[Objective]In this study, we examined the relationship between public subsidies for acupuncture and moxibustion therapy, which are established independently by municipalities that serve as agents for National Health Insurance, and group health level indices such as life expectancy and health care costs that are incurred due to the treatment of illnesses.
[Methods]Eighty-five municipalities in Fukuoka Prefecture that serve as agents for National Health Insurance were the subjects of this study. "The upper limit of subsidy funds available for acupuncture and moxibustion therapy per year"was calculated from the limits of the subsidy systems that were established independently by each municipality. We then examined the relationship between this value, health indices (life expectancy and standardized mortality rate), and health care costs (actual health care costs per person for inpatient and outpatient care for the treatment of illnesses).
[Results]A significant positive correlation was observed between public subsidy funds for acupuncture and moxibustion therapy and life expectancy (males:r = 0.53, P < 0.001, females:r = 0.44, P < 0.001), whereas a significant negative correlation was observed for standardized mortality rate (males:r =-0.48, P < 0.001, females:r =-0.34, P < 0.005). Furthermore, a significant negative correlation was observed between public subsidy funds for acupuncture and moxibustion therapy and health care costs (inpatient:r =-0.26, P < 0.05, outpatient:r =-0.30, P < 0.05).
[Conclusion]Most patients who use acupuncture and moxibustion therapy seek treatment primarily for symptoms involving the musculoskeletal system. The fact that life expectancy is higher when subsidy funds are greater may be considered to be caused by improvements in daily living, increased physical activity due to relief of musculoskeletal disorders through acupuncture and moxibustion therapy, and reduced risk of fatal disease (such as cancer, ischemic heart disease, and cerebrovascular disorders). It also suggests the possibility that acupuncture and moxibustion therapy inhibit the severity of fatal diseases or the conditions that may cause these fatal diseases.

Introduction : We investigated the effects of skin stimulation with noninvasive microcones on constipation in university students.
Methods : 17 university students with constipation were studied. Students were randomly assigned to either Group S (n=9) that received skin stimulation of the auricle using microcones, or Group P (n=8) that were given placebo treatment. Both groups received 4 weeks of treatment.
Results : There were no significant differences in the mean baseline CAS-J (Japanese Version of Constipation Assessment Scale) values between the two groups. After 4 weeks, subjects in Group S had significantly lower CAS-J values compared with baseline (P=0.02). No significant changes were noted in the values for Group P.
Conclusion : These results suggested that skin stimulation with noninvasive microcones improved constipation in university students, and may be a viable option for self-care of this condition.

The number of acupuncturists and moxibustion therapists has rapidly increased since around 2000. If they can be regarded as new healthcare resource investments, it is of great significance to evaluate their social impact. Here, we conducted a regional correlation study in different prefectures by using the extension of average life expectancy as an evaluation index. The results revealed an increase in “acupuncturists (human healthcare resources)” and in “facilities for performing acupuncture and moxibustion therapy (physical healthcare resources)” to show a weak but statistically significant positive correlation with the extension of average life expectancy for elderly men. Due to methodological limitations, however, this study cannot confirm a causal relationship between them. The author strongly hopes that public service corporations involved in the provision of acupuncture and moxibustion will henceforth serve as a bridge to allow researchers, acupuncturists, and moxibustion therapists to collaborate and conduct multicenter joint studies, in order to create an even greater social impact of acupuncture and moxibustion.

[Objective] Premature ventricular contraction (PVC) causes arrhythmia, and it most frequently occurs in healthy individuals. It has been recently reported that a combination of medical therapy and acupuncture has an effect on arrhythmia. Herein, we report on the use of acupuncture in a patient with PVC.[Case] A 41-year-old male complained of arrhythmia and stiff shoulders. According to the Lown grading system, he was diagnosed with a grade 1 condition using Holter monitor in a hospital for internal diseases. Acupuncture was applied for decreasing the PVC count and discomfort in the chest region.[Methods] Acupuncture was applied at points PC6, BL15, HT7, ST36, GV20, CV17, and KI3. Manipulation involved twirling the stemless needle (30 mm in length, 0.20 mm in diameter) at a low amplitude and high frequency, and the needle was then retained for 10 min. The treatment was applied twice a day for four weeks. Measurements were obtained using a visual analog scale, SF-36v2, and Holter monitor.[Results] After four weeks of treatment, discomfort in the chest region decreased and quality of life improved. Additionally, the PVC count decreased after two weeks of treatment.[Conclusion] Our findings suggest that acupuncture is effective for treatment of PVC.

[Background] Presenteeism, defined as the practice of sick workers who come to work, and whose work performance effectiveness has been reduced due to various signs and symptoms, causes a significant financial loss to companies. However, comprehensive and effective occupational health countermeasures have not yet been presented. Therefore, we report here the results of an interim analysis to determine whether an allowance for acupuncture treatment is beneficial for workers' presenteeism. [Methods] A four-week randomized intergroup comparative study was conducted on office workers who were aware of their presenteeism. Participants were allocated to either the control group, in which regular recommended presenteeism countermeasures for each workplace were implemented arbitrarily, or to the intervention group in which an allowance of up to 8,000 was given for acupuncture treatment, in addition to the usual arbitrary measures. The primary endpoint was the WHO-HPQ relative presenteeism score: a score lower than 1 indicates lower work performance; and it was analyzed with the "full analysis set" population.[Results] A total of 52 patients were assigned to the intervention group (n = 30) and the control group (n = 22). On average, the intervention group received acupuncture treatments 1.4 times for stiff neck and shoulders (67%), lower back pain (26%), depression (5%), and allergies (2%), and paid a total of 7,219; and 6,556 was paid as an expense allowance. As a result, the relative presenteeism score was 0.95 in the intervention group, compared to 0.91 in the control group, with a between-group difference of 0.04 (ES (r) = 0.22, P = 0.12).[Conclusions] With a total of up to 8,000 offered to office workers who were aware of their presenteeism, an acupuncture treatment allowance for a four-week period was provided 1.4 times on average. The results suggested that the treatment allowance would increase workers' performance efficiency by about 4% (equivalent to 19,691 per person) compared to those without it.