Considerações sobre o risco de contaminação bacteriológica na utilização de agulhas não descartáveis na prática da acupuntura / Considerations of risk factors on bacteriological contamination related to non-disposable needles in acupunture

o objetivo deste estudo foia avaliar os riscos de contaminação bacteriológica pelo uso repetido de agulhas na prática da acupuntura, visto que este método é baseado na introdução de agulhas cilíndricas e maciças em pontos específicos da pele. as agulhas, agrupadas segundo a forma de aplicação, foram submetidas a testes químicos comperóxidos orgânicos e ortolidina, para detectar a presença de hemoglobinas livres e eritrócitos. Foram realizados também testes de esterilidade, segundo a técnica de imersão em caldo enriquecido. Os resultados obtidos para as agulhas testadas foram negartivos em relação às bactérias e fungos, porém nas aplicações profundas os testes revelaram-se positivos para a presença de sangue, indicando que a prática da acupuntura deve adotar critérios de proteção por meio da desinfecção, esterilização dos instrumentos a serem utilizados, bem como o comportamento do profissional

Effect of BL-21 (Wei-Yu) acupoint stimulation on gastric motility following preanesthetic treatment in dogs

In acupuncture practice of animals, preanesthetics sometimes are needed. The purpose of this study was to select the ideal chemical restraint at acupuncture for gastric motility. Nine healthy mixed breed dogs weighed 10-21 kg and aged 1-3 years old were used in this study. Two EMG surface electrodes were placed between the seromuscular and the mucosal layer of pylorus. Twenty minutes after feeding normal gastric motility was recorded for 60 minutes using physiograph (Narco-Biosystem). Then preanesthetic treated-gastric motility was observed for 30 minutes. Preanesthetics used were xylazine, diazepam, and acepromazine. Acupuncture needles were inserted to BL-21 (Wei-Yu) acupoint, and then changes of gastric motility were recorded for 60 minutes. The gastric motility following xylazine administration (1 mg/kg, IV) was markedly decreased. BL-21 (Wei-Yu) acupoints stimulation did not alter xylazine-induced depression of gastric motility. The diazepam (1 mg/kg IV) treated-gastric motility was increased mildly 20 minutes after drug administration. BL-21 (Wei-Yu) acupoint stimulation after diazepam administration enhanced gastric motility significantly. The gastric motility following acepromazine (0.3 mg/kg, IM) administration was not changed compared with normal gastric motility. Application of traditional acupuncture at BL-21 (Wei-Yu) significantly increased the gastric motility. Based on these results, acepromazine and diazepam could be acceptable chemical restraints for acupuncture therapy of gastric motility, but xylazine couldn't be.