Acupuncture and related therapies for anxiety and depression in patients with premature ovarian insufficiency and diminished ovarian reserve: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The decreased ovarian function has a negative impact on the mental health of women and increases the risk of anxiety and depression. A growing number of clinical studies have demonstrated that acupuncture-related therapies can effectively and safely restore hormone levels and improve ovarian reserve function. However, the effectiveness of acupuncture-related therapies in alleviating anxiety and depression symptoms in patients with ovarian hypofunction has not been thoroughly evaluated.

Comparative study of different dosages of grain-sized moxibustion on uterine artery blood flow in patients with cold and dampness primary dysmenorrhea.

Objectives: To observe the differences in the effects of different dosages of grain-sized moxibustion on uterine artery blood flow in patients with cold and dampness primary dysmenorrhea (PD).

Methods: A total of 60 patients with PD were randomly divided into 3 groups with 20 cases in each group. Acupoints Sanyinjiao (SP6), Diji (SP8) and Xuehai (SP10) were selected in all the 3 groups, and different dosages of grain-sized moxibustion were used (3 moxa cones, 6 moxa cones, 9 moxa cones) respectively.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on autophagy of ovarian granulosa cells in rats with premature ovarian insufficiency].

Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the autophagy of ovarian granulosa cells in rats with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), and explore the mechanism of EA in improving POI.

Methods: Thirty-two female SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group (=8) and a model making group (=24). The rats in the model making group were injected intraperitoneally with cyclophosphamide for 15 days to establish the POI model (the dosage on the 1st day was 50 mg/kg, and 8 mg/kg from the 2nd day to 15th day).

Mechanisms of electroacupuncture relieves uterine smooth muscle spasm in dysmenorrhea rats based on Rho/ROCK signaling pathway.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on Rho/Rho-associated coiled-coil-forming kinases (ROCK) signaling pathway of uterus tissue in rats with dysmenorrhea, so as to explore the underlying mechanism of EA treating primary dysmenorrhea (PD) and uterine smooth muscle spasm, and to observe whether there is a difference in the effect of meridian acupoints in Conception Vessel (CV) and Governer Vessel (GV).

Methods: Sixty female SD rats were randomly divided into saline, model, CV, GV, and non-acupoint groups, with 12 rats in each group. The dysmenorrhea model was established by subcutaneous injection of estradiol diphenhydrate combined with intraperitoneal injection of oxytocin (OT).

Effectiveness and safety of auricular acupuncture on adjuvant analgesia in patients with total knee arthroplasty: a randomized sham-controlled trial.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of auricular acupuncture (AA) on postoperative analgesia, the degree of postoperative nausea, and the effect of inflammation after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods: This was a single-center, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. In total, 96 patients were randomly divided into an AA group with an indwelling intradermal needle ( = 48) and a sham auricular acupuncture (SAA) group with a non-penetrating placebo needle ( = 48).

Knowledge mapping of acupoint sensitization and acupoint specificity: a bibliometric analysis.

Objective: The relationship between acupoint sensitization and acupoint specificity is a topic of significant interest in acupuncture research. Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated that needling pain sensitive acupoints yields superior therapeutic outcomes compared to traditional acupoints, particularly in the context of pain disorders. However, there is a lack of bibliometric analysis in acupuncture area.

Efficacy and safety of tai chi exercise on bone health: An umbrella review.

Purpose: To critically evaluate systematic reviews (SRs) of the Tai Chi (TC) exercise on bone health and provide more recently available evidence.

Methods: SRs with or without meta-analysis (MA) of TC on bone health were comprehensively searched in eight electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and Chinese Scientific Journals Database) and in the international prospective register of systematic reviews of (PROSPERO) from initiation to March 2023. Descriptive analyses of SRs were performed, and reporting and methodological quality of the included SRs were evaluated using the updated version of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist and A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2).

Auriculotherapy Modulates Macrophage Polarization to Reduce Inflammatory Response in a Rat Model of Acne.

Background: The inflammatory response is an important part of the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris. Auriculotherapy has been shown to have a good therapeutic effect on this disease. The aim of this study was to explore the mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory effect of auriculotherapy in the treatment of acne vulgaris.

Acupuncture and related therapies for the anxiety and depression in irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D): A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: A growing number of clinical studies have suggested the value of acupuncture-related therapies for patients with irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D), and the patient's mental state plays an important role, but there are many types of acupuncture-related therapies involved. This study aimed to evaluate the mental status, efficacy and safety of the different acupuncture-related therapies for IBS-D patients.

Methods: We searched seven databases to collect randomized controlled trials of acupuncture-related therapies for IBS-D.

An infrared thermographic analysis of the sensitization acupoints of women with primary dysmenorrhea.

Objective: To explore the sensitization acupoints of women with primary dysmenorrhea (PD) by comparing infrared radiation temperatures between acupoints and non-acupoints.

Methods: We tested 10 acupoints of every woman with PD and healthy subjects on premenstrual, menstrual, and postmenstrual days using an infrared imaging device. The primary outcome was the absolute value of body surface temperature difference (AVTD) between the left and right sides of the same testing point.

Effect of acupuncture for diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: study protocol for a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) is the most common subtype of IBS. Acupuncture is commonly used to treat IBS-D, but its effect is uncertain because of the poor quality of prior studies. This trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture treatment for IBS-D through comparisons with sham acupuncture.

[Clinical observation on different frequency of auricular bloodletting combined with auricular point sticking for acne vulgaris].

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of different treatment frequency of auricular bloodletting combined with auricular point sticking for acne vulgaris.

Methods: A total of 90 patients with acne vulgaris were randomized into a treatment group 1 (30 cases, 2 cases dropped off), a treatment group 2 (30 cases, 4 cases dropped off) and a treatment group 3 (30 cases, 5 cases dropped off). Combination therapy of auricular bloodletting and auricular point sticking at Fei (CO), Shenmen (TF), Neifenmi (CO) and Shenshangxian (TGp) were given once a week, twice a week and 3 times a week in the treatment group 1, the treatment group 2 and the treatment group 3 respectively, 4 weeks were as one course and totally 3 courses were required in the 3 groups.

[Comparative study on the academic thought of bloodletting for expelling pathogens between Jin-Yuan Dynasties and Ming-Qing Dynasties].

The relevant provisions of bloodletting for expelling pathogens are collected from the works of the medical representative scholars in Jin-Yuan Dynasties and Ming-Qing Dynasties respectively to construct the databases of bloodletting for expelling pathogens of Jin-Yuan Dynasties and Ming-Qing Dynasties. Using frequency analysis, the bloodletting device, bloodletting location, bloodletting volume, the related pathogens and indications are compared between these two times so that the evidences could be provided for the inheritance and development of the academic thought of bloodletting for expelling pathogens. It is found that the three-edge needle is the most commonly used device for bloodletting in Jin-Yuan Dynasties and Ming-Qing Dynasties and meridians and local affected area are generally selected for bloodletting.

Acupuncture for the treatment of diarrheal-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal diseases. Although acupuncture has become a common alternative therapy for IBS, there is insufficient evidence for its effectiveness. This study was designed to assess the efficacy and feasibility of acupuncture in the treatment of IBS.

[Changes of microcirculation in superficial tissues of acupoint regions of lower leg during menstrual cycle in healthy young girls].

Objective: To observe changes of microcirculation in the superficial regions of acupoints of the three Yin meridians of foot during the menstrual cycle in young college students, so as to provide experimental evidence for explaining the saying of traditional Chinese medicine that acupoints reflect the state of physiological and pathological activities of the internal organs.

Methods: Ninety healthy female volunteer college students were recruited in the present study. The subjects were asked to take a supine position on an examination couch to expose the Yuan-primary acupoints Taixi (KI3), Taibai (SP3) and Taichong (LR3), and Xi-cleft acupoints Shuiquan (KI5), Diji (SP8) and Zhongdu (LR6) which are related to the uterus of the three Yin meridians of foot， the crossing acupoints of the three Yin meridians of foot Sanyinjiao (SP6), non-specific acupoint of the Spleen meridian Xuehai (SP10), non-related meridian acupoint Xuanzhong (GB39) and non-meridian-non-acupoint (being at the same level of GB39, between the Stomach and Gallbladder meridians on the lateral aspect of the lower leg).

Comparative study on skin temperature response to menstruation at acupuncture points in healthy volunteers and primary dysmenorrhea patients.

Objective: To assess skin temperature response to menstruation at acupuncture points in primary dysmenorrhea (PD) patients and healthy volunteers so as to explore acupuncture point specificity in reflecting diseases in the light of skin temperature.

Methods: Fifty-two PD patients and 49 healthy volunteers were recruited. Skin temperature measurements were performed with a skin temperature assessment device at 10 points.