ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the effect and differences sex the influence of hormone levels of perimenopau-sal syndrome patients between manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture (EA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 50 cases with perimenopausal syndrome were randomly assigned into an manual acupuncture group (27 cases) and an EA group (23 cases), and 1 case dropped in the EA group. The acupoints in the two groups were Guanyuan (CV 4), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Tianshu (ST 25), and Sanyinjiao (SP 6). Acupuncture with 3-time small and even manipulation of lifting, thrusting and twirling was used in the acupuncture group, once 10 min. EA with sparse-dense wave and 10 Hz/50 Hz was applied in the EA group for 30 min. The treatments in the two groups were for continuous 8 weeks (24 times in total), once the other day, 3 times a week. The scores of 24-hour hot flashes even, menopausal rating scale (MRS) and menopause-specific quality of life questionnaire (MENQOL) were recorded before treatment and after 4-week and 8-week treatment, as well as 12 and 24 weeks after treatment. Serum sex hormone levels were tested before and after 8-week treatment as well as 12 weeks after treatment, including serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estracliol (E).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with those before treatment, the 24-hour hot flashes even score, MRS and MENQOL scores were significantly lower after 4-week and 8-week treatments, 12 and 24 weeks after treatment (all<0.05). All the above scores after 8-week treatment were lower than those after 4-week treatment (all<0.05); and the scores 12 and 24 weeks after treatment were lower than those after 4-week and 8-week treatments (all<0.05); all the scores after treatment were not significantly different at any time between the two groups (all>0.05). Compared with those before treatment, serum FSH and Eapparently improved in the two groups after 8-week treatment and 12 weeks after treatment (all<0.05). LH levels did not significantly change in the two groups (all>0.05). All the serum sex hormone levels showed no significant difference between the two groups (all>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Both acupuncture and EA can improve perimenopausal symptoms and serum sex hormone. The effects are similar.</p>
ABSTRACT
Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of brain-benefiting and collateral-unblocking needling technique for chronic alcoholic gastritis complicated with depression. Methods:A total of 92 cases with chronic alcoholic gastritis complicated with depression were included in this trial. They were randomly allocated into an observation group (n=46) and a control group (n=46) by random number (envelope) method. Patients in the observation group received the brain-benefiting and collateral-unblocking needling technique. Scalp points included Shenting (GV 24), Xinhui (GV 22), Qianding (GV 23), Baihui (GV 20), Chengguang (BL 6), Tongtian (BL 7) and Luoque (BL 8). Body points included Neiguan (PC 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Zhongwan (CV 12), Gongsun (SP 4), Shenmen (HT 7), Daling (PC 7), Qimen (LR 14), Xinshu (BL 15) and Taichong (LR 3). The control group only received the same body acupuncture as the observation group. The treatment was conducted once a day, 30 min for each treatment, and 10 times made up a course of treatment. The efficacy was observed after 3 courses of treatment, and there was a 2-d interval between two courses. Results:After 3 courses of treatment, the clinical symptoms and gastroscopic features were significantly improved in the observation group than that in the control group. The clinical efficacy, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were significantly better than those in the control group (allP<0.05). Conclusion:The brain-benefiting and collateral-unblocking needling technique can significantly improve clinical symptoms in patients with chronic alcoholic gastritis complicated with depression and substantially alleviate their gastroscopic features, anxiety and depression.