Acupuncture Teratment for Lower Back Pain-Multi-center Randomized Controlled Trial using Spam Acupuncture as a Control / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

[Objective] We performed a multi-center randomized controlled trial using sham acupuncture as a control in the 11 institutions of Aichi and Shizuoka prefecture at which we practice our original acupuncture method. <BR>[Design · Methods] Patients were randomly allocated to four groups : A group, “Taikyoku-Ryoho” (whole body acupuncture method) pole treatment combined with low frequency electroacupuncture; B group, “TaikyokuRyoho” pole treatment; C group, low frequency electroacupuncture; D group, sham acupuncture. Therapeutic effectiveness was evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and criteria of the Japanese Orthopedic Association for low back pain (JOA score). After these evaluations, patients in B group received low frequency electroacupuncture and patients in C group received “Taikyoku-Ryoho” pole treatment. Patients in D group received both therapies. Thus, all patients eventually received the entire series of therapies. [Results] Significant improvement (P<0.05) in VAS and JOA scores was recognized after one acupuncture treatment in A, B and C groups, but not in D group. There were no differences in terms of the effectiveness among A, B and C groups.<BR>[Conclusion] Our original acupuncture method of “Taikyoku-Ryoho” combined with low frequency electroacupuncture was superior to sham acupuncture. However, the definition of sham acupuncture needs to be more clearly defined in future research.

Objectification of Diagnosis in Acupuncture and Moxibustion; Increased Fluctuation of Meridian Functions Measured by AMI after Acupuncture Treatment According to the Low of the Five Elements / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

Research on pulse diagnosis conducted so far by Kurono et al. includes a study on pulse diagnosis and six basic pulses and a study on the application of AMI (an apparatus for measuring the function of the meridian and corresponding internal organs) to pulse diagnosis.<BR>In this study, fluctuation of the meridian functions with or without acupuncture treatment according to the law of the five elements were examined objectively using BP values measured by AMI. When BP values were measured for 10 times without acupuncture treatment, the values for the respective meridiansfluctuated in a stable manner, averaging 4% or less. As a result of testing 6 subjects using this meridian treatment according to the law of the five elements, fluctuation of the meridian functions increased in the oriental medical diagnosis of all the subjects.<BR>Thus, the results of this study showed the feasibility of using AMI for objectively evaluating the fluctuation of meridian functions. The authors intend to continue to examine the relationship between diagnosis and acupuncture using AMI.

Effectiveness of the Zusanli (ST36) Point for Hypertension in acupuncture. Controlled clinical trials using the Envelope Method / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

With the aim of investigating the effect of drop in blood pressure of the Zusanli (ST36), a multi-center randomized controlled trial was conducted with the envelope method. Patients showing the high blood pressure condition were divided into 2 of the group treated with use of the Zusanli point and the group with non-use of Zusanli point.Changes in blood pressure were then measured.The present results show no significant difference was seen between the 2 groups, thus did not find the Zusanli point to be effective.

Controlled Clinical Trials Using the Envelope Method for Urinary Dysfunction. The Effectiveness of the zhongji (cv-3) / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

At the 45th Japanese National Acupuncture and Moxibustion Conference, Kitakoji et al. of the Research Committee's Urology Group reported the results of controlled clinical trials, using the envelope method, on the effectiveness of acupuncture for urinary dysfunction. This was presented as a case in which the “Guidelines and Recommendations for clinical Trials in Acupuncture” were applied in actual clinical research. A controlled investigation was carried out by the Information and Evaluation Group, Research Section, Aichi Regional Association, at multiple institutions (9 hospitals and clinics) on the effectiveness of the zhongji (cv-3) point for urinary dysfunction, using the envelope method of Kitakoji et al. Although the zhongji (cv-3) point was not found to be effective against urinary dysfunction, we were able to demonstrate that it is possible to conduct controlled clinical trials at multiple institutions based on soft data.

Acupunctural Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus: Case report / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

The objectives of treatment for diabetes mellitus are to prevent complications and to inhibit or reduce the progression of disease. For these purposes, a physiological blood glucose level must be maintained. Cramps in both legs and other symptoms believed to be complications of diabetes mellitus were treated by acupunctural therapy. A diagnosis of diabetes mellitus was made by internists in all patients evaluated in this study. We investigated whether our treatments had any effect on the diabetic status of these patients. Our records were kept on diabetes charts devised by members of the local branch of the Japanese Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Therapy. After beginning acupunctural treatment, the fasting blood glucose levels and levels of hemoglobin A_1C were improved. Both the fasting blood glucose level and the hemoglobin A_1C level serve as important indicators of symptoms and complications in patients with diabetes mellitus. Our findings have shown that acupunctural therapy is effective in treating diabetes mellitus. Treatment of diabetes by acupuncture also lead to the amelioration of symptoms due to its complications.

Acupuncture for The Treatment of Unidentified Complaints / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

The efficacy of acupuncture haven't yet cleared. In modern socity was called stressful socity, individuals are exposed to a variety of stress. The patients with unidentified complaints without pathological signs who visited acupuncture clinic were increased.<br>We performed acupuncture on a patient with unidentified complaints caused by stress. The efficacy of acupuncture on theses unidentified complaints was assessd, by following the course of the patient's condition, recorded using the form desingnated for the management of unidentified complaints, developed by the Japanese Society Acupuncture.<br>After 21 round of acupuncture treatment, the chief complain and the accompanying decreased by 23% from the initial 23 to 17 at the end of the treatment. Thus this therapy was rated as slightly effective in this case.<br>The objective from designated for the management of unidentified complaints allowed a quantitative analysis of the course of complaints after the begining of acupuncture. Although only one patient was examined, acupuncture was suggested to be effective for unidentified complaints.

Acupunctural Treatment for Hypertension / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

We have twice previously reported the results of our preliminary investigation regarding patients with hypertension. Recently, the focus of our interest has been on the blood pressure levels at the time of the third sound of korotkoff. We reported our findings regarding this topic in an oral presentation titled “Evaluation of acupunctural treatment in hypertensive patients” at the 9th Annual Central Japan Block Meeting of the Japanese Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Therapy.<br>Since then, we have accumulated further clinical experience regarding hypertensive patients. In this study, we investigated the third sound of korotkoff in patients diagnosed as borderline hypertension according to the WHO criteria for hypertension. The blood pressure during the third sound of korotkoff ranged from 100mmHg to 110mmHg in our patients. This difference in blood pressure noted during the decreasing phase of the blood pressure cycle may serve as a useful prognostic indicator in hypertensive patients.

A Study of Acupuncture as Therapy for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

At the Ambulatory Clinic for Collagen Disease and Rheumatism, the Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya City University Hospital, acupuncture was performed on 8 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome who satisfied all of the following requirements: (1) cases which satisfied the diagnostic criteria established by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), USA and the Ministry of Health and Welfare Study Group, Japan; (2) cases which could be followed for long periods, (3) patients who gave informed consent to acupuncture, and (4) cases which were resistant to conventional drug therapies. Severe fatigue, which is the major symptom of this syndrome, was reduced markedly by acupuncture. Accompanying physical symptoms were also reduced in some cases. Immunologically, the percentages of gamma- and delta-T cells in peripheral blood, which had been lower than normal before treatment, improved significantly after acupuncture.<br>These results suggest that acupuncture provides a useful means of treating chronic fatigue syndrome which has conventionally been treated using drugs alone.

Effect of .BETA.-endorphin on human peripheral lymphocytes / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

Recently it is well known that human immune system is regulated by various other biological response systems; endocrine and nervous system. We have investigated the effect of electric acupuncture on human immune system for several years. Those studies suggest that electric acupuncture affects human immune system via neuro-immune system. In the present study we investigated the effect of endorphin on human peripheral lymphocytes.<br>At the present concentration of endorphin and naloxone there were no effect on viability of lymphocytes. ³H-thymidine up take of unstimulated lymphocytes were suppressed by a appropriate concentration of endorphin or naloxone. The mitogenic responsiveness of peripheral lymphocytes was suppressed at usual concentration of naloxone and higher concentration of endorphin.<br>In these data suggested that both of intrisic and extrinsic endorphin regulated human lymphocyte responsiveness.

The study of acupuncture treatment for patients having high blood pressure. (Prediction) / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

In our clinic, blood pressure measurement has been done for many patients with various chief complaints. Acupuncture treatment was undertaken to improve their chief complaints according to Kurono's whole-body adjustment. We carried out a research paying attention to the fact that the patients with elevations of the blood pressure at the first visit showed a tendency to gradual decrease of the values.<br>According to the values of the first measurement, patients were divided into two groups in accordance with WHO's criteria: Hypertension group and Boundary one.<br>The first measurement velues and the averaged values of the following seven measurements undertaken before treatment were compared using histgram and t-test.<br>The descent of the blood pressure was seen in both Hypertension and Boundary group.

Effect of electric acupuncture on human immune system. Analysis of peripheral T lymphocyte subsets by laser flow cytometry system / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

We investgated the effect of electric acupuncture on peripheral T lymphocyte subset from normal individuals, analysed by laser flow cytometric system with monoclonal antibodies for human T lymphocyte subset.<br>OKT3⁺ cells (peripheral T cells) and OKT4⁺ cells (helper/inducer cells) did not show any changes after electric acupuncture. OKT8⁺ cells (suprressor/cytotoxic T cells), however, OKT11⁺ cells (E rosette positive T cells) and Leu7⁺ cells (natural killer cells) increased and Leu11⁺ cells (another population of natural killer cells) decreased after electric acupuncture.<br>These changes of peripheral T lymphocyte subsets would suggest that electric acupuncture effects human immune system.

A case report concerning acupuncture therapy on diabetic patients (II) / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

According to the recent advanced studies on diabetes mellitus, the types of the disease are complecated. So it is too difficult to do treatments for the patients. And then, it is important that the patients themselves must do self-controls such as taking special diet or doing specific exercise. And the purpose of treatment of diabetes is chiefly to prevent the advancement of the complications of the diseases.<br>The authors report here the curative effect of the acupuncture therapy on the patients suffering from diabetes mellitus with its complications in a various advanced stages. Three patients were done the acupuncture therapy who had clinically diagnosed as diabetes mellitus and the acupuncture therapy was applied everyday or several times a week. We observed clinically the changes of the diabetic conditions such as subjective symptoms or FBS (Fasting Blood Sugar Level).<br>Following the acupuncture therapy, the patients of three cases were reduced gradually the subjective symptoms and controled FBS to the normal level. However, when the intervals of acupuncture therapy were elongated or acupuncture therapy was postoponed, blood sugar levels showed an unstable tendency.<br>Therefore, the authors concluded that it was necessary to treat the diabetic patients with more longer and frequently with.

On "Kurono's standard points for the whole body regulation" / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

Acupoint-selection is very important in acupuncture treatment as well as diagnosis. There are two methods of acupoint-selection: meridian treatment according to the law of the five elements and symptomatic treatment. When actupuncture treatment is undertaken, well-grounded acupoint-selection should be done. Since old times, a large literature has been writen on the symptomatic treament, and which acupoints to be selected for which disease has been mentioned, but the reason has not been shown. In order to find out a basis for the symptomatic treatment, the author conducted the investigation as to which acupoint had been actually used for which subjective or objective findings. Sujects were 2, 083 cases with internal subjective symptoms which were common among more than five cases. They were chosen from those who visited the Institute for Oriental Medicine from Jan. 13 1956 to Dec. 30 1968. As a result, a certain pattern in the symptomatic treatment was obtained.

Effects of Electric Acupuncture on Human Immune System (IV) / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

In this study we investigated the effects of electric acupuncture on <i>in vivo</i> function of cell-mediated immunity, especially Mountoux reaction (PPD skin test) in normal individuals.<br>Normal young adults were inserted Chinese needles into two specific needle points, which were determined by means of chinese diagnostic procedures of radial arteries. The electric current were 5Hz, 2volt for 5 minutes.<br>One of the normal individuals showed negative reaction of PPD skin test, and 6 of them showed weak positive reaction. These 7 persons were done the second PPD skin test at 2 months after initial skin test, and they were treated with electric acupuncture immediately before skin test. 3 of them showed strong positive reaction of second skin test with electric acupuncture. Moreover, area of erythema induced by skin reaction become larger than first skin test in all of them. These results suggested that electric acupuncture would augment the <i>in vivo</i> cell-mediated immune reaction.

An Objective Consideration of the Correspondence between Pulse Diagnosis and a Quadridemarcation of the Body / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

INTRODUCTION<br>The basic concept of oriental medicine is that of the dual phenomenon of Nature and living beings, a concept which has been rendered relative via philosophy. In particular, the fundamental idea, viewed dualistically, is that for ane one phenomenon there are two relative aspects, that of YIN and YANG.<br>METHODS<br>This time we used anatomical positions: left is yang and right is yin, upper is yang and lower is yin. We took the view that there is an analogy between the above and what Kentaro Takagi proved, namely pressure <i>vis a vis</i> the semi lateral sweating reflex. Between June 1976 and September 1979, using the six fixed position type pulse diagnosis we examined 1400 patients coming to the research lab (male, 744. female, 655). We also used the Motoyama type machine for meridian/organ function measurement, from which we obtained the electrical resistance value of well points (sei ketsu). Then we quadridemarcated the body into left and right together with hands and feet.<br>RESULTS<br>By comparing the 1400 cases and separating male/female for each diagnostic group, we classified these into quadridemarcation charts and observed the patterns. We came up with;<br>1) It was proved that a quadridemarcarcation pattern exists.<br>2) A left/right resistance and a lower/upper resistance was proved.<br>3) No difference was noted in any difference between male and female as cited in the classics.<br>4) Changes in the pulse <i>vis a vis</i> diagnosed patterns were noted.<br>5) The difference of each diagnosed group as well as the correspondence between pulse diagnosis and quadridemarcation of the body was proved. From the above results we would like to report that the basic yin yang concept of oriental medicine is of great importance as noted in the classics.

Analysis of pulse wave and its correspondence with diagnosis in Chinese medicine. 2 / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

Pulse diagnosis has been taking an important part, together with the other diagnostic techniques, for determination of symptoms and treatment of patients with acupuncture. However, the traditional expression of pulse is complicated and subjective, so that the understanding of pulse diagnosis in termes of modern medicine is almost impossible. We tried to objectify the expression of pulse wave.<br>The pulse wave recorded from the six positions on radial artery according to the method described in Chinese Medicine through a force transducer. The recordings were processed for Fourier analysis utilizing a computer system. Characteristics of the pulse wave can be expressed quantitatively as a form of power spectrum of its components. The preliminary results of this study was reported at the 31th annual meeting of the Japan Society of Acupuncture. This time, we report the analysis on the basic pulse waves which have been recognized as negative-positive and imaginaryreal pulses.<br>Method<br>The subjects were normal volunteers of 36 males and 17. females. A force tranducer (Nihon Kohden TF-11S) Equipped with 0.52cm² of sensitive area was placed on the radial artery under the pressure ranging from 20 to 550gr. The pulse wave thus recorded was led into the electronic computer (HITAC-20) to obtain the power spectrum of the frequencies.<br>Results<br>It was found that characteristics of the six kinds of pulse waves, i. e., floating-sunken, smooth-leap and slow-fast types, can be represented quantitatively in terms of frequency histogram. Further, a possibility to express so called "complex pulse" in Chinese Medicine by this method is suggested.

A Case Report concerning Acupuncture Therapy on a Diabetic Patient / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

The number of diabetics is now on the increase in Japan. It was said several ten years ago that diabetics could not live long. Now, however, they can live as long as healthy people with advanced medical care.<br>The recent treatment of diabetes is done chiefly to prevent complications. Nevertheless, there are no effective treatments to prevent complications except for basic therapy such as diet or exercise. In the 51st conference of the Japan Endocrinological Society (1978), we reported the effects of acupuncture on alloxan-induced pancreatic island injury of DDY mice. We report here a clinical study on a patient with diabetes: Acupuncture therapy was applied to the patient, and observation on changes in the diabetic condition such as subjective symptoms or blood sugar value, and in some phisical and chemical findings which indicate complications, was undertaken.<br>CASE REPORT<br>A patient with a long history of diabetes, who had been diagnosed in 1959, showed drastically changed symptoms since that time. When first examined in our clinic, fasting blood sugar (FBS) was 328mg/dl. The patient complained of amblyopia caused by diabetic cataract, malaise, anorexia, shoulder stiffness, a sensation of fullness in the abdomen, etc. On and after July 31, 1981, acupuncture therapy was applied everyday or every other day.<br>After the institution of acupuncture therapy, the subjective symptoms were gradually improved. FBS fell into the normal level (105mg/dl) on Aug. 17, 1982. The influence of another therapy which the patient concurrently underwent was also discussed.

Morphological Study of the Protective and Curative Effects of the Acupuncture for Some Experimental Deseases including Hepatitis, Alloxan Diabetes and Nephritis / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

Although the efficacy of acupuncture in treatment of various diseases has been empirically established, systematic demonstration of this point has been rarely made. Our animal experiments designed to prove the efficacy of acupuncture on a scientific basis are reviewed here.<br>Each of the following experiments was carried out on two to five groups of mice. Mice in acupuncture group (A-animals) were acupunctured at four to seventeen points on every second or third day beginning with the first experimental day.<br>Exp. I. The preventive effect of acupuncture on acute poisoning by carbon tetrachloride-With carbon tetrachloride (4.16g/kg body weight) injected in the abdominal cavity on the 18th exp. day, all the non-acupunctured mice (N-animals) died in 72 hours after the administration, while 16% of the A-animals survived.<br>Exp. II. The curative effect of acupuncture on subacute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride. -Carbon tetrachloride (3.47g/kg b. w.) was administered on the 17th exp. day in the same manner as Exp. I. Levallorphan tartrate (antagonist to narcotics) was given to half of the A-animals (L+A-animals) and control animals (L-animals) before each session of acupuncture. Electron microscopic examination revealed severely injured liver cells in the N-animals and very little changes in the A-animals. The liver of L+A-animals was injured to some extent. Since the explanation of toxicity of levallorphan was refuted by the L-animals, this result suggests that some narcotic substances play a role in the process.<br>Exp. III. The effect of acupuncture on alloxan diabetes. -Alloxan (6mg) was administered on the 8th exp. day, and the animals were sacrificed on the 30th or 46th exp. day for examination. The N-animals showed extremely high blood sugar, though the A-animals did not. Ultrastructural study revealed that characteristic changes of alloxan diabetes in the pancreas had almost disappeared from the A-animals.<br>Exp. IV. The effect of acupuncture on renal injury induced by mercuric chloride. -With mercuric chloride (0.2mg/100g b. w.) administered three times a week, 10% of the N-animals and none of the A-animals died during the three-month period. Fairly heavy proteinuria (30-100mg/ml) was detected in the N-animals, though uria of A-animals was almost normal. After a one-month period, the N-animals showed a significant weight loss compared to the A-animals. Through the use of the electron microscope, severe injuries were seen in the epithelium of the renal tubules of the N-animals, and healed injuries in that of the A-animals.<br>Ultrastructural evidence has been presented that acupuncture is effective in (1) preventing and curing liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride, (2) curing alloxan diabetes, (3) curing nephritis induced by mercuric chloride. Our hypothesis suggesting the possible mechanism that underlies these effects produced by acupuncture has been briefly explained.

The Effects of Electric Acupuncture on Human Immune System (III) / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

In this study we investigated the effects of electric acupuncture on <i>in vitro</i> functions of lymphocytes, especially mitogen responses and natural killer (NK) activities of peripheral lymphocytes from normal individuals.<br>Normal young adults were inserted chinese needles into two specific needle points, which were determined by means of chinese diagnostic procedures of radial arteries. The electric current were 5Hz, 2Volt for 5 minutes. There was a tendency to increase phytohaemoaggultinin (PHA) or concanavalin A (Con A) responses of lymphocytes immediatly after acupuncture, but no significant changes. However, there was a significant (p=0.05) increase of pookweed.mitogen (PWM) responses immediatly after acupuncture. NK activities were measured by a ⁵¹Cr release assays. NK activities were enhanced significantly (p=0.05) immediatry after acupuncture. Moreover these changes of mitogen responses and NK activities were shown only when stimulated at specific acupuncture points. Most prominent changes were observed immediately after acupuncture, and the changes in parts continued after 4 hours.

Analysis of Pulse Wave and its Correspondence with Diagnosis in Chinese Medicine / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

Pulse diagnosis is one of the most important diagnostic method in Chinese medicine, however, the expression of this diagnostic technique is subjective and cannot be in this form compared with modern medicine. Many attempts to describe the pulse conditions objectively have been made, however, there has been little success.<br>Any wave can be described by the frequency distribution of the energy, according to Fourier. Using this method, we tried to objectify the pulse wave. For the recording of the pulse, a pick-up (Nihon Kohden TF-11S) was fixed in a place at the radial artery and pressure applied using a micromanipulator. The output was put into a data recorder through an amplifier and monitored by an oscillograph. Data was then processed using computer (HITAC-20) and power spectrums were displayed.<br>In the above described method, the minimum and maximum force which should be applied to detect the pulse wave varied from person to person. The range was from 10-50g and 400-600g for minimum and maximum, respectively. This can be considered as individual variations of so called “floating and sunken” pulses. The best shape of pulse waves were obtained with 100-300g of pressure.<br>A typical power spectrum of pulse wave was composed of standard sine curve (approximately 1Hz, basic wave) and its harmonics. Sharply peaked waves occured when the basic component was great and oppositely, the flatter waves contained abundant of harmonics. The ratio of the basic wave to its harmonics represents the characteristics of wave pattern, i. e., objective description of pulse conditions can be made.<br>We will then, investigate the correspondence of the recordings to the expressions in the Chinese medicine, influences of acupuncture, etc.