Received Acupuncture Treatment Research Articles

Effect of acupuncture on tic disorder: a randomized controlled clinical trial based on energy metabolomics and infrared thermography

BackgroundAcupuncture is a method for treating tic disorder. However, there is a lack of sufficient clinical objective basis in regards of its treatment efficacy. Indeed, there are structural abnormalities present in energy metabolism and infrared thermography in children with tic disorder. Therefore, this study proposes a clinical trial scheme to explore the possible mechanism of acupuncture in treating tic disorder.MethodsThis randomized controlled trial will recruit a total of 90 children, in which they will be divided into non-intervention group and intervention group. The non-intervention group consists of 30 healthy children while the intervention group consists of 60 children with tic disorder. The intervention group will be randomly allocated into either the treatment group or the control group, with 30 children randomly assigned in each group. Children either received acupuncture treatment and behavioral therapy (treatment group) or sham acupuncture treatment and behavioral therapy (control group), 3 treatment sessions per week for a period of 12 weeks, with a total of 36 treatment sessions. Outcome measures include YGTSS, urinary and fecal metabolomics, infrared thermography of body surface including governor vessel. For the intervention group, these outcome measures will be collected at the baseline and 90th day prior to intervention. Whereas for the non-intervention group, outcome measures (excluding YGTSS) will be collected at the baseline.DiscussionThe main outcome will be to observe the changes of the severity of tic condition, the secondary outcome will be to observe the changes of structural characteristic of infrared thermography of body surface/acupoints along the governor vessel and to evaluate the changes of urinary and fecal metabolomics at the end of the treatment, so as to analyze the relationship between them and to provide further knowledge in understanding the possible mechanism of acupuncture in improving the clinical symptoms via regulating and restoring the body metabolomics network, which in future it can develop as a set of clinical guideline (diagnosis, treatment, assessment, prognosis) in treating tic disorder. ChiCTR2300075188(Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, http://www.chictr.org.cn, registered on 29 August 2023).

Effects of acupuncture on pain and function in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome: A randomized sham-controlled trial

BackgroundSubacromial impingement syndrome (SIS) is the most common cause of shoulder pain. Acupuncture is a traditional medicine that is effective on pain. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of acupuncture treatment on pain, function, range of motion (ROM) and quality of life compared to sham acupuncture in patients diagnosed with SIS. MethodsA randomized, prospective, double-blinded, sham-controlled trial was conducted. In acupuncture group 40 participants received acupuncture treatment plus exercise therapy while in control group 40 participants received sham acupuncture plus exercise therapy. Primary outcomes included pain-rest, activity and night pain. Secondary outcomes included function [Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) and The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Score (Quick DASH)], ROM, and quality of life [The Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC)] in patients with SIS. ResultsBoth groups had significant improvements for pain-rest, activity night pain scores, SPADI, Quick DASH and WORC after treatment and at the first month follow-up. Significant improvements were recorded in the acupuncture group for all ROM after treatment and at the first month follow-up while in control group only in passive internal rotation. Acupuncture group had better improvements for Quick DASH, WORC and all ROM parameters after the treatment, as well as for all parameters except pain-night and passive flexion at the first month follow-up. ConclusionThis study suggest that acupuncture treatment is a safe, effective and non-invasive treatment option in patients with SIS. Trial registrationThe study protocol is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05794633).

Acupuncture improves neurological function and anti-inflammatory effect in patients with acute ischemic stroke: A double-blinded randomized controlled trial

Background and purposeAcupuncture exerts an anti-inflammatory effect and is recommended by the World Health Organization as a complementary therapy for stroke. This study investigated the improvement in neurological function outcome in acute-stage intervention of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), and the anti-inflammatory effect of early acupuncture. MethodsFifty patients with AIS were randomly assigned to either a control group (CG, 25 patients, received sham acupuncture) or treatment group (TG, 25 patients, received acupuncture treatment). Acupuncture intervention was administered twice a week for a total of 8 sessions over 4 consecutive weeks. The primary outcome was the changes in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and Barthel Index (BI) scores. The secondary outcome was the changes in serum inflammation-related biomarker levels.(ANAIS trial) ResultsA total of 35 patients (18 patients in the CG and 17 patients in the TG) completed the trial. The reduction in NIHSS scores was greater in the TG than in the CG between V2 (second assessment administered after acupuncture intervention) and V1 (first assessment administered before acupuncture intervention; 4.33 ± 1.91 vs. 2.68 ± 1.42, p = 0.005) and between V3 (third assessment administered 28 days after last acupuncture intervention) and V1 (6.00 ± 2.53 vs. 3.83 ± 2.31, p = 0.012). The increase in BI scores was greater in the TG than in the CG between V2 and V1 (28.89 ± 15.39 vs. 14.21 ± 19.38, p = 0.016) and between V3 and V1 (39.41 ± 20.98 vs. 25.00 ± 18.47, p = 0.038). Among participants with high inflammation, the increase in serum IL-12p70 level between V2 and V1 was greater in the TG than in the CG (0.20 ± 0.19 vs. −0.14 ± 0.30, pg/mL p = 0.006). ConclusionsAcupuncture improved the neurological function of patients with AIS, and the relationship between acupuncture improving neurological function and anti-inflammatory effect needs further study. In addition, studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-ups as well as multicenter clinical trials are expected in the future.

Prior acupuncture experience among elderly participants enrolled in a clinical trial of acupuncture for chronic low back pain: Implications for future trials

BackgroundThe effectiveness of acupuncture for chronic low back pain (cLBP) has not been studied specifically in the 65-and-older population. To inform the validity and generalizability of future acupuncture studies among older adults, we characterized elderly participants’ prior experience with and views toward acupuncture and tested for clinical and sociodemographic differences between acupuncture-naïve and non-naïve participants. MethodsData for this study were collected during the baseline telephone interview from the participants enrolled in the Kaiser Permanente Northern California site of an NIH-funded, multicenter clinical trial of acupuncture for cLBP in older adults. ResultsNearly two-thirds (65.6 %) of participants surveyed reported they had previously received acupuncture treatment with the vast majority seeking acupuncture treatment for pain-related issues (84.8 %). The majority of these participants reported relatively modest levels of exposure to acupuncture with most participants (63.1 %) reporting fewer than 10 treatment sessions over their lifetimes. There were no significant differences in age, sex, race, ethnicity, disability scores, income levels, or pain levels between the acupuncture-naïve and non-naïve groups. ConclusionContextual consideration for prior acupuncture utilization rates is warranted and may be higher than expected or previously reported. We found few differences in baseline characteristics between participants who were acupuncture-naïve and those with prior acupuncture experience; thus, future pragmatic clinical trials might relax previous acupuncture-use considerations in their recruitment criteria. For trials focused on acupuncture-naive patients, it may be more feasible to expand the definition of "acupuncture-naive" based on lifetime acupuncture visits or time since last treatment. Trial registrationThe protocol was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (#NCT04982315).

Effect of acupuncture timing on functional impairment at 6 months post-onset in patients with first-ever stroke: a prospective cohort study.

To observe the effect of acupuncture intervention in the acute phase on functional impairment at 6 months post-onset in patients with first-ever stroke, and provide evidence for selecting optimal acupuncture timing in the real-world setting. A total of 601 patients with first-ever stroke were divided into an acute intervention group (onset within 14 days, 256 cases) and a non-acute intervention group (onset between 15 and 90 days, 345 cases) based on whether they received acupuncture treatment in the acute phase. The assessments were conducted at baseline and 6 months post-onset, including modified Rankin scale (mRS) score, total number of acupuncture sessions, total number of combined therapies (moxibustion, cupping, tuina and rehabilitation treatment), recurrence, death events and disability. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the association between acupuncture timing and the risk of disability at 6 months post-onset. The mRS transition method was employed to assess the effect of acupuncture timing on functional improvement at 6 months post-onset. Without adjusting for confounding factors, compared with the non-acute intervention group, the patients in the acute intervention group had reduced risk of disability at 6 months post-onset (OR=0.434, 95%CI: 0.309-0.609, P=0.000). After adjusting for variables i.e. severity of illness, number of acupuncture sessions, and number of cupping sessions, compared with the non-acute intervention group, the patients in the acute intervention group had reduced risk of disability at 6 months post-onset (OR=0.588, 95%CI: 0.388-0.890, P=0.012). After adjusting for all confounding factors, including severity of illness, number of acupuncture sessions, number of cupping sessions, gender, smoking and drinking history, comorbidities, and diagnosis, compared with the non-acute intervention group, the patients in the acute intervention group continued to have a reduced risk of disability at 6 months post-onset (OR=0.629, 95%CI: 0.408-0.971, P=0.036). Both groups showed an overall shift towards lower mRS scores at 6 months post-onset compared to baseline, with a more significant shift towards lower scores in the acute intervention group than the non-acute intervention group. In the real-world setting, acupuncture intervention in the acute phase in patients with first-ever stroke, compared to acupuncture intervention after the acute phase, reduces the risk of disability at 6 months post-onset and improves functional status.

The Association between Acupuncture Therapy and the Risk of Disability Development in Dementia Patients: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Disability is the comorbidity of dementia for which there is no available preventive measure. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between acupuncture treatment and the risk of disability development in dementia patients. A cohort study was performed using a nationwide health database in Taiwan. The included dementia patients were divided into acupuncture and non-acupuncture cohorts based on whether they received acupuncture treatment during the follow-up period. The variables in the two cohorts were controlled by 1:1 propensity-score matching. The difference in disability development in dementia patients between the acupuncture and non-acupuncture cohorts was also analyzed. Subgroup analyses were performed using socioeconomic variables, comorbidities and anti-dementia agents (donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine and memantine) used for dementia treatment. A total of 9,760 dementia patients met our inclusion criteria, and patients were divided into an equal number (n=2,422) of acupuncture and non-acupuncture groups, respectively, after 1:1 propensity-score matching. The dementia patients had a lower risk of disability development after acupuncture treatment than those who did not receive acupuncture treatment (adjusted hazard ratio 0.65, 95% confidence interval 0.60-0.70, p < 0.001). The results were independent of basic variables or comorbidities in the two cohorts. Patients who did not use anti-dementia agents had a lower risk of developing disability after receiving acupuncture intervention than those who used anti-dementia agents. Our results revealed the relationship between acupuncture intervention and decreased risk of developing disability in dementia patients. The results are useful for dementia treatment, trial design and further planning of care programs.

Effect of acupuncture on ischaemic stroke in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a nationwide propensity score-matched study

ObjectiveTo demonstrate that acupuncture is beneficial for decreasing the risk of ischaemic stroke in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).DesignA propensity score-matched cohort study.SettingA nationwide population-based study.ParticipantsPatients with RA diagnosed between...

How well is acupuncture known?

In our study, we aimed to assess participants' attitudes and knowledge of the use of acupuncture among those who were 18-65 years old. During the period of May 1–June 1, 2023, a descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out. Between the stated dates, anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who applied to the Health Sciences University Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital's Family Medicine Outpatient Clinics for any reason and who accepted to participate in the study were included. The researcher administered the 24 questioned data form face-to-face with the individuals after obtaining their sociodemographic characteristics, chronic illnesses, knowledge of various TCM treatments and acupuncture. Among the participants, 167 people (73.6%) had information about acupuncture. Acupuncture was one of the most used applications in our survey, and most of the patients who experienced it were referred by physicians. Those who previously received acupuncture treatment knew more about the practice with a statistically significant difference (p=0.004). Those who knew about acupuncture and those who had previously had acupuncture said there was no danger or damage in receiving acupuncture, with a statistically significant difference (p=0.015, p=0.0001, respectively). Although acupuncture is one of the most well-known TCM uses, its use remains in the background. The internet being the most widely used information source limits access to reliable data. Acupuncture should be performed, like all TCM applications, by qualified physicians in authorized centers while taking the outcomes into consideration.

A Case Report of Occipital Neuralgia Treated with Acupuncture in the Occipital Nerve Area

This case report presents the effectiveness of Korean medicine in the treatment of occipital neuralgia. The patient with occipital neuralgia was treated with acupuncture. Acupuncture treatment was administered to the occipital nerve area, which is commonly used in occipital nerve blocks by western medicine doctors. The severity of the symptoms was assessed daily using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) score of pain. The patient received outpatient treatment a total of 7 times, and only received acupuncture treatment each time. According to the patient, his symptoms decreased by about 90% two days after acupuncture treatment, and the frequency and duration of the symptoms also decreased. Seven days after all acupuncture treatments, the severity of pain was reduced from NRS 6 to NRS 0. The findings of this case report suggest that treatment with Korean medicine can be an effective option for treating occipital neuralgia. Acupuncture can be a good treatment method for occipital neuralgia, along with western drug treatment and occipital nerve block.

Neurological mechanism and efficacy of acupuncture for breast cancer-related insomnia: a study protocol for randomized clinical trial.

Breast cancer survivors (BCSs) are at a higher risk of developing insomnia. The negative effects of cancer-related insomnia (CRI) include depression, anxiety, fatigue, aggressive pain, impaired immune functioning, decreased quality of life, and even increased cancer mortality. Although preliminary progress has been made in the treatment of CRI with acupuncture, the evidence is insufficient and the neurological mechanism underlying the effect of acupuncture is still unclear. The study employs a single-blinded, randomized, controlled trial design. A total of 80 participants will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either the treatment group (n = 40) or the control group (n = 40). The former will receive acupuncture treatment, while the latter will receive sham acupuncture treatment. Both groups will receive 12 sessions over a 4-week period, three times per week (every other day), and each session will last for 30 min. Follow-up assessments will be conducted in week 8. The primary outcome will be the treatment response rate. Secondary outcomes include the change in Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the treatment remission rate, actigraphy sleep assessment, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Quality of Life Core Scale (QLQ-C30), the weekly usage of remedial drugs, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) analysis. Data for the outcomes will be collected at week 0 (the baseline), week 1 (the intervention period), week 4 (the post-treatment period), and week 8 (the follow-up period). The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of acupuncture for patients with CRI in comparison with sham acupuncture. Additionally, the research aims to explore the neuropathological mechanisms of CRI and provide the first evidence on the characteristics of acupuncture treatment using fMRI. We expect that the results of this study will provide valuable scientific evidence of acupuncture treatment for CRI.Clinical trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, identifier ChiCTR2300070349: https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=188677.

Effects of electroacupuncture on refractory interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome: A one-year follow-up case report

BackgroundPatients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) commonly face a decline in their quality of life and social functioning upon discontinuation of conventional therapy, which is known for its limited efficacy and the risk of relapse. While the existing evidence is somewhat restricted, acupuncture is being explored as a potential and effective treatment option for IC/BPS. Case presentationA 67-year-old woman, diagnosed with refractory IC/BPS, underwent treatment at the Medical Acupuncture Department of Sanming Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital. She reported symptoms of lower urinary system dysfunction, including urgency, frequency, and nocturia, along with chronic pelvic pain, and a persistent feeling of pressure and discomfort lasting over 8 years. The patient's visual analog scale (VAS) score for pelvic pain was 7 points prior to receiving acupuncture treatment. Throughout the day, she had more than 10 urinations, and at night, she urinated about once per hour. The O'Leary-Sant interstitial cystitis symptom index/interstitial cystitis problem index (ICSI/ICPI) score was 34 points, and the pelvic pain and urgency frequency (PUF) score was 19 points. ResultsThe patient's complaints were significantly alleviated after 12 sessions of electroacupuncture treatment at BL32, BL33, BL35, and SP6 over 4 weeks. The patient claimed total relief from pelvic pain, with a VAS score of 0. The patient achieved a PUF score of 4 points and an ICSI/ICPI score of 7 points. In addition, there was a significant reduction in the frequency and urgency of urination. The patient experienced a frequency of 4–5 urinations during the day and 1–2 times at night. Subsequently, the patient's mental state and sleep quality were improved. The patient's symptoms did not change at one-year follow-up. ConclusionElectroacupuncture has proven to be an effective management method for IC/BPS, as evidenced by the patient's alleviated lower urinary system symptoms and reduced pelvic pain.

Initial efficacy evaluation of acupuncture therapy for post Covid-19 headache treatment

Background: Among all the neurological disorders that can most frequently be found in the post COVID-19, headache symptomatology is a possible chronic sequela of the infection, making up a rate of 19% after 3 months and 16% after 9 months. This study aims to asses the effectiveness and safety of the acupuncture therapy for post COVID-19 headache treatment. Methods: A cross - sectional descriptivestudy was carried out on 40 patients with post COVID-19 headache who were receiving acupuncture treatment at Hue Central Hospital. The primary outcomes were pain VAS (Visual Analog Scale) and HIT-6 (Headache Impact Test). The secondary outcome was adverse therapy reactions. Results: The pain VAS and HIT-6 declined significantly -3.77 ± 1.46 and -15.97 ± 3.25, respectively. No adverse reactions were found during the study. Conclusion: Based on the high quality of evidence, we concluded that acupuncture may be an effective and safe therapy for post COVID-19 headache treatment.

Fecal microbiota as a predictor of acupuncture responses in patients with postpartum depressive disorder.

There are several clinical and molecular predictors of responses to antidepressant therapy. However, these markers are either too subjective or complex for clinical use. The gut microbiota could provide an easily accessible set of biomarkers to predict therapeutic efficacy, but its value in predicting therapy responses to acupuncture in patients with depression is unknown. Here we analyzed the predictive value of the gut microbiota in patients with postpartum depressive disorder (PPD) treated with acupuncture. Seventy-nine PPD patients were enrolled: 55 were treated with acupuncture and 24 did not received any treatment. The 17-item Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD-17) was used to assess patients at baseline and after eight weeks. Patients receiving acupuncture treatment were divided into an acupuncture-responsive group or non-responsive group according to HAMD-17 scores changes. Baseline fecal samples were obtained from the patients receiving acupuncture and were analyzed by high-throughput 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing to characterize the gut microbiome. 47.27% patients responded to acupuncture treatment and 12.5% patients with no treatment recovered after 8-week follow-up. There was no significant difference in α-diversity between responders and non-responders. The β-diversity of non-responders was significantly higher than responders. Paraprevotella and Desulfovibrio spp. were significantly enriched in acupuncture responders, and these organisms had an area under the curve of 0.76 and 0.66 for predicting responder patients, respectively. Paraprevotella and Desulfovibrioare may be useful predictive biomarkers to predict PPD patients likely to respond to acupuncture. Larger studies and validation in independent cohorts are now needed to validate our findings.

Acupuncture for treating adolescent depression: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

The prevalence of depression among adolescents has been significantly increasing in recent years. However, current antidepressants for adolescents have limited safety and efficacy. Acupuncture has been shown to be effective in treating depression in adults, but there is a lack of high-quality evidence for its effect on the treatment of adolescent depression, and the underlying mechanism is still unclear. Therefore, we designed a randomized controlled trial to explore the effectiveness and the therapeutic mechanisms of acupuncture on adolescent depression. This study will be designed as a multi-center, sham and randomized controlled clinical trial. For this purpose, a total of 96 adolescent depression patients diagnosed with moderate and severe depression will be randomly divided into the manual acupuncture group and the sham one, respectively. The two groups received acupuncture treatment 3 times a week for a total course lasting 4 weeks. All patients will be assessed according to the primary outcomes including Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-24) and Zung self-rating depression scale (SDS) at baseline, week 2, 4 and 8. Additionally, the secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline and week 4, which includes intestinal flora structure, fecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) content and serum serotonin (5-HT) level. This study is the first randomized trial of acupuncture treatment of adolescent depression. Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2200064359. Registered on October 4, 2022.

Retrospective study of acupuncture treatment for canine thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniation

Thoracolumbar interverbal disk herniation (TL-IVDH) is a common neurological disorder in dogs, which often affects the life quality of patients and their caregivers. Acupuncture is increasingly accepted by veterinarians and animal owners, and has been used in the treatment of neurologic disorders. This study aims to evaluate the effects of acupuncture treatment for canine TL-IVDH. Clinical cases from 2016 to 2021 were collected. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 94 TL-IVDH cases that received acupuncture treatment were selected. Clinical classification and efficacy criteria were formulated based on the Frankel Score. For each case, clinical presentation, improvement, recovery and recurrence were recorded. Male dogs with TL-IVDH accounted for 64% of all cases. The average age was 7.49 years old, the predominant breed was poodle, and the incidence site was concentrated from T11 to L1. The overall recovery rate after receiving acupuncture treatment was 79.78%, which was comparable when considering only cases with grade 2, 3, or 4 spinal cord lesions (83.33% ~ 85.19%). In conclusion, canine with grade 2, 3, and 4 spinal cord lesions due to TL-IVDH receiving acupuncture had a high recovery rate, suggesting acupuncture could be a viable treatment options for canine with TL-IVDH.

Effects of acupuncture on hemorrhagic transformation and motor function in stroke patients after intravenous thrombolysis with rt-PA: a prospective cohort study

To observe the effects of the Xingnao Kaiqiao (regaining consciousness and opening orifices) acupuncture on hemorrhagic transformation and limb motor function after intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in stroke patients. A total of 130 stroke patients after rt-PA thrombolytic were divided into an acupuncture group (58 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a non-acupuncture group (72 cases, 7 cases dropped off) according to whether they received acupuncture treatment. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to match each group, with 38 patients in each group. The patients in the non-acupuncture group received rt-PA thrombolytic therapy and western medical basic treatment. In addition to the basic treatment, the patients in the acupuncture group received Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture at Shuigou (GV 26), bilateral Neiguan (PC 6), and ipsilateral Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Chize (LU 5), once a day for 14 days. The incidence of hemorrhagic transformation within 30 days after onset was compared between the two groups. The Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) score and activities of daily living (ADL) score were observed at baseline and 30 days, 6 months, 1 year after onset in the two groups. The disability rate at 6 months and 1 year after onset was recorded, and safety was evaluated in both groups. The incidence of hemorrhagic transformation in the acupuncture group was 5.3% (2/38), which was lower than 21.1% (8/38) in the non-acupuncture group (P<0.05). At 30 days, 6 month, and 1 year after onset, the FMA and ADL scores of both groups were higher than those at baseline (P<0.01), and the scores in the acupuncture group were higher than those in the non-acupuncture group (P<0.01). The disability rate in the acupuncture group at 1 year after onset was 10.5% (4/38), which was lower than 28.9% (11/38) in the non-acupuncture group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the two groups (P>0.05). The Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture method could reduce the incidence of hemorrhagic transformation in stroke patients after intravenous thrombolysis with rt-PA, improve their motor function and daily living ability, and reduce the long-term disability rate.

Effect of acupuncture at "Houxi" (SI3) and"Huantiao" (GB30) on high mobility group box 1 protein in spinal nerve trunk of rats with lumbar disc herniation

To observe the effect of acupuncture at "Houxi"(SI3) and "Huantiao"(GB30) on high mobility group box 1(HMGB1) protein and mRNA in spinal nerve trunk(SNT) of rats with lumbar disc herniation(LDH), so as to explore the mechanisms of acupuncture at this paired points on the treatment for LDH. SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation, model, conventional acupuncture(CA) and paired points(PP) groups (with 8 rats in each group). The LDH model was established by injection of autologous suspension made from rats' own nucleus pulsus into the epidural space. Rats in the CA group received acupuncture treatment at bilateral "Weizhong"(BL40), "Dachangshu"(BL25) and "Shenshu"(BL23), while rats in the PP group received acupuncture at bilateral SI3 and GB30, 30 min each time, once daily for 14 consecutive days. The thermal pain threshold of bilateral hind feet of rats was detected by thermal pain stimulator. The contents of serum IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 of rats were detected by ELISA. Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression of HMGB1 protein in the lumbar(L)5 SNT of rats. The relative expression of HMGB1 mRNA in L5 SNT was determined by qPCR. HE staining was used to observe the morphological changes of L5 SNT. Compared with the sham operation group, the thermal pain threshold of bilateral hind feet in the model group was decreased (P<0.05); compared with the model group, the thermal pain threshold of bilateral hind feet in the CA group and the PP group were increased (P<0.05). The expressions of HMGB1 protein and mRNA in L5 SNT, and the contents of serum IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 of rats in the model group were significantly increased(P<0.000 1, P<0.001) in contrast to the sham operation group. The expressions of HMGB1 protein and mRNA in L5 SNT, and the levels of serum IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly decreased (P<0.01, P<0.000 1, P<0.001, P<0.05) in the CA and PP group, in comparison with those of the model group. Compared with the CA group, the above indexes of rats in the PP group recovered more significantly (P<0.05,P<0.001, P<0.01,P<0.000 1). The histomorphological results showed scattered and various-sized nerve fibers, vacuolation, a large number of disintegrating myelin sheath and lysed Schwann cells in the model group. Myelin sheaths regeneration, regularly-arranged nerve fibers were seen in the CA group and the PP group, with more obvious histopathological recovery observed in the PP group than the CA group. Acupuncture intervention inhibites the expressions of HMGB1 protein and mRNA in rats with LDH, and further reduces the production of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8, which is beneficial to inflammatory response inhibition and pain alleviation. The therapeutic effect of the PP group is more obvious than that of the CA group.

Acupuncture for patients with Maigne's syndrome: A case series.

Diagnosing the precise etiology of low back pain (LBP) is crucial for facilitating speedy recovery in patients. Maigne's syndrome (MS), commonly referred to as thoracolumbar junction syndrome, is a condition characterized by pain resulting from nerve entrapment, yet its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study presents a series of six case reports wherein patients diagnosed with MS received acupuncture treatment. Six individuals with LBP were included in the study, and all were diagnosed with MS. The diagnosis was confirmed in all six patients through pinch-roll and thoracic vertebrae compression tests, indicating the presence of thoracolumbar junction syndrome. Acupuncture treatment was administered to all patients, primarily targeting the T11-L2 facet joints, with additional acupoints selected based on the specific nerve entrapment of MS including the superior cluneal, subcostal, and iliohypogastric nerves. Following acupuncture therapy, all patients reported improvements in their LBP symptoms, while four patients also exhibited amelioration in their thoracic vertebrae compression test results. These findings underscore the significance of promptly diagnosing the underlying cause of LBP and suggest that acupuncture may be an effective approach in alleviating MS-related pain.

Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System -29 Domains Interaction in Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain During Acupuncture: A Pilot Study.

This pilot study explored interactions of domains of physical, psychologic, and social factors in the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System® (PROMIS®)-29 system and their dynamic changes during acupuncture treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain. PROMIS-29 profile, version 2.1 was applied among participants with chronic musculoskeletal pain, who received acupuncture treatment for 5 weeks. Data from function-oriented and symptom-oriented domains as well as changes in pain intensity were evaluated at weeks 0, 3, and 5, in 9 patients who completed full sessions. Scores of the domains were analyzed by hierarchical cluster analysis at each timepoint to identify the patterns of interactions of PROMIS domains. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed the existence of 2 main clusters: one consisting of pain, fatigue, and emotional domains; the other comprising physical function and social domains. The general pattern was stable but interactions were found throughout the treatment. The score for sleep disturbance did not improve but was correlated with different domains at varying stages of treatment. Interaction between 2 clusters of pain with fatigue and emotional domains; and physical function with social domains showed that acupuncture produces holistic reductions in chronic musculoskeletal pain. However, the limitation of sample size and bias in this pilot study requires future research on the need to adopt an interdisciplinary and holistic approach to the recovery of patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain, who have dynamic needs.

0341 Acupuncture and Its Effects on Various Patterns of Insomnia

Abstract Introduction Acupuncture has been shown to treat Insomnia. Insomnia is classified as difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, waking up throughout the night, and waking up early, which is associated with decreased daytime function, mental health, and cardiometabolic health. The purpose of our study is to describe a series of 12 cases seen in an Acupuncture Clinic in Tampa for symptoms of Insomnia. Methods We used intakes from eight females, seven Caucasians, one African American, and four Caucasian males aged 30-65 and assessed information through Acupuncture systems. Patients were seen for Insomnia along with other treatable symptoms between January 2019 and October 2022. Information on Gynecological, Orthopedic, Genito-Urinary, Psycho-Emotional, Gastrointestinal, Respiratory, Ear/Nose/Throat, Neurological, Endocrine, and Allergic/Immunologic were collected. Follow-up intake information and Subjective, Objective, Assessment Plan (SOAP) notes were conducted during each visit through the electronic medical system. Differential diagnosis, as well as ICD codes, are housed within the system. The Acupuncture method utilized was Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and not dry needling, which does not include a differential diagnosis and is typically used for Orthopedic conditions. Results We retrieved data from twelve patients, eight women and four men receiving Acupuncture treatment in private practice. The mean age of the sample was 46.91 [30-65] years. Of the 12 patients, 10 of them fully recovered after treatment. Among those who fully recovered, treatments ranged as low as two up to 14, with three patients receiving six treatments and one receiving 14. One patient discontinued treatment after six treatments with a slight change to differential insomnia pattern. One patient received fourteen treatments with only partial remission to differential insomnia pattern. Conclusion Acupuncture may be an effective modality in treating Insomnia, regardless of the pattern. Further studies are necessary to determine the mechanism of action. Support (if any) R01HL152453, R01MD007716, and R01HL142066