Research progress in the treatment of primary insomnia with electroacupuncture / 国际中医中药杂志

Electroacupuncture treatment of primary insomnia is widely used and with confirmed efficacy. The factors influencing the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture include waveform selection, treatment frequency, stimulation intensity, stimulation time and acupoint selection. The mechanism of electroacupuncture in treating this disease mainly includes regulating the levels of excitatory neurotransmitters, γ-aminobutyric acid, melatonin and interleukin cytokines.

Clinical study on Bushen-Liyan Decoction combined with low frequency pulse acupoint electrical stimulation in the treatment of swallowing dysfunction in patients with stroke at convalescent stage / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical application of Bushen-Liyan Decoction combined with low frequency pulse acupoint electrical stimulation in the treatment of swallowing dysfunction of stroke patients in convalescent stage. Methods:From January 2018 to March 2020, 108 stroke patients with swallowing dysfunction in the Shandong Provincial Third Hospital were selected. They were randomly divided into two groups with 54 in each according to the random number table method. The control group was given low frequency pulse acupoint electrical stimulation on the basis of conventional treatment, and the study group was given Bushen-Liyan Decoction combined with low frequency pulse acupoint electrical stimulation on the basis of conventional treatment. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. The National Institutes of Health Neurological Deficit Score (NIHSS) was used to assess the degree of neurological impairment, the Wada Drinking Water Test was used to assess the degree of swallowing dysfunction, and Barthel Index was used to assess the ability of daily living. The serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), VEGF, IL-18, IL-23, SOD and MDA were detected by ELISA. The adverse reactions during the treatment were observed and the clinical efficacy was evaluated.Results:The total effective rate was 92.6% (50/54) in the study group and 72.2% (39/54) in the control group, with significant difference between the two groups( χ2=7.728, P=0.005). After treatment, NIHSS score and Wata’s drinking water test score of the study group were lower than those in the control group ( t=8.383, 9.740, P<0.001), Barthel index of the study group was significantly higher than that of the control group ( t=4.064, P<0.01). The serum BDNF [(8.42 ± 0.72) μg/L vs. (6.69 ± 0.63) μg/L, t=13.288], IGF-1[(142.20 ± 12.29) μg/L vs. (118.35 ± 10.73) μg/L, t=10.742] and VEGF[(151.29 ± 12.26) ng/L vs. (102.21 ± 9.77) ng/L, t=23.006] were significantly higher than those in control group( P<0.01); The serum levels of IL-18, IL-23 and MDA were significantly lower than those in the control group( t=7.892, 9.897, 6.206, P<0.001), and the level of SOD was significantly higher than that of the control group ( t=18.510, P<0.001). During the treatment, no serious adverse events occurred in both groups. Conclusion:Bushen-Liyan Decoction combined with low-frequency pulse acupoint electrical stimulation can reduce the clinical symptoms, inflammatory reaction and brain tissue damage of stroke patients with dysphagia, improve the swallowing function and improve the clinical efficacy.

Research on community promotion and application of single acupoint electroacupuncture therapy for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the clinical effect of single acupoint [Yaotu (extra)] electroacupuncture (EA) therapy on lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (LIDH) and its promotion and application in community medical institutions.@*METHODS@#This research adopted a three-level promotion model, and used multi-center collaboration topics as a platform. A total of 240 patients with LIDH were divided into a group A (top three hospital, 80 cases, 3 cases dropped off), a group B (secondary hospital, 80 cases, 8 cases dropped off), and a group C (community health center, 80 cases, 7 cases dropped off). All groups were treated with EA at a single acupoint [Yaotu (extra)] under the guidance of a unified experimental protocol. The EA was given 60 min each time and performed 3 times a week for a total of 2 weeks. The changes of visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of three groups before and after each treatment were compared, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated.@*RESULTS@#Compared with before each treatment, the VAS scores of three groups after each treatment decreased (@*CONCLUSION@#The single acupoint EA therapy has a significant effect in the treatment of LIDH, can quickly relieve the pain symptoms, and has the characteristics of simple operation and easy control, suitable for promotion and application in primary hospitals.

Effect of early electroacupuncture intervention on conscious state of patients after traumatic brain injury surgery / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate recovering consciousness effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on patients after traumatic brain injury (TBI) surgery.@*METHODS@#A total of 100 patients with traumatic coma were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 50 cases in each group. The control group was mainly treated with awakening drugs and neurotrophic drugs; on the basis of treatment in the control group, the observation group was treated with EA at Neiguan (PC 6) and Shuigou (GV 26) with disperse-dense wave, 2 Hz/100 Hz in frequency, 0.1-5 mA in intensity. After 30 min of EA, the needles were stayed 60 min. The treatment was performed once a day for 14 consecutive days. The changes in Glasgow coma score (GCS) was observed in the two groups before treatment and after 7, 14 days of treatment; and the two groups were followed up for 3 months after treatment to evaluate the Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) and Barthel index (BI) scores.@*RESULTS@#After 7, 14 days of treatment, the GCS scores of the two groups were higher than those before treatment (<0.05), and the increase degree in the observation group was significantly larger than that in the control group (<0.05). At 3 months of follow-up, the GOS and BI scores of the observation group were better than those of the control group (<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Early electroacupuncture intervention can effectively promote the recovery of consciousness after traumatic brain injury surgery, and has a curative long-term effect.

Regulatory Mechanism of Electroacupuncture Therapy for Diaphragm Function of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Model Rats with Muscular Dystrophy / 广州中医药大学学报

Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture on diaphragm function of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) rats with muscular dystrophy, and to explore the regulatory mechanism. Methods Forty male rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group, electroacupuncture group, exercise group, electroacupuncture plus exercise group, 8 rats in each group. After successful establishment of COPD rat model with muscular dystrophy, the modeled rats in various intervention groups were given electroacupuncture and/or exercise treatment. After the last treatment, the changes of rat body mass were observed, the rat lung function was detected, and the mRNA expression levels of myosin heavy chains (MHC) of MHC-1, MHC-2 and diaphragmatic related signal proteins of Atrogin-1, muscle ring-finger protein-1(MuRF-1), MyoD were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results (1) Compared with the blank group, inspiratory resistance (IR) and functional residual mass (FRC) in the model group were increased (P < 0.05) , and the dynamic lung compliance(Cydn) was decreased(P<0.05). Compared with the model group, IR and FRC in the intervention groups were decreased (P < 0.05), but the differences among the three intervention groups were insignificant(P>0.05). (2) Compared with the blank group, the mRNA expression levels of MHC-1, Atrogin-1, MuRF-1, MyoD in the model group were increased (P<0.05), and the mRNA expression level of MHC-2 was decreased (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the mRNA expression levels of MHC-1, Atrogin-1, MuRF-1, MyoD in the intervention groups were decreased (P < 0.05) , and the mRNA expression level of MHC-2 was increased(P<0.05). Compared with the exercise group, the mRNA expression levels of Atrogin-1, MuRF-1, MyoD in the electroacupuncture group were decreased (P<0.05), and the mRNA expression level of MHC-2 was increased (P<0.05) , but the above indexes in electroacupuncture plus exercise group showed no obvious changes(P>0.05). Conclusion Electroacupuncture can improve respiratory function of COPD rats with muscular dystrophy, and the possible mechanism is related with the increase of MHC-2 mRNA expression and with the decrease of Atrogin-1, MuRF-1, MyoD mRNA expression, which result into the regulation of ubiquitin proteasome pathway(UPP), reduction of myosin loss, and the relief of diaphragmatic atrophy.

Efficacy on primary trigeminal neuralgia treated with triple puncture technique and electroacupuncture at trigger points / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the clinical efficacy on primary trigeminal neuralgia between the combined therapy of electroacupuncture and triple puncture and the routine electroacupuncture therapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-six patients of primary trigeminal neuralgia were randomly assigned into an electroacupuncture and triple puncture group (group A) and a routine electroacupuncture group (group B), 18 cases in each one. In the group A, the triple puncture technique was used at the trigger points (the positive reactive points to trigger facial pain) and stimulated with electricity. In the group B, the regular needling technique was used at the trigger points, stimulated with electricity. The treatment was given once every two days, the treatment for 10 days made one session and two sessions were required. Separately, before treatment, at the end of the first session of treatment and at the end of the second session, the score of comprehensive symptoms, the score of visual analogue scale (VAS) and the cli-nical efficacy were evaluated in the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with those before treatment, the comprehensive symptom score and VAS score were all reduced after treatment in the two groups (<0.05,<0.01). The scores were reduced much more apparently in the group A as compared with those in the group B (both<0.01). The curative and remarkably effective rate was 44.4% (8/18) and the total effective rate was 88.9% (16/18) in the group A, better than 27.8% (5/18) and 66.7% (12/18) in the group B respectively (both<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The combined therapy of triple puncture and electroacupuncture at trigger points achieves the better efficacy on primary trigeminal neuralgia as compared with the routine electroacupuncture therapy.</p>

Clinical effect of point-to-point acupuncture with electric stimulation of direct current induction for facial nerve paralysis / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective To observe the clinical effect of point-to-point acupuncture with electric stimulation of direct current induction for facial nerve paralysis. Methods A total of 65 patients with facial nerve paralysis were randomly divided into the observation group (n=33) and the control group (n=32). The control group received routine treatment, and observation group was received Dicang (ST4)-to-Jiache (ST6) and Yangbai (GB14)-to-Taiyang (EX-HN5) by acupuncture with electric stimulation of direct current induction combined with conventional western medicine. The treatment of both groups last 3 weeks. The House-Brackmann Scale and the BR indexe at baseline and after 3 weeks treatment were observed. Results After treatment, The clinical effect of observation group was 66.7%, which was significantly higher than control group 43.8% (U=2.175, P=0.013). After treatment, House-Brackmann facial nerve scale (Ⅰ level=15 cases, Ⅱ level=4 cases, Ⅲ level=3 cases) in the observation group was significantly better than that in the control group (Ⅰ level=5 cases, Ⅱ level=7 cases, Ⅲ level=2 cases; U=2.069, P=0.018). After treatment, R1 latency (12.28 ± 2.55 ms vs. 13.84 ± 3.07 ms, t=2.227) and R2 latency (32.28 ± 7.08 ms vs. 35.95 ± 5.11 ms, t=2.396) in the observation group were significantly shorter than those in the control group (P=0.030, P=0.020). Conclusions The point-to-point acupuncture with electric stimulation of direct current induction could reduce latency of R1 and R2 for facial nerve paralysis, and improve the clinical effect.

The mechanism of electroacupuncture therapy after cerebral ischemic injury / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To observe the operation of Nav1.6 voltage-gated sodium channels in rats with acute cerebral injury after electroacupuncture therapy and investigate the mechanism.Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into an ischemia control group (IC,n =48),an electroacupuncture group (ET,n =48),a nimodipine therapy group (NT,n =48) and a sham operation group (SO,n =24),and were treated accordingly.A model of acute cerebral ischemia was induced by occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery using the suture method.The expression of Nav1.6,the concentration of Ca2+ and infarct volume were observed at 6 h,1 d,2 d and 3 d after ischemia with the real-time quantitative fluorescence PCR,immunofluorescence and 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride methods,respectively.Results The Joshua score for neural function was zero in the sham operation group,and increased gradually in the three other groups 6 h and1 and 2 d after ischemia.The average Joshua score 3 d after ischemia was significantly lower than 1 d earlier in each group.In the ET group the expression of Nav1.6 was significantly upregulated at first,followed by a significant decrease.The concentration of Ca2+ behaved similarly.However,no significant changes were observed in the infarction volume percentage.At 3 d after ischemia the expression of Nav 1.6,the Joshua grades,the Ca2+ concentrations and the infarction volume percentage were all significantly lower in the ET group compared with the IC,NT and SO groups.Conclusion Electroacupuncture therapy after acute cerebral ischemia can inhibit the expression of Navl.6,reduced Na + inflow and calcium overload,and mitigate acute cerebral ischemic injury,at least in rats.The protective effect may be attributed to inhibiting the expression of Nav 1.6.

The effect of the electroacupuncture therapy for low back pain of collegiate athletes / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

[Objective]The purpose of this study is to evaluate an effect of electroacupuncture therapy on low back pain of collegiate athletes. <BR>[Methods]Subjects were 28 collegiate athletes with low back pain who gave informed consent. They consulted a medical doctor beforehand. The electroacupuncture therapy was performed as acupuncture. The evaluation items were as follows:Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) which expresses the state of the pain (Pain-VAS), VAS which shows a training state (Training-VAS), five phases of evaluations to show a training state, pain at the time of the trunk movements, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ), and Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score. The correlation of each item was estimated.<BR>[Results]The chief complaint of 27 people was low back pain, and one person had pain of the low back and the lower extremities. In the diagnosis, 16 people had non-specific low back pain, 5people had lumbar vertebrae discopathy, and 3had a lumber vertebrae herniated disk. As a result of acupuncture, the training-VAS and five phases of evaluations to show the training state and JOA score were significantly improved. However, as for the pain-VAS and pain at the time of trunk movements and RDQ, a significant difference was not accepted. <BR>[Conclusion]Training-VAS is useful for measuring the outcome of an athlete with low back pain. It is important that athletes with low back pain evaluate their training.

Effect of Du Meridian Electroacupuncture of the Scalp on Deglutition Disorder after Stroke / 中国康复理论与实践

@#ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Du meridian electroacupuncture of the scalp on deglutition disorder after stroke.Methods67 patients with deglutition disorder after stroke were randomly divided into the experimental group (n=34) and control group (n=33). The patients of the experimental group were received Du meridian electroacupuncture of the scalp as main therapy, combined with routine medicine treatments; the patients of the control group were only received routine medicine treatments. Before and after treatments, deglutition function of all patients was assessed by drinking water test and clinical effect was also assessed.ResultsAfter treatment, the deglutition function of the patients in the experiment group was markedly improved and superior to those in the control group ( P<0.01).ConclusionDu meridian electroacupuncture can markedly improve the clinical effect of routine medicine treatments on deglutition disorder after stroke.