From September 27th (Friday) to 29th (Sunday), 2024, the 37th International Council of Medical Acupuncture and Related Techniques (ICMART) World Congress on Medical Acupuncture was held on Jeju Island, South Korea. The congress showcased groundbreaking research in a wide array of foundational and clinical fields related to medical practices centered on acupuncture, with vibrant discussions taking place. Additionally, academic exchanges between Japan and South Korea were conducted, including a joint session organized by the Korean Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine Society and the Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, which featured a symposium on "Facial Nerve Paralysis". The variety of research presentations from around the world was particularly stimulating. Notably, the follow-up report on a study published in "Nature" concerning electroacupuncture at the ST36 point and its anti-inflammatory effects, as well as a neuroimaging study evaluating changes in neural metabolites in the anterior cingulate cortex of patients with anxiety disorders following electroacupuncture stimulation, were especially impressive. This article reports on the memorable presentations and key topics from the 37th ICMART World Congress on Medical Acupuncture.

Case reports are studies that document the detailed progression of a single case, representing the most accessible research style for clinicians. Even a single case can provide insights that may hint at directions for future research and clinical practice, and enhancing the quality of case reports can strengthen the scientific foundation of acupuncture. Therefore, it is advisable for acupuncturists to actively pursue case reporting based on their daily clinical experiences. However, to make case reports meaningful, they must be correctly "evaluated." Evaluation in acupuncture practice is broadly divided into assessment of the condition and the outcomes of treatment. The assessment of the condition involves understanding the patient's current state through consultation and physical examination, while outcome evaluation assesses changes in the patient following treatment. Here, "evaluation" refers to the latter-observing changes in patient outcomes. We discussed how patient outcomes are assessed in daily practice, how these assessments are utilized, and how they can lead to presentations at academic conferences, aiming to help with those who are one step away from making such conference presentations.

Case reports are an indispensable research format in the advancement of medicine. They play a significant role in accumulating medical knowledge on new or rare diseases and evaluating the efficacy and safety of therapeutic interventions. Furthermore, case reports provide a critical opportunity for generating new research hypotheses and are widely recognized for their value as essential educational tools for healthcare professionals. However, some case reports fail to include sufficient essential information, and their incompleteness or lack of transparency may lead to misinterpretation by readers. To address these issues, the CARE (CAse REport) guidelines were established in 2013, providing standards to improve the completeness and transparency of case reports. The CARE guidelines comprehensively cover essential reporting items for case reports in various fields. By adhering to these guidelines, authors can ensure the completeness of information and achieve transparent reporting. However, there still does not seem to be sufficient recognition and dissemination of the CARE guidelines in Japan. Therefore, this article introduces the key components of the CARE guidelines and discusses their application, particularly in the field of acupuncture practice. It is hoped that the wider use of the CARE guidelines in case reports related to acupuncture will enhance reporting quality and facilitate the provision of more reliable and credible information.

[Objectives]The purpose of this study is to clarify the effect of acupuncture sensation on the body sway during a one-legged stance.[Methods] The study participants were 16 healthy adults (mean age 21.8±1.6 years). The study design was a crossover method, wherein the same individuals participated in the acupuncture stimulation condition and the control condition at intervals of more than one week. Evaluation was performed before and after each intervention by holding a one-legged stance for 40 seconds on a force plate. A total of six items of body sway were measured, including: circumferential area, rectangular area, effective value area, total trajectory length, unit trajectory length, and unit area trajectory length. In addition, Visual analog scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the ease with which the lower leg was subjected to force during measurement. In the acupuncture stimulation condition, single acupuncture was performed on the lower limb muscle group of the measuring leg, and the VAS of the acupuncture sensation was evaluated at the time of stimulation and at the end of measurement. Stainless steel disposable acupuncture needles (length: 50 mm, diameter: 0.20 mm.) were used for stimulation. The stimulation sites were the ST32, ST37, BL37, BL57, and GB37 of the test leg, and acupuncture needles were inserted to the desired depth and removed when sensation was felt. The control condition was the supine position for five minutes. Comparisons were made between the pre- and post-acupuncture stimulation conditions and the pre- and post-control conditions(body sway, lower leg VAS, acupuncture sensation VAS). [Results] There was no significant difference between the two conditions in terms of body sway. However, the VAS of lower limb effort was significantly lower, from 78.0±14.9 mm to 63.1±17.0 mm before and after the intervention (p<0.05). On the other hand, in the control condition, there was no significant difference from 79.5±12.3 mm to 75.2±12.7 mm before and after rest. The VAS of acupuncture sensation was 50.4±14.3 mm during stimulation and 9.8±9.0 mm at the end of measurement, which was significantly lower (p<0.05). [Conclusion] Acupuncture sensation did not affect the body sway before and after acupuncture stimulation. However, the subjective sensation of weakness appeared, suggesting that acupuncture stimulation may cause a transient sensation of weakness.

[Introduction] We report our experience with a patient with panic disorder (PD) , which suggests the importance of building a trusting relationship between the patient and the acupuncturist.[Case] A 69-year-old woman with PD presented to our acupuncture clinic with anxiety and difficulty breathing. Her symptoms appeared six months prior, and later, she presented to the emergency department of A Hospital with dyspnea and nausea. Shehad a significant medical history of RLS and rheumatoid arthritis. She was diagnosed with PD at the Department of Oriental Medicine of the same hospital. Her symptoms improved with herbal remedies; however, anxiety and difficulty breathing persisted. Her symptoms at the first acupuncture visit were dyspnea, chest tightness, and anxiety regarding seizures that occurred once or twice a week. She also experienced insomnia and nocturnal hot flashes in her legs. She had no panic attacks or prevailing anxiety, and her neurological and cardiovascular parameters were normal. During the treatment period of 91 days, 14 acupuncture and moxibustion treatments were performed once a week. GV20, PC6, HT7, ST36, SP6, LV3, GB20, BL13, BL15, LI4, BL23, and BL33 were used for mood symptoms, and KI9, BL57, and KI3 were used for toe symptoms. After the second visit, BL10, GB21, and SL14 were performed for neck and shoulder symptoms, and Ex-LE10 and plantar nerve acupuncture were performed for coldness in the lower extremities. Moxibustion was applied to SP6, KI3, and LV3.[Course] After the initiation of acupuncture, anxiety and difficulty breathing were almost resolved by the second treatment session; however, insomnia and hot flashes in the lower extremities worsened in the seventh round of treatment. The patient had also hoped for the resolution of the insomnia-related symptoms using acupuncture. However, since acupuncture was ineffective, we explained the need for specialized treatment and referred her case to a psychiatrist. She was diagnosed with restless leg syndrome, and treatment was initiated using pramipexole, which improved hersymptoms.[Discussion] In this case, acupuncture and moxibustion treatment were effective for the symptoms associated with panic disorder. Additionally, the importance of providing opportunities for appropriate medical consultations as needed was demonstrated.

[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the awareness and perceptions of cosmetic acupuncture among ordinary women.[Method] A questionnaire method was adopted, with a target population of 1,000 ordinary women living in Shizuoka prefecture, which is considered a suitable location for test marketing in Japan.Questionnaires were distributed through the Chambers of Commerce in the prefecture by age group, according to the population ratio, and responses were obtained. The items included (1) basic information; (2) presence and type of facial cosmetic concerns; (3) experience of acupuncture, awareness of cosmetic acupuncture, the medium through which they learned of it, perception of effects, and experience of cosmetic acupuncture; (4) effects and types of cosmetic acupuncture, presence or absence of adverse effects, current treatment status, desired treatment outcomes and reasons for seeking treatment, wishes from treatment clinics, and wishes from practitioners; and (5) 1 month's investment in beauty.[Result] The response rate was 56.2%, and 91.8% of the participants perceived that they had facial cosmetic concerns; 28.8% had experience with acupuncture, whereas 42.0% had knowledge regarding cosmetic acupuncture. Television (45.3%) was the primary source of information regarding this. The most prevalent perception of the effects of cosmetic acupuncture was lifting (44.8%), and 43.2% of the 521 participants inexperienced with cosmetic acupuncture consented to treatment. Participants mostly reported being somewhat interested in the procedure as their reason for wanting to receive treatment (45.3%). The most common reason for opting out of treatment was due to pain (52.6%). Of those who experienced cosmetic acupuncture, 60.0% said they experienced positive effects, and lifting (62.5%) is the most frequently perceived outcome, which matched the commonly held perception. However, among the participants, 45.0% reported negative effects, while 47.5% received the treatment two or more times in the past but did not continue. Participants mainly wanted clean treatment centers and skilled practitioners. The most common monthly investment in beauty was between 3,000 yen and 5,000 yen (28.5%).[Discussion/Conclusion] The results suggest that many women have cosmetic concerns regarding their faces and expect lifting from cosmetic acupuncture. The low treatment rate among women and their reasons for not seeking re-treatment were elucidated in this study, despite their degree of awareness. Further, the problems associated with the development of cosmetic acupuncture were clarified.