Acupuncture on GB34 for immediate analgesia and regulating pain-related anxiety for patients with biliary colic: a protocol of randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Biliary colic (BC) is a frequent hepatobiliary disorder encountered in emergency departments. Acupuncture may be effective as an alternative and complementary medicine for BC. Nonetheless, rigorous trials investigating its efficacy are lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study protocol is to determine whether acupuncture provides immediate relief of pain and associated symptoms in BC patients. METHOD: Eighty-six participants who aged from 18 to 60 years with BC will be recruited in the First People's Hospital of Longquanyi District, Chengdu (West China Longquan Hospital Sichuan University). All participants will be allocated into two treatment groups including acupuncture group and sham acupuncture group using a 1:1 ratio. Each group will only receive a single 30-min needle treatment while waiting for their test results after completing the routine examination for BC. The primary outcome of the study is to assess the change in pain intensity after the 30-min acupuncture treatment. The secondary outcomes of the study include the change in pain intensity at various time points, the degree of gastrointestinal symptoms at different time points, the level of anxiety experienced during pain episodes at different time points, the score of Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale-20 (PASS-20), the score of Fear of Pain Questionnaire-III (FPQ-III), and the score of Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), among others. DISCUSSION: The results of this research will provide substantial evidence regarding the efficacy of acupuncture in alleviating symptoms associated with BC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, ChiCTR2300070661. Registered on 19 April 2023.

Hotspots and trends in fNIRS disease research: A bibliometric analysis.

Objective: To summarize the general information and hotspots of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)-based clinical disease research over the past 10 years and provide some references for future research. Methods: The related literature published between 1 January 2011 and 31 January 2022 was retrieved from the Web of Science core database (WoS). Bibliometric visualization analysis of countries/regions, institutions, authors, journals, keywords and references were conducted by using CiteSpace 6.1.R3. Results: A total of 467 articles were included, and the annual number of articles published over nearly a decade showed an upward trend year-by-year. These articles mainly come from 39 countries/regions and 280 institutions. The representative country and institution were the USA and the University of Tubingen. We identified 266 authors, among which Andreas J Fallgatter and Ann-Christine Ehlis were the influential authors. Neuroimage was the most co-cited journal. The major topics in fNIRS disease research included activation, prefrontal cortex, working memory, cortex, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In recent years, the Frontier topics were executive function, functional connectivity, performance, diagnosis, Alzheimer's disease, children, and adolescents. Based on the burst of co-cited references, gait research has received much attention. Conclusion: This study conducted a comprehensive, objective, and visual analysis of publications, and revealed the status of relevant studies, hot topics, and trends concerning fNIRS disease research from 2011 to 2022. It is hoped that this work would help researchers to identify new perspectives on potential collaborators, important topics, and research Frontiers.

Mawangdui-Guidance Qigong Exercise for patients with chronic non-specific low back pain: Study protocol of a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Worldwide, there is a high frequency of chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP), which is a significant public health concern. The etiology is complicated and diverse, and it includes a number of risk factors such as diminished stability and weak core muscles. Mawangdui-Guidance Qigong has been employed extensively to bolster the body in China for countless years. However, the effectiveness of treating CNLBP has not been assessed by a randomized controlled trial (RCT). In order to verify the results of the Mawangdui-Guidance Qigong Exercise and examine its biomechanical mechanism, we intend to perform a randomized controlled trial. Methods and analysis: Over the course of 4 weeks, 84 individuals with CNLBP will be randomly assigned to receive either Mawangdui-Guidance Qigong Exercise, motor control exercise, or medication (celecoxib). Electromyographic data, including muscle activation time, iEMGs, root mean square value (RMS) and median frequency (MF), will be the main outcomes. The Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) Score, the Mcgill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), beta-endorphin, and substance P are examples of secondary outcomes. At the start of treatment and 4 weeks later, all outcomes will be evaluated. SPSS version 20.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) will be used for all of the analysis. Discussion: The prospective findings are anticipated to offer an alternative treatment for CNLBP and provide a possible explanation of the mechanism of Mawangdui-Guidance Qigong Exercise on CNLBP. Ethics and dissemination: The Sichuan Regional Ethics Review Committee on Traditional Chinese Medicine has given the study approval (Approval No. 2020KL-067). It has also registered at the website of China Clinical Trial Center Registration. The application adheres to the Declaration of Helsinki's tenets (Version Edinburgh 2000). Peer-reviewed papers will be used to publicize the trial's findings. Trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier ChiCTR2000041080.

Silver acupuncture for myofascitis: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of silver acupuncture in treatment of myofascitis. METHODS: Electronic databases of all silver acupuncture for myofascitis will be searched at PubMed, Cochrane Library, Springer, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and Chinese Biological Medical disc from inception to March 31, 2020, with language restricted in Chinese and English. The primary outcome is visual analog scale, a short pain scale with sensitivity and comparability. Secondary outcomes included Clinical Assessment Scale for Cervical Spondylosis, Japanese Orthopaedic Association Scores, Oswestry dysfunction index, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society-Ankle Hindfoot scale, Foot and Ankle Ability Measure, The Cumberland ankle instability tool, Pittsburgh sleep quality index, self-rating anxiety scale, self-depression rating scale, and follow-up relapse rate. The systematic review and searches for randomized controlled trials of this therapy for myofascitis. The Cochrane RevMan V5.3 bias assessment tool is implemented to assess bias risk, data integration risk, meta-analysis risk, and subgroup analysis risk (if conditions are met). Mean difference, standard mean deviation, and binary data will be used to represent continuous results. RESULTS: This study will provide a comprehensive review and evaluation of the available evidence for the treatment of myofascitis with this therapy. CONCLUSION: This study will provide new evidence to evaluate the effectiveness and side effects of silver acupuncture for myofascitis. Due to the data are not personalized, no formal ethical approval is required. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: There is no requirement of ethical approval and it will be in print or disseminated by electronic copies. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020151476.

Electroacupuncture for lumbar disc herniation: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of electroacupuncture in treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH). METHODS: Electronic databases of all electroacupuncture for LDH will be searched at PubMed, Cochrane Library, Springer, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wan-Fang, and Chinese Biological Medical disc, (CBM) from inception to February 29, 2020, with language restricted in Chinese and English. The primary outcome is Japanese Orthopedic Association Scores, a quantification scale for a comprehensive assessment according to patients' subjects feeling and objective function. Secondary outcomes included visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), Self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), self-depression rating scale (SDS), follow-up relapse rate. The systematic review and searches for randomized controlled trials of this therapy for LDH. The Cochrane RevMan V5.3 bias assessment tool is implemented to assess bias risk, data integration risk, meta-analysis risk, and subgroup analysis risk (if conditions are met). Mean difference (MD), standard mean deviation (SMD) and binary data will be used to represent continuous results. RESULTS: This study will provide a comprehensive review and evaluation of the available evidence for the treatment of LDH with this therapy. CONCLUSION: This study will provide new evidence to evaluate the effectiveness and side effects of electroacupuncture for LDH. Due to the data is not personalized, no formal ethical approval is required.

Effect of auriculotherapy on chronic low back pain: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a clinically common and recurrent disease. However, many trials have shown that auriculotherapy (AT) can effectively treat CLBP. There are currently no systematic reviews of this therapy. The plan aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of this treatment in patients with CLBP. METHODS: This systematic evaluation will entail an electronic and manual search of all AT for CLBP from inception to January 31, 2020, regardless of the publication status or language. Databases include PubMed, Excerpt Medica Database, Springer, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, the World Health Organization International Clinical Trial Registration Platform, the Chinese Medicine Database, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, the China Science Journal Database, and the Wanfang Database. Other sources of information, including bibliographies and meeting minutes for identified publications, will also be searched. A manual search for grey literature, including unpublished conference articles will be performed. Additionally, any clinical randomized controlled trials related to AT for CLBP, regardless of the publication status and language limitations, will be included in the study. Study selection, data extraction, and research quality assessments will be conducted independently by 2 researchers. The main result was the use of a visual analog scale, a short pain scale, or other effective scale. Secondary outcomes included effectiveness, Oswestry dysfunction index, self-rating anxiety scale, self-depression rating scale, Pittsburgh sleep quality index, follow-up relapse rate, and adverse events. The system searches for randomized controlled trials of this therapy for CLBP. Implement the Cochrane RevMan V5.3 bias assessment tool to assess bias risk, data integration risk, meta-analysis risk, and subgroup analysis risk (if conditions are met). Mean difference, standard mean deviation, and binary data will be used to represent continuous results. RESULTS: This study will provide a comprehensive review and evaluation of the available evidence for the treatment of CLBP using this therapy. CONCLUSION: This study will provide new evidence to evaluate the effectiveness and side effects of AT on CLBP. Because the data is not personalized, no formal ethical approval is required. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020151584.

Modulated conjugation as a means of improving the intrinsic hyperpolarizability.

A new strategy for optimizing the first hyperpolarizability based on the concept of a modulated conjugated path in linear molecules is investigated. A series of seven novel chromophores with different types of conjugated paths were synthesized and characterized. Hyper-Rayleigh scattering experiments confirmed that modulated conjugation paths that include benzene, thiophene, and/or thiazole rings in combination with azo and/or ethenyl linkages between dihydroxyethylamino donor groups and various acceptor groups result in enhanced intrinsic hyperpolarizabilities that exceed the long-standing apparent limit for two of the chromophores. The experimental results are analyzed and interpreted in the context of quantum limits, which show that conjugation modulation of the bridge in donor/acceptor molecules simultaneously optimizes the transition moments and the energy-level spacing.