Effects of intradermal needle therapy plus pinaverium bromide on gastrointestinal hormone levels in irritable bowel syndrome-diarrhea patients / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy difference in treating irritable bowel syndrome-diarrhea (IBS-D) of liver-qi stagnation and spleen-deficiency pattern with different treatment protocols, and the effects on serum levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), for unveiling the mechanism of intradermal needle therapy plus pinaverium bromide in treating IBS-D. Methods: A total of 123 IBS-D patients were divided into an observation group, a Western medication group and an integrated Western and Chinese medication group using the random number table method, with 41 cases in each group. The Western medication group was given oral pinaverium bromide, 50 mg each time and 3 times a day. The integrated Western and Chinese medication group was given additional Chinese herbal medicine Tong Xie Yao Fang, one dose each day. The observation group was given additional intradermal needle therapy on the basis of the Western medication group. The whole intervention lasted for 6 weeks. Before and after treatment, the scores of gastrointestinal symptoms, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptoms, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptom severity scale (IBS-SSS) and IBS quality of life (IBS-QOL) questionnaire, as well as the serum levels of 5-HT, SP and VIP were observed. The clinical efficacy was estimated. Results: The total effective rate was 92.7％ in the observation group, 68.3％ in the Western medication group and 78.1％ in the integrated Western and Chinese medication group. The total effective rate was higher in the observation group than in the other two groups, and higher in the integrated Western and Chinese medication group than in the Western medication group, showing statistical significance (all P<0.05). After treatment, the scores of gastrointestinal symptoms, TCM symptoms and IBS-SSS showed significant decreases in the three groups, presenting statistical significance compared with the baseline (all P<0.05); the scores of gastrointestinal symptoms, TCM symptoms and IBS-SSS were notably lower in the observation group than in the other two groups (all P<0.05), and lower in the integrated Western and Chinese medication group than in the Western medication group (all P<0.05). After treatment, the eight component scores of IBS-QOL showed significant increases in the three groups compared with the baseline (all P<0.05); the eight component scores in IBS-QOL were significantly higher in the observation group than in the other two groups (all P<0.05), and higher in the integrated Western and Chinese medication group than in the Western medication group (all P<0.05). After treatment, the serum levels of 5-HT, SP and VIP decreased markedly in the three groups compared with the baseline (all P<0.05); the serum levels of 5-HT, SP and VIP were significantly lower in the observation group than in the other two groups (all P<0.05), and lower in the integrated Western and Chinese medication group than in the Western medication group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Treatment with intradermal needle therapy plus pinaverium bromide results in significant improvements in the gastrointestinal symptoms and quality of life in patients with IBS-D of liver-qi stagnation and spleen deficiency pattern, and effectively regulates the gastrointestinal hormone production.

Identification of active compound combination contributing to anti-inflammatory activity of Xiao-Cheng-Qi Decoction via human intestinal bacterial metabolism / 中国天然药物

Human intestinal bacteria play an important role in the metabolism of herbal medicines, leading to the variations in their pharmacological profile. The present study aimed to investigate the metabolism of Xiao-Cheng-Qi decoction (XCQD) by human intestinal bacteria and to discover active component combination (ACC) contributing to the anti-inflammatory activity of XCQD. The water extract of XCQD was anaerobically incubated with human intestinal bacteria suspensions for 48 h at 37 °C. A liquid chromatography-hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF/MS) method was performed for identification of the metabolites. In addition, the anti-inflammatory effects of XCQD and biotransformed XCQD (XCQD-BT) were evaluated in vitro with cytokines in RAW264.7 cells induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). A total of 51 compounds were identified in XCQD and XCQD-BT. Among them, 20 metabolites were proven to be transformed by human intestinal bacteria. Significantly, a combination of 14 compounds was identified as ACC from XCQD-BT, which was as effective as XCQD in cell models of inflammation. In conclusion, this study provided an applicable method, based on intestinal bacterial metabolism, for identifying combinatory compounds responsible for a certain pharmacological activity of herbal medicines.

Identification of active compound combination contributing to anti-inflammatory activity of Xiao-Cheng-Qi Decoction via human intestinal bacterial metabolism / 中国天然药物

Human intestinal bacteria play an important role in the metabolism of herbal medicines, leading to the variations in their pharmacological profile. The present study aimed to investigate the metabolism of Xiao-Cheng-Qi decoction (XCQD) by human intestinal bacteria and to discover active component combination (ACC) contributing to the anti-inflammatory activity of XCQD. The water extract of XCQD was anaerobically incubated with human intestinal bacteria suspensions for 48 h at 37 °C. A liquid chromatography-hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF/MS) method was performed for identification of the metabolites. In addition, the anti-inflammatory effects of XCQD and biotransformed XCQD (XCQD-BT) were evaluated in vitro with cytokines in RAW264.7 cells induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). A total of 51 compounds were identified in XCQD and XCQD-BT. Among them, 20 metabolites were proven to be transformed by human intestinal bacteria. Significantly, a combination of 14 compounds was identified as ACC from XCQD-BT, which was as effective as XCQD in cell models of inflammation. In conclusion, this study provided an applicable method, based on intestinal bacterial metabolism, for identifying combinatory compounds responsible for a certain pharmacological activity of herbal medicines.

Impact on the gait time cycle of ischemic stroke in the treatment with yin-yang respiratory reinforcing and reducing needling technique / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the difference in the efficacy on gait time cycle of ischemic stroke between yin-yang respiratory reinforcing and reducing needling technique (yin-yang needling) and the conventional acupuncture.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty cases of ischemic stroke were randomized into a conventional acupuncture group and a yin-yang needling group, 30 cases in each one. The basic treatment (the control of blood pressure, blood sugar and blood lipid, the intravenous drops of ginkgo leaf extract and dipyridamole injection and vinpocetine injection) were applied in the two groups. Additionally, in the conventional acupuncture group, the acupoints of the Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming [Biguan (ST 31), Liangqiu (ST 34), Zusanli (ST 36), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Xiajuxu (ST 39), etc.] were selected and stimulated with the even needling technique. In the yin-yang needling group, the acupoints of yin meridians such as Zuwuli (LR 10), Xuehai (SP 10), Yinlingquan (SP 9) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6), etc. and the acupoints of yang meridians such as Biguan (ST 31), Liangqiu (ST 34) and Yanglingquan (GB 34), etc. were selected. The reducing manipulation of respiratory reinforcing and reducing technique was applied to the acupoints of yin meridians and the reinforcing manipulation was applied to the acupoints of yang meridians. The kinematics time parameters were determined and compared before and 4 weeks after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, the differences in the gait cycle, the phase time of standing (%), the phase time of single support (%), the phase time of unilateral sway (%) on the affected (healthy) foot and phase time of double support (%) were significant as compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups (all P < 0.05), in which, the gait cycle (1.75 +/- 0.21 vs 2.02 +/- 0.37), the phase time of standing (%) on the affected (healthy) foot [(65.41 +/- 5.20)% vs (68.37 +/- 6.24)%, (70.99 +/- 6.47)% vs (74.51 +/- 5.19)%], the phase time of unilateral sway (%) on the affected (healthy) foot [(36.08 +/- 4.86)% vs (33.65 +/- 2.94)%, (31.04 +/- 3.41)% vs (26.77 +/- 2.67)%] and the phase time of double support (%) [(36.91 +/- 5.10)% vs (41.22 +/- 5.39)%] in the yin-yang needling group were improved much obviously after treatment as compared with those in the conventional acupuncture group. The differences in support phase time (%), single support phase time (%) and sway phase time (%) were significant between the affected limb and healthy limb of the two groups after treatment (all P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Yin-yang respiratory reinforcing and reducing needling technique effectively improves hemiplegic gait movement cycle and walking function in patients of ischemic stroke, which is superior to the conventional acupuncture treatment.</p>

Impacts of yin-yang meridians acupuncture with respiratory reinforcing and reducing manipulation on lower limbs balance function in stroke patients / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the impact on lower limbs balance function in treatment of yin-yang meridians acupuncture with respiratory reinforcing and reducing manipulation involved in the patients of stroke by applying B-PHY balance function test training system so as to provide the objective evidence in treatment of stroke; with acupuncture.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 50 cases in each one. In the control group, the basic treatment was applied, without other relevant rehabilitation therapies associated. In the observation group, with the basic treatment as the control group's, the therapy of the yin-yang meridians acupuncutre with respiratory reinforcing and reducing manipulation was adopted. On the yin meridians, Zuwuli (LR 10), Xuehai (SP 10), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and the others were selected and stimulated with reducing manipulation achieved by the coordination of patient's respiration. On the yang meridians, Biguan (ST 31), Liangqiu (ST 34), Yanglingquan (GB 34) and the others were selected and stimulated with reinforcing manipulation achieved by the coordination of patient's respiration. The treatment was given once a day and for 28 days totally. Before treatment and in 28 days of treatment, B-PHY balance function test training system was used to determine the weight shift track parameters (track length, peripheral square, track length of per unit square, left-right offset and rectangle square), the weight shift track distance parameters [mean of X axle weight shift distance (Mean-X), mean of Y axle weight shift distance (Mean-Y), maximum of X axle weight shift distance (Max-X), maximum of Y axle weight shift distance (Max-Y), weight shift distance (LSKG), weight shift square (SSKG), square ratio of weight shift (LFS)], stability coefficient (SI) and weight distribution coefficient (WDI).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, the differences in the weight shift track parameters, SI and WDI were significant as compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups (all P<0.01); while the differences in the weight shift distance parameters in the observation group were improved obviously after treatment as compared with those before treatment (all P<0.01), the differences of Mean-X, Max-Y and LFS in the control group were improved after treatment as compared with those before treatment (all P<0.01). Except SSKG, the improvements after treatment in the rest indices in the observation group were better than those in the control group (all P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The yin-yang meridians acupuncture with respiratry reinforcing and re- ducing manipulation effectively improves the lower limbs balance function in the patients of stroke.</p>

Efficacy observation on wrist-ankle needle for primary dysmenorrhea in undergraduates / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare efficacy difference among wrist-ankle needle, body-acupuncture and ibuprofen in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety-five cases were randomly divided into a wrist-ankle needle group (32 cases), a body-acupuncture group (31 cases) and an ibuprofen group (32 cases). Acupunc- , ture at Lower 1 and Lower 2 area was applied in the wrist-ankle needle group. Acupuncture at Guanyuan (CV 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were applied in the body-acupuncture group. Ibuprofen sustained-release capsules were given for oral administration in the ibuprofen group. The treatment began 3 days before menses, once a day, until pain was relieved. One menstrual cycle was taken as a treatment course, continuously for 3 courses and efficacy were observed in three groups. The symptom score of dysmenorrhea and visual analogue scale (VAS) were used to assess pain severity before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>1The efficacy differences in three groups were statistically significant (P<0.01), in which the total effective rate was 90. 0% (27/30) in the wrist-ankle needle group, 73.4% (22/30) in the body-acupuncture group and 46. 7% (14/30) in the ibuprofen group. 2 After the treatment, symptom score of dysmenorrhea and VAS were all obviously lower than that before the treatment in three groups (all P<0.01). Compared with ibuprofen group (7.12+/-2.70), after the treatment symptom score of dysmenorrhea in the wrist-ankle needle group (4.00+/-3.40) and body-acupuncture group (5. 53+/-2. 80) was obviously decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05), and VAS in the wrist-ankle needle group was significantly reduced (P<0.05). Compared with body-acupuncture group (5. 53+/-2.80), symptom score of dysmenorrhea in the wrist-ankle needle group (4.00+/- 3. 40) was obviously decreased (P<0. 05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The wrist-ankle needle has better effect than body acupuncture and ibuprofen on the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea, which could significantly improve dysmenorrhea symptoms.</p>

Discussion on the acupuncture and constitution according to the Miraculous Pivot / 中国针灸

The texts on constitution of Miraculous Pivot were analyzed and summarized according to literature study. The findings show that constitution is an important element in acupuncture treatment according to the texts of Miraculous Pivot. Different constitution generates the difference of yin-yang, deficiency or excess of qi and blood which is the important basis for syndrome differentiation of Miraculous Pivot. Therefore, the improvement in constitution is the way to increase the therapeutic effect of acupuncture.