Latest Acupuncture Research

Am J Chin Med. 2012; 40(1): 75-84
Chou WC, Liu HJ, Lin YW, Cheng CY, Li TC, Tang NY, Hsieh CL

According to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, channels and collaterals within the body provide pathways through which qi and blood travel, and each channel or collateral is linked with a specific organ. The Yinlingquan (spleen 9, SP9) and Ququan (liver 8, LR8) acupoints represent the sea points of the spleen and liver meridians, respectively, from which qi and blood flow into their specific visceral organs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in blood flow/perfusion in the liver and spleen resulting from the application of 2 Hz electro-acupuncture (EA) to the Yinlingquan (SP9) or Ququan (LR8) acupoints. A total of 18 Spragrue-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups of six rats each as follows: sham group receiving sham EA; Yinlingquan (SP9) group receiving 2 Hz EA, applied at bilateral Yinlingquan (SP9) acupoints; and Ququan (LR8) groups receiving 2 Hz EA, applied at bilateral Ququan (LR8) acupoints. The mean blood flow/perfusion of the spleen and liver was recorded using a laser Doppler blood flow monitor prior to EA (representing the baseline), during EA, and post-EA. Each measurement period lasted ten minutes. Nitric oxide levels were also measured from the right femoral arterial blood, following the conclusion of each series of blood flow/perfusion recordings. The results indicate that the sham EA did not increase the mean blood flow/perfusion in the liver or spleen; 2 Hz EA at bilateral Yinlingquan (SP9) acupoints increased the mean blood flow/perfusion in the spleen, but not in the liver. In contrast, 2 Hz EA at bilateral Ququan (LR8) acupoints increased the mean blood flow/perfusion in the liver, but not in the spleen. Nitric oxide levels showed no significant difference between any of the groups at any stage of the measurements. According to the results, we conclude that EA at the Yinlingquan (SP9) and Ququan (LR8) acupoints can increase the blood flow in the spleen and liver, respectively.

Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2012 Jan; 32(1): 92-6
Du WF, Yu L, Yan XK, Wang FC

To assess the efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion on constipation.A retrieval on literatures concerning treatment of constipation with acupuncture was carried out in databases of VIP, CNKI, WANFANG and PubMed. And meta-analyses were conducted on randomized controlled trial (RCT) and controlled clinical trial (CCT) which met the enrolling requirements.A total number of 15 papers involving 1 052 patients were concluded. The result indicated that the curative rate of acupuncture and moxibustion on constipation is better than ordinary medication (RR = 1.92, 95% CI 1.61-2.30, Z = 7.18, P < 0.000 01). And statistical significance can be found between acupuncture-moxibustion treatment and the routine medicine treatment (RR = 1.26, 95% CI 1.18-1.34, Z = 7.26, P < 0.000 01). In the comparison of abdominal pain, defecation duration and general symptom scores, statistical significance can be found between the differences of acupuncture and moxibustion group and control group (abdominal pain: WMD = -0.22, 95% CI-0.32-0.12, Z = 4.28, P < 0.000 1; defecation duration: WMD = -0.47, 95% CI-0.79-0.15, Z = 2.85, P < 0.004; general symptom scores: WMD = -0.41, 95% CI-0.79-0.03, Z = 2.13, P = 0.03).Acupuncture and moxibustion is effective to treat constipation. It has certain advantage when compare with the routine medication treatment. However, since singleness still exists in the index of assessment on therapeutic effect of constipation, and the number of RCT and CCT literatures, especially high-quality, large samples and multi-center reports were still not enough, further studies are still necessary for approving the above conclusions.

Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2012 Jan; 32(1): 89-91
Gang SK, Li L, Yi XL, Wei DX, Hou M

To analyze the relevant documents of hospital infection administration of acupuncture manipulation with filiform needles and acupuncture aseptic technique with filiform needles. The current situation is that acupuncturists have understanding insufficiency in hospital infection management, lack the sterile concepts and consciousness of disinfection and isolation. Aseptic technic principles aren't strictly followed; disinfection and isolation systems are unsound; sanitary condition of hand of medical staff is unsatisfied; and there is shortness in traditional long filiform needle manipulation. In future, we should explore the new model of hospital infection administration of acupuncture manipulation with filiform needles from implementations of relevant rules of hospital infection administration, establishment and supervision of sound corresponding system, further research of manipulation of filiform needles and formulation of septic technic criterion of filiform needles.

Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2012 Jan; 32(1): 75-7
Hu R

The current problem of acupuncture and moxibustion education is that incomplete and unsystematic content, simple and boring teaching method, and poor-level training in clinical practice. Therefore, students lack study initiative, dedication and passion for their professional study. The complete and systematic educational contents and innovative teaching methods of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Science are proposed. It also proposes innovative educational reform which is student-centered to foster students' professional skills in clinical practices.

Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2012 Jan; 32(1): 69-74
Xu CS, Li CF, Yang J, Bao F, Zhu YF, Xiang GB, Huang JJ, Lu Q

Effects of inter-individual variability on fMRI of acupuncture were observed and the possible influencing factors were further analyzed.Twenty-six healthy volunteers were selected. And acupuncture was applied at Zusanli (ST 36) on the left side with even manipulation. The same experimental designation and data collecting reference were adopted to collect functional data. Then, the same data processing method was applied for analyzing individual data. Data which did not confirm with data analyzing qualification were rejected. The 26 individual data which met the requirement were taken randomly for 5 times according to the principle of random group division. Five groups named with A, B, C, D and E were thus generated with 11 samples in each. Images were processed with the AFNI software for every group, and the activated brain areas were revealed.Activated areas in the brain were observed in all the 5 groups, and the results vary a lot among different groups. Decreased signals of activated brain areas were observed in group C, while increased signals were seen in group D. Partial increasing and partial decreasing signals appeared in the other 3 groups. Compared with other groups, group D demonstrated totally different activated areas. The rate of difference among different groups is 46.7%-100.0%, and most of the differences were over half of the activated areas.Under the pre-requisites of strict control of experimental designation, acupuncture method, data collecting and processing, great differences have been found in the activated areas of the brain. It indicates that obvious individual differences existes in the activated areas of the brain with acupuncture. And the difference may greatly influence the researching result of fMRI as well as conclusions of those results.

Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2012 Jan; 32(1): 65-8
Chen YR, Zhu J, Song JS, She YF

Acupuncture prescription is the key and effectiveness guarantee to acupuncture treatment. Proper selection of acupoint is directly related to the therapeutic effect of acupuncture. Several issues were discussesed, which were acupoint indications, clinical syndrome differentiation and acupoints selection. Acupuncturists should grasp the acupoints characteristic and pay attention to syndrome differentiation. Also they should have flexible selection of acupoints and keep pace with research updates when facing clinical problems in order to maximize the curative effect of acupuncture.

Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2012 Jan; 32(1): 59-64
Yang QH, Ma WH, Li YH

To explore the best acupoint combination of acupuncture-assisted anesthesia in gynecologic laparoscopy operation.Ninety patients, with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I - II, and scheduled for elective gynecologic laparoscopy operation, were randomly divided into 3 groups, 30 cases in each group. Group I received only general anesthesia, group II and group III received general anesthesia after Han's acupoint nerve stimulator (HANS) administered for 30 min, bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were selected for group II, and bilateral Hegu (LI 4) and Taichong (LR 3) were selected for group III. During operation, the concentration of Seveflurine was adjusted to maintain NTS at D1-D2. The change of ETsev value was recorded, the heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were observed, and the time from the end of operation to extubation, awake time were recorded adverse events such as restlessness, shivering, postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting, cases of respiratory depression, the analepsia quality, the time of first anus exhaust, the awaking of patient in operation and satisfactory of patients after surgery were recorded so as to evaluate the effect of acupuncture anesthesia.Compared with group I, the ETsev in group II was decreased 35% (P < 0.05), group ifi was decreased 25% (P < 0.05), with a significant difference between group II and group III (P < 0.05). BP and HR had more stability in group II and group III, the best in group II. As for the time from the end of operation to extubation and the time from the end of operation to open the eye on command, group I was the longest (all P < 0.05), group III was longer, group II was the shortest. The score of restlessness, postoperative pain, vomiting and in analepsia were the highest in group I (all P < 0.05), higher in group III and the lowest in group II. Consciousness score was lowest in group I (P < 0.05). As for the satisfactory of patient after operation, it was higher in group II and group IIII (both P < 0.05 ) than group I. The time of first anus exhaust in group II and group III were significantly shorter than that in group I (both P < 0.05).Han's acupoint nerve stimulator has a certain adjuvant action for general anesthesia and analgesia and acupuncture point combination with both Zusanli (ST 36)and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) have the best effect in gynecologic laparoscopy operation. It can decrease the dosage of anaesthetic, has a stable effect on HR and BP during the surgery and has a better quality of analepsia.

Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2012 Jan; 32(1): 47-52
Dai XJ, Min YJ, Gong HH, Gao L, Wang SY, Zhou FQ, Xiao XZ, Liu BX

To discuss the central modulating mechanism of Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) differences of the functional brain regions between SP 6 and sham acupoint.Sixteen volunteers accepted right Sanyinjiao (SP 6) (SP 6 group) or right sham (sham group) acupuncture for two times after 24 h sleep deprivation (SD), there was two weeks between two acupunctures. The needle was retained for 4 minutes and the brain fMRI scanning was performed by 3.0 TMR every time. The ALFF consequent data was processed by REST. One-sample t-test and two-pair t-test were performed by SPM5.SP 6 group mainly caused ALFF change in inferior parietal lobule, posterior cingulated while sham group in precuneus, posterior cingulated. SP 6 group increased ALFF in left fusiform temporal gyrus, medial frontal gyrus with no decreased regions compared with sham group.Retaining needle dose influence the activity of the brain region during resting-state in both group, especially the mood-related regions. And its mechanism is probably that the relevant effect is carried out by regulating function to target organs of complex brain network comprised of relevant functional center and related brain region. There are differences between SP 6 and Sham acupoint.

Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2012 Jan; 32(1): 39-41
Wang KJ, Sun HS

According to the records in ancient Chinese literatures such as Lingshu (Miraculous Pivot), Nanjing (The Yellow Emperor's Canon of 81 Difficult Issues), Jinzhen fu (Odes to Golden Needles) and Zhenjiu Dacheng (Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion), the importance of pressing hand has been always stressed. The role of the pressing hand can irreplaceable by the puncturing hand. The touching and pressing with the pressing hand assist on the accurate location of acupoint. The plucking technique may invigorate meridian qi and promote the arrival of qi. Inserting the needle against the finger nail of the pressing hand avoids or alleviates pain to the largest extent. Detecting along meridian and pressing technique main induce qi getting to the affected area. This paper introduces the importance of pressing hand, aiming to suggest the clinical physicians pay more attentions to the effect of the pressing hand in acupuncture practice.

Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2012 Jan; 32(1): 26-30
Yang R, Liu YX

To probe an effective therapeutic method for the treatment of shoulder periarthritis.Ninety-six patients were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and an abdominal acupuncture group, 48 cases in each. According to clinical pathological staging, the disease was divided into pain stage and adhesion stage. In abdominal acupuncture group, 24 cases were in pain stage and treated with acupuncture at Zhongwan (CV 12), Shangqu (KI 17) on the healthy side, Huaroumen (ST 24) on the affected side and others; 24 cases were in adhesion stage and treated with acupuncture at Zhongwan (CV 12), Xiawan (CV 10), Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4) and others. In acupuncture group, there were 24 cases in either pain stage or adhesion stage, treated with acupuncture at Jianyu (LI 15), Jianliao (TE 14), Jianzhen (SI 9) and others on the affected side. In either group, the treatment was given three times a week, three weeks treatment made one session, 9 treatments totally. Before and after treatment, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was adopted for pain assessment and functional activity score (Melle score) was for shoulder joint function assessment for all the patients.After one session treatment, the efficacy was compared between two groups. In abdominal acupuncture group, the total effective rates were 95.8% (23/24) and 91.7% (22/24) in pain stage and adhesion stage respectively. In acupuncture group, the total effective rates were 91.7% (22/24) and 79.2% (19/24) in pain stage and adhesion stage respectively. The efficacy in adhesion stage of abdominal acupuncture group was better than that in acupuncture group (P < 0.05). After treatment, VAS score and Melle score were all reduced as compared with those before treatment in either group (all P < 0.01), in which, the reducing ranges in abdominal acupuncture group were larger than those in acupuncture group (all P < 0.05).Abdominal acupuncture achieves a significant efficacy on shoulder periarthritis in stages. It is an effective therapy for shoulder periarthritis.