Point Weiwanxiashu(Ex-B3)is an empirical acupoint for treating diabetes effectively. It pertains to extraordinary points in “The National Standard–Acupuncture Points” and is located at 1.5 cunlateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the eighth thoracic vertebra. This article explores the anatomical structure, functional characteristics, experimental study andclinical application of point Weiwanxiashu in order to provide a theoretical and experimental basis for clinical acupuncture point selection and treatment of diabetes.

ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of superficial needling plus Joint mobilization training in treatingsupraspinatus tendonitis.MethodForty-one patients with supraspinatus tendonitis were randomly allocated to a treatment group of 21 cases and a control group of 20 cases. The treatment group received one session of superficial needling plus shoulder Joint mobilization training and the control group, one session of pain point injection of 2% lidocaine hydrochloride plus triamcinolone acetonide acetate. The therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.ResultThe total efficacyrate was significantly higher in the treatment group (100%) and in the control group (65%); there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). ConclusionSuperficial needling plus Joint mobilization training has a positive therapeutic effect on supraspinatus tendonitis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy of fire needling plus filiform needles in treating knee osteoarthritis and its effect on the patients’ quality of life.MethodOne hundred and one patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomly allocated to fire needling, filiform needle and combination groups. They were treated with fire needling, filiform needles and fire needling plus filiform needles, respectively. An assessment was made using the WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index and the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) in the 101 patients with knee osteoarthritis before and after treatment.ResultFire needling, filiform needles and fire needling plus filiform needles all had a marked therapeutic effect on knee osteoarthritis. The effect of fire needling plus filiform needles was better than those of fire needling and filiform needles (P<0.05,P<0.01). After four weeks of treatment, SF-36 quality of life item sub-scores increased in all the three groups of patients compared with before treatment (P<0.01); SF-36 role physical and general health scores were higher in the combination group than in the fire needling group (P<0.05, P<0.01); SF-36 physical functioning, role physical, general health, social functioning and mental health scores were higher in the combination group than in the filiform needle group (P<0.01).ConclusionFire needling plus filiform needles can effectively treat knee osteoarthritis and improve the patients’ quality of life. Its effects are superior to those of fire needling and filiform needles.

ObjectiveTo seek a convenient method for improving the clinical therapeutic effect on knee osteoarthritis.Method One hundred and eighty-six patients were randomly allocated to three groups, 62 cases each. The observation group received needle-sticking warm needling moxibustion plus articular cavity injection of sodium hyaluronate; control group 1, needle-sticking warm needling moxibustion; control group 2, articular cavity injection of sodium hyaluronate. Needle-sticking warm needling moxibustion was given once daily, five treatments followed by two days of rest, seven days as a course, for a total of five courses. Articular cavity injection of sodium hyaluronate was administered once a week, for a total of five injections. The therapeutic effects were compared after treatment.ResultA large part of the symptoms and signs resolved, and the cure rate, the cure and marked efficacy rate and the efficacy rate were 40.3%, 87.1% and 95.2%, respectively, in the observation group. Part of thesymptoms and signs resolved in control groups 1 and 2. The cure rate, the cure and marked efficacy rate and the efficacy rate were 24.2%,51.6%and 80.6%, respectively, in control groups 1 and 21.0%, 54.8% and 82.3%, respectively, in control groups 2. There were statistically significant differences in the cure rate (P<0.05), the cure and marked efficacy rate (P<0.01) and the efficacy rate (P<0.05) among the three groups. The therapeutic effect was significantly better in the observation group than in control groups 1 and 2.Conclusion Needle-sticking warm needling moxibustion plus articular cavity injection of sodium hyaluronate is clinically a better way to treat knee osteoarthritis.

ObjectiveTo compare the clinical efficacies of double-point acupuncture and moxibustion versus conventional acupuncture and moxibustion in treating thoracolumbar compression fracture secondary to primary osteoporosis.MethodOne hundred volunteerss were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups.The treatment group received double-point acupuncture and moxibustion and the control group, conventional acupuncture and moxibustion. Treatment was given once daily. The therapeutic effects were evaluated in the two groups after 20 treatments.ResultThe marked efficacy and cure rate was 94.0%in the treatment group and 50.0% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).ConclusionDouble-point acupuncture and moxibustion has a better therapeutic effect than conventional acupuncture and moxibustion in treating thoracolumbar compression fracture secondary to primary osteoporosis.

ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy of pricking cupping in treating herpes zoster at acute stage.MethodSixty patients with herpes zoster at acute stage were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 30 in each group. The treatment group was intervened by pricking cupping, while the control group was by oral administration of Western medicine. The total effective rate and the improvement of symptoms and pain at different stages were observed afterintervention.ResultThe total effective rate was 90.0% in the treatment group versus 86.7% in the control group, and the difference was statistically insignificant (P>0.05); after the first treatment course, the decreases of symptom score and pain indexin the treatment group were significantly superior to that in the control group (P<0.05); after the second treatment course, there were no significant differences in comparing the decreases of symptom score and pain index between the two groups (P>0.05).ConclusionPricking cupping is an effective approach in treating herpes zoster of the acute stage, as it can produce a comparatively higher total effective rate and also significantly improve the symptoms and pain.

ObejectiveTo evaluate the efficacyofacupointthread embedding in easing painafterMilligan-Morgan(M-M)for mixed hemorrhoids.MethodSixty patients undergone M-M for mixed hemorrhoids were randomized into a treatment group of 30 cases and a control group of 30 cases. After M-M, patients in the treatment group received thread embedding at Changqiang (GV1) and bilateral Zhibian (BL54), while the control groupdidn’treceive any intervention. The onset time of post-operative pain, average pain index within a week, and pain index after defecation, electromyogram (EMG), change of anal canal pressure, patients’ satisfaction, and adverse-event rate were observed.ResultThe average pain index and pain index after defecation in the treatment group were significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05), and the onset of pain in the treatment group was significantly later than that in the control group (P<0.01); after surgery, the anal canal resting pressure in the treatment group was markedly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05); there wasno significant difference in comparing the squeeze pressure of anal canal between the two groups (P>0.05). According to the motor unit potential (MUP) analysis, there were significant differences in comparing the amplitude (Ampl) and Ar/Am of the restingphase between the two groups (P<0.05), while there were no significant differences in comparingthe Ampl, Area, Ar/Am, and Freq of the contraction phase between the two groups (P>0.05). There were significant differences in comparing the patients’satisfaction, adverse-event rate, and use of analgesics between the two groups (P<0.05). ConclusionAcupoint thread embedding can produce a content analgesic effect, and it’s safe and reliable.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of acupoint application withWu Zhu Yu(Fructus Evodiae) powder to Yongquan (KI1) on the sleep quality before orthopaedic operation.MethodAccording to the principle of randomization and voluntary participation, the participants were divided into an observation group and a controlgroup, 41 in each group. The observation group was intervened by acupoint application withWu Zhu Yu(Fructus Evodiae) powder to Yongquan, and thecontrolgroup was by regular nursing care. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and subjective sleep evaluation were compared between the two groups.ResultThe total effective rate was 95.1% in the observation group versus 53.7% in the control group, and the observation group was significantly better than the control group in comparing the total effectiverate (P<0.05).ConclusionApplication withWu Zhu Yu (Fructus Evodiae) powder to Yongquan can improve the sleep quality before orthopaedic operation, and it’s easy-to-operate and safe, with a good compliance.

ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy of electroacupuncture with different wave patterns, sparse wave, intense wave, and sparse-intense wave, on the therapeutic efficacy in treating mild cognitive disorder after ischemic stroke.MethodSixty eligible patients were randomized into a sparse wave group, an intense wave group, and a sparse-intense wave group, 20 in each group. The three groups were given electroacupuncture at Baihui (GV20) and Shenting (GV24) in addition to the basic acupuncture treatment.The Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) were adopted for evaluation before and after the intervention by the same practitioner.ResultThe total effective rate was 55.0% in the sparse wave group, 65.0% in the intense wave group, and 90.0% in the sparse-intense wave group, and thedifferenceswere statistically significant among the three groups (P<0.05); afterintervention, the MMSE score increased significantly and ADL score decreased significantly in the three groups (P<0.01), and the inter-group differences were statistically significant after intervention(P<0.01).ConclusionElectroacupuncture with sparse wave, intense wave, or sparse-intense wave all can improve mild cognitive disorder, while the general therapeutic efficacy of sparse-intense wave is higher than sparse wave and intense wave.

ObjectiveTo explore the optimal acupuncture-moxibustion treatment protocol in treating diabetic gastroparesis. MethodA hundred patients were randomized into a body-acupuncture group, an electroacupuncture group, a hydroacupuncture group, and an acupuncture-moxibustion group, allto receive 3 treatment courses. The clinical symptoms and sign scores were observed before and after the intervention in the four groups.ResultThe markedly-effective rate of the acupuncture-moxibustion group was significantly higher than that of the other three groups (P<0.05). Regarding the symptom score for bloating, poor appetite, belching, upper abdominal pain, and nausea, the improvements in the acupuncture-moxibustion group were more significant than that in the other three groups (P<0.05,P<0.01).ConclusionCombination of acupuncture and moxibustion is the optimal treatment protocol for diabetic gastroparesis.