Effects of
Acupuncture for Dispersing Fei, Invigorating Pi and Reinforcing Shen on Heart
Rate Variability and Pulmonary Function in Bronchial Asthma Patients
Zhang WP. , et al. China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing. 168zhwp@sina.com
OBJECTIVE: To explore the acting mechanism of acupuncture treatment for
dispersing Fei, invigorating Pi and reinforcing Shen (DFIPRS) on bronchial
asthma. METHODS: Seventy-one chronic asthma patients in persistent or remission
period were randomly assigned to two groups with stratified method, the treated
group (40 cases) and the control group (31 cases). Anti-asthmatic medicine were
given to both groups and acupuncture therapy to the treated group additionally
on the acupoints for DFIPRS including Quchi (Lt11), Lieque (LU7), Yuji (Lu10),
Neiguan (P6), Zusanli (ST36), Sanyinjiao (Sp6) and Taixi (K13) using uniform
reinforcing-reducing manipulation. The changes of heart rate variability (HRV)
frequency-domain index and the pulmonary function were observed before and after
treatment, and the immediate effect before and after the first needling of
acupuncture was also observed in 17 patients. RESULTS: After acupuncture
treatment, the indices of pulmonary function improved significantly and the
function of vegetative nervous system, showed by HRV, were also elevated in the
treated group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and significantly superior to that in the
control group after treatment (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01 ). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture
therapy could significantly improve pulmonary function of asthma patients, its
mechanism may be related to the regulation of vegetative nerve function.
Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2006 Sep;26(9):799-802.
Source PubMed
[TOP]
Acupuncture
for Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Lim B, et al. University of Maryland School of Medicine, Center
for Integrative Medicine, Kernan Hospital Mansion, 2200 Kernan Drive, Baltimore,
Maryland 21207-6697, USA.
BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a disorder of altered bowel habits
associated with abdominal pain or discomfort. The pain, discomfort, and
impairment from IBS often lead to healthcare medical consultation (Talley 1997)
and workplace absenteeism, and associated economic costs (Leong 2003). A recent
randomized controlled trial shows variable results but no clear evidence in
support of acupuncture as an effective treatment for IBS (Fireman 2001).
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this systematic review is to determine whether
acupuncture is more effective than no treatment, more effective than 'sham'
(placebo) acupuncture, and as effective as other interventions used to treat
irritable bowel syndrome. Adverse events associated with acupuncture were also
assessed. SEARCH STRATEGY: The following electronic bibliographic databases were
searched irrespective of language, date of publication, and publication status:
MEDLINE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) on The
Cochrane Library, EMBASE, the Chinese Biomedical Database, the Cumulative Index
to Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL), and the Allied and Complementary Medicine
Database (AMED). References in relevant reviews and RCTs were screened by hand.
The last date for searching for studies was 7 February 2006. SELECTION CRITERIA:
Published reports of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-randomised
trials of acupuncture therapy for IBS. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: All
eligible records identified were dually evaluated for eligibility and dually
abstracted. Methodological quality was assessed using the Jadad scale and the
Linde Internal Validity Scale. Data from individual trials were combined for
meta-analysis when the interventions were sufficiently similar. Heterogeneity
was assessed using the I squared statistic. MAIN RESULTS: Six trials were
included. The proportion of responders, as assessed by either the global symptom
score or the patient-determined treatment success rate, did not show a
significant difference between the acupuncture and the sham acupuncture group
with a pooled relative risk of 1.28 (95% CI 0.83 to 1.98; n=109). Acupuncture
treatment was also not significantly more effective than sham acupuncture for
overall general well-being, individual symptoms (e.g., abdominal pain,
defecation difficulties, diarrhea, and bloating), the number of improved
patients assessed by blinded clinician, or the EuroQol score. For two of the
studies without a sham control, acupuncture was more effective than control
treatment for the improvement of symptoms: acupuncture versus herbal medication
with a RR of 1.14(95% CI 1.00 to 1.31; n=132); acupuncture plus psychotherapy
versus psychotherapy alone with a RR of 1.20 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.39; n=100). When
the effect of ear acupuncture treatment was compared to an unclearly specified
combination of one or more of the drugs diazepam, perphenazine or domperidone,
the difference was not statistically significant with a RR of 1.49(95% CI 0.94
to 2.34; n=48). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Most of the trials included in this review
were of poor quality and were heterogeneous in terms of interventions, controls,
and outcomes measured. With the exception of one outcome in common between two
trials, data were not combined. Therefore, it is still inconclusive whether
acupuncture is more effective than sham acupuncture or other interventions for
treating IBS.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006 Oct 18;(4):CD005111
Source: PubMed
[TOP]
Study on
Angiogenesis Activity of Danggui, Chuanxiong and Danshen
Meng H, et al. Department of Physiology, Xi Jing Hospital,
China.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of danggui (Radix angelicae sinensis),
chuanxiong (Rhizoma chuanxiong) and danshen (Radix salvae miltionrrhizae) on
cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) obtained from rat and
quantitation of vessels on chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model.
METHODS: Normal rat cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) were
cultured by collagenase and trypsin and the influences of the herbs on the CMECs
were observed by cell count and MTT colorimetry. The activity of blood vessels
was determined by quantitation of vessels on chick embryo chorioallantoic
membrane (CAM) model. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, after treatment
with chuanxiong of high dosage, danggui of high and middle dosages, danshen of
high and middle and low dosages, they enhanced proliferation significantly (P <
0.05). The two later could be in dependent dose. And the herbs might increase
quantitation of vessels on CAM. CONCLUSION: These Chinese herbs may promote
angiogenesis by stimulating proliferation of CMEC and increasing blood vessels.
Zhong Yao Cai. 2006 Jun;29(6):574-6
Source: PubMed [TOP] |
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