Different frequency of acupoint thread-embedding for overweight/obesity of spleen deficiency and dampness retention: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVES@#To compare the effect of different frequency of acupoint thread-embedding on weight loss in subjects with overweight/obesity of spleen deficiency and dampness retention.@*METHODS@#A total of 126 subjects with overweight/obesity of spleen deficiency and dampness retention were randomized into a 2-week group(63 cases, 13 cases dropped out)and a 3-week group(63 cases, 11 cases dropped out, 1 case was eliminated). The two groups were treated with acupoint thread-embedding once every 2 weeks and once every 3 weeks respectively, Zhongwan(CV 12), Shuifen(CV 9), Qihai(CV 6), Guanyuan(CV 4) and bilateral Zhangmen(LR 13), Tianshu(ST 25), Liangmen(ST 21), Daheng(SP 15), Fujie(SP 14), Pishu(BL 20), Yinlingquan(SP 9)were selected. Four times were required in the two groups. Before and after treatment, follow-up after 2 months of treatment completion, the body mass index(BMI), body weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, obesity degree, fat percentage(F%), skin fold thickness were observed in the two groups.@*RESULTS@#After treatment and in follow-up, the BMI, body weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, obesity degree, F%, skin fold thickness in the two groups were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.001, P<0.01), the changes of BMI, body weight, obesity degree, F%, skin fold thickness in the 2-week group were larger than those in the 3-week group(P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.001).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The effect of acupoint thread-embedding once every 2 weeks on weight loss in subjects with overweight/obesity of spleen deficiency and dampness retention is superior to that once every 3 weeks.

Research Progress of Micro-PIV in Biomedical Engineering Field / 医用生物力学

Blood is an important component of living organism which is responsible for material transportation. The microenvironment of blood flow plays an important role in physiological and pathological processes of angiogenesis and cardiac development, erythrocytes aggregation and blood viscosity, tumor metastasis and atherosclerosis. Besides, micro-fluid environment significantly affects drug delivery, cell screening, and artificial organ design. Thus, the measurement and quantitative analysis of micro-fluid contribute to the biomedical engineering filed. Micro-particle imaging velocimetry (Micro-PIV) combines conventional PIV with microscopy technique. Correlation analysis is conducted in two groups of images captured by high speed camera at different time intervals, and the velocity profiles in micro-fluid environment are successfully measured. Compared with other velocity measurement methods, Micro-PIV has high temporal resolution and spatial resolution. The main setup of Micro-PIV and its principle analysis method were introduced in this review. Recent studies of Micro-PIV applications in biomedical engineering field were then summarized. Moreover, the drawbacks of Micro-PIV technique and prospect of its applications were discussed.