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Based on summarizing the essential procedures and elements of traditional manipulation techniques of warming needle moxibustion and determining the quantitative parameters and indicators for evaluating the operation of this acupuncture technique, a training instrument of warming needle moxibustion was developed and adopted in the curriculum teaching of practice. It showed that this instrument could quantify the speed of fixing mugwort ball on the needle handle, the number of the prepared mugwort ball, the duration for anti-vibration, the frequency of anti-vibration and the burning time of mugwort ball. The instrument could objectively evaluate the skills of warming needle moxibustion and the effects of fixing mugwort ball. Besides, it may provide the references to improve the protocol of the future research. The development and application of the practical training instrument of warming needle moxibustion is conductive to cultivate the standardization and accuracy of the technique operation in students, and it is significant for objectif-ying the teaching course of warming needle and teaching assessment, as well as for diversifying the teaching modes. Moreover, it plays an exemplary role in the practical training of other acupuncture and moxibustion techniques.

[Development and application of visual analysis teaching software for acupoint compatibility laws].

A user-friendly teaching software for visual analysis of acupoint compatibility laws has been developed based on the principles of partial order mathematics. This software is designed to provide auxiliary teaching of structured organization and visualization of law knowledge of compatibility data of acupuncture and moxibustion prescriptions from ancient texts, textbooks, and clinical case records. The software is installed as a plugin in the Microsoft Office Excel, allowing the generation of visually appealing graphs and associated rules that align with the cognitive patterns of teachers and students majoring in acupuncture and moxibustion. Its aim is to facilitate the discovery and analysis of underlying patterns and structured knowledge embedded in acupoint compatibility data, thus contributing to the enhancement of teaching effectiveness in acupoint compatibility.

[Development of handshape tuina-cupping instrument based on pulsating airflow technology].

A new type of handshape tuina-cupping instrument is developed to overcome the shortcomings of traditional cupping therapy, such as indentation and pain, and simulates the tuina manipulation, so as to realize the combination of cupping therapy and tuina manipulation. The handshape tuina-cupping instrument has a trumpet-shaped, silica gel edge. At the same time, the finger-belly shape is added at the cupping edge to simulate the shape of fingers during tuina. Under the action of air suction and deflation of pulsating airflow, the purpose of simulating tuina manipulation is achieved, and the indentation and pain caused by the handshape tuina-cupping instrument is significantly less than that of the traditional cupping instrument.

[Development of teaching training and assessment system for warming acupuncture].

A teaching training and assessment system for warming acupuncture is developed. This system is suitable for the technique operation of multi-acupoint warming acupuncture, and could evaluate the training effects of warming acupuncture at each acupoint. The hardware structure of this system is mainly composed of man-machine interface, control unit and training unit. The software program includes reset module, system clock module, needle depth signal control module, vibration control module and communication module. The teaching training and assessment system of warming acupuncture adopted touch-screen human-machine interface, which is simple to operate. The basic training unit, through multi-angle and multi-dimension adjustment of universal base, could realize the simulation training of warming acupuncture at different acupoints and angles of human body. Each training unit is relatively independent, and relevant parameters are set separately; the relevant parameters information is displayed in real time. The parameters of training unit includes needling time, vibration frequency and vibration time. In conclusion, the teaching training and assessment system for warming acupuncture could be used in the teaching and assessment of warming acupuncture. According to the criteria including operation time and effect, the students' technique ability of warming acupuncture could be evaluated objectively, which is helpful to set teaching objectives and technical operation requirements in warming acupuncture teaching.

[Design and implementation of a method for temperature parameter collection inside acupoint].

OBJECTIVE: To realize real-time measurement and recording of temperature parameters inside acupoints during acupuncture treatment. METHODS: The fine wire thermocouple was embedded in hollow needle body as acupoint detection probe. According to the structure of acupoint temperature signal processing circuit, the Agilent 34420A nanovolt/micro-eurometer was used to design the technology method of acupoint temperature data acquisition, and an acupoint temperature collection platform was established. In addition, a verification experiment was conducted to verify the feasibility and stability of the system. RESULTS: The contrast experiment with mercury thermometer measurement showed that the temperature measurement curve of the designed acupoint temperature data collection platform was highly consistent with that of the standard thermometer, which verified the stability and reliability of the designed temperature measurement platform. The experiment of animal in-vivo measurement showed that the acupoint temperature probe had good feasibility for in-vivo acupoint temperature measurement. CONCLUSION: Acupoint temperature probe and acupoint temperature data collection technology can measure the temperature inside acupoints, and ensured the accuracy and veracity of the results. As an experimental method of acupoints temperature parameter collection, it can quantitatively record the temperature changes during the acupuncture treatment.

Motion video-based quantitative analysis of the 'lifting-thrusting' method: a comparison between teachers and students of acupuncture.

OBJECTIVE: To compare objective measures of needle manipulation between students and teachers of acupuncture using motion video analysis technology, to help support instructional acupuncture education. METHODS: A total of 30 teachers and 60 students participated in this study. Acupuncture needles were inserted at LI11 and motion videos were recorded for three subtypes of 'lifting-thrusting' manipulation: (1) 'mild reinforcing-attenuating'; (2) 'reinforcing'; and (3) 'attenuating'. The videos were analysed using Simi Motion 3D software to acquire the movement parameters of four trace marks: 'thumb tip'; 'forefinger tip'; 'forefinger middle joint'; and 'forefinger base joint'. Differences between the two groups were compared using t-tests, X2 tests and/or rank-sum tests. RESULTS: Changes in the near-end interphalangeal joint were positively associated with a range of movement along the X axis. Motion parameters for the thumb tip, the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint of the forefinger and the X axis shaft swing near the end of the forefinger in the teacher group were higher than those in the student group. The teacher group featured smaller trough dispersion and smaller crest dispersion during 'reinforcing' and 'attenuating' manipulations, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The 'lifting-thrusting' manipulation could be simplified as a fixed-axis rotation using metacarpophalangeal joints in the thumb and forefinger as the shaft centre. Teachers opened at a larger angular variation for the PIP during the lifting and thrusting processes with better spatial control. Temporal control was similar between groups and therefore appears easier to grasp. Repetitive training might be helpful for improving athletic and spatial stability during needle manipulation.

[Effects of different acupuncture and moxibustion methods on ultrastructure of gastrocnemius in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy differences in early intervention of different acupuncture and moxibustion methods on gastrocnemius fatigue in rats induced by electrical stimulation. METHODS: Fifty male SD rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, a hand acupuncture group, an electroacupuncture group and a moxibustion group, 10 rats in each group. Electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve was given in the control group and gastrocnemius fatigue test was induced by electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve in the model group after anesthesia without other treatment, but just take 6 times interval stimulation in the control group. The hand acupuncture group, the electroacupuncture group and the moxibustion group were treated with the corresponding acupoints stimulation method respectively for 20 min before gastrocnemius fatigue test, and Dazhui (GV 14) and Zusanli (ST 36) were selected. Immediately after gastrocnemius fatigue test, three or four gastrocnemius tissues at the same site on the right side were quickly taken for making specimen for transmission electron microscope (TEM). The changes of skeletal muscle ultrastructure of myofibrils, mitochondria, sarcoplasmic reticulum, glycogen particles were observed under TEM. RESULTS: (1) Muscle fibers disorder, partial mitochondrial vacuolization and glycogen particles smaller were shown in the model group. (2) No abnormalities were shown in the hand acupuncture group and the moxibustion group with mitochondrial morphology and number, which better than that in the model group, and glycogen particles increased. (3) Abnormal changes in morphology were shown in the electroacupuncture group with part of the muscle fibers derangement, Z line malalignment and a few mitochondria vacuolization. CONCLUSION: Hand acupuncture, electroacupuncture and moxibustion have the different effects on ultrastructure of gastrocoemius in rats. Acupuncture and moxibustion have shown good effects on the prevention and treatment of exercise-induced skeletal muscle cell and organelle damage and delaying exercise-induced fatigue.

[Electroacupuncture therapy and corrosion of acupuncture needle].

During the process of electroacupuncture (EA) therapy, whether there being a corrosive effect in ac- upuncture needles was observed. Acupuncture needles were inserted into a rabbit's acupoint to perform a 12-hour electrical stimulation with three types of common EA waveform; additionally two needles were put in 0.9% sodium chloride solution with 12-hour direct current. Afterwards, environmental scanning electron microscope was applied to detect the surface physical characteristics of acupuncture needles. As a result, after a 12-hour continued electri- cal stimulation with three types of common EA waveform in the rabbit, there was no corrosive effect in acupunc- ture needles; but the direct current could cause severe corrosion in acupuncture needles. It is believed that there is no corrosion effect on acupuncture needles in current EA treatment, and some accidents reported in literature may be related to quality of EA device or improper manipulation during the treatment.

Electroacupuncture treatment for pancreatic cancer pain: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer is often accompanied by severe abdominal or back pain. It's the first study to evaluate the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture on pancreatic cancer pain. A randomized controlled trial compared electroacupuncture with control acupuncture using the placebo needle. METHODS: Sixty patients with pancreatic cancer pain were randomly assigned to the electroacupuncture group (n = 30) and the placebo control group (n = 30). Patients were treated on Jiaji (Ex-B2) points T8-T12 bilaterally for 30 min once a day for 3 days. Pain intensity was assessed with numerical rated scales (NRS) before the treatment (Baseline), after 3 treatments, and 2 days follow-up. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar in the two groups. After 3 treatment, pain intensity on NRS decreased compared with Baseline (-1.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.46 to -1.87) in the electroacupuncture group; there was little change (-0.13, 95% CI 0.08 to -0.35) in control group; the difference between two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Follow-up also found a significant reduction in pain intensity in the electroacupuncture group compared with the control group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Electroacupuncture was an effective treatment for relieving pancreatic cancer pain.

[Effects of 650 nm laser and moxibustion pretreatment on enteric nervous system and medullary visceral zone in rats with visceral traction pain].

OBJECTIVE: To explore effects of 650 nm laser and moxibustion pretreatment on visceral traction pain (VTP) and its mechanism. METHODS: Forty male SD rats were randomly devided into a sham operation group (group A), a VTP group (group B), a 650 nm laser pretreatment group (group C), a moxibustion pretreatment group (group D). Rats in group A and group B were not treated except sham operation or VTP model. In group C and D, the VTP models were produced immediate after 650 nm laser irradiation or moxibustion at "Zusanli" (ST 36), respectively. The changes of pain score and systolic pressure were investigated and the activity of AChE, the content of SP and leu-enkephaline (LEK), and the positive index of c-Fos protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were detected by biochemistry, radio-immunity method and immunohistochemistry, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with group A, the pain score, systolic pressure, the activity of AChE, the content of SP, and the positive index of c-Fos protein and GFAP of group B increased significantly (all P < 0.05); compared with group B, the pain score, AChE activity, the content of SP and the positive index of c-Fos protein and GFAP of both group C and group D decreased significantly (all P < 0.05); compared with group B, the content of LEK increased and systolic pressure decreased significantly in group C (both P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both 650 nm laser and moxibustion pretreatment can inhibit VTP and the mechanism may be related to reducing the activity of AChE and the content of SP, and increasing the activity of LEK and decreasing the expression of c-Fos protein and GFAP.

[Thinking and status of research on acupoint temperature sensor needle].

ABSTRACT Based on acupoint temperature sensor needle related literatures, the development and the applications of temperature sensor needle and the measuring instrument which is used for measuring the temperature of acupoints are introduced in the present paper. This paper summarizes the basic structure and measuring principle of temperature sensor needle; it also summarizes the hardware and measuring procedures of the measuring instrument. According to the characteristics of the temperature sensor needle, this paper states its broad applications and development trend.

[Effect of acupuncture on regulating skeletal muscle endurance in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of acupuncture on skeletal muscle endurance in rats as a pre-games assistant training. METHODS: Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control, model and acupuncture group. Acupuncture group was treated at "Dazhui" (GV 14), "Housanli" (ST 36) by twisting mild reinforcing-reducing method for 20 min, no interventions were added on control and model group. Muscle strength was detected in three groups under anaesthetic (after model established in model group, after model established and treated in acupuncture group). Averaged change percentage of mean skeletal muscle endurance (P(m)) and averaged maximum percentage of skeletal muscle endurance (P(max)) were evaluated. RESULTS: (1) 10P(m) in model group decreased more than acupuncture group statistically (P < 0.05); 20P(m), 30P(m) and 40P(m) in model group decreased significantly compared to those in control group and acupuncture group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). (2) Changes of 10P(max) in acupuncture group was much less than in model group (P < 0.05); changes of 20P(max), 30P(max), 40P(max) and 50P(max) decreased more in model group than in acupuncture group and control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: As an assistant training method, acupuncture can postpone descending point of muscle strength endurance to delay sport fatigue.

[Classification and characters of physical parameters of lifting-thrusting and twirling manipulations of acupuncture].

By using "Acupuncture Manipulation Information Analyzing System", the traditional reinforcing and reducing manipulations of acupuncture described in classical Chinese medical books were imitated and their parameters analyzed. It was found that in the oscillogram, the differences between the reinforcing and reducing manipulations (rapid-slow reinforcing-reducing skill, lifting-thrusting reinforcing-reducing skill) are the bigger duration of descending branch (t1) and smaller duration of ascending branch (t2) for the former, and shorter t1 and longer t2 for the later, due to slow insertion and rapid withdrawal of the acupuncture needle for the reinforcing, and rapid insertion and slow withdrawal of needle for the reducing. While for twirling reinforcing, t1 < t2 for predominantly-leftward twirling, and for twirling reducing, t1 > t2 for predominantly-rightward twirling were found. In addition, it is supposed that those parameters as the amplitude (s), frequency (f) and duration of one cycle (t) of the oscillogram may be related to acupuncture stimulating quantity, while t3 (duration of the plateau segment), t4 (duration of the horizontal plane segment) and their variance may be associated with the stability of the acupuncture manipulation. Due to the limited literal recordation, some other traditional acupuncture manipulations can not simulate indeed, because we don't know how to perform those kinds of acupuncture manipulation. This just reflects the importance of objectivity of acupuncture manipulations.

[Single-acupoint electroacupuncture based on traditional acupuncture becomes true].

[ In current clinical acupuncture practice, many exiting problems including changes in the treated region, simultaneous covering two meridians of the two stimulating electrodes (acupuncture needles), inability to realize the reinforcing-reducing functions of the traditional acupuncture, etc. during application of electroacupuncture (EA) could be found, which may affect the therapeutic results or lead to failure in playing EA's functions. For this reason, the authors of the present paper put forward a concept of "single acupoint EA". Base on the design of "double electrodes of two acupuncture needles" of the conventional EA therapeutic apparatus, a "single acupoint EA therapy" was put forward and a single acupoint EA electronic apparatus (stimulating needle electrode) was manufactured. It not only realizes single acupoint stimulation, but also corresponds to the features of traditional EA therapy, avoiding some problems in currently-used EA therapy. It may be helpful to raising clinical therapeutic effect.

[Application of "Acupuncture Manipulation Information Analyzing System" in acupuncture manipulation education].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the application of analyzing systems and techniques in acupuncture manipulation education that may improve students' acupuncture manipulation skills. METHODS: The teacher's acupuncture manipulation (TAM) was recorded in wave, data and video information by the Analyzing System. Students practised, adjusted and corrected their manipulation skills according to the TAM. After finishing the training sessions, the system's grading function evaluated every student's performance. RESULTS: After training, the stability of the students' acupuncture manipulation skills and their achievement were both significantly improved (P < 0.01, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The Analyzing System benefits for imitating and learning the manipulations of specilists and can improve the education quality.

[Exploitation and application of "acupuncture manipulation information analysis system"].

On the basis of "ATP-I Type Acupuncture Manipulation Parameter Analyzer", we have developed a new acupuncture parameter analysis software named "Acupuncture Manipulation Information Analysis System" by applying new arithmetic, enriching practicable parameters of acupuncture manipulation, and improving the methods for comparing and evaluating acupuncture manipulation. The present analysis system can satisfy the need of acupuncture manipulation teaching standardization.

[Acupoint electrogymnastics therapy for treatment of apoplectic hemiplegia: a multicenter randomized control study].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of acupoint electrogymnastics therapy on apoplectic hemiplegia, so as to further popularize this therapy in treatment of apoplectic hemiplegia. METHODS: Using three-central, randomized, controlled, multi-blind methods, 153 cases were divided into an electrogymnastics group (n = 77) and an electroacupuncture group (n = 76). They were treated with acupoint electrogymnastics (AE) and traditional electroacupuncture (TEA), respectively. Shousanli (LI 10) and Waiguan (TE 5) on upper limbs and Yanglingquan (GB 34) and Zusanli (ST 36) on the lower limbs were selected in the two groups. A JD-2008 hemiplegia treatment apparatus was used in the AE group. Fugl-Meyer method was used for assessment of motor function and sense function of the four limbs, balance function and joint activity, etc. before and after treatment. RESULTS: In the motor function and sense function of four limbs, balance function and joint activity in the two groups had significant improvement after treatment (both P < 0. 001) with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both acupoint electrogymnastics (AE) and traditional electroacupuncture (TEA) have a similar therapeutic effect on apoplectic hemiplegia, but AE has the advantages of safety, reliability and convenience in operation, so it is suitable for long-term rehabilitation treatment of the patient and for popularization in hospital of basic level.

[Impact of different emulated acupuncture-needle manipulations on blood pressure and myocardial angiotensin II content in spontaneous hypertension rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of different emulated acupuncture-needle manipulations on blood pressure and myocardial angiotensin (Ang) II content in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), so as to seek a better acupuncture parameter for clinical treatment of hypertension. METHODS: Thirty-three SHR were randomly divided into mild-stimulation group (n=8), moderate-stimulation group (n=8), heavy-stimulation group (n=8) and model group (n=9). Additionally, other 8 normal rats were made up of control group. Blood pressure (BP) was determined by using a non-invasive BP detection system. Myocardial Ang II content was assayed by radioimmunoassay. The emulated acupuncture-needle twirling angles and frequencies of 144 degrees, 75 r/min; 255 degrees, 111 r/min; and 360 degrees, 140 r/min in mild, moderate and heavy manipulations were applied to bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Taichong" (LR 3) for 3 min, once daily for 3 weeks, with an interval of 2 days between every two weeks. RESULTS: Compared with pre-therapy, BP values of both heavy-stimulation and model groups increased significantly (P<0.01); and compared with model group, BP values of mild-stimulation and moderate-stimulation groups decreased significantly after the therapy (P<0.05), but were still higher than that of control group (P<0.05). In addition, myocardial Ang II contents of mild-stimulation, moderate-stimulation, heavy-stimulation and model groups were significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.05). No significant differences were found between mild-stimulation and moderate-stimulation groups, and between heavy-stimulation and model groups after therapy in BP, and among mild-stimulation, moderate-stimulation, heavy-stimulation and model groups in myocardial Ang II contents (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Mild and moderate manipulations of ST36 and LR3 have apparent influence on BP, but no apparent influence on myocardial Ang II content.

[Preliminary research on the standardization of acupuncture manipulation].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the standardization of acupuncture manipulation methods at present. METHODS: Apply "the acupuncture manipulation information analysis system" to analyze the collective acupuncture manipulation methods of teachers and acupuncture and moxibustion physicians, and to find basic rules of acupuncture manipulation methods. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In the 6 basic acupuncture reinforcing and reducing manipulations researched in this study, almost all of the 7 parameters analyzed showed significant differences (P<0.01), indicating that the basic acupuncture manipulation of reinforcing and reducing is lack of uniform manipulation standardization, which may be due to acupuncture manipulation having no objective standard as basis; it also was found that there were more differences among various acupuncture manipulations, but the difference between reinforcing and reducing manipulations was reflected in every manipulator's experimental data, and showed the same characteristics as those recorded in traditional acupuncture and moxibustion literatures, suggesting a that teaching and clinical practice of acupuncture manipulation possibly are at the present situation of good qualification and worse quantification.

[Effects of manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture on Ca2+ content and Ca2+ -ATPase Activity in sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle cells in rats during acute swimming exercise].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of manual acupuncture (MA) and electroacupuncture (EA) on Ca2+ content and Ca2+ -ATPase activity in sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle cells in rats of acute swimming exercise (ASE) so as to reveal its underlying mechanism in strengthening motor abilities. METHODS: Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into control, model, MA and EA groups, with 15 cases in each. Rats in MA group and EA group were treated respectively with MA (120-140 twirlings/min, 30-60 s/time every 3-5 min) and EA (500-800 Hz, 0.20-0.25 mA) stimulation of "Dazhui" (GV 14), "Mingmen" (GV 4), "Huantiao" (GB 30) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) for 20 min before ASE. After ASE (120 min), the rats anesthetized with urethane (1 g/kg) were killed for sampling skeletal muscles (quadriceps muscle of thigh) and for detecting Ca2+ content and Ca2+ -ATPase activity with thymol blue chromatometry and chemical chromatometry respectively. Results In comparison with control group, Ca2+ content and Ca2+ -ATPase activity in sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle cells in model group were obviously lower (P < 0.01, 0.05); while compared with model group, both Ca2+ content and Ca2+ -ATPase activity in sarcoplasmic reticulum in MA and EA groups increased significantly (P < 0.01). The activity of Ca2+ -ATPase of MA group was evidently higher than that of control group (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between MA and EA groups in Ca2+ content and Ca2+ -ATPase activity (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both MA and EA can increase Ca2+ -ATPase activity and Ca2+ content in sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle cells in motor fatigue rats, which may contribute to their effects in strengthening motor ability.