From the body-mind holism to psychosomatic medicine: theory and practice of acupuncture and moxibustion / 中国针灸

The traditional life concept of "body-mind holism" in Chinese medicine has drawn a special attention with the development of modern psychosomatic medicine. The "body-mind holism" is valuable in the guidance for clinical acupuncture practice, but, it is only remained on the theoretical significance by the medical masters in the past dynasties. In the paper, based on the understanding of Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic), the similarities and differences are compared between the body-mind theory and psychosomatic medicine. In association with clinical observation, from three aspects, i.e. body-mind pathogenesis, acupoint detection and observing the mind, and body-mind treatment, the guidance of "body-mind holism" is explored for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of acupuncture and moxibustion; the referents of "body" and "mind" are clarified in views of disease, diagnosis and treatment; and the treatment strategies of acupuncture and moxibustion are discussed in the perspective of "body-mind holism".

Effect of acupuncture combined with low frequency rTMS on comorbid mild-to-moderate depressive disorder and insomnia: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the impacts of acupuncture on depressive mood and sleep quality in patients with comorbid mild-to-moderate depressive disorder and insomnia, and explore its effect mechanism.@*METHODS@#A total of 60 patients with comorbid mild-to-moderate depressive disorder and insomnia were randomly divided into an observation group (30 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a control group (30 cases, 2 cases dropped off). In the observation group, acupuncture and low frequency repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) were combined for the intervention. Acupuncture was applied to Baihui (GV 20), Yintang (GV 24+), Neiguan (PC 6) and Yanglingquan (GB 34), etc., the needles were retained for 30 min; and the intradermal needles were embedded at Xinshu (BL 15) and Danshu (BL 19) for 2 days. After acupuncture, the rTMS was delivered at the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (R-DLPFC), with 1 Hz and 80% of movement threshold, lasting 30 min in each treatment. In the control group, the sham-acupuncture was adopted, combined with low frequency rTMS. The acupoint selection and manipulation were the same as the observation group. In the two groups, acupuncture was given once every two days, 3 times weekly; while, rTMS was operated once daily, for consecutive 5 days a week. The duration of treatment consisted of 4 weeks. Hamilton depression scale-17 (HAMD-17) and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) scores were observed before and after treatment, as well as 1 month after the treatment completion (follow-up period) separately. Besides, the levels of nerve growth factor (BDNF) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the serum were detected before and after treatment in the two groups.@*RESULTS@#After treatment and in follow-up, the HAMD-17 scores were lower than those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05), and the scores in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the total scores and the scores of each factor of PSQI were reduced in the two groups in comparison with those before treatment except for the score of sleep efficiency in the control group (P<0.05); the total PSQI score and the scores for sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep efficiency and daytime dysfunction in the observation group were all lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). In the follow-up, except for the scores of sleep duration and sleep efficiency in the control group, the total PSQI score and the scores of all the other factors were reduced compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05); the total PSQI score and the scores of sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, sleep efficiency and daytime dysfunction in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of serum BDNF and GABA were increased in comparison with those before treatment in the observation group (P<0.05), and the level of serum BDNF was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture relieves depressive mood and improves sleep quality in patients with comorbid mild-to-moderate depressive disorder and insomnia. The effect mechanism may be related to the regulation of BDNF and GABA levels and the promotion of brain neurological function recovery.

Effects of Electroacupuncture on Hippocampal AcH3 and BDNF in the Rat Model of SNI-induced Pain-Depression Dyad / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

ObjectiveTo observe the impacts of electroacupuncture （EA） on the expression of hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） and acetylated histone （AcH3） in the rat model of spared nerve injury （SNI）， so as to explore the analgesic and antidepressant effects of EA. MethodsTwenty-four Male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups， with 6 in each group. SNI was used to establish the model of pain and depression. All the groups were intervened one week after SNI surgery and persisted 5 weeks. The EA group was treated with EA （2 Hz） for 30 min every other day and imipramine drug group （IMP） group with peritoneal imipramine injection （10 mg/kg） per day. The sham surgery group （SS） and model group （SNI） received the same grasping stimulation. The paw mechanical withdrawal threshold （PWT） test was performed before the SNI surgery， 1， 2， 3， 4， 5， and 6 weeks after surgery， respectively. The forced swimming test （FST） and the sucrose preference test （SPT） were performed 6 weeks after SNI surgery. The Western blot method was employed to detect the expression of BDNF and AcH3 from the rat hippocampal tissue at the end of the behavioral tests. ResultsCompared with the SS group， the SNI group had significantly decreased PWT and sucrose consumption， prolonged FST immobility time （all P<0.01）， down-regulated BDNF and AcH3 expression （P<0.05 & P<0.01） in the hippocampus， which indicated the successful construction of the pain-depression model. Compared with the SNI group， 6 weeks after SNI surgery， the EA and IMP groups had significantly increased PWT and sucrose consumption， and reduced FST immobility time （all P<0.01）； the EA group had up-regulated BDNF and AcH3 expression （both P<0.05） in the hippocampus， the IMP group had up-regulated AcH3 （P<0.05） expression but no difference in BDNF expression. ConclusionEA could relieve pain and depressive behavioral symptoms in SNI rats. And its analgesic and antidepressant mechanisms may relate to the up-regulation of hippocampal AcH3 and BDNF expression.

Effect of Shugan Tiaoshen acupuncture combined with western medication on depression-insomnia comorbidity due to COVID-19 quarantine: a multi-central randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of Shugan Tiaoshen acupuncture (acupuncture for soothing the liver and regulating the mentality) combined with western medication on depression and sleep quality in the patients with depression-insomnia comorbidity due to COVID-19 quarantine, and investigate the potential mechanism from the perspective of cortical excitability.@*METHODS@#Sixty patients with depression-insomnia comorbidity due to COVID-19 quarantine were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a sham-acupuncture group, 30 cases in each one. The patients of both groups were treated with oral administration of sertraline hydrochloride tablets. In the acupuncture group, Shugan Tiaoshen acupuncture was supplemented. Body acupuncture was applied to Yintang (GV 24+), Baihui (GV 20), Hegu (LI 4), Zhaohai (KI 6), Qihai (CV 6), etc. The intradermal needling was used at Xin (CO15), Gan (CO12) and Shen (CO10). In the sham-acupuncture group, the sham-acupuncture was given at the same points as the acupuncture group. The compensatory treatment was provided at the end of follow-up for the patients in the sham-acupuncture group. In both groups, the treatment was given once every two days, 3 times a week, for consecutive 8 weeks. The self-rating depression scale (SDS) and insomnia severity index (ISI) scores were compared between the two groups before and after treatment and 1 month after the end of treatment (follow-up) separately. The cortical excitability indexes (resting motor threshold [rMT], motor evoked potential amplitude [MEP-A], cortical resting period [CSP]) and the level of serum 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were measured before and after treatment in the two groups.@*RESULTS@#After treatment and in follow-up, SDS and ISI scores were decreased in both groups compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and the scores in the acupuncture group were lower than those in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05), and the decrease range in the acupuncture group after treatment was larger than that in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05). After treatment, rMT was reduced (P<0.05), while MEP-A and CSP were increased (P<0.05) in the acupuncture group compared with that before treatment. The levels of serum 5-HT in both groups were increased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05). The rMT in the acupuncture group was lower than that in the sham-acupuncture group, while MEP-A and CSP, as well as the level of serum 5-HT were higher in the acupuncture group in comparison with the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Shugan Tiaoshen acupuncture combined with western medication can relieve depression and improve sleep quality in the patients with depression-insomnia comorbidity due to COVID-19 quarantine, which is probably related to rectifying the imbalanced excitatory and inhibitory neuronal functions.

FU Wen-bin's experience in treatment of depression complicated with obsessive-compulsive disorder from perspective of heart and gallbladder / 中国针灸

Based on the thinking of integrative and holistic acupuncture and moxibustion, FU Wen -bin proposes to treat depression complicated with obsessive-compulsive disorder from perspective of heart and gallbladder. In clinical practice, the treatment pattern of "acupuncture at the top priority, followed by moxibustion, and consolidation at the end" is applied, acupuncture, refined moxibustion, intradermal needle and other therapies are comprehensively adopted, acupoints on the heart meridian, pericardium meridian and gallbladder meridian are selected or back-shu points and front-mu points of the heart, gallbladder and pericardium are matched, and the acupoints on the conception vessel and governor vessel and with the functions of tonifying kidney and regulating qi are added to calm the heart and tranquilize the mind, so as the symptoms of depression and obsessive-compulsive can be effectively relieved.

Clinical Efficacy of Tongxie Yaofang on Diarrhea-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome （IBS-D） Patients with Liver Depression and Spleen Deficiency / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the clinical efficacy and mechanism of Tongxie Yaofang in treating diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome（IBS-D） patients with liver depression and spleen deficiency. MethodA total of 168 IBS-D patients with liver depression and spleen deficiency who were treated from August 2017 to June 2021 were divided into observation group and control group by random number table，84 in each group. The observation group was administrated with Tongxie Yaofang decoction-free granules orally，and the control group received oral treatment of pinaverium bromide，both for 4 weeks. The main symptoms of IBS were compared before and after treatment，such as the degree of abdominal pain，stool changes，traditional Chinese medicine pattern curative effect scoring system（TCM-PES），IBS quality of life questionnaire （IBS-QOL），IBS symptom severity scale（IBS-SSS），self-rating anxiety scale （SAS），and self-rating depression scale（SDS）. Nimodipine was used to evaluate the efficacy based on TCM syndrome score of liver depression and Qi stagnation. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） was conducted to detect the plasma interleukin-10（IL-10）and IL-12 before and after treatment. ResultAfter 4 weeks of treatment， the response rate of abdominal pain in observation group was 92.86% （78/84）， higher than that in control group （82.14%， 69/84）（χ2=6.254，P<0.05）. The response rates of diarrhea in observation group and control group were 91.67% （77/84）and 77.38% （65/84）， respectively（χ2=8.214，P<0.01）. TCM-PES and IBS-QOL scores of observation group after treatment were higher and IBS-SSS score was lower than those of control group （P<0.05）. The efficacy rate of TCM syndromes in observation group was higher than that of control group （P<0.05）. Additionally， after treatment， the observation group had lower SAS and SDS scores （P<0.05）and IL-12 level（P<0.05）and higher plasma IL-10 level than the control group （P<0.05）. ConclusionTongxie Yaofang can relieve abdominal pain and diarrhea in IBS-D patients with liver depression and spleen deficiency，reduce negative emotion，and improve the quality of life of patients，which may be related to alleviating the visceral hypersensitivity.

Consolidating the foundation, highlighting the practice and strengthening the training of clinical thinking of acupuncture and moxibustion: the thoughts of compiling the China national standardized training textbook Acupuncture and Moxibustion for residents of traditional Chinese medicine / 中国针灸

Based on the clinical needs and examination requirements of standardized training students, the China national standardized training textbook Acupuncture and Moxibustion for residents of traditional Chinese medicine has made innovations in the textbook content and form. In the part of meridians and acupoints, the classic original text is introduced and the main indications and operation methods of 200 commonly-used acupoints are summarized in the form of tables. In the part of acupuncture and moxibustion technique, the operating procedures are standardized and the core technical points of 20 commonly-used acupuncture and moxibustion techniques are summarized in the form of flow chart. In the part of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment, 48 typical diseases are introduced in the form of case discussion, highlighting the problem orientation and demonstrating the diagnosis and treatment procedures.

Clinical observation of refined moxibustion for sequelae of pelvic inflammatory disease with / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the curative effect of refined moxibustion, traditional moxa box moxibustion and Chinese patent medicine on the sequelae of pelvic inflammatory disease with @*METHODS@#A total of 150 patients with sequelae of pelvic inflammatory disease with @*RESULTS@#After treatment, the TCM symptoms, body signs and comprehensive scores of each group were lower than those before treatment (@*CONCLUSION@#Compared with traditional moxa box moxibustion and Chinese patent medicine treatment, refined moxibustion can better improve the symptoms, body signs and quality of life in patients with the sequelae of pelvic inflammatory disease of

Professor / 中国针灸

The paper summarizes the ideas and characteristics of acupoint selection in treatment of mental disorder with acupuncture and moxibustion by professor

The short-term and long-term effects on neck pain caused by cervical spondylosis treated with combination of acupuncture and moxibustion with seed-sized moxa cone / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the short-term and long-term effects on treatment of neck pain caused by cervical spondylosis with the combination of acupuncture and moxibustion with seed-size moxa cone.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and forty-five patients of neck pain were randomly divided into an acupuncture-moxibustion group (49 cases), an acupuncture group (48 cases) and a moxibustion group (48 cases). Acupoints of Bailao (Extra), Dazhui (GV 14), Jianzhongshu (SI15) and Zhongzhu (TE 3) were adopted for all the 3 groups. Acupuncture was applied at all the acupoints with 20 min needling retention for the acupuncture group. Moxibustion with seed-size moxa cone was used with 5 cones on each point for the moxibustion group. And both acupuncture and moxibustion with seed-size moxa cone were adopted for the acupuncture-moxibustion group. The treatment was applied once every 3 days, and 10 treatments should be finished within 4 weeks. Follow-up should be carried out for 3 months. The short-term and long-term effects were evaluated with the scores of Northwick Park Pain Questionnaire (NPQ) and McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) as the indices of therapeutic effect.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The NPQ score and MPQ score of all the 3 groups after the treating course and the 3-month follow-up were both decreased when compared with those before the treatment (all P<0. 05). The scores of NPQ and MPQ the acupuncture-moxibustion group were lower than that of the other two groups. And the difference had obvious significance (P<0. 05). High efficiency of pain relieving for cervical spondylosis could be found in all the 3 groups, which showed that short-term and long-term effects were good for all the 3 groups. And the highest curative effect could be found in acupuncture-moxibustion group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Combination of acupuncture and moxibustion with seed-size moxa cone has reached a superior effect in short-term and long-term for neck pain caused by cervical spondylosis.</p>

Application exploration of comparative effectiveness research in clinical efficacy optimization of abdominal acupuncture / 中国针灸

The concepts and characteristics of comparative effectiveness research (CER) are analyzed to explore its scientific research methodology in clinical efficacy optimization of abdominal acupuncture. The designs of CER focus on patients, which emphasize assessment of comprehensive efficacy in real medical environment instead of simple efficacy in randomized controlled trial (RCT). Its research strategy involves four categories and three subject, covering acquiring, saving and management, comparison and application of clinical evidence, which has practical application value in comprehensive comparison of advantages and efficacy rules of different acupuncture therapies and acupoint prescriptions. By establishing clinical registration system, oversized-sample data could be acquired from different centers to effectively overcome insufficient sample-induced sampling error. It has important value in system summary and optimization of clinical efficacy of abdominal acupuncture. The CER fully illustrates clinical reality of acupuncture-moxibustion and provides strong support of scientific data for optimization of curative effect. It embodies prescription standardization, manipulation normalization and methodization of syndrome differentiation in clinic of abdominal acupuncture, which is expected to achieve evidence-based optimization of treatment prescription and technique in abdominal acupuncture.

Impacts of acupuncture and moxibustion on outcome indeices of depression patients' subjective reports / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the clinical efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion on depression in view of the outcome indicators of the patient subjective reports.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and sixty-three cases of depression being in compliance with the inclusive standards were randomized into a soothing-liver and regulating-mind group, an acupoint-shallow-puncturing group and a non-acupoint-shallow-puncturing group. In the soothing-liver and regulating-mind group, the conventional acupuncture was applied to the four-gate points [Hegu (LI 4) and Taichong (LR 3)], Baihui (GV 20) and Yintang (EX-HN 3), the direct moxibustion with moxa cone was applied to the four-flower points [Geshu (BL 17), Danshu (BL 19)]. Finally, the intradermal needling was used at Xinshu (BL 15) and Ganshu (BL 18). In the acupoint-shallow-puncturing group, the acupoints selected were same as those in the soothing-liver and regulating-mind group. But the needle insertion was shallower and the time of moxibustion was shorter. In the non-acupoint-shallow-puncturing group, the spots that were 10 mm lateral to those acupoints in the soothing-liver and regulating-mind group were selected. The operation was same as that in the acupoint-shallow-puncturing group. The treatment was given twice a week in three groups. Totally, 12 weeks of treatment were required. The score of symptom checklist 90 (SCL-90), the self-report symptom inventory was observed before treatment, 1 month and 3 months after treatment separately so as to assess the corresponding short-term, mid-term and long-term efficacies of the program of acupuncture and moxibustion for soothing the liver and regulating the mind.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In each time-point after treatment, for the scores of somatization, obsessive-compulsive symptom, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, paranoid ideation, psychoticism and the other 8 dimensionalities, in comparison between the soothing-liver and regulating-mind group and the non-acupoint-shallow-puncturing group, the differences were significant statistically (all P < 0.05). For the scores of depression, anxiety and hostility, in comparison between the soothing-liver and regulating-mind group and the acupoint-shallow-puncturing group, the differences were significant statistically (all P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture and moxibustion can improve the scores of SCL-90 scale for the patients with depression. The outcome indicators of the patient subjective reports can accurately assess the clinical efficacy.</p>

Chronic neck pain of cervical spondylosis treated with acupuncture and moxibustion in terms of the heart and kidney theory: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion on chronic neck pain of cervical spondylosis in terms of the heart and kidney theory.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and eleven cases were randomized into a heart-kidney acupuncture group (55 cases) and a conventional acupuncture group (56 cases). In the heart-kidney acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied to Bailao (EX-HN 15), Shenmen (HT 7) and Wangu (SI 4). Afterwards, the direct moxibustion was applied to Dazhui (GV 14), Xinshu (BL 15) and Shenshu (BL 23). After moxibustion, the intradermal needling therapy was provided at Bailao (EX-HN 15), Xinshu (BL 15) and Shenshu (BL 23). In the conventional acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied to Bailao (EX-HN 15) and Zhongzhu (TE 3) at first. Afterwards, the direct moxibustion was done at Dazhui (GV 14), Bailao (EX-HN 15) and Jianzhongshu (SI 15). After moxibustion, the interdermal needling therapy was provided at Bailao (EX-HN 15) and Jianzhongshu (SI 15). The northwick park pain questionnaire (NPQ) was adopted as the main efficacy index for the evaluation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After the intervention and during the follow-up visit period, NPQ scores were all reduced remarkably as compared with those before the intervention for the patients in two groups (all P < 0.001), but the differences were not statistically significant in groups (all P > 0.05). By the age stratification analysis for the patients in two groups, the program in terms of the heart and kidney theory achieved the superior efficacy for the patients over 45 years old as compared with those in the conventional acupuncture group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). By the stratification analysis of the sick duration, the program in terms of the heart and kidney theory achieved the superior efficacy for the patients with over 7 years sick duration as compared with those in the conventional acupuncture group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The acupuncture and moxibustion therapeutic program in terms of the heart and kidney theory achieves the superior efficacy on chronic pain of cervical spondylosis for the patients over 45 years old and with over 7 years sick duration. It is one of the optimized programs for the treatment of this disease.</p>

Randomized controlled study on rehabilitation of hemiplegia in cerebral infarction at the early stage with acupuncture and moxibustion based on meridian harmonization and zang-organ regulation / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the better therapeutic method for the treatment of hemiplegia in cerebral infarction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and fifty cases were randomized into a meridian-harmonization group (group A), a zang-organ regulation group (group B) and a meridian-harmonization and zang-organ regulation group (group C), 50 cases in each one. On the basis of conventional treatment, in group A, the acupoints were selected along meridians, such as Hegu (LI 4), Taichong (LR 3), Jianyu (LI 15), Waiguan (TE 5), Huantiao (GB 30) and Yanglingquan (GB 34)ect. In group B, the acupoints were selected in light of abdominal acupuncture such as Zhongwan (CV 12), Xiawan (CV 10), Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Shangqu (KI 17, healthy side) and Daheng (SP 15)etc. In group C, the acupoints in group A and group B were selected in combination. Before and after treatment, all the patients received the test of Barthel Index (BI) to assess the disability level and the simple Fugl-Meyer Motor Scale (FMMS) for the evaluation of motor function.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, all the three groups presented the significant improvement of BI, the down-regulation of disability rate and up-regulation of FMMS score, indicating significant differences in statistics as compared with those before treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). In group C, the results of BI improvement, the down-regulation of disability rate and the improvement of limb motor function were all superior to those in either group A or group B (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture in light of meridian-harmonization and zang-organ regulation is the better approach for the early-stage rehabilitation of hemiplegia in cerebral infarction and its efficacy is superior to that of either simple meridian harmonization therapy or zang-organ regulation therapy.</p>

Observation of therapeutic effect on post stroke depression treated by differentiation of spleen and stomach / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinical effect of post stroke depression treated by differentiation of spleen and stomach, so as to search better treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-three cases were randomly divided into an acupuncture and moxibustion group and a medication group. In acupuncture and moxibustion group, acupuncture and grain sized moxibustion were given at Zhongwan (CV 12), Zhangmen (LV 13), Zusanli (ST 36), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Pishu (BL 20) and Weishu (BL 21); in medication group, Fluoxetine was orally taken for 20 mg after breakfast. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. Prospective information of spleen and stomach syndrome was collected before treatment; the therapeutic effects and adverse reactions were evaluated by integral scale of spleen and stomach syndrome, Hamilton Depression (HAMD) Scale and Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS) at the first, second and fourth weekend of treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The prospective information collection of spleen and stomach syndrome before treatment indicated that among these 63 cases of post stroke depression, poor appetite, constipation and less drinking appeared for many times. The cured and markedly effective rate was 81.8% (27/33) in acupuncture and moxibustion group and 63.3% (19/30) in medication group, manifesting the same curative effect (P > 0. 05); the integral scale of spleen and stomach syndrome reduced in both groups (P < 0.001, P < 0.05), and it was superior in acupuncture and moxibustion group to that in medication group. In acupuncture and moxibustion group, HAMD score reduced obviously at the 1st and 2nd week and after treatment ( all P < 0.001), and it was superior to that in medication group at the 1st and 2nd week (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The TESS showed that the adverse reactions intervention in acupuncture and moxibustion group was superior to that in medication group at the 1st and 2nd week (both P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The patients who get post stroke depression commonly suffer from varying degrees of spleen and stomach functional disturbance. The curative effect of post stroke depression treated by differentiation of spleen and stomach is quick and stable, with less adverse reaction and high safety.</p>

Comprehensive therapeutic protocol of electroacupuncture combined with Chinese herbs and rehabilitation training for treatment of cerebral infarction: a multi-center randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the therapeutic effect of comprehensive therapeutic protocol of electroacupuncture combined with active-blood-and-dissolve-stasis herbs and rehabilitation training for cerebral infarction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A multi-center randomized controlled trial was done, three hundred and twenty cases were divided into four groups: electroacupuncture combined with active-blood and dissolve-stasis herbs and rehabilitation training group (group A), electroacupuncture combined with rehabilitation training group (group B), herbs combined with rehabilitation training group (group C) and rehabilitation training group (group D), 80 cases in each group. The following two groups of acupoints were used alternatively in electroacupuncture treatment: the first group including Vasomotor Area, Jianyu (LI 15), Biguan (ST 31), Hegu (LI 4) and Taichong (LR 3); the second group including Motor Area, Quchi (LI 11), Yanglingquan (GB 34) and Shenshu (BL 23). 20 mL Xiangdan injection and 250 mL 5% glucose injection or 250 mL 0.9% sodium chloride injection were used by intravenous drip in herbs treatment once a day. The rehabilitation training was performed by the professional physical therapist. Each group was treated with corresponding treatment protocol. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by index of the mortality or disability rate 3 months after the onset of disease. The intention to treat analysis (ITT) was used in data.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mortality or handicap rate 3 months after the onset of disease of four groups were 17.5% (14/80) in group A, 22.5% (18/80) in group B, 40. 0% (32/80) in group C, and 31.3% (25/80) in group D, respectively. The group A has a best therapeutic effect (vs group C, group D, both P<0.05), and there was no adverse event.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The combined application of electroacupuncture, active-blood and dissolve-stasis herbs and rehabilitation training is a better treatment for cerebral infarction in clinic.</p>

Osteoarthritis of knee joint treated with acupuncture and moxibustion / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the clinical efficacy of osteoarthritis of knee joint treated by acupuncture and moxibustion and simple acupuncture.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-two cases were randomized into an observation group (32 cases) and a control group (30 cases). In the observation group, acupuncture and non-scarring moxibustion were applied. Acupuncture was applied on the local acupoints of knee and moxibustion was performed on Shenshu (BL 23) and Xuehai (SP 10). In the control group, only acupuncture was adopted. The clinical efficacy was observed after 2 courses of treatment. Lysholm knee joint motor function scale, visual analogue scale (VAS) and WHO quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) were used for the assessment of scores before and after treatment and the statistical analysis of clinical efficacy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate (93.8%, 30/32) in the observation group was superior to that (87.7%, 26/30) in the control group (P < 0.05). The scores in Lysholm knee joint motor function scale and VAS were improved after treatment compared with those before treatment in two groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The degree of improvement in the observation group was superior to that in the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no statistical significance in the scores of WHOQOL-BREF before and after treatment in two groups as well as in intra-group comparison (all P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture and moxibustion in combination achieve the definite clinical efficacy on osteoarthritis of knee joint and this therapy is superior to simple acupuncture in the improvement of motor function of knee joint and the alleviation of pain.</p>

Logistic regression analysis on therapeutic effect of acupuncture on neck pain caused by cervical spondylosis and factors influencing therapeutic effect / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the main factors influencing the therapeutic effect of acupuncture on neck pain caused by cervical spondylosis, so as to provide references for further increasing the therapeutic effect of acupuncture.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and six cases were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 53 cases in each group. The observation group was treated with routine acupuncture at Dazhui (GV 14), Jingbailao (Ex-HN 15) and Jianzhongshu (SI 15); and the control group was treated with sham acupuncture at 1 cm lateral to Bailao (Ex-HN 15) and Jianzhongshu (SI 15). The needles were retained for 20 min in the two groups and infrared radiation was used for adjuvant treatment in this period. Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ) was used to assess the patients' quality of life before and after the treatment. The potential influential factors were analyzed by Logistic regression.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The effective rate was 75.5% in the observation group and 52.8% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). The Logistic regression analysis indicated that the therapeutic effect in the observation group was superior to the control group (OR = 2.670), and both the attack frequency and duration of the neck pain will influence the therapeutic effect (OR = 1.055 and OR = 2.446).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture has a better therapeutic effect on neck pain caused by cervical spondylosis, and patient's clinical history about attack frequency and duration of neck pain are factors influencing clinical therapeutic effect.</p>

Analysis on the effect of acupuncture in treating cervical spondylosis with different syndrome types / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture in treating cervical spondylosis with different syndrome types.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and seventeen patients were randomized into the treated group: (59 cases), treated with normal acupuncture, and the control group (58 cases), treated with sham acupuncture, operated once every other day, 9 times in total (in 18 days) as one therapeutic course, and a succeeding 3-month follow-up study was carried out after terminating the therapy. The efficacy of treatment was evaluated with the Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and the scores gained in patients with different syndrome types were analyzed with a general linear model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The NPQ and VAS: scores showed a linear decreasing tendency in both groups at the time of ending treatment and the 1st month of follow-up, but showed a secondary curve increasing tendency in the 3rd month of follow-up. Multivariate analysis showed the difference was of statistical significance (P<0.05). However, the analysis through lead-in of syndrome type as an individual influencing factor showed that syndrome type exerts a significant influence on VAS score (P<0.05), but has insignificant influence on the NPQ score (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture shows: good immediate effect in treating cervical spondylosis, but its long-term effect is not satisfactory. The difference in syndrome type may have some impact on the effects of acupuncture in alleviating pain, but exerts no evident influence on the comprehensive effect.</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>