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ObjectiveTo observe the effects of fire-needle of Lingnan on the vitiligo model after hydroquinone-induced oxidative stress based on the Hippo-YAP signaling pathway. MethodsC57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal group （Control）， model group （HQ）， HQ+fire-needle group （FA）， and positive control group （Halometasone）， with 8 mice in each group. The vitiligo model was prepared by hydroquinone （HQ）. The skin pathological changes were observed by depigmentation score， HE staining and Masson-Fontana. Elisa was used to detect the levels of tyrosinase （TYR）， malondialdehyde （MDA） and monoamine oxidase （MAO）.Western-blot and PCR were used to detect the expression of Yap1 and Tp73 among the groups. ResultsCompared with the control group， the epidermis and dermis were significantly thicker. The number of melanocyte hair follicles， basal melanocytes， epidermal cells containing melanin granules were significantly decreased， and the depigmentation score was significantly reduced（P＜0.01）. The level of TYR decreased， and the levels of MDA and MAO increased after modeling（P＜0.01）. The expression of Yap1 and Tp73 were significantly reduced （P<0.01）. The dermis became thinner in the halometasone and FA group after treatment of 4 weeks. The number of melanocyte hair follicles， basal melanocytes， epidermal cells containing melanin granules increased （P<0.05）. Compared with that of the HQ group， the level of TYR in the halometasone group and FA group was significantly increased （P<0.01）. The levels of MDA and MAO in the FA group were decreased （P<0.05）. The expressions of Yap1 and Tp73 in the FA group were significantly increased （P<0.01）， and their effects were better than those in the Halometasone group （P<0.05）. ConclusionsFire-needle of Lingnan protects melanocytes from oxidative stress by activating the Hippo-YAP pathway. It enhances the synthesis and function of melanocytes and promotes repigmentation by reducing the content and activity of oxidative stress products.
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In view of the limitations of the high operational difficulty, safety hazards and adverse reactions of traditional fire needle, and unclear treatment parameters of existing electric fire needles, a new digital electric fire needle instrument was designed and developed in this study. This instrument is a gun type structure, consisting of a gun body, a power supply interface on the gun body, a display unit and a drive unit, a heating unit, a cooling unit, a positioning unit, and a needle inserting unit in the gun body. This instrument can digitally realize the regulation of parameters such as fire needle inserting temperature, depth and speed, and it has the advantageous features of intelligent needle burning, precise positioning, and safe and easy operation. This instrument meets the needs of more patients, medical professionals and scientific researchers, and is conducive to promoting the development of fire needle acupuncture therapy.
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Humans , Needles , Heating , Research Personnel , TemperatureABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the effect of modified Chushi Weiling Decoction combined with fire acupuncture in the treatment of chronic eczema with spleen deficiency and dampness syndrome.Methods:A total of 106 patients with chronic eczema who met the inclusion criteria from January 2018 to January 2020 in Shandong Taishan hospital were randomly divided into two groups by random number table method, with 53 patients in each group. The control group was treated with loratadine tablets and compound glycyrrhizin tablets, and the observation group was treated with modified Chushi Weiling Decoction combined with fire acupuncture. Both groups were treated for 8 weeks and followed up for 12 months. TCM syndrome scores were performed before and after treatment, Eczema area and severity index (EASI) was used to assess the severity of eczema, and pruritus was assessed by pruritus VAS scale. The serum IgE level was detected by nephelometry, and eosinophils (EOS) count was detected by automatic hematology analyzer. The adverse events and recurrence were recorded and the clinical response rate was evaluated.Results:The response rate was 94.34% (50/53) in the observation group and 77.36% (41/53) in the control group. There was significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=6.29, P=0.012). After treatment, the score of TCM syndrome, EASI and VAS of pruritus in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t values were 11.97, 6.31 and 10.61 respectively, all Ps<0.001). After treatment, the serum IgE level [(57.19±7.54) IU/ml vs. (81.55±12.08) IU/ml, t=12.45], EOS count [(310.54± 52.84) ×10 6/L vs. (465.51±58.04) ×10 6/L, t=14.37] in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.01). The incidence of adverse events was 15.09% (8/53) in the control group and 3.77% (2/53) in the observation group, and there was significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=3.98, P=0.046). The recurrence rate was 6.00% (3/50) in the observation group and 21.95% (9/41) in the control group, and there was significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=5.01, P=0.025). Conclusion:Modified Chushi Weiling Decoction combined with fire acupuncture can improve the skin lesions and itching symptoms, improve the clinical efficacy, reduce the long-term recurrence rate of patients with chronic eczema with spleen deficiency and dampness syndrome safely.
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Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of self-made Yangyin Yiqi Quxie Decoction combined with fire-needle pricking collaterals and bloodletting in the treatment of rosacea with excessive heat of lung and stomach syndrome.Methods:From February 2018 to February 2021, 120 patients with rosacea excessive heat of lung and stomach syndrome in our hospital who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into 2 groups by the two-color ball method, with 60 in each group. The control group was given conventional western medicine, fire-needle pricking collaterals and bloodletting therapy, while the study group was given self-made Yangyin Yiqi Quxie Decoction on the basis of the control group. Both groups were treated for 6 weeks. The clinical symptoms were scored before and after treatment, the levels of serum IL-6, IL-17 and IL-37 were detected by chemiluminescence method, the adverse reactions during treatment were recorded and the clinical efficacy was evaluated.Results:The total effective rate was 90.0% (54/60) in the study group and 70.0% (42/60) in the control group, and there was significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=7.50, P=0.006). After treatment, the levels of serum IL-6, IL-17 and IL-37 in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t values were 30.94, 9.73 and 14.84, respectively, all Ps<0.001), the scores of burning, pustules, pruritus, dryness, erythema, telangiectasia and the total scores in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t values were 5.68, 14.69, 10.35, 15.83, 13.44, 14.37 and 23.13, respectively, all Ps<0.001). There were no obvious adverse reactions in both groups during treatment. Conclusion:The self-made Yangyin Yiqi Quxie Decoction combined with fire-needle pricking collaterals and bloodletting can relieve the symptoms in patients with rosacea excessive heat of lung and stomach syndrome, reduce serum inflammatory cytokine levels, and improve clinical effects.
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Objective:To observe the curative effect of He Style fire acupuncture on functional dyspepsia of deficiency cold of spleen and stomach syndrome.Methods:Sixty patients who met the inclusion criteria from March 2017 to March 2019 in Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University were divided into 2 groups according to the random number table method, with 30 in each group. The control group was given mosapride tablets, one tablet (5 mg) each time half an hour before meals. On the basis of the control group, the treatment group was given fire acupuncture on Zusanli(ST36), Zhongwan(CV12), Pishu(BL20), Weishu(BL21), Guanyuan(CV4) and Qihai (CV6) twice a week. The course of treatment for both groups of patients was 4 weeks. A follow-up was visited at 1 month after the treatment. The total Symptom Scores and Health-Related Quality of Life Scale (SF-36) scores were performed before and after treatment, and the total scores of syndromes of patients with Deficiency cold of spleen and stomach before and after treatment were used for clinical efficacy evaluation, and adverse events during treatment were recorded.Results:The total efficiency of the treatment group was 93.3% (28/30), and 76.7% (23/30) in the control group, and the 2 groups were statistically significant ( χ2=4.78, P<0.05). After treatment, the upper abdominal pain, upper abdominal burning, postprandial fullness and discomfort, early satiety, and total scores in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t values were 4.27, 5.16, 3.93, 4.69, 4.28, respectively, all Ps<0.05); during follow-up, the upper abdominal pain, upper abdominal burning, postprandial fullness and discomfort and the total scores in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t values were 3.63, 3.22, 4.03, 3.04, respectively, all Ps<0.05). In terms of SF-36, after treatment, the treatment group showed significantly higher scores in the control group of physical function, physiology, mental health, and health changes compared with the control group ( t values were 2.97, 4.05, 4.22, 3.05, respectively, all Ps<0.05). During follow-up, the treatment group with physiological function, physical function, physical pain, overall health, life vitality, mental health, health changes scores were significantly higher than those in the control group ( t values were 3.27, 4.23 3.85, 3.15, 3.25, 6.15, 3.85, respectively, all Ps<0.05). Conclusion:He Style fire acupuncture combined with western medicine treatment can improve the symptoms of upper abdominal pain and upper abdominal burning, and the quality of lifein the patients with functional dyspepsia.
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Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of microneedle radiofrequency in the treatment of moderate acne vulgaris.Methods:From August 2018 to August 2020, 393 patients (192 males and 201 females, aged 15-38 years) with moderate acne were enrolled in the Department of Dermatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College and Shantou Chaonan Minsheng Hospital, including 201 patients in experimental group and 192 patients in control group. In the experimental group, microneedle radiofrequency therapy was used once every 2 weeks for 3 times in total. The control group adopted the fire needle, once every 2 weeks, a total of 3 times. The efficacy of both groups was evaluated at week 8.Results:A total of 378 patients were actually completed: 196 patients in the experimental group, and 182 patients in the control group. At the eighth week of follow-up, the total effective rate was 81.12% in the experimental group and 70.43% in the control group. The efficacy of the two groups was statistically different (χ 2=4.42, P<0.05). Conclusions:The efficacy of microneedle radiofrequency therapy in the treatment of moderate acne vulgaris is better than that of fire needle, with good tolerance, short recovery period, few adverse reactions and high compliance, which has clinical promotion value.
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Objective:To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of filiform fire needle combined with tacrolimus ointment in the treatment of vitiligo.Methods:The RCTs of combination of filiform fire needle and tacrolimus ointment on the treatment of vitiligo were searched in the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China Knowledge Network Full-text Database (CNKI), Wanfang Full-text Database, VIP and PubMed databases. The studies were selected with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, then data extracted, and the quality of the included studies was evaluated according to Cochrane System Evaluation Manual. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMen 5.3 software.Results:Four studies involving 218 patients were included. After analysis, it was found that the effective rate [ OR=4.42, 95% CI (1.39-14.03), P<0.05)] and the apparent efficiency [ OR=2.89, 95% CI (1.40-5.95), P=0.004] of filiform fire needle combined with tacrolimus ointment were significantly better than that of tacrolimus ointment alone. Adverse reactions werelocal slight redness, pain and itching. None of adverse reactionswas reported. Recurrence occurred in the follow-up of were reported in two studies, which found that the recurrence rate [ OR=0.17, 95% CI (0.04-0.77), P<0.05] in the combined treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group. Conclusions:The clinical efficacy of filiform fire needle combined with tacrolimus ointment in the treatment of vitiligo is better than that of tacrolimus ointment alone, and the recurrence rate can be reduced without any adverse reactions. However, in view of the limited number, average quality and bias of the included studies, it is suggested to carry out more multi-center, large sample and high quality randomized controlled trials for further verification.
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Fire needling therapy has a wide range of indications, mainly including nervous system diseases, such as stroke sequela, post herpetic neuralgia, primary headache and trigeminal neuralgia; dermatological diseases like herpes zoster; orthopedic diseases, such as cervical spondylosis, tennis elbow, arthritis, cervical vertigo, cervical headache; gynecological diseases, such as dysmenorrhea; surgical related diseases, such as varicose veins, benign prostatic hyperplasia. The fire needling therapy has showed definite clinical effect for anti-inflammatory, immune regulation, neuroprotection and repair, endocrine regulation and other functions. However, most of the clinical studies are not standardized in scientific research design, lack of large sample RCT studies, or there is no unified standard for needling specifications. The research of needling mechanism is not enough and needs more experiments.
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OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical therapeutic effect of fire needling stripping after local anesthesia, simple fire needling and liquid nitrogen cryotherapy on verruca vulgaris.@*METHODS@#A total of 900 patients with verruca vulgaris were randomized into a fire needling stripping group (300 cases, 2 cases dropped off), a fire needling group (300 cases, 4 cases dropped off) and a liquid nitrogen cryotherapy group (300 cases, 5 cases dropped off). After local anesthesia of compound lidocaine cream, fire needling therapy was adopted, and the necrotic tissue of verruca was stripped in the fire needling stripping group. Simple fire needling therapy was adopted in the fire needling group, without local anesthesia and stripping. Liquid nitrogen cryotherapy was adopted in the liquid nitrogen cryotherapy group. The treatment was given once a week, and totally 3 weeks were required in the 3 groups. The skin lesion scores of number, area, thickness, color, pruritus, isomorphism and the level of T lymphocyte (CD@*RESULTS@#Compared before treatment, the skin lesion scores were decreased (@*CONCLUSION@#Fire needling stripping after local anesthesia can effectively treat the verruca vulgaris, improve the skin lesion and immunity, its therapeutic effect is superior to simple fire needling and liquid nitrogen cryotherapy.
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Humans , Anesthesia, Local , Cryotherapy , Treatment Outcome , Vascular Surgical Procedures , Warts/therapyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Acupuncture has different forms as a kind of therapy, mainly warm acupuncture, fire needle and electroacupuncture, but the balance of effectiveness and safety between these measures remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of warm acupuncture, fire needle and electroacupuncture in the intervention of knee osteoarthritis by network meta-analysis. METHODS: The Embase, Cochrane Library, PubMed, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP and CBMdisc databases were searched for the clinical randomized controlled trials of warm acupuncture, fire needle and electroacupuncture in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis published before September 20, 2019. RevMan 5.3 and Stata 14.0 were used for data analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 2 871 patients with knee osteoarthritis were included in 34 randomized controlled trials. The results of meta-analysis showed that (1) the total clinical effective rate in the fire needle group (OR=1.08, 95%CI: 1.00-1.17, P < 0.05) and warm acupuncture group (OR=1.08, 95%CI: 1.02-1.14, P < 0.05) was better than that in the electroacupuncture, and the total effective rate of the three acupuncture treatments was better than that of western medicine, especially fire needle. (2) In the aspect of improving the Visual Analogue Scale scores, the fire needle (MD=-2.12, 95%CI: -3.52 to -0.71, P < 0.05), warm acupuncture (MD=-1.31, 95%CI: -2.33 to -0.29, P < 0.05), and electroacupuncture (MD=-1.17, 95%CI: -2.19 to -0.16), P < 0.05) were superior to western medicine, especially fire needle. (3) In terms of reducing WOMAC scores, fire needle (MD=-15.38, 95%CI: -27.88 to -2.87, P < 0.05), warm acupuncture (MD=-11.48, 95%CI: -16.45 to -6.51, P < 0.05), and electroacupuncture (MD=-7.29, 95%CI: -11.86 to -2.72, P < 0.05) were superior to western medicine, especially fire needle. (4) In summary, comprehensive comparison of three kinds of acupuncture, in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, fire needle is the first choice. However, it still needs to be confirmed by more high-quality randomized controlled trials.
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Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of filiform fire-needling plus continuous passive motion (CPM) therapy for frozen shoulder. Methods: A total of 72 patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group by the random number table method, with 36 cases in each group. Patients in the control group received celecoxib capsule plus CPM, while those in the observation group received filiform fire-needling plus CPM. The whole course of treatment lasted for 2 weeks in both groups. The visual analog scale (VAS), Constant-Murley score (CMS) and range of motion of shoulder joint were measured for therapeutic efficacy evaluation. Results: The total effective rate was 91.7％ in the observation group, higher than 72.2％ in the control group, and the between-group comparison showed statistical significance (P<0.05). After treatment, the VAS scores in the two groups dropped significantly, the CMS as well as the range of motion including abduction, forward flexion and extension were all increased significantly, and the intra-group comparisons showed statistical significance (all P<0.05). The betweengroup comparisons showed the improvements in these items in the observation group were more significant than those in the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Filiform fire-needling plus CPM can produce more significant efficacy than celecoxib capsule plus CPM for frozen shoulder; it can alleviate pain, improve shoulder function and restore joint range of motion in such patients.
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OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of fire needle stimulation at Sihua acupoints combined with chemotherapy on Th1/Th2 imbalance and performance status in the patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) so as to investigate its immunological mechanism underlying the improvement of lung cancer. METHODS: Sixty eligible NSCLC inpatients were randomly assigned to a control group and a treatment group (n＝30 cases in each one). The control group was treated with paclitaxel combined with cisplatin (TP) or gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GP) of chemotherapy, and the treatment group was treated with fire needle stimulation at Sihua acupoints (i.e. bilateral Geshu [BL17] and Danshu [BL19]) and with chemotherapy simultaneously. The fire needle stimulation was given once daily for successive 7 days. One day before and 14 days after chemotherapy, the patients' blood samples were collected for assaying the concentrations of Th1 related cytokines (IL-2, IFN-γ) and Th2 related cytokines (IL-4, IL-10) with ELISA. The Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score was used to assess the patient's physical conditions before and 14 days after chemotherapy. RESULTS: Compared with the results before treatment, the levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ concentration increased obviously and the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 concentration as well as KPS score decreased significantly in the treatment group and the control group after treatment (all P<0.01). After treatment, compared with the control group, the levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ concentration in the treatment group increased and the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 concentration decreased (P<0.01); and the decrease amplitude of KPS score in the treatment group was less than that in the control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Fire needle stimulation at Sihua acupoints improves the function of Th1 cells, and reduces the function of Th2 cells. As a result, the balance between Th1 and Th2 has been modified and the deterioration degree of the performance status been alleviated in the patients after chemotherapy.
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OBJECTIVE: To assess the therapeutic effect and safety of fire needle therapy in the treatment of herpes zoster pain. METHODS: We collected randomized controlled trials about treatment of herpes zoster pain mainly by fire needle therapy (published from the date of establishment of each database to Dec 1 of 2018) from databases of CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, Chinese Biomedical Document Service System (SinoMed), PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library by using key words of "fire needle" "burnt needle" "red-hot needle" "herpes zoster" "postherpetic neuralgia" and "herpetic neuralgia". Then, we conducted Meta-analysis and sequential analysis about the outcomes of studies met our inclusion criteria using RevMan5.3.5 and TSA0.9.10 Beta softwares and employed GRADE profiler 3.6.1 to grade the quality of evidence. RESULTS: A total of 25 studies including 2 024 patients were brought into the present analysis. Outcomes of the qualitative analysis indicated that the fire needle therapy has a higher effective rate than the western medicine group. Meta-analysis showed that after the treatment mainly with fire needle therapy, 1) the VAS score is evidently lower [WMD=-0.96, 95% CI(-1.22, -0.71), P<0.000 01], 2) the duration of 30% pain relief is obviously shorter [WMD=-1.82, 95% CI (-2.46, -1.18), P<0.000 01], 3) the duration of pain is evidently shorter {fire needle combined with electroacupuncture [WMD=-11.53, 95% CI(-14.57, -8.48), P<0.000 01]; fire needle combined with cupping [WMD=-4.75, 95% CI (-7.99, -1.51), P=0.004]; pure fire needle therapy [WMD=-1.82, 95% CI (-2.46, -1.18), P<0.000 01], and 4) the occurrence rate of post-herpetic neuralgia is considerably lower [RR=0.16, 95% CI (0.09, 0.30), P<0.000 01]. The occurrence and management of adverse events were not mentioned in all the included studies, suggesting no safety problem of the therapy, but the publication bias has not been taken seriously. CONCLUSION: In the treatment of herpes zoster pain, fire needle as the main treatment approach can significantly relieve pain, shorten the pain duration, and reduce the incidence of post-herpetic neuralgia.
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One hundred and ten patients with obstinate facial palsy were randomly divided into study group and control group with 55 cases in each group. Both groups received electropuncture on face acupoints five times a week, the study group received additional acupuncture on Zhongzhen six acupoints, subsequently fire needles were used for Yangbai (GB 14), Quanliao (SI 18), Dicang (ST 4) and Jiachengjiang (Extra) acupoints twice a week. And the treatment courses lasted for four weeks. The House-Brackmann (HB) scale and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) were used for evaluation of facial nerve function and anxiety status before and after treatment, respectively. One hundred and four cases completed the treatment in the two groups. Before treatment there were no significant differences in HB and SAS scores between study and control groups (Z=-0.271, P=0.79; Z=-1.689, P=0.09). After 4 weeks of treatment the HB and SAS scores in both group were significantly improved (Z=-5.652, Z=-5.038, all P<0.01; Z=-6.050, Z=-5.332, all P<0.01); however, there were significant differences in HB scale and SAS scores after treatment between two groups (Z=-2.066, Z=-2.884, all P<0.05). The electric acupuncture on face acupoints plus Zhongzhen six acupoints combined with fire acupuncture can effectively improve facial nerve function and anxiety state in patients with obstinate facial palsy.
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Objective:To compare the effectiveness of fire needle versus Western medicine in the treatment of herpes zoster. Methods:Randomized controlled trials comparing fire needle with Western medicine in the treatment of herpes zoster were identified using 8 databases. A meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. Results:Eight trials involving 569 patients were included in this meta-analysis, and the results showed that fire needle was superior to Western medicine comparing the effective rate [risk ratio (RR)=1.13, 95％ confidence interval (CI): 1.06 to 1.20;P=0.0002], the visual analog scale (VAS) score [mean difference(MD)=–7.95, 95％ CI: –10.71 to –5.20;P<0.00001], time of pain disappearance (MD=–7.61, 95％CI: –9.38 to –5.84;P<0.00001), time of blister-stop (MD=–1.34, 95％CI: –1.51 to –1.18;P<0.00001), time of crusted scab (MD=–2.92, 95％CI: –3.62 to –2.23;P<0.00001), and time of scab off (MD=–4.64, 95％CI: –5.83 to –3.46;P<0.00001). In addition, a significantly lower incidence of postherpetic neuralgia was found in the fire needle group in 30 d (RR=0.23, 95％CI: 0.11 to 0.51;P=0.0002) and 60 d (RR=0.33, 95％CI: 0.12 to 0.91; P=0.03) after treatment. Conclusion:Fire needle has a favorable effect in increasing the effective rate, relieving pain, recovering skin lesions and decreasing incidence of postherpetic neuralgia in the treatment of herpes zoster. However, considering the limitations in this study, the findings should be interpreted cautiously.
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One hundred and ten patients with obstinate facial palsy were randomly divided into study group and control group with 55 cases in each group.Both groups received electropuncture on face acupoints five times a week,the study group received additional acupuncture on Zhongzhen six acupoints,subsequently fire needles were used for Yangbai (GB 14),Quanliao (SI 18),Dicang (ST 4) and Jiachengjiang (Extra) acupoints twice a week.And the treatment courses lasted for four weeks.The House-Brackmann (HB) scale and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) were used for evaluation of facial nerve function and anxiety status before and after treatment,respectively.One hundred and four cases completed the treatment in the two groups.Before treatment there were no significant differences in HB and SAS scores between study and control groups (Z=-0.271,P=0.79;Z=-1.689,P=0.09).After 4 weeks of treatment the HB and SAS scores in both group were significantly improved (Z=-5.652,Z=-5.038,all P＜0.01;Z=-6.050,Z=-5.332,all P＜0.01);however,there were significant differences in HB scale and SAS scores after treatment between two groups (Z=-2.066,Z=-2.884,all P＜0.05).The electric acupuncture on face acupoints plus Zhongzhen six acupoints combined with fire acupuncture can effectively improve facial nerve function and anxiety state in patients with obstinate facial palsy.
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BACKGROUND@#Fire-needle acupuncture, an important kind of acupuncture therapy, has been clinically used to treat upper limb spastic paralysis (ULSP) after stroke. Clinical experience has indicated that fire-needle acupuncture treatment takes less time, requires fewer visits, and has more rapid results and fewer side effects compared to chemical medicine alternatives. This study will evaluate the effects of fire-needle acupuncture for ULSP in the context of standardized clinical research and provide high-quality data to inform clinical procedures and future study design.@*METHODS/DESIGN@#A randomized controlled trial will be carried out to evaluate the effects of fire-needle acupuncture therapy in patients with ULSP from stroke. ULSP patients (n = 120) will be recruited at Changhai Hospital in Shanghai, China. Patients will be randomly divided into three groups, including fire-needle acupuncture group (FAG), filiform-needle acupuncture group (FFAG) and rehabilitation treatment group (RTG). During the 3-week treatment, the FAG will be treated every two days, while FFAG and RTG will be treated 5 d in a row and then rest for 2 d. The Simplified Fugl-Meyer Motor Function Scale and Modified Ashworth Scale will be used as the primary outcome measures. Statistical analysis will be conducted by an independent statistician.@*DISCUSSION@#Through this study, the utility of fire-needle acupuncture in treating ULSP after stroke will be tested, and some specific claims of fire-needle acupuncture therapy will be evaluated, such as relieving spasm and muscular tension, improving activities of daily living, rapidity of response and less frequency of treatment compared with other treatments.@*TRIAL REGISTRATION@#Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (identifier: ChiCTR-IOR-17013875; registration date: 28 December 2016).
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OBJECTIVE@#To observe the clinical effectiveness and safety of fire-needle therapy, an external approach of Chinese medicine in treating plaque psoriasis.@*METHODS@#This study was a two-parallel-arm randomized controlled trial. A total of 151 participants with plaque psoriasis were randomly assigned to the fire-needle therapy group (treatment group, 76 cases) or the control group (75 cases) at a 1:1 allocation ratio using SAS software. All participants received Oral Huoxue Jiedu Decoction (, HXJDD) and applied externally vaseline cream twice a day. Participants in the treatment group received fire-needle therapy once weekly for 4 weeks plus HXJDD and vaseline cream applied the same as the control group. The primary outcome measure was Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score, and the secondary outcomes were Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQL), and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), as well as Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome score and photos of target lesions. The indices were evaluated before and after treatment.@*RESULTS@#Sixty-eight patients in each group completed the study. The treatment group has not yet achieved significant improvement in PASI score (P>0.05) compared to the control group. However, significant differences were found between the two groups in relieving CM syndrome (P<0.05) and improving quality of life (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Fire-needle appears to be safe and may have benefit for psoriasis, the short-term treatment and small sample size limit the conclusions of this study. Further rigorous randomized controlled trials with longer treatment are recommended.
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OBJECTIVE@#To compared the therapeutic effect between filiform fire needle assisted 308 nm excimer laser and simple 308 nm excimer laser on vitiligo of different parts.@*METHODS@#Target lesions of 134 patients were divided into an observation group and a control group according to the principle of self-controlled, 201 pieces in each one. In the observation group, filiform fire needle was performed at target lesions. Then target lesions both of the two groups were irradiated with 308 nm excimer laser at the same time. Once every 2 weeks, totally 10 treatments were required. The effective rate and effective rate, color recovery rate and responding time of different parts in the two groups were evaluated 2 weeks after treatment.@*RESULTS@#The effective rate in the observation group was 82.59% (166/201), which was higher than 68.16% (137/201) in the control group (<0.01). The effective rate of face-neck, trunk, limbs and hand-foot were 90.32%, 81.63%, 81.48% and 58.62% respectively in the observation group, which were higher than 82.80%, 69.39%, 51.85% and 31.03% in the control group (<0.01, <0.05). The color recovery rate of different parts in the observation group was higher than the control group, and the effect was faster in the observation group (<0.01, <0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Filiform fire needle as an adjunctive therapy, combined with 308 nm excimer laser are more effective than simple 308 nm excimer laser for vitiligo of different parts. Combination therapy has a shorter responding time, the face-neck has the best effect and hand-foot has poor effect.
Subject(s)
Humans , Combined Modality Therapy , Lasers, Excimer , Neck , Treatment Outcome , Vitiligo , TherapeuticsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of joint application of electroacupuncture (EA), acupointinjection and fire-needle in the treatment of menopausal syndrome (MS) women. METHODS: One hundred MS patients were randomized into control group and combined treatment group (n=50 patients in each). The combined treatment group was treated by joint application of EA, acupoint-injection and fire-needle stimulation, and the control group treated by EA stimulation alone. EA was applied to Shenshu (BL 23), Xinshu (BL15), Taixi (KI 3), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Laogong (PC 8), Pishu (BL 20), etc., for 30 min, once daily for 10 days. Point-injection of red ginseng-ophiopogon root injection (0.5 mL) or red-hot needle stimulation was applied to bilateral BL15, BL 20, SP 6 and BL 23 once daily for 10 days and once every other day for 5 times, respectively. The modified Kupperman index scale was used to evaluate symptoms (hot flashes and night sweats: 4 points; paresthesia, insomnia, dyspareunia, irritability and problems of urinary system: 2 point each; depression, dizziness, fatigue, joint pain or muscular pain, headache, palpitation, skin formication: 1 point each) of the perimenopausal syndrome, and 3 months' follow-up survey was conducted after the treatment. Each symptom score was calculated as the product of the symptom severity score (0, no; 1, mild; 2, moderate; 3, severe) multiplied by the points of symptom index. The total Kupperman score was the sum of the scores of all the items. The therapeutic effect was also evaluated according to the "Guiding Principles for Clinical Trials of New Drugs of Chinese Materia Medica" (2002). RESULTS: The Kupperman scores were significantly decreased following the 10 days' treatment and 3 months thereafter in both control and combined treatment groups in comparison with their individual pretreatment (P<0.05), and were obviously lower in the combined treatment group than in the control group after treatment (P<0.05). Of the both 50 patients in the control and combined treatment groups, 22(44%) and 35 (70%) experienced a remarkably improvement, 18(36%) and 12(24%) were effective, and 10(20%) and 3 (6%) ineffective, with the total effective rates being 80% and 94%, respectively. The therapeutic effect of the combined treatment group was notably superior to that of the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The joint application of electroacupuncture (EA), acupoint-injection and fire needle is significantly superior to that of simple EA in improving the symptoms of patients with menopausal syndrome.