Efficacy of acupoint injection in the treatment of chronic eczema and its influence on peripheral blood T cells

BACKGROUND Chronic eczema significantly impacts daily life,social interactions,and quality of life;however,no curative treatment has been identified.AIM To determine the clinical efficacy of acupoint injection for chronic eczema and its influence on peripheral blood T cells.METHODS Eighty patients with chronic eczema treated at our hospital between June 2022 and March 2023 were randomly assigned to a control group(n=40),which received conventional Western medicine treatment,or an observation group(n=40),which received routine Western medicine treatment plus acupoint injection of triamcinolone acetonide.Response and adverse reaction rates,as well as differences in the levels of serum cytokines IFN-γ,IL-2,IL-4,and IL-10 before and after treatment were investigated.RESULTS No difference in overall response rates were found between the observation and control groups(100%vs 90%,respectively;P>0.05);however,the observation group had a higher marked response rate than the control group(87.5%vs 52.5%;P<0.05).Both groups had decreased Eczema Area and Severity Index scores and increased pruritus after treatment(P<0.05),particularly in the observation group(P<0.05).The observation group had an adverse reaction rate of 2.5%(1/40),which did not differ significantly from that of the control group(P>0.05).The observation group exhibited higher post-treatment INF-γand IL-2 but lower IL-4 levels than the control group(P<0.05);however,no significant inter-group difference was observed in post-treatment IL-10 levels(P>0.05).CONCLUSION Acupoint injection of triamcinolone acetonide is safe and effective in treating chronic eczema.Its therapeutic mechanism is related to the regulation of peripheral blood T cell levels,inhibition of inflammatory reactions,and mitigation of immune imbalance.

Clinical observation of acupoint injection combined with nerve electrical stimulation in the treatment of post-stroke dysphagia

Background:Post-stroke dysphagia is one of the common clinical symptoms in the rehabilitation department of primary hospitals,which seriously affects the quality of life of patients and their families.Majority of medical workers have comprehensively studied post-stroke dysphagia as it easily induces inhalation pneumonia,asphyxia,and many other complications.At present,many methods for post-stroke dysphagia have been proved to be effective.With regard to comprehensive treatment effect,patient compliance,technology promotion difficulty,grassroots hospital operability,and other factors,we found that acupoint injection combined with nerve electrical stimulation is a good method worthy of promotion.Methods:A total of 130 patients with dysphagia after stroke were randomly divided into nerve electrical stimulation group(n=41),acupoint injection group(n=40),and comprehensive treatment group(nerve electrical stimulation plus acupoint injection,n=49).The therapeutic effect in each group was evaluated before treatment and 20 days after treatment using the improved water swallow test,video fluoroscopic swallowing study,and standardized swallowing assessment.Results:After 20 days of treatment,significant differences were noted in each group.The scores of improved water swallow test decreased from 4.10±0.74 to 2.12±0.95 in the nerve electrical stimulation group,4.00±0.78 to 2.28±1.04 in the acupoint injection group,and 4.16±0.77 to 1.73±0.79 in the comprehensive treatment group;video fluoroscopic swallowing study scores increased from 3.71±2.16 to 5.05±2.111 in the nerve electrical stimulation group,3.80±1.94 to 5.20±1.942 in the acupoint injection group,and 3.73±2.22 to 6.24±2.21 in the comprehensive treatment group;and standardized swallowing assessment scores of the three groups also decreased from 35.13±3.38 to 28.17±3.42,34.66±3.46,and 34.48±3.26 to 26.39±3.86,respectively.The overall scores of each group after treatment were significantly different from those before treatment(P<0.05),indicating that both nerve electrical stimulation and acupoint injection were effective for post-stroke dysphagia;the scores of nerve electrical stimulation group and acupoint injection group were similar,but those of the comprehensive treatment group were significantly better than the single treatments(P<0.05).It shows that the two treatment methods have synergistic effect,and combined treatments have more benefits.Conclusion:Nerve electrical stimulation and acupoint injection have a synergistic therapeutic effect on post-stroke dysphagia.The combined treatment is more beneficial to patients with post-stroke dysphagia than the single treatments.

Clinical Study of Vitamin K_3 Acupoint Injection In Treating Pelvic Pain

Pelvic pain is one of the most common symptoms in gynecologic outpatients. Primary dysmenorrhea, acute or chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, post-operational pelvic adhesion, blood stagnation of pelvic vein, etc. , are mentioned as the often encountered causes of pelvic pain. It has been reported in the recent ten or more years that intramuscular injection of vitamin K3 (Vit K3) could relieve pain induced by smooth muscle spasm. In order to evaluate the effect of Vit K3 administered by acupoint injection in relieving pelvic pain, 180 patients were treated and observed from April 1997 to April 1999 in our hospital, and good therapeutic effect was obtained. It was reported as follows.

Acupoint injection for asthma:Systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Objective:To assess the effectiveness and safety of acupoint injection for the treatment of asthma.Methods:Six electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled trials(RCTs)of acupoint injection for asthma.Two authors extracted data and assessed methodological quality independently using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias tool.Data were evaluated using RevMan v5.2.Results:Eighteen RCTs involving 1913 participants with asthma were identified.Overall methodological quality of the RCTs was classified as unclear risk of bias.Western medicine(12 RCTs)was injected most frequently into acupoints,followed by Chinese herbal medicine(four RCTs),vitamins(one RCT),and Chinese herbal medicine combined with Western medicine(one RCT).Four RCTs used only one acupoint[ST36(two RCTs),BL13,CV22],whereas the other RCTs selected multiple acupoints(among which BL13 was used most frequently).One RCT reported mortality,no RCT reported quality of life,15 RCTs reported the symptom improvement rate,one RCT reported asthma control test(ACT)data,one RCT reported the duration of asthma,three RCTs reported the mean time that asthma was controlled(MTAC),and 13 RCTs reported lung-function tests(LFTs).Some RCTs showed acupoint injection may improve the attack time of asthma,MTAC,and LFTs.Five RCTs reported the outcome of adverse events and showed no significant differences between the acupoint injection group and control group.Conclusions:The findings suggest that acupoint injection may be effective for improving ACT data,duration of asthma,MTAC and LFTs.However,the evidence is insufficient owing to the poor methodological quality of the RCTs.

Acupoint Injection Decreases Anesthetic Cosumption during Combined Spinal-Epidural and Patient-Controlled Epidural Labor Analgesia

Objective:To explore if acupoint injection can improve analgesic effects or delivery outcomes in parturients who received combined spinal-epidural analgesia(CSEA)and patient-controlled epidural analgesia(PCEA)for labor analgesia.Methods:A total of 307 participants were prospectively collected from July 2017 to December 2019.The participants were randomized into the combined acupoint injection with CSEA plus PCEA group(AICP group,n=168)and CSEA plus PCEA group(CP group,n=139)for labor analgesia using a random number table.Both groups received CSEA plus PCEA at cervical dilation 3 cm during labor process,and parturients of the AICP group were implemented acupoint injection for which bilateral acupoint of Zusanli(ST 36)and Sanyinjiao(SP 6)were selected in addition.The primary outcome was Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)score,and the secondary outcomes were obstetric outcomes and requirement of anesthetics doses.Safety evaluations were performed after intervention.Results:The VAS scores were significantly lower in the AICP group than in the CP group at 10,30,60,and 120 min after labor analgesia(all P<0.05).The latent phase of the AICP group was shorter than that of the CP group(P<0.05).There were less additional anesthetics consumption,lower incidences of uterine atony,fever,pruritus and urinary retention in the AICP group than those in the CP group(all P<0.05).Conclusion:Acupoint injection combined CSEA plus PCEA for labor analgesia can decrease the anesthetic consumption,improve analgesic quality,and reduce adverse reactions in the parturients.(Registration No.ChiMCTR-2000003120)

Clinical Observation on Treatment of Mammary Gland Hyperplasia by Acupoint Injection Combined with Ion-Introduction of Chinese Herbal Medicine

Objective: To observe the effect of combined therapy of acupoint Injection and Chinese herbal medicine ion-introduction in treating mammary gland hyperplasia (MGH). Methods: Eighty-six patients of MGH were treated with the combined therapy and compared with a control group treated with other Chinese or western drugs. Results: Therapeutic effect evaluated after 3 courses of treatment showed that the effect of combined therapy was superior to that of the control groups treated by Xiaoyao Pill, Rupixiao tablet, Asparagine tablet and combined therapy of vitamin E + oryzanol + vitamin B6. Conclusion: Combined treatment of acupoint injection and ion-introduction of Chinese herbal medicine is an effective treatment for mammary gland hypertrophy.