OBJECTIVETo observe effects of acupuncture on serum interleukin-1 (IL-1) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) in the patient of cerebral infarction.

METHODSEighty-two cases of cerebral infarction were randomly divided into a treatment group treated by balanced muscular tension needling method, and a control group by traditional needling method. The levels of serum IL-1, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSThe levels of serum IL-1, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in the patient of cerebral infarction were significantly higher than those in the healthy persons (P < 0.01); there were positive correlation between sICAM-1 or sVCAM-1 level and IL-1 level (r = 0.743, P < 0.001; r = 0.862, P < 0.001). The three indexes improved to a certain extent in the two groups, with the treatment group superior to the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe improvement of nervous function by the balanced muscular tension needling method in the patient of cerebral infarction is possibly related with decrease of IL-1, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 levels.

Cerebral Infarction ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Interleukin-1 ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of moxibustion therapy plus Liu's pediatric massage (tuina) for children with recurrent respiratory tract infections due to qi deficiency of spleen and lung. Methods: A total of 60 children who met the inclusion criteria were divided into an observation group and a control group according to the visiting sequence, with 30 cases in each group. Children in the observation group were treated with moxibustion therapy plus Liu's pediatric massage, and those in the control group were treated with Liu's pediatric massage alone. The incidence of respiratory tract infections and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptoms score were observed and recorded in both groups before and after treatment. And the clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups. Results: The total effective rate of the observation group was 93.3％, and that of the control group was 83.3％. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). After treatment, the TCM symptoms score and total times of infections in both groups were all statistically different from those before treatment (all P<0.05). The differences in TCM symptoms score and infection frequency before and after treatment in the observation group were statistically different from those in the control group (both P<0.05). Conclusion: Moxibustion therapy plus Liu's pediatric massage has a better effect in improving the clinical symptoms and reducing the frequency of respiratory tract infections for children with recurrent respiratory tract infections due to qi deficiency of spleen and lung than the pediatric massage alone.

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy differences between fire needling technique of filiform needle at high stress points and regular acupuncture on chrondromalacia patellae so as to provide the better therapy for the treatment of this disease.

METHODSSixty cases of chrondromalacia patellae were randomized into a fire needling group (28 cases) and a routine acupuncture group (32 cases). In the fire needling group, 5 to 6 high stress points were localized according to the symptoms, palpation and imaging condition and were stimulated with fire needling technique of filiform needle. The treatment was given once every two days, 5 treatments made one session. In the routine acupuncture group, the regular acupuncture was applied at Dubi (ST 35), Xiguan (LR 7), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Zusanli (ST 36), etc. The treatment was given once every day, 5 treatments made one session. Lysholm score, VSA score, patella title angle (PTA) and lateral patella angle (LPA) of the affected knees before and after treatment, as well as the clinical efficacy after treatment were observed in the two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, Lysholm score, VSA score, PTA and LPA were all improved apparently in the two groups (all P < 0.01). After the treatments, the improvements in Lysholm score, VSA score, PTA and LPA in the fire needling group were more obvious than those in the routine acupuncture group (all P < 0.05). The effective rate was 92.9% (26/28) in the fire needling group, better than 87.5% (28/32) in the routine acupuncture group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe fire needling technique of filiform needle at the high stress points relieves the clinical symptoms of chrondromalacia patellae and recovers the biodynamical structure of patellae.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Adult ; Chondromalacia Patellae ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of herbal cake moxibustion plus acupuncture in treating post-stroke urinary incontinence.Methods Fifty patients with post-stroke urinary incontinence were randomized to a treatment group (26 cases) and a control groups (24 cases). The treatment group received herbal cake moxibustion plus acupuncture and the control group, acupuncture alone. Twenty-four-hour urine void number, incontinence severity and the clinical symptom score were recorded in the two groups before and after treatment.Results There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in twenty-four-hour urine void number and the clinical symptom score in the two groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in pre-/post-treatment twenty-four- hour urine void number difference value and clinical symptom score difference value between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in incontinence severity in the two groups (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant post-treatment difference in incontinence severity between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Herbal cake moxibustion plus acupuncture is an effective way to treat post-stroke urinary incontinence.

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference between muscle-tension-balance acupuncture and conventional acupuncture in the impacts on motor function and living ability of patients with drop foot and strephenopodia after stroke.

METHODSSeventy cases were randomly divided into a muscle-tension-balance acupuncture group (group A) and a conventional acupuncture group (group B), 35 cases in each one. In group A, firstly the acupuncture of weakening technique was applied to Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Taixi (KI 3) on the musculus extensor side; secondly, the strengthening technique was adopted at Jiexi (ST 41), Shenmai (BL 62) and Yanglingquan (GB 34) on musculus flexor side. In group B, the conventional needling technique was applied to Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Xuanzhong (GB 39), etc. The treatment was given once every day in either group, 10 treatments made one session and 3 sessions of treatment were required. The score of Fugl-Meyer motor function of the lower limb on the affected side and Barthel index score were assessed before and after treatment in two groups.

RESULTSAfter treated for 3 sessions, Fugle-Meyer motor function score and Barthel index score of the patients all increased in two groups (all P < 0.01). The results in group A were better than those in group B (both P < 0.05). The improvements were apparent in the 2nd session of treatment in group A (both P < 0.01), which were superior to those in group B (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEither acupuncture therapy can improve the motor function and living ability of patients with drop foot and strephenopodia after stroke. The muscle-tension-balance acupuncture achieves the efficacy quickly and its efficacy is much better.

Activities of Daily Living ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Gait Disorders, Neurologic ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Motor Activity ; Stroke ; complications

OBJECTIVETo search for a therapy for edema of the affected limb in patients of hemiplegia after stroke.

METHODSEighty patients were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, 40 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated by blood-letting puncture at 12 Jing-well points of the hand combined with fuming and washing with herbal lotion, and the control group were treated by oral administration of diuretic. The therapeutic effect was observed after treatment for 10 days.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 85.0% in the treatment group and 70.0% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The cumulative score of symptoms of edema, improvement of skin pitting, damp and cool sensation, the function of limbs and the total score in the treatment group were better than the control group (P < 0.05); the cumulative score of TCM syndrome after treatment, improvement of the symptoms of limb flaccid paralysis, shortness of breath, weakness, dark-pale tongue proper and the total cumulative score were better than the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBlood-letting puncture at 12 Jing-well points of the hand combined with fuming and washing with Chinese herbal lotion is effective for edema of the affected limb in patients of hemiplegia after stroke.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Edema ; therapy ; Female ; Hand ; Hemiplegia ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Phlebotomy ; methods ; Stroke ; complications ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of balanced muscular tension needling method for improving disabled function of stroke patients with spastic paralysis.

METHODSOne hundred and six cases with spastic paralysis were randomly divided into an observation group (54 cases) with balanced muscular tension needling method and a control group (52 cases) with routine acupuncture method. The observation group was treated by acupuncture at the side of extensor and flexor of limbs; while the control group was treated by acupuncture at Jianyu (LI 15), Quchi (LI 11), Waiguan (TE 5) etc. And the change of muscle strength, muscle tonus, muscle spasticity and range of joint motion were evaluated hefore and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter 30 days of treatment, the total effective rate of 96.3% (52/54) in the observation group was superior to that of 84.6% (44/32) in the control group (P < 0.01). After treatment muscle strength, muscle tonus, muscle spasticity and range of joint motion were improved in the two groups, hut the observation group was superior to the control group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBalanced muscular tension needling method can significantly improve the muscle strength, muscle tonus, muscle spasticity and the range of joint motion of the stroke patients with spastic paralysis.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Cerebral Palsy ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Spasticity ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Muscle Tonus ; Stroke ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) at the three groups of Stomach- Meridian acupoints in treating chronic superficial gastritis (CSG) and its effect on serum gastrin level and electrogastrogram, for providing clinical evidence for the experimental result of the three groups of Stomach-Meridian acupoints.Method Sixty-six CSG patients were divided into a treatment group and a control group by using stratified random method, 33 cases in each group. The treatment group was intervened by EA at the three groups of Stomach-Meridian acupoints, while the control group was intervened by EA with ordinary acupoints selection. The intervention was given once a day, successive 6 sessions as a treatment course, for 4 courses in total. The CSG symptoms and syndrome score, serum gastrin content, average amplitude of electrogastrogram, mean waveform frequency, and the percentage of gastric dysrhythmias were observed before and after the intervention, and the clinical efficacies were compared.Result The total effective rate was 90.9％ in the treatment group, versus 87.9％ in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically insignificant (P>0.05). The total scores dropped significantly in both groups after the treatment (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in comparing the total score between the two groups after the treatment (P>0.05). The serum gastrin contents declined significantly in both groups after the intervention (P<0.05), and there was no significant between-group difference in comparing the serum gastrin content after the treatment (P>0.05); the average amplitude and mean waveform frequency of preprandial and postprandial electrogastrogram increased significantly in both groups after the treatment (P<0.05), and the percentage of gastric dysrhythmias dropped significantly (P<0.05); after the treatment, there were no significant between-group differences in comparing the average amplitude, mean waveform frequency and the percentage of gastric dysrhy- thmias of preprandial and postprandial electrogastrogram (P>0.05).Conclusion EA at the three groups of Stomach- Meridian acupoints can effectively improve the symptoms, down-regulate serum gastrin, help gastric motility, and restore gastric rhythm of CSG patients; its efficacy is equivalent to that of the classic acupoints group, i.e. Neiguan (PC6), Zhongwan (CV 12), and Zusanli (ST 36).

OBJECTIVETo systematically observe the clinical effect on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at the stable stage, differentiated as cold phlegm blocking the lung type, treated with acupoint sticking therapy during the dog days and the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice so as to propose the latest clinical idea and theoretic evidence for the treatment of COPD.

METHODSOne hundred and fifty cases of COPD at stable stage, which were in accordance with the inclusive standard were randomly divided into three groups, named group A (treatment in dog days and the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice), group B (treatment in dog days) and group C (treatment in the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice), 50 cases in each group. The ingredients (Semen Brassicae, Euphoribia Kansui, Asarum, Rhizome Corydalis, Cinnamon, ginger juice) and doses of herbal medicine plaster were same in each group. The herbal plaster was applied to Feishu (BL 13), Shenshu (BL 23), Dazhui (GV 14), Tiantu (CV 22), Danzhong (CV 17) and Zhongfu (LU 1). In group B, the treatment was given once on the 1st day of each dog-day period, totally 3 treatments were included. In group C, the treatment was given once on the 1st day of each nine-day periods after the winter solstice, totally, 3 treatments were involved. In group A, the treatment was given once on the 1st day of each dog-day period and each nine-day periods after the winter solstice separately, totally 6 treatments were required. The therapeutic effect was evaluated in 4 aspects, named comprehensive clinical efficacy, survival quality (the scores for symptoms, activity limitation and influence on daily life), the attach frequency and pulmonary function.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 88.0% (46/50) in group A, which was superior to 76.0% (38/50) in group B and 70.0% (35/50) in group C separately (P < 0.01, P < 0.001). The results of the attack frequency, clinical symptom score and pulmonary function indices after treatment were all improved apparently as compared with those before treatment in each group (all P < 0.01). All the above indices in group A were improved much apparently as compared with the other two groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.001). Except for the level of forced vital capacity (FVC), the results of clinical symptom score and the other pulmonary function indices in group B were all improved significantly as compared with group C (P < 0.05, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONAcupoint sticking therapy during different season of the year achieves a superior clinical efficacy for the patients with COPD at stable stage. This therapy can reduce the attack frequency and improve the survival quality and pulmonary function for the patients. It is concluded that the efficacy of the treatment in dog days and the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice is superior to simple dog-day treatment and the treatment in the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice, and the efficacy of dog days treatment is better than that in the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucus ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Seasons ; Vital Capacity

OBJECTIVETo observe the impacts on repeated common cold for the adults with different constitutions treated by acupoint application in the dog days (the three periods of the hottest days) and the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice (the three periods of the coldest days).

METHODSOne hundred and fifty-two cases of repeated common cold were divided into four zones according to the body constitution. Each zone was sub-divided into a group of the dog days + the three nine-day periods of the coldest days (group A), and a simple group of the dog periods (group B). In both groups, Dazhui (GV 14), Feishu (BL 13), Tiantu (CV 22), Danzhong (CV 17), Zhongfu (LU 1) and Shenshu (BL 23) were selected. In group A, the acupoint application was given on the 1st or 2nd day of the first, second and third periods of the hottest days in 2010, as well as the 1st or 2nd day of the first, second and third periods of the coldest days in 2010 separately. In group B, the acupoint application was only given on the 1st or 2nd day of the first, second and third periods of the hottest days in 2010. The follow-up visit was conducted before the acupoint application in the three periods of the coldest days in 2010 and before the acupoint application in the three periods of the hottest days in 2011. Additionally, the frequency of disease attack and the symptom score in sickness were taken as the observation indices for the efficacy assessment in both groups.

RESULTS(1) In both groups, the attack frequency was reduced obviously in half a year after the three periods of the hottest days for the patients of qi deficiency constitution, yang deficiency constitution and qi stagnation constitution and the clinical symptom score were reduced apparently (all P<0.01), which were superior to those for the patients of phlegm damp constitution (P<0.01, P<0.05). For the patients of phlegm damp constitution, only the clinical symptom score was reduced (P<0.01). (2) In group A, the improvements were received in the attack frequency and the clinical symptom score in half a year after the three periods of the coldest days for the patients of those four constitutions as compared with those before treatment (all P<0.01). In group B, the attack frequency and the clinical symptom score were all back to the level as those before treatment. (3) In group A, in half a year after the three periods of the coldest days, the efficacy for reducing the attack frequency and the improvements in the clinical symptoms were better than those in group B (all P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe acupoint application in the dog days and the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice reduces the attack frequency and relieves the clinical symptoms of common cold for the adults of individual constitutions to different extents. The efficacy can be further improved in the treatment with the acupoint application in the three nine-day periods after the winter solstice half a year after the acupoint application in the dog days.

Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Common Cold ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult