Clinical research progress on acupuncture for the treatment of otogenic vertigo

Otogenic vertigo is a common disorder that affects the vestibular system,which often results in considerable discomfort and impaired daily functioning.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),including acupuncture and moxibustion,has been historically utilized to manage the symptoms of vertigo.However,the effectiveness and methodology of these treatments have rarely been investigated in the medical literature.This study reviews the existing literature on the point selection,method,and therapeutic effect of acupuncture and moxibustion to provide a reference for the TCM treatment of otogenic vertigo.A literature search was performed using the PubMed search engine.The terms used included otogenic vertigo,acupuncture treatment,and acupuncture point selection.A total of 34 relevant articles were retrieved from PubMed.These suggest that the clinical treatment of otogenic vertigo should consider the functions of zang-fu organs and meridians and select different acupuncture treatment methods according to syndrome differentiation based on the difference between deficiency and excess.Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy should be based on acupoint selection,considering the syndrome differentiation,supplemented with experience.The treatment of otogenic vertigo with acupuncture and moxibustion refers to the selection of appropriate acupuncture methods under the guidance of TCM theory and following the principles of syndrome,disease,and meridian differentiation.Common acupuncture methods include body acupuncture,auricular acupuncture,scalp acupuncture,acupoint injection,electroacupuncture,and moxibustion.There are many acupuncture and moxibustion acupoints selected for the treatment of otogenic vertigo.Individualized treatment according to the patient’s specific condition is effective and safe,which can help to improve the patient’s vertigo symptoms and cerebral blood perfusion.

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 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.

Research trends of clinical studies on acupuncture protocols over the past 20 years:a bibliometric analysis

Background:Acupuncture protocols are essential as they guide study design and improve the quality of clinical trial,thus preventing avoid research waste.Given the increasing number of publications on acupuncture protocols,this study aimed to assess the publications trends of acupuncture protocols over the past two decades and provided an overview for future research directions.Methods:Publications focusing on acupuncture protocols in clinical settings were retrieved and compiled from the Web of Science Core Collection spanning the period from 2004 to 2023.CiteSpace and Microsoft Excel software were used to analyze the relationship of publication with countries,institutions,authors,co-cited author,journals,references,keywords and other literature aspects.Results:This study analyzed 721 articles encompassing acupuncture protocols.A continuous yet fluctuating growth in publications volume were observed from 2004 to 2023.Notably,China stands at the forefront in contributing to acupuncture protocols,publishing 513 papers and demonstrating a high centrality score of 1.07 in cooperative network.Furthermore,China has fostered close collaborations with the USA and South Korea.Beijing University of Chinese Medicine(89),Zhishun Liu(36)and Trials(306)emerged as the top contributors in terms of institution,author,and journal,respectively.However,inter-institutional and author collaboration was relatively weak.Macpherson H was the most frequently cited author.High-frequency keywords included“randomized controlled trials”,“acupuncture”,“management”,“study protocol”,“quality of life”.Analysis of timeline diagram of keywords indicated that“functional dyspepsia”,“stroke”,“electroacupuncture”,and“colorectal cancer”were the research development trends and focus.Conclusion:Clinical acupuncture protocols have experienced robust development over the past two decades,with current research hotspots focusing on disease management and quality of life,which remain key research concerns.Moreover,we advocate for researchers to publish acupuncture protocols,which remain key research concerns.This approach allows for thorough pre-study planning of methodologies and objectives,enhancing scientific rigor through peer review,thereby laying the foundation for conducting high-quality research.

Impact of task-oriented training based on acupuncture rehabilitation on upper extremity function and quality of life of patients with early stroke

BACKGROUND Eighty percent of stroke patients develop upper limb dysfunction,especially hand dysfunction,which has a very slow recovery,resulting in economic burden to families and society.AIM To investigate the impact of task-oriented training based on acupuncture therapy on upper extremity function in patients with early stroke.METHODS Patients with early stroke hemiplegia who visited our hospital between January 2021 and October 2022 were divided into a control group and an observation group,each with 50 cases.The control group underwent head acupuncture plus routine upper limb rehabilitation training(acupuncture therapy).In addition to acupuncture and rehabilitation,the observation group underwent upper limb task-oriented training(30 min).Each group underwent treatment 5 d/wk for 4 wk.Upper extremity function was assessed in both groups using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity(FMA-UE),Wolf Motor Function Rating Scale(WMFT),modified Barthel Index(MBI),and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure(COPM).Quality of life was evaluated using the Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey(SF-36).Clinical efficacy of the interventions was also evaluated.RESULTS Before intervention,no significant differences were observed in the FMA-UE,MBI,and WMFT scores between the two groups(P>0.05).After intervention,the FMA-UE,WMFT,MBI,COPM-Functional Mobility and Satisfaction,and SF-36 scores increased in both groups(P<0.05),with even higher scores in the observation group(P<0.05).The observation group also obtained a higher total effective rate than the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Task-oriented training based on acupuncture rehabilitation significantly enhanced upper extremity mobility,quality of life,and clinical efficacy in patients with early stroke.

CONFERENCE At-A-Glance SOCIETY FOR ACUPUNCTURE RESEARCH“Translational Research in Acupuncture:Bridging Science,Practice and Community” Chapel Hill,NC,March 19-21,2010

THURSDAY,March 18 Pre-Conference Workshops"lntroduction to current issues in acupunclure research""ConsideratiOns for developing COllaboration research between AOM COlleges and conventionaI medicalinstitutions"

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.

Research on the Employment View of Acupuncture and Tuina Undergraduates in Minority Border Areas from Students’ Perspective

With the popularization of higher education in China,the employment situation of college students is more complex and severe.This paper adopts the questionnaire method to explore the employment view of acupuncture and tuina undergraduates of Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.The employment concept of acupuncture and tuina undergraduates in the minority border areas has changed greatly.After graduation,97.95%of students choose to work in fields related to medicine and acupuncture,prefer positions close to home,and are attracted to high-salary companies,among other factors.Therefore,enhancing the competitive advantages of medical students by guiding their career planning,providing employment selection advice,fostering innovation and entrepreneurship,improving basic skills,and offering graduate entrance examination guidance is crucial for broadening their employment opportunities.

Acupuncture enhances brain function in patients with mild cognitive impairment: evidence from a functional-near infrared spectroscopy study

Mild cognitive impairment(MCI)is a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease.It is imperative to develop a proper treatment for this neurological disease in the aging society.This observational study investigated the effects of acupuncture therapy on MCI patients.Eleven healthy individuals and eleven MCI patients were recruited for this study.Oxy-and deoxy-hemoglobin signals in the prefrontal cortex during working-memory tasks were monitored using functional near-infrared spectroscopy.Before acupuncture treatment,working-memory experiments were conducted for healthy control(HC)and MCI groups(MCI-0),followed by 24 sessions of acupuncture for the MCI group.The acupuncture sessions were initially carried out for 6 weeks(two sessions per week),after which experiments were performed again on the MCI group(MCI-1).This was followed by another set of acupuncture sessions that also lasted for 6 weeks,after which the experiments were repeated on the MCI group(MCI-2).Statistical analyses of the signals and classifications based on activation maps as well as temporal features were performed.The highest classification accuracies obtained using binary connectivity maps were 85.7%HC vs.MCI-0,69.5%HC vs.MCI-1,and 61.69%HC vs.MCI-2.The classification accuracies using the temporal features mean from 5 seconds to 28 seconds and maximum(i.e,max(5:28 seconds))values were 60.6%HC vs.MCI-0,56.9%HC vs.MCI-1,and 56.4%HC vs.MCI-2.The results reveal that there was a change in the temporal characteristics of the hemodynamic response of MCI patients due to acupuncture.This was reflected by a reduction in the classification accuracy after the therapy,indicating that the patients’brain responses improved and became comparable to those of healthy subjects.A similar trend was reflected in the classification using the image feature.These results indicate that acupuncture can be used for the treatment of MCI patients.

Modern Technology for Acupuncture Research: A Short Review from the Medical University of Graz

This short review article gives a brief description of the TCM Research Center Graz, especially the part of high-tech acupuncture research. A new technology for non-invasive acupuncture stimulation using violet laser (405 nm, 110 mW, 500 μm) is described. With this kind of laser it is possible to induce a so-called Deqi sensation which is very important in Chinese acupuncture. The second part of the review paper describes the new teleacupuncture which has been performed for the first time between the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences and the TCM Research Center Graz at the Medical University of Graz.

CHINESE HUAI TANG NINE ACUPUNCTURE NEEDLES: RESEARCH ON THE NEW NINE ACUPUNCTURE NEEDLES THERAPY AND THE NEEDLING INSTRUMENTS (CONTINUED)

PART TWOThe Research on Chinese Huai TangNine Acupuncture Needles TherapyI The theoretical basis of ChineseHuai Tang Nine Needles Therapy.1) The kernel of the theoretical basis ofChinese Huai Tang Nine Needles Therapy.Chinese Huai Tang Nine Needles Therapyis to give full play to the treatment action of thespecifity and entirety of each needle. The speci-fity means that each needle has its own

Bibliometric analysis of acupuncture research through the Web of Science database from 1990 to 2019

Background:The main points of focus of bibliometric analysis of acupuncture treatment of diseases include pain(headache,low back pain),insomnia,and knee osteoarthritis,for example.In this paper,we analyze the frontiers,hotspots,and research trends of acupuncture over the past 30 years and compare them for each of three 10-year periods.Methods:All the studies on acupuncture research in three different periods(1990–1999,2000–2009,2010–2019)were collected from the Web of Science database.The evolution of the research,hotspots,and trends in acupuncture were explored intuitively by analyzing the frequency,betweenness centrality,and subject word clustering of the three periods.Results:(1)1990–1999,the main content relating to research was the mechanism of research of acupuncture treatment of pain.Naloxone was the high-frequency subject word,and centrality included,for example,the spinal cord,enkephalin,smoking cessation,and detoxification.The results of keyword cluster analysis showed that the main research content included capsaicin-induced neurogenic edema,chemical dependency treatment,afferent fiber,and sufferers from xerostomia.(2)2000–2009,during this stage,the frequency of keywords appeared in new research content such as randomized controlled trials of acupuncture and low back pain,but pain still dominated the main research content.From the perspective of intermediary centrality,along with the rise in randomized controlled trials,there were many important meta-analyses,as well as the management of acupuncture treatment.The main elements of the keyword cluster analysis included,for example,systematic review,randomized controlled pilot study,add-on therapy,brief overview,and ovarian morphology.(3)2010–2019,during this period,compared with the previous two stages,there was increased frequency of keywords,a growth in clinical randomized controlled trials,and distribution of centrality was evident in the emergence of acupuncture in care,osteoarthritis treatment,and breast cancer research.The keyword clustering covered,for example,neural specificity,inflammatory reaction,chronic pain,sleep pattern,and consort statement.Conclusion:This article summarizes the trend of development of acupuncture from 1990 to 2019 and compares the main research categories and hotspots in each of three different 10-year periods within this span,thereby helping elucidate the research direction within the field.

Clinical research progress of acupuncture therapy in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by ankylosis of the spine and sacroiliac joints.The continuous development of this disease can cause damage to multiple organs.At present,modern medical treatment programs generally focus on symptomatic treatment such as analgesia and anti-inflammatory,which can relieve pain and inflammation to a certain extent,but there are many problems such as adverse drug reactions,and cannot be completely cured.Modern medical treatment of ankylosing spondylitis focuses on relieving symptoms,controlling disease activity,slowing disease progression,and reducing disability rates.As an important part of traditional Chinese medicine,acupuncture therapy,compared with modern medicine,has obvious advantages in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis,such as good curative effect,quick effect,safety and low price,and no toxic and side effects.By reviewing the literature,it is found that there are a large number of clinical studies on the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis by acupuncture and moxibustion in recent years,and it is concluded that acupuncture and moxibustion has unique advantages in reducing local pain,alleviating inflammatory symptoms,improving joint function,preventing spinal deformity,and improving quality of life.Therefore,this study summarizes and reviews the relevant literature on different acupuncture and moxibustion therapy for ankylosing spondylitis,in order to provide ideas and solutions for the effective treatment of this disease.

CLINICAL RESEARCH OF JIAJI(夹脊EX-B2) IN TREATMENT OF SPASTIC CEREBRAL PALSY WITH ACUPUNCTURE

Objective To observe the clinical therapeutic effects of Jiájǐ（夹脊EX-B2） on spastic cerebral palsy （SOP） with acupuncture.Methods 62 cases of SOP were randomized into two groups,named treat- ment group with acupuncture on Jiájǐ（夹脊EX-B2）,and control group with sham-acupuncture.The treatment was applied once a day,10 times made a course,totally 6 courses were required.Modified Ashworth scale and FIM grade were used to observe and assess the results of treatment.Results The total effective rate was 84.4 % in treatment group and was 63.3 % in control group,indicating significant difference （P〈0.01）. Conclusion Acupuncture on Jiájǐ（夹脊EX-B2） achieves good clinical therapeutic effects on SCP.

CLINICAL RESEARCH ON TREATMENT OF DYSPHAGIA WITH NECK ACUPUNCTURE

Objective To observe the clinical therapeutic effects on dysphagia induced by pseudobulbar palsy chiefly treated with neck acupuncture and probe into the mechanism on the effects. Methods The 86 cases that had been diagnosed definitely were randomized into two groups, the treatment group and control group. The treatment group （acupuncture＋western medication） （44 cases） was treated with acupuncture on Fēngfǔ（风府 GV16）, Fēngchí （风池GB20）, Gòngxě（供血 Extra）, Yīmíng （翳明 EX-HN14）, Zhìqiāng （治呛 Extra）, Tūnyàn （吞咽 Extra）, Fāyīn （发音 Extra）, Liánquán （廉泉CV23）, etc., and the intravenous injection with Shuxuetong （疏血通） 6- 10 mL and 0.9%, NaCl 250 mL. The control group （western medication） （42 cases） was treated with the intravenous injection with Shuxuetong （疏血通） 6- 10 mL and 0.9%, NaCl 250 mL. Results The total effective rate was 97.73 % and 80.95 % in the treatment group and control group respectively, indicating very significant difference （P 〈 0.01 ）. Conclusion The therapeutic effects mainly with neck acupuncture are better on dysphagia induced by psudalbulbar palsy, which is superior to that with simple western medication and worth to be promoted. Concerning to the mechanism on the therapeutic results, it is viewed that acupuncture on neck points improves the excitability of cerebral neurocytes, resuscitates the reversible neurocytes or awakens the inhibited neurocytes.

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.

CLINICAL STUDY ON ACUPUNCTURE IN THE TREATMENT OF POST-STROKE DEPRESSION WITH THE METHOD OF ACTIVATING THE DU MERIDIAN AND CLEARING THE MIND

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture in the treatment of post-stroke depression (PSD) with the method of activating the Du Meridian and clearing the mind. Methods: Two hundred and thirty one cases of PSD were randomly divided into two groups, acupuncture and control groups. In acupuncture group, Baihui (百会 GV 20), Dazhui (大椎 GV 14), Neiguan (内关 PC 6), Taichong (太冲 LR 3) and Shenmen (神门 HT 7) were selected as the main points to invigorate flow of qi in the Du Meridian and clear the mind. Patients in the control group received Fluoxetine orally, 20 mg once per-day. In addition, the same routine treatments were given to both groups, strengthened with rehabilitation exercises as early as possible; 8 weeks constituted one therapeutic course. HAMD and severity of neuro-functional defect of each case were evaluated before and 8-week after the treatment. Results: The total effective rate of acupuncture group was 92.37%, the control group, 72.88%. According to χ2 test, the difference between the two groups was remarkably significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture therapy of activating the Du Meridian and clearing the mind in the treatment of PSD was safe and effective.

Acupuncture-a national heritage of China to the world:international clinical research advances from the past decade

Acupuncture originated in China and is an important component of traditional Chinese medicine.The elucidation of its anesthetic mechanisms,the medical needs of Western societies,as well as the proven therapeutic effects of this technique have made it the most widely used medical practice in the world.The concept of evidence-based medicine has been introduced in acupuncture research for technical improvement and the production of high-quality clinical evidence.Upon reviewing the acupuncture clinical research over the past 10years,we found the gradually increasing range of diseases that it benefits,from pain management to neoplasms and genitourinary,digestive,and mental disorders.Acupuncture is included in a number of international guidelines for clinical practice.However,high-quality clinical evidence to support the efficacy and effectiveness of acupuncture is lacking as a result of multiple exceptional clinical trials conducted by Western researchers that have yielded antagonistic results.Future clinical research should focus on exploring objective evaluation methods for studying the therapeutic effects of acupuncture.

Influence of acupuncture with exercise training on learning and memory functions, as well as microtubule-associated protein-2 and synaptophysin expression in the hippocampal CA3 region, in a rat model of cerebral infarction

The present study was designed to determine microtubule-associated protein-2 and synaptophysin expression in the hippocampal CA3 region in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion. The rats were treated with acupuncture at Baihui （GV 20）, Qubin （GB 7）, and Qianding （GV 21） points, in addition to exercise training. Results were compared with rats undergoing exercise training only. The Y-maze method and immunohistochemistry revealed decreased error frequency of passing through Y-maze, as well as significantly increased microtubule-associated protein-2 and synaptophysin expression, in the acupuncture with exercise training group compared with the model and exercise training groups after 5 weeks. Microtubule-associated protein-2 and synaptophysin expressions negatively correlated with error frequency of passing through the Y-maze. These results suggested that acupuncture combined with exercise training improved learning and memory functions in a rat model of cerebral infarction. The mechanisms of action were hypothesized to be associated with dendritic or synaptic plasticity in the ipsilateral hippocampal CA3 region.

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.