We assessed the Master's single two-step test, postural blood pressure reflex, and autonomic nervous system manifestation in 112 essential hypertension patients and evaluated the results of low-frequency electroacupuncture therapy in 32 patients who exhibited the pressor type of diastolic blood pressure response to exercise.
The following conclusions were drawn from the results.
1. The diastolic blood pressure response to exercise was the pressor type in 60 patients (54%) and the depressor type in 52 patients (46%). By catagory, it was the pressor type in 40 (56%) of the 72 patients in the group taking antihypertensive drugs, and the depressor type in 32 (44%). In the group of 38 patients taking diuretics, it was the pressor type in 20 patients (53%). In the group of 40 patients not taking autihypertensive drugs, 20 patients each displayed the pressor-type response and the depressor-type response.
2. The group with a pressor diastolic blood pressure response to exercise had higher systolic pressure when seated at rest than the depressor group, and the extent of the rise in systolic pressure in response to the exercise load was greater. The extent of the decrease in systolic blood pressure immediately after standing up in the postural blood pressure response test was less than in the depressor group.
3. The incidences of edema of the lower extremities, coldness of the lower extremities, and other autonomic nervous system symptoms were higher in the group with the pressor diastolic blood pressure response to exercise than in the depressor group.
4. The results of low-frequency electroacupuncture therapy on the 32 patients in the group with the pressor diastolic blood pressure response to exercise showed a depressor diastolic pressure response to exercise in 23 of the patients (72%). The period of treatment until the transition to the decreased pressure period was 5.5 months. While no improvement in the extent of the rise in systolic pressure in response to exercise was observed in the depressor stage, an increase in the extent of the decrease in systolic blood pressure immediately after standing up was observed in the postural blood pressure response test.
From on the above results, it was found that some patients with pre-hypertension and mild hypertension showed the diastolic pressure response to the Master's single two step test that differed (in pressor type) from that of healthy subjects. In particular, it was shown that the blood pressure of some patients taking antihypertensive agents whose blood pressure was always within the normal range exhibited blood pressure responses to exercise that differed from those of healthy subjects. It was also found that 1-Hz, 10-minute low-frequency electroacupuncture therapy applied to the posterior surface of the leg (tibialis posterior muscle) is effective in normalizing the diastolic blood pressure response (shifting to the depressor type) to the Master's single two-step test in patients who displayed a pressor-type diastolic blood pressure response to exercise.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of deep temperature of muscle, heart rate and blood pressure by two kinds of different stimulations (electrical acupuncture and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) in 20 healthy volunteers. Each subjects received stimulations on both tibialis anterior muscles.
The deep temperature of muscle increased by two different stimulations, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation indicated significant change.
The changes of blood pressure tend to decrease after electrical acupuncture. The changes of heart rate showed a similar tendency to increase.
These results suggested the difference in clinical applications of the two different stimulations.

Electro-nerve stimulation is an Electro Acupuncture (EA) method that is clinically applied to treat periphral neuropathy. We examined the effects of electro-nerve stimulation on the Sensory Nerve Conduction Velocity (SCV). The changes in SCV caused by applying electro-nerve stimulation to the peripheral nerves were measured.
Al-Hz EAT was applied for 10min to the right upper arms of healthy adult volunteers (n=12). The SCV in the median nerve and the skin temperature of the forearm were measured before and after the application. The SCV and skin temperature were found to exhibit asignificant decrease after the electricity was turned on. Therefore, we concluded that EAT caused the decrease in skin temperature of the forearm and, as a result, lowered the SCV in the median nerve.

The largest percentage of patients receiving acupuncture treatment in Japan are those with chronic aches. Aches are major factors of QOL, and the pain-killing effect of acupuncture treatment has a large clinical significance. In the study, therefore, we expressed the QOL of the patients who received acupuncture treatment as scores using SF-36 and then examined the effect of acupuncture treatment on improving the QOL. Each score of SF-36 was rated from 0 to 100, where higher points represent better states of health.
The study was conducted on 60 patients who received acupuncture treatment in our facility from Oct. 2002 to Jan. 2003.
All scores before the start of treatment were low, and all score fell below the national standard value. Physical functions (PF), bodily pain (BP), and generally view of healthiness (GH) of the physical component summary (PCS) and vitality (VT) of mental component summary (MCS) showed particularly low scores relative to other scores. Comparison of scores before the start of treatment with those 1 month after the treatment revealed that BP among the eight sub-scales was improved significantly (p<0.05). In conclusion, these results suggest that receiving acupuncture treatment can contribute to improving a patient's QOL.