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Objective: To observe the effects of different frequencies of pricking-bloodletting at auricular points plus auricular point sticking therapy on the levels of the serum immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), testosterone (T), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in patients with acne vulgaris (AV). Methods: Ninety patients with AV were randomly assigned to treatment group 1, treatment group 2, and treatment group 3 according to the random number remainder grouping method, with 30 cases in each group. All three groups received pricking-bloodletting at auricular points plus auricular point sticking therapy. Treatment group 1 was treated once a week, treatment group 2 was treated twice a week, and treatment group 3 was treated 3 times a week. Four-week treatment was taken as 1 treatment course, and 3 treatment courses were observed. On the day before the start of the study and on the day next to the end of each course, the global acne grading system (GAGS) score was recorded, and 3 mL of blood from the median cubital vein was collected to test the serum levels of IgG, IgM, T, and IGF-1. After 3 courses of treatment, the efficacy index was calculated according to the GAGS score, and the serum indicators in patients with effective treatment (efficacy index ≥20％) and complete sampling were analyzed. Results: A total of 60 patients were included in the final blood indicator analysis. After 3 courses of treatment, the intra-group comparisons showed that the serum IgG level increased significantly in patients in treatment group 1 (P<0.01); the serum T level decreased significantly in the female patients in treatment group 2 (P<0.05); the IGF-1 level significantly decreased in the patients in all three groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). There were no significant differences in the serum levels of IgG, IgM, T, and IGF-1 among the three groups at each time point (P>0.05). Conclusion: Pricking-bloodletting at auricular points plus auricular point sticking therapy can affect the levels of serum IgG, T, and IGF-1 in AV patients. The level of the serum IGF-1 can be reduced by treatment once a week, twice a week, or 3 times a week. Treatment once a week can increase the patients' serum IgG level, and treatment twice a week can significantly decrease the serum T level in female patients. Reducing the serum IGF-1 level may be one of the action mechanisms of pricking-bloodletting at auricular points plus auricular point sticking therapy in treating AV.
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OBJETIVO: avaliar a relação da intensidade da dor, incapacidade física e qualidade devida após tratamento de auriculoacupuntura e ventosaterapia com a satisfação com o tratamento, necessidade dele para controle da dor, percepção de melhora e consumo de medicação. MÉTODO: estudo transversal conduzido com 198 pessoas com dor crônica nas costas. Foram investigadas: intensidade da dor, incapacidade física, qualidade de vida, satisfação com o tratamento, necessidade da intervenção para o controle da dor, percepção de melhora e consumo de medicação. Foi realizada correlação de Spearman a 5% de significância. RESULTADOS: Houve correlações negativas de fraca magnitude da intensidade da dor e da incapacidade física com a satisfação com o tratamento, necessidade da intervenção, percepção de melhora após o tratamento e consumo de medicamentos, e correlações positivas de fraca magnitude da percepção da qualidade de vida com a satisfação com o tratamento, necessidade da intervenção, e percepção de melhora. CONCLUSÃO: A melhora da intensidade da dor, da incapacidade física e da qualidade de vida ocasionou melhor estado geral de saúde, satisfação com o tratamento e menor consumo de medicamentos entre os participantes do estudo.
OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the relationship between pain intensity, physical disability and quality of life after auriculoacupuncture and cupping therapy with satisfaction with treatment, need for it to control pain, perception of improvement and medication consumption. METHOD: cross-sectional study conducted with 198 people with chronic back pain. The following were investigated: painintensity, physical disability, quality of life, satisfaction with treatment, need for intervention to control pain, perception of improvement and medication consumption. Spearman's correlation was performed at 5% of significance. RESULTS: There were low magnitude negative correlations of pain intensity and physical disability with treatment satisfaction, need for intervention, perception of improvement after treatment and medication consumption, and low magnitude positive correlations of quality of life perception with satisfaction with treatment, need for intervention, and perception of improvement. CONCLUSION: The improvement in pain intensity, physical disability and quality of life resulted in better general health status, satisfaction with treatment and lower consumption of medication among study participants.
OBJETIVOS: evaluar la relación de la intensidad del dolor, la discapacidad física y la calidad de vida después de la acupuntura auricular y la terapia con ventosas con la satisfacción con el tratamiento, la necesidad del mismo para controlar el dolor, la percepción de mejoría y el consumo de medicamentos. MÉTODO:estudio transversal realizado con 198 personas con dolor de espalda crónico. Se investigó: la intensidad del dolor, la discapacidad física, la calidad de vida, la satisfacción con el tratamiento, la necesidad de intervención para el control del dolor, la percepción de mejoría y el consumo de medicamentos. Se realizó la correlación de Spearman al 5% de significancia. RESULTADOS: Hubo correlaciones negativas de baja magnitud de la intensidad del dolor y de la discapacidad física con la satisfacción con el tratamiento, necesidad de intervención, percepción de mejoría después del tratamiento y consumo de medicamentos, y correlacion espositivas de baja magnitud de la percepción de la calidad de vida con la satisfacción con el tratamiento, necesidad de intervención y percepción de mejora. CONCLUSIÓN: La mejora en la intensidad del dolor, la discapacidad física y la calidad de vida llevaron aun mejor estado general de salud, satisfacción con el tratamiento y menor consumo de medicamentos entre los participantes del estudio.
Subject(s)
Humans , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Young Adult , Quality of Life , Patient Satisfaction , Back Pain/therapy , Acupuncture, Ear , Chronic Pain/therapy , Cupping Therapy , Cross-Sectional Studies , Pain ManagementABSTRACT
O aleitamento materno apresenta múltiplos benefícios para a saúde da mãe e do bebê. No entanto, muitos são os fatores que podem interferir na amamentação, destacando-se a percepção de baixa produção láctea. Há evidências de que a acupuntura auricular pode auxiliar nesse contexto. Este estudo tem o objetivo de avaliar por meio de ensaio clínico randomizado se a acupuntura auricular apresenta eficácia na manutenção do aleitamento materno exclusivo e complementado até os seis meses de vida do bebê. Trata-se de um estudo piloto randomizado. O estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa e foi registrada na Plataforma Rebec (Registro Brasileiros de Ensaios Clínicos). A pesquisa foi realizada no Banco de Leite Humano do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo. Foram incluídas 49 participantes com idade igual ou superior a 18 anos, que estavam entre o 5° e o 30° dia pós-parto e que tinham queixa de baixa produção láctea. As participantes foram randomizadas em três grupos: Acupuntura auricular, Acupuntura sham e Placebo. O estudo foi realizado em duas fases: fase de intervenção, no qual foram realizados 5 atendimentos de aleitamento materno para todos os grupos e aplicação da intervenção conforme a alocação da participante no grupo sorteado e a fase de seguimento telefônico em que realizamos ligações até os 6 meses de vida criança. As frequências absolutas e relativas foram calculadas para as variáveis qualitativas. As comparações entre os grupos no tempo basal para as variáveis qualitativas explicativas foram realizadas considerando o teste quadrado, já o teste não paramétrico de Kruskal Wallis foi aplicado para comparar os grupos em relação às variáveis quantitativas. Foram construídos modelos de regressão de efeitos mistos para comparar os tempos e os grupos em relação aos desfechos quantitativos e análise por protocolo. As participantes do grupo três (controle - cuidado usual) eram mais velhas, com média de idade de 36 anos (P-valor 0,0079), identifica-se que a acupuntura auricular teve evidência clínica no efeito protetivo do AME e AMC na fase de seguimento telefônico, pois 2 participantes do grupo de acupuntura auricular ainda amamentavam exclusivamente até os seis meses de vida do bebê de modo exclusivo e nos demais grupos nenhuma participante amamentava. Do ponto de vista estatístico não houveram diferenças significativas
Breastfeeding has multiple benefits for the health of mother and baby. However, there are many factors that can interfere with breastfeeding, the perception of low milk production, is being an important cause of early weaning among nursing mothers. In this sense Ear acupuncture can help to increase milk production. This study aims to evaluate, through a randomized clinical trial, whether auricular acupuncture is effective in maintaining exclusive and supplemented breastfeeding until the baby is six months old. This is a randomized pilot study. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee and was registered on the Rebec Platform (Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials). The research was realized at the Human Milk Bank of Hospital das Clínicas, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo. Forty-nine participants aged 18 years or over, who were between the 5th and 30th day postpartum and who complained of low milk production, were included. The Participants were randomized into three groups: intervention group, sham acupuncture and placebo. The study was carried out in two phases: intervention phase, in which 5 breastfeeding sessions were carried out for all groups and application of the intervention according to the participant's allocation in the drawn group and the telephone follow-up phase in which we made calls until 6 months of child life. Absolute and relative frequencies were calculated for qualitative variables. Comparisons between groups at baseline for qualitative explanatory variables were performed using the chi-square test, while the non-parametric Kruskal Wallis test was applied to compare groups in relation to quantitative variables. Mixed-effects regression models were built to compare times and groups against quantitative outcomes and analysis per protocol. Participants in group three (control - usual care) were older, with a mean age of 36 years (P-value 0.0079), it is identified that auricular acupuncture had clinical evidence in the protective effect of exclusivebreastfeeding and complementary breastfeeding in the telephone follow-up 2 participants in the auricular acupuncture group still exclusively breastfed until the baby's six months of life and in the other groups none of the participants breastfed. From a statistical point of view there were no significant differences
Subject(s)
Humans , Breast Feeding , Acupuncture, Ear , Lactation DisordersABSTRACT
Objective: By sorting and analyzing pertinent modern studies targeting auricular point therapy treating primary insomnia (PI), to summarize the point selection rules and clinical efficacy of using auricular points alone or combining it with other therapies in treating PI. Methods: A search on China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Academic Journal Full-text Database (Wanfang), Chongqing VIP Database (CQVIP), PubMed, Springer and Ovid were conducted from January 1, 1998 till January 31, 2020. Point selection, diagnostic criteria and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) in the eligible studies were analyzed and summarized. Results: The difference in PSQI before and after using auricular point therapy alone was more significant than that of using Chinese medication alone (P<0.05), but less significant than that of combining auricular point therapy and acupuncture-moxibustion and Chinese therapeutic massage (tuina) (P<0.05). In the included studies, Shenmen (TF4) was the most commonly used (370 times), followed by Heart (CO15), which was 344 times, and Subcortex (AT4), which was 325 times. In terms of auricular points distribution, points in the auricular concha were the most commonly used (1500 times), followed by those in the antitragus (474 times) and triangular fossa (387 times). Correlation analysis showed that Shenmen (TF4) and Liver (CO12), Sympathetic (AH6a) and Heart (CO15) were used together more often, followed by Shenmen (TF4), Liver (CO12), Spleen (CO13), Kidney (CO10) and Subcortex (AT4), and then Shenmen (TF4), Liver (CO12), Sympathetic (AH6a), Subcortex (AT4) and Heart (CO15). Cluster analysis showed that the auricular points used for PI can be divided into 6 clusters in 2 major groups. One group was Heart (CO15), Subcortex (AT4), Shenmen (TF4), Sympathetic (AH6a), Spleen (CO13), Kidney (CO10), Liver (CO12) and Endocrine (CO18); the other was Occiput (AT3), Stomach (CO4), Pancrease-gallbladder (CO11), Chuiqian (LO4), Small Intestine (CO6), Central Rim (AT2,3,4i) and Sanjiao (CO17). In terms of patterns in traditional Chinese medicine, the pattern of dual deficiency of heart and spleen accounted for the largest proportion in the studies of using auricular points alone or combining it with other treatments to treatment PI, and then it was the pattern of liver depression transforming into fire. Conclusion: In treatment of PI with auricular points alone or combo therapy involving auricular points, Shenmen (TF4) was commonly used, and the commonly used point group consisted of Shenmen (TF4), Liver (CO12), Sympathetic (AH6a) and Heart (CO15). Auricular point therapy can be taken as a complementary therapy in treating PI.
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OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of auricular acupuncture on reduction rate of sertraline hydrochloride, and to explore the long-term efficacy of auricular acupuncture in patients with depression.@*METHODS@#Seventy-two patients with depression were randomly divided into an observation group (36 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a control group (36 cases, 2 cases dropped off). The patients in the control group were treated with conventional dosage reduction method, that is, the dosage of sertraline hydrochloride was reduced by 25% every week until the dosage was stopped completely on the premise of no aggravation of depressive symptoms. Based on the conventional dosage reduction method used in the control group, the patients in the observation group were treated with auricular acupuncture at Xin (CO@*RESULTS@#The dosage of sertraline hydrochloride in the observation group was less than that in the control group after 2, 3, 4 weeks of dosage reduction and during follow-up (@*CONCLUSION@#Auricular acupuncture could effectively reduce the dosage of sertraline hydrochloride, improve the dosage reduction rate, reduce the incidence of withdrawal syndrome and reduce the risk of long-term recurrence in patients with depression.
Subject(s)
Humans , Acupuncture Points , Acupuncture Therapy , Acupuncture, Ear , Depression/drug therapy , Sertraline , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Abstract Background and objectives: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common and undesirable complication observed after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). We investigated the effects of auriculoacupuncture (AA) on the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in the immediate postoperative period of uncomplicated laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods: Sixty-eight patients were randomly divided into two groups, auriculoacupuncture (n = 35) and control (n = 33), and then they were evaluated prospectively. The needle was placed before anaesthesia induction and remained for 20 minutes. Nausea intensity was evaluated using an analogic visual scale and PONV events were registered immediately after anaesthesia care unit admission and in the second, fourth and sixth hours after the surgery. Results: The auriculoacupuncture group had a significantly smaller incidence of nausea and vomiting than the control group throughout the whole postoperative period (16/35 vs. 27/33, p= 0.03 and 4/35 vs. 15/33, p= 0.005, respectively); the AA group had fewer nausea events 2 h (p= 0.03) and 6 h (p= 0.001) after surgery and fewer vomiting events 2 h (p= 0.01) and 6 h (p= 0.02) after surgery. Conclusions: Auriculoacupuncture can partially prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting when compared to metoclopramide alone after uncomplicated laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Auriculoacupuncture can be recommended as an adjuvant therapy for postoperative nausea and vomiting prevention in selected patients.
Resumo Justificativa e objetivos: Náuseas e vômitos são complicações comuns e indesejáveis no pós-operatório de colecistectomia laparoscópica (CL). Nós investigamos os efeitos da auriculoacupuntura (AA) para a prevenção de náuseas e vômitos no período pós-operatório (NVPO) imediato da CL não complicada. Métodos: 68 pacientes foram aleatoriamente divididos em dois grupos, auriculoacupuntura (n = 35) e controle (n = 33), e foram avaliados prospectivamente. A agulha foi aplicada antes da indução anestésica e permaneceu no lugar por 20 minutos. A intensidade da náusea foi avaliada mediante escala visual analógica e episódios de NVPO foram registrados imediatamente após a admissão na unidade de recuperação anestésica e duas, quatro e seis horas após a cirurgia. Resultados: O grupo AA apresentou significativamente menos episódios de NVPO do que o grupo controle durante todo o período pós-operatório (16/35 vs. 27/33, p = 0,03 e 4/35 vs. 15/33, p = 0,005, respectivamente). O grupo auriculoacupuntura apresentou episódios de náuseas menos intensos às 2 horas (p = 0,03) e 6 horas (p = 0,001) após a cirurgia e menos episódios de vômitos 2 horas (p = 0,01) e 6 horas (p = 0,02) após a cirurgia. Conclusão: A auriculoacupuntura aliviou náuseas e vômitos no pós-operatório em número significante de pacientes, mas não foi capaz de prevenir náuseas e vômitos no pós-operatório em todos os pacientes. Ela pode ser recomendada como terapia adjuvante para prevenção de náuseas e vômitos no pós-operatório no pós-operatório de colecistectomia laparoscópica em pacientes selecionados.
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Adult , Acupuncture Therapy/methods , Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic/adverse effects , Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting/prevention & control , Antiemetics/administration & dosage , Time Factors , Double-Blind Method , Incidence , Prospective Studies , Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic/methods , Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting/epidemiology , Metoclopramide/administration & dosageABSTRACT
El dolor crónico, deï¬nido por la Clasiï¬cación Internacional de Enfermedades (CIE-11) como aquel que persiste por más de 3 meses, es una condición frecuente en la población. Se describe que su tratamiento, habitualmente farmacológico, es generalmente insatisfactorio y, dado esto, se proponen medidas no farmacológicas como la auriculoterapia (AT) para su manejo. Diferentes estudios y revisiones sistemáticas demuestran su efectividad en la reducción de la intensidad de distintos tipos de dolor crónico, como la lumbalgia, cefalea tensional, migraña crónica y dolores asociados a cáncer. Esta efectividad se puede extender hasta por 12 semanas posteriores a la intervención. Además, en la literatura se describen beneï¬cios de la AT sobre los dolores asociados al embarazo y la dismenorrea. Si bien algunos estudios muestran un beneï¬cio y alta satisfacción de los usuarios por la AT, resulta relevante considerar la alta heterogeneidad entre estudios y un bajo número de éstos previo a su aplicación en la práctica clínica.
Chronic pain is a common condition deï¬ned by the International Classiï¬cation of Diseases (ICD-11) as that which persists for more than 3 months. Its treatment is usually pharmacological and generally unsatisfactory; hence we propose non-pharmacological treatments such as auriculotherapy. Various studies and reviews demonstrate its eï¬ectiveness in reducing pain intensity in diï¬erent types of chronic pain, such as lumbalgia, tension headache, chronic migraine and oncological pain. Its eï¬ects may last up to twelve weeks after the intervention. The literature also mentions the beneï¬ts of ear acupuncture in pregnancy-associated pain and dysmenorrhea. Although some studies show favorable results and high user satisfaction in auricular acupuncture users, one must take into account the high heterogeneity and low number of the studies before putti ng it into practice.
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Non-invasive transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (ta-VNS) is established on the basis of auricular acupuncture and the principle of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). The results of the comparative study of 4 indications of VNS show that ta-VNS achieves almost the equivalent effect as VNS. Moreover, the ta-VNS is advantageous at safety, economy and portability. Regarding the clinical prevention and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), it is still controversial for the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy including auricular acupuncture. Moreover, it is the difficulty for the principle of acupoint selection and the treatment mechanism of this therapy to be in line with modern medicine. As neuroendocrine disease, PCOS and the ovary, its target organ are all associated with the vagus nerve. It is a new idea to introduce the ta-VNS in treatment of PCOS by regulating the reproductive and endocrinal disturbance of PCOS in terms of vagus nerve and improving the acupuncture and moxibustion therapy, such as the auricular acupuncture. In the paper, the potential mechanism of the ta-VNS in treatment of PCOS is presented: 1)the ta-VNS treats PCOS by improving insulin resistance; 2)the ta-VNS relieves PCOS-induced psychological disorders through the treatment of depression; 3)the ta-VNS is applicable in treatment of PCOS complications, such as hypertension and diabetes.
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OBJECTIVE: To review the current situation of researches on auricular acupuncture treatment for obesity by using bibliometric analysis, so as to provide a reference for clinical application and experimental research in the future. METHODS: Articles written in both Chinese and English and published from the time of establishment of the following databases were collected from databases of CNKI, Wanfang, PubMed and Web of Science by using key words of "otopoint sticking" "otopoint seed-pres-sing" "auriculotherapy" "ear/auricular acupuncture" "auricular pressure" "auricular-plaster therapy" "acupuncture and auricular pressure" "auriculopressure" "transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS)" "obesity" "adiposity" "adiposis" and "fatty". The articles met our inclusive criteria were analyzed for summarizing their publication years, involved journals, research organizations and selected acupoints. RESULTS: A total of 61 qualified Chinese and 44 English articles were retrieved and published in 45 and 25 journals, respectively. The commonly-used acupoints are "Endocrine" "Stomach" "Spleen" "Shenmen" "Hunger point" "Sanjiao" "Lung" and "Subcortex". The employed auricular acupoint therapy mainly includes auricular acupressure, ear acupuncture, auricular vagus nerve stimulation, and auricular laser radiation. CONCLUSION: Current clinical literature on auricular acupuncture treatment of obesity is relatively lower in quality. Thus, strict research protocols and randomized controlled clinical trials with multiple centers and larger samples are definitely necessary for providing reliable evidence for clinical treatment of obesity by using auricular acupuncture therapy.
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Objective: The study's goal has been to identify in the literature the use of auriculotherapy with needles as an intervention to improve cancer patients' life quality. Methods: It is an Integrative Literature Review of articles published in Portuguese, English, Spanish and/or German, available in full at the databases VHL, CAPES, CINHAL, PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus. The study was carried out in January 2017. The descriptors employed were cancer, neoplasms, auriculotherapy, ear acupuncture, and auricular acupuncture, and six studies were then selected. Results: The use of auricular therapy with needles as interventions in the clinical symptoms due to cancer and its treatment, as well as in the improvement of the domains affected in people's life quality have indicated satisfactory evidence. Conclusion: The evidences have identified an improvement in the quality of life of oncology patients that underwent auriculotherapy with needles, therefore, this intervention is a safe, effective and economical complementary therapy, which is very well accepted by the patients
Objetivo: Identificar na literatura o uso da auriculoterapia com agulhas como intervenção para melhoria da qualidade de vida de pacientes com câncer. Método: Revisão integrativa de artigos publicados em português, inglês, espanhol e/ou alemão, disponíveis na íntegra nas bases de dados BVS, CAPES, CINHAL, PUBMED, WEB of SCIENCE e SCOPUS. A pesquisa ocorreu no período de janeiro de 2017. Foram utilizados os descritores câncer, neoplasia, auriculoterapia, acupuntura orelha e acupuntura auricular, sendo selecionados seis estudos. Resultados: O uso da auriculoterapia com agulhas como intervenções nos sintomas clínicos decorrentes do câncer e de seu tratamento bem como na melhoria dos domínios afetados na qualidade de vida apontou evidências satisfatórias. Conclusão: As evidências identificaram melhora na qualidade de vida de pacientes oncológicos que foram submetidos a auriculoterapia com agulhas e que esta intervenção é uma terapia complementar segura, eficaz e econômica, muito bem aceita pelos pacientes
Objetivo: Identificar la producción disponible relacionada al uso de la acupuntura auricular como intervención para la mejora de la calidad de vida de pacientes con cáncer. Método: Revisión integrativa de literatura con búsqueda en bases electrónicas y bibliotecas virtuales BVS, CAPES, CINHAL, PUBMED, WEB of SCIENCE y SCOPUS En el período de enero de 2017 con los descriptores cáncer, neoplasia, auriculoterapia, acupuntura o acupuntura auricular y acupuntura auricular, la acupuntura auricular y la acupuntura auricular. La revisión integrativa propuesta tuvo lugar en seis etapas distintas y complementarias. Resultados: Se identificaron seis artículos con evidencias satisfactorias de las intervenciones en los síntomas clínicos inherentes al cáncer y su tratamiento que demostraron impactos positivos de la auriculoterapia como intervención. Conclusión: Los estudios relacionados con el tema son escasos, apuntan una realidad científica poco explorada. Un número mayor de estudios clínicos debe ocurrir para fortalecer las evidencias de las intervenciones terapéuticas efectivas, subsidiar la práctica y asegurar asistencia cualificada
Subject(s)
Humans , Acupuncture, Ear , Auriculotherapy/trends , Neoplasms/therapy , Patient CareABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of body acupuncture combined with auricular acupuncture in the treatment of woman menopause insomnia induced by disharmony between the heart and kidney. METHODS: A total of 111 outpatients with menopausal insomnia were randomly divided into treatment group (n＝55, body acupoints plus auricular points) and control group (n＝56, body acupoints). For control group, Shenmen (HT7), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Anmian, Zhaohai (KI6), Shenmai (BL62), Sishencong (EX-HN1), Xinshu (BL15) and Shenshu (BL21) were needled with filiform needles, and HT7, SP6, Anmian, BL15 and BL21 were also stimulated with electroacupuncture (EA) for 30 min, once every other day, 3 times a week for 3 weeks. For the treatment group, auricular points as Kidney, Shenmen, Sympathetic and Endocrine around the ear canal and the ear cavity were punctured with filiform needles in combination with the same intervention methods mentioned above in the control group. The quality and efficiency of sleep were assessed by using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scale before and after the treatment. The symptom scores of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and the therapeutic effect were determined according to the "Guide Principles for Clinical Research of New Drugs of TCM" (formulated by Chinese Ministry of Health, 1997). RESULTS: After the treatment, the scores of sleep quantity and effective rate of PSQI scale, and those of insomnia and dreaminess, dysphoria with feverish sensation in chest, palms and soles, paplpitation and irritability, fatigue and forgetfulness of TCM were reduced significantly in both groups compared with their own pre-treatment (P<0.05). Of the 56 and 55 cases in the control and treatment groups, 18 (32.1%) and 30 (54.5%) experienced a marked improvement in their symptoms, 28 (50.0%) and 22 (40.0%) were effective, and 10 (17.9%) and 3 (5.5%) failed, with the effective rate being 82.1% and 94.5%, respectively. The therapeutic effect of stimulation of the body acupoints plus auricular acupoints was significantly superior to that of stimulation of simple body acupoints in lowering scores of PSQI scale, insomnia and dreaminess, dysphoria with feverish sensation in chest, palms and soles, dizziness and tinninus, paplpitation and irritability, and tital fever and night sweating of TCM, as well as the effective rate (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Both body acupuncture and body acupuncture combined with auricular acupuncture are effective in the treatment of woman menopause insomnia due to disharmony between the heart and kidney, and the two combined treatment was evidently better.
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Objective To observe the effects of acupuncture therapy on sleep quality after drug withdrawal symptoms and long-term recurrence in patients with depression. Methods A total of 70 depression patients were retrospectively analyzed, according to the withdrawal method is divided into two groups, each group of 35 cases. The incidence of drug withdrawal syndrome in the two groups was observed and the success rate of drug withdrawal was calculated. The recurrence rate of depression in the two groups within one year after drug withdrawal, and the sleep quality were observed. The degree of depressive symptoms were assessed. Results The incidence of drug withdrawal syndrome were 11.4% in the observation group and 31.4% in the control group, which the difference was statistically significant (χ2=4.158, P=0.041). The rate of recurrence of depression was 9.7% in the observation group and 41.7% in the control group, which the observation group was significantly lower than the control group (χ2=7.669, P=0.006). After 1 year the drug was stopped, the sleep quality, sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep disorder, daytime function and hypnotic drug score and total scores of PSQI of the observation group were significantly increased (P<0.01). And the PSQI at different time frames were significantly lower than those of the control group (t value were 2.888, 2.329, 2.092, 2.535, 9.951, P<0.05 or P<0.01). The HAMD score of the observation group 1 week after drug withdrawal and 1 year after drug withdrawal was significantly lower than those of the control group (t value were 9.271, 14.238, P<0.05). Conclusions The acupuncture therapy can improve the sleep quality of patients with mild and moderate depression after drug withdrawal, and reduce the incidence of drug withdrawal syndrome, and the risk of long-term recurrence.
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OBJECTIVE@#To explore the postoperative effect of auricular acupuncture on primipara with cesarean in order to promote postpartum rehabilitation.@*METHODS@#A total of 120 primiparas with cesarean were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 60 cases in each group. The routine treatment and care after surgery were given in the two groups. On the basis treatment, auricular acupuncture was applied at penqiang (TF), shenmen (TF), jiaogan (AH), pizhixia (AT), neishengzhiqi(TF), pi(CO), wei(CO) in the observation group, even-needling technique at all points. The needles were retained for 30 min, 3 times a day, the acupuncture was alternately every other day for 5 days continuously. The postpartum pain, anus exhaust time, incidence of postpartum hemorrhage, urinary retention and constipation, and postpartum average hospitalization day were recorded and compared between the two groups.@*RESULTS@#Twenty-seven cases of postpartum uterine contraction pain (45.0%), 25 cases of wound pain (41.7%), 19 cases of breast distending pain (31.7%) and 11 cases of muscle soreness (18.3%) in the observation group, which was significantly lower than 38 cases (63.3%), 36 cases (60.0%), 30 cases (50.0%) and 21 cases (35.0%) respectively in the control group (<0.05). The anus exhaust time in the observation group was earlier than that in the control group (<0.05), and the average hospitalization time was shorter than that in the control group (<0.05). The incidence of postpartum hemorrhage, urinary retention and constipation in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Auricular acupuncture can effectively relieve postpartum pain in primipara with cesarean, promote postpartum exhaust and shorten hospitalization days, and reduce the incidence of postpartum complications such as postpartum hemorrhage, urinary retention and constipation, it is conducive to postpartum rehabilitation.
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Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Acupuncture Points , Acupuncture, Ear , Parity , Postpartum PeriodABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the therapeutic effect of auricular acupuncture combined with dydrogesterone for threatened abortion in early pregnancy complicated with subchorionic hematoma.@*METHODS@#A total of 80 patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 40 cases in each one. In the control group, dydrogesterone was taken orally twice a day, 10 mg a time until 12-week into pregnancy. In the observation group，auricular acupuncture was applied at penqiang (TF), pizhixia (AT), shen (CO), xin(CO), gan (CO), jiaogan (AH) and neifenmi (CO) on the basis of the control group, the auricular points on both sides were used alternatively. The auricular points were replaced every 3 days with 1 day break, totally 3 weeks (20 days) were required. Before treatment and after 10, 20 days of treatment, the percentage of helper T lymphocyte (Th) and inhibitory T lymphocyte (Ts), ratio of Th and Ts and serum level of CA125 were compared in the two groups. The areas of subchorionic hematoma and gestational sac were evaluated by B ultrasound. The therapeutic effect in the two groups were compared.@*RESULTS@#The effective rate in the observation group was 80.0% (32/40), which was superior to 65.0% (26/40) in the control group (<0.05). After 10, 20 days of treatment, the percentage of Th and ratio of Th and Ts were lower than before treatment, the percentage of Ts were increased in the two groups (<0.01). After 20 days of treatment, the percentage of Th and ratio of Th and Ts in the observation group were lower than the control group (<0.01), the percentage of Ts was higher than the control group (<0.01). After 10, 20 days of treatment, the serum levels of CA125 were reduced compared before treatment in the two groups (<0.01), and the serum levels of CA125 in the observation group were lower than the control group (<0.01). After 10, 20 days of treatment, the ratio of subchorionic hematoma area and gestational sac area in the observation group was lower than the control group (<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#Auricular acupuncture combined with dextroprogesterone can improve the effective rate of patients with threatened abortion in early pregnancy complicated with subchorionic hematoma, regulate immune factors, promote the hematoma absorption, and has a better synergistic effect with dextroprogesterone.
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Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Abortion, Threatened , Acupuncture Points , Acupuncture, Ear , Methods , Combined Modality Therapy , Dydrogesterone , Therapeutic Uses , Hematoma , Immunologic FactorsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Through comparing the literature on the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture for anxiety in Chinese and English versions, the participants, the interventions and the outcomes of the therapeutic effect evaluation in acupuncture treatment for anxiety were analyzed so as to provide the references to the high quality clinical research in the future.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The literature was retrieved on RCTs of acupuncture for anxiety at home and abroad. According to the principles and the methods of the evidence-based medicine, the information on the type of clinical research, participants, interventions and outcomes was extracted and analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 106 valid papers of the Chinese and English versions were collected. In the study at home and abroad, the concepts and recognitions were indistinct among anxiety disorder, anxious emotion and secondary anxiety disorder. The diagnostic criteria were different. Regarding the intervention, the body acupuncture was predominated in the study at home and abroad, focusing on the mind regulation. The acupoints were mainly selected for tranquilizing the mind, promoting the circulation of the governor vessel and removing irritability. Additionally, the auricular acupuncture was often adopted in the treatment of anxious emotion in foreign countries. Regarding the outcomes in the effect evaluation, the scales were not so standardized in the selection and application. The analysis was limited on the factors of the anxiety scales and the survival quality.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There are the differences in the diagnostic criteria, participant inclusion, intervention and outcomes in the clinical research of anxiety treated with acupuncture at home and abroad. A rigorous design is required in the high quality clinical research for the evaluation on the therapeutic effects of acupuncture on anxiety.</p>
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the difference of serum sex hormone between female patients with post-adolescent acne and healthy women, and to explore the efficacy and action mechanism of acupoint catgut embedding, fire needle, auricular acupuncture on skin lesion in female patients of post-adolescent acne.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 107 female patients of post-adolescent acne were divided into an integrated acupuncture group (54 cases, 4 cases were excluded) and a medication group (53 cases, 5 cases were excluded). The patients in the integrated acupuncture group were treated with comprehensive treatment of acupoint catgut embedding, fire needle, auricular acupuncture; the acupoint catgut embedding was applied at Dazhui (GV 14), Yintang (GV 29), Yangbai (GB 14) through Yuyao (EX-HN 4) and other acupoints based on syndrome differentiation; the fire needle was applied at skin lesion; the auricular acupuncture was applied at erjian (HX), e (AT), kou (CO), etc. The patients in the medication group were treated with oral administration of tanshinone capsules (4 capsules each time, 3 times a day) and external use of adapalene gel (one treatment per day at night). Patients in the two groups were treated for 8 weeks. The skin lesion of acne was evaluated before treatment as well as 4 weeks and 8 weeks after treatment in the two groups; the serum levels of testosterone (T) and estradiol (E) were tested 24 hours before menstruation in the integrated acupuncture group (50 cases) and healthy control group (46 cases), and the change of serum sex hormone after treatment was observed in 21 patients with sex hormone disorder in the integrated acupuncture group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Before treatment, the level of E in the integrated acupuncture group was significantly lower than that in the healthy control group (<0.01), but T/E in the integrated acupuncture group was significantly higher than that in the healthy control group (<0.01). After treatment, the level of E was significantly increased (<0.01) and T/E was reduced (<0.01) in the 21 patients with sex hormone disorder in the integrated acupuncture group. The skin lesion scale of acne was significantly reduced in the two groups after 4-week and 8-week treatment (all <0.01); the difference between the two groups was not significant after 4-week treatment (>0.05); the skin lesion scale of acne in the integrated acupuncture group was significantly lower than that in the medication group after 8-week treatment (<0.01). The efficacy between the two groups was not significant after 4-week the treatment (>0.05); after 8-week treatment, the cured and effective rate was 66.0% (33/50) in the integrated acupuncture group, which was superior to 45.8% (22/48) in the medication group (<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compared with healthy women, the level of serum sex hormone of E is reduced in the female patients of post-adolescent acne, resulting in relative increased level of T; the acupoint catgut embedding, fire needle, auricular acupuncture have better efficacy than medication for post-adolescent acne, which have regulation effects on sex hormone disorder.</p>
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Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of mind-regulating acupuncture in treating primary trigeminal neuralgia.Method Sixty-one patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia were randomized into a treatment group of 31 cases and a control group of 30 cases by using random number table method. The control group was intervened by oral administration of Carbamazepine, while the treatment group was additionally given mind-regulating acupuncture. The pain intensity, pain flare-up frequency and quality of life in the two groups were evaluated before and after the treatment, and the clinical efficacies were compared.Result The total effective rate was 90.3％ in the treatment group, versus 70.0％ in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The pain score, pain flare-up frequency and quality of life score after the treatment were significantly different from those before the treatment in both groups (P<0.05); there were no significant between-group differences in comparing the pain score and flare-up frequency after the treatment (P>0.05); there was significant between-group difference in comparing the quality of life score after the treatment(P<0.05). The pain score, pain flare-up frequency and quality of life score at the 6-month follow-up were significantly different from those before and after the treatment in both groups (P<0.05); there were significant between-group differences in comparing the pain score, flare-up frequency and the quality of life score at the 6-month follow-up (P<0.05). Conclusion Mind-regulating acupuncture can produce a significant efficacy in treating primary trigeminal neuralgia and obviously enhance the quality of life.
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Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of mind-regulating acupuncture in treating primary trigeminal neuralgia.Method Sixty-one patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia were randomized into a treatment group of 31 cases and a control group of 30 cases by using random number table method. The control group was intervened by oral administration of Carbamazepine, while the treatment group was additionally given mind-regulating acupuncture. The pain intensity, pain flare-up frequency and quality of life in the two groups were evaluated before and after the treatment, and the clinical efficacies were compared.Result The total effective rate was 90.3％ in the treatment group, versus 70.0％ in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The pain score, pain flare-up frequency and quality of life score after the treatment were significantly different from those before the treatment in both groups (P<0.05); there were no significant between-group differences in comparing the pain score and flare-up frequency after the treatment (P>0.05); there was significant between-group difference in comparing the quality of life score after the treatment(P<0.05). The pain score, pain flare-up frequency and quality of life score at the 6-month follow-up were significantly different from those before and after the treatment in both groups (P<0.05); there were significant between-group differences in comparing the pain score, flare-up frequency and the quality of life score at the 6-month follow-up (P<0.05). Conclusion Mind-regulating acupuncture can produce a significant efficacy in treating primary trigeminal neuralgia and obviously enhance the quality of life.
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Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of ear-acupuncture therapy for intractable hiccups in the patients treated with endovascular embolization for bleeding from spontaneous rupture of liver cancer. Methods A total of 60 patients with intractable hiccups after endovascular embolization for bleeding from spontaneous rupture of liver cancer were randomly divided two groups using a random digit table, 30 in each group. The patients in the control group were treated breath holding combined with oral baclofen, and those in the observation group with ear-acupuncture therapy for 5 days, and then both groups were followed up for 1 week. The Karnofsky Performance Status Scale (KPS) was used for quality of life evaluation. The adverse events and recurrence during the treatment and the followed up were recorded. The therapeutic effect was evaluated. Results Total effective rate (100% vs. 76.7%; χ2=5.822, P=0.016)in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group. The rate of adverse events (6.7% vs. 33.3%; χ2=5.104, P=0.024)in the observation group were significantly lower than that in the control group. There was no significant difference in the KPS scores after treatment between the observation group and the control group (82.1 ± 12.6 vs. 76.5 ± 17.8; t=1.407, P=0.165). Conclusions Ear-acupuncture therapy may efficiently alleviate intractable hiccups in patients treated with endovascular embolization for bleeding from spontaneous rupture of liver cancer, and superior to breath holding combined with oral baclofen.
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Objective To investigate the effect of combined auricular acupuncture therapy on blood glucose in type 2 diabetic patients.Method Sixty type 2 diabetic patients were randomly allocated to a treatment and a control group, 30 cases each. The control group was intervened by conventional medication, while the treatment group by combined ear point therapy (ear point massage, bloodletting and seed embedding) in addition to the intervention given to the control group. After 3 months treatment, fasting blood glucose, 2-h postprandial blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin were measured in the two groups before and after treatment.Results There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the indicators (fasting blood glucose, 2-h postprandial blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin) in the treatment group (P<0.01). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in the indicators between the treatment and control group (P<0.01).Conclusions Combined auricular acupuncture therapy is an effective way to treat type 2 diabetes. It has a better hypoglycemic effect.