Thread-embedding Therapy Research Articles

Non-pharmacological interventions of traditional Chinese medicine in treating polycystic ovary syndrome: a group consensus

ObjectiveTo make a group consensus about non-pharmacological interventions of traditional Chinese medicine in treating polycystic ovary syndrome based on the previous guidelines, literature, and expert viewpoints. MethodsOrganized by Chinese Integrative Medicine & Traditional Chinese Medicine Academy, Chinese Maternal and Child Health Association, China, 29 experts from 18 Chinese provinces and 2 international experts, who specialize in gynecology, obstetrics, pediatrics, endocrinology, cardiovascular, psychology, reproductive genetics, nursing, acupuncture and tuina, traditional Chinese medicine, integrative medicine, and other disciplines, discussed and revised the recommendations one by one through in-person or online communication. Each recommendation was approved by ≥90% of the experts before it could be established. Main outcome measure(s)An optimal clinical regimen for addressing the requirements of women with PCOS and improving their quality of life. Result(s)The writing panel drafted the initial report, following a consensus process via adequate communication, which was then reviewed and revised by the consensus panel. This consensus provides 12 non-pharmacological interventions (including acupuncture, thumbtack needle, thread-embedding therapy, TEAS, AA, acupoint hot compress, cupping, acupressure, moxibustion, five elements music, aromatherapy, traditional Chinese exercises) for 8 phenotypes of PCOS, resulting in 34 items of clinical practice recommendations. Conclusion(s)The consensus provides 12 non-pharmacological interventions of traditional Chinese medicine for 8 phenotypes of PCOS, resulting in 34 items of clinical practice recommendations, which may be improved by more high-quality multicenter clinical trials.

Innovative approaches for coronary heart disease management: integrating biomedical sensors, deep learning, and stellate ganglion modulation

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a significant global health concern, necessitating continuous advancements in treatment modalities to improve patient outcomes. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers alternative therapeutic approaches, but integration with modern biomedical technologies remains relatively unexplored. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a combined treatment approach for CHD, integrating traditional Chinese medicinal interventions with modern biomedical sensors and stellate ganglion modulation. The objective was to evaluate the impact of this combined treatment on symptom relief, clinical outcomes, hemorheological indicators, and inflammatory biomarkers. A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 117 CHD patients with phlegm-turbidity congestion and excessiveness type. Patients were divided into a combined treatment group (CTG) and a traditional Chinese medicinal group (CMG). The CTG group received a combination of herbal decoctions, thread-embedding therapy, and stellate ganglion modulation, while the CMG group only received traditional herbal decoctions. The CTG demonstrated superior outcomes compared to the CMG across multiple parameters. Significant reductions in TCM symptom scores, improved clinical effects, reduced angina manifestation, favorable changes in hemorheological indicators, and decreased serum inflammatory biomarkers were observed in the CTG post-intervention. The combination of traditional Chinese medicinal interventions with modern biomedical sensors and stellate ganglion modulation has shown promising results in improving symptoms, clinical outcomes, and inflammatory markers in CHD patients. This holistic approach enhances treatment efficacy and patient outcomes. Further research and advancements in sensor technology are needed to optimize this approach.

Clinical application and effect evaluation of acupoint thread embedding therapy and traditional Chinese medicine treatment based on menstrual cycle characteristics in the management of breast hyperplasia: An observational study.

To evaluate the effectiveness of the combination of acupoint embedding therapy and traditional Chinese medicine dialectical treatment regimen in improving clinical symptoms, promoting tumor regression, controlling adverse reactions and complications, and enhancing patient satisfaction by comparing and analyzing the clinical data of 120 breast tumor patients. One hundred twenty patients with breast cancer were divided into a treatment group (60 cases) and a control group (60 cases) according to different treatment plans. Patients in the treatment group received a combination of acupoint embedding therapy and traditional Chinese medicine dialectical treatment based on different time points of the menstrual cycle. Including the proportion of reduction in the number of breast masses, the proportion of reduction in mass size, changes in pain severity scores, tumor regression rate, regression time, incidence of adverse reactions and complications, and patient satisfaction. Statistical software was used to analyze the data to evaluate differences between the 2 groups. In terms of clinical symptoms, the proportion of reduction in the number of breast masses in the treatment group averaged 50%, significantly higher than the 25% in the control group; the proportion of reduction in mass size averaged 40%, also higher than the 15% in the control group; and the improvement in pain severity scores was also superior to the control group. Regarding tumor regression, the tumor regression rate in the treatment group reached 85%, with an average regression time of 6.2 weeks, both significantly better than the 55% and 9.8 weeks in the control group. In terms of adverse reactions and complications, the incidence rate in the treatment group was relatively low, and no serious adverse events occurred. Patient satisfaction surveys showed that the treatment group had significantly higher satisfaction with treatment effectiveness, treatment process, and physician service attitude compared to the control group. Based on clinical data from 120 breast tumor patients, the results of this study indicate that breast tumor patients treated with a specific treatment regimen have significant advantages in improving clinical symptoms, tumor regression, controlling adverse reactions and complications, and patient satisfaction. This treatment regimen has high clinical application value and deserves further promotion.

Operation Procedure and Precautions of Thread-Embedding Acupuncture Therapy in Alzheimer.

Thread-embedding therapy (TEAT) is a treatment that prevents and manages diseases by inserting a biodegradable suture into an acupoint, providing long-lasting stimulation. TEAT is a simple approach that avoids the discomfort of regular acupuncture and provides sustained therapeutic effects. This article discusses the potential impact of TEAT on the learning and memory abilities of rats with Alzheimer's disease-like symptoms. Since chemically induced neuronal degeneration and cognitive impairments in rats does not entirely reflect the true pathological changes observed in Alzheimer's disease. Consequently, our research group has designated these manifestations as Alzheimer's disease-like symptoms. A protocol has been established to outline the selection of acupoints, the operation process, and necessary precautions for the head and lower back. The experiment was conducted on three groups: a control group, a model group, and a TEAT group, each containing 6 rats. To induce Alzheimer's disease-like symptoms, rats were intraperitoneally injected with D-galactose for 7 weeks (49 days). The rats in the TEAT group received acupoint catgut embedding treatment. Following the intervention period, a Morris Water Maze (MWM) was conducted to evaluate the rats' learning and memory. Subsequently, the rats were sacrificed, and their brain tissue was examined. A histological examination was performed to understand the effects of TEAT on the pathology of rats exhibiting symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. This study suggests that TEAT may improve learning and memory in rats with Alzheimer's disease-like symptoms, indicating a potentially promising new treatment approach for this neurodegenerative condition.

Acupuncture and moxibustion in treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at stable stage: a network Meta-analysis

The efficacy on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at stable stage treated with different methods of acupuncture and moxibustion was evaluated using network Meta-analysis method. The articles of the randomized controlled trial (RCT) on stable COPD treated with acupuncture and moxibustion were searched electronically in CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science and Cochrane library. The search was conducted from the inception of the databases to March 20th, 2022. Data analysis was performed using R4.1.1, Stata16.0 and RevMan5.3 softwares. A total of 48 RCTs were included, involving 15 kinds of acupuncture and moxibustion interventions and a sample size of 3 900 cases. The results of network Meta-analysis showed that: ① For the forced expiratory volume in one second predicted (FEV1%), both the governor vessel moxibustion combined with conventional treatment (G+C therapy) and the yang-supplementing moxibustion combined with conventional treatment (Y+C therapy) obtained the better effect than that of the conventional treatment (P<0.05), and the G+C therapy was more effective compared with the thread-embedding therapy combined with conventional treatment (E+C therapy) and warm needling (P<0.05). ② Concerning to COPD assessment test (CAT) score, the results indicated that the Y+C therapy, and the mild moxibustion combined with conventional treatment (M+C therapy) were more effective when compared with the conventional treatment (P<0.05), and the effect of the Y+C therapy was better than that of the E+C therapy (P<0.05). ③ Regarding six-minute walking distance (6MWD), the effect of acupuncture combined with conventional treatment (A+C therapy) was better than that of either the E+C therapy or the conventional treatment (P<0.05). The effect of the G+C therapy was optimal for improving FEV1%, the Y+C therapy obtained the best effect for improving CAT score, and A+C therapy was the most effective for improving 6MWD. Due to the limitation of the quality and quantity of included studies, this conclusion needs to be further verified through high-quality RCT.

편측 안면경련의 한의치료에 대한 연구분석

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate Korean medicine treatment on hemifacial spasm and to suggest future research direction. Methods We used seven electronic databases to find articles on Korean medicine treatment of hemifacial spasm and by analyzing the title, abstract, and main text, articles elucidating on Korean medicine treatment on hemifacial spasms were included. Results A total of 68 articles were searched from seven electronic databases. Excluding duplicate articles and articles that satisfied the exclusion criteria, nine articles were included in this study. Acupuncture was used in nine cases, herbal medicine in five cases, physical therapy in three cases, and cupping therapy in one case. In acupuncture, general acupuncture was used in five cases, pharmacopuncture in three cases, and Meridian tendino-musculature acupuncture and thread-embedding therapy in two cases each. Gamigwibi-tang used in two cases was the most frequently used herbal medicine. In physical therapy, carbone, hot pack, interferential current therapy, and silver spike point were used in two cases each. Conclusions It was confirmed that Korean medicine treatment for hemifacial spasm was attempted in varying methods and nearly all cases included in this study showed improvement. However, because of the low level of evidence due to the nature of these case reports, further studies should be conducted for an objective comparison and analysis on the effect of Korean medicine treatment compared to existing treatments.

Simple obesity of stomach heat and damp obstruction treated with acupoint thread embedding therapy: a randomized controlled trial

To explore the therapeutic effect and safety of acupoint thread embedding therapy in treatment of simple obesity of stomach heat and damp obstruction. A total of 144 patients with simple obesity of stomach heat and damp obstruction were randomized into an acupoint thread embedding group (72 cases, 3 cases dropped off and 1 case removed) and a sham-embedding group (72 cases, 6 cases dropped off and 3 cases removed). On the base of the lifestyle adjustment, the acupoint thread embedding therapy with PGLA thread was applied to Tianshu (ST 25), Zhongwan (CV 12), Ganshu (BL 18), Shuidao (ST 28), etc. in the acupoint thread embedding group, while in the sham-embedding group, the acupoint selection and operation were all same as the acupoint thread embedding group, but without PGLA thread embedded. In either group, the treatment was given once every 2 weeks, consecutively for 12 weeks and the follow-up was conducted for 3 months after treatment. Separately, before and after treatment as well as in follow-up, the obesity indices (body mass index [BMI], waist circumference [WC], waist-to-hip ratio [WHR] and fat percentage [F%]) were observed in the two groups. Before and after treatment, the indices of blood glucose and insulin (fasting blood glucose [FBG], fasting insulin [FINS] and insulin resistance index [HOMA-IR]), adipocyte factor indices (adiponectin, leptin [LP] and serine protease inhibitor [Vaspin]) and inflammatory factor indices (tumor nercosis factor [TNF-α], interleukin-1β [IL-1β] and interleukin-6 [IL-6]) were observed separately in the two groups. The therapeutic effect and safety were compared between the two groups. After treatment and in follow-up, except WC and WHR in the sham-embedding group, BMI, WC, WHR and F% were all reduced as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the values in the acupoint thread embedding group were lower than the sham-embedding group (P<0.01). After treatment, except FBG, LP and Vaspin in the sham-embedding group, FBG, FINS, HOMA-IR, LP and Vaspin were all reduced as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.01, P<0.05), and adiponectin was increased as compared with that before treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05); the improvements in the acupoint thread embedding group were more significant than the sham-embedding group (P<0.01). After treatment, the levels of serum TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the acupoint thread embedding group were reduced as compared with the values before treatment and those in the sham-embedding group separately (P<0.01). The total effective rate was 89.7% (61/68) in the acupoint thread embedding group, higher than 19.0% (12/63) in the sham-embedding group (P<0.01). There was no severe adverse reaction reported in the two groups. Acupoint thread embedding therapy with PGLA thread can alleviate obesity, regulate glucose metabolism and adipocyte factors activity, improve insulin resistance and inhibit the expression of pro-inflammatory factors in the patients with simple obesity with stomach heat and damp obstruction, and this therapy presents a satisfactory safety in treatment.

Study of Latest Trend on Acupuncture for Obesity Treatment.

ObjectivesThe aim of this review was to appraise Korean studies published between 2010 and 2021 which examined the role of acupuncture in the treatment of obesity.MethodsWe performed a search of the NDSL, KISS, RISS, OASIS, PubMed, EMBASE electronic databases for relevant animal researches, case reports, and clinical trials, using the following search terms ‘obesity’, ‘acupuncture’, ‘electroacupuncture’, and ‘pharmacopuncture’. We excluded previous reviews and meta-analyses, studies not related to obesity or acupuncture treatment, as well as studies conducted in countries other than Korea. We also excluded studies where relevant information on acupuncture treatment in obesity could not be obtained.ResultsMost studies were conducted in animals, followed by case reports and clinical trials. In animal researches and case reports, pharmacopuncture was the most used intervention. In case studies, electroacupuncture, thread-embedding therapy, manual acupuncture, acupotomy, and auricular acupuncture were also used. In animal researches, pharmacopuncture treatment was associated with improvement in obesity indices. In the case of local obesity, specific acupuncture techniques such as thread-embedding therapy and pharmacopuncture were associated with significant improvements in local obesity, even when diet and exercise were not controlled for.ConclusionAcupuncture treatment showed significant benefit in the treatment of obesity, with a local effect evident for certain approaches, such thread-embedding therapy and acupotomy.

Could human amniotic membrane be a source for acupoint thread embedding therapy?

Background: Peripheral neuropathy usually leads to a major cause of motor disability, but the functional restoration after treatment continues to show modest results. Acupoint thread-embedding therapy is a subtype of acupuncture treatment in which biodegradable threads are inserted into skin, subcutaneous tissue or muscles at specific points for long stimulation. Different biodegradable materials have been developed and widely used. Human amniotic membrane is rich in collagen, extracellular matrix proteins and growth factors. The avascular, low immunogenic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-fibrotic and non-tumorigenic properties of amniotic membrane make it valuable in medical applications and its use has no ethical problems. Elasticity, stiffness and other biomechanical properties also make it possible to use the amniotic membrane for various medical purposes. AM is almost always considered as discarded substance, it satisfies most of the criteria of an ideal biological tissue and shows almost zero rejection phenomenon. Conclusions: The human amniotic membrane, the cellular compounds and extracellular matrix have a lot of benefic proprieties that are or could be used in treatment of many human diseases. Its biological and biomechanical properties are promising in the manufacture and use of filaments in acupoint thread embedding therapy.

Abdominal acupoint thread embedding therapy based on "brain-intestinal connection" for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease and its effects on serum levels of APP and Aβ1-42

To compare the clinical efficacy of abdominal acupoint thread embedding therapy based on "brain-intestinal connection" combined with donepezil hydrochloride tablets and oral donepezil hydrochloride tablets alone for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) and observe its effects on amyloid precursor protein (APP) and β-amyloid protein1-42 (Aβ1-42). Sixty patients with AD were randomly divided into an observation group (30 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a control group (30 cases, 3 cases dropped off). The patients in the control group were treated with donepezil hydrochloride tablets (5 mg per day); based on the treatment in the control group, the patients in the observation group were treated with abdominal acupoint thread embedding therapy at Zhongwan (CV 12), Xiawan (CV 10), Huaroumen (ST 24), Wailing (ST 26), Daheng (SP 15), etc., once every 10 days. Both groups were treated for 2 months. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Alzheimer's disease assessment scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog), activity of daily living scale (ADL), neuropsychiatric inventory questionnaire (NPI) as well as the serum levels of APP and Aβ1-42 were observed before and after treatment in the two groups. After treatment, the MMSE scores in the two groups were higher than those before treatment (P<0.05), and the ADAS-Cog, ADL and NPI scores were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05). After treatment, the MMSE score in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05), and the ADAS-Cog, ADL and NPI scores were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the serum levels of APP and Aβ1-42 were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05), and the serum levels of APP and Aβ1-42 in the observation group was lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The abdominal acupoint thread embedding therapy based on the theory of "brain-intestinal connection" combined with donepezil hydrochloride tablets can improve cognitive function, self-care ability of daily life and mental behavior, and reduce the serum levels of APP and Aβ1-42 in patients with mild-to-moderate AD, which have superior clinical effect to donepezil hydrochloride tablets alone.

28383 The effectiveness of thread-embedding therapy for treating scarring and nonscarring alopecia

Background: Thread embedding therapy has recently gained attention as a safe and noninvasive treatment for hair loss. Although the mechanism of action is unclear, current hypothesis suggests that embedded polydioxanone (PDO) threads stimulate microcirculation and neo-collagenesis, thereby enhancing anagen phase in hair follicles. However, the clinical evidence on the effectiveness of PDO threading on hair regrowth is scarce.

Preliminary research of deqi and the tissue depth of acupoint thread embedding therapy on weight reduction under ultrasonic guidance

To explore the impacts on weight reduction effect treated with acupoint thread embedding therapy at different tissue levels under ultrasonic guidance. A total of 70 patients with overweight or obesity were randomized into a shallow-tissue thread embedding group (35 cases, 5 cases dropped off) and a deep-tissue thread embedding group (35 cases, 4 cases dropped off). Under ultrasonic guidance, the thread was embedded in the shallow tissue level and the deep tissue level respectively. The acupoints were Zhongwan (CV 12), Xiawan (CV 10), Shuifen (CV 9), Zhongji (CV 3), etc. The thread embedding therapy was exerted once every 2 weeks, totally for 3 times. Before and 2 weeks after treatment, body mass, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and hip circumference were recorded in the patients of the two groups separately. After each treatment, the number and the property of blood vessels under each acupoint were detected by ultrasound. Besides, the needling sensation and the intensity were scored and the adverse events were observed after thread embedding therapy. After treatment, the reduction range of body mass, BMI and waist circumference in the deep-tissue thread embedding group were larger than those in the shallow-tissue thread embedding group successively (P<0.05). The scores of distention and fullness sensation, needling sensation and intensity in the deep-tissue thread embedding group were higher than those in the shallow-tissue thread embedding group successively (P<0.05). Of 29 cases in the shallow-tissue thread embedding group and 27 cases of the deep-tissue thread embedding group, under at least one acupoint, the vessels were found and distributed unevenly (P<0.05). There were no adverse events, i.e. bleeding and infection in the two groups. The deep-tissue thread embedding therapy achieves the stronger deqi (needling sensation) and better effect of weight reduction. The acupoint thread embedding therapy under ultrasonic guidance can accurately locate the tissue depth and reduce the incidence of adverse events of thread embedding treatment.

Effects of acupoint thread-embedding therapy on serum apelin and GLP-1 in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with obesity due to dampness-heat encumbering spleen

To observe the effects of acupoint thread-embedding therapy on serum apelin and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with obesity due to dampness-heat encumbering spleen. Sixty-six patients were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group according to the random number table method, with 33 cases in each group. Patients in the control group were treated with exenatide and metformin, while patients in the observation group were treated with additional acupoint thread-embedding. After 12-week treatment, the obesity-related indicators, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and body fat rate, the glycometabolism indicators, including fasting blood glucose, 2 h postprandial blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin, and the lipid metabolism indicators, including total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), as well as serum apelin and GLP-1 levels were observed in patients of the two groups. After treatment, the BMI, waist circumference and body fat rate of patients in the two groups were all reduced (all P 0.05); the TC, TG and LDL-C levels were all significantly reduced in the observation group (all P<0.05), lower than those in the control group (all P<0.05); the serum apelin level was decreased (P<0.05) and the serum GLP-1 level was increased (P<0.05) in the observation group, statistically different from those in the control group (both P<0.05). Combined with the conventional medication, acupoint thread-embedding therapy can significantly improve the obesity-related indicators, glycometabolism and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with obesity due to dampness-heat encumbering spleen. This may be achieved by regulating the serum apelin and GLP-1 levels.

Comparative observation of acupoint thread-embedding and acupuncture therapy of Shugan Tiaoshen for insomnia of liver depression and qi stagnation

To compare the effect of Shugan Tiaoshen (soothing the liver and regulating mind) acupoint thread-embedding therapy and Shugan Tiaoshen acupuncture therapy for insomnia of liver depression and qi stagnation. A total of 68 patients with insomnia of liver depression and qi stagnation were randomly divided into an acupoint embedding group (34 cases) and an acupuncture group (34 cases). Two groups were respectively treated with acupoint thread-embedding and acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Shenmen (HT 7), Neiguan (PC 6), Taichong (LR 3), Ganshu (BL 18) and Xinshu (BL 15). The treatment in the acupoint embedding group was given once a week, and in the acupuncture group was given once every other day for 6 weeks. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), self-rating depression scale (SDS), TCM syndrome scores before and after treatment and medical expenses were compared between the two groups, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. After treatment, the PSQI total scores, each sub-item score and SAS and SDS scores of the two groups were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05); the sleep quality, time during fall asleep, sleep time, sleep efficiency, daytime dysfunction scores and PSQI total score in the acupoint embedding group after treatment were lower than those in the acupuncture group (P<0.05). After treatment, except for constipation and yellowish urine, the sub-item scores and total scores of TCM syndromes in the two groups were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05); the sleep disturbance score of the acupoint embedding group was lower than that of the acupuncture group (P<0.05). The medicalexpenses in the acupoint embedding group was lower than that in the acupuncture group (P<0.05). The total effective rate of the acupoint embedding group was 85.3% (29/34), and the acupuncture group was 82.4% (28/34), there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Shugan Tiaoshen acupoint thread-embedding therapy and Shugan Tiaoshen acupuncture therapy both have significant curative effect on insomnia of liver depression and qi stagnation, but acupoint thread-embedding therapy is better than acupuncture therapy in improving sleep quality and reducing medical expenses.

Professor LIN Guo-hua's experience in treatment of progressive muscular dystrophy with acupuncture

Professor LIN Guo-hua's experience is introduced in treatment of progressive muscular dystrophy with acupuncture. It is believed that the pathogenesis of this disease is related to spleen and kidney deficiency, qi and blood insufficiency and malnutrition of tendon and muscle. The treatment is determined in terms of the pathogenesis and focuses on the regulation of spleen and kidney functions. The thinking of treatment is summarized as exerting the strong stimulation of acupuncture specially at the acupoints on the head, supplementing the sea of marrow, adjusting simultaneously the three yang meridians, rather than treating particularly yangming meridian and regulating qi in priority and considering the lung function for wei (flaccid) syndrome. Moreover, in clinical treatment, the acupoint thread-embedding therapy is commonly combined to ensure the significant therapeutic effect.

Thread-Embedding Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of thread-embedding therapy for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. There were 20 patients treated with thread-embedding therapy at various acupoints on the muscles around the knee. Gender, age, location, morbidity period, numeric rating scale (NRS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) index, improvement result, side effects, and patient’s satisfaction were investigated. After the treatment, the NRS score (z = -4.07, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001) and WOMAC (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001) indices decreased in most patients. The NRS score decreased by more than 2 points in 95% of the patients. The WOMAC index decreased by 6-12 points. There were no serious side effects, although bruising, pain, and edema were observed. Overall, 85% of the patients felt satisfied with the thread-embedding therapy. These findings suggested that threadembedding therapy was effective and may be used widely for knee osteoarthritis.

Clinical effect of acupoint thread-embedding therapy at different intervals in the intervention of metabolic syndrome

To investigate the clinical effect of acupoint thread-embedding therapy at different intervals in the treatment of metabolic syndrome, and to find the optimal treatment interval. A total of 70 patients with metabolic syndrome were randomly divided into treatment group 1 (n＝35)and treatment group 2(n＝35). Both groups were given acupoint thread-embedding therapy at Zhongwan (CV12), bilateral Liangmen (ST21), bilateral Huaroumen (ST24), bilateral Tianshu (ST25), bilateral Daimai (GB26), Guanyuan (CV4), bilateral Dachangshu (BL25), bilateral Pishu (BL20), bilateral Zusanli (ST36), bilateral Yinlingquan (SP9), and bilateral Fenglong (ST40), and the treatment interval was 7 d for treatment group 1 and 14 d for treatment group 2. Each course of treatment was 42 d, and both groups were treated for 2 courses. Waist circumfe-rence (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist-hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI), serum triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and glycosylated hemoglobin (Hb1Ac) were measured before and after treatment to analyze clinical outcome, and adverse reactions were recorded. After treatment, both groups had significant reductions in WC, HC, WHR, BMI, TG, LDL-C, FPG and Hb1Ac (P<0.05) and a significant increase in HDL-C (P<0.05). Compared with treatment group 1, treatment group 2 had significant increases in WC, WHR, BMI, TG, LDL-C, FPG and Hb1Ac (P<0.05) and a significant reduction in HDL-C (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence rate of adverse reactions between the two groups (P>0.05). Under the premise of ensuring efficacy and safety, an interval of 7 d is the optimal interval for acupoint thread-embedding therapy in the clinical intervention of metabolic syndrome.

Short-term and long-term efficacy of PGLA thread-embedding therapy in treatment of stage Ⅰ post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome

To investigate short-term and long-term efficacy of PGLA thread-embedding therapy in the treatment of stage Ⅰ post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome. A total of 60 patients with stage Ⅰ post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome were randomly divided into control group and treatment group, with 30 patients in each group. The patients in the control group were given acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training, and those in the treatment group were given PGLA thread-embedding therapy combined with rehabilitation training. Conventional acupuncture was performed once a day, and thread-embedding therapy was performed once every 5 days. Both groups were treated for 30 days. Clinical outcome, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, hand edema score, and Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) score were compared within and between groups immediately and at 1 month after treatment. The treatment group had a significantly higher overall response rate than the control group immediately and at 1 month after treatment (93.33%/86.67% vs 73.33%/56.67%, P<0.05). Both groups had significant reductions in VAS score and hand edema score and a significant increase in FMA score immediately and at 1 month after treatment (P<0.05), and the treatment group had significantly greater improvements than the control group (P<0.05). PGLA thread-embedding therapy has a better clinical effect than conventional acupuncture in the treatment of stage Ⅰ post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome.

Dry eye syndrome of deficient lacrima production treated with the acupoint thread-embedding therapy: a randomized controlled trial

To compare the therapeutic effects on the relevant symtoms in the patients with dry eye syndrome treated with the acupoint thread-embedding therapy versus topical artificial tears eye drops. A total of 88 patients with dry eye syndrome of deficiency lacrima production were randomized into an acupoint thread-embedding therapy group (thread-embedding group) and a control group with topical artificial tears eye drops (medication group), 44 cases in each one. In the thread-embedding group, 3 cases were dropped out. In the thread-embedding group, Ganshu (BL 18), Pishu (BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23) etc. were selected and the acupoint thread-embedding therapy was operated once every 30 days, totally for two treatments. In the medication group, the topical artificial tears eye drops was used, 4 to 6 times a day, one drop each time, for 8 weeks totally. Separately, before treatment, after 4-week treatment and 8-week treatment as well as in 8 weeks and 12 weeks of the follow-up, the levels of lactoferrin in tears were determined and the scores of the relevant symptoms of ocular surface such as eye dryness, foreign body sensation in the eyes and eye fatigue were evaluated. In the thread-embedding group, after 4-week and 8-week of treatment as well as in 8-week and 12-week follow-up, the scores of eye dryness, foreign body sensation, burning sensation of eye, phengophobia and eye fatigue were reduced significantly as compared with those before treatment (all P<0.05). In the medication group, the relevant symptoms of ocular surface were reduced after 4-week and 8-week treatment as compared with those before treatment (all P<0.05). In the follow-up, the scores of the relevant symptoms of ocular surface in the thread-embedding group were significantly lower than the medication group (all P<0.05). Separately, after 4-week treatment and 8-week treatment as well as in 8 weeks and 12 weeks of the follow-up, the levels of lactoferrin in tears in the thread-embedding group were significantly increased as compared with those before treatment (all P<0.05). The change was not obvious as compared with that before treatment in the medication group (P>0.05). The levels of lactoferrin in tears at each time point after treatment in the thread-embedding group were higher than the medication group (P<0.05). The acupoint thread-embedding therapy effectively improves in the relevant symptoms of ocular surface, such as eye dryness, foreign body sensation, burning sensation of eye, phengophobia and eye fatigue, and increases the level of lactoferrin in tears in the patients with dry eye syndrome of deficiency aqueous production. In the follow-up, the therapeutic effects of the acupoint thread-embedding therapy are significantly better than artificial tears eye drops.

Network meta-analysis on the effects of the acupuncture-related therapy on ovulation rate and pregnancy rate in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

To review systematically the safety and effectiveness of acupuncture-related therapies on ovulation rate and pregnancy rate in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). From PubMed, EMbase, the Cochrane Library, China Biology Medicine disc (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang database and VIP database, the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on PCOS were retrieved in the period from the date of database establishment to January 8, 2018. Two researchers screened the articles, extracted the data and assessed the bias risk of the eligible trials independently. Using Stata 13.0 and WinBUGS 1.4.3 software, the data were analyzed. A total of 39 RCTs were collected, including 4605 cases of PCOS and 14 kinds of acupuncture-related therapies and the comprehensive therapies. The short-term therapeutic effects were observed. The results of mesh meta-analysis showed: regarding the ovulation rate, the effects of the acupuncture-medication therapy were better than western medication. The top 6 therapeutic measures were the treatment with acupoint thread-embedding therapy and medication (93.3%), the treatment with moxibustion and Chinese herbal medicine (91.4%), moxibustion (74.5%), the treatment with acupuncture and medication (65.7%), the treatment with acupuncture-moxibustion and auricular point therapy (61.9%) and the treatment with acupuncture and auricular point therapy (49.6%). Regarding the pregnancy rate, the effects of the acupuncture-medication therapy were better than western medication. The top 6 therapeutic measures were the treatment with acupuncture and auricular point therapy (91.5%), the treatment with moxibustion and Chinese herbal medication (86.9%), the treatment with acupuncture-moxibustion and auricular point therapy (81.1%), the treatment with acupoint thread-embedding therapy and medication (69.4%), the treatment with acupuncture and medication (66.1%) and the treatment with placebo and western medication (58.7%). Among acupuncture-related therapies, the combined treatment is more advantageous than single therapy and its safety is superior to western medication. The combined therapies are various in advantages. Because of the limitation of the present researches, it needs a large scale of RCTs with rational design, high quality and proper methods to verify this research conclusion.