BackgroundAcupotomy aims to reduce pressure on the nerve, improve surrounding blood circulation, and recover the kinetic state of soft tissue in treating lumbar disc herniation. Although several previous studies have suggested the potential use and substantial benefits of acupotomy, there is still insufficient evidence regarding this technique. This trial is designed to determine if acupotomy is more effective than manual acupuncture in improving low back pain and/or leg pain, disability, lumbar mobility, and quality of life in patients with herniated lumbar disc.MethodsFifty eligible patients will be randomly assigned to an acupotomy group or a manual acupuncture group in a 1:1 ratio. The experimental group will receive acupotomy at the affected side’s inner core muscles and soft tissue at the level of the herniated disc where tenderness appears (twice per week for 2 weeks). The control group will receive manual acupuncture (thrice per week for 2 weeks) at GV3 (Yaoyangguan) and the bilateral BL23 (Shenshu), BL24 (Qihaishu), BL25 (Dachangshu), and BL26 (guanyuanshu) for local points and the bilateral GB30 (Huantio), BL40 (Weizhong), and BL60 (Kunlun) for distant points. The primary outcome will be the mean change in the visual analog scale from baseline to 4 weeks (2 weeks after final treatment). The Oswestry Disability Index, Modified-Modified Schober Test, and EuroQol five dimensions questionnaire will determine secondary outcomes. Adverse events will be evaluated at every visit.DiscussionThis study will provide valuable data and insights for a confirmative, full-scale randomized controlled trial to determine the clinical effects of acupotomy.
Objectives : This is a case series reporting of the improvement in patients with a lumbar herniated intervertebral disc by means of acupotomy combined with oriental medicine. Methods : We treated seven patients with a lumbar herniated intervertebral disc with acupotomy combined with oriental medical treatment. We checked the numeric rating scale(NRS), oswestry low back pain disability index(ODI) and range of motion(ROM). Results : NRS and ODI decreased, and ROM improved in all cases. Conclusions : This study shows acupotomy has a meaningful effect when applied on a lumbar herniated intervertebral disc.
Simulated microgravity (SMG) is regarded as a suitable environment to produce recombinant proteins. This study showed that β-glucuronidase expressing Escherichia coli had higher productivity of recombinant protein and higher plasmid copy number under SMG compared with the normal gravity condition. The cellular changes were analyzed at both transcriptomic and proteomic levels. The upregulation of a group of ribosome/RNA polymerase genes and a cluster of genes involving energy metabolism at transcriptomic level stood out for improved production of recombinant protein under SMG. The protein folding modulators such as chaperones were upregulated at proteomic level, which could be a result of the increased activity of protein synthesis and can help recombinant protein production. Protein export was also strengthened, which was revealed at both transcriptomic and proteomic levels. The results demonstrated that SMG is a favorable environment for recombinant protein production arousing the upregulation of protein synthesis, protein folding, and protein export.
BackgroundThis study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of thread-embedding acupuncture (TEA) with polydioxanone thread embedded at various acupoints, compared with sham TEA, for the treatment of non-specific chronic neck pain.Methods/designThis study will be an 8-week-long, two-armed, parallel, randomized, subject-assessor-blinded, sham-controlled pilot trial. Fifty eligible patients will be randomly allocated into the real TEA group or the sham TEA group. The real TEA group will receive TEA treatment at 14 fixed acupoints in the neck region. The sham TEA group will receive the same treatment as the real TEA group, but with a sham device with the thread removed. Both groups will receive treatment once a week for a total of four sessions. The primary outcome will be the mean change in the visual analog scale (VAS) from baseline to week 6 (2 weeks post intervention). Clinical relevance (ratio of the number of patients with decreases on the VAS of ≥15 mm or with percentiles ≥ 30% and ≥ 50% relative to baseline to the total number of patients), Neck Disability Index, pressure pain threshold, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, EuroQol 5-Dimensions questionnaire, Patient Global Impression of Change, blinding test, and adverse events will be used to assess secondary outcomes.DiscussionThe results of this study will provide valuable data for a large-scale clinical trial to evaluate the clinical effects of polydioxanone TEA in the treatment of patients with non-specific chronic neck pain.Trial registrationClinical Research Information Service (CRIS), Republic of Korea, KCT0002452. Registered on 6 September 2017.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13063-018-3058-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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