Therapeutic observation of arthrolysis under brachial plexus anesthesia for adhesivecapsulitis of the shoulder / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To objectively evaluate the short-term and long-term efficacies of arthrolysis under brachial plexus anesthesia in treating adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder (ACS). Methods: One hundred patients diagnosed with ACS were divided into two groups using the random number method. The two groups both received same active rehabilitation exercises. Besides, 55 cases in the treatment group were given one session of arthrolysis under brachial plexus anesthesia, and 45 cases in the control group were given tuina treatment. Changes in the visual analog scale (VAS) score, Melle score and pressure pain index were observed 1 month and 3 months after treatment. The therapeutic efficacies were also compared. Results: The total effective rate was 96.4％ at the 1-month follow-up and 96.4％ at the 3-month follow-up in the treatment group. The total effective rate was 33.3％ at the 1-month follow-up and 28.9％ at the 3-month follow-up in the control group. There were significant differences between the two groups comparing the total effective rate at the two time points (both P<0.05). The scores of VAS, Melle and pressure pain were significantly different at the 1-month and 3-month follow-ups from those before treatment in the treatment group (all P<0.05); the three scores did not show significant differences at the 1-month and 3-month follow-ups compared with those before treatment in the control group (all P>0.05). Conclusion: Based on the active rehabilitation exercises, one session of arthrolysis under brachial plexus anesthesia can release the adhesion and restore the range of motion and function of shoulder joint in ACS patients. It is superior to rehabilitation exercises plus tuina treatment comparing both short-term and long-term efficacies.

Observations on the Efficacy of Scalp Acupuncture with Strong Stimulation in Treating Intractable Hiccup / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To investigate the efficacy of scalp acupuncture with strong stimulation plus oral hiccup decoction in treating intractable hiccup. Method One hundred patients with intractable hiccup were allocated, using a random number table, to treatment and control groups, 50 cases each. In addition to oral hiccup decoction in the two groups, the treatment group received scalp acupuncture with strong stimulation at the stomach and chest areas and the control group, electroacupuncture, for two courses of treatment. The times to produce the effect and the symptom frequency scores were compared between the two groups. Result After one course of treatment, the cure rate, the cure and marked efficacy rate and the total efficacy rate were 42％, 66％ and 78％, respectively, in the treatment group and 24％, 40％ and 68％, respectively, in the control group. There were statistically significant difference in the cure rate and the cure and marked efficacy rate (P<0.05) but no in the total efficacy rate (P>0.05) between the two groups. After two courses of treatment, the cure rate, the cure and marked efficacy rate and the total efficacy rate were 68％, 78％ and 88％, respectively, in the treatment group and 40％, 60％ and 74％, respectively, in the control group. There were statistically significant difference in the cure rate (P<0.05) but no in the cure and marked efficacy rate and the total efficacy rate (P>0.05) between the two groups. After one and two courses of treatment, there was a statistically significant difference in the hiccup frequency score between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). The time to produce the effect was 2-5 hrs in the treatment group and 5-8 hrs in the control group. Conclusion The total efficacy rate of scalp acupuncture with strong stimulation for intractable hiccup is not significantly different from that of electroacupuncture, but the cure rate of the former was significantly higher than that of the latter. Scalp acupuncture with strong stimulation can produce a quick effect, reduce the frequency of hiccups and relieve symptoms accompanying hiccup.

Effects of electroacupuncture on muscle state and electrophysiological changes in rabbits with lumbar nerve root compression / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of electroacupuncture on force-displacement value (FDV) of muscle state and electrophysiology of the muscle in rabbits with lumbar nerve root compression.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into a control, a model, an electro-acupuncture acupoints (EAA), a medication, and an electro-acupuncture un-acupoints (EAU) group. All rabbits except those in the control group were subject to modeling (surgical lumbar nerve root compression). The control group was sham-operated without nerve root compression. The EAA group received electro-acupuncture at bilateral Shenshu (BL23) and Dachangshu (BL25) that were located 1.5 cun lateral to the posterior midline on the lower border of the spinous process of the 2nd and 4th lumbar vertebra, respectively. The EA was 15 mm deep and the frequency was 2 Hz. Each session lasted for 20 min per day for a total of 14 times. The medication group was treated with Loxoprofen sodium by gastrogavage at 4 mg/kg per day for 14 days. The EAU group received electro-acupuncture identical to the EAA group with regard to the treatment frequency and duration except a different acupoint at the tip of rabbit tail. Muscle states were determined by measuring FDVs of the bilateral biceps femoris using the Myotonometer® fast muscle state detector. Meanwhile, the prolonged and non-prolonged insertion potentials were measured by electromyography before and after modeling and after treatment. Latency, amplitude (Amp) of evoked potential, motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) were also determined after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) After modeling, FDVs of right side activation (RSA, P=0.003) and right side relaxation (RSR) in the model group (P=0.000) were significantly decreased in comparison to the control group. The number of rabbits with non-prolonged insertion potentials in the model group was also significantly decreased (P=0.015) in comparison to the control group. (2) After treatment, FDVs of RSR were significantly increased in the EAA (P=0.000) and medication groups (P=0.018) in comparison to the model group. The increase in FDVs of RSR in the EAA group was significantly higher than that in EAU (P=0.000) and medication groups (P=0.002). MNCV in the model group was reduced compared with the control group (P=0.000). The reduction in MNCV after modeling was reversed in the EAA group (P=0.000) and medication group (P=0.008) after treatment and the increases were significant in both treatment groups in comparison to the model group. The EAA group had a greater MNCV recovery than the medication group (P=0.022).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Electro-acupuncture could improve the rehabilitation and regeneration of FDVs and the electrophysiology index of the muscle with nerve control impairment.</p>

Correlation study on effects of electroacupuncture on the muscle condition and MNCV in rabbits with lumbar nerve root compression / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of electroacupuncture on the muscle condition and electrophysiology of the muscle in rabbits with lumbar nerve root compression and to explore potential mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a medication group and an electroacupuncture group. The rabbit model with lumbar nerve root compression was established in the model group, the medication group and the electroacupuncture group. The model and the treatment were not produced in the normal group. The medication group was treated with oral administration of Loxoprofen tablets at a dose of 30 mg each day for 14 days. The electroacupuncture group was treated with electroacupuncture at "Jiaji" (EX-B 2) of L5 and L6 for 14 days. The hibateral muscle condition before and after making model and after treatment was detected and the electromyogram and the nerve conduction velocity (NCV) were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The spontaneous potential and the insertion potential were increased in the model group, the medication group and the electroacupuncture group after making model. The value of the activation and the relaxed condition of the strength-creep (ARCSC) in the right muscle was significantly decreased. The motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) and the wave amplitude of evoked potential (WAEP) were significantly decreased in the model group, the medication group and the electroacupuncture group after treatment, but the value of MNCV and WAEP in the electroacupuncture group, and ARCSC in the right muscle in the electroacupuncture group and the medicine group were closed to those level in the normal group, among them, the relaxed condition in the electroacupuncture group was more close to the level in the normal group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Electroacupuncture can improve the strength-creep condition of the muscle that damage nerve place controls and the electrophysiology of the muscle can recover the MNCV and the wave amplitude of evoked potential in the compression nerve root.</p>

Observation on therapeutic effect of acupuncture at pain points for treatment of myofascial pain syndrome / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare therapeutic effects of acupuncture at pain points and massage combined with medicine on myofascial pain syndrome (MPS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and fifty cases were randomly divided into an observation group (n=90) and a control group (n=60). The observation group was treated with needle-sticking method combined with single-finger meditation pushing therapy at pain points, and the control group with local application of Votalin Emulgel combined with Tuina. All the patients were treated for 1 course and followed up after 3 months and their therapeutic effects were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were significant differences in cumulative scores of symptoms before and after treatment in the two groups (both P < 0.01), and there were no significant differences in the pain and pressure pain between the two groups (P > 0.05), and there were significant differences in the muscle spasm and joint range of motion between the two groups (P < 0.05); after treatment, the markedly effective rate and the total effective rate in the observation group were 57.8% and 94.4% respectively, and were 31.7% and 73.3% respectively in the control group, with a significant difference between the two groups (both P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Needle-sticking method combined with single-finger meditation pushing therapy at pain points can effectively alleviate pain and pressure pain in the patients with MPS and it has better therapeutic effect in the markedly effective rate and the total effective rate as well as improvement of muscle spasm and joint range of motion than local application of Votalin Emulgel combined with Tuina.</p>

Effects of warm needle moxibustion on nerve root local inflammatory factors (NOS and CGRP) in the lumbar nerve root compress model rats / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the mechanism of acupuncture for treatment of lumbar nerve root compression injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty healthy SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, a normal group, a model group treated by saline, a medication group treated with Caerulein, an acupuncture group treated with acupuncture at L5, L6 Jiaji (EX-B 2) and a warm needle group treated with acupuncture and moxibustion at L5, L6 Jiaji (EX-B 2). The lumbar nerve root compress injury model was made by placing microsilica gel tablet. After they were treated for 14 days, the compressed nerve root was taken and the ultra-microstructure changes of the injured nerve root were observed by electron microscope and changes of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) expressions were investigated by ELISA assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The changes of ultra-microstructure of the nerve root were the most obvious in the model group and the changes in the medication group, the acupuncture group and the warming needle group reduced in order; the NOS activity and CGRP content in the nerve root tissue of the compressed area in the warm needle group were significantly reduced as compared with the model group (P < 0.05), but with no significant difference as compared with those in the normal group (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Warm needle treatment can effectively maintain cellular form, and ultra-microstructures of nerve root dorsal root ganglia, and effectively inhibit the release of inflammatory factors NOS and CGRP.</p>