针灸足三里穴的临床疗效及其胃与结肠电的关系

本研究采用临床疗效观察与动物实验相结合的方法。动物实验采用胃和结肠壁浆膜上缝植Ag-Agcl乏极化电极双极导联法,同时描记针刺“足三里”前后家兔空腹胃和结肠肌电变化。结果证明针刺足三里对胃肠功能有双向调节作用,对腹泻,便秘,肠痉挛等消化系病有良好疗效,总有效率96.7％。本文还首次揭示了胃电兴奋时结肠电抑制,结肠电兴奋时胃电抑制的相关变化规律。

Effect of acupuncture at Bǎihuì (百会GV 20) and Zúsānlǐ (足三里ST 36) on the level of serum inflammatory cytokines in patients with depression

Objective To investigate the immunologic mechanism of acupuncture at Bǎihuì（百 会 GV 20） and Zúsānlǐ（足三里 ST 36） for treatment of depression. Methods Eighty-four cases of depression patients were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture observation group（group A）, an electroacupuncture control group（group B） and a medication control group（group C）, 28 cases in each group. Bǎihuì（百会 GV 20） and Zúsānlǐ（足三里 ST 36） were used in the group A; Tàichōng （太冲 LR 3）, Sānyīnjiāo （三阴交 SP 6）, Nèiguān （内关 PC 6） and Shénmén （神门 HT 7） were used in the group B; and the group C was treated with oral administration of Fluoxetine. The scores of Hamilton Depression Scale （HAMD） were tested and the level of serum interleukin 1（IL-1β）, interleukin 6 （IL-6）, and tumor necrosis factor α （TNF-α） were measured by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay （ELISA）before and after treatment. Results Their scores of HAMD were obviously decreased after treatment in three groups（all P0.01）. In the group A, 2 cases were cured, 19 cases were markedly effective, 5 cases were effective and 2 cases were failed. In the group B, 16 cases were markedly effective, 12 cases were effective. While in the group C, 1 case was cured, 17 cases were markedly effective, 7 cases were effective and 3 cases were failed. The grade distribution of clinical effect showed that the effect of group A was better （P0.05）. The levels of serum IL-1β and IL-6 in the three groups were obviously decreased after treatment （P0.05, P0.01）, while there was no significant difference between the level of serum TNF-α before and after treatment. Conclusion The effect of electroacupuncture observation group is superior to those of electroacupuncture control group and medication control group.All of these three methods can clear the inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and IL-6 away and improve the symptoms of depression.

Protective effect of electroacupuncture preconditioning at zúsānlǐ(足三里 ST36) on mitochondria in the intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury

Objective： The study explored the effect of applying electroacupuncture（EA） preconditioning at ST 36 on mitochondria in rats with intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury.Methods： Forty SD rats were divided into four sets： sham operation group（sham group）; intestinal ischemia/reperfusion group（I/R group）; EA preconditioning at ST 36 followed by intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury（ST 36 ＋ I/R group）; EA preconditioning at the lateral site away from ST360.5 cm followed by intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury（N＋I/R group）. For the sham group, the rats were opened abdominal cavity for 3 h and 20 min and their abdominal cavities were covered with wet gauze avoiding drying and kept on the thermostat at 37 0 C. For the ischemia/reperfusion（I/R） group,rats were anaesthetised and their abdominal cavities were opened to expose jejunum segments. The segment＇s collateral blood supply was restricted by bilateral ligation of the intestine. Next, one of the branches of a mesenteric artery was occluded with a thread for 20 min and then the thread was released after such ischemia conditions, keeping reperfusion for 3 h. For the ST36 ＋ I/R group, the electroacupuncture at ST36 was first performed, then the intestinal ischemia/reperfusion model was constructed. For the N ＋ I/R group, electroacupuncture at non ST36 acupoint, which is away from ST36 about 0.5 cm, and then the intestinal ischemia/reperfusion model was performed. Measurements of the levels of inflammatory markers tumour necrosis factor a（TNFa） and interleukin-1 beta（IL-1β）, cytochrome c（CYCS）, and the mitochondrial membrane pro-apoptotic protein（BAX）, anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 were performed.Results： Compared to I/R group, the intensity of cytoplasmic CYCS in intestinal tissues was significantly decreased in the ST 36 ＋ I/R group（1.65 vs. 0.18, p〈0.05）. Compared to N ＋ I/R group, the intensity of cytoplasmic CYCS in intestinal tissues was also dramatically declined in the ST 36 ＋ I/R group（1.37 vs. 0.18, p〈0.05）. The level of CYCS in mitochondria in rats in the ST 36 ＋ I/R group were appreciably increased than those of rats in the I/Rgroup（1.42 vs. 0.06, p〈0.05）, and CYCS in mitochondria was also largely expressed in ST36 ＋ I/R group than N ＋ I/R group（1.42 vs. 0.08, p〈0.05）. Bcl-2 was shown to be elevated in the ST 36 ＋ I/R group than I/R group（1.01 vs. 0.10） and N ＋ I/R group（1.01 vs. 0.09, all p〈0.05）, whereas BAX expression was greatly decreased in the ST36 ＋ I/R group than I/R group（0.11 vs.0.78） and N ＋ I/R group（0.11 vs. 0.87, all p〈0.05）.Conclusion： The results suggest the EA intervention has a protective effect upon mitochondria, preventing CYCS release and the subsequent activation of downstream apoptosis pathway. It is proposed that patients due to undergo gastrointestinal surgery get benefit from EA preconditioning at ST 36.

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON MOXIBUSTION AT ZUSANLI(ST 36) AND LIANGMEN (ST 21) INDUCING HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN 70 (HSP70) EXPRESSION TO RESIST OXIDATIVE INJURY OF GASTRIC MUCOSA

To observe effect of moxibustion at Zusanli （足三里 ST 36） and Liangmen （梁门 ST 21 ） on expression of heat shock protein 70 （HSP70） in gastric mucosa of the rat of stress ulcer （SU） to explore the mechanism of moxibustion in resisting oxidative injury of the gastric mucosa. Methods： Sixty SD rats were evenly randomized into 4 groups, a blank group, a model group, an acupoint moxibustion group and a non-acupoint moxibustion group. Water restraint stress （WRS） method was used to make stress gastric ulcer rat model. The ulcerative index （Ul） of gastric mucosa was evaluated by using GUTH method, the gastric mu- cosa blood flux （GMBF） was detected by a laser Doppler bloodflow monitor, and HSP70 expression and malondialdehyde （MDA） content in the gastric mucosa were determined respectively with immunohistochemical and thiobarbiturate methods. Results： Moxibustion at Zusanli （ST 36） and Liangmen （ST 21 ） significantly de- creased Ul, up-regulated HSP70 expression, increased GMBF, and decreased MDA content in the gastric mucosa in the rat of stress gastric ulcer, with significant differences as compared with the model group and the non-acupoint moxibustion group （P 〈 0.05 or P 〈 0.01 ）. Conclusion： Moxibustion at Zusanli （ST 36） and Liangmen （ST 21 ） can induce high expression of HSP70 and decrease MDA content in the gastric mucosa, so as to resist oxidative injury, with relative acupoint specificity.

CLINICAL OBSERVATION ON THE TREATMENT OF KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS BY ACUPUNCTURE IN BA-HE TECHNIQUE

Objective: To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of Ba-He techniqu e of acupuncture in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Methods: A total of 90 cases of knee osteoarthritis were evenly randomized into Ba-He technique group (observation group) and common technique group (control group), with 45 cases in each group. Zusanli (足三里 ST 36), Heding (鹤顶 EX-LE 2) and Dubi (犊鼻 ST 35 ) were punctured respectively in Ba-He technique and common technique in the two gr oups. The therapeutic effects of the two groups were compared after one course o f treatment (10 sessions) in accordance with Japanese assessment criteria for kn ee-joint functions. Results: After treatment, among the 74 and 7 1 affected knees in the observation and control groups, the therapeutic effect was excellent in 42 (56.8%) and 26 (36.6%) knees, fine in 14 (18.9%) and 20 (28.2%), OK in 10 (13 .5%) and 11 (15.5%), and poor in 8 (10.8%) and 14 (19.7%) respectively. The ther apeutic effect of the observation group was significantly better than that of co ntrol group (P<0.01). Conclusion: The Ba- He technique of acupuncture applied to the above-mentioned three acupoints exerted remarkable therapeutic effect for k n ee osteoarthritis, which is obviously better than that of the common needling te chnique.

CLINICAL OBSERVATION ON THE THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF ACUPUNCTURE OF JIAJI (EX-B2) IN THE TREATMENT OF APOPLECTIC SPASTIC HEMIPLEGIA

Objective: To compare the therape utic effects of acupuncture of different acupoints in the treatment of spast ic hemiplegia of apoplexy. Methods: Eighty stro ke patients with spastic hemiplegia were evenly randomized into control grou p and treatment group. Forty cases of treatment group were given with acupun cture of Jiaji (夹脊 EX-B2) from T1 to L5, while forty cases of control gro up were treated with conventional acupoints as Jianyu (肩NFDA1 LI 15), Quchi (曲池 LI 11), Huantiao (环跳 GB 30), Zusanli (足三里 ST 36), Kunlun (昆仑 BL 60), etc. o n the diseased side, once daily, with 10 sessions being one therapeutic course, and 3 courses all together. The modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and neurological d eficit grading scale (NDS) were used as the indexes to assess the therapeutic ef fects. Results: After treatment, the scores of NDS of both treat ment and control groups reduced and the difference value between post- and pre-treatment of tr ea tment group was significantly bigger than that of control group. MAS showed a si milar tendency in both groups. Of the 40 cases in treatment and control groups, 6 and 1 were cured, 20 and 15 had marked improvement, 9 and 11 had improvement, 4 and 8 failed, 1 and 5 got worse, with the total effective rates being 87.5% an d 67.5% respectively. The therapeutic effect of treatment group was significantl y superior to that of control group (P<0.01). Conc lusion: Acupuncture of Jiaji ( EX-B2) is superior to acupuncture of conventional acupoints in alleviating the state of spastic hemiplegia of apoplexy.

Effect of electroacupuncture on hepatic blood flow and lipid peroxidation in rats with sepsis

Objective To investigate protective effects of electroacupuncture on injury of lipid peroxidation-induced by liver ischemia in rats with sepsis.Methods Forty-eight male SD rats were subjected to sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture （CLP）,and were randomly divided into a sham operation group （group A）,a CLP model group （group B）,a CLP model plus electroacupuncture （EA） at Zúsānlǐ （足三里 ST 36） group （group C）,a CLP model plus electroacupuncture at a sham acupoint group （group D）,a CLP model with vagotomy group （group E） and a CLP model plus electroacupuncture group after vagotomy （group F）,with 8 rats in each group.CLP was performed after abdominal vagotomy in group E and group F.EA （2 mA,2/100 Hz） was applied at bilateral ＂Zúsānlǐ＂ （足三里 ST 36） in group C and group F,and at sham acupoints in group D,respectively,for 1 hour.The hepatic blood flow （HBF） was detected by a laser-doppler flowmetry at 6 hours after CLP.The activity of plasma alanine transarninase （ALT） was determined;contents of hepatic malondialdehyde （MDA）,activity of xanthine oxidase （XOD） and the rate of water content in the hepati tissue were assessed,respectively.Results Hepatic blood flow was （56.97±11.95） U in group C,which was significantly lower than （80.12± 19.57） U shown in group A,but higher than （42.61±10.97） U in group B,（44.53±9.23） U in group D,（30.05 ±4.46） U in group E and （30.46±6.38） U in group F （all P0.05） at 6 hours after CLP.Meanwhile,the levels of MDA,XOD,ALT and hepatic water content in group C were all significantly higher than those in group A,but lower than those in the other four groups （all P0.05）.The levels of MDA,XOD,ALT and hepatic water content in group E and group F were all significantly higher than those in group D （all P0.05）,while their hepatic blood flow were lower than that in group D （both P0.05）,and no significant differences were found in all the indices mentioned above between group E and group F （all P0.05）.Conclusion Electroacupuncture at ＂Zúsānlǐ＂ （足三里 ST 36） can improve hepatic ischemia,inhibit lipid peroxidation and alleviate hepatic edema and dysfunction in septic rats,which might be related with the completeness of vagus nerves.

Therapeutic observation on electroacupuncture at Zusanli(ST 36) and Fenglong(ST 40) for senile dementia

Objective： To explore the clinical effects of electroacupuncture（EA） at Zusanli（ST 36） and Fenglong（ST 40） in treating senile dementia. Methods： A total of 74 patients were randomly divided into an EA group and a medication group based upon the random digital table, 37 cases in each group. EA at Zusanli（ST 36） and Fenglong（ST 40） was given in the EA group, once every day, for six treatments per week. Donepezil Hydrochloride Tablets were given to the medication group, 5 mg per time and once a day in the former four weeks, 10 mg per time and once a day after 4 weeks, oral administration before sleep at night. The courses of the treatment were 12 weeks in both groups. The scores of mini-mental state examination（MMSE） and Barthel index（BI） were observed before and after the treatment, for processing the comparative analysis of the clinical effects after the course of the treatment. Results： The total effective rate was 86.5% in the EA group and 70.3% in the medication group. The therapeutic effect was better in the EA group than that in the medication group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant（P〈0.05）. MMSE and BI scores after the treatment in the two groups were all elevated than those of the same groups before the treatment（P〈0.05, P〈0.01）. The improving situation was obviously better in the EA group than that in the medication group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant（P〈0.05）. Conclusion： EA at Zusanli（ST 36） and Fenglong（ST 40） is affirmative in the therapeutic effect for senile dementia and can also improve the cognitive function and enhance the patients＇ quality of life.

Clinical observation on the correlation between moxibustion sensation and distance of moxa stick

Objective： To explore the correlation between moxibustion sensation and distance of moxa stick and provide reference for clinical practice.Methods： A total of 16 healthy volunteers aged 18-35 years old in college were recruited and given mild moxibustion at Shousanli（LI 10）, Zusanli（ST 36）, Shenshu（BL 23） and Tianshu（ST 25） with moxa stick, and the occurrence and frequency of moxibustion sensation were recorded at distances of 5 cm, 4 cm, 3 cm and 2 cm. Mild moxibustion scale was used to count the score.Results： Warm was the main moxibustion sensation, burning pain and soreness decreased with the rise of distance; for the same acupoint, score of mild moxibustion scale increased with the decrease of distance; score ranged between 5.5 and 6.5at distance 3 cm, which was the most comfortable distance for volunteers.Conclusion： The distance of 3 cm is the most comfortable distance in mild moxibustion.

Instant effect of moxibustion at different points on electrogastrogram of patients with functional dyspepsia

Objective： To observe different effects of moxibustion at Zusanli （ST 36） and Yanglingquan （GB 34） on electrogastrogram （EGG） of patients with functional dyspepsia （FD）. Methods： A total of 65 cases were randomized into a Zusanli （ST 36） group （n=33） and a Yanglingquan （GB 34） group （n=32） by random serial number, to receive moxibustion therapy to the corresponding point respectively. The 8-lead EGG was used before and after treatment to collect EGG parameter of the gastric body, antrum of stomach, lesser curvature and greater curvature, including the dominant frequency, slow wave percentage, average frequency, response area and motility index. Results： After treatment, the dominant frequency and slow wave percentage were improved in nearly the whole stomach area in Zusanli （ST 36） group, showing statistical significances （both P〈0.05）; the slow wave percentage and average frequency were improved in stomach body and antrum of stomach in Yanglingquan （GB 34） group, showing statistical significances （both P〈0.05）; moxibustion at Zusanli （ST 36） had a significantly higher influence on EGG than Yanglingquan （GB 34）, in which the lifting of slow wave percentage was significantly higher than Yanglingquan （GB 34） group （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Moxibustion at Zusanli （ST 36） and Yanglingquan （GB 34） has the effect of adjusting abnormal EGG pattern in FD patients. Compared with Yanglingquan （GB 34）, Zusanli （ST 36） has a superior effect in improving EGG in stomach area.

Effects of different doses of ginger-partitioned moxibustion on trefoil factor 1,mucin 5AC and epidermal growth factor receptor in rats with spleen deficiency syndrome

To observe the effects of different doses of ginger-partitioned moxibustion on serum trefoil factor 1 （TFF1） and mucin 5AC （MUCSAC） levels, as well as the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR） in gastric mucosa of rats with spleen deficiency syndrome, therefore, to explore the possible mechanism and the dose-effect characteristics of ginger-partitioned moxibustion in spleen deficiency syndrome. Methods： Seventy-five SPF grade Sprague-Dawley （SO） rats were randomly divided into a blank control group （group A）, a model group （group B）, a 3 moxa-cone ginger-partitioned moxibustion group （group C1）, a 6 moxa-cone ginger-partitioned moxibustion group （group C2） and a 9 moxa-cone ginger-partitioned moxibustion group （group C3） using random number table method, 15 rats in each group. Except group A, rats in the other groups received intragastric administration of 4 ~C 200% concentrated Da Huang （Radix et RhizomaRhei） to prepare spleen deficiency syndrome model. After successful modeling, rats in group B received no treatment; rats in group C1, C2 and C3 were treated with 3, 6 and 9 moxa-cone ginger-partitioned moxibustion at Zusanli （ST 36）and Zhongwan （CV 12） respectively for 8 continuous days. The general symptom score of rats was observed. The serum levels of TFF1 and MUC5AC were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The expression of EGFR protein in gastric mucosa was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results： After the treatment, compared with group A, the spleen deficiency symptom score was increased in group B, the levels of serum TFF1 and MUC5AC, the EGFR protein expression in gastric tissues of group C1, C2 and C3 were significantly increased （all P〈0.01）; compared with group B, the spleen deficiency scores were decreased in group C1, C2 and C3, and the serum levels of TFF1 and MUC5AC, as well as EGFR protein expression in gastric tissues were increased （all P〈0.01）. Compared with group C1, the spleen deficiency scores were decreased in group C2 and C3, the serum levels of TFF1 and MUC5AC, and the expression of EGFR protein in gastric tissues were increased （all P〈0.01）, however, there was no significant difference between group C2 and C3 （all P〉0.05）. The mechanism may be related to the increase of serum TFF2 and MUC5AC levels and activation of EGFR protein. Conclusion： Ginger-partitioned moxibustion can improve the symptoms, as well as promote the proliferation and repair of gastric mucosa in rats with spleen deficiency. The therapeutic efficacy of 6 or 9 moxa-cone ginger-partitioned moxibustion is better than that of 3 moxa-cone ginger-partitioned moxibustion, while the efficacies are equivalent between 6 and 9 moxa-cone Ringer-Dartitioned moxibustion groups.

Clinical Observation on Treating Menopause Syndrome with Acupuncture Therapy

Objective： To study the clinical effect and the endocnne mechanism ot acupuncture therapy on menopause syndrome. Method： There were 47 cases with menopause syndrome, which were divided into two groups, 32 cases in the acupuncture group, treated by acupuncture with main acupoins of Shenshu （BL 23）, Zusanli （ST 36） and Sanyinjiao （SP 6）, and 15 cases in the control group, treated by orally taking the Oryzanol. The Kupperman index of the two groups was observed before and after treatment for evaluating the therapeutic effect. The changes of blood-serum E2, T, FSH, LH of the 25 cases in the acupuncture group were tested by radioimmunoassay before and after the treatment. Results： The acupuncture therapy can relieve the clinical symptoms of menopause syndrome, and its therapeutic effect was better than Oryzanol. After being treated by acupuncture therapy, the content of blood-serum E2 obviously increased, while the contents of LH and T declined, and the FSH also had a tendency to lower, but it was not statistically significant. Conclusion： The therapeutic effect of acupuncture therapy for menopause is confirmed. The acupuncture therapy can improve the function of hypophysial-gonadal axis of the patient with menopause syndrome, which may be the main mechanism of the acupuncture therapy for treating menopause syndrome.

Influence of Acupuncture on Cerebral Vasomotoricity of Ischemic Stroke

Objective： To observe the influence of acupuncture at Zusanli （ST 36） and Xuanzhong （GB 39） on cerebral vasomotoricity of ischemic stroke and its possible mechanism. Methods： All the appropriate cases were randomly divided into treatment and control groups with 80 cases in each group. The routine treatment of cerebral apoplexy was given to the two groups. Zusanli （ST 36） and Xuanzhong （GB 39） were added to the treatment group. The change of velocity of blood blow of the cerebral central artery was observed by transfrontal Doppler ultrasound detecting method before and after treatment to evaluate the cerebral basomotoricity of the patients. Results： The cerebral vasomotoricity in the treatment group was greatly improved compared with pre-treatment （P〈0.05） and there was a significant difference compared with the control group （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Acupuncture at Zusanli （ST 36） and Xuanzhong （GB 39） could obviously improve the cerebral vosomotoricity of the patients with cerebral ischemic stroke, which might be one of the action mechanisms of acupuncture treatment for cerebral ischemic stroke.

Low-frequency fluctuation amplitude analysis of resting-state fMRI for functional brain response differences between acupuncture and moxibustion at Zusanli(ST 36) in patient with functional dyspepsia

Objective： To compare and analyze functional brain response characteristics by applying acupuncture or moxibustion to Zusanli（ST 36） in patients with functional dyspepsia（FD） and investigate the differences of central action mechanism resulting from acupuncture or moxibustion.Methods： A total of eligible 24 FD cases were divided into two blood-oxygen-level dependent（BOLD） sequences for functional magnetic resonance imaging（fMRI） scan. The amplitude of low frequency fluctuation（ALFF） analyses were conducted on the data of location phase, structure phase, resting state before acupuncture/moxibustion, working state during acupuncture/moxibustion and resting state after acupuncture/moxibustion using Data Processing Assistant for Resting-State fMRI（DPARSF） software.Results： Acupuncture and moxibustion produced significant differences in functional brain response. The working state during acupuncture/moxibustion mainly decreased ALFF values in the right supramarginal gyrus, right superior parietal lobule, right frontal gyrus, upper right occipital lobe, right precuneus and right cingulate gyrus. At the same time, it increased ALFF values in the left cerebellum, right caudate nucleus, right cerebellum and left inferior gyrus. The differences during the resting state after acupuncture/moxibustion were significantly smaller than the working state in intensity and size. It mainly resulted in decrease in ALFF values in the right postcentral gyrus and right supramarginal gyrus and increase in ALFF values in the left precuneus, orbital part of inferior frontal gyrus and right cerebellar peduncles.Conclusion： Needling and moxibustion at Zusanli（ST 36） can produce significant differences in immediate functional brain response.

Clinical studies on different acupuncture time for primary dysmenorrhea

Objective： To seek the optimal acupuncture time for primary dysmenorrhea and provide clinical basis for optimal acupuncture treatment protocol. Methods： A total of 90 eligible cases were randomly allocated into three groups, 30 cases in each group. Points Guanyuan（CV 4）, bilateral Zusanli（ST 36） and Sanyinjiao（SP 6） were selected for patients in all three groups, with a different treatment duration： 15 min in group A, 30 min in group B and 45 min in group C. Then the clinical efficacy in each group was evaluated by pain symptom scoring. Results： As for the pain symptom scores, there were statistically significant intra-group differences between before and after treatment in three groups（all P〈0.05）; coupled with statistically significant inter-group differences between group B and the other two groups（both P〈0.05）. As for clinical efficacy, there were statistical differences between group B and the other two groups（both P〈0.05）, indicating that 30 min of acupuncture is the optimal duration in the treatment of dysmenorrhea. Conclusion： With the same needling manipulation, 30 min of acupuncture treatment achieves a better efficacy for primary dysmenorrhea.

Observation of Therapeutic Effects of Needle Warming Moxibustion for Chronic Diarrhea

Objective： To observe the therapeutic effects of needle warming moxibustion for chronic diarrhea. Methods： Two-hundred cases with chronic diarrhea were divided randomly into a treatment group and a control group. 100 cases in the treatment group were treated with needle warming moxibustion on specific acupoints. 100 cases in the control group were treated by oral administration of Smecta. Results： The therapeutic results showed cure in 52 cases, remarkable effect in 34 cases, improvement in 14 cases and the total effective rate in 100.0% in the treatment group, and cure in 5 cases, remarkable effect in 23 cases, improvement in 33 cases, failure in 39 cases and the total effective rate in 61.0% in the control group. The comparison of the total effective rate between the two groups was statistically significant （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： The needle warming moxibustion on specific acupoints is better than oral administration of Smecta in the therapeutic effects.

Efficacy observation on acupuncture for diabetic gastroparesis

Objective： To observe the effect of acupuncture on gastric motility, plasma motilin and serum gastrin in patients with diabetic gastroparesis （DGP） and evaluate its clinical efficacy. Methods： A total of 100 eligible cases were randomly allocated into an acupuncture group （n=50） and a control group （n=50）. Patients in the acupuncture group were treated by needling Zhongwan （CV 12）, Zusanli （ST 36） and Neiguan （PC 6）, whereas patients in the control group were treated with oral administration of Domperidone. The clinical efficacies of the two groups were compared; and changes in gastric motility, plasma motilin and serum gastrin in both groups were observed before and after treatment. Results： After treatment, the symptom scores, gastric motility and contents of plasma motilin and serum gastrin were significantly improved in both groups （P〈0.05）. There were between-group statistically significant differences in symptom scores, gastric motility and levels of plasma motilin and serum gastrin after treatment （all P〈0.05）. The total effective rate was 96% in the treatment group, versus 78% in the control group, showing a statistically significant difference （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Acupuncture is effective for DGP and can reduce the levels of plasma motilin and serum gastrin.

Effect of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion on MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 expressions of gastric tissues in rats with spleen deficiency syndrome

Objective： To observe the effect of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion on the expressions of mitogen-activated protein kinase （MEK：1/2） and extracellular regulatory protein kinase （ERK：1/2） in gastric tissues of rats with spleen deficiency syndrome, and to explore the possible mechanisms of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion in treating spleen deficiency syndrome. Methods： Sixty Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into a blank control group （group A）, a model group （group B）, a ranitidine group （group C）, and a herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group （group D） by random digit, 15 rats in each group. Rat models of spleen deficiency syndrome were made by intragastric administration of 4℃ 200% concentrated Da Huang （Radix et Rhizoma Rhei）. After successful modeling, the rats in group C were treated with 25 mg/（kg.bw） ranitidine by intragastric adminstration and rats in group D were treated with herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion at Zusanli （ST 36） and Zhongwan （CV 12）, for 8 d. Excepted for rats in group A, all the other rats were treated with indomethacin at 5 mg/（kg.bw） at 8：00 a.m. on the second day after finishing all the intervention and sacrificed 7 h later to isolate the stomach. Histopathological changes of the gastric tissues were observed under light microscope after hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. The protein expressions of MEK：1/2 and ERK：1/2 in the gastric tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results： After intervention, the gastric mucosal injury in group B was significantly severer than that in group A, with large breakage and ablating; the damage of gastric mucosa was decreased in group C compared with group B; the gastric mucosal surface remained relatively complete, and the status of breakage and ablating was significantly improved. After intervention, compared with group A, the protein expressions of MEK：1/2 and ERK：12 in gastric tissues of the other groups were significantly higher （P〈0.01）. Compared with group B, the protein expressions of MEK：1/2 and ERK：1/2 in group C and D were significantly higher （all P〈0.01）. Compared with group C, the protein expressions of MEK：1/2 and ERK：1/2 in group D were significantly higher （P〈0.01）. Conclusion： Herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion promotes the repair of gastric mucosa in rats with spleen deficiency syndrome, via improving protein expressions of MEK：1/2 and ERK：1/2 in gastric tissues, as well as activating MEK/ERK signaling pathway.

Influence of different-distance mild moxibustion at Zusanli(ST 36) on functional brain imaging in healthy population

Objective： To explore the beneficial regulatory effect of mild moxibustion from different distances at Zusanli（ST 36） of healthy population on the functions of temperature-related brain regions. Methods： In 20 recruited healthy subjects, the change of the temperature-related brain regions induced by mild moxibustion from different distances at Zusanli（ST 36） was observed by functional magnetic resonance imaging（fM RI）. Results： In comparison of the values in amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation（fA LFF） during and before moxibustion, it has been found that in moxibustion of 2 cm distance, fA LFF value increased in the brain regions of the left anterior cingulated cortex and lateral surrounding cerebral regions, and fA LFF value decreased in the cerebral regions of the peripheral cortex of the calcarine fissure; in moxibustion of 3 cm distance, fA LFF value increased in the brain regions of the right and medial side and paracingulated gyrus, and fA LFF value decreased in the cerebral zone of the left middle temporal gyrus; in moxibustion of 4 cm distance, fA LFF value increased in the brain regions of the right and medial and paracingulated gyrus; and in moxibustion of 5 cm distance, fA LFF value increased in the brain regions of the left hippocampus. In comparison of the value of regional homogeneity（ReH o）, it has been found that in moxibustion of 2 cm distance, ReH o value increased in the cerebral zone of the posterior lobe of the right cerebellum, and ReH o value decreased in the cerebral zone of the right occipital lobe; in moxibustion of 3 cm distance, ReH o value increased in the brain regions of the left cerebellar posterior lobe and left frontal lobe, and ReH o value decreased in the cerebral zone of the right inferior temporal gyrus; in moxibustion of 4 cm distance, ReH o value increased in the brain regions of the right superior frontal gyrus and ReH o value decreased in the brain regions of the right parietal lobe and angular gyrus; in moxibustion of 5 cm distance, ReH o value increased in the cerebral zone of the right frontal lobe and ReH o value decreased in the cerebral zone of the right brainstem. Conclusion： In moxibustion of 3 cm distance, the changes in the brain regions basically conform to the transmission route of body trunk temperature.

Therapeutic efficacy observation on needling Yangming method for facial palsy

Objective： To observe the clinical efficacy of Prof. Gao Yu-chun＇s needling Yangming method for facial palsy, as well as to inherit and further develop the academic idea.Methods： A total of 70 cases were randomly allocated into a treatment group（n=35） and a control group（n=35）. Cases in the treatment group were treated with needling Yangming method, whereas cases in the control group were treated with traditional acupuncture method. The treatment was done once a day in both groups（6 times a week） for a total of 6 weeks. Then the therapeutic efficacies were evaluated before and after treatment using the House-Brackmann（H-B） scale and scores of signs and symptoms. Results： After 2 weeks of treatment, patients in the treatment group obtained a better H-B score and recovery rate than those in the control group（P〈0.05）. After 4 weeks of treatment, the H-B score, scores of signs and symptoms and recovery rate in the treatment group were better than those in the control group（P〈0.05, P0.01, P〈0.05）. After 6 weeks of treatment, there were no between-group statistical differences in the above aspects（P〉0.05）. Conclusion： Needling Yangming method can obtain a faster effect, a higher early-stage recovery rate and shorter course of treatment than traditional acupuncture method.