[Clinical effect of "head-nine-needle" therapy on tension headache].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of the "head-nine-needle" therapy on tension headache. METHODS: A total of 150 patients with tension headache were divided into a head-nine-needle therapy group, a western medicine control group and an acupuncture control group according to the random number table, 50 cases in each one. In the head-nine-needle therapy group, the head-nine-needle therapy was adopted. In the western medicine control group, epiperisone hydrochloride tablets were prescribed for oral administration, 50 mg, three times a day as well as fluoguili hydrochloride capsules, 5 mg, once a day, taking orally before sleep. In the acupuncture control group, the routine acupuncture technique was used at Baihui (GV20), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Fengchi (GB20) and Ashi (extra), etc. The clinical effect was observed in each group. The scores of visual analogy scale (VAS) for headache severity and the scores of headache duration were assessed before and after treatment in the patients of each group. RESULTS: In comparison of the total effective rate among the groups, there was no significant difference between the head-nine-needle therapy group (48/50，96.0%) and the acupuncture control group (47/50，94.0%). The total effective rate of either of the two groups was higher than that of the western medicine control group (40/50，80.0%，P<0.05). The VAS score and the score of headache duration were reduced obviously as compared with those before treatment in each group (P<0.05), and the score was not different significantly between the head-nine-needle therapy group and the acupuncture control group (P>0.05). After 3 weeks and 4 weeks of treatment, the scores in the two acupuncture groups were all better than those in the western medicine control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The "head-nine-needle" therapy achieves the obviously advantages in the alleviation of headache degree as compared with the simple western medicine and its effect is similar to the common acupuncture therapy in the patients with tension headache.

Systematic review of clinical trials of acupuncture-related therapies for primary dysmenorrhea.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture-related therapies might be an effective intervention for primary dysmenorrhea. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of acupuncture-related therapies for treating primary dysmenorrhea. SEARCH STRATEGY: A specified literature search was performed of the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CNKI, and CBM databases. SELECTION CRITERIA: All clinical controlled trials pertaining to acupuncture-related therapies for primary dysmenorrhea were included, and the quality of the trials was assessed. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two independent reviewers were responsible for data extraction and assessment. The original data of each trial were analyzed with software (Revman 4.2), but a meta-analysis could not be carried out because of the heterogeneity of the trials. MAIN RESULTS: Thirty randomized controlled trails (RCTs) and two controlled clinical trials (CCTs) were identified. Most of the trials were of low methodologic quality (six trials were Grade B and 26 trials were Grade C). Data analysis indicated that there were conflicting results regarding whether acupuncture-related therapies were more effective than control treatments. However, there was a small, methodologic sound trial of acupuncture which suggested that acupuncture was more effective than control groups (placebo acupuncture: WMD=-0.57 and 95% CI=-0.76-0.38; standard control: WMD=-.19 and 95% CI=-0.37-0.01; visitation control: WMD=-1.04 and 95% CI=-1.28-0.80). CONCLUSIONS: Because of low methodologic quality and small sample size, there is no convincing evidence for acupuncture in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. There is an urgent need for randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trials to assess the effects of acupuncture.

Beta1- and beta2-adrenoceptors in basolateral nucleus of amygdala and their roles in consolidation of fear memory in rats.

It is known that beta-adrenoceptor (AR) in the basolateral nucleus of amygdala (BLA) plays an essential role in fear memory formation. However, the cellular and subcellular distributions of beta1- and beta2-ARs in the BLA and their roles in fear memory formation are poorly understood. Here, we report that both beta1- and beta2-ARs are predominantly expressed in BLA neurons but not in astrocytes. beta1-AR is distributed in the cell membrane and cytoplasm of neurons, whereas beta2-AR is localized not only in the cell membrane and cytoplasm but also in the nucleus. Intra-BLA infusion of the beta1-AR antagonist metoprolol and atenolol or the beta2-AR antagonist ICI118551 and butoxamine produces a severe deficit in 24-h auditory fear memory, leaving 1-h memory intact. Western-blot analysis reveals that the protein level of cytoplasmic beta1-AR significantly increases 2- and 4-h postconditioning, whereas that of cytoplasmic or nuclear beta2-AR is unchanged. The present results indicate that beta1- and beta2-ARs in the BLA have differential subcellular localizations and both are required for the consolidation of auditory fear memory.

[Clinical study on the indications of 33 acupoints].

Multi-central randomized controlled method was used to scientifically verify indications of 33 acupoints and provide definite clinical basis for the indications of single acupoint. Of the 52 studies, 40 studies showed that the therapeutic effect in acupuncture observation groups were better than the control group; 11 studies showed similar therapeutic effect of the two groups, and 1 study showed the acupuncture observation group was worse than the control group. Therefore, results indicate that in a certain observation cycle, acupuncture at single acupoint have different effects on diseases.

[Review on clinical application of needling techniques in chapter Guan Zhen (Official Needling Techniques) of Ling Shu (Spiritual Pivot)].

In the present paper, more than 380 theses related with clinical application of "nine needling techniques", "twelve needling techniques" and "five needling techniques" recorded in chapter Guan Zhen (Official Needling Techniques) of Ling Shu (Spiritual Pivot) were found through retrieving the data in the internet in latest 10 years. Among the 130 theses about clinical application of "nine needling techniques", 108 involve the application of opposing needling. Of the 180 theses about clinical application of "twelve needling techniques", 95 involve the application of triple needling. Out of the 60 theses on clinical application of "five needling techniques", 37 involve the application of Hegu needling (multi-direction needling). To sum up, the above-mentioned needling techniques were mainly applied to the treatment of diseases of dermatology, surgery, pediatrics, traumatology, five sense organs, etc.. It indicates that these needling techniques are widely being used in clinical practice now. Therefore, researchers should lay the stress on the scientific methodology, rigorous research process, as well as objective analysis of the results so as to make an objective conclusion and improve the level of the research.