Using a consensus acupoints regimen to explore the relationship between acupuncture sensation and lumbar spinal postoperative analgesia: A retrospective analysis of prospective clinical cooperation / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#This study evaluated the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment on postoperative pain in patients with degenerative lumbar spine disease, and explored the relationship between the postoperative analgesic effect of acupuncture and the sensation of acupuncture experienced by the patients.@*METHODS@#This retrospective study analyzed the medical records of 97 patients who had undergone an operation by the same surgeon due to degenerative lumbar disease. These patients were divided into acupuncture group (n = 32), patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) group (n = 27), and oral analgesia group (n = 38) according to the different postoperative analgesic methods. During their hospitalization, patients completed daily evaluations of their pain using a visual analogue scale (VAS), and injection times of supplemental meperidine were recorded. Also, the Chinese version of the Massachusetts General Hospital Acupuncture Sensation Scale (C-MASS) was used in the acupuncture group.@*RESULTS@#Each of the three treatment groups showed significant reductions in postoperative pain, as shown by reduced VAS scores. The acupuncture group, however, had less rebound pain (P < 0.05) than the other two groups. Both the acupuncture and PCA groups experienced acute analgesic effects that were superior to those in the oral analgesia group. In addition, the higher the C-MASS index on the second day after surgery, the lower the VAS score on the fourth day after surgery. There was also a significant difference in the "dull pain" in the acupuncture sensation.@*CONCLUSION@#The results demonstrated that acupuncture was beneficial for postoperative pain and discomfort after simple surgery for degenerative spinal disease. It is worth noting that there was a disproportionate relevance between the patient's acupuncture sensation and the improvement of pain VAS score.

Patient blinding with blunt tip placebo acupuncture needles: comparison between 1 mm and 2 mm skin press / 中西医结合学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influence of the depth of skin press in blunt tip placebo acupuncture needles on patient blinding and its relationship to needle diameter.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty healthy volunteers were enrolled as subjects for patient blinding. Four acupuncturists applied the following needles randomly at three points in each forearm: 0.18 mm and 0.25 mm diameter penetrating needles inserted to a depth of 5 mm, and 0.18 mm and 0.25 mm diameter skin-touch needles depressing the skin at the acupoint to a depth of 1 mm and 2 mm from the skin surface. The subjects reported their guesses at the nature of needles they received, and rated needle pain and de qi. A blinding index was calculated to define the success of blinding for subjects.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The blinding status of subjects for 1 mm press needles of 0.18 mm diameter was "random guess", but "unblinded" for 1 mm press needles of 0.25 mm diameter. For 2 mm press needles of both diameters, the blinding status was "opposite guess" and the blinding status for penetrating needles of both diameters was "unblinded." The percentages of "felt pain" with 2 mm press needles of both diameters were similar to that with penetrating needles, but those were not similar for 1 mm press needles. The frequency of de qi occurrence with 2 mm press needles of 0.18 mm diameter was similar to that of penetrating needles of both diameters.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Placebo needles of 2 mm press made more subjects guess that the needles penetrated the skin than 1 mm press needles. The use of small diameter needles increased patient blinding.</p>

Discussion about the Acupuncture and Needling Sensations / 上海针灸杂志

This article aimed to discuss the definition of the ancient characterZhen (needle) from three aspects: the origin of the character, the meaning of hexagramXian, and application of interaction in acupuncture. The writers hold thatZhen means feeling, and the definition ofZhen reveals that the key to achieving acupuncture efficacy is needling sensation. In clinic, when practicing acupuncture, the writers should especially pay attention to the use of interactions between the left and the right, the upper and the lower, the anterior and the posterior, and intersections among meridians, which will benefit the enhancement the clinical efficacy of acupuncture-moxibustion therapy.

Discussion about the Acupuncture and Needling Sensations / 上海针灸杂志

This article aimed to discuss the definition of the ancient characterZhen (needle) from three aspects: the origin of the character, the meaning of hexagramXian, and application of interaction in acupuncture. The writers hold thatZhen means feeling, and the definition ofZhen reveals that the key to achieving acupuncture efficacy is needling sensation. In clinic, when practicing acupuncture, the writers should especially pay attention to the use of interactions between the left and the right, the upper and the lower, the anterior and the posterior, and intersections among meridians, which will benefit the enhancement the clinical efficacy of acupuncture-moxibustion therapy.

Relationship among Neuropsychological Factors, De Qi and Effect of Acupuncture on Chronic Alcoholic Periph-eral Neuropathy in Male Adults / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective To study the relationship among neuropsychological factors, De Qi, and efficacy of acupuncture on chronic alco-holic peripheral neuropathy (CAPN) patients. Methods 55 male patients with CAPN were randomized into acupuncture manipulation group (n=25) and non-manipulation group (n=25). The degree of symptoms and clinical efficacy in patients were evaluated with Neuropathy Im-pairment Score in the Lower Limbs (NIS-LL) and Neurological Severity Score (NSS). The levels of De Qi for patients and acupuncturists were assessed by Subjective Acupuncture Sensation Scale (SASS), the psychological factors in patients were tested with Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA). Results 7, 14, 21, 28 days after treatment, the scores of De Qi and the average score were significantly higher in the manipulation group than in the non-manipulation group (P<0.05). The higher the scores of warmth, independence, intelligence, irritability and sensitivity, the more susceptible to SASS. 14, 28 days after treatment, the scores of SASS were lower in the depression group and anxiety group than in the healthy group (P<0.05). 28 days after treatment, the scores of NIS-LL and NSS were higher in the depression group and anxiety group than in the healthy group (P<0.05), and were lower in the acupuncture manipulation group than in the non-manipulation group (P<0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture is effective on CAPN. The neuropsychological factors play important role in De Qi and the efficacy.