Effect of 43 cases of temporomandibular joint dysfunction treated with thumb-tack needle based on the meridian cutaneous region theory

Objective： To observe the clinical efficacy of thumb-tack needle on temporomandibular joint dysfunction（TMD）.Methods： A total of 43 outpatients of TMD were treated with thumb-tack needle. After the skin routine sterilization, the intradermal needles, 0.2 mm x 1.5 mm（the SEIRIN-thumb-tack needle） were embedded subcutaneously at Zúlinqì（足临泣GB 41）, Zhōngzhǔ（中渚 TE 3） and Xiàguān（下关 ST 7） on the affected side. The acupoints were pressed and kneaded gently to induce mild soreness and distention.When pressing and kneading GB 41 and TE 3, the patients were required to open and close the mouth in small amplitude to achieve the effects of kinetic acupuncture. The treatment was given twice a week.The needles were retained for 24 h. A total of 6 treatments were required.Results： A total of 22 cases were cured, accounting for 51.16%, 15 cases effective remarkably, accounting for 34.88% and 6 cases failed, accounting for 13.95%. The total effective rate was 86.05%.Conclusion： The thumb-tack needle is significantly effective on TMD.

Clinical Observation on Comprehensive Treatment on Cutaneous Region for Low Back Pain

Objective： To observe the clinical effects of comprehensive treatmenton cutaneous region for low back pain. Methods： One hundred and twenty outpatients with low back pain who met the diagnostic criteria were randomly divided into a cutaneous region group or a medication group, 60 cases in each group. The cases in the cutaneous region group were treated by Nie-pinching up the skin of the lumbosacral region, cupping and acupuncture. Those in the medication group were treated by oral administration of Celecoxib capsule. The visual analogue scale （VAS） and Oswestry disability index （ODI） were used to assess the therapeutic effects. Results： After treatment, the VAS scores of both groups were different from those before treatment, showing statistical significances （allP＆lt;0.01）. The D-valuse of VAS scores of both groups were different from those before treatment, showing statistical significances （allP＆lt;0.01）. The D-value of OID scores in the cutaneous region group was significantly different from that in the medication group（P＆lt;0.01）. After treatment, the total effective rate was 91.7% in the cutaneous region group versus 76.7% in the medication group, there was a significant difference in comparing the clinical effect （P＆lt;0.01）. Conclusion： Both comprehensive treatment on the cutaneous region and Celecoxib capsule can obviously relieve low back pain. But comprehensive treatment on the cutaneous region is better than Celecoxib capsule in the therapeutic effects.

Hypothesis, Modern Researches and Clinical Applications of Cutaneous Regions in Traditional Chinese Medicine

As one of the most important concepts in traditional Chinese medicine, cutaneous regions have a close relationship with skin in modern medicine. According to the doctrine of traditional Chinese medicine, the cutaneous regions are the corresponding projections of twelve meridians in the superficial layer of the body and play an important role in body surface-viscera correlation. The symptoms of visceral disorders will reflect on cutaneous regions and one of the major patterns of manifestation is referred visceral pain accompanied by tenderness and hyperalgesia on the body surface. On the contrary, cutaneous regions participate in the treatment of visceral disorders. As major clinical applications of the cutaneous regions hypothesis, superficial acupuncture, subcutaneous needling, massage(tuina), moxibustion, and wrist-ankle acupuncture have achieved favorable therapeutic outcomes in clinical practice. Modern researches have gained insights into the biological background of cutaneous regions, however, further studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms.

NUCLEOLAR ORGANIZER REGIONS IN CUTANEOUS T CELL LYMPHOMAS

The present work studied the application of AgNOR count to differential diagnosis between cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) and cutaneous pseudolymphoma (CPL). Paraffin sections from 50 mycosis fungoides (22 MFI-Premycotic stage, 24 MF Ⅰ infiltrative stage and 4 MF Ⅲ - tumor stage), 2 nonepidermotropic cutaneous T cell lymphoma (NECTCL) and 9 CPL were investigated. In each case, 200 cells randomly selected were examined using a × 100 oil immersion lens. The mean number, standard deviation and standard error of the mean of AgNOR counts were as follows: MFⅠ 1.17±0.09, SEM = 0.01; MⅡ 1.17±0.01, SEM = 0.01; MF Ⅲ. 3.55±0.87, SEM = 0.43; NECTCL 4.5±0.28, SEM -0.199; CPL 1.17±0.1, SEM ± 0.03. The results revealed a highly significant difference between CTCL (MFⅢ+NECTCL) and CPL (t = 4.75, P<0.001), tumor stage (MF Ⅲ) and pretumor stage (MFI, MF Ⅱ) of mycosis fungoides (t = 4.75, P<0.001). Thus. AgNOR count is valuable in differential diagnosis.