[Controlled study on the needling method for regulating the spleen and stomach for treatment of diabetic retinopathy].
OBJECTIVE
To probe clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture on diabetic retinopathy and the mechanism.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty cases of diabetic retinopathy were randomly divided into an observed group and a control group, 60 cases in each group. On the basis of routine diabetic treatment, the observation group were treated with the acupoints for regulating the spleen and stomach, and the control group with the acupoints around eye mainly. Clinical therapeutic effect was evaluated by eye fundus condition, blood glucose, blood lipids, nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin (ET) levels.


RESULTS
The needling method for regulating the spleen and stomach not only can improve the eye fundus condition, but also has benign regulative action on metabolism of blood glucose and blood lipids, and NO and ET levels, with significant differences as compared with those in the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The needling method for regulating the spleen and stomach is an effective therapy for diabetic retinopathy, and the mechanism is possibly related with the regulation of levels of vascular active substances, NO and ET.
Zhang
Zhi-Long
ZL
Section of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin Hospital of TCM, Tianjin 300140, China. zhangzilongtj@yahoo.com.cn
Ji
Xue-Qun
XQ
Zhang
Yu-Hong
YH
Yu
Song-Hua
SH
Xue
Li
L
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016232:Endothelins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D013154:Spleen / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013270:Stomach / Q000503:physiopathology*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D016232:Endothelins; D008055:Lipids; D009569:Nitric Oxide