title: The effects of wet cupping on serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and heat shock protein 27 antibody titers in patients with metabolic syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has previously been reported that increased level of serum heat shock proteins (Hsps) antibody in patients with metabolic syndrome. It is possible that the expression of Hsp and inflammatory markers can be affected by cupping and traditional Chinese medicine. There is a little data investigating the effects of cupping on markers of inflammation and Hsp proteins, hence, the objective of this study was evaluation of the effects of wet cupping on serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and Hsp27 antibody titers in patients with metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum Hs-CRP and Hsp27 antibody titers were assessed in samples from 126 patients with metabolic syndrome (18-65 years of age) at baseline, and after 6 and 12 weeks after treatment. One hundred and twenty-six patients were randomly divided into the experimental group treated with wet cupping combined with dietary advice, and the control group treated with dietary advice alone using a random number table. Eight patients in case group and five subjects in control groups were excluded from the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS 15.0 software and a repeated measure ANCOVA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum hs-CRP titers did not change significantly between groups (p>0.05) and times (p=0.27). The same result was found for Hsp27 titers (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Wet-cupping on the interscapular region has no effect on serum hs-CRP and Hsp27 patients with metabolic syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Kazem
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Farahmand
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pecan, China.
authors.forename: Li Zhi
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Gang
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Ahmad
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Saghebi
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry of Nutritional Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran; Neurogenic Inflammation Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: shabnammhmmd@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Shabnam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry of Nutritional Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Ghazaleh
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.affiliation: Institute for Science & Technology in Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Keele, Staffordshire ST4 7QB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Gordan A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Ferns
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry of Nutritional Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghanbarzadeh
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry of Nutritional Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Gholamreza Ghayour
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Razmgah
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry of Nutritional Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ramazani
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry of Nutritional Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Nutrition and Nutritional Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: GhayourM@mums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghayour-Mobarhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Habibollah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Esmaily
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamidreza
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bahrami Taghanaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Hoda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Azizi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001815:Bloodletting / Q000379:methods*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D055551:HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000379:methods*; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D055551:HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins; C057725:HSPB1 protein, human; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Heat shock protein 27; High sensitive C-reactive protein; Metabolic syndrome; Wet cupping