ABSTRACT
Objective: To observe the effects of different frequencies of pricking-bloodletting at auricular points plus auricular point sticking therapy on the levels of the serum immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), testosterone (T), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in patients with acne vulgaris (AV). Methods: Ninety patients with AV were randomly assigned to treatment group 1, treatment group 2, and treatment group 3 according to the random number remainder grouping method, with 30 cases in each group. All three groups received pricking-bloodletting at auricular points plus auricular point sticking therapy. Treatment group 1 was treated once a week, treatment group 2 was treated twice a week, and treatment group 3 was treated 3 times a week. Four-week treatment was taken as 1 treatment course, and 3 treatment courses were observed. On the day before the start of the study and on the day next to the end of each course, the global acne grading system (GAGS) score was recorded, and 3 mL of blood from the median cubital vein was collected to test the serum levels of IgG, IgM, T, and IGF-1. After 3 courses of treatment, the efficacy index was calculated according to the GAGS score, and the serum indicators in patients with effective treatment (efficacy index ≥20％) and complete sampling were analyzed. Results: A total of 60 patients were included in the final blood indicator analysis. After 3 courses of treatment, the intra-group comparisons showed that the serum IgG level increased significantly in patients in treatment group 1 (P<0.01); the serum T level decreased significantly in the female patients in treatment group 2 (P<0.05); the IGF-1 level significantly decreased in the patients in all three groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). There were no significant differences in the serum levels of IgG, IgM, T, and IGF-1 among the three groups at each time point (P>0.05). Conclusion: Pricking-bloodletting at auricular points plus auricular point sticking therapy can affect the levels of serum IgG, T, and IGF-1 in AV patients. The level of the serum IGF-1 can be reduced by treatment once a week, twice a week, or 3 times a week. Treatment once a week can increase the patients' serum IgG level, and treatment twice a week can significantly decrease the serum T level in female patients. Reducing the serum IGF-1 level may be one of the action mechanisms of pricking-bloodletting at auricular points plus auricular point sticking therapy in treating AV.
ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effects of acupuncture therapy on sleep quality after drug withdrawal symptoms and long-term recurrence in patients with depression. Methods A total of 70 depression patients were retrospectively analyzed, according to the withdrawal method is divided into two groups, each group of 35 cases. The incidence of drug withdrawal syndrome in the two groups was observed and the success rate of drug withdrawal was calculated. The recurrence rate of depression in the two groups within one year after drug withdrawal, and the sleep quality were observed. The degree of depressive symptoms were assessed. Results The incidence of drug withdrawal syndrome were 11.4% in the observation group and 31.4% in the control group, which the difference was statistically significant (χ2=4.158, P=0.041). The rate of recurrence of depression was 9.7% in the observation group and 41.7% in the control group, which the observation group was significantly lower than the control group (χ2=7.669, P=0.006). After 1 year the drug was stopped, the sleep quality, sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep disorder, daytime function and hypnotic drug score and total scores of PSQI of the observation group were significantly increased (P<0.01). And the PSQI at different time frames were significantly lower than those of the control group (t value were 2.888, 2.329, 2.092, 2.535, 9.951, P<0.05 or P<0.01). The HAMD score of the observation group 1 week after drug withdrawal and 1 year after drug withdrawal was significantly lower than those of the control group (t value were 9.271, 14.238, P<0.05). Conclusions The acupuncture therapy can improve the sleep quality of patients with mild and moderate depression after drug withdrawal, and reduce the incidence of drug withdrawal syndrome, and the risk of long-term recurrence.
ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the effects between bloodletting at auricular points and acupuncture at specific points [Yintang (GV 29) or Yanglao (SI 6)] for analgesia in acute lumbar sprain.Method Totally 100 patients with acute lumbar sprain were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 50 cases in each group. The treatment group was intervened by bloodletting at auricular points, while the control group was by acupuncture at specific points [Yintang (GV 29) or Yanglao (SI 6). The Present Pain Intensity (PPI) from the Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire was taken as the observation index. The changes of PPI were compared respectively 10 min and 30 min after treatment.Result The PPI scores were significantly changed 30 min after treatment in both groups (P<0.05). The PPI scores in the treatment group were significantly different from that in the control group both 10 min and 30 min after intervention (P<0.05).Conclusion Bloodletting at auricular points and acupuncture at specific points are both effective in releasing pain in acute lumbar sprain, while bloodletting at auricular points can produce a more significant real-time analgesic effect.