Clinical Efficacy Of Acupuncture Treatment Research Articles

Deqi Sensation to Predict Acupuncture Effect on Functional Dyspepsia: A Machine Learning Study.

Objectives The aim of the study was to predict the effect of acupuncture for treating functional dyspepsia (FD) using the support vector machine (SVM) techniques based on initial deqi sensations of patients. Methods This retrospective study involved 90 FD patients who had received four weeks of acupuncture treatment. The support vector classification model was used to distinguish higher responders (patients with Symptom Index of Dyspepsia improvement score ≥ 2) from lower responders (patients with Symptom Index of Dyspepsia improvement score < 2). A support vector regression model was used to predict the change in the Symptom Index of Dyspepsia at the end of acupuncture treatment. Deqi sensations of patients in the first acupuncture treatment of a 20-session acupuncture intervention were defined as features and used to train models. Models were validated by 10-fold cross-validation and evaluated by accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, the area under the receive-operating curve, the coefficient of determination (R2), and the mean squared error. Results The two models could predict the efficacy of acupuncture successfully. These models had an accuracy of 0.84 in predicting acupuncture response, and an R2 of 0.16 in the prediction of symptom improvements, respectively. The presence or absence of deqi sensation, the duration of deqi sensation, distention, and pain were finally selected as significant predicting features. Conclusion Based on the SVM algorithms and deqi sensation, the current study successfully predicted the acupuncture response as well as clinical symptom improvement in FD patients at the end of treatment. Our prediction models are expected to promote the clinical efficacy of acupuncture treatment for FD, reduce medical expenditures, and optimize the allocation of medical resources.

Exploring Acupuncture Actions in the Body and Brain.

Acupuncture's actions have been explained by biomedical research. However, the meridian system used in acupuncture needs further clarification. This review describes how acupuncture affects the body and brain. From the perspective of traditional East Asian medicine, the meridian system is closely connected with acupuncture's treatment effects. In the body, the indications of acupoints, primarily established based on the meridian system, have spatial symptom patterns. Spatial patterns of acupoint indications are distant from the stimulated sites and strongly associated with the corresponding meridian's route. Understanding how acupuncture works based on the original meridian system is important. From a neuroscience perspective, an acupuncture-induced sensation originates from the bottom-up action of simple needling in the peripheral receptor and the reciprocal interaction with top-down brain modulation. In the brain, enhanced bodily attention triggered by acupuncture stimulation can activate the salience network and deactivate the default mode network regardless of the actual stimulation. The application of data science technology to acupuncture research may provide new tools to uncover the principles of acupoint selection and enhance the clinical efficacy of acupuncture treatment in various diseases.

Effect of acupuncture on gut microbiota in participants with subjective cognitive decline.

A close relationship has recently been described between subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and gut microbiota disorders. Herein, we aim to investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on gut microbiota in participants with SCD.We conducted a study of 60 participants with SCD. Sixty participants were allocated to either EA group (n = 30) or sham acupuncture group (n = 30). Both groups received 24 sessions of real acupuncture treatment or identical treatment sessions using the placebo needle. Global cognitive change based on a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery was evaluated to detect the clinical efficacy of acupuncture treatment at the baseline and the end of treatment. Faecal microbial analyses were carried out after collecting stools at T0 and T12 weeks. Microbiomes were analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Correlation analyses were performed to investigate the relationships between the changes in gut microbiota and symptom improvement.Age is a particularly important factor leading to the severity of dementia. Compared with sham acupuncture group, the number of Escherichia–Shigella in EA group decreased after treatment. The number of Escherichia–Shigella in EA group decreased after treatment compared with EA group before treatment. Bifidobacterium is positively correlated with clinical efficacy Z-score and Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (both P < .005).Acupuncture could improve global cognitive change among SCD participants by regulating the intestinal flora. Dysbiosis was found in the gut microbiome in SCD and partially relieved by acupuncture. Our study suggests that gut microbiota could be a potential therapeutic target and diagnostic biomarker for SCD.

Predicting acupuncture efficacy for functional dyspepsia based on routine clinical features: a machine learning study in the framework of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine.

Acupuncture is safe and effective for functional dyspepsia (FD), while its efficacy varies among individuals. Predicting the response of different FD patients to acupuncture treatment in advance and therefore administering the tailored treatment to the individual is consistent with the principle of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM/3PM). In the current study, the individual efficacy prediction models were developed based on the support vector machine (SVM) algorithm and routine clinical features, aiming to predict the efficacy of acupuncture in treating FD and identify the FD patients who were appropriate to acupuncture treatment. A total of 745 FD patients were collected from two clinical trials. All the patients received a 4-week acupuncture treatment. Based on the demographic and baseline clinical features of 80% of patients in trial 1, the SVM models were established to predict the acupuncture response and improvements of symptoms and quality of life (QoL) at the end of treatment. Then, the left 20% ofpatients in trial 1 and 193 patients in trial 2 were respectively applied to evaluate the internal and external generalizations of these models. These models could predict the efficacy of acupuncture successfully. In the internal test set, models achieved an accuracy of 0.773 in predicting acupuncture response and an R 2 of 0.446 and 0.413 in the prediction of QoL and symptoms improvements, respectively. Additionally, these models had well generalization in the independent validation set and could also predict, to a certain extent, the long-term efficacy of acupuncture at the 12-week follow-up. The gender, subtype of disease, and education level were finally identified as the critical predicting features. Based on the SVM algorithm and routine clinical features, this study established the models to predict acupuncture efficacy for FD patients. The prediction models developed accordingly are promising to assist doctors in judging patients' responses to acupuncture in advance, so that they could tailor and adjust acupuncture treatment plans for different patients in a prospective rather than the reactive manner, which could greatly improve the clinical efficacy of acupuncture treatment for FD and save medical expenditures. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13167-022-00271-8.

Acupuncture treatment for acute icteric hepatitis

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture treatment for acute icteric hepatitis. Method: Forty patients with acute icteric hepatitis were randomized into a treatment group and a control group (20 in each group). Oral liver-protecting medicine was administrated for the control group. In the treatment group, acupuncture with Yinlingquan-SP9, Yanglingquan-GB34, Zhusanli-ST36, Sanyinjiao-SP6, and Taichong-LR3 was added. The clinical efficacies and serum liver enzymes, including (TB, ALT, and GGT) were evaluated. Result: The total effective rate was 94.7% in the treatment group and 85.0% in the control group respectively, which differed significantly different(P&lt;0.05). The liver function indexes decreased significantly in both groups after treatment (P&lt;0.01). The indicators of the treatment group were significantly lower than those of the control group after treatment (P&lt;0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture combined with hepatoprotective drugs could be an effective method to treat acute jaundice hepatitis and showed better effectiveness than the single use of the conventional therapy.

The Spontaneous Activity Pattern of the Middle Occipital Gyrus Predicts the Clinical Efficacy of Acupuncture Treatment for Migraine Without Aura.

The purpose of the present study was to explore whether and to what extent the neuroimaging markers could predict the relief of the symptoms of patients with migraine without aura (MWoA) following a 4-week acupuncture treatment period. In study 1, the advanced multivariate pattern analysis was applied to perform a classification analysis between 40 patients with MWoA and 40 healthy subjects (HS) based on the z-transformed amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (zALFF) maps. In study 2, the meaningful classifying features were selected as predicting features and the support vector regression models were constructed to predict the clinical efficacy of acupuncture in reducing the frequency of migraine attacks and headache intensity in 40 patients with MWoA. In study 3, a region of interest–based comparison between the pre- and post-treatment zALFF maps was conducted in 33 patients with MwoA to assess the changes in predicting features after acupuncture intervention. The zALFF value of the foci in the bilateral middle occipital gyrus, right fusiform gyrus, left insula, and left superior cerebellum could discriminate patients with MWoA from HS with higher than 70% accuracy. The zALFF value of the clusters in the right and left middle occipital gyrus could effectively predict the relief of headache intensity (R2 = 0.38 ± 0.059, mean squared error = 2.626 ± 0.325) and frequency of migraine attacks (R2 = 0.284 ± 0.072, mean squared error = 20.535 ± 2.701) after the 4-week acupuncture treatment period. Moreover, the zALFF values of these two clusters were both significantly reduced after treatment. The present study demonstrated the feasibility and validity of applying machine learning technologies and individual cerebral spontaneous activity patterns to predict acupuncture treatment outcomes in patients with MWoA. The data provided a quantitative benchmark for selecting acupuncture for MWoA.

A Clinical Randomized Controlled Trial of Acupuncture Treatment of Gastroparesis Using Different Acupoints

Objective To explore the effect of “selecting acupoints by site” on the synergy effect of “acupoint compatibility” according to the clinical efficacy of acupuncture treatment of patients with gastroparesis. Methods A total of 99 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for gastroparesis were enrolled in 3 clinical centers and randomly divided into group A (33 cases), group B (33 cases, 1 case of shedding), and group C (33 cases, 1 case of shedding). In group A, acupuncture was performed at Zhongwan (CV 12) and Zusanli (ST 36); in group B, acupuncture was performed at Neiguan (PC 6) and Zusanli (ST 36); in group C, acupuncture was performed at nonacupoint and Zusanli (ST 36). Treatment was performed for 30 minutes every day, 5 days as a course of treatment. There were 2 days off between courses and three courses in total. Differences in a main symptom index of gastroparesis (GCSI) scores, 9 symptom scores, and a health questionnaire (SF-36) were compared between each group before and after treatment and 4 weeks after the end of treatment. The difference of gastric emptying rate was compared before and after treatment. Results The GCSI scores of each group after treatment and at follow-up were significantly lower than those before treatment (P < 0.01), and the reduction in group A was greater than that of groups B and C (P < 0.01). The score of each symptom was meaningfully lower than that before treatment (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). The effect was best in group A, followed by group B. After treatment, the barium meal in the stomach of the three groups was significantly reduced compared with before treatment (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference between the groups. The results of SF-36 showed that acupuncture treatment can improve health status, to a certain extent, and there was no significant difference in the three groups. Conclusion (1) Acupuncture is an effective method for the treatment of gastroparesis. (2) The combination of Zhongwan (CV 12) with Zusanli (ST 36) showed the most promising effect on relief of the symptoms in patients with gastroparesis. (3) “Selecting acupoints by site” is the key factor affecting the synergy effect of “acupoint compatibility.” This trial was registered with the International Center for Clinical Trials (registration no. NCT02594397).

Acupuncture treatment for depressive symptom in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized controlled study

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture treatment for depressive symptom in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D).

Efficacy and neural mechanism of acupuncture treatment in older adults with subjective cognitive decline: study protocol for a randomised controlled clinical trial

IntroductionSubjective cognitive decline (SCD) refers to individuals’ perceived decline in memory and/or other cognitive abilities relative to their previous level of performance, while objective neuropsychological deficits are not observed. SCD...

Therapeutic effect of "Zhishen-Tiaosui" acupuncture for the stroke patients with unilateral spatial neglect

Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of acupuncture treatment for the stroke patients with unilateral spatial neglect. Methods A total of 66 patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomized into two groups, 33 in each group. The control group was treated with conventional body acupuncture, and the treatment group was treated with Zhishen-Tiaosui acupuncture treatment. Both groups were treated for 20 days and followed up for 8 weeks. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) was used to assess limb motor function, and the Catherine Bergego Scale (CBS) was used to assess the daily living ability and the extent of unilateral spatial neglect. The Modified Barthel Index (MBI) assesses the ability of daily living and evaluates clinical outcomes. Results After treatment, FMA (39.21 ± 8.96 vs. 26.34 ± 8.06, t=6.135), MBI (49.62 ± 10.19 vs. 40.18 ± 9.52, t=5.919) in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.01), CBS (9.55 ± 4.68 vs. 18.20 ± 6.97, t=3.889) were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.01). Treatment group brain regions in the left frontal back, the left inferior frontal gyrus, left occipital in back to back to back to before the left temporal and temporal, left and right side of the anterior cingulate, back in the right frontal, cingulate gyrus of the left side, left precuneus activation intensity were significantly higher than the control group (t=4.615, 3.052, 3.644, 3.575, 3.152, 2.816, 2.579, 3.511, P<0.01). The total effective rate was 78.8% (26/33) in the treatment group and 54.5% (18/33) in the control group. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (χ2=5.657, P=0.017). Conclusions The Zhishen-Tiaosui can improve the blood circulation of the brain in the unilateral space of the stroke, enhance the cognitive function and exercise capacity, and improve the daily living ability. Key words: Stroke; Unilateral spatial neglect; Therapeutic therapy; Body acupuncture; Points, scalp stimulation areas; Magnetic resonance imaging

Systematic Review of Acupuncture Treatment for Mild Cognitive Impairment

Background: The aim of this study was to review clinical efficacy of acupuncture treatment of mild cognitive impairment. Methods: Randomized controlled trials that performed acupuncture treatment for mild cognitive impairment were retrieved from 6 online databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CNKI, NDSL, OASIS) on September 30th, 2018. Studies were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, and were reviewed by Risk of Bias assessment. Results: In total, 21 studies were included in this review. All studies were Chinese (19 studies published in Chinese and 2 in English). The sample size, 50 to 100, and the number of treatment times, 20 to 30, were the largest range in all studies. The most treatments performed was 30. The longest treatment period was 56 days, which accounted for 33% of the studies. The most frequently used evaluation index was the Mini Mental State Examination followed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, each used 17 times and 15 times, respectively. The most frequently used acupoints were GV20, EX-HN1, GB20, and GV24, which accounted for 47% of total number of acupoints used. In 48% of the studies, needle retention time was 30 minutes. Western medicine treatment was the most common control group. Most studies reported that the intervention group was statistically significantly different to the control group. Conclusion: These results suggest that acupuncture for mild cognitive impairment was effective. However, it is difficult to confirm this conclusion because the quality of most of these studies were of low quality.

Review of the mechanism of essential hypertension treated by acupuncture

The relevant literature of pathogenesis of essential hypertension (EH) and the clinical efficacy of acupuncture treatment of EH was retrieved from January 1, 1999 to February 28, 2018 in the CNKI and PubMed databases, and aimed to summarize and explore the mechanism of antihypertensive by acupuncture.It has been found that acupuncture exerts antihypertensive effect by coordinating multi-system, multi-target, multi-layer adjustment mechanism, such as acupuncture inhibiting of central and peripheral sympathetic nerve activity, rejusting immune system and expression of inflammatory response factors, regulating the balance of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), improving vascular structure and function, the anti-oxidative stress and promoting autophagy.

Effects of acupuncture in treating insomnia due to spleen-stomach disharmony syndrome and its influence on intestinal microbiome: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundInsomnia is a common complaint that is closely related to gastrointestinal symptoms, which is consistent with the traditional Chinese medicine classical theory of “stomach disharmony leading to restless sleep.” Acupuncture is an effective complementary and alternative medicine therapy to improve gastrointestinal function and restore the normal sleep-wake cycle. However, studies on the effectiveness of acupuncture for insomnia due to spleen-stomach disharmony syndrome are limited to case reports and few randomized controlled trials; deeper research on its mechanism is still lacking. This randomized controlled trial aims to assess the treatment efficacy of “harmonizing stomach to tranquilize mind” acupuncture for insomnia and its influence on the intestinal microbiome. Methods/designThis is a randomized, single-blind, parallel-group study. Sixty eligible patients with insomnia due to spleen-stomach disharmony syndrome will be randomly divided into two groups (1:1 allocation ratio). The intervention group will use “harmonizing stomach to tranquilize mind” acupuncture, and the control group will receive sham acupuncture. Participants will receive 5 acupuncture treatment sessions per week for 4 consecutive weeks. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index will be used to evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture treatment by making assessments at baseline, the end of treatment and the end of the follow-up. High-throughput 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene sequencing will be performed to detect changes in the intestinal microbial composition before and after treatment. DiscussionThe results of this trial are expected to confirm that “harmonizing stomach to tranquilize mind” acupuncture can effectively relieve insomnia and alter the intestinal microbiome. Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trials Registry: ChiCTR1800017092.

Acupuncture on back-shu points of five zang for chronic fatigue syndrome: A randomized control trial

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture on back-shu points of five zang in treating chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). MethodsSixty patients were randomized into treatment group and control group. In treatment group, the back-shu points of five zang organs were adopted for acupuncture. Shènshū (肾俞 BL23) was perpendicularly needled 15–30 mm in depth. The rest of the selected points were inserted obliquely 15–30 mm in the direction of the spine with even method of lifting-thrusting and twisting-twirling, 10 s for each acupoint. In control group, the acupoints were approximately 1.5–2 cm away outward from the back-shu points of five zang organs (about on the middle of the two sidelines of the bladder meridian of foot-taiyang) and the points from the bladder meridian of foot-taiyang were excluded. Acupoints were needled 6–9 mm in depth, and deqi was not required, without any manipulation. The treatments were carried out twice a week for twenty minutes each time, a total of eight treatments were given. The clinical efficacy of acupuncture treatment for CFS was evaluated through the Fatigue Scale-14 (FS-14) and the Symptom Check-List 90 (SCL-90) after treatment. ResultsThe total effective rate was 86.67% in the treatment group and 53.33% in the control group (P < 0.01). In treatment group, FS-14 total scores, somatic fatigue scores, and mental fatigue scores were significantly reduced than before treatment (all P < 0.01). In control group, FS-14 total scores and somatic fatigue scores were significantly reduced (both P < 0.01). The improvement of FS-14 total scores, somatic fatigue scores, and mental fatigue scores in the treatment group were better than those in the control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). After treatment, SCL-90 total scores and somatization, compulsion, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, psychoticism, and other factors scores were significantly reduced in the treatment group compared with before treatment (P < 0.01). In control group, the SCL-90 total scores and the scores of somatization, compulsion, hostility, and other factors after treatment were lower than those before treatment (P < 0.01). The total scores of SCL-90 and somatization, compulsion, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, psychoticism, and other factors in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). ConclusionsAcupuncture on back-shu points of five zang can significantly improve the somatic fatigue and mental fatigue of the patients, and at the same time improve their psychological status. Significant therapeutic effect was found on CFS. Compared with the control group, the acupuncture treatment can significantly improve the patient's somatic fatigue, mental fatigue and psychological status.

The central mechanism of acupuncture treatment with a long-lasting effect for functional dyspepsia: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundThe mechanism of the long-lasting effect and the relationship between the long-lasting effect and the deqi sensation, which is the key of achieving the acupuncture effect, has not been well investigated. This trial focuses on investigating the possible central mechanism of the long-lasting effect influenced by the deqi sensation.MethodsA randomized controlled functional brain imaging trial is currently being conducted in Sichuan, China. In total 105 functional dyspepsia (FD) patients will be allocated into three groups: an acupuncture with deqi group, an acupuncture without deqi group, and a wait-list group. This trial will include a 2-week baseline period, a 4-week treatment period, and a 4-week follow-up period. During the 4-week treatment, patients in two acupuncture groups will receive 20 sessions of acupuncture treatment with or without deqi. The Nepean Dyspepsia Index (NDI) and the short form Leeds Dyspepsia Questionnaire (SF-LDQ) will be used to evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture treatment at baseline, the end of treatment, and the end of the follow-up. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans will be performed to detect cerebral functional changes in 25 patients in each group at three time points mentioned above. The clinical data and fMRI data will be analyzed, respectively. Correlation analysis will be conducted to investigate the relationship between cerebral functional changes and symptom improvement.DiscussionThe results of this trial will allow us to compare the changes of acupuncture therapeutic effect at three time points (the baseline vs. the end of treatment vs. the end of follow-up), and investigate the potential central mechanism of the long-lasting effect influenced by acupuncture with deqi. This trial aims to re-identify the long-lasting effect of acupuncture and investigate its central mechanism, and to further explore the central influence of deqi sensation on the long-lasting effect.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry, IDF: ChiCTR-IOR-15006523. Registered on 5 June 2015.

Acupuncture for the treatment of obesity in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveMeta-analysis was used to assess the clinical efficacy of acupuncture treatment for simple obesity and to provide evidence-based medical data for treating obesity with acupuncture.MethodsA comprehensive search of studies on...

Clinical Efficacy of Acupuncture Treatment in Combination With RehaCom Cognitive Training for Improving Cognitive Function in Stroke: A 2 × 2 Factorial Design Randomized Controlled Trial

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to identify the clinical efficacy of acupuncture in combination with RehaCom cognitive training in poststroke patients with cognitive dysfunction. Methods/DesignThis study was a 2 × 2 factorial design randomized controlled trial comparing acupuncture, computer-assisted cognitive rehabilitation, and the usual treatment by per-protocol analysis. The trial was completed by 204 stroke patients, including 49 patients in a control group, 52 patients in an acupuncture treatment group, 51 patients in a RehaCom training group, and 52 patients in an acupuncture combined with RehaCom group. All of the patients accepted basic treatment and health education. The interventions continued for 12 weeks (30 minutes per day, 5 days per week). The relative cognitive and functional outcomes were measured at baseline and 12 weeks (at the end of intervention) using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scales. ResultsAfter 12 weeks of treatment, the functional statuses of the patients in each of the 4 groups showed varying degrees of improvement. Multiple comparisons of the changes in the MMSE, MoCA, and FIM scores indicated that acupuncture combined with RehaCom cognitive training (ACR) had enhanced therapeutic effects on the functional statuses of the stroke patients (P < .05). In addition, ACR had similar therapeutic effects on the functional statuses of the stroke patients according to each of the assessment scales applied (P△change value MMSE = 0.399, P△MoCA = 0.794, P△FIM = 0.862). The interaction effect values between acupuncture and RehaCom training (acceptance or nonacceptance) were as follows: △MMSE: F = 6.251, P = .013; △MoCA: F = 4.991, P = .027; and △FIM: F = 6.317, P = .013. Further, the main effect values for acupuncture and RehaCom training were both significant (P < .05). ConclusionsThere is an interaction effect in the treatment of stroke patients using ACR. The use of acupuncture in combination with RehaCom training has better therapeutic effects on the functional statuses of poststroke patients than the use of either treatment alone, demonstrating the clinical significance of this combination therapy.

Visualization of the Meridian System Based on Biomedical Information about Acupuncture Treatment

The origin of the concept of the meridian system is closely connected with the treatment effects of acupuncture, and it serves as an empirical reference system in the clinical setting. Understanding the meridian channels would be a first step in enhancing the clinical efficacy of acupuncture treatment. To understand the relationship between the location of the disease and the sites of relevant acupoints, we investigated acupuncture treatment regimens for low-back pain in 37 clinical studies. We found that the most frequently used acupoints in the treatment of low-back pain were BL23 (51%), BL25 (43%), BL24 (32%), BL40 (32%), BL60 (32%), GB30 (32%), BL26 (28%), BL32 (28%), and GB34 (21%). For the example of low-back pain, we visualized the biomedical information (frequency rates) about acupuncture treatment on the meridians of a three-dimensional (3D) model of the human body. We found that both local and distal acupoints were used to treat low-back pain in clinical trials based on the meridian theory. We suggest a new model for the visualization of a data-driven 3D meridian system of biomedical information about the meridians and acupoints. These findings may be helpful in understanding the meridian system and revealing the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment.

Effects of acupuncture on lactoferrin content in tears and tear secretion in patients suffering from dry eyes: a randomized controlled trial

With the understanding of the immune inflammatory response in the pathogenesis of dry eyes, and the limitations of widely used artificial tears and numerous pharmaceuticals and methods to promote tear secretion, clinicians pay more attention to the therapies that can promote tear secretion actively. Acupuncture treatment for dry eye may meet this requirement. To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture treatment on dry eye and the effects on duration, and to examine the mechanisms of acupuncture in treating patients with dye eyes. The study was performed at Department of Ophthalmology, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from August 2010 to May 2011. Patients with the primary diagnosis of dry eye were enrolled. Sixty-five patients were randomly divided into treatment group and control group, and were given 3 weeks of acupuncture treatment or artificial tear therapy respectively. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the lactoferrin content of the tears before and after treatment. In order to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment methods, the Schirmer I test and break-up time were also measured. Compared with before treatment, the lactoferrin content in the tears of patients in the treatment group increased, break-up time was prolonged and the result of the Schirmer I test showed improvement after 3 weeks of treatment. The indexes mentioned above did not change in the control group after treatment. There were no significant differences in tear lactoferrin and Schirmer I test between one week after treatment and after 3-week treatment in the treatment group, but break-up time was significantly shortened. The result of Schirmer I test in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group one week after treatment. Acupuncture can increase tear lactoferrin level, extend tear film break-up time and promote tear secretion in patients with dry eye in a time-limited trial. With the end of treatment, the effect decreased.

Clinical observation on acupuncture for migraine

To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture treatment for migraine. Forty cases were randomly allocated to a treatment group and a control group, 20 cases in each group. Cases in the treatment group were treated with acupuncture, while cases in the control group were treated with oral Sibelium. After that, the changes of cerebral blood flow were observed before and after treatment. There was significant difference in clinical efficacies between two groups (P<0.05). There were also significant differences in arterial blood flow velocities of before and after treatment. Acupuncture can produce substantial differences (P<0.05) in blood flow velocities of vertebral artery (VA), middle cerebral artery (MCA) and anterior cerebral artery (ACA) during an increased flow rate. It can also produce statistical differences in blood flow velocities of VA during a decreased flow rate (P<0.05). Acupuncture can effectively alleviate the pain of migraine sufferers and exert a two-way regulation on the cerebral blood flow.