Arrival of qi, an important component of traditional theory of acupuncture and moxibustion, is the key factor in determining clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture. The authors summarize the indication of qi-arrival, correlativity of qi-arrival with clinical therapeutic effect and its action mechanism through reviewing modern clinical research. At present, there is more subjective in the study on qi-arrival, so the key problem in research on qi-arrival is how the qi-arrival state is measured by an objective quantization standard. The cerebral function imaging, a new technique, may be used in objectification research on qi-arrival.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Qi ; Research

OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy and the reproductive endocrinal mechanism of herbal-partitioned moxibustion in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.

METHODSOne hundred and seventy-one cases of primary dysmenorrhea were randomized into an herbal-partitioned moxibustion group (group A), an starch-partitioned moxibustion group (group B) and an acupuncture group (group C), 57 cases in each one. In the group A, moxibustion isolated with herbal medicine was applied to Shenque (CV 8). In the group B, moxibustion isolated with starch was used at Shenque (CV 8). In the group C, acupuncture was given at Sanyinjiao (SP 6). The changes of estradiol (E2), progesterone (P) and prostaglandin levels (PGF2alpha) were observed before and after treatment, and the therapeutic effects were compared among the 3 groups.

RESULTSThe therapeutic effect in the group A was better than those in the other two groups [compared the cured rate: 89.8% (44/49) vs 60.0% (30/50), 60.4% (32/53), both P < 0.05]. In the group A, E2 level [(110.99 +/- 12.90) pg/mL vs (83.94 +/- 8.91) pg/mL, P < 0.05] and PGF2alpha level [(24.58 +/- 3.01) pg/mL vs (14.34 +/- 1.48) pg/mL, P < 0.01] were decreased and P level was increased [(4.65 +/- 0.68) ng/mL vs (6.68 +/- 0.95) pg/mL, P < 0.05]. In the group B and C, PGF2alpha level were reduced. Concerning to the regulating of E2 and PGF2alpha levels, the results in the group A were better than those in the group B and C [(-30.16 +/- 10.20) pg/mL vs (10.79 +/- 15.01) pg/mL, (22.81 +/- 12.22) pg/mL; (-13.10 +/- 2.40) pg/mL vs (-6.52 +/- 1.88) pg/mL, (-3.14 +/- 1.19) pg/mL, (see text) P < 0.05]. Concerning to the regulation of P level, the results in the group A and B were better than that in the group C (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe herbal-partitioned moxibustion achieves the significant efficacy on primary dysmenorrhea, which could be related to regulating the reproductive endocrinal level. It decreases E2 and PGF2alpha levels and increases P level.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Dinoprost ; metabolism ; Dysmenorrhea ; metabolism ; therapy ; Estradiol ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Progesterone ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture massage for primary dysmenorrhea and its influence on prostaglandin F2alpha level in menstrual fluid.

METHODSNinety patients with primary dysmenorrhea were assigned equally to the acupuncture group, the massage group and the control group (oral administrated with Somiton tablet). The treatment course was 3 menstrual cycles. The effect in relieving menalgia was evaluated using numerical rating scale (NRS) before and after treatment and change of PGF2alpha content in menstrual fluid was tested as well.

RESULTSThe NRS score was 0.60 +/- 0.67 in the acupuncture group and 0.53 +/- 0.63 in the massage group respectively, significantly lower than that in the control group, which was 2.30 +/- 1.73 (P < 0.01). The PGF2alpha level after treatment was significantly lower in the acupuncture group (176.58 +/- 17.85 ng/L) and the massage group (171.32 +/- 17.15 ng/L) than that in the control group (220.56 +/- 54.47 ng/L), respectively (P <0.01). There showed no difference in the two aspects between the acupuncture group and the massage group (P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture and massage has a reliable therapeutic effect on primary dysmenorrhea, which is superior to that of Somiton tablet, and its mechanism might be exerted by regulating PGF2alpha level in menstrual fluid.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Decidua ; metabolism ; Dinoprost ; metabolism ; Dysmenorrhea ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Massage

Currently, the randomized controlled trial (RCT) becomes the generally accepted golden standard for clinical trials. It can be classified into two types based on different design, that is, the explanatory randomized controlled trial (ERCT) and the pragmatic randomized controlled trial (PRCT). In designing a clinical trial, researcher may select either of them according to the goal of research. The design feature of PRCT and its application in designing clinical trials of acupuncture were introduced in this paper. Further attention should be paid on resolvent of how to apply PRCT in combining with other design methods organically to work out clinical trial scheme with high quality and consistent with the characteristics of acupuncture as possible, for evaluating the effect of acupuncture more accurately and objectively, so as to promote the international application and development of acupuncture therapy.
Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Biomedical Research ; Humans ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of stomatin like protein-2 (SLP-2) at mRNA and protein levels in two kinds of malignant epithelial tumors, including laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and invasive breast cancer, and to study the relations of SLP-2 expression and clinicopathologic parameters with the prognosis.

METHODSRT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of SLP-2 mRNA and protein in LSCC and their normal counterparts (46 and 10 pair, respectively). Immunohistochemistry was carried on tissue array constructed from LSCC (104 cases) and breast cancer (263 cases), respectively. The association between SLP-2 expression and clinicopathologic parameters was analyzed.

RESULTSLSCC showed a higher expression of SLP-2 than that of their normal counterparts (negative expression) at mRNA (83%, 38/46) and protein (7/10) level. Immunohistochemical analysis of LSCC showed that compared with negative expression in normal laryngeal epithelium (0/20), a higher SLP-2 expression was detected in LSCC (36/104, P=0.000) and associated with the advanced clinical stage (P<0.01) and lymph node metastasis (P=0.003). Immunohistochemical study of invasive breast cancer demonstrated that compared with negative expression in normal breast tissue (0/10), more than one half of the cases showed a high SLP-2 expression (52.5%, 138/263, P=0.000) in breast cancer, which correlated with the tumor size (P=0.020), lymph node metastasis (P<0.01), advanced clinical stage (P<0.01), distant metastasis (P=0.002) and HER2/neu protein expression (P=0.037). Survival analysis showed a shorter overall survival probability in patients with a high SLP-2 expression. It was considered that lymph node metastasis, positive HER2/neu expression, and high-level SLP-2 expression may act as the independent prognostic factors for those tumors.

CONCLUSIONSA high expression level of SLP-2 may be associating with the development of invasion and metastasis in LSCC and breast cancer, and SLP-2 is also considered working as an independent factor indicating a poor prognosis clinically in breast cancer.

Adult ; Blood Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; metabolism ; Survival Analysis

Objective - To analyze the prevalence and influencing factors of work related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) Methods among painters in the manufacturing industry. A total of 639 painters from one shipbuilding enterprise, one automobile manufacturing enterprise and three wooden furniture manufacturing enterprises in Guangdong Province were selected as the research subjects using typical sampling method. The Chinese version of Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire was Results used to investigate the prevalence of WMSDs in the past one year, and the influencing factors were analyzed. The total prevalence rate of WMSDs among painters in the manufacturing industry was 37.4%. The prevalence of WMSDs in different vs vs P industries from high to low was shipbuilding, automobile and furniture manufacturing (50.0% 38.7% 29.0%, <0.01). The prevalence of WMSDs in different parts of the body from high to low was neck, ankle/foot, shoulder, low back, upper back, knee, vs vs vs vs vs vs vs vs P hand/wrist, hip/leg and elbow (20.7% 19.2% 17.4% 15.8% 14.1% 13.8% 13.5% 9.5% 6.6%, <0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis results showed that working in uncomfortable postures was a risk factor for neck, ankle/ P P foot and shoulder WMSDs (all <0.01); long time head turning was a risk factor for neck and shoulder WMSDs (both <0.05); P overweight and obesity, and bending and turning frequently at the same time were risk factors for ankle/foot WMSDs (all <0.05); P adequate rest time was a protective factor for neck and ankle/foot WMSDs (both <0.01); participated in physical exercise more P than once a week was a protective factor of neck and shoulder WMSDs in painters (all <0.05), after excluding the influence of Conclusion confounding factors. The prevalence of WMSDs in manufacturing painters was high, and the main body parts E mail 4813545@qq.com E mail wangzhongxu2003@163.com· · 中国职业医学 年 月第 卷第 期 ， ， ， 482 2022 10 49 5 Chin Occup Med October 2022 Vol.49 No.5 involved were neck, ankle/foot and shoulder. The influencing factors include individual factors, poor ergonomics factors and unreasonable work organization.

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of acupuncture in treatment of multi-infarct dementia (MID).

METHODSThe multi-infarct dementia model was made by injection of emboli into the internal carotid artery. The dementia rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: model group, acupuncture group and non-acupoint acupuncture group, and a normal group and a sham operation group were set up. The expression of CuZnSOD in the hippocampus of the rats were detected by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical assay, and effects of acupuncture were analyzed.

RESULTSThe expressions of mRNA and protein of CuZnSOD in the hippocampus of the model group were significantly attenuated as compared with that in the normal control group. Both the parameters above were significantly increased in the acupuncture group as compared with the model control group, but with no significant difference between the acupuncture group and the normal control group.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture can up-regulate the expressions of mRNA and protein of CuZnSOD in the rat with MID, so as to strengthen activity of antioxidase and effectively remove free radicals and improve intelligence of MID rats.

Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Dementia, Multi-Infarct ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pre- and post-chemotherapy expression levels of Th1 and Th2 type cytokines in peripheral blood CD4(+) T lymphocytes, the changes of Th1/Th2 ratio and their clinical significance in patients with gastric cancer.

METHODSThe levels of specific cytokines in 60 gastric cancer patients were detected by flow cytometry before and after chemotherapy with FOLFOX4.

RESULTSThe level of IFN-gamma from peripheral blood CD4(+) T lymphocytes after chemotherapy in the whole group of gastric cancer patients was 11.4% +/- 5.0%, significantly higher than that (9.5% +/- 3.4%) before chemotherapy (P < 0.05). The level of IL-10 after chemotherapy was 3.6% +/- 1.2%, significantly lower than that (4.2% +/- 1.8%) before chemotherapy (P < 0.05). The ratio of Th1/Th2 (IFN-gamma/IL-4) after chemotherapy was 3.4 +/- 1.0 versus 3.4 +/- 1.6 before chemotherapy, without significant difference (P > 0.05). Interestingly, the levels of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha of peripheral blood CD4(+) T lymphocytes in 15 gastric cancer patients who achieved partial response (PR) after chemotherapy were 14.8% +/- 8.0% and 5.9% +/- 2.0%, respectively, both were higher than that (6.9% +/- 2.5% and 4.2% +/- 1.3%) before chemotherapy (both P < 0.05). Furthermore, the ratio of Th1/Th2 (IFN-gamma/IL-4) after chemotherapy was 4.0 +/- 1.5, significantly higher than 2.5 +/- 1.2 before chemotherapy (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONEffective chemotherapy may reduce the tumor burden and relieve the shift of Th1/Th2 ratio. Improvement in immune function may be a very important therapeutic measure due to poor response of chemotherapy in gastric cancer patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Leucovorin ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; therapeutic use ; Remission Induction ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology ; Tumor Burden ; drug effects ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

To establish a sensitive and specific method for simultaneous determination of gestodene, etonogestrel and ethinylestradiol in plasma by LC-MS/MS, plasma samples were extracted and derivatized before injection. An ESI ion source was used and operated in the positive ion mode with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Norgestrel was chosen as internal standard and performed on a C18 (100 mm x 2.1 mm, 5 microm) column. The concentrations of gestodene, etonogestrel and ethinylestradiol were measured, using step-gradient mobile phase and step-gradient flow rate. The method was validated over the concentration range of 0.1-20 ng x mL(-1) for gestodene and etonogestrel and 0.01-2 ng x mL(-1) for ethinylestradiol, and showed excellent linearity. The intra- and inter-assay accuracy and precision were below 10.0% and recovery was 93.6%-110.9% over the three concentration levels evaluated. The method was applied in pharmacokinetic study of the compound gestodene patch and the compound etonogestrel patch in rabbits. The LC-MS/MS method was selective, accurate and sensitive, especially the LOQ were 100 pg x mL(-1) for gestodene and etonogestrel and 10 pg x mL(-1) for ethinylestradiol. The method was successfully applied in pharmacokinetic study for contraceptives.
Animals ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Desogestrel ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Ethinyl Estradiol ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Norpregnenes ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Rabbits ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Needle retention is one of the important links in clinical acupuncture, thus, ancient medical scholars emphasized its value. This paper summarizes and evaluates the recent literature about needle retention time in terms of course of disease, category of disease, patient's condition and acupuncture location. The modern researches verify and develop the knowledge of needle retention in ancient times. However, study designs of randomized controlled trial for evidence-based medicine are not many, most of which are observational studies. In the future, clinical research need to apply scientific design based on Chinese medicine theory to investigate the principles of needle retention and the optimized needle retention time. This will consequently guide the standardization and systemization of acupuncture in clinical practice.
Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Time Factors