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Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of combining two needling manipulations, Er Long Xi Zhu (two dragons playing with a pearl) and Guo Yan Re (heat produced to reach the eyes), in treating dry eye syndrome (DES) of lung-yin deficiency pattern. Methods: Fifty-six eligible DES patients of lung-yin deficiency were randomized into an observation group and a control group, with 28 cases in each group. Same acupoints were selected in the two groups: Cuanzhu (BL 2), Sizhukong (TE 23), Taiyang (EX-HN 5) and Fengchi (GB 20) were chosen as the major points and Feishu (BL 13) and Chize (LU 5) as the adjuvant. Er Long Xi Zhu and Guo Yan Re needling manipulations were applied in the observation group while twirling reinforcing manipulation was used in the control group. Treatment was conducted once per day in both groups, for two sets of 15 consecutive days at a 2-day interval. Changes in the symptom score, tear break-up time (BUT) and tear production were observed afterwards, and the clinical efficacy was also compared between the two groups. Results: The total effective rate was 92.8％ in the observation group, higher than 71.4％ in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). After treatment, the symptom score, tear BUT and tear production showed significant improvements in both groups (all P<0.05); the symptom score, BUT and tear production in the observation group were significantly different from those in the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Given the same acupoint selection, combining Er Long Xi Zhu and Guo Yan Re needling manipulations can produce more significant clinical efficacy than twirling reinforcing manipulation in treating DES of lung-yin deficiency pattern.
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Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy of Du's heat-reinforcing method and Western medication in treating diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D).Methods:Sixty-five IBS-D patients were randomized into two groups by the random number table.Thirty-three cases in the treatment group were intervened by acupuncture with Du's heat-reinforcing method,while thirty-two cases in the control group were given oral administration of pinaverium bromide tablets.The intervention lasted 4 weeks for both groups.The IBS symptom severity score (IBS-SSS),IBS-quality of life (IBS-QOL) and hospital anxiety and depression scale (HAD) were adopted to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy.Results:The two groups each had two dropout cases.The clinical recovery rate was 38.7％ and the total effective rate was 90.3％ in the treatment group versus 13.3％ and 66.7％ in the control group.The treatment group was superior to the control group in both clinical recovery rate and total effective rate (both P＜0.05).After 1-week and 4-week treatment,respectively,the IBS-SSS scores were lower compared with the baseline in both groups,and the intra-group differences were statistically significant (both P＜0.05);the score in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group,and the between-group difference was statistically significant (both P＜0.05).After 4-week treatment,the component scores of IBS-QOL showed improvements in both groups,and the treatment group was superior to the control group in the improvements of dysphoria,interference with activity,health worry and food avoidance (all P＜0.05).The anxiety and depression scales of HAD (HAD-a,HAD-d) in the treatment group and the HAD-a in the control group obtained significant improvements (all P＜0.05);the scores of HAD-a and HAD-d in the treatment group were significantly better than those in the control group (both P＜0.05).Conclusion:Acupuncture with Du's heat-reinforcing method can effectively ease the symptoms of IBS-D,improve the quality of life and the state of anxiety and depression.It can produce a more significant efficacy than oral administration of pinaverium bromide tablets.
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Objective To evaluate the effect and safety of acupuncture combined with Mingmu-Dihuang pill in patients with dry eyes.Methods A total of 100 patients with dry eye were enrolled in line with the inclusion criteria and divided into experimental group and control group by random figure table.The experimental group was treated with acupuncture combined with Mingmu-Dihuang pill,and the control group was treated with artificial tears.After 2 months of treatment,the Schirmer test (schirmerI,SIT),tear film break up time (BUT),fluorescent staining (FL) and clinical symptom score were observed and compared,and the clinical efficacy and safety were evaluated.Results The total effective rate of the experimental group was 89.0％ (89/100) and the control group was 67.0％ (67/100),and the difference was significant (x2=14.121,P＜0.001).After treatment,the levels of BUT (7.89 ± 1.65 s vs.5.01 ± 1.72 s,t=8.543),SIT (7.45 ± 1.68 mm vs.5.01 ± 1.72 mm,t=5.991) in the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group,and the difference is significant (P＜0.01).The FL score and dry eye score in the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group (t were 11.551,12.342,P＜0.01).Conclusions Acupuncture combined with Mingmu-Dihuang pill has better clinical effect and good safety for the treatment of dry eye patients.
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Objective:To observe the clinical effect of lower-reinforcing and upper-reducing acupuncture method for hyperplasia of mammary gland (HMG) and its influence on estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P).Methods:A randomized,single-blinded and controlled trial was conducted.A total of 124 cases conforming to the inclusion criteria were randomized by random number table into a treatment group and a control group,with 62 cases in each group.Patients in both groups received acupuncture therapy at the same acupoints,while patients in the treatment group received lower-reinforcing and upper-reducing method,and patients in the control group received even reinforcing-reducing manipulation.The treatment started around 10 d before menstruation and was conducted every other day.Patients received 5 treatments in each menstruation cycle for consecutive 3 cycles.The levels of E2,P and E2/P and clinical efficacy were measured before and after treatment.Results:After treatment,the breast lump size,pain intensity and concomitant symptoms score in both groups were substantially lower than those before treatment,showing statistical significances (all P＜0.01),and the improvement in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group,and the between-group comparisons showed statistical significances (all P＜0.01).After treatment,the overall effective rate was 91.9％ in the treatment group,higher than 72.6％ in the control group,and the between-group comparison showed a statistical significance (P＜0.01).After treatment,levels of E2,P and E2/P value showed no statistical significance when compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P＞0.05).Conclusion:Lower-reinforcing and upper-reducing acupuncture method can effectively alleviate clinical symptoms and signs in HMG patients,and produce a better effect than even reinforcing-reducing manipulation.The majority of HMG patients' E2,P level and E2/P value were not beyond the normal ranges;therefore,acupuncture showed no substantial influence on E2 and P levels and E2/P value.
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Objective To evaluate the effect of acupuncture for the stroke patients with tinnitus, hearing loss by using the twirling reinforcing method. Methods A total of 92 tinnitus, hearing loss patients with stroke were included and divided into the observation group and control group by random number table method, 47 in the observation group and 45 in the control group. Patients in both groups were needled at Tinggong, Tinghui, Yifeng in the affected side, and Zhongzhu, Waiguan, Sanyinjiao, Taichong and Taixi in both sides. Patients in the observation group were needled at Taixi and Sanyinjiao using the twirling reinforcing method, but those in the control group needled at Taixi and Sanyinjiao using the needle retention method. Patients in both groups were also treated with semiconductor laser therapy and ultrashort wave therapy. All patients were treated for 20 days. The Tinnitus Severity Scale and the clinical effect were evaluated. Results After the treatment, the Tinnitus Severity Scale scores in the observation group were significantly lower than that in the control group (5.04 ± 3.24 vs. 5.67 ± 3.55; t=-0.880, P>0.05). The improvement rate in tinnitus in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (38.3%vs.17.8%;χ2=17.391, P=0.000). The improvement rate in hearing loss showed no significant difference between two groups (38.3%vs. 31.1%;χ2=8.522, P=0.004). Conclusions Acupuncture using the twirling reinforcing method may relieve tinnitus of the stroke patients with tinnitus, hearing loss.
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Objective To investigate the regulating effect of heat reinforcing acupuncture manipulation on body energy metabolism enzymes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and preliminarily explain the mechanism of heat-producing action of heat reinforcing acupuncture manipulation. Method Forty chinchilla rabbits were randomized into normal, model, equal reinforcement and reduction, twirling reinforcement, and heat reinforcing acupuncture manipulation groups. A model of cold syndrome-type RA was made by ovalbumin induction and exposure to low temperature in the other four groups not including the normal group. From two days after successful model making, the normal and model groups were grabbed and fastened (bound) by the same way as for the acupuncture groups, 30 min once daily. The equal reinforcement and reduction group received even reinforcing-reducing method;the twirling reinforcement group, twirling reinforcement method;the heat reinforcing group, heat reinforcing acupuncture manipulation. The needle was manipulated for 1 min and retained for 30 min once daily, for a total of seven days. The RA rabbit knee joint circumference was measured and the inflammation score was recorded according to synovial histopathological sections before and after treatment. After the completion of intervention, the rabbits were sacrificed and the articular synovium was rapidly separated for frozen sections. Articular synovium lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and cytochrome oxidase (CCO) activities were measured by histochemical staining. Result After acupuncture intervention, the RA rabbit knee joint circumference was shortened in all the equal reinforcement and reduction, twirling reinforcement, and heat reinforcing acupuncture manipulation groups, but the shortening effect on the RA rabbit knee joint circumference was better in the heat reinforcing acupuncture manipulation group than in the equal reinforcement and reduction and twirling reinforcement method groups (P<0.05);the inflammation score recorded according to the RA rabbit synovial histopathological sections was also decreased more in the heat reinforcing acupuncture manipulation group than in the equal reinforcement and reduction and twirling reinforcement method groups (P<0.05). Synovial LDH integral optical density, total positive area and area percentage were significantly higher in the model group than in the normal group (P<0.05), and significantly lower in the equal reinforcement and reduction, twirling reinforcement, and heat reinforcing acupuncture manipulation groups than in the model group(P<0.05) and also in the heat reinforcing acupuncture manipulation group than in the equal reinforcement and reduction and twirling reinforcement method groups (P<0.05). Rabbit synovial SDH and CCO activities were significantly higher in the model group than in the normal group (P<0.05). Rabbit synovial SDH and CCO integral optical density, total positive area and area percentage were significantly higher in the equal reinforcement and reduction, twirling reinforcement, and heat reinforcing acupuncture manipulation groups than in the model group (P<0.05) and also in the heat reinforcing acupuncture manipulation group than in the equal reinforcement and reduction and twirling reinforcement method groups (P<0.05). Conclusion Heat reinforcing acupuncture manipulation has a definite therapeutic effect on RA and can increase SDH and CCO activities to enhance aerobic metabolism and produce more local energy in a rabbit model of RA. That may be the mechanism by which heat reinforcing acupuncture manipulation produces heat.
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ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of joint needling plus heat-tonifying needling in treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA).MethodEighty KOApatients were randomized into atreatmentgroup and a control group. Thetreatmentgroup was intervened by joint needling plus heat-tonifying needling. The control group was intervened by ordinary acupuncture. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) from the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) was adopted to evaluate the pain intensity.Result The total effective rate was 92.5% in thetreatmentgroup, versus 87.5% inthe control group, and there was a significant difference in comparing the VAS score between thetreatmentgroup and the control group after intervention (P<0.05), indicating that the treatmentgroup had advantages in the improvement of the motor function of knee joint.ConclusionIn treating KOA, joint needling plus heat-tonifying needling has advantages in improving the motor function compared with ordinary acupuncture.
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Objective To evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture for tinnitus, hearing loss in patients with type 2 diabetes using the twirling, reinforcing-reducing method. Methods A total of 132 tinnitus, hearing loss patients with type 2 diabetes were included and divided into an observation group and a control group by random number table method, 66 in each group. Patients in both groups were acupunctured at Tinggong, Tinghui, Yifeng in the affected side, and Zhongzhu, Waiguan, Sanyinjiao, Taichong and Taixi in the both sides. Patients in the observation group were acupunctured at Taichong using the twirling reducing method, Taixi using the twirling reinforcing method, and those in the control group both of Taichong and Taixi using the needle retention method. Patients in both groups were also treated with semiconductor laser therapy and ultrashort wave therapy. All patients were treated for 1 month. The severity of tinnitus was assessed by the Tinnitus Severity Scale, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. Results After the treatment, the Tinnitus Severity Scale score in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (5.71 ± 2.19 vs. 7.14 ± 3.36;t=2.897, P<0.01). The significant improvement rate in tinnitus in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (77.3%vs. 63.6%;χ2=22.091, P<0.01). The significant improvement rate in hearing loss in the observation group was no significant difference than that in the control group (72.4% vs. 63.8%; χ2=0.992, P=0.319). Conclusion Acupuncture using the twirling, reinforcing-reducing method may relieve tinnitus in tinnitus, hearing loss patients with type 2 diabetes.