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Objective: To observe the efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) in treating dry eye syndromes (DES) and its regulatory effects on patient's quality of life (QOL), anxiety, and depression.Methods: By following a randomized controlled study design, eligible DES patients were allocated to an EA group (EAG) or an acupuncture group (AG). Patients in the AG were intervened by acupuncture alone, while in the EAG, electrical stimulation was applied to Cuanzhu (BL2) and Taiyang (EX-HN5) in addition to the same treatment in the AG. Changes in clinical manifestations, ocular surface disease index (OSDI), Schirmer tear test-1 (STT-1), tear-film break-up time (TF-BUT), cornea fluorescein staining (CFS), and corneal sensitivity (CS) were observed, as well as changes in the short-form 36-item health survey (SF-36) and hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) scores. Results: The scores of clinical symptoms, OSDI, and CFS decreased significantly in both EAG and AG when compared with the baseline values (P<0.05), respectively, while the TF-BUT and CS increased significantly (P<0.05), and the tear secretion of patients in the EAG increased (P<0.05). Compared with those before treatment, the scores of physical role functioning, general health perception, emotional role functioning, and mental health of patients in both EAG and AG showed significant increases after treatment (P<0.05), together with a marked decrease in the score of anxiety (P<0.05). Compared with the AG, the EAG obtained a more significant increase in STT-1 (P<0.05).Conclusion: DES patients respond well to both EA and acupuncture treatments, manifested by prolonged TF-BUT and improvement of CS. Meanwhile, the two approaches can improve QOL and reduce anxiety. Furthermore, EA appears more effective in increasing tear secretion than acupuncture alone.
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Objective To preliminarily optimize the acupuncture protocol in treating migraine in acute stage. Method Ninety patients with migraine in acute stage were observed, with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) as the evaluation index and an orthogonal design. Acupoints groups [Taiyang (EX-HN5), Fengchi (GB20), Taiyang (EX-HN5) and Fengchi (GB20)], insertion directions (perpendicular, downward penetration, and backward penetration), stimulation dosage (1 needle, 3 needles, and 5 needles) and acupuncture duration (30 min, 1 h, and 2 h), altogether 4 factors and 3 levels, formed up different acupuncture protocols to observe the analgesic efficacy in treating migraine in acute stage, so as to determine the role of the four factors (Chi-square test), advantage of the 3 levels (multiple comparisons) and the optimal grouping of the 4 factors and 3 levels. Result Acupoints group, insertion direction and stimulation dosage were the major factors in acupuncture analgesia, and the acupuncture duration was the secondary factor (P<0.05). The analgesic effect of Taiyang (EX-HN5) and Fengchi (GB20) was more significant than either Taiyang (EX-HN5) or Fengchi (GB20) (P<0.05). Penetration puncture from Naokong (GB19) towards Fengchi (GB20) (downward penetration) produced a more significant analgesic effect than from Fengchi (GB20) towards Wangu (GB12) and from Tianyou (TE16) towards Fengchi (GB20) (both backward penetration) (P<0.05). Acupuncture with Five needles and 3 needles (parallel horizontal insertion) were superior to that with 1 needle (P<0.05); acupuncture with 5 needles was better than that with 3 needles but without a statistical significance (P>0.05). Needle retaining for 2 h produced a better analgesic effect than retaining for 30 min and 1 h, but without statistical significances (P>0.05). Conclusion Taiyang (EX-HN5) plus Fengchi (GB20), downward penetration acupuncture, 5-needle parallel horizontal acupuncture, and 2-h needle retaining combine an optimal acupuncture protocol in treating migraine in acute stage. Nevertheless, 3-needle parallel acupuncture with 30-60-min needle retaining can also be chosen according to the condition of the patients.
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Objective To observe the change of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and satisfaction with treatment in preventing remissive migraine by puncturing Taiyang (EX-HN 5) at different depths. Methods Forty eligible migraine patients were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 20 in each group. The treatment group was intervened by deep needling at Taiyang (EX-HN 5) as the predominant treatment, while the control group was by superficial needling at Taiyang (EX-HN 5) as the predominant treatment. The VAS score and satisfaction degree with treatment were evaluated before and after treatment. Results The VAS score was significantly changed after intervention in the treatment group (P0.05). Conclusions Compared to superficial needling at Taiyang (EX-HN 5), deep needling at Taiyang (EX-HN 5) can significantly reduce the headache degree..
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Objective To investigate the effect of acupuncture at points Taiyang and Fengchi on the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and neural cell apoptosis during local cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in rabbits and explore its protective action on nerve cells and the mechanism.Methods Rabbits were randomized into sham operation, model and acupuncture groups. Each group was randomly allocated to three time points: one, three and seven days. A rabbit model of local cerebral ischemia and reperfusion was made by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)using an intraluminal thread. Reperfusion was performed at two hours after cerebral ischemia. In the acupuncture groups, points Taiyang and Fengchi were electro-acupunctured at six hours after cerebral ischemia. Treatment was given once daily. The rabbits were sacrificed to take materials at one, three and seven days after reperfusion. Pathological changes in brain tissue were observed by HE staining. Cerebral HSP70 expression was determined by immunohistochemical method. Neural cell apoptosis was examined by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL).Results Pathological staining showed that cerebral infarction area decreased significantly, the number of nerve cells increased and inflammatory infiltration reduced at every time point in the acupuncture group of rabbits compared with the model group. The results of histochemical examination showed that HSP70 expression decreased in the sham operation group and increased in the model group. It increased significantly at every corresponding time point in the acupuncture group compared with the model group (P<0.01). The number of apoptotic cells increased gradually with reperfusion prolongation and reached the peak at three hours in the model group. The number of apoptotic cells decreased significantly at every time point in the acupuncture group and there was a statistically significant difference by comparison with the model group (P<0.01).Conclusions Electroacupuncture at points Taiyang and Fengchi can increase cerebral HSP70 expression and decrease neural cell apoptosis to produce a nerve-protecting effect in rabbits with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.