In this seminar, the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on muscle diseases and muscular functions/metabolism were reported, and the status of these techniques were summarized.
In the clinical study section, it was reported that the effects of treatment on muscle diseases and muscular functions were evaluated using objective criteria, such as electromyograms. In the review of the methods for the evaluation of muscular functions using surface electromyograms, the static electromyograms, dynamic electromyograms, and power-spectrum analysis were presented, and the effects of acupuncture and manual treatment on diseases mainly in locomotor organs and their problems were discussed. For example, 72.9% of the 48 patients with cervical dystonia were found to show improvement by 10 courses of acupuncture treatment, and effects were observed in all patients by electromyography. Similar effects were obtained with patients with drug-induced dystonia. In many of the patients with writer's cramp who underwent 10 courses of acupuncture treatment, improvement in writing tests, subjective evaluation, and the strength of pen stokes were observed.
In the review of the basic studies, the effects of acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on muscular tension, muscular metabolism (energy metabolism, intracellular pH, lactate metabolism), muscular circulation, and noxious and non-noxious motor reflex were surveyed, and their mechanisms and problems were discussed.

Pericardial effusion due to malignancy often needs drainage, however, it is difficult to repeat to puncture, especially in the case of little effusion space. Here we report a case of non-small cell lung cancer, 71 years old male, who was diagnosed in 2012 and had malignant pericardial effusion as a post-operative recurrence in June 2018. After several chemotherapy regimens, he suffered from dyspnea on effort due to increasing pericardial effusion. We performed pericardial drainage, but 2 months later pericardial effusion had increased again. The need of repeating of pericardial drainage was estimated, so we placed subcutaneously placed port system into his pericardial space. Thereafter, we drained pericardial effusion through it on demand for his dyspnea. Gradually his circulatory status had been exacerbated and he died on 36th day after the procedure. In the case of malignant pericardial effusion, the subcutaneously placed port system may be useful because repeated aspiration can be done by single procedure of pericardial puncture. It may keep quality of life of patients and more cases should be experienced and assessed.