This study reports the efforts of acupuncturists to promote multidisciplinary cooperation in our laboratory. We conducted a questionnaire survey involving all employees of our laboratory in December 2013 to investigate problems regarding multidisciplinary cooperation, and identified a lack of information and problems concerning treatment plans and costs. After implementing measures to tackle these problems between January and November 2014, we conducted the questionnaire survey again. As the results, 79% of the employees responded that they had gained more information about acupuncture compared to the previous year, and 72% of them responded that treatment plans and costs were appropriate. Compared to the number of new patients who sought acupuncture treatment between January and November 2013 (n = 273), there was an increase of 40% in the same period of 2014 (n = 385). These results showed that employees' understanding of acupuncture and multidisciplinary cooperation were promoted.

In Japan, controlled devices for medical professionals have been often purchased by people other than acupuncturists or doctors, using the Internet sales system. Press Tack Needle (PYONEX^®) allows easy handling by combining a plastic part with an adhesive tape. Since it has been reported to be relatively safe with limited adverse events such as adhesive-related dermatitis or similarly mild disorders, it is widely used. We report a case that when the patient removed a PYONEX^® which applied by himself, the needle tip was broken and remained in his body. It might lead to an accident such as injury due to a broken needle left in the body. The patient had purchased the PYONEX^® on his own judgments, storing it for a long period of time, applied it to his body 10 months after its expiration date and kept it attached for approximately 3 weeks. Plastics are characterized by deterioration and can be damaged by environmental factors including ultraviolet rays, water, and shocks. In this paper as an urgent issue, we note that when using these products, in addition to paying attention to their expiration dates, precautions should be considered since deterioration may also progress due to prolonged attachment.

We retrospectively compared the treatment effects of electro-acupuncture against in situ acupuncture, in 15 Hunt's Syndrome patients who underwent acupuncture therapy in our institution between August 1996, and June 2004, and who had fulfilled 3 electroneurography (ENoG) criteria with a value of 0% within 90 days after onset, had a paralysis score of <20, and could be followed up for 6 months after onset. Electroacupuncture therapy was performed on the paralysis side of the faces of 8 patients (the electro-acupuncture group), while in situ acupuncture therapy was performed on the remaining 7 (the in situ acupuncture group). No significant differences were observed in the background factors between the two groups. Treatment results were evaluated using the 40-point paralysis score described by Yanagihara, as well as a sequela score, which was a modified method of the sequela assessment developed by Nishimoto and Murata et al. Changes in paralysis scores from first acupuncture therapy, out to 6 months post-onset were compared using repeated ANOVA measures, and Mann-Whitney U tests respectively. Recovery of paralysis scores did not significantly differ between the two groups (p=0.0507), although slightly better recovery was observed in the electroacupuncture group, as compared with the in situ acupuncture group. Additionally, sequelae scores did not significantly differ between the two groups (p=0.51). In recent years, many have been of the opinion that lowfrequency stimulation is contraindicated. In this study, however, the incidence of sequelae did not differ significantly between the electro-acupuncture therapy and the in situ acupuncture therapy groups, although slightly better paralysis recovery was observed in the former.

We retrospectively investigated the effects of acupuncture on refractory peripheral facial paralysis. Among patients with Bell's palsy or Ramsay Hunt syndrome (type II) who underwent acupuncture between August 1996 and June 2004, were 29 patients with a minimum electroneuronography (ENoG) percent response of 0%, and NET scale-out (14 patients with Bell's palsy, 15 with Ramsay Hunt syndrome). Demographically, they 21 males and 8 females, with a mean age of 44.3±12.8 years. Their disease duration, and paralysis score assessed using the 40-point method (Yanagihara's method) were 43.2±23.9 days and 10.2±2.7 points, respectively. To evaluate treatment response, we employed the paralysis score, and a sequela score assessed using a modification of the sequela evaluation method designed by Nishimoto and Murata et al. The paralysis score exceeded 36 points within 6 months after onset. Five patients (17.2%) without sequelae were regarded as having achieved complete recovery, and 24 (82.8%) as having achieved incomplete recovery. When the minimum ENoG is 0%, recovery within 6 months beyond onset is considered impossible. The results suggest, however, the efficacy of acupuncture.
seconds ; Paralysis ; Acupuncture ; Sequela ; month

We report a 74-year-old woman who developed right-sided Hunt syndrome on July 3, XXXX, and who received stellate ganglion block and an infusion of aciclovir while hospitalized. Steroids were not used due to her diabetes. After discharge, she continued taking vitamin B₁₂, and received stellate ganglion block three times a week, but the paralysis did not show a tendency toward recovery. Following a combination of acupuncture and rehabilitation starting on October 6 (post-onset day 95), the paralysis score, which was 4 points on day 95, showed a tendency toward recovery : 32 points on day 186, and 36 points or more (within the normal range) on day 246. No apparent synkinesis was seen one year after the onset. Although Hunt syndrome appeared to be refractory due to her advanced age, presence of diabetes, unused steroids, complete paralysis with a paralysis score of 8 points or less, and no tendency to recover for three months or more, the results suggested that she responded to the combination of acupuncture and rehabilitation.

Our institute performs retained acupuncture for cold-related symptoms using planar electric heaters. After placing retained acupuncture needles at 8 points on the lower back, the site is covered with a planar electric heater and heated for 20 minutes, with the 6-channel dial of the device set at 5, the second highest temperature. Using this method, we treat and examine patients with cold-related symptoms. If patients feel discomfort during the heating process, the procedure is continued when heat is used for treatment and immediately terminated in the case of examination. On examining related adverse events in 75 cases (224 sessions) within the 8-month period between March and October 2016, there was soreness/irritation of the skin surface in 5 (2.2%), itching in 3 (1.3%), and physical deconditioning in 1 (0.4%). However, all of these events were mild and temporary, supporting the safety of the method. As a future challenge, it may be necessary to expand this study to clinical research on traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture/moxibustion.

The patient was a 44-year-old man with right facial paralysis as the main complaint. Upon resection of a be­nign parotid gland tumor (6 cm in diameter), one of the buccal branches of the right facial nerve was severed. Immediately after the surgery, facial nerve paralysis occurred in the areas innervated by the buccal and marginal mandibular branches. Therefore, on the 5th day after the surgery, acupuncture was started. The paralyzed facial site was treated weekly for 15 minutes by inserting a disposable acupuncture needle (40 mm in length and 0.16 mm in thickness) about 5 mm deep into the site. As a result, the discomfort around the right ear was alleviated and the right facial nerve paralysis was gradually improved and cured in 6 months after the onset. Acupuncture may have prevented secondary changes such as tissue scarring and atrophy after the surgery, and promoted healing. The paralysis of the areas innervated by the buccal branches may have been improved through re­rooting from the other branches in the periphery region of the neurectomy site. The present case is informative in considering the indications of acupuncture.

To help medical doctors practicing Kampo medicine suggest appropriate acupuncture treatments for individ­ual patients, a study group made up of 7 acupuncturists and 5 medical doctors developed an acupuncture cur­riculum. The group provided a learning program based on the curriculum for 16 medical doctors in charge of outpatient Kampo services in a research institute. The learning program consisted of a lecture and practical training, and a total of 4 sessions were held. At the end of each session, a test was conducted to examine the participants' level of understanding. After the completion of the learning program, a questionnaire survey was conducted to confirm the usefulness of the acupuncture curriculum for the practice of Kampo medicine. The mean number of participants per session was 10.8 ± 1.3. The mean test score was 9.3 ± 0.5 (full score : 10). In the questionnaire, 14 out of the 16 (88%) answered that the acupuncture curriculum was useful or relatively useful for the practice of Kampo medicine. On comparing the numbers of new acupuncture patients with a his­tory of outpatient Kampo service use before and after the acupuncture curriculum, there was a 1.8-fold increase after it. The results support the usefulness of the acupuncture curriculum to understand acupuncture and practice Kampo medicine. Further evaluation is necessary.