M.Tech. (Chiropractic) / Purpose: This study was undertaken in order to demonstrate the effects of static magnetic field therapy on acupuncture points in the treatment of those suffering from mechanical neck pain. Isolated spinal manipulative therapy of the cervical spine was compared to spinal manipulative therapy of the cervical spine in conjunction with magnetic field therapy on acupuncture points using both objective and subjective measurements. Before the execution of this study, it was hypothesised that both treatment protocols would be effective in the treatment of mechanical neck pain, although the combined therapy would be more effective. Method: Patients were recruited by way of advertisements placed in and around the University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein campus and their health clinic. Thirty patients with mechanical neck pain were recruited and randomly divided into two groups. Group one received manipulation to the affected joints of the cervical spine and group two received manipulation to the cervical spine combined with magnetic field therapy on acupuncture points. Procedure: Each patient in each group attended six treatment sessions; three in the first week and three in the second week. The Vernon Mior Neck Pain and Disability Index and the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (subjective measurements) were completed by each patient and the Cervical Range of Motion instrument (objective measurements) was used to collect readings from each patient in both the control and experimental groups, subjective and objective measurements were taken before treatment one, three and six. Specific treatment protocols were then adhered to. Results: The results indicated that both treatment protocols were effective in reducing mechanical neck pain although not one group was more effective than the other. Both groups improved subjectively and objectively as they had cervical spinal manipulation directed at joint dysfunction. Conclusion: The experimental group who received spinal manipulative therapy to correct joint dysfunction in conjunction with magnetic field therapy on acupuncture points was not more effective than the control group who received spinal manipulation only, in the treatment of mechanical neck pain.

No description available.

研究背景：肩痛是临床的常见症状，常因不正确姿势、受凉、外伤、运动劳损等引发，多被诊断为局关节周围炎、属部的肌臆炎等’带来的疼痛和肢体活动障碍都严重影响正常生活。针灸治疗盾痛效果显著’传统中医在眉痛的诊疗中已有详尽论边，而近年西方医学提出的激痛点疗法，在治疗痛症上也有明确的疗效。总结局痛的激痛点针刺取穴方案，探讨其与传统针灸的失系’对发展当代针灸有十分重要的理论意义和临床价值。研究目的：初步总结盾痛的激痛点针刺取穴方案，探讨激痛点和传统针灸的相关性, 为临床提供新思路。研究方法：文献研究。结论：眉痛的激痛点针刺取穴方案为：盾前痛取胸大肌锁骨部、胸小肌、肱二头肌、喙肱肌、背阔肌、冈下肌、前三角肌、前斜角肌、中斜角肌激痛点；属后痛取大圆肌、小圆肌、肩胛下肌、肱三头肌长头第一、下斜方肌第三、后三角肌激痛点；肩外侧疼痛取中三角肌、冈上肌激痛点。此法优势在于理论系统与诊疗过程明确、操作规范、疗效显著，是属痛的治疗的新思路。对比发现，激痛点理论与经筋理论相似。激痛点针刺取穴与中医整体辨证论治的结合, 势必有助提高临床疗效，值得深入探索。關键字：肩痛激痛点针刺取穴文献研究

published_or_final_version / Chinese Medicine / Master / Master of Philosophy

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to treat a wide range of diseases, but the mechanisms involved in the process have remained a mystery. The present study measures EEG responses to stimulation of a specific acupuncture point, GB37 (Guang Ming), with two different types of manual needle stimulation. Previous studies stimulated for a maximum of 2 minutes. The present study reflects the normal acupuncture treatment time of 20 minutes, with EEG recordings during and for 10 minutes prior to and after stimulation. Our results show no changes in the global spatial and temporal properties of EEG during and shortly after acupuncture treatment of acupoint GB37. The second part of this study examines the global protein expression of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) knockout mice. GAD is the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of GABA, the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. The protein content of wild type, hetero-, and homozygous GAD knockout mice brains were determined using a LC-MS-based gel-free shotgun profiling of complex protein mixtures. The data was analyzed using the Raculovic algorithm to determine the proteins differences. A short list of 32 proteins was determined with four that have been shown to be significant proteins that influence cell survival and excitotoxicity in the brain and have potential relationships with GABA. These proteins include VATPase, Glutamine synthetase, Beta-synuclein, and Micortuble associated protein (MAP). The proteomics results provide a preliminary best guess list of proteins influencing GAD and GABA production. / by Michael L. Marshall. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2011. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2011. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

No description available.

Although Tianjiu Therapy in Sanfu Days (三伏天灸) is extensively being used for the treatment of asthma in Mainland China, there is a lack of convincing evidence to support its efficacy to expand its clinical application into asthma treatment. This study incorporated two related studies, the first was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with an aim to evaluate the efficacy of Tianjiu Therapy in Sanfu Days for patients suffering from chronic asthma. The second was a self-control clinical efficacy observation study aiming to compare the efficacy of 2 courses Tianjiu Therapy with 1 course such treatment in order to find the optimal duration of Tianjiu Therapy. In the first study, 323 patients with chronic asthma were randomly assigned to Tianjiu Therapy group (n=165), and placebo group (n=158). There was no significant difference in primary and secondary outcome as compared with placebo group at the end of 3rd treatment and four times follow ups. But sub-analysis of secondary outcome in four times follow ups showed that Tianjiu Therapy significantly reduced the proportion of participants who didn’t need medical treatment during asthma attack increased from 6% to 15% at 1st follow up and 0% to 7% at 3rd follow up (P<0.05). In addition, Tianjiu Therapy was significantly superior to placebo in reducing the percentage of participants who were susceptibly waken up by asthma symptoms from 27% to 14%, and the percentage of participants who had the symptom of running nose and sneezing before onset from 18% to 8% at 2nd follow up ( P<0.05). Improvements also occurred with treatment group, it reduced the proportion of participants who were spontaneous sweating at 3rd follow up (P<0.05). In the second study, totally 102 patients received two courses of Tianjiu Therapy (3 sessions Tianjiu Therapy in a year constituted one course of treatment). After treatment, the number of symptoms which were associated with Chinese Medicine added by 1.38 points (95% CI, 0.25 to 2.51), 2.93±0.41 in the 1 course group and 4.31±0.41 in the 2 courses group (P<0.05). The number of days with asthma-related symptoms increased by 3.05 points (95% CI, 0.37 to 5.73), 1.98±0.96 in 1 course group and 5.03±0.96 in 2 courses group (P<0.05). But both 1 course and 2 courses Tianjiu Therapy as compared with baseline (didn’t receive Tianjiu Therapy at this time point) have a significant improvement in the most outcome measurements. From study 1, it was found that Tianjiu Therapy significantly decreased the need for pharmaceuticals to control asthma and improved the quality of participants’ life after one course Tianjiu Therapy. Study 2 indicated that although 2 courses Tianjiu Therapy was not as effective as 1 course Tianjiu Therapy in the treatment of asthma, both 1 course and 2 courses Tianjiu Therapy provided a significant improvement as compared with baseline. It was still unknown the optimal duration of Tianjiu Therapy, so it was worth to conduct the third course or more Sanfutianjiu Thearpy in future. / published_or_final_version / Chinese Medicine / Master / Master of Philosophy

Thesis (M.CM)--Hong Kong Baptist University, 2006. / Dissertation submitted to the School of Chinese Medicine. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 22-23).

研究背景：中醫針灸可以治療很多種類的疾病，其中最傳統的精華當屬治療“百邪癲狂”的孫思邈十三鬼穴，縱觀古代與現代文獻，多記載的是十三鬼穴的命名、主治功效、針灸方法與順序、臨床療效觀察、臨床運用經驗與體會，對於臨床組穴規律的探討尚不完善。研究目的：探討孫思遨十三鬼穴的臨床組穴規律。研究對象：古代文獻，包括《黃帝內經》、《干金方》（《備急千金要方》、《千金翼方》合訂本）、《針灸大全》、《針灸聚英》、《針灸大成》。現代文獻，來自於中國知網（ CNKI ）的中國學術期刊（網絡版）。研究方法：先對古代文獻進行回顧與分析，比較各文獻中十三鬼穴名稱、位置、針灸方法的異同﹔再對孫思邈十三鬼穴進行逐一具體研究，包括首載出處、穴名解釋、現代定位、穴位主治以及針灸方法﹔然後對現代文獻進行回顧與分析，歸納出十三鬼穴的治病機理﹔最後探討孫思邈十三鬼穴的臨床組穴規律。研究結果：從古代文獻中明確了不同版本十三鬼穴的區別，對於十三鬼穴各個穴位有了全面認識。從現代文獻中認識到孫思邈十三鬼穴主要治療神志疾病和急症，且十三鬼穴根本作用是開竅醒神，還能平衡陰陽、調節氣血、寧心安神。結論：十三鬼穴臨床組穴規律：1. 神志疾病的臨床組穴規律：主穴取人中穴、風府穴、上星穴，癲狂病加少商穴、隱白穴，其中癲病再加大陵穴，狂病再加勞宮穴、海泉穴。癲癎白天發作加申脈穴，晚上發作加照海穴。伴隨有口禁不語加頰車穴，上肢不利加曲池穴，下肢不利加申脈穴。2. 急症的臨床組穴規律：主穴取人中穴、承漿穴、風府穴、上星穴、大陵穴、會陰穴，熱盛神昏加曲池穴，痰厥加少商穴、隱白穴，上肢受傷加曲池穴、勞宮穴，下肢受傷加申脈穴。關鍵字：孫思邈十三鬼穴組穴規律文獻研究

M.Tech. / Purpose: This study was undertaken in order to demonstrate the effects of static magnetic field therapy on acupuncture points in the treatment of those suffering from mechanical neck pain. Isolated spinal manipulative therapy of the cervical spine was compared to spinal manipulative therapy of the cervical spine in conjunction with magnetic field therapy on acupuncture points using both objective and subjective measurements. Before the execution of this study, it was hypothesised that both treatment protocols would be effective in the treatment of mechanical neck pain, although the combined therapy would be more effective. Method: Patients were recruited by way of advertisements placed in and around the University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein campus and their health clinic. Thirty patients with mechanical neck pain were recruited and randomly divided into two groups. Group one received manipulation to the affected joints of the cervical spine and group two received manipulation to the cervical spine combined with magnetic field therapy on acupuncture points. Procedure: Each patient in each group attended six treatment sessions; three in the first week and three in the second week. The Vernon Mior Neck Pain and Disability Index and the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (subjective measurements) were completed by each patient and the Cervical Range of Motion instrument (objective measurements) was used to collect readings from each patient in both the control and experimental groups, subjective and objective measurements were taken before treatment one, three and six. Specific treatment protocols were then adhered to. Results: The results indicated that both treatment protocols were effective in reducing mechanical neck pain although not one group was more effective than VI the other. Both groups improved subjectively and objectively as they had cervical spinal manipulation directed at joint dysfunction. Conclusion: The experimental group who received spinal manipulative therapy to correct joint dysfunction in conjunction with magnetic field therapy on acupuncture points was not more effective than the control group who received spinal manipulation only, in the treatment of mechanical neck pain.