Jianpi Peiyuan acupoint thread embedding therapy for perimenopausal obesity: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Jianpi Peiyuan acupoint thread embedding therapy on perimenopausal obesity (PMO).@*METHODS@#Ninety-six patients of PMO were randomly divided into an observation group (48 cases) and a control group (48 cases). The control group received health education and lifestyle intervention. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, the observation group was treated with acupoint thread embedding at the main acupoints of Shangwan (CV 13), Zhongwan (CV 12), Xiawan (CV 10), Yinlingquan (SP 9) and Fenglong (ST 40), etc. as well as the supplementary acupoints in accordance with the syndrome differentiation, once every 2 weeks for 8 weeks (4 times in total). The indexes of obesity (body mass index [BMI], waist circumference, hip circumference and body mass), modified Kupperman score, insomnia severity index (ISI) score, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) score, and self-rating depression scale (SDS) score of the two groups were observed before and after treatment, and the safety was evaluated.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference and body mass in the two groups were lower than before treatment (P<0.05), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, Kupperman, ISI and SAS scores in the observation group were lower than before treatment (P<0.05), and ISI score in the control group was lower than before treatment (P<0.05). Kupperman, ISI and SAS scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in SDS between the two groups or within groups (P>0.05). No serious adverse reactions occurred during the experiment.@*CONCLUSION@#Jianpi Peiyuan acupoint thread embedding therapy can reduce the degree of obesity in PMO patients, and improve patients' the perimenopausal symptoms, insomnia and anxiety, with good safety.

Simple obesity of stomach heat and damp obstruction treated with acupoint thread embedding therapy: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the therapeutic effect and safety of acupoint thread embedding therapy in treatment of simple obesity of stomach heat and damp obstruction.@*METHODS@#A total of 144 patients with simple obesity of stomach heat and damp obstruction were randomized into an acupoint thread embedding group (72 cases, 3 cases dropped off and 1 case removed) and a sham-embedding group (72 cases, 6 cases dropped off and 3 cases removed). On the base of the lifestyle adjustment, the acupoint thread embedding therapy with PGLA thread was applied to Tianshu (ST 25), Zhongwan (CV 12), Ganshu (BL 18), Shuidao (ST 28), etc. in the acupoint thread embedding group, while in the sham-embedding group, the acupoint selection and operation were all same as the acupoint thread embedding group, but without PGLA thread embedded. In either group, the treatment was given once every 2 weeks, consecutively for 12 weeks and the follow-up was conducted for 3 months after treatment. Separately, before and after treatment as well as in follow-up, the obesity indices (body mass index [BMI], waist circumference [WC], waist-to-hip ratio [WHR] and fat percentage [F%]) were observed in the two groups. Before and after treatment, the indices of blood glucose and insulin (fasting blood glucose [FBG], fasting insulin [FINS] and insulin resistance index [HOMA-IR]), adipocyte factor indices (adiponectin, leptin [LP] and serine protease inhibitor [Vaspin]) and inflammatory factor indices (tumor nercosis factor [TNF-α], interleukin-1β [IL-1β] and interleukin-6 [IL-6]) were observed separately in the two groups. The therapeutic effect and safety were compared between the two groups.@*RESULTS@#After treatment and in follow-up, except WC and WHR in the sham-embedding group, BMI, WC, WHR and F% were all reduced as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the values in the acupoint thread embedding group were lower than the sham-embedding group (P<0.01). After treatment, except FBG, LP and Vaspin in the sham-embedding group, FBG, FINS, HOMA-IR, LP and Vaspin were all reduced as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.01, P<0.05), and adiponectin was increased as compared with that before treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05); the improvements in the acupoint thread embedding group were more significant than the sham-embedding group (P<0.01). After treatment, the levels of serum TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the acupoint thread embedding group were reduced as compared with the values before treatment and those in the sham-embedding group separately (P<0.01). The total effective rate was 89.7% (61/68) in the acupoint thread embedding group, higher than 19.0% (12/63) in the sham-embedding group (P<0.01). There was no severe adverse reaction reported in the two groups.@*CONCLUSION@#Acupoint thread embedding therapy with PGLA thread can alleviate obesity, regulate glucose metabolism and adipocyte factors activity, improve insulin resistance and inhibit the expression of pro-inflammatory factors in the patients with simple obesity with stomach heat and damp obstruction, and this therapy presents a satisfactory safety in treatment.

Acupoint thread-embedding as adjuvant therapy for bronchial asthma in children and its effect on pulmonary function, serum IgA and IgE levels / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the efficacy of acupoint thread-embedding combined with fluticasone propionate aerosol for chronic persistent bronchial asthma of lung-spleen @*METHODS@#A total of 120 children with chronic persistent bronchial asthma were randomly divided into an observation group (60 cases, 9 cases dropped off) and a control group (60 cases, 7 cases dropped off). The control group was treated with fluticasone propionate aerosol (125 μg per inhalation), twice a day; based on the control group treatment, the observation group was treated with acupoint thread-embedding at Dingchuan (EX-B 1), Feishu (BL 13), Zusanli (ST 36) and Danzhong (CV 17), once half a month. Both groups were treated for 3 months. The pulmonary function, serum IgA, IgE levels and TCM symptom score were compared between the two groups before and after treatment, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the large airway function (peak expiratory flow [PEF], forced expiratory volume at the first second [FEV1]) and small airway function (maximal expiratory flow at 25% of the forced capacity [MEF25%], maximal expiratory flow at 50% of the forced capacity [MEF50%], maximal expiratory flow at 75% of the forced capacity [MEF75%] and midexpiratory flow 25%-75% [MEF25%-75%]) were higher than those before treatment (@*CONCLUSION@#Acupoint thread-embedding combined with fluticasone propionate aerosol could improve the pulmonary function, TCM symptoms and serum IgA and IgE levels in children with chronic persistent bronchial asthma of lung-spleen

Effect of acupoint thread-embedding on tight junction of intestinal mucosa epithelium in rats with ulcerative colitis / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of acupoint thread-embedding on tight junction of intestinal mucosal epithelial barrier in rats with ulcerative colitis (UC) under the state of "deficiency and stasis", and to explore its mechanism.@*METHODS@#Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into a control group (@*RESULTS@#Compared with the control group, in the model group the body weight was decreased (@*CONCLUSION@#The thread-embedding could repair the tight junction of intestinal mucosa epithelium and reduce the permeability of intestinal mucosa epithelium, which may be related to the decrease of the expression of CaMKⅡ, MLCK and other protein kinases.

Observation of acupoint thread-embedding on refractive amblyopia in children / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of acupoint thread@*METHODS@#A total of 60 children with refractive amblyopia were randomized into an observation group (30 cases, 2 cases dropped off) and a control group (30 cases, 1 case dropped off). In the control group, comprehensive therapy of eye covering of intact side and family refined performance was adopted. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, acupoint thread@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the corrected vision was increased compared before treatment in the both groups (@*CONCLUSION@#Acupoint thread

Preliminary research of / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the impacts on weight reduction effect treated with acupoint thread embedding therapy at different tissue levels under ultrasonic guidance.@*METHODS@#A total of 70 patients with overweight or obesity were randomized into a shallow-tissue thread embedding group (35 cases, 5 cases dropped off) and a deep-tissue thread embedding group (35 cases, 4 cases dropped off). Under ultrasonic guidance, the thread was embedded in the shallow tissue level and the deep tissue level respectively. The acupoints were Zhongwan (CV 12), Xiawan (CV 10), Shuifen (CV 9), Zhongji (CV 3), etc. The thread embedding therapy was exerted once every 2 weeks, totally for 3 times. Before and 2 weeks after treatment, body mass, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and hip circumference were recorded in the patients of the two groups separately. After each treatment, the number and the property of blood vessels under each acupoint were detected by ultrasound. Besides, the needling sensation and the intensity were scored and the adverse events were observed after thread embedding therapy.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the reduction range of body mass, BMI and waist circumference in the deep-tissue thread embedding group were larger than those in the shallow-tissue thread embedding group successively (@*CONCLUSION@#The deep-tissue thread embedding therapy achieves the stronger

Effect of acupoint thread-embedding on macrophage polarization of epididymis adipose tissue in obese mice / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of acupoint thread-embedding at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Fenglong" (ST 40) on the macrophage polarization of epididymis adipose tissue in obese mice, and to explore the action mechanism of acupoint thread-embedding on weight control.@*METHODS@#Among 30 male C57BL/6 mice, 10 mice were randomly selected and fed with normal diet, and the remaining 20 mice were fed with high-fat diet to establish the obesity model. Sixteen mice with successful obesity model were randomly divided into a model group and an acupoint thread-embedding group, 8 mice in each group. Eight mice were selected from mice which were fed with normal diet as the normal group. On the next day of successful modeling, acupoint thread-embedding was performed at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Fenglong" (ST 40) in the acupoint thread-embedding group, once every 10 days for 4 times. The body weight was recorded at 0, 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 days into intervention; the level of glucose metabolism was compared after intervention; the level of lipid metabolism and weight of epididymal adipose tissue were compared at the end of the intervention; the mRNA expression of M1 and M2 macrophage-related cytokines interleukin-10 (IL-6), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were detected by real-time PCR; the mRNA and protein expression of M1 macrophage labeled inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and M2 macrophage labeled arginase-1 (Arg-1) were detected by real-time PCR and Western blot.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the normal group, the body weight at 0, 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 days into intervention in the model group was increased (@*CONCLUSION@#Acupoint thread-embedding at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Fenglong" (ST 40) may play a role in weight control by regulating the polarization of macrophages.

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.

Clinical effect of acupoint thread-embedding therapy at different intervals in the intervention of metabolic syndrome / 针刺研究

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of acupoint thread-embedding therapy at different intervals in the treatment of metabolic syndrome, and to find the optimal treatment interval. METHODS: A total of 70 patients with metabolic syndrome were randomly divided into treatment group 1 (n＝35)and treatment group 2(n＝35). Both groups were given acupoint thread-embedding therapy at Zhongwan (CV12), bilateral Liangmen (ST21), bilateral Huaroumen (ST24), bilateral Tianshu (ST25), bilateral Daimai (GB26), Guanyuan (CV4), bilateral Dachangshu (BL25), bilateral Pishu (BL20), bilateral Zusanli (ST36), bilateral Yinlingquan (SP9), and bilateral Fenglong (ST40), and the treatment interval was 7 d for treatment group 1 and 14 d for treatment group 2. Each course of treatment was 42 d, and both groups were treated for 2 courses. Waist circumfe-rence (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist-hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI), serum triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and glycosylated hemoglobin (Hb1Ac) were measured before and after treatment to analyze clinical outcome, and adverse reactions were recorded. RESULTS: After treatment, both groups had significant reductions in WC, HC, WHR, BMI, TG, LDL-C, FPG and Hb1Ac (P0.05). CONCLUSION: Under the premise of ensuring efficacy and safety, an interval of 7 d is the optimal interval for acupoint thread-embedding therapy in the clinical intervention of metabolic syndrome.

Dry eye syndrome of deficient lacrima production treated with the acupoint thread-embedding therapy: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the therapeutic effects on the relevant symtoms in the patients with dry eye syndrome treated with the acupoint thread-embedding therapy versus topical artificial tears eye drops.@*METHODS@#A total of 88 patients with dry eye syndrome of deficiency lacrima production were randomized into an acupoint thread-embedding therapy group (thread-embedding group) and a control group with topical artificial tears eye drops (medication group), 44 cases in each one. In the thread-embedding group, 3 cases were dropped out. In the thread-embedding group, Ganshu (BL 18), Pishu (BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23) etc. were selected and the acupoint thread-embedding therapy was operated once every 30 days, totally for two treatments. In the medication group, the topical artificial tears eye drops was used, 4 to 6 times a day, one drop each time, for 8 weeks totally. Separately, before treatment, after 4-week treatment and 8-week treatment as well as in 8 weeks and 12 weeks of the follow-up, the levels of lactoferrin in tears were determined and the scores of the relevant symptoms of ocular surface such as eye dryness, foreign body sensation in the eyes and eye fatigue were evaluated.@*RESULTS@#In the thread-embedding group, after 4-week and 8-week of treatment as well as in 8-week and 12-week follow-up, the scores of eye dryness, foreign body sensation, burning sensation of eye, phengophobia and eye fatigue were reduced significantly as compared with those before treatment (all 0.05). The levels of lactoferrin in tears at each time point after treatment in the thread-embedding group were higher than the medication group (<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The acupoint thread-embedding therapy effectively improves in the relevant symptoms of ocular surface, such as eye dryness, foreign body sensation, burning sensation of eye, phengophobia and eye fatigue, and increases the level of lactoferrin in tears in the patients with dry eye syndrome of deficiency aqueous production. In the follow-up, the therapeutic effects of the acupoint thread-embedding therapy are significantly better than artificial tears eye drops.

Effect of acupoint thread-embedding therapy on the sitting ability of ataxia children with cerebral palsy / 针刺研究

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effective of acupoint thread-embedding therapy for ataxia children with cerebral palsy. METHODS: A total of 70 ataxia children with cerebral palsy and a Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM, Dimension B) score of <35 were enrolled and randomly divided into thread-embedding group and control group, with 35 children in each group, and 2 children in the thread-embedding group were lost to follow-up. The children in the control group were given routine rehabilitation treatment, including physical therapy, spleen-strengthening, kidney-nourishing, and Governor Vessel-regulating massage, vibroacoustic therapy, and scalp acupuncture, and those in the thread-embedding group were given thread-embedding therapy at the acupoints of Jianyu (LI15), Jianliao (SJ14), Tianzong (SI11), Tianshu (ST25), and HuatuoJiaji points (C4, L1 and L4) in addition to the treatment in the control group, with 6-8 acupoints selected each time, once a week. Each course of treatment was 4 weeks, with an interval of one week between two courses of treatment, and the children were treated for 3 courses. Level of sitting scale (LSS), incurvation reflex, and GMFM score were recorded to evaluate the improvement in sitting ability and clinical outcome. RESULTS: Both groups had significant improvements in LSS, incurvation reflex, and GMFM (Dimension A and B) score after treatment (P<0.01), and the thread-embedding group had significantly greater improvements than the control group (P<0.01). The thread-embedding group had a significantly higher overall response rate than the control group (90.9% [30/33] vs 68.5% [24/35], P<0.01). CONCLUSION: In addition to routine rehabilitation treatment, acupoint thread-embedding therapy can effectively suppress primitive reflex in ataxia children with cerebral palsy and significantly promote their sitting ability, and therefore, it is an effective acupuncture treatment method for ataxia children with cerebral palsy.

Short-term and long-term efficacy of PGLA thread-embedding therapy in treatment of stage Ⅰ post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome / 针刺研究

OBJECTIVE: To investigate short-term and long-term efficacy of PGLA thread-embedding therapy in the treatment of stage Ⅰ post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with stage Ⅰ post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome were randomly divided into control group and treatment group, with 30 patients in each group. The patients in the control group were given acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training, and those in the treatment group were given PGLA thread-embedding therapy combined with rehabilitation training. Conventional acupuncture was performed once a day, and thread-embedding therapy was performed once every 5 days. Both groups were treated for 30 days. Clinical outcome, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, hand edema score, and Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) score were compared within and between groups immediately and at 1 month after treatment. RESULTS: The treatment group had a significantly higher overall response rate than the control group immediately and at 1 month after treatment (93.33%/86.67% vs 73.33%/56.67%, P<0.05). Both groups had significant reductions in VAS score and hand edema score and a significant increase in FMA score immediately and at 1 month after treatment (P<0.05), and the treatment group had significantly greater improvements than the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: PGLA thread-embedding therapy has a better clinical effect than conventional acupuncture in the treatment of stage Ⅰ post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome.

Clinical research and the effect mechanism on premature ovarian failure treated with acupuncture in recent 20 years / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To review and collect the study achievements and the effect mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of premature ovarian failure (POF) in recent 20 years so as to provide more references for the clinical treatment of POF with acupuncture.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Through retrieving PubMed, CNKI and VIP, the literature on acupuncture for POF was collected from January 1, 1998 through March 31, 2017 regarding the rule of acupoint selection and the therapeutic method. The potential effect mechanism was explored.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Finally, 26 papers on the clinical treatment for POF with acupuncture and 5 ones on the laboratory mechanism were obtained. The differentiated syndromes and the top 3 acupoints for the treatment of POF included syndrome [Taixi (KI 3), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Guanyuan (CV 4)], syndrome [Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Zusanli (ST 36) and Ciliao (BL 32)], syndrome [Taichong (LR 3), Shenting (GV 24), Guanyuan (CV 4)], the mixed syndrome of and [Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Ganshu (BL 18) and Shenshu (BL 23)], the mixed syndrome of and [Pishu (BL 20), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Zusanli (ST 36)] and the dysfunction of the thoroughfare vessel and the conception vessel [Guanyuan (CV 4), Zigong (EX-CA 1) and Huangshu (KI 16)]. The top 5 acupoints of the 14 meridians were Guanyuan (CV 4), Shenshu (BL 23), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Zhongji (CV 3), Pishu (BL 20), Taixi (KI 3) and Ganshu (BL 18). The local extraordinary points were dominant. According to the use frequency of the acupoints, the first top 5 meridians were the bladder meridian of foot-, the governor vessel, the conception vessel, the spleen meridian of foot- and the kidney meridian of foot-. The most acupoints were distributed in the chest, the abdomen, the lumber region and the lower limbs. Many therapeutic methods were used, such as acupuncture with filiform needle, electroacupuncture, moxibustion and the acupoint thread-embedding therapy. The effect mechanisms possibly referred to the recovery of the sexual level through regulating the hypothalamus-pituitary gland-ovarian axle (HPOA) function, the improvement of the histological morphology of the uterine, the improvement of body immunity through affecting the nerve-endocrine-immune regulation system as well as the regulation of the genetic and protein expressions of the signal pathway relevant with POF.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Even though acupuncture has achieved the therapeutic effects in the clinical treatment of POF, the research on the effect mechanism is still limited. The exploration of acupuncture for POF in terms of mechanism may guide the clinical practice. In the future study, the clinical pathway should be specified and the effect mechanism be explored through the rigorous laboratory design and more objective and rational evaluation system.</p>

Therapeutic Observation of Acupoint Thread Embedding plus Thunder-fire Moxibustion for Hyperlipidemia Due to Spleen-kidney Yang Deficiency / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupoint thread embedding plus thunder-fire moxibustion in treating hyperlipidemia due to spleen-kidney yang deficiency. Method Sixty patients with hyperlipidemia due to spleen-kidney yang deficiency were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 30 cases each. The treatment group was intervened by acupoint thread embedding plus thunder-fire moxibustion, while the control group was intervened by oral administration of Atorvastatin calcium tablets. After 8-week treatment, changes in the serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score were observed in the two groups, and the clinical efficacies were compared. Result The blood lipids indexes (TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C) and TCM syndrome score were significantly changed after the treatment in both groups (P<0.05). After the treatment, the blood lipids indexes and TCM syndrome score of the treatment group were insignificantly different from those of the control group (P>0.05). The total effective rate was 90.0％ in improving the blood lipids in the treatment group, versus 93.3％ in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically insignificant (P>0.05). The total effective rate was 83.3％ in improving the TCM syndrome score in the treatment group versus 63.3％ in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Acupoint thread embedding plus thunder-fire moxibustion is an effective method in treating hyperlipidemia due to spleen-kidney yang deficiency.

Clinical study on acupoint catgut embedding combined with abdominal massage in treatment of female abdominal obesity with spleen deficiency and Dampness Retention syndrome / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of acupoint catgut embedding combined with abdominal massage in the treatment of female abdominal obesity with spleen deficiency and dampness. Methods A total of 300 female abdominal obesity patients who met the inclusion criteria were divided into observation group (200 cases) and control group (100 cases) according to the ratio of 2:1 by random number table. The control group was treated with abdominal massage, while the observation group was treated with acupoint catgut embedding on the basis of the control group. The changes of body weight, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, BMI, FPG, TC and TG levels before and after treatment were compared between the two groups, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. Results After treatment, the body weight, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio and BMI of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group (t values were 10.869, 6.058, 2.941, 21.267, P<0.01 or P<0.05), and the serum levels of FPG, TC and TG were significantly lower than those of the control group (t values were 21.147, 18.325, 19.931, P<0.01). The total effective rate was 91.5％ (183/200) in the observation group and 65.0％ (65/100) in the control group. There was significant difference between the two groups (χ2=32.671, P<0.001). Conclusions Acupoint catgut embedding combined with abdominal massage can improve the obesity index and blood lipid level of women with abdominal obesity, and the curative effect is better than that of abdominal massage alone.

The Effect of Microinvasive Thread Embedding on Vertebral Artery Blood Flow in Cervical Spondylotic Vertebral Arteriopathy / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of microinvasive thread embedding on vertebral artery blood flow in cervical spondylotic vertebral arteriopathy and further ascerta in that microinvasive thread embedding is a new long-acting acupuncture method for treating cervical spondylotic vertebral arteriopathy.Method Sixty patients meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to acupuncture and thread embedding groups.The acupuncture group received conventional acupuncture and the thread embedding group, microinvasive thread embedding.The symptoms and function were scored using theEvaluation Scale for Cervical Vertigoand bilateral vertebral artery blood flow was measured using transcranial Doppler after one day and three weeks of treatment.Result The symptoms of vertigo improved somewhatin the thread embedding group at one day after treatment compared with before treatment (P0.05). The total efficacy rate was 83.3% in the thread embedding group, which was higher than 60.0% in the acupuncture group (P<0.05).Conclusion Microinvasive thread embedding can improve the symptoms, vertebral artery blood flow and the quality of life in patients with cervical spondylotic vertebral arteriopathy.

Therapeutic Observation of Acupoint Thread Embedding in Preventing Urinary Retention After Cervical Cancer Surgery / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupoint thread embedding in preventing urinary retention after cervical cancer surgery.Method Fifty eligible patients were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 25 cases each. The control group was given catheterization after gynecological surgery; the treatment group was intervened by thread embedding at Zusanli (ST36), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Yinlingquan (SP9), Guanyuan (CV4), and Shenshu (BL23) on the 7th day after the surgery in addition to the basic intervention given to the control group. The indwelling catheter was removed on the 14th day after the surgery, and the bladder function, urination, and residual urine volume were compared between the two groups.Result After the treatment, the bladder function in the treatment group was significantly better than that in the control group (P<0.05); the markedly effective rate of spontaneous micturition was 92.0% in the treatment group versus 72.0% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusion Early intervention with acupoint thread embedding after cervical cancer surgery can effectively decrease the incidence of post-surgery urinary retention, and it's easy-to-operation and worth application in clinic.

Clinical Observation of Acupoint Thread Embedding plus Western Medication in Treating Major Epilepsy / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupoint thread embedding plus Western medication in treating major epilepsy.Method Sixty epilepsy patients were randomized into a thread embedding group and a Western medication group, 30 cases each. The Western medication group was intervened by Western medication; the thread embedding group was given acupoint thread embedding based on the same Western medication treatment. Seizure frequency, seizure score, general efficacy and the improvement of adverse reactions due to Western medications were analyzed.Result Compared to the Western medication group, the thread embedding group was more effective in controlling seizure frequency (P<0.01), and reducing seizure score (P<0.05) and adverse reactions of Western medications (P<0.05); the general efficacy of the thread embedding group was superior to that of the Western medication group in treating epilepsy (P<0.05).Conclusion Acupoint thread embedding plus Western medication is effective in treating epilepsy, and is superior to the use of Western medication alone.

Therapeutic Observation of Acupoint Thread Embedding in Preventing Urinary Retention After Cervical Cancer Surgery / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupoint thread embedding in preventing urinary retention after cervical cancer surgery.Method Fifty eligible patients were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 25 cases each. The control group was given catheterization after gynecological surgery; the treatment group was intervened by thread embedding at Zusanli (ST36), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Yinlingquan (SP9), Guanyuan (CV4), and Shenshu (BL23) on the 7th day after the surgery in addition to the basic intervention given to the control group. The indwelling catheter was removed on the 14th day after the surgery, and the bladder function, urination, and residual urine volume were compared between the two groups.Result After the treatment, the bladder function in the treatment group was significantly better than that in the control group (P<0.05); the markedly effective rate of spontaneous micturition was 92.0% in the treatment group versus 72.0% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusion Early intervention with acupoint thread embedding after cervical cancer surgery can effectively decrease the incidence of post-surgery urinary retention, and it's easy-to-operation and worth application in clinic.

Clinical Observation of Acupoint Thread Embedding plus Western Medication in Treating Major Epilepsy / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupoint thread embedding plus Western medication in treating major epilepsy.Method Sixty epilepsy patients were randomized into a thread embedding group and a Western medication group, 30 cases each. The Western medication group was intervened by Western medication; the thread embedding group was given acupoint thread embedding based on the same Western medication treatment. Seizure frequency, seizure score, general efficacy and the improvement of adverse reactions due to Western medications were analyzed.Result Compared to the Western medication group, the thread embedding group was more effective in controlling seizure frequency (P<0.01), and reducing seizure score (P<0.05) and adverse reactions of Western medications (P<0.05); the general efficacy of the thread embedding group was superior to that of the Western medication group in treating epilepsy (P<0.05).Conclusion Acupoint thread embedding plus Western medication is effective in treating epilepsy, and is superior to the use of Western medication alone.