Safety of Thread Embedding Acupuncture Therapy: A Systematic Review / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the safety of thread embedding acupuncture therapy (TEAT) and discuss the prevention and treatment of some adverse events (AEs).@*METHODS@#Review of databases, including China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), CBMdisc, Wanfang, VIP databases and English literature published in PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science, were searched from their inception to January 2020, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and case reports in which AEs with TEAT were included. Cochrane Collaboration's tool and RevMan V.5.3.3 software were used to evaluate the quality of the studies.@*RESULTS@#A total of 61 studies (45 RCTs and 16 case reports) with 620 cases of AEs were included in this review. These studies were published in two countries: China and South Korea. Twenty eight kinds of AEs were summarized. The most common AEs were induration, bleeding and ecchymosis, redness and swelling, fever, and pain. They were accounted for 75.35% (425/564) in the review, and most of them were mild. The rarest AEs were epilepsy, irregular menstruation, skin ulcer, thread malabsorption, and fat liquefaction, with 1 case each. But not all of them had clear causal relationship with TEAT. Most of the AEs were local reactions [with incidence of 9.83% (480/4,882)] and systemic reactions accounted for only 1.27% (62/4,882). Although the included studies showed that AEs were very commonly encountered (11.09%), only 5 cases of severe AEs reported from 2013 to 2017 (0.1%) by using catgut thread, which are rarely seen nowdays with the wide use of new absorbable surgical suture. All of the severe AEs were recovered after symptomatic treatment with no sequelae.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The evidence showed that TEAT is a relatively safe and convenient therapy especially since application of new absorbable surgical suture. Improving practitioner skills, regulating operations, and paying attention to the patients' conditions may reduce the incidence of AEs and improve safety of TEAT.

The key issues and corresponding strategy of acupoint medicated catgut embedding therapy / 中国针灸

Acupoint medicated catgut embedding therapy is a new type of acupuncture combined with medicine，which has great potential in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. This paper describes the clinical application of acupoint medicated catgut embedding in the treatment of common disease, medicated thread productionmethods and acupoints selection.To analyze the problems of the unclear mechanism, the lack of standardization of medicated thread production, the lag of the embedding tool, and the unclear adverse reaction. It is expected to promote the further development of acupoint medicated catgut embedding therapy by strengthening the mechanism of action, optimizing medicated catgut thread, rational design experiments, standardizing medicated thread production, innovating embedding tools, rational formulation, and optimizing acupoint selection.

Research on the effect of light and heat sensing along meridian of Chinese medicine

Photonics refers to the technology of generating and harnessing light and other forms of radiant energy whose quantum unit is the photon. Photonic technology in the meridian and acupoints research has shown the unique advantages, by which the microcosmic material basis and macroscopic phenomena research can be integrated to interpret the occurrence of propagated sensation along meridian [PSM] and its underlying mechanism. This study seeks to investigate light and heat sensing action along meridian. From the modern research of meridian point of view, PSM is the break point to research the essentiality of meridian. The bio-photonic feature of meridian is the most promising research direction to investigate the PSM phenomena for its contribution to prove the existence of meridian objectively and spontaneously. Therefore, the bio-photonic features of meridian under physiological, pathological, therapeutic, and mechanical conditions were analyzed. Firstly, the four aspects of light sensing action were discussed, i.e. light sensing effect along meridian, blocking effect, laser induced effect and underlying mechanism of light sensing action along meridian. Secondly, the four items of heat sensing action were discussed as well, i.e. thermo-effects, heat perception ability, laser induced heat effect, underlying mechanism on heat sensing effect along meridian. The authors point out that photonic technology, e.g. ultra-weak luminescence, photonic imaging, infrared imaging and infrared spectrum analysis, biological photons detection and laser Doppler application, can achieve purposes of in vivo, dynamic, multiple comparable studies. Thereby, the effect of light and heat sensing along meridian can be detected and illustrated by the use of natural science. The effect of light sensing and heat sensing along meridians with the help of advantages of photonics is expected to interpret and quantify the meridian doctrine, to provide an important experimental basis for meridians and acupoint properties of light and heat, to find a kind of non-invasive diagnostic technique, and to promote the integration and development of meridians and modern medicine. Light and heat information can be investigated to analyze the relationship between zang-fu organs and meridians, and the functional characteristics of the meridian. Hence, the effect of light and heat sensing along meridian is the break point of the research of photonics in meridian, which is beneficial to further study the meridian optics

Optical transport properties along the pericardium meridian under different pressure

This study seeks to discuss the light wave transport characteristics variation along the pericardium Meridian under different pressures. We selected 36 healthy students at the school for this study, tied up the desktop blood pressure cuff onto subjects'right proximal arms, fixed the detection probe immovably on the Neiguan [PC6] acupoint and the reference point which was 1cm off the PC6, and collected the light signal along the meridian and non-meridian when the laser irradiate Jianshi[PC5], Ximen[PC4] and the corresponding reference points respectively under pressure of 0, 100, 130 and 160. The differences in optical transport properties between meridian and nonmeridian were significant: under the same pressures [0s, 100s,130s, and 160mmHg], the relative attenuation rate of optical signal at the same distance between meridian and non-meridian were significant[p<0.001], the optical signal attenuates slower when it transported along meridians; however, there is no significant difference for the relative attenuation rate of optical signal along meridian or non-meridian under different pressures[p>0.05]. Under four different pressure situations, the optical signal at acupoint[PC5] and non-acupoint[NP] along the meridian were significantly different with the corresponding reference points along the non-meridian[P<0.001]; the optical signal on the meridian is stronger than the non-meridian one; the optical signals are strikingly different at acupoints, non-acupoints, and reference points between and 100, 130, and 160mmHg pressures [P

Effect and safety evaluation of catgut implantation at acupoint for levels of bone metabolism and free radicals in postmenopausal women / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the effect and safety evaluation of catgut implantation at acupoint and drugs for levels of bone metabolism and free radicals in postmenopausal women.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-five postmenopausal women were randomly divided into an acupoint catgut implantation group (33 cases) and a medication group (32 cases). Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Shenshu (BL 23) and Guanyuan (CV 4) were used as main points combined with adjunct points according to syndrome differentiation in the acupoint catgut implantation group, once two weeks. The medication group was treated with oral administration of 2 pills of Fu fuchun capsule, once a day. Three months constitute one course in the both groups. The scores of the symptoms and signs were evaluated, and elbow vein blood was drawn to detect the correlative index on the beginning and the ending day of the treatment respectively. The safety of catgut implantation at acupoint was evaluated after one course of treatment. Besides, the sex hormone test in ovulatory period was detected in twenty-eight normal women in reproductive age with regular menstrual cycle.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>1) The total effective rate of the acupoint catgut implantation group was 93.9% (31/33), and that of the medication group was 96.9% (31/32), there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The contents of bone gla protein (BGP), calcitonin (CT), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) in the both groups had significant differences after treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01); 2) The content of estradiol (E2) in serum in the both groups was decreased more obviously than those of normal women in reproductive age (both P<0.001). The content of E2 in the both groups was obviously increased after treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01), this function in the acupoint catgut implantation group was weaker than that of the medication group (P<0.05), while the incidence rate of adverse effect in the acupoint catgut implantation group was lower than that of the medication group (P<0.05); 3) There were significant differences of the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) before and after treatment in the acupoint catgut implantation group, the level of SOD was obviously increased after treatment (P<0.01), while the level of MDA decreased obviously (P<0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Catgut implantation at acupoint can improve the low level of estrogen of postmenopausal women, with good safety. It can regulate the levels of bone metabolism and free radicals of postmenopausal women, so it is very meaningful to prevent and treat postmenopausal degenerative diseases including the osteoporosis and to delay the process of apolexis.</p>

Effect of acupoint catgut-embedding on the quality of life, reproductive endocrine and bone metabolism of postmenopausal women / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the influence of acupoint catgut-embedding therapy on the quality of life (QOL), the reproductive endocrine and bone metabolism of postmenopausal women.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total A total of 65 women with climacteric syndrome were enrolled and randomly assigned to two groups, thirty-three in the treatment group on whom acupoint catgut-embedding was performed with Shenshu (BL23), Sanyinjiao (SP6) and Guanyuan (CV4) as main acupoints, and thirty-two in the control group who were only medicated with Fufuchun Capsule (妇复春胶囊). The treatment course for both groups was 3 months. Before and after Before and after treatment, the clinical symptoms, the QOL score, serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E(2)), testosterone (T), osteocalcin (BGP), parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitonin (CT) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) were measured. In addition, another 28 women with childbearing potential and normal regular menstrual cycle were selected and the reproductive endocrine hormone were tested in the ovulatory period as controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The levels of serum FSH and LH of postmenopausal women were higher, and serum E(2) and T were lower than those of normal women (P<0.01). After treatment, the levels of serum E(2) In both groups and T in the treatment group were increased, while in the control group the serum E(2) increase was more significant than that in the treatment group (P<0.05), and serum T showed no statistical difference. The levels of serum FSH, LH, BGP, CT, PTH and AKP were reduced significantly in both groups after treatment (P<0.05). The QOL scores were Increased remarkably in both groups on physiological functioning, bodily pain, general health, vitality, and mental health after treatment (P<0.05),but the improvement of bodily pain and mental health in the treatment group were better than those in the control group (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the therapeutic effect between the two groups after treatment (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Acupoint catgut-embedding showed an obvious effect on climacteric syndrome, and enhanced the QOL in postmenopausal women. The therapy could regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis to raise the serum E(2) level which may be significant in preventing and curing the osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.</p>

Summarization of professor Zhang Jia-wei's experiences in treatment of female climacteric syndrome / 中国针灸

Professor ZHANG Jia-wei's unique experiences in treatment of women's climacteric syndrome are introduced. According to physio-pathologic characteristics of the women in climacteric, in acupuncture and moxibustion treatment, he puts forward the therapeutic principles of reinforcing the spleen and replenishing the kidney, harmonizing yin and yang, and pays attention to application of the needling method, flying needling manipulation with stable, accurate, light and quick characteristics, which are summarized by professor Zhang according to his clinical experience of many years, and catgut embedding at back-shu points; in addition, he advocates selection of treatment methods according to climatic and seasonal condition, geographical location and individual condition, puncturing followed by moxibustion, combining acupuncture with medicine.

Exploration and reflection on bilingual teaching of acupuncture and moxibustion / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore bilingual teaching of acupuncture and moxibustion for cultivating compound senior acupuncture persons.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Beginning with the concept of bilingual teaching in conjunction with acupuncture own characteristics, the problems involved in the practice of bilingual teaching of acupuncture and moxibustion were analyzed and explored.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Unifying opinion and correct localizing position should be started for acupuncture and moxibustion bilingual teaching, and choice of teachers, subjects, models, materials, examination of bilingual teaching should be focused on, and appropriate means should be applied in practice to test, consolidate and distillate the effect of bilingual teaching.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Bilingual teaching of acupuncture and moxibustion is an important measure of economic globalization and knowledge economy. Only if various teaches involved in its practice were properly dealt with could better teaching results be obtained.</p>