[Body acupuncture combined with auricular acupressure for menstrual headache: a randomized controlled clinical trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of body acupuncture combined with auricular acupressure for treatment of menstrual headache of hyperactivity of "liver fire". METHODS: A total of 85 menstrual headache patients with hyperactivity of "liver-fire" were randomly divided into control group (n = 42) and treatment group (n = 43). Patients of the control group were treated by oral administration of Flunarizine Hydrochloride Capsules (Sibelium, 5 mg/time, twice daily) for 5 days beginning at the headache attack in the first menstrual cycle, and for two weeks (except weekends) in the second and third menstrual cycles. Patients of the treatment group were treated by manual acupuncture stimulation of body acupoints Baihui (GV 20), Fengchi (GB 20), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taichong (LR 3), Xiaxi (GB 43), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Hanyan (GB 4), Xuanlu (GB 5) and Shuaigu (GB 8) beginning from the headache attack, and otopoint-pellet pressure of otopoints unilateral Endocrine, Ovaries, Shenmen, Cortex, Liver, Spleen and Kidney (beginning 5 days before menstrual onset) and bilateral Shenmen, Nie, Liver, Gallbladder, Subcortex and Jiaogan during headache attack. Clinical symptom scores were assessed according to the "Guiding Principles for Clinical Research on New Chinese Herbal Drugs" issued by the Chinese Ministry of Health. RESULTS: After the treatment, of the 42 and 43 cases in the control and treatment groups, 9 (21.43%) and 20 (46.51%) were cured, 12 (28.57%) and 14 (32.56%) had a marked improvement, 13 (30.95%) and 7 (16.28%) were effective, 8 (19.05%) and 2 (4.65%) invalid, with the effective rates being 80.95% and 95.35% , respectively. The curative effect of the treatment group was significantly better than that of the control group (P<0.05). The symptom score and VAS score after the treatment and 3 months post-treatment in the treatment group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.01). The headache scores and VAS scores were significantly reduced following the treatment and 3 months after the treatment in both control and treatment groups (P<0.01). After the treatment for 2-3 therapeutic courses, the headache attack duration during menstruation was markedly and gradually shortened in both groups (P<0.01), and therapeutic effect of the treatment group was significantly better than that of the control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Body acupuncture combined with auricular acupressure treatment can effectively relieve menstrual headache in menstrual women with hyperactivity of "liver fire".

[Effect of electroacupuncture on lipid metabolism in male and female obesity rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of electroacupuncture (EA) on lipid metabolism in both sexes of obesity model rats. METHODS: A total of 30 male and 30 female SD rats were randomized into normal control, model and EA groups respectively, with 10 rats in each group. EA (2 Hz, 1-2 mA) was applied to the ipsilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36)-"Sanyin-jiao"(SP 6) and bilateral "Fenglong" (ST 40) for 30 min, once daily for 28 days. In addition,"Quchi" (LI 11),"Zhongwan" (CV 12) and "Guanyuan" (CV 4) were punctured with filiform needles and stimulated by manipulating the needle for 1 min, separately. Obesity model was duplicated by subcutaneous injection of 15% glutamic sodium (0.2 mL/10 g) once daily for 5 days and by feeding the animal with high fat forage for 36 days. Lee's index was calculated, and plasma triglyeride (TG) concentration detected by glycerol-phosphoric acid oxidase-peroxydase method, total cholesterol (TC) detected by cholesterol oxidase method, and plasma low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) contents were assayed by one-step method, respectively. RESULTS: In both male and female rats, compared to their own normal groups, the Lee's index, plasma TG, TC and LDL-C contents were increased significantly and plasma HDL-C contents decreased obviously in the model groups (P<0.01), while compared to their own model groups, the Lee's index, plasma TG, TC and LDL-C levels in the EA groups were down-regulated considerably and plasma HDL-C contents up-regulated remarkably after the treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05). The efficacies of the EA intervention were obviously better in reducing Lee's index for male rats, and in down-regulating plasma TG and TC contents in female rats (P<0.05). No significant differences were found between male and female rats in EA intervention for plasma LDL-C and HDL-C levels. CONCLUSION: EA intervention can effectively regulate obesity rats' Lee's index and plasma TG, TC, LDL-C and HDL-C levels. The effects are different in male and female rats.

[Inhibitory effect of anluohuaxianwan on experimental hepatic fibrosis in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of anluohuaqianwan on experimental hepatic fibrosis induced by dimethyl nitrosamine (DMN) in rats. METHODS: 36 male SD rats were randomly dividied into three groups: model group, normal group, anluohuaqianwan group. The rats in the three groups were treated with DMN daily for 4 weeks. The liver function was detected using auto biochemistry analyzer, the serum HA, LN, IV-C, PIIIP were detected by immunoradiometry, the histopathology was observed in the left liver lobe after HE staining, the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in liver tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, TP, ALB and the contents of HA, LN, IV-C in model group were significantly increased compared to these in the normal group (P less than 0.01). The serum levels of ALT, AST and the contents of HA in anluohuaqianwan group were significantly lower than those in the model group (P less than 0.01). The liver MMP-2 in the model group was significantly increased compared to that in the normal group (P less than 0.05). The expression of MMP-2 in liver tissue of model group was lower than that in the anluohuaqianwan group (P less than 0.05). CONCLUSION: Anluohuaqianwan can inhibit liver fibrosis in rats induced by DMN.

[Effect of otopoint-needle embedment on headache and plasma 5-HT content in migraine patients].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of otopoint-needle embedment on migraine and to explore its underlying mechanism. METHODS: Ninety-two migraine outpatients were equally randomized into acupuncture group and medication group. For patients of the acupuncture group, one sterilized intradermal needle was inserted into E (MA-AT)-point and advanced toward Nie (temple-point, MA-AT), then another inserted into Nie (Temple-point, MA-AT) and advanced toward Zhen (occipus-point, MA-AT), followed by fixing the needles with a piece of adhesive-tape respectively, combined with Wei (stomach-point, MA-IC), Jiaogan (sympathesis-point, MA-AH 7) for migraine patients with nausea and vomiting, and with Yan (eye-point, MA-L 1) for those with phengophobia. Plasma serotonin (5-HT) contents before and after the treatment were detected by fluorescence spectrophotometry. RESULTS: In comparison with the pre-treatment, the synthetic scores of two groups one month and 6 months after the treatment were decreased significantly (P < 0.01). The integrative sores of the acupuncture group one month and 6 months after the treatment were significantly lower than those of the medication group (P < 0.01). The total effective rates of recent efficacy and long-term efficacy of the acupuncture group were 82.61% (38/46) and 83.72% (36/43) respectively, being significantly higher than those [67.39% (31/46) and 57.14% (24/42)] of the medication group. After the treatment, plasma 5-HT content of the acupuncture group was remarkablely higher than that of the medication group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Otopoint-needle implant can effectively relieve headache in migraine patients and upregulate plasma 5-HT level.

[Randomized controlled clinical study on ginger-partitioned moxibustion for patients with cold-damp stagnation type primary dysmenorrhea].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of ginger-partitioned moxibustion in the treatment of patients with primary dysmenorrhea (PD) of cold-damp stagnation type. METHODS: A total of 209 PD patients were randomized into moxibustion group (n=105) and control group (medication group, n=104). Patients of the former group were treated with ginger-partitioned moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) and Guanyuan (CV 4), once daily for 3 days in the first menstrual cycle, and 3 days before menstruation and once daily for 6 days in the 2nd and 3rd menstrual cycles, and those of control group were asked to take Yueyueshu Granules (a Chinese herbal patent drug for relieving PD). Clinical symptom scores were assessed before and after the treatment. RESULTS: After the treatment, of the 105 and 104 cases in the moxibustion and control groups, the cured, markedly effective, effective and failed cases were 58 (55.24%) and 32 (30.77%), 37 (35.24%) and 33 (31.73%), 5 (4.76%) and 24 (23.08%), and 5 (4.76%) and 15 (14.42%), respectively. The total therapeutic effect of moxibustion group wassignificantly better than that of control group (P<0.01). The effects of moxibustion for relieving mild, moderate and severe dysmenorrhea were evidently superior to those of medication (P<0.01). The symptom scores after the treatment and 3 months of post-treatment in moxibustion group were significantly lower than those of control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Ginger-partitioned moxibustion therapy was effective for PD of cold-damp stagnation type.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on apoptosis of hippocampus tissue in mice with vascular dementia].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on hippocampal apoptosis and learning-memory ability in vascular dementia (VD) mice so as to investigate its underlying mechanism in the treatment of VD patients. METHODS: Kunming mice were randomly divided into sham-operation (sham, n = 13), model (n = 15), EA (n = 16) and Nimodipine (intragastric gavage, 30 mg/kg for 15 days, n = 15) groups. VD model was duplicated by occlusion of bilateral carotid arteries and reperfusion. EA (2-80 Hz, 2 mA) was applied to "Dazhui" (GV 14), "Baihui" (GV 20), "Geshu" (BL 17) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) for 10 min, once daily for 15 days. Step-down and step-up tests were performed to assess the animal's memory and learning abilities separately; and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-nick end-labeling (TUNEL) method was used to display the apoptotic cells of the hippocampus tissue. RESULTS: In comparison with sham group, the animals' reaction time upon electric shock stimulation, both step-up and step-down error times, and hippocampal apoptosis number in model, EA and Nimodipine groups increased significantly (P<0.01), while the reaction latency upon electric shock of model, EA and Nimodipine groups decreased significantly (P<0.01). Compared with model group, the reaction time, both step-up and step-down error times and hippocampal apoptosis number of both EA and Nimodipine groups decreased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01); while the reaction latency of EA and Nimodipine groups increased considerably (P<0.01). Comparison between EA and Nimodipine groups showed that the reaction latency of EA group was obviously longer than that of the later group (P<0.01), and the step-down error times of EA group was markedly lower than that of Nimodipine group (P<0.05). No significant differences were found between these two groups in other indexes (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: EA can ameliorate VD mice's learning-memory ability, which may be closely related to its effect in reducing hippocampal apoptosis.

[Analysis on therapeutic effect of substance-partitioned moxibustion at Guanyuan (CV 4) and shenque (CV 8) for treatment of primary dysmenorrhea of cold-damp type].

OBJECTIVE: To observe clinical therapeutic effect of substance-partitioned moxibustion on primary dysmenorrhea (PD). Methods One hundred and thirty-eight cases of PD were randomly divided into two groups, the treatment group (n=78) were treated with substance-partitioned moxibustion at Guanyuan (CV 4) and Shenque (CV 8), once a day; and the control group (n=60) treated with oral administration of Yueyueshu Powder, twice a day, 10 g each time. They were treated for 3 menstrual cycles. RESULTS: The total effective rate and the index of therapeutic effect were 96.1% and 90.8% in the treatment group, and 88.3% and 76.2% in the control group, respectively, with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Clinical therapeutic effect of substance-partitioned moxibustion on primary dysmenorrhea is obvious.