Research on the Different Frequencies of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation for Postpartum Pelvic Girdle Pain

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of different frequencies of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation in treating postpartum pelvic girdle pain and promoting postpartum rehabilitation.Methods:From January to September 2022,300 patients with pelvic girdle pain after spontaneous delivery in a hospital in Shaanxi Province were selected and randomly divided into three groups,low frequency,high frequency,and alternating frequency,with 100 cases in each group.In addition to routine postpartum care and psychological counseling,the three groups received transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation at low-frequency(2 Hz,)high-frequency(100 Hz),and alternating frequency(2/100 Hz),respectively.The differences in initial pain,pain scores before and after treatment,satisfaction with analgesic effect,and postpartum rehabilitation effect were evaluated among the three groups of patients.Results:There was a significant correlation between maternal age and postpartum pelvic girdle pain(P<0.001),but no correlation was observed between newborn birth weight and postpartum pelvic girdle pain(P>0.05).After 1d/2d of treatment,the pain scores and rehabilitation effect of patients in the alternating-frequency group and low-frequency group were significantly better than those in the high-frequency group,and the postpartum curative effect of patients in the alternating-frequency group was the best,followed by the low-frequency group,and the high-frequency group;the differences were statistically significant(P<0.001).Among the three groups,the alternating-frequency group had the highest satisfaction with the analgesic effect and the highest rate of selecting the same analgesic regimen the next time;the differences were statistically significant(P<0.001).Conclusion:Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation at different frequencies is safe and effective in treating postpartum pelvic girdle pain and beneficial to postpartum rehabilitation.Sparse-dense wave stimulation is effective in treating postpartum pelvic girdle pain.It has the best effect in promoting postpartum rehabilitation and the highest patient satisfaction.Therefore,its application in clinical practice is highly recommended.

Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation in adult patients receiving gastrectomy/colorectal resection:A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND Acupuncture promotes the recovery of gastrointestinal function and provides analgesia after major abdominal surgery.The effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation(TEAS)remain unclear.AIM To explore the potential effects of TEAS on the recovery of gastrointestinal function after gastrectomy and colorectal resection.METHODS Patients scheduled for gastrectomy or colorectal resection were randomized at a 2:3:3:2 ratio to receive:(1)TEAS at maximum tolerable current for 30 min immediately prior to anesthesia induction and for the entire duration of surgery,plus two 30-min daily sessions for 3 consecutive days after surgery(perioperative TEAS group);(2)Preoperative and intraoperative TEAS only;(3)Preoperative and postoperative TEAS only;or(4)Sham stimulation.The primary outcome was the time from the end of surgery to the first bowel sound.RESULTS In total,441 patients were randomized;405 patients(58.4±10.2 years of age;247 males)received the planned surgery.The time to the first bowel sounds did not differ among the four groups(P=0.90;log-rank test).On postoperative day 1,the rest pain scores differed significantly among the four groups(P=0.04;Kruskal–Wallis test).Post hoc comparison using the Bonferroni test showed lower pain scores in the perioperative TEAS group(1.4±1.2)than in the sham sti-mulation group(1.7±1.1;P=0.04).Surgical complications did not differ among the four groups.CONCLUSION TEAS provided analgesic effects in adult patients undergoing major abdominal surgery,and it can be added to clinical practice as a means of accelerating postoperative rehabilitation of these patients.

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation during the Treatment of Painless Colonoscopy

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation combined with propofol infusion during the treatment of patients under colonoscopy.Methods:A total of 90 patients received painless colonoscopy were randomly divided into three groups:transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation combined with propofol group(group T),sufentanil combined with propofol group(group S)and propofol group(group P),with 30 cases in each group.The patients in group T were anesthetized with propofol after transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation of 30min at Hegu(LI4),Neiguan(PC6),Zusanli(ST36),Shangjuxu(ST37)and Sanyinjiao(SP6)on both sides,and the electrical stimulation lasted until the end of the operation.Group S and group P were pasted electrode slices at the same acupoint with group T,but no electrical stimulation was given.The other treatments were the same as those in group T.Group S was given sufentanil 0.1ug/kg at the beginning of anesthesia.The levels of blood pressure(MAP),heart rate(HR)and pulse oxygen saturation(SpO2)were continuously monitored at time points of entering operating room(T0),disappearance of eyelash reflex(T1),during operation(through the liver region T2)and immediately after operation(T3),and the total dosage of propofol,awakening time and incidence of adverse reactions in each group were recorded.Results:Compared with group P,the blood pressure and heart rate of the patients at T1 and T2 in group T were more stable(P<0.05),the awakening time after operation was significantly shorter(P<0.05),and the dosage of propofol was significantly lower than that in group P(P<0.05).The incidence of bradycardia,hypotension and respiratory depression decreased significantly(P<0.05).Compared with group S,the postoperative awakening time of group T was significantly shorter(P<0.05),and there was no significant difference in other indexes.Conclusion:Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation is effective during the treatment of analgesia under colonoscopy.It can reduce the dosage of anesthetics,reduce the incidence of postoperative adverse reactions and shorten the awakening time of patients.

Two Hundred and Seventeen Cases of Winter Diseases Treated with Acupoint Stimulation in Summer

217 cases of chronic bronchitis and asthma were clinically treated and analyzed for the effects of combining electric stimulation with topical application of drug on acupoints. The results suggested that the combined therapy was superior to unitary therapy (P<0.05). It is indicated that the combined therapy has a good curative effect in both short- and long-terms.

Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation benefits postoperative pain relief of oocyte retrieval:A randomized controlled trial

Background Transvaginal oocyte retrieval is frequently followed by adverse events related to anesthesia and the procedure.Some research showed that transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation(TEAS)can relieve intraoperative pain and postoperative nausea.Objective This study examined whether TEAS can alleviate pain and relieve adverse symptoms after oocyte retrieval.Design,setting,participants and interventions Altogether 128 patients were randomly divided into the TEAS group and the mock TEAS group.The two groups received a 30-minute-long TEAS or mock TEAS treatment that began 30 min after oocyte retrieval.Main outcome measures The primary outcome was the visual analog scale(VAS)pain score.Secondary outcomes were pressure pain threshold,McGill score,pain rating index(PRI),present pain intensity(PPI),VAS stress score,VAS anxiety score,and postoperative adverse symptoms.Results The baseline characteristics of the two groups were comparable(P>0.05).The VAS pain scores of the TEAS group were lower than those of the mock TEAS group at 60 and 90 min after oocyte retrieval(P<0.05).The McGill score,PRI and PPI in the TEAS group were significantly lower than those in the control group at 60 min after oocyte retrieval(P<0.05).However,the two groups had equivalent beneficial effects regarding the negative emotions,such as nervousness and anxiety(P>0.05).The TEAS group was superior to the mock TEAS group for relieving postoperative adverse symptoms(P<0.05).Conclusion TEAS treatment can relieve postoperative pain and postoperative adverse symptoms for patients undergoing oocyte retrieval.

Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation Combined with Warm Acupuncture for Breast Cancer Related Upper Limb Lymphedema:A Retrospective Cohort Study

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation(TEAS)combined with warm acupuncture in treating breast cancer associated with upper limb lymphedema(BCRL).Methods This was a retrospective cohort study using a paired control design.Fifty-two BCRL patients were assigned to the control group(27 cases)and the treatment group(25 cases).The patients in the control group were treated with lymphedema comprehensive detumescence treatment(CDT)for 4 weeks,including systematic therapy composed of manual lymphatic drainage,compression bandage,skincare,and functional exercise.The patients in the treatment group were treated with TEAS combined with warm acupuncture based on the control group methods.Each treatment lasted for 30 min and was applied twice a week for 4 weeks.The arm circumference(AC)of different positions of the affected limb and the degree of swelling of the affected limb were evaluated before the first treatment and after the last treatment.The clinical efficacy was evaluated according to the degree of edema before and after treatment.All adverse events during treatment were recorded.Results The patients’AC and the swelling feeling of the affected limb in the treatment group and the control group were both reduced compared with those before treatment.Compared with the control group,AC of the wrist joint transverse stria,the midpoint between the wrist joint transverse stria and the elbow joint transverse stria in the treatment group were significantly reduced(P<0.05).The decrease in AC diameter at the midpoint between the elbow joint transverse stria and the axillary transverse stria was the most significant(P<0.01).The swelling degree of the affected limbs in the treatment group was significantly lower than before treatment,and was significantly lower compared with the control group after treatment(P<0.01).The total effective rate was 72%in the treatment group,significantly higher than that in the control group(55.56%,P<0.05).No serious adverse events occured in either group.Conclusions TEAS combined with warm acupuncture can effectively reduce AC and swelling feeling of the affected limb in patients with BCRL.The effect is better than that of CDT therapy alone.

Perioperative transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation for improving postoperative gastrointestinal function:A randomized controlled trial

Background:Postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction(PGD)is one of the most common complications in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery.Acupuncture has been used widely in gastrointestinal diseases due to its effectiveness and minimally invasive nature.Objective:This study evaluated the efficacy of using transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation(TEAS)during the surgery and postoperative recovery in patients with gastric and colorectal surgery for improving postoperative gastrointestinal function.Design,setting,participants and interventions:A total of 280 patients undergoing abdominal surgery were stratified by type of surgery(i.e.,gastric or colorectal surgery)and randomly allocated into the TEAS group(group T)or the sham group(group S).Patients in group T received TEAS at LI4,PC6,ST36 and ST37.Patients in group S received pseudo-TEAS at sham acupoints.The stimulation was given from 30 min before anesthesia until the end of surgery.The same treatment was performed at 9 am on the 1st,2nd and 3rd days after surgery,until the recovery of flatus in patients.Main outcome measures:The primary outcome was the time to the first bowel motion,as detected by auscultation.The secondary outcomes included the first flatus and ambulation time,changes of perioperative substance P(SP),incidence of PGD,postoperative pain,postoperative nausea and vomiting(PONV)and some economic indicators.Results:The time to first bowel motion,first flatus and first ambulation in group T was much shorter than that in group S(P<0.01).In patients undergoing colorectal surgery,the concentration of SP was lower in group T than in group S on the third day after the operation(P<0.05).The average incidence of PGD in all patients was 25%,and the frequency of PGD was significantly lower in group T than in group S(18.6%vs.31.4%,respectively;P<0.05).TEAS treatment(odds ratio=0.498;95%confidence interval:0.232–0.786)and type of surgery were relevant factors for the development of PGD.Postoperative pain score and PONV occurrence were significantly lower in group T(P<0.01).Postoperative hospitalization days and the resulting cost to patients were greatly reduced in the TEAS group(P<0.01).Conclusion:Perioperative TEAS was able to promote the recovery of postoperative gastrointestinal function,reduce the incidence of PGD and PONV.The concentration of SP was decreased by TEAS treatment,which indicates that the brain-gut axis may play a role in how TEAS regulates gastrointestinal function.Trial registration:Chinese Clinical Trial Registry,Chi CTR1900023263.

Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation Improves Postoperative Cognitive Function in Senior Patients Undergoing Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery:A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation(TEAS)for improving postoperative cognitive function in senior patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical(VATS).Methods:From January to December 2020,97 participants were randomly assigned to the TEAS group(49 cases)and the control group(48 cases)by a random number table.The patients in the TEAS group received TEAS,at the bilateral Neiguan(PC 6)and Zusanli(ST 36)acupoints.The control group received sham TEAS.The stimulation was started from 30 min before surgery until the end of the operation.The primary outcome was the incidence of pstoperative cognitive dysfunction(POCD),diagnosed based on the changes in the Mini-Mental Status Examination(MMSE)and Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)scores.The secondary outcomes were plasma levels of S100β protein and neuron-specific enolase(NSE).Results:The incidence of POCD on day 1 and 3 after surgery in the TEAS group was significantly lower than that in the control group[day 1 after surgery:28.3%(13/46)vs.52.3%(23/44),P=0.028;day 3 after surgery:21.7%(10/46)vs.40.9%(18/44),P=0.043].Compared with baseline,the MMSE and MoCA scores decreased to various extents in both groups.The MMSE scores on day 1,3,and 5 after surgery and MoCA scores on day 1,3,5,and 7 after surgery in the TEAS group were higher than those in the control group(all P<0.05)in both groups.Compared with baseline,the plasma levels of S100β and NSE were significantly increased at 4,8,12,24 h after surgery(all P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the plasma levels of S100β and NSE were lower in the TEAS group at 4,8,12,and 24 h after surgery(all P<0.05).No obvious adverse events were found during the trial.Conclusion:Application of TEAS in senior patients after VATS could reduce incidence of POCD and improve postoperative cognitive function.

Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation on Ovarian Responses and Pregnancy Outcomes in Patients Undergoing IVF-ET:A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective:To evaluate the influence of different transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation(TEAS)modes on ovarian responses and pregnancy outcomes in patients with infertility undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer(IVF-ET).Methods:Two hundred infertility patients undergoing IVF-ET were divided randomly into experimental groups(TEAS groups:E-Ⅰ,E-Ⅱ,E-Ⅲ,and E-Ⅳ,40 cases each group)and a control group(mock TEAS group,40 patients)using the random number method.The patients in the experimental groups received TEAS treatment of 20,30,40 and 50 m A for the E-Ⅰ,E-Ⅱ,E-Ⅲand E-Ⅳgroups,respectively.The control group received a treatment of 5 m A.TEAS was applied at acupoints of Guanyuan(RN 4),Zhongji(RN 3),Sanyinjiao(SP 6),Zigong(EX-CA 1),and Taixi(KI 13),once a day for 30 min each time for a treatment period of 10-13 d.Treatment effect was assessed using the following indicators:endometrial thickness on the 6 th day of gonadotropin treatment(GN6 day),endometrial thickness on the day on chorionic gonadotropin administration(HCG day),number of ovarian follicles on HCG day,number of ova captured,amount of estrogen required for each harvested ova,number of mature ova divided by the total number of ova,percentage of high-quality embryos,and clinical pregnancy.Results:Endometrial thickness in the experimental groups on the HCG day was significantly better than that of the control group after TEAS stimulation(P=0.01).TEAS exhibited a greater impact on the number of ova captured(P=0.003).However,the effect of TEAS stimulation on the high-quality embryo rate and clinical pregnancy in patients was not statistically significant(P>0.05).Conclusions:TEAS is an effective method in improving the ovarian state.When the stimulus intensity was at 40 m A and above,it could be helpful to improve the patient’s endometrial condition and endometrial receptivity and to retrieve more oocytes.(Trial registration No.Chi CTR-TRC-11001780)

Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation on Nausea and Vomiting Induced by Patient Controlled Intravenous Analgesia with Tramadol

Objective： To observe the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation （TEAS） on nausea and vomiting （N＆V） induced by patient controlled intravenous analgesia （PCIA） with Tramadol. Methods： Sixty patients who were ready to receive scheduled operation for tumor in the head-neck region and post-operation PCIA, aged 39-65 years, with the physique grades Ⅰ -Ⅱ of ASA, were randomized into two groups, A and B, 30 in each group. The pre-operation medication, induction of analgesia and continuous anesthesia used in the two groups were the same. TEAS on bilateral Hegu （LI4） and Neiguan （PC6） points was intermittently applied to the patients in group A starting from 30 min before analgesia induction to 24 h after operation, and the incidence and score of nausea and vomiting, antiemetic used, visual analogue scores （VAS）, and PCIA pressing times in 4 time segments （0-4, 4-8, 8-12 and 12-24 h after the operation was finished） were determined. The same management was applied to patients in Group B, with sham TEAS for control. Results： The incidence and degree of N＆V, as well as the number of patients who needed remedial antiemetic in Group A were less than those in Group B. The VAS score and PCIA pressing time were lower in Group A than those in Group B in the corresponding time segments respectively. Conclusion： TEAS could prevent N＆V induced by PCIA with Tramadol.

Effects of the pestle needle therapy,a type of acupoint stimulation,on post-hemorrhoidectomy pain:A randomized controlled trial

Background:Hemorrhoids are one of the most common conditions that lead to surgery,and until now surgical hemorrhoidectomy has been the major effective treatment.Post-operative pain from hemorrhoidectomy has been experienced by thousands of patients and remains a major inconvenience of the operation.Objective:This study evaluates the clinical efficacy of the pestle needle therapy,an acupoint stimulation method,for relief of post-hemorrhoidectomy pain.Design,setting,participants and interventions:This was a single-center,patient-assessor-blinded and randomized controlled trial with 154 patients receiving Milligan hemorrhoidectomy surgery.Eligible patients were randomly assigned to either a treatment group or a control group at a ratio of 1:1.The treatment group received the pestle needle therapy,with manual stimulation at Yaoshu(DU2),Mingmen(DU4),Changqiang(DU1),Chengshan(BL57),Erbai(EX-UE2)and the perianal points(1,3,5,7,9,and 11 o’clock around the lesion);while the control group received a sham treatment with very light pressure.Three sessions of treatment were performed at 30 min,4 h and 12 h after the surgery,and each lasted for 15 min.Main outcome measures:The primary outcome was post-operative pain measured with the visual analogue scale(VAS)at 12 h after surgery.The secondary outcomes included the VAS scores measured at0.5,2,4,6,8,24 and 48 h after surgery,the analgesic dose,the time and the VAS score of the patients’first defecation after surgery,as well as the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety(HAMA)evaluated before discharge.Results:The mean pain score of the treatment group was significantly lower than that of the control group(3.10±1.27 vs 4.82±1.29;P<0.001)at 12 h after surgery.Compared with the control group,patients in the treatment group needed a smaller dose of analgesic within the first 24 hours after surgery(P=0.002);and their HAMA scores before discharge were lower(4.07±2.40 vs 5.10±2.45,P=0.009).Compared to the treatment group,patients in the control group had a greater time to the first defecation after surgery([52.34±15.72]h vs[27.08±13.68]h;P<0.001),but there was no difference in their VAS scores at the first defecation(P=0.092).Conclusion:The pestle needle therapy was effective for relieving pain,reducing anxiety and improving bowel function after hemorrhoidectomy,and it is worthy of clinical application.

Magnetic stimulation at Neiguan(PC6) acupoint increases connections between cerebral cortex regions

Stimulation at specific acupoints can activate cortical regions in human subjects.Previous studies have mainly focused on a single brain region.However,the brain is a network and many brain regions participate in the same task.The study of a single brain region alone cannot clearly explain any brain-related issues.Therefore,for the present study,magnetic stimulation was used to stimulate the Neiguan（PC6） acupoint,and 32-channel electroencephalography data were recorded before and after stimulation.Brain functional networks were constructed based on electroencephalography data to determine the relationship between magnetic stimulation at the PC6 acupoint and cortical excitability.Results indicated that magnetic stimulation at the PC6 acupoint increased connections between cerebral cortex regions.

Evaluation of Transcutaneous Electroacupoint Stimulation with the Train-of-four Mode for Preventing Nausea and Vomiting after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Objective： To evaluate the efficacy of transcutaneous electroacupoint stimulation with a train-of-four （TOF） mode for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting （PONV） in the patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods： Ninety-six ASA Grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized into Neiguan （P6） electroacupoint stimulation group （treated group） and a placebo control group （placement of electrodes without electroacupoint stimulation）. The anesthetic regimen was standardized by needling at Neiguan on the left side and connecting the TOF peripheral nerve stimulator. The incidence of nausea, vomiting, severity, antiemetic dosage and the degree of pain were assessed at 0, 60, 120 min, and 24 h after surgery. Results： The incidence of nausea and vomiting, the dose of antiemetics and the occurrence of severe nausea were all significantly lower in the treated group compared with the control group and the score for pain was obviously reduced in patients of the treated group at 24 h post-operation （P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）. Conclusion： Transcutaneous electroacupoint stimulation at P6 with the TOF mode could reduce the incidence and severity of nausea and vomiting with analgesic effects.

NEUROGENIC INFLAMMATION EVOKED BY STIMULATION OF THE ACUPOINT THROUGH DRR

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether stimulation of the acupoint evoked the neurogenic inflammation distributed along the meridian through DRR (dorsal root reflex). We used 11 rats whose ventral roots below L 1 were cut off and the spinal cords were transected between T 13 and L 1. After intravenous injection of Evans blue liquid and continuous electrostimulation of the right Chengshan acupoint of the rat, Evans blue extravasation distributed along the Bladder Meridian of Foot Taiyang was observed on the skin of lower back and both hindlimbs. By means of measuring the amount of Evans blue, it was shown that the amount of Evans blue spot in the skin with the extravasation was obviously different from that in the skin of 1 0 mm apart from (P<0 01), also obviously different from that in the skin of the upper back and from that in the skin of the control group (P<0 01), also whown that the amount of Evans blue in the bladder, ureter and germen was obviously different from that in the control group (P<0 01). These results indicate that the stimulation of the acupoint may produce the neurogenic inflammation of ipsilateral and contralateral skin up to several adjacent spinal segments as well as may produce the neurogenic inflammation of ipsilateral and contralateral visceral organs related to the Bladder Meridian through DRRs.

Transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation(TAES)for pre-operative anxiety:a prospective observational pilot investigation

Objective:Transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation(TAES)treatment is effective for post-operative anxiety.The investigation was designed to study the feasibility and effectiveness of TAES treatment for pre-operative anxiety.Methods:62 volunteered surgical patients were included in the pilot investigation.They all received TAES treatment for 30 minutes in the evening of the day before operation.Hegu(LI4)and Neiguan(PC6)of both sides were selected as the treatment acupoints.The anxiety degrees were measured by State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.Heart rate and blood pressure were also recorded.Results:After TAES,pre-operative anxiety measured by State-Trait Anxiety Inventory dropped by almost 12%,and both heart rate and systolic blood pressure decreased significantly.Conclusion:The pilot investigation of TAES for pre-operative anxiety can successfully test the feasibility of outcome measurements and provide necessary data for calculating the sample size of a subsequent randomized controlled trial.

Effect of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation(rTMS)Combined with Repetitive Magnetic Stimulation at Taichong Acupoint(LR3)on Depression:A Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Study

[Objectives]To explore the clinical treatment effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation(rTMS)combined with repetitive magnetic stimulation at Taichong acupoint(LR3)therapy in the treatment of depression.[Methods]60 patients who met the inclusion standard were chosen as the research subjects.They were split into two sets using a randomized parallel control method,with 30 cases each in the experimental and control groups.The experimental group adopted the treatment with rTMS+repetitive magnetic stimulation at Taichong acupoint(LR3),and the control group adopted the treatment with rTMS alone.The course of treatment was 8 weeks.Then the clinical efficacy,Hamilton Depression Scale 17 item score(HAMD-17),Symptom Check List-90(SCL-90),Patient Health Questionnaire-15(PHQ-15)and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)were compared.[Results]After treatment,the scores of HAMD-17,SCL-90,PHQ-15 and PSQI in the two groups were lower than those before and 4 weeks after treatment(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the scores in the experimental group were inferior to those in the control group(P<0.01),The effective rate was 96.66%in the experimental group and 76.47%in the control group(P<0.05).In the course of treatment,no serious adverse reactions happened in either group.[Conclusions]The rTMS combined with repetitive magnetic stimulation at Taichong acupoint(LR3)can enhance the control of depression in the right frontal lobe,significantly improve the symptoms of depression and somatic discomfort,and improve the sleep quality of patients.It has a wide range of application,and is safe and noninvasive,so it is worthy of clinical promotion.

Pain management using Han’s acupoint nerve stimulator combined with patient-controlled analgesia following neurosurgery A randomized case control study

BACKGROUND： Han＇s acupoint nerve stimulator （HANS） has been frequently used to relieve pain by promoting the central nerve system＇s release of endogenous opioid peptides through electric stimulation to the body surface. OBJECTIVE： To investigate the pain-relieving effects of HANS, combined with patient-controlled analgesia, following neurosurgery, and to observe adverse reactions and effects. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized control observation was performed at the Department of Neurology in the First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical College （Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province, China） from January 2005 to February 2006. PARTICIPANTS： Forty patients, who were selected for craniotomy and required pain relief following surgery at the Department of Neurology in the First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical College （China）, were included in this study. METHODS： Forty patients underwent neurosurgery and were randomly divided into two groups： patient-controlled analgesia plus HANS （＋HANS, n = 20） and patient-controlled analgesia （-HANS, n = 20）. Both groups were well matched in baseline data. Automatic syringe infusion pump ZZB-150 was the product of Nantong Aipeng Medical Instruments Co., Ltd. （China）. Patient-controlled analgesia consisted of 100 mL 0.02% lappaconitine/0.02% metoclopramide. LH-402 HANS instrument was produced in Beijing （China）, with a serial number of 402183. The HANS instrumentation was used to stimulate the Hegu-Laogong acupoint on one side and Jiaogan, Shenmen penetrating Shen, Waifei, Naogan penetrating Pizhixia ear acupoints on the affected side for one hour, with 2-hour intervals. The disperse-dense wave was alternating, with a 2/100 Hz frequency of electrical stimulation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE： The scores of visual analogue scale and incidence of adverse reaction were observed in two groups following surgery. RESULTS： Compared with the HANS group, the visual analogue scale scores were remarkably lower in the ＋HANS group six hours after surgery （P 〈 0.01）, and the incidence rate of adverse reactions, such as nausea and vomiting, was also decreased （P 〈 0.05）.CONCLUSION： The application of HANS to induce body surface stimulation can enhance the effect of pain relief and reduce adverse reactions when used in combination with patient-controlled analgesia following neurosurgery. The effect of combined therapy is superior to patient-controlled analgesia alone.

A preliminary report on adjuvant analgesic efficacy of HANS in opioid tolerant patients with cancer pain

Objective： To observe the adjuvant analgesic efficacy of Han＇s Acupoint Nerve Stimulator （HANS） in opioid tolerant patients with cancer pain. Methods： A prospective non-controlled study was conducted. Opioid tolerant patients with cancer pain were enrolled and treated with both routinely analgesics and adjuvant HANS （2/100 Hz for 30 min/d, 5 d on and 2 d off for two weeks）. Cancer pain, quality of life （QOL）, anxiety and depression were assessed before enrollment and on d 8 and d 15 with the BPI-C, EORTC QLQ-C30, and self-rating anxiety scale （SAS）/ self-rating depression scale （SDS）, respectively; the therapeutic frequency of breakthrough pain （BP） and daily opioid dose were also recorded. Results： Totally 47 patients meeting the inclusion criteria participated in this study; 43 patients completed the two-week treatment and assessment. The mean scores of patient＇s ＂worst＂ and ＂least＂ pain intensity assessed with BPI-C decreased significantly on d 8 and d 15; the therapeutic frequency of BP also significantly decreased; but the average daily dose of opioids did not change significantly. For the nine symptoms in EORTC QLQ-C30 assessment, the mean scores of pain, fatigue, constipation and insomnia were significantly lower on d 8 and d 15 compared with baseline; the mean scores of the overall health status, nausea/vomiting and the incidence rates of both anxiety and depression also decreased significantly on d 15. Conclusions： To opioid tolerant patients with cancer pain, adjuvant treatment with HANS could improve pain release and patients＇ QOL by decreasing the severity of pain, fatigue, constipation, insomnia and other concomitant symptoms; it could also decrease the incidence rates of anxiety and depression.

穴位刺激治疗长新冠:一种有前景的干预措施

"Long COVID"is a sustained symptom following infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2).According to recent statistics,at least 65 million people have long COVID,which poses a long-term threat to human health.The pathogenic mechanisms of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)are complex and affect multiple organs and systems.Common symptoms include palpitations,breathing difficulties,attention and memory deficits,fatigue,anxiety,and depression.It is difficult to achieve satisfactory treatment effect with a single intervention.Currently,treatment strategies for long COVID are still in the exploratory stage,and there is an urgent need to find appropriate and effective methods for long COVID treatment.Traditional Chinese medicine is effective in treating the various phases of COVID-19.Previous studies have shown that acupoint stimulation therapy is effective in improving palpitations,dyspnea,cognitive impairment,anxiety,depression,and other symptoms in patients.According to previous studies,acupoint stimulation may improve various symptoms related to long COVID.This paper discusses the potential application value of acupoint stimulation in the treatment of long COVID-related symptoms,based on the common sequelae of various systems involved in long COVID,and the effect of acupoint stimulation in the treatment of similar symptoms and diseases in recent years.

Non-Invasive Treatment to Grade 1 Essential Hypertension by Percutaneous Laser and Electric Pulse to Acupoint with Music:A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective： To study a non-drug therapy for hypertension disease by combining percutaneous laser and electric pulse stimulation to acupoint with music, and to test the efficiency of the combining treatment to grade 1 essential hypertension. Methods： A total of 174 patients with grade 1 essential hypertension were randomly assigned to 3 groups with a random number table after Chinese medicine（CM） syndrome differentiation： the photoelectric and musical treatment group（Group 1, with a self-developed multi-mode audio frequency pulse photoelectric therapeutic apparatus）, acupuncture group（Group 2）, and oral placebo group（Group 3）, 58 cases per group. The curative effect of each group was evaluated by the changes of blood pressure and CM syndrome integral before and after treatment. Results： Compared with Group 3, there were significant decrease of blood pressure and CM syndrome integral in Group 1 and Group 2（P〈0.01）. Compared with Group 2, Group 1 showed the highest decrease in systolic pressure（P〈0.017）. The total effective rate of anti-hypertension in Group 1（91.38%, 53/58） was significantly higher than that in Group 2（74.13%, 43/58） and Group 3（18.97%, 11/58, P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）; and that in Group 2 was also significantly higher than that in Group 3（P〈0.01）. There were significant difference in the total effective rate of CM syndrome integral in both Group 1（93.10%, 54/58） and Group 2（84.48%, 49/58） as compared with Group 3（17.24%, 10/58, P〈0.01）, while there was no significant difference between Group 1 and Group 2（P〉0.05）. Conclusions： The multi-mode audio frequency pulse photoelectric therapeutic apparatus, combining music, laser and electric pulse stimulation, is clinically useful for grade 1 essential hypertension. This ＂three in one＂ therapy method is non-invasive, easy and simple to handle. It is expected to be popularized as a new alternative treatment.