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To explore the methods of cultivating the clinical thinking ability of acupuncture and moxibustion in the standardized training of resident physicians, so as to improve the medical record writing ability of the regular training physicians. The clinical diagnosis and treatment of acupuncture and moxibustion has its own characteristics and can't copy the syndrome differentiation and treatment mode of TCM internal medicine. In the treatment section,探讨住院医师规范化培训中针灸临床思维能力培养的方法，以提高规培医师的病历书写能力。针灸临床诊疗具有自身特点，不能照搬中医内科“大方脉”的辨证治疗模式。全国中医住院医师规范化培训教材《针灸学》在针灸治疗各论部分，以临床案例为切入点、以问题为导向，从疾病诊断、证候诊断、治疗思路3个方面引导规培医师培养针灸临床诊疗思维，形成对疾病的完整认识，通过反复的实践训练，提高病历书写的规范性、逻辑性和系统性。.

Physicians in the past dynasties have improved the theory of fire needling from the aspects of fire needling instruments, clinical efficacy, application scope, operation, precautions, etc., which promoted the clinical application of fire needling. Modern fire needling breaks through the traditional clinical taboos such as heat syndrome, face, forbidden acupoints, and no needle retention. By using modern fire needling with various types, characteristics and functions, multiple needles and multiple methods are used to treat various diseases, which can further exert the therapeutic effect of fire needling and promote the popularization and application of fire needle therapy.历代医家从火针针具、功效、适用范围、刺法、操作、注意事项等方面完善了火针理论，促进了火针的临床应用。当代火针突破了热证、面部、禁穴、不留针等传统临床禁忌。通过使用类型繁多、各具特色、功能多样的现代火针，多针、多法合用来治疗多种疾病，可进一步发挥火针疗效，促进火针疗法的推广和应用。.

To observe the effects of point-pricking method with fire needle on the symptoms of knee joint and physio-psychological health in the patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).Sixty six patients with KOA were randomly divided into a fire needling group (33 cases) and a filiform needling group (33 cases). The patients received the point-pricking method with fire needle in the fire needle group while the conventional acupuncture with filiform needle was provided in the filiform needling group. The basic health management was performed in both groups. The acupoints included bilateral Liangqiu (ST34), Xuehai (SP10), Dubi (ST35), Neixiyan (EX-LE4), Yanglingquan (GB34) and Zusanli (ST36) as well as Ashi points. The treatment was conducted twice a week for 6 weeks consecutively. Before and after treatment, the scores of Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptoms and visual analogue score (VAS), the numbers of affected areas of knee joint pain and the scores of 12-item short-form health survey (SF-12) were assessed and the incidence of adverse effects was recorded.The score for pain, stiffness and function, as well as the total score of WOMAC were all reduced (The point-pricking method with fire needle is safe and effective when compared with conventional acupuncture with filiform needle. In the aspects of improving knee joint function, relieving joint pain and advancing the quality of life, the point-pricking method with fire needle is superior to the conventional acupuncture with filiform needle.

Background Knee osteoarthritis is a common clinical chronic degenerative disease associated with high morbidity and long-term disability. Previous studies have confirmed the efficacy of acupuncture on knee osteoarthritis. Fire needle acupuncture is a combination of heat and acupuncture, which may be more effective than the commonly used filiform needle acupuncture. This study is designed as a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of fire needle acupuncture compared to filiform needle acupuncture in knee osteoarthritis patients. Methods and analysis This is a prospective randomized controlled superiority clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of fire needle acupuncture compared to filiform needle acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis. A total of 100 participants will be randomly assigned to two different groups. Participants will receive fire needle acupuncture treatment in the fire needle group, while participants in the filiform needle group will be treated with a filiform needle at the same acupuncture points as the fire needle group. All participants will receive 6 weeks of treatment (2 times per week). The primary outcome is the change of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, and the secondary outcomes include the change of the visual analog scale and 12-item Short Form Health Survey from baseline to endpoint. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval of this study was granted by the Research Ethical Committee of Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University (2018SB-066). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Outcomes of the trial will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1800019579. Registered on November 18, 2018

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the term for a type of non-malignant prostate enlargement that is most often diagnosed in men of middle age and older. Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are commonly observed in men afflicted with BPH. Evidence suggests that warm needling therapy could be applied clinically to relieve the LUTS associated with BPH, particularly in China, where experienced practitioners are readily available. In this review, the safety and effects of warm needling therapy are assessed in the context of treatment for LUTS associated with BPH.First, data for relevant randomised controlled trials and the initial periods of randomised cross-over trials will be obtained from four English databases (MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, and Allied and Complementary Medicine Database) and six Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, SinoMed, Chongqing VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database, China Master's Theses Full-text Database and China Doctoral Dissertations Full-text Database). The primary outcomes analysed in this protocol are improvements in urological symptoms as measured by recognized urological symptom scores, while secondary outcomes include improvement of urine flow rate measures, residual urine volume, nocturia, prostate size, and quality-of-life score. In addition, safety outcomes will be analysed by assessing incidences of adverse events. Two reviewers will independently assess and select studies, extract data and assess the risk of bias. Data synthesis and risk bias assessment will be performed with Review Manager software (version 5.3).This systematic review provides a synthesis to assess the therapeutic efficacy of warm needling therapy for LUTS associated with BPH.The present study will provide a clinically relevant evaluation of the current state of evidence regarding the therapeutic efficacy of warm needling therapy for LUTS associated with BPH.Ethical approval is not required for this review, because private information will not be collected from the included participants. The results of the study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.PROSPERO CRD42020198360.

Background Stroke is characterized by high morbidity, high mortality, and high disability. Spasticity, one of the most common complications after stroke, may reduce the potential success of rehabilitation and has a detrimental effect on stroke patients’ daily function and quality of life. Moreover, the long-term management of spasticity is a financial burden to patients and increases societal costs. The current treatments, mainly including physical therapy, oral drugs, drug injection therapy, and surgical interventions, have been used to reduce spasticity. However, every conventional approach has its limitations. Acupuncture at the “Wang’s Jiaji” acupoints, based on the experience of the famous old doctor of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Le Ting Wang in treating post-stroke limb spasm, has been widely practiced in our department. This intervention has effectively avoided the controversy around acupuncture at local acupoints on the limbs, and is easy to apply without side effects. Our previous studies had found that acupuncture at the “Wang’s Jiaji-points” can reduce the occurrence and severity of spasticity occurring after stroke in the early stage (the first 21 days). In this study, we chose patients in the convalescent stage, 1–6 months after stroke, so as to study the efficacy and the specific intervention time of “Wang’s jiaji” in the convalescent stage after stroke. Methods This is a randomized, controlled, and single-blind study. Patients in the convalescent stage within 1–6 months of ischemic stroke will be selected as subjects. A total of 100 subjects will be randomly assigned to two groups. The acupuncture group will be given acupuncture treatment five times a week; the medicine group will be given 10mg baclofen three times a day. These two groups will continue to receive current usual care for the prevention and treatment of cerebrovascular diseases, but drugs that affect muscle tone will not be allowed. The treatment will last for 2 weeks. The primary outcome measurement is the simplified Fugl-Meyer Assessment. The secondary outcome measurements are the Modified Ashworth Scale, Modified Barthel Scale, and the H-reflex, F response, and H/M ratios of electromyography. All outcome measurements are assessed at baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks after first treatment except the electromyography, which is assessed at baseline and 2 weeks after first acupuncture. Discussion This trial aims to evaluate the effects and the specific intervention time of “Wang’s Jiaji” acupoints on spasticity after stroke. Trial registration ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN31511176. Registered on 29 August 2017. Version number of protocol 2016-2-1161 Version date of protocol: 2016-1 Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13063-019-3464-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

To compare the clinical effect of fire needling and filiform needling for mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and observe the influence on related serum inflammatory sytokines.A total of 60 patients with mild to moderate KOA were randomly divided into an observation group (30 cases, 4 cases dropped off) and a control group (30 cases, 4 cases dropped off). Both groups were given basic health management, and the acupoints of the two groups were Liangqiu (ST 34), Xuehai (SP 10), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Dubi (ST 35), Yanglingquan (GB 34) andAt each time point of treatment and follow-up, the pain, stiffness, difficulty of daily activities scores and WOMAC total scores of the two groups were lower than those before treatment (Fire needling can improve the pain, stiffness and joint dysfunction of patients with mild to moderate KOA, and increase serum MMP-3 and IL-1α levels. Its short and long term clinical effects are better than filiform needling.

IntroductionMild cognitive impairment (MCI) is considered the intermediate phase between normal age-related cognitive decline and dementia. Moxibustion has gained increased popularity for the management of MCI in China.This study aimed to evaluate the effects and safety of moxibustion on symptoms of MCI.Methods and analysisFour English databases and six Chinese databases will be searched from their inception to October 2019: Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chongqing VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database, Wanfang Database, SinoMed, China Doctoral Dissertations Full-text Database and the China Master’s Theses Full-text Database. Only clinical randomised controlled trials and the first period in randomised cross-over trial related to moxibustion for MCI will be included. The primary outcomes include the improvement of cognitive function, as measured by validated assessment tools. The secondary outcomes include changes in the activity of daily living scale, effective rate and the incidences of adverse events. The selection of studies, data extraction and risk of bias assessment will be carried out by two independent reviewers. Review Manager V.5.3 software will be used for statistical analyses. Heterogeneity test, data synthesis and subgroup analysis will be performed if necessary. The risk of bias of included studies will be assessed by theCochrane Handbookrisk of bias tool. Evidence quality will be evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval is not required as no private information from individuals are collected. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal or disseminated in relevant conferences.Trial registration numberCRD42018112657.

To observe the effect of fire-needle stimulation of "Neixiyan"(EX-LE4) and "Dubi"(ST35) on changes of motor function, structure of cartilage degradation and inflammatory factors in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) rats, so as to explore its underlying mechanisms in improving KOA.Thirty-nine male SD rats were randomly divided into normal, model and fire-needle groups (After modeling, the gait and claw-pressure scores were significantly increased in the model group in comparison with the normal group (Fire-needle can improve motor function and relieve impairment of articular cartilage of KOA rats, which may be related to its effects in reducing inflammatory factors and in increasing anti-inflammatory factor levels.

Background Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is one of the most common bone and joint diseases. As one of the main non-drug therapies, acupuncture is widely used to treat KOA, although the evidence for its efficacy is inconclusive. The objective of this pilot trial is to clarify the clinical efficacy and safety of fire acupuncture in the treatment of mild to moderate KOA and to provide high-quality data for further research. Methods/design This study is a prospective randomized controlled pilot trial in which 120 patients with mild to moderate KOA will be randomly allocated in equal proportions to a fire acupuncture group or a general acupuncture group. They will receive acupuncture for six sessions over 2 weeks. The primary end point is success rate, which will be calculated based on the change from baseline of the pain and function scores in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index at 4 weeks. Secondary end points include the proportion of patients achieving clinical improvement based on: (1) the OMERACT-OARSI responder criteria, (2) levels of matrix metalloproteinase 3, interleukin 1β, and tumor necrosis factor α in blood, and (3) a subjective efficacy evaluation from patients. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1800019162. Registered on 29 October 2018.

Background Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common non-cancerous disease of the prostate and leads to lower urinary tract symptoms in middle-aged and elderly males. Fire needle therapy could improve the lower urinary tract symptoms associated with mild-moderate BPH in clinical practice. The aim of the present pilot study is to assess the preliminary effects of fire needle therapy on mild-moderate BPH. Methods The present study is a prospective parallel randomized controlled pilot trial. A total of 60 eligible participants will be randomly assigned to a treatment or control group at a 1:1 ratio. The treatment group will receive fire needle therapy and the control group will receive watchful waiting with lifestyle advice and education regarding BPH. Participants will receive intervention for 4 weeks, with a follow-up period of 4 additional weeks. Adverse events will be recorded to assess the safety and tolerability of fire needle therapy for mild-moderate BPH. The primary outcome will be the change in the International Prostate Symptom Score. The secondary outcomes will include the change in the mean number of nightly urinations, the maximum urinary flow rate, the average flow rate, and the prostate volume as measured by a B-mode ultrasound device. All outcome measures will be observed at baseline and at 4 and 8 weeks following the beginning of treatment. Discussion The present study will provide evidence of the preliminary effects of fire needle therapy on mild-moderate BPH and indicate an optimal sample size for future studies.

Background Constipation is a common complication after stroke that can severely influence a patient’s quality of life and rehabilitation. Treatments for constipation after stroke vary. Acupuncture may improve spontaneous bowel movements, quality of life, and clinical symptoms. The study seeks to assess the preliminary effects of acupuncture on constipation after an ischemic stroke. Methods/design This is a prospective randomized controlled pilot trial design in which 120 eligible patients will be randomly allocated to one of three groups. The acupuncture group (n = 40) will receive acupuncture and routine care, the medication group (n = 40) will receive mosapride citrate and routine care, and the control group (n = 40) will receive only routine care for ischemic stroke. Patients will be recruited 2 weeks to 6 months after stroke onset and will receive the intervention continuously over 4 weeks, with a follow-up period of 4 additional weeks. Adverse events will be recorded to assess the safety and tolerability of acupuncture for constipation after an ischemic stroke. The primary outcome will be the change in the weekly mean number of complete spontaneous bowel movements. Secondary outcomes will include any change in the weekly mean number of spontaneous bowel movements, mean stool consistency scores, mean straining scores during defecation, and frequency of laxative use. All outcome measures will be assessed at inception, after the intervention (4 weeks), and at the follow-up (8 weeks). Discussion This study will provide evidence of the preliminary effects and inform future sample size calculations for studies of acupuncture for constipation following an ischemic stroke. These findings will inform subsequent large-scale randomized controlled trials. Trial registration ISRCTN, 22214747. Registered on 17 August 2015. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13063-018-2750-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Background.Acupuncture has been shown to reduce spasticity and prevent the onset of spasticity after stroke. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of “Deqi” during needling “Wang’s Jiaji” acupoints treating spasticity in the early stage of stroke.Methods. This study is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled trial. 238 patients with stroke (n=121) group or sham-acupuncture group (n=117). The verum-acupuncture group received verum acupuncture required to produce the sense of “Deqi” while the sham-acupuncture group received sham acupuncture without “Deqi.” Patients in both groups followed the same 30 min acupuncture regimen 5 times per week for a period of 4 weeks. Scales of MAS, FMA, ADL, MBI, NIHSS, SS-QOL, and MRS were measured at baseline and at 2, 4, and 12 weeks after intervention.Results.Significant differences were observed between two groups. The MRS rating composition has the statistical difference after 4 weeks (P=0.017). The score of MAS, FMA, Barthel, and SSQOL in verum-acupuncture group has increased significantly compared with the sham-acupuncture group after 12 weeks. There was 14% reduction of higher muscle tension in the verum-acupuncture group.Conclusion.Acupuncture “Wang’s Jiaji” points with sensation of “Deqi” in the early stage may reduce the occurrence and decrease the severity of spasticity after stroke.

Acupuncture treatment of insomnia has been reported for many years, but its validity remains controversial up to now. In the present review, the authors took "Acupuncture", "Insomnia" as the key words to do a literature search from databases in both Chinese and English via computer retrieval system and also conducted a hand-made retrieval from journals of Chinese medicine as Chinese Acu-moxibustion, and collections of theses of the related academic conferences. Then, they made a systemic evaluation on the original articles from methodology, diagnosis, criteria for the enlisted and excluded patients, intervention methods of acupuncture and control groups, standards for assessing the curative efficacy, follow-up visit, etc. Of the retrieved 80 clinical articles, 20 are RCT (randomized controlled trails) composed of 1907 cases, including 4 high-quality trails and 16 lower-quality trails. Regarding the assessment of the therapeutic effect, measuring scales are often adopted in overseas studies, while in domestic researches, self-drawn standards are frequently used. In conclusion, there have had no high-quality clinical trails about acupuncture treatment of primary insomnia in China at the present, and the related evaluating methods could not definitely confirm the efficacy of acupuncture in relieving insomnia. Therefore, a strict and scientific clinical trail scheme being in line with evidence-based medicine is urgently needed in the coming studies on acupuncture treatment of primary insomnia.

To probe a method for increasing clinical therapeutic effect of poststroke shoulder-hand syndrome.Eighty cases of poststroke shoulder-hand syndrome were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, 40 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated by penetration needling combined with electroacupuncture, and the control group with routine acupuncture combined with electroacupuncture, once daily, 5 sessions each week, for 4 weeks. Changes of clinical symptoms, articular mobility and pain score were observed.The therapeutic effect in the treatment group was significantly better than that in the control group (P0.05).Penetration needling combined with electroacupuncture, or routine acupuncture combined with electroacupuncture can effectively alleviate pain, improve motion function and reduce edema, but the penetration needling is better than the routine acupuncture for treatment of poststroke shoulder-hand syndrome.