Plum-blossom needle therapy for Tourette syndrome: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by the childhood onset of motor and phonic tics, frequently accompanied by behavioral and psychiatric comorbidities. Existing treatments for tics raise safety concerns. In China, acupuncture has been a widely utilized approach for TS, and one specific traditional acupuncture method, plum-blossom needle therapy (PBNT), has exhibited favorable tolerance among pediatric patients. In this report, we present a case of TS treated using PBNT. CASE PRESENTATION: An 11-year-old boy diagnosed with Tourette syndrome for over five years presented with frequent loud throat clearing, eye blinking, severe abdominal tensing, shoulder shrugging, and upper limb twitching. Plum-blossom needle therapy (PBNT) was administered for 8 weeks, involving two sessions per week. The boy's tic symptoms gradually ameliorated, ultimately becoming minimal following the 8-week treatment period. Specifically, the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) score decreased from 71 to 20, and the TS Clinical Global Impression Scale of Improvement (CGI-I) score reached 1, signifying 'very much improved' post-treatment. However, the Children and Adolescents' Quality of Life Scale (CAQOL) score exhibited minimal variation, moving from 146 to 150. CONCLUSION: This case suggests that plum-blossom needle therapy (PBNT) is well-tolerated by children and may be effective in alleviating tics associated with Tourette syndrome (TS). However, further research, particularly large-sample randomized controlled trials, is imperative to establish the efficacy and effectiveness of PBNT.

Acupuncture for Low Back Pain: Reevaluation of Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This overview aims to reevaluate the methodological quality, report quality, and evidence quality of systematic reviews (SRs)/meta-analyses (MAs) of acupuncture for low back pain to determine whether acupuncture effectively treats low back pain (LBP). RECENT FINDINGS: Twenty-three SRs/MAs were deemed eligible for the present overview. The AMSTAR 2 score showed that the methodological quality of one SR/MA was of medium quality, one was of low quality, and 21 were of critically low quality. Based on the results of the PRISMA evaluation, there are certain areas for improvement in the quality of reporting of SRs/MAs. There were some reporting flaws in the topic of search strategy (8/23, 34.78%), certainty assessment (4/23, 17.39%), the certainty of evidence (4/23, 17.39%), registration and protocol (3/23, 13.04%), and availability of data, code, and other material (1/23, 4.35%). Results from the GRADE evaluation indicated that 13 of 255 outcomes were rated as moderate, 88 were low, and 154 were very low. Acupuncture effectively treated LBP in the SRs/MAs included in the reevaluation. However, the methodological, report, and evidence-based quality of the SRs/MAs on acupuncture for LBP was low. Therefore, further rigorous and comprehensive studies are warranted to improve the quality of SRs/MAs in this field.

A nomogram based on radiomics intermuscular adipose analysis to indicate arteriosclerosis in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.

Objective: Early identifying arteriosclerosis in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients could contribute to choosing proper subjects for early prevention. Here, we aimed to investigate whether radiomic intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) analysis could be used as a novel marker to indicate arteriosclerosis in newly diagnosed T2D patients. Methods: A total of 549 patients with newly diagnosed T2D were included in this study. The clinical information of the patients was recorded and the carotid plaque burden was used to indicate arteriosclerosis. Three models were constructed to evaluate the risk of arteriosclerosis: a clinical model, a radiomics model (a model based on IMAT analysis proceeded on chest CT images), and a clinical-radiomics combined model (a model that integrated clinical-radiological features). The performance of the three models were compared using the area under the curve (AUC) and DeLong test. Nomograms were constructed to indicate arteriosclerosis presence and severity. Calibration curves and decision curves were plotted to evaluate the clinical benefit of using the optimal model. Results: The AUC for indicating arteriosclerosis of the clinical-radiomics combined model was higher than that of the clinical model [0.934 (0.909, 0.959) vs. 0.687 (0.634, 0.730), P < 0.001 in the training set, 0.933 (0.898, 0.969) vs. 0.721 (0.642, 0.799), P < 0.001 in the validation set]. Similar indicative efficacies were found between the clinical-radiomics combined model and radiomics model (P = 0.5694). The AUC for indicating the severity of arteriosclerosis of the combined clinical-radiomics model was higher than that of both the clinical model and radiomics model [0.824 (0.765, 0.882) vs. 0.755 (0.683, 0.826) and 0.734 (0.663, 0.805), P < 0.001 in the training set, 0.717 (0.604, 0.830) vs. 0.620 (0.490, 0.750) and 0.698 (0.582, 0.814), P < 0.001 in the validation set, respectively]. The decision curve showed that the clinical-radiomics combined model and radiomics model indicated a better performance than the clinical model in indicating arteriosclerosis. However, in indicating severe arteriosclerosis, the clinical-radiomics combined model had higher efficacy than the other two models. Conclusion: Radiomics IMAT analysis could be a novel marker for indicating arteriosclerosis in patients with newly diagnosed T2D. The constructed nomograms provide a quantitative and intuitive way to assess the risk of arteriosclerosis, which may help clinicians comprehensively analyse radiomics characteristics and clinical risk factors more confidently.

Association between menstrual cycle irregularity and tinnitus: a nationwide population-based study.

This population-based cross-sectional study investigated the association between menstrual cycle irregularity and tinnitus in premenopausal Korean women. We used data from the 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010-2012). A total of 4633 premenopausal women were included. Hierarchical multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed. Individuals with tinnitus accounted for 21.6%. Women with tinnitus or menstrual irregularity had significantly higher rates of stress, depressive mood, and suicidal ideation than those without. The proportion of individuals with irregular menstrual cycles with duration of longer than 3 months increased as the severity of tinnitus increased (P = 0.01). After adjusting for confounding variables, the odds of tinnitus increased in individuals with irregular menstrual cycles compared to those with regular menstrual cycles. The odds ratios (ORs) of tinnitus tended to increase as the duration of menstrual irregularity became longer (1.37, 95% confidence interval: 1.06-1.78 for duration of up to 3 months; 1.71, 1.03-2.85 for duration of longer than 3 months, P for trend = 0.002). Our study found a positive association between menstrual cycle irregularity and tinnitus. Menstrual cycle irregularity may be a related factor of tinnitus in women with childbearing age.

Sensory Impairment and Health-Related Quality of Life.

BACKGROUND: Sensory impairment is a common condition that exerts negative effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in the elderly. This study aimed to determine the relationship between sensory impairment and HRQoL and identify sensory-specific differences in the HRQoL of elderly. METHODS: This study used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V (2010-2012), analyzing 5,260 subjects over 60 years of age who completed ophthalmic and otologic examinations. Vision and hearing impairment were measured and classified. HRQoL was determined according to the European QoL five dimension test (EQ-5D). Multivariate logistic regression analysis and analysis of covariance were performed to identify relationships between sensory impairment and HRQoL dimensions as well as differences in HRQoL scores. RESULTS: In the final adjusted multivariate model, there was a statistically higher proportion of those with dual sensory impairment who reported problems with mobility (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.45-5.03), usual activities (aOR 2.32, 95% CI 1.16-4.64), and pain/discomfort among EQ-5D subcategories (aOR 1.79, 95% CI 1.07-2.97). In the EQ-5D dimensions, the means and standard deviations of vision impairment (0.86 [0.01]) and dual sensory impairment (0.84 [0.02]) appeared meaningfully lower than those for no sensory impairment (0.88 [0.00]) or hearing impairment (0.88 [0.01]); P = .02). CONCLUSION: Sensory impairment reduces HRQoL in the elderly. Improvement of HRQoL in the elderly thus requires regular screening and appropriate management of sensory impairment.

[Effect of electroacupuncture at "Ciliao"(BL 32) on c-fos expression in the sacral segment of spinal cord in rats with detrusor hyperreflexia].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Ciliao" (BL 32) on detrusor hyperreflexia and c-fos expression in the sacral segment of spinal cord in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS: Thirty-seven adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into normal control (n=5), SCI model (n=16) and EA (n=16) groups. EA (20 Hz, 3 mA) was applied to bilateral BL 32 for 2 hours, once daily for 14 days. Intravesical pressure was detected by using a pressure transducer and a bioelectric amplifier. The expression of c-fos gene was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: In comparison with normal control group, the maximum intravesical pressure (MIVP) raised significantly in model group (P < 0.05), and the compliance of the bladder decreased remarkably (P < 0.05). While compared with model group, MIVP decreased significantly in SCI rats of EA group after EA intervention (P < 0.05), and the vesical compliance increased obviously (P < 0.05). In comparison with normal control group, the mean optical density (OD) value of c-fos immuno-reaction (IR) positive products increased significantly in the sacral cord after SCI in model group (P < 0.05), while compared with model group, the mean OD value of c-fos IR positive products in EA group declined evidently but still being higher than that of normal control group (P < 0.05), displaying a downregulation of c-fos expression after EA. CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture at "Ciliao" (BL 32) can inhibit the overactivity of bladder in SCI rats and reduce the c-fos expression in the sacral cord, suggesting that the declined C-fibers' activity after EA may be one of its mechanism underlying improving detrusor hyperreflexia in spinal cord injury.

[Evaluation of literature quality of acupuncture for treatment of herpes zoster and approach to the laws of treatment].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of literature of clinical studies on acupuncture in treatment of herpes zoster. METHODS: The literatures between 1994-2006 were searched by means of electronic retrieval. Type and methodology, general condition, diagnosis of diseases and enrolled and excluded criteria, assessment of sample content, treatment condition, criteria for assessment of therapeutic effects, following-up, etc. in clinical studies are evaluated according to principles and methods of clinical epidemiology and evidence-based medicine. RESULTS: Of the 399 literatures enrolled, only 8 were authentic randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 20 quasi-randomized controlled trials, 66 non-randomized concurrent controlled trials and 277 narrative studies, 70 had clear diagnostic criteria, 16 mentioned enrolled or excluded criteria, 287 had clear criteria for therapeutic effects, 107 reported follow-up, 2 had the description of health economical index, 9 reported adverse reaction. CONCLUSION: At present, correct randomization, concealment, blinding and placebo-control, and the RCTs with generally accepted criteria for assessment of diagnosis and therapeutic effects, safety evaluation and rational design of follow-up are needed. It is indicated by preliminary study of the literatures that blood-letting puncture and cupping at Ashi points are main methods for treatment of herpes zoster.

[Introduction to clinical studies of acupuncture and moxibustion of Britain Foundation of TCM].

In Western countries, more and more people select acupuncture and moxibustion as medical ways, and more and more acupuncture and moxibustion research organizations are set up. Britain TCM foundation is such one center for acupuncture research. This center is aimed at promoting acupuncture research. Since 1991, a series of clinical trials and several big research tasks have been completed. The clinical designs in the center are very careful and scientific, being worth to be learnt. In the paper, clinical studies in the center are introduced for increasing levels of acupuncture and moxibustion research at home.

[Evaluation of clinical therapeutic effects and safety of acupuncture treatment for premenstrual syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness and safety of various types of acupuncture in treatment of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). METHODS: Search Chinese and English databases of the Cochrane Library, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CBM, CNKI and reference lists of correlative academic conference proceedings. RESULTS: Eight controlled studies involving 807 women (range, 61-225) meeting the enrolled criteria. Among them 7 studies showed that therapeutic effects of acupuncture were superior to other methods (i. e. Western medicine or Chinese herbs). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture can effectively treat PMS. However, more randomized controlled trials are needed to assess the effectiveness and adverse-effect of acupuncture for treatment of PMS.