[Clinical effect of plum-blossom needle tapping at three yin meridians of wrist on wrist joint contracture after stroke].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effect of plum-blossom needle tapping at three yin meridians of wrist combined with rehabilitation training and simple rehabilitation training on wrist joint contracture after stroke. METHODS: A total of 72 patients with wrist joint contracture after stroke were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 36 cases in each one. In the control group, simple rehabilitation training was applied, 5 times a week, 3 weeks as one course and totally 3 courses were required. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, plum-blossom needle tapping at three yin meridians of wrist was adopted in the observation group. The tapping regions were wrist traveling parts of three yin meridians of hand, ranging from up 3 cun to below 1 cun of wrist crease, 3 times a week, 3 weeks as one course and totally 3 courses were required. The active range of motion (AROM) of active wrist extension, Fugl-Meyer score (FMA) and Barthel index (BI) score were observed before and after treatment in the two groups. RESULTS: The AROM, FMA scores and BI scores after treatment in the two groups were superior to before treatment (P<0.05), and the improvements of 3 indexes in the observation group were superior to the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effect of plum-blossom needle tapping at three yin meridians of wrist combined with rehabilitation training is superior to simple rehabilitation training on wrist joint contracture after stroke.

[Effects of acupuncture on body mass index and waist-hip ratio in the patient of simple obesity].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture for slimming. METHODS: Eighty cases of simple obesity were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a medication group, 40 cases in each group. The acupuncture group were treated with body acupuncture, electroacupuncture and auricular acupoint taping and pressing, with Tianshu (ST 25), Guanyuan (CV 4), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) etc. selected for body acupuncture, and auricular acupoints Shenmen, Neifenmi (endocrine), Pi (spleen) etc. selected for ear acupoint taping and pressing. And the medication group were treated with oral administration of Sibutramine. Body weight, body mass index, waist and hip circumferences and waist-hip ratio were determined before and after treatment to evaluate therapeutic effect of slimming. RESULTS: The total effective rate of 87.5% in the acupuncture group was similar to 82.5% in the medication group (P > 0.05). After treatment, body weight, body mass index, waist and hip circumferences and waist-hip ratio significantly decreased in the two groups, but the improvement of waist circumferences and waist-hip ratio in the acupuncture group was better than that in the medication group (P < 0. 05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture has a definite therapeutic effect in slimming and it can effectively improve body weight, body mass index, waist and hip circumferences and waist-hip ratio in the patient of simple obesity.

[Effect of acupuncture on serum insulin level in the patient of simple obesity].

OBJECTIVE: To compare therapeutic effects of acupuncture plus ear point tapping and pressing therapy and simple medicine for slimming and to probe the mechanism. METHODS: Fifty cases of simple obesity were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a medication group, 25 cases in each group. The acupuncture group were treated with body acupuncture and electroacupuncture at Tianshu (ST 25), Guanyuan (CV 4), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Feng-long (ST 40), Zusanli (ST 36), etc., combined with ear point sticking and pressing at Shenmen, Nei-fenmi (endocrine), Pi (spleen), Wei (stomach), Sanjiao (triple energy), Dachang (large intestine), etc.. The medication group were treated with oral administration of Sibutramine, once each day, 10 mg each time. Serum insulin contents before and after treatment were detected, and the therapeutic effect for slimming was assessed. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 88.0% in the acupuncture group and 80.0% in the medication group, with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05); after treatment, the serum insulin levels in the two groups significantly decreased (P < 0.01), and the decrease of insulin level in the acupuncture group was significantly better than that in the medication group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture combined with ear point tapping and pressing therapy has a similar therapeutic effect to western medicine for slimming, but the former is better than the later in improving serum insulin level.

[Acupuncture for treatment of simple obesity and its effect on serum leptin level of the patient].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effect and the mechanism of acupuncture in reducing body weight. METHODS: Fifty cases of simple obesity were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a drug control group, 25 cases in each group. The patients in the acupuncture group were treated with body acupuncture at Tianshu (ST 25), Guanyuan (CV 4), etc, electroacupuncture and ear point tapping and pressing therapy (Shenmen, Endocrine, etc. were selected); the patients in the control group were treated with oral administration of sibutramine. The serum leptin level before and after treatment were determined and the therapeutic effect in reducing body weight was assessed. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 88.0% in the acupuncture group and 80. 0% in the control group, with no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05); after treatment, the serum leptin level in both the two groups decreased significantly (P<0.01), and the decreasing amplitude in the acupuncture group was superior to that in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture therapy has a definite therapeutic effect in reducing body weight, and the improvement of serum leptin level of the patient is possibly one of the mechanisms of acupuncture in reducing body weight.