[Rolling needle pricking-cupping therapy and traditional pricking-cupping therapy for cervical spondylosis of neck type: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy between rolling needle pricking-cupping (RNP-C) and traditional pricking-cupping (TP-C) for cervical spondylosis of neck type. METHODS: A total of 96 patients with cervical spondylosis of neck type were randomly divided into an RNP-C group, a TP-C group and an electroacupuncture (EA) group, 32 cases in each group. Each group was treated with EA at Jingbailao (EX-HN 15), Fengchi (GB 20), Dazhui (GV 14), Jianjing (GB 21) and ashi points with continuous wave and 2 Hz of frequency; each EA treatment lasted for 20 min, once every 3 to 5 days, totaling 6 treatments. On the basis of EA treatment, the patients in the TP-C group were treated with bloodletting by seven-star needle, followed by fire cupping; the patients in the RNP-C group were treated with bloodletting by rolling needle, followed by fire cupping. The treatment was given once a week for 4 weeks. The follow-up was 1 month. Before treatment, 2 and 4 weeks into treatment and follow-up, the Northwick Park neck-pain questionnaire (NPQ) and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were evaluated. The acupuncture pain degree was recorded at the first treatment and 2 and 4 weeks into treatment. The efficacy was evaluated after 4 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the scores of NPQ and VAS in each group were all reduced at 2 and 4 weeks into treatment and follow-up (P<0.05). The scores of NPQ in the TP-C group and the RNP-C group were lower than those in the EA group at 2 and 4 weeks into treatment (P<0.05). The scores of VAS in the TP-C group and the RNP-C group were lower than those in the EA group at 2 and 4 weeks into treatment and follow-up (P<0.05). The differences of NPQ and VAS scores between the TP-C group and the RNP-C group at each time point after treatment were not significant (P>0.05). The acupuncture pain degree in the RNP-C group was lower than that in the TP-C group (P<0.05). The total effective rates were 79.3% (23/29) in the TP-C group and 75.0% (24/32) in the RNP-C group, which was superior to 63.3% (19/30) in the EA group (P<0.05), but there was no statistical significance between the TP-C group and the RNP-C group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: TP-C and RNP-C could both improve the cervical pain symptoms in patients with cervical spondylosis of neck type, and improve the overall function of the cervical spine, and the curative effect is similar.

[Protective Effects of Acupuncture Intervention Against Damage of Intestinal Mucosal Barrier Induced by 5-Fluorouracil in Rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture intervention on the diarrhea, mucosal thickness of the small intestine, plasma endotoxin (ET) and D-lactic acid (D-LA) contents, and diamine oxidase (DAO) activity in 5-Fluorouracil (5-Fu) induced intestinal mucosal damage rats, in order to provide an experimental basis for acupuncture therapy in improving chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucosa injury. METHODS: Thirty female SD rats were randomly divided into control group, model group and acupuncture group (n = 10 in each group). The intestinal mucosal damage model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 5-Fu (50 mg/kg, for six consecutive days). Acupuncture stimulation was applied to bilateral "Tianshu" (ST 25) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) once a day for six consecutive days. The changes of body weight and diarrhea score (0-3 points, according to Kurita's methods) as well as mucosal thickness of the small intestine were determined. The plasma ET and D-LA contents, and DAO activity were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: On the sixth day, the body weight was significantly higher in the acupuncture group than in the model group (P<0.05). After intraperitoneal injection of 5-Fu, both the incidence rate and average score of diarrhea reached the peak on the sixth day in the model and acupuncture groups, and were significantly lower in the acupuncture group than in the model group (P<0.01). On the seventh day, the mucosal thickness of small intestine was significantly lower in the model group than in the control group (P<0.05), but had no remarkable changes after acupuncture intervention( P>0.05). The contents of plasma ET and D-LA and DAO activity level were significantly higher in the model group than in the control group, and markedly decreased in the acupuncture group than in the model group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture intervention can lower the incidence rate and average score of diarrhea and down-regulate the increased plasma ET and D-LA contents and DAO activity levels in 5-Fu induced intestinal mucosal damage rats, suggesting a somewhat protective effect of acupuncture against chemotherapy induced damage of the intestinal mucosal barrier.