Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture plus ginger-partitioned moxibustion in treating sudden hearing loss. Method Sixty patients with sudden hearing loss were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 30 in each group. The treatment group was intervened by electroacupuncture plus ginger-partitioned moxibustion, while the control group was by electroacupuncture alone. The audiometry was conducted before and after intervention, and the therapeutic efficacy was also evaluated.Result Respectively after the first and second treatment course, the threshold of audibility was significantly changed in both groups (P<0.05); there were significant differences in comparing the threshold of audibility between the two groups (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 80.0% and 90.0% respectively after the first and second treatment course in the treatment group, versus 53.3% and 63.3% in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture plus ginger-partitioned moxibustion is an effective approach in treating sudden hearing loss.

ObjectiveBy using the human body component analyzer, to compare the effects between conventional acupuncture and topical aligned needling on topical weight loss in simple obesity patients.MethodSixty patients with simple obesity were randomized into a treatment group (topical aligned needling plus conventional point selection) and a control group (conventional point selection), 30 cases in each group. The Body Mass Index (BMI), body fat ratio (FAT), visceral fat area, local fat quality (upper limbs, body trunk, and lower limbs), water quality, protein quality, and inorganic salt quality were observed before treatment and after 3 treatment courses.ResultThe BMI, FAT, visceral fat area, and local fat quality were significantly changed after treatment in both groups (P<0.01), while the water quality, protein quality, and inorganic salt quality were insignificantly changed after treatment (P>0.05). According to the independent samples t-test, the decreases of BMI, FAT, visceral fat area, and local fat quality in the treatment group were more significant than that in the control group (P<0.01).ConclusionThe treatment group can produce a more significant effect than the control group in reducing the BMI, FAT, visceral fat area, and local fat quality; while thetwo groups are equal to each other in improving water quality, protein quality, and inorganic salt quality.

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy ofelectroacupunctureplustopical laser treatmentin treating hyperplasia of mammary glands.MethodFifty-eight patients with hyperplasia of mammary glands were randomized into a treatment group of 30 cases and a control group of 28 cases. The treatment group was intervened byelectroacupunctureplustopical laser treatment, while the controlgroup was by oral administration of Ru Zeng Ning tablets. The intervention began from 15 d prior to the menstrual period. After 3 successive treatment courses, the clinical efficacies were compared, and the efficacies in treating three different patterns of mammary glands hyperplasia were also compared, i.e. qi-stagnation due to liver depression, accumulation of phlegm and stagnation, and imbalance of the Thoroughfare and Conception Vessels.ResultAccording to the comprehensive efficacy evaluation, the total effective rate was 86.7% in the treatment group versus 57.1% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The efficacy of the treatment group in treating the pattern of qi-stagnation due to liver depression was significantly higher than that in of the control group (P<0.05); there were no significant differences in comparing the efficacies in treating the types of accumulation of phlegm and stagnation and imbalance of the Thoroughfare and Conception Vessels between the two groups (P>0.05).ConclusionElectroacupunctureplustopical laser treatmentis effective in treating hyperplasia of mammary glands, especially for the type of qi-stagnation due to liver depression.

Objective:To observe the effects of acupoint application on TRPV1 expression on skin and lung tissue and levels of serum IFN-γ and IL-4 of mice with bronchial asthma, and to explore the mechanism of acupoint application in the treatment of asthma.Methods:75 BALB/C mice were divided into control group, model group, acupoint application group, sham application group and dexamethasone group, 15 in each group. The bronchial asthma model of mice was prepared by nasal drop method of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinuus (HDM). After the modeling, the acupoints such as "Feishu", "Xinshu" and "Geshu" of each side of the mice were taken for application. The acupoint application group was treated with white mustard seed, Corydalis yanhusuo, asarum and Gansui group, while the sham application group was treated with vaseline, once a day, 14 times in total. Emka-wbp pulmonary function detection system was used to detect airway resistance in mice. The expression of TRPV1 on lung tissues and skin tissues were detected by immunohistochemical method. The levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 were detected by ELASA method.Results:After the stimulation of methacholine chloride solution at the concentrations of 12.5, 25.0 and 50.0 mg/ml, compared with the model group, the Penh value (airway high resistance) of mice in the acupoint application group and dexamethasone group decreased ( P<0.05). HE staining and Sirius red staining of lung tissue showed that inflammatory infiltration and collagen fiber proliferation had been improved ( P<0.05). Compared with model group, the expression of TRPV1 (0.28±0.06, 0.28±0.05 vs. 0.31±0.08) in lung tissues of acupoint application group and dexamethasone group significantly decreased ( P<0.05). The levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 in BALF decreased ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The mechanism of skin reaction induced by acupoint application in treating asthma may be related to the changes of IFN-γ, IL-4 and other related factors caused by the activation of TRPV1 in lung tissues and skin tissues.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with motor imagery therapy on motor function and activity of daily living in patients with hemiplegic cerebral infarction.

METHODSNinety patients with hemiplegic cerebral infarction were randomly divided into a rehabilitation group, an EA group and a comprehensive group, 30 patients in each one. The patients in the rehabilitation group were treated with regular care, medication and rehabilitation training; based on the rehabilitation group, the patients in the EA group were treated mainly with electroacupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Dingnieqianxiexian (MS 6), Dingniehouxiexian (MS 7), Jianyu (LI 15), Waiguan (TE 5), Fengshi (GB 31) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6); with the arrival of. EA device was connected for 30 min. The patients in the comprehensive group were treated with EA as the EA group and motor imagery therapy, 20 min per treatment. The treatment was given once a day, five treatments per week, and totally 4-week treatment was performed. The Barthel index and Brunnstrom score before and after treatment were observed in the three groups.

RESULTSThree cases did not finish the trial and finally 87 cases were included into analysis, including 30 cases in the rehabilitation group, 29 cases in the EA group and 28 cases in the comprehensive group. Compared before treatment, the Barthel index and Brunnstrom score were significantly improved after treatment in the three groups (all<0.01); after treatment, the Barthel index in the EA group and comprehensive group was significantly higher than that in the rehabilitation group (both<0.01); the lower extremity score of Brunnstrom score in the comprehensive group was better than those in the EA group and rehabilitation group (both<0.05).

CONCLUSIONEA combined with motor imagery therapy and rehabilitation can significantly improve the motor function and activity of daily living in patients with hemiplegic cerebral infarction, which is superior to rehabilitation alone or EA alone.

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects between moxibustion at Shenshu (BL 23) and oral administration of Vitamin E on quality of life and mechanism in sub-health perimenopausal women, aiming to provide clinical evidence of moxibustion for health care of sub-health female.

METHODSSixty participants were randomly divided into a moxibustion group and a medication group, 30 cases in each one. The volunteers in the moxibustion group were treated with mild moxibustion at bilateral Shenshu (BL 23) for 15 min, once a day; five treatments were considered as a course of treatment, and totally 4 courses were given with an interval of 2 days between courses. The volunteers in the medication group were treated with oral administration of soft capsule of Vitamin E, once a day, continuously for 28 days. The scores of quality of life and serum levels of sex hormones, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin B (INHB) were measured before and after treatment in the two groups.

RESULTS① Compared before treatment, the scores of quality of life in the two groups were both significantly increased after treatment (both<0.01), which was more superior in the moxibustion group (<0.05). ② Compared before treatment, the serum levels of estradiol (E) and progesterone in the moxibustion group were significantly increased after treatment, especially for premenopausal volunteers (both<0.01). ③ After moxibustion, the serum level of AMH was significantly improved (<0.01), however, the effect on INHB had no statistical difference (>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMoxibustion could effectively improve the quality of life in sub-health perimenopausal women, regulate the levels of sex hormones and AMH, improve ovarian reserve function, and delay ovarian aging.