Recent Medline Abstracts on AP

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Wyon Y, Wijma K, Nedstrand E, Hammar M. A comparison of AP

and oral estradiol treatment of vasomotor symptoms in

postmenopausal women. Climacteric. 2004 Jun;7(2):153-64.

Faculty of Health Sciences, Univ Hospital, Linkoping, Sweden.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of electro-AP with oral

estradiol and superficial needle insertion on hot flushes in

postmenopausal women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-five

postmenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms were

randomized to electro-AP, superficial needle insertion or oral

estradiol treatment during 12 weeks, with 6 months' follow-up. The

number and severity of flushes were registered daily and the

Kupperman index and a general estimate of climacteric symptoms

were completed before, during and after therapy. RESULTS: In the

electro-AP group, the mean number of flushes/24 h decreased from

7.3 to 3.5 (ANOVA, p < 0.001). Eleven of the 15 women had at

least a 50% decrease in number of flushes (with a mean decrease

of 82%). Superficial needle insertion decreased the number of

flushes/24 h from 8.1 to 3.8 (p < 0.001). In seven out of 13 women,

the number of flushes decreased by at least 50% (mean decrease

83%). In the estrogen group, the number of flushes decreased from

8.4 to 0.8 (p < 0.001). The decrease in number of flushes persisted

during the 24-week follow-up period in all treatment groups. The

Kupperman index and the general climacteric symptom score

decreased, and remained unchanged 24 weeks after treatment in

all groups (p < 0.001). Electro-AP decreased the number of

flushes/24 h significantly over time, but not to the same extent as

the estrogen treatment. No significant difference in effect was found

between electro-AP and the superficial needle insertion.

CONCLUSION: We suggest that AP is a viable alternative

treatment of vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women and

cannot recommend superficial needle insertion as an inactive

control treatment. PMID: 15497904 [PubMed - in process]

 

Littner D, Perlman-Emodi A, Vinocuor E. [Efficacy of treatment

with hard and soft occlusal appliance in TMD - Article in Hebrew].

Refuat Hapeh Vehashinayim. 2004 Jul;21(3):52-8, 94. Dept. of

Occlusion and Behavioral Science, The Maurice and Gabriela

Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv Univ.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) include clinical disorders

involving the masticatory muscles, the temporomandibular joints

(TMJ) and the adjacent structures. TMD was recognized as a main

source for pains in the orofacial area, which are not caused from

dental origin, and is defined by the American Academy of

Orofascial Pain (AAOP) as a sub-group within the frame of

musculoskeletal disorders. The main etiology for TMD has not

been found yet. The customary treatments for this disorder include

treatment with occlusal splints, physiotherapy, medicaments,

behavioral-cognitive treatment, hypnosis, AP and surgery that

should be considered only if all conservative treatments were

unsuccessful. Occlusal splint is the most common and efficient

treatment for TMD patients proved by many studies with a

successful rate of 70-90%. The following article reviews the different

opinions in the treatment of TMD with special attention to hard and

soft occlusal appliances. Based upon much research, and despite

the many disagreements regarding its efficacy, the hard splint is a

customary application which has the most successful outcome in

patients who suffer from functional disorders of the masticatory

system. The stabilization splint has an important benefit for being a

non-penetrating and reversible appliance. However, despite this, the

dentist should evaluate the joint or muscular problem, and

seriously consider the various available treatments before deciding

to use the appliance as a means of treatment. PMID: 15503982

[PubMed - in process]

 

Li Y, Liang FR, Yu SG, Li CD, Hu LX, Zhou D, Yuan XL, Li Y, Xia

XH. Efficacy of AP and moxibustion in treating Bell's palsy: a

multicenter randomized controlled trial in China. Chin Med J (Engl).

2004 Oct;117(10):1502-6. AP and Tuina College, Chengdu Univ of

TCM, Chengdu 610075, China (Email: jialee).

BACKGROUND: Bell's palsy involves acute facial paralysis due to

inflammation of the facial nerve. AP and moxibustion (acu-moxi) is

beneficial in treating facial palsy. In order to verify the efficacy of

acu-moxi on Bell's palsy, a randomized single-blind, multicenter

clinical trial was performed. METHODS: A total of 480 patients

from four clinical centers were involved in this trial, of whom 439

completed the trial and 41 did not. All patients were randomly

assigned to either the control group or to one of two treatment

groups. The control group was treated with prednisone, vitamin B1,

vitamin B12, and dibazole; the treatment groups were treated either

with acu-moxi alone or in combination with prednisone, Vitamin B1,

vitamin B12, and dibazole. Symptoms and signs, the House-

Brackmann scale, and facial disability index (FDI) scores were

assessed and determined both pre- and post-treatment to evaluate

the effectiveness of the treatment methods. RESULTS: The

characteristics of the control and two treatment groups were

comparable without statistically significant differences before

treatment. There were significant differences between the control

and treatment groups after treatment (chi(2) = 15.265, P = 0.018).

According to evaluations based on the House-Brackmann scale

and FDI scores, the effectiveness of treatment in the two treatment

groups was better than in the control group and was most effective

in patients receiving acu-moxi treatment alone (Z = -2.827, P =

0.005). CONCLUSION: The efficacy of acu-moxi treatment for Bell's

palsy is verified scientifically. PMID: 15498373 [PubMed - in

process]

 

Napadow V, Makris N, Liu J, Kettner NW, Kwong KK, Hui KK.

Effects of electroAP versus manual AP on the human brain as

measured by fMRI. Hum Brain Mapp. 2004 Oct 21;24(3):193-205

[Epub ahead of print]. Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical

Imaging, Dept of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and

Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts. The goal of

this functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study was to

compare the central effects of electroAP at different frequencies

with traditional Chinese manual AP. Although not as time-tested as

manual AP, electroAP does have the advantage of setting

stimulation frequency and intensity objectively and quantifiably.

Manual AP, electroAP at 2 Hz and 100 Hz, and tactile control

stimulation were carried out at acupoint ST-36. Overall, electroAP

(particularly at low frequency) produced more widespread fMRI

signal increase than manual AP did, and all AP stimulations

produced more widespread responses than did our placebo-like

tactile control stimulation. AP produced hemodynamic signal

increase in the anterior insula, and decrease in limbic and

paralimbic structures including the amygdala, anterior

hippocampus, and the cortices of the subgenual and retrosplenial

cingulate, ventromedial prefrontal cortex, frontal, and temporal

poles, results not seen for tactile control stimulation. Only

electroAP produced significant signal increase in the anterior

middle cingulate cortex, whereas 2-Hz electroAP produced signal

increase in the pontine raphe area. All forms of stimulation (AP and

control) produced signal increase in SII. These findings support a

hypothesis that the limbic system is central to AP effect

regardless of specific AP modality, although some differences do

exist in the underlying neurobiologic mechanisms for these

modalities, and may aid in optimizing their future usage in clinical

applications. Hum. Brain Mapping 24:193-205, 2005. © 2004

Wiley-Liss, Inc. PMID: 15499576 [PubMed - as supplied by

publisher]

 

Chen HM, Chen CH. Effects of acupressure at the Sanyinjiao point

on primary dysmenorrhoea. J Adv Nurs. 2004 Nov;48(4):380-7.

Assistant Professor, Chung Hwa College of Medical Technology,

Tainan, Taiwan. Effects of acupressure at the Sanyinjiao point on

primary dysmenorrhoeaAim. This paper presents the findings of a

study that assessed the effects of acupressure at the Sanyinjiao

point on symptoms of primary dysmenorrhoea among adolescent

girls. Background. Dysmenorrhoea is the most common

gynaecological disorder among adolescents. Traditional Chinese

acupressure derived from AP is a non-invasive technique. Despite

renewed interest in the use of acupressure, relatively few studies

have been undertaken to examine its effects on primary

dysmenorrhoea. Methods. An experimental study was conducted

between December 2000 and August 2001. Participants were

female students attending a technical college in Taiwan. None of

the 69 participants had a prior history of gynaecological disease or

secondary dysmenorrhoea, and all were rated higher than five for

pain on a visual analogue scale from 0 to 10. The experimental

group (n = 35) received acupressure at Sanyinjiao (above the ankle)

while the control group (n = 34) rested for 20 min, while the control

group underwent rest in the school health centre for 20 min without

receiving acupressure. Fifty participants (30 experimental, 20

control) completed the 4-6-week follow-up session. Five

instruments were used to collect pretest and post-test data at each

session: (1) Visual Analogue Scale for pain; (2) the Short-Form

McGill Pain Questionnaire; (3) the Menstrual Distress

Questionnaire; (4) the Visual Analogue Scale for anxiety; and, for

the experimental group only, (5) the Acupressure Self-Assessment

Form. Data were analysed using the chi-square test, two-sample t-

test and repeated measures two-way anova. Results. Acupressure

at Sanyinjiao during the initial session reduced the pain and

anxiety typical of dysmenorrhoea. In the self-treatment follow-up

session, acupressure at Sanyinjiao significantly reduced menstrual

pain but not anxiety. Thirty-one (87%) of the 35 experimental

participants reported that acupressure was helpful, and 33 (94%)

were satisfied with acupressure in terms of its providing pain relief

and psychological support during dysmenorrhoea. Conclusion. The

findings suggest that acupressure at Sanyinjiao can be an

effective, cost-free intervention for reducing pain and anxiety during

dysmenorrhoea, and we recommend its use for self-care of primary

dysmenorrhoea. PMID: 15500532 [PubMed - in process]

 

 

 

Shimoju-Kobayashi R, Maruyama H, Yoneda M, Kurosawa M.

Responses of hepatic glucose output to electro-AP stimulation of

the hindlimb in anaesthetized rats. Auton Neurosci. 2004 Sep

30;115(1-2):7-14. Center for Medical Science, International Univ of

Health and Welfare, 2600-1 Kitakanemaru, Otawara, Tochigi, 324-

8501, Japan. Responses of hepatic glucose output (HGO) to

electro-AP (EA) stimulation of the hindlimb were investigated in

anaesthetized rats, focusing on involvement of the somatic afferent

and autonomic efferent nerves. HGO was measured with a

microdialysis probe implanted into the left lateral lobe of the liver.

Stainless steel needles with a diameter of 0.25 mm were inserted

into the right tibialis anterior muscle and connected to an electrical

stimulator. The EA stimulation was delivered for 10 min at 10 mA,

20 Hz. Atropine was injected in order to block the action of the

parasympathetic nerves, whereas phentolamine and propranolol

were injected in order to block the action of the sympathetic

nerves. Furthermore, adrenal sympathetic nerves were crushed

bilaterally to block the reflex secretion of adrenal medullary

hormones. The EA stimulation significantly increased HGO for 20

min after the onset of stimulation. The increases of HGO were

abolished by severing the femoral and sciatic nerves,

demonstrating that the responses are elicited via activation of

somatic afferent nerves. Furthermore, the increases were

diminished after severance of the adrenal sympathetic nerves,

which regulate catecholamine secretion from the adrenal medulla.

The increases were totally abolished after pretreatment with

phentolamine, an alpha-adrenergic blocker, and propranolol, a beta-

adrenergic blocker. On the other hand, the increases of HGO in

response to the EA stimulation were augmented after pretreatment

with atropine, a muscarinic cholinergic blocker. The present results

demonstrate that EA stimulation to a hindlimb can reflexly increase

HGO via activation of somatic afferents and, thereby, sympathetic

efferents, including sympathetic efferents to the adrenal medulla.

The present results further show that the increases of HGO in

responses to EA stimulation are simultaneously reflexly inhibited

via the parasympathetic nerves. PMID: 15507401 [PubMed - in

process]

 

Anon Ottawa Panel Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines

for Electrotherapy and Thermotherapy Interventions in the

Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Adults. Phys Ther. 2004

Nov;84(11):1016-1043. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The

purpose of this project was to create guidelines for electrotherapy

and thermotherapy interventions in the management of adult

patients (>18 years of age) with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis

according to the criteria of the American Rheumatism Association

(1987). METHODS: Using Cochrane Collaboration methods, the

Ottawa Methods Group identified and synthesized evidence from

comparative controlled trials. The group then formed an expert

panel, which developed a set of criteria for grading the strength of

the evidence and the recommendation. Patient-important outcomes

were determined through consensus, provided that these outcomes

were assessed with a validated and reliable scale. RESULTS: The

Ottawa Panel developed 8 positive recommendations of clinical

benefit. Lack of evidence meant that the panel could not gauge the

efficacy of electrical stimulation. DISCUSSION AND

CONCLUSION: The Ottawa Panel recommends the use of low-level

laser therapy, therapeutic ultrasound, thermotherapy, electrical

stimulation, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for the

management of rheumatoid arthritis.

 

Lenaerts ME. Alternative Therapies for Tension-type Headache.

Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2004 Dec;8(6):484-8. Dept of Neurology,

Headache Section, Oklahoma Univ Health Sciences Center, 711

Stanton L. Young Boulevard, Suite 215, Oklahoma City, OK 73104,

USA. marc-lenaerts. Treatment of tension-type

headache remains very challenging. In addition to conventional

therapies, alternative methods such as physical therapy, AP, and

botulinum toxin have been studied. In this article, recent literature

is reviewed and discussed and challenges for the evaluation of

these approaches are considered. Although the clinical evidence is

still incomplete, certain treatments are promising and the active

ongoing research hopefully will soon yield more answers. Of note,

the specific issue of psychologic therapy is dealt with elsewhere in

this issue. PMID: 15509463 [PubMed - in process]

 

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