Clinical effect observation on liver-regulating and blood-tonifying acupuncture for cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type

Objective： To observe the clinical effect of liver-regulating and blood-tonifying acupuncture in the treatment of cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type. Methods： A total of 60 cases meeting the inclusion criteria were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. Cases in the observation group received liver-regulating and blood-tonifying acupuncture, in which Jiaji （EX-B 2） points of C3_C7, Ganshu （BL 18） and Geshu （BL 17） were used; cases in the control group received routine acupuncture treatment in which jiaji （EX-B2） points of C3.C7 were used. Both groups received 5 times of treatment in a week with a 2-day rest, symptoms evaluation was done after 4 weeks of treatment, and then therapeutical effect was evaluated. Results： The total effective rate was 90.0% in the observation group, 73.3% in the control group, and inter-group comparison showed a statistical significance （P〈0.05）. After treatment, the symptoms and signs scores in both groups all substantially dropped, showing statistical significances （both P〈0.05）; inter-group comparison showed that the improvements in subscales of dizziness, pressing pain along vertebrae and revolve-cervix test in the observation group were superior than those in the control group, showing statistical significances （all P〈0.05）, while the inter-group comparisons of subscales of headache and vomiting and nause didn＇t show any statistical significances after treatment （both P〉0.05）. Conclusion： Liver-regulating and blood-tonifying acupuncture is effective in treating cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type, and it can significantly improve patients＇ symptoms and signs.

Clinical study on acupuncture for primary insomnia

Objective： To observe the clinical effect of Acupuncture at Baihui（GV 20）, Sishencong（EX-HN 1） and Anmian [Extra, locates at the midpoint between Yiming（EX-HN 14） and Fengchi（GB 20）] for primary insomnia. Methods： A total of 112 patients with primary insomnia were randomized into an acupuncture group and a medication group according to the visiting sequence, 56 cases in each group. The acupuncture group was intervened by acupuncture at Baihui（GV 20）, Sishencong（EX-HN 1） and Anmian [Extra, locates at the midpoint between Yiming（EX-HN 14） and Fengchi（GB 20）], and points selected based on syndrome differentiation, while the medication group was by oral intake of zopiclone tablet. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index（PSQI） was measured before and after treatment, and the clinical efficacy was compared after 1 month of treatment. Results： After treatment, subscales of PSQI and global score in the acupuncture group were improved, and intra-group comparisons showed statistical differences（all P〈0.05）; subscales of sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration and global score of PSQI in the medication group were improved, showing statistical differences（all P〈0.05）. Inter-group comparison of global and subscales scores of PSQI showed statistical differences（all P〈0.05）. The total effective rate in the acupuncture group was 92.9%, higher than 67.9% in the medication group, and between-group comparison showed a statistical difference（P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Acupuncture at Baihui（GV 20）, Sishencong（EX-HN 1） and Anmian [Extra, locates at the midpoint between Yiming（EX-HN 14） and Fengchi（GB 20）] as the main treatment method can produce a better effect than oral intake of zopiclone tablet.

Clinical observation on Governor Vessel-unblocking and brain-refreshing scalp acupuncture for cerebral palsy complicated with intellectual disabilities

Objective：To observe the clinical efficacy of Governor Vessel-unblocking and brain-refreshing scalp acupuncture for cerebral palsy （CP） complicated with intellectual disabilities. Methods：A total of 300 CP cases aged between 1 and 5 years were randomly allocated into a treatment group （n=150） and a control group （n=150）. Patients in the treatment group were treated with Governor Vessel-unblocking and brain- refreshing scalp acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training, whereas patients in the control group received rehabilitation training alone. The Beijing Gesell developmental （Gesell） scale and gross motor function measure （GMFM） scale were used to assess the motor and intellectual development before and 3 months after the treatment. In addition, the head CT/MRI examination was applied to assess the brain nerve repair before and after the treatment. Results：After the treatment, the total effective rate in the treatment group was 78.0%, versus 42.7% in the control group, showing a statistical significance （P〈0.05）. As for scores of five subscales in the Gesell scale, there were significant intra-group differences in the treatment group （allP〈0.05）; and the scores in the treatment group were significantly better than those in the control group （allP〈0.05）. As for scores of five dimensions in GMFM scale, there were significant intra-group differences in the treatment group （allP〈0.05）; and the scores in the treatment group were significantly better than those in the control group （allP〈0.05）. According to the head CT/MRI findings, the total effective rate was 73.3% in the treatment group, versus 62.0% in the control group, showing a statistical significance （P〈0.05）. Conclusion：When used in combination with rehabilitative training, Governor Vessel-unblocking and brain-refreshing scalp acupuncture can significantly improve the clinical efficacy for cerebral palsy complicated with intellectual disabilities. It can also improve the patients＆#39; motor function, intelligence and language ability.

Observation on clinical effects of acupuncture plus external medicine application for cervical radiculopathy

Objective： To observe the clinical effects of acupuncture plus external medicine application for cervical radiculopathy. Methods： A total of 98 patients with cervical radiculopathy were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group based on the random digital table. The observation group （50 cases） was treated by acupuncture plus external medicine application and the control group （48 cases） was treated by acupuncture alone. The patients received the treatment every day. Ten sessions made a course. Cervical spondylosis symptom scale was used to assess the cases before and after the treatment. The clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups after the treatment. Results： The total effective rate was 98.1% in the observation group versus 87.6% in the control group with a statistically significant difference between the two groups （P〈0.05）. The cure rate was 52.0% in the observation group versus 18.8% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups （P〈0.05）. There was no significant difference in the score of cervical spondylosis symptom scale between the two groups before the treatment （P〉0.05）. It increased with a significant difference in both groups after the treatment （both P〈0.05）, while a significant difference was found in the results between the two groups after the treatment （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Acupuncture plus external medicine application is more effective than acupuncture alone for treating cervical radiculopathy. The method also effectively improves the clinical symptoms.

Therapeutic observation of cranial suture acupuncture in treating depression

Objective： To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of cranial suture acupuncture plus paroxetine in treating depression, and to discuss the action mechanism of this acupuncture method. Methods： One hundred depression patients were allocated to an observation group and a control group according to the random number table, with 50 cases in each group. The control group was intervened by oral administration of paroxetine tablets, 20 mg each time, once a day for successive 6 weeks; the observation group was additionally given cranial suture acupuncture, once a day for 6 weeks. They were scored by Hamilton depression scale-17 （HAMD-27） before the treatment and respectively after 1-week, 2-week, 4-week and 6-week treatment. The clinical efficacy and safety were also observed. Results： After 6-week treatment, the total effective rate was 94.0% in the observation group versus 78.0% in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant （P〈0.01）. The HAMD-17 scores respectively after 1-week, 2-week, 4-week and 6-week treatment were significantly lower than the score before the treatment in the observation group （all P〈0.05）; the HAMD-17 scores respectively after 2-week, 4-week and 6-week treatment were significantly different from the score before the treatment in the control group （all P〈0.05）. There were significant differences in the HAMD-17 score between the two groups respectively after 4-week and 6-week treatment （both P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Cranial suture acupuncture plus paroxetine can ease the symptoms of depression, with faster onset and more significant therapeutic efficacy compared with paroxetine alone.

Therapeutic efficacy observation on combining interaction and routine acupuncture for intractable facial palsy

Objective： To observe the clinical efficacy of interaction acupuncture combining with routine acupuncture for intractable facial palsy.Methods： A total of 60 eligible cases were randomly allocated into a treatment group（n=30） and a control group（n=30）. Cases in the treatment group received interaction and routine acupuncture, whereas cases in the control group received routine acupuncture alone. The treatment was done once a day and 10 times made up a course of treatment. The patients were treated for a total of 3 courses and there were no intervals between two courses. Results： The total effective rate was 93.3% in the treatment group（including 17 recovery cases, 11 improvement cases and 2 failure cases）, versus 76.7% in the control group（including 8 recovery cases, 15 improvement cases and 7 failure cases）, showing a statistical difference（P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Combining interaction and routine acupuncture can obtain better effect than routine acupuncture alone for intractable facial palsy.

Analysis of points selection pattern in acupuncture treatment of sleep apnea syndrome based on data mining

To explore the points selection pattern of acupuncture for sleep apnea syndromes by data mining technique. Methods： Clinical literature about acupuncture therapy for sleep apnea syndromes was derived from China National Knowledge Infrastructure （CNKI）, Wanfang Academic Journal Full-text Database （Wanfang）, Chongqing VIP Database （CQVIP）, PubMed and Science Direct between the time that databases were created and March 25th,2017. Relevant excel database was established and descriptive studies and association rules were analyzed. Results： The most frequently used point was Lianquan （CV 23） and the most frequently used meridian was the Stomach Meridian. The analysis of association rules showed that the clinical choice of acupuncture points was highly correlated, among which the combination of the highest degree of confidence and the highest degree of support was Shenmen （HT 7） and Sishencong （EX-HN 1）; Lieque （LU 7）, lianquan （CV 23） and Zhaohai （KI 6）. Conclusion： Acupuncture treatment of sleep apnea syndromes has specific selection rules of points, providing certain references for clinical and scientific research.

Therapeutic effect observation on acupuncture plus medication for post-stroke depression

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture with medication for post-stroke depression. Methods: A total of 96 patients with post-stroke depression were randomized into an observation group and a control group, with 48 cases in each group. The control group was treated with oral fluoxetine hydrochloride capsules, and the observati on group was treated with acup un cture on the basis of the treatme nt of the con trol group. After 6 mon ths of treatment, the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom scores, and Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) component scores and total scores of the two groups before and after treatment were observed, and the clinical efficacy and adverse reaction rate were compared between the two groups. Results: The total effective rate was 95.8% in the observation group and 83.3% in the control group, and the differenee between the two groups was statistically significant (Pv0.05). After treatment, the intra-group differences in TCM symptom scores and HAMD score of both groups were statistically significant (all P<0.01). In the observation group, the scores of in differe nt expressi on, emoti onal restlessness, and sen time ntality in the TCM symptoms were statistically differe nt from those in the control group (all P<0.01). The scores of desperate factor and sleep disorder factor and total score in HAMD in the observation group were significantly different from those in the control group (all P<0.01). The incidenee of adverse reactions was 6.3% in the observation group and 4.2% in the control group, and the differenee was not significant between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture plus medication is an effective method for post-stroke depression, and it can further improve the patient's bad mood.

Therapeutic observation on tuina at head and abdomen for headache due to phlegm turbidity

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of tuina at head and abdomen for headache due to phlegm turbidity.Methods:A total of 56 patients with headache due to phlegm turbidity were randomized into a tuina group and a Chinese medicine group by the random number table,with 28 cases in each group.The tuina group was treated mainly with tuina at the head and abdomen,while the Chinese medicine group was treated with oral administration of Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang(Pinellio,Atractylodes Mocrocepholo and Gastrodio Decoction).The course of treatment was 30 d.The scores of headache index,traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scale,and the therapeutic efficacy were observed.Results:There were 2 dropouts in each group during treatment.The total effective rate was 92.3%in the tuina group,significantly higher than 76.9%in the Chinese medicine group(P<0.05).The scores of headache index and traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scale in both groups decreased after treatment(both P<0.05),and scores in the tuina group were lower than those in the Chinese medicine group(both P<0.05).Conclusion:Tuina mainly at head and abdomen is effective in treating headache due to phlegm turbidity,and has a better effect than Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang(Pinellia,Atractylodes Macrocephalo and Gastrodio Decoction).

Clinical study on nape cluster acupuncture for 50 cases of migraine

To observe the clinical efficacy of nape cluster acupuncture in treating migraine. Methods： Fifty patients with confirmed diagnosis of migraine were intervened by using nape cluster acupuncture, and were evaluated at the outset and after 2-month treatment by the short-form of McGill pain questionnaire （SP-MPQ） and self-rating depression scale （SDS）. Results： After treatment, the number of positive words, sensory pain rating index （S-PRI）, affective pain rating index （A-PRI）, total pain rating index （T-PRI）, visual analogue scale （VAS）, and present pain intensity （PPI） were significantly changed （P〈0.01）; the SDS score was （56.42＋8.12） points before treatment versus （41.08＋5.73） points after treatment, and the difference was statistically significant （P〈0.01）. The total effective rate was 86.0%; the therapeutic efficacy of the patients with a shorter disease duration was superior to that of the patients with a longer one （P〈0.05）; the efficacy of mild-moderate migraine was superior to that of severe one （P〈0.01）; the total effective rate of patients without depression was higher than that with depression, but without a significant difference in comparing the therapeutic efficacy （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Nape cluster acupuncture is effective in treating migraine, significantly improving headache and depression.