Multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for pancreatic cancer related pain.

Background: Up to 80% of patients with pancreatic cancer experience abdominal and back pain. Although pharmacologic medications provide some relief, many report inadequate analgesia and adverse effects. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a non-invasive physical modality and had been widely applied for pain relieving, yet no study has investigated the effectiveness of TENS for pain in pancreatic cancer.

[Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease of liver stagnation and spleen deficiency pattern treated with acupoint embedding therapy: a randomized controlled trial].

Objective: To compare the difference between the acupoint embedding therapy and polyene phosphatidylcholine capsules in the clinical efficacy on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) of liver stagnation and spleen deficiency pattern.

Methods: The multi-center clinical trial was adopted and 180 cases of NAFLD of liver stagnation and spleen deficiency pattern were randomized into an embedding therapy group and a western medication group, 90 cases in each one. On the basis of general treatment such as diet control and proper physical exercise, in the embedding therapy group, the acupoint embedding therapy was applied to Ganshu (BL 18), Tai-chong (LR 3), Fenglong (ST 40), Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6), once every 7 days; in the western medication group, polyene phosphatidylcholine capsules (essentiale) were prescribed, 228 mg/capsule, 2 capsules each time, three times a day.

[Controlled observation of the efficacy between floating acupuncture at Tianying point and warm-needling therapy for supraspinous ligament injury].

Objective: To compare the efficacy difference in the treatment of supraspinous ligament injury between floating acupuncture at Tianying point and the conventional warm needling therapy.

Methods: Ninety patients were randomized into a floating acupuncture group and a warm needling group, 45 cases in each one. In the floating acupuncture group, the floating needling technique was adopted at Tianying point.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on the permeability of blood-brain barrier for nerve growth factor and its relevance to PKC pathway in cerebral ischemia rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Baihui" (GV 20) and "Yamen" (GV 15) on the permeability of blood-brain barrier for exogenous nerve growth factor (NGF) and its relevance to PKC pathway in cerebral ischemia (CI) rats.

Methods: Forty-eight SD rats were randomized into sham-operation (sham), model, NGF, EA, NGF + EA, and NGF + H7 + EA groups. CI model was established by repeated occlusion of the bilateral carotid arteries and reperfusion.