BACKGROUND: Clinical observation has been proved that acupuncture has effect on antiinflammation and immunoloregulation, which is the basis for preventing and curing immune disturbance and active chronic inflammation. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electropumcture on antiinflammation, analgesia and subgroup of T cells of adjuvant-arthrosis rats at Jiaji acupoint.DESIGN: Completely randomized grouping and controlled study.SETTING: Basic Laboratory of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. MATERIALS: A total of 30 Wistar rats were selected in this study. Five days after feeding, all rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: normal control group, model group and electropumcture group with 10 in each group. METHODS: ① The experiment was completed at Basic Laboratory of Acupuncture and Moxibustion of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January to May 2005. Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) was used to establish adjuvant-arthrosis models in model group and electropumcture group. On the modeling day, the 3rd and the 5th Jiaji acupoints of bilateral lumbar vertebrae of rats in electropumcture group were acupunctured with 28-sized stainless-steel milli-needle of 0.5 inch.The needle was stimulated 0.3 cm from the 3rd and the 5th spinous process of lumbar vertebra which was counected to G6805-2A multiple functional electropumcture meter for sparse-tight waves (frequency of sparse wave: 4 Hz, frequency of tight wave: 60 Hz, intensity: t mA) 30 minutes each time,once a day for 7 days. Rats in normal group and model group were fixed with the same way for 7 days. (Rats were fixed with cloth-rope at fixing apparatus.) ② Pain threshold was measured before modelling, 1 and 7 days after modelling. Foot pad was exposured with strong light by hot-pain stimulation meter, and paw withdrawal latency was regarded as pain threshold. ③ Right hindfoot bulk of rats was assayed with foot bulk determinator (bulk draining method) before modelling, 1 and 7 days after modelling to calculate swelling rate (％) [(foot bulk after modelling-foot bulk before modelling)/ foot bulk before modelling × 100％ ]. ④ Expressional rates of serum CD4+ and CD8+ were assayed with FACSCalibur flow cytometer and the ratio between CD4+ and CD8+ was calculated 8 days after modelling. ⑤ Average value of multiple samples were compared with single-factor analysis of variance and t test.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Effect of electropumcture at Jiaji acupoint on pain threshold, swelling rate and subgroup of serum T cells of adjuvant-arthrosis rats.RESULTS: A total of 30 rats were involved in the final analysis. ① One day after modeling, bulk of right hindfoot in model group and electropumcture group was bigger than that in normal control group and that before modeling (P ＜ 0.01), and swelling rate was higher than that in normal control group (P ＜ 0.01); 7 days after modeling, bulk and swelling of right hindfoot in model group were higher than those in normal control group (P ＜ 0.01), and bulk was bigger than that before modeling (P ＜ 0.01);bulk and swelling of right hindfoot in electropumcture group were lower than those in model group (P ＜ 0.05). ② Pain threshold of both rear feet of normal rats were not changed after modelling. One day after modelling,pain threshold at inflammatory side was decreased in model group and electropumcture group (P ＜ 0.01) and it was lower than that in normal control group (P ＜ 0.01); 7 days after modeling, pain threshold at inflammatory side was still lower than that before inflammation (P ＜ 0.05),and it in electropumcture group was higher than that in model group (P＜ 0.05). ③ Percentages of CD4+ T lymphocyte and CD8+ T lymphocyte in model group were lower than those in normal control group (P ＜ 0.01), and ratio of CD4+/CD8+ was also higher than that in normal control group (P＜ 0.05). Percentage of CD4+ in electropumcture group was higher than that in model group, but there was no significant difference. Percentage of CD8+ in electropumcture group was higher than that in model group (P ＜ 0.01),but ratio of CD4+/CD8+ was lower than that in model group (P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION: Electropumcture at Jiaji acupoint has obvious effect on anti-inflammation and analgesia, and can also regulate cellular immunity of adjuvant-arthrosis rats.

Chronic lung diseases, including bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, allergic rhinitis and repeated respiratory tract infection (RRTL) in infants, exacerbate frequently in winter because of respiratory viral infections and low temperature. Summer acupoint application therapy (SAAT) is thought to be effective in reducing exacerbation frequency of chronic lung diseases in winter. It is a kind of therapy using a herbal mixture for external application on special acupoints during summer. The herbal mixture basically contains Semen Sinapis Albae, Herba Asari, Radix Euphorbiae Kansui and Rhizoma Corydalis. The acupoints include Feishu (BL13), Dazhui (GV14) and Danzhong (CV17). Through a large-scale multicenter trial based on three years of clinical observation, and retrospective and prospective analyses, this study aims to explore the efficacy of SAAT.

Based on a considerable number of ancient literature, clinical experience and modern scientific studies, a comprehensive study was performed on the TCM theory and treatment of diminished ovarian reserve. It was summarized that the two causes of diminished ovarian reserve were deficiency of the kidney essence and incoordination between Chong Vessel and Conception Vessel, so the treatment strategy of "stage by stage" acupuncture was proposed. It was pointed out acupoint selection should be in accordance with physiological basis of menstruation and waxing and waning of. Therefore, acupuncture at different acupoints and meridians could regulateandand promote the normaltransformation, which could store and discharge the uterus. As a result, the function of ovary is recovered. This method has achieved significant clinical efficacy.

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is characterized by amenorrhea before age 40 with raised FSH level and decreased E2 level. POI, as a main reason for infertility, poses great threat on patients. physical and psychological health.By reviewing clinical trials of acupuncture in treating premature ovarian insufficiency, this study focuses on the significance and feasibility of patient registry about acupuncture therapy for premature ovarian insufficiency. Patient registry can be used in collecting real-world evidence and exploring effective intervention to improve pregnancy rate

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and safety of acupuncture with regulating menstruation to promote pregnancy for diminished ovarian reverse (DOR).

METHODSAccording to prospective case series, 46 patients were observed and finally 40 cases were included. The acupoints were ① Baihui (GV 20), Shenting (GV 24), Guanyuan (CV 4) and bilateral Benshen (GB 13), Huangshu (KI 16), Dahe (KI 12), Luanchao (Extra), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taixi (KI 3), Taichong (LR 3) and ② bilateral Shenshu (BL 23) and Ciliao (BL 32). The points in the two groups were used alternately. Acupuncture was given for 3 courses, 12 times as a course and 3 times a week. Before and after treatment, and 3 months after treatment, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), follicle-stimulating hormone/luteinizing hormone (FSH/LH), estradiol (E), antral follicle count (AFC) and TCM symptom score were observed. The safety was evaluated.

RESULTSCompared with before treatment, the levels of FSH, FSH/LH decreased, and the levels of Eand AFC increased after treatment and at follow-up (all<0.05). And the TCM symptom scores were significantly lower than those before treatment (both<0.05). The rate of pregnancy after treatment was 15% (6/40). There was no infection and organ injury.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture with regulating menstruation to promote pregnancy can safely improve the ovarian reserve of patients with DOR.

In recent years, acupuncture has been used widely as an adjuvant treatment for the in vitro fertilization (IVF). " " published in on May 15, 2018, the research findings do not support the use of acupuncture to improve the rate of live births among the women undergoing IVF. In order to avoid the misunderstanding of the scholars at home and abroad for the clinical effects of acupuncture on IVF assistance, the authors put forward the doubts after the analysis from the following 3 aspects, including the acupuncture scheme, outcomes and result explanation. Additionally, the thinking and suggestions are proposed for the future development of the clinical trials of acupuncture IVF assistance in terms of selecting the proper participants, being abided by the standards of the evidence-based medicine, designing multi-acupuncture schemes and setting up the rational control, as well as conducting the overall analysis of the trial data.
Acupuncture ; American Medical Association ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Live Birth ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; United States

ObjectiveTo compare the effects of different doses and withdrawal time of 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide （VCD） on the reproductive endocrine levels of female rats， and to explore the effective， stable， and safe dosage of VCD for constructing a premature ovarian insufficiency （POI） rat model. MethodSD rats with regular estrous cycles were randomly divided into three groups： blank group， low-dose VCD group （80 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）， and high-dose VCD group （160 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）， with 24 rats in each group. After drug intervention， samples were collected on the 15th day （D15） and the 45th day （D45） after intervention. The general condition， rate of estrous cycle disturbance， serum hormone levels， ovarian histomorphology， follicle count， pregnancy outcome， and the protein and mRNA expression of transforming growth factor （TGF）-β and Smad2/3 were assessed. ResultCompared with the blank group， the low-dose VCD group showed no significant differences in the rate of estrous cycle disturbance or serum follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）， luteinizing hormone （LH）， and estradiol （E₂） levels. Ovarian tissue was damaged. Specifically， the number of primordial and primary follicles decreased on D15 （P<0.01）， and the number of secondary follicles （P<0.01） and antral follicles （P<0.05） further decreased on D45. The litter number decreased on D15 （P<0.05）， but there was no significant difference on D45. Furthermore， TGF-β protein levels increased on D15 （P<0.05） and D45 （P<0.01）. The Smad2/3 levels increased on D45 （P<0.01）， and TGF-β and Smad2/3 mRNA levels increased on D45 （P<0.05）. Compared with the results in the blank group， the disturbance rate of the estrous cycle increased on D45 in the high-dose VCD group （P<0.01）. The serum of FSH and LH increased （P<0.01）， while E₂ decreased （P<0.05）. Ovarian tissue was damaged， and the downward trend of follicles at all levels was similar to that in the low-dose VCD group. The litter number significantly decreased on D15 and D45. TGF-β and Smad2/3 protein levels increased （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and TGF-β mRNA increased on D45 （P<0.05）. ConclusionHigh-dose VCD is an ideal method for constructing a POI rat model， being effective， stable， and safe.