Effectiveness of bee venom acupuncture for patients suffering from periarthritis humeroscapularis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of bee venom acupuncture in humeroscapularis (PHS) patients. METHODS: One hundred and twenty patients diagnosed with PHS were assigned into four groups: BV1 (0.01 mg/kg), BV2 (0.005 mg/kg), BV3 (0.0025 mg/kg), and control group (vitamin B1 plus novocain 3% injection) with 15 d of treatment. The outcomes of the study including visual analogue scale (VAS) score and ß-endorphin, inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-10 (IL-10), IL-1ß and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and shoulder function score were assessed at baseline, after 10 and 15 d of treatment. RESULTS: All four groups reported statistically significant improvement in VAS score, motion range, and shoulder function score ( < 0.01), only the BV3 group showed significant increase of anti-inflammatory (IL-10) and decrease of pro-inflammatory (IL-1ß, TNF-α) cytokines after treatment ( < 0.05). The BV3 group presented a significant difference between all outcomes compared to the control and other groups. CONCLUSION: BV3 groups showed better recovery including reduced pain, improved motor function and normalized inflammatory cytokines than current therapy used in Vietnam and other groups.

Effectiveness on post-stroke hemiplegia in patients: electroacupuncture plus cycling electroacupuncture alone.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of cycling in combination with electroacupuncture in treatment of post-stroke hemiplegia patients at National Hospital of Acupuncture, Vietnam. METHODS: The study was designed as a single-centre, outcome-assessor-blinded parallel randomised controlled trial with 120 post-stroke hemiplegia patients randomly assigned into two groups: electroacupuncture plus cycling (CT group) and electroacupuncture (AT group). Patients were assessed before and after the treatment (using muscle grading, modified Rankin, Barthel, Orgorozo scores and electromyography). Statistical Man-Whitney U test, and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare between CT and AT groups. RESULTS: The results reported statistically significant improvement in motor function in patients suffering from hemiplegia following ischemic stroke in both CT and AT groups. Patients in CT group experienced a greater improvement compared to those in AT group including better muscle contraction (increased frequency and amplitude of electromyography and increased muscle grading scale); increased recovery (Orgogozo scale), increased independency (Barthel scale) and decreased disability (Modified Rankin scale) (< 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Combination with cycling training significantly improves the recovery of post-stroke patients treated with electroacupuncture.