Lidong needling therapy combined with functional exercise in treatment of upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer surgery: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the clinical efficacy of lidong needling therapy (acupuncture technique combined with therapeutic movement of the body) on upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer surgery in combination with functional exercise.@*METHODS@#A total of 73 patients with postoperative lymphedema of breast cancer in the upper limbs were randomized into an observation group (36 cases) and a control group (37 cases). The routine nursing care and functional exercise were given in the control group, twice a day, for about 10-15 min each time, lasting 8 weeks. On the basis of the treatment as the control group, lidong needling therapy was applied to the acupionts on the affected upper limb, i.e. Jianyu (LI 15), Waiguan (TE 5), Hegu (LI 4) and ashi points (the most obvious swelling sites), as well as to bilateral Yinlingquan (SP 9) and Zusanli (ST 36), etc. The needles were retained for 30 min. While the needles retained, the patients were asked to move the affected shoulder to 90° by the sagittal anteflexion and keep it elevated. Simultaneously, the hand on the affected side was clenched and opened slowly and coordinately. Lidong needling therapy was delivered once every two days, three times weekly for 8 weeks. Before and after treatment, the difference of the circumference between the affected and healthy limbs, the score of visual analogue scale (VAS) for swelling and the score of disability of arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) were compared in the patients of the two groups. The clinical efficacy was evaluated.@*RESULTS@#After 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of treatment, except for the circumference of the area 10 cm below the cubitel crease in the control group, the differences in the circumferences of the rest parts between the affected and healthy limbs were reduced in comparison with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.01, P<0.05). After 6 weeks of treatment, in the observation group, for the circumference at the level of hand between the thumb and the index finger and that of the wrist, the differences between the affected and healthy limbs was smaller compared with those in the control group (P<0.05). After 8 weeks of treatment, except for the areas 5 cm below and above the cubitel crease, the differences of circumferences between the affected and healthy limbs in the observation group were smaller than those in the control group in the rest parts (P<0.01, P<0.05). After 8 weeks of treatment, the swelling VAS scores were reduced when compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05), and the score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.01). After 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, DASH scores were reduced in comparison with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.01). The total effective rate of the observation group was 83.3% (30/36), which was higher than that of the control group (35.1%, 13/37, P<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#Lidong needling therapy combined with the functional exercise obtains the satisfactory clinical effect on the upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer surgery. This treatment effectively relieves swelling and improves the upper limb function.

Effect of electroacupuncture at "Neiguan" (PC 6) on cardiac function and inflammatory factors of acupoint area in rats with acute myocardial ischemia / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Neiguan" (PC 6) on cardiac function and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in rats with acute myocardial ischemia (AMI), and to explore the correlation between myocardial protective effect of EA and inflammatory factors i.e. interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-17 (IL-17) of "Neiguan" (PC 6) area.@*METHODS@#A total of 40 male SD rats with normal ultrasonic cardiogram were randomized into a sham-operation group, a sham-operation plus EA group, a model group and an EA group, 10 rats in each group. The AMI model was established by ligating the left anterior descending (LAD) branch of the coronary artery in the model group and the EA group, while the threading without ligating was adopted in the sham-operation group and the sham-operation plus EA group. In the sham-operation plus EA group and the EA group, EA at bilateral "Neiguan" (PC 6) was applied, with disperse-dense wave, 2 Hz/100 Hz in frequency and 2 mA in density, once a day, 20 min a time for 3 days. The cardiac ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS) were measured by ultrasonic cardiogram to evaluate the cardiac function, the cardiomyocyte apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining, the infiltration of inflammatory factors of "Neiguan" (PC 6) area was observed by H.E. staining, the expression of inflammatory factors IL-1β and IL-17 of "Neiguan" (PC 6) area was detected by immunofluorescence staining.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the sham-operation group, EF and FS were decreased (@*CONCLUSION@#Electroacupuncture at "Neiguan" (PC 6) can improve the cardiac function and reduce the apoptosis of cardiomyocyte in rats with acute myocardial ischemia, its mechanism may be related to the regulation of the inflammatory factors of "Neiguan" (PC 6) area.

Effect of electroacupuncture on expression of IL-23/IL-17 axis and TLR4 in infarcted tissue in rats with myocardial infarction / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on expression of interleukin (IL) -23/IL-17 axis and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in the infarcted tissue in rats with myocardial infarction (MI), and to explore the mechanism of EA on alleviating MI injury.@*METHODS@#Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into a sham-operation group, a sham-operation plus EA group, a model group and an EA group, 10 rats in each group. The MI models were established by ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery in the model group and EA group, while only threading was performed in the sham-operation group and sham-operation plus EA group. The rats in the sham-operation plus EA group and EA group were treated with EA at "Neiguan" (PC 6), disperse-dense wave, 2 Hz/100 Hz, 2 mA, once a day, 20 min each time, for 3 days. After the intervention, the ejection fraction (EF) was measured by echocardiography to evaluate the cardiac function; the infarct area was measured by TTC staining; the HE staining was used to observe the morphological changes of myocardial tissue; the levels of IL-23 and IL-17 in infarcted tissue were detected by ELISA; the protein expression of TLR4 in infarcted tissue was detected by Western blot.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the sham-operation group, the EF was decreased (@*CONCLUSION@#EA may alleviate the excessive inflammatory response after MI by inhibiting the expression of IL-23/IL-17 axis in MI rats, and TLR4 may be involved during the process.

Scientific practice of Chengjiang Acupuncture School in the Republic of China / 中国针灸

Under the influence of Chinese medicine scientization, Chengjiang Acupuncture School, which was originated in the Republic of China (1912 - 1949), has also undergone a series of scientific practice. The Chengjiang School established scientific research, education and medical organizations such as the Research Society of China Acupuncture-Moxibustion, China Acupuncture-Moxibustion School, Training School of China Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Sanatorium of Acupuncture-Moxibustion. Zhenjiu Zazhi (Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion) was established, and monographs and textbooks such as Zhongguo Zhenjiu Zhiliaoxue (Therapeutics of Chinese Acupuncture-Moxibustion) and Zhongguo Zhenjiuxue Jiangyi (Lectures on Chinese Acupuncture-Moxibustion) were published. Meanwhile, based on clinical practice, large members of acupuncture personnel with scientific literacy emerged. Therefore, it is held that the scientization of Chengjiang School has performed a profound influence on the development of modern acupuncture-moxibustion.

Discussion on scientific-school characteristics of chengjiang acupuncture school / 中国针灸

To find out the factors of scientific schools in Chengjiang acupuncture school according to its characteristics and demands on the basis of connotations of the genres, schools, scientific schools. The results show that the Chengjiang acupuncture school is a typical scientific school, including followed elements: school leaders, plenty of famous group members, unified system research pattern and school spirit that is commonly followed.

Introduction on the academic origin of Chengjiang acupuncture school / 中国针灸

The academic life, thoughts and contributions of over ten representatives of Chengjiang acupuncture school were investigated with the methodology of literature comparative analysis to abstract the academic origin of the school. And the result shows that based on the traditional theory of Chinese medicine, influenced by the ideological trend of scientization, focused on clinical practice and enlightened by Japanese acupuncture in a certain degree, Chengjiang acupuncture school is an open and inclusive Chinese medicine school which does not only emphasize on carrying on of the theoretical system of Chinese medicine, but also actively adjust itself to the development of the society.