针灸加火针治疗网球肘56例

目的：总结针灸加火针治疗网球肘（肱骨外上髁炎）的疗效.方法：用针刺患肢常规穴位后,再加火针点刺局部阿是穴,治疗56例网球肘患者.结论：针灸加火针局部点刺治疗网球肘引起的疼痛有效率达94.6%.

Fire-needle therapy for deglutition disorders in post-stroke pseudobulbar palsy:a randomized controlled trial

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of fire-needle therapy in treating deglutition disorders due to pseudobulbar palsy in the remission stage of stroke.Methods:Sixty-two eligible subjects were divided into a fire-needle group and a rehabilitation group by a simple randomization method at a ratio of 1:1.The two groups received same basic intervention;in addition,the fire-needle group received fire-needle treatment,while the rehabilitation group received rehabilitation training.The two groups of subjects all received a 3-week treatment and were evaluated by the dysphagia severity rating scale (DSRS),modified Mann assessment of swallow ability (MMASA) and Kubota Toshio swallow test (KTST) before and after the intervention.The complications and adverse events occurred during the trial were recorded.The data were statistically analyzed.Results:At the third week,the DSRS,MMASA and KTST scores changed significantly compared with the baseline in both groups (P<0.05),and the changes in the fire-needle group were more significant than those in the rehabilitation group (P<0.05).The between-group comparison at the third week showed that the therapeutic efficacy in the fire-needle group was superior to that in the rehabilitation group (P<0.05).Conclusion:Fire-needle therapy can obviously change the DSRS,MMASA and KTST scores in pseudobulbar palsy in the remission stage of stroke,and significantly enhance the therapeutic efficacy of the treatment of deglutition disorders in this stage.

Clinical observation on wheat grain-sized cone moxibustion combined with fire needle for dorsal wrist ganglion

Objective：To observe the clinical effect of wheat grain-sized cone moxibustion combined with fire needle therapy in the treatment of dorsal wrist ganglion （DWG）. Methods：A total of 63 patients with DWG were randomized into a treatment group （n=32） and a control group （n=31）. Cases in the control group were treated with fire needle therapy. Based on the therapy given to the control group, cases in the treatment group were additionally given wheat grain-sized cone moxibustion therapy. Then the therapeutic efficacies and recurrence rate were evaluated. Results：After treatment, the overall effective rate was 93.8% in the treatment group, versus 77.4% in the control group, and the between-group comparison showed a statistical significance （P〈0.05）; 6 months after the treatment, the recurrence rate in the treatment group was obviously lower than that in the control group （P〈0.05）. Conclusion：The long-term and short-term effects of wheat grain-sized cone moxibustion combined with fire needle therapy in the treatment of DWG are better than those of fire needle therapy alone, and therefore, worth popularizing.

Is fire needle superior to Western medication for herpes zoster?A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective:To compare the effectiveness of fire needle versus Western medicine in the treatment of herpes zoster.Methods:Randomized controlled trials comparing fire needle with Western medicine in the treatment of herpes zoster were identified using 8 databases.A meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software.Results:Eight trials involving 569 patients were included in this meta-analysis,and the results showed that fire needle was superior to Western medicine comparing the effective rate[risk ratio(RR)=1.13,95%confidence interval(Cl):1.06 to 1.20;P=0.0002],the visual analog scale(VAS)score[mean difference(MD)=-7.95;95%Cl:-10.71 to-5.20;P<0.00001],time of pain disappearance(MD=-7.61;95%CI:-9.38 to-5.84;P<0.00001),time of blister-stop(MD=-1.34,95%CI:-1.51 to-1.18;P<0.00001),time of crusted scab(MD=-2.92,95%CI:-3.62 to-2.23;P<0.00001);and time of scab off(MD=-4.64,95%CI:-5.83 to-3.46;P<0.00001).In addition,a significantly lower incidence of postherpetic neuralgia was found in the fire needle group in 30 d(RR=0.23,95%CI:0.11 to 0.51;P=0.0002)and 60 d(RR=0.33,95%CI:0.12 to 0.91;P=0.03)after treatment.Conclusion:Fire needle has a favorable effect in increasing the effective rate,relieving pain,recovering skin lesions and decreasing incidence of postherpetic neuralgia in the treatment of herpes zoster.However,considering the limitations in this study,the findings should be interpreted cautiously.

Clinical observation on filiform fire-needling plus continuous passive motion therapy for frozen shoulder

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of filiform fire-needling plus continuous passive motion(CPM)therapy for frozen shoulder.Methods:A total of 72 patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group by the random number table method,with 36 cases in each group.Patients in the control group received celecoxib capsule plus CPM,while those in the observation group received filiform fire-needling plus CPM.The whole course of treatment lasted for 2 weeks in both groups.The visual analog scale(VAS),Constant-Murley score(CMS)and range of motion of shoulder joint were measured for therapeutic efficacy evaluation.Results:The total effective rate was 91.7%in the observation group,higher than 72.2%in the control group,and the between-group comparison showed statistical significance(P<0.05).After treatment,the VAS scores in the two groups dropped significantly,the CMS as well as the range of motion including abduction,forward flexion and extension were all increased significantly,and the intra-group comparisons showed statistical significance(all P<0.05).The betweengroup comparisons showed the improvements in these items in the observation group were more significant than those in the control group(all P<0.05).Conclusion:Filiform fire-needling plus CPM can produce more significant efficacy than celecoxib capsule plus CPM for frozen shoulder;it can alleviate pain,improve shoulder function and restore joint range of motion in such patients.

Clinical Observation of Fire-needle Therapy plus Tuina for Senile Knee Osteoarthritis

Objective： To observe the therapeutic efficacy of fire-needle therapy plus tuina in treating primary knee osteoarthritis （KOA） in the elderly. Methods： Twenty-three patients with KOA were intervened by pricking with fire-needle therapy plus tuina, and evaluated by using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index （WOMAC） before and after intervention. Results： After intervention, the total score, scores of pain, rigidity, and activities of daily living of WOMAC dropped significantly （P＆lt;0.05）. Conclusion： Pricking with fire needle plus tuina can produce a significant therapeutic efficacy in treating KOA in the elderly, thus worth application in clinic.

Effect of complex reinforcing-reducing manipulation on lower limb motion and balance disorder in patients with subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord

Objective：To observe the effect of complex reinforcing [Shao Shan Huo （Mountain-burning Fire）] and reducing [Tou Tian Liang （Heaven-penetrating Cooling）] manipulations on motion and balance of the lower limbs in patients with subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord （SCD）. Methods：A total of 100 SCD cases were randomly allocated into an observation group and a control group by their visit sequence, 50 cases in each group. On the basis of Western medical treatment, cases in the observation group were also treated with acupuncture therapy plus complex reinforcing-reducing manipulation; whereas cases in the control group were only treated with the same Western medical treatment as those in the observation group. Before and 2 months after treatment, kinematic parameters including muscle force, muscle tone and range of motion of the hip and knee joints were measured. In addition, balancing parameters including the path length of center of pressure （COP）, peripheral area, COP path length per unit area and rectangular area were also measured before and after treatment. Results：After treatment, there were statistical intra-group differences in COP path length, peripheral area, COP path length per unit area, left-right offset, rectangular area, coefficient of stability and coefficient of weight distribution （P〈0.01）. There were statistical inter-group differences in muscle force, muscle tone and range of motion of hip and knee joints （P〈0.01）. The total effective rate was 83.3% in the observation group, versus 60.0% in the control group, showing a statistical difference （P〈0.05）. Conclusion：Complex reinforcing-reducing manipulations can improve the lower limb motion and balance in SCD patients.

Effect of acupuncture plus thunder-fire moxibustion on MMP-3, TIMP-1 and TGF-β1 in rats with knee osteoarthritis

Objective： To observe the effect of acupuncture plus thunder-fire moxibustion on the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-3 （MMP-3）, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 （TIMP-1） and transforming growth factor-β1 （TGF-β1） in cartilage of knee osteoarthritis （KOA） rats, and to explore the mechanism of acupuncture plus thunder-fire moxibustion in the treatment of KOA. Methods： Thirty Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into a blank control group, a model group and an acupuncture-moxibustion group by random digits table, 10 rats in each group. Rats in the model group and the acupuncture-moxibustion group were injected with papain in the right posterior knee joint to prepare the models. The levels of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 in rat synovium of each group were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELBA） after 2 weeks of treatment. The level of TGF-β1 was determined by Motic B5 Micro-camera system. Results： The levels of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 in the cartilage of the model group were significantly higher than those in the blank control group （all P〈0.01）; the levels of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 in the acupuncture-moxibustion group were lower than those in the model group, and the between-group differences were statistically significant （all P〈0.05）. The levels of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 in the acupuncture-moxibustion group were higher than those in the blank control group, and the differences were statistically significant （all P〈0.05）. The level of TGF-β1 in cartilage tissues of the model group was significantly lower than that in the blank control group （P〈0.01）; the level of TGF-β1 in the acupuncture-moxibustion group was higher than that in the model group （P〈0.05）, but it was lower than that in the blank control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Acupuncture plus thunder-fire moxibustion can effectively recover the abnormal expressions of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 in KOA model rats and somewhat up-regulate TGF-β1, which may be one of its mechanisms of acupuncture plus thunder-fire for KOA.

Treatment of Infrapatellar Fat Pad Strain with Mountain-burning Fire Method

Strain of infrapatellar fat pad extensively occurs in people aged over 30 years, who often walk up hills or squat while working. The clinical manifestations are aching and weakness in the knee joints, aggravated when the knee joints are totally extended. Discomfort occurs in mild cases only when walking for long or going up and down the stairs. There is aching feeling in moderate cases when the patients are quiet. The pain is aggravated during exercises when the knee joints are half flexed and the patient can not stand up when squatting for prolonged periods of time. There are aching and weak feelings in the severe cases.

Effect of complex reinforcing-reducing manipulations on hip and knee flexion and extension angles after surgery of gluteus maximus contracture

Objective： To observe the effect of complex reinforcing-reducing manipulations of acupuncture on flexion and extension angles of hip and knee in patients after surgical treatment of gluteus maximus contracture. 〈br〉 Methods： A total of 66 cases following surgery of gluteus maximus contracture were randomly allocated into an observation group and a control group by the random digits table, 33 in each group. In addition to basic treatment, cases in the observation group were treated with reducing manipulation [Tou T ian Liang （Heaven-penetrating Cooling）] on Zhibian （BL 54）, Huantiao （GB 30） and Juliao （GB 29） on the affected side and reinforcing manipulation [Shao Shan Huo （Mountain-burning Fire）] on Biguan （ST 31）, Futu （ST 32）, Zusanli （ST 36）, Fenglong （ST 40）, Xuehai （SP 10）, Diji （SP 8） and Yanglingquan （GB 34）. Patients in the control group only received the same basic treatment as the observation group. The treatment was done once a day, 30 d for a course and a 1-week interval between two courses. Then the flexion and extension angles of hip and knee were evaluated using the Lokomat full automatic robot gait evaluation system after 3 courses of treatment. 〈br〉 Results：There were intra-group statistical differences in hip flexion angle on foot followed （HFA-FF）, the maximum of hip flexion angle （MAX-HFA）, the maximum of hip extension angle （MAX-HEA）, knee flexion angle on foot followed （KFA-FF）, the maximum of knee flexion angle on stance phase （MAX-KFA-TP） and the maximum of knee flexion angle on swing phase （MAX-KFA-WP） in the observation group and in HFA-FF, MAX-HEA and KFA-FF in the control group （P＆lt;0.05）. There were between-group statistical differences in HFA-FF, MAX-HFA, MAX-HEA, KFA-FF and MAX-KFA-TP （P＆lt;0.05）. 〈br〉 Conclusion： The complex reinforcing-reducing manipulations of acupuncture can effectively improve the hip/knee functions following surgery of gluteus maximus contracture.

Professor LIU Huilin’s experience in treating cluster headache with acupuncture-moxibustion

This paper introduces chief physician LIU Huilin’s empirical characteristics in treating cluster headache based on holism and pattern-identification-based treatment,with spirit-regulating filiform needling,filiform fire needle pricking,and collateral-pricking for bloodletting sequential therapy,which inherits the academic thoughts of“acupuncture-moxibustion for treating spirit”from Professor ZHOU De’an and“three-unblocking acupuncture therapy”from HE Puren,thus providing a reference for treating cluster headache with acupuncture-moxibustion therapy.