Effects of acupuncture therapy on plasma neuropeptide Y levels and resuscitation in patients with very early stage acute cerebral infarction A randomized controlled study

BACKGROUND： It is known that acupuncture therapy can decrease plasma neuropeptide Y （NPY） levels in patients with cerebral infarction, but different types of acupuncture therapy used in various stages of cerebral infarction have not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE： To explore the effect of acupuncture therapy on resuscitation （Xingnao Kaiqiao） and plasma NPY levels in patients with very early stage acute cerebral infarction. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： This case-controlled study was performed at the Affiliated Hospital of the Medical College of the Chinese People＇s Armed Police Force between September 2004 and October 2005. PARTICIPANTS： Sixty patients with acute cerebral infarction of ≤ 6 hours were used in this study. Patients were randomly divided into an acupuncture therapy group （n = 30） and a routine treatment group （n = 30）. Another 30 healthy subjects were used as the control group. METHODS： The acupuncture therapy of Xingnao Kaiqiao used in the acupuncture therapy group was based on routine western medical treatment and was performed at bilateral Neiguan （PCG） using the twirling, reinforcing-reducing method, Renzhong （DU26） using heavy bird-pecking needling, Sanyinjiao （SPG） using reinforcing and reducing by lifting and thrusting the needle, Jiquan （HT1）, Weizhong （BL40） and Chize （LU5） using reinforcing and reducing by lifting and thrusting the needle. The acupuncture lasted for 14 days. Patients in the routine treatment group underwent routine medical treatment and no intervention was given to subjects in the control group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： A 4 mL venous blood sample was obtained at different time points, i.e., immediately after hospitalization, the next morning, 7 and 14 days after treatment, to measure plasma NPY levels pre- and post-treatment using the radio-immunity method. RESULTS： The plasma NPY levels were significantly higher in both the routine treatment group and the acupuncture therapy group than in the control group pre- and post-treatment （P 〈 0.01）. In particular, the plasma NPY levels in both the acupuncture therapy group and the routine treatment group were increased 7 days post-treatment but decreased from 7-14 days post-treatment. In addition, the plasma NPY levels were significantly lower in the acupuncture therapy group than in the routine treatment group on day 7 and 14 post-treatment （P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： Acupuncture therapy of Xingnao Kaiqiao can decrease plasma NPY levels in patients with very early stage acute cerebral infarction. In addition, the therapeutic effect of acupuncture with a prolonged therapy time is superior to routine treatment.

Research progress on insomnia treated by traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture based on microbial-gut-brain axis theory

Insomnia,as one of the emotional diseases,has been increasing in recent years,which has a great impact on people's life and work.Therefore,researchers are eager to find a more perfect treatment.The microbiome-gut-brain axis is a new theory that has gradually become popular abroad in recent years and has a profound impact in the field of insomnia.In recent years,traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has played an increasingly important role in the treatment of insomnia,especially acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.It is the main method of TCM in the treatment of insomnia.This paper mainly reviews the combination degree of"microorganism-gut-brain axis"theory with TCM and acupuncture under the system of TCM.To explore the mechanism of TCM and acupuncture in the treatment of insomnia under the guidance of"microorganismgut-brain axis"theory,in order to provide a new idea for the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia.

A comprehensive review of heart rate variability as an indicator in the regulation of the autonomic nervous system by acupuncture:a bibliometric analysis

This study sought to conduct a bibliometric analysis of acupuncture studies focusing on heart rate variability(HRV)and to investigate the correlation between various acupoints and their effects on HRV by utilizing association rule mining and network analysis.A total of 536 publications on the topic of acupuncture studies based on HRV.The disease keyword analysis revealed that HRV-related acupuncture studies were mainly related to pain,inflammation,emotional disorders,gastrointestinal function,and hypertension.A separate analysis was conducted on acupuncture prescriptions,and Neiguan(PC6)and Zusanli(ST36)were the most frequently used acupoints.The core acupoints for HRV regulation were identified as PC6,ST36,Shenmen(HT7),Hegu(LI4),Sanyinjiao(SP6),Jianshi(PC5),Taichong(LR3),Quchi(LI11),Guanyuan(CV4),Baihui(GV20),and Taixi(KI3).Additionally,the research encompassed 46 reports on acupuncture animal experiments conducted on HRV,with ST36 being the most frequently utilized acupoint.The research presented in this study offers valuable insights into the global research trend and hotspots in acupuncture-based HRV studies,as well as identifying frequently used combinations of acupoints.The findings may be helpful for further research in this field and provide valuable information about the potential use of acupuncture for improving HRV in both humans and animals.

Research Progress of Acupuncture Treatment of Neurogenic Bladder after Spinal Cord Injury

Neurogenic bladder (NB) mainly occurs in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). The pathological basis of NB is the occurrence of lesions in the urination control center, which requires systematic treatment. Western medicine has many treatment methods for this disease, which can alleviate the symptoms of the disease. However, the radical effect is not ideal and there are many adverse reactions. In comparison, acupuncture can improve the residual urine volume of NB patients and regulate the related indexes of urodynamics. There are many kinds of acupuncture therapies, such as simple acupuncture and moxibustion, which can comprehensively improve the therapeutic effect and obtain a better disease prognosis. Therefore, this article elaborates on the pathogenesis of SCI complicated with NB, the treatment mechanism, and treatment methods of acupuncture and moxibustion to provide a reference for clinical treatment.

Blood Pressure Balance as a Marker for Early Detection of Cerebral Infarction and a Criterion for Inclusion/Exclusion from Acupuncture Treatment

Background: Early detection of cerebral infarction (CI) by home acupuncturists might be helpful in reducing stroke mortality. We compared vital signs of patients who developed CI and those who did not to ascertain if blood pressure balance is a useful marker for the early detection of CI and for distinguishing cases with potentially effective/ineffective acupuncture treatment. Methods: In this retrospective study, vital signs such as body temperature, pulse, and blood pressure, were simultaneously obtained from the right and left arms of patients who received weekly acupuncture treatment. We focused on the differences between values obtained from the right and left arms (the balance) and compared the values of patients who developed CI [CI (+)] (n = 18) and those of age-/gender-matched patients who did not [CI (−)] (n = 18). Results: Left/right blood pressure was significantly more unbalanced in the CI (+) group than in the CI (−) group, especially immediately before the onset of CI. Moreover, all CIs occurred on the side with a lower blood pressure. Discussion and Conclusions: Blood pressure balance might aid in the early detection of CI and to determine whether treatment with traditional or modern medicine is more appropriate. Acupuncture may thus help maintain patients’ quality of life.

CLINICAL STUDY OF 108 RESTLESS LEGS CASES BY ACUPUNCTURE OR EAR ACUPUNCTURE

108 cases of restless legs syndrome were treated , out of which, 56 cases withacupuncture, 52 cases with ear acupuncture. The therapeutical effects of acupuncture are superior tothat of ear acupuncture.

THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF EAR ACUPUNCTURE IN 52 CASES WITH REACTION TO BLOOD TRANSFUSION OR FLUID INFUSION

The author used ear acupuncture to treat 52 cases with reaction to blood transfu-sion or fluid infusion and obtained a good and quick therapeutic effect, 50 cases (96. 2％) were curedand 2 cases (3. 8％) improved.

CLINICAL STUDY ON THE TREATMENT OF EARLY DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY BY WESTERN MEDICINE COMBINED WITH ACUPUNCTURE-MOXIBUSTION AND CHINESE HERBS

In this paper, 48 cases of early diabetic nephropathy were treated by acupuncture-moxi- bustion and Chinese berbs based on Western medicine, and using Western medicine as control. Results show that the total effective rate of combined treatment is 93. 2%, while it is 58. 3% in control group. It suggests that the combined treatment plays an important role in reducing urinary albumin and improving the renal function.

Acupuncture Legislation in the United States: Minnesota as a Case Study

2023 marks the 50th anniversary of legal regulation of acupuncture in the United States,as the first acupuncture law was enacted in Nevada.Acupuncture,like any other medical modality,is regulated at the state level,with each state formulating and enforcing its own laws and statutes over time.This article narrates the legislative process and major developments of the acupuncture profession in Minnesota,in the context of legislative developments across the country.It tells how this midsize,Midwest state’s acupuncture profession became regulated,and examines the challenges faced by the profession before and after state statutes were enacted.Minnesota stands as a representative example of the legislative process in other states.

Clinical Study on Early Senile Cataract Treated by Acupuncture

40cases/70eyes were treated by need-ling Jingming(UB 1)(without needling ma-nipulation),Fengchi(GB 20),Zusanli(St36),Sanyinjiao(Sp 6)with reinforcing orreducing manipulations by lifting-thrusting,twisting-twirling methods and

TREATMENT OF ACNE WITH EAR ACUPUNCTURE——A CLINICAL OBSERVATION OF 80 CASES

Under the guidance of“Theory of Channelsand Collaterals and Their Relationship with theVisceral Organs”in TCM,80 cases of varioustypes of ache were treated with ear acupuncture.The clinical results are reported as follows.GENERAL DATAThere were 51 males and 29 females.Agerange of the patients was:10-20 years in

Mechanism of acupuncture for limb spasm of post-stroke spasticity based on GABA and BDNF/Trkb-KCC2 signaling pathway

Background:To investigate the effects of acupuncture on post-stroke limb spasm model rats and the underlying mechanism.Methods:A total of 50 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups,Control group(10),Model group(20)and Zhishen Tiaoxing(ZSTX)acupuncture group(20).Middle cerebral artery occlusion was conducted in SD rats to establish post-stroke limb spasm rats,which were treated with ZSTX acupuncture.Behavioral assays were determined by the Narrow ally test,the limb muscle tension was detected by the BL-420S test system,and infarct volume was assessed after the cerebral infarction by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining.Heterogeneous neurotransmitterγ-aminobutyric acid(GABA)and its receptors GABAA and GABAB in the cerebral cortex of the infarct area were determined by immunofluorescence assay.The release of Trkb and K-Cl cotransporter isoform 2 was detected by an immunofluorescence double labeling study.Western Blot was utilized to measure the expression of BDNF and Trkb.Results:The results showed that the behavioral assays in post-stroke limb spasm rats were significantly improved by the treatment of ZSTX acupuncture.14 days of ZSTX acupuncture can effectively inhibit muscle tone and decrease Infarct volume,which was measured with BL-420S biological function experiment system and triphenyltetrazolium chloride.Meanwhile,the results of Double-Label Immunofluorescence Assays showed that ZSTX acupuncture improved the expression of GABA,GABAA,GABAB,BDNF,and K-Cl cotransporter isoform 2.Double-Label Immunofluorescence Assays and WB results showed that 14 days ZSTX acupuncture declined the expression of Trkb.Conclusions:Our results suggest that 14 days of ZSTX acupuncture can significantly improve post-stroke limb spasm.Meanwhile,the pathogenesis of post-stroke limb spasm and the efficacy of ZSTX acupuncture involve metabolic pathways of neurotransmitters,and electro-acupuncture can treat post-stroke limb spasm by regulating BDNF/Trkb-KCC2 signaling pathway.

Acupuncture for ischemic stroke:where are we now?

Acupuncture is an effective treatment for ischemic stroke(IS)and plays a key role in neurological rehabilitation after IS.Acupuncture can improve the clinical symptoms of various complications after IS,including motor dysfunction,swallowing disorders,speech disorders,cognitive impairment,depression,insomnia,and fatigue.However,the mechanisms underlying the effects of acupuncture in IS remain unclear.Available evidence suggests that acupuncture may exert neuroprotective effects through neuroplasticity(neurogenesis and synaptogenesis),angiogenesis,cell proliferation and apoptosis,and regulation of oxidative stress,inflammation,and immunity.Further studies should be conducted to improve the high-quality evidence-based system of acupuncture intervention for IS,by focusing on the clinical and basic research design,increasing the sample size,standardizing and quantifying the standards of acupuncture operations,using multidisciplinary techniques and methods to systematically explore the key targets of acupuncture intervention for IS,and reveal the efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of IS.

Effects of acupuncture and balance facilitation of muscular tension on the early rehabilitationof patients with stroke and hemiplegia

Objective To explore the effects of acupuncture and balance facilitation of muscular tension on the early rehabilitation of patients with stroke and hemiplegia.Methods Divided the 96 patients with acute stroke hemiplegia into group A and B randomly (group B as control). Evaluate the rehabilitation before and after therapy, and deal with the data in statistics. The courses are 26 to 28 days. In group A, stab negative channel and points of upper limb as well as positive channel and points of lower limb of paralysis side in flaccid paralysis stage. After the muscular tension resumed, stab positive points of upper limb and negative points of lower limb, and try to recover the balance of muscular tension, and avoid muscular spasm to establish normal moving pattern. Results Compared with control group, group A had prominent difference on the process of muscular tension resuming, incidence rate of muscular spasm, the ratio of reducing of neurologic impairment scores and increasing of motor function integral (FMA), MBI of the ability of daily life (ADL) as well as index of quality of life (QLI), P<0.01. Conclusion Acuppuncture and balance facillitation of muscular tension are useful in the early rehabilitation in hemiplegia.

Research progress of acupuncture analgesia based on autonomic nerve regulation pathway

The autonomic nervous system(ANS)includes the sympathetic,parasympathetic,and enteric nervous systems,and its senior regulatory center includes the brainstem,cingulate gyrus,and hypothalamus.Acupuncture can affect visceral,vascular,and glandular functions via the autonomic nervous regulatory pathway.In this paper,the relationship between pain and autonomic nervous function,the application of acupuncture guided by the autonomic nervous system,and the basis and clinical research on acupuncture analgesia are reviewed.

Clinical Observation on the Effect of Earlobe-Bleeding plus Body Acupuncture in 85 Cases of Common Acne

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of earlobe-bleeding plus body acupuncture for common acne. Methods: The earlobe-bleeding plus local and body acupuncture based on syndrome differentiation was adopted for 85 cases of common acne. Results: Of the 85 cases treated, 61 were cured, 12 markedly effective, 9 improved, and 3 failed. The total effective rate was 96.47%. Conclusions: The therapy can treat both the Biao-symptom and Ben-root of common acne, short in course and effective in result.

Research Progress on Acupuncture Therapy in Infertility: A Bibliometric Analysis from 2000 to 2021

Objective: To investigate the research progress and new trend of acupuncture in the treatment of infertility from 2000 to 2021. Methods: The literature review was conducted on acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of infertility from 2000 to 2021 from the Web of Science core collection and PubMed. CiteSpace and VOSviewer were used to analyze the annual number of articles, countries, institutions, authors, journals, references and keywords. Statistical Analysis Toolkit for Informetrics 3.2 (SATI) and IBM SPSS Modeler 18.0 were employed to draw the maps of core acupoints and acupuncture approaches. Results: A total of 316 articles were included. From 2000 to 2021 the number of publications has been ever increased with certain fluctuations. The United States was the most productive country. Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine was the most active institution. Stener-Victorin E was the highest cited author. Fertility and Sterility was the most prolific journal. Paulus We, 2002 was the highest co-citation literature. SP6 (Sanyinjiao) was the most commonly used acupoint. Manual acupuncture was the most commonly used method. Conclusions: The study of acupuncture in the treatment of infertility is characterized by multinational, multi-institutional participation and close regional cooperation. Acupuncture is a potentially effective therapy for infertility. Due to a lack of research quality and difficulties in performing double-blind, high-quality clinical evidence is urgently required. A complete acupuncture therapy system for infertility should be gradually constructed.

Annual advances of acupuncture research in 2022

This article reviews the major advances in acupuncture research in 2022,including clinical reports,basic research,and reviews.In terms of the type of literature,most of them are systematic reviews and clinical trials,while high-quality basic studies can also be found.The innovative inventions and researches in this field are of increasing quality and in a wide range of fields,acupuncture is attracting more and more attention in the international arena.In particular,some acupuncture combined sensors such as H2-EC/SD co-therapy,precise positioning,and vivo monitoring of neurotransmitter has been used for oncological diseases and neuropathic pain.Acupuncture has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of pain,stroke,psychiatric disorders,cancer,COVID-19 and others.Most of the studies show that acupuncture can play a positive role in various diseases and provide evidence for clinical applications and mechanism research.

An Interview with Peter Deadman—Acupuncture Pioneer and Founder of The Journal of Chinese Medicine

This interview was conducted on August 21st, 2022 by Charles Buck and Ioannis Solos. Peter Deadman has worked in the field of health promotion for 50 years. He co-founded Infinity Foods(an organic and natural foods workers co-op) in 1971, followed by the Brighton Natural Health Centre-a charity dedicated to teaching ways to improve personal, community and planetary health and wellbeing. He qualified as an acupuncturist in 1978 and in Chinese herbal medicine in 1990. He founded The Journal of Chinese Medicine(UK) in 1979(Fig. 1), and co-authored A Manual of Acupuncture(published in 1998). He is the author of Live Well Live Long: Teachings from the Chinese Nourishment of Life Tradition. He has taught Chinese medicine and health promotion internationally for decades and is a dedicated practitioner and teacher of Qi Gong(气功).