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Existing research combines acupuncture theory with network science and proposes a new paradigm for the study of acupoint selection patterns—a key acupoint mining algorithm based on acupoint networks. However, the basic idea of this study for finding key acupoints is based on binary acupoint synergy relationships, which ignores the higher-order synergy among multiple acupoints and does not truly reflect the implicit patterns of each acupoint among meridian systems. Moreover, the mining results assessment method, which this new paradigm involves, does not have wide applicability and universality. In this paper, with the introduction of higher-order interactions between multiple acupoints, a high-specificity key acupoint mining algorithm based on 3-node motif is proposed in the acupoint-disease network (ADN). In response to the narrow applicability of the new research paradigm involving the evaluation of algorithms' measures, new and widely applicable and universal evaluation criteria are introduced in terms of resolution, network loss, and accuracy, respectively. Based on the principles of acupoint selection involved in acupuncture clinics in Chinese medicine, the acupoints involved in the data were divided into a total of 19 regions according to their distribution characteristics. From these 19 regions, we selected the key acupoints that have a large impact on the global network. Finally, we compared this algorithm with five other acupoint importance assessment algorithms in terms of resolution, network loss, and accuracy, respectively. The comprehensive results show that the algorithm identifies key acupoints with an accuracy of 63%, which is 14% to 21% higher than other existing methods. The key acupoints identified by the algorithm have a significant disruptive effect on the connectivity of the network, indicating that the key acupoints are at the core of the acupoint-disease network topology. They have a significant propagation influence on other acupoints, which means that the key acupoints have high-synergistic cooperation with other acupoints. Meanwhile, the stability and specificity of the algorithm ensure the reliability of the key acupoints. We believe that the key acupoints identified by the algorithm can be used as core acupoints from the perspective of network topology and high synergy of other acupoints, respectively, and help researchers explore targeted and high-impact combinations of acupoints to optimize existing acupuncture prescriptions under condition constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. A concomitant increase in pregnancy complications has accompanied the growing global trend of excessive weight gain during pregnancy. This study evaluates the effect of ear acupressure (auriculotherapy) on the weight-gaining pattern of overweight women during pregnancy. Materials and Methods. This study was a single-blinded randomized clinical trial conducted between January and September 2022. This study took place in health centers of Qom University of Medical Sciences in Iran. One-hundred thirty overweight pregnant women were selected by a purposeful sampling method and then divided into two groups by block randomization method. In the intervention group, two seeds were placed in the left ear on the metabolism and stomach points, while two seeds were placed in the right ear on the mouth and appetite points. Participants in the intervention group must press the seeds six times a day, 20 minutes before a meal for five weeks. For the placebo group, the Vaccaria seedless label was placed at the same points as the intervention group. A digital scale with an accuracy of 0.1 kg was used to weigh the pregnant women during each visit. Descriptive statistics, independent T-test, chi-square, and repeated measure ANOVA (analysis of variance) test were used to check the research objectives. Results. There was a statistically significant difference between the auriculotherapy and placebo groups immediately after completing the study (1120.68 ± 425.83 vs. 2704.09 ± 344.96 (g); P = 0.018), respectively. Also, there was a substantial difference in the weight gain of women two weeks (793.10 ± 278.38 vs. 1090.32 ± 330.31 (g); P < 0.001) and four weeks after the intervention (729.31 ± 241.52 vs. 964.51 ± 348.35 (g); P < 0.001) between the auriculotherapy and placebo groups. Discussion. The results of the present study indicated the effectiveness of auriculotherapy in controlling the weight gain of overweight pregnant women. This treatment could be used as a safe method, with easy access, and low cost in low-risk pregnancies. Trial Registration. This trial is registered with IRCT20200104046002N1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This randomized controlled trial investigates the efficacy of thread-embedding acupuncture (TEA) compared to sham TEA in treating drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). Fifty-four DRE outpatients were randomly divided into two groups: TEA (27 patients) and sham TEA (27 patients). Both groups received four sessions of TEA or sham TEA, spaced four weeks apart, targeting GV20, GV14, BL15, BL18, ST40, and GB34 acupoints. Antiseizure medications were maintained at consistent doses throughout the study. Outcome measures included satisfactory seizure control, seizure freedom, and heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) measurements. TEA demonstrated a significantly higher rate of satisfactory seizure control at follow-up compared to the sham TEA group (37% vs. 3.7%, p = 0.003). While no significant intergroup differences were observed in HR, HRV, and HRV components at each stage, the TEA group experienced a significant decrease in HR and a significant increase in HRV posttreatment. This study demonstrates TEA's effectiveness in managing DRE and suggests its impact may relate to heightened parasympathetic nerve activity. Further research with extended follow-up periods is necessary to validate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acupuncture has been shown as an effective traditional Chinese medicine treatment method, especially for pain relief. Recently, laser acupuncture is becoming increasingly popular, thanks to its noninvasive and painless nature and effectiveness in treating diseases, proven by many studies (for example, some previous studies showed that low-power laser stimulation is able to increase the power of alpha rhythms and theta waves). In our prior work, we developed a novel laser acupuncture model that emulates lifting-and-thrusting operation commonly used in traditional needle acupuncture and showed its benefit in improving cardiac output and peripheral circulation. By extending our previous studies, in this work, we perform extensive experiments to understand the effect of such a system on electrodermal activity (EDA) of acupoints, pulse characteristics, and brainwave, to further verify its efficacy. In particular, we found that laser stimulation could cause significant changes in EDA of acupoints, pulse amplitude, pulse-rate-variability (PRV), and acupoint conductance, as a function of laser power and stimulation time. In addition, laser acupuncture with the lifting-and-thrusting operation has more significant effect on increasing the power of alpha and theta frequency bands as compared to laser acupuncture without the lifting-and-thrusting operation. Finally, given sufficient stimulation time (e.g., > 20 min), the performance of a low-powered laser acupuncture with the lifting-and-thrusting operation could be comparable to that of traditional needle acupuncture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated changes in neurotransmitters induced by the application of electroacupuncture (EA) at Zusanli (ST36) and Neiguan (PC6). A total of 30 rats were divided into five groups: sham, ST (EA at bilateral ST36 and ST37), ScT (ST plus previous neurectomy of the bilateral sciatic nerves), ScS (sham plus previous neurectomy of the bilateral sciatic nerve), and PC (EA at bilateral PC6 and PC7). The P2X2 receptor expression was stronger in the sham group than in the ST and PC groups (both p < 0.05) but similar between the sham and ScT groups p > 0.05 . Dopamine levels in the extracellular fluid surrounding the acupoints were higher in the PC group than in the sham and ST groups during the postacupuncture period (both p < 0.05). Glutamate levels in the extracellular fluid surrounding the acupoints were higher in the ST group than in the sham group during the acupuncture period p < 0.05 and higher in the ST group than in the sham and PC groups during the postacupuncture period (both p < 0.05). Serum adrenaline and noradrenaline levels were higher in the PC group than in the sham, ST, and ScT groups (all p < 0.05). Glutamate levels in the CSF were higher in the ST group than in the sham, ScS, and PC groups (all p < 0.05). GABA levels in the CSF were higher in the ST group than in the sham, ScT, and PC groups (all p < 0.05). EA at ST36 and ST37 and PC6 and PC7 exerted an analgesic effect, EA at PC6 and PC7 can enhance heart function, and EA at ST36 and ST37 modulates the cerebral cortex. However, the study needs an evaluation of direct pain behavior, heart function, and brain function in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) is a common complication of diabetes. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced changes of protein in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord dorsal horn (SCDH) are critical for DNP genesis. However, which proteins change remains elusive. Here, the DNP model was established by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ, accompanied by increased fasting blood glucose (FBG), decreased body weight (BW), and decreased paw withdrawal latency (PWL). Proteins change in L4-L6 DRGs and SCDH of rats were detected. Western blot and immunofluorescence results showed that expression levels of phosphorylated protein kinase C (p-PKC), transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1), Substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the DRG and the SCDH of rats were increased after STZ injection. A preliminary study from our previous study showed that 2 Hz electroacupuncture (EA) effectively alleviates DNP. However, the analgesic mechanism of EA needs further elucidation. Here, EA at the bilateral Zusanli (ST36) and KunLun (BL60) acupoints was applied for one week, and to investigate the effect on DNP. EA reversed thermal hyperalgesia in DNP rats and downregulated the expression of p-PKC, TRPV1, SP, and CGRP in DRG and SCDH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is one of the most common chronic complications of diabetes. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) external treatment has been widely used in China as adjunctive treatment, and some small sample clinical studies have proved its effectiveness. However, due to the limited number of studies, we used network meta-analysis to compare the effectiveness of 5 commonly used external treatment methods of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Methods. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, CBM, WanFang Knowledge Service Platform, and VIP databases and collected and screened randomised controlled trials on the external treatment of traditional Chinese medicine combined with mecobalamin in the treatment of DPN according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The search period was from 2011 to May 2021. The quality of included studies was assessed using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials. The outcome indicators are Toronto score, median nerve sensory conduction velocity, and median nerve motor conduction velocity. Results. A total of 22 publications were included in the study. The results of the network meta-analysis showed that acupuncture combined with mecobalamin was superior to other TCM external treatments combined with mecobalamin in terms of decreasing the Toronto score (MD = −2.8, 95% CI: −5.2∼−0.49), improving median nerve sensory conduction velocity (MD = 3.6, 95% CI: 2.4∼4.9), and median nerve motor conduction velocity (MD = 4.5, 95% CI: 2.6∼6.5). The SUCRA value and probability ranking chart showed that among the three outcome indicators, acupuncture combined with mecobalamin was the best, followed by acupoint injection combined with mecobalamin. Conclusion. In this network meta-analysis, acupuncture combined with mecobalamin shows the best results in the treatment of DPN, followed by acupoint injection combined with mecobalamin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This pilot study was conducted to investigate changes in the pulse rate and blood pressure in healthy volunteers after applying auricular acupressure at the "heart acupoint." Methods. A total of 120 healthy volunteers with hemodynamic indexes within normal limits were randomly allocated into 4 groups to receive auricular acupressure treatment either at the heart acupoint of the left or the right, or in both ears, and one control group without applying auricular acupressure. Results. Before the application of auricular acupressure, there were no statistical differences in pulse rate and blood pressure increments among the four groups during the first cold pressor test. In groups in which auricular pressure was applied, the pulse rate was significantly reduced after the application of auricular acupressure in three groups; however, no statistically significant difference was detected among the groups. Changes in blood pressure were not statistically significant in or among the different groups after applying auricular acupressure. The average recorded pulse rate values during the second cold pressor test (after auricular acupressure) were significantly lower compared to the corresponding values taken during the first cold pressor test (before auricular acupressure) (p < 0.05); however, pulse rate increments during the two cold pressor tests (with and without auricular acupressure) were similar (p > 0.05). Conclusions. These findings suggest that auricular acupressure could be used as an adjunctive nonpharmacological method for reducing the pulse rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper was to explore the mechanism of bladder meridian massage (BMM) on anxiety in rats with chronic stress. Chronic stress induced rats to establish rat anxiety model. The sugar water preference (SPF), tail suspension time (TST), and forced swimming time (FST) of rats were measured. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and inflammatory cytokines in serum and hippocampus of rats were detected. Brain neurotransmitters (dopamine (DA), 5- hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and norepinephrine (NE)) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Immunohistochemistry and western blotting were used to detect autophagy protein expression in hippocampus of rats. BMM significantly increased SPF, decreased TST and FST, increased SOD level in serum and hippocampus, and decreased MDA level and cytokine level. BMM reversed the changes of neurotransmitters. At the same time, BMM significantly decreased autophagy protein expression in hippocampus of rats. The above results show that BMM significantly relieve anxiety induced by chronic stress in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constipation commonly occurs during childhood, and more than 95% of cases are classified as functional constipation. If not effectively treated, 20% of patients with childhood constipation can continue to exhibit symptoms into adulthood, which seriously affects their mental health and quality of life. The main feature of acupuncture or acupoint stimulation, a special branch of traditional Chinese medicine, is the selection of different acupoints for different diseases, and many worthy guidelines have been established for matching acupoints. The back-shu and front-mu point combination adheres to an important acupoint compatibility law that has been used since its proposal 2,500 years ago but has not yet been verified by the modern evidence-based experiments. This study focused on the back-shu and front-mu point combination using the Dachangshu (BL25) and Tianshu (ST25) points as examples to explore possible research methods for network acupoint-based stimulation based on existing evidence and to elucidate the mechanisms induced by BL25 and ST25 in the treatment of functional constipation in children (FCC). The study found that BL25 and ST25 have 20 common targets, namely, AQP8, DRD2, VIP, TAC1, IL6R, TNF, FOS, KIT, CHAT, HTR3A, GAS8, SOD3, TRPV1, MPO, CALCA, IL1B, P2RX7, NPY2R, IL10RA, and TPH1, and these targets may provide a strategy for the combined usage of BL25 and ST25. In addition, BL25 and ST25 can affect FCC treatment through inflammation-relatedTh17-cell differentiation, the NF-kappa B signaling pathway, and the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. Adipocytokines or leptin may also comprise the mechanism through which BL25 and ST25 regulate FCC. In addition, BL25 and ST25 regulate FCC through 13 core targets, namely, NFKBIA, RELA, TNF, IKBKB, IRAK1, TLR4, MYD88, TNFRSF1A, IL1R1, TLR2, IL1B, TRAF6, and TNFRSF1B. In short, this study provides new ideas and methods for studying the mechanism of acupuncture points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, titled "RETRACTION: Temperature Characteristics of Acupoints in Sports Training Adapted to Wireless Communication Thermal Image," has been retracted by Wiley due to evidence of systematic manipulation of the publication process. The investigation revealed discrepancies in scope, description of the research, availability of data, inappropriate citations, and incoherent or irrelevant content. As a result, the reliability of the article's content is compromised, and readers are advised to consider it unreliable. The corresponding author has been given the opportunity to respond to this retraction. [Extracted from the article]

Our previous studies found that electroacupuncture at the right Zhongzhu acupoint (TE3) can enhance auditory recovery in rats with noise-induced hearing loss. Here, we investigated the changes in auditory brainstem response (ABR) and long late latency (LLR) evoked potential to explain the mechanisms of electroacupuncture at TE3. The auditory evoked potentials were recorded, including ABR and LLR, at baseline and on day 3 (D3), D5, and D8 after baseline. The 2-Hz electroacupuncture at the right TE3 was applied on D3, D4, and D5 in the electroacupuncture group but not in the control group. In ABR, compared with the control group, the latency shift of waves I (0.298 ± 0.033 vs −0.045 ± 0.057 ms), III (0.718 ± 0.038 vs −0.163 ± 0.130 ms), and V (1.160 ± 0.082 vs −0.207 ± 0.138 ms) on D3 (all p < 0.01) and of wave V (0.616 ± 0.433 vs −0.352 ± 0.209 ms, p < 0.05) on D5 was greater in the electroacupuncture group than that in the control group. Moreover, the interpeak latency shift of I–III (0.420 ± 0.041 vs −0.118 ± 0.177 ms) and I–V (0.863 ± 0.088 vs −0.162 ± 0.156 ms) on D3 (both p < 0.05) and of III–V (0.342 ± 0.193 vs −0.190 ± 0.110 ms) and I–V (0.540 ± 0.352 vs −0.343 ± 0.184 ms) on D5 (both p < 0.05) was greater in the electroacupuncture group than that in the control group. In LLR, the latency shift of P0 was greater in the electroacupuncture group than in the control group on D3 (3.956 ± 2.975 vs −1.178 ± 1.358 ms, p < 0.01) and D5 (2.200 ± 1.889 vs −0.311 ± 1.078 ms, p < 0.05). These findings indicate that electroacupuncture at the right TE3 can modulate the neuroplasticity of the central auditory pathway, including the brain stem and the primary and secondary auditory cortex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electroacupuncture (EA) combines traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture theory with modern scientific technology. It is a promising therapy for the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases such as cerebral infarction. A large number of clinical studies have shown that EA promotes recovery of neurological function after cerebral infarction, however, the underlying mechanisms behind its effects remain unclear. We tested whether EA stimulation of the Zusanli (ST36) and Neiguan (PC6) acupoints activates neuroplasticity in rats with ischemic stroke and whether this involves the regulation of axonal regeneration through the mTOR pathway. 24 h after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (p-MCAO) in rats, EA treatment was started for 20 min, daily, for 14 days. We found that EA significantly reduced Modified Neurological Severity Scores (mNSS), cerebral infarct volume, and apoptosis of neuronal cells. EA also significantly increased the expression of the neuroplasticity-associated proteins GAP-43 and SYN and upregulated the phosphorylation levels of AKT, mTOR, S6, and PTEN to promote CST axon sprouting in the spinal cord at C1–C4 levels. The positive effects of EA were blocked by the administration of the mTOR inhibitor Rapamycin. In short, we found that EA of the Zusanli (ST36) and Neiguan (PC6) acupoints in p-MCAO rats induced neuroprotective and neuroplastic effects by regulating the mTOR signaling pathway. It promoted neuroplasticity activated by axon regeneration in the contralateral cortex and corticospinal tract. Activation of such endogenous remodeling is conducive to neurological recovery and may help explain the positive clinical effects seen in patients with infarcts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of moxibustion in the treatment of pelvic floor myofascial pain syndrome. Methods. A total of 80 women with pelvic floor myofascial pain syndrome (cold coagulation and blood stasis type) were included in this retrospective study and divided into a moxibustion group and a drug treatment group. Patients who received Celebrex oral analgesia, health education, and lifestyle improvement were included in the drug treatment group. The patients that received Du meridian moxibustion combined with mild moxibustion, health education, and lifestyle improvement were included in the moxibustion group. The comparison of pelvic pain, the TCM clinical symptom score, and the curative effect was made between the two groups before treatment and after 1–3 weeks of treatment, respectively. Results. An intragroup comparison showed a stepwise decrease in the VAS score and the TCM clinical symptom score of the two groups during the treatment. An intergroup comparison revealed that the VAS score of the moxibustion group was lower than that of the drug treatment group, while TCM clinical symptoms and clinical efficacy significantly improved in the moxibustion group compared to those in the drug treatment group (P < 0.05). Conclusion. Du meridian moxibustion combined with mild moxibustion alleviates pelvic floor myofascial pain syndrome, thus helping improve women's quality of life and providing patients with a more effective and safer treatment plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. This study aimed to explore the clinical efficacy of Chaihu Shugan powder combined with Zu San Li acupoint stimulation on the acute pancreatitis of liver and qi stagnation syndromes, the protection of intestinal barrier function, the prevention of severe tendency, and safety evaluation. Method. Data were collected from October 2019–June 2021 at Xinhua Hospital, which is affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Emergency Department. Eighty patients with acute pancreatitis were randomly divided into a control treatment group (40 people) and a combined traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment group (40 people). Detailed records of hospitalised patients were obtained, including the general situation of patients' clinical diagnosis and clinical examination before and after treatment. The changes in inflammatory and immune indexes before and after treatment were recorded. Result. Compared with the standard treatment group, the relief time of abdominal pain in the TCM treatment group was significantly shortened with statistically significant differences. Compared with the standard treatment group, the levels of WBC, ALT, CA, hemodiastase, lipase, TG, and other factors in the TCM treatment group decreased, whereas the levels of DB, SCR, cholesterol, K+, and other factors increased. The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion. Chaihu Shugan powder combined with Zu San Li acupoint stimulation can reduce the clinical manifestations of liver and qi stagnation syndromes of acute pancreatitis, protect the intestinal barrier function, prevent the tendency of severe illness and improve the prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) rat model, the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) were studied on the intestinal function of pancreatitis. The SAP models were established by injecting 30% L-ornithine at hourly intervals, and were divided into two groups (14 in each): SAP model group, which was not treated, and EA group, which received EA at ST36 at a frequency of 1-2 Hz and amplitude of 1 mA for 30 min twice a day. Fourteen rats were also included as the control group. After EA, the intestinal propulsion was measured. In the distal ileum myenteric plexus, the density of HuC/D and the proportion of cholinergic neurons were measured using immunohistochemistry. Compared to the SAP model group, the EA group demonstrated significant improvements in intestinal propulsion rates. Furthermore, after EA, the density of myenteric neurons in the ileum returned to normal levels and the proportion of cholinergic neurons was increased compared to the SAP model group. And finally, EA alleviated the damage to the pancreas. Thus, our results suggest that EA stimulation at ST36 can partly restore the enteric neuron function and improve intestinal motility dysfunction, therefore could ameliorate SAP. The enteric nervous system can participate in changes in intestinal motility by affecting cholinergic neurons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study aimed to investigate the effect of electroacupuncture pretreatment on the inflammatory response and expression levels of LC3-II/I and Beclin 1 using a model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI). Eighteen male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group (NC, n = 6), LSP modeling group (LM, n = 6), and electroacupuncture group (EA, n = 6). Rats in the EA group received electroacupuncture pretreatment at bilateral Zusanli (ST36) and Chize (LU5) points for five days (30 min each time daily, frequency; 3 Hz/15 Hz, intensity; 1 mA). Rats in the EA and LM groups were then injected with 5 mg/kg LPS (Beijing, Solarbio Company, concentration; 5 mg/mL) through the tail vein, while those in the NC group were injected with 5 mg/kg saline. The animals were sacrificed six hours after LPS or saline injection through cervical vertebrae by dislocation under deep anesthesia. Orbital blood was collected for the analysis of serum inflammatory factors including interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). The lower left lung was excised, stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE), and subjected to histopathological analysis. The mRNA and protein expression of Beclin 1 and LC3 II/I in the lower right lung tissues were detected via RT-qPCR and Western blot analyses, respectively. The results showed that lung injury score was significantly higher in the LM group than that of the NC group (P < 0.01) and EA group (P < 0.01). The IL-1β contents were significantly decreased in the EA group (P < 0.01) than in the LM group. In contrast, the GF-β contents were increased in the EA group significantly when compared with the LM group (P < 0.01). RT-qPCR and Western blot detection showed that the relative gene expression of LC3‐II/I and Beclin 1 was significantly lower in the EA group than in the LM group (P < 0.01). However, the relative protein expression level of LC3‐II/I and Beclin 1 was slightly lower in the EA group than the in LM group (P > 0.05). These results show that electroacupuncture pretreatment reduces the inflammatory response in ALI and can protect lung tissue by inhibiting the gene and protein expression levels of LC3‐II/I and Beclin 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to compare the gut-brain axis responses to acute electroacupuncture (EA) at different acupoint combinations in the minipig model. Four adult Yucatan minipigs were subjected twice to four acute EA treatments (25-minute acute sessions) including sham (false acupoints) and control (no EA), during anesthesia and according to a Latin-square design paradigm. Acupoint combinations (4 loci each) are head-abdomen (#70 Dafengmen, #35 Sanwan), back (bilateral #27 Pishu, #28 Weishu), leg (bilateral #79 Hangou, #63 Housanli), and sham (2 bilateral points that are not acupoints). Electrocardiograms were performed to explore heart rate variability (HRV). Infrared thermography was used to measure skin temperature at the stimulation points. Saliva (cortisol) and blood samples (leptin, total/active ghrelin, insulin, and glucose) were collected for further analyses before and after acute EA. All animals were also subjected to BOLD fMRI to investigate the brain responses to EA. Acute EA significantly modulated several physiological and metabolic parameters compared to basal, sham, and/or control conditions, with contrasting effects in terms of BOLD responses in brain regions involved in the hedonic and cognitive control of food intake. The head-abdomen combination appeared to be the most promising combination in terms of brain modulation of the corticostriatal circuit, with upregulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, dorsal striatum, and anterior cingulate cortex. It also induced significantly lower plasma ghrelin levels compared to sham, suggesting anorectic effects, as well as no temperature drop at the stimulation site. This study opens the way to a further preclinical trial aimed at investigating chronic EA in obese minipigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the acupoint selection regulations and workable core acupoint combinations in cancer-related anorexia (CA) treatment. The Apriori algorithm, complemented by the FP-growth algorithm, was used to mine association rules based on retrieved randomized control trials (RCTs) and clinical control trials (CCTs). We searched the following databases for acupuncture treatment regimens for CA: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central, Web of Science, WanFang Data, VIP, China Journal Full-Text Database (CNKI), and SinoMed (CBM). We extracted acupoints prescriptions from the 27 enrolled RCTs and CCTs for analysis. There have been 38 acupoints refined from 27 prescriptions. The pinnacle three regularly chosen acupoints were Zusanli (ST36), Zhongwan (RN12), and Sanyinjiao (SP6). We investigated 10 association rules, and the consequences confirmed that {RN4} ≥ {RN12}, {PC6} ≥ {ST36}, {RN12, SP6} ≥ {RN4}, {HT7} ≥ {RN12}, and {DU20} ≥ {RN12} had been the most frequent associated rules in the adoption literature. Zusanli (ST36), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Guanyuan (RN4), Zhongwan (RN12), Neiguan (PC6), Shenmen (HT7), and Baihui (DU20) would be regarded as acupuncture prescriptions in the treatment of CA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To explore the clinical effect of acupoint application on the outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) of the phlegm-dampness type and elucidate its possible mechanism of action from the perspective of follicular fluid metabolomics. Methods. A total of 90 patients undergoing IVF-ET due to infertility were selected and divided into three groups: the treatment group (PCOS with acupoint application, n = 30), the control group (PCOS without acupoint application, n = 30), and the normal group (non-PCOS, n = 30). All patients received a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) long protocol for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH). Among them, the treatment group was also given the acupoint application from the day of pituitary downregulation to the day of the human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) trigger. Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography connected with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) was adopted for untargeted metabolomic analysis of follicular fluid collected from the three groups of patients on the day of oocyte pick-up (OPU). The significantly differential metabolites were screened using univariate and multivariate statistical analysis, and the related metabolic pathways were identified by the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. Results. Metabolomic analysis showed that the treatment group's follicular fluid samples were aggregated with the normal group and separated from the control group. A total of 34 significantly differential metabolites were found in the follicular fluid of patients with phlegm-dampness PCOS and normal people. With the intervention of acupoint application, seven metabolites (pseudouridine, phenol, 2-oxoadipic acid, 9R,10S-EpOME, DL-lactate, nicotinamide, and DL-indole-3-lactic acid) were all downregulated, mainly involving the pathways of pyruvate metabolism, nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, protein digestion and absorption, biosynthesis of amino acids, and pyrimidine metabolism. Conclusions. Acupoint application can effectively improve the clinical symptoms and the outcome of IVF-ET treatment in patients with PCOS of the phlegm-dampness type, and its mechanism of action may be related to the regulation of the pathways of pyruvate metabolism, nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, protein digestion and absorption, biosynthesis of amino acids, and pyrimidine metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common sequela of herpes zoster, and the efficacy of the treatment regimens recommended in the guidelines is not entirely reliable. Acupuncture and moxibustion are widely used complementary alternative therapies that have a positive effect on the treatment of PHN. However, there are various forms of acupuncture and moxibustion, and there are differences in efficacy between the different forms. Methods. The retrieval work of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture for PHN in English databases (including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science) and Chinese databases (including China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WeiPu database, WanFang database, and China Biomedical Literature Database) were conducted from the time of database creation to June 2022. Literature screening, data extraction, and evaluation of risk of bias for the included studies were carried out independently by two researchers, and data analysis was performed using Stata 14.2 software. Results. A total of 30 RCTs including 2138 patients with PHN were included. In terms of pain improvement, acupoint embedding + Western medicine group, bloodletting-cupping group, and bloodletting-cupping + Western medicine group ranked top. In terms of total efficiency, acupuncture + Western medicine group, bloodletting-cupping + Western medicine group, and acupoint embedding group ranked top. There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of adverse events between treatment regimens. Conclusions. In a comprehensive comparison of the outcome indicators of 14 different treatment regimens, we considered acupoint injection + Western medicine and bloodletting-cupping + Western medicine to be the best combinations for the treatment of PHN. Due to the limitations of the study, the above conclusions still need to be validated in further multi-centre, large-sample prospective randomised controlled clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To investigate the clinical efficacy of different acupuncture points in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis with supervised moxibustion. Methods. Retrospective analysis of 61 AS patients (diagnosed as ankylosing spondylitis of kidney-yang deficiency type by Chinese medicine) admitted to our hospital from January 2020 to February 2021, randomly divided into 30 cases in the experimental group (Du moxibustion + basic western medicine treatment) and 31 cases in the control group (basic western medicine treatment alone). The changes in quantitative scores of the main symptoms and major signs (thoracic mobility, occipital-wall distance, finger-ground distance, and laboratory index (ESR)) were analyzed before and after treatment. Results. Of the 30 cases in the experimental group, 2 were clinically cured, 3 were apparently effective, 21 were effective, and 4 were ineffective, with an overall effective rate of 86.7%; of the 31 cases in the control group, 1 was clinically cured, 1 was apparently effective, 1 was effective. 24 were effective, and 5 were ineffective, with an overall effective rate of 83.9%. Comparing the efficacy by t-test, P < 0.05 , indicating that the effect of Du moxibustion + Western medicine treatment was better. Conclusion. The treatment of ankylosing spondylitis with kidney-yang deficiency by moxibustion + western medicine can improve the efficacy, alleviate the inflammatory response and improve the patient's symptoms and signs, and immune indexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To evaluate the application value of acupoint catgut embedding therapy combined with Liuzijue breathing exercise in the treatment of patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its impact on immune function and quality of life. Methods. A total of 100 patients with stable COPD admitted to our hospital from February 2020 to February 2021 were included and assigned to the experimental group (n = 50) and the control group (n = 50) according to the order of admission. Both groups of patients received conventional treatment. The control group was given daily inhalation of budesonide and formoterol fumarate powder for inhalation (320 ug/bottle), and the experimental group received additional acupoint catgut embedding therapy combined with Liuzijue breathing exercise. The clinical efficacy, pulmonary function indexes, activities of daily living (ADL) scores, quality of life (QOL) scores, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores, the number of acute exacerbations, medical expenses, the incidence of adverse reactions, and immune indicators were compared between the two groups of patients. Results. The experimental group yielded a significantly higher effective rate of treatment than the control group (P < 0.05). After the treatment, the experimental group obtained a superior outcome in terms of lung function indexes, immune function indexes, ADL and QOL scores, and the TCM syndrome scores when compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The number of acute exacerbations in the experimental group was remarkably lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). No serious adverse reactions were observed in the two groups of patients, and no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions was found (P > 0.05). Conclusion. Acupoint catgut embedding therapy combined with Liuzijue breathing exercise, with high safety, can improve the treatment effect and the quality of life of patients with stable COPD, which merits clinical promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To explore the effect and mechanism of moxibustion at acupoints of the governor vessel on lncRNA Six3os1 in amyloid precursor protein/presenilin1 (APP/PS1) double-transgenic Alzheimer's disease (AD) mice. Methods. Twenty-four specific pathogen-free and APP/PS1 double-transgenic male mice were randomly allocated into the AD model and moxibustion groups, with 12 cases in each group. Twelve syngeneic C57BL/6J mice were selected as the control group. Mice in the moxibustion group received aconite cake-separated moxibustion at the Baihui acupoint. Suspension moxibustion was applied at Fengfu and Dazhui for 15 minutes each day. All treatments were conducted over two weeks. Control and AD model mice were routinely fed without any intervention. Behavioral observation tests were conducted before and after the intervention. The autophagosome in the hippocampus was observed using transmission electron microscopy. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect Aβ1-42 expression. LC3B and P62 expressions were evaluated by immunofluorescence. The expression levels of the lncRNAs Six3os1, miR-511-3p, and AKT3 were detected by qRT-PCR. The differential expression of PI-3K, AKT3, mTOR, LC3B-II/I, and P62 proteins in the hippocampus was detected by western blot. The dual-luciferase assay was undertaken to examine the targeting relationships of the lncRNAs Six3os1, miR-511-3p, and AKT3. Results. Compared with the control group, the AD model showed higher escape latency in the Morris Water Maze and reduced autophagic vacuoles in the cytoplasm of hippocampal neurons (both p < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the AD model showed higher expression of Aβ1-42, the lncRNAs Six3os1, PI-3K, mTOR, P62, and AKT3 protein (all p < 0.01); but lower mir-511-3p and LC3B (both p < 0.01). Compared with the AD model group, the moxibustion group had a shorter escape latency, more autophagic bubbles in the hippocampus, and lower expression of positive Aβ1-42, the lncRNAs Six3os1, PI-3K, mTOR, P62, and AKT3 protein (all p < 0.01). In contrast, the levels of miR-511-3p and LC3B proteins were considerably increased in the moxibustion group compared to the AD model group (both p < 0.01). Based on the dual-luciferase assay, there was a targeting link among the lncRNAs Six3os1, miR-511-3p, and AKT3. Conclusion. Moxibustion at acupoints of the governor vessel can suppress the lncRNA Six3os1 expression, promote cell autophagy, accelerate Aβ1-42 clearance and alleviate cognitive dysfunction of AD mediated by the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway through the lncRNA Six3os1/miR-511-3p/AKT3 axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To study the mechanism of acupuncture on premature ovarian failure (POF) through the apoptosis pathway mediated by Bcl-2/Bax. Methods. POF rats were successfully obtained by cyclophosphamide. They were divided into five groups. After that, acupuncture was performed. The blank group and model group were not treated. The routine acupuncture group was acupuncture at Guanyuan, Sanyinjiao, Zhongji, and Guilai four points. The Neck-seven-acupuncture group was selected from Fengchi, Fengfu, Tianzhu, and Wangu four acupoints; the three-viscera simultaneous treatment group selected Guanyuan, Shenshu, Sanyinjiao, Taichong, and Baihui five points; and the data mining group selected Guanyuan and Sanyinjiao two points for 14 days of treatment. During the treatment, some rats were shed one after another due to the side effects of bone marrow suppression caused by mold-making. After treatment, serum estradiol (E2), follicle forming hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) were detected by radioimmunoassay, Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were analyzed by Western blot method, and Bcl-2 and Bax RNA were analyzed by PCR method. Results. Bcl-2 increased and Bax decreased in rats with premature ovarian failure treated with acupuncture. It shows that acupuncture can affect the secretion of ovarian-related hormones and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins, which is more significant in the conventional acupuncture point group. Conclusion. Acupuncture can inhibit the apoptosis of granulosa cells in ovarian tissue of rats with premature ovarian failure and improve ovarian function. The mechanism of its effect is to promote Bcl-2 gene expression and protein synthesis and inhibit Bax gene expression and protein synthesis. The conventional treatment group works best. This provides an experimental basis for the clinical use of acupuncture to intervene in the treatment of premature ovarian failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. By conducting a systematic review of the efficacy of acupoint application on children with asthma. Methods. We searched Chinese databases (CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang) and English databases (PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library) for studies from the establishment of the database to October 2021. The included literature studies were randomized control studies investigating the treatment of asthma in children by acupoint application. The primary outcomes included the cure rate, the resolution time of cough, and the resolution time of wheezing. The secondary outcomes included pulmonary function and interleukins. Stata 15 and RevMan 5.4 were used to analyze the extracted data. Results. A total of 24 related studies were included containing 2716 cases. The meta-analysis showed that TCM group was superior to control group in terms of cure rate, pulmonary function (FEV1), and resolution time of wheezing in children with asthma [RR = 1.26,95% (1.21,1.31), P < 0.05 ; SMD = 0.81, 95%CI (0.05,1.56), P < 0.05 ; WMD = −1.40, 95%CI (−1.75, −1.05), P < 0.05 ]. Conclusions. The present study shows that acupoint application is an effective treatment for children with asthma in China, especially in alleviating wheezing and improving quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the deep fusion of intelligent meridian sensing technology and Huoluo Xiaoling Pill (HXP) in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA), firstly, the effective components and targets of Salvia miltiorrhiza, Angelica sinensis, frankincense, and myrrh were obtained by using TCMSP, SwissADME, and Swisstarget databases. Similarly, relevant targets of KOA were collected through GeneCards, OMIM, TTD, PharmGKB, and DrugBank databases. Next, the potential targets of ZXP in the treatment of KOA were obtained by intersection of drug and disease targets. Finally, Cytoscape 3.7.1 software was used to construct a "disease-drug-component-target" network, and Gene Ontology (GO) function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Gnomes (KEGG) signaling pathway enrichment analysis were performed on the core targets through Metascape website. A total of 99 active components and 203 corresponding potential therapeutic targets were obtained from the components of HXP. And KOA has 2543 potential therapeutic targets, of which 120 cross targets correspond to 120 active compounds in HXP. Then, topology analysis displayed that the six targets form the core PPI network. In addition, GO and KEGG enrichment analyses showed that these core targets were mainly enriched in inflammatory response, apoptosis, oxidation reaction, and other related pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a data-driven method for identifying the potential core acupoint combination in COVID-19 treatment through mining the association rules from the retrieved scientific literature and guidelines for prevention and treatment of COVID-19 published all over China. It is based on the representation of the acupoint data in a binary form, the use of a novel association rule mining algorithm properly tailored for discovering the relationship of acupoint groups among combinations of different descriptions. The proposed method is applied to the real database of acupoint descriptions collected from published literature and guidelines. The obtained results show the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture stimulation of the hand-taiyin meridian in regulating the molecular network of rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury based on transcriptomics. Methods. Male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group, and electroacupuncture (EA) group. Middle cerebral artery embolization/reperfusion injury (MCAO/R) was used to establish the model group and EA group. The sham operation group only performed sham operation without modeling and any intervention, and the model group was bound daily. The EA group received electroacupuncture to stimulate the acupoints of hand-taiyin meridian for 14 days. Then, neurological scores, pathomorphological observations, and Tunel staining were performed. Finally, the affected hippocampus of the rat was used for transcriptome sequencing and RT-PCR detection. Results. After electroacupuncture intervention in rats, neurological function scores were improved, and neuronal apoptosis was reduced. The results of transcriptomics showed that a total of 1097 differentially expressed genes were obtained, of which 422 were upregulated and 675 were downregulated. The bioinformatics analysis showed that those differentially expressed genes were related to axon development, neuron projection development, neuron projection morphogenesis, plasma membrane cell projection morphogenesis, cell part morphogenesis, notch signaling pathway, long-term potentiation, MAPK signaling pathway, Hedgehog signaling pathway, and so on. The results of RT-PCR showed that Caspase 9 mRNA increased and BDNF, Grin2a, and PlexinD1 mRNA decreased after electroacupuncture intervention P < 0.05 . Conclusion. Electroacupuncture intervention on hand-taiyin meridian may reduce neurological function scores, inhibit neuron apoptosis, and enhance neuronal repair neuroreparation in MCAO/R rats, which may be related to the regulation of genes such as Caspase 9, BDNF, Grin2a, and PlexinD1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acupuncture plays an important role in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and is one kind of an inexpensive and effective treatment. However, some people might be reluctant to receive acupuncture treatment due to fear of pain. Laser acupuncture, thanks to its painless and infection-free advantages, has recently become an alternative choice to traditional acupuncture. The accuracy of acupuncture point positioning has a decisive influence on the quality of laser acupuncture. In this study, built on top of our prior work, we proposed a low-cost automated acupoint positioning system for laser acupuncture. By integrating several machine learning algorithms and computer vision techniques, we design and implement a robot-assisted laser acupuncture system on top of a smartphone. Our contributions include the following: (a) development of an effective acupoint estimation algorithm with a localization error less than 5 mm; (b) implementation of a smartphone-controlled automated laser acupuncture system with lift-thrust function, as a point-of-care device, that can be used by patients to relieve their symptoms at home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postoperative ileus (POI) is a common surgical complication, and its incidence remains high. Shenhuang Plaster (SHP) is a famous traditional Chinese medicine with a definite curative effect on postoperative intestinal dysfunction; however, the mechanisms involved in these effects are unclear. Accordingly, in this study, we constructed a POI mouse model and used the intestinal flora as the target to explore the regulatory effect of SHP on gastrointestinal motility. The results illustrated that SHP applied at the Shenque acupoint promoted the recovery of gastrointestinal motility, relieved intestinal villus atrophy and basal damage caused by POI, protected the integrity of intestinal tissue morphology, and alleviated the inflammatory response in the intestinal tissue of POI model mice. In addition, we clarified the role of the intestinal flora in the occurrence and development of POI, further evaluated the changes in the intestinal flora in each group of mice, and analysed the regulatory effect of SHP on the intestinal flora in mice with POI. The results suggested that SHP might improve gastrointestinal motility disorder in POI mice by effectively regulating intestinal flora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Back muscle injury is the most common illness involved in aged people. Muscular satellite cells, playing a key role in the muscle repairing process, are gradually losing their regenerative ability with aging, which attenuates the injured muscle repairing process. Electroacupuncture at Weizhong acupoint has been widely used in the treatment of young and aged patients with back muscle damage. Its efficacy has been proven by a randomized double-blind placebo clinical trial. However, the rehabilitation mechanisms are largely unknown. This study will explore the possible mechanisms associated with electroacupuncture at the Weizhong acupoint (BL 40) promoting muscle repairing ability. Method. A total of 58 male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a younger group (4-month-old) and an aged group (16-month-old), younger and aged rats were further divided as a sham, injured, injured rats treated with electroacupuncture at Weizhong point or treated with Non-Weizhong point groups. The back muscle injury model was produced in rats as a previously described method with modification. Furthermore, Weizhong acupoints underwent electroacupuncture treatment with 15 V magnitude, 2 Hz/10 Hz frequency density, 1.0 mA current intensity, and 10 min each day for 10 consecutive days using HANS's electroacupuncture apparatus. After the last treatment, the paravertebral muscles and serum of all animals were undergone histological, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry analysis. Serum levels of Creatine Kinase (CK) and proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin 6 (IL-6), were measured separately by using ELISA kit. Results. Electroacupuncture of Weizhong (BL 40) acupoints significantly attenuated back muscle damage in both young and aged rats, increasing PAX7 (a marker of muscle satellite cells) and MYOD (major marker of myoblasts) cells, simultaneously, reducing serum proinflammatory cytokines, IL-6, and downregulation of p38 MAPK signaling in aged muscular satellite cells. Conclusion. Our studies suggest that electroacupuncture of Weizhong (BL 40) acupoints can restore aged back muscular satellite cells and their regeneration capacity. These suggested electroacupuncture may be a potential means of promoting rehabilitation for muscular injury in aged patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acupoint application has been used in China to treat various illnesses for ages. In cough variant asthma (CVA), the main clinical sign is episodic night cough. Acupoint application therapy of traditional Chinese medicine is an effective procedure to treat cough variant asthma. The current study is designed to systematically assess the effectiveness of acupoint application therapy in traditional medicine for patients with cough variant asthma. The comprehensive computer retrieval related to comparison between acupoint application and nonacupoint application therapy for cough variant asthma was carried out in various databases (n = 8) from database establishment until July 4, 2021. Both English and Chinese articles about original investigations in humans were searched. Two independent authors extracted the data, and disagreements were resolved by discussion. ReviewManager 5.3 software provided by Cochrane did a meta-analysis of selected randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Quality of experimentation and risk bias were analyzed by the Cochrane Handbook tool. A total of thirteen randomized controlled clinical articles along with 1237 patients were included in the study. Findings of meta-analysis showed that compared with nonacupoint application treatment, the total effective rate of acupoint application treatment is more effective (RD = 0.13 , 95% CI (0.09, 0.17), Z = 6.70 , P < 0.00001). Besides, acupoint application can improve patients' lung function, the lung function index FVC (mean difference = 0.55 , 95% confidence interval (0.42, 0.68), Z = 8.40 , P < 0.00001), FEV1 (MD = 0.35 , 95% CI (0.23, 0.47), Z = 5.86 , P < 0.00001), FEV1/FVC (%) (MD = 12.68 , 95% CI (4.32, 21.03), Z = 2.97 , P = 0.003), FEV1 (%) (MD = 8.63 , 95% CI (8.01, 9.25), Z = 27.44 , P < 0.00001), and PEF (day) (MD = 0.62 , 95% CI (0.52, 0.71), Z = 12.40 , P < 0.00001) of patients treated by acupoint application therapy were increased. Moreover, acupoint application might lower the level of immunoglobulin E (MD = − 54.58 , 95% CI (−63.54, −45.61), Z = 11.93 , P < 0.00001) and EOS (MD = − 0.21 , 95% CI (−0.35, −0.06), Z = 2.77 , P = 0.006). The LCQ (Leicester cough questionnaire) total score of CVA patients was also increased (MD = 2.30 , 95% CI (1.55, 3.06), Z = 5.98 , P < 0.00001). Acupoint application therapy is effective in controlling symptoms of CVA. It also has a positive effect in improving lung function and life quality of patients. It can reduce the eosinophil levels and peripheral blood IgE levels of patients as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatic diseases, such as hepatonecrosis, hepatitis, and hepatocirrhosis, are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and increased reactive oxygen species generation and inflammation, ultimately leading to liver failure. In this study, we examined if acupuncture at LR3 can affect mitochondria-related gene expression in a liver damage model of experimentally induced acute liver failure (ALF). ALF was induced by the intraperitoneal injection of D-galactosamine (D-GalN) in experimental rats, who then received either sham (ALF), manual acupuncture (MA), electroacupuncture (EA), or silymarin (PC, positive control) treatment. Liver tissues were extracted from experimental and untreated control rats for histopathological analysis and expression profiling of genes involved in mitochondrial function. Of the 168 mitochondria-related genes profiled, two genes belonging to the solute-carrier transporter family (Slc25a15 and Slc25a25) and Ndufb7 were upregulated. Gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase was more downregulated in MA than ALF. Furthermore, MA reversed D-GalN-induced inflammatory cell infiltration, destruction of hepatic cell plates, and increase in the levels of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α. MA at LR3 can reduce the risk of D-GalN-induced ALF by inducing the expression of metabolic and inflammation-related genes and regulating proinflammatory factor production in hepatic mitochondria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a well-recognized issue for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy; however, research on nonpharmacological alternatives have been underreported. This study is aimed at investigating the effect of mild moxibustion on CRF in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing chemotherapy. Methods. A randomized controlled trial was performed on 126 NSCLC patients undergoing initial chemotherapy and were divided into the following three groups: mild moxibustion group, sham acupoint group, and control group. Moxibustion was performed on two groups of acupuncture points, Dazhui and Geshu acupoints in the prone position and Qihai, Guanyuan, and Zusanli acupoints in the supine position, during the chemotherapy for 30 min with one of the groups of acupuncture points per day. Moxibustion of the sham group was performed 1 cm away from the true acupoint, while only routine nursing care was given to the routine group. The efficacy and safety of the treatments were assessed based on the Chinese version of the Revised Piper Fatigue Scale (RPFS-CV), the quality of life (QoL) questionnaire for Chinese cancer patients receiving chemobiotherapy (QLQ-CCC), and liver and kidney function indexes. Results. A total of 118 cases completed all interventions. There was no significant difference in the baseline indicators among the three groups of NSCLC patients. Although all three groups demonstrated raised RPFS-CV scores over the chemotherapy cycle, comparatively, the mild moxibustion group had significantly lower RPFS-CV scores and better relief of CRF symptoms (P < 0.05). The QLQ-CCC results indicated that the QoL of NSCLC patients dramatically decreased following chemotherapy, even with mild moxibustion. Further, mild moxibustion intervention did not show significantly different levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum creatinine (Scr), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) compared with the two other groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion. Chemotherapy is accompanied by elevated fatigue scores and decreased life quality in NSCLC patients. Although mild moxibustion intervention could alleviate CRF in the patients and was not associated with any adverse events and liver and kidney toxicity when combined with chemotherapy, it could not improve their QoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This study is aimed at investigating the clinical efficacy of anisodamine combined with chlorpromazine on intractable hiccups after stroke. Methods. 150 patients admitted to Affiliated Hospital of the Hebei University of Engineering from 2017 to 2021 were selected as the research objects, all of which received the computed tomography (CT) examination. During CT examination, intelligent algorithms were used to segment the images. An unsupervised multilayer image threshold segmentation algorithm was proposed by using Kullback-Leibler (K-L) divergence and the modified particle swarm optimization (MPSO) algorithm. All patients were divided into three groups, with each group of 50 patients. Patients in the control group (group A) took the calcium tablets, vitamin C tablets, and vitamin B1 tablets orally. Patients in the control group (group B) received the acupoint injection of anisodamine, and those in the observation group (group C) received the acupoint injection of anisodamine combined with chlorpromazine. The therapeutic effect and patient satisfaction of the three groups were compared. Results. The two-dimensional (2D) K-L divergence was applied for the multilayer segmentation of images, which was helpful to obtain accurate images. The MPSO algorithm was adopted to reduce the computational complexity. The total efficiency of group C was 98%, that of group B was 56%, and that of group A was 22%. The total efficiency and satisfaction rate of group C were signally better than those of group A and group B (P < 0.05). Conclusion. The combination of 2D K-L divergence and MPSO algorithm could improve the accuracy of multilayer image segmentation and CT imaging. Acupoint injection of anisodamine combined with chlorpromazine had better efficacy than the injection of anisodamine alone for the treatment of intractable hiccups after stroke, with high safety and clinical promotion value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The present study is aimed at investigating the biochemical and clinical effects of electroacupuncture in patients with sepsis. Methods. Patients with sepsis treated at Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine from July 2019 to December 2020 were included. Patients were randomly assigned to treatment with routine Western medicine (WM group) or treatment with Western medicine plus electroacupuncture based on Western medicine (EA group). Indices associated with immune function and clinical efficacy were determined before and at 3 and 5 days after treatment. Indicators of immune function included the percentage of T lymphocyte subsets, natural killer (NK) cells, and soluble programmed death protein 1 (sPD-1) levels. Indicators of clinical efficacy included infection-related indicators in whole blood; levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP), and interferon-γ (INF-γ); and assessments using acute physiology and chronic health evaluation-II (APACHE-II) and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores. Results. Baseline data were not different between WM (N = 30) and EA groups (N = 30). At day 5 following treatment, the level of sPD-1 in the EA group was lower than that in the WM group. Proportions of CD3 + T lymphocytes, CD4 + T lymphocytes, and NK cells, the percentage of lymphocytes, and INF-γ levels in the EA group were significantly higher than those in the WM group. Compared with the WM group, the white blood cell count (WBC), percentage and count of neutrophils, ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes, and levels of CRP and TNF-α were significantly decreased in the EA group 5 days after treatment. The APACHE-II score of the EA group was significantly lower than that of the WM group 5 days after treatment. Conclusion. Electroacupuncture may regulate the immune function of patients with sepsis through the PD-1 pathway to achieve an anti-inflammatory state and improve clinical symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Acupoint catgut embedding therapy has shown effectiveness in treating functional constipation; however, relevant, high-quality clinical evidence is scarce. This study aimed to systematically assess the effectiveness and safety of acupoint catgut embedding in treating poststroke constipation. Methods. Correlative randomized controlled trials were identified through a comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Cochrane Library/Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, Embase, China National Knowledge Internet, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Wanfang, and VIP databases from inception until February 2022. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. Results. Fifteen trials involving 1084 patients were identified. The meta-analysis revealed that the acupoint catgut embedding group was significantly superior to the non-catgut embedding group with regard to the efficacy rate (RR = 1.27, 95% CI (1.19, 1.37), P < 0.05), the first defecation time (MD = −3.08, 95% CI (−4.53, −1.63), P < 0.05), the defecation sensation score (MD = −0.44, 95% CI (−0.61, −0.26), P < 0.05), the degree of difficulty in defecation (MD = −0.73, 95% CI (−1.10, −0.37), P < 0.05), the PAC-QOL scale score (MD = −10.06, 95% CI (−13.47, −6.64), P < 0.05), and the symptom integral (MD = −3.15, 95% CI (−3.60, −2.71), P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the stool property score (MD = 0.06, 95% CI (−0.39, 0.50), P > 0.05) as well as the incidence of adverse reactions (RD = 0.01, 95% CI (−0.01, 0.03), P > 0.05) between the two groups. Conclusions. The results showed that acupoint catgut embedding is probably an effective and safe acupuncture treatment strategy for poststroke constipation. Nevertheless, more rigorously designed, standardized, large-sample, and multicenter randomized controlled designs are warranted to further verify the findings of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The purpose of this paper was to study the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on choroidal blood flow (ChBF) in a guinea pig model of lens-induced myopia (LIM). Methods. Guinea pigs were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal control (NC) group, LIM group, LIM + electroacupuncture (LIM + EA) group, and LIM + sham acupoint (LIM + sham) group. Right eyes were covered with a −6D lens to induce myopia. Meanwhile, LIM + EA group and LIM + sham group were treated with EA at acupoints Hegu (LI4) and Taiyang (EX-HN5) and sham points. Refraction, axial length (AL), choroidal thickness (ChT), vessel density of choriocapillaris (CC) and choroidal layer, and scleral collagen fiber were measured. Besides, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), matrix metalloprotein-2 (MMP-2), and tissue inhibitor metalloprotease-2 (TIMP-2) expression in sclera were detected. Results. Refraction and AL were significantly decreased and ChT and vessel density of CC were significantly increased in LIM + EA group at 2 weeks and 4 weeks (all P < 0.05) compared with LIM group. However, no significant difference of vessel density of choroidal layer was observed between LIM and LIM + EA group at 2 weeks and 4 weeks. Scleral collagen fibrils diameters were significantly increased in LIM + EA group at 4 weeks (P < 0.001) compared with LIM group. At the end of experiment, the mRNA and protein expression of HIF-1α and MMP-2 were significantly decreased (all P < 0.05) and those of TIMP-2 were increased in LIM + EA, compared with LIM. However, there were no significant differences between LIM and LIM + sham group. Conclusions. EA can improve the vessel density of choroid and then possibly improve scleral hypoxia, which may inhibit the growth of the AL in myopia guinea pig. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents the most common chronic liver disease worldwide, ranging from simple steatosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Acupuncture is a long-established treatment in traditional Chinese medicine. In recent years, increasing evidence has pointed to the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of NAFLD, and a certain degree of progress has been made in the study of related mechanisms. However, previous systematic reviews have not discussed the characteristics and the related mechanisms of acupuncture in the treatment of NAFLD. Therefore, this review synthesizes the progress in research on acupuncture in the context of NAFLD treatment by the inhibition of inflammatory responses, regulation of lipid metabolism disorder, treatment of insulin resistance, antagonization of oxidative stress injury, and interference with endoplasmic reticulum stress. Overall, we sought to highlight the latest research results, potential applications, and ongoing challenges of this therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To investigate the clinical study of acupoint massage combined with recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor (rbFGF) ophthalmic gel combined with limbal stem cell transplantation on visual quality, corneal refraction, and aesthetic outcome in patients with pterygium. Methods. Sixty patients with pterygium treated in People's Hospital of Lujiang County from March 2018 to May 2021 were randomized into the control group and the research group by the random number table method, with 30 cases in each group. The control group received rbFGF plus limbal stem cell transplantation. The research group was treated with acupoint massage additionally. Results. The total clinical effective rate in the study group was higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05); after treatment, the modulation transfer function (MTF) cutoff and Strehl ratio (SR) levels in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group, and the tear film-related objective scatter index (TF-OSI) was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05); corneal horizontal curvature and corneal vertical curvature in the study group after treatment were significantly higher than those in the control group, and corneal astigmatism degree (CAD) levels were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05); the levels of the break-up time (BUT) and Schirmer test (SIT) in the study group were significantly higher after treatment, compared with the control group (P < 0.05); and the incidence of adverse manifestations in the study group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion. Acupoint massage combined with rbFGF ophthalmic gel combined with limbal stem cell transplantation is effective in clinical treatment of pterygium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Electroacupuncture (EA) at the Zusanli acupoint (ST36) has shown therapeutic potential for sepsis due to its ability to limit inflammation and to regulate gastrointestinal tract symptoms. However, the mechanisms contributing to the effects of EA at ST36 on sepsis and connections with the intestinal flora remain unclear. This study was designed to explore the effects of EA at ST36 on Toll-like receptor 4 signaling and the intestinal flora. Methods. ICR mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group, model group, EA group, and sham EA group. EA at ST36 was performed at 2.5 mA and 2 to 100 Hz, and the 30 min of dense wave was achieved over 5 days. A sepsis model was built by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 mg/mL). The levels of expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and IL-10 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in serum were measured by biochemical tests. Expression levels of Bax, Bcl2, cleaved caspase-3, Toll-like receptor (TLR4), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) were assessed by the Western blotting. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining was used to evaluate apoptosis. The intestinal microecology was assessed via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results. EA at ST36 reduced the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α and increased the expression of IL-10 to inhibit the inflammatory response. EA at ST36 also inhibited apoptosis, as measured by TUNEL staining, and decreased the Bax/Bcl2 ratio and levels of caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3, as well as LDH release. Our results suggest that alleviation of sepsis may correlate with the downregulation of levels of TLR4, NF-κB, and MyD88. Importantly, EA at ST36 improved the diversity of the intestinal flora and increased the abundance of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria. Conclusion. EA at ST36 prevented sepsis from worsening by inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis, which correlated with the regulation of the TLR4/NF-κB/MyD88 signaling axis and modulation of the intestinal flora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The aim of the study was to explore the regularity of acupoints in the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by means of data mining technology. Methods. Nine databases, including SinoMed, Chongqing VIP (CQVIP), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, Cochrane Library, PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Embase, were comprehensively searched till December 2021. The published clinical literature testing acupuncture in the treatment of ALS was eligible for inclusion. Studies were organized to establish the prescription database. Modular data mining analysis, including acupoint frequency, complex network analysis, association rule analysis, and cluster analysis were used to conduct statistical analysis. Results. Forty-two literature studies on 141 acupoints were included, involving 626 times the total application frequency. The top 5 acupoints in application frequency were Hegu (LI 4, 67%), Zusanli (ST 36, 67%), Quchi (LI 11, 52%), Sanyinjiao (SP 6, 48%), and Yanglingquan (GB 34, 45%). The most involved meridian was the large intestine meridian of hand Yangming (90 times). The generally used acupoints were mainly distributed in the lower limbs. The top 5 combinations in application frequency were Hegu-Quchi (75 times), Quchi-Zusanli (66 times), Zusanli-Sanyinjiao (54 times), Hegu-Sanyinjiao (54 times), and Quchi-Sanyinjiao (49 times). The acupoint combinations with the strongest association were Quchi, Hegu, Zusanli, Sanyinjiao, and Shousanli (LI 10). There were 7 acupoint groups according to the cluster analysis. The core prescriptions were Hegu, Zusanli, Quchi, and Jiaji (EX-B 2). Conclusions. Hegu, Zusanli, Quchi, and Jiaji could be used as the main prescriptions in treating ALS. The combination of Quchi, Hegu, Zusanli, and Sanyinjiao should be selected with priority in acupuncture therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To analyze the application value of multimodal analgesia (MMA) regimen of patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) combined with multiacupoint stimulation analgesia during the whole stage of labor analgesia in primipara. Methods. 300 primiparas with natural delivery were selected. According to the different ways of labor analgesia, they were divided into the first stage of labor active period PCEA group (group A), the whole stage of labor PCEA group (group W), and the whole stage of labor PCEA combined with multiacupoint stimulation analgesia group (group WM). The effect of MMA during the whole-labor process on maternal and infant safety was evaluated. The specific observation indicators were as follows: visual analogue scale (VAS) scores before analgesia (T0), at full opening of the uterus (T1), at the end of the second stage of labor (T2), and at the end of the third stage of labor (T3); stress response indicators at T0 and T1: epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), glucose (Glu), and β-endorphin (β-EP) levels; delivery time of each stage of labor; the Apgar score of newborns at 1 and 5 min after birth; indicators of umbilical artery blood gas analysis immediately after delivery: PH value, base excess (BE), partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2); incidence of postpartum depression (PPD) at 6 weeks after delivery. Results. At T1, T2, and T3, the VAS scores were lower in groups W and WM than in group A, and the VAS scores were lower in group WM than in group W (P < 0.05). At T0, there was no significant difference in the comparison of E, NE, Glu, and β-EP levels among the three groups (P > 0.05). At T1, the levels of E, NE, Glu, and β-EP were higher in the three groups than in the same group at T0, the levels of E, NE, and Glu were lower, the levels of β-EP were higher in groups W and WM than in group A, and the levels of β-EP were higher in group WM than in group W (P < 0.05). Comparing the delivery time of the first stage of labor in the three groups, groups A and WM were shorter than group W (P < 0.05). Comparing the delivery time of the second and third stages of labor in the three groups, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05). Comparing the Apgar scores of the three groups of newborns at 1 and 5 min after birth, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05). Comparing the incidence of newborn asphyxia in the three groups, there was also no significant difference (P > 0.05). Comparing the PH, BE, PaO2, and PaCO2 of three groups of newborns after delivery, there were no significant differences (P > 0.05). At 6 weeks after delivery, the incidence of PPD was lower in groups W (10.00%) and WM (8.00%) than in group A (20.00%) (P < 0.05). Conclusion. The application of the MMA regimen of PCEA combined with multiacupoint stimulation for labor analgesia during the whole stage of labor in primipara can effectively reduce labor pain and stress response during the whole stage of labor and shorten the delivery time of the first stage of labor, the indicators of newborn Apgar score and umbilical artery blood gas analysis are not affected, and the incidence of PPD in patients is reduced, which can play a protective role for the safety of mother and infant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. In previous studies, electroacupuncture (EA) with 2/15 Hz has been shown to enhance the sedative effects in general anesthesia patients. Central lateral thalamic stimulation of 50 Hz showed an arousal effect in macaques. Therefore, it is worth studying the sedative effect of EA at peripheral acupoints with different frequencies, especially the frequency of around 50 Hz. Methods. Rats were anesthetized under the constant infusion of propofol and EA at Zusanli (ST36) and Neiguan (PC6) locations. Electroencephalography (EEG) and heart rate were continuously recorded before and after the intervention by EA in the C group (control), LEA group (low-frequency group, 2/15 Hz diffuse/dense wave EA stimulation), and HEA group (high-frequency group, 50 Hz stimulation). Results. In the LEA group, a significant increase in the power of the delta component with a decrease in the alpha component p < 0.05 was observed after EA stimulation. In the HEA group, significant increases in the powers of alpha and beta components of EEG p < 0.05 and a decrease in the delta component of EEG were observed p < 0.05 . The phenomenon is also shown in full-frequency waves. In addition, a significant decrease in the low-frequency/high-frequency ratio parameter was observed in the LEA group. Conclusions. EA at bilateral ST36 and PC6 can enhance the sedative effects of propofol anesthesia in low-frequency stimulation but lighten the sedative effects in high-frequency (50 Hz) stimulation. The sympathetic-vagal balance was affected due to low-frequency EA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupoint catgut embedding in the treatment of simple obesity through network meta-analysis. Methods. PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, and VIP database (VIP) were searched by using computer from 2011 to August 2021, and 35 RCT studies were retrieved. The quality of the literature was evaluated using the modified Jadad scoring table, and Stata 15.0 software was used for traditional meta-analysis and network meta-analysis. Results. Thirty-five RCTs (3040 cases in total) were included. Acupoint embedding, acupuncture, electroacupuncture, TCM, acupoint embedding + acupuncture, acupoint embedding + exercise diet therapy, acupoint embedding + TCM, exercise diet therapy, acupoint embedding + moxibustion, and acupoint embedding + cupping were investigated in the studies. The results of network meta-analysis were as follows: in terms of total effective rate, acupoint catgut embedding was superior to acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and exercise diet therapy (P < 0.05); electroacupuncture, acupoint catgut embedding + acupuncture, acupoint catgut embedding + exercise diet therapy, acupoint catgut + TCM, acupoint catgut + moxibustion, and acupoint catgut + cupping were superior to acupuncture (P < 0.05); acupoint catgut + moxibustion was superior to electroacupuncture (P < 0.05); acupoint catgut + TCM, acupoint catgut + moxibustion, and acupoint catgut + cupping were superior to TCM treatment (P < 0.05); and electroacupuncture, acupoint catgut, acupoint catgut + acupuncture, acupoint catgut + exercise diet therapy, acupoint catgut + TCM, acupoint catgut embedding + moxibustion, and acupoint catgut embedding + cupping were superior to sports diet therapy (P < 0.05). Regarding weight loss, acupuncture treatment was superior to acupoint catgut embedding therapy (P < 0.05); acupoint catgut embedding + exercise diet therapy, acupoint catgut embedding + TCM, acupoint catgut embedding + moxibustion, and acupoint catgut embedding + cupping were superior to acupuncture and electroacupuncture treatment (P < 0.05); acupoint catgut embedding + exercise diet therapy, acupoint catgut embedding + TCM, and acupoint catgut embedding + moxibustion were superior to TCM treatment (P < 0.05); and acupoint catgut embedding, acupoint catgut embedding + acupuncture, catgut embedding + exercise diet therapy, acupoint catgut embedding + TCM, acupoint catgut embedding + moxibustion, and acupoint catgut embedding + cupping were superior to exercise diet therapy (P < 0.05). In terms of BMI reduction, acupoint catgut embedding + moxibustion and acupoint catgut embedding + cupping were more evident than acupuncture treatment (P < 0.05); and acupoint catgut embedding + moxibustion was more evident than electroacupuncture treatment (P < 0.05). Conclusion. Acupoint catgut embedding and its combination with other therapies are the first choice for the treatment of simple obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the most common sexual dysfunctions in men. The prevalence of ED has been increasing in recent years, which has critically affected male reproductive health and quality of life. According to various guidelines, phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors are the most commonly recommended drugs for treating ED. However, many patients turn to alternative therapies because of adverse reactions, such as headache, and the poor efficacy of these drugs. Acupuncture is a long-established treatment in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and has been approved by the World Health Organization for improving penile erection as well as other discomforts in patients. However, previous systematic reviews have not discussed the characteristics and the related mechanisms of acupuncture treatment. Therefore, this study focuses on summarizing the characteristics and advantages of TCM in acupuncture treatment for ED based on relevant literature and on predicting and analyzing the related mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the clinical point selection rules of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of infantile enuresis based on data mining technology, first, it introduces the principle of data mining technology, the global optimization strategy of information extraction + genetic search. In China Biomedical Literature Database, CNKI, Weipu, Wanfang. Use "enuresis," "enuresis," "leathering," "urinary discharge," "drowning," "bedwetting," "nocturia," "drowning," "moxibustion," "moxibustion," and "moxibustion" as search terms, take (enuresis + enuresis + urination + urination + addiction + bedwetting), (moxibustion + moxibustion + moxibustion)" as the retrieval style. The analysis of the use of moxibustion, the law of acupoint selection by different moxibustion methods, and the frequency analysis of meridian use show that most of the moxibustion methods are used (62 articles, of which 3 articles use 2 moxibustion methods), including non-suppurative moxibustion, ginger moxibustion, medicinal cake moxibustion, salt moxibustion, mild moxibustion, warm acupuncture moxibustion, bird pecking moxibustion, circling moxibustion, and warm moxibustion; among them, mild moxibustion has the highest frequency of use 24 and non-suppurative moxibustion and salt-separated moxibustion have the lowest frequency of use1; there are 4 non-moxibustion methods, which are medicated thread moxibustion methods. Different moxibustion methods for acupoint selection have their own emphasis. The 63 included literatures included 63 prescriptions for moxibustion, 11 prescriptions for acupoints. Analyzing the frequency of acupoint selection, a total of 18 ear acupoints are involved, and the total frequency of auricular acupoints is 54 times; 44 points are involved (including 1 odd point outside the meridian), the total frequency of acupoints is 300 times, and the total frequency of meridian points is 298, and the total frequency of Jingwaiqi acupoints (Sishencong) is 2. The results can provide great help for the clinical selection of acupuncture points for the treatment of infantile enuresis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heart rate variability (HRV) is the variation in time between each heartbeat. Increasing HRV may contribute to improving autonomic nervous system dysfunctions. Acupuncture stimulation through the vagus plexus in the ear is considered as a method that can improve HRV. In this pilot study, we examined 114 healthy volunteers at the Faculty of Traditional Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, from January to May 2020. During a 20-minute interval, participants were stimulated two times at the acupoint in the left ear with Semen seed. The heart rate and HRV values were monitored before, during, and after acupressure every 5 minutes. When we compared the experimental group with the control group, HRV significantly increased in the stage of ear-stimulated acupressure compared with the stage before and after the auricular acupressure (p = 0.01 , p = 0.04 , p = 0.04 and p = 0.02) and the difference was not statistically significant compared with the phase of nonstimulated (p = 0.15 , p = 0.28). The changes in other values including SDNN (standard deviation of the average NN), RMSSD (root mean square of successive RR interval differences), LF (low-frequency power), and HF (high-frequency power) in all stages were not statistically significant p = > 0.05 between groups. Based on the results, we can determine the increase in HRV when conducting auricular acupressure with stimulation at the heart acupoint on the left ear. This leads to a direction in further studies for clinical application for patients with autonomic nervous disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Uterine subinvolution, especially the subinvolution of the placental site, can be a life-threatening disease that induces secondary postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). Chinese Herbal Medicine has been widely used to improve postpartum recovery and treat uterine subinvolution for thousands of years. Yet, there are many potential laws hidden that are worth exploring. Methods. Prescriptions treating uterine subinvolution were searched and collected to form datasets. Data mining methods including frequency analysis, cluster analysis, and association rule learning were performed to uncover the potent prescription laws of uterine subinvolution treatment. Results. A total of 803 formulae involving 249 herbs were obtained. The top 6 most frequently used herbs were Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui), Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong), Leonuri Herba (Yimucao), Persicae Semen (Taoren), Zingiberis Rhizoma Preparatum (Paojiang), and Radix Glycyrrhizae Preparata (Zhigancao). Most of the 249 herbs were being warm in properties, sweet in tastes, and mainly distributed to liver and spleen meridian tropisms. Deficiency-tonifying herbs accounted for the most proportion and heat-clearing herbs ranked the second, followed by blood-activating and stasis-eliminating herbs. 6 clusters were generated by hierarchical clustering, and 5 of them were of clinical significance. 78 rules with support values over 0.25, confidence values over 0.8, and lift values greater than 1 were generated by association rule learning. Conclusion. The basic principles for uterine subinvolution treatment were deficiency-tonifying, heat-clearing, blood-activating, and stasis-eliminating. Herbs with warm properties, sweet tastes, and liver and spleen meridian tropisms are generally suitable. In addition, Sheng-Hua-Tang was the most frequently used formula for the treatment of uterine subinvolution, yet the dialectical prescriptions were diversified with different patterns/symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]