Impacts of Taichong (LR 3) on blood flow velocity in patients with vertebrobasilar insufficiency / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the intervention on the disturbance of blood flow velocity in vertebral artery in patients with vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) treated with acupuncture at Taichong (LR 3) so that the clinical evidences could be provided for the research of acupoint specificity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred cases of VBI were tested with Transcranial Doppler (TCD) and 43 vessels of low velocity of blood flow and 79 vessels of high velocity of blood flow were discovered. Additionally, 50 cases of normal people were selected in control group, including totally 100 vertebral arteries. The velocity changes in systolic period (Vs) of vertebral artery were observed before and after acupuncture at Taichong (LR 3). RESULTS; After acupuncture at Taichong (LR 3), Vs of vertebral artery in low velocity cases was increased apparently. Vs in 5 to 10 min after acupuncture and half a hour after needle withdrawal was different significantly in statistics as compared with Vs before acupuncture (both P < 0.01). Vs of vertebral artery in high velocity cases was reduced apparently. Vs in 5 to 10 min after acupuncture and half a hour after needle withdrawal was different significantly in statistics as compared with Vs before acupuncture (both P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in statistics in comparison before and after acupuncture in control group (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture at Taichong (LR 3) improves blood supply in vertebral artery in the mode of dual regulation and rectifies the disturbance of vertebral artery blood flow in dynamics.</p>

Observation of effect on contraction function of gallbladde by acupuncture at Jianjing (GB 21) / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>By B ultrasound, the changes of contraction function of gallbladder by acupuncture at Jianjing (GB 21) were observed and the internal relations between Jianjing (GB 21) and cholecystitis were explored, in order to explore the better therapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundreds cases who had been diagnosed as cholecystitis (acalculous cholecystitis) were classified in observation group, including gallbladder expanding (84 cases) and gallbladder constricting (116 cases); 100 cases who had examined as healthy were taken in control group. Acupuncture at Jianjing (GB 21) on right shoulder was applied in both groups. Through B ultrasound examination, the changes of gallbladder volume in both groups were compared before acupuncture, 15 min after needle insertion and 30 min after needle withdrawing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The gallbladder volume of gallbladder expanding and gallbladder constricting cases were constricted or expanded 15 min after needle insertion and 30 min after needle withdrawing, and there were statistical significances (all P < 0.01). Compared the outcomes at different time points after acupuncture with that before acupuncture, the changes of gallbladder constricting were unobvious (both P > 0.05) in control group. In observation group, the pain relief rate for 142 cases companied with shoulder and back pain was 98.6% (140/142).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture at Jianjing (GB 21) can improve the gallbladder constricting, regulate bidirectional function of expanding and constricting, and efficiently relieve shoulder and back pain.</p>