Ethics review characteristics of clinical research of acupuncture and moxibustion / 中国针灸

The elements of ethical review related to clinical research of acupuncture and moxibustion is discussed to provide ideas for various institutions to carry out relevant ethical review. It is believed that the ethical review of clinical research of acupuncture and moxibustion needs to focus on the specificity of acupuncture and moxibustion. Starting from the basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine, the theory of meridians and acupoints and the theory of syndrome differentiation along meridians, the key contents of ethical review such as intervention methods, grouping design and placebo control should be considered, so as to standardize the clinical research of acupuncture and moxibustion and protect the health and rights and interests of participants.

Herb-separated moxibustion on dysmenorrhea in ovarian endometriosis: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of herb-separated moxibustion on dysmenorrhea in ovarian endometriosis.@*METHODS@#A total of 54 patients with ovarian endometriosis dysmenorrhea were randomized into a herb-separated moxibustion group and a waiting-list group, 27 cases in each one (3 cases dropped off in the herb-separated moxibustion group, 4 cases dropped off in the waiting-list group). Herb-separated moxibustion was applied at hypogastrium and lumbosacral area for 30 min in the herb-separated moxibustion group, once a week for 3 months, and oral ibuprofen sustained-release capsule was given to relieve pain when necessary. Excepting giving ibuprofen sustained-release capsule when necessary, no more intervention was adopted in the waiting-list group. Before and after treatment and in 3 months follow-up, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, days of dysmenorrhea, total dose of oral painkiller were observed.@*RESULTS@#Compared before treatment, the VAS scores after tratment and in follow-up were decreased in the herb-separated moxibustion group (<0.05), and were less than those in the waiting-list group (<0.05); the days of dysmenorrhea and the total doses of oral painkiller after tratment and in follow-up were decreased in the herb-separated moxibustion group (<0.05), and were less than those in the waiting-list group (<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Herb-separated moxibustion can effectively improve dysmenorrhea symptom and shorten dysmenorrhea days in patients with ovarian endometriosis.

Clinical Efficacy Evaluation of Abdominal Acupuncture plus Cervical Curvature Traction for Cervical Spondylosis of Vertebral Artery Type / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of abdominal acupuncture plus cervical curvature traction in treating cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type. Method Eighty patients with cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type were divided by the random number table into two groups, with 40 cases in each group. The treatment group was intervened by abdominal acupuncture plus cervical curvature traction, and the control group was given oral administration of flunarizine. The two groups were compared before and after treatment in terms of clinical symptom score, cervical vertigo symptom and function assessment scale, and hemodynamics, etc. Result Both groups attained significant efficacy, and the total effective rate was 92.5％ in the treatment group, markedly higher than 77.5％ in the control group (P<0.05); the score of cervical spondylosis symptom scale in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group after treatment, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05); after treatment, the evaluations of vertigo, neck-shoulder pain, headache, daily living and work, mental and social adaptation were significantly improved in both groups (P<0.01). Conclusion Abdominal acupuncture plus cervical curvature traction can obviously improve symptoms such as vertigo, neck-shoulder pain, headache, daily living and work, and mental and social adaptation, and boost the blood flow velocity of vertebrobasilar artery in patients with cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type. The achievement of therapeutic efficacy is associated with the improvement of vertebrobasilar blood supply.