[Clinical efficacy of fire needling combined with cupping therapy on herpes zoster of acute stage and the effect on Th17/Treg cellular immune balance].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy between the combined therapy of fire needling and cupping, and western medication on herpes zoster of acute stage, as well as the effects on Th17 and Treg cells and inflammatory factors, i.e. IL-10 and IL-17 in the peripheral blood. METHODS: Eighty patients with herpes zoster of acute stage were randomly divided into a combined therapy (fire needling plus cupping) group and a western medication group, 40 cases in each one. In the combined therapy group, the pricking and scattering techniques with fire needle were used at ashi points and Jiaji (EX-B 2) corresponding to the affected spinal segments; afterwards, cupping therapy was delivered. The combined treatment was given once daily. In the western medication group, valaciclovir hydrochloride tablet and vitamin B1 tablet were administered orally. The duration of treatment in each group was 10 days. Before each treatment from day 1 to day 10 and on day 11 , the score of symptoms and physical signs was observed in the two groups separately. Before each treatment from day 1 to day 10 and on day 11, 30, 60, the score of visual analogue scale (VAS) and skin lesion indexes were observed in the two groups. On day 60, the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia was recorded in the two groups. The levels of Th17 and Treg cells, Th17/Treg ratio in the peripheral blood, as well as serum levels of IL-10 and IL-17 were detected before and after treatment in the two groups. The clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: From day 6 to day 10 during treatment and on day 11, the scores of symptoms and physical signs in the combined therapy group were lower than those of the western medication group (P<0.05, P<0.01). On day 3, day 6 to day 10 during treatment and day 11, day 30, VAS scores in the combined therapy group were lower than those of the western medication group (P<0.05, P<0.01). On day 60, the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia in the combined therapy group was lower compared with that in the western medication group (P<0.05). The blister arresting time and scabbing time in the combined therapy group were shorter than those of the western medication group (P<0.05). After treatment, the level of Th17, and Th17/Treg ratio in the peripheral blood, as well as the serum levels of IL-10 and IL-17 were all lower in comparison with those in the western medication group (P<0.05). The curative and remarkably effective rate was 82.5% (33/40) in the combined therapy group, higher than 62.5% (25/40) in the western medication group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The early application of fire needling combined with cupping therapy can effectively treat herpes zoster of acute stage, relieve pain, and reduce the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia, which may be related to reducing the levels of Th17 and Treg cells, and Th17/Treg ratio in the peripheral blood, as well as the serum levels of IL-10 and IL-17 so that the cellular immune balance is modulated.

[Professor LIN Guo-hua's experience in the clinical application of "Dayingxiang"].

The paper introduces professor LIN Guo-hua's experience in treatment with acupuncture-moxibustion at "Dayingxiang". Based on the application of Neiyingxiang (internal LI 20), professor LIN defines the entire nasal cavity and its adjacent nasopharynx as "Dayingxiang", of which, "Neiyingxiang" and "Biyandian" (nasopharynx point) are commonly stimulated with acupuncture-moxibustion. "Dayingxiang" may regulate lung qi and promote the circulation of the marrow sea in treatment of the disorders of lung system and the marrow. Fire needling with twirling or burning-scallion technique is predominated in manipulation. "Neiyingxiang" is stimulated for the shallow-located disorders, while, "Biyandian" is for the deep-located ones. These two points are optioned alternatively or in combination to enhance the therapeutic effect.

Morning Versus Evening Dosing of Sublingual Immunotherapy in Allergic Asthma: A Prospective Study.

Background: Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) has been proved to be an effective and safe treatment for allergic asthma (AS) in children. Nonetheless, several issues regarding SLIT remain to be resolved, including the information about optimal administration timing. Methods: A total of 163 AS children aged 4-13 years were enrolled and randomized into the morning dosing (MD) group and the evening dosing (ED) group. Participants received SLIT with Dermatophagoides farinae drops between 7:00 a. m. and 9:00 a.m. (for the MD group) or between 8:00 p. m. and 10:00 p.m. (for the ED group). The total asthma symptom score (TASS), total asthma medicine score (TAMS), Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), FEV1/forced volume vital capacity (FVC), fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and adverse events (AEs) were assessed at baseline, 0.5 and 1 year during the 1-year SLIT. Results: After 1 year, 62 patients in the MD group and 63 patients in the ED group completed the entire study. The clinical efficacy, pulmonary function and FeNO in both groups improved significantly at 0.5 and 1 year (p < 0.001). Compared to the MD group, the ED group showed significant lower ACQ score at 0.5 year (p < 0.001) and lower FeNO at 1 year (p < 0.05). No significant difference between two groups was observed in AE rate (p > 0.05). All AEs occurred in the first month, with no systemic AEs reported. Conclusion: 1-year house dust mite (HDM) SLIT is effective and well-tolerated in AS children regardless of administration time. SLIT dosing in the evening might enhance the asthma control level and reduce FeNO level compared with SLIT dosing in the morning.

[Professor LIN Guo-hua's clinical experience in staging treatment for post-stroke dysphagia].

The paper summarizes professor LIN Guo-hua's clinical experience in staging treatment for post-stroke dysphagia. Professor LIN Guo-hua adheres to "essence and marrow deficiency and primary yang decline" as the pathogenesis and "conducting yin from yang " as the treating principle. By regulating the conception vessel and the governor vessel and focusing on yang meridians, in association with meridian differentiation and the location differentiation, professor LIN provides the staging treatment for post-stroke dysphagia. At the oral phase, yangming is dysfunction, manifested as facial paralysis and flaccid tongue. In treatment, reducing method is predominated at yangming meridian specially. At the pharyngeal phase, shaoyang is invaded by pathogens, manifested as pivoting dysfunction. The treatment focuses on communicating the exterior with the interior and promoting shaoyang meridian. At the esophageal phase, yangming meridian is deficiency and the turbid qi fails to descend, thus the reinforcing method is dominated to promote and tonify yangming. Additionally, the kinesiotherapy of acupuncture is assisted and the Lingnan fire needling therapy is used particularly. All of the summaries above provide the reference for the clinical treatment of post-stroke dysphagia.

Acupuncture for improving a case of widespread herpes zoster after non-Hodgkin's lymphoma chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster presents as clustered blisters on one side of the body, accompanied by nerve pain. This is caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, and it occurs primarily in people with weakened immunity. Tumor and chemotherapy drugs can impair the patient's immune function, induce herpes zoster and prolong the course of disease.In these patients, skin changes can last for months and blisters can recur and cause serious complications such as postherpetic neuralgia.Acupuncture is a common alternative therapy for herpes zoster in East Asia. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of an elderly male patient with widespread herpes zoster in the trunk after non-Hodgkin's lymphoma chemotherapy. The patient had received conventional treatment with valaciclovir and mecobalamin within 24 hours of symptom onset. Because neither the clustered blisters nor the nerve pain were improved a week later, acupuncture and related techniques were applied. These included electro-acupuncture, surrounding acupuncture, fire acupuncture, and cupping. The patient recovered 20 days after the herpes zoster attack, and there were no adverse reactions during the treatment process. CONCLUSIONS: This case suggests that acupuncture and related techniques are effective interventions for this condition.This case report is innovative because it shows that acupuncture as an adjuvant treatment can improve the skin lesions in patients with HZ after tumour chemotherapy, relieve pain, and shorten the course of HZ.

[ZHANG Jia-wei's experience for treating press ulcer with fire-moxibustion].

To summarize ZHANG Jia-wei 's experience for treating press ulcer with fire-moxibustion. Through syndrome differentiation and examined factors, ZHANG Jia-wei believes that the disease is caused by qi deficiency and blood stasis, and advocates that the treatment should be weighed against deficiency and excess, and selection by stages. The cotton-moxibustion is used to diffusing and obstruction-removing qi and blood duingⅠstage of press ulcer. The Lingnan fire-needling is adopted for removing dampness, blood stasis and toxic substance to generate new muscles duringⅡand Ⅲ stage of press ulcer. Stage Ⅳof pressure ulcer and deep pressure ulcer should be treated with Taiyi moxa stick and aconite cake-separated moxibustion combined or alternately to expel toxin and grow muscles.

[Lingnan fire needling combined with 0.1% sodium hyaluronate eye drops in the treatment of xerophthalmia: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Lingnan fire needling combined with artificial tears in the treatment of xerophthalmia. METHODS: A total of 86 xerophthalmia patients were equally and randomly divided into treatment group and control group. The patients of both groups were received treatment with 0.1% sodium hyaluronate eye drops in their eyes 3 times a day, one drop in each eye. In addition, the patients of treatment group also treated by Lingnan fire needling on bilateral Shaoze (SI1), Neichengqi and beside lacrimal puncta once a week. The treatment was conducted for 4 consecutive weeks. Before and after 4 weeks of treatment, the clinical efficacy, visual acuity, intraocular pressure, ocular symptom score, OSDI score, fluorescence staining （FL） score, schemer I, tear menisci height, tear film break-up time (BUT) and eye redness index were recorded and evaluated. RESULTS: After the treatment, self-comparison showed that the symptom score, OSDI score, FL score and eye redness index were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and BUT was notably increased in both groups (P<0.05) in comparison with their own pre-treatment. The tear menisci height in the treatment group was higher than that before the treatment (P<0.05). Comparison between the two groups showed that the symptom score, OSDI score and eye redness index were obviously lower in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05), whereas the BUT and tear menisci height were evidently higher (P<0.05). The total effective rate of the treatment group was 84.88% (73/86), better than 76.74% (66/86) of the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Lingnan fire needling combined with 0.1% sodium hyaluronate eye drops is more effective than simple sodium hyaluronate eye drops for xerophthalmia patients, with significant curative effect and no adverse reactions.

Auricular acupressure promotes uterine involution after cesarean section: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Postpartum subinvolution of the uterus is a more common condition after cesarean section. Auricular acupressure (AA) is widely used for the treatment of postpartum diseases. However, few studies have explored the effects of AA as a treatment of uterine involution following cesarean section to date. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of AA for uterine involution after cesarean section. METHODS: A total of 109 women who underwent cesarean section participated in this study. They were randomly allocated to either real AA or sham AA in a 1:1 ratio by a computer program. For 3 days, the real AA and sham AA groups received treatment 3 times daily. A series of assessments at 42 days after cesarean section, namely on the uterine size, the incidence of hydrometra, the first anal exsufflation time, bleeding volume at 6 hours, bleeding volume at 6-24 hours along with other general assessments were carried out. RESULTS: A total of 89 women completed the study. The uterine size at 42 days after a cesarean section was 6.3 cm smaller in the real AA group than in the sham AA group (P < 0.01). The incidence of hydrometra on day 42 postpartum was lower in the real AA group than in the sham AA group (P < 0.01). The lochia duration and the first anal exsufflation time after cesarean section were shorter in the real AA group than in the sham AA group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: AA improves uterine involution after cesarean section. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR1800015569.

[Professor LIN Guo-hua's experience in treating intractable sudden deafness with acupuncture and moxibustion].

Professor LIN Guo-hua's experience and medical record in the treatment of intractable sudden deafness with acupuncture is introduced. Professor LIN believes that this disease is mainly caused by the blockage of shaoyang meridians, and should be treated with acupuncture therapy as soon as possible. According to the root cause and the pathogenesis of shaoyang blockage, the method of "soothing shaoyang, clearing the ear and opening the orifices" is adopted. In the treatment, Tinggong (SI 19) and acupoints in shaoyang meridians are selected as the main acupoints, and other acupoints based on meridian differentiation are selected as assisting acupoints. The manipulatingmethods of "fameng acupuncture" "blowing warm air into ear", and "Lingnan fire needling" are used synthetically. And qi and spirit are also regulated and front mu points are added if necessary to obtain satisfied effect of restore hearing.

[Professor LIN Guo-hua's experience in the new clinical application of Yinjiao (GV 28)].

Yinjiao (GV 28) is generally used in treatment of lumbago and anorectal diseases. Professor LIN Guo-hua believes that Yinjiao (GV 28) is indicated in the disorders related to the sea of marrow and lower jiao by regulating the governor vessel and the conception vessel, promoting qi and blood circulation, tonifying the sea of marrow and adjusting the lower jiao. Based on professor Lin's clinical experience, "three Yinjiao" points are innovated, named Yinjiao (GV 28, upper Yinjiao), external Yinjiao and lower Yinjiao. Acupuncture therapy is generally optioned at Yinjiao (GV 28) and 5 needling principles are emphasized, i.e. accurate acupoint location, strong needling sensation, needling combined with body movement, alternative stimulation and allied stimulation. All of those mentioned above provide a new approach to the clinical treatment for the disorders related to the sea of marrow and lower jiao.

[Exploration of fire needling therapy on coronavirus disease 2019].

Combined with previous clinical experience in anti-epidemic and acupuncture, the prevention program of fire needling therapy for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was drawn out. Fire needling therapy has the effects of clearing heat, removing dampness, replenishing for the deficiency, removing stasis and detoxifying, which is mainly aimed at preventing populations, light and common types cases, and cases in the recovery period. Acupoints of governor vessel, lung meridian, bladder meridian and stomach meridian are mainly used in this program. For the special groups, such as children, elderly and weak, and pregnant women, Shenzhu (GV 12), Danshu (BL 19), Geshu (BL 17), Zhigou (TE 6), etc. are added. It is hoped that fire needling therapy will be applied in the community and square cabin hospitals as an effective supplement to anti-epidemic of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

[Analysis of adverse reactions of acupoint catgut embedding therapy].

OBJECTIVE: To objectively evaluate the safety of acupoint catgut embedding therapy. METHODS: A total of 331 patients who received acupoint catgut embedding therapy were enrolled and summarized through the inpatient medical record system, follow-up record and adverse reaction report card. The statistical analysis was performed from the aspects of patients' gender, age, marital status, history of allergy, history of diabetes and the time, symptoms, duration and prognosis of adverse reactions, etc. RESULTS: Among 331 patients who received acupoint catgut embedding therapy, 70 patients had adverse reactions, which were divided into 9 types, including post-treatment discomfort, local hematoma or subcutaneous hemorrhage, local swelling, local induration, severe pain, thread-body rejection, local pruritus, post-treatment body temperature rising, local redness, swelling, fever and pain. The incidence rate of adverse events was 21.15%, and the incidence of serious adverse events was 0. Among the patients with adverse reactions, 58 patients (82.86%) relieved without treatment, and 12 patients (17.14%) received after symptomatic treatment; all patients had no sequelae. CONCLUSION: The acupoint catgut embedding therapy is relatively safe and the incidence of adverse reactions is low.

[Professor LIN Guo-hua's clinical experience of acupuncture for oculomotor nerve paralysis].

Professor LIN Guo-hua's clinical experience of acupuncture for oculomotor nerve palsy was summarized and one typical case was introduced. Professor LIN skillfully applied traditional acupuncture theory and classical acupuncture method, and proposed a diagnosis and treatment system combining meridian syndrome differentiation and specific acupuncture techniques. In addition, Professor LIN combined the yuan-primary and luo-connecting acupoints combination method, theory of "removing the stagnation of blood and qi " and theory of root-stem and origin-end, etc. into the treatment of oculomotor nerve palsy, and achieved good results.

[Professor LIN Guo-hua's experience in treatment of progressive muscular dystrophy with acupuncture].

Professor LIN Guo-hua's experience is introduced in treatment of progressive muscular dystrophy with acupuncture. It is believed that the pathogenesis of this disease is related to spleen and kidney deficiency, qi and blood insufficiency and malnutrition of tendon and muscle. The treatment is determined in terms of the pathogenesis and focuses on the regulation of spleen and kidney functions. The thinking of treatment is summarized as exerting the strong stimulation of acupuncture specially at the acupoints on the head, supplementing the sea of marrow, adjusting simultaneously the three yang meridians, rather than treating particularly yangming meridian and regulating qi in priority and considering the lung function for wei (flaccid) syndrome. Moreover, in clinical treatment, the acupoint thread-embedding therapy is commonly combined to ensure the significant therapeutic effect.

[LIN Guo-hua's experience in treating dry eye syndrome with Lingnan fire needling].

Professor LIN Guo-hua is the representative inheritor of Lingnan fire needling therapy. He proposed that the clinical application of Lingnan fire needling is mainly based on pattern differentiation according to eight priciples, as well as in coordination with the theories of meridians and zang-fu organs. He believes that dry eye syndrome can be treated from the aspects of deficiency of liver and kidney, heart yin deficiency, and qi and yin deficiency. Through deeply digging the connotation of ancient classics, and combined his clinical practice using Lingnan fire needling, professor LIN created a unique therapy that select "Neichengqi"as the main acupoint combined with Xialeidian, Dagukong (EX-UE 5), Xiaogukong (EX-UE 6) and Shaoze (SI 1) in the treatment of dry eye syndrome. In this paper, from the etiology and pathogenesis of dry eye syndrome and therapeutic characteristics of Lingnan fire needling, the thoughts of syndrome differentiation and characteristics of acupoints selection of professor LIN were analyzed by a typical case, and it is expect to enrich the clinical treatment plan for dry eye syndrome.

[Systematic review and sequential analysis on treatment of herpes zoster pain mainly by fire needle therapy].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the therapeutic effect and safety of fire needle therapy in the treatment of herpes zoster pain. METHODS: We collected randomized controlled trials about treatment of herpes zoster pain mainly by fire needle therapy (published from the date of establishment of each database to Dec 1 of 2018) from databases of CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, Chinese Biomedical Document Service System (SinoMed), PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library by using key words of "fire needle" "burnt needle" "red-hot needle" "herpes zoster" "postherpetic neuralgia" and "herpetic neuralgia". Then, we conducted Meta-analysis and sequential analysis about the outcomes of studies met our inclusion criteria using RevMan5.3.5 and TSA0.9.10 Beta softwares and employed GRADE profiler 3.6.1 to grade the quality of evidence. RESULTS: A total of 25 studies including 2 024 patients were brought into the present analysis. Outcomes of the qualitative analysis indicated that the fire needle therapy has a higher effective rate than the western medicine group. Meta-analysis showed that after the treatment mainly with fire needle therapy, 1) the VAS score is evidently lower [WMD=-0.96, 95% CI(-1.22, -0.71), P<0.000 01], 2) the duration of 30% pain relief is obviously shorter [WMD=-1.82, 95% CI (-2.46, -1.18), P<0.000 01], 3) the duration of pain is evidently shorter {fire needle combined with electroacupuncture [WMD=-11.53, 95% CI(-14.57, -8.48), P<0.000 01]; fire needle combined with cupping [WMD=-4.75, 95% CI (-7.99, -1.51), P=0.004]; pure fire needle therapy [WMD=-1.82, 95% CI (-2.46, -1.18), P<0.000 01], and 4) the occurrence rate of post-herpetic neuralgia is considerably lower [RR=0.16, 95% CI (0.09, 0.30), P<0.000 01]. The occurrence and management of adverse events were not mentioned in all the included studies, suggesting no safety problem of the therapy, but the publication bias has not been taken seriously. CONCLUSION: In the treatment of herpes zoster pain, fire needle as the main treatment approach can significantly relieve pain, shorten the pain duration, and reduce the incidence of post-herpetic neuralgia.

[Influence of fire needle stimulation at Sihua acupoints on performance status and Th1/Th2 ba-lance in the patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer after chemotherapy].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of fire needle stimulation at Sihua acupoints combined with chemotherapy on Th1/Th2 imbalance and performance status in the patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) so as to investigate its immunological mechanism underlying the improvement of lung cancer. METHODS: Sixty eligible NSCLC inpatients were randomly assigned to a control group and a treatment group (n＝30 cases in each one). The control group was treated with paclitaxel combined with cisplatin (TP) or gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GP) of chemotherapy, and the treatment group was treated with fire needle stimulation at Sihua acupoints (i.e. bilateral Geshu [BL17] and Danshu [BL19]) and with chemotherapy simultaneously. The fire needle stimulation was given once daily for successive 7 days. One day before and 14 days after chemotherapy, the patients' blood samples were collected for assaying the concentrations of Th1 related cytokines (IL-2, IFN-γ) and Th2 related cytokines (IL-4, IL-10) with ELISA. The Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score was used to assess the patient's physical conditions before and 14 days after chemotherapy. RESULTS: Compared with the results before treatment, the levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ concentration increased obviously and the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 concentration as well as KPS score decreased significantly in the treatment group and the control group after treatment (all P<0.01). After treatment, compared with the control group, the levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ concentration in the treatment group increased and the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 concentration decreased (P<0.01); and the decrease amplitude of KPS score in the treatment group was less than that in the control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Fire needle stimulation at Sihua acupoints improves the function of Th1 cells, and reduces the function of Th2 cells. As a result, the balance between Th1 and Th2 has been modified and the deterioration degree of the performance status been alleviated in the patients after chemotherapy.

[Shallow Fire-needle Acupuncture Stimulation Plus Cupping Relieves Neuralgia and Down-regulates Serum Substance P Level in Patients with Acute Herpes Zoster].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of repeated shallow fire-needle acupuncture stimulation plus cupping on local neuralgia and serum substance P(SP)content in patients with acute herpes zoster (AHZ). METHODS: A total of 60 cases of AHZ patients were randomly divided into control (medication) group and treatment (medication plus fire-needle) group (n＝30 in each). Patients of both groups were ordered to take Famciclovir (0.25 g/time, three times a day) and Mecobalamin (0.5 g/time, three times a day) orally for 7 days. In addition, patients of the treatment group were also treated by repeated shallow fire-needle stimulation and cupping, once a day for 7 days. Before and after the treatment, the patient's pain severity was assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS) and serum SP concentration was measured using ELISA. RESULTS: After the treatment, the VAS scores and serum SP concentrations in both groups were significantly decreased in comparison with those of their own pre-treatment (P<0.01), and were significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group(P<0.01). There was a highly positive correlation between the decreased VAS score and serum SP content in the treatment group(P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Repeated shallow fire-needle stimulation plus cupping can accelerate the relief of local neuralgia in AHZ patients, which may be associated with its effect in down-regulating serum SP level.

[Investigation on Angiostrongylus cantonensis Infection in Rodents in Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province].

Objective: To investigate the Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection in rodents in Zhangzhou City and provide basis for control the disease. Methods: Eighteen villages in 4 counties, which located in coastal and mountain regions of rodent breeding, were selected between 2013-2015. Rodents were collected by cage trapping, and organs of heart and lungs were prepared for microscopic examination of A. cantonensis after identification of the species and age of the rodent. The infection rate was calculated and correlation between natural environment and the infection rate was analyzed. Results: A total of 1 551 rodents were collected and identified to be Rattus flavipectus, R. norvegicus, Sorex araneus, Mus musculus and R. lossea with a high-to-low ranking of R. flavipectus（41.8%）, R. norvegicus（28.4%） and S. araneus（20.9%）. The overall infection mice was 9.2%（142/1 551）. The infection rates of R. norvegicus and R. flavipectus were 13.2%（58/441） and 11.4%（74/649） respectively, both significantly higher than that of Sorex araneusï¼»1.5%（5/323）］, Mus musculusï¼»1.4%（1/74）］ and R. losseaï¼»6.3%（4/63）］ （P<0.05）. The infection rate in the costal regions was 12.4%（83/668）, significantly higher than that in the mountain regions（6.68%, 59/883）（χ2=15.083, P<0.05）. Moreover, in contrast with the significant difference in the infection rate between hilly（9.2%, 46/499） and mountainous areas（3.4%, 13/384）, there the infection rate showed no significant difference between coastal flatland（12.7%, 53/416） and coastal hilly areas（11.9%, 30/252） （χ2=2.264, P>0.05）. In addition, 696 adult worms were found in 142 infected rodents. These worms mainly located in the pulmonary artery（94.3%）, then and the heart （5.7%）. There was also no significant difference in infection rate between male（9.2%, 73/795） and female rodents（9.1%, 69/756） （P>0.05）. Conclusion: R. flavipectus and R. norvegicus are the important reservoir hosts for A. cantonensis in Zhangzhou. The infection rate in different species of rodents varies in different ecological environments.

[Effect of direct moxibustion at Sihua points on cytokine of chemotherapy patients with lung cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of direct moxibustion at Sihua points on immune function and life quality of chemotherapy patients with non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS: Eighty cases were randomly divided into a chemotherapy and moxibustion group (group A) and a chemotherapy group (group B), 40 cases in each one. Navelbine and cisplatin were applied in both groups. In addition, direct moxibustion at Sihua points which included Geshu (BL 17) and Danshu (BL 19) was used in the group A. Three moxa-cones were given on each acupoint, once a day, ten days treatment made one session and totally one session was required. The change of colony stimulating factor (CSF), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-2 (IL- 2) and Karnofsky scale was compared between the two groups before and after treatment. RESULTS: After the treatment, the levels of serum CSF, IL-2 in the group A were higher than those in the group B (both P < 0.01), while the level of TNF in the group A was lower than that in the group B (P<0. 01). Although Karnofsky score was decreased in the two groups (both P < 0.01), the score in the group A was higher than that in the group B (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Direct moxibustion at Sihua points could increase the levels of CSF and IL-2 and reduce TNF in the chemotherapy patients with lung cancer, which could improve immune function, clinical efficacy and life quality.