Efficacy of acupuncture in refractory irritable bowel syndrome patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Previous studies have confirmed that acupuncture for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) provided an additional benefit over usual care alone. Therefore, we performed a multicenter, randomized, sham-controlled trial to assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture versus sham acupuncture for refractory IBS in patients in the context of conventional treatments. Patients in the acupuncture and sham acupuncture groups received real or sham acupuncture treatment in 3 sessions per week for a total of 12 sessions.

Exploring the association between Frailty Index and low back pain in middle-aged and older Chinese adults: a cross-sectional analysis of data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS).

Objectives: This study explored the association between the Frailty Index (FI) and low back pain (LBP) in middle-aged and older Chinese adults. We hypothesised that a higher FI correlates with increased LBP prevalence.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis.

Spontaneous pregnancy after thread-embedding therapy treatment with premature ovarian insufficiency after unilateral oophorectomy: a case report.

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a condition characterized by menstrual disturbance, subfertility, and estrogen deficiency symptoms. Women with POI have a small chance of natural conception, which may be even smaller when complicated with unilateral ovarian due to reduction of the ovarian follicular reserve. In China, acupuncture has been widely used to treat POI and POI-induced infertility, and studies have shown that acupuncture is helpful for improving ovarian function.

Exploring the association between dietary Inflammatory Index and chronic pain in US adults using NHANES 1999-2004.

Chronic pain, a substantial public health issue, may be influenced by dietary patterns through systemic inflammation. This cross-sectional study explored the association between Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and chronic pain among 2581 American adults from NHANES data. The DII, ranging from - 4.

Current state of research on exercise for the treatment of myasthenia gravis: A scoping review.

Objective: To provide a comprehensive overview of existing evidence, research gaps, and future research priorities concerning the treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG) using exercise therapies.

Method: Clinical studies on exercise treatment for MG were searched in nine databases to conduct a scoping review. Two independent researchers screened the literature and comprehensively analyzed the characteristics and limitations of the included articles.

The impact of "long COVID" on menstruation in Chinese female college students and the intervention of acupuncture.

This study aimed to explore the potential application value of acupuncture in alleviating the impact of long COVID on women's menstrual cycles, by investigating the occurrence of long COVID among female college students, its effects on menstruation, and the intervention of acupuncture. This cross-sectional study surveyed female college students with a history of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) before April 10, 2023. A questionnaire was used to analyze demographic characteristics, post-COVID sequelaes, duration of symptoms, and treatments received during that period.

Mapping current trends and hotspots in myasthenia gravis from 2003 to 2022: a bibliometric analysis.

Introduction: Research on myasthenia gravis (MG) has undergone rapid development in recent years. This article aimed to elucidate the characteristics of MG publications over the past 20 years and analyze emerging trends using bibliometric methods.

Methods: Information on MG articles was obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection and stored in Excel for quantitative analyses.

Different frequency of acupoint thread-embedding for overweight/obesity of spleen deficiency and dampness retention: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: To compare the effect of different frequency of acupoint thread-embedding on weight loss in subjects with overweight/obesity of spleen deficiency and dampness retention.

Methods: A total of 126 subjects with overweight/obesity of spleen deficiency and dampness retention were randomized into a 2-week group(63 cases, 13 cases dropped out)and a 3-week group(63 cases, 11 cases dropped out, 1 case was eliminated). The two groups were treated with acupoint thread-embedding once every 2 weeks and once every 3 weeks respectively, Zhongwan(CV 12), Shuifen(CV 9), Qihai(CV 6), Guanyuan(CV 4) and bilateral Zhangmen(LR 13), Tianshu(ST 25), Liangmen(ST 21), Daheng(SP 15), Fujie(SP 14), Pishu(BL 20), Yinlingquan(SP 9)were selected.

The safety of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with myasthenia gravis: A scoping review.

Background: COVID-19 vaccines are required for individuals with myasthenia gravis (MG), as these patients are more likely to experience severe pneumonia, myasthenia crises, and higher mortality rate. However, direct data on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with MG are lacking, which results in hesitation in vaccination. This scoping was conducted to collect and summarize the existing evidence on this issue.

Current state of research on acupuncture for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A scoping review.

Objective: To provide an overview of the range and characteristics of existing evidence, research gaps, and future research priorities in treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with acupuncture.

Method: Clinical studies on acupuncture treatment for ALS were searched in 9 databases and two websites. Two independent researchers screened the literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria; extracted the demographic data, interventions, and significant findings of the studies; and comprehensively analyzed the characteristics and limitations of the included articles.

Herbal medicine and acupuncture relieved progressive bulbar palsy for more than 3 years: A case report.

Rationale: Progressive bulbar palsy (PBP) is a type of motor neuron disease (MND). The main symptoms include dysarthria, dysphagia, tongue muscle atrophy and fasciculations. This disease is generally severe and develops rapidly.

[ acupuncture and moxibustion combined with cognitive training in treatment of post-stroke mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial].

Objective: To compare the clinical effect of (promoting the governor vessel and regaining consciousness) acupuncture and moxibustion combined with cognitive training and the simple cognitive training for post-stroke mild cognitive impairment (PSMCI).

Methods: Eighty-four patients with PSMCI were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, with 42 cases in each group (3 cases in the observation group and 2 cases in the control group dropped off). The observation group was treated by acupuncture and moxibustion combined with cognitive training, acupuncture was given at Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Shenting (GV 24), etc.

Efficacy of acupuncture in refractory irritable bowel syndrome: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder that presents with abdominal pain/discomfort and altered bowel patterns. IBS has multiple potential causes for which conventional medicines have had limited success, resulting in a significant number of patients who do not sensitively respond to pharmacotherapy for a period of 12 months and who develop a continuing symptom profile (described as refractory IBS) and seek help through (non)pharmacological treatments. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapy for refractory IBS on the basis of conventional treatments.

Infrared thermal imaging-based research on the intermediate structures of the lung and large intestine exterior-interior relationship in asthma patients.

Objective: By observing body surface temperature variation of the intermediate structures of the Lung (Fei) and Large Intestine (Dachang) exterior-interior relationship in asthmatic patients, to investigate the pathological response on the pathway of channels and to substantiate the objective existence of the intermediary structures.

Methods: The study included 60 subjects meeting the bronchial asthma inclusion criteria (experimental group) and 60 healthy subjects (normal control group). ATIR-M301 infrared thermal imaging device was used for detecting body surface temperature of the subjects and collecting the infrared thermal images.

[Deep needling and shallow needling at three acupoints around ear for subjective tinnitus: a randomized controlled trial].

Objective: To compare the effective differences between deep needling and shallow needling at three acupoints around ear for subjective tinnitus.

Methods: Fifty patients with subjective tinnitus were randomized divided into a deep needling group and a shallow needling group, 25 cases in each group. Twenty-two patients in the deep needling group and 20 patients in the shallow needling group were brought into statistic in the end.

Understanding the viscera-related theory that the lung and large intestine are exterior-interiorly related.

Pairing of the viscera and bowels is an important theory, which provides guidance to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinical practice. Investigating this theory has been the focus of research on the basic theory of TCM. Recently, researchers have performed many studies on the theory that the lung and large intestine are exterior-interiorly related, which is a different point of view to that of previous literature, recent clinical studies and experimental studies, and these recent studies have enforced the theoretical connotation of the statement.

[Study on the effect of cluster needling of scalp acupuncture on the plasticity protein MAP-2 in rats with focal cerebral infarction].

Objective: To investigate the material base and underlying mechanism of the effect of cluster needling of scalp acupuncture on the neuronal plasticity in rats with focal cerebral infarction.

Methods: The model rats with acute cerebral infarction were made by blocking the middle cerebral artery with monofilament. One hundred and thirty two Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: sham-operation group (A), model group (B), point-to-point scalp acupuncture group (C) and cluster-needling of scalp acupunture group (D).