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Objective To observe the therapeutic efficacy of Tian Yuan acupuncture method in treating liver cancer pain and its effect on quality of life (QOL) and adverse reactions. Method A total of 108 patients with liver cancer were randomized into an observation group and a control group, with 54 cases in each group. The observation group was intervened by Tian Yuan acupuncture method, while the control group was intervened by the three-step analgesic ladder recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The clinical efficacies, changes in Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and QOL, and the occurrence of adverse reactions in the two groups were observed. Result The total effective rate in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05); the VAS and QOL scores showed improvement after treatment in both groups and the improvements in the observation group were more significant than those in the control group (P<0.05); adverse reactions occurred in both groups, and the occurrence rate was 25.9％ in the observation group, significantly lower than 53.7％ in the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion Tian Yuan acupuncture method can produce significant clinical efficacy in treating liver cancer pain. It can effectively improve the symptoms of cancer pain and enhance the QOL.
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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 In order to evaluate the clinical curative effect of double repletion and depletion acupuncture combined with Wumei pill for the sleep disorders after stroke.Methods A total of 150 patients of sleep disorders after stroke that accorded with the inclusion criteria was randomly divided into the treatment group and the control group.Thirteen patients were off loss in the study with 8.7％.And a total of 137 patients completed the protocol,including 70 in the treatment group and 67 in the control group.Both groups were treated with basic treatment.Besides,the treatment group added the treatment of double repletion and depletion acupuncture combined with Wumei pill;while the control group Estazolam tablet.There were 2 weeks for one course and 2 courses in total with 6 months follow-up.The PSQI,neurokinetic energy assessment and cognitive impairment were evaluated after treatment and 6 months follow-up.After treatment,plasma 5-HT and BDNF level were detected and clinical curative effect was observed.Results The PSQI score after treatment (6.3 ± 0.9 vs.9.3 ± 1.1,t=-3.424) 6 months followed up (4.2 ± 0.3 vs.7.5 ± 0.4,t=-3.675) in the treatment group was significantly lower than those in the control group (P＜0.05).The NIHSS score after treatment (8.2 ± 1.0 vs.11.4 ± 1.0,t=-4.557) and 6 months followed up (5.1 ± 0.5 vs.7.6 ± 0.9,t=-3.135) in treatment group was significantly lower than the control group (P＜0.05).The MMSE score after treatment (22.7 ± 2.9 vs.18.3 ± 2.8,t=-4.691) and 6 months followed up (25.0 ± 2.6 vs.21.5 ± 2.6,t=-4.902) in treatment group were significantly higher than the control group (P＜0.05).After treatment,the level of 5-HT (131.85 ± 11.72 ng/ml vs.101.21 ± 10.23 ng/ml,t=0.014) and BDNF (45.17 ± 6.03 ng/ml vs.38.46 ± 5.28 ng/ml,t=5.406) in treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P＜0.05).After treatment,the treatment group effective rate was 92.9％ (65/70) and 81.6％ (54/67) in the control group.The difference was statistically significant (Z=-2.644,P=0.008).Conclusions The double repletion and depletion of acupuncture combined with Wumei pill can improve the sleep quality and cognitive behavior of patients with post-stroke sleep disorders.The possible mechanism is related with improvement of the expression level of 5-HT and BDNF.
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Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of reinforcing-reducing needling methods in treating peripheral facial paralysis. Method Seventy facial paralysis patients were randomized into two groups to compare the reinforcing-reducing needling methods and conventional acupuncture. The House-Brackmann (H-B) scale was observed and compared prior to the treatment, right after the treatment, and respectively after 30-day, 3-month, and 6-month treatments, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated after 6-month treatments. Result The H-B score of the reinforcing-reducing manipulation group was superior to that of the conventional group (P<0.05), and the therapeutic efficacy of the manipulation group was more significant than that of the conventional group (P<0.05). Conclusion The reinforcing-reducing needling methods can produce a better therapeutic efficacy in treating peripheral facial paralysis compared to conventional acupuncture.
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Objective:To observe the effect of complex reinforcing [Shao Shan Huo (Mountain-burning Fire)] and reducing [Tou Tian Liang (Heaven-penetrating Cooling)] manipulations on motion and balance of the lower limbs in patients with subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord (SCD). Methods:A total of 100 SCD cases were randomly allocated into an observation group and a control group by their visit sequence, 50 cases in each group. On the basis of Western medical treatment, cases in the observation group were also treated with acupuncture therapy plus complex reinforcing-reducing manipulation; whereas cases in the control group were only treated with the same Western medical treatment as those in the observation group. Before and 2 months after treatment, kinematic parameters including muscle force, muscle tone and range of motion of the hip and knee joints were measured. In addition, balancing parameters including the path length of center of pressure (COP), peripheral area, COP path length per unit area and rectangular area were also measured before and after treatment. Results:After treatment, there were statistical intra-group differences in COP path length, peripheral area, COP path length per unit area, left-right offset, rectangular area, coefficient of stability and coefficient of weight distribution (P<0.01). There were statistical inter-group differences in muscle force, muscle tone and range of motion of hip and knee joints (P<0.01). The total effective rate was 83.3% in the observation group, versus 60.0% in the control group, showing a statistical difference (P<0.05). Conclusion:Complex reinforcing-reducing manipulations can improve the lower limb motion and balance in SCD patients.
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Objective: To observe the effect of complex reinforcing-reducing manipulations of acupuncture on flexion and extension angles of hip and knee in patients after surgical treatment of gluteus maximus contracture. Methods: A total of 66 cases following surgery of gluteus maximus contracture were randomly allocated into an observation group and a control group by the random digits table, 33 in each group. In addition to basic treatment, cases in the observation group were treated with reducing manipulation [Tou T ian Liang (Heaven-penetrating Cooling)] on Zhibian (BL 54), Huantiao (GB 30) and Juliao (GB 29) on the affected side and reinforcing manipulation [Shao Shan Huo (Mountain-burning Fire)] on Biguan (ST 31), Futu (ST 32), Zusanli (ST 36), Fenglong (ST 40), Xuehai (SP 10), Diji (SP 8) and Yanglingquan (GB 34). Patients in the control group only received the same basic treatment as the observation group. The treatment was done once a day, 30 d for a course and a 1-week interval between two courses. Then the flexion and extension angles of hip and knee were evaluated using the Lokomat full automatic robot gait evaluation system after 3 courses of treatment. Results:There were intra-group statistical differences in hip flexion angle on foot followed (HFA-FF), the maximum of hip flexion angle (MAX-HFA), the maximum of hip extension angle (MAX-HEA), knee flexion angle on foot followed (KFA-FF), the maximum of knee flexion angle on stance phase (MAX-KFA-TP) and the maximum of knee flexion angle on swing phase (MAX-KFA-WP) in the observation group and in HFA-FF, MAX-HEA and KFA-FF in the control group (P Conclusion: The complex reinforcing-reducing manipulations of acupuncture can effectively improve the hip/knee functions following surgery of gluteus maximus contracture.
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Objective:To observe the clinical effect of‘setting fire on the mountain’ manipulation by Lu Shou-yan for cervical radiculopathy as well as the infrared thermographic changes of the cervical area before and after treatment. Methods:A total of 120 eligible cases with cervical radiculopathy were randomly allocated into an observation group and a control group, 60 in each group. Cases in the observation group were treated with Lu Shou-yan’s ‘setting fire on the mountain’ manipulation, whereas cases in the control group were treated with even reinforcing-reducing manipulation. After two courses of treatment, the infrared thermographic changes and overall therapeutic efficacies in the two groups were compared. Results: The recovery rate and total effective rate in the observation group were 68.3%and 98.3%respectively, versus 28.3%and 81.7%in the control group, showing statistical differences in recovery rate and total effective rate (both P Conclusion:‘Setting fire on the mountain’ manipulation by Lu Shou-yan is better than even reinforcing-reducing manipulation for cervical radiculopathy.