ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the clinical efficacy differences among acupuncture at special acupoints, nonspecific acupoints and non acupoints in Foot Yangming Meridian for functional dyspepsia (FD) at different time points.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and sixteen FD patients were randomly divided into a special acupoints in Foot Yangming Meridian group (group A, n = 36), a non-specific acupoints in Foot Yangming Meridian group (group B, n 39) and a non acupoints group (group C, n = 41). Group A was treated with acupuncture at Chongyang (ST 42), Fenglong (ST 40), Zusanli (ST 36) and Liangqiu (ST 34), and group B was treated with acupuncture at Tiaokou (ST 38), Yinshi (ST 33), Futu (ST 32) and Dubi (ST 35), and the assisted acupoints were setting up at 2 mm apart from selected acupoints in meridian of proximal part. Group C was treated with 4 non acupoints: (1) medial elbow, middle point on the line between olecranon and armpit; (2) middle point on the line between condylus medialis humeri and wrist of elbow-bone; (3) the junction of deltoid and biceps inside the arm; (4) 1-2 cm horizontally away from Zusanli (ST 36), lateral border of shin bone, and the assisted acupoints were setting up at 2 mm away from selected non acupoints along limb longitudinal axis of proximal part. All acupoints and assisted acupoints were connected to the HANS nerve stimulator and they were all treated for 4 courses. The FD Symptom Index (FDI) and MOS 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) after treatment, 1 month and 3 months after treatment were observed and the clinical efficacy was assessed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, the total effective rate of abdominal fullness after meal, early satiation, upper abdominal pain and upper abdominal burning sensation were 84.8% (28/33), 67.7% (21/31), 76.9% (20/26) and 56.3% (9/16), respectively, in group A, and 45.9% (17/37), 38.7% (12/31), 42.9% (12/28) and 38.5% (5/13), respectively, in group B, and 15.8% (6/38), 18.4% (7/38), 46.1% (12/26) and 16.7% (4/24), respectively, in group C. The total effective rate of abdominal fullness after meal, early satiation and upper abdominal pain in group A were superior to those in group B (all P < 0.05), and the total effective rate of abdominal fullness after meal, early satiation, upper abdominal pain and upper abdominal burning sensation in group A were all superior to those in group C (all P < 0.05), and the total effective rate of abdominal fullness after meal in group B was superior to that in group C (P < 0.05). The score of FDI and SF-36 after treatment, 1 month and 3 months after treatment in all the groups were better than those before treatment (all P < 0.05), and above indices in group A were the most significant (all P < 0.05), and the scores of FDI and SF-36 after treatment in group B were better than those in group C (both P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>All the treatment of acupuncture at special acupoints, non-specific acupoints in Foot Yangming Meridian and non acupoints have therapeutic effect on FD, but acupuncture at special acupoints has better short and long term therapeutic effects, which confirm the existence of acupoints specificity.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Acupuncture Points , Acupuncture Therapy , Digestion , Dyspepsia , Therapeutics , Meridians , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the therapeutic effects of acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) on silent myocardial ischemia (SMI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty patients with SMI were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture group and a medicine group, 20 cases in each group. The Electroacupuncture group was treated with electroacupuncture and Neiguan (PC 6) was selected as the main acupoint, and the other acupoints were selected by syndrome differentiation. The medicine group was treated with oral administration of compound Danshen dripping pill. The total effective rate, heart rate, blood pressure and dynamic electrocardiogram in 24 h were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate of 95.0% (19/20) in the electroacupuncture group was better than that of 75.0% (15/20) in the medicine group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the heart rate, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in the two groups were decreased significantly (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) and the electroacupuncture group was superior to the medicine group (all P < 0.05). The SMI duration and the number of ST segment depression were decreased significantly in both groups after treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) and the electroacupuncture group was superior to the medicine group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) has a good therapeutic effect on SMI. It can decrease the heart rate and blood pressure, reduce the afterload in left ventricular and is superior to that of compound Danshen dripping pill.</p>