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Background: Pancreatic cancer is often accompanied by severe abdominal or back pain. It's the first study to evaluate the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture on pancreatic cancer pain. A randomized controlled trial compared electroacupuncture with control acupuncture using the placebo needle., Methods: Sixty patients with pancreatic cancer pain were randomly assigned to the electroacupuncture group (n = 30) and the placebo control group (n = 30). Patients were treated on Jiaji (Ex-B2) points T8-T12 bilaterally for 30 min once a day for 3 days. Pain intensity was assessed with numerical rated scales (NRS) before the treatment (Baseline), after 3 treatments, and 2 days follow-up., Results: Baseline characteristics were similar in the two groups. After 3 treatment, pain intensity on NRS decreased compared with Baseline (-1.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.46 to -1.87) in the electroacupuncture group; there was little change (-0.13, 95% CI 0.08 to -0.35) in control group; the difference between two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Follow-up also found a significant reduction in pain intensity in the electroacupuncture group compared with the control group (P < 0.001)., Conclusions: Electroacupuncture was an effective treatment for relieving pancreatic cancer pain., (Copyright © 2013 IAP and EPC. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To observe the dose-effect relationship of electroacupuncture of different current intensities combined with Morphine of different dosage on alleviating the rats' tibial cancer pain, and explore the possible mechanism, which could provide the experiment basis for alleviating the tibial cancer pain by electroacupuncture combined with Morphine., Methods: One hundred female Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group and eight treatment groups, 10 cases in each group. The rats in the treatment groups were treated by combined therapies of electroacupuncture of different intensities with 2 Hz /100 Hz dense-disperse wave on "Jiaji"(EX-B 2)and different dosage Morphine in 2 factor 3 level conditions, once a day for 6 days. The pain thresholds were observed before the treatment and 0 min, 1 h, 2 h and 5 h after the first treatment as well as after 3 and 6 times of treatments. The glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression was determined by immunohistochemical method., Results: The rats' pain thresholds were significantly increased with electroacupuncture of 2 mA and 1 mA (all P < 0.01) on the 0 min, 1 h and 2 h of the first treatment, between which there were no significant differences (all P > 0.05). The pain threshold was still increased by electroacupuncture of 2 mA on the 5 h of the treatment (P < 0.01), while that of 1 mA failed to take effect (P > 0.05). After 3 and 6 times of treatments, both electroacupuncture of 2 mA and 1 mA had the effect of increasing the pain threshold (all P < 0.01), and the effect of 2 mA was superior to that of 1 mA (P < 0.05), had the synergistic effect with 5 mg/(kg x d) Morphine (P < 0.05). After 6 times of treatments, both electroacupuncture of 2 mA and 1 mA could inhibit the expression of GFAP (both P < 0.01), and there was no significant difference between them (P > 0.05). Both of 5 mg/(kg x d) and 2.5 mg/(kg x d) of Morphine, however, didn't bring about inhibition effect (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: There is a does-effect relationship on electroacupuncture of different current intensity for alleviating the tibial cancer pain in rats. The electroacupuncture with 2 mA, which is better than that with 1 mA, has the synergistic effect with 5 mg/(kg x d) of Morphine. The electroacupuncture can inhibit the expression of GFAP to cooperate with Morphine for the purpose of alleviating the rats' tibial cancer pain.

Objective: To probe into the application of fuzzy cluster in analysis of therapeutic effects of electro-acupuncture at different parameters on adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) in rats., Methods: One hundred Wistar rats were randomly divided into ten groups: normal control group, untreated group and eight electro-acupuncture groups at different parameters. There were ten rats in each group. AA rats were treated by electro-acupuncture at different frequencies (2 Hz or 100 Hz), waveforms (successive wave or intermittent wave) and current intensities (0.1 mA or 0.2 mA). Firstly, the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of electro-acupuncture at different parameters were compared with orthogonal experiment, and then with the application of fuzzy mathematics, the data of joint swelling, pain threshold and the contents of beta-endorphin (beta-EP) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) after the treatment in all groups were standardized by the method of data range normalization. Programming and solution were done by MATLAB. The methods of fuzzy similar matrix and the transitive closure were used in similarity evaluation of therapeutic effects of electro-acupuncture at different parameters., Results: Based on index determination and variance analysis, both the normal control group and untreated group were clustered to one category as lambda equaled to 0.72. Electro-acupuncture at 100 Hz, successive wave, 0.2 mA, electro-acupuncture at 100 Hz, intermittent wave, 0.1 mA and electro-acupuncture at 100 Hz, intermittent wave, 0.2 mA were clustered to one category and had similar good anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. The therapeutic effects of the remaining electro-acupuncture types were similar., Conclusion: Fuzzy cluster analysis provides a better method for evaluating the overall therapeutic effects of electro-acupuncture with multiple factors.

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of acupoint electrogymnastics therapy on apoplectic hemiplegia, so as to further popularize this therapy in treatment of apoplectic hemiplegia., Methods: Using three-central, randomized, controlled, multi-blind methods, 153 cases were divided into an electrogymnastics group (n = 77) and an electroacupuncture group (n = 76). They were treated with acupoint electrogymnastics (AE) and traditional electroacupuncture (TEA), respectively. Shousanli (LI 10) and Waiguan (TE 5) on upper limbs and Yanglingquan (GB 34) and Zusanli (ST 36) on the lower limbs were selected in the two groups. A JD-2008 hemiplegia treatment apparatus was used in the AE group. Fugl-Meyer method was used for assessment of motor function and sense function of the four limbs, balance function and joint activity, etc. before and after treatment., Results: In the motor function and sense function of four limbs, balance function and joint activity in the two groups had significant improvement after treatment (both P < 0. 001) with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: Both acupoint electrogymnastics (AE) and traditional electroacupuncture (TEA) have a similar therapeutic effect on apoplectic hemiplegia, but AE has the advantages of safety, reliability and convenience in operation, so it is suitable for long-term rehabilitation treatment of the patient and for popularization in hospital of basic level.

The electric characteristics of acupoints have been confirmed by researchers at home and abroad. Because the traditional detection methods are various (mainly are different positions of the reference electrode), and they are influenced by many affective factors, with unstable results and bad repeatability, so the studies of the electric characteristics of acupoints are limited. The acupoint electric characteristic sensing needle is introduced in detail from its design, detection methods and so on, which can detects changes of the acupoint electric characteristics of channels and acupoints in different healthy states real-timely, dynamically and continuously. It not only can avoid those affective factors, and also the detective results are relatively stable and the repeatability is also better.

To research the effects of electroacupuncture on different quantitative parameters on analgesia in rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis. Rats of adjuvant-induced arthritis were treated by electroacupuncture with different waveforms. Pain threshold and swelling degree of joint were observed. Electroacupuncture parameters being selected were measured by frequency spectrum analysis. After treatment, the pain thresholds in the electroacupuncture groups with different waveforms were higher than that of the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); the local swelling degree of inflammation of the electroacupuncture groups were higher than that of the model group (P < 0.01), but was lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Frequency, current, voltage and pulse width of successive wave and intermittent wave were similar. Frequency,current, voltage and pulse width of sound electric wave changed continuously. The results were that all the electroacupuncture with different waveforms had the analgesic effect in rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis and the therapeutic effect of the electroacupuncture of sound electric wave was the best. It is reasonable and important that electroacupuncture parameter should be quantified.

Objective: To search for a stimulation method for increasing athletes' performance., Methods: One hundred and fifty athletes were randomly divided into a trial group and a control group, 75 athletes in each group. Acupoints were stimulated with audio frequency pulse modulated wave and multi-blind method were used to investigate effects of the electric stimulation of acupoints on 30-meter running, standing long jumping and Cybex isokinetic testing index., Results: The acupoint electric stimulation method could significantly increase athlete's performance (P < 0.05), and the biomechanical indexes, maximal peak moment of force (P < 0.05), force moment accelerating energy (P < 0.05) and average power (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Electrical acupoint stimulation can enhance athlete's rapid strength.

Objective: To observe effects of acupuncture and electroacupuncture on antioxidant enzyme and Ca2+(-) ATPase activities and Ca2+ content in mitochondria of skeletal muscle cells in rats of acute swimming exercise and explore the mechanism of acupuncture in increasing sport ability., Methods: Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups. The rats in the acupuncture group and the electroacupuncture group were treated respectively with acupuncture and electroacupuncture before acute swimming exercise. After the swimming exercise, the rats were killed and the skeletal muscle was taken, and then the indexes were determined., Results: After acute swimming exercise, the GSH-Px and Ca(2+)-ATPase activities in the mitochondria of the skeletal muscle decreased significantly (P < 0.05) and Ca2+ content increased (P < 0.01) in the swimming group as compared with the control group; in the acupuncture group, SOD activity increased significantly (P < 0.05), GSH-Px and Ca(2+)-ATPase activities increased as compared with the swimming group (P < 0.05); Ca2+ contents in the swimming group and the electroacupuncture group significantly increased as compared with the control group (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: Acupuncture can protect cells from injury of acute sports and maintain the functions of mitochondria so as to delay fatigue, prolong working time of muscles and prevent muscles from damage.

Objective: To explore the best pulse waveform of electroacupuncture for treatment of adjuvant arthritis (AA)., Methods: Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups. The electroacupuncture groups of AA were treated with different pulse waveforms of electroacupuncture, respectively. Pain threshold, swelling degrees of joint, and contents of 5-HT, beta-EP and LEK in local tissues of inflammation were observed., Results: After the treatment, pain thresholds of the electroacupuncture groups with different pulse waveforms were higher than that of the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); the local swelling degrees of inflammation in the electroacupuncture group were higher than that in the normal group (P < 0. 01), but was lower than that in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0. 01); the contents of 5-HT in local tissues of inflammation in the electroacupuncture groups were lower than that in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); in comparison with the model group, the electroacupuncture of sound-electric wave increased the contents of beta-EP and LEK (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) and the electroacupuncture of intermittent wave increased the content of beta-EP in local tissues of inflammation (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Sound-electric wave is the best pulse waveform of electroacupuncture for treatment of adjuvant arthritis.