Application and thinking of acupuncture therapy in comprehensive management of hypertension / 中国针灸

The theory of disease prevention with traditional Chinese medicine is introduced into the prevention of chronic diseases such as hypertension. In order to fully implement the advantages of acupuncture, the three-level prevention strategy is strengthened on the whole-process intervention with acupuncture for hypertension, including prevention before disease onset, starting intervention at the early phase, and prevention disease from exacerbating. Moreover, the comprehensive management scheme, multidisciplinary coordination and participation mechanism are investigated in the field of traditional Chinese medicine for preventive treatment of hypertension.

Acupuncture as adjuvant therapy for 32 cases of coronavirus disease 2019 / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) based on the conventional treatment.@*METHODS@#A total of 35 patients with COVID-19 of mild or ordinary type were involved (3 cases dropped off). Acupuncture was applied on the basis of western medicine and Chinese materia medica treatment. Dazhui (GV 14), Fengchi (GB 20), Kongzui (LU 6), Hegu (LI 4), etc. were selected as the main acupoints, the supplementary acupoints and the reinforcing and reducing manipulations were selected according to syndrome differentiation. Acupuncture treatment was given once a day, 5 times a week. On day 3 and day 7 of acupuncture, relief condition of the main symptoms was observed. Before acupuncture and on day 3 and day 7 of acupuncture, efficacy evaluation scale of TCM on COVID-19 (efficacy evaluation scale) score was recorded. The effects of different intervention time of acupuncture on patients' hospitalization time were compared, the understanding of acupuncture treatment of patients discharged from hospital was recorded, the clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture treatment were evaluated.@*RESULTS@#On day 3 and day 7 of acupuncture, the symptoms of lung system and non lung system were both relieved; the scores of efficacy evaluation scale were both decreased compared before acupuncture (P<0.05), and the efficacy evaluation scale score of day 7 of acupuncture were lower than day 3 of acupuncture (P<0.05). The average hospitalization time of patients received early acupuncture was shorter than late acupuncture (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 84.4% (27/32) on day 7 of acupuncture, which was higher than 34.4% (11/32) on day 3 of acupuncture (P<0.05). During the acupuncture treatment, there were neither adverse reactions in patients nor occupational exposures in doctors. The patients generally believed that acupuncture could promote the recovery of COVID-19 and recommended acupuncture treatment.@*CONCLUSION@#On the basis of the conventional treatment, acupuncture can effectively relieve the clinical symptoms in patients with COVID-19, early intervention of acupuncture can accelerate the recovery process. Acupuncture has good safety, clinical compliance and recognition of patients.

Immune Homeostasis: Effects of Chinese Herbal Formulae and Herb-Derived Compounds on Allergic Asthma in Different Experimental Models / 中国结合医学杂志

Allergic asthma is thought to arise from an imbalance of immune regulation, which is characterized by the production of large quantities of IgE antibodies by B cells and a decrease of the interferon-γ/interleukin-4 (Th1/Th2) ratio. Certain immunomodulatory components and Chinese herbal formulae have been used in traditional herbal medicine for thousands of years. However, there are few studies performing evidence-based Chinese medicine (CM) research on the mechanisms and effificacy of these drugs in allergic asthma. This review aims to explore the roles of Chinese herbal formulae and herb-derived compounds in experimental research models of allergic asthma. We screened published modern CM research results on the experimental effects of Chinese herbal formulae and herb-derived bioactive compounds for allergic asthma and their possible underlying mechanisms in English language articles from the PubMed and the Google Scholar databases with the keywords allergic asthma, experimental model and Chinese herbal medicine. We found 22 Chinese herb species and 31 herb-derived anti-asthmatic compounds as well as 12 Chinese herbal formulae which showed a reduction of airway hyperresponsiveness, allergen-specifific immunoglobulin E, inflflammatory cell infifiltration and a regulation of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in vivo, in vitro and ex vivo, respectively. Chinese herbal formulae and herbderived bioactive compounds exhibit immunomodulatory, anti-inflflammatory and anti-asthma activities in different experimental models and their various mechanisms of action are being investigated in modern CM research with genomics, proteomics and metabolomics technologies, which will lead to a new era in the development of new drug discovery for allergic asthma in CM.

Effects of acupuncture on Chinese medicine syndromes of vascular dementia / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of acupuncture on Chinese medicine syndromes of vascular dementia (VaD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-three VaD patients were divided into three groups. Those willing to be randomized were randomly assigned to receive either acupuncture (random acupuncture group, 24 cases) or rehabilitation training (guided rehabilitation group, 24 cases) for 6 weeks. Those unwilling to be randomized also received acupuncture for 6 weeks (non-random acupuncture group, 19 cases). Patient syndromes and their severity were evaluated before treatment (baseline), at the end of treatment, and at 4-week follow-up after the completion of treatment using a CM scoring system (scale of differentiation of syndromes of vascular dementia, SDSVD). The SDSVD scores of the random and non-random acupuncture groups, and of all patients who received acupuncture (combined acupuncture group, 43 cases), were compared with those in the guided rehabilitation group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the random, non-random, and combined acupuncture groups, SDSVD scores were significantly reduced at the end of treatment and at follow-up than at baseline. In the guided rehabilitation group, SDSVD scores were similar to baseline scores at the end of treatment and at follow-up. However, there were no significant differences in SDSVD scores among the three groups or between the combined acupuncture group and the guided rehabilitation group at any time points. In the non-random and combined acupuncture groups, SDSVD scores were significantly reduced at the end of treatment than at baseline in patients with hyperactivity of Liver (Gan)-yang or phlegm obstruction of the orifices.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Acupuncture reduced the severity of VaD. The improvement was the greatest in patients undergoing their treatment of choice. Treatments in this study were more effective for excess syndromes, such as Liver-yang hyperactivity or phlegm obstruction of the orifices than deficiency syndromes, such as Kidney (Shen)-essence deficiency.</p>

Autobiography of modern acupuncturist Yu Shu-zhuang / 中国针灸

Professor YU Shu-zhuang is a distinguished acupuncturist in China. He has practiced the TCM acupuncture-moxibustion clinical, educational and scientific research for 60 years in his life. In clinic, he summarized the experiences "five-ming first"; in treatment, he insisted "dredging" and "regulating", protecting the function of spleen and stomach, and needles should be less but specific. In the meanwhile, he made a deep study on the function and clinical effects of specific acupoints, and used the research results of propagated sensation along channel to guide clinical treatment, forming his special academic points. Professor YU has educated a great number of acupuncture-moxibustion talents in China and foreign countries, making great contribution to the popularization of acupuncture-moxibustion in the worldwide.

WU Xiao-ren: an outstanding physician of acupuncture and moxibustion / 中国针灸

WU Xiao-ren devoted his whole life into acupuncture practice and education. During his 50 years clinical practice, teaching and researching, he focused on standardization and application of acupuncture manipulations. Through the integration of western and Chinese medicine as well as technique innovation, he developed new therapies for hypertension, stroke and various pain syndromes with the combination of acupuncture and materia medica and various acupoint prescription. He was against parochial prejudice by advocating absorption of others successful experiences and integration of different schools. Moreover, being conscientious and meticulous, WU Xiao-ren was always strict with his followers. He set up examples for his students with both precept and practice, and made great contribution to the inheritance of both acupuncture theory and practice.

Application and selection of insomnia scales in acupuncture clinical research / 中国针灸

The characteristics and application of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and other commonly used international insomnia evaluation scales are introduced in this article. Analysis are also carried out on clinical literature about insomnia treatment with acupuncture. Problems of scale applications are classified mainly into three categories, namely (1) Too many self-made scales; (2) Lack of application standardization; (3) Lack of variety in application, limited application of Life Quality Scale. And relevant suggestions are also proposed in this article.

Clinical curative effect and factor analysis of depression treated by acupuncture / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the curative effect of primary depression treated with the main points of Back-shu points of Five-zang and Geshu (BL 17) according to the differentiation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty cases of primary depression were randomly divided into an acupuncture group (31 cases) and a western medication group (29 cases). In acupuncture group, Back-shu points of Five-zang and Geshu (BL 17) were applied as the main points, Taichong (LR 3) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were added for stagnation of liver qi and spleen deficiency; Shenmen (HT 7) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were added for deficiency of both heart and spleen according to the differentiation. In western medication group, Fluoxetine Hydrochloride capsule was taken by oral administration for 20 mg, once a day. The treatment lasted for 6 weeks in both groups. After 2, 4, and 6 weeks treatment, the clinical curative effects of both groups were assessed by Hamilton Depression (HAMD) Rating Scale, HAMD Factor Analysis and Asberg Side Effect Scale.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 6 weeks treatment, the total effective rate was 67.7% (21/31) in acupuncture group and 65.5% (19/29) in western medication group, indicating the close curative effects(P > 0.05). After 2, 4, and 6 weeks treatment, the HAMD score, scores of anxious somatization, sleeping and retardation factors were significantly reduced (all P < 0.01) in two groups, through the comparison at different time points between two groups, scores of anxious somatization, sleeping factors in acupuncture group were superior to those in western medication group (both P < 0.05), but score of retardation factor in western medication group was superior to that in acupuncture group (P < 0.05). The Asberg Side Effect Scale in western medication group arrived at peak at thesecond week, and then reduced slowly; the side effect in acupuncture group was low and steady, and lower than that in western medication group after 6 week treatment (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The curative effect of depression with acupuncture based on differentiation is equal to that of Fluoxetine Hydrochloride capsule with oral administration, while the side effect is milder than that of Fluoxetine Hydrochloride capsule.</p>

Application of pragmatic randomized controlled trial's design in clinical research of acupuncture / 中国中西医结合杂志

Currently, the randomized controlled trial (RCT) becomes the generally accepted golden standard for clinical trials. It can be classified into two types based on different design, that is, the explanatory randomized controlled trial (ERCT) and the pragmatic randomized controlled trial (PRCT). In designing a clinical trial, researcher may select either of them according to the goal of research. The design feature of PRCT and its application in designing clinical trials of acupuncture were introduced in this paper. Further attention should be paid on resolvent of how to apply PRCT in combining with other design methods organically to work out clinical trial scheme with high quality and consistent with the characteristics of acupuncture as possible, for evaluating the effect of acupuncture more accurately and objectively, so as to promote the international application and development of acupuncture therapy.

Professor He Pu-ren: the founder of Santong method of acupuncture and moxibustion / 中国针灸

Professor He Pu-ren, the founder of Santong method of acupuncture and moxibustion, is a well known acupuncturist at home and abroad. His main contributions include combined martial arts and Chinese medicine, showing obvious therapeutic effect; taking part in establishment of The Department of Acupuncture, Beijing Chinese Medicine Hospital; creating Santong method of acupuncture and moxibustion; advocating fire needle therapy; writing medical books and teaching students; advocating the culture of acupuncture; making the metal model of acupuncture and moxibustion, and others. His achievements have become an important part of acupuncture and moxibustion science.

Effects of acupuncture preventive treatment on the quality of life in patients of no-aura migraine / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the therapeutic effects on acupuncture preventive treatment of no-aura migraine and its influence on the QOL (quality of life) of the patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Randomized controlled, double-blind and double-dummy research methods were adopted, 60 cases were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. The observation group was treated with acupuncture combined with oral administration of Flunarizine Hydrochloride vacuity capsules, and Baihui (GV 20), Shenting (GV 24) and Benshen (GB 13) were selected as main points. The control group was treated with oral administration of Flunarizine Hydrochloride capsules combined with acupuncture at placebo-points, thrice each week, for 4 weeks. The SF-36 QOL Scale and effective rate were used for assessment of therapeutic effects before treatment, after treatment and 3 months later.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were significant differences in each dimension scores of SF-36 at 3 time points between the two groups (all P < 0.05). The dimension of the physiological function in the observation group was superior to that of the control group after treatment (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference in other 7 dimensions between the two groups (all P > 0.05). After treatment and 3 months later, the effective rates were 68.0%, 68.0% in the observation group and 24.0%, 32.0% in the control group, respectively, with significant differences between the two groups (all P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture preventive treatment can effectively improve the life quality of the patients with migraine and reduce the migraine attack. There is no significant difference in improving the physical and psychological health of the migraine patients between acupuncture and Flunarizine Hydrochloride, and acupuncture is more effective in reducing the migraine attack days.</p>

Randomized and controlled study on effect of acupuncture on sleep quality in the patient of primary insomnia / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe characteristics of acupuncture in improvement of sleep quality in the patient of insomnia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-six cases of primary insomnia were randomly divided into an observation group (n = 24) and a control group (n = 22). The observation group were treated by the needling method for regulating mental activity, with Baihui (GV 20), Shenting (GV 24), Shenmen (HT 7) selected as main points; the control group were treated with oral administration of Estazolam. The therapeutic effects and scores of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Scale before and after treatment were compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 83.3% in the observation group and 72.7% in the control group, the observation group being better than the control group (P < 0.05). Estazolam was better than acupuncture treatment in prolonging sleeping time, and the acupuncture treatment was better than the control group in the improvement of somnipathy and the increase of daytime functional state (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture treatment has advantages of improving somnipathy and increasing daytime functional state.</p>

Controlled observation on electroacupuncture plus rehabilitation training for treatment of central vestibular disequilibrium syndrome / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe clinical therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture on central vestibular disequilibrium syndrome.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-six cases were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, 23 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated with electroacupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Fengfu (GV 16), Fengchi (GB 20) and other points, combined with rehabilitation training, and the control group with the rehabilitation training. After treatment for 4 weeks, the Berg Balance Scale and the parameters of static posturogram were observed to assess the therapeutic effects.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 86.96% in the treatment group and 65.22% in the control group, with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05); after treatment, the treatment group in the cumulative score for the Berg Balance Scale was superior to the control group (P<0.05); and the parameters of static posturogram with opening eyes in the treatment group improved significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Electroacupuncture plus rehabilitation training is an effective method for central vestibular disequilibrium syndrome.</p>

Randomized controlled study on ginger-salt-partitioned moxibustion at shenque (CV 8) on urination disorders poststroke / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To probe the therapeutic effect and safety of ginger-salt-partitioned moxibustion on urination disorders poststroke.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-two cases of cerebral apoplexy, including cerebral infarction and cerebral hemorrhage, with urination disorders induced by neurogenic bladder at restoration stage were randomly divided into a treatment group treated with ginger-salt-partitioned moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) and routine acupuncture, and a control group treated with routine acupuncture. Thirty-nine cases in the treatment group and 36 cases in the control group completed all treatments. The treatment was given 5 times each week and the therapeutic effects were observed after treatment of 3 consecutive weeks.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Ginger-salt-partitioned moxibustion in improvement of mean urination times of each day, mean times to be asked to awaken for the nursing personnel at night, mean times of urgent urinary incontinence at day for the patient, cases-times of urinary incontinence of the patient at night, and increasing degree of urinary incontinence was better than the control group (P<0.01, P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ginger-salt-partitioned moxibustion is a safe and effective therapy for urination disorders poststroke.</p>

He's Santong needling method for neurological functional deficit in the patient of ischemic apoplexy: randomized controlled multi-central study / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the therapeutic effect of He's Santong needling method on neurological functional deficit in the patient of ischemic apoplexy, and search for an effective method for treatment of ischemic apoplexy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>According to the randomized and multi-central trial principle, 319 cases enrolled were randomly assigned to an observation group of 161 cases and a control group of 158 cases. The observation group were treated with He's Santong needling method, i. e. blood letting, puncturing with a red-hot needle and filiform needle therapy by stages, and the control group were treated with acupuncture at 12 points of the hand and foot routinely selected in the department, once daily. After treatment of 30 days, changes of neurological functional deficit score were investigated in the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 91.93% in the observation group and 70. 25% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05); there was no significant difference in changes of the neurological functional deficit score between the patients at the acute stage and the convalescence (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The therapeutic effect of He's Santong needling method on ischemic apoplexy at acute stage or convalescence is better than that of the routine point selection.</p>

Observation on therapeutic effect of acupuncture on no-premonitory migraine at remission stage / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe therapeutic effect of acupuncture on no-premonitory migraine at remission stage.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The scores of pain extent, attack times, lasting time and accompanied symptoms of headache were investigated before treatment and after treatment of 4 weeks.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment of 4 weeks, the scores of all items had significant changes (P < 0.01). The total effective rate was 95.0%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture has obvious analgesic effect on no-premonitory migraine at remission stage.</p>