Standardized Jin's three-needle therapy for stroke: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of standardized Jin's three-needle therapy on limb motor function and nerve function defect in stroke patients, and to evaluate the placebo control method.@*METHODS@#A total of 66 patients with stroke were randomly divided into a Jin's three-needle group (33 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a placebo needle group (33 cases, 4 cases dropped off). All the patients were treated with conventional medication and rehabilitation treatment. In addition, the patients in the Jin's three-needle group were treated with standardized Jin's three-needle therapy at temporal three points, spirit four points, hand three points, foot three points, upper extremity spasm three points, lower extremity spasm three points, etc.; while the patients in the placebo needle group were treated with placebo needling at identical points. All the treatments were given once a day, 5 days a week, and 3-week treatment was given with an interval of 2 days between weeks. The scores of Fugl-Meyer assessment scale (FMA) and National Institutes of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) were observed before treatment, 10 d and 21 d into treatment, and the blind evaluation was conducted after treatment.@*RESULTS@#On the 10 d and 21 d into treatment, the FMA scores in both groups were higher than those before treatment (P<0.01), and the NIHSS scores were lower than those before treatment (P<0.01). On the 10 d and 21 d into treatment, the FMA scores in the Jin's three-needle group were higher than those in the placebo needle group (P<0.05); on the 10 d into treatment, the NIHSS score in the Jin's three-needle group was were lower than that in the placebo needle group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups on judging the type of treatment (P>0.05), and the consistency with the real situation was poor (Cohen's kappa coefficient<0.20).@*CONCLUSION@#The standardized Jin's three-needle therapy could effectively improve the limb motor function and nerve function defect in stroke patients. The placebo control method used in this study shows good clinical operability and masking effect.

Professor ZHUANG Li-xing's experience of mind-regulation acupuncture for psychosomatic disorders / 中国针灸

Professor ZHUANG Li-xing's diagnosis and treatment method and manipulation key points of mind-regulation acupuncture for psychosomatic disorders are summarized. Professor ZHUANG proposes that psychosomatic disorders can be subdivided into "mind-body disorder" and "body-mind disorder". The former requires treatment aimed at regulating the mind. The main acupoints are Sishenzhen, Shenting (GV 24), Yintang (GV 24+), Shenmen (HT 7) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6). The additional acupoints are Suliao (GV 25), Shuigou (GV 26), Shenmai (BL 62), Zhaohai (KI 6), Hegu (LI 4) and Taichong (LR 3), etc. The latter requires treatment aimed at improving the original diseases, supplemented by regulating the mind (row acupuncture on the governor vessel). Acupoint selection is based on the theories of brain-mind, and the emphasis is placed on the governor vessel; in the meanwhile, regulating zangfu and qi-blood should be valued. After the arrival of qi, the Daoqi Tongjing method (the specific technique for directing qi and preserving essence) is applied, combined with auricular point sticking and fire needling at affected part to enhance the curative effect.

Effect of Daoqi Tongjing needling method on intra-uterine residue after drug abortion from the perspectives of Hegu (LI 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) / 中国针灸

The paper introduces professor ZHUANG Li-xing's clinical experience in treatment of intra-uterine residue and lochia after drug abortion. Professor ZHUANG believes that this disorder is related to "dysfunction of the thoroughfare vessel and the conception vessel, qi deficiency and blood stagnation, and retention of turbid qi in the uterus" in pathogenesis. The treating principle should focus on "regulating the functions of the thoroughfare vessel and the conception vessel, tonifying qi and eliminating stasis, as well as promoting qi movement". Besides Hegu (LI 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6), the acupoints are added from the conception vessel. The Daoqi Tongjing needling technique (the specific technique for directing qi and preserving essence) is exerted flexibly instead of traditional reinforcing and reducing technique of acupuncture to tonify qi and remove stasis.

An auxiliary device for double-blind placebo acupuncture research / 中国针灸

This device is an auxiliary device with reasonable design for placebo acupuncture research, so as to make double-blind placebo acupuncture control possible. This new auxiliary acupuncture device includes an acupuncture device and a placebo acupuncture device with exactly the same appearance. Both of them are composed of a hemispherical base and a telescopic tube. Through the rotation of the telescopic tube in the notch of the base, the insertion angle of needles can be adjusted from 15 degrees to 165 degrees. The operation of twisting and lifting and inserting can be carried out through the horizontal rotation and vertical sliding of the telescopic tube. A silicone needle pad is arranged in the base, which can simulate the blocking feeling of skin and muscle during needle insertion. The bottom of the base is attached with hydrogel, which has good fixity. The auxiliary device is applicable to multiple parts of the human body and can effectively reduce the risk of unblinding.

's experience of using mind-regulation acupuncture for postherpetic neuralgia / 中国针灸

Professor 's clinical experience of using mind-regulation acupuncture for postherpetic neuralgia is summarized. Professor believes that the physical pain symptoms in patients could cause negative emotions, which often lead to a series of mental symptoms, which in turn aggravate or induce pain. Therefore, the treatment for this disease should start with mind regulation, with Baihui (GV 20) through , Shenmen (HT 7), Neiguan (PC 6), Shenmai (BL 62), Zhaohai (KI 6), Siguan (Hegu (LI 4) and Taichong (LR 3)), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Shuigou (GV 26) and Suliao (GV 25) as main acupoints to regulate mind and relieve pain, in combination of local analgesia and ear acupuncture, which has obtained satisfied curative effect.

Meta-analysis of Clinical Efficacy of Acupoint Injection for Nape-back Fasciitis / 广州中医药大学学报

Objective To assess the clinical curative effect of acupoint injection for the treatment of nape-back fasciitis by Meta-analysis, thus to provide evidence for the treatment of nape-back fasciitis. Methods A retrieval of literatures concerning treatment of nape-back fasciitis with acupoint injection was carried out in the databases of Cochrane Library, PubMed, CMB, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP. Review Manager 5.3 software was used for the evaluation of methodological quality and bias risk of the included randomized controlled trials(RCT) which met the enrolling requirements. At the same time, Meta-analysis was carried out for the main outcome measure of effective rate and the secondary outcome measures of platelet aggregation rate and thromboxan A2 (TXA2) level. Results A total of 10 RCT involving 833 cases were included. The results showed that the treatment group had higher effective rate than the control group (OR = 7.21, 95％ CI [ 4.16, 12.49] , in the combined effect test Z = 7.04) , and the difference was significant(P < 0.01); the treatment group had better effect on decreasing the platelet aggregation rate {mean difference(MD) being 2.50, 95％ CI [1.34, 3.66], Z =4.23} and on reducing the level of TXA2 (MD = 33.35, 95％CI [22.97, 43.72], Z = 6.30) than the control group, the difference being significant (P < 0.01). Conclusion Acupoint injection exerts certain therapeutic effect for the treatment of nape-back fasciitis, and its effect on reducing blood inflammatory factors is better than that of acupuncture or drug therapy alone. However, due to the small quantity and low quality of the included studies, more large-sample, multi-center and high-quality clinical studies are needed to validate the results.

Observation of long-term efficacy and life quality in allergic rhinitis treated with acupoint catgut embedding therapy combined with acupuncture-moxibustion therapy / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the impacts of acupoint catgut embedding therapy and acupuncture-moxibustion therapy on the long-term efficacy and patient's life quality in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-nine patients were randomized into the combined acupuncture-moxibustion and acupoint catgut embedding therapy group (combined therapy group, 36 cases) and an acupuncture-moxibustion group (33 cases). In the acupuncture-moxibustion group, acupuncture was applied at Yingxiang (LI 20), Shangyingxiang (EX-HN 8), Yintang (GV 29), Shangxing (GV 23), Tongtian (BL 7) and Zusanli (ST 36). Moxibustion was applied at Zusanli (ST 36), Feishu (BL 13), Dazhui (GV 14) and Fengmen (BL 12). In the combined therapy group, on the basis of the treatment as acupuncture-moxibustion group, the catgut embedding therapy was applied at Feishu (BL 13), Fengmen (BL 12), Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23), Zhongwan (CV 12) and Qihai (CV 6). The treatment duration was 4 weeks in the two groups. The clinical efficacy of allergic rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) score were observed before and after treatment as well as in the 4-weeks follow-up after the end of treatment respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The markedly effective rate was 72.7% (24/33) in the combined therapy group and 48.4% (15/31) in the acupuncture-moxibustion group after treatment. The efficacy was similar between the two groups (P > 0.05). It was 57.6% (19/33) in the combined therapy group and was 22. 6% (7/31) in the 4-week follow-up after treatment, indicating the long-term efficacy in the combined therapy group was superior to that in the acupuncture-moxibustion group (P<0. 05). Scores of RQLO after treatment and in 4-week follow-up after treatment in both groups were improved as compared with those before treatment (all P < 0.05). In 4-week follow-up, the improvements in sleep and affection in the combined therapy group were superior to the acupuncture-moxibustion group (3.27 +/- 3.23 vs 4.61 +/- 3.56, 3.48 +/- 3.67 vs 5.81 +/- 4.15, both P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The acupoint catgut embedding therapy combined with acupuncture-moxibustion therapy are safe and effective in the treatment of allergic rhinitis and display the more roles in the long-term efficacy.</p>

Acupuncturists and their academic contributions in Lingnan area: a review / 中国针灸

The academic thoughts of Lingnan acupuncture and moxibustion have been an essential part of Lingnan medicine. By exploration and arrangement of Lingnan medicine and books, journals and literatures regarding acupuncture and moxibustion, the ancient and modern acupuncturists and their academic contributions in Lingnan area were reviewed. As a result, the number of Lingnan acupuncturists and their works was low before Qing Dynasty, while from the Republic of China era to People's Republic of China, a considerable amount of acupuncturists emerged with quite a lot of works. By exploration and arrangement of Lingnan acupuncturists and their works and academic opinion, the acupuncture-moxibustion school characterized by Lingnan could be formed and developed.

Post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome treated with floating-needle therapy combined with rehabilitation training: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the clinical efficacy in the treatment of post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome between floating-needle therapy and conventional acupuncture on the basis of rehabilitation training.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred cases of post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome were randomized into a floating-needle group and an acupuncture group, 50 cases in each one. The passive and positive rehabilitation training was adopted in the two groups. Additionally, in the floating-needle group, the floating-needle therapy was used. The needle was inserted at the site 5 to 10 cm away from myofasical trigger point (MTrP), manipulated and scattered subcutaneously, for 2 min continuously. In the acupuncture group, the conventional acupuncture was applied at Jianqian (EX-UE), Jianyu (LI 15), Jianliao (TE 14), etc. The treatment was given once every two days, 3 times a week, and 14 days of treatment were required. The shoulder hand syndrome scale (SHSS), the short form McGill pain scale (SF-MPQ) and the modified Fugl-Meyer motor function scale (FMA) were used to evaluate the damage severity, pain and motor function of the upper limbs before and after treatment in the two groups. The clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>SHSS score, SF-MPQ score and FMA score were improved significantly after treatment in the two groups (all P < 0.01), and the improvements in the floating-needle group were superior to those in the acupuncture group (all P < 0.05). The total effective rate was 94.0% (47/50) in the floating-needle group, which was better than 90.0% (45/50) in the acupuncture group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The floating-needle therapy combined with rehabilitation training achieves a satisfactory efficacy on post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome, which is better than the combined therapy of conventional acupuncture and rehabilitation training.</p>

Efficacy observation on post-stroke spastic hemiplegia treated with temporal three-needle and spastic three-needle therapy / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the impacts on post-stroke spastic hemiplegia treated with temporal three-needle therapy, spastic three-needle therapy, and rehabilitative therapy as well as combined application.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred cases were randomized into a Jin's three-needle group (35 cases), a rehabilitation group (33 cases) and a combined therapy group (32 cases). Beside the basic treatment, the acupuncture therapy of temporal three-needle and spastic three-needle techniques, rehabilitation training, and the combined therapy of acupuncture and rehabilitation were applied in the Jin's three-needle group, the rehabilitation group and the combined therapy group, respectively. Before treatment, in 7 days and 14 days of treatment, the functional comprehensive assessment scale (FCA), clinical neurological defect score (NDS), four-limb simplified Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) and clinical spasm index (CSI) were adopted to assess the spastic degree and limb function, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In terms of FCA, NDS and FMA, in 7 days of treatment, except the rehabilitation group, the results in the other two groups were all improved as compared with those before treatment (all P < 0.05). The results in the Jin's three-needle group and the combined therapy group were better than those in the rehabilitation group (all P < 0.05). In 14 days of treatment, the results in the three groups were improved as compared with those before treatment and in 7 days of treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The results in the combined therapy group were better than those in the other two groups (all P < 0.05). Regarding CSI assessment, in 7 days of treatment, the results of the three groups were all improved significantly as compared with those before treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the results in the combined therapy group were better than those in the other two groups (all P < 0.05). In 14 days of treatment, CSI scores were further improved in the three groups, but the difference was not significant in comparison (all P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The Jin's three-needle therapy, rehabilitation therapy and the combined application all relieve the symptoms of post-stroke spastic hemiplegia. The effect in the Jin's three-needle group and the combined therapy group is achieved in 7 days of treatment, which is better than that in the rehabilitation group. The combined therapy a chieves the best effect on spasm in comparison with the single therapy.</p>

Inspiration of the development of acupotomy therapy to acupuncture and moxibustion science / 中国针灸

The inspiration of acupotomy therapy to acupuncture and moxibustion was explored in view of the development of acupotomy device, the clinical practice model and the theoretical innovation. The results show that the acupotomy therapy develops rapidly because that the great attention has been paid to the development of the device, the communication and integration with the other disciplines and the theoretical innovation. These three aspects should also be emphasized for the development of acupuncture and moxibustion. The development of acupotomy therapy provides the beneficial inspiration to acupuncture and moxibustion science.

Effect of catgut implantation at acupoint on gonadal hormone and beta-endorphin in patients of climacteric syndrome / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinical therapeutic effect of catgut implantation at acupoint on climacteric syndrome (CS) and its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty cases were randomly divided into a catgut implantation group and a western medicine group, 30 cases in each group. The catgut implantation group was treated by catgut implantation at Shenshu (BL 23), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Sanyinjiao (SP 6). The western medicine group was treated by oral administration of Diethylstilbestrol tablet. Their therapeutic effects and changes of content of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteotrophic hormone (LH), estradiol (E2) and beta-endorphin (beta-EP) in serum were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 93.3% in the catgut implantation group and 70.0% in the western medicine group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). After treatment, the beta-EP concentration in the catgutation implant group was significantly increased (P < 0.05), the FSH concentration was significantly reduced and E2 concentration was significantly increased as compared with those in the western medicine group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Catgut implantation at acupoint has an obvious therapeutic effects on CS. It can significantly improve the ovaries function and has a favorable regulative action on the endogenous opioid peptides.</p>

Effect of "Jin three-needle therapy" on cognitive function and activity of daily living in patients of hemiplegia after stroke: a multi-central randomized controlled study / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To provide reliable evidence of "J in three-needle therapy" for treatment of stroke.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Multi-central randomized controlled trials were adopted, 180 hemiplegia patients of ischemic stroke were randomly divided into a fin three-needle group (90 cases) and a routine acupuncture group (90 cases). Two groups were both treated with basic neurology therapies, and J in three-needle group was treated with J in three-needle therapy, three acupoints of tempora, hand and foot etc. were selected; the routine acupuncture group was treated with traditional acupuncture, Quchi (LI 11), Huantiao (GB 30), Futu (ST 32) etc. were selected. Both groups were treated with acupuncture for 5 weeks. The cognitive function score of functional comprehensive assessment scale (FCA), the scores of mini-mental state examination scale (MMSE) and modified Barthel index (BI) were compared before and after treatment between two groups. Results After treatment, the scores of FCA, MMSE and BI in both groups were significantly improved compared to those before treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); the improvement of FCA score, MMSE score and BI score in the J in three-needle group were superior to those of the routine acupuncture group after treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The total effective rate of 85.4% in the J in three-needle group was superior to tohat of 70.0% in the routine acupuncture group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>J in three-needle acupuncture treatment can obviously improve the cognitive function and activity ability of daily life of hemiplegia patients after stroke, and the therapeutic effect of J in three-needle therapy is superior to that of traditional acupuncture treatment.</p>

Acupuncture for treatment of depressive neurosis: a multi-center randomized controlled study / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture on depressive neurosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>With a multi-center randomized controlled study, 440 cases were randomly divided into an acupuncture group, a prozac group, a non-acupoint needling group. In the acupuncture group, Hegu (LI 4) and Taichong (LR 3) were selected, and the Prozac group were treated with administration of 20 mg/d and the non-acupoint needling group were treated with needling the points deviating from the acupoints. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by HAMD score reduction rate, and Asberg's anti-depressant side-effect rating scale (SERS) and severe adverse reaction were used for safety evaluation, and the data were analyzed with ITT.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 86. 4% in the acupuncture group, which was better than 59.1% in the non-acupoint needling group and 72.7% in the prozac group; HAMD score in the acupuncture group was similar to that in the Prozac group, which was better than that in the non-acupoint needling group; the SERS scores in the acupuncture group and the non-acupoint needling group were significantly lower than that in the Prozac group, with no severe side-effects found for acupuncture.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture is an effective and safe therapy for depressive neurosis; therapeutic effect of acupuncture on depressive neurosis possibly is better than or similar to that of Prozac, but with less side-effects.</p>

Effects of acupuncture and embedding thread on central monoamine neurotransmitters in the depression model rat / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare therapeutic effects of acupuncture and embedding thread on depression and to probe the mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two adult SD rats, 16 females and 16 males, were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, an acupuncture group and an embedding thread group, 8 rats in each group. Separated feeding, long-term unpredictable and middle stimulation stress were used for development of depression rat model. At the same time, the treatment groups were treated for 21 days. The changes of norepinephrine (NE), 5-hydoxytryptamine (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) contents in the brain were detected by high performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detector.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the normal group, 5-HT, NE and DA contents in the hypothalamus and hippocampus decreased significantly in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); compared with the model group, the contents of the central monoamine neurotransmitters increased in both the acupuncture group and the embedding thread group, but the embedding thread group had more obvious action in improvement of 5-HT and DA levels in the hypothalamus and DA level in the hippocampus than the acupuncture group with no significant difference between the two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both acupuncture and embedding thread therapy are effective for the depression model rat. They play the therapeutic role through regulating central monoamine neurotransmitters.</p>

Clinical observation on catgut implantation at acupoint for treatment of general paroxysmal epilepsy / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To search for an effective method for treatment of general paroxysmal epilepsy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred cases were randomly divided into a treatment group of 50 cases treated with catgut implantation at Dazhui (GV 14), Jinsuo (GV 8), Fenglong (ST 40), etc., and a control group of 50 cases treated with oral administration of sodium valproate.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The scores for epilepsy after treatment significantly improved in the both groups (P<0.05); the total effective rate was 94.0% in the treatment group and 82.0% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Catgut implantation at acupoint has a definite therapeutic effect on general paroxysmal epilepsy with no adverse effect.</p>

Comparative study on treatment of diabetic gastroparesis by acupuncture and Western medicine / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare therapeutic effects of acupuncture and mosapride in relieving diabetic gastroparesis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty cases were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, 20 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated by acupuncture at Zhongwan (CV 12) and Zusanli (ST 36), and the control group by oral administration of mosapride 5 mg, t. i. d. Their therapeutic effects were evaluated by indexes of therapeutic effect.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 95.0% in the treatment group and 83.3% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05), and the adverse effect in the treatment group was less than that in the control group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture can significantly relieve diabetic gastroparesis, the therapeutic effect being better than mosapride, with a less adverse effects.</p>