Early age-related macular degeneration treated withacupuncture technique: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the differences in the clinical therapeutic effects on early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the treatment betweenacupuncture technique and regular acupuncture.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 110 patients of AMD were randomized into an observation group (55 cases, 73 eyes) and a control group (55 cases, 76 eyes). In the observation group, acupuncture was applied at Cuanzhu (BL 2) and Yiming (EX-HN 14). The needles were retained for 30 min. Additionally, Ganshu (BL 18), Pishu (BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23) were stimulated with quick needling technique.needling technique was applied. The needle was rotated with the thumb and index finger of the puncture hand, forward and backward. The strong and large amplitude were given when the thumb moved forward, and while, the week and small amplitude required when moving backward. The gentle movement was required in the entire procedure. In the control group, the point selection was same as the observation group. The points were stimulated with regular technique. The needle retaining time was same as the observation group. The treatment was given once every two days in the two groups and for 3 months continuously. The visit was followed up for 3 months. Before and after treatment, as well as at follow-up, the eyesight, the effect on macular area and the macular retinal structure [the macular nerve fiber layer (MNFL), retinal neurepithelium layer (RNL), pigment epithelium and choroid capillary composite lay (PECCL)] were evaluated separately.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>1. After treatment and at follow-up, the eyesight was improved as compared with that before treatment in the two groups, indicating the significant difference (both<0.05). The differences in comparison before and after treatment, and in comparison of the follow-up with that before treatment, were improved in a larger amplitude in the observation group as compared with the control group, indicating the significant difference (both<0.05). 2. Regarding the therapeutic effects on macular area, after treatment and at follow-up, the total effective rates were 83.6% (61/73) and 86.3% (63/73) in the observation group and were 63.2% (48/76) and 67.1% (51/76) in the control group separately. The results in the observation group were higher than those in the control group, indicating the significant difference between the two groups (both<0.05). 3. Regarding the macular retinal structure, after treatment and at follow-up, the levels of MNFL, RNL and PECCL were all reduced as compared with those before treatment, indicating the significant difference (all<0.05). After treatment and at follow-up, the levels of MNFL, RNL and PECCL in the observation group were all lower than those in the control group, indicating the significant difference (all<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Theacupuncture technique achieves better clinical therapeutic effects on treatment of early AMD as compared with the regular acupuncture.</p>

Clinical Observation of Aconite-cake-partitioned Moxibustion at Different Frequencies for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Due to Kidney-yang Deficiency / 上海针灸杂志

ObjectiveTo comparethetherapeutic efficaciesofaconite-cake-partitionedmoxibustionat different frequencies in treatingbenign prostatic hyperplasiadue tokidney-yangdeficiency.MethodEightypatientswere randomized into four groups:control group,treatment group1(moxibustiononceper day),treatmentgroup2(moxibustiontwiceper day), andtreatmentgroup3 (moxibustiononce every other day).TheInternational prostate symptom score (I-PSS), TCM syndrome score, maximum flow rate of urine (Qmax) and bladder residual urine volume (PVR) were observedbefore and after intervention.ResultAfter treatment,the improvement of theInternational prostate symptom scoreandTCM syndrome score,increase of Qmax and decrease of PVR were found in the three treatment groups, while the therapeutic efficacy in treatment group 1 was more significant than that in the rest groups. The total effective rate was 70.0% in the control group, 85.0% in treatment group 1, 80.0% in treatment group 2, and 65.0%in treatment group 3.ConclusionAconite-cake-partitionedmoxibustionat different frequenciescan produce therapeutic efficacies to different extent in treatingbenign prostatic hyperplasiadue tokidney-yangdeficiency, and the comprehensive analysis shows that the optimal frequency is once per day.

Treatment for the Cervical Spondylopathy with Traction and Counter-traction Manipulation of Chinese Massage in Supine Position / 浙江中医药大学学报

Objective To explore the difference of the clinical effect and changes of neck’s curvature after different pulling treatments on cervical spondylopathy between two groups. Methods Seventy eight patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. Therapy group(39 cases) were treated with traction and counter-traction manipulation of Chinese massage in supine position, and control group(39 cases) were treated with conventional traction in sitting position . Results After first period of treatment, the rates of cure were 79.5% in therapy group and 43.6% in control group . There was significant difference between the two methods(P