OBSERVATION ON THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF LOCAL SELECTION OF POINTS COMBINED WITH ABDOMINAL ACUPUNCTURE FOR FACIAL SPASM

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of local selection of points combined with abdominal acupuncture in the treatment of facial spasm. Methods Eighty cases of facial spasm were randomly divided into treatment group and control group, 40 cases in each group,treated respectively by abdominal acupuncture combined with local selected points and local points simply. After 30 sessions of treatment, the therapeutic effect was evaluated. Results In the treatment group, the total effective rate reached 92.5%, the curative rate 75.0%; while in the control group, the total effective rate was 80.0%, the curative rate 55.0% with a significant difference between the two groups ( P<0.05 ). Conclusion The therapeutic effect of abdominal acupuncture combined with local points is superior to that of simple local selection of points in the treatment of facial spasm.

TREATMENT OF 25 CASES OF TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA WITH ABDOMINAL ACUPUNCTURE THERAPY

Trigeminal Neuralgia is often found in female between 40-60 years old, marked by sudden severe pain on the face (a feeling of knife cutting, electric shock), and it is characterized by sudden, paroxysmal and periodical attack and triggered by touch). The attack usually lasts for 1 to 2 minutes with different intervals. The patient’s life quality can be seriously affected. It is mainly treated with orally taken drugs in western internal department but without satisfactory result, and with local closing therapy in surgical department. The problem may reoccur half a year later in most patients complicated with facial paralysis, so western medicine is not likely to be accepted by the patients. The author has tried to apply abdominal acupuncture in the treatment of 25 cases of trigeminal neuralgia with good effect. The result is as follows.

CLINICAL OBSERVATION ON 36 CASES OF SCAPULOHUMERAL PERIARTHRITIS TREATED BY ABDOMINAL ACUPUNCTURE AND BODY ACUPUNCTURE

Objective: To compare the therapeutic effect of abdominal acupuncture plus body acupuncture and simple body acupuncture in treatment of scapulohumeral periarthritis. Methods: 68 cases of scapulohumeral periarthritis patients were randomly divided into abdominal acupuncture plus body acupuncture (AABA) group (n=36) and simple body acupuncture (BA) group (n=32). In AABA group, abdominal acupuncture points used were Zhongwan(CV 12),Shangqu (KI 17) (on the healthy side) and Huaroumen sanjiao (on the affected side); and body acupoints employed were Jianyu (LI 15), Jianliao(TE 14), Binao (LI 14), Quchi (LI 11), Waiguan (TE 5) and Hegu (LI 4) on the affected side. In BA group, the body acupoints used were the same to those mentioned above. The acupuncture needles were retained for 20 min. Acupuncture treatment was given once daily, with 10 sessions being a therapeutic course and the interval between two courses being one week. 2 courses of treatment were conducted altogether. Results: Following 2 courses of treatment, in AABA and BA groups, 6 (16.7%) and 1 (3.1%) cases were cured, 19 (52.8%) and 12 (37.5%) had remarkable improvement, 11 (30.6%) and 17 (53.1%) had improvement, 0 and 2(6.25%) had no effect respectively. There was a significant difference between two groups in the therapeutic effect (P<0.05). Conclusion: The therapeutic effect of abdominal acupuncture plus body acupuncture is superior to that of simple body acupuncture in treatment of scapulohumeral periarthritis.

Acupuncture Treatment of Abdominal Pain

Case History Mr. Li, a university student aged 23 years, paid his first visit on July 16, 2001, with the chief complaint of abdominal pain for one day. The patient stated that one day before when it happened to be the weekend, he got abdominal pain after supper, which went worse gradually and caused him to roll all over in bed. The pain was slightly alleviated half an hour later after he had taken some pain killers. Upon inquiry, the patient said that because of their newly graduation from the university, he and his classmates were so excited that they went to have a sumptuous lunch with alcoholic drinks. And in the evening he ate again a delicious supper cooked for him by his mother, after which he continued to have some fruit and dessert.

Electroacupuncture diminishes P2X_2 and P2X_3 purinergic receptor expression in dorsal root ganglia of rats with visceral hypersensitivity

Electroacupuncture at Shangjuxu （ST37） and Tianshu （ST25） can improve visceral hypersensitivity in rats. Colorectal distension was used to establish a rat model of chronic visceral hypersensitivity. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect P2X2 and P2X3 receptor expression in dorsal root ganglia from rats with chronic visceral hypersensitivity. Results demonstrated that abdominal withdrawal reflex scores obviously increased following establishment of the model, indicating visceral hypersensitivity. Simultaneously, P2X2 and P2X3 receptor expression increased in dorsal root ganglia. After bilateral electroacupuncture at Shangjuxu and Tianshu, abdominal withdrawal reflex scores and P2X2 and P2X3 receptor expression decreased in rats with visceral hypersensitivity. These results indicated that electroacupuncture treatment improved visceral hypersensitivity in rats with irritable bowel syndrome by reducing P2X2 and P2X3 receptor expression in dorsal root ganglia.

CLINICAL STUDY ON ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT OF STOMACH CARCINOMA PAIN

Clinical observation on 48 cases of stomach carcinoma pain indicated that acupuncture including filiform needle group and point-injection group had better therapeutic effects in treatment of stomach carcinoma pain when patient's mind was concentrated at the site of disease. After treatment for 2 months, the long-term effective rates of analgesia in both the filiform needle group and the point-injection group were similar to that in the western medicine group, all being about 81%. While the long-term markedly effective rates in the two groups were superior to that in the western medicine group. Life quality of the patients in all the groups were improved. The toxic action and side effects caused by chemotherapy were prevented, the high viscous state showed by indexes of blood rheology was improved, and the lowered Cu-Zu-SOD activity in erythrocytes in patients of stomach carcinoma was increased in the filiform needle group and the point-injection group. Based on the results of clinical study, we consider that acupuncture analgesic effect on stomach carcinoma is related to the increase of PLEK, improvement of cellular immune function and the elevation of life quality after acupuncture.

Effects of the adjunctive therapy of Sun's abdominal acupuncture on acute ischemic stroke and inflammatory factors:a randomized controlled trial

Objective To compare the clinical effect on acute ischemic stroke(AIS)between the treatment of Sun's abdominal acupuncture combined with the routine acupuncture and that of the simple routine acupuncture,and explore the influences on inflammatory factors i.e.interleukin(IL)-1β and IL-10.Methods Eighty patientswithAIS wererandomly divided intoan observation group(40 cases,1 case dropped out)and a control group(40 cases,1 case dropped out).The routine regimens of western medicine were administered in the two groups.In addition,the routine scalp acupuncture and the body acupuncture were used in the patients of the control group.The scalp acupuncture stimulation region and acupoints included the anterior parietal-temporal oblique line,Hegu(LI 4),Chize(LU 5),Shousanli(LI 10),etc.of affected side.In the observation group,on the base of the intervention of the control group,electroacupuncture was applied to"fouth abdominal area"of Sun's abdominal acupuncture,with the continuous wave and the frequency of 5 Hz.In the two groups,the intervention was given twice per day,once in every morning and afternoon separately,with the needles retained for 40 min in each intervention.The interventions were delivered for 6 days a week,lasting 3 weeks.

Clinical observation on regulating the three energizer by acupoint catgut embedding combined with abdominal acupuncture in treating abdominal obesity:a randomized controlled trial

Objective To observe the clinical effect of acupoint catgut embedding combined with abdominal acupuncture for treatment of abdominal obesity under the theoretical guidance of regulating the three energizer.Methods One hundred and twenty patients were randomly divided into acupoint catgut embedding group（group A）,abdominal acupuncture group（group B）,acupoint catgut embedding combined with abdominal acupuncture group（group C） and blank control group（group D） based on blocked random method,with 30 cases each;the first three groups based on the principle of regulating three energizer were respectively given acupoint catgut embedding at Zhongwan（中脘 CV12）,Tianshu（天枢 ST 25）,Yinjiao（阴交 CV 7）,Zhigou（支沟 TE 6）,Guanyuan（关元 CV 4）,Zusanli（足三里 ST 36） with catgut embedding once every 7 days,three times for each course of treatment,abdominal acupuncture once every3 days,seven times for each course of treatment.Results The therapeutic effect of each group after treatment was respectively 46.7%（14/30）,43.3%（13/30）,76.7%（23/30） and 26.7%（8/30）,with statistically significant difference.For comparison of waist circumference difference,there was no statistical significance between acupoint catgut embedding combined with abdominal acupuncture and acupoint catgut embedding group（P=0.54）,and for comparison of weight difference,there was statistical significance in terms of therapeutic effect between acupoint catgut embedding combined with abdominal acupuncture and A,B,D groups（4.49±0.59 vs 2.64±0.53,2.87±0.44,1.45±0.26,all P〈0.05）.Conclusion Acupoint catgut embedding combined with abdominal acupuncture had the best effect in terms of total effective rate for treatment of abdominal obesity,equivalent therapeutic effect to simple acupoint catgut embedding in terms of waist circumference reduction,and the best therapeutic effect in terms of weight reduction.

Discussion on the mechanisms of BO's abdominal acupuncture therapy

This article discussed the mechanisms and precautions of abdominal acupuncture from three different perspectives. First, the relationship between Shénquè （神阙 CV 8） and zang-fu and eight extra meridians stated in the ancient literature explained that the theory of CV 8 as the theoretical core of abdominal acupuncture therapy had literature support and theoretical evidence; second, with emphasis on the diagnosis and treatment based on differentiation of syndromes, four methods for selecting the points, including the ones according to hologram, meridians and collaterals, the Ba-kuo （八 廓） and three energizer, meanwhile, the origin of method selecting the points according to Three Energizer and clinical experience was also addressed; third, some problems about the manipulation of abdominal acupuncture therapy were put forward, such as selection of depth, direction, needle tool, as well as personal ideas and precautions, in order to ensure the clinical effect.

Abdominal acupuncture combined with scarring moxibustion at Qìhǎi(气海 CV 6) for 15 cases of periarthritis of shoulder

Objective To verify the therapeutic effect of abdominal acupuncture combined with scarring moxibustion at Qìhǎi（气海 CV 6） on periarthritis of shoulder.Methods Thirty cases of periarthritis of shoulder were randomly divided into an acup-moxibustion group and an acupuncture group,15 cases in each group.The patients in the two groups were treated with abdominal acupuncture at Zhōngwǎn（中脘 CV 12）,Xiàwǎn（下脘 CV 10）,Shāngqǔ（商曲 KI 17）,Huáròumén（滑肉门 ST 24）,with scarring moxibustion at Qìhǎi（气海 CV 6） added in the acup-moxibustion group,5 treatments each week,altogether 15 treatments.The therapeutic effects were assessed on the 20th day of acupuncture.Results The effective rate was 93.3%（14/15） in both the acup-moxibustion group and the acupuncture group,and the cured and markedly effective rate in the acup-moxibustion group and the acupuncture group was 86.7%（13/15） and 53.3%（8/15）,respectively,the acup-moxibustion group being better than that in the acupuncture group（P〈0.01）;after treatment the cumulative score of pain and the cumulative score of shoulder joint active function were significantly increased in the two groups（all P〈0.05）,with more significantly increased in the acup-moxibustion group（both P〈0.05）.Conclusion The therapeutic effect of abdominal acupuncture combined with scarring moxibustion on periarthritis of shoulder is better than that of the simple abdominal acupuncture.

Abdominal acupuncture combined with megestrol acetate for advanced cancer-related anorexia:A randomized controlled trial

Objective:To observe the clinical effect difference between abdominal acupuncture combined with megestrol acetate and megestrol acetate for advanced cancer-related anorexia.Methods:A total of 60 patients with advanced cancer-related anorexia were randomly divided into an abdominal acupuncture combined with oral megestrol acetate treatment group(group A)and oral megestrol acetate treatment group(group B),with 30 cases in each group.Both groups were given nutritional assessment,nutritional supplementation,improvement of constipation,correction of electrolyte disturbance and other general treatments.In addition,group B was given another 160 mg megestrol acetate dispersible tablet once a day.Group A was treated with abdominal acupuncture on the basis of group B treatment,5 times a week,and both the groups were treated for 2 weeks.The appetite visual analog scale(VAS),Karnofsky(KPS)score,and body weight of the two groups were observed before and after treatment,and the clinical efficacy was evaluated.Results:After treatment,the appetite VAS in the both groups were lower than those before treatment,the Karnofsky(KPS)scores were higher than those before treatment,and the differences were statistically significant(both P<0.05).The differences of appetite VAS and KPS score before and after treatment in group A were higher than those of group B,and the differences were statistically significant(both P<0.05).After treatment,the body weights of the two groups were higher than those before treatment,and the difference of group A before and after treatment was higher than that of group B,but the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).The effective rate of group A was 76.7%and that of group B was 50%,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion:Abdominal acupuncture combined with oral megestrol acetate and oral megestrol acetate both can effectively improve the appetite and functional status of patients with advanced cancer-related anorexia.Abdominal acupuncture can improve the curative effect,which is better than that of western medication alone,providing a new idea for the treatment of advanced cancer-related anorexia in the future.

Clinical research on using acupuncture to treat female adult abdominal obesity with spleen deficiency and exuberant dampness

OBJECTIVE： To observe the curative effect of acu- puncture at hour-prescriptive points, a method of midnight-noon ebb-flow, to treat female adult ab- dominal obesity with spleen deficiency and exuber- ant dampness. METHODS： Seventy-two patients with adult ab- dominal obesity with spleen deficiency and exuber- ant dampness were randomly divided into a treat- ment group and a control group with 36 patients in each group. Patients in the treatment group were treated with acupuncture at hour-prescriptive points from 9 to 11 AM every day on the principle of taking points along channels in time. Patients in the control group were treated with acupuncture at any time beyond 9 to 11 AM. Patients in both groups were treated for three courses of treatment.treatment group and 78.8% in the control group. The total curative effect in the treatment group was significantly better than that in the control group in reducing body weight, body mass index, waistline, obesity level, and clinical symptoms （P〈0.05）. After treatment, t-test was used on two independent samples to analyze the ratio of waistline to hipline and hipline. A value of 0.01〈P〈0.05 expressed a weaker outcome and similar curative effect be- tween the two groups in reducing ratio of waistline to hipline and hipline of patients. This value indi- cates that the treatment group has no obvious su- periority to that of the control group for curative effect. CONCLUSION： Because it was superior in reducing waistline and body weight of female adult pa- tients suffering from abdominal obesity with spleen deficiency and exuberant dampness, acu- puncture at hour-prescriptive points, a method of midnight-noon ebb-flow, is an effective method to treat obesity.

Reporting quality and effect size comparison in randomized controlled trials of bo's abdominal acupuncture using CONSORT statement and STRICTA

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reporting quality of randomized controlled trials(RCT) that compared Bo's abdominal acupuncture with conventional body acupuncture, and compare the efficacy and safetybetweenthembyperforminga Meta-analysis.METHODS: All RCTs comparing Bo's abdominalacupuncture with conventional body acupuncture were included. English and Chinese databases were searched from their respective inceptions to March 2014. The reporting quality was assessed according to the "Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials"(CONSORT) checklist for parallel RCTs and the revised "Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture"(STRICTA). A Meta-analysis was conducted to synthesize the effect sizes,and publication bias was evaluated by the Egger linear regression test using Stata.RESULTS: Ninety-seven studies were included, of which most lacked adequate reporting information, and 80.4% showed that the efficacy of abdominal acupuncture is superior to conventional body acupuncture, especially for the following diseases:lumbar disc herniation, cervical spondylosis, omarthritis and cervical vertigo, except simple obesity.Effect-sizes were controversial when evaluating different outcomes.CONCLUSION: The international standard CONSORT statement and STRICTA guidelines should be strictly applied when reporting acupuncture RCTs in the future. Abdominal acupuncture appears to be more effective compared with conventional body acupuncture for some diseases. However, further high quality blind RCTs using validated outcomeindexesandstandardreportingarewarranted.

Abdominal acupuncture plus the Confluent Points of the Eight Extraordinary Meridian for chronic pharyngitis

Objective：To evaluate the effectiveness of abdominal acupuncture plus the Confluent Points of the Eight Extraordinary Meridian in treating chronic pharyngitis. Methods：Thirty eligible subjects with chronic pharyngitis were given abdominal acupuncture plus needling Lieque （LU 7） and Zhaohai （KI 6）, two out of the Confluent Points of the Eight Extraordinary Meridian, once a day, 10 sessions as a course, and the therapeutic efficacy was evaluated after a treatment course. Results：After a treatment course, of the 30 subjects, 21 were recovered, 5 showed markedly effective, 2 were improved, and 2 failed,the total effective rate was 93.3%. Conclusion：Abdominal acupuncture plus the Confluent Points of the Eight Extraordinary Meridian is effective in treating chronic pharyngitis, worth promoting in clinic.

Clinical Research on Abdominal Acupuncture plus Conventional Acupuncture for Knee Osteoarthritis

To probe the therapeutic effect of abdominal acupuncture plus conventional acupuncture on knee osteoarthritis. Methods： PEMS3.1 software was used. The 105 patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomly divided into an abdominal acupuncture group, a conventional acupuncture group and a combined group （abdominal acupuncture plus conventional acupuncture）. For the abdominal acupuncture group, the abdominal acupuncture was performed at Zhongwan （CV 12）, Guanyuan （CV 4）, Wailing （ST 26）, Daheng （SP 15）, Lower Rheumatism point and Qipang with needles retained for 30 minutes. For the conventional acupuncture group, the acupuncture was practiced at Neixiyan （EX-LE4） and Dubi （ST 35） of the affected limb, Yanglingquan （GB 34）, Liangqiu （ST 34）, Xuehai （SP 10） and Xiyangguan （GB 33）. For the combined group, both methods were applied. Treatment was given once a day, 6 times a week, for 4 weeks. Lysholm knee scoring scale was used to score the functions of knee before and after treatment. Results： Of 35 cases in the abdominal acupuncture group, 8 cases were remarkably relieved, 10 cases relieved, 14 cases improved, and 3 cases failed, the total effective rate was 91.4%. Of 35 cases in the conventional acupuncture group, 7 cases were remarkably relieved, 8 cases relieved, 16 cases improved, and 4 cases failed, the total effective rate was 88.6%. Of 35 cases in the combined group, 13 cases were remarkably relieved, 16 cases relieved, 5 cases improved, and 1 cases failed, the total effective rate was 97.1%. There was a remarkable difference in the effect among 3 groups （P〈O.05）. The difference in scores of Lysholm knee scoring scale for knee joint after treatment among 3 groups was very significant （P〈0.01）. Conclusion： Abdominal acupuncture has reliable effect for knee osteoarthritis and it has the synergized function when combined with conventional acupuncture.

Insomnia treated with abdominal acupuncture combined three-route relaxation therapy

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy on insomnia treated with abdominal acupuncture and three-route relaxation therapy. Methods Seventy-six cases were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 38 cases in each one. In observation group, abdominal acupuncture was applied to Yinqi Guiyuan Xue [引气归元穴： conduct qi back to the origin, Zhōngwǎn （中 脘 CV 12）, Xiàwǎn （下脘 CV 10）, Qìhǎi （气海 CV 6）, Guānyuán （关元 CV 4）], combined with three-route relaxation therapy. In control group, according to syndrome differentiation, modified Guipi Decoction （归脾汤）, Anshen Dingzhi Pill （安神定智丸） plus Suanzaoren Decoction （酸枣仁汤）, Huanglian Ejiao Decoction （黄连阿胶汤）, Longdan Xiegan Decoction （龙胆泻肝汤）, Huanglian Wendan Decoction （黄 连温胆汤） were administered. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index （PSQI） score was compared between two groups. Results After treatment, PSQI total score and the scores of 7 factors all decreased in two groups as compared with those before treatment （all P0.05）, but the improvements in PSQI total score and the scores of 7 factors in observation group were remarkable compared with those in control group （all P0.05）. Conclusion Abdominal acupuncture plus three-route relaxation therapy has good clinical efficacy on insomnia, which is superior to Chinese herbal medicine.

Clinical observation of abdominal acupuncture for subhealth insomnia

Objective： To assess the clinical efficacy of abdominal acupuncture for subhealth insomnia. Methods： Eighty-two cases of subhealth insomnia were randomly divided into an observation group （41 cases） and a control group （41 cases）. The control group was treated with conventional acupuncture. The observation group was treated with Bo＇s abdominal acupuncture on the basis of conventional acupuncture. Six treatments constituted one treatment course. The measuring scale of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome for subhealth state （MSSSHS） and Pittsburgh sleep quality index （PSQI） scores were compared between the two groups after two courses, to estimate the efficacy of abdominal acupuncture for subhealth insomnia. Results： One case dropped out from the observation group, while 2 cases dropped out from the control group. The MSSSHS score and PSQI score both declined after the treatment in the two groups （all P〈0.05）. The MSSSHS and PSQI scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group （both P〈0.05）. Conclusion： The abdominal acupuncture is effective for subhealth insomnia, and it can enhance the effect of conventional acupuncture.

Clinical study on abdominal acupuncture for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture

Objective： To explore the efficacy of abdominal acupuncture in treating patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture （OVCF）. Methods： Forty-five eligible OVCF patients were randomized into an abdominal acupuncture （AA） group, a body acupuncture （BA） group and a medication group according to the random numbers generated by the SPSS 22.5 version software, 15 subjects in each group. Patients in the medication group were intervened by Ossotide injection （intravenous injection）, Caltrate （oral administration）, Alfacalcidol （oral administration）, and Salcatonin injection （muscular injection）. In addition to the intervention given to the medication group, patients in the AA group additionally received acupuncture at Zhongwan （CV 22）, Xiawan （CV 20）, Qihai （CV 6）, Guanyuan （CV 4）, Shuifen （CV 9）, and Huaroumen （ST 24）; while patients in the BA group additionally received acupuncture at Jiaji （EX-B 2, superior and inferior to the affected area） points, Ashi points, Weizhong （BL 40） and Chengshan （BI. 57）. For the AA and BA groups, the acupuncture treatment was given once a day, 6 d per week, for 3 weeks in total. Prior to the intervention, and respectively after 1-week treatment, 2-week treatment and 3-week treatment, visual analogue scale （VAS） and Barthel index （BI） were adopted to evaluate pain degree and activities of daily living （ADL）. Results： After intervention, the VAS and BI scores were significantly changed in the three groups （P〈0.05）. Respectively after 2-week, 2-week and 3-week treatment, the VAS and BI scores in the two acupuncture groups were significantly different from those in the medication group at the same time point （P〈0.02）. After 2-week and 2-week treatment, the improvements of VAS and BI scores in the AA group were more significant than those in the BA group（P〈0.05）; after 3-week treatment, there was no significant difference in comparing the VAS score between the two acupuncture groups （P〉0.05）, but a significant difference was found in comparing the BI score （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Abdominal acupuncture can produce a more significant effect in improving VAS and BI scores in OVCF patients than body acupuncture and pure medication treatment, and it＇s efficient and causes few sufferings.

Systematic review and Meta-analysis of acupuncture and acupoint catgut embedding for the treatment of abdominal obesity

OBJECTIVE:To systematically review and analyze the effect of acupuncture and acupoint catgut embedding in treatment of abdominal obesity to provide a more reasonable clinical treatment regimen.METHODS:Ten databases were searched as of August 2022:the English databases Pub Med,Embase,Cochrane Library,Web of Science,Wiley,and Scopus and the Chinese databases China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database,China Science and Technology Journal Database,Wanfang,and Sino Med/Chinese Biomedical Literature Database.Randomized controlled trials(RCTs)of acupuncture and acupoint catgut embedding as the main interventions to treat abdominal obesity were extracted.The investigators imported the citations into End Note version X9.1 for deduplication,screening,extraction,and integration.The risk of bias in the included RCTs was assessed according to the Cochrane Handbook.Rev Man 5.4 software was used to conduct a Meta-analysis of RCTs that met the inclusion criteria.RESULTS:Thirteen RCTs(1069 patients)were included in this study,and the data of eleven RCTs(966 patients)were include in the Meta-analysis.The results showed that acupoint catgut embedding can significantly change the weight and waist circumference of patients with abdominal obesity when compared to sham acupuncture or no treatment[mean difference(MD)=2.32,95%confidence interval(CI)(1.88,2.76),P<0.00001],[MD=3.47,95%CI(1.99,4.94),P<0.00001].The change in hip circumference after acupuncture was also significant[MD=0.89,95%CI(0.12,1.66),P=0.02].CONCLUSION:This study found that acupuncture and acupoint catgut embedding can effectively treat abdominal obesity,therefore,these interventions can be used as clinical supplements and alternative therapies.The diagnostic criteria of the existing studies and the intervention measures of the control group are not unified.It will be necessary to improve the clinical study protocols and expand the sample size to further validate the reliability of the results obtained of this study.

Bo′s abdominal acupuncture improves disordered metabolism in obese type 2 diabetic rats through regulating fibroblast growth factor 21 and its related adipokines

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of Bo′s abdominal acupuncture(BOAA)on fibroblast growth factor 21(FGF21)and its related adipokines in type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)rats.METHODS:This study established obese T2DM rat model by high-fat diet(HFD)with a dose of streptozotocin(STZ,30 mg/kg).Obese T2DM rats were randomly subdivided into four groups(n=10):negative,BOAA,conventional acupuncture(COA group)and metformin group(Met group)groups.The biochemical parameters,mRNAs,and proteins were analyzed using enzyme-lined immunoassays kits,quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot.RESULTS:Treatment with BOAA attenuated the histopathological changes in visceral fat and restored the alterations in the levels of body weight,fasting blood glucose(FBG),homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance(HOMA-IR).BOAA treatment significantly decreased the levels of triglyceride,total cholesterol,low density lipoprotein cholesterol,leptin,and increased the serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,fibroblast growth factor 21(FGF21),adiponectin(ADP),peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγ(PPAR-γ),C-peptide(C-P)in obese T2DM rats.Furthermore,BOAA treatment significantly increased the mRNA expressions of FGF21,ADP,leptin,PPAR-γ,PPAR-αand adenosine 5‘-monophosphate(AMP)-activated protein kinase(AMPK).Besides,BOAA treatment upregulated the protein expressions of fibroblast growth factor receptors3(FGFR3),PPAR-α,extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK),phosphorylated ERK(p-ERK),AMPK,p-AMPK,Liver kinase B1(LKB1),phosphorylated LKB1(p-LKB1),acetyl-CoA carboxylase(ACC)and phosphorylated ACC(p-ACC),while downregulated the protein expressions of FGF21 and PPAR-γin visceral fat.CONCLUSIONS:BOAA treatment reduced FBG and body weight,and improved insulin sensitivity through regulating FGF21 signaling pathway and its related adipokine in obese T2DM rats.