Clinical observation of acupuncture combined with medication for mild-to-moderate depression

Objective:To discuss the clinical efficacy and plausible mechanism of Tiao Yang Qu Xie(regulating Yang to eliminate pathogenic factors)needling method plus paroxetine in treating mild-to-moderate depression.Methods:Sixty-six patients with mild-to-moderate depression were divided into an observation group and a control group using the random number table method,each consisting of 33 cases.Another 25 healthy subjects were recruited as a healthy group.The control group took oral paroxetine tablets for treatment,and the observation group received additional acupuncture treatment 3 times weekly.Both groups underwent 4-week treatment.Before treatment,after 2-week and 4-week treatment,and 2 weeks after treatment(follow-up),the patients were assessed using the Hamilton depression scale-17-item(HAMD-17),self-rating depression scale(SDS),self-rating anxiety scale(SAS),and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)pattern element identification scale for depression.The two groups each randomly contributed 25 cases to detect the protein content of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)before treatment and after 4-week treatment,and compared with the healthy group.Results:After 2-week treatment,the markedly effective and total effective rates were significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05);after 4-week treatment,the observation group significantly surpassed the control group in comparing the markedly effective rate(P<0.05).After 2 and 4 weeks of treatment and at the follow-up,the HAMD-17 total score and sleep disorder factor score were lower in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05);the anxiety-somatic score was lower in the observation group than in the control group after 2-week treatment(P<0.05).After 2 and 4 weeks of treatment and at the follow-up,the observation group was lower than the control group in comparing the scores of SDS,SAS,and TCM pattern element identification scale for depression(P<0.05).After 4-week treatment,the observation group had an increased serum BDNF protein content,higher than that in the control group(P<0.05)and had no significant difference compared to the healthy group(P>0.05).Conclusion:Compared to the use of oral paroxetine alone,acupuncture plus paroxetine can produce more significant efficacy in treating mild-to-moderate depression and act faster in improving sleep disorder and anxiety-somatic symptoms;increasing the serum BDNF protein content may be a part of the mechanism underlying its antidepressant actions.

DEVELOPMENT ON CLINICAL TREATMENT OF CONSTIPATION WITH ACUPUNCTURE AND MOXIBUSTION

In the present paper, the authors review recent developmarrt of clinical treatment of constipation with acupunctire and moxibustion from ① body acupuncture therapy including special needling manipulations, as Ziwu Daojiu Needling, etc. and acupoint combination,②electrcacupunture therapy, ③ scalp-acupuncture therapy, ④ auricular acupuncture therapy, ⑤ needleembedding and acupoint-catgut-embedding therapies, ⑥ acupoint-application therapy, ⑦ combinged acupuncture aud medication therapy, ⑧ other therapies such as cupping therapy and holo-therapy, and ⑨ considerations about the action of acupuncture in the treatmnt of constipation and its prospect. Up to now, researches on the effect of acupuncture in treating constipation are seldom seen, thus, much attention should be paid about this by clinical and experimental researchers.

COMMENTS ON THE STUDY OF ACUPOINT COMBINATION AND REMEDIES FOR TREATMENT OF DIABETES MELLITUS WITH ACUPUNCTURE AND MOXIBUSTION

In the present paper, the author reviews the progresses in the study on acumoxi (acupuncture-moxi-bustion) treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM) from Chinese ancient classical works, Chinese and foreign journals. The therapeutic results reveal that acupuncture treatment of DM is effective in improving DM patients' symptoms via vagal-nerve reflex, regulation of neuroendocrine and immune functions. The author holds that ① correct selection of acupoints in accordance with syndrome differentiation and the related meridians and combined application of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicines (for oral administration) are the key points for raising the therapeutic effect; and ② acupoint combination and curative methods need to be researched further.

Clinical Study on Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis with Combined Acupuncture and Medication

Objective： To observe the effect of treatment for proliferative knee osteoarthritis （KOA） using combined acupuncture and medicated compression. Method： All 328 cases were randomized into an observation and control group, 164 cases in each. Combined acupuncture and medicated compression were adopted in the observation group, while oral administration of Zhui Feng Tou Gu Wan （Wind-removing and Bone-penetrating Pills） were adopted in the control group. The clinical effects in the two groups were evaluated 40 days after the treatment. Result： There were significant differences in both marked and total effective rates （P〈0.05）. Conclusion Combined acupuncture and medicated compression can obtain better effect for KOA than oral administration of the Wind-Removing and Bone-Penetrating pills.

Clinical Observation of Combined Acupuncture ＆ Medications in Treating Dysspermia Infertility

Objective： To observe the curative effect of combined acupuncture and medication on infertility due to seminal abnormality. Method： Thirty-eight patients with seminal abnormality were separately treated by acupuncture and traditional Chinese medications （“Erxian Decoction”） plus Clomiphene. Results and Conclusion： The total effective rate was 96.0% in the acupuncture plus traditional Chinese medication group （26 cases） and 66.7% in the acupuncture and western medication groups （12 cases）. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference （P〈0.05）. The cure rate and the pregnancy rate were 38.5% and 30.8% respectively in the acupuncture and traditional Chinese medication group. Both of them were higher than 8.3% and 8.3% in the acupuncture and western medication group respectively, but there were no statistically significant differences. In the two groups of patients, seminal volume, liquefaction time and viscosity and spermatozoal density, death rate and one-hour survival rate took a significant turn for the better after treatment as compared with before treatment （P〈 0.05）. In the acupuncture and traditional Chinese medication groups of patients, symptoms markedly improved after treatment as compared with before treatment.

Clinical Observation on Combined Acupuncture and Medication for Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women

Objective： To observe the clinical effect of combined acupuncture and medication for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Methods： A total of 100 cases with postmenopausal osteoporosis were randomly allocated into a treatment group and a control group, 50 in each group. The cases in the treatment group were treated with electroacupuncture coupled with Calcitriol soft capsules, while the cases in the control group were treated with electroacupuncture alone. Results： There were significant differences in treatment effects between the treatment group and control group （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Combined acupuncture and medication can obtain a marked effect for postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Therapeutic Effect Observation on Combined Acupuncture and Medication for Ovulation

Objective：To observe the curative effect of acupuncture plus medicine in treating ovulatory dysfunctional infertility.Method：All 36 cases with anovulatory infertility were randomly allocated into a control group （19 cases） and an observation group （17 cases）.The cases in the control group were treated with 50 mg of oral administration Clomiphene once a day for 5 d,and 50 menstrual cycles were observed.The cases in the observation group were treated with combined acupuncture and the same medication as those in the control group and 45 menstrual cycles were observed.During the treatment sessions,the follicular development,ovulation,thickness of the endometrium,cervical mucus and pelvic fluid were observed and recorded.Results：The cases in the observation group showed significantly higher ovulation and pregnancy rates,along with thickening of the endometrium.In addition,no luteinized unruptured follicle syndrome （LUFS） occurred in the observation group.Conclusion：Acupuncture coupled with oral administration Clomiphene can obtain higher ovulation and conception rates than oral Clomiphene alone.

Therapeutic Observation on Combined Acupuncture and Medication for Recurrent Facial Dermatitis

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupoint injection plus medication in treating recurrent facial dermatitis(RFD). Methods: Fifty-eight patients with RFD were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 29 in each. The treatment group was intervened by acupoint injection with BCG-PSN plus oral administration of Fexofenadine Hydrochloride, and the control group was by Fexofenadine Hydrochloride only. The clinical efficacies were compared between the two groups, and a follow-up study was conducted to investigate the recurrence rate. Results: The total effective rate was 96.6% in the treatment group versus 65.5% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.01). Of the cured and improved patients in the treatment group, the recurrence rates were 10.7%, 25.0%, and 32.1% respectively 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after treatment, versus 31.6%, 36.8%, and 73.7% in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05). Conclusion: Acupoint injection plus medication is an effective method in treating RFD.

Acupuncture combined with medication for postherpetic neuralgia affecting the head and face:a randomized controlled trial

Objective:To observe the efficacy of needling the Xi-Cleft points of yang meridians plus topical surrounding needling and pregabalin in treating postherpetic neuralgia(PHN)affecting the head and face and its influence on quality of life(QOL).Methods:Eighty patients with PHN affecting the head and face were randomized into an acupuncture-medication group and a Western medication group by their visiting sequence,with 40 cases in each group.The Western medication group took pregabalin capsules orally,75 mg each time,twice a day.The dosage could increase to 150 mg each time and twice a day within 1 week based on the efficacy and tolerance.The treatment lasted for 5 weeks.The acupuncture-medication group was given additional surrounding needling at the herpes zoster on the head and face,and Xi-Cleft points of yang meridians were chosen according to the affected area for acupuncture,once every other day,for 5 weeks in total.Results:Prior to treatment,there were no significant differences in the visual analog scale(VAS)and QOL scores between the two groups(both P>O,05).After treatment,VAS and QOL scores dropped significantly in both groups(all P<0.01),and were significantly lower in the acupuncture-medication group than in the Western medication group(both P<0.01).The total effective rate was 67.5%in the Western medication group,versus 92.5%in the acupuncture-medication group,and the b etwee n-group difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion:Based on oral administration of pregabalin,needling the Xi-Cleft points of yang meridians and topical surrounding needling can reduce PHN,notably improve patients'QOL,and produce more significant efficacy than oral administration of pregabalin alone。

Clinical study of acupuncture combined with medication for the elderly with Alzheimer disease

Objective:To observe the impact of mind-regulating acupuncture plus donepezil on the cognitive ability,mean cerebral blood flow velocity,event-related potential P300,and activities of daily living(ADL)in the aged patients with Alzheimer disease(AD).Methods:Sixty senile AD patients were divided into a treatment group and a control group following the envelope method for random allocation,with 30 cases in each group.Based on the conventional treatment of the internal medicine,the control group received oral donepezil,and the treatment group received oral donepezil plus mind-regulating acupuncture.After 4-week treatment,the two groups were evaluated by the mini-mental state examination(MMSE),Alzheimer disease assessment scale-cognitive part(ADAS-Cog),and ADL;changes in P300 and the mean cerebral blood flow velocity were also observed.Results:Before treatment,there were no significant differences in the scores of MMSE,ADAS-Cog,or ADL between the two groups(P>0.05).The MMSE score increased after treatment in both groups and was notably higher in the treatment group than in the control group,showing intra-group and inter-group statistical significance(P<0.05).After treatment,the ADAS-Cog and ADL scores dropped in both groups and were markedly lower in the treatment group than in the control group,also showing intra-group and inter-group statistical significance(P<0.05).Compared with the same group before treatment,the latency of P300 was shortened and the amplitude was extended in both groups,all with statistical significance(P<0.05);the latency was shorter and the amplitude was larger in the treatment group than in the control group after treatment,presenting significant between-group differences(P<0.05).The mean blood flow velocity accelerated after the intervention in both groups,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05);the improvement in the treatment group was more notable than that in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Mind-regulating acupuncture plus donepezil can regulate the latency and amplitude of P300,increase cerebral blood flow,and improve the learning and memory abilities of AD patients.

Effect of Combined Acupuncture and Medication for Hypertension due to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Plasma Neuropeptide Y

Objective： To observe the effect of combined acupuncture and medication for hypertension due to type 2 diabetes and plasma Neuropeptide Y （NPY）. Methods： Sixty cases with hypertension due to type 2 diabetes were randomized into two groups. Thirty cases in the treatment group were treated with acupuncture and oral extended release nifedipine tablets, while 30 cases in the control group were treated with oral extended release nifedipine tablets alone. After 15 d of treatment, the blood pressure and NPY contents in two groups were observed. Results： The blood pressure and NPY contents in the two groups were remarkably reduced （P〈0.01） and the effect in the treatment group was superior to the control group （P〈0.01）. Conclusion： Combined acupuncture and medication can significantly reduce blood pressure and the NPY contents.

Therapeutic Effect Analysis on Combined Acupuncture and Medication for Peripheral Facial Paralysis

Objective： To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of combined acupuncture and medication for peripheral facial paralysis. Methods： Sixty-six cases with peripheral facial paralysis were randomly allocated into a treatment group and a control group, 33 cases in each group. The cases in the treatment group were treated with combined electroacupuncture and Chinese medicine formula, while the cases in the control group were treated by electroacupuncture alone. Results： The recovery rate in the treatment group was significantly higher than the control group （P〈0.05）. In addition, the time length for recovery in the treatment group tended to be shorter than the control group. Conclusion： Combined acupuncture and medication can obtain better effect than electroacupuncmre alone for peripheral facial paralysis.

Effects of acupuncture combined with Fluoxetine on behavior and Treg in mice of chronic depression

Objective To investigate effects of acupuncture combined with Fluoxetine on behavior and regulatory T cell （Treg） proportion in mice of chronic depression. Methods Sixty Balb/c mice were randomly divided into a normal control group （group A, n=10） and depression model group （n=50）. Fifty Balb/c mice were irritated with a variety of chronic unpredictable moderate stress stimulations for 21 days to prepare the mouse depression model. After successfully modeling, 50 depression model mice were randomly divided into 5 groups, a model group （group B）, a fluoxetine group （group C）, an acupuncture group （group D） and a combined acupuncture and medicine group （group E） and a sham acupuncture group （group F）, 10 mice in each group. The mice in the group C were intragastrically administrated with Fluoxetine once （20 mg/kg）; for the group D, electroacupuncture （EA） was given at ＂Baihui＂ （百会 GV 20） and ＂Shenting＂ （神庭 GV 24） and for the group F, EA was given at non-acupoint of the buttock for 2 min; for the group E, acupuncture combined with Fluoxetine was used with the same acupoints, methods and medicine as those in the group D and C. The treatment was given once each day, for 21 consecutive days. After treatment the open-field behavior （retention period at the central square, horizontal movement,vertical movement, etc.）, sucrose preferences, body mass, food intake and other behaviors were observed, and the proportion of regulatory T cells （CD4^＋ CD2^＋5 Foxp3^＋ Treg cells） was analyzed with flow cytometry. Results Compared with the normal control group, the open-field behavior showed depression-like changes, and humoral consumption, sucrose preferences, body mass and food intake significantly decreased in the mice of the depression model group. After treatment, compared with the group B, the behaviors of the mice in the group E, C and D were improved in varying degrees; compared with other groups, the group E had more obvious effect on vertical movement; acupuncture combined with Fluoxetine could down-regulate the high-expressed Treg cells. Conclusion Acupuncture combined with Fluoxetine can improve depression behaviors of the mice of depression in the early stage. The mechanism possibly is related with regulating Treg cells which improve the immunosuppressive status of depression.

Clinical Observation of Combined Acupuncture and Medications in Treating 90 Cases of Facial Palsy

Peripheral facial palsy, namely Bell palsy, is one of the common diseases in the department of acupuncture. Facial palsy, popularly called wry mouth and eye, is primarily manifested by the motor malfunction of the muscles of the expression on the affected side. The author adopted combined acupuncture and medications to treat 90 cases of facial palsy from June 2005 to June 2007, and attained good effects. It is now reported as follows.

Acupuncture combined with medication for blood-stasis in unstable angina patients with different thrombolysis in myocardial infarction risk stratification

Objective To observe the intervention effects of acupuncture combined with standardized treatment of western medicine on blood-stasis syndrome in unstable angina(UA)patients with different thrombolysis in myocardial infarction(TIMI)risk stratification.Methods According to TIMI risk score,a total of 72 UA patients were included,24 cases in low-risk(0 to 2 points)group,24

Clinical Observation of Combined Acupuncture and Herbs in Treating Parkinson's Disease

Objective： To observe the clinical efficacy of linear scalp-acupuncture combined with herbs in the treatment of Parkinson＇s disease （PD）. Methods： One hundred and fifty PD cases were randomized into four groups in the sequence of visit. Eighty-eight cases in group A, were treated by linear scalp-acupuncture and herbs effective to nourish the liver and kidneys, activate blood and remove wind, and acupuncture was performed every other day and 10 treatments made up one course; 20 cases in group B, were treated only by linear scalp-acupuncture; 20 cases in group C, were treated by herbs effective to nourish the liver and kidneys, activate blood and remove wind; 22 cases in group D, were treated by Dopamine. All groups were treated for three months. Results： The total response rate was 89.8% in group A, similar to 86.4% in group D （P〉0.05）, and higher than 65.0% in group C （P〈0.01）. Conclusion： Linear scalp-acupuncture combined with herbs is quite effective in the treatment of PD.

Therapeutic Efficacy Observation on Point-toward-point Acupuncture Combined with Herbs Iontophoresis for Knee Osteoarthritis

Objective： To observe the clinical efficacy of point-toward-point acupuncture combined with herbs iontophoresis in treating knee osteoarthritis. Methods： A total of 100 patients were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, 50 cases in each. Patients in the treatment group received point-toward-point acupuncture with long needle combined with herbs iontophoresis treatment; while those in the control group were only treated by point-toward-point acupuncture with long needle. Clinical efficacies of the two groups were compared after treatment. Results： The total effective rate was 92.0% in the treatment group, versus 82.0% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant （P〈O.05）. Conclusion： The point-toward-point acupuncture with long needle combined with herbs iontophoresis treatment for knee osteoarthritis has a significant effect.

Clinical Observation of Combined Acupuncture and Herbs in Treating Chronic Pelvic Inflammation

Objective： To observe the clinical efficacy of combined acupuncture and herbs in the treatment of chronic pelvic inflammation. Methods： Eighty-eight cases of chronic pelvic inflammation were randomized into two groups. Treatment group （45 cases） was treated by combined acupuncture and herbs, control group （43 cases） was treated by Fu Ke Qian Jin Jiao Nang （Female Herbal Capsule）. Results： After 3 menstrual cycles of treatments, in treatment group, 28 cases were cured, 9 cases got marked effect, 4 cases got effect, 4 cases were failure, and the total effective rate was 91.1%; in control group, 7 cases were cured, 8 cases got marked effectiveness, 15 cases got effectiveness, 13 cases were failure, and the total effective rate was 69.8%. The total effective rate was higher in treatment group than in control group （P〈0.05）; in the six-month survey, the relapse rate was lower in treatment group than in control group （P〈0.01）. Conclusion： Combined acupuncture and herbs is effective for chronic pelvic inflammation, with fewer relapses.

Treatment of 65 Cases of Cervical Vertigo Treated by Acupuncture plus Medication

Objective： To investigate the efficacy of acupuncture plus puerarin and glucose injection for treating cervical vertigo. Method： 110 cases of cervical vertigo were divided into the treatment group and control group. 65 cases in the treatment group were treated by acupuncture plus puerarin and glucose injection and 45 cases in the control group were treated with Western medications. Results： In the treatment group, the results showed cure in 33 cases, effect in 29 cases and failure in 3 cases, and the total effective rate in 95.38%. In the control group, the results showed cure in 12 cases, effect in 23 cases and failure in 10 cases, and the total effective rate in 77.87%. In comparison of the total effective rate between the two groups, the treatment group was better than the control group （P〈0.01）. Conclusion： The therapeutic effect is better in the treatment of cervical vertigo by acupuncture plus herbal medicine.than that by Western medications.

Clinical Study on Combined Needle-embedding and Medication for Depressive Sleep Disorder

Objective： To observe the clinical efficacy of combined needle-embedding and SSRIs for depressive sleep disorder. Method： Upon admission, 71 depression cases were randomized into needle-embedding group of 24 cases, using combined needle-embedding and SSRls, acupuncture group of 21 cases, using combined acupuncture and SSRIs, and medication group of 26 cases, using SSRIs alone. Alter 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks of treatment, the HAMD sleep scores were compared. Result： The HAMD sleep scores in the needle-embedding and acupuncture group were remarkably superior to the medication group and there was significant statistical difference after 1, 2 and 4 weeks of treatment （P〈0.01）. However, there was no statistical difference after 6 weeks of treatment. Conclusion： SSRIs can improve HAMD sleep scores. The combined needle-embedding or acupuncture with SSRIs can work faster and better than medication alone. There was no statistical difference between needle-embedding and acupuncture group, however, needle-embedding can reduce the treatment frequencies and therefore has more active clinical meaning.