Form Of Acupuncture Research Articles

Comparison of efficacy of acupuncture-related therapies in treating Acute Gouty Arthritis: A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Backgroundand purpose: Acupuncture and moxibustion, as a complementary and alternative therapy, has been widely used in the treatment of acute gouty arthritis (AGA). However, there are various forms of acupuncture and moxibustion, and the curative effect of different forms is different. This study evaluated the clinical efficacy of different acupuncture therapies in treating AGA by network meta-analysis. MethodsComputer searches of English databases (including PubMed, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science, Embase) and Chinese databases (including China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Database, Wanfang Database and China Biomedical Literature Database) were conducted for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture therapies in treating AGA. We set the search time from the database establishment to May 2022. Data analysis was performed using Stata14.2 software. ResultsThirty-two RCTs involving 2434 patients with AGA were screened out. The results showed that in terms of the improvement of pain visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, the top ones were acupoint application (100%), electroacupuncture + Western medicine (73.5%) and acupuncture + Western medicine (69.2%); In terms of total effective rate, acupoint application (85.2%), acupuncture (75.2%) and acupuncture + Western medicine (63%) ranked the top; In terms of reducing serum uric acid (SUA) levels, the top ones were acupoint application (95%), acupuncture + Western medicine (87.5%) and acupuncture (66.2%); In terms of the reduction of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), acupuncture (95%), acupoint application (84.7%), and electroacupuncture + Western medicine (52.8%) were the most prominent. ConclusionThe existing evidence shows that acupoint application has more advantages in improving the total effective rate, improving pain and reduce SUA levels, and acupuncture has an advantage in reducing ESR levels and adverse events. However, due to the low qualities of the original studies, the quality of this evidence is poor. Therefore, it is recommended that more scientific research be performed to confirm the efficacy of acupuncture.

Real-Time Hemodynamic Changes in the Prefrontal and Bilateral Temporal Cortices During Intradermal Acupuncture for Major Depressive Disorder: A Prospective, Single-Center, Controlled Trial Protocol.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is highly prevalent, affecting more than 300 million individuals worldwide, and its occurrence may be related to the abnormality of the prefrontal cortex and bilateral temporal cortex. Acupuncture, rooted in the theories of acupoints and meridians, has demonstrated its efficacy in regulating cortical blood flow (CBF) in the brains of MDD patients. As one form of acupuncture, intradermal acupuncture (IA) can alleviate clinical symptoms such as depressive mood and insomnia in MDD patients. However, it remains unknown whether IA will have a specific effect on the prefrontal cortex and bilateral temporal cortex in MDD patients. In total, 60 participants will be recruited: 20 healthy control participants and 40 MDD patients. All healthy control participants will be allocated to the control group, whereas the 40 MDD patients will be randomly divided into two groups: the gallbladder meridian acupoint (GBA) group and the non-acupoint (NA) group, at a 1:1 allocation ratio. All groups will undergo a one-time IA intervention while their cortical activity is monitored using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Total hemoglobin, oxygenated hemoglobin, and deoxygenated hemoglobin of the prefrontal and bilateral temporal cortices will be measured by fNIRS during the test procedure. This trial aims to use fNIRS to compare real-time hemodynamic changes in the prefrontal and bilateral temporal cortices of healthy individuals and MDD patients during IA. The primary objective is to investigate whether MDD patients exhibit specific real-time responses to IA stimulation in these brain regions. The findings from this study will provide clinical data and a possible theoretical basis for the assumption that stimulation of IA may treat MDD by modulating the relevant brain regions. The study protocol has been registered in the clinicaltrials.gov with the code NCT05707299.

Acupuncture therapy for post-stroke depression: A scoping review of randomized controlled trials

The prevalence of post-stroke depression (PSD), a common complication following a stroke, is rising yearly. Due to the success in treating PSD, acupuncture therapy has gained in popularity in recent years. To provide clinicians with more referable recommendations, we undertook a scoping study to examine the clinical evidence and status of acupuncture for the treatment of PSD. This scoping review followed Arksey and O'Malley's framework. Six databases were systematically searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English or Chinese language that evaluated any type of acupuncture, with or without co-interventions, for treating PSD. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and organized in response to review questions. Findings were presented in a visual and aggregate form as well as in a descriptive format aligning with the objectives and scope of this protocol. A total of 231 RCTs were included, of which 230 were conducted in China. The applied acupuncture-related therapies included manual acupuncture, electroacupuncture, head acupuncture, auricular acupuncture, abdominal acupuncture, press needle, pestle acupuncture, eye acupuncture, and wrist and ankle acupuncture. The most commonly used form of acupuncture was manual acupuncture (n=73, 31.60%), and DU20 (n=121, 52.38%) was the most frequently used acupuncture point. Only a small number of studies reported adverse events (n=30, 12.99%), with the main symptoms including subcutaneous bleeding, headache, and hematoma. Ninety-six of 149 studies reported an effectiveness rate of over 90%. A more standardized trial process is recommended to strengthen the clinical evidence and avoid irregularities in clinical trial methodology. Future studies should include populations from a wider range of countries to improve the generalisability of the evidence.

Invasive or noninvasive? A systematic review and network meta-analysis of acupuncture and acupressure to treat sleep disturbance in cancer patients.

Both acupuncture and acupressure have been suggested beneficial for reducing sleep disturbance in cancer patients. While acupuncture is invasive involving needle insertion, acupressure is noninvasive. Their comparative effectiveness is unclear, hindering clinical recommendations. This study aimed to explore the comparative effectiveness of acupuncture and acupressure on sleep in cancer patients. This is a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis. Eight key English and Chinese databases were searched. Twenty-four randomized controlled trials involving 2002 cancer patients comparing the effects of six treatments (manual acupuncture, electroacupuncture, acupressure, sham, enhanced usual care, and no treatment) on sleep were found. Compared with enhanced supportive care, acupressure demonstrated the largest effect size for reducing self-reported sleep disturbance (standardized mean difference [SMD]=-2.67, 95% CrI: -3.46 to -1.90; GRADE=moderate), followed by acupuncture (SMD=-1.87, 95% CrI: -2.94 to -0.81, GRADE=moderate) and electroacupuncture (SMD=-1.60, 95% CrI: -3 to -0.21; GRADE=low). The surface under the cumulative ranking curve indicates that acupressure is most likely to rank highest. Based on available evidence, acupressure can be recommended as the optimal treatment for reducing sleep disturbance in cancer patients. More rigorous trials are warranted to confirm whether different forms of acupuncture or acupressure have different effects on sleep in cancer patients. Particularly, studies examining acupuncture interventions alone instead of in combination with other therapies are needed.

Efektivitas Pemberian Terapi Akupuntur dalam Mengatasi Nyeri Haid Primer pada Mahasiswi Keperawatan

Background: Menstrual pain or dysmenorrhea is characterized by pain in the uterus or lower abdomen during menstruation. Acupuncture, as a complementary and alternative medicine method, has been widely used to treat various health problems related to gynecological problems. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy in reducing menstrual pain scale. Method: This study used One group pre-post-test research design. The research sample was 20 nursing students at ITEKES Bali level II. The data were collected using an observation sheet with a Comparative Pain Scale containing a pain scale of 0-10. Results: In the pretest, there were two responses (10%) with menstrual pain on a scale of 7, 3 respondents (13%) on a scale of 5, and 1 respondent (5%) on a scale of 6 and 2 respondents (10%) with a pain scale of 2. After the intervention in the form of acupuncture, the results obtained were seven respondents (35%) with a pain scale of 0, 10 respondents (50%) with a pain scale of 1, and 2 respondents (10%) with a pain scale of 3. The results of the Wilcoxon test showed an Md value = 3.50 in the pre-intervention decreased significantly to Md=1.00 at the post-intervention with p value 0.012 with r= 0.60 and Z= 3.975. Conclusion: This study shows that acupuncture effectively reduces the pain scale in female students who experience menstrual pain.

Efficacy and safety of abdominal acupuncture in Parkinson's disease: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Parkinson disease (PD) is a worldwide spread neurodegenerative disorder. Dopamine replacement therapy is currently the mainstream treatment, which can alleviate the symptoms but induces motor complications. Acupuncture therapy is effective for PD. As a form of acupuncture, the abdominal acupuncture has been used to relieve symptoms in patients with PD, but its effectiveness and safety have not yet reached a definitive conclusion. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis protocol is planned to evaluate the efficacy and safety of abdominal acupuncture for PD patients. Six English databases (PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Springer Cochrane Library, and WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform) and 4 Chinese databases (Wan Fang Database, Chinese Scientific Journal Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database) will be searched normatively according to the rule of each database from the inception to August 20, 2022. Two reviewers will independently conduct article selection, data collection, and risk of bias evaluation. Any disagreement will be resolved by discussion with the third reviewer. Either the fixed-effects or random-effects model will be used for data synthesis based on the heterogeneity test. Either the fixed-effects or random-effects model will be used for data synthesis based on the heterogeneity test. The analysis will be conducted by RevMan 5.3 software according to Cochrane Handbook. The aim of this systematic review is to provide high-quality evidence to assess the efficacy and safety of abdominal acupuncture for patients in Parkinson's disease. The efficacy and safety of abdominal acupuncture for PD will be comprehensively assessed from the outcomes, including the effectiveness rate. The Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and Webster scale, Motor symptom scores utilizing UPDRS III scale, Dopamine (DA) content, and Nonmotor symptom scores employing UPDRS I scale, Activities of daily living using UDPRS II; Complications of treatment applying UPDRS IV, antioxidant ability: super oxide dismutase activity and Lipide Peroxide (LPO) content, Content of inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β, and adverse events as the secondary outcome. This systematic review will explore whether abdominal acupuncture is an effective and safe intervention for patients in Parkinson's disease.

Comparison of Efficacy of Acupuncture-Related Therapy in the Treatment of Postherpetic Neuralgia: A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common sequela of herpes zoster, and the efficacy of the treatment regimens recommended in the guidelines is not entirely reliable. Acupuncture and moxibustion are widely used complementary alternative therapies that have a positive effect on the treatment of PHN. However, there are various forms of acupuncture and moxibustion, and there are differences in efficacy between the different forms. Methods The retrieval work of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture for PHN in English databases (including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science) and Chinese databases (including China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WeiPu database, WanFang database, and China Biomedical Literature Database) were conducted from the time of database creation to June 2022. Literature screening, data extraction, and evaluation of risk of bias for the included studies were carried out independently by two researchers, and data analysis was performed using Stata 14.2 software. Results A total of 30 RCTs including 2138 patients with PHN were included. In terms of pain improvement, acupoint embedding + Western medicine group, bloodletting-cupping group, and bloodletting-cupping + Western medicine group ranked top. In terms of total efficiency, acupuncture + Western medicine group, bloodletting-cupping + Western medicine group, and acupoint embedding group ranked top. There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of adverse events between treatment regimens. Conclusions In a comprehensive comparison of the outcome indicators of 14 different treatment regimens, we considered acupoint injection + Western medicine and bloodletting-cupping + Western medicine to be the best combinations for the treatment of PHN. Due to the limitations of the study, the above conclusions still need to be validated in further multi-centre, large-sample prospective randomised controlled clinical trials.

Evidence-Based Application of Acupuncture for Pain Management in Companion Animal Medicine.

The use of veterinary acupuncture for pain relief is expanding among small animal practitioners. Although acupuncture was developed as part of the medical system in Ancient China, research into the scientific basis of its effects is expanding rapidly. Acupuncture is very effective for analgesia on a local, segmental, and suprasegmental level. Many forms of acupuncture can be used independently or as part of a balanced multi-modal approach for the control of acute and chronic pain. In the hands of a skilled practitioner, acupuncture can be a safe and effective modality for treating pain in companion animals. This article outlines the mechanisms of action of acupuncture, its related neurophysiology and provides examples from the literature demonstrating its effectiveness.

Safety and efficacy of auricular acupuncture in patients with depression after percutaneous coronary intervention: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background:With the advantages of miniature damage and optimal effectiveness, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been performed in a large number of coronary artery disease patients. However, recent studies have indicated a higher incidence of depression on post-PCI patients. Acupuncture therapy is effective for depression. As a form of acupuncture, the auricular acupuncture has been used to relieve symptoms in patients with post-PCI depression, but its effectiveness and safety have not yet reached a definitive conclusion. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis protocol is planned to evaluate the efficacy and safety of auricular acupuncture for depression in post-PCI patients.Methods:Six English databases (PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Springer Cochrane Library, and WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform) and 4 Chinese databases (Wan Fang Database, Chinese Scientific Journal Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database) will be searched normatively according to the rule of each database from the inception to February 1, 2022. Two reviewers will independently conduct article selection, data collection, and risk of bias evaluation. Any disagreement will be resolved by discussion with the third reviewer. Either the fixed-effects or random-effects model will be used for data synthesis based on the heterogeneity test. The change in the scores on the Hamilton Depression Scale and the Self-rating Depression Scale will be used as the main outcome measure. All-cause mortality, cardiac mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events, rehospitalisation rate, and Quality of Life Scale as the secondary outcome. Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale, general physical examination (temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure), routine examination of blood, urine and stool, electrocardiogram, liver and kidney function examination as the security indexes. RevMan 5.3.5 will be used for meta-analysis.Results:This study will provide high-quality evidence to assess the efficacy and safety of auricular acupuncture for depression in post-PCI patients.Conclusion:This systematic review will explore whether auricular acupuncture is an effective and safe intervention for depression in post-PCI patients.INPLASY registration number:INPLASY202230003.

The efficacy and safety of acupuncture-related therapy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: A protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has seriously affected the quality of life of patients with its refractory, recurrent, and disabled characteristics, and has become a major public health problem. Previous studies have confirmed that acupuncture and moxibustion have a reliable effect on RA, but there are many forms of acupuncture and moxibustion, and the efficacy of each form is different. This study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy of different acupuncture-related therapies in the treatment of RA by means of network meta-analysis.Methods:According to the retrieval strategy, we retrieved the randomized controlled studies on acupuncture-related therapy for RA from China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, VIP, China Biomedicine, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and The Cochrane Library databases from the establishment of the database to July 2021. We assessed the quality of the studies using the Cochrane Risk Bias Assessment Tool and assessed the strength of the evidence using the Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology. All data analyses were performed by Revman5.3, Gemtc 0.14.3, and Stata 14.0.Results:This study is to evaluate the efficacy of different acupuncture-related therapies in the treatment of RA by evaluating the total effective rate, pain scores, joint function scores, quality of life scores, laboratory indicators, adverse reactions, etc.Conclusion:This study will provide a reliable evidence-based basis for the selection of the best acupuncture form for the treatment of RA.Ethics and dissemination:Private information from individuals will not be published. This systematic review also does not involve endangering participant rights. Ethical approval will not be required. The results may be published in a peer-reviewed journal or disseminated at relevant conferences.

Electroacupuncture Regulates Pain Transition Through Inhibiting PKCε and TRPV1 Expression in Dorsal Root Ganglion.

Many cases of acute pain can be resolved with few side effects. However, some cases of acute pain may persist beyond the time required for tissue injury recovery and transit to chronic pain, which is hard to treat. The mechanisms underlying pain transition are not entirely understood, and treatment strategies are lacking. In this study, the hyperalgesic priming model was established on rats to study pain transition by injection of carrageenan (Car) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). The expression levels of protein kinase C epsilon (PKCε) and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) in the L4–L6 dorsal root ganglion (DRG) were investigated. Electroacupuncture (EA) is a form of acupuncture in which a small electric current is passed between a pair of acupuncture needles. EA was administrated, and its effect on hyperalgesia and PKCε and TRPV1 expression was investigated. The PKCε–TRPV1 signaling pathway in DRG was implicated in the pain transition. EA increased the pain threshold of model animals and regulated the high expression of PKCε and TRPV1. Moreover, EA also regulated hyperalgesia and high TRPV1 expression induced by selective PKCε activation. We also found that EA partly increased chronic pain threshold, even though it was only administered between the Car and PGE2 injections. These findings suggested that EA could prevent the transition from acute to chronic pain by inhibiting the PKCε and TRPV1 expression in the peripheral nervous system.

Effectiveness and safety of fire needle for knee osteoarthritis: A protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background:There is a lack of curative medical treatment for patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Acupuncture represents an important alternative therapy. In various forms of acupuncture and moxibustion, the fire needle is an indispensable part. Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a series of symptoms and signs of knee joint caused by local injury and inflammation and chronic strain of the knee joint resulting in cartilage degeneration of the articular surface and reactive bone loss of the subchondral bone plate. The results of clinical trial indicated that the fire needle therapy has obvious curative effect in treating KOA. This protocol is intended to describe how to collate and accumulate evidence for the current efficient and safe treatment of KOA with fire needle.Methods:Seven electronic databases were used to retrieve the literature for the KOA randomized controlled trials, including 3 English databases (PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials [Cochrane Library]), and 4 Chinese databases (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese VIP Information, Wanfang Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database). This systematic review will include all randomized controlled clinical trials using fire needle therapy for KOA. The observation Index is the Change of Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index Total, first proposed by Bellamy in 1988. The selection of the study will be completed independently by 2 reviewers, extract the data, and evaluate the quality of the study before selecting the title, abstract, and full text. Revman 5.4 software will be used to perform meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials, where risk ratios for dichotomous data and standardized or weighted mean differences for continuous data are the results.Result:The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.Conclusion:This systematic review will provide the latest evidence to evaluate the safety and efficacy of fire needle therapy in patients with KOA.Trial registration number:INPLASY202080030

Auricular Acupuncture for Preoperative Anxiety-Protocol of Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: Preoperative anxiety causes profound psychological and physiological reactions that may lead to a worse postoperative recovery, higher intensity of acute and persistent postsurgical pain and impaired quality of life in the postoperative period. Previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) suggest that auricular acupuncture (AA) is safe and effective in the treatment of preoperative anxiety; however there is a lack of systematic evidence on this topic. Therefore, this protocol was developed following the PRISMA guidelines to adequately evaluate the existing literature regarding the value of AA for the reduction in anxiety in patients in a preoperative setting, compared to other forms of acupuncture, pharmacological, or no control interventions and measured with questionnaires regarding anxiety and fear. Methods: The following databases will be searched: MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), ISI Web of Science, and Scopus Database. RCTs will be included if an abstract is available in English. Data collection and analysis will be conducted by two reviewers independently. Quality and risk assessment of included studies will be done using the Cochrane 5.1.0 handbook criteria and meta-analysis of effectiveness and symptom scores will be conducted using the statistical software RevMan V.5.3. Conclusions: This systematic review will evaluate the efficacy and safety of AA for preoperative anxiety. Since all data used in this systematic review and meta-analysis have been published, this review does not require ethical approval. The results may be published in a peer-reviewed journal or be presented in relevant conferences. Registration number: PROSPERO ID CRD42020.

A comparison of noninvasive and invasive acupuncture in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting: A protocol for systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a main complication of surgery, and by now, drugs cannot prevent it completely. Some meta-analyses have proved acupuncture therapy can prevent PONV. However, it is still controversial whether noninvasive acupuncture therapies are comparable with invasive ones. This study uses Bayesian network meta-analysis to compare the effectiveness of different forms of acupuncture in preventing PONV. PubMed/Medline, Cochrane library, Web of Science, Ebsco, Ovid/Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, VIP Database, and China Biology Medicine disc will be searched from inception to May 2020. All randomized control trails meet the criterion will be included. Quality evaluation of included studies will be implemented with Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. STATA 14.0 will be used to perform pairwise meta-analysis. Addis 1.16.8, R 3.6.3, OpenBUGS 3.2.3, and STATA 14.0 will be used to conduct network meta-analysis. The evidence will be assessed by the grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation approach using GRADE Profiler 3.6. The results of this review will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication and generate a comprehensive review of current evidence. Our results will help to improve the clinical decision-making ability and policy-making in PONV domain. The protocol has been registered on INPLASY 202060108.

Traditional medicine treatment for thoracic outlet syndrome: A protocol for systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Background:Diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is challenging; however, proper evaluation and treatment ensure relief from symptoms in most patients. A comprehensive approach to treatment is important, considering the multifactorial etiology of TOS. The objective of this systematic review is to describe the methods for evaluating the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture-based traditional medicine treatments for TOS.Methods:A total of 13 databases will be searched, from their inception to the present date, for studies that have investigated the treatment of TOS. Databases that will be included are MEDLINE, Embase, AMED, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and 4 Korean, 2 Chinese, and 2 Japanese databases.We will include randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing acupuncture-based traditional medicine for the treatment of any type of TOS. All RCTs on traditional medicine with any form of acupuncture will be eligible for inclusion. The methodologic quality of the RCTs will be analyzed using the Cochrane Collaboration tool to assess the risk of bias, and the confidence in the cumulative evidence will be assessed using the grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation instrument.Ethics and dissemination:The results of this systematic review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and disseminated both electronically and in print. The review will be updated to inform and guide health care practices.Trial registration number:PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020164869

A New Interpretation of Otzi, the Iceman

China is the home of acupuncture, but the origin of this treatment method is unclear. The discovery of Ötzi is a milestone in the discussion of acupuncture and has led to a new interpretation of cause and effect. An interpretation, according to which Europe is the pioneer ahead of China. The literature distinguishes between “a form of acupuncture” and “acupuncture”. This distinction is superfluous in a historical context.

Role of the PERK-eIF2α-CHOP Signaling Pathway in the Effect of Needle Knife Therapy on Knee Joint Chondrocyte Apoptosis.

Needle knife therapy, a form of acupuncture and moxibustion, has been widely used in the clinical treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). However, the mechanism is not clear. Therefore, we studied the mechanisms of action of needle knife intervention on KOA in rabbits, with the PERK-eIF2α-CHOP pathway as a starting point, in order to determine the mechanism underlying knee joint chondrocyte apoptosis. Apoptosis and ultrastructural changes in the articular cartilage were examined by pathological study and transmission electron microscopy, and PERK, eIF2α, and CHOP mRNA and protein levels were detected by qRT-PCR and western blot, respectively. PERK, eIF2α, and CHOP protein levels were significantly higher in the model group than in the normal group (P < 0.01) and were considerably downregulated in the needle knife and the medicine groups compared to the model group (P < 0.01). The eIF2α, p-eIF2α, and CHOP protein levels were not significantly different between the needle knife and medicine groups. The PERK, eIF2α, and CHOP mRNA levels in the drug group were higher than those in the needle knife group (P < 0.01). Needle knife therapy can regulate PERK-eIF2α-CHOP signaling pathway, which could be one of the mechanisms by which it affects chondrocyte apoptosis in KOA rabbits.

Effectiveness comparisons of acupuncture for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: A Bayesian network meta-analysis protocol.

Background:Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a common urinary system disease in the male population. Recent studies have shown that acupuncture can alleviate the pain caused by CP/CPPS to a certain extent and improve the quality of life of patients. This study used a network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare the effectiveness and safety of different forms of acupuncture on CP/CPPS.Methods and analysis:We will search for PubMed, Cochrane Library, AMED, EMbase, WorldSciNet; Nature, Science online and China Journal Full-text Database, China Biomedical Literature CD-ROM Database, and related randomized controlled trials (RCTs) included in the China Resources Database. The time is limited from the construction of the library to December 2018. The quality of the included RCTs will be evaluated with the risk of bias tool and evidence will be evaluated by grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation. STATA 13.0 and WinBUGS 1.4.3 through the GeMTC package will be used to perform a NMA to synthesize direct and indirect evidence.Results:The results of this NMA will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.Trial registration number:PROSPERO CRD42018111408.

The safety and efficacy of acupuncture for erectile dysfunction: A network meta-analysis.

Background:Erectile dysfunction is a common male disease, the constant pace of life, increasing pressure on life, and changes in diet, living environment, lifestyle, etc., lead to an increase in the number of patients with erectile dysfunction (ED). Acupuncture has been widely used in clinical trials of ED in recent years. There are many clinical trials that confirm that acupuncture can improve male erectile function. This study used a network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare the effectiveness and safety of different forms of acupuncture on ED.Methods:We will search for PubMed, Cochrane Library, AMED, EMBASE, WorldSciNet; Nature, Science online and China Journal Full-text Database (China National Knowledge Infrastructure), China Biomedical Literature CD-ROM Database (CBM), and related randomized controlled trials (RCTs) included in the China Resources Database. The time is limited from the construction of the library to December 2018. The quality of the included RCTs will be evaluated with the risk of bias tool and evidence will be evaluated by Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation. STATA 13.0 and WinBUGS 1.4.3 through the GeMTC package will be used to perform an NMA to synthesize direct and indirect evidence.

Safe acupuncture and dry needling during pregnancy: New Zealand physiotherapists’ opinion and practice

ObjectiveAcupuncture guidelines have advised caution when treating women during pregnancy, because historical “forbidden” acupuncture points are believed to stimulate miscarriage or early labor. Despite recent research demonstrating that acupuncture is a useful and safe treatment tool for pregnancy-related low-back pain (LBP) and pelvic girdle pain (PGP), it is postulated that fear of miscarriage and subsequent blame by association, restricts its provision. More recently, an increase in dry needling (DN) courses for physiotherapists has potentiated the rapid growth in DN practice in New Zealand (NZ). Many dry needlers do not consider DN to be a form of acupuncture; it is unknown if they have similar safety concerns. MethodsNZ registered physiotherapists practicing acupuncture and/or DN were invited to participate in an electronic survey to examine their practice and level of understanding in regard to safe needling during pregnancy. ResultsOf 124 respondents, only 60 (48%) would needle pregnant women, with a further 66% of those still expressing safety concerns. NZ physiotherapists practicing DN only, were more likely to needle areas related to “forbidden” points in all trimesters. However, overall, NZ physiotherapists were less likely to needle “forbidden” points than their UK peers. ConclusionConflicting literature and a “fear of blame” influences NZ physiotherapists’ decisions to offer needling (both acupuncture and DN) during pregnancy. Further training in this field is recommended to ensure safe practice and adequate provision of acupuncture treatment options for pregnant women suffering musculoskeletal pain, such as LBP and PGP. Further research, particularly into DN, for women during pregnancy, is warranted.