Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of combining Yuan-Primary and Luo-Connecting points in treating insomnia due to imbalance between heart and kidney, for providing novel method and evidence for the treatment of insomnia with acupuncture-moxibustion.Method Totally 100 insomnia patients due to imbalance between heart and kidney were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 50 in each. The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture at Yuan-Primary and Luo-Connecting points, while the control group was by conventional acupuncture. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were observed before and after intervention for efficacy evaluation.Result The PSQI item scores were significantly changed after intervention in both groups (P<0.05). The SAS and SDS scores were significantly different from that before treatment in both groups (P<0.05). After treatment, the SAS and SDS scores of the treatment group were significantly different from that of the control group (P<0.05). The recovery rate and total effective rate were 26.0% and 92.0% in the treatment group versus 12.0% and 86.0% in the control group, and there was a significant difference in comparing the recovery rate (P<0.05).Conclusion Combining use of Yuan-Primary and Luo-Connecting points is an effective approach in treating insomnia due to imbalance between heart and kidney.

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture at Huiyang (BL35) and Zhongliao (BL33) plus scalp acupuncture in treating female stress urinary incontinence (SUI), for providing clinical evidence in the treatment of SUI.Method Ninety eligible female SUI patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group. The observation group was intervened by electroacupuncture at Huiyang and Zhongliao plus scalp acupuncture, while the control group was asked to practice contracting anus. The urine leakage degree, residual urine volume in bladder and clinical efficacy were compared.ResultAfter treatment, there was a significant difference in comparing urine leakage degree between the two groups (P<0.05); there was a significant between-group difference in comparing the residual urine volume (P<0.05); the cured and markedly-effective rate was 62.2% in the observation group versus 35.6% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). ConclusionElectroacupuncture at Huiyang and Zhongliao plus scalp acupuncture can produce a more significant clinical efficacy compared with rehabilitation training in treating female SUI.

By summarizing and analyzing recent 10 years’ relevant literature, this article reviews advances in clinical studies of acupuncture treatment for oculomotor paralysis from acupuncture point selection, needling methods and scalp acupuncture and shows that acupuncture therapy has the characteristics and advantages of being simple, convenient, efficacious and cheap.

The problem based teaching (PBT) has been the main approach to the training in the universities o the world. Combined with the team oriented learning method, PBT will become the method available to the education in medical universities. In the paper, based on the common questions in teaching Jingluo Shuxue Xue (Science of Meridian and Acupoint), the concepts and characters of PBT and the team oriented learning method were analyzed. The implementation steps of PBT were set up in reference to the team oriented learning method. By quoting the original text in Beiji Qianjin Yaofang (Essential recipes for emergent use worth a thousand gold), the case analysis on "the thirteen devil points" was established with PBT.
Acupuncture ; education ; Acupuncture Points ; Case-Control Studies ; Education, Medical ; methods ; Faculty ; Humans ; Meridians ; Problem-Based Learning ; methods

There are many eminent acupuncture masters in modern times in the regions of Zhejiang province, which has developed the acupuncture schools of numerous characteristics and induces the important impacts at home and abroad. Through the literature collection on the acupuncture schools in Zhejiang and the interviews to the parties involved, it has been discovered that the acupuncture manipulation techniques of acupuncture masters in modern times are specifically featured. Those techniques are developed on the basis of Neijing (Internal Classic), Jinzhenfu (Ode to Gold Needle) and Zhenjiu Dacheng (Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion). No matter to obey the old maxim or study by himself, every master lays the emphasis on the research and interpretation of classical theories and integrates the traditional with the modern. In the paper, the acupuncture manipulation techniques of Zhejiang acupuncture masters in modern times are stated from four aspects, named needling techniques in Internal Classic, feijingzouqi needling technique, penetrating needling technique and innovation of acupuncture manipulation.
Acupuncture ; education ; history ; instrumentation ; methods ; Acupuncture Therapy ; history ; instrumentation ; methods ; China ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; History, Ancient ; Medicine in Literature

[Objective]To improve the teaching quality ofMeridians and Acupoints. [Methods]Based on the ten-year experience of teaching the course ofMeridians and Acupoints, the authors suggest three issues on how to study well with this subject. [Results] The first, using the comparing method to remember meridians and acupoints, always do analysis and summary are all important ways to learn the basic knowledge.The second, understanding the property of acupoints, make prescription of acupoints like the way of making Chinese herbal formula according to syndrome differentiation, can cultivate students' dialectical thinking and improve the ability of diagnosis and treatment in acupuncture clinic.The third, introducing the origin,history and development of each meridian and some special acupoints. [Conclusion]The above three suggestions can help students to learn better about the science of acupuncture,and improve their professional thinking, and mine the potential ability of innovation.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of bloodletting cupping plus Chinese medication in treating acne vulgaris due to wind-heat invading Lung Meridian.Method Sixty-six patients with acne vulgaris due to wind-heat invading Lung Meridian were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 33 cases in each group. The treatment group was intervened by bloodletting cupping at Dazhui (GV 14) and Feishu (BL 13) plus Chinese medication; the control group was intervened by Chinese medication alone. The treatment was given 4 weeks sessions as a treatment course, for a total of 3 courses. The clinical efficacy and relapse rate were compared between the two groups.Result The total effective rate was 74.2% in the treatment group versus 96.9% in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Three months after the intervention, the relapse rate was 3.1% in the treatment group versus 16.1% in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically insignificant (P>0.05); 6 months after the intervention, the relapse rate was 18.8% in the treatment group versus 45.2% in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusion Bloodletting cupping plus Chinese medication can produce a more significant efficacy than Chinese medication alone in treating acne vulgaris, with a low long-term relapse rate and fewer adverse effects.

Objective To explore the diagnosis and treatment of biotinase deficiency (BTD) manifested as encephalomyelopathy.Methods The clinical data of one child with BTD were retrospectively analyzed.The pertinent literatures were reviewed.Results A six-year-old male child suffered from progressive spastic paralysis of lower limbs for 3 months before admission.A similar symptoms occurred after a cold in 3-year-old.It was easy to peel skin on her hands and she had angular stomatitis.Audio visual evoked potential was detected to be abnormal in other hospital.After hospitalizion,the cerebrospinal fluid examination was normal,and MRI showed long T1 long T2 signals bilateral occipital lobe and basal ganglia region.Because the child represented medulla palsy,and so the tracheal intubation ventilator was administrated to assist ventilation.Urine gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis showed increases of lactic acid,3-hydroxy acid,3-tiglyl glycine,methylcitric acid,and ethylene lactic acid.Serum MS/MS analysis showed that the concentrations of propionyl camitine and 3-hydroxyisovaleryl carnitine were increase obviously.The serum biotinase level was significantly decrease to 0.076 pmol/(min·mm3).The diagnosis of BTD was confirmed.After supplementation biotin,40 mg/d,the ventilator was successfully weaned on the third day,the child walked again after 2 weeks,and the rash was vanished.After 3 weeks,the head MRI showed disappearance of the original lesion,and there was no abnormal in spinal cord.The BTD gene detected by PCR direct sequencing showed a heterozygosis mutation of T172T/C in the second exon and a homozygous mutation of T1413C in the fourth exon,which was confirmed as a pathogenic mutation by pedigree verification and database query.After discharge,the oral administration of biotin 20 mg/d continued,and no abnormality was found in 2 years of follow-up.Conclusions The manifestations of BTD are complex and diverse.The analysis of urine GC/MS and serum MS/MS can assist the diagnosis.The determination of biotinase activity and gene detection of BTD can further confirm the diagnosis.Timely biotin supplementation has significant treatment efficacy.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of dragon-tiger contending needling at Xi-cleft points plus electroacupuncture in treating postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).Method Seventy PHN patients were randomized into a treatment group of 36 cases and a control group of 34 cases. The treatment group was intervened by dragon-tiger contending needling at Xi-cleft points plus electroacupuncture, while the control group was treated with electroacupuncture alone. In the 4-week treatment, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores right before and after the 1st, 2nd, 6th, 9th and 12th treatment sessions were recorded, “the maximum pain intensity since the last treatment session” and “real-time analgesic effect” were observed, and the total therapeutic efficacy was also evaluated.Result The real-time analgesic effects right after the 1st, 2nd and 6th treatments in the treatment group were significantly better than those in the control group (P<0.05). The “maximum pain intensities since the last treatment session” prior to the 2nd, 6th, 9th, and 12th treatment sessions were significantly different from the pain intensity before the intervention in the two groups (P<0.05). The “maximum pain intensities since the last treatment session” prior to the 6th, 9th, and 12th treatment sessions were significantly different from those in the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate and recovery plus markedly-effective rate were respectively 97.2% and 77.8% in the treatment group, versus 91.2% and 59.2% in the control group. There was a statistically significant difference in the recovery plus markedly-effective rate between the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Dragon-tiger contending needling at Xi-cleft points plus electro- acupuncture is an effective approach in treating PHN; it acts efficiently and can produce a satisfactory real-time analgesic effect.

Objective To observe and evaluate the effects of metformin and pioglitazone on blood glucose,insulin,glucagon,β-cell function and insulin resistance among patients with diabetes and metabolic syndrome,so as to discuss the role of pancreatic α cells in pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mainly caused by insulin resistance and the change of α-cell function after treatment.Methods A total of 60 patients diagnosed with diabetes and metabolic syndrome were selected in Beijing Chaoyang District Diabetes Center from April 2012 to April 2013 and divided with random number table into metformin group (treated with metformin 0.5 g orally thrice a day for 1 year,n =30) and pioglitazone group (treated with pioglitazone 15 mg orally once a day for 1 year,n =30).30 normal healthy people who had physical examination at the Center during the same period were enrolled into the control group,matched in age and gender with the intervention groups.The general condition of the 3 groups,and blood levels of glucose,insulin,and glucagon,insulin sensitivity index (ISI)-Matsuda,homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR),β-cell function index (HOMA-β),1-phase index,2-phase index,and insulin secretion sensitivity index (ISSI) at baseline in the 3 groups and after treatment in the metformin group and the pioglitazone group were measured and calculated.Results Compared with the control group before treatment,the intervention groups as a whole had significantly higher fasting glucagon level [(146.22 ±25.41) pmol/L vs.(21.31 ±7.85) pmol/L,P =0.002] and area under curve (AUC) of glucagon [(469.84 ±13.12) pmol/(L · h) vs.(100.94 ± 7.73) pmol/(L · h),P =0.006].Compared with the results before treatment,the metformin group exhibited significantly reduced fasting glucose [(6.46 ± 1.38) mmol/L vs.(7.54 ± 0.43) mmol/L,P=0.031],fasting insulin [(119.22 ± 69.01) pmol/L vs.(139.38 ±71.13) pmol/L,P =0.042],fasting glucagon [(91.69 ±22.11) pmol/L vs.(142.81 ±24.56) pmol/L,P=0.029],AUC of glucose [(25.19 ± 1.31) mmol/ (L · h) vs.(32.68 ± 1.12) mmol/ (L · h),P =0.043],AUC of insulin [(468.65 ±20.10) pmol/ (L· h) vs.(786.32±21.37) pmol/ (L· h),P=0.017],and AUC of glucagon [(280.60±8.26) pmol/ (L · h) vs.(487.14±14.31) pmol/ (L · h),P=0.032];while the pioglitazone group after treatment also showed significantly decreased fasting glucose [(6.58 ±2.21) mmol/L vs.(7.68±0.59) mmol/L,P=0.028],fastinginsulin [(107.92±17.81) pmol/L vs.(144.66±74.43) pmol/L,P =0.033],fasting glucagon [(76.07 ±20.57) pmol/L vs.(148.34 ±28.94) pmol/L,P=0.025],AUC of glucose [(25.58 ±1.22) mmol/(L·h) vs.(35.07 ±1.38) mmol/(L· h),P=0.038],AUC of insulin [(435.54±19.30) pmol/ (L· h) vs.(854.75 ±20.61) pmol/(L·h),P=0.013],andAUCofglucagon [(223.43 ±5.83) pmol/ (L·h) vs.(458.55 ±12.96) pmol/ (L·h),P =0.026].The before-after-treatment differences were significantly smaller in the metformin group than in the pioglitazone group in terms of fasting insulin [(20.16 ± 2.98) mmol/L vs.(36.74 ± 2.88) mmol/L,P =0.011],fasting glucagon [(51.12 ± 3.67) pmol/L vs.(72.27 ± 4.58) pmol/L,P =0.016],AUC of insulin [(317.67 ±13.45) pmol/(L · h) vs.(419.21 ±15.44) pmol/(L · h),P=0.031] and AUC of glucagon [(206.54±9.66) pmol/(L· h) vs.(235.12±10.29) pmol/(L· h),P=0.046].Conclusions Glucagon in patients with diabetes and metabolic syndrome is higher than that in normal individuals.Metformin and pioglitazone can decrease the level of glucagon in patients with metabolic syndrome and diabetes as well as improve the glucose control,β-cell function and insulin resistance,suggesting improving effect of these two drugs on α-cell function.Pioglitazone manifests a stronger effect than metformin does.