Current Status and Reflections on the Development of Internet Traditional Chinese Medical Service under the Digital Economy / 中医杂志

In the context of the digital economy， the operational relationship between traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） and Internet healthcare organizations as well as related governance institutions has attracted much attention. As the market scale of the Internet healthcare has continued to grow in recent years， the quality of Internet TCM healthcare has also been improved. By analyzing the development status of Internet TCM healthcare， it is proposed that Internet TCM health service should seize the opportunities and challenges in future， promote the growth of market scale from varied aspects， enhance patient-centered care awareness， and strengthen the promotion and popularization of digital services， thereby promoting the high-quality development of Internet TCM health service in the context of the digital economy.

Discussion on the essential thought of Ma's warm moxibustion technique for "unblocking fu-organs" / 中国针灸

"Unblocking fu organs" is one of the essential principles of Ma's warm moxibustion technique, characterized as "dredging" and "harmonizing" for either deficiency or excess condition. Under the guidance of this therapeutic thought, the acupoints for moxibustion are mainly selected from the middle and lower parts of the body. Regarding the therapeutic approach, the acupoint prescription for moxibustion should be formed in line with warming and promoting circulation of fu organs; the moxibustion degree should be specially considered, in which, the mild moxibustion is recommended to induce promoting action; and the systematic moxibustion technique should be the root for dredging fu organs and regulating zang organs. Ma's mild moxibustion technique stresses on removing the obstruction of fu organs and emphasizes promoting the qi activity of sanjiao (triple energizer) and regulating the balance of five zang organs.

Current situation and strategy of acupuncture and moxibustion in the Republic of Guinea / 国际中医中药杂志

With the increasing number of Chinese medical aid and the overseas development of Chinese medicine, acupuncture has spreaded to and the Republic of Guinea and saw develoment. At present, only China Guinea Friendship Hospital and Astatin Hospital have set up Acupuncture Department, which have equipped with basic acupuncture instruments and acupuncture is used as the main treatment method, and acupuncture is a self funded project. There is no acupuncture major in the local education system, neither laws and regulations on acupuncture and moxibustion. Language barrier also makes it difficult for doctors in the two countries to communicate. Thus, it is recommended to consider geographic, diet, and medical factors when formulating acupuncture treatment plans which are suitable for local conditions, and launching new projects such as laser acupuncture treatment and ear concha electroacupuncture treatment, while improving the language level of foreign aid physicians, designing suitable teaching materials, and using multimedia technology for teaching. Besides, we should promote legislation, conduct academic and cultural exchanges, so as to better promote the development of acupuncture and moxibustion in Guinea.

Acupuncture combined with oral western medication for Meniere's disease: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the effect difference between acupuncture combined with western medication and simple western medication for Meniere's disease.@*METHODS@#Ninety-six patients with Meniere's disease were randomly assigned into a combination group (48 cases, 12 cases dropping) and a medication group (48 cases, 9 cases dropping). Betastatin mesylate tablets (once 12 mg, 3 times a day) and mecobalamin tablets (once 0.5 mg, 3 times a day) were prescribed orally in the two groups. Acupuncture was used in the combination group, twice a week, 20 min a time, and the acupoints were Baihui (GV 20), Fengchi (GB 20), Tinggong (SI 19), Hegu (LI 4), Quchi (LI 11), Zusanli (ST 36), Fenglong (ST 40), Taichong (LR 3), Taixi (KI 3) and Tianshu (ST 25). All the treatment was given for continuous 12 weeks. The symptoms were observed by dizziness handicap inventory (DHI), tinnitus handicap inventory (THI), pure tone audiometry score and stuffy ear visual analogue scale (VAS). The effects were compared in the aspects of dizziness, hearing and activity.@*RESULTS@#The scores of DHI, THI, pure tone audiometry and VAS scores after treatment were lower than those before treatment in the two groups (all <0.05), with lower scores of the above 4 indexes in the combination group after treatment (all <0.05). The difference values before and after treatment of the 4 indexes in the combination group were higher than those in the medication group (all <0.05). The effective rates of dizziness, hearing and activity in the combination group were 97.2% (35/36), 91.7% (33/36), 88.9% (32/36), which were better than 71.8% (28/39), 74.4% (29/39) and 69.2% (27/39) in the medication group (all <0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture combined with conventional medication achieve better effect than simple conventional medication.

Auricular acupuncture and biomedical research--A promising Sino-Austrian research cooperation / 中国结合医学杂志

Treatment by auricular acupuncture has a long history. Ear-acupoint research has been advancing step by step in China and also in Europe. Auricles are rich in nerves, therefore a close relationship with different functions of the human body has been proved by the research teams of the two main authors of this article from China and Austria. In recent years, great progress has been made in the research of regulating human body functions through electroacupuncture at the auricular branch of the vagus nerve, which is part of auricular acupuncture therapy. It is well known that the auricular branch of the vagus nerve is the only peripheral pathway to the cerebral cortex. Studies of the Chinese team on hypertension, diabetes, epilepsy and depression have shown that the mechanism of auricular vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) may be comparable with cervical VNS in terms of pathways. Auricular VNS has a broad clinical application prospect.

Intervention of electroacupuncture for patients with impaired glucose tolerance / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the regulation on 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (2h PBG) for patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in the intervention with electroacupuncture.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty cases of IGT were divided randomly into an electroacupuncture group and a blank control group, 30 cases in each one. In electroacupuncture group, electroacupuncture was applied to Shenshu (BL 23), Pishu (BL 20), Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) in the intervention, lasting for 6 sessions. In blank control group, no any intervention was adopted. The levels of fasting blood-glucose (FBG), 2 h PBG with 75 g glucose and hemoglobin Alc (HbAlc) were observed before and after the intervention for the patients in electroacupuncture group, as well as in blank con trol group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 76.7% (23/30) in electroacupuncture group, which was superior to that of 16.7% (5/30) in blank control group (P < 0.01). 2h PBG [(7.08 +/- 0.74) mmol/L] and HbAlc [(5.74 +/- 0.35)%] were down-regulated significantly after the intervention with electroacupuncture of 6 sessions in electroacupuncture group. The therapeutic effects of it were superior remarkably to those [(8.93 +/- 1.87) mmol/L, (5.97 +/- 0.591)%] in blank control group, indicating statistical significant difference (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). But, there was no any impact for the patients with normal FBG.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Electroacupuncture may be the means to achieve the clinical effective intervention for the people with IGT and the approach in the prevention and treatment of diabetes at the early stage.</p>