Using a consensus acupoints regimen to explore the relationship between acupuncture sensation and lumbar spinal postoperative analgesia: A retrospective analysis of prospective clinical cooperation

Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment on postoperative pain in patients with degenerative lumbar spine disease, and explored the relationship between the postoperative analgesic effect of acupuncture and the sensation of acupuncture experienced by the patients.Methods: This retrospective study analyzed the medical records of 97 patients who had undergone an operation by the same surgeon due to degenerative lumbar disease. These patients were divided into acupuncture group(n = 32), patient-controlled analgesia(PCA) group(n = 27), and oral analgesia group(n = 38) according to the different postoperative analgesic methods. During their hospitalization, patients completed daily evaluations of their pain using a visual analogue scale(VAS), and injection times of supplemental meperidine were recorded. Also, the Chinese version of the Massachusetts General Hospital Acupuncture Sensation Scale(C-MASS) was used in the acupuncture group.Results: Each of the three treatment groups showed significant reductions in postoperative pain, as shown by reduced VAS scores. The acupuncture group, however, had less rebound pain(P < 0.05) than the other two groups. Both the acupuncture and PCA groups experienced acute analgesic effects that were superior to those in the oral analgesia group. In addition, the higher the C-MASS index on the second day after surgery, the lower the VAS score on the fourth day after surgery. There was also a significant difference in the“dull pain” in the acupuncture sensation.Conclusion: The results demonstrated that acupuncture was beneficial for postoperative pain and discomfort after simple surgery for degenerative spinal disease. It is worth noting that there was a disproportionate relevance between the patient’s acupuncture sensation and the improvement of pain VAS score.

Introduction of two novel devices for investigating the influence of non-mechanical components such as therapeutic qi in acupuncture

OBJECTIVE： Acupuncture is a complex intervention consisting of specific and non-specific components. Acupuncture studies more frequently focus on collecting data from the patients＇ perspective and response, but the acupuncturist＇s role remains relatively unclear. In order to investigate potential non-mechanical active factors originating from the acupuncturist and transmitted to the patient during treatment, two novel devices for basic research in acupuncture were designed. The Acuplicator allows the researcher to insert needles without touching the needles themselves, while the Veliusator locks the needle in its place so that no mechanical movement can be transferred. METHODS： The Acuplicator was used to insert needles at Neiguan （PC6） on the right forearm of 23 volunteers. The insertion depth was measured using a depth gauge. The transfer of mechanical movements from the handle to the tip was detected with a precision length gauge with a motoric-tactile sensor. RESULTS： The mean insertion depth was （12.3 ± 1.5） mm （range 9.5 to 15.0 mm）. Even with intense manipulation of the needle handle, no movements within ± 1 μm could be detected at the tip when the needle was locked. CONCLUSION： With these two devices it will be possible to investigate the influence of non- mechanical components such as therapeutic qi in acupuncture.

Professor LI Ding＇s Way of Examining Points and Regulating Qi by Acupuncture

Professor LI Ding, also named Yang-yuan, male, Han nationality, was born in Yongkang County, Zhejiang Province. He started to learn medicine from LIU Min-shu in Shanghai after the anti-Japanese war. In 1954, he began to work in the clinic of Shanghai Health Bureau （known as the No 5 Clinic later）. In 1956, he started to teach basic theory and acupuncture in Shanghai College of Traditional Chinese Medicine （TCM）. After that, he worked as an acupunctudst in the No 5 Clinic and Longhua Hospital. His positions included head of the Acupuncture Teaching ＆ Research Room, head of the Acupuncture Literature Room, member of China Association of Acupuncture ＆ Moxibustion and vice director of Research Society of Acupuncture Literature. In 1982, he was appointed by the Ministry of Health as the chief editor of Science of Meridians. In 1991, he was appointed by the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine to be a member of China International Acupuncture Examination Committee and chief editor of the acupuncture reference book Acupuncture Science. Since Oct. 1992, Prof. LI Ding has deserved the Special Allowance by the State Council. Currently, he is a member of the Expertise Commission of the University.

Effect of modified Qing Long Bai Wei needling on the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and INF-α in synovial fluid of knee osteoarthritis patients

Objective:To compare the modified Qjng Long Bai Wei needling method and ordinary acupuncture method in the effects of improving the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β,IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA),and to determine the advantage of the modified Qing Long Bai Wei needling method for KOA.Methods:One hundred KOA patients were randomized into a treatment group and a control group by using the random number table,with 50 cases in each group.The treatment group was intervened by the modified Qing Long Bai Wei needling method,and the control group was given ordinary acupuncture.The two groups were observed before and after the treatment to determine the changes in the levels of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α in synovial fluid,and the clinical efficacies were compared between the two groups.Results:The total effective rate and clinical recovery rate were 97.9％ and 52.1％ respectively in the treatment group,versus 85.1％ and 25.5％ in the control group,and the between-group differences were statistically significant (both P＜0.01).After the treatment,the levels of Ib1β,IL-6 and TNF-cα in synovial fluid changed significantly in both groups (all P＜0.01);there were significant differences in the levels of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α in synovial fluid between the two groups (all P＜0.01).Conclusion:The modified Qjng Long Bai Wei needling is an effective method for KOA and it can significantly improve the levels of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α in synovial fluid.

Summary of the theoretical foundation and clinical application of Prof.Zheng Kui-shan's ‘warming-dredging needling technique'

＇Warming-dredging needling technique＇ is one of the specific needling techniques created by Prof. Zheng Kui-shan for treating intractable and difficult diseases. Developed from ＇Shao Shah Huo （Mountain-burning Fire）＇ and ＇warming- reinforcing method＇, this method displays the effects of ＇warming＂ ＇dredging＇ and ＇reinforcing＇. The ＇scapula-penetrating heat＇ and ＇eye-transmitting heat＇ belong to the representative needling techniques of ＇warming-dredging needling technique＇. In order to promote the clinical application of ＇warming-dredging needling technique＂ its theoretical foundation and clinical experience are summarized.