Treatment Frequency and Long-term Efficacy Observation on Electric Pudendal Nerve Stimulation for Stress Urinary Incontinence

Objective: To observe the effect of different treatment frequency of electric pudendal nerve stimulation (EPNS) on stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Methods: A total of 60 female SUI cases were randomly allocated into group A and group B, 30 in each group. Cases in both groups were treated with EPNS, 3 times a week for group A, versus twice a week for group B. Then clinical symptoms, stress urinary incontinence and quality of life (QOL) were assessed respectively before treatment and after 12 times of treatment by using questionnaire. In addition, for 99 cases whose clinical symptom scores were reduced by more than 50% after EPNS treatment, a telephone interview follow-up was conducted. Results: The cases in the treatment group were better than those in the control group in the enhancement of clinical effects, the decline of VAS scores and the improvement of clinical symptoms and sign integrals, with statistical significance (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Conclusion: EPNS has positive effect for female SUI; different treatment frequencies have certain impact on clinical effect: the effect achieved by 3 times a week was better than that by twice a week; and this therapy has stable long-term effect.

Efficacy Observation on Acupuncture Combined with Auricular Point Sticking Treatment for Primary Dysmenorrhea

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined with auricular point sticking treatment for primary dysmenorrhea. Methods:Sixty-eight patients with primary dysmenorrhea were randomly divided into two groups, and 35 cases in the treatment group were treated by acupuncture combined with auricular point sticking, while 33 cases in the control group were only treated by acupuncture. The treatments for the patients in both groups began from one week before their menstruation and continued till the menstruation came. And the efficacy was observed after treatments of three consecutive menstrual cycles. Results:The total effective rate was 94.2% in the treatment group, versus 84.8% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion:Acupuncture combined with auricular point sticking treatment for primary dysmenorrhea is more effective than simple acupuncture.

Clinical Observation on Acupuncture for Perimenopausal Syndrome

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture for perimenopausal syndrome. Methods: A total of 40 perimenopausal syndrome cases who met the inclusion criteria were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 20 in each group. Acupuncture combining with ginger-partitioned moxibustion was used in the observation group, whereas acupuncture was used in the control group. Modified Kupperman Index (KI) was evaluated respectively before and after treatment. In addition, the clinical efficacies in the two groups were compared. Results: The total effective rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, KI in both groups were significantly reduced (P<0.01) and there was a statistical difference between the two groups (P<0.01). Conclusion: Acupuncture combining with ginger-partitioned moxibustion could obtain a higher total effective rate for perimenopausal syndrome than acupuncture alone. Furthermore, it was also superior to acupuncture alone in improving hot flushes, insomnia, melancholia and arthralgia or myalgia.

Research Progress of Acupuncture Analgesia for Labor

Labor pain is a kind of severe pain the lying-in women of natural childbirth must undergo. The labor quality is decided by the tolerance to pain. Acupuncture analgesia for labor pain has been increasingly concerned and applied by more and more clinical workers because of its safety and efficacy. By summarizing and analyzing the choice and applications of various factors of acupuncture analgesia for labor pain such as acupoint selection, instrument analgesic coefficient, and the needling techniques in acupuncture analgesia for labor pain in the recent 12 years, this study aims to provide a theoretical foundation for the clinical application of acupuncture analgesia for labor pain.

Warm Needling Moxibustion at Zhongji (CV 3) and Zusanli (ST 36) for Urinary Retention after Gynecological Surgery

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of warm needling moxibustion at Zhongji(CV 3) and Zusanli(ST 36) in treatment of urinary retention after gynecological surgery. Methods: Forty patients with urinary retention after gynecological surgery were randomly divided into two groups by the randomized method, 20 cases in each group. Patients in the treatment group were treated by warm needling moxibustion at Zhongji(CV 3) and Zusanli(ST 36). Patients in the control group were treated by inductive urination. The therapeutic effects of the two groups were observed after one course of treatment. Results: The total effective rate was 95.0% in the treatment group and 70.0% in the control group. The difference in the total effective rate between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05). Conclusion: Warm needling moxibustion at Zhongji(CV 3) and Zusanli(ST 36) is more effective than inductive urination in treating urinary retention after gynecological surgery.

Observation on Therapeutic Effects of Acupuncture plus Psychological Intervention for Postpartum Depression

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture plus psychological intervention for postpartum depression. Methods: By random number table, 85 patients with postpartum depression were divided into a treatment group and a control group. Forty-three cases in the treatment group were treated by acupuncture plus psychological intervention, once every day, five sessions per week, and rest at weekend. Forty-two cases in the control group were treated by oral administration of Fluoxetine Hydrochloride, 20 mg, once per day. The two groups were treated continuously for six weeks. The change of the score in Hamilton depression scale(HAMD) was observed and the therapeutic effect was summarized. Results: The total effective rate was 90.7% in the treatment group and 90.5% in the control group. The difference in the total effective rate between two groups was not statistically significant(P>0.05). In the intra-group comparisons of HAMD scores two, four and six weeks after treatment in both groups with those before treatment, the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05). In comparison between the two groups at the same time point, the differences in HAMD scores were not statistically significant(all P>0.05). Regarding the adverse events, 5 cases had nausea, 3 cases had dizziness, and 6 cases had poor appetite in the control group; no obvious adverse events happened in the treatment group. Conclusion: Acupuncture plus psychological intervention for postpartum depression is as same as oral administration of Fluoxetine Hydrochloride in therapeutic effects, but it does not have adverse reaction.

Therapeutic Efficacy Observation on Acupuncture for Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture for post- menopausal osteoporosis (PMOP). Methods: A total of 64 PMOP cases were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 32 cases in each group. Acupuncture was employed in the observation group, versus oral Osteoform capsule in the control group. After 3-month treatment, the Bone Density (BD) and Estradiol (E 2 ) were measured respectively before and after treatment, followed by statistical analysis on clinical efficacies in the two groups. Results: The total effective rate of the observation group was 81.3%, showing a statistical difference compared with the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the BD measurements in all body regions of the observation group were significantly elevated (P<0.05), showing a statistical difference compared with the control group (P<0.05). Also, the E 2 levels in both groups were significantly increased (P<0.01), showing no between-group statistical significance (P>0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture has exact efficacy for PMOP and is therefore effective for the prevention and treatment of PMOP.

Comparative Study on the Analgesic Effects of Different Moxibustion Methods with Tai-yi Moxa Stick in Treating Primary Dysmenorrhea

Objective: To compare the therapeutic effects of two different moxibustion methods both with tai-yi moxa stick in treating primary dysmenorrhea. Methods: Forty-three patients were randomized into two groups by the random number table according to their treatment orders. The causalgic group was intervened by causalgic stimulation with tai-yi moxa stick while the tepid group was treated by mild thermal stimulation with tai-yi moxa stick. Shiqizhui(EX-B 8) was selected for both groups. Visual analogue scale(VAS) was used for observation before and during the treatment by every 10 min to compare the clinical efficacies between the two groups. Results: Before treatment, there was no statistically significant difference in pain intensity between the two groups(P>0.05). After treatment, both groups achieved significant improvements in pain intensity(P < 0.05), but the inter-group difference in pain intensity was still statistically insignificant(P > 0.05), but the difference was enlarged comparing with that before treatment. The pain relief during the first 10 min of treatment was slower in the causalgic group than that in the tepid group. However, during the later 20 min, the pain relief in the calsalgia group gradually outpaced that in the tepid group. Conclusion: The two moxibustion methods with tai-yi moxa stick both have a good instant analgesic effect in treating primary dysmenorrhea. For patients with primary dysmenorrhea, if 30 min is regarded as the treatment time, mild stimulation was suggested to be used for the first 10 min, and causalgic stimulation for the later 20 min to achieve a better curative effect.

Therapeutic Evaluation on Needling Method of Regulating the Conception Vessel and Calming the Mind for Perimenopausal Sleep Disorder

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of needling method of regulating the Conception Vessel and calming the mind in treating sleep disorder in perimenopausal women, and to provide clinical evidence for future treatment of the disease. Methods: Sixty eligible subjects with perimenopausal sleep disorder were enrolled and randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. The observation group was intervened by needling method of regulating the Conception Vessel and calming the mind, and the control group was treated by taking Yi Kun Yin orally. Two-week treatment was considered as a treatment course. Major symptoms of traditional Chinese medicine and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were observed, and clinical efficacies were compared. Results: After treatment, the difference in total effective rate between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05); except for flaccidity of lumbar and knees, both groups achieved significant improvements in the other 5 symptoms of traditional Chinese medicine (P<0.05 or P<0.01); PSQI global score and component scores dropped in both groups, and the improvements in the observation group were markedly superior to that in the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion: The needling method of regulating the Conception Vessel and calming the mind is better than Yi Kun Yin in improving traditional Chinese medicine symptoms and sleep quality in patients with perimenopausal sleep disorders.