Effect of direct moxibustion at Sihua points on cytokine of chemotherapy patients with lung cancer / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>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.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>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.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>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).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>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.</p>

Observation of effect on contraction function of gallbladde by acupuncture at Jianjing (GB 21) / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>By B ultrasound, the changes of contraction function of gallbladder by acupuncture at Jianjing (GB 21) were observed and the internal relations between Jianjing (GB 21) and cholecystitis were explored, in order to explore the better therapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundreds cases who had been diagnosed as cholecystitis (acalculous cholecystitis) were classified in observation group, including gallbladder expanding (84 cases) and gallbladder constricting (116 cases); 100 cases who had examined as healthy were taken in control group. Acupuncture at Jianjing (GB 21) on right shoulder was applied in both groups. Through B ultrasound examination, the changes of gallbladder volume in both groups were compared before acupuncture, 15 min after needle insertion and 30 min after needle withdrawing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The gallbladder volume of gallbladder expanding and gallbladder constricting cases were constricted or expanded 15 min after needle insertion and 30 min after needle withdrawing, and there were statistical significances (all P < 0.01). Compared the outcomes at different time points after acupuncture with that before acupuncture, the changes of gallbladder constricting were unobvious (both P > 0.05) in control group. In observation group, the pain relief rate for 142 cases companied with shoulder and back pain was 98.6% (140/142).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture at Jianjing (GB 21) can improve the gallbladder constricting, regulate bidirectional function of expanding and constricting, and efficiently relieve shoulder and back pain.</p>

Impacts of Taichong (LR 3) on blood flow velocity in patients with vertebrobasilar insufficiency / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the intervention on the disturbance of blood flow velocity in vertebral artery in patients with vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) treated with acupuncture at Taichong (LR 3) so that the clinical evidences could be provided for the research of acupoint specificity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred cases of VBI were tested with Transcranial Doppler (TCD) and 43 vessels of low velocity of blood flow and 79 vessels of high velocity of blood flow were discovered. Additionally, 50 cases of normal people were selected in control group, including totally 100 vertebral arteries. The velocity changes in systolic period (Vs) of vertebral artery were observed before and after acupuncture at Taichong (LR 3). RESULTS; After acupuncture at Taichong (LR 3), Vs of vertebral artery in low velocity cases was increased apparently. Vs in 5 to 10 min after acupuncture and half a hour after needle withdrawal was different significantly in statistics as compared with Vs before acupuncture (both P < 0.01). Vs of vertebral artery in high velocity cases was reduced apparently. Vs in 5 to 10 min after acupuncture and half a hour after needle withdrawal was different significantly in statistics as compared with Vs before acupuncture (both P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in statistics in comparison before and after acupuncture in control group (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture at Taichong (LR 3) improves blood supply in vertebral artery in the mode of dual regulation and rectifies the disturbance of vertebral artery blood flow in dynamics.</p>

Effects of electroacupuncture combined with behavior therapy on intelligence and behavior of children of autism / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To find out an effective therapy for autism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty children of autism were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture (EA) plus behavior therapy group and a behavior therapy group, 30 cases in each group. The patients in the two groups were treated with routine behavior, with EA at Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Shenting (GV 24), Benshen (GB 13), Yintang (EX-HN 3), Naohu (GV 17), Naokong (GB 19), Neiguan (PC 6) and scalp acupuncture at Speech Areas I, II, III added for the EA plus behavior therapy group. Their therapeutic effects were observed, and the picture and vocabulary scale (PPVT) and behavior ability were detected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 86.7% in the EA plus behavior therapy group which was better than 56.7% of the behavior therapy group, and had significant enhancement in sensation, association, body, and ability of self-care (P < 0.05) and was better than the behavior therapy group in sensation, body and self-care factors, with no significantly improvement in the scores of PPVT in the two groups (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EA combined with behavior therapy can significantly improve clinical symptoms of autism, but does not improve intelligence.</p>