Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science

To observe and evaluate the clinical effect of ear acupuncture in treating perimenopause syndrome. A multi-centered randomized controlled trial was conducted and the enrolled participants were divided into an ear acupuncture group and a control group. The ear acupuncture group was treated by electroacupuncture at auricular points, and the control one was prescribed for Geng Nian An (Menopause Helper) tablets. The therapeutic effects were evaluated after 10-day treatments. For pre-menopausal patients, the total effective rate was 96.8% in the ear acupuncture group, versus 56.3% in the control. For post-menopausal patients, the total effective rate was 85.7% in the ear acupuncture group, versus 53.0% in the control. Both ear acupuncture and Geng Nian An (Menopause Helper) tablets were effective in ameliorating symptoms of perimenopause syndrome, with satisfactory compliance and safety. The clinical effect of ear acupuncture is better than that of Geng Nian An (Menopause Helper) tablets.

To observe the effect of needle-retaining time in scalp acupuncture on therapeutic efficacy for post-stroke hemiplegia. A total of 82 cases who met the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated into a control group (22 cases), a short-time needle-retaining group (30 cases) and a long-time needle-retaining group (30 cases). Conventional Bobath therapy was employed in the control group while the scalp acupuncture was combined in the short-time (0.5 h) needle-retaining group and long-time (24 h) needle-retaining group. Then functional assessments were made 1 month and 3 months after treatment using Fugl-Meyer motor scale (FMMS), Fugl-Meyer assessment of balance (FMA-B) and modified Barthel index (MBI) score. Cases in the long-time needle-retaining group obtained better effects in motor function of the limbs and activities of daily living (ADL) than the other two groups (P<0.05). In addition, there was no statistical significance between the short-time needle-retaining group and the control group (P>0.05). The needle-retaining time in scalp acupuncture is substantially associated with the effect for post-stroke hemiplegia and long-time needle-retaining is more advisable.

To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus medication for rheumatic arthritis (RA). A total of 80 RA cases were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 40 in each group. Cases in the observation group received antirheumatic agents and acupuncture therapy, whereas cases in the control group received antirheumatic agents alone. The therapeutic efficacies were observed after 3 sessions of treatment. After the treatment, patients in the observation group had significant improvement in their morning stiffness time, average grip of both hands, joint tenderness and joint swelling, showing statistical significances (P<0.01); symptoms of patients in the control group were also remarkably improved (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the improvements in joint tenderness and average grip of both hands in the observation group were more significant (P<0.05). After treatment, the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) points were significantly improved in both groups, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in both groups were remarkably reduced (P<0.01, P<0.05); however, compared with the control group, the CRP decrease in the observation group was more significant (P<0.05). Acupuncture plus antirheumatic agents can effectively increase the RA patients’ activities of daily living (ADL) and thus improve their quality of life.

To explore the effect of auricular point sticking in relieving chemotherapy induced vomiting, and to observe its effect on the usage of Ondansetron hydrochlorid injection. Fifty subjects were randomized into a control group and an observation group. The cases in the control group received Ondansetron hydrochlorid injection (i.v.) prior to chemotherapy; while those in the observation group received additional auricular point sticking a day before chemotherapy till the end of the chemotherapy. The dose of Ondansetron hydrochlorid used in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control (P<0.05). Auricular point sticking can reduce the dose of Ondansetron hydrochlorid in the patients with chemotherapy induced vomiting, and effectively attenuate vomiting.

To observe the clinical efficacy of warm acupuncture in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and its effects on the conduction velocity of the tibial nerve and common fibular nerve. Fifty-two subjects were evenly randomized into two groups and treated by conventional therapy; in addition, the control group was given mecobalamin injection at 500 μg, once a day for four weeks, and treatment group was given warm acupuncture, 6 times a week for 4 weeks. The clinical efficacy and the conduction velocity of the tibial nerve and common fibular nerve were observed and compared between the two groups. After four-week treatments, the total effective rate was 88.5% in the treatment group and 61.5% in the control group, with a higher rate in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05); the conduction velocity of tibial nerve and common fibular nerve was higher in both groups (P<0.05), with higher conduction velocity in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). Warm acupuncture is quite effective to treat diabetic peripheral neuropathy and to improve nerve velocity.

To observe the short-term efficacy of massaging quadriceps on knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Totally 30 KOA patients were enrolled and treated mainly with massaging quadriceps, 20 min for each session, once a day, 2 weeks as a treatment course, and for 2 courses in total. After treatment, the changes of visual analogue scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) were observed. The VAS and WOMAC scores dropped after treatment, with a statistically significant difference (P<0.01). After a course of treatment, the recovery rate was 33.3% and the total effective rate was 86.7%; after 2 courses, the recovery rate was 60.0% and the total effect rate was 96.7%. Massaging quadriceps can alleviate pain, improve the function of knee joint, and produce a significant short-term efficacy in treating KOA.

To explore the efficacy of mild moxibustion plus loratadine tablets for children with allergic rhinitis (AR). A total of 80 children were randomized into a control group and an observation group, with 40 cases in each group. The control group was treated with loratadine tablets, and the observation group was treated with mild moxibustion plus loratadine tablets. Before and after treatment, the total nasal symptom score (TNSS) was evaluated, and the serum eosinophils (EOS) count, and the interleukin (IL)-27 and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) levels were measured. Clinical efficacy was evaluated after treatment. The total effective rate of the observation group was higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the TNSS in both groups decreased (P<0.05), and the TNSS in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05); the serum EOS count in both groups decreased (P<0.05), and the serum EOS count in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The serum IL-27 level in the control group had no statistical difference compared with the same group before treatment (P>0.05), and the serum MIF level decreased after treatment (P<0.05). The serum IL-27 level in the observation group increased after treatment (P<0.05), and the serum MIF level decreased after treatment (P<0.05), and were both statistically different from those in the control group (P<0.05). Mild moxibustion plus loratadine tablets is effective in treating children with AR. It can significantly improve the nasal symptoms and reduce the serum EOS count, which may be related to the regulation of the serum IL-27 and MIF levels.

Nghiên cứu nhằm quan sát hiệu quả lâm sàng của điện châm (EA) kết hợp với liệu pháp tập luyện đối với chức năng cân bằng ở bệnh nhân thoái hóa khớp gối (KOA). Bảy mươi bệnh nhân bị KOA đã được phân chia ngẫu nhiên thành hai nhóm, nhóm điều trị và nhóm kiểm soát, mỗi nhóm có 35 bệnh nhân. Nhóm điều trị được điều trị bằng EA kết hợp với liệu pháp tập luyện. EA được thực hiện tại các điểm huyệt Dubi (ST35), Neixiyan (EX-LE4), Xuehai (SP10), Liangqiu (ST34), Yanglingquan (GB34), và Zusanli (ST 36). Liệu pháp tập luyện (tập huấn sức mạnh cơ và tập luyện tính linh hoạt của khớp gối) được áp dụng sau khi thực hiện EA. Nhóm kiểm soát chỉ nhận liệu pháp tập luyện giống như nhóm điều trị. Cả hai nhóm được điều trị trong cùng một liệu trình, 3 lần một tuần trong 4 tuần liên tiếp, tổng cộng 12 lần, và theo dõi trong 1 tháng. Hệ thống kiểm tra cân bằng Pro-Kin254P đã được sử dụng để đo các tham số chức năng cân bằng tại 4 thời điểm, bao gồm trước khi điều trị, sau 1 lần điều trị, sau 12 lần điều trị và trong 1 tháng theo dõi sau điều trị. Thang điểm analog hình ảnh (VAS) và chỉ số thoái hóa khớp Tây Ontario và McMaster (WOMAC) đã được ghi nhận. Tỷ lệ hiệu quả rõ rệt và tỷ lệ hiệu quả tổng thể ở nhóm điều trị cao hơn nhóm kiểm soát (P<0.01). Diện tích Romberg, chiều dài Romberg và điểm số VAS của hai nhóm giảm đáng kể sau 1 lần điều trị, 12 lần điều trị và 1 tháng sau điều trị, và sự khác biệt giữa các thời điểm khác nhau trong cùng một nhóm là có ý nghĩa thống kê (P<0.01). Có sự khác biệt rõ rệt giữa hai nhóm tại cùng một thời điểm (P<0.05). Tổng điểm WOMAC của hai nhóm sau 1 lần điều trị, 12 lần điều trị và 1 tháng sau điều trị giảm đáng kể, và có sự khác biệt rõ rệt giữa các thời điểm khác nhau trong cùng một nhóm (P<0.05), nhưng không có sự khác biệt có ý nghĩa giữa hai nhóm tại cùng một thời điểm (P>0.05). EA kết hợp với liệu pháp tập luyện hoặc liệu pháp tập luyện một mình có thể cải thiện chức năng cân bằng, giảm đau khớp, và cải thiện chức năng khớp ở bệnh nhân KOA. EA kết hợp với liệu pháp tập luyện vượt trội hơn liệu pháp tập luyện đơn độc trong việc cải thiện chức năng cân bằng và giảm đau, nhưng hai phác đồ điều trị có tác dụng tương tự trong việc cải thiện chức năng khớp.

To observe the clinical effects of acupuncture combined with acupoint injection therapy in treating chronic eczema. Seventy patients were randomly divided into two groups. Thirty-six cases in the treatment group were treated with acupuncture, acupoint injection therapy and tapping with plum-blossom needle, while 34 cases in the control group were treated with oral administration of Loratadine plus topical application of Halometasone Cream. After a three-week treatment, the curative and remarkable effective rate and the total effective rate were respectively 80.6% and 97.2% in the treatment group, versus 47.1% and 79.4% in the control group. The differences in the curative and remarkable effective rate and total effective rate between the two groups were statistically significant (all P<0.05). No obvious adverse reaction appeared in the two groups during the treatment. Acupuncture plus acupoint injection therapy is effective for chronic eczema with high in safety.