Imaging study on safety of deep needling at Dachangshu (BL 25) / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#Based on magnetic resonance imaging technology, the dangerous depth of straight needling and the safety of deep needling at Dachangshu (BL 25) are discussed, and data support is provided for standardizing deep needling at Dachangshu (BL 25).@*METHODS@#The horizontal cross-sectional images of 148 healthy adult subjects under the spinous process of the 4th lumbar vertebra were collected by magnetic resonance instrument, the anatomical structure was analyzed, and the dangerous depth of straight needling at Dachangshu (BL 25) was measured.@*RESULTS@#The dangerous depth of straight needling at Dachangshu (BL 25) was (11.2±1.3) cm and (11.0±1.2) cm on the left and right sides of males, and (9.8±1.3) cm and (9.7±1.3) cm on the left and right sides of females. There was a positive correlation between the dangerous depth of straight needling at Dachangshu (BL 25) and body mass index (BMI). In the case of similar body size, the dangerous depth of straight needling at Dachangshu(BL 25) in males was greater than that in females (P<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#At present, the deep needling at Dachangshu (BL 25) used in clinic is safe. In clinical application of the deep needling at Dachangshu (BL 25), the depth of needle insertion can be determined according to body size and gender.

Clinical observation on different needling depth for dyspepsia after ischemic stroke / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the efficacy difference between conventional needling depth and deep needling for dyspepsia after ischemic stroke.@*METHODS@#A total of 120 patients with dyspepsia after ischemic stroke were randomized into an observation group (60 cases, 4 cases dropped off) and a control group (60 cases, 3 cases dropped off). Basic treatment was given in the both groups. In the observation group, deep needling was applied at Zhongwan (CV 12), Tianshu (ST 25) and Liangmen (ST 21) for 60-70 mm, after even reinforcing-reducing manipulation of lifting-thrusting technique, the needles were withdrew to 35-50 mm. In the control group, the same acupoints as the observation group were selected and punctured for 25 mm. The needles were retained for 30 min, once a day, 6 times a week for 2 weeks in the both groups. The dyspepsia TCM symptom score was observed before treatment, 1 day and 1, 2 weeks into treatment, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated 2 weeks into treatment in the both groups.@*RESULTS@#The effective rate was 92.9% (52/56) in the observation group, which was superior to 78.9% (45/57) in the control group (@*CONCLUSION@#Conventional needling depth and deep needling can both improve the clinical symptoms in patients with dyspepsia after ischemic stroke, and deep needling has faster and better efficacy.

Effect of acupuncture at different layers of local "Neiguan" (PC6) tissue on arrhythmia and expression of myocardial Cx43 in rabbits / 针刺研究

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effect of shallow and deep needling at "Neiguan"(PC6) in the treatment of arrhythmia in rabbits. METHODS: Male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into saline (n＝15), model (n＝12), shallow needling (n＝13) and deep needling (n＝12) groups. The arrhythmia model was established by ear intravenous injection of Barium chloride (0.4%, 1 mL/kg). Acupuncture needle was inserted into the superficial fascia (about 3 mm beneath the skin) or deep layer (5 to 8 mm, near the median nerve) of local PC6 tissue (fore limb), manipulated for a while and then retained for 10 min. Histopathological changes of myocardium was observed after H．E. stain, and the immunoactivity of connexin 43 (Cx43) detected by immunohistochemistry(IHC). RESULTS: Various degrees of arrhythmia and down-regulated expression of myocardial Cx43 were observed in all rabbits after modeling. After EA intervention and compared with the model group, the initial time of arrhythmia and Cx43 expression were obviously increased (P<0.01), and the duration of arrhythmia was significantly shortened in both deep and shallow needling groups (P<0.01). Compared with the shallow needling group, the Cx43 expression was increased in the deep needling group (P<0.01). H．E. staining showed disordered and wavy arrangement of myocardial fibers, with exudation of serous and erythrocytes in the myocardial interstitium in the model group, which was relatively mild in both needling groups. IHC showed disordered distribution of Cx43 in the ventricular myocytes and almost no obvious band-like distribution at the discs in rabbits of the model group, and abundant distribution of Cx43 in the sacral disc in the deep needling group, and strip-shaped, cluster-like, point-like, visible at both end-to-end connections and side-to-side connections in the shallow needling group. CONCLUSION: Both shallow and deep needling can significantly reduce the duration of arrhythmia in arrhythmia rabbits, which may be associated with its effect in up-regulating expression of myocardial Cx43 protein.

Therapeutic effects on rheumatoid arthritis treated with -deep needling and bloodletting techniques / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the difference in the therapeutic effects on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) between the combined -deep needling and bloodletting technique and the regular needling technique.@*METHODS@#A total of 70 patients were randomized into an observation group (35 cases) and a control group (35 cases, 4 cases dropped-out). Dazhui (GV 14), Shenzhu (GV 12), Zhiyang (GV 9), Jinsuo (GV 8), Ganshu (BL 18), Shenshu (BL 23), Zhibian (BL 54), Weizhong (BL 40), Taixi (KI 3) and Tianzong (SI 11), etc. were selected in the two groups. Additionally, in the observation group the -deep needling technique was adopted at Tianzong (SI 11) and Zhibian (BL 54), the bloodletting technique at the local swollen area and the even-needling technique at the rest acupoints. In the control group, the even-needling technique was applied to all of the acupoints. Acupuncture treatment was given once every two days, 3 times a week and for 12 weeks totally. The numbers of tender points at the knee joint, the numbers of swollen sites at the knee joint, the visual analogue scale (VAS) score and the American health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) score were observed in the two groups before and after treatment, as well as the changes in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria was adopted to evaluate the therapeutic effects of the two groups.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the numbers of tender points, the numbers of swollen sites, VAS score and HAQ score were all improved as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all 0.05). The standard-reaching rates of ACR 20 and ACR 50 in the observation group were 94.3% (33/35) and 31.4% (11/35) respectively, which were better than 67.7% (21/31) and 6.5% (2/31) in the control group (<0.01, <0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The acupuncture with the -deep and bloodletting techniques and the acupuncture with regular needling technique are all effective on RA. The therapeutic effects of the acupuncture treatment with the -deep and bloodletting techniques are better than that with regular needling technique.

Therapeutic Observation of Deep Needling the Points around the Ear plus Scalp Acupuncture for Neurosensory Tinnitus / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of deep needling the points around the ear plus scalp acupuncture in treating neurosensory tinnitus.Method Totally 210 patients with neurosensory tinnitus were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 105 cases in each group. The treatment group was intervened by deep needling the points around the ear plus scalp acupuncture, while the control group was by conventional acupuncture. The clinical efficacies were compared between the two groups after 3 treatment courses.Result The total effective rate was 82.9% in the treatment group versus 63.8% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusion Deep needling the points around the ear plus scalp acupuncture is an effective method in treating neurosensory tinnitus.

Therapeutic Observation of Electroacupuncture for Herpes Zoster / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture in treating herpes zoster.Method Ninety patients with herpes zoster were randomized into treatment group 1, treatment group 2, and a control group, 30 cases in each group. Treatment group 1 was intervened by surround needling at Ashi points (deep needling, by 33 mm) plus electroacupuncture; treatment group 2 was by surround needling at Ashi points (superficial needling by 16 mm) plus electroacupuncture; the control group was by oral administration of Valacyclovir Hydrochloride tablets plus Vitamin B1. After 10-day treatment, the blister-breaking time, crust-forming time, and the time of falling-off of the crust, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were observed, and the clinical efficacies were compared.Result The recovery rate and total effective rate were respectively 73.3% and 93.3% in treatment group 1, versus 46.7% and 86.7% in treatment group 2, and 33.3% and 63.3% in the control group. The recovery rate of treatment group 1 was significantly different from that of treatment group 2 and the control group (P<0.01,P<0.05). The total effective rates of treatment group 1 and 2 were both significantly different from that of the control group (P<0.01,P<0.05). The blister-breaking time, crust-forming time, and crust falling-off time of treatment group 1 were significantly different from that of treatment group 2 and the control group (P<0.01,P<0.05). The crust-forming time and falling-off time of treatment group 2 were significantly different from that of the control group (P<0.05). The VAS scores were markedly changed after the intervention in the three groups (P<0.01). After the treatment, the VAS scores of treatment group 1 and 2 were significantly different from that of the control group (P<0.01). The VAS score of treatment group 1 was markedly different from that of treatment group 2 after the treatment (P<0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture is an effective method in treating herpes zoster, while deep surround needling at Ashi points plus electroacupuncture can effectively inhibit the development of blisters, promote crust-forming, release the neural pain, and reduce the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia.

Clinical Study on Puncturing Taiyang (EX) by Different Depths in Preventing Migraine in Remission / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the change of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and satisfaction with treatment in preventing remissive migraine by puncturing Taiyang (EX-HN 5) at different depths. Methods Forty eligible migraine patients were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 20 in each group. The treatment group was intervened by deep needling at Taiyang (EX-HN 5) as the predominant treatment, while the control group was by superficial needling at Taiyang (EX-HN 5) as the predominant treatment. The VAS score and satisfaction degree with treatment were evaluated before and after treatment. Results The VAS score was significantly changed after intervention in the treatment group (P0.05). Conclusions Compared to superficial needling at Taiyang (EX-HN 5), deep needling at Taiyang (EX-HN 5) can significantly reduce the headache degree..