Acupuncture-Neuroimaging Research Trends over Past Two Decades: A Bibliometric Analysis / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To identify topics attracting growing research attention as well as frontier trends of acupuncture-neuroimaging research over the past two decades.@*METHODS@#This paper reviewed data in the published literature on acupuncture neuroimaging from 2000 to 2020, which was retrieved from the Web of Science database. CiteSpace was used to analyze the publication years, countries, institutions, authors, keywords, co-citation of authors, journals, and references.@*RESULTS@#A total of 981 publications were included in the final review. The number of publications has increased in the recent 20 years accompanied by some fluctuations. Notably, the most productive country was China, while Harvard University ranked first among institutions in this field. The most productive author was Tian J with the highest number of articles (50), whereas the most co-cited author was Hui KKS (325). Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (92) was the most prolific journal, while Neuroimage was the most co-cited journal (538). An article written by Hui KKS (2005) exhibited the highest co-citation number (112). The keywords "acupuncture" (475) and "electroacupuncture" (0.10) had the highest frequency and centrality, respectively. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) ranked first with the highest citation burst (6.76).@*CONCLUSION@#The most active research topics in the field of acupuncture-neuroimaging over the past two decades included research type, acupoint specificity, neuroimaging methods, brain regions, acupuncture modality, acupoint specificity, diseases and symptoms treated, and research type. Whilst research frontier topics were "nerve regeneration", "functional connectivity", "neural regeneration", "brain network", "fMRI" and "manual acupuncture".

Application of Tiaoshen Jianpi acupuncture and moxibustion in hospice care for terminal cancer patients / 中国针灸

To analyze the application feasibility of Tiaoshen Jianpi acupuncture and moxibustion in hospice care for terminal cancer patients. Tiaoshen Jianpi acupuncture and moxibustion adjusts the spirit to regulate emotions and fortifies the spleen to supplement and boost foundation of acquired (postnatal) constitution. And it could relieve adverse reactions after radiotherapy and chemotherapy, alleviate pain and regulate emotions in hospice care for terminal cancer patients, so as to promote the progress of hospice care for terminal cancer patients.

Bidirectional regulation of acupuncture: a subgroup analysis of multicenter randomized controlled trial of acupuncture with / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the bidirectional regulation of acupuncture based on a subgroup analysis of multicenter randomized controlled trial of acupuncture with @*METHODS@#A total of 519 patients were included in the analysis, including 137 patients with constipation type irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C) (92 cases in the acupuncture group and 45 cases in the polyethylene glycol [PEG] group), and 382 patients with diarrhea type irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) (252 cases in the acupuncture group and 130 cases in the pinaverium group). The patients in the acupuncture group were given acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Yintang (GV 29), Tianshu (ST 25), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Taichong (LR 3) once every other day, 3 times a week. The patients in the PEG group received polyethylene glycol 4000 powder orally, and the pinaverium group received pinaverium bromide tablets orally. All were treated for 6 weeks. The IBS symptom severity score (IBS-SSS) was assessed at baseline, treatment period (2, 4, 6 weeks of treatment) and 12 weeks of follow-up, and the IBS quality of life (IBS-QOL) score was evaluated at the baseline period, 6 weeks of treatment and 12 weeks of follow-up.@*RESULTS@#The total IBS-SSS scores of the two groups of IBS-C patients at 2, 4, 6 weeks of treatment and follow-up of 12 weeks were lower than those in the baseline period (@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture with

Correlation between curative effect and 5-HTTLPR polymorphism in treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome with acupuncture for regulating / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the curative effect on diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) between acupuncture for regulating @*METHODS@#A total of 231 patients with IBS-D were randomized into an acupuncture group (154 cases) and a western medication group (77 cases) at the ratio of 2 to 1. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied to acupoint regimen for regulating @*RESULTS@#After treatment and in follow-up, the total scores of IBS-SSS in the patients of the two groups were all reduced as compared with those before treatment (@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture for regulating

Analysis on acupoint selection rules for reflux esophagitis / 中国针灸

The data mining technology was used to explore the acupoint selection rules for reflux esophagitis (RE), so as to provide references of clinical acupuncture for RE. The clinical literature of acupuncture for RE published before June 2019 was searched in Chinese journal full-text database (CNKI), SinoMed, Wanfang and VIP databases. The literature was selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and acupoint prescriptions were extracted. The software of IBM SPSS Statistics 23.0 and Clementine 12.0 were used for descriptive analysis and association analysis. A total of 46 articles were selected and 60 acupoint prescriptions were extracted. The descriptive analysis indicated that the top five acupoints used for RE were Zhongwan (CV 12), Zusanli (ST 36), Weishu (BL 21), Neiguan (PC 6) and Gongsun (SP 4). The conception vessel, bladder meridian and stomach meridian were the most commonly selected meridians. In terms of specific acupoints, the crossing points, the front- points and five- points were mainly selected, and the acupoints were mainly distributed in limbs and chest-abdomen. The core acupoint combination for RE was "Zhongwan (CV 12) and Zusanli (ST 36)" and the core prescription was "Zhongwan (CV 12), Zusanli (ST 36), Weishu (BL 21) and Neiguan (PC 6)".

Exploration on the relationship between acupuncture for mind-regulation and flow theory / 中国针灸

Based on the story of Chinese idiom, (a magical and skilled form of craftsmanship) as the breakthrough point, this paper discusses the both (cook) and the experienced acupuncture practitioner have the same high skills and explores the potential relationship between mind-regulation in treatment with acupuncture and flow theory. It is believed that the skills of ancient acupuncture practitioner in mind-regulation with acupuncture is not only a kind of "Tao" mode, but also a state of "flow". By the discussion on mind-regulation and flow theory, modern people may have more clear recognition on the mind regulation in treatment with acupuncture so as to better determine the therapeutic methods of acupuncture for mind-regulation.

Research progress on the pathogenesis of immune factors in ulcerative colitis / 医学研究生学报

Abnormal immune system is the final stage of the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC). So it can be regarded as involved in the pathogenesis of UC as long as it can affect immune-related factors. The excessive immune activation in the intestinal wall of UC patients leads to the development of UC. Currently the treatment of UC is mainly focused on inhibiting or regulating the activity of immune system. This paper mainly reviews the role and mechanism of immune factors in the UC recently.

Efficacy of Jianpi Shugan Fomula on Intestinal Flora of Patients with Diarrhea Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Its Effect on Intestinal Flora / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To observe the effect of Jianpi Shugan decoction combined with acupuncture on the clinical symptoms of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) with liver depression and spleen deficiency and the intestinal flora. Method:Seventy patients with IBS-D with liver depression and spleen deficiency were randomly divided into two groups by the random number table. The treatment group was given Jianpi Shugan decoction combined with acupuncture for 4 weeks, the control group was treated with Pivavironium bromide for 4 weeks, and 30 healthy people were used as healthy control. The total effective rate, IBS bowel symptom severity scale (IBS-BSS), IBS quality of life questionnaire (IBS-QOL) and traditional Chinese medicine pattern curative effect scoring system (TCM-PES) were evaluated. The counts of Bacillus bifidus, B.acidi lactici, Enterobacteria, and Bacteroides in feces and the colonization resistance (CR) were observed by Real-time PCR. Result:The IBS-SSS scale showed that the TCM treatment group could reduce the scores at the 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks (Pth and 8th weeks (Pth week scores of TCM treatment group were better than that of control group (PPth, 8th, and 12th weeks, and the control group increased the scores at the 4th week (PPB.bifidus and B.acidi lactici increased after 4 weeks of TCM treatment, and the count of Enterobacteria decreased (PB. bifidus increased, while Enterobacteria decreased in the TCM treatment group (PBacteroides after treatment in each group. Conclusion:Jianpi Shugan decoction combined with acupuncture has a reliable curative effect on IBS-D patients with liver depression and spleen deficiency. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of intestinal flora imbalance.

Electroacupuncture of "Tianshu" (ST 25) Suppresses Visceral Pain Possibly by Down-regulating Mast Cell Activation, and Tryptase and SP Expression in Rats with Post-infectious Irritable Bowel Syndrome / 针刺研究

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Tianshu" (ST 25) on visceral pain and colonic mast cell (MCs) number and tryptase and SP expression in post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS) rats, so as to reveal its mechanisms underlying improvement of PI-IBS. METHODS: Forty-five female Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, model and EA groups (15 rats/ group, 3 rats/group used for H. E. staining, and 12 rats/group for immunohistochemistry). The PI-IBS model was established by intra-anal injection of mixed liquor of 50% ethyl alcohol and trinitro-benzene-sulfonic acid (TNBS). EA (2 Hz/15 Hz, 0.5-1.0 mA) was applied to bilateral "Tianshu" (ST 25) for 30 min, once every day for 14 days. The visceral pain was measured by abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR), for which the rectal implanted air balloon was dilated by infusion of normal saline. The histopathological changes of the colon tissue were observed after H. E. staining, and the colonic MCs were displayed by Toluidine blue staining. The expression of tryptase and SP proteins in the colon specimens were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The AWR threshold was significantly lowered in the model group relevant to the control group (P<0.05) and considerably increased after EA intervention in comparison with the model group (P<0.05). The number of MCs and the expression levels of colonic tryptase and SP proteins in the colon tissues were significantly higher in the model group than in the control group (P<0.05), and obviously lower after EA intervention in the EA group than in the model group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EA of "Tianshu" (ST 25) can inhibit visceral pain in PI-IBS rats, which may be associated with its effects in activating MCs and down-regulating the expression of tryptase and SP proteins in the colonic tissues.

Effect of Acupuncture Combined Physical Training and Relearning on Stroke Rehabilitation: a Multi-center Randomized Controlled Clinical Study / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of acupuncture combined physical training and relearning on stroke patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A multi-center, randomized controlled trial design was adopted. A total of 364 stroke patients were recruited and randomly assigned to the experimental group (184 cases) and the control group (180 cases). Patients in the experimental group received acupuncture combined with physical training and relearning, while those in the control group only received physical training and relearning. All received four weeks of treatment. Effects on Fugl-Meyer motor function, neurological impairment, activities of daily living difference were compared before treatment, after treatment, 2 and 5 months after follow-ups between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Totally 353 patients completed this trial, 179 in the experimental group and 174 in the control group. (1) compared with before treatment, brief Fugl-Meyer motor functions scores and FIM scored obviously increased, and scores for neurological impairment obviously decreased in the two group. Besides, the increment of brief Fugl-Meyer motor functions scores and FIM scores was obviously higher in the experimental group than in the control group at month 2 and 5 of follow-ups; scores for neurological impairment was obviously lower in the experimental group than in the control group. The increment of FIM scores was obviously higher in the experimental group than in the control group at month 5 of follow-ups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). (2) There was statistical difference in inter-group comparison of total Fugl-Meyer motor functions scores and FIM scores, or scores for neurological impairment (P < 0.01). The improvement of Fugl-Meyer motor functions grading and neurological impairment grading was obviously superior in the experimental group at month 2 and 5 of follow-ups. The distribution of FIM grading was also better in the experimental group at month 5 of follow-ups (P < 0.05, P < 0. 01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Both acupuncture combined exercise training and relearning and physical training and relearning could effectively promote the rehabilitation of stroke patients, reduce their neurological impairment degrees, improve motor functions and independent capacities. Better long-term efficacy could be obtained by acupuncture combined exercise training and relearning.</p>

Professor WU Xu's clinical experiences on acupuncture for acute upper abdominal pain / 中国针灸

The clinical experiences and proven cases of distinguished doctor of TCM, professor WU Xu, on acupuncture for acute upper abdominal pain is introduced. Professor WU's manipulation characteristics of acupuncture for acute upper abdominal pain, including acute cholecystitis, kidney stone, acute stomach pain, are one-hand shape but both hands in nature, moving like Tai Chi, force on the tip of needle, movement of qi mainly. The main technique posture is one-hand holding needle with middle finger for pressing, the needle is hold by thumb and index finger, and is assisted by middle finger. The special acupuncture experience of emergency is treatment according to syndrome differentiation, combination of acupuncture and moxibustion, selecting acupoint based on experience, blood-letting acupuncture therapy and so on.

Effects and efficacy observation of acupuncture on serum 5-HT in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture for treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and discuss its action mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-seven cases were randomly divided into two groups. The acupuncture group (29 cases) was treated with acupuncture at Taichong (LR 3), Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) etc., once a day and 5 times per week. The medication group (28 cases) was treated with oral administration of pinaverium (50 mg each time, 3 times a day) and live combined bifidobacterium and lactobacillus tablet (4 tablets each time, 3 times a day). Four weeks were taken as a treatment course in both groups. Before and after treatment ELISA method was applied to measure the level of serum 5-HT of the patients in two groups. The scores of clinical symptoms were observed before treatment, after one and four weeks of treatment and 3 months after treatment, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The level of serum 5-HT was significantly reduced in the acupuncture group and medication group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), which had no statistical difference between two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with the medication group, the scores of clinical symptoms were obviously improved in the acupuncture group after one and four weeks of treatment and 3 months after treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The total effective rate was 89.66% (26/29) in the acupuncture group, which was superior to 67.85% (19/28) in the medication group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The efficacy of acupuncture is superior to that of medicine in the treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. The acupuncture treatment could reduce the visceral sensitivity, improve the intestinal motility and regulate the imbalance of brain-intestine interactive function.</p>

Clinical observation on acupuncture for diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome patients in syndrome of liver-stagnation and spleen-deficiency and its impact on Th1/Th2 / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe clinical therapeutic effects of acupuncture for pattern of liver-stagnation and spleen-deficiency in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS) and its impact on cell factors.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty cases were selected and divided into an acupuncture group (21 cases) in which acupuncture was applied and a medicine group (19 cases) in which oral administration of dicetel and bifidobacterium lactobacillus triple viable capsules were applied. The symptom scores, level of Th1-type cytokine (IFN-gamma, IL-2) and Th2-type cytokine (IL-4, IL-10) and ratio of IFN-gamma to IL-4 were compared in two groups before and after treatment to analyze acupuncture effect.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The clinical symptoms were improved after one-week treatment in the acupuncture group (P<0.05), which had faster onset than the medicine group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 90.48% (19/21) in the acupuncture group, which was superior to 78.95% (15/19) in the medicine group (P<0.05). Compared with medicine treatment, imbalanced condition of Th1/Th2 was turning towards the direction of Th2 after acupuncture, indicating a tendency to recover the balance.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The clinical efficacy of acupuncture for D-IBS has close relationship with effectively improving balance of Th1/Th2 in patients with liver-stagnation and spleen-deficiency.</p>

Comparative observation on therapeutic effects between acupuncture and western medication for diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the efficacy difference in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome between acupuncture in terms of soothing liver and strengthening spleen and western medication.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy cases were randomized into an acupuncture group and a western medication group, 35 cases in each one. In the acupuncture group, the conventional acupuncture was applied to Tianshu (ST 25), Zusanli (ST 36), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taichong (LR 3), etc. The electric stimulation was added at bilateral Tianshu (ST 25). The treatment was given once a day, 3 to 4 treatments required a week. In the western medication group, Pinaverium (Dicetel) was prescribed for oral administration, 50 mg each time, 3 times a day. The treatment of 4 weeks was taken as one session. Separately, before treatment and after one session of treatment, the clinical symptom score and Irritable Bowel Syndrome Quality of Life (IBS-QOL) score were observed for the patients in two groups. The efficacy and the recurrence rate were assessed in two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The symptom score and IBS-QOL score were all improved significantly after treatment in two groups (all P < 0.01). The improvements in the acupuncture group were superior to those in the western medication group (all P < 0.01). The effective rate was 94.3% (33/35) in the acupuncture group, which was better than 77.1% (27/35) in the western medication group (P < 0.01). In 3 months, the recurrence rate was 36.4% (12/33) in the acupuncture group, which was remarkably lower than 72.0% (18/25) in the western medication group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture in terms of soothing liver and strengthening spleen achieves the superior efficacy on diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome as compared with western medicine Pinaverium. It remarkably improves the quality of life for the patients and reduces the recurrence rate of the disease.</p>

Meta analysis of acupuncture-moxibustion in treatment of irritable bowel syndrome / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture-moxibustion in treatment of irritable bowel syndrome systematically.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical randomized controlled trials on treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with acupuncture-moxibustion were collected. Through retrieval of CNKI (1979 - December of 2011) and VIP (1979- December of 2011), randomized and quasi-randomized controlled clinical trials on treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with control study between acupuncture and sham acupuncture or western medication were included. The test bias risk and quality assessment of each experiment were carried out by two researchers in accordance with the Cochrane Handbook 5.1.0 standard. And RevMan 5.1.6 software was adopted for the Meta analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Eleven researches were included with totally 969 patients. Meta analysis shows that the effective rate of the combined methods of acupuncture and moxibustion [RR = 1. 27, 95% CI ( 1.09, 1.49)] is superior to conventional western medication treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture-moxibustion for irritable bowel syndrome is better than the conventional western medication treatment.</p>

Clinical evaluation of Soothing Gan and invigorating Pi acupuncture treatment on diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of Soothing Gan and invigorating Pi (SGIP) acupuncture treatment on the clinical symptoms and quality of life (QOL) in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>With a single-blinded randomized control study adopted, 63 patients who met the inclusion criteria were assigned by a random number table to two groups, 31 in the treatment group and 32 in the drug control group. The treatment group received SGIP acupuncture therapy; while the control group was treated orally with pinaverium bromide. The treatment duration of both groups was 28 days. The clinical efficacy was evaluated and compared by scoring patient's symptom and QOL.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A significant difference was found by variance analysis in efficacies between the two groups (P<0.01), shown as the quicker initiation of effect (P<0.05) and the more evident clinical improvement in symptoms along the increase in treatment duration, as well as the more significant elevation of QOL in the acupuncture treatment group (P<0.01). SGIP displayed its superiority especially in improving dysphoria, conflict behavior, dietary restrictions, and social responses.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SGIP acupuncture treatment could effectively alleviate the degree and frequency of symptoms' attack in IBS-D patients, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, abdominal distension, etc., markedly relieve the tenesmic sensation, with the efficacy better than that of pinaverium bromide, showing a preponderance in improving patient's QOL.</p>