Exploring acupuncture treatment strategies for snoring based on meridian theory. / 基于经络学说探析鼾症的针刺治疗思路.

Starting from the perspective of meridian theory, this article briefly analyzes the meridian pathophysiology of snoring and the relationship between snoring and meridian theory. It proposes that acupuncture treatment for snoring should focus on regulating qi from the shaoyang meridians, harmonizing the spirit by the governor vessel, resolving phlegm through the three yang meridians, and harmonizing qi and blood from the yangming meridians. Additionally, attention is placed on both the root cause and the symptoms, the theory of "four seas". The ultimate goal is to promote the flow of meridian and qi-blood, improve symptoms such as nighttime snoring, poor sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness, and achieve the desired outcome of stopping snoring and ensuring restful sleep.

[Observation on clinical effect of fire needling for mild to moderate benign prostatic hyperplasia with kidney yang deficiency].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of fire needling on prostate symptoms, quality of life, average daily number of nightly urination, urine flow rate and prostat volume in patients with mild to moderate benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) of kidney yang deficiency. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with mild to moderate BPH of kidney yang deficiency were randomly divided into an observation group (30 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a control group (30 cases, 4 cases dropped off). The observation group was treated with fire needling at Guanyuan (CV 4), Shuidao (ST 28) and Qugu (CV 2) twice a week (2-3 d interval between each treatment), continuous treatment for 4 weeks. The control group received lifestyle advice and education, once a week for 4 weeks. In the two groups, the international prostate symptom score (IPSS), the quality of life (QoL) score and the average daily number of nightly urination were observed before treatment, after treatment and during the follow-up of the 4th week; the urinary maximum flow rate (Qmax), the average flow rate (Qave), and the prostate volume were assessed before and after treatment in the two groups. The safety was observed in the observation group. RESULTS: After treatment and during follow-up, the IPSS scores, QoL scores, and the average daily number of nightly urination in the observation group were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, there was no significant difference in Qmax, Qave and prostate volume between the two groups and within the each group (P>0.05). There were no fire needling-related adverse reactions, and no obvious abnormality was found in urine routine and coagulation function tests before and after treatment in the observation group. CONCLUSION: Fire needling can improve lower urinary tract symptoms and quality of life, reduce frequency of nightly urination in patients with mild to moderate BPH of kidney yang deficiency, and has good safety.

[Overview on the modern development of fire needling device: from tradition to innovation].

The appropriate needle device is crucial for obtaining the curative effect of fire needling therapy. The article introduces the material specification, clinical operation, indications, characteristics and advantages of the contemporary traditional fire needling devices (e.g. He's fire needle and Shi 's fire needle) and the contemporary new-type ones (e.g. fire needling with filiform needle and micro-needle); and determines the innovations of modern fire needling. It is anticipated that the needle specifications, production process and operation standard of fire needling devices should be further unified so as to provide the references for the selection of fire needling devices in treatment based on clinical syndrome differentiation and expand the clinical application of fire needling therapy.

[Constructing of clinical thinking of acupuncture and moxibustion, improving the medical record writing ability of standardized training physicians: teaching experience of the standardized training textbook Acupuncture and Moxibustion for national TCM resident physicians].

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, Acupuncture and Moxibustion, a standardized training textbook for national TCM resident physicians, takes clinical cases as the breakthrough point and uses the problem as the guide, guides the training physicians to cultivate acupuncture and moxibustion clinical diagnosis and treatment from three aspects: disease diagnosis, syndrome diagnosis, and treatment ideas, forms a complete understanding of the disease, and improves the standardization, logicality and systematicness of medical record writing through repeated practical training.

[Innovation, development and application of contemporary fire needling].

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.

[Point-pricking method with fire needle for knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: 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). METHODS: 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. RESULTS: The score for pain, stiffness and function, as well as the total score of WOMAC were all reduced (P<0.05), the score of TCM symptoms, VAS score and the numbers of the affected areas of knee joint pain were lower (P<0.05) after treatment when compared with those before treatment within group. After treatment, the score of each domain of SF-12 (i.e. general health, physical function, role-physical, vitality, role-emotional, physical component summary and mental component summary) was higher in comparison to those before treatment in both groups (P<0.05), while the scores of bodily pain, mental health and social functioning in SF-12 were increased in the fire needling group (P<0.05). Compared with the filiform needling group, the score of joint function and the total score in WOMAC and VAS score were reduced remarkably (P<0.05), and general health score in SF-12 was more obviously increased (P<0.05) in the fire needling group after treatment. None adverse effects were found in either group. CONCLUSION: 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.

[Effect of fire needling on mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis and related serum inflammatory cytokines].

OBJECTIVE: 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. METHODS: 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) and ashi point. The observation group was treated with fire needling, while the control group was treated with filiform needling. Both groups were treated once every other day, 3 times a week for 2 weeks. The Western Ontario and McMaster University osteoarthritis index (WOAMC) scores of the two groups were compared before treatment, in 1, 2 weeks of treatment and 2, 6 weeks of follow-up. ELISA method was used to detect the levels of serum interleukin 1α (IL-1α), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) before treatment and in 2 weeks of treatment. The clinical effect of the two groups was evaluated in 1, 2 weeks of treatment and 2, 6 weeks of follow-up. RESULTS: At 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 (P<0.05); the stiffness score of the observation group was lower than that of the control group in 1 week of treatment (P<0.05); the various scores and total scores of the WOMAC scale of the observation group were lower than those of the control group in 1, 2 weeks of treatment and 2, 6 weeks of follow-up (P<0.05). In 2 weeks of treatment, the levels of serum MMP-3 and IL-1α in the observation group and IL-1α in the control group were higher than those before treatment (P<0.05). In 1 week of treatment and 2, 6 weeks of follow-up, the total effective rates of the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: 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.

Effects of warm needling therapy on symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: 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. METHODS: 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). RESULTS: This systematic review provides a synthesis to assess the therapeutic efficacy of warm needling therapy for LUTS associated with BPH. CONCLUSION: 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. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: 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. REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO CRD42020198360.

Effect of fire needle therapy on mild-moderate benign prostatic hyperplasia: Protocol for a randomized controlled pilot trial.

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.

Effects of moxibustion on symptoms of mild cognitive impairment: protocol of a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Mild 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 ANALYSIS: Four 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 the Cochrane Handbook risk of bias tool. Evidence quality will be evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics 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 NUMBER: CRD42018112657.

[Effect of fire-needle intervention on joint function, cartilage impairment and inflammatory response in knee osteoarthritis rats].

OBJECTIVE: 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. METHODS: Thirty-nine male SD rats were randomly divided into normal, model and fire-needle groups (n＝13 in each group). The KOA model was established by injection of Monoiodoacetate (MIA, 1 mg) into the lumen of the right knee joint. On the 7th day after successful modeling, fire-needle was applied to EX-LE4 and ST35, twice a week for 3 weeks. The rats' behavioral reactions of gait (0 to 3 points) and claw pressure (0 to 3 points) were scored, and histopathological changes scored by assessing the impairment grade (0 to 6) and stage (0 to 4) of the articular cartilage after safranin O-fast green staining. The contents of serum Interleukin (IL)-1α， Tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α), IL-10, IL-37 and transforming growth factor ß(TGF-ß) were assayed by ELISA, and ultrastructural changes were observed under transmission electron microscope(TEM). RESULTS: After modeling, the gait and claw-pressure scores were significantly increased in the model group in comparison with the normal group (P<0.05), and the OA score and contents of serum IL-1α and TNF-α were also appa-rently increased in the model group relevant to the normal group (P<0.05，P<0.01), while the levels of serum IL-10, IL-37 and TGF-ß remarkably decreased in the model group in contrast to the normal group (P<0.01). After the intervention, the increase of gait and claw-pressure and OA scores, as well as serum IL-1α and TNF-α contents, and the decrease of serum IL-10, IL-37 and TGF-ß levels were all reversed in the fire needle group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Outcomes of TEM showed more and larger lipid droplets, swollen mitochondria with some vacuoles, and expanded, broken or dissolved rough endoplasmic reticulum in the model group, which was milder in the fire-needle group. CONCLUSION: 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.

Fire acupuncture for mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis: a protocol for a randomized controlled pilot trial.

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 1ß, 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.

[Evaluation on acupuncture treatment of primary insomnia].

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.

[Clinical observation on penetration needling combined with electroacupuncture for treatment of post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To probe a method for increasing clinical therapeutic effect of poststroke shoulder-hand syndrome. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: The therapeutic effect in the treatment group was significantly better than that in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: 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.