The characteristics of moxibustion of the representative successors of each acupuncture and moxibustion school were analyzed, and the application and inheritance of moxibustion in
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Moxibustion ; Prunus domestica ; Schools

The purposes of this study were to determine phenolic compounds and to evaluate antioxidant activities of plums (Soldam, Oishiwase and Formosa). Soldam contains the highest amount of total phenolics among cultivars (Formosa: 4.0%, Oishiwase: 3.3%, Soldam: 6.4% for total phenolic) as well as the total flavonoids of which constituents were mainly myricetin and anthocyanidin. The antioxidant activities were measured by DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging, and SOD-like activities. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of Korean plum extracts (200 microg/mL) showed more than 43%, and the Soldam turned out to be the highest : ID50 value: 160-177 microg/mL for Formosa and Oishiwase; 58-64 microg/mL for Soldam. The ABTS radical scavenging activity of Korean plum extracts (200 microg/mL) was found to be more than 50%. The SOD-like activity of Korean plum extracts (200 microg/mL) showed more than 70%. Among three kinds of cultivars, Soldam had the highest antioxidant activity. The nitrite scavenging activity of Soldam was 61.5%, which is the highest, compared with that of the other cultivars, about 50%. From these results, Korean plums turned out to be phytochemical rich fruit as well as to show high antioxidant activities.
Anthocyanins ; Benzothiazoles ; Flavonoids ; Fruit ; Phenol ; Prunus domestica ; Sulfonic Acids ; Taiwan

OBJECTIVETo compare difference between plum-blossom needle therapy and hormonotherapy in the The treatment group of 32 cases with periphtherapeutic effect on peripheral facial neuritis at acute stage.

METHODSeral facial neuritis at acute stage were treated with plum-blossom needle therapy and the control group of 32 cases with oral administration or intravenous drip of dexamethasone. Their therapeutic effects were compared.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 100.0% in the treatment group and 93.4% in the control group, with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of plum-blossom needle therapy on peripheral facial neuritis at acute stage is better than that of the hormonotherapy.

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical therapeutic effect of plum-blossom needle therapy combined with cupping at the affected side on acute facial paralysis.

METHODSThe such patients were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, 32 cases in each group. The patients of the two groups were treated with the same Western medicines, and at the acute stage, the treatment group were treated by tapping the affected face, the surroundings of retroanricular mastoid, the region with aching pain in the neck side with plum-blossom needle and cupping, and then local radiation by TDP, and the control group were treated by TDP radiation at the same area. In the stationary phase and restoration stage, the two groups were treated by body acupuncture at the affected side with a same therapeutic course.

RESULTSThe cured rate was 81.2% in the treatment group and 68.7% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05), and there was a significant difference between the two groups in therapeutic course for cure (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPlum-blossom needle therapy combined with cupping at the affected side can help restore functions of facial nerves, and obviously increase the cured rate and shorten the therapeutic course for acute facial paralysis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical therapeutic effect between deep needling at Xiaguan (ST 7) with round sharp needle combined with plum-blossom needle and conventional acupuncture in patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) of wind and heat, and explore its mechanism. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with TN of wind and heat were randomized into an observation group (30 cases) and a control group (30 cases). In the observation group, deep needling with round sharp needle was applied at Xiaguan (ST 7), and tapping with plum-blossom needle was applied at Yangbai (GB 14), Quanliao (SI 18), Dicang (ST 4), Sibai (ST 2), etc. of affected side. In the control group, conventional acupuncture was applied at the same acupoints selected in the observation group. The treatment was given once a day, 5 times a week for 4 weeks in the both groups. Before and after treatment, the scores of short-form McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ), TCM syndrome, patient global impression of change (PGIC) and comprehensive symptom were observed, the serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and β-endorphin (β-EP) were detected, and the adverse reaction was observed in the both groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the scores of PRI, PPI, VAS, TCM syndrome, PGIC and comprehensive symptom and the serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α and VIP were decreased compared before treatment in the both groups ( CONCLUSION Deep needling at Xiaguan (ST 7) with round sharp needle combined with plum-blossom needle can effectively treat the trigeminal neuralgia of wind and heat and relieve pain, its therapeutic effect is superior to conventional acupuncture. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of serum IL-6, TNF-α, VIP and β-EP.
Flowers ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Prunus domestica ; Trigeminal Neuralgia/therapy* ; Wind

Contact urticaria designates a local immediate and/or delayed urticaria reaction, with swelling and redness at the sites of contact with certain agents. Fruits are the frequently causative agent for immunologically mediated contact urticaria. We report herein a contact urticaria occurring in a 20-year-old male immediately aftar contact with peach and plum, and after ingestion of plum, peach and apple. Swelling and itching sensation of lips and oral cavity, and tightness of chest were also developed ofter ingestion of plum, peach and apple.
Eating ; Fruit ; Humans ; Lip ; Male ; Mouth ; Prunus persica* ; Prunus domestica ; Pruritus ; Sensation ; Thorax ; Urticaria* ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo search for a method for increasing therapeutic effect on vitiligo.

METHODSOne hundred and sixteen cases were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, 58 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated with electro-plum-blossom needle therapy plus catgut implantation at local acupoints under TDP radiation, and the control group with external application of sicorten. Their short-term and long-term therapeutic effects were observed.

RESULTSThe short-term total effective rate was 98.3% in the treatment group and 74.1% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectro-plum-blossom needle therapy plus catgut implantation at acupoints has a better therapeutic effect on vitiligo with no adverse effect.

OBJECTIVES: We examined the effect of commercial plum beverages on dental erosion and whether the addition of calcium to these beverages would inhibit dental erosion. METHODS: We analyzed three groups as follows: Maesil 1 group (Chorok Maesil), Maesil 2 group (Sunkist plum), both of which were selected from commercially-available plum beverages, and Calcium-added maesil group (addition of 3% calcium to Chorok Maesil). For negative and positive control groups, Jeju Samdasoo and Coca Cola were selected, respectively. The characteristics of the experimental beverages were analyzed, and the specimens were immersed in the experimental beverage. The degree of erosion was measured by Vickers hardness number (VHN) and scanning electron microscope images. RESULTS: Positive control group had the lowest pH (2.50±0.03), followed by Maesil 2 (pH 2.59±0.01), Maesil 1 (pH 2.81±0.02), calcium-added maesil (pH 4.19±0.01), and negative control group (pH 7.57±0.06). Significant differences were found in surface microhardness between positive control, Maesil 1, Maesil 2 and calcium-added maesil group before immersion and at 30 minutes after immersion (P<0.05), and change in VHN (positive control group, −80.94±20.63; Maesil 1 group, −69.33±24.88; and Maesil 2 group, −78.49±18.60 in comparison with negative control group, −6.57±26.73). There was no significant difference (P<0.05) in change in VHN between calcium-added maesil (−13.02±17.33) and negative control group. CONCLUSIONS: Plum beverages can potentially induce dental erosion due to their low pH. However, adding calcium to these beverages can reduce the risk of dental erosion. Therefore, the risk of dental erosion must be considered during consumption of plum beverages, and the addition of calcium into plum beverages may be considered as a way to prevent dental erosion.
Beverages ; Calcium ; Coca ; Cola ; Hardness ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Immersion ; Prunus domestica

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effects of commercial plum beverage on the dentin surface that could be exposed to caries, gliopathy, and abrasion to investigate the inhibitory effects of dentin corrosion.METHODS: The experimental beverages were Jeju Samdasoo (Group 1, negative control), Coca-Cola (Group 2, positive control), Chorok Maesil (Group 3), and Chorok Maesil with 3% calcium lactate added (Group 4). The specimens were prepared and divided into 4 groups of 12 each. The pH of the experimental beverages was measured using a pH meter, and specimen surface hardness was assessed according to the Vickers hardness number (VHN). The specimens were immersed in the experimental beverage for 1, 3, 5, 10, and 15 minutes. Then, we obtained the average VHN by measuring surface microhardness. Measures of surface microhardness were compared using the paired t-test before and after 15 minutes of immersion in each of the four beverages. Between-group differences in surface microhardness were compared using one-way analysis of variance and the Tukey test after the analysis.RESULTS: After 15 minutes of immersion in the experimental beverages, there was no significant difference in surface microhardness in group 1 (P>0.05). There were significant differences in groups 2, 3, and 4 (P < 0.05). The difference in surface microhardness before and after immersion for 15 minutes was highest in group 3 (−18.1±2.55), followed by group 2 (−13.0±3.53) and group 4 (−7.79±4.47). In group 1, the difference was −1.52±4.30. Moreover, there was a significant difference in each group (P < 0.05). After 10 minutes of immersion, surface microhardness tended to rapidly decrease.CONCLUSIONS: Patients who regularly ingest a commercially available plum drink with low pH should be provided dietary guidance on the risk of dental erosion. Calcium additives should be considered when producing plum beverage products.
Beverages ; Calcium ; Corrosion ; Dentin ; Hardness ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Immersion ; Lactic Acid ; Prunus domestica ; Tooth

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of chiropractic plus plum-blossom needling combined with flexibility training for attention deficit in mentally-retarded adolescents. METHODS: Thirty adolescents with mild mental retardation were randomly divided into a medical rehabilitation plus flexibility training group (10 cases, 2 cases dropped off), a flexibility training group (10 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a control group (10 cases). The patients in the flexibility training group received flexibility training, once every other day, 3 times a week for 12 weeks. The patients in the medical rehabilitation plus flexibility training group received chiropractic and plum-blossom needling at Baihui (GV 20) and Sishencong (EX-HN 1) on the basis of the treatment in the flexibility training group, once every other day, 3 times a week for 12 weeks. The patients in the control group did not receive any targeted physical training and medical rehabilitation. Tobii Pro Spectrum eye movement instrument was used to test the attention concentration (T), attention span (M), attention transfer (γ%) and attention distribution (η). RESULTS: Compared before treatment, T and M in the medical rehabilitation plus flexibility training group and the flexibility training group were increased after treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05), and γ% in the medical rehabilitation plus flexibility training group was increased after treatment (P<0.05). The increasing range of T, M and γ% in the medical rehabilitation plus flexibility training group and the flexibility training group was greater than that in the control group (P<0.01), and the increasing range of T and γ% in the medical rehabilitation plus flexibility training group was greater than that in the flexibility training group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The chiropractic plus plum blossom needling combined with flexibility training can improve the attention deficit in mentally-retarded adolescents.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Chiropractic ; Flowers ; Humans ; Prunus domestica ; Vascular Surgical Procedures