Abdominal acupoint thread embedding therapy based on "brain-intestinal connection" for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease and its effects on serum levels of APP and Aβ / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical efficacy of abdominal acupoint thread embedding therapy based on "brain-intestinal connection" combined with donepezil hydrochloride tablets and oral donepezil hydrochloride tablets alone for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) and observe its effects on amyloid precursor protein (APP) and β-amyloid protein@*METHODS@#Sixty patients with AD were randomly divided into an observation group (30 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a control group (30 cases, 3 cases dropped off). The patients in the control group were treated with donepezil hydrochloride tablets (5 mg per day); based on the treatment in the control group, the patients in the observation group were treated with abdominal acupoint thread embedding therapy at Zhongwan (CV 12), Xiawan (CV 10), Huaroumen (ST 24), Wailing (ST 26), Daheng (SP 15), etc., once every 10 days. Both groups were treated for 2 months. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Alzheimer's disease assessment scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog), activity of daily living scale (ADL), neuropsychiatric inventory questionnaire (NPI) as well as the serum levels of APP and Aβ@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the MMSE scores in the two groups were higher than those before treatment (@*CONCLUSION@#The abdominal acupoint thread embedding therapy based on the theory of "brain-intestinal connection" combined with donepezil hydrochloride tablets can improve cognitive function, self-care ability of daily life and mental behavior, and reduce the serum levels of APP and Aβ

Observations on the Therapeutic Effect of Abdominal Acupuncture on Rheumatoid Arthritis / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical therapeutic effect of abdominal acupuncture on rheumatoid arthritis.Methods Sixty patients with rheumatoid arthritis were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 30 cases. The treatment group received abdominal acupuncture and the control group, conventional acupuncture. Pre-/post-treatment changes in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), rheumatoid factor (RF) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were observed after three courses of treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.Results There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in ESR, RF and CRP in the two groups (P<0.01). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in ESR, RF and CRP between the treatment and control groups (P<0.01). The total efficacy rate was 86.7% in the treatment group and 56.7% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Abdominal acupuncture is an effective way to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Clinical Observation of Abdominal Acupuncture Combined with Chinese Medicine for Treatment of Qi-deficiency Functional Constipation / 广州中医药大学学报

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of abdominal acupuncture combined with Chinese medicine for the treatment of functional constipation. Methods Ninety-three qi-deficiency functional constipation patients were evenly randomized into western medicine group, Chinese medicine group and combination group. The western medicine group was given oral use of Dupbalac, Chinese medicine group was given modified Buzhong Yiqi decoction, and the combination group was given abdominal acupuncture and oral use of modified Buzhong Yiqi decoction. The treatment of the three groups covered 3 months. After treatment, the therapeutic effect was evaluated accord ing to the symptom scores and the examination results of gastrointestinal kinetics. Results ( 1) The total effective rate for relieving symptoms was 100.00% in combination group, 90.32% in Chinese medicine group, and 38.71% in western medicine group, and the effect was the best in the combination group ( P<0.05). ( 2) The combination group had stronger effect on relieving dyskinesis of anal sphincter, rectal sensibility, colonic transportation than Chinese medicine group and western medicine group (P<0.05). Conclusion Abdominal acupuncture combined with Chinese medicine shows certain therapeutic effect for the treatment of qi-deficiency functional constipation, and the effect is superior to that of Chinese medicine or Dupbalac.