[Regularity of meridian-acupoint reactions of foot three yin meridians in primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea patients].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the meridian-acupoint reactions of foot three yin meridians in primary dysmenorrhea(PD) and secondary dysmenorrhea(SD) patients, so as to summarize the rules of meridian-acupoint reaction and acupoints selection. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with PD (PD group), 34 patients with SD (SD group) and 35 healthy subjects (healthy group) were recruited. The compression method was used to examine the lower leg segment of the foot three yin meridians. Positive reactions(palpable skin changes, including cords, nodules, depressions) and tenderness of meridians and acupoints were recorded. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the tenderness severity of acupoints. RESULTS: Compared with the healthy group, the probability of positive reactions and tenderness in foot three yin meridians were higher in PD and SD groups (P<0.01,P<0.05). Compared with the PD group, the probability of positive reactions in Spleen and Liver Meridians were higher in the SD group, with higher probability of tenderness in Liver Meridian(P<0.05). The probability of positive reactions and tenderness in the Spleen Meridian of PD and SD groups was significantly higher than that in the Kidney Meridian (P<0.01), while the probability of tenderness in the Spleen Meridian of the PD group was significantly higher than that in the Liver Meridian (P<0.05). Positive reactions and tenderness were concentrated at Yinlingquan (SP9), Diji (SP8) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) of Spleen Meridian and Xiguan (LR7) and Ligou (LR5) in Liver Meridian of PD and SD groups. In comparison with the PD group, the probability of positive reactions, tenderness and VAS score of SP8 and LR5 of the SD group were higher (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The positive reaction occurs most frequently in the Spleen Meridian, followed by the Liver Meridian, and least frequently in the Kidney Meridian. The acupoints with positive reaction are different between PD and SD, which suggests that the Spleen Meridian acupoints should be the main acupoints when treating the two kinds of dysmenorrhea, and acupoints should also be selected according to the meridian and acupoint examination results.

Electroreductive Hydroxymethylation of Imines with Ketones To Access ß-Amino Alcohols.

In this article, an electrochemical method for the direct synthesis of ß-amino alcohols from imines and ketones is described. Mechanistic studies, including a radical trapping experiment, electron paramagnetic resonance, cyclic voltammetry, and divided-cell electrolysis experiment, support the radical-involved reductive cross coupling of imines with ketones at the cathode. The use of abundant and easily prepared starting materials, high atom- and step-economy, and insensitivity to air and moisture make this synthetic strategy more efficient for the construction of various ß-amino alcohol derivatives.

Direct Reductive Arylation of Imines with Electron-Deficient (Hetero) Arenes via Electrosynthesis to Access Benzylic Amines.

In this paper, a direct access to benzylic amines from imines and electron-deficient (hetero) arenes via electrochemical radical-radical cross-coupling is described. The reaction has the characteristics of the wide range of substrates, excellent functional group tolerance, metal-free and highly atom-economical. The insensitivity to air and moisture makes this synthetic strategy more efficient for the construction of various benzylic amine derivatives.

[Acupoint selection rules of acupuncture and moxibustion for stroke-related pneumonia].

Using data mining technology, the rules of acupoint selection of acupuncture and moxibustion were explored in treatment of stroke-related pneumonia. The clinical articles of acupuncture and moxibustion in treatment of stroke-related pneumonia were retrieved from CNKI, SinoMed, Wanfang and VIP databases from their inception through to January l 2021, and then, the acupuncture-moxibustion prescription database was set up for stroke-related pneumonia. SPSS Modeler 18.0 Apriori algorithm was adopted to analyze the association rules of acupoints and draw complex network diagrams. SPSS26.0 was used in clustering analysis of acupoints. Finally, a total of 44 articles were included, with 51 acupoint prescriptions and 82 acupoints extracted. The total frequency of acupoints was 340 times. The high-frequency acupoints in treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion for stroke-related pneumonia were Feishu (BL 13), Fenglong (ST 40), Hegu (LI 4), etc. These acupoints were mainly distributed on the limbs and back and mostly from yang meridians. Of these extracted acupoints, the five-shu points, convergent points and back-shu points were selected specially. Regarding acupoint combination, the association of Quchi (LI 11) had the highest support with Hegu (LI 4) and Zusanli (ST 36). The core prescription of acupuncture-moxibustion treatment for stroke-related pneumonia could be composed of Quchi (LI 11), Hegu (LI 4), Zusanli (ST 36), Fenglong (ST 40) and Taichong (LR 3).

[Study on positive reaction of foot three yin-meridians in patients with typeâ ¢ chronic prostatitis based on meridian diagnosis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between typeⅢ chronic prostatitis and the positive reaction of foot three yin-meridians based on meridian diagnosis. METHODS: Using the traditional meridian diagnosis combined with tenderness meter detection, the positive reaction rate of meridians and acupoints of crural foot three yin-meridians and tenderness pain threshold of standard acupoint location were compared in the typeⅢ chronic prostatitis patients (prostatitis group, 32 cases) and healthy subjects (health group, 30 cases). RESULTS: The positive reaction rate of the spleen meridian was higher than those in the kidney meridian and the liver meridian in the prostatitis group (P<0.001). The positive reaction rates of the spleen meridian, the kidney meridian and the liver meridian and the total positive reaction rate of foot three yin-meridians in the prostatitis group were higher than those in the health group (P<0.001). In the prostatitis group, the positive reaction rates of Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Taixi (KI 3), Ligou (LR 5), Diji (SP 8), Ququan (LR 8), Shangqiu (SP 5) and Zhongfeng (LR 4) were higher than those in the health group (P<0.001), the tenderness pain threshold of acupoints of crural foot three yin-meridians was lower than the health group (P<0.001). The positive reaction rate of the spleen meridian was positively correlated with the pain score and the total score of National Institute of Health chronic prostatitis symptom index (NIH-CPSI), and the positive reaction rate of the kidney meridian was positively correlated with age and international prostate symptom score (IPSS) in the prostatitis group. CONCLUSION: The positive reactions of foot three yin-meridians, especially the spleen meridian, are closely related to the pathological state of typeⅢ chronic prostatitis, pain and urination symptom are significantly correlated with the spleen meridian and the kidney meridian respectively.

[Analysis on specific effect of acupoints at the upper arms in treatment of scrofula and goiter].

Through analyzing the indication distribution of the different acupoints located at the upper limbs recorded in Science of Acupoints and Science of Meridians and Acupoints, the industry planning teaching materials of traditional Chinese medicine, it is discovered that the acupoints located at the upper arms are commonly selected for the treatment of scrofula and goiter, while the acupoints below the elbow at the hand meridians and those at the lower limbs of the foot meridians which running through the neck, do not have the similar indications. Based on a further analysis on the literature at ancient and modern times, it is believed that the acupoints located on the lateral side of the upper arms, especially those at the large intestine meridian of hand-yangming perhaps have the specific effect in treatment of scrofula and goiter.

[Thought on diagnosis and treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion for facial spasm based on qijie theory].

In the guidance of qijie (qi street, path of qi ) theory, the thought on diagnosis and treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion for facial spasm is analyzed. Qijie theory is a summary of the horizontal distribution rule of human body and the conclusion of the characteristics of function and indication in a certain area. In terms of spatial location and functional characteristics, facial spasm is related to "head qijie". In treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion, the local acupoints are predominated. Additionally, the distal acupoints are selected based on the characteristics of qijie in pathological condition, "qijie is unblocked even though the obstruction occurs in minor collateral"; and the acupoints for calming the mind are combined based on the relationship between head qijie and the brain function, aiming to regulating the body, qi and spirit. Regarding the techniques of acupuncture and moxibustion, align with the spatial location and hierarchical location of disease, the depth of filiform needle insertion and needling stimulation are specified and the palpation on the local meridians and acupoints are emphasized before acupuncture specially.

[Quchi (LI 11) for treatment of allergic diseases based on coincidence of key therapeutic characteristics of acupoints and pathogenesis of allergic diseases].

According to the etiology, allergic diseases are related to wind and heat; according to the pathogenesis, most of allergic diseases are qi-blood diseases; from the theory of zangfu, allergic diseases are closely related to the depressed heat of yangming and stomach-intestine, and the common elements of the pathogenesis of allergic diseases are wind, heat, qi, blood and yangming. With reviewing the ancient literature and modern research, the key therapeutic effect of Quchi (LI 11) and its special treatment effect on allergic diseases are summarized. It is suggested that the key therapeutic characteristics of Quchi (LI 11), including dispelling the wind, clearing the heat, cooling the blood and regulating stomach-intestine function, are in accordance with the common causes and pathogenesis of allergic diseases. Therefore, Quchi (LI 11) is considered an important acupoint for the treatment of allergic diseases.

Impact of acupuncture for allergic rhinitis on the activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Patients with moderate and severe persistent allergic rhinitis (AR) have long-term physical and mental stress, leading to dysfunction of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which results in recurrence of AR. Previous research has proved acupuncture can regulate the function of the neuron-endocrine-immune system and contribute to improving the quality of life of patients with AR. This research aims to investigate the mechanism of acupuncture on the HPA axis in patients with moderate or severe persistent AR. METHODS/DESIGN: This randomized controlled trial aims to study the impact of acupuncture on the HPA axis of patients with moderate and severe AR. This research also aims to compare the curative effects of different treatments in three groups of patients: those receiving western medicine, western medicine and conventional acupuncture, or western medicine and mind-regulating acupuncture. We will study the therapeutic effect of acupuncture and the correlation between the changes of therapeutic indexes and experimental indexes after the treatments. Therapeutic indexes include the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) of nasal symptoms and the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) for AR patients; experimental indexes include corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), adreno-corticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol (CORT), interleukin 4 (IL-4), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). DISCUSSION: The results of this trial will provide evidence for the influence of chronic, long-term, repeated stimulation in patients with moderate and severe persistent AR and the impact of acupuncture on the HPA axis of these patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Acupuncture-Moxibustion Clinical Trial Registry, AMCTR-IOR-16000009 . Registered on 22 August 2016.

[A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial of Treatment of Moderate and Severe Persistent Allergic Rhinitis of Spleen Deficiency Pattern by Herbal Cake-partitioned Moxibustion Combined with Rhinocort Nasal Spray].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effect of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion combined with medication in the treatment of moderate and severe persistent allergic rhinitis (PAR) patients of spleen deficiency pattern. METHODS: Sixty patients with moderate and severe PAR of spleen deficiency pattern were randomized into medication (Rhinocort) group and herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion combined with medication group (combination group, n=30 cases in each). Medicinal cake-partitioned moxibustion was applied to Yintang (GV 29, for about 20 min), Shenque(CV 8, about 50 min), bilateral Zusanli (ST 36, about 40 min)and Hegu(LI 4, about 40 min)once every other day for successive 8 weeks. All the patients received treatment with Rhinocort nasal spray, 2 jets/day for each nostril (64 µg/jet) for 8 weeks. The patients' conditions (symptoms of nasal sufferings, sleeping, sniffle, eye, emotion, etc.) were assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) and rhino conjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ, 24 items of 7 aspects, 0-6 points/item), respectively. The spleen deficiency syndrome score was determined according to "Guiding Principles for Clinical Research of New Drugs of Chinese Materia Medica" (2002). The therapeutic effect was assessed by referring to "the Diagnostic and Therapeutic Principles and Recommended Schemes for Allergic Rhinitis" (2004). RESULTS: Following the treatment, the scores of VAS, RQLQ, spleen deficiency syndrome were significantly decreased on the 4thand the 8th week of treatment in both groups in comparison with those of their own individual pre-treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01). Four weeks' follow-up survey showed that the VAS score and RQLQ score of the combination group were obviously lower than those of the medication groups (P<0.05), suggesting a better post-effect of moxibustion. Of the two 30 cases in the medication and combination groups, 9 and 9 experienced marked improvement in their symptoms, 16 and 17 were effective, and 5 and 4 ineffective, with the effective rate being 83.3% and 86.7%, respectively. No significant differences were found between the two groups in the VAS and RQLQ scores on the 4th and 8th week during treatment and in the effective rate (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion combined with hormone (Rhinocort) nasal spray is effective in relieving symptoms of moderate and severe PAR patients of spleen deficiency syndrome, and has a better post-effect.