Effectiveness and safety of acupoint catgut embedding combined with Chinese herbal medicine in chronic urticaria: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupoint catgut embedding(ACE)in combination with Chinese herbal medicine(CHM)in treating chronic urticaria(CU).Methods:We thoroughly searched Embase,PubMed,Cochrane Library,Web of Science,China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),Wangfang database,Chinese Scientific Journal Database(VIP),and Chinese biomedical literature database(SinoMed)for relevant studies from inception until May 2022.Randomized controlled trials(RCTs)on ACE combined with CHM for CU were included.Literature search,data extraction,and risk of bias assessment were independently conducted by two authors.Results:A total of 15 RCTs with 1065 participants were included in this review.Five trials reported that the combined therapy showed a higher total effective rate,and four trials reported that the combined therapy was associated with a lower level of serum immunoglobulin E.Furthermore,two,four,and four trials reported that the combined therapy was more effective in reducing itching degree,size,and number of wheals,respectively.The combined therapy was reported to be associated with a lower recurrence rate in three trials,and with a fewer adverse reaction rate in two trials.Conclusions:ACE in combination with CHM appears to be a safe and effective therapy for patients with CU.Given the relatively low quality of the included trials,these findings should be interpreted cautiously.Further high-quality RCTs are needed to confirm our findings.

Study on intestinal flora of acupoint catgut embedding intervention in female patients with abdominal obesity: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background:Obesity,as an epidemic public health issue in the world today,not only brings a heavy medical burden to society but also seriously affects people’s quality of life.In the context of new evidence for the efficacy of acupoint catgut embedding(ACE)in abdominal obesity(AO),it is necessary to elucidate the mechanism of ACE for AO.The intestinal flora is closely associated with obesity,and the study of its intestinal flora may provide evidence to clarify the mechanism of obesity treatment by ACE.Methods:75 participants will be recruited in this study,including 60 eligible female patients diagnosed with AO and 15 healthy female participants.60 female AO patients will be randomized to ACE group,sham ACE group,and waiting list(WL)group in a ratio of 1:1:1.Patients in two ACE groups will receive one ACE treatment per week for 12 consecutive weeks,and in the WL group will not receive any treatment;only their data will be extracted.The primary outcome is the mean change in body mass index.Secondary effects include waist circumference,body weight,the visual analog score of appetite,and the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale.High-throughput 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene sequencing will be used to detect intestinal flora in each group before and after the intervention.Conclusion:The results of this trial are expected to identify the critical intestinal flora causing AO and the target intestinal flora of AO regulated by ACE,providing further theoretical support for ACE in the clinical treatment of obesity.

Acupoint catgut embedding for simple obesity in animal studies:a systematic review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE:To assess the efficacy of acupoint catgut embedding(ACE)for simple obesity in preclinical animal experiments.METHODS:We searched the following 14 electronic databases:PubM ed,Cochrane Library,EMBASE,Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System,KoreaMed,Korean Studies Information Service System,Science-on,Research Information Sharing Service,Korea Citation Index,Korea Traditional Knowledge Portal,China Network Knowledge Infrastructure Database,Wanfang Database,Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database,and Chinese Biology Medicine Database,from inception to November 2021 without language limitation.The assessment was performed according to the guidelines of Animal Research:Reporting of in vivo experiments;and Metaanalysis was performed using Reviewer Manager 5.4.1 software.RESULTS:Twenty-four studies involving 813 animals were selected.Meta-analysis showed that ACE was beneficial for weight control[n=40,MD=-50.63,95%CI(-57.59,-43.67),P<0.00001,I 2=0%]and reduced the Lee index[n=40,MD=-18.79,95%CI(-20.01,-17.57),P<0.00001,I 2=0%].However,when efficacy of ACE was compared with that of manual acupuncture,electroacupuncture,or oilistat therapy,statistical difference was not observed between the two groups.CONCLUSIONS:This systematic review suggests that ACE may be efficacious in treating obesity.Moreover,the analyses highlighted the necessity to perform welldesigned,higher-quality experiments.

Effectiveness of acupoint catgut embedding therapy for polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective This review aimed to systematically evaluate the evidence on the effects of acupoint catgut embedding （ACE） therapy for patients with polycystic ovary syndrome （PCOS）. Methods Five databases （CBM, CNKI, Wanfang Database, VlP Database, and PubMed） were searched to identify relevant studies published before June 2027. The outcomes were resumption of menstruation and serum levels of testosterone （T）. The methodological quality of the included studies was judged using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The overall level of evidence was judged by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation （GRADE） criteria. Results Twenty- five randomized controlled trials were included. ACE therapy significantly lowered serum T levels, and patients receiving ACE treatment reported resumption of menstruation. However, these results should be interpreted with caution due to a high risk of randomization and blinding bias, and likely publication bias. The level of evidence for resumption of menstruation and serum T levels was assessed as ＂low＂ and ＂low＂, respectively, using GRADE. Conclusion The current evidence on ACE therapy for PCOS is insufficient to draw firm conclusions due to the poor methodological quality. Future well- designed trials are needed to validate the therapeutic efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of ACE in patients with PCOS.

Thirty cases of childhood vocal tic disorders treated with acupoint catgut embedding combined with auricular plaster therapy

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of acupoint catgut embedding combined with auricular plaster therapy in the treatment of children with vocal tic disorders.Methods:Catgut embedding was performed at the acupoints Bǎihuì(百会GV20),Shéntíng(神庭GV24),Dàzhuī(大椎GV14),Shēnzhù(身柱GV12),Fèishū(肺俞BL13),and Wèishū(胃俞BL21),and then auricular plaster sticking was applied to the acupoints Yānhòu(咽喉TG3),Fèi(肺CO14),Wèi(胃CO4),Jiāogǎn(交感AH6 a),Pízhìxià(皮质下AT4).Results:After treatment,the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale(YGTSS)scores of the patients were significantly reduced(P<0.05),5 cases were clinically cured,8 cases remarkably effective,12 cases effective,5 cases ineffective,and the total effective rate was 83.33%.Conclusion:Acupoint catgut embedding combined with auricular plaster therapy for vocal tic disorders was effective,being worthy of clinical popularization.

Acupoint catgut embedding versus acupuncture for simple obesity:a systematic review and Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of acupoint catgut embedding and acupuncture on simple obesity by Meta-analysis. METHODS: Studies on clinical randomized controlled trials of acupoint catgut embedding for simple obesity which were published from January 2015 to November 2020 were searched in Cochrane Central Register of Control Trials(Central), Pub Med, China Science and Technology Journal Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database and Wanfang databases. And those that met the inclusion criteria were screened. Rev Man5.3 was used for Meta-analysis. The “Risk of Bias” tool was used to evaluate the quality of included studies. R studio software was used for the measurement of publication bias. RESULTS: A total of 33 studies were included for Metaanalysis, including 2685 patients with simple obesity. Meta-analysis results showed the comparison of effectiveness rate was relative risk(RR) = 1.12, 95%CI(1.08, 1.16), body mass index(BMI) was mean difference(MD) =-1.12, 95%CI(-2.09,-0.14), waist circumference was MD =-2.14, 95%CI(-4.22,-0.06), and body mass was MD =-2.36, 95%CI(-3.99,-0.73). On the basis of diet and exercise intervention, the effectiveness rate [RR = 1.12, 95%CI(1.05, 1.19)], BMI [MD =-0.88, 95%CI(-1.35,-0.40)], waist circumference [MD =-1.10, 95%CI(-4.27, 2.07)], and body mass [MD =-0.68, 95%CI(-2.90, 1.54)]. The risk of bias of included literatures was low. CONCLUSIONS: Acupoint catgut embedding therapy was slightly better than acupuncture therapy in most of the outcomes. Moreover, the treatment frequency of acupoint catgut embedding is less with larger stimulation intensity, which is more conducive to clinical promotion.

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.

Acupoint catgut embedding combined with auricular plaster therapy for 18 cases of bulimia nervosa

Prof.Min LI adopted acupoint catgut embedding at Zhōngwǎn(中脘CV12),Tiānshū(天枢ST25),Wèishū(胃俞BL21),Dàchángshū(大肠俞BL25),Zúsānlǐ(足三里ST36),Sānyīnjiāo(三阴交SP6),and Tàichōng(太冲LR3),and combined with auricular plaster therapy at Wèi(胃CO4),Dacháng(大肠CO7),Gān(肝CO12),Jiāogǎn(交感AH6 a),Nèifēnmì(内分泌CO18)for the treatment of 18 cases of bulimia nervosa(BN).The result was that 9 cases were clinically cured,6 cases improved,3 case ineffective,and the total effec-tive rate was 83.33%,no obvious adverse reactions.The therapeutic effect of acupoint catgut embedding combined with auricular plaster therapy for BN is good,without side effects.

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF ACUPOINT-CATGUT-EMBEDDING ON EEG OF EPILEPSY RATS

Aim: To observe the therapeutic effect of acupoint catgut embedding in the treatment of epilepsy rats. Methods: 40 Wistar rats were randomly and evenly divided into normal control, model, medication (Natrii Valproas syrup), and catgut embedding groups. Epilepsy model was established by intraperitoneal injection of sodium penicillin (0.4 mu/100 g), twice every week, continuously for 4 weeks. Electroencephalograph (EEG) was used as the index for assessing the effect of catgut embedding on epilepsy. Results: In epilepsy rats of model group, the amplitude and frequency of EEG increased significantly in comparison with control group (P<0.05). While the amplitude and frequency of EEG of catgut embedding group and medication group were all significantly lower than those of model group (P<0.05, 0.01). The frequency of EEG of catgut embedding group was significantly lower than that of medication group (P<0.05). These findings show that both acupoint catgut embedding and medication can apparently improve epileptic electrical activities of the brain in the rat, and the effect of catgut embedding is better than that of medication in lowering the frequency of EEG.

Effect of catgut embedding at acupoints versus non-acupoints in abdominal obesity:a randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVE:To explore the difference of catgut embedding effect between acupoints and non-acupoints in patients with abdominal obesity(AO).METHODS:In this multicenter,double-blind,randomized controlled trial,all subjects were randomly assigned into the acupoint catgut embedding(ACE)group and control group(catgut embedding at non-acupoints).With a 12-week actual intervention period and a 4-week period of follow-up.Waist circumference(WC),body weight,body mass index(BMI),hip circumference(HC)and appetite were applied and assessed at baseline and after 6,12 and 16 weeks.RESULTS:After the total intervention phase(12 weeks),the WC,body weight,BMI,HC and visual analogue scale scores of appetite,decreased significantly in the two groups as compared to the baseline(P<0.001).Meanwhile,after the 4-week follow-up,the indicators still decreased significantly in the ACE group(P<0.001).At 12 and 16 weeks,catgut embedding at acupoints showed significantly advantages to non-acupoints in WC and appetite(P<0.05).No serious adverse events were observed in ACE group and control group.CONCLUSIONS:Catgut embedding at acupoints and non-acupoints are all effective and safe for AO.ACE can effectively treat AO as expected and deliver lasting results.

Effect of Spinning Process on Properties of Polyglycollide Acid Embedding Materials

Acupoint catgut embedding therapy(ACET),filling the gaps of traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture treatment,has been widely used for the treatment of many diseases with significant effects.The aim of this paper is to obtain polyglycollide acid(PGA)fibers with higher performance at a lower cost,and ensure that PGA can meet the clinical requirements as well.PGA fibers with different diameters were spun as embedding materials.The mechanical performance,thermodynamic and biodegradable properties of PGA fibers were studied under different spinning process parameters,including spinning speed,drawing temperature and stretching ratio.The experimental results showed that the optimum spinning parameters were the spinning speed at 150 m/min,the drawing temperature of 45 ℃,and the stretching ratio of 4.0.The initial modulus of PGA fibers was 3.876 N/tex.The crystallization degree was 68% and the degradation performance was in consistent with treatment cycle of patients.

Clinical study on the treatment of bronchiectasis in remission period by embedding thread combined with Jianpi Qushi Huayu plaster

Objective:To explore the clinical effect of embedding thread combined with Jianpi Qushi Huayu ointment in the treatment of bronchiectasis in remission period,and to observe the effect on the level of inflammatory cytokines.Methods:150 patients with bronchiectasis in remission period were divided into three groups(50 cases in each group),western medicine group(treated with salmeterol fluticasone and low dose erythromycin),combined group(treated with Jianpi Qushi Huayu plaster),observation group(treated with western medicine+Jianpi Qushi Huayu plaster+embedding thread),and the clinical treatment of the three groups were compared.Result:before and after treatment,the improvement of TCM syndrome score,the improvement of pulmonary ventilation index,the improvement of inflammatory cytokines,and the change of adverse reactions.Results:the treatment efficiency of the observation group and the combination group was significantly higher than that of the western medicine group P The peak level of expiratory flow velocity,the maximum expiratory flow,the forced expiratory volume in one second and the ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second to vital capacity in the observation group and the combined group were significantly better than those in the western medicine group and the pre-treatment level(P<0.05),and the improvement in the observation group was better than that in the combined group After treatment,the expression of IL-13,IL-10 and IL-4 in the combined group was significantly better than that in the western medicine group and before treatment(P<0.05),and the improvement in the observation group was better than that in the combined group;there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions among the three groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:catgut embedding combined with Jianpi Qushi Huayu ointment can significantly alleviate the related clinical symptoms and signs,effectively control the further aggravation of the disease,improve the lung function of patients,regulate the level of inflammatory cytokines to reduce the degree of inflammatory reaction,and do not significantly aggravate the adverse reactions of drugs.

Efficacy of catgut embedding in Baihui(GV20)and Feishu(BL13)and Pishu(BL20)on lung tissue,brain tissue and blood related indexes in rats with allergic rhinitis of lung deficiency type

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of acupoint catgut embedding for 3 weeks on lung tissue,blood immunoglobulin E(IgE)and interleutin-4(IL-4),brain tissue microglia x-42(OX-42)and toll-like receptor-2(TLR-2)in rats with allergic rhinitis of lung deficiency type.METHODS:Forty-five female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided for two times.The first time,they were randomly divided into model group and blank group(Group C)according to 2∶1,and the second time,the model group were randomly divided into model control group(Group B)and intervention treatment group(Group A)according to 1∶1.15 in each group.For Group A and Group B,the lung deficiency model was made by"sulfur–moxa fumigation",and then the allergic rhinitis model was established by"ovalbumin(OVA)sensitization".Then catgut embedding was performed at acupoints in Group A and not in Group B.After 3 weeks,collect lung tissue samples for hematoxylin-eosin staining,then take blood to observe the concentration of IgE and IL-4,and finally take brain tissue to observe the results of OX-42 and TLR-2.RESULTS:IgE level(μg/m L)was(3.11±0.20)in the Group A,(4.19±0.44)in the Group B,and(2.29±0.30)in the Group C(all P<0.001).IL-4 level(pg/mL)was(14.2±0.7)in the Group A,(18.6±2.4)in the Group B,and(11.4±1.2)for the Group C(all P<0.001).The mean OD for OX-42 is(0.1728±0.0016)in the Group A,(0.1810±0.0046)in the Group B and(0.1674±0.0025)in the Group C(all P<0.001).CONCLUSION:Although 3 weeks of acupoint catgut embedding already showed obvious efficacy on rats with allergic rhinitis,the allergic reaction in the body still continued.To achieve further treatment,prolonging the catgut embedding time is necessary.

Systematic review on the effectiveness of embedding catgut therapy for simple obesity

Objective To systematically evaluate the effect of acupoint catgut embedding therapy （ACET） for simple obesity. Methods Computer retrieval was used for randomized controlled trials on the treatment effect of simple obesity with ACET in databases of the China National Knowledge Infrastructure （CNKI）, Wanfang Data system, and the China Biology Medicine disc （CBMDisc）. The Jadad Quality Scale was used in the evaluation of included studies. The outcome indicators were analyzed with the Review Manage 5.1 software. Results A total of 16 randomized controlled trials were included finally. The meta-analysis result showed that compared with the control group, there was statistically significance on the total efficiency of using ACET for simple obesity [OR=2.51, 95% confidence interval （1.74, 3.63）, Z=4.91, P〈0.000 01]. The analysis on the literature quality showed that there was only 2 article marked as 3 points. The other 25 articles marked ≤2 points. The quality of published articles was generally low. There were publication biases and the blinding method was seldom used, the losses of follow-up / drop oup / withdraw were reported with less. There were 27 acupoints used in the treatment, which mainly included Tianshu （天枢ST 25）, Zhongwan （中脘 CV 12）, Fenglong （丰隆 ST 40）, Shufen （水分 CV 9）, Qihai （气海 CV 6）, Sanyinjiao （三阴交 SP 6）, Zusnli （足三里 ST 36）, Ashi point, Daheng （大横 SP 25）. The five kinds of catgut embedding needle were injection needles ＋ acupuncture needle, specialized catgut embedding needle, spinal needle, triangular needle, and skin suture needle. Conclusion There is definite efficiency of using ACET in the treatment of simple obesity. However, the clinical efficiency still lacks of sufficient evidences. Therefore, further clinical research should be conducted in the providing of reliable evidences in the clinical decision-making in the future.

Advances in Acupuncture and its Associated Therapies for the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Obesity type 2 diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disease in clinical practice,and its prevalence is increasing rapidly with the aging of the population and changes in lifestyle.Acupuncture,as a distinctive therapy,has its unique advantages in the treatment of obesity type 2 diabetes and has an irreplaceable role in a variety of treatment methods.The author organized the literature on acupuncture and its related therapies to prevent and treat obesity type 2 diabetes in recent years and found that acupuncture and its associated therapies to prevent and treat obesity type 2 diabetes mainly include:simple acupuncture,electroacupuncture,acupoint catgut embedding therapy,auricular-plaster therapy and other treatments,all of which can safely and effectively improve clinical symptoms,acupuncture and its related therapies to treat obesity type 2 diabetes has a broad prospect,worthy of further clinical promotion.

Clinical efficacy of catgut embedment combined with moxibustion and bloodletting in the treatment of androgenic alopecia

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of catgut embedment combined with moxibustion and bloodletting in the treatment of androgenic alopecia and to probe into its therapeutic mechanism. Methods Eighty-four patients with androgenic alopecia were divided into catgut embedment group （group A） and western medicine group （group B） on the basis of random number table and according to the order of treatment. For the pateints in group A, Shenguan （肾关） on both sides, Minghuang （明黄） and Zusanli （足三里 ST 36） were selected to receive catgut embedment therapy, once every month, combined with moxibustion on the lower abdomen and local bloodletting treatment. For the patients in group B, finasteride 1mg/d was orally administrated. The treatment period for two groups was 3 months, and the follow-up visit lasted for 3 months. Serum testosterone （T） and estradiol （E2） contents were detected respectively before treatment, after i month and 3 months of treatment and after 3 months of follow-up visit, and the specific values were calculated to make statistical analysis of T, E2, T/E2 and curative effects of the two groups after i month and 3 months of treatment and after 3 months of follow-up visit. Results There was no statistical significance in curative effect between the two groups after i month of treatment （P〉0.05）, and the curative effect in group A were better than that in group B after 3 months of treatment or after 3 months of follow-up visit （both P〈0.05）; E2 level in group A was lower than that in group A after 3 months of treatment （P〈0.05）; T, E2 and T/E2 in group A were all lower than that in group B after 3 month of follow-up visit （all P〈0.05）. Conclusion The curative effect of treating androgenic alopecia with catgut embedment, moxibustion and bloodletting is definite, and its mechanism of action may be related to the reduction of T levels and T/E2 values.