FORTY-EIGHT CASES OF ACUTE GOUTY ARTHRITIS TREATED COMPREHENSIVELY WITH ELECTROACUPUNCTURE AND WARMING MOXIBUSTION

Objective To probe into the effects on acute gouty arthritis treated comprehensively with electroacupuncture (EA) and warming moxibustion. Methods 70 cases were randomized into treatment group (48 cases), in which the EA+warming moxibustion was applied; and controlled group (22 cases), in which, colchicine was prescribed for oral administration. Results The statistical outcomes after 1 course treatment in treatment group: 28 cases were cured (58.33%), 18 cases improved (37.50%) and the total effective rate was 95.83%. In controlled group: 12 cases (54.55%) were cured, 8 cases improved (36.36%) and the total effective rate was 90.91%. The therapeutic effects of two groups were basically consistent, without significant different (P>0.05). But, concerning to side effect, there was no any toxic side effects in the group treated with EA+warming moxibustion, and the occurrence rate in the group treated with colchicine was 40.91%. Conclusion Electroacupuncture+warming moxibustion achieves good therapeutic effects without any side effects.

Ultrasonically activated scalpel versus monopolar electrocautery shovel in laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer

AIM： To investigate the feasibility and safety of monopolar electrocautery shovel （ES） in laparoscopic total mesorectal excision （TME） with anal sphincter preservation for rectal cancer in order to reduce the cost of the laparoscopic operation, and to compare ES with the ultrasonically activated scalpel （US）. METHODS： Forty patients with rectal cancer, who underwent laparoscopic TME with anal sphincter preservation from June 2005 to June 2007, were randomly divided into ultrasonic scalpel group and monopolar ES group, prospectively. White blood cells （WBC） were measured before and after operation, operative time, blood loss, pelvic volume of drainage, time of anal exhaust, visual analogue scales （VAS） and surgery-related complications were recorded. RESULTS： All the operations were successful; no one was converted to open procedure. No significant differences were observed in terms of preoperative and postoperative d I and d 3 WBC counts （P = 0.493, P = 0.375, P = 0.559）, operation time （P = 0.235）, blood loss （P = 0.296）, anal exhaust time （P = 0.431）, pelvic drainage volume and VAS in postoperative d 1 （P = 0.431, P = 0.426） and d 3 （P = 0.844, P = 0.617） between ES group and US group. The occurrence of surgery-related complications such as anastomotic leakage and wound infection was the same in the two groups.CONCLUSION： ES is a safe and feasible tool as same as US used in laparoscopic TME with anal sphincter preservation for rectal cancer on the basis of the skillful laparoscopic technique and the complete understanding of laparoscopic pelvic anatomy. Application of ES can not only reduce the operation costs but also benefit the popularization of laparoscopic operation for rectal cancer patients.

Enhanced expression of epidermal growth factor receptor gene in gastric mucosal cells by the serum derived from rats treated with electroacupuncture at stomach meridian acupoints

AIM: To investigate the effect of serum derived from rats treated with electroacupuncture at stomach meridian acupoints on the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene in gastric mucosal cells. METHODS: The stress-induced gastric mucosal injury in rat model was established by water-immersion and restrained stress methods. 52 rats were randomly divided into: normal group (n = 8), model group (n = 8), model serum group (n = 12), stomach serum group (n = 12), and gallbladder serum group (n = 12). The gastric mucosal cells were separated by pronase-EDTA digestion method and incubated with serum. The EGFR gene expression in gastric mucosal cells was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. RESULTS: Compared with normal group (0.6860 ± 0.0594), the serum derived from rats of the stomach group (1.2272 ± 0.0813, P = 0.00 < 0.01) and gallbladder group (0.9640 ± 0.0387, P = 0.00 < 0.01) had a tendency to enhance the EGFR gene expression in gastric mucosal cells. Such tendency existed in the model group (0.7104 ± 0.0457) but with no signifi cant difference (P = 0.495 > 0.05) and in model serum group (0.8516 ± 0.0409) with an extremely obvious difference (P = 0.001 < 0.01). Furthermore, the EGFR gene expression in stomach serum group was significantly higher than that in gallbladder serum group (P = 0.00 < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The present study shows that serumderived from rats treated with electroacupuncture at stomach meridian acupoints can distinctly increase the EGFR gene expression of gastric mucosal cells. Therefore, there is certain meridian specificity in the serum, which could provide a proof for the TCM theory “particular relation between meridian and internal organ”.

Effect of Acupuncture on the Auditory Evoked Brain Stem Potential in Parkinson's Disease

Under the auditory evoked brain stem potential (ABP) examination, the latent period of V wave and the intermittent periods of III-V peak and I-V peak were significantly shortened in Parkinson's disease patients of the treatment group (N=29) after acupuncture treatment. The difference of cumulative scores in Webster's scale was also decreased in correlation analysis. The increase of dopamine in the brain and the excitability of the dopamine neurons may contribute to the therapeutic effects, in TCM terms, of subduing the pathogenic wind and tranquilizing the mind.……

INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT NEEDLE-RETAINING TIME ON THE THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF ACUPUNCTURE IN THE TREATMENT OF ISCHEMIC STROKE

Objective：To explore the relationship between the needle-retaining time and the therapeutic effect of acupuncture in the treatment of ischemic stroke patients. Methods： Based on the level of the severity of the patient＇s disease and the duration of acupuncture needle-retaining, 245 ischemic stroke inpatients were divided into 20 min, 40 min and 60 min groups according to the stratified random method. Acupoints used were Jianyu （肩髃LI 15）, Quchi （曲池LI 11）, Waiguan （外关TE 5）, Hegu （合谷LI 4）, etc. and stimulated electrically （2 Hz, sparse waves, an endurable strength） for 20 min, 40 min and 60 min respectively by using an electroacupuncture therapeutic apparatus. The treatment was given once daily, with 10 sessions being a therapeutic course. The severity of clinical neurological deficit was scored before and after the treatment Results： The results showed that acupuncture could improve the neurological deficit severity of ischemic stroke patients. The therapeutic effect of acupuncture in improving myodynamia of the upper limbs and hands, and the total score of 60 min group was the best, followed by 40 min group and 20 min group respectively,of acupuncture needle retention has a better therapeutic effect in the treatment indicating that longer duration of acupuncture needle retention has a better therapeutic effect in the treatment of stroke. Conclusion： There is a positive relationship between the needle-retaining time and the curative effect in improving ischemic stroke patients＇clinical symptoms and signs by acupuncture.

Treatment of Decortical State of Child Encephalitis with Scalp Acupuncture and the Effects on EEG and BEAM

Electroencephalogram (EEG)-recorded rhythmicelectrophysiologic activity of brain is synchronoussynthesis of postsynaptic potentials of pyramidalcells and their parietal dendrites of the cerebralcortex.Abnormal changes in EEG and brainelectrical activity mapping (BEAM) appear prior tothat in computed tomography (CT) and nuclearmagnetic resonance (NMR) during the acute stage ofencephalitis,providing a scientific and

Different manual manipulations and electrical parameters exert different therapeutic effects of acupuncture

Acupuncture is an important component part of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM). The therapeutic effects may be influenced by a variety of factors.Stimulation quantity is one of the factors for achieving good therapeutic effects in acupuncture practice. With the development of science and technology, besides the influence of manual manipulations, the parameters adopted for electroacupuncture have become the benchmark of stimulation quantity. This study, by referring to the related literatures, is designed to explore the influence of manual manipulations and electrical parameters on therapeutic effects of acupuncture. The results from the present study show that different manualmanipulations and electrical parameters may exert different therapeutic effects of acupuncture, which are closely related to the characteristics of diseases.Different manual manipulations and electrical parameters should be adopted according to syndrome differentiation of TCM. This is very important in acupuncture treatment.

Electroacupuncture and Proliferative Knee Osteoarthritis： A Report of 50 Cases

Fifty cases of knee osteoarthritis were treated with needling bilateral Neixiyan （Ex- LE 5）, Dubi （ST 35）, Ashi points, Yanglingquan （GB 34）, Yinlingquan （SP 9）, Zusanli （ST 36）, Liangqiu （ST 34）, Heding （Ex-LE 2）, and Sanyinjiao （SP 6）, among which Neixiyan （Ex-LE 5） and Heding （Ex-LE 2） were connected with electro-stimulator. And the result showed that 42 cases got recovery, 6 cases got better and 2 cases got no effect.

44 Cases of Peripheral Facial Paralysis Treated by the SXDZ-100 Nerve and Muscle Stimulator

Objective: To observe the clinical effects of the Hua Tuo Manual Acupuncture Therapeutic Stimulator for peripheral facial paralysis. Methods: 87 patients with peripheral facial paralysis were divided randomly into the SXDZ-100 Nerve and Muscle Stimulator treatment group (44 cases) and the G6805 Electric Stimulator control group (43 cases). The acupoints selected for both the two groups were local points as well as distal points as Hegu (LI 4), Waiguan (TE 5), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taichong (LR 3). Effectiveness was compared between the two groups. Results: Both groups had a total effective rate of 100%. But the cure rate was 90.9% in the treatment group, and 73.0% in the control group, indicating a significant difference (P<0.05). No side effects were found in either of the two groups. Conclusion: The SXDZ-100 stimulator is more effective than the G6805 electroacupuncture stimulator for treatment of peripheral facial paralysis.

Influence of Electroacupuncture on COX Activity of Hippocampal Mitochondria in Senescence-accelerated Mouse Prone 8 Mice

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) on cytochrome c oxidase(COX) activity of hippocampal mitochondria in senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8(SAMP8) mice, and to explore the EA mechanism on Alzheimer disease(AD) in improving energy metabolic disorder. Methods: Twelve SAMP8 mice were randomly divided into a model group and an EA group, with six in each group. Six senescence-accelerated mouse resistance 1(SAMR1) mice were prepared as blank group. Mice in the EA group received EA on Baihui(GV 20) and Yongquan(KI 1), once a day for 7 d as a course, altogether 3 courses with one day interval between two courses. Mice in the model group and the blank group were manipulated and fixed as those in the EA group. After interventions, Morris water maze was employed to test spatial learning and memory ability to evaluate EA effect; spectrophotometry was used to detect the activity of hippocampal mitochondria COX. Results: Compared with the blank group, mean escape latencies of the EA group and model group were prolonged significantly in Morris water maze tests(P<0.01), the residue duration in the former platform quadrant significantly decreased(P<0.01). Compared with the model group, mean escape latencies on 1 d, 2 d and 3 d of the EA group were significantly reduced(P<0.05), and those on 4 d and 5 d continued the decreasing tendency(P<0.01), the residue duration on the former platform quadrant was significantly prolonged(P<0.05). The COX activity tests showed that, compared with the blank group, COX activities of the model group and the EA group were significantly decreased(P<0.01); compared with the model group, COX activity of the EA group was significantly elevated(P<0.01). Conclusion: It's plausible that EA improves AD learning and memory ability by increasing mitochondria COX activity, protecting the structure and function, and improving energy metabolism.