Search

ABSTRACT Aim We conducted a study on the effects of a graded meridian test ( M-Test) program on bullying and stress emotions in an elementary school. Methods Participants were 22 girls and 19 boys at a public elementary school. Questionnaires were administered before and after a 3 month study period. For the intervention, M-Test instructors implemented a graded program to teach the M-Test at school after classes over a total of 10 15 min sessions. The M-Test consisted of having the students themselves or friends of the same gender perform gentle touching on acupoints located along the arms determined from six neck movements. Results Although the score for the frequency of bullying others scale did not change for the boys, it did improve significantly from before to after the intervention period in girls. Among 10 girls with improvement in the frequency of bullying others scale, the most significant association was for the rate of change in the teacher stressor scale, followed by the rate of change in the physical stress scale, and then the aggression-anger stress scale. Conclusion The M-Test program may increase student resilience as a means of preventing future bullying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background A previous study has reported that low-frequency (LF) electroacupuncture (EA) influences salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS is known to control the secretion volume of sIgA; however, the effect of high-frequency (HF) EA on salivary sIgA has not been determined. We investigated whether HF EA affects salivary sIgA levels and the ANS. Method Sixteen healthy subjects were randomly classified into two groups: a control group and an EA group. After a 5 min rest, subjects in the EA group received EA at 100 Hz bilaterally at LI4 and LI11 for 15 min before resting for a further 40 min post-stimulation. Subjects in the control group rested for a total of 60 min. Measurements of the ANS and sIgA levels in both groups were made before, immediately after, 20 min after, and 40 min after rest or 1 5 min EA treatment. HF and LF components of heart rate variability were analysed as markers of ANS function. LF/HF ratio and HF were taken as indices of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve activity, respectively. Salivary protein concentrations and sIgA levels were determined by Bradford protein assay and ELISA, respectively. Results LF/HF ratio was significantly increased immediately after EA. HF was significantly increased at 20 min after EA and sIgA level was significantly increased at 40 min after EA. In addition, HF and salivary sIgA level were positively correlated with each another. Conclusions HF EA exerted sequential positive effects on sympathetic nerve activity, parasympathetic nerve activity, and salivary sIgA level (immediately and after 20 and 40 min, respectively). HF EA may increase salivary sIgA levels by influencing parasympathetic nerve activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]