“MaRhyThe© and cupping” – A novel multimodal approach for radiation-induced trismus

Head-and-neck cancer is the fifth most frequently occurring cancer in India. Among the various treatment options, side effects such as trismus are mostly caused due to radiation therapy. Physical therapy is known to be beneficial in treating post-cancer treatment side effects. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study report highlighting the efficacy of MaRhyThe© in treating radiation induced trismus. A multimodal approach (MaRhyThe©, Cupping therapy, Myofascial Release, and exercises) has shown to be beneficial in treating trismus, shoulder disability, pain, muscle spasm, and improving the quality of life in the head-and-neck cancer patient.

Clinical efficacy of fire needling combined with cupping therapy on herpes zoster of acute stage and the effect on Th17/Treg cellular immune balance / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical efficacy between the combined therapy of fire needling and cupping, and western medication on herpes zoster of acute stage, as well as the effects on Th17 and Treg cells and inflammatory factors, i.e. IL-10 and IL-17 in the peripheral blood.@*METHODS@#Eighty patients with herpes zoster of acute stage were randomly divided into a combined therapy (fire needling plus cupping) group and a western medication group, 40 cases in each one. In the combined therapy group, the pricking and scattering techniques with fire needle were used at ashi points and Jiaji (EX-B 2) corresponding to the affected spinal segments; afterwards, cupping therapy was delivered. The combined treatment was given once daily. In the western medication group, valaciclovir hydrochloride tablet and vitamin B1 tablet were administered orally. The duration of treatment in each group was 10 days. Before each treatment from day 1 to day 10 and on day 11 , the score of symptoms and physical signs was observed in the two groups separately. Before each treatment from day 1 to day 10 and on day 11, 30, 60, the score of visual analogue scale (VAS) and skin lesion indexes were observed in the two groups. On day 60, the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia was recorded in the two groups. The levels of Th17 and Treg cells, Th17/Treg ratio in the peripheral blood, as well as serum levels of IL-10 and IL-17 were detected before and after treatment in the two groups. The clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups.@*RESULTS@#From day 6 to day 10 during treatment and on day 11, the scores of symptoms and physical signs in the combined therapy group were lower than those of the western medication group (P<0.05, P<0.01). On day 3, day 6 to day 10 during treatment and day 11, day 30, VAS scores in the combined therapy group were lower than those of the western medication group (P<0.05, P<0.01). On day 60, the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia in the combined therapy group was lower compared with that in the western medication group (P<0.05). The blister arresting time and scabbing time in the combined therapy group were shorter than those of the western medication group (P<0.05). After treatment, the level of Th17, and Th17/Treg ratio in the peripheral blood, as well as the serum levels of IL-10 and IL-17 were all lower in comparison with those in the western medication group (P<0.05). The curative and remarkably effective rate was 82.5% (33/40) in the combined therapy group, higher than 62.5% (25/40) in the western medication group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The early application of fire needling combined with cupping therapy can effectively treat herpes zoster of acute stage, relieve pain, and reduce the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia, which may be related to reducing the levels of Th17 and Treg cells, and Th17/Treg ratio in the peripheral blood, as well as the serum levels of IL-10 and IL-17 so that the cellular immune balance is modulated.

Effects of blistering cupping combined with thunder-fire moxibustion on the efficacy and airway remodeling of cold-wheezing syndrome in bronchial asthma / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the clinical efficacy of the combined application of blistering cupping with thunder-fire moxibustion in treating bronchial asthma of cold-wheezing syndrome, and its influences on airway remodeling, inflammatory factors, lung function, and quality of life on the base of conventional western medicine treatment.@*METHODS@#A total of 76 patients with bronchial asthma of cold-wheezing syndrome were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 38 cases in each group. In the control group, the basic treatment was used, i.e. budesonide formoterol powder inhalation. In the observation group, on the basis of the treatment as the control group, blistering cupping combined with thunder-fire moxibustion was supplemented, Dazhui (GV 14), Danzhong (CV 17) and bilateral Feishu (BL 13), Gaohuang (BL 43), and Zhongfu (LU 1) were selected; blistering cupping was administered once a day and thunder-fire moxibustion was given twice a day. One course of treatment was composed of 7 days in both groups, and 2 courses of treatment were required. Before and after treatment, the airway remodeling indexes (matrix metalloproteinase-9 [MMP-9], tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 [TIMP-1], and transforming growth factor-β1 [TGF-β1]) and inflammatory indexes (interleukin [IL] -1β、IL-25) were detected by using radioimmunoassay in the patients of the two groups. The lung function, traditional Chinese medicine symptom score, and asthma quality of life questionnaire (AQLQ) score were observed in the patients of the two groups.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the serum levels of MMP-9, TIMP-1, TGF-β1, IL-1β, IL-25, peak expiratory flow (PEFR), traditional Chinese medicine symptom scores, and AQLQ scores were decreased compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups (P<0.05), and the results in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the first second forced expiratory volume (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) were increased compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05), and the results in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#On the basis of the conventional western medicine treatment, the combination of blistering cupping with thunder-fire moxibustion can effectively ameliorate the clinical symptoms of patients, reduce inflammatory levels, inhibit airway remodeling and improve the lung function and quality of life in the patients with bronchial asthma.

Pricking and cupping at Jianbo area combined with conventional acupuncture for scapulohumeral periarthritis of frozen stage: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical effect of conventional acupuncture combined with pricking and cupping at Jianbo area and conventional acupuncture in the treatment of scapulohumeral periarthritis of frozen stage.@*METHODS@#A total of 66 patients with scapulohumeral periarthritis of frozen stage were randomly divided into a combination group (31 cases) and an acupuncture group (35 cases, 1 case dropped off). Both groups were given functional exercise. Patients in the acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture at Jianyu (LI 15), Jianliao (TE 14), Binao (LI 14) and ashi point on the affected side, once every other day, three times a week, for a total of 4 weeks. On the basis of treatment in the acupuncture group, the patients in the combination group were treated with pricking and cupping at Jianbo area (the area surrounded by the 3 acupoints of Tianzong [SI 11], Naoshu [SI 10] and Jianzhen [SI 9]), once a week for 4 weeks. The University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder joint score, visual analogue scale (VAS) score before treatment, after treatment and after 6 months of treatment completion (follow-up) and tenderness threshold before and after treatment, and the clinical effects of the two groups after treatment and in follow-up were evaluated.@*RESULTS@#In the two groups, after treatment and in follow-up, the UCLA shoulder joint scores were higher than those before treatment (P<0.05), and the VAS scores were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05). In the combination group, after treatment and in follow-up, the UCLA shoulder joint score was higher than that of the acupuncture group (P<0.05), and the VAS score was lower than that of the acupuncture group (P<0.05). After treatment, the tenderness thresholds of the two groups were higher than those before treatment (P<0.05), and the tenderness threshold in the combination group was higher than that in the acupuncture group (P<0.05). After treatment and in follow-up, the cured and markedly effective rate of the combination group was 48.4% (15/31) and 51.6% (16/31) respectively, which was higher than 23.5% (8/34) and 23.5% (8/34) of the acupuncture group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Pricking and cupping in Jianbo area combined with conventional acupuncture can improve shoulder joint function and relieve shoulder joint pain in patients with scapulohumeral periarthritis of frozen stage, and the curative effect is better than that of single conventional acupuncture.

Application of "eliminating stagnation and bloodletting/fire needling" in treatment of jingjin diseases / 中国针灸

Based on the development of conditions, the etiology and pathogenesis of jingjin (muscle region of meridian) diseases are summarized as 3 stages, i.e. stagnation due to over-exertion at early stage, manifested by tendon-muscle contracture and tenderness; cold condition due to stagnation, interaction of stasis and cold, resulting in clustered nodules at the middle stage; prolonged illness and missed/delayed treatment, leading to tendon-muscle contracture and impairment of joint function at the late stage. It is proposed that the treatment of jingjin diseases should be combined with the characteristic advantages of fire needling and bloodletting technique, on the base of "eliminating stagnation and bloodletting/fire needling". This combined therapy warming yang to resolve stasis and dispels cold to remove nodules, in which, eliminating the stagnation is conductive to the tissue regeneration, and the staging treatment is delivered in terms of the condition development at different phases.

Different operation sequences between acupuncture and cupping therapy for lumbar muscle strain with cold and dampness: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical efficacy on lumbar muscle strain with cold and dampness between the different operation sequences of acupuncture and cupping therapy.@*METHODS@#Seventy-six patients with lumbar muscle strain with cold and dampness were randomly divided into an acupuncture + cupping group (A + C group, 38 cases) and a cupping + acupuncture group (C + A group, 38 cases, 1 case dropped off). In the A + C group, cupping therapy was delivered 10 min after the end of treatment with acupuncture, while in the C + A group, acupuncture therapy was exerted 10 min after the end of treatment with cupping. Acupuncture was applied to Mingmen (GV 4), Yaoyangguan (GV 3), ashi point and bilateral Shenshu (BL 23), Dachangshu (BL 25), Weizhong (BL 40) and Yanglingquan (GB 34), and the needles were retained for 30 min in each intervention. Flash cupping was operated along the bilateral sides of the lumbar spine for 3 min, and the cups were retained for 10 min at bilateral Shenshu (BL 23), Dachangshu (BL 25) and ashi points. The intervention was delivered once every two days, 3 times weekly, for 3 weeks totally in each group. The scores of visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI), TCM syndrome score and the mean temperature of the lumbar region before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. The safety and the clinical efficacy were assessed for the interventions of the two groups.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the values before treatment, except for the sleep score of ODI, the VAS scores, ODI scores and TCM syndrome scores were decreased after treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05); while the mean temperature of the lumbar region was increased (P<0.01) in both groups. After treatment, the VAS score and the pain score of ODI in the C + A group were lower than those in the A + C group (P<0.05). The incidence rate of adverse reactions of the C + A group was lower than that of the A + C group (P<0.01). The effective rate in the A+C group was 92.1% (35/38), that in the C+A group was 94.6%(35/37), there was no statistical difference between the two groups (P>0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Different operation sequences between acupuncture and cupping therapy obtain the similar efficacy on lumbar muscle strain with cold and dampness, but cupping therapy delivered prior to acupuncture has certain advantages in relieving pain and improving safety.

Effect of dynamic cupping therapy vs. vibrating foam roller on pain, range of motion, function, and quality of life in elderly with subacute and chronic osteoarthritis of knee: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a frequent degenerative disease of joints. The prevalence is approximately 28% among the Indian elderly. Recently complementary and alternative medicine therapies have been used in managing pain and disability. Dynamic cupping therapy is one of the forms used nowadays. Foam rolling and vibration therapy is also a popular intervention in musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and low back pain. Nowadays, these two have been combined for the development of vibrating foam rollers. Objectives: This research aimed to compare the result of dynamic cupping therapy to that of a vibrating foam roller on pain, range of motion, function, and quality of life in elderly with sub-acute and chronic KOA. Materials and Methods: The research was carried out on 45 subjects with subacute to chronic KOA who were given thrice a week sessions for 4 weeks’ intervention. Through the randomized method, subjects were divided into a conventional group, dynamic cupping group and vibrating foam roller group outcome measures Numeric Pain Rating Scale, knee range of motion, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), and brief Older People's Quality of Life Questionnaire (OPQOL-brief) were used. Results: Wilcoxon rank test revealed a pre-post difference in all three groups with significant P-values which were <0.05 and heterogeneously favored different outcome measures used. Kruskal–Wallis test revealed no difference between the groups. Conclusion: This study concluded that dynamic cupping therapy and vibration foam roller protocols used for the management of KOA are equally effective.

Utilizing human intelligence in artificial intelligence for detecting glaucomatous fundus images using human-in-the-loop machine learning

Purpose: For diagnosing glaucomatous damage, we have employed a novel convolutional neural network (CNN) from TrueColor confocal fundus images to conquer the black box dilemma in artificial intelligence (AI). This neural network with CNN architecture with human?in?the?loop (HITL) data annotation helps not only in diagnosing glaucoma but also in predicting and locating detailed signs in the glaucomatous fundus, such as splinter hemorrhages, glaucomatous optic atrophy, vertical glaucomatous cupping, peripapillary atrophy, and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) defect. Methods: The training was done on a well?curated private dataset of 1,400 high?resolution confocal fundus images, out of which 1,120 images (80%) were used exclusively for training and 280 images (20%) were used exclusively for testing. A custom trained You Only Look Once version 5 (YOLOv5)?based object detection methodology was used to identify the underlying conditions precisely. Twenty?six predefined medical conditions were annotated by a team of humans (comprising two glaucoma specialists and two optometrists) by using the Microsoft Visual Object Tagging Tool (VoTT) tool. The 280 testing images were split into three groups (90,100, and 90 images) for three test runs done once every 15 days. Results: Test results showed consistent increments in the accuracy, from 94.44% to 98.89%, in predicting the glaucoma diagnosis along with the detailed signs of the glaucomatous fundus. Conclusion: Utilizing human intelligence in AI for detecting glaucomatous fundus images by using HITL machine learning has never been reported in the literature before. This AI model not only has good sensitivity and specificity in accurate glaucoma predictions but is also an explainable AI, thus overcoming the black box dilemma.

Ayurvedic Management of Atopic Dermatitis by Raktamokshan (Wet Cupping): A Case Report

Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, highly pruritic inflammatory skin disease. The lesions are characterized by papules, papulovesicles, edema, crusting and scaling with hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation after healing. Here we represent a case of AD, having dry, pruritic and highly lichenificated skin lesion on lateral aspect of left leg from last 4 years. Based upon correlation in sign and symptoms the disease was considered as Vicharchika as per Ayurvedic perspective and treated accordingly with three sitting of wet cupping (bloodletting using vacuum cups) at interval of every 3-months gap on basis of the Samprapti (pathology) of Kushta Vyadhi comprising of all three Dosha Vata, Pitta and Kapha along with Rakta, Lasika, Twak, Mamsa as Dushya. Raktamokshana using wet cupping technique showed good result in reducing the sign and symptoms of eczema upto 90%. Based upon observation it can be concluded that Raktamokshana is found to be effective in management of Atopic Dermatitis.

Relação entre dor crônica nas costas, incapacidade e qualidade de vida após auriculoacupuntura e ventosaterapia e satisfação com o tratamento: estudo transversal / Relationship between chronic back pain, disability and quality of life after auriculoacupuncture and cupping therapy and satisfaction with treatment: across-sectional study / La relación entre el dolor de espalda crónico, la discapacidad y la calidad de vida después de la acupuntura auricular y la terapia con ventosas y la satisfacción con el tratamiento: un estudio transversal

OBJETIVO: avaliar a relação da intensidade da dor, incapacidade física e qualidade devida após tratamento de auriculoacupuntura e ventosaterapia com a satisfação com o tratamento, necessidade dele para controle da dor, percepção de melhora e consumo de medicação. MÉTODO: estudo transversal conduzido com 198 pessoas com dor crônica nas costas. Foram investigadas: intensidade da dor, incapacidade física, qualidade de vida, satisfação com o tratamento, necessidade da intervenção para o controle da dor, percepção de melhora e consumo de medicação. Foi realizada correlação de Spearman a 5% de significância. RESULTADOS: Houve correlações negativas de fraca magnitude da intensidade da dor e da incapacidade física com a satisfação com o tratamento, necessidade da intervenção, percepção de melhora após o tratamento e consumo de medicamentos, e correlações positivas de fraca magnitude da percepção da qualidade de vida com a satisfação com o tratamento, necessidade da intervenção, e percepção de melhora. CONCLUSÃO: A melhora da intensidade da dor, da incapacidade física e da qualidade de vida ocasionou melhor estado geral de saúde, satisfação com o tratamento e menor consumo de medicamentos entre os participantes do estudo.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the relationship between pain intensity, physical disability and quality of life after auriculoacupuncture and cupping therapy with satisfaction with treatment, need for it to control pain, perception of improvement and medication consumption. METHOD: cross-sectional study conducted with 198 people with chronic back pain. The following were investigated: painintensity, physical disability, quality of life, satisfaction with treatment, need for intervention to control pain, perception of improvement and medication consumption. Spearman's correlation was performed at 5% of significance. RESULTS: There were low magnitude negative correlations of pain intensity and physical disability with treatment satisfaction, need for intervention, perception of improvement after treatment and medication consumption, and low magnitude positive correlations of quality of life perception with satisfaction with treatment, need for intervention, and perception of improvement. CONCLUSION: The improvement in pain intensity, physical disability and quality of life resulted in better general health status, satisfaction with treatment and lower consumption of medication among study participants.

OBJETIVOS: evaluar la relación de la intensidad del dolor, la discapacidad física y la calidad de vida después de la acupuntura auricular y la terapia con ventosas con la satisfacción con el tratamiento, la necesidad del mismo para controlar el dolor, la percepción de mejoría y el consumo de medicamentos. MÉTODO:estudio transversal realizado con 198 personas con dolor de espalda crónico. Se investigó: la intensidad del dolor, la discapacidad física, la calidad de vida, la satisfacción con el tratamiento, la necesidad de intervención para el control del dolor, la percepción de mejoría y el consumo de medicamentos. Se realizó la correlación de Spearman al 5% de significancia. RESULTADOS: Hubo correlaciones negativas de baja magnitud de la intensidad del dolor y de la discapacidad física con la satisfacción con el tratamiento, necesidad de intervención, percepción de mejoría después del tratamiento y consumo de medicamentos, y correlacion espositivas de baja magnitud de la percepción de la calidad de vida con la satisfacción con el tratamiento, necesidad de intervención y percepción de mejora. CONCLUSIÓN: La mejora en la intensidad del dolor, la discapacidad física y la calidad de vida llevaron aun mejor estado general de salud, satisfacción con el tratamiento y menor consumo de medicamentos entre los participantes del estudio.

Design and application of a new type of fascia stretching cup / 中国针灸

In order to comprehensively stretch human fascia, adjust the biomechanical balance of fascia system and promote the recovery of physiological function of fascia, a new type of fascia stretching cup is designed. This design is composed of two or more silica gel cups and elastic stretching belts between cups. The bottom surface of the silica gel cup has an annular exhaust groove, which can increase the adsorption capacity of the cup to the skin. In the meanwhile, a removable magnet is placed in the groove at the top of each silica gel cup to assist analgesia. This design is suitable for the prevention and treatment of acute and chronic tendon and bone diseases with imbalance of meridians and tendons.

A model to standardize safety and quality of care for cupping therapy / 中西医结合学报

Cupping therapy has historical, traditional and religious value. It is increasingly popular in the field of complementary, alternative and integrative medicine. However, standards for safety and quality of service are absent. Although it is generally considered safe, cupping therapy can cause adverse events. Most of these events are predictable and preventable. A comprehensive approach to patient eligibility and therapist selection, along with compliance with standard operational procedures is essential to regulate the safety of the practice. Here we discuss a model framework for standardizing safety and quality of care. We recommend that this model be used routinely by cupping therapists and their associations on a nation-wide scale.

Cupping Therapy for Diseases: An Overview of Scientific Evidence from 2009 to 2019 / 中国结合医学杂志

Cupping therapy has been accepted worldwide, and many studies have been conducted to reveal its curative effects and mechanisms. To comprehensively evaluate the effect of cupping therapy, database including China Network Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Scientific Journal Database VIP, Wan Fang Database, Chinese Biomedicine (CBM), PubMed and Web of Science were searched from 2009-2019. We summarized all the meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, clinical trials and the mechanisms studies of cupping therapy in the previous 10 years, hoping to provide a reference for the clinical applications and studies.

Design and application of auxiliary isolation device of cupping therapy for cross-infection prevention / 中国针灸

An auxiliary isolation device of cupping therapy for cross-infection prevention is designed to reduce the disinfection steps and be against cross transmission. This device is composed of a disposable isolation unit made of fire proof plastic material and a disposable cup-mouth fixator made of elastic material. The disposable isolation unit includes two parts, the cup neck isolation unit and the inner isolation unit of fire cup. These two parts connect with the disposable cup-mouth fixator. All of those three sections of the device are center-connected ring-like structure. This device can well prevent the direct contact of fire cup with the patient's skin surface, characterized as safety protection, simple operation and saving time and manpower.

Study on the role of cupping therapy on the implementation of the constitution nursing of elderly hypertension patients with phlegm-dampness constitution in the community / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective:To explore the effect of cupping therapy on regulating phlegm dampness constitution of elderly patients with hypertension in the community.Methods:From August to November in 2019, 120 elderly patients with phlegm dampness hypertension were randomly divided into control group and intervention group, 60 cases in each. The control group was given traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) health care in the community, and the intervention group was given cupping therapy intervention on this basis, to evaluate the changes of the scores of TCM phlegm wet body mass table, the total score reduction rate of TCM phlegm wet body mass, the conversion rate of TCM phlegm wet body mass, blood pressure, body mass index and waist circumference between the two groups before the intervention, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months after the intervention.Results:Finally, there were 51 cases in the intervention group and 57 cases in the control group. The TCM phlegm dampness constitution sub-scale and total scores of the comparison between groups at four different time points showed that except for the dimension of abdominal hypertrophy, the sub-scale and total scores of TCM phlegm-dampness constitution scale in the two groups were lower than before, and the differences were statistically significant ( F values were 3.450-94.995, P<0.05). The total score reduction rate of phlegm dampness constitution in the intervention group was 0.17 ± 0.10, higher than that in the control group (0.12 ± 0.09), and the difference was statistically significant ( t value was - 2.773, P < 0.05). The transformation rate of phlegm-dampness constitution was 47.1% (24/51) in the intervention group, which was higher than that in the control group (33.3%,19/57). The value of systolic blood pressure was lower in the intervention group [(135.10±2.64) mmHg,1 mmHg=0.133 kPa] than that in the control group [(138.88±2.42) mmHg] after 2 months of intervention, and the difference was statistically significant ( F value was 6.586, P<0.05). The value of diastolic blood pressure was lower in the intervention group [(80.75±3.03) mmHg] than that in the control group [(78.14±3.43) mmHg] after 3 months of intervention, and the difference was statistically significant ( F value was 6.758, P<0.05). Conclusions:On the basis of TCM physical nursing in the community, the effect of cupping therapy on reducing the score of phlegm and dampness physical fitness of elderly hypertension patients in the community, promoting the transformation of phlegm and dampness physical fitness of elderly hypertension patients in the community, and reducing the blood pressure level of elderly hypertension patients in the community is better than that of TCM physical nursing in the community, which is worth being promoted in the community.

Development of handshape / 中国针灸

A new type of handshape

Cupping treatment combined with antibiotics for bacterial pneumonia in children: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical efficacy of cupping treatment combined with antibiotics and antibiotics alone for bacterial pneumonia in children.@*METHODS@#A total of 72 children with bacterial pneumonia were randomly divided into an observation group (36 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a control group (36 cases). The children in the control group were treated with intravenous drip of cefodizine sodium [80 mg/(kg•d)] for 7 days. Based on the treatment of the control group, the children in the observation group were treated with cupping treatment on the bladder meridian of the back on the first day and the fourth day of antibiotic treatment; each cupping treatment was given for 5-10 min; the treatment of observation group was given for 7 days. The days for complete fever reduction, TCM syndrome scores and Canadian acute respiratory illness flu scale (CARIFS) scores before and after treatment were observed, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated.@*RESULTS@#The days for complete fever reduction in the observation group were shorter than that in the control group (@*CONCLUSION@#Cupping treatment combined with antibiotics has similar efficacy with antibiotics alone for bacterial pneumonia in children, but shows better effect in shortening the duration of fever and improving pulmonary symptoms.

Clinical efficacy of acupuncture in treatment ofchronic urticaria and its effects on the content of IgE and the imbalance of Th1/Th2 cell function / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture in treatment of chronic urticaria and the change in the content of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE), and to discuss the effect of acupuncture on the imbalance of T helper (Th)1/Th2 cell function via observing the changes in the contents of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4). Methods: Ninety patients meeting the inclusion criteria of chronic urticaria were randomized into an acupuncture- medication group, an acupuncture group and a Western medication group by the random number table method. The acupuncture-medication group was intervened by acupuncture, cupping, collateral-pricking bloodletting and oral administration of cetirizine hydrochloride tablets; the acupuncture group was treated with acupuncture, cupping and collateral-pricking bloodletting; the Western medication group only received oral administration of cetirizine hydrochloride tablets. Before treatment and after 6-week treatment, the changes in the symptom scores and the contents of serum IgE, IFN-γ and IL-4 in the three groups were observed. Results: There were no significant differences in the total effective rate among the three groups (all P>0.05), but the cured and markedly effective rate was significantly higher in the acupuncture-medication group than that in the Western medication group (P<0.05). After treatment, the total symptom score decreased in the three groups (P<0.05), and the improvement of total symptom score in the acupuncture-medication group was more significant than that in the Western medication group (P<0.05). The component symptom scores all decreased after treatment in the three groups (all P<0.05); the improvements of the scores of itch intensity, and skin lesion size and number were more significant in the acupuncture-medication group than in the Western medication group (all P<0.05); the improvement of the skin lesion size score was more significant in the acupuncture group than in the Western medication group (P<0.01). The contents of IgE and IL-4 dropped (all P<0.05) and the content of IFN-γ increased (P<0.05) after treatment in the three groups; the post-treatment changes in the serum contents of IgE and IFN-γ were more significant in the acupuncture-medication group than in the Western medication group (both P<0.05). The incidence rate of adverse reactions was significantly lower in the acupuncture-medication group and acupuncture group than in the Western medication group (both P<0.05), and the relapse rate was significantly lower in the acupuncture-medication group than in the Western medication group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Combined acupuncture and medication can enhance the cured and markedly effective rate in treating chronic urticaria. Acupuncture is equivalent to cetirizine hydrochloride tablets comparing the clinical efficacy in treatment of chronic urticaria. Acupuncture plus medication and acupuncture alone both can effectively mitigate the clinical symptoms, with low incidence of adverse reactions. The relapse rate is low when using acupuncture together with medication. Acupuncture plus medication can work better in regulating the contents of IgE and IFN-γ and improving the imbalance of Th1/Th2 cell function.

Observation on therapeutic efficacy of tuina plus cupping for chronic fatigue syndrome / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To observe the therapeutic efficacy of tuina plus cupping on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Methods: A total of 100 CFS patients meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group according to the random number table in the sequence of visit, with 50 patients in each group. The treatment group was treated with tuina plus cupping therapy, 3 times a week. The control group was given oral tablets of wild American ginseng lozenges. After 3 months of treatment, the score of fatigue questionnaire scale (FS-14) was observed and the efficacy was evaluated. Results: The total effective rate was 92.0％ in the treatment group, versus 76.0％ in the control group and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). After treatment, the FS-14 scores of the two groups decreased, and the intra-group differences were statistically significant (both P<0.05). The change of FS-14 score after treatment in the treatment group was more significant than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Tuina plus cupping is effective for CFS, and can improve fatigue symptoms significantly.