Efficacy comparison of menopausal irritability between acupuncture and medication: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the differences in the clinical efficacy on menopausal irritability between acupuncture and medication.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty cases of menopausal irritability were randomized into an acupuncture group (31 cases) and a medication group (29 cases). In the acupuncture group, the warming needling manipulation was applied at the key acupoints such as Hegu (LI 4) and Taichong (LR 3), once a day, 10 treatments made one session. Totally, 2 sessions were required. In the medication group, 2.5 mg diazepam tablets were prescribed, three times a day, for 23 days totally. The clinical efficacy, the modified Kupperman score and self-rated health measurement scale (SRHMS) were compared before and after treatment in the two groups. RESULTS The total effective rate was 87. 1% (27/31) in the acupuncture group and 82.8% (24/29) in the medication group. The difference in the clinical efficacy was not significant between the two groups (P > 0.05). The modified Kupperman score and SRHMS score were both reduced obviously after treatment in the two groups, indicating the significant difference (all P < 0.05). The reduction of two scores in the acupuncture group was more obvious than those in the medication group (Kupperman: 15.23 +/- 6.19 vs 18.45 +/- 5.37; SRHMS: 116.29 +/- 38.24 vs 140.34 +/- 42.15, both P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The acupuncture and medication are effective in the treatment of menopausal irritability, but the efficacy of warming needling manipulation is better than that of diazepam tablets.</p>

Clinical observation on the long-term effect of warming-promotion acupuncture on lumbar spinal stenosis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the difference effects between warming-promotion acupuncture and normal acupuncture on lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty cases of LSS were randomly divided into a normal acupuncture group (30 cases) and a warming-promotion acupuncture group (30 cases). The two groups both chose Dazhui (GV 14), Mingmen (GV 4), Jiaji (EX-B 2),etc. Normal method without special manipulation was used in normal acupuncture group, while the warming-promotion manipulation was used in warming-promotion acupuncture group, all once daily, 10 treatments made one session. Compare the symptoms and spinal cord function of LSS, quality of life (QOL)and clinical effect in the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The comprehensive score of symptoms of LSS in warming-promotion group 3 months after treatment was 6.30 +/- 1.92, while that in normal acupuncture group was 4.67 +/- 13.70. The score of spinal cord function in warming-promotion group after treatment was 7.03 +/- 1.03, while that in normal acupuncture group was 6.33 +/- 1.12. The score of QOL in warming-promotion group after treatment was 53.67 +/- 8.91, while that in normal acupuncture group was 64.50 +/- 16.69. All the differences between these scores in two groups were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The total effective rate was 90.0% (27/30)in warming-promotion group, and 80.0% (24/30) in normal acupuncture group. The effect of warming-promotion group was better than that in normal acupuncture group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In the field of treating LSS, the effect of warming-promotion acupuncture is better than normal acupuncture.</p>

Effects of scalp catgut embedding on SOD, NO, MDA in the rat with Parkinson's disease / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the mechanism of scalp catgut embedding for treatment of Parkinson's disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Parkinson's disease model rats were prepared, and randomly divided into a model group, scalp acupuncture group, medication group, with a control group set up. The scalp acupuncture group were treated with catgut embedding at "the chorea-trembling conroued area" lateral to "Baihui" (GV 20) and the medication group with intra-gastric perfusion of L-dopa suspension. After treatment for 30 days, behavior indexes were investigated and malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) contents and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the brain were detected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MDA content in the brain of the model rats were significantly decreased (P < 0.01), NO level significantly increased (P < 0.05) by scalp catgut embedding, with no significant change of SOD activity (P > 0.05); and the behavior indexes and tissue and form of the brain had significant improvement.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Scalp catgut embedding has regulative action on anti-oxidant enzyme system in the Parkinson's disease rats, has significant improvement of cells, tissues and form of the brain.</p>

Acupuncture and moxibustion expert LU Shou-Yan / 中国针灸

LU Shou-yan is a famous acupuncture and moxibustion expert of our country in modern time. He bent himself to the cause of acupuncture and moxibustion throughout his life, propagated acupuncture and moxibustion in the adverse circumstances, and devoted himself to the education of acupuncture and moxibustion, giving no thought to personal safety; for perfecting theory of acupuncture and moxibustion, he studied intensively with great concentration, and creatively put forward effective methods of acupuncture and moxibustion; he earlier advocated experimental studies of acupuncture and moxibustion, promoting development of acupuncture and moxibustion sciences; he wrote books to expound theories, promoting propagation of acupuncture and moxibustion sciences. He contributes his lifetime for development of acupuncture and moxibustion cause.