An infrared thermographic analysis of the sensitization acupoints of women with primary dysmenorrhea.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the sensitization acupoints of women with primary dysmenorrhea (PD) by comparing infrared radiation temperatures between acupoints and non-acupoints. METHODS: We tested 10 acupoints of every woman with PD and healthy subjects on premenstrual, menstrual, and postmenstrual days using an infrared imaging device. The primary outcome was the absolute value of body surface temperature difference (AVTD) between the left and right sides of the same testing point. RESULTS: A total of 58 PD patients and 57 healthy volunteers completed the test from May 2016 to May 2017. Compared with the healthy group, we observed a significant reduction and increase in the AVTD in Taichong (LR3) and Sanyinjiao (SP6), respectively, during menstrual days in the PD group (= 0.01; = 0.04); while during postmenstrual days, all AVTDs of Shuiquan (KI5), Diji (SP8), and Xuehai (SP10) were diminished in the PD group (= 0.01; = 0.03; = 0.01, respectively). No significant differences in AVTD were detected at any other points or testing times. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the healthy group, the AVTDs of Taichong (LR3), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Shuiquan (KI5), Diji (SP8), and Xuehai (SP10) at menstruation-relevant points of PD patients were sensitized, providing a reference for the selection of acupoints in the treatment of PD.

Effects of different methods of acupuncture and moxibustion on functional constipation in rats:a comparative study / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the effects of acupuncture, electroacupuncture (EA) and moxibustion on functional constipation in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a control group (=8), a model group (=11), a medication group (=8), an acupuncture group (=11), an EA group (=11) and a moxibustion group (=11) by random number table. The rats in the model group, medication group, acupuncture group, EA group and moxibustion group were treated with intragastric administration of loperamide hydrochloride for 6 days continuously to establish the functional constipation models, while equal volume of drinking water was administrated to rats in the control group at the same time. The rats in the acupuncture group, EA group and moxibustion group were respectively treated with acupuncture, EA and moxibustion at "Tianshu" (ST 25) and "Shangjuxu" (ST 37) one hour after intragastric administration; rats in the medication group were treated with intragastric administration of cisapride suspension. All the treatment was given once a day for 6 days. At the last day of intervention, the 24-hour food intake, stool quantity and its water content were measured in each group; the pushing rate of intestine was measured; the structure of colon tissue and acidic mucus in its mucous layer were observed by hematoxylin-eosin dyeing and alcian blue dyeing; the expression of stem cell factor (SCF) and c-kit mRNA was detected by real-time PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the 24-hour food intake and stool quantity were reduced in the model group (both<0.01), and the water content of stool and pushing rate of intestine were reduced (both<0.01); compared with the model group, the stool quantity and its water content were increased in the medication group, acupuncture group, EA group (<0.05,<0.01), which were not significantly different from those in the moxibustion group (both>0.05). The pushing rate of intestine in each intervention group was increased (all<0.01). The 24-hour food intake and stool quantity in the medication group were not significantly different from those in the acupuncture group, EA group and moxibustion group (all>0.05), and the water content of stool was only reduced in the moxibustion group (<0.01). The pushing rate of intestine in the acupuncture group and moxibustion group was lower than that in the medication group (both<0.01), while that in the EA group was not significantly different from that in the medication group (>0.05). The water content of stool in the moxibustion group was lower than that in the acupuncture group and EA group (both<0.01). The pushing rate of intestine in the acupuncture group and moxibustion group was lower than that in the EA group (both<0.01). The HE staining result indicated the structure of colon tissue was normal, complete and similar in each group; the alcian blue staining indicated the acidic mucosubstance in the model group was lower than that in the control group; compared with the model group, the acidic mucosubstance in the medication group, acupuncture group, EA group and moxibustion group was all increased. Compared with the control group, the expression of SCF and c-kit mRNA was reduced in the model group (both<0.05); compared with the model group, the expression of SCF and c-kit mRNA was increased in the medication group, acupuncture group, EA group and moxibustion group (all<0.05); compared with the moxibustion group, the expression of c-kit mRNA was reduced in the acupuncture group and EA group (both<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Acupuncture, EA and moxibustion all can play a positive regulative role on functional constipation in rats, in which EA has the best efficacy, followed by acupuncture.</p>