Recent Medline hits on acupuncture.

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See recent Medline hits on acupuncture.

 

Phil

 

Lasers Surg Med 2003;32(3):239-44 Influence of low level laser therapy on

wound healing and its biological action upon myofibroblasts. Medrado AR,

Pugliese LS, Reis SR, Andrade ZA. Laboratory of Experimental Pathology,

Oswaldo Cruz Foundation-Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVE: In re-evaluating the effects of laser therapy in wound healing, the

role of extracellular matrix elements and myofibroblasts, was analyzed. STUDY

DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cutaneous wounds were inflicted on

the back of 72 Wistar rats. Low level laser was locally applied with different

energy densities. Lesions were analyzed after 24, 48, 72 hours and 5, 7, and

14 days. Tissues were studied by histology, immunohistochemistry, and

electron microscopy. RESULTS: In treated animals, the extent of edema and

the number of inflammatory cells were reduced (P < 0.05), but the amount of

collagen and elastic fibers appeared slightly increased. Desmin/smooth muscle

alpha-actin-phenotype myofibroblasts were statistically more prominent on the

3rd day after surgery (P < 0.05) in treated wounds than in controls. Treatment

with a dosage of 4 J/cm(2) was superior to that with 8 J/cm(2).

CONCLUSIONS: Laser therapy reduced the inflammatory reaction, induced

increased collagen deposition and a greater proliferation of myofibroblasts in

experimental cutaneous wounds. Lasers Surg. Med. 32:239-244, 2003.

Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

 

Complement Ther Nurs Midwifery 2003 Feb;9(1):14-9 Provision of acupuncture

in a university health centre-a clinical audit. Grabowska C, Squire C, MacRae

E, Robinson N. Faculty of Health and Human Sciences, Thames Valley

University, 32-38 Uxbridge Road, W5 2BS, London, UK A retrospective audit

was carried out between May 1999 and April 2000 at a university-based

acupuncture clinic. Two acupuncturists saw a total of 69 clients of whom three-

quarters were female; just over a third were less than 29 years of age; two-

thirds were below the age of 40; 67% of clients were Caucasians; a third

smoked; three-quarters currently consumed some alcohol. Most had no

experience of using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), therefore

the service provided the first access to CAM. Of those attending a follow-up

appointment, 43 (80%) reported feeling better, 10 the same and one worse. No

side-effects were reported by 50 (73%) clients, but four reported minor side-

effects (one bruising and three drowsiness). The process of carrying out the

audit provided the opportunity for the practitioners to reflect on their

clinical

practice and improve service delivery. PMID: 12604320 [PubMed - in process]

 

Am J Vet Res 2003 Feb;64(2):137-44 Comparison of electroacupuncture and

butorphanol on respiratory and cardiovascular effects and rectal pain threshold

after controlled rectal distention in mares. Skarda RT, Muir WW 3rd.

Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine,

The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. OBJECTIVE: To

compare effects of electroacupuncture and butorphanol on hemodynamic and

respiratory variables and rectal analgesia in mares after controlled rectal

distention. ANIMALS: 8 healthy mares. PROCEDURE: Each horse received

saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (0.01 mL/kg, IV; control treatment), butorphanol

tartrate (0.1 mg/kg, IV), or 2 hours of electroacupuncture (EA) at acupoints

Bladder 21, 25, and 27 on both sides of the vertebral column, Bai hui, and

Stomach 36 (right side only). Order of treatments in each mare was

randomized. At least 7 days elapsed between treatments. A balloon was

inserted in the rectum of each mare, and controlled distention of the balloon

(pressures of < or = 220 mm Hg) was used to measure nociceptive rectal pain

threshold. Rectal temperature and cardiovascular and respiratory variables were

measured before (baseline) and 5,15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after onset of

each treatment. RESULTS: Butorphanol produced greater increases in rectal

pain threshold, compared with EA (mean +/- SD, 214 +/- 24 vs 174 +/- 35 mm

Hg of balloon pressure). Electroacupuncture produced minimal cardiovascular

and respiratory changes. Although clinically not important, butorphanol

produced moderate significant increases in heart and respiratory rates, arterial

blood pressure, and rectal temperature and decreases in arterial oxygen

tension. Arterial pH, carbon dioxide tension, bicarbonate concentrations, base

excess, Hct, and concentration of total solids were not significantly different

from baseline values after EA, butorphanol, and control treatments.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Electroacupuncture and

butorphanol (0.1 mg/kg, IV) may provide useful rectal analgesia in horses.

PMID: 12602580 [PubMed - in process]

 

Eur J Pain 2003;7(2):181-8 Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

can reduce postoperative analgesic consumption. A meta-analysis with

assessment of optimal treatment parameters for postoperative pain. Bjordal

JM, Johnson MI, Ljunggreen AE. Section of Physiotherapy Science, University

of Bergen, 5009, Bergen, Norway Aim. We investigated the literature of

randomised placebo-controlled trials to find out if transcutaneous electrical

nerve stimulation (TENS) or acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve

stimulation (ALTENS) can reduce analgesic consumption after surgery.Results.

Subgroup analysis for adequate treatment (pulse frequency: 1-8Hz [ALTENS] or

25-150Hz [TENS], current intensity: " strong, definite, subnoxious, maximal

tolerable " or above 15mA, and electrode placement in the incision area) were

performed. Twenty-one randomised, placebo-controlled trials with a total of

1350 patients were identified. For all trials, the mean reduction in analgesic

consumption after TENS/ALTENS was 26.5% (range -6 to +51%) better than

placebo. Eleven of the trials compromising 964 patients, had reports which

stated that a strong, subnoxious electrical stimulation with adequate frequency

was administered. They reported a mean weighted reduction in analgesic

consumption of 35.5% (range 14-51%) better than placebo. In nine trials without

explicit confirmation of sufficient current intensity and adequate frequency,

the

mean weighted analgesic consumption was 4.1% (range -10 to +29%) in favour

of active treatment. The difference in analgesic consumption was significantly

(p=0.0002) in favour of adequate stimulation. The median frequencies used in

trials with optimal treatment was 85Hz for TENS and 2Hz in the only trial that

investigated ALTENS.Conclusion. TENS, administered with a strong,

subnoxious intensity at an adequate frequency in the wound area, can

significantly reduce analgesic consumption for postoperative pain. PMID:

12600800 [PubMed - in process]

 

Hua Xi Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao 2002 Jan;33(1):46-9 [Effect of acupuncture on the

expression of NT3 in the process of spinal plasticity] [Article in Chinese]

Wang T, Wu L, Liao D, Zhou X, Chen Y, Takeda A. Department of Histology

and Embrology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine,

Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China. OBJECTIVE: To explore the

change in the expression of NT3 in the process of promoting the plasticity of

spinal cord by acupuncture. METHODS: Five adult cats were subjected to

unilateral spared root rhizotomy; their L1-L5, L7-S2 dorsal root ganglia (DRG)

were sectioned, but L4 was spared. And two groups of acupoints [Zusani

(St.36) and Xuanzhong (G. B.39); Futu (St.32) and Sanyingjiao (Sp.6)] located

in hind limb were electro-stimulated for thirty minutes q.d. x 7. At seven days,

after acupuncture, the L5 segment of spinal cord and spared dorsal root

ganglion (L6) were taken and made into frozen section 20 microns in thickness.

Immunohistochemistry (NT3 antibody 1:1500) and in situ hybridization (NT3

cRNA probe 1:100) techniques were used. The numbers of positive neuron for

NT3 and it's mRNA in large, medium, small neuron of L6 DRG and the numbers

of positive neurons and glia cells for NT3 in lamina II were counted

respectively.

RESULTS: The numbers of positive large, small neurons for NT3 and its mRNA

in DRG and the number of positive neurons and glia cells for NT3 in lamina II on

the acupuncture side increased apparently than those on the non-acupuncture

side (P < 0.05). However, the positive signal of NT3 mRNA in lamina II was not

seen in our study. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that acupuncture

promoting the plasticity of spinal cord involves both the increase in expression

of NT3 in large and small neurons of spared DRG and the increase in number of

NT3 positive neurons and glia cells in spinal lamina II. Moreover, NT3 may play

a role in the process of promoting the plasticity of spinal cord by acupuncture.

PMID: 12599426 [PubMed - in process]

 

Hum Brain Mapp 2003 Mar;18(3):233-8 An fMRI study comparing brain

activation between word generation and electrical stimulation of language-

implicated acupoints. Li G, Liu HL, Cheung RT, Hung YC, Wong KK, Shen

GG, Ma QY, Yang ES. The Jockey Club Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Engineering Centre, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. We compared

the brain activation on functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during

word generation with the activation during electrical stimulation of two

language-

implicated acupoints in 17 healthy, Mandarin-speaking, Chinese male

volunteers (age 19-26 years). All subjects were strongly right handed according

to a handedness inventory. Using a standard functional MRI procedure and a

word-generation paradigm, significant activation was seen in the left and right

inferior frontal gyri (BA 44, 45) as well as the left superior temporal gyrus

(BA

22, 42). Stronger activation with a larger volume was seen in the left

hemisphere. Electrical stimulation of either one of the two language-implicated

acupoints, SJ 8 (11 subjects) and Du 15 (6 subjects), without the word-

generation paradigm in the same cohort, produced significant activation in the

right inferior frontal gyrus (BA 44, 46) and in the left and right superior

temporal

gyri (BA 22, 42), respectively. Nevertheless, no activation was seen in the left

inferior frontal gyrus. In addition, electrical stimulation of the adjacent non-

acupoints did not produce any significant brain activation. Although our results

support the notion of acupoint-brain activation, applying acupuncture at SJ 8 or

Du 15 does not activate the typical language areas in the left inferior frontal

cortex. Hum. Brain Mapping 18:233-238, 2003. Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

PMID: 12599282 [PubMed - in process]

 

Anesth Analg 2003 Mar;96(3):885-90 Pressure applied on the extra 1

acupuncture point reduces bispectral index values and stress in volunteers.

Fassoulaki A, Paraskeva A, Patris K, Pourgiezi T, Kostopanagiotou G.

Department of Anesthesiology, Aretaieion Hospital. Department of

Anesthesiology, St Savas Hospital, Athens, Greece. We investigated the

effect of pressure application on the acupuncture point " extra 1 " and on a

control point on the bispectral index (BIS) values and on stress in 25

volunteers. In each volunteer, pressure was applied on the extra 1 point for 10

min and on a control point for 5 min on different days and in a randomized

manner. The BIS value was recorded before applying pressure on the extra 1

point, during pressure application every 30 s for 10 min, and after pressure

release. Regarding the control point, BIS values were recorded for 5 instead of

10 min during pressure application because acupressure on that point was

associated with an unpleasant feeling. Each volunteer was asked to score

stress before and after pressure application from 0 to 10. The BIS values were

significantly reduced 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 min during pressure application on the

extra 1 point (P < 0.001 for each comparison, respectively) and returned to the

baseline values after pressure release. Pressure application on the control

point

decreased BIS values (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05 at 2.5 and 5 min, respectively).

However, these values were maintained close to 90% and were significantly

higher than those obtained during pressure on the extra 1 point (P < 0.001 and

P < 0.001 for the 2.5- and 5-min comparisons). The verbal sedation score

values obtained after pressure application on the extra 1 point were also lower

when compared with the values obtained after pressure application on the

control point (P < 0.001). IMPLICATIONS: This crossover study investigated the

effect of pressure application on the acupuncture " extra 1 " point in healthy

volunteers. Acupressure applied for 10 min on the extra 1 point significantly

reduced the BIS values and the verbal stress score when compared with

acupressure applied on a control point. PMID: 12598279 [PubMed - in process]

Acta Anaesthesiol Sin 2002 Dec;40(4):173-7 The effect of acupuncture on the

acute withdrawal symptoms from rapid opiate detoxification. Montazeri K,

Farahnakian M, Saghaei M. Department of Anesthesia, Isfahan University of

Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. BACKGROUND: Rapid Opiate Detoxification

(ROD) is among the best treatments for substance abuse. Unfortunately this

method is associated with severe withdrawal reaction. The effect of body

acupuncture has not been clearly identified during ROD. This study was

designed to evaluate the effect of acupuncture on the severity of withdrawal

reaction during ROD. METHODS: Forty adult male subjects addicted to opioids

and scheduled for ROD by naloxone were randomly divided into acupuncture

and control groups. In the acupuncture group during three consecutive days

immediately before induction of ROD, body acupuncture was performed while in

the control group it was exempted. Severity of withdrawal reaction was

assessed having recourse to Clinical Institute Narcotic Assessment (CINA)

Score and compared between two groups. RESULTS: After induction of ROD,

CINA score raised significantly during the consecutive days in both groups

compared with baseline values but the rise was significantly lower in

acupuncture group. CONCLUSIONS: The result of this study shows that body

acupuncture reduces the severity of withdrawal symptoms associated with

rapid opiate detoxification and it is recommended that this nonpharmacologic

method of treatment should be included in ROD program. PMID: 12596615

[PubMed - in process]

 

Complement Ther Med 2003 Dec;10(4):217-22 Relief of chronic neck and

shoulder pain by manual acupuncture to tender points-a sham-controlled

randomized trial. Nabeta T, Kawakita K. Meiji School of Oriental Medicine,

Osaka, Japan OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of real acupuncture to

tender points for neck and shoulder pain and stiffness (Japanese: katakori) with

those of sham acupuncture. DESIGN: Randomized-controlled trial. METHODS:

Thirty-four volunteers from an acupuncture school with complaints of chronic

pain and stiffness, who had no arm symptoms and gave informed consent, were

randomly allocated to acupuncture or sham groups. Acupuncture or sham

acupuncture was applied to the tender points once a week for 3 weeks. In the

acupuncture group the acupuncture needle was inserted to the muscle, then

the sparrow pecking technique was applied five times. Sham acupuncture was

done without insertion of the needle. Dull pain and stiffness were evaluated by

visual analog scale (VAS) before, and every 2 days after the first needling for

1

month. Pressure pain threshold on the tender points was measured before and

after each treatment. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference of VAS

scores between acupuncture and sham groups 9 days after the last treatment.

However, the acupuncture group showed significant reduction of VAS scores

immediately after and/or 1 day after the real acupuncture treatments (P<0.01).

The effect tended to be prolonged after repeated treatment. Pressure pain

thresholds tended to increase after real acupuncture treatment but not after

sham acupuncture. CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture applied to tender points

appears to have short-term effects on neck and shoulder pain and stiffness, but

this study was unable to demonstrate any long-term superiority over sham

acupuncture. PMID: 12594972 [PubMed - in process]

 

Complement Ther Med 2003 Dec;10(4):210-6 The placebo response and effect

of time in a trial of acupuncture to treat nausea and vomiting in early

pregnancy.

Smith C, Crowther C. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The

University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia OBJECTIVES: The sham control is

widely used in acupuncture research, and its adequacy may be assessed by

exploring the 'credibility' of the intervention. We aimed to examine the

credibility

of the study intervention, to quantify the size of the placebo response and

effect

of time in reducing nausea in early pregnancy. DESIGN: Five hundred and

ninety-three women with nausea or vomiting in early pregnancy volunteered to

participate in a randomised controlled trial, conducted at the Women's and

Children's Hospital, South Australia. OUTCOME MEASURES: Women

completed the Rhodes Index of Nausea and Vomiting and the Credibility Rating

Scale. RESULTS: The credibilities of the acupuncture and sham acupuncture

interventions were not different. The relative change in nausea at the end of

the

first week of the study was estimated to be 28% attributed to a time effect and

7% to the placebo response. At the end of the third week, there was a further

small increase in time effect (32%) and the placebo response (17%).

CONCLUSION: Sham acupuncture is a credible control and allows assessment

of the size of the placebo response. PMID: 12594971 [PubMed - in process]

 

Complement Ther Med 2003 Sep;10(4):202-209 Attitudes to the contribution of

placebo in acupuncture-a survey. Norheim AJ, Fonnebo V V. National

Research Centre for Alternative Medicine, University of Tromso, Tromso,

Norway Interest in placebo is increasing, and recent research suggests that

the therapeutic consequence of placebo is generated through mental processes

in which attitudes are important. The aim of this study is therefore to explore

attitudes and beliefs concerning placebo effect in acupuncture therapy, among

doctors, patients and acupuncturists. From February 1994 until June 1995, four

anonymous questionnaires were distributed among 1135 randomly selected

doctors, 294 medical students, 432 acupuncturists and a random sample of

653 in the general population in Norway. Fifty-seven percent indicated the

treatment effect seen in acupuncture as mainly a genuine acupuncture effect,

30% indicated that half of the effect in acupuncture comes from placebo, while

13% indicated that the treatment effect in acupuncture is mainly based on

placebo. Doctors and students express a more sceptic view than the others,

and having tried acupuncture for one's own disease is significantly associated

with a less sceptic view within all study groups. Attitudes to the use of

acupuncture for cancer patients are associated with attitudes to placebo for

doctors and medical students, but not for the general population or

acupuncturists. PMID: 12594970 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

 

 

 

 

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