The aim of this study was to examine the changes in natural killer (NK) cell activity, pulse rate, and pain intensity among older adults before and after acupuncture treatment.

To determine whether any difference exists in the skin-temperature responses of the lower limbs to hot-stone application relative to one-site and three-site abdominal application.

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to examine the changes in natural killer (NK) cell activity, pulse rate, and pain intensity among older adults before and after acupuncture treatment.

METHODSFifty-six individuals (16 males and 40 females), age 60 to 82 years (mean age 72.4 ± 5.0), who were experiencing pain in the shoulder, low back, or knee, participated in the study. NK cell activity, leukocyte differentiation (granulocytes and lymphocytes), pulse rate, and blood pressure values obtained. Pain intensity was used to analyze NK cell activity, leukocytes (granulocyte counts and granulocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio), and the VAS score in accordance with the location of pain complaints before and after acupuncture treatment.

RESULTSNK cell activity decreased after acupuncture treatment for pain in the shoulder-pain and knee-pain groups. Further, the lymphocyte and granulocyte counts increased after acupuncture treatment for the shoulder-pain group. Pulse rate decreased for the shoulder-pain, low-back-pain, and knee-pain groups after acupuncture treatment. The VAS score decreased after acupuncture treatment for the shoulder-pain, low-back-pain, and knee-pain groups.

CONCLUSIONThis study showed that in older adults, acupuncture treatment decreases pulse rate, relieves pain in the shoulder, low back, and knee, and reduces NK-cell activity.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Pressure ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Low Back Pain ; immunology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain Measurement ; Shoulder Pain ; immunology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo determine whether any difference exists in the skin-temperature responses of the lower limbs to hot-stone application relative to one-site and three-site abdominal application.

METHODSTwenty-five female students participated in experimental sessions after a random allocation: 14 participants received a hot-stone application on the umbilicus, superior-umbilicus, and inferior-umbilicus regions (hereafter referred to as the three-site stimulation group); and 11 participants received the hot-stone application on the umbilicus region only (hereafter referred to as the one-site stimulation group). Heated stones were applied for 9 min to participants in both groups. Four arbitrary frames (the lower leg, ankle, proximal foot, and distal foot regions) were created in order to observe and analyze the skin temperature of a lower limb using a thermograph. Observation periods were as follows: before hot-stone stimulation, immediately after stimulation, and 5, 10, 15, and 20 min after stimulation.

RESULTSThere was a significant offset interaction of distal foot skin temperature between the groups. The left-side distal foot skin temperature increased at 15 and 20 min following the three-site abdominal hot-stone stimulation. The right-side distal foot skin temperature increased immediately and at 5, 10, 15, and 20 min following the three-site abdominal hot-stone stimulation. No significant change in distal foot skin temperature was observed following the one-site stimulation.

CONCLUSIONLower-limb skin temperature was altered following hot-stone stimulation applied to the abdomen, and the one-site stimulation and three-site stimulation yielded different distal foot skin-temperature reactions.

Adult ; Hot Temperature ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Massage ; methods ; Skin Temperature

Background: In one series of studies, we observed the effects of acupuncture treatment (AT) on the autonomic nerve system (ANS). We experimented from various view-points. At last, we discovered a specific pattern for modifying ANS status, which showed that functions of the parasympathetic nerve increased while those of the sympathetic nerve decreased. To further study systematic modification of ANS balance, we focused on the lower body (feet). Moreover, two kinds of stimuli, tapping and vibration, were applied while measuring the value of finger floor distance (FFD) and heart rate (HR). Finally, the effects on ANS were discussed. Methods: Twenty healthy subjects participated in this study, and they were divided into two groups; the tapping group and the vibration group. The former received 50 taps on the feet, and the latter received vibrations for two minutes. In order to indicate ANS status the effects of these stimuli were evaluated by FFD values and a kinetic record of changes in HR. Results: Both groups showed improvement in FFD values, which was the same as the results for AT via modification of ANS. However, changes in HR showed a different pattern from AT; in this study sympathetic nerve) dominantly showed an increase without a decrease in parasympathetic nerve. Discussion and Conclusions: The reasons for differences in ANS modification may be found in the role, especially in an emergency, of the lower body. The lower body is heavy in skeletal muscles, which needs energy and blood to react during acute stress. The ANS, which controls blood distribution, may shift and concentrate system blood from the smooth muscles of the stomach (controlled by parasympathetic nerve) to the skeletal muscles of the legs and feet (controlled by sympathetic nerve). Thus, this study indicated that local stimuli of the foot induced systematic ANS modification.

OBJECTIVEHie (cold sensation) is one of the most common health complaints in Japan. Those who suffer from severe hie are considered as having hiesho (cold disorder). However, exact hiesho symptoms have not been defined clearly and the decision as to whether a person suffers from hiesho is subjective and based on self-awareness. The study was conducted in attempt to develop a standardized hiesho diagnostic scale.

METHODSSubjects comprised 1 146 students. From the self-awareness of hiesho symptoms, males and females were divided into hiesho and non-hiesho groups. Physical, behavioral and adaptive characteristics were compared using the 24-item questionnaire (four-grade survey) and indicators for hiesho symptoms were extracted. Based on the scores, a receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn for the total ordinal scale score of the extracted items in relation to the presence and absence of hiesho symptoms, and an optimal cutoff value was determined.

RESULTSThe self-awareness of having hiesho was found in 23.2% males and in 55.6% females. The sensitivity was 84.5% for males and 83.3% for females in the hiesho groups, and the specificity was 86.0% for males and 85.2% for females in the non-hiesho groups.

CONCLUSIONA questionnaire consisting of the extracted items may be useful to identify hiesho in young males and females with a high level of accuracy.

Adult ; Cold Temperature ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Thermosensing