title: Effect of sanhuangwuji powder, anti-rheumatic drugs, and ginger-partitioned acupoint stimulation on the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with peptic ulcer: a randomized controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the efficacy and safety of oral sanhuangwuji powder, anti-rheumatic drugs (ARDs), and ginger-partitioned acupoint stimulation at zusanli (ST 36) on the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) complicated by peptic ulcer.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective randomized controlled study included 180 eligible inpatients and outpatients randomly assigned to an ARD treatment (n.= 60), ginger-partitioned stimulation (n = 60), or combination treatment (n = 60). Patients assigned to the ARD group were given oral celecoxib, methotrexate, and esomeprazole. Patients assigned to the ginger-partitioned stimulation group were given ginger-partitioned acupoint stimulation at zusanli (ST 36) in addition to the ARDs. Patients in the combination treatment group were given oral sanhuangwuji powder, ginger-partitioned acupoint stimulation at susanli (ST 36), and ARDs. All patients were followed up for 2 months to evaluate clinical effects and safety. The study was registered in the World Health Organization database at the General Hospital of Chengdu Military Area Command Chinese People's Liberation Army (ChiCTR-TCC12002824).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The combination treatment group had significantly greater improvements in RA symptoms, laboratory outcomes, and gastrointestinal symptom scores, compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). The peptic ulcer healing rate in the combination treatment group was significantly greater than that in the ARD treatment group (χ2= 16.875, P < 0.05) and the ginger-partitioned stimulation group (χ2= 6.171, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combination treatment with ginger-partitioned acupoint stimulation at zusanli (ST 36), oral sanhuangwuji powder, and ARDs had a better clinical effect for RA with complicated peptic ulcer, compared with ARD treatmentalone or in combination with ginger-partitioned acupoint stimulation.
authors.forename: Defang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Mingyang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Yonghe
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Taihua
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Mingdong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Linglin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000368:Aged; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D000068579:Celecoxib; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D020939:Zingiber officinale / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D011720:Pyrazoles; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000068579:Celecoxib