2023 marks the 50th anniversary of legal regulation of acupuncture in the United States,as the first acupuncture law was enacted in Nevada.Acupuncture,like any other medical modality,is regulated at the state level,wi...2023 marks the 50th anniversary of legal regulation of acupuncture in the United States,as the first acupuncture law was enacted in Nevada.Acupuncture,like any other medical modality,is regulated at the state level,with each state formulating and enforcing its own laws and statutes over time.This article narrates the legislative process and major developments of the acupuncture profession in Minnesota,in the context of legislative developments across the country.It tells how this midsize,Midwest state’s acupuncture profession became regulated,and examines the challenges faced by the profession before and after state statutes were enacted.Minnesota stands as a representative example of the legislative process in other states.展开更多
To assess the efficacy of acupuncture for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome through meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials in recent 20 years.Online databases,including CNKI,VIP,WANFANG,PubMed,Cochrane Libr...To assess the efficacy of acupuncture for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome through meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials in recent 20 years.Online databases,including CNKI,VIP,WANFANG,PubMed,Cochrane Library,Web of Science and Embase were searched for randomized controlled trials(RCTs)of acupuncture for IBS.Retrieval time was from January 1,2000 to January 31,2021.According to Jadad scoring criteria,the bias risk and quality assessment of each RCT included were evaluated by two researchers.RevMan 5.3 software was used for the metaanalysis.Eight RCTs were selected which include a total of 1181 patients.The control group has 425 patients and the experimental group has 756 patients.The result of meta-analysis indicates that the total effective rate for the experimental group was superior to that of the control group[OR=3.29,95%CI[2.16~5.03](P<0.01)],and the funnel plot was basically symmetric.Acupuncture therapy is shown to have a good safety and compliance record.However,the number of high-quality trials is small,and there are some deficiencies in the methodology of clinical research.Acupuncture,as a supplementary therapy for irritable bowel syndrome,has positive clinical significance and prospects for application.The methodology of clinical research needs to be further improved.展开更多
Background:Electroacupuncture(EA)therapy,as a combination of electric stimulation and traditional acupunc-ture technology,is currently an important mean for treatment of ischemic stroke and post-stroke rehabilitation ...Background:Electroacupuncture(EA)therapy,as a combination of electric stimulation and traditional acupunc-ture technology,is currently an important mean for treatment of ischemic stroke and post-stroke rehabilitation in China.Because of its remarkable therapeutic effect,it has been widely used in hospitals and clinic,however,the detailed mechanism remains unclear.Objective:This research aims to comprehensively and systematically elucidate the mechanisms of EA treatment at the acupoints of Zusanli(ST36)and Baihui(GV20)on ischemic stroke.Methods:In this study,EA was performed twice at onset of reperfusion and 20 h after reperfusion following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion(I/R)in middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)rats,and transcriptomic changes of various molecules in ischemic hippocampal neurons of rats in Sham,I/R and EA groups were detected by RNA-Sequencing(RNA-Seq).Results:Thus,we detected 18 significantly different genes related to atherosclerosis(AS),with their functions associated with lipid metabolism,thrombosis,monocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells.And,we detected 10 significantly different genes related to oxidative stress and apoptosis and 10 significantly different genes related to calcium overload and excitatory amino acids release.Also,we detected 19 significantly different genes related to blood-brain barrier(BBB)and 22 significantly different genes related to inflammatory response.Conclusion:In conclusion,EA can play a role in treating ischemic stroke through a variety of mechanisms,affecting atherosclerosis,oxidative stress,apoptosis,calcium overload,excitatory amino acids release,blood-brain barrier(BBB)and inflammatory response.展开更多
Chronic low-back pain(CLBP) is one of the most common pain conditions. Current clinical guidelines for low-back pain recommend acupuncture for CLBP. However, there are very few high-quality acupuncture studies on CLBP...Chronic low-back pain(CLBP) is one of the most common pain conditions. Current clinical guidelines for low-back pain recommend acupuncture for CLBP. However, there are very few high-quality acupuncture studies on CLBP in older adults. Clinical acupuncture experts in the American Traditional Chinese Medicine Association(ATCMA) were interested in the recent grant on CLBP research announced by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. The ATCMA experts held an online discussion on the subject of real-world acupuncture treatments for CLBP in older adults. Seven participants, each with more than 20 years of acupuncture practice, discussed their own unique clinical experience while another participant talked about the potential mechanism of acupuncture in pain management. As a result of the discussion, a picture of a similar treatment strategy emerged across the participants for CLBP in older adults. This discussion shows that acupuncture may have complicated mechanisms in pain management, yet it is effective for the treatment of chronic pain involving maladaptive neuroplasticity;therefore, it should be effective for CLBP in older adults.展开更多
Few studies have focused on the cost of acupuncture treatments although acupuncture has become popular in the United States(U.S.). The purpose of the current study was to examine the out-of-pocket costs incurred from ...Few studies have focused on the cost of acupuncture treatments although acupuncture has become popular in the United States(U.S.). The purpose of the current study was to examine the out-of-pocket costs incurred from acupuncture services based on an online website, Ok Copay.com. We examined descriptive statistics(range, median and 20% intervals) for the cost of acupuncture "first-time visits"and "follow-up visits" in 41 metropolitan regions in the U.S. The acupuncture prices of 723 clinics throughout 39 metropolitan regions were included, except for Birmingham, Alabama and Detroit, Michigan as there was no online data available at the time of the study for these two regions. The cost range for a first-time acupuncture visit was $15–400;the highest median was $150 in Charleston, South Carolina,while the lowest was $45 in St. Louis, Missouri. The top 10 cities for the highest median were:Baltimore, Washington, D.C., New York, San Francisco, San Jose, Boston, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland and Indianapolis, with the median $120, while the median for all 723 clinics was $112. For the follow-up visits,the cost range was $15–300;the highest median was $108 in Charleston, South Carolina, and the lowest$40 in Miami, Florida. The 10 cities with highest median follow-up acupuncture visit costs were: New York, Baltimore, New Orleans, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Boston and Atlanta, with the median $85, while for all 723 clinics the median price was $80. The estimation of the average gross annual income of each acupuncturist from the regions studied was $95,760, while the total annual cost of patients seeking acupuncture services in the U.S. was about $3.5 billion in 2018.展开更多
Background： Vulvodynia, or vulvar pain, is a common condition in women; however, there are few evidence-based clinical trials evaluating nonpharmacological therapies for this condition. Acupuncture is one complementa...Background： Vulvodynia, or vulvar pain, is a common condition in women; however, there are few evidence-based clinical trials evaluating nonpharmacological therapies for this condition. Acupuncture is one complementary and integrative medicine therapy used by some patients with vulvodynia. This study evaluates two different acupuncture strategies for the treatment of vulvodynia and aims to evalu- ate whether either of the acupuncture protocols reduces vulvar pain, pain duration or pain with inter- course. The study also examines how long the effect of acupuncture lasts in women with vulvodynia. Methods/design： The study is designed as a randomized controlled trial, focused on two acupuncture protocols. Fifty-one patients who have had vulvodynia for more than 3 months will be recruited. Among them, 34 patients will be randomized into Groups la and 1b; those who are unwilling to receive acupuncture will be recruited into the standard care group （Group 2）. Patients in Group la will have acupuncture focused on the points in the pudendal nerve distribution area, while patients in Group lb will receive acupuncture focused on traditional （distal） meridian points. Patients in Group 2 will receive routine conventional treatments, such as using pain medications, local injections and physical therapies or other nonsurgical procedures. Acupuncture will last 45 min per session, once or twice a week for 6 weeks. The primary outcome measurement will be objective pain intensity, using the cotton swab test. The secondary outcome measurement will be subjective patient self-reported pain intensity, which will be conducted before cotton swab test. Pain intensities will be measured by an 11-point Numeric Pain Rating Scale. Pain duration and pain score during intercourse are recorded. Local muscle tension, tender- ness and trigger points （Ashi points） are also recorded. All measurements will be recorded at baseline （before the treatment）, at the end of each week during treatment and at the end of the 6weeks. Follow-up will be done 6 weeks following the last treatment. Discussion： Results of this trial will provide preliminary data on whether acupuncture provides better outcomes than nonacupuncture treatments, i.e., standard care, and whether acupuncture focused on the points in pudendal nerve distribution, near the pain area, has better results than traditional acupunc- ture focused on distal meridian points for vulvodynia.展开更多
文摘2023 marks the 50th anniversary of legal regulation of acupuncture in the United States,as the first acupuncture law was enacted in Nevada.Acupuncture,like any other medical modality,is regulated at the state level,with each state formulating and enforcing its own laws and statutes over time.This article narrates the legislative process and major developments of the acupuncture profession in Minnesota,in the context of legislative developments across the country.It tells how this midsize,Midwest state’s acupuncture profession became regulated,and examines the challenges faced by the profession before and after state statutes were enacted.Minnesota stands as a representative example of the legislative process in other states.
文摘To assess the efficacy of acupuncture for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome through meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials in recent 20 years.Online databases,including CNKI,VIP,WANFANG,PubMed,Cochrane Library,Web of Science and Embase were searched for randomized controlled trials(RCTs)of acupuncture for IBS.Retrieval time was from January 1,2000 to January 31,2021.According to Jadad scoring criteria,the bias risk and quality assessment of each RCT included were evaluated by two researchers.RevMan 5.3 software was used for the metaanalysis.Eight RCTs were selected which include a total of 1181 patients.The control group has 425 patients and the experimental group has 756 patients.The result of meta-analysis indicates that the total effective rate for the experimental group was superior to that of the control group[OR=3.29,95%CI[2.16~5.03](P<0.01)],and the funnel plot was basically symmetric.Acupuncture therapy is shown to have a good safety and compliance record.However,the number of high-quality trials is small,and there are some deficiencies in the methodology of clinical research.Acupuncture,as a supplementary therapy for irritable bowel syndrome,has positive clinical significance and prospects for application.The methodology of clinical research needs to be further improved.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82205250)the Natural Science Foundation of Shan-dong Province,China(No.ZR2021QH056)。
文摘Background:Electroacupuncture(EA)therapy,as a combination of electric stimulation and traditional acupunc-ture technology,is currently an important mean for treatment of ischemic stroke and post-stroke rehabilitation in China.Because of its remarkable therapeutic effect,it has been widely used in hospitals and clinic,however,the detailed mechanism remains unclear.Objective:This research aims to comprehensively and systematically elucidate the mechanisms of EA treatment at the acupoints of Zusanli(ST36)and Baihui(GV20)on ischemic stroke.Methods:In this study,EA was performed twice at onset of reperfusion and 20 h after reperfusion following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion(I/R)in middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)rats,and transcriptomic changes of various molecules in ischemic hippocampal neurons of rats in Sham,I/R and EA groups were detected by RNA-Sequencing(RNA-Seq).Results:Thus,we detected 18 significantly different genes related to atherosclerosis(AS),with their functions associated with lipid metabolism,thrombosis,monocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells.And,we detected 10 significantly different genes related to oxidative stress and apoptosis and 10 significantly different genes related to calcium overload and excitatory amino acids release.Also,we detected 19 significantly different genes related to blood-brain barrier(BBB)and 22 significantly different genes related to inflammatory response.Conclusion:In conclusion,EA can play a role in treating ischemic stroke through a variety of mechanisms,affecting atherosclerosis,oxidative stress,apoptosis,calcium overload,excitatory amino acids release,blood-brain barrier(BBB)and inflammatory response.
文摘Chronic low-back pain(CLBP) is one of the most common pain conditions. Current clinical guidelines for low-back pain recommend acupuncture for CLBP. However, there are very few high-quality acupuncture studies on CLBP in older adults. Clinical acupuncture experts in the American Traditional Chinese Medicine Association(ATCMA) were interested in the recent grant on CLBP research announced by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. The ATCMA experts held an online discussion on the subject of real-world acupuncture treatments for CLBP in older adults. Seven participants, each with more than 20 years of acupuncture practice, discussed their own unique clinical experience while another participant talked about the potential mechanism of acupuncture in pain management. As a result of the discussion, a picture of a similar treatment strategy emerged across the participants for CLBP in older adults. This discussion shows that acupuncture may have complicated mechanisms in pain management, yet it is effective for the treatment of chronic pain involving maladaptive neuroplasticity;therefore, it should be effective for CLBP in older adults.
文摘Few studies have focused on the cost of acupuncture treatments although acupuncture has become popular in the United States(U.S.). The purpose of the current study was to examine the out-of-pocket costs incurred from acupuncture services based on an online website, Ok Copay.com. We examined descriptive statistics(range, median and 20% intervals) for the cost of acupuncture "first-time visits"and "follow-up visits" in 41 metropolitan regions in the U.S. The acupuncture prices of 723 clinics throughout 39 metropolitan regions were included, except for Birmingham, Alabama and Detroit, Michigan as there was no online data available at the time of the study for these two regions. The cost range for a first-time acupuncture visit was $15–400;the highest median was $150 in Charleston, South Carolina,while the lowest was $45 in St. Louis, Missouri. The top 10 cities for the highest median were:Baltimore, Washington, D.C., New York, San Francisco, San Jose, Boston, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland and Indianapolis, with the median $120, while the median for all 723 clinics was $112. For the follow-up visits,the cost range was $15–300;the highest median was $108 in Charleston, South Carolina, and the lowest$40 in Miami, Florida. The 10 cities with highest median follow-up acupuncture visit costs were: New York, Baltimore, New Orleans, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Boston and Atlanta, with the median $85, while for all 723 clinics the median price was $80. The estimation of the average gross annual income of each acupuncturist from the regions studied was $95,760, while the total annual cost of patients seeking acupuncture services in the U.S. was about $3.5 billion in 2018.
文摘Background： Vulvodynia, or vulvar pain, is a common condition in women; however, there are few evidence-based clinical trials evaluating nonpharmacological therapies for this condition. Acupuncture is one complementary and integrative medicine therapy used by some patients with vulvodynia. This study evaluates two different acupuncture strategies for the treatment of vulvodynia and aims to evalu- ate whether either of the acupuncture protocols reduces vulvar pain, pain duration or pain with inter- course. The study also examines how long the effect of acupuncture lasts in women with vulvodynia. Methods/design： The study is designed as a randomized controlled trial, focused on two acupuncture protocols. Fifty-one patients who have had vulvodynia for more than 3 months will be recruited. Among them, 34 patients will be randomized into Groups la and 1b; those who are unwilling to receive acupuncture will be recruited into the standard care group （Group 2）. Patients in Group la will have acupuncture focused on the points in the pudendal nerve distribution area, while patients in Group lb will receive acupuncture focused on traditional （distal） meridian points. Patients in Group 2 will receive routine conventional treatments, such as using pain medications, local injections and physical therapies or other nonsurgical procedures. Acupuncture will last 45 min per session, once or twice a week for 6 weeks. The primary outcome measurement will be objective pain intensity, using the cotton swab test. The secondary outcome measurement will be subjective patient self-reported pain intensity, which will be conducted before cotton swab test. Pain intensities will be measured by an 11-point Numeric Pain Rating Scale. Pain duration and pain score during intercourse are recorded. Local muscle tension, tender- ness and trigger points （Ashi points） are also recorded. All measurements will be recorded at baseline （before the treatment）, at the end of each week during treatment and at the end of the 6weeks. Follow-up will be done 6 weeks following the last treatment. Discussion： Results of this trial will provide preliminary data on whether acupuncture provides better outcomes than nonacupuncture treatments, i.e., standard care, and whether acupuncture focused on the points in pudendal nerve distribution, near the pain area, has better results than traditional acupunc- ture focused on distal meridian points for vulvodynia.
