Objective: To observe the effects of acupoint thread-embedding therapy and low-carbohydrate diet therapy on obese patients with food addiction. Methods: Sixty-five eligible patients were randomized into a thread-embedding group of 33 cases and a diet group of 32 cases to respectively receive 12-week treatment. Before treatment, after treatment and at 6-month follow-up, the two groups were observed and compared in terms of body mass (BM), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI), body fat rate (BFR), basal metabolic rate (BMR) and Yale food addiction scale version 2.0 (YFAS 2.0). Results: At the end of treatment, there were no significant differences in the general efficacy, and the improvements in BM, BMI, WC, HC, WHR and BFR between the thread-embedding group and diet group (all P>0.05). At follow-up, the thread-embedding group showed more significant improvements in all the aforementioned indicators compared with the diet group except HC (all P<0.05). At the end of treatment and follow-up, BMR and YFSA 2.0 had more significant improvements in the thread-embedding group than in the diet group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Acupoint thread-embedding therapy can produce significant efficacy in treating obese patients with food addiction; it can improve the food addiction state and work better in maintaining the efficacy compared with low-carbohydrate diet therapy.

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture on rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSIn a randomized and controlled trial, sixty-three cases with RA were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture group (n = 32) and a simple acupuncture group (n = 31). Baihui (GV 20), Fengchi (GB 20), Quchi (LI 11), Waiguan (TE 5), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Zusanli (ST 36) were selected by coordination method combined whole and local acupoints. The electroacupuncture group was treated with electroacupuncture at the local acupoints near painful joints, continuous wave, retaining needle for 30 minutes, and then electroacupuncture at Back-shu acupoints, retaining needle for 15 minutes, and the simple acupuncture group was treated with the same acupoints selection and acupuncture manipulation without electroacupuncture apparatus. They were all treated once every other day for 20 days as one course. After 3 courses, changes of interleukins in peripheral blood and joint fluid of patients were observed.

RESULTSBoth of electroacupuncture and simple acupuncture had significant effect on IL-1, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 in peripheral blood and joint fluid of patients with RA ( P < 0.01, P < 0.05). But after electroacupuncture, the absolute value and improvement value of decreasing IL-1 in peripheral blood and joint fluid were super than those of simple acupuncture (all P < 0.05), and of IL-4 in joint fluid was super than that after simple acupuncture (P < 0.05), and of IL-6 and the absolute value of decreasing IL-10 were almost the same after both treatment (all P > 0.05), and after electroacupuncture, the improvement value of IL-10 in peripheral blood and joint fluid were super than those after simple acupuncture (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture can effectively decrease the proinflammatory cytokine of IL-1 and IL-6 and increase the inhibition cytokine of IL-4 and IL-10 and improve the internal environment of occurrence and progression of RA.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; blood ; immunology ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-1 ; blood ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Interleukins ; blood ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Synovial Fluid ; immunology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the actions of electroacupuncture (EA) and the warming needle moxibustion on knee osteoarthritis (KOA) of kidney deficiency and marrow insufficiency pattern/syndrome and compare the clinical effects between these two therapies.

METHODSSeventy-four cases of KOA were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture (EA) group and a warming needle moxibustion (WNM) group, 37 cases in each one. The acupoints were Dubi (ST 35), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Xuehai (SP 10), Zusanli (ST 36), Yanglingquan (GB 34), etc. In EA group, electric stimulation was given, 5 Hz, continuous wave. In the WNM group, warm needling technique was applied, 2 moxa cones on each acupoint in each time, three treatments a week. Totally, 4 weeks of treatment were required. The indicaices such as WOMAC score, illness severity index and systematic efficacy were adopted to evaluate the efficacy before treatment, 1 session and 2 sessions after treatment separately.

RESULTSThe treatment in either group achieved the effectiveness. The cured and markedly effective rate was 64.7% (22/34) in EA group and was 40.0% (14/35) in WNM group, presenting statistically significant difference in comparison (P < 0.05). But the total effective rate did not indicate significance (P > 0.05). In EA group, the releasing effect of joint pain was obvious (P < 0.01). In the WNM group, the treatment was more advantageous at relieving joint stiffness (P < 0.01). There was no difference in the mean curative time between two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture and the warming needle moxibustion have their own advantages in the treatment of KOA of kidney deficiency and marrow insufficiency pattern/syndrome. Electroacupuncture is advantageous at analgesia and the warming needle moxibustion is at relieving joint stiffness. The total efficacy of electroacupuncture is superior to that of the warming needle moxibustion.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Marrow ; physiopathology ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in peripheral blood and joint synovia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to verify the clinical efficacy of EA.

METHODSAdopting randomized controlled principle, the 63 RA patients enrolled were assigned to two groups, the 32 patients in the EA group were treated with EA, and the 31 patients in the simple needling (SN) group treated with simple needling. According to the integral-local combining method, the acupoints were selected mainly from yang-meridian and local Ashi points (pain-point). EA or SN was applied every other day, 10 times as a course, and each patient received a total of 3 courses of treatment.

RESULTSBlood and synovial levels of TNF-α and VEGF were reduced significantly after treatment in both groups. The lowering (absolute value and difference value) of TNF-α as well as the absolute value of VEGF, either in blood or in synovia, were similar in the two groups (P>0.05); but the lowering of VEGF after treatment was more significant in the EA group than that in the SN group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONEA could effectively lower the contents of TNF-α and VEGF in peripheral blood and joint synovia to improve the internal environment for genesis and development of RA, so as to enhance the clinical therapeutic effectiveness.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; blood ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Joints ; pathology ; Male ; Synovial Fluid ; metabolism ; Treatment Outcome ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the impact of heat-sensitive moxibustion on lung function in chronic persistent bronchial asthma and analyze its effect on the improvement of life quality as well as compare its efficacy with Seretide inhaler.

METHODSFifty-seven cases were divided into a heat-sensitive moxibustion group (28 cases) and a Seretide group (29 cases) according to the random number table. In heat-sensitive moxibustion group, the therapy of heat-sensitive moxibustion was applied to the regions at the level of Feishu (BL 13) and Geshu (BL 17), or to the heat-sensitized points in the region 6 cun lateral from the 1st and 2nd intercostal spaces in the chest. The treatment was given continuously for 8 days, once per day, 12 treatments should be ensured in the later 22 days of the 1st month. In the later two months since then, 15 treatments should be ensured each month (< or = 1 treatment each day). In Seretide group, Seritide manufactured in GlaxoSmithKLine was used, one inhalation each time, twice per day. The cases in both groups were received treatment for 3 months. The changes in lung function such as forced expiratory volume one second (FEV1), TCM symptoms score, Asthma Control Test (ACT) and St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were assessed and compared between two groups and within group separately.

RESULTSLung function as FEV1 was improved in either group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The terminal improvement effects on symptoms of Chinese medicine, life quality and others were same between two groups (all P > 0.05). But the improvements in general situation, chills, fever and sweating in heat-sensitive moxibustion group were superior to those in Seretide group (both P < 0.05). Concerning to the improvement in respiratory symptoms, the effect of Seretide was better than that of heat-sensitive moxibustion (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHeat-sensitive moxibustion improves lung function, relieves clinical symptoms and benefits life quality for patients with chronic persistent bronchial asthma. It's efficacy on the disease is equal to the internationally-recognized effect of Seretide.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Asthma ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Quality of Life

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the stable phase treated with warm needling therapy and Seretide. To make the comparison of improvements between two therapies in terms of the clinical symptoms and life quality.

METHODSSixty cases were randomly divided into a warm needling group and a Seretide group, 30 cases in each one. In warm needling group, acupuncture with filiform needle was applied mainly to Dingchuan (EX-B 1), Feishu (BL 13) and Zusanli (ST 36). Warm needling therapy was supplemented on back-shu point and Zusanli (ST 36), once every other day, thrice each week. In Seretide group, Seretide inhalant was applied, one inhalation, 2 times each day. After 8-week treatment, the changes in pulmonary function such as forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), clinical symptoms, and the score of St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were observed in two groups and the comparison of them was conducted between groups and within each group.

RESULTSThe pulmonary function indices such as FEV1 were all improved effectively in two groups (all P < 0.05). After 4-week treatment, the improvement in respiratory symptoms was superior in Seretide group as compared with warm needling group (P < 0.05). In terms of the improvement in general symptoms such as chills and fever, the result in warm needling group was better than that in Seretide group (P < 0.05). The efficacies were similar between two groups in 8-week treatment. Concerning to the improvement of life quality, the result in warm needling group was slightly better than that in Seretide group (the improvement value 12.8413.43 vs 10.21 +/- 3.89, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWarm needling therapy improves the pulmonary function of the patients with COPD in the stable phase, releases clinical symptoms and improves life quality. Its effects are similar to those of Seretide.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Quality of Life ; Respiratory Function Tests