Forty-seven Cases of Gonitis Treated by A Combined Therapy of Chinese Drugs and Acupuncture

Osteoarthritis, a nonspecific inflammatory lesion, is a commonly seen joint disease. Clinically, it is mainly characterized by arthralgia, swelling, and motor impairment. Since the knee joint is the load-bearing joint of the human body, and is susceptible to trauma, gonitis tends to have the highest morbidity in the four limbs, which manifests itself arthritis of patella and femur at the early stage; narrowness or disappearance of the medial joint space at the mid stage; and damage of the cartilage accompanied with flexion deformity at the late stage. In recent years, based on the experience of Prof. Cao Yiming, the author has treated 47 cases of gonitis by combined use of Chinese drugs and acupuncture, and obtained satisfactory therapeutic results as reported in the following.

Multimodality treatment in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with tumor thrombi in portal vein

AIM: To compare the therapeutic effect and significances of multimodality treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with tumor thrombi in portal vein (PVTT). METHODS: HCC patients (n=147) with tumor thrombi in the main portal vein or the first branch of portal vein were divided into four groups by the several therapeutic methods. There were conservative treatment group in 18 out of patients (group A); and hepatic artery ligation(HAL) and/or hepatic artery infusion (HAI) group in 18 patients (group B), in whom postoperative chemoembolization was done periodically; group of removal of HCC with PVTT in 79 (group C) and group of transcatheter hepatic arterial chemoembolization (TACE) or HAI and/or portal vein infusion (PVI) after operation in 32 (group D). RESULTS: The median survival period was 12 months in our series and the 1-,3-, and 5-year survival rates were 44.3%, 24.5% and 15.2%, respectively. The median survival times were 2, 5, 12 and 16 months in group A, B, C and D, respectively. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 5.6%, 0% and 0% in group A; 22.2%, 5.6% and 0% in group B; 53.9%, 26.9% and 16.6% in group C; 79.3%, 38.9% and 26.8% in group D, respectively. Significant difference appeared in the survival rates among the groups (P 【 0.05). CONCLUSION: Hepatic resection with removal of tumor thrombi and HCC should increase the curative effects and be encouraged for the prolongation of life span and quality of life for HCC patients with PVTT, whereas the best therapeutic method for HCC with PVTT is with regional hepatic chemotherapy or chemoembolization after hepatic resection with removal of tumor thrombi.

Intensify standardized therapy for esophageal and stomach cancer in tumor hospitals

INTRODUCTIONCancer treatment situation in tumor hospitals inChina has its own unique characteristics which arenot found in other parts of the world. Because ofthe huge population and high incidence rates ofesophageal and stomach cancer[1-5], the number ofcancer patients waiting for admission isinconceivably large.

Treatment of malignant digestive tract obstruction by combined intraluminal stent installation and intra-arterial drug infusion

AIM: To study the palliative treatment of malignant obstruction of digestive tract with placement of intraluminal stent combined with intra-arterial infusion of chemotherapeutic drugs. METHODS: A total of 281 cases of digestive tract malignant obstruction were given per oral (esophagus, stomach, duodenum and jejunum), per anal (colon and rectum) and percutaneous transhepatic (biliary) installation of metallic stent. Among them, 203 cases received drug infusion by cannulation of tumor supplying artery with Seldinger's technique. RESULTS: Altogether 350 stents were installed in 281 cases, obstructive symptoms were relieved or ameliorated after installation. Occurrence of restenotic obstruction was 8-43 weeks among those with intra-arterial drug infusion, which was later than 4-26 weeks in the group with only stent installation. The average survival time of the former group was 43 (3-105) weeks, which was significantly longer than 13 (3-24) weeks of the latter group. CONCLUSION: Intraluminal placement of stent combined with intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy is one of the effective palliative therapies for malignant obstruction of the digestive tract with symptomatic as well as etiological treatment.

Adeno-associated virus mediated endostatin gene therapy in combination with topoisomerase inhibitor effectively controls liver tumor in mouse model

AIM:rAAV mediated endostatin gene therapy has been examined as a new method for treating cancer.However, a sustained and high protein delivery is required to achieve the desired therapeutic effects.We evaluated the impact of topoisomerase inhibitors in rAAV delivered endostatin gene therapy in a liver tumor model. METHODS:rAAV containing endostatin expression cassettes were transduced into hepatoma cell lines.To test whether the topoisomerase inhibitor pretreatment increased the expression of endostatin,Western blotting and ELISA were performed.The biologic activity of endostatin was confirmed by endothelial cell proliferation and tube formation assays. The anti-tumor effects of the rAAV-endostatin vector combined with a topoisomerase inhibitor,etoposide,were evaluated in a mouse liver tumor model. RESULTS:Topoisomerase inhibitors,including camptothecin and etoposide,were found to increase the endostatin exPression level in vitro.The over-expressed endostatin, as a result of pretreatment with a topoisomerase inhibitor, was also biologically active.In animal experiments,the combined therapy of topoisomerase inhibitor,etoposide with the rAAV-endostatin vector had the best tumor- suppressive effect and tumor foci were barely observed in livers of the treated mice.Pretreatment with an etoposide increased the level of endostatin in the liver and serum of rAAV-endostatin treated mice.Finally,the mice treated With rAAV-endostatin in combination with etoposide showed the longest survival among the experimental models. CONCLUSION:rAAV delivered endostatin gene therapy in combination with a topoisomerase inhibitor pretreatment is an effective modality for anticancer gene therapy.

Effects of Electro-Acupuncture on Immune Function After Chemotherapy in 28 Cases

PURPOSE: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture therapy on T cells and activity of NK cell in the patient of Chemotherapy. METHOD: Electro-acupuncture therapy was simultaneously applied during chemotherapy, T cells and activity of NK cell of patients were determined before electroacupuncture treatment (before chemotherapy) and after 4-course electro-acupuncture treatments. RESULTS: Before chemotherapy, CD3 was low within the normal range, CD4 was much lower than the normal range, and CD8, CD4/CD8 and activity of NK cell were within the normal range. After one month of chemotherapy combined with electro-acupuncture, no decline of all the indices was found (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Electro-acupuncture can really increase the immune function of patients of chemotherapy.

Adjuvant therapy in pancreatic cancer

The outlook for patients with pancreatic cancer has been grim. There have been major advances in the surgical treatment of pancreatic cancer, leading to a dramatic reduction in post-operative mortality from the development of high volume specialized centres. This stimulated the study of adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatments in pancreatic cancer including chemoradiotherapy and chemotherapy. Initial protocols have been based on the original but rather small GITSG study first reported in 1985. There have been two large European trials totalling over 600 patients (EORTC and ESPAC-1) that do not support the use of chemoradiation as adjuvant therapy. A second major finding from the ESPAC-1 trial (541 patients randomized) was some but not conclusive evidence for a survival benefit associated with chemotherapy. A third major finding from the ESPAC-1 trial was that the quality of life was not affected by the use of adjuvant treatments compared to surgery alone. The ESPAC-3 trial aims to assess the definitive use of adjuvant chemotherapy in a randomized controlled trial of 990 patients.

Forty-three Cases of Acute Lumbar Sprain Treated by Acupuncture Plus Kinesitherapy

Acute lumbar sprain is commonly encountered among the young and middle-aged. It often occurs at the lower part of the back, which seriously hinders the daily life and work of the patients because of the severe pain. The author has treated 43 cases of acute lumbar sprain by needling Weizhong (BL 40), Houxi (SI 3) and Yaotongdian (EX-UE7) plus kinesitherapy and obtained satisfactory therapeutic results. A report follows.

Thirty Cases of Acute Lumbar Sprain Treated by Acupuncture Combined with Point-Injection at Tianzhu

In recent years, the authors have treated 30 cases of acute lumbar sprain by acupuncture combined with point medicinal injection at Tianzhu (BL 10), and obtained quite good therapeutic results, as is reported in the following.

THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF THE COMBINED CHINESE AND WESTERN MEDICINE ON METASTATIC CARCINOMA IN THE SUPRACLAVICULAR LYMPH NODES——An Analysis of 285 Cases

Between 1985 and 1989, 285 cases of metastatic carcinoma in the supraclavicular lymph nodes were treated by the following five methods: Chinese medication, radiotherapy plus Chinese medication, chemotherapy plus Chinese medication, combined Chinese and Western medicine and expectant treatment. Analysis shows that radiotherapy plus Chinese medication has the best curative effect with an effective rate of 75.5%. The effective rates were 74.2% for the combined treatment, 55.5% for the chemotherapy plus medication, 12.5% for the Chinese medication, and none for expectant treatment.

Electro-acupuncture Combined with Plum-blossom Needle Tapping for Treatment of Supraorbital Neuritis—A Clinical Observation of 59 Cases

Supraorbital neuritis is an inflammatory infection of the supraorbital nerve due to invasion of viruses. The authors have treated 59 such cases by means of electroacupuncture combined with plum-blossom needle tapping, with satisfactory therapeutic results reported as follows.

Treatment of Prolapse of Rectum with Acupuncture Combined with TCM Drugs in 38 Cases

Prolapse of rectum usually occurs in the children with insufficient qi and blood, in the elders with declined qi and blood or deficiency of qi in the middle jiao (burner), in the women who made qi exhausted during labor resulting in deficiency of qi and blood, and in those with chronic diarrhea, habitual constipation and long-standing cough. All these may cause sinking of qi in middle jiao and induce the disorder. Therefore in treating the disorder, the primary causes should also be treated simultaneously.

TREATMENT OF 50 CASES OF SENILE DEMENTIA BY ACUPUNCTURE COMBINED WITH INHALATION OF HERBAL DRUGS AND OXYGEN

Clinical DataCase selection: 100 cases who met thediagnostic criteria of senile dementiaformulated by American Association ofPsychiatry in Handbook of Diagnosis andStatistics (DSM-Ⅲ-R, 3rd revised edition)

The Therapeutic Effects of the Radiotherapy Plus TCM Treatment Observed in Senile Non-Parvicellular Lung Cancer Patients at the Late Stage

47 senile non-parvicellular lung cancer patients at stage Ⅲ or Ⅳ were randomly divided into a treatment group (26 cases) treated by radiotherapy plus traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and a control group (21 cases) treated only by radiotherapy for observation of the therapeutic effects.The patients in the treatment group orally took Chinese medicine during and after the radiotherapy.There was no obvious difference in short-term therapeutic effects between the two groups,but the long-term curative effects in the treatment group was obviously superior to that in the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusion:radiotherapy plus TCM can prolong the survival period for senile non-parvicellular lung cancer patients.

Seventy Cases of External Humeral Epicondylitis Treated by Local Blocking and Massotherapy

External humeral epicondylitis or tennis elbow, is a commonly encountered disease in orthopaedics and traumatology. The curative effect is not satisfactory as far as its treatment by western and traditional Chinese medicine is concerned, which has a long course of treatment and a high recurrent rate. 70 cases of external humeral epicondylitis were treated by massotherapy after local blocking from August 1995 to October 1997 at this hospital with satisfactory therapeutic effects.Clinical DataOf the 70 cases in this series treated by massotherapy after local blocking, 30 were males and 40 females, ranging in age from 19 to 65 years. 55 cases were 30 to 50 years old, 20 had the left elbow affected and 50 the right elbow. 7 cases had a history of trauma, 50 a history of chronic strain, and 13 the cause unknown. The shortest duration of disease was 15 days and the longest 24 months.Among 50 cases in the control group treated by massotherapy, 20 cases were males and 30 females, ranging in age from 16 to 58 years. 40 cases were 30 to 50 years old. 15 cases were affected on the left elbow and 35 on the right elbow. 6 cases had a history of trauma, 32 a history of chronic strain, and 12 the cause unknown. The shortest duration of diseases was 7 days and the longest 22 months.

WHAT SHOULD BE KEPT IN MIND FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE TOXIC SIDE-EFFECTS INDUCED BY POSTOPERATIVE CHEMO-AND RADIOTHERAPY FOR OVARIAN TUMOR?

Ovarian tumor may occur in women ofany age, but mostly seen in women duringtheir child-bearing period. The disease shouldbe treated mainly by surgical operation,supplemented by radiotherapy and chemo-therapy. However, the above therapies maycause a series of toxic side-effects, such asalopecia, diarrhea, edema, anorexia, nausea,dry mouth, spontaneous perspiration, headache,

A Survey of Researches on Synergy and Toxicity Abatement of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Radiotherapy of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Even though radiotherapy is a therapy of first choice in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, its radiotoxicity is often difficult to bear for patients in addition to the unsatisfactory effect in some patients. Therefore, an important problem in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is to abate radiotherapeutic toxicity and improve its effect. Some progresses in promoting the effect of radiotherapy and abating its toxicity have been made through application of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) which is briefly reviewed as follows.

Radiotherapy for Carcinoma of the Esophagus: Progress of Treatment and Research in China

Carcinoma of the esophagus is a common malignancy in China. Radiotherapy is one of the most important modalities of treatment. This article provides a review of the natural history of this disease, the results of radiotherapy for esophageal cancer and the recent advances in radiation techniques in China. Significant progress has been made in this area of research and treatment. Combined treatment modalities and new therapies are being evaluated and may be expected to contribute to improved patient outcomes and better palliation of symptoms in the future.

Combined modality therapy following bladder conservation surgery for bladder cancers

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the efficacy of recurrence prophylaxis using radiation and chemotherapy following bladder conservation surgery for muscle invasive bladder cancer. METHODS: 23 patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer were treated with radiotherapy combined with bladder mitomycin infusion after bladder conservation surgery (study group). Radiotherapy was given using an external beam at an average dose of 5148 +/- 462 cGy with conventional fractionation. For comparison, 29 similar patients treated with postoperative bladder mitomycin infusion without radiation served as control (control group). All patients were followed up for more than 3 years, an average of 41.6 months (36 - 60 months). RESULTS: The 3-year pelvic recurrent rate of muscle invasive bladder cancer was 17.4% in the study group and 44.8% (P = 0.036) in the control group. The 3-year distant metastasis rates were 17.4% and 24.1%, respectively (P = 0.554). The 3-year overall survival rates were 81.8% and 86.2%, respectively (P = 0.670). Two patients from the study group had their treatment interrupted, one for 3 days and the other for one week due to acute cystitis, while the rest of the patients were able to complete the treatment according to schedule. CONCLUSION: Radiotherapy plus chemotherapy after bladder conservation surgery for muscle invasive bladder cancer can decrease the rate of pelvic recurrence effectively and be used as a realistic adjuvant treatment.

Combined modality therapy following bladder conservation surgery for bladder cancers

To analyze the efficacy of recurrence prophylaxis using radiation and chemotherapy following bladder conservation surgery for muscle invasive bladder cancer Methods 23 patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer were treated with radiotherapy combined with bladder mitomycin infusion after bladder conservation surgery (study group) Radiotherapy was given using an external beam at an average dose of 5148±462 cGy with conventional fractionation For comparison, 29 similar patients treated with postoperative bladder mitomycin infusion without radiation served as control (control group) All patients were followed up for more than 3 years, an average of 41 6 months (36-60 months) Results The 3 year pelvic recurrent rate of muscle invasive bladder cancer was 17 4% in the study group and 44 8% ( P =0 036) in the control group The 3 year distant metastasis rates were 17 4% and 24 1%, respectively ( P =0 554) The 3 year overall survival rates were 81 8% and 86 2%, respectively ( P =0 670) Two patients from the study group had their treatment interrupted, one for 3 days and the other for one week due to acute cystitis, while the rest of the patients were able to complete the treatment according to schedule Conclusion Radiotherapy plus chemotherapy after bladder conservation surgery for muscle invasive bladder cancer can decrease the rate of pelvic recurrence effectively and be used as a realistic adjuvant treatment