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Objective Based on the diagnostic technique of electric meridian detection, to observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture in treating angioneurotic headache.Method Totally 106 patients with angioneurotic headache were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 53 cases in each group. The treatment group received acupuncture based on the electric meridian detection, while the control group received medication treatment. The hemorheology indexes [plasma viscosity (PV), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)] and McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) [Pain Rating Index (PRI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and Present Pain Intensity (PPI)] were observed before and after intervention, and the clinical efficacies were compared. Result The total effective rate was 88.7% in the treatment group versus 71.7% in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). After intervention, the hemorheology indexes and MPQ scores were significantly changed in both groups (P<0.01,P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture based on electric meridian detection is an effective method in treating angioneurotic headache.
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Objective To observe the short- and long-term efficacies of acupuncture in treating metabolic syndrome (MS). Method A hundred MS patients were randomized into an acupuncture group and a Western medication group. In addition to basic treatment, acupuncture was used in the acupuncture group, while Western medication was adopted in the Western medication group. The fasting plasma glucose (FPG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), insulin (INS), triglyceride (TG), blood pressure (BP), weight circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), and MS score were evaluated before and after treatment, and a month and 3 months after the treatment. Result There was no significant difference in comparing the short-term therapeutic efficacy between the two groups after treatment, while the long-term therapeutic efficacy of the acupuncture group was superior to that of the Western medication group (P<0.01); the FPG, INS, TG, HDL, BP, and MS score were significantly improved after treatment and a month after the treatment in both groups (P<0.01); the acupuncture group had significant improvements in WC and BMI after treatment and a month after the treatment (P<0.01), significantly superior to the Western medication group (P<0.01); the acupuncture group showed marked improvement in INS, HDL, WC, and BMI 3 months after the treatment (P<0.01), significantly superior to the Western medication group (P<0.01,P<0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture can produce a similar short-term but a better long-term therapeutic efficacy compared to Western medication. Hence, acupuncture can be taken as an assistant intervention for MS.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical efficacy of YANG's pricking-cupping therapy for knee osteoar thritis (KOA). Methods This was a multi-center randomized parallel controlled trial. One hundred and seventy one patients with KOA were randomly allocated to a pricking-cupping group (89 cases) and a conventional acu puncture group (82 cases). Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Dubi (ST 35) and ashi points were selected in the two groups. Patients in the pricking-cupping group were treated with YANG's pricking-cupping therapy; the seven-star needles were used to perform pricking at acupoints, then cupping was used until slight bleeding was observed. Patients in the conventional acupuncture group were treated with semi-standardized filiform needle therapy. The treatment was given for 4 weeks (from a minimum of 5 times to a maximum of 10 times). The follow-up visit was 4 weeks. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the visual analogue scale (VAS) were adopted for the efficacy assessments.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The pain score, stiffness score, physical function score and total score of WOMAC were all reduced after 4-week treatment and during follow-up visit in the two groups (all P<0. 0001). Except that the difference of stiffness score between the two groups was not significant after 4-week treatment (P>0. 05), each score and total score of WOMAC in the pricking-cupping group were lower than those in the conventional acupuncture group after 4-week treatment and during follow-up visit (P<0. 0001, P<0. 01). After 2-week treatment, 4-week treatment and during follow-up visit, the VAS was all reduced compared with that before treatment (all P<0. 0001) ; with the increase of the treatment, the reducing trend of VAS was more significant (P<0. 0001). The scores of VAS in the pricking-cupping group were lower than those in the conventional acupuncture group after 4-week treatment and during follow-up visit (P < 0. 01, P <0. 0001). CONCLUSION The YANG's pricking-cupping and conventional acupuncture therapy can both significantly improve knee joint pain and function in patients with KOA, which are relatively safe. The pricking cupping therapy is superior to conventional acupuncture with the identical selection of acupoints.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Acupuncture Therapy , Arthralgia , Therapeutics , Combined Modality Therapy , Knee Joint , Medicine, Chinese Traditional , Methods , Osteoarthritis, Knee , Therapeutics , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:Warm acup-moxibustion is an effective treatment in Chinese traditional medicine, which combines acupuncture with moxibustion. With an immediate analgesia or/and long-term effect, warm acup-moxibustion has been used clinicaly for acute and chronic pain. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the progress in the studies about clinical application of warm acup-moxibustion as analgesic therapy for acute and chronic pain and to discuss the influential factors. METHODS: CNKI, VIP and Wanfang databases were searched for relevant articles published between January 1995 and July 2015 using the keywords of “warm needling; warm acup-moxibustion; pain; analgesic” in Chinese. According to the exclusion and inclusion criteria, 51 articles were included in result analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with ordinary acupuncture, medicine and other treatment methods, warm acup-moxibustion can play an analgesic role in multiple systems, which is better than ordinary acupuncture and Western medicine. Warm acup-moxibustion combined with drugs and acupuncture techniques can increase the analgesic effect and improve joint function activity. Warm acup-moxibustion with the overal regulatory role plays an effective analgesic pain role in the multiple systems and shortens the duration of treatment, which is an effective method for treating pain and worthy of further promotion and application.
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Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of Du meridian moxibustion in treating polycystic ovarian syndrome of spleen-kidney yang deficiency type. Methods Seventy patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome of spleen-kidney yang deficiency type were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 35 cases each. The treatment group received Du meridian moxibustion plus medication and stomach and the control group, medication alone. Sex hormones [follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (IH) and testosterone (T)], fasting insulin (INS), fasting blood glucose (GLU), body mass index (BMI) and changes in menstrual cycle were observed in the two groups before and after three weeks of treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups. Results The total efficacy rate was 94.3%in the treatment group and 77.1%in the control group;there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P＜0.05). There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in LH, LH/FSH and T in the two groups (P＜0.01, P＜0.05). There were no statistically significant post-treatment differences in sex hormones between the two groups (P>0.05). There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in INS, BMI and menstrual cycle in the treatment group (P＜0.01, P＜0.05). There was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in menstrual cycle in the control group (P＜0.05). There were no statistically significant post-treatment differences in INS, GLU, BMI and menstrual cycle between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Du meridian moxibustion is an effective way to treat polycystic ovarian syndrome of spleen-kidney yang deficiency type. It can improve insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity.
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Objective To compare the therapeutic efficacy between warm needling and Pyridostigmine bromide in treating ocular myasthenia gravis, for seeking the optimal treatment method. Method Seventy patients with ocular myasthenia gravis were randomized into a treatment group intervened by warm needling and control group intervened by Pyridostingmine bromide, 35 in each group; meanwhile, fortified Yi Qi Tang decoction was given to both groups. The observation lasted 6 weeks and a 3-month follow-up was conducted. The clinical absolute and relative scoring system for myasthenia gravis, and the Chinese medicine syndrome scale for spleen-qi deficiency were adopted for quantitative comparison and efficacy evaluation. Result The total effective rate was 85.7% in the treatment group, higher than that in the control group. Conclusion Warm needling plus herbal medicine is effective in treating ocular myasthenia gravis.
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BACKGROUND:Chronic visceral pain is one of major complaints of irritable bowel syndrome which seriously affects patient’s quality of life. Recent researches have shown that moxibustion therapy has positive effects on aleviating chronic visceral pain in irritable bowel syndrome patients. OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical utility of moxibustion in coping with chronic visceral pain of irritable bowel syndrome patients, and shed light on the theoretical basis of moxibustion analgesia, thereby to give insights into the further research and application on moxibustion. METHODS: With the key words of “moxibustion, irritable bowel syndrome, visceral pain, abdominal pain” in Chinese and in English, respectively, a computer-based search was performed in CNKI, VIP, Wanfang and PubMed databases for articles published from January 1990 to October 2014. After the initial screening, the remained articles went through further selection and categorization. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The result shows promising results of moxibustion on relieving chronic visceral pain for both two subtypes of irritable bowel syndrome patients, diarrhea type and constipation type. Moxibustion may exert an analgesic effect on chronic visceral pain in irritable bowel syndrome patients through regulation of visceral hypersensitivity, gastrointestinal motility disorders, brain-gut axis and neuroendocrine system disorders, immune dysfunction and low-grade inflammation in the gut, psychological abnormalities, and alteration of intestinal flora. However, to fuly understand the analgesia effect of moxibustion and elucidate its mechanism, more standardized randomized controled trials employing advanced scientific techniques and equipments wil stil be needed in the future.
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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate image quality of female pelvic computed tomography (CT) scans reconstructed with the adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) technique combined with low tube-voltage and to explore the feasibility of its clinical application. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-four patients were divided into two groups. The study group used 100 kVp, and images were reconstructed with 30%, 50%, 70%, and 90% ASIR. The control group used 120 kVp, and images were reconstructed with 30% ASIR. The noise index was 15 for the study group and 11 for the control group. The CT values and noise levels of different tissues were measured. The contrast to noise ratio (CNR) was calculated. A subjective evaluation was carried out by two experienced radiologists. The CT dose index volume (CTDIvol) was recorded. RESULTS: A 44.7% reduction in CTDIvol was observed in the study group (8.18 +/- 3.58 mGy) compared with that in the control group (14.78 +/- 6.15 mGy). No significant differences were observed in the tissue noise levels and CNR values between the 70% ASIR group and the control group (p = 0.068-1.000). The subjective scores indicated that visibility of small structures, diagnostic confidence, and the overall image quality score in the 70% ASIR group was the best, and were similar to those in the control group (1.87 vs. 1.79, 1.26 vs. 1.28, and 4.53 vs. 4.57; p = 0.122-0.585). No significant difference in diagnostic accuracy was detected between the study group and the control group (42/47 vs. 43/47, p = 1.000). CONCLUSION: Low tube-voltage combined with automatic tube current modulation and 70% ASIR allowed the low CT radiation dose to be reduced by 44.7% without losing image quality on female pelvic scan.
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Body Mass Index , Feasibility Studies , Genital Diseases, Female/diagnosis , Pelvis/diagnostic imaging , Radiation Dosage , Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted , Signal-To-Noise Ratio , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo explore the optimal acupuncture-moxibustion treatment protocol in treating diabetic gastroparesis. MethodA hundred patients were randomized into a body-acupuncture group, an electroacupuncture group, a hydroacupuncture group, and an acupuncture-moxibustion group, allto receive 3 treatment courses. The clinical symptoms and sign scores were observed before and after the intervention in the four groups.ResultThe markedly-effective rate of the acupuncture-moxibustion group was significantly higher than that of the other three groups (P<0.05). Regarding the symptom score for bloating, poor appetite, belching, upper abdominal pain, and nausea, the improvements in the acupuncture-moxibustion group were more significant than that in the other three groups (P<0.05,P<0.01).ConclusionCombination of acupuncture and moxibustion is the optimal treatment protocol for diabetic gastroparesis.
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Objective To evaluate the potential of three commercial CT iterative reconstruction methods (ASIR,MBIR and iDose4) for the image quality and accuracy of volumetric measurement of ground-glass opacity (GGO) nodules on low-dose chest computed tomography (CT) using a phantom study.Methods A phantom containing GGO nodules was examined in volumetric mode on 2 multi-detector CT scanners at low dose.CT images were reconstructed with adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (30％ ASIR),model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR),iDose4 L3,L6 reconstruction algorithm.Then two radiologists measured CT value of the region of interests (ROI) on reconstruction images,and calculated average noise and contrast to noise ratio (CNR) of reconstruction images.And they applied the lung nodules evaluation software to measure the volume of GGO nodules on the reconstruction images,and calculated the absolute percentage error (APE) of nodule volume measurement.The difference of noise and CNR at different reconstructions was compared with ANOVA test,and Kruskal-Wallis H ranking test was used to the difference of GGO measurements at different reconstructions.Results The average noises of CT image reconstructed with the standard FBP algorithm,30％ ASIR algorithm,MBIR algorithm were 40.38 ± 4.49,30.06 ± 20.17,10.55 ± 1.56,and the CNRs were 5.00 ± 2.36,8.43 ± 3.89,20.27 ± 7.35,respectively.Compared to CT image reconstructed with the standard FBP algorithm and 30％ ASIR algorithm,CT image noise reconstructed with MBIR algorithm decreased by 73.9％ and 64.9％,while the CNR increased by 75.3％ and 58.4％ with effective dose of 0.36 mSv in HDCT,respectively(F =13.053,9.459,P ＜0.01).When effective dose was equal to 0.64 mSv in iCT,the image noise reconstructed with iDose L6 algorithms decreased by 36.5％ compared with the standard FBP algorithm,and CNR increased by 78.4％.The reconstruction algorithm,NI and tube current were no significant difference in lung nodule volume measurement of absolute percentage error(P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Three kinds of iterative reconstruction algorithms are able to reduce the image noise in low-dose CT and improve the image quality.
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Objective To evaluate the value and significance of bedside ultrasound in diagnosis of lung atelectasis/consolidation in multiple trauma patients with mechanical ventilation.Methods Bedside thoracic ultrasound and chest computed tomography(CT)were performed in 81 multiple trauma patients with mechanical ventilation admitted to the emergency intensive care unit(EICU).CT result was regarded as the "golden standard" to evaluate the value of ultrasound in diagnose lung atelectasis/consolidation.At the same time,the ultrasound was used to dynamically monitor the lung recruitment effect of the therapeutic measures.Results CT detected 154 regions of lung atelectasis/consolidation of 324 lung regions in 81 patients,while ultrasound detected 126 regions that were divided into 87 complete regions and 39 incomplete regions according to different sonogram in the breathing cycle.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value and accuracy of ultrasound were 81.8%,100%,100%,85.9% and 91.4% respectively.A concordance test showed a very high concordance between ultrasound and CT,with a Kappa coefficient of 0.825(P=0.031).Ultrasound found that 39 regions with incomplete lung atelectasis/consolidation were completely recruited and 62 out of 87 regions with complete lung atelectnsis/eonsolidatian gained visible recruitment within three days after different therapeutic measures,with total effective rate of 80.2%.Conclusion Bedside ultrasound can continuously monitor and guide the therapeutic measure to recruit the lung and is a convenient,safe,direct-viewing and accurate method for diagnosis of lung atelectasis/cansolidation in multiple trauma patients with mechanical ventilation.