Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at Four Gates(bilateral LI4 and LR3)and other acupoints in treating postoperative pain after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair and to explore its potential mechanism of action.Methods Sixty patients who underwent tension-free laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine between June 2024 and January 2025 and developed postoperative pain were enrolled.They were randomly divided into an observation group(n=30)and a control group(n=30)using a random number table.The control group received standard postoperative care,while the observation group received additional acupuncture at Four Gates and other acupoints(administered at 0 hour and 24 hours postoperatively).Clinical efficacy was assessed after 24 hours.Changes in the Numerical Rating Scale(NRS)for pain and the Bruggrmann Comfort Scale(BCS)were recorded.Serum levels of white blood cells(WBC),C-reactive protein(CRP),erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),and cortisol(COR)were compared before and after treatment.Safety and adverse reactions were also evaluated.Results(1)After 4 hours and 24 hours of treatment,the NRS scores in the observation group were significantly improved(P＜0.05).Additionally,the observation group showed a significantly greater improvement in NRS scores than the control group during the same period,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).(2)After 4 hours and 24 hours of treatment,the BCS scores of both groups of patients were significantly improved(P＜0.05).The observation group showed a significantly greater improvement in BCS scores than the control group,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).(3)After treatment,the levels of WBC,CRP,and ESR in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P＜0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in COR levels between the two groups(P＞0.05).After treatment,the WBC levels in the observation group were slightly lower than before treatment,but the difference was not statistically significant(P＞0.05),while the WBC levels in the control group were significantly higher than before treatment(P＜0.05).(4)The overall response rate in the observation group was 96.70％(29/30),while that in the control group was 56.77％(17/30).The efficacy of the observation group was superior to that of the control group,with a statistically significant difference(P＜0.05).(5)No significant adverse reactions occurred in either the observation group or the control group.There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture at Four Gates and other acupoints significantly alleviates postoperative pain,enhances patient comfort,and demonstrates excellent clinical efficacy with high safety.The treatment modulates postoperative WBC,CRP,ESR,and COR levels,suggesting systemic anti-inflammatory and stress-regulatory effects.

Objective:To study the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36)combined with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) enema in the treatment of gastroparesis syndrome after gastrointestinal tumor operation.Methods:A total of 96 patients with gastroparesis syndrome after gastrointestinal tumor surgery in our hospital from June 2016 to May 2021, who met the inclusion criteria, were randomly divided into three groups by random drawing, with 32 in each group. The control group took mosapride citrate tablets orally, the TCM enema group added TCM enema on the basis of the control group, and the combined group added acupuncture Zusanli (ST 36)on the basis of the TCM enema group. All three groups were treated continuously for 4 weeks. The main syndromes were scored before and after treatment. The levels of serum gastrin (GAS), motilin (MTL) and somatostatin (SS) were detected by radioimmunoassay. The gastric electrophysiological parameters (waveform response area, waveform frequency and average amplitude) were detected by intelligent dual channel gastrointestinal electrograph, the adverse reactions during treatment were recorded, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated.Results:The total effective rate was 96.9% (31/32) in the combined group, 81.3% (26/32) in the TCM enema group and 68.8% (22/32) in the control group. There was significant difference among the three groups ( χ2=8.72, P=0.013). The scores of abdominal fullness and distention, fatigue, belching acid reflux, dry mouth and bitter mouth in the combined group were significantly lower than those in the TCM enema group and the control group ( F values were 16.39, 13.21, 11.28 and 10.23, respectively, P<0.001). After treatment, the levels of GAS [(140.62±15.19) ng/L vs. (128.79±14.34) ng/L, (115.98±12.40) ng/L, F=21.09], MTL [(268.66±28.21) ng/L vs. (245.89±25.24) ng/L, (230.78±22.43) ng/L, F=30.29] and SS [(70.58±8.17) ng/L vs. (65.50±7.76) ng/L, (59.73±7.05) ng/L, F=33.19] in the combined group were significantly higher than those in the TCM enema group and the control group ( P<0.01). The waveform response area [(172.62±17.14) μV/s vs. (158.56± 15.32) μV/s, (145.48±14.13) μV/s, F=20.24], waveform frequency [(3.86±0.61) cpm vs. (3.29±0.50) cpm, (3.01±0.63) cpm, F=13.17] and average amplitude [(86.51±8.98) μV vs. (75.70±7.93) μV, (68.65±7.46) μV, F=28.11] were significantly higher than those in TCM enema group and control group ( P<0.01). During the treatment period, the incidence of adverse reactions was 18.8% (6/32) in the combined group, 15.6% (5/32) in the TCM enema group and 12.5% (4/32) in the control group. There was no significant difference between the three groups ( χ2=0.47, P=0.789). Conclusion:Acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) combined with TCM enema can improve the TCM syndrome scores, gastrointestinal hormone level and gastric electrophysiological parameters of patients with gastroparesis syndrome after gastrointestinal tumor operation, improve the curative effect with safety.

[Objective] To investigate the synergistic action of fuming-washing therapy with Qingbixifang ( a herbal lotion mainly composed of Herba Siegesbeckiae, Cortex Phellodendri, Radix Paeoniae Rubra, Radix Rehmanniae, Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae, Rhizoma Atractylodis, Herba Ecliptae, Nidus Vespae, Olibanum, Myrrha, etc.) on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with heat retention. [Methods] Sixty patients of RA with heat retention were randomized into groups A and B. Group A ( n = 30) was treated by fuming and washing the affected part with Qingbixifang, and taking Tongbiling Tablets and nimesulide; group B (n = 30) was treated by taking Tongbiling Tablets and nimesulide only. The treatment course of the two groups lasted one month. The time of morning stiffness, grip strength, the number of joints with tenderness, tenderness index, resting pain in joints, the number of swelling joints, swelling index, evaluation by patients themselves and by the doctor were compared before and after treatment. Laboratory parameters such as blood rheumatoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), white blood cell (WBC) count and platelet (PLT) count were also observed before and after treatment. [Results] The total effective rate was 90.0% in group A and 66.7% in group B, the difference being significant (P