bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on Natural Convection From a Buried Pipe With Backfill
Authors: Ngo C. C. , Lai F. C.
Published: April 2009

Heat transfer and fluid flow induced by thermal buoyancy from a buried pipe with backfill has been examined in this study. Hele-Shaw cells with different gap widths were constructed to simulate a porous medium with distinct permeablities. The flow visualization experiment was set up to investigate how a step change in the permeability of a backfill would affect the flow patterns from a heated pipe. Both permeable and impermeable top surfaces with different buoyancy strengths were considered in this experiment. Using time-elapsed photographs, one observes that the flow fields for permeable and impermeable top boundaries displayed distinct characteristics. The presence of recirculating cell in the more permeable layer was confirmed. The flow fields predicted by numerical work are in good agreement with those observed in the experiment. Thus it is expected that the actual flow field would closely resemble those reported in the present study.
A Novel Experimental Procedure and Technique for Smallscale Calorimetry
Authors: Zhang Shu , Yang Yizhang , Rabin Yoed , Barmak Katayun , Asheghi Mehdi
Published: April 2009

By definition, a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) requires a sample structure and a refrence structure to obtain the latent heat of a speicman. We propose a novel approach, named Phase Transition Calorimetry (PTC), to obtain the specimen’s latent heat by using only the signal from the sample bridge. The new setup and procedure are primarily based on electrical resistance heating and thermometry and the parametric estimation method by solving the heat conduction equation with and without the phase transformation. The new setup has two major advantages over widely used DSC setups: there are no errors associated with heat loss to the surroundings, and the uncertainty resulting from the difference between the sample and the reference is eliminated by removing the reference structure. Experimental validation of the new setup and procedure is demonstrated by measuring the latent heat of thin layers of tin. This was found to be 4.1×108 Jm−3, which is different within 5% from the literature values of bulk specimens.
Development of an Object-Oriented Program With Adaptive Mesh Refinement for Heat Transfer Simulations
Authors: Nie Jianhu , Hopkins David A. , Chen Yitung , Hsieh Hsuan-Tsung
Published: April 2009

A 2D/3D object-oriented program with h-type adaptive mesh refinement method is developed for finite element analysis of the multi-physics applications including heat transfer. A framework with some basic classes that enable the code to be built accordingly to the type of problem to be solved is proposed. The program consists of different modules and classes, which ease code development for large-scale complex systems, code extension and program maintenance. The developed program can be used as a “test-bed” program for testing new analysis techniques and algorithms with high extensibility and flexibility. The overall mesh refinement causes the CPU time cost to greatly increase as the mesh is refined. However, the CPU time cost does not increase very much with the increase of the level of h-adaptive mesh refinement. The CPU time cost can be saved by up to 90%, especially for the simulated system with a large number of elements and nodes.
Time-Resolved and Micro-Scale Measurement of Thermal Property for Intermolecular Dynamics Using an Infrared Laser
Authors: Motosuke Masahiro , Nagasaka Yuji , Honami Shinji
Published: April 2009

This paper describes a time-resolved measurement of thermal property in microscale during reaction process of a polymer by using an infrared (IR) laser. Polymer and gel-like material, so-called macromolecules, have diversity in its structure and intermolecular association, and recent development of measurement and control technique in micro- and nano-scale has open up new possibilities for the property design in the materials, including the control of thermophysical properties. The heat conduction process in macromolecules is affected by the internal structure or intermolecular association of the material. Thus, the intermolecular dynamics of polymer can be reflected in time-resolved information of the thermal conductivity or thermal diffusivity. A measurement system of the thermal diffusivity in time-resolved and non-contact manner based on the forced Rayleigh scattering method (FRSM) has been developed. This system can be applied for a changing process of a wide variety of polymer material because of employing a CO2 laser with the infrared wavelength of 10.6 μm. Also, it is possible to measure micro-scale property. In the present study, the measurement area is set at 500 μm in diameter. By using the IR-FRSM system, an investigation of the relationship between intermolecular dynamics of macromolecules and energy transfer can be conducted through the time-resolved data of the thermal diffusivity. As samples, crosslinking processes of a polysaccharide aqueous solution and an ultraviolet curable polymer are measured; variations in molecular interactions caused by hydrogen and covalent bonding occur, respectively. Time evolution of the measured thermal property from the IR-FRSM system clearly indicates the difference in bonding modes of macromolecules. According to the time-resolved measurement results, the validity of the IR-FRSM for a versatile instrument of intermolecular dynamics of macromolecules is demonstrated.
A correction of random incidence absorption coefficients for the angular distribution of acoustic energy under measurement conditions
Authors: Jeong Cheol-Ho
Published: April 2009

Most acoustic measurements are based on an assumption of ideal conditions. One such ideal condition is a diffuse and reverberant field. In practice, a perfectly diffuse sound field cannot be achieved in a reverberation chamber. Uneven incident energy density under measurement conditions can cause discrepancies between the measured value and the theoretical random incidence absorption coefficient. Therefore the angular distribution of the incident acoustic energy onto an absorber sample should be taken into account. The angular distribution of the incident energy density was simulated using the beam tracing method for various room shapes and source positions. The averaged angular distribution is found to be similar to a Gaussian distribution. As a result, an angle-weighted absorption coefficient was proposed by considering the angular energy distribution to improve the agreement between the theoretical absorption coefficient and the reverberation room measurement. The angle-weighted absorption coefficient, together with the size correction, agrees satisfactorily with the measured absorption data by the reverberation chamber method. At high frequencies and for large samples, the averaged weighting corresponds well with the measurement, whereas at low frequencies and for small panels, the relatively flat distribution agrees better.
Inverse-solution method for a class of non-classical cochlear models
Authors: de Boer Egbert , Nuttall Alfred L.
Published: April 2009

Measurements of distortion-product (DP) waves inside the cochlea have led to a conception of wave propagation that is at variance with the “classical” attitude. Of the several alternatives that have been proposed to remedy this situation, the feed-forward model could be a promising one. This paper describes a method to apply the inverse solution with the aim to attain a feed-forward model that accurately reproduces a measured response. It is demonstrated that the computation method is highly successful. Subsequently, it is shown that in a feed-forward model a DP wave generated by a two-tone stimulus is almost exclusively a forward-traveling wave which property agrees with the nature of the experimental findings. However, the amplitude of the computed DP wave is only substantial in the region where the stimulation patterns of the two primary tones overlap. In addition, the model developed cannot explain coherent reflection for single tones. It has been suggested that a forward transversal DP wave induced by a (retrograde) compression wave could be involved in DP wave generation. This topic is critically evaluated.
Wind noise in hearing aids with directional and omnidirectional microphones: Polar characteristics of behind-the-ear hearing aids
Authors: Chung King , Mongeau Luc , McKibben Nicholas
Published: April 2009

Wind noise can be a significant problem for hearing instrument users. This study examined the polar characteristics of flow noise at outputs of two behind-the-ear digital hearing aids, and a microphone mounted on the surface of a cylinder at flow velocities ranging from a gentle breeze (4.5 m/s) to a strong gale (22.5 m/s) . The hearing aids were programed in an anechoic chamber, and tested in a quiet wind tunnel for flow noise recordings. Flow noise levels were estimated by normalizing the overall gain of the hearing aids to 0 dB. The results indicated that the two hearing aids had similar flow noise characteristics: The noise level was generally the lowest when the microphone faced upstream, higher when the microphone faced downstream, and the highest for frontal and rearward incidence angles. Directional microphones often generated higher flow noise level than omnidirectional microphones but they could reduce far-field background noise, resulting in a lower ambient noise level than omnidirectional microphones. Data for the academic microphone- on-cylinder configuration suggested that both turbulence and flow impingement might have contributed to the generation of flow noise in the hearing aids. Clinical and engineering design applications are discussed.
Motion of the lips of brass players during extremely loud playing
Authors: Stevenson Samuel , Campbell Murray , Bromage Seona , Chick John , Gilbert Joël
Published: April 2009

When a brass instrument is played loudly, the energy level of the higher harmonics increases dramatically. The generally accepted explanation for this is non-linear steepening of the wavefront and generation of shock waves within the instrument bore. However, it has also been suggested that changes in the player’s lip vibration could play a role in generating this “brassy” sound. To test this hypothesis, the dependence of lip opening-area on time has been measured for different dynamic levels in trombones and horns. Results suggest that the behavior of the open area does not change dramatically when the instrument enters the brassy regime.
Sand acoustics: The effective density fluid model, Pierce/Carey expressions, and inferences for porous media modeling
Authors: Williams Kevin L.
Published: April 2009

Recently, Pierce and Carey [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 124, EL308–EL312 (2008)] presented a low frequency analysis of sound propagation in sand/silty sediments. Here, equivalent expressions are presented using a low frequency expansion of an unconsolidated version of Biot porous medium theory. The resulting expression for attenuation allows identification of the non-dimensional parameter β in the Pierce/Carey result in terms of physical parameters. The agreement of these two derivations motivates further analyses. The results imply that porous media propagation models that treat the medium’s inertia via a single component approximation disregard a fundamental physical effect resulting from the relative inertia of the grains and fluid and are thus incomplete.
Perceptual attunement in infants at risk of reading disabilities.
Authors: Kitamura Christine , Herald Anna
Published: April 2009

Impaired phonological processing has been found to have a reciprocal casual association with the reading ability of people with reading difficult-ies. Further, there is growing evidence that problems in phonological processing are present at birth as research shows that infants with a family history of these disorders have atypical neural electrical responses (ERPs) to speech stimuli. However, the nature of the phonological deficit is not clear. This study examined the phonological development of at-risk 9- to 12-month-old infants (n=18) and a control group (n=18). Their discrimination performance was evaluated using the habituation-dishabituation task to test their ability to discriminate the confusable native contrast, /fa-tha/ and the non-native contrast, /k’i-q’i/ from Werker and Tees (1984). In line with core phonological deficit hypothesis and hereditary accounts of reading difficulties, infants’ attunement to their native language was significantly correlated with parental phonological ability measured using Pseudoword Decoding Test of the WIAT-II. The at-risk infants easily discriminated both native and non-native contrasts, whereas the control infants discriminated the native contrast but could not discriminate the non-native one. These results indicate that at-risk infants do not attune to their native language at the same rate as their peers.
Evaluating the intensive care unit soundscape.
Authors: Hsu Timothy Y. , Ryherd Erica , Waye Kerstin Persson
Published: April 2009

The intermittent sounds in hospital wards may induce arousal among patients leading to responses such as annoyance, sleep disturbance, and cardio-vascular reactions. The sound environment as a whole may also affect the efficiency and general health among the staff. A series of studies are being conducted by the authors to evaluate the modern hospital soundscape including occupant response. Collaborations between engineering and medicine are being utilized to assess the soundscape from both a quantitative and qualitative standpoint. This talk will focus on soundscape evaluations of intensive care units. This includes a pilot study performed in a medical-surgical intensive care unit (ICU) of a Swedish hospital. Patients were monitored for 24 hours during their stay in the ICU and both acoustic and physiological data were simultaneously recorded. Additionally, the staff wore dosimeters and completed perception questionnaires. The methodology and analyses of these detailed acoustic measurements and preliminary subjective results will be discussed. [Work supported by ASA and Swedish FAS.]
Identifying the common problems of English-to-Japanese consecutive interpretations performed by Japanese intepreting students.
Authors: Takahashi Kinuko
Published: April 2009

The purpose of the present paper is to identify the problems that Japanese interpreting students may encounter and to establish causes for them in the expectation that they may help devise a training method. It has been long wondered why some students become successful interpreters and others do not. In order to answer this question, the research was launched to identify the problems that interpreting students encountered. For this purpose, nine interpreting students were asked to consecutively interpret four different English texts. It was discovered that the participants had a tendency for omissions of interpreting, and omissions occurred due to a number of causes. One of them was a problem of speech perception. One of the participants, for example, was not able to distinguish “breeze” from “bleed.” To one of the participants, “attendance” sounded like “tendence.” These problems seemed to require the participants to take more time to interpret. As a result, the participants failed to listen to the following parts, eventually making further omissions. Therefore, it is necessary for the participants to learn “top-down” processing of comprehension. However, it is necessary to examine the relation between the level of interpreting skills and speech perception ability.
Acupuncture in Ophthalmology
Authors: Macdonald Margaret
Published: April 2009

A selection of case reports shows that acupuncture treatment should be considered in a wide range of ophthalmic problems.
Some Problems Encountered in the Scientific Evaluation of Acupuncture Antiemesis
Authors: Dundee John , McMillan Christine
Published: April 2009

The production of a medical research paper is beset with problems from inception to publication. If the subject involves acupuncture, the problems can seem surprisingly great even for an established university research department.

Most acupuncture reports from China are anecdotal in nature and reviewing the Western literature shows that difficulty in definition of techniques has allowed invasive and non-invasive acupuncture to be used interchangeably, with consequent inaccuracy in the reported results. Because of the physical nature of the treatment, not all accepted criteria for clinical trials are achievable and ethical committees may therefore be reluctant to grant approval. Even publication has been made difficult by scepticism from peer reviewers, although a more enlightened attitude is now gaining ground.

If acupuncture is to become an accepted treatment, scientific evaluation by experienced research teams and perseverance in gaining publication for the results is vital.
Eciwo Biology and Bio-Holographic Acupuncture
Authors: Schjelderup Vilhelm
Published: April 2009

ECIWO stands for “Embryo Containing information of the Whole Organism”. ECIWO biology is a new biological discipline that has been developed in China. It is based on the hypothesis that living organisms have a mosaic structure, being composed of parts that have embryonic properties and contain information relating to the whole organism. ECIWO biology is being applied to different fields of the life sciences, including medicine. It explains the acupuncture microsystems and gives a new scientific basis for the study of acupuncture. A new micro-system of acupuncture based on the second metacarpal is described.
Acupuncture in Modern Medicine
Authors: Marcus Paul
Published: April 2009

Acupuncture, developed thousands of years ago in the Orient, is increasingly being integrated into modern Western Medicine. Its neurophysiological basis is partly understood, and controlled trials are demonstrating its efficacy and safety.
The Effect of Light on Tissue Repair
Authors: Young SR , Dyson M
Published: April 2009

Electrotherapeutic modalities are widely used by physiotherapists to accelerate repair and reduce pain. It is important that the underlying mechanisms and effects that they produce are fully understood, together with any underlying adverse effects which may arise from their use. Light therapy is a relatively new addition to the physiotherapy arsenal and the mechanisms of action have not yet been fully identified. There is clinical evidence suggesting that it is effective in promoting tissue repair and pain relief. This, together with some recent laboratory evidence showing light to be effective in stimulating cells that are involved in the repair process to produce wound mediators, is described. The weight of evidence suggests that, if used correctly, light therapy can induce bioeffects which are beneficial to the patient.
Examination of the Back
Authors: Camp Virginia
Published: April 2009

The causes of back pain are varied and a precise diagnosis will elude the examiner in about 60% of cases. Examination must be thorough, based initially on a careful history and examination before more sophisticated tests are used. Routine X-rays should be avoided where possible as radiological scanning techniques allow a more precise diagnosis to be made in some patients. Treatment should be simple and non-invasive in most patients. The most important part of such treatment is to ensure that the patient understands the reason for avoiding surgery and seeks to learn how to control the pain in everyday life.
The Withdrawal of Habituating Substances
Authors: Marcus Paul
Published: April 2009

The use of acupuncture to combat opiate addiction dates from 1972, when it was serendipitiously discovered to reduce the withdrawal symptoms of opium smokers during neurosurgery under acupuncture anaesthesia at the Kwong Wah Hospital in Hong Kong. Since then acupuncture has become popular in the treatment of a variety of addictions ranging from tobacco to benzodiazapines and over 20 controlled trials have been reported, although the success rates have varied considerably.

Suggested modes of action have included sympathetic inhibition, parasympathetic inhibition and endogenous opioid release. A possible site of action is the medullary locus caeruleus which affects fear and anxiety control.
Role of Acupuncture in Alcohol Dependence and Abuse
Authors: Rampes Hagen , Pereira Stephen
Published: April 2009

The application of acupuncture to alcohol dependence and abuse is relatively novel and may be a useful adjunct to conventional treatment. This paper surveys some of the English literature on this subject. The main references that were noted in the literature are critically evaluated and methodological flaws highlighted. In view of the increasing interest in complementary medicine and the paucity of scientific information in this field, the need for further rigorous, controlled clinical trial is cogent
Laterality in Acupuncture
Authors: Rosted Palle
Published: April 2009

Two hundred patients (100 male, 100 female) were tested by stimulation bilaterally at the Liver 3 acupuncture points (Taichong) to find if there was a relationship between right or left handedness and the side of greater sensation during stimulation. No relationship was found, but overall there was a greater sensitivity on the left in 69.5% of subjects.

Twenty patients (10 male and 10 female) were selected and tested both at Liver 3 and with electro-acupuncture to both ears. A clear relationship was found between the side of greater sensitivity at Liver 3 and the more sensitive ear to electro-stimulation. It is suggested that bilateral testing of Liver 3 could be a useful guide to the selection of the side for treatment in auriculo-therapy.
Clinical Technique for Treating Allergic Rhinitis with Combined Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine
Authors: Lin Jin
Published: April 2009

Acupuncture can prove effective for problems that are not adequately treated by drugs. Here a technique is described for the treatment of allergic rhinitis in which acupuncture is initially used alone, but is successfully combined with locally applied drug therapy in more resistant cases.
Songs, Rockets and Whistling Kettles: Electroencephalographic Changes in Drug Related Auditory Disturbances and Treatment with Acupuncture and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
Authors: Johnson Mark , Ashton Heather , Marsh Richard , Thompson John W
Published: April 2009

Three patients with unilateral auditory disturbances (singing voices, rockets and gongs, and whistling kettles) are described. The symptoms occurred during benzodiazepine withdrawal in two patients and the instigation of nefopam treatment in one. All patients had mild hearing loss and abnormal auditory evoked potentials. Two showed marked asymmetry of background EEG rhythms over the temporal lobe. In two of the patients the symptoms responded partially to TENS and/or acupuncture.
A View of Acupuncture in Dentistry
Authors: Rosted Palle
Published: April 2009

A personal view of acupuncture in dentistry is presented. The use of different techniques and the effects of relevant points in dentistry are discussed and examples of treatment given.
Increased Plasma β-Endorphin Concentrations after Acupuncture: Comparison of Electroacupuncture, Traditional Chinese Acupuncture, Tens and Placebo Tens
Authors: Abenyakar Sefkat , Boneval Feyza
Published: April 2009

Seventeen patients with pain from various causes were treated by Electroacupuncture (n=5), Traditional Chinese Acupuncture (n=4), Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (n=4) or Placebo TENS (n=4). Each treatment lasted 25 minutes. Plasma β-endorphin concentrations were measured before and after the session. Electroacupuncture and Traditional acupuncture treatments were both associated with a significant rise in plasma β-endorphin levels.
The Use of Acupuncture in Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome
Authors: Hester Joan
Published: April 2009

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome, also known as causalgia or algodystrophy, clinically presents with pain, swelling, muscle dysfunction and skin changes to a limb. It is usually the result of trauma to the affected limb, which may be quite minor. Three stages of the syndrome are described, associated with increasingly severe symptoms and deterioration of prognosis. Sympathetic blockade is probably the treatment of choice, although acupuncture can be beneficial in the early stages. To be effective, treatment must be started early as the physical changes may become irreversible.
Concomitant Sympathetically Mediated Pain and Myofascial Trigger Point Pain
Authors: Baldry Peter
Published: April 2009

It is not sufficiently well recognised that the reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS) and the myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) may develop concomitantly. This happens because they have similar aetiological factors, with trauma being by far the commonest.

Everyone is liable to develop nociceptor pain as a result of trauma-induced activation and sensitisation of C afferent skin and Group IV muscle nociceptors; also A-β mediated pain as a result of the sensory afferent barrage produced by these nociceptors giving rise to sensitisation of dorsal horn transmission neurones.

With most people these neural changes lead only to the development of MPS. In a minority of people, possibly those with a genetically determined predisposition, this sensory afferent barrage also causes changes to take place in the sympathetic nervous system, with the development of a characteristic burning type of sympathetically mediated pain. This may develop alone or in association with myofascial trigger point pain.

There is much controversy concerning the mechanisms for development of RSDS pain. One theory is that the pain develops as a result of the nociceptor-induced sensory afferent barrage setting up aberrant sympathetic efferent activity. This results in the release of noradrenaline which binds to α-1 adrenoreceptors in the walls of the nociceptors, exciting them further. Much research, however, still has to be done before the development of sympathetically maintained pain can be adequately explained.

It is stressed that for the successful treatment of RSDS early diagnosis is essential. Treatment involves sympathetic blockade either by the injection of local anaesthetic into a sympathetic ganglion, or by the regional infusion of a catecholamine depleting drug.

Sympathetically maintained pain is morphine resistant and is therefore unlikely to be relieved by acupuncture, the analgesic effect of which is mediated by opioid peptides. The main place for acupuncture is in the treatment of concomitant myofascial trigger point pain.

It is emphasised that in all cases of RSDS it is essential to search for myofascial trigger points and, when present, to deactivate these by means of acupuncture stimulation of A-δ nerve fibres present in the skin and subcutaneous tissues at the trigger point sites.
Acupuncture Trial Methodology
Authors: Lewith George
Published: April 2009

This paper describes some of the principles and concepts that should be considered when attempting to design clinical trials within the field of acupuncture.
Electroacupuncture Treatment of Post-Operative Pain in Oral Surgery
Authors: Scarsella Secondo , Palattella Alberto , Mariani Paola , Palattella Giovanni
Published: April 2009

Electroacupuncture was used to relieve pain after oral surgery in 200 patients. They were divided in two groups. One hundred were needled only at the Hegu point, while the remainder were additionally stimulated at tooth specific points related to the area of surgery. Visual analogue pain scores demonstrated a significant relief of pain in both groups, with greater benefit from tooth specific points. Plasma β-endorphin estimations were carried out on pre-operative and post-electroacupuncture samples. A significant rise in β-endorphin levels was noted.
Towards a Dose of Acupuncture
Authors: Marcus Paul
Published: April 2009

Although it would be quite unacceptable to attempt most forms of treatment without defining the dose, acupuncture has so far remained without any means of quantification.

Electrical and deep manual needling probably rely for their main effect on direct nerve and muscle stimulation. It is suggested that superficial needling acts by producing a cone of tissue damage, with release of inflammatory mediators which increase the sensitivity of local nerve endings so that trivial, incidental stimulation continues to induce CNS inhibitory effects for a prolonged period. The degree of local inflammatory effect can easily be recorded by measuring the area of skin flare.

A simple formula is offered to determine the dose of acupuncture, based on skin flare recordings after experimental needling and theoretical considerations of tissue damage. Needles of varying shaft radius were inserted to a number of depths in the abdominal dermis and subjected to specific degrees of stimulation. The experimental data correlate well with the theoretical model. Needle response increases with depth of insertion, and with needle thickness although this is outweighed by the effects of manipulation if carried out.

The formula derived for determining the dose of acupuncture which correlates with inflammatory response, as measured by skin flare, is (r + 0.1 l)K, where r is the radius of the needle shaft, l is the depth of insertion and K is 10 for unmanipulated insertions or 12.4 if the needle is manipulated.
Hay Fever Prophylaxis Using Single Point Acupuncture: A Pilot Study
Authors: Williamson Lyn
Published: April 2009

To determine whether single point, Liver 3 (Taichong), acupuncture is effective for hay fever prophylaxis in a dedicated general practice clinic setting, 30 patients suffering from long-standing, moderate to severe hay fever were randomised to acupuncture or conventional therapy. Three, ten minute acupuncture treatments were given at weekly intervals during April 1993.

Four of the fifteen acupuncture patients had complete remission of symptoms compared with none from the control group. The rest of the acupuncture group had a variable response, but a small, significant improvement in overall symptom score was demonstrated, as was a shortening of duration of hay fever symptoms. The start of the hay fever season for some patients was later than expected, which may have resulted in reduced effectivity of the acupuncture, thus treatment may be better starting at the beginning of May to cover the peak of symptoms in early June.

The results of this pilot study have shown that single point (Liver 3) acupuncture given for hay fever prophylaxis in a clinic setting was effective, safe, easily reproducible, acceptable and inexpensive (the material cost of the treatment was less than 50p per patient). The study merits repeating on a larger scale.
Conjuctivitis Sicca: A Comparison of Traditional Chinese and Western Medical Symptoms
Authors: Nepp Johannes , Wedrich A
Published: April 2009

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) three syndromes are said to be associated with conjunctivitis sicca: Liver-Yin deficiency, Liver-Yang excess and Liver fire. The diagnosis of one of these syndromes requires the use of a specific combination of points for acupuncture. We used an extensive questionnaire of autonomic nervous system disturbances to suggest points that should be treated on a western medical basis. This prospective study was performed to answer two questions: i. Is it possible to associate the complaints of our patients with a TCM syndrome? ii. Is there any difference between the results using a TCM combination of points and those selected with our western method?

Thirty seven patients with conjunctivitis sicca were enrolled in the study and asked to complete two questionnaires. In one, autonomic nervous system complaints were evaluated; in the second, the symptoms of the three relevant TCM syndromes were specifically asked for. The results of both questionnaires were compared. Our “western medical” combination of points for therapy consisted of local points, and points related to the autonomic nervous system complaints and to the five Chinese elements. In total we recorded 29 different symptoms associated with conjunctivitis sicca.

According to the TCM questionnaire, 21 patients had a deficit of Liver-Yin, 5 had a Liver-Yang excess and 10 suffered from Liver fire. One patient had symptoms of Liver-Yin and Liver-Yang. Yet all patients had symptoms of more than one Chinese syndrome. Only 4 out of 37 patients seemed to belong clearly to only one TCM syndrome. So the evaluation of symptoms according to the TCM system proved to be inadequate compared with the western “autonomic” system. Points for therapy resulting from the western system were similar to the points proposed by the TCM system.

We conclude that the points proposed by both methods are similar for the treatment of conjunctivitis sicca, but we believe that for western medical doctors it is easier to find a successful combination of points with the western method asking about complaints of the autonomic nervous system.
Koryo Hand Acupuncture: A Versatile and Potent Acupuncture Microsystem
Authors: Magovern Patrick
Published: April 2009

Koryo Hand Acupuncture (KHA) is an acupuncture microsystem analogous to ear acupuncture. Unlike other acupuncture microsystems, however, there is a full meridian system including the Conception Vessel and Governing Vessel and also the extraordinary meridians. Each of the KHA micromeridians are lettered and correspond to one of the body meridians (Figure 1).

One can treat a wide range of problems using this modality and it is possible in many cases to administer treatment without use of needles.
Effect of Acupuncture as Seen in Stress Radiography of the Ankle
Authors: Eksymä-Sillman Saila , Suramo Ilkka , Junnila Seppo YT , Myllylä Valtteri
Published: April 2009

When studying ankle instability by stress radiography, pain and muscle spasm can prevent maximal widening of the tibiotalar ankle joint and cause a false negative finding. We examined the effect of acupuncture on widening of the tibiotalar joint during stress radiography in a series of 12 asymptomatic volunteers and 12 patients. The width of the tibiotalar joint increased in 66% of the volunteers. The diagnosis changed for two patients and became more confident for four others (50%).
Facial Pain: A Review of 200 Cases Treated with Acupuncture
Authors: Merchant Nazim
Published: April 2009

A group of 201 patients who had received acupuncture for chronic facial pain during the last 10 years was reviewed. Of patients with temporomandibular joint or muscular pain, 46% claimed full recovery after acupuncture and 61% reported benefit. In trigeminal neuralgia there was a 30.8% claim of considerable improvement with a 69.2% overall benefit. It was felt that greater accuracy in interpreting response rates would result from the use of a visual analogue scale to record pain; so this was assessed in a small group, in which 75% showed improvement after acupuncture.
A Comparison of Acupuncture with Intra-Articular Steroid Injection as Analgesia for Osteoarthritis of the Hip
Authors: McIndoe AK , Young K , Bone ME
Published: April 2009

This controlled trial used a prospective, randomised open design to compare the effectiveness of acupuncture and intra-articular injections in reducing chronic pain associated with osteoarthritis of the hip. Thirty two patients awaiting hip arthroplasty with chronic pain of more than twelve months duration were included. Group A received acupuncture using a standardised technique of periosteal needling to the greater trochanter of the femur with three acupuncture needles. The treatment was repeated on three occasions at weekly intervals. Group B received an intra-articular/peri-articular hip injection of 20ml of 1% lignocaine + 80mg Depo-Medrone. Patients were assessed for pain intensity, mobility and pattern of analgesia usage pre-treatment and at one, two and four week intervals thereafter.

Both groups experienced a decrease in pain intensity and analgesic usage following treatment. This decrease was greater in the acupuncture group. However, mobility remained unchanged in both groups. From the results of this study, periosteal acupuncture appears to be as effective as an intra-articular injection in relieving the pain associated with osteoarthritis of the hip. However, due to the small numbers involved, statistical significance was not achieved.
Introduction of a New Therapy Method: Music Sound Electroacupuncture Stimulation
Authors: Tekeoğlu İbrahim
Published: April 2009

Music is an increasingly popular means of enhancing pain relief and suppression of anxiety in a variety of painful situations. The author has used a device that delivers an electrical stimulation to acupuncture needles (electroacupuncture) that is frequency modulated by the sound of classical music being played to the patient.

In a randomised controlled trial, patients with migraine or cervical tension headache were divided into two groups (25 each). One group received standard electroacupuncture at 100Hz while the other had music sound electroacupuncture stimulation. Pain levels were scored by the patients on a five point scale. Analgesia obtained by the standard electroacupuncture group was statistically significant (P<0.01). That obtained by the music sound electroacupuncture group was highly significant (P<0.001).
Ensuring Scientific Rigour in Literature Review
Authors: Vickers Andrew
Published: April 2009

Literature reviews are an important method of summarising scientific data. However, many reviews are not themselves scientific. This has lead to some being inaccurate, on occasion dangerously so. Systematic literature reviews should involve six key elements: a clearly focused question; a thorough search for relevant studies; explicit criteria for including studies in the review; explicit criteria for judging the validity of the studies; an appropriate method of data synthesis; and suitable interpretation of the data presented. These ensure that the review is replicable and that reasons for the author's conclusions are explicit. Systematic reviews require considerable skills and resources. It is unlikely that all future reviews published in complementary medicine journals will constitute methodologically sound systematic reviews. It is suggested that authors of non-systematic reviews reflect on the possible shortcomings of their work and avoid making strong recommendations. Researchers should learn the skills of literature searching and critical appraisal.
Treating Myofascial Pain
Authors: Gunn C Chan
Published: April 2009

Neuropathic pain invariably affects the musculoskeletal system, causing muscle contracture and shortening: “Myofascial Pain”. Spondylosis, the universal outcome of age, wear and tear, is probably the most common cause of neuropathic pain. By irritating nerve roots, spondylosis can lead to peripheral neuropathy and muscle shortening. Many myofascial syndromes (from Achilles Tendonitis to Tennis Elbow) caused by muscle shortening of spondylotic origin are customarily misconstrued as mundane local conditions. The spondylosis and muscle-shortening model can explain many musculoskeletal pain problems for which there is no alternative clinical diagnosis; it also enables these disparate syndromes to be grouped under one aetiological classification. Intramuscular stimulation effectively relieves pain by releasing muscle, which in turn relieves paraspinal muscle shortening and pressure on nerve roots, as well as stimulating the production of platelet-derived growth factor to promote healing.
Dip. Ac. Beijing (1995)
Authors: Walker Charles
Published: April 2009

The author was given extended study leave from his general practice in Merseyside to attend a three month Diploma in Acupuncture Course at the International Acupuncture Training Centre in Beijing, China. The course involved 137 hours of lectures, mainly on traditional Chinese medicine, but covering electroacupuncture analgesia, ear and scalp acupuncture, plum-blossom needling, cupping and Qigong The 168 hours of classical training was in small groups at one of the ten Beijing hospitals or at the centre's clinics. Having completed the course and found it a clinical experience difficult to rival, the author suggests that much of benefit has been lost from traditional acupuncture in its westernisation.
Hay Fever Treatment in General Practice: A Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing Standardised Western Acupuncture with Sham Acupuncture
Authors: Williamson L , Yudkin P , Livingstone R , Prasad K , Fuller A , Lawrence M
Published: April 2009

The effect of standardised, Western acupuncture on hay fever symptoms was investigated in a randomised, controlled, single-blind trial in comparison with “sham” acupuncture. Three general practices, in Oxfordshire (rural), Lincolnshire (semi-rural), and Peterborough (urban), recruited 102 patients aged 16 or over with long-standing, moderate or severe hay fever symptoms that had required continuous therapy for at least one month of the year for three or more consecutive years.

The patients were asked to keep a diary to record: the amount of medication used daily; a daily symptom score (using a ten-point scale), from which was derived a weekly remission of symptoms score; and their assessment of the effect of acupuncture on the hay fever symptoms. Symptom scores and use of medication were similar in the two groups. In the four-week period following each patient's first treatment, remission of symptoms was reported by 39.0% in the active treatment group and 45.2% in the sham group; mean weekly symptom scores were 18.4 and 17.6 respectively; and mean units of medication used were 4.1 and 5.0 respectively. Sixteen out of 43 patients in the active treatment group and 14 out of 43 in the sham group felt that the acupuncture had had an excellent or very good effect on their hay fever. The treatments were simple, safe, reproducible and perceived as equally effective. Whether this represented an acupuncture effect, a placebo effect, or natural variation in a fluctuating condition, is not clear.
Economic Aspects of Tender Spot Injection Therapy
Authors: Bourne IHJ
Published: April 2009

One partner of a four man general practice in Essex used injection therapy to tender spots for musculo-skeletal pain. In a financial audit it was found that the prescription costs for this doctor were significantly less than the average for the other partners. It is speculated that the savings were due to effective elimination of musculo-skeletal pain by tender spot injection, thus reducing the need for analgesic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication in these patients. If one doctor in every group practice nationwide were to adopt a similar, effective technique for treating musculo-skeletal pain, extrapolation of the savings to this practice suggest a national saving in excess of £95 million per year.
Overeating: Treatment of Obesity and Anxiety by Auricular Acupuncture, An Analysis of 800 Cases
Authors: Apostolopoulos A , Karavis M
Published: April 2009

Auricular acupuncture (placement of press needles) was applied at the stomach point (according to Nogier) and sometimes at the point of psychological balance (Shenmen) for the control of anxiety and for help in weight loss in 800 patients over a two year period. Press needles were inserted and left in for 10 to 15 days at the auricular acupuncture point and resited again after 4 to 5 days. At the same time, instructions were given for the standard treatment of obesity (information leaflet, low calorie diet, aerobic exercise, behaviour modification, psychological support, etc.). The patients were followed up for a period of one year.

The participants were 683 women and 117 men aged between 15 and 76 years. The Body Mass Index (weight/height) was used to determine the degree of obesity, and cases were divided into three groups according to the number of acupuncture sessions as follows: 468 patients (Group A) had one acupuncture session, 278 (Group B) 2 to 4 sessions, and 54 (Group C) had over 4 sessions, all conducted at 15 to 20 day intervals. A reduction in overeating was reported by 81.1% of patients, and 46.7% of the 697 patients who had noted anxiety symptoms claimed that treatment had helped in the reduction of anxiety. Regular exercise was encouraged, and started by 43.4% of the 703 who had no such habit. There was no significant weight loss in 35.2% of patients. During the first 3 months there was an overall significant weight loss in 64.8% and 35.5% at 6–12 months. The percentage weight loss was higher in Groups B and C and remained higher at six months and one year after the start of acupuncture treatment. Group B presented a good six month result in 61.2% of patients and a good annual result in 39.1%. In Group C results were 88.9% and 77.8% respectively.

The control of overeating and anxiety using auricular acupuncture al the stomach and Shenmen points in this audit has been beneficial. Its correct use in an integrated obesity control programme may prove of significant long tem help.
Semi-Permanent Acupuncture Needles in the Prevention of Post-Operative Nausea and Vomiting
Authors: Andrzejowski J , Woodward D
Published: April 2009

The efficacy of acupressure and acupuncture at the Pericardium 6 (PC.6) point in relieving post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is well known. Lengthy manual stimulation of the needles, or electrostimulation, is inconvenient and incurs extra costs. The aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of the antiemetic action of semi-permanent acupuncture needles (SPANs), a cheap and convenient method of administering acupuncture, in the first 48 hours following gynaecological surgery.

Patients (n = 36) having total abdominal hysterectomy were studied in a randomised, placebo controlled trial. Study group patients had SPANs inserted in PC.6 on both wrists. The control group had SPANs inserted into sham points on their forearms. There was no difference in the median nausea scores between the groups; however six patients suffered moderate or severe nausea during the second 24 hours in the control group, with none in the study group (p < 0.05). In addition, the nausea score between 8 and 24 hours in patients who had previously experienced PONV, was lower in the study group (median score 2) compared to the control group (median score 4) (p < 0.05).

We conclude that the use of SPANs does not reduce the overall incidence of nausea and vomiting but does appear to reduce the severity of nausea in the second 24 hours, and has a greater effect on patients who had had nausea and vomiting after a previous anaesthetic.
Medically Unresponsive Foot Pain Treated Successfully with Acupuncture
Authors: Erickson Russell J , Edwards Bart
Published: April 2009

A study of 67 patients with chronic foot pain treated with an average 4 to 5 acupuncture sessions, demonstrated excellent objective and subjective relief in 50. Clinical records were searched to find the number of medication prescriptions and physical therapy treatments given in the year prior to the start of acupuncture treatment, and these figures were compared to those for the subsequent year. A standard, paired Meridian approach in 16 patients was compared to a simple 5 point treatment in 51. This simple method appears superior. Therapy failed (<25% benefit) in 13%. It was effective in 3 out of 5 with reflex sympathetic dystrophy symptoms in the foot. A beneficial response to acupuncture was statistically less likely (P=0.04) in patients with major trauma or surgery to the foot.
Medical Acupuncture and the Management of Psychosomatic Illness
Authors: Aung Steven KH
Published: April 2009

Acupuncture is an intensive and holistic therapy that enhances the quality of life of psychosomatic patients. It helps to slow or reverse the process whereby anxiety, depression and other forms of psychological distress are transformed into physical symptomatology. This process, termed “somatisation”, is little understood in Western medicine, although it is implicated in many of the cases seen in general medical practice. Traditional Chinese medicine provides an explanation of how endogenous factors encompassing negative emotions and psychosocial stress can generate illness. This paper specifies acupuncture points and procedures to be used in managing general psychosomatic illness, as well as controlling the severe distress experienced by some psychosomatic patients.