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Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at Hegu plus Fuliu in treating hyperhidrosis in Parkinson’s disease. Methods Fifty-seven Parkinson’s disease patients with hyperhidrosis were randomly allocated to a treatment group of 28 cases and a control group of 29 cases. The control group received conventional acupuncture and the treatment group, acupuncture at Hegu plus Fuliu in addition. The VAS score and the HDSS score were recorded in the two groups before and after treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.Results There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the VAS score and the HDSS score in the two groups (P<0.01). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in the VAS score and the HDSS score between the treatment and control groups (P<0.01). The total efficacy rate was 96.4% in the treatment group and 72.4% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture at Hegu plus Fuliu can effectively reduce hyperhidrosis in Parkinson's disease patients.
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Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at the six mind-calming points plus the four gate points in treating migraine.Method Totally 128 eligible migraine patients were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 64 cases in each group. The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture at the six mind-calming points plus the four gate points, while the control group was by ordinary acupuncture. The Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), headache attack frequency, headache duration, headache intensity, complicated symptoms, Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) were observed before and after treatment and in the follow-up study.Result The NRS scores and the headache symptoms and functions scores were significantly changed respectively after 2-week and 4-week treatment in both groups (P<0.01,P<0.05). The NRS score, headache duration, and headache intensity in the treatment group were significantly different from that in the control group after 4-week treatment and in the follow-up study (P<0.05,P<0.01). The SDS and SAS scores were significantly changed after 2-week and 4-week treatments as well as in the follow-up study in the treatment group (P<0.01). The SDS and SAS scores were significantly changed after 4-week treatment in the control group (P<0.01). There were significant differences in comparing the SDS and SAS scores between the two groups after 2-week and 4-week treatment as well as in the follow-up study (P<0.05,P<0.01). In the treatment group, the SDS and SAS scores in the follow-up study were significantly different from that after 2-week treatment (P<0.01).Conclusion Acupuncture at the six mind-calming points plus the four gate points is an effective method in treating migraine, and it can reduce headache intensity, and improve the anxiety and depression state.
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Objective To reveal the real-time effect of puncturing Hegu (LI 4) and Zusanli (ST 36) on the central nervous system. Method Nine healthy volunteers were observed for the dynamic change of magnetic encephalography (MEG) after receiving acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4), Zusanli (ST 36) and non-acupoint.Result Acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4), Zusanli (ST 36) and non-acupoint can produce different effects on MEG.Conclusion MEG can be a specific detection in studying the sensation transmission of Hegu (LI 4) and Zusanli (ST 36), and acupuncture at the two points can affect different regions of brain.
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Objective To observe the efficacy of acupuncture at Hegu (LI4) in treating central facial palsy due to cerebral ischemia, and to explore the dose-effect correlation and the optimal acupuncture protocol.Method Totally 150 patients with central facial palsy due to ischemic stroke were randomized into four groups to receive acupuncture at Hegu with different stimulation parameters plus the conventional integrated Chinese and Western medicine (group A, B, C, D) according to the acupuncture time and direction, and a control group (group E) only to receive the conventional Chinese and Western medicine treatment. The treatment lasted 14 d. The House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system, Toronto Facial Grading System and facial palsy grading scale were adopted as the evaluation indexes.Result After intervention, the scores of the three indexes were all significantly increased in the five groups (P<0.05), and the inter-group comparisons showed significant differences in comparing the improvement rate (P<0.05).Conclusion The study shows that acupuncture at Hegu is effective in treating central facial palsy due to cerebral ischemia, and with the inverse insertion of the needle and manipulation for 5 min at Hegu should be the optimal protocol regarding the improvement of the symptom score and effective rate.
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Objective To explore the effect of electroacupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) on the expressions of P2X2 and P2X3 receptors in experimental pulpalgia rats.Method Forty-two male SD rats were randomized into a normal group (group N), a control group (group C), a pulpalgia model group (group M), an antagonist group (group A), an electroacupuncture group (group E), and an antagonist+electroacupuncture group (group AE), 7 rats in each group. Group N didn’t receive any interventions; group C received injection of normal saline into pulp cavity of the same dose as the injection in group M, and the cavity was then blocked by dental fillings 5-6 min later; in group M, maxillary first and second molar teeth were drilled (drill bit of 1 mm in diameter) to expose pulp and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) solution 5μg/μL was injected into the holes (1~3μL for each hole), and the holes were then covered by dental fillings 5-6 min later; group A received the same modeling method as that in group M, but A-317491 was injected together with LPS (0.5 mg/kg); group E received electroacupuncture at bilateral Hegu (LI 4) with needles retained for 30 min, once a day, totally for 3 times; group AE received the same electroacupuncture intervention after receiving the same treatments as that in group A. The rats’ behaviors and weight were observed for 30 min after intervention each day. The rats were sacrificed on the 4th day, and the mRNA expressions of P2X2 and P2X3 receptors andβ-actin in trigeminal ganglion were detected by using RT-PCR. The mRNA expressions were then compared among the groups.Result The behavioral changes in group M, E, and AE were more significant than that in group C and N (P<0.01); the behavioral changes in group A, E, and AE were less significant than that in group M (P<0.01). The weight in group C was significantly lower than that in group N (P<0.01); the weights in group M, A, E and AE were significantly lower than that in group C and N (P<0.01); the weights in group E and AE were significantly higher than that in group M and A (P<0.01,P<0.05); the weight in group A was slightly higher than that in group M (P<0.05); the weights in group AE was significantly higher than that in group E (P<0.01). The mRNA expressions of P2X2 receptor in group M, A, and AE were significantly higher than that in group N and C (P<0.01); the mRNA expressions of P2X2 receptor in group A, E, and AE were lower than that in group M (P<0.05); the mRNA expression of P2X2 receptor in group A was lower than that in group E (P<0.05); the mRNA expression of P2X2 receptor in group E was higher than that in group AE (P<0.05). The mRNA expressions of P2X3 receptor in group M, A, and E were significantly higher than that in group C (P<0.05) and group N (P<0.01); the mRNA expressions of P2X3 receptor in group A, E, and AE were significantly lower than that in group M (P<0.01); the mRNA expression of P2X3 receptor in group AE was markedly lower than that in group E (P<0.01).Conclusion The expressions of P2X2 and P2X3 receptors in trigeminal ganglion were increased in LPS-induced pulpalgia rats. Electroacupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) and injection of A-317491 both can down-regulate the mRNA expressions of P2X2 and P2X3 receptors, which is plausibly the action mechanism of electroacupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) in analgesia.
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Objective:To observe the changes of metabolic intensity value of points on the face before and after needling bilateral Hegu (LI 4) in healthy people and provide scientific basis for association between Hegu (LI 4) and face/mouth. Methods:A total of 45 healthy college students were selected in this study. Using medical thermography and Pennes bio-heat transfer model, the infrared thermograph images on the face before and after needling bilateral Hegu (LI 4) were collected to observe the distribution of metabolic intensity value on the face before acupuncture and changes in these values after needling bilateral Hegu (LI 4). Results:Before acupuncture, Cuanzhu (BL 2) had the maximal metabolic intensity value. Its mean value was (0.71±0.23) W. Quanliao (SI 18) had the minimal metabolic intensity value. There were no left-right statistical significances in metabolic intensity values. After needling bilateral Hegu (LI 4), the metabolic intensity values of most points on the face were increased. Kouheliao (LI 19) obtained the maximal increase: 0.35 W on average; and Yangbai (GB 14) obtained the minimal increase: 0.08 W on average. Conclusion:Points on both sides in healthy people have good symmetry in metabolic intensity value. After needling bilateral Hegu (LI 4), the metabolic intensity values of points on the face were increased, especially points around the lips, which accords with the pathway of the Large Intestine Meridian on the head and face. This provided some scientific foundation for the association between Hegu (LI 4) and face/mouth.
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Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of Prof. Gao Yu-chun’s needling Yangming method for facial palsy, as well as to inherit and further develop the academic idea. Methods:A total of 70 cases were randomly allocated into a treatment group (n=35) and a control group (n=35). Cases in the treatment group were treated with needling Yangming method, whereas cases in the control group were treated with traditional acupuncture method. The treatment was done once a day in both groups (6 times a week) for a total of 6 weeks. Then the therapeutic efficacies were evaluated before and after treatment using the House-Brackmann (H-B) scale and scores of signs and symptoms. Results:After 2 weeks of treatment, patients in the treatment group obtained a better H-B score and recovery rate than those in the control group (P0.05). Conclusion:Needling Yangming method can obtain a faster effect, a higher early-stage recovery rate and shorter course of treatment than traditional acupuncture method.
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Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of interaction acupuncture combining with routine acupuncture for intractable facial palsy. Methods:A total of 60 eligible cases were randomly allocated into a treatment group (n=30) and a control group (n=30). Cases in the treatment group received interaction and routine acupuncture, whereas cases in the control group received routine acupuncture alone. The treatment was done once a day and 10 times made up a course of treatment. The patients were treated for a total of 3 courses and there were no intervals between two courses. Results:The total effective rate was 93.3% in the treatment group (including 17 recovery cases, 11 improvement cases and 2 failure cases), versus 76.7% in the control group (including 8 recovery cases, 15 improvement cases and 7 failure cases), showing a statistical difference (P Conclusion:Combining interaction and routine acupuncture can obtain better effect than routine acupuncture alone for intractable facial palsy.
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Objective To investigate the effect of pretreatment with electroacupuncture at point Neiguan(PC6) on CK and myocardial cell activity in rabbit myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and provide an experimental basis for a relatively specific relationship between pericardium meridian points and the heart. Methods Forty New Zealand big ear rabbits were randomly allocated to groups A, B, C, D and E, eight rabbits each. Group A was a sham operation group. Group B was an ischemia-reperfusion model group, in which the left anterior descending coronary artery was occlude for 30 min and reperfused for 60 min. In groups C, D and E, points Neiguan(PC6), Lieque(LU7) and Hegu(LI4) were separately given electroacupuncture stimulation, 20 min every day, at seven days before model making. Creatine kinase (CK) and myocardial formazan contents were compared between the groups. Results There were statistically significant differences in serum CK and myocardial formazan contents between group B, C, D or E and group A (P＜0.01, P＜0.05). There was a statistically significant differences in serum CK content between group C, D or E and group B (P＜0.01). There was a statistically significant differences in myocardial formazan content between groups C and B (P＜0.05). There were statistically significant differences in serum CK and myocardial formazan contents between group D or E and group C (P＜0.01, P＜0.05). Conclusion Electroacupuncture at point Neiguan(PC6) can reduce myocardial ischemia-reperfusion induced injury to myocardial cells to produce a protective effect on the heart.