title: [Asthma at acute attack stage treated with "Shao's five needling therapy": a multi-central randomized controlled study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical efficacy of asthma at acute attack stage treated with "Shao's five needling therapy".
  
  
  METHODS
  The randomized controlled method was applied to divide 210 cases into an observation group and a control group, 105 cases in each one. In the observation group, "Shao's five needling therapy" [Feishu (BL 13), Dazhui (GV 14), Fengmen (BL 12)] and the combined therapy were adopted, including oxygen uptake, aerosol inhalation and oral administration of prednisone. In the control group, the oral administration of theophylline sustained release tablet and the combined therapy were applied. The treatment was continued for 7 days. The clinical symptoms and physical signs such as wheezing, cough, expectoration, chest stuffiness, wheezing rale and shortness of breath, as well as lung function indices such as forced expiratory volume one second (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were observed before and after treatment in the two groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the observation group, 69 cases were cured clinically, 20 cases effective remarkably, 7 cases effective and 0 case failed. In the control group, 49 cases were cured clinically, 31 cases effective remarkably, 15 cases effective and 0 case failed. The difference in the efficacy was significant in comparison of the two groups (P < 0.05). The therapeutic effect in the observation group was better than that in the control group. The total score of the symptoms and physical signs, FEV1 and PEF after treatment were all improved significantly in the two groups (all P < 0.01). And the results in the observation group were better than those in the control group (all P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  "Shao's five needling therapy" achieves the significant efficacy on asthma at acute attack stage. It significantly relieves the symptoms and physical signs of the patients and improves lung functions. The effect is better than that of theophylline sustained release tablet.
authors.affiliation: Third Affiliated Hospital, Henan University of TCM, Zhengzhou 450003, China. shaosuju@163.com
authors.forename: Su-Ju
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Chun-Fen
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.forename: Su-Xia
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Miao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xin-Jian
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.forename: Yu-Xiao
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Zhi-Xin
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Pei-Yu
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xi-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kong
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult