Acupuncture and Tui Na 推拿

Clinical regularities in acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of cancer pain in recent 30 years Abstract Objective To explore the clinical regularities in acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of cancer pain by reviewing the relevant studies published between 1985 and 2017. Methods Based on the Chinese Medicine Acupuncture-moxibustion Information Database, quantitative analysis, correlation analysis and Chi-square test were applied to analyze the commonly used acupoints, meridian affiliations and body region distributions, commonly used methods and acupoint correlations, treatment method correlations, the efficacy of acupuncture- moxibustion plus the three-step analgesic ladder for cancer pain, and indicators. Results Zusanli (ST 36), Ashi point and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) ranked the top on the list of frequency; points from Bladder Meridian of Foot Taiyang and Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming were often used; points from the lower limbs and back had high frequencies. The most commonly used treatment method was acupuncture-moxibustion plus medication. Acupuncture-moxibustion plus the three-step analgesic ladder showed certain advantage compared with the two methods used separately, and among the integrated methods, acupoint application plus the three-step analgesic ladder produced the most significant efficacy. It took (44.77±55.54) min for the analgesic effect to act and the effect lasted for (12.81±14.59) h. Numerical rating scale (NRS), visual analog scale (VAS) and Karnofsky performance status (KPS) scores all showed significant changes after interventions (all P<0.01); there was no significant change in the score of quality of life (QOL) after interventions (P>0.05). Conclusion Zusanli (ST 36), Ashi point and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) are commonly selected in acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of cancer pain; acupuncture and acupoint application are often used; acupuncture-moxibustion plus the three-step analgesic ladder can boost the treatment efficacy.

Therapeutic observation on point-toward-point needling at points on the low back regions for residual back pain after percutaneous kyphoplasty Abstract Objective To observe the effect of point-toward-point needling at points on the low back regions on residual back pain after percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP), thoracolumbar function and quality of life (QOL) in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF). Methods A total of 72 patients with OVCF and residual back pain after PKP were included and allocated into a treatment group (n=36) and a control group (n=36) by the random number table. Cases in the control group received salmon calcitonin injection (miacalcic), for 1 mL each time, once a day, and oral intake of calcium carbonate D3 pill, 600 mg each time, once a day, whereas cases in the treatment group received point-toward-point needling at points on the low back regions and electroacupuncture (EA) for 30 min each time, once a day and 6 times a week on the basis of the treatment in the control group. Treatment in both groups lasted for 2 weeks. Therapeutic efficacy indicators including visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI) and Barthel index (BI) were evaluated before and after treatment and at follow-up visit (1 month after treatment). Results The total effective rate was 94.4% and 88.9% in the treatment group after treatment and at the follow-up visit, respectively, higher than 77.8% and 69.4% in the control group, and the between-group differences were statistically significant (both P<0.05). After treatment and at the follow-up visit, the VAS and ODI scores decreased, and BI scores increased in both groups, and the intra-group differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). After treatment and at the follow-up visit, between-group differences of VAS, ODI and BI scores were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusion On the basis of conventional medication treatment, point-toward-point needling at points on the low back regions has a good therapeutic effect in relieving residual back pain after PKP, improving thoracolumbar function and QOL, better than conventional medication treatment alone.

Effect of electroacupuncture on anti-Mullerian hormone expression in rats with polycystic ovarian syndrome Abstract Objective To observe whether the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on improving sex hormone disorders and follicle development is by decreasing the expression of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) in rats with experimental polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Methods Forty rats were randomly divided into four groups, a normal group (NG), a model group (MG), an EA at acupoints group (EAAG), and an EA at non-acupoints group (EANAG), with 10 rats in each group. The rats in the EAAG and EANAG were intervened by EA treatment for consecutive 14 d. Zhongji (CV 3) and Guanyuan (CV 4) were selected as the acupoints in the EAAG, and the tip of the tail and 1 cm up from the tail tip were selected as the non-acupoints in the EANAG. After treatment, the histomorphological changes of the ovary, the levels of aromatase P450 (P450arom), testosterone and estradiol in the ovarian tissues, and the expressions of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and AMH were observed. Results After treatment, compared with the MG and EANAG, the expression of AMH decreased (P<0.05), the levels of P450arom and estradiol increased significantly, and the level of testosterone decreased significantly (all P<0.01) in the EAAG. Additionally, several normal follicles were present and the number of cystically dilated follicles decreased in the EAAG. Compared with the MG and EANAG, the EAAG obviously had more follicular granulosa cells. Conclusion EA can down-regulate the abnormally increased expression of AMH to improve sex hormone disorders and follicle development in PCOS rats.

Quantitative research technology of tuina manipulations Abstract Tuina is a physical therapy for treatment and prevention of diseases. The predecessors had summed up the systematic tuina manipulations through experiences. In order to study the scientificity and usability of the technology, the researchers established a mathematical model of tuina manipulations, and used video technology to capture the trajectory of the manipulations. Using the mechanical sensor to sense the real manipulations, researchers developed a tuina manipulation instrument and obtained a lot of basic mechanics data about the manipulation technology. Through the summary of the research results of the predecessors, accurate, true and comprehensive mechanical parameters of technology of tuina manipulations were obtained to guide the research and development of instruments of tuina manipulations, and promote the development of the discipline of tuina science.

Clinical observation on warm needling moxibustion plus tuina for cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type Abstract Objective To observe the clinical effect of warm needling moxibustion plus Kai Qing Long Suo tuina therapy (opening the Qing Long lock, one type of 'Eight and a Half Locks' tuina therapy) for cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type (CSA). Methods Sixty patients with CSA were randomly allocated into an observation group or a control group, with 30 cases in each group. The observation group was treated with warm needling moxibustion plus Kai Qing Long Suo tuina therapy, while the control group was treated with warm needling moxibustion alone. Warm needling moxibustion was conducted once every other day and tuina was conducted once a day, 7-day treatments for one course. The clinical efficacy and vertebral artery blood flow was observed after one course of treatment. Results After treatment, the total effective rate was 93.3% in the observation group versus 80.0% in the control group, and there was a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). After treatment, the systolic blood flow velocity of vertebral artery increased in both groups, with statistical significance compared with that before treatment (both P<0.05), and the blood flow velocity in the observation group was faster than that in the control group, with statistical significance between the two groups (P<0.05). Conclusion Both warm needling moxibustion plus Kai Qing Long Suo tuina therapy and warm needling moxibustion alone are both effective for CSA, can improve the systolic blood flow velocity of vertebral artery. The curative effect of warm needling moxibusiton plus Kai Qing Long Suo tuina therapy is better than that of warm needling moxibustion alone.

Clinical observation on warm needling moxibustion plus acupoint sticking therapy for cervical radiculopathy Abstract Objective To observe the clinical effect of warm needling moxibustion plus acupoint sticking therapy for cervical radiculopathy. Methods A total of 120 cases were allocated into an observation group, a warm needling group and an acupoint sticking group according to the random number table, with 40 cases in each group. Cases in the observation group received warm needling moxibustion plus acupoint sticking therapy; cases in the warm needling group received the same warm needling moxibustion in the observation group; cases in the acupoint sticking group received the same acupoint sticking therapy in the observation group. The scores of Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) and visual analog scale (VAS) were recorded before and after treatment. Results The total effective rate was 95.0% in the observation group, versus 77.5% in the warm needling group and 75.0% in the acupoint sticking group (both P<0.05). Inter-group differences in JOA and VAS between the observation group and the other two groups were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusion Warm needling moxibustion plus acupoint sticking therapy is effective in treating cervical radiculopathy, and it can significantly alleviate pain and enhance clinical efficacy, and thus is worth clinical popularization.

Effect of moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) on immune system in rats with different degrees of exhaustive exercise Abstract Objective To investigate the effect of moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) on the immune system in rats with different levels of exhaustive exercise. Methods Fifty-six male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank group (n=8), an exhaustive group (n=24), and a moxibustion group (n=24). The exhaustive group was randomly divided into a 1-time exhaustive group, a 4-time exhaustive group and a 7-time exhaustive group, with 8 rats in each group. According to the treatment time, the moxibustion group was randomly divided into a 1-time moxibustion group, a 4-time moxibustion group and a 7-time moxibustion group, with 8 rats in each group. Rats in the exhaustive groups and the moxibustion groups were subjected to replicating the exhaustive swimming models. Rats in each moxibustion group received mild moxibustion for 15 min immediately after the exhaustive modeling, once every other day. Twenty-four hours after the corresponding exhaustive exercise, the rats in each group were tested for the levels of serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgA, IgM and acid phosphatase (ACP), and the morphological changes of spleen tissues were observed. The level of IgA was detected by immunoturbidimetric assay, and the levels of IgG, IgM and ACP were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Compared with the 1-time exhaustive group, swimming time of rats in the 4-time exhaustive group was significantly prolonged (P<0.01), and swimming time of rats in the 7-time exhaustive group was significantly shortened (P<0.01). Compared with the 7-time exhaustive group, exhaustive swimming time of rats in the 7-time moxibustion group was significantly prolonged (P<0.01). Compared with the blank group, the IgG level in the 1-time exhaustive group was significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the levels of IgG, IgA and IgM in the 4-time exhaustive group and the 7-time exhaustive group were all significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while the ACP level was increased significantly (both P<0.01). Microscopically, the number of splenic corpuscles in the 1-time exhaustive group was reduced; the center of some splenic corpuscles in the 4-time exhaustive group was damaged; the number of splenic corpuscles in the 7-time exhaustive group was reduced, and there was no obvious germinal center. Compared with the 4-time exhaustive group, the IgA level in the 4-time moxibustion group was significantly increased (P<0.01), and the ACP level was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the 7-time exhaustive group, the levels of IgG, IgA and IgM in the 7-time moxibustion group were significantly increased (all P<0.01), and the ACP level was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Microscopically, the number of splenic corpuscles in the 1-time moxibustion group was reduced; the center of some splenic corpuscles in the 4-time moxibustion group was damaged together with hyperplasia of some splenic corpuscles; blast cells were proliferated in the center of some splenic corpuscles in the 7-time moxibustion group. Conclusion Moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) can improve the levels of IgG, IgA and IgM, reduce the ACP level, repair damaged spleen tissues, and enhance the immunity of the body to some extent in the long-term fatigue rats.

Effects of acupuncture on neuro-electrophysiological activities in hippocampal CA1 and CA3 areas of rats with post-traumatic stress disorder Abstract Objective To observe the effects of acupuncture on the characteristics of neuro-electrophysiological activity in hippocampal CA1 and CA3 areas of rats with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Methods Fifty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a grasping group, a Western medicine group and an acupuncture group, with 10 rats in each group. Except for the blank group, rats in the other 4 groups all received the combined stress modeling method. Rats in the Western medicine group were intragastrically administrated with paroxetine hydrochloride, those in the acupuncture group received acupuncture intervention, those in the grasping group received grasping fixation, and those in the model group and the blank group did not receive any interventions. After 14 d of intervention, the interspike interval (ISI) and power spectral densities (PSD) were analyzed and mapped by in vivo multiple channels to record the neuron clusters discharge in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 areas. Results Compared with the blank group, ISI was prolonged in the CA1 and CA3 areas of the model group and the grasping group, and the concentrated PSD distribution area moved down (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with the grasping group, the ISI of the CA1 and CA3 areas in the Western medicine group and the acupuncture group was shortened, and the concentrated PSD distribution area moved up (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The ISI and PSD distributions in the CA1 and CA3 areas of the acupuncture group were not statistically different from those in the Western medicine group (both P>0.05). Conclusion Both acupuncture and paroxetine hydrochloride can significantly regulate the neuro-electrophysiology activity of hippocampal CA1 and CA3 areas in PTSD rats, which may be one of the mechanisms of acupuncture intervention to promote PTSD recovery.

Therapeutic observation on tuina for primary hypertension due to liver-fire flaming-up Abstract Objective To compare the antihypertensive effects of tuina at Taichong (LR 3), Neiguan (PC 6) and Qiaogong (Extra) to screen the best tuina protocol for primary hypertension due to liver-fire flaming-up. Methods A total of 102 patients with primary hypertension due to liver-fire flaming-up were randomly divided into a Taichong (LR 3) group, a Neiguan (PC 6) group and a Qiaogong (Extra) group according to the random number table, with 34 cases in each group. Patients in the three groups received 4-week tuina treatment with the corresponding acupoint respectively. The blood pressure was recorded by benchtop mercury sphygmomanometer before tuina, immediately after tuina treatment, 30 min and 60 min after tuina treatment with the patient in a supine position in a quiet treatment room. The total effective rate was observed. Results The systolic and diastolic blood pressures of the three groups all decreased after treatment (all P<0.05). The decrease of systolic and diastolic blood pressure at different time points after treatment in the Qiaogong (Extra) group and the Taichong (LR 3) group were better than those in the Neiguan (PC 6) group (all P<0.05). Qiaogong (Extra) group had the highest total effective rate though there was no statistical difference in the total effective rate among the three groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Treating primary hypertension due to liver-fire flaming-up with tuina at Taichong (LR 3), Neiguan (PC 6) and Qiaogong (Extra) can reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure respectively, among which Qiaogong (Extra) has the highest total effective rate.

Therapeutic observation of tuina manipulation for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation Abstract Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of balance-impact tuina therapy for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (LIDH). Methods A total of 118 eligible LIDH patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group by the random number table method, with 59 cases in each group. The observation group was intervened by balance-impact tuina therapy, while the control group was intervened by conventional tuina therapy, both for consecutive two weeks. The scores of visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), quality of life questionnaire-core 30 (QOL-C30) were observed before and after treatment; the relapse rate was estimated at the sixth month and twelfth month following the treatment. The data were statistically analyzed. Results After intervention, the total effective rate was 96.6% in the observation group versus 91.5% in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The VAS and ODI scores declined significantly after treatment in both groups (all P<0.05), and the observation group was markedly lower than the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The QOL-C30 score increased significantly after treatment in both groups (both P<0.05), and the observation group was markedly higher than the control group (P<0.05). The relapse rates at the post-treatment sixth month and twelfth month in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion Compared with the conventional tuina therapy, the balance-impact tuina therapy shows advantage in lessening pain, improving the function and enhancing the quality of life in the treatment of LIDH, and it has a lower relapse rate. Thus, this therapy is worth promoting in clinic.