BACKGROUND: The increase in the use of induction of labor is a worldwide phenomenon in the current management of labor and delivery in Western societies, with approximately one out of every four pregnancies undergoing this procedure This has led women to seek various methods for stimulation of the onset of labor. Some data suggest that the use of acupuncture for favoring spontaneous labor onset could reduce the number of inductions of labor procedures. However, good quality evidence in this respect is not yet available.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture using a filiform needle to induce spontaneous onset of labor in women with a scheduled induction of labor date and assess the safety and satisfaction of women undergoing acupuncture.
METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, randomized, controlled, parallel-arm, unmasked trial in three hospitals in Spain. Eligible participants were women older than 18 years with a singleton pregnancy and a cephalic presentation, scheduled for induction of labor following center-specific protocols. Participants were randomly allocated to one of two groups: the intervention group, which underwent acupuncture sessions for a maximum of four days prior to the scheduled induction of labor, or the control group, which received no specific pre-labor intervention. The primary study outcome was the proportion of women admitted because of spontaneous onset of labor or premature rupture of membranes before or the day of the scheduled induction of labor.
RESULTS: Between November 2017 and June 2023, 212 women were recruited and included in the analysis (106 in the acupuncture group and 106 in the control group). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the baseline demographic characteristics. Regarding the primary outcome, 65.1% (69/106) of women in the acupuncture group and 39.6% (42/106) in the control group were admitted for spontaneous onset of labor or premature rupture of membranes (p < 0.001). Overall, women in the intervention group were admitted 1.25 days before (SD 1.4) their scheduled induction of labor date compared to 0.67 days (SD 1.15) for those in the control group (p=0.001). The median time from recruitment to hospitalization was 4.48 days for the acupuncture group and 5.33 days for the control group (HR 0.52, 95% CI 0.35 - 0.77, p=0.001). There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding the time from admission to delivery or the cesarean delivery rate. Nor were there differences in the rates of maternal or neonatal outcomes, and no maternal or fetal deaths occurred in either group.
CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture with filiform needles, administered 4 days prior to scheduled induction of labor increased admission for spontaneous onset of labor and premature rupture of membranes before the induction of labor date.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative and postoperative nausea and vomiting (IONV and PONV) are common during cesarean delivery (CD) with neuraxial anesthesia. Limited information exists on the antiemetic benefit of combined P6 acupoint stimulation with acupressure (P6 acupressure) and pharmacologic antiemetics on preventing IONV and PONV after CD. This study assessed the antiemetic efficacy of P6 acupressure compared to a non-P6 acupoint stimulation with acupressure (sham acupressure) in preventing IONV during CD.
METHODS: We performed a randomized double-blinded trial comparing the efficacy of intraprocedural P6 acupressure versus sham acupressure in preventing IONV during CD after following the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology enhanced recovery recommendations. Subjects were instructed to apply additional pressure at the acupressure sites when they perceived nausea. The primary outcome was the incidence of IONV, and the secondary outcome was the need for rescue antiemetic treatment.
RESULTS: Ninety-nine P6 acupressure and 100 sham acupressure subjects were studied. There was no difference in the incidence of intraoperative nausea (67%), vomiting (17%), emesis episodes, or the need for rescue antiemetics intraoperatively. There were also no differences in the incidence of PONV and antiemetic treatment from PACU to discharge. At discharge, 70% of respondents reported experiencing nausea, but only 10% reported it affected self-care. Approximately 50% of the patients in both groups were satisfied with acupressure therapy.
CONCLUSIONS: P6 acupressure did not reduce the incidence of IONV or PONV when combined with antiemetic therapy per enhanced recovery recommendations. There does not appear to be sufficient evidence to support using P6 acupressure for IONV prevention.

UNASSIGNED: To evaluate the efficacy of three-point acupressure therapy in decreasing the dental anxiety in children undergoing dental procedures and to introduce acupressure as a simple, noninvasive, and cost-effective technique of reducing dental anxiety in children.
UNASSIGNED: One hundred and sixty-eight, 8-12 years participants who met the inclusion criteria were randomly allotted to either group I (three-point acupressure) (n = 84) or group II (control) (n = 84). All children were subjected to a self-report measure of anxiety [Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale (MCDAS)] 30 minutes before starting and after completing the dental treatment. For group I children, acupressure beads were applied on selected three acupoints for approximately 10 minutes and were left adhered in place. After 20 minutes, anxiety scores were recorded for all the children and allotted treatment procedure was initiated. For group II children, the same methodology was followed except for the application of acupressure beads. Frankl behavior (FB) rating scale, pulse rate (PR), and systemic saturation levels of oxygen were also recorded as secondary outcome measures. The data obtained was analyzed statistically using Chi-squared analysis, t-test, repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) along with post hoc Bonferroni test. Significance level was predetermined at p ≤ 0.05.
UNASSIGNED: At time frame (TF)-2, significant decrease in anxiety scores was observed in acupressure group irrespective of the treatment procedure, whereas in control group, it increased significantly. PR was also increased in acupressure group and FB scale was improved. In control group, PR increased and behavior was not improved. Between TF-2 and 3, no reduction in anxiety score was observed.
UNASSIGNED: The three-point acupressure therapy reduces anxiety in children undergoing dental procedures when compared to nonacupressure group and the difference was statistically significant. Acupressure is a noninvasive stimulation technique applied to acupoints and can be easily administered by a trained pediatric dentist.
UNASSIGNED: Sisodia M, Kaur H, Garg N, et al. The Effect of Three-point Acupressure Therapy on Anxiety Levels in Children Undergoing Dental Procedures. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(2):136-142.

UNASSIGNED: Symptom burden among long-term hemodialysis (HD) patients is high, and addressing symptoms has been identified as a key research priority by patients. Acupressure has shown some effectiveness in management of symptoms in patients with HD.
UNASSIGNED: The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility and the effect of implementing a self-administered acupressure intervention on symptom burden and quality of life for in-center HD patients.
UNASSIGNED: A pilot randomized controlled study.
UNASSIGNED: Two outpatient community HD clinics between in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
UNASSIGNED: Patients on HD for at least 3 months and with at least one symptom score rated greater than moderate were eligible for the study.
UNASSIGNED: Participants were randomized into either the (1) self-acupressure + usual care or (2) usual care alone group. Participants in the acupressure group were given a wooden acupressure tool and taught how to self-administer protocol on 6 acupressure sites for the 4-weeek study duration. Feasibility outcomes were assessed through satisfaction surveys and attrition. Other outcomes included quality of life and symptom scores by validated questionnaires (EQ-5D-5L and Integrated Palliative Outcome Score-Renal [IPOS-Renal]).
UNASSIGNED: Thirty-two participants were successfully enrolled in the study; acceptability was high with study completion at 98% in the intervention group and 82% adherence rate to the 4-week protocol. Participants in the intervention group reported an improved change score in quality of life (EQ-5D-5L Index Score change = +0.053; EQ-5D-5L visual analog scale score change = +6.7). Participants in the intervention group also reported improved symptom scores (IPOS-Renal overall change = -2.8).
UNASSIGNED: Small sample size and intervention duration are limitations of this pilot study.
UNASSIGNED: The results from this study suggest that self-acupressure was acceptable and feasible in this sample of HD patients. Self-acupressure may have a role for supporting the management of symptoms in HD patients. These pilot results can be used to inform larger more definitive investigations.
UNASSIGNED: Les symptômes associés à la maladie représentent un lourd fardeau pour les patients traités par hémodialyse (HD) chronique. Ces derniers ont d’ailleurs identifié le traitement des symptômes comme une de leurs principales priorités de recherche. Dans cette population, la digitoponcture a montré une certaine efficacité pour la gestion des symptômes.
UNASSIGNED: Cette étude visait à explorer la faisabilité de la mise en œuvre d’une intervention de digitoponcture autoadministrée et à évaluer son effet sur le fardeau des symptômes et la qualité de vie des patients sous HD en center.
UNASSIGNED: Étude pilote randomisée et contrôlée.
UNASSIGNED: Deux cliniques ambulatoires communautaires d’HD à Calgary, en Alberta (Canada).
UNASSIGNED: Étaient admissibles tous les patients sous HD depuis au moins 3 mois et présentant au moins un symptôme jugé plus « sévère » que « modéré ».
UNASSIGNED: Les participants ont été répartis aléatoirement dans deux groupes: a) digitoponcture autoadministrée + soins habituels (intervention) ou b) soins habituels seulement. Les participants du groupe intervention ont reçu un outil de digitoponcture en bois et ont appris le protocole pour s’autoadministrer le traitement sur 6 sites pendant quatre semaines (durée de l’étude). La faisabilité a été évaluée au moyen de sondages sur la satisfaction et par l’attrition. Les autres critères de jugement comprenaient la qualité de vie et les scores d’évaluation des symptômes obtenus par le biais de questionnaires validés (EQ-5D-5L et IPOS-Renal).
UNASSIGNED: Trente-deux participants ont intégré l’étude avec succès; l’acceptabilité était élevée dans le groupe intervention, comme en témoignent les taux très élevés d’achèvement de l’étude (98 %) et d’adhésion (82 %) au protocole de 4 semaines. Les participants du groupe intervention ont signalé une amélioration des scores de changement de la qualité de vie (changement du score de l’indice EQ-5D-5L = +0,053; changement du score sur l’échelle visuelle analogique EQ-5D-5L = +6,7). Ce même groupe a également signalé une amélioration des scores associés aux symptômes (changement global pour IPOS-Renal = -2,8).
UNASSIGNED: Les résultats de cette étude pilote sont limités par la petite taille de l’échantillon et la courte durée de l’intervention.
UNASSIGNED: Les résultats de cette étude montrent que l’auto-administration d’un protocole de digitoponcture a été faisable et bien accepté dans cet échantillon de patients sous HD. La digitoponcture autoadministrée pourrait soutenir la prise en charge des symptômes chez les patients sous HD. Ces résultats issus d’une étude pilote peuvent être utilisés pour éclairer des études plus vastes et plus définitives.

BACKGROUND: Uremic pruritus, one of the most painful symptoms experienced by patients receiving dialysis, seriously affects patient quality of life and health, causes physical and mental damage, and increases hospitalization and mortality rates. Multi-modal therapies with evidence-based healthcare are needed to provide patients receiving dialysis with more convenient and feasible medical resources.
OBJECTIVE: Relevant domestic and international research on the effectiveness and methods of non-invasive acupoint therapy in improving uremic pruritus in dialysis patients was reviewed. Discussing related knowledge can facilitate the evidence-based use of non-invasive acupoint therapy in clinical practice by clinical medical personnel.
METHODS: Based on the PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses) systematic literature review and integrated analysis method, a keyword search of related articles published before September 2023 was conducted in the following databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, Airiti Library, Taiwan Master and Doctoral Dissertation System, Chinese Journal Full-text Database and Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform. In 2019, the second version of the Risk of Bias Tool for Randomized Controlled Trials was used to evaluate research quality, after which RevMan 5.4 and Stata 14.0 suite software were used for meta-analysis.
RESULTS: Nine of the 112 articles selected, including 10 sets of data and 597 participants, were included in the meta-analysis. The results indicate non-invasive acupoint therapy significantly reduces the degree of uremic pruritus (synthetic effect size = -1.30, 95% confidence interval [-1.67, -0.93], p < .00001). Because the heterogeneity test I² = 76%, showed a high degree of heterogeneity, a subgroup analysis was performed, showing that acupoint massage combined with traditional Chinese medicine fumigation and washing, a general simple itching assessment scale, and the Chinese region achieved better effect sizes.
CONCLUSIONS: Non-invasive acupoint therapy is easy to implement, inexpensive, non-invasive, and associated with few side effects. The authors hope these findings may increase the awareness and understanding of patients with dialysis regarding the practical operation techniques of itching acupoints. According to the results of this systematic review and meta-analysis, massage of the lung and endocrine acupoints at ST-6, SP-10, and LI-11 as well as the relevant points on the ear may be most effective in achieving urinary itching relief. Also, acupoint massage combined with traditional Chinese medicine fumigation, ST-6 far-infrared irradiation, or LI11 transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation can further relieve uremic pruritus in this patient population. Based on the results, acupoint massage combined with traditional Chinese medicine fumigation and washing is a complementary method of treatment for uremic pruritus that may be recommended to patients in the future.
BACKGROUND: 非侵入性穴位療法改善透析病人尿毒搔癢成效之系統性文獻回顧暨統合分析.
UNASSIGNED: 尿毒搔癢是令透析病人非常痛苦的症狀之一，嚴重影響其生活品質與健康，導致其身心靈受損，更進而使住院率及死亡率增加，有需要發展具實證健康照護依據的多元療法，以使透析病人取得更方便可行的醫療資源。.
UNASSIGNED: 統合國內外非侵入性穴位療法運用於改善透析病人之尿毒搔癢有效方式的相關研究，以協助臨床醫療人員能更有依據將非侵入性穴位療法運用在臨床實務。.
UNASSIGNED: PRISMA （preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses）系統文獻回顧和統合分析方法，搜尋2023年9月前發表於PubMed、Cochrane Library、Embase、Web of Science、華藝線上圖書館、臺灣博碩士論文知識加值系統、中國期刊全文數據庫及萬方數據知識服務平臺，以2019年隨機對照試驗之偏差風險工具第二版評讀研究品質，再以RevMan 5.4及Stata 14.0套裝軟體進行統合分析。.
UNASSIGNED: 共搜集112篇文獻，最後納入9篇文獻（10組數據），有597名參與者進行分析。結果顯示非侵入性穴位療法可顯著降低透析病人尿毒搔癢程度，綜合效果量（standardized mean difference） = -1.30，95% confidence interval [-1.67, -0.93]，p < .00001。異質性檢定I² = 76%，顯示有高度異質性，故進行次群組分析，顯示穴位按摩配合中藥薰洗、一般簡易的搔癢評估量表及中國地區的綜合效果量較佳。.
UNASSIGNED: 非侵入性穴位療法具有操作簡單、價廉、無創和副作用少的特點，可加強透析病人對搔癢穴位的認知與實際操作手法，依本文獻回顧及統合分析結果顯示可在三陰交、血海和曲池穴位或耳穴的肺及內分泌穴位按摩，或按摩穴位配合中藥薰洗，也可運用紅外線照射三陰交或將經皮穴位電刺激於曲池穴，能達到改善尿毒搔癢程度之效果，而穴位按摩配合中藥薰洗是未來可向病人推薦的另一種方式。.

BACKGROUND: Acupressure and halogen light stimulation, are used to reduce false non-reactive nonstress test results related to fetal sleep.
OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the effect of acupressure and halogen light stimulation on nonstress testing and anxiety during pregnancy.
METHODS: Randomized controlled experimental study.
METHODS: The population of the study consisted of pregnant women who were requested to have a nonstress test.
METHODS: The sample of the study included 132 pregnant women (acupressure group:44; halogen light group:45, and control group:43).
METHODS: The acupressure group was applied acupressure on the Zhiyin acupuncture point three times, the halogen light group was applied halogen light stimulation twice on the fetal head from the mother\'s abdomen. In the interpretation of the results, the level of statistical significance was taken as P < 0.05.
UNASSIGNED: In our study, there was no difference between the acupressure and halogen light groups in terms of the mean number of fetal movements, the number of accelerations, the time to the first acceleration, and the time to reach the reactive result in the nonstress test (P > 0.05), while the mean number of fetal movements and accelerations of these two groups were higher, and the mean time to the first acceleration and the mean time to reach the reactive result in the nonstress test were shorter than those of the control group (P < 0.05). In addition, no statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of mean state anxiety inventory scores (P > 0.05).
RESULTS: Acupressure and halogen light stimulation increased the rates of reactive nonstress tests.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is on the rise annually, with an emerging trend of affecting younger age groups. This study aims to investigate the clinical effectiveness of combining Erxian decoction with auricular acupoint pressure therapy in treating LDH. Our objective is to furnish evidence supporting the incorporation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) rehabilitation techniques in clinical settings.
METHODS: This randomized controlled trial enrolled 102 patients diagnosed with LDH and allocated them into Control and Intervention groups. The Control group underwent a 2-week rehabilitation regimen, whereas the Intervention group received an augmented treatment comprising Erxian decoction along with auricular acupoint pressure therapy based on the Control group. Main outcome measures included 3 scales - visual analog scale (VAS), Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA), and Oswestry Disability Index - as well as 3 inflammatory markers: C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Additionally, pressure pain threshold and pain tolerance threshold values were evaluated. Participants were assessed at baseline, on 14-day, and on 28-day posttreatment.
RESULTS: After 2 weeks of treatment, both the Control and Intervention groups exhibited significant improvements in the VAS, JOA, ODI, CRP, IL-6, TNF-α, pressure pain threshold, and pain tolerance threshold (P < .05). These improvements persisted at the 28-day in the VAS, JOA, and ODI scores (P < .05). On 14-day, the Intervention group showed significantly better outcomes compared to the Control group in terms of the VAS, JOA, ODI, CRP, TNF-α, and pressure pain threshold (P < .05).
CONCLUSIONS: Compared to conventional rehabilitation therapy, the combination of Erxian decoction and auricular acupoint pressure therapy demonstrates clear benefits in alleviating symptoms in patients with LDH. This approach offers fresh perspectives and substantiates evidence for future treatment strategies in managing LDH.

暂无摘要。

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) refers to the nausea and vomiting experienced by patients after the application of chemotherapy drugs, significantly affecting their quality of life and physical recovery, as well as increasing the pain of the patients. Basic medicine primarily focuses on acid suppression, gastric protection, and vomiting suppression, but there are still many patients with nausea and vomiting symptoms that cannot be alleviated. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can effectively alleviate nausea and vomiting through acupoint stimulation and pressure, while also offering advantages such as simplicity, affordability, and fewer side effects. The aim of this article is to introduce the method of using acupoint application combined with acupressure as an adjunctive therapy for CINV, using the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) Antiemesis Tool (MAT) tablet scale as a questionnaire. The article details aspects such as acupoint selection, production, and the use of acupoint application, massage techniques, and operating procedures, all with the goal of ensuring the safety and efficacy of acupoint application combined with acupressure as an adjuvant therapy, thereby improving patients\' clinical symptoms and quality of life.

暂无摘要。