Evidence Based Acupuncture Practice Recommendations for
Peripheral Facial Paralysis
Zheng H, et al. Department of Acupuncture and
Moxibusion, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075,
China. zhhui126@yahoo.com.cn.
The objective is to analyze the treatment used in relatively high quality
randomized controlled trials to identify any similarities of therapeutic
approaches and subsequently present recommendations for a standard acupuncture
procedure for the treatment of peripheral facial paralysis (PFP). We searched
Chinese and English language literatures through MEDLINE (January 1966 to
October 2007), EMbase (January 1980 to October 2007), Chinese Biomedical
Database (January 1978 to October 2007) and China National Knowledge
Infrastructure (January 1979 to October 2007) for randomized controlled trials.
With independent assessment by 2 observers, 33 of 386 originally identified
articles were finally included. The extracted information from these articles
was focused on the selection of meridians and acupoints, types of stimulation
and duration of treatment. On the whole, when treating PFP, the best acupoints
options are Dicang (ST4), Xiaguan (ST7), Jiache (ST6), Chengjiang (CV24),
Yingxiang (LI20), Quanliao (SI18), Yifeng (TE17), Yangbai (GB14), Sibai (ST2),
Fengchi (GB20), Shuigou (GV26), Yuyao (EX-HN4) and Hegu (LI4). Manual
stimulation or electro-acupuncture combined with moxibustion is recommended.
Moreover, the suggested duration of acupuncture treatment refers to once a day,
10 times for each course, 2 to 5 days as courses interval, and 20 to 40
treatments in total.
Am J Chin Med. 2009;37(1):35-43.
Source: PubMed
[TOP]
Acupuncture at 'Zusanli' (ST36) and 'Sanyinjiao' (SP6)
Points on the Gastrointestinal Tract
Senna-Fernandes V, et al. Pós-Graduação de Ciências
Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ). Av. 28 de setembro,
87, CEP: 20551-030, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. Tel/ vascosf888@yahoo.com.br.
The objective of this study is to investigate the differences of acupuncture
effect between the Zusanli (St.36) and Sanyinjiao (SP.6) points on the
gastrointestinal-tract (GIT) segment performed by the bioavailability of
(99m)Tc-sodium-pertechnetate (Na(99m)TcO(4)) in rats. Male Wistar rats (n = 21)
were allocated into three groups of seven each. Group 1 was treated by
acupuncture bilaterally at St.36; Group 2 at SP.6; and Group 3 was untreated
(control). After 10 min of needle insertion in anesthetized rats, 0.3 ml of
Na(99m)TcO(4) (7.4 MBq) was injected via ocular-plexus. After 20 min, the exitus
of animals was induced by cervical-dislocation and GIT organs isolated. However,
immediately before the exitus procedure, blood was collected by cardiac-puncture
for blood radio-labeling (BRL).The radioactivity uptake of the blood
constituents was calculated together with the GIT organs by a well gamma
counter. The percentage of injected dose per gram of tissue (%ID/g) of
Na(99m)TcO(4) was calculated for each GIT organs, while BRL was calculated in%ID.
According to the one-way ANOVA, the stomach, jejunum, ileum from the treated
groups (Group 1 and Group 2) had significant differences compared to the
controls (Group 3). However, between the treated groups (Group 1 and Group 2),
there were significant differences (P < 0.05) in the stomach, jejunum, ileum,
cecum, transverse and rectum. In BRL analysis, Group 2 showed significant
increase and decrease of the insoluble and soluble fractions of the blood cells,
respectively (P < 0.0001). The authors suggest that St.36 may have a tendency of
up-regulation effect on GIT, whereas SP.6, down-regulation effect. However,
further rigorous experimental studies to examine the effectiveness of
acupuncture in either acupuncture points need to be carried out.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2009 Feb 12.
Source: PubMed
[TOP]
Stephania Tetrandra (han fang ji) Prevents and Regresses
Liver Fibrosis Induced in Rats
Chor JS, et al. Institute of Digestive Disease
and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health
Sciences, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Abstract Background and Aim: There is currently no safe and effective treatment
for liver fibrosis. We have previously shown that Stephania tetrandra (ST) and
Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) suppress cell proliferation and enhance apoptosis of
hepatic stellate cell (HSC) in vitro. In this study, we aimed to investigate the
anti-fibrotic effect of these two herbs in vivo. Methods: Liver fibrosis was
induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) injection in rats for 5 weeks. SM, ST
or SM + ST was gavaged on day 1 of CCl(4) administration to study the preventive
effects of herbs on hepatic fibrosis. In a separate study designed to assess
possible fibrosis regression, rats were randomly allocated to be treated with
SM, ST or SM + ST when fibrosis was established. Liver injury and collagen
content were assessed. HSC activation and apoptosis were determined. Results: As
compared with the CCL(4)-only rats, serum ALT was significantly lower in
CCl(4)-treated rats that received either SM (P < 0.01) or ST (P < 0.01).
Administration of ST significantly prevented (P < 0.01) or reversed the hepatic
fibrosis (P < 0.01) induced by CCL(4). Moreover, rats treated with ST had
reduced protein expression of alpha-SMA both in prevention (P < 0.05) and in
regression (P < 0.01) experiments. The double-color staining of alpha-SMA and
TUNEL showed that ST increased HSC apoptosis. However, co-treatment of SM + ST
did not increase the antifibrotic effect of ST. Conclusions: Stephania tetrandra
safely and effectively prevents and reverses hepatic fibrosis through activating
HSC apoptosis in rats.
J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2009 Feb 4.
Source: PubMed [TOP] |
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