beta-endorphin and Pelvic-Pain

Reflexology is used for various pregnancy related complaints. A three-armed, pilot randomised controlled trial was conducted to test changes in physiological and biochemical stress parameters. Ninety primiparous volunteers experiencing low back and/or pelvic girdle pain (LBPGP) were recruited to receive either six reflexology or footbath treatments or usual care. Primary outcome data included pain intensity and frequency measured on a visual analog scale (VAS), and salivary beta-endorphin and cortisol levels. 61 (68%) women completed the intervention. A clinically important reduction of 1.63 cm occurred for VAS pain frequency following reflexology. Beta-endorphin levels increased by 8.8% and 10.10% in the footbath and usual care groups respectively and decreased by 15.18% for the reflexology group. Cortisol increased by 31.78% for footbath participants, 31.42% in usual care and 18.82% in the reflexology group. Reflexology during pregnancy may help reduce LBPGP, and associated stress. However, antenatal reflexology is under researched and requires further investigation.

Topics: Adult; beta-Endorphin; Female; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Low Back Pain; Massage; Pain Measurement; Pelvic Pain; Pilot Projects; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Stress, Physiological; Stress, Psychological; Visual Analog Scale

To explore the clinical efficacy of acupoint catgut embedding therapy on chronic pelvic cavity pain syndrome differentiated as kidney deficiency and stagnation of damp heat, and explore the impacts on plasma P substance (SP), plasma beta-endorphin (β-EP).. One hundred and eighty cases were randomly divided into a catgut embedding group (90 cases) and a western medication group (90 cases). In the western medication group, tamsulosin capsules 0. 2 mg were prescribed for oral administration, once a day; indometacin sustained release tablets, 25 mg, three times a day. Totally, the oral administration for 8 weeks was required. In the catgut embedding group, the acupoint catgut embedding therapy was applied to Qugu (CV 2), Shenshu (BL 23), Zhibian (BL 54), Huiyin (CV 1) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6), once every two weeks; the treatment of 4 weeks made one session, and two sessions were required. Before and after treatment, TCM symptom score, NIH-CPSI (the National Institute of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index) score, lecithin body numbers in prostatic fluid, score in SAS (self-rating anxiety scale), score in SDS (self-rating depression scale), the levels of SP and β-EP, etc. were observed in the two groups, and the clinical efficacy was assessed in the two groups.. (1) Ten cases were dropped in either group. The total effective rate was 91. 25% (73/80) in the catgut embedding group, higher than 78. 75% (63/80) in the western medication group (P<0. 05). (2) After treatment, TCM symptom score, total score in NIH-CPSI, pain score and the scores in SAS and SDS were all reduced as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P<0. 05). After treatment, TCM symptom score, total score and pain score in NIH-CPSI, and the scores in SAS and SDS in the catgut embedding group were both lower than those in the western medication group (all P<0. 05). (3) After treatment, the lecithin body numbers were both increased as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (both P<0. 05), and the result in the catgut embedding group was higher than that in the western medication group (P<0. 05). (4)After treatment, the SP level was lower than that before treatment in the two groups (both P<0. 05); the level of p-EP was increased as compared with that before treatment (both P<0. 05). The SP level in the catgut embedding group was lower than that in the western medication group (P<0. 05); the level of β-EP was higher than that in the western medication group (P<0. 05).. The acupoint catgut embedding therapy apparently relieves the clinical symptoms of chronic pelvic cavity pain syndrome differentiated as kidney deficiency and stagnation of damp heat as well as the condition of anxiety and depression, increases lecithin body numbers in prostatic fluid and β-EP level and reduces SP level.

Topics: Acupuncture Points; Acupuncture Therapy; Adolescent; Adult; beta-Endorphin; Catgut; Chronic Disease; Humans; Male; Pelvic Pain; Prostatic Diseases; Young Adult

To investigate the clinical effect of electroacupuncture (EA) for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).. We recruited 63 participants meeting the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) consensus criteria for CP/CPPS. After the inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied, 39 men were randomized to 3 treatment groups: group 1, advice and exercise plus 12 sessions of EA; group 2, advice and exercise plus 12 sessions of sham EA (SEA); and group 3, advice and exercise alone (A&E) for 6 weeks. A total of 6 acupuncture points were used to stimulate the sacral nerve and release the piriformis muscle using an electrical pulse generator. Symptoms related to CP/CPPS were assessed using the NIH-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI). Prostaglandin E(2) and beta-endorphin levels in postmassage urine samples were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.. At 6 weeks, the NIH-CPSI total score had decreased significantly in the EA group compared with the SEA and A&E groups (P < .001). On a subscale analysis of the NIH-CPSI, the EA group showed significant decreases in pain-related symptoms compared with the SEA and A&E groups (P < .01). All 12 EA participants experienced at least a 6-point decrease in the NIH-CPSI total score compared with 2 of 12 SEA participants (16.7%) and 3 of 12 A&E participants (25.0%; P < .0001). The mean prostaglandin E(2) level in the postmassage urine samples had significantly decreased in the EA group (P = .023). In contrast, it had increased in the other 2 groups.. In a 3-arm randomized trial investigating the clinical effects of EA on CP/CPPS, EA therapy proved to have independent therapeutic effects, particularly for pain relief superior to SEA or A&E therapy.

Topics: Adult; beta-Endorphin; Biomarkers; Chronic Disease; Dinoprostone; Electroacupuncture; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Exercise; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pain Measurement; Patient Education as Topic; Patient Satisfaction; Pelvic Pain; Probability; Prostatitis; Reference Values; Risk Assessment; Statistics, Nonparametric; Syndrome; Treatment Outcome

Treatment of gynaecological disorders is a frequent, but only barely substantiated application of balneotherapy. This study investigated potential differences between the clinical symptoms, pelvic blood flow and specific laboratory parameters of patients undergoing balneotherapy with two different types of immersion: alum-containing and tap water.. The study population comprised 40 patients (mean age: 39.4 years), randomized into two groups. All subjects took 20 min baths in 38 degrees C water every other day, for 10 occasions altogether. Study parameters were: pain relief, reduction in tissue growth, hormone levels, psychic status, and pelvic blood flow.. Thermal water improved the clinical parameters of both groups significantly. In comparison with tap water, treatment with alum-containing water accomplished significantly greater progress, as reflected by the relief of pain elicited by handling the uterus and improvement of psychic status. Laboratory parameters (FSH, LH, prolactin, oestradiol and beta-endorphin serum levels) and the Doppler index did not change in either group.. As demonstrated by our results, 3-week balneotherapy is a potentially useful adjunct for the management of chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, but further, long-term studies are notwithstanding necessary.

Topics: Adult; Alum Compounds; Baths; beta-Endorphin; Estradiol; Female; Ferrous Compounds; Gonadotropins, Pituitary; Hot Temperature; Humans; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease; Pelvic Pain; Pelvis; Regional Blood Flow

In order to investigate the mechanism of Nei-Yi Recipe (NYR) in treatment of endometriosis, we observe the changes of plasma beta-endorphin concentrations in women with endometriosis treated by NYR. It was found that in luteal phase beta-endorphin concentrations in plasma were significantly reduced in moderate and severe dysmenorrhea groups compared with mild and control groups. Moreover, beta-endorphin level in severe dysmenorrhea group was lower in the luteal phase than that in the follicular phase, and it was lower in patients with pelvic pain than that without pelvic pain. In normal women, the contents of beta-endorphin in plasma were not changed during menstrual cycle. It was also found that plasma beta-endorphin levels were significantly increased in luteal phase and follicular phase after treatment by NYR. The therapeutical mechanism of NYR on dysmenorrhea and pelvic pain and enhancement of immune function might be mediated by increase of plasma beta-endorphin levels.

Topics: Adult; beta-Endorphin; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Dysmenorrhea; Endometriosis; Female; Humans; Menstrual Cycle; Middle Aged; Pelvic Pain

To explore the possible mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) underlying improvement of chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS).. Compared with the control and sham operation groups, the MPT and HPT were significantly lower (. EA can effectively relieve pain in CPPS rats, which may be related to its functions in down-regulating COX-2 and PGE2, and up-regulating β-EP.

Topics: Animals; beta-Endorphin; Cyclooxygenase 2; Dinoprostone; Electroacupuncture; Male; Pain Threshold; Pelvic Pain; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

To investigate the relationship of the common Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome pattern of chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) with the contents of substance p and beta endorphin in the plasma, and provide reference data for the clinical diagnosis, differentiation and treatment of CPPS by TCM.. We observed 98 cases of CPPS, which were classified into a lower-part damp-heat invasion group (group A, n = 32), a blood stasis-induced collateral obstruction group (group B, n = 34), and a damp-heat stagnation group (group C, n = 32) according to the TCM syndrome differentiation. Another 35 normal healthy young men were enrolled as controls. We measured the contents of substance p and beta endorphin in the plasma by immunoradiometry and ELISA, and analyzed their relationship with the TCM syndrome pattern.. The contents of plasma substance p were significantly higher in groups A ([1135.76 +/- 166.45] pg/ml), B ([1 337.84 +/- 170.81] pg/ml), and C ([1 210.01 +/- 162.27] pg/ml) than in the control ([574.99 +/- 113.09] pg/ml) (all P < 0.01), while the contents of plasma beta endorphin in groups A ([212.70 +/- 29.49] pg/ml), B ([157.99 +/- 24.01] pg/ml), and C ([180.81 +/- 20.20] pg/ml) were remarkably lower than that in the control ([274.73 +/- 27.64] pg/ml) (all P < 0.01).. In the plasma of CPPS patients, the content of substance p is significantly elevated and that of beta endorphin markedly reduced, which suggests that they may be involved in the inflammatory reaction of CPPS. The levels of plasma substance p and beta endorphin can be used as valuable reference for the TCM classification of chronic prostatitis.

Topics: beta-Endorphin; Case-Control Studies; Chronic Disease; Humans; Male; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Pelvic Pain; Prostatitis; Substance P; Syndrome