Reliability and Validity of Facial Check Sheet (FCS): Checklist for Self-Satisfaction with Cosmetic Acupuncture.

In recent years, cosmetic acupuncture has gained popularity among individuals interested in improving their facial appearance. We have created an original facial check sheet (FCS) to obtain cosmetic acupuncture patients' perspectives on treatment outcomes. This study examined the reliability and validity of FCS.

Influence of electroacupuncture stimulation on skin temperature, skin blood flow, muscle blood volume and pupil diameter.

Objective: To examine the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation on multiple physiological indices and to evaluate both local and systemic physiological responses induced by the stimulation.

Methods: 15 healthy male college students participated in an experimental crossover study. They received two kinds of interventions: one with EA stimulation and one without EA stimulation on different days.

Effect of Different Dosages of ST36 Indirect Moxibustion on the Skin Temperature of the Lower Legs and Feet.

Indirect moxibustion (IM) has been previously performed between the spinous process while recording skin temperature of the trunk. However, moxibustion is often applied not only to acupuncture points on the back, but also to points located on the limbs. Thus, there is a need to investigate skin temperature (ST) responses following IM applied to the limbs.

Determination of symptoms associated with hiesho among young females using hie rating surveys.

Objective: Hie (cold sensation) is one of the most well-known health complaints in Japan and elsewhere in East Asia. Those who suffer from severe hie are considered to have hiesho (cold disorder). This study was conducted to determine symptoms associated with hie in young females using a survey consisting of the hie scale and hie diary.

Extraction of items identifying hiesho (cold disorder) and their utility in young males and females.

Objective: Hie (cold sensation) is one of the most common health complaints in Japan. Those who suffer from severe hie are considered as having hiesho (cold disorder). However, exact hiesho symptoms have not been defined clearly and the decision as to whether a person suffers from hiesho is subjective and based on self-awareness.

Tongue diagnosis: relationship between sublingual tongue morphology in three tongue protrusion angles and menstrual clinical symptoms.

Objective: The morphological and color characteristics of the tongue sublingual veins (SLVs) can manifest differently within the subjects, depending on the way their tongue is curled upward. This study was conducted in order to investigate the clinical relevancy of tongue SLV diagnosis in relation to menstrual clinical symptoms (pain, clots, heavy, and scanty), using three different inspection procedures (IP1, IP2, and IP3).

Methods: Three-hundred and seventy-seven female patients were asked to stick out their tongues in three specific ways which were intended to create different tongue protrusion angles.

Influence of different durations of electroacupuncture stimulation on skin blood flow and muscle blood volume.

Objective: To determine whether skin blood flow (SBF) and muscle blood volume (MBV) responses differ according to the duration of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation.

Methods: Two experiments were conducted. In Experiment 1, healthy male students (n=20) were randomly divided into two groups (an EA group and a no-stimulation group).

Difference between the effects of one-site and three-site abdominal hot-stone stimulation on the skin-temperature changes of the lower limbs.

Objective: To determine whether any difference exists in the skin-temperature responses of the lower limbs to hot-stone application relative to one-site and three-site abdominal application.

Methods: Twenty-five female students participated in experimental sessions after a random allocation: 14 participants received a hot-stone application on the umbilicus, superior-umbilicus, and inferior-umbilicus regions (hereafter referred to as the three-site stimulation group); and 11 participants received the hot-stone application on the umbilicus region only (hereafter referred to as the one-site stimulation group). Heated stones were applied for 9 min to participants in both groups.

Effects of acupuncture treatment on natural killer cell activity, pulse rate, and pain reduction for older adults: an uncontrolled, observational study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the changes in natural killer (NK) cell activity, pulse rate, and pain intensity among older adults before and after acupuncture treatment.

Methods: Fifty-six individuals (16 males and 40 females), age 60 to 82 years (mean age 72.4 ± 5.

Is there any difference in human pupillary reaction to acupuncture between light- and dark-adaptive conditions?

Objectives: To determine if acupuncture stimulation elicits a pupillary response under light adaptation and whether there is any difference in the pupillary response between light and dark adaptation environments during acupuncture stimulation.

Methods: The participants consisted of 55 healthy individuals who had no known eye diseases or pupil abnormalities. Experiment 1 compared pupillary responses between acupuncture stimulation and no-stimulation groups under light adaptation.

Is there a difference between the effects of one-point and three-point indirect moxibustion stimulation on skin temperature changes of the posterior trunk surface?

Objective: To determine whether any difference exists in responses to indirect moxibustion relative to thermal stimulation sites.

Methods: Twenty one healthy men of mean±SD age 22.5±6.

Is there a difference between the effects of single and triple indirect moxibustion stimulations on skin temperature changes of the posterior trunk surface?

Objectives: To determine whether any difference exists in responses to indirect moxibustion (IM) relative to thermal stimulation duration.

Methods: In experiment 1, 9 subjects attended two experimental sessions consisting of single stimulation with IM or triple stimulation with IM, using a crossover design. A K-type thermocouple temperature probe was fixed on the skin surface at the GV14 acupuncture point.

Is there any difference in human pupillary reaction when different acupuncture points are stimulated?

Objectives: To determine if there is any difference in pupillary response among different acupuncture stimulation sites.

Methods: The subjects were 14 healthy males who had no known eye diseases or abnormality in their pupils. They received five different interventions: no acupuncture stimulation (hereinafter 'no-stimulation') and acupuncture stimulation at four sites (TE5, ST7, CV12 and ST36).

Effects of drug, biobehavioral and exercise therapies on heart rate variability in coronary artery disease: a systematic review.

Background: Heart rate variability (HRV) is reported as a surrogate index for clinical outcome in trials of secondary prevention strategies for coronary artery disease (CAD), but a standardized guide for interpreting HRV change is not established.

Design: We evaluated HRV change in trials with CAD patients who received conventional medications (beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors), biobehavioral treatment (psychotropics, biofeedback, relaxation) or exercise training.

Methods: Medline, Pubmed, Psycinfo, the Cochrane database, and Embase were searched until July 2007, without language restriction.

Pupillary response induced by acupuncture stimulation--an experimental study.

Objectives: To investigate whether acupuncture stimulation affects autonomic nerve function by measuring pupil diameters with electronic pupillography.

Methods: Two studies were conducted (Experiment 1 and 2) in the Tsukuba University of Technology, Tsukuba, Japan. Experiment 1 examined the responses before, during and after acupuncture.

Effect of massage on blood flow and muscle fatigue following isometric lumbar exercise.

Background: This study attempted to investigate the influence of massage on the skin and the intramuscular circulatory changes associated with localized muscle fatigue.

Material/methods: Twenty-nine healthy male subjects participated in two experimental sessions (massage and rest conditions). Subjects lay prone on the table and were instructed to extend their trunks until the inferior portion of their rib cage no longer rested on the table.

The effect of massage on localized lumbar muscle fatigue.

Background: There is not enough evidence to support the efficacy of massage for muscle fatigue despite wide utilization of the modality in various clinical settings. This study investigated the influence of massage application on localized back muscle fatigue.

Methods: Twenty-nine healthy subjects participated in two experimental sessions (massage and rest conditions).