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。     

针灸联合川芎茶调散治疗周围性面神经麻痹(风寒证)

目的:观察川芎茶调散加减方联合针灸治疗周围性面神经麻痹(风寒证)的临床效果。方法:选取2018年2月至2019年2月威海市中医院收治的急性周围性面瘫患者108例作为研究对象,按照随机数字表法分为对照组与观察组,每组54例。对照组给予常规西药治疗,观察组给予川芎茶调散加减方口服联合针灸治疗。比较2组患者主要症状的改善时间、肌电图检查相关指标、面部神经功能分级的变化,测定血清中相关因子水平,比较临床效果。结果:观察组、对照组的有效率92.59%、75.93%,以观察组临床效果更好(P0.05);观察组患者治疗后的闭目、抬眉、鼓颊的改善时间明显短于对照组(P0.05);观察组患者的肌电图结果RI潜伏期低于对照组,CMAP波幅高于对照组,面部神经功能分级改善更明显(P0.05);观察组患者血清中TNF-α、IL-17含量明显低于对照组,GDNF含量显著高于对照组(P0.05)。结论:川芎茶调散加减方联合针灸利于促进患者临床症状的缓解,改善肌电图指标,促进面部神经功能的恢复,推断其起效可能与通过调控血清中TNF-α、GDNF、IL-17等水平以减轻患者神经病变的炎性反应损伤程度有关。     

The role of National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAG) in strengthening health system governance: Lessons from three middle-income countries—Argentina,Jordan, and South Africa (2017–2018)

IntroductionToward the Global Vaccine Action Plan 2020 goal, almost 90% of countries have established a National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG). However, little is known about NITAG's contributions to governance.MethodsIn 2017–2018, a two-step, qualitative retrospective study was conducted. Jordan (JO), Argentina (AR), and South Africa (SA) were selected owing to government-financed NITAGs from middle-income countries (MICs), geographic diversity, and a vaccine introduction with NITAG support. Country case studies were developed, collecting data through desk review and face-to-face key informant interviews (KIIs) from Ministry of Health (MoH) and NITAG. Case studies were analyzed together, to assess governance applying the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies framework focusing on transparency, accountability, participation, integrity, and policy capacity (TAPIC).ResultsDocument review and 53 KII (22 AR, 20 SA, 11 JO) showed NITAGs played a pivotal role as advisors promoting a culture of evidence-informed policies. NITAGs strengthened governance, although practices varied among countries. Meetings were conducted behind-closed-doors, participation restricted to members, only in one country agendas, and recommendations were public (AR). To increase participation, policy capacity, and transparency, countries considered adding experts in communications, advocacy, and economics. AR and SA contemplated including community members. NITAGs functioned autonomously from the government, with no established internal or external monitoring or supervision. NITAG meeting minutes allowed the review of integrity, adherence to terms of reference, standard operating procedures, and conflict of interest (CoI). For the most part, NITAGs abided by their mandates. Significant issues were related to the level of MoH support and oversight of CoI declaration and documentation.ConclusionsSystematically implementing governance approaches could improve processes, better tailor policies, and implementation. The long-term survival and resilience of NITAGs in these countries showed they play a significant role in strengthening governance. Lessons learned could be useful to those promoting country-driven evidence-informed decision-making.     

浅谈委中穴与承山穴针刺深度的临床应用

李志道教授经过50余年临床实践研究,结合解剖学相关知识,发现委中、承山二穴在针刺深度与传统认识有所不同。其中,委中穴在刺入0. 5~0. 8寸,承山穴在刺入2. 0~3. 0寸时最易达到循经得气的效果,通过调整针尖方向还可较准确达到气至病所的效果,且针感与相应神经分布区域相吻合。该针感在某些疾病,尤其神经压迫相关症状的治疗中疗效明显,且优于传统教材所述针刺深度。     

针灸治疗腰椎间盘突出症伴疼痛的效果研究

目的:探讨针灸治疗腰椎间盘突出症伴疼痛的效果。方法:研究对象为2018年1-12月于我院接受治疗的腰椎间盘突出症伴疼痛患者78例,以随机数表法分为对照组与研究组,各39例。对照组采取常规牵引治疗,研究组在此基础上应用针灸治疗。治疗1个月后评价两组临床疗效,并对比两组治疗前后疼痛评分。结果:研究组治疗总有效率为97.44%(38/39),高于对照组的79.49%(31/39)(P<0.05);治疗后研究组VAS评分低于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:针灸治疗腰椎间盘突出症伴疼痛疗效确切,能够有效改善症状,降低疼痛程度,值得临床推广。     

耳穴贴压联合俞募配穴针刺治疗中风后便秘疗效观察

目的观察耳穴贴压联合俞募配穴针刺治疗中风后便秘(虚秘)的临床疗效。方法将80例中风后便秘(虚秘)患者随机分为治疗组40例、对照组40例。在中风常规治疗、护理及康复训练下,治疗组采用耳穴贴压联合俞募配穴针刺,对照组采用普通针刺法。对两组患者临床疗效、便秘症状积分、胃肠激素水平及生存质量进行比较。结果两组治疗后胃肠激素P物质(SP)水平及便秘患者生存质量量表(PAC-QOL)评分均有显著提高(P<0.01),且治疗组治疗后明显高于对照组(P<0.01),两组治疗后便秘症状积分、胃肠激素血管活性肠肽(VIP)水平均显著降低(P<0.01),且治疗组治疗后低于对照组(P<0.01)。治疗组总有效率为87.5%,两组疗效比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论耳穴贴压联合俞募配穴针刺治疗中风后便秘(虚秘)具有良好疗效。     

"管氏培元九宫"针法治疗功能性阳痿疗效观察

目的观察"管氏培元九宫"针法治疗功能性阳痿的临床疗效。方法将60例功能性阳痿患者按随机数字表法随机分为治疗组和对照组,每组30例。治疗组采用"管氏培元九宫"穴,按"洛书九宫数"施行针刺治疗;对照组口服复方玄驹胶囊。观察两组治疗前后国际勃起功能指数-5(IIEF-5)评分,并比较临床疗效。结果治疗组总有效率为80.0%,对照组为70.0%,两组比较差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗组治疗后IIEF-5评分高于治疗前和对照组(P<0.05)。结论"管氏培元九宫"针法对功能性阳痿具有较好临床疗效。