OBJECTIVETo search for a better therapy for herpes zoster.

METHODSSeventy-two cases of herpes zoster were randomly divided into a treatment group of 38 cases treated with surround needling plus surround moxibustion (direct moxibustion at the area of surround needling), and a control group of 34 cases treated with surround needling the margin of the herpes zoster from "the head" to "the tail" of the herpes zoster respectively.

RESULTSThe 38 cases in the treatment group were cured within 3 days with an effective rate of 97.4%, which was better than 85.3% in the control group (P<0.05), with the herpes stopping and scab time shorten, and incidence of residual neuralgia reduced.

CONCLUSIONSurround needling plus surround moxibustion has obvious therapeutic effect on herpes zoster.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Herpes Zoster ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study on the relation between the regional anatomy and safety of acupuncture at Tiantu (CV 22) and Qishe (ST 11).

METHODSIn forty-six adult corpses, 92 sides were dissected to observe the partial anatomy structure of acupuncture path of Tiantu (CV 22) and Qishe (ST 11) and structure characteristics by the steel needle marked method and lay-by-lay dissection method.

RESULTSThe bilateral the pleura returning lines behind the manubrium sterni interacted at the sternal angle plane accounted for 50.0% of the total specimens and at the first ribs plane accounted for 6.5% of the specimens; for needling the point Tiantu (CV 22), left brachiocephalic vein was at the same level or close to the manubrium sterni upper fringe in 43.5% of the specimens, the left brachiocephalic vein and the middle of manubrium sterni were at the same level in 56.5% of the specimens; for needling the point Qishe (ST 11), in 68 sides of the specimens, internal jugular vein were pierced, accounting for 73.9%, and in 24 sides of the specimens the left common carotid artery were pierced, accounting for 26.1%; in 50 sides of specimens the vagus nerve were touched by the steel needle, accounting for 54.3.

CONCLUSIONIn acupuncture of Tiantu (CV 22) and Qishe (ST 11), the needle not only easily injure the upper pleural cavity, but also damage the big blood vessel and the vagus nerve in the mediastinum and the cervical root.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Manubrium ; anatomy & histology ; Middle Aged ; Pleura ; anatomy & histology ; Safety

OBJECTIVETo probe whether there are acupoint-like and meridian-like structures on the body surface of the zebrafish.

METHODSAdult zebrafish were put into a 10 micromol/L DiA water solution and then anaesthetized for observation under a fluorescent microscope.

RESULTSThe labeled substance appeared in round bright spots and some of them gather together to form a cluster which distributed through the body surface orderly. The labeled clusters along the long axis of the body distributed in four lines, dorsal line, dorsal lateral line, lateral line and ventral line. The lateral line could be divided into two lines, lateral superior line and lateral inferior line; and the ventral line into ventral lateral line and ventral line based on their nerve connection under high power microscope.

CONCLUSIONSensory organs of the zebrafish distributed orderly and formed clusters appearing orderly in lines throughout the body surface, which are much like acupoints and meridians described in traditional Chinese medicine.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Female ; Male ; Meridians ; Zebrafish ; anatomy & histology

OBJECTIVETo explore the value of O3 acupoint injection for treatment of low back pain.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty cases of low back pain were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture (EA) group, a Danggui injectio point injection group and an O3 acupoint injection group. They were treated with EA, Danggui acupoint injection and O3 (30 microg/mL) acupoint injection at Qihaishu (BL 24), Dachangshu (BL 25), Guanyuanshu (BL 25) and local Ashi points.

RESULTSThere were significant differences in the therapeutic effect as the O3 acupoint injection group compared with the EA group and the Danggui point injection group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between the EA group and the Danggui point injection group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe O3 acupoint injection is a convenient and highly effective therapy for low back pain.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Injections ; Low Back Pain ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ozone ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVETo compare the therapeutic effects of auricular point magnetotherapy and auricular point sticking of Vaccaria seed on senile low back pain.

METHODSSixty cases, aged 60 or over 60 years with back pain, were randomly divided into 2 groups, a control group and a test group. The control group were treated with auricular sticking of Vaccaria seed with no pressing, and the test group with sticking magnetic bead of 66 gauss each piece with no pressing. Auricular points, Shenmen, Kidney, Bladder, Yaodizhui, Gluteus, Liver and Spleen were selected. Three weeks constituted one course. The effects before, during and after the course were assessed by questionnaire about back pain.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, in the test group the back pain was more effectively improved, including reducing pain and numbness in the back and the legs, decreasing the disorder of physical strength induced by this disease, and improving daily life quality of the patient. Follow-up survey for 2-4 weeks showed the effects still were kept.

CONCLUSIONAuricular magnetotherapy can effectively improve senile back pain.

Acupuncture, Ear ; methods ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; therapy ; Magnetics ; therapeutic use ; Male

OBJECTIVETo compare the therapeutic effects of triple puncture at Tianzong (SI 11) and routine acupuncture on obstinate tennis elbow.

METHODSSixty-two cases were randomly divided into 2 groups. The treatment group of 32 cases were treated with triple puncture at Tianzong (SI 11) combined with local points of the elbow, and the control group of 30 cases were treated with local points of the elbow. After one therapeutic course, changes of the symptoms and signs between the two groups were compared.

RESULTSThe cured rate of 71.900 in the treatment group was significantly better than 43.3% in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTriple puncture combined with routine acupoint selection therapy has a better therapeutic effect on obstinate tennis elbow than the routine acopoint selection therapy.

Activities of Daily Living ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tennis Elbow ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of early treatment with acupuncture and motortherapy on developmental quotient (DQ) of cerebral palsy high risk infants.

METHODSSixty cerebral palsy high risk infants were divided into an acupuncture combined with motortherapy group (treatment group) and a control group, 30 cases in each group. Changes of DQ were investigated by the children mental development scale.

RESULTSThe DQ in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.001), with a very significant difference between the two groups in the different grades of DQ (P < 0.005). Incidence of cerebral palsy in the treatment group significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.005).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture combined with motortherapy can effectively improve intelligence level and motor function, and reduce the incidence of cerebral palsy for cerebral palsy high risk infants at early stage.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Cerebral Palsy ; psychology ; therapy ; Child Development ; Exercise Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male

OBJECTIVETo search for a therapeutic method for alleviating the short-term adverse effect of drug-induced abortion.

METHODSNinety cases of early pregnancy were divided into 3 groups randomly. Control group were treated with medicine, electroacupuncture group I with electroacupuncture at both Hegu (LI 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) simultaneously within 30-60 min after the medicine was given, and electroacupuncture group II with electroacupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) successively within 30-60 min after the medicine was administrated.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the short-term adverse effect in the electroacupuncture groups was more significantly alleviated as compared with the control group (P < 0.05), and alleviative degree of abdominal pain in the electroacupuncture group II was better than that in the electroacupuncture group I .

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) can alleviate short-term adverse effects of drug-induced abortion, and first electroacupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) followed by Sanyinjiao (SP 6) can more significantly alleviate abdominal pain.

Abdominal Pain ; therapy ; Abortion, Induced ; adverse effects ; Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Electroacupuncture ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVETo probe into the clinical effect of needle-pricking therapy for treatment of polycystic ovarial syndrome.

METHODSOne hondred and twenty-one cases of polycystic ovarial syndrome were divided into a needle-pricking therapy group of 61 cases and a medication group of 60 cases with randomized and controlled method. The needle-pricking therapy group were treated by needle-pricking therapy at sacral plexus stimulating points on both sides of the spine and lateral points of Dazhui (CV 14), and the medication group by oral administration of domiphen and intramuscular injection of chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). Levels of hormones and symptoms in the patients before treatment, after treatment of 3 cycles and at the sixth cycle after treatment were investigated.

RESULTSAfter treatment of 3 cycles, the level of hormone and B type ultrasound examination were significantly improved in the two groups (P < 0.01). At the sixth cycle after treatment, the conditions of the patients in the medication group were returned to the original levels before treatment, while the conditions in the needle-pricking therapy group still kept at the post-therapeutic level, and their menstruation and ovulation restored to normal state, and the ovulation mucosa and the pregnancy rate were significantly higher than those in the medication group (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONNeedle-pricking therapy has obvious effect on polycystic ovarial syndrome, and has a good long-term therapeutic effect.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Ovulation ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate

OBJECTIVETo probe the feasibility of acupuncture in conversion of paroxymal atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.

METHODSEighty cases of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter were randomly divided into 2 groups, a treatment group and a control group, 40 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated with acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6), Shenmen (HT 7), Danzhong (CV 17) and others, and the control group with intravenous injection of amiodarone. The cardiac rhythms and side effects were observed in the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate of 85.0% in the treatment group was better than 67.5% in the control group (P < 0.01). The average conversion time was (39.6 +/- 13.7) min in the treatment group and (50.1 +/- 14.8) min in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). No adverse effect was found in the treatment group.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture is a safe and effective therapy for conversion of paroxymal atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Amiodarone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; therapeutic use ; Atrial Fibrillation ; therapy ; Atrial Flutter ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; Middle Aged