OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in clinical efficacy on bronchial asthma at chronic persistent stage between acupuncture for warming yang and benefiting qi and seretide.

METHODSOne hundred and eighty patients of bronchial asthma at chronic persistent stage were randomized into an acupuncture group and a western medication group, 90 cases in each one. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture for warming yang and benefiting qi was applied at Dazhui (GV 14), Feishu (BL 13), Danzhong (CV 17), Dingchuan (EX-B 1), Jianshi (PC 5), Zhigou (TE 6), Taixi (KI 3) and Zusanli (ST 36), once every two days. In the western medication group, inhalation therapy with seretide was applied, 1 to 2 inhalations each time, twice a day. The treatment for 20 days was as one session in the two groups, at the intervals of 2 days after each session. Four sessions of treatment were required. The immune function indices were observed before and after treatment in the patients of two groups, named immunoglobulin IgG, IgM and IgE; peripheral T lymphocytes (CD3+), helper T lymphocytes (CD4+), inhibitory T lymphocytes (CD8+) and the ratio of CD4+ and CD8+; as well as the pulmonary ventilation function indices, named maximum pulmonary expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC). The clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 93.3% (84/90) in the acupuncture group, better than 88.9% (80/90) in the western medication group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the immune function indices and pulmonary ventilation function indices were apparently improved as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P < 0.05). The improvements in the acupuncture group were much more significant (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture for warming yang and benefiting qi effectively controls the symptoms of bronchial asthma at chronic persistent stage and improves immune and pulmonary functions. The efficacy is better than that of seretide.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Asthma ; immunology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Qi ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the impacts on the life quality and the effect mechanism in the patients of allergic rhinitis (AR) treated with warm acupuncture in winter and summer.

METHODSTwo hundred and forty patients of AR were randomized into a summer and winter acupuncture group, a non-summer and winter acupuncture group and a western medication group, 80 cases in each one. In the two acupuncture groups, Dazhui (GV 14), Fengmen (BL 12), Feishu (BL 13), Pishu (BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23) were selected. In the summer and winter acupuncture group, the warm acupuncture started at the first day of the three periods of hot season and the first day of the third nine-day period after the winter solstice. The treatment was given once every two days, continuously for 15 times. Totally, 30 treatments were required a year. In the non-summer and winter acupuncture group, the warm acupuncture was applied out of the three periods of the hot season and the third nine-day period after the winter solstice. The treatment was given once every two days and 30 treatments for a year. In the western medication group, cetirizine was taken orally, continuously for 30 days as one session. In the three groups, the treatment for 1 year was taken as one session. The second session started in the next year. Totally, 2 sessions were required. The score of rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) and the level of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) were compared in the patients' of each group before treatment and in 1 and 2 sessions of treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the scores of 7 domains, named activities, common complaints, practical problems, sleep, ocular symptoms, nasal symptoms and emotions were all improved as compared with those before treatment, in the patients of the three groups (all P < 0.05). After 2 sessions treatment, the results in the summer and winter acupuncture group were better than those in the other two groups (all P < 0.05), and the results in the non-summer and winter acupuncture group were better than those in the western medication group (all P < 0.05). After treatment, serum IgE level was lower averagely than that before treatment in the three groups (all P < 0.05). After 2 sessions treatment, the result in the summer and winter acupuncture group was lower than that in the other two groups (both P < 0.05), and the result in the non-summer and winter acupuncture group was lower than that in the western medication group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the total effective rate was 92.3% (72/78) in the summer and winter acupuncture group, better than 80.5% (62/77) in the non-summer and winter acupuncture group and 69.7% (53/76) in the western medication group (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe warm acupuncture in both summer and winter achieves the definite efficacy on AR and the effect mechanism is relevant with reducing serum IgE level.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; therapy ; Seasons ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Epilepsy is a common disease of the central nervous system.Previous studies have shown that it is associated with circadian rhythm, however, the exact mechanism of action is still unknown.Currently, it has been proved by a lot of evidences that the secretion of melatonin is regulated by circadian rhythm, as well as the expression level of melatonin can feedback and regulate circadian rhythm.The relationship between melatonin and epilepsy is closely rela-ted.Its anticonvulsive effect has been proved in a number of basic experiments.Simultaneously the serum concentration of melatonin in epileptic patients is significantly lower than that in general population.The frequency of seizure in the epileptic model mice are significantly reduced, after preconditioning with melatonin.However, the anticonvulsant effect of melatonin in the related clinical trials is not clear.This article mainly introduces the current research progress of the relationship between melatonin and epilepsy, and summarizes the related experimental results and the mechanism of action.