针刺研究最新文献

Objectives: To explore the therapeutic effect of the combined measures of Tiaodu Lijin acupuncture therapy (for regulating the governor vessel and tendons) and Lijin reduction tuina manipulation (for regulating tendons and reduction) in treatment of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR).

Methods: From August 2021 to December 2023, 160 CSR patients were selected and randomly divided into a control group (80 cases) and a trial group (80 cases) using a random number table method. In the control group, the conventional acupuncture and Lijin reduction tuina manipulation were operated, and in the trial group, Tiaodu Lijin acupuncture therapy and Lijin reduction tuina manipulation were combined. The treatment was delivered once daily in each group, 5 interventions a week and lasted for 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, the score of clinical assessment scale of cervical spondylosis (CASCS), cervical dysfunction index (NDI) and the score of visual analog scale (VAS) were compared in the two groups. Using ELISA, the contents of interleukin (IL)-6, leukotriene D4 (LTD4), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and C-reactive protein (CRP) in the serum were detected. Transcranial color Doppler ultrasound was used to detect the mean peak velocity (VM), resistance index (RI) and pulsation index (PI) of vertebral-basilar artery at systole. The effective rate was calculated in the two groups.

Results: Every indicator after treatment was improved in comparison with that before treatment in each group (P<0.05). After 4-week treatment, compared with the control group, NDI and VAS scores were lower (P<0.05), and the serum contents of IL-6, LTD4, TNF-α and CRP were reduced (P<0.05), RI and PI of vertebral-basilar artery were lower (P<0.05), and CASCS score and VM were higher (P<0.05) in the trial group. The overall effective rate in the trial group (95.00%, 76/80) was higher (P<0.05) than that (81.25%, 65/80) in the control group.

Conclusions: The combined measures of Tiaodu Lijin acupuncture therapy and Lijin reduction tuina manipulation obtain the satisfactory therapeutic effect on CSR, which alleviates pain, reduces inflammatory indicators and improves vertebral basilar arterial blood flow and cervical spine function.

Objectives: To observe the effect of auricular electrostimulation on pruritus behavior, histomorphology and expressions of histamine 1 receptor (H1R) and transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily 1 (TRPV1) of the scratching site, serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and histamine (HIS) contents of pruritic mice, so as to explore its underlying mechanisms in improvement of pruritus.

Methods: Twenty-four Kunming mice were randomly divided into control, model, medication and auricular electrostimulation groups, with 6 mice in each group. The mice in the control and model groups received gavage of 0.2 mL/20 g of 0.9% sodium chloride solution, once every day for 12 d. The mice in the medication group received gavage of loratadine saline solution (1.66 mg/kg). The mice in the auricular electrostimulation group received auricular stimulation of bilateral "Xin"(Heart)-"Fei" (Lung) or margin of ear for 30 min, once daily for 12 d. In addition, all the mice in every group received grabbing-binding once every day for 12 d. One hour after the last intervention, the pruritus model was established by intravenous injection of 0.025% dextran (0.05 mL/10 g) via tail vein. The scratching response of mice was recorded, and the histopathological changes of the scratching site were observed after H.E. staining. The immunofluorescence intensities of H1R and TRPV1 were detected by immunofluorescence staining, and the contents of serum IgE and HIS were measured by using ELISA.

Results: Compared with the control group, the model group had a decrease in the scratching latency, and an increase in the number and duration of scratching, the immunofluorescence intensities of H1R and TRPV1, and the contents of serum IgE and HIS (P<0.05). In contrast to the model group, both the medication group and auricular electrostimulation group had an increase in the scratching latency, and a decrease in the number and duration of scratching, the immunofluorescence intensities of H1R and TRPV1, and the contents of serum IgE and HIS (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the auricular electrostimulation group and medication group in all the indexes mentioned above. H.E. staining showed cell edema in the skin epidermal tissue, a large number of lymphocytes and a few eosinophils infiltration in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, especially around the hair follicle in the model group, while the inflammatory cells in the skin tissue of the medication group and the auricular electrical stimulation group were reduced.

Conclusions: Auricular electrostimulation can effectively relieve pruritus induced by dextran in mice, which may be related to its function in down-regulating the H1R/TRPV1 signaling pathway in the pruritus site.

Objectives: To observe the effect of visual occlusion acupuncture on shoulder pain, shoulder function, anxiety and depression in patients with acute scapulohumeral periarthritis, so as to evaluate the influence of psychological factors on the efficacy of acupuncture.

Methods: A total of 74 patients with acute scapulohumeral periarthritis were randomly divided into heart-stable acupuncture group (17 cases, 1 dropped off), heart-stable covering acupuncture group (17 cases), heart-abnormal acupuncture group (20 cases, 1 dropped off) and heart-abnormal covering acupuncture group (20 cases) based on the results of acupuncture tension, anxiety and depression scores. Patients in the heart-stable acupuncture and heart-abnormal acupuncture groups were treated with acupuncture at Jianyu (LI15, affected side), Jianliao (SJ14, affected side), Jianzhen (SI9, affected side), Jianqian (EX-UE12, affected side), Ashi point, Yanglingquan (GB34, affected side), Tiaokou (ST38) to Chengshan (BL57, healthy side), Dazhui (GV14), Yinlingquan (SP9, affected side). While patients in the heart-stable covering acupuncture and heart-abnormal covering acupuncture groups wore eye mask before acupuncture treatment, and the same acupoints were needled. The treatment was conducted for 30 min, three times per week for 3 weeks. Before and after treatment, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, range of motion (ROM) of shoulder joint and activity of daily living (ADL) were observed for patients in the four groups. While the scores of self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) of patients in the heart-abnormal acupuncture and heart-abnormal covering acupuncture groups were observed. The therapeutic effects were evaluated after the treatment.

Results: After the treatment, the VAS scores of the 4 groups were notably decreased (P<0.05), while the ROM scores and ADL scores were obviously increased (P<0.05). Compared with the heart-abnormal acupuncture group, the VAS score and SAS score were significantly lower in the heart-abnormal covering acupuncture group (P<0.05), while the ADL score were significantly higher (P<0.05). Compared with the heart-stable acupuncture group, the VAS score was increased (P<0.05) and ADL score was decreased (P<0.05) in the heart-abnormal acupuncture group.

Conclusions: Acupuncture can effectively improve the pain sensation and pain emotion of patients with scapulohumeral periarthritis under different psychological states. The stability of psychological state is helpful for acupuncture to exert analgesic effect. Visual occlusion can strengthen the regulation of acupuncture on pain symptoms and anxiety in scapulohumeral periarthritis patients with abnormal psychological state.

Objectives: To observe the effect of elongated needle, filiform needle and medication for attenuating belching, nausea and vomiting in patients with dyspepsia after ischemic stroke.

Methods: A total of 102 patients with dyspepsia after ischemic stroke were randomly divided into an elongated needle group (34 cases, 1 case dropped out), a filiform needle group (34 cases), and a medication group (34 cases, 2 cases dropped out). In the elongated needle group, the elongated needle with the length of 125 mm was inserted perpendicularly at Zhongwan (CV12), Qihai (CV6), Liangmen (ST21, bilateral) and Tianshu (ST25, bilateral). After inserted with the depth of 70 mm to 90 mm, the needle was lifted beneath the skin, with the depth of 45 mm to 75 mm. In the filiform needle group, the filiform needle, with the length of 40 mm was used and inserted perpendicularly at CV12, CV6, ST21 (bilateral) and ST25 (bilateral), with the depth of 20 mm to 30 mm. Acupuncture therapy was delivered once daily, 6 times a week for 2 weeks in these two groups. In the medication group, domperidone was prescribed orally, 10 mg each time, 3 times a day, for 2 weeks. The scores of Leeds dyspepsia questionnaire (LDQ), Nepean dyspepsia life quality index (NDLQI) and the dyspepsia symptom of TCM were evaluated before and after treatments. The clinical efficacy was compared among the 3 groups and the safety was evaluated.

Results: After treatment, the scores of LDQ and TCM dyspepsia symptom decreased markedly compared with the baseline (P<0.05), and NDLQI score increased (P<0.05) in the 3 groups. After treatment, when compared with the filiform needle group and the medication group, the scores of LDQ and TCM dyspepsia symptom were decreased in the elongated needle group (P<0.05) and the NDLQI score was increased (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 93.94% (31/33), 76.47% (26/34) and 71.88% (23/32) in the elongated needle group, the filiform needle group and the medication group, respectively. The total effective rate in the elongated needle group was superior to either the filiform needle group or the medication group (P<0.05). The serious adverse reaction was not found and the safety was high in the 3 groups.

Conclusions: Elongated needling therapy with deep insertion can significantly relieve the symptoms of dyspepsia after ischemic stroke and promote the recovery in the patients. The effect of this therapy is superior to the treatment with either filiform needle or medication.

Objectives: To observe the effects of acupotomy therapy on synovial inflammation, macrophage polarization, and protein expressions of drosophila double-wing edge notch homologous gene 1 (Notch1)/Jagged typical Notch ligand 1 (Jagged1)/Hes family BHLH transcription factor 1 (Hes1) signaling pathway, so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

Methods: Male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into the blank, model and acupotomy groups (8 rabbits in each group). The KOA model was established by immobilizing the left hind limb in an extended position using a modified Videman method with a plaster cast for 6 weeks. After modeling, 3 meridian lesion points with significant reactions were selected from "Hedingci", "Binwaishang" "Binneishang" "Chengfeijian" "Weiyangci" and "Yinlingci" for acupotomy treatment, once a week for a total of 4 times. X-ray detection was performed after modeling. Behavioral changes in the affected knee joint of the rabbits were observed before and after the intervention and the Lequesne MG scores were recorded. Histopathological changes in the synovial tissue of the left knee joint of rabbits were observed and pathological scores were recorded after HE staining. The positive expressions of cluster differentiation 86 (CD86) and macrophage mannose receptor-1 (CD206) in the synovial tissue were detected by immunohistochemical staining. The mRNA expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), CD206, Jagged1, Notch1, arginase-1 (Arg-1) and Hes1 in the synovial tissue were detected by real-time qPCR, and the protein expression levels of Jagged1, Notch1, Arg-1, and Hes1 were detected by Western blot.

Results: Compared with the blank group, the knee joint space of rabbits in the modeling group was significantly narrowed. Compared to the blank group, the model group showed significant increase in Lequesne MG scores (P<0.01), pathological scores (P<0.01), the positive expressions of CD86 and the mRNA expression levels of iNOS (P<0.01), the mRNA and protein expression levels of Notch1, Jagged1 and Hes1 (P<0.01, P<0.05) in synovial tissue;and a decrease in the positive expression of CD206 (P<0.01), the expression levels of CD206 mRNA, and Arg-1 mRNA and protein (P<0.01, P<0.05). After acupotomy intervention, modeling induced increase and decrease indexes mentioned above were reversed (P<0.01, P<0.05).

Conclusions: Acupotomy can reduce the inflammatory response in synovial tissue of KOA rabbits by regulating the Notch1/Jagged1/Hes1 signaling pathway and promoting the polarization shift of synovial macrophages from M1-type to M2-type. This may be one of the mechanisms by which acupotomy treats KOA.

Objectives: To analyze the clinical application characteristics of acupuncture in treatment of hiccup, using data mining and complex network technology so as to provide better therapeutic regimen for the patients.

Methods: Using computer retrieval, the articles of clinical study for the treatment of hiccup with acupuncture and moxibustion were searched in CNKI, Wanfang Database, VIP Database and PubMed from January 2002 to December 2022. The eligible articles were collected in compliance with the exclusion and inclusion criteria, and "clinical literature database of acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of hiccup" was established. The data were sorted in Microsoft Excel and analyzed using IBM SPSS Modeler 18.0 and Gephi-0.9.2.

Results: A total of 920 articles were included, with 204 acupoints involved, and the selection frequency of acupoints was 9024 times. The top five meridians with the high use frequency included conception vessel, bladder meridian of foot-taiyang, stomach meridian of foot-yangming, pericardium meridian of hand-jueyin and spleen meridian of foot-taiyin. Based on the association rule analysis, "Zusanli (ST36)→Neiguan (PC6)", "Zhongwan (CV12)→PC6" and "CV12→ST36" were the most relevant acupoint combinations, which was coincident with the principles of acupoint selection, e.g. the selection of local acupoints, the selection of distal acupoints, and the combination of the acupoints located in the upper and lower parts of the body. Regarding the high use frequency of single therapy in treatment, filiform needle acupuncture, acupoint injection, moxibustion, auricular acupuncture and electroacupuncture were listed. Concerning to the compound therapy, "filiform needle acupuncture→acupoint injection" was the most correlated, followed by "filiform needle acupuncture→moxibustion" and "filiform needle acupuncture→auricular acupuncture". Through the K-core analytic hierarchy process and community analysis, 3 core acupoint prescriptions, 5 supplementary acupoint prescriptions based on syndrome differentiation, and 3 acupoint prescriptions for reinforcing and reducing were obtained.

Conclusions: Using the complex network analysis, the rules of acupoint selection and the acupuncture-moxibustion techniques are found in treatment of hiccup. Acupoint selection is based on the acupoint location, syndrome differentiation and symptoms. Auricular acupuncture is predominated in terms of the micro-acupuncture system, and filiform needle acupuncture is the most common technique in treatment. For the application of compound therapy, the combination of filiform needle acupuncture with acupoint injection is the highest in use frequency.