Clinical Observation of Acupuncture plus Medication in Treating Chronic Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus medication in treating chronic pelvic inflammatory disease. Method By using the random number table, sixty-eight patients with chronic pelvic inflammatory disease were randomized into an acupuncture-medication group of 34 cases and a medication group of 34 cases. The clinical efficacies were compared after 2 courses of treatment, and the symptoms and body signs scores and syndrome score of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) were also compared. Result There was a significant difference in comparing the therapeutic efficacy between the acupuncture-medication group and the medication group (P<0.05). After the treatment, the symptoms and body signs scores and TCM syndrome score dropped significantly in both groups (P<0.05), indicating that the two groups both had improvement in the symptoms, body signs and TCM syndrome; there were significant between-group differences in comparing the score differences in the symptoms and body signs scores and TCM syndrome score after the treatment (P<0.05), and the acupuncture-medication group was higher than the medication group. Conclusion Acupuncture plus medication can better ameliorate the symptoms and body signs and TCM syndrome in chronic pelvic inflammatory disease.

Systematic Review of Therapeutic Effect of Electroacupuncture for Idiopathic Facial Palsy at Acute Stage / 广州中医药大学学报

Objective To make a systematic review of therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture(EA) for idiopathic facial palsy at acute stage. Methods With reference to the included criteria and excluded criteria, clinical controlled trials of EA for idiopathic facial palsy at acute stage were screened from the databases of CBM, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP by computer retrieval and from the primary domestic academic journals of acupuncture by manual retrieval. Systematic review was performed following the Cochrane Reviewers' Handbook, and RevMan 5.3 was used for Meta-analysis. Results Sixteen clinical trials were included. The Meta-analysis results showed that the cure rate evaluated with 3 kinds of therapeutic effect criteria in the observation group was superior to that of the control group, the difference being significant (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the effects on improving days for cure, cure case number within one month, blink reflex, and case number with complications in the observation group were also superior to that of the control group, the difference being significant (P < 0.01). Conclusion EA exerts certain therapeutic effect for idiopathic facial palsy at acute stage. But for the quantity and quality of the included trials are not satisfactory, the conclusion still needs more high-quality, large-size and long-term follow-up trials to verify.

Therapeutic Effect of Lai's Acupuncture Therapy Combined with Chinese Herbal Decoction in Treating Infertility with Ovulatory Dysfunction / 广州中医药大学学报

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of Lai's acupuncture therapy combined with Chinese herbal decoction for the treatment of infertility with ovulatory dysfunction, and to summarize the experience of Professor Lai Xin-Sheng in treating infertility. Methods Ninety-six infertility patients with ovulatory dysfunction were randomized into treatment group and control group, 48 cases in each group. The treatment group was treated with Lai's Tongyuan acupuncture therapy for regulating Governor Vessel to tranquilize mind, inducing meridian Qi to original Qi, and was also given oral use of Chinese herbal decoction of Lai's Yiyun Recipe for promoting gestation. The control group was treated with Chinese herbal decoction alone. The treatment began exactly after the completion of menstruation period and lasted 15 days for one treatment course, covering 3 courses. And then the patients of the two groups were followed-up for 3 months. Therapeutic effect and pregnancy rate were evaluated after treatment, serum levels of estradiol and progesterone were examined, and abdominal ultrasonography was used for monitoring the maximum diameter of the dominant follicles and endometrial thickness before and after treatment. Results (1) Three cases from the treatment group and 5 cases from the control group were dropped out, and the final case number in the treatment group and control group was 45, 43 respectively. (2) The total efficiency of the treatment group was 88.9％, and that of the control group was 81.4％. The effect of the treatment group was better than that of the control group (P < 0.05). (3) The pregnancy rate of the treatment group was 73.3％, higher than that of the control group (51.2％), the difference being significant (P < 0.05). (4) After treatment, the maximum diameter of the dominant follicles and endometrial thickness in the two groups were obviously improved(P < 0.05 compared with those before treatment), and the improvement in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group (P < 0.05). (5) After treatment, the serum levels of estradiol and progesterone in the two groups were obviously improved(P < 0.05 compared with those before treatment) , and the improvement in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group(P < 0.05). Conclusion The therapeutic effect of Lai's acupuncture therapy combined with Chinese herbal decoction is superior to that of Chinese herbal decoction alone, showing an obvious synergistic effect by shortening the course of treatment and enhancing pregnancy rate.

Efficacy on perennial allergic rhinitis treated with acupuncture at three nasal poinits and the acupoints selected by syndrome differentiation / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the difference in the clinical efficacy on perennial allergic rhinitis between three nasal points acupuncture therapy and the oral administration of loratadine so as to provide the better acupuncture program in clinical treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty cases were randomized into an acupuncture group (30 cases) and a medication group (30 cases). In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied to three nasal points [Yingxiang (LI 20), Yintang (EX-HN 3), Bitong (Extra)] and acupoints selected by syndrome differentiation. Acupuncture was given once every two days, three times a week, for 4 weeks totally. In the medication group, loratadine was prescribed for oral administration, 10 mg every day, for 4 weeks. The symptom and physical sign scores before and after treatment, as well the short-term and long-term efficacy were compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 96.7% (29/30) in the acupuncture group and was 93.3% (28/30) in the medication group after treatment. The efficacy was similar between the two groups (P>0.05). In follow-up, the total effective rate was 86.7% (26/30) in the acupuncture group, which was better than 56.7% (17/30, P<0.05) in the medication group. The scores of symptoms and physical signs after treatment and in follow-up were all reduced apparently as compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups (all P<0.05). The scores of symptoms and physical signs were reduced more apparently in the acupuncture group as compared with those in the medication group in follow-up (all P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The acupuncture at three nasal points and the acupoints selected by syndrome differentiation achieves the similar short-term efficacy on perennial allergic rhinitis as compared with the oral administration of loratadine. The acupuncture therapy presents the obvious advantages on long-term efficacy.</p>

Effect of needling at waiguan (SJ5) on brain glucose metabolism in patients with cerebral infarction / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe changes of brain glucose metabolism by needling at Waiguan (SJ5) in cerebral infraction (CI) patients using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron-emission computer tomography (PET/CT), thus exploring its effect and mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 21 patients with CI were recruited in this study. The location of lesion was limited to the left basal ganglia by CT or MRI scan. All patients were randomly assigned to three groups. i.e., the acupoint group (Group A), the non-acupoint group (Group B), the blank control group (Group C), 7 in each group. Patients in Group A were needled at right Waiguan (SJ5). Those in Group B were needled at non-acupoint [10 mm beside Waiguan (SJ5)], whereas those in Group C did not receive any treatment. All patients underwent PET/CT head scan. All data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 13.0 Software and SPM8 Software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with Group C, glucose metabolism increased in bilateral superior temporal gyrus (BA38), right superior frontal gyrus (BA9), left cingulate gyrus (BA24), left culmen and pyramid of cerebellum, and right cerebellar tonsil of cerebellum in Group A. Compared with Group C, glucose metabolism increased in bilateral superior frontal gyrus (BA6, BA9, BA10), bilateral middle frontal gyrus (BA6, BA10), left middle frontal gyrus (BA4), bilateral uncus of limbic lobe (BA36, BA38), left cingulate gyrus (BA24, BA31), left posterior cingulate gyrus (BA30), left precuneus (BA7), left inferior parietal lobule (BA4), and left lingual gyrus of occipital lobe (BA18) in Group B. Compared with Group B, glucose metabolism increased in bilateral superior temporal gyrus (BA22, BA38), right inferior frontal gyrus (BA47), left culmen and cerebellar tonsil of cerebellum in Group A. Activated encephalic regions of needling at Waiguan (SJ5) were mainly dominated in the healthy side, bilateral superior temporal gyrus, and right inferior frontal gyrus. Activated encephalic regions of cerebellum were located at the left cerebellar hemisphere, left culmen of anterior cerebella lobe, and bilateral cerebellar tonsil of posterior cerebella lobe.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Needling at Waiguan (SJ5) of CI patients induced increased glucose metabolism in local cerebral regions. Functional neuroimaging using PET/CT could directly reflect changes of brain glucose metabolism by acupuncture.</p>

Evaluation of the immediate effect of acupuncture on cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type based on orthogonal design / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the differences in the immediate effect of acupuncture on cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type among three factors: needling technique, acupoint selection and time of needle retaining so as to option the best therapeutic program.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two cases were observed and randomly divided into 8 groups, 4 cases in each one. The orthogonal design of three factors and two levels was adopted. There were needling technique (electroacupuncture, reinforcing and reducing method), acupoint selection [C4-C7 Jiaji (EX-B 2) and three needles of neck: Tianzhu (BL 10), Jingbailao (EX-LHN 15), Dazhu (BL 11)] and time of needle retaining (5 min, 15 min). L8 (2(7)) orthogonal design table was arranged in the trial. The changes in mean velocity (Vm) of vertebral artery (VA) and basilar artery (BA) were observed before and after acupuncture.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The immediate effect of VA-BA blood flow was the most significant after electroacupuncture at C4-C7 Jiaji (EX-B 2), with continuous wave for 5 min. This method and acupoint selection greatly influenced the therapeutic results (both P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The optimized therapeutic program of the immediate effect of acupuncture for cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type is electroacupuncture + C4-C7 Jiaji (EX-B 2) + 5 min. The importance of different factors for the immediate effect in acupuncture treatment of cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type is: acupoint selection > needling technique > time of needle retaining.</p>

Effect of acupuncture treatment of relieving depression and regulating mind on insomnia accompanied with depressive disorders / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the therapeutic effects of insomnia accompanied with depressive disorders treated by acupuncture of relieving depression and regulating mind and oral administration of Trazodone.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-five cases were randomly divided into a acupuncture group (33 cases) and western medication group (32 cases). In acupuncture group, Shenmen (HT 7), Baihui (CV 20), Hegu (LI 4) and Taichong (LR 3) were selected. In western medication group, Trazodone was applied with oral administration for 4 weeks. The curative effect comparison was carried on by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Side Effect Rating Scale (SERS) of Asberg.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cured and markedly effective rate of 72.7% (24/33)in acupuncture group was superior to that of 46.8% (15/32) in western medication group; after treatment, the scores of all items and the total cumulative scores of PSQI and SDS of both groups were reduced (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), of which, the sleep quality and daytime function evaluation in acupuncture group reduced more obviously than those in western medication group (both P < 0.05); the SERS scores of Asberg in western medication group were higher than those in acupuncture group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture treatment of relieving depression and regulating mind is superior to Trazodone with oral administration for sleep quality and daytime function, with milder adverse reactions.</p>

Electroacupuncture treatment of chronic insomniacs / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Due to the quick rhythm of life and work pressure, more and more people suffer from sleep quality problems. In this study, we investigated the effect of electroacupuncture on sleep quality of chronic insomniacs and the safety of electroacupuncture therapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four courses of electroacupuncture treatment were applied to 47 patients. With pre-treatment and post-treatment self-control statistical method, Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) scores were used for evaluating sleep quality. Polysomnogram was used for detecting insomniacs' changes in sleep architecture. The safety of electroacupuncture was evaluated by monitoring the self-designed adverse events and side effects during treatment and post-treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Electroacupuncture considerably improved insomniacs' sleep quality and social function during the daytime. Electroacupuncture had certain repairing effect on the disruption in sleep architecture. At the same time, electroacupuncture prolonged slow wave sleep (SWS) time and relatively rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep) time. There was no hangover, addiction or decrements in vigilance during the daytime (incidence rate was 0). However, insomnia rebound rate was about 23% within one month.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>These results suggest that electroacupuncture has beneficial effect on sleep quality improvement in the patients with chronic insomnia, which may be associated with repairing sleep architecture, reconstructing sleep continuity, as well as prolonging SWS time and REM sleep time. Electroacupuncture treatment for chronic insomnia is safe. Therefore, electroacupuncture therapy could be a promising avenue of treatment for chronic insomnia.</p>

A cerebral functional definition on the specificity of acupoints, needling sensation and association of acupoints based on the "acupoints-brain relation hypothesis? / 中国针灸

"Acupoints-brain relation hypothesis" is put forward according to the combination of cerebral functional imaging techniques, positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and the studies of the essence of acupoints. Analysis based on the living state of human being, the cerebral function and the objective images and data will result in: (1) a model of cerebral functional imaging for the definition of acupoints, any points that coincide the basic factors of the model can be definited as an acupoint; (2) a model of cerebral functional imaging for needling sensation, any cerebral functional changes caused by needling coincide the basic factors of the model can be definited as needling sensation; (3) a study on characteristics and regular patterns of association of the acupoints selected along channels.

Comparative study of the specificities of needling acupoints DU20, DU26 and HT7 in intervening vascular dementia in different areas in the brain on the basis of scale assessment and cerebral functional imaging / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Using methods of clinical scale assessment and cerebral functional imaging to compare the relative specificity of needling acupoints Baihui (DU20), Shuigou (DU26) and Shenmen (HT7) in intervening vascular dementia (VD) in different areas in the brain.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty patients with VD were randomized into 5 groups. Needling on conventionally used acupoints of hand and foot three Yang-meridians aiming at hemiplegia was applied to the patients in Group A, and needling on DU20 to Group B, on DU26 to Group C, on HT7 to Group D and on all the three to Group E was applied additionally. Assessments of Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Family Attitude Questionnaire (FAQ) were made. And the positron emission computerized tomography (PET) and single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) examinations were conducted in 5 selected patients from each group before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Needling on conventional acupoints plus DU20 could effect the inner temporal system, thalamencephalon system and prefrontal cortical system to improve memory and executive capacity of VD patients; conventional acupoints plus DU26 could effect more to the prefrontal cortical system to obviously elevate the executive capacity; that plus HT7 would reveal an effect similar to but rather weaker than plus DU20, and effect more to memory; and that plus all the three simultaneously could effect rather roundly multiple aspects of the nervous system related to intellectual activities, to elevate the recognition and enhance the executive capacity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Needling on various acupoints like DU20, DU26 and HT7 have effects on different brain areas.</p>

Effects of electro-acupuncture on electroencephalography in patients with vascular dementia / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) on electroencephalography (EEG) in vascular dementia (VD) patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>According to the Hasegawa dementia scale (HDS), the severity of 46 VD patients were classified into three grades as gentle, medium and severe, in the same time, they were divided into the EA group (n = 23) and the nimotop group (n = 23) randomly. Changes of EEG in the patients were observed before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The degree of normality of EEG in VD patients were positively correlated with the severity of their illness, i. e. the severer VD, the more obvious the abnormal EEG changes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EEG can be accessible for evaluating the severity of VD, and the electrical activity of brain in VD patients could be improved by EA therapy.</p>

Observation on clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture on apoplectic pseudobulbar palsy / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To find a clinically effective therapy for apoplectic pseudobulbar palsy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-five cases of apoplectic pseudobulbar palsy were randomly divided into 3 groups, acupuncture group, western medicine group and acupuncture plus medicine group. They were treated for one month.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The scores for clinical symptoms and signs, and the clinical scores for water provocative test in the acupuncture plus medicine group and the acupuncture group were superior to that in the western medicine group with significant difference (P < 0.01), and the therapeutic effects of the 3 groups were related with age, course of disease and condition of illness.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture has some predominances in treatment of apoplectic pseudobulbar palsy.</p>

Comparative study on therapeutic effects of Baihui (GV 20), Shuigou (GV 26) and Shenmen (HT 7) in treatment of vascular dementia / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the relative characteristics of Baihui (GV 20), Shuigou (GV 26) and Shenmen (HT 7) in treatment of vascular dementia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty cases of vascular dementia (VD) were divided into 5 groups randomly. The patients in the group A were treated by acupuncture at routine acupoints. Besides the routine acupoints of the group A, Baihui (GV 20), Shuigou (GV 26) and Shenmen (HT 7) were added to treat the patients in group B, C, D, respectively, while Baihui, Shuigou and Shenmen were added to the group E. The clinical symptoms and signs were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Baihui and Shenmen can improve memory, orientation, reaction, obstinacy and trance of VD patients. Baihui is good at helping the patients to understand, calculate and adapt the society. Shuigou is good at improvement of sleeping, slow reaction, trance and memory of the patients. The combination of Baihui, Shuigou and Shenmen can generally promote intelligence level and society adaptive ability.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Baihui, Shuigou and Shenmen have own characteristics in improving clinical signs and intelligence of patients of VD, and the combination of the 3 acupoints has the best effect in treating VD.</p>

A comparative study on the acupoints of specialty of Baihui, Shuigou and Shenmen in treating vascular dementia / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the relative specialty of the acupoints of Baihui (DU20), Shuigou (DU26) and Shenmen (HT7) in treating vascular dementia (VD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty patients suffering from VD were divided into 5 groups randomly and treated by conventional acupuncture for hemiplegia, or conventional acupuncture plus needling in DU20, DU26, HT7 respectively or simultaneously. Clinical symptoms were observed, and the scales such as Hasegawa's dementia scale-recension (HDS-R), activities of daily living (ADL) and functional activities questionnaire (FAQ) were used for assessment before and after acupuncture treatment. The scores were processed statistically.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>DU20 and HT7 could improve the abilities of memory, orientation, reaction and reduce adamancy and trance. Besides, DU 20 was helpful in improving the abilities of understanding, calculating and social adapting. While DU26 is helpful in treating retardation, failure in daily activities, trance and poor memory. The combination of the 3 acupoints could improve the intelligence and social adapting ability of VD patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>DU20, DU26 and HT7 had its own effect in treating VD, but the effect of three points used in combination was the best.</p>

Effects of electroacupuncture on neurological deficit and pathomorphologic lesion in the rat of focal cerebral ischemia / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To probe into regularity of effects of electroacupuncture on focal cerebral infarction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Focal cerebral ischemia model was established by middle cerebral artery heat-occlusion (MACO) method. Electroacupuncture was given at Dazhui (GV 14) and Baihui (GV 20). NSS was used for evaluation of neurological impairment, TTC staining method for detection of the infarct volume, and HE staining method for investigation of the pathomorphologic lesion of the brain.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MCAO could induce neurologic impairment, cerebral infarction and cerebral pathological lesion in the rat, all of these changes could be cured spontaneously in varying degrees with prolongation of ischemic time, but electroacupuncture could relieve the lesions to a certain extents.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Electroacupuncture can improve neurologic deficit impairment, reduce the volume of cerebral infarction and ischemic pathological lesion, early interfere of acupuncture and moxibustion is of very important clinical significance for treatment of ischemic apoplexy.</p>

Effect of electro-acupuncture on calcium content in neurocytes of focal cerebral ischemia / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) in regulating calcium (Ca2+) content in brain neurocytes of rats with focal cerebral ischemia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The changes of Ca2+ content in ischemic neurocytes were observed by using laser confocal scanning microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Ca2+ content did not change significantly in cerebral cortex when the brain ischemia occurred for 1 hr, but it raised significantly in striatum neurocytes. Both the Ca2+ contents in striatum and cortex area increased significantly 3 hrs after ischemia occurrence and the content in striatum was higher than that in cortex significantly. Brain Ca2+ content could be reduced significantly after the 3 hrs ischemic brain were treated by EA for 30 min.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EA could regulate the content of Ca2+ in the ischemic area of brain, inhibit Ca2+ overload, so as to protect neurons from ischemic injury.</p>