Multi-central randomized controlled trials of electroacupunture at Zhigou (TE 6) for treatment of constipation induced by stagnation or deficiency of qi / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the therapeutic effect and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) at Zhigou (TE 6) on constipation induced by stagnation or deficiency of qi.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Multi-central randomized controlled trials were adopted and the patients conforming to the criteria for diagnosis, enrolling and excluding were divided into an observation group and a control group according to random number table. The observation group were treated with EA at Zhigou (TE 6) and the control group with EA at non-acupoint for 4 weeks. The cumulative score of clinical symptoms, colon transmission test and various safety indexes were assessed. The following-up was carried out 1 and 3 months after the end of treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>EA at Zhigou (TE 6) could obviously improve clinical symptoms and colon transmission time, decrease using rate of Kaisailu and cathartics, with an effective rate of 94.4%, which was better than 61.3% in the control group (P < 0.0001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EA at Zhigou (TE 6) has a function of regulating qi and relaxing the bowels and it is an effective method for treatment of constipation with safety and no adverse effect.</p>

Controlled study on the needling method for regulating the spleen and stomach for treatment of diabetic retinopathy / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To probe clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture on diabetic retinopathy and the mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty cases of diabetic retinopathy were randomly divided into an observed group and a control group, 60 cases in each group. On the basis of routine diabetic treatment, the observation group were treated with the acupoints for regulating the spleen and stomach, and the control group with the acupoints around eye mainly. Clinical therapeutic effect was evaluated by eye fundus condition, blood glucose, blood lipids, nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin (ET) levels.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The needling method for regulating the spleen and stomach not only can improve the eye fundus condition, but also has benign regulative action on metabolism of blood glucose and blood lipids, and NO and ET levels, with significant differences as compared with those in the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The needling method for regulating the spleen and stomach is an effective therapy for diabetic retinopathy, and the mechanism is possibly related with the regulation of levels of vascular active substances, NO and ET.</p>

Clinical observation on acupuncture for treatment of bronchial asthma at acute stage / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe effect of acupuncture on asthma at acute stage.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety cases of asthma at acute stage were randomly divided into an observation group of 60 cases and a control group of 30 cases. Clinical therapeutic effect and the mechanisms were studied from symptoms and signs, pulmonary function and serum interleukin -4 (IL-4), gamma-interferon (INF-gamma).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The pulmonary function was improved, the vital capacity was increased and attack of asthma was reduced in both the observation group and the control group, but the observation group was better than the control group in the pulmonary function improving degree (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture can strengthen the relieving action of medicine on asthma and it is one of effective methods for bronchial asthma.</p>