[Clinical observation of interventional opportunity for acupuncture treatment of acute facial neuritis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of different acupuncture intervention time on the improvement of the symptoms of acute facial neuritis and the length of recovery time, and to find the best interventional opportunity for acute facial neuritis. METHODS: A total of 120 patients with acute facial neuritis (all unilateral onset) were randomly divided into 4 groups, namely group A, group B, group C and group D, 30 cases in each group. Acupuncture performed within 3 days after onset in the group A; oral mecobalamin dispersible tablets and multivitamin B tablets were received within 3 days after onset, and acupuncture was started from the 4th day in the group B; oral mecobalamin dispersible tablets and multivitamin B tablets were given within 5 days after onset, and acupuncture was administered from the 6th day in the group C; oral mecobalamin dispersible tablets and multivitamin B tablets were given within 7 days after onset, and acupuncture was applied from the 8th day in the group D. Penetration needling was the main acupuncture treatment, with infrared radiation on the cheeks, once a day, 6 days a week and 3 weeks were given. After treatment, the symptom scores (Portmann scores) of the 7th, 14th and 28th day after onset were compared. The time of improvement and the clinical effect of each group were compared. RESULTS: On the 7th, 14th and 28th day after onset, the Portmann scores of the 4 groups were higher than those before treatment (all P<0.05). On the 7th, 14th and 28th day after onset, the Portmann scores in the group A were higher than those in the other 3 groups (all P<0.05). There was significant difference between both pairs of group B, group C and group D (all P<0.05). The total effective rate in the group A was 96.7% (29/30), which was higher than 93.3% (28/30), 86.7% (26/30) and 83.3% (25/30) in the other 3 groups (all P<0.05). The difference between the 4 groups in the beginning of improvement, significant improvement time and clinical recovery time was statistically significant (all P<0.05), and the group A was optimal. CONCLUSION: Early intervention of acupuncture with acute facial neuritis can appropriately slow the progression of facial nerve injury, improve the therapeutic effect, and shorten the clinical recovery time.

Regulation of Hypertension for Secondary Prevention of Stroke: The Possible 'Bridging Function' of Acupuncture.

Worldwide, stroke is the leading cause of mortality and disability, with hypertension being an independent risk factor for a secondary stroke. Acupuncture for the treatment of hypertension gains more attention in alternative and complementary medicine, but the results are inconsistent. Few studies regarding the secondary prevention of stroke by managing hypertension with acupuncture have been carried out as there are some problems regarding the antihypertensive drug status in the secondary prevention of stroke. Still, the potential of acupuncture in regulating the blood pressure for secondary stroke prevention deserves our focus. This review is based on papers recorded in the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases, from their inception until March 28, 2017, and retrieved with the following search terms: hypertension and acupuncture, limited in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), stress-induced (or cold-induced) hypertensive or pre-hypertensive models. We find that, in these hypertensive animals, acupuncture could mainly influence factors related to the nervous system, oxidative stress, the endocrine system, cardiovascular function, and hemorheology, which are closely associated with the stroke outcome. This trend may give us a hint that acupuncture might well participate in the secondary prevention of stroke through these pathways when used in the management of hypertension.

[A new textual criticism on block-printed edition of Zhenjiu Dacheng in the Ming dynasty].

It has always been considered that Zhenjiu Dacheng (Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion) printed by ZHAO Wenbing is the earliest version. In comparative study, it is found that there are two versions in the Ming dynasty, one is the original, stored in the Library of China Academy of Sciences and another one is the revision, stored in the Library of Tianjin University of TCM, Zhejiang Provincial Library and the Library of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. The last item, Chengjiang (CV 24) in the Acupoint Indication of Conception Vessel in volume 7 is included in the revised edition, but not covered in the original one, which is the difference between the two versions. Both of the versions were in the Ming dynasty, rather than the block-printed one in the Qing dynasty.