Analysis of adverse reactions of acupoint catgut embedding therapy / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To objectively evaluate the safety of acupoint catgut embedding therapy.@*METHODS@#A total of 331 patients who received acupoint catgut embedding therapy were enrolled and summarized through the inpatient medical record system, follow-up record and adverse reaction report card. The statistical analysis was performed from the aspects of patients' gender, age, marital status, history of allergy, history of diabetes and the time, symptoms, duration and prognosis of adverse reactions, etc.@*RESULTS@#Among 331 patients who received acupoint catgut embedding therapy, 70 patients had adverse reactions, which were divided into 9 types, including post-treatment discomfort, local hematoma or subcutaneous hemorrhage, local swelling, local induration, severe pain, thread-body rejection, local pruritus, post-treatment body temperature rising, local redness, swelling, fever and pain. The incidence rate of adverse events was 21.15%, and the incidence of serious adverse events was 0. Among the patients with adverse reactions, 58 patients (82.86%) relieved without treatment, and 12 patients (17.14%) received after symptomatic treatment; all patients had no sequelae.@*CONCLUSION@#The acupoint catgut embedding therapy is relatively safe and the incidence of adverse reactions is low.

'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.

In vitro evaluation of the compatibility of a novel collagen-heparan sulfate biological scaffold with olfactory ensheathing cells / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Stroke and traumatic injury to the nerve system may trigger axonal destruction and the formation of scar tissue, cystic cavitations and physical gaps. Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) can secrete neurotrophic factors to promote neurite growth and thus act as a prime candidate for autologous transplantation. Biological scaffolds can provide a robust delivery vehicle to injured nerve tissue for neural cell transplantation strategies, owing to the porous three-dimensional structures (3D). So transplantation of the purposeful cells seeded scaffolds may be a promising method for nerve tissue repair. This study aimed to evaluate the compatibility of a novel collagen-heparan sulfate biological scaffold with olfactory ensheathing cells in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Collagen-heparan sulfate (CHS) biological scaffolds were made, and then the scaffolds and OECs were co-cultured in vitro. The viability of OECs was tested by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay at days 1, 3, 5 and 7. Statistical analysis was evaluated by student's t test. Significance was accepted at P < 0.05. OECs were labeled with carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE), and the CFSE-labeled OECs were seeded into CHS scaffolds. The attachment and growth of OECs in CHS scaffolds were observed and traced directly by fluorescent microscopy and environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CHS biological scaffolds had steady porous 3D structures and no cytotoxicity to OECs (F = 0.14, P = 0.9330). CHS biological scaffolds were good bridging materials for OECs attachment and proliferation, and they promoted the axonal growth.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The compatibility of CHS biological scaffolds with OECs is pretty good and CHS biological scaffold is a promising cell carrier for the implantation of OECs in nerve tissue bioengineering.</p>

Debating some issues on the application of auricular point / 中国针灸

Some issues on the auricular acupuncture including its effectiveness and side effects, the relationship of positive reaction and diseases, the key point of auricular point selection and standard auricular point popularization and application, are debated in this paper according to the authors' comprehension based on their many years clinical and teaching practice. In the paper, the authors point out that the auricular acupuncture has the characteristics of the high effective rate, low cured rate and some recurrence rate. The relationship of positive reacted point in the auricular acupuncture and disease include two kinds of reaction as "one point for multiple diseases" and "one disease for multiple points". Correct locating and reasonable selection of auricular points are the key point for using auricular point. Finally, the authors propose that standard auricular point still has not been popularized, and also, it should be paid attention to the problem of side effect induced by the auricular acupuncture.

Observation on therapeutic effect of acupoint application on dysmenorrhea of excess syndrome and effect on prostaglandins / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe therapeutic effect of acupoint application on dysmenorrhea of excess syndrome and its effect on prostaglandins.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The patients with primary dysmenorrhea of excess syndrome were randomly divided into an application group and a medication group. The application group of 31 cases were treated with application of Chinese medicine composed of Zhinanxing (Rhizoma Arisaematis), Sanleng (Rhizoma Sparganii), Ezhu (Rhizoma Zedoariae), etc. at Zhongji (CV 3), Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6); and the medication group of 30 cases were treated with oral administration of Tianqi Tongjing Capsules. The scores for the pain degrees and the duration of dysmenorrhea were observed and prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) contents in peripheral blood were determined before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate of 93.5% in the application group was significantly better than 73.3% in the medication group (P < 0.05); after treatment, the scores of the symptoms were significantly decreased in the two groups (both P < 0.01), with more obvious improvement in the application group than the medication group (P < 0.01). The PGE2 content was significantly increased, and the PGF2alpha content and PGF2alpha/PGE2 were significantly decreased in the application group (all P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupoint application has a better therapeutic effect on dysmenorrhea of excess syndrome and has benign regulative action on synthesis of prostaglandins in the patients with primary dysmenorrhea.</p>

Observation on therapeutic effect of acupoint sticking therapy on simple obesity / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To probe into effectiveness and safety of acupoint sticking therapy for simple obesity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and eight cases were randomly divided into an acupoint sticking group (n = 58) and an acupuncture group (n = 50). The acupoint sticking group were treated with TCM plaster sticking at Zhongwan (CV 12), Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6), etc. The acupuncture group were treated with simple acupuncture at Zhongji (CV 3), Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6), etc. Their therapeutic effects were observed after 3 therapeutic courses.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 84.5% in the acupoint sticking group, 86.0% in the acupuncture group with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05); after treatment, the body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference decreased and the cumulative score of clinical symptoms decreased in the two groups with no significant difference between the two groups, but the waist-hip ratio did not significantly change.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TCM acupoint sticking therapy has a definite therapeutic effect on simple obesity.</p>

Observation on the therapeutic effect of acupoint application on constipation / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To test the therapeutic effect, safety of acupoint application for treatment of constipation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-two cases were randomly divided into a treatment group of 22 cases and a control group of 20 cases. The treatment group were treated with acupoint application, with the cake made by Sanleng (Rhizoma Spargani), Ezhu (Rhizoma Zedoariae), Dahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei) and Bingpian (Borneolum), which was applied at Tianshu (ST 25), Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4); the control group were treated with oral administration of Congrong Tongbian Oral Liquid.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 81.8% in the treatment group and 50.0% in the control group, the treatment group being better than the control group (P < 0.05); the first defecation time was (5.1 +/- 2.8) h in the treatment group and (10.1 +/- 7.3) h in the control group, with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TCM acupoint application therapy has a definite therapeutic effect on constipation.</p>

Advances of studies on treatment of dysmenorrhea with acupoint application / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To summarize advances of studies on treatment of dysmenorrhea with acupoint application in recent 10 years so as to provide references and basis for scientific research and clinical works in future.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The literature about treatment of dysmenorrhea with acupoint application in the recent 10 years are reviewed from treatment based on syndrome types, acupoint selection, selection of excipients, application time, assessment of therapeutic effects, adverse effects and other aspects.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupoint application has a definite therapeutic effect on dysmenorrhea, but with some problems in clinical research.</p>

Advances of clinical studies on acupuncture and moxibustion for treatment of obesity in recent 10 years / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To Sum up advances of studies on acupuncture for treatment of obesity in recent 10 years and to put forward the problems should be paid attention to and the development direction in clinical scientific research.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Review the literature about acupuncture and moxibustion slimming therapy in recent 10 years from characteristics of acupuncture and moxibustion in selection of acupoints, analysis of various therapeutic methods, problems in clinical research.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of obesity has obvious therapeutic effect and less side-effects with flexible selection of acupoints and more methods.</p>

Astrovirus infection in young children with diarrhea hospitalized at Beijing Children's Hospital / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>This study was to assess certain epidemiological and clinical characteristics of astrovirus infection in children with diarrhea below 5 years old hospitalized at the Beijing Children's Hospital.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From September 1999 to August 2001, a total of 288 children with diarrhea below 5 years old hospitalized at Beijing Children's Hospital were studied. Fecal specimens collected from each patient were tested for astrovirus by using enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and further serotyped by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using serotype-specific primers.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Astrovirus antigen was positive in 9.0% of the patients, and the rate of coinfection with rotavirus was 19.2% among the astrovirus positive patients. The patients with astrovirus infection were at the age of 7 days to 17 months, most (92.3%) of them were less than 12 months. Astrovirus infection occurred mainly between October and March of the following year. Main symptoms included watery stool, vomiting, fever, and dehydration. Increased activity of myocardial enzyme was seen in 4 patients. Of the 22 astrovirus positive specimens, 14 were successfully serotyped by RT-PCR and they were all serotype 1.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The overall incidence of astrovirus infection in young children with diarrhea hospitalized at the Beijing Children's Hospital was 9.0%. The predominant serotype was type 1. Astrovirus may play an important role in viral diarrhea in young children in Beijing, China.</p>