Electroacupuncture and acupuncture in the treatment of anxiety - A double blinded randomized parallel clinical trial

BackgroundThe estimated number of people living with anxiety disorders worldwide is around 264 million and is estimated to have worsened with the recent pandemic of COVID-19. Acupuncture has shown to have excellent therapeutic effects in reducing anxiety.DesignDouble-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial with 56 participants (21–82 years) with anxiety diagnosed by 3 different anxiety scales (BAI, GAD-7 and OASIS). A 30-min acupuncture session was applied once a week for 10 weeks.AimsEvaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture and electroacupuncture in the treatment of anxiety to verify if: (1) People with high anxiety report reduced scores after 5 and 10 sessions; (2) Salivary cortisol levels accompanied the reduced scores; (3) Electroacupuncture treatment is more effective than acupuncture; (4) the treatments is independent of anxiolytic medication.MethodsVolunteers were randomized into 3 groups (control, acupuncture, and electroacupuncture). The results were analyzed by anxiety scales and salivary cortisol tests.ResultsThe findings show an improvement in anxiety, assessed by BAI, GAD-7 and OASIS, after the 5th session of acupuncture (p < 0.05) and electroacupuncture (p < 0.05) and the 10th session for both techniques (p < 0.001). The salivary cortisol values measured in the morning followed this pattern (p < 0.05), although the reduction of the night cortisol values was not statistically significant. Electroacupuncture and acupuncture show similar efficacy. The positive effect after the treatments is independent of anxiolytic medication (p < 0.001).ConclusionAcupuncture and electroacupuncture are effective in treating anxiety on their own or as adjuncts to pharmacological therapy.Trial registration numberNºP445-08/2017 (Unidade de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde);     

活血化瘀方联合针灸治疗对脑梗后遗症患者脑血管血液流变动力学及神经功能的影响

目的:探讨血化瘀方联合针灸治疗对脑梗后遗症患者脑血管血液流变动力学及神经功能的影响。方法:选取2016年1月至2017年1月沈阳市第二中医医院收治脑梗后遗症患者120例作为研究对象,对照组61例患者接受针灸治疗;观察组59例患者接受活血化瘀方联合针灸治疗。2组连续治疗30 d。比较2组患者脑血流流变学指标、神经功能评分、中医证候积分、临床疗效。结果:治疗前2组患者脑部平均血流速度、左侧椎动脉血流量、右侧椎动脉血流量、基底动脉血流量比较,差异无统计学意义(P 0. 05)。治疗后观察组患者脑部平均血流速度、左侧椎动脉血流量、右侧椎动脉血流量、基底动脉血流量大于对照组(P 0. 05)。治疗前2组患者NIHSS评分、MMSE评分比较,差异无统计学意义(P 0. 05)。治疗后观察组患者NIHSS评分显著低于对照组,MMSE评分高于对照组(P 0. 05)。治疗前2组患者头晕目眩、语言謇涩、半身不遂、患侧麻木、舌苔白腻证候评分比较,差异无统计学意义(P 0. 05)。治疗后研究患者头晕目眩、语言謇涩、半身不遂、患侧麻木、舌苔白腻证候评分显著低于对照组(P 0. 05)。2组患者临床疗效比较,差异有统计学意义(Z=-5. 626,P=0. 000)。结论:活血化瘀方联合针灸能改善脑梗后遗症患者脑血管血液流变动力学指标,保护神经功能。     

皮肤鳞状细胞癌的中医药治疗进展

皮肤鳞状细胞癌是具有发病率高、发展快、可转移、易误诊等特点的一种恶性肿瘤，对人类的健康造成威胁。随着中医的发展和现代医学实验研究技术的进步，中医药在皮肤鳞状细胞癌的现代研究方面也取得一定成果。目前临床上治疗鳞状细胞癌多采取手术及药物化疗等，因不良反应的存在，患者接受度低。中药具有多靶点、安全性高、不良反应少等优势，在治疗皮肤鳞状细胞癌中中医具有一定优势，本文将围绕中药单体、中药复方，以及针灸在治疗皮肤鳞状细胞癌的研究进展展开论述和思考。     

针灸联合关节松动术治疗肩周炎的网状Meta分析＊

目的 运用网状Meta分析方法评价针灸联合关节松动术治疗肩周炎的疗效。方法 运用计算机检索Web of Science、PubMed、Cochrane Library、EMbase、维普（VIP）、中国知网（CNKI）、万方（Wanfang）、中国生物医学文献数据库（CBM），搜寻有关针灸联合关节松动术治疗肩周炎的随机对照试验。所有研究人员均独立纳排文献、提录资料、风险评估，对符合质量标准的RCT研究采用Stata16.0和Review Manager 5.4软件进行分析。结果 共检索出6561篇文献，最终纳入37项研究，涉及10种针灸联合关节松动术方法。总样本量2890例，其中试验组1432例，对照组1458例。网状Meta分析所得结果表明：①在总有效率方面，最好的3种治疗方法为内热针联合组、温针联合组、动筋针联合组；②在降低VAS评分方面，最好的3种治疗方法为内热针联合组、动筋针联合组、针刀联合组。结论 针灸联合关节松动术治疗肩周炎疗效总体优于单独使用，且内热针联合组具有最佳的疗效。     

“龙虎交战”针法针刺八脉交会穴对偏头痛患者头痛天数及血清CGRP表达的影响＊

目的 观察“龙虎交战”针法针刺八脉交会穴对无先兆偏头痛（Migraine without aura，MO）患者头痛天数及外周血降钙素基因相关肽（Calcitonin gene related peptide，CGRP）表达水平的影响。方法 按照头痛程度将90例MO受试者区层随机分为治疗Ⅰ组、治疗Ⅱ组和对照组各30例。治疗Ⅰ组施以“龙虎交战”针法针刺八脉交会穴（外关和足临泣），治疗Ⅱ组施以平补平泻针法针刺八脉交会穴（外关和足临泣），对照组施以平补平泻针法针刺非经非穴点，每次留针30分钟，5次/周，共治疗20次。于治疗前、治疗结束4周后的随访分别记录三组患者头痛天数的变化情况以判定疗效，并采集患者治疗前、治疗结束4周后随访的肘部静脉血用ELISA法检测血清中的CGRP含量的变化。结果 ①各组治疗前患者的头痛天数无显著差异（Ｐ > 0.05），治疗Ⅰ组、治疗Ⅱ组和对照组治疗结束4周后随访的头痛天数较治疗前均显著降低（Ｐ < 0.05）；治疗Ⅰ组头痛天数的降低显著优于治疗Ⅱ组和对照组（Ｐ < 0.001），治疗Ⅱ组头痛天数的降低显著优于对照组（Ｐ < 0.05）；②3组治疗前CGRP的表达无显著差异，治疗Ⅰ组、治疗Ⅱ组治疗结束4周后随访CGRP的表达较治疗前均显著下降（Ｐ < 0.001），对照组治疗结束4周后随访CGRP的表达较治疗前差异无显著性（Ｐ > 0.05）；治疗Ⅰ组CGRP治疗结束4周随访的表达较治疗Ⅱ组和对照组均显著下降（Ｐ < 0.01），治疗Ⅱ组CGRP的表达较对照组显著下降（P < 0.01）。结论 ①八脉交会穴施以“龙虎交战”针法针刺能明显改善MO患者的头痛天数，同时降低MO患者血清CGRP的表达水平，这可能是针刺八脉交会穴治疗MO的机制之一；②非经非穴点的针刺效应无持续性，而八脉交会穴的针刺效应具有持续性；③八脉交会穴可以充分发挥复式针刺手法的治疗效应，提示我们在临床上治疗疾病时不仅要注意腧穴配伍，恰当的针刺手法更是提高临床疗效、事半功倍的关键。     

附着龈重建应用于口腔种植修复中的临床效果观察

目的探讨附着龈重建应用于口腔种植修复中的临床效果。方法将本院于2016年10月-2018年10月期间收治的行口腔种植修复治疗的附着龈缺失患者82例作为研究资料,依据治疗方案分组,对照组为传统修复治疗方案,观察组采用附着龈重建治疗修复方案,各41例,评价两组术后不同阶段附着龈宽度、龈缘外形及附着点重建改善效果,并评价患者评价治疗满意度。结果术后3个月观察组患者附着龈宽度改善Ⅲ级率56.10%明显高于对照组0.00%,龈缘外形与附着点重建Ⅲ级率60.98%明显高于对照组0.00%(P <0.05);术后6个月观察组患者附着龈宽度改善Ⅲ级率75.61%明显高于对照组0.00%,龈缘外形与附着点重建Ⅲ级率73.17%明显高于对照组0.00%(P <0.05);观察组治疗满意度97.56%与对照组70.73%比较明显更高(P <0.05)。结论针对行口腔种植修复治疗的附着龈缺失患者采用附着龈重建治疗修复方案利于快速恢复附着龈增加宽度,改善龈缘外形及附着点重建效果,获得患者的高度满意度,治疗价值较高。     

针刺辅助治疗难治性肠易激综合征临床试验方案关键点设计的思考＊

肠易激综合征（Irritable bowel syndrome，IBS）是临床常见病、多发病，其治疗方法丰富，但部分患者疗效欠佳，发展成难治性IBS。目前国内外关于针灸治疗难治性IBS的临床随机对照试验尚不多见。本文立足试验方案设计的“PICOS”原则，从研究对象及诊断标准、干预措施、对照措施、结局指标四个方面入手，重点探讨针刺辅助治疗难治性肠易激综合征临床试验设计的关键要点。从选择特色优势病种、明确诊断标准、制定符合临床实际的干预方案、运用符合目标的安慰针刺、结合研究设计和目的选定结局指标几个角度，阐述试验相关环节设计的原因和思考。     

武连仲教授治疗坐骨神经痛经验

全国名中医天津中医药大学第一附属医院针灸科武连仲教授用多年的临床经验总结概括出针刺的理、法、方、穴、术，其创立的"通经止痛"针刺疗法在临床中疗效佳，武老在治疗坐骨神经痛时，取足太阳膀胱经和足少阳胆经具有走窜针感的经穴为主穴，其配伍精确，组方严密，手法独特，可供临床参考。本文将武老运用"痛经止痛"针刺法治疗坐骨神经痛的经验从"理、法、方、穴、术"方面做浅述。     

Protocol for the development of consensus-based clinical case reporting guideline extension: CARE for acupuncture

BackgroundHealth research reporting guidelines for case reports (CARE - CAse REport) published in 2013 and 2017 have become a generally accepted standard for publishing case reports. The CARE guidelines represent an architectural framework for writing an evidence-based case report that can be customized as need for a specialty (or disease) if needed. We aim to develop a CARE guideline extension for acupuncture following the EQUATOR Network (Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research) and the 2010″Guidance for Developers of Health Research Reporting". We have established a group of international experts including; clinicians, researchers and methodologists. We performed a needs assessment based on a review of acupuncture case reports published in the indexed medical literature. The needs assessment will be followed by (1) a series of expert interviews to establish a draft, (2) a modified Delphi process, and (3) a consensus meeting. Following the consensus meeting we will pilot test the CARE draft before publishing the CARE extension for acupuncture.MethodsWe will develop the CARE extensions for acupuncture following recommendations of the EQUATOR Network and the 2010 "Guidance for Developers of Health Research Reporting". We will establish an international multidisciplinary group including clinical practitioners, acupuncturists, researchers of reporting guidelines on acupuncture, clinical epidemiologists and statisticians.We performed a needs assessment, reviewing published case reports using acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention from indexed medical journals (PubMed-PMC and Medline, Scopus, Embase, the Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Wan Fang database, Chinese BioMedicine database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and VIP). In consultations with advisors we will develop a draft of potential items to be included in the CARE extension for acupuncture. Then we will conduct a modified Delphi process of at least three rounds, hold a face-to-face consensus meeting, pilot test and submit the CARE extension for acupuncture for publication.ConclusionThe development of a widely accepted CARE extension for acupuncture for case reports published in indexed medical journals. These guidelines will follow the EQUATOR Network recommendations and the 2010 "Guidance for Developers of Health Research Reporting".     

至阳八阵穴隔附子饼灸治疗糖尿病胃轻瘫临床研究

目的观察至阳八阵穴隔附子饼灸治疗脾胃气虚型糖尿病胃轻瘫的疗效及对胃泌素(GAS)、胃动素(MTL)和血管活性肠肽(VIP)水平的影响。方法86例脾胃气虚型糖尿病胃轻瘫患者随机分为对照组和治疗组,每组43例。治疗组给予至阳八阵穴隔附子饼灸;对照组口服枸橼酸莫沙必利片。治疗12周后观察胃轻瘫主要症状指数量表症状积分改善情况、胃排空率及血清GAS、MTL、VIP水平。结果治疗组治疗后在胃轻瘫主要症状指数量表症状积分及胃排空率方面明显高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗组治疗后血清GAS、MTL水平明显高于对照组,血清VIP水平明显低于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗组总有效率为90.7%,明显高于对照组的72.1%(P<0.05)。结论采用至阳八阵穴隔附子饼灸能快速促进糖尿病胃轻瘫患者胃功能的恢复,改善症状和体征,其作用机制可能与升高患者血清GAS和MTL水平,降低VIP水平有关。