Adding acupoint identification into the textbook Meridians and Acupoints: preliminary assumption / 中国针灸

To deepen the understanding of the acupoint indications, clarify the targeting of acupoints, and provide a basis for the composition of acupuncture prescriptions, it is suggested to add acupoint identification into the textbook Meridians and Acupoints, and a preliminary assumption that relevant acupoints can be identified by taking the indications, locations, and meridians as the key points is proposed. In this paper, acupoints for treating stomach disease, acupoints of eye region, and five-shu points of lung meridian are taken as examples, combined with ancient literature and modern scientific research achievements, the main indications of acupoint is identified, which is of great significance to the discipline's development, talent training, and achievement transformation.

Effects of different courses of moxibustion treatment on intestinal flora and inflammation of a rat model of knee osteoarthritis / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#This study was done to determine the effects of different courses of moxibustion on a rat knee osteoarthritis (KOA) model, and explore the dose-effect relationship of moxibustion on KOA from the perspectives of intestinal flora and inflammatory factors.@*METHODS@#Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal, model, moxibustion for 2 weeks, moxibustion for 4 weeks and moxibustion for 6 weeks groups (n = 5 each group). A KOA rat model was induced by monosodium iodoacetate, and moxibustion intervention was performed at the acupoints "Dubi" (ST35) and "Zusanli" (ST36), once every other day. Pathologic changes in the cartilage of rat knee joints were assessed after intervention, and fecal samples were subjected to 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing for microbial diversity analysis.@*RESULTS@#Damage to the knee articular cartilage was obvious in the model group, which also had increased levels of pro-inflammatory factors, decreased levels of anti-inflammatory factors, and intestinal flora disorders with decreased diversity. The degree of cartilage damage in the 4 and 6 weeks of moxibustion groups was significantly improved compared with the model group. The 4 and 6 weeks of moxibustion groups also demonstrated reduced levels of interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α and increased levels of interleukin-10 (P < 0.05). Both the abundance and diversity of the intestinal flora were increased, approaching those of the normal group. Abundances of probiotics Eubacterium coprostanoligenes group and Ruminococcaceae UCG-014 increased, while that of the pathogenic bacteria Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group decreased (P < 0.05). Although the abundance of Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group decreased in the 2 weeks of moxibustion group compared with the model group (P < 0.05), there was no statistically significant difference in serum inflammatory factors, flora species diversity or degree of pathological damage compared with the model group.@*CONCLUSION@#Moxibustion treatment led to significant improvements in the intestinal flora and inflammatory factors of rats with KOA. Moxibustion treatment of 4 and 6 weeks led to better outcomes than the 2-week course. Moxibustion for 4 and 6 weeks can regulate intestinal flora dysfunction with increased probiotics and reduced pathogenic bacteria, reduce pro-inflammatory factors and increase anti-inflammatory factors. No significant differences were seen between the effects of moxibustion for 4 weeks and 6 weeks.

Effect of moxibustion on quality of life in tumor patients: network Meta-analysis / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To rank the effectiveness of various moxibustion methods on the quality of life in tumor patients, and explore the best treatment plan of moxibustion for improving the quality of life in tumor patients from the perspective of evidence-based medicine.@*METHODS@#The Chinese and English literature of randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the effect of moxibustion on the quality of life in tumor patients were searched in PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, SinoMed, Wanfang and VIP. The retrieval time was from the establishment of the databases to October 31, 2020. The R3.6.2 and Stata15.0 software were used for network Meta-analysis based on Bayesian model.@*RESULTS@#A total of 30 Chinese RCTs were included, including 2 169 patients, involving 16 interventions. In terms of the effectiveness of improving quality of life, the top three treatments were special moxibustion plus other therapies 1 (either of tendon acupuncture, acupoint pressing, acupoint injection, etc.), wheat-grain moxibustion and mild moxibustion. The special moxibustion methods were the combination of fire-dragon moxibustion, thunder-fire moxibustion, fuyang fire moxibustion and moxa salt-bag moxibustion. The number of literature of these four moxibustion methods was small. Considering the clinical application of moxibustion, it was concluded that wheat-grain moxibustion ranked first.@*CONCLUSION@#The adjuvant treatment of wheat-grain moxibustion is more effective than other moxibustion methods on improving the quality of life in tumor patients, but the results needed to be further verified because the bias risk of RCT included in this study is high and the sample size is small.

Question and thinking on study of acupuncture-moxibustion academic school / 中国针灸

The concepts of acupuncture-moxibustion "academic school" "school of thought" and "school" are differentiated. It is believed that "academic school" is the general term of "school of thought" and "school". This paper puts forward a solution to the confusion of related concepts, disunity of formation conditions, disunity of divisionmethods and disunity of nomenclature. It is proposed that a great concentration should be put on the arrangement of acupuncture-moxibustion academic school and the regulation on related issues. Because of the complexity and diversity of the form and content of acupuncture-moxibustion schools, the division of them should not be so specified and the unification of related issues should not be so strictly required.

Study on characteristics and regularity of acupuncture prescription by / 中国针灸

Summarized the characteristics and rules of

Effect of moxibustion on inflammatory factors and oxidative stress factors in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical efficacy between moxibustion and acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and to observe the effect on serum tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA).@*METHODS@#A total of 60 patients with KOA were randomized into a moxibustion group (30 cases, 2 cases dropped off) and an acupuncture group (30 cases, 2 cases dropped off). In the aucpuncture group, acupuncture was applied at Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Dubi (ST 35), Heding (EX-LE 2), Xuehai (SP 10), Liangqiu (ST 34), Zusanli (ST 36) and point on the affected side for 30 min.In the moxibustion group, moxibustion was adopted at knee for 60 min. The treatment was given once every two days for 4 weeks, totally 14 times. Before and after treatment, the western ontario and McMaster universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) score was compared, and the therapeutic effect was evaluated in the two groups. The contents of serum TNF-αand IL-1β, the activity of serum SOD and the serum level of MDA were detected in the two groups.@*RESULTS@#Compared before treatment, the WOMAC scores and the contents of serum TNF-α, IL-1β and MDA after treatment were reduced (<0.05), the activity of serum SOD was increased (<0.05) in the two groups. In the moxibustion group, the WOMAC score and the contents of serum TNF-α, IL-1β and MDA after treatment were lower than the acupuncture group (<0.05), the activity of serum SOD was higher than the acupuncture group (<0.05). The total effective rate was 89.3% (25/28) in the moxibustion group, which was superior to 42.9% (12/28) in the acupuncture group (<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Moxibustion and acupuncture can relieve KOA symptoms, and the therapeutic effect of moxibustion is superior to acupuncture. The mechanism may be related to the reduction of serum inflammatory factor and oxidative stress factor.

Comparison of different schools of hand acupuncture therapies / 中国针灸

The historical origin of hand acupuncture therapies were collected. The positioning method, acupuncture manipulation and dominant diseases, etc. were compared among 8 kinds of extensively used hand acupuncture schools, such as traditional hand acupuncture, Korean finger needle and

Comparison and analysis of different schools of Chinese auricular acupuncture / 中国针灸

Based on the literature regarding auricular acupuncture in recent 60 years, the theoretical basis, acupuncturemethods and dominant diseases are analyzed and compared, and three major auricular acupuncture schools are proposed. The first school is the sinicized auricular acupuncture school derived from French Nogier auricular acupuncture school, which can be further divided into three branches:

Study on the body surface temperature variation patterns of the meridian acupoints related to the physiological status of the uterus / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: By observing the body surface temperature changes of different meridian acupoints located at the same or adjacent spinal segments of the uterus during the whole storing and releasing process of the uterus under normal physiological condition by the infrared thermal imaging technology, to explore the specific patterns that the functions of Zang-fu organs are reflected on the biophysical characteristics of acupoints, and to enrich the functional specificity theory of the meridian acupoints, thus to provide a reference for discussing the biophysical characteristics of meridian acupoints associated with the menstrual cycle in healthy female college students. Methods: Ninety healthy subjects were included. Infrared thermal imaging device was used to detect the body surface temperature of the Yuan-Primary points, the Xi-Cleft points, the crossing points, the non-specific points, the unrelated meridian acupoints and the non-meridian non-acupoint points of the three yin meridians of foot located at the same or adjacent spinal cord segment with uterus, during the menstrual phase, the follicular phase, the ovulation phase and the luteal phase. The absolute skin temperature difference between the left and right acupoints with the same name was used as the main outcome indicator. Results: The temperature difference between left and right Diji (SP 8, the Xi-Cleft point of the Spleen Meridian) during the ovulation phase was significantly higher than that during the other 3 phases (all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the temperature difference between the other meridian acupoints and non-meridian non-acupoint points during the 4 phases (all P>0.05); the absolute temperature difference value of each meridian acupoint was not statistically different from each other in the same phase (all P>0.05). Conclusion: The temperature of Diji (SP 8) specifically reflected the onset of ovulation, and the thermal characteristics of Diji (SP 8) specifically reflected the physiological changes of uterus. The meridian acupoints reflecting the performance of Zang-fu function is not only associated with the spinal cord segment innervating the acupoints, but also associated with the characteristics of the acupoints and the meridians to which the acupoints belong.

Effects of electroacupuncture of different frequencies on electromyography, NOS and ICC of colon in rats with slow transit constipation / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) of different frequencies on transmission function, electromyography, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) content and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) expression of colon in rat models with slow transit constipation (STC). Methods: Of the 50 healthy male Wistar rats, 10 were randomly selected as a normal group and fed with ordinary diet, and the remaining 40 rats were fed with the diet added with the compound diphenoxylate at a dose of 8 mg/(kg·bw) each day for continuous 120 d. The 40 successfully established STC rat models were randomly divided into a model group, a low-frequency EA group (2 Hz), a high-frequency EA group (100 Hz), and a variable-frequency EA group (2 Hz/100 Hz), with 10 rats in each group. Rats in the normal and the model groups were not given any treatment; the low-frequency EA and the high-frequency EA groups were given EA at Tianshu (ST 25), Zusanli (ST 36) and Zhigou (TE 6) with continuous wave at the designated frequency, and the variable-frequency EA group received sparse-dense wave (2 Hz/100 Hz) EA at the same acupoints, once a day for a total of 15 d. After treatment, the colonic transmission function, electromyography, NOS content and ICC expression (calculated by the difference in the area of the C-kit positive cells) of the rats in each group were measured. Results: For the colonic transmission function, compared with the normal group, the first black stool excretion durations of rats in the other groups were significantly prolonged (all P<0.05); compared with the model group, the first black stool excretion durations of rats in the three EA groups were significantly shortened (all P<0.05), which was significantly shorter in the variable-frequency EA group than in the low-frequency EA and high-frequency EA groups (both P<0.05). For the colonic electromyography, compared with the normal group, the amplitude was significantly increased and the frequency was accelerated in rats of the other groups (all P<0.05); compared with the model group, the amplitude was significantly reduced and the frequency was slowed down in the three EA groups (both P<0.05); compared with the low-frequency EA and the high-frequency EA groups, the amplitude was reduced and the frequency was significantly reduced in rats of the variable-frequency EA group (both P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, the colonic NOS contents were significantly increased in the other groups (all P<0.05); compared with the model group, the NOS contents were significantly reduced in the three EA groups (all P<0.05); compared with the low-frequency EA and the high-frequency EA groups, the content was significantly reduced in the variable-frequency EA group (all P<0.05). For the area of rat colonic C-kit-positive cells, compared with the normal group, the areas were significantly reduced in rats of other groups (all P<0.05); compared with the model group, the areas were increased significantly in the three EA groups (all P<0.05); compared with the low-frequency EA group, the area was increased significantly in the variable-frequency EA group (P<0.05). Conclusion: EA, especially EA at the 2 Hz/100 Hz variable-frequency, has a positive treatment effect on the STC model rats. It may improve rats' colonic function by regulating the electromyography, NOS content and ICC expression of colon.

Exploration of dominant diseases and clinical application characteristics of wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy based on data mining technology / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To analyze the literature regarding wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy by data mining technology, and the dominant diseases of wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy were summarized to provide reference for evaluation of specificity effect of wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy.@*METHODS@#The journal articles regarding wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy from the CNKI, WANFANG, and VIP since January 1, 1975 to December 31, 2017, and the medical cases regarding wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy in - and were retrieved. Based on the disease types of wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy in the journal articles and medical cases, the association rules method of data mining technology was applied to calculate frequent itemsets. The self-developed database platform for wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy was used to extract and summarize the information to explore the rules of clinical application.@*RESULTS@#The scope of disease involved a total of 7 disease entities in the literature regarding wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy. In the journal articles, there were 83 disease types and the most common surgical diseases were soft tissue injury and periarthritis of shoulder, the frequency were 34 and 24 times respectively. The total effective rates of wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy were 92.74% in internal medicine, 91.39% in surgery, 91.51% in gynecology, 90.88% in dermatology, 96.20% in pediatric, 89.05% in ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology and 88.78% in psychiatry. In the medical cases of wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy, there were 118 disease types and the most common diseases were pain and syndrome, herpes zoster was also a common disease. Psychiatric diseases used more wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy, and the common diseases were anxiety and mania.@*CONCLUSION@#Wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy is widely used in treatment of clinical diseases and has significant therapeutic effects. It is mostly used in the treatment of surgery, internal medicine (neurology particularly), dermatology (herpes zoster particularly). Besides, the wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy is also applicable in the treatment of diseases of ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology, gynecology, pediatric and psychiatry.

Effects of electroacupuncture of different frequencies on SP and VIP expression levels in colon of rats with slow transit constipation / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective:To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) of different frequencies on the expression levels of substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in the colon of rats with slow transit constipation (STC).Methods:One hundred healthy male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a normal group,a model group,a low-frequency EA group,a high-frequency EA group and a variable-frequency EA group,with 20 rats in each group.The rats in the normal group were fed with normal diet.The rats in the other groups were fed with phenethylpiperidine in the diet at a dose of 8 mg/(kg·bw) per day,for 120 d,to establish the STC model.Rats in the normal group and the model group did not receive any treatment;rats in the low-frequency EA group were treated with 2 Hz continuous wave EA,rats in the high-frequency EA group were treated with 100 Hz continuous wave EA,and rats in the variable-frequency EA group were treated with 2 Hz/100 Hz sparse-dense EA.The current intensity of the EA was determined by the slight vibration of the rat limbs without painful screaming.The intervention was performed once a day,15 min/time for continuous 15 d.After treatment,the intestinal transit function and the expression levels of SP and VIP in the colon of the rats in each group were determined.Results:After treatment,the defecation duration of the first dark stool in the model group was significantly longer than that in the normal group (P＜0.05);the defecation durations of the first dark stool in the low-frequency EA group,high-frequency EA group and variable-frequency EA group were significantly shorter than the duration in the model group (all P＜0.05);compared with the low-frequency EA group,the first dark stool defecation duration of rats in the variable-frequency EA group was significantly shorter (P＜0.05);compared with the normal group,the SP and VIP expression levels in the colon of the model group were significantly decreased (both P＜0.01);the SP and VIP expression levels in the colon of the low-frequency EA group,the high-frequency EA group and the variable-frequency EA group were significantly higher than those in the model group (all P＜0.05);compared with the high-frequency EA group,the SP expression levels in the colon in the low-frequency EA group and the variable-frequency EA group were significantly increased (both P＜0.05);compared with the low-frequency EA group,the VIP expression levels in the colon in the high-frequency EA group and the variable-frequency EA group were significantly increased (both P＜0.05).Conclusion:EA improves the intestinal function of STC model rats by regulating the expression levels of SP and VIP in rat colon.The EA stimulation with 100 Hz continuous wave,2 Hz/100 Hz sparse-dense wave shows a better improvement in the colonic transit function in STC rats,followed by 2 Hz continuous wave.

Effects of different methods of acupuncture and moxibustion on functional constipation in rats:a comparative study / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the effects of acupuncture, electroacupuncture (EA) and moxibustion on functional constipation in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a control group (=8), a model group (=11), a medication group (=8), an acupuncture group (=11), an EA group (=11) and a moxibustion group (=11) by random number table. The rats in the model group, medication group, acupuncture group, EA group and moxibustion group were treated with intragastric administration of loperamide hydrochloride for 6 days continuously to establish the functional constipation models, while equal volume of drinking water was administrated to rats in the control group at the same time. The rats in the acupuncture group, EA group and moxibustion group were respectively treated with acupuncture, EA and moxibustion at "Tianshu" (ST 25) and "Shangjuxu" (ST 37) one hour after intragastric administration; rats in the medication group were treated with intragastric administration of cisapride suspension. All the treatment was given once a day for 6 days. At the last day of intervention, the 24-hour food intake, stool quantity and its water content were measured in each group; the pushing rate of intestine was measured; the structure of colon tissue and acidic mucus in its mucous layer were observed by hematoxylin-eosin dyeing and alcian blue dyeing; the expression of stem cell factor (SCF) and c-kit mRNA was detected by real-time PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the 24-hour food intake and stool quantity were reduced in the model group (both<0.01), and the water content of stool and pushing rate of intestine were reduced (both<0.01); compared with the model group, the stool quantity and its water content were increased in the medication group, acupuncture group, EA group (<0.05,<0.01), which were not significantly different from those in the moxibustion group (both>0.05). The pushing rate of intestine in each intervention group was increased (all<0.01). The 24-hour food intake and stool quantity in the medication group were not significantly different from those in the acupuncture group, EA group and moxibustion group (all>0.05), and the water content of stool was only reduced in the moxibustion group (<0.01). The pushing rate of intestine in the acupuncture group and moxibustion group was lower than that in the medication group (both<0.01), while that in the EA group was not significantly different from that in the medication group (>0.05). The water content of stool in the moxibustion group was lower than that in the acupuncture group and EA group (both<0.01). The pushing rate of intestine in the acupuncture group and moxibustion group was lower than that in the EA group (both<0.01). The HE staining result indicated the structure of colon tissue was normal, complete and similar in each group; the alcian blue staining indicated the acidic mucosubstance in the model group was lower than that in the control group; compared with the model group, the acidic mucosubstance in the medication group, acupuncture group, EA group and moxibustion group was all increased. Compared with the control group, the expression of SCF and c-kit mRNA was reduced in the model group (both<0.05); compared with the model group, the expression of SCF and c-kit mRNA was increased in the medication group, acupuncture group, EA group and moxibustion group (all<0.05); compared with the moxibustion group, the expression of c-kit mRNA was reduced in the acupuncture group and EA group (both<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Acupuncture, EA and moxibustion all can play a positive regulative role on functional constipation in rats, in which EA has the best efficacy, followed by acupuncture.</p>

Diseases treated by moxibustion and fire needling in clinical practice based on data mining: a comparison study / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the specificity of diseases treated by moxibustion and fire needling in clinical practice, so as to provide references for clinical treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>With data mining of modern computer technique, journal and literature databases regarding moxibustion and fire needling were established, respectively. Literature regarding moxibustion and fire needling for the past 60 years has been collected, screened, included, reviewed and abstracted. The utility rate of moxibustion and fire needling in each department was calculated, frequency of diseases in clinical practice was summarized, and diseases which had differences in clinical practice in each department were screened; also the advantages of disease categories and clinical practice between two kinds of therapies in each department were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The utility rate of moxibustion was highest in department of internal medicine and surgery, which were 43.6% and 28.1%, respectively; the utility rate of fire needling was highest in surgery and dermatological department, which were 53.7% and 23.8%, respectively. (2) According to the comparison and analysis on diseases treated by two therapies in clinic, among 26 kinds of gynecology diseases that were treated by moxibustion, 20 kinds were not involved with fire needling; among 22 kinds of pediatrics diseases that were treated by moxibustion, 20 kinds were not involved with fire needling. It was certain that the difference of the two therapies in clinical application was more significant in gynecology and pediatrics than that in the rest four departments. (3) Among the diseases which had differences in clinical practice in each department, the ones involved with moxibustion alone were insomnia, distention and fullness, consumptive fatigue in the department of internal medicine, blood-vessel Bi, stiff neck and hernia in surgery department, urticarial, skin Bi and skin cancer in dermatological department, malposition, infertility and amenorrhea in gynecology department, diarrhea, indigestion and stomachache in pediatrics department, blepharoptosis, blurred vision and dryness syndrome in ENT department; the ones involved with fire needling alone were numbness, coldness syndrome and acute renal colic in the department of internal medicine, lipoma, soft tissue injury and papilloma in surgery department, bromhidrosis, freckle and erysipelas in dermatological department, uterine fibroid in gynecology department, umbilical polyp in pediatrics department, auricle pseudocyst, starred nebula and phlegmatic mass in ENT department.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Moxibustion is frequently applied in department of internal medicine and surgery, while fire needling is frequently used in surgery and dermatological department; the application of moxibustion is broader than that of fire needling in gynecology and pediatrics department. Among the diseases which have differences in clinical practice in each department, moxibustion is commonly seen for clinical symptoms featured with deficiency syndrome, while fire needling is commonly applied for the diseases that have obvious local symptoms.</p>

Research of bleeding volume and method in blood-letting acupuncture therapy based on data mining / 中国针灸

Through computer-based technology and data mining method, with treatment in cases of bloodletting acupuncture therapy in collected literature as sample data, the association rule in data mining was applied. According to self-built database platform, the data was input, arranged and summarized, and eventually required data was acquired to perform the data mining of bleeding volume and method in blood-letting acupuncture therapy, which summarized its application rules and clinical values to provide better guide for clinical practice. There were 9 kinds of blood-letting tools in the literature, in which the frequency of three-edge needle was the highest, accounting for 84.4% (1239/1468). The bleeding volume was classified into six levels, in which less volume (less than 0.1 mL) had the highest frequency (401 times). According to the results of the data mining, blood-letting acupuncture therapy was widely applied in clinical practice of acupuncture, in which use of three-edge needle and less volume (less than 0.1 mL) of blood were the most common, however, there was no central tendency in general.

Exploration on the application characteristics of bloodletting therapy for the diseases relevant with soft tissue infection by data mining technology / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Using the data mining technology to analyze the application law of bloodletting therapy for the diseases relevant with soft tissue infection and explore the effect specificity of bloodletting therapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The variety of diseases treated with bloodletting therapy was taken as the sample data by collecting the reports from the periodical literatures. The network database of bloodletting literature was set up. The association rule of data mining technology was adopted to extract the information on the diseases relevant with soft tissue infection in the periodical literatures. The frequency item of the superiority disease category was calculated. And the deep mining was done in terms of the needle device, point selection and the bleeding amount separately. The application law of bloodletting therapy was summarized in the treatment of the diseases relevant with soft tissue infection.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Fourteen kinds of relevant diseases of soft tissue infection treated with bloodletting therapy were included in the contemporary periodical literatures, of which, the reported case number and the reporting frequency were the highest for hordeolum and breast abscess. The three-edged needle was used the most frequently in the manipulation. The acupoints selected were the local Ashi points, combined with the symptomatic acupoints. The bleeding amount was not normalized by the ideas of different physicians.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The bloodletting therapy achieves the better curative effect on some diseases relevant with soft tissue infection and this therapy deserves to be further promoted in clinical practice.</p>

Acupoint catgut-embedding therapy: superiorities and principles of application / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the superiorities of acupoint catgut-embedding therapy, discuss its law of clinical application and provide scientific decision-making for clinical treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Literatures on acupoint catgut-embedding therapy in the recent 40 years were selected, input, examined and verified, picked up and analyzed by establishing database with the modern computer technology.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) One thousand and seventy-five literatures were input. It shows that the acupoint catgut-embedding therapy has an extensive application in all departments, especially in the internal department, accounting for 48.54% (50/103) of the total disease category. It has the most extensive application on treatment of epigastric pain, with the frequency of 102 times, and obesity of 74 times. The next is surgery, accounting for 14.56% (15/103). The major application is on low back pain and leg pain with the frequency of 79 times. Psoriasis, with the frequency of 30 times, holds the major application in dermatological department. And blepharoplasty, with the frequency of 30 times, gains the most application in department of ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology. (2) In the included literatures, selection of adjacent acupoints and distal acupoints are held as the major method of acupoint selection. The adjusted lumbar puncture needle is taken as the major tool for the acupoint catgut-embedding therapy. And catguts of different sizes are adopted for the operation. (3) Analysis of the therapeutic effect shows that acupoint catgut-embedding therapy has obvious effect in all departments, especially in surgery and dermatology, with the total effective rate over 90%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Epigastric pain, obesity, epilepsy, asthma, abdominal pain, facial paralysis and constipation of the internal medicine, low back pain and leg pain of the surgical department, psoriasis of the dermatological department and blepharoplasty of the department of ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology are considered as the dominant diseases for acupoint catgut-embedding therapy.</p>

Comparative study on therapeutic effect between SXDZ-100 and SDZ-II on chronic functional constipation / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the therapeutic effects between the Hwato neuro and muscle stimulator (SXDZ-100) and the regular electronic stimulator (SDZ-II) on chronic functional constipation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-four cases of chronic functional constipation were randomly divided into a (SXDZ-100) observation group (n = 33) and SDZ-II control group (n = 31). For the SXDZ-100 group, under the considerations of patients' endurance, Zhigou(TE 6) and Tianshu (ST 25), Zusanli (ST 36) and Shangjuxu (ST 37) were punctured and then the courle of acupoints on the same side were connected with SXDZ-100 apparatus in reinforcing and reducing by twirling and rotating manipulation wave for 30 min, while in the control group SDZ-II apparatus was applied in the same way mentioned above with disperse-dense wave at frequency of 1Hz/20Hz for 30 min. By means of clinical therapeutic effect evaluation and clinical symptom score, the contrast between two groups can be made.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Although the total effective rates were both 100.0%, the rate of short term effects in SXDZ-100 group (54.6%, 18/33) is significantly higher than that in SDZ-II group (29.0%, 9/31) (P < 0.05). After the treatment, the clinical symptom scores in both groups decreased significantly (both P < 0.05). And the therapeutic effective indices of the SXDZ-100 group were significantly higher than those of the SDZ- II group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The therapeutic effect of Hwato neuro and muscle stimulator (SXDZ-100) on chronic functional constipation is superior to that of a regular electronic stimulator (SDZ-II).</p>

Study on the effects of the auricular acupuncture with different manipulations for rapid analgesia on the patients with lumbar disc hernia / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the effects of the point-to-point needling and perpendicular needling of auricular acupuncture for rapid analgesia on the patients with lumbar disc hernia, and find which method is better for this disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety two patients were paired according to the three factors as sex, age and degree of pain, and then randomly divided into the point-to-point needling group and perpendicular needling group. The methods of point-to-point needling through the skin and perpendicular needling towardS the skin were respectively applied at bilateral lumbar areas as auricular acupuncture, and added acupoints following the change of symptom. All patients accorded with the demands of McGill pain questionnaire (MPQ), before treatment, 5 and 30 min after treatment, the accumulated score of pain was recorded respectively for observing the difference of the effects in both groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 5 min treatment, the effect of analgesia on the male patients in the point-to-point needling group was better than that of in the perpendicular needling group (P<0.05), but there was no difference on the female patients in both groups (P>0.05). After 30 min treatment, the effect of analgesia in the point-to-point needling group was better than that of the perpendicular needling group (P<0.05). Besides the patients with light degree pain, there was no significant difference between the two groups after 5 min treatment as score of pain (P>0.05), paired t-test showed that the effects of analgesia on the patients with lumbar disc hernia in the point-to-point needling group was better than that of perpendicular needling group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The point-to-point needling method can rapidly relieve patients' lumbar disc hernia of pain, which is better than the perpendicular needling method.</p>

Advances of studies on acupuncture and moxibustion for exercise-induced fatigue / 中国针灸

This paper introduces recent advances in research and clinical trials on treating exercise-induced fatigue with acupuncture, focusing on the areas of oxygen free radical scavenging and anti-lipid peroxidation activity, the regulation of immune function, prevention of dysfunction exercise induced hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis, improvement of energy metabolism, the ability to maintain internal environment, the ability to alleviate delayed-on set muscle soreness (DOMS), and anti-central nervous system fatigue. This paper is intended to explain that because of its safety, effectiveness, less adverse reactions, and not involving stimulants, acupuncture has great potential to protect against exercise-induced fatigue. However, there are problems of acupoints selection, manipulation and indicators. Therefore, it needs further investigations to explore the advantages of acupuncture treatment for the exercise-induced fatigue.