Application of Acupuncture in the Earthquake Relief

Tens of thousands of people lost their lives after the earthquake ravaged Wenchuan, Sichuan province on May 12, 2008, and hundreds of thousands of people were injured during the earthquake.     

Experience in Application of PBL Teaching Method in the Clinical Teaching of Acupuncture

PBL教学模式与传统的教学方法不同,它强调培养学生自主学习、解决问题的技能和分析、整合的思维能力.在应用PBL教学法过程中,教师的作用应着重体现在如何选择开展的时期、提供题材、激发兴趣、查阅信息及点评总结等方面,既"授人以鱼,又授人以渔".     

Announcement of Compiling the Special Issue of Acupuncture in the Whole World-Global Events Record of Acu-Moxi

Commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Foundation of World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS)     

Efficacy and Safety of Acupuncture in the Management of Cancer

Acupuncture,as a complementary therapy,has been used to manage the cancer associated symptoms ofcancer patients.Toidentifythe efficacy andsafety of acupunctureinthe management of cancer,this reviewcrit-ically analyses the relevant publicationsincluding both experi mental and clinical studies.The majority of studiessuggest that acupuncture effectivelyrelieves some cancer relatedsymptoms suchas cancer pain,andsome adverseeffects caused by the cancer conventional treatments such as nausea,vomitin…     

Is Chios mastic gum effective in the treatment of functional dyspepsia? A prospective randomised double-blind placebo controlled trial

Background

Herbal remedies are increasingly popular for the treatment of functional dyspepsia. Chios mastic gum is a resinous exudate from the stem of Pistacia lentiscus var. chia. It is a traditional natural remedy used throughout the eastern Mediterranean.The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of Chios mastic gum in patients with functional dyspepsia.

Methods

One hundred and forty eight patients fulfilling Rome II criteria for functional dyspepsia were randomly assigned to receive either Chios mastic gum 350 mg three times daily or placebo. After 3 weeks of treatment the change from baseline in the severity of symptoms of functional dyspepsia was assessed using the Hong Kong index of dyspepsia. Patients’ global assessment of efficacy was also evaluated.

Results

The symptom score after treatment was significantly lower in the Chios mastic gum than in the placebo group ((14.78 ± 1.78) vs (19.96 ± 1.83)) (p < 0.05). There was a marked improvement of symptoms in 40% of patients receiving placebo and in 77% of patients receiving Chios mastic gum (p < 0.02). Individual symptoms that showed significant improvement with Chios mastic gum were: stomach pain in general, stomach pain when anxious, dull ache in the upper abdomen and heartburn (<0.05 for all four symptoms).

Conclusion

Chios mastic gum significantly improves symptoms in patients with functional dyspepsia compared to placebo.     

Study of the Specificity of Lumbosacral Points in Regulating Unstable Bladder

目的：通过临床随机对照研究，观察针刺肾俞、会阳、肾俞加会阳对不稳定膀胱（USB）主要症状的影响，探索针刺不同穴位治疗USB的穴位特异性。方法：将89例USB患者随机分为三组，即肾俞组、会阳组和肾俞加会阳组，以I—PSS积分为观察指标，分别在治疗3次、治疗6次后进行疗效评定和组间比较。结果：肾俞组、会阳组和肾俞加会阳组均能明显改善USB患者I—PSS总积分（P〈0．05），会阳组和肾俞加会阳组疗效优于肾俞组（P〈0．05）；肾俞组、会阳组和肾俞加会阳组的有效率分别为50．0％、82．8％和90．0％，但会阳组和肾俞加会阳组要明显高于肾俞组（P〈0．05）。结论：会阳穴、肾俞穴、肾俞加会阳穴均能调节USB患者排尿紊乱症状，改善生活质量。并且以肾俞加会阳穴治疗效应最显著。     

A study of the motion pivot in the spine——The measurement of the angle between the vertebra body and the inferior articular facet and its application in the spinal manipulation

spinal motion pivot, spinal manipulation, the angle of facet joint, force direction, cylinder pivot motion theory The spinal joint consists of a disc and posterior facet joints. It is the biomechanical structure that enables the spine with six (6) freedoms of movements of flexion/extension, side bends and rotations. We identified that the same spinal joints initiate, eliminate and control spinal movement. These four joints are the atlanto-occipital and the atlanto-odontoid joints, C7/T 1, T12/L1 and L5/S1. The word“pivot”is commonly used to describe an important ruruing porint or matter in Chinese language.We define the above four joints as“pivots” in this article.The joints are briefed as“Occipital-vertebral pivot”(atlanto-occipital and atlanto-odontoid joint),“cervicalthoracic pivot” (C7/T1),“thoracic-lumbar pivot” (T12/L1)and“lumbar-sacrum pivot”(L5/S1). After measuring 20 human spinal columns (dry bones), observing the angle between the vertebral body and the inferior articular faeet,reviewing the spinal anatomy and biomechanics and analyzing the Chinese spinal manipulation techniques and theory, the following is our report:     

Effects of Acupuncture on the Constipation in Rats Model

目的观察针刺对便秘大鼠模型排便功能的影响.方法利用复方地芬诺酯复制便秘大鼠模型,观察针刺"合谷"、"后三里"对大鼠首次排便时间、12 h排便粒数和排便重量的影响.结果模型组大鼠首次排便时间延长、大便粒数和重量显著减少;针刺治疗后,便秘大鼠首次排便时间显著缩短,12 h大便重量和粒数明显增加.结论针刺能够显著改善便秘大鼠的排便功能.     

Effects of Banxiaxiexin Decoction on the SCF Gene Expression in the Stomach Wall of Rat Model of Electrogastric Dysrhythmias

Electrogastricdysrhythmiasiscommoninclinicandrelatedtogastrointestinaltractfunctionaldiseases .Itisoneoftheim portantreasonsingastrointestinaltractmotordisorders.RecentstudiesshowthattheinterstitialcellsofCajal (ICC)adjustthemotorofgastrointestinaltract.ThenumberandstructureofICCinpartofthegastrointestinaltracthavechangedinsomemotivitydiseasessuchascardioinchalasia ,diabeticgastroparesis,etc .TheICCsexpressc -kitgene .TheirdevelopmentandthephenotypelastingaredependonthesignalofKitandthepr…     

Skin Slice as a Model for the Investigation of the Role of Mast Cells in Acupuncture Effects

Objective： To establish a new and better model to investigate the properties of mast cells that could be involved in acupuncture process mechanisms. Methods： Connective tissue under the corium at the area of acupuncture point Zusanli （ST 36） from rat was acutely bluntly separated with forceps and scissors, and incubated in bath solution up to several hours. Mast cells in slices of that tissue were irradiated with laser light of 650 nm, and changes in the appearance were observed under microscope. In addition, patch-clamp technique in whole-cell configuration was employed to induce mechanosensitive currents by pressure applied through the patch pipette. Results： 1） A high density of mast cells embedded in the extracellular matrix was detected in the tissue slices using toluidine blue staining. The mast cells survived for up to several hours;     

“The 15^th Anniversary of the Foundation of the World Federation of Acumoxi Societies”Was Held in Beijing

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Progress in the study of Yang-deficiency constitution in terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine: a narrative review

The Yang-deficiency constitution has been a hot topic of interest in recent years. Important research progress has been made in quantitative diagnostic criteria and auxiliary identification technologies, modern biological interpretations of the constitution characteristics, the association between the Yang-deficiency constitution and diseases, as well as the mechanisms of regulating the constitution. Yet, there are still some deficiencies and limitations. Herein, we systematically reviewed the r...     

Ethnopharmacology of liakra: traditional weedy vegetables of the Arbëreshë of the Vulture area in southern Italy

An ethnobiological field study on food plants and medicinal foods traditionally consumed in three Arb?resh (ethnic Albanian) communities in northern Lucania (southern Italy) document approximately 120 botanical taxa used for these purposes. Non-domesticated food vegetables (liakra), mostly gathered during the spring season, play a central role as traditional functional food. Quantitative ethnobotanical, ethnotaxonomical, ethnoecological, ethnogastronomical, and ethnopharmacological aspects related to gathering, processing, cooking and consumption of liakra are discussed. Unusual food species, such as Lycium europeaum, Centaurea calcitrapa, and a few spontaneous weedy Asteraceae and Brassicaceae species are locally used in the kitchen. Most of these are very poorly known phytochemically and phytopharmacologically. Moreover, an analysis of taste perception of the most commonly used botanical foods was conducted in the village of Ginestra. Arb?resh taste classification and indigenous criteria related to the perception of bitter taste in considering non-cultivated plants as food or medicine are discussed as well.     

Comparison of the Cost-utility Analysis of Electroacupuncture and Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs in the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain

Introduction and objective

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is among the most common and important reasons for visiting a spine surgeon by patients; it is the second cause of visiting a doctor. Low back pain can cause considerable suffering and is a major financial burden in the society. There are many different methods available for the treatment of CLBP. This study aimed to compare the cost-utility of electroacupuncture (EA) and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), as two common treatment methods for patients with CLBP.

Education of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States

Currently, there are four categories of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the United States of America: 1 ) about 80 CAM schools, 3““-,4 year program focusing on acupuncture and herbal medicine; 4““5 year program for chiropractic. 2) 64% of the US medical schools offer CAM courses, such as acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal medicine and homeopathy. Harvard Medical School has been of fering CAM for 9 years.     

Influence of acupuncture plus LONG’s manual manipulations on functional improvement in lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion

目的：观察针刺结合龙氏手法对腰椎间盘突出症患者功能的改善情况。方法：将60例患者随机分为观察组与对照组,每组各30例。观察组采用针刺结合龙氏手法治疗,对照组采用单纯针刺治疗。根据日本骨科学会（Japanese Orthopaedic Association,JOA）评分系统评定腰椎功能,根据视觉模拟评分（Visual Analog Scale,VAS）进行疗效评定。结果：治疗后两组JOA差值及改善指数均有统计学差异（P〈0．05）。观察组的VAS较治疗前有非常显著性降低（P〈0．01）,对照组有显著性降低（P〈0．05）;两组治疗后VAS比较有显著性差异（P〈0．05）。结论：针刺结合龙氏手法对腰椎间盘突出症患者的功能改善作用优于单纯针刺治疗。     

Effect of electroacupuncture on the expression of PGC-1α and UCP-1in the brown adipose tissue of obese rats

Objective

To explore the effect of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) and uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1) in the brown adipose tissue (BAT) of obese rats in the process of acupuncture treatment for obesity.

Acupuncture Treatment Can Prevent Decrease of cAMP and cGMP Contents of the Sciatic Nerve in the Diabetes Rats

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Mechanism of the Reversal Effect of Acupuncture on the Fall of Blood Pressure Induced by Angiotensin-（1-7） in the Caudal Ventrolateral Medulla of Rats

目的：研究电针逆转血管紧张素-（17）[Ang-（1—7）]在大鼠延髓尾端腹外侧区（CVLM）引起血压降低的作用机制。方法：采用中枢核团微量注射和微透析，以及高效液相色谱（HPLC）荧光检测等技术观察Ang（17）及其选择性受体拮抗剂（D-Ala7）-Ang-（1—7）（Ang-779）在大鼠CVLM引起血压改变时氨基酸类神经递质释放的变化以及电针对血压和氨基酸类递质释放的影响。结果：在CVLM微量注射Ang（1—7）可引起血压降低，同时伴该区内兴奋性氨基酸谷氨酸（Glu）释放增多和抑制性氨基酸牛磺酸（Trau）释放减少；相反，在CVLM微量注射Ang779则可引起血压升高，同时伴Glu释放减少和Tau释放增多。在相当于人”足三里”穴位电针20min，可分别抑制在CVLM微量注射Ang—（1-7）或Ang779所引起的血压降低或升高，同时也能部分抵消注射Ang-（17）或Ang779所引起的Glu、Tau释放的改变。结论：电针逆转Ang（1-7）或Ang-779在CVLM引起的降压或升压作用可能与Glu、Tau释放量的改变有关。