Objective To compare the clinical therapeutic effects of combination therapy of Sanqitongshu capsule and prednisolone with prednisolone alone in the treatment of acute peripheral facial neuritis. Methods A total of 61 patients with facial paralysis were divided into the treatment group and the control group in the outpatient order. The control group used 20 mg oral prednisolone and accepted the non-specific anti-inflammatory treatment every other day. Medication would stop in a week. Oral administration of vitamin B1 and vitamin B12 was also performed for nerve metabolism improvement for 30 days. The therapy of the treatment group was based on the same treatment of the control group with Sanqitongshu capsule for 30 days. Results After 4 weeks, in the treatment group, 20 patients recovered, 5 markedly effective, and 2 effective, and the total effective rate was 90%. In the Control group, 10 patients recovered, 3 markedly effective, and 2 effective, and the total effective rate was 50.0%. There were significant differences between the two groups (Plt;0.05). Conclusion The clinical effectiveness of Sanqitongshu capsule plus prednisolone is better than that of prednisolone alone in the treatment of acute peripheral facial neuritis.
OBJECTIVE To assess the treatment effect of sodium hyaluronate (HA) on experimental temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis of rabbits in comparison with prednisolone (PS). METHODS The upper compartments of both TMJs of 12 Japanese White Ear Rabbits were injected with 0.2 ml of 1.6% papain, 3 days after the right TMJs were injected again with same amount of papain to induce osteoarthritis with different severity levels. Except 1 rabbit was died accidentally. After one week from final injection of papain, the upper compartments of both TMJs of 6 rabbits were injected with HA 1.3 mg, 5 rabbits with PS 1.6 mg weekly for 4 times. At 3, 5 and 7 weeks after the final injection, the rabbits were sacrificed and the TMJs were pathologically examined. RESULTS The TMJs receiving PS showed predominant structural disorganization, and the right TMJs had much severe pathology. The manifestations were fibrillation, thinner or flaking of the articular cartilage of the temporal part of the joint, and the articular surface was covered with fibrous tissue. Whereas the TMJs receiving HA injections demonstrated limited changes of cartilage, less fibrillation, only local loss of cartilage on outside layer of the surface. In vicinity of the defect area, cluster of the chondrocytes appeared. Pathological scores of the TMJs receiving HA were significantly less than those of the TMJs revieving PS. CONCLUSION The results suggest that hyaluronate have effect of cartilaginous reparation and protection for the osteoarthritis of rabbit. While prednisolone has no help or worsened for articular cartilage reparation.