Safety Of Acupuncture Research Articles

Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis with Acupuncture Based on Pathophysiological.

Allergic rhinitis is a prevalent allergic diseases and has a profound impact on physical well-being. In recent years, more and more people have changed to allergic diseases, such as allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, allergic dermatitis and so on. In the incidence of allergic rhinitis, covering all ages. The common clinical treatment of allergic rhinitis are drugs and immunotherapy, but these therapies have certain limitations. Therefore, an effective and economical treatment for AR is urgently needed. Acupuncture are widely used in the clinical treatment of various diseases, but the effect of acupuncture in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) is significant, and the mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of AR is also a hot spot. Acupuncture is one of the traditional treatment methods of traditional Chinese medicine, which achieves therapeutic effect by pressing a needle or other means at a specific location on the skin to produce a special sensation. Among them, acupuncture, as a popular treatment method, has attracted more and more attention. In this review, we provide an overview of the current understanding of acupuncture and AR, as well as current studies investigating the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for AR.

Efficacy of acupuncture treatment for breast cancer-related insomnia: study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial

BackgroundInsomnia is one of the most common symptoms among breast cancer patients, which can be present throughout all stages of breast cancer. As a non-pharmacological alternative treatment, acupuncture has been suggested to improve sleep situations in patients with cancer suffering from insomnia. However, there is a lack of well-designed, high-quality clinical evidence regarding the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of breast cancer-related insomnia. This study is conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture treatment for breast cancer-related insomnia.MethodsThis study was designed as a multicenter, randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial. A total of 264 eligible patients with breast cancer-related insomnia will be randomized into an acupuncture group and a sham acupuncture group in a 1:1 ratio. In the trial, patients in the acupuncture and sham acupuncture groups will receive 12 sessions over a consecutive 4-week period. The primary outcome will be the treatment response rate of Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) at week 4; secondary outcomes include treatment remission rate of ISI, Sleep Efficiency (SE) obtained by the use of Sleep diary, treatment response rate of ISI at 8th and 16th weeks of follow-up, the mean changes of ISI, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Quality of Life Questionnaire - Core 30 (QLQ-C30), sleep parameters recorded in Actigraphy and weekly usage of remedial drugs. Adverse events will be recorded throughout the study. All analyses will be based on the ITT principle and performed with SAS 9.4 statistical software.DiscussionThis trial will evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture for breast cancer-related insomnia. If proven effective, acupuncture will provide an effective option for patients with breast cancer-related insomnia, which will play a positive role in helping patients reduce their use of sleeping medications.Clinical trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT05510700.

Efficacy and Safety of Acupuncture for Restless Legs Syndrome in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease: A Randomized-Controlled Trial at Hospital-Based Hemodialysis Center.

Background: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is frequent in patients with hemodialysis (HD) and occurs predominantly in its most severe forms. The study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for RLS in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) at hospital-based HD center. Methods: This single-blind, randomized controlled trial was performed on patients with HD and RLS who were randomly assigned to the experimental group and control group. Data were collected using the International Restless Legs Syndrome Rating Scale (IRLSRS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and heart rate variability (HRV) records at baseline, after the therapeutic course (12 times/4 weeks), and 1-week follow-up. Result: A total of 47 patients were evaluated with IRLSRS score from 11 to 30 in this study. There were 41 patients enrolled in the study based on inclusion/exclusion criteria and allocated randomly into two groups. A total of 35 participants completed the trial, including 18 subjects in the experimental group and 17 subjects in the control group. The comparison of IRLSRS and ISI showed a significant reduction between two groups after acupuncture treatment (p = 0.002, p = 0.003). The ISI after 1-week follow-up also revealed significant decrease (p = 0.003). This HRV results showed that high frequency (HF%) increased significantly (p = 0.021) and low frequency (LF%) decreased significantly in the acupuncture group (p = 0.021). The generalized estimating equation showed that the IRLSRS improved by 2.902 points (p < 0.001) in the acupuncture group compared with the control group and by 1.340 points (p = 0.003) after 1-week follow-up. There were no adverse effects observed during HD in this study. Discussion: The authors conclude that acupuncture could effectively improve the symptoms of RLS significantly. The results from this study provide clinical evidence on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture to treat the patients with RLS at the HD center.

Mechanism and application of acupuncture and electro‐acupuncture associated with cancer therapy

AbstractThe rapid progress in cancer treatment, along with the increase in cure and control rates, has led to the gradual acceptance of cancer as a chronic disease. Cancer treatment is comprehensive and long‐term. However, cancer symptoms and treatment side effects can hinder patients' quality of life and adherence to treatment, ultimately impacrefting their long‐term survival. Acupuncture (AC) and electro‐acupuncture (EA) have been widely used to treat various diseases. AC and EA have demonstrated their ability to relieve symptoms and side effects related to cancer treatment. The review provides a brief overview of the historical lineage and basic principles of AC treatment, as well as a detailed exploration of the mechanisms and clinical applications of AC and EA to relieve cancer symptoms and treatment side effects. AC and EA can play a therapeutic role by regulating systems of nervous, endocrine, immune and so on. Clinical studies have demonstrated that AC and EA can effectively relieve pain, postoperative ileus, and other symptoms. The safety of AC and EA has been tested worldwide. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges and future research directions for AC and EA in the field of cancer treatment.

Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture for insomnia in stroke patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

BackgroundInsomnia is highly prevalent in stroke patients; however, there is no ideal intervention. This systematic review examined the effect and safety of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) and acupuncture on sleep in adults with stroke. MethodsSix databases were searched from inception to June 2023 to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs). The primary outcome was Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores. Risk of bias and evidence quality was assessed. A pairwise random-effect meta-analysis was performed. ResultsA total of 54 RCTs published in 55 articles were finally included in the systematic review, including 35 of CHM and 19 of acupuncture therapies. Compared with placebo/sham procedure, CHM and acupuncture were more effective in improving PSQI scores. The evidence of moderate quality suggested that CHM outperformed benzodiazepine drugs (BZDs) while it presented an effect similar to that of non-BZDs in improving sleep quality. CHM and acupuncture also provided additional benefits to the patients treated with pharmacological agents alone. However, the evidence specific to individual CHM prescriptions lay in various factors and methodological quality, and the evidence on the comparative effectiveness between acupuncture and other therapies was conflicting or limited. ConclusionsOverall, CHM and acupuncture used alone or in combination with pharmacotherapy can safely improve sleep in stroke patients with insomnia. In the future, RCTs on outstanding CHM prescriptions and the comparative effectiveness research between acupuncture and other therapies are needed. RegistrationPROSPERO No. CRD42020194029 and No. CRD42020194030.

Efficacy and safety of herbal medicine combined with acupuncture in pediatric epilepsy treatment: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of herbal medicine and acupuncture combination for pediatric epilepsy treatment. Databases were searched from their interception until October 2023 to identify randomized controlled trials focusing on the therapeutic efficacy of herbal medicine-acupuncture combination (intervention group) for pediatric epilepsy. The primary outcome was the risk of treatment failure, whereas the secondary outcomes included the risk of post-treatment electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormalities and adverse events. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on the type of herbal compound formulas. Meta-regression analysis was conducted to examine the influence of patient demographics and clinical history on the therapeutic efficacy of herbal medicine-acupuncture combination for pediatric epilepsy. To assess the cumulative evidence, trial sequential analysis (TSA) was performed. The analysis included 10 trials involving a total of 882 pediatric patients. Meta-analysis revealed that the intervention group had a lower risk of treatment failure than the control group (risk ratio [RR] = 0.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.19-0.47, P<0.00001, I2 = 0%, 10 trials). Subgroup analyses showed that therapeutic efficacy was consistent among the different herbal compound formulas. Meta-regression analysis revealed that the efficacy of the treatments did not significantly vary with patient age, male sex, and duration of seizure history. TSA suggested that herbal medicine-acupuncture combination exerted a robust and conclusive effect on seizure treatment. Although the combined used of herbal medicine and acupuncture was not associated with a lower risk of post-treatment EEG abnormalities (RR = 0.82, 95%CI:0.6-1.11, P = 0.2, 3 trials), the risk of adverse events was reduced (RR = 0.27, 95%CI:0.18-0.41, P<0.00001, 4 trials). The meta-analysis suggested that combined use of herbal medicine and acupuncture is a promising and safe clinical approach for pediatric epilepsy treatment. Further large-scale studies are necessary to conclusively determine the efficacy and safety of herbal medicine and acupuncture in pediatric epilepsy treatment.

Acupuncture at five Zang-shu and Ge-shu for bipolar depression: study protocol for a randomized controlled pilot trial

Background: Bipolar disorder is a very common, often misdiagnosed mental disorder strongly associated with comorbidity, disability, and premature mortality. Bipolar depression (i.e., depressive episode in bipolar disorder) is poorly responsive to available treatments. Acupuncture at five Zang-shu and Ge-shu, a prescription from Dr. Leting Wang, is a popular therapy for depression in China. Its effectiveness and safety for bipolar depression is yet to be verified by clinical study. Methods/design: The study is a single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial involving 72 patients diagnosed with bipolar depression. Participants will be randomized either to the study group or the control group in a 1:1 ratio. All participants will receive mood stabilizer therapy. In addition, the study group will receive acupuncture therapy at five Zang-shu and Ge-shu, three times per week. The control group will orally take the antidepressant bupropion. Observation and intervention will last for 8 consecutive weeks. Outcome measurements include Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 (HAMD-17), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI), Young Manic Rating Scale (YMRS), Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS), serum levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10, TGF-β), pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP). Assessments will be conducted at baseline, 1st, 2nd, 4th and 8th week after randomization. Safety assessments will be performed throughout the study. Discussion: The results of this study are expected to verify the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture at five Zang-shu and Ge-shu for bipolar depression, and explore its therapeutic mechanisms from the point of anti- inflammation.

The Effectiveness and Safety of Acupuncture for Mammary Hyperplasia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This study aims to systematically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in treating mammary hyperplasia. A comprehensive search was conducted in various databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, SinoMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, and VIP Database, from their inception until July 2023. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) researching the use of acupuncture for mammary hyperplasia were included. Quality assessment and data analysis were performed using RevMan 5.3 software. Eight RCTs, comprising 573 patients, were included in this analysis. The meta-analysis revealed that in the acupuncture group, the experimental group was better than the control group in improving breast pain, breast lump extent, and the texture of breast lump (P=0.0007, I2=61%; P=0.02, I2=0%; P=0.0002, I2=0%). We found that both could be improved, but after statistical analysis, there was no significant advantage in the acupuncture group compared with the patent Chinese medicine group (p>0.05). Acupuncture appears to be an effective and safe treatment for mammary hyperplasia, providing pain relief and reducing mass volume, texture, and extent. However, the insufficient quality of the available evidence indicates the need for further methodologically rigorous and convincingly designed studies to determine the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of breast hyperplasia.

Effectiveness and Safety of Meridian Activation Remedy System for Alleviating Motor Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease: an Observational Study.

Parkinson's disease (PD) lacks disease-modifying drugs or sustainable interventions, creating an unmet treatment need. Investigating complementary and alternative medicines aims to improve PD patients' quality of life by alleviating symptoms and delaying the course of the disease. In this single-center, prospective, observational, single-arm study, we aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture combined with exercise therapy and the Meridian Activation Remedy System (MARS). From March to October 2021, 13 PD patients with Hoehn and Yahr stages 1 to 3 were recruited. For 8 weeks, MARS intervention was carried out twice a week. T-statistics were used to evaluate functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and GAITRite outcomes. All of the remaining outcome variables were evaluated using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The MARS intervention significantly reduced PD patients' Movement Disorder Society-Sponsored Revision of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDSUPDRS) Part III score (from 20.0 ± 11.8 to 8.8 ± 5.5, p = 0.003), 10-meter walk test speed (from 9.5 ± 1.8 to 8.7 ± 1.3 seconds, p = 0.040), and timed up and go time (from 9.8 ± 1.8 to 8.9 ± 1.4 seconds, p = 0.040). Moreover, the MDS-UPDRS Part II, fNIRS hemodynamics, 360-degree turn test, fall efficacy scale, and Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire 39 scores improved but not significantly. All participants completed the 8-week intervention without any adverse reactions. An 8-week MARS intervention improved motor symptoms in PD patients. In particular, improvements in UPDRS Part III scores exhibited large clinically important differences. The findings are encouraging, and a randomized controlled trial will be conducted to determine the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of MARS intervention.

Trends in the Development of Acupuncture-Related Technologies Based on Patents in South Korea.

Several studies have assessed the safety and efficacy of acupuncture, but none have reviewed patent trends related to acupuncture as an intervention. This study analyzed trends in patents for the development of acupuncture-related technologies in Korea. The Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service (KIPRIS) was searched for information on acupuncture-related patents registered until August 11, 2021, without any limit on the search period. Only acupuncture and electro-acupuncture were included in this review. The current status, contents, and technological characteristics of the relevant patents were analyzed systematically to identify the overall status of acupuncture-related patents. Overall, 126 patents were identified from the KIPRIS database, of which 93 were unrelated to the research topic and were excluded. Finally, 33 patents were assessed. Interest in the development of acupuncture technology has increased steadily over the past decade. Patent applications reached their peak in 2018 with six instances, while patent registration peaked in 2019 with seven instances. The interval between the application and registration of an individual patent was 14.3 months (449 days). Twenty-two acupuncture-related patents were for acupuncture (66.6%) and 11 for electro-acupuncture (33.3%). The technical specifications for the patents included acupuncture devices (30.3%), acupuncture manufacturing methods and equipment (36.4%), and electro-acupuncture devices (33.3%). Acupuncture-related technology currently focuses on technological advancements for the safe and effective delivery of stimulation. The findings demonstrate trends toward new diverse and complex technological advancements for acupuncture devices, manufacturing methods and equipment, and electro-acupuncture devices.

Use of bone landmarks for assessing the safety of acupuncture on the posterior midline of the neck region

ObjectiveMany acupuncture acupoints are located on the posterior midline of the neck region. The needling depth for acupuncture is important for practitioners, and an unsafe needling depth increases the possibility of damage to the spinal cord and brainstem. Can the safety of acupuncture be assessed by examining bone structures? We focused on this aim to carry out this study.MethodsThe shortest distance from the posterior border of the foramen magnum to the line joining both upper ends of the posterior border of the mastoid process was measured on 29 skulls. Distances from the posterior border of the vertebral foramen to the tip of the spinous process and posterior tubercle of the atlas were measured and evaluated from 197 dry cervical vertebrae and 31 lateral cervical radiographs of patient subjects. The anatomic relationships of the vertebral canal with the external occipital protuberance, tip of the spinous process of the axis, tip of the posterior tubercle of the atlas, and upper end of the posterior border of the mastoid process were observed and evaluated via lateral cervical radiography.ResultsThe shortest distance from the foramen magnum to the line between the mastoid processes was 4.65±1.75 mm, and the distance from the superior border of the vertebral foramen of the atlas to the posterior tubercle was less than the distance from the inferior border. The distance from the superior border of the vertebral canal to the tip of the spinous process in C2-C7 was greater than the distance from the inferior border. The mean lengths of the superior border of the C2 spinous process and the inferior border of the C7 spinous process were greater than 21 mm and 31 mm, respectively. The line from the upper end of the posterior border of the mastoid process to the tip of the C2 spinous process or 10 mm deep to the tip of the C2 spinous process was posterior to the vertebral canal.ConclusionsOn the posterior midline of the neck region between the tip of spinous process of axis and external occipital protuberance, if the needle reaches the depth of the line between the upper end of posterior border of mastoid process and the tip of the spinous process of the axis, approximately 10 mm along the spinous process of the axis, the needle is in the safe region. The mean length of the C2-C7 spinous process is suitable to accommodate the needling depth of the adjacent acupoint. Bone structures can be used to effectively assess the safety of acupuncture on the posterior midline of the neck region.

Efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture for functional constipation in older adults: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Functional constipation (FC) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder in clinical practice, with the prevalence of which increasing with age. With the increasing aging of the population worldwide, this problem is bound to become more prominent. Acupuncture is effective and recommended for the treatment of FC. However, little is known about how acupuncture affects the gut microbiota and inflammatory cytokines and thus improves gut function. Meanwhile, there are few high-quality clinical trials specifically focusing on acupuncture in treating FC in older people. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in treating FC in older people. Additionally, the research aims to explore the mechanism of action of acupuncture in treating FC in older people by affecting intestinal microbiota and inflammation cytokines. This study is designed as a single-center, randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial. A total of 98 eligible FC patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio into an acupuncture group and a sham acupuncture group. Both groups will receive 24 treatments over 8 weeks with a 12-week follow-up. The primary outcome of the study is the treatment response rate, which is the proportion of participants with ≥3 mean weekly Complete Spontaneous Bowel Movements (CSBMs) over weeks 3-8. The secondary outcomes will include the proportion of participants with ≥3 mean weekly CSBMs during other assessment periods; the percentage of patients with ≥1 increase in mean weekly CSBMs from baseline; the average changes in CSBMs; Patient Assessment of Constipation-Symptoms (PAC-SYM), Bristol Stool Scale, Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAC-QOL), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) and weekly usage of emergency bowel medications. Adverse events will be recorded throughout the study. Data for the outcomes will be collected at Week 0 (baseline), Week 4 (the intervention period), Week 8 (the post-treatment), Week 12 (the follow-up period) and Week 20 (the follow-up period). In addition, changes in intestinal microbiota will be analyzed using 16S rRNA high-throughput detection, and the concentration of relevant inflammatory cytokines in serum will be measured by ELISA based on blood samples. The intention-to-treat analysis will be performed in this study.Clinical trial registration: [https://www.chictr.org.cn/], identifier [ChiCTR2300070735].

Effect of acupuncture on quality of life in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.

To observe the effect and safety of acupuncture on quality of life, pain, and prostate symptoms in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). Seventy patients with CP/CPPS were randomly divided into an acupuncture group (35 cases, 1 case was eliminated) and a sham acupuncture group (35 cases, 3 cases dropped out). The patients in the acupuncture group were treated with routine acupuncture at bilateral Zhongliao (BL 33), Huiyang (BL 35), Shenshu (BL 23) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6), while the patients in the sham acupuncture group were treated with shallow needling at non-meridian and non-acupoint points beside bilateral Zhongliao (BL 33), Huiyang (BL 35), Shenshu (BL 23) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6),without manipulation to induce arrival of qi (deqi). Both groups retained the needles for 30 min, with one session every other day, three times a week, for a total of 8 weeks (24 sessions). Before and after treatment, and at the follow-up of 24 weeks after treatment completion, the scores of MOS 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36, including 8 dimensions of physical function [PF], role physical function [RP], bodily pain [BP], general health status [GH], vitality [VT], social function [SF], role emotional [RE], and mental health [MH], which can be summarized as physical component summary [PCS] and mental component summary [MCS]), pelvic pain visual analogue scale (VAS), National Institutes of Health chronic prostatitis symptom index (NIH-CPSI), and international prostate symptom score (IPSS) were evaluated, and safety of both groups was assessed. After treatment and at the follow-up, the scores of each dimension and PCS, MCS scores of SF-36 in the acupuncture group were higher than those before treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01); compared before treatment, the RP, BP, and SF scores and PCS score in the sham acupuncture group were increased after treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01). After treatment, the acupuncture group had higher scores in RP, BP, GH, MH and PCS, MCS than those in the sham acupuncture group (P<0.05, P<0.01); at the follow-up, except for PF and RE dimensions, the scores in each dimension and PCS, MCS scores in the acupuncture group were higher than those in the sham acupuncture group (P<0.05, P<0.01). After treatment and at the follow-up, pelvic pain VAS, NIH-CPSI, IPSS scores in the acupuncture group were lower than those before treatment (P<0.01); in the sham acupuncture group, pelvic pain VAS, NIH-CPSI scores were lower after treatment, and NIH-CPSI score at the follow-up was lower compared with those before treatment (P<0.01). After treatment and at the follow-up, pelvic pain VAS, NIH-CPSI, IPSS scores in the acupuncture group were lower than those in the sham acupuncture group (P<0.01, P<0.05). No significant adverse reactions were observed in both groups, and the incidence rates of adverse reactions had no significant difference (P>0.05). Acupuncture could effectively improve the quality of life, reduce pain levels, alleviate prostate symptoms, and shows favorable long-term efficacy in patients with CP/CPPS.

Acupuncture in Multiple Myeloma Peripheral Neuropathy: A Systematic Review.

Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a prevalent complication of multiple myeloma (MM), due to the disease itself or its treatment. Despite extensive research, the optimal treatment for multiple myeloma peripheral neuropathy (MMPN) remains unclear. Clinical practice has shown the potential efficacy of acupuncture in managing MMPN. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the literature to assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture as a treatment for MMPN. The PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases were comprehensively searched from inception to November 1, 2023 to identify relevant studies pertaining to the use of acupuncture to treat MMPN. A total of five studies, encompassing 97 patients diagnosed with drug-related PN, were ultimately included in this analysis. The literature lacks any reports pertaining to the utilization of acupuncture for disease-related PN. ST36, LI4, SP6, and EX-LE-10 were found to be the most frequently chosen acupoints. Following acupuncture treatment, there was a consistent reduction in scores on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Neuropathic Pain Scale (NPS), Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOG-Ntx) among MMPN patients. The results of Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV) tests yielded conflicting results. No severe adverse effects were reported. The use of acupuncture for disease-related PN has not been studied to date. Acupuncture is safe for drug-related PN and is helpful for relieving pain. But uncertainty exists regarding the efficacy of this approach because there is substantial heterogeneity with respect to acupuncture treatment regimens, and more high-quality studies on this topic are warranted.

Research hotspots and trends on acupuncture treatment for headache: a bibliometric analysis from 2003 to 2023.

While acupuncture treatment has gained extensive usage in addressing headaches, there remains a notable gap in the literature analysis for this field. Therefore, this study aims to conduct a literature review using Citespace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix, aiming to examine the current status, strengths, and potential future directions in the utilization of acupuncture for headache treatment. Relevant literature on acupuncture treatment for headaches between 2003 and 2023 was retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) core database. Utilizing CiteSpace 6.1.R6, VOSviewer 1.6.18, and Bibliometrix 4.1.4, we conducted bibliometric analyses across various categories, including countries/regions, institutions, authors, journals, references, and keywords. A total of 808 research reports were included. China and the United States have significantly contributed to this field. Chengdu University of Chinese Medicine holds the record for the highest number of published papers. Liu Lu has the highest publication output, while Linde K has the highest citation rate. MEDICINE leads in publication frequency, while CEPHALALGIA holds the highest citation rate. The Long-term Effect of Acupuncture for Migraine Prophylaxis a Randomized Clinical Trial is the most cited reference. Migraine was the most researched type. Filiform needle acupuncture was the most widely used stimulation method. The safety and efficacy of acupuncture have received significant attention. Modern mechanism research shows that depression, brain functional connectivity, and neuroimaging technology have become research hotspots in the acupuncture treatment of headaches. Acupuncture treatment for headaches has established a stable trend with a promising developmental trajectory. Research in this field mainly focuses on different acupuncture prevention and treatment for various types of headaches, the safety and efficacy of acupuncture, etc. Research on the mechanism of action mainly focuses on interpreting bidirectional and holistic regulation between pain and emotion by acupuncture and the regulation of brain function connection and neuroimaging technology by acupuncture. Future research should expand on the advantages and indications of acupuncture treatment for different headaches and their modern mechanisms.

Comparative efficacy of acupuncture, venesection, and physical therapy on chronic low back pain outcomes: a randomized clinical trial.

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) imposes considerable financial and social burden with poor response to medical and surgical treatments. Alternatively, acupuncture and venesection(Fasd) are traditionally used to alleviate nociceptive and musculoskeletal pains. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and the safety of acupuncture and venesection on CLBP and patient functionality. The current study was a single-blinded, randomized clinical trial with balanced allocation, conducted in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Medicine, in 2022. One hundred five CLBP patients who had no back pain-attributable structural or major diseases were randomly allocated into three parallel arms and received either physical therapy (PTG), acupuncture (APG), or venesection (VSG). Pain severity and functional aspects were evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) during the study. VAS and ODI scores were defined as the primary outcomes. Ninety-five patients were reviewed in the final analysis (PTG=33, APG=30, VSG=31). Demographic data showed equal group distribution. Statistical analysis showed all procedures had reduced VAS score immediately after the first session, after the last session, and after follow-up; however, APG and VSG values were significantly lower (P<0.05). Pain reduction results in follow-up period were more sustainable in APG and VSG as compared to PTG (P<0.01). ODI results revealed global improvement after the last session of the treatment in all groups, while APG had more significant results (P<0.05). During the follow-up period, ODI still tended to decrease in VSG, non-significantly increased in APG, and significantly increased in PTG. Only two patients reported fainting after receiving venesection. Considering the pain and functional scores, both acupuncture and venesection can reproduce reliable results. Acupuncture and venesection both have sustained effects on pain and daily function of the patients even after treatment termination, while physical therapy had more relapse in pain and functional limitations.

Safety and efficacy of acupuncture for mild cognitive impairment: a study protocol for clinical study.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an intermediary condition between typical cognitive decline that occurs owing to aging and dementia. It is necessary to implement an intervention to slow the progression from MCI to Alzheimer's disease. This manuscript reports the protocol for a clinical trial on the effect of acupuncture in patients with MCI. The trial will be a randomized, prospective, parallel-arm, active-controlled trial. Sixty-four patients with MCI will be randomized to the Rehacom or acupuncture group (n = 32 each). The participants in the acupuncture group will receive electroacupuncture at GV24 (Shenting) and GV20 (Baihui) and acupuncture at EX-HN1 (Sishencong) once (30 min) a day, twice per week for 12 weeks. The patients in the Rehacom group will receive computerized cognitive rehabilitation using RehaCom software once (30 min) daily, twice weekly for 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure is the change in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale score. The secondary outcome measures are the Geriatric Depression Scale, Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Korean version-cognitive subscale-3 scores, and European Quality of Life Five Dimensions Five Level Scale. The safety outcomes will include the incidence of adverse events, blood pressure, blood chemistry parameters, and pulse rate. The efficacy outcome will be assessed at baseline and at six weeks, 13 weeks, and 24 weeks after baseline. The findings of this protocol will provide information regarding the effects of acupuncture on MCI. https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do?search_lang=E&focus=reset_12&search_page=M&pageSize=10&page=undefined&seq=25579&status=5&seq_group=25579, KCT0008861.

Efficacy of acupuncture as an adjunctive treatment to patients with stable COPD: a multicenter, randomized, sham-controlled trial protocol

BackgroundChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common respiratory disease and the third leading cause of death worldwide. Previous evidence has shown that acupuncture may be an effective complementary alternative therapy for stable COPD. However, large-sample, rigorously designed long-term follow-up studies still need to be completed. Notably, the relationship between the frequency of acupuncture and clinical efficacy in studies on acupuncture for stable COPD still needs further validation. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for stable COPD and further investigate the dose–effect relationship of acupuncture.Methods/designThis is a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial that uses central randomization to randomly allocate 550 participants in a 1:1:1:1:1 ratio to once a week acupuncture group, twice a week acupuncture group, three times a week acupuncture group, sham acupuncture group and waiting-list control group. The sham acupuncture group will receive placebo acupuncture treatments three times per week, and the waiting-list control group will not receive any form of acupuncture intervention. The study consists of a 2-week baseline, 12-week of treatment, and 52-week of follow-up. Patients with COPD between 40 to 80 years old who have received stable Western medication within the previous 3 months and have had at least 1 moderate or severe acute exacerbation within the past 1 year will be included in the study. Basic treatment will remain the same for all participants. The primary outcome is the proportion of responders at week 12. Secondary outcomes include the proportion of responders at week 64, change in the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) Scale, change in the Modified-Medical Research Council (mMRC) Scale, change in the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) Scale, change in the Lung Function Screening Indicators (LFSI), change in the 6-min walk distance (6-MWD), change in Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) Scale, the number of moderate and severe acute exacerbations and adverse event rate during the follow-up period.DiscussionThis study will provide robust evidence on whether acupuncture is safe and effective for treating stable COPD. Meanwhile, comparing the differences in efficacy between different acupuncture frequencies will further promote the optimization of acupuncture for stable COPD.Trial registrationThis study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2200058757), on April 16, 2022.

Understanding the mechanism of acupuncture in acute cerebral infraction through a proteomic analysis: protocol for a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Acute cerebral infarction (ACI), being the predominant form of stroke, presents challenges in terms of the limited effectiveness of various treatments in improving the neurological function. Although acupuncture shows promise in addressing ACI, the availability of high-quality evidence regarding its efficacy, safety, and underlying mechanism remains insufficient. In this study, we design a multicenter, prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled trial with the aim of evaluating the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for ACI, making an attempt to unveil the molecular mechanisms by proteomic. A total of 132 patients involving four hospitals will be randomized at a 1:1:1 ratio in the acupuncture group, control group, and sham acupuncture group. All the patients will receive basic treatment, and the patients in the acupuncture and sham acupuncture groups will also receive either acupuncture or sham acupuncture treatment, respectively, at six sessions each week for a 2 weeks period, followed by 3 months of follow-up. The primary outcome will be the change in the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores after treatment. The secondary outcomes will include the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) scale scores and the Barthel Index (BI). Adverse events that occur during the trial will be documented. To discover differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and their roles between the ACI subjects and healthy controls, we will also perform 4D-DIA quantitative proteomics analysis, and the DEPs will be confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). This study was approved by the institutional review board of the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TYLL2023043). Written informed consent from patients is required. This trial is registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2300079204). Trial results will be published in a peer-reviewed academic journal. The results of this study will determine the preliminary efficacy and safety of acupuncture in ACI patients and whether the mechanism of this form of non-pharmacologic stimulation is mediated by a novel therapeutic target for neurorehabilitation through our proteomic analysis. https://www.chictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR2300079204.

The changes of neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of SAMP8 mice and the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion

BackgroundInfluenced by the global aging population, the incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has increased sharply. In addition to increasing β-amyloid plaque deposition and tau tangle formation, neurogenesis dysfunction has recently been observed in AD. Therefore, promoting regeneration to improve neurogenesis and cognitive dysfunction can play an effective role in AD treatment. Acupuncture and moxibustion have been widely used in the clinical treatment of neurodegenerative diseases because of their outstanding advantages such as early, functional, and benign two-way adjustment. It is urgent to clarify the effectiveness, greenness, and safety of acupuncture and moxibustion in promoting neurogenesis in AD treatment. MethodsSenescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice at various ages were used as experimental models to simulate the pathology and behaviors of AD mice. Behavioral experiments, immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and immunofluorescence experiments were used for comparison between different groups. ResultsAcupuncture and moxibustion could increase the number of PCNA+ DCX+ cells, Nissl bodies, and mature neurons in the hippocampal Dentate gyrus (DG) of SAMP8 mice, restore the hippocampal neurogenesis, delay the AD-related pathological presentation, and improve the learning and memory abilities of SAMP8 mice. ConclusionThe pathological process underlying AD and cognitive impairment were changed positively by improving the dysfunction of neurogenesis. This indicates the promising role of acupuncture and moxibustion in the prevention and treatment of AD.