OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of acupuncture with yin-yang regulation method versus local acupuncture in treating chronic low back pain (CLBP) in elderly patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH), and to evaluate the changes in the multifidus muscle before and after treatment using musculoskeletal ultrasound. METHODS: A total of 128 elderly patients with CLBP due to LDH were randomly assigned to an observation group (64 cases, 2 cases dropped out) and a control group (64 cases, 2 cases dropped out). The control group received local acupuncture at bilateral L₃-L₅ Jiaji points (EX-B2), Shenshu (BL23), Dachangshu (BL25), Weizhong (BL40), Yaoyangguan (GV3), and ashi points. The observation group received acupuncture with yin-yang regulation method, which included an abdominal protocol with Baihui (GV20), Zhongwan (CV12), Qihai (CV6), Guanyuan (CV4), bilateral Tianshu (ST25), and Dahe (KI12), etc., and a lumbar protocol with Baihui (GV20), Dazhui (GV14), Jizhong (GV6), Yaoyangguan (GV3), and ashi points, etc., alternated bilaterally. Both groups were treated once every other day, three times per week, for a total of 12 sessions. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI) score, and the indexs of musculoskeletal ultrasound multifidus muscle (resting and functional thickness and Young's modulus values) were observed before and after treatment, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated in the two groups. RESULTS: After 1 and 4 weeks of treatment, both groups showed lower VAS scores compared to baseline (P<0.05), the VAS scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.001). ODI scores in both groups were decreased after 1 and 4 weeks of treatment compared to baseline (P<0.05), with a further reduction at 4 weeks of treatment compared to 1 week of treatment (P<0.05); the observation group showed lower ODI score than the control group after 1 week of treatment (P<0.001). After treatment, both groups demonstrated increased resting and functional multifidus muscle thickness bilaterally compared to baseline (P<0.01), with an increased right-side thickness change rate (P<0.01), though no significant difference was observed between groups (P>0.05). Compared to baseline, after treatment, the observation group exhibited decreased Young's modulus values for bilateral resting and functional multifidus muscle (P<0.01), while the control group showed reductions only in bilateral resting and right-side functional Young's modulus values (P<0.01). After treatment, the bilateral functional Young's modulus values in the observation group were lower than that in the control group (P<0.05), and the bilateral resting and functional changes in Young's modulus values were greater in the observation group than those in the control group (P<0.01). The overall effective rate was 93.5% (58/62) in the observation group, which was higher than 79.0% (49/62) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Acupuncture with yin-yang regulation method effectively alleviates pain, improves functional disability, increases multifidus muscle thickness, and reduces Young's modulus values in elderly patients with CLBP due to LDH, which has superior therapeutic effect compared to local acupuncture.
Humans ; Low Back Pain/physiopathology* ; Male ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Female ; Aged ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/physiopathology* ; Middle Aged ; Yin-Yang ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Acupuncture Points ; Treatment Outcome

Based on the theory of "three regions and sanjiao" in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the acupuncture-moxibustion differentiation and treatment system is explored and constructed for spasm syndrome, so as to provide a clearer guiding framework for TCM treatment of spasm syndrome. This disorder is caused essentially by the invasion of pathogenic wind, and located in brain marrow. The key regions of illness cover five zang organs and five tissues, and the core pathogenesis is associated with wind disturbance in brain marrow. In differentiation, spasm syndrome refers to overall transmission (from the upper to the lower) and local transmission (from exterior to interior). This disorder can be classified into sanjiao spasm (heart-lung spasm of the upper jiao, liver-spleen spasm of the middle jiao, and liver-kidney spasm of the lower jiao) and three-region spasm (skin-vessel spasm of the upper region, tendon-muscle spasm of the middle region, and tendon-bone spasm of the lower region). Based on "three regions and sanjiao" theory of acupuncture and moxibustion, 7 "expelling-wind" points can be selected in terms of the etiology of this disease. Baihui (GV20)-toward-Taiyang (EX-HN5) needling is applied to regulate the brain marrow, focusing on the core location of illness; and regarding the key location of illness, the combination of back-shu and front-mu points and that of jing-well and xing-spring points are adopted to regulate five zang organs. The five needling techniques (half needling, leopard-spot needling, joint needling, Hegu needling and shu needling) are used to regulate five tissues.
Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Spasm/diagnosis* ; Moxibustion ; Acupuncture Points ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Diagnosis, Differential

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of exercise-based acupuncture in treating ischemic stroke and its effects in improving the patient's motor function and daily living ability. Methods:A total of 106 patients with motor dysfunction due to cerebral infarction were randomized into a trial group and a control group,each consisting of 53 cases.Both groups received conventional rehabilitation;in addition,the control group was given point-toward-point acupuncture at scalp points,and the trial group was offered exercise-based acupuncture,3 times weekly for 4 consecutive weeks.Before treatment,after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment,and at the 2-month follow-up,the Fugl-Meyer assessment(FMA)scale,Lovett scale for muscle strength,modified Ashworth scale(MAS),and activities of daily living(ADL)scale were used to assess the patient's motor function,muscle strength,muscle tension,and daily living ability. Results:After treatment,both groups gained improvements in motor function and daily living ability;after 4-week treatment and at the 2-month follow-up,the trial group had higher FMA and ADL scores than the control group(P<0.05).The MAS score decreased after treatment in both groups;after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment and at the 2-month follow-up,the MAS score was lower in the trial group than in the control group(P<0.05).After the intervention,the Lovett score increased in both groups;after 4 weeks of treatment,the Lovett score was higher in the trial group than in the control group(P<0.05). Conclusion:Based on routine rehabilitation,exercise-based acupuncture and scalp point-toward-point acupuncture both can improve the motor function and daily living ability in ischemic stroke patients;exercise-based acupuncture performs better than scalp point-toward-point acupuncture.

OBJECTIVETo observe differences of immediate effect of twirling reinforcing-reducing manipulation at head acupoints on muscle force in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

METHODSA total of 126 patients who met the inclusive criteria were randomly divided into a twirling reinforcing group, a mild reinforcing-reducing group and a twirling reducing group, 42 cases in each one. The lines between Baihui (GV 20) and bilateral Taiyang (EX-HN 5) were selected and treated with successive insertion of three needles. The twirling reinforcing method was used in the twirling reinforcing group, and mild reinforcing-reducing method was used in the mild reinforcing- reducing group, and twirling reducing method was used in the twirling reducing group. Each needle was manipulated for 1 min, which was repeated once every 10 min. The needles were retained for 30 min. Muscle force was evaluated immediately after treatment.

RESULTS(1) Muscle force of upper limb: after acupuncture, the muscle force of proximal and remote ends were all improved significantly in three groups (all P < 0.05), which was more obvious in proximal end (all P < 0.05). The improvement of the muscle force of proximal end in the twirling reinforcing group was superior to those in the mild reinforcing-reducing group and twirling reducing group (both P < 0.05); the differences of the muscle force of remote end were not significant among three groups (all P > 0.05). (2) Muscle force of lower limb: after acupuncture, the muscle force of proximal and remote ends was all improved significantly in the three groups (all P < 0.05). The improvement of the muscle force of proximal end was superior to that of remote end in the twirling reinforcing group and mild reinforcing-reducing group (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe twirling reinforcing manipulation at head acupoints is superior to mild reinforcing-reducing and twirling reducing manipulation for muscle force in patients with acute ischemic stroke, which is more significant in proximal end of limbs.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Ischemia ; therapy ; Lower Extremity ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Upper Extremity ; physiopathology

Objective To observe the effect of different stimulative ways of scalp penetration acupuncture on acute stroke. Methods 90 inpatients with acute stroke from July, 2011 to July, 2014 were randomly divided into manual acupuncture group (n=30), electroacupuncture group (n=30) and simple acupuncture group (n=30). All the groups accepted scalp penetration acupuncture from Baihui (GV20) to Taiyang (EX-HN5) and stimulated manually, electrically and simply maintained, respectively. They were assessed with Neurological Deficit Score (NDS), measured with neuron-specific enolase (NSE) before and 14 days after treatment. The incidence of improvement was observed. Re-sults The NDS was the least in the manual acupuncture group (P<0.05), as well as the serumal level of NSE (P<0.05). The incidence of im-provement was the most in the manual acupuncture group (P<0.05). Conclusion The manual stimulation of scalp penetration acupuncture is more effective on the acute stroke.

Objective To establish the resist-fatigue animal test through using Maca, in order to provide reference for the relevant departments to exploit new sports nutrition . Methods Thirty male KM mice were randomly divided into Quiet control group (A),Exhaustive group (B,high altitude),Maca exhaustive group (C), there were 10 mice in each group. Drinking water containing Maca (Maca =500 mg/L) was supplied in group C. Additional exhaustive group (D,low altitude) was set.Thirty days later, all mice were killed after one exhaustive test, then we tested the exhaustive time, the level of T-SOD and liver glycogen. Results The exhaustive time of group C was significantly longer than group B (P<0.05), the T-SOD level of group C was significantly higher than group A and group B (P<0.05), and the liver glycogen content of group C was significantly higher than group B (P<0.05) . Conclusion Maca can raise T-SOD and liver glycogen level of the mice after exhaustive swimming, and has function of resist-fatigue.

OBJECTIVETo explore the impacts on the fine movement of upper extremity with flaccid paralysis in stroke treated with acupuncture and motor imagery.

METHODSSixty-two cases of flaccid paralysis of upper extremity in stroke were randomized into an observation group (30 cases) and a control group (32 cases). In the control group, the conventional western medication and the passive movement of the extremity were applied. Additionally, the penetrating needling technique was used at the head points [penetrating needling from Baihui (GV 20) to Taiyang (EX-HN 5)] and the local affected extremity [penetrating needling from Jianyu (LI 15) to Binao (LI1 14), from Quchi (LI 11) to Shaohai (HT 3), from Waiguan (TE 5) to Neiguan (PC 6), etc]. The needles were retained for 30 min. In the observation group, on the basic treatment as the control group, during the needle retaining, the motor imagery therapy was supplemented. The treatment was given once a day, 5 treatments a week, for 4 weeks totally in the either group. The scores in the action research arm test (ARAT) and the modified Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) were recorded at the moment of enrollment, in 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, in the 6th and 8th weeks, as well as after 90 days separately.

RESULTS(1) ARAT score: since the 2nd week, ARAT scores in the observation group were all improved significantly as compared with those in the control group at the each time points (all P<0. 05). In the observation group, the scores were improved significantly in the pair comparison at the time points (all P<0. 05). In the control group, the score in the 2nd week was not different significantly as compared with that before treatment (P>0. 05), but the scores at the rest time points were improved significantly in the pair comparison (all P<0. 05); (2) FMA score: in the 2nd week and on the 90th day, FMA score in the observation group was higher significantly than those in the control group (both P < 0. 05). In the observation group, the scores were all improved significantly in the pair comparison at the time points (all P<0. 05). In the control group, except that in comparison between the 90th day and the 8th week (P>0. 05), the results were all P<0. 05 at the rest time points.

CONCLUSIONThe early intervention of the combined therapy of acupuncture and motor imagery effectively promotes the recovery of the coordination function and the fine movement of upper extremity, especially the improvements of the fine movement in stroke at flaccid paralysis stage. The efficacy is better than the single acupuncture treatment.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Imagery (Psychotherapy) ; Imagination ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Motor Activity ; Paraplegia ; etiology ; physiopathology ; psychology ; therapy ; Stroke ; complications ; therapy ; Upper Extremity ; physiopathology

Objective To investigate the immediate effect of twirling reinforcing manipulation, twirling reducing manipulation and mild reinforcing-reducing manipulation on motor functions for patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods Totally 116 patients with ischemic stroke were randomly divided into twirling reinforcing manipulation group (TRFM, n=39), mild reinforcing-reducing manipulation group (TRRM, n=37), and twirling reducing manipulation group (TRDM, n=40) by stratified blocked randomization. Each group was treated in Baihui-Taiyang acupoint area accordingly with twirling reinforcing manipulation, mild reinforcing-reducing manipulation and twirling reducing manipulation once. The operation time for each needle was 1 minute. Interval time between every 2 needles was 10 minutes, and each needle was retained for 30 minutes. Neurological deficit score (NDS) and simplified Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) were evaluated before and immediate time, 1 h, 2 h and 3 h after treatment. Results FMA in TRFM was higher than that of TRDM and TRRM at immediate time, 1 h and 2 h after treatment (P<0.05), but there was no difference at 3 h after treatment (P>0.05). DNS in TRFM decreased sharply at immediate time, 1 h, 2 h and 3 h compared with TRDM and TRRM (P<0.05). The statistical analysis showed no significant difference between TRDM and TRRM at all time points (P>0.05). Conclusion TRFM has an advantage over TRDM and TRRM in immediate effect of motor functions for patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of Lu’s warm needling in treating perimenopausal syndrome.Methods Sixty patients with perimenopausal syndrome were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 30 cases each. The treatment group received Lu’s warm needling and the control group, conventional acupuncture. The scores of Kupperman Index (KI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), and serum estrogen (E2), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteal hormone (LH) were observed before and after treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.Results The total efficacy rate was 80.0% in the treatment group and 53.3% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in the KI score in the two groups (P<0.01). There was a statistically significant difference in pre-/post-treatment KI score difference value between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in serum LH, FSH and E2 contents in the two groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the Hamilton Depression Scale score and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score in the two groups (P<0.01, P<0.05). There was a statistically significant post-treatment difference in the Hamilton Depression Scale score between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Lu’s warm needling is an effective way to treat perimenopausal syndrome.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture with points selection based on yin-yang and qi-blood in treating insomnia by using polysomnography.Method Seventy-five insomnia patients were randomized into a treatment group of 38 cases and a control group of 37 cases. The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture with points selection based on yin-yang and qi-blood, while the control group was by oral administration of Estazolam. The polysomnography was used to assess sleep condition before and after 2 treatment courses, and the clinical efficacies were compared between the two groups.Result The sleep parameters [sleep latency, rapid eye movement (REM) latency, total sleep duration, and sleep efficiency) were significantly changed after the treatment in both groups (P<0.01). The Non-REM (NREM) and REM duration of the treatment group were significantly changed after the treatment (P<0.01). The REM duration of the control group was significantly changed after the treatment (P<0.01). After the treatment, the NREM and REM durations of the treatment group were significantly different from that of the control group (P<0.01). The sleep durations in S1, S2, S3, and S4 stages during NREM were significantly changed in the treatment group after the intervention (P<0.01). The sleep duration in S1, S2 during NREM was markedly changed in the control group after the intervention (P<0.01 ,P<0.05). After the treatment, the sleep durations in S1, S2, S3, and S4 during NREM of the treatment group were significantly different from that of the control group (P<0.01). The total effective rate was 73.7% in the treatment group versus 75.7% in the control group, and the difference was statistically insignificant (P>0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture with points selection based on yin-yang and qi-blood is effective in treating insomnia, and it can improve the sleep structure and quality.