ObjectiveTo observe the effect of acupuncture plus language function training on the recovery of language function in patients with post-stroke aphasia.MethodNinety patients were divided into an acupuncture-rehabilitation group (intervened by acupuncture plus language function training) of 30 cases, an acupuncture group (intervened by acupuncture alone) of 30 cases, and a control group (intervened by language function training alone) of 30 cases. The Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) was adopted to evaluate the language function, and also taken as criteria for diagnosis and therapeutic efficacy. The aphasia quotient (AQ), and the 4 basic language functions including spontaneous speech, auditory comprehension, repetition and nomination were observed. ResultAfter intervention, AQ, and scores of spontaneous speech, auditory comprehension, repetition and nomination increased significantly in the three groups (P<0.05,P<0.01). there were significant differences in comparing the scores of spontaneous speech, repetition and nomination between the acupuncture-rehabilitation group and the control group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in comparing the indexes between the acupuncture group and control group (P>0.05).ConclusionAcupuncture plus language function training can produce a positive effect on patients with post-stroke aphasia, showing therapeutic advantage in improvingspontaneous speech, repetition, and nomination.

Objective To observe the practice of speech therapists (ST) in various grades hospitals in China. Methods Speech therapists of 457 hospitals of various grades in 30 provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities were investigated with self-developed question-naire. Results 657 valid questionnaires were returned among 685 questionnaires. The distribution of speech therapists in grades of hospitals was varied with the size of cities (P<0.001), which was concentrated in the grade 3 hospitals in the large cities. For the degree of education, professional background, qualification certificate, employment nature, work time, part-time work, and annual income of the speech thera-pists, it was varied with the grades of hospitals (P<0.05), which trended to be better in the grade 3 hospitals. The first 4 subjects the speech therapists dealt were dysarthria (91.3%), dysphagia (84.7%), aphasia (73.6%) and language development delay (52.7%). Conclusion It is im-portant to support the practice of speech therapists, especially in grade 1 or 2 hospitals in order to match with the international standards.

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of moxibustion plus acupoint autohemotherapy in treating allergic rhinitis due to lung-spleen qi deficiency.MethodTotally 120 eligible subjects were divided by using the random number table into a comprehensive group, a moxibustion group and a Western medication group. The comprehensive group was intervened by moxibustion plus acupoint autohemotherapy, the moxibustion group was by moxibustion,and the Western medication group was by Loratadine tablets. The acupoint autohemotherapy was give twice a week and the rest treatments were given once a day, 7 das a course, for 4 courses in total. A follow-up study was conducted 3 months later. The clinic efficacy was evaluated before and after intervention, as well as in the follow-up study.ResultThe three groups all achieved significant short-term efficacies after intervention, and the comprehensive group was equivalent to the moxibustion group, bothsuperior to the Western medication group(P<0.05). According to the follow-up study, the long-term efficacies of the comprehensive group and moxibustion group were both significantly higher than that of the Western medication group (P<0.01,P<0.05), and the moxibustion group was superior to the comprehensive group in comparing the long-term efficacy (P<0.01).ConclusionMoxibustion plus acupoint autohemotherapy and dry moxibustion both can produce significant short-term and long-term therapeutic efficacies in treating allergic rhinitis due to lung-spleen qi deficiency. The long-term efficacy of moxibustion is higher than that of moxibustion plus acupoint autohemotherapy in treating allergic rhinitis due to lung-spleen qi deficiency. Acupoint autohemotherapy requires strict aseptic operation, which restricts its application in family healthcare. Long-term use of moxibustion can activate yang qi, and thus plays a role in preventing diseases.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of moxibustion combined with autohemotherapy of acupoint injection and simple moxibustion for allergic rhinitis(AR) withdeficiency of lung and spleen and to explore its mechanism.

METHODSBy random number table,75 patients who matched the criteria were assigned into a moxibustion combined with autohemotherapy of acupoint injection group(a combination group,37 cases) and a moxibustion group(38 cases). In the combination group,moxibustion was used at bilateral Yingxiang(LI 20) and injection bila-teral Feishu(BL 13),Pishu(BL 20) and Zusanli(ST 36). In the moxibustion group,moxibustion was applied bilaterally at all the above acupoints. Acupoint injection was given twice a week,and moxibustion once a day,seven days as a course. The patients were observed for four courses and followed up half a year after treatment. Rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire(RQLQ) was compared before and after treatment and at follow-up. The short-term and long-term effects as well as the changes of interferon-(IFN-),interleukin-4(IL-4) and immunoglobulin E(IgE) were observed in the two group.

RESULTSAfter treatment,the obviously effective rate of the combination group was 75.68%(28/37),which was higher than 52.63%(20/38) of the moxibustion group(<0.05). But at follow-up, the obviously effective rate of the moxibustion group was 47.37%(18/38),which was better than 24.32%(9/37) of the combination group(<0.05). Life quality of the two group in all aspects after treatment and at follow-up were apparently improved compared with the baseline(<0.01,<0.05). After treatment,the life quality,sleep condition,non nasal-eye symptoms,behavior issue of the combination group were superior to those of the moxibustion group(all<0.05),and at follow-up,the above outcomes,the eye and nasal symptoms as well as emotional response of the mo-xibustion group were better(all<0.05). There was statistical significance in the two group about serum IFN-,IgE,IL-4 before and after treatment(<0.01,<0.05),and significance existed between the two groups(<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMoxibustion combined with autohemotherapy of acupoint injection can effectively improve the short-term quality of life of AR withdeficiency of lung and spleen. The mechanism may be related to balancing the immune response of Th1 and Th2.