Elizabeth Burrows

Chinese Medicinal Herbs in Relieving Perimenopausal Depression: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE To explore the effects of GengNianLe (GNL, also called perimenopausal depression relieving formula), a defined formula of Chinese medicinal herbs in relieving perimenopausal depression in Chinese women. METHODS Between September 2004 and April 2008, 47 Chinese women were randomized into a GNL group (n = 21) and a control group which received tibolone (n = 26) using a randomization chart. Depression was rated with the 24-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD). The serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol (E(2)) were detected before and after the treatment. RESULTS After 12 weeks of treatment, HAMD scores in both groups decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with no significant difference between the groups (p > 0.05). The levels of FSH decreased significantly and the level of E(2) increased significantly in both groups, and they changed more in the control group. No side-effect of treatment was reported in either group during treatment. CONCLUSIONS The Chinese medicinal formula GNL showed promise in relieving perimenopausal depression and merits further study.

Auricular acupressure may improve absorption of flavanones in the extracts from Citrus aurantium L. in the human body.

OBJECTIVE To explore whether auricular acupressure could improve the absorption of flavanones in the extracts from Citrus aurantium L. in the human body. METHODS Ten (10) healthy male volunteers were randomly divided into two groups. Group A was treated with the combination of oral administration of C. aurantium L. extracts and auricular acupressure. Group B was treated only with the oral administration of C. aurantium L. extracts in the same dosage as Group A. After 7 days of treatment, the plasma concentration of naringenin and hesperetin of the two groups were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS The plasma concentration of naringenin and hesperetin in Group A were significantly higher than Group B. CONCLUSIONS Auricular acupressure at some specific acupoints can significantly improve the absorption of naringenin and hesperetin in the extracts form C. aurantium L. in the human body.

Acupuncture May Improve the Absorption of Baicalin from the Extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in Rats with Pelvic Inflammation

The aim of the present study was to explore whether acupuncture may improve the absorption of baicalin from the extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in rats with pelvic inflammation. 24 female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into groups A (a combination of oral administration of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extracts and acupuncture), B (oral administration of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extracts), C (model group) and D (normal control group), with 6 rats in each group. After treatment, the plasma concentration of baicalin was determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and Interleukin 6 (IL-6) were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that the plasma concentration of baicalin in group A was significantly higher than in group B, and the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in group A were significantly lower than in group B. This indicates that acupuncture at certain acupoints may significantly improve the curative effects of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in rats with pelvic inflammation by enhancing the absorption of baicalin from the Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extracts.

Acupuncture can improve absorption of baicalin from extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in rats.

The aim of this research was to explore whether acupuncture could improve the absorption of baicalin from extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in normal rats. Twenty male Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were divided randomly into two groups. Group A was treated with a combination of oral administration of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extracts and acupuncture. Group B was treated only with oral administration of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extracts, in the same dosage as Group A. After treatment, the plasma concentration of baicalin was detected and pharmacokinetic analysis was conducted using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that the plasma concentration of baicalin in Group A was significantly higher than in Group B, and that acupuncture at the acupoints Jizhong (Du6), Dazhui (Du14) and Zhongwan (Ren12) made the plasma concentration‐time course of baicalin produce a bimodal phenomenon, increased the area under the curve (AUC) and slowed the elimination of baicalin, thus significantly improving the absorption of baicalin from extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in rats. Copyright

Treating histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis with Chinese herbs: a case report.

We present the case of a young woman who suffered from right cervical lymphadenopathy with associated malaise for 8 weeks. The sonography showed multiple, enlarged lymph nodes in the cervical, submaxillary, and subclavicular chains on the right side. The biopsy of a right cervical lymph node disclosed necrosis, histiocytic accumulation, infiltration with lymphocytes and immunoblasts, and cellular debris, demonstrating histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (HNL). Although the patient had received treatment with dexamethasone for 5 weeks and antibiotic drugs for 6 weeks, the lymphadenopathy and the associated malaise had not improved. For fear of the side-effects caused by dexamethasone and the antibiotic drugs, the patient and her parents asked for treatment with Chinese herbs instead of dexamethasone and antibiotics. With the patient’s and her parents’ consent, the dose of dexamethasone was tapered according to its specifications and Chinese herbs were applied to treat her disease. After 6 weeks of orally administered Chinese herbs both the lymphadenopathy and the associated malaise disappeared. Follow-up by phone 6 months later showed no abnormality. Chinese medicinal herbs, as a natural treatment, can be used as an alternative in treating HNL.

Letter to the Editors · Brief an die Herausgeber

Sir, The study by Bernateck et al. [1] was aimed at comparing two treatments. This aim is best reached with a non-superiority design but the study seems to be conceived as a superiority trial. Discussing their result, the authors state that ‘using a placebo or sham control ... may have generated a false negative result’. I would argue not using a sham might produce a false positive result: both groups improved because of non-specific effects and, as these may well be greater with a slightly invasive intervention [2], the effects of acupuncture were quicker and slightly more pronounced. The point I am trying to make is simple: if the study design cannot answer the study question, even a randomized trial will fail to produce meaningful information. E. Ernst, Universities of Exeter & Plymouth