Meta-analysis on randomized controlled clinical trials of acupuncture for asthma / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion for asthma by meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A literature search in VIP, CNKI, PubMed and HighWire was performed to retrieve clinic trials documents about acupuncture for asthma from 2000 to 2009. The meta-analysis was conducted on RCT and CCT documents that meet the enrolling requirements.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twenty-two trials including 3058 cases of asthma patients were included in this study. The findings indicates that the total effective rate in acupuncture group was significantly superior to control group [OR 4.18, 95% CI (3.36, 5.20), Z = 12.85, P < 0.00001]; there was no significant difference in FEV1 measurements between two groups [OR = 0.20, 95% CI (-0.37, 0.76), Z = 0.68, P = 0.50]; there was profound significant difference in PEFR measurements between two groups [OR = 0.42, 95% CI (0.22, 0.62), Z = 4.06, P < 0.0001]; there was profound significant difference in FVC measurements between two groups [OR = 0.45, 95% CI (0.17, 0.72), Z = 3.22, P = 0. 001]; there was profound significant difference in FEV1/FVC measurements between two groups [OR = 9.58, 95% CI (8.14, 11.02), Z = 13.03, P < 0.00001].</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy can significantly improve the total effective rate of acupuncture for asthma. PEFR, FVC, FEV1 /FVC can be used as effectiveness indicators for evaluating the treatment for asthma. The FEV1 measurements did not have statistic significance. Due to the small number of RCT/CCT documents, the bias of the literatures and the lack of high-quality, large sample and multi-center reports, further studies are needed to explore the evidence of the findings.</p>

Effect of acupuncture on SP-A expression in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of asthmatic rats / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the mechanism of acupuncture for treatment of asthma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: blank control group, normal saline control group (NS control group), asthma model group, asthma model with acupuncture group (asthma acupuncture group) and asthma model with binding group (asthma binding group). The asthma acupuncture group was treated with acupuncture at "Dazhui" (GV 14), "Feishu" (BL 13) and "Fengmen" (BL 12); the asthma binding group was only binding without acupuncture and no intervention was given in the other groups. Surfactant protein-A (SP-A) expression was examined by Western-Blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Airway resistance in asthma model group was significantly higher than that in blank control group and NS control group from 3 to 6 min after asthma provocation (all P<0.01). Western-Blot detection showed that SP-A expression in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of the rats in asthma model group was significantly lower than that in blank control group and NS control group (both P<0.05), and which in asthma acupuncture group was significantly higher than that in asthma model group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The mechanism of prevention and treatment of acupuncture for allergic asthma is related to regulating SP-A expression of airway in asthmatic rats.</p>

Effect on tranquilizing and allaying excitement needling method on brain blood flow in the patients of insomnia of heart and spleen deficiency / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the therapeutic effect of tranquilizing and allaying excitement needling method on insomnia of heart and spleen deficiency and the effect of brain blood flow.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty cases were randomly divided into a tranquilizing and allaying excitement needling method group (observation group) and an eight confluence points selected group (control group), 30 cases in each group. The observation group was treated by acupuncture at Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Shenmen (HT 7), and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) with tranquilizing and allaying excitement needling method. The control group was treated by acupuncture at Shenmai (BL 62) and Zhaohai (KI 6). Their therapeutic effects and changes of brain blood flow were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 93.3% (28/30) in the observation group which was better than 83.3% (25/30) in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the peak velocity of systolic (Vp) and diastolic blood flow velocity (Vd) of middle cerebral artery, basilar artery and vertebral artery were increased in the both groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), with more obvious increase in the observation group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), except the Vd of left vertebral artery.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both the tranquilizing and allaying excitement needling method and the eight confluence points selected needling method can improve the clinical signs and symptoms. Meanwhile, the therapeutic effect of acupuncture is related with improvement of brain blood flow. However, the tranquilizing and allaying excitement needling method has better therapeutic effect on insomnia of heart and spleen deficiency.</p>