Effect of catgut embedding at acupoints versus non-acupoints in abdominal obesity: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the difference of catgut embedding effect between acupoints and non-acupoints in patients with abdominal obesity (AO). METHODS: In this multicenter, double-blind, randomized controlled trial, all subjects were randomly assigned into the acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) group and control group (catgut embedding at non-acupoints). With a 12-week actual intervention period and a 4-week period of follow-up. Waist circumference (WC), body weight, body mass index (BMI), hip circumference (HC) and appetite were applied and assessed at baseline and after 6, 12 and 16 weeks. RESULTS: After the total intervention phase (12 weeks), the WC, body weight, BMI, HC and visual analogue scale scores of appetite, decreased significantly in the two groups as compared to the baseline (0.001). Meanwhile, after the 4-week follow-up, the indicators still decreased significantly in the ACE group (0.001). At 12 and 16 weeks, catgut embedding at acupoints showed significantly advantages to non-acupoints in WC and appetite (0.05). No serious adverse events were observed in ACE group and control group. CONCLUSIONS: Catgut embedding at acupoints and non-acupoints are all effective and safe for AO. ACE can effectively treat AO as expected and deliver lasting results.

Effects of delayed umbilical cord clamping on maternal and neonatal outcomes / 中华护理杂志

Objective To determine the effects of delayed umbilical cord clamping on the postpartum hemorrhage,instant and long-term newborn anemia,newborn jaundice.Methods In total,303 infants were selected during October 2016 to June 2017 in three hospitals in Beijing.They were randomly allocated into two groups receiving instant clamping of umbilical cord (less than 60s after delivery,n=158) and delayed clamping of umbilical cord(after cord pulsation ceased,n=145).Relevant indicators of maternal and neonatal outcomes are compared.Results There were significant differences between two groups in instant hemoglobin concentration and in 5～7 days (P＜0.05).There were no differences between two groups in transcutaneous bilirubin,the risk of anemia in three months,the risk of jaundice in 5～7 days and the need of blue-light therapy (P＞0.05).There were no differences between two groups of women in postpartum hemorrhage,the length of third stage of labor and the rate of breast feeding (P＞0.05).Conclusion Clamping the umbilical cord when cord pulsation has ceased does not have negative effects on delivery process and postpartum hemorrhage,but it increases the instant hemoglobin concentration and hemoglobin concentration after delivery in 5～7 days.Still it is unclear whether it will affect the risk of jaundice.