Revista Internacional de Acupuntura最新文献

The channels and collaterals as well as the acupuncture points constitute fundamental theoretical bases of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Their study has attracted the attention of different disciplines as biosciences and mathematics. The present investigation aimed to generate a matrix of squares with proportions of 1 × 1 cun to superimpose it on the anterior region of the abdomen, and to determine the relationship between the nodes of the matrix with the acupuncture points. Likewise, generated different geometric figures from acupuncture points and non-acupoints that coincide with the nodes of the matrix to determine their fractal dimension. The results showed that it is feasible to use matrices with certain proportions that, when superimposed on the anterior region of the body, allow obtaining geometric figures formed by acupuncture points and not acupoints. The analysis of the fractal dimension shows interconnection between the points and they form groups with 97% precision. The prefactor “a” showed fractality in some geometric patterns while in others it was absent. It is necessary for additional studies to corroborate the fractality in the geometric patterns generated by the matrix.

Introduction

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is defined as the persistent feeling of exhaustion related to the course of the disease or cancer treatment. Currently, there are few studies that determine the impact of acupuncture in this condition.

Objective

To explore the current medical evidence about the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the control of CRF.

Methodology

Exploratory review of the literature in PubMed and Scopus, including publications without time limit in English and Spanish language.

Results

In the 16 documents included were identified randomized clinical trials (n = 10), retrospective cohort studies (n = 17), case report (n = 2), literature review (n = 2), cross section (n = 1) and qualitative longitudinal study (n = 1), with a total study population of 937 patients. Acupuncture showed a significant reduction in fatigue in patients undergoing cancer treatment and in post-chemotherapy states, although there are few publications with experimental and/or observational data.

Conclusion

Acupuncture has zero adverse effects and benefits in the control of CRF, in addition favorable impact on sleep disorders, anxiety and depression which are determinants in the clinical course of fatigue. Therefore, the use of acupuncture could be used concomitantly with standard western therapy accord in the intensity of the symptoms that the patient is presenting. The studies are limited and without statistical power, therefore the review was based mainly on observational studies with a small number of subjects and analyzed for a short time.

Objective

The purpose of this clinical study is to demonstrate the effect of classical acupuncture on the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) and the relationships that integrate the view of classical acupuncture treatment with current anatomical-physiological knowledge.

Design

A clinical study was carried out with patients with CTS.

Setting

The treatments were conducted in a private healthcare practice by a licensed acupuncturist.

Participants

The five participants presented symptomatology for a period of no less than 6 months, had been diagnosed through electromyography, and additionally showed a positive test for Phalen's maneuver test. All the patients had surgical indications.

Interventions

Classical Chinese acupuncture was applied during a cycle of treatments.

Main measurements

The Visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess the level of discomfort regarding daytime paresthesia, nighttime paresthesia, pain, decrease in strength, and a proposed converted value of pressure pain threshold.

Results

All the parameters showed significant improvement. The mean difference was negative for pain (− 7,4 points), daytime paresthesia (− 5,2 points), nighttime paresthesia (− 6,2 points), and loss of strength (− 4,6 points), whereas the estimation for the pressure pain threshold was positive (+ 0,683 kgf/cm²).

Conclusions

In the analysis of the results obtained through the classical acupuncture therapy, all parameters showed an improvement, which suggests and supports evidence of clinical efficacy on the CTS.

Objective

To demonstrate the effect of acupuncture in Pericardium 6 (Neiguan) acupoint in the acute homeostatic response to orthostatic challenge in healthy subjects.

Design

A cross-sectional experimental study was conducted at Acupuncture Facility at Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Ciudad de México, México. Participants: Fifteen healthy university students (seven women) aged 22.5 ± 1.36 (mean ± SD) participated in the present study to investigate the changes in cardiovascular function after standing active standing and their modification with manual acupuncture in Pericardium 6 (Neiguan) acupoint in healthy volunteers.

Interventions

The treatment consisted of one session of manual acupuncture in the Pericardium 6 (Neiguan) in the right arm. The following data for continuous beat-to-beat registration: mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), stroke volume (SV), total peripheral resistance (TPR), and left ventricular ejection time were computed in healthy volunteers after standing. The obtained signals were plotted and averaged, and a linear correlation of each average was calculated. Besides, the Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated for the recording periods of 1–10 after the standing position in basal and treated conditions.

Results

Acupuncture was showed to increase the speed of change in MAP, HR, and TPR and decreased the speed of changes in SV and LVET when comparing the slopes of the initial cardiovascular changes related to active standing. Besides, Pearson analysis showed that acupuncture treatment modifies to higher correlation the cardiovascular responses to orthostatic stress.

Conclusions

We found that manual acupuncture in the right PC6 boosted the initial adaptive mechanisms to orthostatic stress in healthy subjects. It is valuable to initiate clinical trials to see if this treatment improves symptoms in patients with orthostatic hypotension.

The Chinese names of enerpoints (acu-points) to Western scholars are a mystery. Given their Western nomenclature (H 5, E 36), we assume that they do not affect when selecting a point formula in clinical practice. However, there is always the doubt if the name contains something else. Most were born in a time known as the great cultural renaissance of China, between the first and fourth century, and consist of two or more characters within a certain syntax. Each of the characters that compose them can be a verb, a noun, and even an adjective. According to the interpretation, meanings emerge that are not only interesting but also particularly useful in the clinic. For example, in Zusanli (E 36) 足 zu means “foot”; 三 san “three”; 里 li “close to”, and 理 li “regulate, control” allows to interpret the point as a regulator of the three heaters, located in the foot. Given the number of points in the 14 channels, only the names of some points have been discussed to present this proposal for further search of the meaning of the points; thanks to whose knowledge it is possible to increase the clinical efficacy of acupuncture.

According to the World Health Organization, low back pain is a very common symptom in the population and is attributed to lumbago, sciatica or a herniated disc and, less frequently, to sacroiliitis. This is usually caused by slipped disc or sciatica, among other conditions. This pathology is frequent in people who have carried out loads with excessive weight or suffered traumatic blows. The articular structure is complex; therefore, it becomes difficult to make an accurate diagnosis, unless doing a complete history and physical examination. A multidisciplinary treatment shows better results. This paper shows the results of applying the McKenzie technique and electroacupuncture to a patient who shows low back pain pathology. Techniques were applied by eight sessions. This procedure showed a high efficacy for the reduction of chronic pain and the functional recovery of muscles according to the Tampa scale, making a reduction by 33 to 10 points at last evaluation. Determining that an integrative treatment gives results of up to 70% improvement in the patient.

According to the WHO (World Health Organization), depression is a common disease throughout the world, and it is estimated that it affects approximately 350 million people. The COVID-19 pandemic has and will continue to have important consequences for mental health, which can cause a depressive state, with stress, anxiety, fear and grief that affect the entire population (with a higher prevalence and incidence in women), that are increased by confinements and social isolation.

This study proposes the use of acupuncture as a therapeutic or complementary option to psychotherapies or pharmacotherapies, since here is showed that acupuncture is effective, safe and cheaper than the main treatments, to be able to treat people with some level of depression, that might attend and reduce the consequences of COVID-19, which acupuncture could be a complementary medicine that can help the health systems of countries.

Spinal cord injuries are highly prevalent in the world and multiple investigations have been carried out in search of treatments which allow adequate rehabilitation and recovery in terms of mobility and functionality. The present study aims to investigate the clinical relevance and physiological bases of acupuncture in the management of patients with SCI, conducting an exploratory review of the literature available up to March 1, 2021. Acupuncture has shown various benefits in terms of the process of rehabilitation through various mechanisms, mainly reducing and attenuating the inflammatory process triggered by spinal cord injuries and promoting the proliferation of neuronal stem cells. However, many of these studies have been carried out in animals, so further research should be carried out in order to demonstrate the benefit of this practice in humans.

The treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC) involves challenges in survival, quality of life, and patients' entire biopsychosocial status. Cancer treatment, whether being surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy, includes short, medium, and long-term side effects. The dentist plays an important role in the different stages, from early diagnosis, restoration of dental health before treatment, as well as the management of sequelae, which involves continuous monitoring. However, effective management of pain, caused by HNC and the complications generated by chemotherapy and radiation therapy, remains difficult to achieve to regain the general health of the patient. Therefore, this review aims to explore the evidence for complementary therapies in the comprehensive treatment of patients with HNC. The PRISMA-ScR extension recommendations for exploratory reviews were followed, 4 databases were used in the search, controlled clinical trials, observational studies, and case reports were included, integrating the evidence from 15 articles (11 of acupuncture, 2 of yoga, and 2 of meditation) in which the effect of these complementary therapies on pain management, xerostomia, dysgeusia, anxiety, and depression in patients with HNC was studied. The treatments implemented, as well as the aforementioned results, were very heterogeneous, which prevents an adequate meta-analysis in the future. Although the synthesis suggests that these therapies can be a good tool in the comprehensive management of the patient with HNC, more evidence is required to make recommendations.

Introduction

This report deals with the study of a patient operated for inguinal hernia repair with a complication of seroma. Three sessions per week were established, applying treatment with electroacupuncture and laser therapy.

Objective

To assess the benefits of acupuncture and rehabilitation with PainDETECT and Vancouver scales.

Material and method

Prospective and quasi-experimental longitudinal analytical study. Stainless-steel needles were used with the KWB 808 I electrostimulator, direct current at 2 Hz in a unilateral way for 30 min puncturing BL 17 Geshu (cathode), BL 22 Sanjiaoshu (anode), S 36 Zusanli (anode), and S 35 Dubi (cathode). The BTL-4825SL Premium laser equipment was used at 8 J, 1 kHz, pulse, 10 cm, 830 nm, 100 mW for 10 min, giving shots in the wound periphery with a distance of 1 cm.

Results

The surgical lesion had a recovery of nearly 100%.

Conclusions

PainDETECT and Vancouver scales showed the efficacy of the treatment.