Acupuncture for treatment of tobacco withdrawal syndrome: systematic review and Meta-analysis / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To systematically review the efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of tobacco withdrawal syndrome.@*METHODS@#The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding acupuncture for treatment of tobacco withdrawal syndrome were searched in CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Cochrane, Medline and EMbase databases. The search period was from January 1st of 2011 to December 31st of 2021. After data extraction and bias risk assessment of the included literature, the Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan5.4.1 software.@*RESULTS@#Totally 23 RCTs were included, including 2 120 patients. The Meta-analysis results showed that compared with medication, acupuncture showed no significant difference at improving Fagerström test for nicotine dependence (FTND) score (MD=0.16, 95%CI: -0.08, 0.41), heaviness of smoking index (HSI) score (MD=0.11, 95%CI: -0.13, 0.36), Minnesota nicotine withdrawal scale (MNWS) score (MD=0.12, 95%CI: -0.11, 1.35), questionnaire of smoking urges (QSU) score (MD=-0.30, 95%CI: -2.78, 2.18), Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) score (MD=0.76, 95%CI: -1.54, 3.06), abstinence rate (RR=0.95, 95% CI: 0.82, 1.10) and effective rate (RR=1.01, 95%CI: 0.95, 1.07). Acupuncture was superior to sham acupuncture in reducing MNWS score (MD=-4.88, 95%CI: -5.21, -4.55, P<0.000 01). Acupuncture was superior to cognitive behavioral therapy in reducing FTND score (MD=-1.41, 95%CI: -1.74, -1.08), MNWS score (MD=-4.28, 95%CI: -5.31, -3.25) and increasing abstinence rate (RR=2.19, 95%CI: 1.39, 3.45, P<0.000 01, P<0.001).@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture could effectively improve tobacco withdrawal syndrome, increase abstinence rate and effective rate. Limited by the quantity and quality of the included studies, this conclusion needs to be verified by more studies.

Impacts of nicotine metabolite rate and acupuncture frequency on smoking cessation: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the efficacy of different acupuncture frequencies in tobacco-dependent patients and explore the impact of nicotine metabolite rate (NMR) on smoking cessation in the intervention with acupuncture.@*METHODS@#A total of 120 cases of tobacco-dependent patients were randomly divided into a high-frequency group (60 cases, 12 cases dropped off) and a low-frequency group (60 cases, 6 cases dropped off). In the two groups, smoking cessation counseling was provided prior to acupuncture. Acupuncture was applied to Baihui (GV 20), Lieque (LU 7), Zusanli (ST 36), etc. Additionally, electric stimulation was added at Lieque (LU 7) and Zusanli (ST 36), with continuous wave, 15 Hz in frequency. The duration of treatment was 8 weeks in either group. In the high-frequency group, the treatment was given 5 times weekly from week 1 to week 4, and was 3 times weekly from week 5 to week 8. In the low-frequency group, the treatment was given 3 times weekly from week 1 to week 4, and was twice a week from week 5 to week 8. The immediate withdrawal rate, persistent withdrawal rate, the score of Fagerstrőm test for nicotine dependence (FTND) before and after treatment, as well as the score of Minnesota nicotine withdrawal scale (MNWS) in 1 and 8 weeks of treatment were compared among the patients with high and low NMR between the two groups separately. The Logistic regression analysis was used to screen the influencing factors of smoking cessation in the intervention with acupuncture.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, there was no statistical significance of the differences in the immediate withdrawal rate (35.4% [17/48] vs 29.6% [16/54]) and the persistent withdrawal rate (33.3% [16/48] vs 25.9% [14/54]) between the high-frequency group and the low-frequency group (P>0.05). The difference in withdrawal rate had no statistical significance between high and low NMR patients (P>0.05). FTND scores after treatment were lower than those before treatment (P<0.01) and MNWS scores were lower than those in 1 week of treatment (P<0.01) in the two groups. However, the differences had no statistical significance between the two groups and between the patients with high NMR and low NMR (P>0.05). Age, education level and NMR were the influencing factors of smoking cessation in the intervention with acupuncture (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture with different frequencies has no obvious impact on the efficacy in tobacco-dependent patients. The lower nicotine metabolite rate in individuals, the better efficacy of acupuncture. The smokers with high nicotine metabolite rate may obtain a better effect of cessation in the high-frequency intervention with acupuncture.

Effect of moxibustion on clinical symptoms, peripheral inflammatory indexes and T lymphocyte subsets in COVID-19 patients / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the therapeutic effect and the mechanism of the adjuvant treatment with moxibustion on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).@*METHODS@#A total of 95 patients with COVID-19 were randomly divided into a moxibustion group (45 cases) and a basic treatment group (50 cases). The routine treatment of western medicine was applied in the patients of both groups. In the moxibustion group, on the base of the treatment of western medicine, moxibustion was applied to Dazhui (GV 14), Feishu (BL 13), Qihai (CV 6) and Zusanli (ST 36), once daily and consecutively for 14 days. At the end of treatment courses, clinical symptom scores for cough, asthmatic breathing, chest oppression and short breath, as well as their remission rates were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. Before and after treatment, the white blood cell (WBC) count, the levels of c-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the absolute number of T lymphocyte subsets, i.e. , and of the peripheral blood were compared in the patients between the two groups. The principal component analysis was adopted to analyze the common data extracted from the above 10 clinical indexes variables and comprehensively evaluate the differences in the therapeutic effect of two regimens.@*RESULTS@#The clinical symptom scores were all decreased after treatment in both of the moxibustion group and the basic treatment group as compared with those before treatment (@*CONCLUSION@#On the base of the routine treatment with western medicine, moxibustion therapy supplemented relieves the clinical symptoms, reduces the levels of inflammatory indexes, i.e. IL-6 and CRP as well as improves the absolute number of peripheral T lymphocyte subsets. The clinical therapeutic effect of such regimen with moxibustion supplemented is significantly better than the simple routine treatment of western medicine.

Effect of the different smoking cessation regimens with acupuncture on smoking withdrawal and their influence factors: a multi-center randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the clinical effect of acupuncture on smoking cessation and withdrawal symptoms and to explore the influence factors of acupuncture on smoking cessation.@*METHODS@#A total of 500 subjects with tobacco dependence were randomized into an acupuncture group, an auricular therapy group, an acupuncture plus auricular therapy group, a TENS group and a nicotine replacement therapy group (NRT group), 100 cases in each one. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied at Baihui (GV 20), Lieque (LU 7), Hegu (LI 4) and Zusanli (ST 36). The treatment was given 5 times a week, once a day in the first 2 weeks. The treatment was given once every 2 days in the week 3 and 4, 3 times a week, and twice a week, once every 3 days in the week 5 to 8. In the auricular therapy group, the ear point pressure therapy was used at shenmen (TF), neifenmi (CO), pizhixia (AT) and jiaogan (AH), 3 times a week. In the acupuncture plus auricular therapy group, acupuncture and auricular therapy were adopted with the same points and manipulation as the previous two groups. Acupuncture was given 3 times a week and the auricular therapy was given twice a week. In the TENS group, SDZ-Ⅱ B type electric acupuncture apparatus was used to stimulate Lieque (LU 7) and Zusanli (ST 36), once a day. In the NRT group, the nicotine patch was used on the chest, back and the upper arms of the subjects, once a day. The duration of treatment was 8 weeks as one course in every group. Afterwards, the 16-week follow-up was conducted. The time-point withdrawal rate was evaluated by the level of urine cotinine in 8 weeks of treatment and in the follow-up in the subjects of 5 groups. The persistent withdrawal rate was evaluated by the self-report of the subjects in 8 weeks of treatment as well as in the follow-up in the 5 groups. The withdrawal effect, the score of the fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence (FTND) and the score of the heaviness of smoking index (HSI) were compared among the groups. Twenty indexes were selected as the potential influence factors, the 72 h withdrawal rate based on the level of urine cotinine in 8 weeks of treatment and in the follow-up was taken as the dependent variable. Using the two categories of Logistic regression analysis, the influence factors of therapeutic effect of acupuncture were screened for smoking cessation.@*RESULTS@#After 8 weeks of treatment, the time-point withdrawal rate in the subjects among the groups was NRT group > acupuncture plus auricular therapy group > auricular therapy group > acupuncture group > TENS group. In the follow-up, the time-point withdrawal rate was acupuncture plus auricular therapy group > NRT group > acupuncture group > TENS group > auricular therapy group, but without statistical significance in comparison (>0.05). After 8 weeks of treatment, the persistent withdrawal rate in the subjects among the groups was auricular therapy group > TENS group > acupuncture group > acupuncture plus auricular therapy group > NRT group. In the follow-up visit, the persistent withdrawal rate was auricular therapy group > TENS group > acupuncture plus auricular therapy group > acupuncture group > NRT group. The result in the auricular therapy group was better than all of the other 4 groups (0.05). The regression analysis showed that the factors, i.e. nationality, educational background, drinking frequency, pre-treatment FTND score, pre-treatment HSI score and smoking cessation for physical reason in family, were correlated significantly with the withdrawal result after 8-week treatment (<0.05). The factors, i.e. education background, smoking age, pre-treatment FTND score and different therapeutic methods, were correlated significantly with the withdrawal result in the follow-up (<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture combined with auricular therapy effectively reduce nicotine dependence and smoking intensity and relieve withdrawal symptoms. There are many factors that affect the withdrawal effect in smoking cessation. Hence, the influence factors in smoking cessation with acupuncture should be clearly determined so as to develop the individual regimen for smoking cessation and improve the clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture on smoking cessation.

Absorption characteristics of alkaloids in Fuzheng Xiaozheng Fang by rat everted intestinal sac models / 中国中药杂志

Everted intestinal sac models were used to investigate the intestinal absorption of the 4 alkaloids(berberine, palmatine, coptisine, and epiberberine) in Fuzheng Xiaozheng Fang(FZ) at different intestine segments. The absorption parameters of each component were calculated; SPSS 20.0 software was used to analyze the data and evaluate the absorption characteristics at different intestinal segments. The results showed that all the four active ingredients conformed to zero-order absorption rate. There was significant difference in absorption rate constant (Ka) between the four ingredients at low dose and medium and high dose groups(P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in Ka between medium dose and high dose. The absorption mechanization of four ingredients presented two absorption manners： positive diffusion and passive absorption. The absorptive amount of 4 alkaloids in ileum was slightly greater than that of jejunum, but no significant differences were observed, which indicated that these four alkaloids had no specific absorption windows in intestinal segment.

Effect of qubi recipe on changes of oxygen free radical metabolism and hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha in collagen-induced arthritis rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Qubi Recipe (QR) on the expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha in rats with type II collagen-I induced arthritis (CIA), and to explore its therapeutic roles and mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 72 male SD rats of SPF grade were recruited. Twelve were randomly selected as the blank control group. The CIA model was established in the rest 60 rats by subcutaneously injecting type II collagen of bovine emulsion from the tail root and induction of incomplete Freund's adjuvant. On day 15 after primary immunization rats were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the CIA model group, the Tripterygium Glycosides (TG) group (at the daily dose of 9.68 mg/kg body weight), the high dose QR group (at the daily dose of 6.66 g/kg body weight), and the low dose QR group (at the daily dose of 3.33 g/kg body weight), 15 in each group. Corresponding medication was given to rats in all groups by gastrogavage once daily for 4 successive weeks. An equal volume of pure water was given to rats in the blank control group and the CIA model group by gastrogavage, once daily for 4 successive weeks. The swelling degree of the joints was measured. Rats were sacrificed after 4-week treatment. Plasma levels of SOD, MDA, and GSH-Px were measured with colorimetric method. The expression of HIF-1alpha was detected by immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Compared with the CIA model group, the swelling degree of the joints was significantly alleviated in the TG group and the high dose QR group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and it was obviously milder in the high dose QR group than in the TG group (P < 0.05). (2) Compared with the CIA model group, the activities of GSH-Px could be obviously elevated and activities of MDA lowered in the TG group, the high dose QR group, and the low dose QR group (P < 0.05). Plasma activities of SOD could be obviously elevated in the high dose QR group and the TG group (P < 0.05). (3) Compared with the CIA model group, the expression of HIF-1alpha obviously decreased in the TG group and the high dose QR group (P < 0.05), and it showed a decreasing tendency in the low dose QR group with no statistical difference (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>QR could markedly alleviate the swelling degree of ankle joints in CIA model rats. Its therapeutic efficacy was superior to that of TG. Its mechanism might be achieved through down-regulating expression of HIF-1alpha in the joint, and regulating activities of SOD, MDA and GSH-Px in the plasma.</p>

Progress on the research of acupuncture for smoking cessation in foreign and domestic / 中国针灸

Up to December of 2011, the domestic and overseas literatures of acupuncture for smoking cessation are searched and collected through Pubmed, CNKI, Wanfang and Chongqing VIP databases, which are analyzed from treatment method, action mechanism, influencing factors of efficacy and efficacy evaluation research and so on. The result shows that (1) acupuncture has positive effect on smoking cessation, and large clinical trials has been carried out. However, most of them are needling methods and the short-term effect observation, which lack of long-term efficacy research of withdrawal symptoms, especially continuous withdrawal symptoms and index of life quality. (2) Because of unified clinical treatment, manipulation standard and curative effect criteria, it is difficult to make comparison among them. (3) The study of mechanism on acupuncture for smoking cessation is not of in-depth. In future, clinical research project of acupuncture on smoking cessation should be optimized and regulated, including the unified treatment, manipulation standard and curative effect criteria, also long-term researches with large-scale samples should be launched to confirm effect ofacupuncture for smoking cessation to further discuss its action mechanism.

Impacts of bleeding and cupping therapy on serum P substance in patients of postherpetic neuralgia / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of bleeding and cupping therapy on postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and preliminarily discuss the analgesic mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-four cases of PHN were randomized into two groups, 32 cases in each one. In the bleeding and cupping group, the local pricking with syringe needle and cupping was applied in the local painful area, once every two days. And totally 8 treatments were required. In the pregabalin group, pregabalin was prescribed for oral administration, 150mg/time, twice a day. And totally 16 days of medication were required. Visual analogue scale (VAS) score and the changes of P substance content in the peripheral and local serum before and after treatment were observed in the two groups.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>VAS score and peripheral serum P substance after treatment were lower significantly than those before treatment in the two groups (all P<0.01). The result in the bleeding and cupping group was much more significant (P<0.01). The local serum P substance after treatment was reduced significantly than that before treatment in the bleeding and cupping group [(93.86 +/- 9.87) pg/mL vs (46.13 +/- 6.31) pg/mL, P<0.01].</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Bleeding and cupping therapy achieves the definite efficacy on PHN and it can reduce significantly peripheral and local serum P substance content in the patients. It is possibly one of the mechanisms of analgesic effect.</p>

Analysis of the nominations of acupuncture and moxibustion of traditional Chinese medicine for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity / 中国针灸

The definition of intangible cultural heritage and the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in Convention for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage is discussed. Nominations of elements should be prepared in accordence with the Guidelines provided in each section. The explaination methods and the determining process of the Nominations for Acupuncture and Moxibustion on the Representative List are analyzed, such as the name of the element, characteristics, identification and definition, value and safeguarding measures, photos and video of the element. The Nominations should be prepared according to the Convention and Guidelines closedly and focus on discussing the cultural, the content, the communities and individuals, safeguarding measures of element.

Great master of TCM CHENG Xin-nong 's three key points of acupuncture clinical experience / 中国针灸

Professor CHENG Xin-nong has practiced in medicine for over 70 years and gained profound clinical experience. He points out that these rules below should be obeyed to improve the efficacy of acupuncture. Firstly, the diseases should be diagnosed basing on meridians order and meridian syndrome differentiation while acupoints should be chosen and adjuncted according to their main medical functions. Secondly, the three Cai inserting method should be flexibly applied on different patients, by adjusting the needling depth and manipulation to reinforce the deficiency and reduce the excess. Thirdly, the arrival of qi is a key point and such methods as the retaining of needles, electroacupuncture and moxibustion should be cointegrated used.

Study and prospects for clinical diseases treated with scraping therapy / 中国针灸

In order to explore characteristics of clinical diseases treated by scraping therapy, summarize laws of clinical application of scraping therapy, and prospect for research direction of scraping therapy in future, collect 437 articles about scraping therapy between 1994-2007 and analyze and summarize the treated diseases and methods of scraping therapy. Results indicate that scraping therapy has been widely applied to commonly encountered diseases and frequently encountered diseases in departments of internal medicine, surgery, gynecology and pediatrics, etc. with more obvious therapeutic effects. Clinically, it can combine with acupuncture and moxibustion, cupping, massage, blood-letting puncture and other methods. In future, the studies on standardization of manipulation and standards for assessment of therapeutic effect, suitable diseases and the mechanisms of scraping therapy, and development of tools and media, etc. of scraping therapy should be strengthened.

Observation on therapeutic effect of Hwato never and muscle stimulator on peripheral facial paralysis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the therapeutic effect of Hwato never and muscle stimulator on peripheral facial paralysis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-seven cases of peripheral facial paralysis were randomly divided into a Hwato never and muscle stimulator observation group (n=44) and a G 6805 electronic stimulator control group (n=43). The same acupoints, Hegu (LI 4), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taichong (LR 3) and local acupoints on the affected side were selected in the two groups. The therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Although the total effective rates were both 100.0% in the two groups, the cured rate was 90.9% in the observation group and 62.8% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). There were no adverse effects in the two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The cured rate of Hwato never and muscle stimulator on peripheral facial paralysis is superior to that of G 6805 electronic stimulator.</p>

Brief talk about the main cultural quintessence and diagnostic and therapeutic techniques of acupuncture and moxibustion protection / 中国针灸

Acupuncture and moxibustion are a distinctive therapy created by ancient working people of our country, with a long history. Medical practices of long-term form the theories about channels and collaterals, acupoints and indications of acupoints and produce a series of therapeutic methods, such as Ziwu Liuzhu method, filiform needle needling method, moxibustion, scrapping therapy, cupping therapy and Qigong therapy. These distinctive traditional therapeutic ways play great roles in prevention and treatment of diseases in the Chinese nation. The authors expound culture concept and origins of history culture, and facing problems and challenge of above-mentioned theories and therapeutic methods and hold that main culture quintessence and diagnostic and therapeutic techniques of acupuncture and moxibustion very need to be inherited, protected and further sorted out and studied.

Observation on therapeutic effect of simple obesity treated with acupuncture, auricular point sticking and TDP / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To probe into the mechanism and the best program of acupuncture for slimming.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The patients were randomly divided into a control group (n = 60) treated with diet control and exercise, and a treatment group treated with acupuncture, auricular point sticking, TDP radiation. Changes of body weight, cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and blood sugar (BS) before and after treatment were investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The effective rate of the treatment group (91.6%) was better than that of the control group (28.3%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture, auricular point sticking and TDP radiation combined with diet control and exercise are a better program for slimming, and decreasing appetite, promoting lipid decomposition metabolism are the mechanism of acupuncture in slimming.</p>

Effect of deoxynivalenol on action potentials of cultured cardiomyocytes and the protective effects of selenium / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of deoxynivalenol (DON), a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium graminearum, on action potentials of cultured cardiomyocytes and the possible protective effects of sodium selenite.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ventricular myocytes from neonatal Wistar rats were cultured, and the transmembrane action potentials were recorded with glass microelectrodes before and after addition of DON at different concentrations. The cultured cardiomyocytes were pretreated with 0.5 mg/L selenium (as sodium selenite) to observe the protective effects of selenium against the effects of DON.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>DON at concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 mg/L decreased the action potential parameters including action potential amplitude (APA), overshoot (OS), threshold potential (TP), maximum rate of depolarization (Vmax) and action potential discharging frequency (APF), and prolonged the action potential duration of 10%, 50% and 90% repolarization (APD(10), APD(50) and APD(90)). Some of the parameters, such as APA, Vmax, APD and APF, changed in a concentration-dependent manner. The cultured cardiomyocytes pretreated with 0.5 mg/L of selenium for about 16 h presented only slight changes in action potential parameters induced by 200 mg/L DON.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>DON inhibit the membrane action potentials of cardiomyocytes, suggesting DON may interfere with the transmembrane movement of Ca(2+) and K(+), and sodium selenite may decrease the toxic effect of DON on cultured cardiomyocytes.</p>