OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture plus salt-partitioned moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) on chloasma.

METHODSA total 106 cases of chloasma were randomly divided into two groups, a treatment group (n = 60) treated by acupuncture plus salt-partitioned moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) and a control group (n = 40) by simple acupuncture. Their therapeutic effects were observed after 3 therapeutic courses and 1-month break, respectively.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 100.0% in the treatment group and 89.1% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture plus salt-partitioned moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) is a safe and convenient therapy with a remarkable effect for chloasma.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Melanosis ; Moxibustion

OBJECTIVETo assess the distribution frequency of Gly82Ser polymorphism of receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGR) gene and investigate its association with type 2 diabetic Chinese patients.

METHODSThe allele frequencies and genotype distribution of Gly82Ser polymorphism of RAGE gene were compared in a case-control study of 194 type 2 diabetic and 546 non-diabetic subjects. PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used for detection of the genotype variants.

RESULTSIn general Chinese population and type 2 diabetic Chinese patients, the most frequent genotype and allele of RAGR gene Gly82Ser polymorphism were genotype GG and allele G, whose frequency distribution were significantly higher than those in other countries (P<0.01). No significantly difference in the genotype frequencies or allele frequencies of Gly82Ser polymorphism were found between the diabetic patients and non-diabetic subjects (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONGly82Ser polymorphism of RAGE gene does not demonstrate any association with type 2 diabetes in Chinese patients, but high genotype and allele frequencies of Gly82Ser polymorphism occur in Chinese population and type 2 diabetic Chinese patients.

Aged ; Amino Acid Substitution ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; ethnology ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Glycine ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products ; Receptors, Immunologic ; genetics ; Serine ; genetics

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture on ghost points combined with Longdan Xiegan Decoction in the treatment of post-stroke insomnia of liver-fire disturbing the heart type.Methods Sixty patients with liver-fire disturbing the heart type of post-stroke insomnia were randomly divided into observation group and control group,with 30 patients in each group.The control group was given oral use of modified Longdan Xiegan Decoction,and the observation group was given acupuncture at the ghost points on the basis of the treatment of the control group.Both groups were treated for 4 weeks.After 1 month of treatment,the clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated,and the changes in the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)score and the Athens Insomnia Scale(AIS)score were observed before and after treatment in the two groups.The changes of Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS)scores were compared before and after treatment in the two groups of patients.Results(1)After treatment,the PSQI scores of the two groups of patients were significantly improved(P＜0.05),and the observation group was significantly superior to the control group in improving the PSQI scores,with a statistically significant difference(P＜0.05).(2)After treatment,the AIS scores of patients in the two groups were significantly improved(P＜0.05),and the observation group was significantly superior to the control group in improving the AIS scores,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).(3)After treatment,the SDS scores of patients in the two groups were significantly improved(P＜0.05),and the observation group was significantly superior to the control group in improving SDS scores,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).(4)The total effective rate of the observation group was 86.66%(26/30),while that of the control group was 76.66%(23/30).The efficacy of the observation group was superior to that of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture at the ghost points combined with Longdan Xiegan Decoction for the treatment of liver-fire disturbing the heart type of post-stroke insomnia can significantly improve the clinical symptoms of the patients,and the therapeutic effect is remarkable.

OBJECTIVETo observe the difference in the efficacy on traumatic nerve injury among electroacupuncture, warm needling therapy and electroacupuncture plus warm needling therapy and explore the better therapeutic method.

METHODSThe electromyography (EMG) and electroneurography (ENG) of 93 cases showed traumatic nerve injury of moderate damage. According to the single blind randomization principle, they were divided into an electroacupuncture (EA) group, a warm needling therapy (WN) group and an EA plus WN group, 31 cases in each one. The main acupoints were selected from Yangming Meridian and Shaoyang Meridian corresponding to the distribution of damaged nerves. EA, WN and EA plus WN were applied separately. The treatment was given once every day, 15 treatments made one session. After 3 sessions of treatment (45 treatments in total), EMG and ENG were re-checked and the results were analyzed statistically.

RESULTSRegarding the total effective rate and effective rate, it was 96. 8% (30/31) in the EA plus WN group, which was better than 74.2% (23/31) in the EA group and 77. 4% (24/31) in the WN group (P<0. 05). Concerning to the improvements of EMG, the result in the EA plus WN group was 96.8% (30/31), which was better than the other two groups [74. 2%(23/31),74. 2%(23/31)] (P<0. 05). In terms of the recovery of nerve conduction and amplitude, the results in EA plus WN group [(50.9+/-4. 6)m/s,(8. 8+/-2. 9),microVx1 000] were better than the other two groups [(43.7+/-3.1)m/s,(4. 2+/-1. 9)microV X 1 000,(43. 8+/-3. 3)m/s,(4. 5+/-2. 2)microV X 1 000] (P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONEA combined with WN is a better therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of traumatic nerve injury.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult