This paper summarizes the historical background of the combination of acupuncture and moxibustion and digital intelligence technology, and its relevant studies in recent years. From three aspects, i.e. meridian points, acupuncture and moxibustion techniques and clinical research, the research status and landing scenarios of such combination, as well as its application value and development prospects were explored. It was found that in the development of digital intelligence of acupuncture and moxibustion, the acupuncture and moxibustion practitioners encountered the insufficient preparation in the coming career situation, the high-level research platforms were few, the cross-interdisciplinary talents were of the shortage, the quantity and quality of data were out of perfection and the study depth and breadth was limited. Focusing on these problems, and associating with the development and research status of the industry, it was attempt to give the analysis and suggestion. In the future, supported by digital intelligence technology to empower acupuncture research, the effect mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion can be explored in view of more dimensions and deeper levels, and more objective and higher-quality medical evidence can be generated. Eventually, the development of acupuncture and moxibustion industry can be boosted, the modernization of acupuncture and moxibustion and the internationalization of TCM be accelerated.
Moxibustion/history* ; Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation*

With the development and the application of intelligent acupuncture and moxibustion equipment such as moxibustion robot and acupuncture robot, intelligent technology is constantly involved in the innovation of education. Computer technology represented by knowledge graph is re-constructing, in a structured form, including the fragmented information of the knowledge of acupuncture and moxibustion at all times and in all countries. Its application in the education scene further promotes the optimization of the technology itself. The knowledge fusion for the vertical scene of acupuncture-moxibustion knowledge has impelled us to develop universal entity and relationship extraction techniques. With the help of knowledge graph, the four-diagnosis equipment and acupuncture and moxibustion treatment equipment can be deeply integrated, and the wise information technology be thoroughly applied in the whole process of acupuncture and moxibustion education, so as to give full play to the "emergence" effect of knowledge and thinking, and drive the development of the theories of acupuncture and moxibustion in traditional Chinese medicine.
Moxibustion/instrumentation* ; Humans ; Acupuncture/education* ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Knowledge

Objective A comparison of different routes for the administration of clodronate disodium liposomes to determine the most effective method of rat endometrial macrophage clearance.Methods Female 8-week-old SD rats were randomly divided into a unilateral control group(injected with 100 μL PBS liposomes into the left uterine cavity),unilateral clearance group(injected with 100 μL clodronate liposomes into the right uterine cavity),bilateral control group(injected with 100 μL PBS liposomes into the bilateral intrauterine),bilateral clearance group(injected with 100 μL clodronate liposomes into the bilateral intrauterine),whole-body control group(injected with 500 μL PBS liposomes into the caudal vein),and whole-body clearance group(injected with 500 μL clodronate liposomes into the caudal vein).Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe the morphology and structures of uterine and ovarian tissues,immunohistochemistry was used to observe the presence of macrophages in uterine and ovarian tissues,and flow cytometry was used to detect changes to macrophage cell counts in uterine and ovarian tissues.Results There were no significant differences in the structures or morphology of the uterus and ovary among the groups.Immunohistochemical staining showed that,compared to the control group,the unilateral and bilateral uterine clearance groups'population of terine macrophages was significantly decreased(P＜0.001),but there was no difference in the accumulation of macrophages in the ovary(P＞0.05).The number of macrophages in both uterine and ovarian tissues decreased in the whole-body clearance group(P＜0.01,P＜0.01).Compared with the unilateral and bilateral clearance groups,the whole-body clearance group had more macrophages in the ovarian tissues(P＜0.05).Flow cytometry showed that,compared with the control group,each clearance group's percentages of macrophages in the uterine tissue were significantly reduced(P＜0.001,P＜0.001,P＜0.05).Compared to the whole-body clearance group,the unilateral and bilateral clearance groups'endometrial macrophages had superior clearance activity(P＜0.05,P＜0.05).In addition,the number of macrophages in ovarian tissue decreased in all clearance groups compared to the control group.The decrease in macrophage number was most pronounced in the whole-body clearance group(P＜0.05),and there was no significant difference in numbers between the unilateral and bilateral clearance groups and the control group(P＞0.05).Conclusions Local injection of clodronate liposomes was more effective than caudal injection for clearing uterine macrophages,and the impact on ovarian macrophages was largely avoided.Thus local clodronate liposome injection is an improved method for establishing a local uterine macrophage clearance model.

Objective To observe the regulating effect of electroacupuncture on the polarization level of decidual macrophages in rats with thin endometrium and the repairing effect of electroacupuncture on thin endometrium.Methods Thirty SPF female SD rats were randomly divided into control group,model group and electroacupuncture group.The electroacupuncture group was treated with acupuncture of"Guanyuan"(CV4),"Zigong"(EX-CA1)and"Sanyinjiao"(SP6)and intervened continuously for 4 estrous cycles.After the intervention,the estrous cycle of rats in each group was observed,the number of implantation embryos in the uterus was recorded,the uterine morphology and decidualization,the thickness of endometrium,the number of glands and blood vessels were observed by HE staining,the polarization level of macrophages was detected by flow cytometry,and the expression levels of IGFBP-1,CD86 and CD206 genes were detected by qRT-PCR.Results Compared with the control group,the estrous cycle of rats in the model group was disturbed;compared with the model group,the estrous cycle of rats in the electroacupuncture group recovered;compared with the control group,the number of embryos in the model group decreased significantly(P<0.01);compared with the model group,the number of embryos in the electroacupuncture group increased(P<0.05),and the morphology of endometrium in the model group was damaged and the thickness of endometrium decreased compared with the control group(P<0.01).The number of glands and blood vessels decreased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the morphology of endometrium in the electroacupuncture group recovered,the thickness of endometrium increased(P<0.01),and the number of glands and blood vessels increased(P<0.01).Compared with the control group,the ratio of M2 to M1 macrophages in the model group decreased significantly(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the ratio of M2 to M1 macrophages in the endometrium of the electroacupuncture group was significantly increased(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the expression of IGFBP-1 mRNA in the model group decreased significantly(P<0.01),the expression of CD86 mRNA increased significantly(P<0.01),and the expression of CD206 mRNA decreased significantly(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the expression of IGFBP-1 mRNA in the endometrium of the electroacupuncture group increased significantly(P<0.01),the expression of CD86 mRNA decreased significantly(P<0.01),and the expression of CD206 mRNA increased significantly(P<0.01).Conclusion Electroacupuncture can effectively regulate the polarization level of decidual macrophages in endometrium,and effectively repair thin endometrium,which is beneficial to embryo implantation.

OBJECTIVETo review and collect the study achievements and the effect mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of premature ovarian failure (POF) in recent 20 years so as to provide more references for the clinical treatment of POF with acupuncture.

METHODSThrough retrieving PubMed, CNKI and VIP, the literature on acupuncture for POF was collected from January 1, 1998 through March 31, 2017 regarding the rule of acupoint selection and the therapeutic method. The potential effect mechanism was explored.

RESULTSFinally, 26 papers on the clinical treatment for POF with acupuncture and 5 ones on the laboratory mechanism were obtained. The differentiated syndromes and the top 3 acupoints for the treatment of POF included syndrome [Taixi (KI 3), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Guanyuan (CV 4)], syndrome [Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Zusanli (ST 36) and Ciliao (BL 32)], syndrome [Taichong (LR 3), Shenting (GV 24), Guanyuan (CV 4)], the mixed syndrome of and [Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Ganshu (BL 18) and Shenshu (BL 23)], the mixed syndrome of and [Pishu (BL 20), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Zusanli (ST 36)] and the dysfunction of the thoroughfare vessel and the conception vessel [Guanyuan (CV 4), Zigong (EX-CA 1) and Huangshu (KI 16)]. The top 5 acupoints of the 14 meridians were Guanyuan (CV 4), Shenshu (BL 23), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Zhongji (CV 3), Pishu (BL 20), Taixi (KI 3) and Ganshu (BL 18). The local extraordinary points were dominant. According to the use frequency of the acupoints, the first top 5 meridians were the bladder meridian of foot-, the governor vessel, the conception vessel, the spleen meridian of foot- and the kidney meridian of foot-. The most acupoints were distributed in the chest, the abdomen, the lumber region and the lower limbs. Many therapeutic methods were used, such as acupuncture with filiform needle, electroacupuncture, moxibustion and the acupoint thread-embedding therapy. The effect mechanisms possibly referred to the recovery of the sexual level through regulating the hypothalamus-pituitary gland-ovarian axle (HPOA) function, the improvement of the histological morphology of the uterine, the improvement of body immunity through affecting the nerve-endocrine-immune regulation system as well as the regulation of the genetic and protein expressions of the signal pathway relevant with POF.

CONCLUSIONEven though acupuncture has achieved the therapeutic effects in the clinical treatment of POF, the research on the effect mechanism is still limited. The exploration of acupuncture for POF in terms of mechanism may guide the clinical practice. In the future study, the clinical pathway should be specified and the effect mechanism be explored through the rigorous laboratory design and more objective and rational evaluation system.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Meridians ; Moxibustion ; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency ; therapy

[Objective]To explore features of moxibustion therapy based on data mining through recorded cases during 1987-1991 by QI Yongji. [Methods] With modern computer technology, applying Epidata 3.1 to screen, record, collect and analyse cases of moxibustion therapy, exporting DTA-format, using Stata software to analyse and explore clinical applying features. [Results] A total of 1514 cases were recorded, including 468 cases of moxa-cone moxibustion, 493 cases of moxa-stick moxibustion. Moxa-cone moxibustion involves 45 points, the top five are A-shi point, ST36, GB34, EX-LE4, LI11; Moxa-stick moxibustion involves 66 points, the top five are A-shi point, EX-LE4, BL43, SI13, BL67. QI Yongji used moxibustion to treat 24 kinds of diseases, including medical, gynecological, orthopedic diseases. [Conclusion] To sum up treatment of diseases based on data mining 4 of which he was good at, consisting of omalgia, elbow strain, Bi syndrome and lumbago Through the integration of his descendants and family in-depth interviews, to generalize three major experiences of the moxibustion therapy: attaching importance to palpation, moxibustion based on syndrome differentiation, flexible use of moxibustion.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of "menstrual cycle-based acupuncture therapy" on ovarian function and pregnancy results of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in patients with decline in ovarian reserve (DOR).

METHODSA total of 63 patients of DOR who received treatment of IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were randomly divided into an observation group (30 cases) and a control group (33 cases). The patients in the observation group were treated with "menstrual cycle-based acupuncture therapy". The syndrome differentiation and treatment were given based on different phases of menstruation. Shiqizhui (EX-B 8) and Mingmen (GV 4) were selected during menstrual phase, Shenshu (BL 23), Geshu (BL 17), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Taixi (KI 3) were selected after menstruation, Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Zusanli (ST 36) were selected during ovulatory period, Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Taichong (LR 3) were selected before menstruation. The acupuncture was given twice a week until second menstrual cycle of oocyte retrieval. The total times of acupuncture was (15 ± 2). After acupuncture, patients were treated with IVF-ET. The patients in the control group were treated with IVF-ET but no acupuncture. The indices of ovarian reserve function, including basic follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), antral follicle count (AFC), number of retrieved oocytes, number of fertilization and number of high quality embryo, were compared and analyzed before and after acupuncture in the observation group. The differences of outcomes of IVF-ET, including the cycle cancellation rate, implantation rate, the clinical pregnancy rate, were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSCompared before acupuncture, the E2, AFC, number of retrieved oocytes, number of high quality embrgo and number of fertilization were all increased after acupuncture in the observation group (all P< 0. 05). Compared with the control group, levels of the E2, the number of retrieved oocytes, number of fertilization and number of high quality embryo were all increased in the observation group (all P < 0.05). Also, the implantation rate, the clinical pregnancy rate were improved (both P < 0.01) and cycle cancellation rate was reduced (P< 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe "menstrual cycle-based acupuncture therapy" can effectively improve the ovarian reserve function in DOR patients, leading to an improved clinical pregnancy rate of IVF-ET.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Menstrual Cycle ; Middle Aged ; Ovarian Reserve ; Ovary ; physiopathology ; Pregnancy ; Young Adult

Nowadays extensive attention has been paid on the research of acupuncture academic schools, however, a widely accepted method of partition of acupuncture academic schools is still in need. In this paper, the methods of partition of acupuncture academic schools in the history have been arranged, and three typical methods of"partition of five schools" "partition of eighteen schools" and "two-stage based partition" are summarized. After adeep analysis on the disadvantages and advantages of these three methods, a new method of partition of acupuncture academic schools that is called "three-stage based partition" is proposed. In this method, after the overall acupuncture academic schools are divided into an ancient stage, a modern stage and a contemporary stage, each schoolis divided into its sub-school category. It is believed that this method of partition can remedy the weaknesses ofcurrent methods, but also explore a new model of inheritance and development under a different aspect through thedifferentiation and interaction of acupuncture academic schools at three stages.
Acupuncture ; education ; history ; manpower ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Humans ; Schools

OBJECTIVETo explore the protective effect of electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment on ovarian function in rats with ovulation induction.

METHODSThirty SD female rats were numbered according to random number table. According to vaginal smear method, rats of estrus were divided into a normal group (10 rats) and cohabitated with male SD rats with the proportion of 1:1. With computer-generated random number, the remaining rats were divided into a model group and an EA group, 10 rats in each one. The model of superovulation was established with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in the model group and EA group. Before model establishment and cohabitation, rats in the EA group were treated with EA at "Guanyuan (CV 4)" and "Sanyinjiao (SP 6)", once for 15 min, for consecutive 7 days. Rats in the normal group and model group received no further treatment. The third day 23:00 pm after cohabitation, blood samples in three groups were collected to test the level of estradiol (E₂) and progesterone (P). After the rats were sacrificed, the HE staining method was applied to observe the morphological changes of ovarian tissue; the immunohistochemical method was applied to measure the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor VEGFR-2; the real-time quantitative PCR technique was applied to measure the gene expression of VEGF and VEGFR-2.

RESULTSThe number of ovarian follicle in the EA group was higher than that in the model group and normal group (all P < 0.05); the ratio of corpus luteum size to ovarian size in the EA group was lower than that in the model group (P < 0.01). The ratio of plasma estradiol to progesterone in the EA group tended to be normal group (P < 0.05) and lower than that in the model group (P < 0.01). The protein expression of VEGF and VEGFR-2 in lutein granulosa cell and follicular fluid in the EA group was lower than that in the model group (P < 0.05); gene level of VEGF and VEGFR-2 in ovarian tissue in the EA group was lower than that in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONEA pretreatment has certain protective effect on ovarian function in rats with ovulation induction, which is likely to be related to regulation of VEGF and its receptor.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; blood ; Electroacupuncture ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Male ; Ovary ; physiology ; Ovulation Induction ; Pregnancy ; Progesterone ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of float needle therapy combined with reperfusion activity for pain induced by cyclomastopathy.

METHODSThirty-five female patients with cyclomastopathy were randomly divided into a comprehensive group (18 cases) and a float needle group (17 cases). In the comprehensive group, float needle manipulation was used at the centre of the biceps brachii belly or the ligature between the affected nipple and breast nodule, about 4 cm beside the exterior margin of the breast, and the reperfusion activity of the affected upper limb and breast was combined. In the float needle group, simple float needle therapy was adopted. In the two groups, treatment was started 7 ± 3 days before menstruation, once every other day. After 3-time treatment, the changes of short form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) scores before and after treatment, the time of pain relieved during the first treatment, recurrence in 3 months after treatment and the adverse reaction were observed. Also, the clinical effects of the two groups were compared.

RESULTSImmediately at the end of the first treatment,after 3-time treatment and while followed up for one month, each item score and the total score of SF-MPQ were decreased apparently than the scores before treatment (all P < 0.05), and all the scores mentioned above of the comprehensive group were declined more obviously than those of the float needle group (all P < 0.05). The time of pain relieved during the first treatment of the comprehensive group was much shorter than that of the float needle group [(94.72 ± 33.67) s vs (162.06 ± 29.16) s, P < 0.01]. The recurrence rate of the comprehensive group in 3 months after treatment was 5.9% (1/17), which was better than 20.0% (3/15) of the float needle group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONFloat needle therapy combined with reperfusion activity and simple float needle therapy can both safely and effectively improve cyclomastopathy, and the combination therapy is better than simple float needle therapy in the aspects of pain relieving effect at once and the long term effect.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Breast Diseases ; pathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Mammary Glands, Human ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Needles ; Pain Measurement