The Oligonucleotide Chip Analysis for Allergic Rhinitis Treatment in Herbal Plaster and Acupuncture

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2011-08-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

Using Oligonucleotide Chip Analysis, investigators compared gene expression levels in allergic rhinitis patients before and after a series of acupoint herbal plaster and Acupuncture treatment.

In the first year, Twenty-three participants with persistent allergic rhinitis each received four acupoint herbal plaster treatments, applied using the moxibustion technique, and clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ). Peripheral blood samples were analyzed using an ImmunoCAP Phadiatop test, and patients were classified as phadiatop (Ph)-positive or -negative. Microarray results were examined for genes that were differentially expressed between (1) Ph-positive and -negative patients treated with herbal paste; and (2) before and after herbal paste treatment in the Ph-positive patient group.

In the second year, Twenty-seven participants with persistent allergic rhinitis each received four acupoint herbal plaster treatments and 8 courses of acupuncture treatment over 4 weeks in the same time.

• Phase: N/A
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Exhibited sneezing, runny nose, and congestion for more than 9 months of the year

• Did not take medication in the previous month

• Provided written consent to enter a Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Sinusitis

• Nasal polyps

• unwilling or unable to complete the full course of treatment