opiates and their receptors. In addition to opioids, researchers have focused on the role of central monoamimergic systems. Acupuncture therapy is used not only to relieve pain but also to treat various medical conditions in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. Some experiments have revealed a relationship between acupuncture and the autonomic nervous system （ANS）. Besides, electroacupuncture （EA） can modulate the imbalance between innate and acquired immune systems. This review is focusing on the mechanistic studies of acupuncture that my colleagues and I have performed in Taiwan in recent years. We found that EA analgesia was closely related to not only the serotonergic neurons but also the adrenergic neurons in the central nervous system. The electrophysiological recordings suggested the involvement of the cerebral cortex in acupuncture. Local somatothermal stimulation inhibited the motility of sphincter of Oddi and internal anal sphincter through nitrergic neural release of nitric oxide. Mild local heat stress upregulated hepatic gene expression of heat shock protein 70 and protected the liver from subsequent ischemia- reperfusion injury. These studies supplement the knowledge of the mechanism of acupuncture.展开更多
Background Post-operation pain is a very subjective phenomenon. The aim of this study was to find out the effects of acupuncture or electro-acupuncture on post-cesarean pain. Methods Sixty women, who had had spinal an...Background Post-operation pain is a very subjective phenomenon. The aim of this study was to find out the effects of acupuncture or electro-acupuncture on post-cesarean pain. Methods Sixty women, who had had spinal anesthesia during cesarean section at the Department of Obstetrics of China Medical University Hospital, were randomly assigned to the control group, the acupuncture group, and the electro-acupuncture group. After the operation, we applied subjects with acupuncture or electro-acupuncture on the bilateral acupuncture point, San Yin Jiao （Sp6）, and the patient controlled analgesia （PCA）. The first time of requesting morphine, the frequency of PCA demands in 24 hours, and the doses of PCA used were recorded double blindly. In addition, monitoring the subjects＇ vital signs, the opioid-related side effects, and the pain scores was done. Results The results showed that the acupuncture group and the electro-acupuncture group could delay the time of requesting morphine up to 10-11 minutes when compared with the control group. The total dose of PCA used within the first 24 hours was 30%-35% less in the acupuncture group and the electro-acupuncture group when compared with the control group, which was indicated in statistical significance. However, there was no significant difference between the acupuncture group and the electro-acupuncture group. The electro-acupuncture group＇s and the acupuncture group＇s pain scores were lower than the control group＇s within the first 2 hours. Both were statistically significant. However, two hours later, there were no significant differences of the visual analogue scale （VAS） scores between either of the treatment groups and the control group. Finally, the incidence of opioid-related side effects, such as dizziness, was less in the acupuncture group and electro-acupuncture group than in the control group. Conclusions This study shows that the application of acupuncture and electro-acupuncture could definitely delay the time of requesting pain relief medication after cesarean section and decrease the PCA doses used within the first 24 hours.展开更多
Background Previous studies have noted that there is a high utilization rate of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） services in Taiwan, China and in western countries, but few studies investigated factors associated ...Background Previous studies have noted that there is a high utilization rate of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） services in Taiwan, China and in western countries, but few studies investigated factors associated with the utilization of TCM in Taiwan. This study analyzes the utilization rate and the factors associated with the utilization of TCM in Taiwan. Methods Data for this study were from the 2002 HPKAP Survey that conducted the face-to-face questionnaire interviews of people aged 15 years and over from October 2002 to March 2003 in Taiwan. This study analyzed the utilization of TCM outpatient services, including admission to the hospital and clinic visits. Results A total of 26 755 participants completed the survey in the six-month period. The data revealed that 10.4% of participants had utilized TCM services in the past one month while 4.2% of participants utilized TCM only （without using Western medicine outpatient services （WM） or Folk therapy （FT））. The average visits of TCM services per patient was higher among people who had utilized TCM and FT services （2.68 visits） than among those who had utilized WM and FT services （2.15 visits） or TCM services alone （2.15 visits） during the previous one month. Younger people （odds ratio OR = 1.78, 95%CI= 1.47-2.16）, women （compared with men）, and people with higher education levels （OR = 1.58, 95%CI= 1.25-1.98） were more likely to visit TCM than compared groups. People with self-reported poor health status （OR = 2.07, 95%CI= 1.76-2.44） and people who exercise regularly （OR = 1.17, 95%CI= 1.07-1.27） had higher ORs to visit TCM service than comparison group. Conclusions There is a high utilization of TCM in Taiwan. Further studies are needed to investigate the related factors and determinants between the utilization of TCM and the utilization of FT in Taiwan.展开更多
基金supported under the Aim for the Top University Plan of the Ministry of Education,Taiwan,China
文摘Acupuncture is potentially beneficial for post-stroke rehabilitation and is considered a promising preventive strategy for stroke.Electroacupuncture pretreatment or treatment after ischemic stroke by using appropriate electroacupuncture parameters generates neuroprotective and neuroregenerative effects that increase cerebral blood flow,regulate oxidative stress,attenuate glutamate excitotoxicity,maintain bloodbrain barrier integrity,inhibit apoptosis,increase growth factor production,and induce cerebral ischemic tolerance.
基金The China Medical University Hospital,No.DMR-108-125.
文摘BACKGROUND Efficient bowel cleansing is essential for a successful colonoscopy,but the ideal cleansing agent,volume,and pharmaceutical dosage form have yet to be determined.Small-volume cleansers enhance patient compliance.AIM To compare the bowel cleansing efficacy of 32-tablet sodium phosphate(Quiklean®)with 2-L polyethylene glycol(PEG)/bisacodyl(Klean-Prep/Dulcolax®)under identical dietary recommendations.METHODS This multicenter,randomized,parallel-group,noninferiority clinical trial enrolled 472 outpatients,randomized 456 subjects,and scheduled 442 subjects to undergo colonoscopy(Quiklean®=222 and Klean-Prep/Dulcolax®=220).After bowel preparation,a colonoscopist performed the colonoscopy with video recorded for rating.The primary efficacy endpoint was the bowel cleansing quality using the Aronchick Scale.The secondary endpoints were the bowel cleansing efficacy of three colon segments,tolerability and acceptability,safety using the Ottawa bowel preparation scale,questionnaires by subjects,and monitoring of adverse events.RESULTS Success rates(Excellent+Good)of the bowel cleansing quality by Aronchick Scale were 98.6%(n=205)and 97.6%(n=204)in the Quiklean®and Klean-Prep/Dulcolax®groups,respectively.Quiklean®demonstrated noninferiority over Klean-Prep/Dulcolax®in colon cleansing efficacy.Quicken showed better tolerability and acceptability in the overall experience(was rated as excellent;24.0%vs 17.2%;P=0.0016)and the taste of the study preparation(was rated as excellent,23.1%vs 13.4%;P<0.0001)than Klean-Prep/Dulcolax®.Safety profiles did not differ between the two groups.Our data indicate that Quiklean®is an adequate,well-tolerated bowel cleansing preparation compared with the standard comparator Klean-Prep/Dulcolax®.CONCLUSION Quiklean®is sodium phosphate tablets available on Taiwan’s market for bowel preparation;it potentially offers patients an alternative to standard large-volume bowel preparation regimens and may,therefore,increase positive attitudes toward colonoscopies and participation rates.
文摘Neuroregenerafion is a complex topic in neurosci- ence and includes 3 concepts： neurogenesis, neuro- plasticity, and neurorestoration. After injury of the nervous system, axons have the capacity for self-re- pair, regrowth or proliferation. The peripheral ner- vous system is more effective at restoring damaged axons than the central nervous system （CNS）. This is because formation of scar tissue in the CNS in- fluences neural regrowth or synthesis of growth-in- hibiting proteins, thereby preventing reconstruction of a neural circuit （Silver and Miller, 2004; Enciu et al., 2011）. Parkinson＇s disease （PD） and Alzheimer＇s disease （AD） are two most common degenerative diseases of the CNS among the elderly.
文摘Traditional Chinese acupuncture has a history of over 2500 years. It is effective in the treatment of many conditions with few side effects. The best known mechanism is via endogenous opiates and their receptors. In addition to opioids, researchers have focused on the role of central monoamimergic systems. Acupuncture therapy is used not only to relieve pain but also to treat various medical conditions in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. Some experiments have revealed a relationship between acupuncture and the autonomic nervous system （ANS）. Besides, electroacupuncture （EA） can modulate the imbalance between innate and acquired immune systems. This review is focusing on the mechanistic studies of acupuncture that my colleagues and I have performed in Taiwan in recent years. We found that EA analgesia was closely related to not only the serotonergic neurons but also the adrenergic neurons in the central nervous system. The electrophysiological recordings suggested the involvement of the cerebral cortex in acupuncture. Local somatothermal stimulation inhibited the motility of sphincter of Oddi and internal anal sphincter through nitrergic neural release of nitric oxide. Mild local heat stress upregulated hepatic gene expression of heat shock protein 70 and protected the liver from subsequent ischemia- reperfusion injury. These studies supplement the knowledge of the mechanism of acupuncture.
文摘Background Post-operation pain is a very subjective phenomenon. The aim of this study was to find out the effects of acupuncture or electro-acupuncture on post-cesarean pain. Methods Sixty women, who had had spinal anesthesia during cesarean section at the Department of Obstetrics of China Medical University Hospital, were randomly assigned to the control group, the acupuncture group, and the electro-acupuncture group. After the operation, we applied subjects with acupuncture or electro-acupuncture on the bilateral acupuncture point, San Yin Jiao （Sp6）, and the patient controlled analgesia （PCA）. The first time of requesting morphine, the frequency of PCA demands in 24 hours, and the doses of PCA used were recorded double blindly. In addition, monitoring the subjects＇ vital signs, the opioid-related side effects, and the pain scores was done. Results The results showed that the acupuncture group and the electro-acupuncture group could delay the time of requesting morphine up to 10-11 minutes when compared with the control group. The total dose of PCA used within the first 24 hours was 30%-35% less in the acupuncture group and the electro-acupuncture group when compared with the control group, which was indicated in statistical significance. However, there was no significant difference between the acupuncture group and the electro-acupuncture group. The electro-acupuncture group＇s and the acupuncture group＇s pain scores were lower than the control group＇s within the first 2 hours. Both were statistically significant. However, two hours later, there were no significant differences of the visual analogue scale （VAS） scores between either of the treatment groups and the control group. Finally, the incidence of opioid-related side effects, such as dizziness, was less in the acupuncture group and electro-acupuncture group than in the control group. Conclusions This study shows that the application of acupuncture and electro-acupuncture could definitely delay the time of requesting pain relief medication after cesarean section and decrease the PCA doses used within the first 24 hours.
文摘Background Previous studies have noted that there is a high utilization rate of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） services in Taiwan, China and in western countries, but few studies investigated factors associated with the utilization of TCM in Taiwan. This study analyzes the utilization rate and the factors associated with the utilization of TCM in Taiwan. Methods Data for this study were from the 2002 HPKAP Survey that conducted the face-to-face questionnaire interviews of people aged 15 years and over from October 2002 to March 2003 in Taiwan. This study analyzed the utilization of TCM outpatient services, including admission to the hospital and clinic visits. Results A total of 26 755 participants completed the survey in the six-month period. The data revealed that 10.4% of participants had utilized TCM services in the past one month while 4.2% of participants utilized TCM only （without using Western medicine outpatient services （WM） or Folk therapy （FT））. The average visits of TCM services per patient was higher among people who had utilized TCM and FT services （2.68 visits） than among those who had utilized WM and FT services （2.15 visits） or TCM services alone （2.15 visits） during the previous one month. Younger people （odds ratio OR = 1.78, 95%CI= 1.47-2.16）, women （compared with men）, and people with higher education levels （OR = 1.58, 95%CI= 1.25-1.98） were more likely to visit TCM than compared groups. People with self-reported poor health status （OR = 2.07, 95%CI= 1.76-2.44） and people who exercise regularly （OR = 1.17, 95%CI= 1.07-1.27） had higher ORs to visit TCM service than comparison group. Conclusions There is a high utilization of TCM in Taiwan. Further studies are needed to investigate the related factors and determinants between the utilization of TCM and the utilization of FT in Taiwan.
