Walnut-shell moxibustion for dry eye symptoms: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the effects of walnut-shell moxibusiton on dry eye symptoms.@*METHODS@#A total of 67 patients with dry eye symptoms were randomized into a walnut moxibustion group and a sodium hyaluronate eye drops group.@*METHODS@#In the walnut moxibustion group, the walnut moxibustion was used, once every two days, 3 times a week, for 4 weeks totally. In the sodium hyaluronate eye drops group, sodium hyaluronate eye drops were selected, 4 times a day, one drop instilled in each eye each time, for 4 weeks totally. At the baseline (before treatment) and in 4 weeks of treatment, the score of the ocular surface disease index (OSDI), the score of visual analogous scale (VAS) for eye symptoms, the tear film break-up time (BUT), the cornea fluorescent pigmentation (FL) and SchirmerⅠ(SchⅠ) were evaluated. In 1-month follow-up after treatment termination, the changes of OSDI and VAS scores were evaluated in the two groups.@*RESULTS@#In 4 weeks of treatment and the follow-up, OSDI scores were reduced as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (0.05). In 4 weeks of treatment and the follow-up, VAS scores were reduced as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all 0.05). The differences were not significant in the above indexes between the two groups (all >0.05). There was no obvious adverse reaction in the two groups.@*CONCLUSION@#The walnut-shell moxibustion is available likely for the subjective symptoms in the patients with dry eye syndrome and contributes to the tear film stabilization. The therapeutic effects need to be further evaluated with the adequate sample size in the randomized controlled trial.

Effects of electroacupuncture at "Zhongliao" (BL 33) and "Tianshu" (ST 25) on ovarian function in rats with premature ovarian insufficiency / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Zhongliao" (BL 33) and "Tianshu" (ST 25) on ovarian function in rats with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 48 SD female rats with regular estrus were divided into a blank group (=8), a model group (=10), an EA group (=10), a binding group (=10) and a tamoxifen (TAM) group (=10). The rats in the model group, EA group, binding group and TAM group were all treated with intraperitoneal injection of 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD, 160 mg/kg) for 15 consecutive days to establish the model of POI; the rats in the blank group were treated with normal diet. After the model was established successfully, the rats in the EA group were treated with EA at "Zhongliao" (BL 33) and "Tianshu" (ST 25) with continuous wave (1 to 3 Hz, 0.1 to 1 mA) for 20 minutes, once a day (five times a week) for the first two weeks and once every other day (three times a week) for the following two weeks. The rats in the TAM group were treated with subcutaneous injection of tamoxifen (1mg/kg), once a day (five times a week) for the first two weeks and once every other day (three times a week) for the following two weeks. The rats in the binding group were bound by a small sack as the EA group. The rats in the blank group and the model group were treated with normal diet. After four weeks, the sexual gland weight and index were tested in each group; the ELISA method was applied to test the level of anti-mllerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin B; the morphology of ovary was observed; the number of primordial follicles, primary follicle, antral follicle and atretic follicle was counted; the expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Compared with the blank group, the ovary weight, ovary index, uterus weight and uterus index were significantly decreased after treatment in the model group, EA group, binding group and TAM group (all <0.01); but the differences between the model group and the EA group, binding group, TAM group were not significant (all >0.05). (2) Compared with the blank group, the levels of serum AMH, inhibin B and E were significantly reduced; the levels of FSH and LH were significantly increased in the model group; EA group, binding group and TAM group (all <0.01). Compared with the model group, the levels of serum AMH, inhibin B and E were significantly increased, the level of FSH and LH were significantly reduced in the EA group and TAM group (all <0.01). (3) Compared with the blank group, in the model group, EA group, binding group and TAM group the ovary was dark red and pale, surrounded by particle or not; the morphology was small and atrophic; the primordial follicles was reduced even vanished; the structure of primary follicle was damaged and loosely arranged; the mature follicle was few; the atretic follicle and interstitial gland were increased. (4) Compared with the blank group, the expressions of IGF-1 mRNA and IGF-1R mRNA were increased in the model group (all <0.01); compared with the blank group, the expression of IGF-1 mRNA was increased in the binding group (<0.05), but that of IGF-1R mRNA was not significantly different (>0.05); compared with the model group, the expression of IGF-1 mRNA was not significantly different in the EA group, binding group and TAM group (all >0.05), but that of IGF-1R mRNA was reduced (<0.05, <0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EA at "Zhongliao" (BL 33) and "Tianshu" (ST 25) has improvement effect on ovarian function in rats with VCD-induced POI, which is likely to be related to regulating the IGF-1R mRNA expression to improve the IGF-1/ IGF-1R axis.</p>

Protective effects of electroacupuncture pretreatment on ovarian in rats with premature ovarian insufficiency / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the protective effect and possible mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment at "Zhongliao" (BL 33) and "Tianshu" (ST 25) on ovarian in rats with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 32 SD female rats with regular estrus were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, an EA group and an immobilization group, 8 rats in each one. The rats in the model group, EA group and immobilization group were treated with intraperitoneal injection of 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (160 mg/kg) for 15 days to establish the model. From the beginning of model establishment, the rats in the EA group were treated with EA pretreatment at "Zhongliao" (BL 33) and "Tianshu" (ST 25), once a day for the first two weeks (5 treatments per week) and once every two days for the last two weeks (3 treatments per week). EA was given 20 min per treatment for four weeks. The rats in the immobilization group were treated with immobilization with identical duration, frequency and total amount as the EA group. No treatment was given in the blank group and model group. When model was successfully established in the model group, rats were sacrificed to test the weight of sexual gland and the sexual gland index; the ELISA method was applied to test the level of anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin B; the radioimmunoassay method was applied to test the level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E), progesterone (P) and testosterone (T). In addition, the morphology and the number of ovarian follicles were observed; and western blot method was applied to test the expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) in ovarian tissue.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the blank group, the bilateral ovary weight, ovary index, uterus weight and uterus index decreased (<0.05, <0.01); serum AMH, inhibin B, E and P reduced, while serum FSH, LH and T increased in the model group (all <0.01); primordial follicles and primary follicles decreased, while atretic follicles increased in the model group (all <0.01); the expression of Bax protein increased, while the expression of Bcl-2 protein decreased in the model group (both <0.01). Compared with the model group, the bilateral ovary weight, ovary index and uterus weight increased (<0.05, <0.01); serum AMH, inhibin B, E and P increased, while serum FSH and LH reduced (<0.05, <0.01); primordial follicles and primary follicles increased, while atretic follicles reduced (<0.05, <0.01); the expression of Bax protein reduced, while the expression of Bcl-2 protein increased in the EA group (<0.05, <0.01). The differences of each outcome indexes were not significant between the model group and immobilization group (all >0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EA pretreatment at "Zhongliao" (BL 33) and Tianshu (ST 25) for 4 weeks has certain protective effect on ovarian in POI rats, which is likely to be related with up-regulating ovarian granular cells, inhabiting the expression of Bcl-2 protein and down-regulating the expression of Bax protein.</p>

's extraordinary acupoints for the ovarian function of polycystic ovary syndrome:a randomized controlled pilot trial / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To preliminary assess the efficacy of's extraordinary acupoints for the ovarian function of polycystic ovary syndrome.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-six patients were randomized into an acupuncture group and a western medication group. In the acupuncture group, the acupoints were Fuke, Huanchao, Tianhuang (Yinlingquan, SP 9), Renhuang (Sanyinjiao, SP 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zigong (EX-CA 1). The treatment was used twice a week for continuous 12 weeks. In the western medication group, patients were given diane-35 for 3 menstrual cycles, once a day for 21 days with 7 days between the two sessions. The ratio of luteinizing hormone/flitropin (LH/FSH) was taken as the primary index, while the secondary indices were serum testosterone (T), FSH, LH, body mass index (BMI), the condition of ovary and menstruation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>①After treatment, the ratio of LH/FSH declined in both the two groups (<0.05,<0.01). The decreasing values of the two groups were not significantly different (>0.05). ②T, LH and BMI dropped in the two groups (<0.05,<0.01). The decreasing values of the three indices between the two groups were not significantly different (all>0.05). ③The size of ovary did not change significantly after treatment in the two groups (both>0.05), but the reduction degree of ovary size of the acupuncture group was larger than that of the western medication group (<0.05). The ovary number of more than 10 foliiculi in single ovary in the acupuncture group reduced compared with that before treatment (<0.05). The reduction degree of ovary number with the above feature was not significantly different between the two groups (>0.05). ④The times and days of menstruation within 3 months increased significantly in the two groups (all<0.01), without significance of different valves between the two groups (both>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b> 's extraordinary acupoints could improve the ovarian function of polycystic ovary syndrome, whose effect is similar as diane-35.</p>

Acupoints selection based on "disease-symptom-location" combination and acupuncture treatment of pattern/syndrome differentiation / 中国针灸

The pattern/symptom differentiation system in acupuncture treatment is lack of the unique characteristics and advantages in theory and clinical practice and it just rigidly adopts the methods of pattern/symptom differentiation of the other disciplines in TCM. In fact, it is necessary to have the unique and more practical theoretic system to guide acupuncture treatment. According to the characteristics of acupuncture in diagnosis and treatment, the acupoints selection based on "disease-symptom-location" combination becomes the law of acupuncture treatment. The acupoints selection based on "disease-symptom-location" combination is the expression to concretize the diagnosis and treatment of disease under the guidance of pattern/syndrome differentiation. Both of them are originated from the general principles of TCM and for the particular disciplines of TCM. The acupoints selection based on "disease-symptom-location" combination benefits the promotion and application of acupuncture.

Characteristics on the diagnosis and treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion for the improvement of motor sensory function, urination and defecation in myelitis / 中国针灸

The literature was analyzed on the improvement of motor sensory function, urination and defecation in myelitis treated with acupuncture and moxibustion and focused on the characteristics of the diagnosis and treatment. The literature on acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for myelitis was collected from CNKI, Wanfang, VIP and PubMed. The analysis included the characteristics of acupoint selection, methods of acupuncture and moxibustion, time of treatment, total treatment period, efficacy, follow-up, safety, etc. Totally, 26 articles were collected. The combined therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion was predominated (12/26, 46. 15%). For the motor and sensory impairment, the acupoints were mainly selected from the four limbs, the yangming meridians of hand and foot and those adjacent to the affected spinal segments and on the governor vessel as well as Jiaji (EX-B 2) points. For urinary impairment, the acupoints were selected mainly from the lower abdominal region on the conception vessel and the lumbosacral region on the bladder meridian. For the intestinal impairment, the acupoints were from the lower limb on the stomach meridian, the lower abdominal region on the conception vessel and the back points on the bladder meridian. The intervention started commonly in the first 3 months after onset. The total treatment period was in the range from 1 to 3 months. The efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion was 69.19% to 82.56% for the improvement of motor sensory and urination, defecation function. The efficacy in follow-up was stable and the adverse reactions were not reported. It is viewed that on the basis of early diagnosis and active medication, acupuncture and moxibution achieve a certain of efficacy on the impairment of motor sensory function, urination and defecation. A clinical research is expected to further verify the efficacy.

Interpretation of Clinical Practice Guideline for Low Back Pain Treated with Acupuncture and Moxibustion / 中国针灸

Based on entire literature retrieval about low back pain treated with acupuncture and moxibustion, Clinical Practice Guideline for Low Back Pain Treated with Acupuncture and Moxibustion was drafted according to method of evidence quality and recommended intensity grading system(GRADE). This article specificly introduces the aim and available diseases of the guideline. The principle and recommended plans are also detailedly explained.

Extending the CONSORT Statement to moxibustion / 中西医结合学报

The STandards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials Of Moxibustion (STRICTOM), in the form of a checklist and descriptions of checklist items, were designed to improve reporting of moxibustion trials, and thereby facilitating their interpretation and replication. The STRICTOM checklist included 7 items and 16 sub-items. These set out reporting guidelines for the moxibustion rationale, details of moxibustion, treatment regimen, other components of treatment, treatment provider background, control and comparator interventions, and precaution measures. In addition, there were descriptions of each item and examples of good reporting. It is intended that the STRICTOM can be used in conjunction with the main CONSORT Statement, extensions for nonpharmacologic treatment and pragmatic trials, and thereby raise the quality of reporting of clinical trials of moxibustion. Further comments will be solicited from the experts of the CONSORT Group, the STRICTA Group, acupuncture and moxibustion societies, and clinical trial authors for optimizing the STRICTOM.

Clinical Study on Deep Insertion at Tianshu(ST 25)for Colonic Slow Transit Constipation / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of deep insertion at Tianshu(ST 25)for colonic slow transit constipation(STC).Methods:120 cases of STC patients were randomly divided,60 cases in a deep insertion group,30 cases in an electroacupuncture group and 30 cases in a medication group by 2:1:1 ratio.The deep insertion group was treated with deep insertion at Tianshu(ST 25).The electroacupuncture group was treated with routine insertion at Tianshu(ST 25).The medication group was treated with oral administration of Lactulose oral liquid.The first voluntary defecation time,and constipation scores before the treatment,four weeks after the treatment and relevant scores of clinical symptoms were assessed in the three groups of the patients.Results:The scores of the clinical symptoms in improvement of constipation were better in the deep insertion group than in the electroacupuncture group and medication group,with differences in statistical significance(P<0.01).The unsuccessful numbers in the improvement of defecation and abdominal pain were also better in the deep insertion group than in the other two groups,and better in instant effect in the deep insertion.Conclusion:The improvement of STC clinical symptoms was better by deep insertion at Tianshu(ST 25)than by medication and routine acupuncture method at Tianshu(ST 25).

Comparison of visual analogue scale and Likert scale in assessing the PROs for patient with spastic paralysis from the stroke / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objectives To assess if visual analogue scale(VAS) or Likert scale was relatively more suitable when measuring self-reported clinical outcomes for apoplexy spastic-paralysis patients.Methods Nineteen questions were made from the serf-evaluating instrument based on patient reported outcomes for apoplexy spasticparalysis patients developed previously in cross-sectional study.104 patients answered the questions by both continuous and discrete visual analogue scale(VAS),while other 110 patients by both five-point Likert scales and Likert-typo scales.Cronbach'sαfor internal consistency reliability,spearman for correlation,and exploratory factor analysis for construct validity were applied.Results Except for emotional domain,the α coefficients of physical domain,social domain and overall score with continuous and discrete VAS are higher than that with five-point Likert scales and Likert-type scales.Internal consistency reliability was stronger for VAS.lntraclass correlation coefficients were above 0.4 mostly for each item with its domain,and VAS may produce the higher correlation.For VAS,there were three factors in the exploratory factor analysis,which confirmed the domain hypotheses of physical,mental and social functions,but for the Likert scales,the result was undesiable.Conclusion The more accurate for the response options,the better for the performance.When the patient can complete the measurement without the help of others,VAS seems better suited.

Review on the Safety of Deep Acupuncture at Tianshu(ST 25) / 针刺研究

Tianshu (ST 25) is a frequently-used acupoint in acupuncture practice. It is reported that deep acupuncture has a better therapeutic effect than routine depth acupuncture. On the basis of reviewing the available literature,the present paper gives a definition about "deep acupuncture" of Tianshu (ST 25) from the anatomy angle,and makes a summary about its safety. This paper also puts forward a set of operation standards for needling Tianshu (ST 25). Moreover,the authors of the present paper also make a systematic analysis on the factors affecting the safety from the punctured depth,the diameter of the acupuncture needle and the operation technique. These methods and standards have an important significance in guiding clinical practice of acu-puncture.

Evaluation of the Curative Effect of Electroacupuncture on Postapoplectic Urinary Incontinence / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective:To evaluate the curative effect of electroacupuncture on postapoplectic incontinence of urine.Methods:One Hundred and fifty-five patients were randomly allocated into a treatment group of 102 cases and a control group Of 51 cases.The treatment group was treated with electroacupuncture and the control group with Wlestem medicine.The curative effects were evaluated after 1-2 months.Resuits:The basic cure rate.marked eriective rate,effective rate and inelyective rate were 47.0%,27.5%,1 8.6% and 6.9% respectively,with a total effective rate of 93.1%in the treatment group and 7.9%,1 7.6%,1 7.6% and 56.9% respectively,with a total effective rate of 43.1% in the control group.There was a statistically significant difference in curative effect between the two groups(P＜0.05).The curative effect was significantly beaer in the treatment group than in the control group.Conclusion:Electroacupuncture has a good curative effect on postapoplectic incontinence ofurine.

Assessment of Therapeutic Effect in Acupuncture Treatment of Intermittent Lameness Caused by Lumbar Stenosis Syndrome / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Purpose: To explore the therapeutic method for lameness caused by lumbar spinal stenosis. Methods: 28 cases of the patients with lameness were treated by puncturing Dachangshu (BL 25), Weizhong (BL 40), Chengshan (BL 57) and Kunlun (BL 60) and simultaneously another 26 cases were treated with routine method for control study. Results:After the treatments for four weeks, the scores of the symptoms in the two groups were remarkably elevated. In the acupuncture treatment, the results showed remarkable effect in 4 cases, effect in 21 cases. In the routine treatment, the results showed remarkable effect in 4 cases and effect in 8 cases. Conclusion: acupuncture treatment is better than the routine conventional treatment for lameness caused by lumbar spinal stenosis.

Therapeutic Effect Observation on Treatment of Vestibular Central Balance Disturbance with Brain-Regulating Electroacupuncture / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture on vestibular central balance disturbance. Methods: Forty-six patients with vestibular central balance disturbance were randomly divided into a treatment group of 23 cases and a control group of 23 cases. After 4 weeks 'treatment, the effects were evaluated by Berg balance scale, Visual analog scale and a staticdynamic balance test. Results: The effective rate was 87.0% in the treatment group and 65.2% in the control group. There was a significant difference (P＜ 0.05). After treatment, Berg balance scale score, eye opening with two feet standing time and eye closure with two feet standing time were better in the treatment group than in the control group after treatment (P＜ 0.05). Conclusion: This therapy is effective for vestibular central balance disturbance.